Rachel's elation at her find was short lived, not that her elation had been complete. What she had found would destroy Ross's marriage, and he would be devastated. Rachel hated to admit it, hated to see any sign of Ross's love for Emily, but it was there and the deception would hurt him and hurt Monica too. To think of them being in pain wasn't good, and Rachel wasn't looking forward to having any role in it, even though her role was to end it. What she really wanted was something to turn the clock back, or some good fairy to wish away Ross's love for Emily – anything that would stop him from hurting, because hurt he would be when he found out what she was up to.
Nevertheless, as a means to an end, where Ross would be free of deception, and his heart would be open again, she had been happy to get proof that would see Emily kicked out of their lives for good. She read over the letter several times. Unfortunately, it was not quite explicit enough. There was no reference to Emily having done anything with Colin that she shouldn't have had. Ideally, she would have another letter, one from Emily to Colin, but how would she get one of those.
The further evidence she would need would come from the Friday date. Then she realised: it was all very well knowing that Friday was the day. What was Rachel going to be doing about it? She didn't know what time or when and she couldn't think of a way to find out.
It was only on Thursday night, feeling miserable at continued failure, that Rachel found out what she needed to know. They were all over at Ross's apartment having dinner and Rachel had just been to the bathroom. She didn't really need to go, but she wasn't feeling much like socialising, and it was a reason to get away from the table, where Emily was being treated like she deserved to be sitting at the table with the rest of them.
Rachel had already fielded a number of anxious looks from Monica, but no-one had actually called her out on it. While she was away, she had been aware that the phone had rung, and she was just returning to the main room where she found Emily, in the doorway on the phone, saying in a hurried whisper,
'All right, Strawberry Fields, one o'clock.' Emily put the phone down without so much as a goodbye and jumped when she realised Rachel was behind her. 'You startled me,' she said, and for the first time, she looked at Rachel with something like suspicion.
'Sorry,' Rachel said. Soon she wouldn't have to bother with any social niceties. She'd be able to say, 'hit the road, bitch.' She'd enjoy that. But for now, she assumed a bland apologetic expression and she rejoined the others, thinking over the time and place.
'…so,' Monica said, 'Do you think you'd be able to meet me for lunch tomorrow, Emily?' Rachel could have hugged her for asking that question. She was being asked about her plans for tomorrow! Fantastic! Now Emily was going to have to cover up, and to tell a lie in public, so that Ross could hear it.
'I'm sorry, I can't,' Emily said, 'I'm already having lunch with my uncle.' What a stupid lie, Rachel thought, realising that Emily had put herself in her power because she knew very well where her boss would be spending lunch tomorrow. She could call her on the lie at once, but she preferred to let Emily dig herself in. She needed to be caught with Colin.
'Oh that's too bad,' Monica said.
'Sorry,' Emily said. 'Another time.'
'Who was that on the phone sweetie?' Ross asked.
'Alina,' Emily said. Lie number two – plus however many lies she'd already told Ross, Rachel thought. She'd got her, she'd really got her.
'Are you all right?' Monica said on the way home. Rachel hugged her – she couldn't resist it. 'Hey, what's that for?'
'Because you're you,' Rachel said, feeling slightly teary. Poor Monica had been so deceived, the person next most likely to suffer after Ross.
'Have you got another headache?' Monica said, looking into Rachel's eyes.
'No, no, I'm – I'm just feeling kind of sad.' Sad for the short term – hopefully the long term would be much much better.
'Oh, sweetie, why?' Monica asked with a frown.
'Well, everyone's so happy, so settled. It's not that I want anyone else to be unhappy,' – only Emily – 'but I'd just like to be happy too.'
'Oh you will,' Monica said. 'You will, you're beautiful and wonderful and you'll find someone.'
'I hope so,' Rachel said.
'I know so,' Monica said. 'You don't have to rush anything. Everything else is going all right isn't it?'
'Yes,' Rachel said. She hadn't thought about everything else for a long time.
'You are okay with Emily aren't you?' Monica said. 'I hope you are.'
'Yes,' Rachel said, now that she had Emily where she wanted her. 'I'm fine, really, don't worry about me.'
Alone she planned her next move. She looked at the stained pieces of the letter. She'd need those, but, as she knew well, those alone weren't enough. Ross would have to see Emily with Colin for himself, and that meant she had to get him to Strawberry Fields by one o'clock.
At twelve the next day, to give no warning, she called Ross.
'I need to see you urgently,' she said. 'I've got to have your advice, it's really important.'
'Sure Rach, just tell me the problem,' Ross said.
'No, I've got to see you in person – I've got to show you something.'
'Oh – can't it wait until this evening?' They'd be going to Central Perk – except after this afternoon, maybe they wouldn't. It couldn't be back to normal there until the dust had settled.
'No, Ross, it can't. Please help me out. There's no-one else I can ask and you're the best person anyway. If you could meet me on your lunch break, say at Strawberry Fields.'
'Strawberry Fields? Why there?' Ross asked.
'I've got another appointment there,' Rachel said. That was sort of true.
'Okay,' Ross said, sounding a little weary. 'I'll come.'
'I knew I could count on you, Ross,' Rachel said. And you can count on me, she told him silently.
She knew that he wouldn't be late.
'Hey Rach,' Ross said, as he arrived, dodging the tourists. 'What's up?'
'Hi Ross,' Rachel said, keeping an eye out. She'd seen a few men hanging around who could be Colin. She had not had that good a look at the man from the shop. 'I really appreciate you coming like this, I know I didn't give you much warning but I didn't have much warning myself.' Now all she had to worry about was whether Emily turned up on time, because she'd have to keep Ross occupied until then. She kept him involved in a conversation. But she wasn't the one to spot Emily first.
'Hey,' Ross said, suddenly, 'That's Emily, over there.'
