Author Anon

Nicholas calls Michael. “Detective Ute is continuing his questioning of Blanche. I’ll meet you over there.”

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“So, Mrs. Albright, we have new DNA evidence that links you to the scene of the crime,” says Detective Ute. “Would you like to make a statement?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” says Blanche, looking down at her hands.

“Mr. Golde was involved in a struggle when he was shot,” says Detective Ute. “We found skin samples under his nails and the DNA matches yours.”

Blanche pales. She looks up to see Tom Golde entering, followed by Michael, Amanda with Lucas, Nicholas, and Rick.

“Why, Blanche? Why?” asks Tom, in distress.

“I didn’t shoot him!” exclaims Blanche.

“Then who did?” asks Detective Ute.

“I didn’t mean David. I meant Lucy!” says Tom.

Blanche shakes her head in confusion and starts crying. “It was an accident!”

“Please explain, Mrs. Albright,” says Detective Ute.

“Someone get her a drink,” says Phillip.

Rick goes to the cupboard and pours her a drink. Blanche takes a sip with trembling hands.

“Now, please tell us what happened that day.”

“I-I went looking for David that day and found him at home. He was alone but he said he was expecting someone. I suspected it was Amanda and I thought she was already there, at first.”

“Why?”

“Because I smelled perfume and I saw the champagne and wine glasses on the table.”

“Do you know that he was alone?”

“I can’t be sure. But I figured if someone was there, they would have come to his rescue.”

“Unless they wanted him dead. Correct?”

“I suppose so.”

“Why did you go to see David?”

Blanche looks at Tom and hesitates.

“You might as well tell us,” says Tom. “David will tell his side soon enough.”

“He was trying to snoop into our business,” says Blanche. “He met secretly with my daughter to find out who Lisa’s father was.”

“And why was that such a secret?” asks Detective Ute.

“Because Lisa’s father is Tom Golde.”

Lisa gasps and starts sobbing. “Oh, no.”

Rick comes over to comfort her. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Tom looks at Lisa, dumbstruck. “You are my daughter?”

“I don’t understand all the secrecy,” says Detective Ute.

Blanche looks at Lisa, who turns to Rick. “Oh, Rick, I am so sorry.”

“What?” asks Rick, confused.

Still sobbing, Lisa says, “David is Eileen’s father. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

“You and David? You’re cousins,” says Rick.

“We didn’t know that at the time.”

“But you don’t understand,” says Tom. “You’re not cousins.”

Everyone turns to him, questioningly.

“I was adopted,” says Tom. “I’m really William’s cousin, on his mother’s side. So you’re not that closely related.”

Lisa breathes a sigh of relief and there is murmuring amongst the other bystanders.

Phillip clears his throat and says, “Blanche, you might as well tell the rest of the story.”

Blanche stares at Phillip.

“Look at what keeping your secrets has done,” says Phillip. “You didn’t know all the talk when you left town, but I do.”

“No,” says Blanche.

Everyone listens in anticipation. “After Barbara died, I started courting you,” says Phillip. “But you only had eyes for Peter Golde, even though he was a married man. Yes, his marriage was a shambles at the time, but he didn’t want the scandal of a divorce. Everyone knew you went away to have his child, but only those close to the family knew why you had to go away.”

“No!” cries Blanche, jumping out of her chair. “That’s enough! The Albrights and Goldes have always been sworn enemies.”

“Yes, but now you have a daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter who are all Goldes. And you are a Golde yourself.”

Blanche falls back into her chair and covers her face with her hands, crying. Everyone looks on, stunned.

“Once David knew Tom was Lisa’s father, he would not stop,” says Blanche. “He was going to tell Amanda, and I couldn’t let that happen. She was Lisa’s rival for Rick’s affection, and I wasn’t going to let her win.”

“But I wasn’t trying to break Rick and Lisa’s marriage,” says Amanda.

“Liar!,” she cries, turning to Amanda. “You said yourself the other day that you weren’t interested in David because of another man.”

“But I didn’t mean Rick,” says Amanda. Michael reaches over and puts his arm around Amanda.

“So you confronted David Golde?” asks Detective Ute, redirecting Blanche.

Blanche turns to him again. “Yes,” she says, quietly. “He refused to keep quiet, so I pulled a gun out and threatened him. He jumped at me and we both fell, knocking off the lamp. It was dark and I dropped the gun. I swear it was out of my hands when I heard the shot.”

Again there is silence.

“Are you sure there was no one else there?” asks Nicholas. “There was another set of fingerprints.”

“I don’t know how you know that,” says Detective Ute to Nicholas. “But I’m running this investigation.” He turns to Blanche. “Are you sure you smelled perfume when you first entered?”

“Yes, it was ‘Starlight’,” says Blanche. “I recognized it because my granddaughter wears that. But I know it couldn’t have been her because she was here with Lucy and the baby.”

“Well, I’m sure it’s a favorite amongst young women,” says Detective Ute. “Including Dr. Steele.” He looks at Amanda.

“My client doesn’t wear perfume,” says Michael. “And I think it’s time we consider the other set of fingerprints.”

“Yes, Counselor, we should,” says Detective Ute. “As it happens, you know the other woman in this case. I presume, this is her son in your possession.”

“Yes, and the sooner we find his mother, the better.”

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David coughs as the endotracheal tube is removed.

“Well,” says Dr. Shimmer. “How do you feel?”

“Terrible,” says David with a croaking voice.

“What can I do for you?”

“I want to talk to Amanda.”

“I’m afraid you can’t do that right now. Conserve your voice until it gets a little better. Your family will be in to see you soon.”

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Ashley is showing Gavin around Silverman Publishing. “As you know, we’re expanding, so we’ll be moving out of this building once the new building is complete.”

They encounter Belle coming out of John’s office.

“Belle, what are you doing here?” asks Ashley, wrapping her arm around Gavin’s. “I’m sure you remember Gavin.”

Belle looks up at them, preoccupied. “Yes, of course,” she says. Shaking her head, she continues, “I still haven’t found my sketches and I can’t figure out where they could be. I put a lot of work into it and it looks like I’ll have to start over.”

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At the Golde residence, Leslie and Carrie are examining a sketch book.

“I like this dress,” says Leslie.

“Wow!” says Carrie. “I love this one.”

Giggling, they continue perusing the book.

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Filed under: All That Glitters