A.N. I am so sorry for the long delay between parts. My muse left on a vacation (a very long vacation) with all my Passions fics (including the 2 I haven't posted). I finally got a few ideas for this fic so hopefully it won't be this long between parts again. But with how fickle my muse is it could be a long wait for the next part.

In my previous 2 chapters I didn't say when the rape and stabbing took place, the reason is, is that it's going to be mentioned in a later chapter, at the hospital. I got some e-mails asking about that so I just wanted to let everyone know that I omitted that for a reason.

Also I changed the attitude for Whitney's character (I know she's not in this yet but she will be.) and at first I was going to have her where she wouldn't be there for Theresa, but I didn't like that, so I changed it, (I'm the author so I can do that kind of thing.)

Lastly, but certainly not least. I wanted to thank everyone for their great fb.

Part 5 A

Ethan's Questioning

"Now Mr. Winthrop," The police office takes the chair across from Ethan whose sitting shocked at his desk, "where were you this afternoon?" He takes out his pad and pen and waits for Ethan's answer.

"I was at the office till about 3 this afternoon, then I went to pick up my wife, Gwen, and my mother-in-law, Rebecca, from the massage parlor." It's simply devastating what happened with Theresa, to be raped and abused, then to be stabbed almost to death.

Officer James writes Mr. Winthrop's answer down, "Did you go out at anytime before you picked your wife and mother-in-law up?"

"Yes, I went out to lunch, I was craving a doughnut so I went up to the local bakery and got a box of doughnuts and a cup of coffee."

The officer just nods his head, continuing to write everything down, looking up he asks another question. "And at what time was this?"

"Around 11:30-12:00." Ethan stands up and walks to the mini bar pouring himself a drink. He may not be with Theresa anymore but what happened to her cut him up inside. How could someone do that to her...to anybody. It doesn't make sense to him.

"What time did you return to your office?"

"Almost 1:30 I believe. Yes, because I had a meeting at 1:30 that I was almost late for." He remembers.

"Why so long of a lunch break? The local bakery isn't 5 blocks from where you work Mr. Winthrop?" The officer very suspicious of where Ethan was for that almost 2 hours.

"I ran into a friend of mine, Chad Harris, and we got to talking, so I ended up having to run back to the office." He sits back in his seat and stares at the officer, willing to answer any questions he may have, as long as it brings him closer to catching Theresa's attacker.

Officer James continues to write, not fully believe Mr. Winthop as to where he was for those 2 hours. A talk with Chad Harris would be helpful. "Now, do you have a grudge against Theresa or do know of anyone who has a grudge with her?"

"I don't have a grudge with her officer. I never have, but..." he takes a deep breath, "...my wife and mother-in-law have issues with Theresa. Gwen because about a year ago I broke up with her for Theresa, and Rebecca because she always thought Theresa was a tramp."

The officer snorts at Rebecca thinking Miss Lopez-Fitzgerald, turned Mrs. Crane, was a tramp. From what little he knew about the Hotchkiss woman, she shouldn't be calling Theresa a tramp. On more than one occasion she has offered her services to quite a few officers. Normally that would be grounds to have the woman arrested, however it is a well known fact that Rebecca was Julian Crane's mistress and you didn't throw the mistress of a Crane in jail without getting trouble. It was less of a hassle to just ignore her and let her go on her whorish way.

"And after you picked up your mother-in-law and wife where did you go?" He has his pen poised and ready to scribble the answer from Mr. Winthrop down.

"We came straight to the Mansion. When we walked in we heard Phyllis on the phone frantic, I'm assuming that was her call to the police. I then, umm, heard Fox, my half brother, upstairs and he sounded so broken and lost. Just moaning her name in pain." It was so heart wrenching like a shard of glass ripping into his heart.

Ethan coughs trying to get the lump of tears past his throat. "The three of us, Gwen, Rebecca, and myself ran upstairs and saw Theresa." He breaths deeply the image of her lying beaten and bloodied across the bed would not leave his mind.

"Well that about covers it for now, if you remember anything you can contact me at this number." Officer James writes down his private work number. "And in case I have more questions do you have a phone number I would be able to reach you at?"

"Yes, I'll give you all three so you contact me wherever." Ethan takes out his business card and writes his home phone number on the back. "The two on the front are my office and cell numbers, while the one on the back is my home. Call me anytime with questions."

"Thank you very much. Now if you don't mind can you please send your wife in? I'd like to question her next."

"Sure." Ethan stands up and leaves his home office, and enters the living room. He tells Gwen the officer would like to speak with her now.

"I really don't understand why that heavily muscled police officer must question everybody. I mean why would any of us try to kill her? Well...I shouldn't say we wouldn't try but certainly not in the Mansion." Rebecca states, tact not being her strong suit.

"Mother, shut up. While, no, I never liked Theresa...there's no question about that, but I never wanted this to happen to her. So please, just shut up." Gwen rises from the couch and enters Ethan's office where the officer begins to question her.

TBC