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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Fifty Four
Waking Nightmare
Carly collapses into a chair after hanging up the phone. Staring at a point on the floor she begins to rock, hugging herself not seeming to be able to get warm. AJ laughs at a joke Jerry tells and turns to share it with Carly. That laugh is cut off and he rushes to Carly's side. Kneeling in front of her, "Carly? Babe-- What's wrong? Who was that?"
"Call Jason. There is trouble." Carly says her teeth starting to chatter. AJ takes off his jacket and throws it over her shoulders. He takes the cell phone from her unresisting hand and quickly dials the penthouse. While on the phone he pets Carly's hair maintaining some kind of physical contact with her at all times.
"He's on his way." AJ squeezes Carly's shoulder. "Who was on the phone?" AJ 's voice is soft and gentle. So far no one has noticed their quiet conversation.
"Taggart-- it was Taggart. Emily isn't at the mansion. He wanted to know if she's with us."
AJ swears under his breath. Even as Carly had been speaking he'd put it together. If Emily wasn't with them.... "Jerry." AJ calls him over.
"What the hell?" Jerry swears.
"Stay with her. I need to talk to JD."
"Taggart said JD should stay here, he's on his way." Carly says to the spot on the floor.
AJ looks around trying to figure where would be the best place for this conversation. As Cook plays with Michael he whispers in JD's ear. JD follows him into the kitchen. Johnny is mixing batter for waffles but sets it aside when he sees AJ's grim face. "What's up?"
"Carly already has a call into Jason." AJ nonanswers.
Johnny's expression flattens and his eyes go cold. "What happened?"
AJ looks from JD to Johnny and then just says it. "Emily isn't at the mansion."
JD leans up against a prep area. "What about Rita? What about my little girl?"
AJ shakes his head. "I don't know. Taggart is on his way."
Edward sits beside TAggart in the Lt's car. "Is this the fastest this thing will go?"
Taggart glances down at the speedometer. He's already doing 75 in town, only slowly briefly at the intersection before continuing through. "We won't do anyone any good if we wreck on the way...." He says flatly as he expertly finds the shortcuts to get him to Porter's. He absently winces wondering what he'll be walking into. It was bad enough that Old Man Quartermaine had insisted on coming. "You should have stayed home." Taggart says again.
"Monica is there; Alan's on his way." Edward looks in the side mirror. Officer Rick was following. The red and blue lights running, klaxon blaring as he nears the intersection.
Cookie glances up from Michael and turns to where her husband was. She frowns and looks around. JD and AJ are gone. Carly is in a corner not looking too good and Jerry Jacks is... standing guard. Rising to her feet, She walks over to Carly. "Where is JD?" She demands of Jerry.
"It's all my fault.... all my fault." Carly mutters and rocks. Jerry is getting flustered. He'd never seen Carly shut down before. Come out swinging sure but this? He'd been about to call Bobbie over when Cook arrived.
"I'll handle this." Cook tells Jerry. Taking her by the arm and pulls an unresisting Carly back to the ladies room. As soon as the door shuts behind them, "This is for your own good." Cook slaps Carly sharply. "Snap out of it! I don't have time for your drama. Who died?"
"They were suppose to be at my house. I should have made sure they were okay?" Carly sobs.
"Rita?! Where is Rita?" Cook grabs Carly in a painful grip.
"I don't know." Carly wails. "I don't know; nobody knows. Jason is coming; he'll find them--"
"Sonovabitch" Cook swears. She holds Carly's face firm in her hand. "Look at me." She demands. "We're going back out there and I'm not going to have any of this sniveling crap. IF< the girls are missing IF -- then our priority is getting them back and making sure nobody else gets hurt. You hear me?!" Cook's mind starts racing. "Michael, Mrs Q."
"Oh God-- Lila." Carly starts snapping out of it. "Taggart called from the mansion. He's on his way here."
"And we don't know anything until he gets here. You can schedule your next nervous breakdown for after we get the girls back."
"Low blow." Carly goes over to the sink and splashes cold water on her face.
"Low blow nuthin'; I might join you. But not now."
Taggart pulls up to the restaurant and strides in with Edward on his heels. He glances around the room Neither Carly nor JD are there. Damn. Just then Carly comes from the restrooms with the Judge's wife. Taggart can tell at a glance that Carly had been crying but was grimly composed now, her face pale save for a a red mark on her cheek.
JD and AJ come out of the kitchen. Johnny stays back standing in the doorway.
"Mama, please take Michael and Lucas out of here." Bobbie looks around and shushes Lucas' protests. Carly tilts her chin up staring straight at Taggart.
"Caroline?" Bobbie questions.
"Go ahead, Luv. I'll catch a ride with Carly and AJ in a bit." Jerry intervenes. "Lucas, take care of your mum and Michael until I get home."
Johnny hears a quiet rap on the back door. Allowing the kitchen door to swing shut, he goes to the back door and opens it. Jason is there taking off his gloves. "If AJ called it has got to be bad-- Carly?"
"No, Em and Rita have gone missing."
"Saw the cops out front."
"Just got here. We can listen from the kitchen." Jason nods at Johnny's suggestion. Tangling with Taggart would just slow things down.
The remaining people take seats around the table. AJ sits between Carly and Edward. Cookie next to JD and Jerry on the other side of Carly. Taggart takes a seat on the other side of the Judge.
"Taggart, where is my daughter?" JD asks.
"First--" Taggart hands JD an evidence bag with Rita's purse and ID with it.
"Yes, this is Rita's." JD confirms.
"She had it at the show yesterday." Cookie adds.
Taggart looks around. He really needs to interview them individually. JD realizes at the same time. "Lt Taggart, tell us what you know, so you don't have to repeat yourself in each interview."
In a filthy boarded up tenement apartment.
"Emily, Wake up." Rita tugs on Em's arm. "Em, why won't you wake up... I'm scared."