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Chapter 29

She had just changed Michael's diaper and put him in his portable crib when her phone rang. Looking at the number she smiled. "Hi dad!"

"Hi sweetheart." Jeff Webber missed his daughter. It had been too long since they had a visit. "Hold on and let me engage the speaker."

"Hi!" Carolyn had been happy to get the message that their daughter called earlier in the day.

"Hi mom." Liz perched on the arm of the chair. "I'm so glad you guys called me back, I have news to share." She generally got right to why she called whenever they talked because she never knew when her dad would have to return to the hospital. They would do general catching up after this.

"You sound very happy, so I can tell its good news." Carolyn was smiling just listening to Libby's voice.

"I'm getting married." Liz told her parents. "Jason and I are having a small ceremony. More of an elopement with friends actually." She started telling them.

"I get to pick the next vacation spot!" Carolyn said laughing. "Congratulations sweetheart!"

"Vacation spot?" Liz asked laughing at her mother.

"You've mentioned Jason a lot over the past year. Your mother said that the two of you were more than friends, and that you wouldn't say anything until you guys were getting married. She even predicted you eloping." Jeff should have known better than to doubt his wife. When it came to their daughter she was rarely wrong. "Congratulations sweetheart. I can hear in your voice how happy he makes you." He was hoping this would be enough to get his wife to consider once again living in the states. It was time they went home. "I am going to want to talk to him at some point."

"I'm sure he knows that daddy." Liz knew that her dad had more than likely requested a background check on Jason. Her father certainly had access to people that could get that information for him. Just because he was in Europe didn't mean he wasn't concerned about her safety. It was just that her mother needed more care. Liz completely understood that, and she approved. Her parents hadn't left the states until they had her blessing. They asked when she was in college and living on her own. If she had said no they would still be here. "So I have your blessing."

"Of course!" Carolyn told her daughter. Libby was smart about the choices she made. If she had given her heart to Jason, then he was worthy of it. "Send me pictures from the ceremony."

"I will, and video too. I will also send you pictures of your new grandson." Liz shared with them.

"Jason has a son?" Jeff hadn't seen that in the report, so it must have happened after it was run. He knew Libby would have told them if she was pregnant long before giving birth.

"His brother recently died and Jason is, we are, adopting his nephew." Liz knew her parents would love Michael.

"I'm a hot grandma!" Carolyn said excited. Her daughter was going to be an excellent mother. "I can't wait to see him. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks mom." Liz couldn't help but think of her sister at times like this. It was during big life changes that her absence was more pronounced. She knew her parents would be thinking of their daughter as well. Hopefully her mother wouldn't have nightmares, or suffer a relapse of the severe depression that led to the move overseas in the first place. "I don't think I've ever been this happy before."

"I can hear it in your voice. So what kind of dress have you selected?" Carolyn wanted details. "And can I get a picture of the ring tonight?"

"Do you have sunglasses handy?" Liz cracked wise as she pulled up the camera on her phone and snapped a picture before sending it out.

"Whoa momma, look at all that sparkle." Carolyn said enlarging the picture to get more detail. She turned her phone so that Jeff could see. "I may have to start dropping hints about an upgrade to your father."

"I'm right here Carrie." He said laughing at his girls, and using his pet name for his wife.

"Mom, I completely agree that dad needs to step it up." Liz said smiling at the two of them. "He can't be outdone by his soon to be son in-law. Plus Jason needs goals to aim for." Her father had just put a stunning, and huge, sapphire on her mother's hand for their last anniversary. Liz wasn't sure how her mom hadn't pulled a muscle walking around with it on her hand.

"It's not a competition." Jeff said to his girls.

"Yes, it is." Both mom and daughter said in unison. Neither one meant it they just liked messing with him.

"Shouldn't we be discussing something like your dress?" Jeff said turning the spotlight back to his daughter. Still he loved it when he girls teased him.

"We will discuss that after Libby sends the pictures. I'll spare you that conversation." Carolyn told her husband. "Are you guys going anywhere after the ceremony?"

"To Malibu for the week, then back here. There are things that need to happen with the adoption so the trip is going to be short. We will go away again at some point in the future." Liz explained to her parents. "Maybe we could come to Germany."

"We would love to have you here for a while." Jeff let his daughter know.

"If you need a character reference letter all you have to do is say so. In fact we will just write it and email it to you, or your lawyer whichever is easier." Carolyn wanted to help in any way she could. "What do Jason's parents think of you? Wasn't one of your friends dating his brother at some point?" Since Liz stopped mentioning them they must have broken up. "So you must know them."

Liz had mentioned Carly dating AJ, but she hadn't mentioned the marriage. It didn't impact her parents so she hadn't gone into much more detail of her friend's personal life. It turned out to be a good thing because she would have had to tell her mother about Carly's death. If Carolyn read the newspaper she would have made the connection already. But she didn't because it depressed her. No doubt Jeff was making the connection with this conversation. The mention of the adoption would have started jogging his memory. AJ's name might not have automatically registered with her dad.

"I do know them." Liz aid trying to put a positive spin on the relationship. "We aren't that close, but it's not like I spend a lot of time with them. I don't see that changing much after the wedding, because Jason doesn't always have a great relationship with most of his family members. I know Jason's grandmother and sisters better. He is extremely close with them."

"Well I'm sure that since you are joining the family that will change. I don't see how his parents can help but adore you." Carolyn looked at her husband. Their daughter's voice had chilled some, so that situation would bear watching. If the Quartermaines needed to be set straight about how they treated her daughter Carolyn would have no problem with that. No one hurt her little girl.

Jeff patted his wife's hand. From what he had learned about Jason he was not close with a good portion of his family. Those he loved he protected fiercely, if he was marrying Libby then she was on that list. The response to the official ruling of his brother's death would be interesting to observe. Jeff didn't see Jason just letting the person who killed his brother walk away. However the response might not be an obvious one.

"You aren't at all biased though." Having her parents in her corner made Liz feel incredibly loved. "I'm sure the relationship will change as well." Liz said not really meaning it. "Tell me what is going on in Germany." She checked on Michael and then moved to the cushion of the recliner ready to start catching up.


Edward was sitting at a table in the country club that he was extended privileges at due to his membership at the Port Charles Country Club. He had finished a round of golf with a long-time friend earlier in the day. Then they came into the clubhouse to talk. They had discussed a variety of topics, but the main topic of conversation had been AJ's company. Edward's friend was going to make some calls to see if any of his contacts knew who else held shares of Quartermaine International.

His friend had left almost an hour ago and now it was time to meet with the private detective Brian hired. The waiter just refreshed his drink when the hostess escorted a young man over. The man he normally worked with had apparently retired. So Edward needed a new investigator. The person the Quartermaine patriarch was meeting with was considered to be top notch. However he if didn't like what he saw today he would find someone else.

"Mr. Quartermaine." Logan greeted his new client.

"Mr. Hayes, have a seat." Edward pointed to the empty chair across from him. His new detective was young, but his reputation was stellar. Brian had been able to secure some glowing references. "Thank you for meeting with me."

"You're welcome. It's a good thing I was in the state for work." Logan ordered a coffee. He never drank alcohol when he was on the clock.

"Are you working another job at the moment? I need someone who can focus on getting results." Edward didn't share.

"I only work for a single client at a time." Logan told the older man. "It brings in less money, but I am able to deliver those results you are seeking. In business a good reputation brings money in the long run."

Edward liked what he was hearing. "I need you to find someone for me."

"Who?" Logan wanted to know.

"I need a reputable member of her biological family located." Edward said passing over the file Brian had put together. It contained all the information they had on Carly. Unfortunately the only family it mentioned was her adoptive parents. The prior detective could not get past the seal on Carly's adoption file.

"Define reputable?" Logan said looking at the picture with the paperwork. Mrs. Quartermaine's face had been in the news all last week, along with her husband, but that wasn't why he recognized her.

"I need someone that can impress a judge so I can get custody of my great-grandson." Edward told the younger man what the objective was.

"May I ask who has the child now? So I have a frame of reference about what level or reputability I need to shoot for." Logan got that Edward needed someone who cleaned up well but would turn the kid over for a no doubt sizable payment.

"We are going to get along fine." Edward said with a sly grin. "My grandson Jason has the child, so I need a relative with no police record. I don't care what they may or may not have done, I do care if they have been caught or not." He sipped his drink. "This might not be the easiest task, I know my grandson AJ did a search that came up empty."

"Everybody comes from somewhere." Logan said shrugging. "So she has to have people out there. I'm willing to keep looking as long as you are willing to keep paying."

"That's what I want to hear." Edward had no intention of backing down until he had his great-grandson. "She grew up here in Florida."

"Then this is where I'll start. I may need to come to Port Charles, if I do I will not give any indication that I am there on your orders." Logan told the older man. "So there won't be any meetings unless you set them up. I will send you weekly updates if you like, or if you'd rather I will contact you when I find a relative."

"I don't want a bunch of emails that say no progress. You can contact my assistant, Brian Beck. He will let me know when I need to address an issue." Edward didn't have time to waste reading the same thing over and over again.

"Understood." Logan nodded his head. "If you need to contact me my cell phone is the best way to do so. In case you need me to make any changes to what I'm doing."

"A low profile would be best." Edward told his newest employee. "My grandson Jason is a powerful man. You should be aware of that."

"I don't meet with a client before doing my homework. I know who your grandson is. I am smart enough to stay out of his crosshairs." Logan said with a cocky grin.

"Good to know. I don't want him to have any clue about what is happening until it's too late." Edward knew that the element of surprise was his biggest asset.

"I can guarantee a surprise ending." Logan's smile got wider.

"Good man." Edward would pop open a bottle of champagne once he had his victory.


Logan waited until he was back in his hotel room before making the call to check in. "The meeting is over."

"How did it go?" Francis wanted to know. It hadn't been hard at all for them to steer Edward to the 'private investigator' they wanted him to hire. It just took the right person giving him Logan's name and then some doctored references.

"The old man is arrogant, and a piece of work. I can't imagine how screwed up that kid would be if he was raised by Edward." Logan was looking out at the ocean while they talked. Growing up in Texas he rarely saw this much water at once. It was relaxing.

"I have watched Alan and Tracy screw up repeatedly so I don't have to imagine it." Francis said shaking his head. "Jason wants you to go ahead and look for any relatives." If anyone could find members of Carly's family it would be Logan. The younger man was one of the best trackers out there. "We know Carly came here looking for her bio mom. Once we have names we can figure out how to proceed." Meaning if names should be given to Edward or not. Unmasking the older man's plot in court might be the best shot they had of keeping him from trying something like this again at a later date. Or it might just be best to make sure relative never even came to town.

"Not a problem. He mentioned that AJ did a search and came up blank." Logan wasn't sure Francis knew that.

"We know. We have that information. We decided what was in the file Edward received." It appeared AJ's guy was slacking off. "Another search won't hurt, you might find something that the other guys missed. I hate to say it, but the fact that Carly is dead and her son has inherited a lot money might bring relatives forward that saw no reason to speak up before." Francis said as he tapped his pen on the desktop. Those folks wouldn't get very far with that.

"I'll be starting here in Florida." Logan would be checking in regularly so they knew his movements. "You hear anything from Cooper?"

"He's in London, going through what the police have discovered so far. Johnny spoke to him last, so far there is nothing to report." Francis figured Coop would head out to the small village near where the Quartermaine estate was and see if he could pick up any information out that way. He was looking for needle in a haystack. A murder on a deserted road late at night was about as perfect a crime as you were going to get. Still Coop was good at his job, so he might find something.

"I'll leave him be then." Logan would try catching up with his friend when they both had some downtime. "I have my own search to conduct. Will Stan be around if I need tech support?" Logan could talk himself into pretty much anywhere. He expected to have no problem getting access to the adoption file, but if not an expert hacker was great back up.

"Yup. Just give him a call." Francis would give Stan a heads up. They would rather not go that route because it increased the odds of leaving a trail, but they needed that information.

"Good to know. Alright I have to do some work and charge Edward a lot of money." Logan said grinning. He was keeping the retainer and the advance payment from this job, in addition to what Jason was paying him. Not a bad thing at all. "I'll check in next week."

"Yup." Francis said hanging up the phone. Edward was already boxed in and he didn't even know it.


"Hi." Jason came through the door and looked at his fiancée who was wiping away tears. "What's wrong?" He asked walking over to where she was standing by the portable crib. A quick peek showed Michael was sleeping.

"Nothing, I promise." Liz said reaching for a tissue. "I just finished talking with my parents. They gave us their blessing."

"You said that would be the case." Jason replied as he wrapped her up in his arms.

"I'm just missing Sarah." Liz said letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe her. "Losing Carly brought those feelings back, and so does the wedding. I'm not depressed, so don't worry about that."

"It's just that people who should be here aren't." Jason knew because he was wrestling with the same emotions.

"Yeah." Liz said quietly. It was good that she could talk about this with him, but it was sad that he understood so clearly what she meant. "I'm glad that tomorrow's ceremony will be including a remembrance candle." She had picked which ceremony Father Coates would use, and sent it to Jason for final approval. The clergy member knew them both because they attended Sunday service regularly, so he made sure to include that in the options.

"Me too." Jason was happy that they would be taking a moment to honor their loved ones. He would make sure to have a clean handkerchief in his pocket to give to Elizabeth. "Are you staying here tonight?"

"Nope, you and Michael will be left to your own devices. Try not to get too rowdy." Liz looked up at him and smiled. "I'm staying at Skye and Cody's house. Em and Matt are staying there as well. They don't want your parents to know they are here until after the wedding. I'm looking forward to seeing Emily again."

"I'm glad you guys are getting along." Jason remembered AJ worrying about how Emily, and then Skye, would feel about Carly.

"One less source of drama." Liz said laughing. She knew that wasn't what he was talking about.

"Have you heard from Steven?" Jason knew that she had called and left a message.

She shook her head. "He warned me that he wouldn't be around much the next couple of weeks. He'll be happy for us when we share our news."

Jason leaned forward. "I can't wait for tomorrow." Anticipation wasn't really something he felt often. At the moment the clock was moving entirely too slow.

"Me either." She said smiling. "I'm getting hungry, let's go make dinner and you can tell me about the part of your day that we were apart."

Jason moved the crib so they could see it from the kitchen and followed his girl into the other room to see what she had put on the menu.


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