Chapter 5

Elm Street Pier

"Where in the hell did he go so fast?" Maxie snapped, glaring at Spinelli as she paced back and forth on the docks, her eyes sweeping around the area.

He shrugged half-heartedly, not wanting to upset Maxie any more than she already was, mostly because he was afraid of what she was going to do next.

When he made it to the edge of town and found her standing barefoot, her overpriced heels in her hand, she'd hopped right into his car and started berating Milo, who was just doing his job. Not that Spinelli was going to tell her that. Instead he listened to her go on and on about his cheap suits and love for Disney radio and Miley Cyrus. He had no idea who this Miley person was, but Maxie continuously called her a tramp, so he assumed it was some woman the guard had picked up from Jake's.

On the ride back to town, they'd somehow ended up two cars behind Jason at a red light and Maxie had insisted they follow him because she had a thing or two to tell him about his employees. Spinelli tried to remind her about the ball, but she pointed out that it wouldn't be much different than the benefit for Emily. They'd have to sit with stupid Lulu and her overly hot boyfriend, while Kate stroked Sonny's ego, and she'd rather find out who Jason was sleeping with.

How in the world his best friend had gotten so obsessed with his boss he would never know. Unless…No. Maxie would never take to a man like Jason. He was brooding and bossy, two qualities she absolutely detested – hence, her strong liking of Spinelli. And there was also the fact that he was a terrible dresser – her words, not his – and Jason would never let Maxie dress him.

"Fair Maximista, the Jackal feels it isn't safe to be on the docks after dark, and perhaps-"

"Don't you want to know who that damn man is sleeping with?" she interrupted, her hands on her hips. "I don't like secrets, and I sure as hell don't like when the people in my life have them."

"Well, you're more in the Jackal's life than Stone Cold's, and need I remind you what kind of secrets lie within his world?" he asked, knowing there was no way he could convince her otherwise.

"This is a sex secret, and they are the best and worst possible kind," she replied seriously, pausing her pacing as she tipped her head in his direction. "Or do you already know?" Her face hardened and she clenched her jaw. "Do you know who he's sleeping with? How dare you withhold information like this! If we're going to be a PI team you must-"

"The Jackal has no knowledge of Stone Cold's personal life," he cut in, shaking his head firmly. "And honestly, he doesn't wish to know who his friend takes to bed, nor does he understand why the Fair Maximista cares so much?"

"Because Jason is a man, and he thinks with his penis," she answered dramatically, rolling her eyes. "For example, don't you think it's dangerous for someone like Jason to sleep with Claudia Zacharra? Sure, she's his type, but the more I think about it, she could get him killed by that crazy father of hers."

"You would care if Stone Cold died?" he asked curiously, more concerned by Maxie's fear for Jason's life than anything else.

"Of course," she replied, giving him a blank look. "Spinelli, he's your best friend. If he dies, you'll be all sad, and I couldn't take that. Besides, who else is good enough to look after you when I'm not around? Jason can barely handle taking care of you for a few hours a day, and without him you'd just wither away to nothing, and I'd worry about you every second – even more than I already do."

Spinelli smiled softly, his heart tightening in his chest. "You worry about the Jackal?"

"Yes, silly. You're my best friend," she replied, walking over and placing her hands on his shoulders. He tried to hide his fallen face at her words, unable to help that he would always hope best friend would be replaced with something else like love of her life. "I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you."

She dropped her hands seconds later and looked around the docks. "Now where did that stupid man go?" she asked, shaking her head.

They'd not-so-subtly followed Jason to the docks, where he parked his bike in an alley. Spinelli was sure that he would recognize the car and they'd be caught, but thankfully Jason's phone rang as he slipped off the bike, and he was distracted.

As if on cue, they heard someone coming out of the alley at the top of the docks. Maxie flung herself at Spinelli and knocked him on the ground in her attempt for them to hide.

"Yeah, I understand," echoed Jason's voice off the brick walls. "No, it's okay. You get him taken care of, go to the ball, and I'll see you in a couple of hours. If I hadn't already returned my tux, I'd be on my way there now." He paused to laugh, and Maxie, who was still lying on top of Spinelli, looked at him in disbelief. "No, I don't keep them on hand. Yeah, just stop. Okay, I'll see you later. I love you."

Maxie's eyes widened and her face broke into a grin as she mouthed, I love you. It took him a second to realize she was repeating what Jason said and not confessing her devotions.

Spinelli was busy fighting to breathe as her elbow dug into his neck, not to mention the overwhelming fear that Jason might come down the stairs any minute and see them in what appeared to be a compromising position.

Oh, if only it really was.

Sliding her body off of his, Maxie craned her neck to look up at the top of the docks, before moving to her feet. "He's gone," she said, holding her hand out to Spinelli to help pull him up. He was so busy reveling in the softness of her palm that he barely caught onto what she was saying. "…I think it's all sorts of romantic."

"What?" he asked, dropping his gaze to his hand that was still in hers.

"Jason having some secret woman," she replied, squeezing his hand as she grinned. "He tries so hard to be this big tough guy, but he really does have a heart. It's a prime example of bad people needing to be loved. I understand that very much."

"Aw, but Fair Maximista, you are anything except a bad-"

"Really, Spinelli," she interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I know you think I'm wonderful, and usually I like to hear it, but we've got a ball to get to."

"The ball?" he asked, his head spinning as she tightly held his hand and pulled him towards the stairs.

"Yes," she replied, shaking her head at him for not understanding her logic. "Jason's little friend is going to be there, and if we're going by the PI books, it's time we rounded up our suspects."

Grand Ballroom, Metro Court Hotel

Since moving to Port Charles, Spinelli had been to more black tie affairs than he ever imagined he would. The shoes hurt his feet, the material itched his body, and he hated the tight collars around his neck. Not to mention that his day-to-day ineptness made such situations extremely nerve-racking and uncomfortable.

Normally, he would shy away from such parties, but with Maxie on his arm, he found the swagger and charm he never knew existed. She gave him a newfound sense of confidence, and aside from times when he became verbally challenged, she was capable of holding him together.

"The Fair Maximista looks quite stunning," he murmured, looking over at her as she gave him an appreciative smile.

"Thank you, Spinelli," she replied, squeezing his arm as they entered the ballroom just as one of the musical numbers ended. "It's the first dress I've managed to buy for myself since starting to work for Kate." She winked, nudging him with her elbow. "That means you can spill orange soda all over it, and I may not kill you."

She smoothed a hand over the front of the off-the-shoulder, navy blue gown that clung to her tightly, belling out just a bit at her ankles. The material shimmered beneath the lighting of the room, and Spinelli wondered if he'd ever love another woman this much.

"Gosh, Carly really did a great job," Maxie muttered in disbelief, grabbing a glass of champagne as one of the waiters passed them. "I still don't know how she convinced Nikolas and the rest of the staff to allow her to host the ball. It's such a break from tradition. I'm not sure what to think about it." She paused to take a sip from her flute, her eyes lighting up. "Do you think she's sleeping with Jason?"

"Never," he replied flatly, and she immediately nodded in agreement.

"I mean, been there, done that, and something tells me that after she's been with Sonny that's a no go, though it wouldn't be the first time that he's taken sloppy seconds," she said, tugging him in the direction of Kate's table.

"Sloppy seconds?" Spinelli asked confused. Clearly Maxie knew far more about Jason's love life than he did, and he was still trying to figure out how he felt about that.

"Yeah, AJ, his dead brother – Jason totally slept with and married AJ's wife, Courtney," she shrugged, taking another drink of her champagne. "Juicy, huh?"

"The Jackal didn't know Stone Cold was privy to sharing," Spinelli murmured, pulling out her chair.

"Something tells me if the roles were reversed, he would have definitely put AJ in his place," she sighed, flashing a wide smile as she sat down at the table. "I apologize for our tardiness, Kate. We had an issue on the way over."

"Not a problem at all Maxie," her boss replied, rolling her eyes when Sonny huffed beside her. Spinelli really had no idea why the man disliked him so much. Surely, he wasn't that jealous of his relationship with Stone Cold. "These events are all about making an entrance and in a dress like that, I'd say you've done well."

"Thank you," she said, all too pleased. Her smile faded as she glanced over at Lulu, who was sulking beside Johnny. "Aw, did you finally realize that your boyfriend would rather be anywhere but with you?"

"You're just jealous that I have someone who wants to be with me, and isn't around because he pities me," she replied, scooting her chair back as she got up from the table. "Come on, Johnny. Let's go dance."

Sighing, her boyfriend got up from the table and obediently followed. Maxie turned to Spinelli, taking a deep breath in preparation of a rant, something he'd learned to be a routine, but he stopped her.

"Fair Maximista, for one evening we should let the Blonde One go," he said hesitantly, not wanting her to think he was taking Lulu's side. "After all, we have a purpose."

"You're right," she replied gleefully, looking around the ballroom. "We just have to keep an eye out for any woman who leaves within the next…" She paused, pulling her cell phone from her purse to check the time. "Thirty minutes."

Hallway outside of the Grand Ballroom

"I know, Lucky," Sam murmured, her phone pressed to her ear as she paced the length of the hallway. "I hate that you were sick tonight too. Though I'm sure Elizabeth couldn't be happier that you caught whatever virus Cameron has. Yeah, I know I have to stop saying stuff like that. It just makes me so mad. She's here tonight, you know?"

Maxie leaned against the doorway of the ballroom, straining to hear the rest of Sam's phone call. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop on her friend's phone call, but seeing as she was supposed to be spying on anyone who may be sleeping with Jason, she couldn't play favorites. After all, Jason had plainly told whoever he was talking to take care of someone, a someone who was a male, and then to go to the ball, and he would see them later.

Was he seriously sleeping with Sam again?

Smirking, she couldn't help but think that Lucky deserved to be left behind, even if she was part of the reason their relationship continued for so long. But when she really thought about it, she almost felt bad because it would be the second time that Jason Morgan had stolen yet another one of his women.

Sam laughed, her lips curling into a smile. "I know. I can't wait until you're better too. Yeah, I'm going to stay at my mother's tonight since you're so afraid of me catching whatever you have. Okay, I'll call you later."

With that she closed her phone and dropped it into her clutch purse and headed towards the lobby – not the ballroom, leaving Maxie highly suspicious. Sighing, she glanced around for Spinelli who was nowhere in sight.

Damn that boy.

Oh well, she had a lead, and she supposed she'd have to follow it without him. This time she just wouldn't climb into any cars that weren't hers.

Grand Ballroom Bar, Metro Court Hotel

"I don't know why you put up with her, John," Claudia Zacharra murmured, twirling the olive from her martini around on its toothpick. She slid it into her mouth, sliding the olive off, and chewed intently. "She's just so stiff."

"I'm not listening to this," he muttered, taking a drink from his short glass of whiskey and glaring at his sister. "I hear enough of this from our father. Can't you just be happy that I'm happy?"

She arched an eyebrow and snickered softly as she pointed at him. "This is you happy? Wow, John. I must have missed the invite to the party. Or let me guess, things are different when you're alone right?"

"Maybe if you managed to find someone who loved you, you'd feel differently."

"Forgive me," she laughed, polishing off her martini as she grinned. "I forget that this is all about love. I find all I need at a bar with a few good drinks and an attractive man."

"I don't want to hear this," he scowled, tapping his fingers against the bar.

"Just take a word of advice from your dear sister," she said, sliding her arm around his shoulder. "It's a lot more fun when you get to kick them out of bed afterwards or leave them with the hotel tab." She paused, glancing at the diamond watch on her wrist. "That reminds me. I have somewhere to be in a few minutes."

Johnny rolled his eyes as Spinelli approached, doing his best to slide onto a bar stool without being noticed. Unfortunately his foot caught in the stool somehow, and he tumbled into Claudia, his hands gripping the fabric of her gown as he fell to the floor. When he heard the all too distinct sound of the material tearing, he curled into a ball on the floor.

"What the hell?" she cried, clutching the skirt of her dress as she turned around. "Are you okay?"

"The Jackal apologizes to Vixenella for ruining her designer-"

"Are you okay?" she repeated, rolling him over onto his back and cradling his face in between her hands. "Are you just drunk? Or do I need to get a medic?"

"I'm afraid that the Jackal is just prone to embarrassing himself," he murmured sadly, allowing her to pull him to his feet.

"Spinelli, right?" she asked, furrowing her brow as she tried to remember. "You're Jason's little friend."

"Uh, yes, I am Stone Cold's-"

"I thought so," she cut in, flashing him a flirty grin. "How is he doing? I haven't seen him since the benefit last week, and I figured that donating a hefty check in his sister's honor would get him to lighten up. He doesn't ever lighten up, does he?"

"Er, that is Stone Cold's day-to-day personality," he replied, squirming as she brushed her hands over his tuxedo to dust him off. She came all too close to a very specific region, and he stumbled backwards, falling against the bar. "The Jackal apologizes for the gown and will gladly replace it, but now he must go. You know where I live!"

He turned, hurrying away from the bar as Claudia cackled behind him, and he desperately searched for Maxie, unsure of whether or not he had just incriminated or freed the woman as a suspect.

Front Lobby, Metro Court Hotel

"Well, shit," Maxie fussed, having lost Sam by the time she got to the lobby. She'd hurried out to the parking lot and saw no sign of the woman, but her car was still in the lot, so she had to be in the building.

Unless…

"Marty!" she exclaimed, rushing over to the front desk. "I need a room number of someone I think is a guest."

"You think is a guest?" he asked, looking up from the computer.

"Well, I'm assuming she or he is here," she replied, setting her purse on the counter and digging through it. It was filled with the papers she'd taken from Jason's glove box because she'd hope to get a chance to show what she found to Spinelli. "You see, I have something really important that they both need."

"You have something that someone needs?" he asked in disbelief.

"Oh, stop. Yes, in fact, I'll show you…" She paused, digging through the pile of crap she'd just dumped onto the desk. "Yes, this!"

Marty's eyes went wide as he looked at her. "A condom?"

"Yes," she replied dumbly, rolling her eyes. "I'm well aware that you can get condoms in some of the men's bathrooms in this building, but they are Enduro, and those can't be trusted. They need this condom or else there might be tiny babies running around-"

"Maximistia!" Spinelli cried, stepping off the elevator.

She swore under her breath, loving that Spinelli had shown up, but strongly disliking his timing. "Can you just tell me if Sam McCall or Jason Morgan has a room here?" she hissed in a low voice. "The last thing she needs is to get knocked up by a mobster. I'm doing my friend a-"

"The Jackal has information that he must share," Spinelli interrupted, bracing one hand against the desk to hold himself up.

"What happened to you?" she asked, grimacing as she looked him over. His face was bright red and he was sweating more than he usually did when he was nervous. "Did you get into trouble upstairs? Spinelli, I left you alone for all of ten minutes."

"I've managed to collect evidence," he replied seriously, glancing at Marty from the corner of his eye.

"Me too," she said excitedly, slapping him on the arm. "Unfortunately I lost Sam before I got the chance to follow her – I mean, give her the condom she needed for sex." She paused, flashing Marty a flirty grin. "Are you going to tell me if they're here or not?"

"Stone Cold is not sleeping with the Once Fair Samantha," he replied seriously, but she just rolled her eyes and turned back to Marty.

"Well?" she asked, one hand on her hip.

"They aren't here," he replied, narrowing his eyes at her. "And if you tell anyone I gave you this information-"

"Oh, relax. Carly's not going to fire you," she interrupted. "You're one of the few people that puts up with incessant harping." Grabbing Spinelli's hand, she pulled him away from the desk and towards the front doors, determined to find Sam. "I overheard Sam on the phone, and she was talking about Lucky being sick, and then she just took off."

"Perhaps, the Once Fair Samantha wishes to take care of the Dishonorable Detective?"

"Fat chance," she replied, giving him a grin that reflected how totally awesome she thought she was. "On the phone, Jason told whoever he was talking to that they should just take care of him and he'd be waiting."

Spinelli's eyes lit up and he let out a gasp as she pushed open the doors leading to the front of the hotel. "The Jackal bumped into Vixenella at the bar, and she was speaking about how she enjoys kicking a man out of bed, and I would assume Stone Cold would feel the same way about her. But then she said she hadn't been in contact with Stone Cold since last week."

Maxie froze at the curb and looked over at him. "Contact as in seen? Or spoke?"

"Vixenella was curious as to how Stone Cold was doing, so perhaps…"

"Spinelli, you did so well!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and practically knocking him over.

"Well, the Jackal is honored, but what exactly-"

"You totally knocked one of our suspects off our list!" she squealed, grinning as she let go of him. She clapped her hands excitedly. "That means Jason isn't banging some dirty whore, but in fact, he's with someone good that he loves, which could still be Sam. The whole set up there strikes me as all kinds of ugly, but I could be wrong. Either way, if he's not bedding that insane woman, you're safe, and that makes me all kinds of happy."

Maxie quieted as the doors to the hotel opened and she grabbed Spinelli, pulling him behind a column as if they were going to be caught doing something wrong. It wasn't like they were, but being secretive just seemed like the way this had to be, even if the case was closed.

"I'm leaving the Metro Court now," Elizabeth murmured, walking past them as she made her way to the valet stand. Thankfully, she didn't notice them crouched in the shadow as she was far too engrossed in her phone call. "It would have been better had you been here, and I could have at least seen you. Yeah. Grams has the boys. Lucky is still sick from the virus that Cameron had, so she didn't mind keeping them."

Elizabeth paused, handing her ticket to the valet attendant and smiled faintly as he hurried off to get her car. Spinelli started to move, but Maxie elbowed him in the stomach and shot him a glare to let him know if he was the reason Elizabeth saw them, she would definitely hurt him.

"Oh, no. Cameron's feeling better now. I'm just relieved Jake didn't catch it. That would have been a mess. What? Oh, okay. That sounds good. A fire and hot choc-" She stopped, her head jerking in their direction when Spinelli suddenly sneezed.

Swearing, Maxie slammed him against the column, kissing him hard as she roamed her hands over his jacket. She did it long enough to leave him breathless before pulling away and giving Elizabeth a shocked looked.

"Oh gosh! I didn't even see you there!" she cried, holding a hand over her mouth. "I've told Spinelli about getting frisky in public. He just never seems to listen."

"I'll call you back," Elizabeth murmured, snapping her phone closed as she looked at them. "Waiting for your car too?"

Spinelli started to shake his head, but Maxie slipped her hand around his neck, giving his hair a tug and forcing him to nod.

"Just couldn't contain ourselves," she said happily, looping her arms through Spinelli's. "Young love and all that. You know what it's like, right?"

"I do," Elizabeth murmured, giving them a nostalgic smile as the attendant pulled up with her car. "You guys have a safe night."

"You too!" Maxie called out, turning to face Spinelli and poking him in the ribs. "Seriously, do you have any idea what she was about to say on that phone?"

"Is the Jackal supposed to know?" he asked sheepishly.

"She was talking about a fire and hot chocolate! I found a hot chocolate packet in Jason's car, and we both know that he's not drinking anything that delicious. He likes his coffee thick like oil, but that doesn't explain why someone is drinking hot chocolate in early summer. Or having a fire, but to each their own," she replied, stomping her foot and throwing up her hands. "So not only is Jason possibly sleeping with Sam, but he could be sleeping with Elizabeth, and considering their history, and how it all ties in together…This is way juicier than Jason sleeping with his sister's wife."

"I thought the Fair Maximista was giving up on the case now that we know Vixenella isn't a suspect."

"Oh, you silly boy," she said, her eyes sparkling with the possibilities. "This case is just getting started."