"You need to step down Charlie." Dwight Evans swallowed when Charlie's green eyes focused on him. He had been the one to draw the short straw. "I know, it's become a national story, and someone leaked the photos to the press. You'll still have all your shares of the company Charlie, you'll still be making money, you'll still be worth a lot of money. But they're saying you're a murderer, and a domestic abuser. Amazon won't purchase us with all this scandal Charlie."

"You built this company, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you Charlie and most of us know that you didn't kill Dani, but the optics—" Sam swallows when Charlie looks at him. "Stepping down saves everything you built. I mean the interview with Dani's mother this morning has been playing non-stop. She's a woman with cancer Charlie, she's incredibly sympathetic."

When Charlie doesn't say anything Dwight sighs, "You'll get a very generous exit package—you'll still keep all your shares of the company, you'll still get a massive payout if Amazon buys the company. No one is looking to screw you over."

"I suppose my innocence means nothing?"

"I believe you," Sam said firmly. Charlie went after bad people, with extreme prejudice. And with Santana back in her life—even if she was just on the periphery—Charlie had been relaxed, far more relaxed than she had been in years. Killing Dani wasn't something Charlie would do.

"Well it can't be helped then," Charlie said with a shrug. "I'm not going to let Dani ruin everything I've built. However, I would like to name my replacement. Someone who I know isn't some asshole who plans to run my company into the ground and pick at it like vultures."

Dwight hesitated, that hadn't been offered. But if Charlie still had a controlling interest in the company which she would, then she'd have a say anyway. "We can discuss it—"

"It's Sam. I trust Sam." Charlie interrupted Dwight, who blinked at this. "Quinn doesn't want to run my company. Sam has been here since the beginning and I know with you by his side, the company will only continue to grow."

Dwight looked over at Sam who was in shock by Charlie's declaration, he hadn't expected that. "Well, he certainly has my full support. I'll make it happen."

Charlie smiled and got up to pat Sam on the back. "You'll be fine Sam. People like you and you've got like zero skeletons in your closet except for the fact you're a massive nerd who may or may not still have a crush on my twin sister."

Sam turned a bright red at Charlie's statement, "I have a girlfriend," he says gently shoving Charlie.

"Yeah, sure. Is she from Canada? I mean I've never met her. Have you Dwight?"

"I haven't either," Dwight said immediately deciding to join Charlie in teasing Sam.

Sam shook it off, it had been awhile since Charlie had made a joke. "Are you going to be okay? What are you going to do?"

Charlie frowned; it was the first time since she was a teenager that she wasn't working. That she didn't have things to do. "I think it's time I collected on a few receipts that have come due. Don't worry, I won't leave a mess for you to clean up Sam."

Sam hesitated flicking his eyes over at his father, there was a rather cheery smile on Charlie's face. "If you find Dani, just give her location to the police or the FBI or something." When Charlie shrugs again Sam decides to push his luck, "And you and Santana can finally work your shit out."

Charlie frowns at this and looks away for a moment, "I don't think Santana and I can work it out, but maybe when all this business with Dani is done and her mother doesn't look at me like I'm some sort of monster we can talk."

Sam smiled, "That's all I ask," he moves in for a hug and frowns when Charlie ducks around him.

"What are you doing?"

"Hugging you?"

"Don't do that Sam, it's super weird. I'm not a hugger. You know that. You can't hug anyone when you're a CEO. You need to keep things professional." Charlie pats him on the shoulder. "Don't worry I'll give you a list of shit that you can do and can't do."

~ O ~

"You need to do an investigation as to who leaked those pictures," Santana said with a frown. "You know how sensational the news gets and now she's being forced to step down from her company. She built that company mami."

Maribel sighed and rubbed her temples, "This wasn't a leak, Santana, this is the police trying to find more of Charlie's victim's. They do not think that Dani was an isolated incident. I know they have your statement, and I assure you they will be questioning you again, because they don't believe it. I don't even think they believe me, and I caught the two of you naked more times than I feel comfortable admitting." Maribel sighed and looked at Santana, "Are you sure she never—"

"I'm not going to pretend that Charlie and I have never fought, but the only time things got broken around me was when she found out about Frannie. She didn't hit me, she didn't try and stop me she said some shit, I said some shit. Never once did I feel like I was in danger, I thought she might actually kill Frannie and I managed to calm her down on that end, but me? Personally? Charlie would never hurt me; I don't think she knows how to." Santana answers with a sigh. "She had a reason to go after Frannie, and she didn't. Dani? Please, Charlie never loved her. Charlie stated it openly to Dani's face, many times."

"Santana—a body was found." Maribel swallowed. "A body was found, the face was smashed, fingertips were burned—it was a brutal attack, DNA results came in today. It's a match."

Santana blinked, "Charlie didn't do it." Charlie never left a body. She would leave signs that something had happened but a body. Charlie wasn't sloppy and she certainly didn't kill with her hands. Not when her abilities allowed her a certain amount of creativity.

"Santana, I know you want to believe—"

"Charlie didn't do it." Santana repeated firmly.

"Perhaps, but you can't give her the heads up. We're gathering the evidence now and in a few days an arrest warrant will be made out for her name. I understand you believe her, and maybe she's innocent of this Santana, but it's not looking good. And you don't want to get an obstruction charge."

Santana bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. "Can you at least make sure she gets bail?"

"It's not up to me Santana, the DA is looking to make an example out of her. He's going to ask that she be remanded into custody."

Santana swallowed feeling ill, Charlie would not do well in another prison situation. "She has good lawyers they should be able to get her out of it right?"

"That's the hope," Maribel said with a small nod.