Chapter 43: Echidna, The Mother Of Monsters
Kevin enters Luke's and strolls up to the bar. He smiles engagingly at Mike who is behind the bar pouring drinks . "Hello, Mike. Mac is supposed to meet me here for a drink, has he arrived yet?"
Mike shakes his head. "I'm surprised you're meeting him here. Why not the Outback?"
"Beats me," Kevin replies, slightly shrugging. "When we made our plans, he suggested meeting here. Maybe he's trying to figure out the special ingredient in your cheese fries." Kevin orders a drink while he waits.
"So how's Lucy doing these days?" Mike asks, making conversation. "You know, she was avoiding me like the plague last night. I'm starting to think I did something to offend her."
Kevin looks at him quizzically. "Really... that's not like her. If she has a problem with someone she just comes straight out with it. Did you speak to her at all last night?"
Mike serves Kevin his drink. "Nope. In fact she even avoided making eye contact with me when she came in the door. She and Lucky had some big powwow though."
Kevin looks thoughtful. "That's unusual.. did you know I drew a sketch of Cassidy?" Kevin's face lights up with the genuine fondness that comes from his newfound knowledge. "I should show it to you sometime. She's a wonderful young woman, Mike. You must be very proud. I understand you raised her by yourself."
Mike beams at Kevin. "Yep, that's right. Raising her is one of the few things I've done right in my life. I'd love to see the sketch sometime."
Mac walks into Luke's and spots Kevin chatting with Mike. He joins them at the bar, patting Kevin on the shoulder affectionately. "Hi Mike. Hey mate, you ready for some cheese fries?"
Mike smiles at them. "Two orders of cheese fries, on the house. Mac, you want your usual beer?" Mac nods.
Kevin smiles at his old friend as they grab a table. "We don't see each other very often anymore. I miss it. You must have a sixth sense, though. I was just going to call you myself."
Mac acts casual. "Well, it dawned on me this morning it's been ages since it was just us guys. So how's it going? Things still working out for you at Cassadine Inc?"
Kevin nods in satisfaction. "Yes, it's very lucrative and very flexible. Stefan allows plenty of freedom to work creatively. I'm starting the research for my next book."
"How is 'Raised by Echidna' selling? I noticed a review of it in the paper, the reviewer seemed to like it." Mac takes a sip of his beer.
"Very well considering the subject matter. Who would think a book about psychopathic mothers raising psychopathic children would actually sell?" Kevin and Mac pause to thank Gina who brings them cheese fries and drink refills. "In fact, several universities have asked me to speak at seminars. Cassadine Inc made sure the book was well publicized. More so than any other publisher would."
"Maybe Cassadine publicized it so well because of his own personal experience. Anyway, that's great for you." Mac's smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. "You know I was worried when you took this job. Hell, everyone was. "
Kevin takes a sip of his drink. "I'll admit Stefan isn't your normal boss. Hell, he's darn right eccentric. And secretive. Stefan won't give a straight answer if he can avoid it."
"Isn't it hard to work for someone you can't trust to tell you the truth?" Mac presses. "What if he's hiding something that could hurt you? "
"Interesting question." Kevin studies Mac suspiciously for a moment before continuing. "But right now I'm more interested in finding out your real agenda. You didn't call me just to hang out, did you?"
Mac looks down guiltily. "Can't a buddy worry about his friend?"
"Yes, but it's not as simple as that, is it?" Kevin leans back and crosses his arms. "Why don't you tell me what's behind this sudden concern in my job? I thought we laid this issue to rest a long time ago."
Mac looks flustered. "The fact that you're a shrink is really annoying, you know that? Okay, I do have a reason. Lucy asked for my help last night because she's worried about you. She thinks you're having a relapse. ."
"A relapse, how?" Kevin asks in surprise.
Mac takes a deep breath before answering, clearly uncomfortable with the subject. "The sketch you drew of Cassidy has a jasmine border on it."
Kevin closes his eyes, rubbing his face with his hand. "Damn.. that explains a lot, including why you suggested meeting here."
"I need my best friend to convince me he's okay."
Kevin opens his eyes and looks at Mac steadily, without hesitancy. "Let's just say I know Cassidy's connection to this, and it's not sinister."
Mac isn't convinced. "Jasmine is a pretty big flag, Kevin. Are you really sure there isn't more to this?"
Kevin leans forward as he pleads his case. "I know where you're going with this Mac, and I don't blame you. If it'll help matters, I'll can tell you that I'm not having any blackouts, or headaches, or mood swings. Nothing. I know what the jasmine connection is on this, and it's not stalking."
Mac shrugs slightly, seemingly satisfied. "You sure are playing this close to the vest; I assume you have a good reason for it."
"I do. I'll fill you in on the details as soon as I can." Kevin gets up to pay the bill. "I should get home to Lucy. Obviously, we need to talk."
Alexis drives into the Spencer driveway. "This is a sticky situation, Laura. But we'll find a way out of it." Alexis punctuates her words by turning off the car. "We're here."
"I'll make sure the passport is taken care of. Stefan won't be punished for helping Lulu and me, " Laura says to assure Alexis.
"I didn't hear that. I could never advise you to destroy criminal evidence...." Alexis lets her words trail off as a way to make her point.
Laura smiles knowingly. "Of course not, Alexis. Why don't you come inside and say hello to Nikolas?" Laura opens the front door. "He's is taking Lulu to Wyndemere tonight. It's been so long since I've had a night alone, I'm not sure what to do with myself."
Lulu rushes forward to hug her mother. "Hi, Mommy! Nikky helped me pack for my sleepover."
Laura kisses the top of Lulu's head. "That sure was nice of him. Did you behave yourself?"
Nikolas steps forward to take the women's coats. "Lulu has been an angel all afternoon. She had a little trouble deciding which doll to take, so we decided she could take her two favorites." Nikolas gives Alexis a hug. "Hello, Alexis. Did everything go okay at the police station?"
"It went as expected. With any luck, the case will end here. I just wish they'd transfer Taggert. He's such an arrogant twit. Laura, can I use your phone? I want to call Stefan."
"Would you tell him that LesleyLu and I will be there in an hour?" Nikolas asks. Alexis nods.
Laura retrieves the cordless phone from the desk. "Here you go. You can use the kitchen if you want more privacy."
Alexis smiles gratefully. "Thanks, I think I will." She dials the phone as she strolls into the kitchen.
Stefan answers on the first ring. "Stefan Cassadine."
"Hi, just wanted you to know Laura made it out of the Police Station relatively unscathed. I arrived in time to watch Taggert put the screws on her to rat you out. He's really starting to get on my nerves."
Stefan's shakes his head. "Must you resort to street slang? While you were helping Laura, I was able to handle a few loose ends. Two of the witnesses have been relocated. The third, the customs agent, won't be talking to the police anytime soon."
"What?! ....Wait, I don't want to know."
"No, nothing like that," Stefan replies drily. "He happens to be in the hospital for a head injury he suffered at the hands of a drunk AJ Quartermaine last night. They aren't allowing any visitors for a few days."
"Poor Ned and Monica. Any chance that the agent might lose his memory?" Alexis asks. "... No, don't answer that either. At the very least this buys us some time. Oh, and one more thing, Nikolas wanted me to tell you that he and LesleyLu will be there in an hour."
Edward stands smiling at the door of Tracy's bedroom, watching her unpack. "Cook is serving up dinner. Are you coming, my dear? Everyone else is already in the dining room, even Dylan."
"Yes, in a moment. You run along. I'll only be a moment." Tracy hangs a dress suit in the closet.
"All right, if you insist. But I won't let them start eating without you. So you better hurry." Edward enters the room briefly to kiss Tracy's cheek. "I'm glad you're home."
"Thanks, Daddy." Tracy watches him leave and peeks outside her door to be certain the coast is clear. She closes her door quietly and dials the phone on the night table. Tracy waits several rings before the other party answers, lighting a cheroot while she waits. "Hi, partner. I just wanted you to know, I'm here. It shouldn't be long before I know something. The board meeting is next week." She rolls her eyes in annoyance while she takes a puff of the cheroot. "Yes, of course I'm being careful. I'll talk to you soon." Tracy's voice drips with sarcasm as she says, "Oh, and give your darling wife my love."
Kevin arrives at the Lighthouse to find the table set for a romantic dinner. A sprinkling of candles light the living and dining room. As he puts his coat in the closet, Lucy enters the dining room from the kitchen, her hands full of small boxes of Chinese food.
Lucy gives him a glittering smile. "Hiya Doc! I thought it would be nice if you didn't have to cook for a change, and you know how I am in the kitchen. So I called over to that cute little Chinese place we like so much and ordered some takeout! I got your favorite, Szechuan Chicken. I figured we could chow down and afterwards.."
Kevin interrupts Lucy's chattering. "Lucy, Stop now."
Lucy looks up to see Kevin's serious face. "Uh oh. What did I do now?"
Kevin sits down on the loveseat and pats the cushion next to him. "It's not you, it's us. Come on, sit down."
Lucy puts the boxes down on the dining room table and slinks over to the couch. She looks nervously around the room, not able to look into Kevin's eyes for very long. "So what's up, Doc?"
"I went over to Luke's to have a drink with Mac. Before Mac arrived, I had a chance to talk to Mike."
Lucy looks at the floor. "And he told you he didn't see the sketch. I'm sorry I lied, Doc. I took the sketch to Mac because I was worried There was a Jasmine border around it. Do you have any idea how terrified I was? It's my worst nightmare. That and the fact that Cassidy and Stefan have something do with it..."
Kevin gently covers her hand with his. "It's okay, Lucy. I know more than anyone how terrifying that must have been for you. I'm sure you thought I was relapsing into stalking again. Heck, the Jasmine was a clue before that I was stalking. I don't blame you for going to Mac. But I'm worried that you felt you had to lie about it. You can tell me anything, you know that."
Lucy looks into his forgiving face and smile hopefully. "You're not mad then?"
"No, not really. How could I be? You did it out of love and concern for me. But I want you to know, you don't have anything to worry about. I'm not having any of the other symptoms, and Cassidy won't hurt us. I truly believe that."
"Then she's leaving town? I didn't think my little chat with her was THAT powerful..." Lucy's brow furrows with puzzlement.
"Wait.. what did you just say? You had a chat with Cassidy? When?!"
Lucy realizes with a sinking feeling that Kevin didn't know. "Yes.... I went to see her today. I thought it was time that little Miss Know-it-all and I got acquainted. She played all innocent. But I could sense she was in some scheme with Stefan to hurt you." Lucy's jaw clenches in determination. "I told her she didn't stand a chance and she might as well leave town, and that you don't want to have anything to do with her."
Kevin's eyes widen in horror. "You did WHAT?! You told her to leave town? How could you?!"
"Well, if you ask me, she deserved it. She and Stefan have been playing ames with your psyche and I had to defend you! Don't you see? They're trying to make you sick again with some mind game! God, they have you drawing jasmine borders! I won't let them do that to you! I won't! And I'm not sorry I did it! I'd do it again!"
Kevin explodes. "Have you any idea what you've done?!" He bellows. "My God!" Kevin gets up and paces the room angrily, running his fingers through his hair repeatedly in agitation. "Let me tell you what you've done. You may have scared off one of my relatives! The reason I drew that jasmine border was because she was familiar to me. She's my sister!" Kevin runs to the closet and hastily grabs his coat.
Lucy gets up, rocked by the news. "You're leaving?! Doc, you can't! You just dropped a bomb in my lap. You can't leave like this!"
"I have to, Lucy! If she took your advice, she could be on her way out of town! I have to stop her." He opens the door to the lighthouse and turns to Lucy one last time. "It'll just have to wait."
Lucy wraps her arms around herself for comfort and watches the door slam behind him; tears stream down her cheeks. "Oh, Doc. I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry."
******* For those of you who are curious, Echidna is a half woman/ half snake monster in Greek mythology, the mother of monsters. You can find out more about her at this website: http://www.pantheon.org/
