Episode #19

Thursday, 5/17/07

Same Day, Late Morning

John & Suzanne’s Home, Living Room

“You are such a precious little angel,” Vanessa Sterling cooed as she cradled her great-grandniece Tess Prentiss in her arms. “Yes, you are.” She turned to pick up a bottle for the baby when, out of the corner of her eye, she swore she thought she saw someone lurking outside the living room window in the bushes.

Van gently placed the baby back into the bassinet and quietly walked over to the window in order to get a better look, curious as to whether her eyes had played a trick on her or not. As she approached the window, the sudden chimes of the doorbell startled her and she let out a gasp, quickly followed by a laugh of nervous relief.

“Yes?” she said as she opened the front door, unaware that the man standing on the Prentiss’ front doorstep was none other than Chaz Aleata.

The Sterling Home, Living Room

“There you are,” Cal Latimer said at the sight of her husband Rick walking through the front door. “I was wondering where you disappeared to so quickly this morning.”

“I went out to Beaver Ridge,” he confessed, the proposal Andy Marriott had given him earlier shoved under his arm. “John and Andy wanted to meet with me.”

“About?” She eyed him suspiciously. There was something in the tone of his voice and his demeanor that was slightly unsettling for her.

Rick walked over to the coffee table and pushed several things aside so that he’d have the room to fully spread out the plans and diagrams he’d been shown earlier. Meanwhile, Cal watched him anxiously.

“John and Andy want me to buy into Beaver Ridge,” he explained as he laid out the last of the diagrams. “They had another partner pull out because of personal matters and they’ve offered me a full partnership in the development.”

“You can’t be serious!” She went over and grabbed him by the arm. “Why in the world would you want to get involved with Beaver Ridge again?”

“Honey, they made a very attractive offer.” Rick’s eyes remained locked on the plans. “I’d be foolish not to at least consider it.”

“We’ve already got a business back home.” Cal stood eyeing him in disbelief. “This trip to Rosehill is only a temporary deal. As soon as we decide what to do with my mother’s house, we’re going home.”

“Will is completely capable of running Northern Lights by himself.” He paused to hold up one diagram to the light so he could get a better look. “Besides, you know how he’s been asking about having more responsibilities. I think he’s ready to take over the entire operation. And as far as Meg’s house goes, why don’t we just live in it. It’s ours, after all.”

“Rick!”

He laid down the plans and looked up at his wife, immediately seeing her sense of worried concern. “I know. I know. But I need this. I need something to completely throw myself into.” He paused and quickly looked away, uncomfortable with the emotion that he knew was beginning to show in his eyes. “I need something this involved to take my mind off of Hank. You know as well as I do that the government and the military don’t have any more answers about where he is – whether he’s even still alive – than they did a couple of months ago. All I’m doing back in Quebec is sitting in my office, staring at the walls, wondering where the hell my son is.”

“But… Beaver Ridge?” Even though Cal’s heart went out to her husband – she knew better than anyone what he’d been going through – she couldn’t get past her apprehensions regarding a more permanent stay in Rosehill.

“Yes, honey – Beaver Ridge.” He looked up at her, his eyes almost pleading for her cooperation and support.

Cal stood in silence, unsure of what to do. She had a bad feeling about all of it, but did she really have the right to tell Rick “no”? She wasn’t sure what she should do.

John & Suzanne’s Home, Living Room

“I’m… sorry,” Chaz muttered awkwardly as he stood on the front step. “I… I hate to bother you, ma’am, but my mother used to live here and I… I just wanted to look around. If that’s okay?”

“Your mother?” Van’s eyes grew wide when she suddenly realized who the mysterious young man at the door was. “You’re Charles – I mean Chaz – aren’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He eyed her curiously. “How did you…?”

“I’m an old friend of your father Eddie. I’m Cal’s aunt Vanessa Sterling.” She held the door wide open and motioned for Chaz to come in. “Your father was married to my sister Meg.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry for what happened.” Chaz stepped further into the living room, nervous about meeting the late Meg Marriott’s sister as well as seeing his own late mother’s former home. “I… didn’t know you lived here.”

“I don’t, actually,” Van laughed. “I live next door. My grandniece – Cal’s niece – Suzanne and her husband live here. I’m just babysitting.” She motioned over to the bassinet.

“Oh.” He slowly turned and looked around the room, taking it all in, and trying to imagine what it might have looked like when his mother had lived there. “Did you… know my mother?”

“I knew Felicia very well,” Van smiled, coming up behind him to put and gentle hand on his shoulder. “I considered her a very dear friend. She loved both you and your father very much.”

“They said she was married to someone else, though.”

“Yes, she was – Charles Lamont. He was the man you’re named after. He was a very dear friend, too. It was just a situation that didn’t work out.” She paused for a moment and thought. “Suzanne’s husband John is actually Charles’ grandson. In fact, that’s how Charles and your mother met – she was little Johnny’s art teacher. I remember that before you were born, John thought you were going to be the little brother he’d never had.”

Chaz walked over to a side table and picked up a framed photograph of John, Suzanne, and baby Tess. “I guess I should come back and talk to him, then. Maybe he can tell me about some of his memories of her.”

“You know, Chaz, I have an idea.” Van’s eyes nearly lit up. “Where are you staying while you’re in town?”

“The Rosehill Inn. Why?”

“Like I said, I live right next door. Why don’t you stay with me?” She reached out and grabbed his hand tightly, yet lovingly. “My late husband and I always considered your father as part of the family and Cal and Rick are staying with me, too, while they’re in town. I know she’d love to see you.”

“I… I don’t know,” he stammered, not quite sure what to make of Van’s offer. “I wouldn’t want to impose. You really don’t know me.”

“Nonsense!” She looked him directly in the eyes. “Your father told me you were in town and I made a promise to him that I’d look out for you. Besides, like I said, Cal and Rick are staying with me and you want to talk to John. I’m right next door. At least think about it.”

“I… I’ll do that,” he muttered, feeling both touched and awkward by her generosity. “I’ll think about it.”

Amy’s Car, Outside Alison’s Apartment Building

“Thank god,” Amy Marriott sighed as she tossed her briefcase into the passenger seat of her car before climbing inside. She’d been worried that, somehow, her daughter Alison had found the briefcase and had discovered its contents; but now she was relieved to know that wasn’t the case at all. The briefcase had been exactly where she’d hidden it – deep behind an armoire in Alison’s apartment.

Unable to wait any longer, She popped the lock on the briefcase and carefully pulled it open, revealing Tom’s mysterious locked box, which had been discovered missing from his safe. Amy had taken it.

She’d only been following a hunch, of course. She hadn’t known for sure that the box contained the papers she’d been searching for. All she’d known was that they were definitely in Tom’s possession and, more likely than not, hidden somewhere inside Tom’s apartment.

Amy examined the box carefully but a knot quickly began to form in the pit of her stomach – the box had obviously been tampered with. The lock was broken – smashed.

Amy lifted the lid of the box anxiously. There they were – the very documents she’d been looking for.

“Damn, they really did have the goods on you,” she muttered as she quickly read through the papers. Turning to again look into the box, she could clearly see that Tom’s gun, which by his own admission had been kept there, was missing.

The knot in Amy’s stomach began to grow larger. Who’d found the box, broken the lock, and gotten an eyeful of the contents – only to take the gun and leave the really important stuff? She reached for her cell phone and hurriedly dialed a number.

“It’s Amy,” she said, the phone pressed to her ear. “I’ve got the evidence. It was exactly where I said I thought it was.” A pause. “Yes, but I think we’ve got trouble.”