Luke eased next to Hallie and pulled her off to the side. "What did you say to him?" He asked watching Jude Fontaine hurry away. Hallie smiled sweetly and shrugged.  

"Oh just a piece of gossip I heard from one of the ladies on the committee for the AIDS benefit next month," she replied with a sly smile. "I can't help it if it bothered him."

"Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?" Luke asked feeling just a little irritated at being left out of the game. Hallie glanced around and motioned for him to follow her. She led him to the bar and asked for a glass of champagne. After the bartender had poured her a flute and left them to wait on someone else, she turned to Luke and met his gaze squarely.

"Are you sure you want to know? I thought you said you didn't want to know. Just in case it came back to bite you in the ass. Isn't that what you said?"

"That was before he got involved with my sister," Luke protested.

"Who says he's actually involved with her, Luke? I think you worry about Maura far too much," Hallie replied shortly. "She's an adult, I think she can handle whatever might roll her way."

"I know that. I just don't want to see her get hurt because of something we might do. You wouldn't hurt Dane if the situation was reversed."

"He would be smart enough to know it wasn't him I was after," Hallie replied losing patience with her fiancé. "I can't help it if Maura gets in the middle. She should know better than to be interested in a loser like Jude anyway!"

"Hallie, I love you and I'll go along with whatever your plan is, but you have to give me a little warning now that Maura is involved. I can't just sit back and watch her get hurt."

"You tried to warn her though and she wouldn't listen. I'll tell you but it's not to save Maura's precious heart. It's to give you a heads up on what I'm doing. Honestly, Luke. Your loyalty to your family is almost absurd." She let out an impatient sigh. "It seems that while Jude was working for Senator Mitchell in Washington there was an indiscretion on the part of the Senator's wife, Cynthia. Now I don't know for sure, but the gossip is that she had an affair with Jude. She's pregnant now and I told him. From the look on his face, I would say that pretty much clinched it."

"Is it his?"  

"Who cares? As long as the possibility is there we have an edge. Jude may be a lot of things but he would never let a woman he cared about to suffer any kind of embarrassment if he can help it. So you see Luke, you shouldn't worry about Maura or what I have planned. Jude is going to react exactly how I know he will."


Scene 2:

"I have to hand it to you, Sis," Jillie commented idly as she dropped down into the chair on the other side of Maura, both Conlan women watching the retreating figure of Mr. Rick Upton. "You had us all fooled."

Maura flinched at the sound of Jillie's voice and turned her gaze to her. "What are you talking about Jillie? And why are you here? I thought this was for the employees of ME," she said trying to deflect whatever Jillie's curiosity was about to take her.

"Oh? Last time I heard, you weren't on the ME payroll." Jillie's gaze traversed the room as she spoke, landing momentarily on Maura's date. "At least, not in any above the table capacity." Returning her attention to her sister, she smiled slightly. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this not a press event? Were we not invited? I happen to be here on a professional basis...." Her grin turned impish as she glanced pointedly between Jude and Rick. "Whereas you seem to have quite the...personal...investment, don't you?"

"I shouldn't bother replying to this at all," Maura said squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. "Jude saved me from a really embarrassing night a couple of weeks ago. As for...him," she said her eyes traveling back to where Rick stood staring angrily at an empty glass in front of him. "He...he just lives in the past." It was only partly true, she thought leaving her gaze on Rick momentarily. He also wanted answers. Answers he deserved.

"Oh, was that the night of your hit-and-miss dinner with Rick?" she asked, crossing her legs demurely as if she was just settling in for a nice, long conversation. "Really, Maura. I think I give you more credit than you deserve. Only an idiot would let a man like Rick Upton out of her grasp." Jillie's gaze turned thoughtful as she followed the direction her sister's eyes traveled. "But don't worry. I'm sure he won't be living in the past for long..." she murmured musingly.

"You want him Jillie?" Maura asked tersely. "You can have him. Maybe a little bit of your magic can force him out of his past because nothing I say or do seems to make that happen. But I forgot, you are better with men than I am. At least, that's what you keep telling me."

Jillie's blue eyes sparked to life at her sister's words. "Better? Well, I don't lie. I suppose that's a point in my favor." Her repose relaxed, she observed her sister. Maura seemed tense. No surprise there. Perhaps it was simply because they were family...and she'd known Maura longer than Rick had...but Jillie didn't quite believe the words that had come from her sister's mouth.  If she *didn't* love Rick Upton...if there wasn't *something* there...she would have no reason to get so defensive. 

"If I wanted Rick, Maura, I wouldn't wait around for your permission. And neither will any other woman with eyes in her head. He can't live in the past forever. So what are you going to do when he finally wakes up and realizes it's time to move on with his life? Because, Maura, it's painfully obvious you're carrying around some excess baggage of your own."

"Jillie, what are you doing? Can't you find some real work to do instead of sitting here pestering me? I don't care about Rick Upton. Okay? If I did, I wouldn't be out on a date with another man." She stood up and yanked on her shawl that was caught on the arm of her chair. "In fact, I think I'll go see what's keeping him." She tugged on the shawl again but it refused to budge.

"It wouldn't be the first time a woman's played games with a man's affection," Jillie replied smoothly, reaching out to gently slide the shawl from a small protruding piece of metal. With a small smile, she held it out to her sister, rising to stand as well. "I'd be careful, Maura. You're hiding something. Eventually, it will come out." And I'll see to that, she added silently.

Maura turned a surprised look at Jillie for a moment before hurrying away. She didn't know anything, Maura told herself. She was only playing games, that was all. It was Jillie's favorite past time. Besides, no one knew. No one but her.


Scene 3:

"I'm telling you Jamie," Jude said in a hushed whisper, "Hallie is up to something. She's starting with me." Jamie tried not to roll his eyes but the evening had been a complete success and Jude was just being paranoid.

"Jude, she seemed completely surprised by our sidestep tonight," Jamie countered. "Did she say something to you?"

"Not really," Jude muttered. "Not in so many words anyway. I just got an uneasy feeling when she was talking." Jamie nodded.

"She's like that, Jude. We both know this. Now relax. Here comes your date anyway." Jamie nodded to the pretty blonde as she broke into their small circle.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" She asked timidly.

"No, not at all," Jamie grinned. "In fact, I was just telling him he had better get back to you before my cousin Dane finds you."

"Oh I think I can handle Dane." Jamie raised an eyebrow at her in surprise. "Luke Conlan is my brother," she said as way of explanation.

"Oh that Maura!" Jamie offered his hand. "I'm sorry I had no idea. Well, you're almost family then."

"I guess," Maura laughed. She turned to Jude and smiled. "I'm sorry. You're probably talking business."

"No, trust me. We weren't," Jude replied. "What's the matter? I'm sorry if I left you too long."

"Oh no, that's okay. But I've hardly seen you tonight."

"Jude, I think you should take Maura for a drive or something," Jamie hinted. "Get out of here, in other words." Jude looked to Maura and shrugged.

"I think I've been given an executive order," he said with a smile. "Feel up to it?" Maura nodded and turned toward the door. Jude paused before following her and turned back to Jamie. "She is up to something, Jamie. Watch your back," he warned before leaving. Jamie watched him go, thinking about it. Of course, Hallie was up to something. But what? And why would she start with Jude first when he was more vulnerable. His gaze fell on her as she spoke with Gwen on the other side of the room. Jude was right but there was more to it than met the eye. That much he was certain of.
 

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

Episode 21