Kathy closed her car door, her hands shaking as she activated her car alarm. She prayed she would not run into Mr. Crane before she had a chance to tell the guards to leave.

"I hope I'm not too late," Kathy fretted, running a hand through her hair as she started walking towards the front of the mansion. "Mr. Crane will have my head on a platter if I'm not able to warn them before he returns."

A large hand suddenly clamped over her mouth, muffling the involuntary scream that escaped.

TC held her immobile, his voice low and menacing in her ear.

"Let's go for a little walk,"he growled. "I want to know what the hell is going on here."

In the limousine, Julian smiled at Whitney, his hazel eyes twinkling. His daughter was every bit as lovely as her mother, and his heart nearly burst with pride that he had helped to create her.

"Father, why are you smiling that way?" Whitney raised an eyebrow at him.

He realized that he had been staring at her, and he flushed, flashing her an embarassed grin.

"I apologize, my dear, I was just thinking how much you favor your mother." Julian reached over and took Eve's hand in his own. "And how grateful I am to have a chance to know you better." Kissing Eve's palm, he leaned closer to her and purred, "Of course, I would love to make new discoveries about you, my luscious Eve."

"Julian!" Eve tried to be indignant, but her smile betrayed her. "Please learn to behave yourself!" She swatted his hand away, then looked at Whitney apologetically.

For her part, Whitney saw how relaxed her mother was. In all the years that Eve had been with TC, it was as if her mother was almost tiptoeing around him. They had been affectionate, true--but the change in Eve, around Julian, was as clear as crystal. She truly did love him.

"It's all right, Mom," Whitney assured her mother. "I guess I am just not used to you being with anyone except for Daddy." Seeing Eve's downcast look, she hastened to add, "But I can see just how much you and Father love each other. "

"Whitney, I love your mother with all my heart and soul," Julian informed her. "I feel more blessed than you will ever know that she has decided to give our love a new chance. And knowing that I have such a beautiful daughter--"he smiled tenderly at her--"is the proverbial icing on the cake. I am more happy right now than I ever thought possible."

"Julian, you're making her blush," Eve gently chided.

"I didn't mean to, my love. I simply wanted her to know how much the both of you mean to me." Julian grinned at Whitney. "So much so, that I want to start by giving Whitney a shopping spree she'll never forget."

"Father, there is nothing that I really need," Whitney protested.

"Shopping sprees aren't intended for things that you need, my dear, they concern things that you really want. Please let me do this for you, Whitney." Julian was sincere in his offer to Whitney, but he also wanted to try again to contact Kathy. With Eve trusting him so completely right now, it wouldn't do for her to see the very same guards she had forbade him to hire. If he could get the women to go shopping, they wouldn't notice him slipping away to make a call.

"Whitney, this would mean so much to Julian --your father--if you would say yes, " Eve gently urged. She remembered well the numerous shopping excursions she had had herself with him--lovely outfits, furs, and diamonds had been the order of the day. Of course, that was when she was also deeply involved with alcohol and drugs, so much so that she had sold off the gifts he had bought her to support her habit.

She mentally shook herself--those days were long past, and the Julian that had introduced her to that wild lifestyle, sat next to her, a new man. He had grown into someone she could once again say that she loved....and more than that, trusted with all of her heart.

"I'd love to," Whitney finally agreed, causing Julian to lean over and hug her in delight, and relief.

"Thank you, my dear--the stores are yours for the asking!" he declared, while hoping he would be able to get in touch with his assistant. Eve couldn't know that he had lied to her...he simply could not allow that to happen.

Kathy moved for the pepper spray that was in her purse, but TC grabbed her arm and held it fast.

"Oh no, missy, you're not going to be grabbing something to mace me with. Nice try, though," he snarled, as he dragged her behind his rental car. Kathy's eyes widened with increased panic, and she bit down hard on his hand that still covered her mouth. causing him to release her with a cry of pain.

"Ouch! That hurt you stupid --aargh!" Kathy had managed to knee him in his privates as he had backed away from her. While he was bent over, cursing a blue streak, she made a mad dash for her car, praying that she would reach it in time before the monster who attacked her caught up with her. As she was jamming the key into the lock, TC grabbed her from behind and spun her around to face him.Bef

"You'll regret what you did back there," he threatened in a low voice. "I didn't hurt you before...now I'll have to rethink my options." As Kathy opened her mouth to scream for help, he again clamped his hand over her mouth.

"I think we need to go somewhere and talk...your car or mine?" TC laughed nastily as he grabbed the keys out of her hand and opened her car door. "After you, little hostage." He pushed her into the car, then climbed in after her. "Now you wouldn't be at Casa Crane if you didn't have something to do with him--so you'd better start telling me what you know about Julian Crane and my wife!"

Kathy was frightened, but she had also had had quite enough of this TC person, whoever he was. She was not going to give him him any information if she could help it!

He has to be talking about Dr. Johnson, she thought to herself. I didn't know she was married--I wonder if Mr. Crane knows!

"Answer me!"

"I don't know what you are talking about!"

"Oh, I think you do--so just make it easier on yourself, and tell me where Crane and my wife are right now! I know she's with him, so don't even try lying your way out of it!"

"I don't even talk with Mr. Crane, much less know who he's with right now, so leave me alone and get off of the property before the--"

"Before the what? No one saw me grab you, so once again, nice try. " TC smiled at her, but his eyes were as cold as ebony ice. "Maybe I'll just look in your purse, and see if you don't don't have any information about Julian Crane!" TC snatched her purse from the floor of the car, and retrieved her wallet and cell phone.

"Leave my things ALONE!" Kathy screamed at him, as she struggled to get her phone back. This man was insane!

TC easily held her at arms's length, as he read her driver's license.

"Kathy Lyons," he read aloud. "Not Katherine?" he laughed.

"None of your damned business!" she spat at him.

"Suit yourself," TC shrugged, turning his attention to her cell phone. As he began punching in her address book, Kathy slid her hand in her pocket to grab a hold of her pepper spray.

"If I can get him right in the eyes, I can grab my keys and make a break for the mansion. Then I can call the police to let them know there's a maniac on the Crane estate!" She gasped when TC turned her phone around to face her. Displayed was: JULIAN CRANE CELL . She let go of the pepper spray in her shock and dismay.

"Looks like I just hit the jackpot, Kathy," he smirked. "What do you say, we give him a call to come rescue you?"
 

Ivy Crane was as mad as a hornet. TC Russell had not called her back, and she felt she was losing control of the situation. What in the name of God was he doing?

"That stupid fool--he'd better not foul this up for me!" Ivy began angrily dialing TC's cell phone.