Secrets Chapter 18

Jade and Daphne entered the luxurious hotel suite that they would be staying in for the next few days. Daphne watched as the bellboy as he placed the bags her bags in the bedroom toward the right, while he placed Jade’s bags in her room toward the left. Taking time to acquaint herself in their posh settings, she gave the bellboy a substantial tip. Needing time to adjust to the long plan ride she moved toward the bathroom. . Taking a hot shower, she changed into a lightweight white linen halter and matching drawstring pants which gleamed against her beautiful silky brown skin. Leaving her hair down she ventured outside for a moment to take in the beauty of their surroundings.
Jade on the other hand, didn’t even bother to change her clothes; she had used her time to recheck her list of contacts. Time was limited and she had to get a move on. Brooke’s accident and death didn’t ring true to her. There was something more to her death than what met the eye and she was going to unearth it. It had cost her an arm and a leg to stay in not only the same hotel that the Forresters stayed in, but had gotten the same room in which Brooke and Thorne had stayed before her disappearance and death.
Knocking on Jade’s bedroom door, Daphne entered. “ You’ve already started.” Seeing her best friend sitting on her bed rechecking the list, Daphne knew that Jade was in “work” mode.
“ I just don’t have much time Daph. The more days that go by, the more the trail becomes cold.”
“ So, who is first on our list?”
“ Well, since I had my father to pull some strings to get this room. I have time to investigate the staff here at my leisure.”
Knowing how much Jade hated calling on her father for anything, so this meant a lot to her. “ You called on your father in for a favor?”
“ Yes. Believe me, I had to give him something in order for him to give something to me.” From experience, Daphne knew that Jade’s father wasn’t a man to give something for nothing. Everything from that man was a deal. Nothing came without a price, not even a favor from a daughter who never asked.
“ What does he want?”
Looking up for only a moment as she pulled out her Palm Pilot looked for an address. “He wants me to come home for two weeks and spent time with him. Actually you know that means to spend time with him trying to turn me into his instant heir for his business.” Jade’s father was all work. Since he never got the son that he wanted, he had decided in his late years that he wanted a relationship with his often forgotten and emotionally neglected daughter. Jade, however, hadn’t forgotten the years of emotional neglect that her father had heaped upon her so she wasn’t about to take on being the heir to her father’s businesses. Being raised by her grandmother, she had never forgiven her father for not even taking the time to be there when he own mother was dying.
“ Ridge must be very important to you for you to agree to spend time with your father.”
Jade paused for a moment. Her blue eyes narrowed. “ This isn’t about Ridge.”
“ Really?”
“ It’s about Brooke Forrester. I’m just trying to find out more about her death. If I get a lead, it will help me with an ending for my book.”
Giving her best friend a knowing look, Daphne didn’t believe her. “You know that there is more to this than just about an ending to your book. Sitting down next to her, she took the Palm Pilot out of Jade’s hands. “I think that you have started to care about Ridge and you want more information to make sense about this death of Brooke’s.”
“ So what I care a little. When I saw the way that he took Brooke’s death, it got to me.” Ridge wasn’t the selfish playboy that she has thought him to be. She had done enough research on Ridge and his treatment of the women in his life. The ultimate playboy, his loving and leaving ways had left a trail broken the hearts in are wake. She had hated the way he had used women and put himself to be in a position to be fought over. She also hated the way Stephanie ran roughshot over any woman she didn’t deem worthy of her son. However, it had been his heartbreak and ultimate pain over Brooke’s death that had affected her enough to feel for him. The man had loved Brooke deeply and although their marriage had been over for years there certainly was a connection between the two. How could she not feel for him? That plus the strange happens around Brooke’s death got to her. The timing between when her rental car had been found and other notified didn’t make sense. Nor did the fact that Thorne had been thrown in jail and misplaced in the system. The bomb scare at the airport. Too many things had occurred and an underlining to it was all strange.”
“ You don’t have to defend your reasons for wanting to help Ridge. If you to help him, then who am I to say anything about it. But I want you to be careful. You out of all people know what kind of people the Forresters are, especially Stephanie. I just don’t want you to be hurt anymore by that woman than you’ve already been hurt.”
“The only person who is going to be hurt by any of this when I comes out is her. All of her evil deeds will be exposed. Then we’ll see what the public will think of Queen Stephanie Forrester then. As for Ridge and the rest of the family. I don’t have anything against them. However the circumstances about Brooke’s death have left me with so many questions.’
Daphne nodded. “ I hate to tell you this but you aren’t the only one.”
“ What do you mean?”
“ I got a call earlier. It seems that Colt Michaels booked a flight here as well.”
“Colt. What in the hell does he want?”
“ I think that same thing as you.’
“ That sneaky bastard.” Jade jumped up from the bed. “ Well, I’m not going to let him steal anything from me ever again.” Jade knew that she had a disadvantage because she was writing a book and not an article. However if she ran fast, got the personalized interview and documents to prove there was something more here to Brooke’s Forrester’s death, she could use it in her book. She had to act quickly, Colt was a predator. One who was talented as a writer, aggressive at hunting down and cunning as the devil? How she hated the bastard. “We’ve got to get a move on. Why didn’t you tell me this on the plane ride over?”
Daphne knew first hand how bad the blood was between them. She didn’t want to sit and listen to Jade’s blood boil for hours.“ Because… I didn’t want to hear you go on hours and hours on how you hate that bastard. I thought that I’d have some peace. So, why don’t you get out o that outfit and let’s get started.”
“ What’s wrong with my outfit?”
Daphne put on her Dolce & sunglasses and heated to the door that lead outside living room of the suite. “Nothing if you want to say, reporter from New York. For God’s sake, let your hair down. Look festive and blend it. So, get ready so we can start your investigation. You better believe that Colt has already gotten his island attire ready. The women are going to love him in it. Open legs and mouths, that is certainly the effect that he has one them. That sexy bastard.”
‘Daphne!’ Jade yelled.
“ Well, he is.”

Victor rushed through the hospital toward the private wing until he reached his final destination. The plan ride here had been nerve wracking for he had no control to what happened to Brooke. Finding Mark, he demanded to see the Charles, his surgeon.
“ Victor, he’s in the middle of surgery at the moment.”
“ He is still in surgery. It’s been hours. He should be finished by now.”
Blaze who was more than annoyed, watched as Victor showed more emotion than she was used too. During the plan ride he had become silent and withdrawn. Victor might not always include her in his plans but she wasn’t used to him pulling completely from her. It was like she wasn’t there. It was like she didn’t matter. All of his thoughts were on reserve and she had the sneaking suspicion that his thoughts were all about her, Brooke. What was it about this woman? Why hadn’t he killed her? There was no real reason for Brooke to be alive. She had no value. He could use her as a hostage for her family to pay for her life but he wouldn’t risk it. So, why in the hell did he care, she thought bitterly. So what if the bitch hurt herself and she couldn’t see. The sooner she was in the grave, the better.
“ Victor..”
“ Damn it Blaze! I told you if you wanted to come you need to keep your mouth shut.”
The tick in her cheek displayed the only amount of anger that she felt at being rebuked by him. “ Fine, I’m going to get some coffee.” She stalked off.
Victor hardly noticed, his concentration was solely on news awaiting Brooke.

Jasmine watched her husband as he started his run down the block or their home. He had spent the previous hour on the private unbugged line in their house. The line that she wasn’t supposed to know about and therefore naturally did. Allen was a good man with a big heart. Although there was times that the job that he did called for him to act in a detached manner, she understand the difference between his game face and what was underneath. Right now her husband was going through an internal struggle. What happened to Brooke Forrester did affect him on a level. The fact that she was involved with a friendship with Taylor Forrester made things even more difficult. Yet deep down if she thought helping the Foresters would hurt her husband, she wouldn’t do it. As much as she liked Taylor and wanted to help her family, her total commitment was to her baby that was resting inside of her and Allen. She’d do anything to protect him. There weren’t many times that she derailed her actions to sooth her husband. She was a woman who made her own rules and played by her own game. However, this time, if it meant Allen would be hurt or it could cost him problems with his job, she’d back off. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that. She really wanted to help the Forresters and her husband. Get through this difficult time.

Running off his tension, Allen started the first part of his 5 miles journey he recalled the conversation he had with Mark on the private line in his house.
“ What’s up Quinn?”
“ We’ve got a small problem with the Forrester case.”
“ There is no Forrester case.”
“ There might be one because Jasmine has become involved with Forresters.”
“What? How is that possible?”
“Jasmine has been stepping in and doing some counseling for Taylor Forrester’s partner. They’ve become friends and Taylor is concerned about her family’s well being because of Brooke’s death. She wants Jazz to help them cope.”
“ Whoa, if I didn’t know better, I might thing set up here.’
“ Well it isn’t.”
“Of course not. We know that.”
Allen heard the sigh on the other end of the line. “You know that this is against all protocol.”
“I know but she’s already involved. Hell she took the position with helping them before our last mission. Besides..”
“ Besides what?
Quinn sighed.“ I don’t know but lately I’ve been kind of responsible for what happened with the Forresters.”
Mark knew the feeling. He had liked the couple and he tried not to think about how the end had to have been for Brooke. Hopefully it was painless. “ In this business, we can’t afford guilt or regret.” It was more than dangerous in their business to let their personal feelings get in the way of what they had to do. One moment of hesitation could mean someone’s life. They couldn’t take any chances. Sometimes in protecting the security of their country, they had to make sacrifices and this time it cost the Forresters a member of their family.
“ I know but Jazz has a chance to at least help the family.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“ Think about it some more.”
“ Well, if you decide to let her go through with helping the Forresters, let me know. I’ll keep you abreast on the things on this end.”
“ Alright. Thanks bud.”
“Quinn, there is something else that you need to know”
“Yeah”
. It’s about Wolfe. According to Alex, he put in a leave of absence.”
“ What?” In all the time that Quinn had known Wolfe, he had worked nonstop to find out that he took a leave of absence was telling. “ Where is he off too?”
“ I don’t know and he won’t say but I do know one thing. This Forrester thing or slipping up against Victor must have gotten to him.” Quinn certainly agreed on Mark’s assessment. Damn things were getting worse every minute.

Blaze crumbled up the paper cup that she had been drinking hospital coffee it. It had been disgusting but what had he expected from horrible hospital. But it wasn’t the coffee that bothered her it was the entire situation. Instead of relaxing and enjoying the fruits of her labor with the deal that Victor was making she was waiting around to hear how that stupid bitch was going to do. She didn’t care if the bitch lived or died however Victor seemed to care. That was what startled her the most. Why had he spared her her life? And why had he flown her to be by her side when she was hurt. Never had she seen him act like this for anybody. Jealous, like a green demon crept deep inside of her.

Victor was still waiting for news about Brooke two hours after he had arrived at the hospital when finally Dr. Charles Fletcher left the operating room. “Charles, how is she?”
“Victor as you know a large piece of glass pierced her cornea. I was able to extract the shard of glass and repair some of the damage it caused.”
“ Only some?”
“Working on the eye can be very dangerous. She had some nerve damage that will take time to heal. Later she’ll need another surgery to enable her to see. Right now, she’ll be blind out of that eye.”
“ She can’t see.”
“ No but in time the nerves in her eyes are healed, we will repair the other damage. We will do the best we can, but we can’t promise you that she’ll be able to see once the second surgery is completed. It can go two different ways, either she’ll get 100% of the sight in that eye back or she’ll be blind totally in her eye. We will wait and see.”
“ No, we won’t have to wait and see. You’ll do your best. I’ll pay you whatever it takes for her to see again.”
“ Victor..”
“ You can and you WILL see to it. You do get my meaning, don’t you?”
Dr. Fletcher knew that their dangers dealing with a man like Victor. So, he knew if he failed, it could cost him greatly. “ Yes, I get your meaning.”
“ Good.” Victor felt confident that Brooke would indeed heal in time. In time, the cut will heal when we will do another surgery to help her with her. “ Make sure that she sees again.”
Blaze stepped in when Victor walked away from Charles. “ That won’t accomplish anything. Threatening him won’t solve a thing.
Victor turned and seized her hard on her jaw. “ Don’t ever tell me what threatening won’t do. It will do a lot.”
Pulling back hard, she moved out of his gasp. “ This isn’t worth it. That bitch in there isn’t worth it. Why should you even care if she can see or not. She should be dead. Tell me. What is it about her that has got to you?”
Victor said nothing. He only walked away leaving Blaze feeling very much alone.

Nadia stepped over the empty beer bottles that covered her living room floor. Shaking her head in disgust, she looked at the mess that Rick Forrester had created. Boy could that boy drink. She had grown up around drunks her entire life so cleaning up Rick’s mess wasn’t something that she wanted to do, however playing the compassionate shoulder to lean on suited her just fine. It really couldn’t have worked out better if she hadn’t planned it herself. When she had come home and found Rick Forrester drunk on her doorstep. Rick, dealing with the death of his very rich mother needed a friend and she had been than. With Deacon on board with her plan, it would only be a matter of time before Rick would be puddy in her hands. Wearing a red china silk blouse and some low cut jeans with a red trim she made her way into the guest bedroom. Opening the door to the dark room, the smell of booze hit her. Crinkling her nose at the stench, she made her way to the window and opened them to let some fresh air. Turning to the bed, the body that lay sprawled across it looked dead, but she knew better. He wasn’t dead, just dead drunk that’s all.
Rick was in his own stupor when he was hit in the face with a cold rag. “ What the fu(k!”
He tried to jump up but he teetered to the side for a moment and groaned. Noticing Nadia standing on the side of the bed, he grimaced. “ Oh it’s you.”
“ You look like shit.” Nadia sniffed the air. “ You smell like it too.”
“ That’s some greeting.”
“What do you expect from me. You’ve been drinking all night.”
“ And I’m going to drink all day too.”
He reached for a beer bottle but found it empty.”
“ You already finished that. Besides, I thought that you quit drinking or something.”
“ That’s what my family thinks. But considering…” His voice trailed off. His mother was dead. The pain of that news hit him once again in the middle of his chest. His mother was the most decent wonderful thing in his whole life. She was everything good and pure. Visions of her beautiful face flashed in front of him. He remembered how she always had to the time to listen to him. How she supported him. When he was a kid, she came to every game, every award that he had no matter how busy she had been. Once when he had been 13, she had been doing business in Paris. He had gotten to the states final for soccer and hadn’t wanted to tell her for fear she’d cut an important business trip short. Somehow she found out, hopped a plane to see his game and flown back to Paris that night to the meeting that she rescheduled. His mother was wonderful and she had done everything to make him happy.
Nadia knew that he was thinking about his mother again. She threw a cold wet washcloth in his direction. “ This might help you. But it on your head.”
He pressed the cold cloth on his head. Sighing at the soothing cloth, he groaned. “ Thanks.”
“ Well don’t get used to it.” She picked up some more empty bottles and threw them in the trash. “ Listen, I’m sorry about your mom. I know that it’s rough.” She paused for a moment. “ She seemed like a pretty cool lady. Not stuffy the way that you rich folks can act. He said nothing. “ Great, that what you fu(king deserve Nadia. You try to be nice and you get shitted on.” She muttered to herself as she walked out the door.
Rick felt like shit. She was trying to be nice to him. Nadia wasn’t the type to do things for others, but he had noticed that she had left a bottle of aspirin on the bed table. She just didn’t get it. He didn’t want her to try to be nice to him. He didn’t want anybody to be nice to him. It was his fault that his mother had left that hotel room. It was his fault that his mother was now dead.

Alex kept banging on the door to Wolfe’s apartment to no avail. That little conversation that she had had with him gave her very little information. All he stated was that he was going to take a leave of absence. That simply wasn’t good enough for her. Not giving up, she decided to use sleuth to get what she wanted. She used her lock picking skills to open the door. Used to the barren settlings, she headed toward the bedroom. “Wolfe, you’ve got to stop ignoring me. I know that you are here.”
“ I certainly know that you are here. With you bellowing my name like that.” She got a full glance of his naked well-toned wet body as he stepped out of the shower. Damn, Wolfe indeed was a very handsome man, especially naked. He shook out his wet hair and she studied him from the back. His back was well toned from his daily exercise regiment to his work. Strong cords formed on his back under the Native American eagle that was
tattooed on his back. Like his back, the rest of him, his arms, and thighs to his tight buttocks were muscular in well formed. Wolfe would certainly be “eye” candy to women if he had ever let them close enough. Wrapping a towel around himself, he finally turned toward her. “ Now, what was so important that you’d break into my apartment to see me.”
“ You know what is so important. I can’t that you think that you can just walk out on the team with no word and that is okay.”
“ I’m not walking out on the team.”
“ Then what are you doing?”
“ Taking a break.”
“ Bullshit! You’ve never taken a break before. You eat, sleep and breathe this job. So what are you up too?” Wolfe said nothing. There was no way that he was going to let Alex or anyone from his team get caught up in this mess with his brother. He should have ended this years ago. He had allowed Victor to think that he was dead to move slightly and wait for him to trip up somehow it never came to that. His brother’s need for mayhem and power had grown until he seemed almost unstoppable. Alex watched as the wall that Wolfe often put up displayed on his face. “ Damn it, can’t you just let me in? For once, let me know what you are thinking or something. For years we’ve worked together but I hardly know anything about you expect that you’ve been hunting for Victor. Other than that, I know nothing.”
Wolfe paused for a moment, dropped his towel, giving her a huge display of his obvious charms. Alex did notice that Wolfe certainly had enough to keep the ladies wanting more. Putting on a pair of jeans, minus the underwear, he turned toward her. “Maybe there is nothing to know about. I eat, sleep and breath just like you.”
“ Do you hurt?”
“ What?” He had been caught off guard. Alex had learned not to ask him personal questions but now she had started digging. Why?
“ Do you hurt? Because there are times that I know I do.”
Wolfe thought about his wife and her beautiful soul. He hurt enough for a lifetime. Alex was surprised when he finally answered her. “ Yes, I do. There are times when I hurt deeply. But I ignore the pain and move on. That’s all that I can do.”
The honesty of his tone spoke volumes. Wolfe was a man that was hard to get used to. To her knowledge he had no family or no real friends besides the team. And even then there were times that none knew him at all. Still, there was a question that nagged in the deep dark part of her head. “ Does your time off have anything to do with the Forresters situation?”
Alex watched how he had been packing his bag and stopped for just a second before he continued. “ No. There is very little that we can do with that situation.” He didn’t like lying to Alex, but he didn’t have a choice. He was right, there was very little that the team could do but there was something that he could do. He turned toward her.” Tell me, how are you coping with the situation?”
“ It’s part of the job.”
“ But that isn’t what I asked.” Wolfe paused for a moment. “ You are very good at your job and what you do. There is no doubt in that Alex. But I know that you have a heart. The thing with the Forresters got to you just like the rest of us.”
She knew he spoke he truth. “ I think it’s hard because every time I turn on the TV or the newspaper it talk about her. I know it’s stupid. We’ve had plenty of cover-ups but this one hit home. I know this business is dangerous and we take a chances but she was innocent. When I think about the pain that her children, family and Thorne are going through it’s too much.”
“ Shh, Alex, don’t do this to yourself.”
In an uncharacteristic move, Wolfe reach out and gathered her into his arms in that moment, surprisingly Alex let him. She didn’t want to be strong. She wanted to be held.
“ We tried our best and it was I who messed up. I was responsible, not you. As team leader, I made the decision that left those codes with them. I made the choice. Not you. I’m fully responsible.”
“ Wolfe we are all at fault.”
Looking down into her beautiful face and her soulful eyes, he thought of the pain that he not only caused he Forresters but his team as well. “ Don’t do this to yourself. You are a good woman Alex, let it go. Don’t let pain eat you up inside like mine has for all of these years. I was the one responsible to what happened to Brooke and her baby. Not you.” When she looked up at him with a vulnerable look in her eye, he pulled away. For his wife’s image flashed in front of him. “You were right when you asked about my leaving. It does have something to do with he case. I let my need to get at Victor cloud my judgment. I need time to sit and think about what my anger has done.”
Somehow Alex thought that there might be more it. “Are you sure that’s what it is?”
“ Yes. I just need some time to think about my decisions. I just need time.”
Fingering his bag. “ So where are you going?”
He opened a drawer and picked up a never seen picture, which he hurriedly put in his bag.
“ Home. I’m going home Alex. Maybe there I’m find some peace to end this mess.”

Jasmine put down the research article she had been reading when she heard the front door open. She paused a moment, before her husband appeared in the kitchen where she was finishing a sandwich. Lately, her baby had a craving for peanut butter and jelly on croissant which she had feasted on. Struggling for a second to get up from her position she placed her plate in the sink before she looked at him. He kissed his wife gently and held her close to him. Jasmine rubbed his wet head and his face found a place in the crook of her neck. “ Did you think it over?”
He encircled her in his arms. “ Yes.”
“And?”
“ If you want to help the Forresters, I will support you.” Jasmine smiled softly before she kissed on his lips.
“ This is the right thing. I know it.”
“ Just be careful Jasmine. The office can’t know about this and I can’t be involved in any manner.” She already knew that but if she could do anything to help the Forresters to help them during their time of need, then it would be for the best.

Brooke felt groggy and a sick sense of nausea. She tried to open her eyes but an execrating pain hit her and she cried out. The accented voice came out of the darkness. Panic set in as Brooke tried to turn t the left. Darkness surrounded her. She tried to calm her nerves but the pain was so great. She touched her face and found the bandages that left her in darkness. A hand reached out from the darkness to stop her. “ Don’t do that?”
She jumped in fear. “ Calm down.” Victor’s voice greeted her in the darkness. .
He stopped her hands from removing the bandages on her face. “ You were hurt.”
“ Hurt but how…” Brooke moaned. She was uncomfortable.
“There was an accident.”
“ My baby.” Her searching hands tried to find her abdomen.
“ Your baby is still resting inside of you. Where it belongs.”
Brooke’s voice held a tremor. “ Thank God.”
Victor studied her as she relaxed a bit and let out a sigh. Although she wouldn’t say it, he knew that she was in pain. Somewhere deep down, he respected her even more for that but he didn’t fully understand why.
“ I can have them give you something for the pain.”
“ No.” her voice was barely auditable. “ Stay away from me. You’ve done enough.”
The heart rate on her monitor started began to beat more rapidly.
“ Clam down. Brooke. It isn’t good for you and your baby. You had surgery and need to rest.”
Brooke didn’t care about his words as far as she was concerned this was his fault. She was in pain. In the dark. And alone.“ Get away from me.”
“Calm down.”
“ Get away from me, do you hear me. You caused this! Get away from me.” She tried to move away from the sound of his voice as well as his touch. Her legs got tangled in her the sheets and the Iv and tubes pulled at her in a weakened form. The pain from the IV tearing from her flesh caused her to unwillingly cry out. Victor moved quickly trying to stop her from hurting herself further.
“Stop this. You are only hurting yourself.”
“What is going on?” An angry nurse came into the room. “She’s been through a surgery. She should be resting and not upset.” Turning to calm Brooke. “ Shh, it’s alright.”
Victor studied the nurse with a brooding look. If it had been anyone else, he would have gladly reprimanded her but something stopped him. Brooke was in a great deal of distress. Not to mention in pain. He rose from the chair next to her bed. “No need to worry. I’m going to leave. See that she gets whatever she needs. Although she won’t admit it, she needs something for the pain.”
Brookes shivered at his words. She was hurting but she’d never weaken in front of him. She’d suffer the pain. She’s suffered the darkness of her world.
“Make sure whatever you give her for the pain won’t hurt her baby. Her child is very important to her.”
Hearing his retreating footsteps, she relaxed until the pain assaulted her. The nurse helped her lay down. “You’ve got to rest. You have been through a great.”
Brooke blindly reached out to the woman. As a warm sense filled her veins.“ Just keep him away from me. Please, help me…” The drugs that the nurse had inserted in her IV hit her and she was out like a light.

Home. That was where Wolfe said that he was going but what had he meant by that? Alex didn’t know. She didn’t know much about his background but she knew that something wasn’t right. IF only she had the time to investigate but she didn’t. However she noted the she had plans of coming back to his so-called apartment and searching for information when he was gone. She didn’t know why she couldn’t let this go but she had to know where he was going.

Wolfe walked into the safe deposit box that he had secured in his name. Opening up the box he found plethora of money in all different currencies, passports with alias as well as documented papers and a key. Picking up the key, he shut the box. Heading to his newly bought used car with cash, he headed toward a two hour ride to an old seemly abandoned bus station. Finding a locker which number matched the key, he opened the door to pull out a suitcase. Taking the suitcase with him to the car, he then vanished.

Pain surrounded her. Her eye blazed as if it were on fire. She tried to see, but darkness and more pain greeted her.
She was thirsty. Her throat hurt. Reaching out into the darkness. “ Water”.
Feeling a straw press against her lips. She suckled until the cool clear liquid greeted her.
“ Sip. Don’t rush. There is plenty more.” she heard a male accented voice tell her. She didn’t recognize the voice however she did as she was told. . She was too tired to fight. The cool water was like a sweet taste of heaven to her. Feeling the effects of the pain and drugs, he body relaxed against the bed. She wanted to fight the grogginess. She needed to fight against the pain, but it seemed to win out.
The slight touch of fingers at her brow startled her. “Rest,” the voice whispered.
There was something about voice. She didn’t know why she listened to it but she did.

Time had no real meaning to Brooke. In out of consciousness she was greeted by darkness and a sense of pain until blessed sleep took over. She never was aware of the time passing. Sometimes she wakes up with a word on her mouth. The name of her husband and other times the names of her children. Thorne. Others she’d cried out to her children. Yet there was a voice came out of darkness. One brought her pain, it was her capturer . The man that she hated while there was another one. One with the accent. It soothed her and often lulled her back to sleep when she cried out in distress.

Two days later

Taylor and Kristen looked over the final arrangements that Marian Hensley had showed them. “ We have chosen this photo. It was one of Brooke’s Rick and Bridget’s favorites.”
Beth touched the photo that was going to be blown up to be on top of her daughter’s casket. It was a beautifully done photo of Brooke wearing an orange top with white pants. Brooke was sitting on a stool with her hands and arms resting on her knees. It was such a natural poise that it reminded her of her daughter’s natural beauty. Noticing the tears in her eyes she reached out and touched Beth’s hands.
Donna noticed how her mother didn’t want to let go of the picture. “Mom, you’ve got to let it go.”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry.” Putting the picture back down, she handed Marian the photo. It still seemed surreal to her. She couldn’t believe that she was sitting in her daughter’s living room with Donna, Katie, Taylor and Kristen putting the finishing touches on her memorial service. Looking at Taylor, the woman who was once her daughter’s nemesis she felt grateful for her kindness. Taylor had helped her along with Kristen to make arrangements for her daughter. More than that, she had arranged a therapist friend of hers to help counsel the family with their grief. Steven would be flying in tomorrow right before the service. He had been making the arrangements for their permanent move here. At this point, she and Steven were going to move into her daughter’s home. Adult or not, her grandchildren were in big trouble.. While Storm had been trying to help clear up the mess with Rick. Her grandson had taken to drinking a great deal. Beth had made the decision to help her poor grandchildren. She and Steven would move into Brooke’s house until they were able to make it on their own.
Marian was making all the arrangements for Brooke’s memorial service. Taking the photo and putting it into her leather binder she stood. “All the arrangements have been made. The flowers will be delivered in the early morning. The music have selected and guest list delivered.”
“ It is very important to the family that reporters are not admitted. This is a time for the family to mourn their loss. We don’t reporters to ruin it.” Taylor’s gaze moved over to Beth’s worried look. Beth Logan was a strong woman but losing her daughter had really affected the woman. The young vibrant look that the woman always wore had diminished. The woman’s heart was broken. Taylor couldn’t help but to think that this is what her father would be like when it was her time. Touching Beth’s hand, she turned to her.
“ Beth, is there anything else that you’d like to add?”
“No. I think that we have covered everything.” Turning to Katie. “ You think that poem it alight.”
“ Yes, mom. It was one of Brooke’s favorites. You know that.” Nodding, Beth stood up and went to the mantel that had a picture of Brooke and Thorne on their wedding day. It had been a beautiful wedding right in her daughter’s back garden. “ I just wish that Thorne were here to give his input.”
Kristen gave Taylor an uncomfortable look. “ Beth, you know that Thorne would be if he could.”
“Would he?” Beth understood that he was in pain but he hadn’t been here to help with the arrangements. Deep down she resented that.“ I just don’t know.”
Taylor stood up. “Marian, if you don’t mind.”
Marian, who hadn’t met Thorne Forrester understood that Brooke’s Forresters mother was upset. To have a son-in-law not to bother with any of the plans nor show himself was vastly unsettling. However it was not her place to say so. “ I assure you that everything will run smoothly tomorrow.”
“ I’ll call you if there are anymore problems.” Taylor showed Marian the door.
Kristen took a hesitant step toward Beth. “ Beth. Thorne was always very sensitive. You know how much he loved Brooke. Her death along with the baby’s death is so much on him. He just needs time.”
“ How much time?” She put the photo down. “ I’m not saying that he isn’t hurting because I know that he is. I just wish that he’d let us help him. None of us can do it on our own. We are family.”
“ Yes, we are.”
“ I want to thank you. You’ve been wonderful with Bridget. She is a very sensitive girl in a very stressful time in her life. She’s going to need your help with the baby coming and all.” Knowing that she was some source of help for her sister warmed Kristen heart but she knew that it wasn’t enough. “ I know that she would have gone to Brooke about the baby. She needs someone to talk to you and old grandma isn’t enough for her.” She said looking at Taylor. “Brooke would have appreciated this a great deal. Especially the way that you’ve been here for me, for all of us. Thank you for putting the memorial service together and being the type of friend that Brooke would have appreciated.”
Taylor felt touched and overwhelmed by Beth’s words. She hugged the older woman.
“ We are family. I think that Brooke would have done this for me and my children had our places been switched.”

Ridge and Eric opened the door to Thorne’s old beach house. “ Dad, I’m telling you. I don’t think that he is here. I don’t his car. Besides, we aren’t even sure if he has been here.” This whole situation was a fu(king mess. He and father had spent the last two days trying to find his brother. He knew Thorne was going through hell but it wasn’t just about him. Brooke’s children need guidance and support but they couldn’t focus on them because of Thorne. Finding out that Bridget was pregnant was a shock but knowing that Rick had crawled back into the bottle was even worse. Now this thing with Thorne. Ridge had a nagging suspicious of what may be happening with is brother but he hoped to God that he was wrong. Thorne wouldn’t do that to his family. Not again.
“ Ridge, we are going to keep on until we find him.”
Running his fingers through his hair, Ridge raged at his brother. “ I just can’t believe he’d do this. Just disappear when the whole family is falling apart. He isn’t the only one who loved her.” He said a voice lace with pain.
Eric put his hands on the shoulders of his older son. “I know that her death has been hard on you.”
Moving into his brother’s old living room, he pulled the blinds away from the windows. “ You know what I miss the most about her?” After his father gave him a shocked look, he laughed. Rubbing his neck, he grinned. “ No not THAT. Hell, she was Thorne’s wife.” He thought about Brooke’s beautiful face. “ I miss laugh. That little giggle that she had. No matter what, when she laughed her whole face lit up. God, she was so beautiful. Full of life.”
“ I know. Ridge, I miss her too. That’s why worried about Thorne. You know how much he loved her. How excited he was to have a baby.”
“ Thorne always wanted them. I know that when he and Macy were married they tried to have one of their own. Dad, you should see him with my kids. He’s a natural.”
“ I know. That’s why Brooke’s death has hit him so hard. Finally, he had everything that he wanted and in an instant it was gone. She was gone.”
“ It’s hard for me to still believe it. There are times that I still expect her to come through the door and say that it was joke.”
“ That isn’t going to happen. She’s gone. As much as we don’t want to believe it. She is. We all have to find some way to accept it. But right now I’m really concerned about your brother.”
Ridge saw the grave look on his father’ face. He knew what his father suspected yet didn’t want to put it into words. It didn’t have to be true. Throne could just be avoiding “ Dad, just because he..”
“ Ridge. I wish that I could believe you. But I have a bad feeling.”
“ He lost his wife, he might need time alone. When I thought that I had lost Taylor and I lost Caroline, I needed time to myself.” Ride knew that he was displaying his contradicting statements but he didn’t want to think what his father was thinking. “ Maybe that is what’s going on.”
“ Ridge, I’m no sure what is going on with brother. But I do know that he needs our help. He needs to know that he can rely on his family for love and support. No matter what he is going through? We are going to support him.”
Eric refused to bury his head in the sand and pretend that nothing COULD be wrong. He had done that years and years before. It had cost him greatly. It almost cost him his son. True, Ridge could be right and maybe Thorne’s absence was nothing more than a grieving husband dealing with the double blow of his wife and unborn baby’s death. But deep down, he scared. Scared that something other than Brooke’s senseless death was going to rip what was left of is family apart. Eric was deathly scared that a monster that Thorne had overcome had once again rear its head. He COULD be wrong but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t.

Colt Michaels unwrapped the sliver foil and stuck a piece of Spearmint gum in his mouth. He normally wasn’t a patient man, however he was persistent. Persistence, he found, often paid off. A tip that he had that the medical examiner that had been in charge of the Forrester case was back at his home. He had been waiting patiently to talk to Henri Laudin. He had been told over and over that he was unavailable but that mean nothing to Colt. He wanted the record and report about Brooke Forrester’s death and he’d find a way to get it. Leaning back in his back in the seat of his he waited for Henri to finally arrive. Besides, what better way to one up Jade than to get the information that he needed to get his story out first? He had heard through the great vine that she was here and he knew if she was that she investigating the Forrester death. Anything “Forrester” was like an obsession to her. Starting and ending that damn book of hers. To know that she had somehow stolen the room that he had wanted to occupy that gotten to him. She probably did that just to get to him. Hell, that room was expensive. She probably had to make a pack with that devil father to get the funds. It didn’t matter; he’d get the scoop he needed. The hotel had been very closed lipped about the Forresters but with his charm and his so called million dollar smile, he had a way to get the staff, particularly the female ones to open up. The more that he pieced information of Brooke Forrester’s accident; some things didn’t add up. He knew that sooner than later they would probably cross paths. Sexy or no, Jade was trouble with the capital T. He hated the way that she got involved with things that didn’t involve her. She had a big mouth and was quite pushy at times. She was like a bitch with a bone and she had no problem going for the balls. However, even he’d admit that at times he’d say some macho or chauvinistic get to get her riled up. Her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires when she got mad. Hell, it was worth pushing her buttons just to get to her because on a level it turned him on. It wasn’t that she wasn’t talented, she definitely , however he planned to take this story. Brooke Forrester was news, alive and dead. He smiled at that thought of one upping Jade. before he took his authentic “Indiana Jones” hat and covered his eyes for a catnap while he waited.

Daphne circled the next name on the list. “ Henri Laudin . It seems that he has been unavailable however I overheard the Officer mention to his wife that he Henri was going to be back at his home sometime today.
This instantly got Jade’s attention. “ You little sneak, how did you find that out.”
“ Well, you know how some people are. They think that just because you speak English means that you don’t speak French. He was talking on the phone, I overheard him.”
Men often underestimated women, especially in her business. Foolish, Jade thought.
“Did you get the address?”
“ What do you think?” She smiled as she slipped Jade the address. “ I thought that you might need it.”
“ Thanks.” Rechecking her notes, she frowned.
“ What is it now?”
“ Its still the rental car agent. How is it that nobody can remember renting that car to Brooke? I mean, now that she is gone, you’d think that someone would remember her renting that car. But no one did. Nobody at all.”
“ It was late.”
“ Yes, but each of the person who were working at that time swear that the other must have rented her the car.”
“ However the computer records indicated that she did rent the car. They had her credit card number.”
Shaking her head Jade put the paper down next to her uneaten sandwich. “ It still does explain why she’d rent a car. Why not a cab? Especially that time of night.
“ It could be just one of those freak accidents. However…” Daphne’s voice trailed off as she studied the pictures that she had taken of the site with her digital camera.
“ However what?”
“ Look.”
Jade studied the photos for a moment before she noticed that something was missing. “ Where are the skid marks?” Based on the information, they thought that part of Brooke’s accident was because she lost control but even at that speed and that time of day, she would have hit the brakes. So, what happened to the skid marks?”
“Exactly.”

Rick groaned loudly and audibly as Nada planted some homemade concoction in front of him. Smelling the awful creation, he pushed the glass away. “ That smells gross.”
“ Well, it’s nothing compared to how you look or smell.” Nada wasn’t amused with Rick. Smoking on a cigarette in her mauve colored robe she had no intention of spending the day helping Rick dry out. “ Listen Forrester. I’m trying to help you. You can take it or leave it, it doesn’t matter to me. BUT I thought that you’d like to dry out enough to be there at your mother’s memorial without a hangover. But hey, it’s YOUR funeral, isn’t it?” Heading to the phone on the, she dialed a number.
“ Hello. Yes, you told me to call you if I needed anything. Well, you need to get over here now.” Looking at Rick with disgust she turned. “ Rick is back in the bottle.”

A weary Ridge stepped into his house and headed to the mini-bar. He and his father’s search had proven to be fruitless. He brother was nowhere to be found. “ Ridge? Is that you?” He heard his wife call out to him. Pouring a drink, he answered her.
Taylor came from the hallway from the kitchen drying her wet hands with a dishtowel.
“ It’s late. I was worried about you.” She leaned up and kissed him.
“ Sorry. I missed dinner, didn’t I?”
“ Yes, but I can fix you a plate.”
“ No. I’m not very hungry.”
“ How did the search go?”
Sipping the liqueur he sighed heavily and loosened his tie. “ It was such a waste. There was nothing. Not a sigh to help us.”
“Ridge, I’m sorry.”
Putting his arm her shoulders, he kissed her on top of her head. “ It’s not your fault.”
“ I know that you and the other family remembers might not like it but Thorne just might need time to cope and deal. I wish that he would seek out help but right now he might not be able to do that.”
“ If only it were just that. His grief I think that I could understand it.”
“Just his grief. Is there something else that is bothering you and Eric?”
Ridge said nothing. “ Ridge tell me what is going on?”
“ Taylor, there are some things about Thorne that you don’t know. Hell, there is something about him that no one but myself, mom, dad, and Kristen know.
Taylor was concerned. “ What is it?”



She was sleeping. Resting the way that she should be. She had through the last two days in a great deal of pain, however based on the doctor’s she detailed description of her procedures, there was going to be more pain before it was over. With Brooke being pregnant, she’d feel most of it. Because of that, her body made up for it by sleeping. A large part of him wanted them to only bandage one eye. Allow her to see with the other. He didn’t like the idea of her being in dark. The dark was a horrible place to be.
{Flashback}
The stench of vomit, pee and a unwashed body hit him in the face as he entered the trailer that he called his home. His stomach started to churn and bubble, however since he hadn’t eaten that day, he’d certainly have dry heaves instead of bile to erupt from his stomach if he allowed it. Closing his eyes and praying to god that he didn’t reach because if he did he knew that he’d get it. His father was home and worse than that from the look of the bear bottled filled floor, he had already began his pastime pleasure of drinking. “Damn,” he thought. Why hadn’t he stayed after school and wait for Wolfe? Deep down, he knew why it was because he didn’t like the stares that the other students gave him. They looked at him as if were just that the dirt that covered his hands. Wiping his hands on his dirty jeans and his once but no longer white school uniform, he wished that he could wipe away the dirt. How could those stupid jerks that he had went to school with think that he wanted to stay dirty. What he wouldn’t do for a hot bath with lots of bubbles. He didn’t care that bubble bath was for girls. He had this teacher, Mrs. Watts who used to smell like sweet peaches. Mrs. Watts was always nice to him. Once, she had even given him a piece of the pineapple that she had brought in for her lunch. He had never tasted anything that good or sweet.
“ What the fu(k are you smiling at you little brat!”
He jumped. How stupid had he been why hadn’t he gone and hide when he knew that his father was home? A strong muscled hand grabbed him tight around his neck. “ Answer me boy or I’ll swear that beat it out you.”
Looking up at the furious face of his father. He tried to keep the fear from rising as the stench of beer and something else hit his face. “ I wasn’t smiling.”
“ The hell you were. You were up to something you always are. You no good bastard!”
A hard thumb thrust it’s way in the middle of his throat cutting off air. Trying hard, he squired against his rough hand trying his best to pull away. But his best wasn’t good enough. How could it be when he was only eight? Struggling he fought against his father was useless however he tried. It was only when his father let go, did he fall to his knees gasping for air. Coughing loudly. He inhaled deeply when his coughing fit turned into something else. Then suddenly without thought that bile which should not have been there erupted from the bottom of his stomach and landed on his father dirty work boots.
“ What the f(uck!. You filthy bastard. You are going to pay for that.”
A fist hit him squarely in his stomach. He doubled over and fell to the ground as his shirt was literally torn off his shaken body. Yellowish bruises from his last beating still covered his body but didn’t stop his father. He willed himself not to cry out as the whistling sound of the extension cord hitting the air before it hit his back. Again and again it hit, until he heard a scream. The scream was loud and piercing, he covered his ears. The scream was his own.

Darkness surrounded him as he slowly opened his eyes. Rolling around, he winced when his naked back touch the floor. Whimpering he remembered the beating and then how his father had taken him to the shed behind the house. More than anything he hated darkness. It scared him. His father knew it. He could pound on the shed but it would only mean another beating. The shed to him was like hell, filled with his father’s dangerous work tools and very little air it was sweltering. He wasn’t sure how long he’d be in here. Once, his father had left him in there for two whole days, not letting Wolfe get him. He had prayed for death them. At least his father was drinking this time so, he’d have to wait until his father passed out and then Wolfe would be able to save him. Tears fell down his face as he scooted over into the corner of the shed. One day this would be all over. When he grew up, he was going to kill his father.

{Fade Back To Present}
Victor pushed the memories of his childhood out of his mind. No, he didn’t like the idea of Brooke being in the dark at all. He wasn’t afraid of the dark anymore yet it held secrets. But for her he wanted the light. However, the doctor was against it. In order for her to see again out of her eye, she had to go through certain steps. He wanted her to see again. Why? He didn’t know. He didn’t understand any of his feelings for her. Lust, he understood. She was sexy, but she wouldn’t be interested in the things he wanted. Besides he could have just about any woman he wanted. So, what was this about? Disgusted with himself, he fled her room. He had business to attend to. First of which dealt with his brother.

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