Risk

Chapter XXV

Misinformation

Jax groans and clutches his head as he wakes. "Damn it to hell." He sits up on the bed. While he'd gotten his manners and charm from his mother, his father had passed on his situational awareness. Jax knows exactly where he is. At the hotel back in Puerto Rico. He rises to his feet and weaves as the headache hits him. He fights thru it and keeps moving... out of the hotel and down to the docks. The launch is there. "Hola." Jax calls out.

A young man comes up from below decks. "Hello?"

"The Captain... where is he?"

"I am the captain."

"I was just here..." Jax glances down at his watch and winces. "Yesterday. There was someone else in charge of this boat."

"Sometimes I rent my boat out."

"Damn!" Jax swears. "Do you know where I can find the man who rented the boat yesterday?"

The Captain shrugs. "A tourist who wanted to go fishing... already gone."

"Right." Jax walks back up the docks and toward the town. He flags down a cab. "Airport."

A soft kiss wakes Michael. "Mama!"

"Hey Mr Man."

"You're back!"

"I told you in time for breakfast. Come on... let's go make some coffee before Uncle Sonny takes over the kitchen."

"When did you get here?"

"The tutor dropped me off just now. I'm surprised you didn't hear the helicopter."

"Is the tutor staying?" Michael asks suspiciously.

"No Silly, you're on vacation remember." Carly gives Michael's tummy a rub. "Now no more sleeping in. Mama needs coffee and I'll meet you in the kitchen. And don't wake Uncle Sonny until I get it made." Carly warns. Michael laughs knowing how Uncle Sonny is about his mama being in the kitchen... any kitchen.

The tutor arrives back on the Cassadine Yacht. "Mrs Corinthos is on the other island."

Stavros grimaces. "Good. Be ready to leave at any time. She believes that she will be able to manage whatever her husband has to say. I am... less confident. Force may be required to extract her."

"Understood."

"The jet has already left with my sister and her manservant." Stavros murmurs more to himself than to the tutor. "Tell the Captain we will be debarking here. He is to continue to the Cassadine holding off of South America and moor there."

"Here?" The tutor looks over at the new island that the yacht had spent the evening before moving next to. "What is here?"

"Caroline's husband's casino. I believe I will try my luck."

Laura stares out the window of her office at Deception. "Elton!"

"Yes, Mrs Spencer?"

"I think we're going the wrong way with this. Gia needs to be doing more meet and greets than the shoot. Personal appearances. Get her face out there."

"But Mrs Spencer... we already have all the permits and everything for Italy! There is no way we could reschedule on such short notice. You adored the castle that I found thought it would be perfect for The Summer campaign!"

Laura sighs. "Lucky will still go. Shoot the backgrounds. He can put Gia in later I guess using shots here. We're just going to have to work both angles."

"Gia's already picked up her and Lucky's tickets."

"Then you'll have to get them back." Laura shrugs. "I'll get you a list of possible public appearances."

Elton goes back out to his desk. He sighs. "It's starting already."

Gia throws her hair out of her eyes and reaches for the phone. "If this isn't my mother-- you're dead."

There is a nervous titter on the other side of the line. "Now Honey, I know you're kidding."

"Elton, do you know what my brother does for a living? He shoots people and the government pays him to do it. It's a great gig." Gia sits up in bed and wraps her arm around her knees. "Okay, I'm awake now. Talk to me."

"Well Honey, Laura has had a change in strategy. Moving in a whole new direction. She thinks public appearances are the way to go... lots of go, go, go! Meet your public!"

"Sounds good. As soon as I get back from Italy..." There is a long pause on the other end. "I'm not going to Italy, am I?"

"Well Sweetie..."

"I'll messenger over the ticket. Send my schedule over." Gia says grimly. She hangs up the phone. "You bitch." Since Lee Baldwin had recommended against any hint of physical violence even if provoked Gia changes into her running gear. Hopefully a nice long run in the near freezing weather would stop her from borrowing Marcus' backup piece.

"Coffee Madam?" Andreas offers.

"Sure why not?" Alexis says with a sigh. "Where are we?"

"We are flying over the Atlantic now." Andreas offers helpfully. "The prince has provided one of his more picturesque holding for you until issues can be resolved with your husband."

"Ex- husband." Alexis corrects. "Where are we talking? Kabul? Pakistan? Kasmir? Bosnia? Oh I know... how about Kosovo?"

"I'm sure it's quite lovely." Andreas swallows hard. "The Prince is only thinking of your wellbeing."

"How can you say that with a straight face?" Alexis says flatly the question serious.

"Years of practice."

Jax spots Helena's yacht from the air. He takes his bearings. They are heading toward South America.... Stavros' holdings there. "Damn." Jax rubs the back of his head. "What did she say? Why didn't I ask where Michael was? What her connections to Puerto Rico were..." Jax realizes that in all probability that Alexis is not on the yacht and he is chasing a decoy. But just in case he continues on to the Cassadine Compound that is on an island off of Venezuela.

Sonny looks over at Carly across the kitchen table. Michael has just finished his breakfast. "May I be excused?" Michael asks Carly.

"Sure."

Waiting until Michael is out of the room. "What are you up to?"

"Why didn't you sign the papers?" Carly counters.

"I asked first."

Carly takes a deep breath and looks over at her husband. So handsome with his chocolate brown eyes and curly dark hair. "I wanted to see you. I thought you wanted to see me too. This is the most private place for us to meet."

"I did, I do." Sonny corrects himself. "When you called I thought that you'd decided to get away from that nutcase Cassadine."

Carly winces. "Not exactly."

"What do you mean not exactly? How in the hell..." Sonny swallows what he is about to say and stands up from the table. He grabs his plate and Carly's as well and takes them over to the sink.

"I know most people don't like Stavros." Carly begins. "He's not a normal guy. And I know you didn't like him back in Port Charles."

You mean when he was masquerading as Lucien Caine? And using you to get next to Laura? When you were using him to make me jealous?"

"I wasn't using him!" Carly protests. "Okay so he was using me... and there were some perks of him coming around. You were jealous. Not that it mattered you were still going to divorce me. I betrayed you, remember Sonny? I'm a horrible person. So why didn't you sign the papers?"

Sonny shifts uneasily on his feet. "Don't change the subject. You called me and made me believe that you'd gotten smart about Cassadine and then last night one call and you're outta here."

"It's business."

"Business? What kinda business could you have with him?"

Carly takes a deep breath. "My business. Look I'm sorry I upset you by leaving last night but it was business. It couldn't be helped."

"I get it." Sonny starts pacing. "This is payback right?! For all those times I told you it was business and sent you out of the room. That was for your protection, Carly."

"I'm not a china doll, Sonny. I don't break. And my head isn't hollow or filled with batting. I get it. You don't trust me and you've got reason. Which is why you should have signed the papers. Why didn't you?"

Carly keeps coming back to the damn papers. "Cause I love you alright?! I couldn't sign the papers cause I love you!"

Stavros makes a full tour of the Casino after checking in. It has a certain rustic charm. He goes back to his room and changes into his swim trunks and gathering a towel goes down to the beach for a quick swim. After swimming out to the break and then back he collapses on the beach. There is nobody around. Nobody. "This sucks." Stavros winces. Carly had certainly been influencing his knowledge of American slang. The problem is... it does. No Carly. No Michael. No Nikolas. No Laura. He sighs. "I suppose I can go back to work." He grimaces. This is no fun at all. The Casino doesn't open until six. What was he going to do to pass the time. Hell at least when he'd been in the chamber he hadn't been aware of all he was missing. "I know. I'll call Stefan." With the cheerful prospect of tormenting his little brother, Stavros heads back to his accommodations.

Gia calls a familiar number on her cell phone. She's cooled off from her run... and warmed up too in the long shower that followed. Coming out of the shower, she picks up off of the coffee table the delivery she'd picked up from the front desk on her way in.

"Stavros Cassadine's Line."

"Stavros? Is Carly there?"

"I'm afraid she is off on personal business. Gia? Are you alright? Is there anything I can do to assist you?"

"You want to help me after I broke up with your son?" Gia asks cautiously. There is a long silence on the other end. "She didn't tell you."

"Carly knew."

"Well yeah. She figured we were having problems when Nik and I visited you in Greece. She said that you saw it too. What the hell kind a business is Carly doing... are you doing... that she wouldn't tell you? Look I know my breaking up with Nik is messing with her agenda of getting you and Nik all buddy buddy."

"And yet... knowing that... You broke up with my son."

"You aren't going to like put a hit out on me or something now?"

"Gia. Before I was allowed to meet my son we were friends."

"Yeah, sorta."

"Is this some... scam on Nikolas' part to push you away perhaps?"

"I wish." Gia says glumly. She kicks back on the couch. "I know Carly said I wasn't suppose to badmouth Nik to you but you know your son is a real jerk sometimes."

"I know you say that with love." there is wry amusment in Stavros voice. "And I wish I could tell you it was a phase but I don't know my son that well."

"Well it's a phase he's been going thru for as long as I've known him." Gia says bitterly. "I'm sorry, Stavros. I just couldn't take it anymore. I moved out yesterday.. hell maybe it was the day before yesterday. My cell number is the same if Carly needs to get hold of me."

"Gia, I know my son loves you and you love him."

"I thought so too. But I can't do it, Stavros. And it's better it happened now. Marriage is a big thing to me too. Especially that foresaking all others part."

"My son cheated on you! Impossible!" Stavros protests.

"What do you call it when the person you love most in the world believes everyone before you?! Doesn't trust you? Always puts you down in front of his friends... hell in front of anyone, everyone?!"

There is a long pause on the other end of the line. "Ah. Yes, I see now why Carly believed I would understand. This is a continuation of what happened in Greece."

"It's a continuation of as long as I've known Nikolas. When we're alone..." Gia swallows a sob and then continues. "When we were alone everything was perfect. But you can't live like that. I can't live like that. I need a guy whose got my back when we're not at home. Nik stood up for me once as long as we've been together. And that was when Laura picked Liz as the Face of Deception. And then it wasn't about me... it was about Laura. And the fact that Nik practically ran Deception before and Laura didn't ask his opinion once. Not once. I was just an example. I don't want to be an example."

Stavros voice is grim. "I will get to the bottom of this."

"Don't bother okay? It just didn't work out. I'll get over it. Nik will find someone that Stefan likes next time around. Good thing we found out now. I can't talk anymore okay. Tell Carly I called." Gia hangs up abruptly not able to keep talking about Nikolas. She throws the phone down and grabs a pillow burying her face. "FUCK! I'm not going to do this. I'm not!"

Back in Stavros rooms at Sonny's island Casino. Stavros calls the tutor. "Get Caroline here." He demands and then hangs up the phone. Then promptly picks it back up again. Considering the time of day, he looks up the number on the laptop for Stefan at General Hospital. "What the hell is going on with Nikolas?!" Stavros demands as soon as Stefan announces himself.

"What the hell is going on with Alexis?"

"Alexis is fine." Stavros dismisses. "My son however..."

"Nikolas is fine." Stefan reassures.

"Gia terminated their engagement. I do not consider that fine!" Stavros counters impatiently.

"How did you.." Stefan sighs. "I suspect that Nikolas is making decisions based on... faulty information."

"Well then illuminate him."

"I tried." Stefan retorts. "He is stubborn like someone else I know. And unwilling to take input." There is a long pause on the other end of the line. "I talked to Nikolas. Barbara talked to Nikolas. I suspect that Kristina has talked to Nikolas. If Alexis were here she would be talking to Nikolas."

Stavros ignores the last comment and goes to the next possibility. "What about Laura? What about my son's mother?"

"If she is working under the same faulty information as Nikolas it is unlikely that she would be of any assistance. Laura has the same blindspot Nikolas does."

"What is this... blindspot?" Stavros demands.

"A young woman who was taken under the Spencer's wing." Stefan replies. "Barbara has been unwilling to give me details of their exchange but I believe it is at the heart of the... misunderstanding."

"Unacceptable!" Stavros snarls. "I will speak to Barbara."

"NO!" Stefan snarls back. "You will not speak to Barbara on this or any other issue until she contacts you!" Stefan reins in and tries for a more reasonable tone. "At this time, Barbara would still rather borrow her brother's gun than do anything to accommodate your wishes. I will speak to Barbara. Or Caroline will speak with Barbara. But if you have any interest in getting answers or an iota of cooperation, you will not speak to her."

Stavros curses long and fluently in many languages. "I want the name."

"Whose name?" Stefan winces already knowing the answer.

"The name of this blindspot."

"I will handle it." Stefan counters.

"You haven't so far."

"The truth must be dissiminated from a variety of sources to be believed. It cannot come from us."

"How machievellian of you, brother. And tiresome! Expose the little witch now. She will rue the day she toyed with a Cassadine!"

Stefan rubs the space between his eyes. It had been quite some time since he had a true Stavros induced headache. "Yes, she will rue the day." Stefan winces. "But she will not escape our wrath by laying her lies at our door. She will be exposed but the damage is already done."

"I'll handle Gia. You make sure this never happens again." Stavros hangs up.