Show: General Hospital
Title: Las Vidas de los Corinthos' II: Chapter 25
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Thanks for all the comments for last chapter. Some of your curiosity about Zico's
background will be answered here, but only the barest hint. As I've mentioned, I'm
planning a third part in the series and Zico will play a central role in that installment, so
you'll just have to sit and stew for a bit longer, lol. Anyways, I hope you enjoy. Don't
forget to read and review.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Sonny cursed softly, a sentiment wholeheartedly agreed with by Jason.
They were early.
They, meaning the Five Families.
Well, actually, the *three* other families since the demise of Joseph Taggliatti and the
subsequent handing over of his operation to Sonny and Jason.
Max slowed the car and Johnny, riding in front with him, got out and opened the door for
his bosses. Sonny and Jason exited quickly, nodding at the stern-faced guard stationed
outside the heavy steel door at the entrance to the warehouse. The guard nodded in reply
and pulled back the door, indicating that they should pass through. Johnny followed
Sonny and Jason inside the building and stationed himself along the wall behind their
seats, while Max remained outside with the others.
"Good morning, Mr. Corinthos, Mr. Morgan."
The greeting came from Paulie di Rossi, the heir-apparent of the di Rossi family.
Sonny barely resisted the urge to narrow his eyes at the younger man. He'd done business
with the elder di Rossi, Tony, for many years, but the old man's health was failing and
he'd begun handing over the reins to his eldest son. In the power struggle that had
threatened to erupt after the Taggliatti debacle, di Rossi had tried to challenge Sonny for
power, a quest obviously he had failed at, but a grudge still remained, a major blip in
their alliance. No doubt it had been him who'd called the meeting.
"Good morning gentleman," Sonny replied. Jason simply nodded in greeting; he never
had much to say at these meetings. Sonny looked around at his allies – the di Rossi 'boy',
Raphael Imperioli and Franco de Luca – none of them looked pleased. No doubt, either,
that Paulie had planted a seed of doubt in their minds. "I assume you have some
concerns," he continued, his tone deceptively mild. The other men practically started
squirming in their seats. "Let's talk, shall we?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Courtney practically jumped out of her skin as the door closed loudly behind her.
"Good morning, Ms. Matthews, sorry to keep you waiting; I had to check on a patient."
Courtney's smile was tremulous. "That's ok, Dr. Meadows."
Dr. Meadows nodded and tossed a file onto her desk as she rounded it to sit. "So, dear, I
got those test results from your last visit."
"And?" she couldn't help the feeling of anxiety from humming in her veins.
"Well, it seems all systems go. You checked out just fine; there's nothing here to suggest
any possible hazards for any future pregnancies."
Courtney's breath expelled rapidly. "Wow… you have no idea how relieved I am to hear
that."
Confusion furrowed the older woman's brow. "Why is that?"
The blonde bit her lip. "I think I'm pregnant."
*~*~*~*~*~*
When Alexis explained the meaning of her words, Mac and Taggert's dumbfounded
expressions were priceless. God, she wished she had a camera! It had lasted all about ten
whole seconds before Taggert, the doubting Thomas, burst Alexis's bubble. Thankfully,
Mac's common sense had overridden the detective's doubt and now they sat in a locked
conference room awaiting Zico's statement.
Alexis had delicately explained that Zico didn't speak English and she would therefore
have to interpret because he spoke Greek. Mac's eyebrows skyrocketed at that confession
and he'd said, while he respected the reputation of a certain long-legged brunette, a jury
wouldn't; thus some green rookie had been dispatched down the street to enlist the help
of a certain fat mustached baker who'd helped the PCPD in these situations before.
Eli the baker took his cool time in getting back and it was all Alexis could do to keep
Zico from bolting under the watchful eyes of the two policemen. Alexis held his hand and
softly spoke to him in Greek and she could gradually feel the little boy relaxing again. It
all ended when Officer Kelly and the baker arrived.
"What is the meaning of this, Commissioner Scorpio?" came a booming heavily accented
voice. A man, who vaguely resembled a swarthy Michelin Man with a thick black
moustache, ambled through the door. "I have better things to do than to drop my work at
the whim of the PCPD." He put his meaty hands to his hips and glared at the policemen.
"The baklava will not make itself."
Mac resisted the urge to smile. "I'm sorry for the interruption, Mr. Kippos. I wouldn't
have called for you if it weren't important. You know Alexis Davis and her partner, Ric
Lansing?" he inquired, motioning to them in the corner.
As if for the first time seeing them, Eli turned to them. "I've seen you on the television,"
was his only reply.
From his narrowed eyes, however, and his Greek background, Alexis surmised he
probably knew who she was because she was a Cassidine.
Eli turned back to Mac. "You still haven't told me what this is about. Please tell me you
didn't call me out of my bakery to meet a *Cassidine*!"
Alexis barely resisted the urge to flinch. The apathy in the man's voice was more than
evident. Not that she blamed him; the Cassidines were not exactly an endearing family.
"He certainly wouldn't waste your time like that, sir," she explained. "We need your
help." She laid her hands on Zico's narrow shoulders. "This little boy may have
witnessed a crime and we'd like for him to issue a statement. Only problem is he doesn't
speak English. That's where *you* come in. We'd like for you to act as an interpreter."
"With a certain level of discretion, of course," interjected Ric.
"That goes without saying. I would do it myself, of course, but you know the PCPD has
to be by the book."
Taggert's eyes narrowed. He had a feeling that he and his fellow officers had just been
insulted.
"Touché, Counselor," smirked Mac. "So will you do it?"
Eli looked at the little boy sitting just beside him. He looked scared half to death but
seemed to draw strength from the beautiful woman standing behind him. He couldn't
understand this – didn't the boy know he could draw more comfort from a nest of vipers
than a Cassidine? "Of course."
"You know the drill," said Taggert, handing the burly man a stack of papers about
confidentiality.
Eli took the pen and scrawled his name assertively on the line. All those present did the
same. Mac pointed out the seat beside Zico and Eli settled his bulk into it. Taggert
crossed to the other side of the table beside his boss. Alexis and Ric sat on the other side
of the little boy.
"What's your name, boy?" asked Eli in Greek.
Zico fairly quaked under the booming voice and he turned questioning eyes to Alexis.
"Come now, boy, I won't bite."
Zico's rounded amber eyes showed he didn't quite believe him.
"Go on, Zico," she encouraged.
"Zico Constantine," he replied in a tremulous voice.
Eli nodded brusquely. Good sound Greek name. "My name is Eli Kippos."
Zico wasn't sure quite what all this meant. Why was he here? Who were these other
people? Did the bald headed man know his head reflected the light right into his eyes?
Why did this man with the beetle eyebrows have to be so loud?
"We ready?" asked Taggert, even as he set the recorder in the middle of the metal table
between them all. "18th June, 2005, 10:35 a.m. Lieutenant Detective Marcus Taggert and
Commissioner Mac Scorpio interviewing Zico Constantine in the presence of his
attorneys Alexis Davis and Ricardo Corinthos-Lansing and interpreter Elijah Kippos."
All the formalities dispensed with, he caught the little boy's eyes. "State your full name,
age and date of birth."
Eli relayed the request to Zico.
There was a pause as Zico processed the request and his gaze flitted back to Alexis. She
nodded and smiled. He turned to the other men. "My name is Zico Tomas Constantine. I
am five years old. My birthday is May 16th 2000."
"What are your parents' names?"
As Eli relayed the question, Alexis could feel the tension causing him to tighten his grip
on her hand.
"Zico?"
"My mama's name was Bianca… papa's name was Gregor."
The mentioning of 'was' was very ominous indeed.
"Where do you live?"
His answer was automatic. "With Alexis and her family."
Alexis smiled at his answer but Taggert frowned. "Before you came to America."
"Balbos."
Both Eli's and Alexis's eyebrows skyrocketed. Balbos was an island off the coast of the
mainland of Greece. It was very near to the island on which Alexis had had the childhood
from hell.
"What are you doing in America?"
Alexis held her breath. This was a question she had asked herself and had received no
answer. She was beginning to wonder if what Jason suspected would come to be – would
Zico talk to Taggert if he wouldn't even talk to *her*?
Zico's eyes widened as Eli relayed the question. In fact, even a blind man could tell these
questions made him uncomfortable and he was gripping her hand tight enough to crack
some bones. Eli tried the question again and got no response.
Taggert rephrased the question. "Did your parents bring you to America with them?"
When Eli asked, Zico slowly shook his head and his bottom lip began to wobble visibly.
"Where are your parents then?"
Tears became to prick his eyelids and he whispered the word so softly, but its ominous
meaning echoed around the room.
Alexis gasped and Eli turned stricken eyes to the two policemen. "Dead…."
*~*~*~*~*~*
There was going to be a riot on their hands if they didn't find this murderer fast. That
much di Rossi had hinted at in the meeting. The PCPD had turned its beady eyes on to
the other members of Port Charles's Underworld and so a certain level of discretion had
needed to be undertaken – at the expense of more than one family's pockets. The
message was clear – ship up or ship out.
"Sonofabitch!" cursed Sonny as he settled back into the blush leather interior in the limo.
It was a sentiment echoed entirely by Jason. He could understand the antsiness of the
Families but di Rossi was one to take unfair advantage of a situation; he didn't trust him
as far as he could throw him. He told his partner this.
Sonny nodded in agreement. "He's trouble. As if we didn't have enough on our plates
already. Watch our back where he's concerned."
Jason nodded; he didn't have to be told twice.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Much to their surprise Taggert pressed the stop button on the recorder and allowed Alexis
to comfort Zico. All men present, with the exception of Ric, were shocked at the ease
with which she calmed the little boy. She didn't think twice about slipping to her knees in
her $500 Armani skirt and clutching the little boy in her arms, crooning soft words of
comfort in Greek as she rocked him to and fro.
Finally, after about five minutes or so, Zico's sobs became soft whimpers and then ceased
altogether. Alexis set him away from him and wiped the tears from his cherubic face,
feeling the ache in her heart deepening as they continued to stare at each other.
"Zico?" she asked softly. "How did your parents die?" she asked softly.
Ever resourceful, Taggert switched on the recorder again and Eli quietly relayed her
question in English.
There were long moments of silence as Alexis and Zico stared at each other. Again, he
was struck by how much she looked like his own mother. The large brown eyes that
stared back at him were filled with such compassion and understanding and, dare he
think, love. "Somebody killed them…." he whispered so softly, Alexis felt sure she was
imagining things.
"Who?" she asked, knowing that her voice had cracked at the question.
"Three men. In black."
"How did you get here?"
"They brought me here on a boat that smelled like fish. They put me in a room with a
window and I could see the sea. It was locked… I tried to get out, but I couldn't. They
used to laugh at me…. Call me a baby when I cried for my mama."
"Zico, how did you get away?"
Zico took a deep breath. "One night they came for me when I was sleeping. They put me
in a car. It was dark and I couldn't see anything. They stopped the car after a long time.
The men started arguing, I couldn't understand what they were saying, but the one who
was driving got out and slammed the door and the other man started saying bad words."
"In Greek?"
"Yes," Zico nodded. "I was pretending to be asleep. It must have worked because the
man started muttering about how it was unfair that the other man got to go and fun and he
had to baby-sit me. He left me in the car."
"Just like that?" asked Alexis incredulously. **What a moron!** she couldn't help but
add in her thoughts.
"I peeked out the window to see if anyone was close by but when I tried to open the door,
it was locked. My mama used to do this back home, but I knew that if I tried to get out
from the front, I could, so I opened the door and I started to run."
"When was this? Do you remember?"
Zico shook his head.
"Did it seem like a long time before Jason found you?"
"Morgan!" Taggert broke in; he didn't understand what she was asking but he sure as hell
had recognized Jason's name. When Eli relayed the question in English, he became even
more curious. What did *he* have to do with this monkey business?
Alexis shut up the tirade that was sure to follow with one withering look. "Did it seem
like a long time?"
Zico seemed to think hard. "I feel asleep. I think it was only a day."
"You were hiding where Jason found you?"
"No. I was closer to the water. I saw one of the men; he was looking for me and he had a
gun. I ran away again and I hid in the garbage behind the restaurant."
"Restaurant?" asked Mac.
"Yeah, 'Louie's' the crime scene," Ric supplied helpfully, although he was thinking more
along the lines that Zico's answer was a perfect opening for the question that was
weighing most on their minds.
"Zico… last night… what did you see?"
Time seemed to stand still. Mac and Taggert were chomping at the bit, Eli was curious as
to exactly what crime Zico had witnessed, Ric and Alexis were warring with the concern
– more for Sonny's employees or for this little boy who so desperately needed protection.
Zico actually started to tremble and he couldn't even seem to take comfort in the warmth
of Alexis's hands cupping his shoulders.
"Are you afraid?" she asked softly. Her heart started breaking when the little boy nodded.
"It's ok, Zico. We're here to help you." As much as she would kick herself later, she
pointed to Mac and Taggert. "These two men are the good guys. They are gonna catch
the bad guys, but they need your help. It's ok. You're safe; you don't have to be afraid
anymore. I'm here and I promise, I'll never let anything bad happen to you."
"You promise?" he begged. He didn't know what he would do if she didn't.
"I promise," she replied firmly.
Zico sniffled. "It was dark when I woke up and I was so hungry…. I'd seen a boy come
out the back door and throw away some scraps. There was a lot of food because the dogs
would fight for them. I was creeping for the door when this man came into the alley. I
thought it was one of the men who were looking for me and so I hid behind the cans. He
was walking funny all over the place and he stopped by the wall and started to pee.
"I was waiting for him to finish and then I saw… I saw a man creep out from the
shadows… I saw something shiny and he grabbed the other man in the back and I saw his
hand go like this… whoosh… and the man dropped to the ground and he ran away." He
was whimpering by now and his teeth were starting to chatter for some unknown reason.
"Why didn't you go for help?"
"I was scared… I wanted to go home…. I just wanted to go home…" tears were once
again streaming down his face and Alexis once again used her thumbs to wipe them
away.
"I'm sorry, Zico. What happened next?"
"The door to the restaurant opened and the same boy came out with the garbage. He saw
the man on the ground and he went to check it out. Then he started to scream and all
these people started running to him. It was so loud, Alexis, and there were so many
people…."
"Why didn't you come out of your hiding-place, Zico?"
"I didn't want The Man to find me…."
"The Man, Zico? You mean the man who was looking for you?"
"No," he whispered softly.
"You mean the man that killed the other man?"
Zico nodded his head.
"Is that why you were scared when Jason found you? Is that why you fought him?"
"Yes…."
"Zico… did you see the man's face?"
Zico's trembling began anew. His mind transported him to the night before when he had
quaked in shock at what he had just seen. The man had pushed the other man's body to
the ground and had stepped back from it. He looked around to see if the coast was clear
and started to walk away. How was he to know that in that split second the neon sight
across the street had flickered to life, his face would be imprinted into the brain of an
innocent child who had just watched him commit a cold-blooded murder? It was only
partial – only a profile view, in fact – but it had been enough. There would be no
mistaking that hideous scar from his eye to his jaw. "Yes…."
TBC…
A/N: Not much romance, I know, and you'll probably want to kill me after reading
Courtney's role, but I promise, things will get better and start to come to a head. You
won't believe what happens next. Please drop me a line to let me know what you thought.
Cara
Title: Las Vidas de los Corinthos' II: Chapter 25
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Thanks for all the comments for last chapter. Some of your curiosity about Zico's
background will be answered here, but only the barest hint. As I've mentioned, I'm
planning a third part in the series and Zico will play a central role in that installment, so
you'll just have to sit and stew for a bit longer, lol. Anyways, I hope you enjoy. Don't
forget to read and review.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Sonny cursed softly, a sentiment wholeheartedly agreed with by Jason.
They were early.
They, meaning the Five Families.
Well, actually, the *three* other families since the demise of Joseph Taggliatti and the
subsequent handing over of his operation to Sonny and Jason.
Max slowed the car and Johnny, riding in front with him, got out and opened the door for
his bosses. Sonny and Jason exited quickly, nodding at the stern-faced guard stationed
outside the heavy steel door at the entrance to the warehouse. The guard nodded in reply
and pulled back the door, indicating that they should pass through. Johnny followed
Sonny and Jason inside the building and stationed himself along the wall behind their
seats, while Max remained outside with the others.
"Good morning, Mr. Corinthos, Mr. Morgan."
The greeting came from Paulie di Rossi, the heir-apparent of the di Rossi family.
Sonny barely resisted the urge to narrow his eyes at the younger man. He'd done business
with the elder di Rossi, Tony, for many years, but the old man's health was failing and
he'd begun handing over the reins to his eldest son. In the power struggle that had
threatened to erupt after the Taggliatti debacle, di Rossi had tried to challenge Sonny for
power, a quest obviously he had failed at, but a grudge still remained, a major blip in
their alliance. No doubt it had been him who'd called the meeting.
"Good morning gentleman," Sonny replied. Jason simply nodded in greeting; he never
had much to say at these meetings. Sonny looked around at his allies – the di Rossi 'boy',
Raphael Imperioli and Franco de Luca – none of them looked pleased. No doubt, either,
that Paulie had planted a seed of doubt in their minds. "I assume you have some
concerns," he continued, his tone deceptively mild. The other men practically started
squirming in their seats. "Let's talk, shall we?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Courtney practically jumped out of her skin as the door closed loudly behind her.
"Good morning, Ms. Matthews, sorry to keep you waiting; I had to check on a patient."
Courtney's smile was tremulous. "That's ok, Dr. Meadows."
Dr. Meadows nodded and tossed a file onto her desk as she rounded it to sit. "So, dear, I
got those test results from your last visit."
"And?" she couldn't help the feeling of anxiety from humming in her veins.
"Well, it seems all systems go. You checked out just fine; there's nothing here to suggest
any possible hazards for any future pregnancies."
Courtney's breath expelled rapidly. "Wow… you have no idea how relieved I am to hear
that."
Confusion furrowed the older woman's brow. "Why is that?"
The blonde bit her lip. "I think I'm pregnant."
*~*~*~*~*~*
When Alexis explained the meaning of her words, Mac and Taggert's dumbfounded
expressions were priceless. God, she wished she had a camera! It had lasted all about ten
whole seconds before Taggert, the doubting Thomas, burst Alexis's bubble. Thankfully,
Mac's common sense had overridden the detective's doubt and now they sat in a locked
conference room awaiting Zico's statement.
Alexis had delicately explained that Zico didn't speak English and she would therefore
have to interpret because he spoke Greek. Mac's eyebrows skyrocketed at that confession
and he'd said, while he respected the reputation of a certain long-legged brunette, a jury
wouldn't; thus some green rookie had been dispatched down the street to enlist the help
of a certain fat mustached baker who'd helped the PCPD in these situations before.
Eli the baker took his cool time in getting back and it was all Alexis could do to keep
Zico from bolting under the watchful eyes of the two policemen. Alexis held his hand and
softly spoke to him in Greek and she could gradually feel the little boy relaxing again. It
all ended when Officer Kelly and the baker arrived.
"What is the meaning of this, Commissioner Scorpio?" came a booming heavily accented
voice. A man, who vaguely resembled a swarthy Michelin Man with a thick black
moustache, ambled through the door. "I have better things to do than to drop my work at
the whim of the PCPD." He put his meaty hands to his hips and glared at the policemen.
"The baklava will not make itself."
Mac resisted the urge to smile. "I'm sorry for the interruption, Mr. Kippos. I wouldn't
have called for you if it weren't important. You know Alexis Davis and her partner, Ric
Lansing?" he inquired, motioning to them in the corner.
As if for the first time seeing them, Eli turned to them. "I've seen you on the television,"
was his only reply.
From his narrowed eyes, however, and his Greek background, Alexis surmised he
probably knew who she was because she was a Cassidine.
Eli turned back to Mac. "You still haven't told me what this is about. Please tell me you
didn't call me out of my bakery to meet a *Cassidine*!"
Alexis barely resisted the urge to flinch. The apathy in the man's voice was more than
evident. Not that she blamed him; the Cassidines were not exactly an endearing family.
"He certainly wouldn't waste your time like that, sir," she explained. "We need your
help." She laid her hands on Zico's narrow shoulders. "This little boy may have
witnessed a crime and we'd like for him to issue a statement. Only problem is he doesn't
speak English. That's where *you* come in. We'd like for you to act as an interpreter."
"With a certain level of discretion, of course," interjected Ric.
"That goes without saying. I would do it myself, of course, but you know the PCPD has
to be by the book."
Taggert's eyes narrowed. He had a feeling that he and his fellow officers had just been
insulted.
"Touché, Counselor," smirked Mac. "So will you do it?"
Eli looked at the little boy sitting just beside him. He looked scared half to death but
seemed to draw strength from the beautiful woman standing behind him. He couldn't
understand this – didn't the boy know he could draw more comfort from a nest of vipers
than a Cassidine? "Of course."
"You know the drill," said Taggert, handing the burly man a stack of papers about
confidentiality.
Eli took the pen and scrawled his name assertively on the line. All those present did the
same. Mac pointed out the seat beside Zico and Eli settled his bulk into it. Taggert
crossed to the other side of the table beside his boss. Alexis and Ric sat on the other side
of the little boy.
"What's your name, boy?" asked Eli in Greek.
Zico fairly quaked under the booming voice and he turned questioning eyes to Alexis.
"Come now, boy, I won't bite."
Zico's rounded amber eyes showed he didn't quite believe him.
"Go on, Zico," she encouraged.
"Zico Constantine," he replied in a tremulous voice.
Eli nodded brusquely. Good sound Greek name. "My name is Eli Kippos."
Zico wasn't sure quite what all this meant. Why was he here? Who were these other
people? Did the bald headed man know his head reflected the light right into his eyes?
Why did this man with the beetle eyebrows have to be so loud?
"We ready?" asked Taggert, even as he set the recorder in the middle of the metal table
between them all. "18th June, 2005, 10:35 a.m. Lieutenant Detective Marcus Taggert and
Commissioner Mac Scorpio interviewing Zico Constantine in the presence of his
attorneys Alexis Davis and Ricardo Corinthos-Lansing and interpreter Elijah Kippos."
All the formalities dispensed with, he caught the little boy's eyes. "State your full name,
age and date of birth."
Eli relayed the request to Zico.
There was a pause as Zico processed the request and his gaze flitted back to Alexis. She
nodded and smiled. He turned to the other men. "My name is Zico Tomas Constantine. I
am five years old. My birthday is May 16th 2000."
"What are your parents' names?"
As Eli relayed the question, Alexis could feel the tension causing him to tighten his grip
on her hand.
"Zico?"
"My mama's name was Bianca… papa's name was Gregor."
The mentioning of 'was' was very ominous indeed.
"Where do you live?"
His answer was automatic. "With Alexis and her family."
Alexis smiled at his answer but Taggert frowned. "Before you came to America."
"Balbos."
Both Eli's and Alexis's eyebrows skyrocketed. Balbos was an island off the coast of the
mainland of Greece. It was very near to the island on which Alexis had had the childhood
from hell.
"What are you doing in America?"
Alexis held her breath. This was a question she had asked herself and had received no
answer. She was beginning to wonder if what Jason suspected would come to be – would
Zico talk to Taggert if he wouldn't even talk to *her*?
Zico's eyes widened as Eli relayed the question. In fact, even a blind man could tell these
questions made him uncomfortable and he was gripping her hand tight enough to crack
some bones. Eli tried the question again and got no response.
Taggert rephrased the question. "Did your parents bring you to America with them?"
When Eli asked, Zico slowly shook his head and his bottom lip began to wobble visibly.
"Where are your parents then?"
Tears became to prick his eyelids and he whispered the word so softly, but its ominous
meaning echoed around the room.
Alexis gasped and Eli turned stricken eyes to the two policemen. "Dead…."
*~*~*~*~*~*
There was going to be a riot on their hands if they didn't find this murderer fast. That
much di Rossi had hinted at in the meeting. The PCPD had turned its beady eyes on to
the other members of Port Charles's Underworld and so a certain level of discretion had
needed to be undertaken – at the expense of more than one family's pockets. The
message was clear – ship up or ship out.
"Sonofabitch!" cursed Sonny as he settled back into the blush leather interior in the limo.
It was a sentiment echoed entirely by Jason. He could understand the antsiness of the
Families but di Rossi was one to take unfair advantage of a situation; he didn't trust him
as far as he could throw him. He told his partner this.
Sonny nodded in agreement. "He's trouble. As if we didn't have enough on our plates
already. Watch our back where he's concerned."
Jason nodded; he didn't have to be told twice.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Much to their surprise Taggert pressed the stop button on the recorder and allowed Alexis
to comfort Zico. All men present, with the exception of Ric, were shocked at the ease
with which she calmed the little boy. She didn't think twice about slipping to her knees in
her $500 Armani skirt and clutching the little boy in her arms, crooning soft words of
comfort in Greek as she rocked him to and fro.
Finally, after about five minutes or so, Zico's sobs became soft whimpers and then ceased
altogether. Alexis set him away from him and wiped the tears from his cherubic face,
feeling the ache in her heart deepening as they continued to stare at each other.
"Zico?" she asked softly. "How did your parents die?" she asked softly.
Ever resourceful, Taggert switched on the recorder again and Eli quietly relayed her
question in English.
There were long moments of silence as Alexis and Zico stared at each other. Again, he
was struck by how much she looked like his own mother. The large brown eyes that
stared back at him were filled with such compassion and understanding and, dare he
think, love. "Somebody killed them…." he whispered so softly, Alexis felt sure she was
imagining things.
"Who?" she asked, knowing that her voice had cracked at the question.
"Three men. In black."
"How did you get here?"
"They brought me here on a boat that smelled like fish. They put me in a room with a
window and I could see the sea. It was locked… I tried to get out, but I couldn't. They
used to laugh at me…. Call me a baby when I cried for my mama."
"Zico, how did you get away?"
Zico took a deep breath. "One night they came for me when I was sleeping. They put me
in a car. It was dark and I couldn't see anything. They stopped the car after a long time.
The men started arguing, I couldn't understand what they were saying, but the one who
was driving got out and slammed the door and the other man started saying bad words."
"In Greek?"
"Yes," Zico nodded. "I was pretending to be asleep. It must have worked because the
man started muttering about how it was unfair that the other man got to go and fun and he
had to baby-sit me. He left me in the car."
"Just like that?" asked Alexis incredulously. **What a moron!** she couldn't help but
add in her thoughts.
"I peeked out the window to see if anyone was close by but when I tried to open the door,
it was locked. My mama used to do this back home, but I knew that if I tried to get out
from the front, I could, so I opened the door and I started to run."
"When was this? Do you remember?"
Zico shook his head.
"Did it seem like a long time before Jason found you?"
"Morgan!" Taggert broke in; he didn't understand what she was asking but he sure as hell
had recognized Jason's name. When Eli relayed the question in English, he became even
more curious. What did *he* have to do with this monkey business?
Alexis shut up the tirade that was sure to follow with one withering look. "Did it seem
like a long time?"
Zico seemed to think hard. "I feel asleep. I think it was only a day."
"You were hiding where Jason found you?"
"No. I was closer to the water. I saw one of the men; he was looking for me and he had a
gun. I ran away again and I hid in the garbage behind the restaurant."
"Restaurant?" asked Mac.
"Yeah, 'Louie's' the crime scene," Ric supplied helpfully, although he was thinking more
along the lines that Zico's answer was a perfect opening for the question that was
weighing most on their minds.
"Zico… last night… what did you see?"
Time seemed to stand still. Mac and Taggert were chomping at the bit, Eli was curious as
to exactly what crime Zico had witnessed, Ric and Alexis were warring with the concern
– more for Sonny's employees or for this little boy who so desperately needed protection.
Zico actually started to tremble and he couldn't even seem to take comfort in the warmth
of Alexis's hands cupping his shoulders.
"Are you afraid?" she asked softly. Her heart started breaking when the little boy nodded.
"It's ok, Zico. We're here to help you." As much as she would kick herself later, she
pointed to Mac and Taggert. "These two men are the good guys. They are gonna catch
the bad guys, but they need your help. It's ok. You're safe; you don't have to be afraid
anymore. I'm here and I promise, I'll never let anything bad happen to you."
"You promise?" he begged. He didn't know what he would do if she didn't.
"I promise," she replied firmly.
Zico sniffled. "It was dark when I woke up and I was so hungry…. I'd seen a boy come
out the back door and throw away some scraps. There was a lot of food because the dogs
would fight for them. I was creeping for the door when this man came into the alley. I
thought it was one of the men who were looking for me and so I hid behind the cans. He
was walking funny all over the place and he stopped by the wall and started to pee.
"I was waiting for him to finish and then I saw… I saw a man creep out from the
shadows… I saw something shiny and he grabbed the other man in the back and I saw his
hand go like this… whoosh… and the man dropped to the ground and he ran away." He
was whimpering by now and his teeth were starting to chatter for some unknown reason.
"Why didn't you go for help?"
"I was scared… I wanted to go home…. I just wanted to go home…" tears were once
again streaming down his face and Alexis once again used her thumbs to wipe them
away.
"I'm sorry, Zico. What happened next?"
"The door to the restaurant opened and the same boy came out with the garbage. He saw
the man on the ground and he went to check it out. Then he started to scream and all
these people started running to him. It was so loud, Alexis, and there were so many
people…."
"Why didn't you come out of your hiding-place, Zico?"
"I didn't want The Man to find me…."
"The Man, Zico? You mean the man who was looking for you?"
"No," he whispered softly.
"You mean the man that killed the other man?"
Zico nodded his head.
"Is that why you were scared when Jason found you? Is that why you fought him?"
"Yes…."
"Zico… did you see the man's face?"
Zico's trembling began anew. His mind transported him to the night before when he had
quaked in shock at what he had just seen. The man had pushed the other man's body to
the ground and had stepped back from it. He looked around to see if the coast was clear
and started to walk away. How was he to know that in that split second the neon sight
across the street had flickered to life, his face would be imprinted into the brain of an
innocent child who had just watched him commit a cold-blooded murder? It was only
partial – only a profile view, in fact – but it had been enough. There would be no
mistaking that hideous scar from his eye to his jaw. "Yes…."
TBC…
A/N: Not much romance, I know, and you'll probably want to kill me after reading
Courtney's role, but I promise, things will get better and start to come to a head. You
won't believe what happens next. Please drop me a line to let me know what you thought.
Cara
