EPISODE EIGHT: Interrupted Climax

CHAPTER ONE

Dan was looking through the window into the interview room where Meadows sat across from Nancy. "Are you denying that you have a motive for killing Caroline Caldron?"

Nancy gave a hollow laugh. "If you mean 'Did she bring the man that killed my son back to town to parade him around in front of us?', then the answer obviously has to be yes."

"Yes, that fits with our witnesses."

"Witnesses?"Nancy repeated. "And what do they say?"

"That you have been talking about how much you hate Caroline Caldron and how glad you are she's dead."

Nancy hesitated. "I may have expressed some views along those lines…"

"Can you account for your whereabouts on the day she died?"

Dan walked away from the window to where Emma and Sutton were waiting. "I'd say it's going well. I think Detective Meadows will be getting a confession soon."

"What happens with Thayer then?"Sutton wondered.

"Maybe with his mum gone, he won't feel the need to stay in town anymore?"Emma suggested.

"Maybe,"Dan said non-commitally. "Anyway…Emma, can you give us a minute? I'd like to speak to Sutton alone."

Emma nodded. "Yeah, sure, of course."

Sutton waited until her twin was out of earshot before looking back at Dan. "What's on your mind?"

"I was just thinking…it seems like things are sorting themselves out here so maybe we could stop putting our lives on hold."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Well, I think we should start by setting a date for our wedding."

Sutton smiled. "I think that sounds like a great idea."

"We've already made moves to get a marriage license sorted so once that's done…how does week after next suit you?"

Sutton nodded approvingly. "Why wait around?"

Emma had headed home to where Ethan was waiting. He smiled at the sight of her. "Everything go okay at the station?"

"Well, that detective that's taken charge of the case is interviewing Derek's mum. Dan thinks he's going to get a confession."

"So Thayer's in the clear then?" Ethan didn't attempt to sound happy at the news.

"Looks that way." Emma smiled. "On the plus side, I did just leave Sutton and Dan alone to talk."

Ethan smiled as well. "Look promising?"

"I think so."

Eddie came running in. "Is Auntie Sutton coming round?"

"I think she might have some good news for us very soon,"Emma told him.

Eddie nodded sagely. "That's good."

"Hopefully it's going to be good news all round,"Ethan agreed.

Thayer had let Lexi into his room when she turned up and together they sat on the bed. "You heard the police have got a suspect in custody?"Lexi asked.

Thayer nodded. "Derek's mother of all people. He wasn't much when he was alive and now he's dead, he's still causing trouble."

Lexi looked at him with concern. "The police will make sure she's punished, okay? You don't have to do anything."

"I just wish I'd got my hands on her before they did."

Lexi shook her head. "You can't think like that, okay? Your mother brought you here because she wanted you to get your life back. Don't throw it away, yeah? You've got a chance of a life here."

Thayer looked at her with interest. "With you?"

Lexi nodded. "With me." She kissed him and the kiss deepened as they began undressing each other.