The testimony part of the trial lasted only a few more days. The night the
lawyers made their closing arguments, Jason and Elizabeth were sitting in
the safehouse eating dinner that Elizabeth had brought home from Kelly's.
"I can't live here forever," Elizabeth said suddenly.
Jason looked at her for a minute and said, "I know."
"I still haven't figured out what to do," Elizabeth said.
"You mean, where you're going to live?" Jason asked.
"Yeah. I can't live at Kelly's or my studio. I can't go back to that house. I don't know where I'm going to go," Elizabeth said.
"I actually spoke to Sonny about this," Jason said. "How would you like an apartment at Harborview Towers?"
"Jason, I can't afford to live in that building," Elizabeth said. "Waitress's don't make what coffee importers make."
"Sonny wouldn't expect you to pay for it," Jason said.
"I know and that's very sweet but I don't want to impose or take charity," Elizabeth said.
"Well, we could discount the rent and use you as a tax write off," Jason said.
"Huh?" Elizabeth said.
"Um, renting to low-income families is tax deductible for the building owner. That's the only way the government can get apartment building owners to agree to it," Jason said.
"How do you know that?" Elizabeth asked.
"I took over the building for a while once," Jason said. "Would you at least think about it? You'd be safe. The guards wouldn't let Ric in and you wouldn't be far from work."
"I'll think about it," Elizabeth agreed.
*************************
The next afternoon the jury had reached a verdict. Jason was acquited and everyone gathered at Kelly's to celebrate. Elizabeth was working but was included in the festivities. During the party, Elizabeth pulled Sonny aside and asked him about the living situation. He confirmed what Jason had said about taxes and quoted her an easily affordable sum for rent and utilities. She quickly agreed and Sonny offered his guards as movers for anything she wanted to get from Ric's house.
The next day Elizabeth had moved into an apartment on the second floor of Harborview Towers. She hadn't seen Ric when she went to the house to pick up the rest of her and Adella's belongings but she was sure her respite wouldn't last long. Jason brought her flowers and dinner from No Name to celebrate her new home.
Just as they were finishing dinner, Justus arrived. He handed Elizabeth flowers and the papers to show that her divorce was official.
"How did you do this?" Elizabeth asked giving Justus a hug.
"After your testimony on Jason's behalf, I think he just knew there was no way he could convince you to change your mind," Justus said.
"And custody?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'm not positive but I think he'll agree to give you full custody," Justus said.
"Why do you think that?" Elizabeth asked suspiciously.
"Well, I might have mentioned that if he fought for custody, I would bring in Carly and Michael to testify about what he had done to them. If he has even half a brain, he'll know that will make him look completely unfit as a parent," Justus said.
"One Jason is enough in my world," Elizabeth said.
"Huh?" Justus and Jason said at the same time.
"That's just a very Jason thing to do," Elizabeth said.
"Oh," Justus said and he and Jason smiled at each other.
Justus excused himself and Jason and Elizabeth sat on the couch.
"I should have thought of flowers," Jason said.
"Food is always better than flowers," Elizabeth said.
"Good to know," Jason said.
*******************************
A week later Elizabeth was truly happy with her life. She had a beautiful daughter, a wonderful apartment, a job she mostly enjoyed, and friends that loved her. Ric had not fought for custody and they had agreed to an informal visitation schedule. Whenever she worked evenings or weekends, Ric would have Adella. She was nervous about it at first but Sonny had one of his guards tail Ric the first couple of times and everything had gone well. Most importantly, Ric had brought Adella back on time and on his own.
Of course, Elizabeth should have realized this much happiness in her life meant that something was going to come crashing down around her. And it did. She was working the dinner shift at Kelly's and the phone rang. Elizabeth answered it at the same time Jason walked in and grabbed a table.
"Hello, Kelly's," Elizabeth said into the phone, smiling at Jason as she caught her eye.
"Do you really think you can get away with helping a murderer, bitch?" the disguised voice on the other end said.
Elizabeth's smiled dropped and Jason immediately came toward the counter.
"If you have a problem with my testimony, you can take it to the judge," Elizabeth said calmly.
"Oh no, I've given up on the judicial system. I'll get justice on my own, against him and you," the voice said before disconnecting.
"What?" Jason asked as soon as she hung up the phone.
"I believe I was just threatended. And so were you," Elizabeth said.
"Tell me everything," Jason said.
"The voice was disguised. They said I wouldn't get away with clearing a murderer. That they would get justice on their own against both of us," Elizabeth told him.
"Call Mac. Ask him to pull up the phone records and see who made the call," Jason said.
Elizabeth called Mac and he promised to get back to her as soon as he had any information. Elizabeth finished her shift and Jason stayed just in case. When she was done working, Jason drove her home and Ric was waiting with Adella in the lobby.
"Ric, did you call Kelly's tonight?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, why?" Ric said.
"Nothing. Someone called for me but didn't leave a message. I thought it might have been you," Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth took Adella and she and Jason headed for her apartment. They both noticed the answering maching light was on at the same time. Jason pushed play and Elizabeth held her breath.
"Hey, Elizabeth," Emily's voice sang out and Elizabeth resumed breathing. "I guess you must be at work. I was hoping to schedule some quality best friend time. Nicholas has agreed to baby-sit whenever you're free so that you and I can have some girl time. Call me. And tell my brother to call me. You see him more than I do."
Elizabeth turned and grinned at Jason.
"Call your sister," she ordered and Jason returned the grin.
Their smiles faded immediately as another message played.
"Did you think moving into the murderer's building would keep you safe? It won't. I will get justice, one way or another," the same disguised voice said.
Elizabeth immediately called Mac who added her home phone records to his request of the phone company. Jason was on his cell phone doubling security on the building and repeating the order that Ric wasn't to be allowed past the lobby or be alone with Elizabeth.
"You think he was lying about calling?" Elizabeth asked when Jason had hung up.
"He was lying about something. I don't know if it was that or something else," Jason said. He dialed his phone again. "Justus, pack an overnight bag and come down to Elizabeth's apartment."
"What are you doing, Jason?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'm packing you and Adella up and taking you upstairs," Jason said.
"But..." Elizabeth said.
"Don't argue. Just go pack whatever you'll need for tonight and tomorrow morning," Jason said.
Jason opened the door when Justus knocked.
"I didn't realize you liked me enough to ask me to move in with you," Justus said to Elizabeth trying to ease some of the tension he felt in the room.
"Elizabeth has gotten two threatening phone calls today. She and the baby will be staying with me tonight. You can stay here," Jason said.
"I'm sorry to put you out like this, Justus," Elizabeth said.
"That's alright. If you are being threatened, you'll be safer with Jason," Justus said.
"I know," Elizabeth said and followed Jason out the door and up to his penthouse.
The rest of the night was uneventful. The next morning Jason filled Sonny in and suggested that a bodyguard would be appropriate.
"You'll have to convince her of that," Sonny said.
"I know," Jason said.
"Convince who of what?" Elizabeth asked coming down the stairs. "Or don't I get to know?"
"Convince you to accept a bodyguard," Jason said.
"You think it's really necessary?" Elizabeth asked.
"I don't want to take any chances," Jason said.
"Okay," Elizabeth said.
"Who are you and what have you done with Elizabeth Webber?" Jason asked.
"Funny," Elizabeth said. "I ignored your instincts once before and ended up married to a monster. If you think I need a guard, I won't fight you on it. For now."
"Good," Sonny and Jason said at the same time.
"I can't live here forever," Elizabeth said suddenly.
Jason looked at her for a minute and said, "I know."
"I still haven't figured out what to do," Elizabeth said.
"You mean, where you're going to live?" Jason asked.
"Yeah. I can't live at Kelly's or my studio. I can't go back to that house. I don't know where I'm going to go," Elizabeth said.
"I actually spoke to Sonny about this," Jason said. "How would you like an apartment at Harborview Towers?"
"Jason, I can't afford to live in that building," Elizabeth said. "Waitress's don't make what coffee importers make."
"Sonny wouldn't expect you to pay for it," Jason said.
"I know and that's very sweet but I don't want to impose or take charity," Elizabeth said.
"Well, we could discount the rent and use you as a tax write off," Jason said.
"Huh?" Elizabeth said.
"Um, renting to low-income families is tax deductible for the building owner. That's the only way the government can get apartment building owners to agree to it," Jason said.
"How do you know that?" Elizabeth asked.
"I took over the building for a while once," Jason said. "Would you at least think about it? You'd be safe. The guards wouldn't let Ric in and you wouldn't be far from work."
"I'll think about it," Elizabeth agreed.
*************************
The next afternoon the jury had reached a verdict. Jason was acquited and everyone gathered at Kelly's to celebrate. Elizabeth was working but was included in the festivities. During the party, Elizabeth pulled Sonny aside and asked him about the living situation. He confirmed what Jason had said about taxes and quoted her an easily affordable sum for rent and utilities. She quickly agreed and Sonny offered his guards as movers for anything she wanted to get from Ric's house.
The next day Elizabeth had moved into an apartment on the second floor of Harborview Towers. She hadn't seen Ric when she went to the house to pick up the rest of her and Adella's belongings but she was sure her respite wouldn't last long. Jason brought her flowers and dinner from No Name to celebrate her new home.
Just as they were finishing dinner, Justus arrived. He handed Elizabeth flowers and the papers to show that her divorce was official.
"How did you do this?" Elizabeth asked giving Justus a hug.
"After your testimony on Jason's behalf, I think he just knew there was no way he could convince you to change your mind," Justus said.
"And custody?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'm not positive but I think he'll agree to give you full custody," Justus said.
"Why do you think that?" Elizabeth asked suspiciously.
"Well, I might have mentioned that if he fought for custody, I would bring in Carly and Michael to testify about what he had done to them. If he has even half a brain, he'll know that will make him look completely unfit as a parent," Justus said.
"One Jason is enough in my world," Elizabeth said.
"Huh?" Justus and Jason said at the same time.
"That's just a very Jason thing to do," Elizabeth said.
"Oh," Justus said and he and Jason smiled at each other.
Justus excused himself and Jason and Elizabeth sat on the couch.
"I should have thought of flowers," Jason said.
"Food is always better than flowers," Elizabeth said.
"Good to know," Jason said.
*******************************
A week later Elizabeth was truly happy with her life. She had a beautiful daughter, a wonderful apartment, a job she mostly enjoyed, and friends that loved her. Ric had not fought for custody and they had agreed to an informal visitation schedule. Whenever she worked evenings or weekends, Ric would have Adella. She was nervous about it at first but Sonny had one of his guards tail Ric the first couple of times and everything had gone well. Most importantly, Ric had brought Adella back on time and on his own.
Of course, Elizabeth should have realized this much happiness in her life meant that something was going to come crashing down around her. And it did. She was working the dinner shift at Kelly's and the phone rang. Elizabeth answered it at the same time Jason walked in and grabbed a table.
"Hello, Kelly's," Elizabeth said into the phone, smiling at Jason as she caught her eye.
"Do you really think you can get away with helping a murderer, bitch?" the disguised voice on the other end said.
Elizabeth's smiled dropped and Jason immediately came toward the counter.
"If you have a problem with my testimony, you can take it to the judge," Elizabeth said calmly.
"Oh no, I've given up on the judicial system. I'll get justice on my own, against him and you," the voice said before disconnecting.
"What?" Jason asked as soon as she hung up the phone.
"I believe I was just threatended. And so were you," Elizabeth said.
"Tell me everything," Jason said.
"The voice was disguised. They said I wouldn't get away with clearing a murderer. That they would get justice on their own against both of us," Elizabeth told him.
"Call Mac. Ask him to pull up the phone records and see who made the call," Jason said.
Elizabeth called Mac and he promised to get back to her as soon as he had any information. Elizabeth finished her shift and Jason stayed just in case. When she was done working, Jason drove her home and Ric was waiting with Adella in the lobby.
"Ric, did you call Kelly's tonight?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, why?" Ric said.
"Nothing. Someone called for me but didn't leave a message. I thought it might have been you," Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth took Adella and she and Jason headed for her apartment. They both noticed the answering maching light was on at the same time. Jason pushed play and Elizabeth held her breath.
"Hey, Elizabeth," Emily's voice sang out and Elizabeth resumed breathing. "I guess you must be at work. I was hoping to schedule some quality best friend time. Nicholas has agreed to baby-sit whenever you're free so that you and I can have some girl time. Call me. And tell my brother to call me. You see him more than I do."
Elizabeth turned and grinned at Jason.
"Call your sister," she ordered and Jason returned the grin.
Their smiles faded immediately as another message played.
"Did you think moving into the murderer's building would keep you safe? It won't. I will get justice, one way or another," the same disguised voice said.
Elizabeth immediately called Mac who added her home phone records to his request of the phone company. Jason was on his cell phone doubling security on the building and repeating the order that Ric wasn't to be allowed past the lobby or be alone with Elizabeth.
"You think he was lying about calling?" Elizabeth asked when Jason had hung up.
"He was lying about something. I don't know if it was that or something else," Jason said. He dialed his phone again. "Justus, pack an overnight bag and come down to Elizabeth's apartment."
"What are you doing, Jason?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'm packing you and Adella up and taking you upstairs," Jason said.
"But..." Elizabeth said.
"Don't argue. Just go pack whatever you'll need for tonight and tomorrow morning," Jason said.
Jason opened the door when Justus knocked.
"I didn't realize you liked me enough to ask me to move in with you," Justus said to Elizabeth trying to ease some of the tension he felt in the room.
"Elizabeth has gotten two threatening phone calls today. She and the baby will be staying with me tonight. You can stay here," Jason said.
"I'm sorry to put you out like this, Justus," Elizabeth said.
"That's alright. If you are being threatened, you'll be safer with Jason," Justus said.
"I know," Elizabeth said and followed Jason out the door and up to his penthouse.
The rest of the night was uneventful. The next morning Jason filled Sonny in and suggested that a bodyguard would be appropriate.
"You'll have to convince her of that," Sonny said.
"I know," Jason said.
"Convince who of what?" Elizabeth asked coming down the stairs. "Or don't I get to know?"
"Convince you to accept a bodyguard," Jason said.
"You think it's really necessary?" Elizabeth asked.
"I don't want to take any chances," Jason said.
"Okay," Elizabeth said.
"Who are you and what have you done with Elizabeth Webber?" Jason asked.
"Funny," Elizabeth said. "I ignored your instincts once before and ended up married to a monster. If you think I need a guard, I won't fight you on it. For now."
"Good," Sonny and Jason said at the same time.