Jason looked at Sonny, trying to gauge his mood.
"You need to talk some sense into Kellie, Jason," Sonny said, "She can't take a seat at the table, own this shipping company…."
Jason shook his head, "I can't referee between you and Kellie, not this time. She's making her own choices and we have to respect them no matter how much you or I might disagree with them."
"Might disagree," Sonny yelled, "Are you telling me that you agree with Kellie's actions?"
"If you were in Kellie's position," Jason said, "What would you have done?"
Sonny muttered something Jason couldn't understand…
"Sonny, come on what would you have done?" Jason said, "Put yourself in her shoes."
"All she had to do was sit back and let us handle things," Sonny said.
"Sonny, we aren't handling things," Jason said.
"Jason, go home," Sonny interrupted, "I don't want here anymore of people telling me I don't know how to run my own business."
"But Sonny," Jason said.
"Never mind, I'll leave," Sonny said, storming out of the restaurant, "I promised Nina I'd be at Charlie's soon.
Jason went over to the bar and was proceeding to get a drink when Max walked in.
"Sonny's not going to listen anymore tomorrow than he was today," Max said softly.
"I know," Jason said, taking a drink.
After a long silence, Jason spoke again, "If things get messy, where do you think you might stand?"
"If you make a play for the business," Max said, "We'll back you. Trent and I have been talking to other guys and we'd all be behind you. We'd like to think Sonny will snap out of it. But this can't go on."
Jason nodded.
Jason got the sense Max wanted to say more.
"What else, Max?" Jason asked.
"We'd also back Kellie if she makes the first move for Sonny's business," Max said.
"It won't come to that," Jason said as Lorenzo barged into the restaurant and immediately shoved Jason against the bar.
"You had one job, Morgan," Lorenzo yelled, "when you married Kellie to protect her and keep her out of your and Sonny' business. Now I hear she's been invited to join the five families…"
Max looked at Jason as if to ask if he should intervene. Jason shook his head to tell him to stand down.
"How much longer is this going to go on?" Lorenzo demanded.
"I'll handle it," Jason said, "You found out awfully fast."
"Francis let me know," Lorenzo said, "If I had any idea this would be the result…."
"The result of what?" Jason asked.
"Never mind," Lorenzo said.
"You knew about Kellie buying the shipping company," Max said.
"I advised her on its purchase," Lorenzo said.
Jason assessed Lorenzo's answer, "You own the remaining shares of the company don't you? Kellie said she had controlling interest. That company only previously had one owner, but no one knew who it was. Sonny wanted to buy it and was stonewalled when he tried to find out who to talk to. If it was that hard for Sonny to figure that out, Kellie would have needed an in to get her hands on the company. Not to mention, even with her controlling share, whoever owned the remaining shares would have to be on board with her plans."
Lorenzo glared at Jason and shoved him harder against the bar.
"What are you going to do about Sonny?" Lorenzo said, "I'm assuming that Sonny is still living in la la land even after what went down at tonight's meeting. I also know he's been given an ultimatum aside from being replaced by Selina Wu as head of the families."
"I'll talk to Sonny in the morning," Jason said, "He didn't want to hear anything I had to say tonight or anything else Kellie had to say."
"And when Sonny's still refuses to take the blinders off," Lorenzo prompted, as both Jason and Lorenzo's phones went off.
"Alright enough," Max said, prying Lorenzo and Jason apart, "You both probably need to answer that."
Lorenzo glared at Jason as he and Jason checked their phones.
"I'll see you at the station," Lorenzo said, "See how fast Diane Miller can get to the station."
"Diane's out of town at a conference," Max said.
"Call Alexis," Jason said as he and Lorenzo dashed out the door.
The PCPD
Kellie sat in the interrogation room across from Jordan.
"I have nothing to say without my attorney present," Kellie said.
"I figured as much," Jordan said, "I'm sorry you were hauled in. This could have waited until morning. Somehow the paperwork regarding bringing you in for questioning went to an officer instead of me. But since you're here."
"You could at least tell me what I'm being questioned about?" Kellie said.
"We received a tip that your new shipping company may have intentionally delayed some shipments from local company," Jordan said, "The source is looking to press charges."
Kellie scoffed and refused to say anything more.
"I'll go see if your attorney is here yet," Jordan said, "I'm assuming Diane Miller is coming."
"Most likely," Kellie said, turning away from Jordan.
Jordan turned to leave and looked back, "Allow me to express my condolences on the loss of your father-in-law. He did a lot of good here in Port Charles."
"Thank you," Kellie said.
Outside the interrogation room, Jordan found Jason and Lorenzo waiting.
"Commissioner, why was my wife brought to the station," Jason asked.
"We have some questions about some recent shipping delays allegedly caused by her company intentionally," Jordan said as Alexis came in.
"Where's Kellie?" Alexis asked.
"Interrogation," Jordan said.
"I'll need a moment to confer with my client," Alexis said.
Interrogation Room
"Kellie, the division head of one ELQ's subdivision says you intentionally held up some shipments of their shipments," Jordan said, once she'd joined Alexis and Kellie, "They're possibly even looking to press charges."
"My client says is the delays were an error resulting from the recent changes in ownership and some changes to procedures," Alexis said, "Considering that the timing of this interview happened this late at night when it could have waited, I'm sure you understand clerical errors.
"Yes," Jordan said, "But we felt it should be looked into given it's an ELQ company that's asking…"
"Are they offering any proof?" Alexis said, "This all sounds very shaky even for questioning. This could be construed as harassment."
"That's not our intention at all," Jordan said, "Given Kellie's reputation and who the allegation has come from combined with the current turf war Sonny and Jason are engaging in as well Johnny Zacharra getting parole, I have to check it out."
"So Kellie gets hauled in for questioning on some division manager's say so simply because of who her husband and father are," Alexis said, "That sure sounds like harassment."
"We just want to cover our bases," Jordan said.
"When would a division head make the call to pursue legal action for something like that," Alexis asked, "Seems like this might be something the CEO or ELQ legal counsel would handle."
"I have every intention of contacting Valentin Cassadine," Jordan said as Detective Bennett entered the interrogation room, "I had planned on it before we actually met."
"Valentin Cassadine is actually here insisting on speaking with you," Detective Bennett said, "Immediately."
"I think we can clear this up right now," Alexis said, "After you, Commissioner."
Kellie and Alexis followed Jordan and Detective Bennett out of the interrogation room.
"Commissioner, thank you for not keeping me waiting," Valentin said, "What's this I hear about an ELQ division bringing some shipping delays to the PCPD's attention?"
"One of your division heads accused Kellie Corinthos-Morgan's new company of intentionally delaying their shipments," Jordan said, "I was simply checking it out. Who contacted you? My department had yet to reach out to you."
"Alexis Davis did on behalf of her client," Valentin said, "I think you're all wasting your time with this. I'm aware of the shipping delays and had already discussed them with Kellie to my satisfaction. It appears someone in my company stepped over my authority. By any chance was it, Michael Corinthos?"
"What makes you say that?" Jordan asked.
"The shipping delays actually brought to my attentions some decisions made by Michael as the head of that division that I found questionable," Valentin said, "In fact, I revoked his decision-making authority pending further review. If he was the one that brought the allegations, he was acting well outside the current scope of his position."
"We obviously have nothing further to discuss," Jordan said, "My apologies for the inconvenience."
"I trust you'll ensure that any further matters pertaining my client will handled properly in the future," Alexis said, "And with more vetting."
Kellie, Alexis, Valentin, Jason, Lorenzo all left. Johnny O'Brien having waited on the bench, got up and followed behind them as well.
Outside, Jason pulled Kellie off to the side.
"Are you okay?" Jason asked.
"I'm fine," Kellie said.
"I have some things I need to do," Jason said, "We'll talk when I get home."
Kellie nodded.
Jason left as Lorenzo stared daggers at him. Kellie joined the rest of the group.
"Alexis, thank you for representing me," Kellie said.
"You're welcome," Alexis said, "Just don't' let it become a habit. With that I'm heading home."
"I'll see Kellie home first," Lorenzo said.
"I figured," Alexis said, heading to her car.
"Uncle Lo, you don't need to see me home," Kellie said, "It is late."
"This isn't waiting," Lorenzo said, "What are you still doing here, Cassadine?"
"That's hardly the gratitude I was expecting for clearing up this little misunderstanding with the PCPD," Valentin said.
"I'll see you at the house, Uncle Lo," Kellie said, resigned, "If you insist."
"I'll see you there," Lorenzo said, leaving.
"Thank you, Valentin, for resolving that matter," Kellie said.
"I ought to transfer your brother to another division," Valentin said, "Preferably on another continent, some place extremely remote."
"Right now, I'd help fund that," Kellie said.
"If only it were that simple," Valentin said, handing Kellie a business card.
"What's this is?" Kellie asked.
"In case you ever need an attorney that's not Diane Miller with your father-in-law gone," Valentin said, "We both know Alexis wouldn't appreciate representing you consistently on these types of calls. Diane Miller is also your father and Jason's attorney. That might be a conflict of interest for you."
Kellie read the name on the card, Nora Buchanan.
"You're not wrong," Kellie said, "But I'll pass on this one. She defended Olivia Jerome of all people. I don't think I'm inclined to want to use the same attorney who defended the psycho that stationed snipers around my home and threatened to kill my family if I didn't take out Sonny."
"Take it, keep it in mind," Valentin said, "And remember things aren't always what they seem when it come to Olivia Jerome. That was a one time deal defending her."
Kellie picked up on the hidden meaning in Valentin's word, "I'm surprised you'd help me at all. Especially after you got dragged into this circus with my brother."
"The only reason I'm letting you slide on this again is your little stunt is giving me ammunition to get your brother Michael out of my hair," Valentin said.
"Then I guess you should be thanking me than," Kellie replied.
"I wouldn't go that far," Valentin said, "Now I'm sure you don't want to keep your uncle waiting. Unless you're trying to avoid the lecture he's preparing for you whatever trouble you got into before the PCPD hauled you to the station."
Kellie looked at Valentin exasperated and turned to head to her car.