"Tell me what you want to hear. Something that will like those ears. Sick of all the insincere. I'm gonna give all my secrets away. This time. Don't need another perfect lie. Don't care if critics ever jump in line. I'm gonna give all my secrets away."- Secrets, One Republic

Episode 23: "Secrets" to listen the theme song please click here.
Written By: Kelly Zollo

Scene 1: 574 Shoreline Dr. Apt #19., West Lake, NY

Sitting in his apartment, bottle of bourbon by the couch, television on Cade places his hands in his lap, he is unshaven. He hasn’t left the apartment in well over a week, he’s to busy spending time with her. Bright red hair sitting next to him, a glass on her end of the couch as they spend time together. It hasn’t been a happy time, she has already expressed her displeasure of how things have turned out.

“You should help my brother and your sister. You and I both know they’re supposed to end up together,” she says.

Glancing over at her he can’t believe how stunning she is years later, in her white summer dress. A smile on her face, as she leans in next to him and he can smell the scent of lavender radiating off of her skin. Reaching out he brushes his thumb across her jaw line for a moment, tucking the red strand of hair behind her ear.

“Maybe it is to late for them,” he offers.

Rising from the couch she paces in front of the television, her dress flowing with her hips, aggravation sitting in. Turning to look at him, her eyes go dark, distant and blank and he can feel the chill run down his spine. It has been days like this, her pointing out his flaws with the entire situation and he has to wonder if it is deserved or not.

“If you and your father hadn’t of kept Jake from her none of this would be happening right now. Kate would have stayed with Austin, and you wouldn’t have turned to her and betrayed me. Liz would be, I don’t know but God she wouldn’t be miserable with Austin playing house. Jessica would have never gotten her hooks into my brother and he would be happy with Vanessa.”

Reaching for his drink as the loathing sets in he takes a drink not hearing the front door to the apartment open or close.

“This is all your fault and now you have to deal with the consequences,” she says her face inches from his.

“Cade?” Vanessa calls out, walking into the dark living room and spotting her brother staring straight in front of him.

She haunted him for years, even if he is happy to have her back in front of him in her white summer dress. He doesn’t hear his sister’s voice filter in the air, he is too busy staring into her eyes while she sits across from him. Part of him hates her for dying in that lake, quitting on him and everyone around her. He really hates that she was unfaithful to him towards the end, that she slept with her professor and he was the last to know.

“I hate you,” he manages to get out.

Vanessa looks around the living room sensing that something is wrong, very wrong as she looks at her brother. His tone cold at the statement that he hates someone, he isn’t talking to her. He hasn’t even looked up from staring at the coffee table to look at her, she isn’t even sure that he knows she is there. Taking the drink from his hand, she speaks.

“Cade, who are you talking to?”

“Hannah.”

She freezes at the mention of her best friend and looks around the room, no one is there just her and her brother. Taking a seat next to him on the couch she turns on one of the lights on one of the end tables. The light filters into the room, and she begins to fade from in front of him, she is gone again. Wiping at his eyes, trying to wonder why she chooses now to show up and torture him.

“Hannah’s gone.” Vanessa says, reaching over and touching her brother’s shoulder.

“No she was just here, she’s been here all week.”

A chill runs through her spine, as she gets up from the couch to go to the kitchen. Sure enough the medication is still full and hasn’t been refilled for since the office visit they had before Austin and Liz’s wedding. She looks in at her brother again before pulling out her cell phone and calling her father.

“Dad, something is wrong with Cade.”

Scene 2: 1574 Shoreline Dr. Apt. #8, West Lake, NY

Walking up the apartment complex it is the last place that Jake wants to be, but he has to be here because Jessica is having his baby. The conversation with Peter, from a few weeks ago ringing in the back of his head, she was at the bar drinking. Which shouldn’t surprise him, she hardly ever listens to him even when they were together. She is selfish and self serving, another reason he drew up the papers with Garrett. Waiting outside the door he looks at her when she answers, she looks fine but he only cares about the baby.

“Jake, what are you doing here?” Jessica manages to get out, irritation clear.

“I got a call from Peter a few weeks ago. Get your purse we’re going to the hospital.”

Jessica is certain it takes all of her will power not to sneer at him, to remain calm about Peter breaking their agreement. Instead she has to think quickly, they can’t go to the hospital yet, nothing is in order. No one has written in her medical chart, there is no evidence of a baby even though she is supposed to be far enough along to have a sonogram.

“No.”

“I’m not kidding get your purse. I want to make sure that you’re not poisoning my kid by drinking.” Jake says, remaining firm in his decision.

“I thought we agreed that you would help support the baby, financially. Nothing more and nothing less, you suddenly seem interested in doctor appointments and being involved.”

“Why are you being such a damn bitch about this?” Jake finally says, curious as to why she doesn’t want to go to the hospital with him wondering if Paige was right all along.

Her mind has to scramble again in order to come up with a viable excuse, “It’s the middle of the weekend I haven’t had any complications yet. If I was having them I would have told you so. You can’t trust everything Peter says to you, it was one glass.”

He has to remember that stress isn’t good for the baby, that fighting with her is not going to do him any good. It’s not going to magically make his problems with her disappear and since they are having a child together, they have to learn to co-parent. Taking a few breaths he reaches a truce with her.

“Monday you call me and we’re going to an appointment to make sure nothing is wrong. This isn’t negotiable.”

“Fine, are we done now?” she asks folding her arms in the doorway and glaring at him.

He doesn’t bother with an answer, as he walks away from the doorway shoving his hands in his pockets. What he had hoped would be a calm and civil conversation about the safety and well being of their child going downhill. Instead his mood is now pissed off at the entire situation that he put them in. If he hadn’t of slept with her in the first place this wouldn’t be happening and he could be with Vanessa.

Jessica leans against the doorway, as she watches him leave hatred in her eyes, this was supposed to bring them closer. This was supposed to make him realize that he loved her and that he wanted her. This was supposed to bring back what they had lost years ago while she was in high school. Instead he is walking away from her again, taking out her phone she calls the hospital.

“Hello this is a patient of Dr. Jones. Yes I’ll hold.’ Jessica states, staring at Jake as he pulls out of the complex and waiting for Peter to pick up her lips curving into a smile when he does. ‘Hello Peter, we need to talk again.”

Scene 3: Donovan Enterprises Alan Donovan's Office; West Lake, NY

Walking into Donovan Enterprises Mary McAllister's heels click against the floor, letting Alan’s secretary know that she is there. It looks much like it did over twenty years ago, when she was young woman fresh out of high school and starting an internship there. Working her way up the ladder, finally sleeping with Alan at a conference call and then later setting her eyes on Nick Porter. Of course the task hadn’t been easy, his wife was always around, eventually they got around it.

“Mr. Donovan, will see you now.” The blond secretary said, motioning towards the door.

Mary smiles nodding her head at the nurse before walking into Alan’s office, closing the door behind her, as she looks at his shell shocked face.

“Hello Alan,” she says her lips curving slyly.

His face is bright red with anger, as he finishes up a call to a paper supplier overseas for supplies, looking at Mary McAllister in his office. He had hoped that her visit would have been a short one, here for her husband’s body and then she would leave. He is shocked and angry that she is still here weeks later, no doubt causing trouble.

“What are you doing here?” he demands.

“Now is that anyway to talk to an old friend. I swear between you and Garrett, I’m starting to feel right back at home here.’ she pauses for a moment when she notices his face in shock. ‘Do close your mouth it really doesn’t suit you. Since Garrett fails to listen to what I want I figured you and then James would be the best options.”

“We already gave you what you wanted years ago Mary. If I had known that it was your husband that was in the lake I would have taken the extra measures to not just leave him there.” Alan retorts, staring at her from behind the desk.

Tapping her fingers against his desk, she shakes her head no at him.

“Don’t flatter yourself Alan, you and I both know that I know more than I should. About Nick Porter, about the disappearance of Adam Jones. I want more money to keep silent, I want what was due to me years ago. Either that or I want your help in helping keep Brian away from Garrett’s daughter.”

“Brian is to young to be Nick’s child so really I am not understanding the claims.” Alan retorts.

Taking out her wallet her fingers glide over the leather, pulling out a family photo of her boys to show Alan the proof.

“Older one in the back, Ryan.”

Alan’s stomach churns at the mention of Ryan, the name itself sending shivers down his spine. Ryan that has a warrant out for him, for going after Paige, his daughter. Ryan who is a suspect of murdering Hannah, his other daughter. He only begins to wonder if Ryan knows the truth about his parentage and worse if his mother knows about all of the horrible things her child is being accused off.

“He has Nick’s eyes. I didn’t lie the first time when you all sent me away to pay me off to keep Helen from the truth. I wasn’t lying the second time that I came back for money years later and Helen found out, you paid then. You’ll pay now.”

Rising from his seat he looks at her coldly, shoving the photo back at her.

“Get the hell out of my office. You’re not getting a dime,” he says.

“I’ll be in touch should you change your mind I will be at my other son’s home. I am sure you know where to find him.”

Scene 4: City Hall Courthouse; West Lake, NY

The trial has been on going for weeks and now sitting in Judge Newman's courtroom as a deal is being made along with sentencing, Sharon simply stares ahead. Garrett behind her, as Holly, pours over the plea agreement that Simon has drawn up. Richard has two options, twenty years to life if he gives up Jessica in part of the murder or life in prison with the possibility of parole in twenty to thirty years. She has already advised him to take the plea deal of the twenty years.

“Mr. Weston, you agreed to this hearing to plead out this case in order to save tax payers dollars. You have chosen to waive your right to a trial, as a judge I am sure your counsel has already advised you I am not recommending this. It seems that the district attorney’s office has offered you a very fair deal might I add if you come clean about your involvement in Hannah Donovan’s death, the set up of Vanessa Harvell and helping your daughter cover up the murder of Elliot Davison. How do you plead?”

Richard has been waiting for this moment for weeks, the moment when he can stick it to Simon, Garrett and Sharon all at once. The moment where he can protect his only child from a life in prison and possibly the death penalty. He had hoped that Paige’s confession wouldn’t hold so much weight, with the gun missing that it wouldn’t of come to this. Instead, he sits across from Holly in his orange clothing, waiting as Holly asks him the question.

“I am going to tell you the same thing that I have already told Mr. Hoffman. My daughter had nothing to do with the death of Hannah Donovan or Elliot Davison. It was my idea to bury the body in the lake, it was my idea to change the test results on both the car and the toxicology reports on the accident.” Richard states, staring blankly ahead.

“Richard, as your attorney I am advising you to take the deal.” Sharon pleads.

“I would like to say for the record this has to be pretty damn awkward for everyone all of Sharon Morris’s men sitting in one room with her. What cat got your tongue Garrett? Didn’t know that your wife was sleeping with me for months after you left?” Richard asks, watching as Garrett looks at Sharon in disbelief.

Sharon’s mouth is left to hang open for a moment, her face turning white. Simon is already staring up Garrett from the top down before glancing back at Sharon. Holly is unimpressed with Richard’s show before her and calmly she takes a moment before speaking.

“Mr. Weston I am going to offer this to you one more time before I rule on the matter.”

Richard looks over at Sharon refusing to go down without sharing the last bit of damaging information that he has on her, “Congratulations Simon on meeting your daughter and I hear luring her to your office. I’ve been trying to get her there for years. There is no deal your honour.”

“Richard Weston, in accordance with the state of New York and the plea agreement that you have agreed to waive the rest of your trial. Instead pleading guilty to the following accessory to murder, false imprisonment, extortion, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. You are here by ordered to serve out a term of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in ten to fifteen years. Sentence to be carried out as soon as possible. Bailiff you may take the defendant.”

The uniformed officer steps forward to take him away and turning around he comes face to face with Karen Donovan.

She had set in the back of the courthouse behind the press, wanting to be there for the verdict as it was read. Hoping to find closure on the matter of Hannah’s death and cover up, knowing that Richard wouldn’t turn on his daughter. She knows deep down that Jessica is involved and her concern now is that Tyler continue to find the missing gun to bring her to justice. The gasps from the reporters at Richard’s accusations towards Sharon and his plea, drown the room. Unable to look at him any further, she steps forward to place a hand on Simon’s shoulders.

“Please tell me that you are not going to stop looking for the gun that killed Elliot and the person who tampered with Hannah’s car.” Karen pleads.

Simon is still in shock that Richard had confirmed what he already knew, Sharon never aborted their child and Callie was in fact his daughter. He looks at Karen’s eyes which are full of tears and nods.

“I will bring whoever killed your daughter to justice.”

Garrett is shell shocked not at Richard paying for his crimes, but over his wife’s affair and now her lies coming to the front. Sharon had told him that Callie’s father was unimportant to their lives, that there was no need to get him involved. He never expected it to come out that Simon Hoffman would be Callie’s father and he never expected his wife to cheat on him with Richard either.

“Garrett, I can explain,” she begins.

His reaction is cold, staring at her before leaving the courthouse not wanting to stick around and listen to more of her lies. Sharon looks around the madness of the courthouse, reporters taking pictures, Karen staring at her, She barely makes out Simon as he makes his way over to her, anger and resentment on his face.

“You told me that you had an abortion.”

“No you told me to get one, I simply couldn’t do that.”

Unable to deal with his questions or his glare, she grabs her briefcase off the table to head out of the courthouse.

Scene 5: Donovan Enterprises Alan Donovan's Office; West Lake, NY

Getting called into Alan’s office is not something that Jessica has been looking forward too, Peter still refuses to help her and after Jake’s outburst the other day she is running out of ideas. She needs a doctor and one that is willing to falsify documents in order to achieve what she needs. Everything is in place for her to actually get a child, she just needs the documents to back up the claim. Walking into Alan’s office she takes a seat across from him folding her hands in her lap.

“How much?” Alan asks, looking up at her and pulling out his check book.

“Excuse me?” she asks, playing dumb.

“We were able to solve this problem years ago, how much now for you to get out of town.” Alan reiterates.

She can’t help the laugh that she lets out over his nerve in thinking that she is again a scared seventeen year old. He is a pathetic excuse of a father, a human being and now with things falling in order, she will get everything that she has ever wanted. When her laughing subsides she looks at him.

“I don’t think so. I’m actually quite happy where I am with Jake thank you very much.”

“You listen to me little girl...,” he begins only to be cut off.

“I’m not a child anymore Alan, I’m not seventeen years old, pregnant and a problem for you. I’m older and wiser, and I am sorry to inform you that you can’t just force me out of town again along with my father. Perhaps you missed the memo Jake wants this baby.”

“I highly doubt that seeing how you’re not really pregnant this time.”

Her face turns white and she looks at him trying to cover her tracks, she has been careful showing up when she needed to at the hospital. Faking appointments, going as far as to steal two pregnancy tests at the hospital and changing the name on them. It hasn’t been easy and now anger overtakes her, if Alan tells Jake he will ruin everything she has worked for.

“Don’t look so shocked. I have my sources, as soon as Karen let me know I sent out an investigator to make sure your claim was legitimate. There is no medical record of your pregnancy at the hospital, there is no record of you actually having an appointment there. If I didn’t know you any better, I would say you’re doing this to get back at my family for your miscarriage years ago. In some twisted way I actually feel sorry for you.”

Anger is radiating off of her, as Alan exposes what he knows to her down to the details about her losing the baby in high school. Tears form in her eyes at the memory.

“Sir, there is a collect call from Jessica Robbins, would you like to accept the charges?” the operator says into the phone.

Sitting behind his desk Alan pours himself a drink, “Patch her on through.”

“Alan something happened, the baby..,” her voice is quiet, before breaking into a sob into the phone.

“So the problem is taken care of?” Alan asks, his tone dead panned.

“I need to tell Jake, he needs to know.”

“You’ll do no such thing. Don’t call here again.”

“I would suggest that you tread carefully Jessica, I would suggest packing and getting the hell out of out town. I’m going to tell Jake and I wouldn’t want to be you when that happens. Get out of my office.” Alan says.

Looking at the bottle of bourbon on his desk, it comes to her that Alan has be taken care of and sooner rather than later. He will destroy everything that she has been working for, she glances at his heart medication on his desk before rising from the chair. Ryan will know what to do.

“I’m giving you a month to get your affairs in order, to get out of town and then I will tell my son.”

Scene 6: West Lake Regency Hotel; West Lake, NY

Standing in the lobby of the West Lake Regency with James scoping out the incoming and out going patrons is hardly how Helen imagined her night would go. Her nerves have settled coming face to face with Mary years later, years after Nick told her the truth will still be devastating. James leans over and points to the blond, in front of her and she is already trying to remember if she has met her before.

“That’s here over there at the counter. You don’t have to do this Helen.” James says, quietly.

Bridgette has long been out of his life, leaving a note to let him and their children know that she needed time away, that she was heading to Europe. Something that he is still angry about, their daughter is facing murder charges, Austin’s relationship is in shambles and she decides to galavant around the world. He is only thankful that she didn’t contest the divorce, the final papers were filled over two weeks ago and since then he has been tracking Mary down for Helen. He knows that he is going against Alan and Garrett, by even helping Helen find Mary, but he has no other choice Shane needs a donor.

“I have to Shane’s life depends on it.”

Helen doesn’t leave any room for debate, as she gets up from the table with James to follow Mary to the elevator. Once they reach the door and Mary steps inside she turns around to come face to face with them both. It has been years since she has seen James, seen Helen from afar and she can only sneer at the two of them. She has always hated Helen Porter, worse she hated Helen’s husband despite him giving her Ryan.

“Hello Helen, I knew it would only be a matter of time before you started poking around. I am a bit surprised though at you James, going against the boy’s club. How chivalrous.” Mary states, folding her sun glasses off her face to cradle them in her hands.

It takes all of her will power not to just reach over and slap the smug grin off Mary’s face and instead she remains calm in her request, “I need your help. My son is sick, I need to know where he is.”

Mary looks at her realizing that Helen knows about Ryan, surprise crosses her face at the revelation she never thought that Nick would have had it in him. Eying Helen up and down, she can sense that the other woman is in pain, as she should be in her mind. Everyone cleaned up messes in West Lake, even for the dear and dutiful wives of those that didn’t deserve it. It should have been her who got to stay in West Lake and have the fairy tale happy ending with Nick, not Helen.

“I really can’t help you Helen. I’m honesty a bit shocked that Nick had the balls to tell you, he was always such a timid man.” Mary retorts.

Her entire body is shaking by the time that Mary informs her that she cannot help her, without the bone marrow Shane will die. She is out of options, moving forward to grab the other woman and shake some sense into her, she is stopped by James pulling her back. James is still just as disgusted by Mary years later as he was upon their first meeting over twenty years ago. She is still selfish, still has it in her head that they all did her some wrong years ago, when in fact she took the money and ran.

“She is not worth it. Helen we’ll contact a private investigator to find her son.” James says.

Mary looks between them before speaking, “How sweet James riding to poor little Helen’s aid. We’re at my floor. If you will both excuse me.”

The chime goes off and the doors open, as she goes to step off the elevator Helen’s voice breaks through her thoughts.

“My son will die, if he doesn’t get a bone marrow transplant. Your son could be a match, please. Tell me where I can find him.”

For a split second she feels Helen’s pain, feels the hurt in her voice, feels the desperation. As quickly, as it comes it passes, as she is reminded that years ago she was in pain, she was hurt and desperate when Nick threw her and their child away. She doesn’t bother to look around at Helen or James, as she speaks.

“My advice would be to pray.”

The words are final and haunting for Helen, as the doors close and her sobs break out into James’s chest. James can only wrap his arms around her, hold her close as the reality begins to sink in. Mary will not help them or tell them where Nick’s son is at, his next option is the investigator or to ask Brian for help. Looking up at the ceiling and closing his eyes in an attempt to pray, he grips Helen tighter hoping it will all work out in the end.

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