Episode 12 Pact with the Devil by Patrick Scanlan

Ellie stood at the kitchen making some scones as Lucy entered the room.

"Hi Grandma."

"Hello Lucy, we missed you last night at supper, did you decide to stay over at Dean's?"

Lucy walked over to her grandmother and gave her a hug.

"I am sorry, I should have called, in fact I should have come home but I just couldn't bear another family meal sat in silence with only forced conversation. It's so hard being here at the moment."

"I know honey and I wasn't criticising, I know you want to spend time with Dean planning the wedding but it's just…"

 

"You don't have to explain, you need my support to help keep this family together now and staying away just makes it all the harder for you."

"I want to tell you something now and for you to make me a promise Lucy"

Lucy nodded and Ellie continued.

"As well as giving you Southfork when I die you will be my sole benefactor. You have grown into a strong woman Lucy and I want you to continue to keep the family legacy alive and together. I want you to become the centre stone of this family when I am gone."

"Grandma you are not going anywhere, I won't have you talking like that."

Ellie shushed Lucy and said

"Promise me."

Lucy nodded and with tears in their eyes the two women hugged. After a moment Lucy pulled away and then spoke

"Did Bobby come home last night?"

"No" Ellie replied, "I just hope he was with Pamela and not sat in the office all night long or in some bar. I just wish to God he would face up to what is happening and confront JR and Sue Ellen. The silence that has descended on this house is threatening to destroy us all."

Afton was running late as she had been nursing Becky through another morning of sickness.

Her daughter had finally stopped vomiting and was now lying down; who ever said that was nature's gift must have had a dry sense of humour Afton thought. Becky was unfortunately just like her and was having a terrible time in her first trimester and hadn't gone a day without being ill for the last month.

Anyway Afton put all this to the back of her mind as she finally found her car keys and left the condo. As she got into her car Afton had a terrible feeling of impending doom and a fluttering in her stomach, this lunch date had unnerved her and she wasn't really sure why. She looked at the clock and saw that she had less then 30 minutes to get into the city and to the restaurant were she had arranged to meet Sue Ellen.

Pamela sat in the Dallas Police Department being interviewed. Detective Burke stood over Pam and slammed his fist down on the table that separated them.

"Mrs Ewing I don't think you understand the seriousness of this situation, you are already pending trial for Obstructing Justice I am giving you a chance to have the charges dropped."

"By offering my son up like a lamb to the slaughter, I would rather rot in some jail cell then!"

"Look Mrs Ewing, the forensic reports are in and Miss Smithfield's supposed suicide was definitely murder. The bullet wound shows that the gun was fired from a position that would have it made it impossible for it to have been suicide. Furthermore, if we proceed with the belief that this was not a suicide, then the suicide note which was left was written under force which would not only make the confession of the murder of John Ross false, it would make the person who is responsibly for this act also responsible for the former murder, or trying to protect the person guilty of the first crime. Where were you on the night if Miss Smithfield's death Mrs Ewing?"

Pamela stared at the detective in silence with a look of steely determination on her face.

"Look lady I know you have a habit of covering up murders but this isn't Kansas, so unless you want to be arrested for murder or you want your son to face questioning on a double homicide I suggest you tell us where he is immediately."

 

Ray sat on the sofa reading the morning paper as Margaret walked into the room.

"Hi there Daddy"

Margaret still felt slightly awkward about calling Ray her father but tried not to let it show in her voice.

"Hi honey, how are you today?"

"I am fine. I am going to go the mall to do some shopping if that okay, unless you have any chores you need me to do?"

"No honey that's fine, you go out and enjoy yourself."

Ray took out a $20 note from his wallet and handed it to Margaret

"Get yourself some lunch on me"

"Thanks Daddy"

Margaret leaned over and kissed Ray on the cheek and then left the room. As the front door banged the telephone immediate rang. Ray placed the paper down and picked up the phone. He was greeted by the crackling voice of his ex wife over her cell phone.

"Hi Ray its Donna, how are things?"

"Hello there. Everything is fine over here, how are you we missed you this last weekend."

"I know I am sorry its just that things are really busy here and am spending much more time in DC working on Senator Thornton's campaign then I initially expected." How is Margaret is she there?"

"You just missed her, she out shopping probable costing us a small fortune," Ray laughed.

"So when will you be back next?"

"Well the conference at City Hall is almost here so I am going to be flying back to Dallas by the weekend and will be staying right until the conference is over. So have you room for another house guest?"

"Sure"

"That's great Ray, anyway I have got to go, thank you so much again for looking after Margaret and I will see you real soon."

"No problem and Donna, you are not a house guest you are family."

There was a pause on the line then Donna responded.

"That means a lot to me. I will see you real soon."

The line disconnected and Ray was left to sit in quiet contemplation.