Second Chances: Face Off
Faith slipped behind the wheel of her sleek black spider coupe. The broken gold chain still laced between her fingers. The crimson glass swung gently from the motion of her trembling hands. Fury raged through every inch of her being as both Ric and Elizabeth's words mingled in her mind.
'The fiery red immediately made me think of you.'. Faith recalled how Ric smiled at her when he had said that and how delicately took her hand in his that night. She was now kicking herself for how quickly she fell for his rouse.
Next Elizabeth's piercing voice assaulted her. 'Max, that's mine. Jason gave it to me. I want it back!'.
Faith focused her hard stare on the pendant hanging from her fingers. She let out a shrill scream that echoed off the car's supple leather interior. She couldn't believe she had let herself be played so willingly by Ric. If she hadn't been so furious, she might have marveled at his tactics. What a force the two of them could be if he wasn't so hell bent on pining for a woman so unworthy of him. If Ric could only see what she had to offer. They could be a force to be reckoned with. A force that could easily eliminate Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan.
Faith fingered the smooth glass that now sat in the palm of her hand and glared at what she once thought to be a gift for her yet now knew it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with Elizabeth Webber - calamity waitress - girlfriend of Sonny's enforcer. The list of names Faith could attach to the petite brunette was endless however the only one that flashed in her mind like an annoying neon sign was - NUISANCE.
As Faith turned the key in the ignition, she wondered what other remnants of his wife Ric had hidden within the recesses of the home he once shared with her. She dropped the transmission into drive and headed there to find out for herself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jason pushed passed the steady stream of customers attempting to leave Kelly's nearly knocking one to the ground. He almost turned to apologize but when he caught sight of Elizabeth sitting at the counter crying inconsolably all thoughts of politeness left his head.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Jason asked as he took the stool beside her drawing Elizabeth into his body with his muscular arms. Max fell back allowing the pair to talk privately.
"She has it," Elizabeth said between sobs. "Faith has my red glass."
Jason knew that's what Max had told him over the phone but it still was hard to believe. "Are you sure?"
"You don't think I would know my own gift?" Elizabeth almost sounded insulted as she pulled back to stare at him.
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" Elizabeth countered.
Jason chose to ignore the tone in her voice. The last thing he wanted to do was fight with her. "Did she show it to you?"
"Yes.no.it was hanging around her neck."
"What?"
"I know what you are thinking, but it was my red glass Jason. I don't care that it now looked like a necklace. I know it was mine." She had spent countless hours over the last years pulling it out and remembering - wishing she had hopped on his bike and gone with him when he had asked. She knew every intricate detail of that precious gift.
"I believe you."
"Do you? Or do you think I am as nuts as Max does?" Elizabeth turned and pointed to the guard who had taken a post at the entrance to Kelly's.
"Yes, I believe you. And you aren't nuts."
Elizabeth's features softened a bit. "You wouldn't be saying that if you saw me going after Faith. I think Max was going to have a coronary."
Jason was glad to see her smiling. He wiped away the last of the tears that glistened on her cheeks. "I'm sure he was about to. You know going after Faith wasn't the smartest thing you could have done."
"I couldn't help myself Jason. I know she was taunting me and I took the bait but when I saw that pendant swinging from her neck well I saw red - literally."
Jason couldn't help but smile at her. She had a spit fire spirit. He was reminded of the many times she had stood up to Carly over their relationship.
"I want it back, Jason."
"We'll get it back."
"Get what back?" Sonny asked as he approached the pair.
"Sonny," Jason was more than a bit surprised to find him standing before them.
"You tore out so fast I wanted to be sure that Elizabeth was all right."
"I'm fine, thanks Sonny." Elizabeth watched as the two men stood tensely before one another. She wished she knew what was going on between them. Deep down she had an idea. She thought that Ric had to be the root of all the trouble but neither were forthcoming with that information. "Want a cup of coffee?" she asked him reaching for the steaming pot across the counter.
Jason saw her wince as she lifted up the full pot. It was obvious that her wrist wasn't as strong as she thought. "Here let me get that." He offered taking the karaft from her.
"Thanks," Sonny said as Jason filled the cup Elizabeth had put in front of him. He looked on as his enforcer spoke softly in his girlfriend's ear. This was a side of Jason he hadn't seen since those early years with Michael. He wanted him to be happy. He wanted him to have a life of his own. A life that had nothing to do with the Corinthos family or the business. Sonny knew that Jason deserved the happiness he had finally achieved with Elizabeth. He hated that that was in jeopardy. "So, what are you trying to get back?" Sonny asked as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Nothing," Jason said quickly. Elizabeth gave him a quizzical look. The one thing she had come to understand was that Jason and Sonny shared everything. That had been one of the reasons she had left in the first place. She couldn't help but feeling as though she would always be playing second fiddle to that relationship. Jason was now putting her first and she knew she should have been grateful but she didn't want it to be at the expense of Sonny and Jason's friendship either.
"I didn't seem like nothing when I walked in," Sonny offered.
Elizabeth spoke before Jason had the chance to stop her. "Faith has something that belongs to me. Something very special that Jason gave to me years ago."
Jason let out a ragged breath as he looked at Elizabeth. Instantly she reached for his hand as if to offer some silent support.
"Faith?" Sonny arched his brow. "She has something of yours?" Suddenly things were getting more and more complicated. Sonny was finally understanding what an explosive combination his brother and Faith had the potential of becoming.
"Yes. It's a piece of red glass that Jason brought home from Italy. He gave it to me on Valentine's day. The day of the warehouse fire."
"Now are you ready to believe that Faith is the mastermind behind all of this?" Sonny turned his attention toward his friend.
"Not now Sonny." Jason flashed his boss a warning look. He couldn't believe that Sonny would speak so freely with Elizabeth sitting there.
"Faith's the mastermind behind what?" Elizabeth asked both men.
"It's business," Jason said hoping that would be enough to quiet Elizabeth's questions. It wasn't his intention of keeping her in the dark, but he would have preferred to explain after he had a better handle on things. He wasn't completely convinced that Faith was the mastermind behind anything.
"It's more than business. It's personal," Sonny added.
"Jason?" Elizabeth's implored him with her eyes. She didn't want to be shut out again.
"You know Faith has been making trouble for Sonny for awhile now.."
"It's more than that," she interrupted him. "I can see it in your eyes."
"Could we talk about this at home?" Jason questioned her as he looked around the diner.
"Yes," she relented understanding that whatever they were doing to discuss wasn't for the general public.
"There are some things you and I need to discuss further," Sonny said as Jason and Elizabeth stood to make their exit.
"It's going to have to wait."
"Fine, but I want to see you later this evening," Sonny's tone was firm.
Jason just shook his head as he left Sonny to stare at his back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Faith threw open the door of the Lansing home almost wishing that Ric had been there. The drive from Kelly's to the other side of town had fueled her rage even more. She despised being played for the fool and if it was the last thing she did she would show Ric Lansing she was nobody's fool!
With whirlwind speed Faith searched all the areas of the house looking for any signs of Elizabeth Webber hiding in the cracks. She opened the bookcase alongside the fireplace and pushed the button that allowed the hidden panel to slide open and expose the panic room. She stepped inside and found canvases lining the wall. All of them had E.W. penned in the lower right corner. It was almost as though it was some shire to a dead artist. 'Well it just might be,' Faith thought to herself as she ran her hands along each painting before ripping them from the walls with brute force letting them fall to the floor with a loud crash. She ground her heel into canvas after canvas until they all were merely shreds. With a satisfied smile tracing her lips Faith continued her quest.
Faith made her way through various rooms of the house finally stopping at Ric's bedroom. The room he and she had shared phenomenal sex. She would no longer mistake the act they performed as making love. She knew better now. Ric for all of his protests still loved his mealy mouthed wife. That thought sent her blood to a boil in her veins.
Faith tore the comforter and sheets from the bed wondering if Elizabeth and Ric had made love on those very sheets. Sheets that she herself had soiled with him. She clenched her jaw and suppressed a scream that threatened escape as she balled up the silken material and threw it to the floor.
Her next stop was Ric's double door closet. With sheer force Faith threw open the doors and began tossing suits and dress shirts to the floor revealing a large box tucked in the back corner. She lifted the lid and let out an enraged grumble. Before her were Elizabeth's things, a pink baby doll nightie, pictures of the petite waitress, bottles of cologne that obviously belonged to Elizabeth, even her hairbrush was packed away in that box. Faith laughed uncontrollably almost cackled even as the reality of just how badly Ric had been playing all along hit her with brute strength.
Suddenly she heard the front door of the house slam shut. Ric was home. Faith squared her shoulders as a plan formed in her head. Two could play this game she thought. Deliberately she pushed the box Ric had so artfully hidden, threw his clothes back in the closet and closed the door and quickly exited the room.
As she descended the stairs she watched Ric pouring himself a glass of scotch. She quietly walked up behind him placing her hands on his shoulders. "Why so tense?" she purred in his ear.
"Tough client," he replied not lying to her completely. Handing over the signed divorce papers to Elizabeth had been the toughest thing he had ever done.
"Poor baby," she murmured. "Here let me help." Faith began to gently knead his tense muscles with her fingers. "Sorry you had such a bad day."
"I don't want to talk about my day." He turned and offered her a deep kiss. "What did you do for fun?" he asked leading her to the sofa.
Faith's eyes gave a little twinkle as she recalled her day and the revelations she had uncovered, yet she kept all to herself. "It would seem that we aren't the only ones targeting Sonny and Jason."
"How so?" Faith had Ric's full attention with her last comment.
"They burned an entire shipment today. Apparently it was contaminated."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I have my sources." She smiled sheepishly running her manicured fingernail across his cheek.
"Any idea of who's responsible?"
"I'm working on that. But as I see it this all works for us. The more people going after Sonny and Jason the better our chance at them is without getting caught."
"You're probably right," Ric took another long sip of his drink. He couldn't help worry about Elizabeth given this latest peace of news that Faith given him. The last thing he wanted was for her to end up getting caught in the crossfire of a Mob war. She'd already been through too much as it was.
Ric looked down and saw the necklace that he had given her days before. "What happened?" he asked as he picked it up and saw the broken chain.
"It got caught on something when I was bending over. I didn't realize it and when I stood up the chain just broke." Faith lied flawlessly even though the entire time she spoke the scene she had with Elizabeth Webber replayed in her mind like a video being played over and over again.
"I'm sorry about that. I will have it fixed for you.."
"Tomorrow," Faith interrupted him as he was about to make his way from the sofa. "I have a better idea how we can spend the evening." Faith straddled his lap as she began kissing his neck. She felt him let out an exhilarated sigh as her tongue darted around his earlobe. She purred seductively finally she felt as though she were in control again and now that she was things were going to be quite different. It was about time that Ric understood he couldn't have his cake and eat it too.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Elizabeth watched as Jason stared out the window that over looked the harbor. He hadn't said much on the drive from Kelly's to home. She walked up behind him letting her arms circle his waist. "Are you okay?" she asked softly laying her cheek against his back.
"No."
"What's going on Jason?"
"Honestly, I don't know." He hated saying that to her but it was the truth. Everything was so jumbled that nothing made much sense to him. This wasn't like when Sorel wanted Sonny's territory. That had been simple to handle. The enemy was clear but now - well Jason didn't know what to believe. He only knew what his gut told him and it was screaming Ric Lansing.
"What does Faith have to do with all of this and how do you think she got my red glass?"
"Ric." Jason's reply was simple.
"You think Ric gave it to her?"
"Do you have any other explanation?"
"I guess not. I just don't get it. Why would Ric give it to her or take it for that matter?"
"Because it mattered to you," Jason stated matter of fact.
"But that's just it he didn't even know that I had it. I never showed it to him. And if what you're saying is true why didn't he take the post card as well? It means something to me too."
Jason turned and stared at her without an answer to her question. Again none of this made any sense. There was no rhyme or reason for Ric's actions or his train of thought.
"Jason, Ric gave me my signed divorce papers this afternoon at the hospital.."
"He approached you? Where the hell was Max?" Jason cut her off.
"It's okay," she said caressing his face. "Max was right there. He even opened the envelope to make sure they were what Ric said they were."
"Good," Jason let out a relieved sigh.
"So do you think that maybe Ric isn't behind all of this? I mean I know he put the stuff back in my studio. It had to be him. And hell maybe he did even give my red glass to Faith, but the other stuff - the motorcycle accident, and the stuff at the warehouse couldn't it have been Faith?"
"Yes. That's what Sonny thinks, anyway."
"And you don't?"
"Yes and no. I know that Faith would love to bring Sonny down and that includes me as well but something about all of this isn't right. Everything that's been happening is so not Faith's style."
"Maybe she's decided to take a different approach," Elizabeth said even though she sounded unsure herself.
"Well I think it's time that I found out," Jason said grabbing his leather jacket from the sofa.
"Where are you going?" she asked rushing to his side.
"To get some answers and your red glass."
"Jason," Elizabeth grabbed him by the arm to stop him. "Be careful."
"I love you." He leaned in and kissed her softly on the mouth. "I'll see you later."
Elizabeth leaned against the door and let out a heavy sigh as worry and fear engulfed her.
Faith slipped behind the wheel of her sleek black spider coupe. The broken gold chain still laced between her fingers. The crimson glass swung gently from the motion of her trembling hands. Fury raged through every inch of her being as both Ric and Elizabeth's words mingled in her mind.
'The fiery red immediately made me think of you.'. Faith recalled how Ric smiled at her when he had said that and how delicately took her hand in his that night. She was now kicking herself for how quickly she fell for his rouse.
Next Elizabeth's piercing voice assaulted her. 'Max, that's mine. Jason gave it to me. I want it back!'.
Faith focused her hard stare on the pendant hanging from her fingers. She let out a shrill scream that echoed off the car's supple leather interior. She couldn't believe she had let herself be played so willingly by Ric. If she hadn't been so furious, she might have marveled at his tactics. What a force the two of them could be if he wasn't so hell bent on pining for a woman so unworthy of him. If Ric could only see what she had to offer. They could be a force to be reckoned with. A force that could easily eliminate Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan.
Faith fingered the smooth glass that now sat in the palm of her hand and glared at what she once thought to be a gift for her yet now knew it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with Elizabeth Webber - calamity waitress - girlfriend of Sonny's enforcer. The list of names Faith could attach to the petite brunette was endless however the only one that flashed in her mind like an annoying neon sign was - NUISANCE.
As Faith turned the key in the ignition, she wondered what other remnants of his wife Ric had hidden within the recesses of the home he once shared with her. She dropped the transmission into drive and headed there to find out for herself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jason pushed passed the steady stream of customers attempting to leave Kelly's nearly knocking one to the ground. He almost turned to apologize but when he caught sight of Elizabeth sitting at the counter crying inconsolably all thoughts of politeness left his head.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Jason asked as he took the stool beside her drawing Elizabeth into his body with his muscular arms. Max fell back allowing the pair to talk privately.
"She has it," Elizabeth said between sobs. "Faith has my red glass."
Jason knew that's what Max had told him over the phone but it still was hard to believe. "Are you sure?"
"You don't think I would know my own gift?" Elizabeth almost sounded insulted as she pulled back to stare at him.
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" Elizabeth countered.
Jason chose to ignore the tone in her voice. The last thing he wanted to do was fight with her. "Did she show it to you?"
"Yes.no.it was hanging around her neck."
"What?"
"I know what you are thinking, but it was my red glass Jason. I don't care that it now looked like a necklace. I know it was mine." She had spent countless hours over the last years pulling it out and remembering - wishing she had hopped on his bike and gone with him when he had asked. She knew every intricate detail of that precious gift.
"I believe you."
"Do you? Or do you think I am as nuts as Max does?" Elizabeth turned and pointed to the guard who had taken a post at the entrance to Kelly's.
"Yes, I believe you. And you aren't nuts."
Elizabeth's features softened a bit. "You wouldn't be saying that if you saw me going after Faith. I think Max was going to have a coronary."
Jason was glad to see her smiling. He wiped away the last of the tears that glistened on her cheeks. "I'm sure he was about to. You know going after Faith wasn't the smartest thing you could have done."
"I couldn't help myself Jason. I know she was taunting me and I took the bait but when I saw that pendant swinging from her neck well I saw red - literally."
Jason couldn't help but smile at her. She had a spit fire spirit. He was reminded of the many times she had stood up to Carly over their relationship.
"I want it back, Jason."
"We'll get it back."
"Get what back?" Sonny asked as he approached the pair.
"Sonny," Jason was more than a bit surprised to find him standing before them.
"You tore out so fast I wanted to be sure that Elizabeth was all right."
"I'm fine, thanks Sonny." Elizabeth watched as the two men stood tensely before one another. She wished she knew what was going on between them. Deep down she had an idea. She thought that Ric had to be the root of all the trouble but neither were forthcoming with that information. "Want a cup of coffee?" she asked him reaching for the steaming pot across the counter.
Jason saw her wince as she lifted up the full pot. It was obvious that her wrist wasn't as strong as she thought. "Here let me get that." He offered taking the karaft from her.
"Thanks," Sonny said as Jason filled the cup Elizabeth had put in front of him. He looked on as his enforcer spoke softly in his girlfriend's ear. This was a side of Jason he hadn't seen since those early years with Michael. He wanted him to be happy. He wanted him to have a life of his own. A life that had nothing to do with the Corinthos family or the business. Sonny knew that Jason deserved the happiness he had finally achieved with Elizabeth. He hated that that was in jeopardy. "So, what are you trying to get back?" Sonny asked as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Nothing," Jason said quickly. Elizabeth gave him a quizzical look. The one thing she had come to understand was that Jason and Sonny shared everything. That had been one of the reasons she had left in the first place. She couldn't help but feeling as though she would always be playing second fiddle to that relationship. Jason was now putting her first and she knew she should have been grateful but she didn't want it to be at the expense of Sonny and Jason's friendship either.
"I didn't seem like nothing when I walked in," Sonny offered.
Elizabeth spoke before Jason had the chance to stop her. "Faith has something that belongs to me. Something very special that Jason gave to me years ago."
Jason let out a ragged breath as he looked at Elizabeth. Instantly she reached for his hand as if to offer some silent support.
"Faith?" Sonny arched his brow. "She has something of yours?" Suddenly things were getting more and more complicated. Sonny was finally understanding what an explosive combination his brother and Faith had the potential of becoming.
"Yes. It's a piece of red glass that Jason brought home from Italy. He gave it to me on Valentine's day. The day of the warehouse fire."
"Now are you ready to believe that Faith is the mastermind behind all of this?" Sonny turned his attention toward his friend.
"Not now Sonny." Jason flashed his boss a warning look. He couldn't believe that Sonny would speak so freely with Elizabeth sitting there.
"Faith's the mastermind behind what?" Elizabeth asked both men.
"It's business," Jason said hoping that would be enough to quiet Elizabeth's questions. It wasn't his intention of keeping her in the dark, but he would have preferred to explain after he had a better handle on things. He wasn't completely convinced that Faith was the mastermind behind anything.
"It's more than business. It's personal," Sonny added.
"Jason?" Elizabeth's implored him with her eyes. She didn't want to be shut out again.
"You know Faith has been making trouble for Sonny for awhile now.."
"It's more than that," she interrupted him. "I can see it in your eyes."
"Could we talk about this at home?" Jason questioned her as he looked around the diner.
"Yes," she relented understanding that whatever they were doing to discuss wasn't for the general public.
"There are some things you and I need to discuss further," Sonny said as Jason and Elizabeth stood to make their exit.
"It's going to have to wait."
"Fine, but I want to see you later this evening," Sonny's tone was firm.
Jason just shook his head as he left Sonny to stare at his back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Faith threw open the door of the Lansing home almost wishing that Ric had been there. The drive from Kelly's to the other side of town had fueled her rage even more. She despised being played for the fool and if it was the last thing she did she would show Ric Lansing she was nobody's fool!
With whirlwind speed Faith searched all the areas of the house looking for any signs of Elizabeth Webber hiding in the cracks. She opened the bookcase alongside the fireplace and pushed the button that allowed the hidden panel to slide open and expose the panic room. She stepped inside and found canvases lining the wall. All of them had E.W. penned in the lower right corner. It was almost as though it was some shire to a dead artist. 'Well it just might be,' Faith thought to herself as she ran her hands along each painting before ripping them from the walls with brute force letting them fall to the floor with a loud crash. She ground her heel into canvas after canvas until they all were merely shreds. With a satisfied smile tracing her lips Faith continued her quest.
Faith made her way through various rooms of the house finally stopping at Ric's bedroom. The room he and she had shared phenomenal sex. She would no longer mistake the act they performed as making love. She knew better now. Ric for all of his protests still loved his mealy mouthed wife. That thought sent her blood to a boil in her veins.
Faith tore the comforter and sheets from the bed wondering if Elizabeth and Ric had made love on those very sheets. Sheets that she herself had soiled with him. She clenched her jaw and suppressed a scream that threatened escape as she balled up the silken material and threw it to the floor.
Her next stop was Ric's double door closet. With sheer force Faith threw open the doors and began tossing suits and dress shirts to the floor revealing a large box tucked in the back corner. She lifted the lid and let out an enraged grumble. Before her were Elizabeth's things, a pink baby doll nightie, pictures of the petite waitress, bottles of cologne that obviously belonged to Elizabeth, even her hairbrush was packed away in that box. Faith laughed uncontrollably almost cackled even as the reality of just how badly Ric had been playing all along hit her with brute strength.
Suddenly she heard the front door of the house slam shut. Ric was home. Faith squared her shoulders as a plan formed in her head. Two could play this game she thought. Deliberately she pushed the box Ric had so artfully hidden, threw his clothes back in the closet and closed the door and quickly exited the room.
As she descended the stairs she watched Ric pouring himself a glass of scotch. She quietly walked up behind him placing her hands on his shoulders. "Why so tense?" she purred in his ear.
"Tough client," he replied not lying to her completely. Handing over the signed divorce papers to Elizabeth had been the toughest thing he had ever done.
"Poor baby," she murmured. "Here let me help." Faith began to gently knead his tense muscles with her fingers. "Sorry you had such a bad day."
"I don't want to talk about my day." He turned and offered her a deep kiss. "What did you do for fun?" he asked leading her to the sofa.
Faith's eyes gave a little twinkle as she recalled her day and the revelations she had uncovered, yet she kept all to herself. "It would seem that we aren't the only ones targeting Sonny and Jason."
"How so?" Faith had Ric's full attention with her last comment.
"They burned an entire shipment today. Apparently it was contaminated."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I have my sources." She smiled sheepishly running her manicured fingernail across his cheek.
"Any idea of who's responsible?"
"I'm working on that. But as I see it this all works for us. The more people going after Sonny and Jason the better our chance at them is without getting caught."
"You're probably right," Ric took another long sip of his drink. He couldn't help worry about Elizabeth given this latest peace of news that Faith given him. The last thing he wanted was for her to end up getting caught in the crossfire of a Mob war. She'd already been through too much as it was.
Ric looked down and saw the necklace that he had given her days before. "What happened?" he asked as he picked it up and saw the broken chain.
"It got caught on something when I was bending over. I didn't realize it and when I stood up the chain just broke." Faith lied flawlessly even though the entire time she spoke the scene she had with Elizabeth Webber replayed in her mind like a video being played over and over again.
"I'm sorry about that. I will have it fixed for you.."
"Tomorrow," Faith interrupted him as he was about to make his way from the sofa. "I have a better idea how we can spend the evening." Faith straddled his lap as she began kissing his neck. She felt him let out an exhilarated sigh as her tongue darted around his earlobe. She purred seductively finally she felt as though she were in control again and now that she was things were going to be quite different. It was about time that Ric understood he couldn't have his cake and eat it too.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Elizabeth watched as Jason stared out the window that over looked the harbor. He hadn't said much on the drive from Kelly's to home. She walked up behind him letting her arms circle his waist. "Are you okay?" she asked softly laying her cheek against his back.
"No."
"What's going on Jason?"
"Honestly, I don't know." He hated saying that to her but it was the truth. Everything was so jumbled that nothing made much sense to him. This wasn't like when Sorel wanted Sonny's territory. That had been simple to handle. The enemy was clear but now - well Jason didn't know what to believe. He only knew what his gut told him and it was screaming Ric Lansing.
"What does Faith have to do with all of this and how do you think she got my red glass?"
"Ric." Jason's reply was simple.
"You think Ric gave it to her?"
"Do you have any other explanation?"
"I guess not. I just don't get it. Why would Ric give it to her or take it for that matter?"
"Because it mattered to you," Jason stated matter of fact.
"But that's just it he didn't even know that I had it. I never showed it to him. And if what you're saying is true why didn't he take the post card as well? It means something to me too."
Jason turned and stared at her without an answer to her question. Again none of this made any sense. There was no rhyme or reason for Ric's actions or his train of thought.
"Jason, Ric gave me my signed divorce papers this afternoon at the hospital.."
"He approached you? Where the hell was Max?" Jason cut her off.
"It's okay," she said caressing his face. "Max was right there. He even opened the envelope to make sure they were what Ric said they were."
"Good," Jason let out a relieved sigh.
"So do you think that maybe Ric isn't behind all of this? I mean I know he put the stuff back in my studio. It had to be him. And hell maybe he did even give my red glass to Faith, but the other stuff - the motorcycle accident, and the stuff at the warehouse couldn't it have been Faith?"
"Yes. That's what Sonny thinks, anyway."
"And you don't?"
"Yes and no. I know that Faith would love to bring Sonny down and that includes me as well but something about all of this isn't right. Everything that's been happening is so not Faith's style."
"Maybe she's decided to take a different approach," Elizabeth said even though she sounded unsure herself.
"Well I think it's time that I found out," Jason said grabbing his leather jacket from the sofa.
"Where are you going?" she asked rushing to his side.
"To get some answers and your red glass."
"Jason," Elizabeth grabbed him by the arm to stop him. "Be careful."
"I love you." He leaned in and kissed her softly on the mouth. "I'll see you later."
Elizabeth leaned against the door and let out a heavy sigh as worry and fear engulfed her.