"I thought you'd be back."
Dr. Harrington stood in Frank Fosters den. She had travelled a longs way after being turned away from the correctional center. The guards had told her that Tony was refusing all visitors at the moment. Without his guidance she felt lost and out of touch with her task. She needed someone to talk to, she had been disturbed by what she was hearing on the cassette tapes.
"You got here yourself I presume. You must have Crawford is dealing with some business in town. What's is wrong?"
Dr. Harrington sat in a nearby sitting chair while Frank poured himself a brandy and lit himself a cigar. He smoked for a time in a methodic fashion, his eyes fixed deeply on hers. He was trying to read her mind.
"Tony doesn't want to see me. He blames me for letting Carla get away. He wrote me a horrible letter calling me a piss poor therapist. He thought I should have kept a better eye on her."
Frank sat down across from Dr. Harrington with a smug look on his face. He took a swig of brandy and then in haled his cigar once more.
"Is he wrong?"
"Yes! How can I be blamed for Carla running away to God knows where? I only did what I was told to do. He told me to drive Carla insane. He is afraid of being implicated in the murder of Liam Connor and wants to discredit Carla's testimony. He has been pushing his lawyers for a mistrial. Now that Carla has gone away he has nothing to work with, and I will be blamed even though I am perfectly innocent."
"You, innocent? I hardly think that would be a word to describe you. Any woman in love with the likes of Tony Gordon could hardly be called innocent. Especially when you know full well the extent of his crimes."
" I know nothing of the sort Mr. Foster, and you judging me for wanting to help the man I love is out of order. You know nothing of the sort."
"I know nothing of the sort," Frank broke out into a fit of laughter. Then just as abruptly he stopped and said in a dangerous voice, " I know stuff about Tony Gordon that could make your skin crawl."
"If you hate him so much why are you helping us?"
"I have my own interests and reasons that don't concern you."
"That's not fair. You are judging me for helping Tony when you are doing the same."
"Yes but I'm an equal match for Tony, you are not. I thought maybe you'd figure it out. Haven't you listened to the cassettes?"
"Not all of them, not yet."
Frank sighed and looked to be in deep thought for a moment before he got up from his chair and made his way over to his desk he pulled out the desk jour.
Dr. Harrington was getting irritated. She had come to his place only because she had no other person to turn to. Frank was being anything but helpful. He was only lecturing her on the dangers of Tony.
"You know what the ancients used to say about love?" Frank glimpsed up from his jour for a brief second holding Dr. Harrington in his cross hairs.
"No I don't. I didn't study in history in my time at school."
"You've done yourself a great disservice then. History is the key to understanding almost everything there is worth understanding. It could teach you a lot more about the human psyche than a psychiatry degree ever could."
"Your opinion."
"The ancient Roman's used to say that love was a sickness. It was only for those who were crazy and it effects could only be explained by some form of sorcery, shaman, or druid priestess. You're a prime example of why I think they could be right. What else could explain your constant denial of the evil man that exists in front of you? You choose to see only what you want to see."
"It's odd that the Romans would think that. I wonder how they would feel today knowing that the word romance means essentially to love as the romans loved."
"So you did study some history."
"Get to the point what's in the box you're holding?"
"More tapes, what else."
"What's on these tapes that aren't already on the other tapes? What more delusions could Carla possibly have to share with anyone that wouldn't suffice on the ones I already have now?"
"Who said anything about these being Carla's tapes?"
"Well whose tapes are they then?"
"Has Tony ever told you about his first wife Louise?"
Dr. Harrington was silent. Tony had never told her he had married to anyone besides Carla. This was news to her. She felt so betrayed. Tony had always told her everything; he said he had bared all his secrets to her that she was the only one he trusted.
"What does she have to do with anything?"
Frank leered at her from the desk. He looked amused as he pulled out his own cassette player identical to the one she had in her own office.
"Sit down over here and you'll find out."
Maria was rushing as she headed out of her flat with Liam one Monday morning. Marcus and Sean where waiting with their own little boy Dylan, Marcus was going to drop Liam off at school for the day, Maria had to get going to Audrey's and was already running late. Liam can barely hold still as Maria kissed his cheek and stampered over to Dylan.
"Thanks a bunch Marcus I owe you big time."
"It's no problem Maria," Marcus winked at Maria and grabbed hold of Dylan's hand. "Now Dylan we have to create a safety network so you grab onto Liam's hand and we will all walk to nursery together. How does that sound?"
Dylan laughed gleefully at Marcus and grabbed his hand. He used his other hand to motion Liam over.
"Come on Liam, Marcus says we got to hold hands."
Liam looked up at his mother with his crystal blue eyes. He was unsure of what to do.
"It's ok Liam you hold Dylan's hand and go onto school," Maria smiled at her darling boy.
He immediately jumped into step with Marcus and Dylan grinning as well.
Maria and Sean waved them off down the street.
"Ahh kids," sighed Sean. "Who needs them?"
"Hey! I love my sweet Liam. He is an absolute angel."
"I knew you would say that. Liam is an angel, but Dylan, well Dylan wrote all over Eileen Grimshaw's walls last night in permanent marker. Eileen freaked and left in a huff this morning for the factory. Now I'm going to have to pay god knows how much to paint over it."
"Discipline Dylan better Sean."
The two headed in the direction of the factory.
"Speaking of factories, where the hell has Carla been? I'd never thought I'd say this but I seriously miss her, Sally has been a right old hag."
Maria laughed, they were now approaching the factory and Maria could see a whole crowd gathered outside. Sally stood in front of them. It looked like she was trying to diffuse a situation.
"WHERE ARE OUR WAGES?" shouted Fiz from the crowd.
"I don't know I've been trying to get hold of Carla for a week now. I've had no luck."
"WELL THEN WE JUST AREN'T GOING TO FINISH OUR ORDERS, AM I RIGHT LADIES?" Said Eileen now pushing her way to the front of the crowd to stand in front of Sally.
"Hear, hear," said Julie in a shrill voice. "You tell her cousin!"
Maria stood horrified. This was all just awful what was happening. She was beginning to feel guilty for rowing with Carla like she had. Sure she expected Carla to be hurt and angry, but to runaway and bail on the factory was an all time low. But how could she be surprised, Carla bailed on the factory once before, when she found out her ex husband Tony had hired a hit man to kill Liam. Carla was selfish and she just ran away expecting everyone else to pick up the pieces. This time it just happened to be Sally who was left with the unfortunate task.
"It's not my fault!" Sally protested. "All of this is Carla's fault, she's the one who left us here to fend for ourselves. She is the one who left us to figure out wages. I need to get paid to, I got two grown kids in the house eating all the food."
"Kick Rosie and Sian out then! Some of us got newborn babies to feed " retorted Fez.
"Yeah new born babies with a kidnapper and murderer no doubt shut your pie hole you pig."
Fiz was now pushing her way through the rowdy crowd toward Sally getting ready to deck her.
"Maybe I should intervene," said Sean. But Maria grabbed hold of his arm to stop him from stepping forward.
"No, you don't need a black eye. You got Dylan to think about. Someone better ring the police or something."
Fez tried slapping Sally, but Sally swerved out of the way letting Fiz's fist meet the metal door behind her.
"Holy mother of…"
"That's what you get Fiz," said Sally looking around triumph. " This is all Carla's fault. I repeat this is all Carla Connor's fault, this is not the fault of I, Sally Webster."
Just then Michelle came storming through the crowd from across the street rounding on Sally.
"You shut your mouth about Carla, you hear."
"Sorry Michelle but Carla has been unreliable, she abandoned ship, now I find I've misplaced my key this morning. We have no way of getting into the factory, so the girls are without wages or a place to work. Carla hasn't returned a single message, she could be dead for all I know."
"Well she isn't!" shouted Michelle, she retrieved a letter from her purse and waved it frantically in front of Sally's face. "You see this, you this Sally?"
"Yeah I see it. It's a piece of paper and you better get it out of my face before I deck you. I can actually throw a bunch unlike some people," Sally shot a defiant glance at Fez who was nursing her swollen knuckles.
"This is a letter from Carla. I received it this morning. Just read it she's ok, so you can shut your mouth about my sister."
"Sister in law," simpered Sally. "That's good and all but still that doesn't solved the issue of how the girls and I will be able to get into the factory, nor who will pay the past weeks wages. Unless the letter offers some detail, mind of I have a look?"
"Yeah I mind, I'm not letting you near this letter with a ten foot pool. I don't need you sharing secrets at the rovers by lunch time, if even then."
"Then I'll be calling the police on you for withholding evidence or aiding in the hiding of a fugitive boss who has just slagged off a whole bunch of employees and customers. You can sit in a cell and think it all over Michelle. She how you feel about withholding important information in the future."
Maria felt uneasy and was getting ready to make her way over to Michelle before things escalated even more. She'd have no problem telling Audrey why she was late, she was sure to understand. But then a loud voice over the crowd stopped her.
"That won't be necessary ladies."
Maria, Sean, and the whole rest of the crowd turned around to see who had spoken. In front of them stood a tall man with dark brown hair sleeked back. He was dressed in a suit of the most impeccable fashion, and was sporting a pair of Prada sunglasses. Everyone was intrigued and then Eileen broke the silence.
"And just who the frick are you, pray tell?"
The man stepped forward brushing through the crown with ease, Maria felt the heat of his body as he moved past her and she had a feeling she couldn't explain. Finally he reached the front of the stairs and stood next to Michelle and Sally. Slowly he removed his sunglasses to reveal dark brown intriguing eyes. His eyes moved over the crowd slowly and a smiled formed across his lips.
"My name is Mr. Alexander Benjamin Lawrence. Carla Connor contacted me, I am part shareholder in Underworld and therefore I am part boss and owner ladies."
Sally stood gapping dumbfounded. She looked almost crescent fallen her reign of terror had come to an end. Michelle too, stood with her mouth opened as well but Maria found her expression unreadable. Finally Sally mustered up the courage to speak, and said in a the fakest most sugary sweet voice she could manage, "Sir, oh pardon me Mr. Lawrence, but we haven't any key."
The man leered at Sally and said in an equally fake sugary sweet voice, "Forgive me, I have a key right here." From his pocket he pulled out a key and turned to unlock the factory door. "Now shall we get to work ladies?"
Maria still stood in a daze trying to process the unfolding events, the crowd on either side of her shuffled to the factory steps. The uprising had been short lived. Michelle came to join Maria and Sean.
"What are the odds of that?" She commented.
"Just another day in Coronation Street if you ask me," said Sean. "But I won't complain I'll get my wages finally, and he isn't too bad on the eyes."
Silently Maria agreed with him. That Mr. Lawrence guy had attractive features. He looked tall dark and handsome. Maria was drawn to his mysteriousness. Sean squeezed her arm affectionately and made his way towards the factory with the other employees. He rushed over to Fiz to see how her knuckles were doing. Soon it was only Michelle and Maria left in the front of the building.
"Strange," said Michelle.
"What is?"
"Carla never mentioned a Mr. Lawrence before nor did say anyone else had any shares in Underworld and she never mentioned him in any letter."
Maria couldn't help herself, but the mere mention of Carla made her blood boil. She could not resist and looked at Michelle pointedly.
"When has Carla ever been known to tell anyone everything? You know she is selfish, that's the sort of game she plays. Who knows maybe the factory is better for it now that Mr. Lawrence is here. He looks like a reliable young man."
Michelle glared a Maria and shoved the letter back into her purse.
"Yeah and so did Tony Gordon, you remember what happened with him Maria?"
Maria was already turned away heading towards Audrey's Salon. Nothing Michelle said would ever change her mind about Carla.
