AN/ Okay so a few things to address but before I worry anyone no i'm not stopping the story or changing my pace or direction either.

First is a small tech issue. My reviews aren't showing up on the review page. Luckily I can still access them via email notifications. So I can see your reviews. Don't stop sending them even if i'm a little delayed to see them (don't check my email super often but will be now for this reason when I notice)

Next is the reviews! I appreciate them so much! I'm glad people can appreciate this. I know there a mix of people who read this. Some like Nava. Some like Liz. Some like Everyone. Etc. It means a lot i'm able to give you all things you like.

Finally my last little not is now we finally get to see some more of characters like Laura and so on, so if you've been waiting this is the beginning of that!

-AN-

"There he is!" Franco says as he points to Valentin.

Valentin stood in the corner. Nobody was holding onto him, but they were blocking him from any sort of escape. He looked dishevled and his face was bright red where a bruise would eventually appear from when Franco hit him.

Detective Chase walked over to Valentin from where he stood next to the commissioner with his handcuffs out, ready to read him his rights.

"This is ridiculous!" Valentin seethed as his arms were pulled behind him.

"You have the right to remain silent..." Chase started reading to him.

The commissioner took in her surroundings. The party had been pulled to a hult clearly and any energy the evening had was drained. She notices as Laura walks over to her.

"Madame Mayor," Jordan addresses her.

"This is just insane." Laura explained. "I'll come back to the station with you, make sure he's held."

Laura couldn't believe it. She knew better than most what Valentin was capable of. What he does. This is what he does. He is violent and full of vengeance. He took Nikolas from her for years, and now Ava could be dead.

Laura was actually quite fond of Ava. She saw how much Ava had been through, watched her break before her eyes. Since that night she never judged Ava. She liked her daughter in law, maybe not with that title though.

She hated to say it but she didn't trust her son anymore. Any like she had for Ava didn't blind her either, she knew Ava was as dangerous as him. The pair together? Once upon a time when she saw the Nikolas she knew, sure. Now? She got anxiety thinking about what happens between the two. Fire meeting fire only burns things. She didn't know who would end up burned though, both equals in their ways.

"What's wrong?" Laura asked, seeing Jordan to be a bit off.

"Just a crazy day," She shared. "There was a stabbing at the max-security prison. Guard got stabbed less than an hour ago. Came straight here from there."

Laura wanted to ask more questions but didn't. Yes that was a big deal, huge in fact. But she had other things to deal with now, like what was happening now.

"Officer Morrison," Jordan said, calling the attention of an officer standing behind her. "Please escort Mr. Cassadine to the police car."

Officer Morrison does so and Chase leaves Val's side. He recalls Jordan mentioning Franco had made the call, so he figures to start with him as a witness.

"Franco," He says meeting him where he stood. "Gotta ask you a few questions."

Franco was distracted, keeping his eyes on Val as he was escorted out. His eyes didn't leave Valentin for a second until he physically couldn't see him. He felt like it was his job, as the one who stayed behind, to ensure Valentin was taken care of.

"Franco!"

"Yeah...Sorry." He says looking at the handsome detective.

"I need you to tell me what you saw." His hands reaching for his pad and pencil to jot down a few scattered notes, knowing later he'd have Franco write an official statement.

"The power wen't out here at creepy towers and next thing you know there's a scream." He said starting at the easy part, the next part harder for him to swallow let alone admit out loud. "She was just laying there..."

"Miss Jerome?"

"Oh, don't call her that." Franco somehow manages a small smile at the fond memories of Ava always insisting she was now Mrs. Cassadine. "She'll chew you out if she has to remind you too many times that she's Mrs. Cassadine."

"Anyways," Franco continues. "He-Valentin- was hovering over her. I knew something was wrong instantly. Nikolas did too and went right to her, and he discovered the wound."

"What wound?"

"Stabbed. She-" Franco coughed to clear his throat, it growing tighter as he grew more upset. "She was stabbed. In the abdomen. There was a lot of blood, and she wasn't awake, not even for a second. Elizabeth, my wife, she jumped in and helped her. She did her best as a nurse to help but I don't have any idea what she technically did, I was busy holding Valentin."

"You said Nikolas was there?"

"Yeah. He was the first one to the room, and he got to Ava first too."

"And Ava and Valentin were the only ones not in this main room when the alleged stabbing occurred?" Chase continues his questioning.

Franc has to think for a minete but remembers quickly. "No, Jax, he left. And Nina, she had been with Ava. Valentin too but he wasn't even invited so he was never in the main room. He probably came just for Ava, to hurt her"

"Okay, I have to question some more people while memories are still fresh, I'd appreciate if you could come to the station and make an official statement with everything, all the details." He said seeing Franco was a bit emotional as well as needing to continue shortly anyways.

"Are you going to General Hospital?" Franco asked him.

"Yeah, Elizabeth and Nikolas are there and I need to talk with them too." He explained.

Franco knew Liz could handle the questioning, but could Nik? He'd hate to be Chase if he pushes a certain button, Nikolas being extremely upset previously when he saw him. He didn't blame him though, he was upset too.

Before Franco can go to leave for General Hospital as well, Lulu runs up to him and Chase.

"Franco, did you see Dustin?" She asks.

"Yeah, he was there when we brought Ava out to the dock, said he was coming back here. Saw him jump on the launch too." Franco answered confused at why she asked.

"He's not here!" She exclaims.

"Maybe he's in the bathroom." Franco shrugs.

"That's not funny, I haven't seen him at all." Lulu says.

"Wait, like since he left for the dock?" Franco inquires.

Lulu nods and moves her attention to Chase, hoping for his help.

"Look, i'm sure it's fine, it's a big house." He explains. "If you can't find him after a while let an officer here know."

She gave him a look of acceptance to what he said. Reluctant acceptance.

"Relax," he said placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's probably nothing."