One Bright and Shining Morning.
Frisco didn't want to believe his daughter was a killer, Maxie maybe. His eldest had lost a small part of her humanity in recent years. He actually took hope in the way she seemed to take up the mantle of protecting her annoying geek friend. But Georgie, he felt sick to realize all he had to go on in regards to his younger daughter was a semi-annual report written by whatever man Sean assigned to the task.
Talking to the Crime Scene people again, he was even more confused. The grunts, those that did the actual work had believed it to be a suicide until someone with some clout had pushed the murder scenario and the FBI had sent a supposedly top notched team to oversee their work. Amazing he thought to himself how the man in charge neglected to mention that when they had talked to him.
Reading the original report, he went to talk to the coroner who said somewhat annoyed that he had no idea how he had missed the evidence that the FBI had found.
"Are you sure that it wasn't planted?" he asked urgently.
"For what reason? To set up a dead woman?" Looking over at his entering boss,, he said "Mac, we went over this already. I know you are trying to keep from writing me up, but I must have missed this."
The former Marine nodded then escorted his guest upstairs saying, "What are you getting at and how are you involved with this case?"
Looking at Mac, he saw the man didn't seem as set in his beliefs as the other man and said. "My daughter freely admits going to James' house to kill him, but said he was dead when she got there. Trust me, the one thing I am sure of, if Georgie had done this, she would not been caught, nor used suicide as a cover."
Leaning against his desk and getting Stella to come in he asked why he believed that.
"Georgie is smart, I mean really smart. She worked as a candy striper in a hospital for years and has a very complete knowledge of medicine and how it works. Her stepfather is the police commissioner in the town where she grew up and she has more than a working knowledge of police procedure. When you add that she also is well aware how the mob works thanks to a loose connection to Jason Morgan, it just doesn't fit."
Seeing their eyebrows raise at the mention of Morgan he added, "She is also friendly with John Zachara, heir to the Zachara organization until Corinthos absorbed it into his."
"Okay, I get what you are saying and it explains the FBI interest but do you think they are setting her up to turn on Morgan and Zachara?" asked Stella. They had seen worse abuses of power but if the James case had been tampered with it was their lab's reputation on the line.
"No, I think they are setting my daughter up to be killed. From what Georgie told us, the FBI leaked the information that got these girls found. All of them that escaped have been hunted down except the woman in charge and four girls. Those four are the ones that my daughter helped hide. She is the one remaining link that can expose who was really behind this ring."
"I thought that was Lansing and James?" asked Mac.
"They had a boss, Georgie was sure on that; a senior partner. Scorpio's office was bugged with FBI equipment." Hearing his phone ring, Frisco excused himself while Stella and Mac Taylor talked quietly.
"Is he protecting his daughter?" she asked.
"No, there has always been something off about this case right from the beginning." Seeing Frisco entering, Mac said are you okay?
"I need you to ask you something. Are you Mac Taylor?"
Getting a nod, Frisco said "Mac Scorpio and I meet with two detectives, one claiming to be you in the 29th precinct." He said while he called Mac back quickly after getting a text.
Telling him the news, Mac said he was outside the garage. "Someone set fire to the place, not enough to destroy it, but enough to get our attention. We don't think they know where Georgie is but Morgan's man thinks they are pushing for a reason."
"The hunted to the hunter." Said the spy as he hung up. Looking at the two scientists, he said "I need to get access to your secret camera's in the stations."
Shocked he was aware of the Internal Affairs cameras; Mac made a call then gave him the code to access them.
Calling his other daughter, Frisco asked to speak to Spinelli then had Mac sent the electronic code. "Get on this and find the two men that Mac and I were talking to."
A little while later, Spinelli sent the images to Frisco and Mac. "Sir, I recognize that man. He was there the day that I gave Agent Raynor the files."
Counting to ten, Frisco called John Zachara and told him what he had found out.
Looking over at a sleeping Georgie, he said thanks for letting me know. I think we need to talk.
"Where?" he asked. Johnny woke up Georgie and got an idea of where to meet.
"Do you remember where you celebrated your honeymoon? Meet us there." He said.
Georgie and Johnny went to the old Donnelly penthouse. The irony of it belonging to the late mob boss Sonny Corinthos made Johnny wish that Jason was still in town instead of Italy with his wife.
Breaking in, he sat down on the sofa and tried to sort things out. Once Mac had arrived with Maxie who wasn't supposed to be there and Spinelli who was, he had to threaten the kid to get the quiet he needed to think things through.
Georgie saw for the footage from the station; with a soft gasp that had Johnny pulling her into his arms, she said "The taller man with the dark hair, he was one of the team that broke into the compound. He didn't attack the girls; he disappeared while the other men did but he then returned a couple of hours later. He ordered the men to finish up and to kill the girls reminding them not to leave anyone alive."
Sitting quietly, Maxie had to strain closer when she heard her sister whisper, "He was the one who has been hunting down the girls. He had a duffle bag when he left."
"Georgie, are you sure?" asked her father, the man had looked familiar to him when they met, and he had a hunch as to why and it wasn't good news.
Looking at Mac, Georgie said flatly "Do you really think I would forget a single face of the men who did that. Even if he didn't rape anyone, he didn't stop it."
"I need to get out of here." She said to Johnny who suggested she wait next door at Jason's place. Taking out the key to Morgan's old penthouse, he asked if she wanted company or to be alone.
"Alone, for now." She said with a slight smile. "Thanks, Johnny."
Now that Georgie had left, Mac informed the gangster that his garage had been set on fire. Johnny already knew, his men had told him the first floor was destroyed, the second was waterlogged but that they were removing all his personal belongings like he had ordered.
"Do you know who did it?" Asked Mac not really expecting an honest answer.
"This is the work of that Aussie." He replied. "He has been hanging around recently and I am waiting for confirmation, but I think I know what is off about him. I just hope I am wrong."
"This had nothing to do with the other. Max is bringing him to the station even as we speak. You might want to isolate him."
Since Luke was on his way, Mac decided to find out why Johnny wanted the man here along with all the others he had asked while the younger man went back to viewing the tapes trying to figure things out.
When Spencer arrived, he was not happy to be ordered to sit down and be quiet then Cassadine himself along with Alexis Davis arrived, furious to be told the same thing. When Frisco arrived, he took the elevator up with Kate Howard and Diane Miller.
Kate was not happy, when she had started to talk and when Johnny took a marker and started to write on the wall, she protested his destroying it in a tone that clearly showed her anger.
Lulu stomped in followed by her mother and Carly, Michael and Jax only to be told to be quiet for once in her life. Snapping her jaw she glared at the man while Michael had quickly pulled her into a chair.
"Thanks, I actually think I have pieced this together. Let's start with Spencer there. Years ago, you took on the Cassadines, you won but they have been trying to kill you every since."
"That is old news." The silver haired man snapped.
"Actually it's current events. There was the kidnapping of your wife. Then Nik was born. She came home and soon after had your son Lucky. A few years later, Lulu was born. Last year Ethan showed up and said he was your son."
"Why are we reviewing old news?" asked Luke as he yawned.
"Because your mess is why this town has been dealing with the various deaths, kidnappings and shootings in the last few years. Nik was made weak by the death of his fiancée; then the appearance of her doppelganger who was sleeping with this Ethan. Lucky was allowed to terrorize Elizabeth Webber. Finally he was revved up until he tried to kill her losing his own life in the process. Ms Spencer, I know this is going to sound strange but is it possible he isn't the son you gave birth to?"
You could hear a pin drop then complete chaos as Nik looked stunned while Luke was restrained by Mac and Frsico. Lulu stared at her ex-boyfriend and said "How dare you ask my mother that?"
Laura stood then leaned against the wall, pale and shaking.
Luke was angry but kept control as Laura reminded him of how easy it had been to rescue Lucky. "What if he isn't our Lucky? Mac, could you please…."
Alexis and Mac quietly made the call then Johnny said "Compare the sample against any and all DNA tests done here at GH. I have a suspicion as to who he really is. Now onto what they did next, I think that Trevor made plans for Lulu, but they got screwed up with Logan's death."
"What about me?" Snapped the blond as she glared at her ex-boyfriend.
"Your life, someone has been pulling your strings for a while." He said with a grimace. "From the beginning, our relationship was pushed and pulled by Trevor Lansing."
"He didn't do that." She snapped.
"There are things I figured out late last night. Trevor liked to control me and he used you to do it but really the question I should have been asking is why you?" He said.
"Ethan came out of nowhere, made himself the perfect son for Luke Spencer. Why?"
"He didn't make himself into anything, he is my son." Said Luke even as Mac ordered a DNA test to be done on Ethan.
"I would bet on his not being Ethan at all." Said Johnny. He got the feeling Georgie knew it but was keeping quiet to screw with Lulu. What she didn't realize was that Lulu was going to be learning something much worse before leaving here today. "I also don't think his affair with Rebecca was an accident either. I think it is the result of why he came here."
"Fine but what does that have to do with anything?" asked Nik wanting to know why he was here.
"Lucky went over the edge, he had become a liability years ago. Helena wanted to screw with the Spencers and think about it. Luke's son became a cop? Did the old Lucky have it in him to hurt people? From what I learned he was a bit thoughtless and arrogant, but those are Spencer traits, part of their DNA so to speak. I think Helena's interest in Ethan is more than a little coincidental."
Seeing that he had their attention, he said, "Lets move to Bensonhurst; shall we Miss Falconari or rather Miss Howard. Olivia and you were both involved with Sonny. You head to New Jersey to attend college; she gets pregnant and has Dante."
"A few years later, Sonny is working for Frank Smith who is out for Spencer's blood. You Miss Howard are working your way up the corporate ladder and dating Trevor, who knows your past. He has his own connection to Sonny, looking back do you really think that was a coincidence?"
"I get that Trevor used me. Why am I here?" she asked. "I thought this was about finding Warren James' killer?"
"I am getting to that. Now we move to Miss Davis. You were told it was a boy then that he died then a file continently turned up in Trevor Lansing's possession that showed you had a girl, correct?"
"Yes, Sam." She said wincing, her memory still fresh from the shooting at GH where Sonny had died, as well as Elizabeth's car accident.
"No, see that is what had me confused at first. The file never actually mentioned Sam McCall. That came from the nuns that Morgan talked to; but I have a question for you. If your father was so ashamed, why would they use your real name on the intake papers?."
Realizing he was right, Alexis looked at him puzzled as to what he was getting at. "See, I did some research, stuff that Mr. Spinelli over there might have found if he had ever bothered to realize there was more to life than computers. What I found was interesting. "
"Like what?" snapped Luke annoyed with the know it all.
"Simply put, she was asking a lot of questions that winter in regards to Elizabeth Webber and Jason's past relationship. Ms. Jacks, I believe you can confirm that one."
Michael looked up with a guilty expression and after seeing his mother nod yes; said "This was when Courtney was pregnant wasn't it?"
Seeing everyone looking at him, he flushed then said "It might all be my fault that all of this happened."
Standing he walked over to the stairs and sat down then rubbed his face with his hands before saying. "A few years ago, Aunt Courtney told Sam the one she really had to worry about was Elizabeth. That she was the reason her marriage ended."
Jax looked at his stepson who stood and walked over to the mantle when Michael did the same. "Whatever it was, this wasn't your fault."
"I told Sam that she was a fool, that eventually Uncle Jason would leave her, that she wouldn't be part of his life for long, that he had taken her in as a favor and got complacent. She was smug and said I was wrong. I said that Uncle Jason didn't love her like she loved him. That she was simply a bed warmer for Uncle Jason just like Aunt Courtney and like she had been for my dad. Then I said that Uncle Jason saw her as a way to keep from falling for a real woman with a heart. That I knew because I had overheard my dad and Uncle Jason talking."
Seeing him looking even worse, Carly knew what she would have said and winced before asking what then. "I told her that Mom-" glaring at his mother, Michael continued "- that Mom and Courtney were right. That Uncle Jason loved Elizabeth and always wood. I guess I should mention I have always sort of had a crush on her and it sort of made it more believable.
Michael continued saying. "I had seen Mom hurt people using words, and it was weird but in that moment, there was something in Sam's eyes that made me want to hurt her. I also knew there was truth in what I was saying, I just didn't worry about what Sam would do. I am going to have to apologize to Uncle Jason and Elizabeth. Alexis, I am sorry for my part in this."
Jax gripped his shoulder, knowing that hugging the teenager would only make him put his walls back up, but he truly was proud of his for realizing his part in the mess. It was a sigh he was maturing.
Johnny continued on, saying that what Michael had just said fit in with what else he had learned. "Sam knew she was adopted long before she came here, she found out while still in school. One of my men talked to a teacher that knew her before she dropped out. The only thing I don't get is why Alexis?"
There was silence in the room that was broken by Georgie entering. Setting her cup of tea down, she sighed and gave Spinelli back the earphone and said "Because, if you want to make someone feel guilt, what a better way. Alexis, I think this was about hurting you for Kristina living and her baby dying. As well as her brother's death. I don't like her, never did but I do truly think that her brother was the only person Sam ever gave unconditional love to."
"She lied about her parentage to hurt me?"
"It's just a theory. But for all we know, she never knew she wasn't your daughter. If that is the case, it does mean that we are looking at the wrong motive. So who else would want to hurt you by making you think Sam was your daughter?"
Carly looked up and said suddenly. "Lorenzo Alcazar. Think about the timing."
There were groans as several in the room realized that the answer fit everything that had happened. "Either way, Alexis was distracted…, Mac, can you find out if this Alcazar had any connections to Milan or to Warren James."
"I can answer that." Said Kate. "He did. When he lived it Europe, he had dinner with Warren and me once. Why?"
"I doubt he was running the ring but my guess is that they had used his ships, that was why they scrambled when needing a way to transport Georgie. But his son had to come from somewhere and he was claiming to have killed Emily and the nanny as well as Georgie. Why do that if he didn't actually kill her, why tell Elizabeth he had?"
"Because he still blamed me for Sage's death, for rejecting him romantically, Maxie for sending him to jail, who knows." Said Georgie sitting down next to him. "Johnny, what is all of this about? Why all these questions?"
"I have a couple of theories, but I also have an idea who James and Trevor were working with here in Port Charles."
"Who?" asked Frisco.
Looking at Kate, he said "At first I thought it was Miss Howard here, but I eliminated her when I found out her secret about the magazine. I then went the police station, where I overheard a very interesting conversation between Rebecca Shaw and Andrea Garrett"
"The Mayor's wife, why would she be involved?" Asked Alexis, the woman was a cream puff who spent very little time in Port Charles.
"Because she is as dirty as they come and though it is well hidden her families money isn't lily white."
Mac felt his phone vibrating and answered it, then sat there stunned. Turning to Laura, he said "We need to talk. Frisco, could you take Maxie and Spinelli back to my house and stay with them. Spinelli if your fingers go tip-toeing through police or hospital records, I will have them broken, do you understand me?"
Looking at his younger daughter, he knew asking her to leave would be get him nowhere, so as soon as he had cleared out the others leaving only the Spencers, Jacks, and Nik, he sat down and said "Laura, we have a copy of Ethan's DNA test, there is no easy way to tell you this. Nor do I have any idea of how this happened, but Ethan… Ethan… Ethan is Lucky."
"NNOOOO!" Shouted Lulu, looking at Mac she said "Your are lying, you know you are. Or this is a sick plot from that bitch of a daughter of yours."
Walking over to Georgie she went to slap her, only to have her wrist grabbed and bent backward as Georgie stood and said "Get a grip on yourself."
Seeing the expression on their faces, Mac said "I had them take the tests to Mercy, County, the state police as well as GH and our own lab. Told them to put a rush but preliminary DNA came back at Mercy and our lab. They compared the samples to ones they had on record for Lulu, Nik, Luke and you. There is no doubt."
Carly saw that Lulu was sitting on the ground, rocking back and forth. Moving over, she tried to hold the girl, knowing she was having a breakdown. Laura and Luke didn't know whether to be happy about Lucky or worried about his sister. That went straight to worry when Nik turned pale and said "This is worse than her having a crush on Ethan."
Georgie felt sick, she had enjoyed Lulu's pain when she had thought Ethan hadn't really been Holly and Luke's kid, but even she felt horrible for the blond. This was terrible and thought at least the girl could be grateful she did nothing more than flirt with him.
As the Spencer's left, Mac reminded them that Ethan was going nowhere while Laura was realizing they were going to have to tell Elizabeth what was going on. Johnny heard her and as soon as they left, called Jason.
"Morgan." He heard the sleepy voice saying.
"Sorry, I know that it is late, but there where a few developments I have to tell you about." Explaining, Johnny let in the three guards and Bernie before hanging up the phone. "Jason and Elizabeth won't be returning from Italy until the end of the month, but I want everything you can find on this kid. Also, I don't give a damn who he is, I am pressing charges for his attempt at burning down my garage."
Mac explained about Lucky and garage fires and John looked at the police commissioner and said "I don't give a damn. The only reason Georgie and I weren't there talking was she felt claustrophobic."
Agreeing, Mac went to talk to Harper and got the rest of the day's information before calling Sean and asking him to do some discreet checking into the Mayor's wife. Hanging up when he heard footsteps, he saw the Mayor entering with Agent Raynor who had a fake look of sympathy on his face. "Mac, we are going to have to arrest your daughter for the murder of Warren James. She was supposed to turn herself in for questioning but failed to do so."
"That was on my advice." Said Diane sailing into the room with a blue folded set of papers. "This is a restraining order, you may not question my client or arrest her until an independent team of auditors from the Justice Department arrives. You are also not allowed within fifty feet of my client or to harass her in any way."
Hearing mutterings of mob lawyer and corrupt, Diane said "I also talked to the Governor on my way in and he is appointing an independent commission to look into your mistresses death. Sir."
Mac hid his smile as the two men in a state of outrage stormed from the room. "That is only a temporary measure until we figure out who is leaking information to them."
"I got a call from Carly Jack. She told me what happened after we left. I also talked to Elizabeth and Jason. They are staying in Italy a little while longer. While if it is true, Elizabeth is happy for the Spencers, she isn't going to be involved."
Georgie and Johnny were exhausted; the day had been rather long and confusing. Between the emotional upheavals, the fire at the garage and the fact that the more answers they got the also created more questions all they wanted was sleep.
Amused to realize they didn't even think before changing and crawling into Georgie nice soft cocoon of a bed, she said as their head hit the pillows. "I think part of the reason I have been fighting the emotions between us so much, is how easy this feels. How natural. I haven't felt normal in a very long time and in spite of the firestorm around us, you are my center. My home."
With a smile he lifted his head and kissed her gently then added out loud for the first time. "Same for me. I love you."
With a soft answering smile, she took a leap of faith and after kissing him again, moved back so that he could still feel her breath on his lips and said "I love you too."
Pulling her into his arms, Johnny laughed as the comforter slid exposing him to the cold air, "Some day we are going to have to figure out a way of keeping you cozy without my extremities freezing."
With a slight leer, Georgie said "I told you about the training I had, I know lots of ways of keeping … ahem… important extremities warm. You could even say hot."
Dead tired physically, Johnny groaned as he felt his body respond to what she was suggesting. "I seriously think you are trying to kill me."
Running her hands up his chest, keeping her hands on top of his t-shirt she leaned in and whispered. "No, I was thinking more along the lines of our future happiness. I mean I wouldn't leave you were a certain item to fall off but frankly, I can think of lots of fun we can have in the future if you still retain said item."
Johnny worried about triggering a memory for her, but still flipped them over until Georgie was pinned underneath him. Looking into her eyes, he saw nothing but enjoyment and love, bending down he kissed her senseless and then said "Now be a good girl and go to sleep. Once this mess if over, I have lots of plans for you and that particular item and frankly I intend to lock us in someplace for a couple of weeks. Only leaving the bedroom to eat and maybe shower once in a while."
"Shame about that." She said with a smile. Seeing his look of confusion, she said with a smile. "See one of the advantages of being smart, I can think of lots of creative ways of using the furniture and countertops, but if you want to stick with safety and a bed, you had better plan on keeping me from being bored."
"You really are trying to kill me." He said then laughed ruefully as he realized she had finally fallen asleep. Looking down at his waist, he sighed and said down boy before curling around her and falling a sleep himself.
TBC
"Why would she care about any of this?" asked Maxie while Diane looked shocked.