A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you're enjoying Liason! Guest – Yes Sarah is okay. They aren't super close but they are good.

This one is almost over.

Chapter 29 – Shocking News

Susan walked along the docks and took a deep breath. Everything looked so different. The area had changed a lot since she had been there so long ago. She stopped and looked behind her. All morning she had felt like someone was following her and it was giving her the creeps. Surely it was probably Edward, so she was trying to ignore it, but it still was making her feel uncomfortable. After all, she was shot and "killed" the last time she was in town. Crane saw to that. The WSB was interested in his involvement with a man named Faison which is why they had been tracking him. That was all Robert would tell her. She had never thought he'd take it as far as he did that night. The only reason he wanted to blackmail the Quartermaines was because he hated Lila for moving on with Edward. His family had money—that he didn't need. She, on the other hand, had found it a most enticing. Crane's family blamed her entirely for encouraging his madness. So, until his brother and father died, she was still in seclusion. After that, she was free to do what she wanted.

Her phone rang and she answered. "Hello lover." She said with a sultry air.

"You had his girlfriend arrested?"

Susan smirked. "Yes, I did."

"Are you crazy? I thought you were trying to get in with him." Adam yelled.

"Calm down. I used to it garner a meeting with him and I think I planted some seeds of doubt in his mind and managed to make him curious."

"You're going to drive me to drink."

She laughed. "You need to trust me. I live for this shit."

Adam smirked. "Are you still leaving this weekend?"

"That's the plan."

"Be careful." He said firmly.

"I will." She said softly before putting her phone away. She took one more look around the docks and then went back to her room.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason dropped Elizabeth off at the Towers. Susan had called and he was meeting her for lunch. He needed to be careful about how he reacted to her but that was hard for him. Everyone says that his eyes always give him away. But he was going to have to maintain a stone cold façade with her so she couldn't see what he was thinking. He parked and went upstairs.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Susan smiled when she saw him. "Jason, thank you for meeting me."

Jason gave her a slight smile and sat down.

"You look a little sad."

"I'm fine."

She reached out and touched his arm and it took all the strength he had not to flinch. "Is it work or Elizabeth?"

He purposely winced.

"I know we're not close but I'll listen if you need to talk."

Jason. "I don't know if I feel that comfortable with you yet."

Susan had to fight a smile. He had said yet. "I'm sorry I had her arrested. I was angry. Did she tell you about our conversation?"

"I never gave her the chance."

She was shocked.

"So you fought with her?"

Jason cleared his throat and looked down. "Yes, she shouldn't have hit you."

"I'm sorry I'm causing you pain."

"Elizabeth is the only one causing me pain right now."

Jason's stomach clenched. He hated saying anything bad about his girl.

She thought it was better to change the subject. "Is your family going to be mad at you for visiting with me?"

Jason rolled his eyes. "We're not on the best terms right now either."

"I'm sorry. Clearly my presence is causing a lot of issues for you and truly that was not my intent."

"Again not your problem." He said firmly.

Susan took a sip of her drink. "Jason, I do have to go back home soon but it's not that far."

"Where are you living now?"

"Pennsylvania."

Jason was surprised. "I see."

"So the question is, are you willing to take my calls and maybe develop a relationship with me?"

Edward growled and they both looked up, surprised to see him. "You are a she-devil, showing up the way you did and then having Elizabeth arrested. You stay away from Jason."

Jason sighed. "Grandfather…"

"No, she's a monster. I forbid this." He yelled.

Jason looked at him like he was crazy. They hadn't discussed doing this and he figured Edward was improvising. It was just like him to go all rogue. "You don't get to tell me what to do." He said firmly. "You are making a scene. I suggest you go back to your table."

Edward narrowed his eyes. "If you decide to let that snake into your life, after all she did to this family, than you are no longer welcome at the mansion."

Jason's mouth dropped open. "She's my mother."

Edward leaned over. "No, Monica is your mother. She just donated a few chromosomes and abandoned you." He said pointing to Susan who was enjoying the show.

"She had no other choice." Jason said.

Edward frowned. "Have you hit your head? Because that is the most idiotic thing I think you've ever said to me."

"You need to leave." Jason growled.

"I meant what I said Jason. You have a choice to make. It's either her or your family; choose wisely."

Jason watched him walk away and then rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry." Susan said. "This is all my fault." She said before getting up and running towards the elevators.

He watched her disappear and as soon as the doors shut, Edward ran back over to him.

"Was that too much?" He asked.

Jason shook his head. "You are unbelievable. No, I don't think it was too much. In fact, I think she just got just what she wanted."

Edward smirked and rubbed his hands together.

Jason's phone rang. "Yeah."

"It's Spinelli. We need to talk."

"Edwards is with me. Should I bring him?" Jason asked.

"Yes."

He looked up at Edward. "Meet me at the office."

"I'll ditch Tracy and meet you in the parking garage." He said hurrying towards his table.

Jason paid for lunch and then went to the elevator. This couldn't be good.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason walked into his office with Edward hot on his heels. Spinelli was sitting there waiting for them anxiously.

"What's going on?" Jason asked as he sat next to Spinelli. Edward took the chair behind the desk.

"The maternally challenged one has been very bad."

Jason looked at Edward for a moment before focusing back on Spinelli. "How?"

"She is engaged to the Evil One."

"Chandler?" Jason asked.

Edward just shook his head. Thank God Jason spoke Spinelli.

"Yes."

"I knew they were in cahoots." Edward said loudly.

"But what's their angle?" Jason asked.

"I don't know. I've been thinking about that. I did threaten to take everything from Adam. Maybe she's a distraction." Edward said. "You know, a divide and conquer sort of thing."

Jason nodded. "Spinelli, keep a close eye on the stocks."

"I'm going to start leaking Chandler secrets to the press. I told him not to mess with me. Now, he's going down." Edward said angrily.

"Just be careful. There can't be any trail." Jason said.

"Leave it to me." Edward said almost sinisterly. He was done with Adam Chandler. Sending that blight on humanity to bring him down was the last straw. Game on.

Jason wasn't sure he liked the look in Edward's eyes but, at this point, there was probably no stopping him. He wanted Chandler to pay too.

Jason stood up. "Alright, I'm going home. I'll call Susan so she thinks I sided with her."

"I need to talk to Spinelli." Edward said.

Jason left and went down to his car. He just hoped no one got hurt at the end of the day because of Adam's need for revenge.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason walked into the penthouse and Liz stood up.

"How did it go?"

"Edward showed up and made it more interesting. He told me that it's either Susan or the family and she left me sitting there."

"Really?" She said with her eyes wide.

Jason pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "I'll call her in a bit and apologize."

She pulled back and looked up at him. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay. I don't enjoy any of this. It's a little stressful but I'm not going to let her come into town and destroy my family."

"I understand."

"Spinelli was able to do some digging and it turns out that she's working with Adam Chandler."

Liz sighed. "I guess that's really not a surprise."

"We're just not sure what the angle is." Jason said.

"Clearly they want revenge but it's a weird way to go about it."

Jason sighed. "I agree. I think they might be trying to distract us. Maybe by getting me away from the family, it leaves Edward wide open for an attack."

Liz directed them over to the couch.

"I hate all of this but if it keeps my family safe, then so be it." Jason said quietly.

She nodded.

"You know, you're included when I say family right?"

Liz slowly smiled. "We've come a long way haven't we?"

Jason smiled back. "We have and I'm looking forward to a great future."

"Me too." She said cuddling into his side. She decided she would enjoy the calm before storm because she knew that whatever Adam and Susan were planning would probably throw them all into a tailspin. The question was how much damage would be done and who would be left standing.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

The next few days went by without anything monumental happening. Susan called Jason and asked if he could see her for lunch. As he made his way to the table, he thought about how Susan could be so cold as to side against her son after she had ignored his existence. What messed with his head was that he really didn't have a feeling about her one way or another. She was nothing to him; a complete stranger. Normally, he would be boiling over with anger but right now. He just wanted her to go away and never come back.

"Jason." She said with a smile, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Hi." He said sitting across from her.

"I just wanted to have one more lunch with you. I'm leaving tomorrow."

Jason was surprised. "Oh, I thought you were staying until Sunday."

"I was but something came up that I need to take care of."

"Are you coming back?" He asked. This was not what he was expecting.

"Not for a while but I do intend to come back and see you." She said nicely.

Jason sat back in his seat. He couldn't, for the life of him, figure out what she was up to.

They ordered.

"So, tell me about your fiancé."

Susan smiled. "He's great, attentive, and a very good businessman."

"You seem happy."

"I am. I hope you find happiness someday too." Susan said.

Jason didn't say anything.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm good."

Susan drank some of her iced tea disappointed that Jason seemed to have shut down. Even though she was playing a dangerous game, he was still her son and on some level that was starting to get to her a little. Adam had promised her that Jason wouldn't be hurt going forward; just Edward and the rest of the snotty Quartermaines.

The waitress sat some food down on the table and they both ate quietly.

"You hate me don't you?" She asked watching his reaction closely.

Jason looked up. "Why would you think that?"

"You're so quiet."

"I honestly don't know what to say to you."

"Jason, I can't go back into the past and fix what broke. I can only take responsibility for my actions and move forward." She said emotionally.

Jason sighed. "I get it but it doesn't mean I have to like it. You can't waltz back into town and expect me to just forget everything."

"I'm not expecting that. I knew this was going to be difficult on you, but would you rather that I had just stayed away. Weren't you ever the least bit curious about me?"

"I put you out of my mind just like you did to me." He said coldly.

"Touche." Susan said before taking a big gulp of her drink.

"I'm sorry. It's just the way I feel." Jason said trying to back down a little. The more time he spent with her, the more disgusted he felt; especially since she was lying.

"It's okay. I don't want you to feel like you can't tell me what's on your mind." She said with a small smile.

"This was just a lot to deal with. I'm still trying to process it all."

She nodded and they finished eating.

Her phone rang and she stepped away to answer it. Jason watched her as she spoke to someone very animatedly. She ended the call abruptly and then walked back over to the table looking flushed.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Suddenly, I'm not feeling so well." She said lying. "Would you mind if I went to my room and laid down for a while?"

Jason shook his head. "Go ahead. I'll take care of the bill."

She touched his arm and then turned and walked away and when the elevator doors shut in front of her, Jason called Edward to let him know what transpired.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason went back to the office and got back to work. It was hard to concentrate with so much going on but he knew he had to read through a new contract. So, he did his best to focus. Feeling Elizabeth's presence, he looked up and his eyes met hers.

"Hey." She said walking in and sitting down across from him. "Were you going to stop and eat?"

Jason frowned and looked up at the clock and gasped. "It can't be 7:00."

Liz smiled. "It is."

He wiped his hands over his face. They heard a commotion and suddenly Edward appeared in the doorway. "Jason—I…" Edward paused and Jason stood up.

"What happened?"

"It's Monica." Edward said painfully.

Liz watched Jason's body flinch like he was just punched in the gut.

"Edward just tell me."

"She's been arrested."

Jason frowned. "For what?"

Edward sucked in a deep breath. "For murdering Susan."

Jason's mouth dropped and he vaguely felt Liz's arm encircle his waist.

Edward moved closer to them. "I'm sorry to tell you this way but she's in big trouble."

"Did you call Diane?" Liz asked.

"She's on her way."

Jason suddenly became coherent again. "Let's go."

Liz took his hand and they all went down to the car.

"I'm going to drop you off at the mansion. I thought maybe you could keep Lila company." Edward said to Liz.

Liz nodded. "That's fine."

"Thank you."

Jason squeezed her hand. "We'll come get you as soon as we can. There are two guards at the mansion. So, you should be safe. Cody is following us as well."

"I'll be fine. You just make sure Monica is okay." Liz said.

Jason kissed her before she slid out the car and then they were on their way again.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Susan was dead. Jason felt like he should be sad on some level, but he almost felt relieved. If it weren't for the fact that Monica was in jail for doing it, he would have thought there was some kind of poetic justice involved.

They car pulled up to the station and they all got out and walked inside.