"Damn." David stared at the computer screen, gave a final click to the mouse, and sat back.

"Damn," he said again.

None of this made sense. Babe's request was simple enough. Okay, it was weird. But so were the other requests. Botox? A prescription for Botox? But Babe had tearfully explained her predicament, and Erica's demand. David was irritated with Krystal for starting the whole problem (again), and had a feeling Erica wasn't going to let it go with the quiet Botox arrangements. But he'd come through. Babe had seemed upset the next week, and David suspected another problem. Sure enough-- that one was a biggie. He'd enlisted Greenlee's help -- and Erica had gotten Enchantment back. David was braced for the worst, but this last request seemed the simplest-- and if they carried it out, they had a legal document ending this blackmail, and Adam and JR would leave Babe and her child alone, permanently.

Just find Erica's true age.

David clicked open another file on the computer. He ran his tongue across the inside of his cheek as he stared at the medical record. It made no sense at all. According to this, her age was 15 during her physical in 1970. That didn't seem right-- she ought to have been younger. But another document put her age as 22 in 1970... which would make her... a lot older than he thought. He shuddered, remembering when they'd dated.

He needed more records and more information, but he didn't have the inside help he needed to get them. He needed a PI's help.

Who could he get in Pine Valley? Tad was out. Not only was he stupid and clueless, and a pain in the ass to boot, but he hated David, and all this might get him too close to certain other information. Aiden? Er.. no, Aiden hated him as well, and the last thing he needed was Aiden snooping around this whole situation. Who in Pine Valley had investigative skills and abilities and didn't hate him (or have cause for revenge)? There had been Jilly, whom David had brought back four times on the operating table. He'd been
a good cop, a good investigator, but a lousy heart patient. Take your meds and keep to a low cholesterol diet, David had told him. But Jilly had not been able to make the break with McDonalds. That fifth cardiac arrest did him in. "How hard is it to pass on the Big Mac?" thought David sourly. "You really messed me up. Damn you, Jilly."

David turned his eyes to the phone. Erica was being Vengeful. Adam and JR were pure evil. And Babe was in trouble. The information needed to ensure baby Ace stayed with his momma was impossible to get.

He knew whom he needed to call.

For over a year he'd thought about making the call, for other reasons, but something always put him off. Now he had no choice. He picked up the receiver, and pausing only a moment, dialed the overseas number.

"Anna..."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for thirty long seconds.

"David?"

"Yeah... Anna. I .. need your help."