Chapter 37
Dante Falconeri sat at his desk and sifted through a large pile of paperwork. burglary on Bishop Road, suspected arson at Pier 52, a shoplifting incident. He ran his hand through his dark hair in frustration, trying to figure out where he was hiding. It was too quiet. Brooklynn hadn't received any messages about the statue since they last spoke and Dante was concerned. Silence should be a good thing, he thought, a sign that maybe this guy had given up. But, deep inside Dante's gut, he didn't think that was the case. His instincts were telling him that he was laying in wait and it chilled Dante deep in his bones as to what his next move might be.
"Mr. Spencer, it's Dante. Give me a call when you get this. I want to go over this statue thing with you. Anyway, if I don't talk to you before tonight, I guess that I will catch you at the rehearsal dinner," Dante said, disconnecting the call, as Lucky Spencer entered the police department.
"Hey, Dante, I didn't expect to see you this morning. How was your weekend?" Lucky asked him as he approached his desk.
"Short. And yours?" Dante answered in return, as he slid his arms out of his brown leather jacket and placed it on the back of his chair. His rolled up the sleeves on his dark blue button-down shirt, his incredible physique emphasized by the brown shoulder-holster that held his police-issued 9mm. He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, as Lucky shared his activities with his kids over the weekend. Kids, that's something that Lulu and Dante hadn't discussed in awhile. Dante smiled at the thought of a little girl with blond hair, or a little boy with messed up dark brown hair, chasing him around the office.
"So, what do you think?" Lucky questioned him, waiting for an answer.
"About what?" Dante replied, missing the question. He reached inside the pocket of his jacket and a grin spread across his face, as he felt the book jacket inside. He and Lulu would have to revisit this story soon, he mused, turning his concentration back to the work at hand.
"What's up?"
"It's about that burglary. You're never gonna guess what turned up missing," Lucky told him, pulling up a chair along side Dante's desk and tossing the file in front of him.
"PC Collectibles?" Dante read, perusing the details of the case, "A pawn shop."
"Look at the item reported missing," Lucky told him, nodding at the paperwork and waiting for Dante's response.
Dante glanced at the contents, scanning the declared items: a few watches, a couple rings, a miniature boat-
"A yacht?" Dante answered in disbelief, staring at the object encased in glass, "Why would anyone want a boat in a glass box?"
"Not any boat, Dante," Lucky told him, waiting for Dante to notice the name.
"The Cassidine yacht?" Dante stated, running one hand through his hair, "I don't understand."
"Why would anyone want to steal it?"
"That boat, at the least the original, transported the Cassidines to the island; the place where the Spencer and Cassidine war all began. I remember my father telling me stories while we were off on some scam, or another, about his and my mother's adventures. The Cassidines actually believed that they could build a weather machine capable of freezing the world," Lucky told him, as an unbelieving Dante tried to soak it all in.
"Freeze the world? That sounds like something in a Superman movie, not real life," Dante laughed.
"Believe it or not, it nearly worked. That model yacht is rumored to house the exact location of the original island compound and the ice chamber. It alongside that black statue of Brooklynn's that he wants so much, is rumored to house the information and plans behind controlling the climate. Something like that in the hands of ones' enemies, you could control the world."
"There's only one problem with that," they heard, as Luke Spencer walked toward them, a look of concern on his face, "That facility was destroyed years ago. There isn't anything left."
"So, why go to all of the trouble to locate a statue and a replica of a boat if the island isn't there any longer," Dante questioned, curious as to the back story behind Lulu's parents adventures.
"I didn't say that it wasn't there, just that it was destroyed. That chamber lies buried beneath the island," Luke told them, "This is the Cassidines that we are talking about here, Dante. If anyone is crazy enough to be behind all of this, I'd bet money their behind it."
…...
"Well, look who decided to show up for work today," Maxie said, as Lulu Spencer stepped off the elevator and dropped her purse onto her desk.
"It's not going to work, Maxie. Nothing you can say will bring me down," Lulu told her, practically beaming with happiness.
"The weekend was that good," her best friend questioned, turning green from jealousy, as Lulu blushed from ear to ear.
"Fabulous, so while you were off sunbathing with Mr. Adonis, I was doing damage control." Maxie said with sarcasm.
"Damage Control?" Lulu asked, sitting down and sliding her chair next to Maxie's desk.
"Hookerlynn, you remember her, don't you?" Maxie told Lulu, raising her eyebrows, "The snake that wrapped herself around Johnny and is trying to slither her way in your man's direction."
"Brooklynn? I'm not worried about her, Maxie. Dante and I are getting married in a week."
"You should be worried, Lulu. Every woman in Port Charles should be locking up their man and hiding the key. She's trouble," Maxie told her, standing abruptly and pointing her finger at Lulu.
"And if you think that I am going to sit back while she tries to crash your bachelorette party, well, it's not going to happen Lulu," Maxie shouted, pacing back and forth in frustration.
"What? Maxie, I told you, no bachelorette party, " Lulu replied, irritated that Maxie had ignored her wishes.
"Lulu, well that is just plain ridiculous. Of course you're having a bachelorette party. I need a bachelorette party. You work for Crimson. Kate will pay for everything. Crimson needs it. You need it. More importantly, I need it. Do you even know how long it's been?"
Lulu lifted her hand, ready to answer when Maxie interrupted, "Don't answer that!"
"I am a single woman, Lulu. I want to see naked skin, rippling abs and hair that I can run my hands through. I need a male stripper. " Maxie demanded, as Lulu gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling, thinking of her weekend with Dante. The memory brought a smile to her face and a scowl to Maxie's.
"You see, this is what I am talking about, Lulu Spencer," Maxie told her, waving her hands in front of Lulu's face.
"What?" Lulu asked, not sure if she wanted to hear Maxie's answer. Lulu was thinking about the last day that she and Dante had spent together, the romance novel and handcuffs. Somewhere off in the distance, she vaguely heard Maxie rambling about her needs, her neglect and her right to be noticed, as she recalled her and Dante's weekend together.
"Earth to Lulu, come in please!"
"Huh?" Lulu replied, snapping our of her daze, "Look, Maxie, I get it. You're used to attention and it's driving you crazy. But, right now this is my moment, my wedding. "And you're not going to ruin it by making me nuts over thoughts of Brooklynn."
"I'm not the one you need to worry about here, Lulu. Open your eyes! From the moment that she arrived in this town there has been an odorous stench in the air. Lulu, its time to take out the trash. Where's the Spencer that I know and love? Are you with me, or not?"
"Not. Sorry, Maxie, I just can't-"
"Can't? You mean, won't," Maxie replied, irritated that Lulu didn't want to assist Maxie in her plans for Brooklynn.
"Whether I like her or not, she's Dante friend. She's family to him and then there's this whole art statue thing," Lulu answered, trying to explain.
"I'm not saying that I like her, Maxie. I think that she is a prima donna bitch. And if she so much as looks in Dante's direction, I will tear her eyeballs out with my bare hands. But...for now, we need her on our side."
"We?" Maxie said, leaning in with curiosity.
"She's involved in this statue theft, somehow, Maxie. I can feel it. I just need to get Dante to believe me."
"So, what you're saying is...you need someone on the inside to be your eyes and your ears."
"Maxie?"
"I know someone perfect for the job. Me!" Maxie told her, smiling. Yes, this could definitely work out. Brooklynn wouldn't see what was coming. No one messed with the men in Maxie's life and got away with it. The tramp deserved everything that was coming to her.
"Maxie, this can't be good. I've seen that look on your face before," Lulu replied, worried.
"Don't you worry about a thing, Lulu Spencer. After all, you're getting married in a week. I'll take care of everything."
"That's what I am afraid of, Maxie."
…...
Brooklynn paced back and forth on the pier, oblivious to the colorful reflections off of the water from the sun's rays. She turned and stared off into the distance, wishing she could just disappear and eliminate her involvement in this whole mess. If only life was like an old VCR and she could push rewind, transporting herself back to Athens over two years ago. Would she have done anything differently? Would she have sacrificed everything and everyone she loved? Valentin said it was the price she would have to pay for fame, to see her name in lights and have fans recognize her face. Truth was, she rarely saw her name on display and if fans stopped her its because she reminded them of someone else. Valentin said that they were just jealous of her moment in the spotlight and that she needed to hold her head high, ignoring their contempt. And so she did, showing up for venues that were empty of fans, playing in dive clubs and for rich, spoiled European brats.
Brooklynn had been relieved when he approached her and told her he wanted her to return to Port Charles and she had been ecstatic to learn that Dante Falconeri now made his home here. They were childhood friends and Brooklynn had no doubt that she could seduce him with her charms. After all, she had changed a lot since the last time she saw him, as had he. He was incredibly sexy and she found herself looking forward to wooing him, but then a wrench was thrown into her plans. His girlfriend, Lulu Spencer. Correction, his fiancee.
What Dante Falconeri saw in that incipid snit, Brooklynn would never understand. Dante liked to rescue his girl, to show that he was capable of protecting her and keeping her safe from harm. It was a Falconeri trait, to put women first, your mother and the woman you loved. It was ingrained in him and somehow, someway, Brooklynn had to figure out a way to turn that to her advantage. She was in too deep and if things didn't pan out the way Valentin expected, Brooklynn needed a backup plan.
Then, there was Johnny Zacchara, he was the other thorn in her side at the moment. Him and his ex, Maxie Jones. If the two of them started talking again and put their heads together, it could spell doom for Brooklynn and that was something that she could not allow. No, Valentin's plan needed to go ahead as scheduled, or the next body found in Port Charles may be her own.
"It took you long enough," Valentin told her, as she answered the call on the second ring, taking a deep breath as she saw the number on her caller id.
"It ain't all roses for me, you know," she told him, trying to figure a way to sugarcoat what she was about to tell him, "I don't even have an invite."
"Then you'd better start using your head to find one, Brooklynn. I need you at that party. Do you understand me?" Valentin said, in a demanding tone.
"Yeah, perfectly. I need an invite to Lulu's bachelorette party. But how? Dante's fiancee hates me," she assured him, not sure how he expected her to garner an invite.
"I don't care how you do it, Brooklynn. Just get it done! No more excuses. I'll expect a call from you later with the details of the when and where, understood?"
"I'll call you when I get the invitation," Brooklynn told him, disconnecting the call. How the hell was she going to get Lulu Spencer to invite her? This called for some serious planning. Could she get Dante to ask Lulu to invite her? Wouldn't that just ruffle Lulu's coutoure skirts, Brooklynn smiled, deviously, as she pressed the speed dial button that would guarantee her an invite to the party.
"Hey, Dante. It's Brooklynn, give me a call. Something's come up and well...I'm not sure how to handle it," she cried, using a tone with just enough desperation in her voice to make Dante come running.
"Soon, Lulu. I'm going to wipe that condescending smirk off of your face. You'll be gone, far away from Port Charles. And me, well I'll be here to console your man. Isn't life just a bed of roses." Brooklynn said out loud, as she heard someone approach behind her.
"In your case, it's a bed of thorns. You know, Brooklynn, you should really be careful what you say out loud when you're all alone," Maxie Jones told her, using her finger to make circular movements next to her head, "People are likely to think you are crazy."
"You know eavesdropping is illegal in some countries," Brooklynn answered, suspiciously. Just how much had Maxie overheard.
"Well, not in Port Charles. We make it our business to know everyone else's business. So, Brooklynn, what's up? Last time I spoke with you, you had a sour look on your face and now all of a sudden life is a bed of freaking roses. Whose man are you training your eyes on this time?"
"You're not even worth my time, Maxie. You're just a waste of air, at least that's what Johnny tells me every night," Brooklynn smiled, insinuating that Johnny was still with her.
"You are such a liar, Brooklynn. Women like you, are replaceable, nothing more than a notch in a bedpost," Maxie replied, as she moved closer to Brooklynn, her eyes reflecting her distaste.
"Hm, Johnny's bedpost? I'm kind of surprised that you can keep it straight yourself, Maxie. What, you were so bored with Johnny that you had to move on to Lucky Spencer. Oh wait, who was the original bedpost, that's right, Damien Spinelli. Who has the most notches, now?" Brooklynn answered, maliciously.
"Listen, you boyfriend stealing, viperous bitch. I don't know what you are up to, but I'm making myself a promise to find out. I am going to be on you day after day and night after night until I find out. You won't be able to look into that mirror that you love so much, without seeing my reflection glaring back at you. So, you just remember that when you are feeling overly confident."
"What are you jealous? Hey, there's plenty of men left in Port Charles. Tell you what when I am finished with Johnny, you can have my leftovers," Brooklynn suggested to an angry Maxie.
"Stay away from Johnny and stay away from Dante. He's Lulu's, that means he's off-limits."
"Yo, last time I checked Dante makes his own decisions. If he says that he doesn't want to see me, then I'll go. But, you see Dante and I are family. We look out for each other. He would be so upset, if I told him that you were trying to cause problems. There are people out there that are trying to steal from my mother and poor Lulu god forbid if she were to get caught in the crossfire. Dante would just be devastated."
"Are you threatening me?" Maxie Jones questioned Brooklynn, her ire starting to rise.
"Threats? No, Maxie. I'm just saying what everyone knows to be true, until we find this person that stole my mother's statue, Lulu just isn't safe. This is just more stress that Dante doesn't need," Brooklynn answered in a condescending tone.
"You don't know what Dante needs, Brooklynn. You're not his fiancee and you never will be. Lulu is going to be his wife. So, if I were you and I thank God every day that I am not, I would pack my bags now and get out before the truth is revealed. Because, when it is, if anything happens to Lulu and Dante finds out you're behind it, Brooklynn the fact that you are family isn't going to keep him away from you."
…...
Laura Spencer Baldwin raced along the docks, heading toward the launch that would take her to Wyndemere. She was loaded down with packages and therefore did not see the man before it was too late, plowing into him and sending her bags to the ground.
"Here, let me," the man said, with a familiar accent. He was dressed with European flair and was definitely not from Port Charles.
"I'm so sorry. Clumsiness runs in my family," she told him, as he handed her the packages.
"Can I offer you a hand?" he asked, looking glancing toward the launch where a man stood waiting and quickly turning back to Laura.
"No, I see my son, Nicholas. But, thank you." she said, as he smiled and continued on his way. Nicholas Cassidine walked briskly toward his mother, reaching for her bags, as he watched the man who stood beside her go on his way.
"Is everything all right, mother?" he asked, as a feeling of familiarity prodded at the back of his head, and his instincts told him that something was off.
"It's nothing. I just got a really weird feeling just now, a sense of deja-vu," Laura told him, shaking herself to get rid of the shivers, "It's fine. Just nerves, I guess. It's funny, the bride is supposed to be nervous, not the mother," she laughed, following Nicholas to the pier.
"Mother, Lulu's happy, you have nothing to be nervous about. I have to admit at first, I hated Dante. He worked for Sonny Corrinthos. I just thought that it was Johnny all over again. I didn't want to see Lulu get hurt. But, he proved himself. He's saved Lulu's life more times than I can count. He loves her. I know that now."
"Lulu loves him. The look in her eyes when they are together, well it reminds me of what Luke and I used to have. We were inseparable and so much in love. But, then life happens and things change," Laura said a bit softly, reflecting to her past.
"My father. Do you ever wonder what might have happened had Stavros never been obsessed with you? Do you think that maybe you would have had a different life?"
"Do I hate that Luke and I lost all of that time? Everyday. But, do I regret meeting Stavros? I can't. Nicholas out of all of the pain and fear that Stavros caused, the one good thing he did was give me you. For that reason alone, I could never regret the days I spent with him," Laura told Nicholas, truthfully.
"Come on, the others should be on the island within a few hours and we have a lot to take care of," Laura told Nicholas, as he assisted her into the launch.
"Mother, Alfred has already taken care of the details. Now, we just have to wait for our guests to arrive."
"And Dante and Lulu," Laura said glancing at the time, "They should be arriving shortly after our guests."
…...
"Are you ready, honey?" Lulu asked, walking up behind Dante and assisting him with his tie. Dante hated anything to do with a tie, constantly tugging on it and wrestling with it, "You're nervous."
"Lulu, this is huge. We're getting married on Friday before God and all our family, your family."
"My family loves you, Dante. If anyone should be nervous, it should be me," Lulu assured him, using her left hand to push his hair off of his face.
"What do you have to be nervous about?" Dante asked, grinning, "You get the man of your dreams, he is sexy and quite the comedian. In fact, I've been told that he has the best pickup lines."
"Hm, really, and this man of my dreams, Dante. Are you sure his pickup lines are still going to work?" Lulu answered.
"I'm positive. Hey, he's the best. His lines have been known to sway even the most cynical and pessimistic of women. He even swears that it was his twinkle line that won her heart."
Twinkle?," Lulu said, shaking her head and grinning, as Dante had a look of surprise on his face.
"Who took that twinkle from the sky and put it in your eye?" he told her, as Lulu shook her head from side to side.
"No? What line was it?" Dante asked, her with eyes filled with mirth, "Oh, I know- Were you arrested tonight? Because it's got to be illegal to look that good?"
"No, not that one. But, keep trying," Lulu answered, laughing.
"Oh, here's one: You make me melt like hot fudge on a sundae," Dante replied, pulling her into his arms.
"Mm, I like that one. Makes me crave ice cream," Lulu answered, as she placed a soft kiss upon his lips.
"So, Lulu Spencer, what is your favorite pickup line?" Dante asked, loving the feel of her skin beneath his fingertips.
"You're just trying really hard to get to me and I don't mind telling you, it's working," Lulu answered, as Dante crushed his lips to hers. He kissed her voraciously before releasing her and coming up for air.
"So, I get to you," Dante exclaimed, with brown eyes sparkling, "Admit it. You like me!"
"No," Lulu replied, seriously, "I like playing house with you. But, Dante Falconeri, like you? No, I love you."
"Well, that's good to hear, Lulu. Because I have it on good authority that love lasts until you're old and grey," Dante told her, releasing her and walking toward the bed and grabbing her coat.
"Hm, Dante, please get over here so that I can kiss you," Lulu ordered, as her eyes locked on his and Dante Falconeri had no choice but to do as she asked.