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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
Burning Up the Phone Lines
*note-- the warehouse fire hasn't happened and probably won't since we all know who they are setting up to take the fall on that one.*
"Damn it, Julia! By how much?" Jerry paces Bobbie's living room and runs his fingers through his mussed hair.
"Sorry Jer, I got to Heathrow about 15 minutes after they left. I'd left a message on the paging system but they didn't pick up the message."
"Did they leave a flight plan?"
"Yeah, Jerry, it's straight to Jakarta-- no other stops."
"Bloody Hell-- what happened to stopping in India?!"
"Evidently the ELQ jet can make the trip without the extra stop. Why don't you just get in touch with ELQ they would have all the information you need?"
"You think I haven't tried? AJ's secretary is clueless. I think I heard her snapping gum. And if I have to talk to the old man I'm going to kill him. Then kill AJ when I get my hands on him. "
"Jerry, I have no idea what is going on. Why is AJ on his way to Jakarta... the international beat at ELQ is Ned's. AJ has always stuck to projects in the US-- like the docks project. He would know that things were bad in Jakarta but not How bad. He'd assume that it was like dealing with a company or government agency over there in the states."
"Okay, Julia thanks for the try." Jerry sighs.
"I'm sorry it was too late. Give my love to Jax, will you. And you... let me know the next time you are in London-- we'll paint the town."
"It's a sweet offer, darlin'." They say their goodbyes and Jerry hangs up.
The happy family house--
Edward has squeezed through the gate and walks up to the house carrying some flowers as a peace offering. He rings the doorbell but there is no answer. Muttering to himself he calls out for Carly but there is no answer. He starts checking the door and windows.
The other penthouse--
Sonny knocks before coming in. Jason looks up from the couch where he is holding Michael. "Wow. Did the kid make a jailbreak?"
"AJ dropped him off at 4am this morning. He had to go out of the country on business."
"Well this is your chance to see Carly."
"Yeah, he must have figured that too. That's why he took Carly with him."
Sonny shakes his head. "He isn't going to be able to keep this up forever. So what's the plan? Introduce Michael to the coffee business?"
"Yeah, I've got all the things that he needs so we can head over there anytime." Jason and Sonny leave with Michael. They don't hear the phone ringing behind them.
The Brownstone--
The phone rings. Jerry jumps on it before the first ring is even completed. "Hello?"
"This is Arrow Security. We have the contract for the house owned by Happy Family Inc. There has been an attempted break in. The guy says that he is the grandfather of AJ Quartermaine but he isn't listed on our approved list. Is Ms. Spencer there? We haven't been able to get hold of either Mr. Quartermaine or Ms. Benson."
"You either, huh." Jerry's eyes narrow before he continues. "You said Edward Quartermaine?"
"Yes sir, is he okay to be at the house?"
"No. In fact, Ms. Benson has been concerned about him stalking her. She left town to get away from him. I think that she was planning on getting a restraining order against him when she got back. He's trespassing. Carly, Ms. Benson, would want him arrested."
"We caught him halfway in a window." The guard states.
"Really! Did you happen to get any pictures of that?" Jerry chuckles to himself picturing Edward half in and half out a window. "Now I don't know the law but doesn't that make it attempted burglary? I think that he needs some time in the pokey. Ms. Benson is out of the country. Why don't you go ahead and press the charges and she can decide when she gets back."
"Yes sir, will take care of that now." The guard states his voice growing annoyed at the chatter that Jerry can hear in the background.
"You young fool! I'll have your job for this! Do you know who I am? Remove these handcuffs!" Edward's indignant ravings can be heard in the background. "Do I look like a criminal for heaven's sake? I was here to see Ms. Benson."
"Yo Guy--" Jerry raises his voice over the line to get the man's attention. "I think that you need to call Lt. Taggert on this one; it'll be a press case after all. He's familiar with the family, and he can take the heat. You call him and tell him that someone was breaking into AJ Quartermaines house and he'll be there faster than Superman can leap a single tall building." The guard gives an affirmative and terminates the call. "Well the day is finally looking up. Edward in Jail, and Taggart's badge with one phone call." Jerry starts to chuckle.
"Jerry, was that Carly on the phone-- is she okay?" Bobbie asks coming from the kitchen.
"Nah, sorry darlin'. Julia says that she missed them in London. The next place to get hold of them is going to be in Jakarta unless I can get the number of the plane from the Q's or Carly checks in. You got call forwarding?" Bobbie nods. "Okay lets forward the home phone to my cell phone and head over to the mansion. There is just one phone call I want to make first."
Jerry looks up the phone number in the phone book and then quickly dials. "Veronica Bowles please-- I'll hold. Veronica? You don't know me but have I got the scoop for you... Edward Quartermaine was just arrested for attempted Burglary." Bowles starts laughing and prepares to hang up on the crank caller. "And if you don't believe me contact the PCPD or listen to your police scanner." Then Jerry hangs up.
"Edward's been arrested?"
"Yeah, but that's not important lets get over to the mansion."
The coffee warehouse--
A small office is set up with a couple of desks and a playpen. Sonny looks at the phone receiver curiously and then hangs it back up. "Well that was weird."
"Weird how?" Jason asks absently giving Michael back a toy that he had thrown out of the playpen.
"I was talking to our coffee broker for the Sumatran beans and we got disconnected." Sonny shrugs and tries again this time he gets a notice that all circuits are busy. "Those international lines are a bitch. Now I can't get through at all." Sonny calls the San Francisco number of the coffee company. "Listen, I was just talking to Chan over in Sumatra and we got disconnected. I've got an order to place. Could you relay it?... really. That's terrible, call me when you have any more news." Sonny calls the warehouse floor and talks to the coffee manager. "Jack the price on the Sumatran-- triple it. Don't know when we're going to get more. The country is falling apart and coffee exports are the last thing on their minds." Sonny hangs up the phone. "You want a latte?"
"Sure. What happened with the Sumatran? We don't sell much of it, but the people that drink it won't drink anything else."
"Seems like all the beans and communications for Sumatra go through Jakarta-- since that is the major city. With the city on the verge of collapse things like coffee orders and shipments are way down on the list of priorities. Until we can get in contact with Sumatra directly and arrange a different way rather than through Jakarta we've seen our last shipment of beans from there for awhile."
Jason rises from where he had been kneeling by the playpen. "Did you say Jakarta?"
"Yeah, Indonesia." Sonny is concerned at Jason's frantic expression. "What's wrong?"
"Carly is going to Jakarta. That's where AJ took her." Jason reaches for the phone and calls Bobbie.
The Gatehouse--
The phone rings and V picks up. Ned is upstairs packing to go out on the road. V hollers up the stairs. "Mr. Ashton, Lt. Taggert is on the phone he says it's about your grandfather?!"
Ned comes downstairs. "What? Why would Taggert have anything to do with Grandfather?" He picks up the phone. "This is Ned Ashton. He's been arrested for What? 'Kay-- why am I not surprised? Why are you calling me? Oh this was his one phone call." Ned laughs. "Put him on the line." there is a brief pause as the phone is handed to Edward. "Hey Grandfather. How's the food in the joint?"
"This isn't funny! Get down here and bail me out before your grandmother finds out. And I want you to buy controlling interest in Arrow Security those imbeciles deserve the thrashing that I'm going to give them. Arresting me!!! Then get on the phone to the Mayor...."
"Whoa Whoa Whoa there, Grandfather. You seem to have confused me with CEO of ELQ and the family gatekeeper. I resigned those positions last night. Call AJ, it's his job now." Ned hangs up. He looks at the phone and then quietly says "Damn."
"Ned, you might be mad at your grandfather but Ms. Lila..." V says calmly already reaching for her day planner.
"I know. I know. I have to go up to the house. But I'm not staying!" Ned repeats it to himself over and over on the walk up to the house. Meanwhile V is booking other acts into Ned's tour.
Bobbie and Jerry have arrived at the Mansion and are ushered in by Reginald. "Where is Ned? Monica?" Jerry demands.
"Ned is down in the gatehouse as far as I know." Reginald shrugs. "Monica is working in the front room. I'll announce you."
"Don't bother I know the way." Bobbie snarls.
"Down Tiger." Jerry murmurs giving an apologetic look to Reggie. Then he gets out of the way as Bobbie stalks into the front room throwing the door wide.
"Monica, get hold of AJ." Bobbie demands.
"Why?" Monica rises. "What did your slut of a daughter do now?"
Bobbie reaches out and slaps Monica with the full force of her fear jerking her friend's head to the side. Jerry grabs Bobbie from behind restraining her even as Bobbie starts yelling at Monica. "My daughter didn't do anything and I'm tired of you slandering her, you hypocrite. Your son is going to get my daughter killed and if anything happens to her-- I am going to have you for lunch you, self righteous bitch."
"What are you talking about? Is Michael okay?" Monica holds her reddened cheek.
"Michael is fine." Bobbie snarls trying to break Jerry's grip without any luck. "Why don't you ask about your son, you remember him-- Your son-- AJ!"
"Bobbie, enough. Monica, what is the number to AJ's cell phone-- anything." Jerry demands.
"I don't know." Monica asks bewildered. "Why don't you just call them at home. Or just wait awhile AJ told Edward that they would meet this morning to discuss ELQ."
"She's clueless." Jerry tells Bobbie shaking his head.
"Yeah, not only that but she doesn't know where her son is." Bobbie takes a deep breath. "Did Edward hate AJ so much that he would send him to his death and my daughter with him? Is that how he is planning on getting Michael under his roof? I'll fight you. I'll fight you all. That evil old man will not get his hands on my grandson. Anything happens to Carly and you'll never see Michael again. Do you understand me?!"
"What are you talking about?" Monica exclaims. Ned follows the sound of raised voice and shuts the doors behind him so that Lila won't be disturbed."
"What's going on?" Ned asks. "Did you guys already find out about Edward being arrested?"
Just then the cell phone in Jerry's pocket rings. He releases Bobbie with a warning squeeze and picks up the call. He rolls his eyes in disgust. "Morgan. I don't have time for this. Here Bobbie, you talk to him."