Tuesday, March 10, 2009, Episode #5518

Brooke is surprised to see Pam back at work.

In Owen's old office, Donna looks on as Brooke calls security to give them instructions about heightened security procedures for the building. As Brooke ends the call, Pam walks in, sits down on the couch and starts crocheting. Donna asks Pam why she's there. Pam explains that her sister rehired her to create crocheted purses, and she asks if the police arrested Marcus yet. Donna insists that her son isn't a suspect, but Pam disagrees. Donna points out that Marcus was with Lt. Baker and Charlie when Rick's car exploded, but Pam suggests that a bomb could have been set off with a timer.

Donna objects to Stephanie's interference.

After Brooke leaves, Donna starts packing her things; she tells Pam that she's only moving out temporarily to avoid being around Pam. Stephanie enters and tells Donna to get used to it, since Pam is here to stay. When Donna objects to Stephanie going against Rick's wishes by rehiring Pam, Stephanie brags that she puts no stock in Rick's authority; even if he were Putin or the Pope, she's keeping their "president" on a short leash. Donna sighs at Stephanie's defiant attitude, reminding La Forrester that Eric put Rick in charge. Stephanie retorts that Eric's judgement has been suspect lately, and Donna's presence here proves that. Donna counters that rehiring nutty Pam is hardly an example of sound judgement, either. Pam objects to being compared to Donna's evil devil of a nephew, who should be destroyed as far as she's concerned. Donna asks Pam who should be the one to destroy Rick, wondering if it should be the woman who tried to kill her, her mother, her son and Eric. Pam insists that she wasn't in her right mind when she did those things. "In my opinion, Pammy, you still aren't," Donna fires back.

Charlie shows his pop the latest lab report.

At the police station, Charlie brings his pop something to eat and the report from the lab about the evidence in Rick's case. Lt. Baker bites into the hot dog Charlie brought him and spits when he realizes it's a tofu dog! "Get me a real dog!" the lieutenant orders, but Charlie tells him to read the lab report first. Lt. Baker reads the report and learns that the matches from Marcus's desk didn't match the ones found by Rick's house. so Marcus might be innocent. He goes on and discovers that the pasted-on letters used to create the "End is Near" note that Rick received came from a surfer magazine. Lt. Baker recalls that Forrester recently launched a surf line and asks his son who was in charge of that. When Charlie tells him that Owen Knight was in charge until he recently got fired, Lt. Baker decides to have a little talk with Mr. Knight and calls him at home. Owen is just coming back from surfing when he gets the call. Lt. Baker tells Owen that he needs to talk to him right away.

Owen gets grilled by Lt. Baker.

When Owen arrives at the police station, the Baker boys question him about his recently being fired. Owen admits that he's mad at that spoiled brat Rick for firing him, but that doesn't mean he torched Rick's house or blew up his car. He asks what evidence the cops have on him. The Bakers show him the note Rick got after the car exploded and point out that the letters were cut from a surfer's magazine. Owen doesn't think that proves anything, but Lt. Baker argues that they can prove that Owen had opportunity and motive, which makes Owen the prime suspect. Lt. Baker asks Owen where he was the night of the fire. Owen says he was grabbing a bite at the Sunset Diner. Lt. Baker points out that the diner is near the beach, just like Rick's house. Owen points out that he lives by the beach, too, and he states that he wouldn't be stupid enough to do the things the assailant did if he wanted to get rid of Rick. He even offers to take a lie detector test to prove he's telling the truth. Lt. Baker decides Owen is telling the truth and asks who else worked with him on the surf line. Owen tells them that Pam Douglas worked with him and Donna. After Owen leaves, Charlie brings a new lab report that shows that crochet fibers were found by Rick's house and on Rick's desk. When Charlie points out that Pam Douglas crochets, Lt. Baker recalls Pam's past crimes against Donna and her family and decides to have a talk with Pammy.

Rick fails to heed his mother's advice.

Brooke drops by Rick's office and finds him reviewing security footage of the front of Ridge's office. Horrified, she tells him to stop right now, because Ridge did not set fire to his home or blow up his car. Rick disagrees, especially since Ridge seems intent on accusing him of causing those accidents himself. Not anymore, Brooke qualifies; she tells him that Ridge has agreed to give him the benefit of the doubt and she expects him to do the same, but Rick doesn't know if he can do that given all evidence pointing to Ridge. Brooke insists that Ridge wouldn't do those things, but Rick isn't so sure given the hatred he saw in Ridge's eyes that night at the Sky Lounge. Brooke asks why he did something foolish like telling Ridge that he'd slept with Steffy, knowing how Ridge would react. Rick concedes that was a boneheaded move, but Brooke thinks the only bonehead things about this situation is his wasting time squabbling when the person who tried to kill him is still out there. She tells Rick not to take this lightly, but he claims he is taking it seriously and points out that Ridge hates him enough to have done those things to send him a message. Brooke still doesn't buy it, but Rick reminds her how Ridge feels about Steffy and says that he's not letting Steffy go. Brooke refuses to support his relationship with Steffy and tells him to forget about that for now and just focus on staying alive.

Taylor and Ridge try to make a point to Steffy.

Having been summoned by her dad, Steffy arrives at his office and finds her mom there, too. She asks if they're going to pressure her, but Ridge says that they just want to talk. Ridge points out that she could have been killed if she was with Rick yesterday when his car blew up. Steffy asks why that matters, since she wasn't in the car. Ridge explains that the fact that she could have been there shows how dangerous this relationship is. That's why he and Taylor want her to stop seeing Rick right now. Steffy thinks there will be no reason to worry if they find out who tried to hurt Rick and asks Ridge if he still thinks Rick started the fire himself. Ridge admits that he's past that, since Rick is too selfish to put his own life in danger. Taylor pleads with her daughter to be smart and stay away from Rick given the danger. Steffy tells her parents that Rick told her to stay away, but she refused; she loves him and won't abandon him when he needs her. Ridge tells Steffy that he and her mom just want to protect her. Steffy says it's one thing to protect her, but she's not their little girl anymore, so it's time for them to let go and let her make her own decisions. "I don't want to lose you two, but I won't be controlled," she asserts. Ridge and Taylor assure her that they'll always be there for her, even when her decisions don't work out. They hope Rick doesn't hurt her, but if he does, they'll be right there. "We love you more than life, and we just want you to be happy," Ridge affirms. Steffy is thrilled and hugs her father.

Steffy has good news for Rick.

Steffy goes to Rick's office and tells him that her father didn't try to hurt him. Rick still has a hard time buying that, so Steffy stuns him and Brooke with the news that she just talked with her parents and they agreed not to stand in the way of her being with Rick. Rick asks if Ridge really said that. Steffy says that he didn't use those words, but she knows what he meant. Just then, Ridge walks into the office. Brooke asks him if what Steffy just said is true.