Chapter Two
Liz looked over her shoulder again. All day she had felt as if she was being watched, but she hadn't seen anyone, and she was forced to think it was just her imagination. The hairs on her neck rose as she walked along the docks to her studio, and suddenly, in addition to feeling paranoid and stupid, she felt frightened. Her steps quickened until she was almost running. She threw a look over her shoulder in time to she a dark shadow launch into her out of the shadows. The force of the attack knocked her off her feet, and she struck her head on the planks. Dazed, she struggled to get away from the shadow, but it was too quick. She caught a flash of light on steel; the downward drop, and felt a blinding, burning pain in her chest. The waves of flame crashed into her brain and though she was certain it meant death, she could not stop the rush. Unconsciousness took her, and her head lolled on the ground, her eyes falling shut.
***
"I'm sorry, but I can't verify that she is dead." He pulled the phone away from his ear as Courtney Matthews voice took on a shrill volume.
"I told you to take care of her! No mistakes!" Courtney was furious.
"I know, but someone showed up right after I stabbed her and I had to take off. You wouldn't want me to be caught would you?" His voice was sulky.
"No, I suppose not. Fine. Do you at least think you did the job?
"Well I nailed in the chest, so probably. And I left this scarf I brought, with, umÉ this local gangs colors on it, so it'll look like an initiation type thing." He added proudly. Courtney could feel her head explode.
"You idiot! What the hell were you thinking? You should have taken her purse so it looked like a robbery. Now Sonny and Jason will get involved. They wont ignore a gang hit on their territory! God, just get the hell out of town before fuck it all up more."
ÔWhat about my money?" He whined.
"It'll be transferred by the end of the day. I never want to hear from you again, do you understand?" Without waiting for an answer, she hung up. Fuck! That moron had ruined everything. Now Jase and her brother would be paying even closer attention to what went on in town. She had her fingers in to many pies for that to be acceptable. First things first, she would wait to find out if Liz was still alive.
***
Jason Morgan was not having a good day. First, his alarm hadn't gone off, so he had woken up late. Minutes later, as he was trying to rush out the door, Courtney wanted his attention about something, and gotten this pissed look on her face when he gently explained that he really had to go. Shortly after some poser, in an effort to get ahead with Sonny, had stuck in nose into delicate negotiations with Morales, leaving Jason to clean up the mess via an extremely long, headache inducing conference call. Then, when all he wanted was to go home, have a beer and play some pool, Sonny calls him into his office to play family councilor because he and Carly had had yet another fight. And now, the last straw, he realized that in his rush out this morning, her had forgotten to get gas for his bike, which had run out, and that he had also forgotten his wallet, so there was nothing he could do about it. He stood there, considering what the lesser of all evils was. He could walk, he could call his wife, who had been in mood for weeks, or he could call one of the guys and get a ride, but face severe mocking. Deciding that a little exercise would hardly kill him, he started off. A few blocks closer to home his cell phone rang.
"Morgan." He answered tersely.
"Sorry to bother you sir, but our contact at the police department reported that there was a gang related stabbing on the docks today, I thought you would like to know." Jason sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Mike was new, and he tended to be a little gung ho, but in this case
"You were correct. Are we sure it's not a business related hit?
"No sir, all out people are accounted for. Our source said that it was a petite female. She was rushed to General Hospital. A bandana was found with Cobra colors, which is why he called us.
"All right. I'll put out some feelers, and let Sonny know we may have to crack down on the territory. In the meantime, could you please find out what the victims name is, and any possible connections she has to gangs. I don't want to get involved without knowing all the facts.
"Sure thing Mr. Morgan. I'll get right back to you with a name, and then get started researching the girl.
"Thank you Mike," Jason hung up. He didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling that the whole situation was going to turn complicated. He had just gotten on the penthouse elevator and hit the up button when his phone rang.
"Morgan.
"It's Mike again sir. I found out the name of the victim. It a, um, Elizabeth Weebler." Jason inhaled shortly. "No wait, it's Webber. Elizabeth Webber. Name mean anything to y-" Jason hung up.
DING. The elevator doors open on his floor. He cursed, jamming his finger into the first floor button. Damn it, he had been right, the situation could not be anymore complicated. He hated complicated. He convinced himself that that was why he had been overwhelmed with a feeling of dread.