His rib cage ached. No, ached was too nice a word. It hurt worse than "ached." How badly it hurt though, there was likely no word for it. Chase had done a nice job kicking him while he was down and making sure his face wasn't marked. Clever and psychotic all at the same time, Noah thought, wincing as he parked his car in front of Dinah's home. He should have gone to the hospital first, but Dinah would have worried and it was better that she know upfront what a nut job Chase Garrett was.

He stepped from his car and limped up the sidewalk, favoring his left leg which had been untouched by Chase's furious kicks. The door opened as he reached the bottom step of the porch. Dinah's worried face peered down at him in the strange yellow glow of her porch light. Her eyes widened in surprise, replacing the look of worry as she noticed his limping gait.

"What happened?!" She cried running down the steps to help him. "Mom! Come out here!" Leaning on her, Noah limped his way up the steps to the lounge chair. "Were you in an accident?" Dinah asked, helping him to a sitting position.

"If you call being kicked while I was down an accident, then yes," Noah replied through gritted teeth.

"You were in a fight?"

"I guess that is what you would call it."

"Who?" She demanded pulling away from him.

"Chase," he muttered as Barbara Stafford hurried outside, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She took a quick look at Noah's face and pulled Dinah aside.

"Go inside and call your father. He's working the ER tonight. Tell him we're bringing your friend in right now." Dinah hurried inside leaving Noah with Mrs. Stafford. She knelt in front of Noah, meeting his gaze. "I'm a pediatrician for the most part but I can tell you're hurting," she told him with a smile and easy going tone. Probably the same tone she used on five year olds, he thought. "Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere but my face," Noah answered. "My side hurts the most," he added. Mrs. Stafford touched his side gently but he winced at her touch.

"You're Noah, right?" Mrs. Stafford asked. Noah nodded. "Well, Noah, do you mind if I take a look at your side? Normally, I wouldn't ask unless I was in my official doctor get up but since you're a friend of my daughter's and you look like you're in a lot of pain, I think I'll dispense with the formalities." Noah nodded and lifted his shirt just as Dinah reappeared. Her mouth formed a tiny "o" of surprise at the bruised skin on his side. The biggest bruise was in the telltale shape of a footprint.

"Does it look bad?" Noah asked catching Dinah's eye. Mrs. Stafford shook her head and smiled.
"I've seen much worse. You'll survive. So, shall we get you to the hospital?" She helped him to his feet and led him to her car, giving Dinah a cool stare as she passed by. This was a hell of a way to make a first impression, Noah thought, as he shuddered in pain.

 

Scene 2:

"Make yourself at home," Isabelle Allen said to Hallie as she entered the old house. Hallie tiptoed her way through a dusty hallway to a cluttered parlor. Piles of magazines were stacked next to chairs and the dust was even thicker here. "Oh excuse the mess!" Isabelle sang shooing a tabby cat away from a plate of leftover sandwich bits.

"Oh it's not a mess at all," Hallie replied taking a seat on the cleanest place she could find, which just happened to be a piano bench. "I hope you don't think I'm intruding on your afternoon, Miss Allen," Hallie continued. "I'm in Savannah on business and I've heard your name mentioned at Four Winds. I couldn't resist the opportunity to meet you."

Isabelle snorted. "I bet you heard my name! What kind of business are you here on?"
"Fund raising," Hallie replied quickly.

"I see. So what do you need from me, Miss Lennox?" Isabelle asked getting right to the point.

"My aunt is hiding something," Hallie said deciding to take the honesty road. If what Luke had heard was true this woman would spill her story without hesitating. "I want to know what it is. Will you tell me?"

"And what is in this whole thing for me? I mean you get to piss on Gwen but what do I get?"

"Well what do you want?" Hallie asked shrewdly.

"What do you think of my house? It's a little run down. I've been thinking about remodeling...what do you think?" Isabelle asked suddenly. Hallie looked around, her critical eye taking in the dismal surroundings. It could use a makeover that was pretty obvious. "So, will it be shabby chic or southern elegance?"

"I think a little southern elegance couldn't hurt," Hallie replied taking out her check book. She scribbled out a check and handed it to the woman. "Now, will you tell me about Gwen and what you know?"

"Oh of course," she smiled and tucked the check into her cleavage. The woman was completely unlike what Hallie had imagined Isabelle Allen to be like. But perhaps this is what poverty did to a person of Isabelle's stature. "Let's see, where to start? Of course, you'll want to know how Gwen and I met. James and I...he would be your uncle. How amazing. Jamie and I were childhood friends and when we hit sixteen or so we became sweethearts. I was crazy about him and I thought he was crazy about me until Gwen showed up. She stole him from me. And then she got pregnant. So of course, I didn't stand a chance after that. James married her and that was the end of James and Bella."

"Are you telling me that Gwen's big secret is that she got pregnant before she got married?" Hallie asked, the skepticism dripping from her voice.

"Well, it was a big deal in those days!" Isabelle snapped. "You just didn't get pregnant for the world to see, Miss! You married the baby's father and you liked it."

"Okay, we're talking about the 70's here. Are you sure this is Gwen's big secret?"

"Of course it is! I should know, shouldn't I?" Isabelle stood up and stomped to the door. "You got what you came for, now you can leave!" Shrugging, Hallie followed her to the door. There was little reason for her to stay. Besides, she knew Miss Isabelle Allen wasn't telling the truth. There was Jamie's birth certificate to disprove her.

"Thank you for your time, Miss Allen. Have a nice afternoon," Hallie said taking her leave. After the door closed, Isabelle turned back to the living room, where another woman had appeared. This woman was better dressed and more conservative in her appearance.

"Very nicely done, Rosie," the woman said. "Go change please and when you come back, we'll call dear little Gwen and find out exactly what is going on."

"Yes Miss Allen," 'Isabelle' replied. "Do you think she believed I was you?"

"For now she does and that is all we needed. I do appreciate your help. In fact, I think I'll let you keep that check from her," Isabelle told her maid. "Now, go on and get out of that get-up."

 

Scene 3

"Are you a lawyer?"

Cynthia looked up from the box she was unpacking. A young woman with short messy blonde hair and intense brown eyes stared at her from the doorway. She wore jeans and a leather jacket and could not have been more than twenty. Cynthia wiped her hands on her jeans and stood to greet the woman who was her first official visitor in her new office.

"Yes, Cynthia Cramer," she said to the young woman. "I'm just settling into my new office. Please excuse the mess."

"I thought you were Cynthia Mitchell," the young woman replied narrowing her eyes.

"Mitchell was my husband's name, so yes, I am Cynthia Mitchell as well. Cramer is my maiden name and my professional name," she smiled. "And you are?"

"What kind of law do you practice?"

"All kinds," Cynthia answered. She leaned against her desk and waited for the woman to continue. She must have a list of questions she needed to ask, Cynthia thought. "My specialty is business law but I'm looking to branch out."

"Weren't you working at Mason Enterprises?"

"It seems you know a bit about me already. Yes, I was at ME. I decided to leave. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?" The woman stepped into the office and closed the door behind herself, taking a seat on the one chair Cynthia had managed to uncover.

"Go ahead."

"Okay, what's your name? You know mine, it seems only fair that I should know yours too."

"Kerri House."

"It's very nice to meet you Miss House. Do you need a lawyer?" Cynthia asked, thankful she had a name at least.

"I have one. But I'm looking for a new one. He's...not getting the job done."

"I see, and what do you need a lawyer for, Miss House?"

"I want custody of my son back. His father bought off a judge and took him from me," Kerri told her. Cynthia nodded sympathetically, encouraging her to continue. "He said I abused him. I would never hurt my child. But he has money and he can do whatever he wants apparently."

"I know the type. How old is your child?"

"Chris is seven...almost eight. I haven't seen him for a year. His father won't allow it. Especially now that he's remarried and has a perfect little family. His wife is horrible. She convinced Chris that I was hurting him. I hate her and I want her to see me win my son back. She's turned him against me you know."

"Oh, Miss House, I don't know. Stepmothers have a hard enough time as it is..."

"Not this one. She's evil," Kerri maintained. "She told everyone who would listen that I was making my son sick on purpose. What kind of person would do that?"

"Was she telling the truth? And please, if you want me to take you on as a client, you should really tell me the truth," Cynthia remarked meeting Kerri's eyes.

"No, she wasn't," Kerri replied evenly. "Will you take me on then?"

"It's not that simple, Kerri. I'd like to read the transcript of the last hearing and read your file. I'd like to talk to you more once I've read it and discuss this in more detail. Why don't we meet on Tuesday for lunch?"

"All right," Kerri agreed, standing. She paused at the door and looked over her shoulder at Cynthia. "You should talk to Ryan Corday, he's Jamie's lawyer."

"Jamie?" Cynthia asked, blinking.

"Yes, my son's father is Jamie Mason. I hope you are up for a challenge," Kerri said before closing the door on her way out.

 

Scene 4:

"All right, I'm here. What's this about Luke?" Jory asked sliding into the booth across from Luke. Luke looked up from a half eaten bowl of soup and smiled.

"Thanks for meeting me. Are you eating?" Luke asked, pushing his own lunch aside.

"No, no time. I have to be in front of a judge in thirty minutes. What's going on, Luke? You never want to have lunch," Jory observed. Luke nodded his head. That was true. Not on purpose though. He did like Jory for the most part, but lately all Jory had been able to do was pick on Hallie. Not that what Jory said wasn't true either. Most of it was. It was just that right now, with the wedding getting nearer, it was hard to listen to.

"This is going to sound stupid," Luke began. "Hallie has a new assistant..."

"I seem to remember Maura saying something about that," Jory remarked. "What's the matter with her? Is she a hag?"

"No. Just the opposite. She's gorgeous."

"Oh really? What's the problem then? Is she harassing you?" The smirk on Jory's face irritated Luke. Of course she wasn't. She didn't even know him...well not really anyway.

"Are you going to listen to me or be a smart ass?"

"All right, I'm listening," Jory said smoothing his expression down to a placid gaze. "Go on."

"Good. So Hallie is out of town right? And I'm glad she is. And on top of that, I keep seeing her assistant all over the place. I know it's stupid, but I keep thinking that Hallie wouldn't mind if I asked this girl out on a date."

Jory stared at him for a minute before shaking his head slightly as if he had just been slapped. "What dope are you on? You're engaged. You can't just ask a girl out on a date!"

"I know! That's why I needed to talk to someone! Why do I even want to? I keep thinking that Hallie won't care and why not? It's just a date. But I shouldn't be thinking that at all!" Luke exclaimed, glad to get it out at last.

"Are you nuts? You know that if you did ask this girl out Hallie would have you castrated?" Jory rubbed his jaw, thoughtfully. "Though if you're thinking about another woman, maybe you're having second thoughts about marrying the barracuda. Is that possible?"

Possible?! He was pretty sure she was still sleeping with Stephen Roth and if that wasn't enough to give him second thoughts, her disappearing act for the weekend was. Richmond his ass. She was off trying to weasel information out of some old aging Southern belle. What a waste of time. And the worst part of it all, was they were supposed to be a team, but lately, Hallie's interests were not very team oriented.

"I don't know Jory, that's why I'm asking you," he returned.

"Are you seriously going to ask this assistant out on a date?" Jory asked.

"No," Luke sighed. "Of course not."

"So you wanted my honest opinion? Here it is. You're having second thoughts. And if I were marrying the barracuda, I would be too. But, let me finish, it's natural to have second thoughts this close to getting married. At least, that's what I've been told. I'm sure what you're going through is natural. Hang in there."
Luke nodded, feeling a little bit of relief. It was a business deal after all. And Hallie might do some things on her own, but she wouldn't back out on their deal. Not after everything he'd done for her. He pulled his soup back closer to him, his appetite returning, and picked up his spoon. He was about to thank Jory when they were interrupted.

"Are you following me?" Liza demanded staring down at him. Luke met Jory's surprised expression with his own before turning back to Liza, speechless.

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

Episode 58