Tarnished Armor
Part 106

Belinda’s apartment.

Liza is on the couch. Belinda is on the phone.

Belinda: What I’m saying is that I’ve reviewed all of the paperwork and there are no grounds for prosecution, let alone an investigation. ... Feel free to do so, but I should advise you that if the investigation becomes public, you will be subject to a lawsuit. ... I understand. Do you? ... That will be fine.

Belinda hangs up the phone.

Belinda: They want to review your books, but that should be it.

There’s a knock at the door.

Belinda goes to the door. Stuart is standing outside.

Stuart: Belinda? Have you seen Liza? There’s a problem with the station and Ryan says it’s important that she fixes it.

Belinda: Yes. I remembered.

Stuart: He called you too?

Liza gets a strange look on her face.

Belinda: Not yet, but Liza --

Liza rises from the couch.

Liza: Hello, Stuart.

Stuart: Liza! You’re here!

Belinda: Well, of course she’s --

Stuart: I'm so sorry about Colby.

Liza: Stuart? You know, it’s such a funny thing, but I can’t remember the last time I saw you. Do you remember when it was?

Stuart: Who me?

Liza: Is there another Stuart?

Stuart: Um. You came over with Adam ‘cause you wanted to know a secret. Is that right?

Liza is silent for a moment.

Liza: Yes. I think it is.

Belinda: But you --

Liza: Thanks for checking up on me, Stuart. We’re taking care of the problem.

Stuart: You should also think about apologizing to your mother.

Liza: Hell hasn’t frozen over. Good-bye, Stuart.

Stuart: You and Adam. Why do you have to be so mean?

Liza: Good-bye, Stuart.

Stuart: Bye, Belinda. Tell your friend to learn some manners.

Stuart leaves and Belinda closes the door.

Liza goes back to the couch.

Belinda stares at Liza for a moment, and then goes over to the stove and shuts off a warmer underneath a pan that has been heating.

Belinda: You mind telling me what that was about?

Belinda takes the pan and pours the contents into a mug.

Liza: Our late night visitor wasn’t Stuart, Belinda. It was someone who looks a lot like Stuart.

Belinda: Oh.

Belinda goes over to the couch and hands the mug to Liza. Liza peers into the mug.

Liza: Milk?

Belinda: It does a body good.

Liza: I haven’t had milk since...

Liza puts the mug up under her chin and blows on the milk.


******


Chandler Mansion. Adam and Liza’s bedroom.

Adam sits holding a locket. There’s another box sitting beside him.

Adam opens the locket, and looks at a picture of a young woman opposite a picture of young identical twin brothers. He slowly closes the locket and gently places it inside the box. Then he puts a cover on the box. He takes his marker and labels the box, “Hayley.”


******


Belinda’s apartment.

Liza is now lying down on the couch.

Liza: It’s like turkey, isn’t it?

Belinda: The milk? Yes. Maybe I should get a job as a hypnotist. Listen to the sound of my voice --

Liza turns over, away from Belinda. Belinda stops speaking.

Belinda: Liza?

Liza: Yes?

Belinda: Are you okay?

Liza: I’m just tired.

Belinda: Why don’t you sleep? I’ll be in my room if you need me.

Liza: Okay.

Belinda leaves the room.

Liza turns over. She’s crying. She gets up and goes to the kitchen.


******


Chandler Mansion. Adam and Liza’s bedroom.

Adam sits on the bed, staring ahead.

His cell phone rings.

Adam lets it ring five times and then answers it.

Adam: Yes? ... Yes.

He closes his eyes.

Adam: I’m sorry, Adrian. I completely forgot.

Adam’s eyes narrow.

Adam: You’re sure? ... When? ... No, no, I can handle this alone. ... I don’t give a damn. ... Fine, have it your way. ... Why? ... I’m simply going to meet with him and outline exactly how painful his pitiful life is about to become. And then I’m going to systematically destroy him. ...You do what you want. ... Adrian? Thank you.

Adam hangs up the phone.

 
Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Five
Part One Hundred and Seven