A/N – Thanks for the comments! Sorry, work is so crazy right now. Our audit is next week.
Chapter 16
Ric silently perused the group of reporters and officers. He hadn't found any proof that Faith had taken Elizabeth, but it's important that he keeps up appearances and finds her as soon as possible. He had hired a specialized private investigator to try to find her not putting any faith in Jason's abilities to do so. Maybe this situation is just what he needs to get his wife back.
"Thank you for coming."
Everyone settled and gave him their undivided attention.
"It has come to my attention that my ex-wife was in an accident and kidnapped."
Murmurs start before he proceeds.
"Elizabeth Lansing's car was hit and unfortunately, the man driving the car was killed. Her body was not recovered, and she was in the car, and no one has spoken to her since." He held up a picture. "If you have any information, please reach out to the Port Charles Police Department. The contact number will be on your screen. She is pregnant, and I am worried sick that she may be in grave danger."
"Mr. Lansing," a report yelled, "you seem to still be in love with your wife."
"I am, but unfortunately, we couldn't make things work. Right now, it's not about that. We need to find her and make sure that she and the baby are safe."
"What about her baby's father?" Another report said stirring the crowd.
"I haven't spoken to him and don't plan to."
"Why not?"
"Mr. Morgan is a criminal and his business has put a bullseye on her back. Hopefully, she will come to her senses after this and do what is best for her child." He backed up and then walked away as people yelled questions. Mac took over and gave some more information and then ended the press conference.
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Jason cursed under his breath.
"Fucking Ric," Johnny muttered.
"If he had anything to do with this, I'll kill him myself," Francis said.
"Even if he didn't take her and Faith did, I'm sure she did it to get rid of the competition, so it's still his fault. He's dying regardless," Jason said with conviction.
There is a knock on the door, and he's surprised to see Audrey.
"May I come in?"
"Yes," he said stepping backward.
She nodded at the men and then sat. "Ric needs to be dealt with."
The men suspiciously eyed each other making her roll her eyes.
"Can't you put him on ice or something?"
Johnny couldn't help it and grinned. "We would love to do that, but unfortunately, our hands are tied. If he disappears, especially after today, Jason will be accused and detained. They hate him."
Her brow rose. "May I assume they consider you a menace?"
He nodded.
When she folded her hands and her eyes narrowed, the men anxiously awaited her next sentence.
"He's going to screw this up one way or another."
"I know," Jason said. Faith is going to be pissed by Ric's actions. They had someone following her, that was supposed to snatch her, but her security blocked him in, and she was able to flee. "I know you aren't going to like this, but I put a guard on you."
Her head cocked to the side. "You think they'll hurt me?"
"I don't know, but I don't want to take a chance. If Ric shows up again, he won't be allowed near you." He hadn't told her the whole truth. There are several guards around the perimeter of her home.
"What is his name?"
"Cody."
"Do I get to meet him?"
When Jason nodded, Johnny opened the door and Cody moved inside where he is immediately perused.
"Hello, Mrs. Hardy."
"You may call me Audrey."
"Okay."
"Military?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She likes his manners. "Is there anything you don't like to eat?"
Cody glanced at Jason who shrugged. "No, ma'am."
"Good…" She stood. "I won't take up any more of your time. You'll call me if you figure out something significant?"
"Yes."
She moved in front of Jason. "Stop punishing yourself. I have faith in you that you won't let us down."
"I'll do my best."
When she moved toward the door, Cody hustled to open it for her, and they left.
"Why do I feel like Cody is about to gain some weight?" Johnny asked.
Jason shook his head. "You jealous?"
"Hell yeah."
Jason glanced at his phone. "We're going to that bar off of route 42."
"You need to bust some heads?"
"That will probably happen."
"I'm ready."
"Let's go.
Just as Jason expected, several of Faith's men are there and he wiped the floor with them before having their bodies put into a truck. They'll be taken to a cell and kept there until they are needed. Faith just doesn't know who the fuck she is messing with, but she's about to find out.
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Faith is livid. "What do you mean six more men are missing?"
"There was a fight at the bar, and they are gone."
"Jason…"
"He's out for blood. Two truck deliveries were intercepted too."
"Damn him!"
"What do you want to do?"
She paced back and forth. "I need to get him a message that if he doesn't stop, she'll be hurt."
"If you do that, they'll know you have her for sure. Ric might find out."
Faith rolled her eyes. "I can handle Ric, but your right." She cursed under her breath. "Can you work on striking on his shipment or a warehouse?"
"Let's start with a shipment. It might be easier."
"Do it."
The man walked away as Faith gazed into the monitor. Elizabeth is sleeping. She can't have that. Motioning for the other guard, she gave him some instructions and then left the room. Unfortunately for Liz, Faith had done her homework. It's time to break the prisoner.
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Elizabeth is jarred awake by the sounds of trumpets. Groggily, she sat up and then groaned at the pain in her body. Noticing a tray, she quickly wolfed down the muffin and fruit and then downed the juice. She is starving. Shortly thereafter, she rubbed her belly, trying to soothe the baby.
"Elizabeth…"
Her head jerked up.
"Do you know who this is?"
She swallowed hard. It couldn't be.
"Stop fighting me. You know you love it."
Tears pricked her eyes. "No…"
"I miss you so much."
"No!" Tears run down her face as she wildly looks around the room.
"Don't be scared. I always take care of you. I hate that your belly is swollen with someone else's child, but we can still make one."
"You're not here."
"I was your first, and I will be your last."
She is trembling as his voice continues to mess with her mind.
"Soon, we'll be together again. I can't wait to taste you again."
A scream left her lips as she grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around her. There is no way she can live through him laying on top of her gain. "Jason!" she wailed.
In the booth, Faith grinned. Even if Jason gets her back, she'll be a hot mess. Tom easily had agreed to the recordings. He didn't even want prison credits. Her guard had awakened the man's hunger again. He's due out in a few years, but she's going to see what she can do to get him out earlier. It will be another distraction for Jason to deal with.
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Johnny waited for Jason to calm down before continuing. "The men weren't hurt, but we did take a loss."
Jason dialed his phone and waited.
"Hello?"
"You know that sick bitch did this."
"Jason?" Ric asked standing.
"Just know that I know. You better hope that I don't find proof that you had something to do with it."
Ric swallowed hard. "Are you threatening me?"
The line went dead.
"Fuck!" He made some phone calls. "Find Faith or you won't like the consequences." He slammed the phone down. If he finds her first, Jason won't get the chance to kill her, because Ric plans on beating him to it. Faith has crossed the line. Nobody hurts Elizabeth and gets away with it.
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Emily spun on her heel when she heard his voice and then their gaze met. Unfortunately, he looks well-rested.
Nikolas blankly gazed at her before continuing. Even though he knows she's still a little weak, her hair looks healthier, and she has a slight glow. She's healing and he couldn't be happier.
Micah cautiously inched closer to her.
"I'm okay," she said before moving into her dad's office.
"Emily?" He smiled as he stood. "It's good to see you."
They hugged and then she sat.
"How are you doing?"
"It has been an adjustment, but I'm good."
"Your mother and I were going to go to dinner. Do you think that you could go with us?"
She smiled. "I'd like that."
"Good." He had seen Nikolas earlier and thinks that he's acting strangely, so he is glad that his daughter left him. "Any word on Elizabeth?"
"Not yet. We're very worried."
"Jason will figure it out." Edward has also been poking around.
"The more time that goes by, the more I worry."
"Elizabeth is strong."
"Everyone has their breaking point."
Alan nodded. "Has Jason reached his?"
Emily sighed. "He's close. If anything happens to her—I'm just scared for him too."
"We'll be there to support him. I wish we could do more."
"Me too, but unfortunately, all we can do is pray and hope it's over soon."
Monica appeared in the doorway and grinned when she spots her daughter. "Emily!"
Emily hugged her.
"I missed you."
"Me too."
"She's joining us for dinner," Alan said as he grabbed his keys.
"Wonderful…"
"Where were you headed?"
"I have reservations at The Grill," Alan said.
"Perfect…"
They headed to the restaurant surrounded by guards.
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Jason stared at the water as he sat on a bench. Something has to give. He can't shake the feeling that things with Elizabeth are dire. Faith has no filter, so she won't care about the baby and that is what scares him the most. Liz has been through so much. Hopefully, the stress won't hurt the baby. His phone rang and he hastily grabbed it.
"Morgan…" His eyes widened as he listened to his informant and then he slowly stood as rage tensed every muscle in his body. Now, Faith had gone too far.
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In a blur, Ric found himself shoved against the wall of his office, taking his breath away.
An officer held up his gun. "Put him down, Jason!"
Ric held Jason's stare and is scared to death. "What happened?"
"Make him go away…"
Just the tone of Jason's voice is making Ric fear for his life, but he did what the enforcer asked.
"It's okay."
"It doesn't look okay to me."
"Jason is going to back off, right?"
Jason's eyes narrowed, but he let Ric go."
The officer slowly lowered his gun. "I'm staying in the hallway just in case."
"Okay."
Ric edged around Jason and shut the door as Jason gripped the edge of the desk. After moving to sit in his chair, he waited until Jason had garnered enough control to speak.
"She went too far."
He's scared to ask. "Are you sure that she's involved?"
The look on Jason's face ensured death if he asked that again.
Ric swallowed hard. "Go on…"
"What I am about to ask is not a request. You will make it happen because Elizabeth's life and sanity are at stake."
Bile rose in Ric's stomach. Jason would never come to him for help unless it was something extreme. "What happened?"
"There is going to be a hearing tomorrow. Someone is trying to get Tom Baker out of jail." He has always kept tabs on the man, biding his time until the day he'd be released so that he could kill the asshole himself.
Ric sucked in a harsh breath. "What?"
"He's not due to get out for a few years, so someone is trying to get him released early. She's going to use Tom to probably torture her or distract me."
"I'm surprised that you haven't had him killed."
"Do you know me at all?"
Ric's brow rose at the implication.
"Pull some strings—do whatever you can, but don't allow him to get out."
"You could let it happen and follow him."
Jason shook his head. "Anything can go wrong with that scenario and if something happens and he escapes—I'm not going to take that risk."
Ric sighed. "Alright, I'll do whatever I can to block it."
"If you love her as much as you say, you'll make it happen no matter what."
When Jason left, Ric quickly made some calls to find out what is going on.
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Edward put down the paper he is holding. "Jason?"
"I need your help. I went to Ric, but I don't fully trust him." Part of the reason he had even involved Ric, was to divide the connection between the asshole and Faith.
Edward is surprised his grandson was desperate enough to go to Ric. "What do you need?"
"Elizabeth was raped when she was a teenager."
"I remember."
"Then you are familiar with the name Tom Baker?"
"Yes." That asshole had tried to hurt Emily too. "He's still in jail, right?"
"Yes, but whoever took Elizabeth is trying to get him out. They somehow arranged for a hearing tomorrow."
Edward is livid. "Say no more, I'll make some calls."
"Ric is working on it too."
"If I need to contact him I will. I'll find out who is presiding. Don't you worry. I will deal with it."
"Thank you, grandfather."
Edward almost smiled. Usually, Jason just calls him old man. "I'll be in touch."
Jason left feeling a little better.
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Sam knocked on Jason's office door.
"Come in…"
He glances up, surprised to see her.
"Food…"
Jason nods and clears an area for her.
Quickly she sits it down and opens the bag and takes out a few containers.
"Sonny?"
"Yup."
"He sent you?"
She grinned. "I volunteered. I know I can't help much, but I wanted to do something." Elizabeth was always nice to her and she understands the gravity of the situation.
Jason grabbed the fork and dug in. He's hungrier than he realized.
She sat and watched him inhale the pasta. "Jason, have you slept?"
"Here and there..."
"You have to take care of yourself."
"I have to find her." He had been looking through some pictures Stan had provided.
"Can I help?"
He sighed. "I'm just trying to figure out where they would have taken her."
"I had one of the guards tell me all about Faith."
He frowns. "Why?"
"I'm a con. I wanted to know how she thinks."
"And what did you come up with?"
"She's a nutter. I think she's closer than you think. Everything is a game to her."
Jason nodded.
"Are there any buildings you haven't used for a long time or any place of significance you might not have thought of—something that maybe you wouldn't know that she knows?"
"We checked the vacant warehouses. What about something more personal?"
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. He's so fucking tired he can barely think straight."
"Why don't you take a nap in Sonny's office. I will stay and even set an alarm on my phone and wake you up in a few hours. You'll be fresh and then you can think more about what I asked."
"I don't want to stop."
She slowly stood. "Please, Jason. It's just a few hours. Your body is running on empty right now."
"Okay."
He followed her into the office and then got settled.
She turned off the light and sat at the desk across from the office and texted Sonny. "He is trying to sleep."
Sonny smiled. "Thank you."
"The guys know not to disturb him unless there is an emergency?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"What are you going to do?"
"Shop online…"
Sonny chuckled. "You can use my card."
"I know, but I'm good."
"Love you."
"I love you too."
