10. Greek Tragedy

[r2k]

Here’s the latest. I put this off before Ravaged aired because I felt it might have been too similar. After the episode aired, I realized it was very different. I began this before the finale so my version of Lily and Scotty making up is still here. It’s pretty much the same. Short and simple. Lily also makes up with someone else. Prepare yourselves for a reunion.

Greek Tragedy

Rush receives an anonymous e-mail from someone who claims he helped cover up a rape and murder in 1995. The victim, 19 year old Colleen Larimore, was found in a dumpster outside her dorm at a local university. Her neck was broken and there was evidence of rape, though no DNA was recovered. The e-mailer won’t identify himself but gives Rush clues to solve the murder. Meanwhile, Stillman discovers that a business belonging to a killer in a previous cold case is still in operation and becomes annoyed. This brings him face to face with the killer’s son, who is not pleased with what has happened to his father.


Opening Scene
April 1, 1995
“What Would You Say?” by Dave Matthews Band plays in the background at a frat party. It is early in the night on Saturday. The partygoers are not drunk yet. At the entrance, more girls are being let in and few guys are allowed entry. An alternative looking girl enters. Several guys are having a conversation when one of them notices her. He calls to her.

Ted Lipscomb: Colleen! We’re over here.
(Colleen turns to him and waves. She walks over.)
Colleen Larimore: Hi.
Ted: I was worried you weren’t coming.
Colleen: Well, to be honest, I wasn’t. But I thought about it. This means so much to you that I at least come to one of your parties.
Ted: It’s not that crazy. Yet, at least. We don’t have to hang around for that.
Colleen: Come on now. I like to have a little fun too. (Smiles) It’s not all save the world for this girl.
Ted: That’s what I like about you. It’s nice to be with a girl who isn’t always thinking about herself.
Colleen: And vice versa.
(Two older frat guys look over and observe the exchange. One of them gives an evil grin like he is planning something.)

Ted: Hey, we can go to my place later, if you want. Or if you want me to come to your place.
Colleen: You know, let’s see where the night takes us.
Ted: Okay, let’s dance.
Colleen: I’m not sure I can. Never done it.
Ted: I stink at it too. We’ll be fine.
(The two go to the main area and dance.)

(Later, at a dumpster at one the residence halls, Colleen’s body lays inside. There is blood and her eyes are open. In the Case File Room, her box is being labeled.)

Larimore, Apr. ‘95
(The box is filed away in the usual fashion.)

THE PRESENT
-Lily is sitting at her desk when she notices her computer does something. On the screen, she notices there is an e-mail. The message has an urgent announcement.

I HELPED COVER UP A MURDER

Lily: Boss, we got something.
Stillman: What?
Lily: An e-mail. Looks pretty serious.
Stillman: I helped cover up a murder. Open it up.
Lily: Sure.
-Lily clicks on the message. She reads the message out loud from the computer.

I KNOW YOU SOLVE COLD CASES. PERHAPS YOU CAN HELP ME. I’VE BEEN SUFFERING INSIDE FOR TEN YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS MAKING THINGS RIGHT. FORGIVE ME IF I CAN’T GIVE YOU EVERYTHING NOW. I HAVE A WIFE AND TWO KIDS. THIS IS GOING TO KILL THEM WHEN THEY FIND OUT. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. HER NAME WAS COLLEEN LARIMORE. WE WERE IN COLLEGE TOGETHER. PLEASE DON’T TRY TO TRACE THIS MESSAGE. I NEED TIME TO GATHER THE COURAGE TO COME IN. FOR NOW, THIS IS ALL I CAN DO.

Lily: That was interesting. Not as much as a hello.
Stillman: Or goodbye. Whoever this is didn’t give us a lot.
Lily: Well, we have a name.
Stillman: But not much else.
Lily: Come on now, Boss. We’ve succeeded on less.

OPENING CREDITS

[r2k]

-In the Case File room, Lily and Scotty are going through the file.
Lily: Colleen Larimore, age 19, college student. Found dead in a dumpster. Raped multiple times and then had her neck broken.
Scotty: Pretty violent. Any indication there were multiple rapists?
Lily: No DNA so it’s possible. All we have is a name and an anonymous e-mailer claiming to have helped cover it up. Says here the body was discovered on Monday by another student.
Scotty: Was she local?
Lily: Lived in the suburbs. I guess that’ll be the first stop. Also mentions a boyfriend, Theodore Lipscomb. He came around looking for her on Sunday. Roommate said she never came back on Saturday night.
Scotty: Maybe her parents know who this guy was.
Lily: Let’s go see them.

-At Colleen’s parents’ house, Lily and Scotty sit down with Janet and Nathan Larimore.
Janet: Colleen was so sweet growing up. (Images flashes back to age 45, the way she looked in 1995. Then, it returns.) But she began to change in high school.
Lily: What do you mean?
Nathan: Her taste in music changed. The way she looked. Younger brother called it alternative. I never really understood. But then, my parents never understood the ‘60s or ‘70s. Guess this was our turn to be like them.
Janet: She never got into drugs or anything so we sort of let it go. It wasn’t what Nate and I hoped for.
Nathan: Her grades were good and she studied hard. Never disappointed us in that area. Figured she’d outgrow it.
Lily: Do you know of anybody who might have wanted to (pauses). I’m sorry. It’s just that she was raped first. The murder most likely was done to prevent them from getting into trouble. Too silence her.
Nathan: I never really told Janet all the details.
Janet: It’s okay, honey. I need to know. Why after all this time are you looking into her death?
Lily: We got an e-mail from someone claiming to have covered the murder up. Or at least helped.
Nathan: Who? (In an angry tone.)
Lily: We don’t know yet. This person is scared to identify himself. He might soon. For now, we only know her name. We’re hoping to get something more soon.
Scotty: Did Colleen have a friend who might know something.
Janet: Yes. Jessica Tesh. Best friends since kindergarten. If there were any secrets, she might know. Not sure where she is now. Her parents moved away, but I know she still lives in Philly somewhere. They grew up together.
Lily: We’ll locate her. (Turns to Nathan.) Nathan. It is important for you to wait until we have some information. Let us handle the ones responsible. I don’t you getting in trouble.
Nathan: It just makes me angry that anyone would do what they did to my little girl. I saw her body in the morgue. What they had done to her. It’s unforgivable. How could they do this? They all deserve to die.
Janet: Honey. We can’t think like that. Please.
Lily: I’ll let you know as soon as we find something. If you think of anything, feel free to call us.
-Outside
Scotty: You think her dad will do anything?
Lily: Let’s hope not. He seemed troubled by her death. I’m going to call Vera with the name of Colleen’s friend. Maybe we can get her in and find out if any new e-mails.

-Back at the station. Lily and Scotty enter the main area.
Jeffries: You got another one.
Lily: When?
Jeffries: Just a moment ago.
Lily: Let’s see what it says.
-The second message

I FEEL GUILTY.

-Lily clicks on the message

I HOPE YOU TOOK MY MESSAGE SERIOUSLY. A PART OF ME IS RELIEVED THAT I FINALLY SENT ONE OF THE MESSAGES. I’VE TYPED THAT MESSAGE THOUSANDS OF TIMES BUT NEVER COULD SEND IT. NOW YOU KNOW THE NAME. SHE WAS KILLED AT A FRAT PARTY. ALPHA BETA FRATERNITY HOUSE. CHECK IT OUT. WARNING: THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRATERNITY IN 1995 IS WELL KNOWN IN PHILLY NOW. I NEED TO TELL THE STORY. WHAT I DID WAS EVIL. BUT BEWARE OF THE PRESIDENT. HE IS EVIL.

-End of message.
Lily: We now have the place of the murder.
Vera: I’ve located Colleen’s friends, Jessica. She’s coming in.
Scotty: Good, maybe she can tell us about this fraternity.

-Later, Jessica is sitting with Lily, Vera, and Scotty.
Jessica: Colleen was a trip. We were friends since kindergarten.
Lily: Why didn’t you go with her to college?
Jessica: College wasn’t for me. Somehow, working at McDonald’s was my big adventure. I moved on to become an assistant manager. Then, I met my husband. Now, I’m a stay at home mom.
Lily: Sounds good.
Jessica: For me it is. I love spending all my time with my kids. Well, most of it. I get away for a girls’ night once a week. Then a romantic evening once a week too. So I’m not too tired.
Lily: Did Jessica mention anything out of the ordinary?
Jessica: Not really. She did meet a guy. But she wasn’t all that interested. He was Greek.
Lily: Greek?
Jessica: Frat guy. He was so opposite of her. She became the poster child for the ‘90s alternative girl. Vegan, liberal, you name it. But she believed in it. Not like so many who talked the talk and thought a nose ring made them qualify. But this guy. It just didn’t seem like her.

-Flashback to 1995. “Just a Girl” by No Doubt plays in the background.
Colleen and Jessica are on the phone.
Colleen: College is so great. This has been a great year. Are you going to reconsider and come with me in the fall?
Jessica: I can’t. I love my job. I know it’s not glamorous but I love it.
Colleen: Anyway, there’s this guy who’s got the hots for me. He’s in my political science class. And he drools over me in his seat.
Jessica: You sure he likes you.
Colleen: He can’t take his eyes off me. Anyway, every day he sits closer and closer to me. I think he’s trying to get close to me.
Jessica: Colleen, you’re in love.
Colleen: I didn’t say that.
Jessica: Oh yes you are. That’s so sweet.
Colleen: Well, he is cute. I hope he’s a vegetarian.
Jessica: Love him well and he’ll change into one.
Colleen: I definitely will. You know, you should come see me this upcoming weekend. We’ll do something.
Jessica: I can’t. Gotta work the weekend. Definitely the next weekend. I’m off then.
Colleen: Great. I’ll make sure it is open. I’ll get back to you. Bye Bye.

Return to the present.
Jessica: I should have gone that weekend. She might still alive if I did.
Lily: It’s funny. You and Colleen were opposites and yet such good friends.
Jessica: We never let that get in our way. We were good friends. We’ve been through a lot together.
Lily: You wouldn’t happen to remember the name of this guy?
Jessica: I think his name was Ted. She never gave me a last name. I don’t even think she knew it at that point. Thing is, if she was killed at this frat party like you said, she must have been going out with this guy longer. When I spoke to her on the phone, it seemed like he was still checking her out.
Lily: You make a good observation. What about her roommate, Penny Williams. Police didn’t get much out of her.
Jessica: Colleen and she were like oil and water. They fought constantly. I think she was in a sorority. Not sure. I never got over to the campus to visit so I can’t tell you much about Penny. I’m sorry.
Lily: Thank you for your time. We’ll be in touch.
Jessica: Colleen and I knew each other in kindergarten. We promised to stay friends forever. I hope you can find out what really happened to her.
Lily: I will.

[r2k]

-At the station.
Lily: Now we know a little more about Theodore the boyfriend.
Stillman: Not much.
Scotty: Jessica said he was a Greek.
Lily: Since Jessica said he was a frat guy, chances are he may be in the fraternity where it happened. Our mystery e-mailer gave us the name of the fraternity. All we have to do now is check the names of the members in 1995.
Vera: I’m on it.
Lily: Thing is, this crush this Ted had on Colleen may have been a lure.
Lily’s computer talks

YOU GOT MAIL

Lily: It’s him again.
Stillman: We’re going to have to run a trace soon, Lil.
Lily: Not yet. We’ve got this guy. He may stop if we do.

Third message. Lily reads it.

I NEED TO TALK

I GUESS IT’S TOO LATE TO TURN BACK. STAY THERE.

Lily: That’s it.
Scotty: Maybe he got cold feet.

-The computer has a window popping up. It’s an instant message.
Lily: An instant message. We can chat with him now.

First message from the mystery e-mailer.

I FEEL LIKE CHATTING A LITTLE. I FEEL THIS IS SAFER.

Lily Responds.

SOMETIMES LETTING IT ALL OUT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.

The e-mail exchange is visible for all to say. Lily reads her lines but you can see the others.
E-mailer: BUT THAT FEELING WON’T LAST FOREVER. I NEED TO COME CLEAN.
Lily: ABOUT WHAT?
E-mailer: IT WAS HORRIBLE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER. SHE WAS SCREAMING AND BEGGING TO STOP. AND THEN HER NECK WAS BROKEN. AND I COVERED IT UP. I’M THE ONE WHO PUT HER IN THE DUMPSTER. I WISH I WAS DEAD.
Lily: NO. YOU DON’T WANT TO DO THAT.
E-mailer: I KNOW. BUT I’M AFRAID TO COME IN.
Lily: WOULDN’T IT FEEL BETTER IF YOU FACED UP TO YOUR ROLE IN THIS?
E-mailer: THERE’S JUST TOO MUCH AT STAKE. MY WIFE. MY TWO GIRLS. THEY’RE OLD ENOUGH THAT THEY’LL BE AWARE OF WHAT’S GOING ON. BUT THAT’S MY FAULT. I INVOLVED THEM. THE DAY I MARRIED HER I INVOLVED HER.
Lily: PEOPLE SCREW UP. AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT’S THE FIRST STEP THAT YOU’RE FACING WHAT YOU DID THE RIGHT WAY.
E-mailer: I NEED TO GO NOW. CHECK OUT THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRATERNITY. I’VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE TELLING YOU NOW. HIS NAME IS MIKE O’CONNELL. HE IS EVIL. I SHOULD KNOW.

-The e-mailer cuts off.

Lily: Mike O’Connell. One of Philly’s most eligible bachelors.
Stillman: That looks like it. And his father is a prominent business man in the city. This isn’t going to be easy. Only he’s been married for a couple of years now. Even has kids.
Scotty: The wedding was in ’99 if I recall.
Lily: How do you know?
Scotty: (Pauses) Elisa thought he was cute. She followed the wedding in the papers.
Lily: I guess I missed that. I’ll go see him tomorrow. (Looks at the entrance to the area.) Looks like your daughter is here.
Stillman: You go on.
-Janie approaches Stillman.
Janie: Hi Dad.
Stillman: This is a surprise.
Janie: Well. I know it’s been a while. I appreciate the help on that thing. Now I’ve got something for you.
Stillman: What?
Janie: A friend was looking into having a house built. Figured living in the suburbs might be a good change. Anyway, this person found a company that is building houses. The name of the business rang a bell. Murphy’s Real Estate Developers.
-Stillman looks shocked.
Stillman: You don’t mean.
Janie: Yes. The guy who broke you and Mom up. Killed that boy.
Stillman: That man ran the business. Who’s running it now?
Janie: I don’t know. My friend found it in the phone book. I told him to hold off.
Stillman: Thank you. I want to know who’s in charge now. That man got lucky. His confession spared him the needle. There’s no way I’m letting him run his business from jail.

-The next day at Mike O’Connell’s office.
Mike: (Image flashes back to 22 and then returns to 32) I remember that girl. She was at the party. Ted Lipscomb invited her.
-Lily has a look on her face.
Lily: How close were they?
Mike: They weren’t together very long. But he was definitely interested in her. Can’t imagine why?
Lily: What do you mean?
Mike: You’re obviously a little older than me.
Lily: Obviously.
Mike: No offense. You certainly don’t look your age. I’d say you look five years younger. But you weren’t in college when the alternative chicks roamed the campuses.
Lily: Nice save.
Mike: Anyway, this Colleen girl. This was not the kind of girl willing to party and screw with the guys if you know what I mean.
Lily: No I don’t.
Mike: (Frustrated by Lily’s unwillingness to see things his way.) A frat party just isn’t a frat party without sex. And she wasn’t one to give a guy that casually. We tried to tell that to Ted.

-Flashback to 1995. “Run Away” by Real McCoy plays in the background. The guys are having lunch in a cafeteria on campus. It is two days before the party.
Mike: This April Fools Day party is going to be great. It’s our big tradition.
Derek: Listen to him. It’s a night to play the best tricks. Things can get crazy.
Ted: So you play tricks on people.
Derek: Oh yeah. All other parties we have during the year are just parties.
Mike: You know, sex, booze, crazy stuff. But this party is where each member plays on April Fools Day on the brothers. The best one gets the president from the Zeta Beta sorority house for a few hours. Happens every year.
Christopher: I won last year. This girl is hot. And willing to do it all. Absolutely no respect for herself. Fun for the rest of us.
Ted: What are the rules?
Derek: There are no rules. Just play the best joke and you win.
Adam: Why didn’t you guys tell us earlier. I’m not sure I can think of anything good on such notice.
Mike: Now, that’s the spirit. I feel we have a contender. Adam, you’ll go far in this fraternity.
-Ted gets an unhappy look on his face.
Mike: You okay, Ted.
Ted: Yeah. I’m fine.
Mike: Got any good ideas.
Ted: I’ll come up with something.
Mike: I hope so. I’ve noticed the girl you’ve been hanging out with. You’re not gonna get anything from that girl. Now, Christina, the Zeta Beta president, she’s got it all and willing to give it away to anyone who says hi.
Ted: We’ll see.
Mike: Trust me. I’ve been here a few years. Those girls don’t give it away without a promise to turn vegetarian from the guy.
Adam: You should see the way he looks at her in Polly Sci 101.
Mike: So you’re in love with this girl.
Ted: Maybe. She seems nice.
Mike: Invite her to the party. Kind of a test. If she can handle that, then maybe she’s worth keeping. But I’m telling you. Nice doesn’t always come with sex. Well, I gotta go. See you all later.

Return to the Present.
Mike: We warned him to give her up.
Lily: Well Mike, here’s a little story you might find interesting. Someone has been e-mailing us claiming he covered up Colleen’s murder.
Mike: That so.
Lily: Oh yes. And there’s so much more. Scotty, I wouldn’t know where to start.
Scotty: I’ll help you out. This e-mailer said the murder happened at your frat house.
Mike: No murder ever happened at the house. I would have known that.
Lily: This guy told us to come to you.
Mike: What makes you so sure it was a guy?
-Lily looks at a picture of his family.
Lily: Nice family.
Mike: They’re good. My oldest son, Ryan, is 5. Susan is 3. Lisa is only 1. Good kids. I’m trying to raise them right. It’s hard.
Lily: Raising kids isn’t easy. It takes love and attention.
Mike: (Pauses) Yeah. I’m learning that quickly. Especially with a lot of money. You would think it was a blessing. But sometimes money can’t raise children. Children need parents.
Scotty: It’s funny. You first come off as this sleazy frat guy from ten years ago. Now, you’re this dear old dad all of a sudden.
Mike: I was explaining myself as I was then. I’m not that way now.
Lily: This e-mailer seems to think you’re evil. Any truth to that?
Mike: I’m not proud of the things I’ve done. But that’s all in the past.
Lily: Maybe so. But the law doesn’t quite see it the same way. The law just doesn’t forget the past. It makes sure the past is accounted for.

[r2k]

-At the station.
Lily: Mike hinting this person may be a girl made me think.
Stillman: He mentioned a wife and kids. Mike may be trying to create confusion.
Vera: Well, maybe she swings the other way. Assuming it is a she.
Lily: (Ignoring Vera’s remark.) Well, this mystery e-mailer says Mike was involved.
Scotty: You think the frat guys all kept quiet about it.
Jeffries: Possible.
Stillman: I wouldn’t go that far. It’s possible most of the people at the party would have kept quiet about her being there. These fraternities and sororities avoid scandals that would hurt them. But to cover up a murder like that. People don’t keep quiet too long about those things.
Lily: Like all the hazing. Someone knows something.
Scotty: Maybe the e-mailer might give us more later.

-A 30 year old man walks in.
Lily: Ted Lipscomb, I presume.
Stillman: Take care of this. I gotta go out for a while.
Lily: Where?
Stillman: Some business needs to be tended to.
-Lily looks at him concerned. Stillman leaves.

-A few minutes later, Ted and Lily are talking.
Ted: Colleen was different. (Image flashes back to 19. Then it returns again.) I had been with quite a few sorority girls. Those weren’t relationships. Colleen and I had a political science class together. At first, I kept my distance. Each day, I moved closer and closer. Toward the end of March, I came even closer. She finally noticed.
Lily: What happened then?
Ted: The start of a relationship. She actually said yes to me when I asked her out.
Lily: Did she give it up to you?
Ted: What do you mean?
Vera: (Being blunt) Did she do you?
Ted: No. She died before that could happen.
Vera: Tough break.
Lily: What was your April Fool’s Day joke for the party?
Ted: What joke?
Scotty: The traditional April’s Fools Day party. Wasn’t that a party for jokes?
Ted: Oh yes. I almost forgot. I didn’t do much. I spent most of my energy trying to get Colleen to come. I was going to have her come on to the other guys. To fool them into thinking she was easy. They thought she was frigid. I wanted to burn them.

-Flashback to 1995. “New Age Girl” (forgot the name of the artist) plays in the background. Ted is walking on campus with Colleen.
Ted: So you gonna come to the party on Thursday.
Colleen: On a Thursday. Kind of strange.
Ted: Parties actually start on Thursday.
Colleen: Don’t you have class on Friday.
Ted: Not until 12:00. I can sleep in. Besides I don’t drink too much.
Colleen: I don’t know. I’m not sure your friends like me too well. And I’ll have nothing to say to the sorority bubbleheads.
Ted: They hardly know you. This can be my chance to introduce you.
Colleen: It’s not going to get too crazy.
Ted: Well, it is sort of a special party. April Fool’s Day. A big tradition on the fraternity. We play all sorts of pranks that night. Hey, you game.
Colleen: For what?
Ted: Well, the guys have doubts about you. Let’s have some fun.
Colleen: How?
Ted: Play easy to get. Come on to everyone at the party. When they get freaked out, we’ll tell them the truth.
Colleen: I’m intrigued.
Ted: So this means you’ll come.
Colleen: I can’t stay all night. But, yes. Consider me there.
Ted: Great. It’s in three days. I’ll call you later with all the details. Then we can go to dinner, if you’re not too busy.
Colleen: No, I’m not. Call me.

Return to the Present
Ted: When she got to the party, she didn’t want to do it. I let it go.
Lily: Let it go like that.
Ted: Like that. Look. I liked Colleen. I was interested in her. Maybe the fraternity life wasn’t for me.
Lily: Then why’d you stay in it all four years.
Ted: I don’t know. Once you join, you never quit. I didn’t need the headache of being ostracized. It can be hell even on a large campus.
Lily: You ever get married.
Ted: Yes.
Lily: Kids.
Ted: Two. Girls.
Lily: Interesting because our mystery e-mailer tells us he has a wife and two girls.
Ted: A lot of guys have two kids who are girls.
Lily: But you went out with a girl who was killed. And someone is revealing more of what really happened to her. Got to admit, that is a coincidence.
Ted: Look, I didn’t kill her. All you have are the rantings of some guy who is nuts. I didn’t send those messages to you and I didn’t kill Colleen.

[r2k]

-After Ted leaves.
Lily: Nothing on the computer.
Jeffries: Blank. Zero messages.
Lily: I was hoping to hear from him. You know, I don’t buy Ted’s story about Colleen not going through with the joke. And he has two daughters.
Vera: I was thinking the same thing.
Lily: I mean, let’s say Colleen did go through with the joke. Colleen comes on to everyone. This is a frat house during a big party of the year. Maybe one of these guys mistook her advances as real. And got too rough when she pulled back.
Jeffries: I don’t know about Ted. This may have his big chance to come clean right here and he passed on it.
-The computer pops up.

Message Title: ABOUT MIKE

Lily reads the message out loud.

MIKE IS EVIL. HE CARES ABOUT NOBODY BUT HIMSELF. COLLEEN’S FEELINGS NEVER MATTERED TO HIM. I KNEW WHAT HE WANTED. I LET IT HAPPEN TO HER. TALK TO HIS FRIENDS. THEY KNOW SOME THINGS. THIS GUY NEEDS AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT.

Lily: We need for this guy to come in.
Scotty: And quick. I think he’s falling apart.

-Meanwhile, Stillman arrives at the office of Murphy’s Real Estate Developers. A secretary recognizes him.
Patricia: Hi. I know you from the newspapers and, well, everything.
Stillman: Sorry to bother you. I just want to speak to the person in charge.
Patricia: His son, Jeff, runs the business now. With his daughter. I guess Sean wanted to keep it in the family.
-Jeff walks out. He is 24 years old. He recognizes Stillman and becomes unhappy.
Jeff: Well, we meet at last. What do you want now?
Stillman: Answers. Why is the business still running?
Jeff: Because it’s a business. He asked my sister to run it for him. She was nervous about doing it alone so I left L.A. to come here and keep it moving. My dad worked hard on this business.
Stillman: That wouldn’t have gotten off the ground had it not been for him killing that boy!
Jeff: That’s stupid!
Stillman: That boy’s death nearly caused a race riot. The property values went down. Your father went in, bought up what he could. You know the rest.
Jeff: Not really. I wasn’t born when that happened. Remember. Though our entire family had to pay for it. My sister lost her job. My mother’s friends won’t even talk to her. She has to go to a different church now where nobody knows her.
Stillman: Of course. You never knew. Well, you know the truth now. How does it feel?
Jeff: I think we’re done here. You know, it’s bad enough to learn what happened. But I do know this. The case consumed your life to the fact that you lost your marriage over it. My dad got a life sentence with no parole. Is that not enough for you. Nothing in that sentence said his business needed to be shut down. He gave it us and we have a right to keep it going. Remember that. Now, I’m busy. Good day!
-Stillman walks away and then turns around one more time.
Stillman: You know he was ready to pin the murder on someone else.
-Jeff turns around.
Jeff: You know he confessed the murder to a priest. You were so angry at him you kind of overlooked that little piece of information.

-Later. Vera and Jeffries are talking with Derek Mattson, who now manages a bar and grill.
Derek: (Image flashes back 10 years and returns to normal) Campus police couldn’t solve Colleen’s murder ten years ago. Can’t imagine you guys are going to have better luck.
Vera: Mike tells us you were part of a conversation about the big party.
Derek: The April Fool’s Day tradition. Where frat guys play tricks on each other to compete for the ultimate prize. Christina Lawson. We’re talking hot and ready. You didn’t care if you had firsts or seconds. She was ready and willing, if you know what I mean.
Vera: So you competed for the girl.
Derek: You bet I did. Worked my self crazy trying to come up with something that would win.
Vera: What was your trick?
Derek: Well, it was kind of cruel. But it won. One of the frat guys was gay. In the closet, of course. He didn’t want anyone to find out. Somehow someone got wind of it. Saw him with a guy somewhere out of town where he didn’t think anyone would spot him.
Jeffries: What did you do?
Derek: Well, after he had a few beers, I pretended to be gay too. I approached him in a private room. Everybody knew what I was going to do. He fell in love with me and I outted him right then and there. In front of everybody. Needless to say, he ran out of there crying and never came back.
Vera: So in return for humiliating a guy for no reason whatsoever you won a night with Christina.
Derek: And what a night it was. Thing is, you can have Christina at any time. She’s willing to do anyone. But to win the competition was more about the mention. The prestige of winning. She wasn’t much of a prize considering almost everyone in fraternity was banging her on a regular basis.
Jeffries: Everybody.
Derek: Everybody. But that didn’t matter. On April Fool’s Day night, the winner got her for a couple hours.
(Vera and Jeffries look at each other.)
Derek: Usually, you only got until you were done with the one time. She would only do the guy once and then moved on to her next appointment.
Jeffries: (Looking at Vera) I guess that makes it a prize now doesn’t it.
Vera: By the way, since Christina graduated, who plays the prize now.

[r2k]

-Later, the team is together.
Vera: Derek is a prize catch. Competed for the ultimate skank.
Lily: Who?
Vera: Some sorority chick named Christina Lawson.
Lily: Sure the last name wasn’t Rush. Could have easily been my sister.
(Scotty looks a little disturbed by the remark, but keeps it in.)
Jeffries: Well, this means Christina was with Derek the whole night. I get a feeling this guy got his victory’s worth from her.
Stillman: Let’s find out where she is now.
Vera: I’ll check out the bars after work.
-Jeffries giggles
Scotty: Lil. Loser at three O’clock.
-Kite walks in.
Lily: (Annoyed) Why now?
-Kite approaches Lily.
Vera: Well, I’ll go find that sorority queen.
Scotty: I’ll go help you.
-Stillman just walks away.
-Jeffries just stands there looking uncomfortable.
Jeffries: I’ll go figure out what I’m doing and get back to you.
Lily: Kite. Been a long time.
Kite: I figured we’d bump into each again. So I’m here.
Lily: Yes, you are. (Pauses for a few seconds, making Kite extremely uncomfortable.
Kite: Well, this is awkward.
Lily: Good.
Kite: Look, I know you’re mad. But I want to explain.
Lily: What’s there to explain? First you expect me to change my priorities even as I tried to apologize. Then, you go off on Vera for making a mistake. And then there’s that last thing you went and did.
Kite: I know. I’m sorry. I feel bad about that.
Lily: Not half as bad as I do. That young man came in wanting to help and it backfired on him.
Kite: Look, we all have a job to do.
Lily: Oh, now the jobs are important. Nine months he got. He wasn’t the even the one who committed the murder. Now back to the job thing. Months ago, you were talking about how jobs aren’t a big thing. Now they are.
Kite: My boss was being tough on everyone at that time.
Lily: Tim helped us. He almost went away for the whole thing. Do you even understand what he must be going through right now?
Kite: It’s not our problem.
Lily: The only words his lawyer said were, “Guilty”. Tim never put up a fight. He accepted what he did, hard as it was for him. You never knew his wife was pregnant, did you.
Kite: She was?
Lily: Yes. She’s going to deliver the child before Tim gets out. You get it now. You get the damage you did to him. He’s not going to be able to be there and she’s going to have the baby without him.
-Kite sits down.
Kite: It’s easy to forget the people who are affected. Look, I know you’re mad at me. But I don’t want you to be. I feel bad about this. That’s why I came.
Lily: You did?
Kite: I didn’t want you to think I don’t feel bad about this.
-Lily sits down beside him.
Lily: I’m sorry. It’s just the case really got to me. And I guess I’m still mad about the breakup.
Kite: Me too. Look, I did pull some strings to make sure the sentence didn’t stretch longer. Plus he’s not in a bad place. They’re taking care of him. He’s strong, remember. He can take care of himself. Look, I get the feeling you’re really mad about the breakup. Truth is I never should have left you like that. I should have known going into it how busy you were.
Lily: You’re right, though. We all have jobs. But this is a special job. So much has happened in the last few months.
Kite: Your sister.
Lily: How did you know?
Kite: A New York detective came to see me. He thought I might be able to tell him something.
Lily: That guy came to you too. Well, it’s too late. She’s left again. Just as well. I warned Scotty she was a train wreck.
Kite: I thought Scotty had a girlfriend.
Lily: Boy, you have missed a lot. Elisa committed suicide.
Kite: I’m sorry.
Lily: Well, he and my sister hooked up right after that. As for my love life, just some letters from prison.
Kite: What?
Lily: The Crystal Hogan case. Her grandson, James. Wrote a bunch of them. He finally called me with a lead to another cold case. So, naturally, he brought up the letters and asked why I haven’t written him back.
Kite: Did you?
Lily: Once. He wrote back to say thank you and that he would cool it for a while. Guess he was happy to get a response.
Kite: Are you worried?
Lily: He’s harmless.
Kite: How ‘bout the case you’re working on now? Mike O’Connell’s old man is raising hell about it. When I heard about it, I started thinking of you. So what’s the case?
Lily: ’95. College girl. We’re getting e-mails from a guy who claims to have covered it up.
Kite: You’ll figure it out. But be careful. Mike’s dad takes care of his family, right or wrong. And this time I wanted to come help you. Well, I better go. I just felt this wasn’t right not seeing you.
Lily: Right. Look, I don’t expect us to get back together again. Or yet. I want you to know that a lot of what you said was true. Saving people at three in the morning. I guess that was the exception. Nobody else has come at that hour. But it’s hard for me here. I feel the need to perform well. But not at three in the morning. I just wish you would have given me more time. I want to be good at my job.
Kite: We all do. You’ll figure it out.
Lily: Thanks. See you around.
-Kite walks away. Lily smiles. Vera walks up.
Vera: Is he gone?
Lily: You saw him walk out.
Vera: Is he still mad at me?
Lily: I didn’t ask. This conversation was about him and me.
Vera: Okay. But next time ask. Are you okay?
Lily: Yes.
-Lily’s computer pops up a message.
Lily: He’s back.

I THINK I’M READY TO COME IN.

Lily reads the message.

IT’S ME. LOOK, I CAN’T KEEP DOING THIS. I NEED TO COME IN. ARE YOU GOING TO STAY LATE. I’LL BE THERE AT 9:00 TONIGHT. I FEEL BETTER COMING IN LATER. PLEASE BE THERE. DON’T TRUST A THING MIKE SAYS. HE NEVER TELLS THE TRUTH TO ANYONE’S FACE. HE SAYS PLENTY BUT IT IS MOSTLY IN CODE.

-Stillman walks up to Lily and reads the screen.
Lily: He’s coming in.
Stillman: Maybe. There is still a chance he’ll chicken out.
Lily: Maybe. But he’s getting braver. A few more exchanges and he might just do it.

-Later at 8:55. Lily, Vera, and Scotty are waiting.
Vera: Think he’ll show up.
Scotty: Do you think he will?
Vera: No.
Scotty: You want to bet on it.
Vera: $30.
Scotty: Shake on it.
Vera: Sure thing.
-The two shake.
Lily: You guys will bet on anything.
Vera: Makes the job more interesting.
-Stillman walks up to them.
Stillman: Not here yet.
Lily: No. But it is not nine just yet.
-A man in his sixties comes in. He is well dressed.
Stillman: Sean O’Connell. Mike’s father. I knew he’d be in eventually.
Lily: How so?
Stillman: Sean has wealth and power. He defends his family. Hold on tight.
Sean O’Connell: Well, I’m glad we’re all here. I’ll make this short and sweet. My son didn’t do anything and there is no reason to badger him any more than you already have.
Stillman: Now, we’re not accusing him of anything.
Sean: But still. You have no need or business talking to him.
Lily: Boss, can I say something.
Stillman: Sure.
Lily: Look, I understand you love your son. Hopefully, he isn’t involved. But ten years a girl died needlessly. Someone has e-mailed us giving information. This person seems to think Mike was involved.
Sean: But that’s the thing. You’re taking the word of a guy who’s too chicken to come out and reveal himself.
-Lily notices Mike at the entrance to the area watching. He sees her looking at him. He walks up to his father. His father notices him.
Sean: Oh, you’re here. Now we can all work this thing out. Mike here wouldn’t do anything like that. He’s grown up into a mature man with a wife and two kids.
Mike: Yeah.
Sean: Don’t say anything Mike. Keep quiet. Now, if the rantings of an e-mailer are all you have, I think we’re going to leave now. Leave my son alone.
-Sean turns to Mike.
Sean: Son, your mother and I are having dinner on Friday. Our usual place. Bring the family. We’ll have a wonderful evening.
Mike: Sure Dad.
Sean: It’s been nice chatting with you all. (Looks at Lily) You’re a lovely lady. Maybe you and I can get together some time.
Lily: Doubtful.
-Sean and Mike leave together. Mike looks at Lily as if to say, “I’m sorry about this.” After they’re gone Lily talks.
Lily: Well, that was a treat.
Vera: That guy just thinks he’s so special.
Stillman: Doesn’t change the fact he pulls a lot of weight in this city. (Looks at his watch.) Looks like your e-mailer isn’t going to show.
Lily: Probably saw Mike here and bolted. He said Mike was evil. And I’m beginning to think he’s right. Thing is, Mike doesn’t strike me as evil. Why does this e-mailer think that?

[r2k]

-Later, Lily and the team is talking. Stillman is not present.
Lily: Well, here we are.
Scotty: Waiting for another e-mail..

-The computer screen signals an instant message.
Lily: He wants to chat.

Instant message: SORRY I COULDN’T MAKE IT. I COULDN’T COME CLEAN WITH HIM THERE. HE SCARES ME.
Lily: UNDERSTANDABLE.
E-mailer: YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON I’VE TOLD THIS TO. YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON WHO KNOWS.
Lily: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO TELL SOMEONE?
E-mailer: FEELS GOOD. BUT WHO ARE WE KIDDING? IF I COME IN, MY LIFE IS GOING TO GET WORSE.
Lily: BUT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO.
E-mailer: I KNOW.
-There is a pause.
Lily: WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY TO COME IN? MAYBE WE COULD MEET SOMEWHERE SAFE. I’VE DONE THIS BEFORE.
E-mailer: I NEED TO CLEAR MY HEAD. SEEING HIM THERE WITH YOU FREAKED ME OUT. I’LL CONTACT YOU AGAIN TOMORROW. GOODBYE.

Lily: This guy is terrified of Mike. Let’s do a background check on him.
Jeffries: Way ahead of you. Let’s just say, if it weren’t for the money, he’d be in prison by now. Multiple arrests in high school and college. Alcohol related. Also attempted rape. Daddy helped pay off some people and hired a good lawyer.
Lily: Best several thousand can buy.
Scotty: Seems like Mike has been protected for so long. Not going to be easy to get him.
Lily: I know. And our mystery e-mailer is aware of this. What is it about Mike that scares him? Whoever this guy is, he seems to know something about Mike nobody else does. Perhaps that’s the key. The next time our e-mailer wants to chat, I’ll ask him.
Vera: In the meantime, we ran a trace on the e-mails. Nothing. The e-mail is listed under a fictitious name.
Lily: He wants to decide when he’s ready to come in.
Scotty: I’ve got a funny feeling we’re overlooking something.
Lily: What do you mean?
Scotty: Not sure yet. Something doesn’t smell right. I want to look at those e-mail messages again.
Lily: I have them right here. Go ahead. I’m going to talk to the boss.
Vera: Sure thing. Hey Scotty. Thirty bucks.
Scotty: Oh man.
Lily: Scotty. Watch it. You’re gonna lose your life savings.

-Lily walks into Stillman’s office.
Lily: Hey boss. You got a minute.
Stillman: Sure.
-Lily sits down.
Stillman: You want to know what’s wrong.
Lily: You had a weird look on your face earlier.
Stillman: Remember the Tim Barnes case?
Lily: Sure.
Stillman: My daughter came in telling me that the guy who killed him, Murphy.
Lily: I remember him.
Stillman: His real estate developer’s business is still running.
Lily: Who’s running it?
Stillman: His kids. Can you believe that?
Lily: Why does that upset you?
Stillman: I don’t know. I guess I feel like the business should have tanked with him. He built that business on the foundation of a murder.
Lily: His kids might not see it that way. No matter how angry they may be at him right now, they still love him. I should know the feeling.
Stillman: You do.
Lily: I still love my mother despite everything. In the end, she’s still my mother. Think about the situation a little. When you figure it out, go back and talk to his son again. You know, a little boy was killed. We assumed Murphy never felt bad about it. Maybe he did. When we had him in that interrogation room, he panicked. Remember, we fooled him into thinking he was identifying another suspect. He might have said anything at that point to make what he did sound not so horrible. Think about it tonight. Don’t stress it though.
Stillman: I’ll try.
Lily: I’m going to check on Scotty. He had a feeling about the messages.
Stillman: You two okay.
Lily: We will be. I’m just not ready to talk about it right now. I just want to know where my sister went off to.

-Lily walks out of Stillman’s office. She goes back to her desk where Scotty is examining the e-mail printouts.
Lily: Anything yet.
Scotty: Nothing. But I’ve got a hunch. There’s something to these messages.
-Jeffries comes out.
Jeffries: I located Colleen’s roommate, Penny Williams. You’re in for a surprise.
Lily: What is it?
Jeffries: She’s married to Derek Mattson, the frat guy Vera and I interviewed earlier.

-Back at the bar and grill. Lily comes up to Derek.
Lily: Detective Rush. You met my colleagues earlier.
Derek: Wish I’d met you earlier. Pretty girl like you.
Lily: Really. Speaking of earlier, isn’t there something you failed to mention to my colleagues.
Derek: Like what?
Lily: Like that you’re wife was Colleen’s roommate.
Derek: Oh that. Didn’t think it was relevant. Mere coincidence. Thing is, I didn’t meet Penny until after Colleen died so I guess you’re out of luck on that possibility.
Lily: Really. Well, you may be out of luck if you’re hiding anything else. Now, where is your loving wife? I’d like a word with her.
Derek: She’s in the back, in the office.
Lily: Thank you.

-In the office in the back.
Lily: Penny Mattson, maiden name Williams.
Penny: (Image flashes back to 19, and then returns to 29.) Yes.
Lily: I’d like to talk to you about a roommate you had in ’95. Colleen Larimore.
Penny: That alternative chick from the dark side. What about her?
Lily: Well, I’m sure you remember she turned up dead in the dumpster outside the dorm you both lived in.
Penny: Yes and I put up with a lot from reporters and cops thinking I knew everything. I knew nothing.
Lily: Also heard you two got into some heated arguments.
Penny: With that new age girl, arguments went with the territory. She stopped cleaning the room. Burned incense. You name it.

-Flashback to 1995. “Connection” by Elastica plays in the background
Colleen and Penny are having an argument over the room.
Penny: This place is a mess. My boyfriend doesn’t want to come over anymore.
Colleen: What’s the big deal? You clean it and in a few days it is a mess again. I decided not to put myself through that. Besides, cleaning is a man’s trap. I’m too smart for that.
Penny: (mimicking her in a snotty tone.) I’m too smart for that.
Colleen: This is my room too, so I have a say in how things go. If you don’t like it, why don’t you find another room.
Penny: Listen you alternative dyke! You are going to clean this room up now.
Colleen: Make me, sorority ho.
Penny: Screw you b-----!
-Colleen walks out the door and slams it.

Return to the present.
Penny: I threw all her clothes out the window. She had to pick them all up when she got back. That was a couple of days before she went missing.
Lily: There is a connection between you and the place she was murdered.
Penny: What? Where was she killed?
Lily: At the Alpha Beta frat house.
Penny: That’s impossible.
-Derek enters.
Derek: I’m positive she wasn’t killed there.
Lily: How can you be so sure? You were too busy with Christina Hot Pants.
-Penny has a disturbed look on her face.
Lily: Now that’s interesting.
Penny: What?
Lily: You claim to have met after Colleen’s death, but you’re reaction to my remark clearly says you were together before. (Looks at Penny) You know who Christina is, don’t you.
Penny: Of course. I was in a sorority too. We all make our little mistakes.
Derek: Okay, this is a little crazy. Now you’ve established a motive for my wife to kill Christina, who we all know is still alive. But Colleen is the one who was murdered.
Penny: (Angry) How do you know Christina is still alive?
Derek: Let’s just say I’ve seen her at a few bachelor parties.
-Penny gets up and walks towards him.
Penny: How many times have you seen that loose tramp since that night?
Derek: Honey. Please. Nothing happens at these parties.
Lily: That’s original.
Penny: I gave you a second chance after her.
Derek: Look, she’s just a dancer hired on occasion. I’m not the one who hires her.
Lily: (interrupting) You know, I’m curious. How does the president of a sorority end up a stripper.
Derek: Ask Adam Lutz. He was at the party. He was also there years later when she hit rock bottom. He’s the one who hires her out of pity.
Penny: So Adam’s behind this. I should have known. That’s it. Next time you see Adam, tell him he is never to hire that slut again! Or why does he have to hire a slut at all. His wife not good enough for him?
Derek: If she’s anything like you are right now on a daily basis, probably not. I can’t tell Adam what to do. Stay out of it.
Lily: I’m going to leave you two to bicker among yourselves.
-Lily gets up and leaves with them arguing in the office.

[r2k]

-At the station.
Lily: Derek and Penny don’t seem like suspects to me. They can barely get along let alone plan a murder.
Vera: Derek was somewhat of a guy.
Lily: Penny is no lady. This girl has vicious written all over her. But the conflict between her and Colleen seemed more petty than murderous. If anything, Derek is right. Penny had more of a motive to kill Christina Lawson than Colleen.
Scotty: They mention anything interesting.
Lily: Well, the name Adam Lutz came up. Another frat guy I presume. Apparently, he can lead us to Christina Lawson who is now a stripper.
Vera: You’re kidding.
Jeffries: That won’t be necessary. Christina Lawson lives not too far from here. Got her address here.
-Stillman enters.
Stillman: What have we got?
Lily: Another frat guy and a sorority girl gone wild. Scotty and I will check out party girl. Vera, how about you and Jeffries find Adam Lutz.
Vera: Sounds like fun.

-Lily and Scotty knock on the apartment door where Christina lives. She opens. Christina has blond hair but she looks older than 32, which is how old she really is. Her image flashes to 22 and then returns to 32 again.
Christina: Can I help you?
Lily: Detective Rush.
Scotty: Detective Valens. Homicide.
Christina: Homicide.
Lily: We’re looking into a murder from 10 years ago.
Scotty: Colleen Larimore.
Christina: I remember her. She was at the party. Out of her league.
Lily: Really. One of the guys invited her.
Christina: Ted. They brothers told him not to. But he did it anyway. Chick was too alternative. Never into fun.
Lily: Do you remember anything about that night?
Christina: Well, I wasn’t drunk early on. I remember her coming in. She was with Ted a while. They left together I think. I didn’t see them leave. Come to think of it, I remember Ted was at the party and she was already gone. That was before I gave the winner his prize.
Lily: We already know about the contest. You don’t need to tell us.
Christina: Good. Because I hate telling it. At the time, it’s all fun and games. Then you graduate and men use that stuff against you. Girl, you look smart. If you have any secrets, hide them. Don’t let anybody know what they are. Especially men. They will exploit those secrets to get their way.
Lily: Not all men are bad. You just got involved with the wrong people.
Christina: Well, someone’s been good to me. Been sending me large sums of money every month. I think I’m going to pick myself up and try again at a legitimate career. One with dignity.
Lily: That’s good to hear.
Christina: Yeah, you know, I’ve been going back to college to finish my degree. Thing is, in the last envelope, there was a note asking me to stop stripping.
Lily: Do you have the note?
Christina: Yes, I do.
-Lily looks at the note.

DEAR CHRISTINA,

I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULDN’T WORK AS A STRIPPER ANYMORE. YOU’RE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT IN COLLEGE. I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. I’M INCREASING THE AMOUNT EACH MONTH SO YOU CAN CONCENTRATE ON STUDYING FULL TIME. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD GO HOME TO YOUR PARENTS. I’LL BET THEY MISS HAVING YOU AROUND.

A FRIEND

Christina: I think I’m going to listen to whoever this is. My parents were worried about me. They feel so much better that I’m turning my life around. They can’t wait for me to come home.
Lily: When are you moving?
Christina: In two weeks. I have so much packing to do.
Lily: I’m sure that whoever this guy is, he must care for you. Look, if you want some advice. Don’t let the past eat you up. You’ve obviously learned from it. Now, move past it. Look to the future and live for today.

-Meanwhile, Vera and Jeffries have located Adam Lutz.
Adam: Can’t imagine what Derek was thinking bringing me into that murder.
Vera: So you had nothing to do with it.
Adam: No. But I can explain the whole Christina thing. Colleen was very upset by the contest.
Jeffries: How so?
Adam: Well, Colleen agreed to participate in Ted’s little trick. When she found out what the prize was. Well, let’s just say she misunderstood Ted.

-Flashback to 1995. “What Would You Say” by Dave Matthews Band is playing.
Colleen: Ted. You didn’t tell me what the prize was.
Ted: What do you mean? Who cares about the prize? I wasn’t really into that contest anyway.
Colleen: That’s not the point. A girl is degrading herself by giving herself away as a prize to a guy. That’s wrong!
Ted: I’m not doing it!
Colleen: But you tolerate it!
Ted: No I don’t!
Colleen: As long as you’re a part of this fraternity, you do. I’m sorry. I can’t be a part of this. I thought I could. But I can’t.
-Colleen walks away from him in front of everyone, who is watching. Ted looks at everyone with an angry look on his face.

-Return to the present.
Adam: He looked ticked. Colleen stormed out of there.
Vera: Anyone follow her.
Adam: No. That’s the problem. Any one of us could have killed her. Soon after she left, we all become more drunk and went around to different places in the house. The majority of the guests left and many of the other brothers left to go partying elsewhere. Who knows how the night ended?
Vera: So, who was left in the house after Colleen bolted?
Adam: Well, me. Ted hung around for a while and then left. Mike was there with some girl. Derek and Christina were together the whole night. Chris and Dave were around. I think they hooked up. Pretty much everyone hooked up except Ted.
Vera: Did you see Ted leave?
Adam: No. I just assumed he left. We didn’t see him until the next day.
Jeffries: How did he react when he learned of Colleen’s death?
Adam: He was pretty sad about it. Looking back at it, there was no hope for those two. It was college. We were immature back then. I’d like to think I’ve grown up since then. I felt bad for him. She seemed like a nice girl. So what if she didn’t like us. That shouldn’t have gotten in the way of them.
Vera: You mentioned two other people. Chris and Dave.
Adam: Chris Landis and Dave Prepon. Dave was killed in a car wreck soon after graduation. Chris kind of had some drug problems. He recently cleaned up and is staying with his parents.
Vera: Do you know where we could reach Chris?
Adam: Yeah. I still keep in touch with him. Let me write his address down for you. He’s at the point now where he likes people visiting him. Rough in the beginning of the detox and rehab.
Vera: Thank you. One last question.
Adam: Shoot.
Vera: What do you really think of Mike O’Connell?
Adam: Ten years ago. The guy who had it all and every guy wanted to be. Today, the biggest most evil man who ever walked the Earth. We don’t speak anymore. No reason to.
Vera: We’ll be in touch. Oh by the way, did you hook up that night?
Adam: I had my girlfriend with me. So, yes. There is one thing.
Vera: Oh yeah, what?
Adam: Christina was never the same after that night. Her drinking got out of control. She barely made it out of college. And when she did, she couldn’t find a job to save her life.
Jeffries: That why you hired her so many times for parties.
Adam: I don’t what to say about that.
Vera: It’s just that the whole Greek system is supposed to be about being brothers and sisters. You don’t hire your own sister to strip for you.

[r2k]

-Back at the station.
Vera: Well, the other two frat guys are accounted for. One dead and one out of rehab. Living at home with Mom and Dad.
Lily: Why don’t you and Jeffries take that one? And Vera, be nice on that one please.
Vera: I will. Gosh, you think I’m going to be mean.
-Vera and Jeffries walk out of the area.
Lily: Well, I guess we just wait until our friend e-mails us again.
Scotty: Yes.
-There’s a silence.
Scotty: Look, Lil. I know this might not be the right time. But I’m sorry.
Lily: I know. Not knowing what happened between the two of us, what she did. And I know things were hard on you.
Scotty: But that was no excuse for what I did. Part of me knew it wasn’t right. The other part of me kept thinking, this girl couldn’t have been so bad. Who knows what to think?
Lily: You and me both. Part of me hates her. But then this other part of me keeps saying she went through the same house. She and I both got a bad deal. One of us crawled out of it. The other couldn’t. Still can’t.
Scotty: Maybe she will someday. I guess I thought I could save her.
Lily: She doesn’t want to be saved, Scotty. I didn’t for a long time. And I’ve tried to catch her up. Nothing worked.
Scotty: I guess it’s all up to her now.
Lily: I’ll let it slide once. But I want you to know, if you want to help her, include me in it and do it the right way. Not in bed.
Scotty: Gotcha.
Lily: I heard you went through Elisa’s file.
Scotty: Yeah. I don’t expect to find anything. Just feels good to go through it.
Lily: It’ll get better.
Scotty: I hope so. You know, I keep going through these e-mails. I know we’re overlooking something. I just know it.

-Lily’s computer has an instant message. The e-mailer wants to chat.
Lily: We’re on.

e-mailer: IT’S NOW OR NEVER. I MUST BRING THE TRUTH ABOUT THAT NIGHT OUT INTO THE OPEN.

Lily: BRING WHAT OUT IN THE OPEN.

e-mailer: WHAT HAPPENED THAT TO COLLEEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO HER WAS HORRIBLE AND IT’S ALL MY FAULT.

Lily: NO IT’S NOT. BUT YOU MAY END UP BEING BLAMED FOR IT IF YOU DON’T COME IN SOON AND TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

e-mailer: I CAN’T COME IN. THERE’S TOO MUCH AT STAKE. I WANT TO COME IN AND END THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL. I LIVE WITH THIS EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE. JUST WISH IT WOULD GO AWAY.

Lily: YOU KNOW THAT CAN’T HAPPEN. BUT THE PAIN OF HIDING THIS SECRET CAN. PLEASE COME IN.

-There is no reply.

Lily: We lost him again.
Scotty: And I don’t think he’s coming.

-Lily suddenly receives an e-mail message.

IMPORTANT.

-Lily opens it.

YOU OVERLOOKED SOMETHING WHEN YOU WERE AT MIKE’S.

Lily: How did this person know we were at Mike’s?
Scotty: That is a good question.
-Stillman comes up.
Stillman: What have you got?
Lily: Whoever this guy is, he has been watching us. He knows more than he should if he were innocent.
Scotty: Let’s look at those earlier e-mails again.

-Jeff Murphy walks into the area. He is not mad. He spots Stillman. Stillman sees him. Lily pats him on the back.
Lily: This is your chance to do things right.
Stillman: When did you become the mentor?
Lily: I think we all mentor each other every now and then.
-Lily walks away with Scotty and returns to the computer. Stillman and Jeff are left in the main area.
Stillman: Let’s go into my office.
-They both walk in.
Jeff: Look. I was out of line before. You worked so hard on that case. You lost so much because of it. You had every right to come down on my dad that way. He was an 8 year old boy. Still can’t believe it.
Stillman: Yes, I did lose a lot. And part of your father’s punishment should have been for that business to shut down. That’s what happens when people are arrested. They lose things.
Jeff: He lost his freedom for the rest of his life. Look. You’ve been angry at my father since you learned he was the one. But at some point you’ve got to realize, that case is closed. My dad suffered plenty in the beginning. He was going to fight it you know.
Stillman: What?
Jeff: Yeah. He was so mad. But I stopped him. I wanted my dad to live. And the only way I saw that happening was for him to plead guilty and confess to it. You think this has been easy for us. On my mother. Without the business running, she has nothing to live on. Get it.
-Stillman finally realizes.
Jeff: She stayed home to raise us. She never had a career of her own. Without the money from the business, she doesn’t have squat. Thing is, and I didn’t know it at the time until he was arrested. I could have testified against him.
Stillman: You mean, you know all along.
Jeff: No. I was born a year after Tim Barnes was killed. My mother was pregnant with me soon after. Dad told me he never meant to kill him. When I was little and was bad, he’d raise his hand to hit me. He must have done that a million times. Never hit me once.
Stillman: I told him he didn’t like children. Never occurred to me he had any at the time.
Jeff: He couldn’t hit me because of the guilty he felt. He was afraid he would kill me too. And my middle name is Tim.
Stillman: I’ll be. I was still investigating that case when it happened. We never picked up on that. He give you his name as a middle name.
Jeff: Look. The case is closed. My dad is never getting out. And he is sorry. But he talks about you.
Stillman: He does.
Jeff: I came here from California not because of the business really. Because I knew I wouldn’t see him much from now on. He’s finally accepting it. But you know, more than anything, he needs you to forgive him.
Stillman: I guess I misjudged him. What he did was horrible. And when I finally figured it out, I wanted him dead. I just had a hard time believing it was him. He didn’t seem the type. We were looking for some thug. He was right under our noses the whole time.
Jeff: He was angry at the boy for stealing the glue. I guess for him it was the breaking point. I still can’t believe he did it. Go see him. Tim Barnes’ parents have.
Stillman: They have.
Jeff: I went to apologize to them myself. Don’t know why. Family members of killers do that apparently. Things between them went well. I was tense the whole time. But it worked out well. I told them if they needed anything I would help them. They’ll never have to worry about anything again. Go see him. Look, I gotta run. I can’t leave sis there too long. She’s afraid to run the place by herself. Are we okay?
Stillman: Yes. I think we are. I guess I forgot to turn the anger off. I’ll go see him soon. I promise. This case will never really leave me.
Jeff: I think in a way it’s a part of us all. Even if we weren’t alive for it. Later.
-Jeff starts to walk away.
Stillman: You know you look so much like your father.
Jeff: Yeah. Not sure at this point if that’s good or bad.

-Jeff walks out. Stillman leaves his office. Lily walks up to him.
Lily: How’d it go?
Stillman: Well.
Lily: Well.
Stillman: That young man is a good person. I guess you’re not the only one who will have someone in prison to visit soon.
Lily: Let’s just not go together. And I’m not sure I really want to go. But that guy needs someone right now to help him.

-Meanwhile, at Chris Landis’ parents house. Chris is sitting in the living room.
Chris: (Images flashes back and returns again) I don’t mind talking about Colleen. I wasn’t jacked up on crap back then. Started at the end of college and after. Spent a few years in rehab. Now I’m here. Nice story for the high school reunion. The one I didn’t go to.
Vera: Do you recall anything about that night.
Chris: I was getting some with a girl. Can’t even remember her name. I know Colleen was leaving. I don’t remember seeing her walk out the door.
Vera: You sure.
Chris: Positive.
Jeffries: How could nobody see her leave when clearly she did?
Chris: The stairs were right there. She could easily have gone upstairs.
Vera: But she was leaving Ted and he saw her go to the door.
Chris: It’s the only way. Look, I lived in that house for three years. I knew that place like the back of my hand. With all the people there, that is the only way.
Jeffries: Is it possible she came back later.
Chris: Not likely. She didn’t want anything to do with that place. And Ted. He wasn’t quite the party guy we were. Didn’t matter. He was still a cool guy to hang out with.
Vera: We’ve been asking everybody this. What did you think of Mike?
Chris: Twisted individual. Felt like he was owed everything. He was rich. Had a sense of entitlement. He had a few problems with some girls, Daddy swooped in a made it all better. We learned to hate him over the years. Adam stood by me during the drug problems. Ted too. Even Derek took time from his party schedule to see me. Mike didn’t. Derek has two daughters and he goes to see strippers every week. Sick. But at least he was there for me when I needed him.

[r2k]

-At the station.
Lily: So we have two suspects.
Scotty: Both have two girls.
Jeffries: Still, Derek was riding the big prize the whole night. Why would he kill Colleen.
Lily: Maybe he wanted Colleen.
Scotty: One thing’s for sure. Colleen either didn’t leave or she came back.
Lily: But what about Mike? You think someone’s trying to frame him.
Scotty: You think our e-mailer might be leading us to him on purpose.
Lily: That would explain why our mystery guest refuses to come in and reveal himself. Perhaps he never intended to. He’ll keep leading us until we find the killer.

-Adam is in the interrogation with Lily.
Lily: Well, Ted. I find it hard to believe you didn’t go chasing after Colleen. Pretty girl like that.
Ted: I didn’t.
Lily: Come on. That’s a load of crap. You wanted her and she humiliated you at the party.
Ted: She left me. True.
Lily: And you lured her back to the house and killed her.
Ted: I wasn’t going to kill her. I even went to her dorm to find her and apologize. Look, I was thinking of leaving the fraternity after that. I thought maybe this girl might care for me. I mean, she was willing to come to the party for me.

-Meanwhile in the other room, Vera and Jeffries are having it out with Derek.
Derek: This is stupid. I was with Christina all night. You can ask her.
Vera: Well, that’s good to know, because she’s coming in to rat out your sorry ass.
Derek: (Becoming nervous.) What?
Jeffries: Yes. Your prize is coming back to haunt you.
Vera: But she’s not on the clock this time.
Derek: She won’t know anything.
Vera: Is there something she should know. Did this happen when she was passed out?
Derek: No. Look, I’m not talking anymore. I want a lawyer.
Vera: Guy wants a lawyer. I’m surprised you want a lawyer. After the fight you had with the Mrs. Earlier, we figured you probably have already taken care of that.

-Outside the interrogation rooms.
Lily: Ted’s not talking.
Jeffries: Derek lawyered up.
Lily: Great.
-Christina Lawson comes in.
Vera: Maybe she can help.
-A few minutes later. Christina is talking with them.
Christina: I never told anyone this because I didn’t want to get involved. My parents would know what a slut I was. Not that it matters now. Derek and I were still having fun when Colleen came in.

-Flashback to 1995. “Let Her Cry” by Hootie and the Blowfish (note: I only included one Hootie song) plays in the background. Derek and Christina are laying in bed. They are between humps. Colleen rushes in.
Colleen: Come on. I’m getting you out of here.
Christina: (Partially drunk) What? You’re rescuing me from whom?
Colleen: You deserve better than to be a prize for guys who don’t care about you.
Derek: Listen, dyke. You get outta here. This is my prize!
Colleen: She’s not a prize, she’s a woman. Actually, she’s a human being.
-Colleen looks at Christina.
Colleen: I’m getting you out of here.
Christina: (Kind of out of it.) Okaaaaaay. I’m outttaaaa heeeeere. Bye prize winner. It’s been nice. (Starts laughing)
-Colleen and Christina walk down the stairs. They reach the door when Colleen turns around and looks back into the house. She turns to Christina.
Colleen: (Whispers) Go. Run. Now. Quickly.
Christina: Okay!
-Christina runs wildly across the street and into the campus. She eventually bumps into a guy and girl who offer to walk her home.

-Return to the present.
Christina: I never knew who those two were. They probably saved my life.
Lily: Christina. What happened to Colleen?
Christina: I don’t know. She was at the front door with me. Nobody else was there. She turned around. Her head was turned for a while. She then looked at me and quickly told me to run.
Lily: Do you think she saw someone?
Christina: I don’t know. It’s possible. But why would she stay?
Lily: Good point.
Scotty: We got another message.
-Lily looks at both interrogation rooms.
Lily: That’s impossible. We have both suspects here.
Scotty: Well we have a message.

I’M SORRY

-Lily clicks on the message.

LILY, I’M SORRY. BUT I CAN’T GO THROUGH WITH IT. PERHAPS I’M MEANT TO SUFFER. BUT I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MY FAMILY TOO.

Lily: What do we do?
Scotty: I don’t know.
Lily: I have an idea.
-Lily types a reply.

WHAT IF WE MET SOMEWHERE QUIET. WE CAN TALK. PLEASE. THIS IS THE MOMENT. IT’S NOW OR NEVER. IF WE FIND YOU, YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE LONGEST SENTENCE.

-Lily and Scotty wait. An instant message comes up.

I FEEL LIKE I COULD COME IN. AND THEN I THINK OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME. IT’S ALL MIKE FAULT.

Lily: He’s bringing Mike into this.
Scotty: Wait a minute, Lil’. He’s not bringing Mike into this.
Lily: What do you mean?
Scotty: Look. He left out the s in Mike. It’s sounds like “It’s all my fault”.
Lily: So.
Scotty: This is Mike. Mike is the one sending the messages.
Lily: That’s out there Scotty.
Scotty: Makes sense. Look. In an earlier message, he mentioned two girls. Mike has two girls. We were thrown off by the boy. We assumed the e-mailer only had two kids. He is focused on his daughters. They make him feel guilty. Our two other suspects are here. They could not have sent those messages. This new message. He left out the s in Mike. He’s trying to say, It’s all my fault. He can’t quite say that yet but he’s trying. In an earlier message he said what he did was evil. He originally said he helped but eventually the word helped disappeared altogether.
Lily: I better respond to this.

Lily: WHY DID YOU CONTACT ME IF YOU’RE GOING TO HIDE?
e-mailer: I DON’T KNOW. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT’S TOO COMPLICATED.
Lily: DOING THE RIGHT THING ISN’T COMPLICATED. BUT YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE AND IT IS NOW. PLEASE COME IN.

Lily: Vera: Get some units at Mike’s place, now.

e-mailer: I CAN’T. I JUST CAN’T I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT.

Vera: They’re camped outside his house. He’s not there. They located him at his office.
Lily: Get a few more units. I’m going to try one more thing.
-Lily goes back to the computer and types.

Lily: I DON’T WANT ANYTHING BAD TO HAPPEN TO YOU. I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. MIKE?
e-mailer: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Lily: DON’T PANIC. WE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. I WANT TO APPEAL TO YOU ONE LAST TIME. NOW, POLICE ARE WATCHING YOU BUT NOT MOVING IN.
e-mailer: THANK YOU.
Lily: NOW, YOU HAVE AN HOUR TO COME IN. AFTER THAT, THE UNIFORMS DO.

-The e-mailer logs off.
Lily: He’s gone.
Vera: Now we wait.
Scotty: What about Derek and Ted?
Lily: Let them stay. We may need them.

[r2k]

-Lily goes into the interrogation room where Ted is sitting.
Lily: I’m sorry if I misjudged you.
Ted: You believe me.
Lily: We know who it is.
Ted: Was it Mike?
Lily: We’re pretty sure. We have to wait for him to come in. We’re giving him an hour. He wants to.
Ted: I always thought she was killed somewhere else.
Lily: You couldn’t have known.
Ted: I liked her because she was different. She was real. True to herself. She wanted a guy to respect her as a human being.
Lily: She would have been lucky to have you.

-Lily and Ted walk out of the room. Derek comes out of the other room with Vera. Christina is sitting in a chair at Lily’s desk. Mike O’Connell walks in. He stops in front of Lily and Ted.
Lily: 16 minutes.
Mike: I figured it was now or never.
Lily: You did the right thing.
Ted: Hey.
Mike: Been a long time.
Ted: Why did you do it?
Lily: Ted, let him tell me first, okay.
Ted: Alright.
-Ted stands by Christina. Derek walks up to them. Derek holds Christina’s hand.

-Later in Stillman’s office. Stillman and Lily are with Mike. Lily hands him a cup of water.
Mike: I. I can’t believe I’m finally here, talking about it. My dad’s going to kill me.
Lily: Listen, Mike. You’re here. There’s no reason to go back now.
Mike: (starting to cry) I hate myself. All my life everything was handed to me. And my dad never said no. Whenever something went wrong, he made it go away. But I can’t make this go away. And he’ll try. Thing is, I don’t want him to make this go away. I did this. I’m tired of him covering for me. I can’t even remember most of the other things he’s covered for me. I can’t take it anymore. It’s not going away.
Lily: Everyone around you thinks you’re evil. Why is that?
Mike: Because I get what I want. Just like Daddy. Taught me well. But deep down inside, I knew I was doing wrong. It was just so hard to change. I never could stop.
Lily: So what happened?
Mike: The other day, I came home early. The girls were sitting there playing in the living room. I sat down to watch them. I never do. That’s when it hit me.
Lily: What hit you?
Mike: Colleen was a little girl once. All those girls I took advantage of where little girls. And I murdered Colleen because she told me the truth to my face. She had the guts to tell it like it is. I’m looking at these little girls who love me and they don’t know. I’m their father. I’m supposed to protect them. Colleen’s dad couldn’t do that. For the first time, I knew what he felt when his little girl (pauses and cries), when she was killed. My girls were so innocent looking and they love me. They have no idea what I have done.
Lily: It was your father you were talking about in the message. You had no idea he was coming in to defend you. You did show up. He scared you silent.
Mike: All I could do was stand there and let him defend me. Never once did he say that I needed to take responsibility. I wish it could go away.
Lily: You tried to make amends by helping Christina out. You sent her the money.
Mike: Yes. It was all I could do at the moment. It was a start. I couldn’t help Colleen.
Lily: So you helped one of the girls you wronged. It was a good start. Listen. In time, you’re going to be able to handle this. So many rapists go through life never changing. They hurt more women. But you stopped. You are not evil.
Mike: I wish none of this ever happened.
Lily: But it did. And if you cooperate and tell the judge the truth, you may still have a chance.
Mike: No, I don’t. I want another chance. But that can’t happen.
Lily: But at least the hard part is over. For you, this must have been the hard part.
Mike: It was. Look, you need to do a favor for me. For Christina.
Lily: What?
Mike: Here. This is information for an account. I set it up for her. It’s more than she’ll ever need to get by. I won’t be able to help her after this. Help her with it.
Lily: I will.

-Mike starts to relax.
Lily: How do you feel?
Mike: Better. (Wipes his eyes.) For the first time, I want to fight who I was and change. I just wish I didn’t have to go to jail.
Lily: Nobody wants to go to jail. Now tell me what happened to Colleen that night.
Mike: I didn’t plan this ahead of time. It was the heat of the moment. You have to believe me on that. She came back and took Christina away. I got so mad.

-Flashback to 1995. Colleen takes Christina to the door. As she opens and lets Christina out, Mike comes down the stairs. Colleen sees him and rushes Christina out. Colleen walks back in.
Colleen: (Facing up to him) How do you live with yourself?
Mike: It’s easy. Life is short. You need to have a little fun.
Colleen: Life is more than fun. But if you would ever sober up and actually grow up you would know that.
Mike: Oh, spare me the alternative psychobabble. You people pretend to be so deep and intelligent. But deep down inside, you’re repressed little losers with no sense of what fun is.
-Mike grabs her.
Colleen: What are you doing?
Mike: Listen b----. Christina is a prize. You have no right scaring the prize away. That girl is tradition. And you’ve broken it.
Colleen: You think of her as a prize. That’s pathetic!!
Mike: Come on, we’re going to the basement. We’re going to have some real fun.
Colleen: No. Let me go. You loaded.
Mike: Come on, we’re going to have fun. You’ll like it.
Colleen: No. Please. No!!! No!!! Noooo!!!!
Mike: You shouldn’t scared her away. Because you’re the prize now.
-Mike pulls her to the basement door and opens it. He pushes her in and follows her. The door to the basement shuts. Colleen’s screams slowly get softer. Later, Mike carries her body across campus to her dorm. He places her body in a dumpster and leaves.

“Strong Enough” by Sheryl Crow plays in the background as Mike buries his head in shame. Lily lets him sit for a moment before putting her hand on his shoulder. He rises. He is arrested and taken away. His image flashes back to what he looked like in 1995. As he walks out, Derek, Ted, and Christina watch. Their images change as he walks by. Later, Lily talks with Colleen’s parents. Their images flashback and then return to normal. Jessica is at her place looking through some old pictures of her and Colleen from high school. Her image flashes back to 1995 and then returns again. Derek, Chris, Ted, Adam, and Christina are together at Derek’s bar. Penny and Christina shake hands as they finally make peace. Their images flash back ten years and then return to normal. Lily and Scotty are returning the box to its original spot in the case file room. As Lily leaves the case file room, she turns around. Colleen is standing there, watching her. Lily smiles at her. Colleen smiles back as her image fades. Lily walks away.

Next Episode: Honor Among Thieves
An old man approaches Lily and admits that in 1949, he and two friends robbed a bank. The robbery was never solved. The old man tells Rush that his two friends were murdered later that night and the loot was taken. The old man wants his friends to have closure as well as himself. As Rush investigates the case from a different angle, she discovers that the three men did not exactly keep news of the robbery a secret and that someone may have intervened afterward.

[Tati]

Another amazing fic R2K! I loved all the personal stuff too. Great!

[r2k]

Thanks. I wonder how the others will react to the reunion. I actually finished this one before posting the last one. But with the finale, the first attempted upgrade, and the real one, I had to wait. This one took no time at all. Hopefully, I'll be able to crank out more in a few weeks seeing that the school year is ending then. I'm going to read yours now.

[ruda]

GREAT fanfic.
It was realy amazing...

I'm waiting for next fic

[TVFan]

Nice job R2K. I really liked how you used the emails and instant messages - very clever. It really added a neat and original element to your story.

[r2k]

The e-mail element was actually inspired on the phone calls James Hogan was making to Lily in "Sherry Darlin'". Only this time, I made the identity a mystery, forcing Lily to figure out who it was. It would surprise you to know that I originally had Ted the e-mailer and that he helped with the cover up. As I went, I thought having Mike do it all was a good twist. I'll have the next one ready soon. Believe it or not, I have three fan fics going. With the school year winding down, I make it a point not to bring that kind of work home with me so there's plenty of time to do what I want. The next fan fic will be finished and up by Sunday.

[Disasterfreak]

Good job, R2K. I actually liked the little get-together between Kite and Lilly, and considering how much Kite annoys me, that's saying a lot. I don't quite think she'd fill him in on so much of her life though--never one to talk much, our Lil. But it sounded pretty believable the way you wrote it in.

I thought the emails were a nice touch, too. And it was kind of cool for you to show a repentful rapist. Though, given her history, I'm not sure Lilly would actually be able to forgive him.

Anyway, once again--good job!

[r2k]

Disasterfreak: Lily's past never crossed my mind while I was writing this. But if you really look at the final moments of each episide, Lily treats the killers in a manner of which will get them to confess. When James Hogan was about to shoot himself last season Lily was kind because she knew he was in pain and reaching out. She does that when she knows the killer feels bad. But not when the killer is evil, like Henry. I will agree with you on Lily sharing the information with Kite. I felt that was over the line too. Of course, the question now is, will I put them back together again?

[Disasterfreak]

R2K!!!! You really know how to scare a gal! :smile44:

Are you really planning to get them back together??? Well--as much as I hate Kite, I hafta admit I'll be looking forward to see how you make it come about. It'll be a challenge, for sure.

And you're right about Lil treating each suspect differently to get them to confess. Not sure how much of her past she'd be able to shed for the sake of professionalism. I think the writers have made her be sympathetic to rapists before--but that was before they let us know her big bad secret (which they haven't yet, really). I wonder if they'll make her act any differently now.

Gosh, this show is good. I never know what it's gonna hit me over the head with. Anyhoo--looking forward to your next fic as usual, R2K. :smile39:

[Shorty]

everything i wanted to say has already been said ahh well, ill say it again ;D- i loved the way that you used instant messaging/emails and i hope you write again soon ;D