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When Cassadines Fall
To Each Their Own
Stefan pays off the cabbie as Nikolas climbs out of the car. Nik looks back to his uncle. "Are you sure this is the place?"
"It's the address on the dossier or as close as we can get with the police vehicles." Stefan climbs out of the cab to join Nikolas on the sidewalk. "I don't think we'll have any problem finding the place."
They walk up the sidewalk together checking out the neighborhood. Nik is struck by the similiarites to his own new neighborhood. It had been a grand place when it had been built decades ago but had fallen into hard times. Maybe the original owners had gone broke or grown disinterested in maintaining the homes. The big houses were split into apartments. There was evidence of efforts to clean up the neighborhood. But why not? Being on the fringes of the Garden District this would be prime real estate. The only surprise was that it hadn't been done sooner. "Maddy told me that she was raised in a neighborhood like the one where my new house is."
Stefan looks around. "I see the similarities. The difference of course being that you now have the best house within blocks of where you are. Any of these houses are within blocks of prime real estate of this city. A little effort..." Stefan steps over a broken wine bottle on the sidewalk. "...a minimal effort by the local citizens would result in an immediate return in their investment." They reach the yellow tape of the police barricade. The initial lookylus had left long ago but they had been replaced by others-- graveyard workers who'd just gotten home. Stefan leans toward the person standing next to him. "Do you know what happened?"
"Somebody got murdered. Must have been a tourist the cops are sure putting their all into it. The mayor gets testy about tourists getting killed. Doesn't give a rats rear about the locals doing their own." The older man in the blue coveralls says bitterly. "It's what made us the violence capitol of the US for a few years running in the past." Stefan quirks a brow. That piece of trivia had slid right by him in his earlier investigation. How quaint of these Americans to find something to brag on in even the most horrendous of situations.
Nikolas continues to scan the crowd looking for any familiar faces. He starts with the near and moves out further until he finds something familiar. "Uncle?" He says softly.
Stefan straightens if possible even straighter. "Yes."
"Over by the corner store, other side of the street about three houses down. That's the guy who took Maddy from Port Charles." Nik continues in the same low tones.
"I see him." Stefan murmurs. "Our best source of local information, I believe." He sees Nikolas' nod. Stefan turns briefly back to the man who'd offered his opinion. "Excuse us. Thank you for your assistance."
"No problem. Enjoy your stay in N'Orleans."
Stefan and Nik ease out of the crowd and cross the street making their way to the corner store. They ease up next to Ricky. "I assume we are here for the same reason-- to discover when the police will be finished with their investigation."
Ricky looks over his shoulder. He studies the duo blankly before remembering them from the hospital the night before. "The Cassidys from Port Charles."
"Cassadines." Stefan corrects.
"Whatever." Ricky replies bored.
Nikolas notes that the cop standing the barricade is spending more time watching Ricky than watching the crowd. "You are drawing attention. Perhaps you should leave a number where you can be reached and we'll contact you when the police have left."
Ricky looks at the Nik like who the hell you think you are. Stefan adds his two cents. "The police looking at us see a pair of tourists checking out a grisly scene. What do they see when they look at you?" Stefan examines Ricky from head to toe. "Might I suggest you at least find a more discreet vantage."
"Might I suggest you carry your ass back north?"
Jerry walks up in time to hear the last of the frosty conversation between Stefan and Ricky. Jerry does the manly punch to the shoulder. "Hey Ricky. Missed you at the house. Your father ate your share of beignets." Ricky turns to Jerry and gives him the manly hug complete with back thumping, then shakes his hand. "See you met the Cassadines." Ricky snorts. Jerry continues, "Don't worry about it, man. Maddy's the only one who can stand 'em. That's why they're here. Can you believe that the one with the beard used to be married to my wife?"
"Used to, Yeah, I can believe that. How long did it last? About 5 minutes?"
Jerry looks cross the street not answering Ricky's comment. "So they working the cops in shifts or are those guys on OT?"
"Shift turned over at seven but they're staggering some of them. The only one going long...." Ricky indicates to a plain brown wrapper car across the street. "...Det. O'Meara."
"How long you figure he is going to stick?"
"O'Meara? Fat Tuesday and beyond. He's on a mission."
Jerry bends over picking up a penny and is slow getting up. "Well he's certainly interested in you." Ricky sees the plainclothes cop going out to his car for some thing small enough to be nonexistent. Jerry looks up to the second floor businesses above the corner store. "Kid, I think it's time for you to take a break-- get a massage." Jerry tilts his head significantly to a second floor window that has a clear view of the crime scene.
"I have been feeling kind of tense lately." Ricky nods; he strides off.
Jerry gets up keeping his back to the street, watching the scene using the windows of the corner store. Stefan remains facing the street. "I tell the young man he is drawing attention and he gives me... attitude."
"Kids these days." Jerry shrugs. "So Windsor Court treat you right?"
"The accommodations were adequate."
Jerry picks one of the sidewalk tables and pulls up a seat. "Looks like we're going to be killing some time." Stefan pulls out another chair dusting it off with a handkerchief before seating himself. Jerry grins sometimes Cassadine can be such a fuss-budget. Nikolas takes the seat between the two men with his back to the store front. "Not quite the way to see New Orleans. You should both come back when it's not such a sad situation."
"Did you see Maddy this morning? You said you saw Pete." Nik inquires.
"Nope, Pete said she didn't get to sleep until about dawn. And with this situation the longer she sleeps the better. He wants the cops gone and the scene cleaned up before Maddy sees it." Jerry tilts his head to the side to indicate the house across the way. "Having her at Pete's is a mixed bag. It's a safe place for her to be but it makes things worse with the cops. Both the Robideaus know this thing is forming up like Taggart going after Corinthos. Where the situation isn't as interesting as who they can pin it on."
"Do you think it possible that the cop that Maddy was avoiding is the one running this investigation?" Nik asks.
"I have no clue, kid. That would have been a good question to ask Ricky before you pissed him off."
"Nikolas made the same suggestion that you did. That the young man was drawing attention to himself and the... collateral issues." Stefan defends.
"Yeah, you've always been responsive to joe blow telling ya how to mind your business." Jerry snorts.
Nik straightens in his chair seeing something the other men haven't noticed yet. "Maddy's awake."
"You going Lucy Coe on us?" Jerry asks.
"No. And if you are correct that the police are more interested in the Robideaus' than solving this-- then let us take the lead." Nik pushes back from the table and starts moving quickly across the street.
Stefan rises and looking around sees what has drawn Nikolas' interest. "Why am I not surprised? Madeliene's always one to take the attack posture. I suspect from the way you were avoiding being seen by the police you're a man of some profile in this city at least while in the company of... others. Perhaps you should join the other Mr Robideau until the intentions of the police can be ascertained. And since Madeliene is on foot I have to assume she didn't inform her host of her plans for the morning."
Jerry swears under his breath. "Not a long stretch there. Ricky's probably on the phone to Pete now. Think I'll make a followup phone call of my own." Jerry looks around. "What is Edward doing anyway?"
"What he specializes in. Harassing public officials." Stefan says over his shoulder. He is already moving across the street. Jerry nods; he should have guessed that one. Glancing up he sees Ricky in the window with his cell phone to his ear. With a little sprint in his step he runs up the stairs to the business where Ricky is observing. Got to keep Pete out of this one. He had enough eyes and ears on the force that his presence would only slow things down.
Nik comes up behind Maddy in time to hear her press her case with the cop at the barricade. "This is my building. My mother was the one killed. I want to talk to the officer in charge. You can't keep me from my home."
The cop's eyes narrow her building. "It's a crime scene, Miss....?"
"Reynolds. Madeliene Reynolds. I am aware it is a crime scene. I am aware of the crime; I've already been to the hospital. I want to talk to the officer in charge." She reiterates. Maybe if she said it often enough the guy would do something.
Nik slips in behind her putting a hand on her back that makes her start even as she hears Nik's soft voice behind her. "Keep it frosty, Maddy." The officer gets on the walkie talkie informing the man in charge of the people on the perimeter. Maddy groans as she sees who is in charge. Nik mutters to himself. "Guess that answers that question."
"Ms Reynolds. I'm sorry to see you again under such sad circumstances." Det O'Meara offers. While his words of sympathy are appropriate there is something in his tone that makes Stefan frown as he approaches both Nik and Maddy. There is almost an implication that this could have turned out differently. "We talked about this before you left... where did you go again?"
"I went to stay with my aunt."
"I am unclear, officer." Stefan interjects. "If Miss Reynolds discussed this with you months ago then why didn't you take action before this outcome?"
"It's Detective." O'Meara corrects. "And we need to have cooperation from citizens in order to act." O'Meara's emphasis and choice of words have Maddy's face icing over with no expression. Again the words and tone have a host of meanings. "And you are?"
"A friend of Madeliene's from New York. Stefan Cassadine. This is my nephew Nikolas. Do you know who injured Madeliene's mother?"
"We're still investigating."
"Granny Sophia told you exactly what happened last night. I called her this morning at her daughter's. You took her statement before she left."
"Well her statement seems to be incomplete. She didn't tell us how to get hold of you."
"I'm here now." Maddy reminds him. "What do you need from me?"
"I have a few questions. Perhaps we could talk privately."
"I'm sure, Detective, there is nothing you could ask that would be a surprise to either me or my nephew. Madeliene should have friends around her at this trying time." Stefan blocks that one. "Unless of course you are speaking euphemistically and you are actually planning to interrogate, Ms Reynolds. In that case...." Stefan reaches for his phone.
"Who are you calling, Uncle?" Nikolas knows the answer but is willing to play straight man so Stefan will explain for the benefit of the officer.
"A lawyer for Madeliene. While I've found it delays the process initially it saves misunderstandings in the long run. Of course not being from here that means her lawyer will have to fly down from New York."
The detective sighs. "That won't be necessary." He lifts the barricade tape. Maddy slides under followed by Stefan and Nikolas. O'Meara leads the way into the building past the sentry at the door and into Lisette's apartment. "This way. This room has already been searched." The detective indicates the living room.
"Searched? You're searching my mother's things? For what?"
"If you talked to Sophia Moriz then you already know. Anything that might lead to the whereabouts of William Robert Harris."
"Call him Billy Bob; he'd never have answered to William Robert." Maddy tells the cop, taking a seat on the couch. Nikolas sits next to her and Stefan stands behind the couch. The Detective takes a seat on the coffee table directly in front of Maddy. "Lisette wasn't one to keep an address book and neither was he. Billy Bob has family over in Shreveport. His associates hung out over in Algiers or at least they did when I was still here. He didn't have any friends in the neighborhood. If you don't have him in custody then he's laying low in either of those places. But he's stupid, he'll come out from under his rock soon enough."
"Unless somebody already weighted him down with his own rock." The Det suggests.
"So you aren't investigating the death of Madeliene's mother, an actual crime, but instead the alleged disappearance of her killer, an assumption. I see why your evidence gathering is moving so slowly. You don't know what you are searching for." Stefan comments grimly.
"I'm multitalented, Mr Cassadine. I can do both." The detective is distracted by a uniform that up to whisper in his ear. "If you'll excuse me I have to take a call."
As soon as he is out of earshot, Nikolas leans over to Maddy. "That is the cop you were trying to get away from." Maddy keeps her eyes on the the detective as she nods. "The one who is after...." Nik falls silent when Maddy squeezes his thigh in a nonverbal hint to shut up-- now. Nik covers her hand when the Detective comes back. Rather than a clue it now looks like a comforting gesture between two... friendly people.
"Why are members of Pete Robideau's crew watching this house?" The Detective throws out to get a reaction.
"Perhaps they are looking for Billy Bob too. You know Pete's a friend of mine. That's what this is really about right? Not that... that... that bastard who beat my mother to death but where was Pete?! What did Pete know? What did Pete have to do with this?" Maddy starts spouting off her voice escalating. Nikolas tightens his own grip on her hand warningly. Maddy takes a deep breath. "So what? So what if Pete Robideau's crew as you call them are watching. He's the block commander for the neighborhood watch for the fifth year running, and this is a murder in his neighborhood. There is a line of people out there staring at this house gossiping about what happened within."
"But you know what happened, don't you, Madeliene?"
"I can guess, Francis, but that's not evidence or testimony right? That's not fact. I didn't have to see Billy Bob's rap sheet to know that he was bad news. He and Lisette fought... alot. I didn't like him. I never trusted him. I begged her to kick him to the curb. She wouldn't so I left. I haven't been back to New Orleans since. I hadn't talked to Lisette in weeks." There is a residual sadness and guilt in the last. Maddy pulls away from Nikolas and rises to her feet going to pace in front of the window. "What else can I tell you? I don't know anything more."
The uniform comes over and whispers in the detective's ear again. This time more insistently. The detective brushes him away but gets up and goes over to a private phone and makes a call.
"What's up?" Nikolas asks Stefan in hushed tones.
"I would say Edward is making an impact." Stefan sees the technitions starting to pack up their gear.
When Det O'Meara returns his face is flushed in fury and his words clipped off sharply. "The criminalistics team is winding things up now. Your mother's remains will be released to the mortuary once the autopsy is complete. If I have any more questions for you I'll contact you to come down to the precinct." The Detective turns to leave but stops at Stefan's question.
"You'll inform Madeliene when you capture her mother's killer?"
"Yeah. Right. We'll do that."
One of the technicians from the criminalistics team comes over to Maddy. "You're the victim's daughter?"
"Yes." Maddy says simply.
"Here." The technician hands Maddy a sheet of paper. "This is a list of companies who are licensed to do crime scene clean up. There are some tasks that are better left to professionals and this is one of them."
"I need to get some things from my mother's room." Maddy explains. "A dress for the funeral home..."
The technician is already shaking his head. "How is good is your imagination?"
"It's too good." Stefan interjects.
"I wouldn't recommend it. I understand you already saw your mother at the hospital. That's enough for any relative. Get the pros in here. If you call today there will be plenty of time before the funeral home needs anything. I also need to you to sign this inventory. It's a list of items we took from the scene for evidence." Feeling he'd done all he can. He hands her a bundle of triplicate forms and a pen. "I'm very sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." Maddy says absently all her attention focused on the closed door to her mother's bedroom as she scrawls her name at the base of the sheets. The tech tears off her copies and hands them to her. He is the last of the officers out of the door. Maddy starts toward the back bedroom as if sleepwalking.
"Maddy don't." Nikolas tries to block her.
"She was my mother, Niknik." Maddy says simply reaching for the doorknob.
"Madeliene? Madeliene? Sweetie, are you in here?" There is a chirp from the door.
Maddy snaps out of autopilot mode. "Granny Sophia?"
"Those bullies out front finally let me through. No manners what so ever. What were their mothers thinking?" The smallest, oldest woman that Nik has ever seen bustles into the apartment bundled in a full length wool coat as if facing a upstate New York blizzard. At a glance her sharp eyes take in Nikolas and Stefan before turning to Maddy. "So much excitement I can still feel my heart pounding in my chest." The woman clutches her chest dramatically.
Maddy rushes to her side. "You should have stayed at your daughter's."
"Should shmood." The elderly woman tsks. "This is my home. But I really think I should sit down, maybe a cup of tea." She says weakly. Maddy puts an arm around her and leads her out the door to the door across the hall. Granny Sophia hands Maddy her keys and Maddy unlocks it escorting her inside. "Who were those men with you?" Maddy's reply is cut off by her shutting the door.
Stefan jumps on the opportunity. "Nikolas, go inform Jacks of the developments. Since they had no intention of Madeliene viewing the crime scene I'm sure they have already contracted with someone to remove the evidence."
"Don't you think we should call the paramedics on Maddy's neighbor? She was having chestpains."
"Granny Sophia can give Edward Quartermaine lessons. Go. She can only distract Madeliene for so long." Nikolas shakes his head and swiftly exits the apartment. As soon as he is gone, Stefan walks to the back bedroom and opens the door. Evidence of the fight is every where. Even with the broken furniture and blood spatters it is also evident that Lisette had priorities that didn't include housekeeping. Stepping over debris, Stefan makes his way to the closet, the door is hanging half off its hinges. Stefan pushes it out of the way and quickly searches the hanging clothes for a couple of appropriate dresses and a pair of shoes from the floor. Shutting the door of the bedroom he goes back to the living room and tosses the clothes over a chair.
He is barely back when the front door opens and Pete Robideau strides in. "Where is the little one?"
"With the neighbor as I'm sure you intended." Stefan informs him. Nikolas, Ricky and Jerry all enter after Pete.
"I need Maddy out of here for two hours." Pete makes clear. "After that she can go through her mother's things. Ricky, the crew is on the way." The last is a question since Pete already has only one acceptable answer in mind.
Ricky nods. "I called them as soon as the cops started clearing out. They were already on standby close to here."
"So how do we get Maddy out of here?" Jerry asks.
Stefan indicates the clothes. "I'm sure there are errands that need to be done."