Working Late

May 6, 2003

Antonio: Yeah, thanks.

Nora: Did you at least read the phone it's rights first?

Antonio: Every lead. Every lead -- nothing. It's like -- it's like Mitch Lawrence just vanished.

Nora: He's not going to do that. Why would he do that? He's got everything he wants. Even blind as a bat, he's in hog heaven.

Antonio: Yeah? Well, then where is he?

Nora: I don't know, Antonio, but I'm sure he's going to find his way back to Llanview very soon. And when he does, we'll be waiting.

*~*

Nora: Ok. Thank you.

Antonio: Yeah, just call me when you hear something. Thanks.

Nora: Did you get anything? Nope? Me, neither.

Antonio: Since when do you work this late?

Nora: When I really, really, really, really want to close in on a case or when Matthew has a sleepover at a friend's house.

Antonio: You don't have anyone to go home to, do you?

Nora: Not so much, no.

Antonio: Yeah. Neither do I.

Nora: Thanks. No, as a matter of fact, I inherited a huge caseload when I took this job, which keeps me from thinking about being alone.

Antonio: Yep. We have a lifetime supply of crime.

Nora: Oh, hey -- Hank told me you got a lead on a burglary?

Antonio: Yeah, but you're not going to like this.

Nora: Try me.

Antonio: Look, Nora, I know you like R.J. --

Nora: Oh --

Antonio: But he's up to his old tricks and he's sucking in some new players.

*~*

Nora: Any luck?

Antonio: Yeah, Mitch's family used to live near Amish farm country just west of here.

Nora: Where?

Antonio: All I got was on some lake.

Nora: Really? Pennsylvania, near a lake. Wow, that's narrowing it down.

[Phone rings]

Antonio: Vega. What? You were supposed to keep an eye -- no, look, forget it. Where did you lose her? All right, call highway patrol and give them a description of the car. No, no, I'm on my way.

Nora: What's going on?

Antonio: I had some guys watching Jessica. They lost her. They said some guy came to pick her up.

Nora: One of Mitch's guys?

Antonio: It sounds like it. They were last seen traveling west on interstate 74. Damn it. If that girl would just use her head.

*~*

Viki: Nora!

Nora: Hi.

Viki: Hey.

Nora: Viki, what are you doing here?

Viki: Well, actually, I came looking for Antonio Vega, but I am delighted to see you.

Nora: What's going on?

Viki: Ok. I have here copies of l the financial documents that Mitch Lawrence was blackmailing Judge Grafton with.

Nora: You're kidding me.

Viki: No. And if that weren't enough, there are handwritten notes in the margins. I'm sure we have to prove it's Mitch's handwriting, but --

Nora: Well, that's doable. My God. You've hit the jackpot.

Viki: Oh, yeah. And the best of all, this is a handwritten note from my father to Mitch detailing their agreement. Jessica's heart for him rewriting his will.

Nora: Viki, my God. You realize that this could overturn that ridiculous ruling of Judge Grafton's, the one that said that Victor's second will should leave everything to Mitch Lawrence.

Viki: Well, I was hoping you would say that.

Nora: Oh, yeah. This will get the whole thing thrown out of court and Mitch thrown into jail.

Viki: Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Do you know where Antonio is? Nora?

Nora: Um -- Antonio was having Jessica watched. And they lost her.

Viki: What do you mean, they lost her? I just left her. She was on her way to meet Asa at the gallery.

Nora: Well, apparently, she left the gallery --

Viki: What?

Nora: With someone.

Viki: Who? What?

Nora: Well, she left voluntarily, but we think it might have been one of Mitch's people.

Viki: Damn it, Jessica! Why does she keep doing this?

Nora: All right, the highway patrol has got all the information. They know the color of the car, everything. They'll find her.

Viki: You know, Dorian keeps saying she doesn't know where Mitch is.

Nora: Oh, let's go.

Viki: No, I just came from there. She wouldn't tell me anything.

Nora: Yeah, that's all right. Let me just go lock this up. We'll go to Llanfair. I have a way of making Dorian talk.

*~*

Nora: I'll put the fear of god into Dorian.