One Temple Court
Maxie sat on Andrew's couch while he lay on the chaise lounge. The obligatory two bodyguards were in their usual positions by the door and the balcony. Maxie had checked in on Andrew and stayed to chat for a while.
"I'm going to take the day off tomorrow. I'm going to the Villa to take care of Emma for a few hours. Come with me," said Maxie.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Judy says that she more fussy than usual."
"Of course she misses her mum," said Andrew.
"Matt told me that Patrick has been burying himself in work - double shifts, even a night in the ER."
"That doesn't seem right."
"Everyone deals with grief in different ways, Andrew."
"Emma needs him to be around."
"Maybe it hurts him to be around Emma. Reminders of what he lost I think."
"Still. Emma needs her father."
"And her uncle and her aunt," pressed Maxie. "You're pretty tense tonight. You need to relax. Have a run with Prospero on the grounds. Play with Emma. She lights up when she sees you."
"She does not," scoffed Andrew.
"Well, you do when you see her."
"Naturally, She's adorable. I'm not immune to ... to baby cuteness," said Andrew. "She's the only baby I'm willing to change. That's commitment isn't it?"
Maxie's expression turned serious. "Andrew, a lot has happened and I know that ... that you're making adjustments because of this treatment you're doing with Tom but can you listen to a piece of advice?"
"I don't suppose I can stop you, Aunt Maxie. Go on," said Andrew.
"Don't close yourself off from the people around you."
"People around me get hurt."
"And people around ME are exposed to my brand of crazy all the time. No difference."
"Your so-called crazy isn't fatal," said Andrew. "Besides, I'm not closing myself off completely."
"You are from Emma. You avoid seeing her even on video cams."
"Maxie, if anything happened to her because of me I ... I c-could never live with myself," said Andrew. "She has a safe environment with lots of people who love her. It's better that she's buffered against the real world until she's older. It's the best way to be raised. I didn't know anything about Faison's life until I was six. My early childhood was idyllic. The memories are happy and pleasant. I want that for Emma."
"You're going to keep away for five years? That's not healthy for you or for her," said Maxie. "Not to be insensitive but what favor did Faison do to you for isolating you so much?"
"He kept me safe."
"There is no safety. I used to think there was but I know better. The only thing we have is our family and friends. Why deny yourself the joy of being around them?" said Maxie. "Don't use the safety argument. That doesn't hold up and you know it."
"You nag very well," noted Andrew.
"It's one of my best virtues," said Maxie. "So, coming with me tomorrow?"
"You win. What time?"
"Right after breakfast. Dad wants me to get this list of numbers to Genji to analyze and trace," said Maxie.
"Numbers?"
"It's a list from SIMON of the phone calls incoming to the house. Since my attacker ripped the answering machine tape out, we're thinking that something about phone calls was important."
"Why do you have to wait 'til morning?"
"Because I've just finished going over the list and identifying the ones I don't know."
Andrew stood up and held a hand out. "Give me the list and I'll run it through SIMON's analyzer."
"Wait. You're banned from SIMON."
"Mum lifted the ban temporarily when I had to, um, I mean, earlier. She didn't countermand it."
"Semantics."
"Only the truth," said Andrew leading Maxie to his study where his workstation was set up. "The list please."
"I'll read off the numbers to you and you enter," said Maxie.
Brookhaven Marina, Long Island
Frisco reached over the side of the boat Sparkle and found the small case affixed to the hull. Using a fingernail, he flipped open a small clasp and out fell a key. He led Dianara to the command deck. He unlocked the door and proceeded down the ladder to the living quarters.
"You seem to know your way around," said Dianara.
"Been here a few times," said Frisco. He surveyed the combination galley and salon. "It said 'The lady's gems sparkle in the sun forever' so look for light sources or things with a sun."
The two split up and began to search the boat. Dianara entered the bedroom. She flipped on the lights first thing. She peered into light bulbs, examined pictures and even looked under the bed.
"Find anything?" called out Frisco.
"No!" said Dianara.
Dianara entered the bathroom. Absently, she flipped the light switch. She was inside the room before she noticed that the light hadn't come on. The other lights on the boat had turned on. Every technologically-inclined person she had ever known was meticulous about their things. On a hunch, she flipped the switched once more. The light on the ceiling remained dark.
Standing on tip toe, she turned and loosened the bulb cover. With care, she unscrewed the bulb and shook it. She didn't see anything in the bulb. Disappointed, she was about to return the bulb and cover when she noticed how loose the fixture was. The screws were only halfway in as if someone had been in a hurry. She tried the screws and found that they were loose. She turned them easily and the fixture descended with frayed wires still attached. Dianara reached into the hole and felt about. Her fingers touched upon a flat package. With some difficulty, she rolled and pulled the package out. It was a brown clasp envelope. She could feel a computer disc and a flash drive inside it.
Dianara ran up into the galley. "Frisco! I got-"
"Shhhhhh," said Frisco. At her look of inquiry, he added. "I hear footsteps on the deck." He took out his car keys and dangled them in the air. "You know what to do with this."
She nodded and took the keys. "Is there another way off?"
"No. I'll go out and draw them off." Frisco took a vase and threw it across the room where it hit the wall and broke into pieces.
A faint thud reached their ears. Someone had reached the command deck. Using hand signals, they positioned themselves on opposite sides of the stairs.
WHUT. WHUT.
Two bullets from a silencer whistled through the air. A few minutes earlier and the bullets would have found their mark. A heavyset man began to descend down the ladder at a run with gun drawn. As soon as his right foot hit the floor, Frisco jumped him from behind using his momentum to push the man to his knees. Dianara scampered up the ladder and through the command deck.
CRASH!
The sounds of the struggling men faded as she ran for the car while looking for a second assailant. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied movement. She ran harder. She felt more than saw her pursuer. Once she reached the parking lot, she removed her gun and turned. She emptied half a clip laying down fire. She turned and spotted a car in the deserted parking lot that hadn't been there before. She shot out two of its tires.
BANG!
Dianara turned to see Frisco running towards the lot with his gun drawn and shooting. Could he know where the second gunman was? Before she could answer her own question, Frisco swayed and grabbed at his right shoulder.
BANG!
Dianara ran back into the marina towards Frisco. She saw their attacker standing up behind some barrels unaware of her presence. She fired.
BANG!
Frisco ran towards her while she kept up a continues volley with the gunman. Once Frisco passed her, she emptied her clip in the general direction of the gunman and ran after Frisco. She took the wheel and sped out of the marina. Frisco panted and laid back against the seat.
"I don't see any other cars following," said Frisco.
"I took out their tires," said Dianara. "How bad is it?"
"Flesh wound. I zigged when I should have zagged," said Frisco. "I'll live. You shouldn't have waited for me you know."
"Do YOU leave people behind especially family?"
"I'll forget about it this time. Don't let it happen again," replied Frisco. "What did you get?"
Frisco picked up the envelope lying on the seat. He ripped open the package and out fell a compact disc and a flash drive just as Dianara had suspected. The disc had a series of slashes and curves written in black Sharpie on one side. "This looks familiar."
"What does?"
"The writing on the disc. It looks like the ones on a bunch of Chase's notes I copied. I know I've seen this kind of writing before. I just can't remember."
"Blood loss doesn't help," said Dianara. "Lie back. I'll pull over in a bit and tend to it." Dianara pulled her IPhone out of her pocket and began to initiate a call to the SIMON.
"No call. Not yet."
"They can meet us halfway and give us coverage."
Frisco shook his head. "I have to get back to the office. Suspicious if I don't show up for airport escort duty."
"You've got to be kidding."
"Get Connie. She'll know the closest safe house. I can fix myself up a little. Drop me off then head to Port Charles. Take everything we've found."
Dianara initiated a call to Connie. Frisco closed his eyes and tried to ignore the burning pain in his shoulder.
LaGuardia Airport, New York
Frisco followed Chase up the stairs into the chartered Lear jet. As Chase settled into his seat, Frisco inspected the cockpit and the rear of the jet. Frisco stopped in the aisle to wish Chase well.
"I'm serious about that offer, Frisco. A week's vacation to teach a course or two. Take your wife along if you want," said Chase shaking Frisco's hand.
"I'll think about it. Really," replied Frisco.
"Serving our country is the best calling anyone can have. But, it's not the best way to a substantial nest egg for retirement," said Chase. "I'm always looking for consultants."
Frisco smiled. "I'm flattered but I can't give you an answer right now."
"I don't expect one." Chase held out a business card. "Call me when you want to talk more."
Frisco took the card and put it into his pocket. "The plane checks out. You have a safe trip."
Chase's phone began to chime. Frisco walked away and off the plane.
Chase answered the phone. "Yes, Arn, what is it?"
"We have a situation," said Arn. "Can you talk?"
"Go ahead before my plane takes off."
"Someone else got to Tim's package," said Arn. "Our men were waiting for Tim's sister and the horde of realtors and well-wishers to leave the house before they went in. But two people showed up and entered the house beforehand. They even knew where the key was."
"Who were they?"
"I'm waiting for positive identification."
"They were there. They saw them! Why the delay?"
"One of our men is dead and the other was able to call me before he went into surgery."
Chase sighed. "Tell me everything."
"They put a tracer on the car then went back to observing the property. It didn't take too long until the other two came out and made a beeline for the marina. Sidwell had a boat apparently," said Arn. "They found something. I can only suspect that it was the same thing we were looking for. There was a shootout."
"Our side lost?"
"They were definitely pros," said Arn.
"What else do we know?" asked Chase.
"We did get a plate number. We're running a trace on it. I've contracted two locals to take over tracking the mystery car. It's the only lead we have. I'm hoping they'll have something soon."
"Do whatever it takes to get that package," ordered Chase.
"I think it's time to retreat and regroup. We can find another way to jumpstart Project Minerva into its last phase," said Arn. "Let's put the project on ice while we think of a different approach to solving the-"
"No. We have spent years on this project. We're too close to stop and rethink everything. We don't have to," said Chase. "The results that Tim got from the test run of the program application is a hundred times better than anything we have."
"We just need to develop our in-house technical talent. If one man can create that program, then think about what a dozen can do given the right direction. Tim's programmatic design shows that it is possible. We can shift our focus to his approach and get results given some time."
"Having the application code doesn't matter if we don't have the equipment to run it on," argued Chase. "Tim admitted that he could only have built the program on the Babbage Protocol technology platform and nowhere else. He used key elements of the platform to increase the accuracy of the program."
"All the more reason to step back. Give us the time to build the platform on our side."
"We have every right to use that platform. It's federal property. We serve our country just like the WSB if in near total secrecy. Our parents dedicated their lives to ensuring the welfare of the American public and we're carrying their work forward. I'll find a way to get access to it."
"You said they're not receptive to your idea."
"Connie isn't but Ross is on our side. I need to apply some leverage on him. Something," said Chase. "If only Tim hadn't gotten spooked and refused to hand over the code to us."
"I've racked my brain and looked over the communications trail with him. I still can't find what made him wary of us," said Arn.
"Putting Joey Morton inside to ferret it out of Tim did nothing," said Chase.
"We live and learn, Chase. I think he saw through to our real purpose for the program. That has to be it."
"He was one of the smartest people I know," said Chase. The plane began to roll. "Arn, we're moving to the runway. Anything else?"
"I'm staying here in Port Charles one more day."
"Haven't you met Anna Devane yet?"
"No. There's something off with things here."
"Like what?"
"I'll give you a better report later. Things don't add up against what Donely has told us about Devane and Scorpio."
"They're retired and new grandparents. What's exotic about that?"
"For starters, their son is the founder of DigiMaze."
"THE DigiMaze?"
"Uh, huh, the most secret technology developer on the planet. They live on a huge farm with jamming signals and armed patrols. Not a single drone plane I've sent over the place has returned," said Arn. "And, the strangest bit is that they have Faison's old boat the Nereo sitting on the dock."
"Are you sure? Wasn't that supposed to have sunk around Sicily years ago? I remember Dad lusting after it."
"That's the story but not the reality. That boat's profile and design are unmistakeable. There are a few cosmetic changes to disguise it but I've heard plenty of tales about the boat around here. They call it the ghost ship because it moves so fast and it operates most at night."
"Back up to the son, Arn. If he's the founder, does that mean he's the scientific genius that DigiMaze management refers to but never in any detail?"
"Yeah. They've built this founder myth for years but I'm with you. The son, Andrew Scorpio, IS the whiz kid. I'm hearing some buzz about him too," said Arn. "Practically the entire city knows about the family one way or the other. It's not hard to get information."
"A second generation from such illustrious parents. If we could get him on our side and-" began Chase.
"I think you'll have to go through his parents first. The boy has more security on him than ... than anything I've seen. He's got on body security, long distance watches and shadow surveillance all the time. He's probably got dermal tracer patches, too," said Arn. "With the recent death of their daughter, Devane and Scorpio are keeping their only surviving child on a short leash."
"Cooperation is all we want. Think what he could do for us," said Chase. The engines of the jet began to whine. "I'll see about an introduction from Sean. Keep it on a social level and sound out the boy. Arn, we're taking off. Don't get too attached to Port Charles. We need you in London."