It was then that Marina realized something. Never once in the time that shed known Francesca had she questioned what the woman was doing on the road that night. Marina carefully did some snooping and found her answer. The man shed run over had not only been one of Francescas dealers, hed already been dead. In Marinas horror that night, shed never noticed the tiny bullet hold in his chest, directly above his heart. Her relief over discovering she had not killed someone was short-lived.

Francesca had set her up and made her think shed killed that man, when in reality, hed already been dead by Francescas hand.

After being confronted, Francesca bought The Planet to keep Marina busy and consented to allow Marina to stop dealing. Yet, Marina was still trapped and couldnt live. Francesca would likely kill her if she even tried.

So Marina had immersed herself in the business, trying to retain some sense of normalcy. Then shed met Bette, Tina, Alice, Shane, Dana, and Kit, the best and only friends shed ever really had. They felt safe and were like family. Suddenly, there was a glimmer of hope in her life. And then along came Jenny.

Marina told Jenny to leave because she loved her and wanted to protect her. Francesca had been considering killing Jenny, and Marina had refused to let Jenny become in any way tangled in Francescas twisted web of deceit, danger, and murder. So shed given up the best thing she had ever had in order to save it. Marina would rather be miserable and alone and know Jenny was safe than to have her dead.

Then Francesca had mercifully died in that freak plane crash. Marina didnt care for the details, she just cared that the ***** was really and truly gone forever. She knew she shouldnt celebrate another humans death, but this was an exception. She felt relieved, and free for the first time in three years.

When Marina had learned she had inherited what Francesca had, she was, to put it quite simply, shocked and almost dismayed. It was a final slap in the face from beyond the grave, as Francesca knew Marina would know where the money came from and would be horrified and too guilty to use it.

And Marina had felt guilty accepting Francescas money, which was well in the millions. However, she had had a realization. Yes, it was tainted drug money, dirty blood money. People had died for this money. But Marina vowed to do something positive with it. She couldnt right the wrongs of the past, but she could at least do good with what shed been given.

After giving a good amount to many charities and organizations, including several that helped the families of those addicted to drugs and alcohol, Marina had decided to put the rest to good use in another way: her friends. They were all she had, and had unknowingly helped see her through her darkest hours, giving her the power to continue living. Marina silently vowed to help them any way and any time she could. Shed started with Kit, taking her on as a partner at no cost with a generous salary.

Not that Marina hadnt benefited. Kit was a genius at bringing the crowds in and organizing things, and business was now booming more than ever before. Shed done more than enough to earn both the pay check and her title.

Though she hated Francesca, Marina reluctantly had to thank the dead woman. Without Francesca, she never would have turned her life around, met her friends, or fallen in love for the first time. She had to thank Francesca for unwittingly giving her the opportunity to turn such a horrifying thing into something else, something better. And Marina knew she would never forget that, or Francesca, especially as she stood laughing in the cemetery and mockingly spit on the dead womans grave.

Marina suddenly smiled. May she rot in *****.

Her smile suddenly dimmed. Now that Francesca was gone, would she ever see Jenny again?