Victoria King groaned as she turned over onto her side and tried to make herself comfortable. A small pain in her back nagged at her and she moved again, hoping to find a position in the bed that wouldn’t make her body ache.

The lumpiness of the bed was her first clue that something was amiss, and when she opened her eyes and found herself staring directly at a cat, she sat bolt upright in bed. "Where am I?" She questioned as she glanced around the strange bedroom.

Her heart began to pound with fear as she searched the room for something familiar. She found nothing, until her eyes came to rest on the sleeping body directly beside her. "Oh my God," she gasped as she realized that she was in a stranger’s bed. "What happened last night?"

"So where do you want to go now?" Diego Casavetes questioned as he lead Victoria King out of the restaurant and onto the streets.

Victoria glanced around with a smile. "I don’t know," she replied as she glanced back at him, "but I’m not ready to go home just yet," she explained.

"Me either," Diego responded.

"So what can we do?" Victoria questioned, excited about the prospect of a night out on the town. It had been years since she let her hair down and actually had fun. The idea of venturing through New York was electrifying, and she wanted to feel alive.

"There’s lots of things to do," Diego assured her.

"We can go to another club. We can go to Central Park. We can go back to may place," he added, smiling slightly.

Victoria shook her head at him. "Very funny," she said. "I’m old enough to be your mother," she added as she turned away.

Diego reached for her and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back gently. "My mother isn’t as beautiful as you," he said with a smile.

"Stop," Victoria chuckled as she glanced back at him. "You don’t really want me," she said.

"Why do you think that?" Diego questioned.

"Because," Victoria said after a slight pause. She stared into Diego’s eyes. "Because I’m . . . I’m older than you," she finally said. "I’m a middle-aged woman about to get a divorce from the only man she’s ever been with," she explained, "and I have a son that’s probably your age."

"Maybe tonight you can forget about your age," Diego said, his accent making the hair on the back of Victoria’s neck stand on end with desire. "Maybe for tonight you aren’t older than me and I am not younger than you," he continued. "Maybe tonight you don’t have a son. Maybe tonight you are just a woman and I am just a man."

"But . . ."

"But what?" Diego questioned.

"Jesse," Liliana Martinez called out and she gently knocked on the bedroom door. "Jesse, it’s time to wake up," she said.

Jesse Martinez groaned with frustration as he reached for his pillow and held it over his head to block out the noise. His grandmother was persistent, however and continued to call him. Growing ever more frustrated, Jesse threw the pillow across the room.

"Leave me alone," he yelled.

"Jesse," Liliana said, "There is someone here to see you," she explained.

Jesse Martinez paused for a moment. "Who is it?" He questioned. "Is it Ryan?" He waited for a response, but his grandmother did not respond.

"Abuela?" He called out and he sat up and stepped out of the bed, searching for his shirt. He found it and pulled it over his head quickly and shuffled to the door. "Who is it?" He questioned as he pulled open the door and stepped into the living room.

He paused as he stared at a man standing in the living room beside his grandmother and he looked from the man to his grandmother. "Who is this?" He questioned. Liliana Martinez glanced away.

"Good morning, Jesse," the man said as he took a step forward and extended his hand for a shake. "My name is Adam Price and I’m with the . . ."

"I know who you’re with," Jesse said with a sigh as he shook his head, "and I know why you’re here," he explained as he glanced at his grandmother and found that she was still unable to bring herself to look at him.

Adam Price cocked his head slightly with interest. "Why am I here, Jesse?" He questioned.

"You’re here to evaluate me," Jesse responded. "To see if I’ve gone crazy again," he explained. "Because she wants to control me," he explained as he pointed to his grandmother.

"You’re right about one thing," Adam said as he nodded his head. "I am here to evaluate you, but not for the reason you think. You see, your grandmother made a call last night and demanded that you be committed once again," he explained.

"She did what?" Jesse questioned with horror.

"You see, while you were in the hospital, your grandmother petitioned the court to have temporary custody over you," Adam explained. "Now that you’ve been released, the court would like to know if you are capable of taking care of yourself or if your grandmother should still retain custody of you. Do you understand?" Adam questioned.

"Yes," Jesse nodded, never taking his eyes off of his grandmother. Liliana, for her part, still could not bring herself to glance at her grandson.

"So here’s what’s going to happen," Adam explained. "Mrs. Martinez, I need some time to speak with Jesse alone," he explained.

"Oh," Liliana said with surprise. "Of course. "I will just go to the store or something," she said as she headed for the door. "Jesse, is there something you would like me to get for you."

"Freedom," Jesse responded sarcastically.

Liliana paused before letting herself out of the apartment and pulling the door closed behind her.

"Very well," Adam said as he motioned for the couch and welcomed Jesse to sit down. "I’ve had a chance to speak with your grandmother," he explained, "she said you both had quite the exciting evening. Perhaps you’d like to tell me what happened last night?" Adam Price questioned.

"Where is she?" Jesse Martinez questioned as he stood in the empty bedroom.

"She’s not here," Liliana Martinez replied.

"I can see that," Jesse responded. "Where did she go?"

"She left," Liliana explained. "Right after she saw all of these pictures," she explained as she stepped further into the room and motioned to the pictures of Julia Taylor that plastered the walls. "Did you really think she would stay after seeing this?" She questioned.

"You made her leave," Jesse said softly as he shook his head and turned toward his grandmother. "Why?"

"What are you talking about?" Liliana questioned. "She saw the pictures and she chose to leave."

"She understood how much I loved Julia," Jesse explained. "The woman in these pictures is a different woman, it’s not her."

"But it looks exactly like her," Liliana reminded him.

"So what?" Jesse questioned. "So what if she looks like Julia. I know that she’s not Julia."

"Do you really?" Liliana questioned.

"Of course I do."

"I don’t think you do."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jesse questioned.

"I think you’re just telling yourself that over and over and trying to believe it, but deep down inside, you wish she was Julia, and that‘s not healthy, not for her and definitely not for you. Trust me, Jesse, you don‘t want to live your life seeing a ghost, not like . . ."

"What are you talking about?" Jesse asked with frustration.

"Nothing, forget about it," Liliana said as she turned away.

"No, wait, you started this," Jesse said, "so tell me. Not like who?"

Liliana Martinez paused and glanced at her grandson. "Not like your mother," she explained.

"What about my mother?" Jesse questioned. "You talk about her all the time, but you never tell me the whole story," he explained. "What kind of ghosts does she see? Why is she so sick?" He questioned. "What happened to her?" Jesse asked.

"She was raped!" Liliana yelled. "And she killed the man who did it," she explained as she shook her head and tears began to stream down her cheeks, "and God help me, you look just like that son of a bitch . . ."

"Look at this place," Devon James said as she glanced around. "You’d think I was robbed, the way they left this place," she said with a sigh and she bent over and picked up a pillow and tossed it on the couch. "I wonder if Cayden’s place looks any better," Devon questioned aloud.

"Probably," Gage said as he helped her straighten up. "I don’t think Szymon would toss the place he lives," Gage noted as he shook his head.

"Tell me about it, the man has absolutely no loyalty," Devon remarked.

"Speaking of loyalty," Gage said as he turned toward Devon. "What do you think is going to happen now?" He questioned.

Devon paused and glanced at Gage. "I have no idea," she said with a sigh. "I just can’t believe this is happening," she admitted.

"Don’t stress out," Gage said, "they didn’t find anything. It was all circumstantial."

"That’s really not what I’m worried about," Devon declared. "Of all the stupid things I’ve done, I’ve never been more regretful of what I did last night."

"Cayden," Devon said as she reached forward and grasped him by the arm.

"Don’t touch me!" Cayden said as he pulled away from her grasp and banged on the door to his apartment. "Szymon! Szymon, open the door," he called out. "Szymon, it’s me . . . open the door."

"Cayden," Devon said again as she reached for him. This time Cayden did not pull away, instead, he stepped back and let his head drop. He paused for a moment before turning toward Devon. His eyes were filled with tears as he shook his head. His knees buckled.

"Whoa!" Gage Matthews said as he sprang forward and caught his friend just before he hit the floor.

"Cayden," Devon called out with concern.

"Are you o-okay?" Elijah Montessori questioned and he stepped forward and placed his hand on Cayden’s face.

"He fainted," Devon noted.

"H-holy shit," Elijah remarked. "I never s-saw that h-happen before," he added as he glanced at Cayden.

"Well can you help me out here," Gage questioned as he held his arms wrapped around Cayden’s chest. "He may look small, but he weighs a ton." Elijah stepped forward and helped hold Cayden up.

"Cayden," Devon said as she lightly smacked his cheek. "Cayden, wake up."

Cayden King’s eyes fluttered open and he glanced around groggily. "What happened?" He whispered softly.

"You fainted," Devon said. "Are you okay?" She questioned.

"I think so," Cayden responded as he realized that Gage and Elijah were holding him up.

"Can you walk?" Devon questioned.

"Yeah," Cayden said with a nod.

"Good, we need to go somewhere a little more private. Follow me," she said as she stared down the corridor towards the stairwell.

"You okay, buddy?" Gage questioned. Cayden nodded and so Gage let go of him and started after Devon. Elijah waited a few more moments and glanced into Cayden’s eyes.

"You sc-scared me," he said softly.

"I’m sorry," Cayden responded.

"Don’t do it a-again," Elijah said with a reassuring smile before starting down the corridor.

Cayden paused and glanced at the door to his apartment. "Szymon," he whispered softly before turning away and following the group.

Once inside of the stairwell, Devon James turned around and waited for the others. When Cayden entered and shut the door behind him, Devon shook her head. "What the hell are we going to do now?" She questioned. "They’re searching our freaking apartments!"

"I thought you said you got rid of all the evidence," Gage questioned.

"We did," Devon responded, "at least I think we did. I don’t freaking know, I don’t work for CSI!" She explained. "What if there’s something in my apartment that could prove that we’re lying?"

"Like what?" Gage questioned.

"I don’t freaking know!" Devon exclaimed.

"L-let’s just th-think about this rationally," Elijah said, trying to keep a level-head. "We c-cleaned the candlestick with b-bleach, and we got r-rid of the c-carpet. Wh-what else c-could there b-be?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Devon James questioned. "Maybe a big old sign that says ‘I killed Luis!’" She exclaimed just as the door to the stairwell opened and Sarah Mulberry stepped in.

“Wake up,” Cecilia Nakamura said as she reached down and grabbed Szymon Skubisz’s leg and shook it. “I need to watch the news,” she added as she sat down on the couch beside him and handed him a cup of coffee.

Szymon groaned and sat up. “Cici, What time is it?” He questioned as he glanced around through sleepy eyes, then realized that Cecilia was holding a cup of coffee mere inches from his face. “Thanks,” he said softly, realizing where he was.

“Yup,” Cecilia said with a nod as she sipped from her own cup.

“Where’s Andrea?” Szymon questioned softly.

“In the shower,” Cecilia responded.

“The place looks good,” Szymon noted. “It‘s gotten a lot nicer since I left.”

“Of course it has,” Cecilia smiled. “I moved in and spiced it up.”

“How’s Sammy doing? I meant to drop by the other day, but I just got so wrapped up in work…”

“I know how it is,” Cecilia interjected. “It wasn’t that long ago that you and I were partners, remember?”

“Speaking of which, how are you doing? How’s your back?” Szymon inquired.

“It’s good, getting better. I should be back on the force in no time,” Cecilia admitted. “What about you, how are you doing? Not so good from the look of things,” she commented.

“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t bother the two of you when I dropped by last night,” Szymon began to apologize.

“Of course not,” Cecilia said. “You just knocked on our door at three in the morning,” she added sarcastically. “If it were anyone else, I would’ve shot them,” she smiled.

“I’m sorry,” Szymon sighed.

“You said that already,” Cecilia reminded him. “Now tell me something that I don’t know.”

“Like what?” Szymon questioned as he glanced over at his ex-partner.

“Well, you can start by telling me how you ended up on our doorstep at three in the morning, Szymon. What happened last night?"

Szymon Skubisz stood inside of the apartment listening to Cayden King call his name. He shut his eyes and tried to fight the urge to turn around, open the door and pull Cayden into his arms. The pain in Cayden’s voice struck a chord within Szymon and all he could do was stand there helplessly.

"Listen to him, he’s trying to knock down the door," Joseph Lester remarked as he glanced at Szymon. "That’s it," he said as he shook his head, "I’m gonna knock him right on his ass," he said as he headed for the door.

With all of his force, Szymon pushed Joseph Lester back. "Don’t you touch him," he growled.

"Hey!" Joseph shouted in response to being shoved.

"I swear, Lester, you lay a hand on him and you’re dead," Szymon warned.

"That’s it!" Joseph Lester responded. "I’m calling the Chief! You’re too close to this. I knew this was going to happen."

"What are you talking about?" Szymon questioned. "This is a bad time to start with the gay-bashing, Lester, I swear to God."

"Are you kidding? This has nothing to do with you being gay," Joseph Lester explained, "and everything to do with who’s on the other side of that door, Skubisz. In case you didn’t get the memo, that’s your boyfriend out there, and we’re standing inside of the apartment you share with him . . . an apartment, I might add, that’s being searched in a possible homicide investigation. You shouldn’t even be here."

"So what are you saying?" Szymon questioned. "Are you saying that if I found something, I’d cover it up? Is that what you’re saying?"

Joseph Lester shook his head and sighed. "I’m not saying anything," he admitted. "I’m just saying that you shouldn’t be here . . ."

"Fine," Szymon Skubisz said. "Fine, I’ll go." He turned toward the door and paused. Cayden had stopped calling his name. Slowly, Szymon Skubisz reached for the doorknob and felt an incredible sense of guilt. All he wanted to do in that instant was throw the door open, find Cayden and hug him. He wanted to apologize for what he had just done.

Szymon Skubisz opened the door and stepped into the hallway. He glanced both ways. There was no one there.

"Cayden?" Victoria King called out as she opened the door and stepped into her son’s apartment. "Oh my God," she said as she noticed the entire apartment was in disarray. "What on Earth," she said as she shut the door behind her and set her purse down. "Cayden?" She called out again.

She surveyed the living room and tried to make sure that nothing was missing. "What happened here?" She whispered to herself as she tried to make sense of the mess around her. "Cayden?" She called out again, getting slightly worried that her son hadn’t responded yet.

A rustling in the bedroom startled her and she turned toward the door and paused. "Cayden, is that you?" She questioned as she worked up the courage to walk toward the bedroom door. Slowly, she pushed the door open and peered inside.

The window was open and the breeze entering the room caused the curtains to flap ever so gently. She shook her head slightly. Her son was not home. Slowly, Victoria crossed over to the bed and sat down on the edge.

"I guess I’m not the only one who had a wild time last night," Victoria said.

"Maybe this is a mistake," Victoria King said as she stood outside of Diego Casavete’s apartment waiting for him to unlock the door.

"It’s not a mistake," Diego said softly as he smiled at her.

"I should go," Victoria said as he finally unlocked the door.

"Please don’t," Diego insisted as he caught her arm and stopped her from walking away. He smiled and let go of her arm and cocked his head to the side. "Come inside, have a drink. We’ll talk some more if you’re uncomfortable," he explained.

Victoria King stared into the young man’s eyes and paused before responded. "Okay," she said softly. "Just one drink."

"Excellent," Diego agreed as he motioned for her to step inside his apartment.

"What a lovely place," Victoria noted as she stepped inside, amazed by the exquisite decorating and expensive furniture. "You must make a lot of money taking your clothes off," she said before catching herself and apologizing. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that."

"Don’t apologize," Diego said with a smile as he shut the door. "It’s the truth. I take my clothes off on stage and get paid for it," he explained. "I’m not ashamed of what I do."

"Oh good," Victoria said, thankful that she hadn’t gotten herself into another embarrassing blunder.

"Please, have a seat," Diego said as he motioned to the couch. "What would you like to drink. I have beer, wine, hard liquor . . ."

"Wine is fine," Victoria responded quickly, then laughed at her silly rhyme. "I’ll have wine, thank you."

"White or red?" Diego questioned.

"White, no red!" Victoria said, correcting herself. "Red, please," she said again. She couldn’t understand what she was so nervous. She could feel butterflies in her stomach. The excitement was reaching a fevered pitch.

"So," Diego said as he returned to the couch with two glassed of wine and handed one to Victoria, "what would you like to talk about?" He questioned.

Victoria graciously accepted her glass and sipped from it before answered. "Um . . . how long have you been dancing?" She questioned.

"Three years," Diego admitted as he reached over and placed his hand on her leg.

"Really," Victoria said in response, taking another large sip of her wine as her eyes nearly bulged out of her head. "And . . . and . . . what did you do before you started dancing?" She questioned.

"I was an architect major," Diego explained as he let his hand move slowly up Victoria’s thigh.

"Interesting," she said as she glanced down at his hand then took another sip of wine. "So why did you leave?"

"Because I found another way to fuel my passion," Diego answered. "Would you like to find out how?" He inquired with a smile.

Victoria King glanced down at her glass of wine as Diego Casavete’s hand moved ever so gently up her thigh. "Oh wow," she said before knocking back the rest of the wine.

"Where are you going?" Gage Matthews questioned as he saw Devon approaching the door. "You can’t go out there," he said as he pointed toward the hallway.

"Why the hell not?" Devon questioned. "I’m just going to throw out the trash," she explained.

"You can’t do that!" Gage informed her.

"Why not?" Devon asked. "It’s just trash."

"What if someone’s out there?" Gage questioned.

"Oh, I’m so scared," Devon retorted. "Look, as far as I’m concerned, we’re in a huge freaking mess as it is, I’d rather not sit in an apartment with trash lying around."

"I just . . . I don’t know," Gage said with a sigh as he sat down on the couch. "I just feel like we have to be extra careful now. Last night we really screwed up. We can’t afford to make any more mistakes like that," he explained.

"Trust me," Devon assured him, "I’m just going to through away the trash, I’m not going to confess my criminal actions to everyone on the entire floor. Well . . . not again," Devon corrected, "not like last night."

"Oh, excuse me," Sarah Mulberry said as she began to back out of the door.

"Grab her!" Devon shouted as she tried to reach for Sarah. Sarah let out a slight yelp and pulled away, but Gage, who had been standing beside the door, deftly reached out and grabbed her shirt collar, pulling her into the stairway.

"Hey!" Sarah shouted. "Let go of me! You know I don’t like this stairwell," she explained, flashing back slightly to the night Kathryn Hayes had pushed her.

"Let go of her," Cayden chimed in, stepping forward and pulling Gage off of her. "What are you doing?" He questioned.

"I don’t know!" Gage groaned. "She said to grab her!"

"Idiot," Cayden said to Gage before turning toward Sarah. "Are you okay?" He questioned.

"I’m fine," Sarah responded. "But would someone please tell me why I was just assaulted like that?" She questioned as she shot Devon a hateful expression.

"You know why," Devon responded.

"I don’t know anything," Sarah explained, "except for the fact that Gage is acting like a goon and you’re screaming about killing some guy named Luis."

"Jesus Christ!" Devon sighed as she threw her arms up in the air with frustration.

"Sh-she h-heard," Elijah Montessori chimed in.

"No shit, Sherlock," Devon said sarcastically. "I’m sorry," she quickly said, "I don’t mean to jump down your throat, Elijah."

"O-okay," Elijah said with a nod. "S-Sarah . . . please . . ."

"Please what?" Sarah Mulberry questioned as she stared at Elijah.

"Don’t act stupid," Devon said, "he’s asking you not to do anything."

"Oh, like what?" Sarah questioned as she turned toward Devon. "Like blow the lid on your little murder secret?" She questioned as she shook her head and began to laugh incredulously. "You people make me sick," she admitted.

"Look," Devon began before Sarah interrupted her.

"No, you look," Sarah said as she pointed her hand directly in Devon’s face. "The way I see it, you need me," she explained. "You need me to keep your sick little secret."

"Sarah . . . don’t . . ." Cayden urged, hoping that she wouldn’t make matters worse with her usual pretentiousness.

"No, let me finish," Sarah continued. "Despite how you all treat me, I still try to be nice to you," she explained, "and God help me, I have no idea why. You and your psycho friend practically hacked all of my hair off a few months ago. I’m wearing goddamned extensions and still I tried to be nice," she explained as she stared at Devon.

"We appreciate that," Cayden said, hoping she would finish and get to the point.

"But you know what," Sarah continued, "every time I try to make an effort, I get slapped down."

"Then don’t make an effort," Devon countered, "just keep your mouth shut."

"This isn’t two people who don’t like each other anymore, Devon," Sarah responded. "You’re talking about murder. Your apartments were searched and for the life of me, I don’t know why I’m standing here and not running as fast as I can to the cops."

"Look, if you’re going to rat us out…" Devon began.

"No, I’m not going to rat you out," Sarah explained with a sigh. "As much as I dislike you, I don’t think your baby deserves to grow up without a mother."

Devon paused and stared at Sarah. "Thank you," she said softly, taking everyone by surprise.

Liliana Martinez soon found that she could wait no longer. She stepped onto the elevator and pressed the button, impatiently waiting for the elevator to reach the ninth floor. She stared at the numbers, with irritation as they began their slow crawl toward her destination. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out quickly and scurried down the hall, searching in her pocket for her key.

She slid the key into the hole and turned it quickly, throwing open the door and stepping inside, searching for Jesse and Adam, but all she saw was Jesse sitting there staring back at her. "Where did the doctor go?" She questioned nervously.

"He left," Jesse responded.

"I can see that," Liliana explained, "but what did he say? What did you talk about?"

"Wouldn’t you like to know?" Jesse said softly.

"Jesse, come on," Liliana began. "This is serious. What happened?"

"Well, he doesn’t think I’m crazy," Jesse responded, "and that’s all that matters to me," he added as he stood up from his chair. "I’m sure that doesn’t make you happy," Jesse explained.

"Jesse, please . . . I‘m sorry, I only wanted to help you."

"I don’t want your kind of help," Jesse responded. "Your kind of help is toxic," he explained, "and after what happened last night, I don’t know if I really want your help anymore."

"Oh my God," Jesse said with shock as he took a step back. "You’re lying," he shouted. "You’re lying!"

"Jesse, I’m sorry," Liliana said, "I didn’t mean to . . ."

"You’re a liar!" Jesse shouted at his grandmother. "How could you say something like that?"

"Because it’s the truth," Liliana explained. "I never wanted you to find out. I never wanted to hurt you."

Jesse Martinez grew silent as he glanced away from his grandmother and tried to make sense of what she was saying. "It must be hard for you. It must be hard to stand there and see the man that raped your daughter all those years ago."

"Oh, Jesse, no."

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Jesse questioned. "Why didn’t you tell me that my mother was raped? Why didn’t you tell me that I’m a child of rape? Don’t you think I deserved to know?"

"No," Liliana said, shaking her head.

"Why the hell not?" Jesse demanded.

"Because it has nothing to do with you," Liliana answered.

"It has nothing to do with me?" Jesse questioned incredulously. "I’d say it has everything to do with me. I was conceived as a result of what happened to my mother! It has everything to do with me!"

"No, you’re wrong," Liliana said as she took another step forward. "You had nothing to do with what that man did to your mother. He was a sick, sadistic person, and what he did to your mother was horrible. No one should have to go through that," she explained. "It destroyed her. She tried her best to keep it together, but she just couldn’t deal with it."

"So that’s it," Jesse said with a nod, "I always knew that my mother never really loved me. It’s because of who I am and where I came from."

"Please don’t be upset with your mother, Jesse, she did the very best that she could."

"I’m not upset with her," Jesse explained. "I just wish someone had told me sooner. I just wish that I didn’t have to grow up thinking that I did something to make my mother hate me," he said, his eyes filled with tears. "Do you know what that’s like?" Jesse questioned. "Do you know what it’s like to have a mother that never shows you any kind of love or affection?" He asked. "It kills you inside."

"No, Jesse, your mother loves you . . ."

"Stop lying to me," Jesse said as he shook his head. "I can’t deal with this right now," he said as he started for the door.

"Where are you going?" Liliana questioned.

"Away from you," Jesse responded. "Away from this. I just need to get away."

"Jesse, please come back," Liliana called out, as he slammed the door behind him.

"Look at him," Andrea Darling said with a smile as she stood in the kitchen watching Szymon and Sammy in the living room., "he’s so excited to see his father." She lifted her cup of coffee to her lips and took a sip.

"Yeah he is," Cecilia Nakamura agreed as she stood beside Andrea "Szymon doesn’t come around that often anymore, does he?"

Andrea shook her head. "Not as often as Sammy would like," she noted.

"Daddy, check this out," Sammy Skubisz said as he ran to the bookshelf in the corner of the living room and selected a book, then ran back to the couch where his father sat.

"What’s this?" Szymon questioned with a laugh as Sammy shoved the book into his hands.

"It’s my favorite book," Sammy responded as he crawled up on the couch next to his father. "Can you read it to me?" He begged.

Szymon smiled and nodded. "Yeah Sam, I’ll read it to you," he agreed as he glanced over to the kitchen and smiled at Andrea and Cecilia.

Andrea smiled back and turned away, walking toward the counter. "So, did you talk to him?" She questioned as she poured the rest of her coffee down the sink and set her cup down.

"I did," Cecilia responded. "It’s not good."

"I suspected as much," Andrea admitted. "He knocked on the door at three in the morning, Cici," she reminded her. "So what happened to him last night?" Andrea questioned.

Szymon Skubisz walked down the hall toward the elevator slowly. Although his eyes were staring at the end of the hall in front of him, he saw nothing. His mind kept racing over what had just happened and how he now found himself in the middle of a murder investigation in which his boyfriend had become a suspect.

"Jesus Christ," he said to himself. "What the hell just happened?"

When he reached the end of the corridor, Szymon pressed the button for the elevator and waited. It seemed like an eternity and as he waited, he grew more and more impatient until finally he’d had enough. He turned away from the elevator and glanced at the door to the stairs. With a sigh, he approached the door and reached for the handle, but stopped just before he could open it.

"So then it’s settled," he heard Devon James say. "Everyone agrees not to say anything about what happened here. As long as we all keep our mouths shut about Luis, no one gets in trouble. Agreed?" She questioned.

Szymon listed as Gage Matthews, Elijah Montessori, and Sarah Mulberry agreed with what Devon had just said.

"What about you, Cayden?" Devon questioned, causing Szymon to tense up slightly at the thought of what Cayden might say on the other side of the door. "Cayden?" Devon questioned again.

"I don’t know if I can do this," Cayden responded uneasily.

"What are you saying?" Devon questioned. "Are you saying that you want us to go to jail for killing Luis?" She questioned.

"No, I’m not saying that," Cayden responded.

"Then what are you saying?" Devon questioned.

"I can’t lie to Szymon anymore," Cayden admitted. "I didn’t want to lie to him in the first place, but made me promise and look what happened. I could lose him," Cayden said. "And for what? So the two of you could get away with murder?" He questioned.

"That man was going to hurt me," Devon explained. "We did what we had to do," she explained.

"I know," Cayden sighed, "Sarah is right, your child deserves a mother, and as long as I keep this secret, they will have a mother. But what about me?" Cayden questioned. "I don’t mean to sound selfish, but what will I have? If keeping this secret means that I’ll lose Szymon, then I don’t want to keep it," he explained.

"Cayden please," Devon begged, "I can’t go to jail for murder," she said as Szymon Skubisz pushed the stairwell door open and stepped inside. "Jesus Christ," Devon said as she threw her arms in the air with frustration. "We should have gotten a fucking room!"

"Devon relax," Szymon Skubisz said as he glanced around at all of the scared faces. "I heard everything you said," he announced.

"Wait, wait," Gage said as he took a step forward. "It’s not what you think."

"Gage, take a step back," Szymon demanded.

"I had nothing to do with it," Sarah announced.

"Bitch, you just said you had my back," Devon said.

"Everyone just shut up," Szymon said as he glanced over at Cayden. "I’m sorry," he said as he shook his head. "Maybe you all don’t understand what it’s like to be me," he explained, "but I’m the kind of person that values honesty," he explained as he glanced around at everyone gathered in the hallway. "And all of you obviously don’t," he said as he glanced at Cayden once again, causing Cayden to glance away.

"Maybe it’s okay with you that deceive one another, but it’s not okay with me," he explained. "It’s not okay that a man could possibly be dead, and one of you is responsible for killing him," he added. "It’s not okay for you to look someone in the face and lie to them. It’s not okay," Szymon repeated.

"Szymon," Cayden spoke up, but Szymon interrupted him.

"I’m not like the rest of you," Szymon explained. "I can’t do that to the people that I love," he said as he turned toward Cayden, "and I love you . . . I really do," he admitted. "And maybe I’m a big hypocrite," he continued, "but it’s because I love you that I’m going walk down these steps and out of this building and ignore everything I’ve heard in this stairway tonight," he said as he began to descend the stairs.

"Szymon," Cayden said as he stepped forward. "Are you coming home tonight?" He questioned. There was no response.

"Thank you for letting me sleep on your couch," Ryan Clarke said with a smile as she glanced over at Sebastian Vaughn. "I know that we don’t really know one another that well, but it was nice of you to do this for me," she added.

Sebastian sat on the adjacent couch with his legs crossed. He stared at Ryan for a moment. "You’re welcome," he responded. "I mean, it’s the least I could do," he added as he continued to stare at her.

"Are you okay?" Ryan questioned.

"Oh me? I’m fine," Sebastian responded. "Just fine. What about you, do you want something? Coffee, orange juice?"

"No thanks, I’m fine," Ryan responded. "I probably should get going though, I have to go down to the police station to give my statement," she explained.

"Right," Sebastian said as he stood up. Ryan smiled and stood up as well.

"Well, thanks again," she said as she stepped forward to give him a hug. Sebastian jumped away from her and out of her reach.

"No problem, don’t mention it," he said as he rushed to the door and opened it.

Ryan paused and glanced at him awkwardly. "Are you sure you’re okay?" She questioned.

"I’m sure," Sebastian nodded, "I’m late for class," he explained.

"I’m sorry," Ryan responded. "You must think I’m the rudest person on the face of the planet. I’ll go now," she added as she approached the door. "You’re a very sweet person," she said before leaning forward and kissing him gently on the cheek.

"Thank you," Sebastian responded softly as Ryan stepped out of the apartment. Sebastian Vaughn slowly closed the door behind her. Silently, he watched her through the peek hole until she stepped away from the door, allowing him the chance to finally exhale with relief.

"Jesus Christ," he said to himself, "that close." He turned away from the door and walked into his bedroom. Slowly, he approached the closet and paused, staring at the door. "If she had knocked on my door just five minutes sooner," he thought to himself, "you would have been in big trouble last night," he said before taking a step forward and opening the closet door.

He stepped back and sat down on the bed, cocking his head to the side slightly as he stared into the closet. "Now what am I going to do with you?" He questioned with a smile as he stared into his closet at the lifeless body of Luis Alvarez.