Author Anon

“You’re so tense tonight, darling,” says Melanie, as she gives William a rub.

“I’m trying to figure out what to do with Blanche Albright,” says William.

“Do you want to talk about it? It might make you feel better. Get that tension out.”

“Blanche Albright has a share in the company, but that was before Julia made it a big concern. My father had no idea how big we would get when he wrote his will. The company is now really Julia’s and I don’t see why Blanche should have a part in it.”

“How does the rest of the family feel?”

“They’re split. I say we buy Blanche out, but some of the others want to give her her share. I don’t see how she’s earned her due.”

“You’re right,” says Melanie, reflectively. “I don’t think Julia would have wanted her to be a part of the company. As you say, she built it up and it became more hers than Golde’s. So, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to call Tracy and discuss it with her,” says William, getting up and leaving the room.

Melanie rolls onto her back and stares at the ceiling.

“So, you think you know what I’d want, do you?” asks Julia, sitting at the vanity.

Startled, Melanie jumps up.

“You’re one to talk,” Julia continues. “You married William just to get his share of the company.” Julia gets up and walks towards Melanie, who is shivering from fright. “I’m not going to let you get away with it,” Julia says, bending down upon Melanie.

Melanie gasps and faints onto the bed.

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“What’s Belle doing with Cody Daze?” asks Nicholas, watching as the two are approaching Les Carr’s.

“It might be trouble if Daze goes in there,” says Gavin. “We’d better intercept them.”

“Hello, there,” says Nicholas, as he grabs Cody’s arm and turns him around. Meanwhile, Gavin turns Belle around and the two are ushered into Mark’s cafe.

“What are you doing?” asks Belle, shaking Gavin’s hand away. Frustration is evident on her face.

“I think we need to talk,” says Gavin.

“Table, guys?” asks Mark. “Welcome, again.”

“Booth, please,” says Gavin. “And private.”

Mark takes them to the back.

“Look,” says Belle. “You guys can talk all you like. I have business to take care of.” She turns away.

“What’s with her?” asks Gavin.

Mark laughs. “Belle is fiercely independent. She doesn’t like to be told what to do.”

Gavin looks at Nicholas. “I’m going after her. You explain things to the detective.”

Gavin catches up with Belle just as she is about to enter Les Carr’s. “What do you want?” she asks.

“Whatever you have in mind,” says Gavin, “I’m coming along.”

Belle shrugs. “Suit yourself. But I might need a witness, anyway.”

Inside the shop, Belle walks straight up to Leslie. “You and I need to have a talk. I think it best if we do it in your office.”

Leslie looks at her, terrified. “Oh, you’re Belle Silverman,” Leslie says with a nervous giggle.

“You know who I am and why I’m here,” says Belle.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” says Leslie. “But I guess we’d better go into my office so we can have a private chat.”

She leads Belle and Gavin into her office. As they enter, Belle sees the other saleswoman look quickly over her shoulder then make a hasty exit through another door.

“I have a search warrant with me,” says Belle, “to search these premises for some missing property.”

“Oh,” says Leslie, again with a nervous giggle. “What are you looking for? Maybe I can help. But I’m sure I can’t possibly have anything belonging to somebody else.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if we looked around?” asks Belle.

Leslie moves hastily to her cluttered desk, attempting to block Belle’s way. “It’s – it’s- not that I don’t want to be helpful, but I don’t like to have my stuff looked through. I – I – I think I’d like to see that search warrant.”

Belle thrusts a document into Leslie’s hands. “There. Now, please step aside.”

Leslie stares at the papers but does not move.

Gavin moves around them and approaches the desk. As he is fingering items on the desk, Leslie watches him. Out of the corner of her eyes, Belle sees the other saleswoman reenter and go towards a cabinet in the corner. She turns her head and watches as the other woman is fluttering around the cabinet without taking anything. Impulsively, Belle walks to the cabinet and opens it. Seeing her briefcase, she removes it while Leslie and the saleswoman look on, horrified.

“Found it,” Belle says. “Thank you.”

As she walks out, both Leslie and the saleswoman run towards her. “Wait-” they cry.

Belle turns around. “Be careful what you say,” she tells them. “Anything you do say will be taken down by me, in front of a witness, and will be used against you in a court of law.”

Stunned, Leslie and the woman stand there with their mouths open. Gavin and Belle walk out of the shop.

Outside, Gavin bursts out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” asks Belle, smiling.

“The look on those ladies’ faces was priceless,” he answers.

“Leslie is a girl but the other one’s obviously a man,” says Belle.

Gavin suddenly stops and looks at her. “How did you know?”

“Come on, you’re not going to tell me you were fooled by the get-up? It was the same man who tried to assist us yesterday. If his looks didn’t give him away, his falsetto did.”

Gavin blushes and Belle relents. Smiling, she says, “Don’t worry. Claire was fooled, too. And I’m sure many others were, as well. I’m a designer and artist, so I’ve learned to study faces and bone structure.”

Gavin clears his throat. “Will you come back to the cafe and discuss this with us?”

“Actually, I need to go home and plan my next step.”

“Don’t you want to discuss strategies with us?”

“I work alone.”

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Filed under: All That Glitters