Sam lay in her bunk staring at the rods supporting the mattress above her. It was some point in the mid-morning-she knew because they'd had breakfast but not yet lunch-and she closed her eyes hoping sleep would come and she would get to spend time with Danny. Her exhaustion was overwhelming, but the close quarters of the inmates and the institutional rhythms of Pentonville made it virtually impossible for inmates to sleep.

And Sam was no exception. The first day she was determined to solve the murders that saw her imprisoned, but as the hours and then days droned on and she missed her baby more, the focus on the crime took a backseat. Her maternal ache was only satisfied when she dreamed of Danny-in the park, reuniting with him, his birth, his dinosaurs, his first words, even pushing him in his stroller when he slept. It was a drug she had a hard time giving up and like all addictions it started to consume all other activities that were in its way.

At some point in the afternoon she imagined her mother would be back. She had promised. It had only been four days, and she didn't know how she could survive a possible 20-year sentence. So Sam convinced herself that she would spend the next few hours in her little dreamworld with her son until Alexis returned with news about her case. Then she would be a private eye again.

Alexis marched down the steps of Wyndemere early, hoping to avoid her uncle and take the launch back to the pier. It would be hours before Sam was freed, and she had maneuvering of her own to do on Luke's behalf before her sole focus was her daughter.

As she crept passed the main room en route to the front door, she heard voices. The first was unmistakably Victor's speaking a language she couldn't immediately place-Hungarian maybe? Yes, definitely Hungarian. She considered staying but there was virtually no benefit to eavesdropping on a conversation she couldn't understand, and Lord knew how much time Luke had before someone figured out he was an added complication.

But then she heard a second, familiar voice reply. She felt a wave of anger sweep through her and without thinking she pushed open the door and announced to those present. "I want that bitch out of this house."

Victor's faced transitioned from shock to amusement to annoyance in the time it took Det. Nagy to turn around and face Alexis. Her face was expressionless as she noted, "That's not your decision. This isn't your house."

Alexis smiled. "So you're a probate lawyer?"

-"I'm sorry?"

-"Well I'm just wondering why you would say something so inane. Because you're technically right. This isn't my house. It's Spencer Cassadine's house."

Det. Nagy was irritated. "Great. Wonderful. Look, we're having a conversation, Alexis."

-"I wasn't finished," Alexis piped in. "It's Spencer's house, but I act on his behalf legally. So for all intents and purposes, it *is* my house. And I believe I told you to get out."

The detective turned to Victor, "Mr. Cassadine, we need to finish our conversation."

Victor remained silent watching what his niece would do. Alexis sensed a test was afoot and luckily for her, her hatred of the detective was so deep she would pass with flying colors.

-"Boys?" Alexis yelled. When there was no response, she lifted her fingers to her lips and whistled. Two very confused, very bulky Russians entered the room. Without moving her eyes from Det. Nagy, she muttered in Russian, "Please escort this trash to the launch."

Victor nodded at the security team as they turned to him for confirmation, and they moved toward the detective. "Madame?" one of them asked in thick Russian, his tone stressing that this was less a query and more a threat.

Det. Nagy looked at Victor. "Seriously? You're kicking me out."

-"I'm afraid so. Alexandra is right, Dina. She does legally control access to this home."

-"Yet she lets you stay?" she quipped.

Victor clucked his tongue in disapproval as Alexis inquired in Russian, "Why is she still here?" The larger of the two put his hand rather forcefully on Det. Nagy's back as he guided her to the door. Her progress was halted by Alexis's hand on her arm. "Just so we're clear. The next time I see you, I will assume that you are giving me permission to destroy you. So stay away from my family."

-"Should you really be threatening a police officer, Alexis?" she asked over her shoulder.

Alexis giggled, "You're no more a cop than I am, Detective. Surely you don't think I bought this little act. But I appreciate the laugh...oh, and Dina?"

-"Hmm?"

-"My name is Ms. Cassadine. You would do well to remember that." She let out a satisfying sigh as she watched Dina leave. For a moment she felt a rush of power, of a control she hadn't felt in weeks.

-"My, my, Alexandra. That certainly didn't seem to be the actions of a woman reluctant for power."

And the feeling of control immediately dissipated, replaced by the pressure that she'd worn like a shrug around her shoulders for weeks. She turned wearily to her uncle and smirked, "You underestimate two things, Uncle. The first is how being raised by Cassadines makes feelings of superiority second nature."

-"And the second?"

-"How much I hate that woman."

-"I see." Victor sat, folding his hands over his lap as he considered her. "So you knew she wasn't a cop."

Alexis sighed again. "No. I lied," she admitted. "It was obvious she was disingenuous, but I thought she was merely ambitious. Maybe driven by a youthful need to impress or possibly even a hatred of Sam."

Victor nodded. "Well, if you wish not to see her, I recommend you avoid the police station for the next few hours. She has some very important errands to run this morning." Alexis looked at him quizzically before he continued, "Well, I can't proceed with my plans, Alexandra, until I uphold my end of the bargain. You didn't think I was going to waltz into the police station with the actual killer, did you?"

She looked at him and asked quietly, "It is the actual killer, right? You didn't frame someone else into taking the fall did you?"

-"Would that matter?"

-"It might."

-"Well, the good news, my dear, is that it *is* the actual killer. I want our new partnership to start with a solid foundation. I know that you have an inexplicable queasiness when it comes to the misfortune of others. That's something we'll work on together." He smiled at her softly, and Alexis was once again thrown by his tone-promising to teach her detachment and remorseless cruelty like he was promising to teach her to ride a bicycle. She needed to inure herself against the cold words delivered in that silky, warm tone.

-"So who is it?"

-"Hmm?"

-"The killer? Who is it? Who murdered Silas and Nina?"

He smiled. "There are so few surprises in life, Alexandra. Why would I deny you one more?"

She shook her head. She could go the rest of her life without another one of Victor's surprises. Alexis stood to grab her purse.

-"Where are you off to?"

-"The penthouse. I've spent the better part of three days on the run from my children and my grandchild. If you want to avoid suspicion, it's probably best that I make an appearance."

Victor beamed at her. "You don't have to lie to me, Alexandra. You can just say 'I miss them.'"

Alexis smiled back but it didn't reach her eyes. The chill that ran through her at his words. Victor spoke as though he were generously giving her a gift, but he would take that love and use it against her. There would be a time-soon-when she'd need to be more convincing of her dedication and her transition to a Cassadine and all it entailed. But it wasn't going to be this particular morning.

-"It will be a few days before I see you," she warned.

-"I don't see why, Alexandra. You're more than welcome to stay here."

She sighed. "If you want this to be real-to be believable-then you need to give me distance to plant the seeds."

-"I would have thought giving you incentive was enough."

-"Fine," she relented. "Dinner? Two days?"

-"That's more like it," he smiled smugly. "Bring the girls?"

-"Don't push it."

Years ago, cocaine dealers covered their illicit shipments in coffee grounds to throw dogs off the scent of the drugs stored underneath. The headquarters of Corinthos Coffee smelled as though Sonny was trying to cover every sin, felony and conspiracy ever hatched across his desk with the scent of Colombia's second most popular export. Alexis entered the reception area and was greeted by a relieved Max.

-"He called you? Thank God, Ms. Davis. He finally came to his senses."

Alexis shook her head at the bodyguard. "I'm sorry, Max. He didn't call me. Is he in? I need to see him?"

-"Shit," Max muttered underneath his breath. "Give me a sec."

He walked into the office and emerged just as the wait was starting to get uncomfortable for Alexis. "He'll see you, Ms. Davis."

-"Thanks, Max."

She walked in to see sunken eyes and a pair of dimples on the other side of his desk. He looked older, but his eyes were surprisingly welcome. "You came. I knew you'd come."

-"OK. Someone needs to tell me what's going on. Because I have no idea what you're talking about. I mean, Max just said the *same* thing to me."

-"You don't know?"

Reminded how frustrating dealing with Sonny could be, Alexis took a deep breath before tilting her head to the side. "Is there anything in my voice that indicates to you that I have *any* idea what's going on? I came to see you about a mutual friend."

-"What friend?"

-"We'll get to that. What's going on with you?"

He sighed. "I'm about to be arrested."

-"For what?"

-"Murder. And I need you to represent me."

She ignored his question. "Who?"

-"You."

-"What?" She realized her question wasn't clear. "Not 'who' do you need to represent you, Sonny. 'Who' did you murder?"

-"Allegedly."

Alexis wanted to strangle him. She said as evenly as she could, "Michael Corinthos, Jr: *who* did you *allegedly* murder?"

He looked to the floor. "AJ Quartermaine. That's why I need you to represent me."

-"Did you do it?" she asked him urgently.

-"Are you representing me?"

-"I can't, Sonny. We've been through this." She walked up to him and grabbed his arm, "Sonny, I need to know if you did this."

-"Of course not, Alexis."

She grabbed his chin, gripping it harder as he tried to evade her grasp. When she finally caught his eyes, it took her a few seconds to see it. But it was there-the fear. Alexis moved away disgustedly. On the one hand she was relieved that Sonny's predicament was of his own making, and that she wouldn't need to take on the additional guilt of his use as a pawn in Victor's game. But she needed to be sure. "What do they have on you, Sonny? Carlos Rivera is in jail for this. Why you? Why now?"

-"They say they have a tape."

She turned to look at him. "They say?"

He looked away. "Alexis, I...I know what you're thinking."

She looked at him baffled. "What am I thinking?"

-"About a promise I made to you once."

Alexis was confused before she realized what he was talking about. All those years ago, when he spared AJ's life and she slept with him to seal their agreement. At the time it seemed so much more wrought with emotion, but now-today-it was a transaction. 'You spare a life, we make a life.' Or something like that.

-"You kept your promise, Sonny. You didn't do it, right?" She threw him a lifeline out of pity. An opportunity to save face as she walked out of his life, most likely for good.

-"That's right, Alexis. I didn't do it." He stared at her before breaking the connection. "Look, I have to call Diane since I still need a lawyer."

-"Of course."

-"But our friend. Is there something I can do?"

Alexis thought quickly. "I just need a couple of things from Max."

-"What kind of things?"

She smirked, "Don't worry. It's not a gun."

He smiled. "I wouldn't worry about you with a gun, Alexis. The Prius fender is your calling card." Sonny nodded to Max, "Get Alexis what she needs."

-"Yes boss."

Sonny gave her a hug. "Whatever happens, take care of our girl?"

She smiled sadly at him. "Sure, Sonny."

It was well after two by the time she topped at Kelly's for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. Her morning was eventful after leaving Sonny's: 'accidentally' running into Patrick at the hospital, needing to borrow his phone for an important call about Sam's case, finding Robert's emergency number in his contacts and then copying it down. They said their goodbyes and he went to a surgery as she went to the closet on the fifth floor to make her call on the burner phone and voice scrambler she'd grabbed from Max. Her hope that the key words "Luke," "Cassadines" and "danger" would pique the interest of Patrick's former father-in-law. With Sonny off the board, her potential plays were limited. All she could do was hope Luke would be rescued and hidden until his friends could eliminate the vague threat against his life.

The cashier was ringing up her lunch total just as her phone rang. It was Anna. Show time.

-"Any messages?" Molly dropped her bag on the table by the door as she greeted her sister. "Anything from Mom?"

Kristina sighed, "Nope. I left Jax a message, too."

-"Why did you call him? You know he's just going to worry."

-"Maybe he should. I mean, where *is* she, Molls?"

-"I told you. She's with Julian."

Kristina shook her head. "No way. There's no way she runs off to be with Julian with Sam in prison. I don't believe it."

Molly shrugged. "It won't be the first time she picked him over us."

Her older sister rolled her eyes, "Molly, I hardly think she picked him over you."

-"Right. She just decided to believe Julian over my father."

-"That's not picking Julian over *you.* It's picking him over *Ric.* There's a difference."

Molly shrugged and went over to her nephew. "Hey Danny! How was your day?" She picked up one of his dinosaurs and listened as he explained the rules of the game. Molly tried to keep up with him but received constant correction.

Kristina walked over to view Danny's concerns and advised Molly, "The dinosaur and the car aren't really friends. They can't be next to each other."

-"Um, OK. I should have guessed that." She stood up, "Can you watch him for a sec, while I put my stuff upstairs?" Kristina nodded. "What do we want to do for dinner?"

-"Kelly's?"

Molly nodded. "Do you want to wait to see if we hear anything from Mom?"

-"Sure. Although we don't need to order now, Molls. I mean it's only 3."

-"Sorry. Force of habit. Usually I come home and it's time to eat. It's weird not hitting the library right after school."

-"You can, you know."

Molly shook her head. "I don't want to leave you here alone. You've been watching him all day while I'm at school. I have to do some work, but I can put a video in for him if you want to go out."

-"It's OK, Molls. I don't mind watching him. You see him all the time: this is quality time to bond with my nephew. Why don't you go do what you have to do, and I'll stay down here with Danny? Hopefully Mom will be back soon and we can eat together."

Danny looked up at his aunt. "Gamma? Mama?"

Kristina smiled sadly. "No sweetie. Not right now, but soon kiddo. I promise soon."

Molly opened her laptop with the intention of starting her paper, but found herself idly surfing the net. After about five minutes, she bolted upright and ran downstairs yelling, "Kristina! KRISTINA."

Kristina ran to Danny and picked him up to protect him, misinterpreting Molly's excitement as yet another threat against their family. Molly didn't notice her older sister's posture as she ran to the TV. "I found Mom."

The local channel had preempted programming with a breaking news story. As Danny pointed to the images of Alexis on screen entering the PCPD and shouted enthusiastically, "Gamma!" the anchor no less enthusiastically announced, "We repeat, a new twist in the murder of couple Nina and Silas Clay. Sources within the PCPD tell us that a new suspect has been arrested. What this means for Samantha McCall-currently incarcerated in Pentonville for the same crime-is unclear at the moment. But her lawyer, former District Attorney Alexis Davis is at the station, no doubt to advocate on her client's behalf."

Danny continued to point to Alexis, turning to his aunts unsure why they weren't joining in his enthusiasm. I mean, Gamma was RIGHT THERE.

Their eyes filled with tears, the sisters grabbed each other excitedly and squealed, "She did it. Mom did it!"

Danny nodded, as they finally understood. "Gamma."