Written in 60 minutes.

Monday, September 23, 2024

 Port Charles High: Main Office

Elizabeth tugged open one of the double doors leading into the high school’s main office and stopped when she saw Jake slouched in a chair outside the assistant principal’s office, an ice pack pressed to his lip. Next to him, Danny had an identical pack of ice against his cheek, and his right eye was starting to bruise.

“Hey, Mom.” Jake straightened. “Look, we match.” He removed the pack and gestured to his split lip. Elizabeth folded her arms, narrowed her eyes, and her son sighed, slouching back down. “Tough crowd—ow.”

“Mr. Bryan will be right with you,” the secretary said. “He’s talking to the third boy and his father—” She stopped talking, looking behind Elizabeth who turned to find Jason entering through the same door. “And I suppose that’s Mr. Morgan. I’ll let Mr. Bryan know all the parents are accounted for.”

Danny scowled. “Rocco’s probably blaming me, and okay, I started it, but he really—”

“Stop talking,” Jason ordered, coming up next to Elizabeth.

“It’s not the interrogation room, Dad. Relax. Danny and Rocco will get a vacation, not a prison sentence—” Jake closed his mouth when his father shot him a dark look. “Shutting up.”

“Mr. Morgan, Ms. Webber—” a tall man who seemed to be a decade younger than Elizabeth stepped up to the doorway. “Why don’t we all come inside and have a conversation? That is, if our younger Mr. Morgan can handle himself.”

“Hey, tell younger Mr. Falconieri not to say shit about my mother, and I’ll handle myself just fine,” Danny retorted, getting to his feet. The principal’s expression darkened. “Oh, right. Language. Sorry. Not really, but I can’t get in any more trouble, can I?”

“Let’s not find out,” Mr. Bryan said, stepping to the side so that the quartet could file in. Dante was standing by Rocco who was sprawled in a chair of his own by the principal’s desk, holding a towel to his nose, his cheek and lip already swollen. “We have a zero tolerance policy with violence, so Rocco and Daniel will be suspended. I’m afraid that’s not open to debate.”

“And Jake?” Elizabeth wanted to know.

“The teacher says it appears Jake was trying to break up the fight and received his injuries as a result. Still, as he became physically involved, he’ll also be serving a suspension—”

“Oh, come on. That’s bullshit,” Jake snapped, shifting his ice pack. “Ronnie Stinson groped a girl and didn’t even get a detention. I’m sorry I don’t play for the goddamn football team, but I actually got these idiots to stop trying to kill each other. You’re welcome, by the way.” He slapped the pack against his mouth again.

Elizabeth cleared her throat, folded her arms, and looked at the principal who seemed a little taken aback. “I understand you have a policy, but Jake has a point. He was trying to help, and since this happened in their industrial arts class — there were so many dangerous tools—”

“I wasn’t gonna actually shove his hand in the scroll saw,” Rocco muttered. “I just threatened to. He deserves it. Snitch.”

“Asshole.” Danny’s leg shot out and snagged Rocco in the shins, and Rocco started to lunge forward — probably to start the fight again, but Dante grabbed the back of his shirt and stopped him in motion.

“I think maybe you can decide Jake’s punishment later,” Dante said, his tone tight. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for these two idiots to be in the same room much longer. You move again, and you’ll be sorry,” he told Rocco who rolled his eyes.

Jason rolled his shoulders, clearly frustrated with the entire situation. “How long will he be suspended?”

“Since Daniel threw the first punch, we’re recommending ten days, and five for Rocco as he was responding.” Mr. Bryan eyed Jake with pursed lips. “I suppose since this is Jacob’s first offense, we can live with a one-day suspension and another of in-school when he returns.” He got to his feet. “And we’ll expect to have a discussion when Daniel returns about keeping them in the same elective. We can’t have this kind of behavior in that classroom.”

“Understood.” Dante tugged on Rocco’s arm. “Get up and start moving.”

“Off to grandmother’s house we go,” Rocco responded in a tone that had Dante’s expression turn positively thunderous.

Outside the school entrance, Elizabeth stopped to face her son who was still wincing., then looked at Danny. “I don’t even actually have the words for the behavior the two of you demonstrated in there. You know better than to speak to authority figures that way,” she told Jake who pressed his lips together. “I don’t care if he was wrong or unfair. And Danny—”

“Any chance you had of not getting double Rocco’s time was out the door the second you kicked him in front of the principal,” Jason bit out and Danny dipped his head. “I thought you were smarter than that.” He looked at Elizabeth. “I know you have to get back to work. I’ll take them home.”

“Okay.” She reached over, squeezed his hand. “I’ll see you when I’m done.” Tossing another disappointed look at both boys, she headed for her car, grateful she’d have time to cool off before she had to handle that situation — and didn’t envy Jason even a little bit.

“Dad,” Danny began but Jason just pointed at the car, and shook his head. “I’m sorry, does that matter?”

“Not right now. Go.” When Danny had started his trudge across the parking lot, Jason looked at his eldest son. “Your mom’s right. We might have avoided suspension at all if you’d kept quiet.”

“True, but I am my mother’s son. And my father’s son. So really, the choices were punching or using my smart mouth. I think we should all be grateful I let the maternal genes win.” Jake tried to smile, but Jason just stared at him. “Okay, maybe we’ll be in the mood to laugh about this later. Much later, obviously.”

District Attorney’s Suite: Robert’s Office

Robert smiled when Molly appeared in his doorway. “There’s a lovely smile to start the day. Have a seat—” He gestured at the seat across from him at the conference table. “What brings you by?”

“Not a particularly happy visit.” She slid into the chair, took a deep breath. “I know that I started this whole thing, and I stand by that decision — and my choice to ask Dante to join the investigation. But I had a conversation with Chase on Friday, and I think you would agree that it might be best if we both recused ourselves. Myself and Dante,” she added.

Robert’s smile faded and he sighed, rubbing the edge of his brow. “Yes, I’d considered asking that after I spoke to Detective Chase. We could seal off those avenues of investigation, keep you and Dante from knowing anything, but it would be simpler to remove you both. I’m willing to take point and I think Chase will be able to handle the investigation from here.” He tipped his head. “We won’t be able to tell you what evidence we develop—if any.”

“I know. But you’ll also be able to interview us, and we can serve as witnesses.” Molly folded her hands on the table, stared down at the wood grain. “I don’t know if they’re involved, but I can’t say for sure they’re not. And that troubles me. My sister — I could see her doing this. The murder. Acting on impulse. She’s a lot like her father — she sees herself as the main character in every story. All roads lead back to her. And she only really cares about herself.”

“Molly—”

“My mother will cover up anything for Kristina. She’s always run interference and held Kristina’s hand. And I wanted to say that I don’t think they’d frame anyone — but that’s just—” Molly faltered. “My mother sat by while Jason was arrested, tried, and convicted for the death of Luis Alcazar — a crime that she later plead not guilty to be reason of insanity.”

Robert sat back. “We’ve pulled the Alcazar case. There was an attempt to frame Jason and Brenda — but it came from other sources. At worst, your mother just didn’t come forward. This — this planting of a gun — that is a very different crime—”

“I know. And it’s what I’m clinging to, you know? I don’t think either of them would go to this lengths, but I also—” Molly exhaled slowly. “I also never thought my sister would draw up custody papers to take away the daughter she begged to carry for me. Or that my mother would help her. At the end of the day, what do we really know about one another?”

Laura & Kevin’s Condo: Living Room

“Ah, home sweet home,” Rocco said, dropping his backpack on the ground and sprawling back on the sofa. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Sit up,” Dante said flatly, kicking his son’s feet off the sofa. “You think this is funny?”

“It sure as shit ain’t sad.” Rocco folded his arms, hunched his shoulders. “Why don’t you go back to your crazy girlfriend? I heard she slugged Aunt Elizabeth in the face.” His smile was malicious. “I hope Aunt Liz kicked her ass.”

Dante scrubbed his hands down his face, sat on the armchair catty-corner to the sofa. “What do you want from me, Rocco? What am I supposed to do? Let you run around, smoking, drinking, getting in fights — you and Danny are best friends—”

“Not anymore.”

“Rocco.”

“I don’t want anything from you, Dad. You can’t give me what I want, anyway, so this conversation is just stupid. You gave my house to Maxie, so I can’t have that. Mom’s in a coma—” He hesitated, stared down at the floor. “And it’s probably not fair to ask you to break up with Sam or whatever.”

His father didn’t answer right, so Rocco lifted his gaze. “Dad?”

“You really don’t like her? Has it always been this way?” Dante tilted his head. “Was I that blind? Did I really miss something so big?”

Rocco grimaced, shifted on the sofa. “It wasn’t so bad at first,” he admitted. “But it got worse when Sam and Danny started fighting all the time. She was always on him, telling him he was her miracle, that it was, like, his duty to be better, to do better. And then he gets this—he gets a real miracle. He gets his dad back, and Sam makes it a miserable experience for him. If Mom came home, and you made it hard for me to see her, if you bitched about her all the time, I’d hate you, too.” He looked away, staring hard at the dark fireplace. “The first time we got drunk, Danny forgot about all of that for a little while. So we started doing it more. Every time you guys would start in on him about his grades or whatever — it was something we could that, like, was just ours. Aiden came along sometimes but it wasn’t his thing, I knew that. And when he didn’t want to, I didn’t make him or make fun of him or whatever. That’s shitty. But—” Rocco shrugged. “We were living a secret life you didn’t know anything about. And you didn’t notice. So we kept going bigger and stupider, I guess.”

“To see how much you could get away with,” Dante said, and Rocco jerked one shoulder up in a half-hearted shrug. “Okay. Well—” He waited. “I haven’t been happy with how Sam handled Jason’s return either. Maybe because I know something about thinking you have to go off and do something and leave your family to do it. I’m sorry that I didn’t see how much it affected you or Danny. That’s on me, and I can’t change it. All I can do is apologize.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“For what it’s worth, Sam and I have discussed temporarily separating for your sake,” Dante said, and Rocco blinked at him. “It’s hard because she’s going through something really awful, Rocco, losing her kids. And I feel guilty leaving someone I love in a situation like that. She’d be alone.”

“So? It’s her own fault. It is,” Rocco insisted. “You begged her to go easy on Jason, and Jason basically did everything she wanted for weeks, and it was never enough. She walked out on Danny, Dad! And, like, me and Danny were getting high down the hall from Scout! You were at work, okay, but Sam wasn’t. She works out of the penthouse. How come she never noticed what either of us were doing? We were coming home with blood shot eyes, and she never even looked at us. I’m not blaming just her, okay, I’m not. Because you suck, too. But it’s her fault, too. And, dude, Dad, she attacked Aunt Liz! She deserves what she gets. Danny’s better off with his dad.”

Dante lifted his brows. “I thought you and Danny weren’t friends anymore.”

Rocco scowled. “Don’t try to trick me. I’m right. You know I’m right.”

“All I know for sure is there are no easy answers, Rocco. No matter what I do, someone gets hurt. But if you tell me that you don’t want to live with Sam anymore, okay. We can find a place for you and me. But do you need me to break up with her? Is that what we’re talking about?”

Rocco opened his mouth, then closed it. “No, I guess not. You wanna date crazy, do it. But I don’t want to live with her anymore. I’m sorry. But like, I’m not either. You know?”

“Yeah. I do.” Dante got to his feet. “I’ll talk to your grandmother — you’re not going to be relaxing while you’re suspended. This isn’t a vacation. You’ve been acting like a moron, Rocco. And it stops now.”

Hanley Federal Building: U.S Attorney’s Offices

Gia knocked on Reynolds’ door, a file in her hand. “What is this analysis I’m reading of John Cates’ computer?”

Reynolds pushed away from his computer, furrowed his brow. “What?”

“John Cates. He was fabricating evidence against Jason Morgan — he was planning to set him up for an assault?” Gia scowled. “What the hell is this? He was a dirty agent?”

“We don’t know what he was intending to do with that voicemail,” Reynolds said carefully. “And keep your voice down—”

“Don’t tell me to keep my voice down. You knew the contents of his internet search history—how were you going to let me sign on a second chair without telling me that we had a compromised agent?” Gia slapped the file on his desk. “Do you have any idea what a headache this is going to be for the bureau when it gets out? All his cases are going to challenged — he was searching for the best ways to bruise yourself, Noah!”

Reynolds winced. “I know, but he was desperate. This was case was different—”

“No. No. No case is different enough that you forge evidence. And you damn well know it.” Gia shook her head. “I don’t like it. And I don’t like that you didn’t just tell me.”

“You’re right. You’re right.” Reynolds got to his feet, lifted his hand in mock surrender. “This has already started to get out — I’ve got a hearing in court tomorrow on another one of Cates’ cases, and that analysis was given to the attorney there by the local cops in Port Charles. I’m probably going to get my ass kicked on that case. ”

“Good. You should. This kind of agent gives us all a bad name.” Gia paused. “Wait. I thought  the Quartermaines’ injunction was due to be heard tomorrow—am I supposed to handle that?”

“Yes. And as a peace offering — your fresh eyes will be good. Caldwell is putting together an FBI search as soon as he can to go over property again. Why don’t you supervise?”

Gia hesitated, then nodded. “All right.” She started for the door, then turned back. “Is there anything else about this case I should know?”

“No.” Reynolds shook his head. “Not a single thing.”

“That better be true.”

+33

Written in 56 minutes. I wanted to do more in this part, but the Liason scene in the beginning took a little bit of extra time, so I wanted to work through it and make sure it was right. See you tomorrow!

Monday, September 23, 2024

Webber House: Master Bathroom

Elizabeth ignored the sting in her split lip, and continued to swirl the toothbrush in her mouth, keeping one eye on Jason in the bedroom sifting through the laundry basket of clean clothes. The weight of her ankle monitor was a stark reminder that this situation wasn’t just moving together and trying to figure out how to blend their lives together. If it weren’t for her case, would she and Jason be anywhere near living together?

Probably not. But then again — they’d have those plans the day she’d been arrested, and that was a bolstering thought. She and Jason might be speed running this stage of the relationship, but they had been traveling down that road again.

She twisted the faucet and spit out the remaining toothpaste. “There’s a dresser in the basement. We should get it out this week.”

Jason stepped up behind her, reached for his own tooth brush. “I don’t really have a lot. Probably no more than two drawers. If that. No point in going to the trouble.”

She pursed her lips, tilted her head to look at him, and he lifted his brows in return. “What?”

“Do you plan to live out of a duffel bag and laundry basket forever?”

“No, but—”

“I mean, don’t you think a judge is going to ask you about this situation?” Elizabeth continued, not even listening to his answer. She left the bathroom, went to her closet. “You’re asking for permanent custody, Jason. I remember when Lucky and I were getting divorced the second time, and I’d just moved into the house. I had to pull out all these payment histories and open a vein to prove that I could run the house — and support the boys. I mean it ended up not going anywhere because Lucky and I settled out of court—” She turned to find him standing in the doorway. “The judge is going to want to know how stable this is.”

Jason opened his mouth, then closed it and shook his head, disappearing back into the bathroom. She made a face and went to the doorway. “What? You wanted to say something. Just say it.”

Jason rinsed the toothbrush, set it back in the holder, then looked at her. “Yeah, the judge is probably gonna ask, and it’ll be relevant that I’ve been living here since you were arrested — and that I was originally going back to my room at the diner before I realized Danny needed to get out of the penthouse. None of that is news to Diane, by the way, and she would have already anticipated that. But it’s not the only reason you’re asking.”

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose, then folded her arms. “I know that if it was just about Danny needing a place to sleep, he could have shared Aiden or Jake’s room and you could have Cameron’s room. And I was literally just reassuring myself that it’s not why—I just—”

Jason came forward, laid his hands on her shoulders, stroked down to her elbows, then back up again until he was cupping her face. “You want some evidence that I’m planning to stay.”

“Yes.” She sighed, let her head fall forward, and felt him kiss the top of her head. “It’s stupid. We have so many more important things to worry about—”

“This is important, too.” He gently tugged on her arms until she unfolded them and pulled her forward into his arms. “More important. Because this case against you can’t last forever, and neither will this custody issue. But you and me, all of this—I want it to be still be where when all of that is done.”

“Me, too.” She lifted her face to his, and he kissed her, softly, lingering until she sighed and relaxed against him. “I don’t want to miss any steps, you know? I don’t want you to wake up in six months, and realize this isn’t where you want to be.”

“Impossible.” He stroked back of her cheek with his knuckles. “This is where I’ve always wanted to be. And I’m not letting it — or you — go again.”

Port Charles High: Industrial Arts

“I guess he’s not coming,” Danny said, twisting away from the door to look at Jake glumly. “He won’t talk to me.”

“No, I guess not.” Jake tapped a few keys on his school laptop, then looked at his brother. “Stop worrying about it, and let’s just get moving on this project. I’ll even let you run the scroll saw—”

The door to the classroom swung open and Rocco came in then, a green late slip in his hand. He shoved it at their teacher and made his way over to their work station, dropping into the seat next to Jake — instead of his usual one next to Danny.

“Nice of you to show up. Here—” Jake shoved the instruction paper at Rocco. “You can read the steps—”

“Don’t bother. I’m switching classes,” Rocco bit out. “Just as soon as I get Dad to call the school. He doesn’t want me around you anymore,” he said to Danny, and then he added, sneering, “And I don’t want to be around you either.”

Danny swallowed hard, then lifted his chin defiantly. “Good. I can’t stand your nasty ass anyway.” He shoved away from the bench and went over to the scroll saw.

Jake rolled his eyes. “Yeah, okay, I changed my mind — no saws when you’re pissed. I bring you home without fingers and it’ll be my fault.” He followed Danny, leaving Rocco alone. “And he’s just mad he got caught, Danny. Don’t pay attention to him.”

“I’m not. I don’t even care about him,” Danny adjusted the strap on his goggles.

“That makes two of us,” Rocco said, swaggering over to join them. Man, I wish I’d seen your mom kick the shit out of Sam. I bet it felt good—”

“You know what, maybe you just stop talking,” Jake suggested. “Or I’ll get Mr. Orlando to, like, give you a new group until you—”

But neither boy was listening to him, because Danny threw down the goggles. “Don’t talk about my mom—”

“Oh, so you’re the only one allowed to call your mom a lunatic? Nah, you had it right. She’s a crazy bitch who’s ruining my life and my dad’s life. Why are you mad that I’m agreeing with you?”

Danny’s face went red, and Jake craned his neck to look for their teacher — across the workshop with another group of students. He took a step towards them, thinking he’d grab their attention and get Rocco away from Danny before—

“Or maybe you’re worried you’re going to end up as crazy and stupid as her? I already know you’re a no-good lying snitch—”

Jake had taken two steps towards their teacher when he heard a crash and grunt behind him. He whirled around to find that Danny had charged Rocco, shoving him hard against their work bench and now the two morons were rolling around on the ground, kicking and punching.

“Fantastic,” Jake muttered as the kids around them started cheering and pulling out phones, crowding around and blocking their teacher’s approach.

He tried to get Danny’s arm to pull him out, but instead Rocco’s fist swung out and caught Jake on the lip, knocking him off balance.

“Son of a bitch—”

Miller & Davis: Diane’s Office

“It’s okay if you want to hand this off to another lawyer,” Jason told Diane again as the older woman sorted through files. “I told you — Elizabeth’s case is the priority—”

“And I’m playing a waiting game on that. Nothing new is coming in until we  get the security footage. The subpoenas are winding their way through the system, and I have to get them through discovery — and you know the government isn’t moving fast—” Diane flicked through another stack of folders. “And even when the injunction at the crime scene gets lifted this week, I still can’t do anything. Maybe, maybe, they’ll let me be present for it so I can get head start on any evidence, but who really knows—I know I have this report somewhere—” she looked at Jason. “Honestly, Jason, we’re spinning our wheels for a while. Even with the hearing to dismiss next week. I’ve prepped my legal arguments, and it’s just a matter of delivering them. I’m looking toward to something that’s not as difficult —” she winced as she sat down at her desk, having located the report she’d been seeking.

“Not that what’s going on with Danny or Scout is a good thing—”

“I didn’t think you meant that.”

“Good. Now—” Diane slid on her reading glasses. “I hope you stopped by the DMV and the post office to do those official changes of address I recommended. The judge won’t just want your say so that your residence is at Elizabeth’s. We’ll need proof.”

“I’m picking them up after this. Diane—”

“But other than that minor quibble, Jason, this is the slammest of dunks you could get in a custody case. Rocco and Danny were living under Sam’s supervision for a year, and apparently getting high and drunk with a minor in the residence. We have ample evidence that Sam has gone out of her way to alienate you from Danny since you came home, and since your official story for being gone is working undercover for the FBI, she’s not going to get a lot of sympathy for that. You’ve been credited with bringing down an international criminal — though he might be in the wind, it’s not really your fault. Furthermore, there are police reports and witnesses that Sam abandoned Danny to your custody last week in the PCPD—”

“The drugs, though — that’s not in the official report.”

“No, officially, it’s not on paper. And what happens in family court is sealed, so I don’t see the government getting any of that information without breaking that seal. So Elizabeth and Aiden aren’t in the records. Not that they did anything wrong, but—” Diane flipped through the pages in her file. “And finally, we have Sam’s antics since walking out on Danny — I have witnesses from the hospital that overheard her loudly confronting Elizabeth — thank you  hospital gossip — and the refusal to sign treatment papers. And all of that is before Sam physically assaulted Elizabeth in front of Danny.”

Jason rubbed his temple. “That’s…it sounds worse when you lay it out like that,” he admitted. “I guess I hadn’t really wrapped it all together like that. I don’t—I don’t blame her for not knowing before they were caught.”

“Why? Because Elizabeth didn’t see it with Aiden?” Diane asked with a half smile. “Rocco and Danny have admitted to doing it more often than Aiden has. And doing it in the home and during the week. They might have masked the smell on their breath, but probably not the clothes. Not every single time. A year is a very long time not to know that two children in your home are regularly getting drunk and high. Particularly when one of the adults in the home is a cop.”

“Okay, but—”

“Jason, I know you don’t like conflict. I know you’ve done everything you can to avoid the vicious battles I’ve seen in Sonny and Carly’s records. But Danny is not safe in Sam’s home. Not right now.”

“I know that. I know—and I started this. I know that I have to make the situation permanent — to make sure Danny isn’t forced back into Sam’s custody until he’s ready — until she’s—I don’t know. Until she fixes herself,” Jason said. “I know this is the right choice. But it’s not one I ever wanted to take.”

“I know—” Diane paused when Jason’s phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket, frowning when he saw the notification screen. “What is it?”

“It’s the high school—” He answered the call. “Yeah, this is Jason Morgan—” His expression went grim, and he met Diane’s eyes. “Yeah. Okay, I understand. Yes, I’ll be right there. Thank you.”

“What’s wrong?” Diane asked as Jason rose, shoving his phone back in his pocket.

“Danny and Rocco got into a fight at school. I have to go down there—”

As soon as he’d gone, Diane sighed and picked up her pencil to make a change in the petition — minor in physical danger in the home.

+34

Written in 72 minutes.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Penthouse: Living Room

Dante forced his expression to relax before pulling the door open to reveal a pair of familiar uniformed cops, Dex Heller and his partner—damn it what was her name?—  “Hey, Dex. Uh, come in—” He stepped to the side, shot Sam a warning glance, hoping she’d remember to let him handle everything.

“Hey, Dante. Sam. You remember my partner, Erica Williams,” he said, and the other cop just made a face. Not a great start, Dante thought. “Uh, we just took statements from the security in the lobby.” Dex stopped by the desk. “So we’re gonna talk to you, and then head over to Elizabeth Webber.”

“That’s not—” Dante looked to Sam again before turning his attention to the cops. “That’s not necessary. It’s just a custody thing that got out of hand, you know? I don’t think anyone’s pressing charges—”

“With all due respect, Detective Falconieri,” Erica Williams said, “that’s not up to you.”

“I’m not pressing charges either,” Sam said, her voice a bit rusty. She approached hesitantly. “Like Dante said, tempers are high right now. I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of domestic situations—”

“Ma’am, I understand, but from what we saw on the security footage, it’s not something we can just walk away from.”

And considering Dante had already pulled enough strings to get the weed mentions deleted from their report barely a week ago, he wasn’t going to be able to do it twice. So he was going to have to go on the defense. “Sam, you want to call your mom?”

Sam pressed her lips together. “You saw the footage. You know it was mutual. I don’t need lawyer. I’m not pressing charges. If she wants to, whatever. That’s her problem. I don’t have anything to say.”

Dex cleared his throat. “You, uh, don’t want to tell us how it started?”

“We already told you. A custody dispute. If you need more than that — if charges are going to be filed, then, yeah, I think I’m gonna need my lawyer.”

“Fair enough. We’ll, uh, head over to the Webbers. See what the situation is. We’ll be in touch if we need to.”

“All right. Thanks.”

After Dante had closed the door, he exhaled slowly and then turned to look at Sam. “I hope it was worth it.”

Sam flexed her fingers, the skin at the knuckles broken. Her cheek was already starting to bruise and the red marks at her throat where Elizabeth’s nails had scraped the skin were still visible. “Elizabeth isn’t going to press charges. She doesn’t want cops involved anymore than I do—”

“I’m not listening to this anymore.” Dante snatched up his keys. “I’m going to Laura’s to talk to Rocco. To figure out what the hell to do. You think about how stupid this all is.”

And then the door slammed behind him.

Webber House: Cameron/Danny’s Room

Danny sat up when Elizabeth lightly knocked on the open door. She’d cleaned up since they’d gotten home—tied back her disheveled hair and cleaned the cut on her face that was bruising, but it was hard to ignore the swelling in her split upper lip from where his mother had landed the first blow.

“Hey, Mom,” Jake said, sitting up with Danny. “You, uh, look better.”

“Thanks,” Elizabeth said dryly.  “Go take a ride with your dad to pick up Aiden, okay? I want to talk to Danny — ” she paused lightly. “If that’s okay with him.”

Jake looked to his brother. “You good?”

“No, but you can go,” Danny muttered.

Jake rolled off the bed and a few minutes later, they heard his footsteps thudding down the steps. Elizabeth remained in the doorway, her arms folded loosely across her chest. “I’m sorry about what happened. I should have left and let your Dad handle the situation.”

“It’s okay—”

“It’s not. ” Elizabeth came in and perched on the edge of the bed, keeping her distance from Danny. “I also didn’t have to hit her back—”

“She hit you first. You get to defend yourself—”

“Maybe. But not at your expense. I’ve tried really hard not to let how your mom and I feel about each other affect you and Jake, and I didn’t do a good job today—”

“She didn’t care.” Danny let his head fall back against the headboard, keeping his gaze from meeting  Elizabeth’s. “I knew she didn’t like you. She used to be better at pretending, but like, Jake and I always knew. She thinks you’re trying to like steal me from her, and it’s stupid. You’re not my mom. I know that.”

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment, then spoke. “I know she worries about being the second-choice, and as much I don’t understand a lot about her, I do understand that. As someone who grew up not feeling like I fit with my family, it’s awful to think that someone who is supposed to love you doesn’t. Even if it’s not true,” she added when Danny opened his mouth. “Your mom’s running on emotion, and she’s not thinking before she acts.”

“How can you defend her?”

“I’m—” Elizabeth smiled faintly. “I guess I am, huh? Your dad thinks I make too many excuses for people, and he’s not wrong. I just—I care about you, Danny. And I don’t think anyone wins if you and your mom are at war with each other. She’s a human who makes mistakes. Terrible, awful mistakes. But she’s human. And she’s terrified that she’s losing her kids. She’s not handling it well. At all, and for that, I won’t make excuses. But the root of it? I understand. I’d do anything for my boys.”

“Yeah, which is why you’re up here trying to be nice to me and make me feel better about my mother, but it just—” Danny hesitated, obviously unsure if he should keep going, but then after a beat, continued. “It makes me uncomfortable. Like it feels like a lie. You don’t like her. She hit you, and you hit her back, and neither one of you remembered I was there.”

Elizabeth tipped her head to the side. “You’re right. She hit me, and I stopped thinking about you. About my case, and how getting arrested for assault didn’t matter. I wanted to hurt her back, and I hit her back. And I kept going. Because in the heat of the moment, I wasn’t thinking about anything or anyone but myself.” She paused. “But that’s over now. The adrenaline’s faded, and while, yes, in the moment, it felt good to hit her — to cause her pain — I’m left with the consequences, Danny. Trying to understand how it happened — and how I can keep it from happening again. Just like you and Rocco, right? You guys made a terrible choice last Saturday. And the consequences keep coming. Rocco’s handling them in his way, and you’re doing yours.”

Danny absorbed all that, then lifted his eyes to meet hers finally. “Okay. That makes sense. I don’t want you and my mom to fight like that. I don’t want it to be like this with her. She’s—she’s my mom. I love her. And I miss my little sister. This all started because of me, you know? My grades and my attitude. And then — well, you know what me and Rocco were doing.” He sat up slightly, folding his legs. “I want it to go back the way it was before, except maybe I get to see Dad more. And I could, like, have these longer visits where I live with him sometimes.”

Elizabeth opened her mouth to respond, then got a notification from her phone. “Someone’s at the door—” She grimaced. “It’s the police. Probably here to take our statements.” She got to her feet. “I don’t think we can go back to how it was — but I promise, Danny, to try to make it better than it is now. It’s all I can do.”

Laura & Kevin’s Condo: Living Room

“I appreciate you letting him stay here this weekend,” Dante said, keeping his gaze on the steps to the second floor — where Rocco was hiding from him. “I don’t—I don’t know what to do. I tried it punishing him, but it just made it worse.”

“I’m a little at a loss myself,” Laura admitted, folding a leg beneath her and looking at Kevin with worry before returning her attention to Dante. “I keep thinking that if I’d handled things with Lucky differently when he was that age, oh, so many things would be different.”

“I didn’t—I didn’t realize he hated living at the penthouse. Or that leaving the house would feel like I was taking him from his mother. Stupid,” Dante muttered. “I should have seen that. I should have known.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “But I don’t know how to fix it.”

“If I may — ” Kevin leaned forward. “I’ve never been in this situation, you understand. Starting a new relationship while my child was living in the house. But I will say — there’s a line between forcing a kid to face the reality of his mother not being here — and pushing him into things he isn’t ready for.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Sam and I are both—it’s not—we’re not—we can’t seem to get on the same page. She’s lost control,” Dante said with a shake of his head. “She’s so scared that Drew and Jason will win full custody — and I don’t think she understands that she’s actually making it happen. Walking out of the station last week with Danny, starting a fight with Elizabeth just before we’re supposed to go to court—I don’t want to leave her. To be one more person she’s losing. But I don’t know how to show Rocco that I’m hearing him, that I care what he thinks.”

“There are no easy answers here, Dante,” Kevin told him. “You’re in a situation where you’re being asked to choose between two people you love. But no mistake, there is a choice to be made here. All you can hope is that you’ll be able to live with what happens when you make it.”

Harborview Towers: Hallway

As soon as Jason had learned the cops had come to the house — and that Elizabeth had sent them away without pressing charges for Danny’s sake — he knew he had to take some kind of action. To get through Sam’s thick skull that she was the architect of her own misery.  It was time for a conversation where he wasn’t going to let her guilt him, to use his past against him.

He already knew he hadn’t been a good father, but his mother was right. He’d made those mistakes, and they were done now. He couldn’t keep letting that guilt drown him — or let Sam use it to get her away.

She swung the door open, her lips set in a mutinous line. “You know, the fact that those damn guards still work for you and don’t give a damn that I said not to let you up here—”

“You don’t like it, Sam, you can move,” Jason said flatly. “Your kids don’t live here anymore, you might as well.”

Her lips parted with surprise and she actually took a step back. “What the hell did you just say to me?”

“You heard me. I gave you the title to this place because it was Danny and Scout’s home,” Jason replied. “But if you don’t want it, sell it. Until you do, I don’t want to hear it.”

“And if you don’t want to hear it, you can leave—” Sam started to close the door, but he slapped his hand against it. “I don’t have to hear you—”

“Yeah, you do. Or I’ll have Elizabeth call Dex Heller back and file charges for assault. So either we have this conversation now, or you can spend the night in lock up. Up to you.”

Sam released her grip on the edge of the door, turned her back and stalked towards the sofa, whirling around when she heard him close the door. “She had no right to come here—”

“To sit in the lobby while Danny asked you to be part of his therapy? Yeah, she’s regretting that, believe me.”

“Don’t act like she’s trying to do me any favors. She never has—”

“Shut up.”

Sam closed her mouth, swallowed hard. Because she recognized that tone. “You don’t get to talk to me like this—”

“I’m done letting you hurt Danny. Don’t — ” He held up a hand when she started to speak again. “I’m done letting you pretend that you’re the better parent because you were here. That’s not going to work anymore. Danny was trying to reach out to you to day, trying to make peace. And he’s talked about wanting to come home, even for an overnight visit because he’s worried about you and about Scout. I  tried to fix things for you with your daughter. I asked Monica to work on getting Drew to drop this custody battle—”

Her dark eyes glimmered with angry tears. “Am I supposed to thank you? This is your fault—”

“Because that’s all that matters, right? Who gets the blame. That’s all you care about is making sure you look good. That someone’s holding your hand and making you feel better. You can’t get out of your own way. You never have—”

“Shut up—”

“I’m done letting you hurt my kids. With hurting my family. Elizabeth has done nothing to deserve the way you’ve treated her for weeks. Nothing but give a damn about our kid—”

“She’s so much better than me, right?”

“Yeah. She is.”

Sam hadn’t been expecting that answer because her eyes grew wide, and her lower lip trembled. “Well, at least you’ve finally said it.” She swiped at her eyes. “I wish I’d never met you. I wish I’d never married you or given you a son — I wish Danny weren’t your son—”

“And I wish Danny didn’t have you as a mother, as long as we’re saying what we really feel,” Jason said. “And believe me, I’m not sure he doesn’t feel the same right now. Especially with what I saw on that security footage. When you rewind this back, Sam, to figure out where you went wrong, getting on that damn elevator to confront Elizabeth — that’s the point of no return. For all of us. Because you know Danny will never forget it. He came to ask you for help, and you made his life worse. I won’t let you do it again. I should have done a better job protecting Jake from you, but I won’t make the same mistake with Danny.”

“Really? Protecting Jake? I didn’t even touch him—”

“No, you didn’t have to. You just let Maureen Harper do the dirty work. Or the guys you hired in the park to hold guns on toddlers,” Jake retorted, and Sam’s face went white. “I made you a promise then, do you remember it? I didn’t keep it then. I let myself believe you had changed. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Are you threatening to kill me again, huh? Is that what this is about?” Sam demanded. “Because wow—”

“No. But I know how to get it done. Today was the last straw. Elizabeth isn’t pressing charges, but that’s not going to stop me from using it in court. I’m getting permanent custody of Danny. Try this again, Sam, and Drew gets a copy of that tape, too. That’s the promise I’m making you”

+43

Written in 66 minutes. Wanted to get the ending right. It’s not quite there, but it’s close enough.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Harborview Towers: Lobby

Dante walked through the double door entrance to the building — and straight into chaos. He saw Danny first, standing off to the side, his cheeks flushed and stained with tears — then the security guards standing near the sofas, and two women on the ground —

Damn it.

Dante rushed forward and caught Sam around the waist just before his girlfriend could grab another chunk of Elizabeth’s hair. Sam’s legs were still kicking wildly as he lifted and shoved her behind him. She started forward again, trying to push past him, but he kept his grip on her tight.

“What the hell is going on?” he demanded, looking from her to Elizabeth, bewildered. “Are you insane?”

Elizabeth had a split lip and a cut just below her eye, already showing signs of bruising. She sat up, took a deep breath, then rolled to her feet, running her fingers through her hair. “Ask her that — she went after me!”

“We called the PCPD,” one of the security guards told him. “Couldn’t get them to separate—”

“Great. That’s just great,” Elizabeth bit out, her breathing still a bit fast. “Are you happy now, Sam? Is this what you wanted?”

“I wanted you to get out of my damn life! That’s all I’ve ever wanted!” Sam shot back. “Danny, go upstairs. I’m done with this game—”

Danny swallowed hard, swung his gaze to Elizabeth who grimaced. “You’d better go for now. Your dad’s on his way, and since I can’t take you with me without her screaming kidnapping —”

“What?” Dante demanded, returning his gaze back to Sam. “What the hell is going on here?”

“I came to talk to Mom, and Elizabeth drove me,” Danny said miserably. His shoulders were hunched, and he had both hands in his pockets. “She waited down here, but Mom figured it out, came down and then wouldn’t let us leave—”

“Damn it.” Dante scowled, focused on Sam. “What is wrong with you? Jason has custody—”

“Well, she’s not Jason, is she?” Sam spat. “Go ahead, walk out that door with my son. Find out what happens—you’d understand if you knew what I knew,” she told Dante. “She’s trying to turn Danny against me! She pushed him into therapy, and she’s going to the parent sessions!”

Dante scrubbed his hands down his face, took a deep breath, then looked at Danny. “Go with Elizabeth. I’ll handle the cops,” he told Elizabeth. “Sam might have thrown the first punch, but you should have known better than to show up here. What the hell were you thinking, bringing Danny here yourself?”

“I don’t know, I guess I was thinking about what Danny needed,” Elizabeth snapped. “He wanted to talk to his damn mother! And Jason is over at the Quartermaines trying to talk Drew into dropping this custody bullshit with Scout, so excuse me for thinking that was just as important.”

Dante closed his mouth, pressed his lips together. “Don’t pretend you didn’t realize it would be an issue—”

“Which is why I stayed downstairs—you know what—” Elizabeth held up both hands, palms outward. “I’m not doing this. You want to blame me for this mess, you do whatever you want. I’m done.” She looked to Danny. “If you want to wait for your dad, you can do that.”

“I don’t want to make anything worse,” Danny said. “If I leave with you, won’t it mess things up for you?”

“Only if your mother tries to have me taken in for kidnapping,” Elizabeth replied. She stared at Sam. “Try it. See what skeletons I dig out of the closet to make your custody case harder. Drew says you’re an unfit parent. Whose side do you want me on?”

Sam’s head snapped up and she went still, then swallowed hard. “Jason will just take him later,” she forced out. “Go. If you want to be away from me so badly.” And then she turned, stalked towards the staircase doors, and shoved the door open.

Danny folded his arms. “I’m sorry. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have come here today—”

“This isn’t on you, Danny.” Dante came forward, put his hands on Danny’s shoulders. “The adults in your life are acting like idiots, and that makes it our fault. I’ll talk to your mother. She’s upset—” He looked over at Elizabeth. “You should both go before the PCPD gets here. I’ll handle it. Go,” he said again to Danny when the teen didn’t move.

“Come on. Let’s call your dad and tell him to meet us at home,” Elizabeth said, gesturing to Danny. “Before he gets here and makes this even worse. I’ll meet you outside,” she added when Danny passed her. Danny, still looking miserable, nodded, then shoved the doors open.

When Danny was gone, Elizabeth looked at Dante. “You want to blame me to make things easier for you, go right ahead. But I brought Danny here to ask Sam to go to those damn parent sessions. He wanted her to be part of them. Both of you. No one knows how to sabotage herself better than Sam.”

“Yeah, well—” Dante shook his head. “You know she’s insecure about you and Danny—you knew she was angry about all this therapy stuff and your involvement—”

“It’s not my job to hold her hand, and make her feel better about herself. But she’s the one that did this, Dante. She confronted me physically in front of Danny. She’s out of control, and as someone who’s seen what happens when she’s not reined in—” Elizabeth shook her head. “God help us all, but especially you.”

Penthouse: Living Room

Sam stalked from one end of the room to the other, her shoulders trembling, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. She heard the click and turn of the tumblers a moment before the door opened and was already across the room when Dante came in. “What did you say to her? Why didn’t you come up right after me?”

“I wanted to talk to Danny,” Dante said, his expression grim. He closed the door, his hand laying flat against for a beat before it slid away. “Did you attack her first?”

“You’re taking her side, aren’t you—”

“Did you attack her first?” Dante repeated, louder, his cheeks flushed, and he turned to face her fully. “Damn it, Sam. Did you throw the first punch?”

Sam lifted her chin. “I grabbed her when she tried to leave with Danny, and yes, I did throw the first punch—but she was trying to take Danny—”

“Jason has custody of him right now. I know you hate that, but it’s the way it is. You made it this way, Sam, when you walked out of the station a week ago,” he continued as she flinched, and dropped her gaze.  “And then you refused to sign consent papers, so Jason went to the court. Legally, he had a right to give Elizabeth permission to take Danny anywhere he wanted to go. And she brought him here. To you. Is she right? Was Danny asking you to be part of his therapy?”

Now her mouth trembled. “Yes, but she’s going to be there, too! Like she’s important to him—”

“She is,” Dante said ruthlessly. “And that’s a situation you created. Remember? You said Jason could only see Danny when he was with Elizabeth and Jake. Supervised visitation. And you knew Jason was staying at her house when you walked out on him. What did you think would happen? No, don’t even bother trying to explain yourself,” he continued when Sam opened her mouth. “You can’t. You’re due in court on Monday, and all Drew has to do is find out about this mess today. You’ll look unhinged.”

Sam looked away, her vision blurred from tears. “And she’ll go right to him. You heard her. She’s only too happy to make this into a victory—”

“Maybe I think she was stupid for being the one to drive Danny here, but that doesn’t change how insane it was for you to attack her for it.”

She wrapped her arm tightly around her upper torso, embracing herself. “I can’t stand it. I can’t stand it. They took my kids from me, Dante. My kids. What am I supposed to do? Just let it happen—”

” I expect you to stop making it worse for you, for Danny, and for everyone around you. Otherwise, Sam, I don’t know how we come back from this. I’m still here because I love you,” he continued when tears continued unchecked down her cheeks. “But we’ve got a problem, and you refuse to see it. You’ve decided Elizabeth is the source of all these problems, and until you let go of this ridiculous jealousy, you’re going to keep losing.”

Webber House: Driveway

Elizabeth pulled her car into the parking spot just behind Jason’s SUV — whose brake lights were still lit, indicating he’d only just arrived, too.

The drive back from the Harborview had been silent — Elizabeth honestly hadn’t known what to say to Danny. Should she apologize? Explain things? She’d tried so hard to be neutral, even positive about Sam where Danny was concerned because it was the right thing to do. But to have Sam of all people threaten Elizabeth with kidnapping — and Sam had thrown the first punch —

Elizabeth had lost her mind, and the whole scene didn’t reflect well on either of them.

She switched off the engine, and Danny barreled out of the car, heading up the sidewalk at double speed. Ahead of them, Jake was out of the passenger side, chasing after his brother.

Elizabeth climbed out more slowly, rolling her shoulder, and Jason was coming towards her, wincing. “It looks worse than it is, I think,” she said when he reached her.

He took her chin in his hands, tipped it to the side. “You’re going to have a black eye.”

“Damn it. I hope I broke her goddamn nose,” Elizabeth muttered, and he sighed, making her feel worse. “I’m sorry. I didn’t start it, but I shouldn’t have tried to finish it either.”

“I’m sure Sam didn’t make it easy to walk away from her. Come on—” He put an arm around her shoulder, and she winced. “Did you hurt something else?”

“We rolled into the chairs, and I think I hit one of the posts—” She wrinkled her nose as they approached the door that Jake and Danny had left ajar in their haste to get inside. “Not my finest hour.”

“I threatened to make Drew disappear,” Jason told her and she stopped, looked at him with surprise. “I didn’t punch him. So you still win for worst day.”

“I don’t know why that makes me feel better,” Elizabeth said after a moment, “but it does.”

Webber House: Cameron/Danny’s Room

Danny didn’t stop until he hit the third floor and threw himself across the bed, burying his face in the pillow. He heard Jake’s footsteps thudding after him. “Go away.”

“Not a chance. Come on—”

Danny felt the bed dip, and he reluctantly rolled over to find Jake sitting on the edge. “They called the cops. Dante said he’ll fix it, but what if he can’t?”

“Yeah, I don’t know.” Jake exhaled slowly. “What happened? Mom’s not exactly one to lose her mind like that—”

“No, but mine is,” Danny muttered. He flopped back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling. “Mom said if Elizabeth tried to leave with me, she’d say it was kidnapping. And Mom grabbed her, punched her. Then your mom got mine by the throat, and it just—” he swallowed hard. “It was bad, Jake. Really bad.”

Jake sighed, laid back next to him, and they laid in silence, both staring at the same white ceiling paint. “Dante’s a good guy. He’ll get the cops to realize it’s not a big deal—”

“People will find out. And maybe Drew will use it to keep Scout away.” He forced himself to continue. “And maybe he should. I was…I was scared today. Of my mom. What she might do if she thinks someone trying to keep me away.” He twisted his head to look at Jake. “I don’t know what I supposed to do. She makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong by talking to your mom or like, I dunno, acting like she’s part of my family.”

“Then your mom is crazy.” Jake sat up, folded his legs. “I’m sorry, Danny, but it’s just the way it is. You’re my brother, which means we’re family. And Mom’s practically your step mom. How come it’s okay for Dante to be like your second dad? She’s a hypocrite.”

“I know. I just….” Danny rolled away, to lay on his side. “I hate it. I want it to stop. But it’s just going to get worse. I just know it.”

Webber House: Kitchen

Elizabeth winced when Jason pressed the ice pack against her cheek. “Ow—” She covered the pack with her own hand to hold it in place.

“Careful, hold still—” He reached for the towel he’d already dampened to blot at the cut in her lip. “I’m sorry. I should have taken Danny to the Towers.”

“Yeah, well, if she’d just stayed upstairs, we wouldn’t have this problem,” Elizabeth muttered. “God, I’m so sick of her acting like I’m the bad guy! It’s not like I stole Danny from her — not that it’s really about that. She still thinks I manipulated you twenty years ago, you know, and it’s so annoying because I was literally on her side the whole time. I told you over and over again to talk to her, didn’t I?”

“I know.” Jason crumpled up the towel, threw it in the trash can. “Dante will probably keep things quiet — this looks worse for her than it does for you,” he added when Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “You’re not the one fighting a custody battle right now. And there are witnesses — you reacted in self-defense—”

“Do you really think the FBI is going to care?” Elizabeth wanted to know. “They’re going to get desperate, you know. We both know they only let me out on bail because they thought we’d make a mistake and lead them to evidence they can use against you. It has to be clear by now we won’t want to do that, so if they can revoke my bail, they will.”

Jason met her worried eyes, then dropped his back to washing his hands, and drying them. “The injunction Michael filed to keep them off the crime scene will probably be dismissed in a few days. And they’re going to go back to search for the missing bullet. They find that—” He shook his head. “It’s hard to sit on my hands and let everyone else look for answers. I’m over at the Quartermaines trying to help Sam, and she’s making all of this harder for everyone. For Danny, for your case—”

“You were trying to help Danny. Just like I was. We both thought the best thing to do was to help Sam win her case against Drew, but honestly, Jason—she was going to file kidnapping charges against me. Yes, they would have been dropped — but she didn’t even think—” Elizabeth looked away. “She never seems to remember how much patience I’ve shown her over the years. I kept a secret for twenty-four hours. She never would have said a word about Maureen Harper if she hadn’t been caught.”

“I blamed myself for creating the situation, so I believed her when she cried, when she claimed to regret it and begged to be forgiven her. But she was never sorry. She’s made that clear. She’s resented you since that summer, and Jake since he was born. You did what you did with Jake Doe and with that maternity test, but none of it comes close to what she did in the park. Either time. Maybe she needs to be reminded of that.”

+37

Written in 57 minutes.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Harborview Towers: Lobby

Elizabeth leaned back against the chair, and flicked through her notes for the next month’s master schedule, reviewing vacation requests and PTO requests. She hoped that Danny’s conversation with his mother didn’t take too long — this wasn’t exactly how she wanted to spend her Saturday and she was eager to know how things had gone for Jake and Jason with Monica and Drew—

There was a ding of the elevator and Elizabeth lifted her gaze, expecting to see Danny. She was already half-standing, sliding her phone back in her purse when she realized who was striding off the elevator.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Sam demanded, her face flushed. Danny trailed behind her, a slight edge of panic in his miserable expression. “You have no right to be sticking your nose in my son’s life! You’re not his mother!”

“No, I’m not,” Elizabeth said, forcing her tone to remain flat and even. To treat Sam like an irate patient or an insubordinate employee. The last thing any of them needed was Elizabeth to lose her temper — Danny already looked like he wanted to die.

“Mom—”

“I knew you were going to use this therapy crap to turn him against me!” Sam spat. “You pushed him at this doctor, and you pushed your way into a parent session! You’re not his mother!”

“So you’ve said. I’m just trying to help, Sam, but this was obviously a bad idea. Danny—” Elizabeth gestured towards the front entrance. “Why don’t we head back to the house—”

“Yeah—” Danny started past his mother, but Sam shoved him back and grabbed Elizabeth’s arm before she could take more than a handful of steps.

“You’re not going anywhere with my son! He’s staying here.”

“Mom—”

“Let me go,” Elizabeth said, tugging at Sam’s grasp, one eye on the security guards behind the desk. “You don’t want to do this right now.”

“Danny, go upstairs,” Sam ordered. “You’re not going anywhere with her. I’ve seen through your little game,” she said to Elizabeth. “You think you can turn my son against me the way you turned Jason? It’s not going to work—”

“I’m not doing anything, Sam. Let me go,” Elizabeth repeated, heat crawling up her spine, her chest tightening with fury. “Last warning.”

“Mom!”

“If you try to walk out that door with my son, I’ll call the cops and have you thrown in jail for kidnapping. Yeah, what’s that going to do to your bail?” Sam snarled when Elizabeth jolted.

“Are you insane?” Elizabeth demanded. She started to struggle in earnest now, tugging at Sam’s grasp, lifting her other hand to plant against Sam’s shoulder, intending to push her, maybe to dislodge the claw-like hold on her arm—

But Sam swung out with her free hand, backhanding Elizabeth so hard her head snapped to the side, and she tasted blood in her cheek.

“Mom!” Danny cried. “Stop it!”

Elizabeth touched her lip, saw the blood, then lifted her eyes to Sam’s smug face. Everything screamed in her to let it go. To leave and have Jason resolve the issue — Danny was his son, after all, and he had emergency custody. To engage with Sam any further would put her freedom at risk.

But to have this woman standing in front of her, accusing her of kidnapping — this woman — who had hit her so hard that Elizabeth’s ears were ringing—

She tossed her purse aside and went for Sam’s throat with her free hand, digging in until Sam grunted, released Elizabeth’s arms, and started clawing at Elizabeth’s fingers, falling backwards.

TJ & Molly’s Apartment: Living Room

TJ peered over Molly’s shoulder, then furrowed his brow. “Am I reading that headline right?”

Molly jolted at his voice, looking up and releasing a breath. “You scared me. I thought you were still sleeping.”

“It’s almost noon,” TJ told her, taking a seat next to her on the sofa, a bowl of ramen in his hands. “I have to go back in at four—I know, I hate it, too. But they needed someone to take the night shift—”

“You haven’t had a full night off in so long,” Molly murmured, but she knew it was a futile conversation. TJ was as devoted to his career as she was to hers, and it was just something they were going to have to work around.

“Next weekend, I promise. But that headline about your mom, is that for real?”

Molly turned her tablet around so that TJ could see for himself. He cradled his ramen in one hand, and reached for it, balancing it in his hand, using his thumb to scroll. “Your mom plead not guilty by reason of insanity to a murder?”

“Luis Alcazar. More than twenty years ago. It was just after my sister was born. She was premature, you know. Kristina.” Molly sighed, braced her head on her fist, and her elbow against the back of the sofa. “I think it’s part of the reason Mom has so much trouble letting Kristina hit rock bottom — she nearly died at birth, and then Mom lost custody for eight or nine months while she was in treatment. But…” Molly bit her lip. “She never told us about the diagnosis. Dissociative identity disorder. It’s not genetic or anything—”

“But there are genetic factors that can influence it,” TJ murmured. He leaned forward, setting his bowl down on the table so he could focus on the article more intently. “What made you look this up?”

“Jason and Brenda Barrett were convicted of this man’s murder. It was overturned, thank God, and Mom was charged, but—” Molly chewed on her bottom lip. “I think the reason she never told us about this — about the disorder or the case — I don’t think it was real. This isn’t a disorder you have for a minute and then just recover from forever. Mom went through rehab for her alcoholism. This should have come up in the intake, and it didn’t.”

“You think your mom faked it to beat the charges?”

“Maybe. This guy set a bomb that killed Mom’s little sister — the first Kristina. Mom had a motive, you know? But either she was lying to us our whole lives about this illness — or she was lying back then. And if she lied back then—”

“She let Jason and that other woman get convicted for something they didn’t do.”

“Yeah.”

TJ handed her the tablet back without further comment, picked up his lunch. Molly was grateful for his lack of reaction — she hadn’t really been able to articulate what troubled her about the case history she’d seen on Chase’s board.

“I’m starting to feel like I don’t understand or know my mother or my sister at all,” Molly admitted. “After what Kristina’s said — what she was planning — my mother standing by letting it happen —” She looked at TJ. “They’re suspects in Cates’ murder. I can’t know anything about that part of the investigation, but I know Chase hasn’t been able to eliminate them.”

“Molls.”

“I started this. I—” Her throat was tight. “What if I started this whole crusade and it turns out my own family did it? How do I live with myself, TJ?” Her eyes burning, she closed them, feeling the tears slide beneath her lashes.

She heard the clink of the bowl hitting the table again, and then TJ pulling her into his arms.

“You did what was right, Mol. You saw an injustice and tried to fix it. Everyone makes their own choices, you know? Including your mom and Kristina. How could you live with yourself if you’d done nothing and another innocent woman was sent to jail?”

“I know.” She leaned her forehead against his shoulder. “I can’t stop this from happening. It’s out of my hands.”

Quartermaine Estate: Monica’s Room

“I wish I could tell you I have any influence over Drew,” Monica said, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea, her blue eyes faded and tinged with exhaustion. “But I’m not sure he’ll listen to anyone. Except a campaign manager.”

Jason grimaced. “I know. And I hate even trying to ask you—” Every time he saw his mother, she seemed to have diminished more and more. Just like the final visits with his grandmother, and it weighed on him — the loss of the woman he’d wasted so much time pushing away.

“But you’ll do whatever you have to for your family,” Monic said. She set the tea down and reached for his hand — then squeezed it as best she could, though the pressure was light. “I feel the tension, too. Drew’s clashing with everyone, and this business with taking Scout away from her mother—” She paused. “I’ve never pretended that I approved of Sam — which I know carried little weight with you —”

“It’s okay—”

“Let me say this.” She patted his hand. “I never thought she was a good match for you. Too much like you,” she added. “Addicted to adrenaline, to living fast, to taking risks, and not thinking much about the future. You needed someone to keep you grounded. Tied to not only today, but yesterday and tomorrow. But there was nothing I could have said to you that would have influenced your choices.”

Jason was quiet for a moment, taking in her words, acknowledging, at least to himself, the truth in them. “But?” he prompted.

“I have seen glimpses of Sam showing some real maturity, some growth. She’s not a bad mother. Or one to put them in danger.” Monica’s lips twitched slightly. “She’s not that different that who I was when I raised you and AJ, you know. I loved you both so  very much. Your father and I both did. But neither one of us could see past our own needs. Our own selfishness. And it made us…careless parents,” she said, after considering the words. “I see that in Sam — and I’ve seen it in you.”

Jason exhaled slowly, then nodded. “I haven’t been a good father for most of Jake or Danny’s lives. I’m trying to do better now. But it’s hard. To know the right choices. I left them. I left Jake. I let someone else take on being his father. I thought it was better for him—” He shook his head. “But it wasn’t about him. It never was. It was about me. And not wanting the guilt of being the reason he was hurt. He’d already been kidnapped, Elizabeth had already been in so much danger, and Michael —” He stopped, unable to speak of the horror that had befallen Michael as a child.

“You made mistakes, Jason. All parents do. Your father and I made them over and over again. I didn’t hold on tight enough to you boys when you were children, and then — when it mattered, I tried to hold too much and I drove you away—”

“It wasn’t just you,” Jason said, and Monica smiled sadly.

“It started with us. I was your mother, and I should have done  better by you. The guilt never fades, Jason. For all the ways you fail your children. But you can’t live in the past. You can’t let it steal the future. You’re here today, trying to do better. Which is more than I can say for Drew. He’s not ready to stop being selfish, and until he is, I’m not sure we can convince him that putting Scout through this custody battle is hurting her and Danny more than helping anyone. But I promise I’ll try, and for as long as Scout is in this house, I’ll make sure she’s looked after—”

“I know you will—” Jason was interrupted when the door to the bedroom was thrown open and Jake strode in, a phone in his hand. “I thought you were keeping Scout occupied—”

“I was, but—” Jake thrust the the phone at him. “You need to talk to Danny and we need to go. Sorry Grandmom,” he said as an afterthought.

Jason took the phone, but he could hear Danny’s panicked voice even before it reached his ear. “Please! Stop! Mom!”

“Danny?” Jason demanded, getting to his feet. “What’s going on?”

“You have to stop them! Mom attacked Elizabeth, and now they’re fighting, and they’re going to call the cops, and you have to—Mom! No!” Danny’s voice faded, and Jason realized he must have dropped or put down the phone because he could just hear faint sounds — and he recognized the sounds of a grunting, voices shouting—

“Damn it,” he muttered. He hung up, and looked at his mother. “I have to go—”

“Go. Go. Call me later,” Monica ordered.

“Let’s go,” Jason told Jake, gesturing towards the door. And hoped they got to Harborview before the police did.

+27

Written in 66 minutes.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Quartermaine Mansion: Foyer

Jason’s determination to avoid Drew entirely during this trip was immediately foiled — the bastard was in the foyer when Jason and Jake arrived, trying to talk Scout into putting on her jacket so that they could leave.

“Jake!” Scout’s eyes lit up and she raced for her older cousin, hugging him tightly. “Did you bring Danny?”

“That kid isn’t allowed within six feet of my daughter,” Drew began, his chest already puffed out, “so if he’s in the car or—”

Jason reminded himself that an arrest for slugging Drew in his pompous mouth wouldn’t help anyone, and kept his distance and his tone cool. “For someone who never met Edward, you sound a lot like him.”

“I want to see Danny!” Scout said, stomping her foot. “I was supposed to go home!”

“You are home,” Drew said. He wiggled the jacket. “Now come on. We have to go. I have a campaign appearance, and I can’t be late—”

Scout’s face screwed up in scowl that echoed her mother and she flounced over to the bottom of the steps, took a seat, and folded her arms. “No. People keep taking pictures of me and I don’t like it.”

“I’m in charge, and you’ll do what I tell you.” Drew grimaced, then focused on Jake and Jason. “What do you two want anyway? Any more dead bodies to leave on my property?”

Jake flinched and looked away — and all Jason could think was how his son had thought Drew might listen to him — that the arrogant son of a bitch might remember a time when he’d called Jake his own son. And now—

“Maybe this was a mistake,” Jake said to his father. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Why don’t you take Scout and go up to see your grandmother? Give me a few minutes,” Jason said. Jake made a face then nodded, heading for the stairs. Scout bounced to her feet.

“Excuse me, you don’t have—Scout, come right back—” Drew started to follow but Jason stepped in front of him, blocking his approach. “Get out of my way.”

“Seven years ago, Jake thought you were his father,” Jason bit out and Drew closed his mouth, pressing his lips into a mutinous line. “And I made it clear that I would never stand in your way if you wanted to maintain a close relationship with him. I don’t know what the hell happened to you, but if you ever speak to my son that way again or about either of my children, they won’t be able to find your body.”

Drew kept his eyes locked on Jason’s. “Are you threatening me?”

“You’ve done nothing but make every part of this situation worse—”

“I’m protecting my daughter—”

“You’re protecting you—” Jason jabbed him in the chest, and Drew fell back a step. “You’re dragging your daughter to campaign events, putting her in the media when she doesn’t want it. You took her from her mother where she wasn’t in any danger, making Danny feel even guiltier about the mistakes he made—”

“He’s a drug addict—”

Jason’s fist twitched at his side, but he kept it in place. “He’s a teenager, making bad choices. And he’s trying to fix them. Rocco’s an idiot. But  neither one of them would ever hurt Scout. And Jake?  Jake came here because he still thought there an ounce of good in you, someone worth trying to reason with. Because he still remembers the man who pretended to be his father—”

“I was his father,” Drew bit out, his jaw clenched. “A better one than you ever were—”

“And that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?” Jason said, stepping back, satisfied. “Being better? A real father doesn’t stop loving his kids. The way you’re treating Jake and Danny now? They’re better off without you. They know that now. And one day, so will Scout. Drop this bullshit custody fight with Sam—”

Drew sneered. “Still fighting her battles. Does Elizabeth know you’re here, white knighting for your ex-wife?” He pulled out his phone. “What do you think she’d think of this conversation?”

“Go ahead. Call her. She’s with Danny, trying to mend things between him and Sam.” Drew stopped, looked up, squinting. “She’s not like you. She know the kids come first.”

“Whatever. I’m late, and I don’t have time for this.” Drew dropped his phone back in his pocket and snatched up his own coat. “Tell Scout that she wins this time, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I send her back to her mother’s.”

Kevin & Laura’s Condo: Guest Room

Rocco rolled over at the knock at his door, expecting to see his father — then sat up when it turned out to be Aiden. “What are you doing here?” he asked, scooting backwards to sit against the headboard. “I didn’t know the prisoner could have visitors.”

Aiden shrugged, then remained standing awkwardly in the doorway. “I don’t know. I guess I thought maybe we could, like, talk or something.”

Rocco snorted. “What? Doesn’t everyone have it all figured out? Don’t they know everything is my fault?”

Aiden grimaced, then pulled out a chair from a desk against the windows and sat down. “No one’s saying this is all your fault.”

“Fuck off. Everyone thinks you’re the good kid that was peer pressured by the two morons,” Rocco retorted. “And Danny’s trying to play good kid like he wasn’t with me every step of the way.” His shoulders hunched slightly. “No one even asked how we got the pot. Including you. You all just blame me.”

“I figured it was someone at school.” Aiden furrowed his brow. “It wasn’t?”

“Danny stole a vape pen from someone and he knew how to get the stuff. I never asked because I didn’t care. I just gave him the money. It was his idea to start doing it after school—”

“Okay, but Danny’s, like, trying to stop. Or trying to make up for last weekend. Rocco, we could have got my mom put away. Like they might have dragged her back to jail if your dad hadn’t stepped in.” Aiden leaned forward. “I can’t stop thinking about how much I could have messed things up.”

“So what if she did?” Rocco challenged, his eyes hot. “You were fine. Jason stepped in and you were fine. Nothing’s gonna happen to you if she ends up back there. You’ll get to stay in the same house with your brothers.”

Aiden straightened. “That’s a shitty thing to say — ”

“What? You think there’s something special about you? That you get some kind of protection from losing your mom?” Rocco demanded. “You’re not. No one is. So good. Danny’s pissed at his mom, yours might go to jail. But they’re alive—”

“So is yours, you shithead—”

“Yeah, okay, sure.” Rocco rolled over. “Whatever. I get it. Your mom is perfect and we have to protect her at all costs. Dad made that real clear. No one gives a damn about mine. Including him.”

Aiden opened his mouth, then closed it. “This is about your dad going away, isn’t it? He was gone for two years—”

“Don’t pretend you give a damn. You don’t. You’ll just say at least he came back, but he didn’t, did he? He was all fucked up in the head and had to leave again, and then still wasn’t right when he came home.” Rocco’s eyes burned, his throat was on fire but he forced the words out. “Mom wasn’t enough to fix him. I wasn’t enough. But Sam, sure. She was the magic he needed. And then he’s in love with her, and I gotta leave my house and Maxie and her gremlins moved in and now it’s not mine anymore. There’s nothing for Mom to come back to, but don’t worry. She’s not coming back anyway.”

Kristina’s Apartment: Living Room

She’d thrown out at least a dozen ideas already that morning, and Kristina wasn’t any closer to figuring out how to make Elizabeth or Jason look more guilty. She’d thought framing Elizabeth would be the best choice since Jason would confess but it was taking longer for that to happen.

Maybe he wouldn’t do that until it was a sure thing Elizabeth was going to jail — like when Michael had been sentenced to Pentonville, Jason had confessed to get sent away with him but even that hadn’t happened right away.

Damn it, if Molly hadn’t poked her nose where it didn’t belong, none of this would be happening. The FBI was positive they had their guy, and it was only because Molly made Chase and Dante redo every step that they were even talking to Harry about her apartment security footage.

And she couldn’t take anymore risks the way she had with the gun. It was just a miracle that no one had really questioned her visit to Elizabeth deeply. But could they come back to that?

Kristina paced the length of her living room again. The only card she hadn’t played was the knowledge Dante had covered up the kids getting high and drunk — and getting arrested on Elizabeth’s property. But if she played it — it wasn’t a guarantee to work and it would end up throwing Danny under the bus.

And it might make Dante and Sam suspicious. After all, how many people even knew about the drugs?

She grimaced. She was out of ideas — and praying that her luck would continue to hold. That something would come up pointing at Elizabeth or Jason before Kristina had to play the one weak hand she had left. She had to find a way to put the pressure back on them.

Penthouse: Living Room

Sam jerked the door open as soon as she saw Danny through the peep hole, her smile bright. “Danny! You came home!” She embraced him tightly, ignoring the reluctant way his arms came around her shoulder or the lack of enthusiasm. “I’ve missed you so much—” She stepped away, framing his face in her hands. “I’m so sorry about what happened last week at the station. I never should have left—”

“It’s okay,” he said awkwardly, pulling out of her grasp and walking past her — but not going further than the desk. “Um, is Dante around?”

“No. No, um, he went to talk to his dad. Does—Does Jason know you’re here? Is—” She folded her arms, forcing herself to take a deep breath. “Did he drop you off, or—”

“No. I mean, I have a ride—I’m not staying,” he said, averting his eyes and her stomach dropped. “I’m sorry about Scout. What Drew’s doing. Jake and Dad are gonna try to fix it—”

Sam forced herself not to make a face. “It’s not their fight—”

“No, I know. But they wanted to help. Um, I came to ask you—” He scratched back of his neck. “I came to ask you—the therapist I’m going to—he said there are sessions for my parents. And I know you didn’t want me to go, but then you agreed, so I thought maybe you’d go.”

“Of course.” Sam stepped closer to him. “I only refused because I was worried you’d been pressured into, but if this is something you want to do, if you need to do it, then of course I’ll help. I love you, Danny. You’re my son. I’ll do anything for you.”

Relief flood Danny’s expression and he seemed to relax slightly. “Good. Good. Thanks. I know—I mean, maybe Dante’s mad at me, but Dr. Fletcher said maybe he could come to. Since, like, I lived with you guys. And maybe I will again.”

Maybe. Sam had to ignore that word. “Of course. Dante loves you! And if this is working, then maybe it’s something we can do together. Maybe Rocco—” She stopped, everything going cold. “You said it’s because you lived with Dante. Are you—is Elizabeth going?”

“Mom.” Danny grimaced. “Don’t start—”

“You’ve lived with her for a week! How can that possibly compare with all the time you and Dante have lived together? Dante’s been like a father to you! Elizabeth is barely an acquaintance—”

“Mom. It’s not—you’re making this more than it has to be, okay? I live in her house, and Jake’s my brother, and she’s really nice. I know you don’t like her, but I do—”

“She has no right to be part of your therapy. She’s not your mother. I don’t want this—”

“Forget I asked. This was stupid. You’re never going to change.” Danny started past her, and Sam caught his elbow. “Mom—”

“No! This is your home, and you’re not leaving! Call your father or Jake and tell them you don’t need a ride—” She stopped when Danny dropped his eyes. “You said they were trying to fix things with Drew. They’re not downstairs. They’re not your ride.”

“Mom—”

“Is she down there?” Sam growled. Without waiting for Danny’s response, she lunged for the door, pulling it open and heading for the elevators.

“Mom! Mom! Stop! I don’t want to do this with you—” Danny tried to block the elevator buttons but his mother had already managed to press it, and he couldn’t stop her from getting into the car when the doors opened. “Mom!”

“I’m done playing these games with her. She’s going to learn to keep out of my business—”

Danny managed to get on board just before the doors closed and pulling his phone out, hoping he could warn Elizabeth — but Sam snatched the phone from his hand. He scrambled for it but Sam had already shoved it into his pocket, and short of tackling of his mother he didn’t have a choice.

The elevator slowly descended toward disaster.

+33

Written in 66 minutes.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Penthouse: Scout’s Bedroom

The bed still laid unmade, the purple comforter scrunched in the middle of the bed, and Scout’s pajamas dumped on the floor, leading a trail to her dresser. Evidence of the reluctant fourth-grader’s  journey from sleeping child to student. Sam had sent her daughter off to school last Friday, knowing that Drew would pick her up for his week.

Scout should have been sleeping in this bed this morning. Sam should have been able to pick her up at school, and return her to the only home Scout could really remember. But no — it would days before Sam would see her daughter again.  If not longer.

Sam touched the side of the door frame, swallowed hard, and looked at another door down the hall — Danny’s room that had also laid untouched this last week — and just next to it, Rocco’s.

The penthouse was empty of all three kids today, the first morning Sam could remember waking up without the scramble for breakfast, arguing over the use of a bathroom—

On a shaky breath, Sam closed Scout’s door and headed downstairs where Dante sat in the dining room staring into a cup of coffee. He glanced up at her approach, but said nothing as she took the seat across from him.

“Laura said she’d call when she thought Rocco was ready to talk.” Dante’s mouth twisted with irritation. “If I ever tried to pull this with my mother back in the day, she’d have murdered me. Probably. I never wanted to find out.” He rubbed his mouth. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, Sam.”

“If you’re looking to me for the answers, then we’re in more trouble than I thought.” She picked at her cuticle. “My mother told me that I could probably get this injunction lifted on Monday. Drew doesn’t have a lot to work with. And I can fight for Danny, but—” Her voice faltered slightly. “But is that the right thing to do? You called Laura instead of getting Rocco yourself. Was that right? I just don’t know. Does it look like we’re giving up?”

“I keep thinking — maybe Rocco was disappointed I didn’t come after him. Maybe he’s even angrier that I sent his grandmother. I just—” Dante shook his head, leaned back. “If I went after him and didn’t get him back this time — or maybe even got him home, I can’t watch him all the time, I can’t stop him from running again.” He met her worried gaze. “I don’t have the answers either, Sam. I guess we just take it one step at a time.”

“Not sure what choice I have. Danny’s too stubborn to drag him, and everything I seem to do makes me the bad guy. It’s just—” She swallowed hard. “It’s hard. Not having one of them here. I’ve—I haven’t been without them since I got out of jail. And I’m afraid I’ll never have them back.”

This might have been Dante’s cue to reassure her, but he had nothing to offer. The room fell into awkward, uncomfortable silence.

Webber House: Kitchen

“Hey.” Jake climbed onto the stool, folded his arms on the counter, watching his father scoop coffee into the machine. “Is Mom up yet? I didn’t hear her or anything.”

“Not yet.” Jason switched on the machine, then turned to face his son. “You okay?”

Jake didn’t answer right away. Instead, he picked at a paper towel that had been discarded earlier, picking at pieces. “It’s been a really weird couple of weeks,” he said finally. “It feels like five minutes ago we were leaving for the barbecue and I was still so angry at you—at everyone—” He looked at his father. “I’m trying to act like it’s all normal. You know. All of this.  You living here. Danny in Cam’s room. Mom—” His throat was tight. “She’s wearing ankle monitor. We’re all ignoring that because Danny’s giving us something to concentrate on, but I saw it last night, and I started thinking about it again.”

“I know it’s useless to tell you or your brothers not worry about it,” Jason told him. “Whether we  talk about it or not, it’s out there.”

“She was gone for five days. Longer if I think about how I didn’t see her after I went to school on Friday. I came home and she was gone. And that might happen again.” He looked at his dad. “She’s out on bail, but everything that went down with Danny, I guess I didn’t think about how easy it would be for them to take it away. They could if they found out Dante made the pot stuff go away, right?”

“I don’t know. Jake—”

“I’m sorry. You know, that I thought you were keeping secrets about what happened,” Jake said. He forced himself to meet Jason’s gaze. “I thought you and Sonny were lying, and that you were why Mom was in jail.”

“In a way I am,” Jason told his son, and Jake made a face. “The FBI don’t really think your mom did this.”

“Yeah. You said that. If you—” Jake furrowed his brow. “If you had,” he began painfully, “you…you’d have done something already. To make this go away for Mom. Wouldn’t you?”

“Jake.” His father didn’t speak again, and Jake looked up again, thinking he’d find Jason looking back at him with impatience or anger, or maybe even irritation. But there was none of that. Just worry. “I’m not going to let them put your mother in jail again.”

“That’s not really an answer,” Jake managed, and Jason sighed. “Dad.”

“I don’t know what the question is, Jake. I didn’t have anything to do with this. Not even a little bit. I’m out,” he said. “Completely. That conversation you overheard with Sonny? The last time I talked to him. And the first time in more than a month. I wish I knew something that would convince the FBI that the gun was planted, that someone is framing your mother. But I don’t. And short of confessing to something I didn’t do, I don’t know what I can do.”

“I—” Jake shook his head. “I don’t know. I guess I don’t even know what I’m asking. I just remember you were always, I dunno, involved. Running around, trying to solve things. You and Sam went after that Shiloh guy—”

“And how did that end up? Your brother got kidnapped and nearly had memories shoved into his brain, Sam went to jail and Danny lost his mother for six months.” Jason hesitated. “Yeah, there was a time that I’d be trying to find the killer myself. But it’s different, Jake. Your mother’s been charged. Even if I found something, it might be used in court.” He stepped closer to his side of the island, laid both palms flat and leaned in. “A long time ago, before Cameron was born, someone kidnapped your mother trying to get me to do something. They locked in an old crypt. In the dark. And instead of going about it the right way, I tried to handle it myself. And the man who’d taken her died. Without telling anyone where she was.”

Jake swallowed hard. “But you found her.”

“I did. But it took twice as long, and —” Jason paused. “She nearly died from a gas explosion. I told myself that day that I would never do anything that would put Elizabeth’s life risk again. I wasn’t always able to keep that promise, but I did my best. And right now, going after who ever did myself, puts her freedom at risk. It has be done by the right people, the right way. It’s our only chance to make this go away for good.”

“I guess.” Jake exhaled on a long breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just—Mom’s been running around for a week trying to fix Danny’s life, and I keep thinking that it shouldn’t be her problem to fix. Not when—not when all of this is going on.” He paused. “Danny’s my brother. This is should be my responsibility.”

“Danny isn’t a problem anyone needs to fix—”

“Right now, he’s talking about going back home because Scout’s with her dad and Danny thinks this is all his fault. But you and I both know that’s a dumb idea. First, he belongs with us. I want—I want us to stay together. And second, until Rocco’s got his shit together, Danny’s not gonna be able to stop trying to be like him. They’re idiots separately, and worse together.”

“I agree that it’s better if they’re separate right now, but if Danny wants to go home—”

“But he doesn’t. He likes it here, too. We’re—I mean, it’s sort of twisted with everything that’s going on, but we like how things are right now. Don’t you? All of us together. You and mom, and me and Danny and Aiden?”

Jason hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

“He only wants to go home because of Scout. So I thought maybe I could talk to Drew. He’s my uncle, and we used to be really close, you know? Maybe I could talk to him. Tell him it’s not that bad.”

“I don’t know if talking to Drew will help,” Jason said slowly.

“But we gotta try, don’t we?” Jake leaned in. “You could talk to Grandma. She’s really good at guilting people. And I’ll talk to Drew. If it doesn’t work, fine. But at least we tried.”

“Okay,” Jason said finally. “Okay. We can try.”

Laura & Kevin’s Condo: Kitchen

Rocco twirled his spoon around the bowl of cereal, watching with half-interest as his little cousin Ace shoved pieces of scrambled eggs into his mouth. “Shouldn’t he be eating more or something? He’s like two right?”

“Eighteen months,” his grandmother said, sitting across from him with a cup of coffee in her hand. “And we let him make a mess at breakfast.”

Whatever. Kid had enough trouble, Rocco figured, with a lunatic for a mother and a criminal for a father. And a name like Ace. Never had a chance.

“So what’s the deal? Dad coming to get me or something?” he asked.

Laura traded a look with Kevin, her husband, then set her coffee down. “I suppose that’s up to you. If you go back to the penthouse, will you stay?”

“I dunno.” Rocco jerked his shoulder. “Are they gonna keep searching my room and treating me like an idiot? Is Danny still gonna be acting like this was all my fault? Everyone’s acting like I’m the bad guy.”

“I’m not acting like anything, Rocco,” Laura said gently. “And if we’re not being fair to you, all right, we can have a conversation. But your father doesn’t know what to do. He tried to talk to you—”

“No, he tried to blame because Sam’s stupid kids don’t want to live with her,” Rocco shot back. “Danny’s been talking for months about living with his dad, and she’s the one that walked out on him so she’s got no one to blame but her crazy ass—”

“I don’t like the way you’re speaking about her—”

“Are we having a conversation or not?” Rocco let the spoon hit the bowl. “Because no one seems to give a damn what I think. Or Danny. Or even Scout. We’re just little toys you pick up and play with when you’re bored or to pretend you’re a good father, and then throw away when you’re done. Dad hooked up with Sam because he knew he’d have to deal with me by himself and he didn’t want to. Well, I don’t need him. I don’t need Sam. I don’t need anyone.”

He shoved back from the table and left the room. A moment later, they heard a door slam upstairs.

“On the bright side,” Kevin said, lifting his mug, “he didn’t leave by the front door.”

“Kevin.” With exasperation, Laura picked up a napkin to clean up the milk that had splashed from Rocco’s abandoned cereal bowl. “What am I going to do with him?”

“Listen to him. He just told you the problem. Dante left for two years, leaving Lulu to take the brunt of a young kid on her own. And just when he returned, his mother went into a coma. And instead of hunkering down, guiding Rocco through that, trying to figure out what a new normal would look like, Dante put his own trauma first and built a new relationship. And then took Rocco out of the home he’d shared with his mother for his entire life.” Kevin sipped his coffee. “He doesn’t like Sam. He’s been bottling it up  and now it’s exploded out into the open. What do you want him to do? Pretend like none of that is happening?”

Laura sighed. “No. No. And I don’t want to watch him go down the same path Lucky did. So angry with his family that he shoves them away. My son was never the same after he left home. He never reached his full potential. And I’ve given up hoping he ever will. I tried to give Lucky space then, but it was wrong. I can’t make the same mistakes with Rocco.” She pressed her lips together. “I’ll call Dante. I think we need to have a conversation about what happens next.”

Webber House: Living Room

“Hey. Um, Dad and Jake left?” Danny asked, stepping off the landing to find Elizabeth sorting through paperwork on the sofa.

“Yeah, Jake thought maybe he can talk to Drew about this custody situation.” Elizabeth shifted slightly, patted the cushion. “I think we can all agree that if we can take the temperature down, it’ll get easier. I can’t imagine how your mother feels this morning without Scout in the house.”

Danny furrowed his brow. “You know she doesn’t like you.”

Elizabeth’s hands paused in the shifting of envelopes, then looked at Danny for a long moment before speaking. “Yes. I know that. I don’t like your mother either. If that helps.”

“Oh. I guess that’s not surprising. You just never—you never acted like that before.” He cleared his throat. “Is it because of Dad? Because…after Jake was born, he married Mom and…had me?”

She was quiet again, and Danny knew she was weighing her answer carefully — probably looking for a way to lie to him without really lying and he kind of appreciated the care she was putting into it. Because it mattered. His mom had never bothered.

“It’s none of my business, I’m sorry—”

“It’s not, but it’s been made your business,” Elizabeth said, cutting him off with a rueful smile. “Your mom and I tried so hard for so long not to let how we felt about each other get in the way. It might be hard to believe, but we really wanted you and Jake to be brothers. And I think there’s still some part of her that feels that way. It’s just hard sometimes for us to forget everything that’s happened between us. We weren’t always kind to each other — and there was a time I gave your mother as good as I got. She’s not the villain in my story, Danny. I don’t see her that way.”

“Oh. You…you didn’t really answer my question. Which is okay, like I said, it’s none of my business—”

“It is if you think that somehow I wish you weren’t here. That if things had been different for your dad and me, you wouldn’t exist. And that’s not true,” Elizabeth told him. She squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you’re here. You’re a great brother to Jake, and a good friend to Aiden. And your dad loves you.”

“It’s okay if you like…maybe sometimes thought it’d be easier if I didn’t exist,” Danny said, and she shook her head. “No, I—I used to think that about you. And Jake.” When Elizabeth lifted her brows. “When Mom moved out, and it was, like, obvious she and Dad weren’t gonna be together, it was hard for her and Dad to be in the same room. They argued a lot. Even before that. And Jake used to tell me he never saw you and Dad argue, and I guess it was like—” Danny hesitated. “I dunno, like somehow he meant it like you guys were better. That Dad liked you better. It’s stupid. But I felt it.”

“It’s human. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Your dad loves you and Jake more than anything. I hope you know that.”

“I  guess. I’m trying to believe that.” Danny rubbed his hands against his jean-clad thighs. “Um. The doctor, you know. The one you found. Um, I’m going back to him, you know.”

“Your dad told me.”

“And like…he asked me about you. And Dante. Like, the adults in my life. And he asked if maybe you would go to parent session. With Dad.” Danny dropped his eyes when Elizabeth looked at him. “I mean, I’m living here, I guess, so like, you should—you could know stuff.” When she hesitated, he hurried, “but you don’t have to. It’s not—you don’t have to—”

“I want to do whatever  you need me to do,” Elizabeth told him. “My only hesitation is…it might make things worse with your mother. If I’m going. And she’s not.”

“Oh. Yeah. I guess so. She just—she didn’t want me to go. So I didn’t ask her. I figure she doesn’t care.”

“I don’t think that’s true at all, Danny. She’s just scared to lose you.” Elizabeth went quiet again, the nodded. “Why don’t I take you to the penthouse? I’ll stay in the car,” she added, “and you can try to talk to her. Just the two of you. You can ask her to go and maybe if she hears it from you, it’ll be easier. You haven’t talked to her since that night in the police station.” She squeezed his  hand. “I think you’ll feel better if you see her, talk to her. What do you say?”

+35

Written in 60 minutes.

Friday, September 20, 2024

Penthouse: Living Room

Dante dragged one hand through his hair, pacing from the mantel to the door, then back again. “No, thanks. Let me know if you hear from him.” He clicked off the call, staring at his phone for a moment, willing his son to call him. To send a text. To do something.

Where had it gone wrong? he wondered.  Was Sam right? Had they rushed into living together, thinking Danny and Rocco being friends would be enough to glue their families together?

The phone vibrated, the screen lighting up with a notification that it was Jason on the other line. Dante grimaced, then answered the call. “Yeah?”

“Rocco called Danny.”

All the air rushed out of Dante at once, and he dropped onto the sofa, gripping the phone more tightly. “Is he with you guys?”

“No. But he told Danny where he was. Down on Pier 42, in a warehouse—” Jason’s voice faded a moment, and Dante could hear some muffled sounds on the other line before it came back. “It used to store food or something, Danny thinks. There are refrigeration units.”

“Yeah, I know the place. Thanks. Tell Danny thanks. I know—” Dante rubbed his mouth. “I know it’s not easy for him, but thanks.”

Davis House: Living Room

“I should get to say something,” Kristina told her mother. She fisted her hands on her hips. “I should get to tell the court how much that evil bastard did to me. How he took the worst time of my life and made it even worse. I should have been grieving my daughter, and instead he—” She scowled. “You’re making a face. Why are you making a face?”

Alexis, seated at the table, paperwork spread across the surface with her open laptop by her side, sighed and removed her reading glasses. “Oh, God. Where to start.” She rubbed her forehead. “First, I know it’s difficult to hear this, honey, but no one in that court cares about your personal feelings. They have no bearing on this situation.”

“But I was in emotional distress or whatever they call it on TV,” Kristina complained. “He arrested me the day I was released from the hospital. I had to be bonded out just to go to Adela’s funeral—there!” She stabbed a finger in Alexis’s direction. “There’s that face again!”

Alexis folded the reading glasses and set them back in their case. “Kristina, I’ve tried to be careful about this. But I’m worried you’ll have an outburst in court, and if you do, and you start talking about your daughter and calling her Adela—” Her mouth tightened.

Kristina’s eyes burned. “I thought you understood. Molly can live whatever fantasy she wants, but Adela was never hers. She was mine. You know that. She’s living her life like Adela never existed. She and TJ are back to work like it was a blip on their radar—” Her voice broke. “Like she was nothing at all—”

“Molly is handling this the best way she knows how.” Alexis got to her feet, crossed to her daughter. “But your insistence on denying her tie to that baby, on denying TJ’s tie—”

“She was never born, Mom. She never took a breath—maybe if she had—” Kristina turned away, pressed a hand to her mouth. “I’m the only one who ever got to be her parent. That should matter.”

She heard her mother mutter something and whirled around to face her. “What was that?”

“Nothing—oh thank, God,” Alexis said when they heard a car door slam. She hurried to the entrance just as Sam threw open the door. “Sam! What’s going on?”

“I need you to get my kids back. Both of them. We need to file in court now—tomorrow—” Sam slammed the door. “Tell Drew if it’s a matter of Rocco not  being in the house, fine. We’ll come stay with you until Dante and Rocco can find somewhere else to go.”

“Whoa, what happened?” Kristina demanded, crossing to them. “What’s going on with Scout?”

“Rocco’s still getting high,” Sam retorted. “We found a stash in his room, and he’s apparently found a way to keep this up at the Quartermaines when he’s supposed to be on punishment—Drew filed for emergency custody and won, the son of a bitch. He lied or he called in a favor, you know he did, Mom—”

“Okay, let’s take a deep breath. We’re on the docket for Monday—it’s the earliest I can do anything, honey,” she reminded Sam who just shook her head. “I know this is hard, but I can’t imagine a judge is going to let the custody order stand. Scout will be back home before you know it.” She hesitated. “Danny—he’s old enough to say where he wants to be—”

“Oh, and he’ll pick his father, won’t he?” Sam demanded. “Does it even matter that Jason barely has a temporary address or that the woman he’s living with is accused of murder?”

“Honestly? No. Elizabeth hasn’t been found guilty, and we’d have to demonstrate a danger to Danny. Do you think she presents a danger?” Alexis asked, her brows lifted. “Is that the road you’re asking me to go down? Because I’m not going to do it. It would be a lie.”

“Great. Great. So Drew and Jason can just waltz in after years of being deadbeats and take my kids like I didn’t do anything?” Sam raged. “I told you, I told you she’d turn him against me! And she’s doing that! She’s  been working on him for years! Rocco told me so!”

“Come on. Sit down, let’s take a deep breath. Kristina, go get your sister some water,” Alexis told her, and Kristina made a face but since she didn’t want to be kicked out altogether, she obeyed.

When she came back, Alexis had Sam sitting on the sofa. Kristina handed the glass to her sister and sat down, reaching for Sam’s hand.

“I always knew Jason settled for me,” Sam said bitterly. She gripped the glass, didn’t drink. “And Rocco said as much — if Lulu was awake, Dante and I wouldn’t be together right now—and he said Danny’s always preferred to be at his brother’s. She’s been poisoning him for years, Mom. I knew letting Jake and Danny be around each other would be a mistake.”

“I always got the impression that Elizabeth wouldn’t speak about you with the boys present. And that you’d agreed to do the same.” Alexis arched a brow. “Do you have reason to believe she’s attempting actual parental alienation?”

“Of course she is!” Kristina interjected. “Danny’s always loved Sam, but since Jason came home, all they do is fight. Jason or Elizabeth must be doing something for Danny to be acting out like this.”

“It’s just all falling apart so fast,” Sam managed. She set the glass on the table, pressed the heels of both hands against her forehead. “A week ago, Dante and I were united and now we’re both talking about how living together was a mistake, and Rocco’s taken off, Danny’s barely returning my calls, and that bitch  talked him into therapy, and you just know he thinks I’m the bad guy for not immediately agreeing — God, why can’t she just go away?” Sam launched herself to her feet and shot across the room to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Alexis exhaled slowly, then lowered herself into the armchair across from the sofa, looking worn. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

“You can’t guarantee Danny will come back to live with Sam, can you?” Kristina asked.

“Not as long as he wants to live with his father. The best I’ll be able to do is visitation.” Alexis pressed two fingers against her temple. “Right now, Jason has a solid family to offer him, and Danny has another brother in the home. Danny’s old enough to have a say.”

“Well, what happens if Elizabeth loses her case, or whatever?” Kristina asked. “I know you and Diane don’t think that will happen, but doesn’t all of this concern Danny? Don’t we have to think about the worst?”

“I suppose. I mean, I think I understood the plan was for Jason to remain in the house with the boys, so on the surface, nothing really changes.” Alexis shook her head. “But a judge might be more willing to put custody back in Sam’s hands if Jason’s on his own. I just don’t think we can — or should  — rely on that since it’s so unlikely.”

“I guess.” Kristina looked towards the bathroom, her lips pursed. But what if there was a way to make sure Elizabeth got out of the picture? She’d never really planned for Elizabeth to take the fall — and still thought Jason was likely to confess to protect her. But maybe Kristina hadn’t done enough to push Jason.

And if Elizabeth was really in danger of losing her freedom, Jason would confess. And he wouldn’t be in a position to take Danny from Sam — and Danny would hate Elizabeth for being the reason he lost his father again.

Maybe she needed to make sure everyone’s attention stayed on Jason and Elizabeth — and get the heat off her. Not only would she be protecting herself — but she’d be taking care of Sam, the way her sister had always looked after her. No, it was clear — Kristina was going to have to do something.

But what?

Webber House: Living Room

“Rocco’s never going to talk to me again,” Danny muttered, flinging himself onto the sofa. He laid on his back, staring at the ceiling.

“And nothing of value was lost,” Jake muttered from the armchair, his sketch pad in his hand.

“Jake,” Elizabeth admonished, but his brother just shrugged.

“Just the facts.”

Elizabeth sat on the sofa, and Danny pulled his legs out of the way. “He’s gonna know I snitched—”

“He’ll get over it,” Jason cut in, without an ounce of sympathy in his tone or expression. “He ran away from his father. And he tried to drag you into more trouble. I don’t know why you want to talk to him at all.”

“See, he gets it,” Jake said, leaning forward. “Rocco’s a moron. I told you that even before I knew the two of you were getting high and smashed every weekend.” He flicked his attention over to Aiden, who had wisely remained out of the conversation, his eyes trained on his tablet. “And I don’t have to know he was the ringleader.”

“I could have been in charge,” Danny shot back. “I know how to get beer—” He closed his mouth, dropped his chin to his chest, avoiding his father’s glare. “Never mind.”

“Rocco might be angry with you right now. And maybe for a while,” Elizabeth said, and Danny looked at her. “But he’ll realize one day you were trying to help him. And if he doesn’t, well, then, honestly? Jake’s probably right. Nothing of value will be lost.”

Jake narrowed his eyes. “You’re agreeing with me? This is a trick.”

“You don’t understand—” Rocco began, but Elizabeth shook her head.

“I do understand. I had a partner in crime, too. Emily and I got into all kinds of trouble. Arrested. Committing crimes — and no, you get none of those details until you’re much older,” she added when Jake and Aiden both sat up, alerted. “But we did it together. Always. And we always tried to protect each other. Rocco’s not trying to protect you right now. He’s not thinking about anyone but himself, Danny. Maybe he’s too hurt and upset. But you can’t fix that for him. All you can do is think how’d you feel if something happened to Rocco because you stayed quiet. Would you be able to forgive yourself?” she asked.

“No, I guess not,” Danny muttered. He let out a long irritated sigh. “Fine.” He flung himself back to stare at the ceiling.

“Okay, but can I get just one crime story?” Jake wanted to know, and Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

Pier 42

The building had been abandoned for the better part of three years, the name Brown’s Rite Market peeling from the sight above the cargo door that faced the parking lot.

It had started to rain hard, sheets pouring into the gravel, dripping from the roof, rotted through in more than a few places. Rocco huddled by the cargo door, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt more tightly closed around his face. The next time he ran away, he’d have a go bag or something. His grandpa Spencer had always talked about them — a stash of clothing, some cash, and a new ID. He couldn’t swing the last one, but the first two?

He’d show them. He’d show them all that you couldn’t push Rocco Falconieri around and tell him what to do. Not his useless father who liked to walk around like he knew every damn thing, not Sam with her angry eyes and smart mouth—

There was a slap of thunder that jolted Rocco, and he stumbled when the night lit up with a crack of lightning. He fell backwards into water that had puddled in one of the potholes, soaking his sweatshirt, his jeans, and even his socks. “Damn it, damn it—” He grimaced, sitting up, swiping gravel from his palms.

Headlights broke through the night, and Rocco rolled over, ready to dart under the dock stairs — until he recognized the car. It pulled to a stop, and the driver’s side opened. The umbrella emerged first —

And then his grandmother stepped out, her face just barely visible in the fading light. She came towards him, then raised her voice to be heard over the rain. “You look like you could use a place to dry off.”

Rocco scowled, folded his arms so that she wouldn’t see he was shivering. “You can’t make me go home. I’ll kick and scream.”

“Oh, I have no doubt.” She came towards him again so that her face was clearer. “You know, your uncle Lucky used to sleep under these docks when he was your age,” she said, looking past him. “He decided he was done being under his dad’s thumb, too, and he never came home. Not all the way. I couldn’t dragged him back either.”

“So you get it.” Rocco lifted his chin, the water dripping. “I’m not going back.”

“Okay. But I’m not here to take you to your dad’s. Maybe you can come home with me and Kevin. It’s dry and warm,” Laura suggested. “And if you decide you don’t want to stay, well, you can go tomorrow. When the rain is gone.”

“This is a trick,” Rocco said, but his teeth chattered, and Laura smiled faintly.

“Maybe. Only one way to find out.”

+35

Written in 61 minutes.

Friday, September 20, 2024

PCPD: Conference Room

Chase jolted when Molly popped into the doorway of the conference room, and he hastily flipped the whiteboard, pushing the side that detailed the case against Kristina and Alexis to face the wall. “Uh, hey. I thought you were in court today.”

“I was—” Molly furrowed her brow, stepped fully into the room. “One of my cases plead out, so I had an opening my schedule. What did you just hide?”

“Nothing. Well, not nothing,” Chase corrected when her expression turned grim. “Just some dead ends that I was cleaning up.”

“Chase.” Molly closed the door behind her, folded her arms. “I thought we were on the same team. This investigation is complicated enough without any of us keeping secrets.”

“I know—”

“You and Dante being connected to all the primary witnesses—” Molly stopped, looked around. “Where is he?”

“He, uh, was working from home. Some things came up with Rocco, I guess. Related to what we talked about on Monday.” Chase paused. “I’m not keeping secrets, Molly. I’m just—I’m trying to protect the case.”

“Then show me what’s on the other side of that board. Now,” she added when Chase didn’t immediately act.

He sighed, then rolled it back. “I was writing out all my thoughts before taking it down completely,” he admitted. “I didn’t want you or Dante to know about this part of this investigation. And that’s from Robert.”

Molly didn’t answer, her dark eyes scanning the board — divided neatly between Kristina and Alexis. She exhaled slowly, looked at Chase. “You spoke to Robert.”

“Yes.”

“I—” She swallowed hard, looked back at the board. Saw ALIBI NOT VERIFIED written in large red capital letters underneath both names. “I was expecting them on the list, you know.  They would have to be eliminated all over again, just like we did with Jason and Elizabeth. And you did good work eliminating them. Jason’s alibi is tighter than it was, and I just can’t see any opportunity for Elizabeth to pull it off without Michael lying, without the boys being wrong about the time frame—if anything, we’ve really helped Diane nail that part of the case down if it goes to the trial.”

“I know.”

“And I saw the report about Ava. No way of getting around that. I mean, she could have hired someone,” Molly admitted, folding her arms. “But there’s nothing tying her to it. I guess I just assumed—I hoped—that my mother and Kristina would be eliminated the same way. That this was someone from Cates’ past — someone else he framed, another family he targeted.” She looked at Chase. “But that’s not the case is it?”

“It might be. It probably is,” Chase added. “We’ve requested all his cases, looking for any where he testified, but it’s not easy getting those from the FBI. They’re not really interested in anything that goes against their own narrative. Listen, Mols—”

“You should, um, keep this information in a safe place. Maybe at your old apartment. You said you still kept it, right?” Molly asked him, and Chase nodded. “There’s no telling who Sonny has on payroll around here.” She rubbed her mouth. “Robert wanted me and Dante kept out of this part of this investigation, and he’s right. Seal it off from us entirely. I don’t want to be tempted to look at any of it. Whatever happens after this — it has to be clean. An innocent woman’s freedom is at stake. I can’t—won’t—do anything to jeopardize that.”

Webber House: Living Room

“I’m gonna go do my homework,” Danny told his father as they came into the living room. “I just—I just wanna be alone for a while.” Without waiting for Jason’s response, the teenager darted for the stairs, and his footsteps thudded above them.

Jason rubbed his face, then looked into the kitchen where he found Elizabeth behind at the stove, stirring something in the pot. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She tipped her face up and he kissed her, tugging her against him with one arm. She stroked his neck, then leaned her forehead against his jaw when he released her. “How did it go?”

“He agreed to go back,” Jason said, stepping back to lean against the island. “But he didn’t really want to talk about anything.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. I guess it’s something that he decided to go back on his own.” He met her concerned gaze. “How did it go with Diane? Did the feds file their reply?”

“Yeah, she said it wasn’t anything she didn’t expect. Except—” Elizabeth covered the pot with a lid, then turned to face him, folding her arms. “They added a second chair who filed the motion. Do you remember Gia Campbell?”

“Gia—” Jason’s brow creased, and he straightened slightly. “Taggert’s sister? The one that hated you?”

“That’s the one. She’s on the case. Working for Reynolds. Diane didn’t really know the background, but she’d dug up a few things — including the Deception competition which was really enough for her to have questions. I didn’t need to get into all the reasons Gia doesn’t like me or why I never liked her, especially since we met because she was blackmailing Emily about Ted Wilson.” Elizabeth shuddered. “I haven’t thought about her since she and Nikolas broke up and she left town to finish law school.”

“Now she turns up to prosecute you for murder?” Jason said. “Why would she do that? Diane can get her removed, can’t she?”

“Oh, for sure. All I’d have to do is to point out that I was originally the first choice to win the Face of Deception, and Gia only took the prize because I pulled out. Laura will obviously corroborate that, and Carly might do it for you.” Elizabeth made a face. “I don’t even know why Gia would bother trying to hurt me like this. After we stopped fighting for Deception, I didn’t even really bother with her. I couldn’t tell you the last time we talked before she moved.” She hesitated. “The only thing she has that would even be relevant is that time she told Lucky I was at Jake’s with you. But how is that even helpful? Why would anyone care that I had an affair twenty years ago?”

“An affair?” Jason lifted his brows. He folded his arms. “I think I would have remembered that.”

A smile played on Elizabeth’s lips. “Well, maybe not a physical one though you certainly gave me enough openings.” His own mouth curved slightly in response to that. “I guess that plays into the FBI’s real theory. If you and I have had this relationship going back all that time, I’m more likely to cover for you.”

“But that only works if both of us are charged,” Jason said, and she nodded. “So we’re back at the start. Gia doesn’t really have anything to offer them. Could she be trying to help you?” he asked. “Taggert was always in your corner. I think, if it’s possible, he hated me more after you and I…met,” he said.

Elizabeth bit her lip, considered that theory. “I know it sounds crazy, but what if it’s about Nikolas? She used to accuse him of being in love with me when he’d take my side. We didn’t—” Her cheeks heated and she dropped her eyes away, the pit in her stomach gnawing the memory of one of the worst decisions she’d ever made. And how it continued to come back to haunt her. “It’s not like that wasn’t common knowledge. Gia might have heard about it.”

“That was still fifteen years ago,” he reminded her gently. “Seems like a long time to hold a grudge.”

“You’d think that, but Carly still hates me for things that happened twenty-five years ago, and there’s a reason Carly and Gia always got along,” she pointed out, and he sighed, acknowledging that truth.

“What does Diane want to do?”

“Let it play out as long we can. We don’t have a duty to disclose the relationship — particularly when I can point out we haven’t spoken in twenty years. If not longer. Neither of us are models, and I never wanted it in the first place.” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “Diane was putting together a file and she pulled all the campaign prints for the one photoshoot I even finished. You remember? The one with the black dress?”

“Yeah. I remember.” Their eyes met, and he tipped his head. “I didn’t realize that ever went anywhere. I thought you’d quit before that.”

“They’d already sunk a lot of money into it, so I agreed.” Elizabeth went over to the large tote bag that doubled as her purse and removed the file. “Diane gave me copies so I could go over all of it, and think of anything Gia and I ever clashed over.” She drew out the photo, considered it for a long moment. “It seems like a lifetime ago, you know? Like it happened to someone else. I tried to enjoy it, and you know, sometimes—I almost could?” She laid the file on the island. “When it was just me and Lucky, and he was just taking photos, it was almost like the old days. I didn’t mind posing for him, and he used to talk about how maybe I could get into the artistic side, you know graphic design or something. But that day — in that studio—” She traced the lines on her face. “He didn’t even remember.”

Jason stepped up to her carefully touching her shoulder, not wanting to jolt her. Even after all this time, he knew that coming up behind her wasn’t something to be done lightly — and he never wanted to put her back in that moment. He’d done it once, years ago, when they’d been trying to find Manny Ruiz after he’d kidnapped Sam. And he’d never wanted to repeat it.

“You looked beautiful,” he told her. “You always do. You just…didn’t look like you.” The tension in his chest eased when she turned into his arms and he embraced her, stroking her back, looking at the printed copy behind her. He’d never forget that day she’d come to his room, in layers of makeup, her hair stiff from styling, and a backless dress and plunging neck line. And misery in every line of her face, in her beautiful eyes.

“I should have kissed you that day,” came her muffled words against his chest, and he smiled, kissing the top of her head. “I was such a stupid girl.”

“I wanted it to be your choice,” he told her. “But I should have kissed you. A thousand times. Because I know you needed it to be my choice, too.”

She tilted her face up, and he kissed her , lingering. “But here we are, all these years later.”

“And we’re not going to mess it up again,” he promised. And he wasn’t going to let anyone take her away from him again. No matter what he had to do.

Penthouse: Living Room

Dante slammed the door behind him, jolting Sam still standing at the terrace, her phone in hand. “They couldn’t stop him.”

“Wally said he went through the parking garage—I guess you tried to find him—” Sam came towards him, but he kept his back turned, picking up the landline on the desk. Her throat felt tight. “Do you want to call Chase or someone at the station?”

“No. I—I’m going to call Laura. And have her call Elizabeth. Rocco’s a moron, so he might try to go to Danny or Aiden. And Michael.” He jabbed at the buttons.

“We moved in together too fast, didn’t we?” Sam asked, and Dante looked at her.  “The kids. They weren’t ready. I thought—Danny and Rocco were friends. I didn’t think—”

“Don’t—don’t go down that road. Rocco’s pushing your buttons. And mine. He knows exactly how to twist the knife. Laura? Hey—” Dante turned back and Sam went to the door, snatching up her keys “Where are you going?”

“I need—I need to get out of here.”

“Sam—”

But she was already gone. Dante sighed, and turned back to the phone. “No, Laura, sorry. I was just—I’ve got a problem, and I need your help.”

Webber House: Danny/Cameron’s Room

It had been almost an hour since Danny had come home from his appointment with the doctor, and Jake figured that was more than enough time.

He crossed the hall, shoved open the door. “Hey. What happened—” He stopped, saw Danny with a phone in his hand. “They still let you have one of those?”

Danny looked up, blinked. “What?”

“The phone. I thought you were grounded from it.”

“Oh. No. I think Dad just wants to be able to track me.” Danny hesitated. “Rocco called me. Just now.”

Jake flopped on the bed. “They let him near a phone? No wonder neither of you dorks have learned—” he stopped, straightening when he saw Danny stare at his phone. “Danny, what’s going on? What did Rocco want?”

“He, um, said he had to leave the penthouse. Dante and my mom were on his case, and it was time. He—he wants me to meet him. Bring him some things to hide out for a few days. He figures it if he scares the shit out of them, they won’t be as mad.”

“And you said no because you’re not a goddamn moron,” Jake said. Danny flushed. “Of course you said yes. Moron.” He dragged a hand down his face. “We’re telling Dad.”

“You can’t—”

“I’m going to stand next to you while you do it—don’t shake your head, dickhead.” Jake yanked Danny to his feet, and Danny tried to shove out of Jake’s grasp. “Knock it off! You don’t remember what it’s like when a kid goes missing, but I do. I remember Mom when I came home. And when Cam got snagged with Trina a few years ago. You really think Dante and your mom deserve that?”

“Let me go—” Danny pushed and this time was able to get Jake to release him. “It’s not a  big deal. He’s just gonna go AWOL for the weekend—”

“Spencer died like seven months ago. You want my grandmother to worry like that? After what she’s been through? Don’t be an asshole. Rocco’s doing something stupid. Again. Why are you protecting him?”

Danny opened his mouth, his eyes burning with anger, but then he dropped his chin to  his chest and when he spoke again, his voice was trembling. “He was really mad that I told my dad about his stash at the Qs. But he called me for help, so if I snitch again, he’ll never talk to me again.”

“Good riddance. He’s just trying to get you in trouble, Danny. You said that you liked living here, right? You and me in the same house with Dad. What do you think happens if you keep screwing around? Rocco could get hurt. He’s dumb enough to trust the wrong person, and you know it. This is how you prove to Dad and my mom that you learned a lesson last week. Tell them, Danny. Don’t make me be the bad guy,” Jake said flatly. “Because I’m gonna tell him if you don’t.”

“So I don’t have a choice at all, do I?” Danny demanded.

“You get to decide how much information Dad gets right away or if Mom has to guilt it out of you,” Jake retorted. “Or if I have to kick your ass. So yeah, you got a choice. What’s it gonna  be?”

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Written in 57 minutes.

Friday, September 20, 2024

General Hospital: Doctor’s Suite

Jason shot to his feet as soon as the office door opened and Danny slunk out, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, shoulders still hunched.

He met Danny at the receptionist’s desk where the nurse on duty asked if they were scheduling the next session.

Jason looked at his son, one brow lightly lifted. “Danny? Are we coming back?”

“Yeah. I guess.” Danny avoided Jason’s gaze, keeping his gaze trained on the carpet. “It didn’t suck, so I guess we can come back.”

Exhaling his first easy breath, Jason looked back at the nurse. “Okay. What’s available?”

Miller & Davis: Diane’s Office

Elizabeth sat forward, her nostrils flaring, her eyes narrowing. “I’m sorry, did you just say Gia Campbell filed the reply motion?”

Diane slid the file across the desk and Elizabeth snatched it up. “There’s no way this is the same Gia,” she said flatly.

“We confirmed that the same Gia who works in the State Attorney’s office is the former Deception model. I take it that your relationship didn’t end amicably?”

Elizabeth hesitated, laid the file down, then rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know. We were never friends. Most of the time, we were hostile. I mean, we only met because she was blackmailing Emily so we didn’t exactly get off to the right start. What the hell is she doing on my case?”

“That’s what Spinelli and I wondered. We could only find some basic facts — that the two of you had sparred over a modeling competition. But Gia blackmailed Emily?” Diane echoed. “Over what?”

“Oh. That’s—that’s not exactly relevant,” Elizabeth said, with a wince. “But Gia and I just never quite  figured out how to be easy with each other, and Nikolas kept her around. They were engaged for a while before they broke up. This is crazy, Diane. Why would the government want someone who knows me on the case—” she stopped. “They wouldn’t. It’s a conflict of interest. You’d just file a motion, wouldn’t you? You’d tell them about the Deception contest. Laura would testify that Gia loathed me. Nikolas and Lucky are still around. God, even Jason knew how much Gia hated me. Gia knows this. What’s going on?”

“You’ve jumped ahead to the most important question. Who’s playing the game?” Diane leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs. “But what I need to know from you is how do you want me to handle it? I can have the motion filed Monday to have her removed from the case. But—”

“Do we get in trouble if we don’t?” Elizabeth wanted to know. “I mean, are we waiving my right to complain about her appointment if we say nothing?”

“We could argue that this modeling competition was a lifetime ago and both of you have moved on to different careers. After all, we’re from Port Charles. Everyone knows everyone here, and there’s always conflicts of interests that have to be weighed.” Diane tipped her head. “Gia might have nefarious motives, but what damage could she really do?”

“Nothing, I guess. I’m not guilty, and I don’t know who really did this. Neither does Jason.” Elizabeth chewed on her bottom lip. “Do we let it happen? See how it plays out? I mean, all she could really give Reynolds is ancient history. What’s she going to tell him? That Lucky thought I was cheating on him with Jason? I was, just not physically. And so what, right?” She let out a quick breath. “Let’s play it out. I want to know what Gia’s up to after all these years.”

“That’s what I was going to recommend. We’ll be in court in a week or so anyway.” Diane flipped through her notes. “In other news, the reply didn’t have any surprises, so it’s really just going to depend on the judge and what we can dig up between now and then. Spinelli didn’t find anything interesting in your security footage, but we’re still waiting on subpoenas for your neighbors’ security footage, particularly across the street.”

“Okay. Um, we do know how long that might take?”

“A few weeks. This is the hardest part, Elizabeth,” Diane told her. “Everything happens behind the scenes, and you just have to sit back and wait. You and Jason have done that so far, and I’m going to keep asking for your patience. I know it feels like nothing is happening, but we’re making progress, I promise. Just…live your life. And leave this up to me and Spinelli.”

Penthouse: Living Room

Sam clenched her hands in lap, her palms slightly damp from sweat as she watched Rocco trudge down the stairs and nearly throw himself into the chair across from she and Dante at the dining table.

“You bellowed?” he wanted to know.

Dante leaned forward, his eyes dark. “Sit up. Now.”

Rocco rolled his eyes, but obediently straightened, laying his elbows on the desk. “You know, you’re taking Drew’s word for this. You didn’t even ask me—”

“It didn’t come from Drew,” Dante interrupted. “It came from Danny.”

Rocco’s face lost a little color, but he swallowed hard. “Bullshit.”

“He told Jason,” Sam said softly, and Rocco looked at her sharply. “Jason wanted to keep Danny’s confidence, so he and Michael were trying to set it up to catch you in the act. I don’t agree with it,” she added when Dante made another face. “But you need to understand that denial isn’t an option here.”

“Whatever. You’re all acting like I committed a federal crime, okay? Everyone does it. And if Aunt Liz weren’t accused of murder, no one would have even given a damn last week. You’d have picked up from the station, read us the riot act, and life would have been fine—”

“That’s your defense?” Dante demanded. “Are you kidding me?”

“Yeah, you’re all getting twisted up over something that’s not a big deal—”

“Did you notice that neither of my children are here?” Sam interrupted and Rocco swung his dark eyes back to hers. “Danny might be one thing, but Drew is suing me for custody. Because I have a teenager in my home doing drugs and drinking alcohol.”

“Two teenagers,” Dante added tightly, and Sam pursed her lips before continuing.

“Drew’s an asshole. Everyone knows that—” But Rocco swallowed again. “Did—did he win—”

“Emergency custody. He claims Scout is in danger in the house.” Sam’s voice trembled slightly, and she had to a deep breath. “The fact that you were using the Quartermaine estate to do this — that you were making both her homes unsafe—”

“Oh, Christ—”

Dante leaned down to snag the shoebox they’d found under Rocco’s bed and practically threw it on the table. Whatever color Rocco had left drained, his eyes focused on the center of the table. “You want to keep talking? Scout’s a kid. She could have found this.”

“Okay, so maybe I should have hid it better—”

Dante shoved away from the table, the chair flying backwards, and Rocco looked up, his eyes widened. “Shut up. Right now.”

“Rocco, you don’t seem to understand the trouble you’re in. The trouble you’ve caused—” Sam began.

“The trouble I caused?” Rocco demanded, the flush rising again. “You’re kidding right? Danny’s not here because of you. I’ll take the heat on Scout, obviously, okay? But like, let’s not pretend Danny was happy here.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sam demanded, getting to her feet.

“Don’t play stupid,” Rocco retorted.

“Watch your tone—” Dante began.

“No, I’m done with this.” Rocco shoved himself to his feet. “You wanna jump down my throat about the weed — fine. Whatever. But it’s not all my fault. Danny hid his stash in the closet. Okay? We both were getting high. I didn’t have to twist his damn arm. He was miserable, and this made it better for a while.” He sneered a little. “Aiden, you know, wasn’t really into it. I guess even with being gay, he doesn’t have a lot to run away from.”

Sam went very still. “Excuse me?”

Dante, as if sensing the line of attack coming, lifted an arm. “Rocco, it’s time to go upstairs—”

“You need to drawn out for you, Sam? No problem. You make Danny miserable. You always did. You put too much pressure on him to be better than you, and he always liked being at Aunt Liz’s more than here. Even before his dad came home. He’s living there because she’s better. And you damn well know it.”

“Rocco, upstairs now,” Dante ordered.

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Rocco said. “Don’t pretend you don’t see it, Dad. Sam’s second best. Everyone knows it. If my mom were awake, we wouldn’t even be here—”

Dante came around the table, and Rocco sprinted backwards to avoid his father snagging him by the arm. “No, you wanted the truth, Dad. You don’t get to complain how that it’s out. I hate living here. And I hate you for making me come here. This is all your fault. Both of you! You’re both sitting here like you got any right to tell me what to do! You’re not my mother,” he spat at Sam. “And you never will be.”

He turned and darted for the front door, and Dante charged after him. Sam stood alone in the room, tears staining her cheeks.

Second best.

Dante came back a minute later, his face flushed. “He took the stairs, I’m going after him in the elevator—”

Sam looked at him, blinking. “What?”

“The elevator. Call the lobby. Tell them to stop Rocco before he gets down there.”

“Right. Right.” Sam swiped at her cheeks, then picked up her phone. “I’m on it.”

Pozzulo’s: Dining Room

Kristina kissed her father’s cheek and set down the white Wyndham’s bag in front of him. “I saw this  while I was out today, and it made me think of you.” She slid into the booth across from him.

Sonny lifted the neatly packaged tie from the bag and smiled faintly. “It’s nice. I’ll wear it to my next court appearance.”

Kristina wrinkled her nose, poured herself a cup of water from the pitcher by the wall. “You won’t have to wait long. I’m due in next week for the dismissal.” She flicked her eyes to him. “Unless you’re going to something for Elizabeth first. I haven’t been following her case since she got out.”

“Not much to follow.” Sonny set the tie to the side of the table, then put the shopping bag on the floor. “You know as much as I do. Though I imagine Diane was as happy to learn about the voicemails Cates faked as your mother was.”

“I’m not sure how it helps Elizabeth, but it’s definitely good for me. It makes him look crazy, doesn’t it?” And made Kristina even more sure of what she’d done. If she hadn’t taken care of things, Cates would still be wreaking havoc on her family. “Does it help her?”

“I guess it depends on if they can prove Jason or Elizabeth knew Cates was trying to set him up.” Sonny winced. “I guess if Elizabeth knew, it might give her motive. But I don’t know how they’re getting past the alibi. Michael was with her.”

“Well, you know the truth doesn’t matter to the FBI. And as much as I hate Molly getting involved,” Kristina said, “I suppose it’s a good thing. Dante and Chase are good cops. They’ll get to the bottom of this.” She looked up to find her father watching her. “What?”

“Why don’t you want your sister involved?”

“Because she’s just using it to avoid her issues with me. She won’t even talk to me now, Dad. She’s acting like I’m evil because I loved my daughter. That I grieved for her. What did she expect? I carried her, you know.” Kristina’s throat tightened. “I’m the one who lived with that precious child all those months. Molly never met her.”

“I think there’s room for everyone to grieve for what was lost,” Sonny said carefully. “And your sister is handling this as best as she can. I’m glad she went up against the FBI. They’re not looking for the real killer.”

“I just hope Dante and Chase don’t make the same mistakes the FBI did. I mean, everyone’s acting like Cates’ life started here last year. Maybe it was someone else. Someone else he framed,” Kristina said. “If he tried to go after me and Jason, of course he’s done it before. But they’re just asking the same people the same questions. Mom said Chase talked to her.”

“Mmm, and Chase talked to me,” Sonny said. “They’re running the same leads, Kristina. Eliminating suspects again. Haven’t they talked to you?”

“Not yet. Mom probably stopped them before they got to me. I don’t care. I’ll talk to them, but it’s a waste of time. Whoever did this is long gone.”

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