Secrets, Lies, and Other Acts of Love
Chapter 10: Desperate Times/Desperate Measures
The Estate of Jason Morgan
Something was wrong and Jonathan knew it. His mother was in real trouble. Not that the two of them hadn’t been in trouble before. There had been times when they had moved suddenly in the middle of the night or gone to the store and not gone home again. There had even been those really awful times when Jonathan would hear his mother crying in the middle of the night and crawl into bed next to her.
This was worse. Whatever trouble his mom was in, she wasn’t going to be able to get out of it without him. She needed him. Friends like Lucky were fine, but he was the only family she had.
Jonathan looked at the door. The grown ups had spent the day talking while he was stuck up here playing video games and watching cartoons.
Jonathan’s eyes narrowed. Through the window he could see a flurry of activity as men moved boxes and crates into a waiting van. They were going after his mom he realized. And he was going with them.
But how to slip past the two men they had watching him. Think for a moment Jonathan, he told himself as he looked around the room, what would your mom do if she was here?
And then he knew exactly what to do.
Port Charles
Wyndemere
Lucky disembarked from the launch and made his way up to the main house. He couldn’t believe how uncomfortable he felt. He and Nikolas had become friends, good friends, over the last ten years. He had been, if not a frequent guest, at least a regular guest.
But those visits hadn’t taken place the day after he had met the son Nikolas knew nothing about.
But Jason, Luke, and he had decided that before taking any further action they needed information, help, and weapons. Jason had naturally enough agreed to gather the weapons they might need, Luke had assured them that he knew someone who would help once they got to Mexico, so it had fallen on Lucky to find information. And that meant seeking out Nikolas.
“Lucky,” Nikolas greeted him at the door, “This is a surprise. It makes me glad I decided to work at home today.”
“Being the boss has its advantages.”
“You should know, “ Nik responded. “Lat time I checked Jax wasn’t exactly forcing you to punch a time clock little brother. Kimberley’s upstairs with Stephanie if you want to say hi to your favorite niece.”
“Another time,” Lucky smiled, or tried to. Damn this was hard. “Actually I’m here for something more serious. Can we talk privately for a moment.”
Nikolas assessed Lucky for a moment. “Sure, let’s go into my study.”
Lucky followed Nikolas into Stefan’s old study, now used by Nikolas. Nikolas shut the door behind him and turned to Lucky.
“Okay, tell me what’s wrong?”
“I need some information.”
“Name it”
Lucky paused. Nikolas’s friendly manner was making this incredibly hard. Think of Emily he told himself. Think only of Emily. Nothing else matters besides her safety.
And strangely enough, he realized it was absolutely true.
“I need some information about Helena?”
“My grandmother?” A dark look crossed Nikolas’ face. “I don’t have much to do with her these days.”
“But she has a lot of power in the Cassadine Empire.”
“Sometimes I think she is the Cassadine Empire, just like Mikkos was.” Nikolas sighed. “Ever since my father died the Cassadine Empire has been engaged in this friendly civil war- we cooperate for the sake of business and smile at family functions and all the while were plotting how we can tear each other’s throats out.”
Lucky winces. The description hits a little too close to home.
“Anyway, “ Nikolas continues,”what can I possibly tell you that you don’t know first hand or that Luke can’t tell you.”
“I need to know if you know anything about a property Helena owns in Mexico,”
“Mexico?” Nikolas shrugs and heads to a filing cabinet. “I don’t suppose there’s any point in asking you what this about again?” Silence. “I thought not. You know that I’ll help you in any way I can.” Again silence. “I swear who ever started the rumor about the Cassadine pride had never tried to get a Spencer to ask for help.” Nikolas pulled a manila folder out of the cabinet. “Here.” He handed Lucky the folder. “This is everything my father had on Helena. You’re welcome to use whatever you need.”
“Thanks Nik.” Lucky too the file. “I appreciate this.”
“Just be careful- I’ve only got one brother you know.”
Lucky smiled.
“Hey- I almost forget,” Nik paused as he walked Lucky out,” I was planning on telling Mom first, but since you’re here you might as well be the first to know. Kimberly’s pregnant again.”
“Hey that’s great,” this time Lucky’s smile is genuine.”
“Yeah,” Nik grinned, “I’m really hoping for a son. As crazy as I am about Stephanie, the something about the idea of having a son....” Nik’s voice trails off.
“Yeah, “ Lucky stomach drops. “I know what you mean. I know what you mean.”
Somewhere in Mexico:
“Emily” The voice is soft and gentle and Emily slowly opens her eyes.
“Mom?” Emily whispers incredously.
Paige Bowen smiles, the soft gentle smile that has haunted Emily.
“What are you doing here?”
Paige takes her daughter’s hand. “I’m here to give you hope. Just like you always gave me.”
Emily burst into tears. “I’m so sorry Mom. I’ve messed everything up.”
Paige shook her head. “I am very proud of you. You are smart and brave and gentle and everything I hoped you would be when you were 11. And you are a good mother.”
Emily smiles when she thinks of Jonathan. “Sometimes I think he takes better care of me than I do of him.”
Paige smiles again. “That’s the way it always is. We think we are teaching our children but they end up teaching us so much more.”
There is silence for a long moment.
“Am I going to die?” Emily asks.
“”I don’t know,” Paige whispers “But you have to trust- believe in miracles.”
Emily shakes her head sadly. “I stopped believing in miracles a long time ago.”
“Then believe in yourself” Paige whispers gently. “ And if you can’t believe in yourself, believe in Lucky.”
“I’m so scared to believe in anyone or anything ever again.”
“I know,” Paige sighs. There is silence for a moment.
“Mom?”
“Em”
“I know this is a dream and that I’m going to wake up alone, but until I do do you think you can hold me for just a moment.”
There is no reply but the gentle opening of arms and the silent falling of tears.
Somewhere between Port Charles and Mexico:
They’ve been in flight for over two hours and spent most of that time reviewing the blueprints Lucky found in Stefan’s notes. Helena’s Mexican compound appeared to be heavily fortified and remotely located in the mountains. It was definitely formidable. And probably heavily armed. Even with Jason’s state of the art weapons, what chance did the three of them have? Their only shot was sneaking in and grabbing Emily before anyone knew they were there. But where in the large complex would they keep Emily?
“The dungeons?” Luke suggested caustically as the three of them tried to figure it out.
“It’s possible,” Jason nods. “If everything I’ve heard about Helena is true she probably has her own torture chambers. “ Jason studied the blueprints. “Probably these rooms down here which don’t seem to serve any other function.”
Luke nodded. “Not bad thinking. Their definitely a place to check out. I’d say that we should somehow get into this security control room if we can. They probably have the place wired for sight and sound.”
“And this medical area here,” Lucky pointed. “Em’s still recovering from her gunshot wounds. It’s possible that Helena has been giving her some kind of medical help.”
The two looked at him. “I only said possible,” Lucky stated.
“The hard part will be finding a way into the estate,” Jason noted. “The three of us are going to be spotted a million miles away.”
“I think I’ve got that covered,” Luke smiled. “My friend is ready to meet us at the airport when we land. If anyone can get us onto Helena’s estate without anyone knowing, it will be him.”
“And we all have to be prepared for the possibility that Emily is already dead,” Jason said flatly. “Dead or alive. I’m not leaving her there.”
Luke and Lucky nod.
“At the very least, Jonathan deserves to bury his mother.” Luke states.
“No!” The shocked young voice startles the three men and they look up. There in the doorway to the storage area is Jonathan, his face pale as moonlight. He runs and flings himself at Lucky. “She can’t be dead. She can’t be. You promised she would be okay.”
As Jonathan began crying, Lucky looked up to meet his father’s eyes, but Luke only looked down.
“What are you doing here?” Lucky asked after Jonathan had calmed down a little.
“I wanted to help you save my mom. So I hid in the boxes.”
Luke finds himself smiling. He whispers to Jason. “The kid’s part Cassadine and part Quartermaine and my Laura’s grandchild. Don’t be too hard on the guards. They didn’t have a ghost of a chance.”
Lucky shakes his head. “I really wish you had stayed where you were safe. I don’t want to worry about you while I’m working to save your mom.”
Jonathan gets paler. “I’m sorry. “
Lucky smiles. “It’s okay. The one thing I understand is being worried about your mother. But you have to do exactly what I say from now on. Do you understand?”
Jonathan nods.
Lucky holds him tight. Just like Emily, Lucky thinks to himself, the boy’s just like his mom- hard shell outside while the inside is falling too pieces.
Somewhere in Mexico:
Emily is awake now and feeling somewhat human for the first time in weeks. Whatever Helena’s doctor gave her, must of worked because her fever is gone and she feels stronger.
Which is both good and bad news.
Good because she can actually think again. Bad because she knows that she has run out of time. Any minute Helena will be back and she won’t stop at five lashes. Emily knows that Helena’s patience Emily’s time are both running out.
Quietly she makes her way off the bed. She is still in the room without cameras. It’s an oversight Emily will use to her advantage. She also still has the syringe filled with a powerful tranquilizer in her pocket. Another oversight.
She moves to the door and looks out the window. Cameras. But no guards. She probably thinks I’m too weak and too helpless to be a threat.
Helena’s third mistake. The door is locked, but living on the streets has taught Emily a lot about how locks work.
A few seconds later she has the door open. “Let’s see if I can turn your mistakes into my advantages,” she whispers as she moves into the hall. “All I have to do is perform a miracle to get out of here alive. No problem.” Syringe in hand she moves forward.
The sun is just beginning to set when they the plane lands at the airstrip. They are an hour drive away from Helena’s compound, but they didn’t dare land any closer. Jason grabs the weapons while Lucky holds onto Jonathan.
“So where is your friend,” Lucky asks his dead looking around the nearly empty airport.
Luke grins. He walks over to a sleeping tourist and lifts his hat off. “Long time no see Sean.”
Sean Donnelly grinned and grabs the hat back. “I heard you needed someone to watch your back.”
“Ain’t no one else I’d rather have do it.”
The former WSB agent laughs. “Ain’t no one else you could find to do it.”
Luke doesn’t bother to deny it as they make their way out of the airport.
