DOCTORS II

BIRTHDAY GIRL

Allen was sitting at his desk in his office gazing at the closed door and tapping with his fingers on the desk in front of him still brooding with rage from his encounter with Shaun in the cafeteria. He then picked up his phone and dialed a number. It gave a few rings before the call got answered. "Veronique it's Allen here." She was quiet for a while and didn't say a word. "Hello."

"I can hear you Allen. What a surprise. I didn't expect you to call me."

"I need a favor from you Veronique. But before I tell you what it is, you and Corbin are invited for dinner at my place tonight. I'll let Alicia know you will be coming."

"Hold your horses Allen."

He frowned. "Sorry?"

"Look, we're out of town for a few weeks. Corbin and I are in Florida shooting a series. Can I give you a call as soon as we're back in Los Angeles?"

"Sure. I didn't realize you were out of town. Please don't tell me you're just using it as an excuse to avoid me."

"No, we really are in Florida. You can check out our fan page if you don't believe me."

"I believe you."

******

Allen was laying in bed the next morning staring out of the bedroom window overlooking the hills in Hollywood Hills where he and Alicia shared a newly purchased double story house. She noticed that he wasn't himself and gently put her hand on his arm. "What's wrong honey?"

"I'm just worried that's all."

"Why?"

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Maybe I should be worried if it's something you're worried about."

Allen turned on his back and looked at Alicia. "It's my father's new partnership with one of the doctors who used to work at the hospital."

"Shaun Morgan?"

Allen frowned. "You know him?"

"I wish I never did."

"How do you know him?" Allen sat up straight. "Did you two work together?"

"No, he's my ex."

"You dated that jerk? What the hell did you seen in that asshole?"

"I was young and naïve and... He was as charming and handsome as he still is today."

Allen let out a loud sigh. "I almost rearranged his pretty face for him yesterday with a five finger plastic surgery."

Alicia frowned. "A five finger plastic surgery? What's that?"

Allen made a fist and gave a right hook slamming it against the palm of his left hand. "This..."

"Oh...well why didn't you."

"And lose my job? Do you know who killed my mother?"

"No..."

"He did. That jerk killed my mother and I swear, I will find out if my father is behind it all, because if he is."

"What makes you think your father is behind this. Allen, your father is a good man."

"Alicia, you're so damn naïve. It's so obvious they are in it all together. And I blamed Veronique. As much as I hated her, I was wrong to accuse her and her husband of killing my mother and threatening to kill you. It was Shaun who threatened to kill you. Not Veronique."

Alicia looked at Allen concerned. "I thought so."

Just then Michelle peeked her head into the room and stepped into the doorway. "Morning dad. Morning step-mommy." She ran up to the bed and Allen was just about to stop her from jumping when she made a huge leap into the bed, punching her father in the stomach.