Carla had to make it to the airport to catch her plane by mid afternoon; she had woken up extremely early that morning to make sure, she had everything in order. Though there wasn't much to organize because she came to Dublin with virtually nothing but her handbag, some money, and her passport. She had gotten a couple of outfits to wear while in Dublin, which she now carefully stowed in a simple carry bag purchased in the central part of the city. She tossed Paul's journal into her purse and shoved a baby giraffe she had purchased for Liam in her carry bag. She smiled as she did so, Carla knew little Liam loved giraffes and would be ecstatic when he saw it. She looked at the time on her mobile, it was 9:00 on a sunny Friday Morning. The town car Helen employed would be there soon to pick her up. Carla had tried to call Tom and tell him the strange feelings she had towards Helen wanting to reach out to her, but all attempts at calling him proved to be unsuccessful. Tom was virtually inaccessible.

As she waited in the foyer of the Hotel she was staying at, she saw a black town car drive up to the sliding doors. Carla made her way towards it, and old man got out and Carla couldn't help but feel a bit of a chill as they made eye contact. He had such expressionless eyes, they were grey and stoic, but his voice did not match them. The old man was very polite.

"Can I take your bag for you miss?"

"Yes please," said Carla giving her best attempt to be as optimistic as possible. The old man took her carry bag from her and opened the back door of the town car for her. She slid in and he closed it gently. Carla couldn't help but feel strange about the whole thing, why the expensive car to come pick her up. "You work for Helen and Barry Connor?"

"Yes miss, I do. Been employed for some years now. You know the Mrs. Connor is a well respected published poet around these parts?"

"Of course I do, I was her daughter in law at one time. She wrote a lovely set of anthologies. Lovely poems they were." Carla truly meant this, if there was one thing she admired about Helen was her ability to write interesting poems.

"Yes indeed, they were. A favorite of mine was The Winding Road. Have you ever read it?"

Carla had, she had read it countless times. It was the poem Helen wrote around the birth of her first son Paul.

"I have, that Poem was written for my husband you know? Well he's dead now, but it was written for him."

"Well aren't you a special one."

"How so? Helen Connor may be famous around the literary circles; she made a name for herself and quite the modest living for her family. But she always made sure I knew my place and that I wasn't apart of her world."

"Sorry miss, I spoke out of turn. I ought to learn to shut my mouth about things I know nothing about. Especially family, family has way of being all complicated and intertwined with hate and love. To much for me in my old age."

Carla could feel annoyance and anger beginning to creep up from within her and she hadn't even seen Helen yet. She said nothing more, as the town car headed out of the downtown into the suburbs towards the Connor family home.

Tony was ecstatic as he sat across from his lawyers Ms. Lawson and Mr. Cabot. He had just been granted parole for being a model prisoner and would be released into the custody of a doctor as the judge ordered, just to ensure he was stabilized and continued on the road to rehabilitation. His lawyers had pulled the strings necessary to make sure the doctor of choice was Dr. Katherine Harrington. Kate had joined them all at last and his lawyers quickly regaled him in their latest efforts concerning his case for exoneration.

"Tony it's impossible for you to be exonerated of all charges. Your lucky the courts were easy on you the last time when they gave you accessory to the crime in the case of Liam Connor. If you try and contest this, the victim's family will petition the courts at every turn", said Mr. Cabot.

"Do you really want to exhaust all the effort, the time, the man power, think about this Tony? You are free now", added Ms. Lawson.

Tony glared at his defense lawyers, especially taken care to shoot daggers in Ms. Lawson's direction. "I'm free now I'm I ? While it's a strange place to come then isn't it? I'm free with the accusatory stares still gleaming down at me making me out to be a mastermind and murder when I am nothing of the sort. I am still behind these cell walls and you call me free. What a joke!"

Ms. Lawson didn't even flinch, "Well you won't be in here much longer Mr. Gordon. And as for the claims of innocence, you and I both know that couldn't be further from the truth."

Suddenly as though second nature, Dr. Harrington jumped into to defend her beloved. "Those claims are baseless Ms. Lawson and you know it. Your client has never been proven to be explicitly apart of any murder plot. The crown relied to greatly on the testimony of disgruntled ex business partners and the testimony of a deranged love sick woman."

Ms. Lawson tried to stifle a laugh and looked at Dr. Harrington with great perplexity. She couldn't believe what she was hearing and turned to her partner Mr. Cabot, "Are you hearing what I'm hearing Cabot?"

Mr. Cabot looked uneasy and ignored Ms. Lawson's statement turning his direction to Tony. "The crown didn't think that Mr. Gordon, the crown believed every word of Carla Connor's testimony. You can't explain that all away when your activity leading up to the murder makes no sense. If your Dr. here is going to make outlandish claims she better have something to back them up with."

"And we do Mr. Cabot", said Dr. Harrington shrilly. " We have a lot of proof that Carla Connor was delusional. In fact we have so much information we could argue that Carla was suffering from a personality disorder."

"Oh yeah and what one is that?"

"Borderline Personality disorder. I treated her for a few months and just looking at her files the women has the classic symptoms. She showed signs of self-harming, victimization, substance abuse and an insecure attachment style. She also has the conflict often experience by people with the disorder in regards to her love life. And then there is the Louise question, I think I better unveil that one once on the stand."

"Assuming this even gets to court doctor. As for proof that is all your opinion. We need to do interviews with everyone who testified the last time; we need to see if the stories changed. We can't just go on you off shoot diagnosis. The prosecution will just put another doctor on to counter argue everything you say. We need something from the horses mouth."

Dr. Harrington reached down into her bag feeling around she pulled out a big box and placed it on the table in front of everyone. Mr. Cabot looked at it with inquiring eyes.

"What's this?" asked Ms. Lawson

Dr. Harrington stroked the box delicately, "This, well this Ms. Lawson is the horses mouth. We got ourselves our very own Pandora's box."

"There tapes," Tony added. "Tapes I've told very few people about before. I always thought them more incriminating to myself, but now I see they are more incriminating to my ex wife Carla. They are exactly what you need Ms. Lawson, they are exactly what's going to discredit Carla Connor's testimony in a court of law. They will expose her for the delusional pig she is!"

"Clearly," said Mr. Cabot who was more than eager to get to work.

Ms. Lawson stared across the table at her client and his doctor for a moment and then with precision said, "I have a feeling the only thing this whole circus will expose is that you Mr. Gordon, clearly think yourself to have no delusions about your own delusions."

BANG BANG

Maria was startled she had just put Liam down for his nap and was about to get ready for her date with Alexander Lawrence. He had finally asked her to dinner the previous day and they decided to get a quick bit to eat at Nick's restaurant down the street. That way if Liam was fussy, she could get home early to attend to him. Michelle reluctantly agreed to baby sit, and Maria assumed it must have been her banging eradicately on the front door. Maria rushed down the stairs and opened the door.

"Took you long enough Maria," said Michelle slipping inside and shoving past Maria into the kitchen. For some reason she was holstering her mac book pro cord and all dragging on the floor. Maria noticed Michelle looked like she lacked proper sleep, and she felt uneasy about whether leaving Liam with her would be a good idea.

"Did you even shower, much less comb your hair before coming over hear Michelle?"

"I had the day off. I told you last night Carla texted me to say she'd be back in Manchester. She told me she'd be in by 2pm, gave me the terminal and everything Maria. I went to the airport and she never showed up. I tried calling her and her phone is dead. I am worried Maria, what if something happened to her?"

"Well we'd have no way of knowing would we? She never really told us where she was going Michelle."

Michelle looked for a power outlet and shoved her computer cord into it before jumping up onto the kitchen stool. She clicked on the icon for Skype.

"Oh what now Michelle? Are you gonna try skping her to? You know maybe she just wants to be left alone."

Michelle swung around the movement making her tousled hair even more so and glared at Maria, "Well if you must know today has made me rather emotional. I was thinking I wanted to Skype my son. His name is Ryan maybe you've heard of him. I'd like to see that he is okay and in the flesh." Michelle clicked on Ryan's icon and waited patiently as it rung. Maria took this as her leave to go, and was headed towards the stairs. "Stay Maria! Ryan will want to say hello!"

Maria rolled her eyes and turned around just as Ryan took up Michelle's computer screen.

"Hello mum."

"Hello Ryan love. How are you?"

"Good, good. Hey Maria!" Ryan beamed at Maria from the computer. Maria returned the gesture with great warmth.

"Hello Ryan, how's school? I hope you're not studying too hard."

"Me, never." Ryan turned his attention back to his mother. "So mum, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Before Michelle could answer Maria said, "Your mum is worried about your auntie Carla, seems she's disappeared. Your mum got all paranoid and decided she better call to make sure you hadn't disappeared to."

Ryan started to laugh that infectious Connor laugh, "Mum is this for real?"

"Yes, and I don't know what's so funny Ryan!"

"Aww mum I'm not laughing at you really, but your overreacting. Carla hasn't disappeared. I talked to cousin Tom last week or so, he told me Carla was in Dublin, she went to visit gran and grandpa's house. She wanted to look at some of Paul's old stuff get comfort."

"Why didn't you tell me Ryan? You know I almost had a heart attack."

"Well it wasn't for me to tell, and Tom made me promise not to. Carla already swore him to secrecy, and he didn't want to betray her trust. So I kept the secret, plus I figured aunt Carla probably just needed peace of mind. She doesn't seem much herself anymore."

"Oh Ryan, your just like your uncle Liam you know that? Your so sensitive to the way everyone is feeling, you are always looking out for your auntie."

"She is my family mum, I love her."

Maria felt like she was going to puke. She didn't want to hear any mushy things when it came to Carla. She most especially didn't want to hear about any insinuation as to the depth of her dead husbands pervasive love for his sister in law. This family being raised staunch Catholics clearly liked to ignore the 9th commandment. I was a sin to covet the neighbor's wife, and it was worst to covet your own brothers. She couldn't wait to have her date with Alex.

"But mum, I got a call from cousin Tom about a day ago, I missed it when I was out at the pub and when I got home I tried to call him back but he wouldn't pick up. I tried back this morning and still no answer. So maybe you should just give him a ring to make sure everything really is ok."

"Okay love I will."

"Okay cool, now sorry mum but I'm going to go out with a couple of classmates. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay my baby, love you."

"Love you mum, and I love you to Maria. Tell Liam I love him to."

"Okay goodbye Ryan, and I love you to. I will send Liam your love."

Ryan dropped the connection and right away Michelle reached for her mobile phone. "I'm gonna call Tom right now." She dialed his number and waited patiently, no answer. She repeated the process five times in a row to no avail. "Well this is worrisome."

Maria couldn't help but agree. What were the chances that both Carla and Tom would have dead phones, while they were both in Dublin? What if something sinister really did happen to Carla? Maria thought to herself, if something bad had happened to her, she would want someone to be looking for her, for someone to care.

"Michelle, try your mum and dads. Didn't they just get back from their break in Nice?"

"Yes, yes they did. You are brilliant Maria, I had almost forgotten." Michelle punched her parent's number into her mobile and waited. There was no response just the answering machine. "Maria,' said Michelle gravely, "Something isn't right. Something terrible has happened in Dublin I can feel it."

Maria felt a chill run through her body for she too had this sudden intuition that something was terribly wrong. "What are we gonna do Michelle?"

Michelle slide off the kitchen stool, "Well I don't know about you, but I am driving to the airport right now and getting the first flight out to Dublin."

"Maybe we should call the police."

"And say what Maria? That we haven't been able to contact a whole bunch of family for a few days and that I'm a basket case you can't afford to lose anymore family. No I don't think so, the Connors get things done on their own."

"Well then, I'm coming with you." At first Maria had said it out of obligation, because she felt she had to. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized she really wanted to make sure everyone was okay, even Carla. Michelle simply loved Carla, and because Maria loved Michelle she could put aside her animosity for the moment and be there for Michelle in her moment of need.

"What about your date, and little Liam?"

"What about it? I can always reschedule for another time. Alex will understand and if he doesn't well screw him."

Michelle gasped and started to laugh. "But Liam, can we leave him with Sean?"

"No I prefer to take him with us. I want my baby to be safe and the only way to ensure that is if I can keep a watchful eye over him. When we get to Dublin we should call the police first thing."

"Okay fine I guess I can compromise with the Irish police makes more sense anyways. Also I think we should try to leave by midnight. It will be out of the prying eyes of the nosy street."

"I agree we don't need Sally gossiping. Let me just walk over to the Factory now and cancel with Alex." Maria headed for the front door and opened it to leave when Michelle called to her.

"Maria."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks, thanks for coming with me, even after all you feel for Carla, it means a lot."

"I know, and you're welcome." Maria smiled and headed out into the street. She noticed she didn't feel so hostile and angry anymore. It felt nice.

Frank sat in the office at underworld listening to the events unfold around him. He will still consistently bugging Dr. Harrington's every movement and was lucky to privy to a great amount of information. His bug on the cassette box was proving to be very useful. Tony had been granted bail it seemed but was now on a crusade for completely exonerating himself in the murder of Liam Connor. His lawyers had told him that fresh new testimony from Carla was necessary and Frank smirked, as he knew it would be impossible for Tom to get to Carla while Crawford held her hostage. But then there was still the issue of Michelle and Maria; the lawyers would want statements from them to. How could Frank stop that from happening? He considered kidnapping Maria after their date tonight and holding her at one of his countryside properties, but then Michelle would be suspicious and because she didn't seem one to ever stop, wouldn't sleep until she found out where Maria was. So Frank had to scrap that plan.

Then there was the issue of what to do with Carla. Frank was considering killing her, and then he could frame Tony Gordon for the crime and eliminate any chances of ever being identified as her rapist. The power Tony held over him, the guilt he was sure would then cease to exist. He could finally have Tony bought to justice for Louise's murder and then he would finally have his revenge. Plus killing Carla would really stick it to Tony and Dr. Harrington, their plans of psychological warfare had been dismal at best and killing Carla would bring about Tony's greatest fear, that Carla would be reunited with her precious Liam in death. He sat perplexed with the countless options of how to act, when Maria came stomping through the factory.

"Alex," Maria called out.

"In here," Frank replied

"Hey," Maria said breathlessly as she stood in the doorway of his office. "How are you?"

"I'm good. You're early though, our date isn't tell a bit later."

"I came to talk to you about that actually," said Maria sheepishly.

Frank couldn't help but feel a bit bad that he was considering kidnapping her a few moments earlier.

"Is everything okay? Is your son alright?"

"Oh yes he has never been better. Look I have to cancel and I'm really sorry but something's come up and I have to leave for Dublin in a little while.

"Dublin?" said Frank at once. He thought to himself what the fuck did she want in Dublin.

"Yeah," said Maria rambling on oblivious to Franks changing demure. "Yeah Dublin. Something came up with my in laws, and a cousin. A lot of stressful stuff, I'm sure you wouldn't be interested. Anyways I have to reschedule, I hope it's okay."

Frank sat processing the information. He knew it was dire that Maria and Michelle never got to Dublin, and the wheels in his head where spinning a new opportunity had arose. Perhaps he could pin not just one murder on Tony Gordon, but also three. And he could pin it on Doctor Harrington to. She had been hostile he remembered when Michelle and Maria came to her inquiring about Carla. He could make it seem like they were killed because they wanted to know about Carla's whereabouts from Dr. Harrington. Since he was going to pin Tony for Carla's murder, it made sense that the love crazed doctor could be working to protect her love (it had some merit), and committed murder as to stop suspicion. It was all too perfect. Slowly he got up from his chair putting on the most charming smile he could muster leaned into to hug Maria.

"Of course it's okay Maria, family is important."