Thank you to every one who waited for this, and though I know I'm trying you I would ask for another favor, if anyone works for the Journal news of the New York times or a newspaper in the Westchester area please contact me

Thank you to every one who waited for this, and though I know I'm trying you I would ask for another favor, if anyone works for the Journal news of the New York times or a newspaper in the Westchester area please contact me. When I was at St. Vincent's this weekend I ran into some volunteers from a local high school who built a monument (a model of the twin towers) of well wishes out of paper cranes for the rescue workers in the city. They then took time out of their weekends to drive 60 something miles down into the city to speak to the firemen, doctors, patient's etc. I think that those volunteers deserve acknowledgement and I would like to get them into a newspaper in my area, if anyone can help please email me at Kittykat509@hotmail.com, I'll then redirect you to the coordinator of that project. Thank you.

Also, next time I post I will take down the previous note, so don't look at the chapter number look at the summery, I'll but the number 18 at the beginning of it.

Chap 17 – Apparitions

By five thirty that day, Sarah felt almost human again as the voices in her head were somewhat quieted if not utterly stilled. When she arrived in her bedroom however, there stood Colleen with a dossier in hand. "I hope you're relaxed ma'am, now if you'll follow me?" holding open the door which led to the sitting area of Sarah's suite Colleen went through, waiting patiently for Sarah to follow. Not having the strength to argue or fight Sarah did so. Once through the door colleen immediately sat Sarah down on a chair and handed her the dossier. "Mr. Irons told me to give that to you. Now just relax and let me prepare you for Mr. D'angitino's Gala this evening."

Raising an eyebrow, Sarah fixed Colleen with a look, when the girl wasn't more forthcoming she took the dossier and opened it. Inside was a picture of her and an altered biography. As Sarah read the dossier a smile almost came to her despite her feelings of defeat. It was written in Irons' sarcastic tones and the content in itself was somewhat amusing. As Sarah turned pages, she barely noticed Colleen fusing with her hair and already carefully manicured nails. The dossier was sixty pages long in the least and so detailed that Sarah wondered just how long Irons had spent on this. When colleen was gone, Sarah too had finished, and in a few more minutes Sarah sat in front of her vanity as Colleen did her make-up, forced to cooperate despite protests that would make a sailor-cringe. As a rule Sarah always wore the bare minimum when it came to make up, layers of the stuff was simply more then she could bear. After some time however Colleen had completed her impossible task.

Looking in the mirror Sarah almost gasped. The woman in the reflection was tall and regal, dark brown waves of hair framed her face with a timeless elegance, around her throat a choker of three strings of pearls and a red carnelian set off a long simple cream white dress. The image was beautiful but chilling, the woman in the mirror was charming, but it wasn't Sarah Pezzini, it was a woman long dead. The reflection in the mirror was of Elizabeth Bronte.

***

"Ms. Kohl!" Dovidi made a show of greeting Onica personally, only slightly perturbed that she had come with a companion, amongst the guests here only she was not involved in his arms dealing, it was a warning to the others to watch what they said around her. "I am utterly delighted to see you." Onica found his warm greeting both chivalrous and repulsive, and as he kissed her hand Erik's comforting presence was the only thing that kept her from shrinking back.

"And I you." Onica's face was a mask of cool composure, a smile gibing warmth to her coldly civil words. Dovidi again found him self struck by her manor and beauty, she captivated with so little said, charmed with what seemed the most natural of expressions. "May I introduce Erik McLoad Erik, Mr. Dovidi D'angitino." In one fluid motion Onica was no long standing in front of Dovidi, but hanging languidly on Erik's arm. The men exchanged handshakes and nods. "I hope you don't mind Dovidi, but Erik informed me that you haven't given an interview in over a year. Frankly as your public relations expert I regret to inform you that such is not acceptable. And as Erik is a reporter for the Half Moon Chronicle, I decided that his presence here might remedy that."

As Dovidi mentally gulped he waved Erik and Onica in the direction of his study, as he did so Erik looked over Onica with a new respect, if she was able to hide the real reason of why he was here so well what else was she keeping hidden? When they were settled down in Dovidi's study a knick came at the most inappropriate time. "Mr. D'angitino, there is someone here to see you." When Dovidi only raised an eyebrow the butler mouthed a phrase.

"Mr. Giamano is here."

***

As Sarah walked down the staircase she found herself more resigned then angry. If she looked like Elizabeth Bronte, it was likely Colleen's error, and likely not one that had been intended. As she walked into Irons study she saw him leaning heavily on the mantle, staring into the fire as if it would yield to him some long awaited answer. Watching him she learned against the doorframe thinking how pained and uncontrolled he hooked. Waiting for him to turn around and say something to prove her wrong. When he didn't she raised an eyebrow out of habit then forced herself to lower it. Taking a collected breath she let it out in the form of his name. "Kenneth?" He turned, then as if startled gripped the mantelpiece tightly with his left hand as he hooked her up and down, a wild look of fear and hope in his eyes. "Are you alright?" She spoke to him in the same gentle tone as before, but this time it had the opposite effect.

Almost immediately the trance was broken and nodding curtly he lowered himself into the nearest chair. "I'm glad you're ready, come here." Sarah bit back a retort, trying to remind herself that until further notice she was stranded with him. Slowly she glided forward, holding his gaze with a question in her own. "This is for you." Picking up a red velvet ring box he handed it to Sarah, carefully gauging her reaction to the silver engagement ring inside. Much to his surprise and delight she smiled.

"To support my alibi of a dead fiancé correct?" She put the box down, pulling out the ring and slipping it on her finger. As she looked at her now adorned left hand she began to sadden tearing her eyes away from it as if it burned her she looked at him. "Thank you." There was a question she needed to ask. Things she needed to say, but instead she clamped her mouth shut, deciding that this wasn't the right moment. Silently Kenneth rose, leaning close as if to kiss her, then almost gingerly he caressed a lock of her hair.

"Go now, you'll be missed" Inclining her head almost inperceivably Sarah did so, knowing his eyes followed her and that long after she was gone, his gaze would linger on the spot where she'd stood, puzzling and prying into a mind he would never fully comprehend.

***

In the shadows, Ian clenched his fists. He could see it happening again, the same horror he'd witnessed as a child of nine. Sarah Pezzini was falling prey to Kenneth Irons. He had thought she was smarter, braver, more able to outwit irons then the others before her, but now he was unsure. Already she was following in the footsteps of the one woman he'd ever considered a mother, but she would never share that woman's fate. Sarah Pezzini was one of three women who had ever held any importance to him, and he would guard and protect her, if not for her then for Callie. Sarah was one of his sisters few truly trustworthy friends and he would not allow Callie to suffer another loss. He would see to that, even it meant he would die doing so.