In November 2007, Aviva roped her younger sister Carina into drinks at The Redeye, since they hadn't seen each other since Labor Day. It was obvious that Carina hadn't missed seeing her sister and wasn't eager to spend the evening watching Aviva coo across the bar at her boyfriend, bartender Ramon Valdez. Aviva didn't take "no" for an answer before hanging up. Carina reluctantly joined her sister, who was dying to know what's been going on in her life since they last saw each other, but Carina had to admit that not one thing in her life had changed or gotten interesting since Labor Day. Everything was exactly, monotonously the same. Aviva's unrelenting cheer didn't help matters, since everything was blissfully perfect in her life. Aviva was a successful, bright, beautiful, well-respected college professor, while Carina was a virtual unknown, faceless orderly in a sea of doctors and nurses at the hospital.
Ramon's younger brother Rolo received another failing grade on a test in Aviva's class, and his classmate Tiffany decided to boost his spirits after class by sexing him up right there on Aviva's desk! Rolo and Tiffany apparently couldn't get enough of each other!
Ramon and Aviva's relationship remained harmonious until Rolo got his grades back from Aviva's class. Rolo had failed! Ramon was furious and defended his brother to Aviva, arguing that Rolo works long hours at Large Bar and can't always work to his potential because he's tired. Ramon and Aviva don't see eye to eye and Aviva thinks Rolo needs to reprioritize if he's at all concerned with his future. Their argument sends Ramon for a drink at The Redeye. Brooding Ramon catches a sexy Rachel Marks's eye. Rachel makes conversation while also making it painfully obvious that she finds Ramon attractive. Dirty girl that Rachel is, she is eager to find out how good he is in bed!
Drunk, Ramon tells Rachel he has a girlfriend, but Rachel doesn't care about all that, and takes a fairly willing Ramon back to her place, and they have a scorching hot night together. Ramon is actually left with a few scratches and bruises! Ramon snuck out of Rachel's place while she was still sleeping, with no intention of calling her ever again. Guilt-ridden, Ramon tries to put the night behind him and lies to Aviva that the marks left on his body are from breaking up a fight at the bar the night before. Somehow, Rachel isn't so easy to get out of his mind. Still racked with guilt, and starting to fantasize about Rachel, Ramon is driven to side with Aviva about Rolo's poor grades, and Rolo is furious that his brother chose his girlfriend's side over his.
Ramon was thrilled when a letter came to his apartment. It was about the courses he was taking to become an Emergency Medical Technician. Ramon passed, and could now work as an EMT! Rolo was happy for his brother, since they both knew how stressful it was to balance work and school. Now, Ramon no longer had to work for Eleanor Halperin managing Large Bar and bartending at The Redeye!
Aviva organized a surprise party for Ramon at The Redeye, celebrating his EMT certification, and Ramon was touched. Though he swore he wouldn't attend, Rolo put aside his hostile feelings for his professor, Aviva, in order to support his brother. Rolo invited sexy Tiffany as his date to the party, and the two students couldn't keep their hands off each other! Rolo and Tiffany snuck off to the restroom and had their own private celebration. During the party, Ramon has a memory of his illicit tryst with Rachel Marks.
Aviva visited her colleague Theodore Baldwin at his brownstone, to see how he was recovering from his heart attack and to find out when Theodore would be returning to teaching at Hunter College. Theodore looked forward to returning to work next semester. Aviva learned Theodore's son James would be dateless for Christmas, and offered to set James up with her sister Carina, who was also dateless. James agreed, for the simple chance to meet someone new.
"Absolutely not!" Carina refused to go on a blind date for Christmas. Not only did she not want the pity from her sister, who has never been dateless for a holiday in her life, but Carina also thought Christmas was way too big of a day to meet someone for the first time. Carina continued her protest by refusing to reinforce the stereotype that people need to have a date for the holidays, and was about to continue, but then realized that the alternative was spending the holiday with her sister. Carina admitted to herself that she'd rather spend the day with strangers, it had to be less nauseating than spending Christmas with her perfect sister.
Rachel Marks continued to settle in in New York City, and hoped to have a small Christmas dinner with her brother Shawn at a nice restaurant. Shawn, having already agreed to join girlfriend Jenna Baldwin and her family, asked if it would be okay to invite his sister along as well, since she had no other family in town for the holidays. Jenna, hoping to get to know Shawn and his family better, agreed, and Rachel was invited to the Baldwin Christmas as well.
Christmas dinner at the Baldwin brownstone began, and a gloomy James was encouraged to discover when Carina arrived that she was very pretty. Carina was relieved to find that at the very least, James was attractive. Aviva and Ramon arrived shortly thereafter, and Carina was upset that her attempt to avoid seeing her sister for the holidays backfired and she now had to deal with her perfect sister AND an awkward blind date for Christmas. Aviva and Ramon thanked Theodore for the invite and marveled at his new, beautifully decorated brownstone. Jenna took credit for the decorations and passed out business cards advertising her upcoming fashion label. Thomas welcomed Rebecca, and Jenna was catty with her, offering fashion and style advice, which Rebecca "obviously" needed. Shawn arrived with Rachel and Ramon was shocked to once again be faced with the woman with whom he cheated on his girlfriend Aviva. Rachel cleverly pretended to meet Ramon for the first time, and if not for the deviously sexy twinkle in Rachel's eye, Ramon himself might have believed they had never met before.
At the hospital, as it neared the end of her shift, Carina noticed Ramon coming off the elevator. Rachel Marks tracked Ramon down on his EMT shift, and Carina was startled to learn that they knew each other better than either of them implied over Christmas dinner at the Baldwin home. Carina overheard Rachel tell Ramon how hot it was being so close and not being able to act on their desires. Before Ramon could resist her, Rachel shoved him into a hospital supply closet... which was also spied by Carina!
Carina lingered around while Rachel and Ramon savored their quickie in the closet, and it was obvious what they had been doing when they emerged from the closet adjusting their clothes. Ramon wiped Rachel's red lipstick from his mouth as he spotted Carina nearby. Before he could catch up with her, Carina's look of shock at what she witnessed turned into excited anticipation over what she might do with this information. Carina dashed into the hospital elevator, and Ramon ran after her to explain. Rachel realized that their affair might be exposed, but couldn't help but let a slick smile cross her makeup-smudged lips.
Not far away, Hattie Wilson was gleefully plotting to get Eleanor Halperin arrested for Driving Under Intoxication, hoping the press would attack Eleanor so much that Henry Von Stadt would be forced to distance himself from the grieving mess, Eleanor. Hattie's carefully laid-out plan goes awry, when passing by the hospital, a woman dashed out into the street, in front of the car! Not seeing her at first, Hattie plowed into the young woman, and the woman tumbled entirely over the car, falling into a lifeless heap in the street as Hattie regained her own composure in the face of this twist. Ramon Valdez was horrified that his girlfriend's sister Carina was just run down by what looked like his former boss Eleanor's car! Bleeding from the nose and ear and completely unconscious, Carina was barely breathing and Ramon had to put his EMT training to good use to try to save her life... as the clock struck midnight, and January 1st, 2008 dawned.
Hattie struggled to regain her composure after realizing she ran a woman down with Eleanor's car. A fair distance down the road from the hospital, Hattie drives the car erratically until crashing into a lamppost. Acting quickly, she checks for witnesses, and seeing no one around, she pulls a passed-out Eleanor into the drivers seat and presses Eleanor's hands firmly around the wheel to leave fingerprints. Hattie, of course, had prepared herself with gloves. Hattie scurries off into the darkness and takes a subway train home.
Tiffany and Rolo, fresh from their New Years Eve celebration at a bar in the area of the car accident, find Eleanor slumped over the steering wheel of her car, and believe she just drove drunk into a lamppost. Tiffany calls an ambulance and secretly notices a familiar charm bracelet on the floor of the drivers seat. Tiffany pockets the bracelet without letting Rolo see it and she and Rolo travel with Eleanor to the nearby hospital, where Eleanor is treated. The police tow the car and run tests on it to determine if it's associated with the hit-and-run just reported by Ramon Valdez.
Ramon called Aviva to tell her that her sister was hit by a car, and Aviva was devastated! Aviva was slightly relieved, though, that Ramon was quickly on the scene and was at the hospital already. Upon her arrival at the hospital, Aviva can't imagine how this could have happened to Carina, on New Years Eve, no less. Aviva assumes it was some drunk partygoer that had too much to drink for New Years. Aviva hears about Eleanor's accident and since Eleanor is the mother of Aviva's best student Rebecca, and Ramon's former boss, Aviva wants to go offer her support. Ramon holds off on telling her that he believes Eleanor ran Carina down until the police came up with something conclusive.
Carina lingers in a coma, and Aviva sits vigil at her bedside. Aviva tried to get in touch with their parents (who are divorced), but couldn't reach either of them. Aviva has trouble coping with this tragedy because nothing like this has ever happened to her before. Ramon is there to support Aviva, and Rolo stops by. Not sure what to say to make Aviva feel better, Rolo apologizes to Aviva for his behavior in her class. Obviously that is little comfort to Aviva while her sister is comatose. Rebecca also stops in to visit her professor, and extends her prayers to Carina. Outside Carina's room, Ramon is questioned by the police as a witness to the accident, and reluctantly fingers Eleanor as the driver of the car (admitting he saw a platinum blond behind the wheel of Eleanor's car).
Eleanor wakes up the next morning to overjoyed and relieved friends and relatives. Everyone's joy is soon dashed when a policeman arrives to question her about her car and license plate number. Eleanor doesn't understand and her memory is fuzzy. After Eleanor confirms her car, the police place Eleanor under arrest in her hospital bed for drunk driving and vehicular assault!
Aviva (and pretty much everyone!) is horrified to learn that Eleanor was the driver of the car that ran down Carina, and Aviva demands justice. Ramon sympathizes with Eleanor, believing she was grief-stricken over her husband's death when she got drunk and got behind the wheel. Aviva doesn't care what motivated Eleanor and is furious with Ramon for caring, considering what happened to Carina.
Eleanor, in handcuffs and a hospital wheelchair, visits Aviva at Carina's room and is taken aback to see Carina's condition and is devastated that she could have caused this. Eleanor apologized for everything, but also doesn't remember that anything happened, and if Eleanor wasn't responsible, she promises to help Aviva find the culprit. Aviva won't hear of it and orders Eleanor to get her life together before she does anyone else as much damage as she did to Carina. Eleanor leaves Carina's room in shame, feeling like her life really has collapsed since her husband Charles's death.
Aviva prays hard for her sister's recovery, but when Ramon tells her that perhaps it's better that Carina stay comatose for now, so the body can recuperate, Aviva lashes out at Ramon, telling him he sounds like he doesn't want Carina to wake up at all! Ramon gives Aviva her space and goes out to that floor's waiting area, where he encounters Rachel. Rachel seems genuinely concerned for Carina and feels responsible for her part in Carina's accident. Ramon outwardly blames Rachel for the accident and rejects her, furious that she ever steamrolled her way into his life. Ramon regrets ever meeting her! Rachel is hurt, but takes it as a sign that Ramon is more attracted to her than he wants to be or can control.
Rachel passes by Carina's hospital room to extend her condolences to Aviva, claiming that she saw the story in the papers (considering that the press is all over the story since prime suspect Eleanor Halperin is dating the very high-profile Henry Von Stadt. Aviva appreciates Rachel's concern and was glad there were still people in the world who cared about victims. Rachel inquired about Aviva's boyfriend, and Aviva shared her frustrations about Ramon with Rachel... and Rachel ate up every last detail.
As the next semester at college began, Aviva decided to take time off for Carina's sake, not knowing when Carina would be back to her normal self.
Once Eleanor was recovered from her injuries, she was transferred to jail to await her court date. Attorney Evan Royale worked with her, trying everything to try to get her to remember that fateful night. But Eleanor finally realized -- she was drinking with Hattie that night! Evan hopes Hattie Wilson might be able to shed some light on what really happened that night, so Evan goes to visit Hattie at VSI and interview her.
Rachel continued visiting with Aviva, and supporting her as a "concerned friend," all the while gathering information on her secret rival and developing a growing hatred for Aviva's (up until recently, at least) charmed life. Later, Ramon tries to make amends with Aviva, who rebuffs him, telling him she needs time. Ramon doesn't want Aviva to have to go through this by herself. Then, Aviva mentions that Rachel, who they met at the Baldwins during Christmas, has been coming by to support her. Ramon is furious and wonders exactly how obsessed Rachel is with him. Finding her at Shawn's apartment, Ramon launches a heated confrontation... which finally explodes in passionate, angry, and dirty sex all over the room! Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Aviva sees a ray of hope when Carina opens her eyes!
Evan finds Hattie at work at VSI, and asks her about Eleanor. Hattie clarifies that he means Eleanor Halperin. Evan is already encouraged. Hattie says that she knows of her, since Henry has had Hattie call her to schedule their dates before, and of course through all the horrible press lately, but you can hardly say you know someone from what you've read about them. Evan is surprised to hear from Hattie that they had never met. Evan isn't sure how that's possible. Eleanor was so specific about Hattie! Hattie speculated that Henry probably mentioned Hattie to Eleanor a few times. Hattie paints a picture of a lonely, grieving widow so broken by her husband's passing that she even constructed imaginary friends that she could talk to, maybe fixating on the calming sound of Hattie's voice when Eleanor would get a call from Hattie to schedule an appointment with Henry. Evan started to wonder if Eleanor was completely in touch with reality.
After Ramon and Rachel's "confrontation sex," Ramon tells Rachel he never wants to see her again and she had better stay away from Aviva as well. Ramon leaves, and Rachel is more convinced than ever that she has a hold on Ramon. Aviva finally gets in touch with Ramon, after attempting to call him several times with no answer, and she tells him that Carina opened her eyes! Ramon claimed he was working and races to the hospital. Concerned that Carina might have already said something to expose Ramon's affair, Ramon is privately relieved to learn that Carina still seemed unresponsive, and that her eyes were an involuntary motor function. Aviva refuses to believe that it was involuntary, and thinks it's a sign that Carina is coming back.
Evan visits with Eleanor again, while Henry was present, and informed her that Hattie says they have never met. Eleanor becomes irate, not understanding why Hattie would lie so blatantly. Eleanor swears they have seen each other, and she describes Hattie physically. Henry is curious now, and goes with Evan to question Hattie again. Hattie sticks by her story and wonders if maybe Eleanor saw them together at The Redeye on one of their many business lunches, and added Hattie's image to Eleanor's delusions! Evan starts to believe Eleanor is unstable since her husband's death and thinks he can use this to get her acquitted of the charges -- but she may end up in an institution after the acquittal. Music to Hattie's ears! Henry isn't so sure and is curious as to whether Hattie may have a more significant part in it all than anyone knows.
Dr. Julia Lawless visits with Ramon and Aviva to give them an update on Carina's condition. Julia believes it's encouraging that Carina's eyes have opened, but until she starts responding to the outside world and speaking, they can't determine if there's any memory loss or permanent damage. Ramon holds out hope that Carina may not remember seeing Ramon and Rachel together.
Ramon tries to get Aviva's mind off Carina for Valentines Day and takes her to The Redeye for a romantic dinner. Rachel turns up there and Aviva doesn't understand why Ramon has such a strong reaction. Rachel briefly catches up with Aviva about Carina and then returns to her seat at the bar. Aviva wants to know why Ramon seems to get so upset when Rachel is around. Ramon says he just doesn't like her. Aviva defends Rachel, saying she's been a good friend since Carina's accident, and urges Ramon to give Rachel a chance.
Rachel sends Ramon a page after his dinner with Aviva and intercepts him near the back area of The Redeye. Rachel seduces him and he ends up having sex with her in the men's bathroom! Rachel returns to the bar quite satisfied, and orders another drink. Ramon then returns to the table and tells Aviva they should order dessert!
Ramon drops Aviva by her apartment to check her mail and Aviva has received a letter with no return address. Curious, Aviva opens the letter and scrawled out messily on the page is the brief note "Be Careful Who You Trust...". Aviva isn't sure what the letter means and shows it to Ramon. Ramon urges her to forget it, he's sure it's just some prank or a student of Aviva's who has too much time on their hands while Aviva's on personal leave. When Aviva gets her belongings together to head to court, Ramon slips the anonymous letter into his pocket. Meanwhile, Carina is lying in her hospital bed, eyes wide open, and mutters the name "Ramon"!
Eleanor went to court and Evan Royale entered a plea of Not Guilty by reason of temporary insanity. Evan's plea created an uproar in the courtroom, especially from Aviva. Ramon wasn't in the courtroom to calm her down, since he was on his EMT shift. The judge accepted the plea and adjourned for the day.
Back in jail, Eleanor swore to Henry that she wasn't crazy, and furthermore she was certain that his secretary Hattie was wrapped up in the accident somehow! Henry promised to look into it, but either way, he vowed that he didn't intend for Eleanor to go to prison over this. Aviva and Ramon sat at Carina's bedside, and Aviva was holding her sister's hand. Aviva couldn't stop thinking about that weird note that was sent to her home about being careful who she trusts. Ramon urged her to put it out of her mind, it was probably some harmless prank from a student that missed seeing Aviva every day. Aviva can't believe Ramon is being so non-chalant about it, it could be a threat, or even a warning. Ramon didn't think they should be discussing this in front of Carina, but Aviva didn't see why not. Ramon wasn't sure how much Carina understood right now, it might upset Carina's condition to think her sister's being threatened by mail. "Or warned," Aviva reiterated. Then, Carina stirred, and her eyes opened and she looked directly at Ramon!
"My sister is coming back to us!" Aviva beamed, and Ramon tried to muster enthusiasm about it, though he feared what it might mean for the secret Carina discovered before her coma. What's worse, Ramon hadn't particularly done a good job of staying away from Rachel since the accident either! Though alert, and engaged with Aviva and Ramon, Carina appeared woozy and to be having trouble understanding what was happening. Aviva encouraged Carina to get more rest and they'd talk soon. Ramon suddenly had to leave and check in with his supervisor. Getting on his cell phone the minute he was out of Carina's room, Ramon ordered someone to meet him at the 66th St. entrance to Central Park right away.
Rachel met with Ramon at the entrance to Central Park, where Ramon explained a public place was the only way to make sure they wouldn't end up having sex again. Ramon confronted Rachel with the letter that Aviva received, and accused Rachel of writing it to ultimately force their secret out into the open. Rachel reads the brief letter and claims to have had no part of it and to have never seen it before. Ramon doesn't believe her, and labels Rachel twisted and obsessed before ordering her out of his life, for good this time. Rachel leaves frustrated, and then receives a call on her cell phone -- Aviva. Aviva's got news about Carina and wants Rachel to meet with her immediately. Rachel can't wait to see Aviva. Meanwhile, Ramon spins around and finds his brother, Rolo, who has just now heard all about Ramon and Rachel's affair!
Aviva brings Rachel back to Aviva's apartment, raving about how great it is that Carina is coming back around. But Aviva wanted to get Rachel's opinion on something. Aviva starts explaining to Rachel about the weird letter she received in the mail, and as Aviva looks around on the table for it, she can't find it. Aviva can't understand where it would have gone, but explains that the letter warned her to be careful who she trusted, and Ramon kept telling her to forget the letter, and was sure it was a prank. Aviva wanted Rachel's objective opinion. Rachel tends to believe that if the person who sent her the letter had anything to say, they would have said it by now, so Aviva shouldn't worry. Aviva appreciated the objective opinion, and offered to walk Rachel home, since Aviva was headed that way.
Julia returned to the hospital the minute she got word that Carina was awake. Carina smiled at the sight of Julia. Carina revealed she could talk too, but made Julia swear not to clue in her sister Aviva. Julia laughed. "Didn't miss her one bit while you were asleep, huh?" Julia asked. "How could I, she didn't leave me alone throughout my whole coma! I thought they were supposed to be a peaceful sleep..." Carina groaned. Carina asked how Julia's family has been, and Julia sidesteps the question, just labeling her situation as "hectic". Carina wondered if it's possible to get a restraining order on her own sister to keep her out of the hospital room. Julia and Carina share a laugh, and Julia admits how much she missed her friend. Carina didn't realize how good it would feel to be missed.
Rolo is surprised Ramon had it in him to be a cheater, and Ramon insists that Rolo didn't understand what he was hearing. Rolo thinks it's pretty insulting to try to use a line like that on his grown brother. Ramon admits he doesn't really know how it all started, it just kind of snowballed into a whole situation. Ramon admits Rachel has some kind of sexual power over him. Ramon doesn't even really like Rachel, he says! Every time he has tried to cut off all ties, something takes over and they end up having sex again. Rolo swears he's not judging, he thinks Rachel's hot and he was always annoyed by Aviva as a professor anyway. Rolo claims to have no intention of spilling the beans. He's just surprised Ramon had it in him. Ramon is weighed down even more with guilt now that Rolo knows.
A short while later, Aviva and Rachel return to Shawn & Rachel's place, and upon entering, they discover an african-american barbie doll that looks like Rachel (same wild curly hair) hanging by a noose from the living room light, with the word "slut" written in red across the doll's naked stomach. Rachel is shaken and tries to cover, spinning a story about how her brother Shawn saw her kissing a guy at the apartment, so he was just teasing her about it in his own demented way. Aviva laughs skeptically, but acknowledge that her sister Carina has a dark humor when it comes to her as well. After Aviva leaves, Rachel wonders if the doll was Ramon's way of threatening her.
Ramon visits Carina while she's sleeping. "Looking for a pillow to put over my face?" Carina startles Ramon by speaking, and that she's awake and alert. They engage in a private confrontation where Carina mentions what she knows about Ramon's dalliance with Rachel, and that she doesn't need to see it with her own two eyes to know Ramon would have probably preferred it if she didn't wake up. Ramon knows a thing or two about Carina as well. He knows she hates her sister and would love to use this kind of info to shatter her. Carina tells him she doesn't intend to tell Aviva... at least not right now. Ramon inquires about the note to Aviva, thinking Carina might have sent it to torture her sister. Carina laughs when reading it. Carina thinks Ramon has bigger problems than her, because Carina didn't send the note, so someone else must know about his wandering eye.
When Eleanor returned to court to face the verdict, that was finally reached after much deliberation, the courtroom erupted in chatter when Eleanor was found Not Guilty by reason of Temporary Insanity. Eleanor is given a court order to undergo one week of in-patient psychiatric observation at the Shady Glen Sanitarium to determine her mental state and whether she is still a danger to herself or to others. Her drivers license is revoked and Eleanor is also ordered to join an Alcoholics Anonymous program. Eleanor is shocked and while relieved the plea worked, she doesn't want to be admitted for psychiatric observation. Aviva is outraged, feeling like Eleanor got off with a slap on the wrist, and demands that something more should be done about this. Ramon tries to calm her, but Aviva refuses to take comfort from him given his divided allegiances lately. Aviva storms out of the courtroom.
Rachel Marks finds Ramon having a drink at The Redeye, so she grabs it and throws it in his face! Avoiding a scene, Ramon takes her by the arm and drags her to a corner where Rachel says she's been more than generous by not blowing Ramon's life apart with their secret, but all bets are off if he wants to leave all those threatening messages around. Ramon doesn't know what she's talking about, but Rachel tells him about the hanging doll that she found in her living room. Ramon didn't send it, and he feels this is getting out of hand. Rachel wondered if Carina sent it, but Ramon didn't think she'd be able to manage that from her hospital bed, with no friends to help her. Rachel tells Ramon that Aviva saw the doll too, so she might put both messages together and figure out there's a connection. Ramon accuses Rachel of setting the doll up herself! Fed up with Ramon's accusations, Rachel points out that if she wanted to ruin his life, she'd have done it already. But she knows if she did, she'd lose him completely. Swearing she has no motive, Rachel storms off and Ramon seems to see her point.
Aviva receives another anonymous letter, slipped under her door at home during a night with Ramon. "Who's really in your bed?" the note reads. Perplexed by the note, Aviva feels the note is about Ramon. Ramon becomes agitated by the notes and Aviva wonders what it's all about. Aviva wants to know if Ramon is keeping secrets from her, or if he's not who he claims to be. Ramon insists that obviously the notes are intended to undermine their relationship, and Aviva shouldn't play into their hands by doubting him. Aviva doesn't understand why anyone would do such a thing, since they don't have any enemies or jealous parties. Aviva asks Ramon point blank if there's a chance another woman is interested in him. Ramon swears that whoever is sending these notes is no one that he's aware of.
Hattie is upset to learn from Evan Royale that Henry has sprung Eleanor from Shady Glen and has taken her into his home to live! Hattie resolves to come up with a new plan. Hattie overhears Rolo telling Tiffany of his financial difficulties from his revoked scholarship and after Tiffany leaves, Hattie privately approaches him, offering him money to spy on Eleanor while he does his landscaping work at the Von Stadt penthouse. Hattie tells Rolo it must be kept a secret from Tiffany. Rolo isn't sure at first, but Hattie manages to sway him with the cash.
Rolo, who was leaving his landscaping shift at the Von Stadt Penthouse as Henry and Eleanor were just sitting down to dinner, phoned Hattie (while she was dining at The Redeye) to let her know of the romantic night Henry organized. Hattie was furious! Every passing night Eleanor spends with Henry is sure to begin outweighing all the time Hattie has with Henry at VSI. Hattie overheard at the table behind her was Aviva Reynoso talking with her boyfriend Ramon about how uncomfortable she was even eating at Redeye knowing it's Eleanor's establishment. Aviva went on about how sad it is that Eleanor became unhinged and fell apart after her husband's death, but still holds no sympathy for the woman who was a menace on her sister Carina's life. Aviva can't believe Eleanor was released from Shady Glen considering all the issues she still has to work out. Hattie realized that a potentially vengeful Aviva might be the perfect cover for Hattie's next plot against Eleanor.
Hattie, in dark glasses, has a secret rendezvous with Rolo Valdez on a park bench in Central Park. Rolo finds her a little ridiculous and inquires about why Hattie is behaving like they are into some covert operations. "We are," Hattie informs him. Hattie offers Rolo more money to go through with the next favor she will ask of him. After accepting the envelope of cash, Rolo agrees, and Hattie passes him a bottle of medication. Hattie instructs him to switch the pills out with the regular medication Eleanor is currently taking. Rolo is hesitant, reminding her that Eleanor is his boss at Large Bar, and she's helped him out for several years. Hattie coldly points out that Eleanor hasn't been in any position to help him out lately, especially with his scholarship revoked, so Rolo needs to think about self-preservation right about now. Rolo once again looks at the cash Hattie just gave him and snatches the bottle of unidentified pills, begrudgingly accepting Hattie's directions. Later, at the Von Stadt penthouse, Rolo swaps out Eleanor's medication with the pills from Hattie and narrowly misses getting caught by Leo Von Stadt.
Ramon returns home and barely recognizes the place... it has women's clothes strewn all around the apartment! Ramon's bewilderment turns to shock when he walks in on Rolo having sex with Tiffany! After Tiffany excuses herself to cover up, Ramon orders Rolo to get their apartment cleaned up and send Tiffany packing. Rolo further infuriates his big brother by informing him that Tiffany is going to be staying with them for a little while. Ramon refuses, believing Hattie Wilson was really behind Eleanor being framed for Carina's hit-and-run, and not wanting any ties to Hattie invading his home. Rolo fights back that he pays rent on their apartment as well, and Tiffany stays as long as he wants her to. Privately, Rolo stews over the fact this his side job spying for Hattie Wilson paid some of that rent Rolo mentioned.
Ramon had trouble adjusting to his new roommate Tiffany. Continually messy around the apartment, Ramon is done picking up after her and has the opportunity to confront her right after she finishes her shower. Another thing Ramon can't deal with is Tiffany's freeness with her body, since she has no problems strolling around the apartment in her towel after her shower, while Rolo isn't home! Aviva lets herself in as Ramon is scolding Tiffany, and immediately gets the wrong idea catching Ramon with Aviva's towel-clad student! Ramon can't catch up with Aviva, and this leads Ramon to have another fight with Rolo when Rolo gets home, about the problems Rolo and his little girlfriend have brought into Ramon's life. Rolo didn't think Ramon was so problem-free before Tiffany moved in, asking if the name Rachel rings a bell...
Aviva turned to her sister Carina with the news of finding Tiffany at Ramon's apartment in their compromising situation. Who Ramon is sleeping with isn't Carina's concern, Carina insisted, since Carina just found out she was terminated from the hospital on a technicality while she was comatose! Aviva is shocked and wants to hire Carina a lawyer to get her job back, or sue for wrongful termination. Carina refuses and vows to land on her feet. She wants none of Aviva's help either! Carina explodes that she's hated her life for years anyway... hated her life, hated her job, she even hated her sister! Aviva is terribly upset by Carina's outburst and suddenly slaps Carina! Carina is rendered speechless that her "sweet" sister would ever raise a hand to her! Though shaken by Aviva's uncharacteristic behavior, Carina doesn't take it lightly, and a full-on catfight ensues!
Worried that her plans will be undone, Hattie takes quick action. Calling upon Rolo, she gives Rolo another bottle of pills and orders him to call Aviva to The Redeye and talk to her about his revoked scholarship, while distracting her enough to slip the bottle of pills into Aviva's purse. Rolo refuses to drug his brother's girlfriend. Hattie doesn't expect Aviva to take the pills or even know they are in her bag. Rolo realizes Hattie wants to frame Aviva for drugging Eleanor. Hattie holds Rolo's previous deceit over his head to force him to arrange the meeting on a day Hattie knew Eleanor would be working.
Rolo and Aviva met, and Rolo was alarmed to see Aviva -- it looked like she'd been in a fight. Not wanting to get into the details, Aviva was curious about why Rolo wanted to meet her. Rolo asked her help in getting his scholarship back, and Aviva suddenly lashed out at Rolo, telling him he can't cut corners through life, and his scholarship was revoked for a reason. Any doubts Rolo had about following through on Hattie's assignment were quickly wiped away by his defensiveness about his performance in college, and when Aviva was distracted by Eleanor's arrival to work, he tossed the bottle of pills into Aviva's purse.
As Eleanor started to get to work, Aviva decided to confront her! Aviva took Eleanor to task for just picking her life up where she left off, and informed her that it wouldn't be so easy for Carina, who lost her job, and months of her life thanks to Eleanor's recklessness. Eleanor tried to remind Aviva that she wasn't driving the car, but Aviva wouldn't hear of it. All that means is Eleanor was passed out drunk while some unknown assailant mercilessly ran Carina down. If Eleanor had been more aware, perhaps they would know for sure who was really driving the car, or the whole incident wouldn't have had a chance to happen in the first place. Eleanor is sorry for her part in it all, but Aviva doesn't want apologies, she wants Eleanor to really feel the effects of what she's done to those around her.
Rolo was shocked by Aviva's aggressive edge. Rolo then sent a text to Hattie confirming that her assignment was completed. Now Hattie had to figure out what to do about her mother Esther! Meanwhile, Rolo went to Ramon and warned his brother that something is up with Aviva. "Not only did it look like she was in a brawl, but it looked like she was ready to start another one with Eleanor at The Redeye." Ramon is surprised at Rolo's news and didn't think Aviva sounded like she was acting like herself.
At the same time, Eleanor's behavior at work seemed to only grow more bizarre. She was dropping things, losing her train of thought, often appeared confused, and was even caught talking to thin air (while no one else but Eleanor could see her dead husband Charles standing before her). It was Henry's arrival that seemed to jar her back into the here and now, but soon Eleanor was having two simultaneous conversations with Henry -- AND Charles! Henry was alarmed when Eleanor started talking over his shoulder to Charles, when obviously there was no one there. Henry couldn't hear Charles verbally abusing her and calling her a tramp for getting involved with his boss so shortly after his death. "Charles" continued to berate Eleanor with hurtful commentary about her, until she grabbed a carving knife, threatening to silence Charles for good! Eleanor didn't realize that Henry was the man she was waving the knife in front of.
Eleanor brandished the knife in front of Henry, who tried to talk her back to reality. Eleanor heard Henry's words, but in a much more antagonistic tone, and in her dead husband Charles's voice. As Henry reached to take the knife from her, Eleanor lunged the blade at "Charles" and stabbed Henry! Eleanor watched Charles/Henry sink to his knees, and then passed out herself shortly thereafter.
Both Eleanor and Henry were brought to the hospital, where Dr. Julia Lawless was shocked to learn the circumstances of what had happened. Julia treated Henry for his stab wound, while ordering a full battery of tests on Eleanor. Leo can't believe Eleanor stabbed his father, and calls Fiona for some moral support. While sympathetic, Fiona isn't sure what would drive Eleanor to do such a thing. Fiona wondered if Eleanor was trying to defend herself. Leo got upset at the notion and defended his father, talking about how much Henry has done for Eleanor since she was widowed.
Ramon was concerned to see Aviva after her fight with Carina and verbal assault on Eleanor, and Aviva bizarrely brushes it off, claiming not to remember too many details of either altercation. Ramon is perplexed by Aviva's renewed cheery mood. Aviva claims to have realized she misinterpreted what she saw between Ramon and Tiffany, and she knows Ramon wouldn't cheat on her. The guilt weighs on Ramon's shoulders.
Ramon finds Carina at The Redeye and confronts her about the fight, asking what provoked it. Carina tells Ramon she didn't spill his dirty secret, if that's what he's worried about. Aviva actually thinks he was dallying with her student Tiffany. "If she only knew, huh?" Carina smirked.
Ramon left Carina, and it was revealed around the corner that Aviva was listening, but not appearing at all surprised by their conversation. Aviva's mind wanders and she remembers sealing the envelopes containing the notes that she herself "found" regarding Ramon, that were supposedly sent anonymously. Aviva flashes to hanging the doll resembling Rachel from the ceiling of Rachel's apartment for Rachel to find. Aviva flashes to fingerpainting in blood, wearing gloves of course, the message on Rachel's bed. Aviva says to herself in a decidedly menacing voice "If they only knew..." Obviously Aviva isn't so sweet and has had a trick or two up her sleeve!
Det. Nathan Weber tracks down Aviva at her apartment and can't help notice her bruises from her catfight with her sister. Aviva blows it off like it was nothing. Nathan announces he was there to question Aviva about her interaction with Eleanor Halperin at The Redeye. The mention of Eleanor makes Aviva's eyes flutter and Aviva's disposition shifts from cold and dismissive to somewhat sweeter, more accommodating, and vulnerable. Aviva seems to struggle to get her bearings and asks the Detective to repeat himself. Nathan asks about the argument Aviva had with Eleanor at The Redeye. Aviva wasn't sure what he wanted to know. Eleanor was involved in Carina's car accident, that led to her coma, and Eleanor seemed to evade punishment of any kind, so Aviva isn't fond of Eleanor lately, no. Nathan asks if Aviva knows that Eleanor stabbed Henry Von Stadt shortly after her argument with Aviva. Aviva was surprised, but not at Eleanor's apparent instability and violent streak. "I know she's been a bit of a mess since her husband's death," Aviva told him, with not much sympathy left in her voice for Eleanor. "But this time she had help," Nathan replied. Nathan told Aviva that Eleanor had been taking an anti-psychotic medication that she didn't know she was taking, and Nathan wondered if Aviva knew anything about it. Aviva is offended at the suggestion that she was seeking some kind of vengeance by drugging Eleanor. Nathan asks to look around her apartment, and Aviva tells him to get a search warrant and slams the door in his face. Aviva seems incredulous that someone could think she'd do such a thing.
Det. Weber returns with the search warrant while Aviva's home. Looking around the apartment with a few uniformed officers, Aviva reassures the police there is nothing to find. Nathan's sure that she won't mind if they take their time, then. Nathan gets to Aviva's purse, and hits paydirt. Nathan pulls a prescription bottle from her bag and confirms it's the same drug that was found in Eleanor's bloodstream. Aviva is shocked and insists it's some kind of mistake. Nathan tells her to settle it with her lawyer, and arrests Aviva.
Aviva looks to Evan Royale, who is surprised she'd want him to represent her. Aviva tells him he did a great job of defending someone guilty, so he should try his hand at defending someone innocent. Evan is enthralled with Aviva's "fetching" beauty, and agrees to look into the case the police have against her. Later, in her cell, Aviva grows increasingly nervous and her eyes flutter again. Aviva's voice shifts a little deeper and more aggressive. She paces with hostility around the cramped cell and insists "There's no way she could have done what they're saying. She wouldn't have the guts... not without me." Aviva's references to "she" sounds like she's talking about herself in the third person...
A shocked Ramon rushes to visit Aviva when he learns she's been arrested for drugging Eleanor. Ramon asks her to be honest about whether she did it, and assures her after what happened between Eleanor and Carina in the accident on New Years, Ramon would understand. Aviva is offended and tells Ramon to leave. She didn't do this and doesn't want to see Ramon if he thinks she's capable of it. Unlike him, Aviva can make the moral distinction between right and wrong. Ramon worries what she means about right and wrong. Aviva orders him gone, and he leaves. Aviva promises Ramon is lucky she's locked up because it's slowed down her plans for him and Rachel.
Ramon admits to Rolo that Aviva is acting strangely toward him. Rolo points out that she's been jailed for a crime she didn't commit and he's worried about how she's treating him?! Ramon goes on the defensive and asks Rolo how he can be so sure Aviva is innocent if she's not acting like herself, and Rolo never seemed to like Aviva that much anyway to have faith in her innocence. Rolo quickly goes on the defensive himself and accuses Ramon of wanting Aviva to be guilty so that the path will be clear for him to resume sleeping with Rachel.
Ramon goes to Carina and asks if she thinks Aviva's acting strangely. Carina wouldn't know, she hasn't seen her sister. Ramon tells her Aviva's been arrested. Carina knows that, she just hasn't seen her. Ramon wonders what kind of sister Carina is. "Oh now Ramon," Carina smiles, "do we really want to start throwing stones in this glass house we all live in?" Ramon leaves, furious.
Evan secures Aviva's bail, which thrills her. Flirtatiously, she nearly kisses him. Aviva tells Evan she has a lot of catching up to do for the time she's been unfairly incarcerated.
Working on his other case, Det. Nathan Weber returned to Aviva Reynoso's apartment feeling like there might have been more evidence that they had missed. Searching again, hoping to find more linking Aviva to the drugs in Eleanor's system at the time of the stabbing, notices a weak panel in the back of Aviva's coat closet wall. Investigating, Nathan knocks the panel loose and finds that there's a whole fixture behind the closet. Upon further inspection, Nathan realizes it's a shrine to Ramon/Rachel's torture! There's numerous photographs of Ramon and Rachel, separately, with the eyeballs cut out of each one, there's a receipt for a sample of pig's blood dabbed with the blood itself, which reminds Nathan of the note in blood on Rachel's bed that had her so shaken. As Nathan puts the pieces together that Aviva was the one behind Rachel's stalking, a freshly-returned Aviva knocks Nathan unconscious with a paperweight and takes him prisoner in her apartment, so she can continue to exact her revenge on Ramon and Rachel!
Nathan wakes up disoriented. Looking around, he realizes his head hurts, and reaching to touch the lump he discovers he's handcuffed (with his own cuffs) to a pipe in Aviva Reynoso's bedroom. Aviva returns, surprised to see Nathan awake. "I was starting to wonder if you were dead," Aviva says off-handedly. Nathan asks what Aviva's doing. "I'm containing a problem. There I was, feeling good about myself because I made bail, and I come home to find you rifling through my apartment? I can't have that, Detective. I can't have that at all..." Nathan assures Aviva she's only making things worse by doing this. Aviva tells him to stop calling her that. "Call me Ava... I've grown to resent being mistaken for Aviva." Nathan is perplexed by the alternate name. Is she insane, or is this a case of mistaken identity?
"Why Ava?" Nathan inquires about the name, struggling in his handcuffs that are wrapped around the pipe protruding from her bedroom wall. "It's shorter, more 'to the point', simpler... It's time to start distinguishing myself if I'm going to be handling things my way from now on," Ava explains. Nathan really doesn't care for the way she's handling things. Ava supposes that's too bad, and urges him to stop struggling with the pipe... it's a gas line. All the lit candles around her room might have a bad reaction if Nathan created a gas leak.
Ramon asks what Evan Royale is doing at a bachelor auction when he should be working on Aviva's defense. Evan could ask Ramon the same about being at a bachelor auction while the woman he supposedly loves is facing serious charges. Ramon reminds Evan that visiting hours are limited, but Evan is surprised Aviva didn't call Ramon to tell him that she got out on bail already. Ramon is surprised at this news, and leaves the auction to go find Aviva.
Nathan tries to convince Ava to let him go. She obviously needs help, and Nathan is willing to get it for her, but that's going to be harder for Ava to get if she has a dead officer on her hands. Ava is certain that she could come up with a plausible explanation. Ava, waving a small handgun, supposes could say she saw someone had entered her apartment and she defended herself by shooting the mysterious assailant, only to discover it was Nathan. Nathan warns her that it's a capital crime to murder an officer of the law. And it wouldn't explain the handcuff wounds on his wrists. Ava gets flustered but admits she really only has to worry about the consequences if she allows anyone to catch up with her when she's done with her plans.
A furious Ramon arrived on Aviva's doorstep and she didn't want to let him in. Ramon insisted that they work out whatever problems were making Aviva keep him at arms' length. "Aviva" (Ava) insisted they had nothing to discuss and she needs this time to herself to evaluate how she got to this point in her life. Ramon heard a deep moaning coming from Aviva's apartment and thought she might have another man inside! Forcing his way inside, believing Aviva might be distancing herself and behaving strangely because she found someone else, Ramon follows the sounds to her bedroom and finds Det. Nathan handcuffed to the pipe! "What the hell is going on her--" Ramon uttered before Ava struck him over the head with a vase, rendering him unconscious. "NOW all these men want to make Aviva their sole focus... Go figure," Ava sighs to herself, having to tie Ramon up now.
No comments:
Post a Comment