Chapter 22
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Keesha rested her head on the table. She was sick of this...whoever
said modelling was easy obviously never did it before. The hours were
long, people picked at your every flaw, spent forever accentuating your
greatest assets, and meanwhile all you did was sit there and do as you
were told.
And not eat.
She was starving.
"So...how is it going?"
Keesha looked up. "Fine." she smiled for Nikolas. "I'm just tired."
"Well, you look great. Katherine knows what she's doing. Perhaps we
could interest you in a full..."
"No. I don't think so. I've already missed three days of classes, and
I'm so exhausted by the time I get home that I'm not giving Jax the
attention he deserves." she stood and streched. "Besides, I'm sure
there are plenty of young women dying to do this."
Nikolas shrugged. "I'm trying to convince Katherine to hire Elizabeth."
"Webber? She's very pretty. I'm sure she would work magic..."
Keesha's voice trailed as she noticed Jax standing in the corner. He
shook his head at her and mouthed *Keep him there.*. Keesha turned her
attention back to Nikolas as Jax eased his way out of the room.
"Me too. But Katherine is wary. As is Lucky really." Nikolas stood.
"Well, if you need anything, or perhaps change your mind, please, give
me a call....you have my card, don't you?"
"Yes, thank you...how is Elizabeth? I'm a teaching assistant for one
of her classes, beginning psychology..."
"I know. She speaks highly of you. She says you make it make sense
for her."
"That's sweet. But the professor says she hasn't been in lecture
lately. Do you know if she dropped it?" Keesha continued to wait.
"I don't think so. But I'll tell her you asked about her."
"She's probably busy with Lucky still."
"Probably." Nikolas mumbled.
"Keesha...we're ready for you again!" the photographer yelled.
"Um...one second!" she called. "Nikolas, are you okay?"
"Me? I'm fine. I have a lot on my mind...I should really let you go.
Katherine always reminds me that we pay these people by the hour...."
"Great. Then will she be done for the day?" Keesha breathed a sigh of
releif as Jax came out from no where. "I miss her, you know." he said
as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I'll see what I can do." Nikolas walked off and Keesha turned to look
at Jax.
"Where'd you come from?"
"Here, there...do you like my camera..." Jax held up the small object
he was carrying around his neck. "It's a hobby of mine. Taking
pictures of interesting things. All I need to do now is develop them."
"You got something?"
"Perhaps. I hope so."
"KEESHA!"
"COMING! Do you know how much I hate this?"
"You look beautiful, if that's any consolation."
Keesha laughed. "I should. They spent 2 hours on my hair alone." She
reached up and kissed Jax softly at first, but soon the kiss turned
passionate.
"Now we have to fix your makeup..." the photographer pulled them apart.
Jerry walked into Kelly's and sat down to wait. A second later Lucky
Spencer came and joined him. "What's this about Spencer Jr."
"Don't call me that."
Jerry leaned back in his chair. "I thought you and your father had
made amends."
"We have. But my name is Lucky. You can call me Mr. Spencer if you'd
like..." Lucky smiled sarcastically.
"Lucky, what is this about?"
"I need your assistance."
"On?"
"Nikolas is digging for information on me. I want it to stop."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why is Nikolas digging, and why do you care?"
"Elizabeth and none of your business."
"Is that any way to talk to someone you want help from? What about
Luke, he should be able to help you."
"He should, but he has no interest in doing so. He's just as curious
about what happened to me as Elizabeth is. And personally, I want to
keep it buried."
"I thought you couldn't *remember*."
"Do you want everything about Miranda coming out?"
Jerry sat up straight. "No." Although he didn't even know what it was
Miranda was hiding. All he knew is that it must be important, because
she had hidden it for all of these years.
And it probably was the same thing that almost got her killed.
"Good. Because if Nikolas goes digging on me then..." Lucky was
quiet. Who knew exactly what Jerry knew. "So will you help me, or
not."
"I'll block all the information I can." Jerry agreed. "Speaking of
Miranda, I'm supposed to meet her soon, so...."
Lucky nodded and got up from the table. He knew Jerry would
understand. "One last thing. Your brother, keep him out of it too."
"Why would I involve Jax?"
"Jax might involve himself."
"Jax is a busy man. I wouldn't worry about that. As for you, I
suggest you make up something to tell Elizabeth..."
"I don't lie to Elizabeth."
"Then tell her the truth. I don't care. Just as long as Miranda is
safe. Have you got me?"
Again Lucky nodded. He handed Jerry an envelope. "This is all the
information Nikolas dug up on me already."
"Where'd you get this?"
"Jason. By the way according to Jason, maybe your brother isn't so
busy. You might want to talk to him."
Jax walked past Lucky and continued on to Kelly's. "Sorry I'm late."
he said as he sat down next to Jerry. "This is your treat,
right?...what?"
"Are you snooping into Miranda's past?"
"Miranda? No....what's this?" Jax took the envelope Jerry handed to
him.
"This is all the information on Lucky that Nikolas has dug up. And
it's all he's going to dig up. Because I'm putting a stop to it."
"Why?"
"Because I want to. So if you can't find what you want to know from
that, then I'm afraid you're out of luck." Jerry stood.
"Wait a minute! What's the attitude about?" Jax tossed the information
back on the table.
Jerry stared at his little brother. After a second the hard look left
his face, and was replaced my the trademark smile. "Sorry. I have a
lot on my mind. Eat up, my treat." Jerry pulled a $20 out of his
wallet and handed it to Jax. Jax watched as Jerry walked over to the
door. He held it open.
"Sister in law. Distract my brother, won't you."
"Okay." Keesha said slowly. She looked at him going and then came
over. "What was that about."
"It's starting." Jax finally looked at her.
"What?"
"The divide and conquer tactic."
"So, what are you going to do?"
"What else can I do. If Miranda is going through this much trouble,
then I must be on to something." Jax handed her the photographs of the
documents he had V develop and blow up for him.
" *If* it's Miranda." she reminded him. "What's this?" Keesha looked
at the names underlined in the list of people last seen around Lucky's
old apartment.
"He was last seen alive going into his apartment. Do you recognize any
of these names?"
"No, but the last few are Greek surnames."
"Exactly. Who's the most prominant Port Charles Greek family you know?"
"But why would they do somehing like that. Stefan would never do that
to Laura."
"Perhaps. But Helena would."
"Helena?" Keesha looked at the names again before handing the list
back to Jax. "Then why?"
"I don't know. But this is what I'm gathering. Lucky didn't escape,
he was released. And so was Miranda. Now all I have to do is figure
out why. But that's going to be hard...because Jerry is already trying
to stop any more information from leaking out."
"Jax, if Jerry is doing that, then can't you assume that he knows."
"No. Miranda hasn't told Jerry anything. He didn't even know she was
allegedly being held captive all this time. That doesn't matter,
because he's going to help her anyway."
"Why?"
"Because that's his nature. He does things for people that are
important to him without asking why. Asking why is my job...where in
the hell is the waitress?" Jax stood and walked over to the counter.
When Keesha first met Jerry she thought he was the protective one.
Maybe she was wrong.
Keesha got up and walked over to Jax, placing her hand on his back.
"Come on, lets just go home."
Tammy watched as Jax and Keesha left the cafe.
Shani]]>
