Written in 60 minutes.

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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.”