Chapter 2

Author's note: The conversation between Michael and Kendall is word for word from the transcript, except what I changed in reference to his brother.

May 22, 2003 – Pine Valley

Zach approached the end of the corridor, noticing ahead where the cinder block walls morphed into iron bars. As he moved further along, he could hear voices from the end of the hall - a conversation that included his brother's voice and that of a woman. He slowed down before reaching the bars so he could eavesdrop. He turned slightly to look at the prison guard who had been following behind, and put his finger to his lips. The guard shrugged and leaned against the wall.

The conversation sounded heated. He heard the woman say, "Erica's not like your father."

Michael responded, "She's not? Kendall, as soon as she gets kicked off the Cambias board of directors, she'll need somebody to blame." Zach realized the woman must be Kendall Hart.

She continued, "Your father appointed her to that board."

Michael sounded incredulous, "Hmm, and you think I'm just going to let her have a say in the company that I've worked my whole life to take over? Don't think so. As soon as I get out of here, I'm going to kick her off that throne she thinks she's on. And if I can't get you to help me, I'll do it alone."

Kendall sounded bitter. "Is that all I ever was to you? A way to get Erica? Was there ever, like, one tiny, little second in all those moments that we spent together where you actually cared about me?"

Michael's response was dispassionate " Yeah. I did care about you. Might actually say that I loved you -- for a little while."

Kendall's voice was filled with contempt. "You don't know what love is."

Michael shot back, "Why? Because my definition of love is different than yours?"

Kendall's voice rose. "No, your idea of love is twisted."

Michael was derisive. "Yeah, and your idea of it is having your mother hold you in her arms and accepting you as her real daughter. No wonder you're so cold in the sack."

Kendall became furious. "Shut up, you pathetic, little man! You will never have your dream of running Cambias Industries because your father will never accept you, and you will never be half the man your brother is, from what I've heard about him!"

Michael started to shout, too. "Don't you say another word about my brother! And as for you and your part-time mother, if I have my way -- and I usually do -- this whole little power play's going to blow up in her face. And then she'll blame you, her rapist's spawn, for ever bringing me into this whole thing."

Kendall's voice became cold. "You really are a psycho, Michael."

Michael snorted. "Yeah, and you really are a pathetic little swamp girl, Kendall."

She hissed back, "Why don't you go to hell and rot there." Zach heard stomping feet as Kendall's guard opened the door leading into the corridor.

Michael shouted as she left, "Yeah, don't count on it!"

She stormed in Zach's direction, her long curly hair streaming behind her. She came to an abrupt halt as she realized she was going to run smack into Zach. She looked up at him, and in the dim lighting he barely made out large green eyes shining with fury and unshed tears. She was beautiful, much more so than the picture in the dossier indicated. With her slim dancer's build, she looked like a waif that would blow away in a stiff wind. This was the infamous troublemaker that his brother had apparently used in his latest schemes? Her eyes shifted quickly from anger and hurt to bafflement as she appeared to recognize him, but clearly knew not from where. Not wanting to deal with her right now, he slipped past her to continue down the corridor from whence she just came.

When Michael saw Zach, he looked annoyed. "Well, well. Looks like Kendall is a sorceress. She brought up the devil, and now here he is. But I suppose that's inaccurate. I'm the devil, not you. You're the good son, who would never conceive of doing anything unethical, much less illegal. Let me guess…the good son has come bestow his compassion and pity on the bad son."

Zach shook his head. "Put a sock in it, Michael. I'm ethical? Compassionate? You don't know me too well, do you?"

Michael laughed bitterly. "Oh that's right. You're not a more virtuous person – you're just better at not getting caught. So what would you have done in my situation? How would you have managed to steal the formula without getting caught?"

Zach sighed inwardly. So Michael was admitting it. "I wouldn't have stolen the formula. I would have invested in the R&D to develop one of my own – a better one."

Michael rolled his eyes. "You are virtuous, after all! Let me guess, you wouldn't have seduced the CEO's daughter, either?"

Zach looked down the hall where Kendall had disappeared. "Oh, I would have seduced her. But not for the same reasons."

Michael glanced in the same direction. "She wasn't worth the effort, in bed or out."

Zach shook his head. "You never did know a thing about women, Mikey."

Michael laughed derisively. "Oh, I know a bit more than you do about some women, Alex. Like a certain Latin beauty named Maureen."

Zach grew very still. "What the hell do you know about Maureen?"

Michael smiled wolfishly. "About a year ago, when I visited you in Las Vegas, I rummaged through your desk drawer when you weren't around. I found a picture of the two of you, and it had her name on the back. So I asked around. Don't worry, your employees are loyal to a fault. I couldn't get anything out of them at first. But one of them was a little more compliant after a drink…or five. She told me all about how happy you were when Maureen was in your life, and how unbearably difficult you were to work for when she left you abruptly. It was rumored that she didn't even say goodbye – just packed her clothes and took off. And for some reason you never bothered to try and find her. If it had been me, I would have found her - just to get some answers out of her before making it clear just what I thought of the bitch."

Zach reached through the bars and grabbed Michael's shirt. "I don't want to hear any more editorial comments on Maureen. All I want to know is why you brought her up, now. What is it you think you know about Maureen?"

Michael laughed. "I know where she is. Oh yes. I've run into her a couple of times since I saw that photo."

Zach let go of Michael's shirt. "Here? In Pine Valley?"

Michael narrowed his eyes. "Oh, I didn't say it was here. Its been over a year since I saw that picture. I've been around a lot of places since then. I can tell you that it wouldn't be too hard to find your little bird. So why don't you do that? Go find Maureen and reclaim your bliss. Maybe then you'll leave me the hell alone."

Zach took a deep breath and tried to focus. "Michael, I can't leave you alone. The old man has already abandoned you. Has my lawyer been here?"

Michael threw up his hands. "Oh yes, I got quite the third degree. He made me spill everything, and then refused to post bail. I hope you're here to pony up the cash, because I'm sick of all the unwanted visitors."

Zach hesitated. He had planned to post bail, but now that Michael admitted his crimes, he wondered whether he should. Certainly Michael deserved a fair hearing, and Zach doubted he would get that without his help. But the fact remained that he committed the crimes he was charged with. Zach would not be doing Michael any favors if he got off scot-free. Zach tapped his fingers on the bars. "I'm not going to pony up the cash, Michael. I think you need to get a good idea of what jail is really like. Then maybe when you're free, you will think twice about doing something so stupid for a man who is in no way, shape or form, worth it." Zach nodded towards the guard and was led out of the holding area and back down the corridor, Michael's curses hanging over him like a cloud.