Traci welcomed Alan, Ashley's psychologist friend from Paris, into the Abbott mansion. She guided him toward a fresh pot of coffee, which she figured he could use after his redeye flight. He reported that he'd managed to get some sleep, and he thanked her for the first-class ticket. Alan admitted that he'd been worried about Ashley after her last visit to Paris. He'd attributed her demeanor to the emotional turmoil over the end of her marriage to Tucker at first, but he sensed something deeper had been brewing. Traci regretted that it had reached a "full boil."

Traci shared that she'd thought Ashley had been ready to go on with her life, but things had become more worrisome after they'd returned home. Traci described Ashley's personality shifts, going from being extremely confident to almost childlike, and she mentioned finding Ashley downing tequila shots and living it up. Traci confided that Ashley had confessed to having blackouts, despite having nothing to drink. Traci relayed Billy's suggestion that Ashley was experiencing a splintering of her personality, triggered by the trauma of what had happened with Tucker.

Alan inquired whether Billy was a psychiatrist. Traci explained that Billy had gone through something similar and had recognized the signs. Traci continued that they'd tried to get Ashley to see a doctor, and Ashley had agreed, but she'd changed her mind at the last minute. Alan was glad Traci had reached out to him, since he'd known Ashley a long time, and he knew about her history of psychosis. Alan suspected that Ashley had been triggered, and it had somehow taken her mental issues to a new level.

Traci hoped Alan would talk to Ashley and urge her to get treatment. Alan said he was happy to find out more; however, he was retired, and his license to practice had expired. Traci clarified that she didn't expect Alan to be Ashley's doctor, but she thought perhaps he could get Ashley past whatever was stopping her from getting help. Alan asked if Ashley knew he was there, and Traci shared that Ashley preferred the idea of talking to him over a doctor she'd never met before. Traci doubted he would face resistance, but she couldn't be sure because Ashley's moods could change on a dime.

At Crimson Lights, Diane cheerfully asked if a brightly dressed Ashley was there for an afternoon pick-me-up, unaware she had encountered Ashley's alter Belle. Belle claimed that she loved Mrs. Martinez, but the housekeeper's coffee could be weak. Diane disagreed, but Belle pointed out that Diane was also there. Diane explained that she was picking up some brownies for Harrison, and she asked how "Ashley" was feeling. Belle chirped that she was fine, and she inquired the same about Diane.

Diane noted that Ashley had experienced ups and downs lately, and it had been a roller coaster for Jack and Traci, too. Belle clucked that if she didn't know Diane well, Diane's "butter-wouldn't-melt-in-her-mouth routine" might work. Diane swore she wasn't pretending to be concerned. Belle insisted that it had been a compliment, since killing with kindness had always been her motto, too.

Diane encouraged Ashley to be straight with her about how she was really feeling. Belle groaned that she was tired of all the questions, overwhelming concern, and sad looks from her siblings, who made her want to go elsewhere for coffee. Diane pointed out that Ashley had seemed genuinely lost and desperate for answers, yet she had run from the doctor's appointment that Traci and Sharon had worked hard to set up for her. Diane surmised that Ashley was afraid of what the doctor might find out.

Belle wondered why the co-CEO of Jabot was fetching brownies, and she noted that Diane had never thanked her for letting Diane slide into the position without any fuss. Belle offered to help Diane find a way to get fired if she was looking to get out. Diane insisted that she was trying to be nice, and she understood if Ashley didn't want help. Diane added that she couldn't butt out completely because she cared about Jack, and he cared about Ashley, so Diane was concerned about Ashley, as well.

Belle told Diane to back the truck up and drop the third degree, and she complained that everyone got their shorts in a twist when she didn't behave the way they wanted. Belle contended that she wasn't an ice queen but a red-blooded woman who'd had her heart broken, and it didn't mean she needed professional help. Diane recalled that Ashley had requested the help for herself. Belle claimed that she'd realized she was just dealing with heartbreak, and she'd get over it the way she had before.

Belle testily promised she'd try hard not to be too "extra," and she planned on living her life without any intervention, the same way everyone else did. She suggested that Diane either join her party or get out of her way. Ashley's phone rang, and Belle answered it by saying, "Tell me something good." Traci revealed that Alan had arrived from Paris and was eager to see Ashley.

Belle gushed that it was the best news she'd had in ages. Belle told Diane she had to run, since there was finally someone in town she could have fun with. "I gotta go carpe some diem!" Belle proclaimed, and she thanked Diane for her concern -- if it was sincere. Diane questioned why it wouldn't be. "Oh, honey. Because you're you. Ta!" Belle declared, and she headed out.

Belle entered the Abbott home and enthusiastically greeted Alan with a hug. Diane followed closely behind, and Belle groused that her family had been keeping her on a short leash. Diane introduced herself to Alan, and Belle bragged that he'd flown in from Paris to see her. Belle offered to take Alan to lunch, and they headed out. Traci told Diane that Alan was Ashley's psychiatrist friend from Paris, and she observed that Ashley had seemed pretty amped up.

Diane mentioned her run-in with Ashley at the coffeehouse, adding that she thought she'd met one of Ashley's alters who was feisty but a little fun. "Alters?" an appalled Traci asked, wondering if Diane was making a joke about it. Diane defended that she'd been nothing but supportive, and she'd taken hits from Ashley even before Ashley's personality swings. Traci accused Diane of enjoying seeing Ashley that way. Aghast, Diane pondered when the Abbott family would finally stop assuming the worst of her, and she questioned whether she really still had to prove she was being sincere. "Apparently, you do," Traci huffed.

At Society, Abby stopped by "Ashley" and Alan's table and complimented her mother's outfit. Belle introduced Alan as a good friend from Paris, and Abby stepped away to order all of Ashley's favorites. Belle asked Alan how Paris was doing without her, and he quipped that the City of Lights was a bit dimmer. He described the home projects and reading he'd been doing during his retirement, and he recalled that she'd been on edge over her breakup with Tucker the last time he'd seen her. Belle declared that she had put that behind her and was a new woman.

Alan assured Ashley that she didn't have to pretend with him. Abby dropped off a new vintage of French Champagne that the restaurant was trying, and Belle cooed that she'd never met a glass of bubbles she didn't like. After Abby left, Alan turned the topic back to how Ashley was doing, and Belle giggled and admitted that she'd been trying to evade the question. Belle recognized that Traci and Jack had flown Alan there to analyze her and probe her deepest, innermost feelings and thoughts. "Is that what you want to do, Alan?" she seductively asked.

Belle griped that none of her siblings had a medical degree, but they'd decided something was wrong with her and wanted Alan to figure out what it was. Alan thought they were both aware of her family's reasons for suddenly offering him a first-class ticket to Genoa City. She asked if he was only there on a professional level. He informed her that he no longer had a license to practice and would never treat a friend. "We are good friends, aren't we?" she purred.

Alan explained that he'd taken the offer to be with one of his favorite people, and he wanted to see the place Ashley called home. He said he could go back if she didn't want him there. Belle insisted that she was thrilled to show him around town, but she swore that the rumors about her mental breakdown were highly exaggerated. He was glad to hear it, and they clinked their glasses together. Belle silently thought to herself that he was the answer to her prayers and the perfect solution for Ashley. Belle anticipated that the visit wouldn't be clinical at all, and it was "time for some joie de vivre."

At the tack house, Cole incredulously asked how Victoria had recognized the keys they'd discovered inside the doll. Victoria revealed that the keys were the same colors as a set Billy had once had that Katie had played with all the time. Victoria clarified that the ones she was holding weren't Billy's, but she imagined they were from the same place. She recalled that Billy had rented a storage unit that had keys to the parking gate, the front entrance, and the unit itself. She saw that one was labeled with the number 23, and she wondered if it was where Jordan was holding Claire.

At the Newman ranch, Michael informed Victor that there had been no sign of Jordan's body near the site where Victor had said she'd fallen. Victor ordered Michael to stop wasting time looking for Jordan, but Michael argued that there was a chance she was still alive. Victor adamantly stated that she was gone and of no use to them anymore, but Michael protested that there could be a clue on the body. Victor instructed Michael to look for Claire, who might be fighting for her life as they spoke.

Victor answered a call from Cole, who reported that he and Victoria had found a set of keys hidden inside a doll that looked like the ones his mother had collected. Cole added that Nikki had seen a doll like it at the lake house, and he relayed that Victoria thought it belonged to a storage facility Billy had once used. Victoria called Billy and obtained the address of the storage facility.

Victor warned Cole to be careful and offered to send backup. After they hung up, Victor told Michael about the keys. Michael thought they were making a lot of assumptions, and he cautioned that it could be a trap or attempt to misdirect. Over Michael's protests, Victor headed out.

In the wine cellar, Victor asked how Jordan's night had been. She coldly replied that the accommodations stunk, and the food was worse. Victor crowed that it was the review he'd been aspiring to, and he flatly asked where his granddaughter was. Jordan requested the same deal he'd offered before in exchange for Claire's location. Victor huffed that there would be no deal because he knew where Claire was. He taunted that it had been sloppy of Jordan to leave behind the keys to the storage room.

Jordan denied being stupid enough to leave a set of keys lying around, and she warned that Victor had better make a deal if ever wanted to see his precious granddaughter alive again. Victor lectured that Jordan should have taken his original deal, since she'd be lounging in a chateau in the south of France instead of dying slowly in the cellar. Jordan insisted that he still needed her. "I have you. No one knows where the hell you are," Victor growled, and he promised that there was no way out. As he walked away, she yelled that he wouldn't find Claire, and he'd be back to beg Jordan for help.

Michael demanded to know where Victor had gone, and Victor claimed that he'd stepped out to talk to his security team. A skeptical Michael inquired why Victor hadn't done it with him, but Victor scoffed at the idea that he needed his lawyer to talk to security. Victor reported that Jordan had used the same alias to rent the motel room as she had to rent the storage unit, and he was certain that she'd stashed Claire at the latter. Michael urged Victor to send his team there. Victor indicated that Victoria and Cole were already on their way, and he hoped it was in enough time to rescue Claire.

Meanwhile, Cole and Victoria located the storage locker, and he checked for any sign of a trap. Victoria wondered if he was scared of what they might find, but Cole reasoned that they couldn't wait any longer. He instructed her to step back, and he opened the locker door and called for Claire. There was no response.

Cole and Victoria entered the locker, beaming around a flashlight. "Mom, I'm over here," Claire weakly cried out. They discovered Claire pinned under a woman's lifeless body. Cole and Victoria pulled a sobbing and disheveled Claire out from under the body, and they consoled her.

Meanwhile, Victor left a message for Nikki to call him back, and he mused that it wasn't like her. Victoria called and reported that they'd found Claire, who was alive and shaken up but okay. Victor asked if his team was there yet. Victoria planned to have Cole stay to talk to them while she took Claire home to get some food. Victoria added that Claire wasn't up to answering questions, no matter what the police wanted.

At the Athletic Club, Michael kissed the back of Lauren's head and joined her at a table. He readily chugged the drink she'd ordered for him and reported that Claire had been found. Lauren hoped that with Jordan dead and Claire safe, Nikki's nightmare was finally over. Michael expected that he and Lauren would be even more relieved when they got word from L.A. that Sheila was truly dead. Lauren wondered if that was why Michael seemed unsettled. He shared that he thought Victor was keeping something from him. Michael suspected that the secret was about Jordan's death, which he hadn't been able to confirm. Michael admitted that he sensed Victor was lying, and he'd known the man a long time.

Lauren hissed that if Sheila was lurking in the shadows, she would be sorry if she got close to Lauren. Lauren asserted that she had other things to focus on, since she'd been very busy at work. She mentioned that she'd filled in for Nikki that morning at a big meeting, since Nikki had felt there had been too much going on to go into the office. Michael revealed that he'd been at the ranch all morning; Nikki hadn't been there, and Victor had been trying to reach her. Lauren left voicemails for Nikki and Jack to call her back.

At the tack house, Victoria offered to make some tea while Claire went upstairs to take a hot shower. Victor arrived and took Claire into his arms. Victor implored Claire to tell him what had happened, but Cole recommended that she get some rest first. Claire insisted that it was okay, since she was safe with them, and she wanted to get it out. Claire recounted that she'd left the anniversary party to return Harrison's bunny charm, and Jordan had somehow followed her and gotten into the Abbott house.

Claire continued that Harrison had gone to the bathroom, and Jordan had appeared out of nowhere and chloroformed her. Claire next remembered being dragged into a storage unit, and she knew it might have been her only chance to escape. She recalled that she'd almost gotten away, but a woman had collapsed on top of her, apparently after suffering a heart attack. Claire whimpered that she'd been pinned down and trapped under the dead weight, and she'd thought she would die there, too.

Claire recalled that she hadn't been able to let herself think about being trapped that way, so she'd imagined being free and safe in her room upstairs. She continued that her anger toward Jordan had given her the strength to maneuver herself to get a phone out of the dead woman's pocket and call Victoria, but the phone had died. Claire mentioned that the call had been garbled, and she hadn't heard anything but a faint voice. Victoria informed her that she'd heard Claire call out "Mom," and Cole added that Victoria had insisted that they to go the motel room where Harrison had been found to look for clues about Claire's whereabouts.

Claire panicked that Jordan had also taken Harrison, but Victoria assured her that he was safe. Claire asked how her parents had found her. Victoria and Cole shared the story about the doll and the hidden keys that had led them to the storage facility. Claire wanted to see Harrison, but Victoria doubted Kyle and Summer would let the boy out of their sight. Claire imagined Harrison was still scared, and she demanded to know if Jordan had been arrested. "The bitch is dead," Victor flatly stated.

Claire barked that the fact Jordan had kidnapped an innocent child proved she was beyond redemption, and she was glad her aunt was dead. Claire asked if it was true that they were really free of Jordan. Victor promised that Jordan would never hurt anyone again. Victoria and Cole wrapped their arms around Claire.

"You will not win. You will not beat me!" Jordan vowed in her cell. "I will find a way out of this hellhole, and I will make you pay, Victor Newman!" she bellowed.

• Nate tells Audra that friends tell each other the truth

• Mamie calls a meeting at Chancellor-Winters

• Victor asks Cole about his relationship with Victoria

• Diane questions Jack's sobriety