Chapter Twenty One

Ari Theodas snapped his cell phone shut and frowned, trying to process the information he'd just been given. He glanced at Helena Cassadine who was sitting serenely, eyes close, a slight curve to her lips.

"Ari everything is falling in to place" she sighed. Then sensing his tension as he moved closer she opened her eyes questioningly. "What is it?"

"I've just been give some information Madam" he began.

"Information?" she asked sitting up offering her full attention.

"Well you know I've had people on the inside at the Police Department monitoring the reaction to Samantha Mccall's murder"

"Yes YES Ari spit it out" she replied in anticipation.

"It seems Elizabeth Webber petitioned the caught to change Jake Spencer's birth certificate and her lawyer filed a custodial agreement at the same time. It's not common knowledge at the moment but it seems it will be in the papers tomorrow"

Helena stared at Ari waiting.

"Jake Spencer is not Lucky Spencer's son." he paused to gauge Helena. "Jason Morgan is the biological father of Jake Spencer and there is DNA paternity test included in the petition as proof"

"OH MY GOD" Helena gasped. "Elizabeth you naughty naughty girl" she looked up at Ari questioningly "when was the paternity test done?"

"Back in 2006 very early in the pregnancy" Ari responded. "Do you still want to go after the child?"

"Why of course!" she replied "But I need to think"

"I'm sorry Madam I'm guessing this has ruined your plans and we may need to re-strategize"

"Well we do need to re-strategize but this could play in to my plans for Port Charles" she stated.

"I don't understand "Ari responded.

"My plan has always to been to take over Port Charles eventually Ari. I wanted to bring the Spencer's down and weaken my Grandson. But I also intended to take down the Corinthos Organization too. The attempted Russian infiltration was a pre-emptive strike and never meant to succeed. Andre Karpov was an incompetent but he did serve one purpose, to highlight the strengths of the Corinthos Organization, namely Jason Morgan, and to cause tension between Sonny and Jason. It caused Sonny to get in to bed with the Zaccahara's. This could actually serve my purpose Ari, I could take down the Spencer's along with Sonny and Jason all at once."

"Madam I urge you to re-think. That would be a very ambitious undertaking and Jason Morgan is well known and I believe.." she interrupted him with an imperious wave of her hand.

"HUSH Ari…I have to think" she hissed "We may need more men Ari"

"Certainly Madam." he paused then continued "There is one other thing, The Spencer's and your grandson are on the Cassadine jet returning to Port Charles"

"Good Good" she told him distracted and then smiled an evil smile "I'm feeling generous. Call off the planned attack on the house where Elizabeth is tonight. Give the little family time together and let Morgan wonder when we are coming for them. He'll become complacent"

"Madam " he cautioned "I feel compelled to remind you, Morgan is renowned for being anything but complacent, I think we should go…"

Again she interrupted him "ENOUGH" she ordered "We will take the fight to them on our own terms, MY terms. Call it off NOW"

"Yes Madam"

At the last minute Jason decided not to move the boys to the day bed in the communications room just yet, preferring to let them get as much sleep as possible. Instead he asked Johnny to watch them and took Francis and Elizabeth to check out the "panic" room. Jason pulled the day bed out from the wall in to the center of the room, and kicked the rug underneath to the side revealing the latched door to the basement. He opened it and then gestured for Elizabeth and Francis to go down the stairs and have a look at the room.

"Once the stairs are pulled away from the opening you'll find the second door, the one that locks from the inside." Jason explained.

Elizabeth glanced around, it was comfortable but she shuddered at the idea of being locked in there while other people were being shot at. She looked at Francis and he smiled reading her thoughts.

"I know kid. I feel the same way but it's all about protecting you and the boys. Maybe it won't go this far".

"I hope not Francis, I think you can safely say I will go certifiably insane." she responded. Heading back up the stairs quickly to Jason, with Francis following.

"The locking mechanism is the same as the one in Sonny's house. Different keycode though" he glanced at Elizabeth "Elizabeth knows it".

"I do?" she smiled wearily.

"Yeah" he smiled back "the date we met at Jakes"

"Ahh Stone Cold, the Jackal is somewhat claustrophobic and would prefer NOT to go down there unless it is at gunpoint" Spinelli stammered.

"It's okay Spinelli" he told him as he pulled him aside. "If the time comes I'll shove you down there"

"At gunpoint?" Spinelli requested.

"If that's what you want" Jason nodded.

"It is" He replied.

"Spinelli in the mean time, we got this from Tom Baker's things" Jason told him as he handed him the cell phone. "See if you can track any phone calls to and from it. We may get lucky and get a location for Helena."

'Certainly Stone Cold" Spinelli smiled and gesturing at Jason "This is good" as he trotted away to start his search.

Jason moved to over to Elizabeth and wrapped his arms around her, while Francis closed the door and repositioned the rug and the day bed.

"You want to check on the boysand try to get some more sleep, while I make some phone calls?" he asked turning her towards the room where the boys were safely sleeping.

"Yes" she questioned wrapping her arms around him for a brief hug, before turning away to go check on the boys.

Cody waited for Elizabeth to close the bedroom door and then approached Jason.

'Hey boss I got something I want to discuss with you"

"What is it?" Jason looked at him, his attention diverted from the small bedroom where his family were.

"I think we need some more men" Cody stated flatly.

"Agreed, but I think we've exhausted the suitable ones from the warehouse and I can't pull guards off Sonny. I think we have to make do and hope for the best. Helena and her men have lost the element of surprise now and hopefully that will play in our favor" Jason responded.

"Ahh well no we haven't exhausted all the suitable men" Cody offered.

"What do you mean?" Jason asked.

"Well while you were in charge I've done a lot of the hiring of men for the docks and warehouses"

Jason nodded "Yeah and I am pleased with the way you've handled it. To a man they have all been great choices, hard working efficient and disciplined"

"Ever wonder why" Cody asked as he saw comprehension dawn on Jason's face..

"Yeah" Jason paused then smiling "they're all ex-military aren't they?"

"Yeah! Guys I trained with, or fought with. Some who were injured in Iraq and pensioned off. But all men I knew I could count on if we were ever forced into another war like the one with the Russians" Cody explained.

"Well I'm surprised I didn't figure it out earlier." Jason nodded. "Are they all aware they are working for the Mob" Jason asked

"Yes! I'll be honest Jason every last man understands what your business is about and they are trust worthy. As long as you don't ask them to attack and kill unarmed civilians or innocents they are okay with whatever we ask them to do. I explained that you only fight when attacked or threatened or to protect your family. That is a ethos they understand and can operate under"

"You say some were injured and pensioned off" Jason queried.

"Nothing serious, just the sort of thing that would hinder constant training and military exercises. The military can be pedantic about things. But they are all fit and capable enough for what we need them for, and all highly trained. There isn't one of them that I wouldn't trust to watch my back" Cody assured him.

Jason nodded again "Well I don't like that you are discussing the business with everyone Cody" Jason shook his head "but at this point in time I'm going to trust you to find the ones who will want to help out with this"

"Already done." Cody smiled. "I've set up a meeting tomorrow for you to meet them, and to tell them what we are up against. They'll have questions but they can be trusted"

The bedroom door opened and Elizabeth slipped out.

"Jason? I think this call is from Nikolas" she held up the her cell phone that was ringing.

"Come in to the communications rooms and answer it babe" he responded, following her.

Over his shoulder he asked "Cody are they all single men?"

"All except one, he's divorced, no kids" Cody replied, following Jason and Elizabeth.

"Thanks" Jason replied as he prepared for the phone conversation with Nikolas.