Risk

Chapter XXIV

That's the Plan?

Carly comes out from below decks of the launch. She does a little shimmy and makes an adjustment to the top of the bright red patterned sundress. Unlike the times she'd played dress up before, the idea was not only to draw attention but also to be recognized. The dress was practically a neon sign that screamed look at me "You need to change too."

"Into what?" The tutor asks.

"You need to look like a fishing dude or something. Not like a secret service agent. I'm going to be highjacking this boat remember? Don't make it look too much like a set up." Carly coaches the guy in the Spencer art of deception and disguise. "How do I look?"

"Obvious." He says wryly.

"Good. Just what I was looking for. Be ready and don't make it easy." Carly walks down the gangplank to the dock and stepping carefully in her high heeled slides makes her way to the resort where Jax is staying. She knows where. She knows which window is his and what it overlooks. Now just to get Jax's attention. "Please, please, br'er fox- spit me, skin me, drown me, but don't throw me in that there bramble patch." Carly mutters a paraphrase of the old tale of cunning and manipulation. Once she gets to the prominade across from the resort, she spots what she is looking for... a restaurant with outdoor seating.
Picking her own table near the sidewalk, she orders a fruity drink with an umbrella wishing for a beer. Carly pays for it up front knowing she is going to have to leave in a hurry. The only person she wants following her is Jax. Carly settles back in the chair. If Jax took too long then she's have to call over to the resort and leave a bogus call for him but maybe fates would work in her favor. Carly starts people watching... the tourists, the locals. Michael would love it here. Every time they'd been down in Puerto Rico with Sonny they'd gone to the island with the Casino on it or over to Martinique and hadn't spent any time on the main island.
Out of the corner of her eye, Carly spots Jax exiting the resort hotel and mutters. "Show time." She waits until Jax nears and then rises to her feet and starts walking on the opposite side of the street but parallel just a little ahead of Jax. If he looked across the street he'd see her. Carly pauses on the next corner at a small bodega that has a display of tourist junk out front. She leans over it as if examining and looks back out of the corner of her eye. Jax has crossed to her side of the street. Carly turns her head and makes eye contact with him. Dropping the item in her hand, she starts up the street at a faster pace weaving in and out of couples that are holding hands and walking leisurely up the street enjoying the coming night. She glances over her shoulder. Jax is gaining. Carly breaks into a run.

"Carly!" Jax calls out as he runs after her.

Carly puts on all the speed her heels can muster. can't make it too easy. Jax catches up to her at the next corner grabbing her by the arm. "Hey let go! Who in the hell do you think you are?!" Carly demands raising her voice and drawing the attention of the onlookers.

"Why are you running?"

"Why are you chasing?" Carly demands back. She looks both directions furtively as if looking for a rescue.

Jax grabs hold of her arm again when it looks as if she is going to bolt. "Lovers spat." He says to someone who looks like they might intervene. His voice drops just low and intense enough to be heard."Where is he? Where is Stavros?"

"Dead at the bottom of a bottomless pit. Don't you read the papers?" Carly hisses back.

"Don't pull that crap with me. I know you know where he is. You're going to take me to him."

Carly's eyes go wide and start to tear. "No, no you can't make me. I can't go back there. He'll kill me. I got away once. He can't find me!"

"He's here in Puerto Rico! I already have men out looking for him."

"Oh no! I have to get out of here! He can't find me!" Carly protests. "Let me go!" Carly tries to pull away.

"He's got Alexis." Jax shakes her just a little to get her attention. "I'll protect you, but you have to help me."

Carly is startled. Alexis? What the hell? What does he want with her? Damn it, Stavros, I needed to know that one! "What are you talking about?"

"He kidnapped Alexis out of Port Charles days ago. You have to help me."

"I don't have to do anything." Carly snarks.

"If he kills Alexis..."

"He wouldn't." Carly denies thinking fast. "At least I don't think he... Look it's none of my business. I already got burned in that fire and barely escaped. I have a little boy to think of."

"How can you be so cavalier with someone's life?"

"How can you be so cavalier with mine!" Carly snaps back. "Alexis can take care of herself."

"I'll protect you." Jax swears. "I'll fly you anywhere in the world you want to go... just as soon as you show me where Stavros is."

"Anywhere?" Carly says hesitantly with a hint of longing in her voice.

"Out of reach of Cassadine, Quartermaine or Corinthos." Jax tempts. "You and Michael would be safe and free."

Carly bites her lip. "You promise?"

"Word of honor." Jax nods. "Tell me where he is."

"I don't know... exactly." Carly hedges. "I hitched a ride with a boat that was making deliveries."

"Take me to that boat." Jax demands.

"And then you'll fly me out of here."

"Just as soon as Alexis is safe."

"That's not what you agreed!" Carly protests for show.

"Take it or leave it." Jax threatens. "You know he'll find you. I'm your best shot. AJ knows where you are too." Jax goes for the maternal jugular.

"If you get me killed I'll haunt you forever."

"Join the club." Jax says grimly.

"It won't work." Alexis says flatly. She and Stavros are standing out on the deck. Alexis can see the lights of Puerto Rico in the distance. "I won't go through with it."

Stavros laughs. "That's too bad. Drag Jax into Cassadine business and then abandon him. Why would I expect more from you?" He tsks. "Such a disappointment. Poor Jax. Such a shame you hold him in such low regard."

"Jax is the best." Alexis protests.

"And you definitely are not." Stavros agrees with a nod. "If he doesn't agree to my proposal and return that which is mine... well then I guess I have no use for him at all." Stavros leans in to whisper in her ear. "His death will be on your head. What is a knight in shining armor without his Lady's favor? And you... well I will just have to find another purpose for you once you are freed of this entanglement. Til death do part us." Stavros quotes softly.

"And let love be the tie that binds. Did you forget that part?" Alexis protests turning to face Stavros. "Jax doesn't love me. He never did. It was a scam... to save Chloe from her Aunt Gertrude."

"Ah another scheming relative trying to take what wasn't hers." Stavros nods. "Look at yourself. Look at what is inside you. You couldn't make a commitment to your swain... ah yes Ned Ashton. Rather than wed him you flagged down a semi like something off of a DVD Caroline would watch when she was feeling... what was it... sappy. You couldn't make a commitment to Ashton because you knew in your heart that you had already made your vows."

"It was a scheme! A ploy! It was Las Vegas for God's Sake! It wasn't real!"

Andreas comes up on deck. Stavros looks over at him. Andreas nods significantly. Stavros holds out a hand to Alexis. "Come-- our other guests are arriving."

"You harm a hair on Jax's head and I'll kill you." Alexis threatens.

"So sweet-- coming to the defense of your man. You are more married than you think."

The burly guy in the ball cap and dressed in denims and a work shirt shakes his head at Jax. "No se." He growls in a low voice.

"See-- he doesn't know anything." Carly says fast. "I'm out of here."

Jax grabs Carly's arm to stop her from going back onto the dock. "I have money... much dinero. Just take us to the boat where you picked this lady up." Jax pulls his flash wad out of his pocket. There is a hundred dollar bill on the outside of it. He fans it to show that every bill within has Ben Franklin's unsmiling face on it. "More money than you could make in an entire season." The boat captain considers Jax and then the money. "And double if you wait to bring me and my friends back to shore. It's yours."

The boat captain takes the money from Jax and puts it in his pocket. "Quince minutos. Then I am... como se dice... outta there."

"Deal." Jax casts off the lines.

"Fifteen minutes?! You think you are going to get on Stavros' yacht... find Alexis and get off all in 15 minutes?!" Carly laughs derisively. "You are so on your own, buddy. I'm staying with the boat.... this boat."

"Good. I don't want you in the way." Jax says grimly. He takes up a position next to the boat captain. Carly takes a seat in the back just watching the both of them. As they near the big yacht, Jax has the captain cut his engines and idle up to the yacht. "What I wouldn't give for Thaao's mini-sub about now." Jax mutters. Carly has a point. While he'd spent some time on Helena's yacht and is familiar with most of the main cabins... searching the damn thing could take a hell of a lot longer than fifteen minutes. Jax pulls himself onto the yacht out of the sight of the guard who is at the front of the boat. With stealthy moves he makes his way to the access to the main salon.

Carly eases up next to the tutor/boat captain. "How long do you think I should give him before I go on board?"

"Now would be good." The tutor nods. "The Prince isn't trying to hide from Mr Jacks."

"What's the deal with Alexis?"

The tutor shakes his head. "I don't ask questions."

"Yeah, but you're not blind either."

"I didn't see her. I just dropped the Prince off and then headed off to Puerto Rico to make the rest of the arrangements before picking you up."

"Kay." Carly sighs. "Well this is going to be a blast. Sure you don't wanna go out for a few drinks, some dancing.... I haven't been dancing in so long... and the music was hot in town."

"Go."

"I'm going." Carly starts up the steps that the guard lowers after Jax had gone inside the yacht. At the last step the guard offers his hand to assist her onto the yacht. "Thanks. Stavros is in the main salon?"

"Yes Madame." Carly strolls in the direction of the main salon. She'd never been on this yacht but she'd been on a few in her misspent past down in Florida.

Stavros waits seated in a large chair at the far side of the room. There is a hanging behind him with the Cassadine emblem on it. With the room cleared of obstacles, it has taken on the ambiance of a throne room. Alexis sits at Stavros' left in a smaller chair. Jax enters the room silently but can feel by the hair on the back of his neck that he isn't unexpected.

"You shouldn't have come, Jax." Alexis rises to her feet.

Jax takes in her appearance in a glance. It looks as if she'd dropped a few pounds. Her face is drawn even if well made up... and there is the start of a bruise on her jaw. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. You shouldn't be here. Leave, Jax. This is none of your concern."

"So protective. So touching." Stavros covers a fake yawn with his hand.

"What did I miss?" Carly comes in behind Jax. She dodges from behind and walks over to the right side of Stavros.

"Just the previews. The feature has yet to start." Stavros brings one of Carly's hands to his lips.

"Did Alexis bring the popcorn?" Carly looks past Stavros to Alexis. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Caroline. I told you I had an appointment prior to meeting with Mr Jacks."

"Stavros, you know attorneys give you a headache." Carly clucks sympathetically.

"Will the two of you cut the bull and get to the point?!" Jax interjects. "You bitch." Jax aims in Carly's direction.

Carly can feel Stavros arm tightening under her hand. "Stavros, Jax promised to fly me anywhere in the world if I brought him to you... isn't that sweet?"

"The sweetest." Stavros says wryly. "But completely unnecessary since I will fly you anywhere your heart desires."

"Yeah, but it was nice offer." Carly turns to face Jax. "You know when you were threatening to sic AJ on me... you never did ask where Michael was. Or why Stavros would be in Puerto Rico since he doesn't have any holdings here. I'm the one with ties to Puerto Rico... not Stavros."

"An oversight. I underestimated you. Or rather overestimated you."

"Oh ouch. That hurt my feelings." Carly snarks. She turns back to Stavros. "Do you have it?" Stavros points in the direction of the corner of the room. Carly walks over and grabs the laptop computer. She sets up at a table and chair in the corner of the room. "I'm ready when you are. When are we going to get to the good stuff?"

Stavros retakes his seat. "I have reconsidered my original offer." Stavros waves Alexis and Jax too to nearby chairs. "Originally I was going to regain my holdings that were stolen by you by any means necessary..." The ultimate threat is obvious. "But Caroline has been encouraging me to compromise, to be patient, to get away from the whole Cassadine instinct to.... How do you put it, my dear?"

"Kill, kill, kill?" Carly offers helpfully.

"Yes, exactly. I have seen the error of my ways." Stavros proclaims. "Death is too easy for you and too short for me."

"Stavros, Jax took the properties from Helena! You know she was insane." Alexis interjects making a last ditch effort to get Stavros to see reason. "And they are in much better shape now than when she had them. Your mother never got the concept of business. Jax does."

"If Mr Jacks understood the concept of business then he would have chosen more immediately profitable holdings. No, my dear sister, He did it for you." Stavros cups the side of Alexis' face and ignores her wince.

"Take your hands off her, you bastard!" Jax jumps to his feet.

"No!" Alexis cries out. "Jax, please." She holds out a hand in his direction in a halting motion. "I'm fine."

"Kindly remember before she was your wife, she was my sister." Stavros declares.

Carly winces and mutters. "Oh great! More Cassadines don't divorce stuff."

"Exactly Caroline!" Stavros looks over at her proudly. "Find me two properties currently under Mr Jack's control that fit well with his assets in J&J Alaska."

"Gimme a sec." Carly calls up the game and examines all of Stavros assets as well as J&J's. She calls off the names of two companies.

"Perfect." Stavros nods. "You will return my assets to me. And in return I will gift you with those two companies. Consider it a dowry for my sister."

Carly rolls her eyes. Jax has more to say. "Go to hell."

"Well that shoots down that compromise." Carly sighs. She adds facetiously or so she believes. "There is always that cage on the island that you offered for Sonny. The Jacks are used to paying ransom on their kids. Jax used to always brag how often Jerry got himself kidnapped. They'd probably be more reasonable. Jax is their golden boy afterall."

"Will you shut the hell up?!" Alexis demands. "You have no idea what you are saying!"

"Dang. Poor Alexis. Stavros is willing to give Jax millions to marry you and he still won't do it. What do you think it is... that internet pinup thing? Maybe it was all the time you spent with Sonny. Or were you really such bad news when you were married?"

"You're one to talk. A man has to be facing twenty to life to marry you!" Alexis retorts.

"Ladies." Stavros interjects silencing them both. "Very well, Mr Jacks you have rejected my offer. So be it. You may go."

Jax looks at him suspiciously. "Come on, Alexis, lets go."

"My sister stays." Stavros says flatly. "Keep the two properties. I wasn't at your wedding to give you them then. I will regain the other properties another way. Go."

"Just go, Jax. Leave." Alexis pleads.

"What about you?" Jax wonders. "I'm not leaving without you."

"Natasha will take her rightful place as Mikkos daughter. As a daughter of the Cassadine Line." That doesn't seem too bad to Jax until he sees Alexis' wince and Stavros continues. "A daughter rejected and returned by her husband- found lacking, defective. Her needs will be addressed for the rest of your life. And then once you are dead, another marriage arranged. A more suitable marriage."

"You have got to be kidding!" Jax protests. "Alexis is an American citizen! She has rights."

"Natasha has only the rights that I give her. She was recognized in my father's will. A will I understand you read. I will give her the life she missed by our father's premature death. I am the head of the Cassadine Line. She is my responsibility since you have abdicated your claim as her husband." Stavros nods. The tutor comes up behind Jax and bashes him over the back of the head dropping him to the floor. "Take him back to Puerto Rico." Andreas comes up behind Alexis. "Take my sister back to her stateroom." Andreas drags Alexis out of the room.

"I missed garlic cream chicken linguini with mushrooms and peppers for this?" Carly quips uneasily. "That didn't go as planned. And Alexis?" Carly makes a face.

"I know she is not your favorite person." Stavros extends a hand to Carly. Taking his hand she walks with him up on deck. "Patience, my dear. Mr Jacks will be more... ameniable the next time he comes before me. Not only will he return my properties to me but he will probably offer his controlling interest in ELQ as well. Which will come in handy when dealing with Michael's father. Now tell me... how did your visit go with your husband?"

Carly looks down over the side of the yacht to Jax's unconscious form in the back of the smaller boat. "Good. But I was called away before we could really hash things out. So what's next?"


The Story of Br'er Rabbit and the Tarbaby
http://www.otmfan.com/html/brertar.htm