Chapter 9:
Somebody Told Me…Family Matters
That was the first thing I ever learned. Family is the most important thing in the world. You protect your family, you fight for your family and you are always there for your family. You had to do for your family, not say, do! Talk is cheap, as my brother used to say. With our family history, it was a necessity to rely on each other because at the end of the day, that's all we had. Mom and Dad learned that the hard way.
GH Hallway:
"Do you think we did right by our children? I mean the promises we made to protect them and give them a life, a childhood, different from ours."
"I don't know…I can't tell anymore. All the money and power in the world and my son hates me, my daughter is in the hospital, my son is on his way to the mob and I don't see the other one at all."
"There is still time."
"Is there?"
"Of course! There is. Kristina will wake up."
"They are good kids." Sonny contemplated, thinking of earlier today. "How did we get so lucky? I don't deserve them."
"Enough with the self pity, Sonny. They are good children especially today…around Kristina. Sam and Dante stepped up. Michael was there for Molly and Morgan. They are yours and mine and if you don't feel you deserve them, then do something about it. You are a good father, so start acting like one. I remember a time when nothing stopped Sonny Corinthos from getting what he wanted." With that dose of reality, Alexis left Sonny in the hallway and sat by Kristina.
"There was a time when I didn't get what I wanted, Alexis, what I needed the most…" Sonny whispered.
The Lakehouse:
"Morgan & Michael in the guest room, Dante in the other guest room, Molly in her room and I in my room. How does that sound?" Sam asked all those gathered in Alexis' living room. They had gone to collect Michael and Morgan's things for the night and Dante had joined them later.
"I don't want to sleep alone. Can I sleep with you, Sam, please?" Molly pleaded.
"But you always sleep alone," Sam replied. She had plans tonight and needed Molly to sleep in her own bed.
"I know, but just for tonight." Molly begged and Sam gave in.
"What about dinner? I am starving. Where are the takeout menus?" Michael asked, knowing full well that that was the specialty in the Davis household.
"I want pizza."
"Chinese!"
"Pizza, no mushrooms or anchovies."
"Whatever"
"Kelly's"
Michael ordered a bit of everything with plenty of leftovers. Dinner was a somber affair, everyone feeling the absence of Kristina and the exhaustion of the day. They all turned in early except Sam and Dante, who had a few plans of their own.
They were sitting across the dinner table talking strategy and exchanging information about Kristina. Alexis was happy for the time being to leave this to the PCPD while Sonny and his people were coming up with nothing, which left Dante and Sam.
"I was to meet Spinelli later. He said he had some info, but I told him to come here instead." Sam started.
"The PCPD isn't doing much. I hate to say it, but they are looking at this as just another domestic abuse case, but if that was the case why would the whole family just disappear off the face of the Earth." Dante replied.
"And you can't just disappear into thin air, there is always a trail. Believe me, I know. We are missing something."
"Could Sonny or Alexis be the target? What better way to get to them, then through their children?"
"So, what about Molly, Michael, Morgan or us for that matter?"
"I don't know."
"Greetings Fair Samantha & The Duplicitous Detective" Spinelli entered with a smile for Samantha and a dirty look for Dante, which was promptly ignored.
"What have you got, Spinelli?" inquired Dante, trying to be civil.
"How is Kristina?"
"The same, did you get anything?" Sam asked impatiently.
"Well, not a lot. There isn't a lot of information out on the Bauers and I have tried everything. He is a businessman of some sort, family business with lots of money and connections. He married money also. His wife Melinda comes from old money and they have son, Keifer."
"That's it!" Dante asked incredulously.
"Spinelli, that can't be it." Sam asked, equally surprised.
"I know, I have tried everything and that's all there is. All of his information is virtually erased and I can't seem to hack it. But, Warren Bauer's name has come up with something called TPTB. I did some research and it is an elite and mysterious organization with ties to mobs, corporations, the government and other shady organizations. Not much is known about them."
"I have never heard of them" Sam offered.
"Probably not, they are highly convoluted…it is hard to tell who is in or out, but they do have big backers." Dante clarified.
"Warren Bauer could be a part of it; that would explain how all information about him is non-existent. How he has disappeared off the face of the Earth" Spinelli added.
"So, what we do?" Sam asked
"I have a friend in the WSB. I'll call her later, she might know something."
"How about you call her now?" Sam suggested impatiently.
Dante flipped out his phone and made the call.
"Hey Gianna, Dante here, bad time?"
"Nah. Just a sec." Dante could hear people yelling in the background, traffic, rustling, doors closing, just chaos, typical Gianna.
"I'm back. Falconerri! What's up? Haven't heard from you in a while?"
"Where are you?"
"You know better than that Falconerri! It's classified. What can I do for you?"
"I need some info on Warren Bauer and TPTB."
"TPTB, that's serious stuff…there isn't a lot of information on them."
"I know that's your standard line, Gianna, this is important. Please, it's for my sister."
"Sister!" There was some muttering and then silence.
"You okay, Gianna?"
"Yeah…uhm…I'm fine. Since when do you have sister?"
"A lot has changed in the last couple of months. It's been good, bad and mostly crazy. Besides that's personal. I thought you said no personal stuff between us. If you insist, I'll have to fill you in some time soon…maybe dinner?"
"Is that a date, Falconerri? You know the rules."
"One day soon…You can't keep saying no"
"I wouldn't count on it"
"We'll see. So what about the information? Warren Bauer & TPTB"
"I'll see what I can do. I'll need some time."
"No problem, just hurry, my family depends on it."
"Hang in there, Dante. It will all work out."
"Thanks Gianna. I hope so. Take care wherever you are. Don't forget our date." Dante replied, hanging up leaving Gianna wondering, "What date? Dante! You there?"