"What the hell is going on?" Cayden King questioned as he stared at the dead body on the floor. He found himself transfixed on the man’s face and the gory trail of blood that trickled down his forehead. The sight nearly turned his stomach. "What’s going on?!" He asked again as he glanced at Devon frantically and pointed at the body on the floor. "Is he?"

"He’s dead," Devon confirmed as she stepped beside him and glanced at the man lying on her living room floor.

"What happened?" Cayden questioned. "How? Why? What the hell is going on?" He asked again in disbelief. He found himself sickly drawn to the sight before him while at the same time totally disgusted by it. Yet, the entire time, he couldn’t bring himself to take his eyes off of the man.

"I killed him," Devon James responded softly.

"No you d-didn’t!" Elijah Montessori interjected. "I k-killed him!" He waved the candlestick as proof of his sordid accomplishment.

"No he didn’t," Devon said as she stepped in front of Cayden. "I killed him. I did it," she said, urging her one-time friend to believe her. "He had nothing to do with it, Cayden."

Cayden King stared at her in disbelief. "What are you saying?" He questioned, unable to connect the words coming from her mouth to their meaning. "You killed him?" He asked. The shock and disbelief slowly starting to fade away as he realized the enormity of what had happened. "Oh my God!" he yelled. "Devon , what did you do!"

Devon James turned away from him. "I hit him over the head," she explained.

"But he’s dead!" Cayden said, stating the obvious.

"I know that," Devon explained.

"No!" Elijah Montessori said as he jumped over the body toward Cayden, waving the candlestick as he approached. "I d-did it, I killed him!" He confessed. Cayden’s eyes were drawn to the murder weapon as Elijah spoke.

"He’s lying!" Devon said as she stepped forward and grabbed Elijah by the hand. She wrenched the candlestick from him. "He’s just trying to protect me," she explained. "I did it," she affirmed as she stared into Elijah’s eyes. "I killed him."

"Wait a second," Cayden said as he shook his head and took a step back. "First thing’s first . . . who is this guy?" He questioned as he pointed to the body on the ground.

"His name is Luis," Devon explained. "I have no idea who he is."

"So you killed a random stranger?" Cayden questioned.

"Of course not!" Devon replied. "He tried to attack me!"

"Why?" Cayden questioned.

"I have no idea," Devon explained. "He knocked on the door and asked for Gage, so I called Gage on the phone and the next thing I knew, this guy pulls a knife on me," she explained as she pointed to the body.

"Okay, this may be a stupid question," Cayden said as he took a step forward, "but who killed him?"

"I did!" Devon and Elijah responded at the same time.

"Right," Cayden said as he shook his head. "Stupid question."

"Ay Dios mio!" Liliana Martinez gasped as she witnessed her grandson climbing into the apartment through the fire escape. She rushed to the window. "What are you doing out there Jesse? We’re on the ninth floor, you could have fallen!" She added as she helped him inside.

"It’s okay, Abuela," Jesse responded. "I go out there all the time."

"Not anymore you don’t," Liliana said as she closed the window and locked it. "Promise me that you will never go out there, Jesse," she demanded as she stared into his eyes. "You are all that I have left and I will not lose you, not like . . ." she explained.

Jesse paused for a moment and stared at his grandmother. "Not like who?" He questioned. "My mother? Abuela, she’s not dead, or did you forget about her already?" He asked as he turned away.

"Jesse," Liliana said as she caught his arm. "Of course I haven’t forgotten about your mother. I love my daughter," she assured him. "But she is lost. She has never been the same, not since . . ."

"Since when?" Jesse questioned, trying to coax his grandmother into finally telling him the truth. "Since when?" He repeated.

"Never mind," Liliana said as she shook her head and turned away. "Now listen to me, I have never stopped loving your mother, just as I have never stopped loving you," she explained. "But we have to face the truth, your mother may never be released from the hospital," she explained.

"It’s a mental institution, Abuela, it’s not a hospital," Jesse reminded her. "My mother is insane. She‘s crazy, just like me," he added softly. "You’re just scared of being alone. You’re scared that one day I’ll go in and I’ll never come back out . . . just like Mami."

Liliana Martinez stepped forward and slapped her grandson across the face. "Don’t you ever talk about your mother like that again," she said. "She’s a very sick woman, but she loves you."

"She hated me," Jesse said as he shook his head and rushed past her toward the door.

"Jesse!" Liliana called after him. "Where are you going? Jesse, come back!" She cried as he pried the door open and ran down the hall. With a sigh, Liliana Martinez rushed to the door and glanced down the empty hallway. "He’ll be back," she said to herself as she closed the door. "He just needs some time to cool down."

She walked into the kitchen to prepare dinner and heard a knock at the door. "I knew he’d be back," she said to herself with a smile and she opened the door to find Mrs. Mulberry standing there.

"Good evening," Mrs. Mulberry said as she pushed the door open and stepped into the apartment.

"Excuse me," Liliana Martinez said with shock as she turned around to stare at the intruder.

"No, I’m sorry," Mrs. Mulberry said as she shook her head. "There is no excuse for you,"

Liliana Martinez stared at Mrs. Mulberry in disbelief. "What?" She questioned, unable to fathom Mrs. Mulberry’s rude behavior.

"Cut the bullshit," Mrs. Mulberry said as she placed her hands on her hips. "Let’s get right to the point, Mrs. Martinez."

"And just what point is that?" Mrs. Martinez said as she closed the door and faced Mrs. Mulberry.

"The kids that live in this building are MY kids," Mrs. Mulberry explained. "They’re not all saints and they all have problems, Jesse included, but at the end of the day, they’re good kids, and they all have one thing in common. hether they’re arguing or the best of friends, they still love each other. They’re like family, and all they want is to make sure that one of their own is okay, and I will be damned if you think that you’re going to come in here and tear that boy away from his family," Mrs. Mulberry announced.

"I am Jesse’s family," Mrs. Martinez explained as she took a step forward. "And I am all the family that he needs."

"Well, then get ready for a family feud," Mrs. Mulberry warned, "because if you think we’re all just going to do what you say, then you’ve got another thing coming. You may be his grandmother, Mrs. Martinez, but we are his family, so remember that when you’re sitting up here all alone wondering where your grandson is," she said as she stepped past the woman, opened the door and exited the apartment.

"What are you doing?" Sebastian Vaughn asked as he stopped strumming his guitar and glanced down at Sarah Mulberry’s hand in his lap. He stared at it with a mix of surprise and shock. He glanced up into her eyes questioningly. When she asked him to play for her, he had no idea what her true intentions were.

"Just relax," Sarah said softly. "Keep playing. That was a great song." She continued to caress his inner thigh, causing Sebastian to tense slightly.

"Sarah . . ." he said softly. "I don’t think . . ."

"Then don’t think," she whispered into his ear as she got closer. He could feel her warm breath against his neck, and a moment later her lips were touching his soft skin. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and so did Sebastian Vaughn. He got up from the couch and stepped away from her.

"What’s going on here?" He questioned.

Sarah smiled and leaned back against the futon. "What do you think?" She questioned.

"I have no idea what to think," Sebastian explained. "I mean, I just met you."

"Don’t tell me you’re one of those guys," Sarah said as she stood up from the couch. "You’re a musician, Sebastian. Girls are going to be throwing themselves at you left and right. You should get used to it," she added as she crossed over to him and placed her hands on his chest.

He took another step back. "I’m sorry," he said as he shook his head, "but this is . . . awkward. I don’t think this is a good idea."

"I told you not to think," Sarah said as she moved in to kiss him.

Sebastian stumbled backward, tripping over a box and crashing into a wall. "Sarah, stop," he said as he held his hand out to ward off any further advancements. "I can’t do this."

"Why not?" Sarah questioned. "Are you gay?"

"No," Sebastian responded.

"Then what’s the problem? Do you have a girlfriend, because I don’t care if you do."

"I don’t have a girlfriend either," Sebastian explained. "I’m just not that kind of guy. Don’t get me wrong, I think you’re beautiful, but I need to really know someone before I have sex with them," he explained. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be sorry," Sarah said with a sigh. "It was my mistake. Wow," she said to herself, "don’t I feel like an ass. I’m just going to go," she said as she glanced away from him and headed for the door.

"Wait," Sebastian said, noticing her mood. "I didn’t mean to upset you."

"I’m not upset," Sarah said as she glanced at him.

"You are," Sebastian noted as he reached forward and lifted her chin so that she would look into his eyes. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing," Sarah said. "You don’t want me, so I’m leaving. End of story."

"Something tells me that there’s a whole lot more to the story than that," Sebastian said. "So tell me, what is it?"

"I’m not going to stand here and unload all of my problems on you," Sarah explained. "I don’t even know you that well."

"You were willing to have sex with me and you don’t even know me," Sebastian reminded her.

"That’s different," Sarah explained. "It’s one thing to have sex with a stranger, but it’s an entirely different thing to tell a total stranger all of your problems. That’s just a little uncomfortable for me."

"I don’t understand," Sebastian said as he shook his head. "What happened to you to make you think like that? I may not want to have sex with you, but I’d still like to be your friend. God knows you look like you can use one right now."

"I don’t get to have friends," Sarah Mulberry explained as she stepped away. "I’m the girl that no one wants around, but don’t waste your time feeling sorry for me. I don’t need your sympathy," she said as she crossed over to the door and opened it.

"Maybe not," Sebastian called after her. "But any time you need a friend, my door is always open.

Sarah Mulberry paused for a moment. In all her life she had never had a friend. She was always the girl that everyone avoided. She had learned a long time ago that if she wanted something, she had to go after it because nothing was ever handed to her. Men didn’t want her for who she was, they only wanted her for what she could give them, and she was fine with that, or at least she told herself that she was. She glanced back at Sebastian silently, then averted her eyes and turned to step out of his apartment, pulling the door closed behind her.

"Does my son usually have the habit of disappearing without explanation?" Victoria King questioned as she sat in the living room across from Szymon Skubisz. "I mean, it’s quite rude to bolt when dinner is being made," she explained.

"He does it from time to time," Szymon answered, unsure of where Cayden had gone himself. "I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, he’ll be back soon."

"I hope so, I wouldn’t want dinner to get cold," Victoria explained.

Szymon checked his watch for a moment then glanced up at Victoria. "Sorry," he said, "I’m expecting my new partner to swing by. We have some cases that we need to discuss."

"Okay," Victoria said with a nod. "I think I made enough dinner if he’d like a plate."

"Thanks," Szymon said as he stole a glance at his watch again. He looked up at Victoria and noticed that she was staring at him. "What?" Szymon questioned, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "Is there something on my face?" He reached up to wipe his face because he couldn’t understand why Victoria was staring at him so intently.

"There’s nothing wrong with your face," Victoria responded.

"Then it’s me," Szymon deduced. "You think there’s something wrong with me. Okay then," he said with a sigh, "let’s get it all on the table before Cayden gets back. He’s very sensitive and if he finds out that you actually don’t like me, he’ll be hurt. I don’t want to see him upset, so let’s just get it all out right now while he‘s not here."

Victoria King stared at Szymon Skubisz and started laughing, causing Szymon to tense up and appear offended. "No, I’m sorry," Victoria said as she shook her head, "I’m not laughing at you. Well, I am laughing at you, but not for the reasons you think," she explained.

"Well thanks, I guess," Szymon responded.

"This is ridiculous," Victoria sighed. "Here I am, a grown woman and I’m invading my son’s life." She stood up from the couch and turned away. "In all my years, I never thought I’d be here," she said as she turned back. "I’m a middle-aged woman on the verge of a divorce and I have nothing."

"You have Cayden," Szymon reminded her, "and that’s the best thing anyone could hope for."

Victoria smiled and nodded. "My son is . . . amazing. When he opens his heart to someone, there is no limit to what he would do," she explained, "and that’s the problem. I can’t be here. I can’t do this to him. I’m taking advantage of him. He’s a grown man. He should be living his own life and yet, here I am," she said as she motioned to herself. "What am I doing here?"

"You’re getting your life back," Szymon explained. "You’re not taking advantage of Cayden, he loves you. He would do anything to make sure that you’re happy."

"That’s the problem," Victoria agreed. "My son would do anything to make sure I’m happy, even interrupt his own life. I shouldn’t ask him to do that. It’s not fair to him, not after the way his father and I treated him," she added.

"It’s true that when you left him here to fend for himself, he went to a pretty dark place. He nearly alienated every friend that he made because of it, but he got through it. He’s stronger now because he knows that he can make it on his own," Szymon explained. "By doing what you did, you forced him to become a stronger person."

"Still, it was horrible," Victoria noted.

"It was," Szymon agreed. "I’m not going to lie to you, there were times when I thought that you must have been the worst mother in the world to do what you did to your son," he explained, "but Cayden has taught me a lot about love and compassion, more than I thought I was capable of giving. He still loves you very much," he explained. "He never stopped."

Victoria King smiled. "He’s amazing," she said softly. "But this apartment is too small for all of us. I mean there’s Cayden, you, that kid with the stutter and now me. There’s only one bedroom and one bathroom. I should find my own apartment," she explained.

"So you’ve chosen to stay in New York?" Szymon questioned.

"I might as well," Victoria said. "There’s nothing for me back in New Hampshire but a life filled with lies. My husband cheated on me for months and kept it a secret," she explained. "I’m tired of secrets. I want to start fresh, and if I can do that and still be close to my son, then that’s what I’m going to do. I used to be a pretty damned good legal secretary back in my day. I don‘t think I‘ll have any problem finding a job."

"I think that’s a great idea," Szymon agreed. "I know someone who can help you, at least with getting an apartment. It’s my ex-wife, actually."

"Your ex-wife?" Victoria questioned.

"It’s a long story," Szymon said with a smile. "Andrea has a few friends at a real estate agency from when she used to work there. I could give her a call for you, if you like."

"That would be great," Victoria said with a nod. She paused for a moment in silence. "The two of you still have a cordial relationship?" She questioned.

Szymon smiled. "Andrea is one of my friends. We have a son together. I love her. She’s the one who actually pushed for the divorce," Szymon explained. "She knew I was in love with Cayden and she wanted me to be happy."

"Your wife divorced you so that you could be with your gay lover?" Victoria questioned.

"Why not?" Szymon asked with a shrug. "Besides, she’s a lesbian anyway."

"Oh, now that makes sense," Victoria said sarcastically.

"I told you," Szymon said with a smirk, "it’s a long story."

"Well," Victoria said as she glanced at the door. "Seeing as my son has disappeared for God knows how long, and you and I are the only ones here, why don’t you tell me your long story and I’ll tell you mine," she said as she sat next to him on the couch.

"Okay," Szymon said with a nod. "It all started when . . ."

"Jesus Christ, he weighs a ton!" Cayden King said as hooked his hands under the dead guy’s arms and tried to lift him. "Elijah, grab his feet," he said before they moved the body onto the carpet in the middle of the living room.

"Okay," Devon said as she paced back and forth. "We have to figure out a way to get rid of the body without anyone seeing us."

"G-good luck in this b-building," Elijah said sarcastically.

"Shut up, you’re not helping," Devon snapped.

"We’re the ones carrying the body," Cayden rejoined.

"In case you haven’t noticed," Devon said as she motioned to her belly, "I’m almost four months pregnant. That’s ridiculous, I can’t carry a body."

"Well you killed him!" Cayden replied.

"Shut up!" Devon responded. "Lower your voice!"

"I k-killed him," Elijah mumbled as he helped Cayden roll the rug around the body.

"You shut up too!" Devon demanded. "And stop lying. I have to think," she said as she paced back and forth. "The incinerator!" She said as she stopped quickly. "That’s it! We’ll take him down to the incinerator. The body will be burnt."

"How are we going to get him down there?" Cayden questioned. "He doesn’t exactly fit down the trash chute and won’t we look a little conspicuous if someone comes on the elevator and see us with this lumpy ass rug?" He questioned as he pointed to it.

"We’ll just have to take that chance," Devon said. "Now let’s go."

"Why don’t we just call the police?" Cayden questioned. "If it was self-defense like you guys claim, then I’m sure they’ll understand," he said.

"I can’t take that chance, Cayden. What if they charge me with murder? What if I go to prison? I’m pregnant, I can’t give birth to my baby in prison? And what about Gage? This guy obviously came here for a reason. He pulled a knife on us. Something is going on with Gage, something bad enough for someone to try to hurt me," she said. "If I go to jail, where does that leave him? He can’t take care of himself."

"He’s a grown man," Cayden explained. "He got himself into this problem, let him get out of it."

"Are you serious?" Devon questioned.

"Dead serious," Cayden said as he pointed to the body.

"I can’t believe you," Devon said as she shook her head. "After everything we’ve been through. We put our necks on the line for each other time and time again and now you’re just going to walk out and leave me standing here alone?"

"With the ch-chopped liver," Elijah added, feeling somewhat invisible.

"Oh shut up, you know what I mean," Devon explained before turning back toward Cayden. "He’s dead," she explained as she pointed to the body. "We’re suspects. I can’t go to jail," she said.

"Me e-either," Elijah said softly as he glanced into Cayden’s eyes.

"Help us," Devon pleaded.

Cayden stared at the two of them for a long while. "Why now? After all these months of avoiding me and treating me like dirt, why now? You told me over and over how much you hated me and how you never wanted anything to do with me again, so why do you suddenly need me now? Is it because you got yourself into a situation that you can’t control?" He questioned.

"And you," Cayden said as he turned toward Elijah. "You use and use me all the time and never, not once, did you give anything back. I let you move into my home. I did everything that I possibly could do for you and not once did you thank me. Both of you have taken advantage of me for months. And what have I done? I’ve sat here and taken all of your crap because I felt like I was the wrong one. I wrongly accused you or murder," he said to Devon, "and I brought you into this building and let Kathryn nearly kill you," he said to Elijah, "so I felt responsible. But I’m not responsible for this," he explained. "I had nothing to do with this!"

"Cayden, p-please," Elijah pleaded, his eyes watery. "I d-don’t want to go to j-jail." He stared into Cayden’s eyes, searching for that giving soul that he once knew. "Help us . . ."

Cayden turned away and glanced at Devon. "I never hated you," she explained softly. "I just couldn’t bring myself to forgive you. But I need your help," she said. "I need your help right now because my life could be ruined. I could go to jail."

"I don’t want you guys to go to jail," Cayden said softly, "but if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it my way. Elijah, grab the other end of the carpet. Devon, go out into the hallway and let us know when the coast is clear. If we have to hide this body to make sure that the two of you are safe, then that’s what we’re going to do."

"Where the hell do you think you’re going?" Steven Harris questioned as Ryan Clarke opened the door. She paused for a moment, then smiled, turning back toward her boyfriend.

"We need some milk," Ryan said, "I’m just going to run to that store on the corner.

"Fine," Steven said, "get me a slice of pizza while you’re at it, this stuff you made tastes like shit," he said as he threw his fork down on the table and pushed his plate away. He stood up and crossed over to the door. "And made sure it’s still hot when you bring it back, you know how I hate cold pizza," he explained.

"Sure," Ryan said with a smile as she turned to leave.

"Are you forgetting something?" Steven questioned. Ryan turned back and glanced at him. Steven pointed to his lips and Ryan smiled.

"I’m sorry," she said as she leaned back and gave him a kiss. Afterward, she stepped out into the hall and Steven shut the door behind her. She paused in the middle of the hall to collect her thoughts, then walked over to the elevator and hit the button. It didn’t light up. She hit it again and waited

"Dammit," she said after several minutes.

"It‘s not working," a soft voice said, nearly startling her half to death. She turned around and came face to face with the man that had assaulted her.

"Jesus Christ!" She nearly yelled.

"No, it’s just me," Jesse Martinez said softly. "You should take the stairs," he said as he pointed to the door. "The elevator is down."

"Thank you," Ryan said cautiously as she tried to step past him, but Jesse reached out and grabbed her by the arm. "What are you doing?" She questioned as she tried to pull away.

"You’re not her," he said with surprise as pulled her close and stared into her eyes.

"I already told you that," Ryan explained as she tried to pull away.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Jesse questioned. "What do you want with us?"

"I don’t want anything," Ryan said, struggling. "Let go of me."

"What are you after?" He questioned. "You must be here for a reason. This can’t just be a coincidence, there’s something going on, isn’t there? Tell me."

"Let me go," Ryan pleaded.

"Tell me what you’re after," Jesse questioned. "I know you’re here for a reason. I don’t know what it is, but it has something to do with Julia, doesn’t it? I can feel it. Something is going on. Just tell me what it is?" He questioned.

"I don’t know any Julia," Ryan answered.

"You’re lying," Jesse said. "I know something is going on, I can feel it. She told me," he explained. "She told me to look for her and she’d be there," he explained, "and now you’re here, but you’re not her. You’re not her at all. What are you doing here?" He questioned again.

"You’re hurting me," Ryan said as she was finally able to wrench her arm away from Jesse. A door opened down the hall, taking Jesse off-guard and he glanced in that direction. Ryan took the opportunity to flee into the stairwell. Jesse Martinez turned to watch her leave.

"You’re trying to tell me something, aren’t you Julia?" Jesse questioned. "What is it? What do you want me to know?" He paused or several moments without an answer, then sighed as he glanced down the hall again. His eyes locked with another man’s eyes and for a moment he stared at him before turning and walking into the stairwell.

Silently, Sebastian Vaughn shut his door and leaned against the wall. "Oh my God," he whispered to himself. "Please tell me I didn’t just see that."

Gage Matthews shot out of the elevator like a lightning bolt. He ran down the corridor to Devon’s apartment and unlocked the door with the key she had given him. He nearly stumbled inside the apartment in a frenzy. "Devon?!" He called out. "Devon, where are you?" He asked again as he ran into the bedroom.

"I’m in the kitchen!" Devon called out. Gage raced out of the bedroom and into the kitchen and stopped when he saw Devon standing in front of the refrigerator with a pint of ice cream.

"Where is he?" Gage questioned. "Are you okay?"

"He’s gone," Devon replied. "I’m fine," Devon responded.

"Did he hurt you? Where did he go?" Gage asked as he took a step forward to examine her. Devon stepped away.

"Why would your friend hurt me?" She questioned, hoping that Gage would give her the answers she was seeking.

"He didn’t hurt you?" Gage questioned. "Then why was he here? Why did you call me?" He questioned, slightly confused. He didn’t want to tell her the truth about Luis’ visit if he didn’t have to. He loved Devon and wanted to protect her, even if it meant lying to her.

"I called you because he asked me to call you," Devon explained. "What’s going on, Gage? Why are you so worried. What was Luis coming here to do? What have you gotten yourself into?" She questioned.

Gage turned away. "It’s nothing," he responded. "I owe him some money, that’s all."

"You owe him money?" Devon questioned. "How much money are we talking here?"

"A lot."

"How much is a lot, Gage?" She demanded. "Enough to be worried that he might try to hurt me?"

Gage fell silent. He didn’t know what to say. "Don’t worry about it," he explained.

"Why not, you’re worried about it?" Devon retorted. "Who was that guy, and what kind of trouble are you mixed up in? Is it illegal?" She asked, noticing how Gage simply stared at the floor and didn’t respond. Devon shook her head in disbelief. "I can’t believe you would get yourself mixed up with shit like this," she sighed.

"Baby, I’m gonna fix it," he explained.

"Fix it?" Devon questioned. "How are you going to fix it?"

"I’m going to pay him the money. I have a meeting with him. I’ll give him his money and then it’ll all be over," he explained.

"Are you sure?" Devon questioned, searching for an answer. She didn’t want to tell him the truth about Luis. She didn’t want to tell him that Luis was dead. She wanted the whole mess to disappear. "Is anyone else going to knock on my door looking for you? I‘m sorry Gage, but I can‘t help but to feel like you‘re not telling me something. What‘s the big secret?" She questioned.

"There is no secret. Luis was the only person that I’ve been mixed up with," Gage lied. "I’m not involved with anyone else, I swear to God," he lied.

"Fine," Devon said as she stepped past him and out of the kitchen. "Let’s just sweep this little mess under the rug and forget it ever happened."

Sarah Mulberry stepped off of the elevator with a distant expression on her face. She walked slowly toward the mailbox and like a robot, unlocked it and retrieved her mail. She closed the door and locked it again, sorting through the mail as she turned away.

"Excuse me," a man said as he nearly walked into her. He reached out and grabbed her arm to prevent her from falling and she yelped slightly as her mail scattered across the floor. "I’m sorry," he said with a smile as he stared into her eyes. "Let me help you with that."

"Thanks," she said as she bent over and the two of them retrieved her mail. "I’m sorry, I should have been paying attention," she sighed.

"It’s okay," the man responded. "We all have those kinds of days," he added with a smile. "I’m Joseph Lester," he said as he reached for one last envelope lying on the ground. "Let me guess," he said as he glanced down and read the name on it. "You must be Julia Taylor."

"Who?" Sarah said, slightly confused. She glanced down at the envelope in Joseph’s hand and saw the name Julia Taylor printed on it. She reached for the envelope and grabbed it. "No," she responded, unable to take her eyes off of the envelope. "I’m Sarah Mulberry," she said softly.

"Oh, I’m sorry," Joseph said as he stood up.

"No, it’s fine," Sarah said as she glanced at the letter again, then back at the man that had handed it to her.

"Well, between you and me, I don’t know who this person is that made you look so sad, but if it’s a guy then he must be out of his mind to make you feel so bad.

Sarah glanced at the envelope in her hand, then back at Joseph Lester and smiled. "What did you say your name was again?" She questioned.

Ryan Clarke sighed as she stared at the elevator floor. In her arm, she held a large bag of groceries, but it was the thoughts on her mind that were weighing her down. Twice since moving into the building, she had been harassed by the same man. If that was any indication of how her life was going to be, then she wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay.

As the elevator doors opened, she stepped out into the hall and glanced down the corridor. It seemed as if the coast were clear. She started to walk slowly and cautiously. She didn’t want Jesse popping out of a corner and taking her by surprise. As she walked, a door opened and she paused, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest.

In the crack of a door, she saw a face staring back at her. She tried to smile as she past. "Hello," she said, hoping it was just a curious neighbor and not another attacker. The man remained silent as he stared at her, then closed his door.

"Freak," Ryan said softly as she approached the door to her apartment and let herself in.

Inside of his own apartment, Sebastian Vaughn shook his head. "Oh my God," he said to himself, "it’s her."

"Devon," Elijah Montessori said as he stepped into her apartment and saw her sitting on the couch. "Are you o-okay?" He questioned as he approached her slowly. She didn’t respond. Instead, she just stared at the wall. "We d-did it," he explained. "We t-took care of it. N-no one will f-find out," he explained.

Devon finally nodded and closed her eyes as tears ran down her cheeks. Elijah moved to her side and sat down beside her, holding her close. "It’s okay," he whispered to her. "It’s all o-over."

Devon continued to nod her head and cry in Elijah’s arms. "I hope so," she said softly. "I hope so . . ."

"Luis, call me back," Gage said as he held his cell phone to his ear and stood in the alley where he was supposed to meet the man. "It’s Gage. I have your money. I was running a little late, but I have it. Call me as soon as possible. I don’t want any problems. My girl said you were at her place. Come on Luis, answer your phone!" He cried.

He snapped his phone shut and paced back and forth. The wad of cash in his pocket was an ever-present reminder of the trouble he had gotten himself into. "That it," he said to himself, "this is the last time I make a bet. I’m not doing it anymore. I’m not going to risk Devon and my baby."

When his phone rang, he nearly jumped out of his skin. "This is Gage," he said quickly, hoping that it would be Luis. Instead, he heard a voice that made him stop in his tracks.

"Gage, it’s Mr. D’Agostino. Where’s my money?"

"Jesse, dinner is ready," Liliana Martinez called out.

"I’m not hungry!" Jesse replied.

"Jesse, you have to eat," Liliana urged him.

"Go away!" Jesse yelled.

He sat, crouched in a corner with a box of pictures in front of him, pictures of Julia Taylor. "I don’t get it," he said to himself. "What is she doing here? Why did you send her?" He asked as he stared up at the ceiling. "Give me something, Julia. Let me know what you want me to do. I killed Kathryn for you. What more do you want?"

He shook his head and glanced down at the box of pictures. "Why won’t you let me go?" He questioned as he kicked the box, sending the pictures scattering across the floor. "Why won’t you let me go?" He sobbed. He wanted to be set free. He knew Julia was dead and he knew that she wasn’t coming back, but for some reason, he still felt tied to her. He saw her everywhere and even heard her voice. She wanted something from him, but he didn’t know what it was.

He stood up from the floor with frustration and started for the bathroom when a single picture caught his eye. He paused, his eyes transfixed on the picture. "Oh my God," he said as he bent over and picked it up, staring at it with disbelief. It was a picture of two little girls smiling at one another. He turned the picture over and read the handwritten words on the back.

"Jamie and Julia," he said softly. Slowly, he turned the picture over again and looked at the two little girls. "You had a sister," he whispered.

Cayden King stepped into his apartment and shut the door behind him quietly.

"There you are," Victoria said as she stood up from the couch. "Where did you go? Dinner’s ready. We’ve been waiting for you. Let’s eat," she said as she motioned for him to sit down at the table while she got dinner from the kitchen.

"I’m not hungry," Cayden said softly as he walked toward the bedroom.

"Your mom spent a lot of time on dinner," Szymon said, "the least you could do it eat."

Cayden paused and stared at Szymon for a moment. He shook his head as tears streamed down his cheeks. "I can’t do this," he said as he headed into the bedroom. Szymon glanced at Victoria, who had an expression of confusion that matched his own. He started after Cayden, but wasn’t quick enough to catch him before he stepped into the bathroom and locked the door behind him.

"Cayden, what’s wrong?" He questioned. "What happened."

Standing in front of the sink, Cayden shook his head. "Nothing," he said, "I’m fine."

"You’re not fine," Szymon said. "Open the door and talk to me."

"I’ll be out in just a second," Cayden said as he stared at himself in the mirror. He reached forward and turned handle for the faucet. As the cold water poured out, he stuck his hands underneath it and splashed the water on his face. His face wet, he stared at his reflection in the mirror once again.

"I wish I never moved into this building," he said softly.