 |
||
The Quintessential Q
Chapter Twenty One
Slippin'
The cops that had tailed Taggart to the Happy Family house corral all the remaining guests, tracking them while they are taking statements. Making notes of who had left already. The explosion from the back yard has everyone jumping-- Bobbie, Emily and Cook are on their feet in a heart beat. Carly races back from the gate to the house. "Jerry!"
AJ grabs her before she can get closer to the house. "They planned on detonating it, remember? There is nothing wrong. Jerry is fine." AJ leads Carly over to Bobbie who is staring at the corner of the house and not taking her eyes off it. Carly takes Bobbie's hand and squeezes it hard. Hard enough to take the blood out of both of their knuckles. Bobbie doesn't even notice. The cops try to ask them questions; they don't notice. Jerry walks around the corner of the house cracking a joke with Johnny. Carly and Bobbie break away from the cop and race at him. All of a sudden, Jerry has his hands full of Spencer women.
Luke who had strolled up from the gate murmurs to Jax. "Now why would any sane man want to go back to being the blacksheep of the Jacks family when he can have that? You understand now what my niece told you about keeping him? Cigar?"
"No thanks." Jax watches Jerry lap up the attention of Bobbie and Carly like a cat in cream. He'd taken Jerry for granted all his life. Jerry had always been there but it wasn't true anymore. Jax finally grew up enough to look at the situation objectively. To see how Jerry had been sacrificed on his parent's altar to Jax-- the golden child, unfortunately the objectivity had come only after he'd been stupid enough to bring Robin Scorpio to Carly Quartermaines house after Robin had testified against Bobbie in the custody of Lucas. Jerry had washed his hands of him then, of the whole family, and threw in with the Spencer's. Trying to get Carly to be reasonable (ha-- that in itself is a joke) and intervene with for him had only clarified the position. Carly had read him the riot act and flat out said that the Spencer's were not giving Jerry back. He'd been trying to make up ground ever since. Jax wasn't ashamed to admit that Emily had been his in. Covering her back at Deception, and tuning the lessons she receives from Carly and Ned is fun. So far the only avenue he'd had back to his brother is business. Jax looks over at Johnny Cook, like his brother he had his hands full. His mother, the former Quartermaine cook, and EMILY were both hugging him close. Jax grins at what happens next. Cook evidently took pages from the book of mothers everywhere.
Boxing Johnny's ears. "How could you be so STUPID. It was a bomb. That's why they have bomb squads."
Johnny rubs his ear. "Gees Ma, everything turned out okay."
"This time. You think you're some kind of Katherine Bell with 9 lives? I don't think so. Finally get your life straightened around and you start playing the hero."
"Excuse me if I get a little testy someone trying to blow up my mother." Johnny finally snaps back. "The bomb guy says it would have taken out anything in a ten foot radius. This was meant for you and the judge. That makes it my business." Johnny looks up at the Judge who has been drawing hesitantly near. Their bond isn't strong. They might be father and son but he's a father who never knew his son and a son who'd been raised on the streets of Bensonhurst. "This was for you. I want to know what you're going to do about it."
"What I do every time this happens." The judge says flatly. "I won't be intimidated from doing my job. This isn't the first "message" I've gotten."
"That doesn't cut it."
"Why don't you just shut up? You can't talk to my father that way!" Viki snarls coming out from behind her father.
"Why don't you spend less time yapping and more time listenin'." Johnny snaps back. "I would have thought that your precious hide would mean more to you considering that you would have been maimed by that bomb too. You're a known target-- connected to him."
"Viki will be staying at the house."
"DADDY!" Viki protests.
"It's that or an armed guard at the sorority house. We've been through this before, Victoria." The Judge brooks no argument. "The PCPD will provide security. Mail service will be cancelled and all mail will be searched before it reaches the house. But I'm open to other suggestions."
"I'm working at the restaurant." Cookie says allowing no argument from her place under Johnny's arm.
"I know a few people." Johnny says coolly. "I'll give you their names. I'll jump up security on the restaurant with Ma and Rita being there. If Rita isn't in school she'll be with one of us-- you, Ma or me."
"Varying the route." Emily murmurs remembering her training at the ELQ driving school. She mentally notes that Johnny isn't trusting Rita's safety to Viki. There's a story there somewhere.
"Yes, thank you. I'll arrange for a driver that will escort you to and from court using varying routes. There won't be an opportunity for an ambush." Johnny pauses. It sinks in who is pressed to his side. He reluctantly steps away from Emily. "How soon is the PCPD going to implement safety measures?"
"Tonight. Taggart will have someone assigned before we leave here."
Johnny grimaces. The people that he KNEW could keep this mother and little sister safe didn't exactly get along with cops. And the measures he would take to keep the family safe weren't bound by the laws of the State of New York. Emily recognizes the look on his face as the same one that Jason had when Michael had been kidnapped. "Can I talk to you a minute?" She asks. Emily and Johnny move out of earshot of the Judge and Cook. "I've been here before. When Michael was kidnapped, Jason threw a security blanket over me. And then again when that whole thing was happening with Moreno. I'll tell you right now Rita is going to fight it. She might think it's great to have bodyguards for all of a couple of hours. Especially if they're as cute as Hazelnut but the minute someone tells her she can't go riding; she'll start ducking the measures."
"You have any suggestions?"
"Trying to keep things as normal as possible even if the schedule is scrambled around. Lots of riding, time with you at the restaurant. Structuring her time so she is too busy to think about ducking the guards. I took the ELQ anti-terrorist driving school when I was learning how to drive, so did Carly. Your mom drives like a bat out of hell on her best day."
"I know. I've seen God's face a few times when I've riden with her." Johnny grins. Then grows serious again. "Where is Rita?"
"Jason took all of the kids to the penthouse. It's the only place that has fortified security 24/7. What I'm saying is that there are plenty of people who can help-- even if it's just keeping Rita occupied."
"I'm sure The Judge will take you up on that."
"What about Viki?"
"She's not my problem." Johnny walks away from Emily and back to the Judge. "I'm going over to the penthouse to pick up Rita. I'll meet you over at your house. Best to keep the cops away from Sonny and Jason; they'll just get distracted from the real issue." Johnny kisses his mom on the cheek and then climbs into his van and leaves.
"Wait a minute-- I wanted to talk to him!" Taggart protests.
"Lt., My son is going to check on his sister. You can interview him over at my house or at his restaurant as long as he is represented by counsel." The Judge intervenes. Reminding Taggart, his son was not going to be treated like a hoodlum by the local police. Taggart and the other officers take statements and make appointments for everyone to come down the next day to fill in any blanks. Emily finishes as soon as she can and heads out on her bike. Once she gets to the corner out of sight of the house, she calls the penthouse.
"Jason, It's Emily... yeah, they detonated the bomb. Taggart and the rest of the PCPD are doing interviews now. I'd say he is going to be at your place in about half hour. I'm going back to the mansion to check on Grandmother.... Okay, I'll call you if she needs to see you. Johnny said he was going to swing by and pick up Rita. Take her home." Emily says her goodbyes and puts back on her helmet. She starts the bike and checks for traffic before pulling out. Coming toward her is a news crew. "Oh hell. Carly is going to throw a tizzy." Emily mutters to herself but doesn't stop. The sooner she is at the mansion the less attention she will attract to herself.
Jason's penthouse.
Michael is down for an evening nap. All of Michael's parents had given up on him sleeping through the night. Putting him down at a decent hour, had taken on all the qualities of an evening nap-- just some were longer than others. Lucas had been disappointed in the lack of video games in Jason's apartment but had found some things to occupy him and Rita. There is a knock on the door, Johnny is announced by the door man. Jason walks over to Johnny to keep their conversation private.
"Emily called. Told me you were on your way." Jason says quietly.
"Yeah, this doesn't feel like an opening volley on any of us. The judge was acting like he was almost expecting it."
"Sounds like you need to do a little more research on your old man. This wasn't the type of thing I was looking for when he was deciding Michael's custody."
"I need to beef up security on the restaurant. Ma and Rita are going to be there alot I think now and after the case is tried."
"I've got some names. The same ones you do."
"I'll pick up the tab." Sonny comes in behind Johnny. "I can't lose the one place I go to eat when I don't feel like cooking."
"It'll be messy." Johnny warns. "The Judge is going to involve the PCPD." Sonny just grins and waves his hand in a dismissive gesture. Johnny looks over at Rita talking to the Spencer kid in penthouse living room. "Yo Rita, we're rolling."
"Johnny, have you ever seen the back of Mr. Morgan's limo? It is so cool. He has a TV and electric everything in it." Rita jumps up and races over to her brother.
"I used to drive Mr. Morgan's limo." Johnny tells her. He puts a hand at her back and escorts her out the door.
"That is so cool. When I grow up I want to drive a limo or a hearse. Riding in it was fun but driving one-- now that would be something."
"I thought you wanted to ride horses."
"Well that too." The elevator closes on the rest of Rita's chatter.
"I think I like that kid." Sonny grins at Jason.
"She's bossy." Lucas interjects rolling his eyes. "And she thinks she is always right."
"Yep, I got that impression as well." Sonny laughs. "And considering everything I've heard about her new stepmother she's gonna get worse not better."
Lucas sits back on the couch bored now that Rita isn't there to keep things lively. "When is my mom going to get here?"
"Good question." Jason asks pulling out his cell phone. "Let's find out." He pushes a button.
"You have my mom on speeddial?" Lucas wonders.
"Your nephew lives here; of course, I have your mother on speeddial." Jason holds up a hand as Bobbie comes on the line. "I hope you're on your way here. I want Lucas out of here before Taggart shows up." Jason turns his back on Sonny and Lucas and walks a few steps away. "How is Carly?"
Bobbie looks over at Jerry who is driving the SUV on their way to the penthouse to pick up Lucas. "Carly's fine. I think that you're going to have Michael for the night though. The press showed up just as we were leaving. You know how Carly feels about having Michael exposed to the press in any way."
"Right. I'll see you when you get here."
"About ten minutes, Jason." Bobbie hangs up the phone. "That poor guy."
"Morgan?!" Jerry asks.
"Yeah, AJ and Carly have been married for months now and he is still asking about her first. Why did it take him so long to figure it out? He had so many chances before AJ and Carly got married."
The mansion.
Emily pulls up through the front gates and to the front door. She parks the bike and fastens her helmet to the back. She strides through the front door and looks questioningly at Reggie who points to the front den. She pulls off her gloves and unzips her jacket as she walks in. Lila isn't there but Grandfather is; he has a snifter of brandy in his hand. She goes over and kisses him on the cheek. "Did Monica say it was okay for you to have one of those on top of your pills?" She asks. When Edward doesn't answer she takes the brandy from him and goes over to the bar and pours a glass of water. She sits next to Edward and cuddles next to him offering him the glass of water. Edward would rather sit with his granddaughter than have the brandy anyway but it doesn't stop him.
"I'm old enough to decide if I should have a drink after a day like today, young lady." Edward harrumphs.
"It was kind of lively wasn't it?" Emily answers. "I left after the bomb squad detonated the package. Carly is going to have a fit. The bomb guys used one of those containers so it didn't make a hole in the back lawn. She was kind of hoping to have the start for her swimming pool out of the deal. And the press were showing up as I left."
"That girl has the oddest way of making lemonade out of lemons." Edward shakes his head and pats Emily on the shoulder. "What about my great grandson?"
"Carly sent Michael off to the place with the best security."
"That hoodlum."
"Has the best security. I don't see Bobbie complaining that he took Lucas, or The Judge about him taking Rita. Jason got all the kids out of there right after you and Grandmother left. How is grandmother?"
"Resting." Edward sighs. "Lila is like a willow tree, she bends in adversity she doesn't break. I know that we protect her but that is for us not for her so much."
"I know. Grandmother knows everything. If we don't tell her she finds out from someone else. That reminds me-- What was cook chewing you out for on the dance floor?"
"Hiring that new chef. She said she would have helped us find somebody but we're on our own now." Edward says sourly.
"He's not going to work out is he?"
"Nope. All the staff that sticks it out with this family have been hired by Lila." Edward sighs.
"It's okay, Grandfather. I'll protect your sweet tooth." Emily hugs Edward and settles in closer to him curling up on the couch. Alexis and Ned walk in from the French doors, having heard Emily pull in.
"Was Taggart still there when you left?" Alexis asks.
"Yeah, he and his crew were finishing up interviews."
Alexis looks over at Ned and gives him a smooch on the cheek. "See you later. I'll let you know if I need bail money."
"You're suppose to be defending not getting arrested with them." Ned reminds Alexis.
"That all depends on Tags." Alexis shrugs. Alexis leaves to go to Jason's penthouse.
"When are you going to make an honest woman of that gal?" Edward asks.
"You don't like Alexis, remember grandfather?" Ned gloats.
"Oh yeah, that's right. Cassadine/ honest woman, lawyer/ honest woman =a double oxymoron. Forget I mentioned it." Edward rises and kisses Emily on the forehead. "I'm going up to check on your grandmother." Edward leaves and shuts the door after him.
"I think he's slippin'." Emily grins at Ned. "Next he'll be admitting that he actually likes Alexis."
Ned looks at Emily and shrugs. "You think? Nah. Never happen."