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Denise steps to the side and allows the lights to dim as a tall, spunky black woman approaches the stage with a spiky haircut. She grabs the microphone and smiles, looking out into the crow for adoring fans.
"Hey y'all, I'm Lil Rounds from last season of American Idol," the woman says. "Let me see the couple!"
Aaron Maddock and Rebecca Li approach the dance floor, hand-in-hand, their forced smiles still intact. They wave at her, then wait for the wedding band to begin playing a jazzy version of Bette Midler's "The Rose."
"This time, I hope I sound like the perfect wedding singer," Lil says as she gears up for the song.
"Some say that love, it is a river... that drowns, the tender reed..."
Denise steps down from the stage, smiling as she watches the couple dancing. Though the entire affair has been a nightmare, she has been calmed by memories of her wedding to Sean. They wed in New York, back when she still thought he was named Simon Price.
"Are you okay?"
Denise turns to find Vincent Moore approaching with a drink in his hand. She realizes she's been crying and wipes a tear from her cheek. "I'm fine, I was just... just remembering something."
"Your wedding to my dad?"
"Maybe," Denise says, taking the drink from Vince. "But I'm also remembering that you're not twenty-one."
Vince frowns. "I will be in a few months."
"Well, until then," Denise says.
Before Vince can further protest, they are interrupted by the sudden appearance of Blake Thomas between them. He is dressed in formal wear, but something still makes him out of place... his eyes appear glazed over, like he's not completely there.
"I'm looking for Aaron," Blake says.
"He's sharing his first dance," Denise says, gesturing to the dance floor.
Vince watches his friend with trepidation. Something is wrong. Blake turns to make eye contact with Aaron out on the floor. Aaron catches sight of Blake and freezes, breaking away from Rebecca. Blake gestures for Aaron to meet him outside.
"He'll see me now," Blake says, turning away from Vince and Denise. "Excuse me."
Blake heads toward the patio, walking slowly. As Aaron follows him out, Rebecca watches with confusion from the dance floor.
Lil Rounds is confused herself, but she continues singing as best she can. " Some say love it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed..."
"Thanks," Vanessa says, glancing from her travel document. "Are you sure you're going to be safe here?"
"I'll be fine," Sean says. "This is probably for the best. You and Ryan can continue investigating, and I'll just talk to Monique Davenport and see if she'll corroborate Marcus' alibi."
"Then you should go home," Vanessa says. "Your family needs you a lot more than me."
"Honestly... I kind of like being here," Sean admits. "I have two lives back in Marquette Cove, and I still don't know which one I want."
"Can I have a word?" Ryan asks.
Sean nods. "Sure." He and Ryan step out into the hallway, closing the door behind them. "What's up?"
"I know we don't know each other well, but I want to give you some advice," Ryan says. "You'll never be able to fix the mistakes you've made."
"Well... thanks for the advice," Sean says, reaching for the door handle.
"Wait," Ryan says. "What I mean is, you may have messed up you life in the past, but get over it. Stop running away. Go back to your family."
"Like you did?"
"I'm here to help Vanessa, aren't I? She may not want to see me, but she needs to see me. And my son needs to see me."
Sean lets this sink in as the door opens up and Vanessa strides out into the hallway, suitcase behind her.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we've got to get to get going," Vanessa says. "Sean, good luck."
"You too," Sean says, embracing her before she and Ryan head off toward the elevator. He watches them go, then returns to the hotel suite to make sure he has his Passport and wallet with him before he ventures out to track down Marcus' mistress and alibi.
Once he returns to the door and opens it, he is surprised to find two police officers at his door. "Is something wrong?"
"Are you the man going by the name of Sean Moore?" one of the officers asks.
"Yes..." Sean says, his voice trailing off with bewilderment.
"Then you're under arrest," the officer says, producing a set of handcuffs. "For identity theft."
MATA HARI'S
Akilah Moore is floored by Alec Bale's admission. If it isn't enough that he's come back from the dead as one of the parade of people in town that seem to have done so within the past year... she now has to contend with the fact that he wants her to help him kill someone.
"You want me to... you want me to kill Aaron?" Akilah demands.
"Not so much," Alec says. "I want you to get him out onto the patio so that I can kill him."
Akilah shakes her head. "No, I can't..."
"He molested me, Akilah," Alec says bluntly. "That stuff about my dad doing it to me? It was all something he fabricated during out therapy sessions. He manipulated me into destroying my father's life."
"Then we should tell someone!" Akilah insists. "We shouldn't kill him!"
Alec removes a gun from his waistband. "I'm not here to place nice, Akilah. Are you going to help me or not?"
"Why me?" Akilah demands. "And why are you pretending to be dead? Letting everyone grieve for you?"
"I... I can't explain right now," Alec says. "All I know is that... you're the only one I can trust, Akilah. You've always been the one."
He pulls her into a kiss, one that she doesn't immediately reciprocate. It takes a few moments for her to even realize what's happening. But once she does, she remembers the love she once had for Alec... the one she will always have, and she allows herself to kiss him back.
Alec pulls away after a few moments. "Will you help me?"
"I... I'll..."
They are unable to finish speaking when Blake storms out onto the patio, interrupting them. He doesn't seem to notice them, however, giving both Alec and Akilah enough time to slip behind a large row of bushes and watch as Aaron joins Blake.
"Blake... I didn't know you were coming," Aaron says.
"Of course I did," Blake says, the sound of the music inside the restaurant still echoing within his ears along with Chris' soft voice. "I had to come here."
"You had to?" Aaron asks, taking Blake's hand.
"Yes," Blake nods, smiling at Aaron. "So I can kill you."
