SLD-89 (Book 2 Chapter 29)
Valmere - D'Ercy Estate, France
Andre sat behind an ornate desk in the small study of the guest suite. Dimitri's voice came over the speakerphone. Poised on the corner of the desk, his wife Heloise listened intently.
"We planned to leave here last week but we shall be abusing Thanos' hospitality a few weeks more," said Heloise.
"Abusing?"
"The estate hasn't had young children around for decades. Far too many valuables lying around ready to be broken," said Andre.
"I'm sorry to disturb you as you set Jacques' affairs in order," said Dimitri.
"It is not a problem, Dimitri, believe me," said Heloise.
"You said something undesirable has landed on your lap. Alex is already handing the Foundation mess. I can't imagine what could be worst," said Andre.
"We received a letter today. It's from Charlotte," said Dimitri.
The Garniers exchanged uneasy glances.
"Let me read it to you." Dimitri read the letter aloud. "As you can guess, Alex is extremely upset. She wants immediate action."
"In her position I would be the same," said Heloise.
"We've heard nothing from Scotland Yard or Interpol. Have you anything new about Charlotte or Helena?" asked Dimitri.
Andre glanced at his wife who nodded. He said, "Charlotte's last known whereabouts was in Vladivostok. At this time, she's at large. The same is true for Helena."
"Could they be together?" asked Dimitri.
"We believe they are working together in some way," said Andre. "They've both gone into hiding. If anyone knows how to cover her tracks, it's Charlotte."
"But you do have contacts looking for them?"
"Yes, we do," said Andre. "WIth the Foundation dealt with, it's time to look at other unfinished business. We don't believe that Charlotte would risk being in areas of large populations or areas that she knows would likely be dangerous to her freedom such as Budapest. I know that's little consolation, Dimitri."
"Better than nothing,' said Dimitri.
"Will it calm Alex?" asked Heloise.
"To tell you the truth, I'm not sure," said Dimitri. "I will say that her level of intensity Is climbing. I've only seen this phenomenon a few times. Once when she came to Pine Valley and had to convince my family that I had died then when she was pregnant with Vik. And when Anna came into our lives."
"I bet Anna was equally intense," noted Andre remembering his past adventure with Alex's twin sister.
"More. Edmund and I were walking on eggshells around both of them for weeks and months. Any little thing could set them off," said Dimitri. "I'm afraid that Alex has reached the end of her rope where Charlotte is concerned. She may want to have a more … more active part in the hunt for her mother."
"And you would not be happy with that?" asked Heloise.
"I can understand her need to close that part of her life but I do not welcome her putting herself in danger," said Dimitri. "Is there any way to accelerate the search? Do we need more people? Funds?"
"Throwing money or people at the problem helps but it won't solve it," said Andre.
"I will be contributing nonetheless," said Dimitri. "What else can I be doing to help?"
"We need more contacts in Eastern Europe specifically in the intelligence agencies," said Andre. "Ones that we can trust."
"I'll work on that."
"Charlotte is at the top of our list, Dimitri," said Heloise.
"Not Helena?" asked Dimitri.
"Helena is a known quantity," said Andre. "Because she is, we can better counter her plans, predict her actions, and, ultimately, bring her to justice. I can't say the same for Charlotte."
"She is far too unpredictable," said Heloise. "We feel that this second chance at life has changed many of the things we thought we knew about her. The intent of her letter for example may be real or not. Who can know?"
"It sounds like Alex is taking it seriously," said Andre.
"Alex feels that Charlotte is attempting to sound us out under the guise of a desire to establish ties," said Dimitri. "Speaking as one who has been a victim of Charlotte's deviousness and ambition, I can tell you that she uses offense as a defense and vice versa. The trick is to guess what strategy she is pursuing."
"Is she one who is open to executing action even when her plans are incomplete?" asked Heloise.
"Maybe before but not now I think," said Dimitri. "The tone of her letter leads me to think that she means to stay free and what she needs to do to retain that status is not beyond her will."
"But does she have the capacity and resources?" asked Andre.
"With Helena in her camp, I would say yes," deduced Heloise.
"I'll let Alex know what we discussed," said Dimitri. "We'll see you at the wedding. I'm rather curious to see how all of it will work."
Andre grinned. "A wedding with virtual guests. It may be a first. Goodbye, Dimitri.
Once the connection ended, Heloise sat down on an armchair and addressed her husband. She glanced at the door to make sure it was shut. It was.
"We need to change our strategy where Helena and Charlotte are concerned," said Heloise.
"Change how?"
"Bringing them down together will prove difficult."
"That's why we're tackling Helena through the Families. Hit her where it would hurt most and through the method that she has the least defenses against."
"I do not believe that is enough," said Heloise. "It's like attacking an entrenched enemy from only one side."
Andre thought for a moment. "All right. How about the syringe angle? There is an outstanding warrant for her for that."
"Which has proven useless," snapped Heloise. "No, I think a strategy of divide and conquer is required. We must find a way to seed doubt and mistrust between Helena and Charlotte."
"We don't have enough information to even begin to guess how to do that."
"And we return to Charlotte and how little we truly know of her," said Heloise. "That must change. You must see that."
A knock came from the door. It opened without a sound and the tall, lean figure of Thanos D'Ercy stepped in.
"I'm leaving for Paris in a few minutes. Has there been a change in our plans?"
Andre shook his head. His eye fell on the large ornate box that sat on the top of the desk. Inside, the Cassadine jewels lay glittering. "No change. It's time."
"Have you made your decision?" asked Heloise.
"I continue to be torn between telling Nikolas before or after Conclave. Or, perhaps, not telling him anything at all," said Thanos. "There can be safety in ignorance."
"If you tell him, he will be forced to stay and attend Conclave. If you say nothing, then he will return to Port Charles. It seems to me that is your choice really," said Heloise. "Where does Prince Nikolas' safety lie best?"
"Here," said Thanos in a weary voice. "But he wishes to return to pay respects to … to his friend Robin. He will not be put off by gates and guards I suspect."
"Has he begun asking questions?" asked Andre.
"He seems to be remembering more and more of those days of the dinner," said Thanos. "I have thus far not encouraged thinking they were anything but bad dreams."
"The last traces of Compound X must be leaving his system," said Heloise.
"He will be devastated when he realizes his role in that macabre pantomime," said Thanos.
"Robert and Anna do want to know what really happened to er, Robin and the syringe," said Andre.
"What form of vengeance shall they enact?" asked Thanos. "After the results of the Foundation case, I must ask as one who has Nikolas' interests at heart."
"Nikolas was a pawn. They know that. They will take no action against him. I would worry more about Nikolas' reaction," said Heloise. "His long time friend has died and he had a hand in it. His regret and guilt will be immense."
"His reaction shall be rage and it shall be directed at Helena. That could prove useful to my purposes," said Thanos. "It may be that which finally weans him from her pernicious influence."
"I thought you told me that only death will sever that connection," said Andre.
"That remains valid. However, Nikolas has always had the option to declare Helena as outcast from the Cassadine family as a whole. Angry as he has been with her in the past, he has always stayed his hand from that too final a decision," said Thanos. "This revelation may be the thing to push him forward. I cannot say that I shall weep for Helena. Perhaps, I shall laugh instead."
Moscow, Russia
After breakfast, Constantin excused himself and Ava from Faison's company. Faison graciously gave them leave. Wordlessly, they ascended to their bedroom. Ava entered their bathroom and turned on all the faucets. Constantin stood close to her. They whispered.
"Take Nina and fly," said Constantine urgently.
"Not yet. We need more information of what he is planning," asked Ava.
"He has taken control of the DVX. He has ordered execution on dozens of suspected traitors and informers. What more is there to know?"
"That can't be all he has in mind. He could have done this decades ago. Why now?"
"It does not matter, Ava, You and I see madness in his eyes and deep anger in his voice. That is enough for me," said Constantine. "Hans is gone and his followers are being hunted down like … like animals. If one of them talks too much, then we will be next."
"No one knows of our connection except for Hans. We have hidden it even from our own children."
"Ivan told us that Hans was behaving oddly in his last weeks. He could have told others," said Constantine. "I will not rely on the safety of old confidences. We have failed to change our country from the inside. There is only one thing to do now."
"I am not leaving you but I will send Nina to Ivan."
Constantine gently took Ava in a deep embrace. He said into her ear. "You must go. We need help from the outside. They must believe and they will if you are the messenger."
Ava gulped. Her eyes began to shine with unshed tears. "I will return for you. I will."
Husband and wife gazed at each other in silence for endless seconds. Their hands entwined and held tight.
"Make ready for Sochi. You go tonight not tomorrow," said Constantine. "We will retire early and then you will leave."
"Not even one night together?"
"I have always been possessive with you and now I must be selfless. It is the hardest decision for me, Ava."
Ava nuzzled her cheek against Constantine's jaw. Her hands wandered over his shoulders, back and arms trying to comfort him.
"Force the children to … to defect as soon as possible," urged Constantine. "I have hidden the newest datacard in our usual place. Take it out today. Prepare your things here. You will be watched in Sochi."
"I will let you know when-"
"No. From now on, I cannot know anything of what you do," said Constantine. "He may use what I know against you. I cannot have that."
"How will you know when to leave if I do not contact you?" asked Ava. At her husband's silence, she gasped. She realized that he had no intention of following her out of Russia.
"I will buy you as much time as I can for as long as I may. Tonight, Ava," said Constantine. He stepped away from his wife. One by one, he began to turn off the faucets.
Ava looked away. She would not add her sorrow to his.
Constantine took a deep breath and said loudly, "I shall see you later at dinner, Ava. What are your plans today?"
Ava said equally loudly, "I shall be at the market this morning. I must buy some of our guest's favorite foods."
"Do not forget the candy that Nina likes," said Constantine.
She held her husband's sad gaze. "I will not forget. Never."
CHIONE HQ, Mersin, Turkey
Charlotte sat back and studied the message she had typed on P.K. Sinclair's guest book. It was a transparently simple method to sent a message to Cesar Faison and to other people who like her scanned the guestbook regularly.
Her lips moved as she read: Greetings from Bryn Wyd. I have news from a mutual German friend about foxes on your farm. Can't wait to see you again in Oslo.
She double-checked the proxy server she was logged in on and the multiple bounces the message would take around the world before finally being delivered to its destination. Too many bounces and the message's true origin would be untraceable.
"It's time to begin the Game again," said Charlotte. She sent the message. A shrill chirp came from the intercom.
"Charlotte?" came Peter's voice.
She hit the intercom button. "Yes, Peter?"
"I'm nearly done with my … product. Can you arrange for delivery?" asked Peter.
"When and where?"
"It will stabilized by tomorrow morning. Plan on sending it by end of business by courier," said Peter. "I'll give you the address when it's ready."
Charlotte's brow rose at Peter's reluctance to divulge all the necessary information. "I can't schedule a courier if I don't know where it needs to go."
"Send one of your people."
"I think not," said Charlotte. "I must make rather complex arrangements in order to hide our base. It would help greatly if I knew its final destination."
"Very well," said Peter. "It needs to be delivered to Faison's townhouse in London and-"
"What? Impossible!"
"He won't know, Charlotte. He hasn't visited there in years," said Peter.
"Why there?" asked Charlotte.
"The caretaker is my man. He will see it delivered to my client," replied Peter. "He has done this sort of thing for me for a very long time."
"You trust him to be discreet and loyal?"
"Absolutely," said Peter. "I'll disguise the packaging as cleaning supplies. It should slip through customs undisturbed."
"Is that how you've been shipping Compound X?"
"One of the ways, yes," said Peter.
"This is against my better judgment."
"My man is one of my early test subjects, Charlotte. He is conditioned to be loyal to me," said Peter.
"I see. How clever of you," said Charlotte. "I shall make the courier arrangements however I wish to monitor this transaction very carefully."
"You mean you'll be spying on the townhouse," said Peter. "That's your choice. You will find nothing amiss. Elena and I fine-tuned that end of the process over the years. Thank you, Charlotte." He turned the intercom off.
Charlotte stared at the intercom for some time. She replayed the entire conversation over again mentally.
"Peter, you are more than what I took you for. Sobriety does make a difference," muttered Charlotte. "While Helena is away, perhaps, I … we can get to know each other better."
Note: Peter Krieg was original to this story but Charlotte Devane was actually a character on All My Children during the Alex/Anna years.