Risk

Chapter XXVII

Putting Things in Motion

Jason strides from his limo to the hotel in Atlantic City. He ignores the ching ching of the slot machines that seem to be everywhere in the casino. It had always been his opinion that gambling was for suckers... and spending time with Mike hadn't changed his opinion. It's a weakness, a sickness. And these games of so called chance all favored the house even when they are played straight. Therefore he'd be the house before he'd ever be on the other side of the table.
There's more money in loaning money to the gamblers than the actual gambling. Benny nips at Jason's heels barely keeping up as he tries to hold a conversation with Jason. Jase nods now and then but keeps moving. "Call them and let them know I've arrived." Jason tells Benny as he takes the keys from the young woman behind the counter.
Max tails Jason up to his suite. Max enters the room first and tips the bellman who'd carried Jason's overnight case up. Max sweeps the room for listening devices and then gives Jason the all clear. "I'm in until the meeting." Jason tells Max. "Go have some fun, get something to eat. Be back by nine tonight."

"Thanks Boss." Max nods and leaves shutting the door after him.

Jason goes over to the sliding glass doors that go out on the terrace. Sliding the door back he steps out onto the terrace. A vicious wind is blowing off of the Atlantic. The water is grey and choppy whipped up by an approaching storm. Not the day to be going walking along the boardwalk.

There is a rap on the door. Jason goes over to check the peep hole before opening the door. Benny enters with a flyer he'd picked up from the lobby. "Have you seen this?"

"A car show?" Jason shrugs. "Bread and butter for this place. Have a convention and get the citizen's money on the down time. What's the big deal? If it were a motorcycle show I might be interested." Jason starts to hand the flyer back to Benny.

"Look at the bottom." Benny points it out.

Jason frowns as he reads it. "Do you have your computer on you?"

"Of course."

"Let me borrow it. I need to send a friend an email."

Stavros comes up behind Carly and rests both hands on her shoulders leaning over to look at the open laptop computer. "Jax will only be distracted for a few days. I have made phone calls on this, this and this. while I was waiting for you." One by one he points out the holdings that are assigned by color to Jax. "The estate attorneys should be faxing you copies of the pertinent paperwork."

Carly tosses her sunglasses to the side of the laptop. "You have been busy." She is dressed in a beach coverup with a scarf tying her hair back from the semi tropical breeze that is coming off the warm waters of puerto rico to the lanai of Stavros' hotel accommodations. Her fingers start flying over the keyboard updating according to Stavros direction. She hits refresh on the screen. Then she starts pointing out targets on the board. "Here, here and here. They are too close to your base of operations. You need to get them back. Hell it would be nice if Jax didn't have anything in Greece."

"Eventually he will come to the realization that he is... family. I intend to make it sooner."

Carly grimaces and looks over at Stavros. "I know you don't get to pick your relatives but with total hindsight... the better choice of the two brothers is definitely Jerry! I can't believe I told Mama to dump him and go for Roy. Course at the time I didn't know that Hannah Banana was Roy's daughter. That would have put him in very different light."

"Hannah Banana?"

"A ho assigned by the FBI to get next to Sonny and see if he talked in his sleep."

"Does he?"

"Not about business."

"Why would you counsel your mother to pick one beau over another?"

"Roy was her first love. I was working off of a blindspot." Carly admits sheepishly. "At the time I was still hoping that Jason and I could be more than friends. If Mama could get her first love back..."

"Ah. And this Roy?"

"Roy deLucca, a snitch for the FBI. He's the guy I went to about Sonny. Big freaking mistake. He was tight with Luke back in the day. But the fact he was Hannah's father should have been my first clue. Big freaking mistake. Now he's partners with Luke in Luke's club and probably still snitching but for the PCPD."

Stavros puts the name with the face of the man who had assisted Spencer in the last confrontation back in Port Charles. "He is involved with a nurse but not your mother."

"Melissa Bedford. She's not too bad at least as far as I know. She was helping Tony Jones find a cure for whatever your mother gave Lucas. Melissa also clued me in that Sorel had hitmen after me and Michael. Sorel had a hit put on her brother... had him killed in prison."

"The enemy of my enemy..."

"Something like that."

"In addition to Jax's Cassadine holdings, identify anything else he holds in Greece." Stavros directs coming back to the business at hand.

Carly nods. "I do need to get back over to see Sonny. We didn't get things settled before you called me back."

"This next excursion to that island will not be pleasant." Stavros warns. "Your husband has had a couple of days to realize his situation."

"I know." Carly winces. "I think the next time I go over there it would be best if Michael stayed here. It would give the two of us private time to talk without worrying Michael."

"And a set time for you to return." Stavros suggests.

"Mom, are you sure about this?" Lucky questions.

"I think you two would have a blast in Italy!"

"No question... but the idea was to shoot the campaign for Deception."

"I want you to still get the background shots." Laura tells Lucky. "But with everything that has happened lately, don't you think Elizabeth really needs a break? Some time away from the stress here? She'll be able to come back with some fresh perspective."

"Definitely." Lucky nods. "But what about Gia?"

"Gia is doing some meet and greets that Elton and I have set up for her around the country. Elton told me she wanted to get out of town too. This works for everybody...."

Elton who is listening out in the reception area. Yeah, but I think she intended to have the Italy trip moved up not be a last minute add on to a bunch of trade shows.

"...I know it will be more challenging for you to digitally alter the pictures to add Gia into the pictures you chose. I think we could really end up with something cutting edge. With Elizabeth there you can get some perspective shots. And I'd love to have some candids of the two of you." Laura goes over to Lucky and gives him a big hug. "I know you two will have a blast."

"You sure you just aren't getting me out of town so you can work some motherly magic on Nik and get him out of his funk?" Lucky returns the hug.

"I'm going to try." Laura agrees.

Jax eases up over the rise making every effort to remain undetected. Below him is the Cassadine compound on a small island off of Venezuela. He'd decided to fly into Caracas and then come back by boat. "What I wouldn't do for Thaao's minisub about now." Jax mutters. "I'm really going to have to win that one off him at our next game of chime de fer." The islands of Puerto Rico weren't that far from South America, especially when you consider the difference the time in travel the yacht had already had from Port Charles to Puerto Rico. It had allowed him enough time to get to Caracas and rent a boat and get back to the Cassadine island compound in secret. Taking the high ground, he'd found a vantage point of the compound and the private moorage.
Now all he has to do is wait, wait to find out if Alexis was on the yacht still, moved to the compound or none of the above. There is signs of activity at the compound but there is nothing to compare it to-- no way to know if it is normal activity or if something is up. Jax pulls out his cell phone and tries to make a call. Nothing. There isn't a tower anywhere around for him to bounce a call. "Note to self-- cell phone that uses satellites." Jax mutters. He could call from the boat or even from Caracas but that would mean leaving his vantage. It had been awhile since he'd had to use his field craft... not since he and Alexis had ditched in Libya after Helena sabotaged their helicopter. "I'm gonna get you out of this, Lex."

Dressed in a tropical weight outfit, Alexis shivers in the climate control of the lab unsure if it's the airconditioning or the creepiness of the potential death within. The local representative of the government accompanies her on a tour of the facility. The director of the facility shows with much pride every nook and cranny of the lab staying out of the sanitary clean areas but sticking to the observation areas. The height of the tour is what looks like a vault where samples of biohaxardous materials are kept. The director lists off all of the scurges they are keeping there... samples of HIV tainted blood are the least of the problems locked within.

"Prince Cassadine requested that we focus attention on HIV/AIDs. We are still in the process of coorrelating all the data... from the Cassadine research and that of the labs in America and Europe. But other blood related illnesses will also being studied."

"Other blood related illnesses?" Alexis queries.

"Hemmoragic fever?" Andreas speaks up from the back where he'd been pacing the local representatives aide. Both of them keeping back but within hearing distance to assist their charges if necessary.

The director nods but directs his answer to the important people in the room. Alexis, the representative of the funding and the Government official. "There have been recent outbreaks of Ebola in the countryside. AIDS will kill it's sufferer but it will take years. Ebola takes days."

The Government representative shakes his head. "You must find the cure for AIDS. It is your top priority. If a cure isn't found... within a generation... we won't have a generation. Most of Africa faces economic ruin and political chaos. And even all of the efforts of our President will not preserve us if our neighbors fall. Ebola can be contained, quarentined until the outbreak burns itself out. It is scarcely stealthly in the way it attacks it's victims." The Government representative turns to Alexis. "You agree?"

Alexis disguises her wince. What a choice. "Yes."

The Representative glances down at his watch. "I must return to the city and update the President."

The director turns the tour around and starts back to the office area. After the Government representative leaves. Alexis turns to the director. "You wouldn't have mentioned Ebola if you didn't already have someone working on it." The director turns away not meeting Alexis' gaze. Alexis after years of working courtrooms, lying clients and gauging juries notes the dodge. "I don't have a problem with that. Yes, HIV/AIDS is your priority but there is no reason to bury your head in the sand."

The director glances over at Andreas. "Bury head in the sand?"

"Ignore the obvious to the point of being ridiculous." Andreas defines the unfamiliar phrase.

"Ah." The director nods. "Then we will continue to research when there is an outbreak and track outcomes."

"I have no problem with that." Alexis agrees.

"Madame is still tired from her long journey." Andreas states.

Alexis is about to protest but there is something about Andreas posture that makes her pause. In that moment the director apologizes profusely and walks them out to the waiting car at the front of the lab. Alexis waits until she is seated in the back of the car before questioning Andreas. "You don't give a rats ass if I'm tired or not."

Andreas gathers his thoughts before answering. "The work being done here in the wrong hands...." Helena's name goes unspoken. "...The director is an ambitious man on a mission for the greater good but he doesn't consider things such as security. Security of his samples, yes, but not security of the lab itself. And something that the Government man said... about the President efforts being for naught if their neighbors fall."

"The Neighbors?"

"Uganda is stable... but Uganda while landlocked is also an island. It is surrounded by countries that aren't... and whose troubles might spill over the borders. The lab is situated as far from those borders as possible... but still... Sudan, Congo, Rwanda. Only Kenya is..." Andreas makes a tilting motion with his hand. "That country seems to be doing well but it is separated from Uganda by Lake Victoria."

"Make sure you mention that in your report to Stavros." Alexis leans her head back against the seat. "Now I really am tired."

"Of course, Madam. We will be home directly."

"Right. Home."

Business is always done over a late dinner. Or at least this business. You might have meetings at other times but those were when the purpose was to actually get things done. This... well this was The Organization version of a pissing contest and gossip fest that was held on a quarterly basis. Who'd gotten what, who was expanding where, who had new kids and who'd gotten busted recently. As Jason entered the room with Benny and Max there had been a barely contained sigh of relief from the corners of the room as well as a discreet "Yes!"

Jason makes his way over to the big bosses in the room and pays his respects. Benny is pulled aside by some of the more minor players who start pumping him for info on Jason and where Sonny is. Max takes a place by the wall with the other soldiers. This is the way this worked-- boss, muscle and accountant. One of the reasons Francis had been so screwed. He'd gone to the meeting with no boss and no accountant and hadn't even been able to make it in the door. After greeting and shaking hands with the two elders in the room, Jason shakes his head and goes straight to the point. "I still think these things are a mistake."

"They are a tradition." The elder shrugs.

"One that puts too many of us in one room." Jason counters.

"You still think like a soldier."

"That's cause I want to live to be your age." Jason says wryly.

The elder gives Jason a slap on the back. "It is good to see you. Where is Corinthos?" He cuts to the chase.

"Out of the country." Jason goes for the honest answer. He's learned enough about lying since his accident to get away with some but he still gets the knot in his stomach whenever he does. Besides lying is better left to the experts of which he'd never be one. "His wife thought it would be a good time for a vacation."

"Oh?" The second questions. "A permenant vacation?"

Jason shrugs. "Sonny's wife is my best friend. She didn't want trouble between us. Whether it is permenant or not is up to Sonny."

"If there is going to be a war... then we need to know. It's... bad for business." The second presses.

The elder steps in. "Leave it be. If there is something Jason knows... it's good business. But too conservative..."

"No drugs." Jason interrupts already knowing where it's going. Jason tilts his head in the direction of the newbies in the room. "And that's exactly the reason why."

The elder shakes his head. "An abberation. They were sampling product. Got sloppy, got caught. Some time in a federal pen will dry them out."

"Twenty to life?" Jason snorts. "Yeah, I guess. That kind of time plus a drug problem equals people naming names to the feds to get out of jail and keep using. We've already had enough trouble with the FBI in Port Charles."

"Jason, it is where the money is." The elder protests.

"We make good money." Jason counters. "Benny has all the quarterly figures."

"If you aren't going to be running drugs then you've got something else..." The elder realizes. He nods in the direction of his second who also nods and moves away to greet others in the room. "What is it?"

Jason grins. "Technology."

"Boring!"

"Yes, but very profitable."

A waiter kind of skulks into the room. He hates these meetings. Okay so the tips were great but he considers it hazard pay. He makes eye contact with the elder. The elder nods. "Dinner is ready. We'll talk after... privately."

"Jason, Darling! How is my favorite nephew?"

Jason groans at the sound of a familiar gravelly female voice behind him. "Tracy." The elder takes the chance and moves toward the dining room. Consider him old fashioned but Tracy Solito nee Quartermaine's presence at these meetings just seems wrong.

Carly works her way through-- identifying the weaknesses in the Jax held Cassadine companies and then generating a list of assets that Jax has a piece of in Greece. She's moved over to her side of the game and starts working on the assets of Deception. She's already gotten the essence thing under control. But Carly has serious doubts that Gia will be willing to wait until Istanbul comes through. She's got a handshake partnership (no money exchanged) with a company in Jordan for Dead Sea salts and a mocked up plan for bath line. She'd been able to work on that a little bit while waiting for Sonny to show up on the other island. Deception is actually tieing her hands though. The company had to be worth something when she gets it back and messing with the distribution network is out... that would just prolong the fight Laura was going to have with Istanbul. Product had to keep moving-- no allowing Laura to stockpile even some. The shelves had to be empty... at the stores and in the warehouse. What did that leave? She leans back in her chair and considers the problem... noticing for the first time that she's got mail. Carly clicks on the icon receiving mail from her server. She sorts through them quickly until there are only two left of interest-- one from Jason and the other from Andreas. "Stavros!"

"Yes?" Stavros comes out from the suite carrying beverages. He sets one at Carly's elbow and then takes a seat.

"You have an email from Andreas. I didn't open it." Carly turns the laptop toward Stavros. He clicks on the message opening it up and reads it quickly. He frowns. "Alexis causing trouble already?" Carly asks.

"No. Andreas has recognized a deficiency in my new project."

"New project? This is the mystery one that you've been running?" Carly's curiosity gets the better of her. She's always had a low tolerance for mysteries.

"Yes. My entry ticket to the states. There are other projects in the works of course but this one would make me untouchable."

"You ready to share?"

"It is as you said... if I were to find the cure for some... horrible disease then I could... write my ticket anywhere. So I have funded a lab and provided them with Mother's research. Since it is a new acquisition not appearing on any of the Estate documents... it seemed the ideal place for my sister to... rest."

Carly puts together the clues. Not on this continent or Greece's. Cure for a horrible disease. "You sent her to AFRICA!" Carly starts laughing. "Oh that's perfect. Maybe she can send Jason some travel books. He loved Egypt and Kenya. He was in Kenya on a video safari right before he came to visit me and Michael in Greece."

"Really?" Stavros nods. "Then I will wish to speak to Morgan when he contacts you again."

"Well then let me see. The other email is from Jason." Carly takes back the laptop and opens the email. Carly scans through it quickly. Jason's emails are like his speech, short and direct. "That BITCH!!!! I have to call Gia-- she has got to be freaking. I am so going to kick your wife's ass when I see her. She is ruining everything! I won't have a damn company when she gets done." Carly gets up from the table and goes into the room to find a phone.

Stavros takes back the computer and glances at the message. Thought you might want to know-- the Deception spokesmodel is hawking perfume at a Car show in Atlantic City. Jase. Stavros exhales. And then exhales again. He pulls down a screen with the contact info on it. Sure enough Carly has a Jason's cell phone number there. Pulling out his cell phone he makes the call.