Chapter Eighteen

Sonny was still reeling over his short lived phone conversation with the
mysterious woman. Poisoned? Could it be true? If it was how? His mind played
the conversation once more.

"Corinthos" he barked.

"Mr. Corinthos I think I can solve your medical dilemma." A woman spoke.

"Who is this?" He demanded. He wasn't in the mood for games.

"Someone who holds the key to Brenda's future."

"What kind of game is this?" Sonny shouted into the phone.

"I hold the antidote to the poison that she was given. This is no game. I'd
like to meet with you." Lanie waited for his response.

"When?"

"Two days. The Port Charles hotel. Room 379. If you're interested I'll see
you then."

Sonny was about to object but heard a dial tone.

Brenda's dead father, the shooting at the No Name, this antidote and poison,
what would be next? He shuddered to think that anything else could happen. He
rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. His eyes fell on Brenda who looked
peaceful. He took her hand and rested it against his cheek.

"Come back to me Brenda." He whispered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Luke stared at the small piece of paper he'd received from Faison's man. He
read over the instructions once more.

Go a mile north to the small red barn on the left hand side on the road. Wait
for a silver sedan to pass by then walk across the street. There's a quaint
little church. Wait there for my phone call. Remember anyone follows you
Laura dies.

Luke shook his head. A barn and a church? Faison was really having too much
fun making Luke jump through hoops. It didn't matter. The only think that
matters now was getting Laura away from the lunatic.

He took a deep breath as he turned the key to start the engine of the car.
The faster he got to this barn the better he thought.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lanie closed her suitcase. She had a ton of reservations about this trip she
was making to Port Charles, but she was planning on going to accuse her
brother of attempted murder. Sweet revenge. She picked up her suitcase
carried it down the hall and placed it by the front door as she waited for
taxi to take her to the airport. She wasn't sure when or if she'd be back to
London. She was planning to disappearing to nice tropical location away from
the dysfunctional Jacks family. The sun beating down on her, then there was
the peace and quiet that would come with it. She sighed as she heard the
knocking at her door. She grabbed her jacket and answered the door. Much to
her surprise it wasn't the taxi driver that stood on the other side.

"Going somewhere Lanie?" Jax asked in a very annoyed tone.

"And you're here for what? A nice chat or did you bring me money?" Lanie
questions and she crossed her arms.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Um, nah, I don't think so. My question doesn't require a lengthy
conversation, just a simple answer. Yes or no." She stood clearly irritated.

"I don't have that kind of money Lanie and you know it." He fumed not use to
this side of his sister.

"Oh yes you do. You see our brother came by yesterday upset because someone
had taken the 6 million dollars I transferred to his overseas account. Now I
didn't take it and no one else other than myself, you, and Jerry knew about
the account, so you do the math." She informed Jax.

"What makes you think he didn't stash it somewhere?"

"You see, you made a stupid error in judgment Jasper. You had no idea that
the man you bribed to get the money for you was on my payroll. I always
thought you were smarter than that. It's a pity though really. I'd love to
stay and continue this, but I have a plane to catch." Lanie explained as she
grew impatient.

"You're destination wouldn't happen to be Port Charles would it Lanie?" he
asked in anger.

"What if it is Jasper? How does that concern you?" She smirked as she waited
for his reply.

"I never should have trusted you! You never had any intentions of giving me
that antidote did you?" he shouted as his face grew a bright red.

Lanie tilted her back slightly and let out an evil chuckle before answering,
"You are so right dear brother you never should have trusted me. No one in
our family should trust me. You, Jerry, John, not even Lady Jane. You see you
all have had your fun and now it's my turn. Jasper this is just the
beginning, so brace yourself. You have no idea what I'm capable of." Lanie
warned him

Jax stared at his sister in disbelief. Where was this anger and resentment
coming from? "The beginning Lanie?"

She roared with laughter. "Revenge dear Jasper, revenge. I'm sure you won't
understand why but that adds to the fun." She shook her head and laughed as
she reached for her purse and the luggage by the door. She closed the door
and turned to lock it. Placing her keys in her pocket she brushed past Jax to
get into the awaiting taxi. Jax gripped her arm causing her to turn and glare
at him.

"You'll pay for this Lanie." He growled.

"Not before you pay, and you will pay Jasper. If it's the last thing I do
I'll make sure you and the rest of them pay." She promised as she broke free
of his grip and made her way to the car. She opened the door placed her bags
inside and turned to see him enraged. She laughed as she sat in the car and
told the drive to go.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sonny debated on telling Tony what the woman had told him. What if it wasn't
true? Should he wait until tomorrow to meet with this person? This was
killing him, the uncertainty. He just squeezed her hand tighter and sighed as
he sat with her.

"Hang on Brenda, just hang on. Don't leave me." He pleaded with her.

She wanted so badly to squeeze his hand back but all she could do was lay
there listening to things going on around her. She had to keep hoping and
dreaming of the life she and Sonny would share when this was all over with.

Brenda's hand was clutched around his as she screamed out in pain. Her
forehead was covered with beads of sweat as she wore a look of determination
and fear.

"Ok Brenda after this last contraction I want you to give us one final push."
The doctor instructed.

She nodded as bit her bottom lip and winced as the pain grew stronger. Once
the pain diminished she closed her eyes and pushed as her hand squeezed
Sonny's.

A few moments later she sat back and rested as she heard the cry from their
child.

"It's a girl." The doctor happily informed the proud parents.

Brenda beamed as she turned to Sonny and closed her eyes taking in the joy.
After the newborn's vital signs were check she was snuggled wrapped in a pink
blanket and placed securely in Brenda's awaiting arms.

Sonny brushed Brenda's forehead with his lips and he grinned with pride at
the sight of their beautiful child.

"She's gorgeous isn't she!" Brenda joyfully admitted.

"Just like her mother."

"Hayden, what do you think about Hayden Marie Corinthos?" She questioned.

"It's perfect just like she is."

Brenda was in awe over how small she was. Sonny was right she was perfect.

Sonny sat and watched as a huge smile appeared on her face.

"What are you dreaming about?" he wondered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Luke reached the small church Faison told him to wait by for the call. He
looked around his eyes scanning the area. He jumped slightly as his phone
rang.

"Ok I'm here so now what?" Luke barked.

"Leave the diamond in the front pew of the church. Wait for my call and then
I will give you instructions to where your precious Laura is. That is if this
is the real diamond." He cackled and then dead air filled Luke's ear.

He walked to steps that led to the church and entered the building. Checking
to see if anyone was occupying the space he moved towards the front. Leaving
the diamond in a bag he turned to leave.

"Laura I'm coming hang on darlin, don't give up, please don't give up."

He stood and waited for his phone to ring. An hour passed and still no word
from Faison. Luke was getting more and more anxious as the time passed not
getting a good feeling about this. As he sighed his phone rang.

"Where is she Faison?"

"The directions are on the last pew on the right. Happy hunting Spencer."

Oh when Luke got his hands of this guy he was choke him. Once more Luke
entered the church and found paper Faison had left for him. Reading the
directions he realized that all this time Laura had been a few miles from
this house. He shoved the paper in his pocket and raced to his car.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Faison watched as Laura lay in a weeping heap clutching a picture of her
daughter. She didn't move much as she heard Faison's voice.

"I've got some bad news Laura. It seems as though Luke didn't make it,
although he did put up one hell of a fight. It's such a shame. It's so sad
that your daughter had to perish with him."

The words rang in her ears. Luke and Lulu were dead? No, no this was a trick
just a cruel trick. "You're lying!" she screamed.

"I'm afraid not this time. I'm very sorry for your loss."

He was lying he had to be. What would she do with out Luke and Leslie Lu?
They were her life. She couldn't lose them.  Her eyes bolted from the floor
to the door as it opened and a guard brought her another manila envelope.

Dare she open it? Did it contain pictures like the last one? She threw it
across the room. She wasn't going to play into his hands again. She would
know if Luke were gone. She kept telling herself that. She had to stay
strong, Luke was coming for her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lanie reached the airport and smiled as she caught a glimpse of a well
dressed man staying just a few feet behind her. Jasper was having her
followed, how cute. She'd make sure she lost him once she reached the states.
Before boarding the plane she placed a call at a payphone.

"If I don't make it to Port Charles tomorrow, please have the contents of
that package sent to Mr. Corinthos? Make sure it's delivered to him, no one
else understood? Also empty my bank accounts, all of them. Stash the money in
the account I told you about last week. And please send out the letters you
received this morning. I'll be in touch. It seems as though my brothers are
having me followed. I'm not worried but just in case they try something I
want everything in order. It'll be so much fun to bring down my family." She
hung up the phone and headed for gate she was leaving from.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jason couldn't stand being locked up like this. He was going crazy with
worry. Where had Stefan taken Elizabeth and who was that he saw in that room
with her? He slammed his fists into the wall hoping to let out of anger but
doing so only made it worse. He continued to kick and pound the walls until
the door opened and Stefan stood in the door way.

"Mr. Morgan is that really necessary?" He asked in an aggravated tone.

"Why are you keeping me here? And where is Elizabeth?" Jason shouted.

"I told you before Mr. Morgan. Revenge. And Ms. Webber is just fine there's
no need to worry." He smugly replied.

Jason lunged towards Stefan in a rage. If the guard hadn't stopped him Jason
would have probably would have killed Stefan. The guard threw Jason to the
ground. Jason was stunned for a few moments, but got to his feet and glared
at Stefan.

"Try that once more Mr. Morgan and you'll regret it." Stefan warned him.

Jason didn't care he had to get out of the room and try to find Elizabeth. He
pulled his arm back and hurled it towards Stefan's face, but Stefan threw his
arm up to block Jason from successfully hitting him.

"I warned you!" Stefan informed Jason just before pulling a gun from the
guard. He aimed the pistol and shot Jason in the abdomen area. Jason fell to
the ground. He gasped in pain and tried to fight but the pain was to great.

Stefan smirked as he turned to leave. His eyes glared at the guard and he
hissed, "If you help him your fate will be the same."

Jason lay on the floor his eyes darted to the guard, begging him to help him
but the guard shrugged the look of desperation off and slammed the door shut,
leaving Jason to bleed to death.