After Calista left, Robert roamed the house looking for Maria and the kids and found them in Cally's room. They were all taking a late nap. He laughed to himself, thinking that the three of them slept more than Rip Van Winkle. He thought about waking them, afraid that Liam would fight going to bed that night, but decided he'd let them sleep for awhile longer. He looked around casually. Although he didn't think anyone would be brazen enough to try something in broad daylight, he wanted to make sure the room was secure. He walked over to where Liam was curled up on his stomach and smiled. Squatting down beside him, Robert leaned in and kissed his cheek, "I love you, buddy," he said softly. Then he walked over to Cally's crib and stood for a minute watching her sleep. Lovingly he caressed his daughter's hair, "And I absolutely adore you, my beautiful little princess," he whispered.

Back in the kitchen, Robert seasoned the thawed halibut and started the salad.

Calista began a long descent down a curvy canyon road when she was jolted from behind. "What the hell?" She looked in the rearview mirror and saw two men in a black Mercury speeding toward her. Even though she realized they couldn't hear her, she yelled anyway, both in fear and anger, "Hey, you lunatics, what the hell are you doing?" The car crashed into her again, purposely. And, then again. Intuitively, she knew who it was and that this time they weren't playing - that they meant to kill her. The Mercury rammed her again and locked onto her bumper, pushing her at a high rate of speed. Panicking, Calista pumped her brakes frantically, trying to gain control of the car, but it was going too fast and she was veering back and forth across the road, coming dangerously close to a 65 foot drop off on her right side. The car behind began pushing her even faster.

Robert had just put the fish and vegetables on the grill when his phone rang. It was Deborah. "Hey," he said cheerfully. His mood changed quickly. "What do you mean?" he asked glancing at the clock, "she should've been there over 30 minutes ago. No, we didn't have a fight, Deborah, why would you even think that? Look, I'll try her and call you back."

In a frenzy, Calista reached for her cell phone to call Robert but it dropped between the driver's seat and the gear shift. Seconds later it started ringing. "Shit!" she yelled. While trying to steer with her left hand, she poked her right hand into the narrow crevice trying to retrieve her phone and accidentally unfastened her seat belt. "Oh, fuck!" She began to cry and tears blurred her vision as she momentarily took her eyes off the road to search for her phone. Instinctively, she slammed on her brakes when she felt herself being rammed again. Her reflex reaction caused her car to fishtail sideways and come to a stop parallel with the embankment.

Robert had gotten Calista's voice mail and left her an urgent message to call him right away. His stomach was beginning to do flip flops. He called Debbie, "Any word yet?" He shook his head to clear his thoughts, "I don't understand why she's not answering ... look, I'll call you right back, okay?" He disconnected and dialed Calista's cell phone number again. It rang only two times before kicking over to her voice mail. "Shit!" he said, becoming increasingly alarmed, "where are you Calista?"

He then dialed Golden. When he answered, Robert, said, somewhat unnerved, "Sorry to bother you, but I was just wondering how long ago my wife left your place." When Golden told him she'd never made it to his office, a sick feeling engulfed Robert.

The engine died and, excitedly, Calista began fumbling with the ignition key. The motor whined but refused to turn over and she looked up just in time to see the other car gunning toward her - point blank - planning to broadside her. Almost on the verge of hysteria, she frantically turned the key again, and again, and again. On her third try the engine fired up. As her foot floored the gas pedal, her car bolted forward but not before the other automobile ripped into her left rear fender, sending her into a 160 degree spin. Her car stopped just in time for her to see the Mercury literally fly off the edge of the ravine. Sickening screams could be heard from inside the other car, along with breaking glass and the creaks and groans of metal scraping against trees and rocks as it plunged end over end before coming to a deadly silent stop 65 feet below.

After he hung up with Golden, Robert called Debbie again to ask if she'd mind bringing Indio to the house. It was impossible to hide the dread in his voice. He disconnected with Deborah and looked upward, "God," he prayed, "I know it's been a long time ... I'm sorry I haven't stayed in touch. And, I really don't have time right now to go into everything you and I need to talk about so I'm just gonna ask you not to make Calista pay for all the things I've done wrong in my life. I can't live without her, God, so ... please ... please ... don't take her away from me."

Calista, badly shaken, got out of her car and stumbled to the edge of the embankment and stood for what seemed like an eternity surveying the crumpled wreckage beneath her. She started crying and trembling, "Holy shit!"

Staggering slowly back to her car, she felt around and finally located her cell phone. She dialed home and when Robert answered she sobbed, "Bobby .... I need you."

Robert called Detective Craiger immediately after he spoke with Calista then called his cousin to see if he'd come over and keep an eye on Maria and the kids. His next call, as he was running out the door, was to Debbie to tell her what had happened and let her know that his cousin would be there when she dropped off Indio. From his car, Robert called his cousin again, "Shit!" he yelled into the phone, "when you get to the house, please remember to take the food off the grill!"

He reached the scene of the accident within minutes after Detective Craiger. A dozen police cars, an ambulance and two aid cars had preceded them both. A swarm of policemen could be seen at the bottom of the ravine as the two bodies taken from the wreckage were being airlifted by helicopter. What was left of the Mercury was being slowly raised to the top of the embankment by a pulley hooked to a tow truck.

Robert looked frantically around for Calista and finally saw her sitting on a portable stool provided by the paramedics talking to Craiger. He was a few feet away from her when Calista spotted him. Jumping up, she ran to him. He held her tightly in his arms and Calista buried her face against his neck, crying and moaning softly, "Oh, Robert .... oh, Robert."

He stepped back just far enough to make sure she was all right. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he whispered reverently, "Thank you God," and then to Calista, said, "Thank God, you're okay, sweetheart." Then he gently placed her head back on his shoulder.

Detective Craiger came over and stood with his eyes downcast waiting for an appropriate moment to speak. Finally, he reached in and lightly touched Calista's arm. She turned and looked at him. "Are you ready to continue?" he inquired softly. She nodded.

She went over every detail again, and then again, until Craiger was satisfied that he had all the facts.

"Are those the same guys ...?" Robert asked.

Craiger confirmed they were. "Unfortunately, one's dead and the other one might as well be - don't know if he'll be able to give us much."

"And," Robert said morosely, "in the meantime, Honcho's still out there, huh."

"We'll get him Robert. We'll get him."

"Yeah," he responded, unconvinced. Holding his wife tenderly, he asked, "Is it all right if I take Calista home now?"

Craiger called one of the paramedics over to answer his question. "Except for a pretty good bump on the head and some bruises, she's physically okay. But, shock's a funny thing - doesn't always happen right away, so keep an eye on her," the paramedic told Robert, advising him what to look for and adding, "it's always better to be safe than sorry."

Robert nodded.

"Ah .. Robert?" Craiger said, "I was gonna tell you and your wife to stick around L.A. for awhile ... just in case ... uh ... you're supposed to leave tomorrow, right?"

"In the morning," Robert confirmed.

"Well, then, go. I'm not gonna stop you. In fact, I think you both need a change of scenery. I've got your cell numbers and e-mail ... I'll be in touch if I need you .. or the minute there's .... anything."

"Yeah," Robert said with a deep sigh. He gently assisted Calista into his car. As he pulled away from the side of the road back onto the highway, a second tow truck arrived for Calista's car, and Robert looked back at the scene with anger, sadness and fear.

When they arrived home, family members were already there and many worried eyes greeted them, among them Indio's. He ran to Calista and hid his face in her stomach, crying. She knelt down and ran her fingers through his hair and then raised his face to hers. "I'm all right, sweetie," she said gently. Then she whispered, "I love you, too."

Liam ran and jumped on his mommy's back giggling, knocking her to the floor, making her laugh. Robert came over and swooped him up, "Hey, buddy," he said putting him on his shoulders, "let's go for a piggy ride on daddy's back, okay?" Liam gleefully agreed - happy either way.

Calista stood up and asked Robert's cousin, "Is Cally sleeping?" He silently nodded. "Then, if you all will excuse me for a minute," she said, "I'll be right back." And, she disappeared down the hallway.

Robert sat Liam down with a coloring book and some crayons. Asking Calista's cousin to keep an eye on the kids he found Calista in Cally's darkened bedroom sitting quietly by her crib. Taking both her hands, he helped her stand. Then he sat down and pulled her into his lap. They held each other tightly as they sat silently watching their daughter sleep.

Later, they turned off the TV because every channel had virtual non-stop news of Calista's accident. Also, because the phone was ringing off the hook, they turned off all of them except their cell phones and were allowing those calls to go directly into voice mail. Robert had already made the important calls to family and close friends.

Somehow, everyone managed to make it through a make-shift dinner, since the one planned by Robert had fallen victim to the grill. Calista's cousin got the kids ready for bed and around 9:00 p.m. Robert almost carried an emotionally and physically exhausted Calista to their bedroom.

She'd been very quiet since they'd been home and he was worried about her. "I called your folks to let them know you're okay. I mean, you are, aren't you?"

Calista nodded silently.

He studied her intently. "You know ...," he said, "I'm thinking that maybe we should postpone our trip for a few days, the producer would understand."

She didn't speak.

"Well, what'ya think?" he asked.

Finally, she said fiercely, "No! If we do that, then the bastard wins, doesn't he? Well, I'm not gonna let him win!"

"Calista ..."

"Don't Calista me, Robert!" she said vehemently, "it's not you who almost got killed!"

Her words cut through him like a knife and pain closed around his heart. "You're right to blame me," he said softly, nodding as if in agreement, "if it weren't for me this never would've happened."

"I wasn't blaming you," she muttered, sitting down hard on the edge of the bed.

"Maybe not consciously," Robert shrugged sadly. He scratched his head and paced for a few minutes deep in thought, glancing now and then at Calista. Sitting down on the bed beside her, he massaged his forehead and, when he spoke, his voice was strained. "Look ... it's pretty clear that until this thing gets straightened out, neither you nor the kids are gonna be safe as long as I'm around."

"Meaning?"

"That maybe we should ask ‘em to postpone the movie for a few months - God knows there's a legitimate reason - and then I should move out until they find this madman. I mean, you said it yourself, I'm the one he wants."

She looked at him incredulously and stood to face him. "How dare you make this all about you!"

"I wasn't!" he replied defensively.

"Now, you want to run away?!"

"Run away? Run away? Where the fuck did that come from? I can't believe you said that!" he shouted. "Is that really what you think of me?"

Glaring, she yelled, "I'm almost murdered - and you want to LEAVE?! How incredibly selfish can you be!"

Robert's mouth fell open and he stared at her. Then, he lowered his head and said quietly, "That's the last thing I wanna do .... I'm only thinking of you and the kids."

"Oh, right! If you were thinking of us - you wouldn't be scrambling to pack your bags! The only one you're thinking of YOU!" she cried, flailing her arms about, "so you don't have to stay around and clean up your mess!" Immediately, she bit her lip, wishing she could take back her words.

Robert ran his fingers through his hair and then buried his face in his hands.

Neither of them said anything for a long time. Robert, with his hand still covering his eyes heard Calista begin to sob and he looked up just as she dropped to her knees. He was on the floor beside her in an instant and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"Oh, Bobby, Bobby, I didn't mean that," she moaned against his shoulder, "you know I didn't mean that."

"Shh. It's okay, sweetheart," he said. His hand gently tilted her face up to his. "It's okay. I ... swear to God ... there's no way I was trying to run away from this .. and the thought of being apart from you ... ." His face reflected the anguish he felt. "I .. I honestly thought my leaving would be the only way to keep you and the kids safe."

She looked at him, her eyes heavy with tears, and placed her finger on his mouth to silence him, "I know. I know. But," she sobbed, "I'd be dead inside if you went away. If you leave, it'll kill me. So what would you accomplish?"

He bent his head down and sighed heavily.

Calista stood and pulled him up with her. With the back of her hand, she wiped the tears from her face, a face filled with fierce determination. "Remember when you said this town would try to tear us apart? And, we promised we'd do whatever we had to do to stay together? Well, that's just what we're gonna do, damn it! We're in this together ... you .... me!" She took his face in her hands, "And, you're not fucking leaving me! Do we understand each other, Mr. Downey?"

His look was one of doubt and caring.

"Well ... do we?" she demanded.

He lowered his head. "We do, Mrs. Downey." Leaning back, his eyes searched hers, "Are you sure you shouldn't just tell me to go to hell!"

"If I did that, I'd never be able to find you when I die," she smiled sadly, rolling her eyes upward, " ... 'cause I'm going up there."

He hugged her, then surveyed her from head to foot. "You okay?" he asked softly. "I mean really okay?"

"Yeah, I think so. At least, I will be. Do you forgive me?"

"For what?" he asked with a slight grin.

"You know ... what I said."

"Oh? Did you say something?"

With a very tired arm, she sluggishly hit him across the chest. "Don't you EVER talk about leaving me again," she pouted. "Besides, you can't leave ...."

He raised his eyebrows slightly.

"...I've got your car keys," she said, giving him an exhausted, impish sideways glance. Then, rubbing her nose on his cheek, she took him by the arm, "C'mon, you, we better get some sleep ... we've got an early day tomorrow."

For more than an hour Robert lay in the dark watching as Calista thrashed about and cried in her sleep. The thought that his past had almost gotten her killed overwhelmed him and he was unable to hold back his tears. He got up and went and sat by the window.

Calista woke from a bad dream and reached for Robert but he wasn't there. Alarmed, she sat up and then saw him by the window, outlined in the moonlight, and she could hear him weeping. Slowly, she got out of bed and walked to where he was. Kneeling beside him, she laid her head on his arm and he reached for her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips. "Oh, baby, what did I do to you .... what've I done to you," he sobbed. "Forgive me." She put her arm around him and held him protectively.

Sometime later, she took his hand and led him back to bed.

In the middle of the night, Calista opened her eyes to find Robert, his face right next to hers, wide awake, staring at her intently.

Her brow creased questioningly.

"You've been having nightmares," he whispered. "You all right? Really?"

She nodded.

"You hate me?"

Kissing his nose, she said, "Yep."

"With all your heart?" he asked.

Curling up in his arms, she smiled. "I could never hate anyone more."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Thank God," he sighed.

"Yep. Now, go to sleep."

Sunday morning, after a sleepless night, Robert got up before dawn to find Calista already dressed, waiting for him, ready to walk out the door when he strolled into the kitchen for coffee. Liam was also up and concentrating on a bowl of cereal.

Glancing around the kitchen curiously, he asked her, "Where you going?"

"The library," she answered, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Robert sat down and looked at her blankly. "It's been awhile since you've been to a library, huh! Calista, it's 5:30 in the morning, plus it's Sunday. Unless librarians have become pretty damn dedicated or they now have ABCM's, I think it's safe to say the library's closed!"

"Oh," she said dejectedly.

"Yeah, oh!" he said scratching his head.

She gave him a puzzled look, "ABCM?"

"Automated book check-out machines?" he quipped. "The library, Calista? Um... WHY?"

With fire in her eyes, she replied fiercely, "Research."

"Oh," he said, rolling his eyes, "well, that clears it up for me."

"Robert, there has to be something, somewhere on this ... Goldblum. If he thinks he's gonna make me cower and hide, he's got another think coming. I'm gonna find out who and where the hell he is! Even if I have to sit at a computer screen, scanning newspaper articles and anything else I can find until I go blind."

"Well, it's nice to know you'll have your sight for at least another couple of months because whatever you do will have to be long distance. In case you've forgotten we're due at the airport by 8:00, which means that after I shower and we get the kids ready, travel time being taken into consideration, we'll just about make it if we get started now."

She sighed.

"Hey!" Liam yelled. They both turned toward him. Calista had cut up a banana in his cereal and Liam had pulled out one of the fleshy banana strings that had found its way into his bowl. He held it up with two fingers and surveyed it carefully for a long time before asking in a very grownup matter-of-fact tone, "whadda hell is dis!?"

Robert choked on the gulp of coffee he was trying to swallow and started coughing. He and Calista looked at each other in wide eyed surprise and burst out laughing, having to turn their backs so Liam wouldn't see.

Liam's refreshingly amusing injection helped lighten Calista's mood immensely. Nonetheless, she pursed her lips and gave Robert a squinted glare, "See? I told you to watch your language in front of him. He's starting to act and talk more like you every day."

Robert couldn't stop laughing.

Liam shook his hand trying to disengage the banana string which finally fell on the floor. Then, he started digging in his milk with his finger.

"Are you finished eating?" Calista asked him.

"Dare more inna bowl?" he asked her suspiciously.

"No," she told him, trying not to laugh. Taking Liam's spoon, she ladled through the milk. "See? Just milk and cereal. All the bananas are gone. Are you finished?"

"Uh huh," he said clapping his hands together, "aw done!"

She lifted him out of his highchair. "Okay, then let's go wake Maria so she can get you and Sissy dressed." Turning to Robert she said, "You better jostle Indio so he can hop in the shower."

He nodded and followed her down the hall.

After Robert showered and dressed, he went back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. Indio was already there having breakfast and Robert tousled his hair, "Morning buddy," he said kissing his son on the cheek.

"Hey dad," Indio said, "look at this cool ring I got in the cereal."

Robert glanced at the 2¢ plastic ring, "Yeah, that's way cool," he grinned.

Calista's thoughts were far away as she sat staring out the window. Robert bent down over the back of her chair and peered around at her.

Her eyes shifted sideways and found his.

"Sweetheart, can we just try and not think about it for the next three months?" he asked, screwing up his face hopefully.

"Is that a trick question?"

He grinned, "Well, at least you haven't lost your sense of humor. Your mind ... maybe ... but ..."

Her upper lip curled into a sneer, "I'm gonna find that guy, Robert, if it's the last thing I do."

"Yeah, well right now, let's just try and find our way to the airport, okay?"

She nodded morosely.

"You're sure you wanna go?"

"Yep," she declared.

"Well, then, let's do it, babe."

The studio limo picked them up at 7:30 and their plane departed on time bound for the small, pristine and ruggedly beautiful island of Dominica in the southern Caribbean.