Part 23
- Hartford Critical Care and Clinic - Dr. Scoville's Office -
Ric hand one hand to his left ear as he struggled to hear the phone he held up his right. "What? What did you say?" He swore under his breath. "You just listen to me, dammit. You'll have that room ready when we get there... yes... Locks... the best you have... and it will be ready be when we get there... or you'll pay for this, Felix. I've got too much on you for you to screw me on this."
He shut the phone off and turned around trying to see out of the small window on the door. The alarm had been going off for about a minute and he wasn't worried about it. His men would let him know if there was danger. They'd call him.
Still, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. He wanted to check on Elizabeth.. the noise would frighten her.
When he swung the door open he stopped short. The man standing just outside had a rather unnerving smile on his face.
"Hello, Mr. Lansing."
- Hartford Critical Care and Clinic - Side Door -
Ewen swung the door open and turned back to Elizabeth. "Alright... let's get you inside."
The cool evening air had a strange effect on her... the wind bracing against her skin roused her from her stupor. "Ric?" She blinked at the unfamiliar street lights and looked around the parking lot. "This isn't General Hospital."
Blowing out a breath he shakes his head. "No, Elizabeth. This isn't General Hospital. We need to go and get you somewhere safe."
"Safe... safe..." she sighed, "my studio..." she looked up with a hopeful spark in her eyes. "We could go to my studio."
Ewen didn't know what she was talking about. "That's the first place people would look," he guessed. "Remember what Ric said to you..." Reaching down he picked her up out of the wheelchair and set her into the passenger seat.
Elizabeth sat quietly in the seat, her mind pondering Ewen's prompt. "Ric said... Ric said," she looked up as Ewen sat down in the driver's seat, "Ric said Sonny wants our baby dead." Tears sprung up in her eyes as looked around the parking lot. "I bet it's Carly... or Faith... or... why can't they just leave us alone?"
Ewen fumbled with the car keys as he tried to get it in the ignition. He wasn't used to lying to good people and playing with Elizabeth Webber's mind made him feel dirty. Dirty, sick, and disgusting. He looked at her and took a breath to steel his nerves. At least with Ric, Ewen knew he could convince Ric to let him come with them and help Elizabeth. With Craig in the mix, Ewen swallowed, his throat suddenly dry and pained, with Craig... there were no guarantees. He had to get Elizabeth somewhere and figure out if Jason, the one Elizabeth would call out for in her sleep, was someone they could trust.
- Hartford Critical Care and Clinic - Dr. Scoville's Office -
Ric tried to lean forward and look outside toward Elizabeth's room.
Catching the movement, Craig smiled. "Don't worry about our dear Queen Elizabeth, Mr. Lansing. She's just fine... for now." He nodded at Ric, telling him to back up into the office.
Unsure of the options he had beside compliance. He backed into the room, his eyes watching Craig every second. "I should really be with Elizabeth."
Craig's expression spoke volumes. "Yes, so you say." He tilted his head to the side. "That's why you did all of this... for Elizabeth."
"Yes," Ric seized the opportunity to capitalize on anything he thought might buy him some time, "I wanted her safe... to have her with people that love her." He shook his head. "She's been getting closer to Jason Morgan since her husband started taking pills. Jason Morgan of all people!" Ric held his hands out in an entreaty. "Brain-dead hired gun... what was she doing with a man like that. At least Lucky was a policeman... You don't understand! I had to get her away from all of them until she could see things clearly... I love her."
There was a shrewdness in Craig eyes. "I heard your worry when we talked on the phone, but I never knew you'd take her and run." Craig moved closer until he nearly towered over Ric. "You left me to twist, Mr. Lansing. In my experience... that means you never had any intent to follow through on our deal. And I don't take kindly to traitors, Mr. Lansing. I-"
"No... no... that's not what happened." Ric put his hands between them and tried to ward Craig off. "I got Elizabeth in the car and she was in so much pain... then the man you sent with her... he was gunned down in the doorway. I thought.. I thought..."
Craig's gaze turned cold and hard in a heartbeat. "You thought I was dead... you hoped I was dead."
The truth was plain in Ric's eyes.
The truth was a cruel thing... for Ric.
Craig lifted up his hands, pushing Ric's aside and closed them around Ric's throat. "That's not a good enough answer, Mr. Lansing."
Ric had no way to speak anymore... his throat was nearly closed.
Leaning in to Ric's ear he laughed. "You're out of this game, Lansing... you're out. Just think about this as you're losing air... once you're gone... I may have to see what it is about Elizabeth that's so special."
The wild look of pain in Ric's eyes dimmed a few moments later.
- Hartford Critical Care and Clinic - Front Entrance -
Jason maneuvered his SUV around the emergency vehicles and parked somewhere short of the front door. He climbed out and grabbed a hold of the first staffer he could. "Excuse me."
"I'm sorry, I don't have time to-"
"Please," he begged her, "I'm looking for a woman... she was brought here over a week ago... preeclamp-"
"Preeclampsia?" The nurse stopped short. "The one with guards at her door?"
Jason felt his stomach twist inside of him. "Yes... where is she?"
She gave him a blank look. "She's in Room 213. But, with the fire alarms, they may have moved her somewhere-"
Jason was already running through the crowd headed for the front doors.
- Hartford Critical Care and Clinic - Side Door -
Craig looked around the parking lot and picked out a Mercedes in the parking lot. A moment of effort and he was inside, and fixing the wiring he started the engine. He took the car to the exit and looked first in one direction... and then in the other. His mind whirled with different ideas... wondering. "Alright, Ewen... you can run... you can try... but I'll find you." On a whim he caught sight of the sign leading back toward Port Charles. "I bet you're taking her back home... aren't you?"
- Hartford Critical Care and Clinic - Room 213 -
Jason stared at the empty bed, the leads hanging down from the machine and beeps echoing off the wall. He lifted the pillow and took in a deep breath. His eyes closed as he remembered her scent. "Elizabeth." Taking his phone out of his pocket, he dialed Spinelli. "Security cameras, Spinelli... you know the drill." He took another breath, drawing her scent in. "Make it fast. Please."