Private Airstrip: San Francisco

It is a bright morning as Douglas Wheeler, the most powerful man in the valley and most of California, prepares to board his private jet destined for New York. His entourage of well-built bodyguards and assertive personal assistants follow behind him respectfully as he yells to his personal secretary.

"Tell Rose to take care of the Burton account. I don’t want any messing around on that one do you hear?"

"Yes sir. And the situation in New York?"

"Get David to handle it. We don’t want a lawsuit on our hands."

The group stands several hundred yards away from the plane as a thought hits Douglas. He turns to talk privately with his personal secretary. But before the words can come, a gunshot rings out. Frantically, security begin shouting into their radios as bullets start to fly through the air. The group are forced to the ground and begin praying for the gunfire to stop. After half a minute, it relents and security rush towards the people lying on the ground. Slowly they all begin to rise, but one doesn’t move. The body of a man remains strewn on the cold tarmac as blood begins to seep out from underneath him. It is Douglas. He has been shot. The guards start shouting for help as an airport ambulance hurtles towards the scene.

"Mr Wheeler? Mr Wheeler? Can you hear me? Oh my god…help him!"

A female doctor jumps out of the ambulance and runs over. "It’s ok, I’ll do all I can. Where did the bullets go in?" But then she realizes. "Jesus Christ."

"What?" Douglas’ personal secretary asks urgently.

Everyone realizes it is too late. "The bullet has penetrated his heart. There is nothing we can do. He’s already dead."

And as chaos breaks out all around, Douglas Wheeler lies on the tarmac, dead, staring towards the sky.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

It is still early morning, as Julia Wheeler lies naked in bed with her lover Guy Richardson. As soon as Douglas left this morning, Julia summoned the Wheeler stablehand to the main house as she always does when her husband is out of town. Julia, a woman in her forties, remains as beautiful as she has always been. Her platinum blonde hair flows to shoulder length and her face is blessed with delicate features which never seem to age. She pulls away from her young lover holding the white satin bedsheets around her body.

"Are we gonna stay here all day?" She asks Guy teasingly.

"Sounds good to me." Guy replies as he leans in for another kiss.

But their near tryst is caught dead in its tracks as the phone rings from Julia’s bedside dresser. Still clenching the sheet to protect her modesty, she elegantly leans over and picks up the phone. Guy leans back and lights a cigarette whilst waiting for the phonecall to end.

"Hello. Julia Wheeler speaking."

From a nearby hospital in San Francisco, a nervous doctor wracks his brains in order to find a way to break the news to the sudden widow.

"Is this Douglas Wheeler’s wife?"

"Yes this is she. Why? Is there a problem?" Julia sits up alert, sensing a tone of unease in the person’s voice.

"Yes Mrs Wheeler, I’m afraid there is. Your husband was shot at the airport around thirty minutes ago. I’m sorry to tell you that he died at the scene."

Julia’s heart skips a beat, "Oh my God."

"I’m sure you’ll understand that we’ll need you to come down and formally identify the body as soon as possible. But I’m afraid the media have realized…"

"Never mind. I’ll come down now." Julia abruptly drops the phone into the cradle and stares at it for several seconds. Then without a word, she pulls on a white flannel robe and heads to her closet.

Suspicious, Guy jumps up and pulls on his jeans. "What is it?"

"You better get back to the stables. It’s Douglas. He was shot dead at the airport."

Guy shouts out stunned, "WHAT?"

"They need me to go down to the hospital in San Francisco and identify the body. Make sure no one sees you leaving the bedroom. If anyone realises I was having sex with you when my husband died..."

"That is all you’re worried about? How can you be so glib?"

"I’m not being glib, I’m being practical. Now get out of here before one of the maids comes in."

Pulling on his t-shirt, Guy walks calmly out of the room and shuts the door. Julia sits down at her dresser and watches her reflection in the mirror as her face breaks into a smile.

"And finally, it is all mine. You’ve finally done me a favor Douglas. I thank you."

Elliott and Russo Building: San Francisco

David Elliott, the Wheeler family lawyer, walks past his adoring secretary Cynthia and heads towards his office. His charm and good looks manage to attract wanted…and unwanted attention from many women. Cynthia is just one of them.

She stands to attention and stops him at the door, "Mr Elliott, there’s a call for you on line one. It’s urgent."

"Thank you Cynthia."

He walks into his office, shutting the door behind him and placing his briefcase on the large oak desk. With his back to the breathtaking view of the city, he picks up the phone.

"Hello?"

It is Julia on the other end. "David, it’s me."

"Mrs Wheeler, really. Phoning me during office hours? I thought we kept those activities nocturnal."

Her patience wearing thin she sternly warns him, "That is not what I’m phoning for."

"Pity."

"Listen to me damn it, this is serious!"

"Okay, sorry. Shoot."

"Douglas was shot dead this morning at the airport. I have to go down to identify the body. You know what you have to do David. Don’t let me down. I’ll meet you at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in half an hour."

"I’ll be there."

WKBY News Station: Los Angeles

As the cameras roll, an attractive young woman sits at the newsdesk reading the autocue.

"Welcome back to WKBY News with me Lauren Erikson…"

"And me Dan Hollister." Cuts in her ambitious colleague.

"Thank you Dan. Today is a very special day for downtown Los Angeles as thousands gather for the Carnival of Racial Equality. The event, which has been in the planning stages since last year welcomes many…"

As she struggles to continue the sentence, Dan receives a message through his earpiece and the words on the autocue change. Lauren continues reading realizing that something untoward has happened.

"A breaking news report is coming into WKBY. It appears that the world famous Californian millionaire Douglas Wheeler was shot dead earlier this morning."

Stunned she cannot continue as frantic directors shout through her earpiece. They cut to Dan who attempts to continue with the story and Lauren runs out of the studio to the preparation room.

Several minutes later, Dan bursts in furiously.

"Lauren, what the hell was that back there?"

"Dan, please don’t."

"Don’t what? I think I have the right to know why you ran out of a live broadcast. What the hell got into you?"

"He was my brother!"

Dan sighs, "What the hell are you talking about? Who…who was your brother? Douglas Wheeler? Oh my…I had no idea. Your brother? I don’t know what to say, I’m so…I mean…"

"Save it Dan, I have to go home."

"Let me call you a cab."

"No, my car’s in the parking garage."

"You can’t drive in this state!"

"Really? Watch me!" And with that she storms out as Dan shouts after her.

Lauren's Apartment: Los Angeles

Lauren bursts through the door and yells up the stairs for Mark, her fiance. Running through the den, she finds Mark in the bedroom standing by the phone.

"Mark…"

"Oh I’m sorry. Dan just rang. He told me about Douglas."

"You heard all about it then?"

"Yes Douglas was boarding his plane and…"

"NO…Mark…I heard all about it on the radio whilst I was driving home. Look, I can’t stay in LA whilst all this is going on. I have to go home right away."

"To the valley? Are you sure? You can’t just drop everything and fly up there. What about the station? You have a contract."

"So they can sue me."

"You’re not thinking straight."

"Cut the clichés Mark. I know it’s because you care but I can’t just stay in LA. My brother has been shot dead by God knows who. He’s left a multi-million dollar company, a widow and two children. Somehow I think I fit into his legacy somewhere."

"You mean the company."

Lauren stops packing her suitcase and turns round.

"No, I don’t! I don’t give a damn about that company. That is such a minor part of my life. I don’t have any experience anyway. Well I was on the board when I was 20, but that doesn’t mean I’m interested now. Besides Douglas will have left it to Julia and the children."

"They’re not children anymore Lauren."

"No they’re not. They’re adults and more than capable enough to look after the company. But that isn’t what matters. What matters is that I fly my ass up to the Valley tonight. If you don’t want to come with me then stay here."

"Of course I’ll come with you."

"Then start packing."

Jackson Memorial Hospital: San Francisco

David is in the waiting room with Douglas’ brother Michael and his children Jake and Jessica. With them also is Jake’s fiancée Cassie who was forced to the hospital against her will. As they sit aimlessly, Julia bursts in.

David speaks first, "We were all wondering where you were. Dr Hill told us to wait here until you arrived. They need you to identify the body."

Jake rises from his chair, "It’s all right Mom. I can go in if you don’t feel up to it."

"No, I have to do this. You stay here with your sister. David can you look after everyone?"

"Yeah sure."

As Julia turns to leave, Michael walks towards her and pulls her out to the corridor.

"I want to come with you."

"There really is no need…"

"I was his brother. Don’t try and stop me Julia."

"Fine just stop causing a scene. I don’t want to upset the children."

"Good. Let’s go."

Back in the waiting room, Cassie restlessly gets out of her chair and talks to Jake.

"Honey I have a splitting headache. I know you want me here but I don’t think I can be much use to you like this."

Jake sighs "Sure, take my car and go home. I’ll drive back with everyone else."

Cassie kisses him as she tries to stop a smile from creasing her lips. "Thank you."

Aeroplane: Los Angeles

Mark and Lauren board the small plane heading to San Francisco hoping that they will get there in half an hour. Their seats are first class on Mark’s insistence and they head towards the front of the plane.

Suddenly, Lauren hears a fuss breaking out behind them. As she turns, a blinding light flashes in her face.

"Mrs Erikson! Mrs Erikson! Tell us about your brother’s death! How are you feeling Mrs Erikson?"

She realizes that a group of reporters have forced their way onto the plane. As chaos breaks out, Lauren stands stunned. Mark works his way towards the troublemakers.

"Get the hell off this plane!"

"Who are you?" one of them asks him.

"That’s none of your damn business. Now leave!"

Security guards approach the group from behind and using force, manage to dispose of them. Passengers’ eyes divert to Lauren and they begin to mutter incoherently about her. Mark walks back to her and she starts to cry. He leads her to the first class section and she collapses in her seat with tears streaming down her face.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

After the long drive from San Francisco, Cassie feels restless. The gravel crunches as she stops the convertible Mercedes outside of the garage and walks towards the stables hoping to catch a glimpse of her new project. 

From inside she can hear the rustling of straw and being careful not to make a noise, she peers round the corner. Due to the hot sun, Guy is working shirtless in the stables, pitchfork in hand and a radio blares in the background. Oblivious to the fact that he is being spied upon he continues with his work and Cassie keeps watching him determined to snare him for herself.

Jackson Memorial Hospital: San Francisco

David, Jessica and Jake remain silent in the waiting room when the door opens. Michael and Julia walk in with solemn expressions. After seeing Douglas’s dead body, it has now finally hit Michael that he has gone forever. Julia however realizes that she has to put on a display of grief so as not to look suspicious. The mortuary assistant appears briefly to tell Julia that the body will soon be ready for burial.

Jessica walks over to her mother and uncle and Julia welcomes her with a hug.

On the other side of the room, Jake pulls David aside. Something has been playing on his mind since the news of Douglas’ death reached him this morning.

"David. I need to ask you a question. It’s about the company and my father’s will. I wanted to know what would happen to it now that…well…now that he is dead."

David looks shocked by Jake’s forwardness over the subject and answers him abruptly.

"I have no idea yet until I do further examinations on the will. So if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to." Without a word he walks out leaving the family to deal with their grief…if there is any.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Enjoying the glorious sunshine, Cassie, dressed only in a bathing suit, glides through the huge swimming pool. Guy who has finished his work is a little shocked when he spots Cassie through the open doors. He notices her slim, lithe figure and long chestnut hair more now than ever. And Cassie knows it. Grabbing a towel to dry herself, she walks up the steps out of the pool heading towards him.

"I hope I don’t embarrass you." She says sexily.

"No not at all. I just came for a drink actually."

"Well, that I can help you with." Dropping the towel on a sun lounger, she walks to a table and pours a glass of ice cold lemonade from the chilled pitcher. Guy takes the glass with gratitude.

Leaning towards him, Cassie’s senses run into overdrive. It is Julia’s perfume she can smell on him. They must be having an affair, she thinks to herself. She would put nothing past her mother-in-law to be.

"Is that Julia’s perfume I can smell? I think so. I’d recognize it anywhere."

Guy panics. He knows that she must be suspicious but races to come up with a convincing excuse. "Probably. I hugged her when she found out about Douglas’ death. She was so upset…"

"Of course. I’m so glad you could help her. She needs all the support she can get at the moment."

"Absolutely. It must be an awful time."

With the money she’s going to get? Cassie thinks again. I don’t think so. "Well it’s been nice talking to you Guy. But I have other things to do so if you don’t mind."

"No of course not."

She points to the pool. "You’re welcome to take a dip."

He smiles, "Maybe another time."

Feeling his eyes on her, Cassie picks up her sunglasses and strides into the main house.

Not expecting visitors, she simply ties a sarong around her waist. However whilst she is in the process of doing so, Pilar, the maid enters with an announcement. "Miss Cassie. Two people are here. Visitors. Mr Fielding and Mrs Erikson."

Cassie scans her mind mentally to think who they could be and realizes that it is Douglas’s sister and her fiance. "Okay, show them in Pilar."

With an outstretched hand, she welcomes the visitors and leads them out to the pool.

"I’m so sorry about your loss Lauren." Cassie exclaims.

"So am I." Lauren replies.

Elliott and Russo Building: San Francisco

David exits the elevator and sees that there is little activity on the floor. Cynthia is still at her desk eating a toasted bagel but David realizes he needs to get her out of the office to carry out his task. She immediately smiles when she spots him and nervously places her bagel down.

"Hi Cynthia. Why don’t you go out to lunch?"

"No I couldn’t Mr Elliott. I’m sure there are things I should be doing here."

"I don’t think so. In fact why don’t you take the afternoon off. There isn’t anything urgent that needs doing."

"Mr Elliott that is very kind of you, thank you." After waiting for his admirer to gather all of her belongings, David watches her enter the elevator. Now he sets to work. Walking behind Cynthia’s desk, David takes out a key and uses it to unlock a filing cabinet. Inside, he searches and then pulls out a beige file containing Douglas’ will. With a lighter, he sets fire to the document and drops it in the trash. Now, he takes a fresh document out of his briefcase, inserts it into the file and closes the cabinet. The switch is complete and Julia will definitely get full control of the company. David grins as he pictures his large reward. Money...and lots of it.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

The long black limousine pulls up outside the main house and Julia instructs the chauffeur to park it in the garage. Michael, Julia, Jake and Jessica are led into the den by Pilar and see Cassie chatting with Lauren and Mark out on the patio. Julia is extremely annoyed to see her troublesome sister-in-law and ignores her friendly greeting.

"Hi Julia. How are you? You must be devastated."

"I hope you’re not planning on staying here Lauren."

Jessica is furious, "Mother!"

"It’s okay." Lauren cuts in, "I am staying here. It is my home too and as long as I am in the valley, this is where I shall live."

"You make it sound as though it will be permanent."

"Well Julia, you never know. We’ll just have to wait and see won’t we."

Lauren and Mark walk back into the house and head up to their bedroom as Jessica turns round to chastise Julia.

"Mother! How could you be so cold? Lauren is family. My flesh and blood and you treat her like a parasite? What is your problem?"

"That woman is a troublemaker. A scheming little tramp and the sooner she leaves my house the better."

"Say all you want but I have never seen you act like this. Lauren is a part of the family and I want you to treat her that way."

Julia ignores her daughter and heads inside.

Meanwhile, Mark and Lauren are unpacking in the bedroom but Lauren is spying out of the window looking at the pool below. Guy and Cassie are chatting.

"Mark? What do you think about those two?"

"What do you mean? Nothing. Isn’t he the stablehand or something?"

"Yes. But there is something about that girl that unnerves me. I think she’s up to something Mark. And I think there is something going on between her and Guy."

"Don’t be ridiculous."

"If you don’t believe me, watch them yourself. If we’re hanging around in the valley, you’ll have plenty of opportunities."

* * *

In her bedroom Julia takes off her earrings and picks up the phone. Dialling David’s number, she lies back on the bed waiting for him to answer. Her head is numb and Lauren’s presence makes the situation even worse.

"David Elliott speaking."

"David it’s me. I haven’t got much time. I just needed to know if you switched the will."

"Have I ever failed you sweetheart? Yes I did. Lauren is completely cut out of this version and everything goes to you and the children, hook, line and sinker. It was much easier than I thought it would be. Douglas didn’t even read the damn thing when he signed it."

Julia smiles, "Because he trusted you. You were such a dear friend." She says sarcastically.

"Well, I was. So close but I have no idea who would have wanted to murder him."

"I can think of several."

"Well the police are already investigating. Apparently, your sister-in-law Lauren put in a call earlier."

"Great. Like I need her snooping around causing trouble. We might need to get rid of her David."

"Permanently?"

"Whatever it takes. I want her out of my life for good. Look I have to go. People are arriving at the house like vultures. I’ll see you soon."

"Sure baby. Bye." David quickly puts the phone down as he spots his wife Stephanie watching suspiciously.

Julia steps onto the balcony of her bedroom above the pool. She sees Guy and Cassie together splashing water and realizes that he might be slipping out of her control. Seething with jealousy, she slams the French windows shut.

Elliott and Russo Building: San Francisco

It is a week later and the whole Wheeler family is gathered in David’s office for the will reading. Julia sits comfortably knowing that the empire is within reach and David begins to read smugly. The will was swapped and everything will be how it should.

However as he begins to read, his mind is alerted to a terrible problem. This is not the will he put in the file yesterday. He continues…

"And as Jake and Jessica will receive 25% of the Wheeler corporation, the remaining 75% along with various other holdings and assets will be split in two between Michael and my sister, Lauren Erikson."

The group begin to murmur at the result and Julia stares at David, her eyes wide with shock. In the corner of the room, Michael surveys the outbreaking confusion. He knows Julia so well, it was easy to terminate her and David’s little scheme. There is no way he’ll let that woman run the company. He begins to smile watching her discomfort but she takes David outside.

"What the hell happened David? You promised me!"

"I know. Someone must have switched the will after I did. Someone in that room realized what we did and put a copy of the old will back into the file."

"Well I am going to find out who it was. I am not letting those two bleeding heart do-gooders run the company. It will be mine and if I have to kill them to get it, that’s a small price to pay!"

Next on Power and Deception

Julia and David make plans...

Lauren confides in Michael...

A spy is planted...

Guy and Cassie get closer...

Lauren blows up at Jake...

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