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Title: Just Between Friends
Author: speedy
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Expecting her second child and caught up in a mafia war, Carly Corinthos has a secret that will change the lives of everyone she knows.
Disclaimer: I'm not the Rat, so obviously the characters aren't mine. I'm just borrowing them for awhile.
Notes: Just moving this over from my now defunct website. This veers off canon right before the panic room fiasco in 2003.
Chapter 19
Carly sighed. This whole situation was getting too much for her. God knows she spent enough time lying in the past, but it was never her entire life, not like this. Usually it was just to save her own ass.
That was her problem. She wasn't covering for herself, she was covering for the woman who took over her life. Facilitating the lie that was keeping her from her family. And she didn't really know why.
To hell with it, to hell with Charlotte, she thought, pulling out her cell phone out of her jeans pocket. She pushed off the brick wall with her hips; she could feel the cold steel of the gun pressed in her back, hidden underneath her t-shirt.
"Robin?"
She looked up at the sound of her mother's voice. "Hi, Bobbie," she said softly.
Bobbie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Courtney wasn't sure what happened. She said you were with Carly when the cramps started."
"She was angry and upset. She just bent over in pain and collapsed."
She looked down and sighed, resigned. "I know she's been frantic about Sonny. It must've just been too much for her."
"Probably."
"I want to thank you for helping her," she said, smiling. "My daughter's not good at thanking people, but I'm sure she appreciates your support. I know I do."
Carly smiled uneasily. As if Charlotte appreciated anything she did. And Bobbie running interference for her... "It's okay, Bobbie," she replied halfheartedly. "Really. I'm glad to help."
"That's good. Friends aren't her strong suit either, but she seems to have good one in you."
Carly about gagged on that statement. Friends... Yeah, like that was right.
Bobbie hesitated. "Is there any news on Sonny?"
"Not yet. They've got a lead, but that's all I know. I was just calling them..." Carly trailed off, but both knew what she meant.
Bobbie shook her head in disbelief. "I still can't believe Frisco is helping them."
Carly shrugged. "He's a helpful guy."
"Oh, you must not have seen his nasty side in action," the redhead said, rolling her eyes. "And man, does he hold a grudge."
Anyone who had ever met Frisco Jones knew about that part of him. It wasn't exactly secret. "I know all about his grudges," she replied, smirking.
"Carly is one of those. He's very protective of Tony and some stuff went down with him and Carly..."
She wasn't hearing this. Her mother wasn't making excuses for Frisco's anger towards her, not after everything that happened. And it wasn't like Tony was an innocent victim. He was the one that was cheating, he was as guilty as she was.
"I won't go into the details, but it was very messy and Frisco has always held a grudge against her. Add in Sonny's chosen profession... I just can't believe he's putting himself on the line for Carly's husband."
He didn't do it for Charlotte or for Sonny, Carly knew that much. "Maybe it was more Courtney. She was the one who asked for his help."
"Probably." Bobbie reached out and squeezed her hand, giving her a grateful smile. "You'll let me know if you find anything out?"
"Of course."
"Thank you again, Robin."
Carly just watched her mother go back inside, to the imposter's side. Her blood was beginning boil. The whole conversation was surreal. Hell, the whole freaking day was surreal.
Screw it, she had a phone call to make and she hoped Frisco actually had good news.
Men were getting into place. Jason and Frisco had continued their surveillance, making plans by phone. Alcazar hadn't left, something that bugged Frisco. He couldn't help feeling like they were being set up.
"This looks like a good place," Jason said.
They were looking at the blueprints of the building, trying to decide which room Sonny was being held in. Entrances were easy, getting through the building wasn't going to be.
"No, too open. It's a functioning warehouse, Alcazar wouldn't put a hostage out in the open like that."
"Oh, come on! His men are in on it, he could have suspended operations for a few days."
"This is Port Charles, it wouldn't be wise to let local dock workers in on it since the kidnapee is the local mob boss."
"Well, where do you suggest?" Jason sneered.
Frisco looked closely at the blueprints and then at the activity reports. Office would be a possibility, since the doors could be locked. But then again, what were the odds of an empty office? File room looked good. Door locks, multiple entrances. A back hallway, the main office, and the main warehouse. Privacy, security, access.
"File room," Frisco told him. "Best strategic location."
Jason looked adamant. "Easy access in and out from the warehouse floor."
"File room gives them privacy, access to the back entrance and security."
Jason seemed to mull it over. Frisco could see the young man come to the same conclusion. "Admit it, you know I'm right," he said, smirking.
"I'm not admitting anything," Jason said, giving the agent his usual Borg-ish glare.
The agent wasn't fazed. "Whatever."
"You ready to go in?"
Frisco grumbled. "We stay out here much longer it won't be a surprise."
Carly slumped in the uncomfortable waiting room chair. Why did hospitals always buy bench-type, hard-as-rock chairs that cut off circulation to the butt cheeks for the one area that people – sick, injured or just worried – would be sitting for hours? Maybe she should use her newfound sweetness to lobby for new ER chairs. Chairs that had something that could remotely be called a cushion.
The phone calls were a bust. Neither Frisco nor Jason were answering their cell phones. How they heck did they expect to get any news if they didn't bother to pick up? It wasn't as if she had been checking up every few hours. This was important. Not quite an emergency yet, but still important enough that Jason needed to know.
She'd even taken the time to call the penthouse to check on Michael. He was understandably upset, but for the most part okay. Leticia was keeping him distracted with cartoons and games. Part of her was glad that it was the nanny with him and not Charlotte or Blondie. Leticia could at least be trusted.
A pair of jeans suddenly appeared in her view. She looked up. Speak of the devil and Blondie magically appears.
"Did you talk to Jason?"
Carly stood up and shook her head. "I left a message on his voicemail, and on Andy's. I told them it was urgent. I'm sure one of them will call back soon. I called Leticia and Michael's okay. He's still worried, but he's okay."
Courtney sighed, revealing her worry. She tried to give Carly a smile. "I don't know what we'd do without you, Robin. I'm a mess, now this..." She pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tightly. "I don't think I'd be able to handle this as calmly as you."
Carly was shocked, didn't know how to react. Her confusion was written all over her face, but she managed to put on a weak smile when Blondie let go of her.
"Thank you so much. You and Frisco have been such good friends for being here and helping us through this."
"No... No problem," Carly stammered, unsure of what to say. Thanks and compliments weren't things she usually received. Insults, threats to take her baby away, getting dumped on for twits like Blondie... That was more her arena.
The blonde kept on going. "No, really. You guys didn't have to do this, you don't have to be here now, but you are, and you're taking care of stuff so we don't have to..."
Oh god, Blondie was rambling blondly.
"Courtney, it's okay. Why don't you go back in with Carly?" she said, gently pushing her back to the curtained area of the ER. "Let her know Michael's alright?"
Courtney hugged her again. "Thank you, Robin. I won't forget this, I promise."
Carly sighed, falling back into the uncomfortable chair. Much longer spent in Blondie's presence and she was going to strangle her. How on earth could Jason stand her twenty-four hours a day? Even Frisco had admitted the girl could be annoying.
She glanced at her phone. "Come on, Frisco," she groaned softly. "Where the hell are you?"
The old grainer warehouse was quiet. Jason had sent two men in disguised as deliverymen, wired for sound and video. They had inadvertently discovered the shifts were about to change and there was a ten minute period when the warehouse would be practically empty.
That would be the best time to strike, the first and only thing Jason and Frisco had actually agreed on.
There were twenty men in all, far more than Frisco really wanted to work with. More men just meant more blood to be shed.
They were gathered near the entrances, each team understanding their roles. Frisco led one team in through a side entrance, Jason was with another team at the front and a third was posted around the perimeter. They were in contact through radios, but at the moment, they were silent.
Ready or not, it was time to go.
The two groups snuck in quickly, clinging as close to the walls as possible. Frisco spotted the younger man on the far side of the building. Men began taking places behind boxes, preparing to lay down cover fire if necessary, according to the plan. A smaller group broke off from Frisco's group and headed to clear the office.
A shot rang out and Alcazar's men emerged, seemingly from the very woodwork. The Corinthos muscle returned the fire and soon all that could be heard through the warehouse was the sound of automatic gunfire.
Gun drawn and ready, Frisco grabbed a man and ran for the file room, staying to the outside and undercover. The two men dashed from box to box, trying to stay out of the line of fire.
Seeing him from the far side of the building, Jason stepped out from the boxes and did the same.
Carly stepped out of the elevator. Charlotte had been transferred up to a room and the cramping was beginning to stop. Things were looking better for her, but that Jason still couldn't be reached.
Maybe it was a good sign, maybe they had found Sonny.
She rounded the corner to Charlotte's room. She stopped in tracks when she spotted Courtney and Ric, just outside of the room. She backed up, staying out of sight. She could hear Courtney's voice, more venomous than she'd ever heard her.
"This is not your baby, Ric."
A large Latino man burst out of the file room and fired several shots. Frisco was hit directly in the chest, sending him to the floor. The man behind him wasn't so lucky, the shot hitting him in the neck. Frisco got off one round as he fell and the large man paled, collapsing.
Jason stood behind him, gun smoking.
Frisco picked himself off the floor, thanking the heavens above for bulletproof vests. The two men rushed into the file room, guns first.
Sonny was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, flanked by three more guards. He was obviously beaten, but otherwise all right from outward appearances. Lorenzo Alcazar stood by the back door, unsurprised by the interruption.
Jason immediately fired from the doorway, hitting two of the guards. They returned fire, covering their boss. One of Jason's men joined him, using the door as cover.
Frisco easily ducked the shots as he went to Sonny's side and began to untie the ropes holding him.
One by one, each of Alcazar's guards fell.
Frisco looked up as the shots stopped. Lorenzo Alcazar was nowhere to be seen. He had slipped out of the back entrance during the shooting. Frisco ran after him, Jason on his heels. They rushed through the hallway, only close enough to catch a glimpse of the arms dealer ahead of them.
Carly was stunned. Why would Ric think Charlotte's baby was his, unless...
Charlotte's words were the truth. Ric Lansing was a rapist.
"You don't understand, Courtney. It could be mine. There was this night back in February..."
"I know what happened."
"I just need to see her, just for a moment... I need to make sure she's okay..."
"No way! You're the reason she's in here!" the blonde shouted. "If you hadn't shown up at the penthouse, she wouldn't have been having cramps."
Ric's voice was cold. "This is my child. I know it is. I have a right..."
"You have no rights! You raped her!" Courtney got in his face, lowering her voice. "I don't care if it was your DNA. You're not the father, Sonny is."
The darkness in his eyes was the same as Carly had seen in the penthouse. "Don't get in the middle of this, Courtney. You will regret it."
"No way. You'll be the one regretting this." She smirked. "That is, if you live long enough."
Courtney turned on her heel and went back into Charlotte's room, blonde hair flying behind her. Ric stared at the door momentarily before deciding to leave.
Carly quickly moved away from the corner, so it wouldn't look like she was eavesdropping. She grabbed the phone at the empty nurses' station. She set it back down just as Ric rounded the corner.
He gave her a suave smile, one that chilled her to the bone. "Hello, Robin."
"Ric," she said, putting up on a weak façade of civility.
"Did you hear something about Sonny?" he asked, glancing at the phone.
She shook her head. "I don't think we'll hear anything until it's all over."
"Probably," he replied, nodding in agreement. "Have you seen Carly yet?"
"Not really. I've been on the phone."
"Of course." He hesitated. "I'm sorry you had to witness that scene at the penthouse earlier."
Sure, she thought dubiously, but said nothing.
"You know Carly, she's, uh, quite high strung. And with Sonny missing, she's just lashing out at whomever's convenient at that moment."
Yeah, high strung, that's what it was. Had nothing to do with rape. "I'm sure," she said contemptuously. "I need to go talk to Courtney."
She had barely taken two steps away from him before he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Please tell Carly I hope she and the baby feel better soon."
Carly yanked her arm away. "Right."
She walked toward Charlotte's room, trying not to show the fear she felt. Frisco, she had to tell Frisco about this.
Alcazar slowed as he approached a corner, firing off two shots. Frisco and Jason both easily avoided them. They sprinted down the long hallway trying to catch up to him.
But as they rounded the corner themselves, he had disappeared.
Frisco looked down at the floor. A group of tiles were skewed, partially sitting on top of the surrounding tiles. He got his fingers underneath a tile and felt cold air. A trap door.
He lifted the door and saw something he hadn't seen in years. The trap door led directly into the catacombs that ran beneath Port Charles.
Without hesitation, Frisco dropped through the opening, one hand unfortunately occupied with the gun. He slipped, losing his balance. He felt Jason's hands grab his jacket and helped him down.
Alcazar fired a shot, grazing Frisco's leg as he fell. Frisco held his gun but couldn't see the other man in the darkness. He rushed in the direction he thought he'd heard the shot, not waiting for Jason.
He reached a fork, with three other tunnels going in different directions.
"Which way?" Jason asked from behind him.
Another shot answered the question. It came from the right, a tunnel he knew. Maybe.
Jason fired back, much to Frisco's annoyance.
"Hey, be careful!" Frisco scolded him softly. "People live down here."
A light appeared only a short distance down the tunnel, disrupted momentarily by a shadowy figure. The starting of an engine echoed through the enclosed rock.
Jason ran to the light, stumbling over the rocks. He climbed up, out into an alley. Frisco was behind him, unhurried. As he expected, the car and Lorenzo Alcazar were gone.
"Damn it! We had him! We had him!"
The younger man showed uncharacteristic emotion as he kicked a trash can in anger. Frisco looked around, surveying the area. They weren't far from the warehouse. But it was just far enough away, their surveillance would've missed a getaway vehicle, as well as anyone coming or going.
There was no way in hell Lorenzo Alcazar hadn't planned this.
"Let's get back," Frisco said, exhaustion beginning to set in, "the shooting should be over by now."
Chapter 21
Author: speedy
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Expecting her second child and caught up in a mafia war, Carly Corinthos has a secret that will change the lives of everyone she knows.
Disclaimer: I'm not the Rat, so obviously the characters aren't mine. I'm just borrowing them for awhile.
Notes: Just moving this over from my now defunct website. This veers off canon right before the panic room fiasco in 2003.
Chapter 19
Carly sighed. This whole situation was getting too much for her. God knows she spent enough time lying in the past, but it was never her entire life, not like this. Usually it was just to save her own ass.
That was her problem. She wasn't covering for herself, she was covering for the woman who took over her life. Facilitating the lie that was keeping her from her family. And she didn't really know why.
To hell with it, to hell with Charlotte, she thought, pulling out her cell phone out of her jeans pocket. She pushed off the brick wall with her hips; she could feel the cold steel of the gun pressed in her back, hidden underneath her t-shirt.
"Robin?"
She looked up at the sound of her mother's voice. "Hi, Bobbie," she said softly.
Bobbie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Courtney wasn't sure what happened. She said you were with Carly when the cramps started."
"She was angry and upset. She just bent over in pain and collapsed."
She looked down and sighed, resigned. "I know she's been frantic about Sonny. It must've just been too much for her."
"Probably."
"I want to thank you for helping her," she said, smiling. "My daughter's not good at thanking people, but I'm sure she appreciates your support. I know I do."
Carly smiled uneasily. As if Charlotte appreciated anything she did. And Bobbie running interference for her... "It's okay, Bobbie," she replied halfheartedly. "Really. I'm glad to help."
"That's good. Friends aren't her strong suit either, but she seems to have good one in you."
Carly about gagged on that statement. Friends... Yeah, like that was right.
Bobbie hesitated. "Is there any news on Sonny?"
"Not yet. They've got a lead, but that's all I know. I was just calling them..." Carly trailed off, but both knew what she meant.
Bobbie shook her head in disbelief. "I still can't believe Frisco is helping them."
Carly shrugged. "He's a helpful guy."
"Oh, you must not have seen his nasty side in action," the redhead said, rolling her eyes. "And man, does he hold a grudge."
Anyone who had ever met Frisco Jones knew about that part of him. It wasn't exactly secret. "I know all about his grudges," she replied, smirking.
"Carly is one of those. He's very protective of Tony and some stuff went down with him and Carly..."
She wasn't hearing this. Her mother wasn't making excuses for Frisco's anger towards her, not after everything that happened. And it wasn't like Tony was an innocent victim. He was the one that was cheating, he was as guilty as she was.
"I won't go into the details, but it was very messy and Frisco has always held a grudge against her. Add in Sonny's chosen profession... I just can't believe he's putting himself on the line for Carly's husband."
He didn't do it for Charlotte or for Sonny, Carly knew that much. "Maybe it was more Courtney. She was the one who asked for his help."
"Probably." Bobbie reached out and squeezed her hand, giving her a grateful smile. "You'll let me know if you find anything out?"
"Of course."
"Thank you again, Robin."
Carly just watched her mother go back inside, to the imposter's side. Her blood was beginning boil. The whole conversation was surreal. Hell, the whole freaking day was surreal.
Screw it, she had a phone call to make and she hoped Frisco actually had good news.
Men were getting into place. Jason and Frisco had continued their surveillance, making plans by phone. Alcazar hadn't left, something that bugged Frisco. He couldn't help feeling like they were being set up.
"This looks like a good place," Jason said.
They were looking at the blueprints of the building, trying to decide which room Sonny was being held in. Entrances were easy, getting through the building wasn't going to be.
"No, too open. It's a functioning warehouse, Alcazar wouldn't put a hostage out in the open like that."
"Oh, come on! His men are in on it, he could have suspended operations for a few days."
"This is Port Charles, it wouldn't be wise to let local dock workers in on it since the kidnapee is the local mob boss."
"Well, where do you suggest?" Jason sneered.
Frisco looked closely at the blueprints and then at the activity reports. Office would be a possibility, since the doors could be locked. But then again, what were the odds of an empty office? File room looked good. Door locks, multiple entrances. A back hallway, the main office, and the main warehouse. Privacy, security, access.
"File room," Frisco told him. "Best strategic location."
Jason looked adamant. "Easy access in and out from the warehouse floor."
"File room gives them privacy, access to the back entrance and security."
Jason seemed to mull it over. Frisco could see the young man come to the same conclusion. "Admit it, you know I'm right," he said, smirking.
"I'm not admitting anything," Jason said, giving the agent his usual Borg-ish glare.
The agent wasn't fazed. "Whatever."
"You ready to go in?"
Frisco grumbled. "We stay out here much longer it won't be a surprise."
Carly slumped in the uncomfortable waiting room chair. Why did hospitals always buy bench-type, hard-as-rock chairs that cut off circulation to the butt cheeks for the one area that people – sick, injured or just worried – would be sitting for hours? Maybe she should use her newfound sweetness to lobby for new ER chairs. Chairs that had something that could remotely be called a cushion.
The phone calls were a bust. Neither Frisco nor Jason were answering their cell phones. How they heck did they expect to get any news if they didn't bother to pick up? It wasn't as if she had been checking up every few hours. This was important. Not quite an emergency yet, but still important enough that Jason needed to know.
She'd even taken the time to call the penthouse to check on Michael. He was understandably upset, but for the most part okay. Leticia was keeping him distracted with cartoons and games. Part of her was glad that it was the nanny with him and not Charlotte or Blondie. Leticia could at least be trusted.
A pair of jeans suddenly appeared in her view. She looked up. Speak of the devil and Blondie magically appears.
"Did you talk to Jason?"
Carly stood up and shook her head. "I left a message on his voicemail, and on Andy's. I told them it was urgent. I'm sure one of them will call back soon. I called Leticia and Michael's okay. He's still worried, but he's okay."
Courtney sighed, revealing her worry. She tried to give Carly a smile. "I don't know what we'd do without you, Robin. I'm a mess, now this..." She pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tightly. "I don't think I'd be able to handle this as calmly as you."
Carly was shocked, didn't know how to react. Her confusion was written all over her face, but she managed to put on a weak smile when Blondie let go of her.
"Thank you so much. You and Frisco have been such good friends for being here and helping us through this."
"No... No problem," Carly stammered, unsure of what to say. Thanks and compliments weren't things she usually received. Insults, threats to take her baby away, getting dumped on for twits like Blondie... That was more her arena.
The blonde kept on going. "No, really. You guys didn't have to do this, you don't have to be here now, but you are, and you're taking care of stuff so we don't have to..."
Oh god, Blondie was rambling blondly.
"Courtney, it's okay. Why don't you go back in with Carly?" she said, gently pushing her back to the curtained area of the ER. "Let her know Michael's alright?"
Courtney hugged her again. "Thank you, Robin. I won't forget this, I promise."
Carly sighed, falling back into the uncomfortable chair. Much longer spent in Blondie's presence and she was going to strangle her. How on earth could Jason stand her twenty-four hours a day? Even Frisco had admitted the girl could be annoying.
She glanced at her phone. "Come on, Frisco," she groaned softly. "Where the hell are you?"
The old grainer warehouse was quiet. Jason had sent two men in disguised as deliverymen, wired for sound and video. They had inadvertently discovered the shifts were about to change and there was a ten minute period when the warehouse would be practically empty.
That would be the best time to strike, the first and only thing Jason and Frisco had actually agreed on.
There were twenty men in all, far more than Frisco really wanted to work with. More men just meant more blood to be shed.
They were gathered near the entrances, each team understanding their roles. Frisco led one team in through a side entrance, Jason was with another team at the front and a third was posted around the perimeter. They were in contact through radios, but at the moment, they were silent.
Ready or not, it was time to go.
The two groups snuck in quickly, clinging as close to the walls as possible. Frisco spotted the younger man on the far side of the building. Men began taking places behind boxes, preparing to lay down cover fire if necessary, according to the plan. A smaller group broke off from Frisco's group and headed to clear the office.
A shot rang out and Alcazar's men emerged, seemingly from the very woodwork. The Corinthos muscle returned the fire and soon all that could be heard through the warehouse was the sound of automatic gunfire.
Gun drawn and ready, Frisco grabbed a man and ran for the file room, staying to the outside and undercover. The two men dashed from box to box, trying to stay out of the line of fire.
Seeing him from the far side of the building, Jason stepped out from the boxes and did the same.
Carly stepped out of the elevator. Charlotte had been transferred up to a room and the cramping was beginning to stop. Things were looking better for her, but that Jason still couldn't be reached.
Maybe it was a good sign, maybe they had found Sonny.
She rounded the corner to Charlotte's room. She stopped in tracks when she spotted Courtney and Ric, just outside of the room. She backed up, staying out of sight. She could hear Courtney's voice, more venomous than she'd ever heard her.
"This is not your baby, Ric."
A large Latino man burst out of the file room and fired several shots. Frisco was hit directly in the chest, sending him to the floor. The man behind him wasn't so lucky, the shot hitting him in the neck. Frisco got off one round as he fell and the large man paled, collapsing.
Jason stood behind him, gun smoking.
Frisco picked himself off the floor, thanking the heavens above for bulletproof vests. The two men rushed into the file room, guns first.
Sonny was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, flanked by three more guards. He was obviously beaten, but otherwise all right from outward appearances. Lorenzo Alcazar stood by the back door, unsurprised by the interruption.
Jason immediately fired from the doorway, hitting two of the guards. They returned fire, covering their boss. One of Jason's men joined him, using the door as cover.
Frisco easily ducked the shots as he went to Sonny's side and began to untie the ropes holding him.
One by one, each of Alcazar's guards fell.
Frisco looked up as the shots stopped. Lorenzo Alcazar was nowhere to be seen. He had slipped out of the back entrance during the shooting. Frisco ran after him, Jason on his heels. They rushed through the hallway, only close enough to catch a glimpse of the arms dealer ahead of them.
Carly was stunned. Why would Ric think Charlotte's baby was his, unless...
Charlotte's words were the truth. Ric Lansing was a rapist.
"You don't understand, Courtney. It could be mine. There was this night back in February..."
"I know what happened."
"I just need to see her, just for a moment... I need to make sure she's okay..."
"No way! You're the reason she's in here!" the blonde shouted. "If you hadn't shown up at the penthouse, she wouldn't have been having cramps."
Ric's voice was cold. "This is my child. I know it is. I have a right..."
"You have no rights! You raped her!" Courtney got in his face, lowering her voice. "I don't care if it was your DNA. You're not the father, Sonny is."
The darkness in his eyes was the same as Carly had seen in the penthouse. "Don't get in the middle of this, Courtney. You will regret it."
"No way. You'll be the one regretting this." She smirked. "That is, if you live long enough."
Courtney turned on her heel and went back into Charlotte's room, blonde hair flying behind her. Ric stared at the door momentarily before deciding to leave.
Carly quickly moved away from the corner, so it wouldn't look like she was eavesdropping. She grabbed the phone at the empty nurses' station. She set it back down just as Ric rounded the corner.
He gave her a suave smile, one that chilled her to the bone. "Hello, Robin."
"Ric," she said, putting up on a weak façade of civility.
"Did you hear something about Sonny?" he asked, glancing at the phone.
She shook her head. "I don't think we'll hear anything until it's all over."
"Probably," he replied, nodding in agreement. "Have you seen Carly yet?"
"Not really. I've been on the phone."
"Of course." He hesitated. "I'm sorry you had to witness that scene at the penthouse earlier."
Sure, she thought dubiously, but said nothing.
"You know Carly, she's, uh, quite high strung. And with Sonny missing, she's just lashing out at whomever's convenient at that moment."
Yeah, high strung, that's what it was. Had nothing to do with rape. "I'm sure," she said contemptuously. "I need to go talk to Courtney."
She had barely taken two steps away from him before he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Please tell Carly I hope she and the baby feel better soon."
Carly yanked her arm away. "Right."
She walked toward Charlotte's room, trying not to show the fear she felt. Frisco, she had to tell Frisco about this.
Alcazar slowed as he approached a corner, firing off two shots. Frisco and Jason both easily avoided them. They sprinted down the long hallway trying to catch up to him.
But as they rounded the corner themselves, he had disappeared.
Frisco looked down at the floor. A group of tiles were skewed, partially sitting on top of the surrounding tiles. He got his fingers underneath a tile and felt cold air. A trap door.
He lifted the door and saw something he hadn't seen in years. The trap door led directly into the catacombs that ran beneath Port Charles.
Without hesitation, Frisco dropped through the opening, one hand unfortunately occupied with the gun. He slipped, losing his balance. He felt Jason's hands grab his jacket and helped him down.
Alcazar fired a shot, grazing Frisco's leg as he fell. Frisco held his gun but couldn't see the other man in the darkness. He rushed in the direction he thought he'd heard the shot, not waiting for Jason.
He reached a fork, with three other tunnels going in different directions.
"Which way?" Jason asked from behind him.
Another shot answered the question. It came from the right, a tunnel he knew. Maybe.
Jason fired back, much to Frisco's annoyance.
"Hey, be careful!" Frisco scolded him softly. "People live down here."
A light appeared only a short distance down the tunnel, disrupted momentarily by a shadowy figure. The starting of an engine echoed through the enclosed rock.
Jason ran to the light, stumbling over the rocks. He climbed up, out into an alley. Frisco was behind him, unhurried. As he expected, the car and Lorenzo Alcazar were gone.
"Damn it! We had him! We had him!"
The younger man showed uncharacteristic emotion as he kicked a trash can in anger. Frisco looked around, surveying the area. They weren't far from the warehouse. But it was just far enough away, their surveillance would've missed a getaway vehicle, as well as anyone coming or going.
There was no way in hell Lorenzo Alcazar hadn't planned this.
"Let's get back," Frisco said, exhaustion beginning to set in, "the shooting should be over by now."
Chapter 21
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