Thursday, May 03, 2007, Episode #5051

Rick tries to reassure Phoebe.

A glum Phoebe reads the newspaper in Ridge's office. Rick comes in and sees she's upset, so he asks what's wrong. Phoebe tells him that her mom just called and shows him a newspaper article about Shane's death. Rick asks if this is the Shane who... Phoebe confirms it is and says it's her fault Shane is dead. She tells Rick how Shane came to see her, but she sent him away and even told security to bar him from the building. Rick points out that he's been thrown out of many places and never got shot afterwards. Phoebe laments that she was Shane's only friend, and he even tried to change for her, but all she did is turn him away. That made Shane desperate, to the point where he fell back where he came from. Rick assures her that she just set some boundaries with Shane, and there's nothing wrong with that. Phoebe frets that Shane may have even died the last time she saw him, since the newspaper says they can't tell when he died. Rick sees how shook up Phoebe is and reassures her. He knows she just wanted to help Shane, but he thinks she has to let go if the person she's helping drags her down. Phoebe tearfully frets that something happens to anyone who reaches out to her; first it was Darla, now it's Shane, and she fears it might be Rick next if he doesn't get away from her. Rick tells her to listen. He wants her to know that while people get lost in life, to accidents or to their own demons, she won't lose him, and that's a promise. He kisses her on the forehead and gives her a reassuring hug.

Ridge prepares to go to the police.

Ridge has moved back into the Bel Air mansion and has shaved his beard. He's on the phone with Stephanie, telling her that she was right that he should take some time for himself before going to the police. He had Thomas and Phoebe over and called Steffy last night, and they were happy about Taylor, but they were also concerned about how the whole thing affected him. He also asked Brooke to bring R.J. over. Stephanie tells him to take his time, since she can't talk to Eric until he gets home from New York later. Ridge asks if he should be there to tell Eric, but Stephanie says she'll handle it, and then they'll go to the police with top lawyer Del Shipley. The one thing she wants to make clear is that he's not confessing to murder, since he only did the decent thing and tried to save Shane. And dumped his body like a killer, Ridge remarks. Stephanie tells him to stop talking like he's convicted and says she'll be over with Eric soon.

Brooke is surprised by what Ridge tells her.

Soon after, Brooke arrives with R.J. Brooke offers to come back in a few hours to pick R.J. up, but Ridge asks her to stay. Brooke doesn't think it's a good idea, but Ridge says he doesn't want to talk about their relationship. In fact, he doesn't want to talk at all. They sit on the couch while R.J. plays and has a cookie. Brooke bets Ridge is glad to be back home, and she's sure Phoebe is glad to have her dad home. Actually, Ridge explains, Phoebe might be moving in with Nick and Taylor. Brooke asks Ridge why he wants to be alone in this huge house. Trying to find the words to respond, Ridge amends his earlier statement and tells Brooke that they might have something to talk about after all. Brooke tells Ridge he'll always be R.J.'s father, but Ridge says he may not be around. Brooke insists she won't keep him from his son, even if Stephanie doesn't want her around for fear they might reconcile. Ridge tells Brooke that he knows they won't get back together; if he couldn't accept it before, he can now.

Taylor worries that she's a suspect.

Taylor drops by Nick's office at Forrester Creations. Nick laughs they they may be newlyweds, but he told her he needed some time in the office, and... Taylor interrupts him and shows him the front page newspaper story about Shane's body washing up on Venice Beach. Nick reads the article, including a remark about a restraining order being requested just before the estimated time of Shane's death; Taylor reminds him that she requested that restraining order, so they'll be investigating her for killing Shane! Nick thinks that's crazy, but she tells him to look at the facts. She asked for a restraining order. She's on probation. And she has a credibility issue with Lt. Baker, who is sure to be on the case if it's a homicide.

After leaving Nick's office, an uncertain Taylor drops by the Forrester mansion to see Stephanie. She admits she never thought she'd do this again, but she needs Stephanie to help her deal with the police. Stephanie assumes this is about Shane. Taylor is surprised that Stephanie knows, so Stephanie tells her about Lt. Baker's calls and visits. Taylor assumes that Baker told them about the restraining order, so she explains how suspicious it will look that she made a big deal about getting that order just before Shane turned up dead. She also suspects that many people, including Lt. Baker, think she got off easy for what happened to Darla. "But you don't even own a gun," Stephanie points out. Taylor replies that Ridge kept a gun in the house and she never got rid of it. Stephanie asks Taylor how the police might think she disposed of the body. Taylor reminds Stephanie that her new husband owns a boat at the marina, although she doesn't know how to drive it, and... She suddenly pauses and realizes that the police might suspect Nick, since he owns the boat, and since he had tossed Shane first out of her house, and then later out of Forrester Creations. As if that wasn't enough, Nick was there when she talked with Lt. Baker about the restraining order; when Nick didn't like Baker asking if Phoebe and Shane were having a lover's quarrel, he got upset and told Baker that he'd deal with Shane himself if the police couldn't. Realizing how this makes Nick look guilty, Taylor asks Stephanie not to say anything about it, but Stephanie is obviously intrigued that Nick had ties to Shane.

Lt. Baker and Detective Scott have some questions for Nick.

At police headquarters, Lt. Baker and Detective Scott look at the newspaper article about Shane. Baker wishes the photo guys would have cleaned up the photo, which is a mug shot of Shane with a beard. The forensics expert comes in to tell Baker that five hairs found on the Marlin match Shane's, so Baker and Scott go to Forrester Creations to see Nick. Nick guesses that the detectives are there looking for Taylor. Actually, Lt. Baker tells Nick, they want to talk to him. Nick wonders why there are three uniformed cops outside. Just procedure, Baker states, but Nick is still uneasy. Baker recalls how frustrated Nick and Taylor were about Shane and asks Nick if Shane was ever on the Shady Marlin II. Nick can't believe he's a suspect because he owns a boat. No one said anything about suspects, Baker points out, asking Nick if Shane recently made a sales call here. A short one, Nick says. Baker wants to look around, but Nick refuses. Baker than whips out a search warrant so his officers can get back to work. Baker and Scott then return to the precinct and send the fruits of their search to the lab. Detective Scott asks if they have a suspect. They have two, Baker states. Scott wishes they could find the gun to match the bullet found in Shane's body. Baker doesn't think they will, since .25 caliber guns are common on the streets, but he tells the young detective to check the gun registry to see if either Dominick Marone or Ridge Forrester owns a gun.

Nick tells Taylor not to worry.

Taylor returns to Nick's office and tells him about her visit with Stephanie. She admits it might be hormones, but she was really worried she's a suspect, and... Nick tells her not to worry, because Baker was already there to talk to him, and the focus of the conversation was all on him and his feelings about Shane McGrath. Taylor wishes this wasn't happening now while they are planning their family. Nick tells her to forget about it, since the police are gone and it's over. All they need to worry about is that they're newlyweds working on a miracle, so everything's good.