Episode 9: Double Cross

Episode 9: 

DOUBLE CROSS

Janette Ambrose Black's mother, Prudence, had thought she was alive, and at the time she had been correct. Now, however, she wasn't.

Janette remembered her death much the way she remembered her life, with a vague annoyance and a recollection of pain. But now, magically, that pain had been lifted from her. The same pain that had caused her to travel down the wrong path, was now what had set her soul free.

She found herself hovering over an unfamiliar place. The woman sprawled on the floor below wore a blond wig. It took only a few moments to reveal the woman's identity. It was her sister, Michela Forsythe, the woman Janette had been impersonating for months.

They had made plans to fool Ethan and then make him fall in love with the wrong woman, but Janette's ulterior motives had gotten in the way. It was because of Ethan that the rift between her and Julian Black had occurred. And Janette could not let go of the anger. Even it death it still lingered.

As she gazed at her sister's body, she began to wonder why Michela had never contacted her after they switched places in Bulgaria. It was too late to discover that answer now. Someone was calling her toward the light.

She wondered if now was the time to ask God to forgive her of her sins. Or did forgiveness only work while you were alive? As the light drew her forward, she could only pray that God would have mercy on her soul.

***

Michela woke to find herself on the floor sporting a major headache. The room where she found herself didn't look familiar. Then the realization dawned. This was her brother's club. Caine's office.

She glanced around the room cautiously. The impression that someone was watching her was strong. Seeing no one, she removed the wig and placed it atop Lila's foam mannequin's head.

Michela suddenly thought of her sister, Janette and wondered when they would tell the rest of the Ambrose clan she was indeed alive. It would be nice to see the family Janette had painted for her in stories.

She rose from the dusty floor and wiped the grit from her cheek. It was stifling in Caine's office. The air conditioning didn't seem to do much for the dog days of summer.

She winced as she touched the bruise forming around her eye. The man in her life wouldn't like seeing her face like that. She smiled to herself and checked her watch. She'd be seeing him soon. The time had almost come. While Lila was closing up the various areas of the blues club, Michela slipped back out the rear door and hailed a cab.

The cabbie was old, balding and smelled like he hadn't bathed in ages. His accent reeked of New Jersey. "Where to sweetheart?"

"The ForeCross Building. And step on it. There's an extra $20 in it for you if you can get me there in ten minutes."

***

"Diana, I really appreciate this." Piper Ferguson said as she watched the landmarks of St. Louis fly by her window.

"It's no problem. Your hotel is on my way to the hospital. And I need to stop by ForeCross for some paperwork before the next board meeting. I'm so behind on keeping up with dad's company it isn't funny."

"What do you have to do?" Piper seemed genuinely interested in what she was asking. A trait Diana Forsythe found very comforting considering how immensely popular Piper was in the media. Underneath it all, she was probably as super a business woman as she was a lady.

"Oh, a little of this, a little of that. Mostly it's borning stuff. In fact, I can't remember the last time Caine showed up at a board meeting."

"So it truly is a family business?" Piper asked.

Diana nodded. "Caine and I decided to do our own thing, but Michela and Peter are the ones who really sink their teeth into this stuff."

Piper glanced out the window and stared at the streetlights as the car burst through shining pools of white light.

"Your family is really close then?"

Diana smiled. "We have our moments." She pulled into the underground parking at ForeCross Publishing. "Here we are. Your hotel is only a block from here. If you want, I can drive you when..."

Piper smiled, but shook her head. "It's okay. I'll be fine. I'll walk."

***

Lucky Faraday didn't like this scenario one bit. The men who had nabbed Caine at the docks now were leading him into the ForeCross building. The sky scraper was at least fifty stories tall. Too tall for one agent to do an adequate search.

He tried his cell phone, but the battery was dead. Hell of a time for that to happen. He needed back up and he needed it now! As he inched closer to the entrance, he held up his gun in the ready position.

Lucky entered the parking garage and noticed the lone red BMW parked near the elevators. His heart sank when he noticed the two women walking toward the building. It was Diana and Piper! He had to stop them.

If they got into the building, Carlos's men would surely get them and use them for more ammunition against the Forsythe family.

He ran flat out. Stopping wasn't an option. He was only seconds away when Diana and Piper entered the building. The elevator doors closed before he could shout out a warning.

"Damn!" Lucky pounded on the metal door then turned and ran for the stairwell. Maybe if he was lucky, he could cut them off at the pass.

***

"I still don't know why you had me drive you home. There is plenty of room at the mansion." Peter Forsythe could feel a brush off coming on. Honor had that reluctant, guilty look in her eyes.

"I had to come home." She said mysteriously.

"What does that cryptic comment mean?"

"I... I..." Honor searched for the words but her mind was blank. Glory was the one who was good at thinking on her feet.

A motion from the side of the house caught Peter's attention. He advanced toward what might be an intruder. While in route, he gestured to Honor to keep calm.

Peter rushed the person crawling out the side window. He tackled the intruder, his powerful body pressing the enemy to the ground. The resulting commotion drew Austin and Glory from inside the house.

"What in the hell is going on out here?" Dr. Austin McRae fumed with hands on hips and a snarl on his face.

"Who are you?" Peter asked the man while still holding the intruder at bay.

"I'm her husband," Austin pointed at Honor.

Peter now was more confused than ever. "Husband?"

Tears rimmed Honor's eyes. "I'm sorry." She said quickly. "So sorry." She then retreated to the safety of her home. Austin followed.

Peter felt like a fool. He turned to the intruder that everyone seemed to have forgotten.

"If he's her husband, then who are you?"

Hope Faraday produced a lopsided smile. "I would be her sister, Hope." She extended her hand in greeting. "Nice to meetcha. You have one hell of a tackle going on there."

Peter got up and brushed himself off. "Husband? Sister? I don't even want to know. Not to be rude, but I'm outta here."

***

Carlos Santini prowled the fifteenth floor. He looked as if he was waiting for someone, but only he knew for sure that he was. He didn't move when he heard footsteps enter the room, but he knew that those footfalls didn't belong to any of his men. His men weren't so light footed.

He felt the female hand as it caressed his chest. He couldn't see her since she was standing behind him, but Carlos knew who the hand belonged to.

"My beautiful Michela. I've been waiting for you." Carlos smiled wickedly and spun Michela around to face him. He searched her dark eyes for confirmation that she was indeed his. His eyes found what they were looking for.

Michela smiled still running her hands down his chest. "I came as soon as I could." Before she could say more, Carlos had stepped closer and enveloped her in a soul searching kiss.