Part 10
Ewen curses his mild mannered persona. The psychiatrist part is accurate, he worked hard to get his degree but he's not the underdog in a street fight. It's been a very long time since that was true, he thinks as Ethan's fist connects with his kidney.
Ewen shuttled Elizabeth back to the city and after a few heated kisses by her car, he watched her go. He wanted to follow her and make sure she made it home okay but before he could get to his car Ethan found him.
Ethan hadn't had as easy of a time at the police station as Ewen. He went through two hours of stewing in a jail cell and being interrogated before Ms. Davis arrived to represent him. As with Ewen, all the evidence the PCPD have on Ethan is circumstantial if not mostly fictional narrative. But unlike Ewen, Ethan has a spotty criminal record and a past as a trouble maker.
It is also to Ethan's detriment that the district attorney doesn't have as many reasons to want Ethan to be innocent as he does for wanting Ewen to be. Ewen has testified for the prosecution on eight cases in Port Charles and many more in New York and LA. His being wrapped up in a murder investigation undermines his testimony in all those cases. Especially the two court cases that have yet to go to the jury.
Ewen saw Ethan coming in plenty of time to decide how he was going to handle the situation. It seemed prudent to let Ethan get a few punches in to alleviate some of his anger. He didn't expect the punches to hurt as much. Ethan packs some surprising power. The kidney punch is the last straw. Ewen quickly pins Ethan with a simple wrestling hold and calmly but roughly asserts, "That's enough."
Ethan struggles a bit more calling Ewen every foul name in the book before he gives up some of his fight.
Ewen releases him and stands up and away from him. "I know you are angry, and rightfully so, but you have the wrong person. I did not kill Cassandra. She was a patient, I've been trying to help her. Think Ethan, use that conman's brain of yours and think. Why would I kill her when we were alone on an island? Why wouldn't I make sure that I had an alibi?"
Ethan gets up and scowls at him, "That is the con. You're an intelligent man, no one would think you stupid enough to kill her like that."
"Thank you, I think. I have no reason to kill her you know that. Elizabeth and I have been getting serious, why would I risk that?"
Ethan is silent for awhile, his body language is tense and on edge. He walks towards a railing and leans on it. "She could be part of your plan too."
Ewen stands calmly and says a quick relaxing mantra to himself as he allows Ethan the opportunity to find his own way to the correct answer.
"But you are right, it makes no sense. If you had feelings for Cassandra, other than doctor patient, dating Elizabeth wouldn't help your cause. You and Cassandra have moved from town-to-town in the past. If you just wanted her you could have disappeared with her pretty easily. Killing her is messy and there is no benefit for you."
Ewen relaxes a bit more and says nothing.
"I asked her to stay with me at the Star last night but she insisted she had to get back to you. She didn't want you to worry. I guess I'm mad at you for that over anything. If it hadn't been for you she would be alive right now."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. Cassandra stopped listening to my advice the moment she met you Ethan. I'm surprised and sorry that she came to Wyndemere last night for that reason. After you dropped her off we talked. She seemed upset about something and wouldn't give me any details. She told me how happy she's been with you. It was a short conversation."
"Yeah, looking back on yesterday, she was upset about something. She wouldn't tell me what either. I figured you had said something to upset her."
"Nothing. Of course I wished she would put more effort into her recovery but I have to admit I've enjoyed having time away from her."
Ethan scowls again and puts his hands in his pockets. He starts to walk away, pauses and says, "I may not believe you killed Cassandra but there's something not right about this whole thing. Elizabeth is the mother of my nephews, it would be wrong for me not to say this, stay away from her. She doesn't need to get dragged into this mess. It's been a rough year for her, she deserves some happiness."
"I want that for her too Ethan. She's a grown woman though who makes her own decisions."
Ethan gives a reluctant nod of agreement. "I may not believe you killed Cassandra but I don't trust you. I'll be watching."
Ewen watches Ethan walk away and reaches into his pocket. He finds what he's looking for a flash drive. It is still in good condition; Ethan didn't manage to damage it during the fight.
When it is safe to do so Ethan makes his way to a secure location. He does a quick check for bugs and then sits at a computer. He enters his passcode and inserts the flash drive. The files upload as he opens a secure connection and starts a video conference.
His conference request is accepted and soon he's giving a report about Cassandra's death to his superior. At the end of his report he leans back in his chair and rubs his bruised chin. He winces as the man on the other end of the video conference laughs.
"I wish I could have watched you take one on the chin. I think I'll suggest the team put surveillance cameras around Wyndemere. I don't want to miss it the next time you let someone win a fight."
"You might have a problem competing with the cameras already installed around the place. I've uncovered another ten. I check the bedroom I'm using daily, so far none. I did find an audio recorder that I managed to take out with an 'accident' involving a pot of tea. Today's sweep found that it has yet to be replaced."
"Good, they don't suspect you. They may expect you to move out of the property now that your patient is dead. We'll need a plausible reason for you to stay."
"Freeze my assets and make it known I am one of the prime suspects in her murder. I've already been asked not to leave town. With no money, I'll have no choice but to stay on at Wyndemere."
"Good, good. It'll be done. Is there anything else you need to report?"
Ewen sits up in the chair and leans towards the camera. He finds himself reluctant to talk about Elizabeth, but he has no choice.
"Elizabeth Webber and I had an unexpected adventure this afternoon. We found another tunnel into the property. This tunnel is old and the entrance into the property is locked. It's not meant for sneaking out, it's meant for sneaking in."
"I thought all of the tunnels were accounted for during the recent reconnaissance."
"So did I. Sir, it was easy to see the entrance from low on the cliffs. It shouldn't have been missed."
The man on the computer screen curses again and scowls. "It was a green recon team."
"True sir, we can blame it on that or …."
"Or we have been infiltrated? I'll order an investigation of everyone on the team. Anything else?"
"Yes. Elizabeth and I found a gold box in the tunnel. She said it's one that Helena Cassadine tried to give her once."
"Do you have it?"
"No. Elizabeth took it home with her. We did find an antique, if not ancient, watch fob on the inside. I would like to have a duplicate made of both the box and the fob, so I can get a closer look at the originals without Elizabeth being aware of my interest. To that end, I've uploaded some photos of the box to our secure server. It's Russian in origin and similar to the one I told you she shipped to Nikolas Cassadine in Greece."
"You'll have the duplicates by the end of the day tomorrow. Keep up the good work. By the way, excellent job. I'll be sure to let your father know."
Ewen's left hand clenches below the desk. He doesn't like his superior's tone or the mention of his father. "Thank you sir, there's no need. Before you go sir, I'd like permission to read Ethan Lovett in on a small part of the operation."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"He's a wild card hell bent on finding whoever is guilty of murdering Cassandra. None of us need this kind of distraction right now. By reading him in I can direct his energy where I want"
"You have complete control of the on-site operation, do as you wish."
"Excellent, because I need a plain clothes protective detail for Elizabeth Webber. She's observant ,so the team needs to be unobtrusive and very good. Helena has surveillance in her home and will know shortly, if she doesn't already, that we've found her secret passageway."
"You've fallen for her haven't you? The women in Port Charles have that affect on men. I could tell you stories about your father and my time in Port Charles. I could tell you stories." The man on the other end of the video conference looks pensive and uncertain whether or not he should ask, but he does. "Have you seen Maxie? How is she?"
Ewen decides to sugar coat his answer. "Your daughter seems fine sir. She is dating a surgeon and her career at Crimson is going well."
Deputy Directory Jones swallows hard before ending the call with, "Excellent, glad to know it. Carry on."