|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Lucy stepped into the office and glanced around. She hadn’t truly considered striking out on her own this way since the divorce…since the last moments of her life had flashed by her.
The months since Scott and Serena had left for Canada had been difficult to say the least. Lucy had not only lost Christina, but Serena had become terrified of her behavior. Looking back on it, she really couldn’t blame Serena for reacting the way she did. Lucy realized that she had really become unhinged along the way.
But she had found new purpose. Not purpose really, but a reason to keep going. After she and Scott decided to be apart and made the break from each other, Lucy knew that life had to continue somehow. She had never been one to sit back and let the world run over her…especially not in Port Charles.
Lucy decided that she could go on with her life if she could still have hope of one day finding Christina again. She could do the day to day grind if only that glimmer of the future was still out there for her. And tonight it was. Tonight she made the first step in keeping that hope alive or maybe just maybe making the dream into a reality.
The lights of the office weren’t bright and Lucy was silently grateful for that fact. She had not taken the time to go to glamorous lengths tonight and she really was not here to impress….merely to hire the private eye with the most notorious reputation in New England.
She rapped lightly on the door as she heard some commotion from the other side as well as seeing the shadows through the frosted glass. Her insatiable curiosity got the better of her as she turned the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open. She peaked her head inside just a bit and looked around.
“Hello?” Lucy asked scanning the room slowly.
A strong male hand flattened itself onto the desk from behind. Then a slightly ruffled man with a rugged five o’clock shadow and dark brown eyes caged behind long flirty lashes pushed himself off the floor to lean slightly on the desk. He lowered his thin framed glasses slightly on his nose to give Lucy a thorough looking over before he resettled them and grinned slightly. “Can I help you?” His deep sexy voice carried the question across the room to her.
Lucy seriously contemplated taking a step back out the door at the way this man looked. This couldn’t possibly be the private eye. If Lucy had ever deserved some help from fate, now might be a nice time. She cleared her throat after deciding that it couldn’t possibly be as bad as it looked, “I’m Lucy Coe. I was suppose to meet Mr. Tyler at nine thirty.”
“It’s ten o’clock lady.”
“I realize that,” She said as she caught the irritation in his tone, “I was caught in traffic.”
He looked over her clothing and grinned, “And where were you coming from exactly?”
“Does it matter?”
“It should. If you really wanted to hire the man, you’d have been here on time.”
“I got here as soon as I could. I honestly was tied up with a very important matter.”
“What matter was that important?”
“Excuse me,” She said putting an end to his inquisition, “Who are you?”
“You answer my question and I’ll answer yours. Where were you Ms. Coe?”
“I was at a hospital board meeting that ran long.”
“And why couldn’t you excuse yourself from this meeting? What was it about that held your interest so keenly that you couldn’t get away or even ditch the meeting to make your appointment?”
“You said question. Your turn now, who are you?”
“My name is Roger Tyler,” He said extending his hand to her, “I’m the private detective you wanted to hire. So tell me now, Ms. Coe. Why did you miss the appointment we had arranged?”
“I told you. It was a board meeting.”
“At this time of night?”
“Yes, it was about the AIDS wing and a very generous donation that’s being put to use for a pediatrics addition. It was important that the money didn’t get used for some fat cat’s limousine service and I had to make sure it was used for the children.”
Roger nodded, “Now that’s the Lucy Coe I’ve heard so much about. Please Ms. Coe. Have a seat. Why don’t you tell me why you need a private detective?”
“As you may know, a few months ago my daughter was kidnapped,” Lucy said slowly still feeling the pain cut through her after all this time, but talking about it now didn’t make her shut down like it used to. She could at least get through this conversation. She had to, “I want to find her.”
“Christina Baldwin,” He nodded, “I know.”
“How?”
“Your husband tried to hire me when she went missing.”
“Tried to hire?”
“Yes, but that would have been a conflict of interest.”
“How so?”
“Dr. Ramsey had already put down a healthy retainer fee. I was already on the case to find his wife. Taking money from your husband wouldn’t have been fair.”
“Ex-husband,” She corrected, “And now?”
“I closed the case on Julie Devlin-Ramsey quite a few months ago.”
“You gave up?”
“No, Dr. Ramsey did. I still get leads every now and then about the case.”
“You do? Do you hear anything about Christina? About how she’s doing, if she’s healthy? Anything?” Lucy asked feeling a glimmer of hope growing in her heart.
Roger sat back in his chair and nodded, “The last time I got anything truly solid on them, Christina was the picture of health.”
“Thank god,” She said to herself as she closed her eyes and could still see Christina so clearly before her. She took another breath, “Will you take this case? I’ll pay anything you ask. I just want to know everything I can about where they are and what they’re doing.”
“And what about getting her back?”
“I’d like that more than anything, but….I’m trying to reach for a dream that seems possible at this moment.”
He nodded, “I’ll need you to tell me any and everything about Christina. It could help in locating her. People seem to remember children much more than adults. It’ll help when I ask questions of any locals I come across.”
Lucy nodded and half-smiled as she thought of her little girl, “How much time do you have?”
“I’m actually fairly starving. If you’re not too oppose to it, I know an all night diner that serves a great cup of coffee and the burgers there are great. Care to join me?”
“I’m really not dressed to go out,” Lucy said beginning to feel a bit self-conscious now that she’d had a chance to think about her locale and her company in the room.
He grinned with a sparkling smile and a wink, “Trust me. You’re going to look like you stepped out of a fashion magazine next to the people we’re about to visit. Let me get a little more suitable myself and we’ll slip out there to grab a bite,” Roger spoke as he took off his glasses and stepped into a small washroom.
Lucy took a slow deep
breath and felt as if she’d finally begun to make progress, not only in
the search for Christina but also in taking back her life.
Kevin pushed open the door to the ER and stepped into the brightly lit room. Only a few nurses were passing back and forth down the halls and it seemed oddly quiet. He sighed as he thought about going home with Eve and curling up on the sofa to relax after the extremely long day he’d had.
He turned the corner and stepped down the hall towards the doctor’s lounge, having a hunch that Eve would be inside gathering her things to go home. As he approached the door, he heard Eve’s voice, but he didn’t recognize who she was speaking with.
“No, absolutely not.”
“Face it Eve. You don’t get a choice in the matter.”
“Yes I very much do. This is my life that you’re trying to ruin.”
“You’ve done a fine job of screwing your life up all on your own, Eve. I’m just here to make a few minor adjustments.”
Kevin had heard enough. No matter who the other woman was, he was not about to let her speak to his wife in that manner. He pushed open the door and looked between them, “What’s going on?”
“Kevin,” Eve said in relief as she walked over to him.
“So you’re the loser that she’s hooked up with. Look pal, I don’t know who you think you are, but you cannot treat her this way,” The younger woman said placing her hands firmly on her hips almost as if she were about to draw guns and start a duel.
Kevin judged the young woman for a moment, “There must be some confusion.”
“There is,” Eve agreed, “She’s lost it.”
“Lost it? Excuse me?” Shelly said setting her jaw as her wrath was once again directed at her sister, “Eve, losing it is getting hitched without even bothering to tell your family. Losing it is marrying a man who obviously makes you think you don’t need me. Losing it is throwing your entire life into a loser like this who wants to cut you off from everyone else.”
Eve sighed as she put her head against Kevin’s chest, “Kevin, this is Shelly.”
Kevin nodded in a silent realization before smiling his best and extending his hand to her, “It’s very nice to meet you, Shelly. Eve’s told me a lot about you.”
“Well, isn’t that special? You can tell him about me, but I’m not good enough to come to your wedding….and even better than that, I haven’t heard one peep from you about this guy,” Shelly shifted her weight from one foot to the other, “I get it. You’re not ashamed of me. It’s him. You’re ashamed that this loser is the best you think you can do.”
“For the millionth time, Shelly, stop calling him a loser. He is the best thing that has ever come into my life,” Eve practically shouted at her.
“Eve, stop kidding yourself. We both know that you’ve had much better guys pass through your miserable life. Why him?” Shelly asked as she looked over Kevin and shrugged, “I’m not impressed at all.”
Kevin blinked as he suddenly felt as if he had been swept into the Twilight Zone somewhere between the psych ward and the ER. He looked back at Shelly and cleared his throat softly, “Ladies, if I may here..”
“Well, at least he’s polite,” Shelly shrugged.
“Maybe we should go back to the Lighthouse and discuss this.”
“Lighthouse? A bar?” Shelly rolled her eyes, “I take it all back.”
“No, you moron,” Eve said squeezing Kevin to her, “The Lighthouse is where we live. It’s a honest to god light house. You know…boats, fog….that kind of thing.”
“No taste whatsoever,” Shelly frowned, “I’m not going back to whatever kind of place you’re living in. I wouldn’t want to impede whatever mind control games he’s playing with you there.”
“Shelly, there are no games. I am genuinely in love with your sister,” Kevin defended as he spoke softly but firmly, “She’s everything to me.”
“So that’s the rationale. She’s property. Figures,” Shelly mumbled under her breath.
“Why don’t you come stay with us? I’m sure you’ll see that we are the picture perfect newlyweds,” He offered, “If you still have reservations after tonight, I’ll help you get a room at the Port Charles Hotel. Fair enough?”
“You sound like a pimp.”
“Shelly!” Eve chastised.
“Well, he does.”
“I’m a psychiatrist,” Kevin defended.
“Same thing,” She shrugged, “Okay, fine. One night. But I swear, if you two start making out in front of me, I’ll hurl on whatever fine furnishings you have in that house. Got me?”
Kevin smiled as he hugged Eve to him, “Then we have a deal. Where are your bags?”
“There,” Shelly pointed to the duffel bag in the floor, “But I’ll get them. I don’t want you doing me any favors. You’ve already done enough with whatever it is you’ve done to Eve.”
“I haven’t done anything to her except love her. I hope you’ll be able to understand that after you see us together. She makes me very happy.”
“And you make her forget her family. Right now that is not a point in your favor,” She warned.
The door swung open and Chris followed by Gabriella started inside, “Whoa…wait….we’ll go elsewhere.”
“Chris, wait,” Eve started reaching out to stop him.
Chris stepped out of the room and let the door close behind him. Eve let her hand drop and exhaled as she wondered if she’d be able to speak with him again.
“What’s wrong with him?” Kevin asked looking at the door.
“Julie,” Eve answered simply.
“Maybe I should try to talk to him again,” He suggested, “He might be more receptive after all this time.”
“Don’t bet on it,” She replied, “He shut me down almost as soon as I’d opened my mouth today.”
“He’s in a lot of pain, Eve. I think Chris finally knows what it’s like to lose everything.”
“Hello!” Shelly said waving her hand, “Did we forget that little sister is in the room? I hate to but in , but hey, I’m the little sister. I’m allowed. Can we get to this light whatever so I can get something to eat. I’m starved.”
Eve nodded, “Sure…though if you start being picky and arguing again….”
“Eve, just get me there,” Shelly rolled her eyes, “You are so not you. I don’t know what this l….” She paused catching the dirty look from Eve, “Idiot is doing to you, but you are not my sister.”
“Shelly, just shut
up,” Eve silenced her as they walked out of the lounge.
Chris stepped into the elevator alongside Gabriella and frowned. He placed his head against the wall of the elevator as it began to climb floors. Gabriella looked back at Chris with a ponderous look upon her features.
He opened his eyes and caught her looking at him. He answered her unspoken question, “That is the one person I cannot talk to at all.”
"Why not?" She asked as they stepped off the elevator and walked into the coffee shop together.
"Eve and I were friends once."
"Not anymore?" She asked as they each ordered a cup of coffee.
"Not since I quit being her puppy."
"I'm not sure I understand," Gabriella said in confusion.
"Eve and I have a complicated history. We hated each other then there was some mutual admiration then..." Chris stopped, "Then Eve decided that she couldn't be my friend and be Kevin's love toy at the same time. So she's married to him and I am the outcast."
"But she just sounded like she wanted to speak with you about something."
"When she has something to me these days it's usually to remind me how I screwed up by marrying Julie in the first place. She just relishes every chance she gets to remind me that I'm alone now."
"Shows what she knows," Gabriella smiled, "You're not exactly alone. I mean.....well, you may not have Julie here, but you've got a friend."
"Why is that? Why don't you run screaming like everyone else in this hospital? It's actually a sign of self-preservation," He teased with a smile.
"My mother always used to say that it was because I was raised with so many brothers. I'm a thrill seeker. I like to see how far I can push it."
"Sounds like you are in the right place then. I get the feeling that mothers in Port Charles warn their children about me."
"Chris, it's not really that bad."
"Yes it is. Watch. The next time a kid goes by, watch how the mom will hide the kid away from me."
"Would you stop it? You know that it's not that bad," She smiled.
"It is that bad. Haven't you noticed that people walk away from me?"
"Chris, you know that part of that is your own fault," She started, "Because you continually make it difficult for people to get to know you."
"Maybe I don't want anyone to know me."
"That's why you're such a good doctor. I've seen you and the way you deal with people. You're a great guy, but then you end up making enemies by doing some really nasty things to people."
"So why are you here? If you think I'm such a nasty guy, why are you sitting here with me sharing a cup of coffee and making it look like you're my friend?"
"Because I've seen what's beyond all your blackmail and back stabbing. I've seen that you care about people. And that's why I really do not understand why you do this to people."
"Maybe there is no reason."
"Maybe you want everyone else to feel as badly as you do," She offered.
"Are you sure you're not a psychiatrist?" He teased.
"Yes, I'm positive. I'm not making that much money."
Chris smiled, "Well, you should maybe put in for some more overtime for this kind of work."
"I'm just getting started, Chris. I want to help you."
"Why?"
"Do I have to have a reason?"
"Most people do."
"I'm not most people. Haven't I prove that already? I mean, I am sitting here having a fairly enjoyable time with the blackballed chief resident. I think that should prove something."
"It proves you're a brave woman."
"It proves that I don't care about what other people think or do. I only know what I'm doing and what I know is right. Let me help you," She said as she reached across the table and took his hand in hers.
"I don't even know where to start," Chris said as he looked at her hand holding his.
"We can just figure that out as we go along."
"Should I feel like you're hitting on me?"
Gabriella smiled, "You probably will even if I tell you no."
"Well, it would be a good thing. I mean, my ego could always use some re-enforcement."
"Yeah, I bet," She laughed softly.
"So you're not hitting on me?"
"If I was?"
He grinned, "I'm interested."
"Somehow I think I knew that already."
"Smart woman," He said with a slight laugh.
"But I'm really not trying to hit on you," She said, "I hate to damage your ego, but I'm only trying to help you."
"And I really appreciate it. Though I don't know that you can help me. I don't know that I can be helped."
"Sure you can," Gabriella
smiled, "And we're going to find a way to do that. I promise I'm
going to find a way to help you with this, Chris."
Karen made some notes on a chart before pulling out an envelope of X-rays. She moved over to the light but as soon as she switched it on, the light blinked a bit then shut off. She shook her head as she exhaled, took her chart, and walked down the hall to another exam room. She took the x-ray film from the manila envelope and tucked the pictures onto the viewer as she switched on the light.
Karen looked over the films and felt like she was finally back to being herself. Being a doctor had meant so much to her for so long and then she's almost ruined it....and all because she had taken on more than she could handle, yet again.
She had always been the over-achiever, and taking on more and more had always seemed to be her calling. Then again, when she did take on more and then more, she buried herself amongst the work and lost whatever part of herself she was still clinging to. She was finally ready to be back to herself and she was finally, after all this time, realizing that she had limitations just like everyone else. She was human after all.
Karen glanced down at the chart before her to make some notations about the film in front of her.
"Ouch, that had to hurt."
Karen jumped and shrieked lightly as she heard the voice behind her. She put her hand over her racing heart and shook her head as she fought for breath, "God, Thornhart....can't you like announce that you're around."
"I thought I just did," He spoke as he stood behind her, only an breath away.
Karen turned to face him and was surprised that he was standing so close to her, "Do you have to stand that close?"
"Does it bother you?"
Ian asked as he watched the flush in her cheeks and could feel the
quickness of her breath.
"Yes. I could use a little space," She explained although it wasn't quite the reason why. She needed to back off because having him that close made her want....no...not that....anything but that. She looked away as she tried to stop her heart from practically bursting out of her chest.
"All right then," He said with a tempting smile as he moved back barely an inch, "Some space for you."
She drug her eyes back to meet his and she swallowed hard. God she hated him....or at least that's what she kept telling herself. It was easier than ..... no, she wasn't even going to let that thought go through her head, "You don't believe in personal space, do you?"
"I do," He said closing the distance between them again, "But you and I have some things to talk about, and there's no room for space in this conversation."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Karen interrupted as she turned back around to look at her chart once more.
"Yes you do." He spoke as he lightly placed a hand on each of her arms. He moved his hands from her elbow to her shoulder and back again as he spoke smoothly, his voice barely above a whisper, "You know exactly what I'm talking about, but you want to avoid it. Thing is I can't quite figure out why. Unless it has something to do with Joe."
"This has nothing to do with Joe," She said quickly.
"So you do know what I'm talking about after all," He said with a light smile at her response, "Then why are you so afraid of what's happening here, Karen?"
"Who said I'm afraid?" She asked almost timidly as she felt his breath on her neck while his hands remained on her arms, "I'm not afraid of anything."
"Then why don't you turn around right now and look at me," He challenged, "Prove to me that you're not afraid."
Karen took in a breath hoping to calm herself for a moment but it only set her heart racing on a stronger pace. She felt his hands leave her arms and she felt a sense of loss at the broken contact. She turned slowly with his body still so very close to hers. She looked up into his eyes and met him as if to answer the challenge he'd laid out before her.
His lips curled in a slight smile. He reached out with a hand and gently brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. Karen watched him and knew instantly what thought was passing through his mind. She couldn't let him do that.....anything but that. Involuntarily she found herself dampening her lips. Was she insane? She didn't want him to.....she hated him, she kept repeating to herself.
Ian's slow gaze drifted to her lips, and Karen felt her heart leap in her throat just by the way he was looking at her. She drew in an uncertain breath as she watched him start a slow progression towards her.
Karen found her eyes drifting towards a close as he became nearer and nearer. She placed her hand on the counter to steady herself, not sure that she'd remain standing if....if it happened.
Ian moved the palm of his hand to her neck, gently easing her towards him. He watched her and found himself anticipating the moment, the contact that they'd both silently and secretly been waiting for.
The doors swung open to the room and Joe burst inside. As soon as he saw them, he groaned, "God, get a room already."
Karen's entire body jerked into a rigid column as the sound of Joe's voice. She quickly spun away from Ian, taking her chart and x-ray films in the process. She rushed out of the room, blowing past Joe.
Ian placed his hands on the counter and bowed his head as he took in a breath to calm the emotions raging out of control within him. He slowly turned towards Joe as he leaned back and crossed his arms across his chest. He glared at Joe with an irrational desire to pound the man to death.
"What? This is a public place," Joe said curtly.
"I'll remember that the next time I see you and Jill being so intimate with one another," Ian said tightly.
Joe shifted his weight, "That's different."
"Like hell," Ian answered, "But you know, you're right. There are better places for something to be accomplished," He said as he gathered the strength to walk by Joe. He started to push open the doors to the exam room when he heard Joe's voice.
"She can never love you, Ian, not really love you. She doesn't know how," Joe said without turning to face his one time friend.
Ian didn't bother to
respond. He walked out of the exam room, ignoring Joe's warning,
and intent to find a way to finish what he and Karen had almost started.
Rachel stepped into her apartment and switched on the light. She tossed her keys onto the nearby table and dropped her purse into a chair. Going to any conference with Kevin would be trying, but to be going anywhere with him now....it just seemed wrong.
Things were becoming more trying by the day and the thought of spending time with Kevin....it made her cringe. He had murdered Grace. He had taken the most wonderful person she'd ever known away from her. He had taken away hope.
Now it was her turn to take something from him. She was determined to make him know the pain he'd caused Grace, to know the pain he'd caused her entire family. She would do anything to make sure that Kevin Collins had never had Grace far from his thoughts.
Rachel crossed the room and pulled back the curtains from the window. The night was glorious and she could feel the possibilities in the air. While going on the conference with Kevin might be uncomfortable, it also opened a world of opportunity for her to get him right where she wanted him.
She looked up at the stars and could feel Grace with her. Grace would be happy to know that Kevin Collins was about to find himself trapped within his own lies. Rachel could virtually feel Grace's pleasure with the thought of vengeance against Kevin Collins.
She smiled as she walked back to the sofa and sat down. She ran her fingers through her hair and decided it was time that Kevin got to really know her. She'd make him pay and then Grace would finally be able to rest in peace.