"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. She kept her gaze on him, watching him steadily. He was tongue-tied and could only stare at her.

"I think this is my cue," Jory commented, sliding out of the booth. "Good luck. And go easy on him. He hasn't been right since he got messed up with a barracuda," he told Liza as he passed. Liza frowned at him, watching him leave before turning back to Luke.

"Well, are you following me?" She demanded once more.

"No! Of course not!" Luke returned when he had regained his composure. "What makes you think I would follow you around? I don't even know you."

"Oh I don't know...but I saw you here the other day. Then I saw you at not one bar...that would be coincidental...but at two different bars. And then I saw you at a gas station where I stopped for a cup of coffee. So you tell me, why would I think you were following me?" She asked again.

Liza had thought long and hard about this. If Luke wasn't following her, he would have said something, anything, to her. A simple hello would have been enough to allay her suspicions. But he hadn't even made eye contact with her. It was far too weird for her tastes. Maybe she was paranoid, but this was her boss' fiancé and her boss was out of town. Maybe Hallie asked him to keep an eye on her for some reason. Okay, now that was paranoid.

"I don't know what you're talking about. If we were at the same place more than once, it was just a coincidence," Luke replied.

"Really? So you weren't spying on me for Hallie?" Liza asked, knowing it sounded ridiculous as it came out of her mouth.

"No. I promise I wasn't spying on you," he replied earnestly.

Biting her lip, Liza studied him for a moment. "Okay. I believe you. I don't know why I do, but I do. So if you weren't spying on me, why were you everywhere I was?"

"I was just out. That's all. I promise."

Don't believe him Liza, a voice inside her head whispered. You don't know him from Adam, he's probably lying to you just to get you to go away. "It looked as if you were trolling for girls," Liza remarked before she could stop herself.

"What? I don't know what you're talking about," he answered, frowning.

"You know, trying to pick up girls. Were you?" She asked.

"No. I think you have the wrong idea about me completely, Liza. Would you like to join me for lunch? Let me try to explain?"

Against her better judgment, she found herself taking the now empty seat across from him. At least Hallie had good taste in men. Luke Conlan was probably the most attractive man she'd met since Danny Benton had rolled into her life. Of course, he was also very taken. So, behave yourself, she scolded herself silently.

"So, explain. Why do I keep seeing you everywhere?" Liza asked brushing her hair away from her face.

"I promise," Luke began, "it's all just coincidence. Hallie doesn't go away often and I was looking for a little fun...relaxation."

"Trolling for girls in other words?" Liza asked sharply.

"No! Just looking for some fun. I swear."

"Okay. I don't know why, but I guess I'll take you at face value. But I have one more question before I do."

Luke nodded, "Okay, shoot."

"What did your friend mean when he said you were mixed up with a barracuda?" Luke laughed out loud, turning a light pink at her question.

"That was my brother Jory for starters. And barracuda is how he refers to Hallie. He doesn't like her much," Luke explained.

"That's odd. A lot of people at the Foundation feel the same way," Liza mused aloud, smiling at Luke. He returned her smile and for just a moment, Liza wondered if he didn't feel the same way as well.

 

Scene 2:

"Four Winds," Maggie greeted, answering Gwen's personal line. "May I tell her who is calling? One moment please." She turned to Gwen who was writing a personal letter at her desk. "Mrs. Mason, there is a Mrs. Allen to speak to you." Gwen's head jerked up in alarm. Isabelle? It couldn't be! Taking the phone from Maggie, Gwen waved her away with her hand, before taking a deep breath and saying hello.

"Hello Gwen. I wonder, are you really as surprised as you sound?" Isabelle asked. She was hundreds of miles away and Gwen could actually hear her disdain through the phone line.

"Of course I am," Gwen replied. "I haven't heard from you in ages. What can I do for you, Isabelle?"

"I just had a visit from your niece, Hallie. Perhaps you'd care to explain why your relative showed up on my doorstep?"

"You didn't tell her anything did you?" Gwen asked, her stomach knotting with anxiety.

"No...but hearing your reaction to her visit almost makes me wish I had. Getting a little nervous are you Gwen?"

"What did she want and what did you tell her?" Gwen continued, ignoring Isabelle's comment.

"Oh Gwen. It would be nice to watch your life fall apart. But. I didn't even speak with her. My maid did and we told her nothing. Though I would have loved to."

"I guess I should thank you then," Gwen said stiffly. Tension had always been high whenever she spoke to Isabelle. It was simply the way things were between the two of them.

"If you think I did that for you, you've gone batty. You and I both know that my silence is not a special favor to you, Gwen. If I had my druthers, I'd tell the whole world about your dirty little secret. As it stands however, I have to protect myself as well. I should have told James right away. But because you were my friend, I kept my silence. A lot of good that did, didn't it?"

"You shouldn't let the past haunt you so, Isabelle. It makes you bitter. And if James is the only reason you kept your silence, what keeps you from talking now? James has been gone for years."

"Gwen, don't be stupid. We all know how involved we all are. You, Morgan, myself. We did a lot to protect James thirty years ago. Do you think I want to risk my social standing by telling the world what I did?" Isabelle snapped.

"Just as long as it stays between you, me and Morgan, I don't care what you do, Isabelle. I will thank you for not telling Hallie, however. If there is something I can do for you in the future, let me know," Gwen replied before hanging up.

So Hallie knew about Isabelle. She was more determined than Gwen had originally thought she was. Morgan would have to leave. He was the weak link now. Isabelle couldn't be trusted but she had more to lose than Morgan did. And once Morgan was gone...then there was Stephen Roth to contend with.

Unlikely as he was to figure anything out, he was entirely capable of double crossing her. She paced the room for a moment, thinking. Stephen could be handled, she decided, once he was in the technology division. It was Hallie she had to worry about.

A smile crossed her face as a thought occurred to her. She would keep Hallie busy until her wedding, sabotaging her wedding plans as best as she could. Then, right before the ceremony, she would offer proof of her time with Stephen as incentive to stay out of what didn't concern her. She wouldn't want her new husband to learn about her infidelity on her wedding night. If that failed to keep her from digging into Gwen's past, she would have to take harsher measures.

 

Scene 3:

"Mr. Corday, there is someone to see you." Ryan glanced up from the brief he had to finish in less than an hour. His assistant, Troy, stood in the doorway with an uncertain expression on his face. Ryan scowled at the young man and shooed him away with a wave of his hand.

"Tell Conlan, I don't have time to help him with his case," Ryan muttered referring to Jory's constant appearance at Ryan's office when he needed help.

"It's not Jory," Troy replied. "It's Cynthia Mitchell."

"Who?" Ryan asked surprised for once that Jory hadn't dropped by to bother him. "Nevermind, just send them in, I guess. But I want you to call me in five minutes and tell me I have an important phone call or something. I don't want to be stuck talking to this woman for hours." Troy nodded and stepped away for a moment before returning with Cynthia Mitchell, a slender woman with long dark hair and startling blue eyes. He stood and offered his hand to her, which she took, giving him a firm handshake.

"Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Corday," she said before he could utter a word. "I realize this is short notice but I wanted to discuss a case with you if you have a moment." She smiled sweetly at him, taking a seat across from his desk without being invited. Pushy, he thought returning to his own seat and regaining his composure.

"I don't have much time, Miss Mitchell. I'm expecting an important phone call," he replied. "But what kind of case is this we're talking about today?"

"First of all, it's Cynthia. I've never been 'Miss' Mitchell. And second...this is a case that I've just taken over."

"Oh, you're a lawyer then?" Ryan asked, hiding the surprise in his voice. That explained the pushy attitude. "And what case would this be?"

Cynthia offered him a disarming smile and opened her briefcase. "My client is Kerri House. I believe you know her."

"Yes, I do," Ryan responded, becoming instantly alert at the name. "She had a different lawyer last week. How new to this case are you?"

"Today is my actual first day, can you believe that? So, as a courtesy, I thought I would come by and say hello to you, since I guess this makes us adversaries."

"It doesn't have to make us adversaries," Ryan replied smoothly. "But if that is the way you see it, perhaps you would care to tell me why Kerri fired her last lawyer?"

"Incompetent.  It seems he wasn't accomplishing much of anything. So she's hired me. And I do intend to get things done for her," Cynthia added flashing him another smile.  "This is where you assure me that Kerri has no case and that the all mighty Masons will prevail."

Ryan arched an eyebrow, suppressing his inclination to do just that. Cynthia Mitchell was smart, that was certain. And she seemed to know who and what she was up against. So far, she was much more suited to this case than Kerri's last lawyer who truly believed in Kerri's innocence. Cynthia...well, she was smarter than that. Or at least she appeared to be.

"Only a judge can decide if the Mason's will prevail, Cynthia. Given your client's past behavior and her erratic behavior now, I don't doubt that a judge will find in favor of Mr. Mason," Ryan announced.

"Oh? You seem certain that Jamie Mason is above reproach. And maybe he is. Have you met his wife? Michaela, I believe her name is. Now, if I were a smart lawyer, and I assure you that I am, I would go after her."

"Why? Michaela Mason has nothing to do with this case. It's a custody case involving a psychotic mother. Namely your client," Ryan snapped, feeling as if he was personally being attacked. He didn't know her game plan, but he guessed she was telling him that this case would be war.

"Oh, maybe not directly involved...but that could change couldn't it?" Cynthia said, rising from her seat. "I do have to go. I do apologize I can't stay longer. I guess I'll see you in the judges' chambers then. Have a nice day," she added leaving the room. Ryan gaped after her, surprised at himself for being so surprised by her! Shaking his head, he bellowed for Troy who appeared so suddenly, Ryan wondered if he hadn't been listening the whole time.

"Find Jamie Mason. Now!" He snapped, sending Troy running. Ryan paced the room for a moment before picking up his phone. If Cynthia Mitchell wanted an all out war, he had to be prepared. What was that old adage? Know thy enemy? Yes, that was it. Know thy enemy. For Ryan, that meant Cynthia Mitchell.

 

Scene 4:

Hallie stepped off the plane, her head lowered against the crowded Richmond airport, and made her way to the baggage carousel. Her flight was a little rocky from bad weather and she felt absolutely sick to her stomach. Flying wasn't her favorite thing in the world but it had been necessary this time. She'd wasted enough time trying to talk to Isabelle Allen. There were other avenues to investigate and a wedding to concentrate on before it fell to pieces in Gwen's hands. Her bag was first out of the carousel, thankfully, and she snatched it up, relieved that she wouldn't need to stand with the grouchy air travelers a minute longer than was necessary.

With her eye on the exit, Hallie wound her way through the teeming masses to find a taxi. She burst out of the glass doors to the bright sunlight of a fall day. The chilly autumn air a far cry from the weather in Savannah she had just left and she shivered slightly, wishing she had thought to bring a sweater. She got in line for a taxi to take her to a hotel and was almost to the head of the line when someone, a very familiar someone, called her name. Looking to her left, she saw Stephen striding towards her.
Her heart gave an unfamiliar leap at the sight of him. He was dressed casually in a leather bomber jacket and jeans. He carried a rose in one hand and his car keys in the other. She stepped out of line and met him halfway, a smile creeping across her face matching the smile on his. Leave it to Stephen to find her.

"I was hoping I would see you here," he said offering her the rose as they came face to face. She took the delicate rose, looking at it for a moment before raising her eyes to his.

"How did you know I would be here?" Hallie asked in amazement.

"Well, you've hired a good assistant. She wouldn't tell me a thing. But your security guard at the Foundation, sleeps on the job a lot. I found your itinerary in your office. I hope you aren't too upset with me," he added, hopefully. Hallie thought about that for a minute. Was she upset that Stephen of all people had found her and met her with a rose and a smile? No, she wasn't upset at all. On the contrary, she couldn't remember being more pleased.

"How could I be upset with someone who obviously took the time to find out?" She replied. "But now that you've found me, what do we do?"

"From what I read on your itinerary, you were planning on staying here tonight. I think that's possible. But I hope you don't mind. I upgraded your room at The Hilton. I don't know why you thought staying in a regular room was acceptable. We're in a suite now."

"We?" She almost blushed at the word. What was the matter with her?

"I hope you don't mind that one either. But I planned quite a night for us. Are you up for it?"

Hallie nodded, slipping her hand into the hand he offered her. A twinge of guilt passed over her briefly about Luke but she brushed it off. Luke would do the same in her situation, she was sure. Besides, it was a business deal with Luke that was all. With Stephen...well, it had never been business. Only pleasure.

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

Episode 59