Episode 15: Weddings and other Disasters

Previously
Julia was terrified when a pig's heart was sent to the mansion. John impulsively asked Lauren to marry him and she agreed. Cassie was shocked when she found out she was pregnant. Julia and David went to meet Judge Robert Ellison but he told them Douglas could not be declared mentally incompetent. When they left, Michael emerged. He had blackmailed the Judge. Tommy and Stephanie argued when she continued to disapprove of his relationship with Jessica. When Michael warned Lauren away from John, she snapped about his relationship with Julia. Julia gave Morgan her blackmail money and Morgan asked for reassurance that Julia would keep Mark and Lauren apart. Cassie told an ecstatic Jake that she was pregnant. John and Lauren broke their news to the family as did Jake and Cassie. An intruder broke into Morgan's apartment.

Tuscedero Apartments: Napa Valley

The apartment is silent as Morgan crawls across the floor staying close to the wall. She needs to get out but can she make it to the front door?

There is no sign of anyone and she jumps up, racing to the door, whimpering as she does so.

After fumbling with the door handle, she yanks it open and races into the light filled hallway. With no thought to leaving her door open, she runs down the stairs and out of the main door where she gasps for a breath of the cold night air.

"Help me." She moans too quiet for anyone to hear her.

Behind her, the lights of a car turn on and its engine roars like an angry animal as it hurtles towards her. A stunned Morgan turns, hearing the noise but it is too late. As she screams, her body flies onto the hood of the car that has smashed into her and lands lifeless and bloody on the tarmac, her head cracking on the ground. The car speeds away as Morgan remains unconscious.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"I get it." Pilar assures Julia when she hears knocking at the front door. Julia eats a croissant whilst reading the morning paper. She would be watching the television if it wasn’t for this damn power outage. This country is getting worse and worse, she thinks to herself.

Her embarrassment is evident when Pilar leads an unfamiliar man into the kitchen. Dressed in a black trench coat and suit, he flips out identification and waves it in Julia’s face.

"Mrs Wheeler?"

"Yes." Julia replies, her voice filled with venom over Pilar’s incompetence as she wraps her night gown tightly around her body.

"I’m Lietenant Brandon Arnold. My partner and I are here to look for a Mr Mark Fielding. Are you aware of his whereabouts?"

"No…he’s living elsewhere now. Try him at Morgan Janssen’s place. I’ll write down her address for you…"

"We’ve already been there ma’am. It seems he has disappeared."

"Disappeared? What is all this about Lieutenant?"

Pilar can be heard harassing Arnold’s partner in the hallway as he answers the question.

"Morgan Janssen was run down last night by an unknown assailant."

"Oh my God!" Julia stands, "Is she dead?"

"No. She is in hospital but it does appear…that she suffered a miscarriage. There were signs of a disturbance in her apartment. We’re not sure how she got to the parking lot but that is where the incident took place. We were hoping to find Mr Fielding to see if he could shed any light on the matter."

"Well I’m sorry I can’t help you. I know Morgan well. I hope she will be okay." Like hell I do.

"You know her well? Then perhaps you can help me. I’m sure you’ll know that we’ll be looking for any enemies Miss Janssen may have. Do you know anybody who would want to do this?"

"I can’t really say…"

Lieutenant Arnold becomes stern, "Mrs Wheeler if you have any information I suggest you tell me now. Holding back possible evidence is a criminal offence."

"I don’t want to get anyone into trouble…"

"It would be better if you told us anyone you think might be responsible. If they are innocent we can clear them from our enquiries."

"It’s my sister-in-law. Lauren Erikson. She’s the only person I can think of who hates Morgan enough to do this."

"Lauren Erikson…" He makes a note of it on paper before his partner enters.

He is black, tall and powerfully built. Rather different from his partner. "Arnold. I just got a message. We have to go see the victim."

"Fine." Arnold flips over his note book and turns back to Julia. "If you can tell your sister-in-law we are interested in talking to her it would be a great help. We’ll try to get in contact with her after we’ve interviewed Ms Janssen."

"Of course Lieutenant."

As they leave, Julia smiles to herself smugly, satisfied with her work.

* * *

Unaware of the visitors, Lauren sits on her bed contemplating Jessica’s advice. Maybe it was time she should get in contact with Isabelle. And now would be the perfect time to do it.

On a piece of paper in front of her is her mother’s phone number, supplied by a suspicious Michael. It’s a London number and Michael has obviously kept in close contact with her.

Lauren dials carefully, holding her breath until someone answers. The sound of her mother’s voice sends a chill down her spine.

"Hello. Isabelle Wheeler speaking."

Lauren remains silent. She is paralyzed and can’t bring herself to reply.

"Hello? Hello?"

"Mother…" Lauren answers weakly. "It’s me…Lauren."

"Lauren?" In her plush London apartment, Isabelle gasps and falls down onto a chair. "It’s been so long…"

"Yes I know. Jessica told me I should get in touch with you…"

"Jessica? Are you enjoying being back at the mansion?"

"What do you think?" Lauren says sharply.

There is a tone of regret in Isabelle’s voice. "Okay I’m sorry. That was a tactless question to ask. So what did you call for?"

"I’m getting married?"

"Married?" Isabelle is dazed by the announcement. "Who to? Mark? Are you finally marrying…"

"No mother. Not Mark. John."

"No!" Isabelle’s voice bellows down the phone. "You are not marrying that man again."

"This is why I knew I shouldn’t call you. I knew you would react like this."

"With good reason. Have you forgotten what he did to you? He left you heartbroken. I may not have been there but Michael told me everything. I can’t believe he’s letting you go ahead with this."

"Letting me? I am my own keeper not Michael. This was a mistake…"

Isabelle interrupts before her daughter can put the phone down. "Lauren wait. You’re marrying John, is that all you wanted to tell me or was there something else?"

"Jessica also suggested that I invite you to the wedding."

"When is it?"

"Tonight."

"Tonight? You expect me to fly over from London tonight?"

"Well with the time difference, you should get here in time…"

"I am not going to be there to watch you throw your life away. That’s exactly what you’re doing."

"Mother!" Lauren sighs.

"Let me finish. Marrying John Erikson will be the biggest mistake you ever make. If you want to do it fine but don’t expect me to watch you."

"You know, all I wanted from you was a little support. I think you owe me that much." There is silence. Lauren had not meant to bring that up. "You know what? Forget it. Don’t bother coming back. I’ve gotten along well enough without you and I’m I’ll be able to handle your absence." Lauren puts the phone down, cutting off the conversation before her mother can reply further. The only mistake I made was getting in touch with you again.

Elliott House: San Francisco

"I can’t believe you tried to stop Tommy from leaving the house. You’re obsessive." David fills a glass with water and hold it tightly, trying not to lash out at his wife. Every day it is the same vicious routine and always about the Wheelers.

"It was for his own good David. Maybe if you were around a little more often you could see that. But I’m sure tearing yourself away from your blonde piece is just too much to ask."

"That’s enough!" David slams his glass down on the kitchen counter and it shatters. His hand begins to bleed and he runs over to the sink to put it under the water. "Shit."

"Let me help you." Stephanie rushes over and attempts to grab his hand but he pulls away.

"Get the hell off me. I’ve had it with you. I can’t take this anymore. You need help!"

"Don’t talk like that. You know how angry it makes me."

"Yes because I feel exactly the same way! You are suffocating." David spits. "You just don’t know when to stop. How long is it going to take you to realize that Julia Wheeler didn’t ruin this marriage…you did!"

"No!" Stephanie is visibly hurt but David’s uncontainable anger makes him continue.

"You and your pathetic insane jealousy. You are a bitter, twisted woman and you are going to end up alone."

"You’re not leaving me." Stephanie grabs his arm and he wrenches it away.

"Yes I am. I’ve waited too long, getting sucked in by your manipulation and emotional blackmail. Focusing it on our son was the last straw. I’m filing for a divorce."

"David, no!" Stephanie begins to sob and falls to her knees, tugging at him. "Please don’t go! I can’t live without you!"

"You’re pathetic." David sneers as he pulls away and leaves his broken wife sobbing on the kitchen floor.

Tuscedero Apartments: Napa Valley

"Morgan?" Mark drops his bag on the ground and looks around at the living room. It is a complete mess and trails of dust line most of the surfaces. What the hell is going on here? He walks over to the phone but has no idea who to call.

"Where have you been?" He hears Stephanie’s voice behind him and spins round.

"Stephanie? What are you doing here?" she is dishevelled and wearing little makeup. Her eyes are puffy and red where she has obviously been crying.

"I’ve been looking for you. I need to talk to you."

"I’ve been in Los Angeles over night. What is it?" Mark walks over to his sister and grabs her hand.

"He’s leaving me Mark! David’s filing for a divorce."

"Sit down." Mark releases her hand as she sits on the sofa and he perches on a table opposite. "What happened?"

"I don’t know. Yesterday I got in an argument with Tommy. I didn’t like the fact that he is still seeing Jessica so I told him and…well…David flew off the handle. He was shouting at me and calling me names. Then he told me he is getting a divorce. I can’t lose him Mark, I don’t know what I would do if he left me."

"You’ll get over it. I know it might not seem like that now but…"

"No I won’t!" Stephanie shouts. "My family is my life! Without David all I have is Tommy and David is already beginning to poison his mind against me. He and Julia are trying to destroy me. I can forgive him for sleeping with her. I just want him back."

Mark frowns, "You shouldn’t forgive him. He betrayed you."

"After what happened between you and Lauren I’m surprised you’re taking his side."

"What I did was a stupid mistake. If Lauren were to ask me back now I would jump at the offer. But I also understand why she was so angry. She had every right to be and so do you. Don’t let him have the upper hand. You can be stronger than that. I know you can."

"I just want him back!" Stephanie refuses to listen to his advice.

The conversation is interrupted when the phone rings and Mark rushes to answer it. Maybe he’ll find out what the hell is going on with the apartment.

"Hello?" He looks over at Stephanie. She is too busy feeling sorry for herself to be interested in the conversation. "She’s where?…I’ll go now."

Stephanie is surprised by Mark’s strained expression when he puts the phone down. "What’s wrong?"

"That was Julia. Morgan got run down last night."

"Run down? Oh no…"

"Look I’ve gotta run. Show yourself out."

"No! Mark! Please I need you to help me!" Mark doesn’t hear Stephanie’s pleading as he leaves the apartment.

Oakwood Medical Center: Napa Valley

"Are you certain Lauren Erikson was responsible for your accident?" Lieutenant Arnold asks for confirmation.

Morgan sits up in bed. She too has been crying and her mind keeps wandering to the baby…Her dead baby. "I already told you I’m not positive but she is the only one I can think of who would do this. She’s jealous of my relationship with Mark."

"You have got to be kidding." Mark enters the hospital room after hearing Morgan’s statement.

"Mark!" Morgan’s face brightens but Mark shows little sign of concern.

"How could you think Lauren was responsible for this? She would never harm you or anyone for that matter."

Arnold interjects, "Well according to Ms Janssen’s statement, Mrs Erikson has already attacked her once before. She threatened her with a poker."

"What? When?" Mark is disbelieving.

"The day you moved in with me." Morgan answers. "Don’t you see how jealous she is? I want her arrested."

Arnold replies, "We really don’t have enough evidence to arrest her. But I think we should bring her in for questioning."

"Then do it! I’m not going to feel safe until I know she is out of the way."

Elliott House: San Francisco

"It’s so dark." Jessica comments as Tommy pulls up outside the house. The power outage means that the streetlights are all out and the only light comes from candles in the windows of houses.

"I know." Tommy stops the car and both get out walking up the driveway towards the house.

As they enter the hallway, a rush of cold air hits them and they can see candles burning throughout the house giving an eerie feel.

"Mom?" Tommy calls out. There is no answer. "It’s probably a good thing she isn’t here." He takes Jessica’s coat.

"I certainly agree."

They go through the living room and suddenly see where the cold air is coming from. The french windows that lead into the back yard are open and smoke is wafting into the house.

"What the hell…" Tommy runs towards the doors followed by Jessica.

Outside Stephanie is standing by a bonfire heaped with clothes and books. "What are you doing?" Tommy asks her increduously. Despite knowing the danger, he grabs a hose and sprays the fire with water. Luckily the flames die down leaving a soggy mess of paper and cloth. "Answer me!" he grabs Stephanie by the shoulders and shakes her but she won’t answer.

Jessica goes over to the fire and sees various bits of paper with David’s name on. "I think she was burning your father’s belongings." She says not wishing to inflame Stephanie.

"Is this true?" Tommy shakes harder. "Answer me damn it!" But Stephanie does not respond. He turns to Jessica, "I’m going to take her up to bed. Wait in the living room for me."

"Okay."

He leads his fragile mother through the house and upstairs as Jessica closes the french windows and waits on a chair near the fireplace.

After ten minutes, Tommy comes back downstairs.

"Is she okay?" Jessica enquires.

"I gave her some sleeping pills to keep her quiet. She told me Dad is filing for a divorce."

"Oh no." Jessica buries her head in her hands. "He must still be seeing my mother."

"I know." Tommy drops down onto the couch. "She didn’t even notice you were here. She was too out of it."

"Oh my God! I didn’t know she was so ill."

"Neither did I. Look, I don’t want to ruin this but I think maybe we should stop seeing each other for a while. I don’t know what my mom would do if she saw us together. We can tell our families we’ve broken up but after a while when this all dies down…"

"I agree. It’s better for everyone." Jessica fights back the hurt she is feeling. She knows it has to be done. "I’ve got to get home now."

"Oh yes, the wedding. I’d come with you but…"

"I understand. Call me when your mother is a little better okay?"

"Sure. Bye Jessica."

Oakwood Medical Center: Napa Valley

Morgan begins to stir from sleep. The room is dark except for a few stray beams of light from the emergency generator which is powering lights in the corridor.

"Hello Morgan."

Morgan wakes up with a start and gasps, pulling her bedclothes around her body. "What are you doing here?" she asks, her heart pounding frantically.

"I’ve come to see you." Darren Kelly is sitting in a chair by her bedside. He pulls out a cigarette and lights it.

"You can’t smoke that in here."

Darren laughs, "Who’s gonna stop me babe?"

"Look I think it would be better for everyone if you just left now. I won’t tell anyone you’ve been here."

"Shut it." Darren stands up and moves towards Morgan, hovering over her. He drops the cigarette on the ground and puts it out with his boot. "I’ve really missed you." He runs his hand up and down Morgan’s arm making her recoil from his touch. She closes her eyes wishing him to leave. "I think…maybe it’s time you came back home with me."

"I don’t want to."

"Really?" Darren’s hand jerks upwards and grabs Morgan’s throat. "That’s the wrong answer Princess. You better do as I say or...I’ll kill you."

Morgan chokes and begins to feel dizzy. "I can’t…go…back…"

Darren fastens his grip, "I don’t think I heard you right Princess. If you don’t come back with me, I’ll track you down. Where ever you are I’ll find you. You won’t escape from me again. Remember that."

"Please." Morgan claws at Darren’s hands, desperate for breath and he pulls away laughing. Her head smashes back down on the pillow from the force.

"I’ll be back." Darren leaves the room laughing.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

The garden is lit by a vast array of candles. The night breeze makes the scent waft through the air and music can be heard from a string quartet behind the area where the ceremony is to take place.

Cassie wanders up and down the aisle checking everything is in place. Lauren asked her to keep an eye on things seeing as Jessica is not home yet.

Out of the corner of her eye, Cassie can see Guy approaching. She grabs the back of her red, floor length gown to avoid slipping and races over to him.

"Guy, where the hell have you been?" she reprimands him. "I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for days."

"What’s wrong?" Guy puts his hands on her shoulders to calm her down but worried that someone may see, she self-consciously removes them.

"I’m pregnant damn it!"

Guy’s eyes widen, "What? And you think I am the father?"

"I don’t know! That’s the problem. My sex life with Jake may not be mind blowing but there is still the possibility that it's him. I’ve been to the doctor and I’m about four weeks along. I know there have been a couple of times when we haven’t used protection…"

"And that may be one of them. We’re going to have to…"

Jake’s voice can be heard behind them, "Cassie! The musicians are having a crisis. Could you come and fix it please?" He stares at Guy suspicious of the conversation.

Cassie sighs, "Yes Jake I’m coming." She whispers to Guy. "We’ll talk about it later."

Oakwood Medical Center: Napa Valley

Morgan frantically throws her belongings into a bag wiping tears from her face. I have to get out of here. She checks that Darren is no longer nearby. Keeping against the walls, she carefully makes her way down the corridor and leaves the hospital.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

The small group of wedding guests is waiting anxiously in the garden for Lauren’s arrival. John is standing by the altar but both he and Lauren decided not to have anybody stand with them. Michael will be giving Lauren away. At the back of the congregation are two suspicious looking men.

Suddenly, the music changes and the crowd gasps as Lauren approaches with Michael. She is dressed in a long cream floor length gown and her hair has been arranged perfectly.

"You look great." Michael comments to Lauren and she smiles.

However before they can approach the aisle, the two men from the back of the congregation rise and walk over to Lauren, blocking her from walking any further.

"What is going on?" Michael asks them sternly.

"Mrs Erikson? I’m Lieutenant Arnold. We need you to come to the station with us for questioning."

"Questioning?" Lauren’s voice strains angrily. "What the hell is this all about?"

"We need to talk to you about last night. You are a suspect in the attempted murder of Morgan Janssen."

"What?" Lauren gasps as the congregation erupts into chaos. They begin to whisper frantically, bemused by the turn of events but Julia smiles contentedly.

"Could you come with us now please." Arnold replies.

"Look pal this is her wedding." Michael squares up to the Lieutenant.

"And that’s unfortunate. Maybe if we had had the chance to get hold of Mrs Erikson earlier then this wouldn’t have happened. But Morgan Janssen has made the accusation and there is nothing we can do about it. I don’t want to cuff you Mrs Erikson but I will do if you don’t co-operate."

"Fine." Lauren throws her flowers down on the ground as John approaches.

"Lauren? What’s going on? What the hell am I meant to do?"

"They think I tried to murder Morgan last night. Send everyone home. The wedding is off."

Next time on Power and Deception

The murder takes place...

John makes plans for another wedding...

Mark attempts to rekindle his romance with Lauren...

Jessica argues with Jake over his treatment of Cassie...

Cassie and Jake uncover Guy's past...

Comments? Suggestions? Visit the Power and Deception Message Board

Or alternatively mail at poweranddeception@yahoo.com

Episode 16

HOME