Disclaimer: (legal stuff) All General Hospital characters andsettings
are the property of the American Broadcasting Company & areused
without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. Ariel
Wiseman and Victoria Cassadine are mine and may be used with my
consent. I claim responsibility for all situations representedherein.
The doorman at the Port Charles Hotel opens the door for awoman and
signals the bell captain to send a bell person for her luggage.She
approaches the check-in desk; the desk clerk smile, "Goodafternoon.
Welcome to the Port Charles Hotel. Do you have a reservation?"
"Good afternoon. Yes, I have a reservation, though I'm not sure ifmy
secretary made for Wiseman Jewels or Ariel Wiseman."
The clerk checks her computer. "It is under Wiseman Jewels forthe
Princess Suite. Are you Ms. Wiseman."
"Yes."
"This was delivered for you last night," the clerk hands Ariel aFedEx
package, "and this came this morning by courier." She gives Ariel asmall
metal case.
"Thank you, do I have any phone messages?"
"Yes, here they are," the clerk hands Ariel three messages.
Ariel signs the registration card and the desk clerk hands the bellperson
the key saying, "The Princess Suite for Ms. Wiseman." The clerk turnsto
Ariel, "if there is anything you need, please call the desk. Havea
wonderful stay."
"I hope so. Thank you." Ariel and the bell person head for theelevators
as Ned Ashton enters the hotel.
Ned approaches the hotel desk. The desk clerk looks up from herpaperwork,
"Good afternoon, Mr. Ashton. How may I help you?"
"Who was that, that just checked in?"
"Ms. Ariel Wiseman from Wiseman Jewels."
"That's why I recognize her. Wonder why she's here," Ned said moreto
himself than to anyone.
"Mr. Ashton?"
"Send Ms. Wiseman a bottle of one of our fine wines compliments ofthe
hotel management."
"Yes, Mr. Ashton." The clerk picks up the phone to order the winewhile
Ned enters the Grill.
Ariel is in her suite and is looking at the phone messages. She hasplaced
the FedEx package and the metal case on the desk, while her briefcasesits
on the floor. The bell person is unpacking her luggage in thebedroom.
Ariel puts the phone messages down and picks up the package and opensit.
She withdraws what looks like a business report, the front coversays
'Wiseman Jewels, The Port Charles Expansion.' She opens it. Thebell
person returns from the bedroom and Ariel puts down the report. "Ihope
you have a pleasant stay, Ms. Wiseman," handing her the key to thesuite,
"if you need any assistance please call me. My name is Wilfred."
"Thank you, Wilfred. I will." Ariel hands the bell person his tip ashe
leaves the suite.
Just as the bell person is leaving, a man with a bottle of winearrives at
the door. "Ms. Wiseman, welcome to the Port Charles Hotel. I amFrancis
Scott, the hotel manager." Mr. Scott hands Ariel the bottle ofwine,
"Compliments of Ned Ashton and the hotel management."
Ariel takes the wine, "Thank you, Mr. Scott."
"Would you like me to show you where the room safe is and how toreprogram
it?" Mr. Scott inquired.
"Yes, that would be nice."
Mr. Scott walks to the dining area by the serving cart. Above thecart
hangs a large picture of a bowl of orchids. Mr. Scott swings thepicture
open, revealing a wall safe. He withdraws a small device that lookslike a
TV remote control from his pocket. "These new programmable safeshave
really made hotel room safes much more practical." He punches a setof
numbers into the device and hands it Ariel. "All you need to do is toput
in three two digit number of your choosing and the safe will bereset.
Then to open it you will need to dial in the first number to theleft, the
second to the right and the third to the left. Do you have anyquestions?"
"No, I think I can manage this."
"There is the hotel safe downstairs also, if you wish to storeanything there."
"Thank you, Mr. Scott."
"I hope your stay with us will be pleasurable. If you need anyassistance,
don't hesitate to call me." Mr. Scott leaves the suite and Arielbolts the
door behind him.
She goes over to the desk where the metal case is sitting. She laysit
down and slides one of the small feet of the case over revealing asmall
touch pad and a blinking red light. She places her right thumbprinton the
touch pad and leaves it there until the red blinking light stops anda
green light comes on. With that she turns the case around and dialsin the
combination to unlatch the case. The case opens and inside is alarge
manila envelop with "TOP SECRET" stamped across it in big redletters.
Ariel removes the envelop and turns it over to open it. Across theback
there is a strip of tape over the flap that reads "Level 7security
clearance needed." Ariel rips off the tape and withdraws a filefolder.
Again "TOP SECRET" is stamped across the file in big red letters andthere
is a strip of tape reading "Level 7 security clearance needed" acrossthe
file, too. Ariel opens the file and reads. After a few minutes sheputs
the file down and removes a device from the case that looks likea
tricorder from Star Trek. She punches a few buttons and the walksaround
the whole suite swinging, the device over furniture and particularlyover
the telephones. She notes the readings and then returns the device tothe
case. She then gets her briefcase and opens it withdrawing what lookslike
a small answering machine. She disconnects the telephone on the deskand
plugs the phone cord into machine. She then takes another phone cordand
connects phone to the machine. She removes a small gray book fromthe
metal case, opens it and dials a number.
"Cashmere." Ariel pauses and then says, "Extension 8739." A fewmore
moments pass.
The person on the other end of the phone says, "Hello."
"Hello, Boss. I'm in Port Charles at the Port Charles Hotel."
"Did everything go as planned, Ariel."
"Yes, I just finished reading Jones' report. Is he staying with theshipment?"
"Yes. Right now it is in a warehouse in Kansas City. It was shippedthere
last night from Texas. Frisco has not been able to obtain a scheduleyet,
but we think is will probable be shipped to Port Charles over theweekend."
"That gives me three days to find something out."
"Have you made contact yet?"
"No, I just got in." Flipping through her appointment book, "I havea
meeting with AJ Quartermaine in about an hour. After that I might beable
to arrange something."
"Good. Get back to me when you have made contact," a pause, "Ariel,be
careful. I can send back-up any time or you can contact Police
Commissioner Scorpio. Frisco should be there when the shipmentarrives."
"I know, Boss, but I thought we decided to keep Scorpio and the PCPDout of
this."
"I know. Call me when you make contact." The phone line goesdead.
Ariel enters Luke's after a long meeting with councilman,A.J.
Quartermaine. They had spent two hours talking about zoning variancesfor
the new Wiseman Jewels Store. Ariel hated this type of business, shemuch
preferred working with the mining operations or even designing thejewelry.
Being the president of an international corporation has someadvantages,
but then there is the long, boring meetings over nothing. But it is agood
cover for her other life.
She finds a seat at the bar and surveys the room waiting for thebartender
to take her order. Mike approaches, "Hi there, beautiful. Can I getyou a
drink?"
Ariel smiles and her mood improves 150 percent, "A glass ofNapoleon
Brandy." She had acquired the taste for Napoleon Brandy several yearsago
and now occasional indulges into it.
"Napoleon Brandy for the lovely lady," Mike says as he gets abrandy
snifter and pours the drink. As he sets it on the bar in front ofAriel,
"Is this your first visit to our little establishment? I alwaysremember
the beautify ladies, and I don't remember you."
Ariel smiles again liking this bartender. Extending her hand toMike,
"Ariel Wiseman. And yes this is my first time at Luke's. I haven'tbeen
in Port Charles very long."
Mike takes her hand and bends to kiss it. As he straightens up,"Mike
Corbin, at your service, Ms. Wiseman."
"Ariel, please."
"Well, Ariel, what are you doing in our fair city of PortCharles?"
"I'm planning of opening up a division of my company here."
"What type of company do you have?"
"Oh, some little jewelry stores."
"That is just what Port Charles needs. Another store for the ladiesto
drag their husbands to," Mike says with a big grin and a twinkle inhis
eye.
Ariel laughs, "Well, I suppose some people may see it like that."
Just then Luke enters from the backroom and approaches Mike andAriel. "Is
this man bothering you," he says to Ariel as he places a hand onMike's
shoulder.
"Not at all, in fact he had done an excellent job in cheering meup."
"Ariel, this is my boss, Luke Spencer. Luke, this lovely lady isAriel
Wiseman."
Ariel extended her hand to Luke, "It is nice to meet you, Mr.Spencer."
Luke takes her hand and also kisses it, "It is my pleasure, Ms.Wiseman,
but please call me Luke. Mr. Spencer makes it sound like I'm oldor
something."
"Well, Luke, we don't want that, now do we," Ariel replies.
"Ariel, was just telling me, she is in Port Charles to open a newjewelry
store," Mike informs Luke.
"Jewelry, huh? The good stuff?" Luke asks.
"Of course the 'good' stuff. I get the diamonds out of my owndiamond
mines and my pearls from my own pearl farms."
"You own diamond mines and pearl farms? I think I'm in love," Mikesays.
Ariel and Luke laugh and Mike joins in.
At a secluded spot on wharf #18, Sonny is nervously pacing. It is2:10
a.m. and he was told the meeting was set for 2:00. He does not liketo be
kept wait, especially during the middle of the night.
A person emerges from the shadows. "Hello, Sonny, it has been a longtime."
Sonny turns around, his eyes starts to twinkle and a big smile comeacross
his face. He has forgotten that the agent is late. He walks over tothe
person and envelopes her in his arms. They embrace and kiss. "Thenote
did not say I was meeting you. It just said that I was to meet anagent
here. Ariel, you look wonderful."
"So, do you. I was so sorry when I heard about Stone Cates. I knowyou
thought of him as a brother. I wish I had gotten to know him."
"Thanks, I, too, wish the two of you had met. You would have likedeach other."
"And your wife, Lily, I'm so so sorry."
"Thanks." A few moments of silence pass. "Well, what is up? Why haveI
got called in?"
"We need you to get us information. Since you are on the ELQ board,we
thought you might be able to get us manifests for some of ELQ'sships."
"Manifests for ship? Why? What is this all about?S Damn it is coldout
here. Who pick the middle of the docks in the middle of thenight?"
Laughing, "I did. Do you have any suggestion as where we could go andno
one will see us?"
Sonny thinks a moment, "Luke's."
"Luke's, the nightclub? Won't there be people there?"
Looking at his watch, "No, Luke's closes at 1:00 a.m. everyone shouldto
gone by now. I have an office in the back with a separateentrance."
As they leave the docks and gets into Sonny's car, Ariel continues,"The
WSB has been working on this for two years. Military arms have beenstolen
and then they reappear in terrorists hands. We suspect a man by thename
of Alfred Phiasal, as being the mastermind behind this. But, we can'tmake
anything stick. He has had too many smoke screens to get our hands onhimS
until now. We can link him to the stolen arms from a militarywarehouse in
Texas. Right now the arms are in an ELQ warehouse in Kansas City.Our
information tell us that the arms will be shipped here to be loadedonto
one of the departing ELQ ships."
"Why don't you grab the arms and Phiasal right now?"
"The boss doesn't just want Phiasal. He wants the person who ishelping
Phiasal use ELQ."
"Why is the boss worried about ELQ?"
Ariel knowingly smiles, "That is the boss' secret. I can't tell youthat.
What I can tell you is that the Boss wants to bring down everyone whois
involved with this."
They have now arrived at Luke's and Sonny lets them in through hisback
entrance. He pulls the shades before turning on the lights. Hetakes
Ariel's coat and along with his and throws them over a chair. "Havea
seat, I'll get something for us to drink."
Sonny goes into the bar and brings back two glasses, a corkscrew anda
bottle of champagne in a bucket. He removes the bottle from thebucket and
uses the corkscrew to remove the cork. He pours a small amount of thewine
into one of the glasses and tastes it. "Mmm, that is how champagne isto
taste." He pours the other glass then he fill his own. Sonny replacesthe
bottle back into the bucket and hands Ariel her glass. As he liftshis
glass, "To old friends."
They touch glasses and Ariel murmurs, "To old friends." Theydrink.
Sonny takes a chair next to Ariel, "Does the Boss have any idea whoin ELQ
might be helping Phiasal?"
"Do you know a Jasper Jacks?"
"Jax. Why?"
"Jax and a Mac Scorpio were involved with sell arms about ten yearsago.
We are not sure if Jax ever got out of the action."
"I know Mac and Jax can't stand each other. I didn't know what itwas
about, though. You think Jax is the one inside of ELQ?"
"I don't. It is too obvious. Jax is not a stupid man. He is acorporate
raider, I can't see him jeopardizing his position in ELQ or in PortCharles
at this time."
"You certainly can't think that Mac Scorpio is behind this?
"The Boss certainly doesn't. I don't know. The Boss told me, if weneeded
help here in Port Charles to go to Commissioner Scorpio. I thinkI
convinced him to leave Scorpio and the PCPD out of this."
"Mac and I don't agree on a lot of thinks, but he is a good man.When
Stone was dying he was there for him. He has raised Robin to be a
wonderful young lady. I can't see him involved with anything likethis.
Jax on the other handS"
"One of the first things you learn in this business, is that you haveto
separate your personal feelings from your work. Your best friend maybe
the one who betrays you and you personal enemy may be the one whorescues
you."
"I can't see Jax rescuing anyone."
One of Katherine's PR suggestions was that every board memberhave their
own office in the ELQ Executive Office Building. Ned's first reactionto
giving Jax and Sonny their own offices at ELQ was 'when he** freezesover,"
but Katherine convinced him that this would show unity. Ned alsodecided
that this might be a good way to keep closer watch on these two.
Sonny had been given an office on the same floor as Ned's. He triesto
come into the office on a daily basis, if nothing more than to be inNed's
face. Sonny knew Ned was watching him like a hawk, so he nevertransacted
*business* at this office. He used it primarily to work on thedetails of
the Stone Cates Memorial AIDS Wing at GH.
Today, Sonny is in the office early. Jason had taught him how to usehis
computer to access anything he needed. He started by calling upthe
records from the ELQ's shipping division. He then got the names ofthe
ships that were scheduled to sail within the next week and their
destinations. There were four ships that were scheduled to leave, butonly
two of them met the criteria for what they were looking for. The USSAlan
was scheduled to sail in four days. It was to make stops at Brest,France;
Santander, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal and Tangier, Morocco. The otherwas the
USS Edward. It was scheduled to leave for Algiers, Algeria in sixdays.
After that it was making stops in Tunis, Tunisia; Alexandria, Egyptand
Jidda, Saudi Arabia. Sonny was guessing that the arms would be placedon
the USS Edward.
He decided to get copies of the manifests for all four departingships. If
someone was watching, downloading all four manifest would complicatetheir
figuring what he was doing. He was downloading the last manifest tothe
disk, when there is a knock on the door, and Ned pokes his head in."How
is the Memorial Wing coming?"
"There seems to be a hold up with the electrical contractor."
"I though you controlled those things," Ned remarks.
"Ya, about as much as you do. What do you want, Ned? I know youdon't
just want a little tete-a-tete."
"I just stopped by to tell you there will be a board meeting tomorrownight
at the house. We need to discuss a proposal Jax has come up with.Here is
a rundown on it." He hands Sonny a copy of the proposal and seesthat
Sonny has the shipping division schedule up on his computer. "Wantingto
ship something?"
"Oh, pharmaceuticals can get so boring, I thought I would check outthe
other ELQ divisions."
"If, you have any questions you know where you can find me," Ned saysas he
leaves.
"Ya, looking right over my shoulder," Sonny says to himself. Heejects the
disk and puts it into his coat pocket.
Ariel had told Sonny that she had checked out Luke's the day beforeand met
Mike and Luke. They decided it might be easier to work together ifthey
could be seen in public without anyone taking too much notice. Theyhad
arranged an accidental meeting at Luke's for that evening.
Ariel was going over the latest information she had been sent onthe
Wiseman Jewels expansion from her home office in New York City. Thephone
rings and she picks it up.
"Ms. Wiseman, a phone message came it a little while ago for you.Would
you like me to read it to you or to have it delivered to yourroom?"
"You can just read it to me."
Reading, "'Ariel, Scarlett came in third at the Belmond.' That wasall
that was left."
"Thank you." Ariel hangs up the phone. She goes over to the wall safeand
opens it. She removes the scrambler devise and the code book. She
connects the devise to the phone and opens the code book as shedials.
"Rhett Butler"
"I will connect you."
Ariel waits a few seconds before she hears a familiar voice,"Good
afternoon, Ariel. I see you got my message."
"Are we back to horse races, Boss?"
"What's wrong with a good horse race, anyway?"
Laughing, "Nothing, I guess."
"Frisco has checked in. He doesn't think the arms will be moved untilthe
beginning of next week. That gives use four to five days beforethey
should be in Port Charles. How are things coming with theshipping
manifests?"
"I meet with Sonny last night. He is getting the manifests forships
leaving in the next week for the Mediterranean. We are meetingtonight at
Luke's so he can give me the disk with the information."
"At Luke's? That is a pretty public place."
"Well, yes. But I think Sonny and I have worked out an arrangementthat
will allow us to be seen in public together without causing anyundue
concern."
"Okay. Just make sure it doesn't raise any suspicions. I don't wantto
loose one of my best agents."
"You taught me how to be careful. I haven't forgotten. I'll check inwith
you when I have the manifests." She hangs up the phone, disconnectsthe
scrambler and returns it along with the code book to the safe. Shehas a
couple of hours before she is to meet Sonny, so she returns to herWiseman
Jewels report.
Ariel is seated at the bar at Luke's talking with Mike.
"The pretty lady has returned," Luke says as he walks up toAriel.
"Hello, Mr. SpencerS," Luke cocks one eyebrow, "Luke."
"That's better. Is Mike trying to get secrets to diamond mining outof you?"
"Would I do such a thing, boss?" Mike feigns hurt.
Just then Sonny enters Luke's and approaches Luke and Ariel. Headdresses
Ariel, "Don't let this man feed you any lines. His wife has him on avery
short leash, these days."
"So you are married! And I was just about ready to invite you up tomy
suite to see my etchings," Ariel teasingly says to Luke.
"Now see what you have done, Sonny. I won't get to see heretchings."
"Well, I'll volunteer to see them," Mike says. They all burst intolaughter.
Ariel turns to Sonny, extends her hand and says, "Ariel Wiseman andyou are??"
Sonny takes her hand and kisses it, "Sonny Corinthos, at yourservice."
"Sonny is my partner here at Luke's. He is also a good friend," Luketell
Ariel. The three of them continue talking while Mike takes care ofsome
new customers who have just come in.
"Have you had dinner yet," Sonny asks Ariel.
"No, I'll probably just order some room service when I get back tothe
hotel," Ariel answers.
"We can't have that, can we, Luke," says Sonny. "You'll just have tohave
dinner with me. And I don't take no for an answer. There is a tableover
here we can have." Sonny winks a Luke as he steers Ariel to thetable.
Luke smiles to himself. It is nice to see his friend having somefun
again.
Ariel is in a meeting concerning the expansion of WisemanJewels with Port
Charles city officials. She is trying to be interested in the detailsof
the zoning ordinances and the variance that would be needed. Asher
contractors were discussing the plan with city engineers, her cellphone
rings, she excuse herself and answers it.
"Ms. Wiseman. This is Lucy Coe."
"Ms. Coe. What can I do for you?"
"As you know, I own Jax Cosmetics and we used some of your jewelry inour
last photo shoot with my number one model, Brenda Barrett Jacks. Iwould
like to discuss a joint PR campaign for Jax Cosmetics and WisemanJewels
now that you are going to have a store here in Port Charles."
"Well, Ms. Coe."
"Call me Lucy"
"Lucy, I am just starting the preliminaries here. It will be atleast
five months before the Port Charles store will even open."
"The timing would be great. We could have the campaign kick-off atthe
grand opening of your store."
"Ms. CoeS Lucy, your proposition is interesting, maybe we can talkabout it
later when I have ran the idea passed my people."
"Great! I'll call you in a few days and we can discuss it. Ta."
"Ta to you."
The connection ended and Ariel is in a state of a little confusion asto
what just transpired. She made a mental note to ask Sonny about thisLucy
Coe as she returned to the contractors and city officials.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a warehouse in Kansas City, Frisco is crouching behind a stack ofcrates
trying to overhear what the two men were saying.
"What do you mean, we aren't moving the shipment. I was told it wasto be
out of here by tomorrow," the first man says.
"Things have changed. Just hold tight. There was a snag on theother
end," the second man replies.
Just then workmen enter the warehouse and the two men go into anoffice to
continue their conversation.
"Sh**!" says Frisco to himself as he tries to get closer to theoffice
without being seen. Just as he positions himself, the two men comeout of
the office, they shake hands and the second man leaves. The firstman
walks over to warehouse foreman. Frisco slips into the office andplants a
bug in the phone and another in the picture frame the man had on hisdesk.
Frisco then slips out of the warehouse. He returns to the van he isusing
and checks his equipment. He hears the man in the warehouse on thephone
to his wife. "Great! Domestic bliss," Frisco mutters as he settlesinto
monitor the bugs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How's Romeo?" Luke teasingly asks Sonny as they are having coffee atLuke's.
"I don't have any idea what you are talking about," Sonnyretorts.
"Now don't hold out on your best friend. You and Ariel Wisemanlooked
pretty tight when you left here last night."
"I just took her back to her hotel."
Luke winks at Sonny, "AndS"
"A gentleman doesn't tell."
Just then Jason walks into Luke's and comes up to them. He has aletter in
his hand.
"How's Robin?" Luke asks him.
"She has midterms next week. She says she has been studying like madfor
them. And she misses me."
"Sonny, she misses him," says Luke mockingly.
"Ahhhh, young love," Sonny says.
"Cut it out you two," Jason says. "Here's one for you, Sonny."
He hands Sonny a letter, Sonny opens and reads it. Sonny smiles,folds the
letter and puts it in his pocket. "She told me to keep an eye on youtwo
and Mac for her."
Jason looks at Sonny, "She told me to look after you."
"That's our Robin," says Luke, "at least she has stopped sending youguys
the wrong letters."
"Not completely," Sonny said, "last week I got Mac's and he gotmine."
Luke shakes his head, "She isn't going to give up until you are allfriends."
In an office somewhere, a man picks up a frame photograph andlooks
longingly at it. The picture is of a beautiful young woman in agraduation
cap and gown smiling at the camera. The young women in the photographis
Robin Scorpio.