One Temple Court
Signs proclaiming "Galleria Grand Opening Feb 12th" welcomed detectives Alvin Martinez and Lucky Spencer as they entered the main entrance. They goggled seeing the pricey shops being set up at the high visibility spots. Tantalizing smells wafted from the 24 hour delicatessen which had an entrance off the main rotunda.
"Lucky! Hey!" called a voice.
Lucky turned and smiled. "Bobbie!" He led Alvin to his aunt's adoption center. He introduced Alvin then said, "I see you're open for business."
"That's right," said Bobbie as she tacked a flyer on the board next to her office front door. It was a flyer for the upcoming fundraiser for the Frisco Jones Children's Theater.
"Dad said you were opening up shop in here besides moving in. Did you quit the hospital?" asked Lucky.
"Not completely. The hospital hired a new Nursing Coordinator. Audrey and I trained her and she's going to do a fantastic job. I substitute occasionally or if there's an emergency," said Bobbie. She gestured to her front door. "THIS is my job now."
Lucky looked approvingly at Bobbie. "It looks like it suits you. You're glowing."
"This is something that can help people in a positive way. It feels like a … a fresh start for me," said Bobbie. "Besides, my schedule is all mine and I have no commute to work. I feel like such a slacker."
"It looks like you've got everything you need here," said Alvin. "A deli, dry cleaners, coffee shop and all these other shops."
"The resident exercise room and lap pool upstairs is nearly done," said Bobbie. Mischief glinted in her eyes. "You know there are several nurses and doctors rooming together here. Tiffany has a resident mixer planned later this week. If you two aren't busy, come on over."
"It wouldn't be the same night you invited me for a home-cooked dinner would it?" asked Lucky.
"Maybe it is. What's wrong with meeting new people?" asked Bobble. Her phone rang. "Gotta get that. Bye, boys!" She waved goodbye and entered her office.
"She's not much like your dad," said Alvin.
"They're alike in some ways. But even Dad steers clear of Bobbie when she's in a foul mood," said Lucky. He checked his watch. "Let go see the good doctor shall we?"
The unsmiling concierge/guard by the residential elevators gave them a curt nod and made them sign a guestbook before being allowed to use the elevator.
Inside the elevator as it ascended, Alvin remarked, "You know the guards around here don't look like guards. What do you think ex-WSB people?"
"With Sean Donely and his own family living here, you're surprised?" asked Lucky.
Still dressed in blue scrubs, Matt opened his front door and led Detectives Alvin Martinez and Lucky Spencer inside. "Sorry about the short notice."
"Not a problem," said Alvin. "I'm surprised you wanted to meet here instead of the hospital."
"There's a good reason for that." Matt took a folder from under his computer keyboard and handed the folder to Alvin. "There are the results from my analysis of the powder inside the capsules of prescription pills."
"That was fast. I didn't realize the hospital lab was so good," said Alvin.
"I had access to, uh, a … a specialized lab computer. It's not important where," said Matt. He sat down in his armchair.
Lucky began to read one of the reports. "This is really detailed chemical analysis. The labs the department uses take two weeks to process something like this."
Matt cleared his throat. "The drug is definitely a narcotic with mild but long-lasting hallucinogenic properties and a really mild crash effect. So, you take this, get high for an hour with no headache or a munchie attack afterwards. It shouldn't be life-threatening but it is to those people with certain defects or conditions. For example, the mayor's niece is an asthmatic. She experienced seizures due to that condition."
"We've been checking the street since the fire. There's buzz about a new drug called Fly. This may be it," said Alvin.
"Something new to worry about," muttered Lucky. "Just wonderful."
"Um, this isn't exactly new," said Matt. He took a deep breath and began to explain. "When I first came here to General it wasn't just for a job but to track down the source of counterfeit drugs that I had exposed at two hospitals before. The drugs looked just like the real thing but they were all placebos. I've amassed a sizable list of deaths at the two hospitals that I believe were caused by the use of fake drugs. I had no proof to take this to the authorities. So, I kept investigating and the trail led me here. Port Charles is the source."
"Is the source? It's still going on?" asked Alvin.
"I think so. They've gotten smarter hiding the product," said Matt. "I pushed through some changes at General that screens out the bogus drugs that I know of but they're bound to slip through."
"Wait a minute. This is a consumer disaster. Didn't you report this?"
"I tried and got told that it wouldn't be in my best interest to pursue an investigation," said Matt. "I'm a surgeon and human. I like having my head and hands attached to my body if you know what I mean. Like I said I think they got smarter. They must have stopped using placebos. They still don't use the real thing but I think they use something that works the same but is cheaper and probably not as potent as the real drug would be. It makes it much harder to prove cause and effect."
"It's still wrong," said Lucky. "They need to be stopped. Are there counterfeit drugs for children?"
"I didn't find any but that doesn't mean they don't exist," said Matt.
"You suspect a connection between Fly and the counterfeit drugs?" asked Alvin.
Matt nodded. "See, prescription drugs are relatively hard to copy because the maker has to make it look like the real thing. Every drug has a unique appearance - shape, size, type, color, weight and markings on the pill itself. This is not something made in a kitchen laboratory. You need something more sophisticated - a real commercial laboratory."
"Labs can be hidden believe me," said Lucky. "One way to find it though is to nail down the distribution."
"That's another angle that I ran into a dead end with," said Matt. "I got some people to talk but they were on street level. No one could or would finger a supplier or a distributor."
"What? The drugs just appear like that? No way," said Alvin.
"Just telling you what I know," said Matt. "Fly is doing something similar. It's hiding inside what appears to be real drugs. On the outside it looks genuine but it's really Fly on the inside. Because of the level of manufacturing sophistication required in both cases, I think they're connected if not made by the same persons. What to do from here is up to you."
"Fly was distributed from an actual pharmacy. I don't want to spook the pharmacist by snooping around too much before we have more to go on," said Alvin.
"The Zaccharas run the drug network here," said Lucky. "Maybe we can finally pin something on Johnny Zacchara."
"Or Sonny Corinthos. Johnny runs the network day to day but Sonny's the boss," said Alvin. "I'd love to get something that sticks on Sonny."
"A lot of people have tried," said Lucky. "Matt, could you write down the name of the lab so we can ask them more questions once we've read through this report?"
"No can do," said Matt. "I put samples of the pill in an envelope in the folder. I suggest you have an independent lab do another analysis."
"That's a waste of time if you-" began Alvin.
"It's a Scorpio thing isn't it?" asked Lucky realizing why Matt was skirting the issue.
"Spies and drugs?" asked Alvin.
"No, the computer that did this analysis. Am I close, Matt?" asked Lucky.
"I know nothing. You'll have to take it up with Anna," Matt replied.
"She can't be as tough as Robert."
Matt rose to his feet. "I'm going to have to tell her what I did when she's back in town. That won't be pleasant."
"Aren't they on a honeymoon trip?" asked Lucky.
Matt backpedaled. "If that's what you heard then that's probably true."
"What did YOU hear on the family grapevine?"
"I know less than nothing," said Matt. "That's all I got for you and I'm beat." He led the detectives out.
In the elevator, the detectives puzzled over the meeting with Matt.
"Spies and their toys," said Lucky.
"There are the most outrageous rumors about the Villa going around," said Alvin. "If we show up there, they'd have to let us in, am I right?"
"I know someone who's been to the Villa."
"Who?"
"Bobbie."
"Let's pass by her office and see what she knows."
"Sounds like a plan."
Haunted Star
The casino was full of boisterous gamblers and the inevitable hangers on and leeches that called casinos their second home. Dressed like a businessman with his hair cut in a wavy style, blue contact lens in place and clean cut jaw, Franjo Curic walked in like he belonged with the rest of the revelers. He ambled to the bar and asked to meet with the owner. A few minutes later, Franjo was escorted to the back office.
"Mr. Spencer, you may not remember me. My name is Franjo Curic. Mr. Venturi has a message for you," said Franjo.
"Have a seat." Luke closed the door and made for the minibar. "What's your poison?"
"I don't drink on the job." Franjo took a folded piece of paper from his inside pocket. "The shipment will be coming into port on two ships. I have their names and manifests here. One set of cargo is packed as cleaning solvents and another as agricultural equipment. All seals on the cargo must remain intact at all times. On the customs declarations forms, the receiving company will be the name you instructed us to use."
"Good. I don't foresee any problems." Luke sat down behind his desk. He did his best to study Dino's man without appearing to be too interested. He placed Franjo's accent as East European but nothing more definite than that. Luke read Franjo for a mercenary but there was a sense of rigid discipline about the man that made Luke wonder if a mercenary was all he was.
"You are certain that you can … handle all aspects of this job?" asked Franjo.
"Don't worry about the steps in between. Just tell me where they need to be sent and when."
"I am to show you the list of destinations first and allow you to withdraw your bid if you like."
"I don't need to see it because I won't change my mind," said Luke. "But it sounds to me like Dino has doubts about me. This his way of allowing me to save face? It's a nice touch."
"Mr. Venturi does not wish to waste his time or yours. Be very sure you can do this."
"You're under forty, aren't you?" asked Luke.
"Yes."
"Well, I'm a lot of years over forty and I'm still here and still in the business. I must be doing something right."
"You do have connections and history in this city as a former mayor," said Franjo. "However, you have not been involved in this type of shipment before. There are no second chances. There can be no mistakes."
"You do your homework."
"I was taught that you can never know too much about your enemies or your friends, especially your friends," said Franjo.
"Sounds like a wise teacher," said Luke. "I'm taking a gamble on Dino just as much as he is on me. I don't know him from Adam. My own sources say he's an up and comer. He's formed a very tight organization in Jersey. That's the old Carter family stomping grounds. Imagine MY surprise when I'm told that the Carters are IN Dino's organization. How do I know that Dino doesn't have ambitions to expand into Port Charles? If he does, he'll have problems with MY good friend Sonny Corinthos. See what I'm saying about risks?"
"People playing both sides in any situation do not do so because of fear but to show they can," said Franjo. "The risk is all on you."
"Then why the doubts?"
"Mr. Venturi believes in traditional values. He takes care of his own. If you do this well, you will be our friend. As a friend, he owes you courtesy," said Franjo.
Luke laughed. "Does Dino watch old time mafia movies a lot? The last traditional boss in this area was Victor Jerome. I didn't know him but from what I've heard, I'm glad I didn't. He's gone and times have changed. And traditional values? You have to be kidding."
"Mr. Venturi values loyalty, personal honor and discretion."
"I don't know about loyalty these days but money talks." Luke looked at Franjo. He was having a terrible time reading this man. He was too intelligent to be a mere bodyguard. It seemed to Luke that Franjo had Dino's trust. Therefore, it was in Luke's best interest to stay on his good side.
"Some of us still value what money cannot buy," said Franjo. He placed the list in front of Luke and took out a thick envelope and placed it on top of the list. "There is the ship's manifest, the list of destinations and dates and an advance of one third of the full payment."
Luke's eyes lit up at the unexpected windfall. "That's very generous."
"It's a matter of courtesy from Mr. Venturi to you. Take it as a sign of trust." Franjo stood up. "Mr. Venturi knows this is a difficult task. Money can eliminate many … excuses. Perhaps the changes at the police department will make your task easier."
"You follow local news, too. You're very thorough. Was that another lesson learned?"
Franjo ignored the question. "I shall be inquiring at random about the state of the project."
At the door, Franjo paused. "Also, should the project fail, the advance is due immediately with twenty percent interest. Are we clear?"
"Like ice water," said Luke. "What if I need to talk to you?"
"Leave a note with the bartender at The Mermaid tavern."
"You do like the old fashioned stuff."
"I like the methods that work." With that, Franjo left the office.
Luke waited several minutes before pocketing the bulging envelope of cash and studying the lists. His eyes went down the list of destinations and his puzzlement increased. The destinations covered cities across the country - California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Utah, Kansas to name a few.
"Kansas? Utah? What the heck am I delivering?" He saw the date of the ship arrivals and paled. "Son of a bitch! That's way too soon. Where am I going to put it all?"