Chapter Six, In the Garden of Good and Evil
Stepping into the General Hospital emergency room, Jason locked eyes with the bodyguard's posted outside a certain curtained area. He nodded to them and saw his wife standing at the nurse's station.
"Elizabeth?" Jason was saying as he walked towards the nurse's station in the middle of the floor. The brunette lifted her head to greet her estranged husband, her eyes never quite softening. "How is he?"
"Stable," her voice wasn't soft either. "Kate is with him," she said without emotion. Jason knew Elizabeth hated Sonny almost as much as she hated him, and she could not understand what Kate saw in the mobster. "He was hit in the shoulder; the bullet went clean through." Something over Jason's shoulder caught her eyes. Jason didn't need to turn around to know Patrick was there. "He'll probably be released tomorrow."
Jason nodded. His blue orbs took on an entirely different expression. His features grew softer right before Elizabeth's eyes, and she might have fallen for it once upon a time - not anymore. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," her voice was clipped. "I saw the extra security about two minutes after I called you. I'm sure the boys have some as well," she continued, her tone resigned.
"It's safer that way," Jason said, he almost whispered it.
Elizabeth's eyes turned as hard as stone. The anger she'd been trying to keep in check displayed on her face briefly, and Jason wished immediately that he hadn't said the words. She frowned, "Don't kid yourself, Jason. It's never safe."
She stepped out of the nurse's station with a file in hand and moved to step around him. Jason's hand shot out and grabbed her wrists gently yet firmly. They didn't turn to face each other. Couldn't bear to look at one another. "I'm doing the best I can."
Elizabeth harshly yanked her arm away from his grip and turned to meet his gaze furiously. "Just because you say it… doesn't make it true," she told him. "You should go see him… he needs you."
Turning on her heels, Elizabeth walked away from him.
Jason watched her walk up to Patrick and then both of them disappeared down the hall. He sighed and ran a hand through his dirty blond hair, feeling the eyes of her co-workers watching him expectantly, wondering if they all knew that his wife was cheating on him.
With a shake of his head, he walked into Sonny's make-shift room. Kate Howard, the fashion magazine mogul looked over to him, her hand wrapped tightly around Sonny's. Her mouth twitched up into a nervous half-smile. Jason knew she wasn't happy he was there.
Jason didn't say anything, instead he waited for the other occupants to speak.
"I was coming from seeing Kate at her office when…" Sonny gestured to his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Jason asked Kate while stepping closer to the bed. He could see the woman was afraid and was probably still in full shock. From this angle, he could see she was still wearing the clothes covered with Sonny's blood.
Kate nodded; her usually well coiffed head disheveled. Her movements were choppy and rigid instead of fluid as they usually were. Her cheeks were wet with tears. "I'm fine," her voice indicated otherwise.
"Maybe you should be checked out just in case?" Jason questioned.
In response, Kate held Sonny's hand tighter. She obviously didn't want to let him go and Jason was unclear if it were for Sonny's benefit or her own. He glanced to Sonny who agreed with his eyes while trying to console Kate with his words.
Jason stepped backwards to look outside the curtains. He grabbed Max's attention. Both men stepped inside the area.
"Max," Sonny voiced sounded slurred to Jason. He figured it was due to the medication and realized they didn't have a lot of time. "would you take Kate to get checked out, please?" he asked, surprisingly polite to his employee.
"Sure, boss," Max agreed and stepped behind Kate.
"It's okay," Sonny said to Kate in low tones when Max gripped her firmly but gently around the shoulders. "I'll be right here, I promise. It'll be alright."
He kissed her fingers, so very white at the knuckles from holding his so tightly, and pried her fingers loose so she could walk with Max. They left the room silently, Kate having trouble gaining her bearings, and Milo closed the curtain with a small swish.
Jason waited until the curtain was closed again - as if that would muffle the sound any easier - before sitting in the seat Kate previously occupied.
"She's in shock," Sonny said. Jason looked him over curiously. For having survived death twice tonight, Sonny didn't look any worse for the wear. "I put extra guards on the Carly and the boys as well as Alexis and the girls but we're going to have to think of something else," Sonny groaned when he tried to move. "I don't want anything… happening to them."
"What happened?" Jason asked, his voice even and without emotion.
Sonny shook his head lightly. His dark coal eyes stared straight ahead toward Jason, but were not focused on the other man. Sonny seemed to be looking through Jason - past him - and seeing something that only he could see.
"We were leaving the office and about to get in the car when this other car sped up beside us and opened fire. I barely had time to think before dragging Kate to the ground. I didn't realize I was hit until it was all over." The mobster closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the pillow. He sighed heavily, but not with pain. "Francis is dead, Jason."
Whatever emotion Jason was feeling at that moment, he kept in check behind a steel veneer. Francis had only been back to working for him and Sonny a week. Three months ago, his wife had a baby… a son… Now they both were without him.
Sonny opened his eyes, but he didn't look at Jason. Jason almost thought Sonny didn't want to look at him. Like he was afraid of seeing something in Jason's gaze. Jason understood clearly how that felt. He almost couldn't bring himself to look at Elizabeth at times, afraid to see what he'd done to her life. Afraid to see the monster he was, reflected back at him in her cerulean orbs. Seeing yourself hated in someone's gaze was hard to bear.
Long seconds clipped by before either man spoke again. Sonny's medication was obviously working because his jaw and brow relaxed. His clenched fist eased as well, but his eyes, his dark and mysterious eyes, held murderous rage.
"Did you get anything out of that reporter?" the mobster asked, his voice echoing the look in his eyes.
Jason made a sound somewhere between a sigh and a scoff. "She didn't set the bombs, Sonny," he told his boss. "She doesn't work for the Zacharras either."
"She told you that?" Sonny's eyes held as much skepticism as his voice.
"Yes," he answered honestly. "And I had Spinelli check her out… thoroughly," Jason locked eyes with Sonny, showing just how serious he was. "She was clean." Sonny nodded sagely. He may not always understand Spinelli - and who could with the way the kid butchered the language - but he was a damn good tech and if his search came up clean… "Besides, she has the backing of a hard-hitting FBI agent, a PI and she's the daughter of a general in the army and a senator."
Sonny let out a whistle. "Quite the arsenal. What's she doing in town?"
"Looking for her sister," Jason told him and pulled out the copy of the photo Spinelli had given him.
Sonny let out a shaky breath. "Is that?"
"Cooper Barrett," Jason answered. "Yes. The picture was taken a month ago in the cannery."
"But," Sonny looked confused. "He's dead." He looked up into Jason's expressionless face. "You saw his body…"
"I saw a body," Jason said. "There was so much commotion in the room and Maxie was hysterical. I couldn't get a close enough look to be certain." He reached out and took the photo back.
"Okay…" Sonny shivered slightly, shaking off the unclean feelings. "I need you to send a message to the Zacharras." Jason didn't voice his opinion just yet. "Trevor Lansing has lived long enough."
Jason wasn't one to disagree. He hated Trevor just as much as he hated his son Ric, but… "Sonny," Jason voice was even. "are you sure it was the Zacharras?"
Sonny flashed his enforcer a confused look. "Who else could it be?"
"I don't know," Jason replied, realizing for the first time just how true the words were. "I don't know. After tonight… after this," he held up the picture, "I just don't know. I know that we can't afford an all-out war."
Sonny's coal eyes flashed anger. Not necessarily directed at Jason, but at the situation. "They need to be dealt with," he said in that menacing voice. "They tried - twice - to kill me tonight." Jason wasn't sure if it were the medication or the fact that he was injured that kept Sonny from screaming with rage, but he was thankful. "Something has to be done."
"And I'll do it," Jason said. "But I won't run the risk of bringing down a war on us that we can't handle."
"They shot at me, Jason! At Kate! At the damn cops, too! Lucky Spencer was shot in the shoulder too by these bastards!" He yelled, but not as loudly as he would have if they had been at Greystone. The news that Lucky was shot was a surprise to Jason. As far as he knew, no cops had been on the scene until after the shooting. "Look," Sonny looked exhausted now. "I don't care what you do… but somebody has to answer for this… tonight."
Jason watched as his friend's head hit the pillow and his mouth stopped moving. Sonny was asleep now… for the night at least, Jason hoped. He rose from the chair and stepped outside the curtain, closing it behind him before addressing Milo.
"Sonny's sleeping now," he told the young bodyguard. "If he wakes up - which I doubt he will - tell him I went to take care of it." Milo nodded at the instructions and Jason started to trot off but turn on his heel and headed back. "You were at the office with Sonny, right?" Milo nodded. "Was Lucky Spencer there when you arrived?"
"Yeah, we walked in on him and his sister arguing in the reception area."
"Any idea what the argument was about?"
"Johnny Zacharra," Milo answered and confirmed Jason theory: this wasn't meant for Sonny. He just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Alright, thanks," Jason said and headed off to find Lucky's room and to hopefully find answers.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The hot desert sun beat down upon her mercilessly. Cordelia wished she could come out of her protective gear but she knew the soldiers she was traveling with wouldn't allow that. They would soon be passing through treacherous territory and could not run the risk of exposing their civilian convoy.
She'd been in the country all of two days when the unit she was traveling with received the all clear for them to head on. She understood the waiting game even if she was a little anxious to get to Baghdad. Her story on the current regime and underhanded trade secrets would just have to wait and fester in her mind.
She pulled out a camera, and took a picture of the rundown ruined mansion they were staying in. This country held such rich history and culture. It was fascinating and breathtaking at the same being overwhelming and frightening.
"Makes you wonder what kind of royalty lived there once upon a time," said a voice behind her. Cordelia turned to see a young uniformed soldier standing behind her. His green eyes contrasted with the paleness of his skin. His smile was wide and his eyes held wonder as he marveled up at the building.
"I'm sure it holds some mystery," Cordelia agreed, but said nothing more as she went about snapping pictures.
"You're Cordelia Roberts," the man said after a moment. He turned from looking at the building to looking at her.
"That's me," she replied, sneaking glances his way, but not being obvious with it.
"You wrote the articles detailing the abuse of the Abu Ghraib prisoners for the Times."
An alarm sounded in her mind. The article her was talking about did not put a positive light of the American soldiers. She couldn't afford to invoke the wrath of the men who were protecting and leading her team. "Listen," she began to say but the man promptly cut off her statement.
"Don't bother. I liked it," he said, clearly taking her by surprise. "Not everyone did, but I understand why you did it. You have a job to tell the truth to the American people. I appreciate you candor,"
"Thank... you," Cordelia said slowly, unsure of where to go from here. The idea to walk away entered her mind, but she didn't want to be rude. "Why don't you and I keep that between us? I'm not sure how your comrades would take it."
"Your secret is safe with me," he said and gave her that wide smile again.
She found herself smiling back at him, seeing just how handsome he was underneath all that gear. "Well, you know so much about me... it's only fair I know something about you," she flirted with him, giving him soft eyes and a charming smile.
The man laughed sheepishly. "Like what?"
"You can start with your name."
"Sorry. Cooper Barrett," he said, extending his hand.
Cordelia shook it slowly. "Any relation to Ambassador Harlan Barrett?" Her voice and eyebrows rose.
"He's my father," he revealed, and at her expression, "Please, don't hold it against me."
She thought of who her parents were and smiled. She wanted to tell him, but thought the better of it. She also wanted to tell him not to be so revealing with his familial affiliations in this part of the world, but that would partially reveal the real reason she was in this country. She needed to know how the secrets were filtered to the Iraqi army and government, and she couldn't run the risk of tipping anyone off... or making enemies.
She released his hand but the smile never faded from her face. "I won't."
Their convoy left the area five minutes later for the three-hour drive to Baghdad.
They never made it to their destination.
Cordelia, Rex and John McBain stepped off the elevator in the General Hospital emergency room. All three seasoned war veterans immediately noticed the guards in the room. Two of whom they recognized. Max and Milo looked at Cordelia with anger flashing on their faces. They looked as though they wanted to harm her, and she figured they probably did. It was obvious they didn't know their boss had released her and she didn't want any trouble – no more than they had already provided anyway. She moved her jacket to the side, just a bit, and revealed her gun in her shoulder holster. They didn't have the opportunity to surprise her as they did earlier... and she would use her weapon if she had to. So would the two men standing next to her.
She let the jacket slide to a close when a nurse walked upon them. Max and Milo stay their hands as well.
"Excuse me," Cordelia grabbed the petite brunette's attention. "I'm looking for Detective Lucas Spencer's room."
Elizabeth looked the pretty woman up and down. An action not completely lost on Cordelia. "I'm sorry, but only immediate family can see him."
"It's official police business, Nurse Webber," Epiphany Johnson said from the nurse's desk. "Commissioner Scorpio just gave the okay."
Elizabeth looked back to the trio and nodded, stepping out of the way. "He's in room E102," she said, and not at all happily.
"Thank you," Cordelia said to her, not letting the woman's attitude bother her. She looked to John and Rex briefly before heading off down the corridor to find the room. John called in two uniformed officers before heading off behind her while Rex began to ask Elizabeth and Epiphany questions.
Rounding the corner, Cordelia felt him before she saw him. After being a prisoner for many months (and her training before that), she learned to anticipate everything. She learned to see and hear, not only with her eyes and with her ears, but also with her entire being... and she was being watched... closely.
She didn't let on that she knew he was behind her. She just kept walking and looking for the room the nurse told her... waiting for him to get close enough. Close enough to...
He reached for her shoulder and she countered him easily. Grabbing his wrist, she pressed one of the pressure points she'd learned from her training, and her with her forearm pressing heavily against his throat, she backed him up against the opposite wall.
"Mr. Morgan," Cordelia said, almost purred, revealing she knew his name. "That punch to the jaw wasn't enough of a clue that the next time we met, I wouldn't be so pleasant?" She pressed harder against his windpipe to illustrate her point.
Jason's free hand clawed at her forearm frantically. He had no idea that, as tiny as she was, that she could overpower him. He grabbed her wrist after some struggling and pushed her away. She slipped backwards a bit but didn't land on the opposite wall. Her hand reached for her gun and she aimed it at him just as he aimed his at her.
Their raspy breaths were the only thing heard in the hallway for a long moment. Both of their chests heaved with adrenaline, but their hands didn't flinch. They were both highly trained and it showed.
"I'm not here for you," Jason told her, making sure his voice was even and low.
"Isn't killing a cop an automatic jail sentence?" Cordelia questioned.
"I'm not here to kill Lucky," Jason made it a point to say the man's name. "But I think someone else is."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because there's no guard at his door," he answered her first question. "And because I know the man who was with your sister," he said and lowered his gun, proving he really wasn't trying to harm her. "He used to work for me."
He stepped away from the wall to stand directly in her line of fire, and stared at her with intense blue eyes.
"Trust me," he said, pressing his chest against the barrel of her gun. "Something is terribly wrong here, and I want to find out what it is just as much as you do."
Cordelia didn't know why, or at the very least couldn't understand why, but she believed him. Maybe it was the fact that his body pressed against her weapon, or the fact that he looked nervous but she believed him.
Lowering her weapon, "Tell me about this man," she said, but before she could say anything else, or before Jason could reply, they heard a noise coming from the room. The sounds of struggle and a muffled cry triggered them both and they entered the room with their guns drawn.
