"R.J.! R.J. thank God you're still here," Lauren gasped as she ran into the office. "I was afraid you'd already gone home. You have to help me. They're after me."
R.J. sighed heavily. He had suspected earlier that she had been up to something. She had refused to tell him anything then and now he wasn't sure he wanted to know. "Slow down. What happened?"
"That Chad guy came to my apartment and found Audrey tied up in my bedroom." R.J. just rolled his eyes at her and groaned as she continued, "I managed to knock him out, but then I heard sirens, so I just ran."
"And you came here," R.J. said unhappily.
"I didn't know where else to go. You're the only one I can count on. You have to hide me or help me run away . . . maybe we can run away together! It's not like you have any friends around here either. We could start over somewhere new with new identities. I'll let you choose where."
"Hold it," R.J. interrupted. "I'm not doing that. I'm not go to help you hide from the police and I'm certainly not going to run away with you. I want no part of this. You're on your own."
"You can't abandon me! Don't forget, I know all about your past!"
"Then you should know there's nothing you can hold over me. I might not have the most honest past, but I'm no criminal. You have nothing on me."
"Then I'll make it up," Lauren cried out desperately. "I'll put the blame on you. I'll tell them you were behind everything, that you made me do it. They'll believe me too, because Chad already suspects you."
"That was before you attacked him," R.J. mumbled.
"Oh God, what am I going to do?" Lauren cried out. "It wasn't supposed to go this way!"
"What did you expect would happen?" R.J. asked skeptically, but Lauren didn't seem to hear him. He watched her for a moment before coming to a decision. "Ok, I'll help you. Just this once and then we're even. No more trying to blackmail me or holding the past over my head."
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," Lauren gushed.
"I want you to go to the Barnett Hotel and rent a room. I've got a few things to take care of, but I'll meet you there as soon as I can. Wait for me and try to get some sleep."
Lauren thanked R.J. again before leaving the office.
As soon as she was gone, R.J. picked up the phone and dialed the number for the police station.
"Chad, wake up," Audrey begged, but he showed no response.
"This is the police. Open up," a voice called out as someone pounded on the door. Audrey tried to call out to them, but she had no voice.
As the police entered the apartment, followed by Justin and Lawrence, Audrey rose to her feet. "Please, you have to help him. He's hurt."
"Audrey!" Justin called out, rushing to his sister's side. "Are you ok?"
She nodded, "I'm fine. How's Chad?" she asked the officer who was checking his vital signs.
"His pulse and breathing are stable."
"An ambulance is on its way," his partner said, putting away his radio. "Are you sure you're ok, ma'am?"
For a moment, she swayed. Feeling a little dizzy, she leaned on Justin's arm for support. "I think so."
"Well, I think you should go along to the hospital anyway and get checked out."
"That's a good idea," Justin agreed.
"Ok," she gave in.
"If you can, we'd like to ask you a few questions while we're waiting for the paramedics-" the officer was cut off by an incoming call. He turned to his partner, "We've got a lead on our suspect."
Lauren laid on the hotel mattress staring up at the ceiling. "Why did I waste so much time on Lawrence?" she asked herself. "Jerk! The right guy was in front of me all along. R.J., I knew you wouldn't let me down," she thought with a contented grin. "We're going to have such a great future together . . ."
A knock on the door, interrupted her daydream. Expecting R.J. she jumped up from the bed to let him in, but when she opened the door, she was shocked to see not R.J, but the police standing in the hallway.
Acting on instinct, she quickly pushed the door shut again, hoping that would somehow make them go away, but one of the officers already had his foot in the door and managed to push his way in.
"Are you Lauren?" When she nodded sheepishly, he continued. "You're under arrest for the abduction of Audrey Jordan."
"No! There's been a mistake. I've been framed!" she cried out, frantically searching for a means of escape.
She continued to shout as the police read her her rights. As they handcuffed her she struggled and fought to break free, but they had her surrounded and out numbered.
Lauren was dragged out of the hotel, kicking and screaming, and ushered into the police car. As they drove her to the station, she vowed revenge on everyone involved, especially R.J. No matter how long it took, she would make him regret this betrayal.
"Mr. Jordan, is that you? What are you doing here?"
Justin flinched. Being in the hospital waiting room made him edgy enough, but he hadn't counted on meeting Lucy there. He tried to sound cheerful as he turned to greet her. "Hello Miss - Mrs. Sexton. I'm just waiting for my sister. She's in with the doctor."
"Is everything alright?" she asked with concern.
"I hope so . . .It's a long story."
As Craig approached the pair, with the baby in his arms, he glared at Justin before addressing Lucy, "Ready to go, babe?"
"Yes, very ready. I'll be glad to be home again," she answered with a tired smile. "Oh, Mr. Jordan, would you like to see the baby?"
When Justin looked up at Craig, he was met with a challenging look. Declining the offer he said, "I wouldn't want to keep you . . .Congratulations."
"Well, Miss Jordan, other than being a little dehydrated, I'd say you're in good health," the doctor diagnosed. "Just get some rest and drink plenty of fluids. Your head may be sore for awhile. An over the counter pain medication should take care of any headaches, but if you need something stronger, let me know."
"Thank you," Audrey said as she stood and started to leave the examination room. "Would it be alright for me to see Chad before I go?"
"Yes," the doctor replied hesitantly. "But don't stay too long. He needs to rest."
Audrey crept quietly into Chad's room, trying not to disturb him as he slept. As she approached his bedside, he breathed in deeply and barely opened his eyes.
"Hey," he whispered. "You ok?"
"I was just going to ask you that," she grinned and took a seat next to Chad's bed. "I'm fine, thanks to you. Really, thank you," she said sincerely as she reached out to hold his hand. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't showed up at that apartment when you did. You might have saved my life."
"I wasn't going to let anything happen to you. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice. I promise."
Audrey looked up as one of the hospital nurses came to the door and told her it was time to leave. She looked back as she started towards the door, "Chad . . .I forgive you."
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