mystery in 1996. The outcome of the story was a very huge guarded secret. Soap Opera Update reported that "ABC has so much invested in this whodunit that the show is reportedly secretly taping 20 scenes to be inserted in shows at the last minute so that neither the actors nor the crew can leak pivotal plot information to the press." When the evil mob prince Damian Smith (Leigh McCloskey) is murdered in March 1996, suspicion immediately falls on the unusually innocent Luke. However, everyone is stunned in April 1996 when Laura is suddenly arrested instead. Luke is willing to do just about anything to keep Laura out of trouble, including a prison break and going on the run. While they had done it before, living on the run would be much more complicated with two children. Though Laura at the time is trapped inside a burning building with foster children—a fire set by Damian himself—the timing and location of his murder makes her look awfully guilty. Head writer Bob Guza said "it doesn't matter whether or not she did it, but whether they can prove she did. It very much appears they can." Despite having the best attorney money can buy thanks to the wealthy Edward Quartermaine (John Ingle), Laura is indicted and sent to prison. Luke hires a new attorney in Edward's grandson Justus Ward (Joseph C. Phillips) and private investigator Mac Scorpio (John J. York) to help identify the real culprit. The "umbrella" story "encompasses many stories on the soap" and threatens Luke and Laura's relationship along with others. Laura's past with David Hamilton factors in when she realizes she could have killed Damian and repressed the memory like she did with David. Francis hoped that was the case. "She's lost it before. And that's okay with me." Laura is still in prison just in time for Mother's Day leaving the entire Spencer family in shambles. "We play very big emotional stuff with the kids" Guza stated. "Does Laura want them to see her in jail? Does she want Lesley Lu to remember her like this?" Meanwhile, Lucky feels extreme guilt because in his attempt to clear Luke's name, he unintentionally puts suspicion on Laura. It is eventually revealed that Laura's defense attorney, Justus Ward had killed Smith. The Cassadines' return (1996–1999) Just as quickly as Laura gets cleared of murder charges, Lesley Lu (Lulu) suddenly becomes