Meanwhile across the street. Nancy takes Sam to see Holly and to check on her.
"Are you still sad?" Holly asks Nancy as she dresses Sam up.
"Yes honey I am, are you?" Nancy asks.
Holly nods. "But not all of the time."
"Good, and hey he looks great. You really know how to dress a guy."
Holly smiles. "Can we go get ice cream now?"
"Sure but ask your mom first ok."
"Ok," they go inside to get permission and then go out for ice cream.
Currently at David's apartment.
"What happened at the lawyers?" His girlfriend asks him.
He tells her.
"Don't let me get a hold of whoever set you up. What they did was cold."
He kisses her. "Whoever it was I want you to stay out of it. We don't know who we're dealing with here."
She kisses him back. "No."
The next day, Nancy returns from taking Sam on his walk, takes his leash off and watches him head for his water bowl. She's about to head to the kitchen herself when the telephone rings. She answers it. "Hello."
"Is the Bradford residence?"
"Who wants to know?"
"Someone with information on your brother." The caller says. "Can you meet me somewhere."
"Hold on a minute." She covers the mouthpiece. "Dad, Abby!! Are you home?!"
"Upstairs," Abby calls back.
"Hold on." Nancy tells the guy and goes upstairs. "There's a guy on the phone who says he has information on my brother and wants me to meet him somewhere." She tells her.
"You specifically," Abby asks, worried, "or any Bradford?"
"I didn't give him my name so I think he meant any Bradford."
Abby nods and picks up the phone. "Where do you want to meet and when?"
"At the park at 4pm and bring money." The guy says.
"How much?"
"I don't know, I'm taking a big risk talking to you like this, but David's a good guy and I don't like what's happening to him. How bout twenty?"
"OK. I'll see you at 4."
"Ok, I'll see you then." He hangs up.
"You're taking Dad with you right?" Nancy asks.
"Of course. Do you think I want three days of pouting?"
She manages a smile. "Good point, I'd better get and let you get ready then. You and Dad be careful ok."
"Of course we will be."
"Good," she says and goes downstairs to get something to eat.
Meanwhile downstairs.
"Cassie called while you were out." Mary says.
"Are her and the baby ok?" Nancy asks.
"Yes, but she wanted to talk you, get together."
"I'll call her later. Elizabeth and I are supposed to go shopping today. I'll call her when I get home."
Abby picks up the phone and calls Tom at work.
"Cell Block 4." Donna jokes.
"You the prisoner or the warden?" Abby jokes right back.
"What do you think?" Donna cracks back.
"Can I plead the fifth in case my husband is listening in?"
"Sure, I guess you'd like to speak to him?"
"Is he being allowed telephone privileges?"
"I think I can arrange it." Donna quibbles and hands the phone to Tom.
"Hi Hon." Tom says.
"Hi. I think I may have some good news."
"Oh? That would be a change, what's up?"
"A man called and claimed he has information that could help us find out what really happened with David. He wants to meet in the park this afternoon. Want to come along?"
"When?"
"Four o'clock."
Tom looks at his watch. "I better go alone."
"No, I said I'd meet him. If you want to come along, you can, but I'm going."
"But what if this is a set-up?"
"Then us both being there is safer than either of us going alone."
"Fine Abby, I don't want to argue with you." Tom concedes.
"Oh, and one more thing--he wants $20."
"Twenty dollars?" Tom acts confused.
"Oh, come on Tom, you're a journalist. Don't tell me you've never heard of paying for information."
"Of course, but its always more than a mere $20."
"Well, this is only of interest to us, I guess."
"I guess." he says. "I'll pick you up."
"OK. Don't be late."
"Now, you are treating me like Nicholas."
"Oh, no. I wouldn't have to remind Nicholas to be on time."
"Ha ha." he mocks. "I'll see you soon."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They hang up and Abby gets ready for their meeting, making sure she has cash in her purse.
After talking to Mary Nancy heads upstairs to her bedroom. She thinks she sees something out of the corner of her eye and turns around real quick and thinks her eyes are playing tricks on her when she catches a glimpse of Noah. She blinks and looks again but there's nothing there. She shakes her head and laughs a little but the tears come again when she starts wishing he was really there with her. ~It's only normal.~ She tells herself. ~When mom died there were times when I'd be walking down the street and thought I saw her but it turned out to be someone else and times when I thought she was in the same room with me but then I realised it was only my imagination. There are no such thing as Ghosts.~ She starts yawning and getting drowsy. ~Liz will wake me when it's time to go.~ She leaves a note for her little sister just in case asking her to wake her when it's time to go.
In her dream Rick is chasing after her and she's trying her hardest to get away when a hand gently grabs hers and stops her.
"Face up to him he can't hurt you here. You have control over everything not him."
She looks into his eyes not quite believing who she's seeing and not realizing it's just a dream. "Noah?"
"Tell him to go away. He doesn't belong here."
She's about to do this when suddenly both Rick and Noah disappear. "No Noah come back Noah!!" She wakes up shouting his name.
"Hey Nance, ready to go?"
"Um yeah just give me a minute to wake up here." Nancy says still unnerved by the dream.
"You feel ok? You look kinda pale."
"Yeah, I just had a dream about Noah he was trying to help me banish Rick." She says as she gets ready.
"I hate those types of dreams." Elizabeth states.
"If I tell you something you won't think I'm nuts will you?" She asks as she puts on her shoes.
"What?" she asks.
"I didn't like the fact that Rick was there, but the fact that Noah was there. I didn't want to wake up from that dream." She says.
Elizabeth pauses for a moment "I have had one or two of those myself
"Who were they about?" Nancy asks and sits down beside her.
"Who else but Mom."
"I dream about her too."
"Sometimes after I wake up, my whole day is weird."
"In what way?"
"Just out of sorts and feeling a bit lost."
"I try to talk to Dad or Abby when I feel that way. It helps put things in perspective."
"I've just kept it to myself."
"You don't have to do that you know. You have a house full of people who love you and are willing to help."
Elizabeth shrugs. "You ready?" she says not wanting to talk anymore about it.
"Sure," Nancy smiles gently. "Come on kid we have some shopping to do."
"Where to first?"
"The clothes store."
"Great."
They go shopping. "You know it's been awhile since the two of us have spent time together. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." Liz says. "So what are your plans?"
"For the day or for the rest of my life?"
"How about the next few weeks."
"I don't know when does school start again?"
"Too soon."
"Not soon enough for me."
Elizabeth does a double take. "OK, what have you done with the real Nancy Bradford."
She laughs. "I'm only wanting to get back to school so I can have something to keep my mind occupied. No ambulance is needed I assure you."
"Dad will be happy about that."
"Yeah he will."
Liz finds some jeans.
While Nancy finds some clothes too.
Tom soon arrives to pick Abby up.
"You think this guy will have any real information, or am I just getting my hopes up?" Abby asks him.
"In my experience with these types of situation, it's 50-50."
"Then I guess we just hope the odds are in our favor."
"Where in the park are we supposed to meet him?"
Abby tells him where they are to meet. "It's secluded, which is why I didn't want to go alone."
"I wouldn't have want you to go alone anyway."
"Tell me something I don't know," Abby grouses.
"Forgive me for being concerned for your safety."
"I'm an adult, Tom, I can take care of myself."
"Being an adult has nothing to do with it, would you have like it if I went alone?"
"I would have understood."
Tom chuckles. "Sure you would have."
"I'm not the one who thinks gender determines everything."
"I don't think that."
"No, of course you don't, dear."
Tom sighs and parks the car.
"I assume you'll want to do all the talking."
"Will you kill me if I do?"
Abby pretends to think. "No, but you'll owe me one."
"You are all heart." Tom states.
"That's what you're hoping." Abby looks at her watch. "We'd better get going."
Meanwhile the caller is waiting for Tom and Abby to approach him.
They get out of the car and Abby takes a look around. "I think that's him, over by that bench."
They go towards him. "You have information?"
He looks around to make sure no one followed him or them. "Yes I do, do you have the cash?"
Abby nudges Tom when she sees he's hesitating.
"Yes." Tom finally says.
"Hand it over please."
Tom gets the twenty from Abby and hands it to him.
"Do you know Jarod Evans?" The guy says.
Tom shrugs.
"He swore me to secrecy last night and normally he can count on me,
but what he's done is just too low. He confessed to me that he framed David."
"But why?"
"David beat him out of a construction job last year and Jarod is also upset that David wouldn't introduce him to Mary a little before that."
Tom face begins to go red.
"The only problem is all I got is Jarod's word, I don't have it in writing or recorded or anything."
"Won't you go to the police and tell them?"
"With what proof?"
"Just tell them what you told us."
"Hey no way, I told you two isn't that enough?"
When Tom doesn't answer, Abby breaks in, using what she knows as a lawyer's daughter. "The police will never believe us. Third hand hearsay--they'll laugh us out of the station."
He sighs and ponders this.
"If you came with us..."
"And if Jarod found out he'd kill me."
"And if he gets away with it, what makes you think you're safe?"
"So will you do it?" Tom asks.
He nods. "Ok."
"Now?" Abby asks.
"Sure why not, I don't have anything better to do today."
Abby looks at Tom. ~You didn't even want me talking, so would you *please* take over here?~
"We can drive you." Tom says.
"Thank you."
They go to the car.
Later at the police station he tells the police what he had told Tom and Abby.
"Got any proof?" the cop asks him.
Tom rolls his eyes.
"Only his word."
"How much they paying you to make this up?" the cop asks, nodding in the Bradfords' direction.
"I resent that." Tom replies.
"Hey. Your son's in major trouble and you come up with some guy with hearsay evidence. You expect me to buy it?"
Tom fumes.
"Can you give me something, anything, which would make me want to believe you?" the cop asks Tom and the guy he's brought in.
"No, but could you at least check the background of this guy?" Tom asks
"Like I've got nothing else to do..." the cop grumbles.
"I told you this was a waste of time." The guy says.
"If he's telling the truth, wouldn't you want to stop him before he tries using the drugs on anyone else?"
"Fine, I'll check it out. Wait here."
The cop goes off and after a few minutes comes back. "You three come up clean--for the most part. But this guy you're talking about...give me some more details. Something's fishy about him."
"Isn't that nice...we came up clean." Tom mocks to Abby.
"Mostly clean, Mr. Bradford. Officer Bernstein shared some very interesting tidbits about yourself," the cop mocks back.
Tom is about to say something but he keeps his cool.
"Later, you can tell me just how naughty you've been," Abby whispers in Tom's ear, hoping to distract him.
Tom is appalled by his wife's accusations.
"What do you want to know?" the caller asks.
"Anything you've got."
He tells him everything he knows about Jarod.
"OK, we'll check him out further."
"Will he have to know that it was me who told you about him?"
"If it comes to trial, maybe."
"Can I have police protection if it comes to that."
"We'll talk about it if your story checks out."
He nods.
"OK, then, get out of here and let me work. I'll be in touch if anything pans out," the cop tells them all.
The guy leaves.
"Come on, Tom, we might as well go, too," Abby says. She leans closer. "Besides, I want to find out what you've done to only come up *mostly* clean."
"Abby..." he chastises.
"What?" Abby says, acting innocent.
"You know what..."
Abby leads Tom out of the cop's cubicle. "No, I don't know what. If I did, I wouldn't have asked. I can try to guess, though," she teases.
Tom lightens up. "You are terrible, you know that?"
"You have no idea how terrible I can be. I'm willing to show you, though."
"Not here, we will get arrested for indecency."
Abby looks around the station house "Probably less public here than it is at home..."
"Come on." Tom kisses her. "Let's go home."
"In broad daylight? The kids will be home."
"So...suddenly I may be coming down with something." Tom says feigning a cough.
"And <cough> I think you've infected me, too <cough>" Abby smiles.
Tom smiles.
"Maybe we ought to just go in from the garage to your study, because I don't think we'll be able to fool the kids long enough to go upstairs, especially since Nancy knew where we were going this afternoon."
"Good idea." he says.
Abby gives him a kiss and gets in the car.
Meanwhile, Joannie goes into her room and flops on her bed. "We have to do something to help David," she tells her sister.
"I agree. But what?"
"Find out the truth."
"Ok, but how do we go about finding the truth? Where would we start?"
"I don't know. Undercover work? Question people?"
"Ok. I suppose we could start by questioning some of the guys David works with."
"That's the spirit. So when do we start? Now?"
"Sure, I'm free."
"Great. Let's grab a pad of paper from Dad's study and then we can make a list of who we need to talk to."
"Okay"
Tom and Abby get home and into the garage. "So far so good."
"Why do I feel like we are breaking and entering?"
"Because, my love, we are."
"Right." he says. He gets out of the car and looks to see if the coast is clear.
"Any kids around?" Abby whispers.
"No."
"Think we dare try to get upstairs, or make do with your study?"
"The study." he says.
"I'm right behind you."
They sneak in the house.
Joannie and Susan head downstairs.
Meanwhile, Abby and Tom walk into the study and Abby starts kissing her husband.
"Hmmmm, you don't waste time." he laughs.
"Well, if you're objecting..." Abby pretends to pout.
"No, no, not at all."
"But participating's another thing, huh?"
"Oh, you want action." he says
"I just want you to put your money where your mouth is...wait, forget the money..."
Tom laughs and kisses her.
"Much better."
Tom pulls her to the floor.
Abby continues to kiss him and helps him out of his jacket and tie.
Tom moves and his back cracks. "Oh no!!" he exclaims.
"Men... Why don't you lie down and let me take care of everything."
"How?" he says in pain.
"Let me massage your back--that'll help."
"Ok, but gently," he says as he turns on his back slowly.
Abby straddles him and begins to rub his back, interspersed with kisses. "That good?"
"Hmmm, I think I've died and gone to heaven."
"Trust me, I'm no angel."
"Good, 'cause I'm no saint, so we are perfect for each other."
Abby leans down to kiss him again just as Joannie walks through the unlocked door.
"Joannie...." Tom says
"Uh...Dad..." Joannie stutters in shock. "I...um...I think I'll..."
"No wait..." Tom stammers.
Joannie backs towards the doorway. "If the two of you wanted privacy, you have a bedroom, you know."
"Wait..." he says. "My back went out and Abby was just massaging it."
Joannie looks at her father's disheveled state. "Sure, Dad." She turns to Susan to see if she's buying the party line.
Susan just smiles and shakes her head.
Joannie nudges her and smiles back.
"I'll let you two get back to it, then."
Tom sighs.
"Are you two all right?" Nancy asks Joannie and Susan when they come out of the study.
"I think I may be permanently traumatized," Joannie says.
"Me too." Susan says.
"Why, what happened?"
"Nothing yet--but only because I walked in on them. Maybe we should get them automatic door locks..."
"In the study?" Nancy asks in shock.
"In broad daylight, with all of us home."
"Wow." Is all she can say.
"Parents..."
"I'll say."
"Either we need to hose them down or teach them a lesson."
"Why don't we just let it go?"
"How often do we have blackmail material on Dad? Think of what we can get in exchange..."
Nancy laughs. "You have a good point there, but can you count me out anyway?"
"Ah, working your own scheme, are you?"
"Nope, no schemes."
"Uh huh, sure."
"I think I'll take Sam for a walk." Nancy says and then leaves with Sam.
"Something is definitely up with her," Joannie says to Susan.
"Yeah," Susan says. "She is acting a little funny."
"Question is, what are we going to do about it?"
"Maybe we should spy on her to see if we can figure out what she's up to."
"I like the way you think."
Susan grins "Thanks."
Later on the walk. ~Why are they always trying to get me to plot against Dad and Abby? Peer pressure doesn't hold a candle to sibling pressure.~ A guy walks past her and Sam. She barely takes notice until Sam growls at the stranger.
"Sam." Nancy chides.
"It's ok." The guy says and walks away.
Sam continues to growl. "Hey take it easy boy." Nancy tries to sooth him.
When she can't calm him down she takes him back home. She's about to go into the study but thinks better of it. She feeds Sam and goes to watch tv hoping that something good is on when a family member walks in.
"OK," Joannie says, plopping down onto the couch. "What's with the long face?"
"Have you ever been so bored that you just want to scream?"
"Lots of times. But I eventually find something to amuse myself."
"Joannie I really don't feel comfortable with scheming these days."
"Why not? It's harmless fun."
"Yeah but I don't think it would be right if I did go along with it."
"Why not? Don't want to see some of the Tom Bradford regimen loosened up?"
"Actually that would be nice." Nancy starts to break.
"And you really think, deep down, Dad will mind being reminded that he's not an old fogey?"
"Are you kidding? He'd love that."
"Well, then, let's do him the favor."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Just reminding him that he's still a teenager at heart."
"Hey if it will keep me busy I'm in."
"Great. I think we start with some sniping over the dinner table--or whenever the lovebirds emerge."
"What do you mean? Sniping about what?"
"How cute Dad is being."
"I don't know I was thinking more along the lines of sneaking a guy upstairs."
"You ready for that?"
"Well he doesn't have to really be my boyfriend or anything. I know a guy who wouldn't mind playing a joke like that."
"I think we all should."
Nancy smiles but then frowns. "Wait a minute, what about his heart?"
"If it can stand up to playing around on the study floor, it can stand up to a little joke. I think..."
"In that case let's start plotting."
"First thing we have to do is find the men."
"Not to worry I have it covered." Nancy pulls out her little blue book. "I don't like using a black book."
"Nancy Bradford, radical feminist."
She smiles.
"It's good to see you smile again."
"Thank you it feels good to smile again, I know I don't do that much lately."
"I think you'll smile a lot while we're planning Dad's impending reminder."
"I completely agree with that."
"We also have to decide when we're going to do this. Tomorrow night too soon?" Joannie checks with her sisters.
"It's not too soon for me." Nancy says.
"Well, then, get dialing."
"Yes drill sergeant," Nancy jokes and then calls up five of her male friends.
"And a girl for Tommy," Joannie reminds her.
"Ok, but where is Tommy lately?"
"I don't know. I've been so busy worrying about David I kind of lost track."
"It seems like forever since I've seen him."
"Maybe he's run away from home."
"I sure hope not."
"He's just probably chasing some girl."
"Yeah probably."
"We could check if he's upstairs."
"All right." They go upstairs.
Once Joannie's closed the study doors behind her, Abby tells Tom, "There's only five of them left."
"Maybe we should go to our room."
"You honestly think Joannie and Susan are right outside that door watching to see if we will?"
"Then what do you suggest...stay here until they move out?"
Abby snuggles close to him. "I could think of worse things to do."
Tom laughs. "You are hopeless, but I love you." he kisses her.
"We have got to get away from prying eyes for awhile," Abby sighs.
"I promised you a trip, you remember?"
"The promise I remember. It's the fulfillment I'm a little fuzzy on."
"You pick the place and we will go."
"I thought I already had. A cruise, so no one can track us down."
"But where to? Mexico, Alaska, Caribbean?"
"Oh, I don't care. As long as I'm alone with you."
"Well in that case...we could rent a boat and cruise down the Sacramento river." he jokes.
"Just the three of us--you, me and the pilot? Good idea--but that pilot--he'd better be cute."
"On second thought....." he rethinks.
"That's what I thought," Abby laughs at his expression. "But we'd better start planning this trip soon or one morning the kids will find a note that I've kidnapped you, no ransom accepted."
"Call the travel agency and see what's available." Tom suggests
"Me? I thought you were taking charge of this once I said where I wanted to go."
"I guess I could ask Donna......" he kids.
"And she can spend the trip with that pilot."
"OK, I'll call myself."
Abby goes to the desk and hands Tom the phone receiver.
Tom shakes his head. "Do you have the number?"
Abby hands him the phone book.
"Gee, why didn't I think about that?" Tom says. He finds the number and dials. After talking to the travel agent, he asks Abby, "How does a Hawaiian cruise sound?"
"Expensive, but I'll make it worth your while."
"Actually it's not that bad." he says. "Book it." he tells the travel agent. "Next month? he asks repeating what the travel agent said while looking at Abby about the time frame.
Abby nods her approval.
"Next month would be great, Thank you." he hangs up. "At least I'll have my upside down pineapple shirt." he says.
"You are joking, right?"
"No, That's my favorite shirt."
"I'll just have to make sure you don't have a whole lot of opportunities to wear it," Abby smirks.
"I just hope David's mess is cleared up by then."
"Yeah.. But what if it isn't?"
"If it isn't...it isn't; with this size of a family; There is always one crisis or another."
"True, but I don't want to just desert them."
"We won't; we'll make sure things are taken care of before we go."
"How do you plan to accomplish that miracle?"
"By praying?" he says half serious and half joking.
Abby looks around the room. "We could always transform this room into a chapel..."
"Then we would be sure nobody would come in here."
"Well," Abby says and kisses him, "there could be real advantages to that."
"True." he says. Tom looks at the door. "Do we dare to venture out?"
"We're going to have to sooner or later. Might as well get it over with."