Ch.1
"Damn it!" Sam yelled, hurrying down the stairs in her two bedroom apartment on a bright and sunny Saturday morning. She overslept once again because of a late night stakeout as a licensed PI just the night before. She completely forgot that she was supposed to meet Lucky, her boyfriend of one year, at Kelly's for breakfast. She was already forty-five minutes late. This was the fifth time she has been late to meet Lucky and if she had overslept this morning, it would have been the eighth time she was a no-show. Why he still wanted to be around her was a question she asked herself everyday because she clearly sucked at relationships. "Where did I put my keys?" she asked herself, running into the kitchen and opening the fridge door to find her keys right there on the top shelf. Sam rolled her eyes, annoyed that she always managed to find her keys in the weirdest places. Going through her phone, she read through two text messages and two missed calls from Lucky. It wasn't her fault she didn't know he called. Her phone was silent so she had no idea he was calling. Just then, someone knocked on the door three times. "Coming!" she yelled, hurrying over to the door. The knocks continued. "I said I'm coming!" she opened the door and was surprised to find Lucky Spencer, standing in her doorway. "Lucky."
"Good morning." He greeted with a sexy grin, dimples revealing in both cheeks.
"It is now." Sam responded pulling him into a kiss and leading him into her living room. They fell to the couch, lips locked, until Sam pulled away. "Sorry I didn't show up again. I was about to leave to meet you."
He pushed her hair behind her ears. "Don't worry about it. I know you stayed up late working last night."
"Yeah, Crystal Montgomery is not going to be happy that her husband is cheating with her brother, that's for sure." Sam muttered.
Lucky winced. "That's definitely not good news."
Sam chuckled, grabbing his hands and looking into his eyes. "Yeah, definitely not... Anyways, if you're here to argue because I stood you up once again, then I am going to save us both the drama by saying… "
"Hey," Lucky said, hushing her up by kissing her on the lips.
Sam was caught off guard by the kiss and pulled back.
"Not that I don't appreciate that, but where did that come from?"
Lucky sat up straight. "I did that to shut you up." Before Sam could say anything else, he continued with his reasoning. "Let's try not to fight about this once again. The point is I had a feeling you were here and I figured I'd cook for you."
Sam arched her eyebrow. "Really?"
He nodded.
"I appreciate that, I really do." She began. As nice as she thought that was for him to come over to her apartment just to cook breakfast for her, she knew not to get her hopes up considering she barely owned groceries. "You see, I never cook, per se. So there is a lack of food in my refrigerator. I normally just order takeout."
He laughed at that one. It's been a year since they've been together and for all the time he has gotten to know Sam, he has never seen Sam cook before. Whenever they ate together, it was takeout. Lucky cooked on occasions, but that was when they had time to relax after working endless shifts at the PCPD or Sam's McCall and Jackal P.I. Agency. "Takeout, it is." Lucky said, pulling Sam closer to his chest, ultimately going in for the kiss. Sam responded, tugging on his shirt and leading him up the stairs, their lips barely separating.
xoxoxoxoxo
"You don't think Kate is going to fire me when she finds out George Clooney didn't show up to his photo shoot, right?" Maxie Jones asked Lulu Spencer. They were at Kelly's grabbing a bite to eat during their lunch break from Crimson. "I mean she's not that heartless."
Lulu shook her head. "No, I doubt shed fire you."
"You're right." Maxie agreed. "She would never fire me. She'd probably fire you."
Lulu rolled her eyes. "Okay, Kate is not going to fire me or you. She has got to understand that George has a busy schedule and something came up. Maybe his flight got delayed or his girlfriend is sick or something. I don't know." She took a sip of her milkshake.
Maxie sighed in disbelief. Kate Howard was the famous editor-in-chief for the high fashion magazine, Crimson. Being one of the 100 most powerful women in America, let alone the most demanding woman she has ever met, Maxie highly doubted Kate would be reasonable where this photo shoot was concerned. Before she could argue with Lulu on her lame reasoning, Spinelli walked in, claiming a seat right in between his two dearest friends.
"Greetings Maximista and The Blonde One." Spinelli greeted, sliding his laptop out of his laptop bag and placing it on the table. "For what might you two be talking about before The Jackal arrived upon the scene?"
"Kate fired us." Maxie blurted out.
Lulu threw her hands up in retaliation. "She hasn't fired us, Maxie."
"Yet." Maxie said sleekly.
Lulu ignored her comment and took another sip of her milkshake.
Maxie, satisfied that she got the last word in, turned her attention to Spinelli who was concentrating on his laptop. "Are you working, again?"
"The jackal must make sure that there are no more missions to attain to before taking the time off to enjoy his spare times with his most cared for companions."
"You're talking about me, right?" Maxie asked, with a smile on her face.
Lulu shook her head, clearly annoyed. "Maxie, let Spinelli work."
Maxie disregarded her and slammed Spinelli's laptop shut. Spinelli looked at Maxie with surprise, but she continued on. "Well you can't blame me for trying to get your attention. I barely get to see you anymore because you're always working. I mean I miss you, Spinelli."
Spinelli forgot about everything he was worried about moments earlier once those four words left Maxie's mouth. "You…what?"
Lulu watched with amusement. Maxie clearly didn't understand the impact she had on him.
Maxie shrugged. "I said I miss you. I mean you're my best friend, Spinelli. You make me feel like a better person and like I can do anything. And when I have boyfriend issues, I know I can talk to you about it because I know I don't have to worry about ever sleeping with you because we don't feel that way with one another."
Spinelli's smile of hope fell and Lulu couldn't help but giggle.
"Oh…I see." Spinelli said, finally.
Maxie arose from her seat. "I'll be right back. I want to get me another non-fat latte to go." She walked away.
Spinelli banged his head against the table. "Why must the Jackal have to endure the constant agonizing pain of being subjected to the just friend's category?"
Lulu brushed her long blonde bangs out of her eyes. "Spinelli, it's Maxie we're talking about. She's hard to please. And she knows you're a good guy, but with her, she just prefers…" she was struggling to find the right words to make him understand.
"The rebellious ones?" Spinelli asked. His eyes wandered over to where Maxie was standing.
Lulu nodded, satisfied Spinelli understood where she was going with her explanation. "Yeah. Exactly."
"Like the brooding Mob Prince." Spinelli said under his breath, more to himself than to Lulu.
"What?" she asked confused before following his gaze and spotted Maxie and Johnny Zacharra conversing at the counter. Lulu and Johnny broke up last year after their two year relationship went down the drain when Lulu found out he and Maxie had a short-term fling behind her back. Long story short, she forgave Maxie, the both of them re-asserting their best friend roles as if nothing happened, and she and Johnny were barely on speaking terms.
She has moved on since then, now dating Dante Falcineri, the cop and ironically the son of Port Charles most notorious Mob Boss, Sonny Corinthos. Sonny was notorious for a reason…he never got caught. Dante, never knowing Sonny to be his father until recently, has made it his mission to do right by the law, even if it meant turning in his father to the big house. Just like Dante, Johnny's father, Anthony Zacharra was another notorious Mob Boss. Unlike Dante, Johnny wanted in, Dante wanted to remain out. Even though Lulu was in love with Johnny, their love couldn't withstand his un-honesty which is why she and Dante have been going strong. He remained truthful with her to the fullest. Dante was living proof that the good guy could get the girl.
"Hey, Spinelli, look at me." Lulu ordered, forcing Spinelli to make eye contact with her. "I was like Maxie, as far as always going after the bad boys. And yeah, they can be mysterious and dangerous and that draws girls to them like magnets…" Spinelli rolled his eyes, making Lulu realize she was saying the wrong thing once again. "But the whole badboy routine gets old. When I was with Johnny, it just got tiring trying to get Johnny to open up to me. And after we broke up, I met Dante, and it was a completely new breath of fresh air. For once in my life, I am falling for the good guy. So what I'm saying is if Dante can get a badboy junkie like me to fall for him, what makes you think you can't get Maxie?"
Spinelli smiled. "Fair Lulu, you never fail to amaze me with your perpetual knowledge. Dante is one very lucky guy and I hope he knows that."
Lulu nodded. "He better."
xoxoxoxoxo
"Pizza should be here for lunch pretty soon." Sam said, as she and lucky walked hand in hand down the stairs.
Lucky went to the fridge to grab a soda as Sam made herself comfortable on the couch. He looked back at her, brown eyes fixated on the brunette. "I'm surprised you're still hungry after what just went on upstairs." He joked.
Sam grinned; surprised he was attempting to be funny. "Hey, that was a workout."
Lucky sat next to Sam, opening his can of Pepsi and taking a sip. "That's what you call it?"
Sam playfully punched him. "I'm not laughing."
Lucky laughed, getting ready to go in for another kiss before his phone went off. He answered it swiftly. "Lucky Spencer?" His smile was instantly replaced with a frown. Sam noticed his sudden mood change and wandered what could possibly make his mood go from humorous to serious within fifteen seconds. "Okay, I'm on my way." He clicked off and practically jumped off the couch as if his life depended on it.
"What? What's wrong?" Sam asked, hopping to her feet.
"There's been another murder." Lucky began. He started to put on his leather jacket.
Sam froze. If Lucky would have said there was a mob shooting, Sam wouldn't have been so shocked. Every time Port Charles, New York was featured on the TV news, the same subject came to the forefront: Mob-related storylines. Screw the fact that Mayor Floyd was re-elected Mayor. Forget that Port Charles's very own General Hospital was ranked number 1 among teaching hospitals. As long as PC's very own kingpin, Sonny Corinthos and his mob enforcer, Jason Morgan were on the streets breaking the law and getting away with it, Port Charles was rarely known for any of its major accomplishments.
Now it was a different story, entirely. Port Charles wasn't just known for being taken over by the mob, but it was becoming known for one other thing… a killer. For the past three months, a sadistic killer has been roaming the streets of Port Charles, murdering innocent people in cold blood. So far, only seven people have been killed: five females and one male over the three-month period. Lucky, who was a cop, has been working endless hours with the PCPD to locate the killer with no such luck. The residents of Port Charles have been in panic mode, worrying who will be next on the murderer's radar? Some going so far as to pack up their things and move out of Port Charles, altogether. Since the were no suspects as to who the killer could possible be, the media began to call the killer the PC Killer, some even calling it the PCK (Port Charles Killer) or TMK (Text Message Killer) considering it sometimes messaged its victim before killing them. Port Charles made Chicago, Illinois seemed like a safe haven in comparison.
Sam was finally able to process the sudden news. "Wait, who died?"
Lucky shrugged. "As of now, we don't know. Her body has just been located and she has been taken over to forensics to be processed for testing."
"Her?" Sam couldn't help asking.
Lucky nodded, confirming her question. "Yeah, they have a guess as to whole she could be, but want to wait until forensics come up to identify the body and figure out what the murder weapon was. Anyways, I have to go to the crime scene."
Sam bit her bottom lip, realizing she wanted to come along as well. "Wait a second. Let me get my jacket so I can come with you." She started to head toward the stairs, but Lucky caught onto her arm, forcing her to turn around facing him. "What?"
"You're not coming." Lucky stated.
"You want to repeat that again, Lucky?" Sam asked, yanking her arm from his grip. She hated it when people tried to tell her what to do. She lived practically her whole life without rules and authority; she wasn't going to follow orders now.
Lucky shook his head. "We're not going to fight about this again, Sam. You turned PI and you suddenly think you can play superhero. Who cares if you almost get yourself killed in the process, as long you get involved in a major investigation, right?"
Sam crossed her arms against her chest. She knew he was right on some level as far as her being a danger junkie went. Growing up, her dad taught her to follow in his footsteps as a con artist. They never stayed in one place too long because they basically were in danger twenty-four/seven. She practically had to rely on her instincts, her looks, and her strength to get out of danger-prone situations. Fast forward to the present, she settled in Port Charles, spending time with her newly-found District Attorney, mother, Alexis Davis and the younger sisters she didn't know she had, Kristina and Molly. While Sam was grateful she had a place to finally call home, she missed the thrill of the chase. The aching feeling of never knowing what was going to happen next still went on with her so she decided to channel that hunger for danger by becoming a PI. Now she used those methods she learned as a kid to survive as a con artist to solve plenty of cases.
"I'm good at what I do, Lucky! Compared to the PCPD who can't even take down the mob, I think I got what it takes." She shot back smartly.
Lucky shoved his hands in his pockets. "All I'm saying is Mac is going to arrest you foreal this time, if you get in the way of this investigation. He gave you too many chances because of me and your mom."
Sam rolled her eyes. Mac was the head commissioner of the Port Charles Police Department. He was Lucky's boss, not to mention the boyfriend of Sam's mom.
Lucky took Sam's hesitation as a sign that she was giving in. He gently brushed Sam's dark brown hair out of her face, pushing it behind her ear. "Now promise me that you aren't going to go anywhere near the crime scene."
Sam's eyebrow arched. "What?"
"As a matter of fact, promise me you won't try to get involved in this investigation on your own?"
Sam looked away, pissed as hell that Lucky was being unreasonable. "Fine. I won't go investigate on my own. I promise."
Lucky sighed in relief. "I'm just looking out for you, even if you don't see it." He then quickly kissed Sam on lips as he opened the door, nearly running into the pizza delivery guy. "Sorry." Lucky apologized before racing off.
The pizza guy looked at Sam, puzzled. "Pizza for Sam McCall?" he asked.
Sam sighed impatiently, grabbing a 20 out of her pocket and practically shoving it to the pizza guy. "Keep the change." She slammed the door in his face, realizing she didn't get her pizza. Recognizing the pizza guy was still standing outside her door, she opened it again, snatching the pizza box from his hands, and slammed the door in his face once more. She stomped into the kitchen, placing the pizza box onto the table when she spotted her cell phone right beside her.
Snatching her cell up, she began dialing Spinelli's number in less than 10 seconds as she took a bite out of her pepperoni pizza. She waited as the phone rang a couple times before Spinelli finally answered. "Spinelli, I'm guessing you heard about the murder?... Good. Then you should already know what I'm thinking… Meet me in 15 minutes." With that she hung up and hurried upstairs with her bitten slice of pizza in her hand.