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When Cassidines Fall
Hunt is On
Night is falling as Jerry and Jason walk through the gates of the
embassy in Shanghai. The Marine at the gate points them toward
the embassy. "Father Frank has been dealing with this guy
for as long as Harry Chow has been working." Jason tells
Jerry.
"Well great. You get in touch with him and I'll find out if
I can get a secure line back stateside."
Jason glances at the watch that he's kept on PC time. "It's
early in the morning there."
"Bobbie is working this weekend." Jerry explains even
if it isn't necessary.
Jason gives their names to the receptionist who calls an embassy
worker. The guy comes out and shakes both of their hands with a
firm quick grip. "I don't know what you two think you can do."
"Are there any leads on the family? Any word on Chow?"
"Chow is still in custody. And me going to see him would
just make things worse. You going to see him would make things
worse. We'd be proving the government's case for them."
"And the family?"
"Nothing." The man shakes his head. "It's like
they dropped off the face of the earth."
"We've already stopped by the fish market... and checked out
their digs." Jerry tells the man. "Or at least checked
them until we found the first bug. Then we bugged out ourselves."
"So they must be expecting them to come back." Jason
comes to the logical conclusion.
"Yeah, if the place was tossed after the arrest. If the bug
was there first... that would explain his arrest." The man
looks back and forth from Jerry to Jason. "What is your
excuse for being here?"
Jason shrugs. "Why do we need one?"
"We need to find out how to switch over to a tourist visa.
Shanghai is a great city. Wouldn't want to miss anything. Might
stay a little longer-- take a yangtze river cruise." Jerry
offers at the same time.
"I'll work on your visas. And I'll pass on to Father Frank
that I finally got to meet you. We talk at least once a week to
keep him updated on what is going on."
"Actually I was kinda hoping to use your phone myself."
Jerry requests. The man directs Jerry to a vacant office and
directs him in how to dial. The english version of the local
paper is sitting on the desk. Jerry takes a seat and starts
thumbing through it while he is waiting for the secure line. Well
secure on this end at least.
Meanwhile Jason is hanging with the embassy worker. "I need
a local or someone that can pass for local." Jason pulls out
a piece of paper. "These are addresses to people who have
known the family in the past-- not from the congregation. The
congregation has been compromised. Who do you trust?"
"Lucas!" Lady Jane calls from the doorway. "Coming
in for Hot chocolate?"
"Be right there." Lucas calls over his shoulder as he
finishes up the walk.
Lady Jane leaves the storm door closed but the inside door open
invitingly for the lad she'd started thinking of as a grandson.
Lucas comes in leaving his boots in the hall. "Have you
heard from Jerry yet?"
"He called this morning. Just missed Mom. She'll be ticked;
she got called into the hospital early. It always seems to happen
on the weekend. Someone calls in sick. Which makes no sense. If
they were so damn sick they should be at the hospital."
Lady Jane puts the sugarfree hot chocolate in front of lucas at
the table and takes a seat across from him. "I can't believe
Jerry left like that. So suddenly... to China."
"Yes, you can." Lucas wipes at his chocolate moustache
and grins at Jerry's mother.
Jane sighs. "Okay fine. Yes, I can." She shakes her
head. "But he has so many things going on here! I can't
believe that AJ would ask him to do it. And so close to Christmas."
"AJ didn't. Well he might have but it was Carly who asked."
"Mum?! Mum? You here?!" Jax calls from the entryway.
"In here, son."
"Mum, do you have anyway of getting in touch with Jerry?
He's done it now. You won't believe what V told me." Jax
falls silent when he realizes Jane isn't alone. He comes up
behind Lucas and ruffles his hair. (Which peeves Lucas mightly
but he bites his tongue.) "How you doin', Mate?"
"Miss V told you that Jerry served papers on Maddy right
before he left for China. Oopsey-- Jerry had the
papers served." Lucas straightens his hair as he corrects
himself.
Jax takes the seat next to Lucas. "You know?!"
"Of Course I know. I'm in charge while Jerry's out of town.
He couldn't have Maddy showing up at the house ticked off and us
not knowing what was going on. I told Lady Jane what was going on
so she'd stay away from Maddy's kiosks until Jerry gets back from
China."
"Where's Da?" Jax asks.
"Your father flew down to The City. He has a little business
he wants to get done before the end of the year."
There is the sound of a car horn from out front. "That's
Carly. We're going riding today. It's kinda a condition of me not
having to check in with Betty. Mom's got my whole day mapped out."
Lucas explains to Jane. He races to the entryway and stuffs his
boots on quickly.
Jane comes out to the entry way. She has a loose woven cashmere
shawl wrapped around her. She looks out the door. "Who is
driving?" Jane waves in Carly's direction but isn't
surprised when Carly doesn't wave back.
"Some guy from ELQ driving school. Carly doesn't like
driving in snow. I got to get going. We're suppose to meet up
with Rita."
"Since we're both flying solo today... why don't you stop by
after you get done riding and I'll make you some lunch or
something?" Jane suggests as she gives Lucas a quick hug.
"You can give me some clues as to what your mum wants for
the holiday."
"I'll call you when I get home and let you know." Lucas
promises. "Mom might have made a list for me... of things to
do. She does a lot of mental list making while she's in surgery.
Especially if they are boring." Lucas races out to the SUV
and climbs into the back next to Michael. He fastens his seatbelt
in a smooth motion and then looks over at Jane still standing in
the door way. He waves to her. He pokes Carly in the back. "You
could be nicer you know. She's not so bad."
"She's married to John-- that's bad enough." Carly
mutters. "Fine." Carly looks in Jane's direction and
puts on a fake smile and a little wave. "There. I've been
all nicey nicey... can we go now?" The driver takes the hint
and pulls out onto the street.
Jane shuts the front door and walks back to where Jax is sitting.
"Now you were saying."
"Well I'm kinda relieved that you already know. I was
thinking Jere had left it all in my lap. And since he didn't tell
me anything...."
Jane sits down next to her youngest. "Jason Morgan had an
errand to run in China. Carly and AJ didn't feel comfortable him
going over there on his own not speaking the language and asked
Jerry to go with him to smooth things out."
"Lady Jane,... " Jax begins hesitantly.
"It's an errand." Jane interrupts.
"I know exactly what Jerry is doing and that is what I'm
going to call it. That's what you'll call it if Jerry should
contact you. Your father calls it a fool's errand but then he and
Jason have never quite gotten along."
"Nobody gets along with Morgan." Jax shrugs. "Mum,
Emily says they were planning on smuggling out some chinese
nationals. If Jerry gets caught..."
"I know." Jane says quietly. "I'm hoping that they
don't find them. How could they possibly find them? It would be
like a needle in a haystack. and the people are already in hiding.
There is no way that Jerry could find them. Not when the police
are already looking. And not when they aren't expecting any help.
Let Morgan do his looking around. And then Jerry will come home."
Larry, the guy who did the rehab on Wyndemere Lite, shakes his
head at what Liz wants. She talks with her hands pointing here
and there toward the front of the house. "No way."
Larry says flatly. "I wouldn't do it. And I'm not loaning my
ladders so some other idiot can try."
"But it would look so great!" Liz protests. Her
shoulders slumping in disappointment.
"You won't think great when you're visiting your boyfriend
over in the hospital in traction with a broken hip, couple broken
legs and maybe fractured noggin." Larry gives the next to
worst case scenario. "Elizabeth, sweetheart. They are metal
ladders. It's December. That means they are f'ing cold-- freezing
and slick as snot. You can't get a good grip on them. If you told
me there was a hole in the roof I'd risk it after I tried to find
another way. But to hang some twinkly lights? No way. You
couldn't pay me enough."
Partner comes up on the conversation in time to hear Larry's
explanation. "Oh no, no, no! No, twinkly string of lights.
That is so not period. Maybe those icicle thingees but we have
enough that mother nature has already provided. You know what
would be just the thing? " Partner makes an expressive
motion with both of his hands thrown wide-- fingers totally
extended to take in the whole front of the house. "A candle
in every window. Elegant... simple. And of course the wreath on
the door. I know you'll make that beautiful. The tree looks fab
from out here."
"Lucky's little sister is really focused on a runway for
Santa. I don't know where she got the idea but she really wants
one."
Partner looks around and then looks down. "Honey, You
already have one. We're standing on it."
Elizabeth looks down at the cleared sidewalk. "Oh."
then she says with more conviction. "Oh! I get it. Lights on
the walk like we did for Halloween... in christmas colors Leads
straight to the house. You two are great!" She gives them
both a quick hug. "Now you both have to come in. I know
Lucky is going to be happy to see you... especially since you
won't give me the ladders."
"What are you doing here?!" Nik and
Carly say together accusingly.
"I'm giving Rita and Lucas a riding lesson. What are you
doing here?"
"I thought you would be out of town. I brought Lulu up to go
riding after dropping Grandmother at the spa."
"Oh Damn I knew that. Shampoo Set. I saw her on the books."
Carly shakes her head and sighs. "I guess I had a lot on my
mind. Jason is out of town so AJ and I have Michael this weekend
and decided to stay in PC. Not that it is any of your business."
"You had the road done." Nikolas changes the subject.
He'd brought Lucky's truck but hadn't needed it. Not only was the
snow cleared but the gravel underneath had been evened out.
"It won't last long." Carly sighs. "But I'll try
to keep it clear at least until the spring thaw. Then y'all are
on your own." Rita and Lucas are leading out Thunder and Mr
Roberts to the corral. Carly follows them out. She checks the
tack on the horses to make sure it is secure.
Nikolas sees Lulu looking at the big kids with a hint of
disappointment. "Carly, what would you think of Lucas riding
Sheba today?"
Carly glances over at Nik ready to tear him a new one for
interfering in her lesson and the follows his hand down to where
it is resting on Lulu's shoulder. "Carly, can I? Can I
please?" Lucas demands. Thunder might be his best pal but he
didn't have a prayer of keeping up with Rita on the pony.
"I don't know, Lucas. Thunder needs to be ridden."
Carly turns to Lulu. "You ride?"
"A couple times." Lulu says softly and then clears her
throat and says louder. "But there was a bigger saddle than
those." She points at the horses.
"Western." Carly nods in Nik's direction. "Lucas,
go saddle up Sheba." Carly takes Thunder's reins from Lucas
and leads the horse over to where Lulu and Nik are standing.
"Saddles are like.... bikes." Carly searches for the
appropriate simile. "You got the little trick bikes, and
cross country bikes, bikes you can ride in the sand, bikes that
are built for speed. It's the same thing with saddles. Western
saddles are working saddles for guys chasing cows and spending
all day in it. English saddles are lighter and smaller cause you
might be chasing something a lot quicker and sneaker than a big
old cow."
"What's that?"
"A fox." Carly says with inflection. "sleek and
low to the ground chasing here and there to get away."
"Why would anyone want to chase a fox? That's mean and
they're pretty!"
"Why would anyone want to chase a cow?" Carly retorts.
"Just cause someone has a trick bike... it doesn't mean they
use it for tricks. Do you have a helmet?" Nik hands Lulu her
brand new helmet. Carly helps her on with it. Nik gives Lulu a
hand up onto Thunder's back. Thunder shifts a bit from hoof to
hoof and glances back to check who is on him. Lulu pats his neck.
Carly hands her the reins. Lulu takes them in one hand. "Ah
another difference between western and english." Carly takes
the reins back and separates them. She shows Lulu how to hold
then in each hand with thumbs up and low to the saddle. "Thunder
knows the other way too. But lets do this right. Rita... mount up
and start around the ring. Lets start at a walk. Lulu, you fall
in behind her. Let Thunder do the work until you get comfortable.
Nik, Go find out what is keeping Lucas."
Nik shakes his head at Carly's bossiness. When she is at the
stables she is all business. Going back into the stables he sees
that Lucas is just leading Sheba out. Nik stops him and checks
the girth to make sure it's tight enough. Then Nik gives Lucas a
leg up onto the horse. As Lucas leans down to adjust his stirrup
he asks Nik. "How pissed is Maddy?"
Nik thinks about his answer. "I think she's more scared than
pis... angry."
"So it's not me right? It's not cause she doesn't want a
brother."
"No, of course not." Nik reassures.
Carly whistles to get Lucas' attention she points to the others
who are making their way around the ring. She motions with her
hand for him to catch up. "I got to go." Lucas tells
Nik.
"I'll be here. I still have to muck out the stables."
Nik gives Sheba a pat on the rump as the horse moves by him to
join the other horses in the ring.
Ricky comes up behind Maddy and twirls her around lifting her
feet off the ground. Maddy gives him a sharp elbow in the side.
"Put me down, you idiot."
"Aww don't you love me anymore?" Ricky puts on a mock
pout.
"I never did." Maddy recoils and gives him another
shove.
"Then why did you call?"
"What are the chances of Poppi being able to pull something
from the courthouse ... making it like it never happened."
"Good. What?"
"Jerry Jacks filed something called a Declaration of
Paternity down in New Orleans. As long as it exists...."
"So my dad pulls it-- piece of cake. What is to stop Jerry
from doing it again? You gonna line up one of your old goat
friends to play white knight? That's an idea. Hey why don't you
call old man Quartermaine... get him to do it. Maybe then he'll
quit calling me."
"Fine! What do you really think I should do about it?"
Maddy protests. "I thought we agreed. That it wasn't a good
idea... Jerry is nuts to be even pushing this. He has no
proof! And with the damn declaration he doesn't need any. It's
irreversible. Come on, Ricky. You're the one who called me a
Typhoid Mary of relatives. I thought you liked Jerry."
"I do like Jerry." Ricky agrees coolly. He leans back
against the wall. He brings up one foot to balance flat against
the wall. "But I also know from the stories my dad tells
that he is a crazy mo-fo. You got two choices, babe. Either deal
or cut and run. Running is what you do best-- it always has been:
running and hiding." Ricky reaches out and grabs Maddy by
the chin forcing her to look at him. "And this time I'll be
here to watch. See you scramble like the little mouse you are.
You think Larkin was bad... O'Meara? Me? You ain't seen nothin'
yet. Dad would be sending a crew after you... Jerry... I hear
things about old man Spencer. But you know who would be in the
lead? That rich white boy who is pulling your strings now."
"Nik would never... he knows I have plans. We aren't serious."
"Right. Maybe he's better at it than I ever was. What plans,
sweetcakes? I don't see any plans. What happened to a place of
your own? Going to college? All those dreams you used to spin
back in the day. All I see you is making everyone else's plans
happen. Still believing if you make everyone happy that they'll
like you?"
"Shut up!"
"Come 'ere, baby. You know how to make me happy." Ricky
reaches for his zipper suggestively.
"You're a pig."
"And you're a mouse." Ricky sneers. "A little itty
bitty mouse afraid of everything. Run away, little mouse. You
don't have the spine to stand up for yourself. I'll tell you
exactly how to solve the Jerry problem. Say-- *fine,
Daddy!* And then tell him to f'off. But you won't do that will
you cause that might be unpleasant."