A Grand Romance Chapter 23

by Venus

Thanks again to all those angels who encourage me to continue with this story. As always comments and ideas are greatly welcomed. A special thanks to Rhonda who continually requests more chapters!
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Subject: A Grand Romance - Chapter 23
Date: 8/31/98 1:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: Eov675
Message-id: <1998083108424600.EAA03459@ladder01.news.aol.com>

A Grand Romance - Chapter 23

Aiglon School, Geneva Switzerland

Jerry was escorted into the headmasters office by his secretary. “Chancellor Sennet this is Mr. Jerry Jacks.”

Chancellor Sennett motioned to Jerry to have a seat in one of the wing chairs directly across from him. The secretary moved to the outer office to leave them as Jerry took his place.

“This must be extremely important for you to fly almost non-stop and demand to meet with me at this hour.” Chancellor Sennet was direct, and pointed.

“I assumed your secretary told you the reason for my visit. I faxed her a copy of a picture, a student who attended this school, I believe her name is Natasha Wright. My inquiring is strictly personal, and I wish to keep this conversation confidential. I need a copy of her student records, and a copy of the police investigation into her death. Both of these items I requested from your secretary.” Jerry stated firmly as he leaned forward in the wing chair, and stared down the headmaster, trying to size him up quickly.

“My secretary relayed your message, and you should have listened to her when she said we do not release information regarding any of our students, past or present. It is a privacy policy that we uphold without exception. Your trip has been for nought.” The Chancellor countered.

Jerry reached down to the side of his chair and picked up his briefcase. He laid it on the desktop and flicked it open, then turned it around to reveal its contents to the Chancellor. “This is a quarter of a million dollars Chancellor. You can use it for your personal gain, or to help this school, since I understand that construction cost overruns could delay the new classrooms for yet another year. Without those classrooms we both know that the school is going to be financially stagnant unless more students can be recruited, and without classrooms.....” Jerry left the sentence hanging, they both knew the implications.

“What is your interest Mr. Jacks in a tragedy that happened more than seven years ago?” Chancellor Sennet had tried to push this tragedy from his memory, however strangers kept inquiring, this was the third in the past eighteen months.

“My interest as I stated before is of a personal nature. Now do you want those new classrooms or an early retirement? Or have I truly made an error in judging you?” Jerry raised his eyebrow as he began to close the briefcase.

“I will cooperate, albeit reluctantly. Here are the files you requested. I included also the student records of Miranda Jamison since she was the other student involved in the tragedy. Since the investigation included both their deaths, I assumed you would want her information also. They were as close as sisters, inseparable almost.” A somber look crossed his face as he remembered them both. He sat back in his chair and raised his pressed palms to his lips, lowering his eyes, almost as if he was saying a silent prayer.

Jerry was reeling from the information he had just been given, and eager to validated what he had heard. “Did you say that the other classmate was named Miranda Jamison?”

“Yes, that’s correct Miranda Jamison. The girls even started here on the same day. They were roommates for their entire tenure. As I stated previously they were inseparable. In fact they were nicknamed the ‘twins’ because they were so alike.”

“Is there anything that isn’t here in these files? I’m looking for something out of the ordinary, maybe a fight between the two girls, an unexpected visitor, a boyfriend, something that might have changed the dynamic of their relationship, or impacted one of their lives dramatically. Do you remember anything memorable prior to the tragedy?” Jerry tried to keep his voice low so the Chancellor wouldn’t feel he was being interrogated, although that was exactly what Jerry was doing.

The Chancellor thought for a moment then answered. “Well Miranda threw a surprise birthday party the week before in celebration of Natasha’s eighteenth birthday. It was amazing that a party that large could be kept secret but Natasha was pleasantly surprised. However, I do remember that at the end of the party I saw Natasha running from the terrace, upset. I hadn’t even thought about her reaction until just now. I guess since everything seemed fine the next day, I didn’t even give the reaction any thought.” The Chancellor’s eyes squinted as though he was trying to recreate the party scene in his head.

“Do you remember who she was talking to prior to her running off?” Jerry questioned intrigued by this new information.

“I remember her talking to a gentleman, probably in his 60’s, gray, average built and height. He sat next to her on the stone bench, discussing something intently, and then he gave her an envelope. I watched her read the contents, it seemed to be a letter. She took something from the envelope, I believe it was a necklace, then I saw her rush off hurriedly crying. I saw the gentleman make his way back into the ballroom, and I was going to approach him when I was interrupted by a couple of students fighting. I went to break it up, and until today, I had totally forgotten about the exchange between Natasha and the elderly sophisticated gentleman.”

“So you don’t know who this man was, he wasn’t a professor, or a parent of one of the other students, a relative perhaps?” Jerry asked trying to trip the Chancellor’s memory once again.

“No, I had never seen the man before nor since. I am sure it wasn’t another parent, since only students and a couple of staff members were attending the party. The staff members were hand picked by Miranda, since it was required that chaperones be present at the party. No this man was a businessman, either a banker, or solicitor. He seemed to be delivering that letter for someone. He didn’t seem to personally know Miss Wright.”

“Are you sure he didn’t know her?” Jerry wondered why a stranger would search Natasha out at a birthday party to give her a letter.

“He seemed quite formal with her, as though it was a business matter. The whole conversation lasted only a few minutes. It seemed as though he was there to present the envelope and then leave. Perhaps the contents were to be self explanatory. The envelope might have been from her brother maybe explaining why he couldn’t attend the party.”

“Chancellor are you saying that Mitch Wright didn’t attend his only sister’s eighteenth birthday party?” Jerry was stunned, especially since Mitch had seemed to talk endlessly about his kid sister, and all the adventures they had. How he had tried to be friend, brother and parent to her.

“No, he sent a telegraph to Miranda earlier in the day saying he had a business crisis that needed to be attended to in Jakarta. Then later that day Natasha recieved eighteen dozen roses in various colors, with a card from her brother. He planned to be here the first week of December to ski and then they would go home to Greece to celebrate the holidays. In fact, Miranda was going to accompany them, as she had many times in the past.” The memories were tumbling to the surface as the Chancellor reminisced about the events of that day. He was amazed that he had never really remembered this much when the other two people had inquired. Maybe the money, was just the right incentive to jog his memory.

“Well I appreciate you time and your cooperation. Here is my card, and if you think of anything else please call. It will be shall we say ‘financially rewarding’, especially if you can remember that gentleman’s name.” Jerry stood, emptied the money from the briefcase and placed the files inside and closed it. He nodded, then turned and left the office.

Chancellor Sennet immediately opened the wall safe, and placed the money inside.
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Rochester Airport

V was trying to keep a safe distance as she followed Tess through the terminal. She watched as Tess moved towards the security gates, sat her bag and purse on the conveyer belt and walked through the electronic arch. V followed two other passengers, keeping her eyes trained on Tess as she made her way down the long concourse. V walked under the arch and the alarm sounded. Two security guards motioned her to the side and asked her to empty her pockets on to the tray. V did, first her cellular phone, then her keys, a couple of barrettes, dental floss, a half roll of Certs, and some change. The security guards motioned for her to walk through another electronic arch. This time the alarm was even louder. Trying to keep the passenger traffic moving the guards escorted V to a separate station and ran an electronic wand down the length of her body. V kept moving back and forth trying to watch Tess, as she got further from her down the concourse. The wand registered something at her waist.

“Please take off your coat slowly Miss.” The guard with the wand requested.

The other guard was watching as he inspected her purse. “Nothing out of the ordinary in here Joe.” the guard said as he closed V purse.

As V removed her coat the guard saw it. “Gun!” He said as he pushed V up against the wall grabbing one arm and placing it in the small of her back, and the other against the back of her head. He held her against the wall until the other guard disarmed her.

“Come with us Miss.” The guard ordered as he briskly walked her to security, and out of the view of Tess. They questioned her for hours before letting her call Mac. He was able to iron out all the complications by phone since he happened to know the head of security at the airport. The guards escorted V, back to her car in the parking garage, and watched her drive away.
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Nurses Station 6th floor, General Hospital

Brenda and Robin burst out laughing as the elevator doors opened onto the floor simultaneously. Brenda in one, Robin in the other. They had been enjoying teasing each other on the way over from the cottage. Robin had been steadfast in her annoyance that Jax and Brenda had let breakfast get cold after she had taken the time to make it hoping to start the morning out on a positive note. Brenda knew Robin wasn’t really annoyed, because she could tell how happy both Jax and she were when they chased each other down the steps at the cottage. She knew that Robin enjoyed ribbing her about always being late. They had ran from the car in the parking garage into the hospital and punched each elevator up button. Each trying to beat the other to the nurses station to check in for their appointments. Brenda with Gail Baldwin, and Robin with Alan Quartermaine.

Amy immediately looked up from the article she was reading as soon as she heard the commotion. There standing in front of her laughing were Brenda Barrett and Robin Scorpio. Obviously neither hadn't seen the front page of the Confidential.

“Hi Amy! I’m first, I’m here to see Alan. I have a 9:00 am appointment.” Robin said as she tried to hold off Brenda who was trying to muscle her way in.

“No Amy, Robin is wrong, I was here first.” Brenda gently pushed Robin to the side. “I have an appointment with Gail Baldwin also at 9:00 am.” Brenda smiled as she let her fingers tap the top of the counter.

Amy tried not to laugh. “Both Gail and Alan are in the offices and are expecting you. So care to share what it is you are both so happy about this morning?”

Brenda and Robin and looked at each other, smiled and replied in unison, “No.” Then they simply turned and each walked in the opposite direction to their respective doctor’s offices.

Amy went back to reading the latest gossip.
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Port Charles Hotel Suite #2901

“Room service Mr. Wright.”

Mitch opened the door and watched as the attendant set up the table with his breakfast order. He signed the tab, and tipped the attendant as he left the room. Mitch sat down at the table and started to read the file that Ashley had left him taped to the bottom of the desk. He ate his breakfast as he devoured all the titillating news about the good citizens of Port Charles.
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Newsstand next to the Outback

Jax parked Brenda’s Porsche and walked up to the newsstand. “Good morning Ben. Wall Street Journal please.” Jax requested as he pulled some cash from his pocket.

“Here you go Mr. Jacks.” Ben replied as he passed the newspaper to Jax. “Have a good day.”

Jax looked up, met Ben’s eyes, smiled and started to say “You to....” when he caught a glimpse of the Confidential, with pictures of Brenda, Ashley, and Jax on the cover. Jax pointed towards the paper, his voice caught in his throat.

Ben reached up and pulled the paper from the rack and handed it to Jax. Just then another customer approached the newsstand.

“Port Charles Chronicle, and Wall Street Journal please Ben.” Ned Ashton asked as he turned to see Jax standing next to him, his facing turning red with anger.

“Stocks not performing Jasper?” Ned teased as he slapped him on the shoulder.

“Shut up Ned, and read!” Jax pointed to the article covering the inside pages of the Confidential.

Ned’s facial expression turned sour just as rapidly as Jax had.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Ned asked as he opened his wallet.

“Damage control.” Jax said as he too opened his wallet.

“Ben let us have all your copies of the Confidential.” Ned motioned as Ben handed him all the remaining papers in the rack.

“Anymore under the counter?” Jax asked trying to maintain his composure.

“No, that’s all of them.” Ben replied as he took Ned’s payment.

Jax turned to Ned as he watched Ned put the stack of papers under his arm. They walked back to Ned’s Jaguar and put the papers inside the trunk.

“Jax, I know right now all you want to do is either go into the Outback and knock Mac senseless, or go down to the police station and take out both Taggert and Garcia but it isn’t going to help Brenda. First things first, we need to get these papers off the street. The less people reading them the better. By the way, where is Brenda? I see her car over there.” Ned nodded in the direction of her Porsche.

“I'm diriving the Porsche. Robin took Brenda to her session with Gail Baldwin, and then Brenda has scheduled a meeting with Lee after that to discuss this very investigation. Robin has an appointment with Alan. Taggert and Garcia came to question both of them yesterday at the cottage. We were having a friendly snowball fight as we came back from ice skating on the lake. Taggert managed to get into the line of fire, and I nailed him, unintentionally of course, right up along side head. Anyway, Taggert thought he was being attacked and immediately dropped to the floor of the porch and drew his gun. Brenda freaked and leaped in front of me, so Taggert wouldn’t shoot. Needless to say, Brenda wasn’t going to answer anything after that episode. Anyway, she seemed okay until last night when she had a nightmare and woke up screaming. We had fallen asleep talking to each other and I woke up to hear her screaming. Robin didn’t kno what to do, so she called Mac and Felicia. Mac got there shortly after I did. She calmed down and we got her back to sleep. She was fine this morning, but I am afraid of what her reaction might be if she reads this. I couldn’t stand it if it sent her into another tailspin Ned.” Jax lowered his eyes and dropped his head trying to keep the scene of last night from replaying in his head.

“Jax, why don’t you go back to the penthouse and have V start calling the distributors and buying up the papers that way. You call Lee and see if he can interrupt the session with Gail and let them break the news to Brenda in a controlled environment. If she needs you, you can be at the hospital in a few minutes. I will get a hold of AJ, Emily, Reginald, and Grandfather. We will get as many of these rags off the street. I will also contact Monica and have her go in and talk to Robin before she leaves Alan’s office. That way she can escort Robin to Gail’s office. Believe me if the press starts trying to locate Brenda this will turn into a media circus.” Ned said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

“Thanks for the help Ned. I guess I’ll have Addie cancel the conference call on
the docks project. Oh, I just remembered V called in sick. I guess I’ll see if I can get Addie to work the phones for me.” Jax said as he pulled the car keys from his pocket.

“Don’t worry about work Jax, let’s just concentrate on Brenda. I’ll call you with a progress report.” Ned said as he opened the door of his Jaguar.

Jax ran back to the Porsche. He spun all four tires as he peeled out of the parking lot on his way to the Port Charles Hotel.
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