AN: This is the last chapter I will be posting here. This story will be continued at The Canvas and at my new site. They won't let me post the address here, but it is available in my profile. Thanks for reading!

Audentis fortuna iuvat - Virgil
Fortune favors the brave

I.III

Elizabeth stepped into the coffee shop and did a quick scan of the place. The space was brightly lit and modern looking with a few silver metal table and chair sets surrounding the barista's bar. She noticed Max standing in the shadows, trying to be inconspicuous, while guarding the entrance to Sonny's office. There weren't many people milling around, only one couple at the table to her right and another customer in line.

She strolled up to the counter and pretending to read the menu, allowed the customer that had entered behind her to go ahead and order. Continuing to waste time, she hemmed and hawed before deciding upon tea. Once her order was filled, she walked over to the prep bar where she added milk and sugar, slowly stirring the concoction as her eyes moved back to the hallway leading to the private office for the tenth time since entering.

Her trance was broken when Spinelli came barreling into the shop, his foot catching on the threshold, causing him to trip and knock over an empty chair. All eyes were on him as he created quite a racket trying to right the seat. Once it was back on all fours, he straightened quickly, yanking his messenger bag back into place and smoothing his hair across his forehead.

Happy for the distraction, Elizabeth slightly chuckled to herself as she watched Spinelli hobble over to Max before speaking.

"Hello, Protector of the Night, the Jackal is requesting an audience with Mr. Corinthos Sir. I have news of the most egregious in nature," the computer whiz said excitedly.

The large Italian eyed him before speaking. "Have a seat Spinelli, he's in with Diane."

Looking dejected, Spinelli spun around awkwardly, moped to an empty table, dropped into a chair and leaned over to dig through his bag.

Elizabeth put her tea to her mouth and passed by Spinelli unnoticed, stepping in front of Max. She offered the guard a large smile. "Hi, Max." She lowered her voice, "I need to talk to Sonny and Diane. It's important…about Jason's case."

Max returned her smile. "Sure Miss We- I mean Mrs. Spencer, go on in."

She placed her small hand on his large forearm, touching him gently. "Please call me Elizabeth."

"Ok, Elizabeth," the bodyguard smiled again.

Rounding the corner leading to Sonny's office, Elizabeth could hear his voice booming through the dark narrow corridor. Reaching the door, she found it ajar and paused at what she heard.

"Diane, that bastard marched in here and fucking played it for me," the mob boss bellowed. "I wanted to wipe the floor with his smug face."

"Sonny, what exactly was on the recording?" Diane asked pointedly.

"A voice - sounding a lot like Alcazar's - saying 'Morgan', two muffled shots and a thud," he reported grimly.

Although his report was very similar to what Elizabeth had already heard from Carly, something was different about the information coming from Sonny's mouth; the source was much more reliable. Elizabeth felt her blood run cold.

"Ouch," the lawyer responded.

"What can we do?" Sonny inquired.

There was silence. Elizabeth strained her ears. She felt uncomfortable eavesdropping, but knew it was the only way she was going to get any of this information as she was not part of their inner circle. In fact, Sonny had readily shared his displeasure that Elizabeth had asked Jason to give up his rights to Jake. And even though the truth was out, she knew Sonny still didn't trust her with Jason. She honestly couldn't blame him.

"Issue number one, is that a tape recording was [inot[/i listed in discovery and it's not being stored in the evidence room at the PCPD. Which likely means the idiot is keeping it in his office. I am not sure how the D.A. plans to circumvent withholding evidence from the defense, but he must have some sort of half cocked plan in place since he had the balls to bring it here and play it for you. Therefore, my goal will be to get the judge to rule it inadmissible, because if a jury hears that…" she trailed off.

Elizabeth's hand shot to her chest as she backed away from the door, she had heard all she needed to. Retracing her steps, she moved back down the hall in a trance. Stopping just short of entering the coffee house, she looked at the back of Spinelli's head as he picked away at his computer. Her wheels churning, she failed to hear Max say her name and ask if she was okay.

Walking up to the hacker in a thought produced daze; she placed her hand on his shoulder. He startled and turned to look at her.

"Oh, Maternal One…the Jackal did not hear you approach." Spinelli's forehead creased as he considered her, "Are you okay? You look a little peaked. Big Daddy Stone Cold would-"

Reanimating, Elizabeth's gaze adjusted, looking at the boy instead of through him. "We need to talk," she interjected. "Can we go to the penthouse?"

The stunned look on his face did nothing to stop Spinelli from gathering his things, loading his bag and following Elizabeth out the door.

Elizabeth didn't speak during their ride to the penthouse. She was too busy plotting. Carly had been right, she thought as she frowned at the bad taste in her mouth, something had to be done. Just not something that included that hurricane of a woman.

There was damaging evidence against Jason, and Ric was going to try to force Elizabeth to testify against him. Force her to imply that the father of her son received an order to place a hit in her presence. She hadn't heard a word of the conversation, but she knew Ric well enough to know that he would twist her words in an instant to suit his needs. The cards were stacked against Jason and she needed to think fast.

Diane was a good lawyer. Sonny trusted her. Jason trusted her. She had proven herself to them time and again. But to Elizabeth, the margins looked too narrow and she refused to leave Jason's future up to chance. Not for Jake, not for her, and especially not for Jason.

Spinelli filled the silence in the car by yammering on about how outstanding it was that the Innocent One was Stone Cold's progeny, no offense to the Departed One (the man formerly known as the Deceived One). He tagged on some quick assertion about the Departed One's AWOL status and how disconcerting it must be for all involved.

Using the Blonde One as a segue, his rambling included something about the Crabby Commando, the Bad Blonde One and the Loyal Little Sister. Then the boy wrapped up with a rant about Evil Al and the DA of Darkness. If the Maternal One had even tried to follow along, she would have likely developed a splitting headache.

Once they entered the penthouse however, she was ready to talk.

Elizabeth rounded on Spinelli, silencing him with a look. "I need your help," she stated seriously.

"The Jackal is at your service Mother of Little Stone Cold," he responded with a slight bow.

"Spinelli," she paused, "Jason trusts you. I know you have done some work for him and Sonny, right?"

"Why yes, Stone Cold and the Godfather have placed their faith in the Jackal on many an occasion," he responded with a proud smile and a swipe of his hair.

Elizabeth worried her bottom lip as she contemplated her next move. "Okay," she said firmly. "I can't just sit by and hope Diane is successful in getting Jason acquitted. Jake needs his father and I would do anything for my family. They need me to be strong for them and this is my chance," she nodded, the conviction in her tone as much for herself as for him.

Spinelli's head bounced as well, mimicking Elizabeth's; although it was apparent he had no idea what she was talking about.

Her indigo blue eyes locked with his and the computer hacker fidgeted under her gaze. "I need you to promise me you will never tell anyone what I am about to ask of you. Not even Jason," she stressed. "He will hate that I am going to try to help him and I'll be more than happy to take the brunt of his anger once he's a free man," she paused. "I won't tell him you were involved."

Rolling his body to escape her stare, Spinelli moved across the room. He paced in front of the fireplace, muttering to himself. Turning sharply, he bounced on the balls of his feet. "Fair Elizabeth, Stone Cold has a way of knowing when the Grasshopper hacks into his mainframe. The Master's stare burrows right here," he stated as he pointed at a spot on his forehead right between his eyes. "And while I may be the Assassin of the Internet, I do not possess the specialized skill set - I am…I am the Daniel-San to his Mr. Miyagi. I'm transparent. I'm glass," he rambled nervously. "The Jackal caves under his penetrating gaze. Perhaps saving Stone Cold from the Dastardly D.A. should be left up to the Godfather and the Mob Lawyer."

"Ric has fairly convincing evidence that Jason killed Alcazar. Carly told me about it and when I went to see Sonny, I overheard him and Diane talking about how damaging it could be to Jason's case. Ric also plans to have me testify against Jason at his trial," her voice wavered. "I understand that I am asking a lot of you, but I promise I'll handle Jason. I just – I just can't sit back and hope he doesn't go to prison. I have to help him. He would do the same for me," she confessed as a tear escaped her lid. Elizabeth quickly wiped her cheek. "I can't do this with out you, Spinelli," she implored.

The hacker's eyes turned soft and puppy dog-like as he listened to Elizabeth's impassioned plea. They looked at each other in silence for a moment before Spinelli started fidgeting and moving around the room.

"Okay!" he announced, pulling his computer from his bag. "The Jackal is at your service. What type of conspiracy does Fair Elizabeth have in mind?"

Pleased she had locked in the required technical support, a wide grin broke out across Elizabeth's face as a distinct sense of anxiety pooled in her stomach at the idea that this little harebrained coup of hers was actually being put into motion.

Coward my ass.