Episode 131

“On the line how?  How is my future on the line?,” Russell questioned in confusion only to be met by a long silence, “Who is this?”
   
“Someone who can help you,” the caller explained again, her voice laced with obvious apprehension, “The envelope should explain it all to you.”
   
“I haven’t seen the envelope,” Russ insisted only to be met by another silence.  Suddenly fearing that this lead could just up and disappear, he added further, “I mean I’ve seen it, but I haven’t opened it yet.”
   
“Oh,” silence followed the obvious disappointment in the caller’s voice, “well, I suggest you take a long, hard look at it and we’ll talk more later.”
   
“Wait,” Russ started hearing the line go dead alerting him that the caller had hung up the phone.  Suddenly the package that he’d discarded in a haste.  Frowning he found himself staring at the phone wondering what was happening right before his eyes.  Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he nearly jumped out of his skin only to spin around and find Kyle standing behind him.
   
“You okay,” Kyle questioned, his voice full of concern.  “When I saw you duck out a few moments ago, I was wondering how you were holding up.  Avery thought it would be a good idea if I checked in you.  So, what’s going on?”
   
“I’m not sure,” Russ admitted thinking about the cryptic conversation he’d just taken part of.
   
“Russ, buddy, what’s going on,” Kyle noted the phone wondering if that had been the key to Russell’s strange response, “Did you just find out something more?”
   
“A woman called me,” Russ informed him honestly, “She mentioned something about an envelope that was sent to me at work.  She said that it held the key to my future--something about providing the answers to the secrets that have been circulating around me…”
   
“Oh really,” Kyle arched a curious brow, “and just what secrets was she willing to share with you?”
   
“I don’t know,” Russ admitted with a tiny sigh, “I didn’t take the time to open the envelope earlier.  Things got a bit hectic at the office and then when I went home with Avery, well I kind of pushed it out of my mind last night and now…”
   
“You’re wishing you would’ve stolen a quick look at it huh,” Kyle caught wind of the expression on Russell’s face.
   
Russ nodded, “More than anything.  Kyle something tells me that envelope I have could take us one step closer to finding out the truth about what is going on around here.  The caller mentioned something about Grady’s memorial and…”
   
“Whoa, back up a second,” Kyle urged him on, “Russ, something about this whole situation seems off.  I mean first we have some putz leap out of the woodwork wanting to help us--only to wind up dead.  Next I get this key…”
   
“Which reminds me,” Russ gave him a pointed look, “How is that going for you in figuring out what it’s meant for?”
   
“I’m working on it,” Kyle informed him quickly, “but that’s not the point.  What I’m trying to tell you is the last time you got wrapped up in an unsolved mystery someone wound up dead--not that the someone was worthwhile anyways, but this time…well this time it could be different…”
   
“Different how,” Russ questioned.
   
“Different in the sense that you have a family on the way,” Kyle reminded him pointedly, his dark eyes conveying his heavy disapproval, “You don’t want to make a big mistake in pursuing this.”
   
“Kyle, a serial killer is after my wife and a madman has made my family his target,” Russell’s voice raised with emotion, “I think that in itself is reason enough for me to pursue this…”
   
“No way,” Kyle shook his head, “Avery would kill you herself if she heard you even thinking about that phone call.”
   
“Avery would understand why I’m doing what I’m doing in wanting to learn more about those out to destroy us,” Russ continued, his voice laced with an intensity that Kyle hadn’t caught from him before, “If I had a chance to put an end to what we’ve been going through due to the contents of that envelope, then who am I to fight the situation?”
   
“Russ, a quick and easy solution isn’t always the accurate one,” Kyle added with an unspoken air of wisdom.
   
“Don’t play philosopher on me,” Russ frowned back at him, “I need to know what’s in that envelope.  Then I’ll be able to see what I’m dealing with where my mystery caller is concerned.”
   
“Just don’t do something stupid,” Kyle warned him, “and if you’re going to make a move, you’d better damn sure not make it without me.”
   
“Kyle, I can’t ask you to get more involved than you already are…” Russ started to argue with him.
   
“To hell with that.  Russ, you either let me in on whatever it is you think you’re getting into, or else I’ll go to Avery and tell her about the phone call,” Kyle taunted motioning over to the doorway where Avery was stepping out to join them.  “The choice is yours.”
   
“Fine, I’ll keep you in the loop,” Russ replied with a frown before waving his finger at Kyle, “but don’t you dare say a word to her about this.”
   
“Fair enough.  You keep me informed and I’ll do my best to keep her from learning what kind of trouble you’re getting into,” Kyle promised watching Russell take a step towards his wife.  Sighing as he watched the newlyweds with one another, Kyle just prayed that he wasn’t helping his friend walk into a big mistake.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Heather sat at the dining room table after having been beckoned by Cameron.  She’d wanted to do anything but be close to him after the painstaking choice she’d made about lying to the authorities.  She’d wanted nothing more than to break free of the bonds that Cameron had upon her, but instead she was trapped--locked inside the world of misery that her husband had inflicted upon her.
   
“You could smile you know,” Cameron interrupted her sulking causing her to look up at him from across the table.
   
“And give you the luxury of having you think I’m enjoying myself,” Heather scowled in response, “I so don’t think so.”
   
“And here I was hoping that we’d turn over a new leaf,” Cameron shook his head at her making a tsking sound with the motion, “You can’t tell me that you’re really upset with me for making you get rid of your little psychiatrist.”
   
“I’m not upset with you.  I just hate you,” Heather replied stubbornly, “There’s a difference.”
   
“Hate implies passion, so perhaps there is hope for us yet,” he couldn’t help but grin finding himself more amused than ever with his wife’s demeanor.  While she so desperately wanted to lash out at him, he knew that she wouldn’t dare cross him anymore than the verbal outcry he was receiving.  He was confident that too would change with time.  Leaning in over the table to eye her more intently, he continued to question her actions, “You can’t tell me that you truly felt some kind of connection to that washed up has been doctor, can you?”
   
“Diego is a good man,” Heather remarked sourly poking at the spinach on her plate.
   
“He’s a boring man,” Cameron replied stating his mind, “Surely that is something that can’t hold your interest.  Granted I’m sure you liked playing with him, but a man like that doesn’t even seem as if he’d make a blip on your radar.”
   
“I guess I learned my lesson after being with you,” she shot back icily.
   
“Hmm, well as touched as I am about my having ruined you for the rest of the men in the world, I’d like us to talk about something that we haven’t had a chance to really keep up with in a long time,” Cameron tapped his fingers on the table top, “Let’s talk about Kipp.”
   
“What about him,” Heather tried to hide the surprise in her voice.
   
“What was your relationship like?” Cameron arched a curious brow, “Were you toying with him like you do all the other men in your life or did you have a genuine connection to the twerp?”
   
“That’s a nice way to talk about someone you claim to care about,” she rolled her eyes in response to his words.
   
“Kipp was means to an end for the both of us,” Cameron spoke candidly leaning back in his seat with a chuckle upon his lips, “and if he never came back, I’d have to admit I wouldn’t be broken up about it.  Would you?”
   
Heather watched him for a long moment seeing the sadistic smirk that overtook him.  She sat up straighter feeling a moment of brave questioning reach over her, “You never gave a damn about Kipp or this baby, did you?”
   
“Do you want an honest answer,” he questioned with a wistful expression before leaning in over the table once again, “Judging by the dumbfounded expression on your face, I suppose you do.”
   
“As if you knew the meaning of the word,” she mouthed, her words dripping with sarcasm.
   
“In that case, I’ll give you the truth--seeing as I owe you as much,” Cameron decided thinking about his plans for the future, “Truth be told I could give a damn less about the pathetic, loser that Kipp had become, but when he found you, well he became interesting.  He’d always been such a pushover, but then here he was daring to defy me and for what?” Cameron wiggled his brow before letting out an ironic laugh, “For a whore who was just going to use and abuse him in ways I hadn’t ever dreamt of.  Now that’s truly classic.”
   
“Go to hell,” Heather pushed her chair away from the table rising to her feet in a fury.
   
“Sit down,” Cameron warned sharply motioning to the chair once again.
   
“I’m not going to sit here and listen to this any longer,” she insisted with a huff.
   
“You’re going to listen to whatever it is that I want you to hear,” he advised her again while motioning to the seat she’d just vacated.  “Sit down Heather.”
   
Reluctantly she did as she was told hating every minute of this time spent with him, but there would be no escaping it--at least not yet.  Reaching for her fork once again, she stabbed the leafy vegetable before her before turning her eyes to the plate.
   
“Now, back to what we were discussing,” Cameron insisted with a clearing of his throat, “We’re very much the same you know.  You used Kipp to get what you wanted and in turn you and I have the same kind of relationship.  You help me with what I want and I’ll give you what you crave.  I’ve already given you full run of a company and that in itself should be a good down payment…”
   
“On my life?” Heather blinked back at him, “I so don’t think so.”
   
“I could take that company away from you if you continue to defy me,” Cameron warned her with a quick wiggle of his finger, “but for now I’m still feeling generous.  We’ll find a way to work this out and when we do, you’ll see that this arrangement will benefit us both.  You’ll see.”
   
“Whatever,” Heather focused on the food before her once again.
   
Cameron opened his mouth to speak, but instead Franklin entered the room looking rather urgent.  Cameron lifted his gaze to his butler watching as the older man cleared his throat.
   
“Sir, you have a phone call,” Franklin explained to him.  “A rather urgent one that simply cannot wait according to the caller.”
   
Cameron nodded appropriately, “I’ll take it in my study.”
   
“Of course sir,” Franklin nodded before disappearing.
   
“Now I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Cameron explained to Heather while setting his dinner aside.  He rose from his chair giving her a brief once over, “Don’t you go anywhere while I’m gone because we’re far from finished with one another.”
   
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving all of this,” Heather groaned upon his exit.  Slumping over the table, she pushed her plate out of the way while she wondered just what she was going to have to do to secure her future away from Cameron.  With Diego out of the picture things were a bit more complicated, but Heather wasn’t about to give up the hope that her freedom would be well within her reach.  She’d just have to find a way to make sure that she didn’t get blamed for William’s demise and then, well then it would be time to deal with Cameron once and for all.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shannon sat at the computer terminal taking in the information as it came to her.  While she’d thought about going off after Diego and trying to reason with him first hand, she decided that it was time to give herself some preparation for what she might encounter.  After her talk with Dave, she was convinced that she needed to know more about what had happened to the woman Diego had loved.  Now that she had the case file up on the computer monitor before her, she almost wished she hadn’t thought to check it out.
   
Unable to curb the lump of emotion that Shannon felt building up in the back of her throat, she read over the notes the primary on the case had offered up in the investigation.  At the time Callaway and Neilson had been running the show in charge of the case.  It was before Callaway’s big promotion, but somehow the case wasn’t one that had been easily put to rest from what she’d noted.  There were various witnesses who’d hinted at Cameron Stone’s involvement, but ultimately there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence linking him Stone to the hit and run.  The few witnesses who had initially named Cameron to the authorities had all vanished mysteriously over the next few months leading to the trial, thus making the situation seem all the more bizarre.
   
“No wonder you were reluctant to let me in,” Shannon replied reading on while thinking back to her own encounters with Diego.  Diego had been the picture perfect citizen and as Shannon glimpsed over the information provided on Maria Sanchez, she could see why he’d fallen for her.  The woman had a heart of gold and clearly was an advocate for those who needed to have their voice heard.  The twenty-eight year old social worker seemingly had it all until one day she lost her life in a horrible tragedy.  The most poignant part of the accident had been not only the loss of Maria’s life, but that of her son hours after his entrance into the world.
   
The more Shannon began to read what was before her, the harder she found herself trying to refrain from being emotional about the situation.  Unfortunately in such a disastrous setting, it was hard to contain any kind of emotion.  Diego’s reactions to Cameron earlier had made perfect sense and in knowing that Diego believed to be true about Cameron, Shannon couldn’t help but feel for him.  She wasn’t sure herself what had truly gone down the day Maria had died, but as she scrolled over the pages before her on file, she was struck with an uncanny feeling.
   
“Could it be there was corruption in Coral Valley long before now,” Shannon mouthed to herself noting that the former Coral Valley Police Chief Vince Shane had written the situation off as a tragic accident.  His opinion as stated on the record was that someone had clearly not been paying attention to the road and they’d made a fatal mistake--one that fear had kept him or her from owning up to.  That in itself sounded like one of the most flimsy conclusions she’d heard in her life.  Not to mention that she’d continued to dig further and she ran a background check on Chief Shane only to discover that he was now running head of security at Stone Corporation.
   
“Something doesn’t add up here,” Shannon decided opting to make a copy of the file on Maria and the various other things she’d been checking up on until now.  Finishing up with the copy, she logged off the computer armed with new knowledge and ready to talk with Diego about his suspicions.  While she knew that she wouldn’t be able to erase the pain that he’d encountered in the past, perhaps she could help him seek out the justice that he so desperately needed in his life for closure.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Diego knelt down on the ground before Maria’s grave, setting the bundle of daises he’d brought with him down beside her headstone.  Feeling his heart sink, he reached out to touch the cool stone before him, thinking about all the ways in which he’d failed her all over again.  Sure, he knew that he was getting in over his head with Heather, but there was something about making up for the sins of the past that had made sense with her.  Of course there would be no place for that now, he thought to himself lowering his head poignantly.
   
“I tried Maria,” he confessed in a low, guttural tone, “I tried to help her break free of that madman, but he’s won again.  He’s never going to stop unless someone takes a stand against him.”
   
He paused feeling the cool breeze sweep past him, brushing over his frigid cheeks causing his body to chill down to the core.  Lifting his head up ever so slightly, his dark eyes shone with tears as a lump formed in his throat.  He opened his mouth to speak only to find silence surround him until finally the overwhelming need for something more consumed him.
   
“I know what you’re thinking.  I know how you tried to make the world see him for what he truly was, but ultimately he stopped you.  He stopped us from having a life with one another--from having our dreams of happiness--from our family.  I wish I could’ve seen it coming--that I could’ve found a way to fight him, but like before I failed again.  I tried to save her Maria--I tried to help her see him as he truly is, but he’s manipulated her.  He’s done to her what he did to those people you were trying to help.  He’s imprisoned her with his overwhelming evil and I know that he’ll do to her what he’s done to us--to you and to our son…”
   
He paused again his voice cracked with emotion as he brushed his fingers over her name on the stone before him, “I know what I must do.  While I’m sure you’d try to talk me out of it if you could, I have to put an end to his madness.  I can’t let him destroy another life Maria.  I’ve tried to do things the right way--the legal way, but he keeps slipping through the system leaving me no other choice,” he paused lifting his head up to the sky while saying a silent prayer, “I just hope that one day you’ll understand why I had to do this.  I hope one day you’ll see I had no other choice…”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Deidra put her money into the machine, ready to fuel herself up on yet another stale coffee for the day.  She’d half thought about going down to the cafeteria, but instead she’d opted to just make this a quick moment before her next appointment.  However, the machine before her decided it wasn’t about to agree with her now that it had eaten her quarters and left her without as much as a cup for coffee.
   
“Not today,” Deidra began to curse hitting the machine with growing frustrations.  She watched it remain silent against her slamming protests, but still the machine continued it’s stubborn opposition to her.  “Why me?”
   
“Having problems,” a voice questioned from behind her.
   
“That seems to be the story of my life,” Deidra groaned outwardly turning around to see Dean standing behind her.  Immediately she stood taller, feeling the tedious issue with the coffee machine secondary to the nerves that balled up in the pit of her stomach.
   
“Maybe I can help,” Dean suggested with a simple smile before taking a step closer to the machine.  He gave it a brief once over before turning to glance at her once again, “Now what was it you were hoping for?  Regular?  Decaf?”
   
“Given the mood I’m in, I think decaf would be best,” she confessed with a tiny sigh wondering how it was she always seemed to have the worst of luck especially around Dean.
   
“Decaf it is,” he nodded giving the machine a little bit of a jiggle.  He pressed a couple of buttons until ultimately the machine caved.  It spit out the cup along with the hot steaming liquid after his persuasions.  Leaning over he reached for the Styrofoam cup once the machine had finished it’s pour.  He secured his hold on it before turning around to hand it over to Deidra, “Here you are.”
   
“Thank you,” she couldn’t help but smile feeling truly embarrassed about the fit she’d been having leading up to his arrival, “I’m sorry for being such a drama queen there.”
   
“Oh please,” he shook his head at her, “you should see me when this thing decides to without my daily dose of java.  I’m downright brutal, which is probably why it was willing to comply to my blunt force this morning.”
   
She laughed lightly, “Sounds like you both have a love/hate relationship.”
   
“More like a hate/hate relationship, but at the same time Old Bessie here doesn’t want to be replaced either,” he patted the side of the machine.
   
“Bessie huh,” she gave him a strange look.
   
“Don’t ask,” Dean stepped away from the machine, “So how has your day been going so far?”
   
“You mean other than my nearly tearing about a coffee machine to get my drink,” Deidra questioned shifting on her feet uneasily.
   
“Yeah well, we’ll forget all about that,” Dean stepped in closer to her, lowering his voice as if he didn’t want the machine to hear, “I think she’s a bit possessed.”
   
“Possessed you say,” Deidra repeated with wide eyes casting a look over to the machine.  “Really?”
   
“That’s right,” Dean nodded in response, “Every time I’m having a bad day, she’s usually the culprit.”
   
“I see, so in other words you’re warning me if I wasn’t having a bad day before I will from here on out,” Deidra arched a curious brow.
   
“Actually that was how the system went for me, though when I saw you here I figured that my luck might be changing,” he suggested with a confident grin, “I mean how often is it that I find myself aiding a pretty lady.”
   
“Well, I’m not sure what your track record is around here, but I’m sure you’d probably have it happen a lot more often if you weren’t always having to rescue me from whatever disaster comes my way,” she answered with a soft sigh.
   
“Now, why do I sense another pessimistic feel to that statement,” Dean questioned giving her a curious look, “After all who says that I don’t enjoy rescuing you?”
   
“If you do, then you must be far more bored with your life than I’d thought possible,” she couldn’t help but tease watching the way his dark hair hung around his face.  His features were truly remarkable and his dark eyes just did something to her every time he looked at her.  It was as if he just had this glow about him that got her thinking about…  No, she wasn’t going to start getting giddy about every co-worker that looked her way.
   
“Maybe I see our encounters as a sign that fate wants us to get closer,” he suggested with a smile, “Like maybe we should explore what the universe is trying to tell us.”
   
“And just what might that be,” she asked watching the way that confidence he’d carried with him rushed over his posture.  He stood up straighter, giving her a look that would surely send any woman to her knees and offer him anything he’d asked for.  He was that kind of man that clearly set your IQ back a few points with his natural charm and charisma.  That in itself had Deidra trying to find a way not to be reeled in by him, but it was a futile fight.
   
“That perhaps we should work on changing both of our luck and have dinner with one another,” he suggested with sexy, rugged smirk,  “What do you say?”
   
“Dr. Carlisle, are you asking me out on a date,” she questioned with wide eyes feeling the warmth radiating from him standing beside her.
   
“Given that you are by far the most intriguing woman I’ve ever met, I think I’d be a fool not to ask,” he confessed leaning in closer yet, “So what do you say Deidra, will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
   
“You sure work fast, don’t you,” she couldn’t help but laugh nervously.  She leaned back against the wall behind her trying to brace herself up now that her knees had grown shaky at the scent of his cologne.
   
“There’s something to be said for being direct,” Dean nodded in admission, “and besides, you can’t tell me that you’re not tempted.”
   
“Temptation often leads to trouble for me,” she revealed unable to keep her eyes off of him.
   
“Trouble isn’t necessarily always a bad thing,” Dean mused with a pleading expression, “and besides, I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.  Anywhere you want to go, just say the word and we’re there.”
   
“And if I decline the offer,” Deidra arched a curious brow.
   
“Then I’ll be stopping by here tomorrow say around the same time to try to persuade you to accept,” Dean smiled at her once again, “Come on Deidra.  What do you have to lose?”
   
“More than you can even imagine,” she thought to herself remembering how her impulsive move had lead her into the arms of a serial killer and before that she’d been bogged down in a marriage that had turned to misery.  Still there was something about Dean--something about the way he made her feel eager and restless inside wanting to explore the possibilities of what getting to know him better would provide.  It would be taking a risk, but then again hadn’t she said she’d wanted to live a little more lately?  Hadn’t she wished that she could break out of the shell that she’d kept herself buried within?  This was her chance to take that leap and with Dean, it could be very easy to enjoy being lost in the moment.
   
“Well,” Dean questioned penetrating her thoughts with his brilliant, white smile, “What do you say?”
   
“I say you’ve got yourself a dinner date,” Deidra decided accepting his offer in her step forward in trying to move on with her life.
   
“Excellent,” Dean couldn’t help but reach out to tuck a strand of hair from her face in a suddenly intimate gesture.  Their eyes connected and the two grew silent as something was brewing in the air between them, “You won’t be disappointed.”
   
“I sure hope not,” Deidra thought to herself memorizing the expression on Dean’s face wondering if he could be the key to her finally moving forward in her life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dave stepped off the elevators thinking of needing a way to unwind after the disaster that had happened at the Stone Estate.  While he was certain there was a great deal of paper work waiting for him at the office, his first instinct had been to go to Deidra.  Sure she hadn’t been expecting him, but when things were giving him mixed messages lately he’d run to her.  There were times when he’d tried to figure himself out, but ultimately his thoughts had consumed him leading him back to her.  They’d had a few awkward moments lately, but maybe now that work was a mess, Dave could work on fixing his personal life starting with Deidra.
   
“You have to be honest with her,” he’d given himself a pep talk in the elevators on the way up to find her.  He’d stopped in at her office ready to tell her all only to discover she’d gone on break.  Knowing where he might be able to find her, Dave held the bouquet of roses in hand knowing that while they might be a bit much, he needed to do something special for her.  Roses were a way of saying how you feel, his grandmother had once told him.  He was certain that they would say a lot to Deidra--perhaps more than he’d been willing to say after they’d taken a leap towards something with one another.  Sure, they both might’ve blown it off, but in retrospect, he couldn’t get her out of his mind.  Crazy as it sounded, he found himself longing to spend time with her more than ever.
   
“You can do this,” he instructed himself turning around the corner to go to the coffee machine Deidra had usually picked up her caffeine from only to discover someone else standing there.  He paused in his step, thinking that he’d just missed her now that there was a dark haired man leaning over a woman who stood against the wall.  Judging by their posture they were in some kind of intimate moment with one another and the last thing Dave wanted to do was intrude.  He took a step back ready to seek Deidra out elsewhere, but was stopped by the sound of her laughter.
   
“Deidra,” he mouthed to himself turning around again to realize that she was the woman engaged in the moment with none other than Dr. Dean Carlisle.  In that instant he felt his heart stop, his eyes grow wide with confusion and then understanding as he watched the two of them interact.  Not only had Dean rescued her from Bruce’s attack, but he’d also sparked some kind of interest in her.  That was obvious in the way that they continued to flirt with one another. 
   
Feeling his heart sink, Dave forced himself to walk away.  He couldn’t bear to have witnessed what he had, but now he knew the truth.  Now he knew where he stood with Deidra and it was then that he realized it was time to let go of the stupid infatuation he’d had with her.  She didn’t feel what he felt and it was time to move on.  Looking down to the roses in hand, Dave shook his head poignantly before dumping them into the trash can just ahead of him.  Heading over to the elevators he was tempted to look back--to see the woman he’d dreamt about moving on with her life.  Instead he stepped into the elevators never looking back now that reality had given him the truth that he’d ignored for all these years.  He and Deidra would never be anything more than friends.  That was all there was to it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The credits began to move over the television screen bringing about the end of the movie that Hart had put on for him and Jenna to watch with one another.  However, fifteen minutes into the film, the movie had been nothing more than background music to the drama that was unfolding between the two lovers.  Now as Jenna sank into Hart’s arms laying against his muscled chest, he ran his fingers through her hair savoring this time they spent with one another.
   
“I love you, you know,” Hart whispered kissing the top of her head.  He felt her squeeze in closer to him before she lifted her head to look up at his goofy grin.
   
“I love you too,” Jenna mused shifting her body over his so that they were face to face.  Reaching out to trace his jaw line lightly, she couldn’t help but smile down at him, “How is it that you always find a way to distract me from all the troubles in my life when I need it the most?”
   
“I’d like to think of myself as more than a distraction,” he admitted with a sheepish smile tracing his fingers up over her spine, “I was thinking that I was more of an obsession.”
   
“An obsession,” Jenna repeated with a tiny chuckle before leaning forward to nibble on his lower lip, “and why might I put you into that category?”
   
“Because you can’t seem to get enough of me,” Hart suggested curling his arm around her.  He hugged her closer to him before rolling her beneath him on the couch.  Now hovering over her, he couldn’t help but find himself mesmerized by her beautiful passion spent features. 
   
“You’d like me to own up to that, wouldn’t you,” she couldn’t help but tease him in response.
   
“Actually, I was kind of hoping for a little something else here for us,” he divulged reaching out to press his palm against her cheek, he thought about the things that had been on his mind recently.
   
“Such as,” she questioned taking note of the certain sentimentality that overtook his handsome features.  Feeling his body above hers, she lifted her hand to touch his face, “Hart, what is it?”
   
“I’ve been thinking about us,” he admitted with a strange expression, “and the truth to the matter is that we’ve really found our niche with one another, haven’t we?”
   
“I suppose that’s one way of putting it,” she laughed lightly thinking about how their relationship had evolved over the past few months.
   
“Well, I was hoping that we could work on taking things to the next level,” he saw the first flicker of confusion behind her eyes before he continued, “Just hear me out on this one.”
   
“Okay,” she nodded in response, “I’m listening.”
   
“I was thinking that since you and I pretty much have this system working for us, that maybe just maybe we could work on trying out something new,” Hart took in a slow breath, “I mean hey you always seem to enjoy the time we spend with one another.”
   
“Is that the vibe that you’re getting off of me because if it is I’m giving you all the wrong signals,” she teased with a tiny chuckle.
   
“Jen, I’m serious here,” Hart’s voice grew tender and solemn in the moment, “I was thinking about our situation and I was thinking that maybe it’s time we give something new a try.  I think that we should live together.”
   
“Live together,” her eyes widened in response, “You mean as in sharing the same home?”
   
“That’s generally what comes along with living together,” he nodded with a tiny chuckle, “I mean if you think about it, I’m always here all the time anyways.  It’s not as if we haven’t already gotten used to waking up with one another and spending our days together when we have free time.”
   
“Well yes, but…living together is a whole new thing there for the both of us,” Jenna reminded him, “I’m used to having things my way and you have things your way.  Granted I like being at your place, but I really can’t see myself living there.”
   
“Somehow I thought you were going to say that which is why I was thinking that if you agreed to this, we’d go for the gusto and try something totally new for the both of us,” Hart informed her honestly, “There was this place I was looking into and I think it has something that we both would find very accommodating.”
   
“You’ve been house hunting for us,” she questioned in confusion.
   
“Among other things, but I figure that the cohabitation proposal might be a good start to warm you up for what else I have in mind,” Hart gave her a stunning smile, “So what do you say?”
   
“Are you asking me to just up and leave all of this behind,” she questioned motioning to their surroundings.
   
“I’m asking you to think about leaving all this behind and trying something new and different with me,” Hart explained simply, “and it’s not as if I’m trying to pull the reigns on our relationship.  I’ve just spoken with a realtor and I found a place that I think you might enjoy.”
   
“And if I don’t,” she arched a curious brow.
   
“Then we keep looking or we scratch the idea altogether,” he shrugged his shoulders, “However, what I am trying to convey here is that I love you Jenna and I want to spend my life with you.”
   
“Hart, I love you too, but you know how I can be.  I get moody and cranky and sometimes I’m totally off the wall and…” he silenced her with an impulsive kiss.
   
“And I love everything about that--about you,” he murmured against her mouth before their eyes reconnected, “Jen, I need you in my life like the air that I breathe and if I couldn’t be with you, well, I wouldn’t know where I would be.  However, I’m sure that I would absolutely hate the man I’d become if you hadn’t changed my life.”
   
“And you think this living together is a good way to show you’re mine,” Jenna questioned with the first hints of a smile.
   
“It’s a start,” he nodded in response, “Plus it gives me a chance to pamper you when needed.”
   
“Hmm, now that you mention that, there are some perks to this proposal, but perhaps we should have a test run at some of what that pampering would include,” she threw her arms around his neck urgently, “Any ideas on what that might include?”
   
“Maybe a little bit of this,” he tipped down to kiss her, “and a little of this…and perhaps a little of…”
   
“Oh,” Jenna cried out unable to contain her reaction to him.  Closing her eyes, she grazed her nails over his skin savoring their intimate moments with one another before their eyes reconnected, “I think I’m certainly up for considering the offer.”
   
“In that case, I’ll have to find a way to work on turning that consideration into an acceptance,” he decided claiming her mouth into a hungry kiss as the two lovers explored the passion burning between them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Mindy, darling you did a wonderful job pulling through for me tonight,” Paula Carmichael commended her daughter in between schmoozing her guests.  Her genuine smile was enough to give Mindy a strong sense of pride over a job well done.  Well, that along with Guy’s ingenious trip to one of the local bakeries to make up for what they’d ruined in their moment of play.
   
“Thank you mom,” Mindy smiled at her mother vowing to never reveal the whole truth about the things she and Guy had picked up on the way over.
   
“I must admit I’m impressed with the whole situation, but most of all you have me puzzled that he’s here with you,” Paula motioned to Guy who was over by the bar getting the both of them some drinks, “That’s something that I’ll admit I wasn’t pleased about knowing was returning in your life, yet tonight, well you seem happy.”
   
“Guy’s a good friend,” Mindy added with the beginnings of a smile, “above everything else we’ve been able to maintain that.”
   
“I’m glad to hear that,” Paula admitted, “given what lengths his wretched mother has gone to in order to make you miserable, I’m surprised that he’s found it in him to stand up to her.”
   
“He’s grown quite a bit over the years,” Mindy noted watching Guy make his way over to them once again.  He handed Paula her drink before offering a glass of champagne to Mindy.
   
“Here you are,” he smiled at Mindy.
   
“Thank you,” Mindy nodded appropriately.
   
“Yes, thank you for coming here tonight,” Paula added with a sincere grin of her own before catching note of the latest arrival at her gala, “Now if you’ll excuse me I must make my rounds.”
   
“Of course,” Mindy watched her mother race off to greet the senator.
   
“See, and you thought this was going to go horribly wrong,” Guy teased jabbing at her side, “What did I tell you?”
   
“You’re my miracle worker,” Mindy decided giving Guy the moment of praise he was fishing for.
   
“Why thank you,” Guy wrapped his arm around her shoulders, “We do make a fantastic team, don’t we?”
   
“That we do,” Mindy agreed turning her eyes up towards him, “It almost makes everything else seem worthwhile.”
   
“In that case, how do you feel about a dance,” Guy extended his arm out towards her, “Shall we?”
   
“I think we shall,” Mindy replied taking his hand before he lead her out to the dance floor.  He pulled her towards him in a slow, sensual movement to match the sultry tones of the jazz melody surrounding them.
   
“Now if my mother’s party only goes half as well,” Guy mused curving his arm around her slender waist.
   
“I’m sure it will, although after that the game is over,” she reminded him with a pointed expression.  “There won’t be any room for pretending or hiding from the truth.”
   
“I know that and I realize that you’ve been overly patient with me,” Guy offered up with a low sigh, “You’re too good to be true Mindy and if I can ever repay you for all you’ve done for me…”
   
“I’ll think of something that involves manual labor,” Mindy couldn’t help but tease.
   
“Alright, you’re on, but just don’t make it too down and dirty,” Guy teased back, “You know how I feel about breaking a sweat.”
   
“Tough, you owe me big time slacker,” she laughed lightly feeling him dip her to the change in the music’s vibrating, pounding beats.  “I could ask pretty much anything of you at this point and you couldn’t refuse.”
   
“You’d better be nice to me Mindy,” Guy warned with a pointed expression, “or else my feelings would be hurt.”
   
“I’m sure you’ll survive,” Mindy remarked feeling him pull her up into his arms once again, “You always do.”
   
“I’m not the only one,” Guy replied a moment of silence falling between them as he held her.  “Has anyone ever told you how incredible you are?”
   
“Not nearly enough,” she confessed watching the strange expression that crept over his features.  His hold on her constricted, their bodies inching in closer towards one another.  The silence engulfed the both of them until Guy finally tore himself away from her.  “Guy, what is it?”
   
“I need some air,” he announced leaving her alone on the dance floor trying to decipher just what was happening with her friend.  Something about the way he’d looked at her had felt almost like it once had years ago.  Granted time had passed and their situations had changed, but Mindy had to wonder if she wasn’t the only one reflecting on how things might’ve been between them.  Still considering the way life had been lately, she wasn’t going to push the issue especially now that she had her own questions about Guy’s lover and his loyalty to Guy.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Gabe stood outside Marc Ashley’s front door finding himself less than enthused about making the trip to see him.  However after Marc had issued that not-so-subtle threat where Brittany was concerned, Gabe couldn’t leave things open ended between them.  When the front door opened and Marc’s butler answered, Gabe was more than eager to just get this whole conversation over with.  The man lead Gabe into a room to wait and after what felt like an eternity, Marc entered the room.
   
“Why hello Gabriel,” Marc greeted him with the same suave demeanor that was his trademark, “how are you?”
   
“Not in the mood to play games,” Gabe replied with a hiss, “So how about we cut to the point?  What do you want?”
   
“Why you of course, but I think I’ve made my intentions known early into this relationship.  Wouldn’t you agree?” Marc arched a curious brow before making his way across the room to the small mini-bar, “Can I get you a drink?”
   
“No,” Gabe folded his arms in front of his chest, “I only came over here to tell you to leave Brittany alone.  She doesn’t need to be hassled by you since I have a feeling that’s how you were trying to bait me here.”
   
“I was merely expressing my concerns for your lovely daughter,” Marc shrugged his shoulders before pouring himself a drink, “as you know how little girls can be about their fathers.  They get so very attached to things in life and…”
   
“Stay away from her tournament,” Gabe warned him harshly, “My daughter has already been through enough.”
   
“Yes, I’d heard about Noelle’s run ins with rehab and about the legal battle that the two of you are in the midst of.  You know while I realize I’m not a direct part of the situation, I would like to offer my assistance to you,” Marc explained in a nonchalant fashion, “The way I see it, you and I can perhaps find an alliance with one another to help benefit young Brittany’s life.”
   
“My daughter’s well being doesn’t concern you,” Gabe waved his finger at him.
   
“But it does,” Marc stretched his arms out across the back of the sofa he was seated upon.  Watching Gabe’s movements, he continued to speak, “The way I see it, Noelle is going to try to use your current relationship status to try to keep Brittany away from you, but I could change that for you.  I know someone who will be more than happy to assist you in keeping that drug addicted hag away from Brittany forever.”
   
“As I said before, stay out of my life Marc,” Gabe warned him harshly.
   
“Do you really believe that you stand a chance at winning your daughter back by dawdling with that boy?” Marc taunted him, “You know as well as I do that a jury will have a field day with the situation.  Noelle will easily win custody of Brittany given that your man can’t even commit.  Do you think he’ll be stand up in a court of law about who he really is when he won’t even do it for his mother?  Besides, what kind of role model would that be to your daughter?”
   
“Marc, I’m warning you,” Gabe started before stopping himself and turning to leave, “On second thought this is a mistake.”
   
“A mistake would be walking out of here like that especially when I can tell you the path Noelle’s lawyer has taken to work towards discrediting you as a father,” Marc watched Gabe stop mid-movement, “It just so happens that the legal aid she’s obtained happens to run in a few of my circles and I got my hands on his file he’s building against you.”
   
Gabe said nothing, yet made no move to leave or return to Marc.
   
“The man is not only painting you as a sexual deviant that left a wounded Noelle, but he’s got a much darker, more fictional account of just how far your lust goes,” Marc watched Gabe’s body tighten up at the words he was saying, “I’d be more than willing to let you check it out should you reconsider your decision to leave.”
   
“Marc, I don’t need this…” Gabe warned him sharply.
   
“No, you don’t, but you should look at this,” Marc motioned towards the table top before him, “Take a look at how your ex is painting a portrait of you.  It’s very ugly.”
   
Unable to quell the curiosity eating away at him, Gabe reluctantly spun around and made his way over to the table.  Reaching for the envelope before him, he started to thumb through the papers only to be horrified by the desperate measures Noelle was taking to discredit him as a father.
   
“I told you she was brutal,” Marc watched Gabe’s face change with the knowledge upon him, “but if you let me, we can stop her in her tracks.  We can put an end to this blasphemy.”
   
“Why did you show me this,” Gabe questioned tightly thinking about what was waiting for him in Europe.
   
“Because you had a right to know,” Marc moved in closer to him placing his hand upon Gabe’s shoulder, “and because I care about you.”
   
“This is a lie,” Gabe closed his eyes thinking about how far Noelle had sank into her world of deceit.
   
“Indeed it is.  It’s a lie that needs to be put to rest and I can help you do that,” Marc tried to assure him brushing his finger tips over the top of Gabe’s jacket.
   
“And at what price,” Gabe questioned forcing his own eyes to fall upon the man who had ruined his life once before.
   
“You reconsider our relationship,” Marc stated plainly, “I’ve made no mistake in alerting you to how I feel.  You know what I will do when the time comes for this case to begin.  I will give you everything that you need emotionally and spiritually to help you get full custody of your daughter.  I won’t play games or skirt around the issues between us.”
   
“Marc, I…” Gabe started only to be silenced by Marc’s finger upon his lips.
   
“I’m giving you an opportunity to make things right for both of us.  We can be together again and we can save Brittany from the fate her mother has in store for her,” Marc explained his voice full of determination.  “If you’d stop fighting your heart, you’d see this could benefit the both of us--all of us for that matter.”
   
“I love Guy,” Gabe informed him bluntly refusing to let Marc feel he was winning.
   
“Yes, but is loving Guy worth the price of losing Brittany?” Marc challenged wondering if he had found the key to ending Gabe’s current relationship forever.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Heather started out the window of the dining room wondering how in the world she was going to rid herself of Cameron.  Sure she had a few ideas on how to start getting him right where she wanted him, but they weren’t anything complete just yet.  A twisted smile spread over her features at the thought of what it would be like to be his widow.  Not only would she have the perks of his fortune, but she’d be free to do as she pleased.  With Cameron gone, she could have the power and influence that was once his and she could used it to destroy those who opposed her.  That thought in itself was quite comforting after the misery that she’d endured.  Most people would think she was crazy for her having not ratted Cameron out.  Truth be told at the time she’d lied to the police and Diego, she’d wondered if she’d lost her mind as well.  Now however she was a woman on a mission and that mission included taking care of the husband who simply refused to live up to his promises.
   
“We’ll see who learns the next lesson,” she thought to herself a crooked grin sweeping over her face.  She heard the sound of Cameron’s return.  Slowly she spun around to face him now armed with the knowledge that she would do everything in her power to destroy her husband.
   
“I see your mood has improved,” Cameron couldn’t help but note eyeing her intently, “Can I trust it’s because you’ve thought about what we were discussing?”
   
“I have thought about it,” Heather nodded in confession, “and you were right Cameron.  I should’ve been more thoughtful about the situation we were in.  This was a business arrangement from the start and you’ve given me a great many things to work with.  I should’ve thought more wisely before I acted impulsively.”
   
“I see,” he nodded listening to her words, “and now?”
   
“Now I’ve decided to stop fighting the inevitable.  I know that you’re the one thing that is going to keep Douglas from coming between my child and I.  For that I’ll be forever grateful and given that you’ve allowed me to run my own company, well I should have nothing less than gratitude for you.”
   
“Uh huh,” he noted with an air of skepticism, “And you came to this realization only in the short time that I was gone?”


“You could say I had an epiphany so to speak,” she divulged sauntering over towards him, “I now understand my role in all of this as your wife.”
   
“You do?” he arched a brow.
   
“I do,” she nodded fanning her fingers out over the lapel on his jacket, “and I’m more than willing to live up to your expectations of me as long as you don’t hold the past against us.”
   
“I’m willing to forgive and forget,” he stated tentatively in an attempt to decipher her complete turnaround.
   
“Good because I was so hoping we could skip past the fighting and work on making up with one another,” she mouthed fanning her fingers out over his chest before her lips beckoned him to a kiss.
   
Cameron was reluctant at first, but ultimately he curled his arm around her while his other hand slipped up into her hair.  He tugged on her blonde tresses ever so slightly, finding himself mesmerized by her forward behavior.  Granted he was well aware of his wife’s history of using seduction as a tool for power, but in this instance, he would enjoy her little game.  Feeling her press up against him, he couldn’t help but think about indulging in what she was tempting him with, but alas he drew back.
   
“As much as I’d like for us to make up with one another,” he licked his lips tasting the sweetness of her upon them, “We have some travel arrangements to get working upon.”
   
“Travel arrangements,” Heather questioned in confusion watching the expression that rose over his features.
   
“I did promise you that I’d allow you a visit with Kipp didn’t I,” Cameron reminded her with a simple smile, “Surely, you didn’t think I forgot.”
   
“I…I…” Heather was stunned by his words, realizing that was the last thing she’d expected to hear out of him after the things he’d been saying to her.
   
“You need to get your bags packed as we have a long journey ahead of us,” Cameron urged her on.  He touched her shoulder gently watching the way in which her eyes revealed the confusion she was no doubt feeling at a time like this.
   
“I…I just don’t know what to…” Heather started completely shell shocked by his words.
   
“Maybe you can just chalk this up to my trying to give us a fresh start,” he suggested reaching for her hand.  He brought it up to her lips in a tentative brush of a kiss before releasing her, “How does that sound?”
   
“Surprising,” Heather admitted taking a step back.  Her eyes perused over him briefly before he stepped aside allowing her exit from the dining room.
   
“You should probably rest up considering that we have a long trip ahead of us,” he called out after her watching her disappear into the hallway.  Once she’d left the dining room, he couldn’t help but let out a wicked smirk knowing that this journey he’d had planned for them was about to change their lives forever in ways Heather wouldn’t even begin to imagine.  However, as he thought of his plans for what came next with Kipp, he was far certain that this trip would be the key to having Heather at his mercy until he was finished with what he needed from her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shannon stepped through the doors of the smoky bar ready to face the demons that had haunted her in the past.  Being an alcoholic had never been easy and places like this were always a challenge to her recovery, but tonight wasn’t about her.  This was about righting a wrong and she knew this was the place to start.  Up ahead she could see Diego at the bar, surrounded by the cheap blue neon lighting above.  His face was darkened by the shadows and perhaps the utter despair that was obviously surrounding him.  Tentatively she took a step forward pushing aside her own feelings about such a place.  This couldn’t wait and it wouldn’t for that matter, she decided as she made her way towards him.
   
“Is this seat taken,” she questioned reeling him back to the reality that surrounded him in his misery.  His head arched upward for the briefest of moments before his eyes returned to his drink once again.
   
“Do what you want,” he answered gruffly, seemingly unresponsive to her moving in beside him.
   
“You know this isn’t going to help anything,” she motioned to the drink in his hand.
   
“What would you know,” he frowned finishing off the burning liquid relief he’d found.
   
“More than you can imagine,” she replied watching him waving at the bartender.
   
“How about another over here,” Diego questioned and the man nodded in response.
   
“Not tonight,” Shannon interrupted before the man could pour another glass, “He’s cut off.”
   
“Look, I didn’t ask for your help,” Diego started to argue with her while the bartender watched their disagreement.  He seemed ready to pour another drink when Shannon pulled her FBI ID out of her pocket.
   
“I said he’s finished for the night,” she warned the bartender sharply.  The man raised his hands innocently before moving on to the next patron.
   
“Well, this is just wonderful,” Diego sneered at her.  He shifted in his seat, his dark eyes now fixed upon her, “So now what?”
   
“Now we work on getting you out of here,” Shannon urged him on watching the scowl that built upon his otherwise handsome features.
   
“Maybe you’re right on that.  There’s another bar across the street,” he pulled himself up off of the bar stool only to feel her tug at his arm.
   
“You’re not going to another bar.  I can’t let you do that,” she insisted refusing to let him walk away from her, “I understand that you’re upset, but this isn’t the answer.”
   
“No, it’s not, but it’s helping me find a solution,” he answered flatly trying to shrug out of her touch.
   
“Any solution that alcohol can bring is destined for failure,” she sighed heavily, “trust me I know first hand what kind of damage drowning yourself in this can do.  I’ve been there.”
   
“Not like this you haven’t,” he shook his head at her reaching for his jacket in an attempt to leave.
   
“Maybe I don’t know everything, but I don’t think Maria would want to see you doing this to yourself,” she watched him flinch upon her words before he spun around face her again.
   
“What did you just say?”
   
“I said that I don’t think Maria would want you killing yourself like this when there’s justice to be served,” Shannon stepped towards him in a bold motion hoping to appeal to that part of him she’d been attracted to upon their first meeting.
   
“Maria would know that justice has been perverted time and time again and she would realize why I have to do this,” Diego slurred, his words heavy with emotion.
   
“She wouldn’t want you to lose yourself because of what Cameron has done,” Shannon reached out to him, “Diego, I know what happened to her and why you were trying to help Heather.  I know what Cameron did and I want to help you.”
   
“Sure you do,” he chortled refusing to accept her words.
   
“I do,” she insisted unwilling to back down, “I saw what he did to Maria and despite what this town refuses to believe, I felt the truth.  I know that he was behind what happened to her and if you let me help you, then I swear to you we’ll find a way to let everyone else see that.”
   
“You don’t mean that,” Diego felt his head spinning with the words now that the alcohol was getting to him.
   
“Yes I do.  I know what it’s like being so damned close to the truth only to have someone rip it away from you.  I know what it’s like to be shot down when all you want is for those who wronged you to be punished,” Shannon continued moving in closer to him, “I’ve seen the same thing happen time and time again where the guilty party roams free and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.  Only this won’t be like before.  We can fight Cameron and win.”
   
“No one wins where he’s concerned,” he huffed before dropping his head down low, “they only lose.”
   
“Not this time they won’t, but Diego, you have to let me help you,” Shannon reached out to him touching his arm gently.  She could see the thin trail of tears that fell from his cheek and in that instant she realized that this kind of setting was the last thing they’d needed, “Let me take you home.”
   
“No,” he pushed away from her, “I don’t want to go back there.  Not when I can feel her disappointment in me--not when I think about how I failed her.”
   
“Diego please,” Shannon urged him on once again, “At least let me take you somewhere that we can talk.”
   
“Why,” he questioned raising his head once again.
   
“Because I do care,” Shannon admitted honestly, “Despite what’s happened, I do care about what happens to you.  I want to get rid of Cameron as much as you do and maybe together we can find a way to make that happen.  If you help me put the pieces of the puzzle into place, then maybe just maybe we’ll beat him at his own game.”
   
“No one ever does,” he reminded her poignantly.
   
“That’s because they haven’t played by our rules before Diego.  If you let me in, then I swear to you I’ll help you find a way to right the wrongs he’s put upon you,” Shannon reached out to him hoping that somehow she could pull him through this dark spot in his life.  She could only imagine what he must be feeling at a time like this, but the alcohol spoke for itself and Shannon wasn’t about to let Diego become another victim in Cameron Stone’s reign of terror.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Are you sure you’re okay honey,” Avery questioned touching Russell’s arm after they’d arrived home with one another.
   
“I’ll be okay,” Russ nodded motioning to Jade, “Why don’t you help her settle in?  Then we can take her back to her apartment to get what she needs.  Maybe after we‘ll pick up a quick dinner as well.”
   
“Alright, but when I get back, we’re going to finish this conversation before we leave to get Jade‘s things,” Avery informed him honestly.  She eyed him for a long moment before showing Jade to the guest room at their home.
   
Once Avery had cleared out of the living room, Russ made his way over to the desk where he’d dropped off the envelope that had arrived at the paper.  He could still hear Kyle’s warnings about getting in over his head, but he had to know.  What was it that the envelope contained that could be the key to saving his future?  Who was the mystery caller that had offered up assistance to him?  What was she trying to offer and more so how would it effect his family?
   
“There’s only one way to find out,” Russ decided tearing into the envelope.  Reaching inside, he pulled out what appeared to be photographs.  At first he wasn’t sure what he was looking at, but then there was an alleyway with Bruce Mathis standing in the shadows.  He was hovering over someone--someone that was too blurred for him to see.  He flipped to the next photo recognizing the figure as that of a woman.  He wasn’t sure of what more he could make of the image, but there was something about the shots that left him feeling unsettled.
   
“Okay, what are you trying to tell me,” Russ questioned turning to the next image to find one of Brooke and Bruce with one another in that same alley.  While they stood face to face, the image in itself seemed less threatening than the former one.  However, when he flipped to the next set of photos, he discovered Bruce with the private investigator that had paid him a visit.  There were also clippings included on Brooke’s kidnapping--clippings that clearly were put in the envelope for a purpose.
   
As if the person who’d sent them read his mind and knew what he was doing, his phone rang.  Reaching for it Russ answered on the second ring knowing full well who to expect on the other end of the line.
   
“I trust you’ve taken a look at the photos,” the woman questioned in a cryptic tone.
   
“I have, but what does all this mean?” Russ asked returning to the image of Brooke and Bruce with one another.  Bruce was handing her some sort of package--a small box of sorts and with the way she was looking at him…
   
“If you want to know everything, then meet me tomorrow at the airport,” she explained quickly, “I don’t have much time, but you deserve the truth.”
   
“Then tell me now,” Russ urged her on, “Tell me what you think I should know about Bruce Mathis--about my mother-in-law.”
   
“I can’t right now.  It’s not safe, but I promise you at the airport you’ll understand everything,” she continued her voice lowering to a whisper.
   
“How will I know where to find you?” Russ questioned in confusion wondering what was waiting for him with this woman.
   
“I’ll find you around six thirty.  I know that you’re leaving town as well so I won’t be long,” she explained.
   
“But how did you…” he started up in confusion.
   
“The same way they know what you’re doing right now.  There are people there watching you--people who don’t want you or your wife to know the truth, but you deserve that much.  The man I loved died seeking out the truth…”
   
“Man…what man…” Russ questioned again.  “Who died?”
   
“I can’t say much more because it’s not safe.  Please no more questioned.  Just meet me at the airport at six thirty.  I’ll call you when you get there and we’ll make arrangements about where we will meet up and please, don’t be late,” she urged him on, “because I’m leaving Coral Valley.  It’s no longer safe for me here…”
   
“Who are you?  What’s your name?” he tried to fish for more information.
   
“I’ll explain tomorrow, but until then, just be careful,” the woman warned before hanging up the phone leaving Russ with only about a million questions.  Looking back to the image before him, he found himself wondering just what had happened between Bruce and Brooke when he’d ‘kidnapped’ her.  Something about her story didn’t ring true and now with this picture, well he had a feeling there was far more to the tale than he’d ever imagined. 
   
Reaching for his phone once again, he dialed Kyle’s number.  After three rings Kyle answered and Russell spoke to him urgently, “Listen I need to ask a favor.  Tomorrow I’m going to find out exactly what is going on here and I’m going to need your help…” Russ started to explain hoping that whatever the caller had in store for him would be the key to ending the threat lingering over his family.



...to be continued...