Thursday, May 17, 2007, Episode #5061

Ashley confides in Rick.

In the lab at Forrester Originals, Ashley checks her messages and finds one from Nick, asking her to please call him if she can remember anything else about Ridge's behavior last week. She flashes back to the night she heard the loud noise that sounded like a gunshot; to her returning to Ridge's office later that night and finding a stressed out Stephanie there; and to the night Lt. Baker stopped by Ridge's office to talk about Shane. She then calls Rick and says that she needs to see him right away. Rick stops by the lab with Phoebe on their way to Constantine's studio, but Ashley has stepped out for a while. Phoebe suggests they get going to see Constantine; Rick sees how excited Phoebe is about this and thinks it's adorable, and he leans in to kiss her just as Ashley returns. Rick asks Ashley what's going on, since she sounded serious on the phone. Phoebe goes to call Constantine to let him know they're on the way, leaving Rick and Ashley alone in the lab. Ashley tells Rick that she thinks she knows who killed Shane. She's about to explain when Phoebe returns. Rick tells Phoebe that Ashley needs his help, so he suggests that she go to Constantine's alone and he'll catch up with her. After a quick goodbye kiss, Phoebe leaves. Once Rick closes the door, Ashley tells him that she thinks Ridge might have killed Shane.

Rick thinks Ridge could be guilty.

Knowing of Nick's theory about Shane's death, Rick asks Ashley if she spoke to Nick. Ashley admits she did and explains that her talk with Nick got her thinking about things that happened a few nights before Shane's body was found. She recaps for Rick how Ridge stood her up for their date without ever calling her to cancel, how Shane was last seen in the building earlier that same day and how she heard a loud noise while waiting in the lab for Ridge - a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, even though Stephanie claimed it was just the freight elevator. She and Rick agree that the building's freight elevator isn't very loud. She then tells Rick how Stephanie and Ridge have both acted strangely since that night, like they're jumpy or anxious. Rick admits that he typically avoids Ridge and Stephanie, so he wouldn't have noticed any odd behavior, but he asks Ashley if she told Nick about this noise. She tells Rick that he's the only one she told. Rick explains that Phoebe saw Shane there that day, and Shane seemed very unstable. So things could have gotten violent if Ridge ran into Shane, especially if one of them had a gun. And given how much Ridge hates Nick for stealing Forrester Creations from the family, Rick can believe that Ridge tossed Shane's body off the boat and tried to pin the blame on Nick. This gruesome theory bothers Ashley, but Rick comments that it's very possible. He reviews all the things Ashley just told him and concludes that Nick isn't guilty, but he thinks that Ridge could be.

Phoebe watches Constantine in the studio.

Phoebe arrives at Constantine's loft/studio, where he's in the recording booth recording a song called "Everybody Loves" (which just happens to be on the new CD by Constantine's portrayer, Constantine Maroulis). After wrapping up the song, Constantine comes out to greet Phoebe, who is impressed by the singer/producer's talent. She asks why he's looking for new talent if he's so talented himself; he reminds her that a record label needs more than one artist. He then asks where Rick is; when Phoebe explains that Rick had something come up at work and will join them later, Constantine tells her to sit back and watch while he finishes laying down a few tracks.

Constantine is inspired by Phoebe.

After Constantine finishes, he introduces Phoebe to his engineer Todd, the "sound mixer to the stars." Constantine tells Todd how he "discovered" Phoebe in a video he found on the Internet. Phoebe asserts that it was just karaoke, but Constantine tells Todd that he saw real talent there, which is why he invited Phoebe down to the studio. Todd assures Phoebe that she's in good hands with Constantine. Todd then leaves, giving Constantine and Phoebe a chance to chat alone. Phoebe asks Constantine if he lives and works here; Constantine confirms that he does, since music is his life. Phoebe predicts that his new record label will take off, but Constantine argues that he can only succeed if he tries new things and finds new talent. Phoebe asks if it's hard to compete with the big record labels. Constantine admits that it's not easy, but he thinks it's possible to take on the big labels with the right kind of buzz about talented people - people like Phoebe, who has what it takes based on what Constantine saw in her karaoke video. "You inspired me," he praises.

Stephanie tells Ridge that she'll handle Nick.

At the Forrester mansion, Ridge comes in as Stephanie finishes a call about some papers she needed to have executed. Ridge sees his mother's relieved look and asks how she can be so calm when Nick might be telling the police his theory of who killed Shane. Stephanie insists that Nick is still the prime suspect, so she's sure the police won't listen. Ridge frets that Nick didn't commit the crime and knows that he's innocent. Stephanie urges Ridge to get to the airport and take the company jet to Paris, especially since she told Taylor that he was already gone to keep Taylor from looking for him. Ridge is fed up with all the lies, but Stephanie argues that she can stop lying if he just gets out of town. Ridge suggests that leaving might make him look suspicious, especially to Nick, since it will look like he's running. Stephanie tells him to let Nick think what he wants, since she's confident Nick can't find any evidence tying Ridge to the crime. She tells Ridge to leave this to the police, who have no reason to be suspicious of him. But Taylor on the other hand will know that he's hiding something. Ridge asks how long he should stay away. Stephanie tells him to just trust her to handle Nick, who is about to be stopped in his tracks, even if he doesn't know it yet.

Taylor worries about Nick's attempts to clear his name.

At the Marone mansion, Nick anxiously wonders how he can prove Ridge killed Shane so he can be with Taylor when their baby is born. He tells Taylor that he left another message for Ashley, but Taylor points out that they still can't prove that Shane was killed the night he was last seen at Forrester Originals. Nick hopes that someone, maybe even a custodian, might know something. "Stephanie cannot cover for the dressmaker forever," he asserts, but Taylor points out that Stephanie is doing a good job so far. Nick just wants to find the one mistake Ridge made to clear his name. Taylor still has a hard time believing her ex could do this. Before Nick can respond, he gets a call on his cell from Stephanie, who wants to talk to him. "We're talking now," Nick states, but Stephanie wants to see him face to face. Nick says he'll be right there. As he hangs up, he tells Taylor that he's going to Stephanie's to talk. Shortly after Nick leaves, a messenger comes looking for Nick; when Taylor tells the messenger that Nick's not home and that she's Nick's wife, he asks her to sign for the official looking envelope he has in his hand. Taylor signs for the envelope and promises to give it to Nick when he returns. Once the messenger leaves, Taylor tears the envelope open and is surprised by what she finds inside.

Nick accepts Stephanie's invitation.

Nick arrives at the Forrester mansion and asks Stephanie why she wanted to see him. La Forrester responds that she wants to hear him say all the things he's been saying behind her back to her face. Nick asks if she's feeling the heat, but Stephanie thinks he should be feeling that now, given that his trial will start fairly soon. She guesses that's why he's trying to create reasonable doubt by telling Taylor and anyone who will listen that she and Ridge framed him, and she's offended that he would accuse her son, the father of Taylor's children, of murder. Nick informs Stephanie that he, too, will soon be the father of one of Taylor's children, since Taylor is pregnant, and he fully intends to be there to watch his kids grow up. That's why he plans to make sure that she and Ridge are the ones who go to jail, and not him. Stephanie wonders why he's so sure that will happen and asks if the police have reopened the case. When Nick doesn't respond, Stephanie takes that as a sign that the police have not heeded Nick's theories or accusations. However, even if the police don't believe him, Taylor does, and Stephanie finds that unacceptable.