CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

QUARTERMAINE MANSION:

Alexis(enters)Edward, I was surprised when you called and asked me over. What’ going on?

Edward(smiled innocently)Why nothing, my dear. Can’t a grandfather get to know the woman his grandson is engaged to marry?

Alexis: Forgive me for being suspicious, Edward. It’s just that Ned and I have been engaged for months and this is the first time you’ve wanted to get to know me better. I was thinking it might have something to do with the face that Sonny owns ELQ now and I’m his lawyer.

Edward: Now that you mention it, has Sonny said what he intends to do with my company.

Alexis: Sonny and I don’t really talk unless he’s in danger of being sent to prison and he needs me to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Edward: Really? Are you sure he hasn’t mentioned anything to you, if only in passing.

Alexis: Sonny and I haven’t even talked recently. We don’t have that kind of relationship.

Edward: He’s doing this on purpose. He’s enjoying making me squirm as I wait to see what he’s going to do with my company.

Alexis: Legally speaking, Edward, the company is his to do with what he chooses. Besides, I think Sonny’s a little too busy right now dealing with the death of his child. I know how much he wanted that baby and it must have been hard on him what happened.

Edward(smiled)Yes, he’s vulnerable right now. And we both know the best time to strike a snake is when he’s vulnerable. Say, for instance, you could get him to sign something and he probably wouldn’t even read what he was signing.

Alexis: Just what kind of paper would I have Sonny sign?

Edward: Why a little document that would transfer ownership of ELQ back to me.

Alexis: And why would I do that?

Edward: Because we’re family, my dear. Or we soon shall be, at any rate. Family sticks together.

Alexis: Like you stuck with Ned when you fired him to reward AJ for getting Michael under the same roof as you.

Edward: And I would reward you equally well. I’d make you ELQ head counsel.

Alexis: Ned is right about you. I thought Ned was exaggerating, but he isn’t.

Edward: Surely, my dear, you want to get out of that cesspool you’re in of representing someone of Corithos’ ilk.

Alexis? By jumping into an even deeper cesspool by representing someone of your ilk? Thanks but no thanks. I know the way out.

WYNDEMERE:

Lucas(enters) Mrs. Lansbury said you wanted to see me, Uncle.

Stefan: (pats the sofa cushion next to him)Come here, Lucas.(Lucas sits down)Your mother and Mr. DeLucca will be coming this afternoon to pick you up and take you home.

Lucas: No! You promised I wouldn’t have to go and live with them.

Stefan: You know very well I promised you no such thing.

Lucas: I thought you loved me. If you did, how could you send me to live with HIM.

Stefan: Lucas, I have no choice. You’re not my child. But if you were, I’d let you stay with me as long as you wished.

Lucas; But you’re the powerful Stefan Cassadine. So isn’t there something you can do so I won’t have to leave.

Stefan: Lucas, I know you love your mother. I saw how much when the two of you lived here with me.

Lucas: My mother’s changed ever since he came to town. He’s all she can think about. She doesn’t love me anymore. He’s all she cares about, now.

Stefan: If I could convince your mother to make HIM live somewhere else, would you be willing to move back with her to the brownstone willingly.

Lucas(hopefully)Could you really?

Stefan: I make you no promises, but I can try.

Lucas(threw his arms around Stefan and hugged him tightly)Thank you, Uncle. I knew if you came here you would make everything all right.

HELENA’S YACHT:

Andreas(enters)I was able to sneak into the L & B headquarters as you asked, and I retrieved Mr. Santiago’s concert schedule.

Helena(takes the piece of paper from him)Excellent. Right now my granddaughter is still on the road, but she’ll soon be arriving in Sandusky, Ohio with Eddie Maine’s entourage. It seems Mr. Santiago is opening for him at Cedar Point. What’s next? Disney World.

Andreas: Will you be going there, Madam?

Helena: Andreas, can you actually picture me in an amusement park? Besides, I’m sure Ashton went along so he can prevent me from approaching the girl and telling her the truth about her lineage.

Andreas: So what will you do?

Helena: First, I need to dispose of Tammy Carson. As the girl’s biological mother, she’ll take precedence over me, the biological grandmother, in deciding what‘s best for the girl. Besides, the woman has proved she’ll do anything to interfere in my plans for the girl and I won‘t have that. She thwarted me once, but she won’t get the chance to do it to me, again.

Andreas: How do you plan to do it?

Helena: Well, let me see. I killed Alexis’ mother by slitting her vocal chords because she was an opera singer. What would be the appropriate way to kill a hooker. Have you any suggestions, Andreas.

Andreas(smiles)Well, now that you mentioned it, Madam. I may have the perfect way for you to do it.