Justice started in the middle of the conversation as soon as all three were seated on the couches.
"Sale's finished. The building is yours."
Johnny didn't even wait for Jason to say anything as he practically leapt from his seat.
"I am so on this. The guys were just waiting for the go ahead."
Jason nodded,
"What's the first thing you're doing?"
"Elevators."
Neither man understood that. Justice thought he already finished that.
"What else can you do to the elevators? They're locked out, the service one doesn't come up here anymore."
Taking his time as if he's speaking to children, Johnny tries to give a quick answer so he can get started on his new obsession. Overseeing securing the Brownstone barely took the edge off.
"Yeah, the service elevator doesn't come up. Going down is an emergency back up for you guys up here. But two others stop on this floor as well. The private one by the doors, and the public one right here."
"What are you going to do?"
"Make it so the private one bypasses every floor. Express service to the top. And the public one's getting an operator. Cameras are feeding into our security system already but its still possible to miss something. Emily can break into any computer system, what's to keep the dedicated from trying something like that here? Jason, aside from the general, everyday possible threats to you and the kids, there's a lot of other factors to consider now."
Neither could argue that. Both wondered how Johnny was going to get the guys to agree to shifts standing in an elevator all day so they had to ask. Johnny answered a little indignantly.
"I didn't make up the concept. A lot of people did it for decades. They'll just do it here."
Not interested in the elevators anymore, Justice asks him what else he's doing.
"I liked Vinnie's idea of a private parking level. Means having more men on them because we're concentrating most of the cars there, but it also cuts down on the reasons for having them swept. And, makes it easier to do it routinely without calling any attention to ourselves."
"Makes sense. Anything else?"
"Plenty that you don't really want to know about but basically, we're about to turn into Big Brother. There won't be a square inch of this property that we aren't watching and recording. Except for this floor, of course."
"You're getting a kick out of this."
"Yeah, can I go now?"
Jason just laughed.
"Yeah."
After Johnny left, Justice turned to Jason with a raised eyebrow but Jason was ready for it.
"Don't say it. He's in need of a vacation but since he can't have that I'm letting him obsess over his new hobby."
Justice nodded sagely.
"Just so long as you realize...."
"Yeah, as soon as this is all over, he's going on a cruise."
Satisfied, Justice gets them to the business at hand.
Toward the end of their meeting, Faith came downstairs intending to head across the hall to update Jason. She was surprised to see him already in the living room but then decided she was not. She immediately took the temperature of the room,
"Attorney/client?"
Jason shook his head,
"Nah, and I think we're done anyway. You ready to meet?"
"Yes."
Then she turned to Justice,
"Are you going to be around just in case he needs to run some of this by you?"
"Yes. Unless something comes up I'll be buried in paper work in the study. I've got a lot of overseas calls to make as well. Holler if you need me."
With that, Justice was up and gone. Faith got comfortable one of the sofas then set up her lap top and files on the coffee table while Jason went to get some snacks. He figured it might take awhile. He was right. Once they were both settled, Jason sized up Faith carefully.
"That was pretty impressive work you did earlier."
"Thanks, but it is my job."
Jason tilted his head slightly taking in her full view from a different angle.
"No, its not."
She exhaled and decided to get it out of the way.
"In some ways we're exactly a like, Jason. I work with what I have and what I am. You know that, you've done the same. Its paid off for me. Especially in this business."
"That first day, I thought you were the strangest person I'd ever met. Then the rest of the family kept coming in my room along with everyone else and I decided you had to be the most normal."
She laughed softly.
"That's not really a compliment."
Jason laughed because she was right.
"True, they aren't actually normal to begin with, but you know what I mean. It was still impressive."
"And it was worth more than time and a half. I gave you a family discount, this time."
They both laughed.
"Yeah, about that with Em. Stop that."
"Too late. She's learned enough of the basics."
Jason turned quiet and got serious for a moment.
"What about the business? Do you think it was wrong to bring her in?"
"That's a judgment, Jason. You know I don't make those."
"Then give me your opinion."
"You had a reason, she has the skills. She wanted to work for you and she's happy. I didn't dream of one day taking on Gambino as a client like she hoped to get a job offer from you. It just happened but I don't regret it and I went into it with my eyes open. The experience I gained alone is enough to make me rich for the rest of my life."
Jason scrunched up his face.
"You were already rich. Trust fund remember?"
"You've got one as well. I don't see you jet setting in Europe or lounging around a golf course all day. You work very hard in a dangerous business. Its not the money and we both know it."
"I like what I do. I'm good at it."
"And for right now, Em's in that same place. She's starting college Monday. Things will change for her a little but not much. She loves it here and she loves you. Not to mention, she loves her work."
"But if that ever changes..."
"You'll let her go and you'll both be alright."
He smiled slightly and nodded before speaking.
"Yeah."
"Before we get down to business, let me just point out that I know things have changed in your relationship with Caroline. I doubt anyone else besides Letisha, Em and I have seen it. You'll tell me all about it later, of course."
Then she sat back and laughed at his surprised expression.
"You didn't really think you could keep it a secret from me did you?"
"Obviously, we're good at keeping secrets from each other."
"No, I am good at keeping secrets, you just don't confirm or deny."
"Ok, I'll accept that because I don't have anything better. Want to do something later?"
"I need a rain check. When we finish up I'm going to the campus with Em. She has to get her books etc. Then we're going to grab something at Luke's, girl stuff."
"Alright, let's get started so you can tell me how this works."
Faith got serious and sat forward on the couch.
"Do you trust me?"
Its a valid question for her to ask but Jason is thinking she should have asked that when he offered her the job.
"We wouldn't be having this discussion if I didn't."
"Think about it very carefully, Jason. I'm not asking the standard question. Do you trust me?"
Then she sat back to give him the time to work it out.
"Why?"
"Gambino is doing consecutive life...."
She saw him tense and held her hand up.
"Easy. It went down the way they said it did. Your reaction is normal but you answered my question."
"Faith, I don't understand the question. And when you mentioned Gambino getting jammed up, it was reflex. I need you to explain where you're going with this."
She looked him over carefully and nodded.
"It requires you relaxing and listening to everything I have to say."
"Ok."
"Gambino may never get out. He might, but its not likely. He and I are the only two people on the planet who know where all his money is. He can't spend it in Joliet. And until he asks me to make some changes, it stays where it is."
He's not really following her.
"Tell me you don't think I'd ever ask you to...."
"No. I'm saying that I'm walking around free and clean, while my client's locked up and he's not worried that his money isn't where it was the last time he checked."
"I get that takes trust. Especially in this business. But I'm still not following you. Does this have anything to do with you going after Soleto's money?"
"Partly. You might be thinking that if I'll take it from him..."
"Never. Give me the rest of this because we know each other too well for that to be an issue."
"You leave nothing to chance, Jason. Neither do I. That can get one killed in this business and it needed to be addressed."
She made a legitimate point so he accepts that with a nod for her to continue.
"I was serious when I said Gambino and I are the only two people on the planet who know where all his money is. Or how to find it. His accountants don't know. His lawyers don't know...."
Jason is nodding now because he's starting to see where she's going with this.
"This is about Justice? His ethical obligations?"
"Its about everybody. And, I sat in on that meeting earlier. Justice's ethical obligations are not an issue when it comes to protecting you and your business. He's going to do it. He's broken most of the rules of ethics for attorneys just being your attorney. This isn't about him. I gave a lot of detailed information in that meeting earlier. I didn't give a fraction of what you and I will discuss and I'll never discuss it with others. Including your attorney. Ask me why."
"Why?"
"Because no one else needs to know. There are a few things that we're going to discuss that deal with SEC regulations. Things your attorney needs to know. Those you will have to discuss with him. I will prepare a report for you two to go over. Some things your accountants will need to know. I will tell them what they need to know. But there are other things that no one else needs to know. You trust your guards to protect you and your family. So far, they have. You trust those of us on your administrative staff with the specific illegal operations of your business. None of them have turned on you and I'm not saying they will. But, you aren't clairvoyant. I'm sure Justice has advised you that the Feds will try to put someone on the inside or turn someone already here to get to you. I'm certain you've considered that possibility many times. You were sold out and set up by someone who was a father figure in your life. Again by your older brother. You're about to be attacked by your aunt. Your grandfather is coming after you. Are we understanding one another?"
Jason more than got it.
"Yes."
"When I said that they can't take what you have if they don't know what you have and they can't find what you have, I meant it. And I wasn't just talking about Soleto and the Quartermaines. You know that money does things to people. Makes them do things they might not otherwise do. But, its also a sure way for the Feds to get to you. That's why you need to decide within yourself if you trust me and how much you trust me before I start laying out my strategy. I guarantee the first few things I'm going to mention aren't close to being legal. After that, everything else is. But to discuss that with you means I have to trust you to the same degree. Its more than a two way street."
Jason heard what she said and completely understood. He more than agreed. When she got to that last part, it caused him to raise an eyebrow or two. His dealings with a business manager were limited to Benny and he inherited him from Sonny. Benny cooked the books. He made the financial deals happen that Justice and Jason directed him to do. Jason mused that Benny made one or two deals he wasn't directed to make. Benny was gone, but the information he had access to is still being used against Jason.
"Faith, I trust you. Trust that you won't sell me out but I also trust that you know what you're doing. I understand that last part a heck of a lot better today than I did before. But, I also knew that you knew what you were doing or you wouldn't have gotten as far as you have. That's not an issue for me. And, I understand exactly what's at stake for both of us. Do you have any questions about my loyalty towards you?"
She didn't hesitate.
"No."
"Good. Now that's settled, tell me what you want to do."
"ELQ."
"What's your game plan?"
"I know you want to get your hands on the ELQ stock Tracy has managed to purchase and conceal. Ned wants it too, but since he's a good guy it will take more time for him to find it. He doesn't know what I know about all the co-ventures so he can't unravel the mess to get to get to it."
"Yeah, that's the idea I had earlier. I need leverage over the old man and I need to hurt him."
"Aside from putting a bullet in him or convincing Lila to throw him out for good, there's only one way to do either of those things successfully."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Over-all, I want you to quietly acquire controlling interest in ELQ."
That's something Jason would definitely want and he's thought about ways to make it happen. There were several problems with making that happen.
"Majority interest his held by the family. That's why the board meetings are held in that nut house."
"Technically."
She stopped speaking and just looked at him waiting for Jason to make the connection.
"AJ."
Glad he went there so she didn't have to, Faith nodded.
"Tracy and AJ each hold 5%. No one knows he's gone yet. When his accountants notice that all his spending activity has ceased, they will investigate. But, the family threw him out so it will be awhile, if ever, before any of them realize that he's not coming back."
Jason is nodding along with this. He couldn't touch any of AJ's money for these reasons.
"How?"
"I can back date a private sale in such a way that it looks as if AJ wanted to stick it to the family. That, they would believe. According to them, you did it with Sonny. Or he took advantage of you, depending on who's participating in the argument. Then I sell the shares publically a few times through some ventures you won't be taking over so that it looks like Tracy acquired it and you merely took advantage of the situation later by grabbing it up for yourself. The way I'll set it up, if anyone should find out he's gone, they'll think Tracy took him out to get his shares then tried to cover her tracks. They'll also think the two of them were working together in her take over attempt all along and no one will suspect he was really after you through Sonny and Rivera."
Jason looked at Faith intensely for several moments then laughed and shook his head.
"What?"
"Its so....illegal."
Faith raised an eyebrow as if she couldn't believe Jason Morgan, of all people, just made that observation.
"Do you have a problem with it?"
"No."
It was her turn to laugh.
"How are you planning on doing it?"
"I won't bore you with the specifics but there is something I need and I don't want to go outside your organization to get it but if I have to, I can."
"What's that?"
"An expert forger. And I mean expert. If I do my job right, there's no reason to investigate us. If you did your job and buried him right, there's no reason for anyone to be suspicious enough to investigate."
This side of Faith was taking some getting use to. However, everything she said was true. He thought about it for a moment then nodded.
"I have someone. He's for special jobs and I can't really think of anything more special at the moment. How long will it take you to get the paper work together?"
"Its already done."
"You did that since the meeting?"
"I started as soon as I found out AJ turned."
At his incredulous expression.
"Work with me, Jason. Its called financial planning. Planning being the operative word."
"Got it. What else?"
"Tracy's 5 % will be a bit more tricky because...well she's still breathing. But that's a good thing for you. That I can get the old fashion way."
"What's that?"
"Calling in her loan. She used it as collateral for another venture. This means she's feeling very confident about her plans for you and Ned. And that she was desperately trying to keep that deal a secret from Soleto."
He sees it and is ready to work with it except there's just one tiny crimp in the plan.
"I don't hold the marker for whatever loan she put her shares up to secure."
"Not yet, give me til the end of the day."
Jason nods because he's got this but doesn't want to tip her off too early.
"That will start the ball rolling. Once she realizes that its gone she'll start looking for the double cross."
"But, it will take her awhile to find it because she can't call attention to what she's done or Soleto will wonder about her other stock purchases on his behalf."
"Won't it look strange if I show up at the next board meeting with an extra 10%?"
"Yes and that's why you're not going to do it like that. The next meeting is in 3 weeks. That's one reason we're both sure she wants to get to town before that. Its her cover and fits nicely into the whole, squash Jason like a bug and take his territory plan."
Jason rolls his eyes at that last part but gets it so he let it go.
"How am I going to do it?"
"Tracy's 5% first. She won't realize she doesn't own it until you tell her at the meeting. That shows Edward you're coming after him but it'll be too late for him to do anything. AJ's you can hide for awhile. You need to own it at the time because Edward will start searching for him just to get his shares or proxy."
"Alright, I don't have a problem with that. I need to have AJ spending money for awhile though."
Faith thought about it while trying to make it fit with the other things on her list.
"As long as he dies before Tracy, if you're going to go that route with her, since I'm setting her up for taking him out. Have him traveling in places they can't track or catch up to him. Asia and the middle east. Then he falls off the side of a mountain trekking in Tibet or something. I don't actually care, that's your department, not mine."
"Whatever. Are we done with this part?"
"Almost. I feel compelled to point out that as an ELQ share holder, I don't advise you trying to acquire my shares this way."
Jason cracked up laughing.
"Wasn't even a consideration."
"Just making sure."
"Ok, what's next on your list?"
"Jury tampering."
She lost him completely with that one.
"Faith?"
"Before you're actually charged with something and put before a jury of your peers, shouldn't they feel obligated to you?"
He smiles.
"Where?"
"Waterfront district first. No one will question why you're doing it considering me and Justice. Its the right thing to do, its another legitimate venture for you right here in Port Charles, and since you're not paying nearly enough taxes you should put something directly into the community. Your investment in the Dock's Project gives you credibility and its good press. You'll need that later."
"Where am I getting the capital for the investment?"
"Officially or actually?"
"Both."
"ELQ and the docks officially. Sonny Corinthos and Rivera unofficially."
"Are you planning on stealing everybody's money?"
"Everybody who comes after you."
Jason has no problem with that and nods his approval.
"Where's Soleto's money going?"
"Off shore if you don't mind. At least part of it. Some of it has to go into your fast get away accounts. The rest you need liquid to support his current operations when you take over."
"You're confident I'm going to win this one?"
"A) I know you can do it. B) If you don't we're all dead. I prefer option A."
"What about Helena?"
"Em is tracking the cash reserves. I found the rest. I don't advise dismantling what's structured, you'll need that. But, everything else goes liquid overseas until you're ready to invest it in some other projects. You need to have a significant return on the legitimate investments before I whip out that kind of money. You've only been in charge a year. There's nothing in your portfolio to support that type of liquidity."
That made him stop and think for a minute.
"How much money are we talking about?"
"Half a billion or so."
He---just---stared.
"Excuse me?"
"I told you she had more than Soleto. She is a Cassidine. And she is Mikkos' widow."
"What about Stefan?"
"He'll be ticked when he figures out that you have it. But since the alternative is Helena having it, hopefully he'll get over that. And, you have to know that once I secure that, my standard hourly rate is going to more than triple since you and I will know you're more than flush."
Jason just rolled his eyes at that last part. He knew she was going to say that.
Faith got serious and looked him over.
"Do you see what I was getting at earlier? You're going to have well over half a billion dollars capital reserves in a couple of weeks that you shouldn't have. None of that's connected or contingent on the business. All of it sitting around waiting to be invested later. These ventures are going to be pulling in million of dollars once the operation is stabilized and running smoothly over the next year or so and you'll be making money on both ends. You've already got a pretty successful cut of the market and Soleto's territory will just add to that."
Jason more than saw and he could only shake his head.
"Yeah, I definitely see it. This is what you did for Gambino?"
"Again, partly. It was mostly theory when I started out. A challenge to see if I could do it."
"What about investments here in the U.S.?"
"First, you'll need a tax attorney. A very good tax attorney, the best. Second, you need the best securities attorney available. But its crucial that you own them."
The concept isn't foreign and he has no problem with it but he still requires more detail.
"Why?"
"Justice is your chief counsel. He's corporate, criminal and tax but he can't be all things and continue to advise you on the other things he has to advise you on. What I'm planning is in depth and it'll take a lot of time. That takes away from everything else he has to do. These guys will report to and be responsible to Justice and they won't make a move he isn't aware of or approves. But Justice had personal reasons for initially agreeing to represent you. He'll continue to do it because you're friends, family, and he loves the work. Everything he gets to do is a challenge and he gets a kick out of it. He doesn't need the money anymore than you or I do. That's not why we're in this business. Most importantly, Justice doesn't do it out of obligation or fear...."
Jason let her lay it out but he knew where she was going. Its impossible for something like that not to have crossed his mind with many of the people working for him. Especially those who didn't see themselves as part of the organization, like accountants, or dirty like outside counsel.
"But the other guys might be a problem."
"The legal penalty for an attorney breaking client privilege is censure or disbarment. That hurts and its enough of a reason for most to stay in line. In this business, the penalty is death...if the client is still around or can break through the Witness Protection Program to find them before they testify. I don't want either of us to be in that position. By the time I get finished doing all the things I want to do with your finances, I'll be in just as much jeopardy as you from anything they might catch you on. And I might go down first."
"Explain."
"We talked about that."
He chuckled.
"Please explain it to me."
She smiled at giving him a hard time.
"I won't get the needle but the only way I'll get out is when they carry me out. I'm too good to get caught but anything is possible. If I mess up that's one thing but I'm not going down because of a lawyer who can't keep his or her mouth shut. Setting things up will require enough violations to give me several life sentences by the time the SEC, IRS, FTC and DOJ get through with me. And I'll catch RICO just like you. White collar crime is still crime."
He's following her and he understands but he's got two questions.
"Then why do you do this kind of work when you could be completely legit with your background and experience?"
"I like what I do and I'm good at it. Plus, money laudering is only part of what I'll be doing for you. A very large part in the beginning but after that, it'll be routine while the rest is mostly legit."
Jason nodded 'cause he saw where her head was at and understood.
"Makes sense. So, aside from the ELQ angle, what's going to be your major problem with the SEC?"
Faith can't hide her smile as she prepares to fill him in on the second part of her plan.
"You're moving to Wall Street."