Steve pulled his car into the Spectator parking lot and turned the engine off. He caught a glance of himself in the rearview mirror and could see he still had a silly grin on his face.
He had not been able to stop smiling since Neil had confirmed that Kayla was pregnant that morning. It had meant everything in the world to him that Kayla had told him about her home pregnancy test the previous night, but having it confirmed made it all the more real.
He was still lost in thought as he made his way toward the Spectator building. He remembered how Kayla has asked him if he wanted a boy or a girl. Steve had answered truthfully - he didn't really care either way. As long as the baby was healthy, he would be happy.
Yet, as he thought about it some more, he could not ignore the little voice in his head telling him he really wanted a son. He loved Stephanie so much it took his breath away and if they had another girl, Steve knew he would love her just as much.
And it was not about some desire to pass on the family name. There had to be millions of Johnsons in the world, so it was not like the name would disappear. Plus, his own family history was nothing he wanted to pass on to his children.
No, this unbidden but undeniable desire for a son was probably just some typical male thing, Steve figured. He wanted the rough-and-tumble boy he could teach to throw a football or swing a baseball bat or play pool. Not that he wouldn't do those things with Stephanie if she was interested. He would never favor one of his kids over the other.
He opened the main door of the Spectator and walked in. In just a few months, Stephanie would be the older sister, just as he was the older brother in his family. He cast his eye upward and gave silent thanks that Stephanie would have a far different relationship with her siblings than Steve had with his.
Not that it was so bad now, of course. But it had been a long and rocky road. He had envied, and in a way still did, the comfortable closeness between Kayla and her siblings. Even when they fought, that underlying love and connection was very apparent.
Steve knew that he and Adrienne had been able to develop that kind of relationship. He also knew that it was unlikely he and Jack ever would. He loved his brother and knew that Jack loved him. But there was too much history for the easy camaraderie that he observed with the Brady siblings to ever exist between him and Jack.
Steve looked up and realized he had reached Jack's office. Taking a deep breath to prepare himself, he knocked on the door and walked in without waiting for a response.
Jack was sitting at his desk reading and did not appear to notice that Steve had entered.
"Jackson?" Steve called out.
Steve's voice clearly startled Jack, who dropped the pencil in his hand, knocked over the pen holder on his desk, and nearly fell out of his chair. When he finally gathered himself, he stammered, "Steve . . . hi. . . . What are you doing here?"
Steve plopped down in the chair beside Jack's desk. "I could pretend I just stopped by to say 'hi'," Steve said with a cheeky grin. "But then I'd be lyin'. I need you to do me a favor, Jack."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "What kind of favor?"
"Nothin' dangerous, don't worry." Steve leaned forward. "I need you to do some investigating and find out who bought the old Jencon refinery site when it was put in foreclosure."
"That shouldn't be too hard to figure out," Jack said, making a note on a yellow pad. Then he looked up. "I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you need that information."
Steve just smiled. "You're a smart guy, Billy Jack. I'm pretty sure you can figure it out."
Jack leaned back in his chair and let out a low whistle. "It's getting serious, isn't it?"
The smile left Steve's face as he nodded. "Yeah, it is. I really can't tell you anything more, but I also really need you to get that information. Will you do it?"
Jack took a deep breath and nodded. "Of course." He paused. Steve felt like Jack was contemplating something before he spoke again. "I . . . I have some information, but I don't know what it means or if it's important."
That caught Steve's attention. "What's that?"
"I have some sources down at the docks. Nothing big really, just some people who sometimes tip me off if there's a story brewing down there."
Steve nodded, trying to be patient while Jack got to the point.
"I got a call from one of them recently. He said that there were a several new ships coming into the harbor, but that they never seem to dock on any of the piers."
Steve quirked his eyebrow. "What kind of ships?"
Jack shrugged. "Just small freighters, I guess. But this guy said that nobody knows where they are loading or unloading cargo. They just come in and drop anchor, and then they're gone the next day."
"How many ships have there been?"
"I don't know," Jack replied. "But it sounds like at least two or three." Jack looked at Steve. "Do you think it has anything to do with Alamain?"
Steve shook his head. "I really don't know. But it might be something worth checking out. Can you give me any information on your source?"
Jack hesitated and Steve pressed. "Come on, Jack. I know you're going to tell me that a reporter never reveals his sources, but this is important." He took a deep breath. "It could be life or death."
Jack sighed. "I know. That's not really the problem. The thing is that I don't really know this guy. He just calls me and I send cash to a post office box."
"What's the name on the post office box?" Steve asked, fairly sure it was going to be completely unhelpful.
"John Smith," Jack said, confirming Steve's suspicions.
"Great." Steve ran his hand over his face. "Did the guy at least tell you what part of the harbor the ships were stopping in?"
Jack nodded. "That's actually what made me think of them when you mentioned the old refinery. The guy said the ships were dropping anchor just offshore from the refinery site."
That makes it all officially suspicious, Steve thought to himself. Looking at Jack, he said, "Thanks, Jack. I'll check into it and see what I can find out."
Steve stood up and headed for the door. He was halfway there when Jack called out to him. Steve stopped and turned back to his brother.
"I know you won't tell me anything and I guess I even understand why," Jack said softly. "But I'm asking . . . as your brother . . . something's going to happen soon, isn't it?"
Steve did not answer at first. He knew he couldn't tell Jack all of their suspicions. He couldn't trust Jack not to put it in the paper and cause a panic. As much as Steve might want to, Shane and John were right. That would just send Lawrence underground and cause them to miss their one chance at getting him.
Yet, Steve also could not directly lie to his brother. Jack and Jennifer were potential targets. Finally, he sighed and walked back towards Jack. "If all goes as planned, nothing is going to happen at all, and you just might get a good story when it's all over. But, until then . . . just be extra careful, Jack."
Jack stared at Steve for a moment and then finally nodded. "All right." He glanced downward and, clearly trying to sound casual, asked, "Do you think it would be a good time for Jennifer to go visit her father?"
Steve chuckled slightly. "If you can convince her to go, more power to you. But I have a hunch you won't get very far."
Jack chuckled as well. "You're probably right." He picked up the yellow pad from his desk. "I'll get going on the information on the refinery right away. And I'll be in touch if I get any other information that might be of interest to you."
"Thanks again, Jack." Steve turned back toward the door and stopped again. "Oh, and if you can't reach me at home, you can try and get me at Shane Donovan's house."
Jack looked at Steve curiously, but just nodded. Steve smiled at his brother's restraint and turned and walked out the door. It was time to go pick up Kayla. He had some baby names to try out on her.