CHAPTER TWO

Sutton and Dan walked up the drive towards the Mercer house. "I'm still not sure about this,"Dan noted.

Sutton gave him a reassuring look. "Hey, if I can sort out parental issues, anyone can."

Dan looked confused for a moment. "You're talking about Kristen, right?"

"Oh yeah."

Kristen met them at the door. "Come in, he's waiting for you."

Dan headed inside while Sutton hesitated at the doorway. "I think this should be just for them,"she told Kristen.

Kristen nodded, understanding. "Perhaps we should go for a walk?"

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

It didn't take Dan long to realise he'd been left on his own. He steeled himself and went into the front room where Ben was waiting. Ben nodded a greeting to him. "It's been a long time since the two of us were alone in a room together."

"It has, yeah." Dan cautiously approached his father.

"I think the last proper time we spoke I told you that you'd never amount to anything. I was wrong about that."

Dan nodded politely. "Thanks."

"So, have you softened towards me at all?"

Dan sighed. "I'm not sure. I guess I've got a different perspective on how hard it was for you bringing us both up. Doesn't mean I don't still think you could've done a better job."

Ben nodded slowly. "You're right. I made mistakes."

"So what now?"

"Well, I guess we could pretend we've made up for the sake of your fiance and go our separate ways."

"Or we could say the past is in the past and try for a fresh start?"Dan found himself suggesting.

Ben didn't smile. But his eyes had just a hint of approval in them. "That sounds like a good idea as well."

Lexi was lying next to Thayer in bed. She kissed him on the cheek, then slipped out from under the covers and began getting dressed.

"Why did that happen?"Thayer asked.

Lexi gave an awkward smile. "Well, for a start, I suspect it's been a long time for both of us."

"You could say that,"Thayer admitted.

"But also because I think you're not as bad as people make out, and despite everything that happened in the past, there's a decent guy under there that I look forward to getting to know better. Plus you're hot."

Thayer grinned. "Is this when I'm supposed to say something nice about you too?"

"Well, it'd make a girl feel wanted."

"I think you're quite possibly the best thing about being back here. And you're pretty cute too."

Lexi smiled at the compliment and gave him a kiss goodbye. "Let's do this again some time."

When Dan arrived back at the police station, he found Emma and Char waiting for him. Char took a deep breath. "I think I know who killed Mads' mum."

Dan looked at them, not quite sure how to react. "You know I've been taken off the case?"

"We'd heard,"Emma confirmed. "But we didn't know where else to come."

At that moment, a man a few years older than Dan entered. "Detective Meadows, here to take charge of the homicide case."

"You're in luck,"Dan told him. He nodded to Emma and Char. "These two think they have some information."

"I think it was Mrs Rogers,"Char concluded.

Dan noticed Meadows' confused expression. "Nancy Rogers, local woman. Her son was one of Thayer Rybak's victims."

"She was talking about how she blames Mrs Caldron for everything,"Emma explained.

Meadows nodded. "Okay. I think I'd better have a word with Mrs Rogers."

End of Episode Seven