As soon as Matthew got home, Rachel asked , "How is Sofia?"

"Well - " he said, "She wakes up more often, and stays awake for longer periods of time, and she knows who she is , and who other people are - "

"Somehow I get the feeling that your next word is going to be 'but'." said Rachel.

"But - she thinks it's last year, and that she and Nick are engaged!"

"Oh my!" said Rachel, "I'm sure it's only temporary, Darling. Like the time Carl woke up, after he had been shot, and thought he was in love with Iris! He was back to normal in a few days."

"It can't be soon enough for me!" said Matthew grimly.

****

"Josie?"

"Oh, Hello, Cindy."

"Is it true that Sofia Carlino was wearing a leopard-print scarf when she was attacked?"

"Yeah - why?"

"I lost a scarf like that - at the Harbour Club. Could I see it?"

"I suppose so - if the Forensics people are through with it."

****

"Are you out of your ever-loving mind?" said Cass.

"Not in the least." said Felicia.

"You're planning to Marry a man you don't even know, and you expect me to believe that you're not crazy?"

"I guess it's no use asking you to give me away, then."

"In your dreams!"

****

"Claudia, would you ask Lila to join us, please?"

"Yes, Mrs Hutchins."

A few minutes later, Lila came downstairs, with Jasmine clutched in her arms.

"I thought you should be present when I tell Matthew." Rachel explained.

"Tell me what, Mom?"

"Zack Wilder is working for Jordan Stark." said Rachel, "He told Lila to steal my wedding ring, presumably so that Stark could earn my gratitude by returning it. "

"What's going on, Lila?" said Matthew, "Is Stark paying you?"

"No!" said Lila, "Zack said that if Ah helped him, he'd help me!"

"Help you how?"

"He said he'd make sho' you married Me, not Sofia! Ah thank he's the one who tried to kill her! Ah sweah to you , Matt, Ah didn't know he was gonna do that!"

Matthew thought for a minute. "The first thing I'm gonna do is fire Wilder!"

"Wait, Matthew." said Rachel, "Now that we know he can't be trusted, we should keep an eye on him, until we find out exactly what he and Stark are planning."

"Can we trust Lila not to tell him that we're on to him?" said Matthew.

"Mah lips ah' sealed!" said Lila.

****

Cindy shuddered as she looked at the scarf; most of it was stiff with bloodstains, dried almost black; the leopard-print pattern could only be made out on the ends.

"It's mine, all right." she said.

"Sofia must have picked it up, and put it on, for some reason." said Josie.

"If I'd been wearing it -" Cindy mumbled, then, aloud: "Can I have it back? It's my property."

"I guess so - but why would you want it? You'll never be able to get those bloodstains out!"

"Thanks, Josie." Cindy wadded the scarf up and put it in her pocket.

****

"Here, Peaches." said Tito, "Your very own medical records, complete with x-rays. All you have to do is white-out the name 'Morris Birnbaum' and put your own."

****

"Cynthia! What are you doing here?" said Grant, opening the door of his new suite.

Cindy had a peculiar, mirthless grin on her face. She took the scarf out of her pocket.

"Recognize this?" she demanded, waving it in his face, "Sofia Carlino was wearing it, when you beat her head in!"

"Don't be absurd!" said Grant, "Why would I attack the Carlino girl?"

"You thought she was ME!"said Cindy, "A sneak attack is just your style!"

"Aren't you forgetting something, Cynthia?" said Grant, holding up his shackled wrist, "My every move is monitored."

"You found a way to beat that! I know you ,Grant!" said Cindy, "The price for the divorce just went up! My silence isn't going to cost half your money ; it's going to cost two-thirds!"

****

The Lone Gunmen were impressed; Wally might be nuttier than a fruitcake, but he knew his way around a computer.

"There's not an encryption I can't break!" he said, as the meaningless letters and numbers filling the screen began to change into recognizable words : LUMINA FOUNDATION.

To be continued.