Chapter 22 A Grand Romance
by: Eov675
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Chapter 22
V’s apt above the Outback
“James, we need to know where you and Tess met to exchange information. Did
you have a set time that you checked in with each other?” Felicia was trying her
best to get James to cooperate in the investigation.
“Felicia, we didn’t need a set time. As long as I was Mac we came and went as
need be. She was using the fake investigation with you as a cover to come here
and talk to me. If she needed me to watch Mac then she asked, but she only did
that twice. She didn’t want Mac to see me, so she made sure he was drugged
before I showed up at the cabin.” James responded wanting to help Felicia so
she would believe that he really did love her. He wanted a life with her.
“But Mac did see you, that is how he knew there were two of you. Didn’t you tell
Tess about the conversation the two of you had at the cabin? Oh, of course not,
that is when you offered to switch lives with Mac, so you could be with me.”
Felicia sarcastically countered. She was tired, both physically and mentally and
she just wanted this to be over.
“Felicia, I do love you. I know its hard for you to believe it since I am involved in
all this, but I fell for you and the life we could have. I finally want to have a chance
at that life.” James almost pleaded knowing that the only way out of this mess
was to get Felicia on his side.
“James, its not your life, its Mac’s. Now unless you are going to offer up some
information that will be helpful in unraveling this plan of Tess’s and her partner,
then I guess I will just have to put the gag back on you.” Felicia got up and
approached the chair that they had James securely tied to.
“Felicia, all I ever knew was that I was suppose to become Mac Scorpio. She
made me watch how he walked, talked, and quizzed me on his life. I must have
done a pretty good job because you believed me, right up until you saw us both
in the stairwell.” James said confidently.
“Believe me you weren’t that good James. Your appearance made up for the
little things you missed that makes Mac, Mac. Your right you had me fooled, but I
was suspicious, I just didn’t expect that there could be someone else that looked
exactly like Mac, especially after we viewed your corpse. I must say that was the
best part of yours and Tess’s plan. It gave you time. What I want to know was
what you needed the time for? Why did you have to become Mac?” Felicia
asked as she stood behind James about to place the gag back on him.
“I don’t know Felicia. I kept telling her it was taking to long that someone might
find out I wasn’t Mac. Especially Robin, since we didn’t know much about their
relationship. Everything we knew about Mac, Tess and I had observed or read
just prior and during the time I was acting like Mac. I got in it for the money, but
then I fell for you and I just wanted it over so we could have our life.” James
answered.
“What did you just say James? That you and Tess didn’t know anything about
Mac prior to starting this job? Are you sure Tess didn’t know anything?” Felicia
wanted to be clear about this because she thought Tess must have had a file on
Mac, a history.
“Well Tess had a file that she made me study but she always kept it with her. It
had newspaper clippings and pictures. Most about him being police
commissioner, or owner of the Outback. It mentioned him to in an article about
Robin. If Tess knows more about Mac she never shared that information with
me. In fact that is what got is in trouble when I didn’t know what happened on
Mac’s last birthday, or his relationship with Dara.”
“Wait you just said you didn’t know what happened on Mac’s last birthday.”
Felicia began to pace, her mind clicking through the events of Mac’s birthday the
year before. “It’s not Miranda,” Felicia sighed almost inaudibly.
Just then Mac came through the front door, stopping to shake the snow from his
shoes. “Hey, what’s going on, you don’t look to happy. Has he been giving you a
hard time?” Mac questioned as he pointed past Felicia to James.
“No, in fact he just made me realize that Tess’s partner couldn’t be Miranda. If
Miranda needs us to believe James is Mac she would have made sure they had
as much information to keep this ruse up.” Felicia said as she moved across the
room to stand in front of Mac.
“So, what are you telling me Felicia?”
“James just told me, or reminded me that he didn’t know what happened a year
ago on your birthday. That is why I became so upset with you or James rather. I
tried to continue with the practical joke from last year and I didn’t get the reaction
I wanted. The reason I didn’t is because he didn’t know about last years gift, or
your break-up with Katherine. Miranda would have known both of those things,
and I am sure would have included it in the file about you for James to study.”
Felicia moved in closer to Mac, she took his hand knowing he was going to be
devastated. Now they would need to turn the investigation towards someone
else, the question was who?
“Let’s get V on the phone, it’s more important than ever for her not to lose Tess.”
Mac said as he squeezed Felicia’s hand and reached for the phone.
“Hello, this is V.”
“V, this is Mac. Are you still following Tess?” Mac asked nervously.
“Yes, Mac. It looks as though she is headed for the Rochester airport. I am still
following at a safe distance, since the tracking device is still working that I put on
her car at the cabin. I still don’t think she knows she is being followed but once
we get in the airport and she leaves the car, it is going to be hard for me if I can’t
get close to her.”
“Stay on her V. If you see her at a counter buying tickets call, and we will get you
booked on that flight too. We don’t think her partner is Miranda so we need to
make sure we don’t lose her. Do you understand V. This is our only chance.”
Mac pleaded.
“Mac, are you sure you don’t want to go to the police? If I lose her we won’t ever
know who was behind the kidnapping or what they wanted to accomplish by
impersonating you.”
“If we get Tess, that’s all we get V. She isn’t going to talk. The plan could
possibly still be implemented without either of them, that’s the uncertainty of all of
this. Without knowing who ordered or paid for Tess to pull this caper off, the
threat to me and possibly friends and family with still be there.” Mac paced as he
ran his fingers through his hair.
“I’ll do my best Mac, but what about Jax, he will be expecting me in the morning?”
“V, Felicia can call Jax and let her know that you aren’t feeling well. That will give
us at least today to figure out our next moves. Don’t worry, leave Jax to us.”
“Okay, Mac but I love my job there, so I don’t want to lose it.” V responded with
apprehension. She certainly didn’t mind helping out Mac and Felicia, but they
weren’t paying her salary, and Jax was. She needed to make sure nothing was
going to interfere with her keeping her position with J & J Jacks.
“V. I promise, I will make everything alright with Jax. Just keep following Tess,
and if you need a plane ticket call. Check in if you can at least every three hours
so we know you are safe. Take your disguise bag with you as your carry-on
luggage. You might want to keep switching wigs, or glasses or hats when you
get a chance, especially if you are following her on foot, because she will be
watching her back.”
“Okay, Mac. We are just a few miles from the entrance to the airport. I am going
to have to get closer to her as we enter the parking lot so I don’t lose her. I’ll call
you if we go into the terminal.”
“Thanks V. This means alot.”
“No problem sir, just glad I can help. Talk to you soon.” V. hung up the cell phone
and went back to concentrating on the car ahead in the distance.
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Port Charles Hotel
“Good evening and welcome to the Port Charles Hotel. How may I assist you
this morning?” Carl asked to the well groomed gentleman standing in front of
him at the desk. Highly unusual he was thinking for a businessman to be
checking into a hotel in the middle of the night.
“Yes, I have a reservation. I believe my secretary, Miss Jameson called ahead
and advised you that I would be arriving late due to weather conditions. I’m Mitch
Wright.”
“Oh, yes Mr. Wright, we were notified of your delay. Let me get your key and
have the bellboy show you to your suite. Your suite #2901.” Carl motioned to the
bellboy who had been attending to Mr. Wright’s luggage since his limo had
pulled into the valet ring.
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Geneva Switzerland
Jerry disembarked the plane, and met the limo driver outside on the tarmac. He
was on his way to question the headmaster about a skiing accident that had
happened almost seven years before. Jerry had noticed the school name was
listed at the bottom with the year, on the back of the picture of Miranda he had
retrieved from the photo album. Aiglon School 1989. Jerry wanted to find out
why Mitch Wright had a sister named Natasha that was killed in an avalanche,
that was a dead ringer for Miranda Jameson, Jax’s first wife. Did Mitch really
not know that his sister had survived and was living under the assumed name of
Miranda Jameson? Or did Natasha survive the accident but wanted everyone to
believe she was dead, and if so why? Or was Miranda planning something and
had revealed her identity to her brother Mitch, and were they both working
together? Or was this just one of those cases where everyone has a twin in the
world?
Jerry glanced down at his watch. He was sure that Jax would be wanting to start
the conference call soon to discuss the reports he had faxed last evening. He
had contacted Addie and asked her to let Jax know that he wouldn’t be available
till later in the morning. He requested her to reschedule the meeting for 11:00am,
Port Charles time.
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Manhattan offices of J & J Jacks
7:30 am
Addie had tried to reach Jax but to no avail to reschedule the conference call.
She left a message on both his private line, and office line. She was genuinely
perplexed when she was unable to reach V. She thumbed through the rolodex to
find V’s home phone number. Addie picked up phone and dialed.
Half-asleep Felicia reached for the ringing phone. “Hello.”
“V. this is Addie. I am trying to reach Mr. Jacks....”
Felicia cut Addie off in mid-sentence, “Addie, I’m sorry this is Felicia. V isn’t
feeling well, and I was suppose to call and let Jax know that this morning.”
“Well, that is why I was calling V. I am trying to reach Mr. Jacks. “ Addie
responded trying to limit this conversation with a stranger concerning anything to
do with Mr. Jacks.
“If he isn’t back at the penthouse you might try Brenda’s. Do you have that
number?” Felicia asked now a little guarded with the information she was giving
out.
“Yes, I have that number. Thank you for your help. Good day.” Addie said
formally.
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The Cottage
The phone rang, startling Jax. He had been enjoying watching Brenda sleep.
She looked like an angel, calm and serene. Certainly different from the
emotionally distressed Brenda he had found late last night. Jax reached over
and picked up the phone hoping not to wake Brenda.
“Hello.”
“Mr. Jacks? This is Addie.” She was surprised that he had answered the phone.
“Yes, Addie. What can I do for you?” Jax himself surprised that she had called
Brenda’s.
“I’m sorry to disturb you sir. I tried to reach you through V., but a friend of hers,
Felicia, says she isn’t feeling well and that I might be able to reach you here.”
Addie answered trying not to be uncomfortable with the intrusion into Mr. Jacks
personal life.
“Is there something wrong Addie?” Jax questioned concerned after hearing
about V.
“No sir, Mr. Jerry just asked me to contact you and try to reschedule the 9:00 am
conference call to 11:00am. He had something come up that needed his
immediate attention. Since V isn’t available do you want me to contact the other
parties to reschedule?”
Jax took note of the time from the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand. “Yes
Addie, if you could contact Ned Ashton, Edward Quartermaine, Jason Morgan,
and John and reschedule this I would be grateful. If there is a problem
rescheduling for 11:00am see if they can reschedule for the same time tomorrow
morning. I will call you once I get into the office.”
“Yes, Mr. Jacks I’ll handle that for you. Is there anything else I can help you with
this morning?”
“No, that’ll be all. Thanks again, Addie. “ Jax responded as he hung up the
phone. He looked over his shoulder to see Brenda looking up at him with her
sexy brown bedroom eyes.
Brenda had turned over, her body following his when he answered the phone.
She was laying on her side with her right arm wrapped around his waist, and her
left hand playing with his hair at the base of his neck. She leaned in closer and
placed gentle kisses from the center of his shoulder blades to the top of the
waistband on his boxers.
“Good morning,” Jax smiled as he gazed at her over his shoulder. His body
tingling from the kisses she had placed down his back. Oh, how he had missed
waking up to her.
“That it is.” Brenda purred as her hand slipped from Jax waist and moved
between the material opening in his boxers. She gently stroked him, as she
gently ran her leg up and down his. Bringing her body as close to his as
possible.
Jax hated to discourage Brenda but he knew she had an appointment with Gail
at 9:00 am. He reached up and removed the phone from the cradle. “You might
want to call and reschedule your appointment this morning Miss Barrett.”
Brenda then to remembered her appointment with Gail, and her plans with Robin
for the morning. She knew it was important to Robin, plus she knew that Jax had
cleared his schedule so they could spend the afternoon together. Brenda shook
her head no, as Jax held out the phone. “I can’t cancel Jax. I’m sorry. I guess we
will just have to save something for later. “ She winked as she watched Jax
return the phone to the cradle.
He turned over facing her. He took her in his arms, nuzzling her neck, he
whispered, “So you are telling me you aren’t going to finish what you started?”
“Jax, I don’t want to disappoint Robin, and I really do need to keep that
appointment with Gail. Remember I was also going to try to talk to Lee this
morning.”
“So, I see. It’s okay to disappoint me. “ Jax teased as he surprised her with a
tickle attack.
“Jax, Jax, stop...” Brenda giggled as she squirmed to reach behind her for a
pillow. She grabbed hold and started to swing, but Jax caught her wrist.
“So now you’re playing dirty. Guess you like your punishment huh?” Jax
continued to tickle Brenda as she giggled and gasped, trying her best to free
herself from his grasp.
They were both startled as they heard a knock on the door. “Just wanted to let
you kids know that there is coffee and juice waiting for you when your done
playing.” Robin laughed as she stood on the other side of the door, happy to
hear laughter instead of screams.
“Thanks Robin,” Brenda called out, we’ll be down shortly.
“Busted.” Jax and Brenda said in unison. They kissed each other gently and
hugged.
“Jax, why don’t you go ahead and take your shower, and I’ll call Lee to see if he
can meet with me after I see Gail.”
“Okay, and then while you are showering I’ll make a couple of calls.” Jax said as
he slid out of bed and made his way to the bathroom.
Brenda looked longingly after him, then picked up her address book. “Lee, this is
Brenda Barrett I was wondering if you might be able to make some time for me
after 10:00am. It seems the police want to ask me some questions about the
pharmacy break-in at the Port Charles hotel. “
“Sure Brenda, that would be fine. Where would you like to meet?”
“Well, I have an appointment with Gail at 9:00am so I was wondering if we could
meet in your office at the hospital after that?” Brenda inquired.
“That would be perfect Brenda, since I planned on working at the hospital this
morning. I’ll see you at ten.”
“Thanks Lee, see you then.” Brenda hung up the phone and jumped out of bed.
Quietly she opened the bathroom door, slid out of her silk pajamas, and stepped
into the shower to join Jax.
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