PLAYERS:

Curtis Brown (a.k.a Curtis Reed) - a corpse, father of Billie and Austin Reed.

Billie Reed - a drug addict turned respectable. She's the prime suspect in the murder, but she doesn't remember anything about that night.

Austin Reed - Billie's brother. He'll do anything to protect her.

Bo Brady - the investigating officer in this case. Bo was just beginning to fall for Billie when the murder occurred.

Kate Roberts - a well respected business woman who reveals to have past relations with the murder victim. She was blackmailed by him.

Lucas Roberts - Kate's son. He'll do anything to protect her.

Victor Kiriakis - Kate's husband. He'll do anything to protect her, including lying to his own son, Bo.

Pat Hamilton - Assistant D.A. She wants Billie's head on a plater.

Stefano DiMera - his hospital ID was found in the scene of the murder.

Fred Harris - the cop who guarded Stefano's room the night of the murder.

Mary - a maid in the Kiriakis household

MINOR CHARACTERS:

Roman, Abe, Marlena, John, Carrie, Jennifer, and Laura

BACKGROUND

It all started in July that year, when Billie Reed witnessed a shooting in the parking lot of Salem Place. Terrified by the feeling that the shooter was following her, Billie hid away in Bo Brady's boat. Bo was a little angry at first, since he wanted to be alone and mourn the loss of his girlfriend - Carly Manning - but they ended up spending a wonderful time together. During that time the shooter, who was indeed following Billie, revealed himself to her. It was her long presumed dead father, Curtis. Billie wasn't too thrilled about him being back, but he had some kind of hold over her, so she hid him in the basement of her apartment building, gave him food and said to the police that she didn't catch a good enough glimpse on the shooter.

Soon enough Curtis left, telling Billie he was going to LA. Shortly after Bo was going in the same direction, following a lead. Billie arranged to team up with Bo, supposedly to help him, but actually she was trying to protect her father. She succeeded in doing it and also in getting a little closer to Bo.

Before she left LA she committed her father into a drug rehabilitation program and thought it was the last she was going to hear from him, but he was called back to Salem by Peter who ordered him to kidnap Stefano. Curtis did that, took jewels as ransom from Kristen and came back to terrorize Billie's life. This time, he also set himself on a new target - Kate Roberts. He kept demanding huge amounts of money from her or he'll tell her husband, son and the whole town about her past.

Part 1: The day of Curtis's murder

This day actually starts out as a promising one for Billie. She stays up all night reading the play "Romeo and Juliet" that Carrie lent her, in preparation for the costume party that is going to take place at Titan that night, where she 's supposed to be Bo's Juliet. The whole idea of having a costume party for Bo's birthday was Shawn Douglas'. He came up with it because he wanted to see his papa and Billie get together. He asked all attendants to dress up as famous couples and he made sure that Carrie chose the most romantic couple for Bo and Billie.

All day Billie is very excited. She wants to be the perfect Juliet. She wants the perfect dress, shoes and jewels but she knows she can't afford them, so she decides to sew her own costume. "Did you ever even sew anything, Billie?" Carrie asks her worriedly. "Sure I did", Billie answers enthusiastically, "I sewed a T-shirt once for Austin in home-ec". Carrie and Alice exchange worried looks.

Now that Billie is convinced she's going to have a dress - although not as perfect as she planned - she needs the perfect piece of jewelry to go with it. She has one in mind - the necklace that Bo bought her in LA, in appreciation of her help to his investigation - but Curtis broke into the apartment a few days earlier and stole it. Billie decides to confront him about it. She goes down to the basement and asks for her necklace. Curtis says he already sold it. Billie is furious with him, saying he knew what it meant to her so how could he steal it? She also complains to him how she can't afford a real nice dress and then he says she shouldn't worry about the dress, because he's got the perfect jewel for her, one that will make her look glorious. He gives her a pair of earrings he got from Kristen for Stefano's ransom. Billie asks him if he's sure it's not "hot". "No way" Curtis answers "Would I let my little girl wear a "hot" piece of jewelry?" Billie takes it and goes upstairs to work on her dress.

Of course Billie's sewing is a total disaster and she gets all worked up about it, but Alice saves the day. She comes to the apartment with a beautiful puffy light blue dress and matching shoes. Now Billie is very happy and she goes to get ready. By the time Billie gets to the party, everybody is already there. Bo feels stupid in his Romeo costume and he keeps complaining about it every five minutes, but then Billie comes, wearing the dress, the shoes, the earrings and a wig of blond curls and she absolutely takes his breath away.

Bo and Billie have a great time together, dancing and laughing. All the others are having a great time too. All but Kate. Curtis decides the party is a great opportunity to pressure Kate some more. He's already contacted her in more than one occasion, one in which Lucas saw them together. Now he calls her from the ground floor and orders her to meet him in the empty forth floor. The security camera picks up on them and the security man calls Victor. Victor watches Kate begging to Curtis and he realizes why Kate has been so upset and why she was so keen for money. Kate keeps saying that she doesn't have the money, but since Curtis isn't easily convinced, she ends up promising that she'll get him the money later that night. Curtis goes from there straight to John's, promising him that he's got valuable information for him, one that will guarantee that Kristen walks away from the DiMera family.

In the meantime Bo and Billie go to the terrace to talk and find themselves kissing. Bo gets scared. He admits to Billie that he doesn't know how he feels about her. He says that he knows there's something going on between them even before he realized it, but he's confused. Billie listens to him and says that she's not confused at all. She's had feelings for him for a long long time, but she's willing to wait until he figures out exactly what his feelings are.

They kiss again and then Billie says she must go away. She runs from the party and goes straight to the basement. She tells Curtis she's done lying about him. She says she finally has an opportunity to start a relationship with Bo and she's not going to start it with so many lies hanging over her head. Curtis gets really angry with her. He threatens her that in that case, he'll also tell "Bozo" things about her and about her past. They keep talking and he says "Don't play innocent with me, Billie Reed. You haven't been innocent since you were thirteen. And I should be the one to know. After all - I was your first". Billie freezes. It's not that she didn't know it, but she successfully blocked it out of her conscious thoughts. Now she starts sobbing like a little, helpless girl "You promised you'd never mention it again". Curtis seems amused. "Well, I guess it would put a real damper on your romance with Romeo if he found out what kind of life his little Juliet used to lead. And I'm sure Bo would have a hard time understanding about you and me, wouldn't he?" Billie plays right into his hands. "You can't say anything to Bo. Please. Don't say anything to anyone, but especially not Bo". Curtis keeps laughing. "But it's so hard to keep such a juicy piece of information to my self" Curtis says. Billie begs quietly "No, Curtis. Please don't. I'll do anything. Please". Curtis's expression changes and he whispers "Do anything?" as he pulls closer to Billie and puts his hand on her face. Billie looks taunted as she tries to get away from him. "What's the matter?" he says still trying to touch her "Is my Juliet turning into a scaredy little cat?" Suddenly Billie pulls herself together. She tears herself away from him screaming "I want you out. I want you out of here. I want you to get your things and keep out". He grabs her and starts shaking her. "Don't you ever give me orders! Never! Do you understand that? I'm the boss!". Billie looks very scared. He starts saying that they'll be together, like in the old times and then he says "And I didn't even start with your big brother Austin". Billie gets alert, looks at him and says "No. Leave him out". He gets very angry at her, saying he's got the dirt on her and he's going to tell. She keeps crying but she says "No, you will not!". He asks "What's gonna stop me from telling Bo everything I know about you?" and she looks straight at him, all tight and focused and fierce and says "If you say anything to him I'll kill you, I swear to God I'll kill you".

By this time Bo already gets worried. He doesn't know where Billie went or why she left. Ozzie, from the LAPD, comes to the party also searching for him and Billie. He tells Bo that Billie lied to him. They know now for sure that Curtis was the parking lot shooter, and she stood right in front of him and said she didn't know him. Bo says Billie is the most honest person he knows. She wouldn't lie.

In the meantime, Austin is sitting with Jennifer looking at the video shots he took in the Halloween fair in the school when suddenly he sees something, rewinds and freezes on a frame of a man. "It can't be" he says. "Who is it?" Jennifer asks. Austin tells her it's his father. First he finds it very hard to believe, but suddenly everything looks so logical - Billie's behavior, the way she reacted to the robbery that took place in hers and Carrie's apartment. He tells Jennifer how all his life he wanted to be old enough and strong enough to confront Curtis, but Curtis died before he had the chance to do so. Now he decides to take his chance. He goes to the basement and finds his father sniffing cocaine.

Curtis plays him like a violin. When Austin asks "What did you do to my sister?" he answers "Your sister is a cheap slut, just like her mother". Austin can't help himself and he punches him, like the professional boxer he used to be. Austin really injures him, but Curtis only laughs, saying Austin is just like him now. He teases him about him hurting those piano playing hands. Finally he causes Austin to break down and cry like a child.

By that time Billie gets back to her apartment where Bo and Ozzie are waiting for her. Ozzie shows her Curtis' picture and asks her point blank why she lied. Billie says she didn't lie, she really didn't see the shooter all that well. Bo believes her and scolds Ozzie, saying he sees now that he was telling the truth and Billie would never lie to him. Then he asks her why she disappeared from his party and she mumbles some lame excuse. It's very obvious that Billie is very upset about having to lie to Bo. When they leave she takes off, meeting Carrie on the way out. Carrie tells her that everybody was looking for her and asks where she's been, but Billie dodges her and goes to the garden.

She walks there by herself, thinking to herself, when suddenly Curtis grabs her. She fights him and he punishes her for causing so much trouble for daddy by punching her in the belly. She folds in two and he takes out a syringe full of heroin and places it between his teeth. She starts screaming "No, no" and keeps doing it all the time, while he says how she always loved it and how she always loved what they were doing together after it and how she is going to love it now. He rolls up her sleeve and sticks the needle into her. She cries in agony. Then she curses him, saying it took her so long to get clean. Soon enough she dozes off. He carries her back to the basement, complaining how heavy she's getting. He takes a sniff of cocaine and is about to get his way with her when there's a knock on the door. Quickly he throws a blanket on her and goes to answer it. It's Kate.

Kate brings him the money she got from Victor, who promised not to ask her what it was for and what she was doing with it. She intends to give him the money but then he says that the $100,000 are only a down payment. He intends to milk a lot more money from her. She gets upset and takes the money back. He threatens her and beats her severely. Sometime in the middle of it all, Lucas gets there, after buying a gun on the street, and Curtis threatens her that if she'll make even the faintest sound he'll kill him. Lucas leaves without talking to Curtis. Kate leaves the basement and comes home from a side entrance, all bruised and swollen. Lucas and Victor are shocked to see her that way, asking what's happened to her. She insists that she fell. Victor and Lucas are both very concerned, asking her if she needs anything, maybe a doctor, but she says she only needs them to hug her tightly. She looks very lost.

Finally she goes up to her bed. Victor and Lucas both sneak out of the house, covering their tracks. Lucas leaves the TV set on loud and Victor says he doesn't want to bother Kate, so he leaves their room. Kate gets up and sneaks out of the house too, after Victor has already left. Lucas is looking for Curtis. He has the half of a picture he found in Kate's drawer, where Kate and Curtis are young. He meets Carrie and shows her the picture, asking if she's seen that man. She says she hasn't and asked him why he's looking for him. Lucas doesn't give her a straight answer, only saying how important it is.

When it's getting late and Billie is still not home Carrie and Austin team up to look for her. They spend most of the time together, but at one point Austin sees Curtis from the corner of his eye, buying drugs near the piers. He sends Carrie to look for Billie in Brady's and he walks up to Curtis, demanding to know what he's done to her. Curtis denies having anything to do with Billie's disappearance. Austin threatens to kill him if he ever hurts Billie.

It's late at night and Curtis stands in the alley. Suddenly something startles him. He looks toward the noise. The shadow of a figure holding a gun is cast on the wall behind him. The gun fires and Curtis falls, with a stunned expression on his face.

Part 2: The day after Curtis's murder

Sometime that night Austin finds Billie's unconscious body lying in the street. He takes her in his arms back to the apartment and waits for her to come through. When she finally does, he tells her he knows about Curtis and asks her why didn't she tell him. She says she wanted to keep Curtis as far away from him as possible. Austin keeps telling her not to worry. Curtis will never hurt her again.

Carrie shows up and asks a lot of questions about Billie's whereabouts. Austin answers for her. Billie is still very confused. Austin takes her for a walk when they suddenly see many cops in the alley, including Bo. They're examining Curtis's body. When Billie sees it she almost faints. Austin does his best to calm her. Bo asks her if everything's okay with her and Austin hastens to answer in her place that it's just the shock of seeing a dead body. Bo says to Austin that he should take her back home. It's not good for her to be there. Billie doesn't want to leave until she sees for herself that it is Curtis. She's both shocked and relieved to see that it's really him.

In the meantime Lucas hears on the radio that there have been a murder in the alley under Carrie and Billie's apartment building so he goes there to see it too. When Bo asks what he's doing there he says that he heard about it on the radio that a body was found in that alley and since he knew it was just under Carrie's house he wanted to check up on her.

During that time Abe and Roman (and unofficially - John) are running a check on Curtis and learn that he used to work for Stefano. They also find his hideaway in the basement of the apartment building. They find there many things including a new, crisp 100$ bill and jewels that John identifies as Kristen's.

Bo is having dinner with Austin, Carrie, Billie and Alan when he is called down to the alley. It seems that there's a new development. A piece of a dress was found in the alley, near the body. Bo recognizes it as a piece of Billie's party dress. Bo is sure that there is nothing to it. It's probably a piece of the cloth that Alice used to sew the dress. He's certain that Billie has nothing to do with the murder, but since Abe just found out that Lexie lied to him about Jonah being the pacifier, he insists that everything will go by the book from now. So Bo goes back to Billie's apartment and asks to see the dress. The piece is the exact match of the hole in the dress. He asks how did the tear occur and Austin answers that when Billie and him came back from the party that night they walked through the garden and Billie tripped and fell. Bo also spots a nasty cut on Billie's hand and Austin says it happened when she fell and ripped her dress. Bo doesn't look too convinced, but he keeps quiet and leaves without doing or saying anything about the dress.

Afraid that somebody might connect Curtis to Billie or him, Austin decides to throw away all the things that he got left from his dad. Jennifer comes by and Austin confides in her and tells her that the murdered man was his father. First she thinks it would be a terrible thing to get rid of anything that's left of him, but then she sees Austin's point about it. Still, when he isn't looking she takes one item out of the box - Curtis's wedding band - and places it in her pocket. Later she reveals her plan to Alice. She is going to ask the detective that Jo hired to look for Jack to look for Austin's mother. She wants to repay him for saving Abby's life with his donating his bone marrow. Alice says she's not sure it's the best way to repay Austin but Jennifer is very persistent.

Abe is angry at Bo when he realizes that he didn't take the dress from Billie to examine it further. He warns him not to let his personal feelings mingle with his work. In the meantime Billie and Austin decide to get rid of the dress and throw it in the garbage. When Bo comes back and asks for it, they tell him they threw it. Bo asks them why and Billie says that it was torn and she couldn't wear it again and she got upset and threw it. When Bo asks more questions about where and when they threw it, Austin butts in and says that he thinks the trash cans already got emptied. Bo doesn't tell them anything but goes down and starts going through the garbage. Austin says to Billie that they should go and look for the dress before Bo finds it. "What do you mean look for it?" Billie asks "I thought you told Bo the trash cans were already emptied?". Austin admits that he lied in order to gain more time. Billie doesn't approve of lying to Bo, but she agrees they have to get hold of that dress before Bo does. Carrie sees them hurrying out and asks them where they're going. Austin says they're going to get fresh air and Billie says they're going to buy ice cream. Carrie doesn't say anything, but it's obvious she thinks that their behavior is really strange.

Bo is in the alley, looking for the dress with the help of an officer named Michelle. They speak about the case and Michelle asks him if he's sure that these people (meaning Austin and Billie) aren't lying to him. Bo says they have no reason to lie to him. Shortly after they arrive and see Bo there. First they hold back, but then Billie asks Bo what is he doing there. Bo answers that he's looking for the dress and adds sarcastically "I guess the trash cans weren't emptied after all". Austin says he could swear he heard the truck earlier. Bo asks them what they're doing there and they say they went to get some fresh air, but they don't sound very convincing. Austin asks Bo why is he still looking for the dress since he has already told him how it got ripped. Bo says that if he finds the dress and examines it he could clear Billie. Billie looks like she just got punched in the belly. "Clear me? Am I a suspect?". Bo tries to explain that he's only doing his job. He asks Billie if she's sure she threw it there and Austin says that many people look in the garbage and maybe somebody found it and didn't mind it being torn. Bo asks Michelle to search for the dress in the neighborhood and in the meantime he goes up with Billie and Austin in order to question them some more.

When they get there Carrie is surprised that they got back so soon and didn't even buy the ice cream they said they were going to get. Austin said that there's been a change of plans. Bo says to Carrie that he has to ask Austin and Billie some questions and asks her if she doesn't mind. She says she doesn't and asks if she can stay. Bo says that she can and so she sits on the couch behind Austin and Billie and listens.

Bo starts questioning Austin and Billie and right away he finds out that Austin neglected to tell him that he actually wasn't with Billie all of the time. He was with Carrie some of the time. Carrie hurries up and collaborates with Austin. Bo's upset for not being told the whole truth earlier, but now he moves to Billie. Billie's answers aren't very clear. He starts pressuring Billie which makes Austin explode. "What are we? Are we suspects in this murder? Is that what it's going to?" Austin screams. Bo says they're not suspects but that they have to admit it's getting more than a tiny bit suspicious. Then he turns to Billie again and asks her if at the time that she wasn't with Austin she was alone. Billie says she guesses so. "You guess you were?" Bo is really ticked off "Billie, this is a straightforward question. Were you or weren't you?". Billie says she was, but she's obviously shaken up. Now Bo is asking her where she was. Billie is almost crying when she admits that she doesn't know. "What do you mean you don't know?" Bo is trying very hard to restrain himself. At this point Billie totally freaks out and starts yelling "I mean I don't know. I don't know where I was and I don't remember, okay? I don't remember where I was".

They are all stunned. Bo asks her what it means. Austin hurries to her defense and says she doesn't know what she's saying. Bo looks like he could kill Austin, "Let her answer the question, Austin" he says in a hostile tone. Now Carrie jumps down from the couch and comes behind Billie, saying to Bo "Give her a chance to pull herself together. She's upset". "Upset?" Bo looks like he's about to lose his mind "You really don't get it, do you? Somebody was killed. Somebody was murdered. There's no time to get yourselves together". He demands to hear the truth from them. Then he thinks for a while and says he wants to speak to Billie alone. Austin protests but Billie says it's okay. Now Carrie asks to speak with Bo privately in the hall. She just wants to remind him that the woman he's badgering in there is the woman he danced with last night, a woman who is his friend. Bo resents her using of the word 'badgering' and tells her "Do you really think you need to remind me that?". Then he comes back to the apartment to speak with Billie while Austin and Carrie are anxiously waiting in Austin's apartment.

Bo and Billie remain by themselves. Billie becomes very agitated. She's shaking. He keeps demanding that she'd tell him the truth. She keeps insisting that she doesn't remember He doesn't believe her and so he becomes real furious with her. He turns away from her and starts saying angrily "Hey, I thought we were really having a good time the night of the party. I thought that something was happening between us, something that was growing - something good, something right. I thought that I would never feel that way again. It took me by surprise, because I never ever thought I'd feel this way again, you know? But I felt that way about you. I did".

All this time, Billie is constantly on the verge of crying. When Bo says how he felt about her she whispers "I felt that way too". Bo answers harshly "Yes, but this is changing. Now I find out you're lying about that night. You're lying to me about where you were. Maybe you're lying to me about other things. Now I need to know - are you playing me for a fool, Billie?".

This is more than Billie can take. She bursts into tears, howling "How could you think that? How could you ever think that I would do that?". Bo says surprisingly "I don't know what to think, Billie, I really don't". She bends on her knees next to him, still very distraught, and says ecstatically "That night was the most wonderful, wonderful night of my life. I was Juliet. I felt like Juliet in your arms and I loved it so much" and then she starts crying again and adds "But I should have known better because, you know, when things go good for me something bad always happens". Bo is no longer angry, he's touched and confused. "What happens, Billie?" he asks and she answers "I never meant to hurt you, Bo, I never did". Now he takes her face in his hands, looks straight into her eyes and asks her in what way could she hurt him. Billie doesn't give a straight answer, just says she wishes everything could have been different.

Now Bo gets up and pulls Billie up, holding her very tightly by the wrists. He speaks rapidly "If you were having such a good time at the party why did you leave? You could have been dancing in my arms miles away from the scene of the murder. Why did you leave?" he's shouting at her and shaking her. Billie starts crying again "I wish I would have stayed, more than anything" she says. He asks her again what happened. She gets away from his grip, looking tormented. He tries to make her talk. When he doesn't succeed he pulls his last card: "If you care about me, if you care about us, tell me what happened". Billie is unable to face him. "I did tell you" she says in a lifeless voice "I don't remember". Now he finally believes her, but he's looking for a logical reason. "Were you drunk?" he says disappointedly "Is that why you left? Because you had to go out and get loaded?". Billie denies being drunk. "Well, I know you're not doing drugs again" he says with a trembling voice. Billie doesn't answer. She just walks away, holding her arm. "Please tell me you're not doing drugs again" Bo's voice almost breaks. Billie still doesn't answer. She keeps on rubbing her arm. "Why are you rubbing your arm, Billie?" Bo says alertly and when she still doesn't answer he pulls her violently to him, rolls up her sleeve and starts yelling "Why? Why?". Billie cries desperately.

"You wanna tell me why?" Bo sounds very disappointed "why did you go back, Billie? Wasn't being together enough of a high for you?". Billie just answers sadly "I'm no good, Bo". Bo says it's not true and that she's a wonderful person who worked hard to pull herself away from drugs and now he just wants to know what made her feel she had to go back. Billie says "I guess you can't run away from what fate got in store for you" and Bo is mad at her for answering with stupid clichés. Billie tries to tell Bo it's not what he thinks and he starts thinking that maybe she stole the drugs and then he remembers all the drugs that were found on and inside the body and he makes the connection. He asks her to tell him the truth, to say who she's protecting. He's trying his hardest to make her trust him.

Billie still insists that she doesn't remember and Bo gets very upset. He starts talking about how much she helped him when he needed help and how he can't believe that the same woman that was so strong and wonderful would throw away everything just to get high. Billie isn't at all cooperative. Finally Bo gives up and walks away. Just before he leaves he turns around and says "I really wish you'd tell me what's going on. I don't want to lose you".

All through this time Carrie and Austin are discussing the situation. Carrie is already suspicious, partly because Wendy told her earlier that she had heard Billie arguing with somebody in the alley last night. Now she asks Austin to tell her the truth. Austin tries to duck her questions. He says he's very worried about Billie, but denies that there's anything going on there. Carrie says that she knows that they (Carrie and Austin) aren't very close now, but she would still do anything for him and Billie. Austin says he knows she would and he appreciates it and he knows Billie does too and that's exactly why Billie would want to keep Carrie out of it. "I don't want to stay out of it" Carrie protests but Austin says that he's not going to tell her anything that would put her in danger because he cannot let her get hurt once again because of him. Then they start talking about Carrie being hurt by acid. Carrie tells Austin to stop blaming himself for what happened. Austin starts mumbling something about not being able to hide away from his past, about his past always catching up to him. Somewhere in the conversation Carrie says that anybody could be considered suspects. Even Austin and her don't have a sufficient alibi. Austin says nobody would ever suspect her. Carrie says nobody would suspect him either, but suddenly she doesn't sound too sure. Carrie asks Austin if he thinks the police will suspect him because of his past. Austin says the police are going to think whatever they want. Carrie decides to do something and later she goes to the police and asks Roman many questions about the murder, trying not to show how involved she feels she's getting in it.

After Carrie leaves the station, Bo comes in. He's very tensed. When Roman asks how come Billie threw the dress he gets real defensive and says it's her dress and she could do whatever she wants with it and that she didn't know it was going to be a crucial evidence in the murder etc. Roman tries to understand why Bo is so defensive and Bo finally says that Billie isn't telling him the whole truth. Later Roman and Bo investigate a drug dealer who claims he saw Curtis fighting with a woman the night of the murder. Roman wants to bring Billie down to the station for questioning but Bo objects and just shows the man one of Billie's old mug shots. The drug dealer doesn't know for sure if she was the woman he saw with Curtis or not. Bo asks him if he sold her drugs and he says that he didn't, he would have remembered such a babe. Roman later asks Bo why did he ask that since Billie isn't doing drugs anymore. Bo says he's just trying to cover all angles.

Austin comes to see Billie and finds her seating alone and sad, holding a stuffed animal. "I lost him" she says to Austin "I was really close but I lost him forever this time". Austin asks her to tell him what's happened. Billie says that Bo thinks she's a junky again. Austin says it's not her fault, it's Curtis's. Billie says "You should have seen the look on Bo's face. It made me feel like trash" and then adds "and why not? I am trash". Austin resents it. He holds her and promises her that they'll figure out what to tell Bo. He doesn't have to know the truth.

Billie is very jumpy. She pours hot tea on her hand. Austin tells her to relax but she's still worried that she might have killed Curtis. He tells her again that he can't believe she's capable of doing anything of a sort. She says "I don't know. Maybe if I was pushed enough" and adds that she was definitely stoned enough and Austin says she was stoned many times before but she never showed any violent tendencies. "Curtis gave us both enough reasons to kill him" he says and Billie gives him a weird look. "Is there something you're not telling me?" he asks her. Billie denies it but it's obvious she's lying. Austin says that whatever it is they can face it together. Billie tries to avoid him but he holds her and tells her that she's his sister and he loves her and that nothing she can say could ever change that.

"I wanted him to stop" Billie says "but you know, the drugs...". Austin is horrified. "Stop? Stop what? What did Curtis do to you?". It's hard for Billie but she finally utters the words "He raped me". "He raped you?" Austin's voice is trembling. Billie says she isn't sure, she was so out of it that she can't tell, but he did look at her that way, the way he used to look at her before. "What do you mean before?" Austin is crying. Billie says she didn't want to tell him, but she admits that it's started when she was thirteen.

"How could he?" Austin yells "How could he do that to anybody? Especially his own daughter?". He starts smashing things around the house and Billie cries. "I know you feel like killing him right now. That's how I felt. I prayed for him to die every single night". She tells him how she'd lie at night and imagine all kinds of horrible deaths that he could have and finally admits "that is why I'm afraid I did it".

Austin is still shocked. Billie sits in front of the fireplace and speaks very softly. "You know what he did to me, I forgot about it, I blanked it out, I put it away because it was so much I couldn't handle it" she goes on telling Austin how she felt powerless and angry and he cries and hugs her and says "Why didn't you tell me, baby?". She says she was so young and was afraid that people would blame it on her. Austin tells her she can't blame herself for what Curtis has done to her. Billie says that Curtis said she was no good and that no man would want her because she was used goods. Austin is furious. "This is not true. You can't believe it. Do you hear me? He wasn't sick, he was evil and he's gonna rot in hell for this. But I'm not gonna let you blame yourself, Billie".

Billie is concerned about Bo knowing. She says that if he ever finds out he will never look at her the same way again. Austin says that Bo is a good guy and that he really cares about her and so she shouldn't give up hope. He holds her again, crying, and promises her that nobody will ever hurt her again.

During that time, Kate meets Marlena who's very worried since the day before Kate told her that she wants to kill somebody. Kate first doesn't want to answer but finally she tells Marlena that the man she wanted to kill is already dead. Kate leaves Marlena stunned, but later Marlena shows up at Kate's house and says that she can't just drop a bombshell like that and leave. What does she mean by saying that the man she wanted dead is already dead? Kate picks up the paper and shows her Curtis's picture. They start talking and in the middle of the conversation Kate is called out to see her accountant who's come to pick up the 100,000$ she took last night. He asks how did the envelope containing the money got so dirty and Kate avoids answering and just says the bank wouldn't mind. When she comes back to the room Marlena demands to know what's going on. She also detects the bruises on Kate's face. Finally Kate confides in her, assuring that it's all under patient-doctor confidence. Marlena tries to convince Kate to tell the police but Kate just wants to keep her past safely buried. Later when Marlena catches Kate looking at Jennifer funny she also gets her to tell her the whole story about 18 years ago and about what she's done to Laura.

During that time Jennifer is busy trying to trace Austin's mother by Curtis's wedding band. The tracks lead her to Chicago.

Michelle comes in with a beggar lady who has Billie's dress. The dress is taken to the lab. When the lab results come back Bo and Michelle go to Billie's apartment with a search warrant. Bo tells Austin and Billie that the lab found fibers from Curtis's cloths on the dress. "I'm sorry, Billie" Bo says quietly "but you're now our number one suspect". Billie looks totally miserable, but she has to agree to let them search her apartment. Bo begs her to tell him if she knows of anything that might come up. She swears she doesn't know about anything of a sort but soon enough Michelle finds a gun in her drawer. Bo questions her about it and she swears she hasn't seen it before. Bo and Michelle take the gun for further examination and Billie comes down to the station for questioning. The lab finds Billie's prints on the gun, and no one else's. Billie is totally shaken by the gun being found in her place. She's getting more and more convinced of her guilt. She tells Austin she dreamt about shooting Curtis. Austin is still sure that she didn't do it.

Part 3: Thanksgiving to New Year's

The initial ballistic report about the gun that was found in Billie's drawer is inconclusive. It could be that it is the gun that shot Curtis, but only a more advanced lab from out of town can determine it for sure. The police also find out that Curtis bought two doses of drugs the night of his murder - one of cocaine and one of heroine. Only the cocaine was traced in his blood system and Bo connects the heroin to the needle marks he saw on Billie's arm.

In the meantime Austin hires Mickey as Billie's defense attorney. Mickey keeps stressing how important it is for his work as a lawyer that he knows the whole truth. Billie is seriously considering telling him the whole truth, but Austin tells her that she shouldn't. Billie realizes that Austin too has no sufficient alibi for the night of the murder and so she decides to keep the truth hidden in order to keep her brother clear of any suspicion.

Kate and Lucas learn from Victor that Billie is the prime suspect in the murder case. Victor shows interest in helping Billie, but Kate is less than happy about that idea. Lucas remembers that he showed Curtis's picture to Carrie the night of the murder. He decides to check out if Carrie remembers anything, but he's relieved to find out that she doesn't.

Thanksgiving is coming along and Billie is feeling down about it. The detailed ballistic report still isn't available and as long as this is the case she's still under a heavy suspicion. Furthermore, she keeps having nightmares about killing Curtis. Carrie tells Marlena that she won't be coming to the Thanksgiving dinner because Billie needs her more and so she'll be staying at the apartment and will be having dinner with Billie and Austin. Marlena understands Carrie's motives and seems to accept the situation but later when she comes by Carrie's apartment and sees Billie she invites both her and Austin to dinner. Billie is very surprised. She didn't think anybody would want her company now that she's a suspect. She also wants to keep out of Bo's way. She knows how upset he is about this whole thing and she wants him to have a nice holiday with his family without her being a constant reminder of what's happened. Marlena assures her that Bo isn't coming to dinner. He has already told Roman he wants to work on the case. Meanwhile in the pub Shawn tries to talk Bo into coming to Roman's. He tells him that it would get his mind off the case and that's exactly what he needs. Bo is very reluctant about the idea but he gives in when he sees how important it is to Shawn Douglas that he comes.

Austin and Carrie are already gone to dinner when Billie finally gets out of the shower and so she walks to the Bradys by herself. Just when she's about to go inside Bo arrives. They're both very surprised to see each other. Billie feels uncomfortable. She apologizes to Bo, saying she knows that she's probably the last person he wants to see right now. He says that he's actually glad to see her. He wants her to have a nice holiday. They both promise not to mention the case at all. When Billie comes inside she receives a very warm welcome. Everybody tells her that they're happy to have her and that the whole thing is probably a mistake and that they don't hold it against her. Billie is very touched. She talks to everybody, including Marlena who once hearing that Billie doesn't remember the night of the murder suggests that Billie would go under hypnosis. Billie is terrified by the idea. She immediately rejects it. After dinner everybody's standing together and Billie is standing next to Austin. She tells him that she's always wondered how it would be like to have a big family to celebrate the holidays with and now she really feels she's a part of it. Austin is very happy to see her happy.

But soon enough Billie remembers her condition and gets upset. She goes outside to the Bradys' back yard. Bo immediately follows her. He comes to her with a wishbone and tells her to grab one end. She gets the bigger part and he tells her to wish on it. She wishes on it and then they start talking about how it would be if they had met in normal circumstances like at the cleaner's for example. Bo says he would probably do something real stupid and embarrassing while thinking how gorgeous she is and finally before she'd leave he would ask her out and Billie says "No, you wouldn't and I'd be so sad" and Bo gets angry with her for always being so pessimistic but Billie laughs and says "No, but you see, then when I come out you'll be waiting for me outside and surprise me". They go on talking what they'd do in their first and second date. They really seem to enjoy each other's company.

Meanwhile the ballistic report comes in. Austin asks to be the first to look at it. Roman objects at first but Austin explains "If it's good news then it doesn't matter who tells her, but if it's bad news it's got to be me". He opens the envelope and the news isn't good. The gun found in Billie's drawer was determined to be the gun that shot Curtis. Austin comes out and breaks an intimate moment between Bo and Billie. He tells Bo that he should go inside while he stays with Billie. He tells her what the ballistic report said. Billie is very upset. She says that everything went so well and now her life is totally screwed up again. Inside the house Bo isn't taking the news very well. Roman asks him if he wants to be taken off the case but Bo says it's important for him to stay on it so he could prove Billie innocent. In order to stay on the case he must do everything right, including arresting Billie. He comes out again but when he has to actually do it he just can't bring himself to do it. Billie is the one who reassures him. She says that she understands that it's his job and that she'd rather have him do it than anybody else. She even puts out her hands so he could handcuff her. He doesn't want to put the handcuffs on her but she says she doesn't want him to get into trouble for not doing his job properly. Reluctantly he puts the handcuffs on her hands and takes her to prison where she goes through the regular procedures.

Billie spends the night at her cell. She doesn't sleep very well that night. She keeps having bad dreams. It's already morning and she has another nightmare about killing Curtis. She wakes up horrified and sees Bo by her side. He holds her tightly and then questions her about her dream but she lies and says she doesn't remember what it was about.

During that time Austin and Carrie are trying to raise bail money for Billie. Carrie goes to Kate and tries to talk her into giving Billie's company back to her (She took back her loan when she needed money to pay off Curtis and now she's taken over completely). Kate refuses to Carrie and when Lucas tries to convince her (he'd do anything to please Carrie) she explains to him why keeping Billie in jail is for her best interest. As long as Billie is a suspect she's going to take the heat off of Kate herself. If she ceases to be a suspect it won't take long until the police will find the connection and start interrogating her. But Lucas does succeed in convincing Kate to keep Carrie in the company. He tells Carrie that this way she could leave the door open for Billie's return once Kate comes around.

Later that day Austin comes to the Penthouse Grill to speak to Kate, unaware of Carrie's attempt. He asks Kate to convince Victor to let him play the piano at the Penthouse Grill, so he could make some extra money and be able to help Billie. It's obvious that Kate finds it particularly hard to say no to him. She's very soft when she talks to him, but she still hates Billie and she makes a point of saying that whatever she's going to do is for him and not for her. Austin wants to know why Kate hates his sister so much. He tells her "You always had it easy. You don't know what life was like to my sister. She always had to fight just to get by. You want something and you take it. Jjust like my sister's company". Finally Kate promises she'll do her best to help him and as soon as he leaves her table she says to herself that she's going to regret it. Austin's next station is Jennifer. He asks her to talk for him with the big bosses. He wants them to give him his salary in advance this month. Jennifer offers him her full support.

After running around all morning trying to raise bail money for Billie, Austin comes to visit Billie and tells her that everybody's working their best to raise bail money for her. Billie tells him it isn't necessary since she intends to plead guilty. Austin tries to talk her out of it but she doesn't listen. She says she doesn't want to jeopardize Bo's and Austin's careers and that he should just forget about her and focus on his career and not worry about her - she'd be fine.

Austin is still trying to convince her and then Carrie does but none of them succeeds. Austin turns to Bo and tells him that Billie is going to plead guilty and that he's the only one who could get through to her. Bo promises him to do his best and just before she's supposed to be in court he tells the guards that he wants to talk to Billie alone. He grabs her into a secluded room, very much to her objection. "All right" Bo bursts "what the hell's going on with you, lady? What is it? You got all these people willing to fight for you, willing to help you out, and you're not willing to fight for yourself? Why? Why are you going to plead guilty, Billie?". Billie answers that she probably is guilty. She doesn't remember anything and it's possible she did kill Curtis. Bo says that possible isn't for sure. Billie begs Bo to stop trying to convince her and he says that no matter what evidence they have he can't believe that she is capable of murder. Billie says that a lot of people do believe that, especially the D.A. Then she says that the papers also think that there's a good case against her and Bo says that they do, but it's because of her. "Billie, you're so damn stubborn. You won't let anybody in, you won't open up, not even to me. You know how that feels, lady? It feels like I'm getting kicked in the gut". Billie looks as if she's trying very hard to disconnect herself. "Billie, I could help you if you let me. I'm sure of that". Billie answers dryly "Don't be sure of anything, Bo, not even me". Bo is really upset. "Why do I have more faith in you than you have in yourself?" he questions her. "Cause I know myself a lot better than you do" Billie answers. "All right" Bo says "So you've got some secrets. So what?". Billie gets defensive and says that that's why she wants to get it all over with so everybody could get back to their lives. Bo shakes his head with disbelief. "I don't believe you're being that selfish!" he says. "Selfish?" Billie snaps "How can you call me selfish?". "You're ruining your life, Billie, and you don't care what lives you're ruining in the process?" and Billie answers that she's saving everyone from a lot of trouble and grief.

"All right" Bo hollers "so you just go to jail and we'll forget all about you? Is that it? What about Austin? How do you think it's gonna make him feel? He loves you, lady! What about me? Hmmm?". "You'll live" Billie answers coldly. "So you've just given up on us? Is that it?" Bo pursues. Billie answers that they have no future together. Bo says he refuses to believe that. He also refuses to believe that a woman who was always such a fighter could give up like that. "My God" he continues enthusiastically, "all you have to do is get that fire back, the fire in your belly, the spark that drew me to you in the first place". Now Billie is crying. "How did you get drawn to me?" she asks quietly. "Because you're a wonderful, incredibly special woman" Bo says. He continues to tell her how great she is and then says "I've got feelings for you, lady, and I know you have the same feelings for me". Billie still doesn't respond and Bo says that he knows now that a chance like that doesn't come too often and he's going to fight for it but he needs her to fight for it too. Now Billie shows her real worries about the chance of her being convicted but Bo tells her that they'll cross that bridge when they get to it and in the meantime they'll just take it step by step and that he'll be there to take those steps with her.

Just when Billie is about to respond Mickey comes in and tells them it's time. "I don't know what to do, Bo" she says. "Yes, you do" Bo says passionately "Just do it". Billie leaves without giving Bo an answer and he hits the table with his fist yelling "just do it!".

In court, waiting for Billie, are Austin, Carrie, Jonah, Caroline and Shawn. Billie comes in without talking to either of them. The judge comes in and begins the hearing. She asks Billie what her plea is going to be. Billie turns around and looks at Bo for the longest time. Bo is trying very hard to convince her just by looking at her very intensely. The judge gets very impatient. Finally Billie rises and says she's pleading "not guilty". Everybody's so relieved they start cheering and yelling and this upsets the judge, who threatens she'll remove them all from the court.

The hearing begins. The assistant D.A., Pat Hamilton, asks the court to deny Billie the possibility of posting bail. She tries to make her look dangerous. Billie panics, especially when she hears how high the bail is: 1 million dollars. She already prepares herself for a night in jail when she's told she's free to go. She can't understand it. She thinks Austin pulled it off but he says he can't take credit for it. Shawn and Caroline say they did it. Billie finds that very hard to believe, because she knows business hasn't been that good in the pub. Finally Shawn admits they didn't do it, Bo did. Billie storms out and arrives to Bo's boat. She thanks him for posting her bail money and wonders how he got the money to do it when while she's speaking she realizes he took a mortgage on his boat. "How could you sacrifice it for me?" she asks. "I didn't sacrifice anything" he says. Billie still finds it hard to believe "Why did you risk this for me?" she asks. He grabs her face, saying very emotionally "If you don't know by now..." and then kisses her. "You get it?" he asks smilingly. Billie looks astonished.

During that time John teams up with Roman and Abe in the investigation of Curtis Brown's murder. He's determined to stop Kristen from marrying Tony and the only way he can do it is by proving to her how wicked her father really is. In order to get John off her case Kristen agrees to give him until her wedding day to come up with something. John goes through the stuff that was found on the murder scene time and again when he finally realizes what the little white button belongs to - it's a part of a hospital ID bracelet. He snoops around some more and he finds out that the day after Curtis's murder a new ID bracelet was manufactured for Stefano. John rushes to Kristen with the news, but Kristen isn't impressed by it. John decides to keep working on it until he finds a more conclusive proof.

There's still time before the actual trial and Bo is determined to get the truth out of Billie. He knows that in order to do that he must spend a lot of time with her, but he also knows that Pat Hamilton already thinks that he's too kin on Billie, so he tries to be cautious about it. He tells Billie that they must pause their relationship until the trial is over. Still he tries to spend as much time with her as he can. In one occasion he takes her to the basement of her apartment building, to help her jog her memory. Billie really doesn't want to be there. She does get memories about Curtis threatening her, drugging her, taking drugs himself, covering her with the blanket. From time to time Bo asks her what is it that she remembers but she refuses to share any of these memories with Bo. Bo does succeed in getting her to say that Curtis gave her heroin in the basement and that she remembers a gun. At this point she flees outside where she sees Curtis at the top of the stairs. She starts mumbling "No. You're dead" and then starts screaming. He panics from her reaction and starts running. Bo rushes out of the basement, chases him and catches him. Of course he isn't really Curtis. He claims to be a new tenant who was trying to look at the laundry room. Bo lets him go and starts comforting Billie. Standing there, in a very intimate position they're suddenly blinded by a flash. It seems that the "new tenant" is a tabloid photographer and he intends to make a scandal out of detective Brady's involvement with the prime suspect in the murder case he's investigating. Billie turns totally wild, and violent as she tries snatching the camera from the man and break it, but Bo holds her down and tells her that although he doesn't like it any more than she does they can't do it. It's against the law and he could file a complaint against them. He lets the man walk with a warning not to bother them any more. Billie is very worried about the implications of this picture being printed, but Bo eases her mind.

Still upset Billie goes back to her apartment and tells Austin and Carrie all that's happened. She hugs Austin and tells him that she was certain Curtis has come back to mess up their lives again. Bo becomes alert when he hears Billie saying "our lives". He asks what did she mean by that. Austin answers very quickly that Billie is still upset and confused and that she didn't know what she was saying, but it's obvious that Bo doesn't buy it. Now he's certain that Austin is very much involved in it all. But he agrees that Billie is too agitated to answer any questions and so he says they should talk tomorrow and leaves.

A few days later Billie decides that since Bo doesn't take good care of himself because he's working so hard on clearing her name, she should take care of him. So she shows up on his boat, cleans it, shops, cooks and even gets a bubble bath ready for him. Bo is surprised at first to find her on his boat, but they end up having a wonderful time together. During that time they hear a noise and Bo, with only a towel wrapped around his body, goes out to check its source and finds the sleazy photographer going through his trash. Bo is furious with him, starting to threaten him when downstairs Billie stumbles upon something and the photographer understands that Bo isn't by himself. He wants to go inside and see if it's Billie but Bo almost beats him up. Finally the photographer leaves, not before he makes some nasty remarks about Bo's interest in Billie. When Bo goes down to Billie she's upset again about ruining his career.

It's just before Christmas and Billie and Carrie go shopping when she sees a Countess Wilhelmina display and gets all excited and filled with ideas. Carrie feels very guilty because she hasn't found the nerve yet to tell her that Kate has completely taken over the company when she was in jail. Carrie tells it to Austin and he agrees to help her land the news on Billie. Billie takes the news very hard. Later that day the tabloid publishes Bo and Billie's intimate picture on the cover. Roman and Bo are at the pub fighting. Roman is furious with Bo. He accuses him of breaking rules and being unprofessional. Bo says he was doing his job - he took Billie to the basement to jog her memory but Roman says he shouldn't have done it himself. He should have told Roman and Roman would have taken Billie there. It's obvious Bo's career is on the line here. Suddenly Bo notices that Billie is in the pub, witnessing the fight, feeling very bad about it. He tries to talk to her but she says she's nothing but trouble to him and she's ruining his career. He starts saying that she shouldn't think that way when the photographer comes in, looking very smug and Bo almost breaks his face. At this point Billie can't stand it anymore and she runs outside. Bo hurries up and follows her, much to Roman's dissatisfaction. He catches up with her and calms her down. They continue walking around the mall when they get the feeling they're being followed. Bo sneaks Billie and himself to the very first place he can find. It's dark and they can't see a thing when suddenly Billie screams. Bo asks what's wrong. Billie says that somebody has a gun held to her back. Bo rushes to her and after a short fight it turns out to be a stuffed moose who's got its horn stuck in Billie's back. Bo keeps teasing Billie about it for quite some time after the incident.

They look around for a while and finally Bo figures out where they are. They're in the basement of Barron's department store. Bo knows the place very well from working there as a teenager and that way he knows that they're not going to be let out until next morning and that if they try to break out they will only set off the alarm. When they finally turn on the electricity they realize that they're surrounded by the Christmas display. Billie keeps complaining but Bo gets her to lighten up and enjoy it. They dress up in fancy cloths and play some music and dance to it. Then Billie gets hungry and Bo finds some food and while they're eating they suddenly hear a groan. Billie thinks it's her stomach again but it turns out to be a Doberman. They both freeze, but Billie comes to her senses very quickly and throws a piece of meat to the dog. He eats and comes back for more and Billie pets him. Bo is amazed with the cool way Billie handled the situation and Billie says that dogs are like people, they just want to be loved. They name the dog Fido and pretend that the basement is their house and that Fido is their dog.

Later they find a karaoke machine and sing "Winter Wonderland" together. After that they find a Christmas tree and start decorating it. Bo teaches Billie how to do it since she never had a Christmas tree as a child. Then she starts throwing tinsels at him and he chases her all around the basement. When he finally catches her they start kissing very heavily, but they know they can't go through with it until the trial is over so they try distracting themselves.

Finally they fall asleep. Billie dreams that she and Bo are married and they have a little girl and all three of them are decorating the Christmas tree. Suddenly she hears a dog barking. Still in her dream she asks Bo "When did we get a dog?". Then they both wake up and realize that Fido is barking so they hide just in time before the guard comes in. He looks around but he doesn't see Bo and Billie and so he starts walking out but they accidentally make a noise that makes the guard turn around but Fido saves the day again by leaping out and making the guard think it was him who's made the noise earlier.

After the guard is gone Bo and Billie change back into their regular cloths and wait for the store to open.

Meanwhile in the pub the people of Salem are trying to raise donations for Christmas presents for poor kids. They're still short in toys when Mickey calls Barron's manager - a big client of his - and he agrees to donate many toys, so everybody goes there. Lucas goes by the pub and hears everything and in order to impress Carrie he goes to Kate and asks for a donation. Kate is willing to give one but Lucas wants a huge donation, one that will cover all expenses. Kate understands perfectly well why he's really doing it and says it's too much but Victor walks in and he likes the idea. Lucas hurries to Barron's department store, gives the manager Victor's credit card and tells everybody to take whatever they like. Everybody's very happy and Bo and Billie use the commotion to sneak into the crowd and pretend that they came from the outside.

Later they all come back to the pub to wrap the presents. Victor tells Bo that he's very sorry about the whole mess Billie is in and that he has always liked her (earlier he tried to convince Kate to give Billie her company back, but to no avail) and that if she needs any legal help he'll be happy to provide it. Bo is exceptionally warm towards Victor and tells him that he would tell Billie and that he's sure she would really appreciate it. He even says he'd drive Shawn Douglas himself to visit Victor at Christmas day. Victor is very touched by Bo's behavior and he even talks to Caroline about what it means to him.

Carrie says to Lucas that what he did was nice but that he shouldn't do things like this just to impress her and he says that he knows how it's like to not have enough money for Christmas presents. Him and Kate weren't always so well off and having no father or siblings he felt pretty lonely at Christmas. Carrie regrets ever saying anything.

Kate also praises Victor for his generosity and Victor admits that he knows how it's like to be a child whose parents can't afford Christmas presents. Kate is surprised to know that about him. She assumed he was always rich.

On the way out of the pub Kate and Billie get into a fight. Kate says many horrible things about Billie. She says she's trash, just like the man she murdered. Kate gets all worked up about it in a way that suggests personal involvement. Billie picks up on it and starts asking her what she knows about the murdered man. Kate says that only what she read in the papers: he was a scum and a lowlife. Billie doesn't seem convinced.

It's Christmas Eve. Bo and Billie arrive to the church and learn that the choir is snowed in. Bo immediately suggests that Billie sings, since she has such a wonderful voice, but she is very reluctant to do so. Bo does not understand why. Father Kyle takes her aside with the excuse of needing her to identify some of the presents they wrapped for the children. When they're alone Father Kyle asks her what her problem is and she says she hasn't stepped into a church for years because she felt dirty and undeserving. She tells Father Kyle that her mother was Catholic and she used to take Austin to church a lot and when she left Austin took her, but when their father found out he beat Austin, so they stopped going. She says that since then whenever she went by a church she'd think about going inside, but she's committed so many sins that she just couldn't bring herself to do so. Father Kyle suggests that she confesses her sins and she is a little afraid at first but then she goes with him and does it. When she comes out she sees Austin who's very surprised to see her in church. She tells him that she's confessed and that now she's feeling much better. She feels that now things are somewhat out in the open and it gives her some kind of peace. She feels that God has forgiven her. Austin is very happy to hear all that and he tells her that it's a good sign that she might be ready to tell other people, but she says she's not ready yet, although now she's beginning to feel that someday she might be.

Later that day Kate comes to church. She sits there, crying, looking at her locket with the pictures of her dead babies. Father Kyle talks to her and she tells him how her babies died in a car crash and how usually she copes with it but Christmas is extremely tough for her.

Earlier Jenn and Austin go window shopping in the mall and Austin tells Jenn how Billie and him never celebrated Christmas because their father hated the holidays and religion, but he says he remembers the last Christmas he spent with his mother. He says that that Christmas she bought him a shiny red fire truck and he loved it so much. He played with it all the time. Now that he's all grown up he realizes how hard it must have been, keeping this money away from Curtis, saving it bit by bit just to buy it for him. Jenn says "Looks like it meant a lot to you. I bet you still save it" and Austin answers sadly "No. Curtis smashed it to pieces one day". Austin's expression when he talks about his mom convinces Jennifer that he still needs her after all these years and that she must go on searching for her.

It's already Christmas mass. Bo is very surprised to see Billie, after she told him she doesn't think she'll attend mass. The choir is no longer snowed in, but Billie is still going to sing with them. After Father Kyle's sermon, Marlena gets up and asks everybody in a very moving way to pray for her baby. Then Billie and the choir start singing and during that time John and Kristen appear in the door, holding baby Belle. They keep singing when Marlena turns back and sees her child. She starts crying. John goes to her and puts the baby in her arms. There's a feeling of bliss about it all.

The day after Christmas Billie finds a note directing her to the roof. There she follows a path of candies until she finds Bo. He says that he's here to keep his promise that they'll spend Christmas together. The roof is the only private place he could think of. He's brought music and food and he even has a present for her. Billie is very excited about all Bo has done. She asks him to wait while she gets the present she got for him. She comes back with the movie "Casablanca" and says that every month he'll get a new movie, like some kind of a "movie of the month" club. She adds that it's going to keep him busy while she's away. He's got her a seasonal ticket for basketball games (he's got the adjacent seat), and she says that he should probably hold on to the ticket because she's going to jail. Bo tells her that they're going to attend all the games and watch all the movies together. Billie cheers up a little and they start a snow fight.

When they go down to her apartment, still giggling and talking loudly, they find Mickey and Pat Hamilton waiting next to Billie's locked door. Of course Pat Hamilton isn't too pleased to see Bo and Billie together. Bo has to leave and Mickey, Pat and Billie enter the apartment. Pat offers Billie a deal. If she admits to have killed Curtis she'll get 3 to 11 years instead of 25 years and she won't have to go to trial. Billie wants to avoid trial at all cost because she's afraid a trial would bring up her past. In the meantime Bo arrives at the police station and learns from Abe about the deal. Determined to stop Billie from accepting it he rushes to her apartment, much to Abe's objection.

Billie is just about to sign the deal but Mickey asks Pat for another hour or two so he could talk to his client. Pat unwillingly agrees. Mickey tries to get Billie to tell what she's hiding from him, but Billie doesn't cooperate. Bo storms into the apartment and tries to convince Billie not to sign. She says she's already made up her mind - she's going to sign. Bo sends Mickey to try and convince Pat to give Billie another extension and in the meantime he tries to understand what makes her want to sign. She answers "You". He doesn't understand but she says that the last few days she spent with him made her realize how good life can really be and now she can't bear to spend 25 years in jail and miss out on it. He holds her and tells her that he knows that she couldn't be a murderer. Billie still isn't convinced.

It's New Year's eve, Billie must give her answer about the deal the next day. Bo is knocking on Billie's door. Billie tells Austin not to open the door because she can't deal with Bo now but Austin refuses and Billie hides in the terrace. Bo goes straight to her and asks her why she's been avoiding him and she says that she can't make up her mind about the deal as long as he's around her. He says she thinks too much and that she should enjoy herself. It's New Year's eve, why won't she come with him to the party at Titan's? She says she's really not in the mood so he stays with her and they talk and hug and dance. He asks if she has any New Year's resolutions. She says she doesn't have any so he tells her his New Year's resolution: to stay by her side no matter what. Upon hearing that she decides she does have a New Year's resolution. She's going to tell Pat Hamilton to take the deal and shove it. Bo is very happy to hear it and they kiss.

Part 4: The New Year begins and Salem prepares for a trial

Right after New Year's Bo comes up with a brilliant idea: he's going to match Billie's DNA with that of the tissues that were found under Curtis's fingernails. That way he could prove that Curtis wasn't fighting with Billie but with somebody else. They go and get it done immediately, then hang around the police station, waiting for the results. Abe sees them there and tells Billie it's her last chance to still take the deal that the D.A has offered her, but Billie says she won't. The results come back: there's a match between Billie's DNA and the tissues found under Curtis's fingernails. It's not a 100% match, but it's still bad news. Astounded they go to Billie's place and talk. Billie gets very hurt when she understands from Bo's tone that he doesn't believe in her innocence anymore.

Bo goes to Wendy's and questions her again about the night of the murder when she lets it slip that she doesn't squeal on her friends. Bo immediately asks her what she meant by that. Wendy tries to avoid answering.

In the meantime Billie and Austin are at her apartment, talking. By that time Austin realizes that he's made a mistake making Billie lie to Bo and he tries to convince her again and again to come clean and tell Bo the whole truth. He says that Bo really loves her and that he'll stick by her but Billie says she can't tell Bo the truth about her because even if he does stay he'll look at her differently and she couldn't stand the look in his eyes. She also says that even if Bo will be understanding the rest of the town won't and she just can't unravel her life like this. Austin tells her to stop blaming herself for what Curtis did to her but she says that it's hard for her to know that even he (Austin) knows about it.

Bo takes Wendy to see Austin and Billie, where he makes her repeat what she said to him, that on the night of the murder she heard Billie arguing with Curtis and then shouting "if you don't leave me I'll kill you". Bo asks Billie if she did argue with Curtis that night. When Billie starts making excuses he gets impatient and says "Don't tell me - you don't remember". Billie gets upset, but he continues "how much of this night exactly don't you remember?". Austin tries defending her but Bo tells him to butt out. He keeps questioning Wendy who suddenly remembers that after Billie left she heard more footsteps and another voice talking to Curtis, but she can't remember if it was a man or a woman. Bo is very happy to find a new lead. He apologizes to Billie for doubting her and hurting her feelings. He says he's going to take her somewhere to make her remember more things, but he doesn't tell her where it's going to be.

Bo brings Billie to his boat. She's very stressed from the thought that they could be spotted but he tries to make her relax. He touches her softly and gives her massages, but she's still very tensed. He tries convincing her to go through hypnosis but she completely dreads the idea. He doesn't understand why, but he backs off anyway. He starts holding her and kissing her but she pulls herself away from him and says they shouldn't start it and that if Pat Hamilton ever finds out they'll be in big trouble. Bo tells her to forget about Pat Hamilton but she can't leave it alone.

Later Carrie and Billie talk and Carrie tells Billie not to worry because Bo would do anything to clear her name and after that they'll have a chance at being happy but Billie thinks to herself that if Bo ever finds out about her past it's over between them.

Encouraged by having a new direction, Bo sends the crisp 100$ bill to be analyzed. At the same time he tries to trace any unusual activity that was taking place near the scene of the murder at the night of the murder. His investigation reveals that Lucas Roberts got a speeding ticket around the area at about the same time that Curtis was murdered. When Bo confronts Lucas about it Lucas says he was going to see Carrie but then changed his mind. Bo has a feeling that Lucas is hiding something but he doesn't say anything. After Bo leaves the Kiriakis mansion Lucas takes out a pair of leather driving gloves and throws them in the fireplace. Later Lucas tells Victor about Bo's visit and they're both concerned that Kate won't hear about Lucas's speeding ticket and him being questioned by Bo.

While Bo still doesn't come up with anything solid, Billie decides to give hypnosis a second thought. She goes to see Marlena and consults her about it. Billie tries to get Marlena to tell her if it's possible to go under hypnosis and still control what you say - to reveal some parts but not others. Marlena says she can't guarantee such a thing. Billie asks what happens in case unwanted things do come out, would Marlena have to tell about them? Marlena answers that if under hypnosis Billie will reveal something that could help clear her then Pat Hamilton will have a right to ask for the whole transcript of the session. Billie says she can't let it happen. Marlena acts very motherly towards Billie, trying to convince her to confide in her. Finally Billie does and tells her about her being molested by her father, leaving out the fact that her father is the murder victim. Marlena keeps telling Billie that it's not her fault and that she shouldn't blame herself and feel ashamed because of it but Billie reveals her anxieties about Bo leaving her if he ever finds out. Marlena says she knows Bo even better than Billie does and that he would never leave her just because she was abused but Billie insists that she would rather go to prison than let Bo find out. She knows that even if he doesn't leave her it would change his perception of her and it would hurt him very deeply and she can't let it happen. Marlena is deeply impressed by Billie's words, but she still tries to convince her that it's not good to keep secrets inside when Billie bitterly lashes at her, saying "what do you know about secrets? You have the perfect house, the perfect husband and the perfect children. What do you know about anything like that?". Marlena has at this point decided to tell Roman about her affair with John, and although she can't tell Billie what's on her mind exactly, she corrects her and says that she does know how it feels like to have a secret that's eating on you and how devastating it is.

Just before leaving the room Billie turns around and asks "Dr. Evans, can a woman kill because she was abused by her father?" and Marlena doesn't answer at first but finally she says "Yes. I've seen it happen". Billie closes the door behind her, looking pretty depressed. Now she knows for sure there's no way she's going to go under hypnosis. This conversation also has a great impact on Marlena, as she tells John later that she's had a conversation with a patient - a young woman - who'd rather go to prison than hurt the man she loves and that this conversation convinced her not to tell Roman about the affair after all.

It's the day of little Belle's baptism. Austin tries to convince Billie to come clean about her secret. He's very upset that she blames herself for what's happened and he thinks that talking about it could help. He tries to assure her that the people who love her would understand and not blame her for what's happened, but she says that she did some reading and that most people think that incest victims somehow brought it on themselves, asked for it. She says she couldn't stand it if Bo thought she was dirty. Austin tries to persuade her that Bo wouldn't think that, that he wouldn't blame her and that he would help her in any way possible, but she refuses. He does succeed in convincing her to go to Belle's baptism. When he leaves her to prepare for the baptism she says to herself that there are some secrets that even Austin must never find out.

Carrie goes to the police station to bring Roman his suit. Just when she's about to leave Curtis's photo catches her eye and she tells Bo that she'd seen this man's photo before. Bo says that sure, it's the victim murder - his picture was all over the papers, but Carrie says that she didn't see it then, she saw it before. She saw it on the night of the murder. It was Lucas who showed it to her and he seemed very desperate to find this man. Bo rushes to the Kiriakis mansion with Curtis's photo, asking Lucas how come he was walking around with this man's picture on the night of the murder. Lucas denies ever knowing Curtis and claims that the picture he showed Carrie was of an old teacher he had in the military academy. Bo doesn't buy it. He becomes even more suspicious when he notices the remains of the burnt gloves in the fireplace. He confronts Lucas about it, but Lucas just says they were old and ragged and that's why he threw them. Bo still doesn't understand why he had to burn them instead of just throwing them away. Kate comes home in the middle of the questioning and becomes very protective of Lucas and very angry at Bo. Victor also talks to Bo and tells him that Lucas had nothing to do with the murder. Bo says to Victor that he remembers that there was a time where this house was full of nothing but secrets and lies and that he thought that those times were long gone, but he was obviously mistaken. After Bo leaves, Kate asks Lucas what was he doing outside the house on the night of the murder. She looks very worried. Victor talks to her and promises to do anything in his power to protect both her and her son.

Meanwhile in church Stefano makes Marlena reveal that she was having an affair with John. The shocked family members and friends leave Roman, Marlena and John to have it out at the church and go to Brady's pub. Bo comes to the pub, unaware of what just happened. Billie is the one who tells him everything. She finds it all very hard to believe and it only makes her more determined never to reveal her own dark secrets.

A few days later Bo comes back to the Kiriakis mansion to question the help. Meanwhile, Kate admits to her husband and son that she was indeed beaten by Curtis the night of the murder and that she met him in order to pay him off. Victor admits that he went out to look for Curtis after Kate came home beaten. He promises again that he'll do anything to protect Lucas but he's also expresses his displeasure with the fact that this whole affair is causing such a rift between him and his son. While questioning a maid named Mary, Bo discovers that on the night of the murder Kate came home all beaten and bruised. He confronts Kate about it but she claims that she was not beaten, she simply slipped on the ice. Bo still feels that Kate, Lucas and Victor are hiding information. He tells Victor that he could never consider him a father if it turns out that he's lied to him. He adds that Victor has had many chances to get close to him but that he blew it every time.

When Bo gets back to the police station he's told that the 100$ bill has been traced to Titan Publishing. Questioning Victor's accountant teaches Bo that the 100$ bill was a part of a much larger sum of money that Kate requested and that the money came back 100$ short. Bo confronts Kate with this new information. She claims that she needed the money for a business deal. Lucas claims that he stole some money from the safe. Both their explanations don't convince Bo.

Bo still tries to establish a more solid connection between Kate, Lucas and the murder when he and Billie are told by Mickey that the trial is about to begin the next day. Bo bids Mickey to postpone it. Later Mickey tells them that he was able to get a delay, but only for 48 hours.

In the meantime the panicked Kate destroys the cloths she wore the night of the murder, making Mary the maid very suspicious of her, but decides not to destroy the shoes she was wearing that night, figuring that nobody looks at shoes anyway.

It's shortly before Billie's trial. Billie is on Bo's boat. She falls asleep and dreams a wonderful dream about her and Bo drifting off to a deserted island, away from the murder case, Pat Hamilton and all that. When she wakes up the dream turns out to be not only magical and relaxing but also very useful as Billie tells Bo that all through the dream she had a feeling that she was supposed to see something that would help her. Then she remembers what it was - it was one of the shells that Bo gave her in her dream. It's somehow connected to somebody who came to see Curtis the night of the murder. She keeps thinking about it all day until it finally comes to her: somehow, somewhere on the night of the murder she saw a pair of black shoes with golden shells on them. She even draws the shoes for Bo.

Since Bo already suspects that Kate has something to do with the murder he requests Abe for a warrant to search the Kiriakis mansion. Abe doesn't grant his request. Bo doesn't give up. He summons all the shoe store managers in town and questions them about the shoes. He's about to give up when one person remembers that it wasn't sold in the store but was made as a special order for a shoot for "Bella" magazine, that was on the theme of the ocean. This person also says that the shoes were never returned, but points out that it's very common for people who work on shoots to take cloths home if they like them.

When Bo finally gets the warrant to search the Kiriakis mansion, Kate totally panics and throws the shoes into a garbage can in her room. Kate tries everything she can to stop Bo from searching her room. She even complains to Victor who protests loudly, but Bo searches the entire house very thoroughly. When he finally approaches the garbage can, Kate says that her garbage can is personal. That she might have thrown personal things there and that Bo searching it would be an invasion of privacy. Bo is still determined to search the garbage can and Victor, not knowing what Kate has put there, tries to convince her to let him do it. When Bo's search reveals nothing Kate is both relieved and surprised. She wonders how the shoes disappeared.

When everybody leaves Mary the maid comes in. It turns out that she took the shoes since she understood that it was a critical situation and so she got rid of them. Kate thanks her but thanks are not enough for Mary. She wants bonuses and days off and she threatens Kate that she'll reveal all she knows if Kate doesn't follow through. Kate was actually going to fire her before the whole mess, because she's lazy and because she lies a lot, but now she has no choice but to agree to Mary's terms.

Kate thinks that it's all over for her now, but Mary has lied. She didn't really get rid of the shoes. They were so fancy and new that she couldn't bring herself to throw them away. She decided to keep them for herself.

In the meantime John tries to find one last proof that Stefano is connected to Curtis's murder. He doesn't have much time because Kristen is getting married very soon. He's very happy to hear that Fred Harris, who guarded Stefano's hospital room on the night of the murder, has reappeared in town. He has already suspected that Fred was on the take, but Fred disappeared before he could find any solid proof for it. This time he is determined to succeed.

Stefano and Peter also find out that Fred is in town and they decide to kill him. John gets to Fred before they do and tries to pressure him into confessing, but Fred would only talk to Roman. Roman is still furious with John because of his affair with Marlena, and is reluctant to cooperate at first, but later he agrees.

Kristen is getting ready to marry Tony when John barges into church and tells her that Fred has admitted that Stefano is the one who shot Curtis. Peter and Stefano chase John away from church, but Kristen becomes confused. Stefano feels that the walls are closing in on him. He sneaks out of church and into a car. John chases him and shoots the tires of his car. The car explodes. John doesn't believe that his gunshot made the car explode, but at first glance it looks that way. The shocked Kristen hears from Peter that Stefano's last wish was to see her get married to Tony, and so she goes through with the ceremony the same day.

With Stefano missing, Fred still not talking and nothing solid to link Kate or Lucas to the murder, Billie's trial begins the next day.

More to come...

Thanks to Hamutal for writing this story

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