If our upbringing taught Emily and I anything, is that in a crisis, you quickly find out who your friends are. Moments like this rarely come and when they do, the bring a certain clarity.

The police were called and Daniel, Charlotte and Declan were taken for questioning. I grabbed my sisters hand and took off running back to our house.

"Trash the house, quickly." I shout and push over furniture "Tyler robbed us while we were at the party."

"You should have headed my warning." I spin around seeing Takeda in the shadows.

"What did you do!" I yell attacking him he blocked my attacks and shoved me against the wall. I saw Emily come in the same manor on the attack as well. Using the chance I brought him down from behind and pinned him down.

"Your lack of discipline has brought chaos." he spoke Japanese

"What happened on the beach?" I asked panting then let go and slid back. Takeda stood up.

"The boy was going to expose you." he brought out the Grayson Global beach picture with additional names added to it. He then told us what happened, the fight he watched, Daniel shooting Tyler in the chest and then him knocking Daniel out before finishing the job.

"But there were others. The girl you call Amanda. She has been taken care of...And then..."

"Jack." We breathed

"The boy that you have feelings for." His gaze turned to Emily "You cannot save them both." he threw the picture over and rose to his feet leaving. I saw the box and grabbed it.

"Argh!" i scream smashing it to pieces.

-

I sat in the police station, my statement was being taken surrounding the events of night and our history with Tyler.

"When I went home, to get some clothes for Daniel. I noticed that my gun was missing. A window was open. I presume that's how Tyler got in and stole it while we were at the party."

"Do you normally keep your gun loaded, Miss Thorne?" Gunther questioned

"My sister and I have one each, mine isn't loaded but after what happened last time, I felt the need, despite Tyler being in a facility for his needs.

There were a few more questions before I joined the others outside. I sat next to Emily and lent my head on her shoulder. We waited another hour before Detective Gunther came out. All of us got up to see what was going on.

"Mr and Mrs Grayson you've had a very busy few months here in the Hamptons" Gunther commented

"Are you charging him?" I ask, not bothering with small talk..

"Not yet but if your planning on joining the Labour Day exodus to the city, don't." he answers and I breath a sigh of relief.

"Then we're going to be taking him home, in case it's lost upon you, he has a severe head injury." Victoria retorts gesturing for emphasis

"He's also covered in blood presumably the Victims who was apparently killed by bullets fired from his fiancee's gun. No, we still have questions."

"Yeah, which won't be answered until his lawyer is present. Or do you want me to call him right now and just let him know my son's rights are being violated?" Conrad retorted. Gunther glanced back and nodded. Daniel came out and came straight over to me. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I wrapped him in my arms. That was too uncomfortably close to him being dead. That was the last thing I wanted.

"Come on let's go home." I tell him

"We have a car waiting for you." Victoria told him

"I'm gonna go with Olivia and Emily." he told her and turned to me "But I need to speak with my mother first...alone."

"I'll bring the car around." we separated, Emily and I walked out with Nolan

"smart move, running back to the house to create a cover, for how Tyler got your gun." Nolan muttered to us as the doors opened and we walked to the parking lot.

"It might not even matter. Tyler could have told Daniel everything ." I sigh and unlock my car

"Tyler's not exactly a reliable source, and Daniel loves you. Unless that's changed?" he wondered and I stopped they copied

"We had an argument at the party. I'm not sure where we stand." I wrap my arms around myself and Nolan takes off his jacket draping it over my shoulders

"You were just standing in a police station, I would say the more pressing issue is the whereabouts of your father infinity box?"

"Now that, I know. It's safe and sound. Let's go." Emily and I got into the car, I rolled down the window "Thank you, Nolan."

"Anytime." I roll my window back up and bring the car around to the front of the station. Daniel gets into the front passenger seat. I pull away from his mother standing on the curb, he silent on the way back

"Are you okay?" i ask "What were you talking about to your mother about?"

"We had words at the party. I just wanted to clear the air." I nodded in understanding.

"That's good. You're gonna need as much support as you can get right now." I tell him reaching over to take his hand. "Daniel, what happened on the beach with you and Tyler?" he heaves a sigh.

"I don't remember." I didn't press him further. We arrive home a half hour later, Sammy and justice were waiting

"You must be exhausted." I say entering, there was a soft meow and fur around my ankles

"Hey Justice." I pick up my little kitten as Emily kneels down in front of Sammy

"Hey Sammy." Emily breathed petting him. I bent down to while still holding justice

"Good boy." I coo.

"You should take him for a walk. Both of you have been stuck in that police station, stretch your legs." Something in his tone of voice was off, that tone was trying to be suggestive but wanting them to do your bidding.

"You're right." I stood up and handed him Justice, he took her from me "Em, it's turned cold. Let's go get changed." She nodded knowing my thought without even words. The two of us changed and left with Sammy.

"Tyler defiantly told him something. He's suspicious ." I breath as Sammy runs across the beach after I throw a piece of drift wood we found.

"You think he's searching the house?" Em wondered

"Most likely, though we both know he won't find anything. let's jut hope Tyler didn't get specific." we continued on our walk. Emily went to get breakfast for us and I headed back inside with Sammy. Daniel was on the floor the floorboard hatch was open.

"What are you doing?" I wonder.

"Looking for answers." he replied searching through the box we had put there as a decoy. "what is this?" he dropped the contents back in. I headed over.

"Looks like stuff left by a previous owner. How did you even..." he cut me off

"Tyler told me that, you and Emily have been playing me, that you had secrets hidden underneath the floorboards." he admitted and I drop next to him

"Daniel, Tyler was mentally ill. If he wasn't delusional, he was a liar." I took his hand "He held us a gun point." Daniel visibly relaxed and rested his head on my shoulder.

"You're right. I'm sorry." I wrapped my arm around him

"There is no need to apologise. You're injured and traumatised." I kissed his head "I love you Daniel and I'm going to be by your side no matter what. Come on you need sleep." I helped him up and took him away glancing back at the box of junk .

----------------

The next afternoon, we were all rested. Daniel and I had returned to Grayson Manor, where we now had a lawyer who had been briefed. I held onto Daniels hand in support.

"As of now, Daniel hasn't been charged with anything." Mr Brooks began "All we know is Tyler Barroll appears to have been shot to death and Daniel was found unconscious at the scene with some blood on him. Everyone's waiting on the corners report, as well as your results from your finger print and gunshot residue tests. Until we know that, we won't know what we're up against."

"Mr Brooks, I want to tell you how grateful we are that you've agree to represent Daniel, and that you can count on my husband and I to work as a team." Victoria stated

"Where is your husband?" he wondered and I looked back to Victoria "Never mind, but right now I would like to speak to Daniel alone, so if you please."

"I'll see you later." I give him a kiss

"Bye." I left and went home, there outside playing with Sammy was...

"Jack." I was surprised "Um, shouldn't you be half way to Haiti by now?" I wonder, and think about swinging for Nolan who had told Ems and i he had gone.

"Yeah but my engine had other ideas. How are you doing? I heard what happened." he turned the conversation around.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I relaxed a little "It's Daniel I'm worried about. The police were questioning him really hard." I scratch my head

"Do they have any other suspects?" he wondered

"No idea. They're not exactly big for keeping us in the loop." I answer "How's Declan doing. Finding Tylers body must have been pretty awful"

"Yeah, he's playing it cool, but I'm not buying it." he answered as we lent on the railings.He then looked like he wanted to ask something and was debating about it before saying something. "You haven't heard from Amanda by any chance have you?"

"No. Still no luck getting a hold of her?"

"No." he stopped glancing down then back up "her phones disconnected. Interesting necklace." he pointed

"I'm wearing three. Which one?"

"The four hearts, it looks familiar." he shook it off "Anyway thank you. For looking after Sammy."

"Anytime." he and Sammy left and I took out my phone texting Emily to meet me at Nolan's. I turned around and headed back to my car driving to our friends house. Emily was already there.

"We need to see the footage from Jack's boat. He hasn't left town." I stated through the halls of his mansion.

"What? He should be around the Outer Banks by now." Nolan replied

"Try our back porch." Nolan ran in front of me

"No, I swear, he left the harbour. I saw him or at least Shamu did." Nolan brought up the footage on is computer. We saw him readying to leave harbour "See what did I tell you."

"Jack! Jack wait!" I raised my eyebrow hearing Amanda's voice Jack turned around.

"Amanda? What are you doing here?" Jack questioned

"Mea culpa, babe." I sat down next to him toying with my necklace

"Jack said he had engine trouble and the last time he saw Amanda was last week." I told them

"Why would he lie to you?" Emily wondered pacing

"Probably because he's covering up another one of her messes.." Nolan retorted and i stood back up going to my sister.

"I don't think he was lying, I think he got suspicious. Our necklaces, I think he had a inkling of us not telling the truth. All three of us have this pre death of Tyler, post him getting beat up. That s a small window and he's making connections. Talk to him. See if you can find out why Amanda came back."

"And where she's been hiding right?" Nolan asked as we took our leave

"Especially that!" We call back

------------

When we returned home, Daniel was on the tablet looking at a news outlet covering last night. I sat down next to him.

"We should've gone to Paris." he sighed

"Grey." i stated making him look at me "After, our argument I finally got the spontaneity and rush of it all. You wanna be away from everything your family's done. It was a test and I failed to understand. Grey is a happy medium between your old live and your new one. Daniel and Olivia Grey. Your right we should have and I'm sorry." banging on our door interrupted our conversation.

"Hamptons Police Department." we snapped our heads around

"Just a minute." Emily calls and Daniel panics

"They're gonna fry me aren't they?" Emily came to the door and i held Daniel

"No. No. No. I will not let that happen?" I nodded to Emily and she opened the door "Okay?"

"That's him. Daniel Grayson your under arrest for the murder of Tyler Barrol." he nodded and I stood up with him the officer past me and cuffed him. Emily pulled me back and I watched as a scared Daniel was taken away. Victoria and Conrad arrived just as he was taken out of the house. Victoria trying to free her son.

"I'm following right behind." I told Conrad who nodded

"Us as well." I took my car to the station in within half an hour there were three of us in a meeting with Mr Brooks and a charged Daniel.

"Daniel's finger prints were found on Olivia's gun." Brooks read out what we were up against.

"Daniel handled that gun a handful of times." I answered

"His hands were tested positive for gunshot residue. The blood spatter on his tuxedo was the same type as Tylers. In a political climate like this the DA goes first degree murder. Brooks pointed at my fiancee. I leaned back in my chair sighing.

"All right, it's time your told us everything that happened on that beach, son." Conrad stated standing with Victoria behind him. Daniel didn't say anything.

"It's okay. Do it." Victoria confirmed and then Daniel told us.

"Tyler was talking crazy, waving the gun around. We had a struggle and I managed to get a hold of it. And then he charged at me." Daniel told us and took in a shaky breath.

"Keep going." Brooks insisted gently

"So I fired." he added

"Three times?" Brooks questioned

"Once, then I blacked out. Next thing I remember was my mother calling my name." he finished.

"Tyler was shot three times. Once in the chest, twice in the back."

"i didn't shoot Tyler in the back." Daniel insisted and I sat back up resting my hand on his arm in a silent attempt to keep him calm.

"How do you know? I thought you said you blacked out." Victoria rested hand hand on his shoulder "When you and Tyler struggled, where did he hit you?" Brooks wondered

"Right here, the side of the head." Daniel answered. Brooks opened up is tabled and scrolled through pictures

"Theres a hepatoma on the back of your head. That's a hard spot to reach if your fighting face to face. We can use it to float the theory there was a third person on the beach that knocked you out and set you up. you're rich, who hates you?" Brooks replied and asked. I was sorely tempted to snort and say how long have you got. Ems and I certainly weren't the only ones the Graysons had crossed. "Disgruntled investors, hostile competitors?"

"Amanda Clarke." Victoria stated. Of course she had to do this and bring her into.

"Great. Where can we find her?" the press had managed to get in and were outside the office. When the meeting was over we had to get by the swarm of paparazzi. I covered my as much as I could, as the shouted questions at us. Ashley found her calling and diverted their attention. I made my way back home where Emily was waiting with a hug and some tea. I filled her in on what had happened. There was another knock and I groaned

"Not toady." I grumbled but went to answer it.

"Victoria." I greeted "Come on in." I stepped back and in she came. Emily joined my side.

"Well, when you and Daniel decided to get married, you probably never dreamed that your engagement would have included a murder investigation." she scoffed slightly

"Well it's something you couldn't make up. Who could do something so horrible." I reply

"Well under the circumstances I would understand you were re-evaluating the future of your relationship." even now she could still make me think wtf. "So, this is my engagement present to the two of you." she handed me a box

"Would you like me to open it now?" I ask.

"No. I want you to hold onto it. And I need to know you'll stand by Daniel's side no matter how rough the road gets. If you abandon him, it'll send a very public message about his innocence." you could see that in this moment it was a pure maternal instinct.

"The thought never cross my mind." I placed the box down

"Olivia."

"Yes?"

"Why did you come back to this house when we were all at the police station?" she questioned, a question that I was prepared for.

"Two reasons. I knew they would take Daniels suit. I wanted to make sure he had a change of clothing and from the beach I saw one the houses flood lights turn on. It seemed weird consider the nights events. One idea came after the other." I explained

"Quick thinking. Maybe your time in the juvenile detention facility will end up being an asset in Daniels court case." that was her last comment before she left.

"Ever charming." Emily commented

"It's a flimsy excuse but she had bigger problems." I sat down let my my head bang on the table. "What are we going to do?"

"We'll figure it out." Emily assure me

"How, you know he committed almost a perfect crime, Daniel looks right for doing it even though we know to the contrary. I feel like I need to sleep and regroup."

"You go, if Nolan calls, I'll deal with him. Go on." I hummed and headed upstairs

--3rd Person-

Emily was on the phone to Nolan talking about Amanda when. Mr Brooks knocked and entered.

"Miss Thorne."

"I'll call you back." Emily told Nolan then hung up "Mr Brooks. I'm Emily Thorne, Olivia's sister." she introduced her self. Mr Brooks shook her hand

"I apologise for the ambush but I was hoping to speak to your sister. Is she around?" Mr Brooks wondered

"She's sleeping. Since the shooting she barely slept worrying about Daniel. Can I help?" Emily offered.

"Maybe you can. To be perfectly blunt the more dirt I have on Daniel the better prepared I'll be when the fur starts flying." Mr Brooks stated making Emily nod

"You're looking for skeletons."

"skeletons, addictions, secret relationship, proclivities." Mr brooks trailed off

"You are blunt." Emily commented

"Your sisters fiancee is facing a murder charge. This isn't a time for subtlety. Victoria Grayson is convinced that a Amanda Clarke had something to do with what happened on that beach. Have you or your sister had any run ins with her?" mr Brooks questioned

"We just met her this summer. She used to live in this house actually. Olivia told me she came by once looking for childhood memories." Emily answered

"Do you believe she hate Graysons enough to frame Daniel for murder?"

"I think you'd have to find her and ask her. All I know is that she is a very troubled girl." Emily replied

"I already have my investigators on it. Thank you Ms Thorne." he went to leave but Emily stopped him.

"mr Brooks." he stopped and turned around "Since we're being candid, I think there is something you should know."

"About Daniel or Amanda?" he wondered coming back over to the older sister.

"About the graysons. I hope you understand I'm extremely protective of my sister. I thought it was only fair since they looked into her, I did the same."

---------

Mr Brooks stood before Victoria and Conrad Grayson, like a principal talking to two naught school children

"I understand Daniel got into a few scraps over the last few years." Mr Brooks began.

"Like anyone his age, he's had a few youthful indiscretions." Victoria vaguely down played everything.

"And in what role did you and Conrad play in those indiscretions." Mr Books wondered

"I'm not sure I follow you?" Conrad played dumb.

"Did you honestly believe I wouldn't find out you paid of a judge last summer to downgrade Daniel's DUI and reckless endangerment charges?" the lawyer sassed

"Where on earth did you hear this?" Victoria rebuffed

"I told him." Emily admitted

"I thought you were like your sister and on Daniel's side. Or was that just a ruse?" Victoria retorted to the older Thorne.

"As far as I'm concerned Emily is the only one here right now that seems to have Daniel's best interests at heart." Mr Brooks defended

"No one loves my son more than I do?" Victoria stood up.

"What if the prosecution blindsided me with that mid trial? Ms Thorne's protective manner over her sister has brought the matter to my attention and I'm more prepared." The door bell rang and a few moment later Olivia walked in with jeans, blouse and flat with her hair tied back. She stopped mid entrance.

"Emily? What are you doing here? What's going on?" she questioned confused

"Liv, Mr Brooks came to see you. I had to tell him about Daniel's previous." Emily told her sister

"About last summer?" Olivia questions "Daniel told me."

"Is there anything else that Daniel told you that might affect his case in any way?" Mr Brooks questioned her she thought about it and shook her head.

"Only the car accident."

"We were very discreet." Victoria replied as Olivia joined the other side of mr Brooks.

-Olivia-

I had entered a conversation mid way through and to be quite honest, it was disorientating. Victoria was defending their actions.

"That girl was almost killed." I retorted back "Her brother took a 9 iron to Daniel's Aston Martin. Many people know either have an inkling or know exactly what you did." I sigh lowering my bag onto the chair behind me.

"Everyone is looking for a member of the 1% to smack down and Daniel is tailor made to take that fall. So unless your ready to level with me. I might as well be up at Shinnecock Hills practicing my back swing." The three of us stared at Victoria.

"Of course mr Brooks. From here on out you'll have complete and utter candour from both of us." Victoria sat back down and picked up her drink "Do you have any leads on Amanda Clarke?" I moved and sat down with Emily

"Still working on it."

"Did you know that she dated that young man who runs the stowaway Tavern in Montauk. His name is Jack Porter." I kept passive at the mention of Amanda and Jack.

"I'll pay him a visit. But my more immediate concern is the security tapes from the party." Brooks informed us

"What now?" Victoria retorted

"Apparently, the were tampered with. Kept on a 3 minute time loop for the whole of the evening." I flashed back to the party, the second nodding of the head the Takeda had given and Nolan being more suss that usual.

"How does that affect us?" Conrad asked

"The prosecution will make it look like engineered it so no one would see him Kill Tyler." I turned slowly to Emily with a unhappy look. Once we were finished we drove to Nolan's

"That sneaky bastard. I knew, I knew it that night something was up." I ranted

"You think you know what happened to the security tapes?" Em wonderer

"Nolan happened of course. I was too busy to figure it out before, but now. I get it, he's working for Takeda." We arrived and let ourselves in finding him in his office

"How long have you been working for Takeda?" I question entering his office seeing him lounging on the sofa.

"What are you talking about?" he replied

"Don't play dumb it's not cute." I folded my arms I know you disabled the security camera at the party. It has yours and Takeda's stamp all over it." Nolan didn't answer

"Do I really need to kick your ass again? How did he recruit you." Emily raised her voice

"Okay. He cozied up to me at the investors shindig earlier this summer. He wanted me to look our for you." he finally admitted making me huff out a breath.

"Why didn't you tell us?" I inquire

"Because he told me not to and he can be very convincing. I'm sorry." he apologised

"No, it our fault. My fault. You said it was a bad idea and i should have listened." I say to my sister "I should never have brought you so deep into this."

"Well it's a little late to put the genie back in the infinity box."

"We have more pressing matters than your loyalty issues." Emily butted in "The Graysons are on a mission to find Amanda. Until they do they're going to be looking for a fall guy closer to home." we all knew who that meant.

Jack

--------

I was back home sitting on the swing looking out over the ocean when Charlotte came over.

"Charlotte." I smile a little as she comes to rest on the railing. "Is everything okay?"

"This is the prettiest spot on the beach. It's so peaceful" she commented and I gestured for her to join me.

"Yeah, we really lucked out."

"It's hard to believe I grew up with a sister right next door and I had no idea." the two of us started to swing "Do you think she knew the truth this whole summer? My mother thinks she did. There's just so much I want to ask her about her life, her father, our father and our sister. But chances are that won't happen now." I interlocked my fingers with hers.

"Is that why you've been taking those pills ?" I ask her but she didn't say anything. "You know Jack and Amanda came over one day. Emily was here and word has it that your father built this swing. He couldn't have been all bad." she rested her head on my shoulder

"What was it like for you and Emily growing up?" Charlotte wondered

"Honestly? Hard. I mean these days we make it look that easy your mother is constantly suspicious of us." she chuckled "but we had each other, thankfully the system managed to keep us together, at least it got that right." she sat up

"Daniel never told me you were in the foster system."

"That's because he's Daniel." I smile

----------

Emily and I sat in court with the rest of the Graysons, Mr brooks and a courtroom full of haters and press covering the arrest of Daniel.

"There is a perception in this part of the world that power and money exert undue influence. I want it clear, in my courtroom, justice has no price tag. I have careful examined the wealth of forensic evidence linking Daniel Grayson to the crime scene and taken into consideration the Grayson Family's unlimited resources as well as private planes. Given the serious nature of this crime I heavy deny bail for Daniel Grayson" The judge gave her statement and I stood up in shock.

"Daniel." I call over the wooden railing.

"And order him to be reminded to the maximum security correctional facility on Rikers Island while he awaits trial."

"Daniel." i call again and he looks back

"Bailiff will you please remove the defendant." Daniel was taken away as the press went crazy trying to ask question. That night Emily and I sat down with the Graysons to eat in silence.