Emily: Hi.
Nikolas: Hi.
Emily: Been looking for you.
Nikolas: Any special reason?
Emily: Hmm. Just this.
Nikolas: You know, as tempting -- tempting as this is, I have to go meet with my lawyer right now to go over my case.
Emily: Okay. Well, don't be long.
Nikolas: I won't.
Emily: I love you.
Nikolas: I love you, too. I'll be back.
Emily: Okay.
Zander's voice: "Dear Emily -- I need you to know I still love you. And if you're reading this and I'm dead, it's because Nikolas killed me."
Zander's voice: "Dear Elizabeth -- if you're reading this, I'm probably dead. Ric killed me, and you know why."
Ric: Whoa -- what are you doing?
Elizabeth: You're going to burn yourself.
Ric: What are you doing? It's all right. "Ric killed me, and you know why."
Emily: What do you think?
Lucky: Well, does it look like Zander's signature to you?
Emily: Yeah.
Lucky: You know what? I can have a handwriting expert examine the letter just to make sure.
Emily: Okay.
Lucky: You know, it must've been quite a shock to get this from Zander after his death. How did Nikolas react?
Emily: I -- I haven't shown it to him yet.
Lucky: Why not?
Emily: He -- he was gone when I opened the mail. I -- I don't want to upset him.
Lucky: He has to see this, Emily.
Emily: Nikolas has enough to worry about.
Lucky: This letter was mailed before the fire while Zander was on the run.
Emily: Who -- who knows what Zander was thinking? He hated Nikolas. He would've done anything to hurt him and make trouble between us.
Lucky: You're afraid Nikolas really did kill Zander, aren't you?
Ric: How long have you had this?
Elizabeth: A few days.
Ric: And you believe it, do you? You think that I killed Zander, and you were trying to burn this letter in order to protect me?
Elizabeth: I just want all of this over with. I mean, does it really matter who killed Zander as long as our baby is safe?
Ric: It matters to us, Elizabeth, to our family. You think that I killed him.
Elizabeth: No. God, no. No, I don't.
Ric: No, look, look -- you think that I was trying -- I was trying to convict Nikolas in order to cover my tracks. That's why you thought he was innocent from the very beginning, isn't it?
Elizabeth: No, no, I -- Nikolas is innocent because I know him. He doesn't have it in him --
Ric: I don't have it in me, either, Elizabeth! I swear to you, I had nothing to do with this.
Elizabeth: I believe you.
Ric: Be honest with me, all right? Tell me that you don't have a single doubt in your mind that I had anything to do with Zander's death.
Elizabeth: I know you didn't kill Zander because I did.
Elizabeth: Zander called me from the Port Charles hotel basement, and he said he needed to see me, talk about the baby.
Ric: Why didn't you call me?
Elizabeth: He wanted me to come alone.
Ric: Did he say what he wanted?
Elizabeth: No, not until I got there. God, he was just so sad and so -- so desperate, and all he wanted was Emily.
Flashback to the fire and Elizabeth meeting with Zander.
Elizabeth: How did you get that?
Zander: I stole it, just like you and Ric want to steal my baby.
Elizabeth: This is my child, and Ric is going to be the father.
Zander: All you have to do to make sure that happens is make sure Emily meets me in 15 minutes at Riverview Drive.
Elizabeth: What?
Zander: We're leaving town together.
Elizabeth: Oh, God, you're insane.
Zander: No. I'm your baby's father. And you just lost your last chance to take my kid away.
Elizabeth: Oh, God. Zander?
Elizabeth: I'm so sorry, Ric. I'm so sorry. I just wanted to protect this baby, and -- and I couldn't take Zander's threats anymore. You know, I just didn't know what else to do.
Ric: Shh. It's okay. It's all right. It's okay. I already suspected, even before I got my own letter.
Elizabeth: Wait, wait -- what? You -- what? You got your what?
Ric: Zander sent -- Zander sent me a note in the mail saying that you wanted him dead.
Elizabeth: That doesn't -- doesn't make any sense. Why would he accuse the both of us?
Ric: Because he wanted to hurt us any way he could, Elizabeth. We were going to have a family. I was going to raise his child as my own.
Ric sighs.
Elizabeth: So all this time, you thought that I -- I killed him?
Ric: No, I could see that -- I could see that you were upset, and I knew that it was more than just worry about Nikolas. I mean, you thought he was innocent from the very beginning, right? But I also figured that you knew who the -- who the real killer was, and I knew that you wouldn't protect anybody at Nikolas' expense -- except for this baby inside of you. You just didn't want this child to know that you killed his father.
Elizabeth: God, I have been so terrified -- absolutely terrified that somebody would find out.
Ric: Elizabeth, did you know that Zander was dead before you left?
Elizabeth: No, no. I just -- I grabbed the documents, and I ran. And then when I heard that he -- that he had died, I -- I just couldn't -- I mean, I can't believe that I -- that I killed him.
Ric: Maybe you didn't.
Elizabeth: Yes, I did, and now Nikolas is paying for it, and I -- I need to confess.
Ric: No, no -- Elizabeth, listen to me.
Elizabeth: He's being charged with my crime.
Ric: Listen to me. What if you didn't kill Zander?
Emily: Zander was out of control at the end. I mean, he pushed me and Nikolas to the limit, and Nikolas was -- was so protective of me. I mean, it made him furious that Zander wouldn't let go.
Lucky: Zander hated Nikolas.
Emily: With good reason, Lucky. He sank Nikolas' freighter. He framed Nikolas for Cody's murder. He would've done anything to punish Nikolas for being with me.
Lucky: Yeah, but jealousy is a good motive for most crimes.
Emily: You know, I only married Zander because I thought that I was dying. And then I got well and I realized that I couldn't live a lie. And Zander was devastated, which -- which, you know, I understand. I mean, we said vows. He thought he was going to be spending the rest of his life with me.
Lucky: He didn't have to react the way he did.
Emily: I keep telling myself that.
Lucky: Emily, Zander wanted revenge. That was his choice, not yours.
Emily: Zander slept with Elizabeth the night he saw me with Nikolas. And then he used Elizabeth's pregnancy to manipulate Ric into framing Nikolas. Every move he made was about getting me back and getting rid of Nikolas.
Lucky: So if Nikolas did kill him, it could've been self-defense.
Emily: I mean, I remember all the fights they had. You know, they'd start arguing, and things would escalate, and, you know, within minutes they'd both be blind with rage. Nikolas never -- Nikolas never would've killed Zander unless he -- unless he thought he was protecting me.
Lucky: Nikolas admitted they fought in the basement. He said he knocked Zander out and then he called 911. If that fire hadn't started, the police would've found Zander dead from a blow to the head with a blunt object.
Emily: No, no, no. Even if Nikolas killed Zander, there is no way that he would've started a fire to cover it up.
Lucky: The fire could've started by accident after Nikolas left Zander's body.
Emily: You are his brother, Lucky. You know him. If Nikolas did this, he would admit it.
Lucky: Not if he thought he was going to lose you.
Nikolas: Lucky. Why didn't you tell me you were coming over? Is there new evidence in Zander's murder?
Lucky: No, no new evidence. I just thought I'd stop by and check in, see how you were doing.
Emily: Yeah, I told him you were meeting your lawyer. And it didn't take long.
Nikolas: No, no. Well, there really wasn't much to discuss. I mean, on the one hand, the evidence against me is completely circumstantial. So if I end up going to trial, a jury could find reasonable doubt. But the problem is I've already admitted that I hit Zander and there's no proof that there was anyone else in the utility room after I left.
Emily: More evidence could still turn up.
Lucky: Yeah, I'll keep looking into it.
Nikolas: All right, thanks.
Lucky: If anybody needs anything, just give a call to the station.
Emily: Okay. Don't give up hope.
Nikolas: I'm -- yeah. With you on my side, how could I?
Emily: I love you, Nikolas.
Nikolas: I love you, too.
Emily: And nothing you do could ever make me stop. We're going to get through this. Through it.
Elizabeth: I can't keep lying about what I did. It'll be a relief to finally tell the truth --
Ric: Elizabeth, listen to me. Listen to me, all right? You fought with Zander and you hit him with a pipe and you left. Now, you didn't check for a pulse, you didn't see if he was breathing or any other signs that he was alive, right?
Elizabeth: Well, right, but I --
Ric: All right, then it is possible that somebody else came in after you and killed him.
Elizabeth: No, honey, you're grasping at straws.
Ric: Why? Why? Why do you think that you're the only person that Zander could've called?
Elizabeth: Well -- I -- I don't know. I --
Ric: All right, listen. He's been playing games, right? He's been manipulating people. Why else would he have sent those letters? If Zander thought that he was going to be killed, why wouldn't he try to hurt all the people that he felt had hurt him?
Elizabeth: That's a really long list of people, Ric.
Ric: Yes, Nikolas and Emily right at the top. There's Faith, there's Sonny, there's Jason. My point is that there are other potential killers who could've taken advantage -- after you left him unconscious. It's too early for you to confess.
Elizabeth: Not when Nikolas is suffering.
Ric: Look, Nikolas is out on bail, all right? He can deal with the uncertainty and the stress a hell of a lot better than you can.
Elizabeth: But it's not fair. I mean, why should he have to?
Ric: Elizabeth, please. If you go to the police, then you're going to put yourself and this baby under a huge amount of stress, and I don't want you to do that. Just let me continue to investigate.
Elizabeth: Okay, but what if -- what if you find out that I really did kill him?
Ric: I won't. I know you. You're not a killer.
Ric: Well, I'm glad that your checkup shows that your blood pressure isn't any higher.
Elizabeth: Well, it's relief. I'm just glad you know the truth.
Ric: So what do you say we go grab some lunch before I have to go back to the office? Want to hit that new Italian place on main?
Elizabeth: How can you act like everything's normal?
Ric: Because I know it's all going to work out. I just need to put a few pieces together.
Elizabeth: Okay.
Ric: Want me to drive you home?
Elizabeth: No, you go to work. I'll -- I'll be fine.
Ric: Okay.
Elizabeth: I'll see you later.
Ric: Love you.
Elizabeth: I love you, too.
Ric: Take care.
Ric: Excuse me. I'm Ric Lansing. I'm the District Attorney. I saw you talking to one of my officers. Is there a problem?
Nurse: No. The officer was just asking for some copies of some old patient forms.
Ric: Which patient?
Nurse: Zander Smith. The officer wanted them for handwriting analysis. Excuse me
Nikolas: No.
Emily giggles.
Emily: You are such a bad influence on me.
Nikolas: Oh, I try. Come on.
Emily: You succeed. Now, I -- I lost all track of time and I completely forgot that I have class.
Nikolas: Okay. Thank you so much.
Emily: For what?
Nikolas: For believing in me.
Emily: You know, wanting Zander dead and acting on it are two completely different things. You're not a murderer, Nikolas.
Nikolas: I know. But it's just -- it's your trust. It's your trust in me is -- that's what's seeing me through this. I don't care -- I don't care who thinks I'm guilty. Even if a jury convicts me and I go to jail --
Emily: Don't say that.
Nikolas: It doesn't matter.
Emily: Don't say that. We are going to fight this, and we're going to win.
Nikolas: I'm not -- I'm not giving up. I just -- I want you to know that it just -- it means the world to me that you know I'm innocent.
Emily: I have to run, okay? I'll be back as soon as I can.
Nikolas: Okay. I'll be waiting.
Emily laughs.
Nikolas: Bye.
Emily: Bye.
Emily: Hey. Did you find out anything about Zander's letter?
Lucky: Yeah, I think somebody else might've written it.
Emily: What? Who would want to forge a letter accusing Nikolas of murder?
Lucky: The real killer. I got Zander's hospital forms and had an expert compare the handwriting.
Emily: And?
Lucky: It's definitely close, but he couldn't make a positive match. It's possible that Zander could be under duress when he had written the letter or it could be forgery.
Emily: I'm afraid the letter's real, Lucky.
Lucky: Why?
Emily: It's what Zander would do. He knew Nikolas hated him, he was afraid Nikolas was going to kill him, and he wanted to say goodbye.
Zander's Voice: "Nikolas -- I'm sure you know by now that I'll never stop loving Emily. I've made plans to run away with her to Canada tonight. If you're reading this, it means I've succeeded. Emily is mine again and you'll never find us."