Written in 62 minutes.

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Thursday, September 5, 2024

PCPD: Commissioner’s Office

At the light knock on her office door, Anna lifted her gaze — then, seeing who had arrived, straightened, removing her reading glasses. “Agent Caldwell, what can I do for you? Do you need additional space?”

“No. No.” Caldwell grimaced, then fully crossed the threshold, closing the door behind her. “I might have been a little hasty in rejecting PCPD assistance.”

Anna, to her credit, didn’t smirk and show any other outward expression. “You had a dead FBI agent on your hands. I’ve lost men under my command before. I know the emotions run high. And while Detective Falconieri is one of my best men, I can understand your reluctance.” She paused. “What can we do for you? Some uniforms? I can make a call to one of the other precincts—”

“No. No—” Caldwell held out his hand. “It’s your input I’m looking for. While in many respects, your connection to the players in this situation might make it difficult for you to run the investigation, it can also provide some valuable direction.”

Oh, he was laying it on thick now, but she still didn’t express any emotion that might indicate just how much she was enjoying this moment. “While Port Charles is a decently sized city, in many ways, it’s a small town. And the important families know each other.” She gestured towards the chair in front of her desk. “Please. Tell me what I can do.”

He didn’t take the offered chair, but instead wandered towards the window, a hand in one of trouser pockets. “John Cates was a good agent for a long time.”

“I’m familiar with his record—”

“Three years ago, we put the Pikeman investigation on his desk. He’d more than earned it — working alongside the CIA, Interpol, and the WSB. We all wanted a piece of him. Not to mention more than a dozen local agencies.”

Anna’s heart picked up a beat or two, but her tone was even when she spoke, “Including ours. Dante Falconieri was nearly killed in that operation last April. And we suspect Pikeman in a few other cases.”

“Yes. Pikeman specialized in assassinations. Good guys, bad guys, politicians, cheating spouses—they weren’t picky about their contracts.” Caldwell tipped his head. “All they care about was green.”

“That’s what our intel suggested as well. Agent Cates was…dedicated to the Pikeman case.”

“He was. And while we were all disappointed that it didn’t result in the arrest of Valentin Cassadine himself —” Caldwell paused, but when she added nothing, he continued, “We were satisfied with what his informant had turned up. The fact that evidence Cates used to gain Jason Morgan’s cooperation went missing when it was needed to prosecute Carly Spencer—” He lifted a shoulder. “It’s just as well. As far as we were concerned, Morgan held up his end of the bargain. And up until Monday, we thought he’d held up the other terms.”

“The other terms?” Anna questioned. “I’m not aware of anything other than gaining Valentin’s cooperation.”

“As long as Morgan kept himself out of trouble, the FBI agreed that we had no interest in anything in his background. In short, Commissioner, the FBI gave him unofficial immunity for any federal crime for which the statute has not yet expired.”

“Unofficial.” Now Anna did smile. “I can’t imagine Jason Morgan felt bound by that since it’s not worth the paper it isn’t written on. And he has kept himself out of trouble. Your men let him leave on Monday evening, didn’t they?”

“Being able to prove something is different than knowing it,” Caldwell retorted. “I don’t know how Morgan pulled it off on Monday, but John’s blood is on his hands.”

“Agent Caldwell—” Anna rose to her feet. “I’m not suggesting that Jason Morgan isn’t capable of taking a life. His name is in more than a few of our cold case files as a primary suspect. But here’s what I know about him — he’s never been accused of murdering a law enforcement officer. In fact, I know that he went out of his way to ensure the safety of Dex Heller last spring when he left the employ of Sonny Corinthos for no other reason than Sonny couldn’t afford the heat it would bring.”

“There’s a first time for everything—”

“Of course. But you’re forgetting a few things. One, the deal was over. You said so yourself. Agent Cates had, as far as I know, moved on to Sonny Corinthos. What reason would Jason have to break the terms of his deal if the FBI was no longer interested in him? Two, the crime happened on his family’s property. Three, the crime was committed when several people close to Jason were nearby—”

“People who would lie for him.” Caldwell grimaced. “It’s diabolical, actually. He must have known we’d suspect him, and he didn’t care. His nephew, ex-lover, and his sons are with hearing distance of the shots. No one should believe them that Morgan was in the house and came to the scene after.”

“But they do. Because that nephew is the scion of the Quartermaine family and CEO of the largest employer, ELQ. That ex-lover is an extremely beloved head nurse at General Hospital, and those sons are relatively clean-cut and troublefree, one of whom has been known to be unhappy with his father for the years he was gone—”

“At best his alibi is a wash,” Caldwell said. Anna made a face, and sighed. “A jury could believe other side. The gun? The make and model doesn’t match anything he has access to, though Sonny Corinthos does—”

“And his alibi is rock solid,” Anna said, “so you likely can’t even demand to see it.” She lifted her hands. “As I said, Caldwell, you need to consider other suspects. You can’t prove means or opportunity for Jason Morgan, and we’ve already established the motive is nonexistent—”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

Anna frowned. “How do you figure?”

“Because Morgan made a new deal. To keep the FBI from investigating whoever hacked into our systems to delete the evidence against Carly Spencer.” Caldwell paused. “Cates was pushing Sonny until he had no choice but to order his execution — an order he would give to no one other than his trusted right-hand man. John told me before he went to the meeting on the property that he was meeting Morgan there that day to confirm the details — that Sonny had issued the order, and it was time to organize the arrest. Instead, he was double-crossed. Sonny issued the order, and Morgan carried it out.”

Pozzula’s Restaurant: Dining Room

Kristina paced from the bar to the office door, then back again. “I don’t understand! If Cates is dead, then why haven’t they dropped the charges yet?”

Sonny sighed, exchanging a look with Alexis, before returning his attention to their daughter. “I’m doing what I can to find a source in the FBI office or federal court, but it’s locked up right. If we could get it moved to the local courts—” he looked at Alexis.

She threw up her hands. “How many times do I have to repeat myself? They’re accusing her of trying to kill a witness. That’s a federal crime—”

“But it doesn’t have to be—and come on, a witness in a custody battle?” Kristina clenched her fists. “It’s just a ploy to target Dad—”

“We know, sweetheart. And we feel sure we’ll get this dismissed.” Alexis comforted her daughter, rubbing her shoulder. She looked at Sonny. “And if someone thought getting rid of Cates would eliminate our problems, someone was very wrong.”

Sonny scowled. “Someone better stop looking over here, because I didn’t do this. I was at the damned hotel with a dozen witnesses.”

Kristina huffed. “He’s an FBI agent. A hundred people must have wanted him dead.”

“Which is probably they backed off Jason that first night. I talked to Diane — Danny and Jake both put Jason in the house when the shots are fired. The FBI might not believe them, but a jury probably will.” Alexis folded her arms. “They’ll go down the list of suspects until they run out. You and Jason were top, so—” She looked at Kristina. “And you were at your apartment. They can get footage from the lobby, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure—” Kristina pretended to hesitate, thinking about it. “I think there’s a camera pointing at the elevators. I don’t remember. I’ve never needed to know. But if they want it, they can request it. That’s where I was.”

“Exactly. We’re all good,” Sonny said. “All we have to do is let them run in their circles. We’ve all got alibis, and without more evidence, we’re probably fine.”

More evidence. The thought lingered with Kristina, tugging at her as she sat in the passenger side of her mother’s car, returning to the house after the meeting. Her father was right — if no other evidence turned up, they might be fine. But if the FBI started looking deeper into her — if they investigated her alibi—it wouldn’t hold up. Damn it. Why had anyone been that close? She’d made sure to wait until the party was over, until the kids had gone back to the house. She knew you couldn’t hear almost anything from the house from the boat house —

If Michael and Elizabeth had been where they were supposed to be — Cates would have been dead and they wouldn’t have a firm time for the shots, making everyone’s alibis more fuzzy. But now she’d have to make sure suspicion stayed away from her. She’d gotten rid of the murder weapon, and she knew Elizabeth had found it, she’d have just told Jason who’d  destroy it. And if someone else had found it — well, it was in Elizabeth’s car without Kristina’s prints. Since it belonged to Sonny, Jason would be the primary suspect.

But if Kristina wanted to make sure the heat didn’t come back to her, she’d have to find a way to make the FBI find that gun before Elizabeth did.

Webber House: Kitchen

Jake dumped his backpack on the floor, slid onto a stool to watch his mother stir something on the stove. “I can’t wait for graduation. I’m so over high school.”

“I know the feeling.” Elizabeth reached for the usual first day paperwork, started sorting through it, hesitating when it came to the emergency contact update, then lifted her gaze back to Jake. “What would you think about putting your dad on here?”

“Sure. Not like it’s ever been needed.” Jake rested his elbows on the counter. “Um, on the subject of Dad, I—I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?” Elizabeth asked, already filling in the information, scribbling in Jason’s new cell phone number, making a note to let him know.

“The day of the barbecue. For being an ass. I mean, I know Dad and I—we sort of—I guess we’re okay now. I’m not happy that he was gone for so long or that he went. But I get it. He was protecting someone, and that’s kind of his thing, you know? But I wasn’t just a dick to him.”

Elizabeth finished the updated paperwork, handed it to him. “It’s okay—”

“It’s not. I took it out on all of you guys, and it’s not okay. I—I just—” He grimaced, color rising in his cheeks. “Charlotte left with her dad, and I haven’t heard from her. She just…left. Like I didn’t mean anything. Any maybe I didn’t. Maybe I thought—” He looked away, muttering something before focusing on his mother. “Plus, Danny’s on complete lock down. He apparently called his mother a lunatic or something and so she took away his phone. I get to see Dad whenever I want, and you didn’t go postal on my ass when I mouthed off.” Jake made a face. “I don’t get his mom. Danny said she almost called the school to, like, put Dad on a no-contact list, but he managed to talk her off that ledge. She was so—I just remember when I got home, and we thought Drew was Dad—now it’s like the opposite. What’s her problem? Why is she so anti-Dad?”

Elizabeth considered her answer carefully, biting back the response she wanted to give. “I think it’s probably because she used…well, I guess the best way to put it, is that she used to run with Jason. The way he lived her life, she made it hers, too. And it’s part of the reason your dad and Sam went after the Dawn of Day cult a few years ago. I don’t know if you remember—”

“It’s why she’s got a record now. She went to jail. What is she mad that you got the immunity thing with Esme, and she ended up in jail even though that Shiloh guy definitely deserved it?”

“I think,” Elizabeth said slowly, “that Danny’s mom got burned by the life she was leading, and blamed your dad for it. And is worried Danny might go down the same path she did. That she and your dad did,” she clarified because it was only fair.

“But you’re not?” Jake said, furrowing his brow. “Why not?”

“I don’t know. Your dad is who he is, and I knew that when we met. And I’ve never worried about you. Your dad and I raised you to think for yourself, to go after what you want, and I like to think we’ve given you a good moral compass.” She lifted her brows. “Do you feel like you wanna make some of your dad’s choices?”

“Uh, no, I’m good.” Jake hesitated. “I mean, sometimes the law is wrong, and sometimes it can’t help you. But I don’t think you should go out there and actively do the bad stuff.”

“Your dad made choices when he was just a little older than you,” Elizabeth told him, “that made it difficult for him to do anything else and stay here in Port Charles. At least — not at that time. He tried to navigate a very thin line for a long time, to be a good man who wasn’t living on the right side of the law. He’d be the first to tell you that he doesn’t want any of that for you or for Danny.”

“Yeah, he’s said that a lot. Especially when we were going through the Franco stuff.” Jake slid his school papers back in the folder, then shoved it in his bag. “Um, do you think Dad’s really serious about being done?”

“Yeah, I do. Why?”

“I was thinking. Um, I got that package from Spain about the school I wanted to go to. And you said Dad’s traveled a lot, right?” Jake asked. “Do you think…he’d come over for dinner and we could talk about it?”

Pozzula’s Restaurant: Office

Jason knocked lightly on the office door, and Sonny turned away from the minibar — a familiar sight, even if in a different location. His expression looked wary, Jason thought, which was fair since they hadn’t exactly reconnected, even with Jason’s FBI deal over. He’d made it clear he was done with this life, and that meant a certain amount of distance.

“Hey,” Sonny said. He sipped his bourbon. “I figured you’d be by eventually.” He went to his desk. “I hope you’re not here to ask if I had anything to do with Monday.”

“Yes. And no,” Jason added when Sonny scowled. “Because I know the answer.” He hoped he did, anyway. “I didn’t do it, and—”

“I’m not stupid enough to do with a Congressional candidate a few hundred feet away.  Not to mention Michael, his kids, your kids, Lois, Olivia, my grandson—” Sonny grimaced. “I don’t know what the hell happened. They’re looking at Ava, but unfortunately, I think she had an alibi, too.”  He looked at Jason. “You got any ideas?”

“No. We both know it would have been stupid to pull this job that way, so would anyone else we know. I don’t—” Jason paused. “I don’t want to be in this. I told you that—”

“And I get it. You’ve, uh, sacrificed enough, I guess.” Sonny paused. “But if I hear anything—”

“I’d appreciate it.” Jason pulled his vibrating phone out of his pocket, and immediately answered it when he saw it was Elizabeth. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He could almost hear the smile in her voice. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Nothing important,” Jason said, and Sonny smirked. “What’s up?”

“Well, Jake’s got some college paperwork, and he’s thinking of going international. He knows you’ve seen a lot more of the world than I have. So we were hoping you could come for dinner tonight—or tomorrow,” she added hastily, “because I know it’s short notice or any other day—”

“No, today’s great. I’ll be over.” When he hung up, he looked at Sonny. “Sorry. I was making plans with Elizabeth for dinner with Jake.”

“We’re all good here, Jason. Go be with your son.”

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