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Chapter 44
"Good morning Morgans." Diane said coming into the penthouse. "How is married life treating you?"
"Married life is good." Jason told his attorney.
"Wow, that's a ringing endorsement for the institution." Diane said putting her briefcase down on the coffee table. "Rein in the enthusiasm."
"Hey Diane." Liz said coming down the stairs. She stopped by the portable crib and adjusted Michael's blanket. He just had his morning bottle and was napping.
"Liz, how was California?" Diane expected to get more words from her friend.
"Amazing, as always." Liz said taking a seat. "Sit down." She invited. "I've really been missing out not exploring Malibu more. Jason and I went on this hiking trail and the views were stunning. When you and Francis go out the map is in the drawer of the table in the foyer." Her friends enjoyed being outdoors. "I also took everyone to LA so we could do the tourist thing. Felix says to tell you hi."
"I really need to get out to the west coast soon so we can shop. He's the only person who can keep up with me." Diane very much liked Elizabeth's publicist. "How is married life?"
Liz let a slow smile come to her face. "So wonderful." Jason handed her a mug of hot chocolate as she answered and she smiled up at him.
Diane was watching the interaction and couldn't help but grin. This was what she was looking for. This was what she wanted CPS to see. A young couple in love, who were extending that love to their son. Elizabeth wasn't as guarded as Jason, but she also managed to soften her husband. As a unit they weren't a concern. Neither was Liz on her own. What had Diane worried was the one on one interview Betsy would want to do with Jason. "How did Michael do with the flight?"
"He was fine. He's a good baby." Liz said smiling wide. "We took him to the beach with us for our morning walks. I think that was probably one of my favorite parts of each day. It was just the three of us having family time." She leaned back into the couch.
Diane nodded sipping her coffee. More of what she wanted to see. It was clear that Liz loved her husband and her son. The timing of the marriage was going to have CPS looking closely at the couple. They were used to people trying to sell a certain image thinking that was needed. After talking with Liz it would be clear this marriage was the real thing, and that they were working to form a family with Michael. "Take lessons from your wife." Diane looked over at her client. "Emote a little. Try to sound happy about the fact that you are a husband and father."
"I am happy to be married and a dad." Jason said frowning. "That doesn't sound right. I'm not happy my brother is gone, but I love Michael, and Elizabeth. I love the life we are building." He finished up.
Diane listened to Jason and watched him as she figured out how to sell him to CPS. Liz just glowed with her happiness, yes she was grieving but at the same time she was openly embracing the good things in her life. Jason was just more subdued by nature. So it would be best if Betsy talked to Jason sooner rather than later. His lack of interpersonal skills could be chalked up to him still grieving for his brother. It sounded cold, like she scheming, but Diane's job was to make sure her clients won over Betsy Chilson. Getting the social worker on their side was key in having their custody petition approved.
"I'm going to call Ms. Chilson and set up interviews for the two of you. I'm not sure how many times you'll need to meet for these talks, but I know it will happen at least twice." Diane said starting her prep work. Jason, I'm going to have you go first. I know answering questions is not your favorite thing but please try not to come across as impatient." There was a reason she never put him on the witness stand. "I won't be there to help you."
"They'll want to talk to us together and separately?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"Yes. CPS will also be doing at least one home study visit. They already did a home inspection while you were away. You passed that with flying colors. I put forward Skye and Emily as character references for Jason. Elizabeth, your mother sent me the most divine letter about you." Diane said smiling. "Your parents have also agreed to a video interview if necessary. Georgie is also willing to sit in the hot seat." The attorney was going down a list on her phone. "Nadine will be interviewed since she is your child care provider. I'll have a brief chat with her, but I'd rather not get too hands on there. I want her to give her honest opinion. The fact that you let her stay is already a point in your favor."
"We are still working out her schedule." Liz let Diane know.
"That's fine. You had a child dropped in your lap after an unexpected loss. No one expects you to be perfect at this. Showing that you are still figuring things out will not hurt your case." Diane assured her young friend.
"Are they going to ask about my history with Elizabeth?" Jason didn't want to have to lie about how long they were dating. He wasn't very good at making things up.
"Yes. You can truthfully say that she's been in your life for years. First as your friend, and then as something more." Diane was picking her words carefully because the odds were good Jason was going to say them to CPS verbatim. "You both were committed to one another before Michael's arrival, Jason taking custody didn't have any effect on that. Keep your answer simple and speak with conviction." She advised them both. "Do you have any outings planned?" Some press exposure would be a good thing. She wanted them to be seen as a young and happy couple. However to constantly be seen out would hurt their case.
"I have a business dinner this week. Elizabeth is coming with me." Jason told Diane.
"With whom?" The attorney wanted to know. Not all of Jason's business associates had good public images.
"Jasper Jacks and hopefully his girlfriend." Jason needed to touch base and confirm they were still meeting.
"Fantastic." Diane said giving her seal of approval. "That's who you want to be seen with until we have custody. Nice, upstanding, international businessmen."
"I won't be meeting with any of my other associates for the time being." Jason passed along. "Francis or Johnny will handle anything that can't wait."
"Good." Diane had meetings with them scheduled as well. They needed to make sure Jason was squeaky clean. Something she guessed they already knew. "Any questions for me?"
"What about the other couple who will be coming forward to request custody?" Elizabeth couldn't help but be worried.
"You don't have to worry about them. I am on top of that situation." Diane assured Liz. "Anything else?"
"Will the fact that I am working under a false name be an issue?" Liz didn't want it to come across like she was lying.
"Nope. On the application you listed your career as artist, which is true. You aren't required to give any more information on that. This adoption will move much faster than a non-relative adoption does. CPS wants you to win your case, they don't want to have to put Michael into a system that is already straining at the seams." Diane shared what she knew. "AJ and Carly want you to raise Michael, and so does the state. The state assumes that the biological parents took the time to make sure you would be good for their child. I got the impression that if CPS didn't have to jump through certain hoops, then they would have approved your application the day it came in."
"For the first time the authorities are actually on my side." Jason couldn't help but point out.
"All you have to do is be yourselves, love Michael, and don't do anything stupid." Diane gave Jason a look. "Stay out of handcuffs."
"It's never my choice to be in them in the first place." He fired back being a smartass.
"But you make them look so good." Liz could help but adding.
Jason looked at his wife and smiled. Not a half smile or a smirk, but a full on toothy grin. "Had I known you liked the look so much I would have picked up a pair of cuffs for our trip out west."
Liz just blushed bright.
"Jason Morgan, look at you flirting!" Diane was kind of surprised. "Keep that up. I need to get to work. Give the cutie a kiss from me when he wakes up." The attorney said heading for the door.
"You are so bad." Liz said waiting for her face to cool down.
"That's why you love me though." He said before leaning down and kissing her. "I'll be in a meeting with the guys when I get to the warehouse, but if you need me call. My cell phone will be on."
"I'm sure we'll be fine." Liz let him know. "We are just moving things from downstairs. While we are putting everything where we want it, my former unit is getting painted so that a crew can come out tomorrow and move Georgie and Milo, then move Nadine. So she'll be off on Wednesday during the day, and working that night while we are out."
"Have you always been this organized?" He asked kind of impressed.
"Yes." Liz said grinning. "I'm like my mother in that way. She kept our house running like clockwork when I was growing up. No matter what we had going on she was on top of it." That skill came in handy with them moving so often. "No matter how many kids we have, we will be those parents who never miss anything."
Jason had to smile at the mention of more children. Now wasn't the time, but it was good to know she was open to the idea. "When do we meet with the architect for the first time? Before those other kids arrive we should have our house finished."
"Friday." She let him know. "At his office."
The guard knocked. "That's probably Nadine." Jason said looking at the clock. "I'm going to head out. Have a good day baby."
"You too." Liz said walking him to the door and getting another kiss. "Hey you two." Nadine and Georgie were in the hall. "Come on in. The crew will be here shortly and we can get started."
Jason was in the conference room getting his notes ready. This was going to be a full meeting with the top guys so they needed to use the big room. When Sonny was in charge they had a huge rectangular table in the room, with a large chair at the head. A very clear statement that Sonny was running things. Now the room had a round table, and all the chairs matched. Jason was in charge, everyone knew that, he didn't need a throne.
"Welcome back." Francis said coming in and putting his papers down to Jason's right. They didn't have assigned seating, but he and Johnny generally sat next to their boss. "How did you like California?"
"I had a great time. Most of that had to do with Elizabeth being there." Jason said with a grin. He was pretty sure that they could have stayed here and he still would have loved every minute of their honeymoon. "Still I see the point of going away."
"Good we won't have to argue with you about taking vacation now." Francis said going over to grab a cup of coffee.
"Nice tan you've got there." Johnny put his notes down and headed over to the coffee station. "What did you think of her compound?"
"Very private which didn't surprise me. Thank you for putting in the security upgrades." Jason said to his friend.
Johnny saluted his friend with his mug in a silent you're welcome. "How are Mrs. Morgan and the munchkin this morning?"
"They are both fine. Elizabeth was about to start her day when I left, and Michael will be with Nadine." Jason was missing them both. He had gotten spoiled having so much time off.
"Kyle has Gary with Nadine today, since both Milo and Lee are going to be sitting in on this meeting." Francis passed along. "All the ladies will be urged to stay indoors." Liz and Georgie's guards were also going to be at the meeting.
"It's going to rain, so I doubt that they will want to go out anyway." Johnny said looking out the window at the gathering storm clouds as the guys started filing into the room. One of the things that he really loved about being a mobster was that meetings never started late, and they always ended on time. Punctuality was one of the hallmarks of the mob.
Once everyone was seated Jason looked at Francis. Jason would speak up if necessary, but it was really his top LTs, who had things to report.
"So we have three major issues at the moment. Ironically enough none of them are mob related." Francis said grinning. "One is AJ and Carly's death. We are finding no ties to us. I told Cooper to stay put in case we need him to start looking in a different direction. Number two is the upcoming custody case. We know that Edward has brought in a couple to file a false adoption petition. Logan is on that. Finally we have Edward's attempt to take over AJ's company. All of these impact us because they affect Jason."
"While all the custody things are happening, Jason is basically going to be a figurehead leader." Johnny took over. "Any issues with the territories will get run by either me or Francis leaving him free to deal with his grandfather." Johnny thought that Jason had the harder opponent. "That doesn't mean we are not going to be backing Jason up. Anything he needs from us we will do. We just have to make sure we stay under the radar. Now more than ever." He looked around the room and everyone was nodding. That shouldn't be a problem.
"Everyone's assignments are staying the same." Francis said as he handed out legal sized envelopes. "Marco, Milo, and Lee you guys need to make sure you keep your charges within sight at all times. When Edward's proxies lose their custody bid he may go for a snatch. If we feel its necessary you may get partners." None of the guys would take that as an insult. "Inside the envelopes are pictures of the key players in this drama. Remember Logan is on our side. From time to time it may not look like it depending on what we need him to do, but I don't want anyone in this room messing with him."
The guys flipped through the pictures that were in the packets. Marco stopped when he got to a face he had seen before. "Boss?"
"Yes?" Jason said finally speaking. They were done so he didn't mind if the guys wanted to take the floor.
"I've seen this guy before." Marco held up the picture of Lucky. "In London at AJ's inquest."
"Are you sure?" Johnny shifted through his own pile of pictures.
"Positive. Me and Ritchie were hanging back and watching who went into the courtroom before we did. This guy was doing the same, he walked in ahead of us. He spent the time waiting on the phone, but we weren't close enough to hear what he was saying. Honestly almost everyone was on the phone because a lot of press was there." The guard explained.
"He was there, and now he's here." Jason said looking at the photo Marco was still holding up. He didn't have to tell anyone who that was because all the personal information was on the back.
"Too much of a coincidence." Cody said looking at Jason. Like his boss he rarely spoke in meetings.
"When you add in that he is Luke's son it stinks to high heaven." Renaldo leaned forward on the table. "Did your grandfather know Luke? If so we may need to reconsider if your grandfather was involved in your brother's death."
"I have no idea if Edward knew Luke." Jason simply hadn't foreseen this wrinkle.
"They had to know one another." Francis said pulling up something he hadn't thought of in years. "Edward would have known the former club owner because Luke hired Mary Mae Ward to sing at his bar. Mary Mae was Justus's grandmother, and the mother of Edward's deceased son Bradley. I wouldn't have guessed that they were in contact though. They didn't socialize back then."
Jason just gave it some thought. Lots of strings connecting the two men together. If that was the case then why would Luke send his son to Port Charles? "Call Cooper. Send him Lucky's picture. I want to know if he was in the area when AJ and Carly died." The blonde mob boss instructed.
"He has a lot of eyes on him at the moment." Johnny said tapping the picture. "Just disappearing won't work."
"We won't touch him, yet." Jason told the guys in the room. "We will let him do what Edward hired him for. In the meantime Cooper can investigate why Lucky was at the inquest. If we need to follow him back to New Mexico to make the snatch then so be it. We need to contact Logan and ask about Luke."
"Luke is in Mexico. Logan let us know about that after they met." Francis told his boss. "Lucky let that slip."
Jason nodded understanding Francis had that under control.
"Since we are talking about Edward. He wants Logan to do a deep run on Liz." Johnny passed along. "I've got a file ready to go. You just need to approve it. Angie has it."
Jason nodded. That meant it was on his desk. His assistant didn't open anything from his top guys unless she was instructed to do so. Whatever Johnny put together would be fine. His friend would know what was needed. "What do we know about Claire Walsh?"
"She went to school with your cousin Chloe." Francis had been surprised to learn that. "They were members of the same sorority."
"Seriously?" Jason pinched his nose. "And now she is here too."
Cody just shook his head. "I don't see your cousin getting involved in this custody battle. She doesn't even associate with your family."
"She associates with Lila." Jason said starting to smile. "I think I need to speak with my grandmother."
"You think Claire is working for her?" Renaldo was so glad he wasn't a member of Jason's family. They seemed to spend all their time plotting against one another.
"It's another coincidence that is just too coincidental." Francis said shaking his head. Lila was a lot stronger than she appeared. They all knew that she was throwing her weight behind Jason, but they hadn't expected her to make any major moves. "Would she do this?"
"Yes." Jason didn't hesitate to answer. "She is staying out of the battle for AJ's company, but I can see her using any influence she has in keeping Edward from getting custody. I'll talk to her, and if that's the case we will leave her be." Whatever she had planned would work. Of that he had no doubt.
Johnny nodded indicating it was his friend's call. He wouldn't bet against Lila. She had the power. The woman was no joke. "So right now we need to focus on the Spencer clan, and their connection to AJ."
"As well as keeping the business running." Francis thought for once their illegal import operation would be the easier of the two. "If you don't need me I'll call Cooper."
"That's fine. We don't have anything else to discuss at the moment." Jason told Francis. From this point forward meetings would be smaller and held in his office. Jason just needed his top guys to know what was going on. "Thank you for coming." He said ending the meeting.
"How will you keep yourself busy?" Johnny wanted to know.
"I have some irons in the fire that need tending. Edward is gathering information on people that don't exist." Jason said with a grin. "Stan will be coming to my office to give me a report when I call him. I also have some legitimate businesses that I'm thinking of acquiring."
"I can't wait to see exactly what it is you have planned for your grandfather." Johnny hadn't asked because he liked surprises.
"Jasper and I have a very simple but effective plan." Jason told his friend.
"The dinner is part of it?" Johnny knew Jason didn't have business meetings out in the open. Generally he used a private dining room to avoid eavesdropping.
"It is." Jason knew his grandfather was watching Jasper. So there would be a spy in the room. More than likely Brian Beck. Which worked out well for them. Edward had already lost this game. He just didn't know it yet.
"Have fun." Johnny said getting to his feet and heading to his office. He wanted to check in with Logan and update him about Spencer.
Jason also headed to his office. It was time to see just what Edward had learned.
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