VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND NEW YORK

MORNING

Gabriel, freshly dressed in a new suit, spent his morning going around to the more powerful members of the 'client list'. They've spent most of the night in Tessa's office coming up with their plan, fine tuning the details, and getting Sharon on board. They only had until noon to make this all work before Gabriel had to give Sam the client list.

His first stop was a Senator's office. Interrupting the Senator while he was speaking to his colleagues, Gabriel tapped him on the shoulder. The Senator turned and Gabriel held out his hand to shake, greeting him with,

"Sunny day."

The Senator's face fell in understanding. On and on the morning went with encounters like that, handshakes and strange greetings to the elected officials of New York.

"Hardwood floors," at the courthouse. "Trip to the islands?" at Wall Street. And finally, "Do you speak Greek?" in the men's restroom of the largest P.A.C in New York.

OFFICES OF TESSA REAGAN & ASSOSIATES

CONFERENCE ROOM

The most powerful and influential men on the list all sat around the wooden conference table, starring at their pictures on the window. Tessa drew their attention as she stepped in front of them.

"Gentlemen, thank you for coming. I realize you may not be united ideologically," She spoke as she slowly moved around the table, keeping their attention on her, "but thankfully screwing around seems to be a bipartisan effort. And you all have one thing in common - the services of my client, Sharon Marcelles." She nodded to the back of the room where Sharon stood silently, leaning against the wall.

"And while the two of us don't care how you spend your free time, your constituents might. I think we can all be in agreement that this small business owner should not be unduly harassed by the law. Am I right?"

"Lady," A white haired, round man spoke up. His cheeks were flushed read and his suit looked a sixe too small. "I have no idea what you think you're talking about, but I have a lunch to get to, so if you'll excuse me."

"Oh, Charlie." Sharon purred as the man stood up. "She's talking about how you like to go around the world, dear. Twice in one night if you take your pills."

Charlie sat down without another word. Sharon smiled at Tessa.

"Glad to see we're all in agreement." Tessa laid a hand on Charlie's shoulder. "And I'm gonna need just one more thing."

TESSA REAGAN'S BROWNSTONE APARTMENT

EVENING

Tessa and Sam sat on the brown brick stoop of her apartment, watching the news on Sam's tablet and eating the Mexican take-out he brought with him. On the small screen that sat between them, Senator Charlie Hall spoke to Chanel 10 reporters. The headline read 'Senate Judiciary Committee expects Kurt's nomination to sail through."

"My reversal on the Judge is a simple matter of reviewing the facts and my personal feeling that he's the best man for the job."

Sam closed the tablet, and with it Charlie's forced smile. "Just tell me who was on the list."

"You know I can't do that," Tessa said around a mouthful of vegetable fajita.

"I mean, I can guess who was on it," Sam stabbed his food repeatedly, "given the long list of calls my boss got right before he ordered me to drop the case."

"Sam, you got what you wanted. Everybody wins." Tessa smiled. Sam didn't looked convinced. "She's out of the business, liquidating her assets, buying a place in Florida with extra bedrooms for the grandkids." She took a stab at Sam's food and brought it to her mouth. "The stain on the city's moral landscape is gone."

"Right." Again, he was not convinced.

"Unless you're not actually a white hat," Tessa led on casually, "and what you were after was the high-profile fame-and-fortune thing all along."

Sam closed his half-eaten take-out container. "You realize, don't you, that this is why we can never be friends?"

"We're being friendly right now."

"This isn't friendly. This is me bribing you with take-out to tell me who was on the list."

"To me," she took a bite of her fajita, "that's what friends do."

"To me," Sam stole a bite of her fajita, "sounds like you have a pretty crappy definition of 'friend'."

O'ROURKE ENTERPRISES & HOLDINGS INC.

MICHAEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT

Michael walked around his office, a glass of brandy in his hand. He started drinking after he got off the phone with the President and his office over two hours ago. Now, he was drunk. Christopher sat on the couch watching him, not speaking.

"And, lo, the day was saved by Theresa Reagan, as usual. Tessa helped us. She's not against us."

"Mm." Christopher hummed, his finger on his lips.

"Really, you're not talking to me now?" Michael raised his glass to his lips and downed the rest of the glass. "A man more powerful than the leader of the free world, your best friend and boss, is slightly inebriated and thinking about going to his ex-fiancé, the best friend and boss of your husband, and loosing himself in her. I think that would warrant a lecture, at least some words from his majesty Christopher Neilson, king of me."

"What do you want me to say? You won't tell me anything." He waved his hand, disregarding himself. "I'm obviously not someone you trust, so you just stand there alone in your Ivory Tower. Have a party."

Christopher got from the couch, buttoned his suit jacket, and walked to the door. Gabriel would be waiting up for him. His hand was on the door handle when Michael called out.

"I know I don't get to do what other men do. I get it. I wear the invisible crown. And that's fine. There's a price. But Tess." Michael bit his lip and looked away. His eyes were beginning to water. His voice cracked when he spoke. "She is the love of my life, Chris, and she won't even talk to me." He looked down at his empty glass and pointed it at Chris. "We do not talk about this tomorrow."

Chris debated on whether or not to leave. His friend clearly needed him, yet right now all he wanted to do was yell at him. After a moment of looking at the pathetic drunk man in front of him, he decided to stay. He walked over to the bar and poured himself a glass.

"You hate scotch." Michael said, confused as he watched Chris.

"I do. But I don't tonight, not with you." He walked over to Michael and stood beside him. He raised the glass to his lips. "And we won't talk about it tomorrow."

"You're on my side." Michael smiled.

"I'm on your side, Michael."

WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL

Donna got out of her cab and quickly rushed to the crying woman on the curb.

"I'm sorry I called you so late." Cynthia apologized as Donna sat down beside her, handing her a tissue. "I don't know. I just got scared, like maybe somebody was watching my place. I know that sounds crazy."

"No, that's okay." Donna laid a comforting hand on Cynthia's arm.

"A reporter called my parents," she sniffled. "Asked them why I wanted to kill myself. They were having dinner. It's already happening, isn't it?"

"I was in trouble once. I was alone, and it was awful, but I had had someone. Someone who knew what I should say and what I should do. I had Tessa Reagan by my side."

Cynthia nodded, pocketing her tissue. She stood up and rubbed her eyes on the back of her hand. "What's next?"

OFFICES OF TESSA REAGAN & ASSOSIATES

LOBBY - MORNING

Donna gave Tessa a 'heads-up' text as she brought Cynthia back to the offices. When they came through the office doors, Tessa was waiting for them by Donna's reception desk. She was going to say something, but Cynthia raised her hand.

"I'm here, okay, but we do this on my terms."

"You'll be glad you came. I promise." Tessa assured her. She nodded to Donna. Donna smiled warmly at Cynthia and placed a hand on her back to lead her back into the offices. There was a knock on the door that stopped them.

"Hello?" The person called out. He poked his curly brown head in and Donna saw that it was Gregory Williams. He smiled, surprised, when he saw Donna. "Hello."

"What are you doing here?" Donna demanded.

"Donna, who's this?" Tessa asked. She motioned Cynthia to come to her. She placed herself protectively between Cynthia and the newcomer.

"The reporter from the hospital. Gregory." She mirrored Tessa. "What are you doing here?"

"I need a quote for my story." Gregory said innocently enough.

"Your story?" Tessa chuckled darkly. She walked forward and Donna took her place in front of Cynthia. "You don't have a story. You don't have anything. So go home."

"No."

Tessa looked taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"She tried to kill herself the day after she quit working at the Ivory Tower." Gregory pointed at Cynthia then at Donna. "And she lied about who she works for. And now they're both here, in this office, with you. Now I may just be a reporter for a dying newspaper, but you're Tessa Reagan. So…no." Tessa could see a glint in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitch. "No, I didn't have a story. But now I do."