It is Sunday morning and Lucy is at work. The emergency meeting that was scheduled for Monday became more of an emergency, it seems. But it is starting to make sense for Lucy, ever since Isabella returned last night.

On Friday, Lucy shut herself in her home. First, it was the shock of Isabella's disappearance that knocked her over; the news of Angelo Lord being held for questioning by the police was the second blow; the reconnection with James was the third and final knockout punch. Lucy had, since Friday, been glued to her computer. The messages from James opened the floodgates of emotion, for both of them. It was like no time had passed at all, except now there was Skype. Before long they were sitting face to face, a thousand miles apart, laughing, crying. So many oh my God's and no ways.

Friday night became Saturday. By Sunday morning, the living room was littered with empty bags of potato chips, dusty popcorn bowls, and the remnants of a delivery pizza. Her cat had disappeared at some point over the weekend. She hadn't even noticed until she left for work this morning.

But she does remember that she heard a car door close sometime late Saturday night. She peeked outside to see a cab driving away and assumed that Franny had come back. But when she got a text message from Franny a few minutes later saying that she would be staying in Seattle for the week, Lucy figured she had better go talk to the cops, who were likely creeping through Isabella's stuff again.

As she opened the door to go across the outdoor breezeway to the girl's apartment, she ran into Isabella, running to see her.

"What the hell is going on?" Isabella looked like a mess.

"Oh my dear God, we all thought you were dead." Lucy hugged her like she was her little sister. Lucy brought her in, introduced her to James via webcam, and filled her in on everything that had happened: the police investigation, the news stories, the whole Angelo Lord show. Isabella explained that she couldn't say much, especially about what went on with Angelo. She just told her that, after all that occurred, she took a few days off for a quick breather with a man she thought she was in love with, only to find out that the prick was married. Isabella had no idea that she was considered missing, let alone presumed dead. Her absence from work was supposed to have been 'looked after' by her friend. But Lucy was most surprised that she could get home unnoticed, with all the media attention to the story, and she concluded that maybe no one thought of keeping an eye out for a dead girl on a flight from Santa Barbara. More than anything else, Isabella wanted to call her parents.

There must have been a few people who got wind of Isabella's reappearance, because it wasn't too long before Lucy started getting emails and instant messages. Some were from Alpha, from people she didn't even know. And Pompey, he chimed in a few times too.

But it was the phone call that was the weirdest thing. Someone called her from a blocked number. He said his name was Vincent Duke, as if she would fall for that. But whoever he was, he did know that Isabella was in her apartment, and he did know, before Lucy did, that Monday's secret meeting would be moved to Sunday morning, and that he would see her there. It was imperative, he also said, that she was to bring Isabella to the meeting as well. She would be central to the proceedings, the man said.

And now, it is Sunday morning and Lucy is at work, with Isabella Measures. They are in a building on the outskirts of the Alpha complex. Lucy has never been in here before, in fact, she thought it was part of the wall of the gatehouse. But, deep inside, there is a small auditorium, about the size of a courtroom. It is fitting that this is where they will conduct the hearing into the affairs of the past week. 

Security is tight. Their ID tags checked, their retinas scanned, they are ushered into the hall. Isabella is shown through a door at the back, while Lucy takes a seat behind a panel table, with her name on it. The whole scene reminds her of a Congressional hearing or a Senate investigation into the sexual affairs of a president of the United States. Top level stuff. 

The nameplates for the other panelists read like a who's who of Alpha, with a few low-level employees thrown in. It looks like one of their restorative justice hearings but the big boys get to sit in: Charles Escalus, Vincent Duke, she is not sure if he will appear in person, or in absentia, plus other names she recognizes from corporate releases: Valencius, Rowland, and Crassus. Then there are a few, like her, from the middle ranks. And Pompey. He, again, has his nose into this. She is the only woman on this committee. The name that is not on the panel is Angelo Lord. And Fryer. She is surprised that he is not on the panel, as he seems to love these little touchy-feely sessions. The H.R. position is filled by a man with the last name Peter. She would have given him the first name Peter, if she had been his mother. Lucy looks across the room and sees that Isabella is no longer here; she has been led away into another room. She wonders how Isabella can do this, show up to this hearing, especially when she saw her come in last night. Isabella fixed herself up a little, but Lucy could see that she did not sleep much. She still looks like a doll though. Oh, to be young again. Lucy hasn't slept much either but doesn't feel the fatigue that she thought she would. She is still pumped, on a high from reconnecting with James. And from the promise they made to each other, before signing off Skype this morning.

Security leads people into the room, one by one, and they take their places. Some are sitting in the chairs that face the raised platform where Lucy and the other panelists are seated. The room is alive with chatter. There are cameras and recorders. It looks like they will be using this hearing as another public staging. The room is full, and a few media types are standing at the back. They are all focused on the empty seats: those of Vincent Duke and Charles Escalus, and one empty one on the floor, front and centre. When the door opens and three men make their entrance, all attention is on Vincent Duke. The prince has returned. Duke looks just like he did when Lucy saw him last, on stage at the Geary Theatre. Polished and perfect, still as gorgeous as she remembers, he looks like he was cast for this role. Angelo Lord, dressed sharply in a suit, takes a seat on the floor while Escalus and Duke stand before the audience. Cameras click. 

"My friends, please accept my thanks for steering the company through what have been turbulent waters. I have heard good things about your leadership." Vincent Duke delivers his lines with smooth confidence. Looking at Escalus, he says, "Thank you, Charles." 

"The purpose of meeting here this morning, however, is not to praise individuals, as much as it is to investigate certain events and allegations of behavior unbecoming of the leadership of an employee of Alpha Incorporated. I want to restore faith in our company. I want to get to the bottom of these allegations and with the input of the committee before you, I want to make the changes necessary to keep Alpha the progressive, fair and equitable company that it is." 

Duke faces the back wall, by the rear door where the cameras are rolling. He addresses the nation with these lines: "Alpha International Incorporated will be conducting an internal investigation into the conduct of certain employees, and of the culture of our entire workplace. We take allegations of misconduct very seriously, and do not condone harassment, abuse of power, discrimination or inequality at any level. We will be conducting this investigation behind closed doors, in order to respect the privacy of the parties involved, and will be issuing a public statement at the conclusion of these proceedings. Thank you." 

With that, the doors open and Alpha security officers begin escorting the reporters out of the room. It proceeds without a skirmish, and Lucy figures that the media knew they were not going to be part of the full investigation. Once the reporters have left, the meeting takes on a whole new tone. It is like there has been a communal sigh of relief. 

Now it is time for business. Escalus speaks first. "Before we begin, I need to remind every one of the terms of your non-disclosure agreements. All of us, myself included, are subject to the terms of that contract. There will be things revealed this morning that are to remain classified and are not to leave the confines of this room. Everyone must understand this. Does anyone have any questions about this?" 

He looks around the room, then to Duke, on his left. There is silence. Lucy figures that it is understood, but she has a question. Or two. Like, how it is that a company can proclaim full disclosure, yet hold its investigation hearing behind closed doors, with those involved not even allowed to speak of it? It is not like they will be discussing competitive business secrets. And, how would Isabella feel knowing that her so-called internal investigation is nothing more than a sham played out for the media? Then again, she thinks, maybe it is a good thing this is just a kangaroo court because her hands are not exactly clean either. There are a lot of eyes on Vincent Duke. It's like everyone knows something that she doesn't. Her and Pompey, maybe a couple of others, are out of the loop, not worthy to fully enter the secret world of Alpha Incorporated.

Escalus addresses the tribunal: "As you all know by now, Angelo Lord has come forward and disclosed to me some aspects of his personal life that might be seen in a negative light by some. He did this of his own accord, although he was aware that certain events might be made public, and that the Corporation may have to answer questions regarding the sexual behavior of its acting CEO. On behalf of Alpha Incorporated, I thank you for your foresight in this matter and your commitment to the company." 

Angelo nods to Escalus. Here goes the boy's club again, Lucy thinks. She will need to keep her mouth shut and not say anything sarcastic, not like she is prone to do that. 

"We know that the events of the past few days have raised some questions about Mr. Lord, and the extent to which Alpha has a role in safeguarding our employees. Let me be clear, Angelo Lord was never charged with any crimes. There is no reason to believe that any laws were broken. A woman who was believed to be missing has reappeared and has cooperated with authorities and with our own people here at Alpha. Ms. Measures, the intern who began working here only last week, was apparently out of town, and oblivious to everything that has transpired. She has agreed to come forward this morning, and her testimony will form the beginning of this investigative hearing." 

The man named Peter gets up and walks to the back of the room, to the door where Isabella was sent. He knocks, and Isabella's pretty face appears, first displaying a look of shock, then she tentatively looks around, side to side, at the dozen or so people in the room. Peter takes Isabella by the arm and walks her to the front, below Vincent Duke. She is standing next to Angelo Lord for a minute, before she turns, sees him, and jumps back with a startle. Lucy tries to imagine how Isabella feels at this moment: it seems to her that the young girl is being treated as the accused here. Angelo sits, impervious to the proceedings. 

Peter says to her, "Now is your time: speak loud." Isabella looks like she is about to kneel before him, but gives a nod to Vincent Duke. 

"Sir, I want you to see that I have been wronged. Please, don't pay attention to any other story until you have heard my true complaint."

 Vincent Duke's voice is calm, yet his words are pointed. "Wronged? What do you mean by 'wronged.' In what? By whom? It is pretty clear that you are not dead. The police concluded that it was all a misunderstanding, that no laws were broken. If you have a grievance, now is your chance. Here is Angelo Lord, say it to him, reveal your complaint." 

Lucy is shocked to hear this, and can only imagine what Isabella must be feeling. Do they want her to accuse, in person, the former CEO of wrongdoing? To his face? 

"Mr. Duke, you are asking me to seek redemption from the devil! Listen to me, because I have nothing more to lose. Either you will not believe me, and punish me for bringing forward false accusations, or you will believe me, and then condemn me for being the one who brought this upon myself." 

Angelo Lord jumps to his feet and addresses the entire room. "Listen to her, she is not all there. She was the one who approached me about her brother, who was fired with cause." 

"Fired with cause?" Isabella is shouting now. 

Angelo points to her. "You see, she is bitter, and strange." 

"Strange? Yes it is strange, this whole thing is very strange," Isabella says, "but even though what I am saying sounds strange, what I am saying is true: that Angelo Lord commits perjury, is that not strange? That Mr. Lord is a tyrant, is that not strange? That Angelo is a sexual deviant, a liar, a hypocrite, a virgin-violator, is that not stranger than strange? And it is as true as it is strange. Truth is truth." 

Vincent Duke grimaces and flicks his hand. "Poor girl. Take her away, she is obviously not making any sense." 

Lucy looks around the room. There is a nonchalant, business-as-usual air about their reaction, as though this was just another meeting. Do none of these men see the drama unfolding here? Heads are down, people taking notes or reading on their phones. Meanwhile, before them, this girl is being accused of insanity. She can only imagine the rage that Isabella must be feeling inside. The anguish and disbelief in her eyes, the squint lines tell it all. 

"You need to believe me!" She points at Angelo. "This man, in all his fancy suits, and titles and degrees, he is a villain. Believe it. I wish I had a way to describe his evil." 

Isabella is clearly flustered, and not making much sense. This is not going well for her. Lucy feels for her, but at the same time, knows that if she were to offer any help, she would be writing her own death sentence too. In their eyes she would just be another woman ganging up on bashing the boss. 

"Please Mr. Duke," Isabella begs, "do not write me off as mad. I may not sound rational right now, but you are. Use your reason to make the truth appear where it seems hid, and hide the false that seems true." There is a pause, and it looks like Duke is listening. Escalus also seems interested in hearing what Isabella has to say. She has their attention now. 

"I am the sister of Claude Measures, a man who was condemned by Angelo Lord for indecent acts while at work. I am only an intern here, and was sent to Angelo on behalf of my brother by a mutual friend." Isabella leaves a pause, and Lucy knows she has a choice to make. Time to come clean. 

Lucy raises her hand. "That was me. I came to her from Claude, and tried to get her to see if she could get her brother pardoned." 

Charles Escalus, who seems to be chairing these proceedings, shuts her down. "It is not your time to speak. Proceed Isabella." 

And Isabella proceeds. She tells all, tells how she went to see Angelo, how he demanded she sleep with him in exchange for her brother's job, how, after much debate and soul searching, she did finally yield to him, and how that same morning, he had already proceeded with the firing of Claude and the public humiliation of his notice of termination. The room is silent, except for the occasional gasp as Isabella recounts her tale. Hearing it recapped like this, Lucy knows that she won't be believed. 

There is a moment of tense silence before Vincent Duke looks up. He has been reading the notes passed to him, probably from Escalus. He has been given his lines. "I don't think you know what you are saying. How dare you subordinate yourself against Mr. Lord's honor in this hateful practice. First, his integrity stands without blemish; next, it makes no sense that he should do these things. Someone has used you to discredit Angelo Lord, to hurt Alpha. Come clean young woman, who made you come here with these accusations?" 

"You must believe me! This man is a monster!" 

"Security, take her away." As the two Alpha security guards begin to move toward Isabella, Lucy speaks. She speaks loud and she speaks clearly, and all movement ceases. "I know of one who could help us learn the truth." 

All heads turn to her, especially Isabella, who, with a wild look of fear in her eyes, is staring directly at Lucy, frantically shaking her head from side to side. Lucy can't understand why she would be so adamant about not wanting Lucy to save her, to call out the one person who might collaborate her story. 

"Mr. Fryer."