A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you like the PSA. Lol. Okay, you find out about Alfie in this chapter. I'll be posting tomorrow as well and all next week to finish.

Chapter 33

A car stopped in front of Alfred before he could cross the street and a man got out.

"Alfred, we need you to get in the car."

Alfred's brow rose. "Really?"

"Yes. We're not going to hurt you, but we do have some questions."

He sighed. "Do I have a choice?"

The man sighed. "Please get into the car. It won't take long."

Alfred noted that he sounded more exasperated than menacing, so trying to avoid a scene, he slid into the darkness of the car.

Because the man had a mask on, the lady across the street at the salon, who recognized Alfred because of Audrey, immediately called 911 and stepped outside and then told the operator the license plate number as the car tore down the street.

Mac sent some men there as he wondered if Jason's life had spilled over into Alfred's and at the same time hoped it wasn't the case.

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Alfred was led into a room that only had a chair in the center and he sat and folded his hands together. At least he saw no instruments of torture. He had noted how many people he had passed and a second exit should he get the opportunity to run.

A disguised voice filtered into the room.

"Alfred, I have some questions," Claudia said.

"Who are you are?"

"That isn't your concern. If you answer the questions truthfully, you can go home."

"Fine. What do you want to know?"

"Which agency do you work for?"

His head tilted. "What?"

"You heard me. We know you're a spy."

Alfred's face was stone. "Who are you?"

"You tell me what I want to know and then I'll give you more information."

He sighed, knowing that his past would eventually catch up with him.

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A computer geek at the station figured out the car was registered to the Zaccharas and then they found a picture from a traffic light camera about a block away from one of their warehouses.

"Gotcha," Ronnie said.

"I thought they had a truce," Mac said.

Dante shrugged. "Maybe they are finally making a move against Sonny."

"Something isn't right," Mac said.

"Do you really want to take a chance with his life?" Ronnie asked.

Mac sighed. "You're right. Let's go."

They tore out of the building to go save him.

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Claudia popped another hot cheeto into her mouth. "How long has it been?"

"Fifteen minutes," Johnny said.

"We can wait him out."

Alfred hadn't spoken since they asked him about the agency, deciding instead to clam up and force their hand. Something wasn't quite right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Every instinct he had told him to not speak.

"This is crazy," John said.

"We waited until it was nightfall, so no one will track it back to us."

"You know as well as I do, you always get caught scheming."

"Ha! You're just jealous."

"Of what exactly?"

The door burst open and she almost choked on a cheeto as she abruptly stood.

"Hands up!" Ronnie yelled.

"Can I lick the cheese off?" Claudia asked before doing so.

"Dammit Claudia, keep your hands up," Dante said.

Mac started to read their rights as Ronnie and another officer freed Alfred.

"You alright?"

"I'm fine. They didn't hurt me. I would have liked some tea, but something tells me they are more into coffee."

Ronnie grinned. "What did they want with you?"

"I'm not sure. There hasn't been a lot of communication."

"Maybe they were trying to scare you. Would you mind coming down to the station and filling out a report?"

"Of course."

Alfred followed him to a squad car and just before he got in, his mouth dropped open when he saw Claudia and John being led out of the building in handcuffs. "Oh, this is bad," he muttered.

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Elizabeth, Jason, Nikolas, and Emily were having dinner at Kelly's when Jason's phone rang and he frowned when he saw the caller ID.

"Audrey?"

She put her hand on her heart. "Jason, I need your help. I'm so scared. I have to go the police station. Can you meet me there?"

"I'll be right there."

He jumped up.

"What's wrong?" Emily asked.

"Audrey needs me to meet her at the police station."

"Did she say why? Liz asked.

"No, but she sounds really upset."

"We're coming too," Nikolas said.

They all ran to Jason's truck and got in, hoping that it isn't something serious.

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Dante waited until John and Claudia were led inside before escorting Alfred in.

John and Claudia were yelling at each other and Alfred let out a heavy sigh.

Mac whistled. "You two shut up!"

"This is a total misunderstanding," Claudia said.

Diane waltzed in. "Mac, what is going on and why are my clients in handcuffs?"

He scowled. "Since when are they your clients?"

"Since Elizabeth texted me." While she thought it strange when Elizabeth first mentioned Audrey, but said that if she saw John and Claudia to help them too. All she saw in her head was a new suit she had been eying to go with her Jimmy Choos, so she didn't question it further.

Audrey rushed inside and ran into Alfred's arms. "Oh my darling, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. They were very nice to me."

"Alfred, they kidnapped you. My beautician saw the whole thing and got the license plate number." Mac had explained things during their phone call which he had made at Alfred's request.

"Who did this to you?"

He pointed and Audrey's mouth fell open. "What the hell?"

"Grams!" Liz yelled as she rushed towards them. "What happened?"

"Alfred was kidnapped."

Liz's face paled and Alfred grabbed her arm to steady her.

"I'm fine, Elizabeth."

John growled. "This is all her fault."

Emily smacked her hand against her mouth as everyone in the room stared at Elizabeth.

"I think I need to sit down."

Jason moved her to a chair. "Do you have some water?"

Dante was already walking towards them with a bottle.

"You're such an ass. I can't believe you sold her out. I'm never telling you anything again."

"Actually, that's good because then I won't be arrested in the near future. Sorry Liz, it just came out."

Claudia stomped her foot and Johnny had to turn to hide his smirk. He is on guard duty, so he came along for the ride.

"Well someone please tell me what's going on!" Mac demanded.

"It's my fault. We were all joking around about not knowing Alfred's last name, so I asked Claudia if she'd help me kidnap him. We were just having some fun and they didn't hurt him. I'm sorry." Her bottom lip started to quiver and Mac groaned. Liz began to cry as her hormones raged and Jason pulled her onto his lap and glared at Mac.

"Let them go," he said before going back to his office.

Audrey sighed. "All of you, back to my house now!"

Johnny asked her if they wanted a ride, but Francis had arrived and took them instead, leaving Claudia and John to him.

Jason stood with Liz in his arms and John felt like shit that she is so upset.

"It's the hormones," Emily explained.

They went to the car and Jason drove them to the house as Liz fretted.

He is upset because she is crying and he knows that Audrey is going to blow her gasket. When they get to the house, Grams is already inside and Jason wondered if Francis knew a shortcut that he didn't.

Emily put her arm around Elizabeth as they walked to the house. "I'll take the blame."

"No, Emily. This is all on me. It was stupid. We were just having so much fun with it and it had been so long since we laughed. I guess I just took it too far."

Nikolas and Jason glanced at each other, wishing they could just take the girls and escape. When they entered the house, Audrey was waiting in the living room with a stone cold face. Alfred watched as the sullen group sat and then Johnny entered the room with Claudia and John.

"I am telling you right now that this will never happen again. It's none of your business what Alfred's last name is and someone could have gotten hurt."

"Audrey…"

"No, Alfred, I could have lost you and I just—" Tears sprang into her eyes and Elizabeth feels so badly.

"Grams, I'm sorry. We've been so stressed and we were laughing about the whole thing and making up stories that Alfred is a spy—I took it too far. Claudia would have never hurt him and you weren't supposed to find out."

"She's right. I wouldn't have hurt him. I have to say, Alfred, you're cool under pressure."

"Well I didn't know that it was fake, but something did seem off."

Liz sucked in a harsh breath and tried to hold back her tears.

"I understand you were trying to have fun, but anyone else would have been scared shitless."

Audrey gasped at Alfred's language.

"And Audrey my dear, Elizabeth's hormones are raging and she already feels guilty. I know you love me and they scared the dickens out of you, but I think it's time I come clean."

Emily and Liz locked eyes for a second.

"Gram is right. We don't need to know your name. Can you forgive me?"

He moved towards Elizabeth and held out his arms and he hugged her and then kissed the top of her head. "Of course I forgive you. I know you weren't trying to be mean. In a way, it was kind of funny."

"Alfred!"

"No, my love, it was. John was the worst kidnapper ever and practically begged me to get into the car and Claudia, you don't just go for the jugular, you have to work your way up to it and what on earth were you eating when you were questioning me?"

"Hot Cheetos."

Johnny snorted.

"It's not my usual. Sometimes, I have a hoagie. Asking all those questions works up my appetite."

Jason shut his eyes and tried not to smile. She is as bad as Johnny.

Liz pulled back. "You know you mean a lot to me, right?"

"I know. I want to tell you. Please get comfortable."

Jason got Elizabeth some water and then pulled her onto his lap.

"What I am about to tell you is highly confidential. I'm serious. In fact, my life could be in danger if the wrong people found out."

Jason's eyes narrowed as his thoughts went in a million different directions.

Liz glanced at her grandmother to see if she knew.

"Nikolas already knows who I am, but only in the last few years because he discovered it by accident."

Emily's mouth dropped open.

"I've been in witness protection for twenty years."

"What?"

Audrey looked at Nikolas and then back at Alfred.

"It's not something I'm very proud of you. You see, I was a butler for a crime family in Miami and I fell in love with his wife."

"What!" Emily yelled.

"I know it was tawdry. She fell in love with me too and I'm afraid we were busted."

Jason glanced at Johnny whose mouth is hanging open.

"You had an affair with a mobster's wife?" Liz said slowly.

"Yes. He tried to kill me and I had to retaliate to get out of the situation."

"Wow. I wasn't expecting that," Liz said.

"Me either," Claudia said.

"The feds contacted me when I was on the run and offered me immunity in exchange for my testimony."

At first everyone was quiet and then they all started talking at once as they asked questions and Alfred chuckled.

"What?" Liz asked.

"Gotcha. You should have seen the looks on your faces."

"Alfred!" Emily yelled as Nikolas cracked up.

Audrey chuckled. "I was wondering what the heck you were talking about."

"Sorry, I couldn't resist. Actually, I was a spy."

Claudia crossed her arms across her chest. "You're teasing us again, right?"

"I'm afraid not. I was a WSB agent for many, many years trying to bring down Helena Cassadine."

"It's true," Nikolas said.

"I gathered a lot of evidence which is why she doesn't stay in one place. She never guessed it was me. I stayed because I came to care about Master Nikolas and wanted to protect him. When he found out, he swore that he would never tell."

"Alfred was always very good to me."

"You were a spy?"

Alfred smirked. "Try to keep up, Elizabeth."

"Very funny."

Jason chuckled.

"So, our Alfred—Alfred Bond joke was right on target?" Claudia asked.

Alfred laughed. "You could say that. I'm highly trained and have many connections. I used them to find the witness."

Her mouth dropped open. "That was you?"

He nodded. "I've grown rather fond of Master Cameron too."

Liz smiled.

"I can't tell you my real last name. That would compromise my safety and probably Audrey's too. We will be married under the name Hardy. I'm going to take her name." They thought about using her maiden name, but everyone knew her as Hardy.

"Alfred Hardy. I like it," Liz said.

"So Audrey, you like the bad guys too."

Audrey grinned at Claudia. "I guess you could say that now."

Alfred winked at her. "And you need not worry about any of your secrets, they are safe with me. I'm no longer an active member of the WSB. I've retired."

"This is fascinating," Claudia said.

John rolled his eyes. "If you're done grilling Alfred Bond and trying to ruin my life, I have a date."

Liz turned around. "With who?"

John grinned. "Lara Croft."

Claudia punched him in the arm. "Geek." She hugged Elizabeth and then Audrey. "Sorry we gave you a scare."

Audrey returned her embrace. "I'll forgive you this time. I swear that you, Elizabeth, and Emily will be the death of me."

Claudia chuckled. "Maybe we'll just turn you into a bad girl too."

They left and then Emily and Nikolas went back to Windemere.

"You know, this upped your cool rating a lot," Liz said.

Alfred looked perplexed. "I didn't know there was such a thing. What is Jason's rating?"

"He's definitely a ten."

"Well, I think Alfred is definitely an eleven. He was, after all, a super spy," Audrey said making them laugh.

Jason shook Alfred's hand.

"You should keep a closer eye on that one. I'm afraid she's rather mischievous."

Jason chuckled. "Yeah. I might have to chip her or something."

Liz smacked his arm. "You will not. You like that I'm bad."

"That is true as long as you don't have me kidnapped."

Liz pursed her lips like she was thinking about it and then yelped when Jason picked her up and moved towards the door.

"Bye Grams and Alfred."

"Bye my dear, be good," Audrey said before turning towards her fiancé and hugging him. "An affair with a mob boss? That's what came to your mind first?"

"Well, in my defense, I thought the mob theme would resonant. What would you have come up with?"

"Hmmm. Maybe that you were a killer for hire and got out of the business when you couldn't kill Nikolas for Helena."

He shrugged. "That's a pretty good one."

"You know, I wasn't always Audrey Hardy, upstanding citizen."

He grinned. "Now I know where Elizabeth gets it from."

Audrey kissed him, so grateful to have him in her life.

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Claudia slipped into a booth at a diner on the edge of town. "Thanks for meeting here."

The other woman rolled her eyes. "What was so important that you woke me up at this ungodly hour?"

"I have a business proposition."

Tracy shot her a look. "Have you lost your mind?" She wondered if she had totally misread Claudia as being a strong business woman who commanded respect because there is no way in hell that she'll do anything mafia related.

"I can assure you that it's legit and I am of sound mind."

The waitress came by and Tracy ordered some coffee.

"I'm listening." She figured the sooner she heard the woman out, the quicker she could get back home. She had been in the middle of reading a juicy novel.

"I need to go legit because of some opportunities regarding the waterfront. There are a lot of changes coming and I need to start now. In the next three months, I'm dissolving all of my mob connections. According to some research I did, that should be perfect timing. Unfortunately, reputation is important, so I need a partner who can take the lead. I'll be the silent one and no one will ever know who is bankrolling you. They will just assume that its Quartermaine money and you're making some good business choices."

Tracy is intrigued. "Go on."

"I'm afraid I'll have to have you sign this document if we continue. I'm trying to protect myself. Anything discussed from this point on, you can't turn around and do on your own." She grabbed the legal document from her purse and pushed it towards her.

Tracy grinned. "You are every bit the good business woman I assumed you were. Can we make a lot of cash?"

"Yes. Since I'm mostly bankrolling it, the division will be seventy-thirty, but you'll still make a lot." Tracy would have to contribute some money, but it wouldn't be nearly as much as they needed. Thankfully, her father had horded a ton of cash.

Tracy read the paper. "Suppose I want more later?"

"Then we'll discuss it. I spoke to my brother and he wants to walk away altogether and start a shop and pursue his music. I'm going to give him a chunk of money up front, so he will not be a factor in the future business." John just wanted out and was happy with the agreement.

Tracy signed the paper. "Tell me more."