Episode 106

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Episode 106

Scene 1:

Luke sized Jory up, noting the color slowly returning to his face. "You look a little better today," Luke remarked pulling up a chair. He nodded to Georgia, who smiled at the brothers, leaving them to continue with their visit alone. "How are you feeling?"

"Better...I guess. I can't get out of bed yet...at least not for another week they tell me," Jory replied.

"Could be worse. You could have my life," Luke returned with a bittersweet grin. Jory gave him a gentle frown but said nothing. Thank God Jory was back, Luke thought before launching into his tale of woe. "It's Liza. I don't know how or why, but we connected. And she's all I can think about, Jory."

"Oh man, you're in trouble," Jory moaned sympathetically.

"Tell me about it. She won't...you know...until I divorce Hallie."

"Oh my god! She has morals? Luke, she might not be the girl for you then," Jory quipped. Luke rolled his eyes, hiding a grin at the same time.

"Good to see you're feeling better too." It was said in jest, but Luke had never felt so relieved to hear Jory's jokes. It meant he was getting better and that was all that mattered. "Seriously, though, Jory. I'm in a huge mess. I don't know what to do. I could start divorce proceedings without Hallie. God knows I have grounds for it. But, man...she'll take everything. She'll drag it out and ruin me and the family."

"Don't you think you're being dramatic?"

"No. You call her the Barracuda after all. It's a fitting name. If she won't even talk to me about it, she's not going to be helpful," Luke said before being interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," Jory called, raising his voice as loud as he could. Luke swung around in his seat as the door opened, revealing Liza's radiant face.

"Oh! Good, you're here," she said stepping inside the room. Luke could barely hide his pleasure at seeing her and let a grin spread across his face. "Jory you're looking so much better!"

"Hi Liza," Jory murmured trying to stifle a yawn. Luke caught the yawn and placed a restraining hand on Liza's elbow.

"You know what? I think I wore him out. Maybe we should come back later. That okay with you little brother?" Jory nodded, letting his eyes flutter closed. Luke and Liza left quietly, pausing outside his door. "Liza...I wasn't expecting to see you today," Luke whispered as Jory's nurse passed them. He wanted to wrap his arms around her but they were in public after all.

"I couldn't not see you, Luke. I have wonderful news!"

Scene 2:

"You better have something remarkable," Hallie snapped, slamming her purse down on the table as she dropped into the booth across from Buck Rollins, her private investigator. She disliked the man; he always smelled vaguely of gin and sweat. But insisting on a meeting in a very public place like Connie's of all places was actually too much. She glanced around the room at the other patrons acutely aware of the absence of any Conlan cronies, like that waiter Noah.

"I suppose you could call it that," Buck replied tipping his bottle of beer at her.

"Well? What is it?" She snapped, keeping her voice low. She didn't have time for games.

"Actually, I've changed my asking price."

"What are you talking about? I've already given you a healthy retainer. I'm not giving you any more money, Mr. Rollins." She picked up her purse ready to leave when the waitress stopped by for her drink order. "I'm not staying," she told the girl sharply.

"Yes, she is," Buck cut in, gripping Hallie's wrist tightly. "She'll have a glass of wine."

"No, just coffee," she told the waitress. She narrowed her eyes, giving him a threatening look as the waitress shuffled off for her coffee. "Sit down, Hallie. You want to hear this."

Reluctantly, Hallie sat down again. "Do I? Go ahead then."

Buck's face contorted into what Hallie guessed was a smile of some sorts though it did look like he was grimacing. "Let's renegotiate that fee, first."

"Oh no you don't. I'm not giving you anything else until you tell me what you have that is so important. And while we're on the subject, don't ever call me at my office again. You have my cell phone number, use it."

"Don't be so touchy," Buck scolded lightly. He paused as the waitress brought coffee for Hallie. "You win though. I'll tell you mostly because it's that remarkable." Hallie stirred a spoonful of sugar into her coffee and waited expectantly. "All right, so I looked into this Liza Gennaro like you asked. Pretty boring for the most part. Straight A student, volunteer in high school, college drop out. Her parents are both still alive and she lives with her brother. So far no big deal. But." He paused for dramatic effect. "She has a kid, you know that?"

"Yes, I know that," Hallie rolled her eyes. Hadn't that been one of the first things Liza talked about in the interview? And then constantly after she got the job? Mattie this and Mattie that.

"Do you know who that kid's father is?" Buck asked innocently enough.

"No...should I?"

"Let me tell you all about it then. It seems Liza worked for a man in New York by the name of Joshua Benton. Familiar with the name?"

"Vaguely."

"Joshua Benton," Buck began, pulling a notepad from his pocket. "Caucasian male, age 54, born and raised in Albany, New York. Currently, he is semi-retired after a long career as the head of the New York Touring Ballet."

Hallie tapped her fingernails against the table impatiently. "Yes? What does he have to do with Liza other than giving her a paycheck twice a month?"

"That's not all he gave her," Buck grinned salaciously. Hallie leaned forward intrigued. "Got your interest haven't I? Well, see when I was looking into her time in New York, I stumbled across a rumor that Liza had been romantically involved with Joshua's son, Daniel. I checked into Daniel Benton as well. Turns out he's a heroin junkie with a history of romancing young women and then taking off with everything they own. I figure, great Liza got tied up with this guy, too bad for her. So I talk to a junkie pal of Danny Benton's. Junkie's will tell you anything for the right amount of cash, you know. Anyway," he continued sensing Hallie's growing impatience with him. "This pal of Danny's tells me that Liza had a kid by Danny only the pal doesn't seem to think that the kid is really Danny's."

"Really? How dreadful," Hallie interrupted digging into her wallet for some cash. She dropped a five on the table and stared at him pointedly. "If that is all, I think I'll need to hire a new investigator."

"You don't listen so well. I'm trying to tell you something here. About three months ago, Liza gave Danny Benton a large sum of money. I don't know where she got it but she gave it to him. I dug around a little bit more and found a maid at the Benton house who was willing to talk. It seems, Miss Liza Gennaro and Mr. Joshua Benton were more than employee and employer."

"So she had an affair with her boss. How is that useful to me?"

"For a lady who claims to be really sharp, you can sure be dumb. That kid of hers? The one she claims was fathered by Danny Benton, a hopeless drug addict? I'm about 99% positive she asked Danny to claim responsibility so that Joshua wouldn't try to take the kid away. And that money she gave Danny was to shut him up."

"You mean, Liza had an affair with this Joshua Benton, had a baby and then lied about who the father was?" Buck nodded. "Why though? What's wrong with this Joshua Benton that she would lie about it?"

Buck opened his mouth to reply but cut himself off as a shadow loomed over the table. Hallie glanced up, her stomach jumping madly at the sight of Stephen Roth hovering over them. She hadn't seen him since that day in the hospital and had managed, quite neatly, to put the day out of her mind. He raised an eyebrow curiously at her and gazed at her companion with interest.

"So, Hallie, I suppose it was destined to happen. I've been replaced then have I?"

Scene 3:

Georgia passed Luke Conlan and pushed open the door to Jory's room. She'd taken a liking to the quiet young man and felt sorry for him. He had plenty of visitors but they all seemed to lay their problems on him. She didn't envy him in the slightest. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be resting comfortably. She picked up his chart and made a quick note, before turning to go.

"Leaving so soon?" She nearly jumped out of her skin at his casual question. Turning back to him, she exhaled sharply and frowned at the grin on his face.

"You scared the living daylights out of me!" Georgia scolded sharply before letting her surprise melt away. "I thought you were asleep, Jory Conlan!"

"Nah. Just faking being tired so Luke could have an excuse to leave," he remarked.

"How noble," she replied drily, helping him to sit up a bit. "Did he need a reason to leave? Or were you just tired of him?"

"He needed a moment alone with his friend, I think," Jory responded carefully. He offered his arm and allowed her to take his blood pressure. "My brother has a mess on his hands without a doubt."

"Do you really think you should let him unload on you then? Or your sisters too, for that matter?" She noted his blood pressure on his chart. "You are supposed to be getting better after all. You should be more concerned with yourself than their problems after all."

"You don't understand my family, Nurse Georgia," Jory said with a slight shrug. "They don't talk to each other. Just me."

"That is completely dysfunctional."

"Maybe. But at least they all have at least one person to lay their problems on. And I don't mind. Besides, it isn't as if their problems are all that serious. I mean, they are, but they aren't. Like Luke out there. Luke married a woman he wasn't in love with. And now, he's met someone he cares about. It isn't like he killed anyone or stole anything. And he knows what he wants to do, he just needs a push in the right direction."

"That still seems like a lot when it's all of your siblings laying junk on you," Georgia insisted taking the chair Luke had vacated.

"I don't mind. Means I don't get ignored. Don't you have brothers and sisters?"

"Yes...one of each," Georgia answered hesitating slightly. Jory nodded, smiling encouragingly. "A brother, Jay, and a sister, Lisa. But they don't drop their problems on me. They give them all to Momma."

"Our mother died when we were all young. If she hadn't, I have no doubt my brother and sister would turn to her. But she's gone, so I'm the one."

"Well, you should concentrate on getting better, Jory," she scolded knowing full well he had won the debate.

"Trust me, when they come here and tell me everything, I am getting better. Now, no more chastising. Go on and do your nursely duties but I want to hear all about your mother while you do it."

Georgia rolled her eyes and opened a fresh gauze to redress the worst of Jory's burned skin. "All right. My mother is like every stereotypical Italian mother out there..."

Scene 4:

"What is it?"

Liza's face flushed with excitement. "Gwen Mason just offered me a job at the Foundation!"

"You already have a job though," Luke countered, puzzled.

"No, this is better, Luke! She asked me to be the new Director of Affairs at the Mason Foundation!" She waited for his reaction but instead of the congratulations she had expected he only gave her a small puzzled frown. "What's the matter?"

"Does Hallie know about the offer?" He asked.

"I don't know...why should it matter if she does? She's got ME now. That's what she wanted anyway."

"It just seems too...easy," he mused.

Liza pulled back from Luke. She had proved herself and stood up to those old crones at the Board meeting. There was nothing easy about that. And she had done all that research on the Jency family, putting up with Max Jency and his wandering eyes at that!

"What do you mean by that?" She asked. "I had an idea and I followed through. Gwen noticed."

"It just seems so out of the blue. Are you sure there aren't any ulterior motives?"

"You think I'm not capable of getting a position like that?" Liza demanded. "I worked hard to make my proposal worth Gwen Mason's time, Luke. How dare you imply that it isn't me she wants!"

"Liza listen to me," Luke cut in, taking her arm before she could storm away. "Gwen and Hallie hate each other. All I'm saying is that it might be possible that Gwen is exacting some kind of revenge...and using you. That's all. In fact, it seems like just the thing Gwen would do. Or maybe Hallie knows about us and is setting you up for a failure..."

"So you think Hallie would give me a great job just to watch me fail? For your information, Luke Conlan, I can do that job better than Hallie ever could." She jerked her arm free and stepped back again. "You know, you aren't making much sense right now. I got a job offer and you should be happy for me. Unless you want me to keep working for Hallie and be miserable watching her and knowing that she's married to you? Which makes no sense considering that you're trying to be free...oh wait. Oh my god."

"Liza, what are you talking about? I just don't think..."

"All this time, I thought you were sincere about wanting a divorce from Hallie and wanting to be free of her."

"I do! But what does that have to do with Gwen offering you a job?"

"It's so obvious." She covered her forehead with her hand, closing her eyes briefly. "I kept telling myself that you weren't like all the others. You don't really intend to ask for that divorce do you? Of course not," she continued ignoring the stunned expression he gave her. "You would rather string me along and keep your wife and the status she gives you."

"That isn't true," Luke countered. "And how did you manage to get that from my concern over Gwen offering you a job?"

"I'm not stupid, Luke. I know mind games when I see them. All you have to do to keep me from telling Hallie about...us," she said, rolling her eyes at the last word, "is make me doubt everything that happens to me."

"All right, first of all," Luke said through gritted teeth. "I don't think you're stupid. I never said that and never meant to imply that. Second, I do intend to ask Hallie for a divorce. I haven't seen her in days, Liza. Or have you forgotten that I'm not currently living in her house right now? Third, I would never lie to you about my intentions or my feelings for you. And last, I think you are reaching."

Liza dropped her eyes away from the burning intensity of Luke's. She wanted to believe him, she did. But hadn't she believed all the wrong people in the past? Believing him, when her instinct told her not to, would only get her hurt and she had more than just herself to think about. She had Matthew to consider as well.

"Liza?"

"I'm sorry," she said at last, lifting her gaze back to his. "I don't believe you."

Scene 5:

Stephen caught sight of her in the corner taking animatedly to an unsavory looking guy. He had sworn himself off Hallie Lennox but she still held some power over him. She was beautiful, he always admitted that freely. And he was attracted to her. Their relationship in the bedroom had always been...fulfilling. But not only that, she was the smartest woman he'd ever known and the most clever. Watching her plot had always been interesting.

He watched her from across the room as she tried to leave twice. Her companion had to be someone quite interesting to keep her from leaving. After the second time, his curiousity got the better of him and he made his way across the room in time to hear Hallie's question. Joshua Benton? That was an unfamiliar name, he thought tucking it away for future reference.

"So, Hallie, I suppose it was destined to happen. I've been replaced then have I?" He interrupted as soon as they noticed his presence. Hallie's face turned up towards him, flushing slightly in an endearing way. She dropped her gaze almost immediately though, staring at her hands. "What? No biting comeback, Hallie? I'm surprised...could it be love then?"

"Oh shut up," she hissed, snatching her purse. Her companion stood and offered his hand to Stephen.

"Sorry, name's Buck Rollins. I'm Hallie's..."

"Contractor," Hallie cut in. "He's doing some work on the arbor behind the house. But we were finished. Thank you for your help Mr. Rollins. I'll see you next week then?"

"Sure," he replied jovially. "Nice meeting you," he nodded to Stephen before shuffling off. Stephen watched him go for a moment before sliding into his place in the booth.

"All right, who is he really?"

"What? He's my contractor. I was just leaving actually..."

"Oh come on, Hal. Sit with me for a while for old times sake," Stephen said grinning wickedly. "After all, you and I go back a long way."

"You have a lot of nerve, Stephen Roth!" Hallie snapped viciously. "If you remember correctly, you told me you didn't want anything to do with me. In fact, I seem to remember pledging my undying love to you and then you told me to go to hell."

"You have a faulty memory, then. I never said go to hell. I believe I said I loved you too," he paused letting the memories come back. "But that I was tired of proving myself to you. Do you think maybe that's how it went?"

"What do you want, Stephen?" She sighed.

"Would you believe, I just wanted to say hello? See how you were doing?" She stared at him, eyes glinting. "No, of course you wouldn't because you don't believe the truth when you hear it. In that case, I guess I should get back to my business." He started to rise from his seat.

"Wait. Sit back down, Stephen." He did as she asked and waited impatiently for something...anything from her. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so short with you. I'm...just trying to get ME back on its feet, that's' all."

"Yes, I heard about that," he replied.

"Everything was going along fine until the architect I lined up to redesign the building pulled out on me." Her bottom lip pushed out slightly, giving her a pouting look. It made him smile despite himself. "What are you smiling about?" She demanded.

"Nothing...it's just you have this way of looking like a spoiled little girl sometimes. All right, maybe I can help you. Who was the architect who cancelled on you?"

"Mark Guthrie."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. Hallie didn't know about his business plans? Something else must be occupying her then. He wondered what it could be briefly, before replying. "Well, I'm sorry Hallie. It seems your architect bailed on you...to work for me."