Stacy sat quietly on her cot, wondering what her family was up to, but hoping and praying desperately that they were making progress. If only she could do something to distract her mind with. Oh, how she missed trying to solve murders with her family. She heard heavy footsteps come from around the corner, clip-clopping on the tile floor and she knew it was one of the guards. She'd grown accustomed to the routine sound effects of the prison wards. A familiar voice broke her thoughts. "Miss Sloan?" A dry voice addressed her. Stacy looked up to see Corporal Jeffers.

"Yes?" She asked timidly.

"Come with me." He said and unlocked the iron bar door. Stacy slowly rose to her feet, and obeyed. Jeffers took her arm and started leading her down the hall.

"What is it?" Stacy asked.

"Ssh. Just walk." Jeffers grunted. Stacy shrugged and just kept walking. "The Captain wants to see you."

Captain Newman? Stacy furrowed her brows. Her mind was a swirling whirlwind. As they entered the lobby, they were met by Sgt. Barnes. He smiled widely at her, which confused her, though she was grateful to see a friendly face!

"Hello, Miss Sloan." He said cheerfully and walked with them. Stacy's mind raced with hundreds of questions, ones she wanted to ask, but was afraid to ask, ones she wanted answers to, but then was afraid of the answers. Barnes' tone and smile had seemed genuine, and not sly, but she had no clue what was going on. Jeffers knocked on Captain Newman's door, then they entered. Inside waiting was the captain, Chief Masters, and...and Mark! Stacy's eyes widened and were glued to her grandpa. He smiled cheerfully.

"Hi, Stacy." He greeted happily, his blue eyes twinkling.

"H-hi," She stammered. "W-what are you doing here? W-what's going on?" She asked anxiously. Mark wouldn't be this cheerful if something was wrong. She was extremely thankful he was here, but where was Steve? If something was up, shouldn't he be here? Jeffers sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Good news, Miss Sloan." Barnes chimed in.

"Miss Sloan...Stacy," Captain Newman grunted from his chair, folding his hands on his desk. "We're all here to inform you that, due to new evidence that has been brought to our attention, you are hereby released from custody and are free to go home." He explained. Stacy's jaw dropped in shock and her eyes looked like they were literally going to pop out of her head!

"W...w..." She stammered. "WHAT?!" She managed to gasp. Then she gulped and cautiously asked, "What exactly does that mean? D-do you mean temporary custody, until the trial or do you mean that I'm...really free?"

"He means the real thing, Stacy!" Mark cheered. Stacy gazed at him intently, wondering if she'd heard wrong. "You're coming home!" She glanced at Chief Masters out of the corner of her eye.

"You mean...I can actually go home?!" She blurted out. "You mean...I don't have to come back here?!"

"Unless you want to pay us a return visit." Chief Masters grinned with his arms crossed.

"We found the real killer, Stacy." Mark said proudly. "And we have all the proof we need to convince the court."

"And Janice Loomis has agreed with the DA to withdraw from pressing the murder charges against you." Newman added. "As far as we are concerned, the case against you is dismissed, so you're free to go any time."

Stacy was ecstatic. She didn't know what to say, she trembled with incredible relief and exhaustion. It was over! She was no longer being charged with murder, and she could go home right this minute! "Can we leave right now, Grandpa?" She begged.

"Absolutely!" Mark exclaimed. "Here are your clothes and things, honey." He handed her a duffel bag.

"Thanks! C-can I go change first? Please? First thing I want to do is get out of this old thing! Can you wait for a minute, Grandpa?"

"Sure. Go ahead." He laughed, waving her off. Stacy smiled widely and quickly departed. She was led through the release process and then she raced to the ladies' restroom and locked herself into a cubicle. She panted heavily but happily. She was getting out of this place! Her own 'new' clothes felt welcoming, and so fresh after wearing that same orange jumpsuit day and night for weeks. She soon returned to the captain's office, dressed like her old self, except she looked thinner, and tired, and her hair had seen better days.

"I'm ready, Grandpa. Are you?" She asked impatiently.

"Let's go." Mark nodded and walked to her.

"Stacy, may I just express my deepest apologies for all the inconvenience and distress we caused you through all this." Masters stated. "I'm truly sorry for it all." Stacy looked at him seriously and cleared her throat.

"You...you were all doing your job." She said dejectedly, hanging her head. "But thank you. I appreciate your apology. It's...it's a whole different story when you're on the other side of the bars." She gulped. "I'm just glad my dad and family were able to find out the truth before the trial! They don't have hunches for nothing. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around. Now, I just want to go home!"

"Well, come on then." Mark said and placed his hand on her shoulder, and together they walked out of the office, towards the exit. They were almost out! Just as they almost reached the door, three other figures entered before them. There was Steve, Cheryl, and...and Mavis Anders. They were both gripping her forearms and she was in handcuffs! Stacy halted and gaped.

"Mavis? Dad? What..." She began.

"You're looking at Horace Loomis's real murderer, Stacy." Cheryl stated firmly. Stacy's jaw dropped.

"What? Mavis?" She sputtered.

"It's all true, Stace." Steve grunted with satisfaction. "She confessed to everything." Stacy stepped close to her coworker.

"Mavis...it was you?" She repeated. "You killed Loomis? And you let me take the wrap for it?"

Mavis shook her head. "I never intended for you to get the blame, Stacy. Believe me! I'd never try to hurt you...ever." Stacy glared.

"Really? Then why didn't you come out and confess everything?" She growled. She was filled with astonishment that the killer had been someone she'd never expected. But at the same time now, she was angry at how her so-called friend all this time never came forward, and let Stacy rot in jail for no reason! "You said you'd never hurt me, but do you have any idea what kind of life it's been here, being accused and charged with a murder I didn't commit?! Do you realize what would've happened if they'd convicted me on something I'm not responsible for? How could you?" Steve nodded behind Mavis, happy that his daughter was standing up for herself after all the guff she'd been forced to take. She was voicing out his own thoughts right now, saving him the trouble.

"What are you whining about, Stacy? I did this city a favor by eliminating that scum." Mavis said vehemently. "I did you a favor! He was a public bloodsucking leech who stole from many people, and he was going to steal from you too. So, I actually helped you. Don't you see that?"

Stacy's eyes narrowed and she set her jaw. "No. No, I can't." She muttered. "Not when I have to take the fall for something someone else did!"

Mavis shrugged. "Well, it's a free country. A person's entitled to their own opinion."

"Not where you're going!" Steve growled.

"I'm not sorry." Mavis snarled. "He was a fraud, a swindler, and a rotten cheat. He got what he deserved." She cocked her head in triumph.

"But not this way, Mavis." Stacy shook her head. "He's gone, yes. And good riddance. But...but you just threw your whole life away all for one fleeting moment of satisfaction. Do you realize what this means? Was it really worth it?"

"He's gone to his reward." Mavis smirked. "It was worth every minute I spent planning and waiting and doing." Stacy cringed.

"I'm really sorry to hear that, Mavis." She huffed. "But, like you said, it's a free country. It was your choice."

"Uh-huh." Mavis nodded with a smug smile. "I'm sorry, Stacy, that you got in trouble."

Stacy pursed her lips and stared at the floor. "Yeah." She grunted, crossing her arms.

"Come on." Cheryl rolled her eyes, fed up with this whole mess, and she led Mavis away, leaving Steve alone for a moment with Mark and Stacy.

"I just can't believe it!" Stacy shook her head. "Mavis killed him? That's just...I don't know what to say."

"How about let's go home?" Mark suggested.

"Yes, let's!" Stacy sighed heavily.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you walk through this door, hon." Steve smiled warmly.

"No happier than I am." Stacy smiled back. "I guess that makes it double for us." Steve nodded.

"I'll be along later. I have some unfinished business that I really want to wrap up." He smirked.

"We'll see you later, son." Mark smiled. Steve gripped Stacy's hand and patted her cheek, then walked away. Mark and Stacy finally made it outside. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply of the fresh, free air. Mark gave her a moment, tears filling his eyes with love and relief. Not only was he beyond grateful for this moment, but he knew exactly how it felt. They entered his Jaguar and left the parking lot.

"Ohhh, this feels so good!" Stacy laughed, rearing her head back in the front passenger's seat with her window open a bit and just enjoyed the passing breeze on her face. It was an addicting therapy, and a clear reminder that this was all real. Mark just smiled and shook his head as he drove on...home. He turned on one of their family favorite music tapes as they drove on the familiar PCH.