As if by a magnetic force, Stephanie is immediately drawn up from her resting position and swings her legs over the side of the bed. She narrows her eyes when she sees David standing in the doorway and keeps quiet until the guard leaves, shutting the door.

"Hello David. It's been a long time."

"Hmm." David casts his eyes around the poky cell and smirks. "Nice digs honey."

Stephanie think back to her many therapy sessions and fighting the anger building inside of her, she tries to remain calm. Her only way of getting out of this place is to remain calm. "What are you holding?" She inquires.

"Oh this? It's a gift." David puts his arm out and drops the book he is holding into his ex-wife's lap.

She picks it up and scans the front cover. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. How thoughtful." Dropping the token of mockery onto her small metal nightstand, Stephanie stands and crosses her arms. "What did you come here for?"

"I understand you've been poking your nose where it's not wanted."

Sighing Stephanie replies, "If this is about that woman who visited me…"

"That woman is a very important part of my life now. And you deliberately jeopardized that."

Stephanie rolls her eyes, "Being in a loony bin doesn't give me a lot of choice about who I do or do not see. I didn't know…Adrienne was going to come here. What did you expect me to do anyway? Lie for you? Believe it or not David, I don't owe you that kind of loyalty anymore."

Stepping towards her David lowers his voice to a whisper. "Really? In that case I think the police would be very happy to hear where Angela Mitchell disappeared to fifteen years ago."

"No!" Losing control, Stephanie shoves David away from her and points a finger. "Don't you throw that back in my face. I regret what I did but if you try and take me down, you're going down with me. Remember there was a reason why you didn't bring that up at my court hearing…because you don't want to risk it."

With a shrug David responds, "Maybe you're right. So what did you and Adrienne discuss in your little meeting anyway?"

"She wanted to know about Julia. You just happened to figure into the conversation…I can't imagine why."

"You told her about us?" David blares.

"I told her the truth! Something I think she deserves to know because Lord knows she's not going to get it from you. What is she to you anyway? Just another plaything? You don't want to make Julia jealous!"

"Julia and I are finished. It's just Adrienne now."

Stephanie scoffs, "Yeah I'm sure it is. There is more to it than you're letting on. I know you David. Does she have a lot of money? Is that it?"

David concedes, "Yes she has money."

"So you're using her."

"What I'm doing with her is no business of yours." David grabs Stephanie's shoulders roughly and stares at her menacingly. "Which is exactly why I don't want you to see her ever again."

Pushing her face towards David's, Stephanie replies, "I know too much don't I. What don't you want her to find out?"

With a jerk of his arm, David pushes her backwards and she falls onto the bed. "This is just a warning. You know I've got more power than you have. And if I need to, I'll make sure you are locked up in here permanently."

Stephanie runs a hand through her disheveled hair, shaking. "You can't do that."

"Oh I can. And I will if I have to." David laughs. Walking towards the closed door, he knocks it and waits for a guard to let him out. Before leaving he turns with a grin, "Bye Stephanie."

Palace Hotel: San Francisco

Bristling from the early morning sunlight that floods the hallway, Lauren lowers her shades to her eyes and moves towards Mindy's room. Lifting her hand she raps her knuckle against the wooden door sharply and waits for a reply.

She hears the sound of a latch opening as Mindy pulls the door open with a smile. "Bar…" She stops mid-sentence and her expression changes. "Lauren. What do you want?"

"I've come to see you." Taking off her shades and dropping them into her purse, Lauren forcefully pushes past Mindy and steps into the living area of the hotel room. She turns her back to the harsh sunlight coming through the huge window as Mindy follows her.

"How dare you just barge in here like this!"

"I'll do what I like." Looking around, Lauren notices a half empty bottle of scotch on the glass surface of a coffee table. "Expecting someone else?"

"No." Mindy is smug. "That's from last night actually."

"Oh. When John came to visit you."

Mindy raises an eyebrow surprised, "He told you about that?"

"He said he came over, yes. He also told me that you threatened to take Adam back to Los Angeles with you."

Her smile fading, Mindy steps towards her enemy. "So why have you come here?"

"To warn you to stop playing games with my husband."

"You actually want to do that? The state your marriage is in at the moment, I'm surprised you want to help John at all. And it would certainly make your life a lot easier if Adam and I just disappeared."

Lauren blasts her, "Adam is John's son. I won't deny we're having problems but I also won't stand in the way of him being a part of Adam's life. I'm not as reprehensible as you are."

Mindy snaps and raises her voice, "Don't you start that holier than thou attitude with me. I know you're not as innocent as everybody thinks you to be."

"What do you mean?" Lauren replies defensively.

"Work it out for yourself." Mindy laughs. "It shouldn't be too difficult. Even for someone as vacuous as you."

"Now you're playing games with me. When will it end Mindy?"

"When I've got John back. And believe me I'm close."

"You're not close. John wouldn't touch you if his life depended on it."

"Oh really. That's not the impression I got last night."

"When you threatened to steal his son away from him? Oh yeah I bet that really turned him on. In fact I'm surprised he could keep his hands off you at all."

Mindy rolls her eyes, "Don't get smart with me. John confided in me about the little argument you had yesterday. You accusing him of sleeping with me? He thinks you're crazy Lauren."

"No he doesn't. I'm going through a difficult time right now…"

"That's not what he thinks. He even kissed me because he's so dissatisfied with you and your mental illness."

Flying forwards, Lauren puts a hand around Mindy's throat and slams her back against the wall. "I do not have a mental illness. Do you hear me?"

"Really?" Choking, Mindy pushes Lauren's arms away. "It seems like you do to me. You're crazy!"

Closing her eyes, Lauren tries to understand why that just happened. "I'm not." She says weakly.

"Get out." Mindy keeps a hand on her throat.

"I…" Putting a hand to her head, Lauren feels her legs beginning to buckle beneath her and grabs the arm of the sofa for support. There is a ringing sound in her ears and she feels as though she is drifting out of consciousness.

"Lauren?" Tentatively, Mindy puts out a hand but Lauren shakes it off.

"Get away from me." Stumbling, Lauren grabs her purse and exits the hotel room, leaving the door open.

At first, Mindy is shocked by what she has just seen but it doesn't take her long to realize how effectively her plan is working. She smiles and moves across the room to shut the door.

Wheeler Corporation: Napa Valley

"Barbara?" Sitting in her office, Isabelle holds the phone to her ear.

"Yes. Remember me?"

"Of course I do…" Isabelle stutters. "I'm just surprised to hear from you. It's been so long."

"Yes. Since the police told me that you were having an affair with my husband."

Isabelle's mind drifts to Ian's body, lying at the bottom of the river. She quickly snaps out of it and decides to be strong. "What do you want?"

"I've got a warning for you. I know what you did to my husband."

Air suddenly catches in Isabelle's throat and she feels unable to breathe. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do. But don't worry. You'll pay for it soon."

Spooked, Isabelle yanks the phone away from her ear and slams it back into the cradle. "She can't prove anything." She assures herself. "Not a damn thing."

* * *

"Come here you buffoon." Outside of the executive kitchen, Cassie pulls Guy towards her and tends to his loosely fitting tie. After pushing the knot up towards his throat, she brushes down the lapels of his suit blazer and reaches up to whisper in his ear. "We've got to look as inconspicuous as possible."

"I know." Guy speaks without moving his jaw. He looks around the foyer and as soon as the coast seems to be clear, he takes Cassie by her hand and heads into the kitchen.

There is nobody inside but a metal trolley is standing stationary by the refrigerator.

"Is that it?" Guy asks, unacquainted with the building.

"Yeah. I think so."

On top of the trolley is a pitcher of iced water with several tumblers surrounding it filled with orange juice. They have been placed in the arrangement of the board table and closing her eyes, Cassie counts to herself trying to remember which one is Jake's. "Got it." She announces and puts a hand out.

Delving into his blazer, Guy pulls out a small bottle of vodka and drops it into the palm of Cassie's outstretched hand. After tipping some of the orange juice down the sink, Cassie unscrews the cap of the vodka bottle and pours the clear liquid into Jake's glass.

"There we go." Cassie screws the cap back onto the bottle and passes it back to Guy.

"What do we do now?" He asks.

Cassie looks up at him and smiles, "We wait…and then we pounce."

Elliott House: San Francisco

Placing his morning cup of coffee back down on the dining room table, David reaches for the cordless phone at his side and dials the number for the sanitarium. He waits until a secretary answers.

"Good morning. Is Dr Bryce there please?"

"May I ask who's calling?" The woman inquires brightly.

"David Elliott. My…wife…Stephanie is a patient."

"Please hold."

David takes another sip of his coffee as he waits and sets his cup back down on the table when a man speaks.

"Dr Bryce speaking."

"Hi. It's David Elliott. You told me last night to call you this morning about my wife's condition."

"Ah yes."

David can hear Dr Bryce turning the pages of a file, "What I really want to know is how much progress she is making."

"To be honest Mr Elliott…Stephanie has made astounding progress in her time here. When she arrived, she had to be restrained. She was having violent hallucinations and making threats against yourself and…Mrs Wheeler. But through group therapy and intensive one on one sessions, she seems to be almost fully recovered. It's quite remarkable."

"Is there any chance she is faking it? You know…to try and get out on parole earlier?" David taps the side of his coffee cup and hopes that the doctor's reply will be to his liking.

"No. Absolutely not. Her interaction with other patients alone suggests that she is more than capable of rationally dealing with the outside world. Recently she has been part of a 'trust' program where she helps other patients in recreational activities. The old Stephanie would definitely not have been able to undertake such a task."

David leans forwards and rubs his face nervously, "But she's not completely cured right? You can't let her out…"

"Of course it's not my decision. But we have made a recommendation to the parole board and if the hearing goes well…then Stephanie could be released under strict supervision in a matter of weeks. The revelation that she wasn't responsible for Jake Wheeler's death plays heavily in her favor."

Horrified, David clenches his fists. "Hypothetically, how much would it take for you to withdraw the recommendation?"

"I'm not sure what you're suggesting." Dr Bryce responds timidly.

"Well I know that your salary is abysmal. Perhaps your wife wants to go on a cruise or something, I don't know. But surely extra pocket money would come in useful to you."

"I am not willing to be bribed Mr Elliott."

"Then call it a favor."

"These kind of tactics may work on others but they certainly do not on me. Good day Mr Elliott."

The line suddenly goes dead and David switches off the phone. "Damn!" He shouts and slams his fist down on the table. "Damn you Stephanie."

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

"No Danielle , it was you I wanted to talk to." Julia replies in a saccharine tone.

"Really?"

"Yes. I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other day. You shouldn't have had to see me arguing with your father like that. Perhaps I can take you out to lunch to make up for it."

"That's really not necessary…"

"Yes it is." The pleasant tone in Julia's voice drops and she becomes firm.

"Okay…" Danielle hesitates. "Where do you want to meet?"

"La Vallee restaurant at one. Does that suit you?"

"Fine. Goodbye Mrs Wheeler."

Julia puts the phone down and quickly scurries to scoop up a pile of files from her desk. Clutching them tightly in her arms, she goes to the door and uses her elbow to negotiate the door knob.

Outside in the foyer, people are filing into the boardroom and Julia quickly rushes over to join the queue behind Jake. "This should be fun." He groans.

"Julia." Isabelle's voice sounds from behind. "I hope the Fletcher proposal is in the pile you're holding. It was meant to be in yesterday."

"According to whose schedule…partner?"

Grimacing, Isabelle follows her into the boardroom and they all take their places around the table.

Outside of the boardroom, Cassie and Guy watch through the window as Lauren's secretary Flo wheels the drinks trolley inside and distributes the beverages.

They both smile when the tampered glass is placed down in front of Jake and he immediately takes a sip.

"Has he noticed?" Guy asks, peering through the blinds. They quickly back away as Flo exits but when she is out of view they peek through again.

Cassie studies the face of her ex-husband and watches him talking to his mother. "No. I don't think he has. But I know someone who will do. Come on." She beckons Guy. "We've got a phone call to make."

La Vallee Restaurant: Napa Valley

"So sorry I'm late." Julia smiles brightly as she takes a seat opposite Danielle on the terrace.

"It's not a problem. I ordered you linguine. The waitress was getting restless."

Julia pokes at the dish in front of her with a fork. "It looks very…appetizing."

As they both begin to delve into their respective meals, Julia begins the conversation she has been preparing for during the drive back from the city. "I really must apologize again for my argument with Travis. It was very rude of me."

"I don't mean to pry, but why exactly were you fighting with my father? It looked like more than business to me." Danielle takes a sip of her iced water and sets the glass back down.

"In a nutshell…because I have feelings for him."

Worried she is going to choke, Danielle quickly swallows down her pasta and takes another swift sip of her water. "You what?"

"Travis thought that we should end the relationship seeing as you were returning and I didn't take it too well."

"Excuse me." Danielle keeps her voice even, "But my father is married."

"I suppose living away from home, you wouldn't realize that the marriage has been breaking up for quite some time. Your mother has been having an affair too." Julia puts a hand over her mouth to conceal her satisfied grin.

"This is unbelievable. How do I know you're not lying? For all I know you could just be some crazy obsessive who's trying to make trouble for my parents."

Julia raises an eyebrow to acknowledge her point, "That's true, I could be. But to be honest…I don't think you should take the risk of making that assumption."

"What risk? What are you talking about?" Danielle sighs.

"You've got a secret haven't you Danielle? Quite a doozy in fact."

Hesitating, the teenager tries to regain her composure, which has been lost by Julia's insinuation. "What secret?"

"You're parents don't know you're a lesbian do they? I can't imagine what they would do if they…found out." Julia enunciates the last two words carefully to emphasize the drama.

"What has that got to do with anything?" Danielle replies, her heart pounding.

"Your parents wouldn't have to know so long as you helped me."

"Helped you what?" Danielle flings her arms in the air, exasperated.

"Break them up." Julia lifts her glass of gin and tonic to her lips and casually begins to drink it waiting for a reply.

"This is sick!" Springing out of her chair, Danielle flings her napkin down on the table. "My being a lesbian has nothing to do with you or my parents."

"That's debatable." Julia remains seated, not threatened by the angry figure looming over her. "And unless you do exactly as I tell you, the whole world will find out. It's your choice."

Julia watches as Danielle wipes a tear from her eye and storms out of the restaurant. Shrugging nonchalantly, Julia summons the waitress over and asks for the check.

Highway: San Francisco

Switching on the radio, Jake lets the Mercedes glide down the highway and taps the steering wheel in time with Lady Marmalade.

Lady Marmalade down in old Moulin Rouge,

Strutting her stuff on the street…

"She said 'Hey Joe, you wanna give it a go?'" Jake smiles as he sings along and turns the radio up, enjoying the noise.

In the mirror, he notices a blue siren flashing and raises an eyebrow, hoping that the police car will drive past him. But it keeps a steady pace and noticing that there is nobody else around for the police to be following, Jake reluctantly pulls over, switching off the engine. He waits for a minute until the male officer knocks on his window.

"What's the matter?" Jake keeps his finger on the button to roll the window down.

"Can I see your license papers please sir?" The officer replies.

"Sure." Fumbling in his pocket, Jake eventually pulls out the required information and hands it over, his breathing becoming labored as worry sets in.

"Could you step out of the car?"

Silently, Jake concedes and blushes, embarrassed that so many people can see him being interrogated by the police.

The officer pulls a black box out from his pocket and attaches a small white tube. "We've had a call from a concerned party that a Mercedes matching your license number has been travelling at a dangerous speed. We'd like you to take a Breathalyzer test."

"I don't see the problem. I haven't been drinking." Jake is adamant and placing his hands around the machine, he blows as hard as possible down the tube. "You do realize who I am don't you?"

The officer takes the Breathalyzer back and responds as he waits for the results. "Being a Wheeler does not entitle you to drive dangerously…or under the influence of alcohol…" He takes another look at the Breathalyzer and frowns.

"What…what is it?" Jake's eyes dart from the machine back to the officer.

"You're under the influence."

"No! I don't drink! This has got to be a mistake…"

"It's not a mistake. Fortunately for you, you're not over the limit but you are dangerously close. You obviously won't admit to drinking but I have to warn you not to drink and drive."

"I did not drink!" Jake begins to lose his temper.

"Well alcohol got into your system somehow pal. Just make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Yes officer." Defeated, Jake opens the door to his car and slides down into the seat, aghast at the results. "I don't drink…" He reassures himself.

After starting the engine, he changes gear and begins to drive as fast as he legally can to get away from the police. For the whole journey he racks his brains. How the hell did alcohol get into my system?

Masters Mansion: San Francisco

"I've got to head over. Lauren's too sick to deal with the caterers and the party starts in an hour." Isabelle is standing in the foyer after ending a phone conversation. She is dressed in a pale yellow ensemble, ready for the barbecue.

"Sure. I'll come with you if you want. It's going to be a great party isn't it?" Greg puts his arms around Isabelle's waist and pulls her closer to him.

"Of course it is. I'm organizing it." She jokes and reaches up to give her husband a kiss.

They are interrupted when the front door opens and Danielle bursts in, keeping her eyes to the ground.

"Danielle? What's wrong honey?" Greg asks his granddaughter as she storms past them and runs up the staircase.

"Nothing." She snaps and disappears out of view

"I wonder what that was all about." Isabelle pulls away from Greg and looks upwards towards the landing when she hears a door slam.

"I've no idea. Perhaps I should go and talk to her."

"No leave her." Isabelle advises and grasps her husband's arm to stop him moving. "She obviously wants to be alone. Come to Napa with me."

"Alright." Greg shrugs. "I suppose I can talk to her later."

* * *

Upstairs, Danielle grasps the phone tightly in her hands and begins to rant. "Courtney, she saw us kissing."

"So what? She can't prove anything." Courtney Perkins replies down the phone in her clipped English accent. She is sat on her bed across town in a luxurious hotel room.

"But she can make people very suspicious. Do you honestly think my mother notices that I haven't had a boyfriend since I started at Oxford? I've told you enough about her for you to make a decent guess."

Trying to find a way of placating her girlfriend, Courtney uses another approach. "Would it be so bad if people did find out?"

"Yes." Danielle replies, immediately feeling guilty for having to admit it. "Why are you and Will so sure that I should tell them?" She adds, referring to her brother.

"Because we see things from a different perspective. I really can't see it turning out that badly."

"I can." Danielle groans with frustration and sinks down into the welcoming pillows of her bed. "I didn't want to be in this situation. Can you believe what that woman wanted me to do?"

"No I can't. But it seems to me you can either stop fighting the inevitable and tell your parents…or help break them up and be racked with guilt. And what's stopping this Julia woman from telling all anyway? She doesn't sound so reliable to me."

"Maybe you're right. I just don't think I can risk it."

Richardson House: San Francisco

"We'll see you at the party." Cassie is stony faced as she watches Jake get into his car and drive away with Lucas. "Dammit!"

In the bedroom Guy flinches as his wife slams the front door and crosses his arms. "So what happened?" He shouts out.

"He says the police pulled him over and let him go again! We obviously didn't put enough vodka in the glass. I don't believe this! A perfect chance to get him out of the way and we blew it." Cassie puts her hands together and raises them to her face, contemplating her next move.

"What should we do next?" Guy pulls off his shirt as Cassie enters and reaches for the suit that is lying on the bed.

"I don't know. Even though I felt guilty about doing that to Jake, I knew that it had to be done. And I am so angry that it failed…"

"Hey." Guy puts an arm around Cassie to calm her down. "I think the party is a good opportunity."

"Your mother wanted it to be special…"

"I think seeing Jake get what he deserves would be special."

"Maybe…Oh my God I've got it!" Cassie claps her hands excitedly.

"What?"

"Have you still got the video camera? The one we used when we sent Stephanie that tape?"

Guy frowns, "Yeah. It's in the spare bedroom. What good is that going to do?"

"Just trust me." Cassie grins. "And make sure you take the camera with you to your mother's house. This is going to be so good…"