Chapter 32
Sonny met Carly as she was exiting the GH elevators near the waiting area.
"How is he?" she asked urgently.
Sonny took her hands and answered, "According to Monica, he's going to live, but the bullet is lodged near his spine and it sounds like the surgery is tricky." He paused. "There could be permanent damage, Carly."
She threw herself into his arms and cried, "Oh Sonny. Jason would hate that."
"I know. But if sheer strength of will counts, then Jason will beat this." He held her closely and thought about his friend. "If we'd only gotten there a little sooner, none of this would have happened."
Carly pulled back and looked him in the eye. "This is not your fault. It's that lunatic Cranton's. If you hadn't gotten there when you did, they would all be dead."
Grateful for her support, Sonny said with satisfaction, "Cranton won't be causing any more problems for anyone."
"Good," she responded fiercely. "I don't think anyone will be grieving his loss. So how is Elizabeth? This must be awful for her. First, she's kidnapped by a psychopath and then Jason gets shot." Holding up a bag, she continued, "I brought her some clothes like you asked."
"She's hanging in there, but this has been pretty rough on her. She's in the waiting room with Emily." He released her and said, "Why don't you take that in to her and I'll go try to find some half decent coffee for everyone."
She kissed him quickly. "Make mine decaf." She turned and entered the waiting room. Emily and Elizabeth were standing close together, talking quietly. Carly wasn't sure how welcome she would be. "I don't mean to intrude, but I brought Elizabeth some clothes. Sonny asked me to go to your place and get them. I hope you don't mind."
Elizabeth looked down at what she was wearing and realized that she was covered in dried blood. "I didn't even notice," she said shakily.
Carly went closer and held her arm in support. "Hey, there. Don't lose it now. Sonny says you've been holding it together really well. You know Jason is not going to give up now that he's finally got you in his life." She smiled.
"What's that supposed to mean, Carly?" Emily asked suspiciously.
Elizabeth touched her arm. "It's OK, Em. Carly was just trying to help." Turning to Carly, she smiled and said, "And she did. Thanks, Carly - for what you said and for bringing my clothes."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After a change of clothes and a wash in the hospital bathroom, Elizabeth felt a little more human. She returned to the waiting room to find Sonny and Carly talking quietly. When he saw her come in, Sonny stood and motioned to the cups on the table.
"Hey, Elizabeth. I got some coffee at a nearby coffee shop, if you want some. I wouldn't recommend the stuff they sell here. It's pretty bad." He smiled lopsidedly.
Approaching them, she picked up one of the cups. "Thanks, Sonny." She took a sip and returned his smile. "Mmmm. This is really good. Just what I needed."
At that moment, Lieutenant Taggert entered the room. "Someone from the hospital called to report a shooting. From what I understand, the victim is Morgan. So Sonny, who is trying to take you down this week? Is it the same person who blew up your warehouse? Did Morgan go after him and get himself shot for you?"
"How dare you?" Carly exclaimed. "Jason is in surgery fighting for his life and you have the nerve to harass my husband!"
Touching her arm gently, Sonny said, "It's OK, Carly." He turned his attention to Taggert. "This had nothing to do with business, lieutenant. A man named Alexander Cranton, kidnapped Elizabeth and a friend of ours, Michelle Lafontaine. Jason went to the motel room because Cranton threatened to kill them if he didn't."
Taggert snorted. "You really expect me to believe that this had nothing to do with your business. Why would this Cranton kidnap Elizabeth and the other woman and ask Morgan to meet with him, if it wasn't about business?" His disbelief was obvious in his face and tone of voice.
Suddenly Elizabeth spoke up. "I think I can answer that question," she offered quietly. She took a deep breath and stiffened her resolve, knowing that to help Jason and Sonny she would have to tell less than the whole story. "Sonny is telling the truth. Cranton confessed everything to us. He took me and Michelle so that Jason would come after us and we would all be in a setting that suited his plans." She looked directly at Taggert. "It's a fairly long story, but if you want to know what really happened, I will tell you."
"Of course I want to know what happened, Elizabeth, but I also know that you would do anything to protect Morgan and Corinthos," he responded impatiently.
"I will tell you the truth and I think I can prove it to you," she said firmly. "Have you heard of Lafontaine Shipping?" When he nodded, she resumed her tale. "Michelle Lafontaine's father died recently and she and her brother inherit the entire fortune. She had been married to Alexander Cranton, but had divorced him - or so she thought. He told us that he had bribed a judge to bury any evidence of the divorce so that they could still be legally married. He knew that Jason and Michelle had been involved for a while, but that it had ended and Jason was with me now. His plan was to make it look like Michelle found us in a motel room and, in a jealous rage, killed us both. Then, feeling remorseful, she would take her own life. He would inherit her fortune and play the part of the wronged husband. He was about to shoot me, when Jason stepped in between us." Her voice quivered as she remembered the horror of that moment. "He saved my life."
Taggert considered what she had told him. "That's an interesting story, Elizabeth, but I don't see how you can prove it. I still see this as related to Corinthos' business." He shrugged.
Elizabeth's eyes became steely. "There is proof. Of course, that's only if you're actually concerned with the truth and not just with pinning something on Sonny and Jason." She paused. "If you seach his belongings, I think you'll find a forged suicide note that he gloated about buying. Also, if you speak with Michelle Lafontaine, I believe she'll back up my 'story'."
Entering the room at the end of Elizabeth's speech, Michelle responded, "I certainly will. Alexander Cranton was a monster who admitted to killing my father and to planning my suicide along with Jason and Elizabeth's murders. He desperately wanted my inheritance and he went to great lengths to get it." She sniffed disdainfully. "Any other questions?"
Faced with corroborating testimony, Taggert was forced to back down. "All right. I'll accept this - for now. But I will be keeping an eye on all of you." He aimed this last shot at Sonny and then walked out.
Elizabeth sat down before her shaky legs gave out on her. She was feeling a delayed reaction to facing down Taggert.
Sonny went closer to her and said, "Thank you, Elizabeth. Without you telling him what you did, he would have been all over Jason and me."
Carly sat down beside her. "You were great, Elizabeth. Taggert didn't stand a chance."
Elizabeth smiled wanly. "Thanks, but having Michelle back me up really convinced him." She glanced at the other woman and noticed that she was with a handsome blond-haired man she didn't recognize.
Sonny went to shake his hand. "Hey, Philippe. How does it feel to be out and about again?" he asked.
While they talked quietly, Carly stayed with Elizabeth. "Are you really OK?" she asked in concern. Elizabeth was very pale and was shaking slightly.
"You were right, Carly," she said suddenly.
Carly laughed a little. "That's not something I hear very often. What are you talking about?"
Elizabeth looked her way and responded, "Remember last year in the park? When you said I didn't have the guts to go after what I wanted and that I'd regret it? You were right. I did want Jason and I was afraid to take what he was offering. And I do regret the time I wasted." Tears filled her eyes.
Carly felt tears clog her own throat. "Yeah, well, I've also been wrong about you." When Elizabeth looked surprised, she continued, "I said you weren't brave enough for Jason. I was wrong. What you just did for Jason and Sonny with Taggert took a lot of courage. I told Jason this, but I should have told you - sticking by Lucky and helping him through the brainwashing showed strength and loyalty." She gave a watery chuckle. "Listen to us. We'll soon be weeping all over each other."
Elizabeth giggled, but stopped abruptly when reality returned and the gravity of the situation came crashing in. "I can't lose him," she whispered.
"You won't," Carly stated firmly. "You and Jason are going to get your happy ending. Hey, if it can happen for me, it will certainly happen for you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sonny met Carly as she was exiting the GH elevators near the waiting area.
"How is he?" she asked urgently.
Sonny took her hands and answered, "According to Monica, he's going to live, but the bullet is lodged near his spine and it sounds like the surgery is tricky." He paused. "There could be permanent damage, Carly."
She threw herself into his arms and cried, "Oh Sonny. Jason would hate that."
"I know. But if sheer strength of will counts, then Jason will beat this." He held her closely and thought about his friend. "If we'd only gotten there a little sooner, none of this would have happened."
Carly pulled back and looked him in the eye. "This is not your fault. It's that lunatic Cranton's. If you hadn't gotten there when you did, they would all be dead."
Grateful for her support, Sonny said with satisfaction, "Cranton won't be causing any more problems for anyone."
"Good," she responded fiercely. "I don't think anyone will be grieving his loss. So how is Elizabeth? This must be awful for her. First, she's kidnapped by a psychopath and then Jason gets shot." Holding up a bag, she continued, "I brought her some clothes like you asked."
"She's hanging in there, but this has been pretty rough on her. She's in the waiting room with Emily." He released her and said, "Why don't you take that in to her and I'll go try to find some half decent coffee for everyone."
She kissed him quickly. "Make mine decaf." She turned and entered the waiting room. Emily and Elizabeth were standing close together, talking quietly. Carly wasn't sure how welcome she would be. "I don't mean to intrude, but I brought Elizabeth some clothes. Sonny asked me to go to your place and get them. I hope you don't mind."
Elizabeth looked down at what she was wearing and realized that she was covered in dried blood. "I didn't even notice," she said shakily.
Carly went closer and held her arm in support. "Hey, there. Don't lose it now. Sonny says you've been holding it together really well. You know Jason is not going to give up now that he's finally got you in his life." She smiled.
"What's that supposed to mean, Carly?" Emily asked suspiciously.
Elizabeth touched her arm. "It's OK, Em. Carly was just trying to help." Turning to Carly, she smiled and said, "And she did. Thanks, Carly - for what you said and for bringing my clothes."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After a change of clothes and a wash in the hospital bathroom, Elizabeth felt a little more human. She returned to the waiting room to find Sonny and Carly talking quietly. When he saw her come in, Sonny stood and motioned to the cups on the table.
"Hey, Elizabeth. I got some coffee at a nearby coffee shop, if you want some. I wouldn't recommend the stuff they sell here. It's pretty bad." He smiled lopsidedly.
Approaching them, she picked up one of the cups. "Thanks, Sonny." She took a sip and returned his smile. "Mmmm. This is really good. Just what I needed."
At that moment, Lieutenant Taggert entered the room. "Someone from the hospital called to report a shooting. From what I understand, the victim is Morgan. So Sonny, who is trying to take you down this week? Is it the same person who blew up your warehouse? Did Morgan go after him and get himself shot for you?"
"How dare you?" Carly exclaimed. "Jason is in surgery fighting for his life and you have the nerve to harass my husband!"
Touching her arm gently, Sonny said, "It's OK, Carly." He turned his attention to Taggert. "This had nothing to do with business, lieutenant. A man named Alexander Cranton, kidnapped Elizabeth and a friend of ours, Michelle Lafontaine. Jason went to the motel room because Cranton threatened to kill them if he didn't."
Taggert snorted. "You really expect me to believe that this had nothing to do with your business. Why would this Cranton kidnap Elizabeth and the other woman and ask Morgan to meet with him, if it wasn't about business?" His disbelief was obvious in his face and tone of voice.
Suddenly Elizabeth spoke up. "I think I can answer that question," she offered quietly. She took a deep breath and stiffened her resolve, knowing that to help Jason and Sonny she would have to tell less than the whole story. "Sonny is telling the truth. Cranton confessed everything to us. He took me and Michelle so that Jason would come after us and we would all be in a setting that suited his plans." She looked directly at Taggert. "It's a fairly long story, but if you want to know what really happened, I will tell you."
"Of course I want to know what happened, Elizabeth, but I also know that you would do anything to protect Morgan and Corinthos," he responded impatiently.
"I will tell you the truth and I think I can prove it to you," she said firmly. "Have you heard of Lafontaine Shipping?" When he nodded, she resumed her tale. "Michelle Lafontaine's father died recently and she and her brother inherit the entire fortune. She had been married to Alexander Cranton, but had divorced him - or so she thought. He told us that he had bribed a judge to bury any evidence of the divorce so that they could still be legally married. He knew that Jason and Michelle had been involved for a while, but that it had ended and Jason was with me now. His plan was to make it look like Michelle found us in a motel room and, in a jealous rage, killed us both. Then, feeling remorseful, she would take her own life. He would inherit her fortune and play the part of the wronged husband. He was about to shoot me, when Jason stepped in between us." Her voice quivered as she remembered the horror of that moment. "He saved my life."
Taggert considered what she had told him. "That's an interesting story, Elizabeth, but I don't see how you can prove it. I still see this as related to Corinthos' business." He shrugged.
Elizabeth's eyes became steely. "There is proof. Of course, that's only if you're actually concerned with the truth and not just with pinning something on Sonny and Jason." She paused. "If you seach his belongings, I think you'll find a forged suicide note that he gloated about buying. Also, if you speak with Michelle Lafontaine, I believe she'll back up my 'story'."
Entering the room at the end of Elizabeth's speech, Michelle responded, "I certainly will. Alexander Cranton was a monster who admitted to killing my father and to planning my suicide along with Jason and Elizabeth's murders. He desperately wanted my inheritance and he went to great lengths to get it." She sniffed disdainfully. "Any other questions?"
Faced with corroborating testimony, Taggert was forced to back down. "All right. I'll accept this - for now. But I will be keeping an eye on all of you." He aimed this last shot at Sonny and then walked out.
Elizabeth sat down before her shaky legs gave out on her. She was feeling a delayed reaction to facing down Taggert.
Sonny went closer to her and said, "Thank you, Elizabeth. Without you telling him what you did, he would have been all over Jason and me."
Carly sat down beside her. "You were great, Elizabeth. Taggert didn't stand a chance."
Elizabeth smiled wanly. "Thanks, but having Michelle back me up really convinced him." She glanced at the other woman and noticed that she was with a handsome blond-haired man she didn't recognize.
Sonny went to shake his hand. "Hey, Philippe. How does it feel to be out and about again?" he asked.
While they talked quietly, Carly stayed with Elizabeth. "Are you really OK?" she asked in concern. Elizabeth was very pale and was shaking slightly.
"You were right, Carly," she said suddenly.
Carly laughed a little. "That's not something I hear very often. What are you talking about?"
Elizabeth looked her way and responded, "Remember last year in the park? When you said I didn't have the guts to go after what I wanted and that I'd regret it? You were right. I did want Jason and I was afraid to take what he was offering. And I do regret the time I wasted." Tears filled her eyes.
Carly felt tears clog her own throat. "Yeah, well, I've also been wrong about you." When Elizabeth looked surprised, she continued, "I said you weren't brave enough for Jason. I was wrong. What you just did for Jason and Sonny with Taggert took a lot of courage. I told Jason this, but I should have told you - sticking by Lucky and helping him through the brainwashing showed strength and loyalty." She gave a watery chuckle. "Listen to us. We'll soon be weeping all over each other."
Elizabeth giggled, but stopped abruptly when reality returned and the gravity of the situation came crashing in. "I can't lose him," she whispered.
"You won't," Carly stated firmly. "You and Jason are going to get your happy ending. Hey, if it can happen for me, it will certainly happen for you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*