Brooke walked into the police station and immediately began to look for Nathan. When she had gotten the call at the house, she jumped in the car and came over. When she spotted him, she headed over to him. "Nathan!"
"Brooke, why are you here?"
"What do you mean why? Because you're here."
"Get out of here. Go home."
"No, Nathan. I came to help you."
"Detective, will you get her out of here?"
"Nathan, please."
"She doesn't know anything. She doesn't belong here." Nathan continued. "Brooke, go home."
"No let me help you."
"And you are?" Detective Dupre finally asked.
"Brooke Scott. I'm Nathan's sister. And you're making a terrible mistake."
"Is that right, Miss Scott? Maybe you should go home."
"No. Not without my brother."
"Brooke, do what he says." Nathan said.
"Let him go."
"Your brother is probably safer with us. See he was caught stealing. As a matter of fact, he was cutting in on the turf of another mob family."
"Nathan, please tell me that's not true." Nathan just looked at her.
"Why don't you sit down and I'll be back." Detective Dupre said.
Brooke sat down and looked at Nathan. "Why aren't you saying anything? What did that officer mean about our family? Criminals? Mob?"
"Look, they're making it up. These guys get off harassing people like us. This whole thing is a joke, it's bull."
"The police don't just arrest someone for no good reason, Nathan."
"They're making a scapegoat out of me. And all this talk about the mob is a lie. Go home."
"I've got to hand it to you, little sister." An officer walked over and looked at Brooke. "You're good."
"Lay off her, man. She's not under arrest, is she?" Nathan said protectively.
"She's a pretty good actress though. Pretending like she doesn't know what's going on with her own family."
"What about them? I don't understand what's going on here." Brooke said.
"You mean to tell me that you don't know that your family is one of the biggest crime families in this state?" the officer asked.
"We're in the import/export business. And we pay our taxes, which pay your salary." Nathan said.
"Import/export business? That's one of the oldest fronts I've ever heard."
"Nathan!" Deb voice yelled through the station. She spotted Nathan and she and Daunte walked over to him. She was about to say something else, but saw that Brooke was sitting across from him. "Brooke! My God, what are you doing here? Listen to me. You are not to listen to what these men have said here. They're lying and you shouldn't have come here anyway."
"Why does everyone keep saying that? Am I not allowed to worry about my own brother? Am I not allowed to know what's going on?"
"Detective, has Mrs. Scott ever been arrested?" Daunte asked.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Detective Dupre said, walking back over to the group.
"No she hasn't. Has any member of the Scott family ever been arrested?"
"Where you going with this, Fox?"
"I am interested in their arrest record."
"They don't have one because they're smart. They cover their tracks. But we've been on to them for years."
"Your accusations are outrageous. Just like the brutality you inflicted on my client."
"Nathan resisted arrest and he hit his head." The arresting officer said, hearing the conversation and walking over.
Daunte laughed. "I've heard that song before, Officer. You're new here, but you got behind the blue wall pretty quickly."
"Nathan took the swing, ok. He started it."
"I have a witness who states that you manhandled my client."
"That's a lie."
"Alright, bring on your bogus witness. Bring on a hundred of them if you want. But that does not change the fact the Nathan Scott committed that crime." Detective Dupre said.
Daunte help up a piece of paper in Dupre's face. "This proves that Nathan was unloading his own property from the truck. He was not committing a crime. The owner is willing to testify."
Detective Dupre grabbed the paper out of his hands and read it. "How much did this cost you, counselor? Did you rough him up a little bit? Hang him out a window?"
"This is crap. They can't do this." Officer Grant said.
"You know what, David, they just did." Detective Dupre said, handing the paper back to Daunte.
"So, Detective, let's talk about the release of Nathan."
"Oh no. He still assaulted a police officer."
"We're not talking about Mr. Scott going to jail. We are talking about harassment, police brutality, slander, the relentless persecution of an entire family, and before I am through, Detective, someone will pay. Some bozo will be hung out to dry. So may I suggest that you release my client. Now."
"Go ahead, David." Detective Dupre said giving in.
"And we'd like a written apology from the chief of police and the commissioner, please."
"Don't push it, Fox." Detective Dupre said.
"So what now, Nathan?" Brooke asked, as Officer Grant uncuffed him.
"What now? Well, nothing. See I told you not to worry."
"Please, Nathan. I deserve to know the truth. You have to tell me what's going on."
Nathan grabbed Brooke's arm and led her to the side. "Brooke, there is no crime organization. The Scott family works hard for everything it has. And yea sometimes we step on people's toes and we're resented for it. But our family is honorable. And our family loves you very much. That's it. That's the truth."
"Ok, fine."
"Let's go." Nathan said, walking out the doors of the police station. Deb and Daunte followed.
"If that's all you'll tell me, then I'll go somewhere else for answers." Brooke said out loud. She shook her head before walking out the door to meet up with her family.
Nathan was sitting at a table a Tric on his computer. Since his little incident last night, he needed to get some things straight so that it wouldn't happen again. He looked up and saw Brooke walking in. He smiled at her, but he noticed that she looked angry.
Brooke slammed a stack of papers on the table in front of him. "What? What is this?" he asked, picking the papers up.
"You tell me. You're the one that's been lying to me about our family and who we are. You've been lying to me all along."
"Where'd you get this stuff?" Nathan asked.
Brooke sat down across from him and crossed her arms angrily across her chest. "It wasn't hard. I spent all morning at the library doing research."
"What are you thinking? Why would you do that?"
"Since no one wanted to tell me the truth, I decided to find out the truth about our family on my own. It's amazing how many times the Scott family has hit the front page. I mean, we're local celebrities and I didn't even know it."
"Don't believe everything you read."
"But it's all so interesting."
"It's all bull. It's lies."
"I really want to get your thoughts on this though. Let's see, what should I start with first? Indictments, money laundering, extortion? And that's just daddy alone. I haven't even gotten to mom yet."
"But do these articles say how many times anyone was ever convicted? Never, not one conviction. Not one charge ever stuck because no one ever did anything."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Brooke asked.
"Yes. No one was convicted because we didn't do anything."
"So the police arrested you just for fun, Nathan?"
"Look, Brooke, all the harassment by the cops, all these lies in the press, it's been going on a long time. Even before we were born and we are still being persecuted for things our great-great grandfather did four generations ago."
"Those are the exact words our lawyers say in every article."
"Because it's true. Look, when our great-great grandfather came to this country, he had nothing. He didn't even know the language. The only way he could make a living for his family was bending some of the rules. And he wasn't the only one. Lots of businesses got started by bootlegging and smuggling. But as soon as he had enough to stand on his own, he made the business legitimate. And it's been that way ever since."
"Well maybe someone should say something to the media."
"Don't you think we have? But every time a new police commissioner or hotshot politician comes along, they go after us. We're an easy target."
"So nothing illegal goes on in our family anymore?"
"No. We have to be more honest than other businesses because we know we're being watched. That's why my mistake last night was stupid."
"That's funny. According to the lawyer, it was the police that made the mistake."
"Yea, it was. That's what I meant. It was just bad timing. That's it. That's the truth, Brooke."
"Even if I believe you, which I don't, there's still one story you haven't cleared up. I found a bunch of articles about Damien's death."
"Brooke, why would you dig that stuff up?"
"Because you said it was a terrible accident. According to this, it wasn't an accident at all. I want you to stop lying to me. If you don't stop, I'm just gonna have to go somewhere else for it."
"Where do you think you're gonna go?"
"Maybe one of your friends will be more talkative."
"What friends?" Nathan asked honestly.
"Even better, what about your soon-to-be ex wife?"
"Brooke, I don't want you talking to Haley. Do you understand? I don't want you near her."
"I don't care what you or mom have to say anymore. I'm not gonna listen to you."
"I'm sorry I brought you home."
"I can't believe you just said that!" Brooke cried.
"You are being a brat."
"You're the one that wanted me to come home because you said you needed someone to talk to, someone to confide in. You haven't told me anything!"
"It's complicated."
"But, Nathan, I love you. Damien's gone and mom is trying to keep me at arm's length. I don't have anything to hold onto anymore. Please let me in. I'm your sister. Please be honest with me."
"I'm being honest. And I'm sorry, but I think you're better off back at school."
"Don't do this to me, please."
"I'm gonna book you a flight back right now." Nathan said standing up.
Brooke stood up and grabbed his arm. "You know what? Maybe you're right. No one wants me here anyway. You keep lying to me and my own family thinks I'm the enemy."
"That is not true. It's not."
"Just do me a favor and get me a seat by the window."
Nathan sighed before walking away to call the airline.
When he finished the phone call, Nathan walked back over to the table he and Brooke were sitting at. But Brooke was nowhere to be found. All her stuff was gone and so were the articles she had brought in.
Nathan walked over to the bar. "Hey, excuse me." The bartender walked over to him. "Did you see that girl I was with before?"
"Yea, it was kinda hard to miss her."
Nathan ignored the comment. "Yea. Do you know where she went?"
"She left with Julian Baker a few minutes ago."
"Thanks." Nathan turned around and almost ran into Deb, who was standing behind him. "Hey."
"Nathan, where's Brooke? I thought she was with you?"
"She is."
"Well I don't see her anywhere. Haven't you been watching her?"
"Mom, I'm hanging out with her. I'm not keeping her under surveillance."
"It's dangerous to keep Brooke here. I told you that. Especially now since your run in with the law. She's bound to ask some uncomfortable questions."
"Yea, well she already has."
"And?"
"I lied to her. That is the Scott way, isn't it?"
"I want her back on a plane and in school."
"I'll handle it. I'm on it."
"Do you understand?"
"Yea, I do. I'm on it."
"Make sure you do." Deb said, before walking away from him and sitting down at the table he had been sitting at.
Nathan turned back to the bar. "Hey." The bartender walked back over to him. "When Julian Baker left, did you hear him say where he was going?"
"He picked her up here and the bar and they left together. I have a pretty good idea where they were going."
Nathan grabbed the bartender's shirt. "She's my sister. Don't ever talk about her like that again." Nathan let him go and dialed his phone. "Bear. Look, we have a problem…you've gotta help me find Brooke…ok call me when you find out."
Nathan walked over to his mom. "Mom."
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"Brooke took off. I don't know where she went."
Deb stood up. "What do you mean? She's out there somewhere all alone?"
"Well, she's not exactly alone."
"How could you let this happen, Nathan?"
"Oh no. Don't blame me. I turned my back for two minutes to book her a flight back to California. I came back and she was gone."
"You should have never left her alone."
"She told me she wanted to back to school. She told me she was ready. I'm not a babysitter."
"You know she wants to stay here as well as I do. You know she's intent on finding out what we're keeping from her."
"She is. She went to the library today and dug up a whole slew of articles on dad, on you, on the entire family."
"I knew this was gonna happen if we let her stay here."
"I thought I could protect her from all this, but…"
"Like you thought you could protect Haley? Face it, Nathan. You're out of control ever since that girl came into your life."
"You mean since you drove her out of my life? Isn't that what you mean?"
"Grow up and get over it. Haley is poison to you and I am not going to let her destroy anymore of my family than she already has."
"You're not gonna touch her. I warned you."
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna do anything. But look at what she has done to you, Nathan. You get yourself arrested, you put Brooke in danger. Everything I have done to protect her has been ruined because of your obsession with this girl."
"Don't try to blame me for what you have done to Brooke." Nathan's phone rang, interrupting the conversation. "Yea?...where?...ok I've got it." Nathan hung up the phone and began grabbing his computer.
"Where is she?"
"I'm gonna take care of this."
"You've done enough already."
"I brought her here and I'm gonna take care of it." Nathan said forcefully.
"You're just gonna make it worse."
"Get off my back. I'm gonna get my sister and I'm gonna bring her back home." Nathan walked away from his mother and out the door.
Nathan entered the diner and saw Brooke sitting across from Julian. "Brooke."
"Nathan, what are you doing here?"
"I came to get you. Let's go."
"Wait. Brooke? You said your name was Megan." Julian said, placing his hand on hers.
"Get your hand off my sister." Nathan warned.
"I'm not your sister."
"Stop it. I'm not in the mood for this right now." Nathan said.
Brooke stood up and got in Nathan's face. "I asked you to be honest with me about our family. All that stuff about our family being persecuted because of our great-great grandfather-"
"Is true. It's all true."
"And so is the rest of it. All of it!"
"I don't know what this tool has been telling you, but it's not true. He's lying."
"No, you're lying. You're not my brother anymore. I don't even know who you are."
"You know what? We're gonna finish this conversation on the way to the airport." Nathan said, grabbing her stuff. He placed a hand on her back and forcefully pushed her toward the door.
"Let go of me!"
Julian stood up and grabbed Nathan. "Let go of her." Julian swung and hit Nathan square in the jaw. Nathan grabbed Julian's shirt collar ready to hit him.
"Stop it! Nathan, stop!" Brooke ran to stand between Nathan and Julian. "Nathan, let him go. He has nothing to do with this! Let him go! This is between us." Nathan slowly let Julian's collar go and stepped back. Brooke turned to Julian. "Look, I'm sorry. I should have told you the truth about who I am."
"It's ok. I understand why you wouldn't want anyone to know that you're a Scott." Nathan lunged for him again, but Brooke stopped him.
"Brooke, outside." Nathan grabbed her arm
"You think you're gonna ship me off to California?"
"I wanna talk to you! Outside!"
Brooke yanked her arm away from his grasp and turned back to Julian. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I got you involved."
"It's ok. Don't worry about it."
Brooke turned and walked toward Nathan. "We're not done." Nathan said, looking at Julian.
"I'll be here waiting." Julian responded.
Nathan angrily led Brooke outside. "Look, I'm not mad at you. I don't know what went on in there, but whatever he told you is crap."
"Why would he lie?"
"I told you. We have a lot of money. People are jealous and they resent us for it. They want to cut us down."
"But Julian said that you were forced to marry Haley and that mom wanted to kill her."
"How can you believe a word he says? You don't know him."
"Don't do this! If you love me, if you ever loved me, tell me the truth. Please. I'm begging you. Just tell me the truth. Because you know what? The questions won't stop coming. I'm gonna find out one way or another. Are we really the monsters everyone says we are?"
Nathan sighed. "Not you, Brooke. Never you."
"I trusted you. You knew how miserable I was. You knew I wanted to come home. I begged you to let me come home. Instead, I had to go on those stupid vacations to Milan or Hawaii or where ever else we used to go except here."
"You know we had a great time on those vacations."
"No, you had a great time on those vacations. I wanted to come home and be part of the family. Instead, I felt like a stranger and now I know why."
"I couldn't tell you. I couldn't. Ever since you were a little girl mom made me promise that I would never say anything."
"We're criminals!" Brooke began to get upset.
"No, we're not."
"We're just a bunch of mobsters, a bunch of thugs!"
"You're making sound a lot worse than it is."
"How could it be a lot worse? So you're family is in finance, mine is in the crime business. Can you please pass the ketchup?"
"Come on. It's not like that."
"How else is it?! Our saint of a mother ordered the execution of your wife!"
"She had her reasons."
"What reason could she have to have Haley killed?"
"I can't…you know those newspaper articles you showed me, the ones that said Damien died of head injuries?"
"The criminal investigation? The one that you said turned up nothing?" Brooke questioned.
"Well it doesn't mean that nothing happened."
"What do you mean?"
"Brooke, Damien wasn't the only one on the beach that night. Haley killed him."
Brooke froze and her eyes went wide. He couldn't have just said what she thought he just said.