 |
||
When Cassadines Fall
Double life
7pm
Maddy arrives at Wyndemere lite. She'd ended up standing in line at the bank until almost 6. After that went to the courthouse kiosk and helped break down that kiosk since it and the downtown kiosk close early. Only the PCU and the docks kiosks stay open late. She'd collected the receipts and the journal pages. And the next to last stop at PCU to not only get the receipts but also to get the books on the reading list that the instructor had insisted on and then a quick trip to the docks to collect the spare cash from them . Then to Wyndmere lite. All the business ledgers are there. IF she got her bookwork done at a decent hour she'd still go over to Johnny's apartment to visit with Em. She yawns tiredly. It has been a long ass day, luckily it was the weekend so if she really had to she could postpone the class stuff until Sunday night.
"Nik?" Maddy calls out as she starts stripping out of her coat and pulls off her boots leaving them inside the back door.
"Yes?" Nik comes in from the house proper to the kitchen. "Well I don't have to ask how you're day went. You overdid, didn't you?"
"And you're just a bundle of energy. Let me guess you went out to see Sheba and let the horse do all the work." Maddy rolls her eyes.
"Sheba doesn't clean his own stall." Nik grins. "But yes, I'm sure I had a much easier day than you. I went riding, did a few things around the house, checked in at the hospital and then called Stefan and invited him to go riding tomorrow. Carly is going out of town with AJ. She covered for me while I was in New Orleans so I'm returning the favor this weekend with Mr Roberts. Ah but the thing I did manage to accomplish... I used one of Lucky's takeout menus and ordered some ribs from Eli's complete with coleslaw and all of the fixin's as Lucky would say."
"Oh that sounds good!" Maddy moans. "Let me get into some grubbies and I'll be right back."
"Hopefully by then it will be here. Do you want anything to drink?"
"Soda would be great." Maddy tilts her head from one side to the other to stretch out the kinks. She always carried her stress in her neck.
Nik is paying for the delivery at the back door when Maddy runs back up the stairs. She is dressed in manstyle flannel bottoms, a turtleneck covered with one of her ripped up sweat shirts, and the fuzzy socks. Nik grins when he sees the fuzzy socks. Maddy never seems to wear shoes in the house if she absolutely couldn't avoid it. He isn't surprised that Maddy hasn't noticed the minute changes he'd made to the kitchen. If all goes well she'll notice them gradually if at all. The big changes were in the front room. That's when all hell was going to break loose. Maddy has a folder under her arm. "What's that?"
"You don't mind, do you? It's the journal entries from all the kiosks for while I was gone. My staff should have made a note of phone calls I need to make and anything bizarre or juicy that happened while I was gone."
"No problem if you read me the good stuff."
"Well since you bought dinner." Maddy agrees. She sets up on the far side of the dining room table. "Gees you bought enough for an Army... oh wait. Lucky and Elizabeth right?"
"Lucky must not be home; he knows all the delivery drivers from Eli's by name."
Maddy dishes up a plate and then opens her journal folder straightening all the pages. This would be in reverse order of the way she closed down the kiosks... docks first. "Business, business, business." Maddy frowns. "Nobody has seen crazy Larry for awhile. I'll have to ask Taggart if he got thrown in jail."
"Crazy Larry?"
"Yeah, he's one of the homeless guys who lives down by the docks. He normally stops by just before the kiosk closes and gets the left over pastries if we have any and a cup of coffee. My night girl has started keeping dog treats for his puppy. He's out of it but basically harmless to anyone who feeds him. He's actually solved a few problems for me down there. I don't think he is as crazy as he plays." Maddy goes on to the PCU kiosk. "Oh Liz is going to want to know this. Her advisor is thinking of taking a sabbatical to Paris. Business, business, business." The downtown kiosk. "Oh watch out... big problems with the tech stocks. One of the stockbrokers down there is getting ready to sell them short. He's already got his boat picked out for a cruise in the caribbean."
"You do get the interesting stuff!" Nik is amazed by the amount of info that Maddy is collecting from all over town.
"Yeah, people like to talk over coffee. The gal who works the downtown district practically pays me to work there. She is making money hand over fist in the stock market with just her tips." Maddy flips to the next page the start of the courthouse notes. Her fork drops against her plate. "Oh this isn't good."
"What? What is it?" Nik asks. This was better than the soap operas that Grandmother Lesley was hooked on.
"He ID an FBI agent who was with Agent Ford. My guy who runs the courthouse kiosk." Maddy looks up at Nik. "Agent Ford has this area. He's the player for New York. He's actually based in Rochester but he does the whole upstate. Because of Mr Corinthos and Em's brother he spends a lot of time here in Port Charles, so he's kind of a regular. No problem for me though 'cause I figure those guys have been taking care of themselves for a long time. And the first time I had any real personal contact with Jason was when Em was kidnapped."
"When you were coordinating among all of us." Nik remembers.
"Right. Here's the problem. The Agent with Ford was Larkin."
"Who is Larkin?" Nikolas wipes his hands on the linen napkin and then pushes his plate away as he focuses on her answer. Maddy's concern raising flags with him.
"He is working with O'Meara to take down Poppi. If Larkin is in town that means he is probably looking for me. I ducked away from both of them, Larkin and O'Meara, when I came to Port Charles. Nobody ever mentioned Dara back in New Orleans. I shut down like that... " Maddy snaps her fingers. "...and got the hell out of Dodge."
"Then staying here is a good idea. Nobody who knows you're here would say anything. Your name isn't on anything. And lets face it-- the Cassadines can withstand whatever the FBI throws at us." Nik laughs. "Isn't it terrible; I can joke about the family's ability to skate around law enforcement?"
"From what I hear-- local, federal and international! Except for great uncle Victor down in South America."
"True, but he didn't have Alexis. We have not only my aunt but yours as well. It might be something they'd agree on. I'd pity the FBI."
"True." Maddy applies herself to her very messy dinner. When she's full and pushes the plate back she absently starts reading again flipping to the last page from the courthouse kiosk. "Oh screw."
"What?"
"He isn't coming after me! They're playing the same game they did down in New Orleans. He's coming after Aunt Dara. Justus Ward's secretary told my guy that Dara's been suspended." Maddy is already grabbing at her coat which is hanging over the back of an adjacent chair and pulling her cell phone from the pocket. Nik is expecting her to call Dara but Maddy's dialing more than seven digits. "Poppi! Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Larkin is in Port Charles and got Aunt Dara suspended from her job." Maddy starts nodding at Pete's reply. "Okay, okay, I'll talk to her and find out what she needs. But it's Larkin, so he's after you too.... No Poppi, I'm not trying to tell you your business." Maddy looks over at Nik and rolls her eyes. "Why do you want me to talk to Jerry?" Maddy frowns. "Okay I'll take care of it tonight."
Nikolas is already standing holding not only Maddy's coat but his own. "You go talk to your aunt; you can go dressed as you are." He looks over at the clock on the wall. "Bobbie told me Jerry is going to meet her at GH for her dinner break. I should be able to catch him there. Pete wants Jerry to know about Dara?"
"No, not that. That Larkin is in town. Jerry going down to New Orleans could have stirred up some trouble for him. Give Jerry my cell number if he needs more detail but he'll probably call Poppi." While Maddy is talking she is sliding her arms into the coat that Nik is holding for her. She stomps into her boots, not caring that she is wearing her own version of PJ's since she's covered from neck to toe. Maddy reaches out and grabs Nik by the arm. "Swear to me that you'll tell me if Larkin starts in on you or Mr C."
"Maddy, I already told you. The Cassadines are well insulated from all this."
"Knowing you can beat it is different from Larkin trying somethin'. You start protecting me and I'm so gone, Nikolas." Maddy threatens. "Not knowing where the hits are coming from is scarier than facing them head on."
"Stefan does that." Nikolas brushes the back of his hand along the edge of her jaw, then eases her hair from under her jacket and straightens the collar. "Protects me. I promise, Maddy, as soon as I know-- you'll know. But you have a promise to make as well."
"What's that?"
"No disappearing."
Maddy nods chewing on the inside of her lip. "I think I can live with that."
8pm
Jerry and Lucas arrive at the second floor nurses station. Lucas is kind of disappointed on the whole boot thing-- who knew you had to have an impression made of your feet and then wait weeks to get them? After going riding, he and Jerry had gone back to the brownstone to do some manly things like listen to the Neville Brothers CD Jerry brought back for him on the stereo at full blast while doing a couple loads of laundry and vacumning up the big chunks on the carpet. Jerry hadn't said a word when he dusted the stair railing by sliding down it when Mom would have totally freaked. There'd still been time to catch a movie PG-13-- not G or PG, before they met Mom. Mom really should work more swings on Friday nights.
Jerry carries the cooler with the remainder of the New Orleans goodies in it. Carly and AJ going out of town had left him with double the expected amount. Leaving it in the break room would guarentee it would disappear.
"Mom! Guess what we saw?!" Lucas calls out the name of the movie.
"Jerry!" Bobbie says disapprovingly.
"I researched it, Red. There weren't any words in it that the lad hasn't already taught Michael. Where do you want me to set this up? Lucas, go get us some sodas." Jerry orders after Bobbie nods to the breakroom. Together they unpack the cooler. Bobbie dishes up a plate as does Jerry and Lucas once he gets back with their canned beverages. Lucas starts giving a blow by blow of their day while Jerry listens and then feeling sneaky runs a finger up the middle of Bobbie's back grinning when she shudders and jumps. Bobbie glances over with a glare promising retribution later. Jerry just waggles his brows at her suggestively.
"Knock if off!" Bobbie hisses.
Lucas rolls his eyes. They're at it again. Mushy stuff constantly. He perks up when he sees the next visitor through the door. "Hey Nikolas!"
"Lucas, how are you doing?"
"Great. Jerry and I went out to the movies 'cause mom has to work."
"I know I'm cutting into your time, Bobbie, but can I borrow Jerry for a minute?"
Bobbie looks at Nikolas' serious face. "Is everything alright?"
"As far as I know." Nik shrugs.
Jerry sets Bobbie in her own chair and rises. He tilts his head to the side to indicate a quiet corner of the room. "What's up?"
"Larkin's in town and stirring things up. Pete wanted you to be informed."
"Pete would have called me or Maddy not you, no offense. Where is Maddy?"
"She's over at her Aunt's." Nik gives him her cell phone number. "Maddy says to call her if you want details but she figured you'd call Pete instead."
Jerry looks over at Bobbie and Lucas with their heads together. "First available moment." His voice drops lower. "Larkin stopped by Pete's one morning back in New Orleans. Pete escorted him from the house by an appendage most guys are overly fond of. Basically proved that Larkin can't take Pete on head to head. Pardon the pun. He's got to come at this from the backdoor. That means Maddy. It's the card that Larkin and O'Meara played before."
Nik stands up even straighter. Jerry is saying something but the undertones are something different. He carefully chooses his words. "Between the Cassadines and Quartermaines, Maddy will be safe right where she is-- in Port Charles. Inform Pete of this when you speak to him." Nik looks over at Bobbie and Lucas. "I'll talk to the two of you later. Have a great night."
Bobbie looks up. "We will. Don't be a stranger, Nikolas."
"No, I'll stop by when you have more time." Nikolas promises Bobbie but looking at Lucas. "I have to go see my uncle now."
"Tell Uncle hi." Lucas requests cheerfully.
Nikolas squeezes Lucas' shoulder. "You bet. And I'll also tell warn him how you cleaned me out at the poker game so he won't be so foolish as to gamble with you." Nikolas says goodbye to everyone and then leaves.
In a residential part of Port Charles not too far from the hospital, Maddy drives up to Dara's house with a little extra caution. Knowing Larkin is in town and the crud he's already pulled she isn't surprised to see a van on the main road outside of Dara's. She pulls into the drive and goes up to knock on the door.
Dara checks from the window to see who it is and then opens the door. "Maddy, honey I know we said we'd get together and I'd love to really but this really isn't a good...." Dara's voice fades away as Maddy walks by her and over to the stereo. Maddy turns it on and then cranks it. "What is going on?"
Maddy takes Dara's hand and leads her more into the interior of the house. She keeps her voice really low. "Well that's what they always do in the movies. You have feds out on the street watching your house. It wouldn't surprise me if they were listening too."
Dara looks at her niece questioningly and then nods. "You know."
"Justus' secretary has a big mouth and likes her mocha breves. Not to mention the guy I have working down there looks hot. He gets a lot of the ladies chatty. This is my fault-- they are coming after you like they were going to go after Mama. That's why I left New Orleans to start. Poppi can take care of himself." Maddy looks at Dara and gets real honest. "And there is nothing I know that can hurt Poppi. He likes it that way and so do I. But the feds aren't interested in hearing that."
"No, they aren't." Dara agrees. "And believe me I let them do the talking in that meeting. It's the prosecuting attorney in me... I know when to keep my mouth shut and let them hang themselves."
"What do you need?"
"Nothing. I've got it covered. I went straight from the meeting to meet with Alexis Davis. This just means I have an little extra time to catch up on my sleep and read the journals I've been putting off."
Maddy can tell that Dara is blowing smoke not wanting to worry her but nods anyway. If Dara wouldn't give her the information then she'd get it somewhere else. Her voice drops even lower. "Poppi wanted me to tell you one thing. Two words exactly. hand out. I don't know what it means if he is going to help or what but he'd said you'd know."
"You should get back to whereever you're staying." Dara gives Maddy a hug. "At this point I think you're too much of a temptation for the Feds. Start varying your route... I can't believe I'm saying this but I think you should put Marcus on your speeddial. If they pull anything with you I want him to be on the spot. He knows how the cops down there were putting the squeeze on you. He'll look out for you until I can get there. Don't do anything stupid, don't do anything illegal for goodness sake. Don't give them any excuses."
Maddy nods. "I know the drill. I've been practicing for a long, long time. My cell is on all the time... except when I'm in class during the week from 9am-1p. If you need to get hold of me then contact Reggie over at the Quartermaine Mansion."
"Be safe, Madeliene."
"You too, Auntie." Maddy gives Dara's hand a squeeze and then leaves the way she came. She runs into Taggart just about to go in. "Just the guy I wanted to see." Maddy looks straight at the survellience van drawing Taggart's attention to it. "You seen Crazy Larry around lately... you know from the docks?"
Taggart winces. "Yeah. He had an episode and got locked up in the GH psych ward."
"He's not crazy, Taggart." Maddy insists.
"I know-- he's PTSD but that doesn't mean he isn't gonna get locked up when he starts going nutso even if it is temporary."
"Where is his dog?"
"There was nothing in the report..."
"Oh hell. When was he locked up?"
"Couple days ago."
"I got to go. See you later. Take good care of Aunt Dara." Maddy dashes for the van.
Taggart looks after her. Damn. The kid was going to go look for that homeless guy's dog. One of these days people were going to figure out that Maddy wasn't the hardcase she puts on for everyone. "Hey Dara," Marcus calls as he walks in. "I ran into... your friend out front."
Dara has curled up on the couch and has her notebook in front of her. she holds up a note... that says you saw the survellience? Marcus nods and settles on the couch next to her not getting comfortable with the holster and gun he slides out of them and leaves them on the coffee table. Dara nuzzles in close to his ear. "You remember when I told you about the meeting I had with Robideau? About Maddy? When he was being so uncooperative and basically bitching me out for you investigating?"
"Yeah," Taggart starts nuzzling back. "Why?"
"He told me then that there was a fed with his hand out. Maddy passed along a message from Robideau. Two words-- hand out."
Marcus pulls back and looks at her with eyes narrowed. He mouths the name. "Larkin?"
Dara shrugs and mouths back, "I don't know for sure but I need to get word to V."
Marcus nods. "Baby, I'm starved. What do you say you get all dressed up fine and I take you out to The Outback." He says in a normal voice. "Cheer you up a bit. I know you like the piano player there."
9:30
Nikolas hops from the launch to the docks. The meeting with Stefan had been brief and informative. Mostly him giving info to Stefan and knowing from there that the Cassadine operatives would start investigating the situation. For Maddy's sake he'd limited the conversation about Dara and instead had focused on Larkin.
As he walks up the docks he spots Maddy's van. He goes up to it but it's empty. Growing concerned he goes first to the kiosk. "Is Maddy here?"
"She was a few minutes ago." The Barrista replies. The dock kiosk workers, unlike the rest of Maddy's staff are familiar with Nik's face, and his association with their boss. "She's looking for Crazy Larry's dog. Maddy found out that Larry hasn't been around 'cause he got locked up."
"So she's looking for his dog."
"Yeah, she figures Larry will really go wonky if something happens to his dog."
"Which direction did she go?" Nik starts down the prominade in the direction the server had pointed. He moves at a brisk pace until he hears Maddy's voice.
"Here pup, pup, pup. Come on-- you know me. It's Maddy. Look what I have for you." Maddy's voice changes. As she starts crooning. "Yes, you're a good dog, aren't you? I bet you're really hungry. Yes, there's more where that came from. Come on-- you need to stay with me until Larry gets out. Otherwise the guys with the nets are going to get you too. Yes, aren't you a pretty baby."
"Madeliene." Nik calls from behind Maddy where she is bent over a dog he can't see until Maddy turns around. He takes a deep breath. "That is a puppy?!"
"All dogs are puppies isn't that right, Cinnamon?" The dog's tail wags briefly as she looks suspiciously at Nik.
"And you want to take him home."
"Can I keep him, daddy please? I promise I'll walk him and everything." Maddy teases and then gets serious. "It'll just be until Larry gets out, Nik. Cinnamon is about the only real thing Larry has. Without her he won't come back to reality. He's probably going crazy at GH worrying about her."
Nik pulls out his cell phone and calls the hospital. "Bobbie Jacks please." He waits to be connected. "Bobbie, it's Nikolas again. I was wondering if you can go up to the psych ward and tell Larry... he would have come into the hospital in the last few days... that his dog is fine and is with Maddy."
"You're a prince!"
"Yes, I know. But the dog is riding home in your van not my jag."
"And just think you don't have to worry about anybody breaking into your house."
"I'm more concerned with my brother when he comes in, in the morning for his coffee."
"Yeah, I'll have to take care of that." Maddy nods in agreement. She rises to her feet from next to the dog and starts walking down the alleyway. She slaps her thigh as she had seen Larry do. Cinnamon falls in next to her, the rolling gate of the pitbull keeping up easily. Like all of her breed she has relatively short legs and a powerful muscled torso. But what made her instantly recognizable was the broad head.
Nikolas could well remember the dogs reputation for latching on and not letting go-- much like a mongoose with a cobra. "She does have her shots doesn't she?"
Maddy nods. "Larry takes very good care of Cinnamon. She has all her shots and tags. It's just if the dog catcher gets hold of Cinnamon he might not be able to get her back and she'd probably be put down. Most places don't adopt out pitbulls. Even sweeties like Cinnamon."
"You owe me for this one, Reynolds. Big time."
Who Let the Dog Out?
Lucky comes into Wyndemere Lite. He yawn and runs his hands over his hair bringing a semblance of order to it. Just inside the door he stops in his tracks. He sniffs the air. In addition to the coffee smell that always seems to permeate the house in the morning there is another aroma. He looks around. The kitchen is in it's normal sanitized unused perfection. Nothing on the table or the counters. He goes over to the fridge. Nothing. He knows they are there somewhere. He looks around again. Nikolas comes into the kitchen as he is searching frantically. "What are you looking for?"
"Ribs. I know you have them somewhere. Where are they?"
"You snooze you lose." Nik says wryly. "Maddy fed your portion to the dog last night."
"The dog!" Lucky is definitely appalled. "Wait a minute what dog?"
"One of her customers got locked up and the dog needed a place to stay." Nik looks over at the dry erase board to see if Maddy left any messages. "Maddy took Cinnamon with her on her route."
"Cinnamon? What kind of name is Cinnamon? What is it some kind of powderpuff poodle or something?" Lucky is still ticked at the loss of his breakfast.
"No." Nik says seriously. "In fact I'd advise calling before you come over in the future. At least until introductions have been made."
"Big dog?"
"Not as big as Foster, Wolf, Fang or Honey-- but few dogs are. What is your plan for today?"
"Well I was planning on just kicking until I smelled the ribs now I've got a craving." Lucky goes over to the vacumn pot and pours himself a cup of coffee doctoring it the way he likes.
"Where is Elizabeth?"
"She'll be here in a sec. Audrey called just as she was getting dressed."
"Problems?"
"Elizabeth is over eighteen but the Hardys are way different from the Spencers. I suppose it is normal for your grandparents to run your business even after you're out on your own. Emily has the same problem in the making."
"Especially if the family member has hooked up with a Spencer." Nik teases.
"Oh pot and kettle there, Cassadine."
Liz walks into the house. "Whoo. I'm glad that is over. And you better be having Thanksgiving here, Nik, cause you already have the guest list started."
"I said I would." Nik agrees. He pours himself a cup of coffee and one for Liz as well. "I have to go up to the stables this morning anyone want to go with?"
"I know what this is about. You just don't want to lose your tranny on the dirt path Cuz calls a road." Lucky considers it. "Sure why not. I need to do some research and Carly's system has more bells and whistles than mine."
"If I'm invited I want to go too!" Liz inserts. "I can get some sketches in while you guys do what you got to do. I haven't been out at the spa for ages but it's back in the woods. I bet they look gorgeous this time of year."
"Sounds like a plan."
Jax pulls his wallet from his pants that are slung over the back of a chair. "Here you go, Mate." He offers up a healthy tip.
"Thanks have a great day." The black delivery guy says politely not even blinking that the guy who had answered the door was standing there in only a towel.
"You too." Jax sniffs juggling the box and shutting the door with his foot, and grabs for the drooping towel. Then calls out. "V, I didn't know you had it in you!"
V comes out from the back bedroom of her apartment still rubbing her hair dry dressed only in a heavy terry cloth robe. "Had what?"
"You're going to spoil me rotten."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You didn't order beignets? From New Orleans?"
"No, that's your MO. I go donuts from Dunkin' or if I'm really splurging a Krispy Kreme."
Jax holds the box away from him. "Well the guy did make a big deal that this was V. Ardonowski's apartment."
"Is it ticking?"
"Nope, and it smells like beignets." Jax sets the box on the table and using his left hand... being right handed if he was going to lose one he'd rather it be his off hand, eases off the tape and opens the box. "Look like beignets to me." He takes a bite. "Taste like them too."
"You know that it could be a present from Jerry. Course the way you're trying to move your parents in right next door to him and Bobbie..."
Jax chokes. "You do have a twisted wit. And it was addressed to you. They must be safe, Jerry loves you."
"Must be the company I keep." V comes over to the box and checks it out. "Bash a guy over the head with a champagne bottle and he's yours for life.
What did the guy look like who delivered it?"
"Black lad bout early twenties. Why?"
"Probably not important. This is what he was really delivering." V slides a nail under the ziploc bag taped to the top of the box. She opens it up and pulls out the papers within. "I wonder how he got my name?"
"What's that?" Jax refers to the papers with the powdered sugar covered pastry.
"None of your bees wax." V says absently. She hangs the towel around her neck and takes the papers with her back to the bedroom to get dressed. She whistles tunelessly at the contents. If this was all true then there was a certain federal agent who is so screwed. Dara might get her job back yet. "Jax, I'm afraid our plans have changed. I'm going to have to go into the office for a bit." V calls out to the living room.
"You kicking me out?"
"You can't duck Jerry forever. Might as well face the music."
"I'm doing this for you, you know!" Jax protests calling out from the living room. He drops the towel and slides into his slacks not bothering with the other. "You're the one who is concerned that Dad and Lady Jane will walk in unannounced at my suite."
"Jax, they do walk in unannounced-- frequently." V comes out of the back. She is now dressed in a grey hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. "And I don't work for you anymore. So it's not like I have a reason to be there."
"You have every reason to be there." Jax protests. This is an argument that had been ongoing ever since V had gone to work for that thief Ashton.
"I can't get into this right now." V stands up on her tippy toes and gives Jax a kiss on the cheek. "Lock up when you leave." V steps out onto her landing. Rather than going through the Outback she takes the exit out of the building. She looks to the sky. The weatherman had nailed it. Clear and cold. No chance of precipitation. She slides on her sunglasses and looks around. Still early on a Saturday morning and no sign of movement. She slides her hand into the front pocket of the hooded sweatshirt and pats the papers then grabs her keys. Alexis was going to want to see this ASAP. Along with the information that Dara had given her the night before.
She climbs into her older and impecibly maintained compact car and adjusting her mirrors and buckling up pulls out into the quiet street. As soon as she leaves there is the sound of another engine starting. This one from a rental car. His first task in town completed; it's time to work on the next.
Parking Lot General Hospital.
Maddy turns around in the drivers seat to look into the back of the van. Cinnamon has commandeered the back couch for her own. "You be good. Don't destroy anything but that chew I left for you. I'll be back in a few minutes." Maddy rolls down the window a hair and then hops out locking up after her. She strides quickly to the front entrance of the hospital and goes to the question and answer volunteer behind the counter. "What floor is psych on?"
"Eight." The volunteer answers calmly. Actually overly calm. People who asked for the Psych ward always made her nervous.
"Thanks." Maddy goes over to the elevators and takes the short trip to the locked ward. There she goes to the nurses station. "Hi, I'm here to see Larry; I don't know his last name. He came in a couple of days ago." Maddy goes on to describe him.
The nurse starts nodding. "He's doing much better today. I think he can have visitors."
"Great." Maddy thinks about it for a minute and decides what the heck. "What's your policy on animals?"
"They have to be certified for visits to hospitals and arranged for in advance. Why?"
"'Cause I'm going to need the name of Larry's doctor then."
"Doctor Kevin Collins is the referring doctor." The nurse looks up from her notes.
"Do you have a card?"
The nurse searches the station and comes up with one of Kevin's cards. "Here you go. Give me a second to get Larry. You do understand that this is a locked ward?"
"Yeah, I just want your guarantee that you'll let me back out."
The nurse laughs. "You got it." The nurse leaves to verify where Larry is and then comes back to get Maddy. He escorts Maddy to the dayroom where people are hanging out doing whatever-- some are writing in journals, some playing games, some watching TV, some are in a closed off closet of a room that is filled with smoke. Maddy gives that room a second look. the nurse notices. "Yes, we allow smoking in designated areas. The patients are in enough distress without adding nicotine withdrawl. And since the community frowns on us letting them out to have a smoke the hospital makes accomodations."
"Sounds smart. Got to pick your battles right?" Maddy agrees. She sees Larry standing over by the window. "Larry."
"Maddy. Thank Goodness. You found her? You found my baby?" The nurse looks at them both questioningly wondering if the patient was having another delusion. He'd been doing so well since Bobbie Jacks had visited with him the night before.
"Yep, Cinnamon is out in the van." Maddy looks over at the nurse. "His dog."
"Oh. Well I'll let you two talk. Let me know when you want out." The nurse wanders away to check on another patient.
"You okay for a hug?" Maddy asks. Larry envelopes her in a bear hug. "I guess you are! Let me breathe, guy." Larry laughs and releases her. Maddy goes over to the window making a note of the landmarks below. "I got worried about you. Ceila wrote down that you hadn't been around for awhile so I asked Lt Taggart what happened. He told me you were here."
"I don't remember what happened." Larry says softly embarrassed. "I woke up here."
"That's okay 'cause you know what's going on now. All you have to worry about is getting well and getting out. I picked up Cinnamon last night and took her home with me. Other than being hungry she was just fine."
"If the dogcatcher had got her..." Larry shudders.
"I know." Maddy agrees. "But I'm spoiling her rotten. She got ribs from Eli's last night."
"Actually she gets ribs from Eli's frequently." Larry grins. The dumpster behind Eli's was on his normal route. "I owe you for this one, Maddy."
"Nope. We're even, Larry. You've always been there for me down at the docks looking out for me and Ceila." Larry knows it's not true but nods anyway. "I'm going to leave for now but I'll be back if you don't get out before I get another okay to visit. You stay right by this window okay?" Larry nods. Maddy walks over to the nurse and asks to leave. Once outside the locked unit she tells the nurse her plan. "I'm going to bring Larry's dog over to the other side of the building so he can see her. So if he doesn't want to leave the window-- there is a reason."
Maddy takes the elevator down to the main lobby and goes out to the van. Getting her bearings she puts a lead on Cinnamon and starts walking around the building finding the landmark she'd seen from above. She counts up the floors of the building trying to see Larry. That far up he is just a blur but there. Maddy waves and Larry waves back. She bends down to pet Cinnamon. "Daddy's up there. But he knows you're okay and will be back soon." Cinnamon wags her tail having no clue what the human is saying but her tone is definitely kind and reassuring. "Come on, Pup. We're off to Chinatown. I have to see a woman about a sewing machine."
Stefan pulls up to the stables up in the woods above the Deception spa. He doesn't see Nikolas' jag but his brother's truck is there. Parking next to the truck, Stefan climbs from the car. He is already dressed in his riding clothes. He walks over to the corral. There are three horses in the corral. The vet student's horse flops down in the dust of the corral and riggles round raising a cloud. Stefan allows himself a small grin. That was going to be fun to clean up. Stefan enjoys watching the horses at play until Nikolas comes out of the stables with a wheelbarrow filled with the used bedding from the stalls. "You really should have staff to do that."
"I didn't have staff when Sheba was at the cottage." Nikolas reminds.
"And the road is in need of repair." Stefan complains. Even with the shocks of the top of the line sedan he'd almost needed caps after hitting a pot hole in the drive.
"It's not my road." Nikolas replies. "I think Carly likes it that way. It keeps the number of visitors, ie the press, down."
"Ah, her personal moat." Stefan nods in understanding.
"Exactly." Nikolas agrees. He dumps the contents of the barrow onto the pile that waits for the mushroom farmer. "I'm just about done. We'll be able to get on the trails soon."
"You drove Lucky's truck up here?"
"Actually he is on Carly's computer." Nikolas looks around. "Elizabeth is around here somewhere sketching."
"Does your brother know? About Larkin?"
Nikolas frowns. "No, it hasn't come up but both of them will need to know. Maddy's security has to be paramount. Neither of them would do anything to hurt Maddy intentionally but if they mentioned her presence to the wrong person..."
"And there is also your brother's computer skills. With the right background information he could well build a dossier on Madeliene's nemesis."
"I can't believe you are actually suggesting I have Lucky do the poking." Nikolas says suspiciously
"I've lost confidence in my own computer operative. The holes in Madeliene's dossier were extensive and distressing. Both Larkin and O'Meara's name should have been in it. There was no mention of Maddy's chess partner down in New Orleans. Even that she was the owner of record for the house down there wasn't in the dossier. I have begun to realize I could have done a better job myself." Stefan admits with a frown. "After being in New Orleans and meeting the players, I am more cognisant of what they are capable and the risk to Madeliene. This is not a match to be played in the dark."
"I can't believe you are going to these lengths for a chess partner."
"Worthy adversaries, no matter how impatient, are few and far between." Stefan admits. "Although it could have been the ... bread pudding?"
Nikolas grins. "You're bored and looking for a new opponent, Larkin perhaps."
"Perhaps. Set your brother loose on Larkin. He has too much information on Madeliene. We need to be able to counter his information with our own. And tell him to make haste while taking care, the game will be afoot as soon as Larkin makes the connection to the Cassadine whether we are ready or not."
Nikolas nods. "And so it begins. I'll talk to Lucky if you get the horses ready."
Closing in on dark, Maddy looks around Chinatown after finishing her meeting. It wasn't the scuzziest part of Port Charles but there was definitely an element there. There is a smell of desperation here that can't be found anywhere else but Courtland St where the druggies hang. Nobody comes down to Chinatown anymore and it shows. It's like the forgotten underground of Port Charles. And in the shadows bad things were growing unchecked. She shivers. Her contacts down here are making it. They'd gotten out from under and are trying to make it as best they can but even being legals they have their desperate times. Most still had family back in China. Family they wanted out no matter what the cost. The slave trade was alive and well. IF family couldn't buy them out of China then the family members got out any way they could. It was starting to make the news in California when the Immigration people had open up a container off a ship that was filled with the dead and dying who'd put their trust in the hands of the wrong coyote. The ones who could be made healthy were cleaned up and fattened up and then sent right back to the situation that they'd been fleeing.
But she'd heard the whispers of the underground between Toronto and New York City and she has suspicions about something going through Port Charles.
Shaking it off, She reaches for her cell phone. "Niknik? Yeah, it's me. Who else calls you Niknik? You feel like Chinese tonight? I can pick something up. I'm on my last stop for the day.... Okay, I'll meet you back at the house. How many people am I buying for? Well I figured Lucky would want to be paid back for losing his ribs.... Okay five. Make sure that Mr C calls Mrs Lansbury and lets her know he's staying to dinner with you. She probably has something made, and it would be really rude for him to not show up." Maddy laughs as Nik starts blustering. "Oh please. I'll see you later." She hangs up the phone and climbs into the van. "One more stop, Cinnamon, and then back to the house. You knew I wasn't going to stop for dinner before I met with my contact... there would have been nothing left after you got done munching!" Cinnamon gives her a who me pitiful look. "Just look the other way, pup, I'm not buyin'."
Maddy arrives back to the house before everyone else comes down from the stable. She sets the table in the kitchen putting forks by each of the plates but throwing the chopsticks into the middle of the table for anyone who wants to risk it. Cinnamon curls up on a rug that is right infront of the door to the basement watching as Maddy goes back and forth. Maddy gets out a cookie sheet and slides all the cardboard containers on to it and shoves it in the oven just incase they took longer than she thought. As soon as the vehicles pull up she grabs the pitcher of ice water from the fridge when she shuts the door she frowns. She runs a finger over the magnet on the outside of the door.
"So what did you get, Maddy?" Nik asks from the door, distracting her.
"Nothing for you if you smell like horse."
"I believe that is my cue as well." Stefan says from behind Nikolas. He is removing his gloves. Stefan looks with suspicion at the large dog that is eyeing them... or rather him curiously.
"Y'all know where the showers are."
"Perhaps an introduction would be appropriate first." Stefan indicates to the dog.
"Oh right sorry." Maddy comes over and takes Stefan's hand. "Cinnamon, this is Mr C. Mr C, this is Cinnamon." Cinnamon sniffs his hand and then relaxes. "You're all clear. Who's next?"
"Is that the dog that ate my breakfast?" Lucky checks out the mutt before offering his hand.
"Well you can bet that Gram isn't bringing Gatsby to dinner on Thanksgiving." Liz quips.
"The dog will be back with its owner by then, Right Maddy?"
"You bet, Candy. Don't you have something to do?" Maddy hears the front door bell ring. "Who the heck can that be?" With Nik and Mr C cleaning up she decides to answer it. "Hey Em."
"Well since you didn't stop by last night, I decided to swing by here tonight. You aren't trying to duck me are you, Maddy?"
"No, of course not. Things just got crazy last night. How do you feel about Chinese food? I bought plenty."