Nathan, wearing a blue bathrobe and his hair in a mess, opened the frontdoor. Grace was waiting for someone to open outside. It was very early in the morning, but Grace was a morningperson, as well as nightperson..., and she didnīt realize that it wasnīt a case with others. Nathan had just gotten out of the shower and was dripping water on the floor.
Nathan: Grace? Do you know what time it is?
Grace: I do. But I had to see you before going to work.
Grace was working as a hairdresser at her own saloon called Glamour, Style and Grace where you could get your hair done as well as nails, skin and make-up.
Nathan: Rigth, you wanted to say something... Nathan didnīt see why Grace wanted to speak to him as all. They had hardly been seeing each other since his divorce from Ava. Before that, they had gotten along well. Nathan raised his arm and gave Grace the direction to the livingroom and she walked inside as Nathan closed the door.
Grace: I want to know why you cheated on Ava and what your father has got to do with it, Grace said directly to Nathan who sighed.
Nathan: Why donīt you just ask Ava. Besides, I really donīt want to discuss this. Not with you and not with anyone.
Grace: Oh, but you are. You owe that to Ava.
Nathan: I donīt owe her anything. And as for my father, ah screw him.
Grace: Why? Tell me Nathan!
Nathan: Cause Ava betrayed me. Happy now?
Grace: SHE betrayed YOU?? How dare you say that?! She didnīt sleep with another, you did!
Nathan: But she did... She never told you that?
Grace: No. Thatīs because she didnīt.
Nathan: Fine, believe what you want. But I know the truth.
Grace: And your father. What does he have to do with all of this?
Nathan: Everything! He was the man Ava slept with.
Grace: WHAT? Ava and B.B.? Are you out of your mind?
Nathan: No, I saw it with my own eyes.
Grace: You actually saw Ava and B.B. having sex?
Nathan: No, I saw them kissing. The bed sequence I saw on photographs.
Grace was stunned. Not it made sence that Ava never talked about it. She slept with her father-in-law, Nathan saw them and they divorced.
Grace: Iīm sorry, Nathan. I think Iīve made a mistake. So sorry.
Nathan: Itīs alright. Now, I need to get dressed.
Nathan walked up the stairs, he got the image he had been trying to push out of his mind right before his eyes. His wife and father in a passionate kiss. The whole idea of them laughing at him in bed made him sick to his stomach. He sqeezed his hand hard at the though of their betrayal. His knuckles turned white. He took a deep breathe and calmed himself down. Grace went out to her car. The thought to Ava and B.B. spinned around in her head. Maybe she didnīt know her best friend as good as she thought.
Annie and Ben woke up together in each others arms. The sunrays pushed through the window and light up the room. Ben kissed Annie on her cheak. They cuddled for a while before deciding to get up. Ben had to drive his son to school. He went up and started making breakfast. Toast, eggs and juice was what they had. Ben looked at the time. Time to wake up Benjy. He went to his sonīs bedroom and opened the blinds. He didnīt see that his son was missing until he pulled down the fluffy white blanket on the bed. He didnīt see the note Benjy had left for him. Ben looked around the room. No Benjy. He figured that he was in the bathroom and went there. No Benjy.
He called out for Benjy. He started pacing around, realizing that Benjy wasnīt there. Annie heard what was going on and got out of her bedroom.
Annie: Whatīs going on? Whereīs Benjy?
Ben: I donīt know. BENJY!, he called out. But no one answered.
Annie: Where could he be? Benjy!
They searched the house for a few minutes. Annie decided to look at the porch and started unlocking the door, when she noticed that it was unlocked already. She opened the door and shouted out for Benjy. No on. She looked over at the beach. No one there.
Annie: Ben, come here! The door was unlocked. He must have gone out!
Ben hurried outside. He shouted after Benjy. He went around the house. Looking behind everything. But his son was no where to be found. He started panic.
Benjy had been walking all night. He still had his teddybear with him. He was very afriad. He had regretted walking away about 1000 times. He had been stopped by a streetgang, who all were high on drugs. They had been toying him around like a doll. Pushing him from one person to another. Benjy had been crying and calling out for his mommy and daddy. He had even wished that Annie could have been there. He had broken free from the gang and ran till he couldnīt move another inch. He had absolutely no idea of where he was. He was too scared to talk to anyone yet. The morning traffics had just begun, and he tried to get someone to stop. But no one did. They were all to busy getting to work that they didnīt have time to stop, even for a little kid, still wearing his pyamas and was obviosly lost. Benjy kept walking by the highway. He had no idea where to go to get to his mother, even though he thought he knew before. How was he going to get back? In what direction was home? Benjy started crying again.
The policemen who had been by earlier to get a statement from Stephanie about what happened to her was back. The two men in their 40īs had gotten the approval of Stephanieīs doctor to talk to her. They went into Stephanieīs room where Eric and Ridge were.
Detective Rawlin: Excuse us. Mrs. Forrester?
Eric: She is sleeping.
Assistant Travis: Can you wake her up? We need to talk to her.
Ridge woke his mother up by giving her a little push on her shoulder and told her to wake up. Stephanie looked around in the room and saw the two policemen.
Stephanie: What are they doing here, Eric?, she asked confused.
Eric: I think they want a statement from you. Do you think you can handle it?
Stephanie: Statement? About what?
Det. Travis: We need you to tell us what happened to you. We was told that a miss Sheila Carter was seen in your house and therefor is our primesuspect considering that she is on the run. She tried to kill you once before, is that right?
Stephanie: Iīm afraid that I donīt know what you are talking about. Sheila has never tried to kill me.
Rawlin: We have a report that she did indeed shoot you in 1998.
Stephanie: Oh that... That was an accident. She never meant to do it. I puched her to it. I take the blame for that. I stole her baby, she saw no other way.
Ericīs and Ridgeīs chins dropped to the floor. What in the world was she saying?!
Eric: Sweetheart, she did try to kill you, you know that. Why are you saying otherwise? Are you OK?
Stephanie: Iīm just fine. Iīm telling the truth. You shouldnīt lie.
Eric and Ridge were speachless. What was this all about?
Travis: OK, letīs leave that aside for now. Can you tell me who kidnapped you?
Stephanie: Kidnap? What is this all about? How is kidnapped?
Eric: Sheila kidnapped you. Tell them.
Rawlin: Mr. Forrester, let her speak for herself.
Eric: But she isnīt telling like it is. Sheila DID try to kill my wife. And I saw her in our house WHILE Stephanie was kidnapped. She got away, but I am 100% sure that it was Sheila.
Stephanie: Eric, I wasnīt kidnapped. You thought I was?
Eric: You were. You and Kristen.
Travis: We would like to talk to Kristen. Do you know where we could reach her?
Eric: Yes, she is at the mansion.
Rawlin: Weīll go there first. But weīll be back to get a clear statement from you, Mrs Forrester.
Stephanie: Whatever.
The two policemen left. Nothing made sence to them. And not to Ridge and Eric eighter.
Stephanie: I wasnt kidnapped. I was out of town for a few weeks, thatīs it.
Eric: Out of town?
Ridge: Why are you lying, mother? Kristen was with you. She saw you. You were tied up in an abandoned house outside L.A. Donīt you remember?
Stephanie: Yes... And I wasnīt kidnapped! Kristen must have had a nightmare or something. I know where I was!
Eric: OK. We believe you. Calm down.
Stephanie was irritated at them. Why were they saying that she was kidnapped? She took a deep breathe to calm down.
Eric: Could you tell us where you were then?
Stephanie: Out of town, I told you.
Eric: But where?
Stephanie: Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful. She admired the vase of red roses that Eric had brought to her.
Ridge: Mother, please, can you tell us where you were?
Stephanie: I was out of town, she replied as though she never said that before.
Ridge gave up. He took a few deep breaths to calm down.
Stephanie: Ridge, whatīs wrong?
Ridge: This! Why arenīt you frank with us? Just tell us! Where were you? He snapped. He felt like his blood was boiling.
Stephanie got weepy by his tone and temper. She had no idea what he was talking about.
Eric: Ridge, for Godīs sake! He didnīt mean to snap, sweetheart. He is just under pressure.
Ridge: Heīs right. Iīm sorry, Ridge said in a calmer tone.
Stephanie: Ok, she replied with an unsurtain look.
Eric saw that it was hopeless to try to get Stephanie to speak up. Or was she telling the truth? The truth as she remembered it... Had she no memory of what happened? Had she blocked it out?
Travis and Rawlin knocked on the door. Helen, the maid, opened. They told her who they were looking for and Helen went out to the pool where she had just seen Kristen taking a swim. The policmen took the opportunity to look around the house. They didnīt notice anything out of the ordinary. The cameras Sheila and Mike had installed were very well hidden. No one had seen them or even come close to. Well, Helen almost found one when she dusted the walls. The camera that was hidden just under a frame on a painting in the livingroom. But she never saw it. That was the most obvious camera but Sheila had taken the chance cause it gave the best lookout of the livingroom. Rawlin and Travis pictured the sight of Eric trying to catch Sheila as she ran off where Eric had told them. They were still trying to figure out why Sheila, if it really was Sheila..., would take the chance of being cought. The idea of her planting microphones had come to them, but they hadnīt found any. Kristen came into the livingroom, wet and covered with her bathrobe.
Rawlin: Kristen Forrester?
Kristen: Yes. Is this about motherīs kidnapping?
Travis: It is. We would like your statement.
Kristen suggested to them that they would take a seat, so they sat down on the sofa.
Kristen: What would you like to know? I already told another policeman what happened.
Rawlin: I know that. But we would like a more detailed statement. Something that could help us find the kidnapper.
Kristen: Iīll do my best... Um... Mother disappeared that night, you know...?
Travis: Yes. Can you tell us if your mother acted any different that day? Anything out of the ordinary happened that day, or any day before?
Kristen: No. Well, she had gotten some hang-up calls. Quite a few. And just before she disappeared she got a call. She said it was from my brother Thorne. And that she had to go and see him. She didnīt come back. My father found a note from her saying where she really was.
Travis: Yes, we saw that note. Go on.
Kristen: Then my brother Ridge went to that place but he only found her car. With blood in it.
Rawlin: Your motherīs blood. We have the analyze on that.
Kristen: So the next day, when I was in the park for a morningrun, a man came up behind me. He dragged me to his car which was close by. No one saw it. I think... Well, he drove me out of town after he had tied me up. I tried desperately to get free and draw attention to us, but nothing worked. He stopped at some house. You know what house... I didnīt know the man, but I did know Sheila. Sheila Carter. She was there. The man was Mike Gutherie. They work together. They threw me in a room. My mother was there. Chained to the wall. I just had a rope around me at first. Sheila was really out of control. Her eyes... It was like looking into the eyes of the devil. Kristen shuddered.
Rawlin: What did she, they, do to you?
Kristen: Nothing special. They just let us sit there. Well, Sheila and mom argued.
Travis: About what?
Kristen: Nothing special. Sheila was saying how horrible mother is, and how SHE destroyed Sheilaīs life. You see, Sheila blames my mother for EVERYTHING. For her failed marriages, for stealing her daugher, for making her insane, for getting her in jail and her missory. Everything! Sheila wanted revenge. Not only for her. For hurting Brooke Logan, tortureing her for years, Morgan DeWittīs abortion and God know what else. Sheila even wanted to kill me because Stephanie made Morgan had that abortion even though Morgan went along with it. Sheila also wanted to kill Ridge. She never got to him, thank God. She said something about Felicia, my sister, but I didnīt hear what. It was like being stuck in a bad movie. She is beyond insane.
Rawlin: Did any of them mention anything that could give us a clue where they currently are?
Kristen: No. Not a word. They were a lot in the house, but not so often in with me and mom. I told your colluege about the room. It didnīt have a window, so we never got to see what was outside. And it didnīt have aircondition or anything. It got really hot in there. Finally, we were so dehydrated that we could barely stand up or think. I made one last attempt of escaping when my mother managed to get the ropes off of me. But they stopped me and put me in another room in chains. That was the last time I saw my mother before we found out that she was alive. Thank God that the room I was in later had a window or my sister and Casey Mitchum might not have gotten me out in time. I was unconscious at the time. I donīt know what was going on with mother. Sheila and Mike obviously got her out before the explosion. I donīt know how.
Travis: Yes, your sister, Felicia, told us about that. How they saw miss Carter and this Mike character leave. They didnīt have your mother with them. But they were inside long enought to have taken her out another way. Do you know if there were another way out?
Kristen: I donīt know. I never saw much of the house besides the two rooms. But itīs possible.
Travis: And then you woke up, outside, with your friend and sister. The house was burnt down.
Kristen: Thatīs right.
Rawlin: And you canīt tell us anything else? Thatīs it?
Kristen: Iīm afraid it is.
Rawlin: Do you know why your mother claims that she wasnīt kidnapped. That she was out of town.?
Kristen: WHAT?! She couldnīt have said that. No way. You misunderstood.
Travis: No. Weīre going back there soon. She was a confused. Not thinking clearly perhaps.
Kristen: Iīm sure of it. Mother would never protect Sheila.
Rawlin: Weīll just have to question her again.
Kristen: Good. Do that. By the way, for how long will you have our house guarded? I feel like I live in a prison or something.
Travis: Itīs just precautionary measures.
Kristen: Do you think that Sheila might come back?
Travis: She might. But if she does, she is heading for prison. You have nothing to worry about, miss. Thank you for your statement.
Nothing to worry about?, Kristen thought to herself as the two policemen left the mansion. Her mother was in the hospital with serious injuries and might have a mental issue thanks to Sheila. And Sheila was still out there. Might planning to finnish the job. Yeah... Nothing to worry about...
Emma had been sleeping late that morning. She had gotten back to the hotelroom at 3.30 A.M. after her night on town with Sean Richards. They had become friends. Emma had found her first friend in Los Angeles. Sean had taken her to a few nightclubs. They had been dancing and drinking and having a wild night. Emmaīs specialty. Sean, who normally never was that wild, had left him normal self behind and followed Emmaīs example. Emma had even stood up on a table dancing. She could do that after too many drinks. Now, she got her punishment - a splitting headache. And today was the day she and her parents was moving in the Forrester guesthouse... Emma got up from the bed and went into the bathroom for some asprin. But as she swallowed the pills, they came back up. Emma bent over to the toilet and threw up. Angela heard it and went to the bathroom door.
Angela: Sorry you didnīt listen to me?
Emma: Yesterday, no. Today, yes...
Normally, Angela argued with her daughter if she drank too much too often, but not today. The hangover was enought.
Angela offered her daughter to pack for her. Emmaīs things was already as good as packed.
Angela: Your father ordered airlinetickets back to Atlanta for the day after tomorrow. Weīll stay there for 2 days.
Emma: Good. Then I can have a good bye party with my friends!
Angela laughed at her daughter. Here she was with a hangover of the decade and she was already planning the next party.
Angela: Only if you promise not to drink as much as yesterday!
Emma: I can promise you that Iīll never drink that much again in my life.
Ben had seen the note from Benjy when he searched through Benjyīs room to see what he brought with him. Ben had directly called Maria, something that Ben hadnīt wanted to do right away. He knew that Maria would go hysterical. Ben had wanted to wait till he knew for sure that Benjy had left, or was he kidnapped?? Ben didnīt even want to think about kidnapping. Benjy had been kidnapped once before. Not a real kidnapping as it turned out. Ben knew that crazy nanny Tess was behind it now. But the idea of going through a kidnapping again was horribel. Ben couldnīt bare it if anything would happen to his son. So he called Maria. And as he susected, she got hysterical. Breathing in a higher volume than she talked. Crying. Ben had decided to go over to Mariaīs place. And search the streets for Benjy at the same time. He kissed Annie on her cheek andinstructed her to call his cellphone if she heard something. Anything. Ben hadnīt found Benjy on his way over to Maria. Little did he know that Benjy had been close by.
Back in her house, Annie had stayed by her phone. Keeping the frontdoor opened if Benjy were to come back. Suddenly the phone rang. Annie jumped up from the sofa and answered the phone.
Annie: Ben?
Old man: No. Iīm looking for a Ben. Ben Evans. Or someone called Annie. Is that you?
Annie: Yes, Iīm Annie. Is this about Benjy? A little boy. 6 years old, dark hair??
Old man: Yes. He is here with me.
Annie: Oh thank God... If it isnīt a kidnapping? What have you done to him?
Old man: No, heavenīs no. This is not a kidnapping.
Annie: Oh Great! Where are you? Iīll come and get him.
The old man told Annie about their whereabouts. And old house close to the highway. Annie wrote down the address and asked to speak to Benjy.
Annie: Benjy?
Benjy: This is Benjy.
Annie: Itīs Annie. Are you OK?
Benjy: Yes. Where is daddy?
Annie: He is with Maria. Weīve been so worried about you. Iīll be right there to get you. Stay there.
Benjy: I will.
They hung up and Annie rushed to her car. She had her cellphone with her. She dialed Benīs number. The line was busy.
Annie: Damn it! Hang up the phone, Ben!
She put down the phone on the passengerīs seat to wait a while before trying to reach Ben again. Then her cell started ringing.
Annie: Annie Douglas, she answered in a calmer voice.
Ben: Where the hell are you Annie? Didnīt I tell you to stay home?
Annie: Iīm sorry. I tried to reach you but your line was busy.
Ben: Yes, I tried to call you.
Annie: So we called at the same time...
Ben: Any word on Benjy? I didnīt find him on the streets.
Annie: Iīm on my way to pick him up right now.
Ben: You are?
Annie: An old man called just a few minutes ago. He had Benjy at his house. I talked to him and his fine. He sounded a little shaken but he is allright.
Ben: Thank God. Benjy is fine, Annie is picking him up, Ben told Maria who stood beside Ben.
Annie: Iīll bring him over to Mariaīs. Stay there. Iīll be there in maybe 30 minutes.
Ben: Thank you, Annie.
They hung up. Annie felt good about herself. Finally, SHE was the one saving the day, instead of always being accused of causing the damage. Well, that was usually true. But Annie liked the idea of being the hero more than she admitted to herself.
Rawlin and Travis came by Stephanie again. Hoping that she would answer their questions clearer this time. They passed the guard outside the room and went inside. Eric was still there. This time, Stephanie was awake.
Rawlin: Mrs Forrester? Can we continue now?
Stephanie: Sure, why not?
Travis: You said that Sheila Carter wasnīt behind your disapperaring...
Stephanie: No, I never said something like that. You must have misunderstood.
Travis and Rawlin looked at each other both wondering what was wrong with her.
Rawlin: So youīre telling us that Sheila Carter DID indeed kidnap you?
Stephanie: Yes. Iīve told you before. Do I have to write it down for you? She kidnapped me and my daughter.
Eric was relieved. Finally, he thought. She was back.
Rawlin: Weīve talked to both of your daughters, and Casey Mitchum. They have made their statements so you donīt have to. But if you could fill in the blanks...
Stephanie: Iīll do what I can.
Rawlin: Do you know where Ms. Carter and Mr. Gutherie could be hiding out now?
Stephanie: I donīt know... Maybe at Mikeīs brotherīs house. I canīt remember his name though.
Travis: Martin Gutherie?
Stephanie: Yes, Martin... She didnīt seem to react to any of it. It was like she had no feelings about any of it. She talked about what had happened to her like she had seen it in a movie.
Travis called LAPD headquarters and requested that someone drove there to possibly arrest them.
Rawlin: Could you tell us what happened between the explosion at the house till you woke up here at the hospital?
Stephanie: Yes... She tried to stay conscious but couldnīt. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Eric: Stephanie?? Can you hear me? Wake up!
The heartmonitor went off making all kind of sounds and a doctor and two nurses ran inside.
Annie parked her car just outside the house and out from the door came Benjy. Annie took off her sunglasses and ran over to him. Benjy threw himself in her arms and hugged her. Annie didnīt react at first by his sudden change of heart. She hugged him back.
Annie: You really are OK.
Benjy: Of couse I am, he said, trying to sound braver than he really was.
Annie: Youīre father and mother were so scared. And frankly, so was I.
Benjy: You donīt care about me.
Annie: Thatīs not true. I care deeply about you.
Benjy: Then why did you made my dad choose between us?
Annie: I didnīt do that. You did. I would never make Ben do that. And I donīt think that you wanted to do that. Am I right?
Benjy: I guess so.
Annie hugged Benjy again and then got up from her knees to her feet.
Annie: I donīt know how I could ever thank you, Mr.
Old man: Donīt worry. You donīt have to. It was my pleasure.
Annie: Thank you.
Old man: Now, hurry home to his parents.
Annie took Benjyīs hand and led him to her car. Benjy turned back to the old man and waved to him. Benjy and the old man had had fun while he was there. Benjy had been playing with the manīs dog and Benjy had fallen in love with the puppy.
Annie and Benjy got into Annieīs black Saab cab and put on their seatbelts. Annie took on her sunglasses and backed out on the small street leading to the house after checking the mirror.
Annie: Benjy, I think itīs about time that we talked.
Benjy: Do we have to?
Annie: I think we do. You obviously donīt like me very much. And I see why. You think that Iīm steeling Ben away from Maria. But Iīm not. I know your parents very well. I know that they wonīt get back together again. No matter how much you wish that.
Benjy: You donīt know that.
Annie: Yes, I do. If they would get back together, it would have happened already.
Benjy: But Meg was standing in their way.
Annie: No, she didnīt, Annie confessed. She had even tried herself to get Ben and Maria back together. But Ben had chosen Meg.
Benjy: But Meg isnīt here now.
Annie: No, but I am. And even if I werenīt. Ben and Maria still wouldnīt be together. Iīm sorry to say it. But that is the truth.
Benjy had nothing to say.
Annie: I donīt intend to play your mother. You already have one. And you have the best. I love Maria. Sheīs been my best friend for many years.
Benjy: Then what are you trying?
Annie: Iīm just trying to live a life with your father. And you.
Benjy: You want me there?
Annie: Yes, I do. You are the most important thing in your fatherīs life and that makes you important to me too.
Benjy: You wonīt take my daddy away from me?
Annie: Never. Canīt we just share him?
Benjy didnīt answer but he seemed to go along with it.
Annie: I think you have a good life. You donīt have anything to complain about.
Benjy: I guess so. What about you?
Annie: Me?
Benjy: Did you have anything to complain about when you were young?
Annie: Did I?? My father wasnīt exactly like your father.
Benjy: How was he?
Annie: He were never home. Always caring about business. My aunt Bette was the one who raised me.
Benjy: What about your mommy?
Annie: She left us when I was a young girl. I almost never heard from her again.
Benjy: Why did she leave?
Annie: She didnīt love me. Or my father. And my father didnīt love me.
Benjy: How do you know that?
Annie: He told me. He always made me feel unwanted. Unworthy of being loved. And like I was only a big mistake.
Benjy: Poor you.
Annie: Donīt feel sorry for me. I did some nasty things. Iīm not completely innocent... And I was loved. By my aunt Bette.
Annie stopped her car infront of Mariaīs new house. Ben and Maria ran out of the house after spotting Annieīs car pulling up the driveway. Ben and Maria hugged Benjy as he got out of the car. Ben took Annie in his arms.
Ben: Thank you.
Annie: Donīt thank me, thank the old man who found him.
Benjy: Thank you, Annie.
Annie smiled at him. Finally, everything seemed to be going as they should, she thought to herself.
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