Chapter 8--Come Clean
The phone rang again and again until the automated voice of a woman explained that the party wasn't answering and he could leave a message if he liked. He hung up with a frustrated sigh and threw his cell phone across the coffee table. "Still no answer."
"Jason, you know it's not me." Carly continued to clarify. "I can't believe someone used my name."
"Obviously to throw us off track." He drummed his fingers against the table, his mind racing. "I'll keep calling, but I have to get out of here. Go see if Freddy found anymore information."
They both stood up from the couch at the same time. Carly pulled him into a hug. "Be careful, Jason." She ordered, rubbing her hand up and down his back.
"You too." He said, pulling away from her. "You may be involved in this now that someone's used your name."
She nodded, understanding quickly. "I'll call you if I hear anything."
"Yeah." He gave her what was supposed to be a reassuring smile, but it really was a softer look than usual. He walked past her.
She picked up his phone from the table when she saw he hadn't thought about getting it. "Jason, you forgot this." She gave him a sad look as he walked back to grab it. His mind was in shambles. He'd lost the love of his life--probably for good. If the Ruiz's were out for revenge, they were probably going to do major damage. "Jase," she called right before he walked out. When he turned to her, she smiled softer. "Sam's a strong woman. She'll be okay."
Jason looked down at the floor, as if that was hard to believe. "Yeah, I know." He said unconvincingly before leaving.
XxJASAMJASAMJASAMxX
Sam put on a flirtatious smirk when Pedro walked back into the room, gun in hand. "Hey sexy." She greeted sexily. "You mind coming over her and taking this shirt off? I'm burning up." She hand-lessly flicked her hair over her shoulder by jerking her head and gave him a soft smile.
His eyes narrowed at her. "Then what will you wear?"
"I have a tank top on underneath." She let her tongue linger in view. "Unless you want to remove that too." Her eyes twinkled seductively.
He fiddled with his collar. "How do I know you're not trying something?" He was already contemplating it.
"I am trying something. Just not what you think." She leaned her head back, letting her eyes stick to him. "I wouldn't try to escape around you. You have a gun."
"Yeah, and you don't." Pedro reminded, waving the object of topic at her.
Her eyes scanned him, she could find nothing to compliment on. "You have such large hands." She lied and then glanced at the crotch of his pants. "I wonder if...other places are as big as your hands." She did a little giggle, licking her lips afterwards.
"So you like 'em big, uh?" He asked in an amused laugh, tugging on his pants and grinning proudly.
Sam swallowed back bile and forced a gracious smile. She could tell he was the dumbest of the bunch to be falling for this so easily. "Love 'em." She raked her eyes over his body, as if she found him sexy. "You know," she started, "why do you have to wait for a turn with me? You should just take it right now. No one will know." She leaned forward as much as she could, biting on her bottom lip. "And I don't think I can wait." Her whisper was meant to seduce him.
He glanced at the unlocked door, as if contemplating her words. He had been wanting to do her. "I couldn't untie you."
Sam shrugged her shoulders. "I like it rough." She backfired. "You wouldn't have to." She moaned like she was thinking of him and dropped her head back, letting her eyes close. "What are you waiting for?" Her eyes met his and she knew she had him.
Indecisively, he walked over and locked the door. He waved the gun at her. "Don't try anything."
"I think I have to, Tiger." She winked one of her eyes as he made his way to her. Before grabbing a hold of her thighs and getting on his knees between her opened legs, he sat his gun by her foot. Perfect, she thought. Amateur.
He smiled when she grinned sexily. "You are very sexy, sweetness."
She feigned a bashful giggle when in reality, she shuddered at the familiar nickname. "Thank you." She mumbled as he came closer to her mouth with his. Slyly, her foot searched for the gun as her fingers worked at the now loose knot on her wrists. A few more tugs and she'd be free. She lulled her head back and he took the opportunity to slobber kisses down her neck. Inwardly, she grimaced. Outwardly, she forced herself to sound satisfied with a low moan.
His hands massaged her breasts as he kissed her skin sloppily. "Mmm."
Finally! She mentally screamed as she got the knot undone. She held onto the rope, thinking of ways she could use it as a weapon. She moved her head back, ready to take action. "Hey." She said quietly.
"What?" He answered distractedly.
She smirked at nothing. "You're a sick bastard, that's what."
He reared back to look into her face and that's when she quickly kicked his balls with her free foot, the other sending the gun that he was now blindly reaching for across the room. When he fell back on the ground, she ran over and picked up the gun, stuffing it in her pants before stalking back over to Pedro as he held his assaulted privates.
She stood over him with the rope and grinned as she cocked her head to the side. "I know I'm small, but you really shouldn't underestimate me." She warned in mock pity. "I hate it when creeps touch me." She wrapped the rope around his neck as she crouched behind him. She choked him remorsefully and he was almost out when she heard his phone ring. Excited that he had a cell phone, she pulled it out of his pocket, dropping the rope in the process. She waited for it to stop ringing before she flipped it open and dialed the all too familiar number.
Unaware that Pedro was slowly catching his breath behind her.
XxJASAMJASAMJASAMxX
Jason closed his phone and sighed as he sat in Sonny's penthouse. With no where to go. No leads. No guesses. He'd been calling the faux Carly and there was no answer, no hope. It was probably a little past one in the morning and he still hadn't found Sam. He decided to go back to his place, walking leisurely from Sonny's to his place. When he looked up at his door, he saw a woman standing there with dark, wavy hair. She turned to face him when she heard his footsteps.
"Can I help you?" He asked, frowning at the Hispanic woman suspiciously.
"Yes, my name is Roxi." She announced, obviously eyeing his body. "I have information on Samantha McCall."
"Who sent you?" He asked accusingly.
"Someone by the name of Max." She revealed untruthfully, hoping he'd recognize the name.
Jason gave her a once over before deciding to hear what she had to say. He had no other leads, why not, he thought. "Okay. Um...come in." He unlocked his door and held it open, motioning swiftly with his hand for her to go in first.
She walked in, eyeing the place with secret admiration. It was nice, quaint. She'd possibly rent it out after she was done with him and Sam. "I've heard that she will be killed."
Jason gulped in fear but then recovered with determination. "Do you have any idea where she is?" He asked hopefully.
She whirled around to face him, a fake look of fear plastered over her features. "I'm afraid that I will be killed if I tell you."
"Look," he walked closer to her, eyeing her desperately. "I can get you the best protection there is. I can give you money, get you out of the country. Just...just tell me what you know." He pleaded.
She looked away, feigning indifference. "She is to be taken to the docks and murdered at ten pm." She blurted.
Jason nodded, grateful for the information but still not sure if it was legit. "Okay. Okay. Thank you." He stared at her for a while. "Do you need anything? Security? Money?" He was growing more suspicious of how she'd found him and how easily she had given her story.
She forced a small, shy smile. "No reward is needed." Nodding her head, she glanced to the door. "I should...I should leave."
"Wait." He put a hand to her arm. "Are you sure?"
She nodded softly. "I am. Thank you." She walked to the door and opened it, deciding to let herself out. When she opened it, she was met with the face of a pale, young looking dark blonde. She smiled tightly. "Hello."
"Hi." Elizabeth frowned confusedly. "I--" Damn, she thought. As soon as Sam goes missing, Jason finds another girl. Mentally, she thought maybe she should dye her hair darker.
Roxanne ducked her head. "I was just leaving. Excuse me." She walked around her and disappeared down the hall.
Elizabeth's eyes met Jason's. "Who was that?"
"None of your business, Liz." He stated in a clipped tone. "What do you want?"
"I heard what happened on the news." She said, closing the door. "I needed to see if you were okay."
"No, I'm not." He answered with the hint of an attitude. "The love of my life is missing."
Liz gave him a hardened stare. "I'm sorry." She said unconvincingly.
"Yeah, sure you are." Shaking his head, he sighed. "Where are the boys? Are they alright?"
She smiled softly at his caring side. It was one of the many things she loved about him. "They're with the sitter." She answered.
"They're always with the sitter, Liz. You should stay with them right now. There's a lot going on." He didn't want anything to happen to the boys on top of Sam being in danger.
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "The boys are fine, Jason. Trust me." When he looked away, she knew trusting her was out of the question.
"I'm just saying." He muttered, pulling out his cell phone and dialing the imposter Carly's number, remembering that he still needed to seek out who was framing her. He had been calling randomly since he got the number.
Liz gazed at him and asked casually, "Who are you calling?" She could see the worry lines on his face and wanted him to confide in her.
He gave her a sideways glance, double thinking if he should tell her or not. Reluctantly, he decided to. "Someone's trying to frame Carly." He said lightly.
Her eyes widened and she gulped, spearing her hand in her jacket pocket and trying to slyly cut off the phone. But it was too late. The shrill ringing blared from her clothing. Her body went stiff as she continued to try and fumble with the phone in her pocket.
Jason's eyes narrowed at her in disbelief and he hung up, surprised that the ringing coming from Elizabeth's pocket stopped just a split moment after he did so. His teeth gritted. "Elizabeth..." He started speechlessly, not really sure how to react.
She turned and broke for the door, opening it slightly until the stronger hand smashed into it, slamming it closed again. She gasped and turned, the angriest Jason she'd ever seen peering into her face. "Jason..." She started to explain shaken, putting her hands up in halt.
"Tell me everything, Liz." He demanded in a cold voice. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, his phone rang. His gaze never wavered as he flipped it open with the hand that wasn't pressed firmly against the door. He put it to his ear slowly, his eyes threatening Liz with every second they lingered. "Yeah."
"Jason." Sam sighed in relief.
Jason's distressed posture fell when he heard her sweet voice over the line. "Sam, Sam." He repeated her name, trying to let the fact sink in that he was talking to her. The most important woman in his life was still breathing. "God, are you okay?" It was like he got his breath back.
"I'm fine." She told him quickly. "Look, there's so much you need to know." She started.
"Where are you?" He questioned, pushing Liz further into the apartment as he stood with his back against the door. He wasn't going to let her get away.
"I really don't know." She told him hurriedly. "But Carly's in on it and they're going to kill her tonight. And Roxanne Ruiz, she's going to come meet you and set you up." She rambled through the details fast.
"Roxanne...?" It was all making sense now. Roxi was Roxanne and she had been aiming to set him up. Of course. And Elizabeth knew all along. He glared at Liz. "How'd you get to a phone?" His sweet, caring voice towards Sam did not match the ruthless, hate-filled expression he was giving Elizabeth.
"Long story. But I can't talk long. I'm going to try to break out of here." She glanced at her surroundings. "It looks like abandoned apartments or boarding homes or something."
"Sam, don't try anything stupid." Jason warned, more out of worry and love than anything.
"Jason, I have to get out of here. I nearly just killed this guy--" She informed but then quickly stopped.
"What guy? Who?" He knew she could take Pedro, not that he wanted her to. But Alberto was the one he was really worried about being alone with Sam. The guy seemed seriously unhinged.
"Pedro Ruiz." She said cautiously.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sam, they've probably got the place surrounded."
"I've got a gun." She defended.
"Yeah, well they have more." He swallowed frightened at the thought of something happening to her. "Can you hide until I get there?"
"We don't even know where there is." She scoffed lightly. "And they've got Sonny somewhere."
"No. Sam, no. Don't go look for Sonny." He said sternly. "It's too dangerous."
"I think I'm already in danger, Jason." She snapped and then sighed. "I'm sorry Jason. I love you. I'm just scared and worried and--"
He heard the phone drop and a short scream rip from Sam's throat. "Sam?!" He yelled worriedly. "Sam?!" He could hear thuds and bumps and the grunt of a man.
"Get off me!" He heard her grunt. "Get off--" The phone was clicked off.
"Sam?!" No answer. He swallowed and closed his phone quickly, pulling out his gun and cocking it directly at Elizabeth. "I will kill you if you don't tell me where they are!" He yelled, his body trembling with hatred towards the woman in front of him--complete fear for the woman who had just called.
Tears poured from her eyes as she stared into the blue eyes of a mad man--or a man tortured by the thought of losing the woman he loved--which possibly wasn't her, she was beginning to realize.
The knock on the door did nothing to falter Jason's position. "Who is it?" He bit out angrily.
"It's Lucky." Lucky answered. "I need to talk to you."
"It's not a good time." Jason replied easily because really--it wasn't a good time.
"It's about Sam! We think we know where she is!"
Jason's eyes widened with hope, but he didn't drop the gun. Nothing was about to make him drop the gun. Keeping his eyes trained on her, he opened the door, pulled Lucky inside and closed it, pushing his back up against it. Still pointing the gun at Liz.
Lucky threw his hands up. "Whoa, Jason! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Where's Sam?" He asked Lucky quickly, rushing to the point.
"Okay, why are you pointing the gun at Elizabeth?" He asked accusingly.
Jason gave a derisive smirk to Liz. "Tell him, Elizabeth. Why am I pointing the gun at you?"
She looked to Lucky, her plans crashing before her eyes. She didn't know what to say. Her mouth opened and closed but no words came out.
Lucky glanced at Liz, sensing that she had done something horrible for Jason to be pointing a gun at her face. "What is he talking about, Elizabeth?" He questioned curiously.
"I'll tell you what I'm talking about." Jason stated when Elizabeth wouldn't answer. "Liz has been working for the Ruiz's. Giving them Sam's whereabouts so that they can get to her." Jason informed him evenly. "Do you know what they want to do to her? They want to rape her, then kill her. And Liz has been helping them. Haven't you, Elizabeth?" She wouldn't say a word in reply.
Lucky narrowed his eyes at his soon-to-be former wife in utter shock. "Liz, is that true?" Her silence confirmed their suspicions.
Jason shook his head at her. "In the process, she managed to use Carly's name so it wouldn't come back on her."
Lucky couldn't really blame Jason's motive for pointing the gun at her right now. Elizabeth deserved a little scare for being that heartless. He gulped as he stared at her. "Elizabeth, what's wrong with you?"
Elizabeth trembled and let out a strangled sob. "Sam hired those guys to harass me and the boys in the park!" She defended, screaming at Jason.
"She never tried to get you killed, Elizabeth!" Jason yelled before she even finished screaming at him. He raked his free hand through his hair and glanced at Lucky. "Where's Sam?" He was terrifyingly calm.
Lucky looked between the two before sighing softly. "We got some trespassing call at the old boarding homes near Kelly's. Apparently, they've been having a lot of traffic."
Jason nodded and his eyes tightened more at Elizabeth. "Quick. Tell me what you know."
She decided to abide, and looked to Lucky briefly, her eyes full of shame. "Um, I um, I met two of the guys while I was going to pick up the boys from Lucky. They thought I was Sam." She looked down at the floor, wringing her fingers nervously. "When they realized I wasn't her, I told them she was staying at the motel...I told them I was Carly. I...I told them that she was dating Lucky and that she was there a lot."
"Liz..." Lucky started, ashamed of her. He shook his head and looked away, thoroughly disappointed.
"So you made up the whole thing about them telling her to leave town, why?" Jason asked maliciously, throwing on his leather jacket, but still holding the gun at her like she was an armed and dangerous enemy.
She averted her eyes to a far off corner, pretending that they couldn't see her if she couldn't see them. "So they could catch her...and kill her."
Lucky broke. "What the hell is the matter with you?!" He boomed and made her jump. She could only cry...not answer.
"Finish." Jason gritted carelessly towards her.
At his deadly tone, Elizabeth decided to listen. "That's really about it. They didn't tell me any details about where they were taking her. The deal was, they wouldn't hurt you." She told Jason pathetically.
Jason clenched his teeth. "I don't care about me, Elizabeth! I'd take Sam's place in this if I could! But I can't, all because of you!"
Lucky slowly backed away from her, so that Jason had a clear shot if he was tempted to take it. "Is that all, or do you have more lies?" He raked his eyes over her in disgust. "What else did they tell you?"
She shrugged hesitantly. "Just that they were able to track her cab calls." She revealed in a low mumble.
"I found her sweater in a cab..." Lucky remembered, it was all becoming too surreal. How could Elizabeth pull something like this?
"She got knocked unconscious in a cab." Jason enlightened him. His eyes produced an icy glare for Liz. "Is that it?"
She sighed and rubbed at her forehead. "Yes. That's it." She lied. She was getting her reward money, no matter what.
Jason shook his head at her before opening the door. "If anything happens to her, it's on you." He reminded loathingly before storming out.
Lucky turned to her, true hatred in his eyes. "I think he went easy on you." His jaw clenched at the sight of her. "I would've shot you."
Elizabeth gulped and looked away. Maybe Jason didn't shoot her because he loved her deep down inside, she decided. Maybe there was hope after all.
As if reading her thoughts, Lucky shook his head. "He's not in love with you, Elizabeth. You're taking this too far."
"What do you know?" She snapped, turning away from him.
"I know that you're being a spoiled little bitch who wants her way." Lucky pointed out.
She gasped and turned to him. "You have no right."
"I have every right!" He jabbed a finger in her face. "I'm sure Sam has done crazy things," he shook his head, "but you're a much worse person than I ever thought you could be."
She scoffed. "Oh why, because you're in love with her?!"
"No," he shook his head calmly, "because you have two kids and all you can worry about is taking Jason from Sam."
Her mouth closed.
"If you truly loved him, you'd let him be happy." He gave her one last disgusted look before going off to help find Sam.
Elizabeth glared at the door, her tears stopped now. She was angry. No one made a fool of her. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed the number. She'd be out of here by the next day with her boys, and everyone would suffer in her wake.
"Carly. Hector." She said when the man answered. Minutes later, the woman's voice greeted her. "There's been a change in plans." Elizabeth informed.
"What?" Roxanne scoffed, no one called the shots but her.
"I need my money now." Elizabeth demanded, her voice still quivering from the tears she had recently been crying.
"And why is that?" Roxanne questioned in amusement.
"Because they know where you're at. And they're coming right now." She told ruthlessly.
Roxanne sighed. She knew someway that 'Carly' had probably got them caught. "Fine. Meet me at the docks in an hour." She'd have to do off with the bitch sooner than anticipated.
"Sounds great." Elizabeth hung up, smirking mischievously at the door.
