Risk

Chapter LV

Down to the Wire

T-36

"Dad! Lady Jane!" Jax waves to get his parents attention at the airport.

"Jax!" Lady Jane gives her baby a big hug. "We're here now. Tell us what in the hell is going on! Where is Alexis?"

"Jane, let the man breathe." John says from behind the two. Jane steps back and John puts a hand out for a hearty hand shake. "Things are feeling kinda rushed here, son. Not that we're complaining. You know we love Alexis, but what the hell is going on?! Is this yet another scheme?"

"Let's go back to the hotel. I'll try to explain everything then."

"You and Alexis." Jane confirms.

"Alexis is not here yet, mum."

Jane stops in her tracks. "The wedding is a day and a half away and the bride isn't here? What is going on, Jax?"

"Lets get out of here." Jax urges again. "Thaao is here, out in the car. Any word on Jerry?"

"He keeps in contact as much as he ever did." Jane strings a hand thru her son's. "He says his present is on the way."

Jax groans. John nods his agreement. "Since last we heard from Jerry he was in Macao... it could be anything." The trip is to the car is a short one.

"Lady Jane! Mr Jacks! It's wonderful to see you both. And in what passes for civilization in this land." Thaao sees them coming and gets out of the car to greet them, grabbing bags as he does so.

"One spring break in Alaska didn't kill you, Thaao." Lady Jane rebukes as she gives up her carryon reluctantly. It has all of John's medication in it and is seldom out of her sight.

"But it did cement my love for all things tropical, Milady." Thaao bows over Jane's hand. He takes her luggage and stows it in the trunk of the car. "So has Jax filled you in on his new inlaws?"

"We're already familiar with the Cassadines." John intones grimly. "Alexis is the best of a bad lot. Charming woman and an asset to the family. But Jax is avoiding talking about his upcoming nuptials. I am receiving a very bad feeling."

"Lets get to the hotel, Dad." Jax gets his parents seated in the back seat of the sedan and takes the front passenger. Thaao takes the wheel.

"Well I'm not that familiar with the Cassadines really." Thaao says cheerfully as he starts the engine. "Only by reputation of course. My first meeting with them was... informative. Stavros Cassadine. Evidently an old associate of my father's. They'd done business back in the day. And Cassadine hadn't aged a day since. He's traveling with a charming companion. Caroline Corinthos. I'm still holding out hope that she will be at the nuptials. Jax has invited them both."

"You what?!" John looks at Jax in some dismay. Jax looks out the windshield stonely not wanting to get into it.

"So Thaao... when will we be attending a wedding where you are the groom?"

"Have you been talking to my mother again?" Thaao asks suspiciously.

T-35

Stefan strides off the elevator at the Port Charles Hotel and knocks on the door to suite 974. Jax answers the door; he'd just gotten his parents settled in their suite and is expecting them. Stefan steps in. "I know where Alexis is."

"Where?"

"Africa. One of Stavros' men tendered a job offer to Audrey Hardy to take over running a research facility in Africa because the current administrator is taking another position."

"How did you find out?"

"Audrey came to talk to Barbara over on the island to get her counsel on a position she'd been offered with the Cassadine Estate."

Jax looks down at his watch and grimaces. "It's too late. If he is going to keep his word then Alexis is probably already in a plane... or soon to be in one. We'd end up passing in the air. If he doesn't produce Alexis for the wedding then I'll deal from there."

"He's in town."

"What?!"

"I saw him today. Talked to him today. As far as he is concerned the wedding is on. The only thing that will stop it is either you or Alexis." Stefan adds reluctantly.

"Then the wedding goes on as planned." Jax says grimly. "I will not have Alexis under that man's thumb any longer."

"You have no idea what you are getting into."

"I'm begining to." Jax counters. "But do the Quartermaines know what they are facing?"

"What are you talking about."

"I can't talk about it until after the wedding." Jax hints. "And if Alexis isn't at the wedding... if Stavros is playing games... I want to know where he is."

"If Alexis doesn't go thru with the wedding... I will give you his location. It might be the only thing that will save my sister's life."

"Excuse me?"

"You wouldn't be the one... losing face.. if Alexis doesn't go thru with this. It would be a direct challenge to his authority."

"I've tried to get Kristina to leave town. She refuses."

Stefan winces. "Where is she? I'll try."

"Probably over at the house. She's practically been living there with Elton getting things ready."

T-33

Andreas looks over to Alexis who is sitting at the table in her room staring out into the distance. "The last of the bags are on their way, Madame. We should be on our way to the airport as well."

"How can you even look at me... even speak to me after what I did?"

"Madame was overset." Andreas says again.

"That's no excuse." Alexis looks away. "It makes me as bad as her."

"If that is the worst you can do, Madame..." Andreas says wryly. "Then I don't think so."

"Don't try to manage me."

"Of course not, Madame."

"And stop trying to placate me."

"I would never presume, Madame." Andreas holds out a light weight jacket for Alexis.

Rising from her seat, she turns around and lets Andreas help her with the jacket. "This will never hold up under Port Charles weather."

"I have your change of clothes already on the plane." Andreas counters. "Shall we, Madame?"

"I think I could have done okay here." Alexis looks around. "We were doing good work."

"Madame still can." Andreas counters. "Only the venue will change."

"Stop calling me Madame. Call me Alexis."

"It is inappropriate."

"You've seen me naked." Alexis says wryly. "I'd say we crossed inappropriate long ago."

T-32

Michael is already abed in his own room. Carly comes out of the bathroom dressed in her nightclothes. Stavros is already in bed too but not asleep. Carly crawls into bed next to him slinging her robe across the foot of the bed. "So how you liking Port Charles this time around?"

"It's an interesting town."

"Oh damned with faint praise." Carly grins and snuggles up next to Stavros.

"What are you doing to my son."

"Nuthin'." Carly says sleepily. "It was just business."

"He wasn't happy."

That wakes Carly up. Stavros like all the other Cassadines seem preoccupied with Nikolas' happiness. Like it was actually possible to make someone else happy. Safe maybe but happy is a totally different kettle of fish. "Well he's in business with Laura. Unhappy is a given. I could have told him that before he went all white knight with her. I tell ya that gig bites."

"I believe that Nikolas is going all white knight with you, for you and for Gia. Not for his mother." Stavros corrects.

"Doesn't mean the gig doesn't bite." Carly leans up on one elbow. "Gia can take care of herself and so can I." She looks at Stavros seriously. "You know I'm going to drive Laura out of Deception. That was the plan all along. You never had a problem with it before. Hell you helped me buy the essence company for just this play. It was a way for me to build up cash reserves. The essence contract is going to help me with that. Nik is just pissed cause he knows what is going on. And not even that I'm doing it but that Laura still doesn't. It's more of a sign of her incompetence. Can you believe Mama says that Laura was blaming Nik for getting her in this mess."

"Caroline, do not try to... work me." Stavros threatens even as he is wincing at Carly's vulgarity.

"I'm not trying to work ya. Just pointing out the obvious. So change of subject. What are you going to do while I'm at the wedding?"

"Keep Michael safe from any moves from his father's family."

Carly nods. "You know I bet Lila isn't going to go to the wedding."

"Lila?"

"Michael's great grandmother. She's kinda stuck in a wheel chair. She's the best of the Q's."

"Jason..."

"I don't count him as a Quartermaine. He doesn't count himself as one either. I really miss Lila. She was always sweet to me and taught me everything I know about gardening and roses. She wins awards for her roses around here. Hell along the whole eastern seaboard."

"You want me to take Michael to see his grandmother."

"Well since I'm going to be wearing a wire for you... she might as well get to see the show too. And the place Jax bought is closer to the mansion than here. The transmitter should get a better signal. Who knows when she'll get the chance to see Michael again specially if things get ugly at the reception."

"I will consider it."

T-30

"Kristina?!" Stefan calls out as he opens the door to the Jacks Mansion.

Elton sticks his head out of the living room. "Miss K is getting fitted for her bride's maid dress. She should be down in just a minute."

"Thank you." Stefan decides to not wait and takes the steps up to the second floor at a run. When he reaches the top of the stairs. "Kristina!"

Kristina opens one of the doors. "What's up?"

"You look beautiful."

Kristina runs a hand down the bridesmaid dress. "One of the benefits of putting together the wedding. I don't have to worry about a suck dress."

"You need to leave."

"Excuse me."

"Stavros is already in town. You need to leave. He'll only be here for the nuptials. At least I believe that is his plan. You can't be here."

"I can and I will." Kristina says flatly. "She's my sister too. I need to be here." She turns around to look in the mirror brushing her hands down the skirt one more time and tilting her head to the side.

"I was hoping you'd be reasonable." Stefan comes up behind her and with a smooth motion covers her mouth and nose with his handkerchief. A handkerchief he'd soaked in chloroform. He supports her as she sags against him falling into drugged unconsciousness.

"Hey! Hey! What the hell you think you are doing?!" Ned races up the stairs.

"She has to not be here. Stavros is already in town. She has to be gone." Stefan explains gracelessly at being caught in the act.

"Give her here." Ned says grimly.

"But..."

"I know a place. It's not listed on any assets of either of us. I'll take care of it."

"I am in your debt." Stefan says gratefully.

"And I am so going to remind you of that when she comes to and takes my head off." Ned swings Kristina into his arms the full skirt of her bridesmaid dress draping over his arm.

"Call me the Monday after the ceremony. I will have more information then... if my brother is still in town." Stefan moves ahead of Ned and catches doors for the two until they are in the car and then he buckles Kristina into her seatbelt while Ned goes around to the drivers seat. "Limit your calls and speak only to me. Nobody else."

"Look-- I know you guys may be the kidnapping experts but I'll just have to muddle along." Ned says with a certain gallows humor. "I'll handle this. You just have to find another bridesmaid and deal with Elton." Stefan shuts the door on Kristina's side making sure the skirt is contained and there is nothing to attract the attention of anyone. Then he steps back and Ned starts the car and drives off.

"Oh Miss K! Miss K! Where are you? I want to get the full effect." Elton sees the front door open and steps out onto the full wrap around porch with it's graceful white columns. "Brrr." He shudders dramatically. "Have you seen Miss Kristina?"

"My sister is indisposed."

"Excuse me?"

"She will not be at the wedding. She is indisposed."

"She seemed fine just a minute ago." Elton says suspiciously.

"Find another bridesmaid."

"No. No. NO. It's impossible." Elton shakes his head and reaches into his pocket for the ever ready valium. Okay so he isn't due for another dose but who could expect to stay on schedule dealing with Alexis Davis and her bizarre family. "Where am I suppose to get a bridesmaid at this short notice?"

"Then do without." Stefan says flatly.

"But the groom... he has a best man. There has to be a bridesmaid!" Elton protests.

"Hey Elton." Zander wanders out from the kitchen. "Have you tried the shrimp?" Zander pops a shrimp drenched in cocktail sauce in his mouth. "This crew you brought in for the buffet are pros."

"I thought you were on dish detail, Mister!"

"Last load is in the washer now and every thing is set up by the buffet table." Zander explains. "I was just looking for Kristina to get a new assignment."

Stefan looks at the young man. And then at Elton. And then back at the young man that Alexis had put so much effort into even going as far as having him living with her while he was on bond on his murder and dealing charges. "Mr Jacks has a best man. So shall my sister."

"What? Oh!!" Elton looks at Zander.

Stefan waves a hand. "Clean him up and have him fitted for a tux. And get a haircut."

"What the hell is going on?" Zander looks from one to the other. "Where is Kristina?!"

"I like it. It works." Elton nods. "Anything will work with this much notice. Come with me." Elton demands of Zander. "Do you own a tux? Nevermind. I'll take care of everything." Elton tugs Zander back into the house.

Stefan exhales sharply and then again more slowly. He walks over to his waiting car. Climbing into the back he gives direction. "The Docks." His head sags back against the headrest and he sighs. Stavros always did this. Made him both weary and wary.

About fifteen minutes later, Mrs Lansbury comes into the living room of Wyndemere. "The Launch Captain called. Master Stefan is returning to the island."

"Thank you, Mrs Lansbury." Bobbie glances down at her watch it is nearing 1am. "I'll stay up for him. Why don't you go ahead and turn in for the night. It's going to be a busy couple of days." Mrs Lansbury nods and departs. Bobbie sighs. Thank goodness she is on swing tomorrow. So much for a relaxing day off. She stares into the fire in the oversized hearth. The room is so big and drafty it doesn't do much for heat but it adds a comforting aspect to the room, one of the few.

Stefan comes into the living room about ten minutes later. He strips off his gloves and overcoat and sets his briefcase on a nearby table. "Barbara."

"I sent Mrs Lansbury to bed. No reason for all of us to be up."

Stefan nods and goes over to the fire warming his hands. "And how was your day?"

"Long. Yours?"

"The same."

"Thank goodness I don't have to go into work until three."

Stefan shakes his head. "I need you at the hospital at nine for the board meeting tomorrow."

Bobbie groans. "I'd forgotten all about that. But Audrey..."

"I know her flight doesn't leave until three but she has personal business to take care of in the morning. Mights as well start as we mean to go."

"Probably trying to get Elizabeth situated and find someone to take care of Gatsby."

"Gatsby?"

"Her cat. Stefan, Stavros is too connected in Port Charles." Bobbie blurts out what has been nagging at her all day.

"That has occurred to me. Evidently my brother didn't just take up the reins of the estate in his absence but also put in place his spies. There are still blanks-- like him not knowing who Audrey Hardy is, but he moved too fast."

Bobbie goes over to the drink cart and pours Stefan a port. She takes a sip of the fortified wine and then hands it to Stefan. "He probably got his information from Carly at least to start. Which means his information was concentrated on the Quartermaines and Sonny. Carly's never been interested in the hospital."

"I want you to stay away from him." Stefan says quietly, too quietly. He takes a seat on the couch and concentrates on the flames not wanting Bobbie to know how important this is to him.

"Lovely thought and totally impossible." Bobbie says wryly. She takes a seat next to Stefan. "Did you get the feeling too... that things have changed between Carly and Stavros? When we were in Greece she was playing it like they were tight but now..."

"They are lovers."

Bobbie winces. "I was really hoping that she would come to her senses." Bobbie shakes her head. "What a recipe for disaster."

"Did you know about Caroline being in business with Nikolas?"

Bobbie shakes her head. "No, but I guess it makes sense. I thought maybe Carly was planning on taking Deception down. Nobody can hold a grudge like a Spencer, unless it's a Cassadine," Bobbie adds wryly before continuing. "...and Laura did screw her over. Nikolas getting involved was probably not part of Carly's plan."

"But it was part of my brother's."

"How do you figure?"

"Alexis writing the contract between Laura and Nikolas." Stefan extends a hand along the back of the couch.

"Oh right. That was weird. But you can bet that Alexis didn't write whatever contract that is between Carly and Nikolas. I don't think Carly would ever, will ever, sign anything that was written by your sister again."

T-29

"Last Call." Claude calls out to the stragglers in the club. Just then the door opens and a stranger walks in. "You just made it. What can I get for you."

"Beer is fine. Whatever you have on tap." Kris tells Claude and takes a seat at the bar next to another guy.

Waiting until Claude is at the far side of the bar pouring the beer, the guy tells Kris. "You're late."

"Lotta things to get done."

"Yeah, right. Lesson plans, babysitting and globe trotting. What a hardship." The man falls silent as Claude brings the beer back.

"Yeah, ain't it." Kris quips when they are alone again. "Not a great place for us to be meeting."

"Everybody comes to Luke's." The man raises his glass in a toast. "Besides they are used to seeing me around here."

"You've been busy."

"Just clearing the path for the boss. Didn't have to do anything about Carly's warrant though... Jason Morgan beat me to it, and quite neatly too. Not only was the warrant gone but the judge has taken an extended vacation. Golf courses of the world or something. You did tell Stavros that there is nothing stopping them from refiling on him. All they have to do is reopen the investigation. All he's done is put back the arrest."

"And exhume Miss Morgan which was his intention all along. They didn't find Helena's poison the first time around. And the way they run things here in the States having all the evidence disappear is a slam dunk for acquittal even if they refile. Even if all the evidence reappears later. Chain of evidence and all that."

"I did go thru the Academy." The guy protests. "I might not have a law degree but I think I know Chain of Evidence."

"You've been incredibly lucky." Kris says grimly. "Neither Alexis nor Stefan remember you from the island. The plan was always to get you in here to keep an eye on Spencer if he should prove a threat to Nikolas."

"Yeah, Lucky that Helena didn't either; it was a scary couple of decades flying under her radar and waiting for the Prince to be awakened. It was a huge risk. What if he had ended up being Helena's puppet?"

"Then we would have waited until his son took control of the Estate to reveal ourselves." Kris reminds. "Mikkos set this into motion with our father when he saw that Helena was losing it after Kristen."

"And our father paid the price."

"He got Stavros into the chamber even if he couldn't prevent the fall."

"And Helena had him killed to cover her tracks. That Stavros was in limbo. Dead but not quite. Does Stavros know it was our father that took Kristina from the stable that night and placed her with that family in Europe?"

Kris shakes his head. "No, or that Father never had the chance to tell us where he'd placed Kristina before Helena had him killed. Helena did her damage where Natasha and Kristina were concerned. Stavros still eyes them with the bitterness of his youth."

"Waste of a couple of assets there." The man complains. "Natasha more than Kristina. Kristina takes after her mother. Only the Cassadine stubbornness seems to have come thru in her. Everything else she takes from her foster family."

"The Prince will find a use for her."

Nodding. "Without a doubt."

Claude walks to the end of the bar where the two men are sitting. "We close in ten." The men nod.

Kris drains his beer and stands he throws a bill on the bar to cover the drink and a generous tip. "Keep in contact."

"Take care, brother."

"You too, Andy."