"So I hear my Buddy is secretly relieved that the Wedding of the Year has been exchanged for a more intimate and quiet affair", Haley teased.

"Yeah."

"Good. It was getting kind of crazy. I thought maybe Entertainment Tonight would show up. I mean, can you seriously see all the press and paparazzi? Helicopters flying over the church."

"Yeah…"

Haley frowned. Brooke hadn't been herself. She seemed distracted and disinterested.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine", the brunette shrugged.

"You sure?"

"I'm positive."

"Okay…I don't mean to pry but you're being all weird on me again. The last time this happened it was about Felix and that stupid tape. Thank God that is over."

Brooke sighed loudly and frowned.

"It is over? Right Brooke?"

"No", she finally exhaled.

"Oh God. What now? What happened? Tell me and you have to tell me everything from the beginning", Haley blurted out.

"Okay. I know I was supposed to tell Luke about the tape but…"

"But?"

"I didn't?"

"You didn't? Oh Brooke, no! Why not?"

"I tried but I just couldn't. I can't. The words literally do not come out. I don't know. I guess I'm scared and embarrassed."

"What about Felix?"

"What about the son of a bitch? I got the tape from him."

"Oh God, you didn't…"

"Yes, yes, I paid him off", Brooke admitted.

"Why?"

"Because I had to. Because it's complicated, Haley. Anyway, I got it back."

"Well thank God for that one. Tell me you destroyed it."

"Not exactly…"

"Brooke!"

"What? I was going to but…I don't know. I was so damned relieved just to have the thing out of Felix's dirty paws that I kind of forgot about it after a while. Then, I don't know, but curiosity really got to me. I wanted to watch it before I got rid of it."

"Iiiieeeewww. Why?"

"I'm not sure. Curiosity, maybe. Or I guess I just wanted to see if it was really real."

"Well…"

"Oh yeah", Brooke made a face. "It was real alright."

"What a jerk."

"Tell me about it."

"Now tell me why this thing isn't at the bottom of a fiery inferno?"

"Because I almost got caught."

"Lucas?"

"Dan."

"Dan? Wait. How…"

"It was the engagement party. I found what I thought was privacy in his and Deb's room but he walked in and…"

"Oh God! Did he see anything?"

"No."

"Good."

"But now the tape is missing."

"Missing?"

"Missing!"

"Well, where is it, Brooke?"

Brooke threw her hands up in exasperation.

"Well, Rose Nylund if I knew where it was then it wouldn't be missing now would it?"

Haley's expression immediately turned to one of hurt and Brooke instantly felt bad.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm just on edge."

"It's okay. What do you think could have happened to it?"

"I've been racking my brains out for weeks now. It's crazy. I put it in my purse, the big one, and I stuck it in one of the broom closets. When I came back, it was missing."

"Gosh."

"But get this. Not only was it missing but it had been switched. A blank tape was in the cover and the real one…well, who knows by now?"

"Wow!" Haley explained. "That's crazy. Who in the world could have it?"

"I have no idea."

"Dan or Deb maybe?"

"Maybe…or maybe not. It could be a complete stranger. Who knows? All I know is, the damned thing is MIA and I have to get it back. I have to get it back, destroy it and do whatever it takes so it won't resurface and ruin my career or my marriage."

Haley sighed. It was almost an impossible situation.

"Sorry, Brooke. I don't know what to say…"

"It's okay. I'm just scared. I mean, what the hell am I going to do?"

Brooke's voice trailed off with a hint of a sob as Haley pulled her close. Brooke was a good person and didn't deserve any of it. Haley truly felt bad for her. Somehow, some way, they had to find that damned tape.

"It's okay, Brooke", Haley hugged her. "We'll find it."

"How?"

"I don't know but we will. You'll be fine. You'll be fine."

Haley's naturally motherly and soothing voice seemed to ease Brooke's nerves for the moment but it did little to help Haley herself. She prayed they would find a way because the situation was looking rather hopeless.