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With her hair knotted in a bun and dark shades to cover her eyes, Jazz Demarco casually strolled into the Legacy Hospital. Considering she was carrying around a tote filled with explosives, Jazz found herself uncharacteristically calm. Then again the promise of a million dollar profit could ease just about anything. Except one, she thought, catching sight of the Nurses Station. "Excuse me," she said, interrupting a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties. "I need this letter delivered to Maxie Demarco right away." Not bothering to look away from the computer monitor he motioned to the counter. "Just leave it there. I'll make sure she gets it." Jazz grabbed one of his hands and forcibly stuffed the sealed envelope into it. "I want it delivered now," she demanded, voice dead serious. "In exactly one hour I will be waiting for Maxie at her home. And if she doesn't show there will be hell to pay." Startled, he pulled his hand back. "I'm going, lady. No need to get bent out of shape," he grumbled and took off. Jazz deeply inhaled and exhaled. The only uncertain part of the plan was Maxie. Heaven forbid if anything happened to her sister. Turning around, Jazz started for the hospital exit. All the while she tried convincing herself what she was doing was not only for her benefit, but for Maxie's as well. They had spent a good part of their lives struggling to get by. Didn't they earn a piece of the pie? Especially herself, Jazz reasoned. She couldn't imagine going back to tending bar for the dregs of society. No, she definitely deserved this paycheck. And to think none of it would have been possible if she hadn't befriended some poor, blind, jerk with a penchant for finding trouble named, Ethan. In the beginning, Jazz felt sorry for the guy. But whatever sympathies she had for him were flushed when she found herself held at gunpoint. She was given two choices: Death or Joining forces to destroy a family who's very legacy had spawned a thousand enemies. Jazz chose the latter. So what if it appeared Ethan was an obvious victim of his father's thirst for power? Ultimately, he had led a life of luxury while she had to scrape by on pennies and nickels. If having a fraction of the good life meant betraying a man who had made a career out of assassinating human beings, then so be it. The set timer on Jazz's wristwatch beeped. She gripped the bag at her side. It was now or never.
"I grew up in a home like this," Kaye Corday reminisced as she drove by a brick house with a gambrel rooftop. "Mine was a lot smaller with a front terrace and rusted porch swing. I don't think anyone ever used it." She paused to think. "No. We were mostly kept inside. Except for when. . ." She sighed in vain. "I can't remember." Kaye suffered another stabbing pain to the back of her skull. Her headaches were many, but they always seem to worsen when she tried to remember her childhood. The accident had taken away those memories. Everything she knew was told to her by someone else. What she could recall was little and distorted. "I don't believe I was a happy child," she admitted. "Even the few memories I have are marred by something sad. I believe Allison knows why. I'm certain Dyan knows. She always does. It's the story of my life." A ripple of anger passed through Kaye at the thought of her sisters. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, turning her knuckles white. "It isn't like I don't try to love them. I do, in my own way, I guess." She stopped to collect her thoughts. "It's just I don't think I know them in the way a sister should. And what I do know infuriates me. "Allison has never been very considerate of my feelings." she remarked, plenty resentful. "I mean, what she did with Jared proves my point, don't you think? The nerve of her to take over my life just so she can seduce my partner. Here we are, Legacy spies, putting our lives on the line, and she's busy playing games. Franklin was right. She didn't deserve to be one of us." A little ironic smile tugged at the corners of Kaye's mouth. "I know what you're thinking. I'm no better than Allison. After all, I seduced my sister's husband." Her pubescent face warmed at the memory, only to turn cold at the reality. Dare didn't want her. All he wanted was Dyan. "I loved him the moment I laid eyes on him. And she came and took him away from me." Kaye looked to the passenger seat. "I ask you, did she deserve him?" She let out an exasperated breath, knowing she wasn't about to get an answer. She reached out and touched Melanie Peel's icy cheek. "You're beginning to look awfully pale," she said to the dead woman. Seeing the dried blood on her hands, Kaye felt the urge to take a bath. She hated when things were messy and out of order. "I think I'll have myself a nice warm bubble bath." she promised. "But first I have one last mess to clean up."
The silver key fell to the green marble floor with a small clatter. Adrian Zeller bent to retrieve it, but Dyan Ransom beat him to it. Grasping the key firmly in hand she frowned at the source of her jangled nerves. "Will you please give me breathing room," she said sharply. "How am I suppose to concentrate with you practically sitting on my shoulder?" Adrian was not affronted by her sudden hostility. From the few encounters he had with his employee, it appeared the woman's mood ran the gamut every five minutes. So it was no surprise she had gone from sympathizing with his plight to viewing him as the enemy again. "I didn't realize using a key required such focus." Seeing the flash of outrage in her eyes, he quickly backtracked. "However, if you need me, I'll be over. . . here." He humorously made one step backwards and waited, all the while knowing his good-natured ribbing was burning her up inside. Dyan eyed him suspiciously before returning to the task of opening the safety deposit box. Despite the anxious times, Adrian found himself admiring the lady. His blue eyed gaze wittingly slipped from the back of her head to the round of her butt. Nice tush, indeed. Even in the comfortable brown slacks she wore he could make out the definition of her form. He dare say it was better than the gorgeous Melanie Peel's, his current lover and secret ally. Melanie was the only enjoyable part of his mission for revenge. If there was one thing Adrian learned from this whole fiasco, it was he was much better suited for business and making love. Plotting to destroy Franklin Fairchild and to find his sister was proven to be more complicated than originally thought. Sure, when his aunt Dagmar spoke boldly about avenging the family anything seemed possible. But in the end there were other less headache worthy things he'd much rather be doing. A wry smile played on Adrian's lips as he found himself wondering what Dyan's bare tush would feel like in his hands. Yes, he knew what he'd rather be doing. But, alas, family is family; and he was taught family came first no matter what. His mother had suffered more than her share of trauma at having her own flesh and blood torn away from her. His father had been decimated as a man, and left a mere shadow of his former self. He reluctantly gave consideration to his aunt. Her husband and sons had been merciless gunned down by Fairchild's people. The Zeller family had been wronged, and he was left to defend them at all cost. The sound of the deposit box opening caught his attention. Adrian watched as Dyan removed what looked to be a jewel casing. His heart pounded in anticipation. If everything Dyan had revealed was true, the moment he had been scheming for had finally come to fruition. Dyan turned to him, her lovely face solemn. She held the case for him to see. "This is it," she sighed. "Everything you will ever need is on this one little disc." Licking his lips like a starving man eyeing a feast, Adrian reached for the object of his desire. Dyan slyly moved out of reach. "I think it's best we hand this over to the proper authorities." Adrian literally looked at her as if she had gone stupid. "The proper authorities? The local police are comparable to the Keystone Cops." "I was talking about the Knights Foundation." Forget stupid. Adrian believed she had gone mad. "The parent organization to the Legacy!" He loudly clapped his hands, then reeking with sarcasm declared, "I know! Why don't we tie a floppy red bow on it and give it to Franklin as a gift." Dyan wasn't amused. "Either we do this my way, or we don't do it at all." Once again, Adrian found himself crammed between a rock and a hard place. "Fine," he agreed. He gestured to the exit door of the MacKenzie Safe. "Lead the way." And she did, marching all the way to his parked car. But once inside the confines of his Mercedes-Benz the scenario went quite differently. "You're going the wrong way," Dyan complained the second he didn't turn right. "I'm afraid there's been a change of plan," he said coolly. We're not going to the KF or any other Legacy quarter. I believe it's time you met my father." ***
"The Legacy is a web of lies. We're just the poor suckers trapped in its thread. They all turn on you eventually. Family, friends--- no one is sacred." Caleb's drunken admission never rung truer. Kaye and Allison were not her sisters, and no matter how much she loved them, the truth remained the same. She had spent years wondering how she came to be here, and why she was one of the chosen ones. Yes, she had managed to free herself of Franklin's clutches. But only by sacrificing her sisters. She had sold them to the devil and now she was paying the price for it. A sob escaped her throat. Dyan knew she was coming to pieces little by little. "Oh come on," Adrian huffed. "In the end, you will see I'm doing the right thing." Dyan looked down at her hands. "That's what I wanted to believe. Sometimes what you think is right turns out to be wrong. By then it's too late for regrets." "Dyan, I'm not coming against you," he assured, briefly taking his eyes off the winding road. "You won't regret a thing. Fairchild is going straight to hell. I can promise you that." "If he is, he'll take all of us with him." she said, believing every word. Adrian glanced at her with uncertainty. "Is there something you're not telling me?" Dyan didn't answer. Her mind was already elsewhere. Digging inside her purse she found what she was looking for. With her hand buried inside the purse, she grasped her cellular phone. Careful not to draw attention to herself, she cautiously flicked open the phone and pressed the number one. Funny, no matter how angry she was at him his number was still on her speed dial. It was for emergencies only. And if there was ever an emergency, now was the time. Keeping the phone hidden in her purse, Dyan couldn't hear the ringing, but was able to feel the pulsating through the cell. Pretending to be intent on find something, she leaned in closer to her purse, and deftly scooped the tiny phone to her ear. Careful Adrian wouldn't take notice, she covered the small phone with the length of her dark hair, and leaned back into her seat. Please pick up, she silently pleaded.
"Until the effects of the drug wear off. Depending upon how much he absorbed into his system, the withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from several hours to several days." "There isn't a doubt in my mind the drug was created by one of our specialists. Someone from within is responsible for this." "I know. The question is, who? I suppose we can add this to the list of strange occurrences at the Legacy." "I really shouldn't be saying this. . . nevertheless, there has been confidential inquiries dealing with Franklin. It seems---" The door opened and slammed shut as someone entered the room. "I'll come back later," a female said. "That won't be necessary. We're finished here." Dare Ransom peered through half-lidded eyes as the two doctors left his room. His vision was unfocused and blurred, and his head felt like a dense fog had settled over it. He had only managed to pick up bits and pieces of their conversation. Somewhere, in the cluttered recess of his mind, a warning bell was going off. He knew he had learned something important. Now if only he could get his brain to figure out what. "You're looking much better than the last time I saw you," the lady who entered the room spoke softly. Dare uncomfortably shifted his legs. They were heavy. Like blocks of cements. What the hell had happened to him? "You gave us quite a scare. The fact so many Legacy agents have been dropping like flies lately has shaken everyone up. I'm glad you were one of the lucky ones." He managed to stay focus on her ramblings and actually understand. Maybe the fog was finally lifting. "Now, don't think I'm trying to seduce you or anything --- I know you're a married man," she teased sweetly. "Just kidding, just kidding. Sometimes guys assume a pretty lady with a wet sponge and all--- well, you get the idea." She was the nurse, Dare finally grasped. There was even something familiar about her. Someone he knew. She peeled back the blankets from his body and he felt the cold air engulf him. The chill provided a welcome cool to his fevered temperature. She dipped the sponge in a pan of water and squeezed it between both hands. Seeing him fidget, she said, "I promise this won't take long." She went to wipe his left leg when an unexpected ringing caught her attention. She glanced around. "Well it's not the room telephone. You must have a cellular in here." Dare connected to what she said. It was his phone. It even had a special ring only used for emergency calls. He could make out the alert ring that very moment. Heaving himself onto his right side, Dare focused his attention on the small cupboard across the room. The blond haired nurse was already ahead of him. Digging inside a pair of dingy jeans, she fished the phone out of a pocket. "Give it to me," he said, his voice a mere croak. "I don't think you're up for it, but it's your phone," she shrugged and brought it to him. Dare had to hold the small cell close to his face just so he could read the buttons. He finally located the one he wanted and answered the incessant ring. "Hello. . .hello. Who is this?" Dead silence. Maybe he missed them, he thought, ready to hang up. That's when he heard her. Even in his current state of mind, she was the one person he could never forget. "Dyan?"
"Where are you taking me?" Dyan demanded loudly. Adrian gave her a puzzled look. "I told you. To see Ezekiel." "But where?" she demanded. "Dyan?" Dare questioned, recognizing her voice. "It's in North Morland," Adrian answered. "We'll be there soon." "I told you I didn't want to go your home in North Morland," she fussed. Now frustrated, Adrian glared at her. "And I said you didn't have a choice." He jerked the wheel to make a turn, throwing Dyan forward. A look of surprise and then anger crossed Adrian's handsome face when he caught sight of the dropped phone in her lap. He quickly snatched it away from her. "Why you sneaky little… I can't take my eyes off you without you pulling some treacherous stunt." Adrian held the phone to his ear. "I'm afraid Dyan can't talk right now. She's a bit tied up at the moment." "Dare!" Dyan screamed just before he ended the call. Adrian pointed an accusing finger at her. "I told you to trust me. But obviously I can't trust you. For now on I want you to sit back and shut up." Dyan threw herself back in her seat. "He'll be coming." she muttered rebelliously. "I doubt it," Adrian remarked. She glared at him. "You don't know Dare Ransom." He smirked. "Apparently you don't either, or you wouldn't be getting a divorce." Stung by his words of truth, Dyan bit her lower lip and went back to staring out the window. He would come. She had to believe that. He was her last hope. THE
LEGACY HAS MANY REASONS
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