Alexis woke with a start, momentarily confused to find she shared her bed with Molly. As memories of the night before flooded back, she looked at the clock: 4:45 am. She'd maybe had five hours sleep. Her head was groggy but her body tense, the results of an emotional night before and the anticipation of a grueling day ahead. Carefully, so as to avoid waking her daughter, she discarded her clothes she'd had no chance to change before sleep and silently switched to her yoga pants and tee. She grabbed her glasses and softly made her way downstairs.

She went to the kitchen and immediately turned on the coffee maker. The day would require a steady stream of the life-giving elixir, and there was no time to start like the present. Alexis opened the refrigerator and poked through the vegetable drawer with her fingers crossed before she hit a bullseye. She pulled out a cucumber and cut off four thick slabs, immediately sticking them in the freezer. She then made herself a peanut butter sandwich and ate half, putting the other half on a plate for Sam later.

Her stomach lined, Alexis pulled out a bottle of hot sauce from the cabinet. She poured herself the tallest glass of water available, and then used it as a chaser to the shot of tabasco she pounded down her throat. A little trick Jax had taught her to help decongest, this cure was normally eschewed for being worse than the disease. But not today. Today she needed a clear head, and that included her sinuses.

Alexis went to the balcony and sat in a lounge chair. She took a huge swig of her coffee before setting it down next to her, then lay her head back and covered each swollen eye with a cucumber. She set her alarm for 6:30, giving her a little over an hour to give into every fear, doubt and anxiety and then rebuild herself as a tower of confidence and optimism before she had to wake up Sam.

Sam shook off the tabasco shot and reached for her water gulping it down eagerly.

-"I can't believe you made me do that."

-"Gotta be on your toes today, kid. Trust me, that'll clear out some of the grogginess in your head."

-"Coffee will help."

Alexis nodded reverently, "Coffee always helps."

-"I must look a mess. I was crying most of the night."

-"I thought about that. I have two cucumbers in the freezer to help reduce the swelling. But I was thinking..."

-"What? Not that I go in there looking like some kind of mole person?"

-"No. Not a mole person. But maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the police could see your grief."

-"OK. Will you tell me now what went down last night?"

-"Well, Dante has a new partner on this one. Have you heard of Det. Dina Nagy? She's new. Have you come across her?"

-"No. What's she like?"

-"Young. A little eager. She's going to be the 'badder cop' in this, by the way."

-"Why 'baddER' cop? Is Dante not the 'good' cop in this scenario?"

Alexis paused a moment and looked Sam square in the face, "There is no 'good' cop in this scenario, sweetheart. You are definitely a suspect." She then shared the interrogation poorly concealed as polite conversation the night before. "So when we go in there today, we need to be prepared."

-"Mom, I know. But I have the truth on my side. I didn't do this—I wasn't anywhere near Silas's place last night. They can't place me there."

-"I know, baby. But we may have a slight problem already." Alexis saw Sam staring blank-faced at her mother. "Honey, did you tell Molly you were doing a stakeout at the mall yesterday?"

-"Yes. Why? Ugh. Did she tell the cops that?"

-"Eeeeeeyup"

-"OK, well I can just tell the truth today at the station."

-"And you should. Answer every question they ask honestly. And if I don't want you to answer one, I'll jump in."

-"Mom, I know how to do this."

-"I know you do. But that new woman is looking for a collar and right now she's got you right in her sights. She'll look for anything to rattle you. Diego, Jason's job, your past marriages. Whatever it takes. Let me handle those for you." Alexis paused before she continued, "Let's talk for a second about broader strategy."

-Sam nodded, "sure."

-"We have two choices really. We can go in there and you can answer all their questions except the ones I hate. They'll ask you anything and everything about Silas-about how you met, your relationship. We could be there for hours."

-"I don't know how I feel about that. I mean, what's the advantage to doing that?"

-"Well, there are maybe two as I see it. First, you appear incredibly cooperative. Depending on how set they are on you as a suspect, this could maybe take the heat off of you."

-"What's the other one?"

-"Well…they probably won't get to the line of questions they really want until the end. They'll try and build a rapport before they go for the jugular. So the choice is, sit through and talk about how much you love Silas for an hour and then get a glimpse as to why you're a suspect, or only answer questions about who you think would hurt Silas and be out of there in 20 minutes."

-"I kind of want to know why they think I'm a suspect. And if they do arrest me, they're going to ask me all of that information anyway. I don't have anything to hide, Mom. I think we should go until we get the answers we need."

-"OK. But when I cut it off, we walk. Is that a deal?"

-"Yes." Sam let out a long sigh, and looked up at her mother. "Well if this is the extent of your preparation, you're falling short counselor."

-"What do you mean? You want to run through questions and answers? We have time."

-"No." Sam extended her coffee mug to her mother. "This is empty."

Alexis and Sam spent the rest of the morning going through the timeline in detail. Sam had left out a lot of specifics the day before and her mother couldn't afford to be caught off-guard when it came up in the interrogation. They showered and dressed. Sam wore a black shirt and pants, appropriate for mourning. Alexis wore the only other business casual outfit she had in her closet, appropriate for maintaining the illusion that this was just a friendly interview between the PCPD and her daughter.

They stopped at Kelly's for one more cup of coffee, each grabbing the largest size they had. The Davis girls arrived at the station very alert, caffeine making up at least 65% of their collective bloodstream.

Dante greeted them and introduced Det. Nagy to Sam. As she grabbed his partner's hand, Sam looked directly in her eyes. She saw curiosity with a twinge of arrogance there. Det. Nagy felt like she had something to be cocky about. This interrogation was definitely going to be interesting.

-"I'm so sorry for your loss, Ms. Morgan," the female detective started. "And we thank you for coming down here to answer some questions about Dr. Clay. Obviously, we're looking for any information at all that will help us catch his killer."

-"Silas was an amazing person that I loved dearly. I will do whatever I can to help."

Det. Nagy directed Sam towards the interrogation room. "This way Ms. Morgan. We should have some privacy in here."

Dante turned to Alexis, "Alexis you're welcome to wait out here if you like, but we may be awhile. Why don't you have Sam give you a call later?"

Without missing a beat, Alexis responded, "Oh! Dante, I was going to join you all. I mean, I know I wasn't as close to Silas as Sam was, but I may have some information that could help."

Sam jumped in, "I'd really like my mother with me, if that's OK. I'm a little shaky right now—I haven't been able to go more than 30 minutes without crying. I really need her support."

It was silent for a moment when Det. Nagy responded, "Ms. Morgan I can imagine that this must be a difficult time for you. But I think we'd be more productive if it was just you and us."

-"Det. Nagy, are you saying that I can't join my daughter?" Alexis asked innocently.

-"I just think—"

-"Det. Falconieri, am I allowed to join my daughter while you question her or not?" Her tone was friendly but pointed.

Dante raised an eyebrow at Alexis, appearing to have picked up the formality in her tone. He looked to his partner before settling his eyes on Sam.

-"Ms. Morgan, who is your attorney of record?"

-"My mother, Alexis Davis."

-"And is it your desire that she accompany you while we question you?"

-"Yes."

Dante turned back to Alexis, with a slight smirk. "After you counselor. I believe you know the way." Alexis headed to the interrogation room as she heard Dante say, "Det. Nagy—a word?" Mother and daughter sat down at the table, their backs to the window.

-"Well, I guess we all know where we stand now," Alexis noted.

Sam smirked, "I'm not sure Det. Nagy does."

-"I'm sure that's what Dante's telling her."

Dante and Det. Nagy sat at the table across from Alexis and Sam. He first step was to Mirandize Silas's former lover. Even though she knew it was coming, Alexis felt her spine straighten and a slight current hum through her bloodstream. They could all pretend it was casual questioning, but everyone in the room knew where they stood: Sam was a suspect. And Alexis's goal was to make sure her daughter didn't leave that way.

The questioning started friendly enough. The detectives were open and listening attentively as Sam recalled how she met Silas, the custody trial with Rafe, Danny's cancer, and the search for Nina and quest to prove Silas's innocence. They'd paused twice, each time when Sam broke down. The first was when describing Rafe and the feeling of custody of him—it triggered the recent, permanent loss of her former ward and she was overcome. The second was the description of Silas pointing out Danny's rash and how it pushed for the diagnosis and treatment of his cancer. Both times the detectives were accommodating and sympathetic, giving Sam all the time she needed to pull herself together.

The second hour of the interrogation was cordial but lacked the friendliness of the first. Det. Nagy's easy-going rapport was gone and it was obvious that she was building up to something. Alexis and Sam both sensed it, but were unclear as to the big finale. Without any sense of where the detective was going, Sam opted to plow through with her answers. Alexis kept searching though, mindful of the questions asked and Sam's responses. But as she had throughout the entire line of questioning, Alexis remained silent, save to give her daughter encouragement.

Dets. Nagy and Falconieri shifted the linear nature of their questioning to picking and choosing across Sam's story. This was the part of the interview they were all waiting for, and the idea that this was anything less than an interrogation between police and suspect was pure pretense. As anticipated, Det. Nagy started.

-"Ms. Morgan, I'd like to go back to the custody trial for Rafe Kovich. You mentioned that the trial was 'heated.' What did you mean by that?"

-"Well, I think it was a standard custody trial. Silas was a stranger to Rafe, but he was his nephew. I loved Rafe and wanted him to stay with us, he was a part of my family."

-"But how was it heated? What was said?"

Alexis stepped in. "Det. Nagy, I think that there are court transcripts that can give you a better idea of how it was 'heated' than my daughter's recollection. And I'm not really sure how this pertains to Silas's murder?"

-"It seems that there were a lot of accusations on both sides, counselor. Dr. Clay seemed to feel that Ms. Morgan was unfit to raise his nephew. I'm curious as to why."

-"Again, you have a transcript. It's all there."

-"I've read the transcript. It seems Ms. Morgan has a colorful past."

-"Interesting. I'm sure I'd love to hear your theories on my daughter's past, but perhaps before we go down that road we focus on Silas's present. That is why we're here right? To help you uncover clues as to who could have killed Silas?"

Dante jumped in, "Alexis is right." Alexis immediately noted the informality—Dante was switching into good cop mode to ease the tension. "It might be more productive if we turned to the last few days. Sam, can I get you any coffee before we start."

-"You know I'm never turning down coffee, Dante."

-"Then how about we all take a break. How about 15 minutes? Sam, Alexis feel free to use the restroom and I'll grab some coffee. Det. Nagy, would you mind helping me?"

Sam and Alexis returned to the room ahead of the detectives. "This break was weird. I would have thought Dante would have kept going."

-"Nope. Not if he wants you to stay here."

-"How so?"

-"They haven't asked what they want yet. Dante's afraid I'm going to pull you before he gets to ask the questions he wants."

-"Should we go? I mean, if I'm not under arrest, I don't need to be here, right?"

Alexis thought about it for a minute. "If you don't want to stay and answer their questions, we can go. It's up to you."

-"I don't know. I feel like they have a reason for suspecting me. And I want to know what it is. But they're not going to tell us outright. And we're not going to have any idea if we leave."

-"Are you sure you're not too tired?"

-"No. The coffee will help. We've gone this long, I can to it."

-"OK," Alexis smiled encouragingly. "I guess we're staying."

Dante had taken over this line of questioning. "Ms. Morgan, when was the time you saw Dr. Clay?"

-"I saw him two days ago."

-"Where did you see him?"

-"At his apartment."

-"Was Mrs. Clay there?"

-"No. She wasn't."

-"I see," Dante paused for a moment, "What was the nature of your visit?"

-"'The nature of my visit?' Business."

-"Were you working for Dr. Clay?"

-"Sort of. I mean he hadn't hired me, if that's what you mean. I was working on a case that was of interest to Silas."

-"What case was that?"

-"I'm trying to find out who forced Rafe Kovich to cause the accident that killed Patrick and Sabrina's baby."

Dante looked at Sam, remembering the chase that ultimately killed Rafe. He asked quietly, "Did you find any additional information?"

-"Just a phone number. And a business card that didn't seem to belong there."

-"I see. And where was the card from?"

-"A clinic downstate. It's called Crichton Clark." Alexis looked at the detectives and then Sam. She had noticed the slightest reluctance at sharing that piece of information. But it didn't look like Dante or Det. Nagy had picked up on it.

-"And why is the card significant?"

-"I don't know that it is. Crichton Clark is where Nina was being cared for after her coma. The card could have been in Rafe's stuff by accident. Silas was going to check with Nina and her nurse to see if there's some way he could have gotten it from one of them."

-"What did he find out?"

-"I don't know." Sam's voice was just above a whisper as a tear fell down her cheek. "That was the last time I talked to him."

There was a pause as Sam dabbed her eyes and took a breath. When she was ready to go, Det. Nagy tagged in and proceeded with the next line of questioning. "How would you describe the tone of your conversation with Dr. Clay?"

-"It was fine I guess. I don't know exactly how you mean?"

-"Well, you two were broken up, correct?"

-"Yes. We'd split up."

-"And it was an acrimonious break up, wasn't it?"

-"No. Not at all. I mean I think it hurt us both, but I wouldn't characterize it as 'acrimonious.'"

-"Really, because Dr. Clay's neighbors did."

Sam looked shocked, "Excuse me?"

-"Two of his neighbors recall a confrontation between you, Dr. and Mrs. Clay about a month ago."

-"I'm going to need more of a hint than that. What confrontation?"

-"Apparently you caught them together? I mean it's kind of weird if you ask me," Det. Nagy stated, "you were the mistress."

Alexis intervened. "Det. Falconieri, please inform your partner that I'm more than happy to give her a working definition of 'acrimonious' if she doesn't change her tone." Det. Nagy blanched.

Dante raised his hands, "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. Sam-" again with the informality Alexis noticed, "-why don't you tell us what the neighbors overheard?"

Sam looked at her mother. "Well I don't know what they overheard." She paused before continuing. "When Nina came back from the dead, Silas was torn between us. I went to the apartment that night and saw Silas and Nina kissing. It was obvious that I was in the way of their ability to move forward. I was shocked and I was disappointed, so I ended it."

-"What was Dr. Clay's reaction?"

-"He begged me to stay—to explain. But there was no need really. He needed to figure out his relationship with Nina. I was just making it harder. It wasn't fair to either of them and it wasn't fair to me."

-"And that's all that happened."

-"Yup, that's it."

-"Ms. Morgan, can you share where you were yesterday?"

-"At which point?"

-"Just walk me through your day."

Sam recounted her day with the detectives. They took copious notes, allowing her to continue uninterrupted. When she finished, Det. Nagy looked at her partner with an eyebrow raised, and started the next line of questioning.

-"Ms. Morgan, we were under the impression that you were on a stakeout at a mall yesterday afternoon."

-"Nope. I wasn't."

-"Why would your sister feel compelled to tell us you were?" Det. Nagy challenged.

-"I don't know why Molly would feel compelled to share anything with you. You'd need to ask her that. I'm sure she thought she was being helpful. As for why she thought I was at a stakeout at the mall, I told her that."

-"Why would you mislead your sister?"

-"Because I didn't feel like telling her I was at the lake house."

-"Why?"

-"Because ever since it exploded and destroyed every thing she owns, she's been a little sensitive about it," Sam heard the edge in her voice and took a breath to calm herself down. They'd been at it for quite a while, not including the break for lunch. "I didn't tell her I was at the lake house because I knew it would upset her. We've had enough to be upset about, lately. She didn't need one more thing."

-"Fair enough," Dante added. He paused, "Did anyone see you at the lake house? Can they confirm your whereabouts?"

Sam looked at Dante point blank: "No."

Det. Nagy was still on point. "I'd like to talk to you a little more about your timeline. If that's ok."

-"Sure."

-"You noted yesterday that you were looking for Rafe's drug dealer?"

-"Yes."

-"Did you have your gun with you while you did that?"

Sam paused for a second and responded slowly, "yes."

-"Ms. Morgan, your gun is a .22, correct? That's at least what your license says."

-"Yes."

-"And was it on your person all day yesterday?"

-"No."

-"When did you have it with you?"

-"Patrick—Dr. Drake—and I went from Kelly's to my office. I keep my gun in a safe there. I took it with us and then put it back in the safe before I went home at 2:30."

-"You didn't take it home with you?"

-"No. I don't like having my gun in the house."

-"Why is that? It seems easier than going to grab it at the office."

-"I use it for work if I need it. If I'm on a case that could be dangerous, I take it with me. I don't store it in the house because I have a toddler at home. I sleep easier without it in the house."

-"I find that odd considering your former husband's line of work."

Alexis piped in, "Jason was a businessman. I'm not sure how this is relevant to where my daughter decides to store her gun."

Dante smiled as a conciliatory gesture. "OK. So your gun is in the safe in your office. And has been since around 2:30 pm yesterday. Is that correct?"

-"Probably more like 2:15, but yes-that's where I left it," Sam noted.

-"Would you be willing to turn it in so we can do a ballistics test?" Det. Nagy asked. Alexis detected the trace of a grimace on Dante's face. Looks like someone jumped the gun, so to speak.

Sam was silent, knowing that Alexis was about to jump in. "Why would you need to do a ballistics test on Sam's gun?"

-"Dr. and Mrs. Clay were killed with a .22—"

-"-And you think my daughter's gun was used to kill them? Presumably by my daughter?"

Det. Nagy was silent. Dante jumped in with a feeble, "No, Alexis. We just want to rule it out." Alexis looked at Dante but he couldn't make eye contact. Good, Alexis thought. He *should* be embarrassed throwing that low-level bullshit her way.

Alexis looked at Sam and lifted an eyebrow. Sam shrugged in assent.

-"Detectives, is my daughter a suspect in this murder investigation?"

Dante sighed audibly. "Counselor, we don't have anyone we're focused on at the moment."

-"OK. Well, let me make this easier for all of us. We've been here for hours and Sam's answered all your questions honestly and to the best of her ability. She's exhausted, and frankly I don't know what more you can possibly ask her unless she's a suspect. Which you've implied she's not. So we're going to go."

-"I do have a few more questions, counselor."

Alexis ignored Det. Nagy. "We're going to go. If you have any other questions you'd like to ask my daughter, please call my office. Dante, you have the number."

Det. Nagy spoke to Sam's back as she was making her way out the door. "Ms. Morgan, about the gun."

Alexis turned around, "Det. Falconieri, I'm going to assume that if you have enough evidence I'll be looking at a warrant this afternoon?" Dante was silent. "Well, whenever you have it in hand, please let my office know so Sam can open the safe for you. Have a good afternoon everyone."

Alexis and Sam were well beyond the station walls when daughter turned to mother. "Well, what do you think?"

-"I think that they have a witness to you arguing, and they clearly have a problem with your timeline. That and the fact they were killed with a .22? It should be enough to get them a warrant for the gun."

Sam sat deep in thought. "How long will it take them to get the warrant?

-"I would assume they had the paperwork typed up before we got there. Maybe later this afternoon?" Alexis paused for a moment. "The business card. What was that about?"

Sam was silent for a few beats too long, taking advantage of Alexis's preoccupation with finding her keys to unlock the Prius. "I've been to Crichton Clark."

-"I know with Silas to find Nina."

-"No, since then."

Alexis turned to look at her daughter, "What are you talking about?"

-"I was there with Patrick about a week ago."

-"Please, please tell me it's because they're in the market for a cutting edge neurosurgeon and Patrick is interviewing for the position."

-"No."

Alexis got into the driver's seat and waited for Sam to shut the passenger door. "OK, Sam." She grimaced and closed her eyes, knowing that she wasn't going to like the answer to her next question. "Why were you at the clinic with Patrick?"

-"We were investigating Nina."

-"WHAT?" It was worse than she thought.

Sam rushed with her explanation, as though placating her mother was dependent on the speed of delivery. "I think she is—was—playing Silas. I think she could walk and that she's the one that spilled Patrick's secret to the reporter."

-"Oh my God. It's like talking to your father. I swear." Alexis mumbled under her breath.

-"Mom, look—"

-"Can anyone identify you, Sam? From the clinic? If Dante shows up there with your photo will they find out why you were there or even if you were there?"

-"I don't know."

-"What does that mean?"

-"It means I was caught. Both times."

-"They caught you BOTH times?"

Sam paused before she shared the next piece with her mother. In for a penny, in for a pound. "And I assaulted staff there…both times."

Alexis pinched the top of her nose as she shook her head in disbelief.

-"So how. Oh God." Alexis didn't even know where to begin. "HOW can you say they *may* find out you were there and that you've left a trail of violence as you looked for information on Nina Clay?"

-"Because I haven't been arrested yet." Sam stated matter-of-factly.

Alexis sat with her hands on the wheel, staring out across the parking lot. The quiet was disconcerting to Sam and she touched her arm lightly. "Mom?"

-"Sam. We've had a long day. You especially." She turned and tucked a piece of hair behind her daughter's ear. "I'm glad you told me. I wish you had told me sooner, but I guess you've had other things on your mind."

-"I'm sorry Mom, I just…" The thought trailed off. Sam was tired. She'd spent the better part of the night crying and just did ten rounds with the PCPD. "All I want right now is my pajamas, my son, and a glass of wine."

Alexis started the car. "Let's go home then." But in the back of her mind she had a feeling that she was missing pieces to the puzzle. And not just the ones involving Crichton Clark.