When Cassadines Fall

Conversation

Nikolas takes Maddy's hand and Cinnamon's leash to walk the neighborhood after dinner. "And how was your day?" They set a comfortable pace. Cinnamon is stopping along every bush and telephone pole.

"I don't even know if I should talk to you about that." Maddy quips. "Not after the stunt you pulled this morning. What is the whole deal with Mr. C?"

"You missed that part yesterday." Nik explains. "While Carly and Jerry were showing up at the front door... the family came to some decisions regarding Laura."

"Mr. C going to Baltimore?"

Nik looks at her blankly and then realizes how she got that info... Em. "Right. Stefan and Dr. Quartermaine. Everything you said added with all the other information... it was time to bring in someone that the family can trust for Laura's care. Even Lucky and Grandmother agreed. Grandmother is going to handle Luke." Maddy stops in her tracks pulling Nik to a halt and just looks at him. "Okay, Grandmother is going to attempt to handle Luke."

"Hell of lot more accurate." Maddy starts walking again. "Looks like someone new is moving into the neighborhood. Liz says she saw delivery trucks from Wyndams and Circuit Emporium."

"Which house?"

"The one the frat rats were going to move into."

"Is this a good thing?"

Maddy shrugs. "So far just one guy. You liked the neighborhood because of the proximity to everything. People are going to move in. The kids will get the plate number on the car to Lucky by tomorrow." Maddy and Nik keep walking until they get to the abandoned gas station on the corner.

"That thing is an eyesore." Nik complains.

"Em has all the information on who owns it." Maddy tells him. "I'm not taking on any projects until next year remember?"

"As often as you remind me, yes, I know you aren't taking on any new projects."

"Em isn't either. She's up to her ears in that takeover of Helen of Troy." Maddy warns. "We'd both like to finish high school sometime."

"High school is highly overrated." Nik quips.

"Yes, that's why we have a tutor but they kinda need someone to sign off in the high school block of the college applications." Maddy changes the subject. "I have a package I want you to sign off on. It needs to be in the mail pretty fast if it's going to get there in time."

"A package?"

"I put together a few things for your Uncle Victor. You need to send a note with the Christmas card."

This time Nik is the one who stops. "What did you do? Stefan sends money to Victor every year. How do you even know about Victor?"

Maddy rolls her eyes. "It's Christmas. You're the guy. I really can't believe that this guy isn't ticked at you for him still being there since the Cassadines are suppose to be like The Thing. And as to how I found out about him... I knew about him before I moved into the house when I researched your family. Mr. C and I talked about him over our first chess game at Wyndemere when he was pumping me to find out if I was spying for Helena."

"Victor probably is ticked at the family." Nik admits. "Victor was always tight with Helena. So Stefan didn't fight to get him out of prison. Besides I think at the time, Uncle was involved with trying to take control of the family."

"Okay so the guy has been rotting for the last decade or so in a dingy South American prison making friends with the rats."

"Stefan has been sending money." Nik repeats not believing this is happening.

"Well then the guy hasn't been getting it. I got hold of the village priest down there who does visits on the prisoners, sometimes you can get a more honest assessment of things from the church than the government in places like that. I tell you that was a fun netsearch trying to find the guy. The priest finally got back to me on how things are a few days ago. He's the one who gave me the list of things that would make Victor more comfortable. The priest can get the stuff to him. And if you want to send money... make it cash and not a check."

"Why did you do this?"

"It's Christmas and I can't believe that the guy isn't seriously ticked at you. Time to start mending fences, Niknik. He's not going to be in there forever. That he's got things so crappy is actually a good thing, means that Helena isn't taking care of him either. So much for him being Granny's guy."

"I can't believe this happened." Nik murmurs. "Helena is the scourge of the family and she's living on the yacht in the lap of luxury. And Stefan has been sending money to Uncle Victor. He will not be pleased at this news."

"Better he find out now than never. You can explain to Victor what happened in your note. You might also want to send along some money for the priest. I'm sure he's got something he can spend it on."

"Yes, as soon as we get back to the house." Nik tucks an arm around Maddy pulling her closer to his body heat. "So much for no new projects."

"Shopping is part of my job. You know you'll get the bill."

Alexis sighs in gratitude as Ned works the knot out of her shoulders. "Don't ever let me get that drunk again. Today has been hell."

"It's all Stefan's fault." Ned says commiseratingly. Alexis had been at the hospital all day dealing with the minute details and also consulting with Lee Baldwin on any pending litigation. Then she'd had a last minute court date to deal with. It was dark before she got back to the L&B offices to deal with her own work. Ned had ordered in Chinese for the two of them, making her eat before he'd gone down to the studio to leave her to it. Now he's trying to get her to head home.

"Stefan hasn't been out of town since he went down to New Orleans with Nikolas. I just wasn't feeling up to all of it."

"What did he go out of town for?"

"Hospital business per Nikolas but I think there is more to it. I'll find out when he gets back."

There is a knock on the door and V sticks her head in. "All the phones are going to the machine. I'm out of here."

"Thanks V." Alexis leans forward in her chair. "We won't be far behind. Thanks for picking up the slack today."

"Have you heard from Dara today? Find out what she wants to do?"

"No, I'll have to give her a ring tomorrow. You might be able to find out more. See if she is going back to the DA's office."

"Well if she's in the same condition you are then tomorrow is probably the best bet."

"Get out of here. I'll see you tomorrow." Alexis waves her off. V nods and leaves shutting the door.

"Are we out of here too?" Ned inquires.

"Yeah." Alexis looks at her desk. "I think I have everything shuffled to fit into my day tomorrow. I hope Stefan isn't gone too long. Nikolas does great PR for the hospital and he isn't exactly green but..."

"But he doesn't wheel and deal like your brother."

"Not yet." Alexis rises and grabs her briefcase. She looks at her desk. Deciding against taking any files she just grabs her dayplanner and stuffs it in. "Okay, I'm ready to get out of here."

"About time." Ned agrees. He's going to have to bring out that cocktail napkin if Alexis doesn't remember it soon.

Cookie knocks and then comes into Ricky's apartment. "Well this place is coming together. I knew Carly was the gal for the job."

"Oh yeah, Cookie, check out this." Rita grabs bags from Cookie and pulls her along to the living room.

"She only got one chair?!" Cookie protests.

"Not that. Check out this. Ta da!" Rita waves her hand in the direction of the entertainment unit with it's top of the line stereo and big screen TV. The TV is blank but music is already playing through the four speakers stationed around the room.

"Where are your dad and Ricky?"

"Putting the bed together. It's huge. What's this?" Rita looks in the bag.

"Dinner. I made up something while I was at the restaurant. Meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans almandine. Johnny sent along a pound cake with toasted bananas and chocolate sauce for dessert. I'll have to heat up the sauce."

"Yummy, Is he going to come over?" Rita walks into the kitchen followed by Cookie. They start unloading the bags.

"No, he has to close. You wouldn't believe the mess Frank made of things yesterday. I swear if you aren't standing right over that man..." Cookie shakes her head.

Rita nods. "Oh I'd believe. I had to work with him last Saturday until Johnny came in. It definitely makes working the front a challenge. Puts a lot of pressure on the wait staff to make sure that nothing else goes wrong. I tried to go back and help him... you know make the salads or something and he got all growl-ly with me. And the knife sharpening thing just doesn't work when I do it."

"Stick to the front, Baby. Johnny and I will handle the kitchen." Cookie puts out the final touches of setting the breakfast bar, new stoneware, on new placemats.

"What smells so good in here?" JD comes into the kitchen.

"You boys ready for a dinner break?" Cookie looks beyond JD to Ricky. "I'm ready to dish up." She takes the plates and fills them setting three of them on the breakfast bar and keeps hers on the counter on the other side. "You need a real table."

"Carly decided to wait on furnishings until she could see them in person. She did the rest of this by phone." Ricky explains.

"Elaine right? Cookie, Elaine is Carly's gal at Wyndams." Rita tells the rest of them. There is a bag unopened sitting on the counter. She reaches for it. "Oh cool! It's all the classes for PCU. Daddy, are you teaching next term?"

"You teach at the college?" Ricky asks with some trepidation.

"A couple of the advanced night classes. A few seminars just to keep a pulse on things. I think they keep me around to write recommendations for the shining stars of the department. I went to law school with head of the Crim department. Cookie, you remember Greg Hastings?"

Cookie snorts. "He's head of the Crim department? That guy was hell on wheels. And a lousy tipper for a rich boy. What an idiot."

"Well it's been a few years." JD says wryly. "He's probably still a lousy tipper but he has matured a bit."

"See Ricky... Crim 599 Death Penalty and here's the other one-- Crim 420 Constitutional law." Rita holds up the catalogue. "Death penalty is fun; it's more of a seminar classes only a few people in it. Lots of discussion. Mostly lawyer wannabes and a few journalism majors. The Constitutional law one is a requirement for the major so it's in the big auditorium all lecture and reading. Daddy makes that one tough to weed people out by the midterm. Less papers to grade that way. But he doesn't write recommendations for anyone who takes the easier ConLaw class from the other professor. They've got to ace it to get anything from him. What are you going to major in?"

"Well since I didn't know I was going to school until a couple days ago..."

"Your father would rather you weren't studying law. He thinks there are enough lawyers in the world." JD tells Ricky wryly.

"That must have been some conversation you had." Ricky retorts. "I don't know. Business I guess."

Cookie snorts. "Waste of time. That's a learn by doing field. You either got it or you don't."

"Now that's not quite true, Margarita." JD disagrees. "There are a lot of paperwork things that can trip up an intuitive businessman-- laws, regulations, the IRS."

"Johnny hates doing his books." Rita agrees. "He'd rather be cooking. He's thinking of dropping the whole thing on Mr. Abrams."

"Oh hell no!" JD and Cookie say at the same time. Cookie is the one that continues. "He is not going to have a mob bookkeeper. I'll talk him out of that one straight enough."

"I'll give you the name of my accountant to give him." JD agrees. "He does a lot of small businesses. He'd probably take his fees out in trade. Rita, have you told Cookie your news yet."

"Nope. I made the team!" Rita preens.

"That's great, Baby. What's that going to do to your schedule?"

"Well I'll have practice after school, some before school. The games are on Thursdays cause the guys play on Fridays so it won't mess up work at the restaurant. I think I'll still be able to ride at least three days a week. Carly says she's gonna get me some tape on the competition. She thinks I'll do a lot better with the Judges now that they know me."

"The coach had something similar to say about the opposing teams in the league." JD adds. "She's afraid that Rita will take a lot of abuse on the court until the other teams figure out she will beat them at the free throw line."

"Well I'll make sure I'm off on Thursdays. And Frank will just have to lump it cause I know Johnny will want to be there. And Thursday night classes are out for you too, Ricky."

"Yeah, I figured as much. Someone will have to restrain you if someone does a hard foul on the munchkin." Ricky has finished what is on his plate. Cookie takes it from him and refills it handing it back to him.

"Getting back to the topic of majors... Ricky, you should probably not declare for a couple of years. Get your general requirements out of the way. Take things that interest you as electives-- music, art, a poetry class." The Judge suggests.

"Poetry?!" Ricky about chokes on that one.

"Isn't that what rap music is really?" JD shrugs. "I wouldn't know. I don't listen to it. I'm more into the classics-- Zepplin, Cream, CCR."

"Aerosmith." Rita nods in agreement. "But Daddy, they worked with rappers. Run DMC. Did a video and everything."

"Really? I must have missed that one."

Cookie sees that everyone is done with dinner. "Ricky, Rita.. get on the dishes. I'll start heating up the sauce for the dessert. Never leave a dirty dish in the sink overnight."

"Yeah, I learned that this morning..." Ricky collects plates and hands them over to Rita who is running a sink of soapy water. "...In an ice cold shower."
 

Liz looks over Lucky's shoulder. "What is that?" She is already dressed for bed in a flannel PJ's. Lucky is still up at his computer. The only lights on in the carriage house are by the computer desk. In the background a tape of all of Etta James greatest hits plays. Something Lucky had copied from his father's extensive vinyl collection.

"An email from Count Vlad. I sent him more of Mom's medical records for the surgeon he's talking to in Baltimore."

"I thought he took all of those with him." Liz pulls up a chair next to him and settles in.

"The surgeon wanted the original doctor's notes to go along with the specialist I called in. Stefan had the consult file only. The doctor also wanted the police reports on the accident."

"Really? What is he thinking? The surgeon I mean?"

"The email is a bunch of questions to ask Grandmother. Stuff like does she thinks she was out at the accident even momentarily. How long was it before the EMT's showed up. Things like that."

"The surgeon thinks something happened at the accident? That's why Laura hasn't woke up yet?"

Lucky shrugs. "I guess so. Stefan says he's sending Dr. Q back to PC. He's going to stay down there for a few more days. Thinks he'll be back by the weekend. He wants to be notified immediately if Mom's transfer is decided."

"So he's going to work the surgeon and wants to know his timeframe. The Q's will be happy. Monica was barely home from Italy when this all happened." There is a scratching at the door. Liz gets up to open the door. Cinnamon comes in shaking a few snowflakes from her short tawny fur before she goes over to the woodstove and collapses infront of it. "What are you doing here, dog?"

"You guys decent?" Maddy calls from downstairs.

"Sure come on up." Liz calls down. Maddy and Nik come upstairs back from their walk. "Lucky, just got an email from Stefan." Liz goes to put the kettle on. Nik and Maddy come into the large studio style apartment walking over to the woodstove to get warm from the cold walk and settling into the loveseat put there for that purpose.

"What did Mr. C have to say?"

"He didn't say much. Demanded plenty." Lucky prints off the email. "Here. In case you see Grandmother in the morning before I do." He gives Nik a minute to read and process the info. Nik hands it to Maddy to read.

"Stefan thinks something happened at the actual accident sight?" Nik asks Lucky. "More than what Grandmother told us?"

"Stuff she might not know if she was out cold too part of the time." Lucky nods. Liz brings over a couple of hot chocolates for Nik and Maddy.

Maddy sets down the email and wraps her hand around the mug. "Thanks."

"Okay, all caught up on that." Lucky pulls up a chair and reverses it resting his arms along the back. "So you going to fill me in on why Jerry Jacks would be claiming to be Daddy?"
 

Bobbie opens the door to the room of the B&B Jerry normally stays in while in New Orleans. She gets out of the way so Jerry can enter with their bags. "Oh it's lovely!"

"And the breakfast rocks." Jerry tosses the luggage on the bed and goes over to the phone. "Hey Pete, Bobbie and I are in town for a few days. What's the chance of getting together?"... "Right see you in the morning. I'll bring the beignets."

Bobbie seats herself on the bed listening to Jerry's half of the conversation. After he hangs up. "It's all set for the morning?"

"Yeah, he says he's working from home. Something about packing up some of Ricky's things to send to Port Charles."

"But after Larkin was arrested isn't that all over?"

"Yeah, you'd think so. We'll find out tomorrow, Luv."

 

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