Chapter Three

Characters belong to NBC

...

Back at home.

Karen and Derek sat in the living room. Wondering what to do. It's not that they could take over the production. It was Audrey's show now. They couldn't put the spotlight back on them. Not after all these years. But who was messing with Audrey? And the costumes? They could quietly get the paint work fixed. Yet both had a feeling, that they couldn't shake.

"Derek?" Karen almost whispered. Derek turned and locked eyes with Karen. He just couldn't speak, he gave her a slight smirk.

...

Karen was wondering about Ivy. It couldn't. It really couldn't be. Could it? I mean what would she get out of it now, Ben? No that's ancient history. Something else? Someone else?

...

I hear Karen. But when I see her eyes, I just can't say anything. I tried to smile, but it didn't feel right.

...

I see his cogs turning. But he can't speak, I whisper his name, he turns and gives me a half smile. He's thinking of all that happened today. Being at the show that we helped bring from nothing into what it is. All the same, but changed as well. He probably wants to go in and fix it. But it's Audrey's show now. It will frustrate him that he can't. And I don't see it being Ivy. If it was, makes no sense. Audrey runs the show, not us. So it isn't her.

...

Both were pulled from their thoughts with the ringing of Derek's phone. Derek glanced at it. Eileen. "Eileen, what can I do for you?" Derek asked. Eileen spoke "Derek put me on speaker, I want you both to hear." Derek hit the button. "Eileen what's wrong?" Karen sounded panicked.

Eileen replied "While you were at the theater today, you were being watched." Karen near jumped out of her skin "WHO was it?! Was it Ivy?" Eileen replied "No. It was Jerry. And, and...Dev!"

Derek was gobsmacked. Dev, why Dev? And how? "Eileen are you sure? I mean why would Dev even come near the show?" Eileen responded "Jerry is trying to buy Bombshell off Audrey. Audrey doesn't know who it is.

While Dev, you mustn't had heard. Dev is now married to Ivy! Things never worked out with her Simon. After they went to Hollywood. She met Dev while he was on a work do. And they clicked straight away...Well they do have a past."

"Buy Bombshell? That doesn't make any sense. Jerry doesn't need it." Karen said as she was close to tears. "Karen's right. Something smells fishy here. Dev, Ivy and Jerry. But Audrey hasn't said anything." Replied Derek.

"Well it's going through her Company Manager, that's why all the stunts. Tilda has been looking into it, ever since you rang yesterday." Eileen stated matter of factly.

"Is Tom and Julia still here we need to sort this. No-one is taking Bombshell away from this family and that's final." Derek said. His blood boiling. Eileen hung up.

Derek turned to Karen, but she wasn't there. She had left the house. Derek was so worried he decided to try and find her. He looked up stairs and found the safe opened, Karen's passport was gone.

...

Karen ran for all she was worth. Tears streaming down her face. She couldn't stop. She wished she was back in New York all those years ago. She needed somewhere where she could just hide and gather herself. Where to go? She couldn't go to the theater. God knows who would be there. So she kept going. Poor Audrey. Dev and Ivy?! Really? They want the show?

...

Karen, where are you? If this was back in the day I would know exactly know where to find you. Karen! Good god woman, where would you go if not the theater?! You have kept this family together for so long, and we never thought to make sure you were okay. Hearing about Ivy and Dev must have sent you in a tailspin.

...

I left Derek! But I had too! Bombshell is everything to me, and the family. "Derek, I'm so sorry. I love you, but I can't get my head round Dev and Ivy after all these years. I need to leave, I need to go away. Please forgive me." Karen thought.

...

Karen stoped to catch her breath. She rang Bobby. "Bobby, you won't believe what's happened, Dev, Ivy and Jerry want Bombshell!" She was still panting out of breath. "Bobby if Derek rings, you can tell him I'm at the apartment." And she hung up before Bobby could speak.

Karen looked around, got into a taxi and headed for the airport. Karen got inside the building. Found a flight heading to New York and bought a ticket on her credit card. Karen headed through security and on to the plane and couldn't wait for it to take off.

...

Derek didn't know where to go. He was flummoxed. His mind was racing. His phone rang. "Karen?!" "Sorry Derek, it's me, Bobby. I just got a call from Karen. She was out of breath, but she says she was going to the apartment. Then she hung up."

"The apartment? If I leave now I can catch her. Thanks Bobby."

Derek flagged a taxi and headed to the airport. By the time he got in the building, and security he saw the flight had already taken off. "Gordon Bennett! Karen!" Derek checked the flights, wasn't one until later that night.

Derek picked up the phone and rang Eileen. "Eileen! Karen is on a flight to New York, she's heading to the apartment. Please Eileen, get the spare key and be there when she turns up!" Derek was shouting down the phone. Eileen was sat in her office, she had never heard Derek so panicked. "Okay. I'll head over." She knew this wasn't the time for trying to reason with Derek in a state. she hung up.

Derek hung up and rang Julia and Tom.

Eileen had filled them about Karen, Ivy, Dev and Jerry. Once she had finished Derek's call.

"Just keep an eye on the show and make sure Jerry gets nowhere near it! Throw a cocktail, I don't care, I need to get to Karen." Again Derek hung up. Julia turned to Tom, "Uh, Rude." Tom was reeling. He knew this would throw both of them.

...

Derek then rang Ben. "Ben, I have to go to New York. Your mom got on a flight to there and I'm going after her. Keep an eye on Audrey. There's more than meets the eye going on at Bombshell." "Is Mom ok? What made her get on a flight?"

"The past has a nasty way of throwing your Mom for a loop. She'll be ok, she's headed to the apartment. Give us a few days and we'll be back in no time. Cheers son."

"I'll keep an eye on everything. Give Mom all my love ok? Now go get on a plane Dad!"

Derek chuckled a dry laugh. "Going now, see you soon."

Derek went to put the phone away but decided on one more call. "Karen. I know you will be there when you get this, I'm on my way. There's no way I'm leaving my muse. Darling we WILL sort this. Marilyn never let her past define her and I know you never have either. The Dark Lord is on his way to you. See you soon love."

Phone finally away, Derek found his flight.