Episode 3.01

PHPD Squad room

Detective Siobhan Lane looked over the report from the Salida Police Department and the pictures of the Ford Explorer that she knew belonged to her friend Conner McKay. None of the pieces were fitting together, what would make Conner vanish with out a trace. He had always been a devoted father to his young daughter Lysa when his ex-wife Bethany had been off in search of adventures. Now, as his daughter grew into a young woman he was missing. The last person who had seen him was his girlfriend Grace Waterside a couple of days before his car had been found in the subway parking lot. 

“Any luck yet?” Shamus Becker asked Siobhan as he sat down on the chair across from her and then looked into her chocolate eyes. 

“No, none yet. I feel as though I am missing the most obvious piece of this puzzle.” She ran her hands through her short crisp brown hair and sighed, “Conner is not the kind of guy who would just leave his teenage daughter and run off to start a new life somewhere else.” 

Becker picked up his coffee cup, “Are you sure no one’s heard from him? Maybe if not his parents and Lysa, perhaps Maggie Williams or maybe a brother or employee.” 

“I talked with Eric Savoren earlier today, no word from Conner at all. Which means he’s left in charge of the store which would have Conner in a panic. You’ve heard him talk about the granola frat boy space cadet that Eric is.” Siobhan tapped her pencil against her nails, “I’ll give Maggie a call, maybe she has a message from Conner she hasn’t gotten since she and some doctor she’s been seeing have been in Durango for her father’s .” 

Becker nodded with approval, “Good idea, I’ll be in the office, I have to return a call from the mayor about the groundbreaking at the new concert hall on campus. He wants us, the heroes to be there.”


210 Shavano Court

Gary, Cassie slow down!” Maggie Williams called out as she chased after her younger siblings as they raced towards the front door of her house. “You won’t get in until I unlock the door anyways so what’s the point of racing?” 

Cassie rolled her eyes at her older sister, “Oh come on Mags, this is silly. Besides I want to see what your house looks like.” 

“Yeah, same here.” Gary, the youngest of the three spoke with a hint of unease as it was still obvious he wasn’t sure what to think of this older siblings, especially Maggie at her seventeen years seniority. 

Carsyn Raleigh carried the two younger Williams’ bags to the door before placing a kiss on Maggie’s lips. “I hate to do this but I have to run to the hospital for duty. I’ll call you as soon as I get a chance—at a decent hour.” 

Gary glared at the older man, “Did me or my Dad give you permission to kiss Maggie?” 

Cassie couldn’t hold off a laugh as she listened to her younger new found brother. “Definitely Dad’s kid.” 

Carsyn sighed, “Sorry I guess I should’ve asked you if it was alright.” 

Gary nodded and crossed his arms over his chest, “Its alright with me, but when Dad and Ariel get back you’ll have to check with him to..” 

Maggie shook her head and tossed Cassie the keys, “Go on in side and there should be some milk in the fridge and homemade granola bars.” 

Cassie caught the keys and nodded, “Alrighty then, come on Gary time to leave the two love birds alone.” 

Maggie watched as her sister and brother entered her house, “Sorry about that I guess the men in my family feel the need to protect me.” 

Carsyn smiled, “Its alright, I actually understand. I don’t blame him at all.” 

Maggie felt a blush come over her face, “Well I should probably get going, but um on labor day, if your not on call, how about you come over for a barbeque.” 

“I would love that.” Carsyn leaned over and kissed Maggie on the cheek. “I’ll see you then. Don’t let the kids get to you, they love you. You are their big sister, they’ve got to watch out for you while you watch out for them.” 

“Thanks.” Maggie said softly as Carsyn climbed into his car. She watched him drive down the road before going into the house. She walked into the kitchen to find Cassie pouring three glasses of milk and Gary eyeing the cookie jar. 

Mags it looks like you’ve got a ton of messages for being away for what, three days. Someone must’ve missed you. I bet it was Conner.” Cassie joked as Gary looked at his older sister. 

“Who’s Conner, I thought Maggie was dating Carsyn.” Gary sat down at the table as Maggie went over to the machine. 

Hey Maggie, it’s Siobhan. Listen I need to know if you’ve heard from Conner in the past few days. His car was found abandoned in the parking lot for the Subway in Salida and well no one knows where he is. Lysa is over at Arthur and Fiona’s, but other then that, we have no idea whats going on. If you heard anything let me know. 

Maggie looked over at Cassie, tears brewing in her eyes as the worst possible scenarios played in her head. She then looked over at her younger brother and saw his sweet, innocent smile. Something about that short moment allowed her to realize that if anything were wrong with Conner, she would know. Her heart would tell her and lead her to him, just as his had brought him to Nashville in time after Jade Spencer had pushed her down the stairs.


The Country Club Bar

Chad looked over the column he had written for the local paper, a picture of his smiling face graced him and he wasn’t quite sure what to think about his latest collections of ramblings about being a new father. The joys and sorrows he felt each day watching Fallon and Del grow, along with the odd mix of watching his new baby sister Isabella develop. 

“Yes, I’d like a pina coloda.” Spoke Kathryn Layden as she sat down next to Chad at the bar. A seductive smile crossed over her lips as she turned to see him. “Why my goodness, nice to see you again.” 

Chad nodded as be brought the whiskey to his lips and took a slow sip. “How’s life at DI for you?” 

“Just wonderful.” Kathryn spoke with a confidence she wasn’t really feeling as she thought about her daughter Quincy being raised by Doug and his wife Adel, and being renamed Isabella. “And how are things going for you?” 

Chad put the glass down and smiled, “Better then I ever anticipated. I have wonderful children, a job I love, my parents, hell I’ve got a new baby sister, oh and a new found cousin.” Chad’s eyes rolled as he thought of Reverend Ethan Jacobs being revealed as his uncle Jeff’s bastard child, oh the irony of it all. “Plus I’ve got a great nanny taking care of my kids.” 

Kathryn nodded, picking up on the one thing he was missing. Something she knew a man couldn’t live without, his father hadn’t been able to. A wicked gleam flashed in her eyes as she couldn’t help but wonder if Chad would be, hell could be as passionate a lover as his father Doug. “You left something out, or maybe I’m being nosy, but what about love, companionship, someone to share your bed at night. To remind you what its like to feel like a man.” She placed her hand on his knee and gave a sympathetic smile. 

Its too soon. I just lost my wife, besides I have my children to focus on and a step-daughter to look out for. Trust me, she needs me now.” Chad ran a hand through his dark hair as he thought about poor Lysa, having just lost Bethany a few short months before and now her father vanishing, probably once again chasing after some woman who’s heart belonged to another man. Just as Conner had up and left to go to Nashville to see a former girlfriend. 

“Why does your step-daughter need you, she has a father doesn’t she?” 

Chad laughed with a hint of disgust, “If that’s what you call a man who just vanishes one night, leaves his teenaged daughter alone with a friend and leaves his car parked a few towns away in Salida. Trust me, I’m not going to let Bethany down and let Lysa forget that she has family that loves her. She has me, and Del, and Fallon.” 

Kathryn smiled, “You are definitely not the man I expected. I expected a cold hearted man, like your father.” 

Chad cocked an eyebrow, “You must have him confused with someone else. My father, perhaps he is ruthless when it comes to business. But when it comes to family, he’s the best man ever. He took me and my brother Kip in after our biological mother was assumed dead and our deadbeat father disappeared. He didn’t have to allow him and my mother to raise us. We were just her nephews and he brought us into his home and made us apart of his family, we—well I never suspected we weren’t part of it. Sometimes I see my uncle Jeff and realize Kip is a lot like him, he just didn’t see it and felt out of place.” Chad shook his head, “Sorry I’m rambling again, I’ve been doing that a lot lately.” 

Kathryn covered his hand with hers, “Its alright you’re allowed to. You’re right I’ve only seen your father in the business world, I have no idea what kind of man he really is. I’m sure if I knew that I would be surprised.” She spoke with confidence as she flashed back to the night Doug came and took Quincy away from her. She had to go through with this, she had to make Doug Davis pay the only way she knew how. She would seduce his son, and become a part of the family, before bringing out all of Doug’s secrets he had hidden, even the ones she had yet to find out. “However, I think that you need to focus on your future. I’m sorry if I seem to be extremely nosy or such, but I think with having two small children you would want to think of a possible future for them and what kind of family you want for them. Do you really want you’re children to be brought up by a nanny?” 

“Abby is wonderful, if it weren’t for her I would be lost.” Chad spoke frankly, but more seemed to stumble upon his mind. Lately it seemed as though they kept finding each other backed into some sort of corner, physically and metaphorically. Whatever the reason was, he knew he had to ignore it. “However you’re right she is hired help.” He felt a tug at his heart as he said that, not sure why but knowing this is why he would have to do what was his next impulse. 

“Yes, and hired help will understand when you find a new wife. I mean not to sound callus or anything but second marriages are never as great a love as the one before. Yes there is a deep love, but its not the same as the sparks that lead you to a different level of self.” Kathryn peaked out from behind her falling blond hair as she leaned forward, “A second wife would always know someone else has a permanent hold on your heart, they should at least know that they’re there to help you, guide you, and comfort you in anyway possible.” 

Chad could feel Kathryn’s hand slide up his leg and he took hold, his thumb rubbing against her palm as he looked into her light eyes, “You’re right, very much so.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles and smiled, “I think you might be able to help me move on.” 

Kathryn pretended to look down at her feet as though contemplating the idea, but in reality a smile was growing across her face that made her ache to rub this relationship in Doug’s face, and perhaps in the nanny’s face as well. “I’ll do whatever it is I can to help you.”


208 Shavano Court

Conner sat in the corner, wrapped in the blanket that Grace had left him with. His mind couldn’t wrap around any of this. Why had she done this? What was going on with Lysa? Had she gone to stay with Chad, or had his parents taken her in? Was Siobhan looking for him? Did Maggie have any idea that he was so close to her, yet so far? 

“Stop thinking about her damnit. That’s what got you stuck down here in the first place.” Grace opened the door and came down the first few steps. “You’re precious little Maggie just returned home with her Doctor Boyfriend, and get this two children. Well what appears to be a teenage girl and a young boy. So it looks like she’s got a nice little family going there. Don’t worry though, we’ll have ours soon enough.” Grace tossed a plastic bag full of bread to him and then placed a large bottle of water on the stair next to her foot. “Just you, me, and Jasmine. A perfect trio.” 

Conner stood up, holding the blanket tightly around his body, “Grace I have a daughter, I can’t abandon her. She needs me, I’m the only parent she has left.” 

Grace shook her head, “No Conner! Jasmine is your daughter!” she cried out, tears seemed to be screaming for a release. “You’ll forget all about Maggie, and then you and I can go back to how things used to be before she came into the picture.” 

Conner watched her, knowing that whatever was going on in her mind he was missing a large piece of the puzzle. Antagonizing her would only make things worst. “Please Grace, don’t you remember it was you, me, Lysa, and Jasmine.” 

Grace rolled her eyes, “No it wasn’t. I’m not an idiot Conner.” She kicked the bottled water down the stairs and then stormed up and slammed the door shut behind her before the sound of her locking him in was heard. 

Sinking back down to the ground he sighed as he caught glimpse of the growing evening sky behind a pile of boxes. He reached up and began to rearrange them, seeing the stars for the first time in what felt like several weeks. He looked up at the one shining the brightest and made a wish, “I wish for Lysa to be okay. I want my little girl to be the same sweet child she was when I last saw her. Please protect her, someone watch out for her and keep her healthy. I hope to God she knows that I love her, and didn’t leave her on purpose.” 


65 Princeton Drive

Lysa McKay laid on her bed, blasting the Ashlee Simpson song Pieces of Me from her computer as she went over her copy of Romeo and Juliet for her English class. The door of the room opened and her grandmother Fiona McKay entered. “Lysa, could you turn that down sweetie?” 

Lysa sighed and leaned over to the laptop and pressed a button a few times before the song faded deep into the background. 

“You’re Uncle Sean will be home soon, isn’t that exciting?” Fiona asked, knowing this wasn’t easy on the young teen, especially after having just lost her mother a few short months before. 

Looking up at her grandmother Lysa put the book down, “Sounds like a riot Gran, I mean gosh my Uncle will be back, yet where’s my father? Hmm, no one knows.” 

Fiona sighed, “I know this is difficult, you know that Detective Lane and Chief Becker are both looking for your father. They want to find him as much as you do and bring him home safely and to know he’s alright.” 

“No news is good news right? I mean as long as we don’t get word he’s dead.” Lysa spit back with all the anger she was bottling up inside of her. 

Fiona nodded, “Yes I suppose it is.” 

Arthur McKay came down the hall, “Fiona, may I speak with you?”’ 

Fiona left Lysa and joined Arthur outside of their bedroom, “What is it?” 

“You know I hate to say this, but maybe we need to think about getting Lysa some counseling.” Arthur scratched his salt and pepper head, “I mean first Bethany dying, and now Conner disappearing, she’s been through a lot. She has a lot more anger in her then the average teenaged girl. If we don’t do something soon, then I’m afraid of what she might do as a way to deal with it.” 

Fiona nodded, “I agree but please could we wait just a little while longer. If Conner’s not home by the time Sean gets back then we’ll get her to a counselor.” 

“Alright, but lets keep a close eye on her till then.”


Hallow Hills—Nursery

“Hush little baby, don’t say a word, Abby’s going to buy you a mocking bird.” Abby sang to Fallon as she drifted off to sleep for the evening. Most nights Abby wouldn’t be here this late, but Chad obviously needed some major alone time and being with the kids was better then returning to her apartment. She just kept telling herself, a few more weeks  and Dan will be home, things will get semi back to normal by then. 

As she put Fallon in her crib she looked out the window towards the front path of the house and saw Chad standing outside with a woman. 

Abby crept over and kept her eyes glued to them. Something about this moment made her stomach tie in knots and she wasn’t sure why. As she saw Chad lean over and kiss this stranger, she looked back at the twins and wondered if her time with them was numbered. 

Chad felt Kathryn pull his body closer to hers as they kissed against the old tree in front of Hallow Hills. His body reacted to hers, that couldn’t be denied—even if he wanted to. Their conversation earlier at the bar had led to a simple understanding, one that would perhaps keep him from getting hurt again by falling in love. 

Kathryn was a sexual being, he couldn’t ignore it. Not when her hands unbuttoned a few of the bottom ones of his shirt and caressed his abs. It had been ages since he had felt a woman’s touch,  with Bethany so ill they hadn’t made love since before. His body was stirring with desires, carnal desires, nothing romantic. He had no urge to slow down so everything could be candle light and roses for Kathryn, he had no urge to taste every inch of her body, slowly. He ran his hand up her skirt, ready to take what she offered right there on the front lawn, only to be stopped as the front door slammed shut. 

Chad looked up and his eyes locked with Abby’s, as she held her purse tightly, defensively, against her. “I’m sorry Mr. Davis, I assumed when I saw your car you were home for the evening. Not continuing a tryst on the lawn.” 

He quickly pulled away from Kathryn, “Miss Adams, this is far from what it appears. But I do thank you, have a good evening.” 

Abby slowly walked down the first few steps before hitting the gravel driveway. She looked at Kathryn, who made no effort to adjust her clothing. Abby felt sick to her stomach, at least she knew that by leaving at this moment, the twins would be protected at least for on more day of a wicked step-mother, who was probably just plotting to get her hands on the Davis inheritance. 

Chad watched Abby walk to her small VW Bug, and back down the drive. Kathryn came up behind him and slid her hands into his shirt, “We can’t let her ruin this, can we Chad?” 

He turned to her and pushed her up against the tree. As he looked into her ice like eyes he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but then he pulled away, “We should continue another time.” 

Kathryn looked upset, “I guess we should.” She reached over and pulled him closer to her by his belt. She slid her hand into his pants and smiled as she looked into his eyes, “Trust me, it’ll be more fun with me, then without me.” She removed her hand and then started down the drive to her rental car. She turned to wave and saw Chad had already retreated inside. She shrugged before getting inside her car and driving off into the night.