A/N: In an earlier chapter I described Audrey Hardy of having an old air stewardess friend who married into the mob, that is who has them under their protection. Also, Maximus set up the fake wedding certificate to protect Elizabeth, its why Jason is so ill at ease about using one of his markers. The big Italian is trying to play matchmaker, but Jason knows that lying to Elizabeth would only make things worse. Next chapter has four marriages, one of convenience, one of love, one that happened accidentally and one that is going to resemble the Bickersons. Oh, and Mac is going to be outed as Sophie le Couer by Kate Howard.
As many of my long-time readers know, something that I toss out as a throwaway line, often comes back as a plot, the Audrey one is now hitting paydirt and so is the marker that Maximus owes Jason, But Maximus kept taking control of my writing of him and is insisting on paying it back his own way.
Chapter Eight
(Here's My number, Call Me! Maybe)
Mac woke up early the next morning, determined to go and pick up his daughter's book. He was so proud of Georgie, she had found away to solve her problem and had done so in such an astonishing way.
Hearing the sound of Maxie as she got ready for the day, he stretched and then realized he had not heard Georgie all evening. Going to knock on her door, he saw she wasn't there and that her bed was already made.
Wishing that she didn't feel it was necessary to be such a grown up, there were days that he got to feel as if he was Maxie's dad, but with Georgie, he felt she was growing up way too fast.
"Morning." Felicia sounded exhausted as she entered the upper hallway. "Long night, I swear I hate the mayor."
Seeing his raised eyebrow, she said "Can't tell you but I got your message about the Cassadine mess. Will keep my eyes and ears to the ground. I have to get some sleep but hopefully I will have time to have lunch with the girls today."
"Can't mom." Maxie said as she exited her room, "Got a client to meet at the Metrocourt, Jax arranged for me to be her personal shopper while she is here in town for the day."
"Maybe Georgie, I need to return her book to her today." Felicia told them. "I was stuck on surveillance last night and borrowed one of her books."
With that the blond went to what used to be the guest room but that was always kept open for her when she was in town. Falling into bed, exhausted, she pulled out the book that she had borrowed. She wasn't thrilled that her daughter was reading books like that, but frankly her little girl was now twenty-one and whether she wanted to admit it, an adult.
Still, at least Georgie had good taste. This Sophia la Couer wrote an engaging and entertaining romp that had kept Felicia interested while eavesdropping on the mayor. She knew he was corrupt but his wife wanted proof of his affairs before not only selling him out for what he had been doing taking bribes but for the women she was sure that he had on the side.
Mac had debated telling Felicia Georgie's news but decided to let his daughter tell her herself when she was ready to. Stopping in at Kelly's, he spoke to Mike Corbin who told him that Sonny had helped Courtney get some help that she wasn't being held against her will, so Mac let it go, knowing that Tracy Quartermaine didn't really care, she just wanted Dillon out from under the mess he had created by sleeping with two different women without any common sense.
Arriving at his office, he was told that Alexis Davis was already in and that she was needing him to stop into her office as soon as he arrived.
"Alexis?" He asked as he saw her holding her glasses and cleaning them. "Is this about Helena?"
"No. I got a call from the Coast Guard because there was an incident with a Cassadine shipping container vessel that was traveling from Roda Spain to New York." She said then handed him the file. "A man arrived on the ship via the air."
Seeing his confusion, she said with a slightly ironic smirk. "Apparently someone wanted to see if Anthony Zacchara could fly. He landed on top of a couple of shipping containers, the speed with which he arrived made it very clear that he was tossed out of a plane or a jet."
"Okay." He said not getting why that would interest him, after all Crimson Point was just out of hid juristiction.
"A jet took off from Milan Italy about three hours earlier, with the dead body of his daughter. She was shot when meeting her fiancee."
Seeing his confusion, she added "Within hours, Max Giambetti got married upon arriving home at his family compound in Italy."
"Corinthos bodyguard is related to those Giambetti's?" He asked sounding surprised. "Why wasn't that known."
"I only learned about it this morning when Milo came to speak to me." She said shaking her head. "Anyhow, he was telling me about his sister's wedding that is to take place this weekend and how Sonny would be attending."
"Interesting." Mac replied.
"There was more, I get the feeling that Sonny is in trouble." She told him. "I know that there is trouble between Jason and him. I don't know what is causing it, but there is trouble and one more thing. I saw a man this morning, speaking to a former waitress from Kelly's asking about Elizabeth Webber."
Getting tense, because Mac knew his daughter's were friends with the young woman whose history with that group was tense and messy except for with Morgan. "Should I let someone know?"
"No, because do you remember the rumors about Sonny taking out one of his long time guards about three years ago." She asked.
"The Irish guy." Mac said as his mind went back to that time. "Why?"
"Because while the man in Kelly's looked nothing like Johnny, he sounded exactly like him and when he turned, he winked at me and said "Alexis."
Noticing that Mac didn't get it, she added "There is no doubt that it was him and the part that had me so interested, he was calling himself Sean Bryant. I did some research this morning. Sean Bryant yesterday afternoon our time, became a huge holder of real estate, in Crimson Point including all known properties belonging to the Zacchara family except certain family properties that belong to the son."
"Do you think we have a mob war on our hands." He inquired.
"No, at least not in the traditional sense." She said. "The son, he's young, rumor is he doesn't want the business according to Milo. What concerns me is that if O'Brien was shot, and Sonny thought he killed him, it would have been Morgan doing so."
"You know that Morgan doesn't miss, more than likely he lied to Sonny, and got O'Brien out of town, and I did some looking via my contacts. Sean Bryant wasn't only a Giambetti foot soldier, he was second in command. I am thinking that his being placed here, Sonny is in trouble, big trouble." She grimly told him.
Emily was excited, Elizabeth had asked all of the girls over to her place tonight. Cam was going to be there but they were going to be having a movie marathon then some talking once the little tyke was asleep, she was spreading the word.
Robin had quickly told them she was in as did Kelly but Lainey didn't seem to eager and then Robin heard what she had to say and chuckled as the other woman seemed flustered. "So let me get this straight, you were showering and he walked into the woman's locker room at your gym."
Lainey was clearly discombobulated as she added "Yes and once I asked him to leave, he did so but then said "You have a beautiful body. That it was a shame to be hiding it behind the frumpy robe."
"And you have no idea who he is?" She asked laughing in spite of herself. "And you clearly want to."
"She told you." Kelly said from where she was approaching wearing scrubs and wearing a grin. Being told yes, she gave them the news and went to take care of her paperwork. "I love my job."
The woman had just delivered a healthy baby girl with a healthy set of lungs to a happy couple. The father had been so thrilled he had hugged multiple people before the man had run into Epiphany Johnson whose reaction still had Kelly laughing.
The nurse had scared the happy right out of the new father who swore she had been his first grade teacher in a previous life as she scared him straight back into the maternity ward.
Georgie agreed to attend the movie night and was bringing a few movies she had before going to meet with Bobbie Jones who had asked her to stop in at the diner that morning. Seeing Dillon talking to Lulu, Georgie couldn't help feeling bad for the blond girl who had suffered a miscarriage.
Crossing the street, she saw Jason Morgan talking to Sonny and from the looks of things they weren't having a happy conversation. Arriving at Kelly's, she looked for Bobbie and found her in the office. "Hey, Georgie."
"Whats up?" She asked her aunt while taking the office chair across from her. She could see the dark circles where her aunt was clearly overworked, but she stayed firm, reminded of what her father had told her that Bobbie had the option of hiring more help but that she refused to do so while Luke was in town.
"Lulu's miscarriage is going to leave us shorthanded. I have hired a new girl, but she is still green. Would you be able to close tonight and maybe this weekend?" Bobbie had felt sorry for her niece, but she saw herself in the young blond and was having doubts as to what really happened but for now, she would let it go and concentrate on what she could fix.
Bobbie seemed worried and Georgie knew why. They were already overwhelmingly busy, the college students would be returning soon, and Georgie had been cutting her hours as she got closer and closer to school. "I can't tonight, I can tomorrow if that helps any but Aunt Bobbie, I am looking into stopping working here as school approaches. This is my senior year and I have to talk the LSTATS this year."
With a heavy sigh, Bobbie said "I am going to be so sorry to lose you. Its going to be like losing Elizabeth all over again. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Georgie wished that there was but she knew that she was Bobbie's go to girl and that meant working more than she really should. "Aunt Bobbie, I have been staying on for the summer, but I have already saved up enough money to get through the next year. I am sorry but no."
The red head hugged the young woman then said "I am going to put an ad in the local paper for two waitresses and a cook. Mike is getting up there in years and I know he needs to cut down his hours. When Luke is town, he throws a fit about hiring people, but with his being in the hospital, I am going to do what the diner needs. I do have to admit, I just hate that all of you are growing up and growing away."
Georgie returned the hug and said "Since I am working tomorrow night, I have to go get a lot done today. Love you."
With that Bobbie watched that young woman walked out the door and with a heavy sigh admitted to herself that she was lucky she had stuck around as long as she had. Just like Elizabeth, the customers loved Georgie, which meant that they came in more frequently.
Maxie was waiting in the Metrocourt Hotel lobby looking around for this mystery client who needed a supply of various travel gear for a young man. Seeing Jax crossing the lobby and heading her way, the petite blond's eyes went wide, and she ducked behind the nearby tree, her heart beating faster as she saw one of her fashion idols stopping to speak to the tall Aussie.
"What on earth is Kate freaking Howard doing in the Metrocourt hotel in Port Charles." She muttered to herself, not noticing the dark haired young man trying to get her attention. "And why would she be talking to Jax, unless, she know, maybe she knows Brenda?"
"Excuse me?"
The blond turned and saw the handsome guy and then waved him off "I don't have time to be hit on. That is freaking Kate Howard."
"I know." The man said amused at the starry-eyed look in the young girl's eyes.
"Go away." She said as she tried to find a reason to talk to Jax and get the woman's autograph. "I'm thinking."
"I can see the hamster on his wheel running around in your head and the smoke coming out of your ears. Now, I am not trying to hit on you." he said.
"Seriously?" She said looking at the man wearing jeans that looked as if they came from a dirty laundry pile, even if the t-shirt looked nicely fit. "Why would you be speaking to me otherwise. I know what I look like."
"Wow, your ego is writing checks you can't cash." He said and when she rolled her eyes, he said "My name is Dante, Dante Falconari."
Seeing his holding out his hand, she said "Shush, I am trying to think of a way to speak to Jasper Jacks. Go away."
"Might I suggest walking over and saying whatever comes to mind." He spoke. "Though I don't see it, I mean, he has to be at least ten to fifteen years too old for you."
Pretending to gag, she turned to the man and said "He knows my dad, as if. Jasper Jacks is too old for me to be interested in, even with his pretty surfer boy ways. I don't like playboys."
"Good thing, because I truly would not want to have to explain to my mother why Mac is trying to kill me." The humorous tone from the hotel owner had Maxie glaring at the man standing in front of her before telling Jax without turning.
"Jax, please tell this guy that I am not interested. Plus, he distracted me. I wanted to speak to Kate Howard, she is my idol." The heavy sigh had Jax struggling to not laugh while the reed thin woman was amused as she took in the young woman that her old friend had tried to get her to hire the previous month, but she was unable to move to New York.
"Maxie, this is Dante, Dante Falconari." He introduced the two younger people. "The client you were to meet."
"OH MY GOD." She said turning red with embarrassment as she saw the dark haired young man grinning at her. "I am so sorry. I just...it was freaking Kate Howard. Oh, well, another missed chance. My name is Maxie Jones, lets get you over to the store, so I understand you are going on a backpacking trip across Europe. I did some research and I need to know what type of trip are you going on? Rustic, artistic? By train or are you planning on driving? Do you need hiking boots so that you can hitchhike?"
With that, she grabbed his arm and waving her hand at Jacks as she dragged the client out the door without even noticing that her heroine was standing there shaking her head.
Jax looked at his old friend and said "That is the very bubbly Maxie Jones, "freaking Kate Howard"."
Kate laughed, as she saw Olivia looking puzzled as she watched her son being willing dragged to the hotel exit. "I thought we were going with him?"
"Let's just leave it at the personal shopper is a force of nature." Kate said her mind whirling as she told Jax. "If she ever changed her mind about leaving Port Charles, get in touch with me. That young woman is going places."
Jax said "I have watched her grow up; she is a lovely young woman."
Kate frowned and said "Why do I get the feeling if she was a little older..."
Jax let out a bellow of laughter catching the attention of his unwanted partner before he told Kate. "There are several young women very similar to Miss Maxie here in Port Charles. We have a very lovely young nurse who is also a very talented artist who is absolutely breathtaking, her best friend looked like your all-American girl who is lovely and equally kind. Maxie's little sister came into the hotel yesterday and my heart stopped for a few minutes when I realized I almost asked out Mac's even younger 21-year-old daughter, yesterday. She cut her hair into this pixie cut and until I realized who it was, I almost went over to speak to her when I realized who it was and possibly one of the smartest women, I know who had no idea of her effect on men."
Carly's eyes went gimlet tight as she heard what Jax was saying. She wished she dare confront him but even Carly knew who Kate Howard was and that she had a cutting tongue and access to a lot of clout that could destroy her.
"I guess, I now understand why you stay in this backwater." Kate said.
"No, I stay because Port Charles feels like home." He told her. "We grew up traveling between Australia and Alaska. I came here for Brenda, but when we ended, I stayed. My love of Port Charles lasted a hell of a lot longer than my love of my fickle ex-girlfriend."
Olivia was asking Jax questions about the hotel business and he was surprised to hear that she managed a luxury hotel in New York City. As he answered her questions including mentioning that he had let his minor partner have full control of the decorations. "I regret it, but for now, I am going to let it go. There is not a lot of competition here, but eventually I am going to have to change things. So, Kate what is going to keep you occupied until Dante heads out on his trip?"
"Actually, I am hoping you can help me solve a mystery. What do you know about Sophie la Couer?" She inquired.
Seeing his confusion, she told him. "A best-selling author who lives in Port Charles."
"Nothing, are you sure?" he asked sounding doubtful. "Its a small town, if there was such a person here, someone would know."
"I heard it from Warren James himself." She told him. "I would love to meet her. Her writing just pulls you in until your find yourself turning the pages to get to the next part of the story in spite of yourself. I don't even like that type of book and I found myself desperate to know whether Edmond and Josephine get together."
Jax told her. "I don't have any idea, but I do know some people who might have an idea and a private investigator."
"I am sure that I can find out without resorting to hiring someone." she said as Jax phone rang and the regular business of his day began.
Jason heard from Sonny didn't tell Jason what was in the letter, but Jason already knew so he let it go as Sonny began talking about the invite to the wedding of the man's daughter and how he was the only one of the Eastern Associates going. The only good news was that Sonny seemed to be ignoring the news regarding Johnny O'Brien.
He had spoken to his new attorney and Jason was thinking that this Diane Miller sounded quite interesting as she had announced that she would be moving to Port Charles and suggested that he avoid being arrested or needing legal advise until she was finished this upcoming weekend.
"Jason, we need to talk about this marriage to Elizabeth Webber." Jason owed Maximus, he had down what Jason had asked in exchange for one of his markers, he had come up with a way for Sonny to be forced to accept his relationship with Elizabeth. Too bad the marriage wasn't real and he was going to have assure Elizabeth of that but request she keep it a secret or she really would shoot him with his own gun like she had threatened.
"Sonny that is none of your business." He firmly replied. "Its between Elizabeth and myself."
"That is acceptable for now, but I am going to want answers, and eventually you are going to have to give me some." He replied then with a sigh told him. Jason knew that Sonny didn't accept his words, he was being required to, so he just ignored what the older man was talking to him about until he brought up the younger Spencer and he knew what he was considering. Sonny was going to get Lucky healthy and then put him between Elizabeth and himself, that was NOT going to be happening, not this time.
"I had Milo and Marco grab Lucky Spencer; he was trying to track down Helena Cassadine. I sent him to a rehab. Now, I need to deal with my sister. I am going to send her to the Island for now."
Nodding that he heard his partner, Jason asked "What about the wedding?"
"I have to go but while I am gone, I want you to put out feeler regarding this Sean Bryant. I have to know." He replied then told him "As for the boys. I have to deal with Carly and she is proving very determined to get me back."
Jason knew that for Carly is was more a case of she didn't have anyone else at the minute to take care of her. He had been dodging her calls, speaking to her as infrequently as he could.
"Morgan." Turning to see the Zacchara kid, he introduced the kid to Sonny. "I was told that by Bryant that we needed to meet about my living space."
"Do you have someplace in mind?"
"Yeah, I already have an apartment but Bryant is claiming that I need to talk to you about it because of it's proximity to Elizabeth Webber." He replied as the older man walked off without even saying goodbye. One the man had left, he looked at the blond and said "I heard about my father from Giambetti and his deal to house me here for a few years."
"What do you intend to do?" Jason asked.
The younger man laughed and said "Track down a certain beautiful young woman and lock us into a room for a week then I am going to try to figure it. I have too much money, so all I need is something to keep me occupied. I thought about opening a garage but there is a local garage owner that I know and I don't want to take business away from him. So, unless you know of use for a degree in music, I have no idea."
"I thought you had a degree in business."
"A sop forced by Lansing on me. I have no interest in anything that resembles my former life." He replied. "Anyhow, -"
They stopped talking when they heard the sound of police sirens nearby. Heading towards them, they saw four uniformed officers speaking to their boss who seemed to be hiding the need to laugh. "Morgan."
"Scorpio." He returned as he looked at the stern of the rust bucket formerly known as the Haunted Star now submerged in the river. Its gangplank sticking out, a metal bridge to nowhere.
"Cassadine called, he left town and saw that it had been sunk last night. His grandmother." He told the mobster. Telling his officers to write up a report, he hesitated then knowing that Morgan was close to the Webber girl, he said "Helena grabbed Luke, tortured him looking for that rock that went missing a few years ago. He is in a coma at GH."
"Elizabeth?" He asked.
"We don't know if she is interested in Elizabeth, but I needed to give you a warning." He said then added "Cassadine and his new wife fled town, and there is a very large yacht just on the leeside of Spoon Island."
Mac looked at the young man with Morgan and told him. "Mr Zacchara, from what I have heard, you have no interest in the family business. Are you planning on staying on in Port Charles?"
"He is being required to, Mac." Morgan said to the shock of Johnny. Looking at the younger man, Jason added. "He has never been a part of the business. He was raised in it though."
Mac had talked to Anna, she had given him a deeper background check and knew that whatever this young man had done he had done so out of self preservation. "Morgan, keep him out of trouble. Do you intend to get a job?"
Flushing, Johnny started to smart off to the man then knowing he had to get the chip off his shoulder filled him in on what he had told Jason.
"Actually, Mr Zacchara." Mac went silent then told him. "Come speak to me later this week. If you want people to believe you have no connections to your family, I might be able to help."
Shocked, Johnny watched til the man had left and looked at Morgan and asked "What was that?"
"He is a fair man who has a thankless job that he took because he needed to have that the courts would accept to get custody of his two daughters. He is basically an honest cop who doesn't mind bending the rules to protect the people." Jason replied.
"As long as you don't mess with his daughters." Marco said as he walked up having heard the conversation. "That is one overprotective dad. He also raised his niece who he gave Morgan hell for dating but that is nothing compared to his actions regarding his daughters. I know that his youngest daughter's boyfriend ended up in his jail cells at least twice."
"Thankfully, girls likely to be related to him aren't my type."
Jason had been trying not to laugh, and he couldn't help it when he saw Marco's knowing smirk. "Zacchara, you are going to be in his cross hairs and its already too late. That very lovely brunette you were flirting with at Jake's. The one at the you were playing pool with. Miss Georgie Jones?"
Jason continued with informing Johnny. "What Marco is trying to tell you is that Georgie Jones is his daughter. His very innocent daughter who had her heart broken by a cheating boyfriend and I guarantee that when he finds out that you have-"
"Let's just say carnal knowledge." Marco added. "Of his baby girl, I give you a week til you end up at the police station."
Johnny looked between the two them, convinced that they were messing with them only for Morgan to nod his head sharply as Johnny recalled that Georgie had told him that her dad was a cop. "Oh shit."
Monica Quartermaine was entering the locker room, having a need to change her scrubs after a patient had thrown up on her. She had entered silently because she didn't want anyone to see the mess on her only to stop, stunned at what she was hearing.
"Anyhow, Emily. Its why we need to meet tonight. Right now, I want to shoot your brother." Elizabeth was saying. "I know that there had to be more to it, but I was so mad when he confirmed that he had already known, I just wanted to shoot him with his own gun, but when I thought about it, I realized that he had been trying to tell me that there was more to it."
"Wow, so Georgie was right." She said then asked her. "What do you think happened?"
"From what I recall when the red mist lifted, he learned the truth earlier this year." She told her. "I don't remember any of it, Emily, not even this letter he said I wrote to him. I even talked to the doctor who helped me deal with my past with Lucky. I have no memory, none."
"Do you think you were made to forget?" She asked. "Ric?"
"No, at least no, Ric would have made it public to hurt Jason. No, if Ric had known Cameron was Jason's son, he would have used it by now." She admitted.
Monica felt her heart stop at what she was hearing. Cameron was Jason's son? Her grandson?
"You know Grandfather has already been trying to lay claim to Cam, when he learns about this, good luck." Emily said.
"Your grandfather is going to be warned off, I want my children to know their grandparents and if he tries that heir nonsense, I am going to burn ELQ's building to the ground." Elizabeth warned. "I have been wanting to talk to Jason, but I had to wait until I could look at him without wanting to shoot him but one thing we are going to have to work on is that Monica already loves Cam, he can't simply decide that she can't be around him."
Emily chuckled and Monica felt her heart explode as Elizabeth said "I am going to be telling him that after everything that went on with my last pregnancy, we are going to be open and honest and I am going to keep my blood pressure down or snatch his so called best friend bald and as for the Napoleon complex of crime, he is going to have to keep that selfish self-centered bastard away from me."
Monica was backing out of the locker room, knowing that she had to pretend to not know any of this, so she left and went to her office and changed into the street clothes, she kept in the closet there.
Once changed, she saw her husband and gave him a tight hug, then a kiss before telling him "I will see you later, behave."
Before he could respond, he watched her leave then when his head nurse chuckled, he said "Apparently I have regained my sex appeal. Two unexpected hugs in a day."
Rolling her eyes, Epiphany couldn't resist telling him. "Maybe its your new aftershave."
"I don't do aftershave." He replied looking confused as he handed her the case file.
"Apparently, you don't do a sense of humor either." She replied heading to check on her nurses doing patient rounds. Seeing Elizabeth Webber entering the hub, she said to her. "Robin Scorpio just left here mentioning a movie night. Why wasn't I invited?"
With a laugh, Elizabeth told her. "Your son told me about your very nice home theater compared to what we are having you would be slumming."
"Get out of here, Nurse Webber." She said watching as the woman went to pick her son up at the daycare.
Emily came to where her father was writing up patient notes, and asked "How is Luke doing?"
"He is in a coma, no change." He replied then listened as she told him that she was heading home but before she exited, she casually inquired about Steven Webber who she hadn't seen that day.
"He was asked to help out in the ER today." Alan said watching his daughter leaving hiding that he was well aware that she was dating the blond doctor. His daughter was keeping it a secret, so he would too. For how, until he could find a way to use it.
Emily exited GH, feeling sad for the Spencers, and yet grateful that this time this mess didn't involve her. When she had gotten the note from Nik about wishing that they had had time to talk, that the newlyweds were heading back to Greece to escape Helena, she had been surprised at how happy she was that it wasn't her.
Carly was not happy. Sonny and Jason were ducking her calls, just as she was getting ready to head down to the warehouse and confront them, Sonny called and asked to meet her at Kelly's. "Will Jason be there?"
"No." Sonny said hanging up and then went to speak to Courtney who had been upset at his news earlier that morning. With a dispassionate expression he asked "What will it be and none of the replies can be the word Jason."
"Fine, I will go to the Island." She said unhappy with her brother who then looking at the small band aid said, "What about the DNA test?"
"I will inform you of the results." He replied then asked her, pretending to know more than he did. "Courtney, I know that Carly and you did something to Elizabeth Webber, you might want to tell me because others know. Alcazar knows."
Biting her lip, Courtney knew that no matter what, Carly would try to pin anything that she said on her, she replied. "We did nothing to that muffin faced nobody."
She looked up to see anger on his face as he moved in closer until he was within a few inches. "DON'T LIE TO, COURTNEY. I AM GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO TELL THE TRUTH, NOW TELL ME WHAT YOU DID!"
Sonny looked at her when she ignored him and told her. "You're comfort depends on telling me the truth. Every lie you tell, I remove something that will make your life comfortable. Television, games, access to the ocean, certain foods and drinks. All you will get is what is healthy for the baby. Now, tell me the truth."
Courtney began sobbing and then to Sonny's relief at first, then fiery anger and finally cold acceptance, he waited until she finished and then said "And the night at Kelly's, when Emily almost died?"
When she seemed confused, Sonny pressed her hard then realized that she truly didn't know what he was talking about. Looking at the two men nearby and Doc Dooley, he said "Take her to the smaller island."
Courtney was numb as she followed the two men and then asked, "What about my dog?"
"Where is it?" He asked. He had forgotten about that flea bitten walking rug that seemed to be the only living thing other than his ex-wife and even Carly seemed as if Courtney got on her nerves once and a while; that could stand his sister.
"I have had it at the pet hotel, since leaving Nik." She offered sniffling away the wet drip coming from her nose. "Carly wouldn't let me bring it to her place and I didn't want to abandon poor Daisy.
"You named your dog Daisy, after your stripper name?" He asked in disbelief, annoyed with her, even more as she poured out how she had used her dog's name and her mother's maiden name like she had heard that strippers did.
"No, I took my dogs name for my stripper name." She replied blinking in surprise at her brother not knowing this.
"Take her, I will arrange for freedom for the poor dog, but he isn't going to be joining her on the island. I want her to think long and hard on a few things." Sonny said then handed his sister the notes he had made and then told her. "When I come to visit you at the end of December, I want answers to all of these questions."
Walking away as the two men removed his sister, Sonny shook his head as he realized that his conversation with Carly needed postponed because if he talked to her now, he would kill the woman, mother of his child or not.
Her impulsiveness and sense of self importance had created a huge problem for him. While he had learned about Carly's leading him into disliking Elizabeth, Sonny found that he truly had no good feelings left for the brunette. Her marriage and child were going to create issues for his business and partnership with Jason.
Yet, she was virtually untouchable which angered Sonny because he felt as if he was losing control and with Jason acting distant, the truth about the business coming out and now Johnny O'Brien back, he knew that while they were not at war, if he didn't do something and something spectacular within the next three weeks there was a very good change he wouldn't be returning from Italy.
Jason had intended to speak to Elizabeth tonight but after overhearing Robin and the two other doctors entering the complex that they lived in, sighed and went to see what Carly was up to, knowing he had to keep up appearances for now.
Arriving at the Metrocourt, he saw the blond hiding behind a column watching two women with Jax and a dark-haired young man. "Carly."
The blond shrieked and turned to smack Jason telling. "You scared me. Now, do you know what is going on with Sonny. He ordered me to meet him at Mama's then called back twenty minutes later, canceling.
"Carly." Turning the blond saw her business partner and was annoyed to be told that they needed to talk about a few things. "Morgan."
"Jax." He replied then noticed that the young man he had been speaking to reminded him of someone but he didn't know who.
Jax waited until they were in his office, he offered her a water bottle, one without an ex on it, and when she took the offered drink, casually discussed various bits of hotel business and when she had finished the bottle of water, tried to come up with something else to keep her busy for the ten minutes needed. "By the way, have you ever heard about an author living here in Port Charles. A Sophie le Couer."
"No, why would I know of someone who writes books?" She asked scoffing.
Jax bit his tongue at the retort that had popped into his head and looking at the clock, told her that he had been asked about the same name but he hadn't heard of her before either then telling Carly good night, exited the hotel with the blond. Jax hid his smirk, the drugs his brother had given to him were experimental, but their intended purpose was to be a truth serum, one that last longer and longer the more she drank the water.
Carly went to track Jason down and found him at his penthouse unaware that phase one of Jax's payback for her blackmail was about to hit. The blond was seated reading some sort of thick book, so she ignored it and asked "What did you need Jason?"
"Nothing, just wanted to ask what you remember about Johnny O'Brien?" He asked then seeing how tense she was, told her. "His cousin is now in charge out at Crimson Point and I am looking into him. I know that you didn't like having Johnny as your guard, that you preferred Max."
Carly tilted her head and smiled at her best friend and replied. "I liked Max because he just did what I said and didn't ask questions. Plus he didn't seem to be as bowled over with Miss Muffin like Francis and Johnny. The saint of Port Charles could do no wrong in their eyes."
"That is why you went to Sonny about Johnny?" He asked a bit surprised at how honest she was being, maybe just maybe Carly was turning over a new and more mature leaf like she claimed.
"No." She said with a sigh as she reached out to put her hand on his warm chest and admitted. "Johnny knew that Sonny was a stepping stone. I have it all planned, Jason. You and I raising Michael, him inheriting the business, us married and living happily ever after, here in our castle in the sky with the little people down below crushed under our boots."
Jason had been about to pull her hand away when what she said filtered into his brain. "What about your love for Sonny and Morgan, your little boy."
She gave a soft giggle and said "Sonny can have him, after all I didn't mean to get pregnant, but Sonny wanted a child, so I did what I had to do. I – are you ready to say it, Jason, are you finally ready to tell me that we can take a chance on our love?"
Jason stared, unable to believe what he was hearing from the blond sitting next to him. He had to have heard her wrong as he pried her hand from where it was clenched into his shirt, he eased away and said "Carly. I don't think you know what you are saying."
"Jason, I do, I do know what I am saying. It's what was meant to be. We're soul mates, you and I, we are the only one that the other can count on. You know, you know you love me. I promise, I promise Jason, I won't wreck you."
The blond blinked and then with a slight yawn fell forward and ended up a sleep on his sofa. Jason quickly escaped as far as he could, his mind reeling, unsure if what she had been telling him was her true feelings or if she was pulling a prank. Making a call, he waited for a blunt answer from the man on the other end then felt sick because they said that she really believed what she was telling him
.
Mac entered the bookstore, noticing the young man holding a travel guide for Europe and talking to a woman who more than likely was his mother as he crossed over to wait in line behind the two of them.
"Anyhow, Jax was talking to your aunt about launching a new magazine, but she isn't interested because he wants its headquarters here in Port Charles." The beautiful dark-haired woman said. "Are you sure that you only want that one guide, Dante."
"Yes, I had thought about purchasing several, but Maxie pointed out that I am only carrying a backpack."
"Whose Maxie?" His mother asked and Mac stayed silent wondering at the young man's connection to his daughter trying to determine if he needed to have a talk with the boy,
"The personal shopper who dragged me from one end of that department store to the other, but I hate to admit it, but she had some suggestions for things I hadn't thought of." He told her. "Including about getting throw away guides when I am visiting cities so that their weight doesn't create an issue for me."
"Jasper Jacks admires that young woman, and from the few minutes that your aunt spent near her, she does too."
"She is utterly bonkers though." Dante told her as he recalled her accusation of his hitting on her.
When the mother son duo had left, Mac stepped up to the counter and told the young man that he was there for the book he had placed on hold. "The first book by Sophia la Couer."
The man looked between the book and the man who he knew was the police commissioner and then back to the book before asking "Are you sure, sir?"
"Yes!" He snapped annoyed at the sneer on the young man's face about his daughter's book that she took so much pride in.
"Sir, there are much better books..." Seeing the glare, Jimmy quickly rang up the book and told the man sixteen dollars and twenty-five cents. Getting his credit card, he quickly ran it through the said "Sir, so that you know, Martins has a no return policy."
"I know that it is a great book, the author thoroughly researched it and they are being sold all over the world, now hand me my book and you might want to consider your tone when talking to a customer."
When Jimmy heard the muttering, he shook his head and told his colleague who had joined him. "With the way he acted so insulted, you would swear he wrote the book."
As the end of the Pillow Talk ended, and Elizabeth had tucked Cameron into bed, the sextet was soon all seated around the coffee table as they waited for Elizabeth. When she joined them holding the now crumpled results, she stated. "Georgie was correct, Jason is the father of Cameron."
"Wow." Maxie said her eyes wide as she looked at Elizabeth. "Are you going to tell Jason?"
With a frown, she swore them to secrecy and told them what he had said. Robin felt for the couple, clearly someone had been messing with them. Why else would they have forgotten the conversation. "Wait, you said Jason didn't remember until early this year, like maybe when he had surgery?"
Elizabeth went still then with a slow nod told them. "You might be right about that, I was so angry at what I felt was his putting everyone else over our son, it didn't occur to me to ask when."
"But, Elizabeth..." Maxie went to her nearby desk and pulled out a note pad and in spite of everyone asking what she was doing, she made a timeline and then stated, "No, while Elizabeth might have forgotten that night, but Jason said that he tried to get you to tell him that he didn't have to go back to Courtney, when you were hit by her car, remember?"
Lainey thought about it then asked her. "Yes, Maxie, you're right. So when did Jason forget and why?"
Elizabeth's mind was whirling and then she admitted to them. "I am going to have to talk to Jason. I have calmed down a lot, but when I think about things, I see red mist and want to shoot him all over again."
"What are you going to do?" Kelly asked, nodding towards her stomach.
"Talk to him, but I have a few different topics. Cameron and that night and what happened. That I am pregnant." There was silence and then she realized she hadn't told anyone, but Emily and Kelly knew. "That I got pregnant that night, not a surprise."
"So, what else?" Robin asked, twinging because some part of her wanted a baby and she knew that it was very unlikely that she would ever get pregnant.
"The Quartermaines." Elizabeth quietly stated. "Monica already loves Cam, I know that Alan spends time with him at daycare. Jason isn't going to like it but I am not keeping the kids from them. They are their grandparents. Now, Edward, the first time he says the word heir or mentions ELQ, I am burning that ostentatious building he calls an office down."
"Elizabeth, you should keep that to yourself, because when you announce it it opens you up to a charge of premeditation." Georgie said with a chuckle.
"Well at this point, everything is at a standstill until I speak to Jason." She replied then asked Georgie. "So, we have been avoiding the elephant in the room other than telling you how lovely you look but what sent you to the hairdresser."
Georgie filled them in on her pity party and how she had cut her own hair. "Anyhow, even if Johnny did turn out to be a loser who wasn't man enough to tell me that all he wanted was a one-night stand, I am grateful because he taught me what I want and that I am not going to settle."
With a half hug, Emily said "I get it, trust me, I do. Want to be my bi-sexual lover?"
Georgie was drinking her soda and she laughed and spit it out, "Sorry Em, your gonna have to find someone else for that."
"You know, how you said Steven likes to watch, do you think he would be interested in-"
"Kelly I would hate to have to kill you with my innocent son a room away but if you finish that statement, I am going to strangle you with your own hair." Elizabeth stated.
"We might need to talk about this sudden turn towards violent actions, Elizabeth." Lainey said only to have grape tossed at her. "Hey, I am keeping this as exhibit one."
Maxie suddenly had a thought and told them. "Kate Howard is in town."
When only Elizabeth seemed to know who she was talking about, she said "Kate Howard the editor of Couture Magazine!"
"Sorry Maxie, but you know that I don't follow fashion." Georgie said. Robin agreed but Elizabeth said, "She knew Chloe Morgan and my guess would be she knew Brenda, Robin."
"Maybe not." Maxie said reluctantly. "While Brenda was a big deal here, in the overall fashion world, not so much. She just didn't have what it takes to be top tier model. No Iman or Christy."
"So, I guess her being here is a big deal, what is she doing in Port Charles?" Kelly asked.
Maxie explained about her nephew but then added "Seriously, I have no idea why he came to Wyndhams but am happy with my share of what he spent."
Lainey was teased about the handsome bounty hunter who had walked into the woman's locker room. The man was well known in Jersey and why he was in Port Charles was anyone's guess. Looking at the clock, she told Kelly, "We have to head home, you have an early morning."
Groaning, Kelly told the others. "I have a meeting with Karen Meadows, we are being required to report some numbers comparing the normal average amount of pregnancies to what we have seen in the last month. I can't believe that the amount has almost double due to Enduros. This is going to be a disaster for your family Emily."
When the two had left, Robin took Elizabeth off to the side and told her. "I saw a strange sight today. A ghost."
Seeing Elizabeth's frown, she told her. "I would have sworn I saw Johnny O'Brien."
Elizabeth tilted her head and said "I thought I saw someone who reminded me of Francis today. What do you think is going on?"
"I am not sure." She replied but told the mother. "I also saw Sonny today and something is going on, he was speaking to Karen Meadows and to Bobbie. But Bobbie seemed frustrated and immediately called Carly afterwards telling her to get her act together, this in spite of spending time with Luke today."
Alan was talking to his wife as they got ready for bed, "You have been very restless this evening."
She gave him a hug and he laughed and returned it. "Monica, what is going on?"
"I can't tell you I overheard something that is good news but I can't tell you but I will tell you that it involves Jason." She said then with a kiss went to settle into her side of the bed.
Carly woke up, at home, feeling as if she had forgotten something. The last thing she had remembered was heading over to talk to Jason. She blinked, and really didn't recall a word. She had been drinking a couple glasses of wine tonight, and watching Jax with the paper doll, not likely what she felt was them poaching onto the territory she wanted.
Her mind in Jax and the respectability marrying him would give her, she sighed as she thought about Jason. While Jason had the pedigree of a Quartermaine, he had walked away so that meant if she wanted to rule Port Charles, for now, she needed a husband like Jasper Jacks.
Sonny was talking to his father about his sister and thought about what Bobbie had told him regarding Luke's condition and wasn't sure what to think.
Had he really crossed paths with Helena or had he ended up in a coma for other reasons. He had heard that she was once again chasing after that mythological diamond that Luke claimed existed but Sonny had never seen it and knew that money burnt a hole in Luke's pocket so if it did exist at one point, he was very sure that it was now gone.
As his mind drifted off to sleep, Sonny was trying to get things straight in his mind regarding business. With Maximus closely watching, he couldn't use any of his usual tricks to gain territory and then there was Alcazar was still in business locally. He wanted that bastard gone.
And lastly as he drifted off to sleep, his mind went to his sons and what Maximus had written in his note regarding Morgan which worried him, because clearly something somewhere needed to change.
Johnny saw the movie night was breaking up and he slipped back into his place, waiting to see Georgie leaving. When he saw the two docs followed by the short one and then the one who lived next to him, he soon saw the short blond one who was his lady's sister but no Georgie.
He had heard her voice and was about to go knock on the door, feeling impatient but then he heard her telling another woman that she would be fine sleeping on the sofa, and that she was looking forward to spending time with Cameron tomorrow.
Pouting a bit, he went home and feeling frustrated went to see if Bryant was still up, the man had told him that he was a night owl, that he suffered from insomnia, so Johnny quietly exited the apartment and went to have someone else help him get his head on straight.
Jason arrived back home; after dealing with Carly, he felt the need to take a hot shower, a long cleansing one. At the end, not even thoughts of Elizabeth gave rise to his dick, as his mind felt sick at what he realized was a moment of pure honesty for Carly.
What did he do, he couldn't ship her away, she was too tenacious to stay away and frankly, she scared him because she was his primary suspect as to how he had forgotten his memories. He knew he had had them when Courtney had been addicted to drugs, but he couldn't pinpoint when that had changed.
Mac changed into a pair of sweats, spoke to Felicia who told him that she was seriously considering sticking around town now that her grandmother Mariah had passed away. The non couple talked about their daughters and he told her about what he had heard in Martins.
There was some knowing laughter as they thought about Maxie. "Well, I have to go monitor the Mayor's tap. See you tomorrow."
Felicia had returned the first book in the series and had grabbed the second book mentioning to Mac that she had not been able to have lunch with Georgie that day. "Andrea Floyd had requested a meeting. Do you know their plans for tomorrow."
"Well, since I heard from Jax that someone named Kate Howard is staying at the Metrocourt and she is an idol of Maxie's, I expect to be arresting our oldest for stalking and as for Georgie, she is babysitting for Elizabeth who is going to help her grandmother make arrangements with the movers tomorrow to take some items to Arizona."
Felicia left and Mac went to check the locks on the doors, shaking his head as he realized he was home alone. Both girls were out, Robin having moved into her own place in the same building as Elizabeth and Emily.
Taking his coffee mug with him to his den, he settled down into his recliner eager to read his daughter's book. Reading the blurb, a bit upset that it sounded more like a romance than a murder, even if there were dead bodies and a trip across Europe according to the back cover.
Finding it a bit fluffy in spite of the will they won't they angst, Mac was impressed with the police procedure that his daughter had done, and the descriptions of places in Europe, as he read about the adventurer returning home to small town America to track down his lady love.
At two thirty in the morning, Mac was grateful he had the next day off, as he found himself captivated by the book. A half hour later, the couple were arguing about whether her best friend was the killer and then a kiss.
Mac's eyes went wide as he read the next fifteen pages and felt his heart stop, no, Georgie had to have been pulling a prank, there was no way his little girl wrote this. Then he saw the odd phrase that Anna used to describe driving a car when helping him when teaching the girls and stopped reading, stunned.
Reminding himself not to jump to conclusions, he set the book down and went to get another cup of coffee. As his chaotic mind reminded him that the flow of the words was his daughter, he couldn't turn off the sound of his dad voice saying that he needed to kill that little bastard Dillon Hornsby.
Torn between pride at the majority of book and horror at the love scene, he couldn't get it out of his mind and knowing that he needed a chore, he got dressed and drove around the strangely quiet town looking for a reason to arrest someone.
Ending up at the Outback, he pulled out the keys and went inside. Soon in his old office, he was looking around trying to decide whether Felecia would want to update it, he found an old picture of his little girls.
As his mind came back online, he regained control and remembered what she said about Stan helping her. Of course, he thought the Johnson boy had written the love scenes. With his mind eased, Mac fell asleep on the old leather sofa glad to have solved the mystery of the explicit love scenes in the book.
If only Mac knew, because once again fate was going to make him its chew toy. By the end of the next day, one of his girls were going to be locked up in his jail cell, one was going to be drugged, and the third was going to end accidentally run someone over. And all three were going to end up married.
TBC