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Diversion
Thursday
Rita thumbs through the first drawer of her file cabinent. The
bottom drawer has her purse, office supplies and her lunch. It
would nice when she could have all the file cabinents stuffed
with nice clients, or even not so nice clients... but it's a
start. Each client's orders are in place. She'd gone over this
morning to get police reports on the criminal referrals from the
day before. There were a couple of obvious motions that she'd
pounded out. Maxie had come through with locations of employment
on 3 of the eight clients from the Ward House. Faxes had already
gone out to their personnel departments to start garnishments. It
had been a good morning and the lemon poppyseed muffins had gone
over well with the L&B crew-- even with all the snide
comments about hoping nobody pulled a drug test on any of them.
Nevermind you'd have to eat like a pound of
poppyseeds to get a positive screen for opiates.
Opening up the bottom drawer of the file cabinent she pulls out
her satchel and rising to her feet pulls it across her body.
Shutting the door behind her, Rita heads down stairs. She stops
at the reception desk where V is working on some L&B bookings.
"I'm going to go check out some crime scenes, check some
things out. Then I'll be meeting Cookie over at Porters."
"You on your cell if something comes up?"
"Yeah, but I'm not expecting anything." Rita reaches
into her purse and pulls out the cell phone. "See you later."
As soon as she clears the building, V is on the phone. "Coast
is clear."
"Bout time." There is a click of the
disconnected call. There is a roar of a step van pulling up to
the doors of L&B Carly jumps out of the front passenger seat.
One of the drivers from her favorite stores climbs from the
drivers seat, and Michael and Ally climb out. The driver rushes
around to the back of the van and rolls up the back with a quick
flick of the wrist. Michael hops up in the van and starts handing
light items to his sister and mother. Carly had prepped them well
for this one. It is a hit and run mission. Get in-- get out all
the old furniture-- set up the new stuff and get out before Rita
got back.
"You got a service elevator in this place?" The driver
demands in a thick accent. Working with Mrs Quartermaine is
always adventure. It wasn't the first time he'd been roped into
the redecorating version of a chinese firedrill. And when they
pulled this one... she paid by the minute. And paid less the
longer it took. V points the way to the elevator. "Where you
want the old stuff?" The guy only pauses long enough to get
an answer and then pressed the button up.
"Michael, get up there and help him. I've got it here."
Carly demands. Michael hops down and starts sprinting into
L&B and straight up the stairs. Carly levers herself up into
the van and starts handing things to Ally who leans them against
the van. Carly pulls and tugs the larger items onto the hydrolic
lift at the back of the van loading it up. As soon as it is full
she hits the button balancing the load as she rides down with it.
V comes out of the office and between the three of them they get
everything out of the van and onto the sidewalk.
"I can't believe you roped me into this." V shakes her
head.
"You're having a good time right?" Carly doesn't pause
in getting the hydrolic lift back in place and making sure that
the rolling back gate of the van is down and locked.
"Yeah, this is fun. But I should have brought my video
camera." Michael comes out of the building at a run. He hops
into the van driver's seat and looking to make sure he is clear
pulls the van out of the loading zone and into the parking lot
around the corner. "Wait a minute... is he old enough to
drive?" V wonders.
"He drives all the time up at the stables." Carly
nonanswers. Michael could get away with driving cause he looked
old enough even if he had a couple of years to go before he could
even get a permit-- let alone a license. He'd lucked into Grandpa
Alan's height and Uncle Luke's trim build. Carly throws a paper
wrapped bundle over her shoulder and grabs a box. Ally grabs some
lamps. V stand guard until Michael gets back. Just then the
driver shows back up. He and Michael start manhandling the larger
items in the direction of the service elevator.
Emily glances at the clock and grins. Ricky asks her flat out.
"What?"
"The Commando Decorator should be in action by now."
Emily quips with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Who is Carly going after now?" Ricky had already been
through it twice... once for his office here at EBQ and when he
bought the victorian. Carly hadn't perfected her kamikazi style
back when he moved to Port Charles although the seeds were there.
Seeds that germinated around that first Christmas when she'd
managed to spring a pooltable/playroom on the Judge and Cookie.
"Rita's office over at L&B." Emily explains.
Ricky snickers. "That's perfect. As many times as she has
gone kamikazi with Carly. It's about time it got pulled on her."
Ricky gets back down to business. "I've been doing a little
research on this Winslow guy, Em." Ricky shakes his head.
"It looks like a huge headache attached to an overblown ego."
Emily laughs. "I ever tell you about my first meeting with
Gary?" Ricky shakes his head no. "Lets see if I
remember it right.... He told me that he needed a fashion model
not an escapee from Hogs and Hooters not that I had much in the
way of hooters anyway."
"And you two are friends?!"
"Yep. Even after I told him that his designs were probably
better suited to a stick thin junkie with plastic tits who had to
use a pound of makeup to cover the bags under her eyes and the
tracks on her arms."
"Ouch. You do have a way with words."
"Thanks." Em leans in on her desk angling herself
toward Ricky. "He's got ego cause he's good. And yeah, I
knew it was going to be a headache when I told you about it. I
think we can convince Gary to leave the headache to us."
"I'd still rather have someone young and hungry." Ricky
shakes his head. "Do it if you want, I'll even help but lets
call it what it is. It's a favor. There isn't enough margin in
this for us."
"So lets find someone young and hungry too. With Gary's name
attached to them they'll rise faster then we could set up on our
own."
Rita pulls up to the kitchen entrance of Porter's. She enters her
code in the door and is pleasantly surprised when it opens.
Walking from the back storage room to the kitchen she doesn't
disturb Cookie as she's cooking but waits until she's gotten the
order out and Frank has shown up to relieve her. Cookie doesn't
bother with the normal ration but insteads gives him clear
directions and walks over to where Rita is waiting. "Are you
ready?" Rita asks.
"I just need to get some stuff out of the back."
"Where are we going?"
"Mary Alice from the shelter got her apartment. She's moving
in today. Hell she's waiting around to get the utilities hooked
up."
"Ouch. What an ugly way to spend your day off and your first
day in a place."
"So we're going to drop this off for her." Cookie hands
Rita a box and snatches up another. "There is even a thermos
of coffee in there just in case the electric isn't on by the time
we get there."
Rita looks down at the box Cookie had appropriated from the back
that she'd filled with a few spices and the small pots of herbs.
"This looks great."
"Those women always seem to run from spice. It's like they
have to be boring and bland to get by." Cookie says
defensively.
"Well they are turning over a new leaf now."
"Exactly." Cookie climbs into Rita's car and turning in
the seat places her box in the back. She takes Rita's from her so
she can climb in the car and puts it in the back as well. She
gives quick directions to the new apartment.
A couple of hours later, Rita heads back to L&B to do the
last minute odds and ends of the day and hoping that more of the
business cards she'd handed out and doors she'd knocked on had
panned out. There is nobody at the reception desk and she frowns
at that before walking up the stairs. Opening up the door to her
office, Rita takes a step back. "HOLY SHIT!"
"You kiss your stepmother with that mouth?" Dara quips
from behind her. "Surprise!"
"She's the one who taught me that one." Rita laughs.
Alexis hands Rita a note. "This is for you."
Rita,
The desk is a present from me and AJ. The kids picked out your
lamps. Poppi fronted for the area rug but Hassan kicked in his
commission. Your dad picked out the picture on the wall. He says
you might recognize it from his old office. Miz Sophia made the
throw that's over the couch. Johnny and Em got you the bookcases.
Mei put the curtains together. I'd say you're ready, kid, knock
them dead.
All my love, Carly.
Rita comes into the room and turns around in a slow circle.
"How long did it take?"
V comes into the room. "Seventeen minutes from the time they
pulled up the van to the doors til they all left."
"Damn. I think that's her record." Rita goes around to
her brand new chair with the ribbon still attached and takes a
seat leaning back in it, tucking her hands behind her head.
"Y'all jealous?"
Dara and Alexis laugh but it is Dara who answers. "Maybe.
But then seventeen minutes is about my limit with Carly."
Alexis laughs and looks around. She'd been at court during the
whole adventure. "Say what you like about Carly. She does
know color." Alexis does have a hint of envy at that skill.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?"
Rita glances over at the clock on the wall and grimaces. "Oh
boy. Yeah. I do. I just want to check messages fast and then I'll
head out."
"We'll leave you to it." Alexis leads the others out.
Ricky walks up to the bar in the Quartermaine living room. Johnny
walks out of the kitchen. "Go easy on that stuff-- you'll
kill your palate."
"You know the only reason I showed tonight is cause you are
cooking." Ricky bitches as he pours himself a drink. "You
know what is on the other menu for tonight?"
"Winslow." Johnny goes over to the bar and grabs
himself a bottled water. "He's not a bad guy." Johnny
admits. "I almost killed him about a decade ago when Em got
the cover of Vogue wearing his stuff. Or should I say almost
wearing his stuff. This place went nuts for a few months."
Johnny grins. "Actually I should be grateful. That was when
Em moved in with me."
"I remember that." Ricky nods. "But I didn't know
what set it off. Women's fashion ain't my thing. But she looks
good." Ricky offers up a toast in Em's direction as she
walks through the double doors wearing a close fitting silky
dress that hugs every curve and hints at the smooth skin beneath
it.
Em comes over to the bar and takes the bottled water from Johnny.
"You two are going to be good tonight right?"
"Sure." Johnny and Ricky say together and grin. Em
starts to get a bad feeling on this one. And hopes there will be
a positive distraction or poor Gary is going to be toast.
There is a ring at the door. "Be good." Emily threatens
them both as she walks to the door. Reggie is still in the
household. He and Leticia both but their priority is Lila not the
mansion. "Gary! Hey." Em gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"How was the trip down?" She strings a hand through the
crook of his arm.
"Good. Good." Having done his own research and being
old pals with Em, he knows the two men standing in the room.
Johnny Porter, Em's foundation and Ricky Robideau her mob
connected second in command. Robideau is the only draw back in
the deal. Sally comes out with some appetizers.
"I'm going to go check on things. Dinner will be ready when
everyone gets here." Johnny tilts his head in the direction
of the kitchen.
"Grandfather should be here soon as will Rita." Em
agrees. She looks at Gary. "We have time to talk shop if you
want."
Gary winces. "You've already seen all the papers, Em. I had
them messengered over. You know what a mess everything is."
Ricky snorts. "Yeah, no kidding." Em gives him a dirty
look. "The books have already been handed over to one of
Em's accountants. You ought to be able to press charges on
whoever was doing them before. Heard from the IRS yet?"
Gary winces. "No, you think it's a possibility?"
Ricky instead of answering moves closer to the bar. "Can I
get you a drink?"
"That bad?"
"I'll make it a double." Ricky pops in some ice cubes
and pours a healthy shot of whatever the closest liquor is into
the glass.
Em pulls Gary over to the couch and sits down pulling him down
next to her. "It's not that bad. The accountant has a team
on it. Once everything is sorted out we'll file amended business
returns. The best attorneys in the state handle EBQ business. The
IRS trembles in fear before them."
"The Justice department and the FBI tremble as well."
Ricky quips as he hands Gary his drink. Gary takes a quick gulp
and then blows out the alcohol. He settle back to a quick sip.
Ricky takes the chair next to the couch leaving the chair closest
to the doors to Johnny if the guy actually ever settles. "Try
one of these." Ricky shoves the appetizers toward Gary.
Em half turns on the couch so she is facing toward Gary and Ricky.
She curls a leg under her on the couch never minding the designer
original she is wearing. "And whoever negotiated that
contract for you... you know the one that has your stuff in
Penney's-- for goodness sake, Gary." Em shakes her head.
"You should be in boutiques... high end departments."
"It's not clothes." Gary says defensively. "It's
sheets, towels, comforters and the like."
"It's diluting the impact of your name on the label-- any
label." Em says flatly. "Luckily that is due to expire.
And I really suggest you let it. Gary, you are a fabulous
designer. And you came to me because that is what you want to do.
I think you need to focus on that for a year... at least a year
and then maybe a perfume." She shakes her head. "But
linens?-- No. And Penney's having an exclusive? NEVER. It's an
oxymoron."
Gary winces. And takes another drink. "I know. I know."
Edward comes down from having sat with Lila while she had her
dinner and filling her in on all the various goings on. He goes
to the bar and pours himself a drink. Turning around he finally
gets to see who the guest is this evening. His eyes narrow.
"You!" Edward snarls. Ricky perks right up. This was
going to get interesting afterall.
"Grandfather." Emily puts a warning in her tone. "This
is Gary Winslow, and it's business.
"I know what kind of business he is in. Funny business!
Putting an underage girl in practically nothing on the cover of a
magazine where she can be drooled over by who knows what perverts!"
"Grandfather, that was a decade ago. Let it go."
Em instructs. But at the same time she gets a feeling in her gut
that maybe Gary's troubles hadn't been merely of his own making.
Just to be on the safe side she states her position clearly.
"Gary is going to be under EBQ's umbrella." She never
takes her eyes off Edward making sure that he gets the hint.
"It's business."
Edward snorts. Johnny comes out to the living room. Everything is
done in the kitchen all that is left is the dishing up and Sally
can do that one. "Good you're here! Can you believe your
wife is doing business with this perveyer of filth? This... this...
pervert."
"Yep." Johnny stands behind Em. "I trust Em's good
taste." Johnny half winks at Gary just to let him know that
this is a tease. "She'll straighten him out."
"And if it were your sister?"
"Vicki? Well Vicki can do anything she wants and normally
does. Rita's too short to model."
Gary comes to his feet in a rush. Em looks around to see what has
gained his attention. Ricky looks toward the doors at well and
gets the instant emotional impact of a fist in the gut. He takes
a quick drink of his beverage and chokes out a single name.
"Rita?!"
"Sorry I'm late." Rita brushes back a lock of hair that
is getting in her way. This is the longest her hair has been
since the kidnapping. The dress Mei had designed was in forest
colors-- greens and browns with a hint of purple. Close fitting
but flowing, kinda going for a Winslow type effect.
"She could always wear heels. Hello. My name is Gary Winslow.
And you are?"
"Happy to meet you. Rita Porter, Johnny's sister." Rita
pauses after she shakes Gary's hand. If she didn't know better
she could swear she'd heard a growl. She looks to Edward-- the
most likely suspect.
Mr Q is always growling about something it's part of his charm.
But rather than looking like he sucked on a lemon, he's actually
looking kinda gleeful. "Little Miss Rita. Right on time. May
I escort you to dinner?" Edward holds out an arm which Rita
takes and follows him from the room.
"Did you know about this?" Johnny asks as he assists Em
from the couch.
"I think this is something that Rita cooked up on her own."
Emily murmurs. She looks from Gary to Ricky. "And I can
think of a couple of reasons why."
Ricky comes up to the side of Gary. He smiles at Em to distract
her and send her on her way and then grabs Gary by the scruff on
the neck. Anyone who happened to be looking might think of it as
a friendly arm along the back. "Don't look at her, don't
touch her, don't even breath on her or the only thing you'll be
designing is alligator shoes down in the swamp." Ricky
hisses through clenched teeth. Letting Gary go he runs a hand
over the guys suit front straightening it. "Capishe?"
Not that his father, the biggest crime boss in the southeast,
ever talked that way but it was what Winslow is expecting.
Gary holds up both hands. "Message received. But I also
noticed that there weren't any rings on her fingers." He
walks after Em and Johnny.
Ricky's eyes narrow and he finishes his drink with a quick
bottom's up. What the hell is Rita thinking? Dressing like that?
She's just a little girl. The voice of temptation answers. Not
such a little girl anymore.
At the table Edward sits at the foot and Johnny sits at the head
of the table with Em at his right. It might be Emily's house,
Monica gave it to her, but everyone knows-- including Em-- who
keeps the house running smoothly and that's Johnny. Gary takes
the seat next to Em across from Rita. Ricky takes his seat at the
open placesetting next to Rita. Sally starts dishing up. Em keeps
the conversation general. "Rita, I love that dress! Did you
get it down in New Orleans?" Gary listens with interest to
the answer. Being in the business himself he recognized a well
constructed garment. And the colors and drape of the fabric
complimented the wearer as if designed for her.
"Mei made it for me. I'll let her know it was a hit."
Rita turns to Gary to expand on her answer. "My best friend
is graduating with a degree in textile design from the
polytechnic . Her grandmother taught her how to sew but she's
always been more interested in the design end."
Edward grunts. "Didn't she do her senior project down at
Lila's theater?" He says between spoonfuls of the clear but
flavorful soup Johnny had chosen to go with his summer menu. The
guy was as picky about Edward's diet as his mother had been.
Complete with withholding dessert if Edward didn't eat the stuff
that was good for him first.
Em snaps her fingers. "That's right. She did. Mei designed
all the costumes for an original play Reggie wrote. I didn't know
she was using it for a senior project. I do remember that she did
get a special mention from the Herald and even one of the City
papers that was doing a review before the play moved to Broadway."
Ricky leans back in his chair realizing what Rita is up to. She'd
always taken care of her friends. This is what it was all about.
Ricky glances over at Emily. "Young and hungry."
Emily connects it to their conversation at the office and her
eyes narrow. She nods thoughtfully. "You know the family."
"Talk to her aunt just about every day." I'll
handle it is the nonverbal response Ricky gives Em. Ricky
turns to Rita. "So are you settling in over at Davis and
Jenson?"
Edward fills in Gary reluctantly. "Rita is an attorney. She
just joined the firm."
Johnny adds. "They are the top lawyers in the state. They
handle both the EBQ and ELQ legal work."
"Normally just the really messy stuff that can't be handled
by our inhouse legal departments." Emily specifies.
"They have both been great." Rita agrees. "They
are very supportive of the work I want to do. Dara is working a
case against a slumlord now. I'll probably get some action on
that as well as the cases I'm generating from the courts and Ward
House." Rita turns to Edward. "You did a good thing
there, Mr Q. You really found a need that wasn't being addressed.
I'm sure once the support checks start coming in for those kids
that their mothers will be adding your name to their prayers."
Edward blushes just a bit and he blusters. "Ward House has
always been important to the Quartermaines."
Johnny shakes his head as he realizes that Edward has managed
indirectly to put Rita on the Quartermaine payroll. Sneaky
bastard. "Yeah, Ma is going to love hearing how involved you
are in taking care of everybody."
Edward looks up from his last bit of soup. Sally comes around and
clears the bowls away in preparation for the next course. "Now
Johnny...."
"We'll talk later." Johnny cuts him off.