Evening was drawing near by the time Sam arrived back at the lake house. For awhile she had contemplated returning to her apartment but after her talk with Alexis, she decided she wanted to stick around a little while longer. Besides, living alone proved to be a bad idea as of yet.

When Sam pushed open the door she could have sworn she had entered the twilight zone. She had to double take in order to get everything straight.

"What the hell?"

Her voice caused Alexis to quickly pull away from Jerry Jacks and her mouth to drop slightly. "Uh . . . hi," she managed to greet.

Sam simply stared at the two in disgust, but Jerry was fast to rise from the couch. "Well, if it isn't dear Sam," Jerry said.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she snapped.

"What brings upon the bout hostility?" he asked, flashing a charming smile.

"Oh, I don't know, how about the fact that you and my mother look a little too cozy - -"

"Sam, is your daughter?" Jerry asked turning to Alexis, who was still recovering from a sudden case of shock.

"Y-You two know each other?" Alexis stammered out.

"Oh, yeah, he happens to be - -"

"We ran into each other once . . . was it the Metro Court?" Jerry asked, flashing her another sick grin.

"Yeah, the lobby," Sam replied bitterly. Alexis must not have known. Sam had to tell her . . . she couldn't let her mother date some sociopath. But Jerry would probably do something horrid if she were to spill the beans now . . . "So uh . . . what? Are you two like a thing or something?"

"Alexis is my lawyer," Jerry answered.

"Really? Hmm . . . must be some case you two are working on - -"

"Jerry, I'm sorry, it's getting late," Alexis suddenly cut in. "Maybe we could finish up tomorrow?"

"Yes, of course," Jerry told her. Alexis slowly led him to the door and before he made an exit, he looked back at Sam. "It was nice to see you again."

"You too . . . Mr. Craig," Sam mumbled.

"I really do hope I can see you again tomorrow," Jerry told Alexis. Sam nearly gagged at his voice.

"Well, we'll see," Alexis smiled at him. "Good night."

Sam listened as the door clicked closed, and waited for Alexis's badgering. "What was that?" she asked.

"What was what?" Sam asked back, putting on her best clueless face.

"Why were you being so rude to Jerry?"

"For reasons that you don't understand," Sam told her.

"Why? You need to tell me what's going on - -"

"He's just not good for you Alexis. You need to stay away from him. He's a bad guy - -"

"Now, that I can agree with."

Both Sam and Alexis turned at the sound of a sudden voice, in time to see Ric Lansing standing in the doorway. "The door was unlocked," he revealed slowly.

"Sam!"

Running quickly into the living room and toward her older sister was Kristina Corinthos, a large smile plastered across her face. Sam quickly tossed her crutches onto the couch and shared an embrace with her young half-sister.

"I've missed you," Sam said as she released from the hug.

"I've missed you too," Kristina told her. "Where have you been?"

"I've been busy, I'm sorry," Sam apologized. "Have you gotten taller?"

"I don't know," Kristina answered, giving a shrug. Sam couldn't help but smile at the five year old. "What happened to you?"

"Bad guys," Sam said.

Kristina nodded her head, "Bad guys . . ." she repeated softly.

"Looks like he got the best of you," Ric said, now stepping further into the house.

"Well, he definitely didn't let up," Sam told him. "You're the district attorney . . . got any leads?"

"We have Cooper Barrett in custody," Ric answered.

"Yes, I imagine that he was the one who tried choking me to death last night," Sam replied with a roll of her eyes.

Alexis gave Ric a slight grin as she took a sleeping Molly from him. "Yeah, kind of ruins your theory, huh?" she laughed. "I imagine Scott Baldwin will be grasping at straws trying to make a case against my client."

Ric raised his eyebrows, "An accomplice. Cooper could very well be an accomplice in the entire thing."

"Oh, Ric, you know that no one in this town is smart enough to have an accomplice," Sam said. She raised an eyebrow, "So, why aren't you serving as the prosecuting attorney anyway?"

"Because I have bigger fish to fry. Like a brewing mob war," Ric answered.

"Haven't heard of it," Sam replied.

"Oh that's right, you're out of the loop," he said. Sam resented his words. It was how she felt ever since Jason and her split. "Well, from what the PCPD has investigated, there are high tensions between the Zacchara and Corinthos organizations. In fact, I'm off to meet with my father . . ."

"Well, good luck," Sam told him. She looked to Kristina, "Hey, your grandpa Mike gave me some cookies to bring home."

Kristina's eyes widened slightly and a smile found its way to her mouth. Sam was grateful. She needed a reason to get out of the living room with Ric. "There in the kitchen, let's go," she said. Kristina nearly ran for the kitchen, and Sam grabbed her crutches and slowly followed after.

"Bye, Kristina!" Ric shouted after her.

The little girl stopped dead in her tracks. Running back into the living room she gave Ric a hug. "Night, munchkin. I'll see you next week, okay?"

"Okay," Kristina said giving him a peck on the cheek. Ric watched as she followed Sam into the kitchen and slowly looked to Alexis.

"You've always been so good with her," she admired.

"She's like my own daughter Alexis, you know that," Ric said.

"Right," she said softly. "I'm just glad we could work all this out. Be civil about everything concerning the girls."

"I am too," he told her gently. "Alexis, I never wanted to hurt you, I hope you know that. I guess we're just both a little stubborn."

Alexis nodded. 'That's true."

Ric stared at her for a moment. "I still care about you."

"I care about you too, Ric. So be careful when it comes to your father," Alexis said.

"You be careful when it comes to Jerry Jacks. This is one of few times I agree with Sam . . . he's not good for you."

Alexis gave a slight sigh. "I don't need either of you interfering with my life right now."

"I'm not trying to . . . it's just like I said. I care about you Alexis. Don't go getting yourself hurt," Ric said.

"I won't."

Ric gave a sigh. "I have to go meet with Trevor. He says he needs my help."

"That's odd," Alexis muttered.

"I know," Ric said as he headed toward the door. "I'll see you on Tuesday to pickup the girls."

"Okay," Alexis called after him. She watched as he exited, the door clicking closed behind him. She gave a slight sigh. She was falling back under his spell.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The evening had turned quiet after Ric had left, and even more still after Kristina and Molly had fallen into a slumber. Sam was silent as she sat at the table with Alexis, where papers cluttered the oak surface. Alexis rifled through files, jotted notes down, and went over every piece of evidence against Cooper Barrett that there was. Sam simply highlighted the phone calls made and received on the day of Georgie Jones' murder. It was odd to think that her mother was defending a possible suspect; someone who possibly wanted to kill her.

Her mind was heavy and she had to do everything she could in order to focus on her work. Jerry Jacks in her mother's life concerned her greatly and revealing his true identity to her would only complicate things much more.

The ring of her cell phone served as a saving grace.

Sam didn't recognize the number, but she was eager to rise from her seat anyway. She looked to Alexis, "Sorry, it's probably about the show," she lied. It was true that the executives of Everyday Heroes were begging her to hold a press conference and after numerous negotiations, Sam had agreed to have one in two days.

Alexis simply nodded in response and went back to her work as Sam slowly maneuvered out of the area and flipped open her phone. "Hello?"

"Sweet Sam, how wonderful to hear your voice . . ."

Ric Lansing stared at the figure in front of him, with a slight hint of anger. "You've known something about the text message killer this entire time?" he asked. "Do you not realize that I am the district attorney? That the PCPD is the laughing stock of New York - -"

"Quit crying like a baby! Your reputation should be the last of your worries," Trevor snapped at his son.

Running a hand down his face, Ric gave a long sigh. "You have to tell me . . ."

"Tell you what?"

"How do you know that I need to investigate Jerry Jacks? How do I know that you're not in on this?"

"What the hell do you want?" Sam hissed into her cell phone. She stumbled farther away from Alexis with one crutch, keeping the phone close to her ear.

"To make sure you don't let the cat out of the bag. Of course I'm sure I shouldn't worry, I mean you seem like the kind of person who is successful when it comes to keeping secrets - -"

"Don't be so sure. You either break things off with my mother or I'll make sure that you do."

"Sam, I care about Alexis. I wouldn't do anything to hurt her - -"

"You love Jax too but you blew up his fucking hotel," Sam snapped back quickly. "So, what's keeping me from telling Alexis about the real you?"

She could almost hear Jerry smile over the telephone.

"Is it some strange coincidence that Jerry Jacks looks exactly like James Craig - -"

"We've already concluded that Jacks is not James Craig. He had plastic surgery - -"

"What a coincidence. I mean, no wonder you claim that the PCPD has become a joke."

"Even if Jerry Jacks happens to be the killer, what gives you the lead?"

"James Craig was an enemy of the Zacchara organization . . . he was sick, Ric. Absolutely violent and twisted."

"Sam, if what I've heard is true, you know a good deal when you hear one . . . am I right?" Jerry led on slowly.

"What's the deal?"

"Well, I imagine you want to know the identity of your attacker . . . the text message killer . . ."

"How do I know it's not you?"

"Because really the entire mass murder thing isn't my cup of tea, to be entirely honest. As fun as it would be to take out a bout of rage on some innocent bystanders, I only revert to such barbaric behavior when it is necessary. You know business and such - -"

"I don't want your life story. All I want to know is who the text message killer is," Sam told him quickly.

Trevor watched as his son headed for the door. "What are you doing?"

"Leaving," Ric answered. "But thank you for the advice. I just hope you aren't using me for your own personal vendetta against Jerry."

"I wouldn't use you," Trevor said. "You're my son."

"Right . . ."

"You think I'm really just going to give you an answer because you demand it?" Jerry asked with a slight chuckle.

"I can hope, can't I?"

"How about we set up a meeting?"

"How do I know it's not some trap? That you're not the killer and you're not going to finish me off."

"Not my style."

The evening was eerily quiet as Ric stepped out into the darkness. He headed for his vehicle but before he could touch the handle, his cell phone gave an abrupt ring.

Sam ran a hand down her face. "How can I trust you?"

"I was with your mother last night," Jerry said. "When you were attacked."

Ric gave a sigh as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He flipped it open. A new text:

Sorry, can't take any chances . . .

"What the hell?"

"So will you meet with me?"

"I want some clue . . . I want to know that you have some sort of information."

"There's more than one killer . . ."

"You have partner - -"

"I've already told you, these sins are not my doing."

Someone grabbed Ric from behind, and in an instant a hard knee struck him in the back. He sucked in a sharp gasp, trying to recover from the sudden shock. Before he could turn to see his attacker, he was struck with a fist to the side of his neck. Rather than passing out from the pain, he fell to the hard and cold asphalt of the street.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Sam said softly taking a glance over at Alexis to make sure she was still hovered over work. To her relief, she was.

"Trust me, you will soon enough."

Ric was on his back looking up through blurred vision. His attacker had taken off its mask and though he had taken a beating, Ric could still manage to make out the face. His breath caught in his throat.

"No way . . ." he coughed.

"Meet me. Tomorrow at noon, pier 54," Jerry instructed. "Any funny business and you'll regret it."

"This isn't a joke, is it?"

"No."

"Then there won't be any funny business," Sam said.

"Goodbye, Lansing."

In a short instant a blade struck downward and impelling itself into Ric's chest was a sharp knife. He gasped for air. Blood seeped from his wound, staining his shirt. The unidentified assailant pulled the weapon out of his weakening body and then a second time plunged it into Ric's body.

Another dead victim.

The text message killer had struck again.

"How splendid. Then sleep well tonight, and tomorrow you will be a step closer on your quest to finding the infamous text message killer."

Even after the line went dead Sam listened to the silence that filled her ear.

She had a quest.

A purpose.

But was it the right one?

END OF PART ONE


Okay well before I embark on part two, I wanted to again emphasize that I could use some suggestions before I begin. Someone said to put Sam with a new guy and I'm starting to consider it, I mean if I do put her with the guy it wouldn't necessarily be perminent, but if anyone has other suggestions or possibly an objection (ooo rhyme) then please step forward and let me hear it :) Thanks ! Sammy.