When All Seems Lost

Chapter Eight

What Goes Around…

Midnight, hours after the reception

Eliza Thorogood sat behind her husband's desk, a half-smile on her face. The results of her painstaking planning were coming to fruition, and she planned to enjoy every minute of it. She would be killing two birds with one stone, marking the beginning of the life she should have had all along. She had turned her head too long, to Samuel's affairs and shady dealings.

As far as the shady dealings went, a high ranking police officer whom she knew rather well, would be receiving an "anonymous" package within the hour. Samuel's floozy for the last three months, that witch Trina, would go down with him, but not until she had received the public humiliation Eliza craved. Then there were those board members…"

Eliza looked at the photographs spread out on the desk one more time. She laughed. She looked at her watch. In approximately seven more hours, she wouldn't be the only one laughing.

Cate's house, where Cate, Baze, Alice and Ryan are gathered.

"This is just too good to be true, Alice," Cate muttered as she looked at the photos scattered about on the kitchen table. Tell me again how this all came about?"

Before Alice had a chance to answer, Ryan jumped into the conversation, shaking his head. " Wow, these don't leave anything to the imagination. Trina sure got around."

"Yeah, well we all know that," Cate snapped, looking hard at Baze, who suddenly found the floor very interesting. I knew she would jump any guy half good-looking. Ask Baze!"

"Low blow, Cate, he said softly, "You know I'm not that man anymore."

"Do I?" she asked in return

"Hey guys, this isn't all about you," Alice stated sharply. "Cate, you wanted to hear once more all this all began?"

"Yeah, I did. I mean-Mrs. Thorogood is behind these photos?

"Yep," Alice nodded, "and that's not all. Samuel Thorogood was arrested about 4 AM this morning for embezzling station funds. Mrs. Thorogood called me just after the pictures arrived by messenger- and this is where it gets good," Alice added excitingly, "Mr. Thorogood didn't do it alone."

"Trina?" Cate asked, as she leaned forward, elbows on the table.

"Hallelujah!" Cate shouted. "Am I wrong to enjoy a little vengeance on the woman who like to make my life a living hell?

Baze snickered. "Who is this Mrs. Thorogood, and what does she have to do with the station, and these porno pictures of Trina and all these guys?"

"Watch your step, Nathaniel," Cate warned. "Just be glad that Mrs. Thorogood didn't have you in her sights, or we would all be getting a bulls-eye view of your bud-"

Ryan masked a loud chuckle behind a forced cough. "Mrs. Thorogood, Baze, is the station owner. All those guys, are board members." Ryan took a closer look. "Wow too female board members. Wonder if she planned to blackmail them to keep a-"

"a majority behind any agenda she wanted to push," Alice complete the sentence. It appears so. Mrs. T's detectives have everything on tape. One board member decided to spell his guts to Mrs. T, because he hated and distrusted Trina. Statements which support the dirt on Trina and Samuel Thorogood. She expects to have resignations in hand before the meeting."

Ryan gave a wry laugh. "I never would have figured Eliza Thorogood as a mover and a shaker. She always seemed to defer to her husband. Played the loving subservient wife to the tee."

"I felt the same way," Alice chimed in, "until I ran into her at the San Diego conference about six weeks ago. Actually, we met at the conference center ballroom, with the first night party in full swing. Trina was drunk, and was putting the moves on my husband, who was also loaded. He was trying to push her away, but she was like an octopus; all arms and legs.

Then I felt steady pressure on my right arm. I looked up and into the brilliant blue eyes of Eliza Thorogood. She had been watching Trina, and observing my reaction. I had been about ready to really make a scene until Mrs. Thorogood stopped me."

"All in good time, Alice," she said. "I believe your husband has managed to extricate himself from Trina. Looks like she's headed for the new intern. Have patience, Alice. Trust me."

"I knew I could in that instant," Alice explained. "and I realized that there was more to the woman than any of us had given her credit for. I had almost forgotten until last night after all you guys had left the reception. Trina had steam coming out of her ears, and suddenly there was Mrs. Thorogood again, smiling at me and nodding her head.

When I got home, there was a message on my phone stating I would be getting a "package" first thing this morning, and to clue you three in on what was going on. The picture of Trina and Samuel Thorogood was on top of the stack of photos. Eliza had included a note explaining that her detective had discovered that Trina had been involved with him for three months-and not just between the sheets."

"The embezzlement," Baze noted. " and she knew that Trina would be after Cate because of what happened last night. So how come Trina doesn't know about this yet?"

"Mrs. T. has some very good friends in the Portland PD, Baze. You are invited to the conference with Cate at K100. Trina has no idea what's going to come down. Mrs. Thorogood will actually be running the show. Get dressed, Cate, we don't have much time. We have to be at the station in 45 minutes, I'd like to be there a little earlier, before Trina arrives. Baze you look fine."

"Gee, Thanks Mom."

"Don't push it Baze."

Trina stepped out of her car with a spring in her step. She had not been able to reach Samuel since he had gone home to Eliza. Perhaps the Ice Queen had begun to catch onto the affair. No worries. Eliza Thorogood appeared content to play the obedient company wife All of the moneyAlice and Samuel had embezzled had been wired to offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands, some of which Samuel had no knowledge. Trina could go with him, or without him. Either way she would come out on top. Her arrogance would not let her think other wise.

She could start over again; reinvent herself, and the board members she had blackmailed would keep their mouths shut She had tried to reach each one of them this morning as well. Just as Samuel, her calls went to voice mail. She frowned.

Men were weak and easy to manipulate. So she would have to do the dirty work alone. The were also easy to scare when their carefully crafted reputations were on the line. Wimps. She hated weakness. On the other hand, she was sure she could count on their support if she needed them.

A less egotistical woman would have seen red flags. But not Trina. She felt invincible. After all she always got want she wanted, didn't she? And what she wanted most of all at this moment; was to grind Cate Cassidy into dust. Okay, maybe that was a bit much. But she wanted Cate to know that the career she had carefully built at K100 was over, and gone for good. Who was going to hire her after yesterday's fiasco? How dare she screw with the winning formula for the day show? And then there was Ryan. Maybe she would make him sweat. How dare he turn her down in favor of Cate? The man was a moron.

Trina was so engrossed in her own thoughts, that she didn't notice the stares and whispers as she entered the radio station. She went straight down the hall to the conference room. The door was shut.

"#&%**!"

Taped to the door was an 8 by10 glossy of her and Samuel Thorogood en flagrante delicto. Someone had gone to the trouble to add horns and a tail to her picture. Trina was still staring at the photograph, her hand on the doorknob when someone jerked the door open from the other side, causing Trina to become off balance. She fell toward the conference table, hissing and spitting like a wildcat.

"Who is responsible for this, Cate? Just you wait until Samuel Thorogood hears about this!"

Cate laughed out loud. "I wish I could claim credit, Trina, I really do. You give me too much credit!

Trina could no longer contain herself. She lunged across the table toward Cate, and found herself tackled by Baze, while everyone else laughed.

"Get off of me, you, you, …."

"Trina, shut up and sit down. I'm responsible for the photograph, although I am not responsible for the additional artwork. "

Trina looked up in astonishment into the face of Eliza Thorogood. Baze sat her roughly in a chair as Eliza moved in for the kill. He admired the way the woman worked.

"Take a good look at the pictures in front of you Trina. Samuel is in jail, courtesy of your little embezzlement scheme."

Trina shook her head in disbelief. " No. You couldn't have done this on your own."

Oh, she didn't Trina," Alice said with a smirk. "She had the services of a very good investigator, and my complete support. I have to admit these photos shock even me! Now I know why last year's summer intern called off her marriage. Did Samuel know?"

"You bit-"

"That's enough, Trina," Eliza cut her off. "It's over. Your reign is over. Half of the board has resigned, rather than face prosecution, and Samuel is in jail screaming the embezzlement was all your idea."

"Oh did he! The Thorogood name will be sullied forever!"

"And I don't care." Eliza smiled. She pushed a buzzer under the table, and the door opened revealing an uniformed Portland police officer.

"Please take her away officer. We have other business to discuss."

The officer jerked Trina out of her chair and shoved her up against the wall, and handcuffed her.

"You have the right to remain silent, the right-"

"Oh take that Miranda warning card and shove it! I know my rights! I want to speak to my lawyer, I want my phone call. You can't treat me like a street whore!"

"Move it sister. From what I've heard and seen, the moniker fits. You just exchanged the street for the board room!"

"Well, I never!"

Yes, you have, and that's why you're in this predicament. Let's go!"
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As the officer ushered Trina out of the room, Baze could no longer contain his laughter, which was contagious. Mrs. Thorogood sat at the head of the long table, with a pleased expression on her face. She waited patiently until the others could contain themselves. Eliza smoothed back her hair, and rose from her chair.

"Now that's over, we must attend to some other business, I'm afraid. But there's no reason we can't continue in comfort. I'm adjorning this meeting to the executive penthouse suite upstairs. There is brunch for us to enjoy while we discuss what to do with the programming. "

"Awesome!" Baze exclaimed." My stomach was rumbling!"

"So was mine, Mr. Bazile. So was mine. Additionally, there are two people I want you and Cate to meet. Let's move this meeting upstairs!"