Previously, on Tomorrow Waits For No One: Marcus and Frank plotted to travel to Twin Creeks to retrieve the stolen Van der Griff jewels.  After they separated, someone attacked Marcus, knocking him unconscious.  Cole was disturbed to find that Marcus had left the hospital.  Frank began to believe that Marcus had double-crossed him.

Marcus came to inside of the trunk of a moving automobile.  The car stopped at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town.  Marcus was taken inside to find his father.

Cole called Marcus and was upset to find that his new housemate is Frank.  He confronted Frank, demanding to know what he knows about "Gian" (Marcus).  Frank convinced Cole that he hadn't seen "Gian" (Marcus) since he saw him at the hospital earlier in the day.  CSI called Cole to let him know that they decoded the address of an abandoned warehouse.  Cole decided to check it out.  He threatened to get even with Frank if he finds he had anything to do with "Gian's" (Marcus's) disappearance.  Frank headed to the airport to fly to Twin Creeks on his own.

Cole discovers "Gian" (Marcus) being beaten at the warehouse and tried to arrest the man attacking him but another man surprised Cole.  They struggled and a shot was discharged, killing the man.  The other man forced Marcus into a car and drove toward town.
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Installment 14

Sept. 19

San Marcello Warehouse District

        In a blinding rainstorm, Cole gives chase while dialing into headquarters.  "This is Det. Washington.  I'm in pursuit of a late-model silver Lexus ES300 heading north on Rt. 7, approaching downtown.  I need backup."
       
Downtown San Marcello

        The Lexus makes a sharp right-hand turn onto Claire Ave. then an immediate left on Celeste St.  The evasive maneuvers prove successful.  Cole loses the speeding vehicle downtown.
       
        He continues to drive back and forth on the deserted downtown streets, finally tracking the Lexus.  Cole continues to follow, closing the gap between them.  Catching up, he attempts to run them off of the road by sideswiping their vehicle as it approaches the Hollis Ave. Bridge which overlooks the Emerson River.
       
        The driver swerves into Cole's car, causing him to lose control on the rain-slicked pavement.  Cole's vehicle careens into an embankment!
       
        "Cole!" Marcus screams, looking out the rear windshield.  "We have to go back.  He could be injured!"
       
        "Shut up!" the man roars.  "Serves him right.  He has no business chasing us.  This is between you and me."
       
        Marcus desperately struggles to free his hands from their bonds.
       
        In his car, Cole lies slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious.
       
Hollis Ave. Bridge

        The man's car advances onto the deck of the bridge.  "I'm gonna make you wish you were never born," he threatens.
       
        By now, Marcus has been able to work his hands free from the ropes.  "You're insane!" he cries, wrenching the steering wheel from the man's control.  Their vehicle loses control and crashes into the bridge's guard rail.
       
        Momentarily dazed, Marcus flees the vehicle, running onto the bridge.  But his father catches up and grabs him, pointing a gun to his face.  A fierce rain beating against them, a struggle ensues between father and son.  They tussle and Marcus grabs his father's wrist and whacks it against the railing, causing the older man to drop the revolver onto a catwalk running alongside the bridge.
       
        They each look over the railing, spotting the revolver, then gaze furtively at one another.  Anticipating the next move, Marcus jumps onto the walk, the elder Lazano following only seconds behind.  Marcus retrieves the gun first and points it at his father.
       
        "You don't have the guts," his father yells with loathing in his voice.
       
        "You're right," Marcus replies breathlessly as he tosses the revolver into the river.
       
        "That was the last stupid mistake you'll ever make," says the man as he lunges toward his son.
       
        Cole arrives to witness the two men scuffle.  He begins toward the bridge, limping.  As he approaches the crossing, one of the two men struggling slips and falls off the side of the catwalk.  But due to torrential rain and high winds, Cole cannot make out who is hanging tenuously off the edge of the catwalk.
       
        Marcus reaches out, attempting to save his father.  "Hold on!" he shouts.
       
        The man reaches up, desperately attempting to grasp Marcus's hand.  But he loses his grip and falls into the rain-swelled river below, hitting his head on debris.  Cole runs to Marcus, and they watch the bloodied body swept away by the swift current as if it were a baby doll.
       
        Just then, police reinforcements arrive.
       
On a Twin Creeks-Bound Plane

        "Good evening," greets the flight attendant.  "Would you prefer the chicken cordon bleu or the lasagna with Italian sausage tonight?"
       
        "Uh...chicken," mutters Frank.  The stewardess hands him a packaged meal and continues down the aisle.
       
        "Twin Creeks is a big city," Frank thinks to himself.  "How the hell am I going to find Marcus.  Guess I'll go back to the Informant and dig a little deeper into his past to see where he might have hidden his stash."
       
Hollis Ave. Bridge

        As the sun begins to rise, Cole and Marcus sit, both bundled in warm blankets.  After they each give police their statements, Marcus finally comes clean.  "So, my name is Marcus Lazano," he begins.  "That man was my father, Vincenzo Lazano."
       
        Marcus tells Cole the details of his past, recounting the years of abuse at his father's hands.  Marcus explains that Vincenzo coerced him work for the mob boss's growing criminal empire.
       
        "After I stole the jewels, I realized that I had to get away from my father," he illuminates.  "So I faked my death, burned down my house, and hit the road.  How I ended up on the highway the night Frank's car hit me, I still don't remember."
       
        "There's one thing that still doesn't add up for me," Cole wonders.  "You've had a police record for nearly ten years.  How come your fingerprints didn't show up in the national database?"
       
        "Oh that.  Well, in order to fake my own death, I bribed an employee at the Twin Creeks morgue to let me have the body of an unidentified homeless man who'd recently died," Marcus sheepishly explains.  "Then I figured I'd change my identity so hacked into the my record and edited it with prints I'd taken from the corpse."
       
        Marcus looks away from Cole, ashamed.  "Further evidence that I'm no good for you, Cole.  I've lied to you.  I hid the fact that I'd recovered my memory."  He returns his gaze to Cole.  "All proof that you should stay away from me."
       
        "Well, I think I can take care of myself," Cole assures him.  "I consider myself a pretty good judge of character and I don't believe you're all that bad.  And, considering the circumstances, I forgive you for not telling me when you started to remember your past.  How about this?  Our relationship will begin at this moment.  I'm Det. Cole Washington," he extends his hand to shake.  "What's your name?"
       
        Marcus hesitates for a moment before taking Cole's hand.  "Uh...Marcus.  My name is Marcus Aurelius Lazano.  I'm from Twin Creeks, Virginia," replies Marcus with a timid smile.
       
        "Pleased to meet you.  I'm looking forward to getting to know you, Marcus."
       
Civic Center Grill

        As Philip waits for his coffee to go, Gail stops in.  "Philip!  So good to see you."
       
        "Good morning, Gail.  How are you?  I hear the bridal shower came off without a hitch last weekend."
       
        "I'm fine and the shower turned out to be a lovely afternoon, all things considered," Gail hints.
       
        "All things considered?" Philip wonders.  "I assume you mean the mix-up with Rhonda's invitation."
       
        "It wasn't a mix-up," she pointedly clarifies.  "Rhonda wasn't listed in Ann's address book.  How was I supposed to know that she should be invited to the shower?"
       
        "No need to get defensive, Gail."
       
        "I'm sorry, Philip," she apologizes as she regains her composure.  "I didn't mean to take my frustration out on you."
       
        "Would this frustration you're experiencing have anything to do with Rhonda's attitude?" quizzes Philip.
       
        Gail draws a deep breath and sighs.  "I really don't want to burden you with this.  I know you care for her very deeply."
       
        "But..."
       
        "But...oh, she can be so exasperating!" exclaims Gail.  "She's always a complete bitch to me—pardon my bluntness—as if I purposely didn't invite her to Ann's stupid bridal shower.  And after I was so nice to her—though she didn't deserve it—that day her doctor's appointment was canceled.  My coworker was almost in tears because of her!"
       
        "Yes, she'd mentioned that to me," Philip recalls.  "I do believe she regretted treating you so unkindly."
       
        "Well, you'd think if that were the case, she'd begin to treat me a little better since then.  But no, she was horrible the other day at the hospital."
       
        Philip's coffee is handed to him.  "I know that Rhonda can be a bit hot-headed at times," he tells Gail.  "Maybe that's one of the traits that most draws me to her, even if it can sometimes repel.  Do you know what I mean?"
       
        "I guess," reflects Gail.  "You're saying that it's her passion that you love, though it sometimes gets the best of her."
       
        "I couldn't have said it better myself," Philip laughs.  "Look, I have to run now.  In time, you'll each get to know one another as I do and I'm sure you'll get along just fine.  I have to run."
       
        "Bye," sulks Gail as he takes his exit.  "No, Philip," she says to herself.  "I'd like you to get to know Rhonda the way I see her."
       
SMPD: Detectives Squad Room

        Back in his office later in the morning, Cole calls Det. Riley and leaves her a voicemail message.  "Ginny, the John Doe investigation is almost complete.  Call me."
       
        "Would you mind if I tape-recorded your statement so we can wrap up the loose ends in this case?" Cole asks.  Marcus shrugs and nods approval.  "So, tell me about the jewel heist again."
       
        "Al Slezak was the other guy at the warehouse last night," Marcus begins.  "He and I committed the Van der Griff Museum burglary together on my father's command."
       
        "That's Vincenzo Lazano," Cole breaks in.  "The head of the crime syndicate based in Twin Creeks?"
       
        "Yes.  That...he was my father.  Anyway, Al and I hid the jewels at my house," Marcus confesses.  "Of course, they didn't know it but this was going to be the last criminal act I committed for them.
       
        "I took the body of an unidentified homeless man in his mid-20's to my home and torched the house.  Then I took the jewels to my cabin at Lake Claire and buried them under an oak tree in the woods.
       
        "I never wanted the jewels for myself," he explains.  "I wanted to make things right.  But in order to do that, I had to make everyone, especially my father, think I was dead."
       
        Marcus comes to realize that he still has no memory of the weeks leading up to the night he was hit by Frank's car.
       
        "But I still don't know how I got to San Marcello," Marcus says looking off into the distance, trying to recall.  "Or why I came here.  Last thing I know for sure is I buried the jewels under the old oak up at Lake Claire.  I vaguely remember being chased the night Frank ran me over.  I assume that I was running from my father or, more likely, his men, Al and Leo.  But I'm not sure why."
       
        "You mean Leo Corelli?"
       
        "Yes.  Joe Corelli was my father's business associate.  Leo was his son."  Marcus heaves a heavy sigh.
       
        "What's the matter?" prompts Cole.
       
        "Joe Corelli was killed two years after my mother was murdered," Marcus explains with a heavy heart.  "I went to trial for both murders but wasn't convicted."  He becomes agitated at the thought that Cole might believe he did commit the crimes.  "Because I didn't do it!"
       
        "I believe you, Marcus.  Go on."
       
        "Joe's sons, Leo and Bruno—they still blame me for his death.  It doesn't surprise me that Leo would have wanted me dead.
       
        "You think he was acting on his own when he attacked you while you were at University Hospital?" wonders Cole.
       
        "Could be," speculates Marcus.  "I mean, my father would have wanted me alive to tell him where the jewels were.  But Leo has hated me ever since Joe died.
       
        "Anyway, my father brought Leo and Bruno into his legitimate businesses but, pretty soon, both of them were committing crimes for him.  Leo climbed the ranks pretty quickly and eventually became Papa's personal bodyguard."
       
        "That answers most of my questions then," Cole says as his cell phone rings.  "It's my partner."  He turns of the tape recorder.  "What have you got for me?" he asks Ginny.
       
        "Cole, I've uncovered Gian's identity," she tells him.
       
        "Is it Marcus Lazano?" Cole asks, astonishing his colleague.
       
        "Yeah!  How did you know?"
       
        "Oh, have I got a story for you!" he teases.
       
        "I should go to work," Marcus mouths.
       
        "I'll see you later," Cole whispers with a wink.
       
SMPD: H.R.

        Marcus walks to the H.R. offices, steeling himself for an uncomfortable conversation with his boss.  He walks into the reception area where Jenny is busy at work on the computer.
       
        "Hi Jenny," he greets.  "Is Ms. Lynn in her office?"
       
        "Good morning, Marcus.  Yes, she is."  Jenny stops typing and asks Marcus for an update on his condition.  "How are you doing?  Det. Washington called in and said you were in the hospital."
       
        "Yeah, I, uh, I was," Marcus reacts uncomfortably.
       
        "Well, glad you're feeling better enough to come back to work."  Jenny looks at him with a furrowed brow.  "What's the matter?  You look worried."
       
        "I am," he glumly replies.  "I...I have to quit."
        
Before the words escaped Marcus's mouth, Rhonda opens her door, overhearing his pronouncement.  "Tell me I didn't hear what I can swear I just heard," she glowers.
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On the next installment of Tomorrow Waits For No One:

Chief Evans to Cole: "Now that this case is over, I’m hoping you’ll take some time off.  Relax a bit."

Cole to Chief Evans: "No, sir.  I'm taking a vacation."

Cole to himself: "In Twin Creeks, Virginia."

Cole to Marcus: "To the airport.  Next stop, Twin Creeks."

KSLV Newscaster: "Hurricane Jorge continues to strengthen as it approaches the North Carolina and Virginia coastline.  Upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, this storm is expected to continue intensifying in the next 48 hours, likely coming ashore by Sunday."
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