The Ex Factor: Chapter Four

Gwen and Theresa both started to talk at once.

"That crazy bitch.." Theresa began.

"No, you're the crazy one, you cold hearted-" Gwen yelled back.

"OK!" Pilar threw her hands up. "I'd rather hit myself in the head with a hammer then listen to this one more time! Can one of you manage to speak rationally, for once?"

They were interrupted by the sudden arrival of Jared, who walked in the room dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, carrying a picnic basket. "Tess, you shouldn't leave the door open like-" He broke off as he saw Theresa, Gwen, and Pilar standing in front of him with grim expressions on their faces. "Gwen? What's going on here?"

"Her!" Gwen pointed a shaking finger in Theresa's direction. "She called me today. She asked me where my daughter was. I told her I knew that, and she said, 'Not Jane, Sarah.' She's playing some sick game with me and I won't stand for it!" She lunged in Theresa's direction but Pilar and Jared were faster, grabbing her arms and pulling her back.

Jared looked at Theresa in shock. "Tess, what is going on here?"

Theresa shook her head. "I don't know! I never called her-I've been here all morning, working at my computer."

Pilar looked at Gwen. "How do you know it was Theresa?" she questioned but suddenly Theresa leapt forward and grabbed Gwen by the arms. "Gwen!" her voice was frantic. "The caller mentioned Jane...by name?" She gave Gwen a slight shake. "Did the caller know Jane's name?"

"Y-yes." Gwen stuttered slightly as sudden terror hit her. "Oh my God." She looked at Theresa. "It really wasn't you?" Her voice was a near whisper and her heart sank as Theresa shook her head. When she'd believed it was Theresa, she'd been angry, but now suddenly she was more scared then she'd ever been in her life.

Theresa let Gwen go and began pacing the room. "Oh my God! Don't you realize what this means? Some maniac could be targeting my daughter!"

"MY daughter." Gwen hissed through gritted teeth.

"Oh shut up!" Gwen looked shocked as Pilar snapped at her. "Both of you need to concentrate on Jane's safety, not fighting like children."

"And don't forget, the caller mentioned Sarah." Jared reminded Theresa as he put a comforting arm around her. "So whoever it is, they are definitely targeting Gwen. But Jane and EJ...they could be in danger too."

"We've got to do something! We've got to to call the police!" Theresa pulled away from Jared. "Wait..Luis! We'll call him! He can pull Gwen's phone records and find out who's behind this." She picked up the phone.

"Yes, call Luis." Gwen nodded as her heart hammered in her chest. "And I've got to call Ethan." She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed, walking to a quiet corner of the room.

TBC

In the next segment, Ethan is summoned to Theresa's house, but it's not for the reason he thinks.