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  1. Matt

    Episode #12

    By Matt,

    Episode #12
    Tuesday, 5/8/07


    Same Day, Late Afternoon

    Tom’s Apartment, Living Room



    Dr. Tom Crawford rushed through the front door, his mind racing with thoughts. As if Meg Marriott leaving him an endowment to maintain funding of his research grant – after pulling her funding only days before her death – weren’t enough to try to deal with and understand, the sight of the gun the police had found was.

    True, he’d only gotten a quick glimpse of it and, yes, the view had been partially obstructed by the plastic baggie it had been in, but… No, it couldn’t be his gun. It wasn’t possible. His gun was hidden securely away in a locked box inside his safe.

    Or was it?



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    Rita’s Diner



    “Oh, really?” Joy Donovan leaned forward on her elbows, hanging on every word. She couldn’t believe her luck.

    “Yeah! Listen, everything I’m telling you is gospel,” waitress Tracy Dixon assured with the utmost confidence. “I’ve lived in Rosehill my entire life. This isn’t exactly a big town, you know. Everybody knows everybody else’s business here.”

    “Apparently!” Joy picked up her pen and scribbled a few more notes in her legal pad. “So, you’re telling me that Meg Marriott had been married several times?”

    “Well, I hear she was married a couple of times before she ever moved to town.” Tracy, ignoring the fact that she was supposed to be working, slid into the booth next to Joy. “But she was married to Jeff Hart – he was the mayor here at one time, big scandal there. He was involved with some shady stuff and his son killed him – got carted off to some nut house. My mom told me all about that – big local legend. Then she was married to this young doctor at the hospital. Well, he’s not so young, now, this was years ago before I was even born. Mom told me about that, too.”

    “Go on.” Joy couldn’t write fast enough to keep up with her, but she was giving it her best shot.

    “He got some other doctor pregnant and then left his wife for the other doctor. Then… let’s see.” Tracy bit her lower lip and tapped her chin with her pencil as she slipped deep into thought. “Oh, yeah! I remember this because I was just a kid when it happened, but she was engaged to this guy running for governor. They didn’t get married, though. He keeled over from a heart attack at the altar and died before finishing the ceremony. Then, a several years ago, she married another doctor – the chief of staff at the hospital – Dr. Marriott. Then he left her for another woman.”

    “Really?”

    “Yep. And get this – the other woman was her own sister’s step-daughter!”

    “Really?” Joy simply couldn’t believe her ears. Tracy was turning into the exact type of source that she needed – both knowledgeable and talkative.

    “Barbara Sterling. That Sterling family is another story entirely.” Then, at just that moment, Tracy’s eyes grew wide with excitement as a familiar face stepped into the diner. “Speak of the devil!”

    Joy’s eyes followed Tracy’s in the direction they were looking – right at a very handsome young man. “Who’s that? A special customer?”

    “You could say that,” Tracy grinned. “That’s A.J. Sterling, Barbara Sterling’s nephew. Isn’t he great? He’s in here at least twice a day. He’s such a nice guy – and hot! And very well off! His family owns Carlson Paper & Publishing.” She gasped slightly when she remembered another important piece of information. “Do you watch ‘Light of Love’?”

    “Well, of course!”

    “Then you know his sister – Galen Sterling.”

    “His sister is the Galen Sterling? Natalie Grayson herself?”

    “Yep. Rosehill is Galen’s hometown.” Tracy sighed and shook her head. “That poor family. A.J. and Galen’s parents died in a plane crash when they were kids – did I tell you I went to school with Galen? Their Aunt Barbara had a nervous breakdown a couple of years ago and hasn’t really been the same since. She’s been confined to a hospital. And on top of that, Barbara’s son is in the military and missing in action in Iraq! They’ve managed to keep that quiet, though. Carlson owns the local paper, so they have the ability to do things like that. And would you believe that the father of Barbara Sterling’s son is married to Meg Marriott’s daughter?”

    “Oh, this is just too juicy.” Joy flipped the page in her notebook. She’d already filled up ten full pages with all the information Tracy had given her own Rosehill’s finest citizens. “Tell me more.”





    Tom’s Apartment, Living Room



    Logically, Tom knew that the gun still had to be inside the locked box in his safe. The gun the police found couldn’t have been his, but he had to certain, if only to put his own mind at ease. However, as he walked over to the painting, which concealed the small wall-safe, a loud knock came at the door.



    “Thank god you’re here,” Amy Marriott said, walking in and past Tom as he opened the door. “I know we usually call before getting together, but I really needed to vent.” She went straight for the small bar Tom kept in the corner and began to pour herself a Scotch – on the rocks.

    “What’s wrong? What happened?” Tom went over to her, but his eyes went toward the safe.

    “Oh, just that loser husband of mine,” she sighed before taking another long gulp of Scotch. “You know we were supposed to have that meeting with the headmaster at Winfield because of Eric’s lack of attendance. Well, guess who never bothered to show up?”

    “Maybe he forgot.” He poured himself a drink. “People do forget things, you know.”

    “Andy forgets a lot of things.” She winced and started to stretch her shoulders. “All of this stress has given me horrible pain in my back and neck. Doctor, would you mind working your magic?”

    “It would be my pleasure.” He took her by the hand and led her over to the sofa where he sat behind her and began to massage her back. “If you’re so unhappy with Andy, why do you stay married to him? Why did you even marry him in the first place?”

    “I plead temporary insanity.”

    “Amy, you married him twice. If I remember correctly, you fought Lynn tooth and nail for him.”

    “Gee, thanks for bringing that up. You’re starting to sound like St. Van – bringing up every stupid thing I’ve ever done every chance you get.”

    “You know that’s not what I’m doing.”

    Amy took another sip of her drink and then let out a sigh. “I know. I’m sorry. When I first met Andy, he was handsome, exciting. He had dreams – ambition. It was all very appealing. Now that I’m older…” She paused and turned around to look at Tom. “Well, not that much older… I see that he doesn’t have any firm grounding in reality. Andy is nothing but dreams – just one stupid dream after another and none of it ever pans out.” She downed the rest of her Scotch and began to swirl the remaining ice cubes around in her glass, her eyes transfixed on them. “I do plan on leaving him, you know. Just as soon as Eric’s out of school and out of the house. He’s the only reason I remarried Andy in the first place. One stupid night of drinking and talking about old times and I turned up pregnant. I thought giving the baby a family was the right thing to do. I knew it’s what my father would’ve wanted me to do.” There was a long silence as both Amy and Tom reflected on the deep, personal confessions that she’d made. “Anyway, I’m sorry. I’ve completely monopolized everything. How are you? How have you been doing?”

    “Well, I had a couple of shocks today,” Tom began. “Turns out Meg left me an endowment for a research grant in her will.”

    “The same grant she just pulled out from under you?” Amy was clearly as shocked as Tom had been. “Leave it to Meg to change her mind twenty times – even after she’s dead and buried. Typical.”

    “That’s not the big one.” He paused and considered how much he should really tell her. Deciding that she could be trusted with his concerns, he continued. “The police found the gun they think was used to kill Meg.”

    “They did?”

    “Yes, and… I know I didn’t get a really good look at it, but it looked like mine.”

    “You can’t be serious!” Her jaw dropped. “How is that possible?” She paused. “You didn’t…”

    “No! Of course I didn’t kill Meg. That’s crazy!” He jumped up from the couch and began to pace around the room. “I tell you, Amy, that gun looked exactly like mine, but I know full well it can’t be. I keep my gun locked away. No one but me has access to it and I haven’t touched it in a long time.”

    “Then if you’ve still got it, that gun can’t be yours.” She laughed with the obviousness of her observation.

    “Yes, I know. I was getting ready to get the gun out of the safe when you showed up.”

    “The… safe?” The color quickly drained from Amy’s face.

    “Yes, the safe. I keep my gun in a locked box with some private papers in my safe.”

    As Tom walked over towards the safe and pulled back the painting that covered it, Amy sat in anxious silence on the sofa while every muscle in her body began to tighten. So much for the wondrous backrub she’d just received.





    The Sterling Home, Living Room



    “Suzanne, honey, what’s wrong?” Betsy Harper asked as she sat down next to her eldest daughter on the couch. “You’ve looked upset ever since we left your grandmother’s house.”

    “It’s nothing,” Suzanne muttered, not even looking at her.



    “I bet I know,” her sister Megan Harper spoke up. “Do you see her husband anywhere around? I bet he had to run out to Beaver Ridge to work with Alison Marriott. Isn’t that it, Suzanne?”

    “Megan! That’s enough of that!” Betsy snapped as Suzanne simply glared at Megan. “Honestly, I can’t believe you say some of the things you do.”

    “It’s okay, Mom,” Suzanne sighed. “I’ve gotten used to her. She’s still the same as when she was a kid.”

    “What’s that supposed to mean?” Megan folded arms tightly across her chest.



    “So, anyway, Dad, like I said, I’ve been doing some thinking.” Megan’s twin sister Vanessa walked into the living room from the kitchen followed by Ben Harper. “And I’ve come to realize that I really do miss Rosehill. I mean, I do like New York, but it’s not… well… home. Do you know what I mean?”

    “I know exactly what you mean, Sweet Pea.” Ben put his arm around her. “Rosehill is your home. No matter where you go in this world, you’ve always got Rosehill to return to.”

    “Then… can I move home?” Vanessa bit her lip nervously. “I mean, with everything that’s happened lately, it just seems like I need to be here. Our family should be together right now.”

    “Oh, honey, of course you can move home.” Betsy rose from the couch and hugged her daughter tightly.

    “I, for one, can’t wait to get out of this rinkydink down,” Megan sighed. “I’m going back to Switzerland to finish my vacation.”

    “Megan, I think your sister has the right idea.” Ben walked over to her and looked at her eye to eye. “I think our family needs to be together right now. I think you should stay in Rosehill, too. It’s time you moved home.”

    “What?” Megan’s eyes grew wide. “You can’t be serious. You can’t make me move home. I’m an adult.”

    “When’s the last time you had a real job?” he asked her point blank. “And I don’t mean one of those little modeling jobs for some catalog you do every once in a blue moon. I mean a real job.”

    “I don’t need a ‘real’ job,” she laughed. “I have my own money.”

    “What you have are credit cards – cards that I pay the balance on every month,” he reminded. “You have an apartment in the city you share with your sister that I help pay the rent on every month. You drive a sports car that I paid for and continue to pay the insurance on every month. It’s time you grew up and learned some responsibility. I admit, a lot of it is my fault for letting it get this far, but enough is enough.”

    “This is crazy!” Megan turned towards her mother. “Mom, seriously, you can’t really be going along with this!”

    “I think your father’s right, honey,” Betsy nodded. Meanwhile, back on the sofa, Suzanne could only sit in silence, resisting the urge to smile.

    “You!” Megan turned to Vanessa who’d been standing in silence during the entire conversation. “This is all your fault! The perfect little princess! You sucked up to him and put him up to this!”

    “I had nothing to do with this!” Vanessa shot back. “I’ve lived with you since the day we were born. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself.”

    “Well, I don’t need you to pay my own way.” Megan shot her father a defiant stare. “Granny just left my a big ol’ trust fund in her will.”

    “Apparently, you weren’t listening very well.” Ben’s tone was stern and serious. “You don’t get all of that money until you’re thirty or until you get married and have a family. Until then, I administer the money. You don’t get a dime unless I approve it and I’m not giving you a penny until you prove to me that you can act like a responsible adult.”

    “You can’t do this!”

    “Watch me.”



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  2. Matt

    Pilot

    By Matt,

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    Pilot


    Morning

    Alongside State Highway 32



    “Damn,” Joy Donovan muttered angrily as she leaned under the hood of her rental car, a waft of smoke drifting up towards her face.

    She reached down into the engine and began to wiggle a few fires. Although she had no idea exactly what she was doing – or exactly why she should be doing it – it always seemed like something they did in the movies. After all, simple auto repairs weren’t something they’d taught in the poshest European boarding schools.

    After another stream of smoke billowed out of the engine, streaking her carefully made-up face, she realized that any attempt on her part to get the clunker moving would be futile. Damn that rental service for this hunk of junk and for suggesting that a scenic drive into town would be relaxing after her long flight.

    Joy slammed the car hood down and reached into her purse for her cell phone. She was definitely going to give her editor hell for this fiasco.

    “Oh, come on!” she screamed at the phone and its telltale absence of bars. “You can’t tell me that there’s no service out here!”

    With an exasperated sigh, she stuffed the phone back into her purse and slumped back against the car. What in the world was she going to do now?

    Just then, off in the distance, Joy heard the faint rumblings of an engine. Someone was coming! She lowered her Dolce sunglasses and looked down the nearly deserted highway in time to see a motorcycle speeding in her direction.

    “Hey! Stop!” She ran into the middle of the road, waving her arms wildly in an attempt to flag down the rider. To her relief, the bike began to slow down as it approached her, eventually coming to a stop behind her broken-down car.

    She watched in nervous anticipation as the rider climbed off his bike and took off his helmet. Thankfully, he didn’t look like some reject from the Hell’s Angles – he was 30ish, dark hair, dashing good looks – quite the hottie, she thought.



    “Having a bit of trouble, I see,” he smiled, walking over to her.

    “You could say that.”

    “Any idea what’s wrong?” He moved to the front of the car and lifted the hood, allowing another stream of smoke to escape.

    “Do I look like a mechanic?” Joy folded her arms tightly across her chest and glared at him in response to what she’d perceived as a stupid question.

    The man could only look back at her and grin smugly. “Well, I could give you a ride into town.” He paused, carefully examining her stylish clothes, clearly from the top designers. “That is if you’re not too scared to ride on the back of my bike.”

    “Not much scares me,” she stated matter-of-factly, drawing a chuckle out of her Good Samaritan.

    “I’m Chaz, by the way.” He wiped his dirty hand on his jeans before extending it to her. “I suppose we should at least be on a first name basis if you’re going to be riding down the highway with your arms wrapped around me.”

    “I’m Joy,” she nodded with a smile, receiving his hand with her own.

    “Where are you headed, Joy?” Chaz walked back towards his bike to retrieve a spare helmet for her.

    “Rosehill,” she replied, following him. “I’m going there on business.”

    “Isn’t that funny,” he laughed as he climbed back onto his bike. “That’s exactly where I’m headed, too.”


    Rosehill

    Beaver Ridge Complex

    The loud banging of hammers echoed throughout the room and the smell of saw dust filled the air as construction workers went about their daily routine. Over in a corner in a makeshift office that consisted of little more than two sheets of plywood stretched over four aluminum saw horses, Andy Marriott sat in front of his laptop computer, various technical diagrams, plans, and notations strewn about by his side. He leaned back into his chair and began to massage his temples in a valiant attempt to prevent the throbbing headache that he’d noticed was already beginning to build – even before his second pot of coffee.



    “Andy, what’s going on?” John Prentiss asked as he hurried through the front doors of what was supposed to be the lobby, past the workers, and towards his business partner. “What’s so important that you called me and drug me down here? Don’t you know what’s going on with my family right now?”

    “Look, John, I’m sorry. I know you’ve got other stuff to deal with right now, but this really couldn’t wait.” Andy rose from his chair and took a deep breath before handing a ledger to John to look at. “Where’s Suzanne?”

    “She’s in the car with Tess – waiting on me.” John examined the ledger closely, running his finger down the page, checking every line. He turned to paperclipped page to see a billing statement from their architect and another from their contractor. “But…these can’t be right.” His eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. “I went over those numbers myself. I talked with Paulson personally! We had an agreement!”

    “Apparently, he’s forgotten all about it.” Andy anxiously began pacing around the room. “John, this isn’t good. If we don’t make the changes he’s requiring – if we can’t afford to make the changes and pay him his fee – he’s pulling out of the project. That’s the phone call I woke up to this morning.”

    “He can’t do that! If he pulls out, how the hell are we going to find another designer and contractor this far into the project? How are we going to stay on budget?” John paused and ran his hands down his face, the full impact of the news starting to sink in. “Andy, if Paulson pulls out, we’re done. Do you understand that? We’ll lose everything!”

    After a long silence, Andy carefully began to broach a topic that had long been on his mind, but hadn’t felt it had been his place to ask. “Does your wife know exactly how much money you’ve put into this?”

    “No.” John’s voice echoed inside his own head, his brain running a mile a minute. “All I told her was that I was dipping into my trust fund to partner up with you on this project. Suzanne doesn’t have a clue that I funneled the entire trust – including what we set aside for the baby – into Beaver Ridge. If this thing goes under, I’m going to lose a lot more than every single dime I have to my name. She’s going to….”



    “John?” His wife, Suzanne Prentiss, called from the doorway, their infant daughter Tess cradled in her arms. “Don’t you know what time it is? Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”

    “Y-yes, dear, of course.” John’s eyes darted from her to Andy and back again. “We need to go meet your family.” He turned back to Andy and shot his a stern look, silently warning him to both not say a word to Suzanne and to fix the mess that had been created.

    As John & Suzanne hurried out of the lobby, Andy reached for the coffee pot to pour the last remaining bit of the first pot into a cup. However, looking at the now burnt coffee with disgust, he realized that he was in dire need of a much stronger start to the day and reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a flask, and proceeded to fill his mug with whiskey instead.


    The Sterling Home



    Vanessa Sterling stood silently by her living room window and gazed out at the morning. Outside, children were playing; neighbors were walking their dogs – people simply going about their daily lives. She paused and leaned down to sniff one of the flowers in the bouquet that always kept sitting by the window. Today they were filled with red roses. They’d always been her favorite. Vanessa had to laugh since she, herself, had always much preferred yellow.

    She let out a weary sigh. It had only been a few years since she’d lost her beloved Bruce after over 40 years of marriage – well, combined years, but she didn’t like to dwell on past mistakes – and now this.



    “Aunt Van,” Betsy Harper spoke up as she entered the room from the kitchen, two cups in her hand, “I made coffee. I thought we all could use it this morning.”

    “Thank you, dear,” Van smiled, taking the cup into her hands, before seeming to realize someone was missing. “Ben? Where’s Ben?”

    “He went to the airport to pick up the girls,” Betsy explained. “Their flight from Switzerland should be landing any minute. And I talked to Lynn this morning; she’s going to meet us before the service. She wanted to stop by and see Alex at the hospital.”

    “Of course,” Van muttered with a nod.

    “Stacy and A.J. are already at the chapel. They went early to make sure everything was taken care of. None of us wants you to worry about a thing.”

    But Van was worried. She walked back over to the window and set her cup down onto the table before smelling the roses again. She took in a long, deep breath and then exhaled slowly as Betsy came up behind her and took her into her arms.

    Since childhood, they’d been polar opposites, each approaching life from opposite ends of the spectrum. Oh, sure, they’d had their battles through the years – some even quite nasty – but, in the end, they’d always been there for one another. And now….

    Van’s sister, Meg Hart Marriott, had been murdered and today was the day of her funeral. The only source of strength that she’d been able to find during the last few days had been from her family and friends. She nodded slowly with that acknowledgement. Thank God for them, because if it weren’t for them, Vanessa surely didn’t know if she’d be able to survive this.

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  3. Matt

    Episode #20

    By Matt,

    Episode #20
    Friday, 5/18/07


    Same Day, Afternoon

    Tom’s Apartment



    Dr. Tom Crawford sat in silence, alone in the darkened room with only his thoughts. He’d pulled the shades tight and hadn’t even ventured to step outside. Reporters seemed to be everywhere and his phone had rung off the hook so much that he’d pulled the cord out of the wall in frustration.

    He sat on the sofa and sipped on a gin and tonic – he’s second of the day and it wasn’t much past noon. It was all starting to get to him. He’d been arrested and charged for the murder of Meg Marriott – a murder he hadn’t committed – and he was nearing his wit’s end.

    A loud knock at the door pulled him from his troubled thoughts.



    “Tom? Tom, it’s Betsy!” his sister’s voice came from the hallway. “Tom, open up!”

    He went to the door, pulled it open and nearly fell into Betsy’s arms.



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    Rita’s Diner



    “Double latté, just like you ordered it,” Tracy Dixon said as she set the drink down onto the table right before Megan Harper snatched it away from her silently motioning for her to leave. Less than amused by the attitude of her latest regular, Tracy scrunched up her nose and shot her an icy glare before turning and storming away.

    “So, you’ve snagged yourself a date with Alex, huh?” Megan said into her cell phone, held snuggly between her ear and shoulder. “How like you to go for a doctor.” She paused and took a sip of her latté. Sure, she couldn’t exactly afford it considering her current financial status, but she couldn’t resist them. “And where’s he taking you and this glorious date? Unhuh. Bella Rose? Well, hell! I can’t even get a man in this town to buy me coffee let alone dinner in the closest thing this town has to a swank restaurant.”



    Although she continued to listen intently to her twin sister Vanessa Harper on the phone, her eyes were drawn towards the front doors of the diner as A.J. Sterling walked in. She was also quick to notice that annoying little waitress making a quick beeline for him – nearly knocking over a customer in the process. What was that all about?

    “Well, there’s probably something wrong with him,” she continued with her conversation even though her eyes were firmly locked on Tracy and A.J. Megan only wished she could hear what they were talking about instead of listening to Vanessa prattle on about her date with the handsome Dr. Marriott. “Oh, don’t start with me Nessie.” She smirked, knowing full well that Vanessa hated the nickname Megan had fought so hard to stick her with when they were 12. “You have a wonderful time on your little date. I suppose I’m just supposed to sit home and knit or something.”

    Megan clicked her cell phone closed. She’d had about as much of Vanessa’s fawning over Alex as she could stand for one afternoon. Besides, she was much more interested in someone else’s fawning – Tracy over A.J. Unable to resist the urge any longer, she rose from her booth and went over to them.

    “A.J.! What a surprise!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. “I was just sitting over there having a latté. Would you like to join me?”

    “Um, sure, Megan,” he smiled before turning back to Tracy. “It was good seeing you again. You can just bring my coffee over there.”

    As Megan latched on tightly to A.J.’s arm, Tracy’s eyes followed them with what might be described by some as a death stare. Tracy didn’t care for the uppity Megan Harper one bit.

    “How have you been?” A.J. asking as he slid into the booth opposite Megan.

    “I’ve been better,” she sighed. “I’m not adapting to this town very well. I was just on the phone with Vanessa and…” Megan paused as her eyes began to sparkle with the beginnings of an idea. “And she and Alex are going out to dinner. They’ve invited me to come along, too.” A flat out lie. “But I don’t know if I should. I’d hate to be a third wheel.”

    “Alex and Vanessa?” A.J. leaned forward, intrigued. “Don’t tell me there’s a little romance brewing there?”

    “I don’t know, actually. I think they’re just friends. Anyway, if there is something more going on, I’d hate to feel like I were intruding. I know Vanessa only invited me to give me something to do, but…” She made the requisite pause. “I have an idea!”

    “About?”

    “Well, like I said, I’d hate to be a third wheel, but…” She smiled coquettishly and leaned forward onto her hands. “I wouldn’t be if I had a date, too.”

    “And you want me to be your date.” He nodded slowly, realizing exactly what Megan was proposing.

    “Please? You did offer to show me around Rosehill, and this would be a good place to start. I just don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb.” Megan reached out and grabbed his hand tightly. “Please?”

    “Okay,” A.J. sighed with a smile. “Just let me know when and where.”

    Megan leaned over the table and threw her arms around him, making sure to look past him and towards Tracy who was standing, seething, over in the corner. Feeling impish, Megan couldn’t resist the urge to smirk at Tracy and stick her tongue out at her.





    Tom’s Apartment



    “Here, drink this,” Betsy Harper said as she handed her brother Tom Crawford a mug of steaming coffee. “You’ll feel much better.”

    “I’d feel better if you’d give me back my gin.” Tom took the mug into his hands and slowly took a sip. “You know what kind of strain these last few days have been.”

    “I can only imagine,” she sighed, rising from the couch and walking over to the window so she could peek out. “I can’t believe how many reporters there are out there. I literally had to elbow my way through just to get into the building.”

    “Bad news travels fast.” He took another sip of his coffee. “I can only imagine how everyone’s reacting to this – Cal, Van… Ben.”

    “Ben’s not taking it too well,” Betsy confessed, returning to her seat next to Tom. “We had a pretty big blow up the other day before I came by to see you.”

    “You didn’t tell me about that.”

    “I didn’t really want to talk about it.” She lowered her head and let out a weary sigh.

    “To be honest, I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up here. I know how Ben can be about his mother.”

    “Oh, he wanted to, that’s for sure.” Betsy hung her head, heavy full of thoughts of how difficult Meg’s death had been on Ben. “He wanted to storm over here and bash your head in, but I… I think I’ve managed to talk him down.” Tom looked over at his sister with confusion and concern. “I told him that coming over here in the state he was in wouldn’t do anyone – you or him – any good. It took some doing, but I finally got him to realize that it was in no one’s best interest for him to fly off the handle half-cocked without examining all the facts. I reminded him that he should know as well as anyone how the police can be wrong and how, many times, the facts as they appear, aren’t really the facts at all.”

    “Thank you.” Tom looked down at his hands that were still holding the coffee mug very tightly. “I really don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve a sister as great as you.”

    “I’ll remind you that you said that sometime.” She smiled warmly in hopes that a touch of levity would ease the tension of the situation. “And don’t worry about Cal or Van or the girls. Neither Van nor Cal believe for an instant that you could’ve possibly had anything to do with this. I talked to both of them this morning and they both told me that they’re behind you 100%. And both Suzanne and Vanessa are behind you, too. Megan… well, she seems more concerned with her own issues at the moment than anyone else’s, but I know she doesn’t believe a word of it, either.” Betsy paused for a moment and looked at her brother intently. “Tom, do you have any idea who would go to so much trouble to steal your gun, kill Meg, and frame you? It’s obvious that this is all a setup. Who could possibly hate both you and Meg so much to do this?”

    Tom sat in still silence. No, he couldn’t tell her about his suspicions, fears, or concerns. He’d done too much in the past to protect her and he wasn’t about to lay any of that on her now simply because he’d found himself in a very difficult situation.

    “I have no idea,” he finally muttered after several long and tense moments. “Not a clue.”

    Betsy watched him carefully, taking in every worried line in his face. She knew her big brother too well and was certain that he wasn’t telling her everything. He did have an idea, but why wouldn’t he tell her? What in the world could he be hiding from her?





    Rita’s Diner



    “Up for some company?” Chaz Aleata asked as he tapped on the top of Joy Donovan’s laptop before slipping into the booth on the other side of the table from her.

    “Where the hell have you been?” she questioned angrily, slamming down the screen. “You have more disappearing acts than Houdini! I went by your room last night and knocked on your door, but either you weren’t there or you refused to answer.”

    “You know I’ve been busy doing research on my mother. I’ve been retracing the steps of her life here in Rosehill. I’m constantly in and out.” He paused and peered across the table at her. “Besides, what are you doing here? I’d think that since the news of Dr. Crawford’s arrest broke, you’d be camped out on his doorstep trying to get an exclusive for your rag.”

    “Easier said than done,” she sighed. “There are so many reporters swarming around from the regional press that I can’t even get standing room. I swear, those people are like vultures circling a fresh kill.”

    Chaz cocked an eyebrow, quick to notice the irony in her observation.

    “What’s that look for?” she asked curiously.

    “Oh, nothing.” He paused to lean back in his seat. “So, if you haven’t been trying to get an exclusive from Dr. Crawford, what have you been doing?”

    “Finishing up my first article on Meg Marriott’s murder,” she explained as she pulled her laptop back open. “I’ve almost got it finished; and I’m trying to convince my editor that we really need to be covering the Galen Sterling/Hank Latimer connection. You know, famous American soap star/soon-to-be famous movie actress worries over cousin missing in action – I think it could really appeal to the patriotic celebrity gawkers.” Joy looked down at her computer screen as she continued to type. “Have you found out anything else about your mother?”

    “I went by the house where she used to live this morning,” he began. “The people who live there weren’t home, but I met their next door neighbor. It turns out she knew my mother very well and she knows my father and my older sister Cal. She’s actually related to Cal.”

    “Related to Cal Latimer?” Joy looked up over the top of her laptop. “Who is this woman?”

    “Vanessa Sterling.” He was a little reluctant to divulge that information because he was quite aware that Joy had tabs on nearly everyone in Rosehill thanks to Tracy.

    “That’s Galen Sterling’s grand – err, step-grandmother! And she’s Meg Marriott’s sister!” She pushed her laptop aside and leaned forward on the table, very interested in anything Chaz might tell her.

    “Which makes her Cal’s aunt,” he continued. “Anyway, it turns out my father asked her to look out for me while I’m in town.” He shook his head. “What does he think I am? Still a kid? I’m a grown man and he acts like I can’t take care of myself! She asked me to stay with her while I’m in town.”

    “You’re going to do it, aren’t you?”

    “I… don’t know.” He was hesitant. After all, Chaz was very independent and didn’t like living off anyone else. He even refused to live off the trust fund his father had set up for him.

    “But you have to! You have to move in with Mrs. Sterling!”

    “Why? So you can pump me for any information about her sister’s murder I might find out?”

    “Of course!” Joy threw up her hands, surprised that her reasoning wasn’t completely obvious. “We’re partners, after all.”

    “Partners?” He eyed her curiously. “When did we become partners?”

    “You’ve kinda been along with me on this story since I got into town,” she reminded. “I just assumed we’d become partners. Besides, I couldn’t have done all that I’ve done so far without you. Please?” She reached over and grabbed his hand tightly. “Pretty please? You don’t have to pump anyone for any information, just keep your ears open and report back to me anything important you might overhear.”

    “I don’t know…” Chaz let out a heavy sigh. “Shouldn’t you be trying to get some information on Dr. Crawford? The police have charged him with Mrs. Marriott’s murder, after all.”

    “I’m working on that angle. Trust me.” Joy went back to work on her laptop. “I’ll work on getting to the good doctor and you set up shop at chez Sterling and keep your ears open.” She paused to make a click with her mouse. “There! My first report is edited and sent.” She pushed her laptop closed and returned her focus to Chaz. “Please? Move in with Vanessa Sterling.”

    “I’ll… think about it.” Chaz leaned back in his seat and folded his arms tightly across his chest. He didn’t like the idea of spying on a kindly old woman just so that Joy could get an exclusive, but he also realized that Vanessa Sterling might be an invaluable source of information for him about his own mother. It was definitely a decision that required a lot of thought and consideration.

    “Could you hold on a sec?” Joy asked as she pulled out her cell phone. “I need to call my editor and tell her I sent my first article.” She paused and waited for the call to connect. “Yes, it’s Joy. I just finished my first installment on the Marriott story. It should be in your inbox shortly.” A pause. “Yeah, I’m working that angle, too, because there’s been an arrest. It’s all in there. And I may have a potential inside source.” She looked over at Chaz and flashed him a broad and knowing grin. “Gotcha. I’ll have my next piece ready and in your box in a few days.” She clicked her phone closed and shoved it back into her purse before returning her focus solely on Chaz. “I’m gonna do such a good job on this story that she’s gonna be forced to give me a promotion. Just you see!”

    Meanwhile, across the ocean at the British headquarters of the World Star, Joy’s editor and boss Mia Osborne leaned back in her chair in her office and slowly exhaled. Her job was done.





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  4. Matt
    Because work has gotten the better of me in the last few weeks, my episode lead time has decreased significantly. Therefore, in order to get myself caught back up to a decent backlog of episodes, the series will be pre-empted this week (5/21-5/25) at the very least. I'm hoping to get things back up to speed and back to normal by next Monday.

    In casting news, in light of Leann Hunley returning to Days, I'll be recasting Betsy Crawford Harper in the coming weeks. I have a few strong contenders for the character. Also, the 1st new "contract" character added to the cast since the series premiere should debut shortly. Leo Kent, a suave European businessman, will be represented by images of Ben Richards who formerly played Bruno Milligan on the UK sudser "Footballers Wives".
  5. Matt

    Episode #19

    By Matt,

    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.





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    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.




    “I’m surprised you managed to slip away from Andy tonight,” a tuxedo-clad Dr. Tom Crawford said as he moved around his apartment. “I wish I had more time to spend with you.”


    “I know you’ve got that diner party Meg’s throwing to go to,” Amy muttered while she put on an earring. “Andy’s dragging me to it, too. He said, since he’s in business with her at Beaver Ridge, he has to at least make an appearance.” She paused as her eyes followed him around the room. “I hope he makes it an early evening. The less time I have to spend around that woman the better.”

    “Hmmm… cufflinks,” he muttered to himself as he looked down at the cuffs of his shirt. “I should probably wear those expensive ones Meg gave me back when we were married. She is funding that research grant, after all, and we both know how she likes to be buttered up.”

    Tom walked over to his wall safe, completely unaware that Amy was watching his every move. Of course! Where else would Tom hide those files? She watched intensely as he pulled back the painting and opened the safe. Even from across the room, she could see the locked box sitting in the safe.

    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 carefully moved through the darkened apartment, turning her flashlight ever so carefully. It had been easier than she’d thought to jimmy the lock on the front door with her credit card – she’d only thought that trick worked on TV.


    Pulling the painting back to expose the wall safe, she inhaled deeply. Could she really figure out what combination Tom would use? How could she be expected to know such things? She’d already work so hard to gain Tom’s confidence and trust…

    Bingo! Amy fought the urge to laugh at how predictable Tom truly was. He’d used his own birth date! For someone so seemingly hell bent on keeping those documents hidden away as leverage, he was certainly easy enough to figure out.

    Making a hurried inventory of the safe, pushing the jewelry box containing Tom’s cufflinks aside, she didn’t find the papers, but she did find the locked box she’d secretly seen only days earlier. Surely, that had to be where he kept them. There was no time to find a way into the box, so she hurriedly decided to take the box with her. She’d manage to get it open, get those files, and replace it before Tom was any the wiser – but Amy knew that she couldn’t keep it at home. Her son Eric had a nasty habit of going through her things looking for extra spending money. She couldn’t risk him discovering something far more valuable.

    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.”



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  6. Matt

    Episode #17

    By Matt,

    Episode #17
    Tuesday, 5/15/07


    Same Day, Early Evening

    The Harper Home, Living Room



    “Yes?” Ben Harper said into the telephone as he cradled it next to his ear. “Oh, yes, Lt. Alphonso. News?” He paused and listened intently. “W-what? But… that doesn’t make any sense. Why would…?” He paused again as his brow began to furrow at the information he was being given. “No, I… I suppose there isn’t any other explanation. I… Thank you, Lieutenant, for keeping me informed.”

    As he hung up the phone, the full impact of the news he’d just received began to hit him and he felt his anger begin to rise.

    “Damn him!” he shouted angrily, slamming his fist down onto the side table, sending a framed picture of him and his wife Betsy crashing to the floor. “Damn him!”



    “Ben! Ben, what is it?” Betsy Harper called out as she rushed into the room, alerted by his shouting and by the sound of breaking glass. “Ben, what’s wrong?”

    “I can’t believe that sonofabitch did it!” He shouted.

    “Who?” She grabbed him by the arms in an attempt to calm him and to force him to explain what he was talking about.

    “They just arrested that damn brother of yours for murdering my mother!”



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    Tom’s Apartment, Living Room



    “Thank God you got me out of there as quickly as you did,” Dr. Tom Crawford sighed wearily as he came through the door, followed closely by Amy Marriott. “I don’t know if I could’ve lasted an entire night in that place.”

    “It pays to have a judge or two owe you a favor.” Amy headed straight for Tom’s bar and poured her self a Scotch on the rocks – a double. “Having a few years as district attorney on your resume comes in handy from time to time.”

    “Well, however you managed it – thanks. I owe you one.”

    “Don’t worry. I won’t forget.” She paused and took another sip of her drink. “But what the hell were you thinking talking to the police without an attorney present, anyway?”

    “I didn’t have a reason not to talk to them!” He couldn’t help but pace around the room. The latest turn of events – being arrested for Meg’s murder – had naturally thrown him for a loop. “I didn’t do anything.” Tom was quick to see Amy’s eyes firmly fixed on him. “Honestly! I did not kill Meg!”

    “I know! I know!” She threw her hands up in the air in an attempt to calm him. After all, she most definitely did know. “I never thought you did do it, but I had to hear it from you. I’ve got to know where I need to start so I can get you out of this mess.”

    “Amy, it’s obvious that whoever broke into my safe and took that lock box used my gun to kill Meg and then left it at Meg’s house to frame me for it.” He ran his hand down his face, pausing to cover his mouth, as he began to think deeply.

    “Do you have any idea who’d want to frame you?” She paused and listened closely. Did he have an idea? Could he possibly know?

    Tom stood in silence for several long minutes. Yes, he did have an idea. He could think of only one person those documents in his locked box would matter to – only one person who would have even the slightest reason to want to exact that kind of revenge on him.

    And it had not a single thing to do with Meg Marriott.

    “Tom?” Amy asked, growing impatient with the amount of time it was taking for him to answer. “Do you know?”

    “No,” he finally answered. “I don’t have any idea.” He couldn’t tell her the truth. Not without being 100% certain and not without talking to someone else first about his suspicions.

    “Then where were you when Meg was murdered? If we can place you somewhere else at that exact time, then it’s impossible for the police to continue to think you did it.”

    “I was with you that night. Remember?”

    “Damn.” She threw back the last of her drink in one gulp. “I’m sure Andy will love to hear that one.” Pausing for a moment, her mind began to work overtime. “Look, Tom, I’ve got to go check on something. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She turned and began to head towards the door. “Whatever you do, do not leave this apartment and do not talk to anyone. Be very careful because the police and the news media are going to be watching every single move you make. You do one thing wrong, and I’m not going to be able to do a damn thing for you.”

    As the door closed behind Amy, Tom sunk down onto the sofa and buried his head in his hands. This was not the day he’d planned for when he crawled out of bed that morning and if his suspicions and fears were true, then his being framed could very easily become the least of his worries.

    Meanwhile, in the hallway outside Tom’s apartment Amy wrung her hands nervously. She knew what she had to do and she had to do it immediately. However, she had no idea that someone was watching her and following her very closely…





    The Harper Home, Living Room



    “W-what?” Betsy’s eyes grew wide with shock and confusion. “What are you talking about?”

    “That was Lt. Alphonso on the phone,” Ben began to explain, his range and anger hovering right at their boiling point. “They traced that gun they found at Maggie’s to your brother and they’ve proven that it was the gun that killed my mother.”

    “That’s…that’s impossible! Tom would never…”

    “The police are convinced that he killed Maggie. They arrested him and charged him with her murder. The cops just don’t go around arresting people for no good reason!” Ben broke away from his wife and began to pace anxiously around the room.

    “They’re… they’re wrong!” she cried out. “Honey, you know Tom! You know he couldn’t do something like this!”

    “Bets, I didn’t want to believe it, either.” Ben paused and looked up at framed photograph of his mother that sat on the mantle of their fireplace. “But the more I think about it…”

    “No!”

    “Honey, didn’t you think it was odd how he got himself included in her will?” He spun around to face Betsy, the gears of his mind reflected in his eyes as he quickly began to string together seemingly unconnected events. “The only other people included in that will were family – Tom’s not family!”

    “He’s my brother!” Betsy couldn’t believe her ears – Ben honestly thought that Tom did murder Meg. “He is family!”

    “Not my mother’s family, he isn’t!” he snapped angrily. “Sure, they were married a long time ago – an utter disaster if I remember correctly – but even then it was only because of what he could get out of her!”

    “You know why Tom married your mother! You know she didn’t give him much of a choice! If he hadn’t married her, she would’ve ruined Liane’s career! Meg pretty much blackmailed him into it!”

    “I never really understood that twisted little friendship they had going all these years.” Ben continued to ramble on, barely even acknowledging his wife’s comments. “She’d dangle those little grants in front of his eyes like carrots and he’d jump and snap like a little trained dog.”

    “Ben, you know that’s not how it was!” Betsy went to him and grabbed him by the arm in an attempt to force him to listen to her. “Tom would never have done anything to hurt Meg.”

    “And when she yanked that last grant out from under him, I bet that was the last straw.” He turned away from Betsy and grabbed the fireplace mantle with both hands to steady himself, his breathing heavy and labored. “I bet that pushed him right over the edge. I don’t know how he knew it, but I bet he found out that my mother had put him in her will and he just had to have that money for his damned project!”

    “You’re crazy if you can seriously think that my brother had anything to do with…”

    “Then call me crazy!” He spun around to face her with a blazing fire in his eyes. “That bastard murdered my mother in cold blood!”

    “I’m not listening to this.” Betsy quickly turned away from him, unable to bear Ben’s wild accusations any longer. “You’re not making a damn bit of sense.”

    “Where the hell are you going?”

    “I’ve got to get out of here,” she explained, struggling to remain calm. “I can’t listen to any more of this. I’m going to go see Tom and let him know that I’m on his side.”

    “The hell you are!”

    “Ben Harper, don’t you even think about stopping me!” Her eyes locked with his. “And I can assure you that you don’t want me around right now. I’m not going to stay here and listen to your half-crazed notions about my brother based on some flimsy evidence the police have managed to string together because they can’t find a decent lead!”

    “Betsy, don’t you dare walk out on me right now!” He chased after her, but she refused to stop, storming out the front door and slamming it behind herself so loudly that it nearly shook the entire house.





    Rosehill Hospital, Research Lab



    Dr. Alex Marriott struggled to keep his mind on his work as he eyed a specimen through his microscope, but he simply couldn’t focus. It hadn’t even been 30 minutes since he’d gotten the word about Tom’s arrest and Alex was still numb with shock. The respect Dr. Tom Crawford – a murderer? It just didn’t make any sense.



    “Alex?” his grandfather, chief of staff Dr. Andrew Marriott said as he poked his head into the lab. “I… suppose you’ve heard the news?”

    “I just found out, Granddad,” Alex sighed, pushing himself away from the table. “I don’t even know what to think right now.”

    “I’m right there with you.” Andrew stepped into the lab. The atmosphere was understandably solemn and dour. “Of course, the board isn’t too thrilled about Tom’s arrest, either. I just came from a meeting with them.”

    “Oh, god.” Alex hung his head, full of foreboding. “What happened?”

    “They’ve put Tom on an involuntary suspension pending the outcome of the investigation and trial.”

    “Granddad, they can’t do that!” Alex jumped up out of his chair, angry from the news. “He’s in charge of this entire project! I’m barely out of my residency. There’s no way I can do this on my own. Without Tom, we’ll have to shut everything down!”

    “I know, Alex. I know.” Andrew hung his head, pained by his grandson’s disappointment. “I tried everything I could with the board. I explained to them how important his work is to this project, but they’re concerned about how having him affiliated with the hospital in any way is going to look to the public. Truthfully, I can see their point. There’s nothing I can do.”

    “But we’re so close.” Alex slumped back down into his chair, slamming his pencil down on the table. “Damn it.”



    “I… I hope I haven’t come at a bad time,” Vanessa Harper spoke up as she stood in the doorway. She instantly sensed the tension in the room as well as Andrew and Alex’s long faces. “I could come back…”

    “No, no, it’s all right,” Alex muttered, rising to greet her. “Just a little bad news, but it’ll… be all right.”

    “I’ve really got to get back to my office for a meeting.” Andrew headed for the door, but not before pausing to kiss Vanessa on the cheek. “It’s always good to see you.”

    “You, too, Dr. Marriott.” Once Andrew had left the lab, Vanessa turned her full attention on Alex. “What happened? What bad news.”

    “Just some work stuff,” Alex muttered, deciding it would be best for him not to break the news about her uncle’s arrest to her. She’d find out soon enough. “Nothing for you to worry about. So, what brings you by so late? I was getting ready to wrap things up here and head home.”

    “I called your apartment and you weren’t there,” she explained. “I had a hunch where you’d be.”

    “So, you came all the way down here just to see me?” He struggled to resist his urge to grin broadly. Suddenly, his day seemed so much brighter.

    “Well, I did try to call first.” Vanessa laughed nervously and lowered her head slightly, a little embarrassed. They both stood in silence for several moments – which really seemed like a small eternity – before she mustered up the nerve to again speak. “You mentioned going out to dinner the other day and…”

    “I’m sorry,” Alex spoke up, now his turn to be embarrassed. “I’ve been so busy with this project, I haven’t had the time. You probably think…”

    “I think you’ve been busy,” she smiled. “Which is why I thought that, since you’re wrapping things up for the night, you might have a little free time to grab a bite down at the diner on the corner. You know, nothing fancy, just… a bite.”

    “I think that’s a great idea.” Despite his best efforts, Alex felt himself grin broadly. “In fact, I can’t think of a better way to finish off the evening.”

    As he began to hurry around the lab, finishing up the last bit of work he had to do before he’d be free for the rest of the evening, Vanessa stood, silently watching him, and smiled, thankful that she’d mustered up the nerve to remind him about his earlier invitation.



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  7. Matt

    Episode #18

    By Matt,

    Episode #18
    Wednesday, 5/16/07


    A Few Days Later, Morning

    Alison’s Apartment, Living Room



    Alison Marriott sat on the sofa, still in her robe, drinking a cup of coffee – her second cup of the morning. Unfortunately, the double dose of caffeine wasn’t doing much good. She’d barely slept all night. In fact, she’d barely slept for the last few nights – she’d had far too much on her mind.

    Paulson had completely pulled out of the Beaver Ridge project thanks to his discovery of the truth about the books and plans – a truth that both she and her father Andy Marriott had worked hard to keep from him.

    “Damn Meg,” Alison muttered to herself. It was all Meg’s fault, as usual. Meg had managed to mail Paulson a copy of the real books and plans that looked nothing like the records they’d shown him. However, Alison’s stress and worry was really caused by the fact that, while Meg might have been the one to mail the documents to Paulson, she hadn’t been the original source.

    It had been Alison, herself…



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    John & Suzanne’s Home, Kitchen



    Suzanne Prentiss moved swiftly around the kitchen, finishing the last touches on the elaborate breakfast she’d woken up extra early to prepare. She was determined that, for a change, she and her husband John were going to sit down and have a meal together, even if it were only bacon, eggs, and toast.

    She walked over to the kitchen door and called out, “John, I’ve got…”



    “No time this morning, Sweetheart,” John Prentiss interrupted as he rushed into the room, pulling on a light jacket, a jumbled mass of papers shoved under his arm. He headed straight for the coffee maker and poured a steaming stream of coffee into his travel mug. “I’ve got to get out to Beaver Ridge. Andy and I have a meeting with a potential investor.”

    “W-what about breakfast?” Her eyes were wide with shock and disappointment. She’d gone to so much work. “I thought we could have breakfast as a family this morning.” She walked over to the small bassinet in the corner and picked up their infant daughter Tess. “I mean, since you haven’t managed to eat a meal at home in weeks.”

    “I’d love to, Honey, but I can’t.” John took a quick gulp of coffee and then refilled his mug. “We’re in a crisis right now. Without Paulson out, the entire project is on the line. If we don’t figure out something quick, the entire thing could go under.”

    “Do you know how sick I am hearing about Beaver Ridge?” Suzanne could feel her temper begin to rise. “You’re never here because of that place! You’re gone before Tess even wakes up and she’s already down for the night before you ever manage to make it home! I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m raising our daughter as a single parent!”

    “Honey, don’t you think you’re over exaggerating just a bit?” He paused as he quickly scanned some papers he needed for the meeting. “You know that until Beaver Ridge is up and running, it’s going to take up a lot of my time. I told you that before I ever signed onto this project.”

    “I know, but…”

    “Maybe because you’ve just forgotten how much time work actually takes up since you’ve decided not to work.” He shoved the papers back under his arm and hurried over to give both Suzanne and Tess quick kisses before turning to rush out the door. “Look, I’m running late. We’ll talk about this later when I get home. It’ll probably be late, though. There’s a lot of ground to cover today.”

    Suzanne could do nothing but stand in stunned silence as her husband disappeared through the back door and out of the house. She turned and eyed the uneaten breakfast, now cold, on the table and she felt her jaw tighten before snatching up the plates of food in an angry rush, scraping everything into the garbage, and slamming the dishes into the sink.



    “What’s going on in here?” her aunt Vanessa Sterling asked curiously as she stood at the back door, slightly alarmed by Suzanne’s demeanor. “I saw John leaving…”

    “He’s always leaving,” Suzanne grumbled. “Always running off to Beaver Ridge.”

    “Honey, it’s only going to be for a few more months.” Van put her hand on her niece’s shoulder. “Once the place is up and running again, things will settle down.”

    “And then he’ll find something else to obsess over.” Suzanne leaned back against the counter, her shoulders slumped and weighted by the stress of her situation. “I remember when I was his obsession, but now…”

    “John loves you very much.” Van looked her niece directly in her eyes, punctuating her statement. “Don’t you ever doubt that. And don’t you forget that you were once very passionate about your work, too. You should be able to understand what John’s going through right now.”

    “You know, Van, you’re right.” A new look of determination washed over Suzanne. “Do you think you could watch Tess for a few hours? I’ve got… a few errands I need to run.”

    “Of course, I can. You know how much I adore this precious little angel.” Van walked over to the bassinet and picked up baby Tess. “You take care of whatever it is you need to do. This little girl and I will be just fine.”

    “Thank you, Aunt Van!” Suzanne gave her a tight hug and kissed her daughter. She was more excited and impetuous than she’d felt in a long time. As she rushed out of the kitchen and upstairs to change clothes, she quickly pushed aside any reservations and doubts that were lingering inside her head. There was no time for any of that now – no time at all.





    Alison’s Apartment, Living Room



    Alison rushed into the living room, hurriedly finishing dressing for work. She’d tried all morning to push thoughts and worries about Meg Marriott and those damning documents she’d sent to Paulson out of her head, but the more she struggled to forget, the more she remembered…



    “Meg, what do you want?” Alison said into her cell phone, annoyed by yet another one of Meg’s calls. She’d been forced to deal with Meg for months as part of Beaver Ridge and was thrilled when her father Andy had finally managed to buy out Meg’s part of the project. Now, however, Meg was popping up in her life more and more and Alison didn’t like it. “I… I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, Meg. You’ve seen all the books and plans for the project. Why would you be interested in any of that now?”

    But Meg had been interested… very interested. Somehow, she’d discovered that Alison and Andy had been moving numbers around in the books and had been cutting corners on construction – activities that their other partner Paulson definitely was not privy to. Alison didn’t know how Meg had come upon her suspicions, but she most definitely did know that Meg was hell bent on doing whatever it took to prove them.



    “Meg, you’re talking craziness,” Alison snapped angrily into the phone. “You’re making stuff up in your head again. No wonder my father wanted you out of Beaver Ridge.” A long pause. “Pictures? What pictures? Meg, what the hell are you talking about?”

    Alison opened her front door, finding a large envelope propped up against the doorframe. With nervous trepidation, she picked it up and held it in her hands, simply staring at it for several long moments.

    “Y-yes, I’m still here,” she muttered into the phone. “O-okay.” Alison hurriedly tore open the envelope and pulled out a series of photographs of her – in various unseemly circumstances and situations. None of them were appropriate for either framing or Christmas cards.

    Alison walked over to the mirror and fumbled with her earrings as she tried to put them in. Placing her hands on the side table and leaning forward, she exhaled slowly, trying not to think about what she’d done.



    Alison quietly stepped into her father’s makeshift office in the lobby of Beaver Ridge. It wouldn’t be much trouble at all since she knew exactly where he kept all of his important papers. In a matter of minutes, she pulled all the necessary files, documents, and plans out of the cabinet and hurriedly ran them through the copier before putting everything back into its rightful place and shoving the copies into her bag.

    A loud knock at her door roused Alison from her troubled thoughts. It was her mother, Amy Marriott.

    “What’re you doing here?” Alison asked, shocked and a little annoyed by her mother’s unexpected visit. “Shouldn’t you be at the office by now?”



    “That’s kinda why I’m here.” Amy anxiously glanced around the apartment. “I think I left my spare briefcase here a few weeks ago – you know, the monogrammed one you and Eric got me for Christmas that year? I don’t use it very much because I don’t want to ruin it, but I left some files in it on a case I’m working on and I think I left it here. I came by the other day looking for it, but you weren’t here. I guess you were busy out at Beaver Ridge.”

    “Well, I haven’t seen it,” Alison sighed, heading for her bedroom. “I’ve got to finish getting ready for work. You can look around if you want.”

    “Thanks. I’m sure it’s here somewhere.” Once Alison was out of the room, Amy immediately went to the large armoire in the corner of the room, knelt down beside it, and reached behind it. “Damn it. Where are you?” she grumbled to herself until she felt the briefcase with her hand. Quickly grabbing it, she pulled it out and heaved a sigh of relief. “Found it!”

    “That was fast,” Alison commented, walking back into the room.

    “Oh, I had a feeling I knew where it was.” Amy made a show of looking at her watch. “Look at the time. I really need to get to the office. I’ll call you later and we can go to lunch or something.”

    “Yeah, sure, Mom.” Alison eyed her mother curiously as she watched her rush out of the apartment. She couldn’t help but think that her mother was acting rather strange this morning, but then quickly brushed those thoughts away.





    Beaver Ridge Complex, Lobby



    “I’m glad you agreed to meet with us, Rick,” Andy Marriott said as he extended his hand. “I think you’ll find the proposal John and I have worked up to be very informative.”

    “That’s what you said on the phone.” Rick Latimer stood in the center of the room and looked around. “But I can pretty much assure you that you’re wasting your breath. Beaver Ridge is a thing of the past for me.”

    “Maybe, maybe not.” Andy walked over to the coffee maker that sat on a stack of crates. “Would you like a cup?”

    “Thank you.” Rick took the Styrofoam cup from Andy and then took a lengthy sip. “So, Andy, let’s skip the chitchat and get right to the point. Tell me about this proposition and what it has to do with Beaver Ridge.”

    “You have a history with this place, Rick. You’re the one who made Beaver Ridge the destination spot it was years ago.”

    “That was a long time ago. I turned over my interest when Cal and I moved to Canada. I haven’t been involved with Beaver Ridge in over 30 years.”

    “But, still, you know this place better than anyone.” Andy paused and eyed Rick anxiously. He knew he had to play his cards exactly right. “As I told you the other day, we recently had an investor pull out for… personal reasons.” Yeah, right. “That gives us a partnership position available and John and I both thought about you.”



    “Guys, sorry I’m late,” John said as he rushed into the room. “I got tied up at home with Suzanne and couldn’t get away.” He stopped and eyed both Andy and Rick. “I suppose you’ve been discussing the potential partnership in Beaver Ridge?”

    “John, I was about to tell Andy that I don’t have any interest in Beaver Ridge anymore,” Rick explained cautiously. “Cal and I already have a business in Canada. I’m not looking to invest in anything else. Besides, we’ve got a lot of family issues going on right now. I have a son who’s missing in Iraq; Cal’s mother just died…”

    “Suzanne’s grandmother,” John reminded. “I’m a part of the same family, Rick. We both married into it.”

    “Yes, I know that, John, but I have other things I need to deal with right now.” Rick shoved his hands into his pockets and turned away from them, his eyes taking in the full expanse of the lobby while his mind drifted back to another time long ago. “Cal and I are only here temporarily for a visit because of Meg. We’re only here to deal with some family business.”

    “Haven’t you said, yourself, that your resort pretty much runs itself?” John’s eyes went from Rick to Andy who stood in silence as a slight grin crossed his face. “I know you’ve left Will to run the place while you’re in town, so you know it’s in good hands.”

    “Yes, but…”

    “You could consider this a family venture. You’re Suzanne’s uncle. I know she’d appreciate it if you were a part of Beaver Ridge.”

    “Just look at our proposal.” Andy handed Rick a large packet of information. “I’m sure you’ll see that this place is definitely a worthwhile investment for you.”

    Rick took several minutes and thumbed through the proposal, examining every financial record, building plan, and diagram presented to him. As he held up one diagram for the lobby, he could begin to visualize the end result based on the plans combined with the work already completed. He nodded slowly, yet resisted the urge to smile.

    “Rick, I know you,” John finally spoke up. “I know you like a challenge. When was the last time the resort was a challenge to you?”

    “It’s been a long time,” he confessed. “Like you said – it pretty much runs itself.”

    “And what could be more of a challenge for you than to be a part of bringing Beaver Ridge back – not just to the glory that it once was, but even better?” John’s eyes darted from Rick to Andy who quietly nodded.

    “If I agree on this,” Rick spoke tentatively, “I’d have to talk it over with Cal first. But I can pretty much predict that she’s not going to be in favor of it.”

    “Do you really have to get your wife’s permission on every move you make?” It was a calculated risk on Andy’s part, but he was following a hunch. John, however, was less than pleased with his partner’s goading style and let him know as much with a stern glance.

    “Not every move,” Rick replied, his eyes still focused on the proposal, “but she and I are business partners as well as husband and wife.”

    “But I’m sure once you explain all of the positives of this to her, she’ll understand what an excellent move it is for you both professionally and personally. John and I are proposing a full partnership to you – equal ownership.” Andy reached into his briefcase and pulled out several documents. “I took the liberty of having our attorneys go ahead and draw up the necessary papers. All you have to do is go over them and sign them and all of this is yours again – partially, of course.”

    Rick took the contracts from Andy and went over them carefully as his mind raced with the possibilities. Did he dare sign them and commit himself to Beaver Ridge once again? Did he really want to wait and allow Cal to talk him out of it, or did he want to take a calculated risk. As he came to the part of the contract where he was supposed to sign, Rick’s mind was a whirl with far more questions than answers and the only thing in his immediate line of sign was Andy Marriott holding a pen in his outstretched hand.



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  8. Matt

    Episode #16

    By Matt,

    Episode #16
    Monday, 5/14/07


    Same Day, Late Afternoon

    Rosehill Police Department, Interrogation Room



    “Do you recognize this gun, Dr. Crawford?” Lt. Alphonso asked as he opened a manila envelope and pulled out the plastic baggie that contained the gun.

    Tom felt a large knot form in his throat. He most definitely did recognize it.

    “I… I’m not sure,” Tom Crawford muttered.

    “We’ve had the lab going over this gun with a fine tooth comb, Dr. Crawford.” Lt. Alphonso pushed it closer to Tom. “We’ve determined that this is, in fact, the gun that was used to kill Mrs. Marriott.”

    “It… is?” Tom was beginning to feel more anxious and uncomfortable by the second.

    “Even more interestingly is the fact that we now know exactly who this gun is registered to.”

    “You… do?”

    “Yes, Dr. Crawford.” The lieutenant paused, ever so briefly. “It’s registered to you. This is your gun, Dr. Crawford.”



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    Carlson Paper & Publishing, A.J.’s office



    “Knock, knock,” Suzanne Prentiss smiled as she rapped lightly on the door. “Got time for a social visit?”

    “Suzanne!” A.J. Sterling exclaimed, quickly rising from his seat behind his desk. “Doris didn’t tell me you were here.”

    “Oh, I bribed your secretary with some cookies out of the machine.” She let out a laugh and stepped into the office. “You know, it’s amazing how easily your employees can be bribed.”

    “I think it’s because she knows how often we used to have lunch together when you were downstairs working for the paper.” He folded his arms across his chest and eyed her suspiciously. “You’re not here to tell me you’re ready to come back, are you? The Herald could really use your skills, right now.”

    “No, A.J., this is just a social visit.” However, her sigh of disappointment betrayed her true feelings.

    “Unuh, not buying it.” A.J. walked over to her, grabbed her lightly by the shoulders, and directed her to a chair. “Now sit down and tell me what’s really on your mind.”

    Suzanne looked up at him, feeling rather foolish, and let out a weary sigh, not really sure where to begin. “I miss this place, A.J.. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. I miss the boys down in the copy room. I miss coming up here to see you every day to go over the latest edition of the paper. I miss us debating over what we think Ruth’s smoking when she puts together that silly advice column of hers.”

    “We axed that column, by the way. It was getting too surreal.”

    “Finally!” She let out a warm laugh and then paused for a moment. “See! This is what I’ve been missing. All the activity of the newsroom – adult conversation.”

    “Baby talk with Tess not doing it for you, huh?”

    “Hardly,” she sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my baby very much. Being a mother is the… the most wonderful experience I could’ve ever imagined. And I love John more than I ever thought I could love someone, but…” Suzanne’s shoulders slumped, burdened by the weight of conflicting thoughts and emotions. “I don’t know. Maybe I had fairytale expectations. John and I went through so much just to be together. Maybe I had it in my head that getting married was going to finally bring all of that trouble to an end.”

    “And it hasn’t?” A.J. looked at her intently, sincerely interested in Suzanne and her obvious dilemma.

    “John’s gotten mixed up with Andy and that damned Beaver Ridge. It’s taking up so much of his time that Tess and I hardly ever get to see him. I know he’s doing it for us and I know he loves me, it’s just that… Oh, I don’t even know what I’m trying to say.”

    A.J. leaned back on the edge of his desk and strummed his fingers on the top. A sudden, unexpected thought had just struck him. “Suzanne, did you know that Harold’s retiring?”

    “W-what?” No, she didn’t know and she was shocked with this piece of news. “He’s been the editor of the Herald for… forever. I thought he’d die before he’d ever retire.”

    “Me, too, but, apparently, he’s decided to chuck it all and move to Florida to spend his twilight years fishing off the coast.” A.J. tapped his chin with his index finger, deep in thought. “You’d be the perfect person to replace him in the editor’s chair.”

    “Me?” Her eyes grew wide. It was a possibility she’d never even honestly considered. “But… but I’m not qualified…”

    “Not qualified?” He let out a laugh. “Suzanne, what about those years you spent in Europe as a correspondent for the Associated Press? You were the best investigative reporter this newspaper ever had. Hell, you’ve got a journalism degree from Stanford, for pete’s sake. You’re more than qualified and I think you’re the perfect person for the job.”

    “I… I don’t know.” Her face fell blank. She didn’t really know what to say or think, it was all so out of left field. Yes, it would be an excellent career opportunity, but she hadn’t even fully decided on whether she even wanted to go back to work part-time or not. It was too much for her to even think about.





    Rosehill Police Department, Interrogation Room



    “Well, Dr. Crawford, I’m waiting.” Lt. Alphonso leaned back in his chair and rested his hands on the table. “You know this is your gun, don’t you? You knew it was your gun before I even told you, didn’t you?”

    Tom sat in silence, his eyes locked on the gun inside the plastic baggie.

    “Well? Don’t you have anything to say?”

    “Yes, Lieutenant, I knew it was my gun,” Tom finally confessed, “but I did not murder Meg!”

    “Then can you possibly explain how your gun ended up being the same gun that shot Mrs. Marriott to death?” The lieutenant cocked his head slightly, very interested in the answer Tom would give.

    “I keep that gun in a locked box with some personal papers inside my safe,” Tom began to explain after a very long moment of hesitation. “A few days ago I discovered the box was missing along with those papers and that gun.”

    “Convenient.”

    “It’s the truth, Lieutenant! I swear it!” Tom was beginning to grow panicked. He didn’t like the direction this interview was starting to take. “I would never have shot Meg! What motive would I have to shoot her?”

    “There is that matter of funding for your research project,” the lieutenant reminded. “She did cancel all funding right before she died. You could’ve argued over that funding and…”

    “I would never have hurt Meg!”

    Lt. Alphonso quickly flipped to a separate page of notes. “You did push her down the stairs once, did you not, Dr. Crawford?”

    “That was a very, very long time ago and I did not push her. It was an accident – we were arguing and she fell.”

    “But you did hurt her in that instance, didn’t you, Dr. Crawford.”

    Tom hung his head. The lieutenant had a point. “Yes. I suppose you could say that.”

    “Dr. Crawford, I believe you went to Mrs. Marriott’s home with the gun as a means of ‘persuading’ her into reconsidering her funding. You two got into a verbal altercation and it got out of hand. Perhaps you didn’t even intend on shooting Mrs. Marriott let alone killing her, but that’s what happened. Maybe she struggled with you over the gun and it went off. You panicked and fled, dropping the gun.”

    “None of that ever happened!” Tom bolted up out of his chair in anger and frustration. “I told you my gun was stolen out of my safe!”

    “Along with some personal papers, yes I remember.” Lt. Alphonso flipped back to his current set of notes and quickly jotted something down. “What were those personal papers, Dr. Crawford? Is there any reason someone would want to take them?”

    “They… they’re just some personal documents, that’s all.” Tom looked away from him. He couldn’t tell him the whole truth. “They wouldn’t be of interested to anyone but me.”

    “When was the last time you saw the locked box, Dr. Crawford?”

    “About… a month ago, I suppose. That was the last time I’d gotten into my safe.” Tom thought back to the night Meg had thrown a grand dinner party. “Meg had given me a pair of diamond and platinum cufflinks once and I kept them in the safe to only wear on special occasions. I wore them that night.”

    “Were those cufflinks stolen along with the box?”

    “No.”

    “I see, so some mysterious person only took a box containing unimportant personal papers and a gun, but left all other valuables behind?” Lt. Alphonso cocked an eyebrow – a highly implausible scenario. “Dr. Crawford, can you explain why your fingerprints were the only ones found on the gun?”

    “I… can’t.” He leaned forward, his eyes pleading. “Lieutenant, you have to believe me. I did not murder Meg. I didn’t do it!”

    “I’m afraid this evidence is something I can’t explain any other way.” The lieutenant rose from his chair. “Dr. Crawford, I’m placing you under arrest for the murder of Meg Marriott.”





    Beaver Ridge Complex, Lobby



    “Where is everybody?” Alison Marriot asked as she walked through the front doors of the lobby, immediately noticing the utter absence of activity. “The crew better not be taking another one of their long lunch breaks. We’re behind schedule as it is and…”

    “There is no crew, Alison. Not any more.” Her father, Andy Marriott, sat slumped in his chair, his heads buried in his hands. “Paulson’s out and his money’s right along with him. We’re over budget because we bent over backwards to pacify that jerk and now we’re completely tapped out.”

    “W-what?” To say that she was stunned wouldn’t do her reaction justice. “That’s… that’s impossible!”

    “Combined, John and I maybe have enough money left in the bank to make it another couple of weeks,” Andy began to explain as he rose from his seat. “I was trying to talk Rick Latimer into climbing on board to replace Paulson, but he didn’t seem too committal about it. Apparently, his wife keeps him on a short leash and he won’t make a move without running it past her first.”

    “But you just said we had enough money to keep going for two more weeks.” Alison couldn’t understand why, if there was still money, they weren’t still moving forward with the project. “Why aren’t there workers here?”

    “What’s the point, honey?” Andy walked over to his makeshift desk and pulled a bottle of bourbon out of his briefcase, emptying the last remnants of its contents into his mug. “It’s over. Why prolong the agony? I cut our losses. If we kept going, we wouldn’t have anything left.”

    “Oh, god.” She shook her head in utter disbelief. “I can’t believe Paulson pulled out just like that. I talked to him last week. I showed him those numbers we put together! I thought I had everything smoothed over!”

    “Well, apparently, he got a package delivered to his office in Albany. It was from Meg. Obviously, she mailed it right before she died.” Andy walked back over to his chair, mug of bourbon in hand, and sat back down. “It was a copy of Beaver Ridge’s financial records and plans – the real ones. Not the ones we doctored up for his benefit. He saw every design shortcut we could come up with to get this place up and running cheaply and still just make code.”

    The color began to drain from Alison’s face.

    “I see you’re having the exact same reaction I had when I heard the news.” Andy’s laugh was tinged with bitter sarcasm. “I just wish I knew how Meg got her hands on those files. We didn’t make those changes until after I managed to force her out of the project and brought John on. There’s no way she could’ve even known about any of that let alone had exact copies of every single thing we were keeping from Paulson.”

    Alison slowly slumped down onto a crate beside the desk. No, there wasn’t any way Meg could’ve gotten her hands on those records.

    Except one.



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  9. Matt

    Episode #15

    By Matt,

    Episode #15
    Friday, 5/11/07


    Same Day, Afternoon

    Beaver Ridge Complex, Lobby



    “But, Mr. Paulson, I assure you…” Andy Marriott found himself cut off mid-sentence by his angry business associate on the other end of the telephone line. “Yes, sir, I know how it looks, but I promise you those numbers and those plans that I showed you personally are correct.” During another long pause, Andy discovered that the only thing he could do was stand in silence as Mr. Paulson ranted at him. “I don’t care what those files said! They’re wrong! But… but… you can’t do that! You’re vital to this project. Without you…”

    Click

    Andy stood in stunned silence, the telephone receiver still pressed to his ear, but now with no one on the other end of the line. Mr. Paulson had hung up on him – after informing him, in not the nicest of words, that he was completely out of the Beaver Ridge project thanks to a clause in his business contract that had carried over from when Meg had been involved in the business.

    As Andy shakily hung up the phone, his shock quickly began to turn to rage.

    “Damn her!” he shouted out, his blood boiling and his temper rising. In his anger, he grabbed the edge of his makeshift desk and flipped it over, sending papers flying across the room and his coffee mug crashing to the floor. “Damn her!”



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    Bella Rose



    “This was such a nice idea,” Vanessa Sterling smiled as she sat in the large booth surrounded by family. “A girls’ day out. It’ll give us all more of a chance to get caught up with each other. We never seem to find the time, anymore. I just wish Megan were here.”

    “She’s in one of her moods,” Betsy Harper sighed while she carefully looked over the menu. “Megan’s not exactly happy with either me or her father at the moment.”

    Van looked up from her own menu. “Oh?”

    “Yeah, Dad cut her off,” Suzanne Prentiss explained bluntly. “He finally got tired of her running through money and acting like a spoiled brat.”

    “That’s not exactly how I would’ve put it.” Betsy shot her eldest daughter a look of displeasure. “But that is the gist of it. Ben simply thinks that it’s time Megan settled down a little bit and learned some responsibility – how to actually take care of herself without having to have any of us run to her rescue when she makes a mistake.”

    “From what I’ve heard, this is probably a good thing for her.” Cal Latimer paused to take a sip of her iced tea. “Betsy, between you and Ben I’ve heard plenty of Megan stories. It’s probably time she got reigned in a little.”

    “A little?” Suzanne couldn’t hide the sarcasm in her voice. It was well known that she and her little sister hadn’t exactly gotten along over the years – even when they were children. “The girls at Rosehill High didn’t exactly dub her Hurricane Megan for nothing.”

    “Be that as it may,” Van nodded, “she needs to understand that her family is always there for her, no matter what mistakes she makes.”

    “I think she knows that, Aunt Van,” Vanessa Harper sighed as she thought of her twin. “You all may disagree with me, but I really think she’s going to be fine with this in the long run. Megan’s a lot smarter than I think even she gives herself credit for.”

    “Well, enough talking about Megan.” Betsy turned to her longtime best friend Cal. “How long are you and Rick going to be in town? Really, it’s been too long since we’ve been able to get together like this. The last time was… when? When Ben and I went up to spend that week with you two?”

    “My – I guess it really has been that long. We stay so busy with the business neither one of us ever seems to know where the time goes.” Cal paused for a moment, her mind drifting to other obligations remaining in Rosehill. “I honestly don’t know how long we’ll be here in town. I’ve got to decide what I’m going to do with the house, for one.”

    “You and Rick could always move into it,” Van pointed out with a sly smile.

    “Aunt Van, please…”

    “Oh, you know how much I’d love having you around all the time again.” Van reached over and patted her niece’s hand. “But I’m sure you’ll decide in your own time what’s best for you. Anyway, speaking of Rick, how’s he occupying his time today since you’re here with us?”

    “He drove out to Beaver Ridge to take a look around again,” Cal groaned. “It’s like he’s drawn to that place.”

    “Can we please not talk about Beaver Ridge today?” Suzanne sunk back into her seat. It was a sore subject with her. “All I ever hear about anymore is Beaver Ridge. Every other word out of John’s mouth these days is about Beaver Ridge. I know he’s doing it for me and Tess, but it’s getting to the point where I hardly ever see him anymore, he spends so much time out there. He does his best to make time for us, but some crisis always seems to come up.”

    “Honey, you know this is only a temporary situation until they can get it finished and up and running.” Betsy put a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “The condition that place was in, I’m surprised they’ve made as much progress as they have so fast.”

    “Have you thought about going back to work at the newspaper?” Vanessa asked. “I know you wanted to take the time off to spend with Tess while she was still a baby, but I’m sure you could manage to do a little work for the paper and still be a fulltime mother. Besides, it’ll give you something else to occupy your time while John’s busy with Beaver Ridge.”

    “Sure, I’ve thought about it,” Suzanne confessed. “After all, A.J. did tell me I had a standing offer to come back whenever I wanted to. It’s just that… I really want to be a good mother. I want to get it right and I want to be there for my baby. This is the most important formative time in her life and I don’t want to miss anything.”

    “Honey, you can have a career and still be a good mother.” Van tilted her head slightly and looked straight at Suzanne in that direct way that only Van could do. “Your mother did it with you and your sisters. Your Aunt Cal did it with both Will and Sarah. Look how well you all turned out. It’s not impossible.”

    “But what about Megan?” Suzanne asked pointedly. “I’m not one to point fingers, but she’s not exactly a precious little angel, is she? I don’t have any desire to raise another Megan.”

    “I think Aunt Van’s right,” Vanessa nodded. “You have to do what you think is best for you – restart your career or stay home forever with Tess – but I don’t think it’s impossible to have a career and still be a good mother. One day, when I have kids of my own, I want to be able to do both.”

    “Well, I don’t know.” Suzanne strummed her fingers along the table as she considered her options. “I just don’t know.”





    Beaver Ridge Complex, Lobby



    “What the devil happened in here?” Rick Latimer asked as he walked into the lobby and immediately noticed the overturned tables and randomly thrown about construction equipment.

    “Oh, let’s just say we had a little accident.” Andy was sitting across the room on a barrel, his legs propped up on the one table in the room left upright. He’d spent the last hour or so simply staring at the place that had become both his dream and his nightmare. “So, what brings you out, Rick? Can’t stay away from your old haunts?”

    “You could say that.” Rick began to walk around the room, taking in his full environment while remembering a time long ago. “I didn’t realize exactly how much I missed this old place until I saw it again. I put a lot of myself into Beaver Ridge.”

    “I can relate – too well.”

    “So, how’s the work coming along? It looks like you and John have made a lot of progress.” Rick walked over to the front desk and ran his fingers along its edge. “I saw pictures of the place after that fire and from the way it looked I didn’t think any of it was salvageable.”

    “It’s taken a lot of work – a lot of work.” Andy climbed off the barrel and slowly began to walk around the room with the look on his face of a man who’d just lost a dream. “But I guess all of that’s over, now.”

    “Hmm?” Rick turned to look at Andy. He’d been half lost in thought remembering the good ol’ days. “What did you say?”

    “It’s… it’s nothing,” Andy sighed. He stood silently for moment, watching Rick walk around the room, moving from area to area. He watched closely and clearly saw the look on Rick’s face – the look of a man who still felt a deep, emotional attachment to Beaver Ridge. And then an idea hit him. “You know, Rick, John and I just had a business partner in Albany have to pull out because of…” Think fast, Andy. Think fast. “Because of personal reasons. That opens up a slot for another investor. I’m sure that I can talk to John and he’d be more than willing to take you on as a full partner.”

    “I don’t know…”

    “I mean, no one knows Beaver Ridge as well as you do. You’ve said it yourself – you know it like you know the back of your hand. And you’ve got the background for a business like this. John and I are really only newcomers to all this. Both your experience and knowledge would be invaluable.”

    “But I’ve already got my own business in Quebec,” Rick reminded as he rubbed his chin. “A damn successful one, too. Our home is in Quebec.”

    “But didn’t John tell me that Meg left your wife her house in her will?” Andy moved closer to Rick. He could see the glint in Rick’s eye. He was definitely mulling over the possibilities. Andy almost had him. “Sounds like you’ve got a home here, too. And just think about the excitement of the challenge of bringing this place back to life, better than it ever was. You were the man responsible for its birth and now you could be a part of its rebirth.”

    “Andy, I don’t know.” Rick again began to walk around the room, carefully examining every tiniest aspect, his mind awhirl with all the possibilities. “It would be a challenge, but Cal’s pretty happy and content with our place in Canada. She’s not even sure what she’s gonna do with Meg’s house.”

    “But, like I said, you’ve already got a home here and you could have a business, too. All you’d have to do is say the word.”

    Rick nodded as he listened to Andy’s spiel. He’d made a lot of good points and he’d by lying if he’d said he wasn’t intrigued by the possibilities. But Cal would never go for it. She’d never agree to give up the resort and move back to Rosehill – or would she?





    Rosehill Police Department, Interrogation Room



    “You wanted to see me, Lieutenant?” Dr. Tom Crawford said as he knocked on the door. “I came down as soon as I could. I had to wrap a few things up at the hospital, first. The desk sergeant said you’d be in here.”

    “Ah, Dr. Crawford, you’re right on time, sir,” Lt. Alfonso said, rising from his chair and motioning him into the room. “Please come in and close the door behind you. Take a seat.”

    “May I ask what this is all about?” Tom sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the table from the lieutenant, an uneasy knot forming in his stomach. “I’m assuming this has to do with Meg Marriott’s murder, but I don’t know why you’d want to talk to me.”

    “Dr. Crawford, we’re interviewing everyone who had any sort of relationship with Mrs. Marriott.” The lieutenant turned to a new page in his legal pad and scribbled down a few notes that Tom couldn’t see. “You know, to get more of an accurate picture of who she was, who she dealt with…”

    “Who might have had a motive to kill her?”

    “We just want to know all that we can, Dr. Crawford.” There was a long pause as Lt. Alphonso visually examined Tom’s posture and demeanor, making sure to note every facial gesture and reaction. “I understand that you and Mrs. Marriott were married at one time.”

    “We were.”

    “And that it ended badly.”

    “My marriage to Meg started badly,” Tom acknowledged, a very accurate depiction. “We got married for the wrong reasons.”

    “And yet you two remained friendly after the divorce?”

    “It took some time to get to that point, but, yes, we did.” Tom moved his hands from his lap onto the table. He prayed that his nervousness didn’t show. “Meg and I had a very… well… complicated friendship. A lot of people didn’t exactly understand it. Truthfully, there were times even I didn’t understand it. We did grow to understand each other and care about each other a great deal, but we were much better off as friends than as romantic partners.”

    “She was quite a bit older than you, wasn’t she?”

    “A bit, yes.”

    There was another long pause as Lt. Alphonso hurriedly wrote down something else, making Tom even more anxious.

    “Mrs. Marriott was funding a research grant for you at the hospital, is that correct?”

    “Yes, it is.” Tom eyed the lieutenant curiously. “I don’t understand what that has to do with anything.”

    “And she recently pulled the funding for that grant, as well?” Lt. Alphonso continued on, ignoring Tom’s question.

    “Yes.”

    “Could you tell me why Mrs. Marriott pulled her funding.”

    Tom paused for several moments as he tried to think of the best way to formulate his answer. “Meg wanted me to fire Alex Marriott from the project. To be honest, I don’t know what her reasons were for sure, but I do know that she didn’t get along very well with Alex’s father Andy. They’d been business partners in Beaver Ridge before Meg pulled out and sold him her interest. I don’t know her reasons for doing that, though.”

    “So, you’re saying Mrs. Marriott asked you to remove Dr. Marriott from the project simply because she didn’t get along with his father?” Now it the lieutenant’s turn to eye Tom curiously.

    “Lieutenant, Meg could be a very spiteful woman and a lot of the times, she did a lot of things that didn’t make much sense to a lot of people. It was very much in her nature to do something like that.”

    “I see.” Lt. Alphonso jotted down some more notes and then reached under a large envelope, pulling out a plastic baggie wrapped gun.

    “Do you recognize this gun, Dr. Crawford?”

    Tom felt a large knot form in his throat. He most definitely did recognize it.

    “I… I’m not sure,” Tom muttered.

    “We’ve had the lab going over this gun with a fine tooth comb, Dr. Crawford.” Lt. Alphonso pushed it closer to Tom. “We’ve determined that this is, in fact, the gun that was used to kill Mrs. Marriott.”

    “It… is?” Tom was beginning to feel more anxious and uncomfortable by the second.

    “Even more interestingly is the fact that we now know exactly who this gun is registered to.”

    “You… do?”

    “Yes, Dr. Crawford.” The lieutenant paused, ever so briefly. “It’s registered to you. This is your gun, Dr. Crawford.”



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  10. Matt

    Episode #14

    By Matt,

    Episode #14
    Thursday, 5/10/07


    A Few Days Later, Late Morning

    Rita’s Diner



    “Just a regular coffee,” Megan Harper said, not even looking at her waitress, Tracy Dixon. She was too busy thumbing through her wallet, making a careful inventory of her finances.

    Damn her parents for acting all high and mighty. She really wanted a double latté, but if she really was cut off, and it strongly appeared as if she were, she was smart enough to realize that she would need to ration her money until she could figure out how to change their minds.

    “Hey!” she snapped as Tracy set her coffee cup down on the table. “You forgot my cream and sugar.”

    “You didn’t ask for any,” Tracy pointed out, desperately wanting to give the little snot some attitude, but thinking better of it for the sake of her job. It didn’t necessarily matter that her mother owned the place.

    “Whatever.”

    “Hey, Megan, mind if I join you?”

    She was pleasantly surprised to turn around and find A.J. Sterling standing right behind her, a big latté in his hand. Megan smiled broadly to herself. Perhaps today wasn’t going to be so bad after all.





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    The Sterling Home, Kitchen



    “So, what are your plans, now?” Vanessa Sterling asked as she carried two cups of coffee over to the kitchen table, setting one of them down in front of her niece Cal Latimer.

    “We really should get back home to Quebec, Aunt Van,” Cal sighed before taking a sip. “We left Will to run the resort while we were gone, but I know Rick doesn’t like to stay away from there for very long. We’ve worked far too hard to make it the success that it is.”

    “I can understand that,” Van nodded. “I just wish Will and Sarah could’ve come with you. It seems like forever since I’ve seen either one of them.”

    “I didn’t really see the point. Sarah’s away at school and someone needed to take care of the resort. Besides, neither one of them really knew Mom.” Cal’s eyes were focused on a swirl of cream as it floated around in her coffee, her mind drifting to other things. “I made sure of that, didn’t I? I refused to let her have anything to do with either of them.”

    “You’ve always known how I felt about that.” Van reached over and patted Cal’s hand. “But they’re yours and Rick’s children to raise as the two of you saw fit. I just don’t think that denying them a relationship with their grandmother was a good thing. Not just for your mother, but for the kids, too.”

    “Well, it’s a little late to second guess that now, isn’t it?”

    “I do wish you and Rick would stay here in Rosehill. I’ve really missed you and I know Ben’s missed you. You know you always have a home here.”

    “Aunt Van, our home is in Quebec. It’s where we’ve been for years. We have a business, a house, a family…”

    “But you have family, here, too. In fact, most of your family is here.” Van got up and walked over to the counter so that she could pick up the pot of coffee and refill their cups. “And now you have a house here, thanks to your mother. Your children are grown and out on their own and they have their own lives. The only thing really keeping you in Canada is the resort.”

    “Northern Lights is important to us, Van. Rick and I have built that place from the ground up – I designed it and he oversaw every aspect of the construction. It’s like another child to us.”



    “And how are two of my favorite ladies this morning?” Cal’s husband Rick Latimer asked as he breezed into the kitchen, first kissing his wife on the cheek and then her Aunt Van.

    “Van’s trying to talk us into moving back to Rosehill.”

    “Oh?” Rick eyed Van with curious interest.

    “Maybe I’m being selfish,” Van confessed, “but now that Meg’s gone, I… I’d feel so much better having you back.” She paused, took a sip of coffee, and then looked up towards Rick. “So you were really impressed with what Andy and John have done with Beaver Ridge?”

    “Yes, I am,” he nodded. “I didn’t think that place could ever come back from that fire, but it looks like it’s going to come back better than it ever was. It’s going to be a lot better than when I owned it.” He smiled wistfully, remembering a time long ago.

    “I know they’d appreciate any help you could give them. No one knows that place as well as you do.” Van’s eyes subtly darted from Rick to Cal and back again. “After all, you’re the reason the place was such a success to begin with. If it hadn’t been for you, there wouldn’t even be any interest in restoring Beaver Ridge.”

    Cal exhaled slowly and closed her eyes. She knew exactly what Van was trying to do.

    “Well, seeing that place again really did bring back a lot of good memories.” Rick rubbed his chin with his hand and nodded. “Maybe I’ll see if I can lend them a hand while we’re in town.”

    Cal simply shook her head slowly as looked at Van. Why was she suddenly getting a bad feeling about all of this?





    Rita’s Diner



    “I ran into your sister Vanessa earlier,” A.J. said as he slid into the booth across from Megan. “She said you two were moving back to Rosehill.”

    “Apparently,” Megan muttered dryly. “It’s not like I have much choice in the matter.”

    “What do you mean?” He leaned forward onto the table, curious as to what she had to say.

    “Our parents seem to think that with everything that’s happened lately – you know, my grandmother getting herself killed and all – that it’s a good time for some ‘family togetherness’. They’re forcing us to give up the apartment in New York and move home.” She really tried to hide her disgust with the entire situation, but that was easier said than done.



    “More coffee?” Tracy asked, standing at the edge of the table, with a coffee pot posed in the air and ready to pour.

    Without even looking at her, Megan silently pushed her cup over for a refill.

    After filling the cup and scrunching up her nose at the snotty patron, she shifted her focus to A.J. “How are you today, Mr. Sterling?”

    “I’m doing good, Tracy,” he smiled. “And you? It looks like you’ve got quite a crowd in here.”

    “Oh, I’m doing okay, I guess.” Tracy was absolutely beaming at him. “They have kept me running this morning, though.”

    “Then don’t you think you should see about taking care of this crowd of people instead of standing around chitchatting?” Megan shot Tracy a hateful look. She didn’t much appreciate the little waitress getting in the way of her conversation.

    “I guess you’re right,” Tracy glared. “I’ll… I’ll see you later, Mr. Sterling.”

    “Anyway, as I was saying,” Megan continued after Tracy had walked away, “why would my parents even think I’d like being stuck here in Thornhill? There’s so much more to do in New York – nightclubs, concerts, shopping…”

    “Rosehill’s not that bad,” A.J. laughed. “Actually, I kinda like it. It’s home, you know? Ever since my parents died and my sister and I went to live with Grandma and Grandpa, this has been my home. Yeah, I’ve gone other places and done other things, but no place has ever felt like home to me other than here in Rosehill.”

    “You sound like Vanessa.” She groaned and rolled her eyes. “You’d think this town belonged on the cover of a Hallmark card the way the two of you talk. You forget, I grew up here, too. I know what this place is like – dull.”

    “Maybe if you’re going to be stuck here – as you put it – you’d let me show you a different side of Rosehill so you could at least make the best of it.”

    “I think I’d like that,” Megan smiled as she reached across the table and took his hand. She looked over at him and batted her eyelashes. “Perhaps seeing Rosehill in a new light with you, I might like it here, after all.”





    Rosehill Hospital, Research Lab



    “Do you have any idea what was going on inside Meg’s head?” Dr. Alex Marriott asked as he slipped on his lab coat. “Why would she yank the research grant if she knew all along she’d left you an endowment in her will?”

    “She wasn’t exactly planning on dying,” Dr. Tom Crawford pointed out, looking up from the notes he’d been working on at his desk. “Maybe she just hadn’t gotten around to changing her will because she didn’t think it was an urgent thing to do. Maybe she was planning on changing her mind about the grant eventually. I really gave up trying to figure out why Meg did half the things she did a long time ago.”

    “I know the reason she pulled the grant in the first place was because of me and some beef she had with my father.”

    “It really had nothing to do with you, Alex,” Tom explained. “She only wanted me to fire you from this project to spite your father; lord only knows why she and Andy were into it. You’re an asset to this research project – you’ve proven that – and I wasn’t going to fire you just to satisfy one of Meg’s mean-spirited whims. Besides, I knew I could get her to change her mind, eventually.”

    “But she died, first.”

    “Yeah.” Tom’s mind immediately went to thoughts of the gun that the police had found at Meg’s – the presumed murder weapon – as well as his own gun that he’d recently discovered was missing.



    “Looks like the hospital board has approved a shift in funds to support the project with the promise of that endowment,” Dr. Andrew Marriott announced as he came into the room. “I don’t know why Meg did it, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth; especially since this endowment has saved this research project.”



    “Excuse me,” Vanessa Harper spoke up as she rapped lightly on the open door. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

    “Vanessa!” Tom exclaimed, immediately going over to her. “How’s my favorite little niece doing?”

    “I’m doing good, Uncle Tom,” she smiled. “I’m here to meet Mom. She and I are meeting up with Aunt Van and some others a little later for lunch. Sort of a girls’ day out.”

    “That sounds nice,” Tom nodded. “Oh, before I forget, you know Dr. Marriott and… Dr. Marriott?” All four of them chuckled heartily.

    “Yes, I do,” she grinned and then nodded towards Andrew. “Dr. Marriott, it’s good to see you again. You, too, Alex.”

    “I’ll leave you folks to carry on with your work,” Andrew said, heading for the door. “I just wanted to give you the good news.”

    “It’s good to see you again, Vanessa,” Alex smiled.

    “You, too.” She lowered her head sheepishly. “You know, you mentioned going out to dinner a few days ago, but you’ve never once bothered to call.”

    “I know your family’s going through a lot right now,” he explained, desperately wanting her to know that it hadn’t been a deliberate slight. “I didn’t want to bother you with something like that. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now.”

    “Well, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve decided to stay in Rosehill – permanently.” She cocked her head slightly and looked up at him. “We’ve got plenty of time for dinner.”

    “Then we definitely need to make plans.”

    The telephone rang, grinding all conversation to a halt. Tom, back at his desk, answered.

    “Rosehill Hospital Research Lab, Dr. Crawford speaking.” A long pause. “Yes, Lt. Alphonso… Now?” Another long pause. “Of course, I understand. Well, let me wrap a few things up here and I can be down at the station within the hour.”

    “Tom, what’s wrong?” Alex asked as Tom hung up the phone.

    “It’s nothing,” he shook his head in response. “The police just want to talk to me. It’s a… a consultation on a case.”

    It was a blatant lie on Tom’s part. Although the police did want his input on a case, it wasn’t in a professional capacity. The police wanted to question Tom about Meg’s murder, and that fact made Tom increasingly nervous.



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  11. Matt

    Episode #13

    By Matt,

    Episode #13
    Wednesday, 5/9/07


    Same Day, Early Evening

    The Sterling Home, Living Room



    “Well, I don’t need you to pay my own way.” Megan Harper shot her father a defiant stare. “Granny just left my a big ol’ trust fund in her will.”

    “Apparently, you weren’t listening very well.” Ben Harper’s tone was stern and serious. “You don’t get all of that money until you’re thirty or until you get married and have a family. Until then, I administer the money. You don’t get a dime unless I approve it and I’m not giving you a penny until you prove to me that you can act like a responsible adult.”

    “You can’t do this!”

    “Watch me.”



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    Tom’s Apartment, Living Room



    “The gun the police found can’t be yours if it’s been in your safe and you haven’t taken it out,” Amy Marriott pointed out as she continued to swirl the remaining ice cubes in her glass anxiously. “I don’t know why you’re worried.”

    “Logically, I know the gun can’t be mine,” Dr. Tom Crawford agreed. “It couldn’t have just walked out of this apartment and into Meg’s garden and no one but me knew I even had a gun.”

    “Tom, why do you have a gun?” She turned and looked at him curiously.

    “Why does anyone have a gun? Protection.” But he wasn’t about to let her know what or whom he felt he needed to be protected from. “But my mind will rest easier knowing that the gun is where it’s supposed to be.”

    As Amy sat on the couch, he hands clinched tightly around her glass, she watched as Tom walked over to a painting on the wall and pulled it back, revealing his secret safe. When he opened the safe, her mouth went dry. She’d give anything for another Scotch right then.

    “My god,” Tom muttered in shock. “It’s… it’s gone. My locked box is gone.”

    “Well, maybe you took it out and then misplaced it somewhere here in the apartment,” she reasoned, rising from the couch to go over to him so that she could inspect the safe herself. “You said you had some personal documents in the box. Maybe you took it out to look at them and then forgot to put it back in the safe.”

    “No, I’d never be so careless with those papers. They’re too important to too many people.” His eyes stayed locked on the inside of the empty safe almost as if he believed that his missing box would magically appear. “And if that box is gone, those papers and my gun are gone, too.”

    “What’s so important about those papers?” she asked, putting her hands on his shoulders, more to keep them from shaking with nervousness than to comfort a worried Tom. “What could be so important that you’d lock them away like that?”

    “Nothing you need to worry about.” He shut the safe door and swallowed hard, his heart beginning to race.

    They stood there in stunned silence for several long, tense moments until Amy “suddenly” realized the time.

    “I… I hate to leave you like this, but I left Eric at soccer practice. He’s… he’s probably at home by now wondering where I am. I should… I should go.”

    “It’s all right, Amy,” Tom nodded. “You need to go take care of your family stuff. I’ll worry about this.”

    She leaned in a kissed him lightly on the cheek and then made a hasty exit. Once in the hallway of Tom’s building with his front door shut tightly behind her, she leaned against it and exhaled slowly, letting out all of the tension that had been building up inside her body ever since Tom had mentioned the locked box.

    Amy took in another deep breath, stepping away from the door, and then began to walk down the hallway towards the elevator. Unfortunately, she was so consumed in her own thoughts, she never noticed the ominous shadow that extended down the hallway behind her nor did she hear the muffled footsteps of someone following her.





    The Sterling Home, Living Room



    “This is all your fault!” Megan spat at Vanessa, fire in her eyes. “You just had to cozy up to Daddy just like you’ve always done since we were kids. You are such a suck up!”

    “I am not!” Vanessa Harper snapped back. “I really meant it when I said I thought it would be better if I moved home. Our family is going through a lot right now. You know that. Our grandmother just died. Someone killed her, Megan. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? I’d think that you’d at least want to be here for Dad.”

    “Our grandmother was a mean old lady that no one liked. She drove Aunt Cal out of town. She had, what, six – seven husbands? They all left her for a reason!”



    “Megan, that is enough!” Betsy Harper grabbed her daughter’s arm tightly. “You know, I thought your father was being a little too hard on you, but you’re behavior has proven that he’s absolutely right.”

    “What is this? Gang up on Megan day?” She spun around on her heel towards her eldest sister Suzanne, narrowing her gaze. “You’re being awfully quiet over there. Enjoying the floor show?”



    “Not particularly,” Suzanne Prentiss smirked, “but it’s had its moments.”



    “Now, I want you to give me the keys, Megan.” Ben held out his hand.

    “What?!”

    “I want the keys to your car. I paid for it.”

    “But you gave it to me for my 21st birthday! It was a gift! It’s mine!”

    “And the title is in my name. Hand them over.”

    Megan felt her jaw clinch as she snatched her pursue off of the side table and fished out her keys before turning them over.

    “And since Vanessa said she’s moving back home, I’m going to sublet that apartment in Manhattan.”

    “Where am I supposed to live?” Megan’s eyes were growing wide with panic. Her entire life was being taken away from her and she didn’t have the slightest idea why.

    “You can live at home with me and your father like Vanessa’s going to do. Your old room is still there just like you left it,” Betsy explained, trying to be the comforting presence in the midst of her daughter’s personal tragedy.

    “You can’t force me to live at home! You can’t trap me here in… in Thornhill!” she spat. “I’m an adult! I can live wherever I want to!”

    “Yes, you can,” Ben agreed. “But I thought you’d appreciate living at home since it’s free. If you want to live somewhere else, that’s perfectly fine as long as you can pay for it.”

    “How am I supposed to do that? You’ve cut off all my money!”

    “Get a job,” he replied flatly. “That’s what most responsible adults do.”

    “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me,” Megan began to pout. “Vanessa, this is all your fault! This is so not fair!” Unable to bear the sight of them any longer, she spun around and stormed out of the house leaving the rest of her family with the full knowledge that having Hurricane Megan permanently in their midst wasn’t exactly going to be a cakewalk for them, either.





    Beaver Ridge Complex, Lobby



    John Prentiss slammed his pencil down on the makeshift desk, leaned back in his chair, and raked his hands through his hair.

    “I can’t understand why none of these numbers are coming out right,” he grumbled, full of frustration. “We’re grossly over budget and the project is only halfway finished. This is not what I came onboard to. What happened?”

    “I’ll tell you what happened,” Alison Marriot sighed in her own frustration. “That witch my grandfather was married to – your wife’s grandmother Meg. That’s what happened. I knew my father should never have gone into a partnership with her on this. I was so happy when he managed to convince her to let him buy her out.”

    “With my help,” he reminded. “If I hadn’t let you talk me into going into business with your father, he’d never have been able to buy out Meg’s part of Beaver Ridge. I don’t even know how he came up with the money to go into business with her to begin with.”

    “We’ve had problems ever since.” She walked over behind him and leaned over his shoulder to get her own look at the problematic books. “I swear she’s behind all of it. She and Paulson were as thick as thieves from way back when she thought she was going to be the next first lady of the state.”

    “This looked like such a sure thing when you first brought the idea of going into business with your father to me. I knew your father could be a little unreliable, but I saw the plans and books with my own eyes! Why did I even let you talk me into this?”

    ‘Maybe you were so easily convinced because you knew you’d have to spend time with me,” Alison proposed, running her index finger lightly down his cheek. “I’ve always had a way of talking you into things, even back in Vegas.”

    “Stop it, Alison.” John swatted her hand away. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with her little games at the moment. She grimaced slightly at the blatant dismissal.

    “Besides, when we met, you were running that casino. You seemed like a logical person to come in on this.”

    “Well, logical isn’t one word I’d use to describe anything to do with this place right now. None of it makes sense.” He rose from his seat and walked around to the front of the desk. “The numbers aren’t adding up. Paulson’s giving us all grief.”

    Alison stood in silence for several long minutes, her eyes locked on John before taking a deep breath. “What happened to us?”

    “What? What do you mean?”

    “I thought we had a good thing going in Vegas. We were so much alike. Then we came back to Rosehill and everything fell apart the moment you met Suzanne.” She sighed wistfully with memories of a time when things seemed nearly perfect for her. “Can’t say I really should’ve been surprised. I’ve seen a lot of relationships fall apart because of some stupid blonde.”

    “Suzanne’s not like that, Alison, and you know it. What we had, it wasn’t real. Not like what I have with Suzanne.” He turned and looked at her. “I know I hurt you. I’m really sorry about that. I never meant to.” His apology was an honest one. He hadn’t meant to hurt Alison when he fell in love with Suzanne.

    “When you met her you had to have her, didn’t you? Didn’t even matter to you that she was already married.”

    “Do we really have to rehash all this? It was a long time ago. I wish we could just move on.”

    “I told you, I have,” Alison reminded. “I’m seeing…” The ringing of her cell phone interrupted her. As she looked at the caller ID, she couldn’t resist the urge to smirk with satisfaction at the timing. “Hi, sweetheart. Yes, it’s so good to hear your voice.” She turned her back to John in a feigned attempt to act modest. “Later? Of course I can. I’ll see you then.”

    As Alison finished her conversation with her new boyfriend, John’s eyes remained locked on her, almost burning a hole through her.



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  12. Matt

    Episode #11

    By Matt,

    Episode #11
    Monday, 5/7/07


    Same Day, Afternoon

    Meg’s House, Living Room



    “Mr. Harper, I have some news,” Lt. Alphonso spoke up. “I believe we’ve found the gun.”

    “W-what?” Ben Harper quickly rose from his seat and went to the lieutenant. “Where? How?”

    “That’s not important right now, Mr. Harper. This is still on ongoing investigation.” He pulled out a plastic baggie that contained the gun in question and preceded to hand it to Officer Granger, but not so swift as to prevent nearly everyone in the room from seeing the bag’s contents. “Make sure the lab gets that as soon as possible.”

    “Yes, sir,” Officer Granger replied, taking the plastic bag into his hands.

    Across the room, Tom Crawford’s eyes grew wide with nervous anxiety. He’d only gotten the briefest of looks at the gun in the plastic baggie the Lieutenant had held on the other side of the room, but it looked very familiar…





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    Meg’s House, Foyer



    “Do you have any idea whose gun that is?” Ben asked the lieutenant. “Any idea at all who’d want my mother dead?”

    “We’re still investigating, Mr. Harper,” Lt. Alphonso replied as he headed for the door. “I promise that I’ll keep you informed of anything new that we learn, but I’m sure we won’t know anything until that gun has gone through the lab. After that, maybe I’ll have more to tell you.”

    As the door closed behind the lieutenant, Ben spun around, running his hands through his hair. Today – hell, the last couple of weeks – have all been too much for any of them do deal with. How much more would they have to go through?



    “Ben, I’m sorry,” Tom said as he came up to him, his eyes not looking at Ben, however, but past him at the front door where Lt. Alphonso had just exited. “I… I really had no idea about the endowment.

    “It’s okay. I over reacted.” Ben wasn’t fully paying attention to Tom, anyway. He had far too many things running through his head at the moment.

    “And I’m sorry that I have to take off so quickly,” Tom made the prerequisite glance to his watch, “but I’ve got a lot of things at the hospital I left hanging to come here.”

    “That’s fine, Tom.” Ben waved him away. He was really one of the last things on Ben’s mind at the moment. “I’m sure we’ll meet later with Mr. Powell to go over the terms and administration of the endowment.”

    As Tom made a hasty exit, Cal Latimer came into the foyer to speak with her brother.



    “Ben, did the lieutenant tell you anything about the gun? Does he have an idea who might possibly have killed our mother?”

    “No,” Ben sighed. “All he’ll say is that it’s an ongoing investigation and the he’s not at liberty to discuss all the details. That and they really won’t know anything until the gun is back from the lab. He did promise to keep us informed, though.”

    “That’s good,” Cal sighed in relief before turning to head back into the living room.

    “Cal, wait.” He reached out and grabbed her arm. “I… I just wanted to apologize to you for how I sounded in there. I came off like a jerk.”

    “No more than usual,” she responded dryly. “Look, like I said, if it means that much to you, you can have the house. I don’t care. As you so eloquently put it, Rosehill hasn’t been my home in a very long time. My home is in Quebec with Rick and the kids.”

    “She wanted you to have the house. I know it sounded like she was trying to control your life again, even after all these years, but I’d like to think it was her way of trying to reach out to you – to make some sort of amends – after all this time.” Ben walked over to the grand staircase and ran his hands along the banister. “Did you know how much she loved this house? Bruce and Aunt Van had moved back into their old house when he retired. After grandma died, it went to Meg because she knew how much she loved it. It only seems fitting that this house now gets handed down to her daughter.”

    “Oh, Ben, I don’t know…”

    “Yes, our mother made mistakes – a lot of them – but we’ve all made mistakes, Cal. I know that when I was young, I made a whole lot of them. You made your fair share, too. Can’t you finally let go of the past and forgive her? She’s gone, now. What harm can forgiving her really do?”

    Cal stood in silence as she considered what he’d said. He’d made many valid points, but had too much happened and had too much time passed to really let it all go? Her head was spinning with all of those questions.

    “I look at the girls and see what kind of a blessing they are,” he continued. “Even Megan. Betsy and I went through so much trouble to have the twins. I know we spoiled them, but it was hard not to. Vanessa seems to have taken it all in stride. I don’t think she ever takes anything for granted, but Megan, however… She’s so much like I was at that age and it’s starting to worry me.”

    “What do you mean?”

    “She has no sense of money. I swear she can run through it like it was water. And she has absolutely no sense of responsibility. For some reason, she seems to think that the world owes her something – that she deserves whatever she wants whenever she wants just because that’s the way its supposed to be. I just don’t know what to do with her.” He paused and let out a heavy sigh. “Why can’t see be more like Vanessa?”

    “She’s still young, Ben. There’s still plenty of time for her to grow up.”

    “Well, I need to get back in there and see if I can calm the masses.” He turned and walked towards the living room. “You coming?”

    “I’ll be along in a minute,” Cal muttered as she stood in the center of the foyer, attempting to drink it all in. Her mother had left her the house. Now what in the world was Cal going to do with it?





    Rita’s Diner



    “I just can’t believe my mother freaked like that,” Joy Donovan said before taking a sip of her coffee. “How the hell would she even know about Rosehill?”

    “I have no idea,” Chaz Aleata shrugged. “Maybe if you asked her about it, you’d find out.”

    “Easy for you to say. Talking to my mother isn’t the simplest thing in the world. We don’t exactly have what you’d call a cozy relationship.” She paused to take a bite of apple pie. “I don’t think she really relates that well to other women – even her own daughter.”

    “I can understand. My father and I don’t exactly see eye to eye on a lot of things, either.”

    “Maybe it’s just the nature of parents and children. Maybe we’re not supposed to get along.” She put her elbow on the table, leaned forward, and propped her chin in her hand. “But she gets along really well with my brothers, though – even my snot of a step-brother.”

    “Has your mother ever mentioned Rosehill to you before?” Chaz asked, trying to steer the conversation back on topic. Joy’s mother’s reaction had peaked his curiosity, as well. “Maybe in passing?”

    “Not that I can remember,” she sighed. “Hell, I hadn’t even heard of Rosehill until my editor brought it up because of the Meg Marriott murder and I make several trips to New York a year. This place just seems so removed from everything else. It’s like a little Peyton Place town.”

    Suddenly, a familiar sound drew Joy’s attention to the television that sat on a shelf up in the corner of the diner. “Shhh… It’s ‘Light of Love’! I haven’t seen it in weeks. I really need to get caught up. Natalie’s been in a coma. I read online that she’s supposed to be coming out of it next week.”

    “You watch soap operas?” Chaz eyed her with a sense of both shock and amusement.

    “Not really – just this one. I got hooked on it when I was in boarding school in Switzerland. One of the girls was from Chicago and her mother would mail her video tapes every week and we’d sit around and watch it.” Enrapt by the goings-on on-screen, Joy shoved another piece of pie into her mouth. “Natalie’s been in a coma because the actress who plays her has been off somewhere filming a movie. I just adore Galen Sterling. I think she’s going to be a big movie star.”

    “Sterling?” Chaz covered his mouth in surprise and anxiousness. He had a sudden feeling that Joy was going to become much more interested in the residents of Rosehill than she ever thought she’d be.





    Meg’s House, Foyer



    “John, where are you going?” Suzanne Prentiss asked as she followed her husband out of the living room and into the foyer.

    “I was just going to go outside and make a phone call.” John Prentiss pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and held it up to his ear. “I want to check in with Andy and see how things are going.”

    “Can’t you forget about Beaver Ridge for one day?” Despite her best efforts, she knew the irritation in her voice was evident. “We just read my grandmother’s will. Her memorial service was only a few days ago.”

    “Honey, I know and I’m sorry, but this is business. I thought you understood why I’m putting so much energy into this. It’s for us and our future.” John opened the front door and stepped outside, Suzanne quickly behind him. “Damn. No answer.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Maybe I should drive out there and see how things are going.”

    “John, everyone’s getting together at Aunt Van’s. I thought we’d go and be with the rest of the family.” She grabbed his arm, almost pleadingly. “I haven’t had much of a chance to catch up with Rick and Cal since the funeral – I have no idea how long they’ll be in town – and I want to spend time with my sisters. I hardly ever get to see Vanessa or Megan since they moved to New York.”

    “Well, you go right ahead, honey.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek, oblivious to exactly what she was saying. “I know your family is important to you. I’ll stop by as soon as I get back, if it’s not too late.”

    “Too late? How much time are you planning on spending there today, anyway? Don’t you spend enough time at Beaver Ridge as it is? You’re up at the crack of dawn every day and you don’t come home until it’s dark outside. I never see you. I’m not even sure Tess knows you’re her father!”

    “Suzanne, that’s not fair and you know it!” Why couldn’t she understand? “You know Beaver Ridge is a huge project and there’s a lot involved with it. I explained that to you when I signed on. It’s a lot of work, I admit, but the payoff in the end is going to be huge for us.” He took her lovingly into his arms and kissed her tenderly. “I promise. I won’t be out there long. I just want to see how things are going. I’ll see you at Van’s.”

    As John quickly walked down the drive towards his car, Suzanne folded her arms across her chest and fought back the tears that had started to well up in here eyes. What if by the time Beaver Ridge is up and running there isn’t an “us” left?



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  13. Matt

    Episode #10

    By Matt,

    Episode #10
    Friday, 5/4/07


    Same Day, Afternoon

    Meg’s House, living room



    “Let’s just get this over with,” Ben Harper muttered, running his hands through his hair. “I’m a little uneasy about diving up Maggie’s personal effects like she never existed.”

    “Dad, that’s not what they’re doing,” Vanessa Harper said softly, putting her hand on her father’s shoulder. “Maggie’s gone, now. I know it’s devastating, but this is what she wanted done with her possessions. No one’s here to be a vulture. We’re just following her wishes.”



    “She’s right, honey,” Betsy Harper said as she walked into the room with her husband’s aunt Vanessa Sterling, carrying a large tray with coffee and cups. “We have to do this.”



    “I just hope she remembered me in her will,” Megan Harper spoke up, much to the displeasure of the rest of her family, before taking a bite out of a cookie. Realizing that all eyes were on her – and not in a good way – she slumped back into her seat on the sofa. “What? I’m just saying what everyone else here is thinking. It’s not like anyone liked her, anyway.”

    “Megan!” Van chastised angrily and then shook her head in disappointment. It was definitely going to be a rather long and trying afternoon.



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    Meg’s House, living room



    “Cal, did you and Rick have a nice trip up to Beaver Ridge?” Van asked as she hugged her niece. “I hear that John and Andy have done a lot of work trying to bring that old place back.”

    “It looks wonderful,” an impressed Cal Latimer replied.

    “I’m simply amazed,” her husband Rick spoke up. “From everything I heard about that fire years ago, I never thought anyone would be able to restore Beaver Ridge, but they’re doing it. It’s going to be a beautiful place.”



    “It better be, as much time as he spends there,” Suzanne Prentiss grumbled, half to herself, as she stood behind her aunt and uncle, Cal and Rick. She glanced across the room towards her husband John Prentiss who was involved in conversation with her father Ben Harper. She knew she shouldn’t be resentful of his involvement in Beaver Ridge, but…

    “Honey, this is important to him,” Van said softly, putting her arm around Suzanne and giving her a reassuring hug. “As soon as everything is completed and Beaver Ridge is up and running, things will get back to normal. You’ll see.”

    “When are we gonna get this show on the road?” Megan Harper asked, obviously annoyed, as she walked into the room and plopped herself down in a chair. “All of this waiting is getting to be a drag.”

    “Megan!” Betsy Harper chastised sternly. “Sometimes I can’t believe some of the things that come out of your mouth.”

    “I can.” Suzanne shot her little sister a icy glare.

    “As soon as Mr. Powell gets here, we can get started.” Ben propped himself on the back of Megan’s chair and put his hand on her shoulder, more of a cautionary action than a comforting one. “To be honest, I’m not too keen on this waiting, either. And all of those cops roaming around outside isn’t doing my stomach any good, either.”

    “Ben, what are they doing out there?” Betsy walked over to the window and looked out at two officers off in the distance by the small pond Meg had put in just the summer before.

    “I don’t know,” he muttered, “but I suspect it’s because they’ve found a lead. I just wish I knew what it was.”

    “I made more coffee,” Vanessa Harper announced, relieving the sudden burst of tension by breezing into the room with a tray. “I had a feeling we could all use some.” She turned to her brother-in-law John and offered him a cup. “Remind me – cream, no sugar?”

    “Ah, very good.” John took the cup of coffee from her and took a long sip. “I can’t believe you remembered how I like it.”



    “Folks, I’m sorry I’m late. I hope you haven’t been kept waiting because of me.” Tom Crawford hurried in the front door, through the foyer, and into the room, oblivious to the many stunned and bewildered eyes on him. “I got tied up at the hospital and thought I’d never get away.”

    “Tom, what are you doing here?” Ben asked, rising to meet him. “We’re reading Maggie’s will today.”

    “Yes, I know. I’m supposed to be here.” After several long moments, Tom realized that what he’d said hadn’t fully registered with Ben, so he reached into his briefcase and handed him the envelope he’d received earlier. “It’s all in there, Ben. I was just as surprised as you are. Apparently, your mother has included me in her will.”

    Carefully reading over the papers, Ben wasn’t exactly sure how to react.





    Meg’s House, outside



    “Thank god for chatty secretaries,” Joy Donovan thought to herself as she carefully attempted to step through the rose bushes outside of the living room window. She couldn’t have believed her luck that she’d managed to overhear a couple of woman from Lester Powell’s office in the diner discussing Meg’s estate – and the reading of her will.

    As she leaned in closer, hoping to get a good look inside while also avoiding the bushes, she felt a string of thorns graze her leg.

    “Ouch!” she cried out before catching herself. Oh, the things she went through for her job. Maybe life on the European party circuit wasn’t so bad, after all.

    Just then, she felt an unfamiliar hand on her shoulder. Before she could cry out again in a mixture of shock and fear, a man’s hand covered her mouth. Petrified that she’d been caught, she spun around to face her “attacker.”

    “You!” she exclaimed in a shocked whisper.



    “I had a feeling I’d find you here,” Chaz Aleata said as he helped her out of the roses, leading her away from the house. “I knew something was up when I saw you rushing out of that diner, so I followed you.”

    “You scared the crap out of me!” She gave him a solid slug on the arm. “Where the hell have you been, anyway? You ditched me at the church like your butt was on fire and I haven’t heard from you since!”

    “I’m sorry I did that, but I saw someone I knew that I really didn’t want to talk to.” He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and leaned back against a tree. “Unfortunately, I ended up having to talk to him anyway.”

    “You know these people?” Joy’s eyes grew wide with both shock and professional curiosity.

    Chaz let out a heavy sigh, not sure exactly where to begin. “You remember I told you I’ve got an older sister in Canada that my father adopted when he was married to her mother?”

    “Yeah.”

    “Her mother was Meg Marriott.”

    “The prodigal daughter?” Joy’s mouth hung open as her brain began to work a mile a minute – a source! She had an inside source!

    “You’ve been doing your research, huh?” He let out a laugh.

    “Well, I don’t exactly get paid to sit around on my butt all day.”

    The shrill ringing of Joy’s cell phone – interestingly enough playing the theme to “Light of Love”, her favorite soap – interrupted the conversation. She pulled it out of her purse and scrunched up her nose in annoyance when she immediately recognized the number on the ID.

    “What, Mother?” she asked, throwing up her hand to Chaz to signify that she’d need a moment. “I’m working on a story of the World Star.” A pause. “Oh, some dinky little town in the States – Rosehill.” A long pause. “Mom, what’s wrong? It’s not that big of a deal.” Another long pause. “Mom?”

    With a look of utter shock and confusion, Joy closed the case of her phone and put it back in her purse.

    “What’s wrong?” Chaz had no trouble seeing that her phone call hadn’t been a pleasant one.

    “I-I don’t know.” Joy shook her head, still in shock. “As soon as my mother heard the word ‘Rosehill’, she absolutely freaked.”





    Meg’s House, Living Room



    “Let’s see, where were we?” Lester Powell muttered as he flipped to the next page in Meg Marriott’s will. He looked up, briefly, to see Meg’s family sitting in anxious anticipation. “Oh, yes. Here we are… ‘To my daughter Caroline Aleata Latimer and her husband Frederick Latimer…’”



    “Oh, god,” Cal muttered with a sense of foreboding as she clutched Rick’s hand tightly.

    “’I bequeath my house, grounds, and the entire contents thereof.’” Mr. Powell looked up from the will, curious as to what reactions he might see, before continuing. “There’s a personal message -- ‘I hope that now my daughter will finally see fit to come home.’”

    “Leave it to my mother to try to control my life even from the grave.” Cal shook her head in disbelief and exasperation.

    “She left you the house?” Ben was absolutely stunned. “You take off over 30 years ago and proceed to have absolutely nothing to do with her – and she even tried to reconcile with you plenty of times over the years – and she left you the house.”

    “Ben, it’s all right.” Betsy gently placed her hand on his arm and whispered in his ear. “It’s just a house.” She quickly looked up and at Van, seemingly pleading with her eyes. See! This is all just too much for him to deal with! See why I’m worried?

    “I don’t want the house, Ben!” Cal snapped back. “Rick and I already have a house – a home – in Quebec. You can have the house. I don’t want anything from that woman!”

    “Ben, Cal, there’s plenty of time to work out the details,” Van spoke up in an attempt to put some wise perspective on the situation. “Mr. Powell, this is a difficult day for all of us. Is there anyway to move this along a little bit? Maybe that would make it easier for everyone.”

    “Perhaps,” he replied. He flipped through several pages of the will, deciding what was absolutely necessary to go over and what could wait until a later time. “Well, other than a donation to the hospital, there is one last bequeath she’s made – to Dr. Crawford.”



    “Me?” Tom furrowed his brow. He definitely wasn’t expecting to receive anything from Meg’s estate. “I… I don’t understand.”

    “Dr. Crawford, to make this as brief and succinct as possible, Mrs. Marriott has left you with an endowment which will continue to fund a research grant for your work at the hospital.”

    “But that doesn’t make any sense!” The contents of his mother’s will continued to be more confusing for Ben than he’d expected. “She pulled the funding for your research grant! Why would she do that if she was just going to give it back?”

    “I gave up trying to figure out why our mother did half the things she did a long time ago, Ben,” Cal sighed.

    “I don’t know, Ben. Meg wasn’t exactly planning on dying, I’m sure.” Of course, Tom was as shocked by the contents of Meg’s will as everyone else, but he didn’t care for his tone or subtly veiled insinuations he was seemingly making.

    Meanwhile, in the foyer, Lt. Alphonso of the Rosehill Police Department stood alongside Officer Granger, silently observing the scene inside.



    “Do you think this is a good idea, Lieutenant?” Officer Granger asked. “Do you really want to let them know what you’ve found?”

    “I’ve got a feeling that whoever killed Mrs. Marriott knew her and knew her well,” Lt. Alphonso explained. “And who else would have something to gain by her death than someone included in her will. This is a calculated move.”

    Without saying another word, he motioned for the officer to follow him into the room.

    “Mr. Harper, I have some news,” Lt. Alphonso spoke up. “I believe we’ve found the gun.”

    “W-what?” Ben quickly rose from his seat and went to the lieutenant. “Where? How?”

    “That’s not important right now, Mr. Harper. This is still on ongoing investigation.” He pulled out a plastic baggie that contained the gun in question and proceeded to hand it to Officer Granger, but not so swiftly as to prevent nearly everyone in the room from seeing the bag’s contents. “Make sure the lab gets that as soon as possible.”

    “Yes, sir,” Officer Granger replied, taking the plastic bag into his hands.

    Across the room, Tom’s eyes grew wide with nervous anxiety. He’d only gotten the briefest of looks at the gun in the plastic baggie the Lieutenant had held on the other side of the room, but it looked very familiar…



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  14. Matt

    Episode #9

    By Matt,

    Episode #9
    Thursday, 5/3/07


    A Few Days Later, Morning

    Beaver Ridge Complex, lobby



    “More problems with Paulson!” Alison Marriott said to her father Andy Marriott and John Prentiss as she stormed into the lobby waving a stack of faxes. “I swear, this entire project is going down the tubes. If one more thing goes wrong, we can kiss this entire place good-bye.”

    “Let me see those.” Andy walked over to her and took the faxes out of her hands. “Damn, what crap is he trying to pull?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, hurriedly dialed Paulson’s number, and then walked out of the room as he began a counter tirade.

    “While he’s doing that, I’ve got to go see how the contractors are doing in the club.” John quickly rose from his seat and prepared to leave the room.

    “What’s wrong, John?” Alison asked as she quickly rushed between him and the door, blocking his exit. “Scared to be alone in the same room with me?” She fluttered her eyelashes teasingly. He could only stand there and take a deep breath as he fumbled for how to answer.



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    The Sterling Home, kitchen



    “Morning, Gram,” A.J. Sterling said as he breezed into the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee. “Don’t bother with breakfast for me. I’ve got to get to the office. I’ve got a conference call with that new author and then I’ve got a meeting with the head of the paper division to discuss profits.”

    “Now, don’t tell me that you don’t have time for at least a bite of breakfast.” Vanessa Sterling eyes registered with disappointment. “First Rick and Cal are up at the break of dawn and out of the house and now you?”

    “Gram, you know that with Barbara in the hospital and with Hank…” His voice trailed off as he reconsidered bringing up troubling family events. “You know that a lot of the responsibilities at Carlson have fallen in my lap lately. Hank was never really a part of the company and I’ve had to take over all of Barbara’s responsibilities.”

    “I know,” she sighed. “But I was just starting to get used to having everyone around again. Lynn and Stacy left after the funeral and I’m sure Rick and Cal will be heading home soon. Everyone’s got their own lives to live.”

    “I guess it’ll just be me and you then,” A.J. smiled. “Oh! I did get a call from Galen this morning.”

    “You did?”

    “Yep. She finally got back in cell range. I told her about everything that’s been going on – about Meg. She’s really worried about you and sends her love, but she was getting ready to get on a plane to head back to L.A. She’s due back on the set of her soap in the morning.” He reached over and grabbed a donut off a plate on the counter. “Hmm… Maybe just a bite before work.”

    “That sister of yours needs to take a vacation. She’s working herself to death.”

    “Well, you know how she is.” He shoved another bite of donut into his mouth. “Where were Rick and Cal off to so early?”

    “They said something about heading up to Beaver Ridge to check things out and see how John’s doing and then stopping by to see Suzanne and the baby before the will reading.” Van walked over to the counter and poured herself another cup of coffee.

    “Oh, I forgot that was today. Gosh, so much stuff going on.” He ran his hands through his hair and then looked at his watch again. “Crap. I’m late.” He shoved the last bite of donut into his mouth, washing it down with the last bit of coffee. “I gotta go.” He rushed over and kissed her on the cheek before hurrying out the back door, leaving Van all alone in the kitchen to start what she was certain would be a very long day.





    Beaver Ridge Complex, lobby



    “What are you doing, Alison?” John asked full of annoyance. “What are you trying to prove?”

    “Prove?” A slight smirk crossed her lips. “What makes you think I’m trying to prove anything?” She paused for a moment and then ran her fingers lightly along his shoulder. “We had something very powerful once, John. Something that intense doesn’t simply disappear overnight.”

    He reached up and pushed her hand away. “It wasn’t just overnight, Alison. Whatever we had was over a long time ago. I’m married to Suzanne, now! Can’t you understand that?”

    “Trust me. I’ll never understand what you see in that blonde twit.” She shook her head, unable to fathom the attraction. “Is it because you got her knocked up with your kid?”

    “I love Suzanne. I’ve told you that time and time again!” John grabbed Alison by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “The only thing that’s between the two of us now is business – Beaver Ridge. Nothing else.”

    “Is that what you told Suzanne?” she smirked. “I’m sure she wouldn’t believe that if she knew where you really were when she was giving birth to your precious little child.”

    “That was a mistake, Alison. I thought we agreed on that. It was a onetime thing and I thought we were never going to talk about it again.”

    “Well, I thought we had a really good thing going on between us.” She looked away from him, refusing to let him see the honest pain that was in her eyes. “At least as long as we were still in Las Vegas. But, noooo, as soon as we came back to Rosehill and you laid eyes on her…” Her voice trailed off as she walked around behind John, her back to him. “You know, you’re right. It is over. In fact…” A pause. “I thought you should know that I’ve been seeing someone.”

    “You have?” John’s eyes were filled with curiosity as he moved closer to her.

    “Yes. He’s much older. Brilliant. Sexy.” She spun around to look at him with feigned modesty. “And he’s a far better lover than you ever were.”

    John’s eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened. “I’m done talking about this with you, Alison. Business. That’s all the two of us are going to discuss from now on. Not a single word about anything else.” He quickly turned on his heel and stormed towards the front doors of the lobby.

    “Jealous much?” Alison muttered to herself with a smile.

    As John burst through the lobby doors and outside, he ran right into Rick and Cal Latimer, his wife’s aunt and uncle.



    “John! You’re exactly who we’re looking for!” Cal exclaimed with a smile.

    “W-what are you two doing here?” John stammered, his eyes darting from one of them to the other.

    “We went over and saw Suzanne and the baby,” Rick explained. “And we wanted to take a drive up here to see how the place is coming along.” Rick stood in front of the complex and eyed it up and down, in awe of a place that once occupied a great deal of his life. “You’ve brought this place a long way, John. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see Beaver Ridge up and running again after I heard about that fire.”

    “It’s coming along pretty well,” John half-lied. “There’s still a lot of work left to do, though. It seems like the more that we get done, the more there seems to do.”

    “Well, if you need any help with the place, just let me know,” Rick said. “I know this place inside and out like the back of my hand.”

    “And I just want to tell you that little Tess is absolutely adorable.” Cal wasn’t all that enthused with talking about business on a family trip. “I’m sure you and Suzanne are very proud.”

    “Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it,” John beamed.

    “Do you mind if Cal and I take a look around?” Rick walked over to the front of the building, examining the new hardware and fixtures. “I’d love to see everything you’ve done to the old place.” He turned to his wife. “I think we have time before the will reading, Cal.”

    “Oh, the will,” John sighed. “I’d almost forgotten. That’s today, isn’t it?”

    “Yes, in a couple of hours,” Cal nodded. “Suzanne said she was getting Mrs. Deane to watch the baby and she’d meet us at Mom’s.”

    “Then I guess we better get moving if you want the full tour.” John opened the doors to the lobby and escorted Rick and Cal in, silently hoping that Alison would be nowhere to be seen.





    Rosehill Hospital, research lab



    “Sorry I’m late,” Dr. Tom Crawford said as he rushed into the lab. “I had… some personal business to take care of.”

    “It’s okay,” Dr. Alex Marriott replied barely bothering to look up from his microscope. “I think I’ve made some progress with that anomaly we found the other day.” He motioned Tom over to the table. “Here. Take a look. I think this could be the strain that’s been causing us problems.”

    Tom leaned down and peered through the lens of the microscope, carefully examining the sample. He stood back up, turned to Alex, and with a satisfied nod, “I think you could be right. This could really be the break we’ve needed. Just a little more testing and we’ll really have something to show those pharmaceutical guys.”



    “Well, you better hope you can get everything done in the next couple of weeks,” Dr. Andrew Marriott spoke up as he stood in the doorway. “I just got the orders to shut down the project effective next month.”

    “Next month?” Tom’s eyes grew wide with worry and concern. “But, Andrew, there’s no way we can have all of this research completed, documented, and ready to submit that fast. We’ve got to have more time.”

    “I understand that. Honestly, I do.” Andrew sighed wearily. He knew how much this project meant to both Tom and his grandson Alex. “But without Meg’s endowment, there isn’t enough funds to continue the project by then and the hospital’s board of directors simply can’t shell out those funds from the regular budget. There isn’t enough money. Especially since we’re gearing up to build that new wing.”

    “But, granddad, we’ve got to have more time,” Alex spoke up with just as much concern as Tom.

    “I’m sorry, guys, but that’s how it’s been put down to me.” Andrew glanced down at his watch. “Look, I’ve got a meeting in about fifteen minutes with some of the administrators. Maybe I can convince a few of them to redistribute some of the funds, but if I were you, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”

    As Andrew left the lab, both Tom and Alex slumped back against the table, their once joyous wind quickly removed from their sails.

    “I guess we better get to work if we have any hopes of getting everything done before they shut us down,” Tom finally spoke after a long silence. “I never would’ve dreamed that Meg would’ve pulled something like this. I’m convinced she would’ve changed her mind about the endowment eventually if only… if only she hadn’t died first.”

    “Meg’s death has been hard on everyone, Tom,” Alex nodded and then took a long moment of hesitation before broaching a subject that had been on his mind for the past few days. “I saw Vanessa over at Van’s after the memorial service. I can’t believe how much she’s changed since she and Megan went to New York.”

    “That niece of mine is quite a young woman,” Tom agreed, returning to the microscope and his notes. “Betsy and Ben are very proud of her.”

    “Do you… know if she’s been seeing anyone in New York?”

    Tom looked up from the microscope and smiled. “Ah. You’ve taken a liking to little Vanessa?”

    “You could say that, I guess. I was just curious.”

    “As far as I know, Vanessa hasn’t been seeing anyone.” He leaned back against the table. “So, I’d venture to say that you have a clear field, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

    “Dr. Crawford? Dr. Tom Crawford?” an unfamiliar man in a business suit asked as he rapped lightly on the door of the lab.

    “Yes, I’m Dr. Crawford.” He walked over to him.

    “I’m here on behalf of Lester Powell.”

    “Meg’s attorney?” A look of confusion covered Tom’s face. “What can I do for you?”

    “Mr. Powell is in charge of Mrs. Marriott’s estate.” The man handed Tom a large manila envelope. “You attendance is required at the reading of Mrs. Marriott’s will this afternoon.”

    “Her will?” Tom opened the envelope and pulled out several sheets of legal documents describing the time and location of the reading of Meg’s will.

    “Yes, sir. All the information is in that envelope.” The man turned and headed for the door. “Good day, sir.”



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  15. Matt

    Episode #8

    By Matt,

    Episode #8
    Wednesday, 5/2/07


    Same Day, Late Afternoon

    Whispering Springs Sanitarium, Barbara Marriott’s room



    Barbara Marriott stared for a few minutes out the window, taking into the beauty of the lush flower gardens outside. However, it wasn’t long before a cloud seemed to cover her face and she reached down under the cushion of the armchair and pulled out a newspaper. The headline? “Rosehill Socialite Murdered”…



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    The Sterling Home, living room



    “Eddie, I was worried. I didn’t know what happened to you when you disappeared from the memorial service,” Vanessa Sterling said as she pulled her former brother-in-law off to the side. “Especially when Rick and Cal came.”

    “I saw Charles,” Edouard Aleata explained. “In the back of the church. I wasn’t sure it was him, at first, but I had to go look for him.”

    “Charles? Oh, dear. Was it him?” She put her hand on his arm in concern. Van was fully aware of the troubles that had existed between father and son for some time.

    “It was Charles – or rather Chaz as he seems to like to be called. Honestly, Van, I just don’t know what to do with him. He’s managed to convince himself that he’s trouble for anyone who loves him and that he’s always been an outsider in his own family.” Eddie threw up his hands, both confused and frustrated by the entire situation.

    “Did he tell you where he’s been all this time? Did he explain why he hasn’t even been in contact with anyone?”

    “No. Getting him to open up is like talking to a brick wall.” Eddie slowly began to pace around the room. “I’ve done everything I can to show him how much we all love him – Dory and I, Kevin, Kirsten… He just doesn’t seem to want anything to do with any of us.”

    Van shook her head, as bewildered by it all as Eddie was. “Did he tell you why he’s here in Rosehill?”

    “He wants to find out about Felicia – his real mother. I’ve told him everything there is to know about her – how wonderful and loving she was. How talented and smart she was. How much she loved him and how much I fought for him after she died… But he seems to want to find out everything on his own.”

    “I think that’s understandable. Sometimes a person has to find out the answers to questions all on their own.”

    “He said that he’s going to stay in Rosehill for a while.” And then a thought struck Eddie. “Van, if you happen to see him, could you look out for him for me? I’ve got to go back to Boston and I’d feel a lot better if I knew that there was someone here to keep an eye on him.”

    “Oh, Eddie, Charles is a grown man. He doesn’t need anyone hovering over him.”

    “I know, but…” His eyes seemed to plead with Van.

    “All right,” she finally nodded. “You know Bruce and I always thought of you as family and I know that Cal would love to see him while she and Rick are in town.”

    “Thank you, Vanessa.” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”





    Whispering Springs Sanitarium, Barbara Marriott’s room



    “Andrew was right,” Barbara thought to herself as her eyes focused on the newspaper headline. “You won’t be a problem for us anymore. After every horrible thing that you did, you won’t be able to come between us ever again. I’m going to get better and I’m going to get out of this hospital and Andrew and I are finally going to be together like we always wanted.”


    “Barbara, she’s fighting the divorce,” Andrew explained as he held her in his arms. “She said that she refuses to give me up after she fought so hard to get me to marry her.”


    “But you don’t love her!” she cried. “She knows that! She’s always known that! She forced you into marrying her because of Andy. You’ve more than lived up to your end of the bargain. Why can’t she finally call your debt paid in full?”

    “I don’t know, Barbara. I don’t know.”

    As Barbara tightly folded up the newspaper and tucked it back under the seat cushion, the memories again came to her…


    “Oh, my god, Barbara, she did it!” Andrew called out as he burst into the room. “She signed the divorce papers. She finally signed the divorce papers!”


    “W-what?! She did!” She ran into his arms, unable to believe the joyous news. “But… how? Why? She said she’d never give you the divorce.”

    “I don’t know. I don’t understand it, either, but she met me in Amy’s office today and signed the papers. She didn’t look the least bit happy about it, but she signed them!”

    “Oh, Andrew!” She held onto him tightly, not wanting to let him go. “Now we can finally get married!”

    “As soon as possible,” he spoke up firmly. “We’ve waited too long because of Meg as it is. I don’t want to wait any longer than we have to to finally get married.”

    So much happiness. So much relief. And then it all started to fall apart.


    “Bernice, did you hear that?” Barbara’s head spun around when she heard the familiar voice seemingly coming out of the walls. “That voice!”




    “A voice, Mrs. Marriott?” Bernice Crowley, the Marriott maid, asked in confusion. “I-I’m afraid I didn’t hear any voice.”

    “But you had to have heard it, Bernice! It was as clear as day!” Barbara frantically raced around the room, looking all over for the source of the voice.

    “Do you… know whose voice it was?” Bernice watched her employer’s behavior with much concern. Yes, she’d seen a few odd spells, but never anything quite this extreme.

    “Yes! It’s my mother’s voice! She’s calling to me! She’s trying to talk to me!”

    “But… Mrs. Marriott, hasn’t your mother been dead for over 40 years?”

    Barbara shook her head in an attempt to clear the fog that had begun to cloud her mind. The medication was starting to take effect. She inhaled deeply and leaned back into her chair. She had to get better. She simply had to.





    Sterling & Marriott; Amy’s office



    “He’s missed how many times?” Amy Marriott said into the phone as she leaned back into her chair behind her desk. As Dr. Tom Crawford stepped into her office, she silently waved him into the room before continuing her conversation. “No, I don’t know why Eric would’ve missed school. Yes, I understand that attendance is important.” She felt her jaw tighten. “Yes, you can believe I’ll have a little chat with him. A meeting?” A long pause. “Yes, my husband and I will be there. Thank you, again, for letting me know what Eric’s been up to.”

    “Problems with Eric’s school?” Tom sat down in the chair in from of the desk.

    “Apparently so,” she sighed. “That was Winfield’s head master. It seems my darling baby boy hasn’t been so keen on showing up for class. Andy and I are supposed to have a meeting with him about his lack of attendance and the possibility of Eric having to go to summer school.”

    “Eric’s not going to like that.”

    “Well, what Eric does and doesn’t like isn’t high on my list of priorities at the moment.”

    “I’m surprised I didn’t see you at the memorial service,” Tom shifted the conversation in a different direction.

    “I don’t know why. You know I couldn’t stand Meg Marriott.” Amy rose from her seat and walked around to the front of her desk. “She made Andrew miserable – everyone knows that. And now he’s saddled with Barbara? Honestly, I don’t know what Andrew could’ve done to deserve that nutso half-sister of mine.”

    “Well, I thought you might’ve gone to the service for Van’s sake, if nothing else.”

    “Ah, yes, St. Vanessa.” She rolled her eyes sarcastically. “You mean step-mommie dearest who did everything she could to keep me away from my father. Thanks, but no thanks. The less I have to do with that old woman the better. Now that my father is gone, I don’t even have to put up with her, which is just the way I like it.”

    “If I remember correctly, when Bruce first found out you were his daughter, you did everything you could to make their lives miserable.” Tom leaned forward in his seat, knowing full well that he was speaking the truth.

    “I made mistakes, Tom, I admit that,” she sighed. “But I didn’t know the truth. I didn’t know that he didn’t really abandon me and my mother. He didn’t even know he had another daughter. Then when I tried to have a relationship with him, St. Van did everything she could to keep me from him. That woman watch me like a hawk, just waiting for me to screw up so she could run to him with it.”

    “That’s not exactly how I remember it, Amy.”

    “Look, do we really have to rehash all of this. It was a long time ago. Besides, I have some free time this afternoon. I’ve cancelled all of my appointments for this afternoon and…” She walked towards him slowly, undoing the top button of her blouse. “I thought we could have a little alone time.”

    “Here? In your office?” He was shocked by her brazenness, but both enticed and intrigued at the same time. “Don’t you think your secretary might come in? I bet she’d love to run to Andy with that bit of information.”

    “That loser of a husband of mine can take a flying leap,” she laughed, “and I gave my secretary the afternoon off.”

    “Well, then,” Tom smiled, drawing closer to her and taking her into his arms, “I guess the afternoon is all ours.”



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  16. Matt

    Episode #7

    By Matt,

    Episode #7
    Tuesday, 5/1/07


    Same Day, Late Afternoon

    Whispering Springs Sanitarium, Dr. Kinmont’s office



    “Dr. Kinmont, how is she today?” Dr. Andrew Marriott asked as he stood in the doctor’s office. “It seems like she’s been doing better the past few weeks.”

    “I think she’s starting to show some real progress.” Dr. Kinmot flipped open his chart and carefully examined it. “Yes, she still has her moments, but those episodes are becoming further and further apart.”

    “Is she well enough for me to see her today?”

    “Dr. Marriott, I think a visit from you today would be just what the doctor ordered,” Dr. Kinmont smiled before leading Andrew out of his office and down the hallway towards Barbara Sterling Marriott’s room.



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    Rosehill Church, Cemetery



    “Hello, son,” Edouard Aleata said as he looked down at Chaz, kneeling by his mother’s grave. “I had a feeling I’d find you here.”

    Chaz Aleata’s back and shoulders stiffened – he refused to turn around and look at his father. “I guess this means you saw me,” he muttered.

    “Yes. I thought it was you, but I wasn’t sure. I thought that maybe my eyes had played a trick on me. I haven’t seen you in so long. I never thought that I’d find you here in Rosehill, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You always talked about coming here one day.”

    “I had to,” Chaz said, finally rising to his feet and turning to look at his father. “I had to see her. I had to know about her.”

    “Son, anything you ever wanted to know about your real mother, all you had to do was ask. I’ve never hidden anything about her from you.”

    So, there they stood in silence, looking at one another, so much that needed to be said and, yet, so much neither one of them was able to say. Finally…

    “Your mother and I miss you,” Eddie began. “Why haven’t you called us? Why haven’t you been in touch? You just disappeared without a word and…”

    “I figured that’s the way you wanted it,” Chaz cut in. “After the accident…”

    “This accident was an accident. No one blames you for what happened. I never blamed you and Kirsten never blamed you.” Eddie reached out for his son, but Chaz pulled away.

    “Mom blamed me,” Chaz corrected, referring to the stepmother who’d raised him from infancy.

    “No, she didn’t.”

    “Yes, she did!” Chaz’s voice grew louder and more forceful. “I heard her with my own ears. She was in the chapel praying to God. She said that it was my fault and that if I hadn’t been the one driving the car, the accident wouldn’t have happened!”

    “You have to understand that we were all under a great deal of stress at the time. Your sister Kirsten was lying in a hospital bed. We didn’t know whether she was going to live or die. Your mother…”

    “Wished it had been me instead.”

    “No!” Eddie reached out and grabbed his son by the shoulders, forcing him to look at him. “Your mother would never have wished that. She loves you just like you were her own flesh and blood. We all love you – me, your mother, Kevin, Kirsten…”

    Again, they stood in silence, Chaz refusing to look at his father.

    “I know,” Eddie spoke up, decided on a change of direction. “You can come back to Boston with me and we can catch up. We can work on putting all of this behind us. It was a long time ago. I know your mother and Kirsten would love to see you. Kevin can get some time off from work and come home for a visit, too. We all miss you.”

    “No, Dad, I’m not going to do that. I – I want to stay here in Rosehill. I want to get to know who my real mother really was – how she lived.”

    “Have you at least spoken to Rafe? The last time I talked to Selena, she hadn’t heard from you in quite a while.”

    “Why would I want to talk to Rafe or Selena?” Chaz folded his arms tightly across his chest in a silent show of defiance.

    “He’s your son! I would think that you’d want to, somehow, be a part of his life!” Eddie felt both his temper and his blood pressure starting to rise. Sometimes reasoning with his son was like talking to a brick wall.

    “Why? So I can screw his life up, too, just like I’ve screwed up everyone else’s?” He again turned away from his father and knelt down in front of the gravestone. “I was born hurting people. I was barely more than a kid when I got Selena pregnant. I didn’t know how to be a father. He’s better off not even knowing me.”

    “How can you say that?” Eddie knelt down beside Chaz. “You’re hurting him just by refusing to have anything to do with him. He’s at that age now when a boy desperately needs his father. He needs you, son.”

    “Like I needed you, Dad?” Chaz turned and looked his father dead in the eyes. Realizing some of his own failures as a father, Eddie wasn’t quite sure what to say.





    The Sterling Home, living room



    “That really was a beautiful service, Van,” Stacy Donnelley said, handing Vanessa Sterling a cup of fresh coffee. “I think Meg would’ve been very pleased.”

    “I wish I knew where Eddie took off to,” Vanessa Sterling muttered, not fully listening, as she sat on the sofa forcing herself to nibble on one of the many sandwiches that had been dropped off earlier by concerned and well-meaning neighbors and friends.



    “I’m sure Eddie’s fine.” Cal Latimer reached over and squeezed her Aunt Van’s hand. “Maybe he got a sudden business call that he couldn’t pull himself away from. I know he’s going to show up here any minute full of apologies.”

    “You’re probably right,” Van nodded before taking a sip of coffee. She turned to Cal and smiled. “It’s so good to see you, honey. I’m so glad you came. Your mother would’ve been proud of you today.”

    “I don’t know about that.” Cal fidgeted in her seat and looked away uncomfortably. “I don’t think she was ever really proud of much where I was concerned.”

    “Nonsense! You and Ben were here children and she loved you both very much. Yes, I know she had a very peculiar way of showing it, sometimes, but she did love you.” Van rose from her seat and slowly began to walk around the room, taking in the feel of home. “You know, it’s moments like this that make me glad that we decided to move back into this house after Bruce retired. Timothy’s mansion was beautiful, of course, but it never really felt like home. This is where Bruce brought me when we first married, when I first came to Rosehill. This is home.”



    “I wonder what’ll happen to the house now that Meg’s gone,” A.J. Sterling pondered as he came into the room, joining the conversation. “She really did love that place.”

    “That’s why your grandmother Sarah left it to her when she died,” Van nodded to Cal. “Surely, she’s left it to you and Ben.”

    “Ben can have it,” Cal muttered. “Rick and I already have a home in Canada. Besides, he’s more suited for that place than I am.”

    “Well, whatever happens, I’m just so glad to have all of you here.” Van walked over to the kitchen and pushed open the door. “Ben, Lynn, come in here for a minute, I want to talk to all of you.”




    “Yes, Aunt Van?” Ben Harper quickly stepped into the room followed by Lynn Jennings, her son Alex Marriott, and the rest of the family.

    “I just wanted to have you all gathered around.” Van stood in the center of the room and looked around, gazing directly at each and every single member of her family. “It’s times like this that family is most important and you are all my family, either by blood,” she paused and looked at Ben and Cal, her nephew and niece, and Ben’s daughters Suzanne, Vanessa, and Megan “by marriage,” she looked at A.J., her late husband’s grandson, “or by heart,” she smiled at Lynn and Stacy, two woman whom she’d thought of as daughters ever since they’d been girls. “I want you to know that I love every single one of you.”

    “And we love you, too, Van.” Alex walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

    “But, in times like this, we have to remember those members of our family who can’t be with us.” Van looked down at the floor solemnly. “Mine and Meg’s parents and my beloved Bruce are all gone now. And Barbara, Hank, and Galen couldn’t be here.”

    “I know that if I could’ve gotten hold of Galen, she would’ve been,” A.J. explained. “She’s just stuck out of the country doing that movie right now.”

    “I understand,” Van smiled. “And Will and Sarah…?” She directed her comment to Cal. “I wish you and Rick could’ve brought the kids with you.”

    “You know Sarah’s tied up at college and we had to leave Will to watch the resort while we can here.”

    “Well, I guess it’s okay,” Van teased. “We’re all together right now. That’s what’s important.”

    “And what’s your take on this big, extended family?” Alex asked as he leaned over to Vanessa Harper.

    “I kinda like it,” she smiled. “No, we’re not all physically related, but it’s nice to have such a large family. It feels good to be back in Rosehill. I really feel like I’ve come home.”

    “I’m glad you’re back in Rosehill, too, Vanessa,” Alex grinned. “Really glad.”





    Whispering Springs Sanitarium, outside Barbara Marriott’s room



    “You’ve kept her away from the newspapers and the television?” Andrew asked as he peered through the door at his wife. “So much has happened lately that I’m worried that it’ll all be too much for her. She’s made so much progress since she’s been here.”

    “I agree with you, Dr. Marriott,” Dr. Kinmont nodded. “She only knows what little you’ve told her and I know I have haven’t told her anything otherwise.”

    “Good,” Andrew sighed and then took a deep breath before he pushed the door open. “Barbara? Are you up for a visitor?”



    “Oh, Andrew!” Barbara exclaimed as she quickly rose from her chair and threw herself into her husband’s arms. “I knew you’d come see me today! I just knew it!”

    “It’s so good to see you.” He held her tightly, breathing in the scent of her perfume and feeling the softness of her hair against his cheek. “Dr. Kinmont tells me that you’ve been making a lot of progress in your sessions.”

    “I’m working so hard, Andrew – really I am.” She pulled away from him and gazed up into his eyes. “I want to get better. I want to get out of this place and come home to you so that we can finally have our lives together that we fought so long for.” She paused and looked at him with some concern. “Meg hasn’t been trying to worm her way back into your life again, has she?”

    “U-um… no, she hasn’t.” He couldn’t bear to look her in the eye, knowing that he was keeping all of the awful truths of the last few months away from her as a means of protecting her. “She’s been keeping her distance.”

    “That’s good,” Barbara nodded with satisfaction. “After everything she did to keep you married to her and keep us apart, I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her.”

    “Meg’s… not going to be a problem for us anymore. I told you that the day I finally got her to sign those divorce papers.”

    “And what about Hank?” she continued, seemingly adrift in her own stream of consciousness. “I haven’t gotten a letter from him in months. Have you heard from him? I worry about him being over there in Iraq.”

    “Honey, there’s nothing for you to worry about.” Andrew pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “Hank will be home just as soon as he can and once you’re well, you’ll be out of this hospital and then we can all be together again.”

    “Mrs. Marriott, it’s time for your medication,” the nurse spoke up with a light knock on the door. “I’m sorry, Dr. Marriott. But she needs her rest before group this afternoon.”

    “Oh, Andrew, don’t leave so soon!”

    “I’ll be back, Barbara, don’t worry. I’m never going to leave you.” He kissed her tenderly on the lips and took her into his arms again before slowly walking out the door.

    “I think I’ll just sit over by the window for a while before I lie down,” Barbara smiled after taking her pill.

    Once the nurse had gone, Barbara stared for a few minutes out the window, taking into the beauty of the lush flower gardens outside. However, it wasn’t long before a cloud seemed to cover her face and she reached down under the cushion of the armchair and pulled out a newspaper. The headline? “Rosehill Socialite Murdered”…



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  17. Matt

    Episode #6

    By Matt,

    Episode #6
    Monday, 4/30/07


    Same Day, Afternoon

    Rosehill Church, Inside



    “Today I want to remember the good in my sister. No matter what mistakes she made, she brought into this world two fine children.” Vanessa Sterling looked towards her nephew Ben Harper and smiled. “And I know they had their differences over the years and I know her children had their own troubles, but they’ve both grown into such fine human beings.” Her voice caught in her throat. “I just wish… I wish that…”

    “Aunt Van,” came the familiar voice from the back of the church.

    Van looked up and towards the sound of the voice, her hand flying up to her chest in joyous surprise. She had come. Her sister Meg’s long estranged daughter Cal was slowly walking down the aisle towards her in the supportive arms of her husband Rick Latimer.





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    Rosehill Church, Inside



    “Cal!” Van exclaimed, overjoyed by the sudden appearance of her niece. “You came! Oh, I was so worried that….”

    “Hello, Aunt Van,” Cal Latimer said softly as she approached her. “To be honest, I… I almost didn’t come, but Rick, he….”

    “I did a little coaxing,” Rick Latimer continued with a supportive nod and smile towards his wife. “I told her that no matter what Meg did in the past, none of it mattered now. The past is over.”

    “Yes, it most certainly is.” Van reached out and grabbed Cal’s hands tightly, leading her towards the front of the church where Ben waited to take his sister into his arms.



    “Oh, Cal, I’m so glad you’re here,” he said softly into her ear as he held her tightly.

    “I’m… I’m sorry we’re late,” Cal muttered uncomfortably as she turned to look at the gathered crowd. “We… we almost missed our connecting flight and….”

    “None of that matters – nothing matters now that you’re here.”

    “We’re… we’re interrupting. I’m sorry, Aunt Van. We’ll just sit down and….”

    “Wait.” Van refused to let go of her niece’s hand and held fast. “Cal, would you… would you say a few words in memory of your mother.” She softened her voice to a whisper. “I know you two hadn’t spoken in a very long time and I know there were a lot of hard feelings and resentment, but I think this is something that would be good for you to do.”

    An uncertain Cal looked first towards Rick and then to Ben before taking a long breath. “You’re right, Aunt Van, as usual. I do need to say a few things.” She gave her husband’s hand a strong squeeze. “But not for her. I need to speak for me.”

    Although Ben’s face registered a look of concern, Van’s radiated confidence. She had faith that Cal would be able to say just the right thing and released her niece’s hand to take Rick’s arm so that he could lead her to her seat next to Ben.

    “I know that my being here might come as a surprise to a lot of you,” Cal began as she stood by her mother’s casket. “To be honest, it kinda comes as a surprise to me. As many of you know, my mother and I didn’t get along, to put it mildly. A lot of things happened in the past and I held on to a lot of animosity and resentment.”

    “Yes, my mother made a lot of mistakes, but… she can’t be held totally to blame for the rift between us. I should’ve tried harder to… to reach out to her, to show her the love that I felt for her despite everything that she’d done. But I… well, I held onto a lot of that resentment almost like a security blanket. She’d hurt me and I suppose, in some way, I wanted to hurt her back.”

    “I cut off all ties to her when I left Rosehill a long time ago and I forced her out of my life. I kept her from knowing her grandchildren under the belief that I was protecting them from her negative influence, but…” Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head, wiping tears from her eyes. “But, really, I was only trying to punish her – to hurt her back. I… I see that now and I’m…” Cal’s chest began to heave as her sobs began to spill forth. “Oh, Mother, I’m s-sorry. I’m so sorry.”

    Rick quickly rose from her seat and went to her side, grabbing her arm to steady her. “Honey, it’s okay,” he whispered into her ear.

    “I… I understand now,” she said softly, running her fingers along her mother’s picture. “You only did the best that you knew you. You loved us the only way you knew how….”





    Rosehill Church, Cemetery



    Chaz shoved his hands deep into his pockets as he walked through the gravestones. He hoped Joy would understand why he had to take off so suddenly, but he couldn’t hang around that church and risk being seen. It would be just his luck that he would be back in Rosehill after all these years. Chaz prayed to God that he’d managed to get away before he’d seen him.

    It was then, at that moment, that Chaz saw the last thing he’d expected to see that day – the one thing he’d traveled all the way to Rosehill to see – his mother’s grave.

    Understandably shocked by the unexpected discovery, he fell to his knees in front of the gravestone, his breathing heavy and labored. It was her – the woman he’d always heard about, but had never met… the woman who’d died giving him life.

    Chaz carefully ran his fingers across the front of the stone – “Beloved wife and mother, Felicia Flemming Lamont.”

    So transfixed by the sight of his mother’s grave, he didn’t hear the telltale footsteps coming up behind him, not did he see the watchful, loving eyes that held him in their warm embrace.

    But he felt them.

    “Hello, son,” Edouard Aleata said as he looked down at Chaz, kneeling by his mother’s grave.







    Rosehill Church, Inside



    “Cal, it’s so good to see you again,” Betsy Harper exclaimed, hugging her best friend as everyone started to mingle after the conclusion of the memorial service. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

    “So am I,” Cal smiled. “It took a lot of convincing on Rick’s part, but I’m here.” She paused and turned to her brother Ben. “Do the police have any idea who did this? I know she wasn’t exactly the most liked person in the world, but why would anyone want to hurt her like this?”



    “I don’t know,” Ben muttered with a shake of his head. “I’ve tried talking to the police, but they haven’t exactly been very forthcoming with any leads they might have. It’s like… it’s like they want to keep us in the dark about everything.”



    “I’m sure they’re doing everything they can,” Van spoke up reassuringly. “But do we… do we have to talk about things like that today. Can’t all of that wait until tomorrow?”

    “I think your Aunt Van is right, Cal,” Rick nodded. “Today should be about Meg. We should….”



    “It’s so good to see you, Rick.” Dr. Andrew Marriott held out his hand, firmly grasping Rick’s.

    “Andrew,” Rick muttered in acknowledgement. He and Andrew shared a spouse – Rick’s former wife Barbara – and that allowed for a slight bit of awkwardness.

    “I’ve been meaning to call you and ask if you’ve heard anything more about Hank.”

    “Oh, yes, Rick, what’s the word on Hank?” Van leaned in and listened carefully for news on her stepdaughter Barbara and Rick’s son. “Does the government have any leads?”

    “All that they’re telling us is that his chopper was shot down somewhere over Iraq.” Rick carefully guided Andrew and Van away from the others as Cal, Ben, and Betsy went over old times. “They recovered the helicopter and the bodies of the men who were with him, but…” His voice caught in his throat, obviously concerned for the life of his eldest son. “There’s been no sign of him. It’s like… it’s like he’s simply vanished off the face of the earth. Officially, he’s MIA.”

    “Dear Lord.” Van shook her head in disbelief over the latest potential tragedy in the family. “And you still haven’t told Barbara?”

    “No.” Rick looked towards Andrew with a hard glare. “She has a right as his mother to know, but….”

    “You know as well as I do that she simply couldn’t handle this news in her condition,” Andrew interrupted. It was an argument they’d had many times over the last few weeks. “She’s made so much improvement since we moved her to the facility here in Rosehill, but news like this could be too much for her and might set her back to where she was before.”

    “I still don’t understand how this could happen,” Van sighed. “To all of a sudden, just…”

    “I don’t understand it, either, Van,” Andrew muttered, “but I can’t afford to take chances. Not when she’s come so far.”

    “Well, you’re her husband.” The subtle sarcasm in Rick’s voice wasn’t lost on either Van or Andrew and Van shot him a look of warning.

    Ignoring Rick, Andrew turned his attention to Van. “Anyway, I’m sorry to leave like this, but I’m actually going to go see Barbara. I like to spend as much time with her as I can.” He smiled warmly as he reflected on the little time he got to spend in his beloved wife’s company.

    “Give her my love.” Van kissed Andrew on the cheek before he walked out of the church, leaving Van and Rick to join the rest of their family, reflecting on memories of Meg.



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  18. Matt

    Episode #5

    By Matt,

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    Episode #5
    Friday, 4/27/07


    Same Day, Afternoon

    Rosehill Church, Outside



    “I hope we’re not too late,” Joy Donovan said as she hurried up the walk towards the front of the church, Chaz trailing along behind her. She paused long enough to pull her recorder out of her purse. She wanted to make sure that she managed to capture every word of the service so she could use it later in her article.

    “This feels really weird,” Chaz grumbled, stopping dead in his tracks. He looked down at his jeans and boots. “I’m not even dressed for a funeral. We’re gonna stick out like a couple of sore thumbs. No one’s going to believe that we’re legitimately here to pay our respects to this woman.”

    “You said you were going to go in with me!” She paused at the front door to put on the black hat that especially matched her black suit – suitable for a mourning guest – and pulled the attached veil down over her face. “It’s not my fault you didn’t pack anything appropriate in your duffle bag!”

    “Joy, this is seeming like less and less of a good idea.”

    “Go!” she ordered as she reached into her purse and pressed the play button on her recorder before pulling open the doors of the church. She inhaled deeply, gathering her courage, and then began to stride confidently into the building.

    Rather awkwardly, Chaz slowly followed along behind her – until he caught sight of him! Chaz felt his draw drop. Out of all the places in the world, why the hell would he be in Rosehill? Now? And then it hit him. The funeral was for Meg Marriott. Chaz felt all the moisture drain from his mouth.

    “Are you coming?” Joy barked in a stern whisper.

    “I… I can’t,” he muttered, a sense of panic overtaking him. “I can’t.”

    Without another word, Chaz turned and bolted out of church, leaving a stunned and bewildered Joy behind.

    Meanwhile, Edouard Aleata had turned just in time to see the anxious young man leaving the building and couldn’t believe his own eyes.





    Rosehill Church, Inside



    “Eddie, what is it?” Vanessa Sterling asked with concern, easily noticing his obvious distraction.

    “It’s…nothing,” Edouard Aleata replied only half listening to her.

    “The service is about to start. We should….”

    “Thank you, Van, but I’m going to go outside and try to call Cal again.” He awkwardly began to move towards the door, all thoughts of Van and Meg’s funeral gone from his head. “Maybe I can get through to her.”

    Although Van thought that Eddie’s tone and behavior were odd, considering the tragic circumstances surrounding their reunion, it made logical sense to her that no one would be acting in a normal manner.

    As the light strains of organ music began to fill the room, Van stood at the end of the aisle and inhaled deeply, praying to the good Lord to give her the strength to be able to say “good-bye” to her sister Meg.

    She began her walk towards the front of the church while the gathered mourners slowly began to take their seats in the pews. She reached out for the hands of long-time friends and loved ones as they extended their own hands to her in silent shows of support and sympathy. And then there was Andrew….



    When Dr. Andrew Marriott had married her stepdaughter Barbara, he’d finally officially become a part of the family, but Van had always thought of him as family, even before. He’d been such a pillar of strength for her during the time after her beloved husband Bruce had died, and now here he was being that rock for her once again.



    Andrew took her by the arm and led her to a seat on the front row next to her nephew Ben, Meg’s son, and Ben’s family. It was such a sad occasion for a family reunion. Yet, still, someone was missing – Meg’s daughter Cal from whom she’d been long estranged.

    Although the minister spoke comforting words and read verses of scripture, Van could only half listen as her thoughts were flooded with both memories of her sister and concerns for her niece. What finally drew her full attention was Ben, rising to deliver a eulogy for his mother.

    “I want to thank you all for coming today,” Ben Harper spoke as he stood by his mother’s casket. “There are quite a few faces here that I haven’t seen in a long time. I just wish that it were under better circumstances.” He stopped, looked over at the framed photograph of his mother that sat atop the casket, and inhaled deeply.

    “As I’m sure you all knew, my mother wasn’t exactly the easiest woman to get along with.” The crowd couldn’t help themselves but to smile and nod. Ben’s comment was an understatement, to say the least. “I think Maggie must have crossed paths with every single one of you in a negative way at some point over the years.” He looked at two of his mother’s former husbands, Tom Crawford and Andrew Marriott. “But I don’t want to talk about that. I want to talk about a woman many of you might not have had a chance to know.”

    “Yes, it’s true, my mother could be difficult. She could be headstrong and she could be irascible, but she could also be kind and loving. She was a woman who cared.” He paused and looked down at his hands that shakily held a program for the service. “Sometimes she cared too much, yes, and that made her go beyond what some of you would consider decent and noble, but she cared for her children more than any of you could ever know. She bent over backwards numerous times over the years for Cal and me. She cared for her grandchildren. She cared for her sister.” He looked to Van and smiled. “And this life will be a lot less interesting without her in it.” He stopped and took a long breath. “And…well…I guess that’s all I have to say.” He leaned over and ran his fingers lightly along the edge of his mother’s picture, choking back tears. “I love you, Maggie.”

    As Ben returned to his seat, the room fell absolutely silent because everyone knew that he was right – the world would be a less interesting place without Meg Hart Marriott in it.

    And then it was Van’s turn to speak….





    Rosehill Church, Inside



    “Dear Meg,” Van muttered softly, not even knowing where to begin to say “good-bye” to her sister. “So many years. So much life.” She paused and inhaled deeply, trying to find the words she so desperate sought. “I remember when we were growing up, Momma would always tell me how I was the baby who never made a sound – who always had a smile on my face – and you… well, you were the one always raising a ruckus. And that’s how you lived your life.”

    “You were never content to just subtly make your way into a room. You had to make an entrance. You refused to let anyone ignore the fact that Meg Dale was in the room. You lived your life so full of passion, but sometimes you had so much passion that you didn’t know how to channel it. To some people, that might have made you seem overbearing or controlling, but I knew where that was coming from. I knew that all came from that deep seated sense of passion.”

    Van turned her attention away from her sister’s photograph and towards the congregation. “You see, my sister wasn’t the type of person to idly sit by and let life pass her by. She went out there and grabbed hold of life and shook it. Yes, that did mean she made some mistakes – and some of them were doozies, that’s for sure – but she lived every single moment she had to its fullest. How someone could just so callously and violently end such a…” Her voice trailed off. It truly was beyond her comprehension.

    “No. I’m not going to dwell on that today. I’m not going to think about the bad. Today I want to remember the good in my sister. No matter what mistakes she made, she brought into this world two fine children.” She looked towards Ben and smiled. “And I know they had their differences over the years and I know her children had their own troubles, but they’ve both grown into such fine human beings.” Her voice caught in her throat. “I just wish… I wish that…”

    “Aunt Van,” came the familiar voice from the back of the church.

    Van looked up and towards the sound of the voice, her hand flying up to her chest in joyous surprise. She had come. Meg’s long estranged daughter Cal was slowly walking down the aisle towards her in the supportive arms of her husband Rick Latimer.



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  19. Matt

    Episode #1

    By Matt,

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    Episode #1
    Monday, 4/23/07


    Late Morning

    Rosehill Church



    Vanessa Sterling paused at the doors of the church, hoping for a moment to catch her breath. She wasn’t sure she had the strength to go through with it. It seemed like only yesterday that she’d walked through these very same doors to say her final good-byes to her beloved husband Bruce. Now, she was forced to again say “good-bye” – this time to her sister Meg.



    “Aunt Van,” Betsy Harper’s voice came from behind her as she placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “It’s going to be all right. We’re almost all here and Ben should be here before too long with the girls.”

    “I know, Betsy. I know.”

    Van took Betsy’s arm, took a long deep breath, and slowly stepped through the doors into the church. Despite the solemness of the occasion, she couldn’t help but smile when she saw Lynn and Stacy. Although they weren’t her daughters by blood, they were definitely her daughters in spirit.



    “Oh, Van, I’m so sorry,” Lynn Jennings sobbed as she put her arms around the only real mother she’d ever known. “This has just been so much of a shock.”

    “Van, do they know anything more?” Stacy Donnelley asked. After the deaths of her own parents, Bruce and Vanessa Sterling had taken her into their home and their hearts just as they had Lynn. “Do the police have any idea who might have done this?”

    “No, dear,” Van shook her head.

    It was all simply too much to comprehend. Her sister Meg had been murdered – shot to death – in her own home. Yes, it was true that Meg Hart Marriott had her fair share of enemies, but surely no one could have hated her so much that they’d want her dead.



    “Don’t worry, Gran,” A.J. Sterling spoke up, taking her other hand. “The police will find out who did this. They’ll find out who killed Meg.”

    Bruce and Vanessa Sterling had taken A.J. and his baby sister Galen in when he was just a boy after the deaths of their parents, Bruce’s son Alan Sterling and his wife Olivia, in a plane crash and had raised the children as their own. Like both Stacy and Lynn, Van had been like a mother to him.

    “Why must it take a tragedy to bring a family back together,” Van muttered, fighting back her tears. “Why?”





    Rosehill Inn, Joy’s Room



    “I wonder if Rosehill welcomes all its visitors like this?” Joy Donovan purred as she rolled over in bed to snuggle up against her roadside savior. “If they do, I think I better send a thank you note.”

    “You do know that I didn’t pick you up just to get you into bed, don’t you?” Chaz wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him.

    “Of course, you didn’t.” She let out a soft laugh.

    “And if I were you, I’d definite call up that rental agency and chew them out for renting you that piece of junk they tried to pass off as a car. Hell, if I hadn’t come along, you might still be stuck out on the highway all by yourself.”

    “Don’t remind me,” she groaned. “I would’ve completely screwed up my assignment if it weren’t for you.” She turned and looked at the bedside clock, making note of the time. “Which I still might do if I don’t get moving.”

    “So, tell me, how does one of Europe’s premiere party girls get a gig writing for a tabloid?”

    “Not much to tell, really.” Joy reluctantly untangled herself from Chaz’s arms, slid out of bed, and reached for her robe. “I just got tired of all the parties and wanted something else to do. The World Star needed a gossip columnist and since I knew everybody who was anybody in the European social scene, it seemed like an ideal job.”

    “But now you’re a reporter?”

    “Yeah. Who was doing what and what they were wearing while doing it got old after a while,” she explained as she hurriedly dressed. “I wanted to do more and I convinced them to let me be a reporter. This is going to be my first big story.”

    “Here in Rosehill?” Chaz furrowed his brow, trying to make the connection. “This is a long way from the French Riviera.”

    “I know,” Joy sighed. “But my editor seems to think there’s some big story about some old society matron getting shot to death that’ll make for good copy. Apparently, she was married at one time to some big European shipping magnet who deals in a lot of art, so they think it’s relevant.” She paused and turned to Chaz and smiled before sauntering back over to the bed and sliding in next to him. “So, what about you, Mr. Chaz? What’s your story? Why are you in Rosehill?”

    He inhaled deeply, trying to figure out just where to begin. “I’m here to see my mother.”

    “Oh? Is she expecting you?”

    “No,” he muttered, turning away from her. “She’s dead.” He paused and took a long breath. “I killed her.”





    Rosehill Airport



    “I don’t understand why Daddy had to drag us back to Rosehill. We were having such a blast in Switzerland.” Megan Harper pulled her suitcase behind her as she walked with her twin sister Vanessa through the airport. “And that Jean Luc was such a hottie!”

    “Megan, our grandmother died,” Vanessa Harper reminded pointedly. “Our place is here with our family right now. Switzerland can wait.”

    “But it’s not like anyone even liked her.” Megan scowled. “Maggie was a mean, cranky old woman. Hell, someone didn’t like her enough to shoot her. That should tell you something. I just don’t understand why we had to ruin a completely good vacation to come back to this dinky little town and listen a bunch of people who could barely stand her suddenly start gushing over how wonderful and beloved she was when we both know that was never the case.”

    “You really astound me sometimes, you know?” Vanessa had stopped dead in her tracks, unable to believe the callousness her sister exuded. “You’re talking about our grandmother. Dad is just beside himself and I can only imagine how Aunt Van is dealing with all of this. Even if you didn’t like her, I’d at least think you’d want to be here for them.”

    “Whatever.” Megan couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Vanessa seemed to always be too pristine to be believed. However, once she’d spotted their father across the airport, her tone suddenly and completely changed. “Oh, it’s Daddy!” she cried out, tears quickly filling her eyes as she dropped her suitcase and ran to him. “Oh, Daddy, I’m so sorry about Grandmother. How could this have happened? Who could’ve wanted to do something like this?” Megan threw her arms around her father and hugged him tightly while Vanessa stood back in stunned silence. Megan could really turn it on when she wanted to.



    “I don’t know, honey,” Ben Harper sighed, extending his arm for Vanessa to join him in a hug. “The police are doing everything they can. I know we’ll find out who did this.”

    “I’m sure we will, Dad,” Vanessa tried to be comforting.

    As Ben led his daughters through the terminal and towards the doors, Vanessa’s head was filled with thoughts of how her grandmother’s death was going to affect the family and wonderings of who might have committed such a horrible act. Megan, on the other hand, could only think about how fast she could get the funeral over with and when the first plane back to Switzerland took off.


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  20. Matt

    Episode #4

    By Matt,

    <object width="352" height="240"><param name="movie" value=" name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="352" height="240"></embed></object>

    Episode #4
    Thursday, 4/26/07


    Same Day, Afternoon

    Rosehill Church



    “Ben, how’re you holding up?” Dr. Andrew Marriott asked as he extended his hand. “I know how difficult this must be for you and your family.”

    “I think I’m still in shock, Andrew,” Ben Harper replied quietly. “I’m just numb. None of these seems like it can possible.”

    “I think all of us feel that way.”

    “I just don’t understand any of this. None of it makes any sense.” Ben nervously fingered one of the flowers in the arrangement by his mother’s casket. “I know… I know Maggie could be a difficult woman. You were married to her, Andrew; you should know that as well as I do. She managed to make me angry more times than I can count, but…but…who could possibly want to see her dead? Who would do something like this to her?”

    “I don’t know, Ben.” Andrew came up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder. “You know your mother had her fair share of enemies. Back in her younger days she didn’t exactly hang around with the most upstanding of people.”

    Ben raked his fingers through his hair as he tried to make sense of it all.

    “The police are going to get to the bottom of this. Meg was an important and influential member of this community. She was our former first lady and she still held a seat on the hospital board.” Andrew gave Ben’s shoulder a firm squeeze. “They’re not going to stop until they find out who did this. None of us are.”

    As Ben stood silently, looking down at his mother’s casket, he nodded. However, it was not only a nod of agreement with Andrew’s assertions, but a vow – a promise – to his mother that come hell or high water he’d find out who did this to her himself and he’d damn well make sure that they’d pay for it.





    Rosehill Inn, Joy's Room



    “Don’t look at me like that,” Chaz said as Joy Donovan slowly pulled away from him. “It’s not like I made it sound.”

    “You… you said you killed your mother,” she stammered, repeating nearly verbatim what he’d just revealed to her. “How is that supposed to sound? How am I supposed to take that? I mean… I mean, we don’t really know each other and….”

    “Look, when I was born, my mother died. She died giving birth to me. So, in a sense, I killed my mother.” He paused and looked away from her, trying to hide a feeling of guilt and shame that he’d always felt had been forced upon him.

    “Oh, Chaz,” Joy sighed, now understanding what he’d meant, as she moved back closer to him. “It’s not your fault your mother died. Sometimes those things…just happen. No one can blame you for that.”

    “I know that, logically, and my father has never come right out and said that he blames me for her dying, but….” He stopped to take a long, deep breath. “Ever since I was a little boy and found out what happened to my real mother, I’ve blamed myself. I know it’s not logical, but I feel like every time my father looks at me he sees this reminder of what he lost when I was born.”

    “I lost my father when I was just a little girl,” Joy confessed, her own mind becoming flooded with troubled memories of the past. “It was a fire. I was so young I didn’t completely understand what was going on. I… I thought he’d gone away somewhere because of me. He was my whole world and he was gone. I loved him so much.” She hesitated for a moment, choking back tears. “Now… now I can barely even remember him. Hell, I barely even remember the bulk of my childhood before me, Mom, and my brother moved to Europe.” She wiped aware her tears and looked up at Chaz. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

    “Well, I have steps,” he explained. “I’ve got an older step-sister that Dad adopted when he was married to her mother and I’ve got and another older step-sister and brother he adopted when he married Mom – I mean my step-mother. Really, she’s the only mother I’ve ever known. She adopted me, too.”

    “Yeah, my step-father did that with me and my brother,” Joy nodded. “And then I’ve got a little half-brother Mom had with my step-father. But then my stepfather died a few years ago. Now the man she’s married to – he’s a real jerk. What the hell she sees in him, I’ll never know.”

    “My step-mom’s always been great – well, as great as she could be. I was kinda the black sheep, always getting into trouble. I was the one who never really fit in. My oldest sister lives up in Canada. She was already grown and married before I was born, so I grew up with my step-mom’s kids. Somehow, I just never quite measured up to the perfect twosome.” A long pause. “But, well, enough of that….”

    “You’re telling me!” Joy jumped up out of bed when she realized what time it was. “If I don’t get moving, I’m gonna miss that funeral and then I’m not going to have much of a story and I’m gonna blow my shot!” In a flurry, she began rushing around the room, attempting to throw herself together before being stuck with an idea. “Hey, why don’t you go to the funeral with me.”

    “Me? I… I don’t even know these people.”

    “I don’t either,” she laughed, “I’m just covering a story. Besides, a little backup wouldn’t hurt.”

    “O-okay,” he caved. “Just what I came to Rosehill to do – crash a funeral.”





    Rosehill Church



    “Vanessa,” came the familiar voice from behind her.
    As Vanessa Sterling turned around, her hand flew up to her chest and she felt the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. “Eddie! Oh, dear lord, Eddie!” She ran into his arms. “It’s been years. How did you… how did you know?”

    “I talked to Cal,” Edouard Aleata explained, wrapping his arms around Van in comfort. “She told me what happened. I know it’s been a long time since Meg and I were married, but I couldn’t stay away. I had to come.”

    “Oh, I’m so glad you did,” Van sniffled back her tears. “So…you’ve talked to Cal? Please tell me she’s coming. I know there’s been bad blood between her and her mother for years, but she’d never forgive herself if she missed her own mother’s funeral.”

    “I wish I could tell you she was coming, Van, but I can’t. I tried to talk her into it, but she just seemed so ambivalent.”

    “I spoke with Rick yesterday,” she explained as she took Eddie’s hand and led him over to Meg’s casket. “I promised me that he was doing everything he could to convince Cal to come, but there’s still so much resentment there after everything Meg did to keep them apart all those years ago.” Van paused and looked up at Eddie. “Did you know that Cal never once let Meg see Will or Sarah? Meg never got a chance to lay eyes on her only grandson.”

    “I tried many times to tell Cal how much she’d end up regretting that decision, but you know how stubborn she can be.”

    “Well, I hope that stubbornness and resentment don’t eat away at her,” Van sighed with a shake of her head. “I know what Meg did in the past was horrible and I understand how she and Rick had to get away from Rosehill to escape from her meddling and interference. I can even partly understand why they’d want to shield the kids from her influence. Meg could care about her own children almost to the point of obsession, let alone her grandchildren. But I know that if Cal doesn’t put all that aside and come for her mother’s funeral, that’ll be something that she’ll never have a chance to take back. This is going to be her last chance to see her mother and set things right.” She paused and looked over at the framed photograph of her sister that was positioned next to the casket. “If she throws that chance away, one day she’s going to realize what a mistake she made and she’s never going to forgive herself.”


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  21. Matt

    Episode #3

    By Matt,

    <object width="352" height="240"><param name="movie" value=" name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="352" height="240"></embed></object>

    Episode #3
    Wednesday, 4/25/07


    Same Day, Afternoon

    Rosehill Church, Outside



    “Andy, you’ve got to come up with some good news on this,” John Prentiss said into his phone as he paced around the garden outside the front doors of the church. “Paulson cannot pull out of this project!”

    “John?” his wife Suzanne Prentiss interrupted, coming out of the church. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to spend the entire service out here on the phone. My grandmother died. I need you to….”

    “Just a second, sweetheart.” He threw up his hand to silence her so that he could finish his phone conversation. “Well, Andy, you get with Alison and see what you can maneuver around. You can’t let me down on this.” He ended the phone call and finally turned his attention towards his wife. “I’m sorry, honey. What were you saying?”

    Suzanne glared at him. He hadn’t heard a word she’d said. “I was telling you how much I need you today, John. It’s my grandmother’s funeral and all you can think about is that damned Beaver Ridge!”

    “This is important! I’ve invested a lot of time and money into this project. This is our future!”

    “I thought Tess and I were your future.”

    “You are, honey, you are.” He took her into his arms and cradled her head against his shoulder. “But the success of this project could mean more financial security than we’d ever dreamed of. I’d be able to finally buy you that big house out by the lake and we can send Tess to all the best schools.”

    “I thought that’s what we were saving your trust fund for – the baby’s future.”

    “We are, honey.” John fidgeted without realizing it, thinking about how he’d already invested his entire trust fund into Beaver Ridge without telling his wife. “But the trust isn’t that big to begin with. Remember, we used part of it to buy the house.”

    “Yes, I know,” she nodded, “ the house you simply had to have because it was the one you’d spent your childhood in – the one next door to Aunt Van. But now you’re talking about buying some huge house out by the lake….”

    “Honey, trust me. This is going to be good for our future.”

    “I just wish you’d never gotten involved with Andy Marriott,” Suzanne muttered, unable to look at him, “or his daughter Alison.” Ah, the real sticker in the equation.

    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to either John or Suzanne, her little sister Megan was perched at the half-open church door overhearing every word.





    Rosehill Church, Inside



    “Megan, someone’s here who wants to see you,” Vanessa Sterling called out, drawing Megan Harper’s attention away from the conversation outside.

    “Coming, Aunt Van,” Megan replied as she tried not to sound too annoyed. She really wanted to hear the rest of what John and Suzanne were arguing about, but realized that it would have to wait until later and moved over to where her Aunt Van and sister Vanessa were standing, talking to a very handsome man.

    “Megan, you remember A.J., don’t you?” Vanessa Harper asked as she re-introduced her sister.



    “A.J.? Sterling?” Megan’s eyes grew wide. She hadn’t seen her Uncle Bruce’s grandson in quite a few years and definitely didn’t remember him looking quite so…cute. “It’s been a long time, A.J.”

    “Yeah, it has,” A.J. smiled as he looked her over. “I almost didn’t recognize Vanessa. New York must really agree with both of you.”

    “You could say that.” Megan smiled and fluttered her eyelashes coyly. “So many experiences and so much to do.” A pal fell across her face. “Not like here in dull old Rosehill.”

    “Rosehill’s not dull,” Van countered. “Yes, it can be rather quiet, but there’s a lot to do here.”

    “I actually like it,” Vanessa spoke up. “It’s so quaint and charming. Besides, all of our family is here. I’ve missed it.”

    “You would,” Megan grumbled under her breath.

    “I feel exactly the same way, Vanessa,” A.J. nodded. “I can’t really explain it, but it’s…well…home. After college, I couldn’t wait to come back here and work at Carlson.”

    “Well, then,” Megan smiled, her eyes darting from Vanessa to A.J., “I guess if Rosehill gets the stamp of approval from everyone, then there’s something I’ve been missing. Perhaps I need to rethink things.” She smiled warmly at A.J. before taking his arm. “Maybe you could reacquaint me with the place while I’m in town.”

    “I’d love to, Megan.”

    As Megan led A.J. away, Vanessa folded her arms across her arms across her chest and shook her head as she watched them. Megan was definitely up to her old tricks again.





    Rosehill Church, Inside



    “I got here just as soon as I could,” Dr. Tom Crawford said as he leaned down to kiss his sister Betsy on the cheek. “I got tied up in the lab with Andrew and Alex.” He motioned over to Drs. Andrew Marriott and Alex Marriott who’d arrived with him.

    “How’s your research project coming along?” Betsy Harper asked, attempting to find anything to take her mind off the funeral. “You said you were making progress?”

    “Major progress, but we’ve hit a snag.” He looked down at his feet in an attempt to hide his disappointment. “But enough about that. It’s not important right now.” He placed his hand under his sister’s chin and lifted her face so that he could look into her eyes. “Are you all right? You don’t look too well.”

    “It’s a funeral, Tom.” She pulled away from him and took several steps, her back to him. “How am I supposed to be? Ben’s mother’s been murdered and I’m afraid…” Her voice caught in her throat. “I’m afraid that everything is going to fall apart.”

    “Betsy, what do you mean? What are you talking about?” He moved behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

    “It’s Ben,” she confessed as she lowered her head. “He’s trying to put on a brave front for me and the girls, but this is killing him. I know him too well. After all these years, there isn’t much he can hide from me.”

    “Of course this is hard for him. His mother was murdered, for Christ’s sake. Meg’s death is hard for all of us.”

    Betsy turned to look at her big brother and shook her head with the realization that he did know all too well. “I’m sorry, Tom. I…wasn’t thinking. I know you and Meg were close. You two were married once and….”

    “That was a lifetime ago, Betsy, but I’m not going to deny that she was very special to me.” He paused and took a long, deep breath as memories of Meg flooded over him. “We had a very special kind of friendship, even after she gave me the divorce. I’m going to miss her.”



    Betsy turned back to look across the chapel at Ben who was rushing around in a flurry of activity, making sure every flower was in place and every little detail was perfect to honor his mother’s memory. He was nearly manic. Seeing her clear look of concern, Tom pulled his little sister close to him again.

    “It’s going to be all right,” he comforted. “Ben has you and the girls and Van all around to help him through this. I know how difficult this is, but he’s going to all right.”

    She nodded silently, desperately wanting Tom’s words to be true. However, she knew more than anyone how Ben could be. His mother’s murder was definitely something he wouldn’t be able to get over or let go of quite so easily.


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  22. Matt

    Episode #2

    By Matt,

    <object width="352" height="240"><param name="movie" value=" name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="352" height="240"></embed></object>

    Episode #2
    Tuesday, 4/24/07


    Same Day, Early Afternoon

    Beaver Ridge Complex, Lobby



    “Dad, I’ve got those files you wanted,” Alison Marriott said as she rushed into the lobby and over to her father’s makeshift desk. “I’ve got to warn you, though, these numbers aren’t encouraging.”

    “I was afraid of that,” Andy Marriott sighed, taking the files from her and quickly scanning them. He felt his jaw begin to tighten, his sense of foreboding coming true, and he slammed the filed down onto his desk. “Damn, damn, damn!”

    “Dad, it’s going to be okay. We’ll figure a way around this. This isn’t going to keep Beaver Ridge from opening right on schedule.”

    “How can you say that? You’ve seen the numbers.” He raked his fingers through his hair, his mind going a mile a minute. “And with Paulson threatening to pull out…well, we’re just about done.”

    “Let me have another look.” Alison picked up the file and carefully made some quick notations in the margin. “Look, I can move some of these numbers around – transfer a little bit from here to there – and I can at least make it look like were solvent. If we show that to Paulson, it could buy us some time.”

    “Maybe,” Andy muttered, “but it’s not going to be enough. We don’t have enough funds or resources to make the changes he wants. If he pulls out, everyone else is going to follow right along behind him and that’s gonna leave me and John stuck with this rundown heap.” Alison’s eyes followed her father while he paced anxiously around the room. “Why in God’s name did I ever try to cut expenses by cutting those corners? Why did I let you talk me into….”

    “It’s gonna be okay, Dad. Trust me.” Alison put her hand on her father’s shoulder. “We’re not out, yet. Remember, I talked John into getting on board with this. Let me talk to Paulson. I bet I can charm him into falling in line.”

    “Well, if anyone can, you can. But… I don’t even think that’s gonna help.”

    Alison glanced down at her watch, making note of the time. “Dad, shouldn’t you be getting home to get ready?”

    “For what?”

    “Meg’s funeral is today. I thought you might want to go and pay your respects. She was married to Granddad for a while, after all.”

    “Don’t remind me of that disaster,” Andy grumbled. “And why the hell would I want to pay any kind of respect to that old hag. She’s the reason we’re in this mess to begin with. Damn that old woman to hell.”





    Rosehill Hospital, Research Lab



    “Alex, the results on those last round of tests just came in.” Dr. Tom Crawford burst through the door, charts in hand.

    “And?” Dr. Alex Marriott looked up from his microscope, anxious to hear good news. “Did the tests prove our theory?”

    “They proved it and then some.” Tom could barely contain his excitement. Over a year and a half’s worth of work was finally starting to come to fruition. “If these results hold, this could be the breakthrough we’ve been looking for.”

    “I’m just glad I could be a part of this.” Alex stuck out his hand and gave Tom’s a firm shake. “I know that I almost didn’t get to come aboard on this one, but….”

    “Old news, Alex. Old news.” Tom tried to hide his discomfort in discussing recent troubles, but when he realized he couldn’t he quickly changed the topic. “Your mother was here looking for you earlier.”

    “Yeah, she found me. She came by on the way over to the church for the funeral.” He paused, reflecting on all the difficulties of the past few days. “I’m really worried about Van. I hope she can make it through all this.”

    “Alex, Van is a strong woman; I’ve known her for years. She’s been through a lot in her life. If anyone can survive anything, it’s her.”



    “Gentlemen,” Dr. Andrew Marriott spoke up as he stepped into the lab, “I hear congratulations are in order.”

    “Damn right!” Tom beamed. “Those tests proved everything that we’ve been trying to say for months. I’m positive that with just a few more trials and some more research, we’ll really make significant progress to take to the pharmaceutical company and the FDA. This is going to help a lot of people, Andrew.”

    “I’m sure it will, Tom.” Andrew couldn’t bear to look at him – couldn’t bear to tell him the awful news. “Tom, I… I have to shut down the project. The hospital simply doesn’t have the funds to continue supporting your research on this.”

    “But, Granddad, I don’t understand.” Alex looked from Andrew to Tom and back again, trying to make sense of what his grandfather was saying.

    “Alex, Meg’s grant was the sole source of funding for this research project. When she pulled her backing….”

    “Meg pulled out?” Alex couldn’t hide his disbelief and disappointment. “Tom, you didn’t tell me she pulled out. I know she threatened to, but….” He slowly began to nod, realizing exactly what the reason was. “It was me, wasn’t it? Meg pulled out because of me.”

    “Meg pulled out for whatever twisted reason she had for pulling out this time,” Tom corrected. “Everyone knows how she was. She’d get an idea into her head and no one could convince her otherwise until she did something foolish, realized she’d hurt a lot of people she hadn’t intended to, and then begged everyone to forgive her. This is no one’s fault.”

    The ringing of the telephone interrupted the conversation and Tom answered.

    “Hello?”



    “Tom, it’s Amy,” Amy Marriott said softly on the other end of the line. “Can you talk?”

    “No,” he replied casually. “I’m here with Andrew and Alex right now.” He looked at the clock on the wall and noted the time. “We should be getting ready to go to the funeral in a few minutes.”

    “I know,” she sighed, “me, too. I still haven't decided whether I'm going or not. I don't know if I can put up with St. Van that long.” She took a lengthy pause. “Can we… see one another after the funeral?”

    “I don’t know. That just seems so….”

    “Oh, please, Tom. I need to see you.”

    “Okay,” he nodded, turning his back towards Andrew and Alex to shield them from the conversation. “After the funeral.”

    Amy hung up the phone and leaned back in her chair in her office. Everything had gone so much easier than she’d anticipated. Now, it was almost clear sailing.





    Rosehill Church



    “Oh, Aunt Van,” Vanessa Harper cried out when she saw her namesake as she walked into the church. “I’m so sorry.”

    “Thank you, dear,” Vanessa Sterling said softly, her arms around her grandniece. “We’ve all lost a great deal with Meg’s death.”



    “Aunt Van, I insisted on coming home just as soon as I found out the news,” Vanessa’s twin sister Megan Harper spoke up. “This is just a tragedy.”

    “Yes, dear, I’m sure you did.” While Van appreciated the sentiment, she wasn’t the least bit blind to her grandniece’s shortcomings. In fact, Van couldn’t help but smile at the thought of exactly how much Megan reminded her of Meg.



    “Girls, it’s so good to have you both home,” Betsy Harper took her daughters into her arms and hugged them tightly. “I just wish this was under better circumstances.”

    “We’re here, Mom. We’re a family. We come together in times like this.” Vanessa held Betsy’s hand tightly, attempting to give her support and comfort. “That’s what families do.”

    “Yeah, Mom, what she said.” Megan rolled her eyes slightly even though she’d tried her best to avoid it. Her demeanor wasn’t lost on her older sister Suzanne.



    “Cut the act, Megan,” Suzanne Prentiss spoke up in a firm whisper. “Everyone knows you didn’t want to come back her and interrupt your little ski adventure. You don’t have the slightest interest in your family. You never have.”

    “Don’t start, Suzanne.” Megan folded her arms tightly across her chest and glared at her. “I do care about this family. You and Vanessa don’t hold exclusive rights to that. Don’t you have a husband somewhere you need to annoy and nag instead of me?”

    “John’s tied up outside with a phone call.” Suzanne did her best to hide the irritation caused by her husband’s preoccupation with business, today of all days. “He’s having some complications with the Beaver Ridge project, I think.”

    “Probably more to do with Alison Marriott.” Megan tried to make it seem that she was muttering under her breath, but she’d really intended for Suzanne to hear her.

    “Oh, shut up, Megan.” Suzanne pushed past her and stormed out of the church in search of her husband.

    “Hmm,” Megan smirked. “I must’ve hit a nerve.”

    Meanwhile, across the church….

    “Betsy, are you all right?” Van asked with concern. “You’re not looking well.”



    “How like you,” Betsy smiled. “All of this going on around you and you’re worried about me.” She paused and glanced across the room towards her husband Ben who was deep in conversation with the minister. “I’m worried about him, Aunt Van. I’m afraid that all if this is too much for him – to lose his mother like this….”

    “Honey, we’re a strong family. We’re going to get through this.”

    “I just hope that the police find out who killed Meg quickly. I don’t know how much of this he can take.”

    “The Rosehill Police Department is one of the finest in the state, Betsy. I have complete faith that they’re going to find out who did this to Meg.”

    “I hope so, Aunt Van.” Betsy paused, looking down at her hands which had torn the Kleenex she’d held into shreds in anxiety. “He’s not like you, Aunt Van. You know that. He obsesses over things. He can be like a dog with a bone. Until we find out who did this, nothing else is going to matter – not work, not the kids, not me, not even himself….” She again looked over towards her husband as she tried to keep her own fears at bay. “I’m worried about him. I’m worried that this is going to end up eating him alive….”


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  23. Matt

    Series Premiere TOMORROW

    By Matt,

    Just a reminder that 'Love of Life - Return to Rosehill' premieres with daily episodes tomorrow!

    If you've forgotten the set up for the series from the pilot episode, please feel free to re-read it to refresh your memory.
  24. Matt
    FINAL EPISODES


    Arlene tells Ray she's going to shop and have lunch in Manhattan with her mother. Ray suspects she's really planning a secret rendezvous with Hal.

    When her mother cancels their lunch date, Arlene arranges to meet Hal. She tells him that she and Ray are having a baby. Hal informs Arlene that he's arranged to be transferred to New York City permanently. Meanwhile, Ray's jealousy grows after he calls Hal's office and learns he's out to lunch....

    Back home with Ray, Arlene lets him know she had lunch with Hal, for she wanted to say "hello." Ray retorts he'd be happy if Arlene never saw Hal again. Surprised by Ray's attitude, Arlene says his jealousy is ridiculous. Alone, Ray vows to get the truth about the baby -- even if he has to beat it out of Hal!

    Mr. Chang (Tran's foster father) informs Kim that Mrs. Chang has an inoperable malignant tumor. And Mrs. Chang wishes to spend as much time as possible with Tran before she dies. To grant his wife her request, Mr. Change offers to pay Kim and Tran's airfare to Denver, where the Changs have their home.

    Steve admits to Van that she was right when she tried to tell him his love for her was really only a crush. "I've been acting like a fool," Steve adds. Van counters that he acted the way he did out of loneliness. In the hallway, Joel overhears Steve telling Van that he loves her and admires her in a very special way. Will Joel tell Bruce what Steve said?

    Amy wraps up a locket Bruce gave to her mother, Loretta, in 1956, and place sit on his desk in an envelope. After opening the envelope, Bruce comments how strange this is -- he gave the locket to "someone" a long time ago....

    Kelly, Liane's exuberant younger sister, arrives in town to attend Rosehill University.

    The Trial Begins

    At Ben's trial, Dr. Marriott testifies that Betsy was rendered sterile after the accident and has a hazy memory of recent events. He admits Betsy's hairline fracture of the skull could have been caused by Ben hitting Betsy over the head with an oar, or when she bumped her head on the boat.

    Van is called to the stand next and testifies that Ben and Betsy had quarreled bitterly before departing for the lake.

    Mia, feeling revengeful and angry, testifies that she and Ben were lovers up until a week before the incident on the lake. She lies that she phoned Ben "on business" while he was at the lake with Betsy, but Betsy immediately began attacking her and demanding the details of their affair! Mia also fibs that Ben threatened her over the phone and then hung up. Furthermore, she reveals that Meg tried to bribe her into not testifying against Ben.

    Ray is hurt when he overhears Arlene confiding in Carrie that Hal is in love with her (Arlene), and has been ever since they met in Des Moines.

    On the witness stand, Carrie recalls the nightmares Betsy has had about the accident in which she begged Ben to take her back to shore. Carrie confesses Betsy doesn't remember Ben trying to kill a snake that supposedly crawled on her....

    Mr. Wilber, the fisherman who photographed the accident, testifies that he didn't see a snake when he helped Ben rescue Betsy. He also says they seemed very angry with each other and were arguing before the boat tipped over. Elliott then presents to the jury the pictures of en holding an oar over Betsy's head. Bruce points out that all the photos show are Ben and Betsy reacting to something in the boat... they stood up, causing the boat to overturn.

    On the witness stand, Ben explains he took Betsy out on the lake to find out what Mia had said to her over the phone that upset her so much. Ben adds that Mia has always been jealous of Betsy, because Betsy is the only woman he ever loved. He then relates how a snake had crawled on Betsy and declares he would have given his life to save her from it.

    Meanwhile, Betsy hears on a radio news report that Elliott has accused Ben of making up the story about the snake and that only one witness, "who lies gravely ill in the hospital," can corroborate the tale. Knowing she's the only one who can save Ben, Betsy sobs: "I have to remember the snake. I just have to remember...."

    While sleeping, Betsy hazily recalls Ben trying to kill the snake. When Betsy awakens, she tells Carrie she must get to the trial to help Ben before it's too late....

    In the courtroom, Ben elaborates that he did not hit Betsy with the oar -- he tried to hit the snake into the water, but Betsy panicked and stood up, causing the boat to overturn.

    After Bruce and Ben receive word that Betsy wants to testify, they both rush over to the hospital. Though Ben tells Betsy she's too weak to go to court, Betsy insists she can make it with his help.

    Accusations

    In New York, Ray accuses Hal of being in love with Arlene. Hal admits he loves Arlene, but nothing happened between them in the cabin, although he did make a pass at her. Hal says there's only one man in Arlene's life -- Ray. Unconvinced Hal's telling the truth, Ray charges him with being the father of Arlene's baby -- after all, she was on the Pill before the accident, and now she's suddenly pregnant!

    After he returns home, a bitterly angry Ray accuses Arlene of getting pregnant by Hal and continuing her love affair with him. Shocked that Ray believes she's been unfaithful, Arlene explains she went off the Pill two weeks before she got pregnant -- she didn't tell Ray about it because she wanted to surprise him when she became pregnant. Arlene admits it's true Hal is in love with her, and the reason she didn't tell Ray was that she knows how jealous he gets. Ray shouts he'll never accept a baby of Hal's like he accepted April, who's another man's child. As he's packing his things, Ray declares he's on his way out of Arlene's life for good! Hurt, Arlene screams: "Get out! I don't want to live with you anymore either!" Ray check into the Rosehill Inn.

    In his closing statement, Bruce says Ben loves Betsy and should be at the hospital with her while she's recuperating. And Bruce points out Elliott's evidence is circumstantial -- the fisherman didn't see Ben actually strike Betsy. "There was no crime. The was an accident," Bruce declares.

    Star Witness

    Elliott counters in his closing remarks that Betsy ran into the boat to escape Ben's rage and that he purposely knocked her into the water. "No, no, it didn't happen that way!" Betsy screams after bursting into the courtroom. Since Betsy's testimony could save Ben, Bruce motions for the defense to be reopened.

    Betsy testifies she went to the lake to straighten out her relationship with Ben and so they could come to terms with her pregnancy (by Elliott). Betsy sobs that if it hadn't been for Mia's cruel phone call, she (Betsy) and Ben would still be together and she'd still be carrying her baby. After Mia's phone call, Betsy explains, she ran into the boat hating Ben because she didn't know the truth yet, that Ben had ended his affair with Mia. "I think I remember... there was a snake," Betsy recounts, her voice faltering. "I was terrified. Ben really wanted to help me...." As Betsy's remembering the snake slithering up around her shoulder, she faints!

    While Ray and Arlene are in the midst of a heated argument over her pregnancy, Hal comes to the door. Hal swears the baby Arlene is carrying is Ray's. "Arlene has never loved me or made love to me, " Hal insists. "I'm the loser in this, Ray, not you!" When Ray and Hal get into a fist fight, Arlene pulls the two apart. After Hal has left, Ray sobs he cares about Arlene, he really cares.



    TO BE CONTINUED...

    27 YEARS LATER WHEN WE -- 'RETURN TO ROSEHILL'
    MONDAY, APRIL 23
  25. Matt

    Series Premiere Date Set

    By Matt,

    After well over a month of planning (as well as writing so that I can have a sufficient backlog of episodes "in the can" for the planned daily posting schedule), I can finally announce that "Love of Life" will return to the "airwaves" on Monday, April 23, 2007. The story of Vanessa Sterling and all the other residents of Rosehill will once again continue just over 27 years since we last checked in on them. Please join me as we "Return to Rosehill" on April 23rd.
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