Chapter Three

Trouble was brewing. Emily felt it stirring deep within her bones. It was a feeling only people who knew Port Charles well could feel. With every breath she took, she felt the air stifling her and closing in around her. Soon, she wouldn't be able to breathe. If she had known she would end up where she was now, she would have never agreed to help with these insane plans. At least she had found out the truth about her father. She had been searching for him for years without the Quartermaines finding out. If they found out who her father was…she didn't want to think about it. He was a monster.

She was sitting on the docks, letting her thoughts wander. She couldn't even remember how she had gotten into the situation. Everything had seemed so innocent at first. Robin had called and asked for her help. A trip to Paris three days later and the trouble began.

"Emily?"

She looked up. "Courtney, what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be with Pete?"

The young woman shrugged and sat down next to Emily. "He's talking to his brother. I didn't want to intrude."

Emily nodded thinking intrusion had never stopped the woman before. She didn't like Courtney. She never had. Emily felt Courtney was using them all, but she wouldn't dare say anything. Everyone in the group treated Courtney as if she were some special princess to be locked away in a tower. Emily could tell she loved the special treatment and treated everyone horribly even if they did what she demanded.

The previous November three of Courtney's personal guard had been murdered and the woman had acted like she was the one put out because of it. She left the manor and the guards had gone after her. But of course, she had nothing to do with that, not when it came to explaining to the men's families what had happened.

Emily could say she hated Courtney Corinthos, but she'd never tell anyone else that.

"Maybe you should call your dad. You shouldn't be out around like this. It's dangerous with Frisco in WSB custody again."

"If Frisco can't keep himself free, what makes everyone think he can protect me?"

"You're not the one he's supposed to protect."

"Oh, yes, I forgot. Cesar is after you too."

Emily tensed. This was yet another of Courtney's strange mannerisms. She always referred to Faison as Cesar. It was strange but not enough to get anyone else's attention or interest.

Things were getting out of hand. Emily could sense it. Something was going to happen soon. Courtney would be at the center of it, like always. She reminded Emily of one of the cheerleaders in her high school; always being the center of attention, not caring who was hurt in the process.

"You should go back to the safe house. Eric will be calling soon," Emily said. "And I'm sure your father will want to be able to find you once he's done with whatever it is he's doing."

"Yes, I suppose so," Courtney replied, standing up. "I'm sure we'll see each other soon, Emily."

Emily watched Courtney walk away. The end would come soon enough, she was sure of that just as she was sure Courtney would not survive until that end.

Sonny looked at this man who claimed to be his father. His mother had told him the story several times about how his father had been killed in a car accident. He had never had any reason to think otherwise. Now this.

"Cesar Faison is dead," Sonny said. At least as far as Luke Spencer knew. Sonny had never had any reason to care about Cesar Faison other than to know he was the one who had faked Lucky's death. In Sonny's eyes, the act alone was enough to ensure the man's death sentence.

"He's made habit of securing his life by acting out his own death."

"Well, if he is in Port Charles, my men will find him and get rid of him, permanently."

"It's not that easy, Sonny. Courtney is a target."

"Do you think I believe a word you're saying?"

The man sighed. "No, I don't, because I know if someone came to me with this story, I'd have them arrested." He paused, seeming to think about something and Sonny tensed. "I've worked for the World Security Bureau for over thirty years. For most of that time, my partners were Sean Donely, Robert Scorpio, Anna Devane, or Frisco Jones. For thirty years, we've worked against Faison and a few times we've thought we had him, but until we were sure we couldn't risk really returning to our lives.

"I know Adella was told I was dead. I know she told you I died in a car wreck. Three days after she was told, Faison arrived in Bensonhurst looking for something to use against me. Robert and Sean stopped him, but barely."

Sonny found himself thinking back to the days after his mother had told him about his father's death. He had been young, only five or six at the time but he remembered a lot of that time. He remembered the man his mother had called Robert.

"Michael…Sonny," the man sighed. "I am Michael Corinthos. You have no reason to believe me and I know this. I am not asking for your forgiveness. I am only asking that you not blame Courtney, your sister, for my sins. I am asking if you will protect her from my enemies, from her enemies. I'll be in touch."

And the man turned and left. Sonny stared at the closed door for a long time. Was it possible? Could that man really be his father? Sonny wasn't sure what he could believe about the situation, but he'd have his people find out what was going on. If his father really had worked for the WSB there would be records of it.

There had to be. Because Sonny wasn't sure what to believe anymore.

He hadn't been this close to death in a few months. He was getting tired of getting this close to death. Perhaps he should make good on his promise to strangle Mike Corinthos when he made it to Port Charles. It was, after all, Mike's fault he'd been captured by the WSB in the first place.

Yes, killing Mike Corinthos would make him feel much better, but it would only make things worse in the long run.

Frisco Jones looked around but he couldn't see much in the darkened hallways of the WSB living quarters. A fool's plan and fools to carry it out, he thought. Maybe he'd be better off killing his old friend. No, that might get too messy.

"Frisco?"

Frisco stopped. His back was to the wall, gun in hand. He wasn't sure who Sean was siding with in this adventure. Mike hadn't wanted to involve too many people and Anna even less. This was dangerous and getting worse by the minute. Could Sean be trusted? He had once worked with Faison.

"Here," Frisco answered, even lower than Sean's whisper had been.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to help my friends, Sean. That is all you need to know."

Frisco couldn't see Sean in the dark but he knew he didn't want to. He also knew if he didn't hurry he would run out of darkness and lose his last chance to escape the WSB and Faison's agent.

"Goodbye, Sean." He turned and ran. He didn't have much time. Eric had only given him fifteen minutes of guaranteed power failure when he'd hacked into the WSB mainframe. He remembered the old pathways well and even though he hadn't been at the Boston office for more than a few hours in years, he picked his way out and soon found himself in the basement of the building. Eric would have a car waiting for him at the basement entrance.

"Took you long enough."

"Well not everyone can be as agile in their old age as you, old man."

"Don't start, scamp and get in here before we lose our advantage."

Frisco hopped into the car next to his old friend. Lights flashed long enough for Frisco to see Sean's disbelieving face at the edge of the building. They couldn't risk Sean's involvement.

"Where to now?" Frisco asked in an attempt to get Sean's hurt and shocked look out of his mind.

"Port Charles and then on to Veracruz to meet with Robin and Anna."

"Something's happened. I can tell."

"We think Courtney is working with Faison."

Emily walked toward Kelly's. Mike had called her and wanted to meet with her in a public place where Sonny's men would be sure to see them. She didn't understand what Mike was up to. For them to meet in a public place would be to tell Faison's men she was still working with Mike and Frisco. She didn't want to risk it, but Mike had been insistent on the meeting.

The lunch crowd was long gone when she arrived and the diner was almost empty. She chose a table in the corner and ordered tea and a muffin. Mike arrived just as she finished her blueberry muffin. He sat across from her, his back to the wall.

"Long time, no see," he said.

"I see few people these days, Mike," she answered. "I take it Sonny didn't believe you?"

"Distrust runs in my family," he answered. "But one of his men followed me here."

"That's a given," she replied. "What's going on?"

"Frisco's out. They're on their way here. I want you to go with them to Veracruz."

"Why?"

"Eric got a location on Faison. He'll be here in 36 hours. I want to split up his targets."

"But Anna and Robin are going to Veracruz. That isn't splitting up the targets too much."

"Just go, Emily. Don't argue."

Emily looked at him. Mike had never acted like this. If he ever sent anyone away, it was Courtney, to keep her safe. She knew he cared about her safety, but never over Courtney's. He could be sending his daughter somewhere else though. It would explain why he wanted Emily to go to Veracruz with the Scorpios.

"What if I say no?"

Mike shrugged. "You know what your father is capable of, Emily. This isn't my request. This came from Robert. He thinks you might be better off under Interpol protection with the others."

"Then I'll talk to Robert."

"Emily, quit being stubborn."

"What are you going to do with Courtney?"

"She'll stay here."

"Without Sonny's protection, she'll be little better than a sitting duck."

"And you have a better idea?" he asked, looking at her.

"A few. I'll go talk to Sonny and Jason. I don't want to drag Faison's attention back to Anna if there is a better way. She's dealing with enough as it is because of Alex."

Mike sighed. "If you can accomplish something with Sonny, I'll try to convince Robert but I won't guarantee anything."

"What do you mean "we"?" Frisco asked.

"Anna, Robin, and I do. Anna thinks Emily does as well. Think about it Frisco. How else would Faison have known about Italy?"

"There could be any number of ways he could have found out. It doesn't mean Courtney is working for him." Frisco couldn't believe what his friend was trying to tell him. Courtney had been tortured by Faison. The monster had messed with her mind and stole her memories. There was no way, no possible reason for Courtney to be involved with Faison anymore.

"Not for him, Frisco, with him."

"Robert…that's just not possible."