16

Seth descended those stairs into the gym. Matt had changed and was punching the bag harder than he ever had. Each punch he envisioned Nikkos Sacan's face. Seth got in front of him and said, "Its all wired. You so much as whisper and it'll be recorded."

Matt stopped for a second, looked at Seth and then started punching again. "Good. I want it all on tape and then played for the father."

Seth asked him, "Alright I get that you want Nikkos, but why do you want the father to hear all this. You know it might just work against you. His daddy will be mad at him but could be madder at you for doing this to his son."

Matt answer as he punched away, "I'm not worried about that. You just worry about making sure we get this all recorded. Then I need you to get a copy to his father and any and all brothers you can find. By the end of the week they'll be thanking me."

Seth shook his head and said, "I hope you know what you're doing." He then turned and went upstairs.

Matt took a deep breath and then said to himself, "I just hope its enough."

After changing and calling to check on C.J. one more time he went upstairs to see his uncle. He told him as he walked across to the bar, "She's still sleeping. Did you get those documents like I asked?"

Roy nodded his head and with a somber expression brought them over, "Your will was already updated when you and C.J. married, but I added everything you asked for, for both case scenarios. Matt are you sure..."

Matt cut him off, "Yes, I am sure. Just in case this doesn't go as planned I want her taken care of. I want her hidden, her name changed, I don't care what it takes..." He had to swallow hard before finishing, "I want her to be happy. That's all that's important." He took another drink of juice.

Roy rolled his jaw and then told him, "I also got that wire for your jacket, its locked into Seth's system." He then handed him the sports jacket and then a journal, C.J.'s journal, the one she bought in the Caymans. "Here's that journal you asked for."

Matt took it and put it on the bar saying, "Thanks. You will be downstairs with Hoyt, right?"

Roy answered, "Yes, Michael and I will be in the parking garage keeping an eye on the street and the door. As soon as he makes his move, we'll call and let you know. Warren is down acting as your security guard. We told Barney to give the guys the night off."

Matt told him, "Good. I don't want them getting hurt." He took the journal and went to sit down on the couch after putting on the jacket.

Roy told him, "If you need any help, we'll be there."

Seth came around the corner as Roy got in the elevator. "I'm all set up in that closet. All equipment is there and I've got an additional undercover task force one block and three blocks away, on all four sides. If you need me just say 'hardball' and I'll be there."

Matt nodded and then showed him, "This is C.J.'s journal. If anything happens I want you to make sure she gets it. It will have a message from me, just in case." Matt swallowed again.

Seth told him, "Sure, just put it behind the wet bar when you're done with it and if I need to find it, I'll know where it is."

Matt nodded and Seth left. He picked up the journal, wanting so bad to read through it a little, but also wanting to respect her privacy. He also knew he didn't have a lot of time. Instead he turned to the first blank page and started writing:

My Dearest C.J.,

I don't really know where to begin. You know how hard it has been for me to express my feelings to those I love. Somehow you've helped me change all that. You've helped me grow and change in so many ways, not just in these last few beautiful months, but all my life. I've loved you for so long and I can't bear to think of losing you now, my best friend, my partner, my lover and my wife. I think this is the toughest case we've ever had and the one with the highest stakes.

Throughout all of this, I want you to know that I never stopped loving you and I never doubted you. You have always been the strongest woman I've ever met and I would never give up on you. You are the love of my life and a real part of me. These last few months have been the happiest time of my life. My love for you surpassed anything I have ever felt for any woman and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life waking up with you and going to sleep with you at night and spending every moment with you in between.

If you are reading this, then something terrible must have gone wrong. I have left instructions to Uncle Roy and Will to help you. I am meeting the man who caused all this tonight I am sure and I plan to bring him down once and for all. I know now why he came after you and went after your family when you were so young. I think tonight I can turn that family against him and have him out of your life forever. I know I have only done something like this once before and felt terrible about it, but I don't feel nearly as bad this time. The man has hurt you so much. If his family seeks you out, we have a plan in place to get you out safely and if at least that part of my plan works and they turn against him, we have a plan to provide for you the rest of your life.

I want you to be happy C.J. Its the only thing that matters. You have to take care of yourself and if you are reading this, I want you to find someone who will love you the way you deserve to be loved. I can't tell you to find someone who will love you as much as I do, because I don't think that's possible. I love you more than words or actions. It goes beyond anything I could write down. Know that I will always be here for you and will watch over you even now. I know not even death can keep me from you.

Be happy my love. Matt

After writing this and wiping away his tears, Matt got up and took the journal to the wet bar. He then took out of the folder the blood test results. He penciled in why he thought they were the key to solving the case. He planned to hold this last bit of information close to the vest here, but in the last minute decided to tell Seth.

Seth told him after hearing it all, "You are taking one awful big gamble. If he catches that you're bluffing..."

Matt told him, "I know I'm right. It all makes sense now."

Seth then said, "Ok, you're right, but I'm just saying...you're bluffing on part of it, you and I both know that."

At that point the phone rang. It was Hoyt to tell him that Nikkos Sacan had just entered the building.

They allowed Nikkos Sacan to get up to the penthouse. After he got in the elevator, after telling Warren, still undercover, that he had an appointment, Warren joined Hoyt and Roy who then went into the stairwell to provide back up.

Matt sat at the wet bar facing the elevator with a scotch in his hand. He had gargled with it just a second ago to put it on his breath. He wanted Sacan to think he was drunk already, but was wearing a bullet proof vest and carrying two loaded, but concealed guns.

Nikkos walked out slowly with gun in hand. Matt called out to him, purposefully slurring his words, "I knew you'd show. You did all this. You were the one who killed her parents, weren't you? You are the cause of all her pain!"

Seeing Matt drunk, Nikkos lowered the gun just a little and answered, "Yeah, I did." He walked over to Matt and told him after laughing a second, "Dumb lawyer and his stupid family. You people have caused me enough problems. My little forced vacation cost me and my family millions."

Matt then told him as he started to take a drink, "Right, your family. I think we both know that's not your family."

Nikkos then took a deep breath, "What do you mean?"

Matt looked right at him and said, "I know Nikkos..."

NIkkos then asked, "You know what?"

Matt got up and walked to the couch with his scotch. He turned back and held up the blood test results Daniel had hid, "I know what you're hidin." He waved the paper, "You and your Daddy went to a little shindig Daniel's firm was hosting. Daniel took napkins you both used and had them analyzed. The only thing I don't know is how he got blood from both of you on those napkins, but that doesn't really matter now does it?"

Nikkos looked angry and walked over taking the results out of his hands roughly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Matt then said, loudly, "You know exactly what I'm talking about. And you know a blood test will prove all of it. All Daddy has to do is get one and he'll know all on his own won't he? That's why you're here alone. That's why you didn't hire anyone. You can"t run that risk of someone finding out your little secret."

Nikkos then took a deep breath and folded up the results, "Do you even really know who you're dealing with?"

Matt answered, "I know Nikkos...I believe the correct name, if I may be so bold, would be Nikkos Nedici."

Nikkos looked surprised, "What did you just call me?"

Matt smiled, "I believe I called you by your real name." He gestured to his arm, "That's an interesting little scar there. I'm betting Daniel noticed it too and figured it out. Your mother is married to Bartolmeo Sacan, but I'm willing to bet my entire fortune, that he's not your father."

Nikkos got a little smirk on his face, "He never will find out. All I needed was this report. If he just would have given it to me, he wouldn't have had to die, neither would she...and I wouldn't have had to do to that little bitch they sired what I did either."

Matt knew he was trying to bait him so he took a deep breath and then asked, "And what exactly was that? Huh? I mean I know you had her hypnotized. She's a vegetable now..." His voice was getting louder and louder as he still played the drunk grieving husband walking toward Sacan. "What exactly was it you did and who did you pay to do it?"

Matt needed to know the name so he could give it to Sydney. The more information he had on the man who had hypnotized C.J. the better Sydney could treat her.

Nikkos then said, "You mean you don't know?" He laughed as Matt just played along. He then said, "Well he goes by many names, but the one you're most familiar with is The Magician."

Matt was dumbfounded and almost stuttered, "The...the magician...you mean Peter Delaney?"

Nikkos then laughed outright, "The one and only, well, not just him...the man who taught him everything he knew, god rest his soul."

Matt needed to clarify, "Delaney met with her...at some point...and he gave her all those commands..."

Nikkos interrupted, "Orders Mr. Houston, orders. She was too smart for her own good. I knew she was home that day, but Parsons' refused to say it. Kept denying it over and over. Then that bitch wife of his...same story...little brat knows nothing. You know I thought pounding into her with that bat each time would loosen that tongue of hers, but no. She just kept saying over and over again it was her that made the call to police."

Matt's anger was reaching full boil as Nikkos kept going, but he knew every word just incriminated him more and more.

Nikkos was walking around gesturing with his hands explaining and then pouring himself a drink, "I made her watch, you know." Matt's eyebrows were not only raised but his fists were clenched tighter than ever before. "She kept so quiet when I got her Dad but with her Mom...I made sure she saw everything. I told her, if she breathed a word to anyone I'd do the exact same thing to her. I wanted to do her then, but my brother wouldn't let me."

Matt swallowed hard and said, "Vicente...he stopped you from killing C.J. then."

Nikkos answered, "Yes he did. He was so stupid! My father and brothers gave him way too much credit. He didn't have what it takes in this business. He was way too soft." Then he turned his attention back to Matt and pointed the gun right at him, "But I do know what it takes and I have no problem pulling the trigger."

Matt had been reaching behind him, acting as though he were just trying to balance himself, but actually reaching for his gun. Before Sacan could fire, Matt did. Seth came racing around the corner with Roy, Warren and Hoyt.

Nikkos hadn't died yet but was still trying to breathe. He choked but told Matt, "She'll always be a vegetable... even losing, I won in the end."

Matt told him, "She's not a vegetable. I lied."

Nikkos then said, "She will be. You make her remember and she'll be gone before you can say her name. And my family will avenge me."

Matt whispered to him as he pulled out the mike in his jacket, "No they won't. As a matter of fact, I intend to make sure they all know you weren't one of them."

Nikkos gasped for breath a couple of times and then died.