Friday, May 18, 2007, Episode #5062

Taylor worries about Nick.

As Nick is dragged into the police station, he insists that he did not kill Shane, but Lt. Baker doesn't believe him. Nick protests that Stephanie invited him to her house, because she's panicking that he's onto her and her dressmaker son. Lt. Baker tells Nick to quiet down, or else he'll be locked up. Storm and Taylor arrive. Storm asks why Nick is being held; when Lt. Baker tells him that Nick violated a restraining order, Taylor insists that the order had not yet been served when Stephanie asked Nick over, but Lt. Baker tells them to save it for the judge and gives Taylor ten minutes with her husband. Taylor frets about Nick's latest dilemma, but Nick tells her not to worry, since he thinks the restraining order proves that Stephanie is covering for Ridge about Shane's death.

Phoebe talks to Brooke about Nick.

Phoebe drops by Brooke's house to talk to Brooke about Nick. Phoebe understands that Nick's innocent, but she thinks it's wrong for Nick to lie that her dad killed Shane. Brooke argues that Nick is just scared because of the charges against him. She asks Phoebe if Shane could have followed her to the Marlin the night she stayed there, pointing out that Shane could have gotten into trouble and been followed there himself. Phoebe asks how that implicates her dad and asks Brooke to talk to Nick. Brooke suggests that there might be something she can do and calls her brother Storm, who's still with Nick at the police station. She asks Storm to stop by her house to talk about Nick's case. Storm says he'll see what he can do. Storm tells Nick and Taylor that Brooke wants to talk about Nick's case. Nick tells Storm to go talk to her, hoping Brooke might know something that can help. After Storm leaves, Nick tells Taylor that they have to get Stephanie to tip her hand. He's sure the restraining order shows how desperate Stephanie is. Taylor agrees that Stephanie is hiding something, although she still can't picture Ridge or Stephanie doing this to him. Nick reminds Taylor that they have a child on the way, a child he wants to raise. Their only hope to make that happen is for Stephanie to confess, even if Shane's death was an accident. Taylor doesn't see La Forrester confessing, but Nick isn't willing to go to jail, either. He thinks they need someone who can snoop around Forrester Originals for clues that Shane was there and asks Taylor to call Rick over.

Rick tries to get Phoebe to think about what Ashley said.

At Forrester Originals, Phoebe vents to Rick about Nick's claim that her dad killed Shane. Rick hesitates to respond, and Phoebe takes that to mean that he thinks her dad is guilty, too. Rick tells her how her dad stood Ashley up that night, and how Ashley heard a loud bang that sounded like a gunshot. Phoebe doesn't want to hear this, but Rick insists that she listen. Phoebe can't believe that he skipped their visit to Constantine's studio to listen to Ashley's theories. Rick explains that Ashley just wanted to help, but Phoebe won't hear a word he's saying. Even if Nick is innocent, she asserts, it doesn't mean her dad is guilty. Rick tries to get Phoebe to think about what Ashley said, but Phoebe doesn't want to hear any claims that her dad killed Shane. Before they can argue further about this, Rick gets a call from Taylor, asking him to come to the police station to talk to Nick. Rick says he'll be right there and heads for the police station, where he meets up with Taylor. Taylor escorts him to where Nick is. Since the guard insists that Nick can only have one visitor at a time besides his attorney, Taylor lets Rick go in.

Nick asks for Rick's help.

Nick thanks Rick for coming. He explains that he needs Rick's help, even though it will probably put Rick in a tight spot. Rick says he's listening, so Nick explains his theory that Ridge shot Shane and used the Marlin to dump the body. Nick fears that Ridge and Stephanie are setting him, and he needs Rick's help to prove it, since Rick has access to Forrester Originals. Wanting to help, Rick tells Nick about what Ashley confided in him; Nick says he knows about how Ridge stood Ashley up that night, but Rick then tells him about the loud noise Ashley heard in the lab that night - the noise that Stephanie said was the freight elevator, but Ashley thought sounded like a gun shot. Hearing this, Nick is convinced that Shane was shot at Forrester Originals and asks Rick to look around the building for something that proves it.

A.D.A. Tartaro stops by Stephanie's for tea.

At the Forrester mansion, Stephanie flashes back to the police taking Nick away for violating the restraining order. She's interrupted by a knock at the door; it's Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Tartaro (the A.D.A. who prosecuted Taylor for Darla's death), who's there at Stephanie's request. Over tea, Stephanie chit-chats with Tartaro about a recent charity luncheon they both attended. Tartaro admits she doesn't have time to get out to lunch often and then asks Stephanie why she called her over. Stephanie doesn't want to treat on improper ground, but she wants to talk to the A.D.A. about Dominick Marone. She knows Tartaro is prosecuting Nick's case and she hopes she can prevail on Ms. Tartaro for help dealing with Nick. Tartaro says she can't talk about the case. Stephanie suggests that Mr. Tartaro consider that Storm Logan is Nick's attorney, and she fears that Storm might get Nick off. If that happens, Stephanie fears Nick will come after her, since he's a violent man. She's already taken out a restraining order, but she'd feel better if Nick's case was rushed to trial immediately. Tartaro explains that it all depends on the judge's calendar. Stephanie asks the A.D.A. to at least ask for the first available date, but Tartaro repeats that it's up to the judge. Stephanie thanks Ms. Tartaro for her time and shows her out.

Storm asks Brooke for help.

Meanwhile, Storm stops by Brooke's house. Brooke thanks him for coming and explains about Phoebe's concerns that Nick is blaming Ridge. Brooke agrees with Phoebe that even if Nick didn't kill Shane, it doesn't mean he should blame Ridge. Storm tells Brooke that Nick is back in jail after Stephanie tricked him into coming over, only to have Nick arrested for violating a restraining order. He thinks that shows how desperate Stephanie is, and the only reason he can see for such desperation is that Stephanie is trying to hide something - like the desperation to hide her son's guilt. Brooke still can't believe that the father of her youngest child could kill someone, but Storm asserts that he agrees with Nick that Ridge killed Shane, and now Stephanie is helping Ridge cover it up by framing Nick. Brooke asks Storm if he really believes that; Storm says he does, and he explains that Taylor does to after recently confronting La Forrester. She thinks Taylor's known Stephanie long enough to read Stephanie. Brooke points out that she's known both Stephanie and Ridge a long time, too. Storm points out that Ridge suddenly jetted off to Paris without a word to anyone and asks Brooke if she finds that odd. Brooke still doesn't want to believe it. Storm understands, which is why he wants his sister to go talk to Stephanie. He thinks Brooke can see through Stephanie better than anyone, which is why he thinks Brooke is their best chance at getting a confession from Stephanie.

Stephanie asks Brooke if she thinks Ridge could kill someone.

Brooke arrives at the Forrester mansion just as Stephanie leaves a message for Ridge to call her. Brooke asks if Ridge really went to Paris, since she can't see Ridge leaving town without saying goodbye to R.J. Stephanie suggests several scenarios where R.J. might not have been home, but she sees the look on Brooke's face and asks Brooke if she's worried about Nick. Brooke asks Stephanie why she had Nick set up to be arrested. Stephanie tries to cover that she thinks Nick is dangerous, and she even told the Assistant District Attorney that. She suggests that Nick should be working on his defense, and she thinks Brooke would agree that Nick is capable of murder. "No, he isn't," Brooke states. "And Ridge is?" Stephanie asks.