Ed was sipping coffee and staring into space, when Barbara opened up the back kitchen door and walked in. Ed set down his coffee and stood up.
"Barbara. I was afraid I had driven you away for good."
Barbara smiled wanly at him. She still had her own apartment, that she had rented when she first came to Springfield. She had left the Spaulding mansion early this morning and went there to wash James's lust off of her, and find a change of clothes.
"I stayed at my apartment last night," she lied, "and I'm here to pack."
Ed looked down for a bit, then raised his eyes to stare into hers.
"I didn't mean to get sucked back into Holly's life. But she can't help what's happening to her. James is responsible for her life coming apart and Fletcher has all but abandoned her. Roger is taking advantage, that much I'm sure of. I left him here with her yesterday and now I can't find her anywhere."
"Oh," Barbara said, feigning sincerity, "then why don't you file a police report? It might make you feel better."
Ed looked at her in confusion.
"You're serious? You wouldn't have a problem with that?"
"Ed, I think you've misunderstood me. I'm here to pack. I have no intention of being part of Holly and James's drama. So if filing a police report makes you feel better, then do it." she said and began to move past him to head towards the foyer where the stairs were.
But Ed grabbed her arm!
"Barbara, I thought you more than anyone, would be able to feel for what Holly was going through! You were married to James, you know what he is capable of!"
Barbara pulled her arm from his grip.
"I don't know that James has done anything but be secretly married to Holly at one time. I mean really, Ed. Did James tell Holly to choke me in that parking lot? Did James tell her to throw bleach on Fletcher? Did James tell her to take up with Roger Thorpe again? Look, how you help Holly is on you. I don't want any part of it. Now if you don't mind, I'm just going to be getting my things."
Ed said nothing to her stinging words. He watched her walk away and for the first time, questioned whether this was indeed worth it? Barbara Ryan had been the first woman he had cared about in a long while, ever since Eve died.
And he had allowed Holly's situation to end that.
And yet why wasn't he more sad about it?
Ed shook his head. Barbara just didn't understand. Holly would've never left this house yesterday, at least not with Roger. And he planned on taking Barbara's suggestion. He was going down to the police department and filling out a report.
But when Ed walked into the local precinct, he walked up on Fletcher, Alan-Michael and Detective Cutter, who were discussing something that Ed thought was just out right ridiculous! Alan-Michael caught sight of his uncle and tried to shush Cutter and Fletcher, but it was too late.
"What did you say?!" Ed snapped. Cutter clenched his jaw, then walked away. He was going to leave Fletcher Reade to handle this. They should've never been openly discussing the case anyway.
Fletcher, who's eyesight was even better than it had been yesterday, faced Ed.
"Good morning, Ed."
"Is it?! Did i just hear you trying to blame HOLLY for Luncinda's assault?! Why are you here? Filing a report against your own wife?! Alan-Michael what do you have to do with all of this?!"
Alan-Michael cringed at his uncle's tone!
"Uncle Ed, I'm just helping Fletcher get around!" he half stammered.
"It's true, Ed. Alan-Michael is my eyes and ears. He drove me here to turn in some evidence."
"Against Holly?"
"Ed, she has had some kind of nervous breakdown! And covering up her crimes isn't helping her!"
Ed ignored Fletcher and pulled Alan-Michael away from him.
"You listen to me, young man! You have more serious concerns than getting in the middle of a marriage squabble. James is trying to kill everyone in your family! He murdered Phillip so instead of framing innocent women, help the police catch him!"
"Uncle Ed," Alan-Michael said in a low voice, "believe me, I am. It may not look like it, but I am."
"I don't understand."
"You're not supposed to. Nick is in on this too. Fletcher is not."
"Is framing Holly for a crime she didn't commit, part of this?" Ed now whispered. Alan-Michael pulled Ed even further away from Fletcher.
"No," Alan-Michael lied, "Holly will not be hurt. Just trust me, okay? And by the way, you should look after yourself. James is still very much obsessed with Barbara. And he'll be looking to get rid of anyone that's in his way."
"Well you don't have to worry about Barbara and me. We broke up." Ed told him. He then walked away from his nephew and up to Fletcher.
"You're a bum!"
"Hey!" Fletcher snapped.
"You were a bum when you tried to put the moves on Maureen, you were a bum when you acted as if you loved Holly enough to be a proper husband to her and now you are a first class bum, for running out on her when she needs you most!"
"Why are you here, Ed? I mean why did you come down to the police station? Surely not to call me a 'bum'?" Fletcher asked sarcastically.
"I can assure you Fletcher, if you knew, you wouldn't care." Ed said and moved past him towards Frank Cooper. Alan Michael walked back over to Fletcher.
"I'm sorry about that."
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Fletcher said, "Ed and I are just coming from two different places. Holly can't run from what she's doing. And if this is a case of some sort of mental breakdown, then I want to face it with her."
Alan-Michael raised a brow.
"You mean you want a reconciliation with her?"
"I do still love my wife, despite what's happened. I know to many it looks as if I have a crummy way of showing it, but I do. But I'm also not going to help cover up any crimes. Holly got herself in this mess by making up that story about Stenbeck."
Alan-Michael said nothing to that. He had been concerned, briefly, that Fletcher had feelings for his wife, and thus, wouldn't appreciate what Alan-Michael and Nick were getting ready to do. But Fletcher believed his wife had made up things, with regards to James. He didn't believe her. To Alan-Michael, that didn't sound too much like there would be any reunion between Fletcher and Holly, once Holly realized that, if she didn't already.
"I'm just going to say goodbye to Uncle Ed, then we can get going." Alan-Michael told Fletcher, before walking away from Fletcher and easing down a hallway that was opposite of where Ed was. He walked up to the head lab tech, and with a nod, slipped him an envelope.
"Make sure that there are two different results." Alan-Michael told the man. The lab tech nodded, took the envelope and walked away. When Cutter got the lab results back on the paint can, it would not be traced as the weapon of choice in Lucinda Walsh's assault.
But Alan-Michael had no doubt that it was. He would be given the real results. And the lab tech would be given the word to admit he had made a 'mistake' and run the test over, thus producing the correct results, if Roger Thorpe didn't acquiesce to his and Nick's plan to get rid of James Stenbeck.
Roger would have a very interesting day.
He had just arrived back from Bay City, where he had taken Holly/Hayley last night. Awhile back, he had purchased the estate of a man that he had considered an old family friend(meaning a friend of his father's), Mac Cory. Mac had died some years back and his widow, Rachel Cory had sold the home and left for Europe.
Roger had deposited Holly/Hayley there, with strict instructions to limit her comings and goings until he came back. Holly/Hayley, sensing this was more than just some out-of-town trip, did as he asked-sort of. After giving Roger a 'special goodbye', that lasted longer than either one of them had anticipated, Holly/Hayley watched him leave via a window, ran upstairs to shower and change, then jumped into a car and drove two hours to the city that was in between Springfield and Bay City.
Oakdale.
Holly/Hayley had managed to learn that Lucinda had survived! She was just unsure if she was being looked after at her own home or in some residential nursing home. But the plan had never been for Lucinda to get better and then tell someone that SHE was the one that had banged her on the head!
Holly/Hayley had plans to smother the old witch! And if she could've conceivably dragged her back to Springfield and tossed her on the Spaulding lawn again, she would have done so. But there was no time. Lucinda shouldn't even be remotely conscious!
Holly/Hayley didn't want to think about her blackouts. She didn't want to let on how scared she was becoming, because it was pretty damned scared! Dr. Weston was a quack! There was no way what was happening to her was normal. No way in hell! Roger had said that they would see a doctor back in Bay City. She was all for it. After she offed Lucinda!
Holly/Hayley stepped on the accelerator and sped up behind the only other car on the seemingly deserted highway. There was no way in the hell this car was even doing the required 55 miles per hour! Holly/Hayley zoomed around it and just when she was about to get in front of the car, she clipped it slightly!
"Oops!" Holly/Hayley said, as she sped off. But the car she had grazed, sped up behind her. Damn! she didn't need this now!
The injured car's driver began honking! Holly/Hayley slowed down, got back into the other lane and let the car catch up. Holly/Hayley didn't even look over as she displayed her middle finger, then sped off again!
The other driver, one Ms. Alexandra Spaulding Stenbeck, was appalled! That woman had looked like Holly Reade! But why the hell would Holly have been in Bay City?! She almost would've had to have been to be on this stretch of highway! No, it couldn't be and yet...Alex stepped on her accelerator, determined to find out if her suspicions were true. And wisely, she decided not to chase her down, but follow at a discreet distance.
A half an hour later, Holly/Hayley stopped at a gas station. As she was pumping her gas, Alex pulled in and parked as if she were going in. But she turned in her seat, so that she could get a good look at the woman pumping gas a few feet away.
There was no question. It was Holly!
Alex was about to get out of her car, when she decided that for the first time in awhile, she had an advantage. She was going to continue to follow Holly wherever she was going to. And Alex had no doubts whatsoever, that wherever this tramp was going, would lead to someone's being very sorry to see her.
Holly/Hayley paid for her gas, then got into her car and sped off. Alex did the same.
When Roger returned to his apartment, he found Jack Snyder WAITING INSIDE! Roger refrained from slamming the door.
"Jack? What brings you by uninvited?" Roger asked, casually looking through his mail.
"I suppose you heard about what happened the other day?"
Roger tossed down the mail.
"Yes. That was rather sloppy work on that warrant, wasn't it? You didn't even get Holly's name right."
Jack cleared his throat.
"I've tried to be fair here, Roger. So I'm just going to lay all my cards out on the table: I don't believe that the Holly Reade that this town knows, could've done any of the things she's being accused of, unless James was drugging her in some way. We are willing to make allowances for that. But I need to talk to her. And I can't seem to find her anywhere. She was supposed to be living with Ed Bauer. He filed a police report earlier and claimed that Holly was last seen with you. Where is she?"
"I have no idea," Roger said coolly, "I did go and see her yesterday but she was a bit persnickety. The conversation didn't get very far."
"Persnickety? Why?" Jack asked.
"Because you had just made her do a perp walk through her own newspaper. This town is gossiping about her and she doesn't know anything, Jack! And from what I understand, Ariel Aldrin is quite the liar. I don't believe this incident Holly is being accused of participating in, ever happened."
"So is Blake a liar as well?" Jack challenged him.
"Blake is just confused, no thanks to Stenbeck. Ariel probably is as well."
"So you don't know anything about where Holly could've went after you saw her at the Bauer home?"
"No. She was angry with me. The good Dr. Bauer has convinced her that I know more about her case than I really do. I don't." Roger said calmly.
"I don't get you! I thought you cared about Holly?"
"I do."
"Right! Something is missing here! Holly has been claiming that she doesn't remember things. Was it possible she asked you to fill in some blanks and she didn't like the answers she received?"
Roger shrugged.
"Maybe."
"You know, I had the Bureau drop their investigation of you with regards to the sabotage of that Spaulding plane, thinking I could get some real cooperation out of you!"
"And you had it until you tried to pin Stenbeck's crimes on Holly. I told you about that Dr. Weston lead. But instead your chasing this Holly thing..."
"Oh, we did follow up on it, Roger. And it not only didn't pan out, but it didn't make sense." Jack said. Roger tilted his head.
"Why?" he asked, but he was afraid of what he would hear.
"Because Dr. Carl Weston is married to Ariel Aldrin, and has been for the past 10 years. And neither one of them as seen James in about that many years. I have to get going. I think you know where Holly is. You have 24 hours to produce her, or it will become common knowledge that the FBI is looking for her." Jack said and walked towards the door, he glanced back at Roger before opening and closing the door behind him.
Damn! Roger thought, as he ran a hand down his face. The man that he knew as Carl Weston, probably stole the identity of the man Ariel Aldrin was married to. Not that Roger needed Weston for anything, but still, he had hoped with a bit of careful planning, that the focus of the Stenbeck investigation could be put on Weston and not Holly.
His doorbell rang. Thinking Jack had returned with another threat, Roger whipped open the door, then stopped short.
Barbara Ryan was standing on the other side of the door, wearing a tan trenchcoat and holding a bottle of champagne.
"Barbara. What brings you by?" Roger asked, moving aside so she could come in. Barbara walked in, turned, then dropped her coat.
She was wearing nothing, of course.
Roger slowly closed his apartment door, took the bottle from her hands and walked over to his mini bar to get glasses. There was a leafy plant next to that bar, where that sexy minx Hayley had set up a camcorder, so they could watch their lovemaking(God, he missed her just thinking about that!).
Roger slyly pressed the record button, poured the champagne, turned and walked over to give Barbara her glass.
"Cheers!" he said, clinking her glass. Barbara held his gaze as they drank, then set her glass down on a nearby table.
"I take it by your silence that you're awestruck?" Barbara asked casually.
"Surprised would be more like it. Tell me, what have I done to earn this 'naked visit'?"
Barbara smiled.
"I'm your new next door neighbor."
"I didn't know I had an old one."
"Well I'm sure that's because Holly...or should I say, 'Hayley' and yourself were busy in here, doing God knows what."
Roger now set his own glass down.
"James told you about Hayley. In exchange for?"
"Me. It was worth it."
"Does Ed think so?" Roger countered.
"We broke up." Barbara replied and closed the distance between them, rubbing herself against Roger.
"Why the sudden interest?" Roger asked carefully.
"Who says there is any? I'm just here to tell you that I'm your new neighbor and that at anytime, I could tell Jack about Holly's other persona, not to mention her part in what happened to poor Ariel. See, I think 'Hayley', Dr. Weston and those mysterious code words, are the missing pieces the authorities need to make a case against James and Holly." Barbara purred.
"And what do you want to keep quiet?" Roger asked slyly.
"Just a little of your time. We could be great friends. Better friends than you are with a crazy woman with two personalities."
"Hmmm." Roger said and moved away from her. He then walked over to the plant, pulled out the camcorder and faced her.
Barbara's smirk melted.
"What the hell is that?!"
"A tape of your sauntering in here naked and blackmailing me for sex or God knows what. The first person that is going to get a copy is James. Somehow I doubt he's going to be willing to let you go, after you let him touch you again. The next copy will go to your son, Paul, then Ed, then to the television stations...oh and Jack Snyder."
"Oh please!" Barbara scoffed. "If anyone found out about Holly's Hayley Persona, we'd both be the losers. But I do get the hint."
And with that, she picked up her trenchcoat off of the floor, dusted it off and then put it on.
"We're still neighbors, I still know about Hayley and I will turn Holly in, in a hot minute if you get in my way in this town. Are we clear?"
"Crystal." Roger said with amusement, then watched as Barbara sauntered out of his apartment. THAT, had been a close one! He walked over to the phone and dialed the number for the former Cory house in Bay City. After ten rings he hung up. He didn't even want to know why Holly had not answered. But he needed to find out. He walked over to a safe, stored the 'Babs Tape' inside, closed and locked it, then went up the stairs towards his bedroom. It was time to get some more things packed for a more permanent stay in Bay City.
James walked down the stairs and made his way to the dining room, feeling refreshed, triumphant and ready to take on anything. Barbara could act as if she hated him, but she hadn't been anything close to hateful last night in bed.
And he had no intention of letting her 'once' ultimatum stand.
Hope was sitting alone in the dining room, looking sort of surly. She pushed back her plate and stood up when he entered.
"The dining room is all yours. I'm leaving." she announced. But James blocked her way.
"What is this? I was really looking forward to your company."
"Why? I saw Barbara Ryan sneaking down the back steps this morning! How could you? I just thought you should know that I plan on telling my Uncle Ed what I saw!"
But James continued to make escape impossible.
"Why would you do that, Hope? Why would you care?"
"Maybe I don't want my uncle hurt by your tramp, ex-wife!" Hope snapped. In response to her slanderous words against Barbara, James ripped Hope's v-neck blouse and let it fall in tatters to her waist!
She wore no bra!
James grasped her breasts in his hands and gently crushed her soft flesh over and over again. Hope bit her lip to keep from moaning.
"You don't think I did a little checking up on ALL of my family, dear? I know when Alan was sent to prison, your alimony came up kind of short, didn't it? His lawyer had it cut off. And we know how expensive nursing school can be...you couldn't touch Alan-Michael's money...how did you get by?" James asked slyly.
"I think you know how!" Hope snapped, wrenching herself away from him. She then held the tatters of her blouse over her breasts.
"I do indeed. And if you don't want your son to find out that you were hooking in Bay City, you'll leave this house by tonight. I don't need anymore trouble from anyone. And I won't stand for your causing trouble for Barbara either. Are we clear?"
Hope nodded and James left the dining room, suddenly not hungry. Hope struggled to catch her breath. She would think of an excuse to tell Alan-Michael, as to why she was leaving Springfield. By tonight.
