Author's Note: Big thanks for the reviews! I go a little nuts with joy when I receive one. And to the reviewers who comment about their English not being so good, I really appreciate you posting even though you feel that way and I admire you writing in another language. I understood you perfectly. Thank you!


Standing in his foyer looking at the street through the window in his front door, Harris Ryland feels like he's just returned from an alternate universe. Who was that odd old lady and what exactly did she mean by 'stop your evil doing'? And she called him by name.

Mildly troubled, Harris considers calling the police since she did threaten to shoot him. But what would he say? Someone's grandmother came to my door wearing a veiled hat and threatened to kill me, then sped off in an unplated Rolls Royce? Honestly. Could it sound any more ridiculous?

He chuckles but checks the door locks anyway, then walks to the den and turns on the television. A religious telethon is on the channel for a local Baptist church. A big-haired holy roller looks straight into the camera. "Repent, brothers and sisters!" she says. "The end of days is near. He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs, 28:13." She points her red-nailed finger at Harris before the camera cuts to a choir.

Harris calls the number scrolling on the screen and makes a $5,000 donation.


Bobby ties the shiny brown stallion to the oak tree and pats him on the flank.

"Good boy, rest now," he says.

The woods glow in the early morning light. Leaves crunch under Bobby's boots and he inhales the crisp air smelling of cedar and musk. His breath floats out of his mouth in a white cloud as he exhales and kneels by Miss Ellie's grave.

"Mornin', Mama," he says, brushing twigs and leaves off her headstone. "Sorry I haven't been by for a while. It's been hectic to say the least. JR sure gave us all a fright," he says and sits down on the dirt, wincing at his aching hip.

He doesn't speak again for quite some time, just sits there with his hands on the damp earth that covers his mother. He closes his eyes and visits her in his mind, her sweet smile greeting him, eyes sparkling in that special way that mothers' eyes do.

"Mama, JR needs a kidney. And I want to give him mine. He's fighting me on this and I've tried to argue with him but he's not budging. Help me find the right words to change his mind, Mama, please. I need to do this for him, just as much for my sake as his. I can't really explain it, how strongly I feel about this but I know you understand.

"Everyone's offered to be tested, John Ross, Christopher, Lucy, even Ray. I pray one of us is a match for him and I hope it's me, Mama. So whomever you can talk to up there, put in a word for me, would you please?

"I wonder what you'd say to me right now if you were here. You'd make me feel more hopeful, that's for sure. But I do have Annie, and I'm so thankful for her. She's a lot like you, Mama, warm and kind, a caretaker of people and nature too. I wish you could've met her. I just know you'd love her. She hasn't been herself lately though; she and JR didn't exactly hit it off, if you can believe that.

Bobby laughs at his own joke and shifts his crossed legs around with some effort.

"And it really has been all about JR around here since his accident. I'm afraid I've been hard on Annie in some ways. Help me be patient with her, Mama, help me be a better husband to this woman I love so much."

Before getting up to go, Bobby kisses his fingers and touches Miss Ellie's headstone, his hand lingering on it for a few seconds. When he turns around, a doe stands just several feet away from him, her ears flicking back and forth. Bobby takes this as a sign from his mother and nearly weeps. Feeling foolish, he is glad the horse is his only witness.


"Mrs. Ewing?" says the desk clerk, "Detective Grady's ready for you. Follow me please."

Sue Ellen walks down the dingy hallway toward the Homicide Office unaware of all the eyes watching her pass by. The male detectives, younger and older, admire her legs and other things beneath her cobalt blue dress. The women take note of her big Fendi bag, perfectly styled hair and big gold watch sparkling with diamonds, they assume.

"Well, Sue Ellen Ewing in the flesh," Grady says, rising from his chair to greet her.

Sue Ellen smiles.

"Thanks for coming in so quickly," he says. "I'm sure you're very busy with your campaign and all."

"No trouble," Sue Ellen says. "Whoever's responsible for doing this to JR needs to be caught. And I'll help any way I can."

Grady slowly nods. He laces and unlaces his fingers together several times then rests his chin on his hands, all the while watching Sue Ellen.

"Detective?" she says after a few moments of awkward silence.

"Yes?"

"Well, aren't you going to ask me some questions, or something?"

"Sure. Sure I am. What should I ask you?"

"Excuse me?"

Grady smiles and leans back in his chair.

"What would you like to tell me," he says, "….about JR?"

Sue Ellen squints at him, unsure where this is going.

"What do you want to know?" she tosses back.

"Anything. Everything," he says, still smiling.

Sue Ellen shrugs.

"Well I've married and divorced him twice. We have one son together, John Ross the third, whom you met. JR's an oil man, always was and always will be. His, uh, rode to success is littered with broken dreams and other casualties, his competitors', not his. Family's important to him, he takes great pride in the Ewing name and I guess you could say he's the patriarch now, the oldest living Ewing male. It's a role he takes very seriously, maybe too much so."

"Oh? Why do you say that?" Grady says.

"Detective, maybe you are unaware JR is recently home from a seven-year stay at an assisted lively facility?"

"I did not know that."

"Yes, he was there for depression, severe depression. Now that he's come out of it, he's back home at the ranch and wanting to pick up where he left off. But a lot has changed since then. Bobby remarried around the same time JR went away and Southfork has been his and Ann's home all these years, so…"

"Three's a crowd?"

"Well JR's not one to ease into anything. He sees what he wants and he takes it. And he wants Southfork back under his control. And honestly, it's rightfully his, in principle anyway. He and Bobby co-own it but JR is the eldest son. He doesn't want to throw anyone out, he just wants to continue certain family traditions, that's all. And some people might not be real happy about that," Sue Ellen says.

She crosses her legs and notices Grady's eyes flash in their direction.

"Is that right?" he says. "Discontent from within, huh? Well, your family ain't no different from any other in that respect. I've seen my share of violence among relatives. Is that what you think's happened here, Mrs. Ewing? Someone in the family been pushed too far? Far enough to make JR go up in flames?"

"I'm just telling you what I've noticed in my visits to Southfork. I came for Sunday dinner last week. JR asked Bobby's wife to get out of her chair at the head of the table and give it to me."

Grady raises his eyebrows and Sue Ellen gives him a sympathetic expression.

"I can't really blame Ann for being as furious as she was. It must have been so humiliating," Sue Ellen says and leans forward.

"She came from humble beginnings so all this Ewing prestige is exciting for her. And I think she'd protect it fiercely," she says.

Grady writes a note on his yellow pad.

"Tell me, Mrs. Ewing, what's your current relationship with JR?"

"Meaning?"

"Are you in love with each other? Hate each other? Somewhere in between? What?"

"You're very direct, aren't you?"

"Nature of the job, ma'am. I'm sure you understand."

Sue Ellen smoothes her hair. Her gold bracelets click and the scent of her perfume sweetens the air with the movement of her arm.

"We are in love with each other presently, if you must know."

"I must. And have you talked about marrying again? For a third time?"

"No, we have not."

"Who is JR's beneficiary?"

"Pardon me?"

"Life insurance beneficiary."

"Well, I really don't know…I imagine it's John Ross. It was me decades ago but now – "

"It's still you."

"What?'

"It's still you. You're trying to tell me you didn't know that?"

"I'm not trying to tell you, I am telling you."

Grady stares at Sue Ellen and she stares right back.

"Are you trying to tell me I was involved in harming JR for the insurance money?" Sue Ellen says and laughs at her own words.

"It's the most common motive for familial homicide," Grady says. "So the odds are stacked against you, Mrs. Ewing. It's a five million dollar policy."

Sue Ellen gets up and leans on Grady's desk, shoving a stack of papers out of her way.

"Detective Grady, I have millions and millions of dollars, many more than five. I have more money than one person should be allowed to possess, so forgive me if I find your suggestion comical. If I were going to have someone killed, it would be for a good reason, not for money," Sue Ellen says and spins on her heal.

"Wait," Grady says.

She stops walking but does not turn around.

"Please don't leave on a sour note, Mrs. Ewing. I'm just doing my job. We don't have a lot of time to spend on niceties in murder investigations. Cases unsolved in the first 48 hours are likely to stay that way, that's all."

Sue Ellen slowly turns. She sizes Grady up with steely eyes and squares her jaw.

"Someone tried to kill the father of my child," she says, walking towards him. "Someone out there set his car on fire and hoped he'd cook like beef on the barbecue. That person didn't mind putting my son, or me for that matter, through the ghastly ordeal of seeing him all burned up, or imagining his final moments," she says very close to Grady's face.

"So forgive me if I'm out of niceties myself, Detective Grady, when you imply that person is me."

Grady claps in applause and Sue Ellen's expression turns even colder, thinking he is mocking her.

"Congratulations," he says. "You've just removed yourself from the suspect list."

"Why?" she says.

"Not why, how," he says. "How you said that last bit there. I know truth when I see it. And I saw it. You want a pop or something? We're on the same team now, girl! You mind if I call you Sue Ellen?"

Sue Ellen is both annoyed and impressed by this man's tactics. "Water," she calls after him as he rushes out the door. She can hear him clapping all the way down the hall.

"Here you go," he says handing her a bottled water.

Grady pops a soda can open and chugs for several seconds.

"Ahhhh," he says. "I sure love me some root beer, don't you?"

"Not especially. …...You're a strange man, Detective," Sue Ellen says.

"I won't deny it. But I'm good at what I do. Real good. I've solved more murder cases than any other poor slob in this office. And I'm gonna solve this one too. Watch me," he says gulping more root beer.

Sue Ellen has to smile. She catches Grady glancing at her legs again.

"I believe you will," she says. "Who else is on that suspect list? I might be able to fill you in some."

Grady frowns and tosses the empty soda can in the trash.

"Naw, I'm afraid I can't discuss that with you at this particular time, Sue Ellen. Investigative protocol."

Sue Ellen rolls her eyes.

"You don't seem like the kind of man governed by someone else's rules," she says, batting her eyes just enough to catch his attention. "You did just say we're on the same team, Detective. Were you serious or just patronizing me?"

"Oh come on now, no need to get testy. I meant what I said – "

"Prove it."

Grady chuckles and rubs his had over his face.

"You're a shark in lady's clothing, you know that Miss?" he says.

"Why thank you. What a lovely compliment."

"Alright, here. I'll give you something in good faith but you keep it to yourself until such time I say different, understood?"

"Yes sir," she says and chases it with her very best smile.

"Does the name Harris Ryland mean anything to you?"

"Who?" Sue Ellen says buying time to choose her best move, trying not to look enraged.

"Ryland. Harris Ryland. Older guy, wealthy as sin, owns Ryland Transportation, all those tankers you see up and back on our highways."

"Right, yes. I've seen them. He and I have attended some of the same business functions here in Dallas," she says, recovering. "The name threw me but I know the face. And to be honest with you, he gives me an uneasy feeling."

"I'm pickin' that up, Sue Ellen, I'm keying on a vibe coming off you. Uneasy feeling like how?"

All the risks connected to exposing Ryland flash in front of Sue Ellen, especially Ruby poisoning that dirty cop Jensen in Sue Ellen's own front yard. Makes her bribe to the Medical Examiner look like child's play.

"Uneasy like unwanted advances," Sue Ellen says quickly. "Nothing said but just looking me over and uncomfortable things like that. I'd appreciate it if you'd keep that to yourself. I'd rather he didn't know it bothers me."

"Will do," Grady says. "This guy may have developed some kind of obsession with you and it's got to where he's set on eliminating all threats to your affection, namely JR."

"What will you do with him?" Sue Ellen says.

"He's just a person of interest right now. I don't have anything on him but hearsay. Yet."

"Oh? Someone mentioned him to you?"

Grady frowns.

"This will be a test of our new partnership, Sue Ellen. You breathe a word of what I'm about to tell you and I'll know you popped the top on this. And you'll hurt my investigation, you hear?"

Sue Ellen puts her hand over her heart.

"You have my word," she says, trying not to seem as anxious to know as she is.

"Ryland's got a piece of work mother, Judith's her name, who likes treating her domestic help like shit. And the day of reckoning has come. One of 'em came and told me they overheard Judith going on about how proud she was of what Ryland done to JR."

Sue Ellen sits frozen holding the water bottle mid-air, this news sinking into her like hundreds of hot pins. Harris tried to kill JR to hurt her. JR nearly died because of her.

"Sue Ellen? You alright?"

"Yes. Fine," she says clearing her throat. "It's just upsetting to hear. People can be so awful. I don't know how you stand this job," she says and gets up to go.

"Thank you for trusting me," she says and offers her hand.

Grady shakes it, soft and warm in his rough and calloused one. As Sue Ellen walks away he can almost sympathize with Ryland's obsession; he can't recall a more charming, feisty, feminine beauty than Sue Ellen Ewing.

Poor thing was really shook up by that information. Imagine if he'd told her Bobby's wife is running with Ryland. Well, all in due time. Grady puts Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits CD in his desktop stereo and documents his interview.


Sue Ellen skids to a stop on the dirt parking lot of the shooting range. She signs in at the counter but makes no usual small talk with the employees. They watch her stride to the women's locker room and give each other puzzled looks.

She stores her purse but leaves her little pearl handle .22 inside. No, the .45 is coming out today. She removes the big gun from its lock box and loads it with a full magazine. Just the snapping sound of the metal clicking in place helps harness her fury.

In the shooting gallery, Sue Ellen stands in her three-inch heals and bright blue dress firing rapid rounds at the torso on the paper target 25 feet away. She imagines it's Harris Ryland standing there smirking at her, thinking he got a way with nearly murdering JR, setting him on fire like old newspapers.

"Think again," she whispers to the paper man. "You want to play with fire? You have no idea what you started. You've pulled the dragon's tail."

After emptying the whole magazine, she presses the button on the electric pulley and the target glides to her. All eight rounds made strike holes in the kill zone.


Mark stands before his bathroom mirror trying different facial expressions. When he decides which one looks most disapproving, he hopes he can reproduce it when Sue Ellen tells him she's quitting the race today.

He splashes on some cologne, never knowing how much is too much and this afternoon is no different. He walks down his hallway and then back through his own cologne cloud, inhaling; seems an acceptable scent level.

Moments later he's on the road to the coffee house. It takes only a few miles' driving before he starts feeling sorry that this will likely be his last meeting with Sue Ellen. He appreciates her wanting to meet with him in person instead of just telling him over the phone. She really does have integrity and he's genuinely disappointed for voters that she won't pursue politics. He plans to tell her so after he gives her his special look.

Sue Ellen sits at a small table by the window sipping hot tea. She's dressed down today in jeans, a fitted dark red sweater and long Burberry scarf. Mark doesn't walk over right away, struck by how lovely she looks in the late afternoon light. If he wasn't the way he is, he'd be absolutely taken with her. No question.

He's startled when she looks over at him and waves.

"Hi Sue Ellen," he says, going over.

His planned facial expression doesn't even make an appearance, shooed away by her warm hug.

"Thanks for meeting me," she says. "I wasn't sure you would, as much as I've disappointed you."

"Uh," he says, trying to collect himself.

Sue Ellen smiles brightly and crushes any hopes of him trying to be stern with her.

"What can I get you to drink?" she says. "We're celebrating."

"Oh I hardly think this is cause for celebration," he says.

"No? Well I thought you'd be happy that I'm still running for governor, and I'm more committed than ever."

"What!" Mark shouts. "I thought you called me here to say you're through."

"You pessimist, we need to work on that," Sue Ellen says. "People who fear the worst have a shorter lifespan, it's proven. So, large coffee?"

"Large cappuccino," he says, "this calls for a fancier drink."

She orders at the counter. Mark looks back at her before sitting down, doubting what he just heard. He didn't even bring his laptop or anything to write on and he feels terribly unprepared. His palms are getting sweaty right on cue and he sits on his hands.

"Here you go," Sue Ellen says.

Mark inhales a big dollop of cappuccino foam and closes his eyes, enjoying the strong, sweet flavor.

"Well you look a wreck, my friend, if you don't mind me saying," Sue Ellen says.

"I am a wreck and I don't mind you saying," he says. "I didn't know how we'd explain to your donors, what kind of press release to write, or anything, frankly. And I don't think I could find another campaign to join this late in the game, not that I'd want to, but you understand."

Sue Ellen nods.

"So, what happened? Why did you change your mind and might you change it again?" he says before he can help it.

Sue Ellen takes a long sip of coffee.

"It's the most incredible feeling when someone loves you enough to let you go," she says. "All those cliches about setting someone free if you love them, they're true. They really are. I never stopped wanting to run for governor. I just wanted to help my family more, that's all."

Mark listens with a heavy heart, wishing he had someone who would give up their dream for him.

"JR told me to pursue the campaign," Sue Ellen says, "insisted on it, actually. And you don't tell JR Ewing 'no', even when he's laid up in a hospital bed," she laughs.

"Well on behalf of your staff and tens of thousands of voters, thank you JR," Mark says with a hint of jealously.

Sue Ellen puts her hand on Mark's. He's embarrassed at how cold and sweaty it is.

"Mark, you're going to find someone again who will love you enough to put your happiness before their own. You deserve that. And it will happen."

He doesn't know what to say and even if he did he's afraid he might sob on the spot if he admits how lonely he is. He makes a run for familiar ground instead.

"Well let's see," he says, "you've got the Wichita elders tomorrow night, nothing scheduled during the day. I think a statement expressing thanks for the concern that's been coming into the office for JR might be appropriate. How do you feel about that?"

"Yes, absolutely, that would be nice. Thank you," she says, disappointed he ignored her encouragement.

"Okay, great," he says. "I'll have a draft for you tomorrow afternoon. Anything else you want me to work on right away?"

"Yes. It was Harris Ryland who tried to kill JR and I want you to find me something I can use to take him down. Permanently."

Mark's smile fades.

"Taken down like how?"

Sue Ellen slits her throat with her finger. Mark's eyes widen and Sue Ellen smiles.

"I want him….neutralized, humiliated, stripped of his business and jailed. If the police can't pin JR's accident on him, I'll make sure he's caught for something else, something we can prove. We know he's dirty. What about that cold truck information? Did you find anything else out about that?"

"No, I just haven't had the time with everything that's happened lately - Aubrey, JR's accident - "

"I know. You don't have to explain. I understand. Well things are settling down now so please make it a priority. I'm sure we're on to something big. We're just missing some pieces."

"How do you know he's behind JR's accident?"

"You'll have to trust me on that, like I'm trusting you not to say a word of it to anyone. No one, Mark. Not even Boone. Understand?"

"Understood."

"How is Boone, anyway? What you told me about him being fired, was that true or were you just angry with me?"

"He's on paid leave during the investigation but he said the outcome's near certain. He withheld evidence and lied about it. He's done."

"I truly am sorry about that," Sue Ellen says. "I'm responsible, in a way. He was only trying to help us, help me. You tell him he's got a job with my campaign if he wants it. Security….. and investigation. I want my own investigator. JR wins so much because he keeps the advantage. And that often comes by way of private investigators. Boone will be well paid."

"Thanks, I'll tell him. I appreciate that, Sue Ellen, and I'm sure he will too after he comes to grips with what happens at the PD."

Sue Ellen finishes her coffee and Mark notices something on her fingers.

"What's that black stuff? On your fingers," he says.

"Oh," Sue Ellen says, "just a little gun powder."