Subj: Absolute Power, Chapter 3
Date: 12/26/98 10:59:35 PM Central Standard Time
From: Whitey Pale

Chapter 3 -- Recollections

Roger Collins purposefully strode down the stairs. Unlike his elder sister, he was still the picture of health--rather miraculous considering all of the alcohol he had consumed during his life. Although nearing 75, he had the distinguished look of an elder statesmen. Ramrod straight posture, trim build, white hair along the sides of his scalp, framing a bald top that did not shine, he looked as debonair as he had 30 years earlier, only more distinguished.

While Elizabeth Stoddard had always considered her brother as not being overly serious about the family business, Roger had become more conscientious, particularly when it became apparent that David would not take over. Now, it appeared that Carolyn's husband, Adam, would be the heir to Collins Enterprises. Adam was a Collins by marriage, not blood, and Roger had felt a twinge of remorse about the business falling outside of the gene pool. As a result, Roger continued to go to the
office and remained an active CEO. In fact, he often remarked that he was working harder now than he had 35 years ago.

Roger was a light sleeper, and the screaming November wind kept waking him up. So he tied his velour Burgundy robe around his silk yellow pajamas, put on his slippers and quietly walked down to the drawing room for a brandy.

He turned the knobs of the drawing room doors (for some reason the Collinses always opened both doors when only one really was needed) and walked in. Roger was irritated to see that the servants had left lights on. "Damned waste of electricity!" he thought, "Of course, they don't have to pay the bill."

Roger bent over to turn off the lamp at Elizabeth's writing table and noticed that someone had left the guest list for Danielle's party on the desk. "Carolyn!" he thought, "of course, that girl never did learn the value of a dollar." He scanned the list of guests, nodding at each notation of who would or would not be coming, occasionally raising an eyebrow in surprise. Then he put the list back in the drawer.

Roger strode to the bar and poured himself a glass of sherry. As usual, he stared at the full glass as if considering it for a moment, and then began to drink it. Roger then walked over to the other side of the room to turn off the other lamp that had been left on. When he got to the table, he was startled to see a figure lying on the floor. It was Danielle, her eyes closed, breathing softly as if she were asleep. In front of her were several of the old family photo albums.

After recovering from his surprise, Roger bent over and gently jostled Danielle. "Wake up, kitten," he said.

Danielle yawned and turned to him. "What? Oh, I'm sorry I must have fallen asleep," she replied, yawning again.

Suddenly, Roger stiffened and his benign gaze turned to flinty disapproval as he noticed the glistening necklace around Danielle's neck. "Where did you get that?" he said harshly.

Danielle's face turned crimson and she stammered. "I'm sorry, I-I got it from my mother. I know that I'm not supposed to wear it until the engagement party, but it was just so beautiful that I couldn't resist. Please don't tell her, please!"

Roger saw the guilt in Danielle's face and softened his expression. He smirked, "of course I won't kitten. If truth be told, I doubt that your mother would have waited to wear it either, had she had the opportunity. I don't know why your mother gave it to you so early to give you the temptation. It's really beautiful isn't it? I've only seen it once myself. Don't worry kitten, your secret is safe with me." Danielle smiled, relieved.

Roger turned on the charm and sat down in an easy chair and beckoned for Danielle to get up and do the same. "So tell me, when did you suddenly become interested in the family albums?", he said sipping from his sherry.

Danielle got up from the floor and sat in the easy chair next to her uncle. "It was this necklace," she said fingering the ruby. It's so old, so tied to the family, that I had this urge to learn as much as I could after I put it on."

Roger nodded. In truth, he had not been thrilled when his sister, Elizabeth, had shown him the necklace, told him of the history, and announced that she would give it to Danielle. He still considered Danielle a foundling, not a Collins by blood, and the male imperative of the gene pool rebelled against giving her the honor that neither his sister nor Carolyn had enjoyed. But Roger knew that his sister was ill, and did not want to upset her by voicing his disapproval. "Well, I'm very pleased that you've become so interested, but some of those photo albums that you are looking at are older than I am."

Danielle laughed. "Well, I already know the current family, don't I?" Then she paused and said, "is Barnabas Collins really going to come to the party?"

Roger smiled. "Now kitten, you know as well as I do that Barnabas and Julia wrote that they would try their best to get in from God knows where they are these days, but that they couldn't promise anything."

Danielle returned the smile. "I do so hope Barnabas comes. I haven't seen him for such a long time. How about Quentin, have you heard from him?"

Roger laughed. "So you're the one who was looking at the invitation list! No, I don't know about your Cousin Quentin either. Although everyone seems to want to know if he's coming being that he's such an important man in Washington. Of course, he seems to have the same wasteful streak as his namesakes." Roger shook his head. "Working as Chief of Staff for a DEMOCRATIC President. Really." Roger got up from his chair and turned away in disgust, thereby missing Danielle's expression of astonishment at this revelation.

Danielle turned to her Uncle and said, "I'm really tired right now. I think that I'm going to go up to bed."

Roger walked over and kissed Danielle's forehead. "Yes, kitten, you'd better do that. The next few days are going to be very hectic for you. But I suggest that you take off that necklace before your mother and grandmother see you wearing it. I'm a little too old to be part of a conspiracy, you know?" He arched his eyebrow and smiled wryly at his personal inside joke, remembering the Burke Devlin days.

"Don't worry. I will." Danielle said as she hurriedly left the room, leaving Roger at the bar where he began pouring another glass of sherry.

Danielle Collins climbed up the stairs and made a right towards her bedroom, which had formerly belonged to Josette and Victoria Winters. Before she got there though, she froze for a second, turned to the right curiously, and then headed towards David Collins old room.