Chapter 68

Angel Square Hotel
Roxy and Thomas are in bed together. Resting in his arms, he thinks that she is asleep. Roxy is awake and knows that he is, too. Thomas caresses her. He recalls quite awhile back having a conversation with Kevin at BE.

Kevin: Paige. She left town so that she could go on with her life, what she had left of it after he ruined it. She was aware of your dealings with Spencer and aware that he planned to go gunning for the Buchanans. Bo said he believed Paige left town after the hearings regarding alleged improprieties related to Margaret's autopsy to in some way protect him from Spencer.

Thomas (Denton): They didn't find anything. Ever wonder why?

Kevin: Some say it was evidence tampering. I mean the crucial documents ended up missing. It made my uncle look guilty of a cover-up-- first for faking autopsy results to nail Manning and secondly, to conceal them for his own protection and that of his girlfriend.

Thomas: Word on the street is that with this internal police investigation your uncle's job may still be in jeopardy for setting up Manning.

Kevin: Yeah but why? Why would he do that? Makes no sense. What makes sense is Paige telling Bo that Spencer is behind all of it. Spencer obviously wants Blair and he wants to destroy the Buchanans. What does make sense in all of this is something else Paige hinted at.

Thomas: I'm waiting with abated breath.
Kevin: Margaret isn't dead.
Thomas: No she ain't. Finding her is another story.

Next, Thomas remembers the newspaper headline that followed about Margaret. He was having breakfast at The Palace. Banner Headline: GRAVE HAPPENINGS.

The gravesite of Margaret Cochran was excavated on Thursday. As has been speculated for some time, no body was found. Police Commissioner Bo Buchanan is again questioned by Internal Affairs regarding missing documents with his supposed signature that verified the cause of death. Former Llatano County Coroner Dr. Cyrus Steiner, who performed Cochran's autopsy and as has been reported last week in The Banner , was killed in an automobile accident in Tennessee several weeks after he performed the examination in question. A source in the D.A.'s office indicates Sun Publisher Todd Manning's release for the murder of Cochran and her unborn child is imminent.

Then, Thomas recalls his bride with his cell phone and her being startled at his finding her with it.

Out of Roxy's view and from the upstairs, Thomas observes as Roxy goes to the counter and hugs the stuffed whiskered rodent that is on the registration desk. Roxy looks to make sure Thomas is upstairs and then she pulls out her new husband's cell phone and notices a number that catches her attention. “California?” she mutters before she redials it and listens. On the other end of the phone, a woman’s voice says, “You told him where to find me. He’s, he’s going to take my baby away. He’s, he’s going to kill me!” Roxy gasps at the feel of breath on her neck. Thomas reaches over her shoulders and retrieves his phone.

Thomas: What are you doing?

Roxy (kisses him): I'm making sure your phone is off before we go upstairs and finish our unfinished business. (Caresses his face.)

Thomas (has a suspicious look before he turns off the cell phone, puts it away and then draws Roxy into his arms): Let's go upstairs. (He folds her into his arms and carries her up the stairs.)

Back to the present. Roxy stirs. He comments, “You go back to sleep.”
Roxy: Who wants to sleep? (She kisses his chest and then moves to glimpse his face.) You’re worried.
Thomas: I have to leave.
Roxy (sits up): LEAVE?
Thomas: Just a few days.
Roxy: You’re leaving me?
Thomas: No. I aim to stay with you for a lifetime.
Roxy: It’s the phone call. The woman.
Thomas: It’s something I got involved in Roxy before the two of us, you know?
Roxy: Tell me what it is. We are supposed to trust each other.
Thomas: Like you trusted me before when you were checking my phone calls?
Roxy: I wouldn’t have to do that behind your back if you looked at me and told me the truth to my face. Tommy, I married ya because I love ya. I thought you felt the same way.
Thomas: I do.
Roxy: Is it another woman?
Thomas: No.
Roxy: You’re lying to me! God I'm such an idiot! I can’t believe I fell for it again! (She turns away from him.)
Thomas (turns her to look him in the eyes): You just told me that you thought I loved you. How could there be another woman when I'm crazy about cha?
Roxy (stares for a moment and then wraps a sheet around her and gets out of bed): If you leave me now, don’t come back. EVER. (Roxy leaves the room. Thomas looks in shock.)

The Banner, late morning
Dorian and Clint enter the newspaper office. Clint looks around and is immediately greeted and engages in conversation with reporters who were there when he was editor. Viki enters the newsroom and smiles at him as she observes his ease and camaraderie. Dorian notices and approaches Viki.
Viki (mutters): Brother. (Gives a fake smile) Good morning Dorian.
Dorian: Good morning, Viki. How are you?
Viki: I am fine. Surprised to see you and well, Clint here (Clint notices Dorian and Viki and ends his conversation to intercede.) May I ask what special occasion is it that brings the two of you to the Banner?
Clint (has now joined them. He has his arm around Dorian.): You may and we need to discuss this privately.
Viki: Ah, privately. Is this about Echo? I heard that she has left town.
Dorian: Lucky for her.
Clint: Maybe not for us. She could have answered some questions about Nash.
Dorian: Clint there is no way of believing her! The woman has proven herself to be an accomplished liar!
Viki (rolls eyes and smirks): Said the pot calling the kettle black. (Dorian is about to speak before Viki quickly adds.) So this is about Nash?
Dorian: Yes.
Clint: Let’s go to your office.
The three leave. This music plays in the background with the next few scenes: Piano Blues

Dorian and Clint are shown in Viki's publisher's office. They are talking to Viki, who is behind her desk but suddenly stands. Dorian and Clint exchange a glance. Viki picks up a picture of Jessica and stares at it.

Roxy comes out of the bathroom and discovers Thomas gone. She pauses, takes a step toward the bedroom door before she stops. Instead, she slowly walks to the bed and lies down. She caresses the pillow. She allows herself to cry. Downstairs, Thomas leaves a note on the registration desk near the stuffed rodent. He walks toward the door, looks back and then leaves.

In California, Todd makes a phone call at the police station. He says, “I need you.”
The back of a woman with a baby is at a window; she looks outside the Bakersfield apartment where the door was shown opening earlier; next what is shown is the back of a woman with a suitcase on approach on a sidewalk. She drops the luggage, pauses to catch her breath, opens the door, picks up the bag again and enters the apartment building. Inside the building, the door to an apartment opens. The person inside the apartment is holding a baby boy. It is Margaret Cochran. She looks relieved at her visitor, whom she hugs.

i feel so bad, i read all of these and i've had aboslutely NO time to comment. as usual they were all AMAZINGLY written, but what else can i expect from you. i'm a little sad that Nash isn't their son, i'm sure you know that, but i'm gonna stick with you through the end! i really want to know where you're going to take this and i'm a little wary about mad mad margaret comming back but it should be interesting. it looks like shes gonna be comming back on the show too. that would be interesting. and is it just me or does she look pregnant in the flash-backs? is she like pregnant in real life or what? i've been having trouble keeping up lately. keep me imformed!
meags.

Thanks for reading my story. I felt bad about writing that Nash wasn't Dorian and Clint's son, too. I am definitely a Nash fan. In fact, I had to play that song by Nina Simone that I have posted in Chapter 67 to help me write it.

Margaret won't be a part of the story for long. Todd will get his son back. And yes, the actress who plays Margaret on the show looks pregnant.