Chapter 7--Smiling In Your Face
Carly found it hard to tear her eyes away from the news when she heard the knock on the door. She kept watching, even though she was walking to the door. There had been a shootout near the docks at the warehouses. A few men were found dead, one of them being Hector Ruiz. Yeah, Ruiz. She was worried for Sonny, Jason, even Sam a little bit. She'd gotten a little used to having the girl around.
She opened the door and sighed in relief at the sight of Jason. "Oh, thank God you're alright." She threw her arms around him and didn't notice that he didn't return the gesture. She let him go and pulled him inside. "Where's Sonny? Sam? Are they okay?" She asked worriedly, closing the door and turning to face him.
Jason chuckled grimly. "Where are Michael and Morgan?"
"With Jax." She said, her face turning worried. "Oh no, don't tell me they're at risk too." She feared for her kids.
"No, but you are." He said pulling out his gun and pointing it directly at her face, his features cold as stone. "Now you're going to tell me how long you've been working with the Ruiz's, and where they've taken Sam." He cocked his gun. "Or I'll shoot you right here."
Carly's back pressed against the door and she gasped, holding a hand to her heart--utterly speechless.
XxJASAMJASAMJASAMxX
Elizabeth threw the door open at the persistant knocker, hoping it was Jason. She sighed disappointedly when she saw that it was Lucky. Her shoulders slumped. "The boys aren't here. They're with the sitter."
He didn't come for the boys. "Where is Jason?" He asked sternly.
"Probably with Sam." She said, throwing a hand up in the air wistfully. "Isn't that where he always is?" She questioned sarcastically.
"Haven't you been watching the news? There was a shootout near the docks. Hector Ruiz, Manny Ruiz's cousin was found dead there." He informed her back since she had turned her back on him the moment she seen him at the door. He knew she wasn't expecting him.
She went rigid and stopped in her tracks. "What?" She sqeaked out, bringing her nails to her teeth.
"I have a bad feeling that Sam's involved." He told her worriedly, unaware at just how much she didn't care. "I've been calling her cell phone and she's not answering. Neither is Jason or Sonny." He shook his head frustratedly.
Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, struggling to contain her glee. "Um, I haven't heard from any of them either." She turned around, feigning worry. "This wouldn't have to do with those bad people trying to kidnap Sam, would it?"
Lucky frowned in worry and stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "You know about that?"
She nodded and pretended to fight back tears. "Yes. I know I don't like Sam, but I was absolutely worried."
Lucky rubbed at the growing stubble on his chin and looked down at the knit sweater in his hand. "I found her sweater at the crime scene. I think she's in trouble." He said, sounding determined to get her out of it.
Liz walked toward him, putting her hand to his shoulder. "Don't get involved because of Sam. Jason will handle it."
"Yeah, like he has so far?" He asked sardonically with a listless shrug. "For all we know, Jason's dead."
Elizabeth eyed him blankly. "Don't say that."
"It's true!" He gritted heatedly. "Look, I have to find Sam. Call me if you hear anything."
"Okay." She agreed and watched him walk out before running to the couch and fumbling through her jacket there, pulling out her cell phone. She dialed the familiar number and waited and waited until a man answered in a low voice.
"Name. Purpose." The voice said like always.
"Carly. Hector." She stated as usual.
"Hold." He recited and the phone clicked.
She waited impatiently. Wasn't Hector dead? How was she on hold?
A few moments later, she got an answer. "Carly, I've been dying to talk with you." The woman answered smoothly.
Elizabeth frowned. "Where's Hector?"
"Hector has died." Roxanne told her casually.
Elizabeth hoped he at least got the job done. "Oh, I am sorry to hear that."
"It is quite alright. He was sloppy." She explained unnecessarily. "But I am in charge now. What can I assist you with?"
"I want to know if Sam is dead." Liz probed icily, crossing her fingers.
"That is none of your concern for the moment, Ms. Jacks." Roxanne sighed softly. "But I must thank you on your assistance in bringing us straight to Sam. It was extremely helpful for us."
Elizabeth smirked proudly. "You're welcome."
"Yes, so why don't you come pick up your reward money?" Roxanne said with her slick, sultry voice.
Elizabeth's eyes bulged. "Reward money? Really?" She asked excitedly.
"Why of course. You help us, we help you." She sounded so genuine.
"Sure. Where at?" Elizabeth grabbed a pen and paper.
"Just meet me at the docks at ten pm tomorrow."
"Isn't that a little late?" Elizabeth frowned.
"You should understand why we do not do things in the light, Seniorita." Roxanne answered, growing annoyed but shielding it. "Ten at the docks. Adios Ms. Jacks." She hung up.
Elizabeth sighed and sat down on the couch, restuffing the phone in her jacket.
XxJASAMJASAMJASAMxX
She constantly glanced between him and the gun. "Jason!" She said in shock, finally. "What--what are you talking about?"
"We tried to catch the Ruiz family and guess what? They knew your name." He sneered, his eyes dangerously narrowed. "In fact, they said you've been helping them keep tabs on Sam." He stepped a foot closer, the gun was almost touching her. "Now tell me where they are Carly."
Her eyes were nearly the size of basketballs and she shrunk more into the door. "Okay, Jason. I know Sam and I aren't exactly BFF's but I wouldn't help anyone kill her. Especially the Ruiz's. Are you serious?" She was on the verge of tears, how could he think she'd do something so evil. "I hate Manny just as much as you do."
His gaze seemed to waver a bit, but his grip tightened on the gun. "You've always hated Sam. You even tried to pay her to leave me." He reminded her a bit crazily.
"Yeah, I did." She said with a smidgen of additude. "But I didn't lie about it, did I? I told you!"
"How would they know your name, Carly?" He asked in suspicion. "How would they know you?"
"I don't know, Jason." She put her hands up slowly. "I would never get her killed. Not when I know how much you love her." She struggled to convince him of this truth. "I kinda enjoy our little brawls every now and then. I wouldn't end her life. I don't hate her that much."
He bit down on his lower lip and reluctantly dropped his arm with a frustrated grunt. He put his hands to his head, still holding the gun in one. He knew Carly wasn't lying, but that set him back a few steps and he hated it. "God, Carly. I don't know what to do. They took Sam and Sonny." He breathed out, dropping his hands from his head and pinching the bridge of his nose. He let his eyes close and took a deep breath. His nerves were wracked. How was he supposed to know where Sam and Sonny were if he had no leads?
Carly's eyes doubled. "They got Sonny? Where?" She ran up to him. Now that really concerned her.
"I don't know." He glanced at Carly as she started to pace the room. "And you are sure you have nothing to do with this?"
"Jason," Carly said, walking up to him and placing a hand on his arm, "I swear that I would never do a thing like that. And risk our friendship and Sonny's loyalty and everything! That would put my children in danger and Jax and I would never do that!" Her eyes rimmed with tears as she watched his eyes.
Jason stared at her, hesitantly believing her. "You must have been framed." He needed to figure this all out in order to get Sam back. He knew this had been a bad idea.
Carly nodded. "Maybe so."
Jason's phone vibrated and he reached into his leather coat to retrieve it. Without even glancing at the caller ID, he answered it. "Yeah."
"Mr. Morgan." Freddy said in relief, his voice light.
Jason felt his heart skip with hope. "Fred. Where are you?"
"I'm at the Corinthos penthouse. I...where is Mr. Corinthos?"
"I'm not sure." Jason glanced down at Carly, his hope beaming through his eyes. "Did you get a track on that number?" He wondered eagerly.
"Yes. Do you want to know something insane?" Freddy proceeded to ask.
"What?"
"I put a track on the numbers that called that phone and calls were being forwarded to somewhere else...and one prepaid unit happened to be a number under the name of Carly Jacks that called the most. The other numbers were either disconnected or wrong numbers." He was obviously, ruthlessly accusing Carly.
Jason's eyes met Carly's warily. "When's the last time she called?"
Freddy shuffled through papers before answering, "exactly six minutes ago."
Now, he knew she was being framed. He was there six minutes ago. "Huh." He said in monotone shock.
"Do you want either number?"
"Yes. Give me both." Jason snapped his fingers at Carly. "Get me a pen." He whispered to her.
She rushed around until she found a pen and paper, then, she rushed back to him. "Here." She shoved the objects in his hands.
"Okay," Jason ordered and wrote down the number as Freddy recited it. He eyed it like a prize. The key to finding Sam and bringing her home before anything happened to her. "I'll be by there to restock on ammo."
"Alright." Freddy hung up.
Jason sighed and looked over at Carly. "You're being framed."
Carly put her hands on her hips. "Who would do that?"
"We're about to find out." Jason said, dialing 'Carly's' number on his cell phone.
XxJASAMJASAMJASAMxX
Sam grunted as a punch connected with her jaw. She spit the dribbling blood from her mouth and glared through her disheveled hair at the lanky hispanic woman with the crow-colored hair. Her eyes tightened on the offender in malice. "Why don't you let me go and give me a fair fight?" Sam suggested with a sneer. No matter what, she was going to beat the crap out of this woman.
"Because the Ruiz's do not play fair." She smirked as the door to the small room opened. She turned around and watched as Pedro, Alberto and Jose waltzed in. "Any word, Beto?"
Alberto shook his head. "None. Morgan is nowhere to be found."
"Oh, you'll find him when he's shooting a bullet through your skull." Sam gritted, her hands were tied behind the chair and she was currently working on undoing the knot.
"Giatha!" Roxanne ordered her sternly, her eyes cutting at the smart talking hostage.
"Maybe he's on his way." Pedro suggested with a nervous shrug. "We should probably get on with it and kill her and Corinthos."
"No!" Roxanne snapped again. "I want Morgan to watch."
Jose grinned and turned his head to eye Sam. "Who gets to honor Manny and Hector?"
"All of you." She smirked at them before turning her smirk to Sam. "Don't worry. I'll have my way with Jason so you can watch too."
Sam tried her hardest to rip herself from the chair. When she realized it was impossible, she settled down, breathing laboredly. "I'm gonna kick your ass, bitch!"
"I can't wait." Roxanne blew her a kiss and turned to the three. "Let's go. Jason has no idea who I am. We could play a little game of cat and mouse, couldn't we?" She opened her cell phone and flipped through the numbers. "By the way. Ms. Jacks called. I am to meet her at the docks tomorrow night with her 'reward money'."
Sam's eyes narrowed in shock. "Wait. Carly Jacks?"
Roxanne gave her a bland look. "You know her, do you? Too bad. Ms. Jacks was very helpful in giving us the proper details in bringing you down." Her eyes glinted with evilness. "And now we'll bring her down, along with you, Corinthos and Morgan." Her evil chuckle carried as they all waltzed out of the room.
When the door shut, Sam promised herself that she'd get out of this.
