**GETTING TO THE TRUTH**

Chapter 33

Mail to HollyJo

Bethany waved at Mel who had just come into The Outback. Mel smiled and raised her hand in acknowledgment and started towards her. Bethany leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of wine. She took a look around the crowded place.

"I see Single's Night at the Outback is in full swing," Mel said as she shed her jacket and hung it on the back of her chair.

"Single's Night?" Bethany choked.

Mel grinned at her, "Yep, didn't you know? I thought that was why you suggested dinner here."

"Good Lord no!" Bethany said as she took a closer look at the people in the place. "I should have known. Look at that slimy looking guy over there...you can tell he's only here to pick up women." She gave a small shiver of distaste, "Now who would ever be dumb enough to let him pick her up?"

Mel turned to look at whoever was making her sister physically ill. She laughed as she recognized the man and waved at him.

"What did you do that for? We don't want him over here." Bethany said is disgust.

Mel grinned at her and shrugged. The man in question made his way to the table, signaling the bartender for another round of drinks. He smiled at the two women and sat in one of the empty chairs, "Hello Goddesses!"

"Hi Jeff!" Mel greeted him cheerfully. "Found any women that would buy your line of bull yet?"

Jeff grinned at her, "Now how could I look at another woman after seeing the two most beautiful chicks in here?"

Bethany rolled her eyes, "Don't you have any place you need to go? Sleazy little stories to cover?"

"Hey, I'm insulted....my stories aren't little!" Jeff said grinning at Bethany. "Now Bethie Baby, you know I only have eyes for you....I'm at your disposal....do with my body what you will."

Mel giggled, "Don't give her any ideas...you know she's pretty good with a scalpel."

"Scram....we're trying to have dinner...you're drawing flies!" Bethany said, waving her hand as if to frighten him off.

Jeff caught her hand and brought it to his lips...."Ah Bethie Baby...you wound me to the heart. Just give in to your desires...and I'll make you a very happy woman!!!"

Bethany jerked her hand from his and glowered at him. Jeff took the hint and got up from his chair laughing..."I know when I'm not wanted...see you lovely ladies later." And he left.

Bethany looked at Mel and saw the strange look on her face, "What?"

"I think the lady doth protest too much!"

"Oh give me a break! He may be your neighbor and you put up with him coming and going out of your apartment like he owns it, but I don't have to put up with him if I don't want to."

"Right!"

"Well, I don't!"

"Hey, I'm agreeing with you!" Mel said laughing. Bethany glared at her.

"Hello ladies!"

"Mr. Ashton...what a nice surprise." Bethany said, offering Ned the chair Jeff had just vacated. Ned sat down and offered his hand to Mel.

"Hi, I'm Ned Ashton. I don't believe we've met."

Mel shook his hand, "I'm Mel Langley."

"Nice to meet you Mel. Interesting name....short for anything?"

"Nope."

"Don't listen to her...she hates her name. I think it's beautiful, though." Bethany said.

"Well don't keep me in suspense..." Ned said with a smile to Bethany.

"It's Melanie." Bethany supplied. "I picked the name out myself."

"Which is why she's the only one that likes it," complained Mel.

Ned laughed, "Let me guess, you two are sisters...right?"

"Yep....afraid so," Bethany teased. "So what are you doing here tonight? Please tell me you aren't part of the swinging singles here?"

Ned laughed, "No, I'm not....but I would love to have a dance. Would you do me the honors?"

Bethany smiled at him and held out her hand. Mel watched the two of them head for the dance floor. "What am I???? Chopped liver?" she asked herself and looked down at her menu. A shadow fell across the table and Mel looked up...her eyes caught by the beautiful blue eyes of the golden man standing next to her table. She smiled at him.

"Hello Jax!"

"Hi Mel. I called the police station and they said you were having dinner with your sister here tonight."

"Yeah, she's out on the dance floor."

Jax looked towards the dance floor and spotted Ned laughing down at a prettily blushing Bethany. His eyebrows raised in interest. He watched them for a few moments before turning his glance back at Mel, who had her eyes closed and appeared to be inhaling deeply.

"Are you okay?" he asked her concerned.

Mel's eyes quickly opened and she blushed, "Ummm, yeah, I'm.....I'm fine! So tell me, have you heard from Libby and Jerry?"

"Yeah, Jerry called a little bit ago, which was why I was looking for you. I figured you would want to know."

"Yeah.....so?....tell me...are they okay?"

"Oh! Yeah...I didn't get the whole story...but it seems that they found Hazel...ummm Libby's grandmother and are on their way back as we speak."

"Good, I've been worried."

"Yeah, I figured as much." Jax said as he leaned back in his chair, "So, did you find out anything today? Did you speak with Ables?"

"Yeah I did, but..."

"But what?" Jax asked. He watched in fascination as Mel picked up her glass of water and tossed it over her shoulder. The man sitting close behind her jumped up and sputtered..."Dammit Mel...this is my good shirt."

"Yeah, well, now it's clean for a change. Quit eavesdropping!"

Jeff looked at her innocently, "Me? Eavesdropping? What do you think I am?"

"I think you're a nosey news reporter and I don't appreciate you trying to listen into a conversation of mine." Mel scolded him.

"Ahhhh, come on Mel....let me in on the secret. The whole police department is close mouthed about the murders, and here you are talking to the widower of one of the victims. Plus, he seems to know what you did today at work." Jeff took a chair and sat down next to Mel. Jax leaned back and observed how Mel would handle the situation....it was obvious the two knew each other.

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"Okay Elizabeth Winters, you can stop yelling at me now. It's not going to change what happened."

"Granny, how could you do it? I specifically told you not to go to the Philippines. But did you listen to me? NO!!! Instead you went ahead and did the exact opposite and nearly got yourself killed in the process."

"I think you've already stressed that point enough, Honey," Jerry piped into the argument. He sighed in exasperation, Libby had been yelling at her grandmother ever since the plane had taken off, and that was over an hour ago. "You know it's not going to do any good. The old lady has no remorse in scaring you to death....get over it."

The two women turned and glared at him. He raised his hands in surrender, "Okay, okay, I'll stay out of it."

"How dare you call me old!" Hazel said indignantly. "I'll bet I could beat you in a race any time you lazy bum."

Jerry grinned at her, "I just bet you could, you old fool!"

"Now before Libby goes off another lecture, I'm going to go lay down for a while." Hazel said as she went into the small room with a bed in it. She closed the door on Libby's sigh.

"Why do you encourage her?" Libby demanded of Jerry, her hands on her hips, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

Jerry grinned and walked towards her, "You are the one that got her involved in the first place. So don't go blaming me."

"Don't remind me. I don't know what I was thinking about!"

"Ummmmm, maybe you had your mind on other things," Jerry said as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his body, his lips nuzzling her neck.

Libby pulled away from him, "Would you quit! My grandmother is only a few feet away!"

"Then you'll have to be quieter than you normally are....I promise not to excite you so much that you yell the plane down!" He said as he pulled her back into his arms where she belonged.

"Jerry, would you be serious for a moment?" Libby said, tilting her head to the side so he could have better access to her neck.

"I am being serious. I'm seriously trying to give you a hickey....right here..." he sucked on her neck as she moaned, "Ummmmm, tasty."

"Jerry........"

"Yes, Luv?" he said as he nibbled his way down her throat. His hands busy unbuttoning her blouse.

"Jerry...."

"MmmmmmHmmmmm," Jerry mumbled, distracted with the now naked sight of her breasts.

"What do you think Miranda was doing back in the Philippines?"

Jerry pulled his head back and looked into her eyes, "Are you telling me, that while I'm trying to make love to you, you are thinking about Miranda?"

"Well, think about it! If she had someone move her stuff out of her house, why would she need to go to there?"

"I don't know. Hey, I've got an idea...let's get back to making love. Are you a member of the mile high club?"

Libby pulled out of his arms, "Do you know what I think?"

"Very rarely," Jerry said with a sigh.

"I think that Miranda some how found out we were digging into her background and she's trying to cover her tracks."

"Probably"

"And I think that there was something in the Philippines that she didn't want us to find," Libby said as she began to pace the airplane. Jerry rolled his eyes and sat on the couch.

Libby continued her train of thought, "I wonder what it could be that would make her leave Port Charles in such a hurry."

"Maybe she just needed to sell her artwork for some cash. Dad and I aren't footing her bill anymore."

"Possibly.....but then she could have done that on the phone....nope, something else made her head back to her hidey hole." Libby continued her pacing and as she walked past Jerry he grabbed her and yanked her down in his lap. "Hey!"

"How about putting all that concentration on me for a change." Jerry said as he unsnapped her jeans.

"You?"

"Yes! Me!" His hand stroked the softness of her stomach and he groaned as he buried his head in her breasts. "I need you Libby...." he moaned as he took a breast into his mouth. Libby moaned and ran her fingers through his hair pulling his head closer. The two were lost in each other, their movements synchronized to bring their ultimate pleasure. Clothes were shed quickly and Jerry laid her back on the couch and looked at her, his eyes turning smokey as passion overtook him. Libby wrapped her legs around him and brought him to her, "Ahhh Libby.....my Libby....."

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Jerry wrapped the blanket around them as he pulled her back against his chest. Their breathing was returning to normal. He stroked her back gently as she placed tiny kisses on his chest.

"I suppose this is where I pull out my shotgun and ask when the wedding is going to be," Hazel's voice startled them.

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End of Chapter 33

HollyJo