"Scared?" Stephanie moves even closer and Julia whimpers, wishing that this is all a hallucination.

"You're dead!" she cries out through tears.

"That's wishful thinking." The shadow of Stephanie's looming figure takes over a side wall making the situation even more terrifying.

Julia shuts her eyes as Stephanie stops in front of her, waiting for the knife to enter her body but to her surprise, she can feel the rope around her legs loosening and wide eyed, she looks down to see Stephanie untying the binds. She attempts to kick out, hoping to knock the knife out of Stephanie's hands but there is merely a twitch as Julia's legs refuse to move.

"What have you done to me?" Julia yells, rocking in a desperate attempt to move. She can feel her legs so why can't she move them?

"When a person becomes…what was the term you used?" Stephanie pauses and puts a finger to her lips as if she is thinking. She takes a soft, disturbing tone, "Oh yes, mental. When a person becomes mental…such as myself, one has access to a whole wealth of drugs." Stephanie smiles as she continues to untie the rope.

"You poisoned me?" The rope drops to the floor and Stephanie moves behind her to start on her arms.

"I wouldn't say poisoned exactly…you see I want you alive. I want you to be paralyzed and watch me. Because when I kill you, there will be nothing you can do about it."

"No!" Julia chokes back tears. "How did you get me up here?"

"Hospital security is so lax these days. But I must say, I did wonder why you didn't hire extra security. Thanks for making my job easier."

"I didn't hire extra security because I thought you were dead!"

"Then this is a pleasant surprise isn't it?"

Stephanie leaves the ropes on the floor and picking up the knife, she heads back to the corner of the room, where she puts a blanket on the table. Julia squirms but there is minimal movement. Her whole body feels limp and she rocks precariously on the chair. Suddenly there is a crash as the chair falls to the ground landing on top of Julia who is sprawled on the floor.

"Must you make life so difficult? I wanted to get you out of the way before my husband got here."

"You lunatic. You killed my son." Julia sighs and stops moving as she loses hope. Stephanie stands above her, laughing menacingly.

"You'll never learn will you?" Stephanie puts her hands under Julia's arms and lifting her, she groans as she drags her over to the table.

"Please don't kill me." Tears begin to well up again and Julia sobs as Stephanie pulls her up roughly onto the wooden table. She focuses her attention on the burning lamp above the fireplace. Maybe if she just watches that and blocks out everything else, she won't feel any pain.

"Everything's ready. Anything you want to say?" Julia remains silent but can feel Stephanie's eyes on her as she grips the knife. "No? Makes life easier for me. Goodbye Julia. And good riddance." Stephanie pulls the knife up and prepares to plunge it down but stops when she hears a bang behind her. She spins round and sees David standing in the doorway.

"Stop!" he shouts out breathlessly.

"David!" Julia yells as Stephanie panics. Surging forwards with the knife, she runs towards David ready to get him out of the way once and for all.

There is little noise as David realizes what is happening and grabs Stephanie's arm before she can reach him. Pulling her close, he struggles with her frantically, desperate for the knife not to injure him. "The police are on their way Stephanie. Just give it up." He backs away, holding out his hands and moving, ready to pounce.

"No!" Stephanie swipes forwards with the knife but David grabs her arm and throws her. She flies forwards and smashes her head against the fireplace, dropping to the ground.

David wipes his brow and immediately runs over to Julia who is struggling to move. Her arms and legs are beginning to recover but she still cannot move herself from the table.

"I can't move." She whispers. "Stephanie drugged me."

Without speaking, David picks Julia up and heads to the door. Sirens can be heard and the pair see police cars coming through the dense forest towards the cabin.

After several minutes of waiting, Julia and David watch thankfully as the police go into the cabin and drag away an agitated Stephanie. As they pull her out, blood drips from her head but her eyes burn with hatred. "Don't think this is the end!" she slurs, still affected by the debilitating thump to her head. "I'm going to ruin your lives just like you've ruined mine!"

As Stephanie is driven away, handcuffed by the police, her threats seem empty and David holds Julia as she cries uncontrollably.

La Mer Restaurant: Los Angeles

"This is such a surprise." Brooke enthuses as a waiter seats her at a table near the main window. It is dark outside of the beach side restaurant and the lights from a distant pier are reflected off the water.

Surprise is right. "I read an article about your work in the LA Times and decided to pay a visit." Mark peruses the menu, keeping his head down. He is worried that if he looks at Brooke for too long, he will be forced to blurt out the truth.

"You probably know that Morgan and I weren't…exactly close." A thought hits Brooke. "Did she ever talk about me?"

"Um." Mark clears his throat. "No, not exactly. She was quite elusive about her background."

"I'm not surprised. The police told me about her profession, when she was killed. I came to San Francisco you know. I saw Darren Kelly testify. You weren't there were you."

"No. It was too painful."

"I'm sure." Brooke beckons to the waiter and both she and Mark state their choices. The waiter scribbles the whole list down and walks away. Brooke waits until he is out of earshot before returning to the conversation. "When did you meet her?"

"Whilst I was living in the Napa Valley. She…" Tell her the truth. You owe it to her.

"Yes?" Brooke leans forward. Her eyes are wide with hope, perhaps wanting to hear something positive about her daughter. But of course Mark has nothing positive to say.

"Morgan worked with me on a book I was writing. I told you I'm a novelist…"

"Yes. Very interesting. Of course I thought you were an actor when you turned up this evening. You've got that look about you…very handsome."

Where have I heard that before? "Thank you. I'm flattered." Mark looks around hoping to escape and knowing that this has all been a mistake. What on earth possessed me to track her down? A sense of guilt? Obligation? There is no way I can tell her the truth…that Morgan was once pregnant with my child…that she was paid by Julia to seduce me.

"Mark?"

"Yes?"

"I've been trying to get your attention." Brooke flashes him a smile. "How would you feel about staying with me for the next couple of days? That is unless you've got somewhere else to go."

"No but…"

"Good! I'd love to hear more stories about Morgan. You being here is like a breath of fresh air. Maybe I can finally find out some more about my daughter."

"You will." Mark flinches on thinking about everything he has to reveal. It's just a case of choosing the right moment…

Fernbanks Crematorium: San Francisco

It is several days later and although time has passed, emotions are still raw for the whole family. The only thing Isabelle can take solace in is that only Jake died in the church. Every time she thinks that, she feels an overwhelming sense of guilt. After all, Jake was her grandson. But even though it almost disgusts her to think it, she is glad that it was him who died and not one of her children.

Isabelle walks into the main room of the crematorium. Most of the family are seated apart from Michael who is still in hospital. Julia sits at the front, being supported by David. Isabelle wonders where Cassie is and moves her eyes amidst the sea of black to find her sitting on the back row next to Neal. Guy. His name is Guy. Isabelle inwardly scolds herself. She watches them for a while, wondering why they are together but immediately turns away when Guy notices her and looks up. Lauren grabs Isabelle's hand and gently pulls her down into her seat.

"This is a rather ironic choice isn't it?" Guy whispers. "Is there even much left to…you know…burn?"

"I don't know." Cassie snaps at the joke. "And I don't want to be here."

"I know I'm sorry." Guy puts a comforting arm around her, oblivious to the staring eyes of many members of the congregation. "Do you have to say anything?"

"Yes. Isabelle asked me to. A tear forms in Cassie's eye which she quickly dabs away, "But I didn't love him and I feel like a hypocrite."

"Don't beat yourself up over it. You know if this was a movie, Jake would probably still be alive."

"Don't say that. I'm paranoid enough already."

At the front of the church Julia turns and stares at Isabelle without emotion.

"What's wrong with you?" David asks.

"I won't let her see me break down. I won't let her think I feel guilty. It wasn't my fault."

"Of course it wasn't." David pats her hand gently. "At least now you can make them pay."

"More than you think. I've got more than one way of keeping my strangle hold on Isabelle's precious family."

"What?" David arches his eyebrows and looks bemused.

"Marrying Michael. That will shake Isabelle's world permanently."

"What about us?" David lets go of her hand and stares at her not believing she could be so flippant.

"What about us? Our little union can wait. I've got bigger fish to fry."

David opens his mouth to reply but is cut short by the swelling of organ music and the minister taking the podium. The congregation listen intently for several minutes as he talks about Jake's life. Jessica finds the words comforting and looks at Tommy. Even though she is glad for him, she can't help but feel resentful that her brother died…and his mother…the woman who caused it all, survived.

"...And Jacob Wheeler will always live in our hearts. Now his mother, Julia Wheeler would like to say a few words."

Julia moves jerkily to the podium and puts her hands on either side to support herself as she speaks warily into the microphone. All eyes are on her. Even people who do not deserve to be there. "What can I say about Jake? He was my firstborn…my only son. And were always close. When he was only small, he would come to me if he fell over in the playground. I'd kiss his graze better…and it always worked. And when he got older, he'd come to me to soothe his latest broken heart…"

Julia flicks her stare to Cassie who isn't even watching. "The thing I thank God for is that we were close enough for him to do that. Even before he died we were still close. He would come to me for advice on anything. And although every mother says this about their children, Jake was special. He made me realize how pure love could be because I love my children more than anything else in the world. There was nothing I wouldn't have done for him. I'd have died for him…"

She swallows the lump in her throat, determined not to cry. "But I couldn't be there for him to save him and the only thing that keeps me going, is knowing that he has escaped everything he hated in life." Julia steps down from the podium and looks at a large framed picture of Jake. "I love you Jake. Sleep with the angels sweetheart." Julia puts two fingers to her lips and then presses them against the photograph, saying goodbye for the final time.

"Thank you Mrs Wheeler." The minister says quietly. "Now Jake's widow Cassandra has a few things to say."

The congregation wait for her to take the podium but nothing happens. Isabelle looks round at Cassie who is frozen in her seat. She peers at her stomach, followed by the photograph of Jake and filled with rage, she jumps out of her seat and storms up to the podium. "I've got a few things to say alright." Cassie hisses into the microphone. "And I'll tell the truth about Jake Wheeler."

Julia's face contorts with shock as she realizes what Cassie is about to do. She is ready to jump up but David pins her down with his arm, stopping her from making a scene.

"Jake was my husband in name only. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Because he was a spiteful, hateful human being and marrying him was the biggest mistake of my life."

"Cassie!" Isabelle exclaims but her plea falls on deaf ears as Cassie continues.

"Julia or anyone else in the family can dress it up all they like but the reality is Jake was evil. Whether that was a result of his dubious parental role models I don't know…but I am glad he died before the baby I am carrying ever got to know him as a father. He was too jealous a man to ever have loved another human being as much as he loved himself." She begins to step down but then decides to continue, regardless of the grieving family. "And of course the ironic thing is…that the baby I'm carrying probably isn't even Jake's. For the last few months…I have been having an affair with Guy Richardson. Call me a slut, whore…whatever you want. But Guy has shown me as much love as Jake did hate. That's a hell of a lot."

Taking in the stunned gasps and murmuring of the congregation, Cassie steps down and walks confidently down the aisle, pleased that she has finally blown away the lies that Julia has tried to weave. The only thing that strikes her is the disappointment in Isabelle's eyes, but it had to be done. Cassie grabs Guy's arm and they both walk out of the church, turning their backs not only on Jake…but the entire family.

San Francisco General Hospital: San Francisco

What was wrong with her? Jessica ponders as she walks alone down the hallways of the hospital. The family have left the service and headed home to lick their wounds. Jessica on the other hand has come to the hospital to receive word from the doctor about her burns. She takes a seat in the waiting area and flicks clumsily through a magazine, blocking out the hurtful things that Cassie said at the service.

After only a few minutes, an elderly secretary calls Jessica over the intercom and tells her to go into the doctor's office.

"Hello Dr Storm." Jessica exclaims rather shakily, hoping that there will be no conversation about her brother. She needs time to evaluate his death herself before talking to other people about it. Especially strangers.

"Hi Jessica. Sit down. This meeting should be relatively brief." Dr Storm is middle aged with a slightly receding head of brown hair but an attractive face nevertheless.

"It should?"

"Yes. I'm really just confirming what I told you last week. The burns to your arms should heal relatively quickly. In a matter of weeks I would imagine."

"That's great!" Jessica beams for what seems like the first time in weeks.

"I'm glad you're pleased. You should be thankful that your sister-in-law put out the flames as soon as she did. It could have been a lot worse."

Jessica clams up as Dr Storm mentions Cassie and an uncomfortable atmosphere takes over the air.

"Yes well…" The doctor continues bewildered, "The only thing you need to do is make sure the dressings stay clean and dry at all times. Any dirt on the skin could cause an infection which we definitely don't want."

"Of course."

"Right then." Dr Storm stands and moves around his desk to kneel down at Jessica's side. Without a word he begins to peel away the thick layer of white bandaging, which is wrapped around her left arm. "Let's take this off and put a new one on."

* * *

"Jesus…" Michael grumbles incoherently and puts his hand to his chest, hoping to rip off the restrictive bandage which covers his wound.

"No you don't." A female voice replies and he feels a sharp slap as her hand comes down on his.

"Wha…?" he looks up groggily.

"Leave the bandage alone. You've been warned already. I took a long time doing those stitches and won't have you ripping them out again."

"Dr Hanson?"

"Who else?" Donna puts her clipboard down in the holder at the end of the bed and returns to Michael's side. "Feeling any better?"

"A little." The discomfort on Michael's face is clearly visible but he attempts to disguise it.

"Okay then. You'll be glad to know I talked to a consultant about you leaving the hospital. He agreed with me that you can leave in the next few days so long as you agree to after care. That means daily visits from a nurse for several weeks."

"Anything to get out of this damn place." Michael grumbles but remembers that Donna is not somebody he should be complaining to. She did, after all, save his life.

"I'll get the papers and you can sign them." She responds icily and begins to walk out of the room.

"Wait! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just…well I'm tired of being here. Believe me, I am grateful for everything you've done."

She flashes him a smile, "Don't worry about it. You're not half as bad as the eighty year old in the next room. You can actually keep your hands off my backside."

Michael laughs as she heads out of the room and drops his head onto the pillow, realizing that his stay in hospital really isn't the bad.

Madison Central Sanitarium: San Francisco

The first thing that strikes David about the imposing building is the extreme security. After receiving his pass from the booth, he waits for the huge iron gates to automatically open and drives through them slowly.

The building itself is modern and painted brilliant white, reflecting sunlight harshly. It is surrounded by a well kept lawn and several somber looking patients are being escorted around a fenced exercise yard. They all wear a brown uniform with their names printed in block capitals on the front.

David whistles to himself and parks the car in a secure space before strolling into the building. He goes to the front desk where a matronly type woman is organizing files. "Can I help you?" she moves her spectacles down to the tip of her nose and eyes him carefully.

"Yes my name is David Elliott. I'm here to see my wife Stephanie Elliott. Is she ready?"

"Elliott…" The woman types the name into a computer and receives a beeping sound in response. "Yes. Your wife is in the isolation wing. Security will have to take you up there."

David's lip curls slightly, "Fine."

After several moments, two burly security guards escort David into an elevator and down several hallways until they reach the isolation wing. Everything seems to be dark with only barred windows to let any sunlight into the corridor.

"Stephanie?" David whispers as he walks into the cell where his wife is being held. She is lying in a bed, her arms strapped down to the railing and he can see in her eyes that she has been drugged.

"What are you doing here?" she slurs.

"I came to see how you were doing." David sits down at her side and can't help but smile, seeing the woman who has caused him so much anguish, tied up like an animal.

"You don't care. You never did care."

"I was a lousy husband…I cheated on you…you deserved better…yadda yadda yadda. Now's your chance to be free of me."

"What do you mean?" she moves her head to look at him and he notices how pale her face is.

"Give me a divorce."

"Why?"

"How long do you think you are going to be in here Stephanie?"

"I don't know. Until…I get better. Tommy came to see me today. He told me he thinks I'll be out in a matter of months."

"He was trying to make you feel better." David laughs mockingly. "You killed Jake Wheeler and tried to murder his mother. Not to mention shooting Lauren and Michael and…"

"Shut up!" Stephanie snaps. She keeps her voice low, worried that the doctors might come in again. She doesn't want any more drugs…

"Temper temper. The answer is, you will be in here a very long time unless you hire a good attorney. And what better attorney to hire than me? If they think I've forgiven you enough to represent you, they'll lower the sentence for sure."

"What?" Stephanie replies breathlessly. "I can't hire you. How can I trust you?"

"You can't. But to be honest babe…" David looks around at the dingy cell. "I don't think you have much choice."

"And what's the price?" She spits.

"A quickie divorce."

She remains silent for a moment and in her hazed state, tries to make sense of what he is saying. Maybe it is her only hope. Then she can be free and see Mark and Tommy again... "Fine." She whispers without looking at him.

"It's a deal?"

"Yes. Get me the papers and I'll sign them."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"Where's Lauren?" Isabelle asks sharply as John enters the drawing room. She pours herself a straight glass of scotch and sits down on the sofa.

"She's gone upstairs to see Cassie. I can't believe you're letting her stay in the house…after what she said today…"

"It is none of your business." Isabelle cuts him off.

"Fine." John leans back against a wall with his arms crossed. "You know I came in here to offer you my help…and as usual you just throw it back in my face."

"What could you possibly help me with?"

"Julia. I know you want to find a way to get rid of her."

"You barely know the woman. I'm not sure how you could help me." Isabelle sips from her drink.

"Perhaps Lauren didn't tell you that before you arrived…when that bomb was planted over at Wheeler, she found something out."

"What?" The drawn out melodramatics annoy Isabelle and she stirs her drink with a finger, keeping her eyes on the glass.

"Julia was…or maybe even is somehow involved with the Delta Group."

"The people behind the bombing?" Isabelle places her glass down on a table and stands up, her attention piqued by the revelation.

"I thought that would interest you." John smiles. "Lauren found out that Julia was paying the organization money for months, taking money from the foundation."

"She stole money from charity?" Isabelle arches her eyebrows before tailing off, "Then again I'm not surprised…And you think I can use this how?"

"I don't know. Lauren told me she doesn't want to get involved…but if you want my help..."

"Oh I see." Isabelle scoffs. "You're doing this for yourself. And I was stupid enough to think for a second that just maybe you really did want to help me."

"I do!" John raises his voice.

"No! No John, you want to stake your claim on the money. You are just as much a gigolo now as you were when Lauren divorced you the first time around. Well believe me, it won't take her long to come to her senses."

"You're threatening me?"

"I'm not doing anything. I don't need to…"

"Ahem!" The sound of a woman clearing her throat comes into the room and both John and Isabelle turn to look at the doorway where a frail, elderly woman is standing, a stick in her hand.

"Mother!" Isabelle exclaims and runs to the woman, wrapping her arms around her body. John examines the scene and tries to remember Lauren mentioning her grandmother. She is quite short but well dressed in a red suit and her gray hair is pulled back into a tight bun. Pushing her daughter aside, Constance Abrigore slowly approaches John.

"What is going on here?" she asks politely.

"Nothing Mrs Abrigore. We were just…well things have been tense around here lately and…"

Constance raises a hand, "Say no more. I just don't want to get pulled into any arguments. Actually…" She turns to Isabelle. "There is someone else here to see you."

"Who?" Isabelle asks reluctantly.

"Me." A voice calls from the hallway and Greg Masters enters the room, taking his position in front of Constance. John stands bemused as he watches the new arrivals and studies Isabelle's face for a reaction.

"Why did you come here?" She makes no attempt to move in his direction and stands firmly in her place.

"To see you. We can make amends Isabelle. You know we can."

"I left for a reason." Isabelle states as though she is oblivious to the other people in the room. "And if I had wanted to see you I'd have stayed in London."

"Please don't do this Isabelle." Constance implores.

"Sorry mother." Isabelle holds a hand up slightly. "But Adrienne made it quite clear I was not welcome in the Masters family."

"I know you two have had problems." Greg's voice booms. His accent is American but there is a slight hint of English from where he has been living in Europe for so long.

Isabelle starts to walk out of the door, "The point is, Adrienne wants you…I don't. Go back to London where you belong Greg. She obviously needs you there a hell of a lot more than I do here."

Greg puts a hand through his thick head of white hair and Constance pats his arm reassuringly. John, still puzzled by the extraordinary outburst heads to the drinks cabinet. "So…" He spins round, "Who wants a drink?"

* * *

"Oh shut up." Lauren mutters to herself as she hears the commotion downstairs and assumes that John and Isabelle are arguing. However, she has no inclination to put a stop to it, knowing that it is going to be a long time before her mother accepts John anyway.

Lifting her hand to knock on Cassie's door, Lauren stops when she hears voices from inside and against her better judgement, she keeps herself hidden, listening in.

"…A body? Guy this is crazy!"

"No. What would be crazy is keeping quiet about this when it could be so useful to us."

"Us? Excuse me, but you are the one with the vendetta, not me. How can you be sure it even is this Ian Sanderson guy anyway?"

Lauren backs against the wall when she hears Cassie's voice getting closer.

"You don't believe me? You can see the body for yourself."

"I don't want to!" Cassie yells. "That's morbid and it's…it's disgusting!"

"Come on Cass…"

"No."

"Please…"

"Oh alright. Where is it? We can go now."

"No! Not yet. Wait until it gets dark and then we can find it. I don't want anyone to see us."

Lauren runs quickly down the hallway and makes her way down the staircase, hoping to find Isabelle before Cassie finds Ian…

Elliott House: San Francisco

"How did Mark take the news?" Jessica inquires and leans back in the seat with her cup of coffee. She is surprised that she feels comfortable in this house and even though she can still feel Stephanie's presence…and knows that she is alive, the dark cloud of her resentment no longer looms over Jessica's relationship with Tommy.

"You should have heard him. He was so happy…"

"Good." Jessica taps the arm of the chair lightly with her fingers.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be going on like this. You only said goodbye to your brother today and hearing that my mother is still alive probably doesn't help you."

"I don’t wish her dead." Jessica says quietly.

"I know you don't." Tommy kneels down in front of her and stares at her arm, wincing as he sees the bandages wrapped around it.

"Oh." Jessica notices and puts her arm in front of her. "Does it freak you out?"

"No!" Tommy replies emphatically. "I just hate to see you like that."

"If the scars…were permanent…would it effect the way…the way you feel about me?"

"I can't believe you'd even think that." Tommy puts an arm around her and kisses her on the lips. "You know I love you…and if those scars will be permanent then it makes no difference to me."

"Yeah." Jessica responds weakly, ashamed of duping him. "Well the doctor said that they should heal quite soon. As long as everything goes well."

Tommy seems not to pick up on her deception and responds by kissing her again.

The Palace Hotel: San Francisco

The room is dimly lit as Greg enters and checks that his suitcases have been left as he instructed. Kicking off his shoes, Greg jumps backwards onto the bed. He is still extremely fit for a man of his age and has no trouble in attracting women. But there is only one woman he wants…

Taking the phone in his hands, Greg dials for an international call and not acknowledging the time difference, he waits for his daughter to answer in London. After nearly a minute of ringing, she obliges.

"Who is this?" Adrienne hisses wearily down the receiver and Greg can hear her husband grumbling in the background.

"This is your father." Greg responds authoritatively.

"Daddy? It's the middle of the night. Couldn't this have waited?"

"No it couldn't. I thought I should let you know I am in San Francisco…visiting Isabelle Wheeler."

"Why?" Adrienne's voice is almost a whine and Greg's face hardens as he prepares to reply.

"Because despite your dislike for her, I am trying to win her back. I need to know what you said to her before she left."

There is a slight pause, "I didn't say anything."

"Now why don't I believe you."

"I'm telling the truth."

Greg sighs, "So what did happen?"

"I admit we argued. But only because she seemed to resent me. I confronted her about it and…well she left soon afterwards. I didn't know she would react so badly."

"If I find out you're lying…"

"I'm not." Adrienne does not even try to put expression into her voice and begins to succumb to her tiredness. "Look Daddy I have to go. I need to get some more sleep. Call me later on."

The line goes dead and frustrated, Greg drops the receiver back into its cradle. He rubs his face with his hands and tries to think logically about the next step he should take in trying to win Isabelle back.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"Be quiet!" Guy warns as he leads Cassie through the fields and towards the old well. His flashlight casts a powerful beam in front of them but Cassie still battles to keep her footing, terrified that she might fall and harm the baby.

"If I wasn't worried about breaking my neck I wouldn't be making any noise!" Cassie's raised voice meets with disaproval from Guy who swiftly puts a hand over her mouth.

The darkness and presence of moonlight give their quest an even more eerie feel, which only goes to disturb Cassie.

"We're here." Guy whispers and pulls Cassie to her knees. She watches as Guy shines the flashlight over a heap of freshly dug earth and sighs, waiting for him to show her his grisly discovery.

"Well?" She snaps.

"It's not here." Guy replies and begins to dig at the earth with his hands, hoping that the body will be underneath. "It's not here!" He repeats again but louder.

"Guy, calm down. You're beginning to just slightly freak me out." Cassie's voice wavers.

"I'm freaked out myself. The body was here…I saw it…what the hell is going on?"

"I think we should go." Cassie answers and looks around, seeing things in the shadows that aren't even there.

"Yes…let's go…" Guy grabs Cassie's hand and pulls her to her feet. "But this isn't over. Not by a long shot."

Oakwood Forest: San Francisco

"This is crazy!" Lauren shivers in the cold as she finishes digging the earth. "We thought Stephanie Elliott was a nutcase. Even she wouldn't do something like this!"

"It's the only way to stop Guy and Cassie from finding out the truth."

"Burying the body again? There had to be another way." Lauren disagrees and drops the shovel to the ground.

"There isn't." Isabelle spits and goes to the back of her car. "Help me."

Lauren runs over to her mother and puts a hand to her mouth, hoping to stop the feeling of sickness that is washing over her. "I can't do this." Her voice breaks.

"Yes you can." Isabelle grabs her. "Don't feel sorry for him Lauren. This is the man who raped you. Who caused you so much pain and kept us apart for years. I can't go to jail for killing him."

"Okay." Lauren replies meekly and putting her hand out cautiously, she grabs the plastic sheeting which encases the body. Isabelle takes the other end and with one swing they pull it out of the trunk to the ground. Although the body has been buried for a long time, it is still quite heavy and they keep it low as they move it towards the fresh grave they have made.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Isabelle whispers as they throw the body into the grave and Isabelle starts to push the earth back into the hole. Whilst her mother completes the task, Lauren goes into the car, her hands shaking and fights back tears as memories from her past begin to seep into her mind.

It only takes minutes for Isabelle to finish and when she has, she gets into the car. The pair drive away quickly and remain in silence for the rest of the journey, unable to discuss what they have just done.

Brooke Abbott's House: Beverly Hills

I've got to go home. Mark thinks to himself as he throws his clothes back into his suitcase. I have to see Stephanie for myself. Mark works like a robot as he continues to pack, his mind on his life back in San Francisco as opposed to the job in hand.

After a few minutes, he is interrupted by a knock at the door of the guest bedroom and before he can say "enter", Brooke enters with a glass of water.

"I brought this for…" She looks down at the suitcase. "What are you doing?" She puts the glass down on the bedside table and waits for a reply.

"I have to go home. It's my sister…I thought she was dead and…well she isn't…"

Brooke arches her eyebrows in disbelief and cranes her head forward, "Are you okay Mark?"

"Yes." He sighs and continues to pack.

"Then why are you doing this? You have to stay. We were going to talk about Morgan."

"I can't. I have to go back to San Francisco. I told you."

"No!" Brooke slams a hand down on the suitcase and it shuts, stopping Mark from continuing. "You promised me!"

"Please Brooke…"

"Don't you understand? I didn't know my daughter! You are the only person who can piece together her past! I won't let you leave! I'm desperate!"

"Fine!" Mark bellows and swings around angrily. "You really want to know the truth? Your daughter was a prostitute who was hired by a woman named Julia Wheeler to seduce me and break up my engagement. She became pregnant with my child and suffered a miscarriage when Darren Kelly ran her down. She was no friend of mine and I don't want to hurt you Brooke but it's the truth."

"No…" Brooke gasps and backs away. "This can't be true…"

"It is Brooke. And I'm going home. It was a mistake coming to see you. If you want to come back to San Francisco with me then feel free but otherwise, I'll see you in another life."

"Oh I'm coming with you alright. I'll pack my bags. There's clearly unfinished business to settle."

Brooke saunters out of the room and Mark looks on after her, realizing that he has just created a very difficult situation for everybody involved…

Next on Power and Deception

-The family attend Stephanie's court hearing...

-Brooke's arrival makes Julia panic...

-Lauren is racked with guilt...

-Greg continues to pursue Isabelle...