Chapter 9

Commissioner,

The video you are about to see, is real; do not adjust your set.

Nemesis

When Dante entered Mac's office, his boss was white and just about to pass out. "MAC? Here." He said helping the man sit down. "What is it?"

Shaking, Mac said "Hit rewind and then play."

Seeing the screen he looked from the picture on the screen to picture behind the man. "Your wife and daughter?"

"Ex-wife, but yes." He said before standing then handed him the letter.

Looking at the screen he said "That geek, do you know where he is?"

Dante thought about what he had heard and knew what Mac was going to do. "I am coming with you."

"No, this is my daughter." He declared as he pulled open his drawer and holstered his gun.

"I know where he is and I can get us past my father's guards." Said Dante grimly as he looked at the screen and the two women tied up. "Let's go, I am driving."

Maxie just lay there, leaning on her arms as she looked at Sam then said "Was he any good?"

"What? Who? What are you talking about?" she asked a bit worried, but then she dismissed her fears, Jason would forgive her, he had before after Ric.

"I told Spinelli, after I slept with Franco to find the next skank and have sex with her, I was just wondering did he rock your world?" she said with a wicked grin. "I mean, we both know that Jason doesn't. I have heard you two, I know what it sounds like when a man is just using a woman to get his rocks off and the woman is faking it,"

"What?" asked Sam then saw the pictures, picking them up, she said "These are photo shopped, I promise you, Maxie. Jason is the man for me."

"Yes, he is, isn't he? After all he is rich, immoral and lets you play out your fantasy of being a private detective. Too bad it's as a bad private detective, have you ever solved a case on your own?"

"I found proof of the Mayor's having an affair." She said proudly.

"I could have told you that, heck; desk check in at any hotel in town could have, along with the maids, the room service delivery people and even the shoe shine boy at the train station." She said dryly. "Did you tell Jason, you screwed Spinelli?"

Looking at Sam and her expression, she said "You did and this is the big seduction scene where you plot to get him back, isn't it?"

Sam flushed and Maxie said "Since we are no longer friends, let me let you in on a little secret, this last time, when you two got back together, it was because of Spinelli. See he sent Jason some e-mails on his phone, a couple of text messages that supposedly came from Elizabeth. Every time I helped Spinelli break a piece of Jason's heart, he would move closer to you, trying to get over her. It was so funny, we screwed up a couple of times, not knowing they had seen each other but Jason would believe what was written in them."

"I don't understand." Said Sam only for Maxie to laugh and go to closet for Spinelli's game computer. "Here, let me show you."

Typing she pulled a message she wrote to Jason "Jason, when Lucky and I took Jake and Cam to the park today. I saw you, please; remember your promise to stay away. I know that this hurts you but please understand, the boys see Lucky as their father and I made a mistake last year when we were together. I should have never let that happen, it would have hurt the boys and Lucky way too much. Your friend, Elizabeth."

Hitting the down key, she showed her the next one "My personal favorite, sent just before Valentines. Jason, I was with my therapist today and I came to realize something that I know is going to hurt you, but that I just had to get off my chest… I love Lucky, I have always loved Lucky. You, you were a dream, a fantasy; the one most good girls have but never try to fulfill. Thank you for letting us be a family and I wish you will."

Sam said "You expect me to believe that Jason only did things for me because of these letters?"

"Yup." She said cruelly. "You should have seen the one sent while Franco was in town, it was a lovely piece of work, but take heart Sam, and I think you were told he loves you as a result of it. Spinelli's plan with the bouquet and the garter belt failed, my guess is it was too much after the note Spinelli sent supposedly from Elizabeth. I was wondering though, did it at least get you laid?" she asked with a smirk.

Standing, Maxie picked up her shoes from the dresser then said as she walked past Sam who stood there looking shell shocked, "What, did you really buy that he forgave you? You were convenient, like a comfy old shoe that he knew would fit. You wear them until they fall apart and then go out and buy a new set and try to break them in."

Sam reached out to slap her only for Maxie to catch her hand. "I don't have time for you; I have to find my father. AND Sam, get checked out because Franco gave me some news that I guess you have a right to have. He has a minor problem that can be taken care of with penicillin, I am sure I passed it on to Spinelli and knowing that you can't have kids, I am sure you had unprotected sex with him."

Maxie gave a quiet chuckle as she walked away. "And if you see Spinelli, please let him know that we are now even but with his sleeping with you, uh, I don't want him back."

Sam stood there then looked around the pink room, the only room they hadn't changed since Maxie liked it and felt a chill come over her body. No, Maxie was wrong and she was just trying to hurt her. Jason loved her, and when he came home she would clear things up with him.

Going to his room, she changed into the outfit to convince Jason that she was perfect for him. The leather skirt and black see thru shirt were paired with her high heeled boots that Jason had mentioned one of the times they were together. She knew he loved how much she dressed like him.

Going down the stairs, she arranged for the Chinese food then went to the kitchen to get the beer chilled as she heard a knock on her door. "Alexis, I think you made your feelings perfectly clear, why are you here? Want to tell me some more about how I am responsible for the bad week that Kristina had."

"I am not here to argue with you, Samantha, I just wanted to let you know that the State Police were at the Lake house, they wanted to talk about Elizabeth Webber being missing and if I thought you were capable of grabbing her and her boys."

"I didn't do anything, I didn't need to. I have what I wanted back and she can keep that kid; it's not like Jason gives a damn about him. He is all about Sonny's kids." She said smugly. "And they already like me."

"Not after your little fit. If you are relying on them to smooth the way, it won't be happening any time soon. By the way, I heard about Carly, I got an earful from her this morning. She still loathes your guts and Jason is a close second right now. I never thought I would see the day when that happened."

"Oh, please. I only got to Jake before she could come up with a plan, like she is any better than me. She is the only person who hates that that kid exists more than I do." She said sneering as she walked to the door and said "If you wouldn't mind, Jason and I have plans tonight."

"He deserves what he gets." Alexis said shaking her head then turning and remarked. "You know, when I lived here, I thought of this place as my sanctuary, funny how a place of peace has become a den of iniquity"

"Jason and I are equals, how dare you say any different?"

"Iniquity, not inequity. What ever happened to getting that GED Sam?"

Patrick watched impassively as Morgan puked up his guts yet again. He found he almost took pleasure in the way the man was stoically refusing to complain about a pain that would make a weaker man cry.

When Epiphany entered with another bottle of Pediasure, he saw Morgan about to refuse to drink it but he just said "You need the electrolytes."

Grimacing as he drank the bottle, he watched as Patrick pricked his finger than took a blood sample. When the man came back a half hour later, he said almost there. "The drugs are slowly leaving your stomach. You need to be careful, avoid getting hit in the head while the clot starts to shrink."

"Has there been any word, on Elizabeth? On the boys?" he asked.

"Nothing and Robin hasn't heard anything from Mac yet." He said as Jason shuddered at the idea of the only people looking for Elizabeth being the Port Charles PD. He was about to start to throw up again when Roy came in and said "Medical personal out."

Patrick started to protest but Epiphany pushed him out the door. She had seen that look on Roy DeLuca's face before and it didn't bode well for someone.

"What is it?"

"Max called me; he knows I am in town from my visit to Sonny. He asked for my help in what he called a recovery posse to rescue Elizabeth and her family then warned me that he had gotten into it with Sonny and that he didn't want to put me in any danger but that Elizabeth needed our help. There is more."

"What?" snapped Jason as he lowered his head to throw up.

"He said that the Zachara kid reported someone hiring some of his father's former men for a snatch and grab. Tonight. Out of town."

Trying to stand, Roy shoved him back down and said "No, we need you here; I wish you had bothered to mention that Jerry Jacks was a problem. I saw the bastard in town a few days ago with some dark haired man that Max identified as that freak job artist Franco."

When Jason tried to stand again, Roy grabbed his shoulders and said "LOOK, listen to me. YOU are in NO SHAPE to help. You stay here; spearhead this thing with the men staying here. And you should know that I sent Milo to grab that computer geek of yours."

"Why?" asked Jason as he fell to his knees and puked again.

"Scorpio is looking for him. We want to find him first because I overheard something on those bugs we planted in your penthouse."

"About Sam, don't bother, I don't give a shit." He said before bowing his head yet again. "Get to Elizabeth, find out who has her and the boys, and bring her back to safety."

"I will, you need to work with this Zachara kid and Dante. Max and Milo along with this Ethan Lovett are going to Charleston then taking a helicopter from there."

"How did you find out where they were going?"

"They were told there was big money in helping and they went to Zachara just as he was leaving his father's house." Said Roy. "Look, I have to go, get well and I am sending over those two men as soon as I track down this Dante kid."

"Don't bother, I am here." Said the man from the doorway. Looking at Morgan, he said "We were looking for Drake, Mac is out there waiting, and he is making some calls. Turns out Frisco Jones is in town. And Felicia the ex-wife of both of them was grabbed by this Franco."

Roy helped Jason up and the two men carried him into the living room where Epiphany handed him a wastebasket. "Morgan, that freak sent me this."

Watching it, Jason said "Why were you looking for Spinelli?"

"He was with Maxie, he told me she wanted to stay behind at the spa that she broke up with him. I want to talk to that little bastard myself." He growled only for Jason to be given another bottle of clear liquid then begin to throw up immediately afterwords.

Patrick updated Mac and Dante along with the rest of the men who had shown up. "The same pills given to Elizabeth. He was given them by a doctor, told they would help with his migraines. He was taking them from August '08 when Kate Howard was shot, then in February last year, doubled the dose to two and then last July, started taking 6.

"Where did he get them?" asked Mac who when he heard what was said replied. "We can eliminate Spencer; he didn't get access to them until the fire at the hospital."

"What about Cassadine? Morgan, when did he learn about Elizabeth and you?" said Ethan from the doorway.

"I don't know." Said Jason hoarsely. "I don't know."

Roy asked Mac, "Did you check out McCall?"

"I did, but she didn't do this. She was my first suspect but no, it wasn't her." He replied a bit annoyed not to be able to arrest her.

"We have to take off, but all three of you need to put aside your differences and tell each other what you know." Said Roy. "This is not looking good, so please, for the sake of this family, talk to one another."

When Spinelli was brought onto the plane, he saw Max and Mac Scorpio along with another man before Milo said to the blond with him. "I am going to help Jason. I have an idea but you don't want to know about it."

Nodding, Frisco looked at the geek then said "Sit down, Damien."

"I should go, help my master. Stone Cold needs me." He said only for Mac to put place his hand on the base of his neck and squeeze before saying. "Sit down, shut up unless you are told to talk."

"My enchanted one's father needs to loosen the Vulcan death grip, I can't…" Mac grabbed Spinelli by his windpipe and shoved him into an airplane seat and said "Shut up."

Spinelli saw the look on his face and started babbling. "I swear, I didn't actually sleep with her, I was a sleep when Sam accidentally climbed into my bed."

Max said "And landed on his dick, yup, quite the accident."

"Spinelli, I could care less because I doubt you make it off this plane alive." Said Roy as he sat down on the kid's other side and squeezed his knee putting pressure on his artery. "I want to talk about Jason and some e-mails that were sent to him from Elizabeth Webber, ones you created."

"I would never interfere in Stone Cold's love life." He sputtered only for Mac to grab him by his windpipe again. "The studious commissioner is hurting the Jackal. He is acting quite unlike his usual stalwart self."

"According to my daughter you did. Maxie gave it up." Said Mac before turning to Frisco, "Where is she?"

"I sent her to the safest place I know." He replied with an evil grin. "She is locked in a cell at the police station. So Damien Spinelli, you are the loser that Maxie decided she deserved after losing her sister."

"Who are you?" asked Spinelli while Frisco said "We can get to that later. Right now, answer Mac's question before he decides to cause you more pain. Because frankly no one on this jet gives a crap if you make it home alive."

Spinelli just smiled then looking around saw that they were serious and said "Look, I was only looking after my master. He was mooning over what can never be so I decided to help him get over her. The Maternal one served her purpose; she is raising the progeny that will someday carry on the honor of my master."

"Give me the lap top." Said the man coming from the back of the jet. When Spinelli refused, Frisco pulled out a knife and cut it off the geek and tossed it to the man. "Find what we are looking for."

"He won't be able to crack my code." Said Spinelli then watched in shock as the man soon had access to his files. "Who are you?"

"A dead man." Snapped the blond before pulling up the e-mails and printing them for Roy who growled and said "You are very lucky that I am going to let Jason deal with you, I would kill you if it was me."

On the Island, Elizabeth felt someone shaking her, and when she looked up she saw the two men with guns. When they saw she was awake, the man whispered "Come with us, we have your boys."

Getting dressed, Elizabeth put what he tossed at her right over her pajamas as she listened to him talking into a mike. "Don't hurt my boys, just take me. Please, my sons have been through way too much, please?"

"We aren't going to hurt you, just do what we say."

An hour later, the entire household was awoken by the sound of a helicopter. Gail, Audrey and Annie soon realized that Elizabeth and the boys weren't up just as Mac Scorpio came rushing at them. "Where is Elizabeth?"

Seeing their expression, he swore and said "Dammit, we are too late." Turning to Max he said "Call and let Morgan know."

"Morgan, I should have known." Said Audrey scornfully. "Isn't that the story of my granddaughter's life with him? He can't be bothered to come himself after he more than likely is the reason she is in danger."

When no one said anything she snapped "So where is the black knight, off having sex with the whore that watched my great grandson get kidnapped, holding a pee stick for Carly Jacks again or maybe he is helping Mr. Corinthos commit a felony, so what was more important than keeping his son safe?"

Max and Roy had searched the island then reported to Mac. "A boat, it looks like Elizabeth was awake since there are small footprints."

"What is going on here?" snapped Annie as she looked at the man who seemed to be in charge.

"An artist named Franco; he sent me a video and has been stalking Morgan for a while."

Audrey and Gail went to grab their bags while Annie just glared at all of them. "We are coming with you."

"We don't have time." Snarled Max. "You have no idea what…"

"And whose fault is that? Did Mr. Morgan bother to warn the mother of his child, no but you can be damn sure that he did Carly, that whore he is sleeping with and that computer geek, so Mr. Giambetti, did he warn them?" snapped Audrey as she came back.

Max looked at the woman and said "We don't have time to argue."

"Then don't." she snapped as they went to the large helicopter. Arriving at Mt. Pleasant they loaded the plane quickly, and then took off. Seeing Spinelli, Audrey said "I guess that answers my question."

When Spinelli started to talk, Frisco glared at the kid then said to Audrey, "Look, I get that you are worried but honestly this isn't all Morgan's fault."

"Excuse me?" she asked affronted on Elizabeth' behalf then got an earful about Lucky Spencer and the drugs. "That doesn't change the fact that when push comes to shove, my granddaughter and great grandsons are always the ones who get shove to the bottom of the pile."

Pulling them out of earshot of Spinelli, Roy told them how Morgan's migraine medicine had been switched and then handed them the e-mails. "The geek sent them; we are also looking into Cassadine's part in this mess. What can you tell us?"

"Nothing, we were there as medical personal and can't talk about it." Said Annie while walking back to the main body of the jet. Sitting down she looked at the geek who was telling Max once again that he had done what he had for Stone Cold's good.

"Why?" she asked. "Why is it better for this man to be away from his child and with the whore who endangered Jake?"

Spinelli glared at her and said "My goddess is the best, she can handle herself, she doesn't run when there is danger. She gets along with his friends, and doesn't try to change him. Someday she will get what she wants."

"And you consider this a good thing?" snarked Annie. "From what I heard she is a con woman who considers kids a commodity."

"You don't know her, you don't know what she has suffered." Replied Spinelli. "She has lost her child, she was beaten by an ex-husband so badly that she had to defend herself. She is the way she is because of the terrible things that have happened to her."

"And because of this you consider her a better woman?" she asked. "She lost what, one child? Elizabeth miscarried two and you don't hear her whining about it years later. As for being beaten, Elizabeth was attacked in the park, had an abusive husband and still is the sweet and kind woman she always has been. Your pal Sam is the way she is because she chooses to be that way."

Shaking his head, Spinelli said "You just don't understand that Sam is the perfect woman. There is no woman who outshines her."

"Gail, do you have any drugs that will shut him up?" asked Mac as he looked at the kid then said "Most men, most men with any brains and class would prefer Elizabeth to Sam. You on the other hand are still suffering from arrested development more then likely the result of the way you were raised."

In Port Charles, Franco was thinking about taking out Nicolas Cassadine but he figured that if Morgan survived he would want that pleasure himself. As his men started to gather the rest of his pigeons, he made his list and checked it twice before looking in on his lab rats.

He had been amused when Milo Giambetti took Jason Morgan to the safe house he had bugged but had been furious when he realized that Morgan had been drugged. How that one had gotten past him and had interfered in his game last time made him vow to take all contingencies into account.

As his pawns slowly gathered around him, Franco saw that his guests to his art showing were starting to receive their invitations and that they had no idea what they were about. Smirking, he watched as Sonny Corinthos looked at the painting and then tossed into the fireplace.

Calling his people he said "Take him; I have set up the rest of it. Make sure my guests are here and then set the cameras and the bombs."

Jax was annoyed when he realized Carly hadn't come home from the hotel the night before. She had been in a deep funk every since the conversation with Diane Miller but had refused to tell him what it was about.

Checking the rooms, he was even more pissed off when he saw that the children were all gone. Morgan and Michael more than likely were at their fathers but where were Jocelyn and Mercedes?

Hearing a soft sound, he turned and saw his brother. "Jerry, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Don't let me interrupt." Said the man behind Jerry before placing the ether filled handkerchief over the man's mouth while his partner did the same to Jax. "Where are we going next?"

"We only have two stops. Let's take this Brownstone, leave the jail cell for last."

Another team was picking up Franco's' guests but this group wasn't to be harmed. As they were loaded into the back of the limo at gunpoint, Luke asked "Who is doing this?"

"Relax; this is just an invitation to a very unique art show. I believe the correct expression is performance art." Replied the driver as he nodded at the men then locked in the guests.

The last group staged a prison break. As they were lagging behind, Franco decided they would be the last part of the show. When all the pieces for his very unique showing were in place, Franco said to his manager. "Make the call."

Dialing, she listened to doctor then said "Is this Patrick Drake?"

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"There was a car accident, I am the attending at Mercy, Lois Carpon, I was asked to have you come over and scrub in."

Checking on Morgan, he once again reminded him to avoid hitting his head then went to Epiphany. "His numbers look good, he looks a little weak. Give him a potassium bag then let him go."

"He might not wait, they got word. Elizabeth and the boys were grabbed." She said. "From wherever they were before."

"Tell him… never mind, it's not like it will make a difference." He said sadly. "I just get this feeling…"

Jason was leaning against the wall and said "Me too and I promise… I will bring the boys and her home."

"Then do us all a favor, walk away. She has been through enough grief and frankly all you bring her is sadness and danger. And I'm not talking about your business either, I am talking about your friends."

Jason flinched then went back to the bedroom and closed the door on Dante and Johnny's faces. Opening the closet, he took out the box he had moved to the top shelf and then opened it.

Reaching inside, he held the few items he had of his family and said "I will, she deserves better a life, one without all this pain."

Grabbing the gun off the nightstand, he touched the ring he put in his pocket as a talisman then went to save his family for one last time.

Franco saw the next to last of his exhibits and saw the red skin and the bright red hair and couldn't resist as his men tied her up on the stage. "Nice look, Miss McCall. Or should I call you bozo the clown."

The people in the audience who were tied to their chairs all around the stage with men with guns pointed at them were shocked as a few found they still had the ability to laugh.

Sam McCall was wearing a bikini that left little to the imagination and that she was falling out of, but this time that was more than likely the fault of the rash that had swollen her extremities as well as making her look like she had red and yellow hash marks all over her body.

Diane who had been furious at what was going down, looked at the woman with the tight afro that was bright red with blue highlights and couldn't help thinking that Monica Quartermaine certainly knew how to do revenge well.

When Franco turned the woman to face the audience he told his assistant to get a full length mirror so that Sam could see herself while he walked over to the computer set up on the stage and hit the play button.

He smiled and bowed at the cries of shock and the screams. "Thank you, I hope you enjoy the show. And I must go and tell our heroes what they are going to win or in this case lose if they make the wrong choice."

Jason, Dante and Johnny were on their way out the door when Ethan showed up and slammed on his brakes. "WAIT, you have to see this."

On the screen behind the stage, the 'guests' saw the four men as Ethan showed them the note.

"Morgan, you cheated last time. This time I anticipated you would reach out for help. Our last encounter by the way, was a trial, a way to test your reflexes. Now with the drugs in your system, you may not be at peak capacity and you should know that the doctor who sold you to me, died for not telling us about them, so don't worry, he has been dealt with. Wait, where was I?

"Oh, yes, now I remember. Last time was a test this time it is all for real. Here are the rules. You and your three companions must work together to free each correct prisoner. No deviations allowed."

"If you chose the wrong one, besides killing the innocent that you should have saved, I will be killing someone in my audience."

"Oh the audience, if you aren't perfect, they die. Mr. Falconari's mother, the very lovely Olivia and her cousin the equally lovely Miss Howard. Edward and Monica Quartermaine, your former attorney, the very lovely Miss Miller. Each choice is a repeat of a mistake you have made in the past. You only get one chance to fix what you did wrong."

"I should mention, those men you sent to save Elizabeth and her sons, they will be busy. A few are now part of the game, others are even now tied up and here is the kicker, ten minutes in I am sending in a second team of people, but let's just say their agenda won't be the same as yours. So, don't try anything, remember, I have read your playbook and I know all your moves."

"And lastly, you have an hour. At the end of that hour, a bomb located beneath one of these two women is going to go off." Jason saw Elizabeth and Carly both tied up and knew what the man had in mind which was confirmed by the next statement.

"And you are only allowed to free one of them."

TBC