End of chapter Sixteen, Please e-mail any feedback by clicking on the mailbox below :)
Gia reached over and grabbed the ringing phone.
"Hello?"
"What are you still doing in the closet, Gia."
"Huh?"
She could hear Nikolas' laughter on the other end. "I know you, Princess. You're supposed to be at the cottage in less than twenty minutes and I will bet my entire fortune that you're still rifling through your closet trying to find something to wear."
Gia looked at the random dresses that were scattered across her bed. He knew her much too well. "Actually, I've narrowed it down to a few choices. Perhaps you would like to help me out."
"Wear the black one," he intoned quickly.
"I didn't even give you the choices. How do you know that a black one is even in the running? "
"There's always a black one. Always."
Gia fingered the sleek black dress that lay on top of the pile. She held it up against her, twirling around the room. "You're way too smug, Cassadine."
"I can't help it if I'm always right. Wear the black one and stop fussing before you're late. Someone has to be there to sign for the take out."
"I'll be there in time. Besides, it's not like that delivery boy won't wait if I'm late. The people at the Port Charles Grille practically worship at your feet."
"This dinner was your idea, Gia. There has to be food."
"In that case, why am I wasting my time talking to you?"
"Don't hang up on me!" Nikolas grumbled in mock terror. "You have to tell me how much you love me first."
"I love you, Nikolas. Even if you are a pain in the -"
"I love you, too!" he said, hanging up before she could finish.
Gia replaced the receiver. She quickly changed clothes and applied some cosmetics. She grabbed he purse and coat on the way out the door. She trudged down a couple of flights of stairs and pushed through the security door into the brisk autumn air. As she walked over to her car, she looked back at her building. It was nice. Much nicer than she could have afforded without a little help from Nikolas. He had wanted to stick her in some overpriced condo, but she had insisted on a place where she could afford to pay at least 75% of the rent. They had settled on a secured building on Willcrest Avenue. It was a nice neighborhood, but still regular.
As she unlocked her car door, she heard someone call her name.
"Gia!" Mac Scorpio yelled, jogging down the street to her car.
"Commissioner Scorpio, hi," she said, straining not to sound scared. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Maybe. I was just checking up on some things Lucky said when you guys talked to Taggert the other day."
"Oh...did you find out anything?"
"Well, actually, I talked to the person who was working the night of Emily's murder. She said that Emily came in the store, stood around for a few seconds, like she was waiting for someone outside to leave, then she turned around and left the store."
"Why would she do that?"
"I was wondering...are you sure she didn't come see you? She was just right down the street, there," Mac said slowly. He leaned close to the car, putting his arm on the roof.
On the other side, Gia was still maintaining her cool. "I told my brother that Emily didn't come over. Why would she?"
"Maybe," Mac replied, his eyes studying her," she thought Nikolas was over. Maybe she came by and you forgot."
"Forgot? That's not something I would forget! Why are you hounding me, anyway? Don't you have criminals to catch?"
"Emily's case is receiving our top priority."
"Then why don't you go find her killer!"
"That's what I'm trying to do. I thought maybe you could help," his eyes bored into hers.
"I can't help you, Commissioner," Gia said, pulling her door open and getting inside. She started her car and drove away. Mac stood there watching. He was getting the feeling that Gia might know more than she was letting on. He turned around to look at Gia's apartment building. An elderly man was coming out the door and greeted the commissioner politely. "Were you trying to buzz someone in the building?"
Mac was about to shake his head, but instead , he said, “Yes, I was, but I don't think she's home."
"Oh, that's too bad," the man said, shuffling past.
"Ummm... hey! Maybe you could help me."
The man turned around and came back to stand in front of Mac. "I will if I can."
"Thanks. Actually, I'm looking for my daughter ," the commissioner said, pulling a photo out of his jacket pocket. "She ran away and I think she's staying with a friend. Have you seen her around here?"
The old man took the photo of Emily and looked it over. "I don't know..."
"She might have showed up a couple of months ago."
"My memory isn't what it used to be," he replied, handing the picture back to Mac. “ I don't know...She's a real pretty girl. Pretty eyes..." He scratched his head for a few moments. "You know what? I think I did see her a while back."
"You did?" Mac said, his voice anxious.
"It was a couple of months ago, too."
"Where was she?"
"Right here where we're standing. My wife and I were leaving and she was about to buzz up into our apartment building."
"This apartment? The one you just left?"
"Yes. The one you pointed to."
"Did she buzz an apartment? Did you see her go in the building?"
"She didn't ring an apartment. We just let her in. She seemed like a nice girl so we weren't worried."
"So, she did go into this building?"
"Yes, she did. She said her friend lived here."
Mac's head was swimming. This case was finally breaking. He knew it! "Thank you, sir. Really!"
"I hope you find your daughter."
"Yeah, whatever," Mac muttered as he pulled out his notebook and badge. "Sir, I need to ask you a few more questions." ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Gia rolled her eyes as Helena entered the cottage. "Nikolas isn't here yet. So don't talk to me until he is, got it?"
"I don't see why my grandson insists on keeping you around."
"Probably the same reason he insists on forgetting you exist. The man's got good taste and fine judgment."
Helena dropped her purse on the table. She scanned the room, disdain filling her face. "Interesting decor...your influence I'm sure."
"No, actually little Lizzie decorated the whole thing."
Helena ran finger over one of the paintings on the wall. "I should have known. No one does tacky like Elizabeth Webber."
"At least she has a conscience."
Helena dismissively waved her hand in the air. "Having a conscience is overrated. It gets in the way, Gia."
"You're telling me," Gia sighed, falling to the sofa. "There are appetizers, Helena. Have one."
The older woman eyed the shrimp puffs coldly.
"Don't worry, Granny Sunshine, they're not poisoned."
"I'll pass." Helena sat down on a chair. There was a long awkward silence. Gia kept wishing Helena would die. Helena kept wishing Gia was an itty bitty termite.
Ten minutes later, Nikolas came in. He kissed Gia and cordially greeted his grandmother. He sat on the arm of the sofa, stuffing a shrimp puff into his mouth.
There was another long silence.
Nikolas grabbed another shrimp puff.
The silence continued. Gia scratched her arm
Nikolas grabbed another shrimp puff.
Three minutes of silence....
Helena smiled at Nikolas.
Nikolas turned his head so he couldn't see her. Then, he grabbed another shrimp puff.
"Dammitt Nikolas! Stop eating those stupid shrimp puffs and talk to the liver-spotted toad, already!" Gia blurted out.
Nikolas stared at his girlfriend. "You're the one who wanted this party. You talk to her!"
"You're being rude!"
"So!?"
Gia stood up and snatched away the platter of shrimp puffs. "No more appetizers!" she yelled, storming from the room and into the kitchen.
Helena plastered a fake smile on her face. Nikolas looked at the painting above her head. Maybe it was just their Cassadine pessimism, but each knew that it was going to be a long night.
"DINNER'S SERVED!!" Gia yelled angrily.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
End of chapter Sixteen, Please e-mail any feedback by clicking on the mailbox below :)
