Ok, you get answers here as to Alex's secret and her mystery person...See, I told you it'd be tonight.

CHAPTER 14

Alex forced herself out of bed and to the couch when she hear Olivia come come. She was feeling a little better but still coughing a lot, though the couch medicine should help, she thought.

"How was Bridgette?" Alex asked.

Olivia made her way over to the couch, pulling out the medicine, sitting down Alex's purse on the coffee table and sat down, silently pouring Alex's medicine into the cup.

"She's good," Olivia said. "Amanda is with her until Mom returns, but we also have a uni keeping an eye to make sure they don't take off. Of course, Mom thinks it's to make sure the 'kidnapper' doesn't return."

Alex nodded, noting Olivia's quiet demeanor, but assumed she was either still tired from the marathon past few days or getting sick too.

"I'm going to get Noah some medicine and check in on him," Olivia said. "Do you need anything else?"

Alex shook her head. "Thank you, Liv," she said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Olivia didn't say anything, she just retreated to Noah's room and left Alex alone, but she couldn't keep her mind off those messages. She didn't necessarily believe Alex was cheating, though she did have a lot of new people in her life now and more free time with her volunteer job at the shelter. But Olivia's mind kept going back to worrying if the mystery person wasn't one of Alex's old bosses with the ICC, someone trying to woo her away with a job. Olivia had trouble believing Alex would just leave again, leave her and Noah, their engagement, but ... it's not like it wasn't a pattern for her. Of course, maybe it was a temporary thing since Alex wasn't working at the DA's office anymore, but then why would Alex keep it secret from her?

Alex, in the other room, grabbed her purse, realizing it had been with Olivia all day and worrying about whether or not Oliva would see the phone. When she saw the new messages on the screen, her heart stopped for a minute. Had Olivia heard them? They were marked unread, but...

Alex shook her head, trying to ignore that possibility while she read the messages.

Could she meet tonight? What would she tell Olivia? She couldn't continue lying to Liv and she knew it. She planned to fess up this afternoon, but if the information was ready for her, perhaps her conversation could wait until she had back what she was looking for.

#

Amanda returned home to Jessie after leaving the hospital. Declan and Jessie were coloring and Amanda laughed thinking of Declan coloring with a small child while doing whatever the hell it was he does during the rest of his days.

"Hey, how's the girl?" he asked when Amanda came into the living room.

"She's ok, considering," Amanda said. "But I'm starving. I was going to order some takeout. You're welcome to join me and Jessie for dinner."

"I, uh, have a thing later tonight, but..." Declan paused and looked at his phone. "I haven't heard back to confirm."

"Ok, well, it's up to you," Amanda said. "We can get food and if you have to leave, I'll just have leftovers."

"Ok," he said. "Also...I know I said I was going to be around a few more days, but...something came up and I have to leave town first thing in the morning."

"Oh," Amanda said. "Well, ok. At least you got to see Jessie for a few days."

"I"ll be back soon, Amanda. It couldn't be avoided," he said.

"It's ok. Really. We do just fine the rest of the time here without you," Amanda said. "And I don't mean that to sound bitter. Really, Declan, it's ok. I know you have work."

Murphy nodded, appreciated her understanding, but still feeling guilty for leaving earlier than planned.

"What do you have going on tonight, anyway," Amanda asked, casually. Something about his demeanor seemed off.

"Ah, just, you know, have to meet a contact," he said.

"What time?" Amanda asked.

"9 p.m.," he said.

"And you said you're leaving first thing tomorrow?" Amanda said.

"Yes," he said. "Why the questions?"

Amanda stared at him. Could it be he was Alex's mystery texter? Why wouldn't she tell Olivia about that. It all made sense though. The burner phone. The meeting. Leaving town. But why?

"I'm just curious," Amanda said. Jessie ran back to her room to get a new game and Amanda started cleaning up the crayons she'd been using.

Declan stared at her, trying to read her to see if she knew anything, but he couldn't tell. They both just watched each other watching the other.

"You SOB. It's you, isn't it?" Amanda finally said, figuring the way he was watching her said he knew that she knew something.

"Well, I am me, yes," he said. "But otherwise, I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're the one that texted Alex," she said.

Declan shrugged. He knew he was busted, but it didn't mean he had to talk.

"Why?" Amanda said. "Liv saw your text today and is probably having a blow out fight with Alex right now."

"That's of no concern to me," he said. "Alex should have hid her phone better."

"But why is she meeting you? What are you doing for her?" Amanda asked.

"Amanda, you know I don't talk about my work," he said.

"Your work? So this is work related?" Amanda said.

"Not exactly. But she asked me for some info and I'm providing it to her," he said.

"And you told her not to tell Olivia. Why?" she said.

"She made that choice. I suggested, but what they decided to share with each other is between them, not me," he said.

"So help me, Declan, if whatever you're doing is going to hurt Olivia..." Amanda said, until he cut her off.

"It's not," he said. "You know I'd do anything for Olivia - I have proved that. I'm simply providing information to Alex that is already out there...about both her and Olivia."

"Well, if Alex doesn't come clean today, you're going to need to fix this, but I've never seen Olivia happier than with Alex," Amanda said.

Just then, Declan's phone buzzed.

I'll figure something out. See you at 9.

He looked up and Amanda grabbed his phone to read the message.

"Fix it," she said.

#

"Liv? What are you thinking for dinner?" Alex said. Olivia had been reading in the bedroom since coming home and checking on Noah. "I was planning soup, but if you want something more..."

"Soup is fine," Olivia said, never looking up.

"Ok," Alex said. "I'm starting to feel a little better. Thanks for picking up the medicine."

"No problem," Olivia said, again, not looking up.

"I thought during dinner, since Noah will probably be zonked out again, we could just uh, catch up," Alex said. "We haven't seen each other much the last few days."

"Ok," Olivia said.

"Also...I may have to run out tonight for a few minutes," Alex lied. "Just stop by the shelter and see one of the clients who is leaving tomorrow."

Olivia didn't respond. She was silently seething at Alex's lie.

"But I am looking forward to dinner," Alex said. "And filling you in on some stuff going on with my campaign."

Olivia just nodded to acknowledge what Alex said.

"Ok, well, dinner should be done soon," Alex said. "I'll let you know."

"I can fix it if you prefer," Olivia said. "I know you're not feeling well."

"No, it'll do me good to get up and be moving around," Alex said. "Give me 20 to 30 minutes."

Alex left the room and Olivia closed her book. Whatever it was, there had to be a good reason, she kept reminding herself.

#

"Liv, dinner is ready," Alex said gently knocking and pushing the bedroom door open.

She was going to come clean and be honest about what she was having Declan do and why. Of course, she realized, other than protecting Olivia - and her own self - she never had a good reason to keep it from her.

Olivia joined her at the table, as Alex brought over the larger salad bowl to join their soup bowls.

"It looks great," Olivia said. "Thank you for dinner."

"You've been taking care of me and Noah all day," Alex said.

The both sat quietly eating for a few minutes before Alex finally spoke up.

"So you know I've been working more on the campaign lately," Alex said. "You know, strategy and stuff and like we talked about, what the DA may throw my way."

"Uh huh," Olivia said.

"So, I've been pulling things together and having some meetings and stuff about the best way to tackle anything that may come up," Alex said.

"Are you really that worried about anything?" Olivia said. "I mean, Alex, I've known you 20 or so years and I can't think of anything."

"Well, I mean, there isn't anything that I can't defend...but, you know how politics is," Alex said. "And, you know, it may not just be me that's a target."

"What do you mean?" Olivia said.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Both women gave each other a confused look.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Alex asked.

Olivia shook her head and got up to answer the door. When she opened it, she was surprised by who she saw.

"Amanda? What's wrong? Is Bridgette ok?" Olivia said, seeing Amanda and Jessie.

"Bridgette is fine," Amanda said. "I actually have someone with me that you all are probably going to want to talk to."

Alex bit her lip, knowing what was coming as Olivia stood there perplex as Declan Murphy came around from behind Amanda.

"Murphy?" Olivia said.

"Sorry to just drop in," he said, head hung low.

"Come in," Olivia said. "I'd offer you dinner, but we're just having soup. Something to drink?"

"No, thank you," he said.

"Noah feeling better?" Amanda asked, nodding toward Jessie.

"A little," Olivia said. "He's laying low in his room watching movies."

"Jessie, why don't you go check on Noah and watch TV with him," Amanda said to Jessie, nudging her toward Noah's room.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a little confused about what's going on," Olivia said. "It's good to see you, though, Murphy."

"Actually, Liv, I should explain," Alex said. "Or well, that's what I was trying to explain..." she paused for a moment. "I asked Murphy to get some intel for me for the campaign."

"The texts messages. They were from you," Olivia said, beginning to understand.

"You saw them?" Alex said.

"We both did," Amanda said. "And then when Declan mentioned leaving town tomorrow and possibly having a meeting later tonight...I put things together."

"What is going on? Why wouldn't you just tell me what you were doing?" Olivia said, looking to Alex.

"Liv, don't be mad at Alex," Declan said. "I asked her not to say anything to you."

Alex sighed. "I asked him to dig into me...and you...as if he was doing work for my opponent, the DA, so I could head anything off in advance," she said.

"You asked Declan to investigate me?" Olivia asked, shaking her head. "Why wouldn't you just ask me? I mean, I'm pretty sure all of my garbage has been played out in public. You already knew that."

"Because you and I both know you're a good person and a good cop, but I wanted to see how it could be painted by an opponent and not through our bias," Alex defended herself. "But to be honest, this was less about you and more about me. I was worried about a few things, things I haven't even told you about, and I wanted to see if he could find it. I figured if Murphy couldn't find it, the DA couldn't."

"I assume you're talking about the incident in Georgia," Declan said. "I did find it, but to be honest, I'd be shocked if anyone else could."

"What incident in Georgia?" Olivia asked Alex. "The country or the state?"

"Listen, I'm only here because Amanda told me about you finding the text messages," Declan said. "So I wanted to bring the info you asked for...and a little more. And because, Olivia, I want you to know I didn't want to start trouble. I just cautioned Alex that it would be better for you not to worry about this until we knew how much exposure either of you would have from this."

"No, don't make excuses for me, Murphy," Alex said. "I should have told her from the start. Trust is important." She made eye contact with Olivia, pleading for some forgiveness.

"I think the rest is for them to figure out," Amanda said. "Give them the information."

Murphy handed over three envelopes. One with Alex's name. One with Olivia's name. One with the DA's name. Alex took it and came him a confused look.

"I didn't ask for this," she said. "In fact, I specifically didn't want to play dirty politics with him."

"I know, but...he's probably going to play dirty," Declan said. "And he'll twist the facts about things that are known and unknown. Use it or don't, but at least you'll have the ammunition. Or grounds for possible removal from office and/or arrest. Either way, you want to see it so you know who you're dealing with."

Everyone stood silently, trying to comprehend everything that had just happened. Amanda excused herself to go get Jessie.

"I'll see my way out now," Declan said. "Liv, it's always good seeing you, I'm just sorry it's under these circumstances."

"It's ok," Olivia said. "You were just doing a job." She glared at Alex.

Declan nodded and when Amanda returned, the three of them exited. As Olivia was about to close the door, Amanda stopped.

"Liv, I know trust is big for you, but...just remember Alex makes you happy, ok? We all make mistakes," Amanda said.

"Some more than others," Olivia said. "But thank you."

She closed the door and turned to see Alex still standing in the middle of the room, envelopes still in hand, and blue eyes pleading with her.

"Liv..."

"What happened in Georgia?" Olivia said flatly.

"Liv, it was in witness protection, right after I testified against Connors and was moved," Alex said.

"What happened in Georgia?" Olivia said again.

"An accident," Alex said. "A terrible accident that I should have told you about years ago, but was afraid."

"Tell me now. What happened in Georgia?" Olivia said, voice raising.

"It was an accident, Liv," Alex said. "I...I killed someone."

"You..what?" Olivia said. "Who?"

"An intruder," Alex said, starting to cry. "Or what I thought was an intruder. I didn't know, Liv. I didn't now."

"Didn't know what?" Olivia asked.

"I killed a police officer."

I know you want more and you'll get it tomorrow, but I have to go to work. I got out as much as I could tonight and I got you the BIG answers. The rest will be the details of Alex's revelation, how it happened, the aftermath, and what else might be in those envelopes, including the DA's.

As always, your reviews are appreciated. Love it, hate it, have ideas? Let me know with a comment or on twitter -rileyclocks!