Truth or Die
Chapter 55
Mac walked back into the station, wishing that Laura had chosen a different night to end Luke's life. Tomorrow was Robin's wedding day and yet she was now on her way here to help deal with the woman.
Seeing Lainey looking around, he asked why she wasn't with Laura?
"I'm actually looking for her. The officers said she asked to go to the ladies room and a female state trooper who was here dropping some files off, escorted her in. That was fifteen minutes ago. I just arrived from the party and was looking for them."
Mac thought about it, then called the local barracks, he had a nagging suspicion as to what had happened. After talking to the Captain, it was verified, "I think that Laura is gone. Search the building top to bottom, but I would say she is on a plane to Greece even as we speak."
"We should notify the Greek authorities." said the Mayor as he walked in.
"Sir, the Cassidine Island is much like Monaco, a separate principality, they have no authority to arrest her once she arrives. Nik has his own private landing strip. Plus we have no chance of convicting her for the murder." said Alexis as she walked from her office.
"Were you aware what your nephew had done?" he asked.
"No, but I just got off the phone with Nik, he was unaware of Laura's plan to kill Luke until I told him. However he won't give his mother up. We also stand no chance of getting a conviction, Laura has spent years in a mental institution, she very wily killing Luke where he raped her all those years ago."
The Mayor interrupted asked "What? Spencer raped his wife?"
"Yes, it happened a long time ago. The defense could use that to get her off, if diminished capacity didn't work. We also have the death of Lucky, the shooting of Lulu. This wouldn't end well."
"So we let a murderer get away with killing the former Mayor?"
"Don't worry about it. Jackie Templeton called to verify some information, she is going to write up a story so that it portrays things in a way to help Laura. This will just fade away unless Bobbie wants to peruse it."
"She doesn't. I talked to her after finding the body. She agrees that enough pain and suffering has gone on. She said she hoped Luke can find peace now. Tracy Quartermaine had the same reaction, but she is also a little worried. Said Spencer was talking about wanted revenge on those that hurt his children."
"We warn Morgan and Zachara, then you should stay out of it. We might get lucky and be able to solve the organized crime problem for once."
"Mr. Mayor, my daughter is the one that Luke blames, however, I will not sit back and allow innocents to die. Whether or not you care to admit it, Morgan and my son-in-law have never been convicted of a crime worse than train-surfing and speeding."
"I'm just saying..."
"That you really want me to tell the public how an interim appointed official was willing to let two men die for no reason." said the honeyed voice of Tiffany Hill as she walked in with Sean.
The Mayor backed away, saying he had things to do.
"So it's true. Laura poisoned Luke and fled."
"Yes, Sean, Tiffany, this is Lainey Winters. I will be with you in just a moment. I need to let Robin know that she doesn't have to come here after all."
Johnny pulled Georgie over on top of him, saying we really need to find out what is going on and your distracting me won't work.
"Why not? she pouted as she got out of bed. Walking over to her closet, she grabbed her robe then said "So I gather you like spending time with Cameron."
"Georgiana, don't even think about it. Now tell me why you left the party?"
"Luke, that's all. Just like I have said for the last two times."
"Then you promptly distracted me. Georgie, come here."
"No." she said as she went to the sofa and picked up her textbook and a highlighter. Johnny didn't even bother with a robe, he just went over and gently removed the book from her hand.
"Is there something wrong with me?" she asked.
"What?" he was thrown by the switch in moods.
"Maxie lied to me tonight. She told me that she knew nothing about any presents from Frisco. I think he sent her things but not me. So why? I have always known he didn't want me, but once I existed why did he pretend I was never born." Johnny saw the unshed tears and pulled her into his arms saying we have no idea what was going on, but I think you need to sit down with him and ask.
AJ was bored. He had already mentally planned the spring vine rotation in his head before remembering he had sold the vineyard. As soon as he left here the papers were to be signed. Next he tried to imagine how the conversation with Edward was going to go.
That worked to keep him occupied for a few more minutes. He avoided thinking of Nadine, that would cause a problem that he couldn't solve with his arms restrained. He knew he had to avoid thinking of the plan. Some part of him had a hard time dealing with the idea of sending two women to a country far away and leaving them in a hospital there.
However the harm that these two women had caused and could cause in the future made the idea a little more palpable. Finally he started to fall asleep, when he heard what he had been waiting for.
The orderly slipped into the room saying "Hey, I'm Cassius. Jason told me to tell you that it is all set. I made contact with Carly when she was admitted. She did recall me from GH. I told her that I was not asked to come back to GH, problems with the head nurse. I'm in, she trusts me."
"Good, just watch your back. Courtney is the dangerous one. Carly is the planner but the other blond will harm you if she thinks you are in the way."
"Not a problem, I know Elizabeth from the hospital and Morgan has been really good to my Mom."
"Just be careful, I don't want to lose someone while doing this."
"Just watch yourself. I know about the past between these two women and the fake AJ. They hate him and right now, Carly wants him dead for Michael not truly being a Quartermaine."
Jason was holding the cool cloth as Elizabeth gave Cameron some medicine, he had a fever and an ear infection according to Jeff. "Dad, thanks for coming out." she said as she held her fussy son.
"It's fine. You know, you had a few of these when you were a kid. You outgrew them when you were in the second grade."
"I just wish there was more I could do for him. I knew he was cranky but thought it was because he didn't go to school today."
"It is normal, Elizabeth. The antibiotic will help, he will be fine in the morning." Jason took their son who fell asleep as soon as his head landed on his father's shoulder.
"How are you dealing with the Laura and Luke situation?" he asked as he held onto his daughter's hands.
"I saw that Luke was becoming a loose cannon and knew he would run. It's what he does. Then when I talked to Laura this morning, I got the feeling she was saying goodbye. I never suspected this."
"I was here during Laura's marriage to Scott Baldwin. To look back it's strange. They were so in love, but then the rape happened and something just changed. I hate to say it but I feel sorry for Baldwin, and Laura, but have no sympathy for Luke."
"I have to say, the majority of the people at the party were stunned it was Laura that did this, but at the same time I didn't hear a lot of regrets that Luke was dead. I think this time last year it might have been different, but Luke and Lucky did a lot of stupid and foolish things."
"The truth is that Luke could have had the world, but he never wanted to take responsibility for his actions. Look what he did to Bobbie. Even his own children. Not that I'm exactly a paragon of being correct in how to raise kids, but Luke." he just stopped and shook his head.
"Jason, does anyone other than us know about Matt? Should we tell him?"
"Yes, I have someone letting him know as we speak." was all he said.
Matt sat there, not sure what he should say. "Thank you for telling me about Luke, but I only knew he was my father for a day."
Tracy was grateful that Jason had given her this task. She needed to be doing something or she would lose it. She had always known that Luke would come to a bad end, but it was difficult to believe that Scott and he had both died on the same day, after decades of chasing after a woman who in the end had wanted neither of them.
"You are my stepson. We need to go and see Bobbie Jones, she has to be told. Lulu is in Greece with her other brother, but right now the Spencer family needs some good news. Let's be the ones to give it to them."
"Bobbie dislikes me, my being related will not be good news." he said but he went to get dressed anyhow.
"Matt, she forgave her daughter for destroying her marriage and sleeping with her husband, her brother for making her turn tricks. She will come to accept you. From what I understand you were just trying to get the wrong family to accept you."
Tracy sat there, waiting and grieving for Luke, but she could at least do one good things, she could reunite Matt to his true family.
Spinelli went down the stairs and saw Maxie hugging a bottle of vodka. "Maxie?" he asked worried.
"Hello, Damian, do you mind if I call you that." she said as she walked over and started to remove his clothes.
"Maximiasta, I really don't think you want to do that. Remember we are friends, not lovers." he said as he tried to pry her hands off his pajama buttons.
"But I really do want this. I'm tired of being scared. I want to live for once. Really, really live."
"This wouldn't be living, this would be making the pain go away."
"You, have a really nice body, you do know that don't you." she said running her hands against his bare chest. Spinelli closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her soft hands, but he reached up and regretfully said "No."
"Please, Damien, I need to make the pain go away."
Swallowing the bitter pain of the fact that she wanted him only because he was available he caught her hands saying "Let's go to bed."
"NO!" She shouted. "Don't you see, I need you. Please I need you."
"Maxie, you will regret this in the morning." he said softly.
"Your right. I know that. I mean why would you want a future with me, I can't have kids, I'm an emotional wreck most of the time, I tell you what to do, but the thing is. I love you. I shouldn't, I mean, you dress most of the time like you picked your clothes out of the laundry hamper after buying them from a thrift shop. You are way too smart. I have to really try and think to keep up with you, but this heart it wants you. See I think it is BJ, she is the one you should be with. Maxie shouldn't want you. She should. I shouldn't be here." with that she collapsed into a pile of tears still holding onto him.
"I love you, but you are way too good for me. I lie, I cheat, I steal if it will get me what I want. I slept with someone for no other reason than a childhood crush. I slept with someone else out of revenge."
Spinelli just sat there holding onto her, his tears melting into hers. "I lied to Georgie tonight, but it was a continuation of a bigger lie. I have a secret. My dad is an ass." she said hiccupping.
"The stalwart commissioner has done something to upset you?" he asked.
"No, my other dad. He is the ass, he should be taken out and shot. Stood up against the wall and ping, one bullet right in the kisser." she said now giggling at the images in her head.
"He is a jerk. He doesn't love us. He never did." with that she stopped and looked at Spinelli. "You, you would never abandon your daughters, you would love them no matter what." she reached up and pulled his head down. When he could feel the hot breath as she exhaled softly, she said "I love you, I do. I know you don't love me, but please make me forget how much I hate Frisco."
Spinelli struggled but managed to put some space between them and half carried half dragged her up to bed. Once there, she refused to let go and he found himself falling asleep not realizing that he had done exactly what she wanted, he had made the memories she wanted to forget go away.
Jax heard the pounding on the suite door, as he pulled it open he saw Brenda and Skye standing there together "What did you do to Emily?" he heard the accusing tone of voice and went to shut the door only for them to force their way in.
"Why are you doing this?" accused Brenda.
"Just what am I doing?"
"Tell me you don't like her?" said a calm Skye from the window.
"Why are my ex-wives here asking me this?"
"Because we are worried about you. I see how you look at her. You have feeling for her."
"She is you sister." he pointed out to Skye and then said to Brenda "Why would either of you want me involved with her. Better yet why would she tell you want happened?"
"She didn't. I came over here last night. I heard the two of you talking. Jax, don't toss away a chance at a good life out of loyalty to some rule you have made up in your head. If you have feelings for her go for it."
"You need to reconsider whether or not you are sane, as for you, what part of she is your sister have you forgotten."
"Let's see, first of all Emily is adopted, I mean she is still my sister, but I can actually deal with this since she is adopted. It's not like you are chasing Jason or AJ."
Brenda laughed at that, then turned to Skye saying "That one I would pay to see."
"Me too." laughed the redhead as Jax just stared at them.
Skye decided to she needed to take charge. "Jax, I don't have a problem with it, I'm still trying to deal with the fact that I dated my first cousin. If you have feelings for her, please don't let me hold you back. We dealt with our history ages ago. Emily deserves someone who really care about her and so do you."
"I think that the two of you have been spending too much time together, as for Emily and me, Not that there is an Emily and me, it would be just that our business. Go home." he said firmly as he eased them out the door and shut it.
Mac walked back into Jake's wanting to make sure that the bar tab was paid, only to find out that Noah had taken care of it already. Mac sat down on a stool in the empty bar, tired more emotionally then physically. "Commissioner, would you like a beer, it looks like you could use one." offered Coleman.
"Thank you, I would like that." Mac hated to go home lately the house was empty without the girls and for the first time in decades he was truly living alone. He tried to think of that last time he had an actually relationship with a woman with the intentions of a future.
Seeing Frisco walk in he growled under his breath, how much longer was he going to be hanging around? "What do you want Jones?"
"I was hoping to find the end of the party, but Anna told me that it broke up early when I called. That Laura Spencer had poisoned Luke. What is up with that family?"
"Police business, I can't talk about it." Mac got a little snarky with the former police officer but he couldn't help it. He was jealous of the man's ties to his daughters.
"Really, here I thought it was because once again the PCPD let their man, or in this case woman get away." he said snippily. He really didn't like that this man had been there for all his daughter's big as well as small moments.
Coleman watched from the corner of his eye as the two men verbally circled each other, taken pot shots then retreating. He was idly wondering if the police would arrest their own boss if he called when it happened. Mac said something that caused Frisco to snap.
The blond turned and throw a roundhouse punch at the dark haired man. Who when he came up off the ground returned with a few rabbit punches to the kidneys. When they were finished fifteen minutes later the two men were lying on the filthy ground still growling at each other.
Coleman had let them get it out, knowing that Johnny would take care of any damages, but he couldn't let them go home in that condition, so he called the young mobster hoping he lived after waking the man up at 3:00 in the morning.
Johnny reached for the phone and snapped it open when he saw it said Jake's.
"Zachara." was all he said.
"This is Mitchell Coleman, could you please come down here and removed your father-in-law?"
"Why are the police there?" he asked confused.
"I really doubt it's in any official capacity since he is currently trying to beat in the face of Frisco Jones."
Georgie whose head was buried in Johnny's shoulder took the phone away to ask "Coleman, did you say that Mac is beating up Frisco?"
"They're rather evenly matched but yes they are both going to need medical attention."
"Why are they fighting?" she asked.
"I think it would be better to just come and get them out of my bar, then you can ask them." he said as Frisco sucker punched the police commissioner.
"We are on our way." she said closing the phone and getting out of the bed they had just crawled back into. As she dressed she could not figure out what had caused this. "This has got to be about Mom. Why are two grown men acting like children?" as she grabbed her keys while Johnny was calling some of his people for help.
Maxie woke up and knew what she had to do. She had to find Georgie and tell her the truth. Reaching out to wake up Spinelli, she made sure he was fast asleep and kissed him gently on the lips. "If only you knew.." she said before waking him. "Spinelli, I need to see Georgie, it's important."
Walking down the stairs, she saw the empty vodka bottle and turned to Spinelli asking "Did you get drunk again?"
Spinelli soon realized she didn't remember the previous evening which was good. It would make it easier to forget her saying she loved him, he only wished she loved him like he cared for her.
Jason held onto Cameron, even though he was asleep. His son was in pain, the medicine was helping but he had felt helpless before Dr. Webber arrived. All he could do was hold his upset son and call for help. When he had found out Jeff was at the Quartermaine's he'd asked him to come over.
His parents had been dealing with Edward and his overeager wish for more grandkids. So Elizabeth's father had come over to see how his grandson was feeling.
When Elizabeth had arrived minutes afterwards, she had held onto their little boys whispering nonsense into his other ear while Jeff had been cleaning it and arranging for the delivery of the drugs. Jason had felt useless for the few minutes it had taken.
Now that Jeff was gone and Elizabeth was taking care of getting some juice he was the one that Cameron had turned to. "He will be fine." Elizabeth said from the doorway.
"How do you deal with this. I can't make this go away for him."
"Jason, you are the one making this go away. You called my dad, he got the meds but you are the one who is holding him and who got him to swallow the drugs. That is doing something to help him." she said as she sat the glass down on the coffee table.
"I just hate feeling helpless, I need something to focus on." he admitted.
"That is just part of being a parent. You love your sons. You love this new one. For you that means protecting them against anything that would harm them, but something like this all we can do is be there if he needs us."
"I know, have I told you how much I love you." he said leaning down to kiss her. Hearing a giggle, he turned to his son and said "What's so funny?"
"You kiss funny. Daddy can I have my juice now?" Cameron drank down the apple juice and fell back to sleep after asking for his Chuggin Charlie bed.
Once the kindergartener was tucked in, Jason stood in the doorway not sure about leaving him alone. "Jason, he will be fine. The antibiotics are already kicking in and by tomorrow afternoon this will have been a memory."
"I know, but I just want to watch over him until he heals."
"I can't wait until they get the chicken pox, then." she said dragging him off to bed. Looking at the clock, she groaned when she saw it was almost three in the morning.
Johnny was following his wife into Jake's. The entire ride over she had gone from worried to angry and then back to worried. This was going to be fun.
"-you do that?" they heard.
"Don't you dare say I don't love my daughters. It was your brother that didn't tell me for years that Georgie was mine. Did you have him keep it from me. Were you part of that?"
"I didn't even know that Robert was ALIVE! So don't you dare accuse me of keeping you from Georgie. You could have been here but saving the world was more important. It's not my fault that playing at James Bond was more interesting for you than being a father."
"You have no idea." Frisco answered as he took a another swing at Mac. Coleman walked over the couple who had halted in the doorway and said "This is why I asked you to come. Could you please tell both those losers you love them, before they kill one another." he asked Georgie who was standing there open-mouthed at what she saw.
The two on the floor never heard them and started a different version of the same argument. This time the topic seemed to be Georgie and school.
When Mac was bragging about getting to see Georgie deliver her valedictorian address and Frisco told him to shut the f*** up, she had finally had enough. Going behind them she took the pitcher of water from Coleman's bar and dumped it over their heads. "ENOUGH!"
She turned to Frisco and said "You made your choice, but I have tried to give you chances. If you had wanted to be any kind of father to me where have you been for the last twenty-one years?" Then she turned to Mac and said "You know that I love you, but right now I am so disappointed with you. Brawling like a couple of school kids, you are just lucky that Coleman didn't dial 911, what are you thinking?"
Moving back she said to the both of them "I'm ashamed to be related to either one of you right now. Robin's reception is being held here in twelve hours, and you just trashed the place. You are both going to be sporting black eyes and I am going to tell Maxie not to help you cover them up. Grow up, you are acting like children. Now I'm going home and going back to bed, there is a car outside to drive the two of you back to the house, Frisco, my old bedroom is free. Go there and sleep this off, we will see you bright and early tomorrow."
After she left with Johnny the two men looked at each other realizing that they had both been responsible for the tears in her eyes. "Coleman, we will arrange for a cleaning staff to clean this up before the reception."
"Don't worry. Zachara took care of it. I would suggest you two do as she asked, you weren't here the night she kneed that frat boy. I would not suggest pissing her off. Rumor is that she has a mean right jab too."
Robin woke up the morning of her wedding to the sound of her soon to be father in law talking to his granddaughter, saying he would wake up her father. That Patrick loved to change diapers. Silently laughing as the man took the little girl out in the hall and down to her daddy's.
She hoped Patrick loved the wedding gift from his father. Looking at the clock she couldn't believe that Maxie had let her sleep in the talkative blond had said she would be there at six in the morning.
Reaching over she grabbed her cell and called her cousin. Getting voicemail she said "Where are you?"
Maxie heard the sound of the chime letting her know she had a message, looking around she tried to recall why she was asleep in Spinelli's room. The last thing she remembered was his talking her out of seeking out Georgie in the middle of the night.
She knew she was going to have to tell Georgie about the presents and where she had hid them. Waking up even more, she realized she didn't have any clothes on. Even worse she knew that she had slept with someone last night.
Reaching over to remove the pillow from his head, she saw that Spinelli was sleeping face down on the bed. Lifting the blankets so that she could admire his bare bum. She was easing off the bed, when she was further discomforted by what she found. This was not happening she thought. This was just not happening.
She had made herself a promise when she moved in here. She would not ruin Spinelli's life. She would be his friend, but he would never be allowed to be more. She ruined it every time she fell for someone. This was not going to happen. She needed Spinelli in her life. She would not allow herself to break his heart no matter how much she loved him.
Easing her way into her own room, she took a quick shower and made sure that she had gathered all her clothes before going downstairs. Seeing the empty liqueur bottle, she tossed it into the trash and hoped for the best. She was NOT going to ruin Spinelli's life.
Elizabeth awoke alone for the first time in a long time. She knew exactly where to find Jason; looking quickly she went downstairs and made coffee before returning to wake him. "Jason?"
Easing up, Jason rubbed his sore back and said "Sorry, I just wanted to be here if he needed something. Are you okay?" Do you need anything?" he asked going over to embrace his wife.
"Just for you to drink this. We have a lot to do this morning."
"I know, you're correct. Once he was asleep last night, he didn't even move."
"He sleeps like I do. Jake does as well. I really hope the new baby is the same. They have to inherit at least one thing from me."
"They all have your smile and you way of making me feel like the most important person in their life."
"Enjoy it, in a few years that will be whatever girl they like."
"I will always have you." he said leaning in for a kiss. Hearing the doorbell, he said who is that?
"Who know, lately it seems like we are having an open house for our friends and family."
Going down the stairs still in her pajama's Elizabeth was amused to see Jax standing there looking uncomfortable.
"Jax, is it important or do I have time to get dressed?"
"I called and told Leticia I would drive her home from Mercy. She was there all night. After she came in, I saw she left her purse. However if you have a couple of minutes I really need your help with something."
"Let me get dressed, I will be right back down."
Five minutes later, she came down with Jake in her arms as Cameron was still asleep. Sitting down she offered him some coffee only for it to be rejected.
"Elizabeth, can you please get Brenda and Skye to leave town?" he was practically begging not seeing Jason still on the upper part of the stairs.
"What is going on?" she asked.
"They seem to feel the need to worry about my love life. They are playing matchmaker, together." he stated. "My mother is in town and heard them last night in my suite and thinks I should do what they say."
Elizabeth kept her grin hidden not realizing the unholy light of glee showing in her eyes. Jax looked at her and said in a resigned voice "Why do I get the feeling I'm talking to the ringleader."
"I have no idea, what you are talking about." she said trying not to laugh.
"Elizabeth, has anyone ever told you that you are a terrible liar." said the Aussie.
"Actually Johnny Zachara did the other day. For a woman who managed to keep the longest paternity secret this town has ever seen, my skills must be slipping." she said.
"You know, I used to think you were all sweet and innocent, now that I know you are the ringleader in this little gang, I will fight fire with fire."
"Jax, I'm already married." she said showing him her wedding ring.
"Yes, well if Brenda and Skye are so eager to pair the world two by two, I will just have to ensure that they have someone." with that he stormed out past an entering Monica who was carrying her medical bag.
"Was it something I said?" asked the doctor.
Elizabeth just laughed, then said "He is planning on marrying off Skye and Brenda if they don't stop interfering in his love life."
"Is this about Emily?" asked Monica as Jason came down the stairs.
"What about Emily and why does it involve Jax?" he asked his wife.
"Jason, trust me, this is need to know and right now Emily's brothers are the last that need to know."
"Elizabeth?" was all he got out before the daily insanity that was their life began with Cody calling and Francis knocking on the door.
TBC
