CAFE/DAY

KC has just accepted a date with TITO as REMY looks on, appearing to be very jealous.

TITO
Is your mother gonna be home when I pick you up?

KC bites her lip.

KC
I can't say. If you're nervous and don't want to deal with her, I can always meet you...

Whatever KC was about to say is interrupted by Remy approaching her table.

REMY
Well, Tito, I see you're still slick with the con job, hmm?

Tito glances at a startled KC and then looks Remy over.

TITO
Hello, Remy.

Remy ignores Tito's greeting and turns to KC.

REMY
KC, right?

KC is a bot non-plussed and getting a bit defensive.

KC
Yes, KC Burrell. Is there something I can do for you?

REMY
More like what I can do for *you*. See, KC, Tito is smooth. Really smooth. He makes you think he's this poor misguided man. He pretends to care about people, but once they've outlived their usefulness, he moves on, without a single regret.

KC is alarmed that Tito is hearing this, but when she looks at him, his face is impassive.

KC
Remy, I don't think...

REMY
No, I guess not. Tell me, how will your mother handle it knowing that her daughter is dating a killer?

KC stands.

KC
My mother is of no concern to you, Remy. Nor is how I handle my life.

TITO
KC, it's okay.

KC looks at Tito.

KC
Don't worry. I look forward to that movie.

She manages to muster a smile for Tito.

KC
See ya tonight.

TITO
Yeah, you will. Later, KC.

KC picks up her books and turns to see Remy. KC passes her by with a curt nod.

KC
Remy.

KC walks out. Remy smirks at a bemused Tito.

CUT TO:

BCUH HALLWAY/SAME DAY

LORNA and HAYLEY are walking down the hall, talking quietly. Hayley seems to have gotten hold of her emotions. As they round a corner, they run into MORGAN.

LORNA
Morgan! What are you doing here?

MORGAN
Hi! I came to talk to John.

LORNA
(with a questioning look)
You did? Could this mean what I think it means?

MORGAN
(smiling)
You're talking to the new Head of Surgery at BCUH.

LORNA
Congratulations! That's wonderful! I'm really glad you're moving back to Bay City.

MORGAN
So am I.

LORNA
(pulling Hayley in front of her)
Morgan, there's someone I want you to meet. This is who I was telling you about. Hayley. My sister.

Morgan smiles and reaches out a hand to Hayley, who shakes it with disinterest.

MORGAN
I've been looking forward to meeting you, Hayley. Lorna's told me a lot about you.

LORNA
This is my best friend in the world, Hay. Dr. Morgan Winthrop. He's also Gabrielle's godfather.

HAYLEY
(in a near monotone)
Nice to meet you. (She turns to Lorna) I have to go somewhere. Thank you for coming with me today.

LORNA
(puzzled)
Where are you going?

HAYLEY
I have to take care of something.

LORNA
You're still coming to the party with me tonight, right?

HAYLEY
Yeah, I'm still going. But I have to go do this first. I'll meet you at Felicia's later, all right?

LORNA
(slowly)
...all right...

Hayley gives her a quick hug, then rushes off. Lorna turns back to Morgan and shrugs.

LORNA
I'm sorry. She's not usually so rude.

MORGAN
You've said she's got a lot on her plate. It's all right. I'll get to know her another time.

LORNA
I really do want you to. She's really great, Morgan. Once this whole adoption mess is over with, I hope she can start living her life like she deserves.

MORGAN
You've really grown to care for her in this short amount of time, haven't you?

LORNA
(nodding)
I have. And not just because she's my sister. I know that's the majority of it, but she makes it easy. I'm glad she found me. (Lorna pauses.) So...have you told Andrea you're taking the job here?

MORGAN
(shrugging)
What for? She won't care.

LORNA
Morgan, she WOULD care. She still loves you.

MORGAN
She still LOVES me? She has a funny way of showing it! If she still loved me, she wouldn't push me away. I have to face it, Lorna, our life together is over. I've accepted it, and she obviously accepted it the day she lost the baby.

He takes an angry breath, leaning against the wall. After a moment, he stands straight and looks back at Lorna.

MORGAN (cont'd)
So...want to go get some coffee?

LORNA
(laughing)
In other words...let's change the subject. Sure. Sergei's keeping an eye on the baby for me, so I'd love to have a cup of coffee with you.

Morgan slings an arm around her shoulder and they walk down the hallway.

CUT TO:

THAYER GALLERY, THE GARDEN/SAME DAY

ANTOINETTE leads AMANDA and Chris through the garden, where a white-haired woman is seated in a wheelchair, sipping a cup of tea. She looks up, smiling, as Antoinette approaches.

ISABELLA
Hello, my dear. I see you've brought me guests.

ANTOINETTE
Grandmother, I'd like you to meet Amanda Cory and Chris Madison. They're from Illinois.

ISABELLA
Oh, you're a long way from home! Is it artwork that's brought you this far?

AMANDA
(nervously)
Well, yes and no, Mrs. Thayer. My friend and I...we're investigating the murder of my husband and his fiance. We have reason to believe that the murderer was once involved with your gallery in some way.

Isabella doesn't even blink at Amanda's statement. Instead, she takes another sip of her tea.

ISABELLA
How did you draw this conclusion, my dear?

AMANDA
My stepfather...we think that whoever committed the murders was after him. He seems to feel that it was someone that he worked with long ago. My husband was investigating this person, and we found your gallery listed in his notes.

ISABELLA
Who is your stepfather?

AMANDA
His name is Carl Hutchins, Mrs. Thayer.

Isabelle pauses over her tea at the sound of Carl's name.

ISABELLA
Carl Hutchins? I know that name well, my dear.

AMANDA
(with an excited look to Chris)
You do?

ISABELLA
Yes, I do. Thirty-three years ago, he and another gentleman were involved in procuring a bit of artwork for this gallery. Little did I know that they were procuring it from a less-than-legal source.

CHRIS
You mean black market?

ISABELLA
That's exactly what I mean, young man. Carl Hutchins and his partner had a variety of illegal schemes going on, at the least of which was this black market artwork. When I discovered this, I returned the artwork to him.

AMANDA
Do you know who his partner was? Do you have any idea?

ISABELLA
I'm afraid I didn't have many dealings with him. He came by very rarely. Most of my involvement was with Mr. Hutchins himself.

CHRIS
What about the initials 'R.L.'? Does that help at all?

Isabella shakes her head.

ISABELLA
I'm afraid my memory isn't quite what it used to be.

ANTOINETTE
And I think my grandmother needs her rest now.

AMANDA
Thank you for what you've told us, Mrs. Thayer. We do appreciate it.

Isabella stops her with a hand.

ISABELLA
Antoinette...before we send them on their way, go to my office. Look in my files, and you should find an old, old file entitled "CH". I kept a bit of information on Mr. Hutchins just in case the police should ever question me about him. It may not be of any use to the two of you, but you're more than welcome to view it and keep it.

CHRIS
It may prove to be more helpful than any of us think. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Thayer.

ISABELLA
It has been my pleasure. Please stop back by and see me again before your sojourn in New Orleans ends. I'd like to hear if you've learned anything new. And I'm sorry for both of your losses.

AMANDA
(taking the old lady's hand in her own)
Thank you. You don't know how much we appreciate this.

Isabelle smiles, as Antoinette leads them from the garden back into the gallery.

CUT TO:

CORY MANSION/DAY

ALLI opens the door, sighing in relief when it appears that no one is home. Relief soon changes to apprehension when MATT walks down the stairs and sees Alli in the foyer.

MATT
Alli.

Matt looks at his watch.

MATT
A bit early to be coming home from school, isn't it?

Alli tries to remain nonchalant and pastes a smile on her face.

ALLI
Oh! Uh...there was some sort of teacher conference and...

Matt's voice remains steady as he catches Alli in a lie.

MATT
So the phone call that I received from the principal saying that you cut classes was just some figment of my imagination, then?

The smile is wiped off of Alli's face.

ALLI
I can explain...

MATT
Why, Alli? So you can try to lie to me a little more?

Matt walks into the living room as Alli follows.

Alli's fear quickly changes to hostility and anger. She tries not to cry, but her voice shakes, anyway.

ALLI
This is so typical. Why does everyone act like I don't exist? I wish someone would LISTEN TO ME!

A tear rolls down Alli's face and she angrily swipes at it as Matthew looks shocked by her outburst.

FADE OUT