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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Fifty Nine
John trails Jax into the offices of Deception. It was long after the close of business. If there's anyone in the building it would be security or one of the lab rats sleeping on an experiment. Their footsteps are silent in the plush carpeting and the empty building is creepy and low lit. Their first stop is Emily's office. John runs into Jax's back when Jax comes to a sudden halt without signaling. Stepping to the side of Jax he looks through the glass front of Emily's office to see a young man standing there. "Isn't that ..."
"Nikolas Cassadine."
Nik hears his name and turns to see Jax. "That you are here means she hasn't been found yet." Nikolas was beginning to understand the family's penchant for melancholy. It was all he could do to keep moving and not let this drag him down. He looks back at the portrait of Emily hanging on the wall. "She looks so strong in this... but cold, and that isn't Emily. Regal though don't you think?" Nikolas turns around again to face Jax. Standing beneath the portrait of Emily in the close fitting blood red dress. Her hair styled to represent a futuristic crown.
Jax's eyes narrow. Regal eh? This coming from the Prince of the Cassadine's Perhaps Cassadine had plans that nobody knew about. "How's your Granny doing, Nikolas?" Jax cuts straight to the chase.
"Accounted for." Nikolas answers shortly. He tugs at the tie that Mrs. Lansbury had strung around his neck after he'd showered and changed at Wyndemere-- evidence of his distraction. She'd never have gotten away with it if he had been paying attention. "And she will continue to be accounted for. My grandmother cannot catch wind of this. If she were to find Emily before I do, we do..." Nikolas corrects himself.
John had heard stories about Helena Cassadine, well mostly about her hubby from the bad old days but isn't up on current events. "What exactly would your grandmother do?"
"Use Emily to control me." Nik admits softly. "Take back the power of the Cassadine's."
"But kidnapping." John protests. He had heard the old bat was more into poisoning but he wasn't going to mention it to the lad.
Nik laughs without any humor at all. "Sir, your ignorance of my family's... darker habits is refreshing. I don't believe we have met." Nik extends his hand. Which John takes in a firm grip. "Nikolas Cassadine."
"John Jacks." John nods and releases Nik's hand from the shake. Something was off here. The lad was a prince and from everything he'd heard coddled in the bosom of his family but he had the hands of a laborer. Something was definitely off.
"I'm just getting up to speed on this." Jax admits. "Jerry called me to eliminate the Deception/Katherine Bell angle. He's got his hands full with Caroline Quartermaine."
Nikolas turns back to the portrait again, drawn to it. "Yes, I see the problem. Carly is close to both Emily and Rita. How is Bobbie? Waiting until this is all over to break down?"
"Hopefully someone will have sedated Carly Quartermaine." John mutters rubbing the back of his neck.
"That would be my guess, about Bobbie I mean." Jax agrees but frowns at his father. The kid was starting to creep him out. "When was the last time you saw Katherine Bell?"
"After Emily submarined her. I don't think it's Katherine. She couldn't pull it off without my Grandmother's help."
"Katherine has reason to have a serious grudge against Em now." Jax disagrees.
"Oh I'm not saying she doesn't. But kidnapping isn't Katherine's style. Blackmail, scamming, long and short cons but kidnapping is unlikely."
"Um Mr. Jacks?" Both Jax and his father turn to answer.
"Yes?"
"This came by messenger from Jason Morgan." The security guard hands the package to Jax. Jax tears it open to reveal a video tape.
"What the hell is this?" Jax turns it over.
"Jesus, son, it's a video tape and that means we're suppose to play it." John snatches the tape from his son's hands and looks around. Nikolas is already pulling back the paneling on the far wall to reveal a huge TV/Vid set up. Em had nothing but the best 'cause she was always reviewing videos and commercials as part of her job.
"Give it to me." Nikolas inserts the tape and presses play. "What is this?" He asks curiously.
John takes a seat and leans in to focus on the tape. "That's the horseshow." he turns to Jax. "Jerry was shooting video for Carly, wasn't he?
"Yeah, he was." Jax takes a seat too. "And the girls never made it home from the show."
John tells Nik grimly. He'd already figured out that this was his ticket out of the doghouse with Jerry. "You touch the ff button and I'll break your hand. We need to see this frame by frame. But what the hell are we looking for?"
"We'll know it when we see it." Nik replies. Finally something to do. Something that was actually a clue.
Johnny drives slowly up the drive of the mansion. His mother had insisted she couldn't leave the judge and somebody had to keep an eye on the Quartermaines. As much as he hates it, she's right. The Q's are a cyclone of insanity. Who knew what would happen if someone wasn't there to run herd on them. Normally it would be Emily or Ms. Lila's job. But Ms. Lila wasn't up to this task, and if anyone knew where the hell Emily was they wouldn't be in this mess. Johnny parks right in front of the door so he can make a quick exit if he has to and knocks on the front door. It is promptly opened. "Hey Sally."
"Oh Johnny. Have you heard anything? How is your mom?" Sally automatically takes Johnny's overcoat and ignores the bulge of the sidearm Johnny had taken to wearing again since Em and his little sister had been kidnapped.
"Ma's coping better than the Judge.... for now. But the kidnappers had better hope that the cops find them before Ma gets her hands on them." Sally shudders. She'd worked with Cook long enough to know that if anything Johnny was understating his mother's wrath. "Where is the Old Man?"
"Right here." Edward comes down the last few steps. "Have you heard anything?" He slumps as Johnny shakes his head no. "Lila's upstairs resting. Alan and Reginald are with her."
"Well that answers one question Ma had...." Johnny is about to ask the rest of his questions when Agent Larkin of the FBI steps out of the front room. Johnny rolls his eyes. "Great."
"Isn't this convenient." Larkin smiles. "Just the person I wanted to talk to... considering most kidnappings are inside jobs... where were you, John Cook- van owner, on the evening Emily Bowen-Quartermaine and Rita Porter were kidnapped?'
Edward looks over at the FBI agent and without bluster or raising his voice flatly states his opinion. "You, sir, are a moron."
Taggart steps up to the edge of the docks and rocks slightly. His perfect balance intact he rocks back on his heels and then exhales closing his eyes. "What a bitch of a day." He works the cricks out of his neck. Mac had finally kicked him out of the PCPD with direction to not come back for at least six hours and when the rest of the staff could stand down wind of him. He'd been on the case since the phone call from dispatch calling him to the scene. And it had been scene after scene after that: The Q's, Porter's restaurant with the Judge and the rest of the victim's family, Cassadine, Ashton. Mac had finally kicked him out of the station after the interview with AJ. Going down to the locker room he'd changed into his work out gear and was ready to run until his head was clear. Running around water, even the foul stuff in the Port Charles Harbor, did the trick. He was feeling more human. Using one of the pylons, he stretches out after his run and cools down. Glancing around he sees an addition to the docks landscape. Deciding a bottle of water was just the way to finish the day he strolls up to the coffee kiosk.
Maddy looks up from her portable two inch color TV and studies as she hears the footsteps approaching. She glances down at her watch. She should be closing up for the night soon. All she had to do was wait for the graveyard docks crews and then she'd be home for the evening. The afternoon gal had called in sick and she was covering. But with everything that had happened with Emily she wanted to be down here anyway, just incase. Her help are pros at keeping their ears open but she knows she can do it better. As the man comes into sight, Maddy starts to swear under her breath. Sure, most gals would be reaching for the pepper spray if a big built guy wearing a hooded jacket was coming up on them. But this was worse, this guy's a cop and worser still, one with a bumpy relationship with her aunt. "Hey Marcus." Maddy calls out to Taggart as he draws close. She is already pulling out a carafe of water and the best piece of fruit left in her display. Darn health nut.
Taggart does a double take. "Maddy? Maddy Reynolds? What the hell are you doing down here?"
"Duh and they call you a detective. I'm working; you know for like... money."
"Does your Aunt know..." Taggart shakes his head. "Of course she doesn't. If she did she'd be throwing a fit."
"She's my aunt, not my mother." Maddy reminds Taggart. "I don't want to worry Aunt Dara but I pay my own way. I always have."
"It's dangerous down here."
Maddy laughs. "Oh yeah, right. My employer serves Morgan/Corinthos coffee and gets their baked goods from Porter's restaurant. I don't think I have to worry about run of the mill danger"
"Your boss launders money for the mob?" Taggart starts turning an interesting shade of purple.
"No. But they aren't above using their suppliers nasty reputations as an additional security measure."
"Show me these security measures." Taggart demands.
Maddy points to a pendent around her neck. "Cell phone that only dials one number when pressed."
"It better be 911."
"Yep." Maddy reaches into her pocket and pulls out the vial of pepperspray. "And you'll notice that the position of the kiosk that anyone coming up on it is downwind. Which is really rather handy with some of the clientele."
"I still don't like it." Taggart mutters.
"Fine. Don't. It's no skin off my nose. Lieutenant, I'm about three months away from my eighteenth birthday and not that it is any of your business but I've been emancipated by the courts since I was fifteen. Is there anything else I can get for you?" Maddy starts straightening up. The graveyard rush was going to be here in about 5 minutes. They had to be on the job and then she could close up shop.
"Why the hell would you get emancipated..." Taggart notices Maddy has no intention of answering his question and decides Dara will fill in him in later. He changes the subject. "How tight are you with Emily Quartermaine?"
"Tight." Maddy says noncommittally.
"I hear she's been having some trouble at school."
"Nothing she can't handle, and nothing that would get her kidnapped."
Taggart grabs Maddy's arm to stop her from cleaning. "How did you know about that?"
"I already told you who the suppliers are for the kiosk. How would I not know? I've met old man Quartermaine too. Seeing as how his employees are my best customers." Taggart steps around to the far side of the kiosks as others start gathering round. He watches as Maddy deals with the rush. Calling her customers by name, making up their usuals without prompting, asking about family and friends. Money exchanges hands swiftly with healthy tips left behind. Damn, the girl was good. Taggart looks around the perfect location. If she wasn't Dara's niece, she'd be in the ideal spot for a snitch. Damn. The PCPD should have thought of this one. What a great undercover for the right person. The rush is quickly over and he makes one last effort to get Maddy to recognize the danger she is in. "Maddy."
"Shut up." Maddy turns up the volume of the television set. "Oh no way you would have okay'd this."
"Okay'd what?" Taggart comes up behind Maddy so he can squint at the tiny TV. What he sees sets him to groaning. "Oh you have got to be kidding me!"
"This is Veronica Bowles outside Port Charles University. Over thirty six hours ago two girls left a horseshow and never made it home. With me live is Victoria Porter, the older sister of one of the victims. Victoria, what can you tell us about this terrible tragedy?"
With artfully red rimmed eyes and a single tear streaming down her face. Victoria takes a shuddering breath before answering Veronica. "I just want my little sister back, Rita is my precious little sister. I know this all has something to do with the girl she was with Emily Quartermaine." Viki puts the emphasis on the last name and she can practically see Veronica drool. "All I want is my sister home safe, I know she had nothing to do with this. She wouldn't hurt a flea. She's friends with everyone." Viki looks straight at the camera talking to the kidnappers. "I know that she can be a pain, Rita talks too much sometimes but she doesn't mean anything by it. Just let her go. She wasn't the one you want. Let her go."
Veronica steps back to the mike as Viki wipes away that single tear. "Neither the Quartermaines or the Police were available for comment. Here are pictures of the two girls. If anyone has seen them please contact the police." Two pictures are flashed. The first is of Rita from her school pictures and the second was one the station had bought off a freelance and was waiting for the right moment to use. The photographer had caught Nikolas and Emily looking in his direction. Emily was dressed in the animal print two piece Gary Winslow that had bared enough skin to give Edward a coronary.
"Oh Hell." Taggart mutters.
"You didn't set this up, did you?" Maddy's got that sinking feeling in her stomach that she never ignores.
"I got to go."
"Hey Marcus!" Maddy gets his attention he starts walking backward for a moment. "I know you have your hands full and all but don't tell Dara about this."
"You shouldn't be working nights." Taggart doesn't say if he will or won't. He turns back around and heads back to the PCPD on a run.
"Hardass." Maddy mutters. "Pretty sure but a total hardass." She pulls her cell phone out of a drawer in the kiosk and makes the first calls.
Deception. Jax rubs his eyes. They hadn't seen anything obvious in the first run through and were going through the tape again. All in All he had to agree with Edward Quartermaine. Rita had been robbed in the second class. She should have placed at least. All of a sudden Nikolas hits the pause button.
"What is she doing there?" Nik jumps to his feet and grabs the remote. He makes a print of the frame and snatches it up. "She doesn't belong there." He mutters again.
"Who is it?" Jax and John ask.
Nikolas turns around looking at Emily's portrait one more time. "It was under our nose the whole time." Nikolas races from the room before Jax or John can stop him.
"Jax take another copy of whatever he got. Jerry is going to want to see it." John insists.
Nik races out of Deception and behind the wheel of the Jag. Lucky was his best bet. Computer search first and then Stefan's security forces. His mind is still racing when his cell phone rings. "Cassadine."
"Yo Eye candy, Something you ought to know."
"Maddy?" Nik frowns.
"Yeah. You made the eleven o'clock news in a picture with Emily and a story how she's missing."
Nik pulls over to the side of the road. "Your sense of humor is sadly lacking."
"You want me to describe the outfit? I'm sure you remember it. I'm not kidding, NikNik. It's out. You. Em. Abduction. Taggart is on the warpath."
"I think I know who did it." Nik blurts out. "But knowing it and finding them are two different things."
"Who?" Maddy insists.
The doorbell of the mansion rings. Edward bellows "Who the hell would be coming by this late?! REGINALD!" Mid bellow he remembers that Reginald has more important things to do than answer the door, like keep Lila occupied.
"I got it." Johnny rolls his eyes but answers the door. It was kind of weird to be on the inside opening the door rather than on the outside opening the door but the premise was the same. Johnny checks out the young man at the door.
"I have a delivery for Edward Quartermaine?" The man announces. Johnny takes the envelope and not seeing a return address allows it to slip through his fingers while he takes a firm grip on the messenger and pulls him into the mansion slamming him up against the wall. With a thorough search that has the messenger wanting to turn his head and cough; Johnny verifies he isn't carrying any weapons.
"Who did you get this from?" Johnny demands turning the messenger around and curling his fist in the front of the man's shirt.
"I don't know. I don't know. Please don't hurt me, man. I got fifty bucks to drop it off."
Larkin sees that Johnny has the guy restrained, contained, ready to cry like a baby and goes straight for the envelope. He puts on gloves before opening it. Inside are pictures, pictures of Emily in a barren room. Johnny glances over his shoulder and sees what has caught the fibbie's attention. He releases the messenger. Edward is already there having grabbed his shotgun from the hall closet.
"Try it young man! I'll pepper your backside with buckshot. Do you know who I am?" Edward threatens.
The man raises both arms in surrender. "Well since I'm supposed to deliver that envelope to Edward Quartermaine. I figure that's you."
Alan comes down the stairs having heard the doorbell. "Was that about Emily?" He goes over to the entry table where Larkin is pouring over the pictures. He looks himself and blanches. "Oh my GOD. Em. Not Em. Not again." Johnny only sticks around long enough to see if there any pictures of Rita and doesn't find any. He grabs Alan by the arm and pulls him into the front room away from the agent. "Did you see what they have done?" Alan protests. "My poor little girl."
"Yeah, I saw." Johnny had seen enough junkies nod off to recognize that the kidnappers had drugged Emily. "What I didn't see was my sister." Johnny is about to continue when the phone rings. "Cook.... Damnit Maddy, I'm kind of in the middle of things here. This better be important."
Two things then I'll let you go. Your sister, Victoria let the cat out of the bag about the abduction on the eleven o'clock news and Nikolas Cassadine says that the kidnapper is...."