Holy Trinity Church: San Francisco

"You could have been a bit more traditional." Isabelle criticizes the wedding plans as she sits between John and Lauren in the limousine.

"We don’t want to be traditional. We tried that the first time." Lauren looks out of the window at the church. "We wanted to prepare things here before the ceremony."

"Well you’ve got about an hour." Isabelle reminds them sternly. "Make sure you’re ready in time. Jessica will be here soon. She had the good sense to change into her outfit before getting to the church."

"Relax mother." Lauren kisses her cheek. "Everything will be fine. This is the happiest day of my life and I intend for it to stay that way."

Elliott House: San Francisco

Tommy comes down the stairs and hears the front door shut. He realizes that Stephanie has left and runs out to see her fumbling with her car keys. She is holding something…a gun.

"Mom!" he runs towards her but she jumps into the car, locking it shut as she switches on the engine. "Open the damn door!" Tommy kicks out frantically. "You’re going after Julia aren’t you? At the mansion?"

"Everything is fine Tommy. Just leave it all to me."

Tommy jumps backwards as his mother’s car speeds off down the driveway. "Shit!" he yells out frantically. He can’t call the police yet. Maybe he can warn them instead.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"Hey there. Aren’t you going to be late for the wedding?" Jake enters Lauren’s bedroom and brushes down his suit. Jessica, who is the only other person left in the house looks over at him with narrow eyes.

"What do you want?" she demands frostily.

"Jess…what’s wrong?" he walks over to her and places a hand on her which she quickly shakes off.

"Stay away from me Jake." Jessica grabs her dress from Lauren’s closet and eyes it up and down carefully, doing her best to ignore her brother who is hovering, uncomfortably at her side. She lays the dress down on the bed and turns to Jake, her hands on her hips. "Would you please leave? I have to get changed and I don’t want you stood there gawking like some naughty puppy."

"No I won’t leave. Not until you tell me what your problem is."

"My problem, Jake is what you did last night. You embarrassed the entire family. Can you imagine what it was like for Isabelle having that bombshell dropped on her? She has a son Jake. One that she never even knew was still alive. She grieved for him for god’s sake and you just casually announce in front of the whole family that he is still alive? It’s no wonder Cassie made you sleep in a spare bedroom last night."

"There are reasons for what I did."

"No, there are no reasons. Rationalizations maybe but you can’t justify the embarrassment you caused. And you know what really makes me sick? The way you just had to announce it at the rehearsal dinner. There are more appropriate times and places to reveal things like that. Taking Isabelle in private maybe…"

Jake rolls his eyes, "I don’t owe her any favors."

"She’s your grandmother! Your own flesh and blood!" Jessica fixes her stare on Jake who squirms uncomfortably.

"She’s a whore sis! Didn’t you hear me say that Guy-isn’t-Martin’s-son.?"

"Are you for real? That makes no difference. You weren’t alive then. You don’t know what kind of state their marriage was in. How the hell did you get the information anyway?" Jessica turns her back to him and goes to the mirror to check her make-up before putting on the dress.

"I have my sources." Jake wanders over to the french windows and looks out over the balcony. He spots a few leaves floating in the pool. "Why hasn’t the poolman been?"

"Oh that’s cute." Jessica replies. "Nice change of subject. You are one of the most arrogant, vile people I know. I don’t know what possesses you to do the things you do. Look, I’ve got to get changed so if you’re just going to mess me around, I suggest you head to the church. I’ll drive myself there."

Jake ignores her and notices a figure stood by the pool. Guy watches the reflection of the sun on the water, mesmerized by it. This is the life I should have had. He thinks to himself. Sensing eyes on him, Guy looks up and sees Jake staring from Lauren’s bedroom. Sighing he heads off to the stables to check the horses before going to the church.

"Jake!" Jessica yells frantically. "Are you listening to me? I need to get changed! I’m going to be late…now just get out of here."

"Okay Pollyanna, I’m going."

"Don’t call me that. You know how much it annoys me."

"Yeah yeah. See you later."

Jessica follows Jake out of the bedroom and watches as he trots down the grand wooden staircase to the front door. He looks back up at her and grins arrogantly before leaving the house.

Stephanie’s Car: Napa Valley

The car hurtles through the country roads well above the speed limit as Stephanie races to reach her final destination. The moment of revenge is so near she can almost taste it and seeing the gun in her purse, waiting to be used makes her shiver with anticipation.

As Stephanie starts to drive even faster, she can hear laughter in the car and flings her head round. There is no one there. She shakes her head to try and get rid of the voices and keeps her eyes on the road. But she can hear it again. Someone is laughing at her. She turns her head briefly and in the passenger seat, Angela Mitchell is watching.

"You!" she cries, grappling with the steering wheel as her attention is taken away from the road.

"Forgotten about me?" Angela’s voice snaps back. It is almost inhuman…

"You’re not really here." Stephanie tries to convince herself.

"Then why are you talking to me Stephanie?" Angela throws her head back and laughs again.

Stephanie puts out her left hand to touch the woman who has been dead for so many years…but there is nothing there. She is seeing things. She must be.

"I may be a hallucination Stephanie. But I’m not going away."

"What do you want?" Stephanie’s voice wavers.

"To tell you, I don’t think you have the guts to go through with this. You can’t kill again. Your’re too weak."

"No!" Stephanie slams her hands down on the steering wheel and the car skids slightly across the road. She grabs the wheel and pulls the car back in line.

Angela laughs, "Prove me wrong."

"I will." Stephanie replies as her hallucination disappears. "I can do this. I have to."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

The horses rustle as Guy enters the stables and double checks everything is in order. "How are you doing?" he pats Domino, Lauren’s favorite horse and looks at the ground. More straw.

Guy sighs and looks down at his suit. He knows it will get dirty if he goes up to the loft. What the hell. Running his hands through his hair, Guy approaches the ladder and steps onto the bottom rung. His suit is already becoming dusty from the decaying wood but he has to look after the horses. The horses and Cassie. The only two things that are important to him. Guy laughs at himself. What a life I lead.

Using his powerful arms to pull his body up over the top of the ladder, Guy crouches at the edge of the hayloft and stands up, looking around for fresh straw to take down to Domino.

"Guy? Where the hell are you?" Jake’s voice floods the stables and Guy turns to see where he is. He puts his hand down on a wooden beam at his side and grasps it hard, the wood digging into his palm. Hearing the voice makes him angry and he doesn’t know if he can control himself this time.

Jake comes into view and looks up at Guy who is standing silently. "There you are." Jake grins. "Why didn’t you answer me. Stay there. I’m coming up."

Green Valley Road: Napa Valley

Checking that there are no other cars around, Stephanie pulls her car over at the side of the road and turns off the engine. She looks out of her window and sees the leafy lane that leads to the Wheeler mansion. The house is almost in view through the bare trees and Stephanie grins at the fact that it is so easy to get into. Before she leaves, Stephanie looks at herself in the rear view mirror. She doesn’t see her eyes burning. They are almost black with incandescent rage.

She takes the loaded gun out of her purse and gets out of the car locking the door. Her stomach is in knots at the possibility of finally killing Julia Wheeler…once and for all. It won’t be quick. It will be slow and painful just like she deserves. Stephanie will watch as Julia bleeds and begs for mercy. But that is one thing she is not going to get. If there are other people in the house then so be it. They can all die.

Making no effort to conceal the gun that hangs at her side, Stephanie walks briskly up the lane towards the Wheeler mansion.

Holy Trinity Church: San Francisco

Julia shamelessly puts her arm through David’s as the pair head into the church.

"You don’t think we’ll get struck by lightning do you?" David grins. He looks around. There are no other guests there as the wedding is at least an hour away.

"I don’t think so." Julia smiles at the joke. "I wonder where Lauren is. She must be in the back, changing or something."

"Probably. You want me to wait here while you go find her?"

"Yes please." Julia turns and kisses David passionately on the lips. She pulls away and raises a finger to his face, wiping the lipstick from his mouth.

"Jesus." David clears his throat realizing the faux-pas. "I mean, golly. Are you sure you don’t want to just scratch the wedding and go back to my hotel room?"

"I’m positive. We can save that for later. Right now, I have to go break the news to my darling sister-in-law. Oh the thought of her face when I tell her." Julia stands back and feigns shock, making a mocking impression of Lauren. "What do you mean you’ve taken my company? Ugh, stupid vacuous bimbo."

David laughs, "What about Isabelle? I don’t think she’s going to take it lying down."

Julia arches her eyebrows, "That old bag will take anything lying down. At least if what Jake said last night is anything to go by."

"That was a doozy huh."

Julia nods in appreciation. "Yeah. I couldn’t have planned it better myself." Of course David does not pick up the irony but Julia smiles at it. She kisses David again and then starts to walk away. "I’m going to find them. Will you wait here?"

"Sure." David takes a seat feeling rather uncomfortable in these surroundings.

Julia’s shoes clatter on the stone floor of the church as she pulls back a heavy velvet curtain leading into the back rooms.

She can hear the faint sound of giggling followed by Isabelle’s voice which echoes down the hallway. "You’ve got a hole in them? Don’t worry I’ve got a spare pair."

Julia reaches the door to the room where Lauren is putting on her wedding dress and watches. Isabelle is holding up a pair of panty hose and laughing as Cassie waves her hands in the air flustered.

"When are the hair and make-up people going to get here?" she says almost hyperventilating.

"Cassie, calm down dear. There is plenty of time to…"

Julia clears her throat to alert the women to her presence. "Having fun?" she mutters.

"Well well well." Lauren takes a stony expression. "I’m so not glad you could come. Thanks for coming Julia but there is the small fact…that you weren’t invited. Now please leave."

"Not yet." Julia shuts the door behind her and walks into the middle of the room clearly angering Isabelle. She clutches her purse defensively to her body as though one of the women may lash out at her.

"Okay you obviously want something. What is it?" Lauren snaps.

"Perhaps I should go…" Sensing the brewing storm, Cassie heads for the door put Lauren gently pulls her arm back.

"No Cassie you don’t need to go. Whatever it is, you can hear it."

The only other alternative is to shrink into the background so Cassie walks to the other corner of the room and pretends to busy herself by unwrapping the new pair of pantyhose.

"It’s about the Wheeler Corporation." Julia says with a smile. "You may have guessed that I wasn’t too happy with Douglas’s will."

Lauren arches an eyebrow, "Oh and you were so subtle about it."

"Anyway." Julia continues, ignoring the snide remark. "This morning I got a call from David. He petitioned Judge Stanley in San Francisco to have Douglas declared mentally incompetent at the time he died."

Isabelle moves forwards almost not wanting to hear what is coming next. "And?"

"To be blunt…the petition went through and Douglas’s original will is going to be used to decide all the divisions of Wheeler stock…and all the other assets." Julia completes the sentence quickly, desperate to see the unbelieving reactions.

Her wish comes true. Cassie attempts to stifle a gasp from the corner of the room whilst Isabelle and Lauren stand open mouthed. "You have got to be kidding me." Lauren finally replies.

"Nope. It’s all done and dusted. I’m sure I can find you a…cleaning position or something of that nature."

"Well." Isabelle steps forward, "If you think you are going to get the house you can forget it. May I remind you that half of it belonged to Michael according to Martin’s will and I don’t think he is going to throw us out. You know, I’ve heard of keeping your enemies close but you really have taken that a little too far."

The announcement sends Julia reeling. How could she not have thought about that? She is going to have to live with these people? "Whatever old woman. If you think staying at the house is going to remind you of the old days when the Wheelers ruled supreme then feel free. As long as you realize that those days are never coming back…ever."

"We’ll just see about that." Isabelle places a hand on Julia’s back and opens the door. "Now get out. You’re not welcome here."

Julia scoffs as Isabelle pushes her out of the door and slams the wooden door shut behind her.

Back inside the room, Isabelle goes back to Lauren who has collapsed in a chair. "Why did this have to happen?" She places her head in her hands. "Why didn’t I realize what that woman was up to? I’ve been so stupid."

"Don’t blame yourself." Isabelle calms her, pushing her daughter’s hair back. "We’re Wheelers. If there’s one thing we’re good at…it’s revenge."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Looking in the mirror, Jessica finishes applying a thin trace of make-up. She can get her hair done when she arrives at the church. She is still wearing jeans and a t-shirt and looks at the clock beside Lauren’s bed.

"Oh my God." She jumps up from the dressing table holding her hands in the air so she doesn’t get nail polish on anything. "I am so dead." Blowing her nails, Jessica takes a risk and begins to unfold the dress that is lying on Lauren’s bed but her efforts are disturbed when the phone rings.

"No no no no no no no!" Jessica exclaims and picks up the ringing phone balancing it between her head and her shoulder. "Yes?" she answers curtly.

"Jessica! It’s me!" Tommy yells breathlessly. "You’ve got to get everyone out of there!"

"What are you talking about?" Jessica holds the phone to her ear, her interest piqued by Tommy’s tone. "I’m on my own."

"What?" Tommy cries. "No! Jessie you’ve got to get out of there! Get out of the house!"

"Why?"

"My mother. She headed to the mansion. Jessica, she had a gun."

"Oh my God." Jessica gasps, her heart racing. Downstairs she can hear the front door click shut and she begins to panic. She races out of the room and looks over the balcony to see who is downstairs. It is her. Stephanie looks up and makes eye contact with Jessica who is frozen with terror as she sees Stephanie raise her hand revealing a gun. "No!" Jessica runs back into the bedroom and grabs the phone.

"Jessica? Are you there?"

"She’s here!" Jessica responds anxiously as she hears footsteps coming rapidly up the staircase. "Call the police! Do it!"

As soon as Jessica completes her desperate pleas, she senses Stephanie coming into the room and turns round to see the deranged older woman coming towards her with a gun.

* * *

"You better get out of here." Guy warns as Jake pulls himself up over the top of the platform. Smiling, Jake dusts down his suit and stands face to face with his wife’s lover.

"Or what?"

"Or I’ll prove to you that what I said in the restaurant last night was not just an idle threat."

Jake sighs, "You know what? I really don’t care because I’m not the one who’s life is in tatters. I was fair. I warned you. I told you that if you continued to pursue my wife, I would expose your secret. It’s your fault if you didn’t believe me."

"You’re Martin Wheeler’s grandson alright. You inherited the family scruples. Or lack of them."

"Yeah?" Jake moves forwards aggresively. "What the hell do you know about scruples? Sleeping with my wife?"

"If she was happy being married to you, she wouldn’t have come to me. She doesn’t love you. She loves me. And after the stunt you pulled last night, I wouldn’t be surprised if she left town and took the baby with her."

Jake pulls a fist back and swings it forward but Guy ducks and punches Jake in the gut, winding him. Guy watches with satisfaction as Jake stumbles backwards clutching his stomach and moves forwards to grab his throat. With powerful arms locked into position, Guy hovers above Jake and clasps his throat tightly, watching as the air leaves his body.

Elliott House: San Francisco

"Jessica?" Tommy screams. "Answer me!"

He can hear nothing from the other end and breathes heavily with panic. Why didn’t I call the doctor yesterday? Tommy berates himself but his line of thought is stopped when he hears a car pull up outside. Running over to the window, he sees a yellow cab driving off down the street and a disheveled looking Mark walking up the driveway.

"Thank God." Tommy mutters to himself and races to the front door.

"Tommy? What’s wrong?" Mark jumps up the step into the house and slams the door behind him as Tommy goes back into the living room. Mark follows.

"It’s mom. She went to the mansion with a gun. I think…I think she’s with Jessica."

"What?" Mark splutters with disbelief. "Stephanie?"

"Yes! We’ve got to get there somehow."

"If your mother really wants revenge, she’ll go to the wedding. Maybe we should try there."

"Damn!" Tommy brings a fist down on the table and picks up the phone once more. "Jessica are you there? Can you hear me?"

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

"Get off the phone." Stephanie warns in a low, frightening voice.

Jessica drops the receiver to the ground and it slams against the table with a bang. Tommy’s voice can faintly be heard. With a shove, Stephanie pushes Jessica sideways onto the bed and moves to the telephone keeping her gun keenly trained on Jessica. She bends down and violently rips the cable from the socket cutting Tommy’s voice dead. With a sweeping motion, Stephanie swipes the phone off the table and moves towards Jessica who begins to back away.

"Where’s Julia." Stephanie demands.

"I don’t know."

"Tell me." Stephanie grabs Jessica’s throat and pins her down on the bed, waving the gun in her face. Her anger fills the room and Jessica closes her eyes in an attempt to end the fear.

"I think she’s at the church."

"Oh." Stephanie laughs maniacally but touches the side of Jessica’s head with her gun. "The church? For the wedding? Well maybe we should pay her a visit."

"No!" Jessica cries out and wriggles her body. She can’t make eye contact with Stephanie. She is too scared.

"Yes." Stephanie grabs Jessica’s hair and yanks her from the bed, dragging her along the ground. Jessica battles to get onto her feet screaming and eventually stands up, a hostage to Stephanie who maintains a firm grip. Jessica moves her eyes over to the gun as they reach the landing and takes a deep breath.

"Let me go." She pleads.

"I don’t think so. You’re my bargaining chip honey. And when I get you to the church, you can watch your mother die."

The reaction almost hits Jessica like a reflex. Hearing the words, she lashes out with her arms slamming Stephanie against the balcony and watches as the gun flies over the side, falling down the stairs. It goes off with a bang as Stephanie realizes what is happening and pushes back.

"You stupid little girl!" she hisses and slaps Jessica across the face, scratching her cheek.

Putting a hand to her face, Jessica runs for the staircase and watches with horror as blood from her wounded cheek begins to drip on the ground. As Jessica reaches the top of the stairs, Stephanie pulls her from behind and flings her against the wall. Jessica screams as she looks into Stephanie’s deadly eyes and the two women struggle desperately for survival. Keeping her back against the wall, Jessica looks at the staircase, fear filling her eyes as she realizes what could happen. Her arms ache as Stephanie’s fingers dig into them and she attempts to free herself.

"Your mother has to be stopped. Don’t you see? Don’t you?" Stephanie shakes Jessica and her head snaps backwards. "I have to stop her."

"No!" Jessica pushes Stephanie off and puts a foot on the top step but suddenly the force is on her once again and without warning, the women fall with a scream, rolling down the staircase. Jessica tries to scream but the force of the hard wooden steps press against her, not allowing any sound. It seems to go on for an eternity and Stephanie remains still. Then, with a thud, the two women hit the ground.

Jessica puts a hand to her aching head and begins to crawl away. She pulls herself up using the console table for support and grabs the phone. But there is no sound behind her. Jessica flings her head round to see if her agressor is going to rise. But she lies deadly still on the ground at the foot of the stairs. Against her better judgement, Jessica kneels down and touches Stephanie. She does not move. "Please no!" Jessica puts the back of her hand to her mouth and breathes heavily.

Going back to the phone, she picks it up and is thankful that Tommy has been cut off. She dials 911 and waits for the reply.

"Hello, operator. State your emergency please."

"A woman…she’s fallen down the stairs…she’s dead. I need an ambulance."

"You wish." A voice reaches Jessica’s ear from behind her and she spins around, hearing a click. Stephanie holds the gun steadily in front of her. "Put the phone down."

Stunned by the turns of events, Jessica obliges. "What do you want?" she pleads.

Stephanie laughs once more, "Well ideally…your mother’s head on a platter." The smile fades, "But as that isn’t going to happen. Watching her die will do nicely." She stretches out an arm and grabs Jessica. "No games this time."

Click here and read on to Part 2