Chapter 8
Sam felt a buzz in her pocket and then saw a light flash in the corner of her eye while sitting on the couch. Spinelli had managed to outfit the penthouse with a light above the door that would flicker on when someone rang the doorbell and would then send a vibration to Sam's phone, who now was accustomed to always having her phone on her. Additionally, there were now sound sensors in Scout's bedroom such that it would pick up her cries and notify Sam through her phone. There were also a fire alarm setting and each alarm had a different type of vibration such that Sam would easily distinguish if someone were at the door or if Scout were crying. Sam was nearly in tears when Spinelli had called to tell her what he had done. She had won a bit more independence back. She wasn't sure where he'd found the time as Sonny had him working 24/7 on finding Brenda.
Standing up, Sam walked over to the door to open it, not quite sure who'd be on the other side.
"Sam! We need to talk!" Maxie came barging in, immediately making herself at home by throwing her bag and her jacket on the desk.
"Maxie, nice to see you too," Sam said sarcastically as she closed the door before digging underneath Maxie's jacket to find her iPad.
"You need to tell Sonny to give Spinelli some time off! I haven't seen him in weeks!" Maxie yelled. Sam could only be grateful that Scout was at her mom's. She looked at her iPad but even the iPad couldn't be bothered to properly transcribe what Maxie was screaming.
"Okay, Maxie, why don't we take a couple of deep breaths," Sam instructed her friend as she brought her over to the couch. She guided her through several breaths and once Sam felt that Maxie was a bit calmer, she continued, "my iPad can't understand you if you're so loud."
"Ugh, I'm sorry," Maxie sighed while taking a seat, this time lowering her voice, "I was saying that Sonny needs to let Spinelli breathe. I haven't seen him in weeks!"
"I know, I'm sorry Maxie. Sonny is still desperately looking for Brenda. It's been 4 weeks and the more time that passes, the worse it looks," Sam tried to explain.
"Yes, I understand that but come on Sam! Spinelli is not going to be any use to anybody if he doesn't get a break!" Maxie began raising her voice again, prompting Sam to gesture to her to lower the volume.
"I'm sure that it'll get better soon. I sent Jason back to work to help Sonny, so I am sure they're going to give Spinelli at least a night off. If not, I can text Jason right now," Sam offered, grabbing her phone from her back pocket.
"Wait? Jason is working?! Shouldn't he be here, helping you?"
"Gosh no. I couldn't stand him hovering over me anymore. Besides, I have started working again. I've been writing up final reports for some clients and trying my best to get new clients because else the firm is not going to last another two months," Sam said and then began typing on her phone, "here, I'll tell Jason to give Spinelli the rest of the day off. He'll listen to me."
"Thank you so much, Sam! You're the best!" Maxie reached over and threw her arms around Sam.
"Do you think they'll find Brenda soon?" Maxie asked, now calmer.
"I hope so but clearly the Balkan have outsmarted Sonny and Jason so far. And they haven't made much progress recently. All they know is that Theo held Brenda somewhere in Port Charles and that sometime two weeks ago, he took her out of the city. But nobody knows where."
"Have they asked you to look into it at all?" Maxie asked.
"Why would they?" Sam was confused. Jason and Sonny made it a point to never involve Sam or any family members with their business.
"Well, because you're the best PI on the East Coast," Maxie said matter of fact.
"Oh come on, Maxie, what use am I right now?"
"Sam! You don't need to hear in order to hack into online government databases or surveillance cameras. And I'm sure you don't need to hear all the time when you're sneaking up on people."
Sam laughed. "Oh, yes, I'm sure I don't."
"Besides, it's not like Sonny and Jason are any better. They're too emotional about this."
"Do you think so?" Sam knew Sonny was playing this all by his emotions, but Jason is able to be more detached, that was his trademark.
"Sam, are you kidding me? Jason is pissed off that he couldn't protect you. You better bet that he's going to do everything possible to kill the Balkan. He's as emotional as Jason can possibly get, which, yes, admittedly is not much." Maxie answered, "I was really hoping we'd be done with everything Brenda after the wedding. Instead, it's like the wedding just gave us even more problems."
"You can say that again," Sam laughed.
"Oh my gosh! Sam, I'm so sorry. I really put my foot in my mouth sometimes," Maxie apologized profusely but Sam was quick to put a hand on her friend's arm.
"No, Maxie, stop. It's okay. Please don't tiptoe around the obvious. Everyone else is doing it and it is driving me crazy. Please be that one person that doesn't do that."
"Are you sure?" Maxie asked for assurance.
"Yes, I'm sure!"
"Okay, fine. Do you want to talk about it then? We've been stuck on me and my problems."
"Nope. I'm all talked out about it. It's the first and last question I get every day. I'd rather hear your problems," Sam answered. Truthfully, she was also incredibly nervous. She had spent the whole morning yesterday having tests run at the hospital to ascertain if her hearing would ever come back. She was hoping to head home with more answers but instead, the doctor, Dr. Clars, told her they'd let her know the results in a week or two.
Sam was then interrupted by her phone and smiled. "Jason just texted back. Spinelli can have the night off but that he has to get back to work tomorrow morning."
"Yes!" Maxie screamed. Sam didn't need her iPad to transcribe that. Once again, Maxie threw her arms around Sam. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Maxie ran back over to the desk and rushed to get her jacket on. "I need to go and get the apartment ready."
"Ready for what?"
"Sam," Maxie gave her friend a stare, "I haven't had sex in months! I need to clean the bedroom, find some candles and shower."
"Oh, okay. Um... have fun I guess," Sam laughed.
"Thank you again, Sam!" Maxie was truly appreciative.
"Luck!" Sam yelled as Maxie rushed out the door.
"Luck!"
Sam had immediately gone to work after Maxie had left. Her friend had a point. You don't need to hear to hack. Besides, this gave her something to do. She was struggling to get new clients and nothing exciting was transpiring with her current clients.
She sat at the desk by the door, in front of her laptop, hacking into the police reports about Brenda's disappearance and into Sonny's and Jason's files for all the information they had collected about the Balkan. If she was going to help in anyway, she needed to know the basics.
There were files upon files about the Balkan. She wouldn't know when she'd get the time to go through all of them. Instead, she grabbed a notepad and began writing a list of priorities. Things like the Balkan's previous travels, where did he used to live, and who all works for him.
Noticing a vibration and a small breeze, Sam looked over beside her to see Jason walk into the penthouse. He looked tired and exhausted. He was at a loss for what to do. Jason had felt like he'd gone through every single nook and cranny trying to find Brenda but couldn't find a single clue as to where Brenda would be. Would this truly be the one time that the enemy gets away with hurting someone they love?
"Jason?" Sam was curious as to why Jason was home so early. After all, it was only 2 in the afternoon.
"Hi," was all that he replied with, but he held his arms open. Sam gladly stood up to give him a hug. He looked as though he desperately needed to be held. Maxie was right again. Jason is so wound up about the Balkan. How could he be thinking clearly?
"I'm not going to ask if you're okay because clearly, you're not," Sam said, still holding him tightly.
"I'm alright," was all he managed. He let go of Sam and then took off his jacket only to quickly glance over at Sam's laptop. "What are you looking at?"
Sam quickly peered over the iPad before turning back towards Jason to answer, "I've decided to help in the investigation to look for Brenda."
"Sam..."
"No, Jason," Sam interrupted him, "you and Sonny need help. You guys have been looking into this for weeks and have gotten nowhere. You need me." She wanted to end the argument before it started.
"Just... please be careful," Jason wasn't going to argue. She made it clear that she was going to do this with or without him. And he couldn't blame her.
"I will," Sam replied.
"Can I at least help with anything?" Jason asked.
"No, you need to lie down and take a nap. Danny will be home from school in an hour and you're not going to have much rest after that," Sam explained.
"I don't need much sleep," Jason started only to be interrupted again.
"Jason," Sam pointed her finger.
"I can't sleep right now. I'll be thinking too much. Just tell me what you're working on."
"Okay fine," Sam gave in and sat down in her seat. "I'm looking at everyone that you guys have determined have some sort of connection to the Balkan."
"Why?" Jason asked curiously, as he lent on the desk over Sam.
"I'm not sure yet," she answered honestly. She was hoping that this list would have some hidden clue somewhere.
They sat there scrolling through the list and occasionally Jason would give her a little bit more detail on a specific person and other times Sam would write down observations into her notepad. She'd also make notes on who she'd look more into after they'd gone through the list. Sonny, Jason, and Spinelli had been extensive. There was a profile for nearly each one of them. They'd nearly run a background check on all of them. No wonder Spinelli was working around the clock. She couldn't imagine the number of government databases he has had to hack into it.
After a while, the profiles began to blur together and Jason suggested they take a small break. Besides, they needed to go and pick-up Danny from school in a bit. Sam compromised and said she'll look through just 5 more profiles.
It was on the last profile that Sam was suddenly taken aback. She recognized the picture immediately but didn't know exactly from where.
"Sam?"
"Meet my employee, Mr. Stain."
Sam was almost afraid to turn her head and look.
"What do you plan to do with me?" Sam asked. At that moment, the henchman pulled out a small pouch from his jacket pocket. Opening it, he took a syringe, needle and small vial.
"As I said before, your resemblance to Ms. Brenda Barrett will be your most unfortunate downfall," Theo cryptically explained. In the meantime, the henchman filled the syringe with whatever was in the vial. Sam took notice.
"I'm willing to go with you, voluntarily. There is no need to drug me," Sam pleaded.
"Unfortunately, Ms. McCall, that is not how the plan works," and suddenly, the henchman leaped over, syringe in hand, plunged the needle into Sam's neck.
"Sam, what is it?" Jason asked concerned.
"Him! I recognize him! He's the one that injected me!"