The storm seemed to come out of nowhere. Rain lashed the streets of Pine Valley and the branches of trees whipping back and forth in the strong wind. On the day of JR's hearing it seemed like even the weather disapproved.

Marissa walked into the packed courtroom. There was a general hubbub as the mass of storm-swept people peeled off their damp coats and settled into their seats. Marissa had come from an early morning shift at the Yacht Club and had left without a coat, she was soaked to the skin. Despite the weather Marissa had been determined to make it to the courtroom. She really wanted to be here for Bianca. Her girlfriend was going up as a witness and Marissa needed to be there for moral support.

She spotted Reggie and his girlfriend. She gave them a friendly nod as she looked for a seat in the already crowded court room. Then she spotted Krystal waving to her. Her mother had clearly saved her spot.

Krystal gave her a welcoming hug.

"Sorry I'm soaking." said Marissa stepping away, embarrassed. She realised how damp she had made her mothers dress, "I was not expecting this weather!"

Krystal laughed.

"When it comes to Pine Valley you can always count on the weather to make a tense situation even more dramatic."

As if on cue there was a loud crash of thunder.

"How are you holding up?" asked Krystal taking her daughters hand as they retook their seats.

"I'm doing good. I mean this whole thing isn't… nice. But as long as JR gets what's coming to him."

"I agree." said Krystal. "That man has gotten away with far too much in his life. It's time to pay the piper."

Krystal gave her daughter the once over.

"Have you come here from work?" she asked.

"I had to do the early morning shift so I could be here for Bianca."

"Honey, they are working you too hard."

"It's a job." said Marissa. "And I'm pretty good at it."

"I'm just saying if you wanted to you could come back and work for me…"

"Work for my mother…"

"Hey," said Krystal holding up her hands in submission. "I'm not offering you an easy ride. I'd expect you to work just as hard. Besides I'll be looking for a new manager soon."

"But what about Will?"

"He's leaving me. He wants to get engaged to Francois and they have been talking about heading off to Europe."

"Bianca's going to lose her nanny."

"I'd appreciate it if you could keep this quiet… he hasn't even popped the question yet."

"Sure." said Marissa.

Krystal was staring at her, a serious expression on her face..

"Look the job is yours if you want it. We both know you can be so much more than just a waitress."

"I don't know…"

"Please think about it." said Krystal grasping her daughters arm.

…

An ugly murmur ran through the crowd as JR was escorted in to sit beside his council.

Marissa looked to Jackson and Caleb who were working together for the prosecution.

Jackson looked tense and kept looking from the crowd to his watch.

Marissa looked at her own wristwatch, the hearing was supposed to begin in seven minutes. Surely Bianca should be here by now. She grabbed her phone from her purse in case there was a message.

Nothing.

There was the sudden pressure of a hand on Marissa's shoulder. It was Kendall.

"Marissa, do you know what's keeping Bianca?" she asked.

"No, I was just looking at my phone. There's no message."

"Same here." said Kendall, squeezing into the bench beside her. "Jackson's getting worried, she's his star witness. Ryan was supposed to be giving her a lift, but there is no sign of him either."

"Is that why he and Caleb look so stressed?" asked Marissa.

Kendall sighed.

"Well there's that, and the fact that we've got Judge Marshall hearing the case."

"Is that bad?" asked Marissa.

"We've got a crooked judge, I knew that bastard would try and buy his way out of this." cried Krystal after overhearing their conversation.

"No he's not a crook in that respect." said Kendall in an attempt to calm the irrate Krystal. "He is ultra conservative and has a very bad reputation at working to his own agenda."

"Is that a nice way of saying he's homophobic." said Krystal. "How is he still a judge?"

"Friends in high places." said Kendall flatly.

"So the case is in trouble?" asked Marissa.

"No. The evidence pretty much speaks for itself. It's just a question of the witnesses getting here in time."

"They must be delayed by the weather." said Marissa, trying to look on the bright side.

"You're probably right." said Kendall with a sigh. "Oh Bianca, where are you?"

…