The Ripple Effect
Chapter 15
~Speedboat~
A flash of lightning lit the sky illuminating the dark and swirling water causing Nikolas to mutter a curse in Latin. Although he was often teased about his cultured upbringing he knew he was admired for the impressive and inventive curses that flowed out of him in several languages. But now wasn't the time for praise. Now was the time to debate the wisdom of following Elizabeth's potentially dangerous plan.
The approaching storm had brought a heavy wind with it stirring up the river into nothing but choppy, unpredictable water. Thanks to the wind, the spray the boats passing kicked up swirled back around hitting him in the face. At the moment the water was the least of his concerns. As scary as Elizabeth's plan sounded it was nowhere near as stupid or dangerous as the one Lucky had come up with. For Lucky to believe that his plan would work only showed how wrong Lucky's thinking had become. Lucky was behaving too irrationally to rely on, a fact, which had been reinforced to him tonight.
Slowing the Jag, Nikolas turned onto the long driveway that led to the Quartermaine mansion. Emily hadn't said a word since she'd gotten in the car. He'd studied her during the drive home and noted, in the wake of the passing headlights, that she still had no color in her face. Lucky's attack had stunned her and it seemed to have devastated her as well.
"You did the right thing Emily," he went on when she remained quiet. "You were being Lucky's friend, he'll realize that."
"I don't think Lucky sees it that way."
"He will," he tried to reassure her. "What's going on with Lucky is too much for you and him to figure out by yourselves. Lucky needs professional help, now he can get it."
"He won't go."
"I'll make him go." Nikolas vowed it was a promise he intended to keep. Whatever had been done to Lucky had been done by Helena. That meant it was his responsibility to discover what she had done to his brother and get him the help he needed to return to normal. He would have helped Lucky regardless of who had done this to him, but the fact it was his Grandmother made it more personal to him.
"Even now, especially now," Emily was saying. "No one makes Lucky do anything."
"Luke will," he pointed out. "He won't give Lucky a choice in the matter. He'll probably just kidnap him like he did before, he's good at kidnapping people," he remembered with a rueful smile as he brought the jag to a halt.
"They way he looked at me." Emily started then quickly climbed from the car, leaving Nikolas to hurry after her.
He caught up with her before she reached the door and took her arm holding her in place. "Emily."
"It's just…" she hesitated. "Lucky's always been my friend. From almost the first day I arrived in Port Charles he was my friend. We had problems at times with my drug addiction, his mom faking her death, the fight at the nurse's ball, but through it all we were always friends." She finally turned to look at him unshed tears glistening in her eyes. "Tonight was the first time he ever looked at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like he didn't want to know me. Like he hated me."
Nikolas drew her close when she started to cry. Lucky needed help and he wouldn't get it while there were so many other problems to focus on. Elizabeth's plan, the one he'd tried all evening to dismiss worried him, but at the same time it made sense. It was past time to do something to end this nightmare. They were the only ones who could pull this off. If they did it would be one less problem weighing on all of their minds and that would be a good thing. Decision made he waited for her tears to stop before stepping back. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah," came the watery reply. "I'm just going to go to bed and think about everything in the morning."
"Call me if anything happens." He made her promise then kissed her forehead in farewell.
The decision to go along with Elizabeth's plan had been made a few hours ago, but now he was having second thoughts. Slowing the boat he took a look at the blanket wrapped body lying on the floor behind him. Would they be able to pull this off? He was beginning to have serious doubts. The boat crept forward until he spied a familiar figure waiting on the jetty. If he got the feeling they were in trouble or were going to get caught he'd made the decision that he would swallow his pride and call Jason for help. Ted Wilson's family would have to suffer the agony of never knowing what happened to him, because there was no way he was going to let Emily or Elizabeth go to jail. Maneuvering the powerful boat slowly past the pylons he drew it abreast to the unfamiliar dock and tossed Elizabeth a line that she quickly secured.
After a minute of cautious study Elizabeth broke the silence. "I was afraid you changed your mind."
"I considered it." Nikolas admitted while climbing out of the boat.
"We don't have another choice," she touched his arm increasing the pressure until he focused on her. "You know that right?"
"I know. But that doesn't mean I'm not tempted to weigh down the body and toss him in the middle of the river."
"But you won't will you?" Elizabeth asked even though she already knew the answer.
"No." Determined to go through with the plan for as long as he could he looked around. "What now?"
"I swiped a wheelbarrow from ELQ Shipping it's over there," she pointed. "Before we can move the body to your car we need to do something first."
Not liking her tone or her words Nikolas focused on her again and automatically took a small object she gave to him. "Rubber gloves?"
"Put them on. From now on we're going to keep the latex gloves on. Put this on as well." She held out a dark object that Nikolas took with some reluctance and even the seriousness of the situation couldn't keep the smile from her face when she saw his expression.
"What is this?"
The smile widened at the regal tone she heard in his voice. "It's a hairnet."
"I am not wearing a hairnet," he informed her sharply.
"Put it on, you don't want any of your princely locks discovered with the body do you?" Elizabeth put on her own hairnet but Nikolas didn't move. "Maybe you won't need one, your hair looks kind of thin in places."
Glaring at her he tossed the offending hairnet in the water. "I've moved the body a couple of times now, my hair could be all over it."
"That's why I had you take his clothes off," she looked down at the blankets covering the body. "He is, I mean you did…"
"Yes I cut his clothes off, and yes I burned them," he anticipated her next question. "What now?"
Stepping back to where she'd left her oversized bag she rummaged through it until she came up with the items she needed. Swallowing hard she made herself turn back to Nikolas. "We need to pour bleach over his hands, run a Q-tip under his nails then put these bags over his hands. Once we've done that we can move him to your car, I've already got the trunk lined with the industrial plastic I stole."
"I am not bleaching his hands." Nikolas stated firmly. Getting the body out of the freezer and out of his clothes had been sickening enough. He didn't want to touch the body anymore than he had too.
"We have to Nikolas," she tried to sound as firm as he did. "He might have skin, or trace evidence under his nails. Evidence that could lead back to Emily."
"He's been frozen for weeks I'm sure if there were any evidence it's long gone."
"We don't know that for sure," Elizabeth reminded him and saw him shake his head. Steeling herself she stepped onto the boat.
"What are you doing?" He was beside her in an instant.
"I don't want to do this either Nikolas, but it has to be done." Squatting beside the curled, and still frozen body she uncorked the lid on the bleach and reached a shaking hand toward the blanket.
"Elizabeth," he stopped her hand with his own. "I'll do it, you keep watch."
Happy to oblige Elizabeth scurried from the boat. Sooner or later she was going to have to touch the body. But she was only too happy to wait for later. "Hurry Nikolas we need to get him out of here before the rain starts," she urged when lightning lit the sky again.
"Anytime you want to change places I'm right here." Nikolas retorted and went back to his curses. She was making him think of some new variations tonight.
~Bannister's Wharf~
Lightning lit the sky illuminating the docks more than any collection of streetlights ever could. Jason looked up at the night sky, then down at his watch. What was keeping Elizabeth? It had been almost 45 minutes since he'd settled himself on the docks to watch for her and the launch from Spoon Island. So far he hadn't seen either one. He was beginning to get the feeling that he'd missed her.
When the lightning came again he made his move. Leaving his cover he headed for her building. Within minutes he was in the hallway staring at her new door. He lifted his hand to knock only to lower it again immediately. What could he say if she was home? It was after midnight, what excuse could he give her for coming by so late? He had none but the truth so that would have to do. He knocked on the door, the sound loud in the deserted hallway yet he could hear no response from behind the door, so he knocked again.
"Elizabeth?" He called her name and waited a beat before pulling the key she'd insisted he keep from his pocket and unlocked the door. "Elizabeth," he called again before turning on the light to confirm something he already knew. The apartment was empty, somehow he had missed her. Turning to leave his attention was caught by a collection of items on her table, items that hadn't been there when he'd left her place earlier. Baggies, a box of Q-Tips, a two pack of bleach with one missing, they didn't make sense. Perplexed he studied the items a moment longer before flipping off the light and closing the door. He needed to find Elizabeth and discover what she was up to.
~Penthouse 4~
The mood in the penthouse was mellow and that was an unusual occurrence. Ever since Carly had moved in, tension seemed to have taken up residence in the dark rooms. That tension had only increased when Carly had caused his arrest. But tonight, at least for the moment, the mood between them was easy and for that he was relieved.
He was still trying to come to grips with the legal solution that Alexis had come up with. Marry Carly and she couldn't be forced to testify against him. Marry Carly and he wouldn't be placed in a cage until the point he killed himself to escape. Marry Carly and lose the woman he loved. Marry Carly and be driven insane. There was no way he could go to prison and live. No way to marry Carly and not go mad. No way to send Carly away and be secure in the belief that she wouldn't return before the statute of limitations ran out. Downing the rest of the scotch in a fluid movement he automatically refilled his glass. As far as he could tell he only had one legitimate way out of this mess.
"You don't like me much do you?"
Surprised by her unexpected question he took a sip stalling for time.
"Do you?"
"I'm probably going to jail because of you," he reminded her bitterly.
Carly flinched and it was her turn to refill her glass. "Haven't you ever made a mistake? Or do you really believe you're perfect?"
"I've made plenty of mistakes but that doesn't change…"
"I was trying to help," she interrupted. Maybe this time he'd hear her, maybe this time he'd finally understand she hadn't meant to hurt him.
Sighing wearily Sonny rubbed at his eyes. "Your brand of help is probably going to cost me everything."
Carly's guilt increased with his words. Jason was back in town now, didn't that mean that he would fix things for Sonny, fix her mess? Jason had been fixing her messes for years now, he had to be able to help. Sonny couldn't go to jail because of something she caused. He just couldn't.
"Can't your uptight lawyer get you out of it? I figured the only reason you kept her around was for legal messes. Make her earn her keep, make Alexis fix things for you."
"Alexis has told me something about the upcoming trial."
"What's that?" Carly shifted until she could see his eyes which were so dark at the moment they were like peering into an inky, bottomless well.
"Basically if you testify I go to jail," he answered bluntly. "So one way or the other you can't testify. That doesn't leave me with very many options now does it?"
~Luke's~
"Sit." Luke ordered and gave Helena a not so friendly nudge into a chair.
"Really Luke your manners." Helena tsked then frowned at the painting that hung on the far wall. Amused she turned to Luke. "Would you like me to autograph it?"
Luke turned to examine the nude portrait of a much younger Helena. "Why the rats don't care. It's merely a drinking test for my customers. If anyone says you look good I cut them off, bad for business to let the drunk drive."
Though fuming at his insults Helena took care to keep her expression tranquil. "Why did you bring me here?"
Moving behind the counter Luke reached for the good stuff, poured three fingers worth of scotch then lit a cigar. "We needed to talk privately."
"There are so many more amusing things one can do privately, why should we talk?" Helena moved to the other side of the bar to begin the game.
Recognizing the familiar look in her eye Luke knew the latest round had just begun. "I see the spawn got after you tonight." He puffed a perfect smoke ring in her face. "Funny thing about bastards. Sooner or later they always turn on the bitch that raised them."
The amusement vanished from her eyes. "Don't you dare insult the Prince."
"Prince?" Luke snorted. "Nah, he's only a pup, although he had a glimmer of his father in him tonight, but unlike Stavros his hatred is only pointed at you."
Helena was pleased enough by his words that she let the worse of her temper go. Luke, her beloved son's worst enemy had seen the same thing she had tonight, that Nikolas was like his father. Now that Stefan was dead, she would be able to harness the boy without his interference, she would teach him what it meant to be a true Cassadine Prince. But for now there was Luke to deal with, and she had the Ace in her control. "Poor Luke it appears you're still jealous."
"What is your demented brain thinking now?"
"You're jealous that I was able to give Laura something you couldn't," she leaned closer until their faces were inches apart. "I brought her precious Lucky home to her."
Luke noted the gleam in her eye. It was the same one she always got whenever she said Lucky's name and he didn't like it. The gleam was a puzzle he needed to work out, he'd always liked puzzles. "You were able to bring him back because you and Fu Manchu, were the ones who took him in the first place." When Helena laughed in his face, he snapped. "What did you do to my son?
"All I did was bring him back to Port Charles. It's not my fault he didn't want to return to the farce you call a family."
"I'll find out Helena." Luke warned her calmly and knowing her fears he played on them. "You'll either tell me willingly or I'll make you tell me."
"Threats? Really Luke I hate it when you become mundane." Turning she moved back to the small table to retrieve her purse. "As inventive as your threats will no doubt be, I imagine I've heard them all before."
"I'll take Nikolas the spawn of Satan you say you are devoted to and I'll test your devotion. How many fingers will you let him lose before you finally tell me what I want to know?" Luke offered the words with no emotion, like he was ordering from a menu and that made the effect that more chilling.
"Or maybe I'll look of Dr. Medira. You remember him don't you? The Doctor with the talent for drugs and herbs?" Even with her back to him he could see her flinch. "He's the one that kept you in a drugged stupor for years all the while convincing everyone you had a stroke. Really Helena that should have been your first clue that something was wrong in Whoville, after all you don't have a heart."
The words pelted her like darts and she tasted the fear only Luke could bring out in her. The fear had come at the mention of Dr. Medira. She hadn't been able to find him after her recovery, she hadn't been able to punish him properly for his treachery. But she would. One day she would have her revenge on the man who conspired with her son against her. The evening was turning uncomfortable and she was eager to divest herself of everything Spencer.
"Or." He leveled a handgun at her when she turned back to the bar. "I could just kill you now and figure out what you did to Lucky later. Last chance Helena, what did you do to my son?"
"The only thing I did was bring Lucky back and subject him to more of your arrogance and Laura's whining," she replied easily.
"Wrong answer." Luke snapped and pulled the trigger.
~Kelly's~
Once Lucky left Kelly's he was unsure of where to go next. Lately when he'd felt lost or confused he'd gone to Emily, but he'd never be able to go to her again. She had betrayed him. He had trusted her and she had betrayed him. She had told Nikolas that he was having problems. He couldn't help being disappointed in her. He was her best friend. He was her oldest friend. How could she have chosen Nikolas over him?
The crush she'd once had on the Prince was long gone so why did she trust Nikolas more than him? The image of bruises on her arms, bruises he'd placed on her arms came back to haunt him and he tried to shake it away. He hadn't meant to hurt her. He would never physically hurt any woman, especially not Emily, and yet he had made the bruises. This time the image he saw was the fear on her face when he wouldn't let her go. The memory of that fear was like a punch to the gut.
Maybe Nikolas was right. Maybe he did need help. What was going on with him? He didn't know for sure but whatever he was doing wasn't right. He needed help and in the end there was only person he could trust to help him. Only one person who had never let him down, one person who had already helped him so much.
Telling Elizabeth was what he had to do. Once the decision was made a weight seemed to come off of his shoulders and he hurried for her studio. He would find Elizabeth and tell her what was going on with him and she would help him the way she always had. The more he thought about it the more he believed that once he told her his problem would vanish. Their love had always saved each other in the past, it only made sense it would do so now. Jason didn't stand a chance when it came to him and Elizabeth, neither did his problem. He had to find Elizabeth and he had to find her tonight.
~Jake's~
"What the hell were you thinking putting your bra in my bag?" Francis demanded of the woman on the other end of the phone. "Do you even care what I would be in for if the wrong person found it? Are you trying to be cruel?"
Listening to her reply he kept a watchful eye on the table that Johnny was at. As long as Johnny was hitting on the brunette his phone call should go unnoticed. "Don't do it again." Francis warned her an instant before the dial tone sounded in his ear. He was in for it now.
He'd started to hang up the phone when the hair on the back of his neck rose, shifting casually he kept the phone to his ear and turned towards the back door to see who had just entered. Roscoe. Francis recognized Sorel's right hand man immediately and hunched over the payphone trying to obscure his face. He needn't have worried about Roscoe spotting him. The man was obviously distracted, his attention split between the bar and the cellphone pressed to his ear.
"No I haven't found Zander Smith anywhere." Roscoe was saying into the phone.
The name wasn't one he was familiar with but Francis automatically filed it away for future reference.
"No one has seen Smith since earlier when we had our conversation with him about the Webber girl and Sorel's plans for her." Roscoe paused to listen unaware of the keen interest of the man he was sharing the hall with. "Yeah I checked the alley the only thing I found was a blood trail."
When Roscoe shifted Francis did as well, hoping that man would keep talking.
"Yeah I went by the Webber girl's place, no one was home … I couldn't … because she has a new door with new locks." Roscoe snapped and waited. "I'm heading there next. We better find Smith the boss won't like it if we don't, he has a lot of plans for the girl." Closing the phone he turned and headed for the back door only to veer in the bathroom at the last second.
Francis wasted no time in hurrying into the bar and Johnny. "We're leaving" He announced his intention by yanking Johnny to his feet.
"Knock it off Francis," Johnny wrenched his arm free. "Just because you choose to live like a monk doesn't mean I have to, I've got plans."
"Your plans are about to walk out the back door," Francis snapped.
Johnny automatically checked the back hallway and groaned. "You know we can't play bash Sorel's goons heads in anymore, Sonny's getting tired of having Alexis get us out of trouble."
"I don't want to beat him up … yet. We're following him." Without waiting for Johnny's reply he headed for the back door to follow Roscoe.
"Shit," Johnny looked mournfully at the brunette he'd just convinced to take a ride with him. "Rain check?" He gave her his most winning smile. Getting to her feet the brunette gave a loud snort and walked away without a look back. "Francis this better be good," he took another second to watch her walk away before sprinting for the door.
He made it to the mouth of the alley in time to dive for the car as Francis slowed, but did not stop, next to him. His lower legs and feet were drug over the graveled drive for several yards before he finally got them in the car. "Damn I just bought these jeans." His attention shifted from the rip on the cuff of his jeans to his best friend. "What the hell are we doing?"
"Tell me about Zander Smith. Tell me what is connection to Sorel is," Francis ordered while keeping his focus on the taillights of the car they were following. "And more importantly tell me what Smith has to do with Elizabeth."
"Smith's tied in with Sorel?" Johnny asked. "That's bad."
"You think?" Francis snapped.
~Docks~
Jason had moved from frustration into concern. He couldn't find either Elizabeth or Nikolas. Cassadine's Jag hadn't been parked in his usual spot, and a careful call to Emily confirmed she hadn't seen Elizabeth since the afternoon, and Nikolas for hours. He had a feeling he'd made her curious but that had been unavoidable. Elizabeth was up to something and the longer he couldn't find her the more worried he became about whatever her plan was. From what he'd found out during the course of the day whatever problem Emily and the others had it was a dangerous one.
"I was wondering when I'd run into you Morgan."
Coming to alert, Jason made a slow turn, his eye sweeping the docks to check for extra guards, before coming to rest on Sorel. So far he'd only spotted the one, but he knew Sorel never traveled anywhere with only one guard. "What do you want?"
"What no hello? No long time no see?" Secure in the knowledge that he had the upper hand in the unexpected meeting Sorel's tone was jovial.
"You should have left town after Moreno died." Jason returned smoothly, he'd finally spotted the second guard and that relieved him.
"You're not still upset over our last meeting are you?" Sorel asked and lamented, not for the first time, that if Moreno's aim had been on the mark he wouldn't have to deal with Jason Morgan at all. That had always been the problem with Moreno he couldn't shoot very well. That was the reason he'd made a name for himself in the organization by using a shotgun, it was difficult to miss with a shotgun. Still he'd managed to rid himself of Moreno that day, it was only a matter of time before he took care of Morgan as well.
Jason didn't want to turn his back on Sorel but wasn't interested in listening to what the man had to say either. Even with the lateness of the hour there was still movement on the docks. His employees at the coffee warehouse were busy trying to get a shipment inside before the rain fell. Sorel could be careless but he wasn't stupid. This part of the docks was too public to try anything, with that realization Jason turned to leave.
Sorel watched him walk away without a word and got mad. It was time to clear the air about a few things. "If you're still upset about the Webber girl don't be." When Jason stopped he smiled to himself. "She's in no danger from me, not anymore. I obviously misjudged her importance to you."
In spite of his best efforts Jason couldn't help getting mad yet he tried to keep it from his face as he turned back to Sorel. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean it was fairly obvious when you didn't return to town after…" he let the word hang in the air, then shrugged. "It was apparent Elizabeth Webber didn't mean much to you."
This time it was impossible to keep the anger from showing. Moving quickly, more quickly then Sorel gave him credit for his hand closed over Sorel's jacket and he jerked him to his toes. "What did you do to Elizabeth?"
Seeing his violent and painful death in Jason's eyes Sorel got his confirmation of the girl's importance to his enemy. "Temper, temper. You're acting like Anger Boy."
"Let him go." A voice ordered, a voice Jason ignored until the barrel of a gun was pressed behind his ear. "Let him go." Reluctantly Jason did as he was ordered and raised his hands.
"It's not so easy this time is it Morgan?" Giving into temptation Sorel drove his fist into Morgan's unprotected gut causing him to double over briefly. "I'm ready for you this time. No sneak attacks from behind."
Ignoring the clenching in his stomach Jason stood up. "I took you out by myself. You're nothing but a coward that needs two armed men to help you and even with them your punch packs as much power as a 12 year old girl," he taunted him deliberately, borrowing a phrase he'd heard Johnny use on more than one occasion. When Sorel took the bait and moved closer Jason caught his arm mid-swing and jerked him forward shifting behind him in one fluid move. Before the guards even realized what was happening, Jason had an arm locked around Sorel's neck cutting off his air supply. "Drop the guns."
The guards appeared confused as what to do and Jason knew he had to act quickly. Somehow he didn't think Sorel was the type of boss that inspired loyalty in his men. "Do you want to live?" Jason asked him and eased up on Sorel's windpipe giving him time to speak.
"Do what he says," Sorel gasped out the order and the guns clattered to the dock.
"Jason."
"What?" Jason never took his eyes from the guards as he addressed the latest arrival.
"The cops, Taggert he's right behind me at Kelly's I think he's heading this way." Dean Gagal one of his coffee house employees warned him.
"Thanks, now get lost." Jason acknowledged the warning with a shake of his head. The last thing he wanted to do was spend the night in lockup. Tightening his hold on Sorel he whispered in the man's ear. "If anything happens to her, I won't stop until I break every bone in your body. By the time I'm done you'll be begging me to kill you." With that he shoved the slumping man at his guards and took off. He'd just cleared the landing when he heard Taggert's arrival.
"Well what do we have here?"
Ignoring Taggert Jason hurried away. He now had another reason to find Elizabeth. Something had happened after he'd left, something between her and Sorel, something she hadn't told him about, something Sonny hadn't told him about. He was tired of being left in the dark. It was time to get some answers.
~Pier 52~
"My god he's heavy." Elizabeth's arms had been shaking with strain by the time they finally moved the body from the wheelbarrow and into the trunk.
"Of course he's heavy, he's frozen." An out of breath Nikolas pointed out.
"That reminds me at some point you'll need to get rid of the freezer."
"It's already arranged," he looked over at her. "You think I want to put food in it after this?" They both shuddered at the thought.
"We better get moving, this storm will break sooner or later."
Reluctantly they both turned to the body on the plastic, thankfully the blankets had remained securely tied around the body so she hadn't had to touch the man's skin so far. "We need to get rid of the blankets."
"Why?"
"Nikolas there's a crest on one of them," she pointed out the large C. "They'll be easy to track. Cut the binds that secure the blanket, and pull them free, we can burn them later. Then wrap him in the plastic, that's what it's there for. The plastic will cut down on any evidence that sticks to the body."
Nikolas nodded but remained where he was. "I put the bleach on him."
"Fine I'll do it. You weigh the wheelbarrow down and put it in the river." Nikolas nodded and stepped away. Since it was her idea she couldn't keep making Nikolas do the gross part. She could do this she just wouldn't think of him as a person. Pulling the knife from her bag she leaned into the trunk to cut the ropes around the body. She'd freed two and was working on the third when a hand fell on her shoulder. Startled Elizabeth jumped and her head connected with the trunk lid while the knife clattered into the trunk.
"Take it easy," Nikolas' own heart was racing at her violent reaction.
Sagging in relief she pressed her face into his chest and tried to kick start her heart. After a minute she stepped back and glared at him. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"I'm sorry I thought you heard me. I secured the block of concrete on the wheelbarrow, you get rid of it I'll take care of the body."
"Are you sure?" This time she forced herself not to take the easy way out. She knew this wasn't easy on him.
"Go." When she still didn't move he tried again. "He's naked remember. I think I better do it."
"Oh," she couldn't help but grimace, she'd forgotten that part, "thanks." Moving quickly she hefted the wheelbarrow and awkwardly made her way over the wooden planks of the dock. The going was slow, the wheel seemed to sink into every crevice between each board. She was perspiring by the time she reached the edge of the dock. Setting the end of the wheelbarrow down she moved to the edge to make sure there was only water below.
Caution had her turning to check the apparently deserted dock for anyone. She'd chosen this dock for a couple of reasons. One of them was because it was close to where a car could be parked without arousing curiosity. Also the pier was rarely used. The other end of the dock system had easier access for ships to offload their product. The water level here was lower, the rocks more predominant, there was even the remains of an old pier that a boat would have to maneuver around in order to reach the dock. She'd seen more than one boat run aground on the old dock. When that happened often enough word got around to avoid this section of the docks.
The weather was also in her favor. The approaching storm kept the homeless at bay. This section got hammered by bad weather when the wind was blowing in the right direction, so most of the local homeless moved inland to find a drier section to sleep on. Still with what they were doing it was only prudent to be cautious so her eyes swept the docks twice before she felt satisfied she was alone.
Stepping behind the wheelbarrow she grasped the bars and lifted one end then slowly walked the wheelbarrow over the side. Luck was with her, thanks to the concrete the wheelbarrow fell straight down and didn't tip over. Water began to fill it immediately and soon it vanished from sight.
"Did it sink?"
"Geesh." Elizabeth jumped and would have tumbled over the edge after the wheelbarrow if Nikolas hadn't caught her. "Next time just kill me. You scaring 10 years off my life every five minutes isn't healthy."
"And killing you is?" A perplexed Nikolas asked. He was spared her reply when the rain finally began to fall. "Are you ready to finish this?" He held out his hand.
"Let's do it." Taking his hand they ran for the car unaware of the man that stepped out from behind a crate and began following them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thank you for all the nice replies. They work wonders see???