Chapter Four

Kendall's finger traced the rim of the glass then dipped down and stirred it's contents, rattling the ice. She raised the finger to her lips, licking it clean and feeling, with satisfaction, the slight burn on her tongue. She immediately felt guilty. But why? It wasn't like it was noon or something. Perfectly respectable people have a drink at 4:00 p.m. People were beginning to leave work … kids were out of school … it was practically happy hour, for god's sake. But Kendall knew this wasn't a drink. This was an escape … a way of running away while standing still, or sitting down, as the case may be.

She stared down into the amber liquid. Maybe Erica was right … maybe she'd never get over Ryan. Maybe she'd love him until she died. Who had died first? Romeo or Juliet? Juliet … another schemer burned by her own plans. Of course, Romeo never called Juliet a 'pathetic shell of a woman.' No. Ryan wouldn't be falling on his sword on her behalf.

"What is wrong with you?" Ryan bellowed at her. But it was really more of an accusation than a question. "You have had it in for my brother from the moment he got to town … from the moment you slept with him to get back at ME," he snapped pointedly. "And even now you can't stop, can you? You're still trying to punish me. And you're still willing to use anyone to do it."

She opened her mouth to object, but Ryan held up a hand and talked over her.

"And now you've dragged Greenlee, my own wife, into your vendetta. Do you even realize how pathetic that is? How pathetic you are, Kendall?"

"Ryan, stop," Greenlee entered the door behind him. She put a hand on his arm, "Let's just leave, okay?"

But Ryan's eyes never left Kendall. He looked, if that was possible, even angrier, "Greenlee and I do not need you to protect us. We do not need you to save us. And we sure as hell don't need you to lie for us. Playing on Greenlee's fears … lying for her … it's just another way of trying to get between us, isn't it Kendall?"

She didn't answer. She was stunned. She had only wanted to help Greenlee. That's why she had lied for her. Wasn't it? She was only able to ponder the question for about a split second before Ryan started in again.

"Well, like all of your pitiful plans, it failed miserably," Ryan sneered at her. "Unlike you, Greenlee couldn't lie to me … couldn't scheme against me. Greenlee told me the truth as soon as we got home. Greenlee is on my side. She believes me about Jonathan. She trusts me."

Kendall stared at Greenlee in disbelief. Did Greenlee really believe that Jonathan was innocent? She couldn't. What the hell was she doing?

Ryan noted the confused look in Kendall's eyes. "That's right," he added smugly, "It's over. And that's why I came right back over here. So you would understand that it's over … all of it. Greenlee told me everything … about Aiden and about you. I said it before, but just so there's no mistake, understand this: if you interfere in my life, my marriage or, my family ever again, in any way, for any reason, you will regret it."

He turned back to Greenlee, "I'm sorry you had to see that," he said kindly. Then he stopped, considering his own words, "No. No, I'm not. I'm glad you're here. I love that you know me well enough to find me here, and that you love me enough to want to support me in this. It's just like we talked about at home," he went on, "I know you're sorry for what you did to her during Michael Cambius' trial. I know you're thankful for what she did for you on the balcony, whatever the reason. I know you'd like to be able to get back the friend who started Fusion with you. But she's gone, if she ever really existed at all." He paused and looked back at Kendall, "Kendall's never been anything but a shell. Not really. She's a pathetic shell of a woman. There's nothing inside her but raw anger and paranoia and hurt. And all the love in the world can't change that – it never has and it never will. She'll never let go. Not ever. That's who she is."

He turned back to Greenlee, taking a few steps towards her, smiling and even leaning down to place a kiss on her cheek. "But we …we are man and wife. We love each other. And my whole life is worthwhile because of that. You saved me. You saved me from her and all the ugliness inside of her. Let's go." He turned back to Kendall, cold as ice, "There's nothing left for us here. There's nothing at all, not for anyone.

Greenlee said nothing, but her eyes were steady, understanding, supportive. She looked at Kendall only briefly before turning and walking out of the apartment. Ryan went with her, never turning back at all.

She had tried very hard not to cry, and not to look like she was going to cry. But she had been successful only on the first count. She knew that because of Greenlee's eyes held so much pity in that final moment when she looked over at her. Even now, hours later, the hurt burned inside of her.

But she knew one thing. Even in that moment, feeling more humiliated than she ever had before … which in and of itself was no small feat … , and even now, still feeling the sting, it was there. That thing that was more than a feeling: an instinct, a premonition, a fundamental absolute – she was right. She knew it! Maybe Greenlee loved Ryan in a way that she did not … a way that could overcome that feeling. Or, as incredible as it seemed, maybe after hearing Ryan out about Jonathan, Greenlee really did believe him. But Greenlee was wrong.

Unfortunately, it made absolutely no difference – she still felt small, alone. She picked up the glass and held it up, toasting, "Have at it," with a cheeriness that rang especially hollow, "Happy perfect life." She took a long, slow drink.

Just as she cringed against the burning in her throat, her phone rang. She rifled through her purse looking for it, "Probably Ryan and Greenlee phoning to call me a worthless drunk," she deadpanned aloud.

But it wasn't Ryan or Greenlee. It was Aiden.

"Where are you?" he asked quickly.

"I was just about to call you," she exclaimed with delight that continued on into her next words, "You're fired! I'm officially out of the helping my exes business … ex-boyfriends, ex-friends, ex-co-workers. I'm out, out, out!"

"Where are you?" Aiden asked again.

"I'm at the Valley Inn celebrating my independence," she retorted happily.

Aiden cringed, "Are you alone?" he asked quickly.

She huffed in irritation. "Yes, as usual, Kendall's alone," she barked back, annoyance and embarrassment shattering her moment of fun.

She heard the air rush out of Aiden, as if he had been holding his breath, "Good," he said quickly. She frowned at the phone. "Kendall. I want you to leave. Right now. Don't stop. Don't talk to anyone. Don't tell anyone where you're going."

"Can't this wait?" Kendall sighed with exasperation, "I'm in the middle of something very important."

"Kendall, please," the desperation creeped into Aiden's voice, piquing her interest, "You have to listen to me. It's very important."

"Is this about Jonathan?" Kendall asked, suddenly intrigued.

"Yes," Aiden replied, desperate to get her to listen to him.

"Did you find something out?" she sounded almost giddy, "You found something out, didn't you? You are the best, Aiden. The absolute best! Wait until I tell Greenlee."

"No," Aiden yelled into the phone, but quickly steadied himself. "Kendall, please. Please listen to me. Go behind the bar, through the kitchen and out the back door into the alley. Wait there for me. I'm already on my way."

"Now you're scaring me," Kendall said, her words softer.

"Please just do it. Right now. Promise me you will."

Kendall smiled into the phone, suddenly feeling so much less alone. "Okay, okay. You win Mr. Super Detective." She stood and headed across the room, "I'm walking to the kitchen right now, as we speak. Satisfied?"

He sighed with relief, "Yes, thank you Kendall. Please don't stop. Please come straight to me."

"Okay, okay," Kendall teased, hanging up the phone, "Here I come."

As she pushed her way through the kitchen, Kendall smiled to herself. Aiden had come through again. They were finally going to nail Jonathan Lavery. Let's see how paranoid and delusional and vindictive and pathetic Ryan thought she was then. She was right! She knew it! As she emerged out the back door, Kendall popped open her phone, eager to say her first 'I told you so' – the first of many. She would start with Greenlee.

The squealing of tires as Aiden's car pealed into the alley stopped her. What the hell was he doing?

In a matter of seconds, he had pulled up along side her. "Give me the phone," he already had his hand out the window.

Kendall instinctively yanked her hand away from him, "What has gotten into you?"

"I asked you not to call anyone," he barked at her. "Did you call someone?"

She looked at him then. Really looked. He looked … terrible. Before she realized what she was doing, she handed him the phone. "What's going on Aiden?" Her voice was quiet, full of trepidation.

"Please get in the car, Kendall," he sounded tired, tired and far away.

She nodded and walked around to the passenger side of the car.