She tries a new approach.   With her heart in her throat Shane begins, “Bette we need to stop with these personal crimes we commit to ourselves.  You and me we both seem to fall into the same niche of destruction.”  Feeling the need to do more and with tears streaking down her face she goes on.  “I promise you right now Bette I will stop if you do.  Do you hear me Bette?  Please say you hear me.” 

There’s no response from Bette and in all reality Shane knew there wouldn’t be yet the words leave an impression on Shane.  She’s going to use them again at her first opportunity.  With nothing left but time she hugs Bette close and rocks back and forth to comfort herself more then to comfort Bette.

*****

“Are you kidding me?  You think I’m into this?” Alice shouts to Candace not caring that everyone in the news room is watching them now.  Candace for her part just stares at Alice not liking one bit this side play. 

It suddenly dawns on Alice where they are, darting her head around her eyes get big.  Grabbing Candace’s arm she pulls her down so her head is at Alice’s level in front of the monitor. 

“These are pictures I found on a USB drive taped to the bottom of Helena’s desk.  They’ve got something to do with what Helena’s up to but I don’t know what.  Do you know anything about Boys?” Alice whispers as fast as she can get the words out.

It’s a good thing Alice wasn’t in a position to see the death glare that fell over Candace’s eyes.  In a slow overly enunciated way Candace asks Alice one simple question. 

“You took something from Helena’s office?”

Alice not getting that she did anything wrong answers quickly.  “Well yes, I know I should have told you earlier but I didn’t really know if it would be anything of any importance and to be honest I still don’t … I  mean what can this”  pointing to the screen of half naked boys manipulating some guy’s equipment,  “have to do with Bette.  I mean there has to be a connection I just don’t see it right now.  We’ll have to look into this but I’m thinking we need to keep iy on the down low.” Alice concentrating on the screen.  “This is something I know nothing about.”

Alice finally stops talking her nervous energy at an end.  She is expecting Candace to respond in some way but Candace for her part remains silent.  She’s not even looking at the pictures now but looking at Alice as if just seeing her for the first time. 

It’s under this hard scrutiny that Alice finally becomes uncomfortable with the silence.  “What???  What … are you going to say anything or just stand there like a mute fish?”

It’s now that Candace realizes that Alice doesn’t get it. “Are you fucking clueless?  You took something for Helena’s office.  Don’t you think that at some point Helena’s going to miss what you took and figure out that someone has taken it?  And in order to take it they had to venture into her home, illegally to obtain said object.  I don’t know about you but I would  not be surprised if they have a video camera taping all the coming and going of that gated community.  A video camera that’s going to show ME going in on a day after I’ve been told by her goons to leave town.   Now I’m no rocket scientist wizard like you but even I can put two and two together and come up with three.”

The stark reality of what Candace was saying sliced into Alice’s brain hurting her on it’s entry.

“Oh my God” Alice says while holding her hand to her forehead.

“Is that all you can say?  No smart colorful comment to make me feel like in idiot?” Candace pushes.

Standing up Alice quickly shuts down the pictures and pulls the USB from its port.  Looking around she sees the file from Rolly and quickly snatches it up too.  With a determined look on her face she grabs Candace by the forearm again.  “Come on we have to get out of here and get you somewhere where no one will think to find you.  I have just the place.”

Practically being dragged out by Alice, Candace goes along hesitantly.  “Where?” is her only question.

“My girlfriend’s place.  No one would think to look for you there.”