When Cassadines 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 sugar free 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 mightily 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 fucking 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 fuck off. But you won't do that will you cause that might be unpleasant."

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