Previously: After murdering Albert Canary, Sandra Sumac was arrested and sent to Mountain View Penitentiary, the same prison where Mrs. Misty Arugula was incarcerated for murdering several people at Tudor Manor a few years before. At the Pine Cone Inn, a devastated Alphonse Brunette tried to cope with the fact that the Lavender Lynx Diamond had been stolen from him and Mindy Mint tried to make him feel better. When Brunette confessed that he was out of funds, Mindy told him that she would try and convince her father to let her have access to her trust fund. Later, Mindy told Brunette that it was not up to her father to let her have the money, that in fact it was Mindy’s mother, Misty Arugula, who held the final decision.

“Ten Minutes”

As a crisp wind blows over her face, Heather Grey looks up at an ominous stone building. Climbing a set of stairs, she can see a door at the top. Taking a deep breath, Heather opens the door, clutching her purse close to her body. Once inside the building, Heather sees a sign on the wall that reads “Information” and a woman sitting behind a glass wall. Heather apprehensively approaches the woman. Offering a nervous smile, Heather greets the woman behind the glass.

“Hello.” Heather says.

“May I help you?” The woman says gruffly.

“I am here to visit my aunt. Catherine Grey.” Heather says.

“Sign in.” The woman says, motioning to a clipboard. Heather picks up a pen and signs her name on the next available line on the sign-in sheet. She reads the name above her is that of Jessica Sumac . A loud buzz startles Heather as the woman unlocks a nearby door. “The door on your right.” The woman says. Heather smiles and walks over to the door and opens it. She enters the door and sees a long, cold corridor spread out before her. A man in a uniform comes out of another door and walks over to her.

“You will have to check your coat and bag.” The man says.

“Oh.” Heather says.

“This way.” The man says. Heather nervously follows the man down the corridor. At the end of the corridor is a door marked “No unauthorized visitors allowed beyond this point.” “She will check your things.” The man says, motioning to a small room off of the corridor. Heather turns and sees an elderly woman sitting in a small chair. Heather takes off her coat and hands it and her purse to the woman. The uniformed man opens the door at the end of the corridor and motions for Heather to enter. Heather slowly walks to the door and looks in. In a large room, bright fluorescent lights flicker as two other men in uniforms stand next to a long table. The uniformed man escorts Heather over to the table. “Place any belongings you have in this.” He says, holding out a small metal bowl. Heather reaches into her pocket and removes her cell phone. She places it in the bowl. “Any metal on you anywhere?” He asks. Heather shakes her head. The man nods to another man and he approaches Heather with a metal detector wand. The man begins waving the wand around Heather. Then the other man offers her the bowl. “This way.” He says. Heather takes her phone from the bowl and follows the man to another door. He opens it and Heather sees a waiting area, where several other people are sitting. Heather breathes a sigh of relief at seeing the people. “Have a seat and we will call you.” The man says. Heather goes over to a chair and sits down. A moment passes and another uniformed man enters the waiting room, escorting Mindy Mint and Alphonse Brunette in.

“Have a seat, and we will call you.” The man says.

“Thank you.” Mindy says. They go and take seats across the room from Heather. A door opens and a woman comes out. “Grey.” The woman says. Heather stands up.

“Yes.” She says. The woman holds open the door and lets Heather enter.

“When the prisoner comes out, you will have ten minutes.” The woman says.

“Yes, thank you.” Heather says.

“Have a seat.” The woman says. She shows Heather over to a table that is divided into two sections. Between the two sections is a pane of glass. Telephone receivers hang on the wall on each side of the glass. Heather takes a seat. Three chairs down from her, Jessica Sumac sits talking with her mother, Sandra Sumac.

“I think you have a good chance of winning, Jessie.” Mrs. Sumac says.

“I don’t know about that.” Jessie says. “There are a lot of girls competing. Kirby Canary is sure to win.”

“Kirby Canary is in the Miss Blackport Contest?” Mrs. Sumac asks. “She isn’t even from this town.”

“They changed some of the rules this year, mom.” Jessie says.

A metal door opens and a uniformed man escorts Dr. Catherine Grey in. “Ten minutes.” The man says. Catherine nods and takes a seat across from Heather on the other side of the glass partition.

“Aunt Catherine.” Heather says as she picks up the phone.

“Heather, what are you doing here?” Dr. Grey asks.

“I was about to ask you the same thing. When I got back to town from Cancun, father told me you had been arrested for kidnapping.” Heather says. “What the hell is going on?”

“It’s a mistake, Heather.” Dr. Grey says. “I didn’t kidnap anyone.”

“Well then why are you here in Mountain View Penitentiary?” Heather asks.

“I’ve got a good legal team, Heather, don’t worry.” Grey says.

“A good legal team? Aunt Catherine what is happening?” Heather says.

“You shouldn’t worry about it, especially in your condition.” Dr. Grey says. “Your father told me that you are going to be a mother. I can’t believe I am going to be a great-aunt.”

“I am fine, Aunt Catherine, but please won’t you tell me why people think you are involved in a kidnapping? Who do they think you kidnapped?” Heather asks.

“Heather, please, it’s complicated.” Dr. Grey says.

“Complicated.” Heather says. “That’s the story of my life these days.”

“What do you mean?” Dr. Grey asks. “Heather something’s wrong, isn’t it. You don’t look excited to be pregnant.”

“I am. I mean…” Heather pauses. “I need to tell you something, Aunt Catherine, something that no one else knows, not even mother.”

“Alright.” Dr. Grey says.

“But you have to make me a deal.” Heather says. “You have to promise me that you will explain to me why you are in prison.”

“Oh Heather.” Dr. Grey says. “Alright. I promise. You first.”

“I don’t, well, I am not certain who the father of my child is.” Heather says, lowering her head.

“You mean there is a chance that Peter Plum isn’t the baby’s father?” Grey asks. “Oh Heather, what did you do?”

“I had sex with Peter’s younger brother the same night I had sex with Peter.” Heather says, ashamed.

“I see why you can’t tell your mother.” Grey says. “What do you plan to do?”

“I don’t know. I am so confused,” Heather says lowering her voice, “if Peter ever found out that I slept with Patrick he would never forgive me.”

“I am so sorry Heather.” Dr. Grey says.

“Five minutes.” A guard says.

“Now, tell me why people think you kidnapped someone, Aunt Catherine.” Heather says. A door opens and Mindy Mint and Alphonse Brunette enter. They walk past Heather and take seats a few chairs away from her.

“You will have ten minutes to talk to the prisoner.” A guard tells them.

“It will be so strange asking my mother for my trust fund.” Mindy whispers to Brunette. “I haven’t seen her in years.”

“I am sure she will be happy to see you, Mindy.” He says, patting her shoulder. The metal door opens and Mrs. Misty Arugula is escorted out. She takes a seat across from Mindy and Brunette. Mindy picks up the phone.

“Hi, mom.” Mindy says.

“Mindy?” Mrs. Arugula says, stunned. “My god, you have grown!” She begins to cry.

“Don’t cry mom.” Mindy says.

“You are so beautiful.” Arugula says, wiping her tears.

“I am sorry I haven’t been to see you.” Mindy says. “Dad said it was probably best if I waited.”

“It figures your father would say that.” Arugula says. “He always hated our relationship.”

“Mom, I only have a few minutes to talk to you. This is Mr. Cherry. He’s a lawyer.” Mindy says.

“Ok.” Arugula says.

“Mrs. Arugula.” Brunette says in a Southern accent. “I am Donald Cherry and I work with Copper, Merigold and Moss. We have some papers we need you to sign.”

“Papers? What sort of papers?” Arugula asks.

“Mom, I need the money in my trust fund.” Mindy says.

“You have to be kidding me!” Arugula shouts. “I haven’t heard from you in years and you come here now, not to visit me, but to get me to sign some paper allowing you to have the money in your trust fund?”

“Mom, I know how this looks…” Mindy says.

“Well, I will tell you this, Mindy, there is no money left in your trust fund. I spent it all on my defense lawyers.” Arugula says.

“What?” Brunette says.

“That was my money!” Mindy shouts.

“And I had to have a way to pay the lawyers.” Arugula says.

“A lot of good that did you!” Mindy shouts.

“Mrs. Arugula, are you sure you exhausted all of the funds in Mindy’s trust?” Brunette says.

“Yes, Mr. Cherry, every last cent.” Arugula says.

“I can’t believe you!” Mindy says. “I can’t believe you would do something like that to me!” She hangs up the phone.

“Mindy don’t leave.” Arugula says.

“I can’t hear you, you bitch!” Mindy stands up and goes to the door.

“Mr. Cherry, you have to understand that the lawyer’s fees were astronomical. I had no choice.” She says.

“Yes, Mrs. Arugula, I think I understand.” Brunette says. “But I also want you to know what you did, using the money in Mindy’s trust fund, was very illegal.”

“I had no choice.” Mrs. Arugula says. Brunette hangs up the phone.

A few chairs down, Heather continues talking to Dr. Grey. “And where is Ryder Turchese now?” She asks.

“I have no idea.” Dr. Grey says. “In hell I hope.”

“This is unbelievable, Aunt Catherine.” Heather says. “Mrs. Ivory and her son will not rest until you are punished for what you did, you know that.”

“I never meant to hurt those people, or Rachel Peacock. It was Ryder’s idea. Justin and I were just…” Grey says.

“Looking out for yourselves.” Heather says. “And look where it got you. Justin Olive is dead, Melissa Mustard's child is missing, Rachel Peacock is living in fear I am sure. And you are in here.”

“And Ryder is out there somewhere.” Dr. Grey says.

“Times up.” A guard says to them.

“I have to go.” Heather says. “I will visit you again.”

“Heather, please take care of yourself and the baby.” Dr. Grey says.

“I will.” Heather hangs up the phone. Dr. Grey watches as she is escorted out.

“Let’s go, doctor.” A guard says coming up behind Dr. Grey.

Out in the waiting room, Mindy sits crying. Jessie Sumac is escorted out and sees Mindy. She goes over to her. “Are you alright?” Jessie asks. Mindy looks up at her.

“What do you think?” She says, wiping her nose. “Not only is my mother a murderer, but she’s a liar and a thief!”

“Your mom’s in here, too?” Jessie says, taking a seat next to Mindy.

“Yeah, she killed some people a couple years ago.” Mindy says. “And she stole my money to pay for her damn lawyers. Now I am broke.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jessie says. “If it makes you feel any better, my mom killed someone and is locked up in here too.”

“Really?” Mindy asks.

“Yep, I was just visiting with her. I come a couple times a month.” Jessie says.

“I hadn’t seen mine in years, and now I hope I never see her again.” Mindy says.

“I know how you feel. But my mom likes it when I come and tell her about what’s going on in my life.” Jessie says. “I was just telling her about the Miss Blackport Contest that I am in tomorrow.”

“A beauty pageant?” Mindy asks as Alphonse Brunette joins them. “You can’t be serious?”

“Yeah, they have it once a year. It’s pretty lame, but if you win, you get ten thousand dollars.” Jessie says.

“Did you say ten thousand dollars? Just for being pretty?” Mindy asks. She looks up at Brunette.

“Well, they try to say it’s more than a beauty thing, but basically.” Jessie shrugs. “It is tomorrow at the Black Towers Hotel. You should come and watch.” Jessie gets up and leaves them alone.

“Watch hell.” Brunette says. “You are going to be in that contest, and you are going to win that ten grand.”

In the prison dining hall, Misty Arugula sits at a table picking at the food on her tray. Sandra Sumac walks over to the table and puts her tray down. “Is this seat taken?” She jokes. Arugula doesn’t respond. Sumac sits down next to her and opens her can of soda. “You alright? I saw you had a visitor earlier. Was that your daughter?”

“Yeah.” Arugula says. “And she hates me.”

“Oh, I am sure she doesn’t hate you, Misty.” Sumac says. “It’s gotta be really hard on our girls having us as their moms.” Catherine Grey joins them.

“Ladies.” She says, putting her tray down on the table and taking a seat.

“Cate, Misty thinks her daughter hates her.” Sumac says.

“Oh, was that your daughter, Misty? She’s lovely.” Grey says.

“Yes, she is.” Arugula sighs.

“And who was that who you were talking to earlier?” Sumac asks Grey.

“That was my niece, Heather.” Grey says. “She’s pregnant.”

“Congratulations.” Arugula says with no feeling.

“Thanks.” Grey says taking a bite of chicken. “This is disgusting, it’s worse than the food that they serve the patients at the hospital.” She pushes her tray away.

“I know. But it won’t be much longer and we won’t have to eat this slop.” Sumac says.

“Keep your voice down, will ya?” Arugula says.

“How are things progressing with the warden?” Dr. Grey asks.

“Well, if by progress you mean have I slept with him, then the answer is yes.” Arugula says.

“If word gets out that you are screwing the warden and that we are planning on breaking out of here, all hell is going to break loose.” Sumac says.

“And if you don’t keep your voice down, I’m gonna break you.” Arugula says. “Did you forget it’s your fault that the good doctor here is in on the plan?”

“You need me, don’t you forget that.” Grey says.

“How can we? You remind us every chance you get.” Arugula says.

TO BE CONTINUED…