New York State of Mind

Monday, January 4, 1988 - Late

New York City, NY

'Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighbourhood,
Hop a flight to Miami Beach, or to Hollywood,
But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Hudson River line.
I'm in a New York state of mind.

I've seen all the movie stars in their fancy cars and their limousines.
Been high in the Rockies, under the evergreens.
I know what I'm needin', and I don't want to waste more time.
I'm in a New York state of mind.'

In a dilapidated New York hotel room, Richard Addison was slumped on a single bed – head in hands. With a world weary face, he stared at the telephone; a time-bomb stealing seconds of his life with each tick. He looked nervous; shifty.

The room was stuck inside 'a 1970s time-warp': garish swirls on aging wallpaper at odds with stripy, stained carpet; both fought furiously with psychedelic bed linen. It was enough to send anyone over the edge. It was all Richie could afford.

Fretful, he gave his watch a cursory glance; his anxiety rising. He bit his lower lip and raked both hands through his hair. A determined bead of sweat channelled its way down his forehead. Rich was in trouble again.

When the phone came to life, it was with a shrill, cheap ring that penetrated the skull; Richie stared at it for the longest time. The sound intensified and became unbearable, forcing him to respond – if only to silence it. The receiver slipped in his hand which was slick from nervous sweat. He fumbled with it like a fool.

'H-hello?' his voice was brimming with fear, 'Richard Addison speaking.'

'Well, hello, Richard Addison,' the voice was overly confident and therefore mocking.

'C-can I help you?'

A repellent rumble of laughter erupted from the receiver, and Richie flinched.

'Don't you mean the other way around?' the voice asked, enjoying its own strain of sarcasm. 'I believe it is you who needs my help, our help. Am I wrong?'

'No,' Richie stuttered, 'not at all. Just tell me what I have to do.'

'Again, Richard,' the voice sounded impatient, 'I don't appreciate your use of imperatives. Instead, I suggest that you listen carefully to what I have to say. Now I believe that you owe a substantial amount of money to a significant money-lender of the Italian variety?'

'That's right,' Richie's voice was shaky as he confirmed facts.

'Goooood,' the voice elongated the vowel. 'Well then, I am definitely your saviour. I am of the understanding that you are unable to meet the demands of the payment and interest this month- is this correct, Mr Addison?'

'Y-yes,' Richard's reply was reticent, 'you are.'

The voice sighed and disappeared into silence. 'I'm your white knight, Richard – I hope that you comprehend the implications of this...' More silence.

'Yes.' Richard's head filled with the image of a severed horse's head on the pillow next to him.

'Good, then let's proceed. I can unburden your load... for a price. This price consists of an exchange of kindness, tit for tat, tooth for a tooth, eye for an eye...'

'Name your price,' Richie sounded desperate, 'name it.'

'Not so fast,' the voice whispered. 'Patience, my friend. I need to know that you're listening attentively and taking in every word I say, because I'm only going to make this offer once. Are you listening, Mr. Richard Addison?'

'I am,' Richie couldn't release the words. He could feel that sweat collecting in the nape of his neck and pulled on his collar in order to breathe.

'Good. This is my proposal: I'll buy you one extra month if you do a business transaction for me. You'll sell some contraband ammunition at a Little Italy soiree that's going down for close friends of yours: Sandra and Peppe Donadio. In three days, you will receive an invitation with a plus one guest. You will RSVP that you will attend, and we will supply your date. You get your best tux on, party like you mean it, and the buyer will make himself known to you. You will conduct the transaction in secret- collect the cold cash and pass it to your date; she will suddenly come down with a headache and have to leave: a simple, illegal, and essential plan. Are you game?'

'I'm game,' Richard echoed, but his voice lacked conviction.

'Then consider yourself saved, for one month.' The voice was demanding, 'I will contact you with the next stage of the arrangement, so don't become unavailable. Stay at the hotel.'

'Yes, I will,' Richard's voice was flat, biddable.

---

Tuesday, January 5 - Morning

Los Angeles, CA - Blue Moon Investigations

Maddie Hayes, scowl in place, was methodically slitting envelopes open to reveal bill after bill after bill. Every time they got ahead, they ended up paying it all out for the agency to run day-to-day. Boy, did they need a good case to top up the cash flow. January was always a slow month. People were relatively calm after the rush of Christmas and weren't inclined to commit felonies - the decorations and most crime rates were on their way down.

However, one particular envelope ground her methodical system to a halt... She paused and read the contents:

Dear David Addison plus Guest,
I am celebrating my 41st Birthday
At: Osteria da Peppe (Little Italy, New York City)
On: Saturday, 9th January
Dress code: Formal
Please come along and help me celebrate with...
Italian food, Italian dancing, Italian Chic...
I intend to gather all my long-lost friends together in one room.
That's all I want for my birthday!
Please help to make it happen and RSVP: YES!

Sandra Donadio

'Sandra,' Maddie sighed. 'Great - another ghost from New York.'

Images from her last bite of the Big Apple flooded back: facing David's ex-wife, the funeral, holding back the full truth from him. She had felt closer to David after that trip but, as usual, Blue Moon business became a screen to hide behind. The truth was an exhibition best left unveiled.

She stared with intent at the invitation. It would be wrong to accidentally lose it in the trash, and besides, Sandra might call him. The timing was unfortunate. David had been doing more traveling than usual lately, and could he cope with facing New York, in particular, again so soon after Jimmy's funeral?

There was a sudden, short knock at her door that was immediately followed by David barging through in his usual presumptuous style; she jumped and dropped the invitation.

'Every time,' she muttered under her breath.

'Ha,' he blurted. 'You can't accuse me of not knocking! And I know you're always pleased to see me, so why waste time waiting for a response?'

Maddie looked flummoxed as she searched for where the invitation had landed.

'What's the matter? You looking for your answer?' He looked around in mock empathy.

Hurriedly, Maddie scooped up the invite and casually shoved it in with the unpaid bills. 'It's just another bill; nothing interesting,' she spoke too quickly.

'Tell that to all the guys named William out there. You just kicked their self-esteem down at least a couple notches.'

'Was there a reason that you came in here?' Maddie interjected quickly, attempting to put him off the scent- but she should have known better.

'Hold the phone, Madolyn. Yes, there was a reason, but it can wait,' he stated, piercing her with a look of interrogation. 'That was no bill. It was more like an Andrew, or most probably a David...'

Maddie hesitated, knowing that he could read her like a book. She had two options left: attempt to continue the charade or tell him the truth. She looked at his wide-open eyes, arched eyebrows, and folded arms; the decision was made for her.

'Okay, okay,' Maddie sighed. 'You must have some kind of radar!'

'Nah. It's just the highly sophisticated, highly tuned, highly priced security camera system I had installed in your office, so I can watch your every move, Blondie!' His eyes twinkled.

Maddie looked around and shook her head. 'It's an invitation to a birthday party from one of your friends in New York.' She held it out to him and stopped talking, in order to guage his reaction.

David took it and read. 'Sandra? Oh wow, Sandra... It's been awhile!'

'Sandra?' Maddie asked; a book of questions etched onto her face.

David took a moment and then realised what this look implied. 'Don't worry. Sandra's not an ex-wife, ex-girlfriend or ex-anything else! She's a friend from my past, married to a crazy Italian dude called Peppe who runs the restaurant they're holding the party in. We still stay in touch. She's great, she gets me, she's... um, deep – someone you'd like if you met her!'

Maddie relaxed, relieved at his answer. 'Great.' She was about to ask whether she would have been at Jimmy's funeral but thought better of it.

'Yeah, it is pretty great.' He sat on the front of Maddie's desk. 'What should I do?' He looked at her for inspiration.

'You're asking me?' Maddie smiled at him, noticing how lost he looked. He was obviously thinking about Jimmy, Tess...

'Yeah,' he confirmed. 'It's only been a month since Jimmy's funeral.'

'It has,' Maddie replied. 'You say she's a close friend?'

'The closest.'

'Then I doubt Jimmy would want the party to be cancelled on his account.' She hoped that this was what he wanted to hear.

'You're right!' He banged his fist down on the desk, making her jump.

'I am?' She was genuinely pleased and relieved.

'Don't get too excited, lady. Your being right, while impressive, is unlikely to happen again at least until next season,' he jibed before nodding his head thoughtfully, 'Jimmy definitely would have been there - so in honour of the big guy himself, I need attend.' He scrutinised the invite.

'Will, er...' Maddie wanted to ask if David's ex-wife would be attending, but she feared it would give away too many intimate feelings, so her voice trailed off into a thin line.

'No, she won't,' David read her mind anyway. 'She was his sister, not really a part of this group of friends.'

'Good,' Maddie replied, feeling awkward. 'At least you won't have to worry about facing her again. You should definitely go- have some fun, get away for a weekend; we'll still be here when you get back...'

David lowered the invite and grinned at her, instantly disarming her. 'Not so fast, lady!' He placed the invite into her hand, their skin meeting and the resulting electricity surprising them both for a fraction of a second. 'It says right here: plus friend. We being good friends and all, I think that refers to you'

'Me?' With all of their recent talk about being good friends, Maddie wasn't quite sure how to read David's tone. Still, it touched her to hear him refer to her as one, and she had to admit, if only to herself, that being able to join him in New York on his invitation warmed her heart.

He looked around as if searching for someone else in the room. 'What's the matter? You already had enough of the Big Apple for one season?' he chastised with mock indifference. 'Due to certain complications: Numero Uno being the main obstacle, you didn't get to meet any of my other friends last time we were in the neighbourhood. Soooooo... it might be kinda nice to show you off under a better light.'

A moment of fear flashed through Maddie's mind- what if they recognised her from the visitation? Still... she saw David's pleading face and thought better of it. He probably could do with some support having to face New York so soon after that last experience. 'Better light? Watch it, buster. One day they'll start giving you the diffused side of the lens!'

'Diffused side?' David pretended not to know what this meant – turning directly to the camera, he shifted his eyes around the shot as if looking for something.

'Quit whilst you're ahead, David. Is this your version of buttering me up?'

'Believe me, you'd know if I was buttering you up,' David smirked and gave her the once over.

'Well, I do have my hair to wash, nails to paint... but how could I refuse such an invitation? A whole weekend of your bawdy innuendos and lewd sexual comments? I can't wait to pack!' Maddie rolled her eyes.

'Is that a yes?' he asked, a nervous twinge clinging to the edges of his words.

'Yes, it's a yes,' Maddie declared, 'God help me.'

'Great!' his eyes lit up for a moment... before he remembered that he should never look delighted around Maddie Hayes.

'Great,' Maddie echoed. 'Now why did you come in here, anyway?'

'I forgot,' David laughed. 'Excuse me while I go retrace my golden bread-crumbs!' He paused at the door and almost whispered, 'Thanks, partner.'

'No problem, partner. Someone's gotta save you from ending up on the barroom floor; it may as well be me.' She looked at him as if from a high platform, but there was genuine warmth in her eyes.

Later that day...

New York City

'Because you had to be a big shot, didn't cha?
You had to open up your mouth.
You had to be a big shot, didn't cha?
All your friends were so knocked out.

You had to have the last word last night.
You know what everything's.
You had to have a white hot spotlight.
You had to be a big shot last night.'

Richard Addison perched on the edge of the bed clutching an invitation from his childhood friend, Sandra Donadio. He paused for a moment, as if having an inner battle, before dialing her number with shaking hands.

'Hi, Sandra? It's me, Richie. Richie Addison!' he sounded almost too enthusiastic. 'I'm great, thanks... you? Yeah, it's been too long... Of course, I'm gonna be there- just try to stop me... good times... huh? You invited Dave? He replied yet? He is? They are? Yup, it'll certainly be an experience... Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing you, too. Bye for now... Yeah, bye.' He hung up and punched the pillow hard; a look of self-loathing dominating his face.

---

Friday, January 8

Los Angeles - Late morning

Agnes Dipesto, excited, clutched the airline tickets to her chest as if they were for her rather than her bosses. To Agnes, hell- to the entire staff at Blue Moon- these represented another chance for Miss Hayes and Mr. Addison to see the light, fall head over heels in love, and to scratch that darn-near three-year itch. In fact, the whole office had a sweepstakes going on over will they or won't they. Bert had $50 on at least a peck on the lips; Jamie $30 on a drunken declaration of their feelings- but that they'd deny it in the morning; Simmons was feeling lucky and had bet $100 on a full-on, dance-floor smooch; and MacGilicuddy was plain ol', devil-may-care and bet $150 on the itch getting scratched (his own marriage was not going well, and he had to get his kicks vicariously).

Agnes proudly held the tickets aloft for all to see, and cheers were heard from every office orifice. For all within a line of sight, these tickets were hope; for David and Maddie, they were just plain, old airline tickets to New York. David would be looking forward to seeing the old gang, and Maddie would make sure he didn't have too much fun. Of course, this was just her way of looking out for him as a good friend should, right?

The Wobblies held their breath in office-unison as Agnes buzzed Ms. Hayes with the news. They knew how it was; their hopes could be dashed by a late Friday afternoon tiff, a door slam, or one of David's famous foot-in-mouth moments. All had been quiet, calm, relaxed... but still, they may have misinterpreted this quietude when they should have realised that it was a dead calm.

'Ms. Hayes? Just wanted to let you know the tickets have arrived in time. Would you like me to bring them in, or leave them at the desk?' Agnes had to use her will-power reserves not to allow the big cheesy grin, threatening to spread across her face, to emerge. She must sound business-like, calm, in control.

'Bring them in please, Agnes,' Maddie's reply was equally short and business like.

The employees nervously looked around at each other; O'Neill even gave a faltering thumbs-up. This was a defining moment; Agnes gave them the nod.

Agnes, with confidence in her step, strode over to Maddie's office door. She held the precious tickets and the latest case files for Maddie's inspection. She took a deep breath, clutched her beads like they were a rosary, and knocked the door.

The employees watched her disappear into the office – faces full of expectation and hope... and when the door closed, they returned to their mundane office rituals. The air was full of possibility.

'Ms. Hayes,' Agnes spoke as she handed the tickets to her. 'And these are the Gunderson papers. Do you want me to file them, or put them on the burner?'

Taking the tickets without thought, Maddie placed them on top of her handbag. As for the Gunderson papers, she contemplated as she stared at the files. That particular case hadn't exactly gone as planned so far, and there was no way to know at this point how long it might continue. 'Burner, I guess. It looks like Mr. Gunderson is gonna keep us warm this month. We're going to be busy with a capital B: he's really turning up the heat.'

'Burner until next week,' Agnes nodded. 'That's it then, Ms Hayes – everything from this week is taken care of, filed, listed, boxed... You name it, it's done, done, and done again. All corners have been folded, all creases ironed, and all files obsessively ordered.'

'Thank you, Agnes,' Maddie smiled with appreciation. 'You know how I hate to leave Blue Moon if everything's not ship-shape.'

'I know,' Agnes agreed a little too quickly. 'We aim to please.'

'Well,' Maddie began as she looked at the clock, 'you haven't left much for me to do.'

'Just doing my job, Ms. Hayes,' Agnes replied and then relaxed enough to add, 'so... looking forward to the trip?'

'Looking forward?' Maddie looked unsure, and Agnes worried that she should not have asked. 'I'm not sure if that quite matches my thoughts. Apprehensive? Ambivalent? Scared for my mental well-being?'

'I think it's pretty nice of you to be going...you know, after last time...' Agnes said quickly, her brown eyes wide as she scrabbled to steer the conversation onto the correct runway.

'Do you think I shouldn't?' Maddie blurted, sounding like she wanted Agnes to affirm so she could throw her ticket away and be done with it. 'I'm actually going to a party with David Addison; of my own free will- I must be insane. What am I doing?'

'Helping out a friend in need?' Agnes jumped in with the question, furiously intent on a safe take-off.

'I guess you're right, Agnes, as usual,' Maddie sat back in her chair. 'I wonder what his friends are like.'

'I wonder, too...' Agnes was relieved to see the seat-belt signs were now off – but of course, it's always up to the flyer whether they unbuckle or not.

'I can't seem to erase the image I have of a room full of David's girls – hanging on every word he says,' she laughed in a well-natured manner, 'I think he was the top cat around his old bar scene- know what I mean?'

Agnes giggled at the thought. 'Whilst the top cat's away...'

'You're right... things will have changed - a lot.'

Late evening

New York City - David and Maddie's hotel

'Even though I'm in love,
Sometimes I get so afraid
I'll say something so wrong,
Just to have something to say.

I know the moment isn't right
To tell the girl a comical line.
To keep the conversation light,
I guess I'm just frightened out of my mind.

But if that's how I feel,
Then it's the best feeling I've ever known.
It's undeniably real.
Leave a tender moment alone.

Yes, I know I'm in love,
But just when I ought to relax,
I put my foot in my mouth,
Cause I'm just avoiding the facts...'

Knocking tentatively on Maddie's door, David tucked his shirt in and composed himself. He couldn't believe she had agreed to come to New York with him again; it felt like he had been given the second chance he had prayed for. Let's face it, he'd blown it the last time. He could not keep both of these women in his head space at once: his ex-wife and Maddie- these two were not meant to co-exist. He could not deal with being in the same room as Tess- period. The memories, the feelings; they had all but consumed him. The fact that Maddie had turned up, out of the blue, to be there for him had meant everything. So, what did he do to show his appreciation? He abandoned her, and she didn't hate him for it.

'David?' Maddie opened her door; she looked tired from the flight but also restless like she had gone past the sleep phase.

'Maddie...' his voice came out broken from fatigue. 'I don't know about you, but I'm still wired... even tried making fists with my toes on the plane, but no go. Wanna night cap in the bar? Don't worry; I checked: it's ludicrously tasteful, subdued, live jazz in the corner...'

'Yes, good idea,' Maddie replied.

'Yes?' he swallowed, 'okaaaay...guess I'll just wait out here until you're ready then.' He was momentarily taken aback.

'Oh, I'm good,' Maddie smiled. 'I feel the same; I couldn't sleep if someone knocked me out with a poison chalice. A bed time drink might help.'

David, dubious at this sudden change in her usual behaviour, held out his arm, and she took it, leaning into him with fatigue. He was happy to support her. He led her to where he had found the bar that would meet Maddie's fastidious standards.

Maddie was suitably impressed: the bar sported a panoramic view of New York from the dizzying heights of the thirtieth floor. They both looked out at the breathtaking sight, appreciating the skyline: the sun was setting, creating an orange glow around the Statue of Liberty. The lights that illuminated the surrounding skyscrapers, far from being oppressive, somehow felt magical. New York City never failed to impress, and the mood was infectious.

'Not bad, Addison,' Maddie smiled. 'I'm impressed.'

David, despite his fatigue, couldn't help but smile himself. 'Well, of course, it was all planned...'

Maddie laughed, 'Of course, Mr. Spontaneity.'

'Drink?' David mimed, holding a wine glass.

'Sure, I'll have a white wine spritzer. Thank you David,' Maddie replied as she found a seat with a view. She settled herself into the comforting folds of the leather sofa, leaned back, and let the day drain out through her body. Losing herself in the music, she felt her eyes grow heavy as she thought about the weekend ahead. This was not so bad. David had been on his best behaviour, and she felt relaxed. Of course, all of that could change- being out with David was like walking a tight rope: a drop either side.

Staring at the view, she blushed- hot. A transitory memory fluttered across her conscience taking her by surprise: a tight blue dress, dancing with David, burning steps, bodies locked, a fervent kiss. Why couldn't she get the lyrics to Billy Joel's 'Big Man on Mulberry Street' out of her head...?

'Maddie?' David placed the drink on the table in front of her. 'You too tired, partner?'

'Sorry,' Maddie apologised with flushed cheeks, embarrassed that she had drifted off in public. She picked up the drink and sipped it in a desperate attempt to regain full awareness. 'Jet-lag I guess.'

'To...' David raised his glass, 'to... you, for accompanying me on this trip as my plus one.' He let his glass clink against hers.

'So far, so good,' Maddie agreed. 'Although, you know me. I always keep one eye open to check for missiles with my name etched on their sides.'

'Ever the optimist,' David sighed as he took in the view. 'Not too shabby, huh?'

'Not too shabby, u-huh,' Maddie agreed. 'There's something about New York that's just so exciting. Maybe it's because the place never sleeps, it makes you think maybe you shouldn't either, in case you might miss something!'

David chuckled, stifling a yawn. 'Although if we stayed up for the whole weekend, they might end up casting us in the next zombie flick- it's not a good look.'

Maddie smiled, echoing his yawn. 'So, tell me, what are the plans for tomorrow?' She took another sip and gave him her full attention.

'Plans- you know me – I chucked all my plans out of the plane window somewhere over Chicago. Right now, somebody is reading them and wondering how we're going to fit all of that fun into one earthly weekend!'

'Why does that fill me with dread?' Maddie complained. 'Didn't you say your brother Richard is in town? Surely, we'll at least meet up with him at some point? After all, we haven't seen him since your father's wedding.'

'Actually, that is the one plan that managed to cling to the fuselage. We're having lunch with Rich and his new girlfriend, Leyna, tomorrow. Sandra said she might also stop by for a quick drink and to say 'hi' if she has time before the party.' He took a deep drink from his beer.

'Has Sandra met Richie?' Maddie inquired.

'Yeah, but she might still show up to say 'hi', anyway,' David chuckled to himself. 'He's actually invited to her birthday party, too. Sandra grew up in Philly just a couple houses down from us. She was in the same grade as Rich before she came out here for college and met her hubby. They did pretty well for themselves almost right away and helped Tess and me find a place when we hopped on the N.Y.C. bandwagon a couple years later.'

'That was nice of them,' Maddie said simply, not wanting to take that particularly unexpected topic any further than David felt was appropriate.

Perhaps a bit surprised that he'd brought it up himself, David promptly cleared his throat and shifted gears. 'So, about lunch tomorrow, Ms. Hayes... I've lined up reservations at quite the fancy restaurant, so please be sure to dress accordingly. In fact..." he considered for a moment, raising Maddie's curiosity. 'I wonder if they'll even let Rich into such a classy establishment. Maybe we'll trade him in at the cloakroom for a ticket stub; collect him when we're done.' He chuckled.

'Poor Richard,' Maddie sympathised. 'He's not that bad.'

'No, and he's not that good,' David corrected. 'You wait and see... Leyna will probably be some girl in a short skirt that he picked up in a cocktail bar, and he'll be up to his neck in his next bad life decision.'

'Let's give him the benefit of the doubt,' Maddie suggested. 'He is your brother.'

'Don't say it too loud!' David looked around him in dramatic embarrassment, 'Even if you bought me and got him free- people would still try to return him- asking for compensation, rather than a refund.'

Maddie's eyes lost focus for a moment and she yawned again. 'David, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to call it a night.'

'Well then, let's get you to bed, Blondie. Wanna borrow an arm? I'll accompany you back to your room.' He stood and offered his arm out to her.

'What? No crude remarks? No flirtatious moves? No attempts to wheedle your way into my room?' Maddie sounded surprised as she stood up, taking his proffered arm.

'I'm hurt and offended,' David rejoined, 'I'm all gentleman this weekend... well not all gentle...'

'Stop whilst the night is perfect,' Maddie smiled.

They made their way, arm in arm, to the elevator that would carry them to their respective hotel rooms. David, always the gentleman, held the elevator door open as Maddie stepped in. She was thankful to be heading towards the prospect of sleep. Too busy looking for her floor level; she missed the look he bestowed upon her, the one that exposed just how much he cared for her. By the time she turned to face him, he'd cleverly disguised it with tiredness.

Later still...

Falling exhaustedly into bed, Maddie thought about the weekend to come. Doubts and anxieties raced around her mind on a collision course with worst-case scenarios. What if there were old friends of David's who had spotted her at Jimmy's funeral? What if Tess came up in conversation (she didn't want David to fall into that mood again and abandon her at Sandra's party)? What if...?

Maddie's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at her door.

'Yes?' she called out wearily.

'Maddie,' it was David's voice. He sounded like she felt.

'David?' Maddie asked, surprised. 'Come in.'

The door opened and David, dressed in black sweat pants and crumpled t-shirt, entered the room. It was evident that he had been worrying about something, as his hair was sticking up like the branches of a tree in high wind.

He walked in, hands crossed high up on his body, bare feet pacing the ground where he stood. 'Sorry to keep you from sleeping,' he mumbled, head down. 'It's just that, I've got a small problem drilling into the side of my skull to the point where I think what's left of my brain may fall out.'

'David, what's wrong now?' Maddie yawned.

David looked over at her, lying in the bed in the half light. Her face, where the light fell across it, shone an iridescent blue. She looked so beautiful to him, and that somehow made what he had to say all the more difficult.

'David?'

'Maddie,' he swallowed. 'Look, there's something I gotta tell you; something I should have told you before now, but the time never felt right, and now we're here... again...'

'What?' Maddie's tone showed her worry about what he was about to reveal. She shifted restlessly in the bed.

He walked further into the room and chose to sit on the end of her bed. Better to sit when he, at last, exposed the truth to her. 'Um,' he chuckled nervously and couldn't look at her, 'Maddie, don't be mad at me, but the last time we were here... Well, I may have told you a few little white lies. Actually it was one great big white lie.' He coughed and pulled his knees into his chest. 'Tomorrow night, you're gonna meet a lot of my friends from the village, and no matter how I colour in the picture, it keeps coming back to the fact that those old friends will, despite what I said, remember Tess.'

Maddie sighed. She had been worried about this; maybe she'd been right after all, it was too soon after Jimmy's funeral. She looked at him silently, an invitation for him to continue.

'Sooo,' he drew the sound out to buy him some time, 'and some of 'em may have better memories than others.' He drew in his breath and held his head in his hands. 'Oh, God. Why is this so hard to say?'

Instinctively, Maddie felt the need to sit up in bed and comfort him, maybe hold his hand, put an arm around him... but she was terrified of where that might lead, so she sat tight, not saying a word.

'Maddie,' he tried again. 'You remember how I told you about the night I walked in on Tess with someone else?' His face betrayed the pain felt beneath it.

Maddie nodded, her eyes full of understanding- even in the darkness.

'Well, what I told you was only partly true,' his face went red.

Maddie could see beads of perspiration form on his forehead. He was having difficulty re-living this memory. It was what she had wanted to avoid. The fact that she already knew what he was trying to confess made her feel worse.

'The part where I came home and found her with someone else... that was true, but I kind of left out one bit of pertinent information.' He rubbed a nervous hand through his hair, making him look achingly vulnerable. 'I um, I left the part out where I should have confided in you that the person I found her with was another woman; not a man.' He breathed out long and hard, as if he had just released a memory that had been holding him back for years. 'I just thought you ought to know... in case it came up tomorrow.'

Maddie could see that it had taken every ounce of David's soul to disclose the truth to her... to anyone. He looked drained, lost, and exhausted. Despite her previous misgivings, she reached out a hand to touch his. 'It means a lot that you would tell me about such a painful experience, David,' she soothed him. Only now, it made her own white lie almost inexcusable- and even worse if someone came up to her tomorrow and claimed to have seen her with Tess at Jimmy's wake. It was now or never.

'David?' she was still holding his hand. 'I also have a little white lie to confess.'

David looked up at her anxious eyes. His own were on the edge of tears, so he rubbed them quickly with his free hand to keep them at bay. 'What? You? A white lie? That's like saying the pope occasionally partakes in the wearing of lacy black underwear. Well, not quite, but you know what I mean.'

'David,' Maddie sighed. 'The last time we were here, and you went off to Jimmy's funeral? Well, for most of the day, I just stayed in the hotel room waiting for you to come back. I was so worried about you; I knew something wasn't right. Well, it got late... way past the time you said you'd be back... so I decided that I'd go and look for you... make sure that you were okay... So, I turned up at the address for the wake...'

'You did?' David sounded instantly worried.

'I did. David, I know that you never went. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I guess I didn't want you to know how much I'd been worrying about you... and when I realised you weren't there, I just went back to the hotel.' Maddie deliberately left out the part where she had spoken to Tess. She would at least give David his earlier confession. She did not need to tell him that she already knew.

David looked at her hand in his and felt its warmth radiating against his skin. He raised it and touched it to his lips in the softest kiss. 'Well, if you forgive me, then I forgive you, partner.' He smiled that sideways grin that thawed her heart a little more each time she saw it. 'Look at us, a pair of white liars – two in one pack, huh? I'm not upset with you. You're not upset with me... We should pause the scene and file it away in the 'impossible moments category.'

'Or we could call it a night and get some sleep,' Maddie almost whispered as she held his gaze, unable to move as she felt its intensity.

'That is an option,' David breathed, his heart racing to the point where he thought it might betray him.

'No, David. It's the only option. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and besides, I need my beauty sleep.' She intentionally changed the mood because it had been scaring her; she had almost done something she would regret in the morning.

David paused, smiled a genuine smile, and leaned in towards her. He gently placed a butterfly kiss on her forehead. 'You're a pretty special friend, partner.'

---

Saturday, January 9 - 12:30 PM

New York City - Restaurant Aurora

'Uptown girl,
She's been living in her uptown world.
I bet she's never had a backstreet guy.
I bet her momma never told her why
I'm gonna try...

...for an uptown girl.
She's been living in her white bread world 
As long as anyone with hot blood can,
And now she's looking for a downtown man.
That's what I am...'

Restaurant Aurora was Maddie Hayes. To paraphrase David: the restaurant matched her wardrobe. He knew that she'd wear it like a second skin, so he had passed up the chance to eat diner-style cheese steaks (his favourite) in favour of showing his appreciation for her company. He was also trying to make up for last time.

'David, this place is so...' Maddie gushed.

'You?' David finished. 'Yeah. Thought you'd like it. It has a high price tag, but don't worry. I hocked my soul when I booked the trip.'

'And you made enough to settle the check?' Maddie joked sarcastically.

'I'll have you know that my soul is in heavy demand... It's fed only by the greats: Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Bruce...'

'Looks like Richie is already here,' Maddie observed, tugging on David's sleeve and pointing in the direction of their table. 'You were right... short skirt, cocktail...'

'And what about Leyna?' he jested, adding: 'You sound surprised.' His tone dropped instantly from light to serious. 'Come on. Let's do this thing.'

They approached the table, and Richard immediately stood up to greet them. He looked tense, fretful. He hugged David too hard and kissed Maddie's hand too many times. He almost forgot to introduce Leyna.

'Great to see you, bro,' Richard enthused as he pounded him on the back, leaving David breathless.

'Hey, steady on there, bro,' David wheezed. 'I'm attached to these lungs.'

'Maddie, you're looking stunning as always,' Richard grinned with wide eyes.

'Thank you, Richard,' Maddie replied politely. 'And this is?'

'Oh sorry, yeah... This is my girlfriend, Leyna,' he said in a throw-away tone.

'Hi,' Leyna held out a hand, the nails painted dark red. She was frosty, aloof.

Leyna was tall, slim, and sultry. Dark hair was cut into a severe bob, sharpening her cheek bones. Lips were the same shade as her nails. She smelled of the night: smoke and heavy perfume. Her eyes were cold, jaded, lacking in compassion. In other words, David could see that Rich had literally pulled this one off the cold streets.

David shook her hand and found it to be as unresponsive as she was. 'David.'

Rushing around the table to Maddie's side, Richard clumsily pulled out a chair for her. She exchanged a passing look of concern with David and accepted the seat, shaking out the white linen serviette to place on her lap as she did so.

Leyna, David noticed, had already taken a seat- a seat that Richie had not pulled out for her. She did not reach for her serviette; instead, she played with her Martini cocktail – stirring the cherry around and around, looking diinterested in her surroundings. She reached for a cigarette. 'Does anyone mind?'

Not wanting to cause any trouble, Maddie and David shook their heads.

'So, Rich... how long have you known... Leyna?' David asked as the waiter approached with tasteful looking menus.

'A few months,' Richie replied vaguely. 'I guess time flies when you're flying together!' He laughed nervously in Leyna's direction, but she avoided this contact, leaving him floundering in open water.

David coughed uncomfortably, noticing distance between the two. He noted that Leyna had not looked up when they were discussing her; she only moved when she had to accept the menu and listen to the daily specials. Even when he and Maddie had their worst arguments of the century, there was never a cold chasm like the palpable one between Richie and Leyna.

'How did you meet?' Maddie tried.

'Oh, just a bar,' Richie replied with no details.

'Figures,' David muttered under his breath.

'Shall we order?' Maddie suggested, relieving the tension that was steadily building.

'I knew there was a reason why I invited you along,' David quipped as he opened his menu. 'Maddie,' he whispered from behind it, 'I think he might have kidnapped her from the coma ward at the hospital!'

Maddie glared at him from behind her own menu and shot him a warning to behave. One eye scoured the luncheon choices, whilst the other observed the behaviour and distinct lack of body language between the new couple. Something did not fit. Despite the lack of clothing, she was clearly not Richie's type. Richie could be charming, funny; amiable... Leyna was none of the above.

'So...' Richie ventured to start up a conversation.

'So...' David repeated.

'So, what job are you doing now?' Maddie rescued the situation.

'Oh, this and that,' Rich replied, '...bit of bar tending whilst I'm trying to sell my latest invention. It's a tough market out here!'

'I dare not ask...' David winced.

'Then don't, bro,' Richie snapped. 'It's boring, anyway... nothing new. What about you? How's the business back in LALA land?'

With impeccable timing, Sandra Donadio came bursting into the restaurant, curly hair bobbing, arms full of shopping boxes and bags. A waiter pointed out their table, and she made a bee-line for them, a wide smile illuminating her face. She was petite, dark, and sexy- full of life.

'The Addison boys!' she yelled aloud, her German accent evident.

'Sandra!' Both Addison boys leapt to their feet to smother their old friend in hugs.

'It's so good to see you both- my boys!' she enthused, looking them up and down. 'You both still look the same- gorgeous!'

'Just don't mention the hair,' David warned in good humour. He turned to Maddie to introduce her to his special friend. 'Sandra, this is my good friend, Maddie Hayes.'

'Aw, Maddie. I've heard a lot about you,' Sandra smiled with a wink, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

'Pleased to meet you,' Maddie smiled back. Sandra's energy was contagious. 'David created the impression that you were Italian.'

'Well, I'm half Italian,' she explained, 'half German! Half mother, half lawyer- you know how it is,' she laughed a deep throaty chuckle. 'The wise ass-cracking hub of mine is all Italian... You'll meet him tonight. He's busy cooking up a feast over at the restaurant.'

'I can't wait to meet him.' Maddie sounded approving of the Donadio family; she could see why David was friends with this amiable woman.

'Don't eat too much for lunch,' she warned. 'Save room for tonight! Dave, we haven't forgotten you don't like seafood- so there's plenty of everything! God, I'm just so ecstatic that you all made it!'

'Me too, me too,' David chuckled. 'Whole gang gonna be there?'

'You bet!' Sandra cried, holding her shopping bags out. 'Rosie's flying in with Paul all the way from Philly. Oh, and they're travelling with Kim and her husband. Then there's Iryna, Sara, Diane, Wim, Nancy, Francine... too many to mention! Dave's girls are back in town.'

Maddie rolled her eyes, remembering her and Agnes' conversation from earlier- Top Cat indeed!

'Can't stop I'm afraid, got so much to do!' Sandra sighed. She cast a fleeting glance at Rich, immediately sensing that all was not well with him. He was too quiet.

'See you tonight Sandra,' David kissed her on the cheek again. 'Now the invite says formal. Did I read that right?'

'You bet you did!' Sandra gushed, turning to Maddie. 'Nothing like these guys in a hot tux, huh?'

Maddie blushed. 'Indeed,' she concurred, evidently coy about this confession.

5:00 PM

Richard's hotel room

'When I'm deep inside of me,
Don't be too concerned.
I won't ask for nothin' while I'm gone.
But when I want sincerity,
Tell me where else can I turn,
Because you're the one I depend upon.

Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you...'

Three people crowded into Richie's hovel; it was not a friendly meeting. One man paced, one sat forlornly on the bed, and the woman leaned against the bathroom door, biting red nails.

'Now you have it straight, Mr Addison?' the man, who referred to himself as Mr H., demanded.

'Straight,' Richie confirmed morosely.

'Leyna?' Mr. H clicked his fingers to attract her attention.

'Yes,' she responded curtly, lighting up another cigarette. 'I got it.'

'The weapons are in the briefcase.' Mr. H motioned towards a shiny black case on the bed. 'I don't care how you explain it. You're carrying your latest invention, you got karaoke, any kind of crap... just get it into the goddamn party. You got that?'

'Got it,' Richie uttered as he shifted uncomfortably. 'Nobody will get hurt, will they?'

'What? You going soft on me now, Richie boy?' Mr. H complained, looking down at the diminished figure of Richie. 'You should have thought of that before you borrowed money from the wrong guy! You know, you're lucky your friend is having her party at that particular venue – it's our client's favourite place to eat- I hear they do an amazing Tagliarini al Tartufo Bianco.' He offered a blank smile that did not reach his eyes.

'My family, my friends...' Richie begged.

'Then get it right!' Mr. H shouted, making an already jittery Richie jump.

Meanwhile...

Maddie and David's hotel

'She's got a way about her.
I don't know what it is,
But I know that I can't live without her
She's got a way of pleasin'.
I don't know why it is,
But there doesn't have to be a reason anywhere.

She's got a smile that heals me.
I don't know what it is,
But I have to laugh when she reveals me.
She's got a way of talkin'.
I don't know why it is,
But it lifts me up when we are walkin' anywhere.

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down.
Inspires me without a sound.
She touches me, and I get turned around.

She's got a way of showin'
How I make her feel,
And I find the strength to keep on goin'
She's got a light around her,
And everywhere she goes, a million
Dreams of love surround her everywhere.

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me, I get turned around... '

David Addison was putting on the finishing touches to his tuxedo ensemble in preparation for this evening's celebration. He was all too aware that, once again, he was in New York, in a hotel room adjoined that of the woman he had been enamored with for the last two and a half years. Only this time, he wasn't preoccupied by dark memories of the past. This time the past was friendly. That's why he was so darn worried.

'Maddie, Maddie, Maddie,' he muttered to himself as he splashed on some cologne. 'Of all the women in the world, why do I have to be hung up on you? You're the one woman who brings out the best and worst in me. Trouble is, the worst part of me seems to have the bigger shoes, and boy am I good at sticking both in my mouth at once! Let's face it Dave-a-roo, you've spent two and a half years showing her what a trophy-deserving clown you can be. For instance,' his voice grew louder as he chastised himself, 'she flew all the way out here to be with me, support me in my time of need, and what did I do? I left her in the hotel room most of the day whilst I went out and made an even bigger ass out of myself.' He shook his head in disbelief at his own actions.

'She was sitting right there on that bed, Dave, waiting for a response from you. You needed her, and yet you didn't go to her... Of course, I know what I should've done; I should've taken her into my arms right then and there, kissed her, and told her what it meant to me that she was there.' he paused to think. 'Naw... she'd think I was being overly emotional and melodramatic. I can see it now,' he put on a mock Maddie voice, 'What was that, David? What we just did? Let's just put it down to your highly emotive state, David, and agree that it did not happen.' He peered at himself in the glass and shook his head. 'And do you know what the really sad part is, Dave? You are talking, to yourself, in the mirror!'

There was a friendly knock at his door.

'Yeah?' he jumped, caught in his vulnerability.

'It's just me,' Maddie's soft voice called. 'Can I come in?'

'Just spit and slide under,' David yelled back, checking his appearance once more. 'Or, you could revert to the more conventional method of turning the door knob, but I know which I'd prefer.'

'Hey,' she smiled as she entered his room. She was dressed in a figure hugging, classic black sleeveless cocktail dress that finished just above the knee. Black heels completed the ensemble – with an extra flourish in the form of a simple diamond necklace and earrings. The look was understated and yet extremely sexy. Her hair she had teased into soft golden curls that framed and flattered her face. She looked every inch the model tonight.

'Hey, Baby Grande,' David flattered, 'you look amazing!'

'Thanks,' Maddie gushed, always a sucker for a compliment. 'You don't look too bad yourself, fellar.'

'What this ol' thing? Found it at the back of the closet...' he brushed off the flattery.

'David, I've been thinking...' Maddie began.

'Nooooo, don't do that! You'll figure out that you were nuts to fly out here with me again and will want to book the first available flight back to L.A.!' David's mouth gambled onwards, towards his first fall of the evening. 'What was I thinking, David... flying out to spend a raucous weekend with you... I must have lost my mind in the duty free...'

Maddie coughed, hands on hips. 'David, are you finished?'

David looked up apologetically; he may have come off a little harsh. 'Are you? I mean... with this weekend? I bet you're well and truly finished with this weekend...'

'David,' Maddie snapped. 'You sound like you want me to go back to L.A. Do you? Is that what you want? Because you're right. It would be easy for me to call and book a last-minute flight...'

'No, no, no,' David jumped in. 'It's just me practising for the annual clown trophy again. Just pretend I didn't say that. I'll get the writer to edit those lines out. I'm just nervous... It's been a long time since seen a lot of these people.'

Observing his tension, Maddie's face instantly softened. 'Of course. You're forgiven, David. Just try to relax, will you? Everyone will be delighted to see their 'Top Cat'.'

'What if they...' Stopping his sentence cold, he laughed at his own anxiety. 'I'll just flick the off switch for my over-active imagination... although you may beg for me to turn it back on later when we've had a few too many champagnes.'

'In your dreams, Addison,' Maddie reprimanded him before smiling. 'And about that switch... which I had no idea existed... if I remove the batteries, will it stay permanently in the 'off' position?'

'Only one way to find out... but you'd have to find my batteries first.' He smiled his sideways smirk that always made his eyes sparkle.

'David, what did we agree about lewd comments?' Maddie warned.

'There should be more of them?' he chuckled. 'I know, Maddie... remember we're in company,' he laughed to himself as she rolled her eyes. 'You ready to hit the streets of New York, partner?'

Maddie shivered, 'Why do I feel like this is going to be a long night?'

'Because you're with me?' David fluttered his eyelashes and offered her an arm. 'Ms Hayes?'

She folded her arm into his and took a deep breath, as if she were about to dive off a high board into an ocean full of sharks.

7:00 PM

Little Italy - Osteria da Peppe

'Sing us a song, you're the piano man.
Sing us a song tonight.
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody,
And you got us all feeling all right.

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
,And the manager gives me a smile,
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been comin' to see
To forget about life for a while...

And the piano, it sounds like a carnival,
And the microphone smells like a beer,
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, "Man, what are you doin' here?"'

David and Maddie's cab coughed them out on to the cold streets of Little Italy, and they shivered despite thick coats. The temperature of New York in the winter was harsh and bitter – the type of cold that made it through to your bones; for two people used to the climate of L.A, it was a shock. They instinctively huddled together and looked about them.

It may have been a bleak evening, but the front of Osteria da Peppe glowed with welcoming light. Its interior was heaving, full to bursting, with Sandra's friends and family. It stood out amongst the restaurants of Little Italy like a precious gem.

'You ready, partner?' David inquired grinning at her with a suddenly nervous expression.

Maddie took a deep breath and smiled bravely back at him; it melted his heart. He was unable to hide the emotion, but Maddie mistook it for explicit mocking of her apprehension.

'You love this, don't you,' she seethed.

'What, being cold; nervous; keyed up? Or all of the above?' he quipped.

'I have two words for you: behave yourself,' she sighed.

'Maddie,' he chuckled, holding her shoulders so that she would look at him and see that he was being sincere, 'I'm just so thankful you're here. There's no way I could face this crowd without you tonight, not after...'

'I know,' Maddie said in a softer tone.

'These people... Maddie, they're good people. They may not be the kind of people you're used to, but they're golden-hearted, real people.'

'So, my friends aren't real?'

'You have friends?'

'David!' Maddie warned.

'Sorry. You know me: I joke when I'm anxious...' David apologised.

'And yet I still willingly came to this thing.' Maddie took another lungful of cold, icy air- it cleared her head and steadied her own nerves. 'Come on, Scooby Doo.'

'Top Cat,' David corrected with a chuckle- holding his arm out.

'David, we don't want to mislead anyone,' she muttered staring at his arm as if it were made of spikes.

'God forbid,' David's comeback had an edge; but in good humour. He put an arm around her waist instead- laughing good-naturedly at his own practical joke. 'Everybody knows we don't have that kind of relationship, sis!'

Maddie, shaking her head, stepped out of his embrace and pushed him towards the door so that he would enter first; these people were, after all, waiting to see him.

The Party - A dark corner

'There's nothing else I can do,
'Cause I'm doing it all for Leyna.
I don't want anyone new,
'Cause I'm living it all for Leyna.
There's nothing in it for you,
'Cause I'm giving it all to Leyna

We laid on the beach, watching the tide.
She didn't tell me there were rocks
Under the waves right off the shore.
Washed up on the sand, barely alive,
Wishing the undertow would stop.
How can a man take anymore?

Having already arrived at the party, Richie planted himself, complete with shiny black briefcase, in the farthest corner of the room. Leyna sat next to him, stiff as card; she was chewing gum and had created a fine-art out of disinterest. The two of them looked at odds with the flamboyant nature of this warm, generous Italian gathering.

'Richard Addison,' Sandra complained as she rushed by with one of her closest friends, Iryna- a blonde slip of a woman. She stopped in her tracks for a moment, noting the serious-looking briefcase parked on the tabletop. 'What have I told you about mixing business with pleasure?'

Richie's face darkened for a moment, and a look of fear flashed up in his eyes, until he realised what she was implying. 'Oh, this isn't a whole bunch of my inventions that I deliberately brought with me to foist upon your unwilling guests. I promise.'

Sandra laughed. 'Go mingle, Richie!'

'I will. I will... I just need to make sure Leyna is happy.' He was thankful that she had not pursued a line of questioning with regard to the offensive article that lay on the table, waiting.

Frowning, Sandra glared at the unapproachable Leyna, who, in turn, was staring at the door to the restaurant as if wishing to simply will herself out of the place. Shrugging, she smiled at Richie, dragging the girls off to catch up with more long-lost guests.

'Ans I want the Addison boys up on that dance floor later... no excuses!' she yelled over her shoulder at him.

'Oh, you bet! Just try to stop 'The Add-man'!' Richie yelled back, pulling a wide vacuous grin.

'Relax,' Leyna demanded, blowing smoke in his face. 'You'll bring attention to us.'

'Funny, I'm having a hard time relaxing...' he complained, 'with that...' he pointed at the briefcase, '...in the middle of my best friend's restaurant – surrounded by people I care about.'

The Party - David opens up

'This is the time to remember,
'Cause it will not last forever.
These are the days to hold onto,
'Cause we won't, although we'll want to.

This is the time,
But time is gonna change.
You've given me the best of you,
And now I need the rest of you

Did you know that before you came into my life,
Some kind of miracle that I survived?
Some day we will both look back and have to laugh.
We lived through a lifetime and the aftermath'

Casually observing Maddie as she headed towards the restrooms, David's eyes lingered on her shape, her mesmerising curves, and the movement of her hair until she vanished from sight. As the scene was cut dead, his eyes closed. He sighed.

'So, you two are just friends,' Sandra dripped cynicism as she slid into the seat next to him.

'You got it, Curlz,' David confirmed, taking a sip from his beer.

'David, I saw the way you just looked at her,' Sandra put her hand on his.

'Sandra, Sandra, Sandra...' he drew her name out, accentuating the sound of her name, 'you always 'get me', you always did, you always will.'

'Just be careful, fellar,' she warned. 'I like Maddie a lot, but if she messes with my David- there'll be hell to pay!' Her eyes flared with spirit.

'Oh, I'm careful, Sandra,' he laughed, pulling his mouth into his notorious smirk, 'I'm so careful that I carry an extra bullet proof vest, a hard hat, and a safety net with me at all times.'

Sandra smiled and hugged him to her. 'Oh, David. You shouldn't need all of that.'

'You don't know Maddie Hayes! She eats mortal jokers like me as if we were bar snacks.' He sat back in his chair, a defensive, impenetrable stare visiting his face.

'Hey hey hey,' she chastised, 'she's a lucky lady to have the interest of David Addison at all- I remember when half of the girls here tonight wanted a piece of your ass. They probably still do!'

'You always did have a way with words,' David joked. 'Tell me how it really is, Sandra.'

'You know me, I'll always give you honesty,' Sandra's tone became more serious, and she pulled her brown curls away from her face as if to emphasise what she was about to say. 'Listen, friend. You need to tell her how you feel.'

'No way,' David rebuked. 'She thinks I'm a jerk.'

'Why?' Sandra widened her brown eyes in disbelief.

'Oh, let me give you a list!' David sighed, rolling his eyes and folding his arms. His closed body language gave him away.

'So, why did she come with you to New York?' Sandra hit the bull's eye and knew it.

David looked uncomfortable and sunk down further into his chair. 'Same reason as last time, I guess... to look out for me. I know, I know... that must mean that she cares on some level, but I don't think she's prepared to ride the elevator any further- you get my drift, Curlz?' He took a longer sip from his beer.

'How do you know?' Sandra was not going to give up- she was a terrier with a bone.

'Look at her. She's 'Ms.-in-control', and I'm 'Mr.-let's-see-what- happens'!' David sounded agitated. Sandra was touching a nerve, and he was unwilling to pursue this avenue.

'And opposites attract- I mean just look at me and Peppe!' Sandra gesticulated wildly at her husband, who was holding court with a group of guys.

'Yeah, but that's different. You two love each other.'

'So do you,' Sandra smiled. 'If she doesn't want you, I'll grant myself a divorce and marry you instead. You'll have to watch out for Peppe, though- he has a sharp memory and a resolute belief in justice.'

'I better not rock the boat – nobody would want to get on the wrong side of that crazy Italian chef,' he laughed with good humour.

'Give Maddie the benefit of the doubt, David,' Sandra added quickly as she could see the beautiful, long legged blonde making her way back to their table. 'It's unfair to under-estimate how much she values you.'

Maddie approached the table with a glass of 'summer wine', which one of the waiters had just pushed into her hand. She was smiling and looked as if she were allowing a few strands of hair down tonight.

'Watch it, Maddie,' Sandra warned. 'That's my homemade summer wine you've got there- potent! Brings out a person's spirit, if you know what I mean.' She chuckled and winked at David.

'Thanks for the warning!' Turning towards David, Maddie hastily placed the drink down. 'Did I miss much?'

'Just catching up with the birthday girl,' David explained. 'Hey Sandra, make sure my brother gets some of that summer wine- if anyone needs their spirit coaxed out, it's him. The man hasn't cracked a smile all evening- you think he'd manage one for his good friend.'

'Already on it,' Sandra waved the bottle in the air. 'Sandra to the rescue!'

The Party - Uninvited guests up to no good

Unnoticed, the uninvited guest slipped through the fire-exit at the back entrance to the building. The chefs were too busy getting food out on time; the waiters were too focused on making sure it got to the tables efficiently; and there was no way anybody wanted to let the big boss down tonight. To them, he was just another guest trying to find the restroom and winding up in the kitchen by mistake.

'Tray of anti-pasta for the main table!' the caller yelled as the man in the black suit slipped past unnoticed.

Although Richie did not know the man, he instantly recognised him as the client by his serious expression and morose demeanour. He was no friend of his.

'We're on,' Leyna observed.

'Nobody gets hurt,' Richie repeated again.

'That's up to you,' she snapped.

The uninvited guest helped himself to champagne and anti-pasta, making Richie reel. How dare he come in here and act like he belonged to this decent set of people- he was like a fly whose presence would be tolerated only until someone went nuts and swatted him. He had a feeling that the person would be him.

Richie must have stared too hard as, the next thing he knew; Leyna had kicked him underneath the table. She frowned at him, showing displeasure at this rookie with whom she was forced to partner.

'Idiot,' she seethed, 'you want to make it any more obvious?'

'What does he think he's doing?' Richie complained.

'His job,' she stated without emotion. 'Blending in, acting like he belongs, and avoiding attention.'

Richie stared at the briefcase, wishing that he could be anywhere in the world but here: endangering the lives of family and friends. What he did not notice was that David Addison's detective eyes were focused entirely on him. Richie had underestimated his brother's investigatory skills. David, already guessing something was up; had figured out that Leyna was more than not just Richie's type; his brother never carried a brief case, and the latest guest was not on the list.

The intruder made small talk with a few of the real guests, who figured that he must be a husband of one of Sandra's friends, until he finally made his way to Richie's table. He feigned a big smile and embraced Richie and Leyna as if they'd known each other for years.

David, of course, observed this exchange meticulously: it was the first time he had seen his brother animated all night, but it was not a good animated.

Richie offered the man wine, but he refused and continued to small talk. Richie's face became crimson, his body sweatier, and his gesticulations frenzied. Most people put it down to his drinking: at last, Richie was joining the party.

David recognised abject fear.

After mock small talk met its natural conclusion, the man got up and headed to the rest rooms. Two minutes later, Richie followed with the briefcase.

The Party - David to the rescue

'Maddie,' David grabbed her arm and whispered directly into her ear.

'David?' She pulled her arm away, alarmed by his sudden change of mood.

'Would you do me a favour?'

'What is it?' she whispered back suspiciously.

'Richie's in trouble.'

'Oh, give him a chance, David. He's only been here an hour,' Maddie exclaimed. 'What has he done, stolen the cocktail umbrellas and sold them as inclement weather protection?'

'No,' David looked increasingly frantic as he looked between Maddie and the men's room. 'I don't have time to explain this, Maddie, so can you please trust me on this?'

Maddie read David's serious conduct and changed her own attitude to match. She stared at him with wide eyes. 'You're serious?'

'Bingo, Maddie, and they say you're just the eye-candy.'

She frowned at him. 'What do you want me to do... and who says that?'

'Just never mind and keep talking to the ladies at our table like there's nothing wrong at all. Also, keep one eye on the time... fifteen minutes go by? Come look for me,' David instructed, 'take note of who comes in and out of the men's room too. You got all that Cagney?'

'I got it,' she looked concerned and put a hand on David's arm. 'David?'

'Yeah, yeah, I'll be careful. This is clearly one plotline I need to cut off,' he commented. 'Something's rotten in Peppe's kitchen, and it's not the tomatoes.'

Maddie's face relaxed. 'See, you do care about your brother,' she observed. 'He does care about him,' she repeated for the benefit of both guests at their table: Kim and Rose.

'Yup, turns out I do,' David replied, standing up as he watched Rich disappear into the men's room. 'I'll be right back. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.'

'That hardly limits my options,' Maddie observed to herself as she took another sip of the summer wine, despite her reservations and Sandra's earlier warning. She needed something to steady her nerves.

'Now, where were we?' cried Rose. 'I can't believe I'm talking to the Blue Moon shampoo girl!'

Leaning against the wall outside the men's room, Leyna nonchalantly waited for her moment. She had been given the briefcase to guard until the deal was done. She looked bored, distant... when David Addison bumped into her and knocked the case over.

'Leyna, isn't it?' David cried out, embracing her in a full hug as he kicked the briefcase down the hall and switched it with another black case full of karaoke song hits that he'd grabbed from the D.J. on his way to the table. In this darkness, the D.J. would not notice its absence until it mattered.

Leyna flinched in response to the embrace; she hated people invading her space. 'Yes,' she sounded irritated.

'How's my brother?' David small talked.

'All right, I guess,' she breathed, chewing on a stick of gum that she produced from her back pocket.

'That's good to know. So, you two are happy?'

'Yes, we are,' she strung the words out slowly, as if she thought David was stupid.

'Good, good,' he muttered. 'Well excuse me while I pay a visit to the little boys' room – I guess the drinks are starting to catch up with me...'

She suddenly perked up, desperate to keep him out of the men's room. 'So, how do you know this Sandra then?'

Now she wants to talk. David had his suspicions confirmed. 'A friend of mine: probably an alien concept to the living dead,' he answered swinging the door open. 'Sorry, toots. When a guy's gotta go...' he ducked through the door before she could detain him any longer. He could hear her swearing under her breath.

Once inside the men's room, David hastily looked around, taking in every inch of the space. It appeared empty, but David knew better. His eyes darted every stall, noting that all but one door swung open and vacant. He slipped into the one adjacent to its occupied neighbour and locked it.

Squatting down, he attempted to see through the gap: one pair of shiny shoes and one pair of knees. It appeared that Richie was receiving a free ceramic salon tour. He stood back up and wracked his brains over how to get Richie out of this dilemma. He looked up, he looked down, and he glanced around the small, confined space: something would come to him- he was David Addison, after all.

Stepping up onto the toilet bowl rim, and careful not to make a noise, he slowly and painstakingly removed the lid of the water-tank. He figured it might be heavy enough to knock that un-invited guest out cold. Frowning, he realised that he should have flushed the chain before hand to create some distractive noise. He stood there for a moment, holding the heavy lid and staring at the flush- he pulled a face at his own stupidity. Carefully shifting the weight of the lid to one side of his body, he managed to free a hand. Tentatively, he now reached out to flush the chain with it. Alas, he was not balanced well enough, which caused him to lose his footing and slip

'Nya!' he cried out.

He slipped off the toilet bowl, crashed into and bounced off the door, landed on the floor, and was then hit hard on the head by the falling, heavy porcelain lid. The noise echoed around the men's room and was followed by utter stillness. David lay there unconscious, surrounded by the remnants of his own failed plan.

The Billy Joel Dream Sequence - 'Tell Her about It'

David could hear the deep, melodious sound of a piano being caressed by someone close to music. It was beautiful, intoxicating; soul-lighting.

At first he was content to lie there, appreciating the display of musical aptitude but growing awareness of his surroundings drew him on towards figuring out its source.

Newly aware that he was lying on a floor, he pulled himself up to a sitting position. His head ached. It was the restaurant but where were all the people? The tables were clear, the chairs empty and not a guest in sight.

Blinking his eyes rapidly, David tried to awaken his senses but it was impossible because of the subdued lighting. The corner he had found himself in was black; the feeble rays could not reach it. He would have to get up and walk if he wanted to make contact with it and figure out what was happening. Looking for the light's source, he detected that it emanated from the area of the restaurant piano.

There was only one choice. David, with effort, slowly got to his feet and made his way towards the music. He was not alone in the restaurant. The intoxicating notes drew him on towards the player like a magical spell that had him in mind for its purpose.

David could see the silhouette of a man sat at the piano, a spot light shining down on him, creating a halo effect. The music was becoming more beautiful, more intense. He stopped. The man, slowly, turned around to greet him.

'Hello David,' he said in a cool tone.

'No way,' David bent at the knees and put his hands in his pockets – a visible display of awe. 'Billy? Billy Joel?'

'I've been waiting for you,' Billy stated as he swivelled around on his stool.

'You have?' David sounded incredulous. 'No way man, Billy Joel is in Sandra's restaurant? How...'

'...Come nobody's around to appreciate it?' finished Billy Joel. 'This is a special performance, that's why – just for you David Addison.'

'No, no, no, no, no,' David sang, 'I've been doing this series long enough to know a dream sequence when I see one.'

'So what if it is?' Billy smiled, turning round to play a chord or two.

'True,' David contemplated. 'So I may as well enjoy the fact that you're in this episode whilst we got you. You gonna play something?'

'Not so fast train-track,' Billy crooned. 'I'm here to emphasise the New York flavour of this particular episode.'

'I got that figured padre,' David smiled, 'and I might as well enjoy my dream sequence so, do you take requests?'

Billy Joel laughed and stopped playing. 'David? I'm here to talk about your relationship with Maddie.' He stared astutely at David as if he were searching for his soul.

'Well there is no relationship between me and the blonde ice-cap so how about a little 'Vienna'?' David pleaded.

'Well Davey boy, that's where you're wrong,' Billy said with a concerned tone. 'I've had my fair share of getting my hands burnt but it doesn't mean a man can't step up to the heat.'

'U-uh,' David shook his head. 'I'm not stupid.'

'I know that David,' Billy sighed, 'just do me a favour will you? Just listen to my questions and answer them. It's only a dream sequence so what do you have to lose?'

'Okay but only because it's you Billy – shoot.' David crossed his arms defensively.

'You love this woman right?' Billy was direct- his air-time was expensive.

'I care deeply about her if that's what you're gettin' at,' David remarked.

'That's called love Dave – and love is a fragile thing, it's not something that you should play rough with,' Billy warned.

'Nothing wrong with rough,' David chuckles.

'I'm with you there bro,' Billy chuckled, 'but not what I'm getting at on this occasion. So let's get this straight: you love Maddie Hayes right?'

David looked uncomfortable, digging his hands even deeper into the pockets of his tuxedo as if he might find a way out through them. His face contorted with reluctance as he confessed: 'okay you got me, gun in my hand, dead body on the floor, finger-prints all over the crime-scene.'

'So say it,' Billy demanded patiently.

'You always this much fun at a private party?'

'David?' Billy was getting impatient.

'Okay, okay I love her, I'm in love with her but what's the point in this particular exercise? It's unrequited!' David's shoulders drooped and a look of anguish flittered across his features.

'Is it?'

'Of course,' David stuttered, 'you saw her- she wouldn't even be seen on my arm when we arrived at the party and she only calmed down when I reassured her that I'd put everyone straight if they thought we were an item,' David wrung his hands and started to pace.

'She protested a lot huh?' Billy asked.

'Much,' David agreed.

'Hmmmm,' Billy sighed, 'of course...well, I may have some advice for you David.'

'Really?' David looked down at the ground for an answer.

'Really, now you just listen boy...' Billy Joel started to play an upbeat tune on the piano, bringing it and the restaurant to sudden and alarming life. David started to tap his feet and click his fingers as he recognised the tune:

'Listen boy I don't want to see you
 Let a good thing slip away
 You know I don't like watching anybody
 Make the same mistakes I made
 She's a real nice girl and she's always there for you
 But a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do

Listen boy I'm sure that you think
You got it all under control
You don't want somebody telling you
The way to stay in someone's soul
You're a big boy now and you'll never let her go
But that's just the kind of thing she ought to know

Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means

Listen boy, it's not automatically a certain guarantee
To insure yourself, you've got to provide
Communication constantly
When you love someone, you're always insecure
And there's only one good way to reassure

Tell her about it, let her know how much you care
When she can't be with you, tell her you wish you were there
Tell her about it, every day before you leave
Pay her some attention, give her something to believe

Cause now and then, she'll get to worrying
Just because you haven't spoken for so long
Though you may not have done anything
Will that be a consolation when she's gone

Listen boy, it's good information
From a man who's made mistakes
Just a word or two that she gets from you
Could be the difference that it makes
She's a trusting soul, she's put her trust in you
But a girl like that won't tell you what you should do

Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means

Tell her about it
Tell her how you feel right now
Just tell her about it
The girl don't want to wait too long
You got to tell her about it
Tell her now and you won't go wrong
You got to tell her about it
Before it gets too late
You got to tell her about it
You know the girl don't want to wait
You got to tell her about it
You got to tell, tell, tell her about it
Tell her about it'

Whilst Billy was singing guidance to David, 'Dream Maddie' walked into the bar in search of him. Her hair was wild, dress length a little shorter than usual, heels a little higher- she was definitely a product of David's imagination. David, knowing that this was a dream sequence, realised that this was a chance for him to take Billy's advice and see how it felt to confront the truth head on.

He approaches Maddie the seductress, takes her into his arms and holds her tight, not wanting to let go. Her arms instantly move around his body and she pulls him in closer; he is drunk on her returned affection. They move as one to the hypnotic music- hips interlocking with hips, her hands moving up towards his neck area. He unexpectedly pushes her away from him but it is only to create a space between them so that he can look directly into her eyes that are dark with visible passion. He melts in front of her – open and vulnerable in a way that he dare not reveal to any woman but this one. He reveals his soul, knowing he is safe.

'Maddie,' he purrs her name like it is something delectable he tastes on his tongue, 'I love you. I'm in love with you...' He feels relief flood through him, 'God, you have no idea how good it feels to say those words out loud!'

She smiles at him; it suggests she feels the same. 'I love you too David.' She brushes a finger across his lips and closes the gap between them.

He leans in, his lips touching hers, whispering against them with a feather's touch, 'I've longed for this,' he sighed.

'Kiss me David,' her voice was heavy with desire.

He leant in and kissed her like he was devouring her essence, his lips felt her warmth, his tongue found hers...passion welled up in him like he had never experienced before. Her hand reached to loosen his bow-tie. She discarded it and started on his shirt buttons. He reached his hand into her golden hair, feeling the soft curls twist around his fingers. His hand then traced its way down her spine until it reached the low cut zip. He pulled on the zipper and worked it downwards... and the lyrics evaporated, the kiss faded and tore like old fragile paper, the moment was falling, falling, falling...

The Party - Maddie gets worried

Maddie, having waited patiently for exactly fifteen minutes, brought her conversation with the girls to an abrupt end. 'Excuse me ladies, I'm just going to use the restroom- powder my nose.'

She made her way across the busy restaurant floor, gently nudging her way through tightly packed bodies, avoiding eye contact; intent on reaching her destination. Despite efforts to avoid attention, she was offered champagne, olives, hands to shake, cheeks to kiss and friendly smiles. Sandra certainly had a wonderful circle of friends – she was honoured to have been invited.

Reaching the restroom area, she spotted Richie at his table, deep in debate with a suited man- no sign of David, no sign of Leyna. Panic gripped her. Where was David? She wished, with her whole heart, that she had not waited the full fifteen minutes. Her breathing quickened as she attempted to figure out a way to sneak into the men's room without being noticed.

She waited for what seemed like an age as the latest track played out and the restroom area became less populated- most people were hitting the dance floor. As the majority headed towards the noise, lights and dancing, Maddie dashed into the men's room, frantically looking around.

'David?' she called out, terrified at what she might find: what they might have done to him, what had happened, why he wasn't with Richie.

Swiftly, she pushed open each cubicle door with a bang – until one door stopped short; something was clearly blocking its movement. 'David!'

Full of frustration, she stepped into the next stall, hoisted her dress up and climbed up onto the toilet seat. Peering over, she was met with an image which halted her breathing. Heart in mouth, she took in the scene: David sprawled out on the floor, the porcelain lid lying next to him. He had a mark on his forehead and blood was dripping down his face.

'Oh my God David,' she whimpered.

The Party - Richie in trouble

The uninvited guest had a gun, concealed beneath the table, pointing at Richie. He also had a slippery smile that slithered across his face and stopped just short of being human.

'Where the hell is my briefcase?' he snarled.

'Honest to God man, I thought that was the briefcase...' Richie sounded panic stricken and was struggling to keep up the veneer.

'What, this one?' the man hissed, holding up a set of karaoke tapes and song lyrics, 'yes, Mr Addison because the contents of this case are clearly worth two million dollars!' He banged them down on the table in fury.

'I think that there's a lot of potential for karaoke,' Richie stuttered, 'I predict it'll really take off by the nineties.'

'You're making a big mistake pal,' the man warned, 'if you think is the correct time and place for jokes.'

'You're obviously not a fan of the show?' Rich suggested.

The man's fury level just powered up by another notch. 'Do you know who you're messing with? Get me the guns and I may allow you and your friends to live.'

The Party - Back in the restroom

Maddie was precariously balanced on top of the dividing wall between the two cubicles, skirt up round her waist, panty-hose laddered and only one remaining shoe.

'What am I doing?' she mumbled to herself, responding to the worst case scenario: 'Hi I'm Maddie Hayes, yes that Maddie Hayes...no I often hang around on the top of toilet stalls in the men's room!'

Somehow, she managed to force her other leg up to the top of the stall before tumbling down, with a muffled shriek, on the other side - right on top of David's comatose body. Hastily, she rectified this and pushed herself to a kneeling position. Practically straddling David (there was not room for the both of them in here), she pulled on the tissue dispenser and tenderly cleared the blood from his face. Staring intently at his him, she gently slapped him a few times- feeling guilty with each hit. Nothing.

'David;' she pleaded, 'wake up!'

She tried pushing his eye-lids open with her fingers but he did not respond. What if he was dead? She had never really told him how she felt about him. 'David,' she implored, 'David you can't die on me now. Wake up! I haven't told you how much it meant to me that you flew out to be with me in Buenos Aires- how I felt so bad for not sending you quite enough money to get home, we never talked about the kiss in the garage- okay I admit it see? It was a kiss; although it was you that kissed me because you thought you wouldn't see me again! David why do you think I followed you to New York a second time? I don't know David...I don't do emotions very well, not like you- you make it all look so easy- me? My emotions are like a dripping tap, it takes a while for the tub to fill but I get there in the end,' she continued, thinking she'd never get to say any of this to him. 'We're so wrong for each other but so right, we'd never work and yet somehow we do. Half the time you let me down, the other half you're right there watching my back right when I need you most. David why do you have to be such an anomaly? I love you and I hate you David Addison! Wake up so I can tell you. Wake up, wake up, wake up,' she cried, shaking him. There was only one thing left to try but she'd never tried to resuscitate anyone before...she wasn't trained, this could go horribly wrong.

She tipped David's head back, opened his mouth, pinched his nose and brought her lips to his. It was this action that caused David to re-gain consciousness but not for the obvious reason.

'Maddie?' he asked bewildered but aware that she was straddling him in a restroom cubicle.

'David I thought you were dead!' Maddie screamed in relief and delight.

'Maddie honey,' he began, looking up at her face, 'aren't there rules that prohibit necrophilia in this state?'

She whacked him round the head.

'Ouch!' he cried, grabbing his head.

'Sorry, sorry, sorry,' she apologised profusely and gripped him in a bear hug.

'Ouch!' he winced again.

'Sorry,' Maddie repeated and she pulled away and looked at him, 'I was so scared...'

What Maddie did next was not planned (kind of spontaneous some might say); it was as if her body was working without her mind anchoring it to the safe, real world. She kissed him. Not a kiss of life this time but the real thing. A surge of worry, fear and pent up emotions cut loose through that kiss.

David, stunned and thinking he was back in the dream, froze for a second but was soon reciprocating with full unencumbered passion. They stayed this way for a long sweet while; a minute becoming thousands of seconds, both afraid that when they pulled away it would be the garage all over again- but like all good things...

'She turns to me sometimes and she asks me what I'm dreaming
 And I realize I must have gone a million miles away
 And I ask her how she knew to reach out for me at that moment
 And she smiles because it's understood there are no words to say
 It's all about soul (She's all about soul)
 It's all about knowin' what someone is feelin'
 The woman's got soul (She's all about soul)
 The power of love and the power of healin''

Eventually pulling away, they stared at each other, eyes misty with contentment and open mouths portraying fear...

Until: 'Richie,' they both whispered.

The Party - The plot thinens

Maddie and David, having emerged from the men's room (Maddie now shoeless, laddered tights but dress firmly pulled down to its proper place) were now standing amidst what Sandra's party had evolved into. It was at full steam. People talked loudly, animated; some folks laughed raucously; others preferred the intimacy of a booth as they caught up with long lost friends. The dance floor was firing up: Sandra was leading and, by the looks of it, she was conjuring up a conga-line...

'Over there,' David whispered in Maddie's ear as he motioned towards a table, 'Maddie he's got a gun.'

'Oh my God, we need to call the police!' Maddie hissed back in a panic.

'Not unless you want to spend the night in the morgue Maddie...well, considering your behaviour earlier that might not be such a bad thing,' he joked, receiving a glare. 'Listen Maddie, I got a bad feeling about these people Richie's got mixed up with.'

'No kidding?' Maddie replied sarcastically.

'Do the words 'I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse' mean anything to you?' David kept his voice low and close to her ear. 'What about: 'Never tell anyone outside the family what you're thinking'?'

'David, you don't think...'

'We both know that,' he quipped, '...if I'm right, then Rich has sunk to the lowest level a human being can- however, this is Richie we're talking about so he's only gone and burrowed so deep that he's missed the escape tunnel- only a golden spade could rescue him now- you with me?'

'I have no idea,' Maddie looked perplexed.

'The only shovel big enough to shovel this particular dirt has dollar signs all over it,' David tried to exemplify further.

'David what are you trying to say?'

'I think I'm going to have to try to negotiate, sweet-talk, bail him out...'

'With what exactly?'

'Our money?' he gulped.

Maddie's mouth dropped open but was soon replaced with a resolute look. 'Do what you have to do David,' she sighed, 'you Addison brothers!'

'Don't you tarnish me with the same breath Maddie,' David complained, 'I told you, I'm sure that my parents found him in lost baggage at the airport all those years...where they should have left him. Lost and not found.'

'David,' Maddie grabbed his arm, 'please, please...'

'...be careful? I know, you used that line already; anyone would think you cared,' he smiled a little but soon looked serious. 'Right, I'm going over, talk a little business...'

'I don't like it,' Maddie shook her head and stared back at him with anxious, wide blue eyes.

'Well it's a good job that I wouldn't let you do it for all the tea in China then isn't it?' David mentally prepared to put himself on the front-line.

'What do I do?' Maddie insisted.

'Maddie, listen carefully, I want you to find the briefcase that I swapped earlier on in the episode...it should be in the corridor, round the corner from the men's room. That's where I kicked it. Get it and bring it to the table,' he listed, 'oh and watch out for that viper: Leyna- I think she's fled the field but she could be lurking in the grass.'

'Right,' Maddie nodded.

Without warning, Sandra's Conga-line reached them and carried them away from their plan in a cacophony of laughter, rhythm and hands. They had no choice but to be lifted away with the crowd of devout party-goers. The line weaved in and out of the tables and covered the whole establishment. There was Richie, now he was gone; there was the case, now it was gone...

David was behind Maddie, both hands around her waist.

'David,' Maddie turned around to snap at him, 'mind out where you put those hands!'

'Maddie, what can I say? It's a Conga- I think pretty much any type of holding is permissible.'

'There's Richie,' Maddie threw over her shoulder to him.

David caught it and returned a: 'no, we missed him again.'

'Next time we conga past his table, let go of my waist and go for it!' she demanded.

David chuckles despite the tense atmosphere. 'I never thought I'd hear you say that Ms Hayes!'

He received an icy glare and held her tighter, and a little lower just to retaliate.

The Party - Richie up to his neck...

The Uninvited guest was losing his cool. Wiping his brow, he demanded for a final time: 'The brief-case!'

'You're gonna have to shoot me because I'm telling you the truth, I don't know what happened to it,' Richie replied, eyes fraught and heart racing, 'only do me one favour...can you do it out back so it's not in front of these good people?'

'You're either incredibly stupid, or incredibly brave- except, I can't work out which,' the man replied in a cold voice.

David Addison slipped into the seat next to Richie.

'Hey bro; nothing like the family to deal with the family huh?' he stated nervously.

'What are you doing here?' Richie stammered and the man demanded in unison.

'Thanks for the grateful reception...I believe it's called saving your crazy ass bro,' David rolled his eyes at the situation.

'The unfortunate man from the restroom I believe,' the man sighed, 'who are you exactly?'

'The man who knows where your briefcase is!' David replied. 'Ready to talk?'

The man switched his gun from one brother to the other. 'Why the hell do you have my briefcase?' he demanded.

'Well that question is easy,' David stated, trying to keep his cool exterior. 'I swapped it with this fine array of music you see before you on the table.'

'How on Earth did you get past Leyna?' the man demanded, waggling the gun around frenetically.

'Well, I guess having a private investigator at the party didn't quite figure into your plan Mr...' David trailed off.

'Mr Gatling will do,' the uninvited guest seethed.

'The way I see it,' David continued, 'is that we have a problem; a problem that may be solvable through negotiation and a fist full of dollars- am I right?'

David heard the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked from underneath a table. He gulped.

'In my book, I tend to find that actions speak a whole lot louder than words,' the man's voice was spiked with venom. 'Give me the case now or I'll shoot you both.'

Flinging the case down on the table with an almighty crash, Maddie looked expectantly at David for the next move.

'Way to go Maddie,' David groaned. 'I guess the negotiation is over!'

Sensing that she just did something wrong, Maddie glared at David: 'You told me to go and fetch the briefcase!'

'I meant wait until the right moment,' David sighed.

'This isn't the right moment?' Maddie asked, looking from one man to the other.

'Maddie, Mr Corleone has a gun pointed at us under the table,' David explained.

'Oh,' Maddie gulped, realising her mistake.

'And Leyna has a gun pointed at you,' Leyna drawled as Maddie felt something hard and cold pressing into the small of her back.

'Leyna, we thought you'd left the party,' David mocked, 'it was so dead here without you!'

'Shut up!' the man hissed. 'Leyna, I have the money- we'll carry out the transaction and then I'll leave with my goods. Does that sound like a simple enough plot for you two nit-wit detectives to get your heads around?'

'I know that they say our cases always take second place to the romance on the show- but right now you're doing a good job of killing both,' David complained. 'You want our ratings to take a nose dive or what? We can't let the episode end like this; you'll have our audience writing in enough mail to sink your career as the bad guy forever!'

'I'm willing to take that risk!' the man, who referred to himself as Mr Gatling, spat.

'We're not!' David retorted. 'Maddie?'

'Yes David?' she sounded anxious.

'I'd say it was probably a good time to start a chase scene!' he cried.

The Party - Time for a chase

Sandra's Conga-line had made it around the room again, taking Leyna; gun in hand, by surprise as she was swept away by the group of loud celebrating guests.

Maddie took one look at David, snatched the case and joined the end of the Conga-line. 'I think this is as close to a chase scene as you're gonna get without ruining the party!' she cried, allowing herself to be dragged around the room.

'Hey!' the man shouted; he rose to his feet and watched the briefcase disappear on the human freight train.

David, taking this opportunity presented to him, immediately lunged at the man- desperately grabbing for the gun. Richie, seeing that his brother had the upper hand, jumped in to his side and between them, they wrestled the weapon out of Mr Gatling's hands.

'Richie,' David complained as he held the man's arms behind his back, 'are you in trouble with who I think you're in trouble with?'

'I think I may be in trouble with who you think I'm in trouble with but these guys are not the main trouble, they're offering me another way out of the original trouble,' Richie explained, even confusing the uninvited guest.

'What trouble?' David asked.

'Money bro,' Richie sighed, 'I borrowed some money off people I had no business borrowing money from...these guys said they could buy me an extra week if I let them sell the guns...I'm the go-between.' He hung his head in shame.

'Richie there are a million things I'd like to call you right now but we haven't time,' David shouted. 'People are beginning to notice what's going down over here and I've got to rescue a blonde who's doing the Russian roulette version of the Conga.'

'I'm sorry,' Richie whined.

'Don't be sorry, just sit with our good friend Mr Gatling here and wait for me- and whatever you do, don't let him leave,' David commanded, discretely handing him the gun... 'Oh,' he looked directly at the uninvited guest, 'you know what the most common problem with the Gatling is? When they were first used in a war situation? Sometimes the bullets jammed!'

Clinging furiously to the briefcase, Maddie attempted to keep up with the Conga-line. Every time it made a turn, her eyes darted around the room, desperate to locate Leyna and the gun but she could only see smiling faces glancing back. Then an idea struck her: she would use the human conga-line to climb towards Leyna, approaching her from behind and hopefully taking her unawares. This was not going to be easy.

David followed the group of dancers, lead by the inexorable Sandra (who did not know that she had saved the day), searching for the familiar silhouette of his partner. His eyes moved swiftly along the line until he spotted the highly recognizable blonde using the Conga-line as a human ladder to reach Leyna. Now how could he thwart Leyna, keep Maddie out of the firing line and create a happy ending for all?

'The show must go on,' he muttered to himself, 'or in this case, the party.'

'David,' Sandra yelled from the head of the line, 'join the party!'

David, looking behind him, could see that Richie remained seated with Mr Luger- only Richie was the one holding the gun now. Luckily, Mr Luger didn't know that Richie had no idea how to use it.

'Try and stop me!' David cried as he waited for his opportunity to rejoin the line behind Maddie. At last, he hooked his arm around her waist and joined: 'Maddie!'

'David!' Maddie cried, relieved to hear his familiar voice- she didn't even mind it when he put both of his hands firmly around her waist, somehow it made her feel safer. 'What happened?' she yelled.

'Let's just say the tables turned!' he yelled back to her. 'Let's get the gun off Leyna and force them both to have a conversation that ends with us paying them off and severing Richie's ties to a certain family. Sandra, hopefully, will never know any of this happened. Plan?'

'Plan!' Maddie hollered back.

'Now let me in front of you,' David demanded, 'if anyone's going to 'do it for Leyna', it's going to be me!'

'Be my guest,' Maddie sounded relieved as she let him pass in front of her; she held on firmly to his waist. 'Watch where you put those hands David.'

'Oh don't worry, I intend to!' David tapped the shoulder of the woman in front of him; it was Rose LaChance from their table. 'Hey Rosie Rose,' he shouted. 'It's your old buddy Dave!'

'Oh, hi there Dave !' she beamed back.

'Phil's looking for you- something about a phone call from the twins' babysitter?' David pretended to look confused and held his hand up to his ear like a phone.

Rosie grabbed her friend in front and the two of them sped off looking for Phil.

David, grasping his chance with both arms, pushed too hard into Leyna in order to bridge the gap. Tumbling to the floor in an ungainly fashion, he landed on top of her and wrestled for the weapon. Maddie, accompanied by a shriek, lost her footing and also toppled down onto David. She was followed by several other people who had not had time to put the brakes on. It was a human pile-up.

Maddie, although squished, spotted the weapon and was able to tease it into her hand. 'David, you okay down there?' she wheezed with what little breath she could squeeze out.

'Arrrrr,' he groaned, 'Maddie I always wondered what it might be like to have you on top, but for future reference – the others are definitely not invited!'

The Party – Later, in a dark corner of the dance floor

After all of the excitement, Sandra had demanded a change in the mood- the lights had been dulled, the music was softer, slower as they entered into that magical phase of a good party where conversation became intimate, secrets whispered, and lovers owned the dance-floor.

The restaurant transformed. Night time had claimed it- tables were cleared and moved aside; candle light took the place of the restaurant lighting and now flickered with opportunity. Gentle music nudged its way into every corner of the room inviting people to give into its sultry midnight rhythms.

Maddie and David were enjoying a slow dance in the shadows of the dance floor- lack of light gave the simple illusion of being in a private place. They danced in peace for awhile, leaning on one another, exhausted from their unplanned Richie intervention.

David, sighing deeply, looked up at Maddie who was just as lost. 'I thought we did a good job this evening partner- how about you?' He broke the silence.

'We did, it could have gone so wrong,' she muttered, '...what if...'

David stopped her mouth with a finger to her lips, 'no what if's Ms Hayes. We did good. All's well that ends well: Richie's safe, the bad guys are paid off so they can go work on some other show over at NBC and Sandra is none the wiser.'

'You're right David, we did do well,' she smiled but this ceased when her attention was drawn to his injury. 'You did not fare so well David- knocked out and crushed all in the same episode?' She gently brushed a finger across the bruise that had formed on his forehead. 'Does it hurt much?'

'Only when you do that,' he chuckled. 'It wasn't all bad in this episode though.' His skin burned where she had left her impression.

'No, you're right: you have great friends here in New York and it was lovely to meet them all,' Maddie agreed. 'Sandra's wonderful, where have you been hiding her?'

'They're my friends – so it goes without saying. I was actually thinking of something else that occurred during this episode...' he whispered cautiously.

'Oh?' She looked away with sudden embarrassment.

'Oh,' he repeated. 'Hey, where'd you go?'

She looked up again and he could detect a flush to her cheek. For a moment he thought better of pursuing the conversation; he'd cornered her again and she would retaliate like a deer caught in a trap. Then again, they were dancing in darkness, the music was right and they had experienced so much together.

'David, don't ruin a tender moment by talking about it,' she said in a quiet voice.

David was taken aback; did that mean she didn't want to discuss the kiss at all? Was that her way of closing the book on that conversation? Obviously he was supposed to lock the door on his feelings once more.

'No, I have to...' he began, desperate to tell her the truth before it killed him

This time she put a finger to his lips in order to silence words that would lead to his foot occupying space that she unexpectedly wanted to fill. She looked directly into his eyes as she held his body close. There was that warm feeling of utter security; she felt safe in his arms and satisfied that, in this moment, this was exactly where she wanted to be.

Surprising him again, she brushed soft fingers across the back of his neck. They were face to face, eyes locked, heat radiating outwards to fill the space between them. With her other hand, she traced a line down his cheek, inviting him to come closer.

Responding instinctively to this beautiful creature in close proximity, David found his lips parting; his head naturally angling itself in preparation for another kiss with this amazing woman (he couldn't believe his luck- three in one episode: they must want him to stay on and do a fourth season). He could not take his eyes off her. He paused to savour the precious moment; he could hear the sound of his own heart pounding in his chest. Then his lips brushed against her so softly, so tenderly that he could feel warmth of her fragile skin against his own. Then he began to explore in earnest, taking pleasure in this perpetual kiss...

' Just friends?' Sandra interrupted them as she slinked past with Peppe in her arms, the two of them nodding together as if they had both just won on the roulette table. They took one look at David's bruise; Maddie's torn tights and lack of foot-wear and smiled a knowing look at one another. Winking, they danced off into the wild night.

'Hey, partner,' David breathed the air of his words into Maddie's ear- she shut her eyes in pleasure. 'What say you if we take this dance somewhere a little more private?'

'Let's hail a cab,' Maddie smiled up at him, a twinkle in her eye.

'You never cease to amaze me,' he sighed in awe.

'Didn't I say
 I wasn't ready for a romance
 Didn't we promise
We would only be friends

And so we danced
Though it was only a slow dance
I started breaking my promises
Right there and then

Didn't I swear
There would be no complications
Didn't you want
Someone who's seen it all before

Now that you're here
It's not the same situation
Suddenly I don't remember the rules anymore

This night is mine
It's only you and I
Tomorrow
Is a long time away
This night can last forever'

---

Sunday, January 10

Los Angeles - Maddie's house

Maddie, weary with jetlag, was greeted by the persuasive flashing of the answer-machine message light. She wished it were not so insistent. She wanted to unpack first, pour a glass of wine...maybe a hot bubble bath. The flashing neon light demanded immediate attention and she gave in.

David shuffled into the house behind her; dragging the suitcases- which he deposited by the foot of the spiral staircase. 'Just leave it,' he sighed, 'whoever it is, they can wait.'

Despite David's opinion on the matter, she pressed the button and he frowned with disapproval.

MESSAGE #1: 'Hey Maddie, it's Sandra – just wanted to say thanks again for coming all the way out here for my birthday; it was so great to see you both! Anyway...hope the flight was okay blah, blah, blah...I just want you to know I won myself a tidy wager that night! Talk to you soon.'

BEEP!

MESSAGE #2: 'Maddie? This is Glenn, I know you're in NYC at the moment, but I just wanted to run a couple ideas by you for the next few episodes. Rona Barrett's appearance went over so well with viewers that we're thinking about bringing on another special guest star. Oh, and...'

BEEP!

MESSAGE #3: 'Maddie, sorry we must've gotten cut off. This is Glenn again...just to let you know that we have big end of season plans which coincide with February Sweeps! Mark Harmon has agreed to come on the show and play your long lost love-interest Sam Crawford! He's going to call you... anyway; it's going to lead, at last, to "The Big Bang"...

BEEP!

MESSAGE #4: Hi, Maddie. This is Sam Crawford- your astronaut friend? I know it's been a while, but I'd really like to take a trip over to L.A. and catch up with my beautiful friend over a candlelit dinner for two...'

BEEP!

Maddie deleted that last one. 'Oops,' she snickered.

David bit his lip. 'Mark Harmon? Sweeps Week?'

'Big Bang?' they both uttered in unison.

>'Were we meant to wait?' David asked.

'Maybe Glenn won't watch this episode,' Maddie said hopefully.

'And maybe we're in trouble,' David suggested. 'How good are you at keeping secrets?'

Cue Al Jarreau

THE END