"I won't be long," Jude said kissing Maura's hand lightly. Maura smiled at him, her eyes fairly blazing. "God, you are beautiful," he added, pulling her closer to kiss her lips.  

"Go on, get this over with," she admonished him, pushing him away as the kiss ended. "I don't want to have to sit here all night while you make nice with your ex-girlfriend." Jude smiled ruefully. There were about a million other things he would rather do than spend the evening with Cynthia. And one of them was sitting just inches from him.  

"I'll make it quick." He climbed out of the car and trudged up the sidewalk, feeling as if he were going off to war. He turned and gave her a simple wave before ringing Cynthia's doorbell. She answered quickly, as if she had been waiting for it, wearing a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a t-shirt that barely covered her midriff. Her skin dimpled as the cold air hit her and she wrapped her arms around herself instinctively.

"It's late," she said simply, eyeing him briefly.  

"I'm sorry. But I need to talk to you," he answered, catching her eyes. She shrugged and stepped aside, letting him into the house. It was eerily similar to the house she had shared with her husband in Washington. Furniture was in the same place, knick knacks turned the same way, even mirrors exactly where they would have been at the other house. He paused near the couch and waited for her but she walked through the living room to the kitchen. He followed and waited just inside the doorway, watching her as she poured hot water from a kettle.

"Tea?" She asked raising her eyebrows in question.

"No thanks. I came to talk to you about your new client," he said without preamble. No sense wasting time with small talk. Not when Maura was waiting for him and he would rather be with her than Cynthia just now.  

"So, what are you? Jamie Mason's lackey?" She asked with a tartness to her voice. "I thought perhaps he would have sent the lawyer, but sending you seems to make more sense. You can save all your pleas though, Jude. I'm not giving the case up and neither is Kerri."

"Do you happen to know what your client is capable of?" Jude asked watching as she stirred sugar into her tea. "She almost killed her own son. Do you want to represent a woman like that?"

"That is neither here nor there, Jude. Kerri has been under psychiatric treatment for a year now and has improved quite a bit. She deserves a second chance."

"No she doesn't. That boy is still scared to death of her and hospitals. Jamie told me that they're considering sending him to therapy. Do you really think he will ever get over his own mother hurting him the way she did?" Jude didn't know all the details surrounding Chris' abuse. What Jamie and Michaela had told him was minimum but it was enough.

"It doesn't matter, Jude. Say what you want, we won't budge." She smiled prettily, turning away from him. "I might be persuaded though. You are close to your cousin aren't you? I mean you always were, but it's almost quaint how close you are. Do you do everything he asks?"

"No," Jude replied defensively. He did though. Here he was at Jamie's behest, talking to Cynthia.  

"Well, you could try to persuade me," she continued moving towards the staircase just beyond the kitchen door. "I left something upstairs," she said over her shoulder as she climbed the steps. Having no choice, he followed her after a moment, not liking where this was going at all. She was in the master bedroom when he saw her again, her back to him as she looked out a window.

"Cynthia? You said you could be persuaded?" He said from the doorway. She turned slowly and smiled again.  

"Yes. I'll drop Kerri as a client, Jude. On one condition." He lifted an eyebrow in inquiry. "To be blunt, I'll drop her if you come back to me."



Scene 2:

Piper arched an eyebrow at the drawings.  

"I like that one," Jewel said pointing to one of a fairy sitting on a flower.

Piper oohed, "Yeah, that's the one I like the most."

"It's very you," Jewel agreed. "It's small, too."

"Yeah, I've actually wanted one for a long time, but I have a low pain threshold," Piper said with a giggle. 

Jewel giggled as well, her red and black hair shaking slightly, "I'll hold your hand."

Piper laughed, "good, I'll need something to squeeze."

"We could always do what they did back in the day with pregnant women, put a stick in your mouth," Jewel chuckled, before glancing up. "Markie, sweetie," she cooed, "c'mere." A skinny guy with long limbs and spiked black hair slowly made his way over to the two.
"Pip wants this one," Jewel said, laying a black painted nail on the drawing.

"Where?" he asked, turning to Piper.

"Um...the small of my back," she said confidently.

Jewel let out a squeal of delight, grabbing Piper's hand, "this is going to be so fun!" 

Piper peeled back the bandage tilting her head and looking in the mirror to look at the reflection of a small fairy on the small of her back. A tattoo. She would keep it under wraps until someone actually noticed, then she would speak up, after all being eighteen it was her legal choice and her body. She doubted she would regret it when she was old, it was tasteful, and not too big. She grinned, placed the bandage back over the new art form. Then, Piper pulled an oversized sweater on to conceal the bandage, of course she wanted to wait to display it, after she could stop using the bandage. 

"Piper are you finished in the bathroom?!"

"Oh, chill out!" Piper snapped back.
     


Scene 3:

Stephen answered his door, the glass of gin still clutched in his hand. He needed a stiff drink after his encounter with Morgan and the Mason family secrets. He wasn't sure he wanted to be keeper of the secrets, but apparently, he thought grimly, neither did Morgan Birch. It was an awesome burden to say the least. He wasn't surprised at how easily Morgan's words had come once he had started. What other choice did the man have but to unburden himself, Gwen Mason be damned?  

He yanked the door open, wondering in an agitated way, who might be dropping by this late. For a fleeting moment he hoped it would be Hallie but even he knew that was impossible now. He'd done the unthinkable to her. He had told her he didn't' need her. It wasn't Hallie's face that greeted him though, it was Gwen's.

"My...you're drinking alone?" She remarked flicking her eyes to the glass and then back to his face. "That is sad. Maybe I'll join you." She eyed the room just beyond him and waited as if he would extend an invitation.  

"What do you want, Gwen?" He asked tersely, not even close to being in the mood for her games. Especially when he knew just what it was that she wanted kept secret. "It's late."

"Yes, it is. But not too late to drop in on friends," she smiled. "Especially since you were so nice to drop in at my home tonight as well." His mouth went dry at the mention of his visit to Four Winds. Had Morgan been a fool and turned around after Stephen had so diligently seen him off in a car to Richmond? No, of course not, he was three sheets to the wind. He turned his shoulder just enough for Gwen to glide past him to his living room. She paused at the couch and dropped her purse and coat onto it before turning to face him again.  

Her eyes were bright and hard, but her skin was flushed. She'd had a bit of something to drink as well, Stephen realized, recognizing the look of someone who was pleasantly buzzed. Perhaps her visit was nothing more than a social visit after all.

"I'll have what you're having," she commented as he moved past her into the room. "Stephen I must say, I am impressed with you. You've managed to throw Hallie completely off. Were you the driver who left her in the rain tonight?"

He bowed his head over her glass in answer, his cheeks flushing pink. No reason to be proud of it. It was after all, the act of a desperate man.  

"Would you believe I've done you a favor tonight as well?" Gwen continued, taking the glass he offered and settling herself on the couch. She readjusted her skirt under her thigh, letting it creep up her leg, exposing a bit more skin than he thought necessary. Gwen Mason was still in remarkable shape for a woman of fifty.  

"What favor is that?" He asked, his eyes moving guiltily away from her bare leg.  

"I've managed to delay Hallie's wedding. But only by two weeks. So now, it will be mid-December. Of course, Hallie doesn't know yet, but I can't wait until Maxim calls tomorrow to tell her that all of her flowers have been ruined." She smiled delicately, patting the cushion next to her. "Come sit down, Stephen, you look so tense."  

He moved to the sofa but didn't take the proffered seat. Instead, he took another step and settled himself into his recliner. "That's nice Gwen, but Hallie won't be stopped by Maxim the florist."

"No? What about an errant lover then? Or...is something wrong with your plans for her, Stephen?" Gwen leaned closer, her blouse falling away from her breasts showing off the edge of a lacy bra. He realized, rather belatedly, that she was toying with him. Perhaps, in an attempt to make him feel foolish but more likely to get him into bed. He was no fool when it came to signals. And Gwen Mason was signaling like mad.  

"I said help you. I did what I could," he remarked, meeting her gaze. "But I'm through. You wanted something to use on Hallie, you can try using my little fling. She'll deny it and I don't think I want to admit to having anything to do with the woman. So good luck to you!"

Gwen set her glass down on the coffee table and got to her feet. "You are not done with me or Hallie yet, Stephen. Not by a long shot. I'll let you off the hook tonight. But you still owe me proof. It was part of the bargain after all," she added snatching her coat up and stalking out of his house. He heard the door slam behind her and shuddered. Just what had he gotten himself into?



Scene 4:

Maura stared at the house Cynthia bought wondering exactly what the woman was hoping to accomplish. Well, no, Maura thought she knew what she wanted after all. She wanted Jude back and had so far managed to get herself nowhere near her goal. Lucky for me, Maura added mentally, smiling just a little at the warmth she still felt spreading through at the thought of Jude.  Their brief encounter at the diner had frightened her. It had been ages since she had let down her guard long enough to feel anything, let alone attraction to a man who wasn't Rick. She thought of him but only for a moment before realizing that she truly wanted Jude.
She couldn't blame Cynthia for wanting him back either. Jude was wonderful. He was kind and sweet and romantic and...

"Oh good grief!" She muttered. "I sound like a hallmark ad." He was all of those things though. And he wanted her. There had been precious few men who had wanted her in her life time. Darren Fields in high school. Rick in college. After she left him, though, there had been quite a drought. Until a few months ago, she had thought Rick would be the last man she would want at that. But Jude Fontaine had somehow changed that.

A light flickered on upstairs catching her eye. Was he in her bedroom, she wondered, feeling her chest constrict at the thought. She stared at the window, seeing a woman, Cynthia no doubt, pause in front of the window, staring down at the street below and, it seemed to Maura, right at her! She stared back taking in the woman's face as best she could at this distance.

She was pretty at least, Jude had good taste. But there was something hard in the way she stared down at the street. Something in her eyes. Maura shook the thought off. Of course, she was just jealous. She'd never seen Cynthia Mitchell before let alone met her on the street. No need to think badly of her...yet. Cynthia turned away from the window for a brief moment before returning her stare back down at Maura. That, Maura realized, was meant for her specifically.
Jude exited the house, his mouth set in a grim line. She wondered what had gone on in there, but remained silent as he climbed in the car and backed out of the driveway. A light snow fell as they drove back towards Connie's, dusting the car and the ground. The snow would pick up force soon and dump inches on the unsuspecting town. The weather had a habit of doing that in the Glen. One of the many oddities of the location.

Stealing a glance at Jude after a moment, she took a deep breath. "Jude? Is everything all right?" She asked, watching his jaw as the muscles tensed at her question.

"No," he replied softly but without edge. "Nothing is right. My cousin has gotten himself into quite a mess and he's dragged me into it as well."

"Surely it isn't as bad as all that?" Maura replied. She would try to be positive if he couldn't, she decided. "Is she trying to include you in this nonsense?"

He shook his head. "Not directly no." He stopped at a red light and turned to look at her. "If you were trying to get Rick back wouldn't you go to any lengths?" Maura blinked at the question. What did he mean by that? Surely he didn't think...no of course not. Hypothetical question, she decided. Would she go to any lengths?

"No. I would not. But I'm sure there are women out there who would. I guess Cynthia is one of them. But she can't really think that taking on this case would mean you would come back to her. That's absurd."

"That is, but then, that wasn't her aim when she took the case on," Jude answered, sighing. The light turned green and he edged the car out into traffic again.

"What happened in there, Jude?" Maura asked, suddenly on alert.

"I asked her to drop the case. She refused," he said. He cast a sidelong glance at her, meeting her wide gaze. "But she said she would if I came back to her."

"What?!" Maura exclaimed, fairly exploding with the force of the shock. "I can't believe she would just assume that you would do that! That's just...well it's absurd!" Jude nodded but remained silent. She looked at him, trying to catch a glimpse of what he was thinking, but his face was impassive. Too late, she looked at the direction they were heading. "Are you taking me home?"

"I'm sorry Maura. I know this was supposed to be...special. But you understand don't you?" He asked turning down her street.

"No I don't!" Maura snapped at him. "What is the matter with you?"

Too late it hit her. Cynthia had bargained with him. She would drop the case in return for him. She was desperate, Maura thought, anyone could see that. The grim expression on Jude's face made her pause. Jude's loyalty to his cousin was strong, stronger than anything she had ever seen before. He would do what it took to see to his cousin's happiness.

"You agreed to it," she said softly. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white with the force of it. "Well, I don't blame you. I know she means a lot to you. So does Jamie. Let me off here," she added as he turned down her street. "I'd like to walk the rest of the way," she added in a strangled voice.

He pulled the car over, still staring ahead. "I didn't agree to it. I said I would think about it," he said at last, his voice tight with emotion. Maura nodded, feeling her throat close. He would think about it. That was pretty close to a yes.

"You think about it then," she replied, trying not to let him hear the sob that was threatening to escape. She opened the door and hurried off down the street almost at a run, hoping he wouldn't follow her but praying that he would. At her home, she paused and looked over her shoulder. His car was still there, parked along side the road. So much for letting down her guards, she thought, unlocking the door and leaving Jude behind.

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

Episode 64