The Best Laid Plans-Chapter 83
“ Hi.” Robin says to Jason as he, Carly and Michael are all standing there.
“ What are you doing here?”
“ Yeah, Robin, what are you doing here? You couldn’t call?”, Carly snarls.
“ Carly, take Michael upstairs.”
” Jason...”
” Go and take him upstairs.”
” Fine.” Carly leaves, glaring at Robin as she goes upstairs.
Jason motions for Robin to go over to the couch. They both sit down.
” So, why did you leave Paris?”
” Jason, why do you think? I call the Penthouse and the maid, or whoever, says that Mr. and MRS. Morgan are busy. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“ Mummy? Mummy?”
Sasha picks the phone back up off the floor. “ Yes, Tia.”
” Oh, there you are. I thought something had happened to you.”
” No, darling. Would you put your Great-Grandmother on the phone.”
“ Sure. And, Mummy?”
” Yes.”
” I love you.”
” Me too.”
Sasha waits for a few moments when,
” Anastasia, darling, Tatianna tells me that you would like to speak to me.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jax had just finished a 3 mile jog on the beach. He was sitting by the pool, thinking about Dara and whether they could have a life together when the phone rang.
” Jax here.”
” Jax, it’s me.”
” Mum.”
” Dear, please come. John’s had another heart attack.”
” I’m on my way.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“ What did you say?”
” We said that you are bankrupt, Ms. Bell.”
” That’s impossible.”
” Not at all. If you’ll take a look at these.” Katherine went over the files that the gentlemen gave her. They were correct. She recognized the investments. The investments that she had people go over with a fine-toothed comb. How could these investments, ALL of them, go bad, all at once.
That’s easy. Katherine new a con when she saw one. And, she had been setup for a very big one. It took until the last few documents for Katherine to comprehend the extent of what had happened: she had lost everything. Including her apartment.
” What do you expect me to do?”, Katherine asked.
” Well, you should be leaving Deception and your apartment within the next 72 hours. If not, we’ll have you removed.” They leave a dejected Katherine.
“ Sorry, fellas. I haven’t lived this long to go down like this.” Katherine calls her secretary in.
“ Yes , Ms. Bell.”
” I need for you to get Edward Quartermaine on the phone.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justus Ward was sitting in his office when his secretary brought in a package for him.
“ What’s this?”
” I have no idea. But, the messenger said that he could not leave until he saw me give it to you.” The secretary points out the messenger standing there.
“ Fine, Peggy. That will be all.” She leaves and Justus opens the package. It’s a videotape. He pops it into the VCR and watched the tape. Justus watches the tape and slams a book next to him against the wall.
Peggy knocks on his door.
” WHAT!?”, Justus barks.
“ Katherine Bell is here to see you.”
” Did we have an appointment?”
” No.”
” Send her in.”
Katherine comes into the office. She can tell that something is off, but, continues anyway.
” Hello, Justus.”
” Katherine. What can I do for you?”
” I need your help.”
” Oh, really?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“ Grandmother.”
” Anastasia, darling, how are you?”
” What is going on?”
” I don’t know what you mean, dear. I just wanted to spend some time with Tatianna. Is there something sinister in that?”
” Then, why don’t you tell me where you are, and I can join you for a small holiday.”
” Nonsense, darling. I like having Tatianna all to myself. We have so much time that we’ve missed due to our estrangement.” Sasha felt her stomach churn.
” I came to England specifically to see Tia.”
” I know you did, Anastasia. But, surely there are business matters that must now garner your attention.”
” Of course. You’re absolutely right.”
” I knew that you would understand the value of this bonding time with dear Tatianna. I have to go.”
” I would like to say goodbye to her.”
“ I’m sorry, but, that isn’t possible. She motioning for me to join her. Please know that while she is in my care, no harm will come to her. Goodbye.”
Sasha heard the click on the other end. She put down the phone and screamed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“ Robin, what do you want to know?”
“ Jason, how did this happen?”
“ I married Carly.”
“ Why? Because she asked you to?”
” No. Getting married was my idea.”
” What was the reason?”
“ So that Carly and Michael would always be safe.”
” Michael. You named the baby after Sonny?”
“ Yes. It’s one of the best names I know, that means anything to me. You haven’t asked me if the baby is mine.”
” I know it’s not. Because, I know you. I want to know whose is it?”
” That’s none of your DAMN business, Robin!” Jason and Robin turn to see Carly standing on the stairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobbie just finished having her vitals taken by the nurse when Stefan comes in.
“ Barbara.”
“ Stefan. Hello, how are you?”
” Fine. The nurse tells me that everything is going well.”
” Yes. It is. I’ve made it through another day. Another day closer to my due date. Another day that our baby gets to grow inside of me.”
Stefan is always stunned when he hears Bobbie say ‘our baby’. He would have thought that it would be difficult for her to acknowledge the fact. That she would be happy about carrying his child.
Bobbie notices that Stefan is deep in thought.
“ Stefan?”
” Yes.”
” I think that it’s time that the baby got to know its father.”
” And, how would this happen?”
” Well, some believe that if you speak to the child while in the womb, they become familiar and accustomed to your voice.”
” Do you believe this?”
” Why not? So,” Bobbie reaches over to the nightstand and hands Stefan a book.
” Green Eggs and Ham?”
” It’s an American Classic.”
“ Nevertheless, Barbara, I shall not read this, Sam I am.”
Bobbie and Stefan both burst into laughter at that line.
“ Nikolas once had an English Nanny who was absolutely besotted with Dr. Seuss.”
“ Ok. But, find something that you do like, and we can read together. “ Bobbie pauses. “ I know. Why don’t you tell the baby about your birthdays when you were a child.”
” I do not believe that is a good idea.”
” Well, would you tell me? How about your 10th birthday? That’s a milestone for any child.”
” Well, it went as well as the others. I had no party of any sort. Alexis continued with her usual ritual of having a small cake, just for the two of us, made. She took it, and we ate it at the cove that is my favorite spot in Greece. She gave me a present, although, that year, I believe that Stavros also gave me one. They were so sparse.”
“ You didn’t have a party?”
“ I was never important enough in my mother’s life to necessitate being given a celebration.”
“ Oh.”
“ Well, Barbara, I must attend to some work. I will be certain to check for proper reading material. I will be sure to visit you following dinner.” Stefan gets up to leave.
” Stefan?”
” Yes.”
” I was wondering if you would like to eat with me. If you don’t..”
” I would be very pleased. Nikolas has already informed me that he and Lucas have plans, as does Alexis. “
“ I’ll see you later, then.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“ Carly...” Jason says.
” NO! Now, Jason, what the HELL business is it of hers WHO my baby’s father is. You and I have worked it all out, what’s her problem.”
” My problem is that YOU have roped Jason into perpetuating this lie for you. But, that’s all you know how to do, isn’t Carly? Lie, cheat, steal..Like your mother’s husband?” Carly looks at Robin with a shocked look on her face. “ Oh, yes, Felicia is a good friend of Bobbie Spencer’s, so I know all about your activities since hitting town.” Robin turns to Jason. “ Do you know all that she’s done.”
” Yes. And?”
” Jason, she’s nothing but a liar. She doesn’t know how to do anything else. And, now, she’s got you completely trapped in this lie, and you just don’t see it.”
” WHOAH! Wait a minute, what’s going on here? I may be a liar, but, what? Jason’s too stupid to see through me? Sorry to disappoint you little lady, but, Jason’s the only one in town who CAN see through me. Why? Because I don’t lie to him.”
” You will. You can’t help it.”
” Look, all this was done while you were in Paris.”
Robin turns to Jason. “ Did you never think that I would come back?”
” You were the one who said it was over.”
” Does that mean you don’t love me anymore?”
” Robin, of course I do.”
” Then, what’s she?” , Robin asks pointing to Carly.
” She’s my wife.”
Carly is very hurt by Jason’s admission and goes upstairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So, Katherine, what can I do for you?”
” I’ve run into a bit of trouble, Justus.”
” Oh?”
” Yes, and I need to find Edward. I called the house, but, Reginald wouldn’t tell me where he was.”
” Imagine that.”
“ Yes, well I was wondering if you knew where he was. It’s very important.”
” You know Katherine, if you were the last person on Earth, and on fire, I wouldn’t lift a finger to help you. So, get the hell out my office....NOW!!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sasha and Mai are on the plane back to Port Charles. Mai looks at Sasha. She has never seen her like this. She decides that the silence is too much.
“ You are sure that Tia is safe.”
“ Yes. I know that Helena wouldn’t harm her. Not yet. She’s of no use to her if she’s hurt. Helena knows bloody well that I’m not scared she hurt her. No, she, better than anyone, knows my greatest fear .”
“ Possibly your father could help you, if you told him the truth.”
” NO! Papa would be of no help to me in this matter. Neither would a search party. We’d never find them, and we might anger Helena. No, we have to do what she wants.”
” In your recantation of the conversation with Helena, I heard no demands.”
” Helena doesn’t work that way. I know what she wants. I’ve known all along what she’s wanted. I just thought that there would be time. Time for me to plan a counteroffensive. That is not the case.”
” So, what are you going to do?”
” I’m going to go back to Port Charles and act as if everything is fine and pleasant. And, prepare myself for a theft.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“ Justus, what’s wrong with you?”
” Nothing’s wrong with me. But, there’s something very wrong with you, Katherine. Let me guess, you are having difficulties. Financial ones. And, you expect, if you bat your eyes, my leering Grandfather will help you out , by, what, calling in a few favors?”
” Something like that.”
” Not now, Katherine.”
” Would you mind telling me why.”
” I’ll do better than that. I’ll show you why. “ Justus begins to run the VCR.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dara is working late on a case and has ordered in her dinner. She and Taggert are working on strategies for the Organized Crime Unit.
” So, ADA Jensen, tell me how you think that we can nail Morgan.”
” You already know about the undercover man. He’s getting deep into the organization. It’s only a matter of time, before he makes a mistake and we can nail him on it.”
” True. So, Dara, may I call you Dara?”
” I haven’t decided yet.”
” Well, why don’t you decide over a real meal. At the Outback. Aren’t you tired of takeout?”
Dara laughs. “ Boy, am I ever. OK. But, I just have a little bit of paperwork left to do. “
” So do I. I’ll pick you up in about an hour?”
” Fine.” Taggert gets up to leave. “ Oh, Marcus, could you turn on the radio for me? Thanks.”
” Sure. And see ya soon.”
Taggert leaves and Dara is finishing her work when she hears over the radio..
” In business news today, reports from Alaska come that reclusive billionaire,
John Jacks has once again been hospitalized. It is rumored that he has
suffered another heart attack...the first one being...” Dara was out the
door by that time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Katherine finishes watching the tape.
“Justus...”
” What? What, Katherine? Cat got your tongue.”
” I can..”
” You can explain? You can explain how you deliberately setup AJ to take the fall at the Charles Street Foundation? How, you set him up with Carla the hooker? Do you know the fallout from that, Katherine? DO YOU?”
” Jus..”
” No. Let me tell you. Not only did that incident get AJ thrown out of the Charles Street Foundation, it had a negative effect on me as well. It set into motion a series of events, the end of which you can’t imagine. Did you know that AJ had been sober for quite awhile until that happened. He went off the wagon, and was drunk the night he was driving and killed Jason Quartermaine. So, excuse me Katherine, if I don’t think that Edward will be in any mood to help the woman who set in motion something that wound up with the killing of his favorite grandson. Get out.”
Katherine gets up and leaves Justus’ office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason is standing in front of the window when Robin comes over.
” Jason, just because I broke up with you, doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. And, that I want any harm to come to you. I don’t. Jason, she’s putting in you in danger.”
” Robin, Carly doesn’t put me in danger. My job does. Not Carly.”
“ What about emotional danger, Jason? What about when Carly decides that she can get a better offer, and leaves you here alone?”
” I’ll deal with it, when it comes to it. But, as I see it, if I give Carly what she wants, she’ll have no reason to leave.”
” Jason, Carly’s a manipulator. She’s always going onto the next scheme.”
“ Carly doesn’t manipulate me.”
” She got you to marry her.”
” It was my idea, Robin.”
“ She made you believe that it was your idea.”
“ No, it was my idea.”
“ Jason. “
“ Robin, look. I have my life. You made the choice. We have to live with it. You told me to go on with my life. I have. I’ve made my choices. You shouldn’t have any say about it.”
” I still love you, Jason.”
” I know. But, have you changed your mind?”
” No.”
” Then nothing’s changed.”
“ Are you going to tell me who the baby’s father is?”
” No. It’s not my business to tell you Carly’s business.”
” So, you just think it’s OK for everyone to think that you were sleeping with Carly while you were supposed to be with me.”
” You weren’t here. So, I didn’t think it mattered.”
” It does Jason. It does.”
Robin takes her coat and leaves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justus is going over some correspondence when he hears a knock on his door.
“ Come in.”
Justus is very surprised by the visitor.
” Dara?”
“ Hi, Justus.”
” Well, this is a surprise. Come on in.”
Justus gets up and motions Dara to the couch.
” I know that I haven’t been in touch lately.”, Dara says.
“ Well, we didn’t exactly end on the most positive note. I’m sorry I was such a jerk.”
” Apology accepted.”
” What can I do for you, Dara?”
” I need some help. I suppose you’ve heard that John Jacks is ill.”
” Another attack they say.”
” That’s what they say. I wanted to go to Alaska to .....”
” Check on Jax? It’s not exactly a state secret that the two of you have been going out.”
“ Yes. Well, things have been difficult. But, that doesn’t matter. I need to get to Alaska, and I haven’t been able to get a commercial flight out. They’re all booked. I was wondering..”
” If I could let you go on the ELQ Jet?”
” Yes. Justus, if there was any other way..”
” You wouldn’t be here. It’s fine, Dara. Be at the hanger for private aircraft in about an hour. The Jet will be ready to go.”
” Really?”
” Sure. And, I’ll have a car waiting for you when you get there. Do you know where John is?”
” No. I’m flying blind.”
” Don’t worry. All that information will be waiting for you when you get there.”
Dara reaches out and kisses Justus on the cheek. “ Thank you.”
” He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?”
“ Yes.” Dara leaves and Justus makes the arrangements.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Katherine slams the door to her apartment. She goes to the fireplace, gets the poker and smashes the knickknacks on the mantle. She stops herself, throws down the poker, and goes over to the window.
“ Think Katherine.. Think! You’ve been in tight spots like this before, and come up swinging. What can you do? What angle can you work?” She stands there for a few minutes before a smile comes across her face. She goes over to the desk, takes out her laptop and starts typing.
” I don’t have a lot of time to do this right.”, she tells herself outloud.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason is working at this desk when Carly comes down.
” So, is she gone?”, Carly asks.
“ Yeah.”
” So, did you tell her?”
” Tell her what?”
” Oh, come on, Jason, did you tell her who Michael’s father is.”
” How can I do that? Even you don’t know it.”
” So, what did you tell her.”
” That it wasn’t my secret to tell. And, I wouldn’t tell yours.”
“ Thanks, Jase.”
“ Carly, don’t thank me. But, you are NEVER to talk to Robin like that again. Do you understand?”
Carly lowers her eyes and looks at the ground.
” Yes.”
” Good. Get the groundrules straight, Carly. Don’t go after Robin again.. or..”
” Or?”
” You’ll be out in the street.”
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