Nick walks up to Lulu's door and rings the bell. He hears movement inside, Lulu's soft footsteps walking towards the door.
"Nick you're not coming in here."
"Lulu open the door."
"No Nick, you're not coming near Anne."
Nick knew that Lulu would have probably heard and that he would have some explaining to do and he had hoped that he would be able to convince her of his innocence but he never expected this. He began to feel desperation rise up in him which caused his voice to rise.
"Lulu open the door. They are not my drugs. I don't know how they got in to my house, but it wasn't by me. Lulu I have left that world behind. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize my relationship with Anne, you know that."
Nick hears an extra voice through the door but it is too far away to hear properly.
"Is someone else with you?"
"Nick you are not coming in. If I open the door you could barge your way in. If you don't go away I am calling the police."
"Lulu I wouldn't do that. Please just open the door and talk to me."
"Nick I am walking away, I will call the police if you don't leave."
"Can you at least tell me how Anne is feeling."
"She's doing fine."
He hears her footsteps getting fainter. He leans his head against the door. Fatigue washes over him, he knows he has one last fight to face. He bangs his fist against the door and turns around and leaves.
He sits outside his father's house overwhelmed by how quickly his life has disintegrated. It is less than twenty four hours ago he last saw his father at dinner and the worst thing he had to worry about was Anne's earache, now his whole life is spiraling out of control and he doesn't know how to stop it. He looks at his father's front door, wondering if he has the strength for this conversation. For a moment he considers switching the car back on and going home but knows that it would only make things worse. He sighs and takes his keys out of the ingnition, gets out the car and locks it as he heads up the path.
Nick enters his Father's house to find him sitting on a couch in the kitchen living area. He doesn't look at Nick as he walks in and replies to Nick's greeting.
"Hello Son."
Nick stands staring at his dad unsure how to start. The only thing that comes to him are the words that have been his mantra since the nightmare started.
"They're not my drugs."
Burton raises his head and Nick sees a mixture of pain and disbelief in his face.
"I thought you had left that all behind Nick."
"I have Dad. I don't know how they got there. I thought about this all night. I have no answers just that someone is setting me up."
"And who would do that Nicholas. What would be their reason?"
Nick's mind is trying to find an answer to that question that would satisfy his father - he hasn't even found one to satisfy himself. He just knows it has to be true. Finally Nick shrugs:
"I don't know."
"What did work say?"
"They have suspended me."
"And have you seen Lulu?"
Nick is looking at the floor, unable to meet his father's eyes anymore.
"She wouldn't open the door."
Nick hears his Father sigh.
"What deal have they offered?"
"What?"
"What deal as the DA offered?"
"They haven't offered any and I'm not interested. I'm not guilty."
"I will call Belden and get him to find out."
Nick reacts sharply.
"No! I'm not interested in a deal. Stay out of it dad. If you are not in my corner, then stay out of it."
"I am in your corner. I want to keep you out of prison."
Burton has risen to his feet and as also raised his voice. He recognizes the look upon his Son's face, one that tells him that Nick knows he isn't winning and he is not surprised when Nick turns and leaves.
"Nicholas get back here!"
Burton hears the door close and he sinks back down on to the couch.
Nick jumps into the car and starts it up. He bangs his fists on the steering wheel. His phone rings, he looks at the display and it is the chairman of the board at LSP. Nick groans
'What now'.
"Nick, the board have called a meeting tomorrow morning at 8 can you be there?"
"Yes that's fine."
Nick throws his phone on to the seat. The call has been a distraction to help him calm down a little and he pulls away from the curb.
Once home he locks his door grabs a drink from the fridge and drags himself upstairs. He is lying on his bed wondering when was the last time he was in bed in the afternoon. The blinds are closed and the room is dark. His eyes are tightly shut and he is holding them closed with his right hand as if he never wants to open them again. He wants sleep, he wants blessed unconsciousness, he wants oblivion, he wants to run away from the old thoughts and desires that could help him escape from this nightmare just for today.