Exposure Chapter 18: Sorry About The Confusion, an all my children fanfic

Chapter 18

Sorry About the Confusion

"Damn it Ethan! Couldn't you make it through the week without getting into trouble?" Zach was shouting into his cell as he tried to drive with one hand.

"I don't see it as trouble Zach. Simone and I are quite happy." Ethan closed his eyes and sighed. Ethan didn't expect much from Zach but he didn't expect this.

"Happy? What the…? You are a bloody fool. Of all the stupid…" Zach growled.

"Hey now!" Ethan growled back. His voice low and dark was an obvious warning. "I know that this may seem sudden and so I wasn't expecting a joyous response but you had better closely consider your next remark. So tell me Zach. How the hell was it that you find out already? Which of my crew is working for you? I want to know who was it that told you?" This was too much. Ethan wasn't expecting Zach to be warm and giddy but there was no call for this level of animosity.

"You ass! No one had to tell me anything. All I had to do was pick up my morning paper and turn on the television. Damn it Ethan your face is freaking everywhere! I thought that you were taking Simone away to keep yourselves out of trouble. I should have known that you'd find a way to create it! You had to see the cameras! You aren't blind!" Zach pulled over his car to continue the conversation. Zach needed to let go of the steering wheel. Zach needed one hand to hold the phone but he wanted the other hand free to pull his hair out.

"Cameras?" Ethan sat up on his chair, stunned. "What cameras?"

"The ones that were stuffed in your damn face! What the hell is wrong with you?" Stunned Zach cut the engine. He couldn't believe what he was hearing and he needed complete silence to digest what Ethan was saying.

"Oh. You are talking about what happened in front of the police station." The realization of how far off base they both were made Ethan laugh.

"And your subsequent arrest. Are you laughing? What the hell is there to laugh about? There is something very wrong with you boy."

"No Zach. There is something very right with me and that is why I was angry." Ethan sighed relieved. "I thought you were talking about something else."

"There is something else? There is more?" Zach closed his eyes and braced himself. This was getting way to complicated and he was starting to regret that Ethan ever asked him for his help.

"Yes. Sorry about the confusion." Ethan grinned. "Simone and I were married on the yacht yesterday."

"Married? Oh. Fine. Good. Congratulations. It's a good time to take a honeymoon. Just stay the hell away from any cameras and hold up at the Cambias Island for a while. The media can't get to you there. I need some more time here to get to the bottom of things."

"So I imagine the media has kicked into high gear." Ethan was relieved that the conversation was finally on the same track. Zach didn't sound jubilant about his news but at least he wasn't condemning him.

"Good God Ethan it's a bloody mess over here. It's a freaking circus back here. There is lots of footage about the incident. Lauren saw to that. And now some of the media are even trying to talk to me. TO ME!"

Ethan had to laugh at the image of Zach glaring down at a sputtering reporter, "Sorry."

"You don't sound sorry." Zach regretted sounding petulant but his day had gone from bad to worse and there was no way he was going to share the details with Ethan.

"I'm sorry that things are so difficult back in Pine Valley and I'm very sorry that I can't strangle Lauren myself." Ethan replied emphatically.

"Don't worry about Lauren. I'll take care of her. I've got men outside of her house and I'm on my way over now. Lauren crossed the line on this one."

"I trust that you'll do whatever it takes. That is why I asked for your help. Zach, I won't bring Simone back until I'm sure I can keep her safe."

"I've seen how you handle a threat Ethan." Zach groaned. "Look, I get that you were pissed but maybe you shouldn't have kicked that reporter in the face after you knocked him to the ground."

"I wasn't exactly thinking too clearly at the time Zach. I don't even remember doing that." Ethan muttered covering his face with his hand.

"Ethan, it's on tape. And it's not pretty. But it turned out to be a dual edged sword. Lucky for you someone got a clear shot of the look on Simone's face when he grabbed her. You know that with out that camera shot you'd probably still be in jail."

"I know. Just as I'm sure that it was Lauren that instructed him to use Simone to get me angry enough to hit him in front of the cameras. "

"He did that well enough." Zach grimaced and turned the engine over eager to get back on the road. "Listen, Lauren's going to pay for this and I'll find out who she's working for if I have to wring her neck with my bare hands." Zach replied with deadly seriousness. But before Zach hung up he had something important to add, "Oh and Ethan. Nice costumes."

Ethan on the phone:

"Thanks for calling. I hate to sound trite but I've been anxiously waiting to hear from you. Please. Please tell me were you successful. Oh thank God. I really wanted this before but the situation has grown urgent. Why? Because I'm not going to bring Simone back to Pine Valley until I know that there is some way to keep her out of harms way. I know what this cost her but this will make it much easier for me to keep Simone safe. I appreciate this more than I can say. Yes. I'm sure that it was difficult. Really. I'm very grateful. I'll find some way to repay you. All right then, you can consider it a wedding present." Ethan laughed at the man's response. "Thank you."

Man's voice by phone:

"Everything is lost. I know that this is the last thing that you wanted to hear but the boy has already married her. I shouldn't have to remind you that neither of us wants them together. Look this mess is a result of your plan going awry. Remember that this is how you wanted to do things. I just wanted to talk to the boy and make him see reason…See here! You are not the only one that stands to lose. I sided with you and I have just as much at stake. Look. Why don't you just stay out of it from now on? Let me handle things on my own. Your meddling has achieved nothing but to make matters worse. Things wouldn't have progressed so rapidly if it weren't for your interference. Stay out of this and let me be the one to take care of her from here on. What do you mean? You'll take care of her your way? What way? But you can't! You fool! Because the girl might be pregnant, that's why."

Ryan hung up the phone and turned to Kendall. "Well it seems that I'll be working here for a while. For one thing, Ethan has a court date to keep."

"Ok. How long should that take?" Kendall asked tossing a file onto her desk.

"He doesn't anticipate too much trouble. His lawyers are already working on it and the guy that grabbed Simone is facing his own assault charges so I'm sure that they will be able to work some kind of deal."

"So what's keeping them? Simone needs to get back here." Kendall was uneasy. Things at the office were actually running quite nicely but Kendall felt herself growing ever reliant on Ryan's presence. She found herself looking forward to seeing him everyday. How lonely will she be after he's gone? It would be better for everyone if things could get back to normal with Simone at her desk instead of Ryan.

"Tired of me already Kendall?" Ryan laughed. He knew that he was getting under her skin. She wouldn't be able to deny her feelings much longer.

"I'm tired of doing all the work while you goof off." Kendall glared at him. "At least Simone knew what she was doing."

"You know that you always say things that you don't mean when you are feeling defensive. I know that you know that I'm doing well here. So what do you have think you have to protective yourself from?" Ryan walked over to Kendall's desk, sat down on it and leaned in close. "Could it be your growing feelings for me?"

"It's just my growing need to protect Fusion from a man that doesn't know the difference between shimmer and glitter." Kendall responded and tossed an eraser at him. "Get off of my desk! So tell me what the hell is keeping Simone? And why did Ethan hire you of all people?"

"Actually Simone hired me." Ryan laughed.

"Simone! If anyone was going to hire a replacement it should have been me!" Kendall was flabbergasted by the news. "What right did she have to..."

"Kendall she felt badly about leaving you here alone and she asked me to fill in."

"If she feels that bad she should get her butt back here! Simone wasn't arrested! So what is keeping her from coming back?"

"Oh I don't know." Ryan grinned slyly ready to spill what he knew. "Maybe because Ethan and Simone are on their honeymoon." Ryan laughed at Kendall's stunned expression and couldn't help beaming at her. "So they won't be back to Pine Valley for a while. It looks like you are stuck with me."

Zach shook his head sadly. It was unfortunate that things should end this way but at least Lauren wasn't going to be a problem for anyone ever again. The girl was too greedy and too stupid to live. It was only a matter of time before her actions caught up with her. Zach walked slowly around the room careful not to touch anything when his eye caught the glint of something shining around her neck. Leaning over her Zach slowly pulled the broken chain free. This was his. But where was the ring? And how did Lauren get her hands on it? Zach hadn't seen it since he gave it away years ago. Zach did a cursory look about the room in hopes that the ring would be visible but it was not to be found. Weighing the chain in his hand Zach made a choice, dropping the chain into his pocket he made a call.

"You are sure that you didn't see anyone enter or leave the house? No one could have slipped in without your notice? Are you sure? You saw no one enter her apartment after I left here earlier? One of the men must of left his post find out whom it was. No. Everything is not all right. I need you to get in here. We have a lot of work to do. Make sure someone is listening to the police scanners we have to make sure we aren't interrupted and have John and Andrew continue to watch the house. We can't afford to get caught."

Zach checked the body for the ring, taking note of the strangulation marks around her neck before he began to ransack the room turning over everything he could in hopes of finding it. But as sure as he was standing next to Lauren's corpse Zach knew that the ring wasn't in the house. What did it mean? Lauren wasn't wearing it earlier. He would have noticed it immediately. Zach could sense this chain anywhere from nearly any distance. It called to him, the same way it resonated in his pocket. The chain and the ring that went with it was the last thing his mother gave to him. Before Alex Jr. walked away from his old life he had to purge himself of everything that mattered to him. And he gave the ring and the chain to Hannah. So how the hell did it end up with Lauren? Did she have it on earlier? Zach was sure she wasn't wearing it when he left. So who placed it around Lauren's neck? Was it a sign meant as a warning? Was someone trying to tell him something or was someone trying to get him arrested for Lauren's murder?

Sensing the man behind him Zach spoke aloud without turning, "Call in the crew. We have to act fast. We need to pack up everything. Any documents you come across set aside for me. All clothes and valuables need to packed as if she's fled the country for good." Zach turned to look hard at his hired man. "Call Shelly and prep her. She'll need to leave the country as Ms. Clark. Have her ready to leave as soon as we can wrap up everything here. Let her know she won't be back for a couple of weeks. Assure her that I'll personally arrange for her return at a later date. Get Ms. Clark's laptop to George…our computer guy. And call Echo…" Zach whispered looking at Lauren's body. "We have a disposable for him."

"Don't peek."

"I'm not." Ethan protested as he listened to Simone's movements.

"I know. Why is it that everyone always says that anyway?" Simone grumbled. "Ok. You can take off the blindfold now."

"Simone its pitch black in here." Ethan shook his head.

"I know hold on a moment…" Simone muttered shifting around something.

"And the point of making me wear a blindfold in the dark was…?"

"Just be patient stay on the bed Ethan. Promise."

"I've been patient." Ethan insisted.

"Uh-huh. Sure you have." Simone laughed.

Simone hit the switch and a single light and the CD player went on and Ethan threw back his head and roared with laughter. Simone was wearing his full pirate costume. The red jacket went way past her knees and Ethan had no idea where his boots went. He stood up to walk over to her but Simone shook her head and pointed at the bed. Properly chastised Ethan sat back down. Simone resisted the urge to laugh. He'd already forgotten to wait on the bed. But then the music started and Simone began to dance slowly to the music following the lyrics like a script while softly singing.

"You Can Leave Your Hat On"

http/media.

Baby take off your coat

Real slow

Take off your shoes

I'll take your shoes

Baby take off your dress

Yes Yes Yes

You can leave your hat on

Go on over there

Turn on the light

Hey, all the lights

Come over here.

Stand on that chair. (Ethan, "No. Don't")

Yeah, that's right. (Simone laughed but kept her feet on the floor.)

Raise your arms up to the air (Ethan sat back and grinned.)

Now shake 'em

You give me a reason to live

Sweet darling

You can leave your hat on

Feeling

You can leave your hat on

Suspicious minds a talkin'.

They're tryn' to tear us apart

They don't believe

In this love of mine

They don't know I love you

They don't know what love is

I know what love is

Sweet darling

You can leave your hat on

Feeling

You can leave your hat on

Laughing but still wearing Ethan's pirate hat Simone slowly danced her way into Ethan's waiting arms.