John McBain knocked on the door and was somewhat surprised when Amelia answered. "Hello."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

John chewed his gum once and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Doctor Lord in?" he asked, peeking around Amelia's shoulder just as Dorian's curiosity got the better of her and she stepped into the foyer.

"Hello, John," she smiled at him, prompting Amelia to step aside and let him in. "To what do we owe this evening visit? Don't tell me you're here to volunteer?"

"Nah," he smiled back as he stepped forward with his hands still in his pockets. "I'm still waiting to see how well each candidate cooperates with the police department before I cast my vote."

Amelia stepped to the side to observe.

"Ah, yes. I heard about that nasty business with Jared Banks. Is it true that the security company couldn't reach Clint when the burglar alarm went off at the Buchanan lodge? I wonder why?"

John couldn't hide his amusement as he smirked and took his hands out of his pockets to shake a finger at her. "See, this is exactly what I'm talking about. You always have to stick your nose in police business."

Dorian's eyes flashed to the side with humility, as her tone grew serious. "I had no way of knowing that Mayor Lowell was going to…."

John cut her off. "We know that, Dorian."

She paused to scrutinize him. "Of course you did. You bugged campaign headquarters, didn't you?"

John felt it best to change the subject. "Let's get back to the reason I'm here."

"Oh," Dorian nodded. "Of course." She eyed him with curiosity.

"Yeah, I apologize for dropping by so late," he said as his gaze drifted over the room, "but I figured it would raise eyebrows if I visited you while you were working on the campaign."

She gave him a quick nod of approval. "I appreciate that. So what exactly are you here about?"

"Well, like you already mentioned, I'm investigating the murder of Pamela Stuart and the disappearance of Jared Banks."

Dorian gazed at Amelia, who had her eyebrows furrowed in disapproval, before asking John, "And this investigation brought you to my door … how?"

John did not disclose how Dorian's name had been brought up. "If you recall, Pamela exposed Jared as a fraud at that infamous B.E. shareholders meeting. I'm not saying it is motive for murder, but we're just dotting the i's and crossing the t's."

Dorian blinked. "That was so long ago, John. Although…."

"Hm?"

"…Well, I don't have to remind you what happened between Jared and Nash Brennan that day." Dorian swallowed.

"No, you don't," John agreed. "Tensions were pretty high that day, hm?"

Dorian nodded in silence.

John waited for an uncomfortable space of time before continuing. "Charlie informs me that Jared never held any harsh feelings for Pamela, or vice versa, even after that day."

John never said more than he had to, prompting Dorian to finish his thought herself. "So you don't think Jared is the murderer?"

The corner of John's lip curled up, but he didn't smile. "I'm not saying that," he told her, "but I'm not saying I do think he is either."

Dorian grew impatient. "So what are you here to ask me, John?"

John took a deep breath and paced a bit, still looking around the house. "I was just wondering about the timeline. Things began to heat up between Viki Banks and Mayor Lowell at around the same time someone started poking around Llanfair."

Dorian peered at him. "Why are you asking me about this?"

John paused to direct his attention at her. "You worked with Mayor Lowell. Do you think he might be capable of manipulating this?" He chewed his gum a couple more times.

Dorian pressed her lips together in thought before speaking. "You aren't asking about Mayor Lowell," she accused. "He's in jail. You think I'm somehow involved in this? Be straight with me, John."

"I'm not saying I think you did this, Dorian," John leveled with her. "I'm just saying your name came up. You have a connection to the victim and a motive against the Buchanans, not to mention the fact that you have a stake in how successful Viki's campaign is. Plus we both know it isn't above you to bring in extra help when you need to."

Dorian's gaze turned into a squint and her jaw tensed. "Are you accusing me of something here, John?"

Amelia stepped forward and thrust her hand in the wide space between John and Dorian. "I don't see any reason why our campaign can't cooperate fully with your investigation, Lieutenant," she offered, "but I should also bring up the fact that these kinds of accusations might be considered slander."

Dorian nodded in agreement with Amelia and gave John a small but serious pout.

John almost chuckled as he rubbed his nose. "Your turn, Dorian. I was straight with you – now you be straight with me."

Dorian shot a gaze at Amelia. "Alright," she answered. "I have no part in what is happening to Viki's family … although you can't blame me for bringing it up when I'm campaigning. She has a serious liability on her hands. But no, I don't know anything, and while I understand why you're questioning me, I resent the implication. And as far as Mayor Lowell is concerned, I would put nothing past that man, in jail or not."

John nodded at her and sent a knowing look in Amelia's direction. "Let me know if you think of anything that might be relevant."

Dorian nodded. "I will."

John gave her one last nod as he took his leave.

Amelia waited until he was gone before raising an eyebrow at Dorian. What was this woman capable of?

Dorian looked back at her in amazement. "What?"

"How'd you get him to resign?"

Dorian batted her eyes. "I played on his sympathies. That's all. I painted him a very graphic picture of his son's emotions. Any halfway decent parent would respond to that."

Amelia was skeptical, and tilted her head at Dorian.

"I don't need you accusing me, too!" Dorian growled. "Whose team are you on, anyway?"

"Yours," Amelia snapped back.

"Good," Dorian bit.

Amelia gathered her things with a sigh. "I'll see you in the morning. Get some rest."

Dorian rolled her eyes as Amelia patronized her. "Good night," she feigned her pleasantries.

She scowled to herself as the door closed after Amelia. Every time she thought she was about to move beyond that terrible B.E. debacle, something had to slap her in the face with it again. They all seemed to forget that she would still own B.E. if it hadn't been for….

…Ray.

Well, everyone except John, apparently.

If Ray would have just told her about Clint's rouse to trick her into giving back B.E. by threatening to take away Langston, they could have worked together against Clint. But did Ray do that? No. Why would he?

In fact, as a result of Ray's actions, she had spent a couple of different nights in jail!

She went to the desk in the sitting room and pulled out an envelope she had hidden in the drawer. She took out her aggression by ripping it into tiny pieces and hiding them at the bottom of the wastebasket.