Masters Mansion: San Francisco  

"Travis…" Adrienne's  voice is barely audible, encompassing both horror and disbelief that her husband could possibly be responsible for trying to murder anybody.

"Oh please." Travis laughs and motions towards Stephanie.  "Are we seriously expected to believe her?  We all know she's a raving lunatic…the first time Adrienne met her was at a mental institution for God's sake!"

Stephanie shakes her head, "And I only wish I'd been able to stop her from getting involved with my ex-husband but that wasn’t to be was it?  Maybe if I had, you wouldn't have snapped."

"I haven't snapped.  Nobody is going to believe a word you say, so why don't you just turn on your heel and get out now?" Travis maintains a cold smile.

"David  told me and he told the police.  Do you think they'll believe him?" Stephanie replies matter-of-factly.

"Is she telling the truth?  Answer me!" Greg  roars, smashing the tense atmosphere in the room.

Travis continues to laugh nervously, "You have to understand…"

"Perhaps we should just wait for the police to arrive." Kyle  mutters and puts a hand on Stephanie's arm to lead her out of the room but she shakes him away.

"No.  I want answers.  I want to know why he was willing to let me take the fall for a crime he committed and still won't own up to it!"

There is a silence filled pause as Travis glances round the room from his angry father-in-law to Adrienne whose eyes are glassy with tears.  She is staring at him despairingly.  But you caused this you cheating slut.  "Alright Stephanie…Greg.  Yes I did it.  I ran David down and left him for the roadkill he is.  And you know what?  If I had the opportunity, I'd do it again…and again…and again."

"Oh God no…" Adrienne stifles a sob.

Stephanie raises her voice, enraged.  "You ran David down, damn near killed Kyle and you don't even show one sign that you're remorseful at all.  I may have made mistakes in the past but I paid for my crimes and I'm sure as hell not going to pay for yours too!"

"I don't regret what I did and I had no other option.  David was hammering the final nail in my career and my marriage.  I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting him out of the way.  Don't you see?  He had to be stopped!"

"No." Greg interjects angrily.  "You have to be stopped.  You're…you're insane.  All this time you were living under my roof and you were capable of a crime like this."

"Oh you can shut the hell up Greg.  You're just as responsible for this as I am."

Greg stares ahead, horrified.  "What?"

"There wouldn't have been any problems in my marriage if it wasn't for you.  Yes I have been living under your roof and from the very first moment I did move in with you, you set a standard in Adrienne's life that was impossible for me to reach.  A mediocre lawyer was never good enough for Daddy's little girl.  I could have set up my own practice in London but no.  You deliberately forced me to take a job at Pacific West so you could pull the strings."

"This is bull.  I didn't force you to do anything."

"Of course you did!" Travis shouts, but Greg raises his voice even louder.

"You were Adrienne's husband and it was your responsibility to make it work.  If there was any decent foundation to your marriage, nothing I could have done would have made any difference at all."

"You see, I think you've got that backward Gregory.  Nothing I could do could ever make a difference and that's the problem.  Isn't that right Adrienne?"

Adrienne looks up through tears and puts a clasped hand to her mouth, "I didn't mean for this to happen."

"Oh well that's okay so long as you can absolve yourself of all responsibility and run back to Daddy once the going gets tough.  Who did I have to run to?  Who did I ever have supporting me in this marriage?  The children?  No you made sure they never did.  David?" Travis laughs.  "Well I thought he was supporting me but I couldn't have been more wrong…he did you a few favors though didn't he?"

"He showed me affection.  I needed affection, Travis."

"No, you needed to whore yourself out and you were too stupid to realize that David was using you.  Not even for sex because God knows you're nothing special in that department.  He was using you for your money and you fell for it hook, line and sinker.  At least I had the guts to get him back."

Consumed with fury, Adrienne raises a hand to slap Travis but in what seems almost a reflex, he grabs her arm and twists it behind her back, pulling her in closely.

"Travis, no!" Stephanie screams.

"Please, you're hurting me." Adrienne wriggles but gasps in pain as her arm is forced higher up her back.  Kyle and Greg move forwards but Travis responds by placing his free arm around her throat, choking her.

"Let her go." Kyle holds out a hand to grab her.

"No." Travis replies, narrowing his eyes.  "You let me go or I'll snap her in two, I swear it."

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

"Dum de dum dum da." As she steps off the elevator, Brooke  hums an unregonizable tune.  But the merits of her singing or lack thereof are irrelevant this evening.  The only thing she needs to worry about is dealing with Isabelle Masters.  Mark's  a sweetheart but that's exactly his problem.

Continuing her humming, she meanders through the foyer of the executive floor and heads towards Isabelle's office where she can see that a light is on.  Ignoring the need for etiquette, she opens the door only to find an empty office.

"Excuse me…" Julia's voice sounds from the foyer and Brooke turns, shutting the door to Isabelle's office and smiling sweetly.  "Oh.  I thought I heard someone caterwauling…or something."

"Hello to you too.  Goodbye." Brooke makes her way towards the elevator put before she can reach it, Julia's perfectly manicured hand wraps around her upper arm and pulls her back.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Isabelle."

"Why?"

"Because I'm the Avon lady.  Didn't you know?"

"Don't get cute.  Now tell me what you're doing here?"

"Why do you think?"

Julia sighs, "Ugh, I've had enough of this.  Anymore of your sparkling wit and I'll get jealous."

"You're not having a good evening then."

"Not now.  Although neither are you I would imagine if you've got enough time on your hands to go looking for that old bag of bones." Julia points in the direction of Isabelle's office.

"I'm taking care of business." Brooke smirks and gives a toss of her sun bleached mane.  "Mark's book.  I'm sure you heard about it."

"It's been mentioned.  I was under the impression he wouldn't be going ahead with it. 

"Think again.  He's already started his research so if there's anything about yourself you want to keep hidden, I suggest you bump off people now.  I hear you're getting quite good in that department Mrs Santadio."

With a roll of her eyes, Julia turns and strides into her office hoping that Brooke will get bored and fall into the elevator shaft.  But no, the pest has followed me in.  "Get out of here Brooke.  I'm already tired of you."

"You're very touchy for a spot of murder.  I mean jeez, it'll probably only get a chapter.  Besides sex sells.  And there's plenty of that in your past for the rest of the book."  Admittedly, Brooke is getting sidetracked from her mission to assert Mark's agenda with Isabelle but this is an amusing pastime nevertheless.

"Speaking of sex…I would assume your lovely daughter Morgan  will be getting a mention somewhere." Easing herself down into the seat behind her desk, Julia grins.  Gotcha.

"Is that a disparaging remark about my daughter?"

"Well she was a prostitute.  If anybody knew that sex sells…"

"How dare you." Brooke's face turns to stone as she unleashes her anger.  "She was twice the person you are."

"How would you know?" Julia states matter of factly, twirling a pen round on her desk.  "You didn't even know where she was until she was dead.  And all along, your sweet perfect daughter was here…committing blackmail."

Brooke grits her teeth, "If I wasn't a lady, I'd smack you into next week."

"If you were a lady, I'd smack myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming."

"Knock yourself out.  Please.  And anyhow, blackmail is a darn sight more forgivable than murder.  Two husbands dead in as many years." Smiling again, Brooke tuts to herself.  "Let's see what the readers make of that."

With a triumphant wave, Brooke swiftly leaves the office as Julia looks on, uncomfortably.

Red Store Restaurant: San Francisco

Tugging at the sleeves of her blue fitted shirt, Jessica  walks into the foyer of the restaurant where she is immediately greeted by a smiling hostess.  "May I help you?" She inquires, her tone the same as it always is.

"No." Jessica smiles, exhaling slightly.  "I'm meeting a friend."

"Have a nice evening."

Without replying, Jessica begins to walk through the maze of tables in the restaurant until she spies Tommy sitting by a window.  For a brief moment she feels as if she should turn back -- if there is one thing she can't cope with right now it's acting normal…and with her boyfriend of all people.

As the thought leaves her head, she realizes that it is too late anyway.  Tommy has spotted her and with a flash of his blue eyes, he raises a hand to grab her attention.  "Over here!" 

She smiles again, "I can't believe I'm late.  There was an accident on the bridge and ugh…long story."

"You can rest easy.  I didn't order for you."

"That's always a relief." Sitting down, Jessica begins to tug at her sleeves again before opting to pour herself a glass of chilled water.  "Will the waiter be here soon?  I need a drink."

"I told him to come back in a couple of minutes.  How's your day been anyhow?  I tried reaching you on your cell but it was switched off."

Placing her glass down on the table, Jessica speaks.  "About as good as it gets.  Michael and Donna  are having a baby."

"That's great"

"Yeah.  It would have been if Mom hadn't started an argument with Cassie  but still.  You?"

"Just a couple of lectures.  And of course…buying a present for…what's the occasion again?  Oh yeah, your birthday." Tommy is unable to suppress a grin, his pearly white teeth shining.

"Oh God, please tell me it's nothing too outrageous."

"You'll see.  Until your party, it's a complete secret." Reaching across the table, Tommy lays a hand on Jessica's but she coldly pulls away.

"I'm not having a party."

"You're not?"

"No…I don't think it would be appropriate.  You know…with everything that's going on.  Jake  being missing…Lucas being missing…" Jessica quickly puts her hand to her neck to disguise her withdrawal.  "Ouch, I think I slept funny."

"You need a neckrub?"

"No." Jessica is quick to respond and drops her hand back to the table.  "It'll be fine."

"I'm stressed too you know." The statement is blunt and snaps Jessica to attention.

"I know you are…"

"It's just that lately, I seem to be doing everything wrong when I'm around you."

"Of course you're not.  Come on…"

Tommy glances down, "You can't deny something's going on here…and I blame it on the stress we've both been through lately…which is why I booked us a room at the Palace Hotel for nine o'clock tonight.  It's a chance to get away from it all and spend some time together.  Just you and me, what do you say?"

The need to moisten her throat overcomes Jessica again and she grasps her water clumsily.  "I don't know if…I'm in the mood I mean I've been feeling a little queasy.  The last thing I want is to make you come down with something."

Leaning back in his chair, Tommy sighs, "I'll cancel the room."

"No don't." Jessica begins to get to her feet, "Look I'll skip the meal and go home and try to get a little rest.  Maybe I'll be feeling more up to it later."

"Sounds like a plan." Her words have brought the smile back to Tommy's face which only succeeds in making her feel more guilty.  "Do you want me to drive you home?"

"I've got my car.  The drive might do me some good."

Masters Mansion: San Francisco  

Isabelle has almost been driving on autopilot all the way back from the office.  She hadn't planned on leaving the party for Michael and Donna but when Julia slinked away, Isabelle had thought it prudent to drive past the building and lock her files up for the night. 

Now she has decided to go home…back to Greg.  As she speeds up the driveway, her mind flies back to the past couple of months and everything she has found out.  I could have handled his reaction to Danielle  but not Vanessa's death…there is something he's keeping from me.

"What in the name of…" Isabelle cuts herself short as she brakes hastily and leans over the steering wheel.  In front of her are a number of police cars, blocking the driveway outside the whitewashed house.

Stumbling to pull her key from the ignition, Isabelle steps out of the car and towards the throng of police officers one of whom she recognizes instantly for his clean cut appearance.  "Lieutenant Arnold?"

"Mrs Masters…hi." Evidently finding himself in a difficult situation, Brandon Arnold looks back towards the house, nervously.

"What the hell are you doing here?  Has someone been hurt?"  The sound of police radios buzzes all around.

"Not yet ma'am."

"Not yet?" Isabelle cries.  "You have to explain…"

"We received an emergency call from Stephanie Elliott's brother-in-law just under an hour ago.  He told us to get here as soon as possible."

"You're telling me Stephanie is inside my house?  Is she the cause of this?  Oh my God." Isabelle puts a hand to her mouth.  I knew that woman was still dangerous.

"Yes but she isn't responsible for this.  Kyle told us that David's attacker would be here…and now it seems a hostage situation might have developed."

Greg… "Hostage situation?  Who is it?"

"Travis Wilder."

Amanda's Apartment: Los Angeles  

The radio blares as Amanda stands in the shower, singing along to whatever the station plays regardless of whether she knows the words.  It has been an easy day, sleeping to catch up from her night shift the night before and now she is washing her hair in attempt to revitalize herself.  It's not as if she's going anywhere this evening but she wants to be wide awake.  A nice bottle of red and a pizza, she thinks to herself and smiles at the thought of curling up in front of the television.

When content that all the white soapy bubbles are out of her hair, Amanda switches off the shower and waits for a moment before moving.  She can hear knocking and realizes it's the door.

"Yeah okay um…" Adamant that she is not going to slip and be found naked and dead on the floor of the bathroom, Amanda switches off her radio and grabs a towel to wrap round her dripping body.

"I'm coming!" She shouts out, realizing that she has no time to turban her hair with a towel.  Tip toeing through the tiny apartment, she reaches the front door and pulls it open, causing the chain to rattle.

"You took your time." Jake Wheeler is standing on the other side, his face cracking when he sees the towel.

"I don't mean to be rude but…"

"You want to know what I'm doing here?"

"Yes…especially seeing as I'm in such a…vulnerable situation." Amanda laughs nervously after the last word.

"I was intrigued by you at the hotel and decided to track you down.  I'm perfectly harmless.  You can frisk me if you like."

Amanda cocks her head disapprovingly as Jake raises his hands, "Thanks but no thanks.  If you want that kind of service, there are plenty of girls in this town willing to give it to you."

"Touche.  Nice apartment." Jake says with sarcasm, craning his head round the door.  The walls are cream colored, probably from age and the small living room contains a mish mash of what appears to be second hand furniture.

"You want to come in right?"

"Well I don't want to keep you stood in the doorway like this for long."

"In.  But the door stays open." Amanda turns to keep her eyes on the relative stranger.

"I don't have a problem with that. 

"And the advantage of living in a cheap apartment is that the walls are thin so you try anything and I'll scream the place down."

"I'm not going to try anything." The grin on Jake's face fades as he chooses his words.  "The real reason I came…is because I want to know why you showed such an interest in me."

"I'm a nice girl, what can I say?"

"So it's not because you're attracted to me?"

Amanda eyes him up and down, "You're not bad.  Not really my type though."

"How come?" Instead of being visibly offended, Jake appears amused by the statement.

"You seem too uptight."

"Uptight?"

"Yeah."

"So I guess if I continued to grill you over your interest of me…that wouldn't help matters."

"Not really."

"Oh." The air is heavy for a moment as the pair remain silent.  What has she got on me?  Jake thinks to himself.  He wonders if he is being paranoid but there is something about this woman in front of him that unnerves him and the only way to deal with it is to get her on side. 

"I've offended you haven't I?" Amanda awaits a reply but receives none.  As she begins to watch Jake suspiciously thinking that letting him in was a bad idea, he begins to move in towards her and like a flash his lips are against hers.  Finding herself lost in the moment and without even time to think, Amanda responds but as she does so, Jake pulls away.

"There." He smiles, satisfied.

"What the hell was that?" Amanda's voice is shaky and she brings a finger to her lips which are still tingling.

"I didn't want to leave you with the wrong impression."

Before Amanda can compute what has happened in her mind, Jake leaves the apartment and she stands in her living room, still clad in only a towel, incredulous.

Masters Mansion: San Francisco

Every person in the room remains perfectly still, frozen in position except Travis and Adrienne.  Whiteness beginning to cloud her eyes as the pressure against her throat increases, Adrienne squirms only infuriating her husband further.  "I said don't move.  My God can't you listen to anything I say?"

"Travis, don't do this…" Stephanie holds out a hand as her words linger in the air.

"Don't do this." He mimics in a high pitched tone.  "Don't do what?  Protect myself?  You're the last person to be giving me advice."

"No I'm not!  I know what it's like…this rage inside you.  I felt it too once…you know that.  But falling victim to it…allowing it to consume you and make you do these terrible things…it only makes matters worse!"

"She's right." Kyle interjects.  "You still have a chance but if you kill Adrienne, your life is over."

"Quit feeding me this psychobabble crap.  She deserves to die."

Stephanie glances over at Greg briefly to see if he is making a move but thankfully he is controlling himself.  "I said those words myself once.  And now I know how wrong I was.  You have children Travis.  How do you think they'll feel if they find out you murdered their mother?"

Travis tightens his grip even further as a look of exasperation takes over his face and Adrienne yelps in pain, tears falling down her cheeks.  "I've got no choice!  I've been backed into a corner and now I'm finding a way out.  If you want to find people to blame, take a look over there." He nods towards Greg.  "And of course David.  He ruined my life and my marriage because my whore of a wife was weak enough to fall for him.  Well I wasn't weak.  I had the courage to do what every single one of you wanted to do but never had the strength to achieve."

"Courage?  This isn't about courage!" Greg shouts, breaking his silence.  "If you run away from the police, you'll be the coward I always thought you were."

"Well deal with it." Travis laughs.  "Because there is nothing you can do to stop me."

"Oh I'll stop you." Pounding forwards with all the strength he can muster, Greg knocks Travis off balance sending him onto the desk. 

Adrienne is released from his grip and runs towards the other woman before screaming breathlessly, "Daddy!"

Travis punches Greg in the jaw and scrambles to his feet as Kyle goes to the aid of the older man who begins to bleed from his nose.  Before anyone can intervene, Travis grabs a brass poker from the fireplace and brings it crashing down onto Kyle's neck.

"Stay away!" He yells as Kyle slumps to the floor.  Pointing the poker at the two women he backs out of the French windows behind him and runs across the lawn slowly fading from view into darkness.

"Don't let him get away!" Adrienne pleads releasing herself from Stephanie who has held her out of harm's way.

"It's too late." Stephanie's eyes move almost hesitantly to the middle of the room where Kyle lies unconscious, his arms splayed out unnaturally where he has fallen on them.  Greg is moaning incoherently and dabbing at his bloody nose with a finger, flinching as a razor sharp pain shoots through his face.

"Go outside and get an ambulance." Greg instructs his daughter.  "Quickly!"

Palace Hotel: San Francisco  

Waiting patiently in the dimly lit elevator, Jessica pushes back against the brass support rail and raises her eyes to the ceiling.  Every time she has been by herself lately, her mind has wandered back to the rape and no amount of consoling or comforting seems to make any difference.  Anita's counseling has helped but it's a slow process -- one which Tommy just couldn't possibly understand.

"Doors opening.  Ninth floor." An electronic voice states coldly and Jessica steps out of the elevator into the empty corridor.  The only lighting comes from the warm glow of a line of wall lights which stretch down the corridor and the closer Jessica steps towards Tommy's room, the more shadows begin to dance off the walls.

Placing a knuckle against the door to knock, she inhales deeply in an attempt to relax but the muffled sound of romantic music inside seems to get louder and louder until she can feel blood pumping through her brain. 

"Calm down." She whispers to herself but it's no use.  Her diaphragm freezes mid motion and a feeling of nausea envelopes her leaving only one option.  Run.

*        *          *

"Bah bah bah…bah." Tommy sings along to the music, reaching a gold framed mirror above the fireplace on the last beat.  Taking a step backwards, he ruffles his hair a little.  Too much gel?  Too little?

Ordinarily he wouldn't worry about things like his hair around Jessica but tonight has to be special.  They've been apart for way too long and he needs to look his best.  The irony of the situation isn't lost on him.  He and Jessica were the closest they've ever been when they were backpacking around Australia, refusing to stay in a hotel until their final night in Sydney.  And now here he is, primping his hair, smoothing down the front of his striped shirt just to get the relationship back on track.

"It's romance." He says to himself, picking up a box of matches and striking one.  Then with a steady hand, he lights two candles on the fireplace and blows out the match as he hears a rustling noise outside the door.  After one more glance in the mirror, he moves towards it making deliberate strides across the plush cream carpet.

As he passes the sofa, a vibrating sound strikes him and he impatiently pulls his cellphone from his coat pocket.  It vibrates persistently in his hand until he flips it open.  "Hello?"

"Sweetheart it's your mother.  There's been an accident."

"What is it?  Is it Dad?  Has something happened?"

"No David's fine." Stephanie's voice deepens.  "There's been an incident…nothing too bad but Kyle's having some x-rays done.  He got into a fight with Travis Wilder."

"Sorry I'm not following." Tommy says while blowing out the candles.  He waves a hand to diffuse the wafting smoke for a moment but gives up quickly in order to put his coat on.

"It's going to take a lot of explaining.  I don’t want you to drive all the way over here…just go home and wait for us there okay?"

"Sure.  I'll see you later."

"Tommy…"

"What?"

"Drive carefully.  Go straight home and don't let anybody inside the house until Kyle and I arrive."

Tommy swallows, "That's fine.  Don't worry.  Bye mom."  Flipping his phone back again he looks around the room quickly lamenting the loss of the evening before hurrying out into the empty corridor and deciding to leave a note for Jessica at reception.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"This has got to be a joke." Julia frowns and turns up the radio to hear the news play out.  Her concentration lapsing from driving, she moves the car slowly around the driveway towards the garages.

"Early reports suggest that Stephanie Elliott, recently released on parole from Madison Central Sanitarium was involved in the struggle before accompanying her brother-in-law to hospital."

"Ha.  That figures.  She must have been attracted to the situation.  Wacko to wacko."  The sound of the radio begins to crackle as Julia maneuvers her Mercedes into the garage, the door opening at the press of a button and closing as soon as she is inside.

"Looks like your plan to get rid of her is up David.  You just better not tell the police I knew it was Travis.  I've got enough trouble without…"

A light flickers on automatically in the garage interrupting her and causing her to listen to the final words.  "The police search for Travis Wilder continues."

Grimacing, Julia pushes the off button on the radio and gets out of the car as the buzzing sound of its descending aerial echoes.  With a quick bleep, the car is locked and Julia scrambles with her keys to open the garage door.

"Take.  Your.  Time." She mutters under her breath.  Everything on the estate seems to have gone to pot since Guy left.  Perhaps if one of the Wheelers took care of the family home instead of spreading incompetence around the corporation, it might run a little more smoothly.

As the door reaches its halfway point, Julia decides not to wait any longer and steps tentatively towards the opening until a movement stuns her.  "Oh my God!" She screams, stumbling backwards as the darkened figure steps into the garage.

Masters Mansion: San Francisco  

"Thanks for coming." Isabelle reaches up to put her arms round Michael's shoulders as he shuts the front door behind him.  Now the ambulance has left with Kyle, things are beginning to become a little less frantic.

"I came as soon as I got your message.  Is Greg okay?"

"Yes." She replies timidly.  "He's fine.  His nose isn't broken but he's going to have slight bruising over the next few days.  Adrienne's been checked out too.  More emotional damage than anything."

Protectively placing an arm around his mother's shoulders, Michael walks in step with her to the drawing room where Adrienne is sat on a sofa being comforted by Greg and questioned by Brandon Arnold.  Nobody seems to notice the pair as they walk inside perpetuating Isabelle's feeling of sheer uselessness but the scene of disarray and broken china shocks Michael.

A small brown pool of blood has dried in the middle of the room but Michael assumes it isn't Travis's.  "Do you want to go to the kitchen?  Perhaps we can fix ourselves a brandy and something to eat. 

"That sounds good." Isabelle replies shakily and they leave the room, still unnoticed.

"It must have been a terrible shock for you coming home to this.  Thank God you didn't walk in on it or else who knows what might have happened?" 

"The police were already here by the time I arrived which spooked me."

"Of course it did."

As they reach the kitchen, Isabelle pulls up a stool from the breakfast bar and watches her son busy himself with the task in hand.  She doesn't know why she called him…it's not fair to lump this all on him.  But Guy has his own problems and things still aren't perfect between her and Lauren  no matter how many times she tries to kid herself.  Perhaps she needs to get this off her chest.

"The thing is Michael…I wasn't spooked for the reasons you think.  I mean of course it surprised me…but I had other ideas running through my head."

"You probably thought the worst.  Anyone would stumbling upon a scene like that."

"No that's not what I mean." Isabelle's voice is tinged with impatience but not directed towards Michael.  More towards herself for not being able to force the words out.  "I thought Greg had done something."

"Greg?" Frowning, Michael closes the door of the refrigerator and turns slowly.  "You're not making much sense."

"A couple of months ago I received a letter…an anonymous letter.  It said that Greg was responsible for the death of his first wife."

"What?" Michael cries.

"I know it sounds crazy." Isabelle brings her shaky hands to her face, pulling them down her burning cheeks.  "But I thought he had snapped…and he was responsible for David Elliott's attack."

Michael hesitates for a moment, allowing it to sink into his brain.  "But now you know he didn't do it."

"Yes.  But I still don't know whether he killed Vanessa.  I know it's awful doubting my own husband like this and if my mother was still alive she'd be horrified.  I just don't know what to do."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"You frightened the living daylights out of me!" Julia chides viciously as she leads her companion into the hallway of the house.

"Well you weren't who I was expecting.  I'm sorry."

"Just get inside.  There are other people who can deal with you a lot better than I can."

"I don't doubt that." The girl inhales to cover her snide comment before her eyes are distracted by her opulent surroundings.  It's certainly not a showy house.  There is a lot of classic dark wood and heavy material but this is all offset by the number of windows in the hallway and imposing front door.  "Nice place."

"Yes well I didn't decorate it so you don't need to suck up to me." Placing a hand on the teenager's back, Julia forcefully pushes her into the living room where John  is reading what seems to be a script.

He looks up and puts the script down, "Evening.  Who…" Without finishing the sentence, he gestures towards the teenage girl at Julia's side.  She is pretty in an understated way dressed mostly in dark winter clothing, a black turtleneck sweater and her dark brown hair cascading down her shoulders.

"I found her wandering around the estate.  Go on.  Introduce yourself." Julia crosses her arms defiantly.

"Hi."  The girl extends a hand.  "I'm Megan Kingsley.  Lauren's daughter."

Next on Power and Deception

- Adrienne has a revelation for the police.
- Megan is thrust into the Wheeler family.
- Chaos breaks out at the Wheeler Corporation.
- Tommy makes a terrible mistake.
- Michael has reason to doubt his wife. 

About P&D | Characters | Past Episodes | Interact | Links | Home