"You got competition."
Justice laughed,
"We use slightly different methods but I'll take that as a compliment."
Before anyone else could respond, the door opened and Joey stepped in. He was all wicked smiles and leers.
"Excuse me. Justice, there's someone outside your door wants to see you."
"Who?"
"I don't know. Never seen her before but she is HOT." He wiggled his eyebrows up and down for effect.
Rey looked at him seriously.
"Gonna have to do better than that."
"Ok, HOT extremely HOT. Knockout gorgeous. The kind of hot you just couldn't say no to if you wanted, but you wouldn't wanna. I certainly wouldn't. And you shouldn't either. About Caroline's height and build. African American. Legs for days. Beautiful smile. Long wavy hair and did I mention HOT!"
Everyone's looking at Justice confused but he's looking at Joey even more confused.
"What's her name?"
"Faith."
Jason closed his eyes and sat back shaking his head waiting for blastoff. He was pissed but knew Justice had the honors on this one. It didn't take 2 seconds.
"That's my little sister you perverted pedofile! And she is NOT hot!"
Justice was up and out the door in a flash. Rey cringed. Johnny looked nervous. Joey, clueless.
Jason looked Joey dead in the eye.
"You fucked up. Take the rest of the day off. Actually, take the rest of the week off. Don't let Justice see you on the way out. Pass the word to ALL the guys. She's Justice's little sister, she's my blood cousin and she is NOT hot. Nobody better look at her anywhere except in the eyes. Get the fuck out!!"
Joey left. He was really scared on that one. Rey, Johnny and Caroline didn't say a word. They knew he was mad.
Jason took a couple of cleansing breaths then looked at Johnny.
"When he comes back from vacation reassign him. Parking lot duty at Luke's. I don't want to see him for another month. Keep him out of Justice's line of sight for the next year. Make sure everyone knows who she is and that she is more than off limits. Right next to Em and Caroline. Clear?"
"Crystal."
"I don't know how long she's gonna be in town until I talk to her but get a guard ready."
Jason stopped for a second, shook his head then started up again 'cause he was REALLY pissed.
"Nah, I don't want to see him for a year either. Make an example out of him for the rest. It only takes one."
Johnny knew what that meant.
"Consider it done."
Johnny got up to take care of things but before he could get past the couch the door opened. Justice walked in with Faith holding her hand. Jason stood up as soon as he saw her and smiled. Rey stood but decided he liked looking at Justice better than risking missing Faith's eyes. Justice narrowed his eyes pinning both Rey and Johnny in his glare.
"This is my little sister, Faith."
Rey and Johnny knew that tone and weren't 5% stupid as Joey.
At the same time, they both responded.
"Miss. Ward."
It would've been funny if it weren't so serious. They could tell Justice was pissed and that's a state they never saw.
She smiled a warm, wholesome, friendly smile then shocked the hell out of everyone.
"Actually, its Quartermaine. Faith Quartermaine."
The room stilled.
Jason and Justice looked at each other then turned their full attention on her. They were waiting but wouldn't wait long after she dropped that bomb. Faith knew both of them well and knew this was going to be very bad. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before speaking.
"Before you both explode, I promise to tell you what happened. First, Jason its good to see you."
With that she gave him a hug. When she tried to pull back Jason didn't let go. He looked her in the eyes for a several moments before releasing her and knew something was not right.
Rey and Johnny made eye contact and slipped out. They could see Justice and Jason getting even more upset and knew something serious was about to go down.
Faith stepped out of the embrace and turned to Caroline with an extended hand.
"I'm Faith. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"Caroline, I'm glad to meet you too."
Then she sized up the room and decided to take a powder.
"I'll be a Luke's."
She was out the door just as fast as the others.
As soon as Caroline left, Jason went to the door to speak with the guard.
"NOBODY gets in. If its business, send them to Rey. If its Emily, tell her to go wait at Justice's."
Then he closed and locked the door before returning to the couch with the others.
Jason was getting more and more pissed but Justice looked like he was about to go through the roof so he held it in. He wasn't going scare her off by ganging up on her too. They sat but Justice lost all that smooth, polished grace that made him such a successful attorney in both the corporate and organized crime worlds. He hopped off the couch and started pacing the room.
"He got to you! Edward got to you! What happened? What did he do?"
She took a deep breath and held out her hand to him before speaking.
"Justice, please come sit with me."
That made him stop. When he looked at her the expression on her face cooled his rage. This was his baby sister and she was giving him the look that won him over when she was 2 years old.
Jason knew Justice wasn't in a position to start things off and they had to find out what was going on so he took the lead.
"Faith, what happened?"
She turned to Jason before answering,
"We all have to pay our debts in this life. There's a price for everything. I knew that. I just didn't know he'd change my name."
Then she laughed softly. Jason watched her carefully and could tell she wasn't alright,
"Where ever you want to start."
"I haven't legally been Faith Ward since I was 17 years old."
That made them both stare at her in confusion. Jason did not understand at all. It didn't make sense.
"How is that possible? The trial was 4 years ago. You were 19 then."
Justice didn't give her a chance to answer Jason before he broke in.
"No one knew dad was really Edward's son until then."
"You both forget that Edward has known since the day daddy died. That was 24 years ago."
Jason isn't getting all of it but he heard enough to know that Edward took advantage of her and that was going to cost him.
"Go on."
She turned to Justice.
"Do I need to give you a retainer before I bare my soul on this one?"
"OH GOD!!!!"
Justice was up pacing the floor again. He was coming apart at this point and it wasn't helping the situation. The more unglued he got the less willing she would be to tell them what happened. Jason tried to keep her talking before Justice had a meltdown.
"How long?"
She knew what he meant and wasn't sure how she felt about him figuring part of it so quickly. Then she remembered who her cousin was and mentally shrugged it off.
"Life. Maybe they could have reduced it to murder 2, but there wasn't any evidence to support me. Or at least that's what my loving and generous grandfather told me. I was 17 and didn't know a thing about the law."
"Where?"
"Florida. Ft. Lauderdale. Spring break my senior year. I went down with 9 other girls to bask in the sun and celebrate 6 more weeks of high school then freedom."
She stopped and closed her eyes but the tears slipped out anyway. She brushed them aside but they were falling fast. Jason saw she was struggling with the memories. He reached over, taking her hand and speaking softly,
"You don't have to say anything else."
"Yes, I do. I never told anyone but considering the circumstances, both of you need to know."
He accepted that and nodded for her to continue.
"I'm pretty tough but not so strong in the physical department. The guy was stronger than me."
Jason lost it at the same time as Justice. Both of them could be heard down the hall. Loui stepped away from the door and moved out of range the way Francis warned him to, just in case. Rey hoped they wouldn't start trashing the place. His hopes were dashed as what remained of the breakables from the last time started flying. Plus the replacement crystal decanters, glasses, and an ice bucket Emily ordered from Wyndham's.
Faith sat quietly while they got the initial explosion out of the way. She wasn't sure what she expected but figured this was necessary. They just were not helping her to say what had to be said.
"Please calm down. Its ok."
They looked at her like she was stupid.
"No, its not ok. What I meant was that it didn't go that far. He...didn't. Ok?"
They got it. It took more than a few minutes to calm themselves so they could hear what she had to say but both of them now understood part of the story.
"Yeah, I see the light dawning on both of you. I tried to fight him off but it was just making him more angry. I managed to get as far as the door when he grabbed my ankles and dragged me across the floor. I reached out for the first thing I could get my hands on. It was a baseball bat one of the other girls won in some beach contest earlier that week. An original autographed Louisville Slugger. I bashed his head in pretty good. Problem is, I didn't stop when he was down. I...made sure he stayed down."
She was still crying as she told the story. When she finished that last part she looked at her brother nervously and in fear. Jason understood and was about to say something when Justice finally spoke.
"Good."
She exhaled.
Justice walked over and took her in an embrace. The tears were still falling she but managed to get herself under control. Jason was more than angry at this point but he knew Justice was using everything he had to hide his rage. She let go and straightened her clothes. Both of them knew she was detaching and coping so they followed her lead.
"I'm ok."
"How does the old man fit into this? I'm not following it."
"Yeah you are, you just don't know it." Then she looked at Justice. "His promise to our grandmother was the only thing keeping him from claiming two more Quartermaines for the clan. He honored it, sort of."
"Wait, so all that time you knew dad was...."
"Bradley Quartermaine instead of Bradley Ward? Yes."
Jason got it.
"So the old man has had people on you and Justice all this time? He was watching the two of you your entire lives?"
"Yes. I was barely 6 months old when daddy died so he got to watch me grow up. He had his hands in everything. Got a copy of my report card before I did. Always knew where I was and what I did."
"That's sick!"
"That's a little hypocritical coming from either of you, don't you think?"
Busted, Jason conceded with a nod.
"Ok, you got me there. So he had someone watching you down in Florida?"
"Yeah, because the next thing I know four men come flying into the room. A woman was with them and led me away with her. Really, I was so out of it I didn't know what was going on and just sort of followed blindly. I thought I was being arrested."
Justice looks at her with pain, guilt and sadness.
"But you weren't, we never knew. I never knew."
"I'm good at keeping secrets. Helps in my line of work."
That caught Jason's attention but he didn't say anything as she continued.
"Obviously, I wasn't arrested. I was taken to a posh secluded mansion on some private estate. A doctor was waiting to examen me and then she gave me something to sleep. When I woke up the next morning I had one hell of a family reunion."
"Edward was there??!!!"
"Yeah, he flew down as soon as his people reported in. He started from the beginning, told me the truth—or as much as he was going to. But basically, everything he said was the truth. Showed me letters from grams. Told me things about her that he shouldn't know unless they really were together at some point. Then he explained who the men in my room were and said that everything was taken care of."
"And you weren't the least bit suspicious?"
"Jason, give me a little credit. I was 17, naive and not able to physically defend myself but I wasn't stupid. I knew there was a price for him helping me. Grandfather or not."
"That you'd have take the Quartermaine name one day."
"Nope. He said it was my silence and one other thing to be named later on because he wasn't sure what that would be yet. I agreed. We both knew I didn't have a choice. A week after I got back a messenger stopped me on the way home from school and gave me a package."
"Don't tell me."
"Oh, but I'm gonna tell you. You both want the truth, you'll get it. Edward Quartermaine obviously had power because I had a new amended birth certificate, passport, driver's license, social security card, the works. He even had a library card in there. How or why he managed that last one I don't know. All in the name of Faith Ward Quartermaine. Along with some legal papers and documents certifying my legal and official change of name. All without my knowledge or permission."
Justice stared with his mouth hanging wide open. Jason sat back shaking his head in amazement.
"He's good."
The only thing Justice could think to say,
"A library card?"
Jason thought about Luke,
"Its been known to happen."
"Are you sure its real? It could've been..."
"I skipped school the next day and took them to a lawyer in Harrisburg. He verified it all for me. And explained that I had a trust fund too. That was in some of those papers."
"Mom never knew this? None of the family knew this? How'd you hide a trust fund?"
"I was 17 Justice. I didn't have access til I was 21. Besides, the truth came out two years later."
"And you never said anything. Even after everything went public?"
"My word is my bond. He asked for silence in exchange for clean up and payoff. I keep my word."
Jason was impressed by those words but it didn't click.
"Why are you talking now?"
"Because he changed the terms."
"He wants more?"
"Jason, he always wanted more. The name change was... if you don't have the cash to purchase outright, you lease to own. That's what he thought he was doing."
"Is that why you're in town? He's trying to collect? Because you know Justice and I won't let that happen."
"Its part of why I'm here. I lost my job. Actually, I was fired. Edward has been trying to get me to leave my firm for the past two years. Kept sweetening the offer each time. Always sure to throw in a few catch words like family obligation, duty and responsibility. I guess he decided that it was time for tough love. He lunches with the chairman whenever he's in Chicago. They're old friends. He didn't have to put any pressure on him to fire me. In fact, he didn't even bother to make up an excuse. He just said, Miss. Quartermaine, your grandfather wishes for you to work at ELQ, therefore, you no longer work here."
Justice is all lawyer at this point.
"That's illegal!"
"Of course it is. So what? Obviously, he thought he could get away with it. Obviously, he did."
Jason isn't liking anything she's said since she walked in the door. He remembers what Ned warned him Edward wanted.
"So that's why you're here? To work at ELQ? You don't have to do that Faith. We can find you another job."
"Well, I do need a job but I'm not here for ELQ. Though that's what he'll think as soon as he finds out where I am. I'm here because my cousin has a problem on Long Island. Actually, two problems on Long Island and needs my help."
Both men got serious quick. They narrowed their eyes at her. When she looked at her brother she could tell he left the building about 2 seconds after her cousin. All she had in front of her was a mob boss and his lawyer.
"What do you know?"
"Everything you know and a lot more but you're not the cousin who called me for help. I would have come just as quickly if you had."
Lights, bells and whistles went off at the same time. Brother and cousin re-entered the building. Jason put it together.
"Ned."
"Yes."
Jason nods seeing something but not everything.
"Explain."
"That only works with people who work for you."
He laughed.
"Sorry, habit."
"Understandable."
Justice still wanted answers.
"Explain."
"He can't fire his shots if he doesn't know all the targets. I'm gonna help him find them."
"How come you answered when he said it?"
"The same reason Emily would've if you said it to her. Big brothers have their privileges."
"Got it. So, it's the accounting thing?"
"Should I be offended that neither of you pays as close attention to me as our.......grandfather?"
"What's that mean?"
"Five seconds to figure it out."
"Guards?"
"Yeah, plus a few investigators thrown in. Though he hasn't been able to get close to me in the last couple of years because I worked exclusively with a special client of the firm and they couldn't touch me. But since my fire wall is now in Joliet doing consecutive life behind RICO, Edward knew he could put the pressure on now. He wants to collect what he really considers my debt."
Jason stared at her for a few moments before the pieces clicked. He was up off the couch instantly. There wasn't anything left to break so he just shouted. Poor Loui went to stand in front of the elevator.
"Gambino!!! Gambino!!! What the fuck were you doing anywhere near someone like Gambino!!!!!"
"Who's the bad guy, the mobster or the one who helps him hide his money?"
Justice was having none of this. It didn't make any sense.
"You're a financial planner!"
"Yeah, and you're a......lawyer."
Justice found absolutely nothing funny in the entire conversation. Jason calmed down a bit and actually laughed at that. Faith giggled. And that's when Justice started pacing and ranting.
"That is not funny. Neither of you should find anything the least bit funny! I can't believe you worked for someone like that. You were at the most prestigious brokerage and investment house in Chicago. One of the top 5 in the country. You are Phi Beta Kappa. Harvard MBA at 20! You...no its not possible. Did you know who he was? Of course you didn't. They..."
Faith decides to lead her brother down from the mountain top while slapping him in the face with a little reality in the process.
"You are Phi Beta Kappa. You are Yale law school and you represent Jason Morgan."
Then she turned to Jason,
"No offense but he needed a reality check."
"None taken. He's had a lot of shocks recently but your's hit home."
She lowered her head before responding.
"I know and I'm sorry. About all of this."
"Don't be sorry. None of it was your fault. NONE of it. Edward is good. He took advantage of you when you were just a kid and in the worst possible situation. Its ok.. And Justice is ok about it too."
Then he turned to Justice, made eye contact then threw a glance toward Faith who was looking nervous and scared again.
"Aren't you?"
He got it.
"Of course. It was just a shock. The Gambino thing kind of did me in but other than that, nothing's wrong."
She exhaled with eyes closed before lifting her head to meet his.
"Thank you. I've always wanted to come to you but it was too much back then. The pain. Later, its just I never wanted you to be angry or ashamed of me."
That more than did it.
"I am not, and never could be ashamed of you. You're my baby sister. And, I admit I didn't handle things so well. You did the right thing. Thanks for telling me now."
He gave her a hug and she knew he meant they were alright.
Jason had other thoughts and his voice was ice cold.
"The old man have anything on you? Has he tried to use it? Pictures, a statement from someone?"
"He's never mentioned what happened. Never brought it up in all the time he was trying to recruit me."
"But you aren't certain he doesn't have any of that stuff?"
"I don't know what he has. I never saw the bat again. My prints are all over it, along with the physical evidence. For all I know they video taped the whole thing before coming into the room to get me."
Jason nodded in understanding. He and Justice were going to have to talk in private later so he changed the subject to get her mind off of it.
"What'd you do for Gambino?"
"Privileged."
"Ok, what's you're area of expertise?"
"Financial planning."
"You're not helping."
"Give me the bottom line or move this conversation along."
Surprised, no one speaks to him like that. Then Jason laughed, remembering that Faith does.
"Want a job?"
"You're retirement plan isn't the best from what I've read lately."
"Only for the ones who try to take me out."
"True."
"Want a job?"
"Doing what? And, I'm expensive. I'm very expensive. Extremely expensive."
"You sound like Emily."
"No, she doesn't charge my rates. She's only 18 and doesn't know how to negotiate yet."
"How much did you bill Gambino?"
"$500 an hour for straight work. Double that for certain other things and triple for...the rest."
They both looked at her in astonishment.
"How good are you? You just graduated 3 years ago. And he IS in prison."
"Yeah, but they never found his money. Those charges didn't have anything to do with finances and the feds are still kicking themselves over that. And, how long have YOU been in the business?"
Justice finally found something funny.
"She's got you there."
"Be quiet."
"Whatever."
"Seriously, Faith."
She looked at him carefully.
"We need to talk straight."
"Ok."
"Ned asked for my help. I am not working at or for ELQ. I'm not working for him. I'm doing him a favor because I can. Same as I would for you. But both of you are going after or defending yourselves from the same people. You each have your own agenda and you each want it to go down a certain way. They may conflict. I'm not sure because I need about 10 more minutes to size you up face to face before I know for certain."
Jason and Justice make eye contact on that last statement.
"Who are you?"
"Never ask a question you don't want the answer to."
"You're worse than Ned."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Ok, I understand where you're coming from. I still haven't figured out how I want to handle certain things and I need more information. But, its obvious that I had problems with people I can trust. Things are changing and I want to make sure that the people closest to me are the ones I can trust. That's one of the reasons I asked you about the job. This situation is going to be messy. Not just in business but the Tracy element is going to impact the family. Edward has his eye on you. Ned already warned me what he's after. He didn't know you were on the list as well. Whether you want to work for me or not is your decision and I understand either way. Doesn't change anything between us. And it certainly doesn't affect my intention to make sure the old man leaves you alone. Because you know he won't stop."
"I don't think I would have a problem taking you on as a client, generally. I am in possession of a great deal of information and knowledge. Gambino sat on the Commission, you and Justice know what that means. But, my client's information stays with me. I do not trade on it in the future. I wouldn't tell you anything I learned through my work with him just like I wouldn't tell my next client anything about you. Soleto is a different matter. But you and Ned are going to have to come to some understanding on the current situation. There are things I know that can directly help Ned find what he needs to operate around and hold off Tracy. Things I know can help you diversify and expand. I wouldn't have an ethical problem with that. But the two of you must work something out before I make a decision."
Faith takes a deep breath before continuing. She's tired now and it shows.
"Keeping a secret is one thing. Having to outright lie to you and the rest of the family was hard. Phony diploma, having to harass the clerk at Harvard to have my name listed as Ward in the program at graduation. On the student roster in the dorm. Everything so you guys didn't find out. That's one of the reasons I stayed at Harvard for graduate school. They already knew my obsession with not having Quartermaine listed anywhere and worked with me on it. Same thing in Chicago. My secretaries knew to put through any calls for Faith Ward without missing a beat. It was easy. Same firm I interned with in college and grad school. That's what I do. Stick with the familiar. Keep things real simple."
She's started crying again but still maintains her composure and grace.
"I'm tired. Justice, may I rest at your place for a little while?"
"Of course. You can stay with me too. There's plenty of room. In fact, I insist. Where are your bags?"
"I left them at the airport. I wasn't sure how you'd feel after we talked."
Her voice was softer then and sad.
"Faith, you are my little sister and I love you. No matter what. And, you're staying with me. Big brothers have their privileges."
He smiled and it touched her heart but also threatened to break her composure so she just nodded and accepted his hug wordlessly.
"Give me the claim ticket and I'll have your bags brought over."
She did as she rose from her seat. Faith risked a nervous peek at Jason because she was feeling more than a little exposed. He understood and gave her a hug.
"Everything is going to be alright. You'll see."
She couldn't say anything else so she nodded again then turned and left.
After she was gone Justice was off the couch pacing the room again. What he held in before in front of Faith was starting to seep out as his control wore thin. Jason knew that couldn't happen.
"If you explode she'll hear you and think its for the wrong reasons."
"You have no idea how angry I am right now."
"No, but I can guess. I'm pretty angry myself."
Justice sits quietly for a few minutes and then a light goes off in his head. Jason can tell he's figured something out.
"What are you thinking?"
"That certain things about my little sister are just starting to make sense."
"Like what?"
"She didn't go to her senior prom. Canceled it, broke up with her boyfriend and didn't get another date. She's never had a boyfriend since high school. Doesn't go out on dates. I feel so stupid for not catching on. At one point I thought she might be hiding her lifestyle so I asked her about it. She laughed and said she was working on sainthood and figured perpetual virginity was a requirement. She made jokes about it and I just accepted it."
"Justice, there is no way you could have known. This isn't your fault anymore than it is her's."
"I should have put some of the pieces together. I thought it was a quirk or safety precaution she took to the extreme before but now it makes sense...she doesn't go anywhere at night alone. Anywhere. Ever. What college student doesn't go out?"
"This was more than I expected her to say when she walked in the room. More than she ever would have said if the old man hadn't started putting pressure on her. Unfortunately, this Soleto thing drew her out. She wasn't working so when Ned called it was easy for her to get away. Now she's here in Port Charles right where he wants her. There are some things that we can do to help her. Some things we have no control over. Making sure she feels safe is something I can do and I will. As long as she feels comfortable with the guards. Justice, you're gonna have to speak to her about that."
"Yeah, I'll talk to her later. Maybe wait until tomorrow. She's not in good shape right now."
"That's fine. Especially if she doesn't want to leave the floor tonight. We have to find out if Edward has anything on her. If he does, he'll try to use it soon. Once he finds out she's here he won't leave her alone."
" I cannot believe that he's been manipulating my sister all this time! Harassing her for years! And I missed all of it."
He sat back on the couch totally spent.
"Jason, she was 17."
"Yeah, and he's gonna pay."