Supervisory Special Agent William Pepper couldn't understand why James Traynor's identity did not register any prior criminal records. He was sure that someone who has committed abduction, grand theft auto and animal cruelty would have some priors. He has made up his mind not to let this go without being completely thorough in his research and his investigation. He felt indebted to Martin Green for all the federal fund grants the man has given to the department. He exhaled a deep sigh of frustration and decided to call it a day as he gathered the manila folder containing all the reports from the Sheriffs' office. He needed a break from interrogating the suspect two days in a row without getting anything. Sure, the charges will stick, but the punishment may not fit the crimes unless the individual has priors. And James Traynor is not volunteering anything. William is now convinced he may have to fly out to Albuquerqe, New Mexico to learn more about this man who doesn't have any fingerprints due to burn injuries from his prior military service. That alone doesn't sit well with him. In all his seven years in the force, he has never encountered anyone who had an injury so bad that his fingerprints are blank. SSA William Pepper decided to pay Alaina Gold a visit to find out more on the day the criminal report landed on his desk. William is a handsome man who stands about six feet two, with hazel eyes, dark blonde hair and a muscular build. He has an easy going personality and is not as intense as the other federal agents in his department. He finds it easy to smile. In all his thirty four years, one thing that he has learned from his father, a retired FBI agent, was that there is no case worth losing your ability to smile at the simplest and mundane things. "Once you are no longer able to smile at the sound of a baby laughing, or smile when you hear your favorite song come on the radio, it is time to hang up the badge, son." His father always advised him. William takes that to heart and has found salvation in the words, as God only knows, he has seen his share of monstrosity and evil in all walks of life. He grabbed his jacket and looked at his watch; he has time to see Alaina Gold at the hospital before sundown.
Alaina felt surprisingly calm as she reminisced how her meeting with Martin Green went. She wasn't asking herself the probabilities, what could have been and what has been with how everything has developed between them. Alaina has never been the type of person who doubts her person, if anything, she is the kind of person that is well adjusted with relating, hence, the happy feel of her break up with Joseph. After her mother's close call with the heart attack, Alaina has promised herself to live for the moment and let the moment take you where your fate is supposed to go. She learned never to regret her own actions, how badly viewed they may be by Alexa or Nicky. Life is too short to live for your siblings, your family, and in their shadows, no matter how much admiration, love and respect you may have for them. She sees herself a lot in Nicky in that manner. Alexa has a lot of parent pleaser, sibling admonisher tendencies in her young twenty eight. "Soon, she will look ten years older than what she really is, if she doesn't lighten up a little," Alaina thought, fondly recalling the confession her sister made earlier that she found Martin Green far more attractive than most Hollywood movie stars. She smiled forlornly when she recalled how handsome Martin is, because she has never been the kind of woman who gets easily impressed with physical looks. But she's also very fair as she will not take away the credit due him, just as she will not exaggerate or lessen his heroic actions. "When God decided to rain beauty on earth, Martin must have been holding several buckets," she laughed at her deduction. Alaina was in this reverie when a knock came lightly on the door. The view to the door has been blocked by the hospital bed curtain but Alaina did not feel suspicious as the nurses knock lightly too, when they come in to check up on her. "Hello? Come in, please." Alaina called out to the person. She heard a man clear his throat before drawing the curtain open and Alaina came face to face with a tall, good looking man in his early to mid thirties, with blondish coloring and an affable smile. "Ms. Gold, SSA William Pepper, I apologize for not calling first and just dropping by, but I was on my way home. I just need to ask you a few questions," William said as he flashed his badge and shook Alaina's hand. His smile is warm, open and friendly, but not condescending or intimidating as most of his bureau guys seem to do when they are about to question a witness. Alaina smiled back at him and told him that it was fine, "It isn't like I am going to be late for a date or anything," she kidded the agent and caught herself, "Oh my god, did I just flirt with this man?" she thought, surprised with herself. "What has Martin done with her and his talks of abandon?" she shook her head disapprovingly, with her behavior. It's out there, it won't matter. William smiled more openly after hearing what Alaina said. As he grabbed the chair next to the hospital bed, he studied Alaina with pleasure as he found her to be a very striking looking woman. "May I?" William asked her after propping the chair closer to the bed. Alaina nodded, "yes, please," she said. "And what may I help you with in terms of the case? I was under the impression that charges will be filed without any glitch." Alaina added, she was half curious and half dismayed. "No doubt, the charges will be filed and yes, ma'am, they will stick and he will be convicted on all counts, I'm pretty sure of that." William reassured her. "But there are things that aren't clear regarding the perpetrator's identity and I was hoping you may be able to tell me whether you overheard anything or have seen anything, prior to his…" and William's voice cut off, trying to put it delicately for Alaina, the proper words without possibly stressing her out. "You can say it, agent Pepper, and prior to him kidnapping me and assaulting me and killing my dog." Alaina finished what William wanted to say. She said the statement in such a calm way, if William didn't know the signs of denial on victims' profiles, he would have guessed that she's gone through years of therapy already. He smiled to himself when he realized he was profiling Alaina Gold. "How long have you known Mr. Green?" he asked. Alaina looked at him impishly as she wasn't expecting the question. She felt uncomfortable all of a sudden. Alaina cleared her throat and nervously answered, "About five days ago, not even a week, Martin, uhm, Mr. Green was kind enough to allow my paper to give us an interview and uhm, I was writing a cover based on his life, but not biographical, nothing like that," she stammered. "Well, that makes you sound so eloquent!" she thought quietly, disappointed that her surprise reaction to the question was evident. William smiled again, after she spoke and he turned his attention to the notes he was jotting down to give her enough time to recover from her discomfort. Alaina breathed a sigh of relief that William had to write down her answers as she was sure she was blushing. As William continued with his line of questions, Alaina tried to sound as detached to them, but every time she had to say Martin's name, she knew the agent can sense there is certain warmth and excitement to her voice. After the interview, William Pepper has come to the conclusion that Alaina Gold feels an attraction towards Martin Green. He thanked her for her time and as he disappeared out on the hallway, he thought to himself, "What woman have you met who was not attracted to the Northwest's most famous eligible bachelor/billionaire Green?" he thought, shaking his head, as he walked away from the hospital lobby to his car. Alaina felt herself still blushing from recalling the events of her abduction. The mere mention of Martin's name sent fond thoughts to her mind and verbalizing his actions on that day, hearing herself recount his bravery, made Alaina admire the man more. "How surprising the difference is, to recall someone who has saved your life versus watching it and hearing it on the news," she thought fairly. She decided to pen the article with some detachment when she gets to working on it. Otherwise, it may come out as some biographical write up with a groupie penning it, she thought wryly. She smiled at the thought of Troy Beatty editing a lust filled, swoon worthy tale of the billionaire. Then she giggled at herself. Alexa was getting Alaina's voicemail each time she called that she ended up calling the hospital and requested to get connected to her room. When Alaina was on the line, Alaina wondered why Alexa didn't just call her mobile and she realized that she has completely shut off her phone instead of just putting it on silent. Alexa called to arrange her discharge and asked when Geno or Sonny can come pick her up. Alaina's voice was sad when she said that she wants to go home to her place. "Why? How can you make me and Nicky stay here and then decide you won't join us? I don't understand. Nicky and I might as well go home with you; your place is big enough." Alexa said to her, sounding frustrated with all her change of plans. Alaina felt that she's been off putting to her sister since she's arrived that she won't answer her questions, she's advised her to stay at the terrace, and she's pretty much rewarded her sister's concern with fickle decisions and plans. "I am sorry, sis, you're right. You have done nothing but acquiesce to my requests and here I am back and forth with my plans. Tell Geno or Sonny they are discharging me this afternoon. Will you be there at the terrace or will you come with them to get me?" Alaina said to Alexa contritely. "What's the harm, Martin won't be back for another three days, she and her siblings would be out by then, and Teddy can confirm to him that they have stayed there and his imagined obligation is fulfilled." Alaina muttered. Alaina also surmised that she can start writing the article on Martin while her siblings are around. It would keep her material in perspective and perhaps, even ask them for objectivity, plenty of objectivity. Sonny immediately volunteered to go alone to pick up Alaina from the hospital once he learned that she was getting discharged. He stopped himself briefly from the thought of being alone with her in the car when he remembered the advice he has given his own brother. "These Gold women will be our undoing." He said under his breath, shaking his head at the effect the sisters have on his brother and him. Geno was more than happy to stay behind, but only if Alexa isn't going to the hospital. The brother seemed to have disappeared from the equation since morning, when he asked Geno to drive him to Fort Lewis and requested he comes back for him at "2200" or ten in the evening as normal folks and non-military personnel would just easily call it. Sonny likes the kid and Geno, he isn't sure if his sibling likes Nicky because his brother is too busy sighing over Alexa Gold. "Never mind that, you two yahoos aren't here to like or dislike any person that has any bearing on your employer." Sonny quietly reminded himself. As he prepared to take the modest Benz to pick up Alaina, Geno came rushing out to the parking lot and announced they better take the limousine, instead as Alexa decided to come along and get her sister. Sonny shook his head in dismay after seeing Geno's grin. And because the only time he thought he may have alone with Alaina, has been thrown a kink. Sonny grinned back at Geno and said, "You just won't quit, fratello, you just won't quit." "When have you ever known me to, brother?" Geno asked and stated at the same time. "That's exactly what I worry about." Sonny snickered. At that moment, Theodore called out to both of them and asked if the car was ready, as Alexa Gold came out and thanked Theodore for the delicious meal she just had. "Martha cooks, Ms. Alexa, I only advice what should be on the menu." Theodore told her. "I am looking forward to seeing Ms. Alaina again, and I hope that she has been feeling better, Madame." He added as Alexa got in the limo. Alexa has started feeling comfortable with the two bodyguards since she thought of them being in the mob, when they picked her and Nicky up at the airport. "Beautiful sunset, isn't it, Ms. Gold?" she heard Geno say. "Yes, it is. I take it you have been here in the Northwest long?" Alexa responded to Geno. She was surprised to hear that they have both arrived the same time she and Nicky did in Seattle. Alexa thought that they may have traveled to Seattle before because they seem to be at ease with directions. The limousine pulled away from the driveway, headed to Harborview.
Alaina felt surprisingly calm as she reminisced how her meeting with Martin Green went. She wasn't asking herself the probabilities, what could have been and what has been with how everything has developed between them. Alaina has never been the type of person who doubts her person, if anything, she is the kind of person that is well adjusted with relating, hence, the happy feel of her break up with Joseph. After her mother's close call with the heart attack, Alaina has promised herself to live for the moment and let the moment take you where your fate is supposed to go. She learned never to regret her own actions, how badly viewed they may be by Alexa or Nicky. Life is too short to live for your siblings, your family, and in their shadows, no matter how much admiration, love and respect you may have for them. She sees herself a lot in Nicky in that manner. Alexa has a lot of parent pleaser, sibling admonisher tendencies in her young twenty eight. "Soon, she will look ten years older than what she really is, if she doesn't lighten up a little," Alaina thought, fondly recalling the confession her sister made earlier that she found Martin Green far more attractive than most Hollywood movie stars. She smiled forlornly when she recalled how handsome Martin is, because she has never been the kind of woman who gets easily impressed with physical looks. But she's also very fair as she will not take away the credit due him, just as she will not exaggerate or lessen his heroic actions. "When God decided to rain beauty on earth, Martin must have been holding several buckets," she laughed at her deduction. Alaina was in this reverie when a knock came lightly on the door. The view to the door has been blocked by the hospital bed curtain but Alaina did not feel suspicious as the nurses knock lightly too, when they come in to check up on her. "Hello? Come in, please." Alaina called out to the person. She heard a man clear his throat before drawing the curtain open and Alaina came face to face with a tall, good looking man in his early to mid thirties, with blondish coloring and an affable smile. "Ms. Gold, SSA William Pepper, I apologize for not calling first and just dropping by, but I was on my way home. I just need to ask you a few questions," William said as he flashed his badge and shook Alaina's hand. His smile is warm, open and friendly, but not condescending or intimidating as most of his bureau guys seem to do when they are about to question a witness. Alaina smiled back at him and told him that it was fine, "It isn't like I am going to be late for a date or anything," she kidded the agent and caught herself, "Oh my god, did I just flirt with this man?" she thought, surprised with herself. "What has Martin done with her and his talks of abandon?" she shook her head disapprovingly, with her behavior. It's out there, it won't matter. William smiled more openly after hearing what Alaina said. As he grabbed the chair next to the hospital bed, he studied Alaina with pleasure as he found her to be a very striking looking woman. "May I?" William asked her after propping the chair closer to the bed. Alaina nodded, "yes, please," she said. "And what may I help you with in terms of the case? I was under the impression that charges will be filed without any glitch." Alaina added, she was half curious and half dismayed. "No doubt, the charges will be filed and yes, ma'am, they will stick and he will be convicted on all counts, I'm pretty sure of that." William reassured her. "But there are things that aren't clear regarding the perpetrator's identity and I was hoping you may be able to tell me whether you overheard anything or have seen anything, prior to his…" and William's voice cut off, trying to put it delicately for Alaina, the proper words without possibly stressing her out. "You can say it, agent Pepper, and prior to him kidnapping me and assaulting me and killing my dog." Alaina finished what William wanted to say. She said the statement in such a calm way, if William didn't know the signs of denial on victims' profiles, he would have guessed that she's gone through years of therapy already. He smiled to himself when he realized he was profiling Alaina Gold. "How long have you known Mr. Green?" he asked. Alaina looked at him impishly as she wasn't expecting the question. She felt uncomfortable all of a sudden. Alaina cleared her throat and nervously answered, "About five days ago, not even a week, Martin, uhm, Mr. Green was kind enough to allow my paper to give us an interview and uhm, I was writing a cover based on his life, but not biographical, nothing like that," she stammered. "Well, that makes you sound so eloquent!" she thought quietly, disappointed that her surprise reaction to the question was evident. William smiled again, after she spoke and he turned his attention to the notes he was jotting down to give her enough time to recover from her discomfort. Alaina breathed a sigh of relief that William had to write down her answers as she was sure she was blushing. As William continued with his line of questions, Alaina tried to sound as detached to them, but every time she had to say Martin's name, she knew the agent can sense there is certain warmth and excitement to her voice. After the interview, William Pepper has come to the conclusion that Alaina Gold feels an attraction towards Martin Green. He thanked her for her time and as he disappeared out on the hallway, he thought to himself, "What woman have you met who was not attracted to the Northwest's most famous eligible bachelor/billionaire Green?" he thought, shaking his head, as he walked away from the hospital lobby to his car. Alaina felt herself still blushing from recalling the events of her abduction. The mere mention of Martin's name sent fond thoughts to her mind and verbalizing his actions on that day, hearing herself recount his bravery, made Alaina admire the man more. "How surprising the difference is, to recall someone who has saved your life versus watching it and hearing it on the news," she thought fairly. She decided to pen the article with some detachment when she gets to working on it. Otherwise, it may come out as some biographical write up with a groupie penning it, she thought wryly. She smiled at the thought of Troy Beatty editing a lust filled, swoon worthy tale of the billionaire. Then she giggled at herself. Alexa was getting Alaina's voicemail each time she called that she ended up calling the hospital and requested to get connected to her room. When Alaina was on the line, Alaina wondered why Alexa didn't just call her mobile and she realized that she has completely shut off her phone instead of just putting it on silent. Alexa called to arrange her discharge and asked when Geno or Sonny can come pick her up. Alaina's voice was sad when she said that she wants to go home to her place. "Why? How can you make me and Nicky stay here and then decide you won't join us? I don't understand. Nicky and I might as well go home with you; your place is big enough." Alexa said to her, sounding frustrated with all her change of plans. Alaina felt that she's been off putting to her sister since she's arrived that she won't answer her questions, she's advised her to stay at the terrace, and she's pretty much rewarded her sister's concern with fickle decisions and plans. "I am sorry, sis, you're right. You have done nothing but acquiesce to my requests and here I am back and forth with my plans. Tell Geno or Sonny they are discharging me this afternoon. Will you be there at the terrace or will you come with them to get me?" Alaina said to Alexa contritely. "What's the harm, Martin won't be back for another three days, she and her siblings would be out by then, and Teddy can confirm to him that they have stayed there and his imagined obligation is fulfilled." Alaina muttered. Alaina also surmised that she can start writing the article on Martin while her siblings are around. It would keep her material in perspective and perhaps, even ask them for objectivity, plenty of objectivity. Sonny immediately volunteered to go alone to pick up Alaina from the hospital once he learned that she was getting discharged. He stopped himself briefly from the thought of being alone with her in the car when he remembered the advice he has given his own brother. "These Gold women will be our undoing." He said under his breath, shaking his head at the effect the sisters have on his brother and him. Geno was more than happy to stay behind, but only if Alexa isn't going to the hospital. The brother seemed to have disappeared from the equation since morning, when he asked Geno to drive him to Fort Lewis and requested he comes back for him at "2200" or ten in the evening as normal folks and non-military personnel would just easily call it. Sonny likes the kid and Geno, he isn't sure if his sibling likes Nicky because his brother is too busy sighing over Alexa Gold. "Never mind that, you two yahoos aren't here to like or dislike any person that has any bearing on your employer." Sonny quietly reminded himself. As he prepared to take the modest Benz to pick up Alaina, Geno came rushing out to the parking lot and announced they better take the limousine, instead as Alexa decided to come along and get her sister. Sonny shook his head in dismay after seeing Geno's grin. And because the only time he thought he may have alone with Alaina, has been thrown a kink. Sonny grinned back at Geno and said, "You just won't quit, fratello, you just won't quit." "When have you ever known me to, brother?" Geno asked and stated at the same time. "That's exactly what I worry about." Sonny snickered. At that moment, Theodore called out to both of them and asked if the car was ready, as Alexa Gold came out and thanked Theodore for the delicious meal she just had. "Martha cooks, Ms. Alexa, I only advice what should be on the menu." Theodore told her. "I am looking forward to seeing Ms. Alaina again, and I hope that she has been feeling better, Madame." He added as Alexa got in the limo. Alexa has started feeling comfortable with the two bodyguards since she thought of them being in the mob, when they picked her and Nicky up at the airport. "Beautiful sunset, isn't it, Ms. Gold?" she heard Geno say. "Yes, it is. I take it you have been here in the Northwest long?" Alexa responded to Geno. She was surprised to hear that they have both arrived the same time she and Nicky did in Seattle. Alexa thought that they may have traveled to Seattle before because they seem to be at ease with directions. The limousine pulled away from the driveway, headed to Harborview.