Was hoping to cover more ground in this update, but the first scene took me a little bit to get right. Written in 59 minutes. See you Tuesday!

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Webber House: Master Bedroom

The light patter of raindrops was her first conscious thought as Elizabeth woke the next morning. The bedroom was still dark and quiet, and she considered just letting herself drift back into sleep, curled up next to Jason who continued to sleep — one of the rare times he wasn’t already awake.

She closed her eyes, absorbing the comfort of being wrapped up with the man she’d loved since she was eighteen, sometimes with her whole heart, and others with only a piece reserved for him. Last night had felt like some sort of break through, even more than their argument the previous day when she’d learned Jason had considered confessing to free Elizabeth from the charges. She finally felt like they were both committed to being together — not just as parents, but as two people who loved one another.

Jason’s breathing changed, and he shifted in bed, his arm that had been laying beneath her, splayed out along the mattress came up, curling over her shoulders, his fingertips stroking slowly. “You should sleep longer.”

“Thought about it,” she said, keeping her head tucked into the curve of his neck. “But my mind is awake now. Remembering what we have to do today.” Make sure Danny got back to school, put Cameron on a plane, go to work for a few hours because the nursing schedule needed to be handled and then — “Spinelli kept saying today was important, and I just…what if he finds something that gives us a real suspect — what if he finds out who put that gun in my trunk?”

“There’s no guarantee it’ll happen today,” Jason said, his tone cautious. “He said there was a lot of data and video to go through.”

“I know. I know. And he’s working as fast as he can. Just…the thought that the truth is in some file that’s just sitting in an office. That there’s proof someone did this to me. I’ve tried so hard not to think about it, to keep it this academic fact that doesn’t mean anything except making it over.”

“But?” he prompted when she fell silent.

“I can’t stop thinking that it’s someone we know. That knows me. Knows us.” Elizabeth sat up,  bracing herself with a hand lightly on his chest, finding his gaze in the shadows. “I keep going over and over that week in my head, thinking about everyone I came into contact with, who was at the house, who was at the hospital, and I just—I can’t think of a single reason any of them would have targeted me.”

Jason leaned over, switched on the lamp next to the bed, illuminating the room with just a little bit of light. “I don’t think anyone seriously thought the FBI would go after you like this,” he said. “This was to get at me—”

“So that you’d confess and the cops wouldn’t keep looking. I know. I know. But then it’s someone who knows you—”

“But not well enough to know you. Not really. Yes, I considered turning myself in,” Jason said, and she made a face. “But I didn’t. Because I didn’t want to, and because I’m not guilty. And you would never have let me go through with it. Because we’re both innocent. This isn’t like Michael. I confessed to something I did, and it was a loophole that got me out after his release.”

“I just—there’s the fear that we’ll know the truth from what Spinelli gets today — and then a whole other fear that we won’t. That it’s data and footage, and somehow, it won’t have any answers. That Diane will have to go trial with what we know now.” She sighed, swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Maybe I should tell her to do whatever she can to delay things. Until we get something—”

“Let’s get through today,” Jason interrupted. He slid across the bed so that he could be on her side, then sat next to her, pulling her against him. He kissed her temple. “We’ll get through today, and tomorrow, and the next day. Let Spinelli work.”

“I know. I’m just…” She sighed, relaxed against him, feeling comforted by his warmth and arms around her. “We finally have this. But I’m so afraid it’ll be like it always is. We’re strong, you and me, when it’s just us, in this warm little bubble where everything is perfect. And the rest of the world—”

“Not this time,” Jason promised. “This time will be different.”

“I almost believe it when you say it.” She smiled at him, touched his cheek, kissed him, then touched her forehead to his. “I might need you to say it a few more times.”

“Whenever you need it. I love you,” he murmured, and her smile deepened.

“You know, you didn’t say that before last night,” Elizabeth said, tilting her head back slightly so that their eyes could meet. “Neither did I. Strange, isn’t it? But I love you, too.”

He kissed her again, long, lingering, then sighed when they heard a shower switch on above their heads.

“Back to real life,” Elizabeth said with a shake of her head. She slid off the bed and moved towards the master bathroom door on the other side of the room.

“Don’t worry,” Jason said when she’d reached it, and she turned to look back at him. He tapped his temple. “I’ll remember where we left off.” She grinned, then closed the door.

Webber House: Kitchen

Danny’s palms were sweating as he approached the kitchen where he could hear his dad and Elizabeth talking quietly — happy tones, he thought, and wondered if it that’s what it meant to be an adult — being able to be happy even when the world sucked.

He reached the doorway, then nearly doubled back when he caught his dad leaning down to kiss Elizabeth in front of the fridge, and she was laughing. But before he could make a decision, Elizabeth saw him. “Danny. Hey, you’re up early.”

Jason stepped back, reached for his coffee cup. “You’re usually the last one down.”

“Yeah, well, I wanted to, um, talk to you before everyone else. And I know you gotta leave to take Cam—” Danny shoved both hands in his pockets. “We were up talking last night before you got back. About what you said about being normal and just ignoring all of it.” He took a deep breath. “And we decided it was bullshit.” He winced. “I mean—um—”

“It’s wishful thinking,” Elizabeth supplied, with a smile he thought looked a little like a smirk. “A nicer way of saying bullshit,” she added, and he found himself smiling back at her. “And you’re right. We can’t be normal or ignore it.”

“But you’re still going to school and so is Jake and Aiden,” Jason said. “And Cameron’s getting on that plane. Whatever you guys decided—”

“No, that’s not—I mean, yeah, all of that is happening. It has to. I get that part. You need us to be doing all the right stuff for the court,” Danny said. “Cameron explained that to us — that we gotta prove that we’re better with you here. Not in jail. So we have to do the right stuff. And if they wanna use me to make you go back—”

“They’re not using you,” Elizabeth interrupted, then winced. “I’m sorry—I just—I can’t let you blame yourself for any of this, Danny. This isn’t your fault—”

“I was stupid and selfish, and I dragged Aiden into it—” Danny pressed his lips together. “But I gotta prove to the court that I’m doing better or that I’m trying to, so we talked about it, and me and Aiden wanna tell the judge everything. About you not knowing anything, and how you were both so mad at us, and that you’re the one who found me a doctor,” he told Elizabeth, “and that you’re the one that made Mom let me go,” he said to his father. “And that I never even saw you that night. Or any other night we were supposed to be with you. I wanna tell them so they know this isn’t your fault.” He barely made to the end of his prepared speech before his voice broke and he lifted his chin because maybe then he wouldn’t cry.

Jason came around the counter, crossing the kitchen to Danny’s side, and put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” Danny thought about pulling away, but didn’t when his dad pulled him into a half hug, rubbed his shoulder.

“We talked about that before we came home from Syracuse. With Diane, and then we discussed it,” Elizabeth said. She came towards them, but stopped a few feet away. “Yes, there’s a chance you or Aiden might have to talk to the judge. We don’t want to lie to you about that. But your dad and I told Diane to find any other way to keep that from happening. To see if maybe Dante or Dex or someone else can tell the judge what happened.”

“I can do it, though. I’m not a baby you have to protect—”

“You’re my son,” Jason said, and Danny felt something turn in his stomach. “I don’t care if you’re fifty or two months old, I am always going to protect you. I don’t think that the best thing for you is to get up on the stand and let some prosecutor or judge question you about what happened. It’s none of their business.”

“Mom—Mom made it their business—”

“Even if that’s true, that doesn’t mean we have to cooperate,” Elizabeth cut in. “I don’t want Aiden involved either. We don’t want any of this to touch you more than it already has. I’ve testified more than once—and your dad—”

“I’ve spent more time in a court room than I want,” Jason said. “Neither of us want that for any of you. To make you part of the system. You’d be admitting to crimes, Danny. Under oath. Drinking, smoking weed — you put that on the record, and someone can use it against you.” He hesitated. “You’re my son, Danny, and you’ve got my last name. That’s two strikes against you before you even walk out the door—you saw what happened with the FBI. They assumed you were lying, that you and Jake were protecting me. They went after you both once. I’m not in a hurry to let it happen again.”

“I—” Danny closed his mouth. “I didn’t think about that,” he muttered, dropping his gaze. “That really sucked.” He nodded. “And now Aiden’s connected to you, and he’s Elizabeth’s son, and they all think she’s lying to protect you, too. Okay. So you don’t want me to testify. But I’m ready. If you need me.”

“That means a lot to me,” Elizabeth told him. “But don’t think for one minute that there’s a single ounce of blame on you for any of this. You were a stupid teenager, Danny. You did something irresponsible, and so did Aiden. You have every right—” Her voice broke slightly, and Danny felt his dad’s arm around him tense. “You have every right to make those mistakes and not have to pay for it the rest of your lives. No one has any right to hurt you.”

“Elizabeth?” Danny said, when she had turn away, and his dad went to her, took her by the elbows. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“It’s not you, it’s not—” Elizabeth closed her eyes, shook her head slightly. “I wasn’t that much older than either of you, and I did something stupid one night, and it—something terrible happened because of it. I blamed myself for a long time.” She looked at Danny. “This isn’t your fault, Danny. And any one who tries to blame you or Aiden or even Rocco — they’re wrong. No one is going to use you or any of my boys to hurt me. I won’t let it happen. I appreciate your offer to testify, but believe me, it will only happen if we have no other choice.”

+42

Written in 59 minutes.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Vista Point: Parking Lot

“I don’t—” Jason stopped, cleared his throat. “I never hated you for any of that—”

“Well, then you’re a better person than me.” Elizabeth leaned her head back against the seat, closed her eyes, rain still dripping from her hair, sliding down past her ears to the collar of her shirt. “Because I hated you for Courtney. For Sam. Not for long, but I won’t pretend I wasn’t jealous or that I didn’t wish you were a little unhappy because of it.” She sighed, a little unsteadily. “But I let it go. I moved past it. Yes, it hurt when you and Sam got back together, when you—” She pressed her lips together. “I wondered what was wrong with me—”

“Nothing—” Jason interrupted immediately and she smiled, looked at him, saw the worry in his eyes. She reached out, touched his cheek.

“I believe that now. I think we both made mistakes and made choices that hurt each other. Unthinkable choices, maybe, but they made sense when we made them, didn’t they? You try to stop, to explain them—” She furrowed her brow, looked out the windshield, letting her hand fall back to her lap. “And it’s like watching a horror movie, screaming at the stupid girl — don’t run up the steps, don’t look back, don’t open that door — but God, in the moment, she’s so afraid — she can’t think. She can’t do anything but feel and react to what’s in front of her.”  She looked at him again. “You don’t watch movies, but think about Carly making all her mistakes, doing everything you told her not to — and understanding that for her, it was the only way she knew how to live. And you accept that about her. You forgive her. You forgave me. Let me forgive you, Jason. Or this never works.”

“I—” Jason hesitated. There was an internal logic that appealed to him — because of course, he’d forgiven Carly so many sins over the years, hadn’t he? “I want to, but—I don’t know.”

“I stopped hating myself for Zander when Cameron was born, you know? I will always regret hurting you, and doubting that we were moving towards something, but if I don’t have that night with him then, then he and I don’t have a history where we create that perfect little boy. Imagine my life without Cameron —” Her smile came back again. “I forgave myself for lying to you about Jake after he came home. Because Lucky doesn’t bring him back if he doesn’t have some sense of paternal responsibility towards him.  I know there are problems with that logic — he never gets kidnapped if Helena doesn’t think Jake is a Spencer, and maybe — maybe Cameron’s your son if we don’t screw things up—”

“But I get it,” Jason said, and she looked at him. “I get it. If I don’t forgive Sam, there’s no Danny. Maybe you and I could have made it work, and we’d have more kids —”

“But they’d never be the boys we have now, would they? Imagine our lives without them? I don’t want to. So I have to forgive myself, Jason. And I have to forgive you. Because all those choices brought us here, didn’t they? You told me once that you didn’t believe in regrets. That you lived with the choices that you made and moved forward.” She reached for his hand, held it between both of hers. “You let yourself forget that, I think, when the choices piled up, and you didn’t like where you were. Let me forgive you,” she repeated, “and then forgive yourself. You did the best you could at the time, and second-guessing choices you made a life time ago is only going to make you—and me—unhappy. You don’t understand why I could love you then, but I did. And I love you now. For the man you are, the man you were, and the one you’re still trying to be. I love all those pieces of you, Jason.”

He looked at his hand, at her fingers curled around his palm, her skin as soft as ever but showing some light signs of age—just the faintest of wrinkles around her knuckles. The only evidence really that she’d changed from the girl he’d met in a bar all those years ago. “I am never going to stop regretting that we’d had more time,” he told her finally, lifting his gaze to hers. “Or wishing I spent more time with Jake and Danny. There are some regrets I can’t let go of. But you’re right. If we keep going around in circles, if I keep doubting that you could really love me, then I’m only going to have more of them. I came home and I knew that I wasn’t going back to the life I’d had before. That I’d left my sons for the last time, and that I’d spent the rest of my life making up for it if they’d let me.”

He brought one of her hands to his mouth, kissed her knuckles, then found the words to continue. “I came home,” he repeated, “and I didn’t know there’d be another chance for us. I thought I’d let go of that a long time ago. That I was okay with just being friends and parents. But you looked at me that first day, and I don’t know. I just remembered the way I felt with you when we first met, when I would run into you on the docks, and it was always the best part of my day. I started going to Kelly’s more just so I could see you,” he confessed, and Elizabeth bit her lip, trying to hide a smile. “I felt safe with you. Then. And now. Even before you dragged me out of the snow and forced me to keep living. I thought the best way to love you, to love our son, was to be away from you. To stop the world I’d chosen from touching you. I wanted to keep you smiling, and I didn’t think I could do that. I thought that it was enough for me that you were in the world, alive and safe. But it’s not.”

He shook his head. “It’s not. The last few weeks — living with you, actually getting to have that dream we’d only talked about, it’s everything. Tonight, I remembered all the reasons I didn’t think you could love me forever, and I almost let it ruin it. I want to promise that I won’t let it happen again, but I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. But I promise that I will love you for the rest of our lives, if you’ll let me.”

“We’re okay,” she murmured. She leaned forward, brushed her mouth against his,  and he held her close, deepening the embrace. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Webber House: Danny’s Room

Jake twisted the paperclip into the lock, then released a breath of relief when he heard the tumbler in the lock click and the knob twisted easily. Never fails, he thought, opening the door to find his brother stretched out on the bed.

“Go away,” Danny said dully, but didn’t stop staring at the ceiling or move an inch.

Jake slid the paperclip in his pocket, then went to lay next to Danny, folding his hands beneath his head and staring up at the same ceiling. “I’ll say my piece, and then if you want me to go, I’ll give you the paperclip and tell you how to block it next time.”

“Fine. Get it over with.”

“I was pissed at you,” Jake said. “For making today about you. For making what my mother’s going through about you.” His stomach rolled. “I’m still sort of ticked off about it, but I’ve calmed down.”

“Great. Go away.”

“I used to be jealous of you because you got to live with Dad every day for a while when he and your mom were together. That you got to have that, even for a few months. I hated him and you for it.” Jake hesitated. “You and I had different relationships with Dad, and then he was gone. And we were finally in the same place. I felt guilty. I thought maybe it was my fault somehow, because I’d wanted you to have less time with him.”

“That’s stupid.”

Jake decided to take it as a sign of encouragement that he didn’t get told to get out again. “Yeah, well, I was your age at the time, and you know how dumb you are. Anyway. We got him back, and I hated you again for not hating him for leaving us—”

“Is there a point to this or are you just gonna keep telling me how much you  hate me?”

“I was jealous of how much time you got to be with Dad, and I thought it was because he loved you more,” Jake admitted, feeling his muscles tense from the confession. He felt the bed shift as Danny sat up.

“That’s stupid,” Danny repeated. “Dad doesn’t love me more. He hates my mom, he probably wishes I’d never been born. It’s so obvious, dickhead. He loves your mom, and you’re the one he wanted—”

“If Dad didn’t want you, you wouldn’t be here right now,” Jake said, sitting up. “Do you think taking on a custody battle while my mom is being accused of murdering an FBI agent is something he wants to do?”

“No—”

“Anyway. My point to all this was Dad’s screwed up with both of us, and we’ve both had reasons to be disappointed in him, so we’ve got that going for us. But I don’t think Dad did any of this to hurt us. You know? Leaving the way he did. He’s an idiot for that, but I think he thought we’d be okay without him. And my mom — she’s been an idiot, too. About a lot of things. Dating stupid men, making dumbass decisions to help my uncle Nikolas — but nothing she’s ever done was to hurt me. So when I get mad at you for how you acted to day, I forgot what we were talking about. What your mom did.”

Danny’s eyes glittered and he looked away. “So what?”

“It sucks that she went after my mom like this, and that she used you to do it. I’m sorry. I’ve never liked her for a lot of reasons, but screwing with you like this — it sucks. You don’t have to talk about it, because she’s still your mom, so I know it’s weird and complicated. But I just—I don’t know. I wanted you to know you’re not alone. That even if you pissed me off today, you’re my brother, and I love you.”

Danny exhaled slowly, then looked at his brother. “I love my mother,” he said slowly. “But I think I hate her, too. Is this how you felt with Dad last summer?”

“Yeah. A little, I guess.”

Danny scrubbed his hands through his hair. “But you’re right to be pissed about me making this about me. I want to fix it. I want to help make sure my mom can’t get what she wants — that I’m not the reason your mom’s bail gets revoked. I just don’t know what to do.”

“And that’s why I’m here. Come on. Let’s go talk to Cam. We’ve got some ideas.”

+34

Written in 63 minutes.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Vista Point: Parking Lot

Jason was already wrestling with the catch on his seatbelt before Elizabeth’s door had slammed shut, and he almost fell out of his side, slipping on the soaked gravel lot. Why the hell had he pushed her—why hadn’t he just told her what happened and let the whole damn thing die—

By the time he’d got around the side of the SUV, a crack of lightning illuminated the parking lot and he caught sight of her on the steps to the observatory deck. What was her plan? Or maybe she was too upset to even think of one—

He found her at the guardrails, her back to him, her fingers gripping the top railing, long since chipped and flaked from disrepair and disuse, the rain pounding around them, her hood had fallen off and her hair was plastered against her skull and neck. She was just barely visible in the one light post that still worked.

“I’m sorry—” He lifted his voice to be heard over the sluicing drops, slapping into his skin, dripping beneath the collar of his coat, soaking his clothes beneath the open sides. “Elizabeth—”

“For what?” Elizabeth demanded, whirling around, the tips of her hair whipping along with her. “For what? Do you even know?”

“I—” He stepped towards her, wanting to cut the distance, wanting to just touch her, feeling sure if that if he could that, if he could just hold her, this would somehow go away or he would find the words to explain in the explicable—

“You’re sorry I’m upset, okay, fine. Fine. You’re sorry you dragged me out of the house—” Another slap of thunder interrupted her, and she closed her eyes, shook her head. “I don’t want to do this. We aren’t doing this—”

She started past him, and he caught her arm, holding on when she would have shaken him off, careful to keep his grip gentle but firm. Maybe there were no words. No magical phrases that would extricate him from a mess he’d created long ago —

Nothing other than the truth.

“You deserve better.”

She turned more to face him and then stunned him by swinging out with her other hand curled in a fist, arcing towards his face. He caught it, wrapping his hand around her wrist, bringing both her hands to his chest. “You deserve better—” he tried again.

“Stop! Stop! Stop making excuses! You’ve been using that line since I was eighteen goddamn years old and you were too damn afraid to let me make my own choices!” Elizabeth cried. She yanked back and he released his grip on her hands. “You didn’t want me enough, you never want me when there’s another option—”

“That’s not—” Jason scowled when she just shook her head and darted back towards the parking lot. He’d left the SUV running, and he wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t just take off without him.

He caught up with her halfway between the parking lot and the SUV but kept going until he overtook her and was able to get in front to stop her. “Why do you ask questions you don’t want the answer to?”

“Because I’m a goddamn idiot—” Elizabeth stopped, slid her hands over her rain slicked hair. “Fine. Fine, tell me about how I deserve better for the one thousandth time in our lives, and how that somehow explains why that means I end up raising our son alone and Sam gets to share your name, home, bed, money, everything and somehow its because I’m just too damn good for you—”

“She’s what I deserve.”

Elizabeth stared at him, another lightning crack flashing the bewilderment in her expression. “What?”

“You deserve better than me. I’ve always known that, but I can’t—” He stopped, then forced himself to continue. “But I can’t stop wanting that to be wrong. Can’t stop wanting you. Wanting that life we almost had, that we could have had if I’d been a better man. So I went out and found someone I thought I deserved. Someone who wasn’t any damn better than me. Sam was what I deserved.”

“That—” Elizabeth shook her head. “What are you saying? Because of Sam’s past, she somehow gets the life that I begged you for? What kind of bullshit answer is that? Why can’t you just tell me the damned truth? Okay, just tell me! Tell me you loved her more, I can take it—”

“I’m not going to lie to you,” Jason bit out. “Even if it’s what you want to hear. You wanted the truth, I’m giving it to you. I don’t deserve you.” He held out his hands. “I’ve killed people with my bare hands, damn it! I’ve taken lives, and you’ve spent your life saving them! You’ve been back in my life for six months and you’re on trial for murdering a fucking an FBI agent because of me—”

“Don’t—” She stabbed a finger at him. “Don’t you dare act like I don’t know exactly who you are. Do you know how stupid you make me feel when you act like this?”

“You’re not stupid—”

“You did this to me once before. You demanded to know why I loved you, why I wanted to be with you, and I am so sick of having to justify my choices, my feelings—” The words were ragged, dragged from somewhere deep, and even if he couldn’t see the tears on her cheeks, he could hear them. “You don’t think you’re good enough for me. And apparently, you wanted some as dirty as you think you are. Great. Glad we figured that out—” Elizabeth held out her hands. “You know what? This was a mistake. You’re right. I do deserve better than someone who thinks I don’t know my own mind, that I can’t possibly love him. I am done having this conversation. Done. You don’t think you deserve love, and there’s a part of you that doesn’t respect me for trying to giving it to you anyway—”

Stunned, Jason couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, and she took that chance to whip open the passenger, but he recovered in time to catch the door before she could get it wide enough. “You think I don’t respect you?” he managed. “Is that—is that what you really think?”

“What do you expect me to think?” Elizabeth asked, turning to him, close enough now so that he could see the tears shimmering in her eyes. “You throw my love in my face every chance you get. Don’t you get that? Every time you tell me I deserve better, you tell me you don’t respect my ability to make my own choices. I know what you’ve done, Jason. I know who you are. You’re the only one who can’t seem to handle that fact. I’ve stood by you with gunshots, bomb threats, kidnappings—I have never flinched. Not first. That’s always been you.”

He released the door and put a hand at the nape of her neck tugging her forward, the pad of his thumb sweeping across her jawline. “I know that—”

“Do you?” she demanded. “Because it doesn’t feel like it from here. We’re fine one minute, and then you go see your ex-wife, and now all of a sudden, you don’t deserve me and she’s the filth you do deserve, and I just don’t understand how we always end up back here—”

He cut her off, dragging her against him roughly, covering his mouth with his, her lips cold beneath his, but as sweet and addictive as they’d been the first time he’d finally managed to taste them all those years ago, when he’d cursed himself for ever hesitating in the first place.

Thunder rolled, and lightning cracked again, and he finally released her, leaning his forehead against hers. “I do love you. I hate that you don’t believe me—”

“Love isn’t the problem, though, is it?” she sighed, then kissed him lightly, sliding her fingers through his short, damp hair. “You just don’t want to let me love you. All these years, and you still don’t trust that I can know every inch of who you are and love you anyway.”

“I want to—” Jason exhaled slowly, then stepped back, letting the door fall open more. “Get in. We’re going to drown out here, and I don’t want to scream at you just so you can hear me.”

She bit her lip, then nodded, and turned, jolting slightly when he boosted her slightly to help her up into the SUV faster.

When he was back in the driver’s side and had switched on the heater, he somehow had found the words he’d needed so desperately earlier. “Sam was already angry when I got there, already on the offensive. I guess she’d talked to Alexis, and she knew Danny was with us today.” He stared straight ahead. “She started in on the greatest hits — I’ve spent more time raising Carly’s kids, that the only way to hurt me is to use someone else since I don’t care about myself —” He looked at Elizabeth. “And before I know it, we’re talking about that summer.”

“Jason—”

“I think—I think I knew that you’d asked her to use that show to look for Jake.” Jason stopped,  took a breath. “When she mentioned it, I didn’t remember because it hadn’t seemed important. Or maybe I didn’t know. I don’t know. But I didn’t realize she’d refused.”

Elizabeth’s lips thinned, pressed into an unhappy line. “I don’t know if we need to re-litigate it—”

“You wanted to know why it was fine one minute, and now we’re back having this conversation,” Jason said, and Elizabeth sighed, nodded. “Because you knew she’d refused. You knew she’d come to your house and, I don’t know, did she try to make you think Jake was dead?”

“I—” Elizabeth’s breath was shaky when she spoke again. “I think so. At the time, I just thought she was drunk, and angry about us, about Jake, and I didn’t think about it again. Not even after you told me what she’d known. What she’d let happen. I guess now — going back — it gives it all another texture, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. And you knew all of that. You knew that when she and I — you knew that. And you still—”

“You told me she had changed, and I believed you,” Elizabeth said slowly. “And up until these last few months, Jason, I had mostly believed it, too. Plus,” her lips curved in a humorless smile. “We both know I tried my hand at revenge—”

“Less than a day, you held that truth back about Danny. No one knows that but me,” Jason told her, and she closed her eyes. “You came clean. You told me yourself, even though you knew what might happen. Don’t think that doesn’t make a difference, Elizabeth. You and Sam — that’s not a comparison.”

“So she takes you on a journey of the greatest hits, and we’re arguing up at Vista Point—”

“Because the same reason you’re angry with me — it’s the same anger I have. The same disgust. The life I wanted with you — with the boys — I gave it to her, and I don’t have a good reason. I don’t have the words I need to make you understand, because I don’t understand it either.” He met her gaze. “I looked at her tonight, and I saw the woman I’d chose instead of you, and I hated myself. So maybe it’s hard to understand why you don’t hate me, too.”

Elizabeth bit her lip, looked down at her fingers, at nails that she’d bit down to the quick over the last few weeks, he realized.

“Once upon a time, you offered me the world, and I looked at you, and I told you I didn’t want it. I wanted to be with Lucky.” She looked at him, a ghost of a smile curving her lips. “And then I kissed you in my studio, and turned around and slept with Zander. I looked you in the face and told you my face wouldn’t change, and then I left anyway. I forgave and married Ric after he locked Carly in a panic room. I asked you, on the day you buried your father, to let Lucky raise your son. And then, on the days after you buried your sister, I asked you to let the secret continue.  I married Franco, the man who tormented you and Sam for years. I don’t know, Jason. Should you hate me for all those things, too? Or are you the only person who makes life-altering mistakes?”

+38

THIS WAS NOT WHERE THIS PART WAS SUPPOSED TO END OR WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

but i have to stop. i ran out of time. went over it in fact, so ugh. Written in 70 minutes see you tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Kristina’s Apartment: Living Room

Kristina stepped back from the door, a bit warily. “Mom? Did I know you were coming over?” She glanced behind her at the remains of her dinner on the coffee table, some laundry strewn across an armchair, and just the general chaos.

“No. No. This was—this was an impulse—” Alexis strode past her daughter, dropping her briefcase on an armchair, then whirling to face Kristina, her hands raised. “I know you’ve been trying to be supportive of your sister—of Sam,” she added when Kristina made a face. “Is there a chance that your support has been more…” Alexis paused, her hands hands frozen in mid outstretch as she tried to articulate whatever was in her hand. “More vociferously agreeable than it should have been?”

Mystified, Kristina closed the door. “I’m lost. Vociferously—” She squinted. “Agreeable? As opposed to what? And what does that even mean?”

“I don’t know.” Alexis put her head in her hands. “I don’t know. I just know that Sam’s crossed a line, and I’m trying to go back in time to understand how this happened. Sam told me yesterday you’ve been supportive. What kind of support would you say you’ve offered?”

“This—what kind of question is that?” Kristina edged around her mother, and started to gather the laundry on the other chair, shoving it into a nearby basket. “I’ve been doing what you and Molly and Dante apparently can’t. Listening. Not telling her she’s an awful person—”

“Okay, see, that’s—” Alexis stabbed a finger at her. “That’s where I think there’s a disconnect here. Because we’ve all been listening to Sam. But only one of us is doing some kind of girl boss nonsense—”

“Mom.” Kristina rolled her eyes. “Stop trying to talk around it or, like, trying not to offend me. What do you think I encouraged Sam to do?”

“Well, I know for a fact you thought she should go to her appointment yesterday and defend herself. We could start there.”

“Why—why is that a bad thing? You know, I see where Molly gets it now.” Kristina lifted the basket, carried it her bedroom, and tossed it on the floor. Returning to the living room, she planted a hand on her hip. “Sam might not have handled everything with the Molly Lansing-Davis Seal of Approval, but she’s doing the best she can. Okay? And it doesn’t help that she’s got Elizabeth Webber prancing around like she’s some kind of Mother Theresa—or actually—you know what—she’s exactly like Mother Theresa. Pretending to be perfect and a bitch behind the scenes.”

Alexis opened her mouth, then closed it, her expression sour. “I don’t even know what to do with that statement, Kristina. Elizabeth isn’t—Okay, so did you maybe mention the conversation you and I had on Sunday? About Elizabeth’s bail?”

“We—” Kristina stopped, looked at her mother, her heart pounding just ever so slightly. “Conversation?”

“When I told you they were worried that the government was going to attack Elizabeth’s bail. Don’t play stupid with me, Kristina. We were standing right here discussing it. And you spent the day with Sam. The same day the feds learned about Danny and Rocco’s arrest. Did you tell your sister to mess with Elizabeth’s bail?”

“I—” Kristina couldn’t do anything other than stare in disbelief. “How—why do you think Sam did that? Wait, did something happen to Elizabeth’s bail?” Had it actually worked?

“No. Not yet. But it’s set for a hearing—” Alexis shook her head. “And no one else could have done it.”

“What do you mean? Everyone knew Danny was arrested for drinking. Both of them,” Kristina added. “That was—I mean, everyone knows it—”

“Not everyone knows about the arrest on Elizabeth’s property. No one that would use it against Elizabeth. Don’t defend your sister, Kristina—”

“I’m not—” Kristina stopped. They were blaming Sam. That was a lucky break, she thought, pressing a fist against her chest. She hadn’t realized how limited the knowledge was — but unfortunately her sister was the perfect suspect. Guilt churned in her abdomen. But if they suspected Sam — “They’re blaming Sam? You’re blaming her, too?”

“Well, who else would be stupid enough to do something like this without thinking about the harm it would do to Danny?” Alexis shook her head. “Diane’s trying every trick in the book to keep Danny and Rocco from having to testify, even in a closed hearing, but—”

“Whoa, whoa—” Kristina held up her hands. “What do you mean, testify? Why would they have to testify? Can’t Dante or Sam or Elizabeth—”

“Well, they can, and believe me, no one wants those boys dragged into this, but what’s the alternative? Letting Elizabeth rot in jail?” Alexis picked up her bag. “I’m not blaming you, Kristina, if you talked to her about the bail situation. I’m sure you just wanted to give her something to, God help us, look forward to. Something to cheer her up—”

“I didn’t tell her about the conversation. I didn’t even think about it—” Or she hadn’t longer than it had taken to send a quick spoofed email about the arrest. “What did she say when you asked her about it?”

“Denied it, of course. But what is she going to do? Admit that she willingly threw her son under the bus? God, this is going to destroy any chance we had of getting her case moved up. Why can’t just one of you think before you do something?” Alexis jerked the door open, looked at Kristina. “Do me a favor. Stop trying to help your sister. It’s just encouraging her—in fact—stay away from her.”

Oh, that wouldn’t be a problem, Kristina thought, locking the door behind her mother, then leaning against it. If everyone was blaming Sam, how long it would take Sam — or Dante — to remember that conversation over breakfast?

She needed a story. And fast.

Webber House: Kitchen

Jason stepped into the kitchen, frowning slightly when Elizabeth straightened up, the dishwasher clicking shut. “One of the boys should be doing that—”

“I don’t mind.” She dried her hands with a dish towel, smiling when he came behind the counter, kissed her lightly. “Danny still not up to talk?”

“No. I’m not sure what I’d say to him even if he did.” Jason stopped, looked towards the living room, frowning when Aiden’s head dropped below the edge of the sofa, but Jake on the armchair wasn’t even pretending not to be listening. “Can we—”

“If you want to talk about picking up dinner,” Elizabeth said, raising her brows meaningfully, “we may want to wait until we go to Diane’s office tomorrow. Even my bedroom has heating vents.”

“Heating vents—” Jason nodded, understanding. He rubbed his chest, considering waiting overnight to have this conversation. “We could—we could leave them alone, though. Right? Go out somewhere.”

“Really?” Elizabeth studied him for a moment, and maybe it was too much to ask after how long the day had been, considering it had included two long car drives and a hearing. But her curiosity won out. “We could do that. Have to be a covered vehicle,” she said with a sad sigh. “I can’t wait until it stops raining.”

“You and me both,” Jason muttered, following her towards the living. He could use a fast drive in the dark, whipping around the corners, letting everything go. Once he might have done it anyway, despite the steady pounding of the rain. The added danger of turns on slick back roads would have been all he’d needed.

But he’d never do that with Elizabeth on the bike, and now — he was all too aware that he was a father with a responsibility to come at night. He’d spent too many years throwing that away. He’d have to find another outlet for the adrenaline rush.

“Your dad and I are going for a drive,” Elizabeth said, picking up her purse and checking it for her house keys. “Jake—”

Jake grimaced, climbing to his feet. “You don’t have to go out to talk, you know. I’ll keep them away from the vents—”

“Yeah, but who’s going to keep you from listening?” Cameron wanted to know. He snagged the game controller from Aiden. “I’ll get the babies in bed, Mom. You and Jason are good.”

Elizabeth just rolled her eyes, shrugged into the coat Jason was sliding over her shoulders. “Don’t stay up late. You have an early flight,” she reminded Cameron, then turned to Jason. “Let’s go.”

Penthouse: Living Room

Sam paced the short space between the end of the sofa and the fireplace, rerunning the day through her mind — irritated with herself for losing her temper at every turn. Her mother, that was fair — stunned shock and indignation had clouded her ability to react with anything other than denials.

And Dante — well, that had been another level of shock — she closed her eyes, sank onto the sofa, remembering the way he’d looked at her. The doubt she hadn’t been able to raise until the very last moments when she’d been beyond caring. She’d thought he knew her — had thought that this time she’d found someone who knew all her dark places and loved her anyway. Who understood her.

By the time Jason had showed up, Sam had nearly decided to embrace the villain label everyone wanted to slap on her. Why not? Everyone had already made up their minds—

But Danny. Danny must believe it, too. How could he not with his father assuming it was true? And—she bit hard on her lip, remembering the way they’d ripped at each other — the scar tissue she’d ripped open. Her only consolation was knowing that Jason would never, ever tell Danny about Maureen Harper because he’d never be able to explain himself enough for Jake to forgive him for marrying Sam after it.

The lightning flashed out the terrace windows, and Sam jolted from the sound of the thunder clap directly after, like a bomb exploding just outside the building. She rubbed her mouth. She couldn’t let this accusation stand. She didn’t give a damn if Jason or Elizabeth believed Sam was innocent—but Danny—

Danny had to know the truth.

But who could have done it? Dante would never — and there was no one else who even had a motive—no one else who could have even known there was any Elizabeth side of the story to use against her—

Sam sighed, dragged her hands through her hair again, then got to her feet, turning towards the stairs. A hot shower and some sleep. That’s all she needed —

Then she stopped when another bolt of lightning flashed, illuminating the darkened first floor. The dining table between the terrace and the stairs.

You look like hell. Dante keep you all night?

Kristina.

Vista Point: Parking Lot

“Well, this was probably a terrible idea,” Elizabeth said, when lightning flashed, lighting up the SUV. She held her hands over the heater. “You know, you didn’t have to wait until we were all the way up here before you told me what happened. I don’t think the boys have hid any listening devices in the car.” She looked over at Jason’s profile, hoping to see even a hint of a smile.

But he was facing forward, his hands curled over the wheel.

“Jason?” She leaned up, flicked on the light for the inside of the car. “How bad was it? Did she at least have an excuse that wasn’t garbage?”

“I—” Jason flexed his fingers, then leaned back with a heavy sigh, rubbing his face. “I’m sorry. The whole drive up here, I’ve been thinking about what to say, and now that I have to say it—” He looked at her. “She didn’t admit it. And the conversation isn’t worth talking about.”

“Okay,” she drew out, bewildered. So why had they gone out in the storm, driving for fifteen minutes in silence? “I mean, it was always a long shot she’d admit it especially since it’s backfired—”

“Cameron was there. At the parking garage. He saw me leaving and followed.”

“I—” Elizabeth sat up. “What?”

“He didn’t follow me upstairs,” Jason added, and she relaxed only slightly. “But he was pissed. First because I guess he thought I was there behind your back and then mad at both of us when I told him you knew.” He paused, the beat of silence heavy. “It was stupid for me to go. Even more stupid for me to think it would accomplish anything. And Cameron was right to be angry.”

“I guess I thought you’d get her to admit it. I mean, she doesn’t usually hide when she does something like this—”

“I don’t think she thought past hurting you,” Jason told her, looking over at her again. “Danny didn’t factor in at all. I thought I needed to hear it from her, to confront her, to make sure she understood how much she hurt Danny, but I didn’t. It won’t fix it. Nothing can fix any of it.” He let his head fall against the seat, looked up the roof the car, then turned his head so that their eyes met. “But it was Cameron I wanted to tell you about. You can have a conversation with him if you want, but I didn’t brush him off. Or tell him it wasn’t his business. Because it was.”

“We’ve been telling them to live their lives — I’ve been pushing him back to California, begging him not to let this ruin his life—yeah, he gets to be angry we did something impulsive.” Elizabeth bit her lip, looked out the front, but there was nothing to be see beyond the rain sluicing little rivers in the glass. “I don’t know why I wanted you to go. What it would change.  Cameron’s right. It was stupid, and risky. Too risky.”

“Did you think—” Jason stopped, squinting slightly as if searching for the right word or what to say. “Did you think that she would talk herself out of it? That I would…find a way to forgive her? Because I did before?”

“No—” Elizabeth said, then stopped, really letting herself consider the question. “I don’t know. I don’t think—I don’t think I would play games like that.”

“It’s not a game, though, is it? I did forgive her for something that hurt you. Hurt our son. Cameron. And I did it after I told you that we couldn’t have a future together.”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, her stomach rolling. She looked forward again, fisting her hands in her lap. “I don’t see why we have to drag this back up again. What good does it do? It happened the way it happened. Now we have Aiden and Danny, so there’s no point—”

“Elizabeth.”

Her name on his lips, just said in that tone, with a bit of exasperation, had her scowling at him, “What do you want me to say, Jason? Yes. It hurt me when you forgave her. When you married her. When you wanted to have children with her. The life you promised me, you gave it to her. Yes, it hurt. Does it make you feel better to drag that out of me? Is that what you wanted? Why you made me come all the way up here? Here, of all places—” she bit out. “Where you walked away from me over and over—screw this.” She shoved at the door, twisting the lever to open it, then dashed out into the rain.

+37

Written in 62 minutes.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Harborview Towers: Parking Garage

Still unsettled and somewhat raw from the encounter with Sam, Jason just shook his head. “Not now—”

Cameron stepped in front of him, preventing Jason from reaching the driver’s side door. “No. Now. Because I promised my mother I’d go back to school, and there won’t be later. What the hell are you doing here? What happened to not being stupid?”

“Your mother knows I’m here—”

“And that makes it okay?” Cameron demanded. “For the two of you to lecture me and my brothers about ignoring all of this, not doing any that screws things up? Fine. Have it your way. We’ll talk about it at home, and you can explain to Danny what the hell you were doing and why can’t—”

Jason caught Cameron’s arm as the angry younger man turned away, and tightened his grip when Cameron tried to shake him off. “Okay. Okay—okay, let’s just—” What the hell was he going to say? “I shouldn’t have come here, and Elizabeth probably shouldn’t have agreed. But it’s complicated—”

“It’s really not. Either her freedom is the most important thing for both of you or you’re more worried about settling personal shit. Which is it?” Cameron wanted to know. “Why did you have to confront your ex-wife?”

“I don’t—” No, it wouldn’t be good enough to brush Cameron off with platitudes or vague answers. “Let’s both just—” Jason released him. “I don’t know what I thought it would do. I guess maybe I thought I could just—look at her, and she’d admit it, and I’d know what to do next. Or at least we could have a conversation about it. I don’t know why I thought that would work. We haven’t been able to do that since I got back.”

Cameron just shook his head, looked away for a brief moment. When he focused on Jason again, his expression was grim. “I don’t know why I thought it would be different this time. You always do this. You come into my mother’s life, you make her think she’s important to you, you make me and Jake think we matter, and then you take off to whoever needs you next. You did it when I was kid—you think I don’t remember, but I do—and now, what, Danny’s mom is the next person who needs your help? It’s worse to do it this time, because now Jake believes you’re gonna stick—”

“I can’t change what I did before,” Jason interrupted. “I can’t go back and be a better man. A better father. All I can do is try to be better now—”

“And this is you being better? Screwing with Mom’s bail—”

“I’m not doing that—this won’t—Sam won’t be telling anyone about the conversation we just had, trust me,” Jason told Cameron.

“That’s not good enough. Why the hell would Sam be quiet about this when she threw Danny under the bus to get to Mom already?”

Jason grimaced. What was he supposed to do? Tell Cameron they’d discussed the time Sam had allowed Jake to be kidnapped? That she’d hired men to menace Cameron in the park when he’d been a toddler?

“You’re not an idiot, so when I tell you that there are things in my past — things in Sam’s past — that if people knew, if the wrong people knew — we’d both end up back in jail—you know what I’m talking about,” Jason said finally, and some of Cameron’s ire faded.

“When you were working for Sonny,” Cameron said. “Is that what you mean?”

“I’m not—” His throat tightened, and he wondered if he’d have to answer these questions with Jake and Danny one  day. Michael and Morgan, they’d grown up in the business. They’d always known who their father was — who Jason was. But Cameron and his brothers had been sheltered in a way — protected from the reality of what Jason had chosen to do with his life. “I’m not a good man. Not in the way that you, your mother, your brothers, Danny — that any of you deserve. I’ve always known that.”

Cameron shifted, dropping his expression to the ground. “Mom says—”

“Your mother, as we both know, forgives easily. Too easily,” Jason added. “I’ve done things that—that I wasn’t always ashamed of. I made choices when I was your age that I can’t change. I didn’t know what I was throwing away when I made them. People tried to explain it to me, but I thought they wanted to control me.” He rubbed his forehead, thinking of his parents, of his grandparents. “Maybe they did, but they were right. I threw away a future where I could be the kind of father my kids should have. I thought walking away, staying away — that it was the best way I could give them the life they deserved. Leaving your mother, leaving you and your brother — it was never easy. And I never wanted to do it. It’s why I kept coming around. Because I loved you all too much to stay away.”

Cameron hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Okay. Okay. I can get that. And I know you’re not working for Sonny anymore. I always knew—” He met Jason’s gaze. “I always kind of knew who you were, okay? What you did. So did Jake. We just ignored it. I guess like Mom. But what does that have to do with you coming here—”

“Sam lived that kind of life, too,” Jason told him. “Before she ever met me, she’d been on the wrong side of the law. It was—” How to explain that he’d considered Sam his equal because she’d lived a life that was as dirty and grimy as the one he’d chosen?  “There are things we know about each other,” he said finally. “That we’ve kept back because if one of us—if she used any of it — she knows I’d stop protecting. That’s why I had to do this. Why I thought I had to do this,” he corrected. “To remind her what I know. And to make sure she understood what this did to Danny.”

Cameron studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. That feels—that feels true. I didn’t—I don’t know. I didn’t expect you to—I don’t know,” he repeated.

“You thought I’d brush you off with bullshit,” Jason said. “I might have or tried to make you understand it’s not—I can’t treat you like you’re a kid anymore. I get that. But I still remember—” The corner of his mouth curved up slightly. “I still remember the first time I met you, okay? When you were maybe six months old, so having you stand here in front of me, at the same height — it still throws me.” He paused. “I can’t promise not to do anything stupid like this again, Cameron. But I’ll try to be as honest as I can with you — and your mother.”

“That’s fair.” Cameron shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “Did you—I mean, did she tell you why she did it?”

“We never got that far, but the truth is, Cameron, Sam hates me, and she hates your mother. I just didn’t know she hated both of us more than she loves Danny. That’s the only way any of this makes sense.”

TJ & Molly’s Apartment: Living Room

Molly stepped back to let Dante into the apartment, closing the door behind him. “Your expression makes me think something terrible happened,” she said with a nervous smile. She leaned against the door. “What’s wrong?”

“Is TJ around?” Dante asked, glancing around the apartment, leaning to look into the tiny kitchen.

“No—he’s at the hospital. Dante—”

“Did you hear about the hearing in Syracuse?”

“No, I—” Molly frowned, came away from the door and passed by Dante on her way to the dining table, layered with paperwork. “No, I thought we were both staying out of that. It’s killing me, but we recused ourselves—”

“Officially because of the incident with Danny and Rocco,” Dante said, and she sighed, lowering herself back into the dining chair. “But we both know it’s because Alexis and Kristina were on the list of suspects and couldn’t be eliminated.”

“Dante, we really shouldn’t—”

“I’m not telling you anything I know officially. Or anything that Chase doesn’t already know.” Dante dragged out the chair across from her, sat down. “This was on a personal level. Danny went to Elizabeth’s hearing with Jake and his brothers.”

“I guess that makes sense. He lives with them—”

“Reynolds made a move to revoke bail based on what happened the night Danny and Rocco were arrested. Because someone told him about the original 911 calls.”

Molly went still, her eyes widening. “Someone—”

“There was a second 911 call — reporting Elizabeth’s address — a neighbor who saw Aiden that night. The vape made it into the call.”

“I didn’t—I didn’t know there was a second 911 call—”

“I didn’t either. No one told us,” Dante said. “But once you go looking for the dispatch records, it’s right there. I got suspended — Anna thinks I used my authority to cover it up—” He grimaced. “I did—”

“You didn’t do anything unethical, Dante. The PCPD releases intoxicated teens to their parents all the time — even those who are high on drugs. It was a first offense — and Danny got into treatment, and I know you’re taking Rocco’s situation serious—” Molly shook her head. “But I don’t understand — why would someone report that?”

“Everyone suspected Sam — and so did I,” Dante admitted. He looked at his hands, laid them flat on the table. “Because of what happened at the Towers, when she threatened to have Elizabeth arrested for kidnapping. We also—I thought she wanted Elizabeth out of the picture.”

“Getting her bail revoked would do that, but it would also hurt Danny if it’s this way, and I don’t think Sam would do that. I know she hasn’t done herself any favors—” Molly paused. “But you brought up Mom and Kristina being suspects. Dante?”

“I think,” Dante said, forcing himself to continue, “that Kristina might have either given Sam the idea or did it herself. Because…she knew Danny and Rocco were at Elizabeth’s. Or supposed to be there. And I think we might have told her the whole story. I don’t remember doing it, but I can see us sitting at breakfast table, and it just coming out. I wouldn’t have thought twice about telling her—”

“Of course not. It involved Danny, and Kristina wouldn’t—” Molly rubbed her temple. “Dante. ”

“Kristina could have done it just to help Sam, but she might have also done it to complicate everything. Because if Elizabeth goes back in jail, she’s out of the picture. Sam goes back for custody, Jason’s fighting that —”

“Maybe they’re not concentrating on her case as much. Letting the trail keep getting cold.” Cold slithered down her spine. “Dante. We’re not really—I know we couldn’t eliminate her, but are we really saying that Kristina murdered Cates and framed Elizabeth?”

“I don’t know,” Dante said. He met his cousin’s worried eyes. “But I don’t think it’s as crazy as I did a few weeks ago. And I can’t—I think we have a duty as officers of the court — I think Diane should know Kristina’s a suspect.”

Pozzula’s Restaurant: Sonny’s Office

Spinelli knocked on the open office door. “You rang, Mr. Sir?”

The use of the old nickname usually brought the hint of a smile to Sonny’s lips, but not today, Spinelli noticed as the aging mobster got to his feet from behind the desk. “You came fast.”

“You said it was important. About the case. Other than the kids, I don’t really have any other priorities right now.” Spinelli set his bag on the chair. “What’s up?”

“Something I probably should have—” Sonny rubbed his chin. “Something I probably should have said a few weeks ago but I didn’t really think it was a possibility. Even now, I don’t know if you can do anything with it. But, uh—”

He turned, and removed the painting from the wall behind his desk, revealing a safe. He spun  the combination and opened it, stepping aside so Spinelli could see inside. “The gun that was used — Brick told me the make and model. I had one of those. Unregistered,” Sonny added, and Spinelli looked at him, alert. “I didn’t—I don’t know when it went missing, but it’s gone.”

“Oh.” His heart started to pound, but Spinelli’s face didn’t betray that. “Who has access?”

“I know the combo,” Sonny said. “Jason does — or did at one time. I don’t know if he still does.” He paused. “Carly knew it, but I doubt she remembers it. And Kristina — she needed money for something, and I gave it to her. But anyone in my organization could probably get in,” Sonny admitted. “It’s not an important safe — just some things in case I need to get out quickly, but most of the guys know it’s here.”

Spinelli looked at him, squinted. “So what do you think happened?”

“Maybe one of my guys took a gun they knew couldn’t be traced and did me a favor,” Sonny said. “And, well, not everyone knows me and Jason are square, you know? All they know he’s an informant. So maybe they were looking to make trouble for him. A little payback.” He shook his head. “Like I said, you can’t do much with this — I can’t prove the gun came from me or that I ever owned it. But I figure I can give you a list of suspects, right? I got the—” He picked up paper from his desk, held it out. “I got a list of the guys I know for sure came through the restaurant last three months or so. Maybe it can help.”

+40