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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
Art of the Deal
The penthouse early in the evening--
The discrete ring and then buzz of a fax coming through. Sonny pauses in his pacing with a cell phone to his ear to pick up the fax. He sees that it is addressed to Jason.
"Jason, Man you've got to see this!" Sonny calls out.
Jason comes into the living room. "What is it?"
"A fax from AJ in New York, looks like it was sent from one of those all night copy places."
Jason tears the papers away from Sonny. AJ has used the cover sheet as a summary page.
Hey Bro,
Tried to call you but the number Carly had seems to be out of service. 'Course I didn't try too hard. Here's the deal. Run it by your lawyer, court is only a week away. Don't think that you'll get a better deal than this from the court.
1) No overnight stays at the mansion
2) No Boarding School
3) Michael to be raised Catholic
4) Amend Birth certificate to put on the birth parent's true names Caroline Benson and Alan Quartermaine, Jr. and amend baby's name to Michael Quartermaine Morgan.
5) Michael stays with you every weekend (minus two) and two weeks a year. You share joint legal custody with Carly and me. Physical custody goes with Carly, unchallenged by me, unless she should move back with you. Oh BTW I'm taking one of my weekends now.
Having a great time-- Glad you aren't here. I'll give your love to Michael.
AJ
"That little...."
"Wait a minute, Jason. Will you really look at this thing? This thing favors you all over the place-- there doesn't seem to be anything going the Quartermaine way. The Old Man is going to have another coronary." Jason rereads the sheet. "Carly must have negotiated the hell out of this."
"She shouldn't have to negotiate anything." Jason grinds out between clenched teeth. "What did she give up? That's the question."
"Looks like she gave up your name on the birth certificate and living with you. You would have lost the name of the birth certificate anyway because of the DNA reports...."
"Maybe, There's something missing on this... AJ doesn't say he's getting physical custody of Michael but you and I both know that is what he wants."
"Package deal like you said-- he doesn't need physical custody of Michael if he has physical custody, so to speak, of Carly."
"I need to run this by the lawyer." Jason calls the number that he now has on speed dial since he'd been calling her many times a day since AJ had made the grab on Carly and Michael. After a brief conversation, Jason hangs up. "She's on her way she wants to look at the fax."
About 45 minutes later, Johnny announces the Attorney, a polished woman in her fifties.
"Thanks for the call, I thought I'd never get out of the office. Where's the fax?" She asks matter of factly. Jason hands it over. Ignoring the two men she goes over to the dining room table and making a space for herself she slides on her reading glasses peruses the fax and the attached documents. "Well Jason..." She pauses and looks over to Sonny.
"It's okay; you can say anything in front of the Sonny."
"Then why don't you both have a seat and lets discuss." She waits for them both to sit down. "Are you two the types to kill the messenger?"
"That bad?"
She nods. "I'm not saying that you can't fight it. But looking at the big picture, it's a an uphill battle where you might end up with a hell of a lot less than what is being offered and I'll get a brand spanking new kelly green Jaguar with leather interior and a blau ponk stereo out of the deal. Taking this to court will be long, messy and expensive." The attorney pulls out the files that she has in her briefcase. "Here are you, Carly and Mr. Quartermaine--all the pro's and con's-- no offense. This fax covers all the areas that you were concerned about when you came to me. You didn't want Michael to be raised Quartermaine style. Mr. Quartermaine has more than addressed all of your concerns. He has accommodated all your concerns. What he proposed will appear reasonable... generous to the the judge. This document treats you as the noncustodial parent and basically doubles what most fathers in your position get. "
"I've done a lot of research on this judge." She continues. "He's going to want to have the least possible disruption in Michael's life but....but if it comes up to divving up time between the three people in Michael's life someone is going to lose and it will be you. You've had all of Michael's time for this first year, Carly some, and Mr. Quartermaine-- none. There will be a realignment. I talked to the Judge's secretary and got an transcript of the in chambers hearing that the Judge had with Mr. Quartermaine...."
"Just call him AJ or Junior. It's shorter and less confusing." Sonny interjects.
"...AJ went out of his way to not badmouth you or Carly. He was vehement in his defense of Carly when Mac Scorpio started trashing her. The only snippy comments came from AJ's lawyer, which isn't unexpected. He was being reasonable telling the judge that he wanted to have this settled without a court battle. He was saying everything that the judge wanted to hear. Now that shouldn't matter if it does come down to a battle but you and I both know that it will... things can't be unheard. As soon as this comes to court then you are going to get the extended family putting in their two cents. All the laundry comes out. Now you might do okay. There's already a record of your testimony at the Tony Jones trial to refer to with your history and record of taking care of Michael. Course if I bring that up then the opposing side could always ask where Renaldo is now."
Jason winces. "Renaldo was Michael's primary bodyguard back then. He was mentioned in my testimony."
"Right, and he isn't now because he's dead in a car bomb meant for either you or for your very good friend Robin Scorpio. And when we start getting into that then your whole history of bodyguards comes out... Pete drive by at Luke Spencer's club... Joseph drive by at the docks. Bad things happen around you and Mr. Corinthos. There is only so much I can play off as being just cosmic bad luck. Then there's Carly. On the surface having her in your corner strengthens your case but in a protracted court battle her mental health is going to be an ongoing issue. Judges are leery of women who open fire in court rooms-- it's a self preservation thing. Having her agree to what AJ offered is going to give it even more weight.. 2 of the three parents agree blah blah blah."
"And if AJ's been an undue influence?" Sonny thinks aloud.
"How are you going to prove that? The document preserves Jason as a parent in all this. That wouldn't be AJ's position if it came to court, and his attorney is probably having a conniption that so much was offered to be given away already! From AJ's standpoint, he could offer nothing other than the DNA evidence and the year of being shut out and he is going to get more than he has already. He has nothing to loose by playing hardball-- which is why this fax is a surprise to me. I thought that you wanted Carly's rights preserved in all this. Are you saying that she isn't competent to make decisions where Michael is concerned?"
Jason rises and goes to the window. "No. I won't say that...ever. How good is AJ's attorney?"
"He has a good reputation... well great actually. I've got a 50-50 record with him. That doesn't sound like great odds but it's actually better than anyone else has against the guy. Jason, even if AJ gets caught tomorrow naked mud wrestling with a half dozen hookers he is going to get access to Michael. He keeps putting his feet right he's going to get a lot more than that."
"It's just a matter of time until AJ screws up. He's already on borrowed time. How about postponing the hearing." Sonny questions.
The attorney nods. "You could go that route give us some more time to get more information but it also allows him to do the same. And the temporary custody would stand until a new hearing date can be set."
"Damn. You think I should settle." Jason says still staring out the window.
"It's up to you. I just want you to know what may happen."
"Can we challenge the temporary custody order?"
"Sure, offer to give up your passport promise to appear and the judge might let you have contact with Michael. Where is Carly living?"
"Why do you ask?"
"It's possible with the fathers battling it out that Michael would be placed with her or another party until this gets settled."
"You mean like the Quartermaines? "
The lawyer shrugs. "I see I've given you a lot to chew on." She looks at her watch. "Any chance I can watch the Knicks game while you guys decide what to do? Sorry, I'm hopelessly addicted and with the strike just getting over I was hoping to get a fix tonight."
Jason nods and the attorney goes over to the TV turning it on but turning off the volume. She is soon immersed in the action.
"What do you think I should do, Sonny?"
"I can't answer that, Man; this is your son that you're talking about. Whatever you want to do I'll support-- whatever. " Sonny gives Jason a significant glance. Jason nods in understanding. Their attention is drawn to the attorney who has jumped up from the couch to get closer to the television.
"Jason? Isn't that Carly?"
"Where?"
Sonny stands next to the attorney. Shaking his head in disgust. "Center courtside at the Knicks game with AJ."