Episode 18: Extortion

Previously

-Guy received a photo of the Garrett gravestones from Jake.
-Lauren faced Morgan's killer, Darren Keelly and shot him when Michael and Mark arrived.
-Darren admitted the Delta Group orderedd the hit on Morgan.
-Jessica went to another support meetingg after memories of the rape.
-Riley found Stephanie but she overpowerred him and warned him to stay away from her.
-Cassie confronted Guy about his parentaage and he told her the whole story but denied using her.

Elliott and Russo: San Francisco

Waiting for the elevator doors to finally open, Mark rings his hands apprehensively. He knows that leaving town could have an effect on Stephanie, especially with her marriage lying in tatters.

The doors open and he strolls out eyeing a secretary who is filing her nails at her desk.

Mark clears his throat, "Are you David Elliott’s assistant?" He reads the name on her desk, Cynthia Allingham.

The woman drops the nail file to the ground with a clatter and startled, she stands. "Yes. Can I help you?"

"I’d like to know if Mr Elliott is available."

"Certainly. May I ask your name?"

"Mark Fielding. His brother-in-law." That still sounds odd to Mark’s ears but it might kick Cynthia into action.

"Just one minute please." She scuttles into David’s office and after several minutes, reappears. "Mr Elliott will see you know." She exclaims.

"Thank you." Mark walks past her and enters David’s office, shutting the door behind him.

"What are you doing here?" David asks annoyed.

"I’ve come to see you about Stephanie."

"What about her? Did she send you here?" David raises his voice.

"No. But I’m leaving town and I thought I should see you before I go. You know you left her in pretty bad shape."

David sighs, "She did it all to herself. And I really don’t see that it is any business of yours Mark. So why don’t you just leave?"

"Because I owe it to her. I owe it to my sister to try and help wherever I can. She came to me the day Morgan was killed and I just fobbed her off. If there is any way that I can help…"

"Unless you’re a psychiatrist, I don’t think so. Stephanie is sick. You haven’t known her long enough to realize that but it’s true. And as for Morgan…you made a lucky escape." He sneers as Mark shifts himself uncomfortably.

"What do you mean? What do you know about Morgan?"

"You really want to know why she came onto you? Why she got pregnant with your child? God, you’re an idiot. Julia paid her to seduce you…and it worked."

Mark waits for a second, feeling as though he has just been punched in the gut. "She paid…Morgan?" The answer finally hits him. "To break up me and Lauren? That sick, twisted bitch."

"Temper, temper Mark. I know acts of insanity seem to run in your family and I don’t think we need any more dead bodies turning up on our hands."

Mark narrows his eyes, "Screw you."

As the door to his office slams shut, David leans back in his reclining chair and laughs.

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

The buzz of telephones and fax machines fills Lauren’s head as she attempts to peruse an investment project put to her by Jake. Knowing his true nature, she reads the small print carefully.

Slamming her pen down in frustration at reading the document, she jumps up from her seat and heads out of the office. Michael and Jake are standing by the elevator.

"Can I cut in?" she asks breezily.

Jake rolls his eyes, "You already have."

"Jake, I need to talk to you about the Leighton project you wanted me to go over. I noticed that Austin Morell is also planning on backing the venture. Is that a coincidence?"

Michael frowns and looks at Jake, "You got Morell involved? He’s a client, not a business partner."

"It’s my project and I’ll do it my way." Jake pushes the button of the elevator again, anxious to walk away from the lion’s den.

"No Jake, you’ll do it my way." Lauren responds firmly. "I employ you and you do as I say."

Without warning, a rumble can be heard beneath the floor and as the workers in the office turn to look at the elevator, a huge blast shakes the building and sends them to the ground. Amidst screams of panic, flames can be seen bursting through the open elevator. Lauren puts a hand to her head which has been cut by broken glass and the ringing off alarm bells only heightens the sense of panic.

"Michael!" she screams, pulling herself along the floor. Nobody seems to be seriously injured but the offices are quickly filling with smoke. Michael’s body moves jerkily and groaning, he pulls himself over to Lauren. Jake is trying to open the doors to the stairwell.

"Mrs Erikson?" Flo yells as loud as she can over the alarm. "Are you ok?" she splutters and puts a handkerchief to her mouth.

"Yes." Lauren pulls her hand away from her head and sees the blood trickling down her fingers. "Please!" she shouts, supported by Michael. "Everybody stay calm. Keep trying the stairwell! We’ve got to find a way out of here!"

Elliott House: San Francisco

"I’m glad you came." Stephanie beams, placing a cup of coffee down in front of Mark. "I haven’t heard from you."

"I know I’m sorry. What with Morgan and everything…"

"You don’t need to explain." Stephanie sips from her cup. "So…what are your plans now that…you’re not with Morgan anymore?"

"That’s what I came to tell you about. I’m moving back to Los Angeles."

Stephanie clenches her teeth and places her cup down, being careful not to smash it as anger builds up inside of her. "You don’t need to rush into anything Mark. When are you planning on going?"

"Today."

"No!" Stephanie roars staring her brother in the eye. "You’re not leaving me. Not you!"

"Stephanie I have to. I didn’t want you to get like this…"

"What do you expect me to do? My husband leaves me and then you tell me you don’t even want to stick around? I thought I could trust you!"

Mark stands and walks over to her. He attempts to touch her hand but she pulls away violently. "I’m not going to the other end of the world. I’ll still keep in contact with you."

"Why do you have to leave?"

"It’s Morgan…and everything." Mark sighs and against his better judgement he spills the beans, "Julia Wheeler paid Morgan to seduce me…to take me away from Lauren. Well…" he throws his hands in the air, "it worked. And now I have too many bad memories to stay here."

Stephanie’s eyes glaze over as she listens to the explanation and the feeling of hatred that she can’t shake away, consumes her entire body. For a moment she cannot move, paralyzed by the murderous feeling that she has kept hidden for so long. Now she knows more than ever that the time is near…

"It’s…Julia’s…fault." She manages to reply.

"Yes. I suppose it is. Listen…I want you to rise above this. Show Julia that she can’t hurt you anymore." Mark sits back down.

"Oh I will." Stephanie smiles at the irony, masking her real feelings. "I’m sorry I snapped at you. I understand your reasons for leaving. Maybe I can visit you…and you will come to see me won’t you?"

"Of course." Mark grins. "I’m glad you understand."

"I do. Perfectly."

Guy’s Apartment: Napa City

"You may be pregnant…" Guy runs a finger over Cassie’s stomach, "But you’re still damn hot."

"I know." Cassie leans over and kisses him passionately, ignoring the noise of the television in the background. "What time do you have to be back at the estate?" She asks.

"Sometime this afternoon."

"Good, you can drive me back there." She turns over and sits up, pulling the cream bed sheets up to cover her chest. It is only then that she notices the story on the television.

"Yes Abigail, this is a very tense time for the Wheeler family. According to some witnesses, members of the family are still trapped inside the building."

The screen is taken over by a picture of the Wheeler Building. Fire trucks are arranged in the street, surrounded by a crowd of people.

"Oh my God." Guy exclaims and grabs the remote control to turn up the volume.

"We understand that three members of the Wheeler family are struggling to free themselves. Lauren Erikson, Michael Wheeler and Jake Wheeler. Only time will tell if they can make it out of the building."

Photographs of the three flash on the screen and Cassie remains still. "I want him to die." She whispers.

"What?" Guy pulls himself up.

"I want him dead."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Jessica glances up at the door of the drawing room and drops her book to the ground as Pilar’s formidable figure looms over her.

"Yes Pilar?" Jessica smiles weakly.

"Oh ‘scuse me Miss Jessica. Boy here to see you."

Jessica frowns, "Boy? Okay, show him in." She jumps up from the sofa and watches the doorway as Pilar leads the guest in. It’s Tommy. "I thought we were going to stay away from each other." She observes coldly after dismissing Pilar.

"That’s the thing." The thing? He rushes over to her not quite sure how to say it. He knows he is going to start babbling. "We don’t need to anymore. My mother…she’s…fine!"

"Oh, your mother’s fine." Jessica comments sarcastically and immediately regrets it. "After all the pain I’ve gone through over the last few days, you think you can just worm your way back to me again?"

"I thought you were ok with it…"

"No…yes…what am I saying?" she places her hands in front of her eyes in a futile attempt to stop the flood of confusion that is taking her over. "I do want you back. It’s true."

Tommy instinctively opens his arms and she steps into them amazed that she can feel safe, this close to any man. Tommy bends his head forward and plants a kiss on the top of her head. "Then let’s make it work this time."

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

Michael rushes over to the group of men battering at the door to the stairwell as Lauren stands in front of the rest of the workers. "Is it budging?" she cries out. As if by a miracle the metal doors swing open and the crowd race over, desperate to get away from the ominous sight of the flames.

"Move!" she yells, waiting for everyone to get to the stairwell before she does. Michael and Jake wait for her whilst allowing the other employees to escape.

"Come on!" Michael grabs Lauren’s arm and races her through the doors. Jake follows behind them and over the crowd of people they can see a fire crew racing up the stairs.

"What happened?" Lauren shouts out to one of the firemen.

"A bomb went off in the elevator shaft. Get everyone out onto the street. We need to put out the flames."

The blood drains from Lauren’s face as she takes in what he said. A bomb? Who would want to bomb the Wheeler Corporation? She is soon able to answer the question. The Delta Group. It must be…

Elliott and Russo Building: San Francisco

"Oh no." David cries out as Stephanie enters his office with papers in her hand. She rests against the doorframe, expecting an invitation to sit down. "Anything you need to say to me, you can say through my lawyer. Now get out." David gets up from his desk and grabs Stephanie by her arm to escort her out of his office.

"Get your hands off me." Stephanie breaks free and turns to face him. Cynthia is working busily at her desk. "I did want to do this without making a scene but seeing as you leave me with no choice…"

"What are you talking about?" he mutters angrily, eyeing Cynthia at her desk. He doesn’t want her hearing this.

"These." Stephanie lifts up the papers and waves them in his face. "The divorce papers which you kindly had your lawyer send to me. Well sorry…" she tears the papers in half and drops them to the ground, "but I’m not granting you your divorce."

"What? Why?" Cynthia looks up as David’s voice becomes louder.

"I agreed to a divorce under duress. Like you pointed out, I’m not in my right mind." She smiles smugly, "How could I possibly have known what I was doing when I agreed to it? You can have your whore Julia but you better be ready. I’m just waiting for the right moment."

David notices the glint in Stephanie’s eye. The same expression she had all those years ago… "Is that a threat Stephanie?"

"Call it whatever you like. The fact is you better watch your back…and Julia’s. You’re going to get what’s coming to you."

"Go to hell. I’m not scared of you."

Stephanie points a finger at him, "Oh you should be. Very scared. What I did to Angela Mitchell is going to look like a misdemeanor compared to what I have in store for you."

"Is there a problem?" Cynthia stands up from her desk, disturbed by the unfolding scene.

"Yes. Cynthia could you call security and tell them to wait by the entrance? I want them to escort my wife out of the building."

"Of course." Cynthia bends down and picks up the phone. She can feel Stephanie’s eyes on her.

"Don’t worry. I’m leaving. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you." Stephanie walks confidently into the elevator and David sighs as the doors close.

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

Turning off the radio, David pulls his car to a halt as a police officer appears at the window.

"What’s going on?" he asks puzzled. A huge crowd has gathered around the building, which has been cordoned off by the police.

"I’m sorry Sir. You’ll have to leave your car here."

"Why? Has there been an accident?"

"There was a bomb blast in the building a short while ago. A fire crew are taking care of the damage but until the building is declared safe, no vehicles are allowed past this line."

"Fine. Thank you officer." David switches off the engine and steps out of the car. Next to a fire truck in the distance he can see Julia standing by as someone is treated by the paramedics.

"Julia?" he runs over to her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Julia has her arms crossed and she rubs them, obviously cold. "I wasn’t in the building. I came when I saw it on the news. A bomb went off." Julia looks at the building and seems distracted.

"The officer told me. Was anyone hurt?"

"No." Julia looks round to an ambulance where Jake and Michael stand by as Lauren is treated for her head injury. "Everyone got out very much alive."

"Thank God."

Julia hesitates for a moment, "Yes. What are you here for anyway?"

"I just had a visit from Stephanie."

The name immediately snaps Julia to attention. "What did she want?"

"She’s refusing to go through with the divorce."

"That doesn’t surprise me. But I thought she had already agreed."

"She had." David looks at the exiting fire crew as he continues. "But she decided it would be more fun to play games. She also threatened you…and me."

"What do you mean?" Julia turns round, a look of concern in her eyes.

"I mean, I think she is planning something. You better be careful. You know what happened last time she went off the deep end."

"Yes and I was too stupid to press charges. Do you really think she could be dangerous?"

"I don’t doubt it."

* * *

"Thank you." Lauren stands up, annoyed by bandage she has been forced to wear. From the distance, she can see John pushing through the crowd.

"Lauren!" he runs over and Michael leads Jake away so the pair can be alone. "Are you okay? I’ve been so worried."

"I’m fine." She assures him. "Nothing a good long bath won’t fix." She turns to look at broken windows of the building. "And a damn good insurance policy."

John laughs, "As long as you’re not hurt, that’s all that matters to me."

The conversation is cut short when Lauren can faintly hear her cell phone ringing. She hadn’t realized it was still in her suit pocket. "Excuse me a second honey." She steps away and puts a finger to her other ear in order to block out the noise from the crowd.

"Hello? Lauren Erikson speaking."

"Enjoy the fireworks?" A rasping voice hisses down the line. "There can be more where that came from."

"Who is this? You work for them don’t you?"

"You catch on quickly. We have another demand."

"What?" she snaps.

"Another bomb is planted in the Wheeler building. Unless you pay five million dollars over to the Delta Group, it will go off in half an hour. If you comply with our demands, we will tip off the authorities who will remove the bomb safely. Do you understand?"

"How do you know I won’t go straight to the police." Lauren turns her back to John who is watching her suspiciously.

"Because we’re watching you Lauren."

A chill runs down her spine and she flings her head round in an attempt to see where they could be. There is no sign of them. "How do you expect me to get the money to you?"

"The fire crew has finished their work. Go up the stairs to your office and use your laptop to connect to the Wheeler mainframe. Access the accounts for the Wheeler foundation on your computer and transfer five million dollars to the Delta Group under a phony research grant."

"And if I do this, you’ll get rid of the bomb."

"Yes."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"Are you okay if I leave you?" Michael asks as he pulls the car up outside the mansion.

"Fine." Jake replies sourly. "I’ve got something to take care of anyway."

He watches Guy who is handing out orders to one of the workers. My uncle.

As Michael walks off into the main house, Jake approaches Guy and calls out for him. He turns around and fakes relief.

"Good you’re okay. Cassie was worried about you."

"Yeah. Whatever. It’s Cassie I wanted to talk to you about. I know what’s going on between you two."

"Sorry?" Guy responds defensively.

"I know you are sleeping with my wife. And I want it to end."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. Have you been drinking again?"

Jake pushes Guy violently. "No I have not been drinking! I want you to stay the hell away from my wife, do you hear?"

"Or what?" Guy grins, clearly pleased that Jake has become so riled.

"Or else I’ll tell the family what your friend Rikki had to say about you. The fact that you are Isabelle’s son."

Guy pulls himself up as the smug facial expression fades. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Like hell I don’t. I’m only warning you once. Unless you end your relationship with Cassie, I’m going to tell the family that you’re one of us. A Wheeler. Something you obviously want to stay buried."

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

Shutting the blackened door to her office, Lauren sits down at her desk and ignores the noise of the firecrew as they continue to hose down the elevator shaft. Taking out her laptop computer, she hooks it up to the phone line and waits for a minute until it is connected. Typing in her user name and password, she watches as the account details come up on screen and prepares herself to part with more money.

The Delta Group research grant. That is obviously what they were talking about. She clicks on it and waits to see the statement of all previous transactions. That is when the information hits her. She reads the statement again to make sure she is not hallucinating. In the past three months, millions of dollars have already been paid to the Delta Group. Under the name…of Julia Wheeler.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"Anyone home?" Michael calls out as he enters the hallway. Pilar is scuttling around the kitchen so he leaves her to her work and heads for the drawing room. "Hello?"

Tommy and Jessica are stood by the window locked in an embrace. "Sorry." He clears his throat. "I thought you two were…"

The pair pull themselves apart and Jessica smiles. "We were. Now we’re not. Happy for us?"

"Absolutely. Give your uncle a hug." Michael walks over and wraps his arms round his baby niece, kissing her. "You two behave, do you hear?"

"You know we will. Hey, Michael?" Jessica adds before he can leave. "Why do you smell of smoke?"

He smiles wryly, "Turn on the news."

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

John is waiting for Lauren as she exits the building and puts an arm round her as he leads her to the car. "Have you taken care of whatever the problem was?"

"For now." Lauren replies distractedly. She turns to see Julia watching her carefully. The two women make eye contact and Lauren stares at her knowingly. Julia quickly turns her head to talk to David and Lauren walks towards the car. What are you up to?

Westbridge Avenue: San Francisco

Switching on her headlights, Stephanie drives absent mindedly towards the house. Images of the past are flashing before her eyes as she mulls over the day’s events.

Now is the time. Now is the time.

"I don’t appreciate turning up at my home to find you about to murder my mother!"

"Please Stephanie don’t!"

"I hate you. I’ve never loved you and if it weren’t for Tommy I wouldn’t even be here now."

"I want you to have proof that David is still having an affair with Julia."

"They’re making a fool out of you Stephanie. They’re laughing at you. There’s only one way to stop them…"

"And I’ve got to do it." Stephanie says to herself wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "I’ve got to make them pay. They’re not going to laugh at me any more."

Flight 314: San Francisco Airport

Mark falls back into his seat and takes out a magazine to pass the time. He’s finally getting out of this city. He doesn’t know what he will do in Los Angeles but that’s part of the excitement. New adventures and new horizons. Anything has to be more peaceful than the last six months. Mark smiles and looks at the sky through the window.

"Goodbye San Francisco."

Next on Power and Deception

Isabelle makes a grand return to the valley...

Guy makes a grisly discovery on the estate...

Jake gathers the family for a shocking revelation...

The leader of the Delta Group is revealed...

On Lauren and John's wedding day, Stephanie proceeds with her plan...

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Episode 19 

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