Chapter 5

In the pre-dawn hours, Kendall tried to quietly sneak out of the Kane/Montgomery home, but was intercepted by Jack. After a futile attempt at sleep, Kendall silently moved down the stairs towards the front door. Just as Kendall reached the ground floor, Jack emerged from the den. Kendall jumped back, but suppressed a scream that would have awaken the entire house. Jack apologized "Before you head off, we need to discuss some things." Jack told Kendall about the need for someone to identify the body and suggested Kendall call Ethan to take care of the formality.

"I'll do what needs to be done. Ethan was not a part of Zach's life while he was alive, he will not be a part of it now." Kendall stated in a strong and determined voice. Kendall spent most the sleepless hours deciding what to do next. What would Zach want me to do? Kendall made herself a mental list and set out this morning determined and focused.

Kendall returned to her condo in the predawn light, stopping to stare at Zach's condo. The interior of Zach's condo was dark and motionless, which typically wouldn't be strange, but this morning everything for Kendall felt empty. As she entered her own condo, Kendall turned on the light and almost, out of instinct, pushed the play button on the answering machine. Kendall noticed the answered machine was blinking 25, 25 new messages. Most of those messages are probably from reporters, maybe a dozen from Greenlee, choosing to deal with that later Kendall moved into the bathroom. She disrobed and took a steamy hot shower. Kendall's thoughts continued to be about Zach, so much so, that Kendall forgot if she washed her hair and may have washed it twice.

Kendall's mind drifted back to Zach time and again. Last week, Zach and Kendall spent the entire day working together at the casino, arriving before 9 and leaving close to midnight. Working on separate projects, they would met up and have meals together, or simply just check in with one another. At one point Kendall was working in her office, she looked up to find Zach staring at her with a quirky smile. "Hey, I didn't hear you come in." Kendall offered

Zach replied "I didn't want to disturb you, you're hard at work."

Kendall rose from the chair, slowly walked past Zach, running her hand down his jacket sleeve before grabbing his hand. "And to show me your gratitude, you can buy me a cocktail. Let's go, It's Happy Hour." Kendall said giggly pulling Zach towards the elevator. Kendall was snapped back to the present by the phone ringing. "That will be message number 26." Kendall said to no one at all as she turned on the hair dryer, not hearing the caller leaving a message.

Kendall entered the Fusion offices to a flurry of activity. Dazed by the early morning activity Kendall ventured further into the offices. Greenlee was at her desk barking orders at Simone, what a novelty. Greenlee noticed Kendall's entrance and rushed to embrace her. Kendall was a bit shocked from the show of affection, remained stoic and tense. Kendall almost had to shake the smaller woman off of her, "Greenlee, what are you doing here so early? How is your morning sickness?" Kendall asked the second question in a whisper because the pregnancy was not public knowledge yet.

"Forget about me, for a second. How are you? I tried to call you after I saw the news, but all I got was the machine. Then I called Jack this morning and found out you stayed there last night. My God, that must have been a nightmare in itself. The storm last night knocked out the entire building's phone lines, so we are operating using just our cell phones. Speaking of your cell phone, I couldn't get through to you on that last night either." Greenlee rattled on and on before Kendall could stop her.

"Greenlee, stop, breathe. Can I get you some orange juice?" Kendall was looking for a distraction this morning, not a carnival. Maybe coming into the office was not such a good idea, Kendall thought, maybe I'll just go out to the Casino instead. Wait, I should call Edie, she had probably jumped in an taken care of everything at the Casino. Damn, her number is in my cell phone and the phones here in the office don't work.

Greenlee had starting blabbering on about something else, or 15 something else's by the time Kendall's attention turned back to her. Kendall was about the make her excuses to Greenlee and duck out of the office when suddenly a deep voice interrupted "Well, if it isn't the widow Cambias?" Ethan's words drooled from a vicious scowl. Kendall thought how she was SO not in the mood for this exchange. Kendall chose to ignore Ethan's comment and head out to the Casino. But Ethan physically blocked her path with his 6'5" frame.

"Ethan, please. I am not up for your banter this morning." Kendall spoke quietly, almost pleading.

Greenlee sensing the weakness in her friend jumped up from her desk and rushed over to the pair, "Ethan, back off. This is not the time or the place."

Ethan continued with is arrogant monologue, ignoring both women. "Isn't it ironic that my father faked his own death by dying in a car accident, and now fate has stepped in leaving you a very rich widow, and.."

"Stop!" Kendall screamed "You sick bastard. Zach, You, …"Kendall began to crumble, the tears started to well up in her eyes. Damn it, she didn't want to fall apart in front of anyone, last night was one thing, but today in front of Greenlee and Ethan. Kendall hadn't forgotten about Simone watching quietly from the back. Greenlee's arm automatically went around Kendall's shoulder. Kendall shrugged her off, and rushed out of the offices.

When Kendall got to the parking garage she leaned against her car and let out a suppressed yelp of agony. Several moments passed before a hand was placed on Kendall's forearm. She looked up to find Ethan, his expression was apologetic and sorrowful. Before Kendall could say anything Ethan began, "I am sorry. I was lashing out at you unfairly. I have regrets, regrets I can only admit to myself."

Suddenly, Kendall remembered that she was suppose to identify the body this morning and immediately felt nauseous. She looked to Ethan standing quietly next to her, his hand still placed on her forearm. "I need your help this morning. I have to ident.." the tears were now free flowing down her cheeks. "I have to i…, I can't.. do this alone. .. Will you go.. with me?" Kendall barely squeaked out between sobs.

Ethan spoke about irony before, but it was truly ironic now. He was about to go with the woman he had loved like no other, his father's wife, a father that denied him, to identify his father's corpse. Shakespeare couldn't write something this convoluted. Ethan's hand guided Kendall forward, "Come one, I'll drive." Ethan really couldn't believe he was doing this.

They drove in silence through the hustling downtown streets, it was now rush hour, and the streets were at their busiest. Kendall's thoughts returned to the day at the Casino. Zach held onto Kendall's hand until they were seated in the cocktail lounge. Kendall and Zach did not have to wait long for their drink order, benefits of owning the place, the wait staff usually jumps to attention. Zach didn't drink his Scotch just slowly twisted the glass in his hand. Kendall enjoyed a few sips of her oddly colored drink, as she swayed to the music of the live band. Kendall jumped up and took Zach's hand. "Let's dance."
Zach protested "Kendall, no, I don't dance." Kendall shivered as she remembered the deep richness of his voice. Ethan noticed the shiver and turned the knob on the control panel to turn down the car's air conditioning.

Kendall returned to her memories, staring out the window. Kendall teased "Then just stand there while I dance." And sure enough that is what Zach did. But something changed during those few moments of moderate beats of music. Zach's eyes no longer sparked with amusement, it was something else entirely. The song ended and the band began a slower ballad, Kendall started to exit back to their table, but Zach reached for her arm.

"This is more my speed." Zach's voice was husky and deeper than usual. Kendall's throat went dry as Zach pulled her into his arms. Kendall knew immediately why her sweet niece Miranda cuddled into Zach's arms. Kendall felt safe and warm, his scent, engulfed her, his arms enveloped her, she could stay here forever. Zach tilted his head and placed his cheek against Kendall's. Kendall enjoyed the rough feeling of his five o'clock shadow.

Ethan pulled the car into a parking space at the municipal building. The drive here had been eerily quiet, but what could they say to one another. When Ethan looked at Kendall she has staring out the window, a hand on one cheek. Ethan whispered "We are here." Bringing Kendall back to the present, the hard cold reality of the task at hand passed over Kendall with another wave of nausea.

Ethan and Kendall were standing in the lobby waiting for a technician or whomever to escort them to the viewing area. Kendall was beginning to break out in a cold sweat and her breathing started to become shallow. Kendall suddenly turned to Ethan "I can't." Ethan looked at her with sympathy, trying to mask his own pain. The pain of losing Kendall to Zach, the obvious reality that their marriage was no longer a business arrangement. Ethan realized Kendall was in love with Zach and it pained him to think about Zach loving Kendall. Kendall repeated herself, "I can't do this."

Ethan couldn't believe what was coming out of his own mouth, "It's OK Kendall, I'll call you a cab and take care of this myself." Simultaneously, he pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket.

The clerk at the counter spoke up "That phone won't work in here. You'll have to go outside."

Ethan led Kendall back out of the building and hailed her a cab. As the cab pulled away from the curb, the phone in Ethan's hand rang. Ethan answered the phone curtly, regretting agreeing to help Kendall, "Ethan Cambias….." Ethan almost lost is footing, "Zach!"