Previously: Six days before the body of a woman is discovered in the home of the Winters Family, Dr. Melissa Mustard arrived in Los Angeles and confided in Dr. Richard Dove that a mysterious woman had called her and told her that in order to find her missing child she needed to find the child’s father, Ryder Turchese. Ryder, in the meantime, was also back in Los Angeles and met with a surprised Michael Mustard. Ginger, the prostitute came back to Kevin Kale’s apartment and made herself at home, even taking a bath in Kevin’s tub. Kevin waited for Ginger in the living room, but was unaware that “Blanket” Onceblack was outside the apartment building. “Blanket” had received a call from his assistant Jeffery and learned that Kevin intercepted the documents that implicated “Blanket’s” involvement in the attempt on Vivienne Scarlet’s life, and was on his way to confront Kevin. When Ginger got out of the bathtub, she found Kevin’s living room in shambles and drops of blood leading out the door, and Kevin was nowhere to be found. The Private Investigator that Jason Winters had hired to follow his wife, Amanda hit pay dirt when he photographed Amanda and Randy Dove kissing the hallway of Randy’s apartment building. Meanwhile, Randy’s father Richard Dove, concocted a plan to end Amanda’s blackmailing and told a stunned Reynard Winters that in order to end Randy and Taylor’s incestuous relationship that Taylor would have to be shipped off to Blackport to live with her uncle.

“Reach Out and Touch Someone”

FRIDAY, 7:33 PM PST

In the library of Winterswind, the fire in a stone fireplace has almost burnt completely out. On an area rug in front of the fireplace is the lifeless body of woman. Clutched in her hand is a small plastic bag that contains a fine white powder. On the floor next to the body are a metal fire poker and a white Phantom of the Opera-style half-mask...

FLASHBACK: FIVE DAYS AGO, 5:40 AM PST

Driving down Hollywood Boulevard in Kevin Kale's car, Ginger sees several police cars parked outside an electronics store. Parking the car, Ginger quickly gets out and hurries into a rundown building. Once inside, Ginger comes to a stairwell and has to step over a man who has passed out on the stairs. Arriving at a door, Ginger bends down and picks up a doormat. On the dirty floor is a key. Ginger grabs the key and replaces the doormat. She puts the key in the doorknob and unlocks the door. Opening the door, Ginger quickly enters the small apartment and closes the door behind her. “Sage?” Ginger calls out. “Are you here?” She gets no answer. Crossing the living area to another door she is about to knock when the door opens and Sage exits, quickly closing the door to the bedroom behind her.

“Ginger? It’s almost six a.m. Where the hell have you been?” Sage whispers.

“You won’t believe it when I tell you.” Ginger says.

“Shhh.” Sage says, pulling her away from the door of the bedroom. “Come on.” Sage whispers. She pulls Ginger to a small kitchen area. “Are you alright?” Sage whispers.

“Why are you whispering?” Ginger asks. Sage gives her a wide-eyed look. “You brought one back here?” Ginger asks. “I can’t believe you. I thought we made a deal. What happened to the “hotels only rule”?” Ginger goes to the refrigerator, frustrated.

“It was a last minute thing.” Sage says. “Besides, you weren’t here, so I thought it would be ok.”

“Well it’s not ok. This is our home, Sage!” Ginger shouts, slamming the refrigerator door.

“Hey.” Sage says. “What’s going on, what happened last night?” She joins Ginger by the refrigerator.

“Before or after some creep almost raped me in an alley?” Ginger asks.

“What?” Sage says. “Oh my god, Ginger. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, luckily Kevin rescued me.” Ginger says.

“Kevin?” Sage asks. “You don’t mean that guy that was looking for that missing girl?”

“Yeah.” Ginger says. “You were right about him being an actor.”

“I knew he looked familiar.” Sage says. “So what happened?”

“Well, after Kevin pulled this perv off of me, he realized that the electronics store down the street had a security camera pointed at the street.” Ginger says, walking over to a window.

“Ok?” Sage says.

“So we figured out that the camera must have recorded that girl almost getting hit by a car. So he called the cops and told them they needed to get to the store and get the tape from the camera.” She says, pulling back the curtain. She sees that two police officers are outside the store waiting for the store owner to arrive.

“That would explain why all those cops are down there.” Sage says.

“Right.” Ginger says. “If the tape shows the license plate number of that car that the girl got into, the police can contact the driver of the car and maybe find the missing girl.”

“I bet Kevin was very grateful.” Sage says, sarcastically.

“He was.” Ginger says, letting go of the curtain. “But now he’s missing.”

“What?” Sage asks. “What happened?”

“Kevin took me back to his apartment…” Ginger says.

“Oh really?” Sage asks.

“It wasn’t like that, he’s gay for Christ’s sake.” Ginger says.

“Even better.” Sage laughs.

“Will you just shut up?” Ginger spits. “I am really worried something bad happened to him. When I got out of the bathtub, I found his living room torn apart and there was blood on the floor.”

“Didn’t you hear anything while you were in the…did you say bathtub?” Sage asks.

“Yes. I mean no, I mean yes, I was in the bathtub, but no, I didn’t hear anything because I had earphones in my ears listening to music.” Ginger explains.

“Well maybe he had to work or something.” Sage says.

“I guess, but it still doesn’t explain why there was blood leading out to the hallway and why his living room was destroyed. I think someone ambushed him.” Ginger says. “I should call the cops.”

“Why would anyone want to ambush him?” Sage asks. “You should make sure he’s not at work before you go and do something irrational. Besides, how will you explain to the cops why you were at his apartment and in his bathtub in the first place? Do you know where he works?”

“He mentioned he was working on a movie, so a studio, I would guess.” Ginger says.

“Well that narrows it down.” Sage says. “There are only about three thousand movie studios in a ten mile radius.” Ginger reaches down to the elastic band of her torn stocking and removing Kevin’s cellular phone.

“You stole his phone?” Sage says, hurrying across the room.

“I figured it might come in handy, especially if someone calls.” Ginger says, sliding open the phone. She goes to the contact menu and scrolls the list of name. “Studio, here we go.” She presses the call button. After a few rings, a recorded message answers.

“Thank you for calling Onceblack Studios.” The message says. Ginger hangs up.

“Onceblack Studios.” She says to Sage. “Where is that?” Sage hurries to a table and grabs a telephone directory.

“S.” Sage says.

“I would try ‘F’.” Ginger says.

“F?” Sage asks.

“Film Production.” Ginger says, rolling her eyes.

“Right. ‘F’.” Sage flips through the pages. “Here it is. Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.” Sage says.

“Let’s go.” Ginger says.

“Go?” Sage says. “I didn’t work last night to waste my money on bus fare.”

“We aren’t taking the bus.” Ginger says. “I have Kevin’s car.”

“You stole his car too?” Sage asks.

“Are you coming or not?” Ginger asks.

“Yeah, let me change.” Sage says. She hurries to the bedroom door. “Shoot.”

“What?” Ginger asks.

“I forgot that what’s-his-name is still asleep.” Sage says.

“Well wake him up and get him out of here.” Ginger says. Sage just stares at her. “Hurry up!” Sage quickly opens the door and enters the bedroom.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Peacock-Canary paces around her hotel room. She looks over at a clock on the nightstand. “It’s almost nine on the east coast.” She says to herself. Flipping open her cell phone, Elizabeth places a call.

In Blackport, New Hampshire, John Boddy is in the Lobby of the Black Towers Hotel when his cell phone rings.

“Hello.” John answers.

“John, it is Elizabeth.” Elizabeth says.

“Elizabeth?” John says. “How are you?”

“Not good, I’m afraid.” She says.

“What’s going on?” John asks.

“John, I don’t know how to tell you this, but it’s Vivienne. She’s missing.” Elizabeth tells him.

“Missing?” John asks.

“Yes, she left her hospital room and has disappeared into thin air. No one has seen her. "Blanket" and I have been searching for her.” Elizabeth says.

“What about the police?” John asks.

“So far they haven’t been able to turn up anything.” Elizabeth says. “I am almost at my wit’s end.”

“Try to stay calm, Elizabeth.” John says. “What can I do to help?”

Downstairs in the hotel’s restaurant, Michael Mustard is sitting at a table drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. “Mind if I join you?” A voice asks. Michael immediately recognizes the voice as belonging to Ryder Turchese. Mustard puts the newspaper down.

“I thought I told you last night that it is not a good idea for us to be seen together.” Mustard says.

“Indeed you did, mate.” Ryder says taking a seat at the table, much to Mustard’s frustration. “But we have unfinished business.”

“Look, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, Ryder, but I don’t have any money to give you.” Mustard says.

“And as I told you, I don’t believe you.” Ryder says, grabbing a biscuit from a plate. “When Olive, Catherine and I agreed to help you in this scheme of yours, you promised us a cut of the profits once you sold the child. All I want is our fair share, then I will be happy to leave you be.”

“Our fair share?” Mustard chuckles.

“What’s funny about that?” Ryder asks.

“What kind of fool do you take me for? Catherine Grey is locked up in prison and Justin Olive in dead.” Mustard says.

“Mere technicalities, Colonel.” Ryder smiles.

“Mere facts, dear Ryder.” Mustard counters.

“Well, here is a fact for you, Colonel Mustard.” Ryder says. “If you don’t give me what is owed to me, I will go to your lovely niece and tell her you are the one who hired us to kidnap the baby.”

“You wouldn’t.” Mustard says. Ryder stands up from the table.

“Three days, Mustard. You have three days and if I don’t get the money, Melissa will find out the truth.” Ryder says.

“Empty threats don’t scare me, Ryder.” Mustard huffs. “Have you forgotten I fought in wars while you were still in your short trousers?”

“That was along time ago, old man.” Ryder says. “Three days.” He leaves the table. Mustard’s eyes squint.

“Melissa will never learn the truth.” Mustard says to himself. He takes out his cell phone.

Across town in Richard and Randy Dove's apartment, Melissa Mustard is awoken by the ringing of her cell phone. Groggy, she sits up. “Six-thirty.” She says when she sees the time. She reaches over and grabs her phone from the night stand. “Hello.” She says.

“Melissa, darling. It’s Uncle Michael.” Mustard says cheerfully. Melissa sits up in the bed.

“Uncle Michael?” Melissa says.

“I know it’s been a while, but I was just thinking about you and wanted to make sure you were alright.” He tells her.

“I am fine, Uncle Michael.” She says. “Where are you calling from?”

“I am back in London.” He lies. “How are things in Blackport? Any news on the baby?” He asks.

“No. And actually, I am not in Blackport.” Melissa says.

“Oh? Really?” Mustard says, surprised.

“No, I am in L.A.” Melissa says. Mustard almost drops the phone. “Uncle, are you there?”

“Yes, yes.” He stutters. “I am here. Los Angeles, you say. Is everything alright with your father?”

“Yes, dad is fine, as far as I know.” Melissa says.

“Forgive me, but why on earth would you leave New Hampshire and go back to California when your child is still missing?” He asks.

“It’s complicated, Uncle Michael.” Melissa says.

“How so?” He asks.

“The police in Blackport have basically given up the search for my child, and to be honest, so had I. But then out of nowhere I get a call from this woman, who says she knows who was behind my baby’s kidnapping and that I needed to find Ryder.” Melissa says.

“Ryder?” Mustard says. “I am afraid I don’t understand.”

“Well, Ryder, Catherine and Justin were working for someone when they took my baby.” Melissa says. “So the woman told me that Ryder was here in L.A. and that if I want to find out who was behind the kidnapping that I would need to find him.”

“But Ryder is very dangerous, my dear. He nearly killed that Peacock girl, thinking she was you.” Mustard says.

“I can handle Ryder, Uncle Michael.” Melissa says.

At Winterswind, the home of the Winters’ family, Jason and Amanda Winters are awaken by a knock on their bedroom door. “It’s barley seven.” Amanda grumbles. Jason gets out of bed and goes to answer the door. He checks on his son who is sleeping in a crib next to the bed. Jason smiles when he sees the child is still sound asleep. He crosses the room to the door and opens it. “Mom?” He says when he sees Kendal at the door.

“I know it’s early, but you have a phone call.” She says. “They say it’s important.”

“It’s ok, mom.” Jason says. “I will be right down.” He closes the door and grabs a robe from the foot of the bed.

“Is everything alright?” Amanda asks.

“Yeah, go back to sleep.” Jason says slipping on the robe.

Downstairs, Kendal has just returned to the phone and picks up the receiver. “Sir, Jason will be right with you.” She says. She puts the receiver down and goes into the kitchen as Jason comes down the stairs.

“This is Jason Winters.” Jason says as he picks up the phone.

“I have some pictures I think you might want to see.” The private investigator Jason had hired to follow Amanda tells him.

“What are you doing calling me at this number?” Jason says, lowering his voice. “I told you to only call me on my personal line.”

“I tried, but you didn’t answer.” The P.I. says. “Do you want the pictures or not?”

“Yes.” Jason says.

“I will drop them off in an hour.” He says.

“Here?” Jason says.

“You got a better idea?” The P.I. says.

“Let me think.” Jason says. “Do you know the Brentwood Country Club?”

“Off of San Vicente and Wilshire?” The P.I. asks. “Yeah I know it.”

“I will be playing golf with my father there this afternoon.” Jason says. “Three o’clock.”

“Alright, but that’s a bit of a jog for me.” The P.I. says.

“Yeah, I know, but I can’t risk having you come here.” Jason says.

“You realize I’ll have to charge extra for the trip out there.” The P.I. says.

“Yeah, I got it.” Jason says. Kendal comes out of the kitchen. “See you at three then?”

“Yep.” The P.I. says. Jason hangs up.

“Is everything alright, son?” Kendal asks.

“It was just business, mom.” Jason says, kissing his mother on the cheek. “I’m sorry if the call woke you up.”

“It’s alright. I was already awake. Just lying there actually, listening to your father snoring.” She smiles.

“Having trouble sleeping?” Jason asks.

“I just have a lot of things going on...you know with the christening at the end of the week and all.” Kendal says.

“Right. I really appreciate you doing this for us.” Jason says. “And so does Amanda, even if she doesn’t show it.”

“I know you do dear.” Kendal says. “Can I get you some coffee?”

“Sure.” Jason smiles. They go into the kitchen. And as soon as they are out of the hall, Taylor reveals herself at the top of the stairs and the fact that she was listening in on Jason’s conversation with the private investigator.

TO BE CONTINUED…