"What do you mean, I'm gonna work for you?" Antonio asked angrily.
"Just that," answered Nick. "I've got a really important job, for some very important clients. Unfortunately, I need someone with an expertise in an area that you can't be beat in. So, you're going to help me out."
Antonio couldn't believe what he was hearing. Forgetting for a second the vulnerable position that he was in, he laughed. "And what makes you think that I'm just gonna say yes and go along with it? I don't wanna get mixed up in any kind of scam, and we're even now, so you don't have that hanging over my head."
Nick appeared unflustered at Antonio's refusal. "I expected you to say something like that. You are going to do exactly as I say because, if you don't," he said, eyeing Sheridan, "it's not going to be very pleasant for your fiancée."
Both Luis and Antonio yelled "Bastard!" and unthinkingly lunged at the crook, only to be held back quite firmly by their chains. Unable to do anything physically, they glared at Nick, while Sheridan stared fearfully, worried about both her own welfare and what Antonio was going to be forced to do.
"Geesh, the temper you Irish Latinos have!" Nick declared, having previously discovered from the identification the other guy carried that this was Antonio's brother. "Anyway, you have a choice: either take the job or we get rid of all three of you in a very creative way. If, at any point, I think that you're going to sabotage the plan, turn me in, or simply skip off, I will call my associates remaining here and have your 'Diana' or 'Sheridan Crane' as she's turned out to be, and your brother instantly killed. So, what'll it be?"
Though Antonio's expression remained defiant, he knew that Nick had won. He had to go through with Nick's scheme, no matter what he had to do. While it was possible that Nick was bluffing, he wasn't willing to risk finding out; Luis he figured could take care of himself, but he couldn't let anything happen to Sheridan, whatever the price. "Fine, I'll do it," he said, defeated.
"Good. I knew you'd come around, and see it my way. We'll start before too long. I have to finish clearing up a few kinks in the operation, so we'll come and get you when we need you. In the meantime, please, make yourself comfortable and enjoy yourself." Smirking confidently, Nick turned around and left.
After a few moments, Sheridan tentatively asked, "Do you have any idea what he wants you to do?"
"Not exactly, but he said it was an area that I'm the best in. My God, I bet he wants me to sail a boat for him. When it comes to navigating in dangerous situations, I'm hard to top. I wonder how a boat fits into whatever he's doing."
"Whatever it is, you can't go through with it, Antonio!" Sheridan insisted earnestly. "It you were to get caught, it could destroy your life!"
"And if I don't do it, you could lose your life! I'll be careful, but I have to do it."
Finally, Luis spoke up. "As a cop, I have to say that you'll be a willing accomplice to whatever he's going to have you do, and you shouldn't comply." Antonio looked at his brother in shock, and was about to protest, when Luis finished, "but as me, I swear to God, if you let anything happen to Sheridan I'll kill you myself."
Despite the gravity of his predicament, Antonio couldn't help smiling at his brother. "I'll remember that, Luis. And you two had better take care of each other while I'm gone. Well, I guess all we can do now is sit here and wait."
*****
Gwen stood by anxiously as Hank attempted to intimidate a racecar mechanic into telling everything he knew. They had arrived at the race track about half an hour ago, and had asked around until they were directed to the man who had worked on Brian O'Leary's vehicle. It took a little coercion, but Hank finally able to get the man to admit that the car had been rigged by Nick. When Hank asked where this Nick was now, though, the mechanic had claimed not to know, and no amount of threats was changing his story.
"Hank,
you're wasting our time, I really don't think he knows anything,"
Gwen yelled, not wanting to cause a big scene in the middle of the track. Reluctantly, Hank loosened his hold, and the
guy ran off as fast as he could.
"Well, I hate to say it, but I think we've hit a dead end," Hank said, worried. "I have no clue how we're gonna track this guy now, since we don't have any leads to talk to, or even a last name to go by!"
"There's got to be some way," Gwen insisted. "There just has to be."
However, as she had no ideas herself, the two just stood there, trying desperately to think of a next course of action. Just as it really was beginning to look hopeless, a shifty voice called out, "So, you wanna know where Nick went?"
Gwen and Hank looked back and forth frantically for the voice's source, eventually spotting a slimy looking man partially hidden in the shade of a building. They approached him without haste, and Hank asked, "What did you say?"
"I said, you wanna know where Nick went?" the guy smiled nastily, and continued. "Because I can tell you."
"Who are you?" asked Gwen.
"And why would you tell us?" Hank added.
"The name's Stan, and that's all you need to know. As for why I'm talking," his faced clouded over with anger, "we were supposed to be a team, but he got a big new job, and just left me here. I've been dying to stick it to him." Observing their skeptical looks, Stan added, "Hey, fine, don't listen to me, it's nothing to me, but do you have any other choice if you want to find him?"
Both knowing they had no choice, they nodded, and Hank asked, "Fine, 'Stan.' What is he now, and what is this 'job'?"
"He didn't say exactly, but I know he's set up in Boston, and if he's rented or signed for anything, he'll have used the name Nicholas Creighton. I hope you ruin his job real good." With that, the guy took off, darting away before either of the two could ask any further questions.
"Well," Hank sighed. "I guess we're a little better off. We know he's in Boston, or at least, he was in Boston, but how we're gonna find anything in that city is beyond me."
"Not me," Gwen grinned. "We have his alias, for goodness sake! If you know the right people, and I do, we can find out all of his activities in no time. We'll get back on the plane, and on the way to Logan, I'll make a few calls and get him traced."
"Geesh, Gwen!" Hank exclaimed. "Who exactly do you know, anyway? I'm starting to feel like I'm in on this with a mafia boss."
Gwen punched him in the arm good-humoredly. "Very funny. No, Hank, it's just that my father has a lot of these connections for business purposes, and I learned how to get things done when I have to, and this is certainly a worthy cause and all, so I figured there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of it."
"No, there's not, and you're amazing. You know, I've never seen you like this before, and it suits you. You certainly were born to be in business."
"I did love it," Gwen remarked wistfully. "The sense of purpose and accomplishment, knowing that I was really doing something on my own, it was wonderful."
"What happened? Why did you stop all of a sudden?"
The sincere concern in Hank's question, and the bond that was developing due to their shared mission, prompted Gwen to be more open than she would have otherwise. "I don't know really, it just sort of happened. My life was so ordered and set, and then Ethan broke up with me. Everything just fell into chaos, and I was too preoccupied by my anger and hurt. I guess I kind of lost that confidence that I needed to do the job, and I put all of my time and energy into getting him back and destroying Theresa. Mother didn't exactly encourage me, either. I don't think she ever really approved of my working; she thought I should focus on becoming a society wife who only lifts a finger to head various committees."
"You should go back to work, if you still can. It'd be good for you."
Gwen shrugged, unsure. "I don't know anymore. It's been so long, and now that I've lost that reputation… Maybe I could still work for Hotchkiss Enterprises. Father told me that since the Crane/Hotchkiss merger hasn't come off, if I hadn't just stopped he'd have passed the company onto me, but I don't know if I can just get back to that point. Anyhow, enough about me; we've got a plane to catch." Hank, knowing by her tone that she was done sharing, acquiesced, and the two prepared to head for Boston and do a search for Nick's activities.
*****
The next morning, the Bennett family was once again eating breakfast together. Laura was just glad that the pancakes her mother had made weren't made out of asparagus or anything. She considered herself fortunate to have gotten out of any further tomato soup cake by "mysteriously" developing an allergic reaction to tomatoes. She didn't know if she could take another bizarre dish right now.
After getting to know the family over the past few days, Laura had to admit that their warmth seemed to be mostly sincere, though she still thought they were definitely messed up, far more so than they must realize. What's more, they didn't seem to totally understand why she was still remaining so distant from them. After all, hadn't John formed an almost instant attachment to Grace, and seamlessly become a great brother for Jessica? Yeah, Laura thought. Jessica's got some strange complex where she always has to be okay and super cheerful about everything, and John's just a big loser. Yet, somehow, I'M the weird one?!
Idly, her thoughts turned from her siblings to Miguel. At first, she hadn't been able to understand how he could put up with Charity's seemingly constant antics, as her cousin had in just a few days had several attacks like the first one she'd seen, each one worsening in intensity. She'd initially been impressed by his patience and fortitude, but had then decided that he was so utterly dull that they deserved each other. As she watched him eat breakfast, she realized that he'd eaten every single meal with the Bennetts, and was never apart from Charity. She wondered briefly if he ever even saw his actual family, or even knew where any of them were.
Those thoughts were interrupted by the hurried entrance of the sandy-haired bespectacled geek she'd been introduced to as Reese. She actually found him rather endearing, though she'd been a little creeped out when he had insisted that the eccentric old lady and her nephew next door were actually a witch and doll causing evil. At this moment, though, Tabitha seemed the furthest thing from his mind.
"Have you guys heard yet?" Reese gasped out, trying to catch his breath.
"Heard what?" asked Miguel.
"It's all over the papers, and even on the morning news!" he cried, and held out the early edition of the Harmony Herald. In huge bold type, it read, "POLICE CHIEF'S FORMER DAUGHTER NAMED CRANE HEIR."
"What?!" everyone at the table took turns shouting.
"It's true! Somehow my sweet Kay got herself named by Alistair as heir to the Crane fortune."
"There's no way!" Laura exclaimed indignantly. "It was always made perfectly clear to all of us girls that we wouldn't even be able to get jobs at Crane Enterprises, and yet somehow she shows up and almost instantly becomes the heir! How the hell did she manage that?!"
Ignoring Laura's outburst, Grace shook her head worriedly. "I have no idea how any of this could have happened. Sam and I have tried contacting her, but she won't talk to us. I hope she's happy there."
"Mama says she's settling in really well," Miguel offered, relaying the information that he knew. He had meant to go see his best friend, but had been so busy with Charity that he just hadn't had the time. "Apparently, she and Ivy bonded right away, and they've been really close this whole time."
"Huh," Laura muttered so that no one else could hear her, hurt despite herself. "Looks like she took my advice. Why couldn't she have been like this before, with any of us?"
Grace just couldn't believe Miguel's news. "We raised her her entire life, and she just goes over to Ivy and the Cranes? I thought I was always there for her when she needed me, but she must've been so angry and hurt to just turn her back on the family like this. Reese, have you talked with her?"
"No," he admitted with a sadness in his voice that made Laura's heart go out to him. "I keep trying, but I just can't get through. It almost seems like she doesn't want to see me, but I know what it is: the Cranes are keeping us apart, not wanting her to be involved with a local kid."
"Yeah, Reese, I'm sure that's it," Jessica replied in a tone that convinced Laura that her sister didn't believe that for a second. There was something else though, something that made Laura sure that pity wasn't all Jessica was feeling at the moment.
"It has to be, but I'm not worried," Reese asserted. "We love each other, and her new family can't come between us. We won't let it."
After staying for a couple pancakes, Reese left, and the family got up from the table, but not before Charity had yet another premonition about a rising evil, this time accompanied by Grace having the unshakeable feeling that they were "in terrible danger." Laura, hoping that such crazy behavior wasn't genetic, followed Jessica up to their room, and grabbed her as she was about to go in.
"You like him," she stated frankly, not mincing words.
"Who?"
"Ewan McGregor, he's soooo cute!" Laura replied sarcastically. "Reese, of course."
Jessica appeared to be completely mortified. "H-how'd you know? I haven't told anybody!"
"Simple observation. You looked at him like a typical girl with a crush. The question is, if you like him, why don't you do something about it?"
"Because he's in love with Kay. You saw the way he was at breakfast. He adores her," she said glumly.
"But she doesn't feel the same way about him?"
"Gee, you really have figured it all out, haven't you? No, she doesn't, and she never thinks of him as anything but a nuisance. Kay's just been pretending to go out with him while she secretly went after Miguel."
"Hmm, she was that desperate for Miguel? I was starting to get a lot of respect for that girl, but I now I don't know."
"Hey!" Jessica cried. "He is my friend, you know."
"Sorry, it just slipped. The point is, there's no reason for you not to go for it. It's not even like you're being loyal to her, since you know she doesn't care. Maybe you should let him find out, and you can be there for him."
"I couldn't do that!" Jessica protested vigorously. "He'd be so hurt!"
"He's going to eventually figure it out," Laura argued practically. "The sooner he does find out, the less he's going to feel like an idiot. You'd only be doing him a favor."
Jessica thought about it for a second, but then looked defeated. "It wouldn't do any good. He doesn't like me back."
"Talk about defeating yourself before you even begin!" Laura yelled, frustrated. Look, I'm trying to help you, because I like you the best of anyone in this family, but you have got to learn to stick up for yourself! It's like you've got some kind of martyr complex, always just accepting anything that might happen to you so that everyone else feels okay. For example, it's okay if you you're not happy and cheerful about my being your sister, especially after all these other siblings that kept turning up for you, not to mention losing one that you grew up with. Honestly, I'm not too thrilled about being here, either. It's nothing against you or anyone else, but I want my old life back, and there's nothing wrong with wanting yours back too. And you don't just have to sit quietly in the shadows, either. For your own good, you need to give this a try. Besides, I think you'd make a cute couple," Laura added, hoping to soften what she knew had been fairly harsh words, and to make it clear that her intent wasn't to cut her sister down, but to get her to take charge of her life.
Thinking it over, Jessica finally came to a decision. "You're right, Laura. I have been acting like you said. I'd like to tell Reese how I feel, but I'm not sure if I can work up the nerve."
Grateful for a project that could take her mind off of her own problems, Laura smiled happily. "Now, I can help you with that." With that, they went into the room they were sharing, where Laura attempted to give her a crash course in self-assertion.
*****
At this same time, Kay and Ivy were sitting in the main downstairs living room drinking some morning coffee, trying to look as normal as possible. After Kay got back to the library yesterday, she had told David and Ivy about her new position as Crane heir, adding that it would give her less time to research a way to fix Ivy, but much more authority to do as she pleased. David had eventually left, and Kay had gone over everything she could think of with Ivy. Luckily, the press was being kept at bay, and Kay would have later have time to work on it, hopefully managing to get to Tabitha's house to solicit help from the witch.
"See, Mom, it's all going to work out just fine. As long as we don't blow your cover, we can get through this."
Right after she said this, a smug-looking Theresa strolled into the room, smiling a sunny smile. "Good morning, Kay. Ivy, would you like some help packing?"
"What do you mean, 'packing'?" Ivy asked cautiously.
"As of right now, you don't live here any more. I've decided to have you evicted."
Ivy was horrified. "What?!"
Kay, though shocked, retained her composure. "What are you talking about? My mom doesn't have anywhere else to go!"
"That's kind of the idea," Theresa replied in a whisper, leaning in confidentially towards Ivy. "It'll be interesting to see just how long you last out there."
Kay couldn't believe what Theresa was trying to pull. "Look, there's absolutely no way you're casting my mother out of here!"
Theresa smiled that slightly nutty smile again. "I'm Mrs. Crane, the lady of the house."
Kay laughed derisively. "C'mon, Theresa, haven't you heard the big news? It's in the papers and everything, and I figured you'd find out from my father or Alistair."
For the first time since coming in, Theresa actually looked worried. "No, I haven't looked at any papers, or spoken to either of them."
Kay knew that she had won, and found that she enjoyed the feeling of watching her adversary squirm. "Well, Theresa, you see, you may be Mrs. Crane with all of the privileges that go with that title, but as of yesterday I'M the Crane heir, and I'm afraid that that position outranks yours by quite a bit. Seeing as how I want my mother here, you have no power to make her leave."
Theresa raged, absolutely furious. But that can't be! I'm Mrs. Crane, I have the power!"
"We've already been through this. God, you ARE delusional! Can't you see? You have no power that somebody else, namely my grandfather, doesn't give you explicitly. Granted, that's also true for me right now, but it won't always be that way, and in the meantime, I have higher priority and Alistair certainly won't let you throw out his heir's mother."
Theresa still refused to admit total defeat. "I'm not giving up this easily, not after what she's done to me. How can you defend her like this, after all she's done to your family? We should be on the same side. You were raised a Bennett, Kay; I mean, we even used to play together!"
"Things change. My mom here IS my family. I'm not a Bennett, I'm a Crane, and now, you're my wicked stepmother."
After watching her sputter for a minute, Kay added, "Look, I don't want to set out to make enemies with you, but if you keep on trying this sort of thing I will. We've always gotten along, and I'm sorry about Ethan, but you'd better just give up on your vendetta."
Not willing to hear this, Theresa flounced out of the room, muttering, "It's not over. I won't let it be over!" under her breath.
As soon as they were alone, Kay flopped down onto the sofa, slightly drained from the encounter. "Can you believe her?! Who does she think she is, thinking she can go up against us and actually win?"
"She's justified in hating me so much, Kay," Ivy admitted quietly. "Yesterday, while you had that conference with Alistair, I found some things out, and you'd be horrified to know what I've done to her." She couldn't quite bring herself to tell her daughter that the mother she knew was essentially a murderer, when the girl had developed such a devotion to her.
"I'm sure you had a perfectly good reason when you did whatever you did. You were justified in hating her, too. She has caused you a lot of pain, and I know that you haven't trusted her since it must've been her fault that your secret got leaked to the tabloids."
"That's no excuse for what I did to her, believe me. And I've done many other awful things, according to what I've heard. It's no wonder everyone in this time hates me."
"That's not true," Kay insisted emphatically, reaching out for Ivy's hand. "I love you, and I'm sorry I got you into this mess, but it's going to be okay. Now that I'm the heir, we're free and clear; nobody will be able to touch us while we figure this out."
*****
Pilar stood in the foyer, totally perplexed about the conversation she had just heard. She had been going about her business by cleaning the foyer, still working as the head housekeeper, since she had refused to give up her job like Theresa had begged, preferring honest work to luxury purchased with her daughter's misery. She had heard her daughter's voice in the other room and, curious, had listened to the tail end of Theresa's argument with Kay, and most of the ensuing conversation between Kay and Ivy.
The exchange had definitely been odd, with both of them saying unaccountable things. What "mess" had Kay gotten Ivy into, and why was Ivy suddenly acting so remorseful about everything? She seemed truly sorry about what she had done to Theresa, and even more strange, had talked of having "heard" and "found out" about her actions. On top of this, Ivy had acted downright bizarrely when she had run into her in the library the day before, not like her usual self at all; in fact, if Pilar hadn't known better, she would have said that she was acting like her old self, the person she had become friends with all those years ago. All of these facts together convinced Ivy that something wasn't right in the Crane household, and she had previously vowed to keep close tabs on Ivy in order to protect her family.
"Oh, Ivy," Pilar whispered to herself, shaking her head. "I know there's something strange going on here, and that Kay is involved. I don't know what, 'old friend,' but I'm going to find out."