AlmostayearhaspassedsinceEllenParsonsleftHewesandAssociates.SheisnowworkingintheDistrictAttorney'sofficeandisdealingwithafairlyimportantdrugcase，tryingtogetadealertorevealtheidentityofhissupplier.PattyHewesisnowactingonbehalfofagroupofinvestorstryingtorecovermoneytheyhadentrustedtoLouisTobinandwho，itturnsout，wasrunningaPonzischeme.Withbillionsofdollarsunaccountedfor，PattyistryingtofindanyfundsthatmayhavebeenhiddenbytheTobinfamily.PattyandEllenhavehadnocontactsinceherdeparturebutPattyhasbeenreluctanttore-assignheroffice，convincedthatEllenwillreturn.Sheevensendsheranexpensivehandbag.EllenwantsnothingtodowithherhoweverandwhenshethinksPattymaybeinterferingwithherdrugcase，tellshershedoesn'tneedanyhelp.Shealsotellsherthatanysecretsshemayhaveareperfectlysafe.Inaflash-forward6monthsintothefuture，PattyHewesisinaseriousaccidentwhenanothercarbroadsideshervehicleinanintersection.Theoccupantoftheothervehiclehasfledbutitisregisteredtosomeonesheknows.