Author's Note:
Moving some things forward here. If you follow the show, I'm changing a few things in the Willow Shiloh Custody Lawsuit. Shiloh doesn't prevail like he did on the show. For people not watching the show, the character of Willow gave her baby with Shiloh up for adoption. (Brad and Lucas adopted her son who died and was switched with Michael & Nell's). Willow had been trying to escape Shiloh's cult and didn't tell him about the adoption. He tried to sue for custody without proof admissible in court that she had a child or something like that. Because Willow was late to court, the judge automatically ruled in Shiloh's favor. I'm doing away with the whole Willow being late and Shiloh winning in court because it never made sense to me.
In the weeks that followed Oscar's memorial occurred and his will was read. Shiloh tried to claim that Shiloh had left him his shares of ELQ, but Alexis had Oscar's most recent will which proved other wise. At the safe house, Kristina struggled with whether or not to press charges against Shiloh thought at Alexis's urging had filed a police report at the hospital. Michael convinced Willow to share her story of being in the cult with Shiloh with Kristina while Jason, Drew, and Curtis looked into Willow's father's death. Meanwhile, Shiloh denied knowing the money from Crossing Into Dawn was fraudulent while Calvin and Arthur turned on each other and had their lawyers continuing to file motions to the delay the trial proceedings against them. They tried to say Shiloh knew as well but had no evidence to support their claims. Garrett's trial was still pending as well.
At the Nurses Ball, Shiloh overheard Nina yelling at Willow about having a child and set out to find the child and claim custody. When Shiloh requested $30,000 to be transferred in from off-shore accounts, the transaction caught the attention of several parties.
"What the hell did you just do?" Garrett demanded to know when he called Shiloh, "My accountant just informed me that you wired $30,000 into your personal bank account from our off-shore accounts. Do you have any idea what you've done?"
"Securing my son's future with me," Shiloh said.
"And likely caught the attention of law enforcement since I'm sure anything hitting your bank account over $10,000 is going to get flagged and reported as possible suspicious activity," Garrett said, "If they find the off-shore bank account, they'll start connecting the dots between you, me, and all our clients. Everything we've worked for will be gone."
"Law enforcement might find the account," Shiloh said, "But the money trail is so confusing no one could follow it."
"You better hope you're right," Garrett said, "While you're on your quest for father-son bonding, when might you have time to assist me and lean on a few people to get me out of here?"
"Patience, Garrett, patience," Shiloh said, "All in good time."
Garrett unhappy with Shiloh's answer hung up and made arrangements to get in touch with his lawyer.
"You sure you want to do this," his lawyer asked when Garrett laid out his plan, "I don't have a choice. Shiloh's not doing anything but ensuring everything we worked for is going up in smoke. I'll be damned if I'll rot in prison because he and those idiots at the foundation let me take the fall."
"I will get to work on this then," his lawyer replied.
Meanwhile in Washington D.C., McGee got a call from a source at the FBI and went to report to Gibbs, "Shiloh just had $30,000 wired from offshore accounts to his personal bank accounts."
"What are you still standing here for?" Gibbs replied, "Start following the money and see if we can take the rest of their cult sex ring down."
Willow and Chase's Apartment
Shiloh managed to get as far as getting Willow to court while the FBI and NCIS were building a case against him. Kellie, having been asked by Michael for assistance, called in child custody lawyers she worked with to take Willow's case.
"I'm already on thin ice with Principal Schulz," Willow said, " I can teach and then make it to court."
"It's too risky," Kellie said, "Shiloh's going to do his best to put himself in the best light. Since we're dealing with a cult, I wouldn't put it past him to encourage someone to delay you somehow. All it would take is a parent wanting a few minutes of your time to discuss their student and you're late to court."
"You can't be serious," Willow said, "I won't schedule any meetings…"
"If a parent shows up unannounced," Kellie said, "They could expect you stay and hear them out because you're there."
"Kellie's right," Michael said, "It's not worth the risk."
"You're absolutely certain this is necessary, Kellie," Willow said, "It's what you'd recommend someone coming to your foundation do if they were doing with someone like Shiloh."
"Without a doubt," Kellie said, "Shiloh is a predator. I've heard you say that yourself. If there's anything I've learned about creeps like him, you have to do everything you can to prepare for the unexpected. They don't play by the rules and will bend them every which they can. We may not be able to prepare for everything, but we should take the precautions we can. Give him less to work with."
"It just seems so unfair," Willow said, "That Shiloh with his sleazy…. Ugh. The cops can't seem to tie him to any of Garrett's stuff and Kristina's case, my mother copped to drugging the tea. I'm worried we can't get him. He'll slime his way out of it."
"You have the best family court lawyers in the country," Michael said, "And Chase and a whole bunch of people helping you."
"Besides if he tries to slime his way out whatever he has coming to him," Kellie said, "I'm pretty sure we just have to dig into his past more. Something is bound to come up. They're never that good. Or he'll get cocky and screw up. Unfortunately sometimes it takes more time than we'd like."
"I hope your right," Willow said, "Forgive me for asking, but I get the feeling you might be speaking from personal experience. I mean I saw the Garrett thing all over the news and he took Alyssa from the school…."
"Michael, would you give Willow and I a moment?" Kellie asked.
"Are you sure?" Michael asked, "It's just I know that…"
"I'm sure," Kellie said, "As grown up as you are, Michael, there are parts of my life, I'd prefer to shield you from."
"I'll be right outside if you need me," Michael said, "Either of you."
"Forget I asked," Willow said as .
Kellie didn't replied right away.
"I…I had a Shiloh, but his name was Ethan," Kellie said, "I was eighteen. He was every bit as obsessed with me as it sounds like Shiloh is with you. Like Shiloh, he seemed to wriggle his way out of everything even kidnapping and assaulting me. I was afraid he would hurt my fiancee. Like you, I ran away, hoping I would be able to escape. I actually faked my death to do it."
"Did it work?" Willow asked.
"For a while," Kellie said, "But Ethan didn't buy it and had too many connections. He found me and chased me all over the country."
"Wait, where was Sonny during all of this?" Willow asked, "I'm surprised he wouldn't have protected you somehow."
"Sonny didn't know I existed," Kellie said, "I'd only found out Sonny was my father a couple years before. By that time, I'd already hated him for leaving me to the foster system and my mother. I wanted nothing to do with the allegations of organized crime. Ethan was bad enough."
"So what happened with Ethan," Willow asked.
"He cornered me here in Port Charles," Kellie said, "Somehow he found out Sonny was my father. He thought he'd make some sort of deal to operate in Port Charles and for me. He died in a police bust, shot by the private investigator he blackmailed to keep tabs on me."
"Why do I get the feeling there's more to that story?" Willow asked.
"I may have fed the PCPD everything they needed to arrest him and arranged it so they'd overhear him trying to convince my father to let him move drugs through Port Charles," Kellie replied.
"I was not expecting that," Willow said, surprised at Kellie's involvement in taking Ethan down, "I mean it's just you're known as the the executive director of a charitable organization and…"
"I'm willing to do the dirty work," Kellie said, "Truth be told I enjoy that more than the meetings and the fundraisers."
"I'm not sure why but that makes me feel better," Willow said, "And that you made it to the other side of dealing with your creep."
"We're going to get you through this," Kellie said, "You are not in this alone. Unlike me, you are asking for help. I didn't ask for help when I should have. I shut out my fiancee and father-in-law. I was too stubborn to ask my dad and Jason for help at first."
"You obviously did eventually," Willow said.
"Not really," Kellie said, "I was trying to get away from Port Charles without anyone finding out I was Sonny's daughter. Then Ethan kidnapped my brother, Morgan, and tried to use him to black mail me into going with him. I ended up in the harbor and Morgan was stabbed. He lost a lot of blood and the blood bank was low. I hoped that no one would catch on when I donated blood."
"I'm guessing that someone did though," Willow said.
"Jason had DNA tests run," Kellie said, "I was furious."
"It looks like everything worked out," Willow said, "It seems like and Sonny get along. You and Jason have a family together. "
"My dad and I get along a lot better than we used to," Kellie said, "But sometimes, it's like throwing gasoline on a fire. Michael can probably tell you stories about the arguments we'd get into."
"What about your mom?" Willow asked, "You mentioned hating Sonny for leaving you with her."
"I don't think I have any memories of her that don't involve her being high or turning tricks," Kellie said, "She overdosed when I was five."
"How did you come to terms with the fact that your mom didn't protect you," Willow asked, "I keep wondering why my own mother turned me over to Shiloh…I…."
"I learned to live with it," Kellie said, "I've never understood what she did or why she didn't just give me to Sonny. I'll never be able to ask. Someday she might give you an answer. I wish I had better advice for you. It screwed with my head for a long time. Just remember the problem is with her and not you."
"I will try to keep that in mind," Willow said.
"It's easier said than done. Believe me, I know," Kellie said.
"Does anything make it easier?" Willow asked.
"I take comfort in the fact that I know my kids won't ever experience what I did with her," Kellie replied, "There are a lot of things my kids have to deal with that I wish they didn't. I know I'm doing everything I can to make sure they know they're loved and feel safe."
"From the way that your sons talk about you in class," Willow said, "I think you have that covered. I have to say that your kids are really well adjusted considering everything they've been through"
"That is a relief to hear," Kellie said, "I'm surprised the boys haven't driven you up the wall with their antics."
"They definitely keep me on my toes," Willow said, "But I have to admit when they pull something, it's their way of standing for the underdog or one of the other kids. I see where they get that from. It's definitely their mom."
"You're probably giving me too much credit," Kellie said.
"It's partially thanks to you I feel like I have a chance against Shiloh," Willow said, "It's not just the lawyers, but the advice too. And seeing and hearing what you've been through as well that you got through it and have a family…I mean I have Chase. But I guess I never thought I'd find a good guy to even think about that with."
"Chase is one of the good ones," Kellie said, "Believe me when I tell you that you are so much closer to having that than I was after Ethan was gone. You want and believe you can have that. I wasn't even willing to try with anyone for a long time and I put Tyler through the wringer trying to figure out if I could even let myself be with him."
"Tyler being your first husband right?" Willow asked.
"Yeah," Kellie said, "To this day, I still don't know why he waited me out other than he was crazy and in love with me."
"It can't be that bad," Willow said.
"Faked my death when we were engaged, married him to get information from a priest," Kellie said, "left town and tried to divorce him, trashed a bathroom and had a mental breakdown when he tracked me down, almost died getting his Dad medicine before I finally stopping running from our relationship. And that's just the cliff notes version."
"I'll take your word for it," Willow said, "But somehow I'm guessing Tyler would tell you are worth all of that."
"He would," Kellie said, "Just like you're worth everything we're doing to help you."
Willow didn't respond right away.
"I really needed to hear that," Willow said, choking up, ""It honestly feels like Shiloh's winning right now, And….I'm being dragged back…and"
"And the further you get away from Shiloh and all that, the more you eventually start to believe you're worth all this," Kellie said, "Even when it's hard and you might feel like Shiloh won or wrecked you too bad, remember you're out and moving forward. Just keep moving forward, don't let the past stop you from having the life you want."
Outside the apartment, Chase came home to find Michael waiting outside.
"I thought Willow was home," Chase said, "Why are you out here?"
"Kellie is in there with Willow," Michael said, "I think some our discussion ended up veering towards Garrett's brother, Ethan, who…"
"Chased her for years," Chase said, "And that's putting it mildly."
Michael looked surprised.
"I read the file when we realized Garrett was in Port Charles," Chase said.
"Of course, you would have," Michael said.
"And I read it because I realized how much clout your sister has at the PCPD," Chase continued, "I couldn't figure out why veteran cops would just let her walk right by them and interrupt the commissioner. One cop even told me she was above our pay grade."
"Kellie is her own force of nature when the occasion calls for it," Michael said.
"Don't you know everything your sister would possibly discuss with Willow?" Chase asked.
"Probably," Michael said, "But I was a kid when all that stuff with Ethan went down. She feels like she still needs to protect me from all that."
"The big sister routine," Chase said. He knocked lightly on the door, "Can we come in?"
Kellie opened the door as Willow composed herself.
"What did you say to Willow?" Chase asked.
"Chase, she said some things I didn't realize I needed to hear," Willow said, "And some good advice that's kind of been where I've been."
"I really didn't mean to upset you, Willow," Kellie said.
"You've kind of been where I've been," Willow said, "I'm glad you reminded me it's okay to accept help and that I'm worth all of this whatever this is."
"I'm glad I could help," Kellie said, "Anyway, Jason's meeting me for dinner. I should be going."
"Of course," Willow said, "Will you be at the courthouse tomorrow?"
"I wasn't planning to," Kellie said, "With all the chaos at the foundation, I'm not sure if I'd help or hurt your case right now. It's one thing for me to refer you to some lawyers. But having Kellie Corinthos-Morgan show up at the hearing in family court.…"
"If it helps," Chase said, "The consensus around the station is that your executive director and the board member are the problem, not you. Even guys I know in the courts are scratching their heads at the the accusations they leveled against you. Even though you're not working at the foundation, you brought the fraud case to the authorities. A lot of people respect your work."
"I would think it would only help Willow's case if you were there," Michael said, "Founder of an organization that helps foster kids and victims of abuse and human trafficking."
"It mean a lot to me if you could come," Willow said, "But I also know you probably know what you're talking about."
"I will check with a couple of people I know," Kellie said, "See what their take is."
"Fair enough," Willow said.
Washington, D.C.
Gibbs went to update Leon on the McGee's progress on tracking the money.
"I respectfully disagree with this decision," Leon said heatedly into the phone, "Give our people and your people more time and what you're suggesting won't be necessary."
Leon did not look happy at the response and hung up.
"What won't be necessary?" Gibbs asked.
"There's no need for McGee to continue with tracking the money in Shiloh's accounts," Leon said, grimly, "The FBI just called me they plan to arrest Shiloh, along with several people at Kellie's foundation and Alicia Darrington in Sec Nav. The wire transfers and fraud at the foundation are just the tip of the ice berg. They're getting almost the entire group of people involved in Garrett and Shiloh's cult sex trafficking ring."
"Normally, I would say that's good news," Gibbs said, "But why do I get the feeling it's not…"
"You might want to sit down for this one," Leon said.
The next day
Not only did Kellie show up to support Willow at the hearing, but Sam, Kristina, Sage, and Lulu were there as well as Sasha, Chase, and Michael. Maxie hadn't been able to get off work to join them. Alexis and Diane were there too. Several Dawn of Day followers came to support Shiloh.
The judge took her seat and proceeded with the hearing.
"Mr. Archer," the judge said, "i'm looking over your petition and I'm trying to figure out what leads you to believe Ms. Tait had your child."
Shiloh in his haste to paint Willow as a liar keeping him from his child, slipped when the judged pressed him on what proof he had that Willow had a baby.
"By your own admission, you somehow managed to access private hospital records," the judge said, "Ms. Tait, does Mr. Archer have permission of any sort to your medical information."
"No, your honor," Willow answered.
"No hospital would provide you with that information," the judge said, "Frankly, you're wasting all of our time, Mr. Archer. There's no proof to your claims. Not to mention the number of open criminal investigations you are currently the subject of."
"Your honor," Shiloh replied, "If you'll give me a moment…"
"Petition denied," The judge interrupted, "hearing adjourned."
Shiloh frustrated stormed off.
"I'd say this calls for a celebration," Sasha said.
"That sounds like a great idea," Willow said.
"Agreed," Sage said.
"Consider the drinks and lunch on me," Sam said.
"I can't," Lulu said, "I'm on a deadline for this story."
"Count me in," Kellie said.
Outside the courthouse, they found Shiloh being arrested by the FBI.
As the Shiloh was read his rights and the charges, they quickly determined not only were fraudulent wire transfers involved, but that he had been connected to Garrett's operations.
Chase made some inquiries to find out more.
"They are arresting Calvin Darrington, Alicia Darrington, and Arthur, the board member from Crossing Into Dawn," Chase said, "They have them for the fraud at the foundation, but also using Dawn of Day for human trafficking. Apparently, some of the followers would be initiated into the trust and then could be purchased by donors for services for lack of a better word. Garrett apparently using the Dawn of Day house as a stop for the people he had kidnapped. Harmony recanted her confession of drugging Kristina's tea."
"Then it's over," Kellie said, relieved and stunned, "Because that just adds to charges against Garrett too.
"Looks like we both have something to celebrate," Willow said
"There's one other thing," Chase said, "A woman came forward about your father's death. Shiloh set it up or was involved somehow."
Willow almost collapsed. Sasha caught her.
"We can celebrate another day," Sam said.
"She's right," Sasha said.
"No," Willow said, "I'm not letting Shiloh take anything more away from me."