I'm starting to feel sorry for Lulu, I keep turning her into the Carly of old and I think it is going to get worse.
Switching Places
Chapter 75
Elizabeth was dressing Lia after her bath, waiting for Jason to return home. He had hated to leave them, but in the last week since they came home for the hospital he had done very little work, instead relying on Francis and Johnny. Seeing her little girl smiling up at her, she eased her hand over the soft downy tuffs of pale blond hair.
"You look so much like your daddy, yes you do." She said placing light kisses on her belly before snapping up her onesie. As she carefully carried Lia downstairs and placed her in the daybed, she could not wait to get started on the basics for painting she had sketched the night before while Jason and Lia had slept.
Picking up the remote she turned on the infrequently used television set in time for the news. "Today on Port Charles Morning we have Lucy Coe, one of the extraordinary women who are behind the newest list of Port Charles Eligible Bachelors. Ms. Coe what do you think about the huge wave of publicity generated this year. Do you think it is more than just Emily Quartermaine's campaign to get her fiancee voted most eligible?"
Elizabeth grinned, Emily had finally seen the billboard on Courtland, and her best friend had driven into a parked car when she saw what it said.
"Oh course, we have some fine men on this years list, a couple of young and upcoming doctors, several local business men and of course, there is the accent factor, Dr. Thornheart is Scottish, Jasper Jacks has that lovely Aussie accent going. Det. Taggert who will keep any woman feeling served and protected."
Elizabeth silently laughed at that one. Poor Taggert, she had called Lucy suggesting adding his name to the list, wanting to keep him busy and away from her husband, unfortunately it had backfired. The man was now being hunted by the single women of Port Charles like he hunted the criminals. He was vowing revenge after someone had put him up against Nik as most eligible.
"But what about the Prince Cassidine affect?" Pressed the reporter. "I mean the man's fiancee hired a billboard, using her best friend, Elizabeth Morgan to help jumpstart her campaign, even you have to admit that was a little bit unusual. Even more so when you add in the fact that Emily Quartermaine and Nicolas Cassidine are getting married this fall."
"Well, Sally, it is all for charity, the women donate five dollars for each vote. The money is spread between the various hospitals to care for patients without insurance. I'm sure that the two women just wanted to make sure we have enough money for the next year, we have already seen a large increase in voting over last year."
Jason sat through the trip to the Port Charles Police Department knowing his being here was only a formality. Taggert would not consider filing paperwork towards an indictment for any murder committed without at least accusing Jason of being behind it.
"Diane how much longer is this going to take?" He asked impatient to get home, if Lia stuck to her schedule she would already be up and bathed, but maybe he could make it in time for the late morning feeding.
"In a hurry Morgan?" Asked Taggert. "So you have no idea, why this man shanked Trevor Lansing in the shower after Lansing and his people faked paperwork to get your mother in law in to visit him."
"Like my client explained, we had no idea of a connection between Trevor and Carolyn."
"And you no nothing about the car accident she had while traveling to Colorado?"
"No, I thought you had her in custody for the confession." Answered Jason. "Have you talked to Lansing's people?"
Not wanting to admit that Lansing's man had disappeared into Canada, Taggert told Diane to get her client out of here. "Thank you detective, like always it's been an interesting morning. Next time how about you bring the coffee and donuts, I understand the Donut Connection gives the department a very nice discount." She said with a smile.
"Morgan, Miss Miller." Said Mac as they walked past. Turning to Taggert he asked "Why did you bring him in, we know what was behind the murder."
"I just wanted to keep him on his toes, one day he will screw up and I can finally clear the town of these criminals." He said before joining Garcia as he read the forensics file from the Illinois State Troopers.
"How the heck did he arrange for a ten-car pileup, even with the rain it was risky?" Said Taggert.
"Maybe the orange is just an orange." Shrugged Garcia.
"What?"
"Maybe Carolyn Webber did get caught up in an everyday ordinary car wreck, it does happen."
"Something feels off about it."
"Maybe that we couldn't place her in jail for admitting to killing a kid."
"It would have helped if we had what kid.... Where are the files on Zachara and the bodies we found?"
"Open case files."
Walking over, he read the file again and said "Did anyone ever talk to the kid?"
"John Zachara, no. Why?"
"He has a rather interesting birthday, November 2."
"So that makes him what a Scorpio?" Asked Garcia.
"No, it means I have to find a file." He said as he went to old cases and found Elizabeth's rape file. "I knew it; they share the same birth date."
"Zachara is still alive, so I doubt he was the kid that was killed."
Taggert knew he was on to something, but what, and where to find out what he was looking for without alerting Morgan. He had one more thing to check, going to the files on the DNA evidence from the manor at Crimson Point, he found what he was looking for.
"Hey, doc, you got a few minutes?" He asked the coroner. "So you can know that from the bones?"
"Yes, we had estimated that they were younger as a result of how well they were preserved, but it looks like they would be about twenty to twenty five years old. What are you thinking?"
"Is there a way to know if one of the children's bodies was smothered to death?"
"Only an educated guess, but I am almost certain that was the COD of the small baby. Once again, that is only an educated guess, the others were poisoned; we have the toxicology reports on the bones to prove it."
"Thanks, I might have found out who one of the kids is."
"What's the name, so I can add it to my files?"
"Zachara, baby girl Zachara."
Calling the mental hospital, he asked to be notified on Anthony's next relatively sane day.
Steven entered the house, heading straight for the kitchen where he could hear some noise. "Grams?"
"I'm okay, I thought you had to be in Afghanistan."
"As soon as I heard I flew out. They have my findings; there is nothing more I can do. Now it's up to the politicians. Are you sure you are okay?"
"I'm fine; I am talking things out with Gail and Lainey. Elizabeth insisted on Gail being there."
Steven knew that Elizabeth had doubts as to Lainey Winters competency so that wasn't a surprise. "How is she doing?"
"She is home; mother and baby are doing fine."
"And Jason?"
"Thanks to his sleeping patterns, he is holding up for the feedings and diaper changes." Hearing the phone ringing she went into the living room to answer it.
Max had been sitting in the old fashioned kitchen talking to the elderly woman; he had come to appreciate her over the last week. He could not get out of his mind the sight of her kneeling next to wanted dangerous criminal who was bleeding profusely out of his head and holding a pillow firmly on his face.
"Jason and Elizabeth are spending the night at home, but I am sure you sister would be glad to see you tomorrow." He added.
"Thank you, I will keep that in mind." He said. "Have you been staying with her?"
"Yes, at Jason's request. She fought it at first, but after one night, she invited me to use your room, I hope you don't mind."
"No, I am grateful that you were here. I just want to know how this man got this close to my family?"
"So doesn't Jason. We are looking into it." He said. "Since you are here, I will head out. I need to make sure that my brother didn't burn our house down, he refused your grandmother's invitation to come over for dinner and has been cooking by himself."
Georgie was getting ready to leave school, avoiding Brooklynn and Sage who she had snapped at during lunch when they had questioned her about the rumor Lulu had started.
"GEORGIE!" Called out Sage. "WAIT!" Finally reaching her friend, Sage asked if she was mad at her?
"No, I just don't want to talk about it. That's all. Lulu needs a mute button."
"I know, but she isn't who I am worried about. You have been skipping out of here, avoiding me all week. Are you mad that I took Dillon back?" She asked.
"No, if he makes you happy, go for it."
Hesitating, Sage decided to jump in feet first. "Will you come over tonight to help me get dressed?"
"Sure, then I am meeting Maxie for dinner and a quick trip to New York. She is insisting on taking me shopping; and Nik offered to let us use the Cassidine suite at Trump Towers."
Carly was tired, she had spent the day organizing the order for the furniture and dealing with cabinetmakers in a different time zone. Seeing Jax coming her way, she said "I am starving to do you have time for a late lunch while we go over these files."
"How about I cook for you?" He suggested.
Carly looked at him suspiciously and asked "First, what is on the menu?"
"Salad and soup. Reheated. My mother was in town for a few days, she stocked my refrigerator."
"Fine, as long as it doesn't contain wheat germ or anything similar."
"Carly your body is a temple, that you need to worship and treat well for it to treat you well."
"I treat my body just fine; it tells me it wants Pizza and burgers so I give it pizza and burgers. Sometime prime rib when it requests it."
As the younger girls entered Kelly's, Maxie' phone rang. Waving at her sister and her friends, she took the call and groaned. "Georgie, you are going to want to kill me. That was my boss at Wyndhams, he needs me to work tonight."
"NNNOOO!" She said falling into her chair, "Who is going to keep me from being a loser, now?"
"I wish I could call off, but he gave me a choice work or no job." She said dejectedly.
"Fine, let me call Alexis and tell her that Viola doesn't need to stay, I will be a loser at home babysitting my little sister."
"I am so sorry. You could go alone."
"No, I don't think so." She said as she decided she didn't want anything to eat after all. Picking up her purse, she left to head over to Sage and Brooklynn who was going on and on about the stylist her mother had arranged to help her that evening.
When Lorenzo and Skye entered the living room, the huge number of shoes spread out shocked him. "What happened?"
"SKYE, great, Sage's dyed shoes don't match her gown. They are way too light. HELP!" Said Georgie dragging the red head into the bedroom as Lorenzo looked around and took the flowers to the kitchen. When he next saw the woman, she was helping Georgie spray Sage's hair. "Now remember; don't let him step on your toes. Those opened-toed sandals will be murder on your feet if you get stepped on."
Dillon came to the door, knocking he was let in and stood amazed at the beautiful girl waiting for him. "Wow, you look, just wow." He said. Not noticing anyone else in the room, he placed the corset on her arm and said "Let's head over, we are meeting Lucas and Brooklynn at Adella's. Their private dining room."
As the twosome left, Georgie grabbed her purse to leave. "Georgie, why aren't you going to the dance?"
Skye was thinking about gagging the man, didn't he know any better.
"No date, you have to go with a senior. See you later, I have to get home." She said rushing out and missing Skye hitting Lorenzo over the head with the wet flowers he had just brought in from the kitchen.'
"You idiot, how could you not figure that out. Don't you ever pay any attention to what Sage says at dinner?"
"What did I miss, last I heard Georgie has a boyfriend with a cool black truck." He said repeating his niece's words.
Elizabeth was getting dinner from Kelly's when she saw Georgie returning, thinking about Alexis, she was going to talk to the younger girl but she seemed upset and just grabbed her jacket that it looked like she had left there earlier and rushed out.
"Elizabeth, it's going to be a few minutes, we are short staffed tonight. The dance at the high school." Said Mike as she sat down and ordered an iced tea.
"So why was Georgie just here then?" She asked not realizing that Lulu and her date had entered. "Elizabeth."
"Lulu, how are you?"
The younger girl had apologized for calling Jason a murderer but things were still not good between the two of them.
"Fine, this is Paul, my date tonight." She said then asked Mike for some pie. "We didn't like anything they had at the bistro."
"So who is going with whom to this dance."
"Well, Dillon is taking Sage, he is too afraid to break up with her. Then Lucas is taking his girlfriend Brooklynn. That's all I know about. Oh, and Georgie Jones is stuck without a date, no one wanted to go with her."
"Why would they she is such a nerd." Said the jock; he still hated that some junior had the nerve to refuse the captain of the football team. Who did she think she was, just because she drove some fancy car that some old lady had bought her?
"I rather like Georgie." Said Elizabeth.
"Of course you do, all adults like Georgie Jones." He added like that was a bad thing.
Thanking Mike when he returned with her food, Elizabeth turned to Lulu who was still dogging on Georgie and asked her for a minute.
Once outside, Francis moved in even closer. "What is your problem with Georgie?"
"She is a stuck up know it all, you should see her here. My Aunt owns this diner, yet Georgie lords it over me that she gets better shifts. She even had the nerve to tell Mike she couldn't pick up extra shifts this summer; I AM GETTING STUCK WORKING THEM."
"Georgie is a candy striper; she will be working almost forty hours a week between the two places."
"So, it not like she gets paid for that." She shrugged.
"One more thing, something to keep in mind. Georgie is Bobbie's niece just like you are. She has also worked here longer and isn't being made to pay back money for destroying a police car."
"Nik is refusing to pay for it; he could just take it out of petty case, but won't."
"Lulu, no one owes you anything, no one. Now I would think on that, while you are at this dance tonight."
"You are wrong, you owe me, you got my brother killed, Jason may not have had a choice, but if it wasn't for your games Lucky would still be alive."
"LeslieLu Spencer, you apologize at once, Elizabeth didn't play games with Lucky." Said Bobbie as she approached. When Elizabeth nodded and walked off, she took her niece inside and said "You and I need to have a talk this week."
"I am not going to be another of those morons in this town that fawn over St. Elizabeth."
"Lulu, go to your dance, then I suggest you get packed in the morning. Your father and I had a deal, you just broke it, as soon as exams are over you are going to stay with a friend of mine. I will clear it with Justus and your probation officer."
"No way, I have plans this summer." She protested.
"Well I hope they are things you can do on a farm in Iowa, otherwise they will remain undone."
Luke was setting up the tables, and testing them when Nik entered the Haunted Star. "Luke, I got a post card from Helena. No name and no address, just a warning. It said SNAKE EYES and was from Monte Carlo."
"The Ice Queen is trying to scare you; she doesn't have the resources to do anything. You made sure of that."
"If she shows up this could be a mistake."
Francis waited until Elizabeth had closed the door and then turned to Marco, find out all you can about this. Trevor died, but Spencer is still getting the money from one of his accounts.
"Should I talk to him?"
"No, be discreet. Jason wants a word with Helena."
When Elizabeth had placed their dinner on plates, she joined Jason on the sofa as Lia slept nearby. "How is Daddy doing?"
"Daddy is tired, four hours alone. She hates taking the bottle."
"We were warned about that." She said while handing him the plate.
"How did the painting go?" He asked.
"I have finished the background colors, and am working on filling in the subjects." She said, "So what have you been doing while I was away?"
"Just reading to Lia, about Venice and making plans for us to get away later this week. Audrey called, Jeff is returning along with Sarah to bury Carolyn."
"I wish they would place her in Colorado." She said shivering. Every since Jason had told her about Carolyn trying to kill her as a child, she got cold to the bone thinking about it.
Wrapping the throw blanket around his wife, Jason took her plate of food and placed it on the table. Then he pulled her onto his lap saying "She can't hurt anyone ever again."
Thinking about Canto and what he had arranged for the woman made Jason wonder why he hadn't done so before. Why now?
Johnny was on a fact-finding trip to get those answers for him. "You will have Max and Milo, this week, along with the two backup guards. Francis is going to be spending time at the warehouse."
"Okay, but I want you to be nice to Milo. No scaring him."
"Fine, I did get some good news. Leticia called, her cousin is available and interest in working for us part time while attending school. We can meet her and decide."
After they finished eating, Jason eased them down and grabbed one of the pillows from the closet. Returning he curled up around his now sleeping wife, and reached out to pull the daybed closer. When he woke up for Lia's two o'clock feeding, he helped Elizabeth move things around so that she could eat.
He had to control his rising desire, no matter what she was doing Elizabeth had this affect on him and they had three more weeks to go. Right around the time of the Haunted Star opening. He could not wait to see her in the dress she had bought for it. Then to get to remove it later.
Georgie was fast asleep; Kristina curled up next to her. Mac and Alexis were on Spoon Island; dealing with some stuff that had came up in regards to Stefan. So she was home alone with her little sister since Viola was spending her night off visiting some friends in Syracuse.
Hearing the loud knock on the door, she rushed to the living room and grabbed the fireplace poker, dropping it when she saw it was Brooklynn. "What is it? Why are you here this late?"
"It was awful, I made such a fool of myself, and I just couldn't go home. Dillon has to know by now, they all do. I look stupid how could I not know?" She said sitting down on the deck as tears poured out of her eyes.
"Brooklynn, what are you talking about?"
"Guy, Guy and Lucas. They are a couple; Lucas doesn't like me that way. I got a room at the bed and breakfast, I had wanted to..." she left it blank, knowing Georgie would understand, after all she had been with her when she had bought the silk bits and pieces she was wearing.
"What? Are you sure?" Georgie was sure that she had it wrong.
"Yes, and Lucas decided to tell me tonight. He is leaving after graduation, going to Tennessee. He thinks his parents are going to freak."
"We are talking about Lucas Jones, my cousin, valedictorian, aren't we?"
"Yes, you seem shocked? I thought that was why you turned down being Guy's date to this thing."
"No, I just don't see Guy that way and ..." laughing she stopped and then got a hold of herself. "I stopped over at his house to drop off his chemistry notes, I guess that mean the Jones he likes is Lucas. I feel kind of stupid."
"Did you get naked and offer up your virginity to him?" She asked sobbing.
Pulling her close, Georgie wasn't upset with Lucas for his secret, but she was furious with him for using her friend this way. He had been dating and more importantly kissing her all year. Poor Brooklynn.
"Let me guess your night sucked too." Said a small voice as Sage walked over a little rumbled. "Georgie can I crash here. I told Uncle Lorenzo I would call when I arrived."
"Sure, what happened to you?" Her friend looked like she had been through the wind tunnel at the amusement park.
"Dillon and I did it, but it was terrible. It hurt and my body aches." She said as tears flowed down her face.
Pulling both her friends up, Georgie took them to her room and carried Kristina back to hers. Picking up the baby monitor, she snapped it to her robe and went back to the living room.
Sitting down with her friends, she let them tell each other their news. "I think I suspected about Lucas. Do you remember when I first came to town, I thought he was drooling over Georgie, like Dillon was at the time. But maybe he was looking at Dillon." Said Sage.
"How are you?" They asked the raven-haired girl
"I ache; I had no idea it would hurt like that. Then Dillon couldn't." She blushed.
"Really?" Asked Brooklynn with a small chuckle.
"Yes, and then he suggested doing it again, saying it was because it was the first time. There was no way I was doing that again, at least not yet."
"Just tell me you used a condom?" Asked Georgie not wanting Sage to have to explain this one to anyone else.
"Yes, Mom. I did." Assured Sage. "Do you have any aspirin?"
"No, it's on the shopping list. What about Motrin, I have some of that."
"Fine, can I take a shower?" She asked wanting to use heat to get rid of the pain.
"Go ahead, my pajamas are in the second drawer of my chest." Then Georgie turned to Brooklynn who said "I don't want to talk about it. Never again."
"Fine, let's go get some sleep." She said.
"I'm glad your bed is so big." She said as they all piled on it. "Georgie, who is your mystery guy?"
"Can't tell you." She said. "Now go to sleep, I'm taking both of you to New York in the morning."
"Good, I can show you where I grew up." Said Brooklynn as Mr. Whispers joined them curling up on her feet.
Two hours later, Georgie carefully got out of bed and went to the living room and pulled out an extra blanket, moving a throw pillow under her head, she tried to get some sleep.
Johnny O'Brien got on the train to return to Port Charles, still stunned. Mr. Canto had made it clear he was retired. Then he had told him that he was aware of Johnny and that he wasn't Maria's. That was why he had arranged for Dr. Webber's death.
Going into the cabin, he placed his gun under his pillow and soon was asleep, thinking of what the man had told him and what this could mean for all concerned. Alexis was going to have to be told, soon.
Then there was the mess with Johnny and Georgie, how was it going to be possible to have him under the umbrella of the Cassidines, when his mother lived with the woman he wanted? Mac would rightfully have kittens at what was being suggested.
Right now, all he wanted was to get home and get some sleep. Tomorrow after all was another day.