Written in 56 minutes.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Webber House: Living Room

“You’re really not making me go to school?” Danny asked skeptically. He winced when Jason tightened the knot on his tie, and tugged on it when Jason stepped back. “Man, these suck.”

“There’s no point in using Mom’s kids as a sympathy point if we leave the worst one at home,” Jake said, and earned himself a whack on the arm from his mother and a dark look. “It was just a joke.”

“I don’t particularly like the idea of any of you there,” Elizabeth said with a sigh. She watched Cameron toss a coat to Aiden and rummage for an umbrella. “But Jake’s not entirely wrong.  The fact that I have three minor boys living in my home, even if Danny isn’t my son, is a point against revoking my bail. We’re not hiding you,” she told Danny.

“But maybe don’t tell your mom you’re missing your first day back because of it,” Aiden suggested, and Jason winced, watching Danny’s reaction. His son didn’t even seem to flinch at the insinuation, which didn’t really give him much to work with.

“The actual hearing won’t be that long, I don’t think.” Elizabeth took the coat Cameron offered her, hung it over her arm. “Diane is bringing the motion, so she’ll talk first. Then the U.S. Attorney, and then the judge will rule.”

“And then we’ll all come home,” Cameron said. He held out an umbrella to his mother. “Don’t let your hair get wet. You know what happens if it does.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, then accepted it. “You boys better get going if you want to make sure you have seats.” She kissed Cameron’s cheek. “Drive carefully. I know it’s only drizzle—”

“Yeah, yeah, I got you. And we’ll wait for Michael and his mom in the parking garage before we go in. You’ll be right behind us?” Cameron asked.

“We’re leaving now,” Jason said, taking Elizabeth’s coat from her arm and holding it out so she could slid her arms through. “We’ll be right behind you on the road.”

“At least until Dad gets on the open high way. Speed limits are just a suggestion, he told me once,” Danny said, shrugging into his coat as he followed the other boys out the door.

Jason held the umbrella out, opening it when he and Elizabeth stepped outside. The rain had been coming down steadily since early that morning, a light drizzle that turned the whole sky a dreary gray. Matching the mood, no matter how much Elizabeth’s boys tried to keep the mood light.

The boys were driving the car Elizabeth had been using since her own had been seized in the arrest, the sedan waiting at the curb in front of the house. There was a brief argument between Jake and Aiden over the passenger seat, but Jake won the day on seniority and slid next to Cameron, with Danny and Aiden heading for the back.

Elizabeth stood by the passenger side of Jason’s SUV, Jason just behind her with the umbrella held over both of them. The four boys could have fit into their vehicle, but it would have been cramped — the only way to fit them comfortably would be to leave two of them at home. And how would Elizabeth even choose?

Would this be the last time she’d be in her home for months? The last time she’d see her boys outside a court room?

The sound of the door opening jolted Elizabeth, and she looked at Jason, took a deep breath. “I can’t help it. I’m worried about him driving in the rain.”

“We can call them, and you can follow them on your phone,” Jason told her, and she was grateful he didn’t tell her that they could just get on the road and keep the boys car in sight the whole way.

Once they were in the car, it would become real. It wasn’t a weekly trip for her check-in with pre-trial services — it was a hearing that Diane was almost guaranteed to lose. Elizabeth knew that they hadn’t been able to find enough to get the indictment dismissed. But would the government try to put her back in jail?

“Let’s go,” Elizabeth said, finally, and accepted Jason’s help to step up into the SUV and avoid tripping on her high heels. “I want to get this over with.”

Highway 481 South, Mile Marker 13

Diane flicked through some paperwork, squinting at the small print, then glanced over at Spinelli, his fingers wrapped tightly around the wheel, eyes on the road. Since they’d left Port Charles, the car had been relatively silent with only the rustling of papers and whooshing of the windshield wipers.

“It would have to rain today,” Diane muttered, flicking on the defrosters to clear the windshield. “What did Chase tell you when you passed the information about the phone?”

“The same thing you did,” the younger man said. “He can get the records, but it’ll be pretty limited right now, especially if she replaced her phone. We won’t be able to get anything off the cloud — but I wouldn’t expect it anyway.”

“No, not with the security Sonny would have put on the phone. Paranoid man,” Diane muttered with a huff. “But if we can get the location data and id of her phone, I can get information from cell towers in the area. We might be able to triangulate where her phone was located.”

“I know.”

“It won’t be a smoking gun,” Diane continued. “None of it really is,” she admitted. “It’s useless in front of a judge, but a jury would eat Kristina up as an alternative suspect. I’d never work for Sonny again,” she added, “but I think Alexis would understand.”

“I don’t want this to go to jury,” Spinelli said with a scowl. “I want to find Kristina on the footage planting the gun—”

“Spinelli—”

“Stone Cold asked me again if he could do anything, and I had to tell him no. Again. And that we didn’t have anything to tell him,” Spinelli added. Diane pressed her lips together, looked straight ahead. “He’d keep it quiet if we told him about Kristina—”

“I know that we’re convinced, Spinelli, but we might be wrong.”

“Diane.” If he could take his eyes off the road, Diane knew the pitying glance he’d give her.

“She’s the daughter of my best friend, Spinelli. And Jason’s been looking after her most of her life. When I think of what he and Sam went through to get her out of that damn cult. What Kristina’s put her parents through over the years—” Diane shook her head, dropping her eyes to the papers in her lap. “Six months ago, I wouldn’t have considered this, you know. But when I found out Kristina was planning to sue for custody of that baby, when I watched her at that funeral, making herself the center of attention—” she pursed her lips. “The little girl I knew couldn’t have done this. The callous woman I’ve seen lately could.”

Bobbie’s Diner: Dining Room

Sam shook out her umbrella, then tucked into the wrapper that would keep the rest of her bag dry. “I know you’re busy this morning, so thanks for meeting me.”

Alexis picked up her coffee. “I’m not due in court for an hour, and you have your appointment at noon, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” Sam gave her order to the waitress, waited for her to go. “I wanted to talk to you about it. About what to expect. And how to answer the questions.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been to anything like this, but you don’t need a game plan, Sam.” Alexis lifted her brows. “You just go in, and you answer the questions.”

“But this guy—he’s heard from Danny, and by now, Jason. He probably knows all about the custody issues, and that—that day in the lobby.” Sam picked up a straw, stripped off the wrapper. “He already has an idea in his head of who I am, and I just want to make sure he gets the right one by the end of it.”

“Sam—”

“Kristina was over last night, and she was telling me that I need to stand up for myself, you know? That I need to talk to the doctor about how things really were—” Sam stopped, saw her mother grimace. “Is that for me or Kristina’s advice?”

“Both. Your sister—” Alexis set down the cup, sat back, and didn’t speak again for a moment, collecting her thoughts. “I understand that she’s been through a very difficult situation, and that we’re barely two months out from the loss of the baby—”

“Irene,” Sam said softly, and Alexis closed her eyes. “I know, Mom. I catch myself doing it, too. I don’t use either name. But are we really helping her? Or are we choosing sides this way?”

“I don’t want it to be like that—”

“But it is like that. Kristina’s been—she’s been great,” Sam said. “You know? Checking in on me, making sure I eat. Keeping me from just being lonely—but Molly told me she’s not around as much as she’d want to be because she’s avoiding Kristina. I hate that, Mom. I let it happen.”

“I have as well,” Alexis said. “I looked at it like it was a triage situation. Kristina was more fragile, and Molly’s always seemed so capable—so…sturdy. I think that’s still largely true, but that Kristina’s taken that fragility—that inability to handle the reality of…Irene’s existence, and her…” Alexis’s voice faltered. “Her absence,” she said finally. “And she’s become brittle.”

“She wants me to stand up for myself,” Sam repeated. “And tell the doctor all the ways Elizabeth has done me wrong for the last twenty years.” Her lips were curved in a faint smile. “I’ve got that list ready to go, you know.” She tapped her temple. “It’s never far away. It’d be really easy to do it.”

“My question to you would be,” Alexis said, “is why do you need to make Elizabeth the villain in your story? She’s not, sweetheart.”

Her mother’s kind tone had Sam dropping her eyes, tears rising. She cleared her throat. “Someone else has to be the bad guy, Mom. Come on, you know how this works. Because if she’s just another character in the story—” She tapped her chest. “That makes me the problem. And I don’t know how to fix that. I thought I had. I thought—” She looked away, her eyes a bit distant, then focused, looking back at her mother. “I don’t want Jason back. I don’t want the life we had together. We didn’t love each other the way we should have, you know? Not anymore. And not for a very long time. Danny — he’s a miracle and I will never regret that he was born — but he probably shouldn’t have been.” Sam’s final words were released on a shuddering sigh, and she sat back in her chair, folding her arms. “It was easier with Elizabeth when she and Jason were just friends. When Jake was Danny’s brother, and I could forget why that link existed. I wouldn’t have to remember the person I was, and all the terrible things I did to break that link. The horrible things I thought about that boy. He never deserved any of it.”

“No, he didn’t.” Alexis tipped her head to the side. “But that boy is Danny’s brother, and they love each other very much. You have to make peace with all of that Sam. You have to. And you have to make peace with the person you were then.” She leaned forward. “Or you will never have a relationship with your son again. Can you live with yourself if that’s how this ends?”

“I just know I can’t keep doing things the way I have. I almost—I was lying in Scout’s room last night, and I started to think Kristina was right, you know? That I deserved to have my side of it known. That if this doctor understood why Elizabeth was the problem—I started planning it in my head, what would I say, how would I phrase it—and I just—” Sam sighed. “I don’t know. I just don’t.”

“Don’t go into this appointment with a game plan, Sam. Or a prepared speech, a rehearsed diatribe. Just go in with this thought — Danny. He’s all that’s left of your relationship with Jason. And he’s all that matters now.”

Franklin Street: Federal Parking Lot

Elizabeth stepped down from the car, her heels scratching lightly across the concrete floor. She moved out of the way so that Jason could close the door and looped her purse over her shoulder. “Cameron said he and the boys are inside with Michael and Carly—” Her phone buzzed again. “Spinelli and Diane just got there, too,” she said, reading the text. She lifted her eyes to him. “That just leaves us, I guess.”

“I know.”

And yet still neither of them moved. She shivered lightly, listening to the drops of rain outside, and the way water dripped inside, echoing off the walls. “Parent teacher conferences are in two weeks. I usually go back and forth between Jake and Aiden. They’re both good students, so I don’t feel like I have to talk to everyone. I like to see Jake’s art teacher, and Aiden’s math teacher. Aiden doesn’t like math—”

“Hey,” Jason touched her arm. “You’ll be there to do that. Okay?”

“I know. I know,” she repeated. “But…I just wanted you to know. In case. You’ll be there for Danny, and he has that shop class with Jake. I wanted to talk to the teacher, to see how that’s going because it’s such a strange choice for him, but he took it to be with Danny—”

He cut off her rambling with a brush of his mouth against hers, and she sighed, sliding her hand up to his neck. “If you don’t come home today,” he said, his breath against her lips, “then I won’t stop fighting until you do.”

“Without switching places with me,” she said, a little wryly, feeling rewarded when he smiled faintly.

“Without switching places,” he admitted. He took her hand, brought it to his mouth and kissed the inside of her palm. “Let’s try something new, okay? We’re in this together. No matter what happens.”

“No bailing,” she said, and his smile widened. “I said that to you once, remember? A lifetime ago. We…we broke that promise,” she admitted. “But not this time.”

“Not this time.” He kissed her forehead, lingering. “And not ever again.”

+41

Written in 69 minutes. I needed a little bit of time to finish the last scene — I wanted this to feel like a middle-of-the-night chapter, so I didn’t want to leave anything for the next part.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Webber House: Jake’s Bedroom

The house had fallen quiet hours earlier, but Jake didn’t think anyone had actually managed to fall asleep. He laid on his back, staring at the ceiling, dimly making out the long faded stars he’d painted when they’d moved in eight years ago.

Beside him, he could hear Cameron’s breathing — but it wasn’t slow and even, signaling his older brother hadn’t been able to rest either.

“Are you really going back to California on Wednesday?”

Cameron shifted, the sheets rustling. “Yeah. I promised Mom I would. As soon as I sign the guardianship agreement.”

Jake sat up, drawing his knees towards his chest. “You think my dad’s going to leave again?”

Cameron sat up, too, but neither of them turned on a light, their outlines dimly visible through the streaks of moonlight filtering through the windows. “He made a good point tonight. The Feds want him more than Mom. He’s just as likely to be arrested tomorrow as she is to lose her bail. And then where are we? Danny gets shipped back to his mom,  you and Aiden with Grandma Laura?”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t notice that,” Cameron muttered. He was quiet for a moment. “I think something is different about him. I believe him when he says he’s staying. I believe that he wants it to be the truth.”

“That’s still not a no.”

“I’m not going to lie to you, Jake. Jason’s made a career of dipping in and out of Mom’s life. I remember a lot more than you do. He comes around, Mom’s happy, and then he goes. And they do this every few years. But this is the first time I can remember them being…” Cameron hesitated. “Romantic, I guess. The last time was before he got snatched the Cassadines. When you were…”

“Still dead,” Jake answered. He wrapped his arms around his legs. “You’re right. I know that. I said the same thing when he came home, and I avoided him as much I as could, you know? Wasn’t going to depend on him again. And now…”

“Now we don’t have a choice. Because Mom’s right, you know. As much as I want to be here, to be with you guys — whoever is doing this to her doesn’t get to destroy our lives, too. Because then this asshole wins. So I got what I wanted — I know you and Aiden will have a backup if something changes with your dad. I get to be here tomorrow. And Mom will get to have a little victory, too. I’ll go back to Stanford with more frequent visits.” Cameron leaned towards Jake, their shoulders bumping. “And you’re applying to that school in Spain.”

“You can barely be three thousand miles away, and I’m supposed to go six thousand?” Jake demanded. “No. There are programs closer—”

“You’re living the dream Mom gave up for me. For us,” Cameron clarified. “She wanted to be an artist. She’s made it possible for both us to do what we’ve already dreamed about. We’re going to do it.”

There was a light knock on the door, and then it opened. A head peeked around the edge, and Jake could make out the form of his younger brother. He sighed. “You can’t sleep either?”

“No, and—” Aiden came in, gestured towards the hallway with Danny following him in. “Neither can he. I found him in the hallway.”

“I was getting a drink of water,” Danny muttered.

“I’ll get the sleeping bags,” Cameron said, sliding off the bed.

Penthouse: Hallway

Sam’s fingers drifted along the wall as she walked from her bedroom towards the stairs, lingering on Danny’s room, then Scout’s. Both doors were closed — and had been since they’d last been home.

Had it really been two weeks since that awful night at the police station? Sam closed her eyes, trying to bring back the memory of that night, before the call in the middle of the night. Curled up on the sofa next to Dante, trying to cheer up Kristina. Scout in her room, Danny at his brother’s — or so she’d thought.

There hadn’t been a moment’s peace since that night, Sam thought. She opened her eyes, twisted the knob and stepped inside Scout’s room. It was neat — Scout always liked to clean it before she left for her father’s. She should have been home over a week ago,  and instead neither of her kids were coming home for months.

Sam sat on Scout’s bed, her fingertips  tracing a pattern in the lace. Tomorrow, she’d get to talk to Danny’s doctor for the first time, and she didn’t know what she was supposed to do. Kristina wanted Sam to stand up for herself, and there was a part of Sam that thought Kristina was right. That Sam deserved a chance to tell her side—

But then she’d remembered her mother’s harsh words and the look on Danny’s face. Every time Sam had tried to do that lately, it had been a mistake. She’d thought she finally make Danny understand how furious she was by walking out of the police station — only Jason had seized that opportunity to be the good father.

How was the fair? He’d always been the good guy who got to come in for special occasions, overnight visits, and holidays. She’d had the brunt of the work, hadn’t she? The good and the bad. She’d had to be play the cop, the executioner — and Danny treated her like she was the enemy.

But this doctor might end up testifying in the next hearing. And Sam needed him to be on her side. She should have done more research, should have looked him up. She could have figured out the right thing to do say if she treated him like a mark, like the idea old days.

Sam laid down on Scout’s bed, pulling the pink, lacy pillow towards her. She just had to find the right angle to make the doctor understand that Sam wasn’t the bad guy — that she was just trying to make sure Danny knew who Elizabeth really was — someone who couldn’t be trusted. That was her job, wasn’t it? To protect her son from people who would hurt him.

Somehow she’d make him understand. She’d make him see what she did.

Webber House: Elizabeth’s Bedroom

Elizabeth carefully closed the door, then slid back into bed next to Jason. “I heard a door close upstairs,” she told him, pulling the blanket up to her waist. “I think Aiden went up there.”

“Probably can’t sleep.” Jason sat up, then pulled Elizabeth against him, tucking her into his embrace so his arm was securely around her. “They’ll want to go tomorrow.”

“I know.” She closed her eyes for a moment, though sleep was no closer for her now than it had been when they’d heard Aiden’s door open just down the hall. “I won’t fight them on it. I don’t want them there, but if that prosecutor wants to put me back in jail, the judge should get to see how that hurts my family.”

He stroked her arm, his finger tips dancing lightly from her shoulder towards her elbow, then back again. “I thought about calling Spinelli again, just to see  there was anything he could tell us. Anything I could do. Even if it was just answering questions again. It’s hard to believe he doesn’t know anything yet. That Sonny doesn’t know anything.”

“Well, you were usually the one who found things out for Sonny,” Elizabeth reminded him, and he sighed. “He’s never been able to replace you. No one he trusts nearly as much. As for Spinelli —” she furrowed her  brow. “I got the feeling there are leads he just doesn’t want to share. Which I hate, but I respect that he and Diane are doing everything they can to make the evidence admissible. I just miss the days when you could punch someone and wrap it up in a few days.”

“So do I,” he said dryly, and she laughed lightly, surprising herself. Then she sighed and sat up, the sheeting pooling back to her waist.

“It’s so frustrating to not know anything,” she complained. “At least if one of us were involved, we could have some…I don’t know…” She waved her hand. “Something to do. We could argue about how we’re going to get away with it or where we’re going to run, or I don’t know—you not doing something stupid like you did with Michael—” She saw Jason wince and she furrowed her brow. “Jason?”

“I—” He sighed, then sat up a little more straight. “I did talk to Sonny. I can’t confess to Cates, but—”

“But you were going to confess to something?” she interrupted. “Jason—”

“It’s—” Jason slid out of bed, went towards the window by the night stand, then looked back at her. “The Feds hate me for Pikeman going wrong—”

“That’s their problem. They’re the idiots who can’t find Valentine, not you—”

“If I had turned over the name when I found out, if I hadn’t let Anna talk me into waiting—” He grimaced, looked out the window. “I thought about confessing to that. To letting him escape. They could charge me as an accessory. They’d get some blood for that—”

“Jason.”

“I thought about it,” he repeated. “But I’m not going to do it.”

“Why did you even—” She shoved back the sheets and got to her feet. “How could you even consider it? After already being gone—”

“They’re going after you because of me,” Jason told her. “What you and the boys are going through—”

“People have been going after me because of you for more than twenty years, Jason. I’m used to it. Why do you think your absence would make this better? Why do you always think the people who love you are better off when you’re not there?”

Jason opened his mouth, then closed it. “Everyone’s got questions today,” he muttered, looking back towards the window. “Danny’s doctor. He thinks Danny resents me because I waited so long to go to court. That trying to be fair to everyone made it worse. What does that do for Danny, being fair to his mother when she’s being unfair to both of us?” he bit out. He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I don’t know if any of you are better when I’m around. But I’ve tried it the other  way for years, and it hasn’t worked.”

She folded her arms, not mollified by his answer at all. “Oh. Well in that case, I guess that makes everything better—” Elizabeth turned away, irritated beyond measure, but he reached out, snagging her by the elbow and tugging until she was facing him.

“I’m sorry,” he told her. He stroked both hands down her arms, from shoulder to elbow to her wrists, bring her hands to his mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to be sorry, Jason. I just want you to be here. I want you to want to be here.” Her throat tightened, but she forced the words out. “And now you’re telling me that you were thinking of a way to leave us again. To leave me and your sons. We just got you back. You were—I thought you were dead.”

Jason didn’t have an answer for that. He just leaned his forehead against hers.

“And I know it’s not because you don’t love us. I know how much you love Jake and Danny. I know that. But I’m tired of pleading with you to see how much we need you. I’ve spent my life doing that, Jason. For longer than I can remember, I’ve been standing in front of you, begging you to stay. It’s exhausting, and I don’t want to do it again. I don’t wake Jake and Danny to spend their lives doing it either.”

“I don’t want it either,” he managed.

“Then look at me — I mean it —” She touched his jaw, gently pushing until he raised his head so their eyes met. “You cannot solve our problems by removing yourself from the equation. You cannot make me, or Jake or Danny, or any one you love better by not being here.  We are not better without you. You need to believe me. I need you to believe me.”

“I’m—I do believe you—” He stopped, took a deep breath. “I know that’s true. You’ve told me that, over and over. But it’s hard to accept that I can bring you anything but pain.”

“The only pain you’ve ever caused me is when you leave,” Elizabeth said. Her eyes searched his. “So don’t do it.”

“I’m not going to.” He turned his head slightly in her grasp, kissed the inside of her palm, then drew it around her neck, pulling her against him. “I’m not going anywhere. Not this time. Not ever again.”

Pozzulo’s Restaurant: Office

Sonny flipped on the switch, casting off the shadows and illuminating his office. He hadn’t been able to sleep, and something had kept nagging at him, keeping him from slumber.

He’d come to the restaurant, thinking he’d find something he’d left unsigned or paperwork that needed to be destroyed, but looking around the room — it wasn’t that. So what had been nagging at him?

This is the second time she’s left her phone somewhere this month

The exchange with Spinelli flitted across his consciousness, and Sonny looked at the desk, saw Kristina’s phone. He’d put it in pocket at the diner, then he’d forgotten about it by the time he got back to the restaurant.

He walked over, picked it up, turning it over in his hands. She’d lost her phone a few weeks ago, Sonny thought. She’d been annoyed and complaining about it after their family breakfast — and she’d already been irritated that day, remarking on how little anyone seemed to care about her charges. When Michael had taken Donna and Avery home afterwards, Kristina had remained and pulled out her new phone. It had just been replaced because she’d left her old one somewhere, she didn’t remember where.

Sonny lifted his eyes to the painting that hid his safe. Where he knew one of his guns had gone missing. Few people had the combination, but he hadn’t really cared — it wasn’t where he kept the most important documents. He’d wondered if someone from his organization had taken out Cates with the missing gun —

But he remembered now that there’d been a tip delivered by phone that had triggered the search of Elizabeth’s car. And then Kristina had replaced her phone. After complaining everyone cared too much about Elizabeth’s charges.

No. No. It was just what he’d thought all along. Someone had stolen the gun from his office, someone trying to look good in the organization. Or maybe his gun wasn’t the murder weapon at all. It was a coincidence.

Stupid to think Kristina had done this — that she’d framed Elizabeth like this. Kristina didn’t have a reason to hurt Elizabeth or try to force Jason into anything. Jason had spent his life taking care of Sonny’s kids. They wouldn’t turn on him like this.

He’d call Spinelli, though, and tell him about the gun. That was the right thing to do.

Sonny exhaled slowly, set Kristina’s phone back on his desk, then switched off the light and left.

+38

Written in 73 minutes. Had to go over because it was 12:52 when I had one scene left, and I didn’t want to leave it out or leave it hanging.

Monday, September 30, 2024

 General Hospital: Fletcher’s Office

Jason reluctantly sat in the chair that the doctor gestured toward, perching towards the edge and leaning forward — almost as if, given half the chance, he could be up and gone within seconds.

Dr. Fletcher picked up a notebook from his desk, then came over to the chair across from Jason. “I know these sessions can be uncomfortable. I appreciate you coming in and participating in Danny’s therapy.”

“If this helps him, that’s what I want to do,” Jason said, and the doctor nodded, making a note.

“How are you  holding up after the hearing and Danny’s first visit with his mother?”

Jason furrowed his brow. “We’re not here about me.”

“You’re not my patient, no,” Fletcher said, “but you’re my patient’s father. His world is built around the adults in it. Everything you do affects him. Even if you think it doesn’t. I can’t help him if I don’t understand the people around him.”

Jason exhaled slowly. “I know that’s true,” he said after a moment. “I…I raised my nephew for the first year of his life, and I saw how he reacted to me, to others. He knew when I was angry, when I was upset, when I was—” he stopped. “I’m fine. About all of that. I didn’t want it to happen, but it did. And now we just have to deal with what’s left.”

“You told me during our first visit that you were avoiding court. That you didn’t want Danny in this position. Do you think Danny is worse off because you waited?”

“I—” Jason leaned back now, just slightly, surprised by the question. “I don’t know.”

“Danny told me something important about his visit with his mother,” Fletcher continued. “I won’t tell you exactly what he said, but he indicated that he intentionally introduced the subject of Elizabeth because he knew it would trigger his mother’s anger — and that it was the only way she might be honest with him.”

Jason grimaced, and not being able to stand it anymore, got to his feet, and paced towards the window. “I hate that he feels that way.”

“Does he do that with you?”

Jason hesitated, then squinted, looked back at the doctor. “I don’t think so. When he was arrested, he was angry when I brought him back to Elizabeth’s house. We were both angry,” he corrected. “I didn’t like the position he’d put himself in, the way he was speaking to his mother, to his brother, to Elizabeth. And the fact that he and Aiden were drinking or smoking at all — addiction— both our families have a history. And the way Danny talks about drinking…my brother, AJ, used to drink to get away from the pressure he felt from our family. So we were angry with each other. But I don’t think Danny intentionally pushes me to be angry.”

“Does he ask you difficult questions?”

“Like what?”

“Why you were gone for two years?” Fletcher prompted. “Why you and his mother divorced?”

“He’s asked those questions. I tell him the truth, the best I can. He doesn’t need to know everything about his mother and I.”

“Danny described you as someone who tries to be fair to everyone — even when someone is clearly wrong.”

“Did he?” Jason asked, surprised, then folded his arms. “I guess that’s true.” He frowned. “Is that a bad thing?”

“What’s the cost of that approach do you think?” Fletcher said instead. “You described the last few months as trying to approach Danny’s custody arrangement with Sam’s perspective in mind. She was right to be worried, you told me. You tried to be fair to her.”

Jason opened his mouth, then closed it, squinting. What was the cost to that approach? “I don’t know.”

“What does Danny learn from watching you avoid escalating? How do you think it helped Danny to delay the use of the court to force his mother to give you equal rights in Danny’s guardianship?”

That was a hell of a question, and Jason didn’t really have a good answer. “It didn’t, I guess. Sam just thought she could keep pushing because I wouldn’t push back. I tried to keep Danny from being put in the middle, but that’s all it did.”

“Do you think he resents that you didn’t act faster?”

“Does he?” Jason asked instead. “I don’t—” He stopped. “I don’t know. Maybe. He doesn’t like that he wasn’t in court. That he couldn’t speak for himself. Maybe that made his visit with his mother worse. I don’t want that. I don’t want him to feel like he has to attack Sam to get honesty. How do I fix that?”

“How often do you tell him he doesn’t have to choose?” Fletcher asked, and Jason scowled. “How often do you say something neutral in front of him about her? Do you ever defend her?”

“What’s to defend?” Jason asked before thinking, then grimaced. “I try to be careful what I say.     He already has a difficult relationship with her. I’m not interested in making it worse.”

“You were in a similar situation with your other son, Jake. Danny says until recently, you and Jake’s mother were not involved. I didn’t get any indication there were any conversations or problems around custody.”

Confused by the change in topic, Jason furrowed his brows again. “There weren’t. It’s different with Jake. Elizabeth and I haven’t been together for most of his life, and for a time…” he hesitated. “There was a time when Jake was young that I wasn’t involved in his life. Jake wouldn’t remember any of that. Danny wouldn’t know about it. But once I was in Jake’s life, Elizabeth made it easy to stay there. I’ve never had to fight to be with Jake.”

“So Danny sees a different example of how it could be,” Fletcher pointed out, and Jason winced. “Do you think that’s influencing his relationship with his mother? Why he’s bringing up Elizabeth with Sam?”

“Probably,” Jason admitted. He returned to the chair, perched on the edge. “I know it’s troubled him, the way Sam talks about his brother. About Elizabeth. I could see Danny wishing his situation with his mother was more like what Jake and Elizabeth have. I don’t know how to handle that. How to help him manage it. If I even should.”

“Danny’s at a crossroads,” Fletcher told him. “Up until this year, Sam was the primary parent in his life, you were more a visitor. It’s a statement of fact, not a judgment,” he added when Jason winced. “Right now, that situation has reversed. You’re not just the primary parent in his life, you’re also the stable one. If he’s not pushing you for honesty through anger or manipulation, that means there’s a level of trust. It’s important that you protect that. He feels safe with you. And he doesn’t feel safe with his mother.”

“I want him to be safe with both of us.”

“Danny wants that, too. It’s why he’s pushing his mother. He wants her to reveal harsh truths because maybe she can change. Because he’s changing. His truth was revealed — his substance abuse, and he feels guilty because he’s been rewarded for it. He’s living with his brother and father full-time with few restrictions despite his behavior. He feels guilty because he has a maternal relationship with Elizabeth, a woman his mother has made it clear she dislikes for that exact reasons. He’s enjoying the life he’s experienced, and there’s a part of him that thinks — if Sam could hit the rock bottom the way he did, maybe she might get better.”

“How do I help him? That’s all I care about.”

“A lot of what you’re already doing. Continued honesty, even if it’s difficult. Danny tests you less because he feels safe with you. But that might change. The safer he feels, the more comfortable he might feel to start pushing the boundaries of that freedom. He pushed and pushed until his mother walked out on him. You’ve already left him once. What does it take for someone to stay?”

Jason exhaled slowly, leaned back. “He needs me to stay. To not give up on him.”

“Exactly. Continue staying neutral as best you can about his mother in front of him. Don’t analyze her behavior. Make it clear that these visits with his mother aren’t about fixing anything and he doesn’t have to report to anyone when he’s done. He doesn’t need perform loyalty with you. So far he hasn’t indicated he wants to return to drinking or smoking weed. These are good signs. But he might relapse. What’s your plan if that happens?”

Jason paused, considering the question. “I know that he does it to numb himself, to make things go away. If he does, then it means something’s happened. And that’s more important to find out than punishing him.”

“That’s a good instinct. Conversation, identification of the cause. Punishment can come later. It’s important that Danny has limits and consequences, but they won’t resolve anything.” Fletcher made some notes. “I’m having my first session with his mother tomorrow, and I’d like to talk to Jake and Elizabeth if that’s possible. Jake, especially. He’s important in Danny’s social structure.”

“I’m sure they’d both agree.” Jason paused. “Am I allowed to ask what you’ll say to Sam?”

“You can ask. But until the two of you are in a room, I can’t answer.” Fletcher put down his pen. “Is there anything you’d like her to know? That’s something I’ll ask her as well. And share the answers.”

Jason considered the question carefully. “I want her to know that Danny is all that matters to me. I want him to be okay, to be happy, and that I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. That for all the things we’ve done and said to each other, none it should matter more than our son.”

Penthouse: Living Room

“I’m so glad you’re getting to finally  talk to that doctor tomorrow,” Kristina said, curling up on the sofa next to Sam. “You’ll get to tell your side of things, and he’ll be able to make Danny understand the truth.”

Sam smiled weakly, picking the sofa cushion. “The truth, huh? Which one?”

“That Elizabeth is deliberately trying to make things worse for you and Danny so she can replace you. I don’t care what Mom says,” Kristin added. “Elizabeth is the one that brought Danny here, knowing how you feel about her being around Danny. It’s bad enough Jason’s living there. Elizabeth rubbed your face in it.”

“That might be true,” Sam said, sitting up and folding her legs. “But it doesn’t change the mistakes I’ve made. I grabbed her. I slapped her.”

“And then she got to look like the benevolent victim by not filing charges. She pushed you into that, Sam. You need to stand up for yourself tomorrow,” Kristina said. “Make sure that doctor knows everything Elizabeth did to steal Jason from you, right? Getting pregnant to trap him, coming between the two of you back then, trying to use Jake to keep him away from you, then lying about Jake Doe—”

Sam made a face. “If I start listing all of that—” she trailed off, looked away.

“Then what?” Kristina demanded. “What? What’s going to happen?”

“Krissy, it wasn’t all Elizabeth back then. I did…” Her sister’s expression tensed, and Sam dropped her eyes. “I did some terrible things.”

“Jason worked for the mob, Sam. What’s worse than that? He’s killed people.”

“He worked for your father, Kristina. And my history isn’t much better. I—I’ve used the danger to criticize Jason, but I don’t use his actions — that’s not fair.” Sam sighed. “I don’t know. I just don’t want to walk into another room where someone blames me for everything. I’ve made mistakes, but so has everyone else. It just doesn’t seem fair that I’m the only one paying for it.”

“For now,” Kristina said, and Sam frowned at her. “After tomorrow, you’ll see. Everything will be better. I can almost guarantee it. But you—” She jabbed a finger at Sam. “You have to promise to stand up for yourself with that doctor. Promise me.”

“I promise I’ll do my best tomorrow,” Sam said, “but I wish I felt as optimistic as you do.”

Kristina smiled. “You’ll see. I just have a good feeling.”

Bobbie’s Diner: Dining Room

Spinelli opened the door, and nearly turned all the way around when he realized a familiar face was at the counter.

But it was too late — Sonny had already seen him and was lifting a hand in acknowledgment. Spinelli forced himself to smile, then strode forward. “Mr. Sir,” he said. “Always a pleasure to see you.”

“I thought you’d retired all those old nicknames,” Sonny said with a wrinkle of his nose. “You’re not a kid anymore.”

“No, I’m not,” Spinelli said, a bit wistfully. “But I find it makes Stone Cold feel more like his old self when I throw in some of the old stuff.” He nodded to the waitress. “Picking up for Maxie Jones.”

“It does bring me back to a different time when I hear it,” Sonny admitted. “How’s he doing? I know you can’t tell me anything about the case, but you see Jason and Elizabeth more than I do. They holding up?”

“As best as one can imagine,” Spinelli said carefully. “The Jackal hasn’t been successful yet, but I have every hope that before trial, I’ll have some answers.”

“Good. That’s good—”

“Mr. Corinthos—” Another waitress came out of the kitchen, a little breathless. “Margie said you were out here. I was gonna wait until Ms. Spencer came in because she’d have the number, but—” She leaned under the counter and came up with a cell phone. “Kristina was in earlier and left this on the counter.”

Sonny sighed, retrieved the phone, turning it over in his hands. “You’d think she was a teenager the way she loses phones,” he muttered. He looked at Spinelli. “You’ve got a daughter. How many phones does she lose?”

Spinelli lifted his brow. “Georgie? She’s still got the one we gave her last year on her birthday.” He cleared his throat. “Kristina’s been a little distracted lately, I’m sure.”

“Distracted, yeah, I guess that’s fair. I just—you know every time she has to replace a phone, we have to put security on the damn thing so it can’t just be hacked by that—” Sonny gestured. “AirPlay? Is that what it is? This is the second time she’s left her phone somewhere this month.”

“This month?” Spinelli echoed, his heartbeat picking up. “That does seem like a lot. Even my Maximista doesn’t lose phones at that rate. Good luck with that.”

“Thanks. It was good seeing you, Spinelli.” Sonny slid the phone into his pocket, and reached for his order. “Do good work, okay?”

“Will do, Mr. Sir.” Spinelli watched him go, his head already racing. Kristina had a phone replaced this month? When? Why? Had she tried to erase evidence after making a false tip? Could they legally find out without her picking up the scent?

He tugged his phone out of his pocket and began to fire off a text to Diane.

What does it take to get a subpoena for someone’s phone records?

Webber House: Living Room

“I don’t understand,” Jake said, leaning forward with his brow creased. “They let you out on bail. They can’t just take it back.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Aiden chimed in. “How is that fair?”

Elizabeth, standing across the coffee table and sofa, blocking the television, exchanged a look with Jason, then took a deep breath. “It’s not fair—”

“But sometimes they don’t care about what’s right or fair,” Danny said, and all eyes swung to him, squeezed into the corner of the sofa with Jake between him and Aiden. “I mean, my mom went to jail over that Shiloh guy. He was awful. He did bad things to Kristina, to Willow, he was gonna hurt Cameron—but no one cared about any of that. Fair doesn’t matter.”

“No, that wasn’t fair, and neither is this,” Elizabeth said. She bit her lip. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen for sure. But Diane usually has a good nose for this kind of thing, and we’re pretty confident it’s going to, at least, come up tomorrow.”

“And  they could take you right then?” Aiden wanted to know. “Like—that would be it?”

“Yes. If the judge decides to revoke bail immediately. But he might ask the government to formally file a bail revocation, which means we’d have more time. Spinelli said he was close to answers the last time I talked to him,” Elizabeth said. “It might come to nothing.”

“But it might be something,” Cameron said, standing behind the sofa, his arms folded.

“It—” Elizabeth pressed her lips together, took a deep breath. “It might,” she managed. Jason squeezed her hand.

“If it does,” Jason said, “then the most important thing we can do is focus on the truth. Your mother is innocent, and there’s a lot of evidence that will prove it. Even before Spinelli finds something definitive. I believe in him, in Diane.”

“Would it be like last time?” Aiden asked, staring down at the floor, his voice sounding younger than his fourteen years. “Could…could we see you, talk to you?”

“I don’t know. I hope it would be different. I can’t imagine they could restrict visitors permanently,” Elizabeth said.

“But I’ll be here,” Cameron said, and Elizabeth furrowed her brow. “If they send you to the same place, the weekends are visiting times. I’ll be here on the weekends. I’ll be going back to California on Wednesday,” he added when Jake turned to look at him. “Mom and I agreed. Diane will have the guardianship agreement updated by then so that I can be there for Aiden and Jake if I need to.”

“You don’t trust my dad?” Danny said, swinging his eyes back to his father. “Are you going somewhere?”

“No,” Jason said firmly, and Elizabeth looked at him now, because there was something different in his voice when he said it this time. “I’m staying right here, but it’s always a good idea to have back up in case something happens to me. They—they think I’m part of this. That your mother is covering for me,” he told the boys. “There needs to be another layer of guardianship if something goes wrong.”

“Oh.” Danny settled, mollified.

“We’re both innocent,” Jason continued. “And we’re going to keep fighting this. I know it’s hard — especially because I haven’t given anyone in this room a reason to trust me,” he added. “But I’m not going anywhere, and we’ll fight as long as we have to make sure your mother doesn’t either.”

+38

Written in 58 minutes.

Monday, September 30, 2024

Bobbie’s Diner: Courtyard

Molly’s hand froze, hovering over the handle of the diner’s front door. Behind the panes of glass she could see the dark hair of her older sister swinging over her shoulder as Kristina picked up an order and turned back towards the door.

A run in with Kristina was the last thing Molly needed. She could pick up something closer to the court house.

She was halfway across the courtyard before Kristina’s irritated voice stopped her. “You can’t even say hello to me?”

Molly closed her eyes, counted to five, then turned to face her sister. “I find when I say hello to someone, they think it opens a conversation. I try to avoid that with people I don’t want to talk to.”

Kristina scowled. “You don’t want to face me because you know I’ll call you out on your bullshit—”

“My—” Molly couldn’t even complete her thought, she was so genuinely baffled. “My bullshit? Have you lost what little sense you had left?”

“Do you know what Sam’s been going through since you started your little war?” Kristina demanded. “Thanks to you, Sam’s life is destroyed—”

“Thanks—” Molly held up a hand. “I can’t—I’m sorry. How exactly is Sam’s situation my fault? I just saw her—”

“If you’d just kept your nose out of all of this, Dante wouldn’t have been assigned to the case,” Kristina retorted. “He was so busy focusing on that instead of his own kid. Rocco dragged Danny into trouble, and now Sam’s lost custody of both her children. Why couldn’t you just let the real lawyers handle it, huh? Why do you always have to go after glory?”

“That is a wild chain of events you’ve linked to me. Dante was barely involved in the case before he had to recuse himself, and Rocco and Danny were drinking for months, long before—why am I even justifying myself to you?” Molly shook her head, and turned, heading for the parking lot, then turned back. “You know what, Kristina? The reason I’ve been avoiding Sam is because you’re always there. The last thing Sam needs is someone who blames everyone else for her problems.”

“I’m helping her,” Kristina shot back.

“Yeah, the way you helped me and TJ? You want to try to help yourself to one of Sam’s kids?  Your kind of help, Kristina, is poison. I just wish I’d seen it sooner. Stay away from me.”

Webber House: Living Room

Elizabeth exhaled slowly, then turned to face Cameron. Her baby. The first child she’d brought into this world. The little boy with messy curls and a sweet smile who had made her a mother and day after day, had given her the strength to keep going when the world had seemed against her.

How did he get so tall? When had he turned into a person with his own thoughts and feeling and dreams? With his own moral compass and direction?

“I’m not going to apologize for trying to protect you and your brothers from all of this. For not wanting any of this to touch you. This is my problem, and I’m going to fix it. I won’t make my problems yours. I’ve done that enough, Cameron. You already delayed Stanford for a whole year—”

“Willingly,” Cameron said. “I have zero regrets about waiting to go, or coming home. Mom.” He stepped towards her. “I know you have guilt about how much time I spent with Jake and Aiden. How much babysitting I did, especially for Aiden. You think you took pieces of my childhood because it was just us, and it’s not true, okay? It’s not.”

“Cam—”

“Aiden doesn’t remember the way things were without Jake. Those years when we thought he was gone.” Cameron gestured to her, then to himself. “But we do, right? We know. And I can’t forget it. You’re not the only one who blames themselves for Jake running out the door that day.”

“You were just a little boy, Cameron,” Elizabeth managed. “It was my job to keep you safe—”

“Being there for my brothers, being part of raising them, making them into they are? That was a privilege, Mom. I don’t regret a single moment I spent with either of them. And I don’t regret standing here with you instead of being in some lecture in California. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“No, you’re not.” She sighed, then nodded. “All right. You’re not the only one, Cam, who thought two weeks ago that things would be different today. That somehow, the real killer would have been found. Or that the Feds would realize it’s not me. And it’s not Jason. The motion to dismiss tomorrow— it was always a long shot that this nightmare would be over.”

“So it’s just the fact there’s been no movement on the actual case?” Cameron furrowed his brow. “Joss said that the FBI did another search—”

“They did. And we got the preliminary results.” Elizabeth hesitated, weighing her words carefully. “Whoever put that gun in my car — we always knew it was almost certainly the real murder weapon. Otherwise, why go to the trouble? But they couldn’t match it definitely to the scene. That gave Diane the wiggle room she needed to make an argument for bail. I’m not a risk for flight without a match to the murder weapon.”

Cameron stared at her for a long moment. “But they found something that matches it. Another bullet?”

“One that’s not too damaged. The report isn’t back yet, but yes. I expect it to be a match. Which means evidence that links me to the murder weapon.” Elizabeth leaned back against the sofa. “What I’m accused of — with my links to people who know how to disappear — I never should have made bail. But the Feds didn’t fight bail that hard. They wanted me out.”

“They wanted to watch you and Jason. Because they think he’s involved.” Cameron made a face. “I figured—”

“He’s not involved. Not even a little. We’re completely innocent. Believe me, if Jason had any evidence, he’d have turned it over. He wouldn’t have let me spend a single night in jail if he knew something. We have nothing to offer the FBI about this case.” Elizabeth looked out the window, towards the road where her car had once sat. One that was now somewhere in federal custody. “For two weeks, they’ve got nothing out of us. So the reason they let me go isn’t working. And now—this new evidence increases my flight risk—”

“They might try to revoke your bail.”

“That’s a real fear.” Elizabeth rubbed her mouth. “And maybe they think I’m better leverage behind bars. Maybe I’ll turn on Jason, maybe he’ll confess to protect me. Either way, tomorrow — we find out what the Feds are thinking. And I don’t know what happens next. I don’t know if the judge would revoke it immediately. I don’t—” Her lips trembled. “I don’t know if I’m coming home from the court house tomorrow.”

The words lingered between them, and Cameron just watched her for a long moment, then took a deep breath. “Okay.  You need to tell Jake and Aiden. And Danny.”

“Cameron—”

“Mom. This isn’t about protecting them. They need to know that there’s a real chance they might not be able to see you after tomorrow. If you let them leave for school tomorrow and then you’re just not here — ” Cameron shook his head. “No. I’m telling you right now they’re old enough to handle this information, but they’re still young enough that it’ll hurt like hell. And they’ll be angry at themselves for going to school when they should be with you in court tomorrow.”

“I don’t want—”

“Jake’s been through worse in his life, so he can handle it. And we can help Aiden deal. Danny’s part of the family now.  If they were, like, eight, Mom, maybe I can see hiding this. But they’re not. We’re going with you. If they try to take your bail, I think the judge should see who they’re hurting.”

“I never wanted any of this to touch you, to come near you. Promise me you’re going back to school after tomorrow—”

Cameron shook his head. “I’m not promising anything. Not anymore. We take it day by day, Mom, okay? Right now, I’m good through this week. We’ll see what happens.”

Elizabeth lifted her eyes to the ceiling, tried to find the words, the patience, something she could use to put things back the way they’d been only weeks ago. “I can’t stand this. I can’t—”

Cameron came to her, and pulled her into a tight hug. Oh, and how his hugs had changed — from the little arms that could barely wrap around both her legs—she pressed her forehead to his shoulder. “When did you grow up? And who let that happen?”

“I’m going to be here for you and my brothers, Mom. And I won’t regret a single thing I have to give up. Because I know what you gave up for us—”

“I didn’t—”

“You think I don’t know why you became a nurse?” Cameron asked, pulling back so he could look at her. “You wanted a steady paycheck, health insurance, a life for me. But it wasn’t your dream. You made it your dream, and it’s worked out. But you did that for me—”

“I don’t regret it, Cam. Not a single second—” Horrified, Elizabeth shook her head. “You were always worth it, and I don’t even miss the life I thought I’d have—I don’t even think about that anymore—” It wasn’t like her mother and the fellowship she’d given up for Elizabeth’s birth, it wasn’t.

“I know. So trust me when I say the same thing. I’m not giving up anything I’m going to miss. Not when it means I’m right here with my family.”

FBI Temporary Offices: Conference Room

Caldwell squinted, and straightened when he saw Gia striding through the door of the conference room. “Did you drive all the way up here to get a paper copy of the report or something? Because I could have brought it tomorrow—”

“I wanted to see it in person. Today.” Gia reached out a hand, and he set a folder in it, still bewildered. She flipped through it, skimming. “Walk me through how you got this information.”

“An anonymous tip told us to look at the PCPD logs for September 14.” Caldwell picked up his notepad, flipped through the pages. “We found that two officers had been dispatched to the 400 block of Elm Street for a drunk and disorderly. That came from the report — there was no address. Just a block. The report was sparse. Two juveniles—Rocco Falconieri and Daniel Morgan—were brought in, found to be under the influence, and released to their parents, Samantha McCall and Dante Falconieri. Seemed to pretty cut and dry, except the tip told us it involved Webber.”

“Did it?”

“We pulled 911 calls from the time of the report,” Caldwell continued. “Two came in, within about ten minutes of each other. The first was to report the two teenagers walking around Elm Street — she’d nearly hit them with her car. And the second was from 46 Elm Street. Three teenagers arguing on the sidewalk, making a lot of noise and one of them was on the ground like they’d passed out. Neighbor overheard them arguing about vape pen and being high.”

“Three teenagers.” Gia exhaled slowly. “That’s Elizabeth Webber’s neighbor. 46? She lives at 44 doesn’t she?”

“She does. Which explains why those kids were picked up on the 400 block, doesn’t it? They’re in her neighborhood—”

“Two drunk teenagers heading to her house.” Gia closed the folder. “If the third teen had been under the influence, they’d have brought him in.”

“According to our tip, they did. Only Dante Falconieri wanted the drugs to be hushed up and to make the third teen disappear from the files. The second 911 call isn’t in the report. And since the kids were released—”

“No further paper trail.” Gia pressed her lips together. “It’s not much,” she said finally. “No evidence that any drug use happened in the house or under Elizabeth’s influence or with her knowledge. If anything, this Dante has something to answer for.” She looked at him. “But Reynolds is going to use it anyway to revoke her bail.”

“He’s going for revocation?” Caldwell pursed his lips. “I guess that makes sense. Webber’s kept herself clean other than some custody dispute with Morgan’s ex, but she comes out smelling like a rose in that case. I guess the match makes the flight risk question come up again, and this report—”

“Would suggest she can’t stay out of trouble.” Gia closed the folder, then pulled out a chair and sat down, considering her thoughts, and pulling together how she wanted to approach this. “I can’t stop him from going into court tomorrow and telling the judge Elizabeth Webber is a flight risk and that there’s a strong enough case to justify the charges. Because that—well, that part is true.”

“I sense a ‘but’ coming,” Caldwell said, pulling out his own chair to take a seat. “What are you thinking?”

“Reynolds can’t see it because Pikeman was his, and he’s still pissed at Morgan for how it went down. And I always understood how your investigation focused on him with the evidence we had at the beginning,” Gia said. “Maybe we can argue about how hard you went at his kids—”

“Had no choice—”

“But you didn’t break them.”

“No. And I really thought we would. Considering he’s been walking in and out of their lives. Plus, the youngest has a chip on his shoulder about his mom. Thought we’d piss him off enough he’d let the truth spill.” Caldwell grimaced. “Teenagers don’t hold up under that kind of pressure.”

“Not unless they’re telling the truth.” Gia leaned back in her chair. “I came onto this case thinking the same as Reynolds, you know. I had real doubts Elizabeth Webber was the shooter, but there’s enough in her case file to suggest she’d cover for Jason Morgan.  But I kept an open mind, and I’ve talked to the locals. They’ve put together some really compelling evidence that really makes it clear neither of them are the shooter. Which leaves us with two options. Either they’re innocent — or Jason Morgan set up a hit on an FBI agent with his teenager children, nephew, girlfriend, and a dozen other young witnesses in earshot who easily could have ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy it.”

“I…thought at the beginning one or both of them had to be involved. Especially after we found the gun. But the time frame for this shooting — it’s such a small window — ” Caldwell stroked his chin. “I can’t believe he doesn’t know anything. But did he set it up? I don’t know anymore.”

“Neither do I. Because here’s my real question — ” Gia leaned forward. “Every piece of evidence we have that paints Elizabeth in a bad light? It’s coming from an anonymous tip. We’d never go near her trunk without that call. And now we have a police report falling into our lap right before the hearing? Someone else is directing this investigation, and I think if we find that person, we find our killer.”

+33