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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Fifty Three
Realizations
Nikolas quietly shuts the door of the carriage house behind him. He'd brought scones from Mrs. L, but figured the trick to waking Lucky this early wasn't going to be the aroma of the fresh scones. Nik brings out the rest of the supplies and quickly the scent of strong fresh coffee brewing wafts up to the loft. Waiting for the inevitable, Nik sits at the desk of the staging area of the house and pulls out a binder with his name on it. The contractor has gotten in the habit of a to-do list. The progress reports are all in the binder along with papers needing his signature to proceed and then unlike what other servants or employees might do there were a list of tasks to be done around the house the contractor had deemed appropriate for his skill level. He'd finally graduated from sledge hammers to sanders.
Lucky wanders down from the loft his eyes half open. "What the hell are you doing here at the crack of dawn waking me up?"
"We passed crack of dawn hours ago, and hey..." Nikolas shrugs. "if you want to sleep-- go sleep. I'll just be here catching up on paperwork and projects and ..." Nik pours himself a cup of coffee wafting it by Lucky as he takes his seat again. "... Having one of Mrs. L's scones."
"You didn't tell me you brought scones." Lucky perks right up. Nik holds up the bag. Lucky takes a chair across the desk and reaches for coffee and scones. "Man, you are here early though."
"I tried to call Emily and got her voice mail." Nik grumbles staring at his coffee. "I know she was going to be busy with the horseshow and Porter's sister but..."
"You did buy her a cell phone." Lucky says around a mouthful of scone.
Nik points at Lucky like YES. He reaches for the phone and dials in the cell phone number. He pauses and then grimaces. "It's either out of service or out of area."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Bobbie asks again. "I can drop Michael off."
"Nope, I need to touch base with her anyway. Want to meet up at Porter's for brunch once you pick up Lucas from his sleepover?" Jerry nuzzles the nape of Bobbie's neck
"That sounds great." Bobbie agrees tilting her head to the side. "I have an errand to run first but I'll call you if I'm running late."
"Ditto. I want to drop the video tape off for Carly too. AJ thinks Carly will start reviewing this morning before they head back to the arena to pick up the horse to take him back to the property."
"You are going to have a talk with her about your parents..." Bobbie worries.
"If it comes up."
"Jerry..."
"If it comes up, Barbara." Jerry says firmly. Jerry gives Bobbie a pat on the fanny that sets her to blushing as he leaves to gather Michael and his things for a return to the Happy Family house.
Cookie lets herself into the restaurant with a key. JD comes in after her carrying the Sunday paper. "Are you sure about this, honey?"
"AJ doesn't cook, and after a slumber party of Carly, Emily, and Rita. He's going to want to get out of the house. Whenever they've had sleepovers in the past, they come to the restaurant for brunch." Cook sets the coffee to brewing. "Now you just kick back and read your paper. I've got to get things set up in the kitchen. If Johnny comes down give him the Food section. This morning is on me."
"Didn't the Quartermaine's cook quit again?"
"Damn-- you're right. I'll make something sweet for the old goat just in case."
Port Charles hotel.
There is a rap on the door. John Jacks answers it. "Barbara." He can't keep the surprise out of his voice.
"Hi, I hope I'm not coming by too early? I should've called." Bobbie says guiltily.
"No, Dear." Jane says from behind John. She can't help but look behind Bobbie hoping Jerry'd be there. "We've been up for hours. I just got back from my walk."
"Let me take those for you." John sees Bobbie has her hands full with a box.
"Thanks." Bobbie smiles handing the box to John. She takes off her coat and gloves.
"What have you here?" Jane looks over John's shoulder.
"They're photo albums. After what happened yesterday I realized how selfish I've been. I know I've kept you out of the loop, and I swear it wasn't intentional." Bobbie adds in a rush. John had set the box down on a nearby table. Bobbie reaches in and grabs the first one. "This is from last winter, when AJ bought Carly the house. It was Michael's first snowman in the new house..." Bobbie continues going through the pictures pointing out all the different people and telling the story of the snowball fight. John and Jane settle in next to her at the table greedily examining the pictures and peppering Bobbie with questions.
Jerry shows up at the Happy Family house with Michael. AJ is up and reading the paper in the kitchen, coffee on and mug in hand. "Hey Mr. Man!" AJ takes his son from Jerry. "How is it going?"
"More to the question how is it going here?" Jerry as comfortable in this house as he is in the brownstone pours himself a cup of coffee. "Where is Carly?"
"Upstairs still asleep. Has Michael had breakfast yet?"
"Nah, he wasn't in the mood earlier." Jerry settles in at the table across from AJ. "How about meeting up with Bobbie later over at Porter's for brunch?"
"Sounds good." AJ seats Michael in his high chair and pulls it up to the table. He hands over a coloring book and crayons to keep him occupied.
Jerry looks around him. "Are Emily and Rita still asleep?"
AJ grimaces. "You missed that part. Em and Rita went home after the show last night. Carly got into it with Victoria Porter. Vicki has evidently been giving Rita a little more than sibling rivalry. Em got Rita out of there. And Carly started pushing buttons. When I got there Vicki had Carly up against the stall wall."
"You've got that reversed right? Carly had Vicki pasted against the wall."
"Nope, Carly heard someone coming and set up the whole thing. I know it, Cook knows it, Johnny suspects but I think JD bought it."
Jerry shakes his head. "That girl."
"You guys ripping on VicBitchtoria already?" Carly yawns and stretches as she opens the swinging door to the kitchen. She pulls down the crop top of her PJ's and walks over to the coffee maker. Her silky robe flows around her brushing against the bottoms that ride low on her hips." She takes a sip of coffee. "I can't believe you started without me."
"No, we weren't talking about Vicki Porter." Jerry shakes his head. "Actually I'm here to issue an invite to brunch. I'm meeting up with your mum and Lucas at Porter's."
Bobbie glances down at her watch. "Oh he...ck"
"What is it?"
"I was suppose to pick up Lucas." She rises. "Lucas and I are meeting Jerry at Porter's for brunch. You met the proprietor yesterday... Johnny Porter."
"The young man who took over the tail gate party?" Jane remembers not only Johnny but also the fact that the plate that had been prepared for her husband had been appealing and within his diet.
"Rita's brother." Bobbie nods. "His business has really taken off since he baked the cake for his parent's wedding. But that's another story." Bobbie grabs her coat and gloves. "Do you mind if I leave the albums here?"
John looks over at his wife who is still thumbing through the album. "We wouldn't mind at all."
Jerry, AJ, Carly and Michael show up at Porters and join JD at the family table. Carly looks around. "Is Rita back in the kitchen with Johnny?"
"She isn't with you?" JD frowns. "I thought she was on a sleepover."
"Emily must have taken her back to the mansion. With everything that happened yesterday... they weren't at the house when AJ and I got home."
"Emily has an access code and knows where the key is."
Johnny comes out of the kitchen with some appetizers. "Everyone knows where Carly keeps the key. Under the pot of rosemary by the back door."
"Everyone doesn't know!" Carly protests. Even as she is reaching for the phone. Carly dials Em's private number. "Still on voice mail."
"They must have stayed up all night yakking." AJ suggests. "They probably aren't awake yet."
"Dispatch give me a location on Judge Porter." Taggart orders grimly. He looks around at the scene. The clues were there and they added up to an ugly situation. Emily's purse was in the saddle bags of the cycle. A short distance from the bike was Rita Porter's purse complete with her student ID. As soon as it had gotten light they'd been able to find more and more clues. The scariest had been when he had Rick back up his sector car. The skid marks of the cycle had been plain to see.
Examination of the road had found trace pieces of chrome and a rear view mirror. Just about where the bike would have been laid down. Rick had been careful to preserve the scene and the frost on the grass showed that someone had dumped the bike off the road. Someone with man sized feet. Best case scenario-- Emily had dumped the bike and someone had moved the bike out of the roadway and then taken the girls home. Worst case.... Taggart grimaces.
"Lt., Judge Porter is at his son's restaurant on the waterfront." Dispatch replies.
"Step up surveillance but no contact." Taggart turns off the mike. "This is going to have to come from me. But I have to check something first."
Bobbie and Lucas arrive at the restaurant. Cook directs AJ and JD in rearranging the table for the expanding gathering. Everyone pitches in set up the family style buffet. Cook sets Lucas to setting up the silverware. Jerry goes back in the kitchen touching base with Johnny and grabbing plates that he deals out on the extended table. Bobbie picks up a tray of coffee cups and deals them out as well. Carly grabs a coffee pot and starts pouring. "You know this is fun. We should do this more often."
"Less talking more pouring." Cook orders Carly. "Then start in on the juice glasses." A general on her own field of battle she examines the results for the details she might be missing.
Edward picks up the phone and dials a familiar number. The person on the other end must have caller ID because they have the answer to the question before he can even ask it. Edward frowns and then bellows. "Reginald!"
"You bellowed, sir?" Reginald stands at the open doors to the family room.
"Emily didn't enter her code last night!"
"Her code, sir?"
"Her alarm code." Edward explains impatiently. "You did set the alarm last night didn't you?"
"Of course sir." Reggie replies indignantly. He is about to explain further when there is a knock on the door. "Excuse me."
"Now you decide to answer the door!" Edward bellows again. Edward starts when Taggart follows Reginald back into the family room. "What do you want?"
"I need to see Emily, Mr. Quartermaine." Taggarts voice is soft and gentle which immediately raises Edward's suspicions and worries Reginald. Reginald turns on a dime and races up the stairs to Emily's bedroom just to be sure.
"Emily didn't come home last night. Her code wasn't entered in the alarm." Edward admits and pales. "Where is my granddaughter?"
"That's what I need to know." Taggart replies. "Could she have stayed the night at a friend's house?"
"Carly's." Edward collapses onto the couch.
Taggart crosses to the phone sitting on the desk and dials a number he has memorized.
"Carly's bar and grill." Carly's voice comes cheerfully over the line.
"Carly, it's Taggart."
"I thought we had a don't call me; I'll call you relationship, Taggart." Carly's voice is still cheerful and then goes flat. "Is something wrong? Did someone break into the spa?"
"Is Emily Quartermaine with you?" Taggart asks.
"No, she was suppose to spend the night but then she went home." Carly answers then panics. "She went home; she's at the mansion! Right?"
"Where are you?" Taggart says grimly.
"Porter's Restaurant.
Taggart winces. "Don't go anywhere. I'm on my way over and keep the Judge there too-."
"I'm on my last thread here, Taggart. You better have answers when you get here." Carly warns.