CHAPTERS 81 & 82
GH2017.81 Reaction
The warehouse: Georgie turns on the television and hears the news.
*...Again our breaking story is the tragic explosion that happened
earlier this morning. These pictures are coming to you live from the
memorial arena. The tour bus of Rising L&E recording star Brooke Ashton,
burst into flames after her concert. The fire department has
extinguished the flames and the coroner's department was called when
representatives of the fire department searching the bus for any hot
spots discovered a body-- presumed to be the driver. Police are calling
this a suspicious fire and death. Representatives of L&E had no
comment other than to express their confidence that the local
authorities will resolve this tragedy. *
The door slams as Georgie races out the door.
In the Garcia Residence a phone rings:
Alex: (sleepily) Garcia. (Then sitting up wide awake)... When did this
happen? ... Okay- Yeah, I'll send you copies of what we've got. You
have any preliminary assessments? ( Turning on the light of the bedside
table Garcia grabs pen and paper and starts taking notes) Bomb wired to
either the RPM meter or the accelerator... not the ignition? What about
the bomb composition? ... Yeah, I know that was a stretch. Let me have
a copy of your forensics when you get them. Det. Garrison how did you
get my name? ... Mark Drake, really? Yeah, He's Jason Morgan's Lt.....
to my knowledge, L&E is not mobbed up. Brooke is actually some kind of
cousin. This is probably not about the music business and all about
connections.... Right hers to Morgan and her to Cassadine . . .
(Bitterly)Nah, there is plenty I'd like to pin on Morgan: murder,
extortion, racketeering, smuggling, but he doesn't do bombs. That's the
personal line he won't cross. I've been following his career since
'96. He learned early that bombs too often miss their target and blow
up innocent bystanders. Look I'm going to contact the FBI Agent in
charge here. He'll bring out a copy of our case file. Guy's name is
Evan Scorpio; he's not too bad for a Fed. He's up to speed on what
happened here. Thanks for the heads up. ( Garcia terminates the call
and then reclines against the headboard. The squeak of the headboard
does what the call didn't, wakes Keesha.)
Keesha:(sleepily and speaking into her pillow) Alex? What time is it?
Alex: Time to go to work, Querida. There's been another bomb. Someone
tried to blow up Brooke Ashton this morning.
Keesha:(rising up on her elbows looking at Alex in shock) NO! OHMIGOD,
the Q's must be frantic.
Scorpio Residence the phone rings. Mac is in the kitchen making coffee
and pancake batter. Smoothly he picks up the phone and tucking it under
his ear continues stirring.
Mac: Scorpio residence
Alex: Hey Mac it's Alex. Is Evan there?
Mac: No he and Felicia went out for a run. They should be back
anytime. Why? What can I do for you?
Alex: There's been another bombing. (Mac sets the bowl and spoon down
and walks over to the table where he takes a seat.)
Mac: Give me the bullet... What happened?
Alex: A bus this time and only one fatality-- but it was Brooke
Ashton's bus. The Detective there has already contacted me wanting
whatever info I have.
Mac: Nice Cooperation.
Garcia: Well I live for results... not turf. That's why I'm calling.
Since this is way outside my jurisdiction, I was thinking that Evan
could take a copy of our case file and head out that way. If it's the
same perps then he'll have a head start and the jurisdictional hassles.
Mac: That's what I always liked about you-- thinking on your feet
especially so early in the morning.
Garcia You know how it is-- as soon as the phone rings, sleep leaves.
Mac: Yeah, cops and parents have the same ailment. Look I hear the
door now. (Evan comes in a sweaty mess.) Hey Evan! Phone's for you.
And as much as I'd like to say otherwise, the shower can wait to until
after you talk to Garcia...
Evan: Damn. Okay. (He reaches for the phone)
Mac: By the way, what have you done with my wife?
Evan: She was right behind me. And you know she cheats? She kept
taking shortcuts and getting in front of me. I barely beat her!
Mac: That's Felicia.
Evan: Commissioner Garcia, You wanted to talk to me. (Evan peels off
his sweaty t shirt and wipes the sweat out of his eyes as he's filled in
by Garcia. His body straightens and he starts processing the
information.) I can be out of here within an hour. Can you have the
copies made by then? ... Yeah, Where is Ms. Ashton now? ... Okay I'll
check with Garrison when I get in. Right, I'll meet you at headquarters
in an hour. (Evan hangs up the phone and immediately calls the
airport.) Yeah, this is Evan Scorpio; I'll be needing my plane in about
90 minutes. Could you have it fueled and ready to go? I'll file a
flight plan when I get there. (Evan hangs up. Mac hands him a cup of
coffee)
Mac: I guess those pilot lessons have come in handy.
Evan: Faster and safer than driving and more convenient than flying
commercially. (He takes a sip of the coffee) Alex didn't know about
Brooke. Only that the detective had already done a preliminary
interview with her.
Mac: I think Jason is handling security for her. You'd have more luck
finding out where she is talking to him. (Evan grimaces) Yeah, I know.
It sucked when I was the law and order around here also. But you know,
he makes Robin happy and he makes great looking grandkids. Go jump in
the shower. I'll call Robin.
Evan: Thanks Dad. (Evan runs up the stairs to the brownstone apartment
he's staying in, passing Felicia without a word.)
Felicia: What's the deal? No gloating-- not a word? How can I be a
gracious loser when he is oblivious to everything?
Mac: (Flipping on the television to the news station that is repeating
the story of the bus bombing.) I think that he's just focused on the
next job.
Felicia: (shocked at the sight of the burnt out bus) Oh my God! Do you
think that Georgie has seen this yet?
PC HOTEL: A lithe form repels from an upper balcony to the rooms of
Dimitri Davidonna landing softly on his balcony and silently testing the
patio style door that slides easily at the touch.
Quietly, Georgie Jones crosses the room making no sound in the plush
carpeting as she nears the slumbering man in the bed. Pulling her
service weapon, she draws within pointblank range and the feel of cold
steel barrel wakes Dimitri who finds her eyes as if by memory.
Dimitri:(Startled then falling back against the pillow) So we meet
again... not exactly the stuff of fantasies.
Georgie: (in a voice tight with rage) You've got a problem. And I don't
mean you forgetting to lock your patio door.
Dimitri: And what problem would that be? Do you mind? (Georgie backs
off a step as Dimitri sits up in bed the covers pooling in his lap
revealing his lean powerful chest with it's light matte of curly dark
hair.) Now... you were saying?
Georgie: Order any buses blown up lately?
Dimitri: (confused for the first time) What?
Georgie:(derisively, her eyes glittering with fury) Oh you're good! I
almost believe you. I don't know whether to shoot you now or wait for
Jason to show up. That was his cousin getting on that bus, you bastard,
but I bet you knew that. (As she gets more furious she draws near again.
Dimitri uses her distraction to knock the gun out of her hand and away
from then both. Then sweeping his hand back toward him in a single
fluid motion; he pulls Georgie down onto the bed and rolls on top of
her. His weight easily immobilizes her. Georgie is flushed as she
furiously tries to get free to no avail.) I guess you want Jason to
shoot you, you sonofabitch. Git off me! NOW!
Dimitri: (His face only inches from hers) I don't think so. Now you'll
tell me what you are talking about.
Georgie: (still struggling) Isn't it interesting how just a few days
after Jason's meeting with you that his cousin almost gets blown to
bloody bits. You... are... DEAD! You just don't know it yet.
Dimitri: Shut up. I have to think. When did this happen?
Georgie:(sneering) As if you didn't know!
Dimitri: (losing patience) If you aren't going to help, then as far as
I'm concerned I have no use for your mouth. Having you tied and gagged
in a chair would not bother me a bit. I need to find out what's going
on. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Georgie: (incredulously) You really don't know?!
Dimitri: Please-- let's not undervalue my intelligence too much. You
already know that I need Morgan on my side and the lengths I'll go in
order to maintain our association. I need to find out if Petrovich got
someone here before we took him out! DAMN IT!!
Georgie: (in a voice returning to normal) Let me up.
Dimitri: (examining her face closely then rolls off of her releasing
her.) I've dreamed of you in my bed-- but not this way.
Georgie: Is that why you didn't seem surprised to see me? In fact
parts of you seemed quite happy to see me. (She rises and walks over to
the TV flipping it on to the news station where within minutes the story
is repeated.) It's as bad as when the Challenger blew up; they just
keep repeating it over and over again.
Dimitri: (standing and pulling a robe over his nude body, he walks to
stand behind Georgie. His breath at the back of her neck send a shiver
down her spine.) You weren't even born then. And I am happy to see you
despite the bizarre circumstances. But exploring that will have to
wait... as you said we may be interrupted at any time.
Georgie: (flushing) True
Dimitri: I need to call my people in New Jersey; are you going to do
anything stupid?
Georgie: Whose to say I haven't already? Fine. (waves him off) Make
your calls. (Georgie walks over to her pistol on the floor and sliding
on the safety, lays it on the table as she watches Dimitri on the
phone.) Will your bodyguard shoot me if I stick my head out the door?
Dimitri: (with a crooked grin) Perhaps... but he deserves the heart
attack you'll give him. I'm on the 15th floor; how did you get in here?
Georgie: Rented a room on the 16th. (Quietly she opens the door
surprising the guard in the hall. She swings the door wide so that the
guard can see a healthy Dimitri.) Could you call room service and order
coffee and breakfast for two? Jason Morgan or one of his associates
should be stopping by later; don't kill them. (The bewildered guard
looks at Dimitri who nods at him. Georgie slams the door in his face.)
I hope you're going to can that guy. He doesn't quite cut it.
Dimitri: (On the phone waiting for his party to pick up) He is adequate
for most situations. You are definitely not run of the mill.
Georgie: It has never been a goal of mine. (Georgie paces the room
until she realizes that the other party has answered...) Put it on
speaker phone. I want to be able to tell Jason you are telling the
truth. It maybe the only thing that saves your butt.
GH2017.82 Old Wounds
The Port Charles Hotel near the rooms of Dimitri Davidonna. Jason
Morgan has arrived. The look on his face clears the corridor before he
reaches the door. When he nears, Davidonna's bodyguard opens the door
without a word. Jason's eyes narrow. He makes a hand motion to Joseph
who takes up position outside the room. Jason is amazed by the sight
that awaits him as he steps into the room. Georgie and Dimitri are
seated at the suite's table with a large room service breakfast in front
of them that they are tucking into ravenously. Georgie looks up as the
door opens to see Jason. Quickly she swallows the mouthful of food.
Georgie: (in a cheerful voice) Jason! Hi! Do you want some coffee?
Jason: I want to know what in the hell is going on! Georgie, what are
you doing here?
Dimitri: (ruefully) She has evidently become my armed social
secretary. She showed up this morning to let me know that we would be
having an appointment as she waved a gun in my face.
Georgie: (pours Jason some coffee from the carafe on the table.) I
wanted to find out what Dimitri knew about Brooke's troubles. And I
wasn't waving the gun around. That would be careless. You know Jason,
Cari is a much better cook than what you have here at the hotel you
should find out if she wants a job in the kitchen.
Jason: (his voice clipped) The Hotel is not my problem but I'll notify
the proper people. Now what in the HELL IS GOING ON?!
Dimitri: The first I heard of the bombing was when Georgie informed me
at gunpoint and then when she turned on the television. I've already
been in touch with my people. There was no information of any interest
in your cousin. After what happened to Petrovich, our people are making
sure they work within their job descriptions without...moonlighting.
Jason: What about Petrovich? Could he have pulled it off?
Dimitri: (shaking his head) Unlikely. He didn't know what was coming
down on him and he's always used our resources in the past. He wouldn't
have gone to outside contractors; they are often unreliable.
Jason: What about the name of whoever was selling him the weapons and
using ELQ?
Dimitri: He didn't have a name. All transactions were handled through
an anonymous server. He talked to the man on the phone a few times.
Petrovich gave up the phone number before he died but the number has
been disconnected.
Jason: (frustrated) I knew that already. We traced that avenue through
ELQ. DAMN.
Georgie: The Russians weren't the only ones to get weapons off those
ships. (Both Jason and Dimitri look at her) Well I'm right... they
weren't.
Jason: Robin got a phone call from your stepbrother this morning. He's
off to see the smoking ruins and coordinate the investigation.
Georgie: Evan? That's great but I haven't gotten to see him since he
got back to town.
Dimitri: This is an interesting town...
Jason: I think that while I'm here, we should have a chat. Georgie,
will you excuse us?
Georgie: What? That's not fair! (Jason just looks at her with his icy
blue eyes allowing the silence to make his point.) Fine. I'm going!
(Standing up she takes her hand gun and tucks it into the fanny pack
she's wearing. She walks to the door turning to look at the men as she
opens the door) If the Russian's aren't coming, I guess I'll just go
find out who the real bombers are. (With that she flounces from the room
slamming the door behind her.)
Dimitri: (with a small smile) She brings back such memories. (Jason
looks at him questioningly) The first time I got my mouth washed out
with soap was when someone finally translated to my mother that cute
American phrase I was saying... 'pain in the ass'.
Jason: (nodding) I don't know what it is about the short ones... they
seem to be trouble magnets. If I hadn't fallen for one, I'd give them
all a wide berth.
Dimitri: (remembering the feel of Georgie beneath him, her chest pressed
against him) I think it might be too late for me as well.
Jason: You have my condolences. ( Jason takes the seat that Georgie
vacated. Jason rubs his side as he sits, a brief feeling of pain coming
over his face) Now let's get down to business.
Dimitri: (concerned) Wait a minute, are you okay?
Jason: Yeah, I'm fine. It's just an old wound. You know how some
people can tell the weather by old injuries? Well I have an old bullet
wound that is telling me that this isn't over and things are going to
get messy.
Dimitri: How can I be of assistance?
Jason: Don't you have to get back to Jersey?
Dimitri: I think I like Port Charles. How would you feel about me
moving up here--strictly residential, not business of course. I have
many things that I could learn from you if you'd be willing.
Jason: The place is lousy with Cassadines.
Dimitri: Every place has it's own version of urban blight. But I think
I can overlook it if you can.
Jason: Cassadines are easy. If their eyes are open then they're
planning how they're going to get over on you... and if their eyes are
closed-- they're dreaming about it. But they understand the concept of
mutual benefit, and that makes them... reasonable. The Jacks, on the
other hand, are another story...my own personal urban blight
Dimitri: (his eyes narrow) Jacks? Doesn't Georgie....? (Jason nods)
The lady has interesting friends.
Jason: Pot and kettle, buddy. I'm sure they say the same about us.
Brooke's Hotel room. Brooke is finally awake after a restless sleep.
She walks very slowly and stiffly to the sitting room of the suite.
Mark is already up and has coffee in front of him as well as his
computer.
Mark: Hey sleepy head, how are you feeling?
Brooke: Like I got thrown down on a parking lot and then had total fear
cramp every muscle in my body.
Mark: (concerned) Do you want to go to the doctor? Just to have
everything checked out?
Brooke: I'm okay...just stiff; believe me if I thought there was a
problem we'd be racing to the hospital. (Brooke eases herself down on
the couch) I didn't sleep for beans last night. I kept hearing the
explosion and then feeling the heat. I don't know how many times that
bomb went off in my dreams... and then just as I was dropping off-- Nik
called.
Mark: (suspiciously) How did he get the number?
Brooke: He's a Cassadine. When they aren't trying to take over the
world; they butt into everybody's business. Nik probably got it from
Stefan who got it from Jason.
Mark: What did he have to say...if you don't mind my asking?
Brooke: (shrugging) I don't know; I hung up on him.
Mark: You're a hard woman, Brooke.
Brooke: Luckily for me-- Hard headed. Mark, he said vicious things to
me. I don't even want to look at him until I cool off. It's not my job
to make him feel like less of an asshole.
Mark: Boy, I'm never getting you ticked at me. Come on Brooke, he's the
baby's father that's got to count for something.
Brooke: (pointing her index finger in the air for emphasis) Not as long
as he's disrespecting the baby's mother.
Mark: But how is he supposed to grovel if he you won't let him talk to
you?
Brooke: (growing suspicious) Why are you so interested in this?
Mark: Well for one thing-- I'm a single parent and I know how tough that
can be especially with the weird hours you and I keep. And the other
thing... I checked the front desk; the guy's called ten times. When do
you figure he's going to try to get by the gauntlet?
Brooke: (groans) Have you checked to see if the Hotel has changed hands
this morning? That's Nik's MO. When he doesn't get what he wants, buy
around the situation in order to control it. How do you think it ended
up being his building that was blown up? He wasn't happy about his
sister and ex wife living out from under his thumb.
Hours later at General hospital, Emily is getting off duty. Lucky
strides through the doors of the ER and spots her at the nurses'
station.
Lucky: Hey Em!
Emily: (with a wide welcoming grin) Lucky! What are you doing here?
Lucky: We didn't get to finish our talk last night. Things seemed a
little strained and I didn't want to make things worse so I dropped it,
but maybe you could tell me why Tommy boy showed up at the club earlier
looking for me?
Emily: (paling) Did you talk to him?
Lucky: No, I was out on an errand. What happened to Brooke has
tightened security at Wyndemere even tighter if possible. Lu can't be
much help right now.
Emily: Yeah, I took one look at Jason this morning and decided that I
would eat at the hospital. He was filling the family in on the status
of everyone but you could tell he could've chewed nails. Brooke's fine
or as fine as she can be. She's holed up in a hotel. Brooke asked for
a little time before coming back to Bensonhurst. But Mark is with her.
Lucky: (reassuringly) He's a good guy-- One of the best; he'll keep
Brooke safe.
Emily: I bounce back and forth from one crisis to another. Just when I
forget about the terrorists and try to deal with my marriage then
something happens, and then when I'm dealing with the pressure of the
increased security--Tommy shows up on your doorstep.
Lucky: Tell you what, babe; why don't you tell me whatever he thinks
he knows? Then it can't hurt either of us.
Emily: I'm not so sure that's true. (She takes a deep breath.) Okay,
I'm just finishing up here. Let me go get my stuff. Then we'll find a
nice neutral place to hash over some really old wounds.
Lucky: (bewildered) Okay Em. (Together they walk to the doctor's
lounge to collect her stuff.)
Less than an hour later, Emily and Lucky have picked up drinks at
Kelly's and are down by the docks. Emily's security and driver are a
discrete distance away.
Lucky: Well babe, this is as neutral as it gets. We've shared a lot of
secrets down here over the years... the only thing that would make it
more nostalgic would be grape shaved ice.
Emily: God! How did we ever eat that stuff?
Lucky: It was cold and we were hot. Still are. (His face grows
serious) Emily, there's something eating at you. I need to know what
it is.
Emily: Lucky... Oh I am such a coward... I don't know if I can do this.
Lucky: I get the feeling that Tommy has something on you; something
that you're afraid he's going to tell me.
Emily: Sooner or later, yeah, he will. (Setting her drink on the bench
next to her she runs both hands through her hair, raking it back, her
eyes closed as she gathers her thoughts.)
Lucky: Babe, just spit it out. You're starting to scare me.
Emily: (exhaling she blurts out the truth) It wasn't Tommy's baby.
(Lucky is silent, shellshocked beside her) Lucky? .. Say something...
anything.
Lucky: How could I not have known? Gees! Is stupidity compounded like
interest?! Damn it, Em! What in the Hell happened? Where was I when
all this was going on around me? (Lucky stands up and starts to pace
the dock in front of the bench. Emily watches his movement like a
tennis match waiting for a pause in his questions so that she can
answer. Finally Lucky stops, with shaking hands he lights a cigar,
fumbling with the lighter and taking a deep drag before exhaling.)
Emily:(smiling sadly) Where were you was always the question. But
that's no excuse for what I did. I was scared, Lucky. Scared of being
alone...
Lucky:(explosively) Emily, that's bullsh...
Emily: (holding up a hand) Wait right there, okay? The day I found out
I was pregnant the axis of my world shifted. Finding you was the first
thing I thought of and I tried... I swear I tried. But you were out of
town on business-- for Nik I think that time. I had no way of getting
hold of you.
Lucky: (popping back with a quick rejoinder) I wasn't out of town for
nine months! I got back and you were planning your wedding to Tommy.
That was fast, Em.
Emily: (pleading) Tommy was around. He was always around! And it was
like he was the voice in my head saying everything that I was afraid
of. 'Lucky will never settle down; look at the way he was raised. Are
you planning on raising the kid in the rainforest? I know what it's
like to have a father that is always solving everyone else's problems
and never home.' I had a piece of my mother and your father in me,
Lucky... their legacy-- that had to be my priority. And I couldn't even
do that right. (Emily starts to sob. Lucky throws down the cigar
unnoticed and goes over to Emily pulling her into his arms)
Lucky: (tears run unchecked down his cheeks, mourning the child he never
knew, as he holds her close and kisses the top of her head) I'm here
now, baby. You don't have to do this alone anymore. I'm here. Shh...
it's going to be okay.
Author's Note
Author's Note
Well I bet you all are wondering what happened... I tell you what-- it
happens in 2010. Spydee is the one to tell that story as it happens.
