Colleen sat in the driver's seat of her car, glancing at the screen of her phone as she pulled it from her pocket. The screen displayed an 'unknown number', and she chose to ignore it. She never answered unknown callers, leaving them to go to voice mail. If they left a message, she would listen to it. Most callers didn't bother to leave messages, proving Colleen's suspicion they were cold callers trying to sell her something.

Her phone stopped ringing, and she waited to see if the caller left a message. Her phone pinged a few seconds after the ringing stopped, indicating a voicemail. Colleen selected the icon, set her phone to speaker, and listened to the call.

When the message played, there was only silence, well, not silence, but no one spoke.

Colleen pressed the phone to her ear, trying to identify any background noises or voices. She heard nothing except something that reminded her of white noise. Her stomach dropped. This call was the third time since last night someone called and left a message saying nothing. She had never received that many marketing or sales calls in quick succession, and they never left a message. The silence on the other end of the line echoed her growing unease.

Could it be Dylan? Could he be trying to reach out to her, calling and then losing his nerve? Should she answer it next time? If it was Dylan, would he speak to her?

"Tap, Tap."

Colleen leapt in her seat, dropping her phone. She clutched her chest and glanced at her car window. Pressing the button on the door, she lowered the window and tried to smile at Rosemary despite feeling as though her heart was beating out of her chest.

"Rosemary. Hi, how are you?"

"I'm sorry I scared you," Rosemary apologised. "You were in your old little world. It must have been fascinating?"

"I was," Colleen agreed, without revealing what distracted her.

Colleen grabbed her phone off the seat and dropped it into her handbag before getting out of her car and joining Rosemary. Side by side, they walked toward the school together.

"Have you heard any more from Nathan?" Rosemary queried.

"Not a word about Elizabeth, but he texts me and calls. He calls in to see me and Allie on his way home." Nathan called in often, more often than she had expected, given his busy schedule. He didn't always stay for dinner, so she had given up thinking that was the reason for his visit. She loved her brother and enjoyed his company, so she loved him visiting. If she was honest, she felt safer knowing he wasn't too far away.

Colleen still hadn't managed to shake the feeling she was being watched. Driving Allie to pre-school and then to work, her eyes drifted to the rear vision mirror, taking note of the cars behind her. There was never an indication someone was following her, but still. After she put Allie to bed at night, she closed all the drapes and blinds, hiding herself inside, out of sight. Before bed each night, she would look out her window, ensuring she was alone.

Colleen should tell Nathan about her ongoing fears. When he asked her about it, she downplayed it. She should have felt at ease after Gabriel told them it wasn't the authorities, that she wasn't under suspicion, but it hadn't helped. Dylan had been working with the type of people who didn't care who they hurt to get what they wanted. The burglaries Dylan was helping them with were the tip of the iceberg of their criminal activities.

Colleen was glad Rosemary was happy to talk; she contributed nothing to the conversation except for the occasional exclamation or 'mmm-hmm'.

"I can't wait until Friday evening; I want them in the same room to see what went wrong and work out how I can fix it."

"I thought Elizabeth asked you to leave her alone; I know Nathan told me in no uncertain terms to stop matchmaking."

"Elizabeth did," Rosemary said slowly. "But I hate seeing her alone. I want to see her married and happy like the two of us."

"Speak for yourself," Colleen muttered without thinking.

Rosemary stopped abruptly and turned toward her. Colleen instantly regretted saying anything to Rosemary. Expecting to see curiosity in Rosemary's eyes, she was met with compassion instead.

"I won't ask you about that, Colleen, but if you ever want to talk and need a friendly ear, I'm here."

Colleen smiled gratefully, appreciating Rosemary giving her space. She still wasn't sure she wanted too many people to know about Dylan. Luckily, the police wanted to keep the investigation low-key, so the media didn't get a hold of the story. Yet.

Nathan's phone vibrated in his pocket as he entered the break room; he kept it on silent while working. He pulled it out of his pocket, leaned against the kitchen cabinet, and read the message while the machine made his coffee.

"Any news on Dylan?" Gabriel had typed.

"None. You?"

"None. Can you talk?"

Nathan responded with a thumbs-up emoji and waited for the call to come. He wondered what had prompted Gabe's call. They had spoken on the phone the previous day, so they didn't need a catch-up. When the phone vibrated again, this time with a call, Nathan answered on the first ring.

"Gabe. Hi"

"Hey, Nathan. Sorry to call you while you're at work, but I needed to confirm you haven't heard anything from Dylan, you or Colleen."

Nathan frowned as he listened to Gabe. He hated even hearing Dylan's name. "I haven't.

Colleen hasn't said anything but would tell me if she had. Has something happened?"

"I got a strange call from a detective in the Laconia Police Department. He asked me about a stolen vehicle and then mentioned Dylan Parkes."

"Was it Detective Wells?"

"You know him?"

"I met him today. We had a John Doe come in with severe facial injuries, possibly from going through a car's windshield." Nathan was finding the whole conversation strange, and he couldn't keep the confusion out of his voice. "Why did he call you? I can't believe it was a coincidence."

"It wasn't. I have an alert in the system so that if anyone asks about Dylan, they are directed to me."

"What does Dylan have to do with a car stolen in Boston?"

"The car ended up near Laconia. The car was found smashed up on the side of the freeway near Laconia. It looked like the driver could have gone through the windshield."

Nathan sensed Gabe's hesitation and started to ask him about it. Before he could form the words, Gabe spoke, his words sending shivers down Nathan's spine.

"Nathan, Dylan's wallet was found in the car."

"I told you. I am not coming home for Christmas or New Year's Eve." Elizabeth kept her tone firm, knowing that was the only way to deal with her younger sister, Julie.

"But, Elizabeth," Julie whined, "you have to."

"No, Julie, I don't."

"Elizabeth, it's been four years; surely that is long enough to get over this silly little argument."

Elizabeth took a deep breath, held it for a second and then let it out slowly, trying to rein in her anger. She loved her sister. She did, but she could be infuriating sometimes, especially when doing their parent's bidding. Elizabeth regretted answering the call, wishing she had let it go to voicemail.

"It wasn't silly, and it wasn't an argument," Elizabeth said for what she was sure was the millionth time. "I left San Francisco because I could no longer live the life they wanted for me. I moved to Crystal Haven and have a life I love. Nothing could entice me back home, especially for Christmas."

"Christmas is about family, Elizabeth and celebrating with those you love."

"Oh, so our family is one hundred of mother and father's closest business associates." Elizabeth snorted as she thought about the elaborate parties her parents threw each Christmas Eve.

Nothing about the Thatcher annual Christmas Eve party embraced family or the meaning of Christmas. Elizabeth and her sisters had been expected to dress up and mingle; their only purpose was to look pretty and find a husband - preferably one who could advance the Thatcher's social standing or her father's business.

What if I told you mother was ill," Julie countered.

"Is she?" Elizabeth asked doubtfully, although a frisson of fear made her stomach lurch.

"No," Julie said begrudgingly. "What if she was? Would that bring you home?"

"Of course, but if Mother was unwell, I wouldn't be attending parties, nor should you be."

"You don't even know if he will be there; he skipped the last two years."

"I don't care if he skipped the last ten years. It isn't him keeping me away." Elizabeth felt like she was speaking a different language than her sister. They had been over this many times, but Julie still didn't understand.

"Elizabeth." Julie continued, choosing to ignore her sister's words. "You loved Domonic; we all do. We were so close growing up."

"We grew up together, Julie. That didn't mean I loved him, and we were never close, just forced together; that didn't make us friends and certainly didn't mean we should marry." Elizabeth didn't know why everyone insisted Domonic Harding was such a fantastic guy and that they were able to rewrite history to suit their narrative and agenda.

Domonic was a misogynist and a narcissist. Domonic was also incredibly wealthy and extremely handsome, so he was considered quite the catch. He was not for Elizabeth; he had never been for her. She had always seen through Domonic's mask and was not impressed by his wealth or connections; besides, if she wanted that, she had her own and didn't need his.

Unfortunately for Elizabeth, Domonic had fixated on her. He had been unwilling to take no for an answer when she rejected him when they were teenagers. Despite all her protests, he convinced her parents to give their blessing to ask for Elizabeth's hand in marriage. Elizabeth had tried to be kind when she refused his elaborate proposal, but Domonic had taken the news badly, humiliated and embarrassed by her rejection.

Elizabeth touched her cheek, remembered the sting after he slapped her - the throbbing pain left behind by the palm of his hand. How very different than how she felt after Nathan's gentle caress.

Domonic had proposed on the deck of his yacht. When Elizabeth said no to his proposal, he responded violently and then proceeded to drink the bottle of champagne he had expected to celebrate with. Domonic had refused to allow Elizabeth to take control of the yacht, and she had to sit, fearing the worst as he drunkenly navigated his way back to the Dock.

Elizabeth told her parents what happened with Domonic, detailing his rage at her refusal and the risk he had taken sailing while drunk. She had seen the look they exchanged at the mark on her cheek. It had been the final straw when her mother tried to excuse his behaviour, her father standing beside her, saying nothing. Elizabeth had packed her bags, moved out of her parent's home, and fled to her Aunt Agatha's while she looked for a job far away from San Francisco. She vowed never to return and so far, had kept her word.

"Aunt Agatha misses you," Julie said in a last desperate attempt to convince Elizabeth to come home.

"I saw her three weeks ago. She's fine and understands why I won't be there."

"Oh, you are impossible, Elizabeth. I give up."

"I wish you would, Julie. I am not coming home, at least not until you all understand why I left." Elizabeth tried to soften her tone; she loved her family, even if they would never understand each other. "It wasn't Domonic, not really, that was the final straw. It was the lifestyle I left. I don't want that life, Julie. I want my life here. I want to be surrounded by people who love me for myself and not my connections. I want to spend my time with people who value me and would defend and protect me from someone who hurt me, not expect me to marry him."

"Elizabeth..." Julie said but trailed off.

"I have to go, Julie. I am working. I love you. Take care of yourself."

Elizabeth hit the end button on her phone and leaned her forehead against the rig's side. How could Julie, an educated, intelligent woman, believe their parent's way of life was the best way to live? She knew her sister, as the youngest, struggled to meet their expectations. She knew their Aunt Agatha had tried to shield Julie from their parents, as she had Elizabeth, but Julie chose to live within the privileged world her parents had created and worked so hard to protect.

"Elizabeth?" Clara called as she stepped out of the office area.

"Over here."

"Sorry, I didn't see you there. Everything alright?"

"It's fine."

"I talked Bill into letting us do a Minnie's run. I am just about to place the order. Do you want anything?"

Elizabeth sighed in delight; she could use a coffee and a pastry, she decided, something to help sweeten her mood.

While she waited for Clara, who went to place the order, Elizabeth did another once-over on the rig. They had restocked at the hospital and cleaned the interior, but you could never be too clean. Elizabeth was wiping around the fire extinguisher attached to the side of the van when her cloth snagged on something. She leaned forward, trying to discover what was wedged at the back of the extinguisher and the wall. Reaching in with her gloved hand, she felt around before extracting a ring. Confused, Elizabeth rolled the ring between her fingers, looking at the intricately engraved silver band for some way to identify who it might belong to and where it had come from. As she spun it through her fingers she realised it was no longer perfectly round, it had a slightly flattened section.

Elizabeth considered the size of the ring and thought it had to be a man's ring. She thought of her colleagues and could not remember ever seeing them wearing a ring like this one. She thought of Jesse, Clara's husband and could not recall him wearing one either. Had it come from a patient? If it had, it would have to belong to their patient from that morning. He was the only one they had transported from an incident in this rig in the last twenty-four hours.

The ambulance was cleaned thoroughly once a shift and would have been discovered then.

Elizabeth hurried inside to check the logs for calls from the previous shift. She wasn't expecting to find any hospital transports because when Elizabeth and Clara did the handover, the opposite crew gloated about how quiet it had been. If it didn't belong to any of the team at the firehouse, it had to belong to their patient.

Elizabeth scrolled through the electronic notes the teams left for each other in the fire department intranet. This was where they wrote unofficial messages, like what leftovers were free to eat, birthday messages, and invites to social events. If one of the team had misplaced a ring, this is where they would post a message asking everyone to look out for it. There was nothing in there about a ring.

The radio in the firehouse crackled to life with a call to respond to a house fire. Elizabeth bit back a groan of disappointment for her lost coffee and pastry and hastened to the ambulance. Clara jumped into the driver's seat and asked her to call Minnie to cancel their order.

Elizabeth slipped the ring into her pocket, took her phone out, and did as Clara asked.