ATWOOD CONSTRUCTION TRAINERS

10:15am, Friday morning.

For all intents and purposes, the meeting was going well. Trey had not shown up, and thus Ryan was left to wing it on his own. Ryan felt a lot more at ease when someone he hadn't seen in ages was there as one of the prospective investors.

Kirsten Cohen had come along to represent the Newport Group in place of its CEO Julie Cooper-Nichol who was on vacation yet again in Paris. Caleb had resigned from the company, and just remained as a silent partner, a financial backing so to speak. He was away with Julie in Paris.

There were 6 investment companies represented in the meeting, and by the looks on the faces of the representatives, Ryan was making a good impression.

"The purpose of Atwood Construction Trainers is to train and then place skilled construction workers in multi-facetted developments."

"In terms of multi-facetted… could you possibly elaborate on that?" One of the investors queried.

"Certainly. We plan on assisting in developments from free-standing homes to apartment buildings; from shopping malls to large towering office blocks, and even monument buildings."

"I am aware that Atwood Construction Trainers is still very much in its infant stages, but what are the plans to broaden the horizon of ACT?" Another investor questioned.

"We have every intention of going big. 'Go big, or go home' as we like to say around here. We would like to expand nationally with offices in Texas and New York, and eventually branch out internationally to Europe and Australia."

His presentation was particularly impressive when he mentioned the company's intentions to go national and international.

A slide-show presentation showed ACT's fiscal budget, which had made some steady progression, but not enough for them to offer the training and support they so desperately wanted to give to Orange County.

"Well thank you everyone for your time. Please stay for some tea and coffee, and a CD and portfolio is available at our front desk of the details of this presentation and some more in depth information of the company." Ryan ended off the meeting and everyone applauded.

Ryan gathered his papers together where he was sitting at the head of the boardroom table. Kirsten walked up to him.

"That was not at all bad." Kirsten said with a smile. "Become quite the executive."

"Thanks. I was so nervous." Ryan replied.

"Well it didn't show, you did great, and I don't think I will have any problem in convincing the directors that you guys are a great investment for the Newport Group to consider."

Ryan and Kirsten walked out together.

"So where was your brother this morning, shouldn't he have been here for this?" Kirsten asked.

"Yeah, I don't know, he hasn't phoned, and…"

Ryan was cut off as two men dressed in black suits walked up to him where he and Kirsten were standing in the foyer.

"Mr. Atwood?" One of the men asked.

"Yes?" Ryan responded curiously.

"We need you to come with us please." The one man pulled out his badge and handed Ryan a card.

"FBI? What's this all about?" Ryan was puzzled and concerned at the same time.

They looked from Kirsten, and then back to Ryan. "I'm afraid we can't discuss this here, but everything will be explained back at the office."

Ryan looked at Kirsten with a look that she had seen in his eyes since the first day Sandy invited him home.

"Go. I'll call Sandy." Kirsten said supportively, and immediately got out her cell phone. Ryan left with the FBI.

HOLDING CELL AT THE COURTHOUSE

Zach had arrived just as the judge declared the case a mistrial and that Zach was now in contempt. He was placed in cuffs and lead down to the holding cell.

Zach was now behind bars, and Seth was trying to organize to get him out.

"Ok, so I spoke to the judge…" Seth began to say to Zach, who was looking quite miserable in his cell.

"Yeah, and?"

"… you'll have to spend the night here… he's pretty ticked off, and doesn't look like he's gonna budge…"

Zach hung his head in his hands. "Ah man… and Sunday his offices won't be open…"

"Dude, I don't want to be a pain and pry in to your personal… affairs, but why were you late? It's not like you man… son of a congressman, always on time for every class at school… never missed a single water polo practice… what's going on?"

Zach sighed. "I met with a potential client over breakfast and just sort of lost track of time…"

"A client? An hour or so before you are scheduled to give a closing in one of the biggest trials of your career, you decide to meeting with another client?" Seth was sarcastically unconvinced. "Not buying it man… What is he… a millionaire who promised to make you an offer you just cannot refuse? A friend of your father's who needs his name cleared before he runs in the next elections?"

"She…"

"She?"

"Abby… an old friend. We were friends from way back when I was like 14… I was working late last night, and she came to see me. She needed help with some custody case…"

"What? 14? Zach! The math tutor?"

"Yes, but Seth, you need to promise me, as much as I know you'd want to, you cannot mention a word of this to anyone, ok?"

"Okay, my lips are sealed…"

"Good… especially… SUMMER!" As Zach said that, Summer came walking down the corridor to the cell.

"How did she…" Zach looked at Seth who had a very guilty look on his face.

"I should have known you would run to her immediately…" Zach wasn't too impressed. Seth just hung his head in shame.

Summer walked up to the cell. Zach leaned his head against the bars with his two hands on the bars.

"Oh Zach…" Summer said sounding very sympathetic. She reached her hand in as though to lovingly place it on his cheek, but then at the last minute slapped him hard.

"OW!" Zach pulled back and rubbed his cheek. Seth stepped back too.

"How do you think my dad is going to react when I tell him my fiancé is an ex-con?" Summer said annoyed.

Zach didn't say anything.

"So? Start speaking… and for your sake, I hope this is a good story, 'cause if not, then that life insurance your parents took out on you is about to mature!"

"There's nothing to say…" Zach started explaining, and looked at Seth with a knowing glance. "I was late for my court appointment, and the judge just put me in contempt…"

"That's it? Zach Stephens, who was never once late for class, is now late for a court appearance… Has some of Seth and Ryan rubbed off on you?" Summer was unsure.

"That's it, really… I promise. It was a late night, and I just couldn't get up in time…" Zach said sounding convincing.

"… and the judge locks you up for that? As.s." Summer was now annoyed at the judge.

"Yeah, well, he's a pretty sticky guy…" Zach said relived that Summer was believing him. "But Seth has done some negotiating and I should be out on Monday…"

"You gotta spend the whole weekend in here?"

"Unfortunately the judge won't sign my release forms till then."

"Ok, come here…" Summer said flirting. Zach walked up to the bars again, and this time Summer gave him a kiss.

"Um… I'm just gonna go… and…" Seth was feeling a little uncomfortable, but just then his phone rang, which made it now his turn to feel relieved.

"Seth Cohen…" Seth answered the phone. There was a short silence as Seth listened.

"Ok, I'll be there in a bit." Seth closed the phone. "Ryan's at the FBI office… gotta go."