A/N: Yay, reviews are fun. I love reading them. Anyway, so stupid Bush (president not the band) is having his inauguration tomorrow so there won't be any soaps. But I guess that's good because I have to work tomorrow night and at least I won't be missing anything.

Ch. 7 The Good Fight

As the days passed the town was buzzing with talk of the murder. Everyone had different theories on what had actually happened. Some though it was a last ditch effort to reach Jason. Others thought she had simply snapped. But just about everyone agreed that Courtney must have done it.

Courtney herself did her best to keep living her life as she normally would. But that proved to be pretty near impossible. Always getting stares and whispers in her direction wherever she went. But she refused to become a recluse. If she thought about it, she was stuck between a rock and a hard place; couldn't go out, couldn't stay in.

The small diner was nearly empty, so she figured it would be easy to get in and get out. She entered the building and immediately approached the counter ignoring the few patrons she felt looking at her. Part of her was glad it was her father there, because he was one of the few people left in the town that would look at her without accusations in their eyes, but still a part of her wasn't because he would undoubtedly ask her how she was and other questions she didn't want to hear.

"Hey." he greeted happily. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm just picking up an order." she answered.

"Okay, just a second." he disappeared in to the back and returned moments later with a paper bag.

It wasn't much, but she really didn't care. She usually ended up only eating a bite or two if she was lucky. If it weren't for the fact that food was a necessity, she probably wouldn't eat at all. Anytime she thought she had an appetite, the gruesome images forced themselves to her mind's eye and she would end up fighting the urge to throw up.

"Hey." Mike started. "Deep thoughts?"

"How much is it?" she asked, ignoring his question.

"Are you ok?"

"Fine."

"You don't look fine."

"Well I am, ok?" she answered, a bit of annoyance showing in her voice.

"Can you please be honest? Admit this whole ordeal is taking a toll."

"How much is it?" she asked again, trying to get the point across that she didn't want to talk about her pathetic excuse for a life.

"Are you even going to eat this if I give it to you?" he asked. It was obvious, she wanted to get out of there and that his questions were irritating her. But he was worried about her, and as far as he was concerned he had every right.

She reached in her pocket and pulled out whatever amount of cash she had and slapped it onto the counter. She hadn't counted it, but it was certainly more then enough for the order.

"Keep it." she said grabbing the bag and taking off.

"Find out. I want to know everything he did and everyone he was in contact with." Jason ordered into the phone before hanging up.

He wanted to use every resource at his disposable to try and get even the slightest bit of reasonable doubt. Anything that could throw off Baldwin's case the tiniest inch could help. Jason took a look at his surrounding and realized that the docks probably weren't the best place to conduct business. But if he thought about it, he wasn't doing anything illegal.

Trying to solve a murder wasn't a crime. In fact, it was probably one of the few times he would find himself on the right side of the law. But anyone would do it for someone they love. Loved, he corrected himself. Or was it love? Why did the one letter make such a huge difference? However he felt about Courtney, he knew he'd do whatever he could to help her.

As if on cue, he turned to see his ex-wife walking across the wooden planks. She looked in a hurry and didn't seem to acknowledge him at all. in fact it even appeared that she sped up to get by. Jason got the feeling that the day was going to get worse. Unable to shake it off, he followed in the direction she had gone.

A/N: oh lordy lord how could it possibly get any worse? i don't know lets find out together shall we?