Chapter 1:

"Mind you don't make it too long, Gilmore. I already gave you an additional inch, any longer and I'll be forced to hack it."

"I'll try to keep it within the provided space." Rory Gilmore promised. "This article is just full of detail and I want to make it come alive."

"As long as it doesn't exceed eight inches." Her editor nodded, re-straightening his tie.

"Eight inches, title and my name and picture included."

"Excellent." Bradley Howard grinned. "I knew I picked the right reporter when I hired you, Gilmore."

"Thanks Brad." He was a decent boss, uptight as most editors were towards printing date, but mostly he was laid-back and friendly. Unlike her previous editors in high school and college who had stressed themselves into coronaries just handing out the article assignments.

Since it was seven o'clock that evening and most of the reporters and journalists had left for home, the newsroom was unusually quiet and peaceful. Only she and Brad remained.

She was just opening her mouth to ask if there was anything else she could do for him when her office door burst open. If she hadn't grown used to living with her college roommate over the years, she might have yelped.

"Rory, you have to…" The woman on the threshold halted. "You're still working? Do you know what time it is?"

"It's 7:35, Louise." Rory closed her notebook. "No, I don't have any extra twenties in my purse."

"I didn't come for money." Mary offered Brad a reflexive smile. "Louise Tamblyn, I'm Rory's sister. I didn't realize that Rory wrote articles this late. Myself, I can't work past six."

Not easily unnerved, Rory gestured to the door. "There's coffee if you want to wait."

"But…" Louise's look of annoyance turn to one of resignation. "But it's important this time, Rory, otherwise I wouldn't be here."

She really wouldn't, Rory thought after going through some last minute details with Brad. Louise liked the French Quarter well enough, but going to a deserted office instead of searching out a freaky party? No way. She must want more than just money.

"Your sister doesn't dress like you, does she, Gilmore? Or look a great deal like you, either. So much blonde hair…" Brad spoke around pen cap wedged between his teeth. "She had great teeth though. Are they all hers?"

"All but one. An ex-boyfriend knocked out her left incisor a year ago."

"A bad relationship?" Brad made a disapproving sound.

"Misdirected racquetball." Rory began to pack her things in her briefcase. "Louise isn't big on sports, or men who play them these days. Okay, no more stalling, I've got to get out of here."

"And miss the fun?" Brad joked.

"I think I'll somehow manage to recover." One last glance over her shoulder and Rory exited the office towards the entrance where Louise waited for her.

"Those two should be using public transportation." Louise commented, gesturing to an elderly couple climbing into a beat-up Buick.

Rory ignored her. "So what's the big news? Did you sell a bunch of pictures and want me to spring for champagne?"

Louise stared after the disappearing Buick. "They're photographs, not pictures, and no, I didn't. God, I hope I don't end up like them one day." Turning her head, she ran her gaze up her sister's figure. "Or you for that matter."

Rory made a quick check of her hair and face in the rearview mirror. "What's wrong with how I look?" Other than maybe a little washed out under bright lights.

Louise shrugged. "Nothing. You're gorgeous. Every man I date says so. But…" Her expression grew mysterious and Rory sighed, recognizing the sign.

"For deeds long past chère child will reap, my vengeance cures of death or worse."

Rory, who had taken a moment to release her hair from a messy ponytail, gave her head a shake and her shoulders a roll. "Why do you love that old rhyme so much? You don't believe in family curses anymore than I do."

"I know, but then it doesn't apply to me, does it? I'm the youngest in our patchwork family." Louise reapplied her make-up in the car mirror. "Let's blow this spooky office building. Something's happened, and you're the only one who can make it right."

Rory eyed her sister dubiously. Louise was known for her exaggeration. Catching onto her sister's suspicion, Louise grabbed her arm.

"I'm not joking, Rory. This is big, or at least it could be, and it doesn't involve you lending me money. It's about Madeline."

Something in Rory's stomach tightened. Louise wouldn't hesitate to plead her own case, but she seldom championed anyone else's. And, she never looked rattled. No matter the circumstance she always carried the air of poise.

"What about Madeline?" She asked. "Is she sick? Hurt? In trouble?"

"The last thing." Loosening her grip, Louise made a disgruntled sound.

"Okay look, our middle sister, who poured over the records of every adoption agency in the city, found you, found me and brought us all together ten years ago, was questioned by two cops. They came to the house tonight. They were asking her questions about a man named Jason Stiles."

"Someone she's dating?" No, that couldn't be right, Rory realized. Madeline didn't date. She waved the question aside before Louise could respond. "Never mind, just tell me who he is."

"You want it straight?"

"Please."

"Jason Stiles is our biological father-as in the unknown X-chromosome that makes up half the link between us."

Stunned, Rory stared at her. "Lisa found our natural father? I thought he was dead."

Louise's red lips curved into a sardonic smile. "He is dead, Rory, deader than Dicken's ghostly doornail. The thing is, he only got that way two nights ago. Jason Stiles was murdered in a plantation cemetery seventeen miles outside of New Orleans. And according to the city's finest, Madeline was quite likely the last person to see him alive."

Dun. Dun. Dun. So, I'm back and with a bang, huh! So what do you think, did I catch your attention? Some of the characters from GG will be subbed for characters in the book, like Louise, Madeline, Chris, Lorelai, Luke, Jason, Miss Patty and so on. I'm only undecided on who our Detective is going to be, our romantic lead. I ruled out Logan, he's too socialite for this role and Dean is just bleh. So it's down to Jess or Tristan. I'm usually a Trory person, but we'll see. Armand has that whole tall dark and handsome thing where Tristan is lacking, but Mariano isn't a French last name, whereas Dugrey can pass for that.

Characters you will not see: Dean, Logan (though mentioned), Finn, Kirk, Taylor, Sookie, Jackson, Paris (though mentioned) Doyle, Richard, etc.