Jax and Brenda arrived from Alaska and touched down at Port Charles airport on Friday afternoon. That evening, as they were being seated for dinner at the Port Charles Grille, Lucy entered the dining room, saw them, and strode purposefully across the floor to their table.
"Well! There you are, you two!" she said, for everyone to hear. "Where have you been? Brenda! I've been trying to reach you!"
"Lucy! Where have YOU been?" Brenda asked her. "I told you, nearly two weeks ago, that we were taking a break to visit Jax's family and that we would be returning from Alaska today. I told you I'd call you on Monday. Remember?" Brenda is wondering what is wrong with Lucy.
"Right... I think!... Yes! Of course, I do remember!" Lucy seems to be really agitated.
"Is something wrong, Lucy? Is Kevin O.K.?"
"No! No! Nothing is wrong! And Kevin, well, my Doc is just fine, thank you for asking! I remember, you did say you would be coming back from Alaska... was it today?"
"Lucy! Are you O.K.? You don't usually forget things like that.. And I DID tell you where we would be. I even gave you Jax's parents' phone number so you could call us if you needed me..."
"Yes! Yes! I know! I remember...! It's just that I've had so much on my mind. Decisions! You know me... always involved... Did you two have a good time away up there in the snow?"
"We sure did! But we weren't in the snow all the time..."
"Oh! Where else did you go?"
"My parents actually live in a real house!" Jax smiled at her,
"And the real snow hasn't set in just yet," Brenda interjected, "We spent a lot of time indoors, visiting with the family, cosy and warm... We played pool, There are lots of great games in Jax's father's game room, and there is this huge, amazing fireplace that burns all the time, day and night, and you can look out on the snow for miles around..."
"You will have to come and visit," Jax told her,
"And Kevin, of course," Brenda added,
"Of course!" Jax continued. "If you and Kevin would like to have a holiday in the snow, maybe at Christmas time, or the next time we go, we'd love to have you come with us. I'm sure you would enjoy the quiet, and the natural beauty..."
"I'm sure we would. That's really nice of you both..."
"Lucy!" Jax said, looking directly at her, "It would give us real pleasure to have you and Kevin come with us next time we go North. And I can assure you, my parents will make you very welcome. Brenda considers you her friend, which makes you my friend. The invitation stands, for whenever it suits you."
"Why, thank you Jax," and Lucy, looking very touched, seemed at a loss for words.
"We had a great visit, and we really did have a good time, Lucy," Brenda said to her, and as she looked at Jax, they both smiled. Jax, holding Brenda's hand in his, and still looking into Brenda's eyes, brought her fingers to his lips, whispered, "We had a wonderful time!"
"Well... Right!... O.K. then... Ta... I'll see you on Monday, Brenda. Lovely to see you too, Jax. And thank you for the invitation. I will talk to Kevin." She turned and strode away.
Unnoticed, a few tables away, at the back of the room, Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan sat. Lucy's voice carried and Jax and Brenda did not avoid the discussion. Obviously they had over-heard the conversation. Sonny watched Lucy as she swept out.
"Looks like something's bugging Lucy," Jason commented.
"Yeah, looks like," Sonny agreed, as his eyes switched to Brenda and Jax's table.
Unaware of their audience, they were relaxed and at ease as they chatted happily. Then, as the waiter came toward them, Jax whispered something to Brenda, they leaned toward one another and kissed briefly.
"They look happy!" Jason commented.
"Yeah! So she keeps saying!"
"You don't believe it? How come? They look happy, don't they?"
"If you say so! Look, do you want to eat here, or would you rather go someplace else?"
"If it bothers you to be here, Sonny, we'll eat wherever you like. We need to talk, and here it's private, but we can go anywhere you like!"
"Here's O.K. We came here to eat, so let's eat!"
"I don't think anybody is even going to wonder where we've been," Brenda said. "If anyone asks, all we have to say is that we just got in from Alaska, after a visit with the family."
"I'm sure you're right," Jax agreed. "Were you aware that I called Stefan Cassadine this afternoon?"
"No. I didn't know you knew him. Do you?"
"I don't, not really. I do know he is a shrewd businessman. I've decided to offer him my ELQ stock. It occurred to me that he might be interested and he certainly can afford it."
"Ned wants to buy your stocks, doesn't he?"
"He does, but I don't feel like making it that easy for him. I let him believe that I backed off on the ELQ takeover because he proved to be a smarter businessman than I am - which suited me at the time. But to just hand over the stocks and give him a genuine victory, no, I don't think so!"
"You don't want to keep them?"
"With Corinthos on the Board, there is more risk involved than I feel comfortable with, especially as I have no say in the day-to-day running of the business. Besides, my only interest from the outset, after Tracy contacted me, was to take over the entire company."
"You don't want to do that any more?"
"My sweet wife, you won't feel comfortable if I take over the company that means so much to your friends, so, No! I don't want to do that any more. For me, right now, selling my ELQ stocks makes all kinds of sense, with everything we have going on."
"Are you telling me, Jax, that you backed off from making a profit of millions of dollars, all because of me?"
"Not entirely, No! But it was a serious factor, along with the crazy, stupid, incomprehensible way that Tracy behaved toward Lois and the effect it had on you, on her and Ned."
"I can't believe this!"
"Sweetheart, I always told you it was a big game to me - monopoly but with real money. I know few people believe that, but it happens to be true. When things happen, like they did with the ELQ deal, I base my decisions on the facts of the moment. When I moved on ELQ, Ned and Lois were out of it, on their way to a new life in California.
"When Ned dealt himself back in and I found what Tracy was doing to Lois, along with what the whole thing was doing to you, I decided that it would be best for me, for us, just to back off."
"You are amazing! Wait until I tell Ned, and of course Lois, about this!"
"Brenda, please! I have to ask you not to do that. I do not want Ned to know that I backed off for my own reasons. Let him believe that he simply won the round. He's working hard to get me off the ELQ Board and I want to oblige him, but I'll do it my way. Maybe, one day, when I'm clear out of it, you can tell him and Lois, but..."
"O.K.! But it would be nice to tell them..."
"I'm sure it would, but is it that important?"
Jax was holding her hand, looking into her eyes, "Please!"
"O.K.!" Brenda agreed quietly. "So, do you think Stefan Cassadine will buy your shares?"
"I hope so! I decided on this today, while we were flying back from Alaska, and I have asked him to join us here after dinner, for a drink. Do you mind?"
"No! I'm rather curious, actually! I've heard about the evil Stefan Cassadine! It will be fun to meet him!"
Just then, the waiters came to clear dishes and serve dessert and coffee.
Sonny Corinthos, still watching their table, commented to Jason, "That guy manipulates Brenda all the time! You can just tell he is laying another trip on her!"
"What kind of trip?" Jason asked. "They're married and they are having dinner! What kind of trip is that!"
"I know the guy is no good, that's all! And Brenda, well she doesn't know her own mind! She never thinks for herself, she'll believe anything he'll tell her." Sonny growled.
A while earlier, during a casual glance around the dining room, Jax had noticed that Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan were in the dining room. Now, realizing that Brenda was a bit distracted, he asked, "Is something worrying you Brenda? You don't mind meeting Stefan Cassadine, do you?"
"What?" She looked at him, as the question sunk in. "No, of course, not! I want to meet this legend! I was just thinking about Lucy. Did you get the feeling that there's something bothering her?"
"You know her better than I do," he replied. "I have to admit, it is unusual for her to forget something like your call to tell her you would be out of town for a while. You did give her our return date and you gave her the phone number, so maybe... You'll find out on Monday, won't you?"
"I was thinking I should call her, but, yeah, I guess..."
Coffee and dessert arrived. Brenda exclaimed over the chocolate mousse and, still absorbed in one another, they chatted until the Hostess came to their table with Stefan Cassadine.
There were introductions all around, Stefan joined them, brandy was ordered, and as they waited to be served,...
"Now, I wonder what that's all about?" Sonny Corinthos exclaimed.
"Who's the guy?" Jason asked.
"Stefan Cassadine! Luke will be interested to hear about this! I'd sure like to be a fly on that tablecloth!"
"Your good health!" Stefan proposed.
"And yours!"
"Thank you!" Brenda smiled at him. "He's nice!" she thought.
Very shortly, all three left the dining room. Jax had invited Stefan to their penthouse.
When he heard Jax's proposal, Stefan wondered why Jax was prepared to relinquish his shares. Jax gave him his reasons in great detail, starting from the initial contact when Tracy Quartermaine approached him to help her take over her father's company. He added that, given his wife's attachment to the Quartermaine family, this was no longer purely a business investment to him and it seemed logical to sell.
He also told Stefan honestly that he would not be welcome on the ELQ Board, saying he wanted him to clearly understand that Ned wanted to acquire his shares himself. Stefan, with a quiet, enigmatic smile, replied that he fully appreciated the open disclosure and that he looked forward with great pleasure to the challenge ELQ would present.
Within the hour, the sale of ELQ stocks was settled. Jax made an adequate profit from the transaction. He happily anticipated seeing Ned to deliver his resignation from the Board of ELQ, and he knew it would give him the greatest pleasure to introduce their new Board Member to the Quartermaine family!
Before Stefan left, Jax asked him if he knew Sonny Corinthos, the other outsider member of the ELQ Board, or knew anything about him. Stefan said that, Yes, he had met Mr. Corinthos and was aware of his relationship with Luke Spencer.
"I expect you are aware that Luke Spencer has declared all Cassadines to be public enemy No. 1?" Stefan smiled.
With a much broader smile, he said,
"I will enjoy the opportunity to share a board membership with the gentleman. Are you sure you want to sell me these shares? There are no other surprises for me to discover, are there?"
"Yes, I am sure. I will not move against that company now, knowing how my wife feels about such action. And, No! there are no surprises. I've given you the entire picture, everything I know. You will find the Quartermaines to be a unique experience, I promise, and I wish you luck with them.
I've told you everything, to be sure you know what you are buying when you purchase my 10.36% of ELQ! The stock is worth what I am asking you to pay for it and more, but I want you to be aware that there are some disadvantages involved as well. The Quartermaines do not welcome outsiders and Corinthos is a liability."
"Don't worry! It's a risk I am willing to take, and I expect to enjoy the experience. Well, if that is all..."
"It is rather late," Jax agreed. "My wife and I flew in from Alaska this afternoon, and it's been a long day. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, then."
Stefan, taking Brenda's hand and bringing her fingers to his lips, twinkled a beautiful smile at her, and saying how beautiful she looked, he bade her "good night!"
Jax walked him to the door and, as they shook hands, he said,
"When we conclude our business tomorrow, would you have some time for a private discussion? I've been doing some investigation of Corinthos and, well I know you have world-wide contacts... It might be to our mutual benefit to have a chat..."
"I look forward to concluding all our business tomorrow," Stefan told him. "It has been a pleasure. Whatever your reasons for thinking of me for this opportunity, I would like to thank you... I will suit my plans very well!"
"Then, I believe it will work out for both of us!"
Jax, returning to the living room where Brenda was lying back on the sofa, reached his hand out to her and pulled her to her feet.
"Mrs. Jacks, this has been a day well spent, don't you think? Are you ready for bed?"
"I'm ready, Mr. Jacks!" Arms around one another, they headed for their bedroom.
Back in the Grille dining room, dinner was served to Jason Morgan and Sonny Corinthos. They ate in silence for a while.
"Jax still bothers you, doesn't he?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, the guy bugs me! I just know he's a rotten apple and I intend to prove it! Ned is still counting on my help to get him off the ELQ Board and I will do whatever it takes."
"Sonny, we have a lot of problems to discuss right now and I don't think Jax, or his place on the ELQ Board is one of them. While Jax was having a holiday in Alaska with his wife, we were losing money all over the place and that's what we have to think about!"
"You're right! It's just that, every time I see his smug..."
"Sonny, lighten up! He's not smug, he's just a guy being happy, having dinner with his wife! What are we going to do about all these losses?
"There were more raids today. We have no Health Clubs left in the East and now the Beauty Salons are being hit as well. You said you were going to find out if they were targeting us. Have the raids been connected to our organization?
"Not as far as I can find out," Sonny told him. "Nobody's talking much. Everyone is scared. The impression I get is that the cops are throwing a wide net, chasing after the drugs that are all over the streets, and a lot of people are getting caught in the crossfire."
"Does that mean we're not the only ones suffering?"
"It does! Several East Coast families have had raids on individual places where people were openly selling drugs, or other stuff. The Cortina Family from New York are all but wiped out of business. During the raids, the cops got enough evidence to put a lot of people behind bars for a long time. They were careless, I hear, left a trail a blind man could follow and now they're paying the price."
"Can you be connected to our places that were shut down?"
"If somebody knew where to look, and after a long time searching, maybe. But I honestly doubt it! I have left no clear trail for anybody to follow. What's the word out on the street?"
"It's weird. Everybody is scared. At the same time, the pushers are working overtime. None of them believes he'll be the one to be caught."
"Well, it's not our fight. We have our own worries. Right now, we don't have a single outlet in the East left open. All the Families have been hit, but we seem to have been hit the hardest from what I can find out."
"You think we've been targeted?"
"I don't see how. Maybe some of the guys arrested talked and led the cops to other places. I don't know. Maybe the histories of some of these guys they arrested helped them to link up all the places they worked at different times and the cops decided to watch everywhere they'd ever hung out. I've been trying to think Jason, and none of it makes sense."
"If they made the connection, they'd be on you, and maybe on me too, wouldn't they? Sonny there has to be something we can do!"
"I think you're right about the connection. If they made it, we wouldn't be sitting here. That's why we can make no move to go near anybody. Everyone that's been arrested has a lawyer. That's been set up for a long time, so we need to do nothing. We're going to stay out of it - that's all we can do."
"You said we have to find other business. Have you decided what?"
"I've got some ideas, but I don't want to talk about it here. You're going to see Robin this week-end? When will you be back?"
"Tuesday."
"O.K. I have to do some checking on a few things. We'll meet at my place on Wednesday next and we'll talk business then. For now, let's enjoy the rest of this dinner and the wine, and leave things sit. If we're in trouble, we'll know soon enough."
Meantime, over at the Jacks Penthouse, Jax and Brenda are about to retire. Jax picked up the phone.
"I'm going to check in with Robert and Anna," he said.
"Robert! How's the peace and quiet over there? Hope you and Anna are well!"
"Jax, old son! Yes, just fine. I take it everything went according to plan. How was your holiday?"
"Just great! It was nice to see the family. We had dinner at the Grille tonight and we had company of a sort!"
"Corinthos? Yes! He and his shadow were there, at a table at the back, in the dark! We didn't acknowledge one another!"
"I can imagine! I hope there wasn't too much tension?"
"Nothing that couldn't be handled. What's our next move? Set up the Penthouse for the visiting dinosaur hunters?"
"Yes, you need to move on that quite fast. We'll have the warrant we need on Monday morning. We'd like to get the workmen in there on Monday, if possible. They will be able to work only when there's nobody on the floor."
"No problem, I'll call the Superintendent in the morning and I'll arrange to visit the Penthouse with Brenda some time tomorrow."
"Be careful. You could also ask if there's a small apartment on the second floor that we could use as an office for, say, student interviews for when we're at the university. If you can't manage that, try for the fifth floor. Either one gives access to the private elevator to the war-room."
"We'll talk tomorrow. Meantime, let us know how soon you can fix up our new Port Charles home, and we'll be able to meet."
"O.K., Robert. We'll talk tomorrow, after we've done our bit."
As Jax and Brenda settled into bed, Brenda was still preoccupied.
"What's the matter?" Jax wanted to know.
"Lucy! I'm thinking about Lucy. I'm going to call her first thing in the morning. I have this feeling that something is worrying her..."
"Then call her, by all means! But right now, my love, there is something more immediate..." and he reached to pull her into his arms.
"Something I can do?" She looked so innocent, as she raised her eyes in a big question mark!
"You'd better believe it!" Holding her close, Jax reached for the light switch.
"Come here, Mrs. Jacks! Your husband needs you!"
*******
Saturday morning, with their coffee, after breakfast at the Jacks Penthouse, Jax and Brenda are both reading the morning paper. Jax puts his aside and asks:
"Is there anything special you have to do this morning, Brenda?"
"No... that is, not except I want to call Lucy, make sure she's O.K. She's been a pretty good friend to us, you know, and I want to make sure there's nothing wrong, maybe something I can do..."
"Why don't you call her then? I want to talk to the Super. at the Lakeview Condominium Apartments. You know we have a job to do there? Our first visit, just to drop in on the Superintendent in his office, should be really quick. If you need to see Lucy, you could do it right after that."
Jax picked up the phone and reached the Lakeview building.
"Hello," he said. "Jax here! My father, John Jacks of Alaska, asked me to call you. Apparently one of your penthouses there will be occupied by close friends of my family sometime in the near future.
"They've asked me and my wife to look the place over before they arrive. They told me you would be informed of our visit...
"I was wondering if you've been informed yet?... You have! Great! Could we drop in to see you briefly this morning?"
"We're on!" Jax told Brenda. "We're expected in an hour! Is that O.K.?"
"No problem! Let me just call Lucy!" Brenda got on the phone...
"Jax, you won't believe this! I was right about Lucy! Madame Maia is coming to town in about a week and Lucy is in a real Lucy kind of tizzy! She's torn between how Kevin will feel about this and at the same time she desperately wants to consult Maia, get a reading on Kevin's future, and of course her own!"
"You're kidding! Lucy buys that hocus pocus?"
"Of course she does! Later on today, when we don't have an appointment to keep and after I see Lucy, I'm going to have to sit you down and tell you the whole Madame Maia story from the beginning."
"I can't wait!" he jokes.
"It's not funny Jax!," she tells him. "There's a whole other story that involves Mac, Kevin, Luke Spencer, Lucy and of course Damian Smith. And you're not going to believe that either, but it's true! Look, I have to tell you all of it in one go, so let's wait, O.K.?
Brenda realizes that Jax is taking the whole Madame Maia affair as a big joke to distract Sonny and that he has no faith that Sonny will even begin to believe any of it.
"O.K. Jax! Laugh if you want. But while you're laughing, remember that psychic in New Orleans and what she told us, and how much of it came true!"
"Right! But your Madame Maia isn't from New Orleans, is she?"
Brenda decided to ignore his laughter. "He'll see!" she thinks.
They left shortly after that for their meeting with the Building Superintendent.
*******
At about the same time, Mac Scorpio, alias Fr. Edwin Walsh, arrived at the Salvation Army Mission and met with the resident Chaplain, Fr. Bill McCurdy. They had a brief chat about Mac's visits and discussions with the residents while Father Bill was out of town.
"Glad to help out any time I can," "Father Edwin" told him. Just leave a message at the usual place, and I'll get back to you."
"You know, Mac, I'm glad to help out in any way I can with your efforts to clean out the drug pushing on the streets, but you know I trust you to respect the confidence of these poor souls here. We are their last resort you know!"
"I know Bill, and believe me, I appreciate what you're doing to help us. The only mission I have here at your Mission is that it allows me to meet my guy without anyone looking over my shoulder.
"Anyway, today, I have good news for you. I'm calling him in. I need him at the precinct, but I want to talk with him here first, so I can decide if he can come in right away, or if he must stay here for a few days longer.
"If anyone asks - and even if they don't, you can let it be known casually that we found a sister of his in Cleveland, and he's going to spend the winter with her. Once that word is out, people will soon forget about him."
With that, Mac went into the little meeting room where visitors like himself, social workers and such, met with individual residents of the Mission. In a few minutes, he was joined by Punchy Moran. He looked a wreck, but he seemed to be rested.
"Well, Conn! How are things? And how would you like to come in out of the cold? I need you at the precinct."
"Has something happened?"
"Yes! Garcia had a major family emergency and he's on an indefinite leave of absence. There's even a chance he will not be back. He was my right hand and I need you to step in. Is there anything going on out here that would keep you? Anything new on the street?"
"Yes, and No, and I don't know!"
"Well, there are two more loan-laundering scams on the South side which are just about to terminate. The merchandise is in and ready for delivery, so the two con-artists will be ready to fly away on Monday, Tuesday at the latest."
"We're on those," Mac told him. "We were just waiting for the word so that we could move in."
"Tell the guys, the goods come in on Monday, deliveries will be on Monday night. I'm betting they will work around the clock and be ready to flee on Tuesday morning. The bogus certified check will be handed over on Monday."
Mac assured him that he could rest easy on this. The whole situation would blow up and Corinthos would have to forfeit both loans. There is over a million dollars involved.
"I have nothing new on the drug scene that you don't know already," Conn told him, "but there is something I've picked up that might be interesting."
"What's that?" Mac asked.
"As you know, I've been under cover in other cities, in Chicago, Washington, and of course in New York, in several boroughs. From time to time, I've come across this peculiar old bird. Goes by the name of Cyrus Birkenthorpe. He's a Brit, fairly on in years, claims that his run-away daughter is somewhere in this country and he goes from place to place trying to find her."
"So, what's odd about that? People are looking for lost relatives all over this country!"
"I know! But this Cyrus Birkenthorpe has been showing up for years now, always with the same story. People get fed up with having him around, they give him a lead to somewhere else, and no matter where it is, eventually he will leave, saying he "has a new lead"!"
"So, what's odd about that?"
"Maybe nothing! On the other hand, I have thus "gut feeling"! I don't think Cyrus is the looney-tune he'd like us to believe. He's dropped information on me many times, so casually that I've hardly noticed he's done it until I've thought about it later on, and at the same time, I've found he's fished information out of me that I'd no intention of parting with.
"The guy could be a professional. If he is, when I think of the tips he's given me over the years, then I'd bet he's seen through my front as Punchy Moran!"
"You think he's on our side?"
"I believe so. I just got information from him last night saying that over half a million dollars worth of contraband cigarettes, liquor and tobacco are warehoused in the empty carpet store that closed down two weeks ago in the West End Mall. I gather that it is supposed to move out sometime this week-end."
"We'll check into it. It could be part of the contraband ring that's been working the East Coast all year. Meantime, old buddy, I want you to report to the precinct on Monday. The guys are wondering when the "new guy" they've been expecting is showing up, especially since Garcia had to leave.
"So, it's time to come inside my friend. Father Bill will remark for anyone that might be interested that you're going to spend the Winter with your sister in Cleveland."
"O.K. It's been interesting going undercover here, Mac, but I'll be glad to have a regular bed to sleep in, and a place to call 'home' for a while!"
"You've done good!" Mac told him and they parted.
As Mac rode away from the Mission, he found himself thinking about Conn's curious encounter with Cyrus Birkenthorpe. He knew Conn's history and trusted his instincts. He wondered who Cyrus was, and if indeed he was a professional. "Sounds like a stunt Robbie might pull," he thought, as he filtered Conn's story of the eccentric Brit through his mind.
"I only wish!" he said to himself. "We could use you around here these days, Robbie! Could we ever!" he thought.
"If wishes were horses," he told himself, "then beggars could ride!
"At least Robbie, I hope you're keeping an eye on how we're handling what we're up against in this lousy world you've left behind. It would be nice if you could tell us that, some day, we'll see an end to the drugs, the robbery, and the con-artists and all the rest of humanity that's fallen off the rails."
For the rest of the drive back to the Port Charles Hotel and the room where he would resume his identity as Mac Scorpio, Police Commissioner, Mac found himself dwelling on the memory of his brother Robert, the Police Commissioner that everyone still remembered.
*****
At the Riverview Penthouse, Jax and Brenda were in the office of the Building Superintendent.
It was obvious that the building was protected with the latest in security gadgets, video cameras to record comings and goings, and a physical security guard with a room full of monitors. Jax saw the logic behind setting someone up as a resident in the building, and making sure that anyone getting in there had a legitimate right to enter.
The Superintendent's name is Ben Arnold, and Jax introduced himself and Brenda. He had been advised just two days earlier to expect Jax. He said he would accompany him and Brenda himself when they went to inspect the penthouse that would be occupied by Dr. Roberto and Dr. Anna-Marie Augustini.
Jax asked if there were any other apartments available. He told Ben Arnold that a second floor would be really nice because the Augustini's wanted to use something as an office where they could make appointments with students, after they started at the University in the New Year. He explained that they preferred not to do that in their home.
As it happened, single studio apartment with a very small kitchen and a bathroom was available for a six-month rental on the second floor. Jax agreed they would look at it, but that it sounded just what was needed.
Jax turned to Brenda, asking her, "Brenda, you have to see Lucy shortly, so we don't really have time to look at the penthouse now, do we? How about tomorrow?"
"That's O.K. by me," she said. "But, why don't you go take a look at it now, while I go see Lucy?"
"No," he told her, for the benefit of the Superintendent, "I want you with me in case we have to decide on painting, or draperies, or something like that. No way I'm deciding this by myself! Lady Jane and John are counting on us to make sure everything is perfect, and that means both of us!"
Ben Arnold was thinking what a nice couple they were. He didn't think they'd find much wrong with the penthouse and the new occupants sounded nice, if a bit eccentric.
Just as they were leaving, Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan walked from the elevator.
"Well, Mr. and Mrs. Jacks! Are you slumming, or can we look forward to the pleasure of having you as neighbors?" Sonny asked them, as Jason looked intently at both of them with his usual penetrating, suspicious gaze.
"No fear!" Jax said.
"You've got to be kidding!" Brenda added, and they walked out through the door.
"What was that all about?" Sonny asked the Superintendent.
"One of the penthouses will be occupied by some friends of theirs for most of next year and they were coming by to check on it before their friends move in."
"Oh, yeah? Which penthouse?"
"No. 3. They'll be your neighbors!"
"Well, that is something I'm glad to know about! I'm picky about my neighbors and any friends of Jax are no friends of mine! Who are these people?"
"I don't think you'll have to worry. The new occupants are really friends of young Mr. Jacks's parents. I got the impression he doesn't know them all that well. He's just obliging the family, and of course, their friends."
"Oh, that makes me feel better! I don't think!"
Sonny passes a $50 dollar bill to the Superintendent.
"Look, Bill, I'm counting on you to keep me posted. I want to know who these people are, and when they move in, O.K.?"
"No problem, Mr. Corinthos!"
As they walked out, Sonny turned to Jason. "What do you think of that?" he asked.
"What's to think? The place is owned by somebody. It's nice for us if there's nobody on the floor, but if somebody is, we just have to be careful is all. Our business isn't done there anyway, is it?"
Jax was satisfied with the encounter and the arrangements made. He and Brenda would go back later today, or tomorrow, get the keys, look at the second floor studio, and begin to establish a pattern for themselves and the workmen who would follow during the course of the coming days.
From the Lakeview Condominium, Jax and Brenda drove to Lucy's Office. She had told Brenda earlier that she would be there for several hours.
"Oh! Brenda! Jax! Come in! Come in! I just cannot believe what's happened!"
"You mean Madame Maia?" Brenda asked?
"Yes! Of course I mean Madame Maia! I stopped in at Luke's this morning to have a cup of coffee with Mike, and I found out that Kathy... Can you believe it? That awful, tacky Kathy, is arranging a tour for Madame Maia! I don't believe it! Why would she ask her? She knows I did an outstanding job when she was here before! Kathy is so sneaky, so ..."
"Wait up, Lucy! Start at the beginning and tell us what's going on!" Brenda, laughing a little, tried to calm Lucy down.
"It's not joke, Brenda! I can't believe she'd come to Port Charles and not let me know she was coming! She knows I'm the best person to arrange everything for her! I KNOW what she needs! You have to be sensitive to these things!
"And you know I'm psychic... At least some of the time anyway..."
"I know, Lucy," Brenda told her. "But, when Madame Maia was here before, you had a lot more time then, didn't you? Now you have your own company, Jacks Cosmetics, and it's much more work than Deception ever was. And there's Kevin... Organizing a tour for Madame Maia would take all your time, and with Kevin going through everything..."
"Yes, I know! You're right... I guess! It's just that..."
"Look, Lucy, maybe it's best this way. I know you don't like Katherine..."
"You bet I don't! I don't trust her either! After the sneaky, low-down, mean..."
"Lucy! Time out! When she was here before, you sort of exposed her for a fraud with the Damian Smith thing, didn't you?"
Well, yes, but so what? She knows I'm psychic, even if some of what she did was a fraud. She was right a lot of the time too, and she knows I believe in that part..."
"Yes, but maybe she was embarrassed by the other part! You know... Maybe she thought a neutral person, someone who does organizing for a living, might be better..."
"But, that awful Kathy..."
"Lucy! Give it up! You have to admit, she does know how to organize an event. She will do a good job on this tour for Madame Maia. She will not risk her reputation and she likes doing that sort of work. It's the only way she can get accepted and get invitations to a lot of things where she'd never get in otherwise."
"That doesn't mean I want her arranging things for Maia..."
"Think about it, Lucy! She gets to all the hard work, all the worrying, all the arranging, and you know Maia is psychic enough that she will know exactly what Katherine is like. In the meantime, you will be able to devote all the free time you can find to visiting with her, and you won't have to neglect Jacks Cosmetics, or Kevin! Think about it!"
Lucy looks at Brenda for several seconds, obviously thinking on what she had said.
"You know, Brenda, you are absolutely right! Kathy can work her little heart out doing all the dirty work. It will give me the time I'm going to need to be with Maia. I need to consult her on several things."
"Tell you what, Lucy... Why don't I drop in on Katherine, find out what I can about the tour... you know, all the details, where she'll be, what the plans are, everything like that, and I'll let you know what I find out?
"Great idea, Brenda! Thank you! Jax, I adore your wife! She is so clever! And she's my very best model! The face of Jacks Cosmetics! Just make sure you take care of her! That face is really very important to me!
"Now, you two, thanks a bunch for dropping by! Brenda, you're an angel, and I'm waiting to hear from you as soon as you find out everything. 'Bye now! I've got masses to do and Kevin and I have plans for this afternoon..."
Lucy opens the door and practically shoos them out the door.
Jax can hardly contain his laughter as he and Brenda, hugging one another and giggling almost uncontrollably, burst onto the sidewalk from Lucy's office building, and run smack into Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan.
"She just can't see through that guy, can she?" Sonny mutters.
"What's up?" Jason asks.
"The guy just bugs me, that's all!"
"Because he's having a joke with his wife? Come on, Sonny! We've got stuff to do, man! We have to decide what to do about the business, how do we replace the stuff that's lost."
"Well, at least, we have those two loans due on Wednesday next. That will bring in some badly needed cash-flow. I spoke with both guys this morning and the plans are all set. We'll cash in on Wednesday."
"Good!" Jason replied. "We need something to go right!"
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