"Em, what do you have?"
"Lucky found AJ. He bought a house outside Rio two months ago. No U.S. extradition. Isolated and fortified. He sent you the floor plans and some pictures. There was major construction completed last month. He also has a private airstrip adjacent to the property and a helicopter pad on the grounds. Seems he was preparing for a fast get away if you survived and he was made. Makes a pretty good safe house. You might want to think about keeping it.
Anyway, Luke is en route. He said he doesn't need back-up on this one but asked if Caroline wanted him to bring AJ back to PC. I didn't tell them that she is going to get Sonny. They assume she would plan or help out with the extraction but that she wouldn't be crazy enough to do it herself. No way was I going to say anything."
Jason didn't say anything as she made her report. He could tell by her tone at the end that she was very aware of the risk Caroline was taking. He's trying to figure out why it has to be her on the team. He knows that time is critical and they have to keep a tight reign on information. If something happened, she would have to start the questioning on the return trip. And the two of them were the only ones who knew certain questions to ask.
"Thank Lucky for me."
Then he stopped and looked at his sister with concern. Jason took her hand and pulled her close.
"How much can you handle on this?"
"You and Justice are my family. I know Francis and Loui had to go to Hong Kong and I know why. He used my nephew as lure to get to Bobbie to get to you. AJ came after my family. That makes him my enemy. He had a choice. He made the wrong choice. He has to go."
Rey and Johnny were quiet when Jason started talking to Emily. They didn't know what they expected her to say but they didn't expect that. At least not the way she said it. There wasn't the least bit of hesitation in her words. She was serious. The kid was solid.
Jason looked her over and was assured of her words. He also knew it would hit her later and he'd have to be there for her. This was why he did not want her in the business. Tracy and AJ teaming up with his enemies brought her in. He knew they would use her and he knew they would do anything to get to him even if that meant taking her out or allowing someone else to. He also didn't know who he could trust at the time. Jason still isn't sure. She's all business so he decides to keep it that way for her.
"Ok. Luke doesn't have to bring him back. I know he's got other work to do. Tell him to knock him out anyway he wants and get him to the safe house but don't let him out of his sight or near the kids. The guys will hold onto him until I can get there and verify some information. I still need to find out what he knows and who he's spoken to about us."
"Done."
"What else?"
"Rivera has several properties. His associates and employees even more. I'm concentrating my search on primarily Spanish speaking countries for the obvious reasons, it wouldn't attract attention. I really wish Bobbie were around 'cause I'm guessing on some of this but based on his medical record prior to Sonny's visit after Lily died I'm tracking the purchase and shipment of any medical equipment, supplies and medicine that a recovering stroke victim would need to any of the locations where I found any of his residences. I'm also tracing his money to find the purchase of any recent properties."
She stopped for a minute and laughed.
"Maybe I should just call Stefan Cassidine and ask what he bought for the old bat. He's probably blowing a fuse now. And something tells me there will be lots of job openings at the Cassidine compound in Greece once he gets a hold of the staff."
"You think so?"
"Definitely. He's upper crust, royal blood. That's worse than you'll be any day. They defied a standing order. They concealed her recovery. I don't know how to say it in Russian or Greek but Stefan does and right about now he's saying they gotta go."
They all laughed.
"Ok, what else?"
"Wouldn't it be easier to sneak into Puerto Rico, slip into Carlos' room at night and just ask him where Rivera is?"
"Ask him?"
"Yeah. Caroline asks. People tell her all kinds of stuff. They tell you all kinds of stuff too."
"You and I are going to sit down and have a long talk one day soon."
"Don't get me wrong, I'm working and I'm gonna find him. Lucky beat me to AJ, no way I'm gonna let him find Rivera first. Now, answer the question."
"I could do it that way. And if we didn't have a location on Sonny, I might consider that. Time is running out. But, it also could tip too many people off. Its pretty noticeable after someone gets asked questions. I don't want Rivera going any further under ground than he is or I'll never find him before he comes up with something else."
She thought about that for a few seconds then nodded.
"Ok, that makes sense. See how easy it is when you just explain things to me? I'm going to give Lucky your message. Luke's window of communication will be closing soon."
Then she leaned in to give him a hug and got up. When she was upstairs Jason turned to Rey.
"I'm gonna have to watch her."
"Yeah, you are."
After Letisha and the kids were packed up and whisked away into hiding, Jason and Caroline sat down with Rey and Johnny to go over the plan. She was glad he thought of something.
"Stefan gave me two routes. The first was his. Less risky and kind of boring but effective. Plus a schedule for the change of guard and the security codes. He was quick to point out that after he has confirmed my return to Port Charles he will change the codes. I can't blame him for that.
The second is the one Luke uses. He thinks its funny that Luke sneaks onto the island and doesn't actually care. Said it saved him the trouble of going there to visually confirm Helena's condition. He's a little ticked at Luke for getting conned but admits he was as well."
Then she laughed a bit too wistfully and it made the others look at her circumspectly. They didn't comment.
"You trust this?"
It was a legitimate question and had to be asked.
"Yeah, for a couple of reasons. One, we don't have anything else. Two, he was on the level. He doesn't have a reason to see me go down. And, there's always the possibility that a stray bullet tags Helena. He's not what I expected."
"What do you mean?"
She took a few moments to get her thoughts together but still had no clue.
"Luke's got more direct Cassidine history than anyone. He's probably the only one to go up against them and walk away. Stefan isn't one of them. Luke never met him or crossed paths with him until he came to PC. When all that stuff went down with aunt Laura, Stefan was away at school. Had been for a couple of years. Luke and Laura never met him. But, when he came to Port Charles, Luke saw Cassidine and that was it."
They are trying to follow her but they can't because they have no idea where she's getting this or why she's thinking what they all suspect she's thinking.
"What's going on?"
That's Jason Morgan, always a bottom line guy.
"Huh?"
"You went there concerned and now you're acting like...I don't know. What's going on?"
"No clue. There's something...I can't put my finger on it but there's something."
"Is he going to be a problem?"
"Hardly. But not for the reasons you might think. Stefan is high class but he's also about taking care of business. There is steel trap inside that head of his and his mind works fast. He could be a problem if he wanted to be. He doesn't. Unless whatever Helena is cooking up for us has the potential to blow up in his face, I seriously doubt he's the least bit interested in Spencers. And, something tells me he's really not all that interested in Cassidines either."
"What is he interested in?"
The question had a hard edge to it but she didn't notice because she was thinking about the answer. Rey and Johnny noticed, made eye contact for confirmation, then went about pretending they didn't.
"Not sure. He's a mystery. I'm good at reading people. Problem is, I played it straight with him from the beginning. He sized me up and worked through all the possibilities quickly. He knew I wasn't lying and he knew I needed the information. He decided to play it straight too. It cost him nothing. But, it was actually his thanks. I game bearing a gift that is priceless to any Spencer or Cassidine."
"What's that?"
"Valuable information on another Cassidine."
Jason nods 'cause it made sense. Caroline gets back to the Sonny plan.
"How did you guys work out getting him back here?"
"Don't kill him. Knock him out. Tie him up and stuff him on the plane."
"Just like a guy."
Rey's kind of offended by that. It was his part of the plan.
"You got something better?"
"Yeah. Jason, which funeral home do you use?"
He didn't even consider that 12 days ago that question would have stopped him cold.
"Fenway's, why?"
"Can they get us a casket by tomorrow? Nothing fancy."
"Yeah. Why? You're not supposed to kill him."
"Duh. I got that part. No, but it's a 12 hour return flight. I say we get knock him out—I have something for that—put him in the casket with an oxygen tank and mask and that's how he travels back."
They just stare.
Finally, Johnny get's it together to ask.
"Why?"
"Preparation."
"Use more words in your next response. Why?"
"Couple of reasons. Morgan planes have been taking off quite a bit in the last two weeks. Unloading him off the plane openly or in a shipping crate raises suspicion. A hearse waiting to pick up a casket—not so much considering the owner. Anyway, its one stop shopping. Hearse drives him to the...information extraction point and none of us have to deal with him during the trip. If I have to talk to him en route, all we have to do is lift the lid and snatch off the mask. And, when you're done with him, you already got a casket in case you wanted to go that route."
Its creepy but they see the merit in it. Jason knows the second reason is the one she thinks he'll like.
"And the second?"
"He'll be all primed for you. Sonny's claustrophobic."
"What?" The general response from all three.
"How'd you know that?"
They worked for him and never saw it. Nothing in his history points to it.
"Brenda told me."
Johnny laughed and that started the other two snickering.
"I'm still not getting why you guys find that so funny but I also don't care."
When he finally stops laughing Jason nods.
"Sounds good to me."
It was time to leave. Her bag was packed and she had every possible thing she could think of in her weapons case. Different from the one used for a regular hit. This was for special jobs. When Jason looked at some of the stuff he just shook his head that he missed this side of her. Then again, he's come to realize, she missed this side of herself when she was stuck in Carly mode and couldn't get out. They were standing in front of the picture window looking out on the harbor while waiting for Johnny. She didn't want Jason to ride to the airport and he understood why without commenting.
"Jase?"
He knew it was coming so he simply turned to face her and nodded.
"Michael...if I don't make it back, I know you'll do what's best for him."
"Of course I will. He's my son and I love him too."
"I know. And I don't think anyone would—at least not Spencers, but they're kind of crazy so who knows—but don't let anyone pressure you into thinking you can't raise him on your own. You can. And I trust you. Michael and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. You saved my life and made all the decisions when I was in a coma. When they let us out of the hospital and I couldn't lift or carry him, you did all of that for me. That's a hard thing for a mother. Not being able to carry your child or even something as simple as bending over to pick him up from his crib. Those were some very long six weeks. I felt helpless like I wasn't doing a good job but you were right there the entire time. Even with the business. I have never forgotten that and I never will."
"Caroline, you gave me something no one else could. Something no one else ever will. Until you moved in here, I didn't have a life. I worked and that's it. And, this wasn't a home. It was just a place I slept. And I still thought of it as Sonny's. When you moved in you made it our home. It was too quiet here and I never knew that until you came. You gave me a family. You are my family. You and Michael. And, Michael taught me that I could learn things on my own. Figure out things for someone else. He couldn't talk. We didn't know what he wanted or needed but I learned from him. It changed me. You changed me and I'm glad. He is our son and I promise he's not going anywhere as long as I'm around."
That last part had to be said and they both knew it 'cause they lived in the real world.
"Yeah, about that last part..."
"Bobbie. Its in my will and I had Justice draw up the papers. We talked about it a few months ago and she said yes immediately as long as it was alright with you. She also said he wasn't getting within 500 feet of the mansion if she could help it. Lila would have to visit him elsewhere."
"Mama's a tough nut to crack. She'll do it. Yeah, that's what I want. And you gave me family, friendship, loyalty, love and acceptance. All without question or reservation. You might be regretting that acceptance part right about now but I hope you...."
"Don't. Don't apologize. I don't know your reasons and they aren't my business unless you want them to be. You are my best friend. Regardless of name or skills. Nothing has changed as far as I'm concerned."
She closed her eyes but they didn't stop the tears from slipping out. She could only whisper,
"Thank you."
They were silent for the next 10 minutes as they did nothing but hold each other in an embrace that conveyed everything. Everything about them as individuals, as friends and as parents. The undertones were intense because it also conveyed their complete understanding of the situation. There was no way around this and they knew the potential of her not returning was real. Just as real as the other times but this was different. She was heading to Cassidine turf uninvited to take something that Helena probably considered hers. And, if she wasn't careful, she would end up starting the war all over again.
So caught up in each other, neither noticed Johnny come in to get her. He took one look at the scene playing out and left without saying a word.