I used Venice, mainly because it is romantic to write about, but when we visited all I could see was dirty water and beautiful buildings sinking into the canals. Of course I was pissed because we were supposed to have left for Rome, so that may have something to do with it. But when I picture Jason and Liz, the area around Tuscany including Siena and Venice is where I picture them.
PJ: Jason was always going to tell, mainly I wanted to have it show to Liz that he had been about to make a mistake, but was learning. That the fear of the past is still there. Not sure why the ladies wanted that, but they did. Sam is going to be strung along a little longer, then have the boom lowered on her. BTW that note not getting to Liz is going to be significant later on. My own little twist, depending on what the ladies are up to. lrn2run: That was how we pictured Edward, cranky and still loving his wife and his grandson. I always thought David Norris the original Edward did that best.
At the same time as the last chapter
Maxie lay in the very nice bedroom she had been assigned in Kate's house and thought on what her boss had said to her as well as what Lucky had said. She could still hear his telling her it had been a crush and like sleeping with Lulu without the ick factor.
It hurt but like Kate said crying over it would do no good. It would be better to face facts. Lucky Spencer used her, lied to her and finally apologized to her. But that she had done the same to herself. She had let grief turn her into someone who let a man use her for drugs. She had paid him to sleep with her. That she had not had some kind of grand romance with Lucky Spencer.
They had spent a good part of the night talking about her childhood and growing up envious of Elizabeth and Emily for their friendship with Lucky. Kate had asked her what Elizabeth had actually done to her. To make a list of things that she had personally done to harm her.
She had sat down and written the list coming up with almost thirty items. Kate then took the list, going item by item made Maxie face the fact that Elizabeth had done actually only one thing to her. That was the slap her face and insulting her AFTER finding out she had slept with her husband and fed him drugs.
Kate had forced her to see that she had been the one who had hurt Elizabeth, it hurt but she had to admit that her jealousy of Elizabeth had been foolish.
Kate's comment was still ringing through her ears, that the very people who seemed to dislike Elizabeth Webber like herself, Carly and Sam saw something in Elizabeth they wished they had. When she had snarked back what two illegitimate kids and a career she worked hard at.
The magazine owner had smiled wistfully and said "No, Elizabeth Webber is one of those women who was born beautiful, raised to be a classy forgiving person. Who will be remembered always for the good she does, no matter what else she may do."
"What do you mean?"
"Elizabeth will more than likely marry Jason Morgan some day soon, now if it was your friend Sam or even Carly it would be looked up as a step up, but for Elizabeth most people would consider marrying her a step up for Jason. That is a sign of a very classy woman."
Sam woke up to being told someone is waiting for her. "Who?"
"I have no idea. His name was Francis Corelli." Said the bored guard. Even the latest gossip about this inmate was starting to bore him. Moving quickly she saw officers were glancing sideways at her as she was being lead to Francis. Wondering about the smirks, she sat down asked the blond what was going on?
"Nothing, you are going to hear something today. I wanted you to know it won't change anything. Things had to happen to make sure it went down the correct way. I want your reaction to be real, so I can't tell you anymore." He said with a smirk. "We are starting to redecorate the penthouse, as a symbol of starting over. Do you need anything?"
Grateful for his attention, she said "Just to talk to Jason, but I do understand that I can't have that yet. Thank you for all of your help."
Francis chuckled inwardly thinking it was the first time in his life that he had ever been thanked by the victim for setting them up to die. "One more thing, tread lightly around Spinelli. Boy has no idea how it keep a secret."
Sneering she said "You are right about that, I can't wait until he is out of our penthouse, maybe Jason can set him up someplace else. He is pathetic, always needing Jason's attention. At least after the mess with the FBI Jason will have learned to set some boundaries."
"When you talk to Jason, could you ask him to find out who is setting me up?" She asked.
Well aware of the answer to that question, he said "Look, don't play games, we both know you did these things. Jason is beyond it. So stop the lying, it makes you look as green as the kid. Things are in motion by the way for Jason to get custody of his son."
Yup, as soon as Spencer signed the paperwork this morning, all would be taken care of. Then you and the Spencer idiot can just wallow together about how you were tricked. Seeing her smile, Francis said "You are going to need reassurance, but I can't come again. It would be suspicious. But just remember in the end you will get exactly what you deserve."
Spinelli sat there watching the screen, staring at it like he had never seen a computer before. Walking up the stairs to his room, he threw himself down on his bed. She didn't want him here; she wanted Jason's son. She had made him feel important to her, but it was all a lie.
Sam, Sam thought he was pitiable. Did Jason think so too? Crying he slowly fell asleep, so much for the home he had thought he had found.
Lulu entered the penthouse looking for Carly. Her cousin had called asking her to come and visit her. "Carly, why are you here?"
"Long story. But strangely enough, that is not why I asked you here. I need a favor. Can you help me locate Lucky, he was supposed to be meeting me last night but never showed up?"
"Mac called and asked him to come to the station, something about needing him to cover a shift." She said with a shrug. With her mother gone off on some mysterious errand, Lucky had been keeping a close eye on her. "Anything I can do?"
"No, you might want to know the real Jerry Jacks; not James Craig's version is at Mercy awaiting transfer to his rehabilitation center. Momma might need some emotional support."
Getting a shocked "WHAT!" She explained to the blond what was going on with Jerry vs. James.
"So the name who shot Robin and drugged Nik was this James Craig guy?"
Lucky walked into the warehouse and handed Francis the papers. "I talked to my brother; he gave me the news. I just wanted to say that I wouldn't have created a scene over it." He said about the wedding.
"We know; I was going to tell you last night, but you were working and I am avoiding Mac Scorpio."
"Is this about Sam McCall?"
"Yes, it is." He said grimly. "What can you tell me about Diego Alcazar and why he murdered Emily and Georgie. The theory that he was this Text Message Killer never made any sense to me."
"He confessed to Elizabeth, if it had just been Sam, I might doubt it now, but he told Elizabeth he killed her." Lucky said. "Why do I get the feeling you doubt he is the killer?"
"Something doesn't feel right. Yes, I do believe he came back to town and said he was the killer, I also believe he wanted revenge on Jason for his father's death. But from what I have researched, he wouldn't have killed Georgie. He had feelings for her. I think something is off about that case."
"I am leaving to look for my dad after the trial; I will get you the case files. Who knows you may find your answers. I was there and it fits but it doesn't." He admitted as he walked out the door thinking that the Italian was correct. At the time they had accepted the man's confession, but why? He was a known liar, who didn't have the strength to lift Cooper Barrett, so how did he manage to kill a former soldier and cop.
Heading to the station, Lucky arranged for all the files and copies of forensics to be shipped to him. He had already decided to completely resign from the force, so this bit of rule breaking didn't really matter anymore.
Seeing Sam being lead to out in chains for her trial, he nodded at the detective who told her that her attorney wanted to speak to her first in the witness room. Lucky knew that she was going to go ballistic when she saw the pictures that had been downloaded all over the Internet this morning.
Standing nearby, he smiled when he heard her attorney tell her, but Sam's no-reaction reaction told him that she was being played. Wondering if he was a fool for not telling Mac what he suspected, he thought about Jake and walked away.
Sam was pissed, she knew that Elizabeth must have done something that required Jason... wait, he did this to get custody of Jake. She kept the smile to herself and said "Lets deal with this later; first I want to prove I am innocent."
Maxie took the stand and the Judge had the stenographer repeat the question ""Would you please elaborate on her feelings toward the mother of the infant, Elizabeth Webber?"
Maxie thought about what Kate had said and knew she had to answer. "Sam thought that Elizabeth had stolen her life. That her having Jason's son was wrong, she constantly referred to Elizabeth as weak saying she couldn't handle Jason's life.'
"Where there any specific incidents that you can recall word for word?"
"When Jake was returned, I stopped over and Sam and I talked. She mentioned that Elizabeth had cowered in a corner when the men had attacked. That she, meaning Sam had to shot the bad guys to save them. That she had been overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and that was why Jake was grabbed."
"Thank you. Miss Jones. Could you please tell us your former relationship with Lucky Spencer?"
Maxie was still furious with the man who had entered the courtroom, so she looked at him and said "I had a crush on him when I was a kid and he took advantage of that after my boyfriend's death. I got him the oxycodone he was addicted to in exchange for sex. Looking back I know he used me, lying to me about Elizabeth, about a lot of things. We are acquaintances now."
"When you learned Miss McCall was dating Mr. Spencer, was it before or after his marriage was over."
"Like when he was sleeping with me, it was before. Sam told me she was going to destroy Elizabeth, take away everything she loved. Lucky was just the start." Admitted Maxie.
Sam's attorney leaned over and said "I thought she was your friend."
"So did I." She was certain of it. Maxie Jones and her were a lot a like.
"Miss Jones, could you tell us about your friendship with my client?" Asked the man.
"Sure, we meet when I worked at the boutique in the Metrocourt. We would get together and have bitch sessions about all that had done us wrong in our lives. We had so many of the same people on our list. First and foremost Elizabeth, but also Carly Jacks."
Not wanting to touch that, he asked "Do you think that Miss McCall meant to hurt Jake Spencer."
"Objection, the legal name of the boy is Jake Morgan."
"Fine, Jake Morgan."
"No, I think she meant to hurt Elizabeth and used Jake to do so." She said stunning the courtroom and herself. Then when she started to continue talking the defense attorney tried to stop her.
"Let your witness answer the question." Said the judge.
"As I was saying. She knew that that woman could harm Jake, but didn't care. Then she told Sasha about Jake, knowing there was a chance that he could die. She didn't care. She never did. She admitted that ruining Elizabeth was important to her, she would use Lucky for sex to do so, proves that, I mean he isn't that good in bed, but she lied to him that he was the best ever. Please what a joke." She said rolling her eyes.
Carly and Lulu were waiting to be called. Lulu was on the stand only for a few minutes, answering questions about the day that Jake was grabbed the first time. Then they called Carly to the stand. "State your name."
"Caroline Jacks." She replied. Then Jake asked her about how Sam McCall came to be living with Jason.
"She was pregnant with my ex-husband's kid. We were still married at the time. First Jason claimed to be the father to protect my son but then the truth came out. Sam had fled and threatened to abort the child unless Sonny came to see her. Jason asked her to move in to keep that from happening and offered her money and comfort to protect the baby."
Jake had wanted to get that in there, he was well aware of the Judge's antiabortion stance and wanted to make sure the man knew whom he was dealing with someone who had used an abortion as a bargaining chip. "When the baby died, why did Mr. Morgan let her stay?"
"The truth, or what Sam thinks is the reason?" She snarked.
"How about we start with what Miss McCall has said."
"Sam believes that she stayed because Jason loved her, but it isn't the truth. Jason cared for her, but he has always been a little too complacent. Truth is he didn't want to live in that penthouse alone again. Sam was a warm body more than willing to stay for drug rush and the money."
Jake quickly ran through what she knew about the case, about her own kids kidnapping, about how she learned that Jason was the father of Jake. "Did she do it deliberately?"
"Yes, she must have been pissed about something, because she set the delivery of the news to do the most damage. I later learned from Jason that she was pissed that Elizabeth told Lucky about her endangering Jake and Cameron."
When Sam's attorney tried to damage her testimony by recalling her past, Carly was able to use it to prove an earlier point. "See that was how I knew that Jason didn't love her. It was a similar situation to what had happened with Michael. He had gotten attached to Michael and didn't want to lose him. He is like that, he only walked away from Jake because of the fear of his dying. Something she knew and exploited by making sure that Jake Morgan was in danger."
"What about your jealously. You seem to think that Jason will run to you at a drop of a hat according to my client." One more think that Sam intended to put a stop to. She vowed.
"Not any more. When my ex-husband was missing, Jason chose to stay with his family. He and I have talked about it. Now that he is where he belongs, I promised to stop running to him to solve all my problems, I know he is with his own family. Elizabeth, and the boys are who he belongs with."
Sam wanted to laugh, yeah, right. If there was anyone who hated Elizabeth Webber more than her, it was Carly Jacks.
Not able to shake her testimony, Epiphany and Patrick were called next. Jake called Mac Scorpio to prove the Sam's version of events was a lie. "Forensics proved that Elizabeth Webber fired the fatal round. Sam would have died without Ms. Webbers help.
Followed by Audrey Hardy, then the finally witness of the day rushed in. "Sorry, I just got back from a quick trip." Said Monica as she was called to the stand.
After explaining about learning the truth about Jake, they asked her about the drugs. "Patrick Drake had stocked it along with Epiphany, I was getting drugs for a patient belonging to Matt Hunter a resident so we went to get them and found them missing."
"You recently informed the police commissioner that you recalled seeing Sam McCall that day, are you sure you aren't upset about your grandson?" Asked Sam's attorney.
"No, we have an outside security firm as the result of last year's problem with a student nurse helping an HMO take over. They located the security tape of Sam at the hospital just this morning and gave it to Nik Cassidine who is outside waiting to give it to the DA."
Sam couldn't believe that Nik would turn it on against her. "Your honor, I need to make a copy of that tape for the defense and myself. May we adjourn to tomorrow morning?"
"Yes, how many witnesses do you have left that you are going to call from your list?"
"I believe at least five, sir."
"Fine, we can wrap up the prosecution's case by the weekend, then." Said the Judge.
Spinelli was looking at the picture on his computer that Francis had showed him. "Jason got married without telling me?"
"Yes, look Spinelli. You seem like a decent enough guy, but the thing is. You are a friend, like Carly, like I am, like a lot of other people in Jason's life. He wants the best of all of us, but right now, he wants you to understand something. You don't have a monopoly on that friendship. Jason had a life before you came, and there are things you don't know about. You seem to think his life began when Sam McCall came into it, the fact is it really was a small blip of his life."
"He loved her. I know he did." Even as he got that he no longer did.
"No. He wanted some happiness in his life at the time. But Jason, he lost a lot a couple of years ago. The Jason who came to live after that coma, who raised Michael that first year, who fell in love with an eighteen year old girl in an art studio. That Jason would not have let you in. And I think you know that."
"But that man is long gone, he changed, we all do." protested Spinelli.
"At the most basic fundamental level we don't." Said Francis hating this touchy feely stuff. Johnny had suggested trying it since the tough love didn't seem to be working either.
"Sonny came to town out for himself and willing to hurt anyone to get what he wanted. He is going to jail that exact same man. He has had moments of kindness, but even they were mixed with moments of selfishness. Ask Brenda Barrett, ask Carly Jacks. Better yet ask Lily Rivera, ask Reese Marshall, wait you can't. His selfishness was why they are dead."
"But what does that have to do with Jason?"
Francis hated to reveal anything that personal to him but knew he had to reach this kid. "Several years ago, Elizabeth lived here with Jason, but Sonny faked his death. I won't go into details, but I was aware that Jason had planned on heading to Europe with Liz after dealing with it. I was supposed to ship is bike and some things when he found a home base for them."
"Instead Sonny left Elizabeth out of the plan, mainly out of spite for Jason rescuing her earlier that year and ignoring Sonny's orders. Elizabeth walked out and Jason spun out of control."
"Stone-Jason." He said. "Jason, doesn't do out of control"
"Yes, he does. Spinelli, I know what I am talking about, Jason became this pod person and over last few years that was where he hid from the pain of losing her. When they got a chance, Jason was still terrified he would lose her, but now they are talking about it, dealing with it. Elizabeth isn't going to leave Jason, and Jason isn't going to leave Elizabeth. They are together and you need to accept that. Two days from today we are going to start renovating these penthouses, you will be moving in with me."
"St-Jason told me I could stay as long as-"
"Things change. Jason wants me to teach you to live in the real world, so you can live without the protection he has been providing these last few years." Jason hadn't said that but Francis got that it would be easier to deal with the kid if he believed it. What Jason had said was to get him out, get him under control and make him face up to reality. He was furious with what he had tried to do for Sam.
Spinelli didn't know it, but he was very lucky to even be alive after this latest stunt. He had tried to arrange for a guard to help get her released on her way to the courthouse. Then he had set up false names and ids for Jason and Sam. Francis had only found it out when one of their forgers had contacted him.
"Does Jason think I am weak?"
"Only as far as it concerns women." Said Francis telling him the truth. That it was like waving a piece of blood meat in front of a hungry lion, he kept to himself.
"Does he want me to stop working for him?" he asked.
"Working, no, he doesn't. Nor does he want you to stop being a friend, but you need to understand, Elizabeth and the boys are going to be coming first. That is why I am here. To help you and maybe we can find a way for you to be with Maxie, but for now. I think that both of you have a lot of growing up to do."
Sam took the copy of the paper and the picture from the Internet that some helpful person had placed in her cell and looked at them. Reading the article that this Tiffany Hill had written for the society pages, she wanted to puke.
Venice, what a joke. Who gets married in Venice? That had to be Elizabeth's idea. Crossing the canal in a boat, Cameron acting as best man. The Quartermaine's in attendance that was all on Elizabeth. There was no way that Jason had that done.
Listening to the description of the dress, something tickled the back of her memories, but didn't connect. Looking at the modest diamond, she sneered, hers from Jason had been huge, nice and flashy. Not some rock he picked up at some corner shop on the way to the church.
"You know your face freezing like that wouldn't be a good idea, trust me, I know about freezing." Said the dark haired and darkly tanned man standing in front of her looking like a lounge lizard. "You know you don't look a thing like I expected. I would have thought you would have your mother's hair color."
"Who are you and why are you annoying me?" She asked looking back down at the article.
"No one important. I am your I guess... wait no I think it is closer than that. Lets see, Alexis is my brother's child, Nik is what exactly, let's see, the prince, but what else?" He asked in his smoothly silken voice.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to let you know, you stirred up quite a nasty little hornets nest and I know the truth. See Helena Cassidine wants your blood. Except when challenging the Spencers or my, oh whatever Nik is to me. So my guess is that you die a very painful death my dear. Unless I decide to help you, but I can't decide if I want to."
"I mean, if I bring you home, my wife would be pissed. My sons might try to kill you, oops, that's right. Helena thought I might try to rescue you. So she had them all killed. You know I rehabilitated myself, moved on. Even made peace with my past, now thanks to you, you little bitch, my family is dead. I am here for the show. I can't wait until Morgan kills you. In fact I want a front row seat."
"You will have a long wait." She sneered.
"No, I won't. See Morgan is playing you. He truly does love that lovely Webber girl. No one else gives a crap about you and I can't wait for your death. See you set Helena's people up cost them their lives. She had a thing going with her attorney and her henchmen. Shocking in a woman that old, but hey, you do what you got to do."
"Why do you think this matters to me?"
"Oh, I am certain it doesn't. But I thought it would be bad manners to let you die without introducing myself. I am Victor Cassidine. Your father. I hope you have had a nice life. How is it that it goes, oh, I know? For now it is time to die."
TBC