A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Forty Four
Jeremiah stood just inside the cell, staring at the man in front of him. "What are you doing here? I asked for Scott."
"He's disappeared, Sir."
"What do you mean he's disappeared? I spoke with him yesterday and I gave him orders to follow my sister."
"I don't know where he is Sir and he's not answering his phone."
"Did you go by my sister's house?"
"Yes sir, his car was not on the street."
"Alright, fine. I suppose I will need you to handle this." Jeremiah says, motioning the guy forward. The man steps closer. "You know why we are here?"
"Yes sir, to bring your sister back to the fold, Sir."
"That was the original plan, but circumstances have changed that. She is set to testify at the woman's trial after Thanksgiving. That can't happen." Jeremiah says quietly. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"You want me to eliminate her." The man says a little louder than Jeremiah liked.
"Remember where we are and keep you voice low." He whispers. "Now I do not want her dead, but I want her eliminated as a witness for that woman, understand. There are things that girl's mother knows that could send me to prison for a very long time and who would lead you through these dark and perilous days before our Lord comes back to save us, if I were to end up in prison. So I need Sam handled and I need it done in a way that won't be tied to me. Do you think you can handle that?"
"Yes sir, of course Sir." The man replies, quietly.
"The first thing I want you to do, is to contact my attorney. I used my one phone call to call you. Tell him to get me out of here before my sister can destroy all that we've worked for, understand."
"Yes sir. How do you want me to handle your sister?"
"Figure something out, and if her outside husband interferes then handle him as well, but I want her threats eliminated. That girl's mother will rot in prison before I do."
"Yes sir, I'll handle it Sir."
"Thank you." Jeremiah says, stepping back and turning around and the man walks away.
Opening the door, Sam steps inside followed by Julien. "J." She calls out as she hangs up her coat.
"I'm upstairs." He calls back.
"Have a seat Julien. We'll be down in a minute." She says, walking towards the stairs. He nods as he walks towards the couch. When she reaches the top floor, she calls out. "Where are you?"
"I'm in the nursery, darlin." He says, stepping into the hall.
"Why are you in the nursery?"
"I thought I would write while I waited for you. Channel some of that restless worry into something constructive." He says, as she follows him into the room.
"So, you're writing in our nursery? Why couldn't you write downstairs?"
"Yes, and I could've written downstairs, but I wanted to write up here." He says, picking up his guitar as he sits down and starts playing.
"What were you writing?"
"It's nothing in particular, just settling my mind."
She walks over to him and kneels down beside him. "I'm alright and our boy is alright. I should've called you when I got the call from the hospital." He looks at her.
"I know we're not the same people we were in Russia. I know you've lived your life without me and you don't quite need me, like you did before."
"We've never really talked about Russia and the accident and me leaving. We sort of fell back in to where we were before I left and I was a little surprised by that, but I'm thankful for it." She says, as he opens his mouth to say something. She lays a finger across it. "I didn't want to leave you J. That day, the day I left, I spent hours waiting for her to come and during those hours you were there, in my head and I fought every instinct to run to you. I fought that instinct when you were hurt and they made you Richard. I fought that instinct when you went to Europe and freed Dinah, and then turned her into Cassie. And I fought that instinct when you were in New York and the Towers were attacked, and I fought it again when you walked out of my office that day with Noah. I went home because I knew I couldn't continue hiding from you, not anymore."
"I can't lose you, not again."
"You are not going to lose either one of us. I promise you that. Jeremiah wants to hurt me, that's true. He wants to hurt all of us, but we can defeat him by sticking together and trusting each other."
"I love you too much to lose you." He says, as she reaches for his guitar.
Laying it on the floor, she moves into his arms, and lays her head on his shoulder as he wraps them around her, holding her close. "I love you too much to lose you again." She pulls back to look him in the eye. "That is why I will not leave you again. We stand together and he will not win. You must believe that. And don't let fear rule you. Wasn't that the first rule you taught me." He looks away, she moves until he can see her again. "Wasn't it."
"Yes, that was the first thing I taught you."
"Then that's what we do." She says, pulling away and standing up. She holds her hand out as he looks up. Taking her hand, he stands up and they walk to the door.
When they reach the door, he stops and pulls her to him, kissing her as he holds her gently but close to him. Pulling back, he looks down and whispers. "You are everything that's precious to me, and I love you so much I can hardly breathe sometimes, but understand this Sam, if he lays one hand on you. If he harms one hair on your head or he does anything to our son, I will kill him."
"I know you will and I expect nothing less." She says, leaning up to kiss him. When she steps back, she smiles. "Julien's downstairs waiting."
"Let's go." He says, releasing her. Taking her hand, they walk downstairs.
"Is everything alright?" Julien asks, standing up as they walk into the living room.
"It is now that she's home." Jeffrey says.
"She said it would be okay that I didn't call. She didn't think…."
"It's alright that you didn't call. I would've preferred that you did, but I trust you with her and I have to rely on her too. Jeremiah's locked up, at least for a few days, so we should use this time to relax. And all this worry isn't good for you, so I think we're going to settle in and…."
"I'm going downstairs to check in with Leah." Sam says, looking at him.
"I would prefer you staying with me." Jeffrey says, as she steps closer.
"I won't be long and I'm right downstairs. Julien can go with me." She says, looking at Julien.
"Of course."
"Leave both doors open." Jeffrey says, as she leans up to kiss him. She and Julien leave after she releases him.
Richard walks into the house as Cassie is taking dinner out of the oven. Hanging up his coat, he walks over to her and slips his arms around her, lightly kissing the side of her neck. "How was your day?" She asks, putting the pot holders down before she turns to him.
"It was busy. I've got a couple rallies I need to attend and we think the Deputy Mayor is about to announce his candidacy."
"When?"
"Tomorrow or the next day, at least that's what Kevin thinks."
"Alright, and when are the rallies?"
"They're later this week."
"Rj has a game Thursday night. And they both have youth group Wednesday night and we have an appointment with Dr. Sedgwick Wednesday afternoon."
"I'll be able to make the things on Wednesday but the game may be harder to swing." He says, releasing her.
"I know this is just starting and I don't want to complain, but he's going to be very disappointed if you're not there. You've been at every game this season and now you're missing his practice."
"Darling, I'm doing the best that I can. I will be at the game, but I might not be able to stay for all of it."
"Alright." She says, leaning up to kiss him.
"I really will be there."
"I know you will. You've never let us down and we have to make some adjustments, right."
She turns away and he reaches out to stop her. "Cassie, I will be there, I promise I will. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I went to Reva's today, for lunch so that we could plan Thanksgiving with Sam. And I suggested that we have Christmas here at the farm this year. It's really the perfect place, but Reva asked me if I had talked to you about it."
"Okay. I'm fine with us having Christmas here."
"That's what I thought you would say, but Reva questioned if you would be concerned with having Christmas here because you'll be in the middle of the campaign."
"You come first and our family comes first. If I'm worried about anything pertaining to Christmas being here is that it will be more work for you."
"I can have someone from the Beacon help me."
"Or we can hire someone permanent to help you."
"If that's what you want to do, then I'm fine with it."
"Okay, who are you and what have you done with my wife?"
"Very funny, I don't want you worried about me on top of everything else, so if hiring someone to help me, eases your mind then I'm okay with it."
"You're sure?"
"Yes." She says, leaning up to kiss him. "Can you go get the boys? Dinner is ready." She steps back and he turns to go.
Megan walks into Company with the boys. They have both been sick with colds and this was the first day they felt well enough to go out. They take a seat as Marina walks up. "Welcome to Company." She says, as Megan looks up. For a moment, she stares at her and then realizing what she's doing she looks away. "May I get something for you?" Marina asks.
"Ummm, we need a moment." Megan says, trying hard not to stare.
"Alright, I'll let you look over the menu and I'll come back." She says, walking away.
Frank is at the counter when she walks up. "Is something wrong?"
"That lady with the two boys that I was just talking to, she looked at me like she'd seen a ghost or something. I've never seen her in my life." Marina says, as Frank looks up and spots Megan with her boys.
"No, you haven't. But I have." Frank says, watching her.
"You know her?" Marina says, looking at her.
"I don't know her, know her. But look at her, doesn't she remind you of someone?" He asks, as Marina looks up.
"I guess…well she does look a little like Sam."
"That's because she's Sam's sister. She was here for their wedding and I ran into her in DC a few months back and then I…."
"You ran into her in DC? When were you in DC?"
"When the whole Olivia thing went down, Mallet and I had to escort a prisoner to DC. She was staying at the same hotel as us and I happened to interrupt and argument she was having with some man."
"That man was my ex-husband." Megan says, walking up to them.
"Yes, you're ex-husband." Frank says.
"You didn't tell me you had kids." She says, glancing at Marina.
"You've never really given me the chance to tell you much of anything about me or my life. Every time we meet, we always end up in an argument."
"Yes, well it doesn't really matter, does it? I was just coming back from the bathroom." Megan says, turning to Marina. "Whenever you're ready to place our order, we're ready."
"I'll be right there." Marina says, as Megan turns to walk away. Marina starts after her, but Frank stops her.
"I'll handle her table. You take the table that's just been seated." He says, taking the pad from her. He follows Megan to her table. Megan sits down and then looks up, surprised when Frank says. "What may I get for you this evening?"
"I thought your daughter was our waitress."
"I sent her to handle another table." He says, flipping the page on Marina's pad.
"The boys will have the cheeseburger kid's meals and I'll have chili and a small salad. They'll have juice and I'll just have water." She says, as Frank writes down her order. He takes their menus and then turns away.
When they finish eating, Frank brings the check. "Whenever you're ready." He says.
She takes the check and he walks away. She turns to the boys. "Are you ready to go?" She asks, as they both nod yes. "You don't need to go to the bathroom."
"Mom, we're only going a few blocks over. I think we can wait that long." Madisen says, looking at her as is she's crazy.
"Alright." She says. They stand up and she helps them with their coats before pulling hers on. She grabs her purse and the check, shepherding the boys towards the front of the restaurant. Frank is dealing with another customer and when he's finished, she steps up to the counter.
"Did you enjoy your meal?" He asks automatically.
"It was very nice." She replies. "Thank you."
"I wondered because you kept looking over here." He says, looking up.
Seeing the look on his face, she looks down at the boys. "Could you wait by the door for me? Don't go outside with anyone or by yourself. I won't be long." She says, was they turn for the door. When they are gone, she looks at Frank. "I wasn't looking at you."
"You seem preoccupied with what I was doing." He says.
"I was not. I looked up once maybe twice, that's all."
"You had a look on your face each time like you couldn't quite figure something out."
"I… okay maybe I was a little puzzled. You never said you had a daughter."
"It's not something I usually use to start up a conversation with someone. 'Hello, I'm Frank Cooper and I have a daughter named Marina.' I have a daughter, you have two boys, isn't not important to strangers, not to mention it's slightly insane for me to introduce myself like that."
"What was the real reason you sent Marina to the other table?"
He looks at her and then looks away. "I didn't like the way you spoke to her." He says, as she stares at him.
"You didn't like the way I spoke to her."
"Yes, you were rude."
"I was not. She was over there gossiping with…."
"That right there." Frank says, pointing at her.
"What?"
"That tone, she wasn't gossiping with me. She mentioned that when you saw her it looked like you had seen a ghost."
"And she had to tell you that instead of taking care of her tables."
"Look, you don't like me and whatever reason that is, that's fine. But do not attack or judge my daughter based on whatever issues you have with me. That is why I took your table." Frank says, before he walks away. For a moment, Megan stands there, sort of surprised before she slowly turns around and leaves with her boys.
Julie walks out of her office building. When she looks up, she sees Jacob leaning against a flower box in front of the door. "What are you doing here?"
"I figured this would be a sure way to make you talk to me, since you've been ignoring me since the other day. Did I do something? Are you not interested in us being a couple anymore? Did you find someone else?"
"Why would you even think that?"
"I don't know, maybe because you asked me to come over that night. You ignored me most of the night and then you took off because you had something to do and then when you get back you asked me to leave. I knew you were upset but you wouldn't tell me why, you just told me to go and you haven't returned any of my calls since then. So are we still together or are you seeing someone else, what?" He asks, standing up and crossing his arms over his chest.
"No, I'm not seeing anyone else and yes, we're still together." She says, walking around him.
He reaches out to stop her from walking away from him. "So, do you want to tell me why you've ignored me for the last few days?"
"I've had some things on my mind."
"You've had things on your mind, what thing?"
"I can't get into it right now. I've got a meeting I've got to attend."
"So when can you get into it?"
"I don't know. I'm going to Chicago. Mom is watching the kids and I'll be gone a couple days."
"You're going to Chicago." He says, looking at her.
"Yes."
"Give it to me straight, Jules. You're going back to your ex…."
"I am not getting back with Marciano. But I might see him when I'm in Chicago."
"You might see him, but you're not getting back together with him. I'm supposes to believe that?"
"Yes, you are. I've never lied to you and I've given you no reason to doubt what I feel."
"You've given me no reason. You haven't talked to me in three days, that's plenty of reason to doubt what you may or may not feel." He says, watching her.
She steps closer to him. "I promise you that I'm not getting back with my ex and what I feel hasn't changed simply because I haven't talked to you in a few days. I promise that when I get back from Chicago this weekend, I will tell you everything that's been going on."
"I don't buy it." He says, stepping away from her. He turns and walks away.
"Jacob." She calls, but he keeps walking.
Cassie and Richard are finishing up dinner when the phone rang. The boys had finished eating a few moments before and were already excused from the table when the phone rang. "I'll get it." Richard says, as Cassie moves to get up. He picks up the phone from the island and answers on the third ring. "Winslow residence, Richard speaking."
"Richard, its Holly."
"Holly, hi. Is everything alright. Is there something with the campaign?"
"No, this isn't about the campaign. I need to speak to Cassie. Is she there?"
"Ummm, yes. She's right here." Richard says, turning around.
"Could I speak to her?" Holly asks.
"Of course, just a moment." He takes the phone way from his ear and says as Cassie stands up. "Its Holly, she wants to talk to you."
She takes the phone from him as he begins clearing the table. "Holly?" Cassie says, after putting the phone to her ear.
"Cassie, I'm sorry to interrupt. I hope I'm not interrupting something important."
"No, we were just finishing dinner. Do you need something for the campaign?"
"No, it's not about the campaign. I'm actually at Cedars."
"Cedars, are you okay?" Cassie says, as Richard looks up.
"I'm fine. I'm actually more than fine." Holly says, looking at Blake and watching her sleep for a moment.
'Then why are you at Cedars?" Cassie asks but Holly doesn't answer. "Holly!"
"I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"I asked why you're at Cedar. Are Blake's kids…?"
"They're fine too. No, Sam called me this afternoon to come to the hospital."
"Sam called you, why would she call you to come to the hospital?"
"She took over Blake's case and she called to tell me that Blake was awake."
"She called to tell you that Blake is awake. Hold up, Blake's awake, like awake, awake? She's out of the coma!"
"Yes, she woke up this afternoon. They've been running test on her since then and this was the first chance I could call. I was wondering if you could come to the hospital. I need to go home and get the kids so they…."
"I'll be right there." Cassie says, hanging up without saying good-bye.
"Blake's awake?" Richard asks, looking at her
"Apparently." Cassie says, walking over to the door and reaching for her coat. She stops and turns around. "You don't mind staying here…."
"Go see her." He says, walking over to her and hugging her. "The boys and I will be fine. I've got some work to do and I'm sure they will need some help with their homework and then I can get them ready for bed if you're not back by then, so go." He says, reaching for her coat and helping her into it.
"You're sure." She asks, as she pulls her hair free and adjusts her collar."
"Yes, go." He says, leaning in to kiss her.
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Don't rush, you've missed her so spend some time with her and I'll be here with the boys."
She leans in to kiss him before she opens the door. Stepping out, she kisses him again before she turns and walks to the steps and off the porch. He stands in the door way, watching as she walks to her car, closing the door after she's started the car and is on her way.
Sam finished checking in with Leah and then she sends Julien home. Jeffrey's in the living room when she comes up alone. "Where's Julien?"
"I sent him home." She says, walking over to him.
"Okay." He says, putting his arm around her and drawing her closer.
"What were you doing while I was downstairs?" She asks, leaning against him.
"I was thinking about what you said upstairs, about Russia."
"Okay, what about it?"
"You said you fought with yourself to not come to me, why? Why did you believe her? You had to know her reputation."
"I thought I was protecting you." Sam says, sitting back. "She told me that my cover was blown and if I went back to the apartment, that I would lead them to you."
"But didn't you wonder how she knew that we were anything more than what we told Petrinkov when we went to the club. I mean we were careful, very careful never to give anyone the idea that we were anything more than what we said we were."
She sits up and looks at him. "I don't know. I don't know that I was even thinking about all that when she approached me. She came out of nowhere and told me that my cover was blown."
"But you believed her. Why? That's all she had to do was tell that your cover was blown and you believed her. That wasn't the way I trained you. I trained you to question everything and everyone, but you believed her, why?"
"I don't know. What are you getting at?" She asks, pulling away from him.
"I remember every word of the note that was given to me after they found the car. You said, 'My darlin Jeffrey, I'm so sorry but I can't do this anymore. It has to be this way. Please forgive me. Beca.' Why couldn't you do it anymore?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Maybe the reason you couldn't do it anymore was because you thought your father was right and your brother too."
"What are you talking about?"
"I know many times after Belfast you had doubts about us being together. Maybe you finally started believing in all the stuff your father pounded into you." He says, as she gets up and walks over to the window. Crossing her arms over her chest, she stares out the window without answering him.
After several moments, she says. "You seriously think I started believing everything my father said and that's why I believe what Sasha told me."
"It was convenient for you to leave the night I was going to propose to you."
She turns around and says. "I didn't know that." He lifts one eyebrow as if to say 'yeah right' "I didn't."
"You suspected, didn't you."
For a few seconds, she looks at him and then says. "Alright, I suspected that you were about to propose."
"And you so easily believed Sasha because you were questioning everything about us and maybe you were starting to agree with what your father always told you."
For a moment, she looks at him and then she turns away. "If you believe that, then you don't know me. I fought for years to rid myself of all the lies my father told me, all the rules and manipulations." She turns around and looks at him. "And I didn't know for sure that you were about to propose. And if you had I would've accepted without ever questioning whether we belong together. I left that day to protect you and that was the only reason I left. Those words were not my words that wrote in my note. She didn't want me leaving anything for you, but I couldn't leave without giving you any explanation."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that she wrote the note, not me. I guess she was afraid I would leave some kind of clue to let you know that I was still alive."
"It was in your handwriting."
"She dictated it and read it after I wrote it. Looking back, I'm actually surprised she sent it."
'What do you mean?"
"Did you ever see the envelope it was in?"
"Yes."
"It was postmarked from St. Petersburg, was it not?"
"I don't know. I never paid attention."
"Before the accident was staged. She came to the house where she was hiding me. She had everything planned out, including how I was get out of the country. But it meant that I had to be gone before the accident was staged. When she came to the house, I insisted that I leave a note for you. I couldn't just walk away without some type of explanation for you. She resisted but I told that I wouldn't leave without it, so she gave in and she dictated the note. She was standing right there when I wrote it so I couldn't put anything else in it. I handed it to her and she sealed it in an envelope and then we left. She got me out of the country and that was that." Sam says, walking over to couch.
He notices that she sits down at the other end and not beside him. "How did you get out of the country?"
"When we left the house, there were two men there. She gave them instructions in Russian and then I left with them. We drove to the border and once we were in Poland, they dropped me off at an Inn in a small town, with money and papers to get me on my way."
"You went with these men without asking questions. Why did you trust her and them?"
"I don't know. I thought I was protecting you, the agency and our mission. But my leaving you in Russia had absolutely nothing to do with my father, how I was raised or my brother. I shouldn't've believed her and I should've followed my instincts that day, I didn't, but I never stopped loving you."
He could hear the words she wasn't saying. "I know you didn't. And I know it had nothing to do with your family or how you were raised. All this stuff with your brother, is stirring up questions that I thought was long buried. You didn't leave me in Russia, I know that. I know why you did it and I know you despise everything your father said or did while you were growing up and I know you despise the fact that your brother idolizes him." He says, walking over to her. "I know you're terrified that you'll do the same thing to your kids." She looks up. "I'm sorry. I let my insecurities and imagination run away from me."
"You know that I didn't want to leave."
"Yes."
"And you know that everything word that was written in that note wasn't what I wanted to say to you."
"Yes." He says, as she slips her arms around him. He hugs her to him.
"There was so much more I wanted to say than that. I wanted to tell you how you kept me strong. How you made me believe in myself and how you gave me confidence to do what we were doing? How your acceptance brought so much relief. How I could never hide from you anything I was feeling. There was so much more I wanted to say than what she let me say in that note." She pulls back and looks up. "I never wanted to leave you."
He leans down, kissing her softly for a few moments. "I know you didn't." He says, pulling back.
For a moment, Cassie stands outside Blake's door. She reaches to open it as the door is open from the inside. "Excuse me." The nurse says, as Cassie steps out of the way and Holly looks up.
"Cassie." She says, as she walks into the room.
"Hi."
"She's sleeping." Holly says, as Cassie looks at the bed.
"What happened? She just suddenly woke up."
"Sam's been on her case since the baby/wedding shower that Reva gave all of you." Holly says, as Cassie nods. "She gave new orders for Blake's care and she's been around to talk to her. I'm not sure all that she did, but she called me today and told me that the hospital called her about some activity with Blake and that she came to what was going on and that's when Blake woke up."
"I didn't just wake up." Blake mumbles, as Cassie looks at her. "You're surprised." She says, licking her lips. "I need something to drink." She says, as Holly moves to the bed and give her a drink of water. She sits the cup down as Cassie walks up to the bed. "Hey, girlfriend." Blake says, with a small smile.
"You look like hell."
"I was poisoned and then I've been asleep for the past two years. What do you expect red carpet fashion?"
"No, but I'm glad you're awake."
"So you can rake me over the coals for the website."
"Well, it was a rather nasty thing to do to all of us, but it was a long time ago and I think you've more than paid for it."
"Is everyone else going to feel that way?"
"I don't know."
"I'm not even sure why I did it."
"I'm going to go." Holly says before Cassie can reply.
"You'll be back?" Blake asks, looking at her.
"Of course I'll be back. I'm going home to get a shower and do some things." Holly says, looking at Cassie. "I'll be back in about an hour." She says, turning for her purse.
She leaves while Cassie stands beside Blake's bed. "She's going to do something, isn't she?" Blake asks, watching the door close behind her.
For a moment, Cassie doesn't answer and then she says. "Yes, she's going to get your kids."
"My kids, she's bringing my kids here."
"Yes, you do remember that you have kids, two boys and a girl."
"Of course I remember my kids. I'm not sure I'm ready to see them."
"Well, she's gone to get them. So I suggest you get ready." Cassie says, sitting down beside the bed.
"So, what's going on with you? You seem a lot happier than I remember and there's a glow about you. It's like you're pregnant." She says, as Cassie looks down. "Oh my god, you are pregnant, but how? Is Josh the father, no wait Jeffrey? No it can't be Jeffrey's, he's with Sam. Who's the father? And how are you pregnant? Dr. Sedgwick said…." Blake's firing off questions before Cassie can utter a coherent word let alone answer any of them.
"Blake calm down, I'll tell you but you have to remain calm." Cassie says, looking at her. "I am pregnant, but it's not Josh's or Jeffrey's, nor is it Edmund's?"
"Then who's is it? William….?"
"No, it's not William's either. It's Richard's."
"That's… that's not… that's not possible Cassie. He's dead."
"Actually, he's not."
"Wait, what do you mean he's not? Of course, he is. They gave his heart to Rick."
"No, they gave a heart to Rick. It was actually the heart from Richard's twin brother."
"Richard's twin brother, really, he didn't have a twin brother."
"Yes he did, but he didn't know about him."
"I so do not understand."
"I'll explain if you give me a chance. After Josh was release from jail, we tried to make it work, but it was doomed from the beginning. Our relationship was something that never should've happened. So, I decided that I was going to take Rj and go back to San Cristobel, just for the summer. I needed to get away from Springfield, Josh, Tammy's death…."
"Wait, Tammy's dead?"
"Yes, she was killed by a hit and run driver after you were poisoned."
"Oh, Cassie. I'm sorry. I should've been there. What happened?"
"She went to warn Jonathan that Alan had sent someone to kill him. She pushed Jon out of the way but the car hit her instead. It's a long story. After all that happened, I decided it was time for me and Rj to get away from Springfield. So I called William and we went to San Cristobel. We were only there a few days when Jeffrey shows up with something he needed to tell us."
"Jeffrey came to San Cristobel to tell you something about Richard. Why didn't he just tell you while you were in town?"
"Because it involved Camille."
"It involved Will's mother."
"Yes, William had agreed to let Camille back into San Cristobel, so that she could establish a relationship with Will. When I reached out to Will about me and Rj coming down there, initially I couldn't get in touch with William. I asked Jeffrey to look into it and he found out what was going on."
"What was going on?"
"Camille had ordered the switchboard at the palace to block all of my calls to William. When William found out, he confronted her and she threatened me and Will, so William had her deported."
"So how does that connect to Richard?"
"Once Camille was deported, she came back to the states. The agency that Jeffrey worked for heard about Camille returning to the US and they went to Iowa and they arrested her."
'They arrested her, why?"
"Apparently after we left San Cristobel before Richard's accident, she hired someone to kill Richard. He's accident was no accident. Someone tampered with his brakes. That coupled with the storm that night caused his accident."
"That doesn't explain how he survived. Reva pulled his life support."
"No, she pulled his brother's life support. About a week before Richard's accident, his brother had one as well. His was much more serious. In fact, it left him brain dead. The agency had discovered him while Richard was in Chicago on business. At first they thought it was Richard until they found out that he was still in Springfield. When Richard had his accident, the agency sent agency to check it out. They were never satisfied with how Jeffrey's assignment ended in San Cristobel. Once they reached Cedars, they realized that Richard's injuries were serious but he could survive them without the right treatment. His brother however, was brain dead. So they made arrangements for Richard to be switched with his brother."
"And that's how he survived the accident. Where was he at?"
"At the agencies private hospital in DC, Sam was his doctor. She cared for him up until he was released last summer after waking up from a five year coma."
"So, you've been back in Springfield since then and now you're pregnant with his child. How can that be?"
"We've been back in Springfield for a few months, but I didn't get pregnant until after we returned from San Cristobel with Will, Richard and Rj." Cassie says, as the door opens and Holly walks in. "There's more to tell you, but I think Holly has some people for you to see. So I'm going to go."
"You're not off the hook." Blake says, looking at her.
"I know. We'll talk more later." She says, as she turns to leave.