Erin sits at the kitchen table sipping her black coffee and tries to stay calm knowing today she's being forced back to court. She knows her chances are excellent, but she also knows better than to underestimate the girl she's known for many years. Her mind goes to the dear friend she lost nearly five years ago and how Cora lost the will to fight knowing her only daughter was on the path to self destruct.

"Cora was literally fine one day, then the very next day she unexpectedly took a turn for the worse. Tammy was in her mother's room alone with her. When Chris and I walked in, Cora looked over at us like the life was literally being drained from her. I'll never forget the look of fear mixed with sadness in her eyes."

"Erin," Eli says walking over to her.

"Eli, you're up. I couldn't sleep."

"Erin, I overheard you talking to yourself. I heard you say Tammy was in her mother's room by herself. It was just the two of them in the room?" 

"Yes, that's right, Eli. Tammy finally decided to go see her mother one last time before going off to god knows where. I assume it was to go see Ross."

"Erin, you said Cora was literally fine the day before?"

"Yes. Cora was sitting up eating and was able to hold food down. We were talking about old times back in high school. She was smiling and even laughing."

"So, did she appear to be weak or tired?"

"No, now that I think back, no she looked great. Her color was back, she was able to hold a conversation and keep food down. Why do you ask, Eli?

"Erin, I need you to think back. When Cora was violently ill, who was around her, and was Tammy ever alone with her mother when she would all of a sudden become so sick she had to be put in the hospital?"

"I, um, wait, yes, thinking back on it, every time Cora would become so ill she had to be put in the hospital, Tammy was always around her, even alone with her. Eli. What are you thinking?"

"Oh god, Erin. Everything you have told me so far, it sounds like Tammy is the reason why your best friend is now dead."

"What, Eli? You're not suggesting Tammy murdered her own mother, are you?"

"Stop and think about it, Erin. Your friend Cora had a complete physical just nine months before she fell violently sick. She got a clean bill of health. She ate healthily, she took care of herself, she, according to you, was a health nut."

"The doctors said they could never exactly pinpoint her illness. They were just as stumped as the rest of us."

"My brother Nathan, he's a doctor and I started asking him about what could have possibly been the cause of Cora being that violently ill."

"You did, what did he say?" Erin questions him.

"Erin, the doctors who were taking care of Cora might not have thought to look for her being poisoned. They had no reason to suspect she was being poisoned."

"Poisoned, Eli? You think Tammy poisoned her mother to death?"

"I'm so sorry, Erin, but it makes perfect sense."

"Well, it's too late to find out for certain now."

"Actually, it's not. We could try and get a court order to have Cora's body exhumed, Erin."

"What, Eli, we can't. We can't disturb her resting place. Oh my god, would Tammy really be capable of murdering her own mother?"

"You would know that better than me."

"I know Tammy is capable of a lot of horrible things, but murdering someone, especially her own mother, Eli?"

"Maybe she showed some signs you may have overlooked, Erin? Think about it. What type of child she was, how was she as a teen, did she treat her mother badly?"

"Yes, she became a nightmare as a teen. She treated her mother like crap and I was never one to just stand by and keep my mouth shut. I was constantly telling Tammy to stop treating her mother like shit because one day, she will miss her mother when she's no longer her. Oh god, I remember the cold look in her eyes and the evil smirk on her face."

"Is there anything you can remember that could lead to proving Tammy murdered her mother, Erin?"

"I don't know, Eli. Cora inherited a small fortune from her uncle, Tammy begged her mother for some of the money so she could travel the world, but Cora refused to give her any of the money...Oh god, three months later, Cora died. She started showing signs of being sick not long after she told Tammy no and to get a job."

" Erin. There's no doubt about it, Tammy murdered her own mother and knowing how much she hates you and knowing you practically got everything out of the divorce. Listen to me, you are never to be alone with that psychotic bitch. I do believe you are now Tammy's target, Erin. I am calling my family when we get back from court and having them to send security."

"Eli, don't you think if Tammy was planning to hurt me, she would have done it by now?"

"Erin, look how long it took her to finally hurt your best friend, she planned and plotted to murder her mother and she finally did it. I am not about to take any chances with your life or our unborn son's or daughter's life. I don't want that psycho murderer anywhere near you."

"I thought I was supposed to be the one barking out orders in our relationship."

"You are when it comes to our erotic fun time together, but not when there is an excellent possibility when you have a deranged psycho killer after you. I get to take the lead with this."

"Okay. Maybe I just don't want to believe Tammy is capable of murdering someone, but I can see how worried you are about me and our unborn baby, so I will agree to go along with you think is best for us, Eli."

"Thank you. I know this isn't easy for you, you know allowing someone else to be in charge. I promise you, Erin, I will not allow anyone to harm you, or our child. I'll keep you both safe. Come on, it's about time we leave to make it to court on time." 

"Oh god, was Ross helping Tammy plan her mother's untimely demise?  No, he's capable of cheating, but he would never be capable of murdering another human being."

"I hope you're right, Erin. But, we have to make sure, he is Chris' father and this would kill him."

"He's pissed at his father, but if Ross helped Tammy kill her own mother, this will crush Chris."