Two days later Elizabeth was at the penthouse painting when she heard
someone knock on the front door. When she pulled the door open, Elizabeth
saw a strange man and no guard. She looked warily around the hall and then
at the man.
"Oh, hello," the man said. "I was told this was Jason Morgan's apartment."
"It is," Elizabeth said and saw Marco come around the corner.
Marco stopped when he saw Elizabeth standing in the doorway talking to someone. He approached cautiously until he saw who it was. Then he walked over and smiled.
"Where were you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Mrs. C needed a hand with a package," Marco said.
"Excuse me but I really need to speak with Morgan," the man said.
Elizabeth looked at him and said, "Jason isn't home."
"Mr. Morgan called and said he is on his way home right now," Marco said helpfully.
"Wonderful," the man said. "Perhaps I could wait for him."
"Look, I don't know you and I don't know what you want with Jason so I'd just as soon not have you here," Elizabeth said.
"This is Mr. Morales. He is an associate of Mr. C's," Marco said, paling visibly. "He's a friend."
"That was rude of me," Morales said. "I should have introduced myself at the beginning."
"Well if Marco says that you're a friend then I guess you can come in and wait for Jason," Elizabeth said stepping back to allow him entrance into the apartment.
Morales walked in suppressing his smile at this petite woman. He had never been in Jason's apartment and took a minute to survey the penthouse. His eyes stopped on the easel and canvas that Elizabeth had been working on.
"You are an artist," Morales said walking over to study the canvas.
"I paint," Elizabeth said. "Please have a seat. Would you like coffee or anything?"
"No, I'm fine, thank you," Morales said. "Although it would be nice to know the name of the person who's hospitality I am enjoying."
"Oh, I'm Elizabeth," she said.
"Well, Elizabeth, this is a very good painting," Morales said still studying the canvas. "The colors are vibrant but not overwhelming and you can feel the struggle between them. This painting has a lot of emotion."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said surprised.
"Do you have other works I could see? Perhaps something completed," Morales asked.
"Um, sure," Elizabeth said walking over to the closet and pulling out the only painting she had taken when she moved out of Ric's house.
Morales's eyes widened in suprise as she took a painting out of the closet. He watched as she stripped off the brown packaging and padding. She walked over and set it on the easel after removing her current work.
Morales studied it intently for several minutes without comment. Elizabeth shifted slightly wondering what was going through his mind as he looked at "The Wind." Jason was the only other person who had seen this painting and she wasn't sure anyone else could appreciate it.
"This is fantastic," Morales finally said. "It is as if the paint is in motion on the canvas. Why do you hide this in the closet? It should be hanging prominently on the wall. I will buy this painting and hang it where it will be viewed."
"That's not possible," Elizabeth said.
"Why not?" Morales asked.
"It's not mine to sell. It belongs to Jason," she told him.
"Then why does he hide it in a closet?" Morales demanded.
"I put it in the closet," Elizabeth said. "I don't think Jason even knows it is in the apartment."
"I do not understand," Morales said.
At that moment Adella began to cry and Elizabeth lifted her out of the crib. She rocked her and cooed to her but Adella was not about to be soothed. Elizabeth tried to feed her but the baby stubbornly refused the bottle and continued wailing. Elizabeth looked apologetically at Morales just as Jason walked in the door.
Jason took in the fact that Morales was standing in his living room looking at "The Wind" while Elizabeth tried to quiet a screaming Adella. Jason walked over and took the baby from Elizabeth. As soon as Adella saw Jason, she quieted and when Jason held her vertically against his chest, she fell asleep.
"You know, it's a little freaky when you do that," Elizabeth said.
"Morales," Jason said. "What are you doing here?"
"Business," Morales said. "But first I want to discuss this painting with you."
"What about it?" Jason asked looking at Elizabeth.
"Why do you hide it in a closet?" Morales demanded.
"I didn't know it was here," Jason said.
"This I do not understand," Morales said.
"I painted this a long time ago for Jason but when he left town, I kept it for him," Elizabeth explained. "I didn't give it to him when he came back and then I brought it and put it in the closet when I moved in."
"It should be hanging on the wall," Morales said.
"Yes, it should," Jason said. "And it will be."
"Good," Morales said. "Now, I am here because of your recent problems."
Morales glanced at Elizabeth and then at Jason.
"It's okay," Jason said. "She's the one getting shot so I think she can hear what you have to say."
"Very well," Morales said. "Whoever hired the shooter is not in the business. In fact I have been hearing rumors that this person is quite young. And the order came from Port Charles."
"So we're looking for a local," Jason said.
"Which brings us directly back to Ric," Elizabeth said.
"Who is Ric?" Morales asked.
"Ric Lansing," Elizabeth said. "He is the local DA. I got Jason acquited at trial and he wasn't very happy about it. Also, he's my ex-husband."
"My problem with Ric as the employer is that he couldn't care less if Alcazar is dead," Jason said. "Also, Ric isn't in the business but he used to be and he isn't young."
"Yeah, but who else could it be? I mean, Alcazar didn't have any friends. Except Faith who is in the business," Elizabeth said.
"Maybe I should ask Faith who would want to avenge Alcazar's death," Jason said.
"She won't help you, Jase. She hates me," Elizabeth said.
"I won't give her a choice," Jason said.
"Promise me that when you go talk to her you'll be careful," Elizabeth demanded.
"I will," Jason said.
Morales watched this exchange with interest. He was surprised that Jason allowed Elizabeth so much knowledge of his work and that Elizabeth seemed to accept Jason's profession unconditionally. It was also of interest to him that the baby had slept contentedly against Jason's shoulder throughout the entire conversation and Jason and Elizabeth didn't seem to notice how it looked. He knew the child was not Jason's. He also knew that Jason's wife had been killed but there seemed to be a connection between these two that was deep and strong. Too deep and strong to have been forged since Jason's wife's murder. Morales wondered what Corinthos thought of Jason and Elizabeth since Mrs. Morgan had been Corinthos's sister.
"Elizabeth, would you mind telling me more about your paintings?" Morales asked.
"Certainly," Elizabeth said. "What do you want to know?"
"Do you name them?" Morales asked.
"Yes," Elizabeth said. Pointing at the painting she had given Jason all those years ago, she said, "That one is 'The Wind.' And this one that isn't finished is 'Victimized.'"
"How did you come to paint 'The Wind' and why did you give it to Jason?" Morales asked.
"When Jason and I first met, he took me for rides on his motorcycle," Elizabeth said looking at Jason. "That painting is how the wind looks as we are flying down a road toward nowhere. He gave me the gift of seeing the wind so I returned that gift with a painting of what he had given to me."
"That is a very romantic story," Morales said.
"It could have been," Elizabeth said.
"You did not find it romantic?" Morales asked.
"If it were just a story, then I would. But it isn't a story. It's my life and I know what happened next," Elizabeth said.
Just then Sonny knocked on the door and entered the penthouse. Seeing Morales, Sonny stopped and looked at Jason. Jason nodded and Sonny walked over to him. After Sonny took Adella, he turned to Morales.
"I was unaware you were here," Sonny said.
"I was going to come to see you after I had spoken with Jason," Morales said.
"I see you have met the newest addition to the family," Sonny said dryly.
"Actuall, no. The child was sleeping when I arrived and then was very upset until Jason came home," Morales said.
"Well this is Adella Lansing, my niece," Sonny said.
"Is Elizabeth also your sister? I thought you only had one," Morales said in confusion.
"Elizabeth was married to Ric Lansing who is my half-brother," Sonny said. "But even before that she was family."
Elizabeth smiled at Sonny.
"Oh, hello," the man said. "I was told this was Jason Morgan's apartment."
"It is," Elizabeth said and saw Marco come around the corner.
Marco stopped when he saw Elizabeth standing in the doorway talking to someone. He approached cautiously until he saw who it was. Then he walked over and smiled.
"Where were you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Mrs. C needed a hand with a package," Marco said.
"Excuse me but I really need to speak with Morgan," the man said.
Elizabeth looked at him and said, "Jason isn't home."
"Mr. Morgan called and said he is on his way home right now," Marco said helpfully.
"Wonderful," the man said. "Perhaps I could wait for him."
"Look, I don't know you and I don't know what you want with Jason so I'd just as soon not have you here," Elizabeth said.
"This is Mr. Morales. He is an associate of Mr. C's," Marco said, paling visibly. "He's a friend."
"That was rude of me," Morales said. "I should have introduced myself at the beginning."
"Well if Marco says that you're a friend then I guess you can come in and wait for Jason," Elizabeth said stepping back to allow him entrance into the apartment.
Morales walked in suppressing his smile at this petite woman. He had never been in Jason's apartment and took a minute to survey the penthouse. His eyes stopped on the easel and canvas that Elizabeth had been working on.
"You are an artist," Morales said walking over to study the canvas.
"I paint," Elizabeth said. "Please have a seat. Would you like coffee or anything?"
"No, I'm fine, thank you," Morales said. "Although it would be nice to know the name of the person who's hospitality I am enjoying."
"Oh, I'm Elizabeth," she said.
"Well, Elizabeth, this is a very good painting," Morales said still studying the canvas. "The colors are vibrant but not overwhelming and you can feel the struggle between them. This painting has a lot of emotion."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said surprised.
"Do you have other works I could see? Perhaps something completed," Morales asked.
"Um, sure," Elizabeth said walking over to the closet and pulling out the only painting she had taken when she moved out of Ric's house.
Morales's eyes widened in suprise as she took a painting out of the closet. He watched as she stripped off the brown packaging and padding. She walked over and set it on the easel after removing her current work.
Morales studied it intently for several minutes without comment. Elizabeth shifted slightly wondering what was going through his mind as he looked at "The Wind." Jason was the only other person who had seen this painting and she wasn't sure anyone else could appreciate it.
"This is fantastic," Morales finally said. "It is as if the paint is in motion on the canvas. Why do you hide this in the closet? It should be hanging prominently on the wall. I will buy this painting and hang it where it will be viewed."
"That's not possible," Elizabeth said.
"Why not?" Morales asked.
"It's not mine to sell. It belongs to Jason," she told him.
"Then why does he hide it in a closet?" Morales demanded.
"I put it in the closet," Elizabeth said. "I don't think Jason even knows it is in the apartment."
"I do not understand," Morales said.
At that moment Adella began to cry and Elizabeth lifted her out of the crib. She rocked her and cooed to her but Adella was not about to be soothed. Elizabeth tried to feed her but the baby stubbornly refused the bottle and continued wailing. Elizabeth looked apologetically at Morales just as Jason walked in the door.
Jason took in the fact that Morales was standing in his living room looking at "The Wind" while Elizabeth tried to quiet a screaming Adella. Jason walked over and took the baby from Elizabeth. As soon as Adella saw Jason, she quieted and when Jason held her vertically against his chest, she fell asleep.
"You know, it's a little freaky when you do that," Elizabeth said.
"Morales," Jason said. "What are you doing here?"
"Business," Morales said. "But first I want to discuss this painting with you."
"What about it?" Jason asked looking at Elizabeth.
"Why do you hide it in a closet?" Morales demanded.
"I didn't know it was here," Jason said.
"This I do not understand," Morales said.
"I painted this a long time ago for Jason but when he left town, I kept it for him," Elizabeth explained. "I didn't give it to him when he came back and then I brought it and put it in the closet when I moved in."
"It should be hanging on the wall," Morales said.
"Yes, it should," Jason said. "And it will be."
"Good," Morales said. "Now, I am here because of your recent problems."
Morales glanced at Elizabeth and then at Jason.
"It's okay," Jason said. "She's the one getting shot so I think she can hear what you have to say."
"Very well," Morales said. "Whoever hired the shooter is not in the business. In fact I have been hearing rumors that this person is quite young. And the order came from Port Charles."
"So we're looking for a local," Jason said.
"Which brings us directly back to Ric," Elizabeth said.
"Who is Ric?" Morales asked.
"Ric Lansing," Elizabeth said. "He is the local DA. I got Jason acquited at trial and he wasn't very happy about it. Also, he's my ex-husband."
"My problem with Ric as the employer is that he couldn't care less if Alcazar is dead," Jason said. "Also, Ric isn't in the business but he used to be and he isn't young."
"Yeah, but who else could it be? I mean, Alcazar didn't have any friends. Except Faith who is in the business," Elizabeth said.
"Maybe I should ask Faith who would want to avenge Alcazar's death," Jason said.
"She won't help you, Jase. She hates me," Elizabeth said.
"I won't give her a choice," Jason said.
"Promise me that when you go talk to her you'll be careful," Elizabeth demanded.
"I will," Jason said.
Morales watched this exchange with interest. He was surprised that Jason allowed Elizabeth so much knowledge of his work and that Elizabeth seemed to accept Jason's profession unconditionally. It was also of interest to him that the baby had slept contentedly against Jason's shoulder throughout the entire conversation and Jason and Elizabeth didn't seem to notice how it looked. He knew the child was not Jason's. He also knew that Jason's wife had been killed but there seemed to be a connection between these two that was deep and strong. Too deep and strong to have been forged since Jason's wife's murder. Morales wondered what Corinthos thought of Jason and Elizabeth since Mrs. Morgan had been Corinthos's sister.
"Elizabeth, would you mind telling me more about your paintings?" Morales asked.
"Certainly," Elizabeth said. "What do you want to know?"
"Do you name them?" Morales asked.
"Yes," Elizabeth said. Pointing at the painting she had given Jason all those years ago, she said, "That one is 'The Wind.' And this one that isn't finished is 'Victimized.'"
"How did you come to paint 'The Wind' and why did you give it to Jason?" Morales asked.
"When Jason and I first met, he took me for rides on his motorcycle," Elizabeth said looking at Jason. "That painting is how the wind looks as we are flying down a road toward nowhere. He gave me the gift of seeing the wind so I returned that gift with a painting of what he had given to me."
"That is a very romantic story," Morales said.
"It could have been," Elizabeth said.
"You did not find it romantic?" Morales asked.
"If it were just a story, then I would. But it isn't a story. It's my life and I know what happened next," Elizabeth said.
Just then Sonny knocked on the door and entered the penthouse. Seeing Morales, Sonny stopped and looked at Jason. Jason nodded and Sonny walked over to him. After Sonny took Adella, he turned to Morales.
"I was unaware you were here," Sonny said.
"I was going to come to see you after I had spoken with Jason," Morales said.
"I see you have met the newest addition to the family," Sonny said dryly.
"Actuall, no. The child was sleeping when I arrived and then was very upset until Jason came home," Morales said.
"Well this is Adella Lansing, my niece," Sonny said.
"Is Elizabeth also your sister? I thought you only had one," Morales said in confusion.
"Elizabeth was married to Ric Lansing who is my half-brother," Sonny said. "But even before that she was family."
Elizabeth smiled at Sonny.