Thank you for sticking with this story so far. Keep the reviews coming, they're what keep me motivated 😊 I just want to take a moment to give credit to members of my role play group. I have borrowed some parts from our rp, mostly involving the Scorpios and company, but I've been doing my own spin on it and also expanding on it more. Thanks and happy reading!

Chapter 26- Esme's Arrest

"Okay, thank you, Spencer. Someone will be there soon." Jordan hung up and turned to Mac. "Mac, I need you to make an arrest at the Metro Court pool."

"Who's the suspect?" Mac asked.

"Esme Prince."

He stared at her for a moment. "Uh, Esme?"

She nodded. "We have proof that she remembers her past."

"I can't do that, Jordan," Mac said. "It's a conflict of interest. You better give the job to someone else."

"No one else is available right now," Jordan said. "Why is it a conflict of interest?"

"She's my wife's daughter. I'm sorry, Jordan, but I'm going to have to refuse. This will hurt Felicia."

"All right," Jordan said. "I will arrest her myself."

When she took off, Mac pulled out his phone.

"Hey hon," Felicia said on the other line. "I'm just on my way to the Metro Court."

"Okay, I just want to give you a heads up," Mac said. "Jordan's on her way there to arrest Esme."

"What?"

"She has proof that Esme remembers," Mac said.

GHGHGH

Maxie arrived at the Metro Court pool with Spinelli and the kids and noticed Esme sitting alone.

"You kids ready for a swim?" Spinelli asked.

"As long as Bailey stays in the shallow end," Georgie said, glaring at Bailey Lou.

"Why are you so mean to Bailey?" James asked. "She's little."

"Shut up, James. You're such a goody two-shoes. What do you know?" She shoved him into the pool.

"Georgie!" Maxie scolded her. "James, are you okay?"

James poked his head out of the water. "Uh huh."

Maxie turned to Georgie. "Apologize, please."

"But I'm not sorry," Georgie said. "Just go swim with your favourite kid. You don't want me."

"What?" Maxie asked. "Of course, I do. Why would you say that?"

"Because it's true," Georgie said. "You never wanted me. Bailey is evil and James is your good kid because you loved his dad better than ours."

Maxie looked at her sadly. "Georgie, I've always wanted you."

"Well, I don't want you. I need space and can't think about you right now. I need to step back and move back in with Dad!" She brushed past Maxie and sat at a table, staring at her phone since she had her privileges back.

Maxie rubbed her temples, realizing Georgie was repeating some of what she said to Felicia.

Spinelli frowned. "Want me to talk to her?"

Maxie glanced over at Esme again and frowned. "It's okay. I think I know what I need to do. Can you just keep an eye on the kids?"

He nodded. "Yeah, of course." He walked into the shallow end with Bailey Lou.

Maxie took a deep breath and muttered under her breath, "Do it for Georgie and Mom, Maxie…." She walked over. "Hi Esme."

Esme jolted and looked up at her. "Uh, hi…."

Maxie looked down at the empty seat next to her. "Do you mind if I sit?"

"Uh, sure…."

She sat down.

"So, how's it going?" Esme asked.

"It's going," Maxie said. "Lots of things to sort through. Lots to process…."

Esme nodded. "I've had lots to process too…."

"Look, I'll level with you..." Maxie leaned forward a bit to better look at Esme. "I still don't like or trust you, but as much as I wish it wasn't true, we have the same mother and I love her a lot, so... I'm willing to give you a chance for her sake." She looked over at Georgie. "And my daughter's. I can't guarantee that I'll see in you what Mom sees, but I'm going to try. I've lost enough people in my life. I don't want to lose her."

Esme nodded. "I understand. Most people don't like me. But you have to know… I don't want to lose Felicia either."

Maxie nodded back. "At least we can agree on that."

"I guess that's a start?" Esme said.

Maxie smiled a little. "Yeah, it's a start." Her smile quickly faded when she noticed Dex Heller standing at the bar staring at them.

GHGHGH

Nina went down to the dining room at the Valley Inn where she, Dante, and Michael were staying. As she walked in, she bumped into three women.

The older woman smiled. "Nina Reeves?"

"Erica Kane? How are you?"

Erica smiled. "I am well. I just had breakfast with my daughters before they go to work. This is Kendall and Bianca. Girls, this is Nina Reeves, editor-in-chief at Crimson Magazine. She interviewed me a few years ago."

"I remember that," Bianca said. "You went to New York for it."

"Ms. Reeves, do you think you could do a story covering Fusion sometime?" Kendall asked. "We've lost several customers recently and would like to advertise."

"We normally only cover fashion," Nina said. "The article on Erica was more focused on her modelling career. We did do a story on Deception Cosmetics once though, so maybe I can make an exception. But we'll have to discuss this at another time. I'm trying to find my daughter."

"Oh?" Erica said. "Is she here?"

"She was kidnapped," Nina explained. "By a psychopath named Heather Webber. The police have traced them to Pine Valley."

"What's her name?" Bianca asked.

"Willow Corinthos." Nina pulled out her phone and showed them a picture. Then she Googled a photo of Heather.

"We haven't seen them," Kendall said. "But we'll keep our eyes peeled."

"Well here, I'll give you my phone number in case you do." Nina pulled out a paper and pen.

GHGHGH

"You're not eating," Heather said, sitting next to Willow at the kitchen table.

"I don't care for Captain Crunch cereal," Willow said. "Can I go to the grocery store and choose my own food?"

Heather gasped. "It is not safe for you to go out there, Esme. You must stay here."

"For how long?" Willow asked. "It's not much of a life to stay inside all the time."

"You may go out to the balcony," Heather said. "This is only until it's safe for us to move to Iran."

Willow scrunched her face. "Iran?"

"Yes, we'll be safer there," Heather said.

"Safe?" Willow asked. "It's not safe for women there…."

"As long as we're together, I'll keep you safe, baby."

They turned when there was a knock on the door. Janet burst out of the bedroom and tripped over nothing. She jumped up and fluffed her hair. "I'm okay! I'm coming Amanda!" She darted through the living room and yanked the door open. "Amanda! Oh, sweetheart, come here!" She wrapped her arms around her.

Willow sat up straighter to get a good look at Amanda.

"Hi Mom…" Amanda said. "H-how are you?"

"I am wonderful," Janet said. "Absolutely wonderful. Especially now that you're here." She circled around Amanda and frowned. "You didn't bring Trevor."

Amanda sighed. "Mom, we talked about this. I won't be bringing Trevor with me. I'll only be coming on my own."

Janet squeezed her cheeks. "Maybe next time? Come in, come in!" She took both of her hands and led her inside. "You must meet my long time, best and truest friend who knows how to love like I do."

"Um… that doesn't sound good, Mom."

Janet beamed and brought her over to Heather and Esme. "This is Heather and her dear daughter, Esme. But not as dear as you, sweetheart." She winked at Amanda.

Amanda smiled awkwardly. "Hello."

Willow smiled. "Hi." She turned to Heather. "Perhaps you and Janet would like to spend some time together. Amanda and I could go out to the balcony like you mentioned. I'm sure you would love for me to get acquainted with your dearest friend's daughter."

Heather rubbed her chin. "It's too soon! You don't want to be overwhelmed."

"I wouldn't be overwhelmed," Willow said.

Janet wrapped her arm around Amanda and closed her eyes, grinning from ear to ear. "I need my Amanda time."

Willow mouthed to Amanda, "Help me…."

Amanda squinted at her.

"Amanda will join us for breakfast," Janet said and she hurried over to the fridge.

"I'm Willow Corinthos," Willow mouthed.

GHGHGH

Maxie kept looking over at Dex who wouldn't turn away.

"Uh, so…" Esme said awkwardly. "Your kids like to swim too."

"Yeah, yeah they do," Maxie said.

"Esme Prince?" They glanced up when Jordan walked over to them. "You're under arrest for criminal harassment, arson, administering a noxious thing without someone's consent, unlawful surveillance, cyber sexual harassment, and frame-up for the last two counts. You have the right to remain silent and anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…."

Esme began shaking as Jordan lifted her to a standing position and began cuffing her.

Maxie stared at them, unsure of how to respond.

"Once we reach the station you are allowed one phone call and you will be scheduled for a bail hearing," Jordan explained.

On the verge of tears, Esme's eyes scanned the area at everyone looking over at her, including Georgie and James. Josslyn grinned and whispered something to Trina. Esme's eyes stopped on Spencer sneaking out with Ace. "He-he-he's taking my son!"

Spencer halted and walked over to them. "I apologize, Jordan. I didn't want Ace to witness Esme being arrested. I was going to take him home."

"I don't want Ace going with him," Esme cried.

Maxie cleared her throat. "Uh, Esme, isn't it a good thing for Ace to go with someone he knows?"

"Not him! Not him!"

Spencer groaned. "Esme, you're being selfish. Ace needs to come home with myself and grandmother and Kevin. Where he belongs."

"Spencer," Jordan cut in. "Unfortunately, Esme gets to decide who Ace goes with since she's still his legal guardian. Esme, where do you want Ace to go?"

Tears streamed down Esme's cheeks. "With me."

"Esme, you can't take Ace to jail with you," Maxie said.

"If you don't name someone then the PCPD will take him," Jordan said.

Esme looked between all of them. "I want Felicia to take him."

"Felicia isn't here," Spencer said. "Ace is coming with me."

Esme turned to Maxie. "Will you take him to Felicia?"

Maxie's head went back a bit. "Me?"

"Please," Esme begged. "Please. I don't want Spencer to take him."

"He knows Spencer better," Maxie said. "But okay fine, I'll take him." She reached out for him and Spencer groaned but handed him over. Ace looked at Maxie unsure.

Esme sobbed as Jordan took her away and Ace screamed watching her leave.