"Ready?" Kurt asked knocking on Diane's door.
"Hi." Diane smiled looking up from her computer "Ready for what?" Before Kurt could answer her phone started to ring. "Your daughter." Diane said looking at the ID. She gestured for Kurt to enter her office, as she answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi." Rhiannon said slightly out of breathe. "My Dad's already there isn't he?"
"He is."
"He's so punctual." Rhiannon sighed. "Anyway, I forgot to tell you, my Dad is coming to take you for lunch. Go with him and don't come back till I give you the all clear. I have your afternoon covered."
"What's going on?" Diane asked looking up at Kurt, who just shrugged. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing. Everything. I don't know. I'll fill you in later. Just hurry up and leave. Maybe take the stairs. I gotta go." Rhiannon said hanging up the phone.
"What is she doing?" Diane asked.
"Don't know the details, just she has a plan and she's being safe. I am suppose to take you for lunch and not come back until she says it's okay."
Diane shook her head, laughing slightly. "You realize I'm her boss and you're her father and she's telling us what to do?"
"That crossed my mind." Kurt said picking up Diane's coat. "But I'm used to it. I only assume she wants you gone because he is coming here. If that's the case, I don't really think it's a bad idea to leave."
"Yeah." Diane nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
\\\
"She's not here." Rhiannon said as she watched Douglas glance towards Diane's office. She smiled when he looked back at her. "Don't worry. I won't keep you long."
"You're not thinking of doing something stupid are you? I won't hesitate in getting you disbarred."
"I don't doubt that for a second." Rhiannon said as Will and Kalinda entered the conference room. "I just wanted to fill you in on the the progress of your case."
"Most of the credit goes to Rhiannon and Kalinda." Will said placing the thick folder on the table. "Should the police decide to re-open this case we have a solid case for reasonable doubt. Respected doctor, weak motive, possible suspects. I don't even see the police charging you."
"That's what I was hoping for." Douglas smiled. He looked over at Rhiannon. "You look like you have something to add."
"I do." Rhiannon grinned. "Thank you. Any criminal case against you, we have your back, but should civil charges be brought against you, we would not be representing you."
"A civil case? Who the hell is going to sue me?"
"I don't know. Erik had siblings, they might want to."
"And why would they want to do something like that, unless someone spoke to them."
"It wasn't me." Rhiannon smiled. "It was you. You really should have gone to through with AA Dr. Bates. You are really chatty when you drink."
"You met with your wife the other day for drinks." Kalinda said placing a tape recorder on the table. "And her sister."
Rhiannon smiled as the colour drained from Douglas's face. "You were there so you know what you said. Want us to press play?"
"You can have a copy if you want." Kalinda smiled. "We have more."
"You're bluffing."
"Is that a gamble you want to make?" Will asked. "After all these years."
"You can't do anything with that. You'll loose your license."
"Thanks, I went to law school. We're not going to do anything with the tape." Rhiannon said. "It was brought to our attention. As your lawyers we're required to bring it to your attention. So, attention brought."
They all looked up when there was a knock on the glass.
"What is he doing?" Will sighed. "I should go deal with that. If you have any further questions Dr. Bates, Rhiannon will be able to help you."
"Isn't that?"
"Colin Sweeney?" Rhiannon finished for him waving as Will stepped out of the room. "Yeah. He's a client. Loves Diane."
"I know what you're doing."
"I am, as your lawyer, updating you on your case Doctor. If you think I'm threatening to have Colin Sweeney come after you if something happens to Diane, well that's just plain offensive. To me and Mr Sweeney, he was acquitted of all murder charges."
"You're a bitch." Douglas grumbled standing up.
"And you're a murderer who abuses woman. We all have out character flaws." Rhiannon said as Kalinda kicked her under the table.
"Do you have any other questions Dr Bates?" Kalinda asked holding out the tape.
\\\
"It's all done :)"
"That's slightly ominous." Diane sighed putting her phone down. "What do you think she did?"
"I don't think I want to know. Sometimes when she gets something in her head it's best I am in the dark about the details. It's better for my blood pressure."
"Hmm."
"Hey." Kurt said nudging Diane slightly with his shoulder. "You okay?"
"I guess." She said forcing a smile. "It's been a weird couple of days. I've spent the majority of my life believing a knew the truth about a major event. I wasn't even close. I can't help but think about all the things I did that I shouldn't of. If it wasn't for me."
"No." Kurt said shaking his head. "None of this is your fault. You can spend the rest of your life coming up with what ifs, but in the long run what is the point? All it will do is make you upset, it won't change the past."
"I know. I do." Diane said quietly looking at her hands. "But I can't stop. If I hadn't gotten him mad that night"
"It's not normal to not disagree with someone because they might get angry and kill someone." Kurt said gently. "The way I see it, you have two options. You can mourn for your friend and move on. Live your life, like I am sure he would want you to."
"And the other option?" Diane asked wiping a tear from her cheek.
"The other option, is let what happened almost forty years ago consume you for the rest of your life. Go over every detail. Obsess over things you can't change. Become another victim of Douglas."