Chapter 5
Lulu Falconeri walked behind the counter at Kelly's and reached for the pot of coffee, pouring it into the ceramic mug, as her Dad's latest hire waited tables. She shook her head as she recalled their earlier conversation by phone and his idea to sell the diner and have it renamed. This place had been Kelly's for as long as she could remember, it's namesake Rose Kelly the step-mother of her Aunt Bobbie's one-time boyfriend, Detective Joe Kelly. Aunt Ruby had taken over when Rose was killed in a mob hit and Lulu's Aunt Bobbie and her Dad had taken over after Aunt Ruby passed. The diner had always been in the Spencer family and Lulu couldn't imagine anyone else running it, or changing the name. Just the other day, Jake's-the bar where Lulu had first met Dante and where they had their first dance-changed it's name. The Floating Rib.
And now, Kelly's?
Lulu hated it. She couldn't imagine what the new owner would call it, or how she could possibly pass by it each day without recalling all of the memories made here.
How could her Dad do this? What was he thinking?
Kelly's was a Spencer hang-out. She got her coffee here and Oh God, it's famous cheese fries.
What if the new owner changed EVERYTHING. Where was she supposed to go?
Lulu walked toward a nearby table she had claimed earlier, a notepad and pen sitting atop it, her small clutch bag along side them, as her husband walked through the door.
"Hey, baby," he acknowledged, welcoming her with a warm embrace and a soft kiss upon her lips.
Lulu smiled, a rush of feelings sweeping through her and a grin spreading upon her face, as she recalled their long night.
"Good Morning," Lulu told him, brushing a wavy lock of dark hair from his forehead with one hand, while the other held her steaming coffee.
"It is, isn't it," Dante grinned, one hand stroking her bare arm, as the other reached for her coffee, bringing it to his lips. He sipped the liquid, loving the dark, rich flavor, as it exploded on his tongue.
"Mm," he responded, handing back the coffee to Lulu, who took a sip and cringed, "Good Morning, baby."
The coffee needed sugar. Lots of sugar, she thought, as Dante pulled out a chair and she took a seat.
"What do you have planned for today?" Dante asked her, sitting in the chair opposite of hers and taking one hand in his. His thumb brushed the soft skin atop her hand, as he held it.
"Spinelli and I are meeting at Wyndemere," Lulu answered, using her free hand to pour a generous amount of sugar into her coffee cup. She took a sip, a smile spreading across her face.
"Lulu?" Dante questioned, his tone switching to Detective, as his thumb stopped mid-stroke.
"Honey, it's not what you think. Alexis is meeting us," Lulu informed him, as Dante released a sigh of relief, "We're not committing any crimes." Yet, Lulu grinned.
Being married to a Spencer had given Dante his fair share of gray hairs in the last few months, as he juggled with his fear of Lulu's impulsive side and her recent desire to work with Spinelli on cases. He loved that Lulu had found something to be passionate about, an unbridled need, her joy transferring to their bedroom, too. Mac had caught him just earlier, yawning, as he was going over a case file.
"Didn't you get any sleep last night?" Mac had asked, as Dante had responded, "A little."
"Look, Dante, if it's this case-"
"It's not, Mac," Dante had answered his concerned police commissioner, a slight grin upon Dante's face, as a certain blond-haired angel appeared to him, "I think I'll head over to Kelly's and grab a coffee. You want one?"
"Sure. A cup of Kelly's coffee beats the crap we have here," Mac noted, directing his gaze to the container of cheap off-brand sludge that filled the coffee pot,"Bring me back one of Bobbie's cinnamon rolls, too."
"Dante, what a nice surprise," Lulu's Aunt Bobbie exclaimed, interrupting his thoughts of Lulu, a bottle of whipped cream and a bowl of strawberries from dessert last night, causing his cheeks to stain with pink.
"Aunt Bobbie," Dante greeted her affectionately, rising from his seat, to hug her warmly, "How are you?"
"I'm well. I've missed you," she answered the both of them, setting a plate of heaping pancakes, covered in melting butter pats in the center of the table and placing a bottle of syrup beside it, "You're part of the Spencer family now, Dante. We need to see more of each other."
"I agree," Dante grinned, stabbing a fork into the pancakes and taking a bite, his mind on a naked Lulu dripping in syrup.
"Are you really going to let Dad sell this place?" Lulu asked her Aunt, as the smile fell from Bobbie's face.
"Luke thinks it would be best," Aunt Bobbie answered, as one hand brushed an invisible crumb from the table, her eyes drifting around the diner, "Maybe he's right. If these walls could talk-"
"I'd hate to see this place go," Dante replied, his own nostalgic memory surfacing, "I spent a lot of time wooing Lulu in this place."
"Stalking," Lulu corrected, with a mischievous smile.
"You enjoyed every second of it," Dante reminded her, recalling the numerous occasions they'd sparred with words, some resulting in a few heated exchanges against a wall upstairs, one instance landing them upon his bed.
"I love this place," Lulu's Aunt Bobbie affirmed, "I fell in love here."
"Aunt Bobbie had a thing for a detective, too," Lulu beamed.
"You hush, Lesley Lu," Aunt Bobbie replied, sternly, shaking her finger.
"What? It's true," Lulu stated, her impish grin, hiding something.
"A cop? Do I know him?" Dante asked, regretting the question, as he saw the smile fall from Lulu's Aunt Bobbie's face.
"You going back to the station? I'll get one of my cinnamon rolls for Mac," Bobbie told him, turning away and wiping the tear that fell upon her face.
"Did I say something?" Dante asked Lulu, concerned.
"It was Detective Joe Kelly," Lulu shared, a sad expression on her face, "I never met him, but my Aunt Ruby said that he could light up a room. My Aunt Bobbie was head over heels for him."
"What happened?" Dante questioned, reaching for Lulu's hand, his gesture comforting.
"He died. I don't remember when, or how. Dad said Aunt Bobbie was never the same."
"I know that look, Lulu," Dante chastised, seeing the fear that passed across her features, "I'm never leaving you, baby. So, get used to a lot more sleepless nights."
"Promise," Lulu responded, as he lifted her hand, turning it and pressing a wet kiss in the center of her palm.
"Promise," he repeated, rubber-stamping his declaration on her skin.
Nikos Gianakos stepped inside the MetroCourt, his eyes taking in his surroundings. It was no Katikies, but then again this wasn't Santorini and the view outside these windows was not going to be of the calming blue waters of the Aegean. It was in a word-
"Absurd!" Carly shouted, disconnecting her call and slamming her phone into her purse, "Pompous ass. Who the hell does he think he is?" she continued, cutting a path in front of Nikos and barreling toward a hotel worker near the door. Nikos swept her tirade aside and walked toward the front desk.
"I'd like your best suite," Nikos told the front desk attendant, "Whatever that best is," he commented, turning toward the devil's woman spewing every expletive ever created.
"Absolutely. Your name, sir?" the desk attendant asked, as Nikos turned toward her, "Gianakos. Nikos Gianakos," he told her.
"I'll need a photo id and credit card," the attendant continued, her eyes nervously darting to the blond woman who was pacing back and forth and gesturing with agitation.
Nikos handed her his passport and pulled out a large wad of bills, "How much?"
"I'll need to check with the hotel manager," she informed him, as he turned toward the blond woman, who was now moving toward him.
"Audrey, if Mr. Corrinthos comes looking for me, you don't know where I am. Understood? What are looking at?" Carly grilled, tossing an envelope on the counter, her eyes flashing with fire.
"I'm finding myself thankful that I'm not your Mr. Corrinthos," Nikos answered, with a grin.
"He's not MY Mr. Corrinthos," Carly replied, with a smirk.
"Mrs. Jax, Mr. Gianakos requested our best suite," Audrey, the desk attendant told her, with apprehension.
"Really?" Carly noted, sizing him up from head to toe, "What brings you to Port Charles? Business?" Carly asked, as a hotel employee stopped by the desk and placed a form atop her envelope, waiting for her to sign.
"Does that matter?" Nikos inquired, as she signed the invoice, "I like to keep a certain anonymity when I travel. No credit cards."
"In my understanding, someone that pays a large sum in cash is either running from trouble, or straight toward it," Carly replied, baiting him, "Which are you?"
"Simply a man in need of a bed, Mrs Jax."
"Well, isn't it your lucky day," Carly informed him, taking the cash from his hand and handing it to the desk attendant, "Audrey give him Mr. Jax's suite. He has no more use for it."
"Mr. Jax?" Nikos asked, intrigued, "Isn't that?"
"My husband. I'm Carly," she introduced herself, holding out her hand, "Mr. Jax is my soon-to-be ex."
"And Mr. Corrinthos?" Nikos questioned.
"My other ex-husband," Carly informed him, with a lift of her eyebrow.
"And you call me trouble," Nikos grinned, "Carly. A pleasure," Nikos glossed, lifting her hand, and brushing his lips atop it.
"Audrey, make sure Mr. Gianakos has a bottle of our best," she smiled, turning her back on him and walking away, "Port Charles is a small town, Mr. Gianakos. Whether it's business," she said, turning around, "or pleasure. I'll hear about it."
"I look forward to it," Nikos fired back, a sly grin upon his face. He loved a bit of sport and Mrs. Jax might just be the sort of trouble he was looking for.
"Edmond will lead you to your room, Mr. Gianakos," Audrey communicated, directing him to the young man behind him, holding his bags.
"My thanks," Nikos answered her, accepting the electronic key card and following the young man toward a private elevator.
This MetroCourt might be more like Katikies than he thought, he acknowledged, grinning. His thoughts taking him back to a Greek goddess that had warmed his bed.
It was just too bad this trip was business, and not pleasure, he noted, recalling the map within his bag and the reason he'd arrived in Port Charles. He placed his hand in his pocket, the photograph touching his skin. His eyes grew narrow, his lips thin. His pulse raced. The blond woman that had walked out those doors was the very devil's trouble. But, the young girl in that photo, she was the kind of trouble that stuck with a boy, following him into manhood and causing him many restless nights.
"If you're here, my Tasha?" Nikos said aloud, softly, "I'll find you. You can't escape me this time."
"Why don't you come to the office with me? You could study there," Alexis suggested, rubbing her fingers against Molly's cheeks, smudging the blush her daughter had applied moments earlier.
"Mom, I told you," Molly reminded her, reaching for her book bag and lifting it atop her shoulder, "I'm meeting a few friends at the library."
"The library," Alexis noted, tapping Molly's nose, "Yes, Mom," Molly replied, with irritation.
"Which friends?" Alexis inquired, as Molly darted down the stairs, and out the front door, "I have to go, Mom. Love you."
"Molly?" Alexis yelled, rushing down the stairs and heading toward the front door, "I want you back by six. No later," she ordered, to Molly's now retreating back, bicycling away.
Alexis released a sigh, shook her head and closed the door.
"Coffee. I desperately need coffee," she voiced aloud, heading toward the kitchen. The phone rang and she stopped mid-stride moving toward her cell phone atop the coffee table, grasping it, before heading back toward the kitchen.
"This is Alexis," she answered, waiting, as the caller on the other end remained silent. She disconnected the call, placing the phone atop the counter and reaching for a travel mug from the cupboard, pouring the freshly brewed coffee into it. She took a sip, letting the caffeine seep into her every pore, as the phone rang once again.
"This is Alexis. Hello?" she answered again, with irritation, as there was continued silence, "Who is this?" she demanded, peering down at the caller id.
Unknown.
The line dropped once again and Alexis stared at the phone, frustration marring her forehead.
Directing her attention to the coffee maker, she pressed the power button and turned off the device, reaching for her bag from the kitchen table and heading back toward the counter for her coffee. She had just reached for her cell phone when it rang once again.
"Look, you little shit. I'm an attorney-"
"Alexis?" she heard on the other end, "Is everything all right?"
"Mac. Sorry. Prank calls," she noted, reaching for her keys and shutting the door behind her, locking it.
"I'll be there. Ten minutes," Alexis told him, unlocking her car and taking a seat, "Not a single word, Mac. Not until I get there. I'm aware it's Sonny. I don't care, duck tape him."
"Do you have any idea the grief you cause me?" Alexis informed Sonny, dropping her briefcase atop the metal table and closing the interrogation room door, "What did yo do this time?"
"Unpaid parking tickets," Sonny replied, as Alexis placed both her hands on the table and leaned toward him, "Do you think this is a joke? Do you enjoy watching the veins in my forehead explode?"
"Did you call Dante?" Sonny asked his lawyer, pulling on the handcuffs that encased his wrists, locking him to the table.
"Your son, the DETECTIVE," Alexis said, enunciating, "is the last person you should be speaking with, Sonny."
She paced back and forth, holding one hand to her forehead, and rubbing a spot near her hairline.
"What were you thinking, Sonny? Threatening Johnny in public? Tell me you didn't do anything stupid."
"I didn't do anything stupid," Sonny grinned, as Alexis glared back at him, "Relax, Alexis. They got nothing on me. Johnny's just-"
"Missing, Sonny, and that's not even the best part," Alexis informed him, leaning against the wall, "His blood was found at the scene."
"I didn't do anything, Alexis," Sonny shouted.
"There is a witness that saw you leaving his apartment, Sonny."
"The witness is lying," Sonny informed her, loudly.
"Then how did it get there," Alexis yelled back, "And where the hell is Johnny Zacchara!"
"I don't know," Sonny replied, in frustration, "I'm telling you, Alexis. I'm being set up. I'm innocent."
"I've heard that one before," Dante interrupted, closing the door as silently as he had opened it, "What did my father do this time?"
"Explain to me what we are doing down here?" Lulu asked Molly and Spinelli, feeling the cool mist of the water, brushing against her skin, as they moved further within the catacombs beneath Wyndemere. She had nearly turned tail and headed back to the mainland when she had realized Alexis was not going to be joining them. Angry at Spinelli for misleading Dante.
"Looking for clues," Spinelli replied, dressed in a plaid coat, a hat atop his head and a magnifying glass in one hand.
"Clues to what?" Lulu inquired, squinting, as she tried to keep them in her sight and cursing as she bumped into a wall.
"The book claims that the Cassidine's buried a secret down here," Molly shared, a flashlight in her grasp, as she moved toward the lighted opening toward their left, "something so dark, that they referred to it as the Raksha."
"Raksha?" Lulu asked, as Molly turned toward her and whispered, "Demon."
"Oh joy," Lulu replied, following them. She was heading into a cave, black as night, following a man who was dressed as Sherlock Holmes and a young girl who thought fantasizing and reading about demons and things that go bump in the night was romantic.
What the hell was wrong with her?
"I should have taken that job as a dog walker," Lulu admitted softly, placing one foot in front of the other, and praying to whatever God was listening to make her cell phone work.
No service.