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Week of 08.25.03

With the Safra-Tuvia launch close at hand Brad Carlton went to his wife's hideaway and found Victor Newman there. After demanding "what are you doing here?" Brad wanted to know if the rumor was true that Victor planned to hire Jabot lab rat, Damon Porter and why he had hired Michael Baldwin. When Victor wouldn't give specifics Brad warned the great man, "we're watching you closely."

In Genoa City Jack Abbott was telling his wife, "What we have will never change." Meantime at the Newman ponderosa Nikki Newman was telling Porter she knew that he'd been seeing Phyllis Abbott.

Lily Winters was still upset that Colleen Carlton and J.T. Hellstrom had interrupted what she had going with Kevin Fisher. J.T. was baffled. Someone trashed his apartment and he was sure it was Bobby Marsino. Lily suggested J.T. go beat up Bobby since it's what J.T. does best. And again, J.T. grumped how Kevin is "too old" for Lily.

Out in the park Kevin spooked Colleen with a dig at her about J.T. "You're a mouthy little twerp," she spat, accusing Kevin of being interested in Lily because he couldn't get girls his own age. Kevin said it wasn't so. He was a "real" man Colleen could only dream about and pushing his face into hers Kevin was about to kiss Colleen when J.T. appeared to tell the little "creep" to go away.

At the Lodge restaurant the Winters clan were out for a night on the town. Dru with Neil and Olivia with Dr. Wes Carter. As a waiter arrived at their table with a cake decorated with a red rose and a 2 carat diamond ring, Wes dropped to his knees and asked Olivia to marry him. She said yes.

The next day Olivia went to Ashley's secret hideout to tell her the good news. Ashley reported that Dr. Nora Thompson had visited earlier, said her baby wasn't due for another 2 weeks and thanked Olivia for "making me feel so special." Also at the retreat with Ashley was a 2-year-old Abby and her sitter. When Abby toddled in while Ashley was speaking with Olivia, mommy stuck a doll into her chest and told her to go play in her room.

Back at the ponderosa Nikki was planning to renovate the tackyroom as a means to get Victor back in his daughter's good grace and told Victor that Sharon Newman was now aware of who runs the farm. The Arts Society gala was going to be a huge success because of her having taken control away from Sharon. But when a letter arrived by special messenger Nikki was blown away. The gala invitations read, "Sharon Newman invites you to the Arts Gala at our family's estate."

Nikki was fit to be tied. She raced to the outhouse and gave Sharon a tongue lashing after which Sharon asked if they couldn't all just get along for the sake of the gala. "That will be a cold day in hell," Nikki spat.

In preparation for the first major battle of the cosmetics war Victor ordered a truck load of laptop computers to monitor what Victor called "the successfulness of our campaign."

At Jabot a "war room" had been set up similar to that at Newman complete with banks of computers and phone lines so sales information could be watched as it streamed in from retailers across the country. Phones that didn't get answered at Jabot were answered elsewhere in the building.

When Jill Abbott arrived new employee Dru blasted the "queen" for not being around for the rollout when everyone had worked so hard. Jill said that "big mouth" knew nothing of running a business and was therefore of little concern.

As the day wore on the numbers for Jabot were less than impressive even though Lauren Fenmore had called to say that Tuvia was "flying off the shelves." That's when Jack got a flash. Something was wrong.

Back at Newman Enterprises Victor gathered everyone together to tell them they had won. But after pouring over the numbers Nick and Victoria Newman were suspicious. On day 2 of the battle everyone at Jabot knew something was radically wrong with Safra's numbers and suspected Victor used Baldwin in some way to engineer this exceptional showing for Safra. Down in the lab Dru was telling Baldwin that he was the enemy and she was calling security because he was "out to bury us." Baldwin said, no. He was merely there to meet Damon. But Damon didn't want to talk so Baldwin left and then Damon got chewed out by Dru for even thinking about talking with him.

Calling from her hideaway to see how the war was going Ashley suspected she wasn't being told the truth and decided to drive back to Genoa City. Before leaving she called Victor to demand he tell how Safra had performed so well and what dirty tricks he had pulled to make it happen. Victor hung up on the bitch. Then Ashley called Brad to say, "Victor is out to destroy my family's business" and that she was coming home.

After ordering the sitter to pack her bag and the baby Ashley jumped into an SUV and sped down the highway all the while talking to herself about what a bastard Victor is. She got in such a frenzy she didn't realize how fast she was going or that she had swerved into the oncoming lane until it was too late.

Back a Newman Enterprises a complete party was happening including a waiter serving champagne. Nick was poking around the website when he noticed something and called Phyllis over.

"Did you make any changes to push customers to our stores?" he asked. Phyllis thought he was crazy to think that a website could send customers anywhere. Just then Victor announced that Pete Hudson's San Francisco stores had all sold out! Nick rained on the parade by telling Victor that his retail store contacts were reporting to have had all the prime shelf space when just last week they hadn't had any.

Jack came by to grumble. Jabot hadn't done very well and it was because Victor had "corked the bat." Victor denied everything so Jack said, "We're on to you. We know you hire people to do your dirty work." Furthermore, if Jack ever found out what it was he would "bury" Victor.

Back at the ranch Nikki still hadn't gone to the war. Instead, she was entertaining Katherine Sterling and running Sharon down. "She's a despicable self-serving wretch," Nikki said, blaming Sharon for her having to stay at the ranch. Nikki also told Katherine not to tell Jill that she was able to speak and take care of herself until the timing was right. But fearing she was near death Katherine said she had to tell Jill so that she could make up for lost time.

Meanwhile, Jill was upset that Brock Reynolds was leaving her to care for his mother and the Chancellor empire. But when Brock said he'd stay Jill said he had better go back to building homes for the homeless because, "so many people are counting on you."

Jill called the Valley Glenn home for the infirmed. A Mrs. Dorothy Hertz said it was a wonderful place and that socialite Hillary Balmer had placed her mother there and loved it. However, Hertz warned they don't just take people in without an initial visit and that she could be at the mausoleum in about an hour. Coincidentally, Katherine arrived at about the same time and Mrs. Hertz asked if Jill wasn't just looking for a warehouse. If so, the Valley Glenn was not for her because Jill would be expected to provide some of Katherine's needs. Hertz then spoke with Katherine.

"You're a lovely person. I know you'll be happy living with us at Valley Glenn," she patronized, assuring Katherine she'd like it at the zoo.

Fearing she'd be locked up, Katherine spoke to Jill when Hertz had left. "Don't send me there," she pleaded.

Week of 08.18.03

The launch of Jabot Cosmetic's Tuvia line was at hand. CEO Jack Abbott was nervous. "What happens tomorrow will affect the future of Jabot in a very big way," he sputtered as his still working for the competition wife Phyllis quipped, "It's a heavy load to carry."

Meanwhile at the other competing warriors camp, Neil and Dru Winters were trying to figure out what Jabot's top lab rat Damon Porter and Phyllis were up to.

"They're in cahoots about something," Dru hissed, threatening to tell Abbott what his wife was doing with the hired help and worried that whatever it was would hurt "my company" and then deciding to do just that.

At Jabot Dru ran into Porter, learned that he had just returned from Georgia and told him how she had snuck into his apartment. It was then Damon confessed he was "working" Phyllis as a favor to Jabot COO Brad Carlton so that Carlton could find out why Newman Enterprises giant Victor Newman had hired attorney Michael Baldwin.

Dru reported to Jack that Damon wasn't to be trusted and Jack said he already knew but could use some solid evidence to support his feeling. Dru said only that the competition was trying to steal Damon away. Jack wasn't surprised since it was to be expected when husbands and wives work for opposite companies.

Damon reported to Brad that he had changed his mind about playing spy. He had been hired as a product designer and that's all he intended to do.

Neil tracked Phyllis down to tell her how excited he was about the upcoming launch of Safra. "Women of color standing in line" he mumbled before asking what Phyllis had going on with Damon.

"You should have that woman fitted for a muzzle. Better yet, one of those those collars so you can zap her when she starts talking trash," Phyllis said of Dru making it clear she had nothing going with Porter other than having dinner with him one night "by chance."

At the Newman Ponderosa outhouse Sharon Newman was glowing. Her husband had forgotten how much he had hated her for running out on the family and putting the pork to her again. Plus, she was in charge of the upcoming Arts Society Gala and was meeting later with gala socialite Agnes Sorenson at the ColonRoom with matradi Jacques Strap to finalize arrangements.

Nick was surprised as he had heard that the gala was being held at the farm and that his mother was running the show. When Sharon said that a few things had changed Nick urged her to go along to get along with his mother in order to "help our family get back together."

"I can't do that, Sharon spat, saying that it was his mother that had refused to have the gala at the Ponderosa.

Up at the main house Nikki Newman couldn't understand why her husband wasn't worried about the rollout of his new line of toxic chemicals, Safra, given that it was happening on the same day as Tuvia.

"I've eaten companies like Jabot for breakfast," a cool as a cucumber Victor Newman said, opening the door for Nikki to snarl that he was up to something shady with that "snake in the grass" Phyllis. Victor said he had no idea what she was talking about changing the subject to the gala of which he noted he had long been a benefactor and wanted Nikki to get along with Sharon.

Later, Nikki went down to the outhouse to tell Sharon that the gala would be held at the farm after all and that she would be in charge and Sharon could act as her assistant. Sharon was pissed. She wouldn't hear of moving the gala now. Just then Mrs. Sorenson knocked at the door. Nikki immediately reminded Agnes that Victor is her biggest benefactor and as such it had been decided to move the gala and that Nikki would be in charge.

Victor had a snake alright, but it wasn't female. It was Michael Baldwin. During a follow-up meeting with the lawyer Victor learned that Safra would have front and center shelf space in department stores across this country. The die was therefore cast. Victor was pleased with Baldwin's work, gave him a big bonus and said that his work agreement was now complete.

Instead of getting out while the getting was good Baldwin said he'd like to stick around in a strictly legal setting in the event he could be any help to the great man. Victor was amendable but warned Baldwin not to get under foot.

Although the gala was for adults only, Cassie Newman had it in her head that she was going and taking a boyfriend with her. She even slipped away from summer tutoring class early to go by Nick's office to press her agenda. Nick was worried that he didn't know much about the boy who was all of 12-years-old.

"He's cool! You'll like him," Cassie said as Nick suggested she invite a girl instead.

"What? You think I'm a freaking lesbian?" Cassie did not say, but did let Nick know that she'd met Adam Thomas at tutoring class and - because Genoa City is such a big place - would never see him again even though they both attend Walnut Grove Academy. Besides, Cassie implied. It's not like she and Adam would be doing the horizontal hoochie in front of a group of gala participants.

Nick hemmed and hawed. Well, gosh. The Thomas family wasn't on the social register and so, no. Cassie could not invite Adam to the gala because to do so would be too much like growing up fast.

Cassie was pissed and let Nick know it.

Back at the outhouse Sharon was now being pestered by the with-nothing-better-to-do Victoria Newman. Victoria wanted Cassie to go have lunch. Too bad, Victoria should have known the little runt was in tutoring school. Well, what about calling? Could Sharon reach Cassie? Sharon said no because Cassie doesn't carry a cellphone - something she was thinking of changing. Not that it would have mattered. Moments later Cassie came home in a snit, said she didn't want no stinking lunch and stormed off to her room.

With no reason to be there, Victoria left and Sharon demanded to know what bug had crawled up Cassie's butt. Cassie explained that Nick had stiffed her and that Sharon had better damn well fix it if she wanted the mother/daughter bond to set. Sharon played the helpless housewife which lead finally to Cassie telling her not to bother.

Sharon slipped into something sexy and raced to Nick's office to have sex. When the deed was done she pressed Cassie's case. Totally whipped, Nick gave in.

The next day at the Newman Jitter Joint Cassie told Larry 'Wartman' Warton that it was still the previous afternoon in that Victoria had dropped her off in town when Victoria had long since left the outhouse. Time warps aside, the Wartman could see that Cassie wasn't herself. She bitched and moaned that everyone sees her as a "kid" when, gosh, that's what she is and that her squirmy parents wouldn't let her bring a date to the gala.

Just then Sharon came in and asked Cassie how she had managed to get back into town! Satisfied with Cassie's answer, Sharon delivered the good news and waited for the brownie points to ring up. There was none. Cassie just split without a goodbye but did look back briefly and said thanks.

After a scary encounter with Izzy Brana the Bug was good as new. Gone were the voices in her head and the fugue state she had been in now that Izzy was in jail. "Today is the first day of the rest of my life," the Bug squeaked as Paul Williams said the Bug would never have to worry again. In fact, Paul had arranged with the Casa Milagro Spa near Santa Barbara to have the Bug go there to unwind.

"I don't want you to think of anything but yourself," Paul blathered, as if the Bug ever thinks of anyone else.

The Bug was humbled. "I feel like a little girl with a wonderful world waiting out there for me," she sighed before packing.

Things at the downtown Sugar Shack were rocking. Brittany Hodges was calling roomie J.T. Hellstrom a "slime" and that she didn't appreciate his telling Raul Guittierez where she was working. Earlier, Raul had seen his baby girl stripping at Marsino's and the next day while working at the Little Shop of Horrors told owner Lauren Fenmore all about it. Raul was so angry he didn't go home that night and planned to move out of the shack.

When Lauren split Brittany arrived so that Raul could rant about her being nearly naked at a strip joint. There were all those sleazy guys watching her and he wanted an explanation.

"I was trying to protect you," Brittany cooed.
"Do you seriously think this is how we're going to live?" Raul growled, and as if he owned Brittany ordered her to quit the job. Brittany refused.

Back at the shack Bobby Marsino had come calling. J.T. told him to get lost, but was easily pushed aside like a bag of hot air. Bobby was aware that Raul had been at the club the night before and told J.T. that his "girlfriend" had caused a scene. J.T huffed and puffed out his bare chest. "You want to get it on with her, don't you? It won't happen!" he yelped at Bobby who was tempted to slap J.T. silly. Instead, Bobby told J.T. to stop playing "cowboy" and that his little tantrum would not soon be forgotten.

Later, strumming his guitar, J.T. heard a fire alarm go off.

Back on the warfront it was just the craziest thing. Victor told Neil and Victoria how much he respected Phyllis as a webmaster but that she was still a loose cannon. And Brad had remembered that his wife was very pregnant. While calling to see how Ashley was he was stunned when she said she was coming home for the chemical launch.

On the teen scene, Sierra NoLastName was back from vacation in Arizona and wanting to get caught up on the gossip went straight to the Jitter Joint where Colleen Carlton told her that Lily Winters had broken up with Kevin Fisher.

Kevin at that moment was at the shack wielding a crowbar. Watching J.T. go down the stairs to check the blaring fire alarm he pried open the apartment door and then started smashing things. Later, police detective Hank Weber and an entire CSI team were inspecting the damage. J.T. blamed it on Bobby so Weber went to the strip club to question him especially when J.T. said that Bobby had the "hots" for his roomie, Brittany.

At a remote hotel in parts unknown Victor knocked on the door. Ashley answered and was told that she shouldn't be going back to Genoa City in the middle of a rollout.

"You're trying to destroy my family's business," Ashley screeched, adding that she was the "center" of the Tuvia launch and would be present at the grand launching.

"You're beautiful," Victor mumbled.
"I'm big as a house," Ashley retorted as who should walk in? Brad!

Week of 08.11.03

Larry Warton wanted to know what "test" Nikki Newman had in store to surprise Jill Abbott. They were all gathered at the RoadKill Cafe including Brock Reynolds and Mitchell Sherman when Katherine Sterling spilled salad dressing all over Jill and then a glass of water. Jill calmly took the old woman off to clean her up and as a result passed the "test" with flying colors. Regardless, Nikki would say, "Jill is a snake".

Kevin Fisher was making time with Lily Winters. Drunk on champagne, Lily let herself be convinced that she wasn't a kid anymore but rather a woman capable of making her own decisions and allowed Kevin to take her down on the sofa. But before anything happened Colleen Carlton and J.T. Hellstrom came storming in. Lily accused the kids of being worse than her parents just as J.T. noticed the booze. Screaming that Colleen was just a kid J.T. slugged Kevin and warned him to stay away from Lily or face the wrath of Ironman Hellstrom.

J.T. rushed home to tell Raul Guittierez what a man he had been. No 20-something dude would take advantage of a 15-year-old like he had tried to do with Colleen. Raul was impressed; called J.T. "a defender of innocent girls" and "a hero."

Raul had more important things to worry about like, Brittany Hodges' birthday. He had already obtained a pile of recipes from his mother so that he could cook up a Cuban dinner for his Barbie doll followed by a long massage with oil and candles and then... J.T. stopped him. Don't say that word. Don't even think it. For J.T. sex was a bummer since he'd be gone that night.

Raul got to thinking maybe J.T. was right. Perhaps it would be better to throw a party for Brittany at her new job!

Meantime "Marilyn" was at the strip club with a "surprise" of her own for Bobby Marsino; a throaty rendition of 'Teach Me Tonight'. Then Bobby gave Marilyn a surprise too. A little trinket he had purchased from the Little Shop of Horrors. Brittany said it was nice, but cautioned she already had a boyfriend.

When Brittany returned home Raul noticed right away that the bracelet she was wearing was the one he had sold Marsino earlier. Raul didn't know that J.T. had gone to the strip club to tell Bobby that he was Brittany's roomie and didn't want his pals to get hurt. Bobby invited J.T. to bring Raul to the club so that they could see for themselves that Brittany was in good hands. J.T. said it wasn't that. He wanted Bobby to let Brittany go. If Bobby refused "things might get ugly" J.T. warned.

"You and lover boy are welcome here as long as you behave yourselves," Bobby fired back, warning J.T. that if he made a scene things would indeed get ugly in a hurry.

That night Raul went to the strip club and got in without being carded. He told a barmaid that since he wasn't planning to drink booze there was no need to ID him. The barmaid told him to enjoy the stripping and keep an eye out for the club's feature, Marilyn. Spotting Raul, Bobby sat down at his table and was pounced on for giving a trinket to his girl, Brittany. Bobby said it was a coincident. Raul snapped. No! The trinket was one of a kind and he demanded to know if Marilyn was really Brittany. When Booby refused to talk about his girls, Raul called him a pimp.

Instead of throwing Raul out Bobby figured he'd kick his ass another way. On stage Marilyn was starting her act. The rowdy crowd went wild when Marilyn spread her legs and took of her clothes until she was down to her bra. Raul was stunned. He walked onto the stage, picked up her dress and handed it to her. Embarrassed, Brittany ran off and Bobby threw Raul out.

Back from the only time he'd ever see his son in Los Angeles, detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams was stunned to learn that the police had enough evidence to put Christine 'Bug' Blair away for life. Michael Baldwin said not to worry because the bloody scar and other incriminating evidence would never be allowed in court. Clueless agreed. If the Bug did kill dizzy Izzy Williams she most certainly was provoked.

When DNA testing proved the blood was Izzy's, police detective Hank Weber arrested the Bug and was about to haul her to the gulag when the critter asked if she could cut a deal. In exchange for letting her turn herself in she'd talk with the cops without a lawyer present. The Bug was even willing to put it in writing. Weber agreed!

Clueless thought the Bug had gone insane and indeed she said later she had been thinking of confessing. Now that the jig appeared to be up the Bug said she wanted to be alone to get her house in order. Alone, the Bug paced around the bunker stopping now and then to fondle photographs. While looking at a cactus plant she heard the door open. Clueless had returned with Baldwin who said that they were not going to allow the Bug to convince herself of guilt. Alas, they were told again to leave.

The Bug lit up a Kent cigarette. After the smoke she went to soak in the tub taking along with her a glass of wine, candles and music. It was then she saw the glare of light reflecting off the knife Izzy was holding.

At the office Baldwin and Clueless began planing the Bug's defense Clueless began having strange vibes. Something was wrong but he couldn't put his finger on what.

"Hello, Christine. Are you enjoying your nice, warm bath?" Izzy asked.

The Bug was flabbergasted. No! It couldn't be. Izzy is dead!

Izzy said no, silly. She was alive but that in a few minutes the Bug would be dead.

Izzy went on to explain how she had followed the Bug to the Williams home, hid in the back seat and when the Bug came out to go after Mary Williams, slugged her and drove her out to the lake. She swam to a lonely island and waited it out after draining her blood and pouring it over the boat.

With that said, Izzy pushed the Bug's head under water.

Izzy didn't hear Clueless letting himself into the bunker. He looked all around and finally at the closed bathroom door. But, without calling to see if the Bug was inside sat down and poured himself a drink. Minutes later Clueless decided he better tell the Bug he was there. That's when Izzy came out holding the knife.

Without asking or checking on the Bug, Clueless asked Izzy how should could be alive. This time Izzy told a slightly different story. She had been left for dead, swam to a nearby island, found a cabin… suddenly it dawned on Clueless that Izzy was holding something. "What is this?" he asked, grabbing the knife.

Izzy told him she had come looking for him when she found the Bug dead from an overdose of sleeping pills. In the event the Bug's killer was still in the bunker she had picked up a knife. Clueless punched Izzy out, rushed to the toilet and pulled the Bug's head out of the water. Starting CPR Clueless was blowing hard when Izzy snuck up behind him with the knife. That's when Baldwin materialized, grabbed Izzy and saved the day.

Paramedics arrived later to revive the Bug. Hank Weber arrived to ask Izzy what had happened, rejected her story and then, incredibly, asked her, "What are you doing here?"

Izzy said she had come looking for Clueless but found the Bug trying to commit suicide. She grabbed a knife to defend herself. Weber didn't buy Izzy's story and therefore arrested her.

Clueless and the Bug thanked Baldwin for saving their miserable lives and vowed never to forget what he had done.

On the cosmetics warfront, Damon Porter was still thought to be missing by some but in fact he was at the Abbott home telling Jack Abbott that he had been in Georgia. Jack said it was imperative that Damon be on the job during the Tuvia launch in two days because the press would want to interview him, Jabot's top chemist!

"I don't do interviews," Porter said.

Week of 08.04.03

In an otherwise deserted dark garage the creepy Christine ' Bug' Blair sat, her cold heart beating loudly. She could barely breathe as she fondled a bloody scarf and wondered where it had come from. Just then police detective Hank Weber tapped on the window. Could he get in? The Bug said sure and as Weber sat his fat ass down he noticed the Bug was looking paler than usual.

Saying he had nearly caused her to have a heart attack the Bug blasted Weber again for harassment.

"You're close to crossing the line," she squeaked.

Weber ignored the Bug's concern. He was certain now that the Bug had killed Izzy Williams and knew how she did it. "You put her in your car and dumped her body in Lake Michigan," he said, adding that a DNA test of the skin found under her nails would prove his case.

"Why don't you confess and save us all the trouble of a trial?" Weber asked.

The Bug said she couldn't confess to something she didn't remember.

Meantime, Victor Newman was warning Michael Baldwin that he had spoken with Otis Elwood and that Baldwin could lose his license for obstructing justice unless he agreed to sign up as a cosmetics warrior. Elwood had agreed to testify that Baldwin had paid to have his boat the Bug used on the night of Izzy's disappearance cleaned of blood.

Aware that Victor was blackmailing him, Baldwin agreed to get store shelf space for the Safra cosmetics line. He went to his office for a meeting with Pete Hudson since Hudson would be, what Baldwin said, "carrying Safra cosmetics for women of color in your stores."

Hudson said his company had received an initial order and asked if Baldwin worked for Safra. When Baldwin said no, that he was only interested in how Safra does in the marketplace, Hudson opened up. That's when Baldwin asked if Hudson could choose a country club which would he pick? Hudson, of course, said the Genoa City Country Club was the best within a 50 mile radius. It had all the movers and shakers - and golf too. Problem was, a little guy on the totem pole like Hudson could never afford the membership fees. Baldwin suggested he had connections and could get Hudson a sweet deal in exchange for helping Safra get noticed.

Coincidentally, Baldwin had a briefcase just like the one Hudson had with him except that Baldwin's was full of cash. When Hudson said he couldn't take high profile gifts from suppliers Baldwin asked if he was the person who calls the shots about product placement. Hudson said yes, that stores took their direction from him.

"I'll bet they don't pay you what you're worth," Baldwin snickered, prompting Hudson to lament how hard it is to raise kids these days. With time growing short Baldwin told Hudson that there was an easy way to tell their briefcases apart and left the room. Hudson opened the identical case and nearly fainted.

"That's why they call it big business," Baldwin said walking back into the room. In exchange for walking out with the wrong briefcase my mistake, Hudson was told he'd be expected to treat Safra and the competing Tuvia equally. Hudson took the money and ran.

When the Bug got home she found a delivery from the cleaners hanging on door. Odd, since she couldn't recall dropping anything at the cleaners. Then she saw a note on the bag: "Blood stains couldn't be removed." The Bug strained her brain and was able to recall she had been wearing that same garment on the night Izzy disappeared. Inside, the Bug nearly jumped out of her skin when the doorbell rang. Hiding the bloody scarf and laundry, she opened the door. And there, in all her glory was the equally creepy Dr. Olivia Winters.

Winters explained that Dr. Wesley Carter had told her how he surmised she was suffering from a fugue state and wanted to check the Bug over. After a check of the Bug's blood pressure Winters said she needed to summon Dr. Carter. In a flash the head shrink was there and it was agreed the Bug should be hypnotized.

At first the Bug wouldn't go into a trance, but a subsequent attempt worked. The Bug saw trees, a big lake, Mary Williams, a body and - gasp - Izzy's face with blood all over it! Just then the cops burst in with a search warrant. The Bug was quickly snapped back to reality.

Dr. Carter glared at the cops. What were they doing? Not that he had to, and fortunate for Carter he wasn't asked to show a license to practice medicine, Hank Weber explained the Bug was under suspicion. The Bug began yapping again about harassment until she saw on the search warrant that dry cleaning garments were wanted. It was then the Bug demanded to call her attorney.

Right on cue Baldwin blew in. What was going on? A warrant? Well, he'd see about that. It was then the cops searching the Bug's bedroom announced they had found a note from the cleaners about blood stains. Weber began asking the Bug questions over Baldwin's objections which the Bug gladly answered with her standard she couldn't remember anything line. It was then Weber noticed the scarf balled up in her paw. The Bug claimed to have found it in her car. She didn't know how it got there.

The cops gathered up the evidence and left Baldwin to grumble that the Bug should never have let them in. Still gawking on, Carter wanted to continue with the Bug's therapy. The Bug said no. It was all coming back to her. She had killed the mother of Paul William's child!

The next day Baldwin was in his office talking to Jill Abbott about her mother. The meeting with Katherine Sterling's lawyer hadn't gone well so the move to have Katherine declared incompetent was stalled. Baldwin had to remind Jill that he had told her that he can't help her in this matter and didn't want to discuss it again until she had spoken with Brock Reynolds. Had she done that? Jill said no and was shown the door.

When Jill got home Brock was waiting. Brock didn't go along with Jill's plan. He wanted to wait another six months. Meanwhile, Katherine was telling Nikki Newman she needed a way to test Jill's sincerity.

Nikki was opposed to having the Arts Society Gala at the Newman ponderosa and accused Sharon Newman of poisoning her son against her and his father. But, at the last moment changed her mind so long as she was in charge. Sharon was agreeable so long as Nikki mentored her just like Victor was mentoring Nick Newman. Nikki laughed at the idea so Sharon dropped her bomb. Arrangements had already been made at the ColonRoom thanks to - get this - Victor!

Nikki was ticked. She slammed the great man for daring to support Sharon. Victor was making her look bad.

"You should be respecting my wishes," Nikki mooed, as she went on to say that the gala would be held at the ponderosa after all except that Sharon would be taking a back seat.

Changing the subject, Nikki bellowed that she had heard that he'd hired Baldwin. What was up with that? Victor refused to discuss business with her.

As for Cassie Newman, the 12-year-old was still angry that her mother had come home. She told Nick that his mother doesn't trust Sharon and that he shouldn't either. Instead of giving Cassie a good licking, Nick told Cassie she was wrong. He would never have let her mother come back to live with them if he didn't think she could be trusted. Cassie wasn't buying it. Sharon's showering her brother with hugs and cookies might trick Noah Newman, but she wasn't fooled.

"I don't trust her. I can't forgive her for what's she's done. Don't ask me to love her because I can't," Cassie snarled.

Phyllis Abbott was sure that her web pages would bring in the customers. "Once we go public orders will flood in," she said of the toxic Safra cosmetics line. Victoria Newman wasn't so sure. She felt that they needed a guy like Damon Porter on their team developing product. Phyllis perked up. She had heard Porter might be leaving competitor Jabot and that he'd be the perfect employee since Porter disliked mixing politics with business. Victoria said she'd think about offering Porter a job.

Jabot was ready to launch its toxic cosmetic line, Tuvia, in less than a week and CEO Jack Abbott wanted all employees to give it 110% support. Problem was, their key employee was nowhere to be found. Did Dru Winters know where he might be? Dru said she'd look around and then headed straight to Porter's apartment building.

After talking the manager into letting her in, Dru picked up some papers off the coffee table and even managed to snoop around Porter's computer and listen to his voice mail even though the manager was standing in the doorway.

Dru went to the Hives Restaurant to discuss her sister's wedding to Dr. Carter. Olivia hadn't accepted his proposal but nevertheless, Neil Winters and Dru figured a wedding wasn't far off. During a discussion on the topic Dru asked Neil if he'd ever heard of a dude named Damon Porter. Porter worked for Jabot and had gone missing. Dru knew Neil knew Porter from the earlier business card theft. Yet Neil seemed as though he didn't know Porter was working at Jabot. As they sat rehashing what they supposedly didn't know, Dru saw Phyllis come in and warned that if she didn't want Jack to find out that she was seeing Porter she better tell Dru where Porter is.

Later, Jack found out from an email that Porter sent that he had gone out of town. Jack was stressing when old man Yawn Abbott arrived to tell him not to worry. Jabot had been through worse disasters and always came out on top.

Brittany 'Marilyn' Hodges was rolling in the dough. $1000 in tips just for singing bad. How much better could working at a strip joint get?

Happy to be with Colleen Carlton again, J.T. Hellstrom bet $20 that she couldn't cook him a meal. Lasagna. Colleen said, oh sure she can cook lasagna and went about the task right then and there. J.T. gave his pals Brittany and Raul Guittierez a call and invited them over for dinner. Brittany answered the phone and said she and Raul had other plans. But J.T. threatened that if she didn't come he'd tell Raul what she's really doing to make money.

In the kitchen things weren't going well. Colleen had burned the garlic bread to a crisp and just when she thought she'd lose the bet she got a brainstorm. Call the RoadKill Cafe!

When Raul and Brittany arrived at the Abbott home they found J.T. by the pool. What none of them knew was at that same time the RoadKill crew personally supervised by Gina Roma was delivering a seven course meal to the kitchen. Moments later Colleen delivered three plates of lasagna to her guests. The best they had ever eaten.

The next day Colleen told Lily Winters all about it, but Lily couldn't hear over the thoughts in her head of wanting to be with Kevin Fisher again.

Kevin was at the strip club working on the books and counting the cash when Bobby Marsino passed by to say that business was booming thanks to their new girl, Marilyn. Kevin quipped how fresh meat always brings out the dirty money for awhile and... Bobby growled not to talk about Marilyn like that. She was different. Bobby also intimated that Kevin is gay and that he should get himself a girl before people start talking.

When Bobby left Kevin muttered. He had a girl. A very sexy girl. And then it was off to the Newman Jitter Joint to meet Lily and her pals. Kevin was asked about his background and said that he had graduated from Genoa City University and now worked at a boring job. He wasn't a CPA but hoped to be one some day. He liked movies too and in fact was taking Lily to one. As Kevin and Lily left Colleen told J.T. she didn't trust Kevin and that Lily shouldn't either. J.T. agreed, but not for the same reasons. In his mind Kevin was too old for Lily.

On the way to the movie Kevin told Lily he didn't understand how she could be friends with someone so rude and judgmental as Colleen. She had upset him so going to a movie was out. Would Lily like to go by his place? Lily did and soon she was moaning and groaning about her terrible life while Kevin egged her on with spit.