The Warehouse 4am, Brooke looks out the window to the bus below in the
parking lot. Looking back to the bed, she watches as her lover sleeps.
Walking over she leans over the bed and gives Nik a whisper- soft kiss. A
brief note is on the pillow next to him. Picking up her duffle, she leaves
allowing the door to softly shut behind her.
Mark: ( yawning and drinking strong dark coffee beside the bus) What are we
doing here so early?
Brooke: We'll make better time. Besides this is about the time we always
leave. Clean up after the concert then on to the next venue. (Referring to
the coffee) You got any of that for me?
Mark: (handing over another cup) I couldn't imagine starting this venture
without it. I didn't know how you like it.
Brooke: Right now? Any way I can get it. I didn't get too much sleep last
night; I think I'm going to take a nap. (There is the sound of an ignition
briefly grinding as the driver pumps the gas waiting for the engine to
start. As the engine catches, the driver gives some gas and the engine
roars to life before falling back to an even purr.)
Mark: That thing sounded sick there for a while.
Driver: Just needs a goose to get her going and then she purrs like a kitten.
Brooke: I know a few people like that! Wake me for lunch. (Moving to the
back of the bus, she sets the cup of coffee down in the eating nook after
taking the last swallow. Mark watches as she throws down the duffle and
then falls face first on the bed kicking off her shoes as they leave the
ground. Using her foot she eases the door shut.)
Mark: (amused) Is she always like that?
Driver: Takes after her mother. GOGOGO until she drops then when the
batteries are recharged GOGOGO again. Lois told me that Brooke was
traveling with security this time. Anything I can do to help?
Mark: Mrs. Ashton was supposed to leave me a folder of information on all
of the sites?
Driver: Right over in the nook there. That also serves as the
communication center. Both between buses and also to the rest of the world.
Don't bother trying to send a fax though. Never fails-- it screws up in
transmission 'cause we aren't land locked.
Mark: Time to start doing my homework. (He hears soft instrumental music
coming from the back) What's that?
Driver: A lullaby (Turning his attention to the road he starts humming
along. Mark smiles and opens the folder.)
Hours later Gina Williams hears the buzz of the intercom. She moves from
the kitchen where she's making breakfast for her daughter. Answering the
intercom, she is surprised to hear the voice of Staci's bodyguard.
Kris: Dr. Williams, this is Staci's security. Her driver is ready to leave
when you are.
Gina: WHAT? Look-- come on up. (She buzzes him into the building. Kris
arrives moments later. Gina stands back to let Kris enter and closes the
door behind him.) Why does Staci need security and a driver for a trip to
the mall?
Staci: (abashed) Sorry Mom, I should have told you.
Kris: Mr. Cassadine put everyone on alert. He knew however, how much Staci
was looking forward to spending the day with you. A driver will wait to
make the shopping easier.
Gina: ( flustered and angry) I can't believe this! How paranoid is my ex?
Staci: (biting her lip) Mom, If you want to cancel, I understand.
Gina: ( shaking it off) No, that won't happen. Kris isn't it? How do you
like your eggs?
Kris: That isn't necessary, Dr. Williams.
Gina: Nonsense. Staci has told me all about you. I insist.
The Apartment: an insistent phone ring wakes Lu from a sound slumber.
Groaning, she reaches for the phone.
Lu: (half asleep) Don't make me have to kill you.
Waitress: Lu? There's a problem at the club. I came in early to get some
prep work done. The walk in fridge isn't working. I checked the breaker
box but the problem doesn't seem to be there.
Lu: (sitting up and brushing the hair out of her eyes.) This is my day off.
Have you called Lucky or Mike?
Waitress: Lucky left a note that he's in Rochester on a problem there. I
called the apartment for Mike but he must have had a hot date last night
because he isn't home. I don't know how long the fridge hasn't been
working. Things are going to start getting warm.
Lu: (sighing) I'm on my way. Just do things that don't have anything to do
with the walk in until I get there okay?
Waitress: Yeah, no problem ( she hangs up)
Lu: (Groaning and stretching as she rises from bed) Why am I not surprised?
Georgie: Who was on the phone?
Lu: The club-- I just got called into work. What are you doing up?
Georgie: I'm going for a run. I need to clear some cobwebs.
Lu: And sweat off the rest of that Tequila from last night?
Georgie: ( grinning) At least I didn't trash the warehouse!
Lu: Good thing. Restocking the club furniture was enough.
Georgie: That wasn't me, that was the football team and your brothers.
(Turning she leaves, pulling on a baseball cap and tucking her pony tail
through the back of it to keep it off of her neck.) It's going to be a long
one so I'll see you later.
Lu: (calling after her.) Stop by the club later. If I can't get that walk
in working, there maybe a lot of food to eat!
The Port Charles Outlet Mall. Gina, Staci and Kris are in a dress store.
John, the other body guard, waits outside the store where he can watch what
happens. The limo driver is working on a crossword puzzle and listening to
the radio with the window down, enjoying the spring weather, parked where
Dr. Williams had said they would finish.
Staci: (sorting through the dress racks) Lucky and Lu said nothing black.
Gina: (perusing another rack) This is for working at the club right?
Staci: Yes. Lu also said it had to be from the department stores-- nothing
that screams money.
Gina: I can hear her saying it. This is fun. You can wear so many
different colors from me. With your dark hair and eyes, the jewel tones
would be fun; I think. (Kris sighs) You know I think I am enjoying this
too much. Kris, you are getting the brunt of what I would like to give Nik.
Men and shopping is a stereotypical situation.
Kris: It isn't my favorite thing by any means. (He watches as each woman
gathers about five dresses each and move off to the dressing room. Taking a
seat outside the dressing room, he waits patiently. He makes eye contact
with John who is scanning the few early morning shoppers.)
The Warehouse: Lucky arrives to pick up Cari but before he can knock on the
door he sees Nik exiting Brooke's apartment.
Lucky: Well, Well, I think we have been here before! Drink too much to
catch the launch last night, bro?
Nik: Not exactly.
Lucky: (relenting) What time did Brooke take off this morning?
Nik: About four a.m., she didn't wake me. I need to get back to the
island. Lu is moving back today.
Lucky: Have you heard anything?
Nik: Just that the shipment was pulled off the ELQ Lila. Stefan has some
of his people monitoring what is going on in Russia. We really don't have
people in place to discover if the Ayatollah's hit squads are moving.
Lucky: Well the Cassadines have never been one for half measures. Might as
well have everyone ticked at you!
Nik: This is really a Quartermaine problem. Why are you up so early?
Lucky: Just got back. Had to settle a problem in the Rochester club. Cari
and I are supposed to go driving this morning anyway.
Nik: There will probably be a family dinner tonight; swing by if you aren't
working.
Lucky: I'll give Mom a call later. (He waits for Nik to enter the elevator
and the doors to close before knocking on the Jacks door.)
Cari: Hi. I have coffee made to take with us?
Lucky: Sounds great, Babe. Where did you want to go today?
Cari: There are still a few things I want to pick up at the outlet mall for
the apartment. Is that okay?
Lucky: (shrugging) You're driving. Just don't ask my opinion on china
patterns, okay?
Cari: Deal. (Snagging the keys out of his hand, she heads for the elevator.)
Wyndemere. Stefan examines the latest information from the Cassadine
Foundation office in Russia. He frowns in concern. Laura is pouring them
both tea and waits for her husband to be seated before speaking.
Laura: What's wrong?
Stefan: Things are quiet.
Laura: And that's a problem?
Stefan: Our people haven't been able to track down a couple of Petrovich's
lieutenants. They're nowhere to be found.
Laura: (frowning herself) How long have they been out of sight? Is it
possible that they've fallen out of favor?
Stefan: (nodding) There is that. Ever since I told our people to keep an
eye on the situation the lieutenants have not been seen. This is very
unusual . . . and too quiet.
Nik: ( having just arrived from the launch.) What's too quiet? Mother,
Lucky said he would call later today about possibly coming to dinner tonight.
Stefan: The foundation office reports no activity in Petrovich's camp. No
signs of plans being made. It's quiet there.
Nik: (shrugging) The shipment isn't due until tomorrow. (Nik turns on the
Port Charles morning news of WVPC)
Stefan: The house was so much quieter before we bought a television station
. . . (his voice fades and he pales as he sees what is the breaking story)
*... Fire crews were called to this 3-alarm fire. You can see behind me
that the fire involves from the second floor on up. People who got out on
the other side of the building described an explosion and then the building
engulfed in flames and smoke. The cause is as yet undetermined as is the
number of potential casualties. Both General and Mercy hospitals have been
put on alert for burn and smoke inhalation victims. *
Laura: (shocked, covering her mouth) That's Lu's apartment!
Nik: (horrified) And Staci was staying the night with Gina! We need to find
out what's going on.
Stefan: (Hurriedly pulling on his coat) Lasha, Call Alexis and tell her it
has begun. She needs to get Stone over here. Also, call Jason Morgan. He
may not have the television on. Nikolas, Kris already left to pick up Gina
and Staci. I pray they weren't there. I'm going over to the apartment
building.
Nik: I'm coming with you.
Stefan: NO! Track down news of Staci and Gina then follow if you must, but
it could be a trap and we had best not be together.
Laura: (worried) Stefan, be careful.
Stefan: ( hugging his wife fiercely) I'll find them. I have my telephone;
call me with any news.
Laura: You too. ( Stefan strides out. Nik is already on the phone to
Staci's limo driver. There is no answer.)
