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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Ninety Five
Trade Secrets
Jerry pulls up in Bobbie's SUV to the Port Charles Hotel parking lot. He had to get Pete Robideau out of town and putting him on the plane himself was the only way to make sure the big ox was gone and stayed gone. He's going to have a little chat with Maddy Reynolds on this one. Who knew that the girl who'd chauffered him home from his honeymoon and stayed for dinner would have all these damn connections to his past. Jerry strides into the hotel and stops at the lobby phones. "Yeah, I'm here. Get the lead out; you have a flight to catch." Jerry paces impatiently until Pete and his two guys come down the elevator.
"I'd thank you if I didn't think this wasn't a here's your hat don't let the door hit ya." Pete quips.
"My year is finally up." Jerry doesn't bother to explain knowing that the ripples of his arrest had gone through the various crime networks. Everyone had sweated a little on that one wondering if he was going to name names or just give up the cash. "I can get back into the legit game and having your face in this town is going to bring the feds down on me like a bad rash."
Pete shakes his head climbing into the front passenger of the SUV. "And you're giving me a ride to the airport. There is something kinda backward in that, Jere."
"You got to stay out of PC, mate." Jerry makes sure everyone is situated and pulls out into traffic heading toward the airport. "It's bad enough that I'm here but my brother and parents are here too. I've got a wife and her kids to think about. You stay around much longer and Da will try to get you investing in some hairbrain scheme, Jax will get you in one of his stupid high stakes games. And Carly... you two need the distance of the country between you. She'd have no problem with what you do since she used to live with the local boss."
"Sonny Corinthos?" Pete can't see it. "No way. That broody guy with the firecracker."
"Jason Morgan."
"No way-- that broodier guy with the firecracker? They'd kill each other. And I think I'm insulted that I didn't get invited to the wedding. Or got to meet the woman that would put up with you."
"Nobody was invited to the wedding and frankly I liked it that way-- immediate family only and that was on my wife's side. And Barbara is Carly's mother."
"Enough said." Pete had been around enough of the Jacks to have the family dynamic down. "Must be nice to have someone who'll jump on someone's back to cover your ass."
"Yeah, you try and leave me in a swamp again and Barbara and Carly would be down there draining the sucker. Course they'd both want some alligator pumps out of the deal."
Pete grins. "Grandpa huh? John must be passing out cigars. Although he'd hire a skywriter if Jax started spreading some of his golden genes around."
"Carly's already threatened to kill him once. Well not kill him but inflict some serious bodily harm. And I can't get them to go back to Alaska." Jerry shakes his head in disgust. "Now Da and Lady Jane decide to get all parental." Jerry realizes something that had been covered before but never in person. "I was really sorry to hear about your mum. She was a great woman. You take care of it-- the guys who did it?"
"Yeah. They didn't even get a skiff just some cement blocks." Pete's expression is stone. "Maddy found her. She always stopped at Mere's first after school. It's the only time she's ever called me. Mere was still warm. Maddy could have walked in on the whole thing and been dead with her."
"****." Jerry says quietly.
"Yeah, that about covers it. What do you know about the Cassadines?"
"Too much. Why? Oh right, Maddy is playing chess with the master." Jerry remembers. "Nikolas isnt a bad kid-- a little spoiled and warped by being raised in that den of vipers. Stefan always has an agenda within an agenda and Helena..." Jerry shudders.
"I didn't get to meet that one. Who is she?"
"The matriarch of that clan of bloodsuckers. Icy bitch. That Stefan is alive is the only proof that she doesn't eat her young. Jax has had more dealings with that one. I value my skin the way it is. Why you ask?"
"Maddy is spending much time with this Stefan and the nephew too."
"I wouldn't recommend that. Like I said, Nik is fine. You can't pick your blood as I well know. Stefan will not mess with her unless he thinks she is a threat to Nikolas in some way. Helena is another story. Nik knows she won't touch a hair on his pretty little head. So in order to leverage him, she'll use anyone around him. If she even thinks that Maddy is a possible tool to gain access to her grandson, who she knows hates her guts. She'll use it."
"And John Cook?"
"Oh?" Jerry frowns. "Oh yeah, Porter's. Guy is a great cook-- world class. Haven't spent too much time with the guy. His father is a judge and his mother is a psycho. Carly got tight with his little sister when she stayed with them while the Judge and Cookie were on their honeymoon. He used to be a bodyguard for Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan but got out of the business when his parents got married. Timely that. Suppose it's better for the judge to have a son that is an entrepenour than one that is mobbed up. The only amount of quality time I spent with the guy was when someone mailed a letter bomb to Carly's house. He's a handy guy to have around in a pinch."
"Last one-- Edward Quartermaine."
"Oh you do get around. I was wondering about that one yesterday when I saw the two of you together. You can bet he doesn't know you're in the uh... import export business." Jerry laughs. "The old goat is a trouble maker. Too much money, too little time but he normally contains his shenanigans to his own family."
"He wants Maddy to move into the mansion."
"Big mistake. There are two sane people in that family and Edward isn't one of them. His wife is a saint and most in Port Charles think that Emily is bucking for sainthood as well for putting up wih the old man."
"He was making sense yesterday."
"Even a stopped clock is right twice a day." Jerry relents some. "The guy is a snakeoil salesman. He can make sense. He'll tell you what you want to hear but he's got his own agenda. Why does he want Maddy living at the Q's? Sure, he's going to sell it on how it benefits Maddy but Eddie does nothing for free. He doesn't believe in favors to be banked; he believes in making his profit up front."
The coffee kiosk on the dock. Nikolas makes his order and waits as it is prepared paying the barrista and offering a huge tip. "Have you seen Maddy today?"
"Sure, she's already been and gone. About 6am. Do you want to leave a message?"
"No, thanks I'll get hold of her later." Nikolas looks down at his watch. It was almost nine am. Lessons started then and Maddy wouldn't be answering the phone until noon. She and Em would both be tied up with their tutor. Nikolas takes a sip of his hot beverage and wraps his hands around it as he waits for the launch from Spoon Island to arrive.
"Hello, My darling."
Nik winces at the cultured purr from behind him. oh make my day "Helena."
"What a horrible day to be going to the island. Of course any day with my beancounting son is tedious." Helena shudders and wraps her full length sable tighter around her. "I was so happy to hear, my darling, that your little friend Emily was reunited with her family. The Quartermaines by some miracle managed to contain their mass hysteria. And I'm sure you'll be happy to know that your little package arrived safely in Greece."
"The launch is here, Helena. Don't be here when I return." Nikolas steps onto the motorboat. Only once the boat pulls away does he look back at Grandmother. She is going to be trouble. She is always trouble. The trip to Wyndmere is a short one even in the choppy waters of the bay. Nikolas carefully makes his way up the rain slick stairs to the mansion.
"Master Nikolas." Mrs Lansbury greets him. "Master Stefan is in the study." She frowns when she sees the paper togo cup that Nik still holds.
"Mocha breve. Maddy got me hooked on them." Nikolas admits.
"I'll bring you a proper cup for it." Mrs Lansbury holds her hand out a silent demand for him to fork over the pedestrian looking togo cup.
Nik reluctantly hands it over. "Thank you, Mrs Lansbury." Nikolas goes to Stefan's study and knocks then enters. "Good morning."
"Nikolas." Stefan places his half glasses on the desk. Nik takes a seat across from Stefan's desk. "We have a number of things to cover today. But first I think we should discuss what I nearly walked in last night."
"Not your business. Next question." Nik says flatly. Mrs Lansbury comes in silently and hands Nikolas a fine bone china cup with his mocha breve in it.
Stefan eyes it covetiously. Mrs Lansbury turns to leave. "Mrs Lansbury?"
"Yes Sir?"
"The next time Miss Madeliene comes to the island you will arrange a barter with her. The technique for making the coffee drink Nikolas has in exchange for... " Stefan thinks on it awhile and then half smiles. "... a bottle of marsala wine."
Mrs Lansbury frowns but nods. "Of course, sir."
"Second issues then. Why would Madeliene tell me that investigating Mr Robideau would involve funerals?" Stefan turns back to business. "And the next point which relates back to the first issue why would Mr Robideau threaten bodily harm if Maddy were to be abused or taken advantage of?" Stefan's question forms a warning.
Nikolas sighs. "Maddy ran errands for the elderly ladies in her neighborhood back in New Orleans. She became very close with one of them. The woman was Pete Robideau's mother, Rosa. Pete is as Maddy says connected. He has protected her since she was a small child."
Stefan frowns. Rosa. There is something familiar about that. He flips through the documents in Maddy's file and finds a police report. "She was close to this woman?"
"Closer than to her mother." Nik supposes.
"That's unfortunate."
"Why?"
"Because five years ago, Madeliene Reynolds discovered the murdered body of Rosalinda Lucania age 57. It was investigated as a home invasion and never solved."
Maddy and Em kick back on the patio off of the Quartermaine family room. Both are dressed in long coats although the weak autumn sun was making it's appearance and drying up the rain that had fallen throughout the night. "And this was suppose to be easier- ha!" Maddy mutters.
"Quicker I'll buy but easier no way in hell." Emily agrees. "My brain is fried."
"Mondays are always like this though getting back into the swing of things." Maddy swings her head from side to side. "We're going shopping with Rita today right? For boots and a leather jacket."
"Oh yeah, I don't think I could handle Deception right now."
"Well we'll have to be on a time frame cause I have to check in with the kiosks. But shopping would be good. I haven't had a non business related shopping trip since...." Maddy can't figure it out.
"Oh that's bad." Emily laughs.
"Do groceries count?" Maddy whines slightly. "Oh this is awful. I have got to schedule some fun into my schedule."
"What did you do yesterday? I ran into Poppi outside Porter's about brunch time."
"I met him right after that. Bribed him with cannoli and got him to relent about putting me under guard 24/7. What about you?"
"Brunch and then a movie and then dinner. I am going to be so fat by the time I get this cast off I'm not going to be able to model."
"Oh there is a method to Edward's madness." Maddy quips. "I don't think he would mind."
"I would mind. Two weeks five days. I'll have the cast off in time for Halloween but I'll be wearing this sucker for Alexis and Ned's welcome to the Dysfunction Junction Extended Family. And evidently Nik's uncle is planning on having the party at Wyndemere. I hope he has a plan for Grandmother and me. Cause climbing those stairs is not going to happen."
"I'm sure Stefan will have some sort of plan. He always does. You got it?"
"Got what?"
"Your second wind. We should go pick up the kid."
Maddy and Emily make their way back inside to grab purses and Maddy to collect her books. They are standing next to the door when Edward comes out of his study. "Where do you two think you are going?"
"Grandfather." Emily sighs. "I promised Rita I would buy her a leather jacket after our ordeal. The jacket Jason bought me came in handy protecting her from the glass when she broke the window and left the signal for Johnny so he could find us."
"Right, right." Edward reaches into his billfold and pulls out a credit card. "Here. While you're at it. Christmas is coming." Edward frowns. "Carly probably needs something for that worthless piece of dog food on hooves she's feeding. A new saddle or something. And if you need a ride home from the stores call Reginald not that Johnny fellow. He has a business to run."
Maddy houdinis the credit card before Edward can change his mind. "We'll take care of it, Mr Q. I'll do this one for free since we were on our way there anyway."
"Madeliene?"
"Yeah, Mr Q?" Maddy turns back from the open door she is holding for Em.
"You should get together with AJ and find out who is in charge of corporate gift giving this year at ELQ. I'm sure the executives are getting tired of cheese logs and fruitcake."
"Oh good idea, Maddy. Maybe we can brainstorm something for Deception too." Em keeps moving. Not able to rely on speed she has to make up for it in persistence. She is already down the steps and half way to the van. Maddy catches up easily and opens the van door for Em.
Going around to the driver's side, Maddy climbs in. "And Mr Q has no idea that Carly is pregnant."
"Nope."
"And he's already thinking what he should be giving her for Christmas? He's up to something."
"You have such a suspicious mind." Emily grins.
"If I do it's cause I've heard too many stories from you. And what's this about calling Reginald instead of Johnny?"
Em blushes a little. "Johnny drove me home yesterday after brunch and dropping off Michael at his house."
Maddy stops at the foot of the driveway and turns in her seat to look at Em. "You said you went to movie and dinner yesterday."
"So he didn't drive me directly home."
"And Mr Q doesn't know Johnny's schedule that well or he'd know that he has today off."
"How do you know?"
"He told me when I ran into him this morning at the kiosks. He said all he has to do is make deliveries today and he's done."
A custom leather shop outside of Port Charles. Em has found a seat and is enjoying a fashion show as Rita tries on leather jackets. Rita slides on a black jacket with lots of pockets and belts. She fastens it down and then looks in the mirror. "What do you think?"
"You look like a motorcycle mama in training." Em laughs brushing her hair back. "How fast can you go on that bike of yours?"
"Depends on if I have a head wind or not." Rita tugs at the sleeves of the jacket. "My bike isn't some Tour de France thing or a mountain bike. I guess it's a commuter type bike with a basket on the front that gets me from a to b and back again. I really hated the basket until I started working at the restaurant."
"Yeah, you use it for deliveries to the warehouse right?"
"Yep, until it starts snowing then I don't know what Mr Corinthos and Mr Morgan are going to do for lunch. But since I'm back in school anyway-- Johnny handles it." Rita turns around and looks at the back of the jacket. "I like this one best."
"Okay give it over and go check out boots. Are you going to be able to get your boots today?"
"I think so. I worked Saturday night. I tell ya that gal Johnny fired was stupid. It's not like it's really hard not like waitressing. People pay you for giving them a table. Like I wouldn't get them a table anyway-- it's a restaurant."
Maddy comes out of the changing room wearing a red leather bustier. "It's not that you give them a table but that you give them the best table. Some people want to be seen at the hottest spot in town. Others want a bit of privacy. Most don't want to know what's going on in the kitchen."
"Oh true. Especially when Cookie is working. She had Frank crying last night. I kinda felt sorry for the guy. I mean he tries hard I guess but he just doesn't have it." Rita shakes her head pityingly
"Have what?" Em wonders.
"It. It's way different watching Johnny or Cookie in the kitchen than watching Frank. You give them a bunch of ingredients and they whip up something amazing. You give Frank a bunch of ingredients and it had better be a list and not the actual stuff because they'll be rotten by the time he goes through the recipes to try to find something that works. Cookie told Frank he needs to go sling hash at Kelly's since he doesn't have a creative bone in his body and that Johnny doesn't do assembly line cooking at his place."
"Oh jeez." Em kinda blanches. "That sounds awful. Last time Frank got ripped like that was by Grandfather and Reggie ended up with a concussion."
"Okay Frank and your grandfather got into it and Reggie ended up with a concussion? How does that work?" Maddy asks.
"He was listening at the door and didn't move fast enough when Frank slammed out."
"Note to self-- keep out of swing range of the kitchen door." Rita mutters. She shrugs out of the jacket and lays it in the chair next to Emily and goes over to the wall that has all the boots. The owner, a casual guy who'd rather be back in his workroom than dealing with customers, comes over to help her. Rita is very precise and exacting in what she needs telling the owner all about the horse show and what she is competing in and her horse and what color Mr Roberts is.
"Fifteen hundred." The guy says calmly.
Rita's jaw drops and Emily has a coughing fit. Maddy starts in first. "No way, not for a twelve year old who is still growing. Try selling me a pair of 1500 dollar boots and you might have a shot, a slim one but a shot. She needs good boots not a first car."
"My boots have a lifetime warranty for resoling and repairs."
"Yeah, that's why you'd have a chance at me. You aren't going to warranty boots she won't be wearing in six months." Maddy shakes her head. "Rita, don't do it. Wait until you haven't grown in a year and then think about it and go buy a horse instead."
"Now we don't have an impossible situation here." Em thinks. "Rita needs good boots not custom boots. What we can't pay in cash we can make up in publicity. Rita's really good and she takes lessons from Carly Quartermaine as well as being in a group class with Carly's little brother and one of the Barrington kids. There is a lot of connections there."
"I do a good business already."
"Yeah, but not as much as if you say... had a shop down in on the port charles waterfront in the new development. I know someone who could get you in on the ground breaking there." Emily tempts.
The guy sighs. "How much do you have?" He asks Rita.
"$300." Rita tells him. "Cash on me right now. No waiting and no giving a percentage to Visa or anything." She'd learned the Visa thing hostessing at the restaurant.
Emily silently mouths over Rita's head. "I'll match."
"I'll see what I've got in back. They won't be custom. But boots from one of the national makers-- they'll be good but..." The guy goes behind the curtain to search out the boots.
"Ohmigosh. $1500 for boots." Emily mutters. "They'd better be made of snake or something."
The guy comes out of the back with a couple of boxes. "Nope, exotics go for about three grand and up. Part of them being custom is I take an impression of the patrons feet. People's feet come in two different sizes it might be only a little wider or a little fatter or a little longer but when a person puts on a pair of shoes that I make for them it's like being barefoot. No pinching, no breaking in. It's like sliding your feet into a little piece of heaven. And after the first impression the person could call me up and tell me what they want and know that what I send them is going to fit just as great as the first." Rita takes a seat at the guy's direction. Rita tries on different pairs and goes to check out how the black dress boots look. Her attention is drawn when the guy snaps his fingers. "Wait here." He rises from the stool he'd been sitting on when helping Rita into the boots.
"What now?" Maddy asks. She'd been checking out the models of shoes and boots on one wall. You wouldn't find anything like these anywhere. The guy was an artist.
Shoving the curtain aside, He strides out. "I made these for someone who didn't pick them up. They're your general size as close as you'll get with these." He refers to the boxes next to Rita. The owner helps Rita on with the boots.
Her face goes blissful from the time from the time she stands, rocking back and forth in the boots. "And yours fit better than this---Better?!"
"Yep." He says smugly.
"Rita, give the man your money." Emily decides. "She'll wear them out and the jacket too." Emily hobbles over to the counter to pay the difference between the boots and for the jacket.
"If you don't mind my asking..."
"I dumped my motorcycle." Emily tells him.
"I make a great pair of motorcycle boots." The guy tells her.
"I'll be back for you to do an impression once I get out of this thing." Em promises. "They had to cut my boot off."
Rita comes up beside Emily. "She was using the boot like a cast for three days." Rita offers.
"You dump it out in the middle of nowhere?" The guy asks and then takes a look at the name on the credit card and remembers reading in the paper about the kidnapping. "Oh. Nevermind."