Diversion

Thursday

Rita thumbs through the first drawer of her file cabinet. The bottom drawer has her purse, office supplies and her lunch. It would be nice when she could have all the file cabinets 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 cabinet 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 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 an adventure. It wasn't the first time he'd been roped into the redecorating version of a Chinese fire drill. 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 presses the up button.

"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 outside of the van. Carly pulls and tugs the larger items onto the hydraulic 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 hydraulic 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 kamikaze 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 kamikaze 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 instead 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 drawback 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 purveyor 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 as 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 place setting 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 in-house 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.

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