Author Anon

“Damn!” cries Damian.

“What’s wrong?” asks Stephanie.

“It says here that the Brighton police are looking for us,” says Damian.

“What for?” asks Stephanie, nervously.

“For questioning relating to the shooting of David Golde,” says Damian. “It says they’ve identified your fingerprints. Also, it states that Dr. Amanda Steele saw a man in the vicinity, now identified as me. They are not saying we are suspects, just that they want to question us.”

Stephanie gets up and starts pacing while she thinks about her options. Damian reads further.

“Apparently,” says Damian. “David Golde is now out of intensive care and awake.”

Stephanie jerks her head to attention. “He’s alive, then.”

“So he is,” says Damian. “And I’d be interested in hearing what he has to say.”

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“Do you think you can talk, son?” asks William. “If not, I’ll send the police away.”

“I want to see Amanda,” says David.

“I’m afraid she’s been suspended for the time being,” says William.

“Why?” asks David. “I need to talk to her.”

“Until we find out who shot you-”

“Well, it wasn’t her,” says David, stubbornly. “I want to see her.”

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“Here’s to us,” says Michael, holding up his glass. “The police will be returning your car today. Also, I’ve talked to the hospital board and they’re ready to have you reinstated.”

“Well, it’ll probably be a couple weeks before I’m back to work,” says Amanda. “We’re in the middle of a rotation.”

“Hmmm. I guess I’ll see that much more of you,” says Michael.

“What? You don’t plan on going back to your work?”

“The case is not closed yet,” says Michael, smiling. “Blanche denies she shot David. It could have been an accident, but what if it wasn’t? What if someone else was there and shot him? I’m sure Detective Ute would like to pin it on you still.”

“I wonder what they’ll do with Blanche,’ says Amanda. “I think she needs to see a psychologist.”

“Do you think she was mentally incapacitated?”

“No, not that. Although given the circumstances, she could be.” Amanda pauses. “I mean, when Phillip revealed her relationship to the Goldes.”

“Now, that was a messed-up situation.”

“He was right, though. All those years of keeping secrets, starting with her mother, or grandmother, really, since her mother committed suicide. She had an affair with her own half-brother, then she thought her daughter had an affair with her own half-brother. It’s enough to drive anyone mad.”

“You are so beautiful,” Michael says, putting his arms around her. “Right now, I don’t want to think about anyone but you.”

“You’re always telling me I’m beautiful,” says Amanda. “Would you feel the same if I wasn’t?”

“If you weren’t, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” says Michael. Amanda tries to pull away but Michael holds her tight. “In fact, if you were actually ugly, we’d probably be married by now.”

“What?”

“Yes. Don’t you see? I distrusted you on sight because you were so beautiful. I never dreamed you could be anything but selfish, conceited and vain.”

“Just like all the other men, you didn’t even give me a chance.”

“But I, at least, quickly learned differently. Now, my search for the perfect woman is over.”

“Don’t be too sure,” says Amanda. “After all, they say doctors and lawyers don’t make good bedpartners.”

“Why not?”

“The doctor would accuse the lawyer of being crazy and the lawyer would file a defamation of character claim.”

“And the lawyer would win.”

“Even though the doctor was right.”

“What about the lawyer who defends the doctor?”

“Oh, he’s definitely crazy, then.”

“Yes, completely out of his head,” says Michael, kissing Amanda.

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“Here’s to the New Year,” says John, toasting his family and friends. “The new building is complete and we will be moving in next week. And I’d like to congratulate Gavin Sparks, who will be our first author.”

Everyone cheers.

“As you know, we have exciting plans ahead for the new year,” John continues. “Once we have the publishing house going, we will start plans for a fashion house. Belle will head that when she graduates.”

Belle coughs on her champagne.

“What’s wrong?” whispers Claire.

“I’ve lost all my designs,” says Belle. “I’ll have to start over. I thought we’d have our own fashion house and since it’ll take you some time to find a financier, I’d have time to redesign. Now I’m not sure.”

“But this is great,” says Claire. “We don’t have to look outside your family for financial support.”

“I don’t know,” says Belle. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

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Filed under: All That Glitters