Caroline pours coffee for Steve at the pub and says she has a pot of potato soup for him in the kitchen. She relays how Kayla mentioned she was going to take a few days off from work to be with Joe. She asks if the police have found Stefano yet. “No, but when they do he’s gonna have to answer to me,” warns Steve. Caroline encourages him to go home and relax. Steve needs to work on his new website first, declaring that he’s starting his own business. He hands her a business card which says, “Steve Earl Johnson: Private Eye.” He admits he’s been thinking for a while about starting a PI business and says he had to do something to keep from going crazy. Caroline laughs as she wonders if being a PI is the answer. Steve says he doesn’t have too many marketable skills and claims that all he really knows how to do is get into and out of trouble. He explains how it’s more like investigating frauds and scams, checking into missing persons, and doing leg work. Caroline cracks a joke about cheating wives and husbands, then congratulates him on his new venture.
Caroline asks how Kayla feels about it. Steve affirms that she’s on board one hundred percent. He admits that one of the reasons he decided to do it was so she could cut down on her hours at the hospital. He shares how Kayla hasn’t slept good since they arrived home, remarking how she sleeps with one ear open. Caroline smiles how moms have a sixth sense with their kids. “Papas too,” adds Steve. Caroline tells him no offense, but it’s just not the same. Steve playfully asks Caroline if she’s saying that papas don’t love their babies as much as mamas do. Caroline explains that there’s just something about a mother and child. Steve laments missing so much of Stephanie’s life, but vows to be there every step of the way this time. Caroline refers to him as a terrific father. He questions if she’s heard from Max. Caroline says a few times and expresses how she misses him. Steve says Steph hasn’t called much. She hopes Max finds his sister and that everything’s fine.
Outside the Brady Pub, Trent phones Nick, who is still in France. Trent asks him why he cancelled their meeting with the grant committee. Nick claims he had to leave town for a family emergency. Trent tells him to take all the time he needs and says he’s impressed with Nick’s blueprints for the prototype. He insists on having some notes sent overnight to Nick. “Where are you staying?” asks Trent. Nick claims he’s in a restaurant, where the owner is giving him dirty looks for being on a cell phone. He hangs up on Trent.
Trent approaches Steve and introduces himself. He needs help finding a colleague of his who took a leave of absence without giving notice. Steve asks what’s his name. “Nick Fallon,” announces Trent. They discuss Nick and his prototype before Trent refers to his disappearance as troubling. Trent informs Steve that he does consultation work for Nick on his prototype and they are supposed to get together tomorrow to prepare for his upcoming meeting with the grant committee. He suspects that Nick could be in France. Steve offers to check into it and names his fee, which is $250 a day plus expenses, but he’ll need a couple days up front. Trent brings up how Steve has a daughter and reveals that Max Brady introduced them a while back. Trent continues to fish for information and asks if Max and Steph are still dating. Steve says yes and fibs that he doesn’t want Steph dating Max, but he’s not allowed to say anything. Trent asks if Max and Stephanie may know how to get in touch with Nick. Steve offers to talk to Steph and see if she knows. Trent hands Steve his business card and vice versa.
Caroline then marches over to Steve and asks what Trent wanted. Steve replies that Trent wants him to find Nick Fallon. Caroline reveals that Nick is in France with Max and Stephanie. Steve admits that he knows this and told Trent he would find Nick, since it’s the best way to keep an eye on him. He shares his suspicion that Trent’s really looking for Max and Stephanie to see if they found Max’s sister.
Max lies on his cot in jail when Melanie arrives. She tosses him a candy bar, which she claims is the best she can do with no money. She asks where Steph is. Max reveals that she’s in the restroom and asks if Mel got a candy bar for her. Melanie hands him a candy bar and admits that she doesn’t really like his girlfriend. Max says Steph doesn’t like her either. He then questions where Nick is. Melanie claims he bailed when she was trying to find Max something to eat. She notes how Max’s friend is kind of cute and predicts he’ll be pretty rich soon with his new invention. Speaking of money, he asks if she talked to Tiffany to see if she would help them out. Melanie demurs that Tiffany’s still pretty mad at her and isn’t sure she’s going to show. Max proceeds to call Trent, which unsettles Melanie. “Max, you promised to keep our father out of this!” she exclaims. “And you promised to get me and Stephanie out of this mess,” he reminds her. She complains how none of this would’ve happened if Max would’ve minded his own business. Max yells how he was trying to keep her butt out of jail and realizes that Stephanie was right, in that she doesn’t care about anyone except herself. Melanie claims she cared about George. “Yeah, until he runs out of money,” snarks Max. Melanie claims to care about their father as well. “At least someone does,” remarks Max. Melanie is curious to know what’s going on between Max and their father, encouraging him to go ahead and call Trent about the bail. He’s about to make the call when Tiffany arrives demanding to know what Melanie wants.
Melanie asks Tiffany to get her brother out of jail. Tiffany wonders if she’s joking and proceeds to head out. Melanie tries to charm Tiffany by revealing that her brother is the famous race car driver Max Brady. Tiffany remembers seeing Max race and compliments him on how good he is. Melanie claims that Max feels bad over the whole bracelet thing and would like to make it up to her over dinner. Sebastien brings Stephanie back to the cell and reveals that in five minutes they leave.
