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When Cassidines Fall
There is a loud chatter of Chinese from above deck. Jerry jumps
to his feet. "Hide our guest then get up on deck."
"What is it?"
"We're about to be boarded." Jerry says grimly.
"We don't have time for this BS." Jason swears. "We
need to get out of country ASAP!"
"Yeah, well be careful what you wish for. I'll buy you as
much time as I can." Jerry takes the steps topside two at a
time.
Bearer of Ill Tidings
Sonny Corinthos' limo slowly pulls in front of the address Father
Frank had indicated in Chinatown. Father Frank looks over at
Sonny. "I appreciate you giving her the news in person. Mei
should be home from school by now."
"That's Rita Porter's friend at Queen of Angels?" Sonny
inquires absently.
"Right. She does most of the translating for her grandmother."
"You're more up on the political situation in China than I
am." Sonny begins. "I'm going to need the names of guys
with juice over there that have family here-- going to school,
working whatever."
Father Frank looks at Sonny and shakes his head. "I can't go
along with that."
Sonny grins at Father Frank but all that does is give him the
impression of a shark. "Oh nothing will happen to them; I
swear, Father. But you got to figure if they're out here in the
decadent west-- that they are up to something
that won't go over well with the straight laced folks back home."
"That's blackmail."
"It's leverage. I don't recall it being covered in the Ten
Commandments."
Francis double parks in front of Mei's building. He brings down
the glass between him and the passengers in back. "This is
it. I'm not going to be able to find a parking space."
"We'll get out here and then I'll call you when we're ready
to be picked up."
"Right Boss."
Sonny climbs out of the car, Father Frank after him. Father Frank
takes the lead since he knows where they are going. He goes up at
knocks on the door. Mei answers and her eyes go wide seeing the
priest there with another guy. She recognizes him from times when
he'd stopped by the school to check in-- see if anything was
needed. "What's wrong? What happened? Did something happen
to Uncle Harry?"
"Your Uncle is still in jail but we have some news. Is your
grandmother here?"
"Yeah, yeah, come in." Mei gets out of the way and
ushers the two men into the living room. "Wait here. I'll go
get her."
Sonny looks around the crowded room. Father Frank, who is more
familiar with visiting, shifts some fabric from the couch to the
coffee table and sits down. Sonny sits down next to him. They
both stand back up when Mei's grandmother comes back in the room
with Mei. She waves them down and then takes a seat across from
them. Mei stands beside her.
"Grandmother," Father Frank begins respectfully. "This
is Mr Sonny Corinthos. It is his friend who went to China to
check on your brother and his family."
Mei does the translation back and forth. "There is news?"
Sonny leans forward resting his elbows on his knees. He glances
at Mei but then focuses on the older woman. "Not on your
brother. There is nothing we can do in China without drawing
attention to your brother and making his situation worse."
Sonny pauses so Mei can translate and only continues when the
older woman nods her agreement. "Jason, my friend, found
your sister-in-law. At one of the addresses you gave Maddy
Reynolds." After Mei translates that one there is happy
tears and excitement from Mei and her grandmother. "Wait."
Sonny protests. "They aren't out of the country yet. Jason
called me from the house she was hiding in."
Mei quickly translates and the worry is back on both their faces.
"Grandmother wants to know about her niece. You mentioned
Auntie Yuen but not her."
Sonny nods. "Your sister in law managed to smuggle her out
using some gold she was keeping?" He continues after he sees
the Grandmother's nod. "She evidently had enough put aside
for one of them to get passage out and made her daughter go. As
soon as your niece contacts you-- call me the very next thing.
She would be an illegal and I have... connections so that she'll
be able to get by the government." Sonny gives a business
card with his cell phone number on it to Mei.
Mei glances at the card while she is doing the translating.
"We'll call. First thing." She agrees.
Sonny looks around the room and sees a picture of an older man, a
middle aged woman and a young girl. "Is this your niece?"
"Yes." Mei translates her grandmother's nod even though
it's not necessary.
"She is awful young."
"Auntie Yuen is Uncle Harry's number two, his second, wife.
His first wife died with no children. His daughter means
everything to him because he thought he'd never have any-- even
if she is a girl." Mei grins at the last. She was very used
to her culture's bias toward boys and very grateful to be in the
US because of it.
Sonny and Father Frank rise to their feet. "Father Frank or
I will contact you once there is news on your aunt. Jason said it
would take a day or two for them to get clear."
Mei nods and walks them out. "Thank you for the news. It is
the best news we've had since Uncle Harry was taken."
"Call me as soon as your cousin contacts you." Sonny
reminds. He pulls out his cell phone to call Francis to pick them
up. As soon as they see the limo pull up Father Frank and Sonny
walk down the stairs and climb into the back.
"I'll get you the names." Father Frank tells Sonny.
Sonny nods but he is watching Francis who keeps glancing in his
mirrors. "What's up?"
"We've got a tail."
"Taggart?"
Francis shakes his head. "It feels like a fed."
Sonny snorts and grins. Perfect timing. When he was about as
close to being an upstanding citizen as he could be. "You
know all those little errands we've been putting off? Now would
be the time."
"You don't want me to lose them?"
"Nah. Let's bore them to death instead."
Ford and Taggart are at Kelly's having an argument over coffee.
Liz comes by and gives them a refill. "Thanks Elizabeth."
"No problem, Lt. Taggart. Just give me a glance when you are
ready for more."
"You got it." Taggart waits until Liz moves off back to
the counter where she has her books laid out for some cramming.
"I'm telling you if it's illegal and it's moving through
Port Charles then Rico Suave is in it up to his dimples."
Ford shakes his head. "Yeah, and if this was an east coast
thing, I'd be right there with you. But this originated on the
west coast and moved here when it got too hot. Corinthos has
always been strictly east coast and Puerto Rico. Although we've
been getting intel that he's forging an alliance with Robideau
down in the SE corridor. This could be someone jumping his
distribution network." it's a bitch to compare what you
know with what you can prove.
"Wishful thinking, Mike." Taggart shakes his head.
"You're just hoping somebody is jumping his network so you
can leverage him into busting up this ring for you." And
Robideau better not be bringing his crap here to Port Charles. PC
was suppose to be off limits to him. A safe zone for Maddy and
his kid, Ricky.
Ford grimaces. Yeah, part of him hopes just that and the other
part is definitely not. Cause if they're jumping Corinthos
network that means the cargo might get dumped in any kind of
confrontation. And a dumped cargo spells death to those
unfortunate enough to be in it. Ford's cell phone rings. "Yeah,
what've you got." He falls silent. "Right-- call me
back when you've got more. No, wait. Double back and pick up who
he was talking to and bring them in for questioning." He
hangs up. "It looks like you were right and I was wrong."
again.
"Oh?"
"Corinthos just made contact down in Chinatown."
"I told you so." Taggart retorts. "Wait-- you had
survellience on someone down in Chinatown?"
"No, we have survellience on Corinthos. Just cause I was
hoping he wasn't involved doesn't mean I wasn't covering all the
bases. I'll find out whom he met with and turn their background
upside down. This could be a lead finally."
"You figure they're going to come in on the docks?"
Taggart muses aloud.
"Yeah, why?"
"Cause I have the perfect snitch site if I can talk her into
it."
"Talk whom into what?"
"Maddy Reynolds runs a coffee kiosk down on the docks. Two
of them actually-- one on each end. She normally closes at
midnight after the third shift goes to work and reopens before
the first comes on in the morning. Her people see everything on
the docks."
Ford winces. "Maddy Reynolds help the feds after everything
that went down with her Aunt? No way in hell! And she's already
proven the lengths she'll go to to not help the feds."
"So maybe she'll do it for the PCPD and her sister's
boyfriend."
"Are we under arrest?" Mei demands from the backseat of
the unmarked cop car beside her grandmother. "What are the
charges? When do we get a phone call?"
Mei's grandmother starts sharply instructing her granddaughter.
The only two words that the fed catches are... "Perry Mason."
As a result of whatever the grandmother told her Mei shuts her
mouth and shuts it hard. She crosses her arms in front of her in
an angry, defensive silent gesture.
"My boss just wants to ask you a few questions. He's going
to meet you at the station." The agent looks in the rearview
mirror of his car. "If you haven't done anything wrong then
there'll be no problem." His minimally reassuring comment is
met with stony silence from the back. The combined glares of the
old woman and the child start to get to him. "Look you'll
get your call down there okay?" More silence greets that one.
The Fed steps on the gas. He wants this job over with as soon as
possible. He pulls up in front of the PCPD and escorts the two
unrestrained females to the detectives pen. He checks with the
sgt to find out if there is a room available and is pointed to
the interview room.
Garcia looks up from his paperwork with interest at the odd sight.
Standing up he goes over to the Fed. "Don't you think you
should be calling social services if you are going to be dealing
with a minor?"
Mei breaks her silence. "My grandmother doesn't speak
English. If you think I'm leaving you alone with her... You're
high." She turns to the Fed. "Our phone call?"
The fed shakes his head and sighs. He reaches for a phone and
hands it to Mei. "Dial nine to get out."
Mei waits until he leaves the interrogation room and calls
Maddy's cell phone number. She fills her in on what happened. "Don't
say a word until I get there with My Aunt Dara. She's a lawyer.
She'll get it all straightened out. Not one word." Maddy
warns.
Meanwhile the Fed is calling Ford to let him know that Corinthos'
contacts are in holding at the PCPD.
Taggart and Ford get to the police station before Dara and Maddy.
Ford consults with his agent. "That's who Corinthos was
meeting with?!"
"They were the only ones home in the apartments upstairs. It
had to be them." The Fed says defensively.
Taggart looks through the glass at the two and groans when he
sees the jacket the little girl is wearing. "Oh man."
"What?"
"She's wearing a Queen of Angels jacket. That's Corinthos'
church." He looks to the Fed who had been tailing Sonny.
"Describe the guy who was with Sonny." The Fed looks to
Ford who nods. He gives a physical description of Father Frank
but leaves out the collar since he didn't see it. Taggart exhales
impatiently and rubs a hand over his shaved head. "That
sounds an awful like Father Frank, the priest over at Queen of
Angels. Shit."
Maddy and Dara come racing into the detectives bull pen. Maddy
sees Mei and her grandmother in the interrogation room and goes
straight there. Dara walks over to Taggart and Ford. "What
did you do now?" Dara accuses Ford.
"There goes any hope of getting Maddy to go along with a
snitch site." Marcus mutters. "How in the hell does
Maddy know those two?" He says louder and more defensively.
"And what the hell are you doing here? You work for the DA's
office remember?"
"I was fired from the DA's office-- remember?! Just cause
Justus has been calling doesn't mean that I'm calling him back!
Evidently that lady in there made all the curtains for Nikolas
Cassadine's place. I don't know how Maddy knew her before that,
but they do business together."
"Maddy and her damn business."
"They were meeting with Sonny Corinthos." Ford explains
earnestly at the same time. He really doesn't want to get on
Dara's bad side again.
"And you think they are the local ring leaders of that white
slavery ring you're working?" Dara looks over at Mei and her
grandmother. "Right. You're an idiot. I'm going to go talk
to my clients now." Dara stalks away.
"I'm on the couch tonight." Taggart shakes his head.
"And I don't think I'm ever gonna climb out of the doghouse
with that woman." Ford groans. "So what is this church
connection?"
"Corinthos gives a ton of money to local charities. Sponsors
a wing at GH for AIDS research. Just got an award for money he
gave to the Ward House Shelter for Battered Women... and he gives
TONS to Queen of Angels. That's why the citizens put up with him.
The kid is wearing the school uniform and it really sounded like
the guy with Corinthos was Father Frank."
Ford's shoulders slump. "Damn." He shakes his head.
"I still have to find out. If only to keep them out of the
investigation."
"Well keep me out of it too." Taggart holds up both
hands. "I'll try to salvage survelliance on the docks."
"Yeah, I'll talk to you later." Ford steps away from
Taggart. Taggart takes a seat at his desk and starts going
through his paperwork. They make a concentrated effort to
distance themselves from each other.
~~~~~Inside the interrogation room.
"Grandmother, Mei, This is my Aunt Dara. She is a lawyer.
Dara, this is Mei and her Grandmother. Don't ask me to tell you
her proper name I slaughter it every time and she told me to call
her Grandmother instead."
Grandmother comes across with a quick smattering of Chinese. Mei
looks embarrassed but translates anyway after she answers her
grandmother. "Grandmother says you don't look like a lawyer.
She was expecting Perry Mason."
Dara chuckles and grins. "She's got good taste in lawyers.
He's my favorite too. Maddy, I need to speak to these two alone."
She points to the two of them. "What you tell me is between
us. But if Maddy hears it then she can be compelled to tell. Do
you understand?"
"Privilege." Grandmother says clearly and nods.
"Right." Dara smiles again.
"Okay, I'll be right out there." Maddy points to the
bull pen.
"Maddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't pick a fight with Ford."
"You're no fun." Maddy shuts the door but not before
she hears the first question.
"So what was Sonny Corinthos doing at your house?"
Maddy quickly shuts the door so that nobody in the detectives
bull pen can hear the answer.
"Maddy!" Taggart calls her over. "Howzit going?"
"Kinda crazy. You?" Maddy pulls up a seat on the edge
of Taggart's desk.
"Same ole, same ole." Taggart shrugs. He nods in the
direction of the interrogation room. "What's that all about?"
"You already know." Maddy gets a disgusted look on her
face. "Everyone knows. That's why this is such bullshit."
"Refresh my memory And don't swear-- it isn't ladylike."
Maddy rolls her eyes but decides to explain anyway even if she
has a sarcastic tone in her voice."Queen of Angels sponsored
a missionary... anything ringing a bell yet?"
Taggart groans. "Oh man." He shakes his head. "Quarterbrain
and Jerry Jacks went to China to check on the missionary. They
left the same day Jerry dropped those papers on you."
"Yep. So if Sonny Corinthos was stopping by then he must
have gotten an update from Jason and was telling the family. You
know-- a courtesy thing."
"How do you know all this?"
"Well I found out from Emily Quartermaine. I didn't make the
connection until after she told us about Harry Chow being
arrested. That's the missionary's name. So basically we have an
old lady and a small child, whose brother/uncle was just arrested
and thrown in jail for no good reason by the commies, and then
they get picked up and hauled down here for
questioning. WooHoo! Go USA!"
"Madeliene." Taggart says censoriously.
"Come on, Marcus. You know it's screwed."
"Yeah, yeah, I do." Taggart nods. "I also know
there is some serious stuff going down-- probably in Chinatown.
The Feds aren't really interested in Sonny... Well they'll take
him if they can get him. It's Chinatown they're after."
Maddy's eyes narrow. She remembers her first trip down into
Chinatown and the creepy feeling she'd gotten. "Illegals or
drugs?"
"What do you know?" Taggart leans forward in his chair.
"Nothing. I only know a few people down there and I don't
speak the language. I just got a creepy feeling... the hair went
up on the back of my neck." Maddy examines Taggart's shaved
dome. "But I guess that isn't where you'd get your instinct."
"Maddy, I don't think we can crack Chinatown." Taggart
admits. "The only hope is to cut off whatever they are doing
before it hits Chinatown."
Maddy shakes her head. "Why are you telling me this? We're
not exactly tight and have never spent much time discussing your
cases."
"I want your docks kiosks from midnight to six am."
Maddy is distracted by Dara knocking on the window of the
interrogation room and motioning to Ford to enter. "Well
this is about wrapped up." She smiles at Taggart.
"Yeah, I almost feel sorry for Ford."
"I don't."
"What do you think about the kiosk idea?"
"No way in hell. Nothing personal. I told you from the get
go that I wouldn't snitch for you and my people won't either."
"It would be two undercovers."
"Right. Putting their hands on my business." Maddy
shakes her head. "No. It puts my business in jeopardy and it
puts my people in the line of fire too. Go talk to Edward
Quartermaine and see if he will rent you space on the prominade
cheap."
~~~~Inside the interrogation room.
"And that, Agent Ford, is my client's statement. Do you have
any questions?" Dara asks after telling him exactly the bare
minimum he needs to know.
"I'd only like to offer my apologies for inconveniencing you.
My man will drive you back to your apartment. Thank you for your
cooperation."
"Maddy will drive them home." Dara refuses on behalf of
her new clients. "They are free to go, aren't they?"
"Yes, of course." Dara and her clients walk out the
door leaving Ford in the interrogation room. "Maddy, will
you take them home."
"No problem. You clean his clock?"
"It's no fun to beat up on someone who is already beating up
themselves."
Maddy starts walking toward the doors. "Are you coming, Aunt
Dara?"
"I think I'm going to walk abit while the weather has turned
decent. I'll talk to you later." Dara waves off her niece.
"Babe..." Taggart says with a hint of velvet in his
tone.
"Don't talk to me right now. I need to walk. Maybe I won't
be so ticked at you by the time I get home. But just in case...
stay late. Find a stakeout."
About half an hour later, Dara hesitates outside the brownstone.
She steps toward it and then back again. "Ah hell."
Marching up the stairs she knocks on the door. Expecting to see
Bobbie she is surprised to see Lucas. "Hi. Is your Mom home?"
"Aunt Felicia needed her Christmas ornaments from the attic
so Mom drove them over. She'll be right back."
"Would it be okay if I waited?"
"Sure." Lucas has a leery feeling anyway. "Is
Maddy okay?"
The question startles Dara momentarily. "She's fine as far
as I know."
"Something's up. I can tell. If you're going to upset my
mother... I'll tell you right now-- don't. It isn't fair while
Jerry is out of town."
"Lucas, I need to get some information to Jerry. And I need
to do it as soon as humanly possible. Do you have any number for
him... some way to get in contact?"
"Is Jerry in trouble? Are you going to arrest him again?"
"I don't do arrests anymore." Dara replies wryly.
"And whether or not Jerry is in trouble? Well I can't say on
that one either. I just have something to tell him about what he
is doing. No trouble, no arrests, just information."
"You want a cup of tea or something?"
"I'd love a cup of tea." Dara sighs in relief.
"That was too close." Jason watches the retreating
lights of the river patrol.
"Yeah, we're lucky that the tourist trade has started making
this trip the thing to do before they put up the three gorges dam
and flood this whole area to nothing." Jerry holds out his
hand. "Can I borrow your phone?"
Jason hands it over and heads below deck. "I'll check on Mrs
Chow."
Jerry quickly dials the number "Red?" Jerry smiles.
"Whatcha wearing?"
"Jere, Dara Jensen is here and she says she has
to talk to you."
"Is Maddy okay?"
"It's about your vacation." Bobbie hints.
"Put her on."
Dara takes the phone from Bobbie and walks outside onto the snow
edged patio. She holds the phone to her ear and tucks her other
hand under her arm to ward off the cold. "Ask me no
question and I'll tell you no lies. The FBI is investigating a
ring of coyotes who are bringing in Chinese nationals and
possibly funneling them through Port Charles. They pay part of
their fare up front... whatever they pay is never enough. No
matter how much gold they give
for their passage. Then when they get stateside they are set up
in brothels or other slave labor situations to work off their
fare. Are you familiar with the phrase frying pan and fire, Jere?"
"Yeah, I've heard it a time or two." Jerry says grimly.
He looks up to the wheel house and hollars at Xing to push it.
"Message received, Dara. Put Bobbie back on the phone."
"I hope you have a safe, speedy,
trip."
"It's been cake so far."
Dara walks the phone in and hands it back to Bobbie. "Thanks.
I'll see myself out." She waves at Lucas and Bobbie.
What did she want, Jerry? Bobbie worries.
"Just givin' me some info, Luv. We're on the last leg here.
Should be home soon but I'll call tomorrow just in case to keep
you up on things. Is Lucas around?"
"He's right here." Bobbie waves Lucas over to
take the phone.
"Hey Jerry.
"Hey mate? Things staying sane there?"
"Yeah, mostly. Maddy drove me home from school day
before yesterday. Christmas break is next week. Are you going to
be home? I really want to go flying."
"No promises, Lucas. I'll do my damnest to get there and
I'll call if there is a delay."
"Okay Jerry. I love you."
Jerry clears his throat to get past the lump in it. "Love
you too, mate. Give your mum a hug for me." Jerry
disconnects the call and snaps the phone shut.
Jason comes back up on deck. He scans the water for any sign of
trouble. "Everything okay at home? Carly, Bobbie? Lucas?"
"They're fine. But the quicker we get this over with the
better." Jerry slams the phone back in Jason's hand. "I
need to talk to Mrs Chow. Find out what details she knows about
the ship she put her daughter on."