"Strange isn't it?"
Michelle and Maria stood huddled on Coronation Street sharing a cigarette.
"What is?" Maria said.
"I haven't seen Carla in days. And Sally keeps on bugging me with issues happening at the factory. I have tried calling Carla and everything, and I've tried going over there to her place and knocking. No one will answer I am ready to call the police."
Maria looked down at the cobblestones; she really didn't care about Carla at the moment.
"It's just a cry for attention. Carla probably went away to a day spa or something and didn't bother to tell anyone. She probably wants you to call the police and to be perfectly honest it is immature what she is doing abandoning the company like that."
Michelle gave Maria an exasperated look.
"Oh Maria come off it. You and Carla need to make up already."
"Stop telling me that Michelle. Frankly I don't have to make up with anyone if I don't want to. I don't understand how you can defend Carla after everything she did, after everything she knew about Tony and his involvement in Liam's death. You spit on his memory making concessions for her!"
"Maria don't you even dare make a scene. Don't even try and lecture me about Liam's memory. You don't know all the things I had to forgive of both my brothers. You don't know all the things that Liam did to me, and how I forgave him for every single one of those things. Carla is my family Maria, we grew up together and I will always have her back. Maybe you don't care about her, but I do."
Michelle took one last suck of the cigarette and threw it to the ground. She cross the street without saying goodbye to Maria, she wanted to go try Carla's flat again. As she approached she saw an old man looking into Carla's windows.
"Can I help you sir?"
"The old man looked at her with stoic grey eyes.
"Uh no Miss. I was just walking around the neighborhood, enjoying the fixtures. Nice flat isn't it? Do you own it?"
"It's my sister in laws actually. I was just stopping by to check in on her. I don't know how she would feel about a stranger lurking around her place."
"Meant no harm by it lady."
Michelle's eyes fell upon a bundle of old newspapers he was holding his hands. He was trying to shove them away from her view.
"Are those Carla's newspapers?"
"Wouldn't know who that is miss."
"She's my sister in law. Are those her paper deliveries you are holding?"
"Just trying to clean up the neighborhood miss. It's my job and you are distracting me."
Michelle just noticed his uniform. He looked like a city worker, but she thought he should be retired by now. Perhaps she was just being paranoid. Maybe she should come back when he was done; she felt a little dumb asking him all these questions.
"Sorry Mr. but what is your name?"
"The name is Crawford ma'am."
"Sorry Mr. Crawford. It's just that I haven't seen my sister in law Carla Connor in days. I am starting to get worried. But since you are a city worker and probably work a lot of shifts, I was wondering have you seen any activity in this flat over the last few days."
"Miss, it's my first time in this area. I haven't really seen anything. But if I do, I'd be happy to tell you."
"Would you? Thanks a bunch. I wasn't really sure if I should just call the police or if I was overreacting."
"Maybe you are just overreacting miss. I have had my fair share of issues with my own kids. They're around your age but when they were younger, they used to disappear for days, weeks even, just partying and hopping around town trying to do something. Believe me my one daughter used to be all trouble. Experience has shown me that if someone doesn't want to be found, they won't be. I am sure your sister in law will come back in time. Don't sweat it."
"Well thank you Mr. Crawford, you are the most positive person I have met all week long. Be sure to tell me if you see anything. I live around at number 18 Coronation Street, so just come and knock or leave a note."
"No problem."
Michelle turned away from Carla's flat feeling more at ease. Maybe the old man was right, maybe Carla just wanted time. Still it would have been nice if she had told Sally and the other factory girls where she was going.
The old man watched as the Michelle turned the corner and checking to make sure no one was watching knelt down by the door of Carla's flat. In a small crack near the steps he squeezed around with hands until he felt a small cold thing.
Genius, he thought this day was going perfectly. Once his hand emerged from the crack he was holding a key, the key into Carla Connor's flat. It was exactly where Frank said it would be.
"Calm down Gordon, this is good news I don't understand you."
Tony sat in an interview room it was Tuesday afternoon and he was meeting with his lawyers. His parole hearing would be coming up soon, and he had to make sure everything was perfect. But everything was not perfect at the moment. The old man Crawford had been spying on Carla's house ever since he could remember. And had reported to Frank Foster that she hadn't been seen since Sunday evening. He was pissed and had called Kate to come visit him in the prison, the following Monday morning. Her plan would have to be put on hold. How could she screw with Carla's mind when Carla wasn't even around? Tony was only concerned with this setback at the moment.
"Don't you see Tony, if she doesn't show up at the parole hearing it's a good thing. You know how diligent she has been with telling the judge you need to be locked away forever, but if she doesn't show you will likely be released on parole. You have been the model prisoner, you have rehabilitated and you have expressed great remorse for your crimes," said his lawyer Mr. Cabot.
"There is the issue of Michelle," responded Tony. "What if she shows?"
"Michelle Connor hasn't showed for a parole hearing in years," said Frank Foster. He had his usual permanent smirk etched across his face.
Tony was annoyed that he even had to be here today, but Frank insisted talking face to face and frankly Tony couldn't stand him. He was glad his lawyers were there to act as a buffer zone between them. There was very little stopping him from reaching over the table and beating Frank Foster's ass.
"That's true," added Tony's other Lawyer Ms. Lawson. "Her not showing up for parole will broaden your chances. You are sure to be free in no time."
"Well that's what I'm paying you for aren't I? I better be free this time tomorrow, or I will have to consider some better lawyers. What am I spending my money on anyways?"
"Gordon, Gordon settle down my man," said Frank. "Ross don't mind him he is just being ungrateful. You and Phillip both have done an outstanding job at defending him."
Ms. Lawson beamed at Frank.
"I think we'd better call it a day shouldn't we Ross. We have gone over everything we can with Mr. Gordon for the day. All that remains is looking over some files and making sure everything is in it's right place. It would be no use for us to stay," added Mr. Cabot. He got out of his chair and went to pull out Ms. Lawson's chair.
Frank rose from his chair, "Shall I walk you both out?"
"No were fine," said Mr. Cabot. "You're not coming Mr. Foster?"
"Not at the moment. I have some business to discuss with Gordon. Don't worry it is nothing for you two to get worried about." Frank smiled and waved them out.
Tony thought of just how charismatic Frank was. He was almost as good as Tony himself. Once they were alone, Frank turned off the friendly switch.
"To business Gordon."
"You gave her the tapes then?"
"Yes, but not all of them. Frankly Gordon I think it is a stupid move. The woman is a loon, to think she calls herself a doctor."
"Never you mind. Just tell me, do you think I made a good choice with her? Do you think she could finish the job?"
"Well it depends, what exactly is the job Gordon. Outside of the vague instructions to destroy Carla Connor, what exactly is the plan?"
"All you have to worry about is your part Foster."
"And I've done my part. Crawford got her to my place and I gave her the tapes. Crawford even contacted me just before meeting you here, he found Carla's key. He is taking it to make copies as we speak. I have been contacting my friends in high places for months screwing with the databases for you, making sure Carla never gets her notices from the court about your parole. If any part of this plan fails it is on you and the doctor. You're the ones who couldn't even screw with her properly."
"We were doing just fine."
"Really? Well if that doctor had any sense she would have tried to build up Carla's trust before she started spewing all that crap. Subtlety is key."
"What would you know about it?" said Tony, and then it hit him. "You've been bugging her office haven't you?"
"Slow on the uptake Gordon. I have been for months now actually. As I said the Doctor is a Loon. She is absolutely horrid, you should find someone else, she should have built up Carla's trust."
"I have complete faith in Kate."
"Well then that makes you a fool. She is insane. But fine don't listen to me, but if any of this blows up in your face, the doctor won't be able to testify on your behalf without first hand accounts from Carla herself about malpractice. How will that hold up in court?"
"Maybe I won't let it get to that point."
"Really Gordon? Getting away with murder, once or twice maybe I can understand, but three times? The courts won't let you slide under the radar."
"That's only the ones they know about," Tony gloated.
Frank raised his eyebrows in skepticism, "Ah yes the tough guy act. Really rich, I could care less about the body count to tell you the truth; the point is you won't get away with it forever. And there is so much more you have to consider like the hidden shares invested in Underworld and your off shore accounts. This isn't completely about Carla you know, you have to use your head if you want to get revenge."
"I am using my head Foster, I just don't share all my plans."
"Clearly," Frank now rose from the table getting ready to call the meeting to a close. " I got to go, I have to get back to country side. But I just want to know, what were you thinking giving her those cassettes? They aren't exactly endearing to your cause."
"I've spent to much time telling her of Carla's delusions, I thought perhaps she should hear it all for herself. Plus they make for excellent material for all the therapy sessions."
"Hmmm," said Frank. "But they aren't delusions are they?"
" She doesn't know that. Now I got a question for you? Why didn't you give her all the tapes?"
Frank looked Tony dead in the eyes; "You don't really want her to hear all the tapes now do you? Imagine not just Carla, but Liam, and Maria all voicing the same suspicions. I mean she may be a loon, but even Dr. Harrington would figure it out. What are the chances that all these people just happen to have the same doubts about you, no one could ignore that."
"I wasn't talking about those ones, I meant all the tapes in that specific box. Which ones did you remove?"
"Which ones do you think? Do you really want Kate to find out everything there is to know about Louise? Remember what happened when Carla found out? We can't risk it Tony, don't push your luck lighting never strikes the same place twice. We don't need anything about Louise coming to the for front."
Frank walks towards the door and leaves. Crawford is calling again.
Tony sits at the table alone for a moment before the jailor comes to collect him. In good time everything gets out no matter how hard you try to hide it. It happened with Carla and Liam, it happened with Louise. No one could keep a secret from him for long, and he was at a point where he couldn't afford to keep all his secrets either.