Subj: DS:Ally 7
Date: 3/25/02 5:31:38 PM Central Standard Time
From: Aesgaard

There was a rumor on the estate that the ghost of Josette Collins had frightened away one of William's paramours in the middle of the night. Quentin Collins had heard the news from J.R. Loomis who had been hoping to spark a relationship with the rumored over-sexed assistant. Quentin entered the back door of the estate for the kitchen and checked both the ice boxes for leftover birthday cake.

"I got the last piece." Carolyn Stoddard-Loomis flashed a guilty grin.

"Well," Quentin flashed his roguish grin. "I guess you and Maggie will have to exercise those pounds off." He remarked as she swatted him with the newspaper. He stepped through the doors to the dining room and passed the short back hall to the drawing room. He barely touched the brandy when the front doors sounded with a visitor. He rolled his eyes as the former scoundrel he once was, smirked and placed his glass aside. He headed to the doors with his usual swagger and opened the left door.

"My God," He thought he saw a ghost. "It can't be! Daphne ?"

"I beg your pardon ?" The lovely brunette looked up at him as she flashed her card. "I'm Sabrina Duncan, a private investigator. I'm looking for a Quentin Collins."

"I'm Quentin Collins."

"You ??!" The brainy beauty didn't seem to believe him. "Quentin Collins ? Did you once go by the names Grant Douglas and Frederick Thorne ?"

"Yes," Quentin admitted after a nervous gasp. "If you'd step this way." He closed the door behind her as he led the way to the drawing room. She was carrying a heavy file of papers and clippings as he hoped that her appearance didn't resemble an affair to Maggie. He closed the drawing room doors.

"There seems to be a problem here." Sabrina continued. "The Quentin Collins I'm pursuing has left a paper trail since 1870 when he was born, and since no death certificate has ever been located, it would make you over 100 years old."

"He was my grandfather." Quentin claimed. "It was lost in a fire."

"And your birth certificate ?'

"Same fire."

"The same fire that destroyed Thorne's Norwich,Vermont home in 1952 ?"

Duncan looked skeptical. "You already said you were Thorne a minute ago. You destroyed a home you owned when you were what ? Ten years old ?"

"My father also used the pen name." Quentin tried to pass the same shaky history he had given to Maggie over a million times.

"Mr. Collins...." Sabrina somehow knew she had something good. "I was a detective in California before I became a private investigator. You can do better than that !"

Quentin nervously turned to the liquor cabinet for a drink as he saw his history shaking apart. He wondered what Maggie, his son and daughter would think knowing their father was over a hundred.

"I don't know what I've stumbled here...." Sabrina continued. "But I've researched your history thoroughly. I'm going to need some proof of your claims beyond your word."

The drawing rooms doors opened as William and Ally stood in them. "Sorry, Uncle Quentin." William apologized. "But I promised to play something for Ally at the piano."

"I can go." Sabrina Duncan rose from her seat and handed Quentin a folder. "Mr. Collins, you're are going to need a very good lawyer in this fifty year old arson case."

"William," Quentin looked uneasy. "Show her out then run down and get your parents. Mrs. McBeal, may I pick your brain for legal advice ?"

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.