"Have you come here to gloat?" Adrienne says venomously as Isabelle enters her bedroom.

"No I haven't. I don't need an argument thank you. And Stephanie Elliott's free by the way just in case you were in the least bit interested."

The words cause Adrienne to jolt. David's ex-wife… "Is she going to be out straight away?"

"It looks like it. I didn't come here to discuss Stephanie." Isabelle looks behind her, slightly worried and chooses to shut the bedroom door.

"What is it?" Adrienne puts her hand on her hips.

"I need to know what happened…around the time of your mother's death."

"Is it any of your business? I can't believe you would be so insensitive…"

"Adrienne, shut up! I need to know. Just tell me what happened the night Vanessa died."

"Alright, if you really want to know all the details. We were all on my father's yacht just off Catalina. It was quite stormy." Adrienne's face contorts to a look of disdain. "Mother had been drinking…not excessively...but enough to disorientate her. And that night…she fell overboard and drowned. That's all there was to it Isabelle. No murder, no subterfuge. So why are you so interested?"

"Because I…"

"I think we can end this conversation right here." Greg's voice fills the room and he wraps a hand round Isabelle's arm. "Now is not the time to be discussing it and questioning Adrienne of all people…"

"You're right." Isabelle tries to be as agreeable as possible. "I'm sorry both of you."

"Good." As Greg leads Isabelle out of the bedroom, she can't help but wonder why he was listening to the conversation.

Tin Jug Café: Cleveland

"It's charming." Lauren says with sarcasm as she and Cassie find a free table.

"It's not the charm we've come here for." Cassie reminds her and sits down, placing her purse on the farthest side of the table. She can see that Lauren's eyes are scanning the café looking for Megan. The expression on her face informs Cassie that she has not yet been successful.

"I can't see her."

"Calm down. You're making me nervous." Cassie wraps her fingers around a packet of artificial sweetener and slides it along the table's surface.

"How are things going between you and Jake these days?" Lauren asks in a surprise subject change.

"Oh." Taken unawares, Cassie flicks her hair back and removes her finger from the sweetener. "I think he knows who's in charge now. And you got through to Mindy?"

Lauren makes an uncertain face, "Possibly. We'll have to wait and see for that one…" She stops when she sees an auburn haired girl coming out of the kitchen. Her hair is a little shorter than it was in the photo Lauren saw but her identity is unmistakable. It's Megan.

"What?" Cassie asks seeing the glazed look on her face and turns to catch a glimpse of whatever is occupying her attention. "What? Is that her?"

"Yes." Lauren nods and feels a chill when Megan makes eye contact with her. For a moment she feels as if she can't breathe but it soon passes and she braces herself as Megan comes towards the table.

"Can I help you ma'am?" She asks good naturedly. But it is clearly obvious that she is not enjoying the job in the least.

Lauren is unable to reply and eager to fill the gap, Cassie steps in. "Yes, could we have two double espressos please?"

"Uh huh. Anything else?"

"No that's all thank you."

Megan begins to walk away but Lauren suddenly speaks. "Wait!"

"Yes?" Her daughter spins round, pad and pencil poised. Wispy bangs hang loosely around her face drawing Lauren's attention to her disheveled hair.

"Do you live nearby? My friend and I…we're looking for interesting places to visit. Do you know any?"

"Sorry." Megan frowns. "I live about three blocks down and let me tell you, this place is dull."

"You'd prefer to live somewhere else?"

Cassie shields her face, worried about the direction the conversation is going in.

"Yes I would. Anywhere else. Perhaps somewhere hot. That'd be nice. I don't mean to be rude but I've got to get on with your order."

"Of course." Lauren smiles as her daughter walks away.

Cassie reaches over and grabs her friend's arm. "Are you crazy? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I did…" Lauren begins to protest but she is cut off.

"You know what I mean."

"I…I'm not ready. I can't deal with this." Grabbing her purse, Lauren surreptitiously leaves the café amidst Megan's worried glances. All Cassie can do is follow.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

As Tommy pulls up to the driveway of the mansion, he feels a hint of anxiety casting its shadow over the joy he feels now that Stephanie has been released. It hadn't really struck him that Jessica would be so effected. Besides,they were all there when Stephanie pulled the gun at the church. Jessica wasn't the only victim. Or perhaps I'm being self centered.

Tommy ponders the possibility as he leaps up the steps and pushes the doorbell. He can hear it echoing through the house and takes a deep breath as Pilar pulls the door open.

"Mr Tommy? Can I help you?"

"Is Jessica in?"

Pilar's expression hardens, "She is in the living room. You want to see her?"

"Yes please."

"Perhaps you cheer her up. She is not happy."

Those are words that Tommy definitely doesn't want to hear but he follows her into the living room regardless of the fact that he fears what he is going to find when he gets there.

The scene is not quite as worrying as he had imagined. As Pilar leaves, he finds Jessica lounging on the sofa, flicking through various television channels. "I wasn't expecting you." She looks up as she finally notices him.

"Do you want to tell me why you ran out like that today?"

"Not really." Jessica turns her attention back to the television.

"Don't you think you owe me an explanation?" Tommy blasts her angrily and takes a seat.

"Yes of course I do." She snaps back and turns off the TV. "But how am I supposed to explain to you when I'm not even sure myself?"

"Start from the beginning. You've obviously got problems with my mother."

"Understandably I think. She did hold me at gunpoint and try to murder my mother."

"So that's the reason?"

"No! It's not the only reason." Jessica's seething anger surprises Tommy.

"Can you elaborate? Jessie you need to give me something to go on here."

"Alright." She sighs. "Twice in the last year I was violated. Twice! And through no fault of my own. I can't think of what Stephanie did without being reminded of the rape. Everyone thinks I'm over it through a few group therapy sessions and a trip to Sydney but I'm not! I'm not over it by a long shot. Maybe if your mother hadn't shoved a gun in my face so soon after it…it happened…I could have done. I really think I was getting somewhere but Stephanie ruined it. And I can't forgive her. Not yet."

"Why didn't you say something?" Tommy slides down beside her and puts an arm around her shoulders.

"Because I wasn't even admitting it to myself."

"You've done it now…and you don't have to see mom if you don't want to. I'll help you get through this. Trust me."

Santadio Mansion: New York

Julia moves around the living room frantically. It is situated across the hallway from the study and she is positive that Bobby has been watching eagle-eyed to see if she opens the door.

"What is he going to do to me?" She ponders to herself whilst looking around the room for anything she can use against her husband. There is no phone and nothing heavy enough to hit him with if he comes back.

The search is fruitless but as Julia moves towards the door, ready for a confrontation, she can hear the phone ringing and it causes her to jump. Waiting for a second she listens as the ringing stops and pulls the living room door open an inch. Across the hallway, she can see Bobby sitting at his desk and talking on the phone. She can't understand what he is saying and she doesn't really care. But his head is down and now is her only chance to get out of there.

Stepping back into the room to grab her suitcase, Julia does her best to lift it so that it won't draw Bobby's attention by scuffing on the carpet. Her face contorts as pain sears through the muscles of her arms but she manages to get into the hallway without being noticed.

Julia opens the front door, keeping her eyes closed tightly and silently praying that nobody can hear her. Then, choosing not to pull the door shut, she hauls her suitcase across the driveway. If she can get off the estate, it will be easy enough to hitchhike a lift to the airport. Although she's not used to doing things like that, it is now her only choice.

Before she is able to reach the front gates, Julia hears the sound of a dog barking behind her and turns, horrified to see a pack of Rottweilers racing towards her, their gazes pinned hungrily on her throat. Following are two black clad guards and as the dogs close in on her, the guards blow a whistle, stopping them from attacking.

Julia sighs in relief as the dogs sit obediently on the ground but her complacency is short lived when she looks up to find Bobby approaching her. "You've been a very naughty girl." He grins at her.

"Please. Let me leave. I'm begging you."

"Julia Wheeler begging? It's not going to make any difference I'm afraid." He clicks his fingers to dismiss the guards and grabs Julia's arm, pulling her roughly towards the house. She is forced to drop her suitcase to the ground.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere safe until I get the time to deal with you permanently." He spits as they reach the house and heads towards the staircase. Julia's arm throbs in his vice like grip but she keeps quiet.

They reach the bedroom and Bobby flings the door open. Julia decides to speak. "Is this it? You're just going to keep me in here?"

"Very good Julia. The walls are extremely thick in here so nobody will hear you…and don't worry about getting bored. By this evening, you won't need to worry about anything ever again." Chuckling Bobby leaves her in the center of the room and steps back outside closing the door behind him.

Julia can hear a clinking sound in the lock and immediately springs forwards to try and open the door. The cold brass doorjamb rattles as she struggles desperately but the lock is too strong.

Banging a fist on the door, she begins to break down. "Let me out of here! Bobby! Let me out!"

But her screams go unheard.

Donna's Apartment: San Francisco

"What are you doing?" Michael asks as he enters the living room holding a glass of water in his hands.

"I took a day off for Stephanie's hearing so I'm using the rest of it to make wedding preparations."

"Wedding preparations?" Michael almost spits his water out. "It's a bit early for that isn't it?"

Donna sets her pen down on the table and looks up, "No, not unless you want to get married in 2005. And that just goes to show that if I left it to you, nothing would get done."

"Alright I admit I don't know much about weddings. But give me a break. I haven't done it as many times as a lot of the people in my family."

"True. What's the Wheeler motto? 'Practice makes perfect'?"

"Something like that." Michael bends down and kisses her on the cheek before continuing. "How would you feel if we didn't have to make any wedding plans?"

"I don't think that's going to happen somehow."

"Why not?"

"Why not?" Donna is aghast. "You really don't know anything about weddings do you."

"No I mean…how would you feel about eloping."

Donna considers the idea briefly before breaking out in a fit of laughter, "Oh God we're not seventeen you know Michael."

"Come on Donna. Reno…Las Vegas…the world's our oyster."

"You're serious aren't you?" Donna turns.

"Damn right I am. With everything that's going on at the moment I think it makes perfect sense. And of course it means you become Mrs Donna Wheeler a lot faster."

"How do you know I'll take your name? That's a very big presumption to make."

Before Michael gets a chance to reply there is a knock at the door and he goes to answer it. "Jessica? Hi." He greets his niece.

"Hey is Donna in?"

"Sure, go through." He gestures with his hand and shuts the door.

"Donna." Jessica exclaims as she enters the living room. "I need your help."

"Okay." Donna is surprised by the unexpected visit and stands up. "What's wrong?"

"I haven't heard from mom for days and I'm getting worried. I wanted you to try calling your father's house in New York and see if you can get through to her."

Donna frowns and moves to the phone before picking it up. "Sure." She keeps her eyes on Michael and Jessica as it rings and she waits for her father to pick up.

"Hello?" He eventually answers.

"Father, it's me."

"Donella. What a surprise. I thought now I've left San Francisco, you wouldn't want to get in contact with me again."

"It's not you I'm trying to find. It's Julia. Is she there please?"

"Why?"

"Because I need to speak to her. Would you just put me through?"

"I'm afraid that's not possible."

"What do you mean that's not possible?" Donna notices the look of concern on Jessica's face as does Michael who puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Julia walked out on me a couple of days ago. She said she was going back to California."

"What? But it can't be true. She hasn't come back."

Bobby is stern, "Believe me, I'd like to find her too. I don't like my wife just disappearing."

"You obviously did something to upset her."

"Think what you like Donella."

"I always do." She slams the phone down and tries to make sense of what he just said.

"What?" Jessica pleads. "Donna what is it?"

"She wasn't there. My father says she left New York two days ago."

Brooke's House: Los Angeles

"Marky!" Brooke exclaims as soon as he steps through the front door.

"I thought I saw you hanging out of the window looking for me." Mark replies and drops his suitcase down on the white marble floor.

"Funny. So? What happened at the hearing?"

"It's official. Stephanie's free."

"And no one tried to put a stop to it? What about Julia?"

Mark shrugs, "She wasn't there. Too busy sewing her wild oats by the looks of things. Anyway that doesn't matter. All I care about is the fact that my sister is finally out of that institution."

"I'm happy for you. Come in to the living room." Brooke beckons him through to the more comfortable part of the house and flings herself down onto a leather couch. There is a Martini on the glass table in front of her which she picks up and takes a sip from. Mark meanwhile, lingers by the side of the sofa.

"I'll go back tomorrow. How long do you think it will be before you can get back up there?"

Brooke ponders the question, "I don't know. A few weeks at least. So…did you tell your family about…us?"

"No. I didn't think the circumstances were appropriate so I'll do it when I go back."

"Okay. I wonder if they'll have a problem with you being in a relationship with an older woman."

"Who cares. It's nothing to do with them. Anyway I get the feeling that my troubles aren't going to spring from my relationship with you."

"What do you mean?"

"When I go back there and they find out what I've got to do…I'm going to make a hell of a lot of enemies."

Masters Mansion: San Francisco

"Adrienne, you're spending every waking moment in this bedroom." Travis mocks her as he enters but his smile soon disappears when he sees what she is doing.

Adrienne is stood at the side of the bed, packing clothes into a suitcase. "Are you going to be a help or a hindrance? Or need I ask?"

"You're not leaving…"

"Yes Travis I am. You told me to make a decision. Well that's what I've done. I'm moving in with David."

"No!" Travis roars. "You can't just walk out on me! Not after years of marriage!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. But I just don't think that it's working anymore."

"This is insane." Travis puts a hand to his forehead. "At least wait a while. We can work things out."

Adrienne flings a white silk shirt down on the bed as her temper flares. "How many times have we tried to make a go of this marriage? Too many for me to count and how many times have we been successful?"

"It could be different this time."

"No Travis it won't work! You slept with somebody else and so did I. That's not something we can get past so I think it would just be best if I filed for a divorce…as soon as I'm settled in at David's house. Perhaps in time you can move out and I'll come back here with David. It is my father's house after all."

"You spiteful bitch. You're not going anywhere." Travis blocks the doorway as Adrienne zips up her suitcase and prepares to make an exit.

"Yes I am! Now get the hell out of my way!"

"No." Travis grabs the suitcase from her hands and throws it onto the bed. The impact causes one of the zips to unfasten and clothes spill out. He goes over and begins to pull them all out, tossing them on the ground.

"Travis!" Adrienne grabs his arm screaming. "What are you doing?"

"What the hell is going on here?" Danielle yells at both of them from the doorway, a look of disdain on her face.

"I'm leaving." Adrienne replies and takes the opportunity to repack her suitcase.

"What do you mean you're leaving? You're going to David? The man Dad mentioned this morning?"

"Yes sweetie I am."

"I'm sorry Danielle." Travis cuts in. "You shouldn't have to see this."

"No." She agrees. "None of us should. Have you two heard yourselves? You sound like two year olds. I have never been so ashamed to call you my parents as I am right now…You disgust me."

"Danielle…" Adrienne warns forcefully.

"No mom it's the truth. And I can't wait to get back to England so that I don't have to put up with this crap any longer. If you're going to leave, just leave."

Without saying a word Adrienne pulls her suitcase onto the landing and down the stairs. She could wait for one of the servants to do it for her but feels that the quicker she gets out of the house the better. As she reaches the front door she turns and looks up to see Travis and Danielle standing on the landing. "I truly am sorry." She says before leaving the house.

Elliott House: San Francisco

As David walks across the darkened driveway to the front door, he sighs and clenches his fists. He has spent most of the afternoon looking for Riley Hudson but there was no sign of him. He cleared out of his apartment and left no forwarding address. It doesn't take a genius to work out who got to him first.

David slides a key into the lock and pushes the front door open. "Tommy? He calls out but there is no answer. There is noise coming from the kitchen like two people talking and the smell of freshly cooked lasagna is wafting through the house.

It seems familiar.

He strolls through the living room and out to the dining room where Tommy is sitting at the table eating. "Hi Dad. We didn't hear you come in."

"We?" David spins round to see Stephanie standing behind him, washing a pan in the sink. She stops what she is doing, dries her hands and walks over to him.

"Hey David." She says with a grin. "I'm back."

Richardson House: Napa Valley

"You tucked up okay?" Guy asks Lucas in the darkened nursery as he arranges the covers in the crib. Of course he doesn't expect an answer but Lucas's gurgle of approval indicates that everything is fine.

Bending down to kiss his son good night, Guy is interrupted when he hears the phone ringing in the living room and he decides to go and answer it. "Hello?" He asks as he rushes to pick up the phone. "Cassie!"

Back in the nursery, everything is silent.

But through the darkness, a figure effortlessly pulls himself through the open window and moves ominously towards his goal…Lucas. The sleeping baby doesn't notice the presence of another person in the room but the intruder is disturbed when he hears Guy's voice getting closer and closer. He ducks down behind the crib, catching a snippet of the conversation.

"What do you mean she chickened out? She's going to have to face it soon..." The voice trails off and the intruder can hear another door opening. Guy has obviously gone into another room.

Perfect. He thinks to himself and reaches down into the crib, putting his hands around the tiny body of the sleeping baby. His eyes flicker but at first he fails to make a noise.

When the man reaches the window, Lucas starts to scream, his face going red as his arms flail wildly. Stunned, the man decides to wait until he stops crying but to his horror, a baby monitor in the corner is picking up every wail. Springing to action, he grabs the contraption and shuts it off before pulling himself out of the window

* * *

"There isn't anything you can do Cassie. You just have to wait." Guy assures his wife but suddenly realizes that Lucas's wails have stopped. He picks up the baby monitor.

"Guy what is it?" Cassie asks worriedly down the phone.

"Nothing. I think the monitor's broken. I better go. I'll call you back." Guy puts the phone down and makes his way up the stairs towards the nursery, studying the monitor as he goes.

Opening the door, he steps inside and switches on the light but is horrified when he looks into the crib and sees that Lucas is gone. Hearing a shuffling noise outside, he rushes over to the window and looks out. The black figure is at the bottom of a long drainage pipe, obviously having climbed down…and in his right arm is Lucas.

"Hey!" Guy shouts out and the figure looks up. "Jake?"

As Jake races off down the driveway, Guy throws himself out of the window and precariously slides down the pipe until his feet land on the ground. His heart beat races as he sees Jake start the engine of his car and unable to catch him, Guy gets into his own.

He starts it up, slams his foot on the gas and screeches his tyres as he glides down the street, desperately trying to catch up with his foe. Several terrified onlookers step back onto the pavement to get out of the way of the speeding cars and Jake weaves his Mercedes in and out to negotiate the traffic. Guy draws his breath when he sees the car driving up the left hand side off the road towards oncoming vehicles but forces himself to do the same.

Several horns blare and drivers scream but Guy's attention is centered fully on the Mercedes in front of him as they reach the outskirts of Napa City.

"Slow down you bastard." Guy slams a hand down on the steering wheel as he moves closer towards crossroads. "Come on stop. Stop!"

But Jake doesn't stop. As he drives straight across, a truck ploughs into the side of the Mercedes causing it to fly into the air and finally come crashing down onto the tarmac, rolling over in what seems like slow motion. Several other cars come screeching to a halt and Guy gasps as he sees Jake's crumpled Mercedes upside down on the ground, a flame suddenly shooting up from underneath…

Next on Power and Deception

-It's the season finale...

-Guy faces the repercussions of Jake's accident...

-Lauren bites the bullet to visit Megan...

-Stephanie gets used to life on the outside...

-Julia fights for her life...

-And much much more...