Helena reached out and started the car.  “So, where to?  Want to go see what Dana’s chef is doing?”

Alice grimaced and sliding down into the leather seat, began to loosen up a bit.  “Do you do that on purpose, or is that just a stuffy, cold, English trait?”

Helena, turning her shocked body in Alice‘s direction, said, “Excuse me, what did I do?” 

Alice: “Just your way, you know, that smug way of talking, making sure people are always reminded that they’re not truly happy.  Always making sure that they never forget that their problems are still there, robbing them of any new perspective they may have gained, picking at the scab, so to speak.”

Helena: “Oh, that”

Alice: “Yes, that, is that on purpose?”

Helena thought about it for a second before throwing the car in drive, “Yes, it’s on purpose.” 

Alice: “Yeah, I thought so, just makin sure.”

Helena dropped Alice off in front of the Mini and as she pulled away, Alice studied the business card she had given her.  “Helena Peabody, Helena Peabody, Hello, I’m Helena Pea”  Alice stopped reading the card as the Mini’s smashed front end came into view.  She couldn’t help but think about Dana and wondered what, if any, damage her own car had suffered as a result of the cat and mouse they had played the night before. 

She tucked the card in her pocket and began pulling on the now dented door; trying with all her might to force it open.  “Why don’t you just jump through the window like they do on The Dukes of Hazard?”  Alice stopped struggling and shielding her eyes from the sun, watched Bette walk over and begin inspecting the hood.  “Yeah, good idea, maybe once I get in I’ll just roll the window down and, ya know, going forward”

Bette: “Helena Peabody, Alice?  What were you doing with Helena Peabody?”

Alice dropped her hands to her side and rolling her eyes said, “You gonna help me with the door or just stand there?”

Bette walked over and placing her hand on the roof, looked down as Alice continued to struggle.  “She’s a snake; you know that, don’t you?  She’ll use you to”

Alice put her hand up and without making eye contact said, “I know, I know, okay, I know ALLLL about her.”  Bette smiled at the site of Alice‘s hair violently shaking about.  “Alright, move over and let a pro handle this.”  With one quick pull on the handle, the door flew open.  As Bette stood there, with a look on her face that could only suggest that she, in fact, surprised even herself, Alice said, “Wow, thanks Bette.  Who knew your freakishly large hands would come in handy someday?”

As Alice got in, she lowered the window and said, “Ha, for later.”  Once the window was all the way down, Bette leaned in and said, “Look, I might not have been your friend first, but I’m your friend now, Alice.”  Alice smiled and said, “I know that.”
    

Bette: “Well, then it’s my duty, as your friend, to tell you that Dana called the house this morning.  Tina’s over at her apartment right now.”