"Passion"

Chapter 4 – The friend

(Next day, Lilly arrives at the office. Scotty is already there, at his desk.)

Lilly: Well, you arrived early today.

Scotty: I wanted to make it up for not staying yesterday night. Anything interesting came up?

Lilly (sits down at her desk): Vera and Jeffries talked to the roommate. She said Karen and Christopher had a rough argument on the night of the murder.

Scotty: She turned down his wedding proposal?

Lilly: He didn't even have the time to propose.

(Vera and Jeffries approach them.)

Lilly: We have any news about the gun?

Jeffries: According to Ballistics, the gun was never used in any other crime ever.

Scotty: We're not looking into a professional job then. (looks at Lilly) Seems it really was a crime of passion.

Lilly: The question is, what kind of passion? Christopher's passion was Karen, Lucy's was Medical research, Ian's was the paper... as far as we know, everyone's got a motive, even the parents.

Vera: Ian's passion was not only the paper. According to Christopher's 1997 statement, Ian had a secret crush on Karen.

Jeffries: Two strong passions... maybe led to murder.

(Stillman comes out from his office, the detectives stop talking).

Stillman: Just got a call from ADA Tyler. He wanted to know how we're going.

Lilly: Well, we haven't got much so far. We still haven't talked with the boys.

Scotty: We were planning on making a visit to Tyler this afternoon.

Stillman (nods): Right. (to Vera and Jeffries) You located Karen's boyfriend?

Vera (nods): Yes. He's a partner on a big law firm. We called and he said he'll talk to us at anytime.

Stillman: OK. Just be careful, all of you. Tyler is a promising ADA and Christopher's father was one of the most prestigious judges of Philly. Remember that when someone gets pissed, I'm the one who gets the call.

(Later that day, Lilly and Scotty are walking to the DA's office.)

Lilly: So, Scotty, did you get a good rest yesterday night?

Scotty: Oh...yeah, I did. (pauses) Huh, Lil... this might seem out of the blue, but... can I ask you a personal question?

Lilly (looks at Scotty, suspicious): Sure, go ahead.

Scotty (pauses, takes a long breath): Why are you so cold towards your sister? Why do you say the things you say about her?

(Lilly stops walking. She looks around and to the sky, then faces Scotty)

Lilly (shakes her head): I'm sorry, Scotty. (pause) Don't get me wrong, it's just that... it's complicated.

Scotty (slightly disappointed): It's OK, Lil. But if one day, you want to talk... I'm here. I was just worried.

Lilly (laughs): It's funny that you're saying that.

Scotty: Why?

Lilly: Because you never really talked to me about what happened to Elisa. This has to be a two-way street, Scotty.

Scotty (searches for an answer): I know. You're right. I wasn't – I'm not - being myself. (pause) I'm really sorry, Lil.

Lilly (smiles, but looks like something is still bothering her): Don't worry, Scotty.

(Lilly and Scotty arrive at the DA's office. Ian is outside waiting for them, and takes them of his office.)

Ian: I called Lieut. Stillman a few minutes ago. He told me you were walking here.

Lilly: You're pretty anxious to get over with this.

Ian: Certainly. I have a feeling that justice will be made this time.

Lilly: Well, we need your help to accomplish this. You met Karen at the paper, right?

Ian: Yeah, she was working there for about six months when I joined. We worked together for two years.

Lilly: At the time she died, did you consider her a friend or just a co-worker?

Ian (reflects): Honestly, I wouldn't know. Karen was very open when it came to her personal beliefs, but not about her personal life.

Scotty: Did you two go out together, had mutual friends?

Ian: No. Just the paper guys. We saw each other outside the paper just occasionally. We weren't at college to party. I met her roommate once. Karen had warned me she was into Med research, and I immediately disliked her.

Scotty: And Karen never talked to you about her family?

Ian: Rarely. When we first met, she mentioned her Dad was a surgeon and wanted her to go to Med school. (pauses) And then a few weeks before she got murdered, she arrived at the office really upset. She had just come from her parents' house.

Flashback to 1997

(It's late at night. Ian is at the paper office, alone, reading something. Karen walks in, very upset.)

Ian: Karen, you OK?

Karen (sits at her desk): Just came from my parents house. It's impossible to be OK.

Ian: What happened?

Karen (shakes her head): I won't bother you with that.

Ian: Hey, of course you are! I know we usually don't share personal stuff, but you can talk to me at any time.

Karen (sighs): Remember, that I told you, that my Dad was a surgeon? Well, he'll participate in a project for a new hospital. More of a surgery teaching and research center.

(Ian gets up from his desk and sits on Karen's desk. He reaches for her hand).

Ian: That article we published yesterday. About the use of animals in research. It mentioned a new surgery lab being built here in Philly.

Karen (nods): When I got home, my Dad was furious. I have no idea how he got hold of our paper so quickly. He said the most horrible things to me.

Ian: I'm sorry, Karen. But didn't you say he always disapproved of your career choices?

Karen: Yeah, but he always respected me. He insisted on making me quit all of this, but never like that.

Ian: What did he say?

Ian (with tears in her eyes): He said that if I kept embarrassing our family like that, I wouldn't be his daughter anymore. And that I would never want that to happen.

Back to 2005

Lilly: What do you think this could mean? How far could he go?

Ian: I never met her parents, but I know her Dad was powerful. Not only in Medical world. He had some political connections, was a close friend with Judge Edwards. Mr. Hayes could destroy Karen's career if he wanted to.

Lilly: Judge Edwards... that's Christopher Edwards, father, right?

Scotty: And Christopher was Karen's boyfriend.

Ian (bothered): Yeah. (pause) I know where you're getting to. No, Karen never told me she had a boyfriend. And yes, I asked her out three days before her murder.

Lilly: And she turned you down?

Ian (nods): That's when she told me she had a boyfriend. She was kind of ashamed of him, because he was famous for bashing our causes. I had known him from some debates at Law school, and I couldn't believe Karen was dating that jerk.

Scotty: At that moment, did she say anything about how her relationship?

Ian: Not much. She said they had been together for over a year. She seemed to love him.

Lilly: You know, Ian, in 1997, Christopher pointed you as a possible suspect.

Ian: Karen and I used to work late at the paper almost every day. The guy put a private investigator after Karen, and went crazy with that info. I don't keep any bad feelings for him. He just couldn't get over it. I don't blame him. Karen was a wonderful woman.

Scotty (sarcastically): Wow, that's really noble of you, Ian.

Ian: I know how it must sound like. But go talk to him. He knows I didn't do it.

(Lilly and Scotty get up. Both shake hands with Ian).

Lilly: We'll be in touch when we have something new.

Ian: Thanks.

(Lilly and Scotty walk outside the DA's office, in the direction of the Police Headquarters.)

Scotty: We can't complain of lack of suspects. Everyone's got a motive.

Lilly: Vera and Jeffries went to the boyfriend today. Let's see if they can shed any light on this.

(They walk some more and arrive at the Police Headquarters.)

Lilly: Are you coming in?

Scotty (surprised): Yeah... of course.

Lilly: I thought you might have something to do. Like yesterday.

Scotty: I didn't say I had something else to do yesterday.

(Lilly shoots Scotty a "knowing" look, and they go inside. Scotty's cell phone rings. Lilly signs that she's going up to the office, and Scotty nods.)

Scotty (on the phone): No, I can't today. Sorry.

(The person says something)

Scotty: I know what I said, but I can't.

(Lilly, who was already out of Scotty's sight, suddenly realizes she forgot her own cell in the car. She turns back. As she walks, Scotty is still talking on the phone, but with his back to Lilly's direction. As Lilly comes near Scotty, she can't help overhearing parts of his conversation.)

Scotty: I thought this was going to be "no strings attached".

(Pause)

Scotty: I never promised you anything, Christina.

(Scotty turns around. Lilly is right behind him and they face each other.)

(Scotty is shocked. His mouth his hanging open. He doesn't answer to the phone anymore).

(Lilly stares at Scotty. She can't say anything either. She looks hurt and shocked – but not surprised.)

To be continued

A/N: Thanks for all the suggestions. They really helped me. I'm not sure if it shows on the fic, but they really did. Keep those reviews coming, please.

Snow Ivy – I wasn't planning on making a connection between my two fics. I really liked that idea, but I don't think I can work it out in this fic (since I had already written half of it). But I'll keep that in mind for future fics.

drama-freak-csim – I can't use "She will be loved" because the ending song has to be from 1997. But I love that song too.

MaryRose – I'm glad the script format is ok. Don't be afraid to say if you think it sucks.

XxBandGeekxX – I think your wishes for Scotty and Chris may be partially granted.

AndreaB – Glad that you like it... I hope you'll follow my example and update! 