Like Melanie, Daniel had begun divorce proceedings, heartbroken but eager to move on from Chloe, still unable to believe she would do such a thing to him. As for Carly, the only reason for his anger towards her was she kept Chloe's secret and helped her with the paternity tests. But then again, Carly was good at keeping things to herself. He didn't want to talk to her for a while.

While he was at the nurses' station reading a chart, Lexie came up to him, a frown on her face. 'Seen Carly today?'

'Can't say that I have. Why?'

'Because I just read an email from her. She's resigned and according to her, effective immediately. Did she tell you she was going to do this?'

Daniel shook his head. 'No, not at all.'

'But she was cleared. On probation yes, but she still has a job here.'

Daniel shrugged, not disturbed by the news 'She probably felt it was better she worked somewhere else.'

'Daniel, I know you're still angry with her but technically she didn't do anything illegal. If it's your attitude or Melanie's that caused her to do this, then we have a problem.'

'I would've thought you of all people wanted to see the back of her.' Daniel said coldly.

'And I think you're simply looking for a scapegoat. It wasn't Carly who switched the tests. And if you pay more attention to Chloe's story, Carly didn't know the other guy was Phillip. Can you honestly imagine her keeping that a secret?'

Stony silence.

'I've tried her cell but it's switched off. I'm not accepting her resignation so I want you to find her and talk her out of it. Immediately.'

If Carly truly was my friend, she would've told me Chloe cheated in the first place, thought Daniel darkly after Lexie left him. How does Lexie expect me to just forget that?

Reluctantly he pulled out his cell from his pocket and dialled Carly's number. It was still switched off. He will try again later.

'Hey,' Melanie appeared at his elbow. 'I saw Lexie talking to you just now, she seems mad.'

'She sort of is.' Daniel said drily, putting the phone back into his pocket. 'Carly's resigned and Lexie wants me to talk her out of it.'

Since the scene at Maggie's, Melanie had avoided Carly; not returning her calls and deleting texts from her without reading them. For a moment she was taken aback by what she heard but her heart hardened again. 'She's joking right? If Carly wants to resign, let her. We're better off not having her here. She's done nothing but disrupt our lives.'

'You're probably right about that.' Daniel said quietly. 'But on the other hand, Carly's a valued doctor here. What do you think the board will say if I can't convince her to take back her resignation?'

Melanie scowled. 'This sucks, it just sucks.'

'I know. But it's got to be done. What can I say kiddo, office politics. See you later.'

Melanie shook her head, fuming. At the moment, she was mad as hell. Mad at Phillip and Chloe, for betraying her and Daniel. Mad at Caroline Brady for tampering with Parker's paternity tests. But the person she was angriest with was Carly. No wonder she'd kept Chloe's infidelity to herself! What mother would know her daughter's husband cheated on her and not say anything? But then again, since she came to Salem, Carly had done nothing but lie to her. She wanted nothing more to do with Carly Manning, ever. And in spite of Phillip's pleas, wanted out of her marriage as soon as possible. Lies and betrayal brought out the worst in Melanie and those closest to her knew it was best to let her cool off. Hence the reason she didn't attend Carly's disciplinary hearing. Carly deserved no support from her.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

'When will we be able to get Carly's things?'

'You can come over with me later; the crew's already done there anyway.' Rafe replied.

'Thanks.' Piper peered through the window on the door. Adrienne was sitting beside Carly's bed, one hand on Carly's arm, Frankie and Marcus nearby. 'What's happened so far?'

'Roman didn't take what I had to tell him well, he almost took my head off. Bo probably knows by now.'

'What about her daughter?'

'What daughter?' Rafe spat. 'A daughter who treated her own mother like she was lower than dirt. Just as well Frankie's planning on taking Carly away; maybe that hellion will see what she lost. That baby better make it, Piper. At least Carly will get something great out of this whole mess.'

Piper nodded thoughtfully. 'What about you? I imagine Bo and his brother are really ticked off with you right now.'

'I don't care what they think about me right now, Bo and Hope especially. To be honest, I've decided to resign from the department. I can't be around them, especially after what just happened.'

'You sound so sure about this.'

'I am. Carly's a good person. Not only did she save my life, she was there for me when my sister died in a hit and run.'

'Oh, I'm so sorry.'

'Thanks,' Rafe felt a stab of sadness as he thought of Arianna. ' Sami- my wife- told me about Carly and Bo and Carly told me what she went through with that husband of hers, after I asked her why Vivian Alamain kept targeting her. And I was glad she and Bo found each other again, after all those years. And Bo seemed so different with her, really happy and so protective of her. And then Hope gets into a mess and suddenly, Carly no longer mattered. You should see the way Bo and Hope have been all over each other, like what went on with Carly never happened and everyone's been patting them on the back. It's sickening.'

Piper nodded again. 'From what you've just said, it was more than Bo and Hope reconnecting while on the run. I think Bo Brady was leading Carly on the whole time.'

'Exactly. I can't respect a guy who would do a thing like that to a woman like Carly. I just can't.'

Bo Brady's got a lot to answer for, thought Piper. I hope Frankie breaks his jaw.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

'You never told me Carly and Frankie are related.' Hope said accusingly.

Bo raised his eyes to look up at Hope. 'Really, you going to do this right now?'

'Okay, you're right, I'm sorry.' Feeling rather ashamed, she moved to sit next to Bo, watching him anxiously. Since Roman left, Bo had sat with his face buried in his hands, not moving nor speaking to her.

'Frankie's just upset about what happened to Carly, she's his sister after all. And obviously... he's mad at us both. Listen to me Bo. Whatever guilt you're feeling right now, I'm shouldering it with you. Okay? We're in this together. We just have to find a way of sitting Frankie down, explain things and convince him to let us investigate and find out who did this to Carly. It's going to be hard but doable.'

Bo said nothing, thinking about the last conversation he had with Carly, a conversation haunting him. The image of her lying at some hospital, hating him... haunting him more. Frankie had every right to be mad at him. His beloved sister, his flesh and blood treated so heartlessly.

'Bo, please say something.' Hope pleaded.

Without a word, Bo picked up his cell from the coffee table and dialled Rafe's number. Rafe answered after four rings. 'Rafe, I'm only going to ask you once. Where's Carly?'

'My hands are tied.' was the cold reply.

'This is a barefaced conflict of interest, Hernandez. Not to mention insubordination.' Bo said, pacing the living room.

'Frankie made himself clear; he doesn't want you anywhere near her. And as for my insubordination, you might as well fire me. That will save me from handing in my letter of resignation.'

Bo stopped at his tracks. 'What?'

'You heard me.'

'Come on Rafe, it doesn't have to be like that.'

'It's not open for discussion.'

Bo exhaled sharply, making a note to deal with this new problem later. 'Hand the phone to Frankie. Now.'

A pause then Frankie's cold voice came on the line. 'What?'

'Frankie, please listen. We need to meet and talk about this. Remember you're my brother too.'

'Go to hell, your wife included,' followed by the sound of the call being ended.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hours later when he was free, Daniel tried Carly's cell again. It was still switched off and Daniel began feeling rather worried. Where the hell is she?

He went to Jennifer's office, knocking on her door.

'What's up?' Jennifer asked.

Daniel explained the situation. 'Resigned? No, she didn't tell me.'

'Well I've been trying her cell but she turned it off. Do you have another one of her numbers?'

'Uh... there's her landline.' Jennifer picked up the phone and dialled. Daniel moved to stand beside her. The phone rang and rang until finally somebody picked it up. 'Who is this?'

Jennifer's eyes widened at the sound of the familiar voice. 'Frankie? Is that you?'

'Jennifer.' Frankie's voice sounded hard.

'I had no idea you're even in town! How've you been? Is Carly there, she turned off her cell.'

'No, she's not here.'

'Not there? Where is she then?'

'That's none of your concern.'

'Frankie!' Jennifer gasped, shocked. 'What are you talking about...?'

Frankie hung up, turning to Piper and Rafe, who had folded and packed Carly's clothes and other personal items into two suitcases. 'Anything else left?'

'Just her laptop and these. They look like journals.' Rafe handed them to him.

'Jennifer's probably on her way down here so we need to leave now.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

'Why would he say that to you?' Daniel demanded. He knew Carly's only other living relative besides her children was her younger brother. Jennifer had told him ages ago they almost got married.

'I don't know, I just don't know!' Jennifer replied, baffled and stunned by Frankie's attitude and what he said to her. 'Something must have happened to Carly. I'm sure of it.'

'If you're right, why wouldn't he tell you?'

'Let's go over there. Right now.' Jennifer got up from her chair, grabbing her purse.

'Hand on, I need to change and tell Melanie.'

'Never mind Melanie!' Jennifer was now panicky. 'Let's get over there now!'

Before Daniel could answer, his cell rang. 'It's Bo.'

Jennifer felt her heart lurch in fear as Daniel answered it. A horrified expression came over his face as he listened. 'When? Why the hell wasn't she brought here?'

Jennifer gripped his arm, waiting. Finally, Daniel hung up. He now looked pale and shaken.

'Damn it, Daniel... what's happened to Carly? Where is she?' Jennifer cried.