** Author's thanks:
Tory – Glad you like it!! And it's always wonderful to see another J&Cer… And thank you for your review of What I Couldn't Say Then… I promise to work on that as soon as I can get this one completed. Too many plotlines are swirling around, so I decided to focus on one and get it finished before I tried to move on…
Chelsea – Thank you so much for your review! I appreciate it so much!
Rach6 – Oh yes, thick plot. I can only hope that you and the other readers aren't disappointed in the end… almost there (I'm starting to sound like a broken record! :P)
Lizmtla – Hey, I like your idea with the whole J/C/A thingy… prompting Jason's feelings and all that. My J&Cer heart gets a little kick out of that. I may have to try to work that in… we'll have to see if I can. As I said before, I have the ending already written. So if I can work it and smooth out all of the lumps, I'll do it. And I like Faith too… we'll see about Sonny. Although I think that would be an interesting pairing… especially on the show. Two mob leaders, married and ruling PC with an iron fist. Intriguing. As of now, I really am taking my time. I can't rush this because I want things to make sense in the end. I have to be careful with my dialog (and I'm glad you like it, by the way) and what's gone on before at this point. You'll see what I mean. But I appreciate your faith in me… I can only hope I provide something that won't disappoint… Enjoy!!
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Jason rubbed a frustrated, tired hand over his face as he watched Scott pace back and forth in front of him. They were sequestered in the questioning room, Scott shooting out accusations left and right. It wasn't unlike the man to take a shot in the dark at what had happened. But to try to pin this whole charade on Jason… Well, the nerve that Scott Baldwin possessed was amazing and extremely incomprehensible. The fact that Scott was at the moment ranting and raving about Jason calling a hit on his best friend and then killing the hired assassin to cover it up only confirmed the incompetence of the department and the prejudice the DA had against anything having to do with Sonny. None of this had to do with Carly's safety anymore… or the fact that there was a kidnapper and a murderer still running free.
"I've told you everything I know, Baldwin," Jason said. "Sonny is in Puerto Rico and has been for a while now. Sonny or I would never harm Carly or threaten her in any way. Alcazar, Luke or myself were unable to identify the man lying dead in his cell. You are wasting valuable time going around in circles with information you already know. We all could be out there trying to figure out what's going on, instead of you sitting here yammering on and on about your worthless grudges!" Scott chuckled as he leaned over the table to look at Jason.
"Why don't you tell me how you really feel, Morgan?" he said sarcastically. "You've been atypically talkative for the past few hours. I listened to you spout off your feelings earlier… You have to realize that your timing and your out of character behavior has made you seem a little… suspicious, right?" Jason stood up angrily and slapped his palms down on the table, staring straight at the weasely little man in front of him.
"If you want to charge me with something, then do it! If not, I've got more important things to take care of than allaying your suspicions," Jason said before storming out of the room. Luke, who had been lounging against a desk, straightened as the enforcer stormed out into the main room.
"I can see that the PCPD has gotten on your good side," Luke commented. Jason just growled and walked past him.
"Not now, Luke," the younger man gritted out as he threw the doors open and made his way out of the door.
"Of course not now, amigo. I'm just here to let you know that I've given Alcazar most of the information we have. I figured that the more able brains on this, the better off we'll be," Luke called as he followed the angry man out. Jason turned suddenly to look at him.
"Carly?" he asked. Luke just smiled.
"That's where he went. Said he needed to check on her," he said. Jason nodded before he started off in the direction of his apartment.
"So, what next, kimosabe?" Luke said, struggling to keep pace with Jason. The other man said nothing.
"Morgan?" Luke asked, impatient to start whooping some ass. At Luke's prodding, Jason turned on him.
"I don't know, Luke! I don't know what's next, okay?! I'm a little short on ideas. My boss just handed me all of his responsibilities for safe keeping, my fiancée is no longer my fiancée, and the only woman on the face of this earth that has ever understood me, accepted me completely, supported me and forgiven me in everything that I've ever done has had her life in jeopardy at least three times in the past few months and we have no leads on who's behind it. And let's not forget that I'm considered a suspect in one, if not all, of the attempts on her life. Now tell me, Luke. Am I really in the mind frame to be telling someone what to do at this moment?" Luke put his hands in his pockets and observed while a normally calm and collected Jason Morgan started to unravel.
"No, kiddo. And I really think you need to take a breather. All of this emotion and whatnot… it's got to have worn you out," Luke said, a slight smirk. "You look like you need a lie down…" Jason frowned.
"I don't need your shit, Luke," he said. The white haired man nodded.
"I know. Listen, go do what ya gotta do. I'll handle a few things on my end and we'll talk tomorrow. Go relax with some business crap," Luke said as he waved a hand dismissively. Jason looked at the man warily.
"What are you up to, Luke?" he asked, knowing the other man well enough that 'things on my end' could mean a lot of things. Luke shrugged.
"I ain't up to anything," he said. Jason rolled his eyes.
"Right. Anyways, I'm going to stop by and see how Bobbie's doing," he said. Luke nodded approvingly.
"Tell her that I'll be over to harass her a little later, okay?" he requested. Jason nodded before he headed to the limo.
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Carly watched with a keen eye as Lorenzo entered the apartment. He looked a little beleaguered as he took off his jacket.
"How are things?" she ventured as she stood up from the couch carefully. Carly knew that he didn't know about the confrontation with Faith. Johnny's first priority was to report to Jason. It was whom he went to find immediately after Carly and the kids were settled back in the apartment. She would tell Lorenzo, but she wanted to gauge his mood first. A slight smile came over his handsome face at her question.
"Things… are not looking so good," he said honestly. A frown graced her face as he approached her.
"What do you mean?" she asked, worried at all the possibilities. He sighed as he carefully draped his arms over her hips and pulled her closer.
"The man that got into your mother's is dead," he said. Her brown eyes widened.
"Do you have any idea who did it?" she asked. Lorenzo shook his head.
"No, I don't. Your uncle gave me most of the information that he and Morgan had put together. I'm going to have to look over it and try to figure out what I'm missing. The only person that I know who would go after you would be Sophie. Morgan has a guy trying to track her down, and I've got my guy looking too. And according to both of them, she thinks you're already dead. So that kind of takes her out of the running," he said. Carly nodded.
"And Faith's out, too," she said. He looked at her strangely.
"Why
do you say that?" he asked. Carly let
out a breath as she looked up at him.
"I ran into her today," she admitted.
Lorenzo stepped back.
"I thought you were going to rest today," he said, displeasure flashing in his eyes. Carly smiled.
"I did. But it was so nice out; I couldn't keep Michael in here… or myself for that matter. We went for a walk. And when we were on the docks Faith was there. She told me that she wasn't involved in all of this," she told him. Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
"What else did she say?" he asked. Carly's eyes narrowed in thought.
"That there was a person with a higher interest in seeing me dead. Something about business benefits and washing her hands of it," Carly revealed. Lorenzo's eyes focused on the wall behind her as he thought over what she just said. An entirely unwanted notion popped into Carly's head, but she needed to ask all the same.
"Lorenzo… what about Sonny?" she asked, hating that she doubted him, but knowing that she couldn't afford not to. The man who held her lightly shook his head.
"No. Corinthos isn't behind this. He's left town," he said almost reassuringly. Carly frowned.
"What do you mean?" she asked. Lorenzo let her go and walked to the bar to pour himself some water.
"He left his organization in Morgan's hands and then flew off to Puerto Rico," he explained. Carly knew how her soon-to-be-ex worked. He was running away from his problems – problems of his own making, of course. But there was still that small, minute part of her that whispered 'what if it is him?' to her.
"Poor Jason," Carly said as she shook her head. Lorenzo nodded his head.
"From what your uncle has told me, Morgan's got a number of problems to work through. Among them is his broken engagement," he said, taking another drink. Carly's eyes went wide.
"Nooooooooo," she breathed. "Courtney wouldn't do that to him!" The look in Lorenzo's eyes told her differently. "God, it's just what Jason needs…" Lorenzo waved his hand, dismissing the conversation.
"Enough gossip," he said as he set his glass down and then stepped up to Carly. She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "I want to know how you are…" Carly looked up at him.
"Well… I've had a pretty good day. Leigh was only fussy when she was hungry, and Michael has been such wonderful entertainment. He even drew a picture for you to put up on your refrigerator," she said, putting her good arm around his neck. The smile that graced Lorenzo's face at the mention of Michael's gift warmed her heart.
"Well then, we'll have to get some sturdy magnets, won't we?" he grinned. Carly chuckled.
"Michael will be thrilled that you like it," she said as she stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his still-smiling lips. He brought his hand up to the back of her neck and deepened the kiss just as a knock sounded on the door. Ignoring it for a minute, the couple continued the embrace, only to break apart when the knocking became more insistent.
"Can't you just shoot whoever it is?" Carly groaned as she stepped back and started to the door, causing Lorenzo to laugh. Carly groaned again when she saw who was standing on the other side of the door.
"Hey there sugarpie… Man of the house is here, so don't bother telling me anything different," Luke said as he pushed his way in the door and past his scowling niece.
"Luke, you're such a barbarian!" she exclaimed. Luke smirked over his shoulder.
"I take that as a complement, darlin'," he said with a wink. Carly rolled her eyes as she planted her hand on her hip.
"Whatever did I do to be cursed with your presence?" she asked.
"Uncle Luke!" Michael's voice interrupted Luke's sure-to-be-snide comeback. The boy sprinted into the room and attached himself to Luke's leg in a fierce hug. Luke lifted his leg slightly, trying unsuccessfully to lessen the kid's grip.
"Well… it looks like I have a red-headed leech stuck to me," he said causing the little boy to giggle. The usually gruff mannered man looked a bit embarrassed and even a little touched by Michael's show of affection. After the boy released him, Luke knelt down eye-level with him and grinned.
"Hey there kiddo. Your Uncle Luke here needs to talk with Lorenzo, but I know a certain grandmother of yours who would just love to see you," he said as he nudged Michael's nose lightly with his fist. Michael grinned as he turned to his mother.
"Can I go see Grandma, Mommy?" he asked. Carly smiled.
"Well, I guess we could go over and see what she's up to. In fact, I think she'd love it if you stayed with her," Carly said, causing Michael to jump up and down.
"Yay! I can go play Lucas' video game!" he cried before he ran back to where Carly had placed some of his stuff. Carly shook her head with a laugh as she watched him.
"And to think we were instilling the value of family…" she said before she looked over to the two men. "I can see whatever conversation you two are going to have is serious. So I won't ask. But I do request that whatever plans you make, you at least keep me somewhat in the loop, okay?" Lorenzo smiled before he nodded which prompted Luke to nod as well.
"Of course we'll let you know, darlin'. We don't want another Quartermaine disaster on our hands, now do we?" he asked. Carly threw him a dirty look as she reached for her coat and waited for her son to return.
"Since you so graciously allowed me that request, then I'm also going to ask you to take a peek in at Leigh a few times just to make sure she's alright. I shouldn't be gone long, so I don't want to wake her up and take her with," Carly said as Michael ran out into the living room, his backpack over his shoulders. Luke looked perplexed at the woman's request.
"You're entrusting the life of an infant in my hands?" he asked, pointing a finger at himself. "I think Lucky and Lulu were scarred for life by me just leaning over to look in their crib." Carly snorted as she took Michael's hand.
"With your face, I can see how that happened," she said. "And I'm not entrusting Leigh into your care. Not by a long shot, bubba. I trust Lorenzo, who probably has never been around a baby, about a million times more than I trust you." Luke rolled his eyes.
"Good to know where we stand," Luke said. Carly shook her head as she opened the penthouse door.
"I'll be back in an hour or so," she told Lorenzo with a wink and a parting glare at her uncle.
"The girl adores me, she just doesn't like to show it," he quipped.
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"Let's go Mommy!" Michael called impatiently, running ahead to the waiting car. Carly chuckled to herself at her son's enthusiasm, knowing that he didn't really understand that his mommy wasn't completely healthy enough to scamper after him. As she neared the car, she realized that she had left her purse upstairs.
"Michael, honey," she called out, causing the boy to look back at her. "Sweetie, Mommy forgot her purse. I'm going to have Steve take you over and I'll be right behind you, okay?" Michael's only answer was a grin as he hopped into the car and let the driver buckle him in. As quickly as possible Carly made her way back upstairs, interrupting what looked to be a semi-serious conversation between the men. She smiled apologetically before grabbing her needed item and running back out the door. She stood outside the high rise waiting for her guard to bring another car. Humming to herself, she didn't think any different about the footsteps that approached her from behind. Suddenly, a gag was placed over her mouth and her arms were firmly gripped on both sides. Carly let out a panicked scream, but it was only muffed by the cloth and a pair of hands. A black car squealed to a stop at the curb in front of her and her eyes widened as she saw a masked man emerge and help hustle her into the vehicle. With a panicked look around the area, there was no one to see the event. As the door closed behind her and the car sped off to wherever it was taking them, Carly closed her eyes and thought the only thing she could at that moment with two masked, armed guards at her side. God, or whoever… I hate you. I really really hate you.
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~*~ The Brownstone ~*~
"Hey Uncle Jason!" Michael called, running into the room. Jason looked up with a smile as the boy jumped into his lap.
"Hey buddy," he said. Bobbie, sitting next to Jason, reached out and smoothed the hair over Michael's brow.
"Did you beat Lucas?" she asked. Michael shook his head emphatically.
"No," he grumbled. "But I'm gonna… Is Mommy here yet?" Bobbie frowned as she looked at her watch.
"Does it really take a half an hour to find her purse?" she asked, causing Jason to chuckle.
"Come on, Bobbie. With the way Carly keeps herself organized, it's amazing she still has a purse," he said. Bobbie laughed at the man's observation.
"You're right, Jason. You know, you and Carly know each other so well… it's amazing that the two of you never got your heads straight enough to figure out how to make it work between the two of you. I think you would have been great together," she said before standing up. Jason's eyes saddened as he gave Michael a quick squeeze. He remained silent, which told Bobbie that he regretted more than he let on.
"Well, I'm going to call over and see what's taking that girl so long. I want to get something to eat," she said as she reached for the phone. Dialing the number, she smiled at the two males on the couch before she put the phone to her ear.
"Hey Lorenzo… I was wondering if Carly was still there or if she was on her way over," Bobbie said to the man who'd answered the phone. A frown graced Bobbie's face.
"What do you mean? She isn't here," she said. "A half hour ago? Are you sure?" Jason set Michael on the floor and motioned him to go upstairs. Knowing that something was going on, the boy obeyed.
"Bobbie," Jason said, calling the redhead's attention to him. "Try her cell phone. She always has it on and within reach. Especially when she doesn't have Leigh or Michael with her." Bobbie nodded.
"Lorenzo, I'm going to try her cell phone. I'll let you know if I get a hold of her," Bobbie said before she said good-bye. After hanging up, the woman focused on the keypad and purposefully pushed the numbers to her daughter's phone. A mantra forced itself into her brain and it wouldn't go away. Please not again, please not again, please not again, please not again… It became more forceful when Bobbie got Carly's voicemail after two rings. She hung up as calmly as possible and turned frightened eyes to Jason.
"She's not answering," she said simply. Jason nodded, his jaw tight. He reached out and gently took the phone from her. Pushing redial, he waited for Alcazar to pick up.
"She didn't answer. What do your guards have to say?" he said without preamble. He closed his eyes, not liking the answer he got. "Fine. Tell Luke to get out and start asking around. Try to find that guard… Find your guy and get the whereabouts of Sophie Germaine. I'll do what I can." After hanging up, Jason suddenly whipped the phone at the couch.
"Damn it!" he yelled as he watched the phone bounce harmlessly on the cushions. Bobbie clenched her hands over her chest.
"Jason," she said with a wavy voice. The man looked over at her, his blue eyes troubled. "How could this happen again? This is the third time…" Jason didn't say anything, or move except for clenching his hands. He sighed as he finally turned to look at Bobbie.
"I should call Sonny. He might know something about this… and if he doesn't he might be able to help," he said grudgingly. Bobbie's brown eyes hardened as she stared at the man in front of her.
"No! Your 'boss' has done enough, don't you think, Jason? He's the one that got this ball rolling. And now that it's spun out of control, he disappears. How convenient for him," Bobbie sneered. "Sonny's help, advice or anything else is unwanted. My daughter has suffered enough because of his hang-ups. I will not have her indebted to him again, ever. We are Spencers. We will get her out of this. Carly is fast running out of times she'll pull through by the skin of her teeth, and I'll be damned to Hell ten times over before I let Sonny Corinthos ruin her chance this time." Jason stood as he watched the angry redhead. He knew that Sonny had sorely alienated one of the few supporters of his relationship with Carly. And he knew that Bobbie's rant was completely deserved. Her complete unwillingness to use any of Sonny's resources only testified as to how much she felt the mobster had maligned her trust in him.
"Okay, Bobbie, we'll do this your way," the man said, crossing his arms in front of him. "What do you have in mind?"
"I don't know, Jason. But I trust you. I want your help. I know Luke's got his feelers out and I have every bit of confidence in my brother as well as in Lorenzo. With the three of you, I know we can figure this out and get Carly back here safe. We just need to figure out who would do this," she said. Jason nodded. Suddenly, his brain thought back to what Johnny had told him earlier. Faith had confronted Carly earlier. She'd hinted at some involvement in the happenings before. Jason spun around and grabbed his leather jacket from the back of the couch. He ran to the door as he shrugged the article on.
"Jason?! Did you think of something?" Bobbie asked frantically. Jason stopped as he opened the door.
"Just take care of Michael, Bobbie. I have someone I need to talk to," he said. With one last glance at the redhead, he darted out the door to go find his prey of the moment.
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~*~ The Cellar – after hours ~*~
"I don't know anything…" Faith hissed between her teeth as she clawed at the hand at her throat. Jason's grip tightened slightly, causing Faith's eyes to widen.
"I don't believe you," Jason said tightly. Luke stood behind Jason with a gleeful grin on his face as he rocked back and forth on his feet.
"Help me, Spencer," Faith entreated the other man. Luke just looked the other way, whistling and off key 'Whistle While You Work'. "Goddamn you, Morgan! I already told you I don't know anything… all I know is that it's a guy… not Sophie Germaine… or me…" Jason let go, throwing her away from him.
"You've got my attention… please continue," Jason said. Faith glared at him as she rubbed her reddening throat.
"It's a guy… and he's got money. That's all I know. He used me as interference between him and his henchmen. That's all, okay? It could be Sonny, it could be Lorenzo… hell, it could be you for all I know, okay?" she said. She stood up straighter and looked between Luke and Jason.
"I've been nothing but honest with you. And I'll even go a step further and tell you how I really feel… Carly Corinthos can die ten times over for all I care. It is certainly no skin off my back whether she lives or dies. At this point, because it would be of a profitable interest to me, I wish I could tell you more," she said. Luke shook his head at the woman.
"Give 'em the feed and they squeal like pigs," he said. Jason spared the man a short 'what are you on' look, but then stepped closer to Faith. Jason stood stock still as he assessed the woman in front of him. Suddenly, the anger lashed out and he sent a punch across her jaw, sending Faith to the floor. The guilt he normally would have felt at striking a woman didn't come. Jason knew it was because the thing on the floor in front of him wasn't a woman. She was a lethal, blond-haired viper - and she was of no use to him. She'd told him all she knew. Luke knelt down beside the woman, impressed at Morgan's handiwork.
"He let you off light, sugar. And remember, it's Spencer… not Corinthos," he said before he stood up. Faith spat the blood that coated her tongue out before looking up at him.
"Yeah… remember that," she said hatefully. Luke looked at her oddly for a second before turning and following Jason out of the club.
"What do you think, Luke?" Jason asked as the two men walked to the limo. Luke's mind was wandering for a moment.
"I'm not sure, kid. Right now there are too many loose ends waiting to be tied up in my head. We should probably go quiz Alky on what he remembers from being held… it may get us thinking in the right direction…" he said. Jason nodded, but remained silent. The jury was still out on his feelings about Alcazar. And if Faith said the man had money… well, he couldn't rule it out either.
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~*~ Lorenzo's penthouse ~*~
The three men paced as they each racked their brains for possible leads. They'd gone through the list of each man's business associates and those who could possibly want to exact revenge. But they'd come up surprisingly short. Luke sat up straight with a snap of his fingers.
"Quartermaine money!" he said suddenly. "Junior's got enough money… and enough of a grudge. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch if he or grandpops forked out the money for the deed… And what better time to do it than right after all of the kidnapping fiascos… it would lay suspicion elsewhere…" Jason thought over the new scenario carefully. Lorenzo watched Carly's best friend pace as he thought. Jason was the one present during Carly's Quartermaine days. If it was a viable suspicion, then he was the man to know. After a minute or two Jason shook his head.
"A.J's got his head so far up Edward's ass right now trying to secure his position as head of ELQ. He wouldn't dirty his hands up on Carly right now," Jason shot it down. Luke sank back into the couch in disappointment. Jason turned to Lorenzo.
"What about you? When you were held, did Sonny or Sophie say anything about a silent partner, or another associate… Remember, Sophie doesn't know Carly isn't dead. If Carly was still alive, then it would give someone leverage over Sophie…" he prompted. Lorenzo's eyes widened.
"Stefan Cassidine…" he said suddenly, causing Luke to jump up from the couch altogether.
"What?" he asked, not really believing his ears.
"Stefan Cassidine has leverage…" Lorenzo said, cursing himself for his stupidity. Jason thought over what Lorenzo said.
"What kind of leverage would he have over a person like Sophie Germaine?" he asked, trying hard to make the connection. Lorenzo rubbed his temples.
"Caroline's a Spencer… what other leverage would Count Vlad need?" Luke interrupted.
"Cassidine owed me millions… To get it paid off, he turned to Sophie for help. She paid off his debt to me, leaving Cassidine owing her millions. Sophie made a mistake in assuming Carly was dead. Cassidine picked up on it, found out Carly was alive… and found a way to cancel his debt altogether. If he takes care of Carly and proves that he cleaned up her mess, he can call for the cancellation of the debt," Lorenzo said, all of a sudden the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.
"Well, I suppose that significant leverage," Luke admitted as he watched Lorenzo pull out his cell phone.
"I want surveillance on everything having to do with Stefan Cassidine. Wake up who you have to get the manpower we need, understand? I want to be notified immediately of everything that happens," he barked out to the person on the other end. He shut his phone and looked to Jason.
"Morgan…" he started. Jason held up his hand, knowing what he was going to say.
"I'm on it," the other man said as he dialed a number on his cell phone and rushed out the door. Luke watched all the action with interest. And when it was just him and Lorenzo, he stuck his hands in his pockets and looked calmly to the other man. Lorenzo watched him expectantly.
"So… would this be a good time to ask for your help with the Cassidines?" Luke asked, giving Lorenzo a not-quite-so-innocent smile.
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"They are scrambling around trying to find clues as to why Mrs. Corinthos is suddenly lost," the henchman by the door reported. Stefan shook his head as he looked to the bound blond woman.
"I'm not pleased with your choice of words, Martin. The word 'lost' implies that she will be 'found'. I don't anticipate that happening… at all," he said, his face impassive as the gagged subject of the conversation glared daggers at him.
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What's going to happen? Where's Sophie? Will they get Carly in time?
Stay tuned…
Author's note: Okay, so I give you free reign to hate me… I know I said two more parts… but… NOW there are going to be two more parts! :) This part was getting too long and I was getting anxious to post. There will be one more action part between this and the epilogue… I PROMISE! :P Anyways, what did you think of this part??? Please tell me you didn't hate it!!!!!!!