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When Cassadines Fall
Into the Fray
Nik is already at Kelly's when Maddy comes up on a run. "Cinnamon is in the van, I can't stay long." She says in a rush.
"Why don't we get an order to go and have it in the van?" Nik suggests. He is about to offer a more seductive suggestion when he takes a close look at Maddy's face. "What is up? What was more important than your Aunt's prelim?"
"Dara told me it was a paperwork thing. Nothing is going to happen until the trial." Maddy dismisses. "Lets get an order." She looks around. "I really don't want to discuss this here."
"Mad.... Fine." Nik puts a hand at Maddy's waist and opens the door for her. Together they walk up to the counter.
"Hi guys!" Liz walks out of the kitchen. "Is it Lucky's night to cook or something?"
"Or something." Maddy quips. "I skipped lunch. Elizabeth, can I get a..." Maddy looks at the board. "...bowl of soup and a ham sandwich to go."
"Nobody is ordering turkey today." Liz puts her tongue in her cheek. "I wonder why?!"
Nik laughs. "Give me the same as Maddy." Liz pulls the order off her pad and goes back to the kitchen. "Are you at least going to give me a hint."
"I talked to Em this morning. She didn't know about your mom. I told her and the Q's. Miz Lila is going over to visit your grandmother I think." Maddy falls silent as Liz comes back with the to go order. She grabs them both. Nik pulls out his wallet and pays. "I'll talk to you at home tonight, Elizabeth." Maddy preempts the questions she can see forming behind Liz's eyes.
Nik grabs the door for Maddy as she makes her way out of Kelly's. Maddy juggles the bags to grab the remote for the van unlocking the door. Nik opens the side sliding door holding Cinnamon back as Maddy climbs in and takes one of the Captain's chairs. She sets the bags on the small ice box. Sorting out the meals she hands Nik his as he gets situated in the Captain chair next to the door. "Okay, now what?"
"What do you know about Jason Morgan?" Maddy starts. She takes the lid off her soup and grabs a spoon from her stash handing one to Nik.
"Emily's brother, coldblooded killer, second in command in the Corinthos organization. Not officially. Officially he runs a motorcycle shop-- the one Lucky used to live over and is partners in the coffee business. He did the trach on me when I was shot outside of Luke's."
"It's the coldblooded killer part that I want to know about. I don't get that vibe off of him. I get a he'd go to hell and back feeling from him."
"For someone he cared about I guess." Nik shrugs. "Robin, Em, Lila, Michael... Carly too I've heard. Have you had a problem with Jason? Some kind of run in? Something to do with Poppi?"
Maddy waves a her spoon in a negative motion and swallows hard. "No, Taggart calls Jason anger boy and quarterbrain... which I guess is a nice play on his old name and his accident. Kinda cold but not unexpected considering that Jason works with Mr Corinthos."
"He's a violent guy. Nobody can prove anything, if they could he'd be in prison but he is Sonny's hammer. He makes people disappear."
"So do you." Maddy reminds. "Which is why I didn't want to talk about this in Kelly's. Tony Jones evidently did the surgery that saved Jason Morgan's life after the car accident but he also told the Q's that the guy would be an emotional void better off institutionalized after Jason came out of his coma. Told the family the only thing Jason was capable of was anger and violence. I think he blew the call. I went to talk to Jason and asked him about this. Jason says he wouldn't have Tony Jones treat Cinnamon." The dog perks up hearing her name. Maddy offers her the rest of her soup and reaches for her sandwich. "Tony has never retreated from his initial diagnosis."
"Of course not. It's his rationalization for all the other things he's done." Nik falls silent processing. "What a mess."
"Candy, I don't think I'd want this guy to be a first opinion let alone a second opinion on somebody I cared about." Maddy says grimly. "I think I'd go with Em, Lila's and Carly's opinions on this one. Yes, Jason is wired differently but...."
"Stefan is already on it. Confidentially." Nik asserts. "Stefan probably agrees with Tony Jones assessment of Jason. He blames Jason and Sonny for my being shot and thinks of him as a thug. That being said... Jones can't do surgery, if further surgery is recommended for Mother. And Luke and Lucky don't trust him after what he has done to Bobbie." Nik comes to a decision. "Nothing will be done to my mother based on Tony Jones say so alone. I'll contact Stefan at the hospital and make sure he moves on the new hire asap."
Maddy kneels down and half crawls over to Nik's chair. It's impossible to stand upright in the van. She balances her hands on his thighs looking up at him. Nik sets his meal aside on the floor next to him. "I hope I haven't made this more difficult for you."
Nik brushes her hair back toying with one of her braids. "Never. I don't think I could have gotten through this without you. Even when I was down in Carolina, knowing you were just a phone call away." He leans down and brushes his lips against hers. Maddy's lips part deepening the kiss. Nik's hand slides to the back of her neck pulling her closer to him. The kiss ends with both of them breathing more heavily. Nik rests his forehead against hers. His eyes closed; he licks his lips to get that last taste of her.
"I hope you were done with your lunch." Maddy murmurs.
"Why is that?" Nik says softly. Maddy tilts her head and laughs. Nik opens his eyes and looks to the side. Cinnamon has already finished the soup and is licking the last of the dressing from the wax paper after gobbling Nik's sandwich. Nik laughs too. "Yeah, I needed something more." Nik reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone. He dials a memorized number.
"Stefan Cassadine."
"It's Nikolas. I don't want Tony Jones even doing consults on Laura anymore. We need that other neurologist and we need him yesterday. Until then the only opinion I'm interested in is the expert down in Carolina."
"Understood. Monica Quartermaine is getting back to me by end of business today with her feedback on the final canidates. I will attempt to make it before then."
"Alexis and I will handle the estate and watchdog Helena while you get the new doctor on board. Whatever it takes, Uncle."
"Agreed. With Monica and me both out of the hospital you'll have to make your presence a constant here. I suggest contacting Alan Q to cover for his wife's absence if there is any medical questions. But this will be resolved before your mother is moved."
Maddy squeezes Nik's thigh to get his attention and mouths a quiet. "Invite him to dinner."
"Maddy is cooking tonight. Might I suggest you join us to tell Grandmother and Lucky?"
"I'll be there." Stefan rings off as does Nik.
"I didn't say anything about cooking." Maddy protests.
"Okay, so we'll have Lu cook." Nik suggests with a grin.
Maddy sighs then reaches up and gives Nik a quick kiss. "Get out of my van. I have to get my rounds done if I'm going to be able to get dinner on the table at a decent hour."
"I'll see you at home." Nik slides the door open. "Take care of her, Cinnamon."
Taggart focuses on his phone call looking neither left nor right as he gathers info from a crime victim. All of a sudden a klaxon goes off in the detective bull pen. Taggart hangs up ASAP. The detectives and uniforms are grabbing vests and shotguns. "What the hell is going on?!"
"Shots fired at the courthouse." Rick tosses Taggart a vest.
"**** Dara! Let's go!" Tags catches the vest one handed and breaks into a run. "What do you know?"
"Courthouse security called a minute before shots were fired about a man with a gun in Porter's courtroom."
"****, ****, ****!"
"Could be worse. Could be morning docket." Rick retorts. "Most everyone has cleared out for the day."
"Yeah, right." Taggart comes to a halt at the end of the corridor where Court Security waits. "What's the deal?"
"One gunman, eight hostages. All caught on tape. Shots fired took out the cameras."
Tags looks at Rick. "Clear the other courtrooms using side stairwells. Shut off the elevators. What access?"
"Courtroom empties into judges chambers and jury room. He's blocked the main doors and the door to chambers."
"Jury room..."
The head of security shakes his head. "Only empties into the courtroom. No outside access."
"Windows..."
"Judge Porter doesn't like distractions. The only windows are in his chambers."
"What are the chance of getting the cameras working again?"
"They're toast."
"GD it! I got to know what's going on in there." A guy in khaki and black uniform comes racing up the stairs. Taggart flags him over. "Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my crime scene?"
"Arrow Security." The man says breathlessly. "One of our charges hit her silent alarm... this location."
"Silent alarm?"
The guy offers Taggart his radio depressing the button on the side. "It'll be okay, pumpkin."
"That's Judge Porter." The Court Security guy tells Taggart.
"And pumpkin is his daughter, Rita." Taggart adds grimly. "This is the second time that kid's been in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Mrs. Quartermaine got her the silent alarm after the first time." Arrow Security explains.
"Daddy, how many bullets did Charlie have in his gun?"
Taggart waves everyone silent craning to hear the answer. Charlie is the one who answers feeling stupid after being caught off guard. The Judge had warned him. "Four left.
Shut Up! Shut the f' UP!" Larkin screams.
"Oh he's losing it." Taggart mutters. He gets on the radio. "Everyone in position?" The guys check in exit by exit. "Okay, I'm ready. Lets get Agent Larkin on the phone." Taggart says grimly.
Ricky is half way back to the motorcycle shop but his gut is screaming at him that this is just wrong. He's suppose to be watching the courthouse. He pulls a quick U-turn forgetting the weather and then swears as he struggles to control the fishtailing of his car. He pushes his luck and the speed limit racing back to the courthouse. He sees the Arrow Security truck illegally parked in front. "Oh Man! I knew it." Ricky slams into a space and races into the building.
"You! Where do you think you're going?!" Officer Rick protests.
"I work here." Ricky pulls out his ID.
"You work maintenence?" Officer Rick checks the ID. "Can you shut down the elevators?"
"From the basement."
"Let's go." The officer follows as Ricky heads to the stairs. Using the stair railing Ricky vaults down to the lower level. The PCPD officer tries to do the same but his mag-light gets caught in the railing and he stumbles, wincing as he turns his ankle. He gimps after Ricky.
"You want all the elevators down or just the one outside of Porter's?" Ricky starts flipping switches.
"How did you know it's Porter?"
"Lucky guess." Ricky says finished keying the elevators. "The back service elevator is the only one operating now."
Rick breaks in to Taggart to notify him of status. I can hear in there but I can't see a damn thing! Taggart complains.
Ricky looks over to the airshaft. It is largely decorative to give light to the inside rooms of the building. But as the guy stuck cleaning the base of it, he knows people who didn't want to go outside to smoke... or who couldn't go out would go into the bathrooms, smoke there and then throw their trash down the shaft. "That shaft goes all the way to the roof. All the jury room bathrooms have windows opening to it."
Officer Rick limps over to the shaft. Opening the access, he leans in. There is a ladder welded to the wall, and he can see the windows of the floor above. "Oh man."
"No way, dude. You'll never make it. Not with a bum ankle. And if you fall you'll crack your head like an egg for sure."
Officer Rick gets on his radio and to inform Taggart of the opportunity. Only to be informed that Taggart is on the phone to Larkin by Court Security. The head of security steps away from Taggart. He swears when he realizes he missed an access point. And then swears again when he realizes they don't have a guy on the roof. Since Porter's Courtroom has no external windows; they didn't think that they'd need it. Court Security glances at his watch. It would take at least 15 minutes to get the gear and get into position and that didn't include dropping down the shaft. He looks over at Taggart who is breaking out in a sweat. The guy is keeping his voice cool but what he's saying indicates that negotiations aren't going well. "We need eyes up there." He says flatly.
The PCPD officer looks over at Ricky. "I twisted my ankle on the way to the basement. Can you get someone to my location?"
"I'll go." Ricky says flatly. "Just get me a headset, a mic... whatever."
Officer Rick looks at the young man. "No heroics. Just get in, get the lay of the land and get out." Rick starts tearing at the velcro of his vest. Ricky sheds his coat and pulls on the vest and then puts the coat back on... gloves too. Rick gives him a headset. "You can whisper with this thing and the mic will pick it up."
Ricky crawls into the shaft glancing down for a second. I am going to have to clean this thing out again tomorrow. He thinks absently. Looking up and taking a breath he starts climbing the ladder. He speaks into the mic... "You know I'm screwed if the last person in the can actually locked the window."
"Nah, you're screwed if you get caught." The Officer's voice says into Ricky's ear
Only the sound of Ricky's breathing comes over the mic for what seems forever. "It's unlocked. I'm in."
"Don't get caught."
Ricky moves from the bathroom to the jury deliberation room. The door to the main courtroom is slightly ajar. Ricky eases up on it breathing shallow and then holding his breath as he gets close. In the crack between the wall and the door he can see the jury box. "All the hostages are in the jury box." He murmurs softly. I can't see Larkin." Ricky changes his angle. "He's over by the clerk's desk on the phone. Damn! He was on the phone; he just hung up. He's pacing in front of that state seal thing."
Officer Rick down in the basement is relaying the info to the Head of Court Security. He frowns at the realization. This kid knows too much. Which court room and now that the perps name is Larkin?! He'd never mentioned that. Taggart comes on the line. "Wouldn't you know this guy was a hostage negotiator for the FBI? He isn't buying my BS. What have you got?" Taggart is silent as Rick repeats the info. "I'm moving guys into that position. Get the civilian out of there."
"I copy that." Ricky says over the line. "As soon as you have somebody here, I'm out. Oh ****!" Ricky hisses. "He's grabbing Rita from the jury box."
"Let her go! Take me instead." JD insists. "I'd be a better shield."
"Yeah, maybe but cops got a thing about shooting kids. You're my ticket out of here, baby doll." Larkin snarls wrenching Rita to him.
Rita starts fighting, kicking out at Larkin's shin. "You aren't taking me anywhere, you lowlife sonofabitch. I'll f'ing kill you first!"
"You little Bitch! Knock it off Now Or your Daddy's the first to go!" Larkin threatens aiming the pistol at Judge Porter.
The door to the Jury room swings open and Ricky flings with all his might a projectile that hits Larkin in the side of the head. Even as he is throwing, Ricky is moving to the side to get out of the potential line of fire. Larkin is dazed by the impact and staggers. Rita pulls away from him. Justus vaults the barrier of the jury box and with a quick downward right finishes off what Ricky started. Larkin falls to the ground. Justus kicks the gun away. Charlie rushes over and picks it up holding it on Larkin. Ford who might have checked his gun at the jail still has his cuffs and he rolls his soon to be former associate onto his belly and cuffs him.
"Ricky? What are you doing here?!" Dara looks at the young man with a slack jaw. The last time she'd seen the guy he's been at her sister's funeral.
Rita blurts out fast. "Richard Roberts? Why shouldn't he be here. He works here. Graveyard right?"
"Yeah. I forgot something for my locker." Ricky agrees.
"What the hell did you hit him with?" Justus asks as he shakes off the punch wondering if he'd broken bones in his hands.
Ricky goes over near the jury box and picks up a combination lock. "What I forgot for my locker." He holds it on his index finger, twirling it briefly and then pockets it. Margie is at the main doors and unlocks them. There is a flood of PCPD into the courtroom led by Lt. Taggart.
"Ricky get Rita out of here." JD says flatly.
"You got it, Judge." Ricky leads Rita back to the Jury room and takes her out the way he came in. Instead of getting off at the basement gets off at the first floor. He tosses the headset to the bottom of the shaft. "Come on, Munchkin. Let's get out of here before they start asking too many questions."
"I suppose this blows your cover all to hell."
"Yep, And I don't think you're going to make your matinee either."
"Oh Damn." Rita stops in her tracks. "What time is it?" Ricky tells her. "You better take me to Eli's. There might still be time to head off Cookie."
"Anyone ever tell you, you have a foul mouth?" Ricky asks as they make their getaway.
"Yeah, the same person who told me you never leave with a kidnapper. That it's a good way to end up in a shallow grave out in the middle of nowhere."
"Who was that?"
"My brother."
Back up in the courtroom, Taggart has a couple of uniforms grab Larkin by the arms hauling him to his feet. "Make sure you read him his rights, boys. You want first crack at him, Ford?"
"Yeah, I do." Ford says grimly. He starts to follow after the officers.
"Just a minute, Agent Ford." JD says loudly. He then turns to Justus. "You seem to have a problem with your case. You planning on resubmitting with Ford's name on the reports instead of Larkin's?"
Justus looks over at Ford who looks back chagrined and unable to meet Dara's eyes. Justus reads Ford and then turns back to the Judge. "We'll be dropping the charges."
"With prejudice." JD adds softly. "But Ms Jensen won't be dropping her civil suit, expect to be named in it, Agent Ford, DA Ward. Court is adjourned. Now you may leave."
Alexis looks over at Dara. They'd been on an adrenaline rollercoaster since before stepping into the courtroom. "I need a drink."
"Luke's?"
"Yeah, he's still out of town. You buy the first round. Consider it part of my fee."