"Well, if you told me you were drowning, I would not lend a hand."-In The Air Tonight, Phil Collins & Holly McNarland
Episode 3: "In The Air"
Written By: Kelly Zollo
Scene 1: West Lake Memorial, Dr. Helen Porter’s Office
For the most part, Helen has been working her twelve hour shifts for the past three weeks and had seen patients come and go. She was looking forward to spending the weekend alone with her two children. That and spending lunch with her friend Sharon as well, it seemed that life had caught up with them and they hadn’t had lunch in ages. If anything she also wanted to make sure that Sharon was handling things now that Vanessa was out.
It was well after midnight as she finished the last of her notes in the chart on her desk. Rising from the desk to take the charts and deliver them back to the nurses desk, she grabbed her coat from the back of the chair and flicked off the light on the desk. She was getting far to old for the twelve hour shifts and could easily retire if she chose at this point. Maybe it was time given that both Kate and Shane were on their way into their lives and school had been paid for. She turned around to make her way out the door to jump in surprise.
Standing in her doorway eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep or crying she couldn’t tell stood Cade Harvell. He looked tired and worn and she gave him a questioning look as he looked at her from the doorway. The light from moon reflecting in on the floor through the window casted her office in an eerie glow. Taking a few steps inside her door he staggered a little and she had to wonder if he had been drinking. Something that he had turned to after the sentencing and his father’s disappearance from his life years ago. She saw him slouch down in the chair across from her desk and she retook her seat Turing the desk light back on.
“Cade, what’s wrong?” Helen asks, concern evident in her voice.
Cade looks at her he hadn’t slept since the phone had went dead when he was with Kate. He was able to get a brief location from his father. He hadn’t told anyone about it, not even Kate who had been sitting a mere two feet next to him at the time. He had gotten out of bed to pace the room cell phone in hand as he grabbed his pants from the floor. He had dressed quickly and left the room, leaving Kate on the bed to wonder what had happened.
He got in his car and drove for hours around trying to figure out what the call had meant, everyone had assumed his father was dead and he liked it that way, it was easier than the truth. It had been the only way he knew to deal with it at the time to ship his father off to a mental institution, without anyone knowing. Helen’s voice snaps him back to reality and he really doesn’t know why he had come. Perhaps it was because she was a doctor more so she was one of the few who didn’t hate and despise his father. She was a doctor she was obligated to help someone in need, even if that person probably didn’t deserve it.
“I need your help,” Cade says, meeting her eyes across from her in the chair.
“Are you hurt Cade? Is there something wrong with Kate? Have you been drinking?” Helen asks, not sure what she could offer as far as help if he didn’t tell her.
Cade looks at her again from across his chair of course she thought he was drinking who didn’t think that? Kate though was another subject all together she more than likely was hurt but not in the physical way to say the least. It was his fault and the guilt at himself would have to be something that he had to deal with on his own. He sighs and shakes his head no at her.
“It’s my dad, he needs your help,” Cade manages to finally get out and looks at her.
Helen Porter leans back in her chair as he mentioned that Garrett Harvell needed her help, Garrett Harvell who had abandoned his family. She had assumed he was dead as did the rest of town. He had skipped out on Sharon in the middle of a crisis two years after the ruling from the judge in the case. She was certain if, he was lying bleeding in the street she would turn and walk away, to leave him there in his agony. She shook her head no several times to indicate that she would not help the man that abandoned her best friend, it would be a cold day in hell.
“Please Helen, I have no one else to go to for him,” Cade says his voice wavering slightly.
Hearing the plea in Cade Harvell’s voice she had no obligation as a doctor but to comply. She simply nodded her head and rose from her chair following him out of the office. She wasn’t sure what was wrong or why Garrett would suddenly pop up again now of all times and she didn’t care. She would help him the best she could and send him on his way, Sharon never needed to know.
Scene 2: West Lake Twin Pines Motel Room, #802
Brian McAllister looks out the window of the motel room for what seems like the hundredth time, to say the room felt empty to him now was an understatement. Vanessa had moved back into the house earlier that week and he missed the company that she had brought. He had tried to ignore his attraction to the brunette, as she shared his room even going as far as to kiss her the night they returned. They had been halfway in the processes of ripping each other’s clothes off in the doorway until, Greg knocked on the door with a duffel of her clothes from the car.
He can still remember how initially embarrassed she had been at the intrusion with her hair matted and tangled around her face. Lips swollen and cheeks flushed over the matter, Greg had looked between them awkwardly and shut the door on the way out. She had apologized about the ordeal and went to the bathroom to change into the pajamas that were in the bag, he had taken a seat on the chair in the room. He had taken out his notes on the book to flip through them as she got ready for bed opting to remain on the couch in the room for the night when she emerged. She was gone nearly as quickly as she had appeared and though he wasn’t supposed to, he missed her dearly.
Walking away from the window he turns his attention back to his laptop and the book that he had been working on. A book that has a personal connection to him that he couldn’t shake, he didn’t know Hannah Donovan and until two years ago he didn’t know Vanessa Harvell. They both knew what really happened earlier in the evening before the accident something that he wanted answers to. Answers that seemed to never come the more he worked on the book and dug into the case. His focus was lost he guessed as he stared at the computer screen and the Google window that was up waiting for him to type in his search. Hands over the keyboard ready to type in the latest thought in many searches over the last week, the knock on the door got him up from the couch.
Opening the door, the first thing he sees is a fist flying at him to land squarely in his jaw as he stumbles the few feet backwards. Rubbing a hand on his jaw line Brian lifts his eyes to see his attacker standing before him, Jacob Donovan. He’s not sure if Jacob is there attacking him over the book or if he’s there for another reason entirely, a certain brunette that he’s gotten to know. Considering how he left her to rot in a prison cell for the last four years, he sincerely hopes it’s not the latter of the two.
Jacob Donovan stares the other man down from the doorway rubbing his hand over his knuckles from the impact. He doesn’t know why he felt compelled to hit the man who write a book about the accident, all that he knows is that it felt good. He doesn’t think that he is really Vanessa’s type to begin with. Tall, lanky, a bit of a geek, carrying the laptop bag around all the time with him, even though it’s been years since he’s spoken to her, he’s angry over it. His jaw twitches slightly as he closes the door behind him quietly, he sees the pictures of the accident on the table, closing his eyes at the image.
“Listen Jacob I really don’t know why you are here...,” Brian begins, only to be cut off as Jacob picks up a picture from the table.
“It must make you feel good doesn’t it? To come into a town and stir up ugly memories for a girl who died in a car accident. With no regard to her family or how they feel about it,” Jacob asks quietly as he turns the photo of him, Vanessa, Hannah and Cade over in his hands.
Jacob turns to make eye contact with him, and Brian sees the hurt, he’s not sure if it’s for Hannah, or the other girl in the photo. All that he does know is that Jacob was the only one who he didn’t get to interview about the book, the only one who doesn’t talk about it. He also knows that he and Vanessa were serious before the accident and afterwards he disappeared, turning his back on her in the process. Since Brian’s not really with her to begin with he doesn’t get the big deal, unless word has gotten around town that she had stayed in his room.
Jacob closes his eyes as he sits the photo back on the table stuffing his hands in his pockets as he looks at the book cover. Vanessa’s face has been photoshopped behind prison bars at an angle and he can already feel the self loathing rise. It’s not that he doesn’t care for her anymore, things are just different now and they have been since they pronounced his sister dead at the scene. Part of him blames her for taking Hannah from him, part of him feels guilty that she got behind the wheel in the first place and the other wishes, it was her they had to bury instead of Hannah.
“You know I went to see her after the surgery that night sat by her bedside for hours, Cade let me. By the time they pronounced Hannah dead and they charged her I couldn’t stay anymore. It was to hard and she deserved better than that,’ Jacob says pausing for a moment to look up at Brian dead in the eye. ‘That being said treat her right.”
Leaving it at that Jacob walked to the door to open it and leave. Leaving a confused Brian looking at the closed door behind him, wondering if he had missed something in the book. Going back over his notes he studies them carefully, to see if Cade mentioned the hospital visit not finding it anywhere. He leans back on the sofa, studying the picture of the four of them again, wondering if anyone has ever told Vanessa that Jacob stayed at her bedside after the brain surgery.
Scene 3: 14 Greystone Dr., West Lake, NY
For weeks James has locked himself in his office on phone call after phone call to Alan Donovan, apologizing about the book release that he authorized. He knew at the time that it could come to that, but on the other hand something had to be done about the case. For to long in his mind questions the secrets had been kept about the night in question and if Brian McAllister wanted to uncover that and shed light; who was he to tell the younger author no. Rising from his office chair, he hears his wife in the kitchen moving to the doorway to watch her as she goes over some paperwork.
Their marriage has been in trouble for years and no one disputes that least, of all themselves but still a divorce would be a greater loss. James watches Bridgette, as she mulls over the latest book contracts to then pull out the wedding planning chart. He still can’t believe that in a few weeks Austin will be marrying Elizabeth. Something that he is not sure how it happened. He always thought it would be Kate, that his son would end up with, times change he guesses. He glances at the picture in the paper at their announcement about the wedding.
Bridgette is certain that in the last few weeks she has hardly slept, that she and James have barely said more than a few words to each other she doesn’t like that. Even after the truth came out about her brief affair with Greg Forrester years ago, she still has dark secrets from her husband. She doesn’t like that Alan and Karen’s lives have been uprooted with the book, and that she is looking over her shoulder at every mention of it. She doesn’t like how when she went to comfort her friend; she had met Alan’s eyes of betrayal from across the room, and she doesn’t like the guilt that she feels over all of it.
Most of all she doesn’t like the state of their marriage, or pretending that things are all right just for the sake of it. She would prefer that everyone know that they have not been well for quite a while, she doesn’t like that he still likes to make decisions about the company without her. She picks up the wedding announcement and picture in the paper, she cant help but wonder about what would have happened without the death of Hannah.
“I went ahead and booked the catering company for the wedding at the country club for the reception. Everything seems set from talking to Austin and Elizabeth this week, both are very excited,” Bridgette offers over her shoulder to her husband who simply nods his head.
“I was thinking about going over and seeing Karen today as well,”
The statement makes James takes notice of his wife as she speaks, trying to hide his disapproval on the matter knowing that she could be going for other reasons. Reasons that he is not sure that he is comfortable with, given everything. He hopes that deep down she and Alan would have more class than that, but truth be told he really has no idea what to do or think about it. He catches them staring at each other across the room at times when they are together, and he isn’t sure if he feels disgusted by it or relived.
“I think Karen would appreciate that quite a bit actually. I have a meeting with Austin and Brian for the release so I will be home late,” James offers, grabbing some coffee from the pot and pouring some in his to go mug so that he can head out for the day.
The silence fills the room as he makes his way to the door and opens it to leave the house, Bridgette staring at him from the counter. They exchange an unknowing questioning glance for a moment before the door shuts behind him. Alone in the house, Bridgette looks down at the transcript for the book again. Her fingers trailing over the dedication that Brian has written. Wondering what the young ambitious author really knew about that night from writing the book over the last two years and more so her family’s involvement. Wondering why he made a point at a dedication to a college teacher she had all but forgotten ever existed, in the first place.
Placing the thought to the side she forces her eyes away from the manuscript and turns her attention back to the seating chart for the wedding. Without fail in a few more weeks her son would be getting married to Elizabeth Jones, and they could put the past behind them conclusively. She thinks about calling Paige to see if she would like to do lunch to discuss the upcoming nuptials, and decides against it. Her daughter was dealing with enough in her mind regarding the accident, and consequences as it was and she didn’t want to further anger her or upset her over it.
Scene 4: Club 90; West Lake, NY
Kate Porter for the most part has attempted to seek refugee for the evening in Paige Alexander’s club probably not the best idea. Given her foul mood over Cade disappearing a few nights before it is the only solution she can come up with. He had looked at her frantically as he gathered his clothes in the room from the phone call to dress and leave her apartment. She had in turn had stayed on the bed shell shocked by his actions towards her, the phone call and his sudden need to leave the room. That was nearly two days ago and still there was no word on where he was.
She had called the office to be informed that he had taken a few personal days and he wasn’t answering his cell phone when she would call. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to push her away or if she had done something wrong for that matter. She had thought about calling the house to see if his mother, Vanessa or Callie had heard from him but stopped herself. Vanessa hadn’t returned her calls either. She supposed her friend was still adjusting to having freedom and being out in the real world.
Sighing as the bartender refilled her wine glass for the third time that evening and waving at Paige from across the room. She still can’t believe that in a few weeks Austin will be getting married to Elizabeth Jones of all people; she and Liz used to be friends ages ago. Until the accident when Liz decided that Vanessa was just as guilty as the rest of the town, before she moved in on Austin only days after they had ended things. If Hannah hadn’t of died she wondered if things would have been different for her and Austin, if they would be the ones planning a wedding. Pushing the thought away as she rose from her seat to head to the bathroom for a bit, she focused instead on her and Cade.
She knew that she did care about Cade maybe not on the same level that she did with Austin or as he did with Hannah but they did care about one another. The bathroom door comes into focus underneath the florescent lighting of the hallway, as she pushes her way inside. The club has always been classy that has never been a problem and it is evident by the decor in the bathroom with the dark slate marble floor, sinks in a row and the seated powder area. Paige has always had good taste, something that Kate has always admired maybe even envied at some point over the last few years. She stops short at the sight in front of her, Liz Jones making a perfect white line of powder, with her fingers leaning over the sitting area.
Elizabeth Jones is sure of two things that she does on some level love and care about Austin to the extent to marry him, the other is that she really needs the cocaine fix that she gets about every other week. She’s been using since she was about seventeen that fact barely registers or phases her anymore. She works on auto pilot with everyone around her, she has since her father walked out a few days after she was born. Her mother was a New York socialite who married poorly and the only reason she grew up in the gated community is her last name and the house that her mother inherited. Her mother Marion, resorted to becoming the secretary at Donovan Publishing. Later having affair with Alan Donova, her mother stayed due to good pay that feed and paid for tuition at West Lake Academy and then later at college for her children.
Leaning over the counter she takes her index finger to pinch the left side of her nose as she inhales the line barely hearing the door open or close in the area. She closes her eyes for a moment and tilts back her head in about another twenty minutes, she’ll feel at peace again and be good for another two weeks. Opening her eyes her left hand flies to her face to wipe the small trace from her nostril, catching the reflection of Kate staring back at her. She turns around slowly in the chair, uncrossing her legs in the process as she cleans off the counter brushing the dust to the floor, brushing
“Liz...,” Kate begins unsure of what to tell the brunette in front of her as she is washing her hands in the sink.
“It’s not a big deal, Kate besides I would have thought that you have more important things on your mind as of late. Such as keeping Cade on a short leash to ensure that he isn’t out whoring around,” Liz retorts turning to grab a towel from the dispenser drying her hands before making a hasty exit from the bathroom.
Kate is to stunned to move, by what she has just seen. The door opens hoping that it is Liz returning to talk to her, only to have it be a few tourists on holiday enter. She takes a glance over at the chair by the powder room again, as the girls talk about the music and the atmosphere of the club. She’s not sure how long she stands there before she finally moves, wiping a few tears from her face. She’s not sure if she is crying for Liz or over the fact that her statement about Cade seems to have gotten to her she makes a hasty exit out of the bathroom.
Scene 5: 1298 Hollow Oak Way; West Lake, NY
Langston Fairfield has been driving with her niece Vanessa Harvell for the last three hours around the West Lake community making sure that the houses on the market are staged properly. The idea to put Vanessa back at work was that of her sister Sharon, thinking that it would help ease the transition of being home. Langston so far, is unsure of the idea. Her niece has barley said more than a few words here and there about a layout or her opinion, she doesn’t talk about much else. They pass by the lake and her niece breaks eye contact with the window to look straight ahead at the road.
She knows that coming up the estate that looks out over the lake might of been a bad idea, however Cade insisted as a client is wanting to see the property in a short amount of time. It hasn’t been lived in for years, the estate used to belong to the local university and was often used for professor housing. Now it stands vacant against the water. Placing the car into park in the circular driveway, Langston shuts off the car to survey the outside, still in decent condition for the most part minus some paint chipping away. She places her hand on the door of the sedan before stepping out waiting a few moments for her niece to follow.
“Not so bad now is it?” Langston asks, the only answer is a nod of approval.
Vanessa doesn’t know why she agreed to spend the day with her aunt getting back into the realities of work and society relying on her family connections and family business. Since law school and college notions have long passed, she supposes it is because it is her last resort, that she owes them all something. She has offered her opinions here and there on the various houses that they have visited, helped her aunt the best that she can with everything still she feels like she doesn’t fit. At the end she would rather be out with her aunt around town however, than at home locked in her room under the watchful eye of her mother or worse Richard Weston, coming by to ask her more questions.
Her eyes intentionally leave the window as they pass the lake closing them tightly for a moment to then stare straight ahead, she has never went back there. Even if she wants, she is sure that she doesn’t have the strength to stare out at the water and wonder why she is alive. When they pull up into the house she stares at it for a while she should know it, or at least that is what she thinks as an uneasy feeling comes over her. It’s old a tad bit run down but still beautiful it has a lake front view, prime real estate in their world. She gets out of the car and nods her head to her aunt’s statement.
“Cade, is wanting us to take a look, order the pieces we need. So that we can get the staging set up,” Langston offers as she unlocks the door and steps into the house feeling a slight chill.
“That’s fine,” Vanessa offers as she follows her aunt inside the house.
The first thing that she notices is how cold the house is, it could be that the house hasn’t been lived in for years. The floors are in good condition still beautiful hardwood oak that let the light reflect off them from the sunlight. Vanessa’s eyes go to her aunt, as Langston pulls back the curtains to let the light into the main room. So that they can what needs to be done. The furniture that is left in the house is covered in the white sheets, reflecting the emptiness of the estate.
Walking around the foyer and into the office area she makes a note that it is still in tact, papers strewn around, a briefcase on the floor. Curiosity gets the best of her as she leans down to inspect the briefcase making a note of the initials E.S.D, something that she feels that she should know as well. Something that feels in place for her, her fingers trace the brass lettering for a bit lost in her thoughts. She is still unsure of what strikes her about it in the first place, as she rises from the floor she goes to inspect the desk for more clues.
“Vanessa, I need your opinion on a few things in the kitchen,”
In her mind her aunt has terrible timing, but she ignores the urge to stay. Casting one final glance at the office and the briefcase on the floor, before going to join her aunt in the kitchen.
Scene 6: Indian Lake, NY; Cabin of Lee Sanders
Callie Morris took the day off to accompany Tyler on his quest to question Lee Sanders on the case involving Hannah. They have spent the last two weeks working together to track the man down, which both discovered was no easy task, he had nearly been a ghost. Eventually they got the lead that lead them to Indian Lake a couple of hours drive from West Lake and they decided to make a day trip of it. She has rode in the passenger seat for most of it involved in another case she is working on.
Truth be told she isn’t sure what they are expecting to find by interviewing the man other than what he already said in his report. At the end of they day she knows that something is off about the case but she is willing to indulge Tyler as his friend. Sometimes she wonders if it could be more or not but at the end so far it’s really not an option, they are friends. They have been for years and until a few years ago their families would have approved now not so much she is sure.
“I want to know how a retired police officer affords this,” Tyler says as they pull up to the cabin.
Tyler knows that no one approves of what he is doing by reopening he case other than Greg, who offered him his support on the matter. Even if at the end of the day they don’t find anything, to him it is still worth a shot. He has devoted all his time and energy over the last two weeks in order to track down Lee Sanders and now he is a few minutes away from meeting him. Both excitement and dread run through him at the thought about the answers that he could get.
Looking over at Callie he offers her a grin as he turns off the engine and exits the car shutting the door behind him. He is more than grateful that she has been at his side for it, even offering to help him do the leg work on the case to get to Lee. He knows that he has always had a slight attraction to one of his closest friends but given the past their families share he knows that he can’t cross that line no matter what. Walking up the front steps with Callie at his side they knock at the door, waiting a few minutes as an older gray haired man opens the door to stare at them.
“Lee Sanders?’ Calle asks, staring the man up and down in front of her to get a nod. ‘I’m Callie Morris and this is Tyler Donovan, we had some questions to ask you about the Hannah Donovan case, if you have a few moments.”
Tyler watches closely as the man in front of them momentarily freezes, before stepping out onto the porch shutting the door behind him.
“What about it?”
“We were looking at some of the paperwork in the case. We’re curious what happened to the camera that was in the car when you arrived at the scene. Do you remember what happened to it?” Tyler asks hoping for a good answer.
“I remember the wreck, haven’t seen a car mangled so bad like that in years. Me and a few of the men on the force were attending to Vanessa. I found the camera in the trunk and when we got the station I was called into Richard Weston’s office...’ Lee began pausing for a moment to think about it for a bit. ‘Your dad was there too. I was asked if the camera had been logged, I let them know that I was in the process. Richard asked me to return the camera to your father, said it wasn’t needed for the case. I was hesitant at first, he offered me a bonus and early retirement said that it wasn’t relevant to what happened on the road.”
Tyler looks at Callie and then looks back at Lee his face full of shock.
“You’re sure my dad was in the office at the time? Is there a reason why this was never brought up in court?” Tyler asks.
“Your dad was there, at the time I didn’t think much of it. At the trial no one asked a follow up as to why I was asked to turn it over. Truth be told I was surprised Garrett didn’t ask me in rebuttal,’ Lee offers crossing his arms and looking between the two as the sun began to sink. ‘Shame in my opinion that Richard went after Vanessa so badly in my opinion. Never liked the man and his ego to begin with. Anything else I can help you two kids with?”
Callie and Tyler are both to perplexed at the answers that they have received and Tyler thanks him for his time before heading back to the car. Casting a glance back at the house, Lee goes back inside as he pulls out onto the main road. He is confused that his father was involved with the camera and has to wonder why Garrett didn’t ask a follow up to it. His is cautious as the sun finally sinks and he turns the headlights on for the road.
Neither notice the car behind them pull out of it’s spot on the side of the road about a mile after they leave Lee’s house. A car that is following very close, neither notice until the car rear ends them from behind. Looking into the rear view mirror Tyler tries to gauge the driver or get a good description but he is unable to as they are slammed into the road again, this time swerving. Grabbing onto the dashboard the last thing Callie Morris remembers before slamming into the trees, is that she really hates car accidents.