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When Cassadines Fall
Trouble
Nikolas shrugs out of his shirt leaving the undershirt beneath, glad he wore jeans. He hadn't realized when he came to New Orleans that he would end up on an other construction project. Damn-- it's warm. It has to be sixty degrees at least, pushing seventy wouldn't surprise him either. Maddy is like a woman possessed: pick up, look once and throw out. Very few things were making it into the pile for later consideration. He'd kept busy ripping up carpet and patching holes in the wall. Granny Sophia had come over once with a pitcher of some disgustingly sweet tea. He'd drank some to be polite but soon realized at the pace Maddy's setting he'll need the energy for keeping up with her. Granny Sophia comes in again this time catching his eye. He goes out into the hallway. "At this pace we'll be done by this afternoon."
Granny Sophia responds grimly. "I know." She isn't looking forward to the moment when Maddy has nothing to do. The girl's initial grief had been hard but fast and she knows there is more to come. "Here is a list."
Nikolas scans it. "What is this?"
"It's what the other tenants have been complaining about. They're suppose to call this handyman Maddy has a on retainer but they'd rather bitch at me than get anything done. Is there anything on there you can take care of?"
"Without making it cost three times as much to have the real deal come out?" Nik laughs. He'd heard stories from Larry about rehab projects that had to be rehab'd from the gentle, well meaning fumblings of owners who'd watched one too many episodes of This Old House never seeming to recall that the whole premise of the show is getting the pros in to do it right the first time. Nik hadn't had the guts to ask him what the hell This Old House was.
Larry had worked him on various projects in the house but always as labor: hauling and holding; hoping Nik would get bored and go back to the carriage house and the inventory. "Yeah, there is a few things on here I can take care of. A couple more I can take a look at." He nods tucking the note in his back pocket. "I'll start down on the ground floor and work my way up." Maddy's house is situated so the living areas are about six feet up from the ground. The ground level took the place of a basement. Considering the potential for flooding in a town not even at sea level it's a reasonable accommodation.
Like his house, the major systems are down on this first level. The boiler which doubled as a hot water heater for the whole building. Other than Granny Sophia's apartment the radiators probably never got much use in this semi-tropical clime. The sump pump for clearing out any standing water in case of too hard of a rain. A portable gas powered generator for power outtages due to hurricanes. Nik studies that one carefully. It would have come in handy out at the cottage so far from the rest of Port Charles or over at Wyndemere. Maybe he should still get one for Wyndmere lite just to be on the safe side. He locates all the tools and misc. items: some spackling for making repairs to walls, some paint, yardworking tools.
Meanwhile Sophia walks into Lisette's apartment. It hadn't sparkled like this since Maddy had left for New York. And it hadn't been so... uncluttered since Lisette moved in. "When are you going to take a break for lunch?" Sophia demands.
"I think I'm about ready for the Salvation Army to come out and pick up the furnishings and the clothes." Maddy says in reply straightening up and looking around.
"I'll give them a call. Fact is I'll make a few calls see who can get here first." Sophia agrees. "So when are you going to take a break for lunch?"
"Is it something that is going to get wrecked?"
"Just some red beans and rice." Sophia shrugs. "When you started in over here I put the beans on to soak...." before dawn
Maddy's mouth starts watering. Granny had sent her up to New York with some red beans and rice. Something for the trip she'd said. It had barely lasted the trip and what had been left over Dara had polished off the same day she arrived. "Where is Niknik?"
"Down on the first level. One of the tenants was complaining about no water pressure so he's looking at the boiler."
Maddy grins. "Looking at it is about right. Granny, you still have that list I gave you?"
"Of all the tradespeople? Of course."
"When Nik gets tired of looking and grunting. Give him the list. He's excellent at supervising."
Sophia changes subject abruptly. "Baby, you know what really needs to be done while you're waiting on the men to come to haul this stuff out? I swear nobody has touched Rosa's flowerbeds since you left. I did the best I could but with my black thumb...."
Maddy nods. "If you'll make those calls. I'll go look at the beds see if there is anything I can do. Once you know when they are coming...how about then for lunch? Granny, I really think we need someone who likes gardening to take over Mama's apartment. Give them a break on the rent in exchange for taking care of the outside."
"I think that's a lovely idea, baby." Sophia agrees. She missed the way Rosa had kept up the outside of the house. Pete's mere had been seriously addicted to her flowers and fresh vegetables. Maddy had done her best to maintain things after Rosa died but it hadn't been the same. "I'll call you when lunch is ready."
Maddy nods. Abandoning the apartment she goes down to the first floor and starts digging through the tools still left from when Granny Rosa had lived there and finds what she needs to start weeding the beds. Gathering the hand tools and a mat to kneel on she starts at the front and ruthless starts pulling the weeds that are strangling the beds making sure she gets from the roots up. Granny Rosa had been picky about that even when Maddy was a child. Doing it right and doing it once so the weeds wouldn't come back.
Pete is on the phone down in the kitchen when Ricky comes wondering in. Pete indicates with a finger for Ricky to wait until he is done with the call. Larkin is a problem that need to be contained before he needs to be nipped in the bud. And it's bad enough that Jerry had just wondered up to the back door of the house. Larkin doing the same was a breach in security that would have someone's head rolling or he'd know why. Ricky winces at the fury in his father's voice but continues listening. He'd slept through all the fun. Ricky pours himself a cup of the coffee brewing, takes a sip and then tosses it out and makes a fresh pot. The strong brew his father favored was enough to put hair on your chest when fresh, after it had been sitting for awhile it was positively lethal. Once off the phone, Ricky asks. "What's up?"
"Maddy's aunt is asking questions and stirring things up. I had a visit from Larkin this morning."
"Aunt? What Aunt?" Ricky asks. This is the first that he'd heard of her.
"Her name is Dara Jensen, Lisette's sister. She's evidently an assistant District Attorney up in Port Charles. And as Jerry so subtly pointed out she is knocking boots with a cop up there. The cop is the one asking questions on her behalf."
Ricky grimaces. "Great."
"It is an inconvenience that has it's own silver lining. There is a hole in the perimeter security system that needs to be plugged."
"A hole you say?" Jerry says from the door. "Where could that be?" He gives Pete and Ricky a grin.
"Not funny, man. Dad got a visit from the feds this morning." Ricky tells Jerry automatically reaching for another cup and filling them both from the fresh brewed coffee.
"My condolences. And you think they came in the same way I did?" Jerry reaches for the coffee.
"Dara Jensen's boyfriend is asking questions. The person he happened to contact in the FBI swung by here with his hand out. An Agent Larkin."
Jerry frowns and sets the coffee back down. "Larkin? That name sounds familiar." He snaps his fingers when he remembers. "He was one of the feds on the Emily Quartermaine kidnapping case. That friend of Maddy's, Edward's granddaughter. Johnny Cook had a run in with Larkin I think but Edward could tell you more. I avoid feds whenever possible but from hearing Johnny talk-- it sounded as if this guy wanted to pin the kidnapping on him and through him to Corinthos and Morgan."
Pete grunts. "Wait a minute. Wasn't Johnny's little sister kidnapped at the same time? Little Rita?"
"Yeah. They were snatched on their way home from a horse show. The feds were focusing on the mob angle. That and the white supremist group that the judge, Rita's father, had on trial at the time and even that seemed an afterthought. Turned out it was a personal grudge against Emily. Cook lucked into finding the girls but it was a scary few days. Carly was a basket case; she's got ties to both girls. Em is her husband's sister, and they've gotten tight since she married AJ. And she is the one who is teaching Rita how to ride, kept the girl with her while the Judge and his new wife were on their honeymoon."
"Larkin is based out of here. This is his territory. That he was up north at all is... unlikely unless he was trying to make a connection to me." Pete growls.
"I don't think he flew up there for the case. I think he was there already." Jerry tries to remember. He'd had plenty on his plate at the time and tracking a fed hadn't been high on his agenda.
"Maddy." Ricky guesses. "We know O'Meara has mentioned her to the feds. O'Meara has been dogging her since before Grandmother died and turned the heat up after she passed. That's it, Dad. Maddy has got to go. She's a weak link."
"Whoa... wait a minute here." Jerry protests.
"Maddy knows what is going on, not with the business, but with O'Meara." Pete disagrees. "Lisette was the weak link not Madeliene. Madeliene left because O'Meara started targeting Lisette."
Ricky finishes his coffee. "It would be best for all of us, Madeliene included, if she finished up her business here and went back north." Ricky stalks from the kitchen.
Jerry winces. "No love lost there."
"I told you so." Pete agrees. "Now show me where you got onto the property."
"I should make you look for it." Jerry complains. "What's the deal with putting Dara up in the same B&B as me? It almost put me off my breakfast."
Maddy pours Nik a large glass of ice water setting it next to his place setting. She smothers a little grin. The Cassadines were wimps when it came to their stomachs-- no tolerance for fire at all. Granny's taste buds had dulled over time and she had a habit of... overspicing. "Every thing is ready."
"Go call Nikolas to lunch. I think he is up in apartment three looking at a leaky sink."
Maddy nods and runs up the stairs. Nikolas meets her at the higher landing having just wound up the task. "Lunch is ready."
"Okay." Nik pulls the list out of his back pocket marking off the task. "I think I've done all I can do until the plumber gets here. The water pressure problem is beyond me. I called Larry and he told me a couple of different places that the plumber should look to solve it. When is the Salvation Army showing up?"
"Granny lit a fire under them. They should be here with a truck with a couple of hours. Getting the whole contents of the apartment except for the appliances and a few boxes. Where is your Uncle?"
"Sight seeing?" Nik shrugs. "He said he had some errands to do when I called him on his cell phone. And he wanted to touch base with Alexis. He hates not being able to see... know... exactly what my grandmother is doing."
"That man needs a vacation. A nice deserted island with lots of sun and beaches and no phones. Maybe a vacuous blonde to play Girl Friday."
"I'll tell him you suggested it once everything calms down." Nikolas laughs. "What about Edward?"
"He called while I was out weeding. He had a long, long, long talk with Alan according to Granny Sophia. I think he wants to stay down here until Monica goes to Italy for Thanksgiving with Emily. The only thing stopping him is missing Miz Lila."
"I'd forgotten about that."
"I don't know if Em is going to want to go now. She's got a lot of things going on. She and Carly are working on some project together."
"Carly?! Maybe I want to stay down here until after Thanksgiving too." Nik teases.
"Carly's not so bad." Maddy defends.
"Unless your last name happens to be Cassadine, Quartermaine, Evans, Jones..."
"Stop!" Maddy holds up both hands in surrender. "Come on it's time for lunch."
Sophia is dishing up hearing the voices of the children on the stairs. "Y'all wash up and then sit down. Got to have this while it's hot."
Maddy almost giggles and goes back to the bathroom. Nikolas uses the kitchen sink to wash up. "What does she know that I don't? Maddy's acting like there is a big gag going on and I'm the butt of it again."
"I gave up understanding that girl's sense of humor ages ago." Sophia lies with the ease of long practice. Anything that put a giggle in her girl's voice was fine with her. She'd play along. "What is up with the boiler?"
"Well I've done what I can by bleeding the system in all the apartments. Now it's up to the plumber to find out if there is a major problem." Nik tells her. "All the fixtures are drip free for now. And I took care of that loose board on the back deck. This place is in really good shape. Mine practically had to be rebuilt."
"When Maddy had the house split into apartments all of the needed maintenance was done. Pete made sure she had a contractor he trusted." Sophia explains. Nik holds her chair out for her as she settles at the head of the table and then does the same for Maddy before taking his own seat.
"This smells wonderful." Nik compliments spooning up a balanced portion of beans and rice. He takes a bite and turns white. Exhaling through his nose and then slowly chewing and swallowing. That's it-- anything in this house had to be assumed to be fire starter. He reaches for the full glass of ice water which should have been his first clue. His next bite is more cautious.
"It's a little spicy. It's the sausage..." among other things. Maddy says calmly disguising her grin and letting her eyes go wide and innocent. She delicately takes a bite of her own portion.
"Just a little." Nik says wryly. "Granny, you have to send the recipe back with Maddy so she can spring this on my uncle in the future." Nik thinks about it a bit. "Actually this would be the perfect thing after going riding or dealing with Port Charles winter."
"Which is about nine months of the year?" Sophia shivers. She'd checked the weather channel this morning. This time the weather up north had drawn her interest. Up where Maddy was staying they'd be lucky if they got above freezing today. And the weather person had made a big deal about some kind of arctic blast sweeping through.
"It's not that bad, Granny." Maddy tells her. "All my kiosks have propane heaters and are set up to block the wind. You just have to dress for it. At least that is what Emily says. I haven't been there in winter yet. I came to Port Charles in spring. I still haven't seen snow. This is going to be my first winter."
"Baby, if I were dressing for it I'd look like a stuffed sausage as big around as I am tall. How does Edward's wife stand it?"
"Miz Lila goes from heated garage to heated garage." Nik recalls.
"And has a mink and cashmere lap robe." Maddy adds.
"Oh now that sounds nice." Sophia nods.
Maddy hears sounds from Lisette's apartment. "What the heck is that?"
Nik looks out the window to the front of the building. There is a blue pickup out there with huge tires, a rebel flag decal on the bumper and a gun rack in the back. He says doubtfully. "It could be the plumber, I guess, looking for us."
Maddy rises to her feet to check things out. Maddy is out the door and walks into her mother's apartment. There are two burly guys standing there checking the place out. "Can I help you?"
The two check Maddy out next. The hair goes up on the back of her neck. All her instincts start screaming that this is a bad situation. "I don't know, Girlie. How you want to help me out?"
"This is my mother's apartment. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. NOW." Maddy insists.
"Well this is my brother's apartment... my brother's building as a matter of fact. He inherited it from his dead wife."
"Excuse me? You must be lost."
"You Lisette's Little girl? Why don't you come over here and give your Uncle Gordie a kiss."
"I have no idea who you are." Maddy takes a step back. The creepy feeling is getting stronger.
"Why I'm Billy Bob's brother, and this is his other brother, Cy. Guess that makes me your uncle, little girl. Don't you worry none. We'll take real good care of you. Owe it to your mom after all she did for Billy Bob. Leaving this nice house to him and all."
"My mother never married Billy Bob!" Maddy denies vehemently.
"Those two love birds eloped, didn't invite a soul to the wedding." Cy smarms. "Impulsive that way don't you know. But it's all legal like. Just like us making sure that Billy Bob's interests are protected. And yours too of course. Little thing like you all unprotected out in the world. But don't you worry, girlie. Family take care of you-- good care of you. Like Gordie says. We owe it to you, and Lisette of course."
"Get out. Get out of my house!" Maddy starts at a whisper and ends in a yell. Her raised voice brings Nik running from Granny Sophia's apartment.
"What is going on here?"
"Just a little family matter and none of your business."
"Maddy?"
"They are Billy Bob's brothers." She doesn't take her eyes off of either of them.
"Coming to collect his things? How timely of you... gentlemen." Nik says softly.
"Coming to claim what's ours." Cy looks Maddy over from head to toe in a suggestive manner. "Billy Bob told us all about you and your mama. How Lisette had some kind of trust fund that paid all her bills. I bet you inherited that. Well we're going to make sure you aren't alone in the world, you poor thing. What is family for?"
"Get out of my house. I'm not going to tell you again." Maddy grinds between gritted teeth.
Cy reaches out to grab her and Nik gets between Maddy and the big ox. Nik ducks the first blow and pushes Maddy back toward the door. He makes a move to punch Cy but Tai Chi hadn't prepared him for this. Hell Sumo wrestling would have been better preparation. Nik's punch connects but it's like hitting the Pillsbury dough boy there is just a grunt from his opponent but no impact. Gordie comes at Nik from another angle. Maddy looks around for a weapon finding only a mop that had been set out on the stoop to air dry. She pokes at Gordie with it backing him off from Nikolas. Ricky comes out of nowhere. Actually from the back porch area and jumps Gordie from behind. Since Gordie has no neck to speak of Ricky goes for the ears and the pressure points behind them. A big old fur ball ensues until Granny Sophia marches into Lisette's apartment. She grabs Maddy putting her behind her and pointing her .45 to the floor fires off a shot.
The explosion stops everyone dead in their tracks. "You boys are stopping by at the wrong time. I suggest you call next time you come by 'cause around here trespassers are shot."
"Listen, you old biddy..."
"No, you listen you escapee from deliverance, They say the old have patience well I'm the Good Lord's proof that's a load of hogwash. You are not staying. You are leaving. NOW. And you are going to leave this little girl alone!"
"We'll be back. With the law!" Gordie blusters as he and Cy leave. Sophia leaves room for them to pass.
"You do that." Sophia agrees keeping them in her sights. As soon as they are at the truck, Sophia drops the pistol to her side. "Honey, I think you should lock your mama's apartment this time. Ricky, you are just in time for lunch. Nik, you know anything about fixing bulletholes in hard wood floors?"