Heaven's Here on Earth

by Denise

Part 8: Welcome to my Parlor........

A brief warning: this part is *definitely* rated R. It is also dedicated to my dear Triplet, Frieda, who assures me it's hot enough...without being totally incendiary.  And no, dear Triplet, I don't KNOW any available men in Chicago.....{sigh}.

~*~

"Welcome to Wyndemere, Jax." Stefan said formally, extending a hand.

Jax took it, sizing the Cassadine patriarch up. Their brief meeting the summer before, when Jax was underwriting the Nurses Ball, had afforded no chance for the Australian to draw any conclusions about Stefan. He intended to take full advantage of this opportunity tonight....

"Stefan."

"Hi Stefan." Brenda kissed her brother's cheek, and Stefan's usually austere visage softened.

"Little sister." He guided them down the great hall toward the parlor, and Jax hung back on purpose, enjoying the sight of Brenda walking in front of him beside Stefan. She was wearing the simple black dress she had worn long ago to Luke's Place on their first double date with Ned and Lois. Some double date, Jax remembered, smiling to himself, what with Brenda asking him about Conchita the Flyer and Ned firing accusations at him about gunrunning and a certain CEO's wife. Those were the good, old days....

He snapped out of his reverie as they turned the corner toward the parlor, and he saw Kevin, Lucy, and a stranger clustered about the fireplace with Alexis. Jax raised an eyebrow in surprise and heard Brenda whisper to Stefan," I thought this was a family dinner? What are they doing here? And where's Nikolas?"

"Kevin's doing some consulting work for Cassadines Industries, and he's proven to be an intriguing man---I want to get to know him better. And there being such a dearth of suitable dinner guests in Port Charles---present company accepted, of course---that I couldn't turn down the chance to have Lancaster Corey join us.  As for Nikolas---he flew to Greece for the weekend; Helena was asking for him."

"But Stefan---" Brenda had no chance to explain her connection to Professor Corey. They had reached the double doors of the parlor. She threw a semi-desperate glance over her shoulder at Jax, who smiled reassuringly as Stefan led them straight to the tall, distinguished man conversing with Alexis in front of the fireplace. The professor turned at that moment, and his dark eyes met Jax's.  Mysterious eyes, sloe eyes. The Australian felt a frisson of deja vu. Had he met this man before? The professor reminded him of something or someone.....

"Professor? I'd like to introduce my sister, Miss Brenda Barrett and her......er, Mr. Jasper Jacks."

Lancaster Corey's gaze flickered quickly from Brenda to Jax. "J&J Jacks of Alaska?" the professor inquired, his dark eyes interested.

"Yes. I've read your book on the last Tsar, Professor Corey. Intriguing theory you have about Anastasia."

"My publishers thought so, too." The professor cast an amused glance at Brenda, who was looking somewhat shamefaced. "Miss Barrett, a pleasure to see you again so soon."

Stefan tilted his head, confused. "Brenda? You've met the Professor before?"

"Er......yes...."

"I am pleased to announce that Miss Barrett consented to become my research  assistant today."

Jax studied the professor covertly, even as he made small talk with Alexis. Gracious fellow, saving Brenda from answering that awkward question herself. And smooth, too, never missed a beat. Jax sensed it would take an earthquake to shake Lancaster Corey's composure. Something about the man struck a chord of recognition in Jax, yet the full picture remained tantalizing out of his reach. But it will come to me, I know it will...

"I see." Stefan's displeasure was subtle, but noticeable. "Did Brenda not tell you she was my sister? Of course, I've already given you access to some of the Cassadine archives, still---"

"Still, it makes no difference that Miss Barrett is related to you, Mr. Cassadine.  She won her place as my assistant strictly on her own merits. I expect no additional access to your family's papers, just because she is working for me."

They glared at each other for a moment, as the room fell silent. Jax's eyes flashed as he realized suddenly why the professor had seemed so familiar to him. Stefan and Lancaster Corey could be father and son: the professor was taller, his hair white compared to Stefan's dark blond, his eyes brown, while Stefan's were a dark, enigmatic blue. But there was no denying the facial  resemblance---it fairly screamed at Jax, and he wondered that the others didn't notice it. The same broad forehead, the same high cheekbones and pointed chin, their respective goatees only highlighting the triangular shape of their faces.  The full-lipped but stern mouth---they shared that, too. As did Brenda. Jax's grip on the brandy glass tightened as the revelation struck him with the force of a lightening bolt. His eyes....Brenda had Lancaster Corey's eyes.......

"Jax, honey? Are you okay?" Brenda touched his sleeve. "You look a little pale."

With an effort, Jax forced himself back into the present. "I'm fine, sweetie."

"Good." Stefan's voice was chilly, the look he gave Professor Corey equally so.  "I'm glad to hear that, Jax. It's a relatively warm night for this time of year, and I was hoping to show you all around the grounds after dinner. There is one particular part of the gardens I believe you'll find most intriguing. Mrs. Lansbury should have everything ready for us by now---shall we make our way to the dining room?"

He flung out his arm in a sweeping gesture, and with his typical autocratic manner, proceeded them through the double doors.

~*~

The entrance to the maze rose up, tall and somehow forbidding in front of them.  Unlike the thick, thorny evergreen hedges that made up the labyrinth itself, the entrance was hewn of rough, grey ashlar, the blocks fitted together tightly. The entrance was wide enough for four men to walk abreast, although beyond, the corridors of the maze narrowed considerably. Even in the bright moonlight, the paths, hemmed in by the impenetrable twelve-foot hedges were dim, the effect fantastical and mysterious. Jax half-expected a hoofed satyr or even the Minotaur himself to spring through the great stone arch to greet them.

"Impressive, isn't it? I haven't yet deduced why the original owner felt compelled to have a labyrinth constructed here on the property......Dr. Collins? Being a former practitioner of psychiatry, perhaps you'd like to hazard a guess?"

Kevin shrugged. "Maybe he just liked Greek mythology. If we could decipher the inscription over the door, that would give us a clue."

"Oh, Kevin! It's written in Egyptian.....you know." Lucy was beginning to babble. The dark maze disconcerted her, and her growing nervousness coincided with her incoherence. "Petroglyphs? Hydroglyphs?"

"Hieroglyphs," Jax corrected smoothly. "And these aren't hierogyphs.....they're runes."

"Ruins?" Lucy was more confused than ever. "Well, I'd hardly say the maze is a

RUIN, Jax." She was now a bit huffy, as well as nervous. "It looks very well-maintained if you ask me."

Kevin shook his head. "No, Lucy, runes are a written language used by ancient cultures......like the Egyptians used the hieroglyphs."

"Oh."

Stefan threw a searching look at Jax. "Have you any idea what they say, Jax?"

"None, sorry." Jax's face was expressionless.

"Hm. Yes. Well, shall we do some exploring? I suggest we all stay close together......I think the flashlights will be quite unnecessary since there's a full moon, but it's obviously easy to get lost in here. There are several statues and fountains which you might find intriguing. The clearing in the middle of the maze is most striking." With that, Stefan stepped through the archway, the others close behind.

All except Jax and Brenda. As she started to follow, Jax caught her hand. "Wait,  sweetie."

"Jax! If we don't hurry, we'll lose sight of the others...I don't want to get lost in there."

"We aren't going to, Brenda. Especially not if Stefan's intent is to take everyone to the middle of the labyrinth." He ignored her annoyed look, saying, "I've figured out the inscription over the door."

Brenda just shook her head. "Of course you have."

"Are you being sarcastic?"

"No, honey." She gave him a knowing smile. "I just mean if ANYONE could decipher the inscription, it's you.

He grinned back in boyish pride.

"I knew you had it figured out the minute Stefan asked you. Why didn't you want  him to know what it said?"

"Because, sweetie, I want to do a little exploring on my own.....without Stefan and Company."

"Well, okay." Brenda was getting a bit impatient. "So what does it say?"

"It says 'silver stone to silver glen--to manor house and back again.' Interesting, eh?"

"It makes no sense!"

"Sure it does." Jax stepped forward and ran his hands along the right pillar of the arch. "Look---this stone is lighter than the others....silver, wouldn't you say?" He pressed the rough block and from beneath their feet came a low creaking sound as if the earth were groaning. A huge block within the lefthand side of the arch began to move, and Jax shot a triumphant glance at Brenda.

Through the opening, they could see stone steps leading down. Down into what,  Brenda wondered. She shivered suddenly, clutching her black shawl around her shoulders with one hand and Jax's arm in the other.

"Where do you think it goes?"

"Let's find out, sweetie." Jax turned on his flashlight and headed down the stairs, Brenda close behind.

~*~

At the very center of the labyrinth, the huge block of stone rose imperiously in clearing, surrounded by clusters of evergreen trees which fringed the open space with dark, impenetrable shadows. A low, broad stone step ran the length of the stone monolith, and evergreen English ivy flowed over it in wild tangles, obscuring the rock in some places, but not the fountain, hewn from the rock itself.  It was a gargoyle---not a small replica that medieval cathedrals often boast---but a life-sized, full-figured goblin, emerging from the stone like a nightmare, arms  outstretched as if to grasp any observers, its mouth open wide in a knowing leer, water spewing from its parted lips to fall into the huge, semi-circular basin at its feet.

"Good Lord, as 'Luke-in-law' would say, 'that's the plug-ugliest thing I've ever seen.'" Jax was shaking his head in disbelief.

"It's grotesque," Brenda grimaced. "It gives me the creeps." She shivered, and Jax slid a warm hand up her back, beneath the shawl. "Easy, sweetie, it's just a statue."

"Yes, well, if this was what Stefan was so eager to show us, he can just keep it."

Jax turned her toward him and gave her a light, teasing kiss. "Yes, but think, Brenda, if we hadn't come out here, we would never have discovered that secret passage. Knowing another way to get into Wyndemere might come in handy some day."

"Oh....are you planning to spy on my brother like Luke Spencer?"

Jax grinned. "Maybe. Would that bother you?"

"Well, maybe." Brenda played it coy. "I do have principles, you know."

"I know.....I would NEVER ask you to comprimise your principles." As he spoke, Jax tugged the shawl from her shoulders and bent to kiss her throat.

"Jax," Brenda sighed.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Forget about principles.....any principles."

Jax chuckled softly and slid his hands to her waist, lifting her up to the first step so that her breasts were almost at his eye-level.

"Jax....." she smiled down at him indulgently. Stefan and company were still wandering around in the maze themselves and could stumble upon them at any moment. He couldn't be contemplating much mischief.

She was wrong.

Jax smiled back at her, a tigerish smile, cocky and wicked. His fingers glided upward, and she gasped as his thumbs began tracing lightly over her nipples which hardened immediately beneath the black silk.

"Jax." Her voice was a whimper now.

He moved his hands higher, disappointing her, but only for a moment as he slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders, and eased it down to her waist.  Because the dress was so daring and backless, she wore no bra, and in the moonlight, her bare skin was nacreous and shimmering. Brenda shuddered deeply, arching her back as his mouth pressed against her now, where his hands had been seconds before.

She sighed and buried her fingers in his thick, blond hair, pulling him closer, while he slid his hands underneath her dress and up her thighs. His right hand strayed gently over her flat stomach, stroking her. Brenda moved restlessly, rubbing her derriere against the cold stone wall. She wanted.....she wanted......a small, sharp cry of pleasure escaped her as she got exactly what she wanted--- Jax's warm, strong hand easing inside her panties.

This was heaven---his mouth suctioned to her skin, his fingers teasing her---but it was also madness. Stefan and the others were coming, they'd find them. Had to stop, had to, Brenda thought, frantic at the idea of being caught, but almost wild at the thought of stopping.......

"Jax, please. Wait....."

"Why?" he whispered seductively, his lips moving up to plant light baby-kisses against her neck and jaw.

"I---we can't. Please---"

"Don't you like what I'm doing?"

"Yes, but---"

"Do you WANT me to stop?"

"No, but---oh!"

He raised his head, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes at her reaction. He deliberately teased her with his fingers again, and she moaned.

He began to kiss her, light, nibbling kisses, his tongue flicking across her lips, tantalizing her. "You love this, don't you sweetie? You're used to being petted, but I didn't give you any of that earlier today, did I? So now I'm making up for it."

"I wanted it just as much as you did. I wanted it the WAY you did....."

"I know you did, sweetie. Just the way you want this now. And I'm going to give it to you."

"Jax," Brenda made a last attempt at rationality. "They'll find us."

"No, they won't, " he assured her, "trust me."

"But---"

Jax gave her a long look out of glittering aquamarine eyes. "It's up to you, sweetie. Do you want it or not?" The question hung like a challenge in the air; Brenda could feel his fingers poised, waiting, but she would have to close the breach. He wouldn't make the move for her.

With a movement that was one part desperation, one part defiance, she grasped  his shoulders and pulled herself onto his fingers, thrilling at the feel of him inside her. Still, he remained motionless. Brenda reared back, eyeing him almost accusingly, but all Jax said was, "Take what you want, as much as you want,  sweetie." He raked his thumb over her again, and it was as if a switch were tripped. Her hips began to move swiftly, rhythmically as she rode his fingers.

Jax smiled, pleased with himself, slipping his free hand down to her back to support her. Brenda was moaning against his neck, but his keen ears caught another sound now---the faint sound of voices. He raised his head alertly, and his keen senses, honed by years of traipsing around in the Outback and other wildernesses with his father and brother, helped him pinpoint where the sound  came from. He knew how far sound could travel, especially in an isolated,  otherwise quiet spot such as this; he knew the circuitous route they'd have to follow to reach this particular spot. They were not nearly as close as the carrying sound suggested, there was plenty of time---but Brenda didn't know that.

Jax grinned mischievously and whispered, "Brenda. Listen." He pressed his hand firmly against her bottom, stilling her.

She raised her head, eyes wide with panic as she heard Stefan say, his voice faint but distinct, "And somewhere around here is a clearing with a gargoyle fountain. Quite distinctive."

"Jax!" Brenda hissed frantically.

Jax's smile was amused, containing not the slightest hint of alarm. "Better hurry, sweetie. I guess they're closer than I thought."

Brenda opened her mouth to protest, but his hand pushed, urging her hips into motion. The slight movement inflamed her again, and desire overrode caution.  She began thrusting herself against him again, her motions harder, deeper, faster. She was on the edge, toppling over, oblivious now to everything but the pleasure.

And the voices were closer. Too close, Jax realized, eyes widening, as he heard Alexis say, "It's right around this corner, isn't it, Stefan?" Damn! He'd miscalculated badly......still, there was time. Jax's eyes took on a steely glint; he was WILLING them to stay away a few minutes longer, then Kevin's voice gave him a reprieve.

"Stefan......look. It looks like Bugs and company have taken up residence...."

"Bugs?" The question was civil, the tone disdainful.

"I believe," Jax heard Lancaster Corey interject smoothly, " Dr. Collins is referring  facetiously to a cartoon rabbit. Am I right, Doctor Collins?"

Kevin's murmured assent overlapped with Lucy's crooning over the rabbit's nest.

Jax exhaled slowly, in relief. Thank God for Kevin. And Bugs. Still, this had to be finished--quickly. For the first time, he began moving his fingers inside her, helping her, his thumb stroking and teasing. Brenda stopped moving for just an instant, poised on the edge, then she went over, her hips grinding against his hand. Jax felt her spasms and clapped his hand over her mouth just in time to stifle her cry of pleasure. She was still shuddering against him in ecstasy, and he let her ride it out, determined to let her experience as much as possible, all the while listening warily for sounds of the others' approach.

There was more murmuring, then Stefan said, "Well, we'll leave it here for now and I'll have the gardener look at it in the morning." Their footsteps were coming closer.

Jax glanced down at Brenda. She was finished, hanging dazed and helpless in his arms. He put his lips against her ear. "Brenda! Put your arms around my neck." She complied groggily, and Jax lifted her easily, glancing about the clearing for a place to hide. His eyes fell on the huge stone urn in one corner of the clearing, surrounded by tall evergreens that looked almost black in the moonlight. That would have to do. He was halfway there when he missed Brenda's shawl. Damn! Double damn! It was lying in all its inky blackness on the ground beside the stone step like a banner proclaiming their presence.

Jax took a step back toward the fountain.

"Well, here it is. Rather striking, don't you think?"

"In an....ugly sort of way, " Lucy replied doubtfully. The others had entered the clearing from the other side. Too late. Jax melted soundlessly into the covering of the evergreens, arms tightening protectively about Brenda.

"I wonder why they put a fountain this elaborate at the center of a maze," Kevin mused. "It seems whoever built this place would have wanted to put it in a more prominent spot---where it could be seen."

"EWWW, Kevin!" Lucy made a face. "It's so ugly.....that's WHY they stuck it here in the middle of all this....this.....greenery. So it wouldn't be seen. I mean---" She caught herself and looked apologetically at Stefan. "I'm sorry."

The Cassadine patriarch laughed. "There's no need to apologize, Miss Coe. I feel no need to defend the architectural choices of the previous owners. I find the maze and the fountain an amusing oddity, that's all."

Jax glanced cautiously through the branches of the nearest evergreen. Alexis, Stefan, Kevin, and Lucy were clustered about the fountain, staring up at the gargoyle, while Lancaster Corey stood further away, on the stone step. His feet were inches from Brenda's shawl, and Jax held his breath as the professor glanced down. At that moment Alexis commented, "You haven't give us your opinion, professor. What do you think of this 'architectural oddity' as my cousin put it."

"I think the previous owners had a somewhat arcane sense of irony....and a tendency toward the grotesque. Note how the gargoyle isn't just a head, but a full-figure depiction. And the sense of threat one gets, standing in front of it.  Almost as if it's coming right out of the stone wall to grasp the unwary....." As he spoke, the professor kept his eyes---and so, too, the eyes of his audience---trained on the fountain, while he unobtrusively kicked the shawl off the step and underneath the cluster of euonymus bushes grouped at the edge of the wall.

I owe you one, professor. Jax lips quirked upward in an amused smile as he continued to peek through the evergreens at the unsuspecting fivesome.

"It's getting a little chilly out here," Lucy observed, hugged herself.

Kevin slipped an arm around her, "I agree."

"We'll go back inside, " Stefan said decisively. He paused. "Although....I am a bit concerned now about Mr. Jacks and Miss Barrett. They've obviously gotten lost in the maze......I'll send the servants back to look for them."

"I hardly think that necessary, Mr. Cassadine," Professor Corey disagreed. "Mr. Jacks strikes as a most capable and enterprising young man. I have the distinct feeling that they not only found the center of the maze, they've already started on their way back to the house. I imagine we'll find them waiting for us in the study."

Jax almost laughed aloud. Canny fellow, this Lancaster Corey! So....he'd deciphered the runes the entrance to the maze as well. Well, as long as he didn't give the secret passage away to the others......and no, he didn't. The five  of them turned away from the fountain and began the long trek back through the maze to the entrance and the house beyond.

Thank God they finally left. He'd have to hustle. Swiftly he emerged from his hiding place, Brenda half-asleep in his arms. He set her down gently on the step in front of the fountain and shook her awake.

"Brenda, sweetie. You can't go to sleep on me now. We have to get back to the main house before the others."

Brenda peered up at him drowsily. "Okay.....oops." She gave him a slightly embarassed grin. "Maybe I'd better get dressed first...."

"Maybe so," Jax agreed. Tenderly, he pushed the straps back up on Brenda's shoulders as she adjusted the front of her dress. Jax pulled her shawl from beneath the bushes, shook it out, and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Ready?"

She nodded, and he helped her to her feet. Crossing in front of the leering gargoyle, Jax reached up to push the dark grey stone half-hidden by the trailing vines flowing over the wall. The section of stone next to the fountain slowly swung out, revealing the hidden passage, and Jax and Brenda quickly ducked inside.

~*~

Jax unlocked the front door of Kelly's with Brenda's key and pushed the door open with his shoulder. Brenda stirred sleepily against him as he eased quietly into the diner, holding her effortlessly in one arm. The door swung shut behind them, locking with an almost imperceptible 'snick.'

Jax was halfway to the stairs when Brenda whispered in his ear, "Coming up for a nightcap?"

Jax glanced down at her, amused. "Sweetie, if you and I don't watch it, we're going to become addicted to 'nightcaps.' Besides, aren't you a little tired?"

She grinned at him impishly, fully awake now. "No. I slept all the way back from the island, remember? I've gotten my second wind, besides........you don't want to leave things undecided, do you?"

"Undecided?"

"Uh-huh. As it stands, we're tied.....one to one. I vote we go for two out of three."

"And the winner gets?"

"A free lunch. Right here, tomorrow."

Jax raised an eyebrow. "I get the feeling you had lunch all planned anyway."

"Well, yes, but you still want to see who the winner is, don't you?"

Jax laughed softly. "Oh, that was never in doubt, sweetie. I KNOW who the winner is....."

His mouth met hers as he carried her lightly up the stairs.

~*~

"Fancy meeting you here."

Jax's head whipped around at the sarcastic greeting.

Luke emerged from the shadows of Ruby's kitchen, preceded by the thin wisps of blue-grey smoke that trailed from his cigar.

The two men eyed each other warily for a long moment before Luke continued, his voice deceptively casual, "I've had to wait for you quite a while.......sharing a 'nightcap' upstairs with Miss Barrett?" He made a 'tsk, tsk' sound and shook his head. "You know, you've disappointed me there, Australia. You're a man of sophisticated tastes, a man of discrimination, a man used to the finer things in  life. And God knows, dear little Brenda is somewhat"---he puffed on the cigar---"used."

One moment, Luke was standing, the next he was bent backwards over Ruby's counter, pinned by Jax's hand on his throat. The cigar smoldered, unnoticed on the floor beneath his feet, as Luke gazed up into chilling silver-grey eyes from which all the color had bled. For one of the few times in his unrepentant, street-fighting life, he was truly afraid. He saw death in Jax's eyes, with little chance of reprieve.

"You're never to speak of Brenda that way again." The words were calm, dispassionate, matter-of-fact, and their very lack of emotion chilled Luke even more. The thought that he'd badly misjudged Jax flashed through his mind, followed by another---the blond Australian was reminding him more and more of Robert. His manner now---his anger and passion held in check, channeled through a cold, detached filter of complete ruthlessness---was all Robert Scorpio.

There were no threats and posturing---that had been Sonny's method. There was no blind, animal violence---that was Jason's style. There was no blustering-- -that was Edward Quartermaine's tactic. Just this quiet, inexorable statement of fact. And not respecting it would mean his death. Simple.

Luke gingerly held up his hands, palms outward in a gesture of supplication, and was relieved to see the blue-green seeping slowly back into Jax's icy eyes. Jax stepped back, releasing his hold, and a gasping Luke was forced to grab a barstool in order to keep himself from sprawling to the floor.

Jax smiled grimly. "I'm so glad we've reached.....an UNDERSTANDING, Spencer. I'd hate to for my dear sister to be a widow."

"Yeah, me too, " Luke answered cautiously, hoisting himself upright. He didn't know what aggravated him worse---the easy way his billionaire brother-in-law had overpowered him or the clipped pronounciation of his last name. In Jax's Australian accent, Spencer came out a staccato, abrupt "SPIN-sah."

Still, he couldn't blame Jax for what had just happened. If anything, Luke began to feel a grudging respect for the Australian---and a sense of kinship. He, too, loved a woman enough to kill for her and could understand and approve of his brother-in-law's fierce loyalty, even as he thoroughly disliked and mistrusted Brenda.

Jax walked over to the nearest table and dropped gracefully into a chair. "Let's dispense with the INCIVILITIES, shall we? What do you want?

Luke lit a fresh cigar and took a seat opposite Jax. "Arrogant, aren't you, Son of Koala? What makes you think I was waiting on you? Maybe I just developed a craving for Ruby's chili and came over to raid the refrigerator for leftovers."

Jax raised a blond eyebrow, and drawled sardonically, "Even you don't live THAT close to the edge, Spencer. Everyone knows that Ruby's leftovers are toxic. But I don't think I'm the main reason you're here either. Lurking on the docks again, are we? Doing a little late-night reconnaissance of Castle Cassadine?"

Luke smirked. "Better than that, Aussie-in-law. I've BEEN to Spoon Island tonight. Too bad I missed the main course."

"Too bad you missed the maze."

"What?"

"Skip it. So you were a gatecrasher tonight. Was it worth your trouble?"

"I didn't think so at first. So.......I found out Kevin's doing consulting work for Count Vlad, and little sister Brenda and the hotshot professor are about to be turned loose on the family archives. Interesting---"

"But not worth that cold swim back over to the mainland."

Luke inhaled and stared across the table at Jax. For once, he was thrown off- balance. "How'd you figure that out?"

Jax gestured toward Luke's neck. "Your wetsuit is showing."

Luke looked down and self-consciously pulled the collar of his shirt up. "Very observant." He blew some smoke rings toward the ceiling and leaned back, admiring his handiwork. "Anyway, you're right. What I overheard was nothing."  He stopped puffing on the cigar and gave Jax his full attention. "But.......what I FOUND.... Well, that's another story."

Jax's eyes glinted. "Something to blackmail a vampire with?"

"Maybe two vampires."

"Why are you telling ME all this? You know J&J Jacks bought that oil tanker from The House of Cassadine---I made no secret of it. And my loyalty is to Brenda---whose BROTHER happens to be Stefan....so...."

"I'm not worried, Australia. You're right.....you're not gonna DELIBERATELY provoke Stefan for Brenda's sake, but you're not gonna sidestep him either. I know, because as much as you love Laura, that's the way you treat me. You proved that again tonight---if I cross a certain line, all bets are off, right?"

"Absolutely. At least you acknowledge that I love Laura."

"Yeah, she feels the same about you. Go figure." Luke grinned in spite of himself, then turned serious again. "Most important, I was watching you in the spider's parlor tonight----"

"Spying from your hidden vantage point, you mean."

Luke ignored that and went on. "You were sizing Count Vlad up. I saw it. No one else did---except maybe Brenda---you were real subtle. But you were studying him like a map, man. And that professor, too. What was the deal with that?"

My suspicions about Lancaster Corey are none of your business, dear Luke-in- law, Jax thought. I'm not even saying anything to Brenda until I'm sure.....

"Sheer curiosity as far as the professor is concerned. He IS a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, after all. One doesn't meet those everyday. As for Stefan? He and I made one deal to our mutual satisfaction. That doesn't mean that somewhere down the line, J&J Jacks won't have interests diametrically opposed to those of The House of Cassadine. Let's say my "sizing him up" was a hedge against future....hostilities."

"I'll buy that. Know your enemy and all that."

"Sun Tzu."

"Who?"

"A brilliant Chinese philosopher and statesman. Knowing your enemy was one of  the basic tenets of his treatise, The Art of War."

"Yeah." Luke was out of his league, and he knew it. "Anyway, I need your help.....so here it is. I found an envelope stashed in one of the secret passages-- -an envelope with Alexis Davis's name on it. And it was a lot of financial stuff--- looked like bank statements, money transfer records, stuff like that. I took pictures of all of it, and when I get them developed tomorrow, I'd like for you to take a look."

"Sure. Something tells me you didn't just put the originals back where you found them....."

Luke sent a few more smoke rings wafting upward. "Nope. I waited until everyone at Castle Vlad went nighty-night, then I redecorated the living room with them. Can't wait for the fallout."

"Divide and conquer. A useful strategy; I've used it myself."

The two brothers-in-law shared a moment of semi-companionable silence.

Should I tell him about ELQ Jakarta? Why not? The only person on earth who hates the Cassadines more than Ned at the moment is Luke......

Jax leaned forward. "Listen, Spencer. I think for once, you and I are on the same side......

~*~