O'ROURKE ENTERPRISES & HOLDINGS INC.

ENTERENCE

It hadn't taken long for Tessa to break multiple traffic laws to get to the tower. The headquarters of Michael O'Rourke's global enterprise, commonly referred to as 'The Ivory Tower'. It was a twenty story office building, all curved glass, steel, and stone easily mistaken for ivory. O'Rourke was stenciled prominently in black in stone above the glass doors, the only marker for this building.

"No, listen, it it's gonna take at least a couple of hours for Sam to get that arrest warrant," Tessa was telling Gabriel over the phone as she got out of her car and headed up to the building.

Men in tailored business suits, do doubt carrying concealed weapons underneath their jackets, flanked the glass double doors. When she approached, the doorman on the left opened the door for her. On the other side, two more men, mirroring the ones outside, stood flanking the inner doors.

"Don't give up that list for any reason."

The enormously intimidating lobby was like the outside, glass, steel, and ivory. In the forward center was the ivory-detailed front desk. On either side of the desk were two security check lines. Like in court houses or important federal buildings, there were uniformed security guards operating the lines. The left of the front desk was for employees – merely present you pass and you can head back to the elevator banks. The same for guests and visitors on the right, but they had to walk through a metal detector. Security seemed to have increased since last Tessa was here.

Tessa went to the employee line. Behind the front desk was Olivia, the receptionist. She was a very attractive, well groomed, blonde woman who smiled pleasantly at Tessa as she approached. Tessa often had lunch with her and the other secretaries when she worked here. It was always a nice thing to have, the trust and respect of those who are invisible in a business.

"Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can." She hung up with Gabriel and smiled at Olivia, flashing her pass. "Morning, Olivia."

She was about to step around the front desk and head to the elevator bank, but Olivia reached out a hand to stop her. "Sorry, Ms. Reagan, but you aren't cleared."

The security officer ushered her away from the entrance. "Wh-when have I ever not been cleared?"

"Never…till today." Olivia said hesitantly. She knew she was in an awkward spot, biting the inside of her cheek was her tell. "Let me see what I can do, okay?" She turned to her computer and typed for a moment. She slowly turned to Tessa "I'm supposed to take your hard pass…"

"I'm denied?" Tessa said, stunned. She would have thought this a joke if it had happened a week ago. "Olivia, you know me. Me?"

"Look, I'm sorry." Olivia gently took Tessa's pass out of her hand. "You could still come in if you had an appointment." Olivia was trying to find a way around this that wouldn't get her in trouble. "Do you-"

"Is there a problem?" Someone behind Tessa asked. She turned and say that it was David Howser, O'Rourke E&H vice president Charlotte Davis' second. Technically, in the line of the company's secession, the fifth most powerful person running the company. He was in his mid- to late-thirties, controlled black curly hair, and friendly chocolate eyes. Tessa counted him among her friends when she worked her. He smiled dazzlingly at Olivia and Tessa. "Because she makes 'em go away for a living, and she's very good."

"M-Ms. Reagan isn't on the list, sir." Olivia explained the situation.

Startled, David looked down at Tessa. "What'd you do now?"

Tessa sighed. "Don't ask. Can you get me in? I need to talk to Christopher."

David nodded, placing his hands on his hips. "She can come in with me. I'll vouch for her."

"I'm sorry, but she needs an appointment, or else I can't let her in." Olivia stood her ground as politely as she could.

"What's your extension, Olivia?" David asked as he pulled out his cell from his jacket pocket.

"3838." Confused, she looked from Tessa to David. "Why?"

"Hang on." David punched in numbers to his phone. He held it up to his ear, waiting. Moments later, Olivia phone began to ring. "Okay. Answer it."

"Hello." Olivia said flatly into the phone.

"Hi. This is David Howser, the Vice President's Chief of Staff. I need a walk-on pass for Tessa Reagan." As David was talking, Olivia wordlessly handed a walk-on pass to Tessa. "Thank you, Oliva."

"Thank you." Tessa smiled at Olivia. She held up the pass for the security guard as she walked past him. She walked with David to the elevators. "Thank you."

"So what's up?" David hit the elevator's call button.

"You're gonna want to hear this."

MNT. SINAI HOSPITAL

CYNTHIA BAXTER'S ROOM

Donna stood outside the hospital room, watching the tormented girl through the window sleep quietly.

"Don't you hate hospitals?" A man leaning against the nurse's station asked. In the reflection on the window, Donna could see that he was good looking. Tousled brown hair, stubble that's not yet a beard, and a green and tan flannel that gave him an outdoorsmen look.

"Yeah, a little." Donna replied.

"Is that your sister?" The man asked.

Donna turned around. He had a notebook in his hands. He could be a reporter trying to get the early scoop…..or he could be a concerned family member of another patient, taking noted of what the doctor says. Donna's mom was like that. Not quite sure what to make of the man, she answered carefully.

"She's a friend."

Sensing the hesitation, the man stuck out his hand. "Gregory Williams."

"Donna Martin."

Gregory pushed himself off the nurse's station and came to stand beside Donna at the window. He nodded to Cynthia. "Is she gonna be okay, your friend?"

"Yeah, I think so." She nodded, smiling.

"That's good, really good." Gregory smiled. After a moment, he asked about her injuries. "She tried to kill herself? I was walking by here earlier. I saw the bandages on her wrists." When Donna didn't answer, he pressed on. "Her name's Cynthia, right? She ever try anything like this before?"

Donna smiled as politely as she could. "Gregory?"

He smiled back. "Yeah?"

"Which news outlet do you work for?"

His smile dropped. "The "New York Sun"." He looked her over more carefully. "And who do you work for?"

"I don't work for anyone, and I'm not going to talk to you, and Cynthia can't talk to you," She jerked her head to the side, motioning Cynthia's motionless body, "because she's been knocked out on sedatives for the past day and a half. She can't really talk to anyone, especially a reporter." Her face, as well as tone, became hard. "So you should probably go."

Donna hated reporters; especially reporters that couldn't be bribed or reporters that crept into hospital rooms while the victim was asleep or knocked out to take 'exclusive' photos of whatever crime took place. She didn't like reporters out of personal experience.

O'ROURKE ENTERPRISES & HOLDINGS INC.

OFFICE OF CHRISTOPHER NEILSON

Chris' warm personality did not fit the cool décor of his office. In front of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, there was a dark wooden desk that multiple people could comfortable sit around. Everything was ivory or cream colored – the walls, the floor, the ceiling. All walls except one; it was ocean blue. It was personalized with various photographs of Chris with important people, friends and family, spliced with shelves lined with several awards and thick, expensive books.

Apart from the personalized wall, his office was the exact opposite of Chris – cold, clean, impersonal. It was more of Michael's style.

Normally, Chris would be sitting in the dark leather chair behind his desk, carefully watching who ever sat in the white chairs opposite the desk. Yet now, after Tessa shared the news about Justice Ronald Kurt, he was pacing in front of the windows, gold tie loosened around his neck, hands on hips. David and Tessa both stood in front of his desk like two school children called before the principal.

"This was our guy. You chose this guy. He was your pick. You loved this guy." He was waving his finger angrily towards Tessa and David. They were, in fact, the two who spear-headed the endorsement search. "Michael loves this guy! He recommended him to the President of the United States over dinner at the White House!" He shook his head. "Kurt is the Clarence Darrow for the 21st century. When he's not writing opinions for the tenth circuit, he herds cattle on his ranch in Wyoming. He's flawless. You know how I know?"

He turned to Tessa and David. He didn't wait for their reply. "We vetted him; this mulit-billion dollar company vetted him. As well as the White House and all of their outlets. Do you know what they found? Nothing. The man is a saint." He walked back to his desk, pointing behind him at the cityscape through the window. "Which is why Michael O'Rourke stood in front of the press and endorsed the President's nomination of him to the highest court in the land."

"Which I could have stopped, if you hadn't cut off my access." Tessa mockingly told him.

"You know why I cut off your access." Chris growled. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop – Chris' barely controlled anger, David' confusion in the turn of their blame-game, and Tessa's hurt curiosity in how he found out. But who was she kidding, it was Christopher Neilson, he was just as good as Tessa.

"He's on the list, Christopher," She said calmly after a moment, absorbing his anger. They'll deal with the other 'situation' later.

"And my goddamn husband works in your office! Why the hell could one or both of you not pick up the phone and give me a heads up?!" His anger was deflecting. He was at least calming down….fractionally. He turned to David. "How did you miss this?"

"I didn't. She's wrong." Tessa scoffed, rolling her eyes. David shrugged. "Sorry, Tess, but Kurt's a boy scout."

"Oh, come on, David. You and Charlotte should be thrilled. Kurt's always been too far left for the Republican base."

"Personally, yeah, he wouldn't be my choice," David nodded. Tessa looked at Chris and waved her arm accusatorily at David. David spoke louder. "But I'm a team player, Tess, and so is the V.P. Want a cliché sports metaphor? Here you go – when the manager asks you to put a guy in, you put him in."

Tessa placed her hands on Chris' desk and leaned forward, engulfing his attention. "You can't endorse Kurt. You have to retract. 23 years ago Ronald Kurt slept with a high-end hooker. More. Than. Once."

"Maybe we'll be fine." David said optimistically. "Confirmation hearings are in two weeks, four tops. Maybe this won't come out."

Tessa held her ground, starring Chris down. She spoke low and even, making sure the severity of what she was saying was understood. "It's a dirty little secret, and dirty little secrets always come out, don't they, Chris?"

Chris didn't look away as he said, "David, give us a minute."

"No." Tessa pushed herself off the desk, stepping back. "No, no. No need. I'm going," She picked her purse off the armchair.

"Tessa-" Chris said, warningly as she opened the door.

"No." Tessa turned around, fire in her eyes. "I could have stood back and watched you all burn, but I didn't."

"Your Catholic morality finally kicking in?" He scoffed. "Daddy would be so proud."

She ignored his comment and pointed to them both, "Get yourself a backup nominee."

She let the door slam on her way out, the heavy wood vibrating on its hinges. Ms. (Margot) Creech, Chris' aide and receptionist jumped in her seat. Tessa could tell she had to bite her tongue to keep from saying whatever rude thing she was thinking.

Tessa was so lost in her head, she hadn't noticed she made a wrong turn on her way to the elevator bank until her attention was captured by flashing lights from cameras. She focused and found herself outside the large conference room. Michael was inside with Justice Ronald Kurt, posing for pictures and making small talk with him and the press. Tessa hadn't meant to stand there, but it was too late. Michael spotted her. His camera smile faltered as he stood there, struck. She turned around, but not in time to see Michael turn to a staffer standing beside him and whisper in her ear.

She was nearly to the elevators when the staffer caught up to her, slightly out of breath. "Ms. Reagan!" She called out, but Tessa ignored her. "Ms. Reagan, Mr. O'Rourke would like a moment with you."

Ahead, the doors of an elevator were beginning to close. Tessa rushed faster to catch them. She had made it in time to slither in before the doors closed.

"Please tell him I'm busy." Tessa had enough time to say before the steel doors closed in the frightened staffers face. She could tell the young woman did not want to go back to Michael empty-handed, but Tessa could honestly care less.

OFFICES OF TESSA REAGAN & ASSOSIATES

CONFERENCE ROOM

While Tessa changed in her office, Gabriel and Lyall were sitting around the conference table, deciphering Sharon's list. There were take-out boxes, empty Starbucks cups, and various papers strewn around the table.

"Hey, I don't understand half of this. Is this some kind of code?" Lyall turned is computer around and pointed to his screen. "What does 'hardwood floors' mean? Gabriel?"

"Why would you think that I would know?" Gabriel muttered, making marks on his copy of the list.

"Because you frequent whores."

"I do not frequent-" He shot back defensively, but stopped when Lyall raised his eyebrow. "I used to. Before Christopher. Are you happy?"

"Happy that you exploited young men for sex? Not really." He tapped his screen again. "Hardwood floors."

"It means there's no carpeting." Lyall looked slightly taken aback, so Gabriel added, "To match the drapes."

"And, uh," he couched, clearing his throat, "what about, uh, 'sunny day'?"

"On a sunny day, you don't have to wear a raincoat."

"And all of the languages these people speak, those are all things?"

"Yes, Lyall, those are all things." Tessa smiled as she walked out of her office. She had changed into something more comfortable - fine a pale rose wool knit, V-neck, pull-over sweater paired with dark denim jeans. She was currently barefoot. As she walked over to the table, she French braided her hair. "Where are we?"

"Almost done with the list of names." Lyall gestured to his second computer. He put the names through a program and every time a name was decoded, it would be added to their list.

"Any word from the U.S. attorney?"

"Nothing. Maybe he couldn't get a warrant." Gabriel said hopefully, leaning back in his chair. Yet not a second later, there was loud knocking at their door.

"Police! Open up!"

Tessa raised her eyebrow and Gabriel shrugged. "He got a warrant."

Lyall and Gabriel got out of their chairs and followed Tessa to the lobby. She unlocked the doors, opening them a crack, just enough for Sam to hand her the warrant. When it was in her hands, she opened them the rest of the way. What she was surprised to see was her older sister, Erin Reagan-Boyle, walking in behind Sam.

"Oh come on," Tessa sighed. She handed the warrant to Gabriel to look over carefully.

"Oh, yeah," Sam smiled, as if remembering Erin was with him, "I thought I'd bring along your sister, the Assistant District Attorney of New York, to make sure you didn't pull anymore stunts like last night."

Tessa stepped in close to Sam like she had done last night. "Which one," she said breathlessly, "The one with me on the desk or the one you get your ass kick? Because both were equally enjoyable."

Sam leaned down, bring their faces closer, whispering back, "Where's my madam?"

"Come on, Sam." Tessa said, stepping back, crossing her arms. "You're after Sharon Marcelles for the publicity and for getting your name in the paper and for upping your shot at Attorney General the next time there's a democrat in office."

"I'm after Sharon Marcelles because she's a criminal. Are you seriously the patron saint of streetwalkers now? Is this a catholic thing?" Tessa rolled her eyes. Sam took a step closer, his finger lightly jabbing her in the chest. "Bring her out, or I'll go in to get her."

"Do not touch her." Erin interjected, stepping up. She looked stunned that a man in Sam's position would be acting like this, and not more professional.

"Lyall," Tessa called over her shoulder, not breaking eye contact with Sam. "Go downstairs and make sure we don't have any press waiting to give Samuel a photo op."

"On it." Lyall looked Sam up and down before walking through the officers at the door.

"The madam, Tessa. Now." Tessa could tell she was wearing down Sam's saintly patience towards her.

"Gabe, get Sharon." Tessa's cell began to ring. It was Donna. Sam was about to open his mouth, but she held up her finger to silence him. "What? Did you get a name?"

"Gregory. His name was Gregory Williams, and he writes for the "Sun"."

"Hold on." She turned around when she heard Sharon's heels clicking on the hardwood. "Don't say anything to anyone." She turned back to Sam when the police officers came back for Sharon. "I want a private holding cell, no gen pop, and recently cleaned." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flash of metal. "Handcuffs? Because the nice grandma is so dangerous."

"We'll get you out in no time," Gabriel told Sharon, comforting her with a gently squeeze.

"Thank you, dear," she winked at him.

Sam motioned with two fingers for the officers and Sharon to proceed downstairs. He tilted his head. "Dinner?"

"When I get your case dismissed, sure." She smiled politely and Sam chuckled. He turned and left. Erin raised her eyebrow.

"Seriously?"

Tessa shrugged. "He knows the best take out."

Erin kissed Tessa's cheek. "You're playing with fire. Try not to get burned?"

"If I do, you can say I told you so at Sunday dinner."

"Counting on it," Erin called back as she walked out the door.

Tessa's smile dropped as she brought her phone back up to her ear. "Donna, you do not leave her side. You do not eat. You do not sleep. She doesn't leave your sight. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Tessa hung up as Lyall jogged through the doors. "No press, but Ronald Kurt and his wife are in the lobby with David Howser. They're on their way up."

Tessa stood in the middle of her lobby. Too much was happening too fast. She shut tight her eyes and let her mind work though it all.

"Tessa?" Lyall asked.

"She's thinking," Gabriel said, soon followed by Tessa barking her orders,

"Lyall, put Ronald Kurt in an office far away from the board and then find out who the hell Gregory Williams is. Gabe, get Sharon out of jail. And don't talk to my sister; bad enough she saw me flirting with Lynch." When no one was moving, she clapped her hands together and yelled, "All cylinders, people! Let's go!"