Chapter 12: Disclosures
“Don’t mean to intrude,” Carly stated making her way in, uninvited, inside Alexis’s hotel room.
“Yes, you never do,” Alexis pasted an acerbic smile as she shut the door and faced Carly. “What is it, Carly?”
“Do you know where any of them are?” She asked straightforwardly.
Alexis held up a hand, questioningly. “And you would be referring to?”
Carly shrugged. “Brady, Tom, Gia…”
“Tom booked us all different rooms, which is where they probably are.”
“I checked all their rooms, no one’s there.”
“You broke in to all their rooms? If I remember precisely, I believe even foreign countries have punishments for breaking and entering, Carly.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve done my reading. And it’s a good thing France doesn’t have the guillotine anymore. Look, I used my manners, okay. I knocked first,” Carly confirmed in hysterics while pacing around the room; she thought she would be used to dead bodies while being married to Sonny, or at least she thought she wouldn’t have to see another one after divorcing him. “No one answered,” she rejoined, “so I went inside Tom’s room…the door was already open, and I found this.” She pulled out a scratch sheet of paper from her jeans pocket and handed it to Alexis.
Alexis walked over to her suitcase, and pulled out her glasses before reading the piece of information. “It’s an address,” she said, handing the paper back to Carly.
“Well obviously,” Carly groaned. “Its probably were they went. My only problem is, why would they go somewhere without informing us…or at least me…And its one thing that Tom and Brady are gone, but-”
“Why would you say that?” Alexis asked, taking off her prescription glasses.
“I’m guessing they’re probably the ones who were involved with the murder of that pilot. I mean I seriously doubt its Courtney or you. I know I had nothing to do with it. And Gia was so freaked, she passed out.” She explained.
“And Gia’s not in her room?” Alexis rubbed her hands on her head, trying to sort everything out; evidently, she should have harangued Tom for some more information.
“No, she’s gone as well.”
“This doesn’t make sense. She was unconscious a few hours ago…”
“I know. Look here,” Carly pointed out on the piece of paper, “I asked one of the staff workers and he said that this address was a street around this town.”
“I’d suppose that’s where they are at this moment.”
“Shit. Pothole,” Tom muttered, trying to get his left hand to stop shaking as it held the steering wheel as he drove frantically down the avenue. It had begun to rain, and the windshield of car he rented was becoming streaked with drops of water.
“Be careful,” Courtney said from the back seat. She leaned back and looked at the hollow streets through the rain-streaked window. Brady glanced at her for a second and sensed her fear. He put his hand over hers as a way of saying that everything was going to be okay, though he couldn’t guarantee it.
Tom took one swift glance at Gia, that was faster than the speed of light, before focusing on the road. He was surprised at her calmness. She sat on the seat next to him looking out the window as well. The rain had become drumbeats to her ears. He had confessed everything to her on the way out, including Luke’s existence. He expected her to yell or throw something at him or be aghast, but instead she merely got in the car and sat quietly—a quality that wasn’t like her.
“Gia say something, will ya?” Tom looked threw the rear view window, making sure that Courtney and Brady were conversing and unable to hear him. “I’m not used to silence. Especially coming from you.”
“Oh. Well then by all means, tell me. What do you want me to say?” She said with a glare. “The weather’s terrible, I’m tired, my father-in-law…former father-in-law, however you wanna say it, is alive…and you’re a jackass.”
“Hey, better than nothing,” he mumbled. “Don’t worry, no harms going to come your way. Because you can leave as soon as possible.” He assured her.
“I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about Lucky,” she said, in a concerned voice.
Back in Port Charles
Nighttime—Jax’s Apartment
“Now, have I explained the rules correctly?” Jax asked pensively to Kristina, as he buttoned up his coat. He was only a few inches away from the door, but clung on until he received an answer.
“Yes sir.” Kristina saluted.
Jax looked at her blankly for a moment. “That wasn’t very promising. Keep in mind-”
“I know, I know,” Kristina put her arms across eachother as she stood up, “No disarranging the furniture and no prank calls to your cell phone.”
“All the more, be a love and don’t get your crimson mane into any trouble.” He wagged his index finger like an older brother giving his little sister orders.
“Your no fun.” She sighed.
Jax smiled and opened the door, intending to leave but found Hannah Scott on his doorstep. Her fist was held up, obviously she was aiming to knock on the door. “Yes?” He asked, observing the woman. He had looked very familiar to her.
“Jasper Jacks? Agent Hannah Scott,” she claimed, pulling out her badge for a quick second.
“Oh, yes, we’ve met before,” he said shaking her hand. They had met for a few minutes, ten years ago, when she was dating AJ.
“Yeah. You’re a friend of the Quartermaines.”
Jax snickered. “I think a friend would be the wrong term to use.”
Hannah shrugged. “Is your wife, Alexis Jacks, by any chance here?”
Kristina moved closer to Jax at the sound of Alexis’s name being mentioned, trying to hear some part of the conversation. She could sense that this lady didn’t come for a reunion. “No, my wife is out of the country,” Jax answered.
“She wouldn’t happen to be leaving for one of her clients would she?” Hannah asked, inquisitively. She could tell that Jax had begun to get curious and somewhat frustrated.
“Yes, as a matter of fact she has. What are you trying to get at Ms. Scott?”
“Well, it turns out that her client could just possibly be the suspect of a murder investigation.”
“Excusez-moi, monsieur. Pouvez-vous nous porter ŕ cette adresse?” Carly asked the cab driver in partly fluent French. Alexis sat next to her. One arch of her left eyebrow showed that she was partly impressed.
“Oui. Je sais oů il est,” the driver answered back as he took the paper with the address and started the engine.
“Merci.” Carly sighed, sitting back.
“You know French?” Alexis asked.
Carly moved one hand back and forth. “A little. Michael has French class, I picked up a few things from his books. The driver said he knows where this place is, so it shouldn’t be a problem. So, Alexis you wanna tell me what’s going on here? Since people always seem to come to you during matters of difficulty.”
Alexis glowered at her.
“Don’t expect me to be scared at that look, Alexis. I’ve been given worse.” Carly clasped her hands together.
Alexis’s glare never left her face. “It’s worse enough that we have to roam around in the middle of the night together, but to cause an argument would be chaos. But I have no doubt that you’re used to it.”
“I’m not looking for an argument--,” she began.
But Alexis cut her off. “You’re always looking for an argument Carly. Its probably how you get threw the day.”
“Oh, so now who’s starting the argument? What did you expect Alexis? That we could have a civil conversation for once? That would be like watching the twighlight zone,” Carly derided. “But I bet you know what’s going on here? That wasn’t just a murder was it?---What happened to the pilot? There’s more to it. And you know, don’t you?” The two women looked at eachother straight in the eye as if having a one on one mental confrontation. “Boy, history really must repeat itself,” Carly gritted through her teeth, “You’re doing the same thing that you did eight years ago. You know what’s going on and your refusing to confess it. You did the same thing with the baby you had---with Sonny,” she choked on her words. As much as Carly tried to put away the past, it was always there, it clinged there like a scratched nail; and although she never knew it, Alexis felt the same way.
“Why the hell did you have to bring this topic back up? And after eight years? Wasn’t it enough that my child died Carly?” She snapped and turned her head aside. Alexis tried to fight back her tears as she remembered the adverse day she had the miscarriage, she later found out that it was girl.
Both women sat back in silence. For a few minutes, the only noises that were heard was the sound of a French radio station that the driver had turned on, and the beating of the downpour.
Carly uneasily shifted her head and glanced at the woman aside her. “You know I hated you when I found out that you were pregnant with Sonny’s child. Well, I always hated you, but not as much as I did at that time. But as much as I despised you, I never wanted any harm to come to that child,” she said sincerely. “I would never want that for any child.”
Alexis tilted her head and faced Carly. She observed her face to make sure she wasn’t lying. “I know,” she sniffed three minutes later. “I know you didn’t, Carly. The miscarriage wasn’t your fault Carly; you didn’t do anything.”
“And you didn’t ruin me and Sonny’s marriage,” she admitted something she had denied for years, “It was ruined to begin with.” She whispered.
They both looked out their windows, possibly trying to hide their expressions toward one another. And although neither one would admit it, it felt like a load was lifted from both their backs.
ELQ
Dillon’s Office
“Well, well, well. I never thought I’d see the day that Dillon Hornsby would were a suit,” the scenic blonde woman standing near the office door with her hands in her hips. “Perhaps I should alert the media.”
Dillon looked up from his tablet, and a grin crafted around his face. “If it isn’t Belle Black, esquire.”
Belle smiled, making her way in and bringing Dillon to a hug. “Its good to see you again.”
Belle was a pre-law student in Princeton. Tracy Quartermaine had somehow bribed the board into getting Dillon accepted to Princeton. After barely passing, Dillon moved back to Port Charles and became the Quartermaine heir.
“So what are you doing in Port Charles?” He asked, pulling away from the hug, “Not here to sue me are you?”
“Maybe.” Belle shrugged. “No. I was in Manhattan for Chloe’s wedding.”
“Chloe?”
“Oh, she’s a good friend of mine. I’ll introduce you someday. Anyhow, the wedding just ended a few hours ago.” He looked down at her and noticed she was wearing an elegant brides-maid dress. “So I decided to stop by Port Charles and look you up,” she said, stabbing her finger lightly on his chest. She took one step back and realized that Dillon’s eyes were wandering around her body. “Dillon!”
“What?” He shrugged. “Can’t a guy check out his ex-girlfriend?”
“Dillon you haven’t changed a bit, except for the suit. And I don’t think its proper to hit on me, especially when I’m spoken for.” Belle held up the diamond ring that ornamented her finger.
“Let me guess? Shawn’s the lucky bastard.” He frowned. He had met her fiancee once and hated him in opinion; he didn’t know what Belle saw in Shawn Brady.
Belle sighed. “Yes. He’s wonderful, really. This is actually just a promise ring--,” she said looking at the ring, “You know that someday it’ll happen.”
“Sure, whatever,” Dillon said unenthusiastically. “I’ll be sure to send you card.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Shawn will be looking forward to that,” Belle laughed lightly.
“How long are you going to be in town?”
“Not long, a day or two maybe. I have to get back to Llanview.” Dillon looked at her questioningly. “Oh, I didn’t tell you. I work for the Rappaport firm now.”
Dillon smiled and leaned back on his desk, looking at her. “So, since when do Salemites have weddings in Manhattan?”
“Apparently, Salemites who get married to a member of the Kirakis Family.”
“As in Victor Kirakis? Your friend must really go for older men.”
“No not exactly. It’s more like his son, Philip. Do you know Victor?”
“My mom did some business with him, once. A real grump.”
“Speaking of business. Are you done with all yours for today?” She asked with a resilient smile.
Dillon looked at the components on his desk than back at her. “Maybe. Why what did you have in mind?”
Crest France
“Where is he?” Courtney asked, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel as she looked towards Gia who was sitting on the seat next to her.
“I don’t know.” Gia said, studying the street. “Tom said he’d be here in a few minutes.”
“Well it’s past a few.” Courtney said apprehensively.
“Ladies,” Brady said from behind, “C’mon. It’s not easy traveling around with a dead corpse.”
“Just like men to defend eachother.” Courtney passed him a frown, which he returned.
“I wasn’t defending anyone, I was just stating the basics. Besides, I would say the same thing if you were in his place.”
“Well, your boyfriend certainly comes up with good excuses,” Gia teased.
“No, well, he’s—not exactly---we aren’t—why would you--,” Courtney stammered, while Brady burst into chuckles.
“Does this means he’s up for grabs?” Gia asked, winking at Brady.
“You bet,” Brady smiled enthusiastically and winked back.
Courtney frowned as she saw the exchange between the two. “How could you two joke at a time like this?”
“Who’s joking?” Gia grinned.
Ignoring her comment Courtney continued, “Who knows how long it’ll take until Tom gets back.”
“I’m back,” Tom announced a second later as he got into the car, shivering from the chilly weather.
“Where’s the corpse?” Brady asked instantly.
“It’s in the back trunk of a car I rented for Gill.”
Gia tilted her head to face them. “So, he’s going to drive around a dead body through the streets?”
“I’m afraid so. Until we can find a place to bury the guy.” Tom got a flashback of Gill opening the trunk to reveal the dead pilot. “Or at least get him threw security at the hotel. Look, we’re all tired. I suggest we go back to the hotel and get some rest.”
“Good idea.” Courtney groaned, starting the engine. “Tom, you better get on the driver’s seat, I don’t know the way back.”
“Just follow Gill,” Tom pointed to the car infront of them, “He knows were to go.”
Courtney nodded her head. She began to make a turn until a flash of lights blocked her view of the road. A cab parked nearby and two women got out. She opened her window and looked out.
“Who is it?” Brady asked trying to see through the smudged window.
“Its Carly. And Alexis,” she informed.
Gia, Brady, and Tom looked at eachother and blurted at the same time. “Together?”