Chapter 78 & 79

 

Chapter 78 Unlawful Entry

Lucy Collins rises carefully from her bed, the gnawing feeling in her
stomach telling her something isn't right. She walks out of the room and
checks on Serena. A smile spreads over her face as she sees Cassidy fast
asleep next to Serena, a book beside them. Relief washes over her as she
moves into the kitchen but then stops suddenly. A finely wrapped package
lays on the center of the counter. Her blood runs cold as she approaches
the package. Cassidy appears in the doorway rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"What's going on?"

Lucy turns to her, the color drained from her face. "Someone was in the
house." She points to the present, wrapped in black shiny paper with
strange symbols on it. "They were thoughtful enough to bring a gift."

"Don't open it and don't move, I'm calling Mac and Scott." Cassidy says
firmly as she dials Scott's cell phone.

Sinking into the plush couch, Lucy holds her head in her hands and tries
to focus. Swallowing her fear, she turns to Cassidy. "Tell them to
hurry, I want that thing out of here by the time Serena wakes."

Cassidy leans over the package and speaks into the phone. "No, it's not
ticking, Mac. Scott is next door, he's on his way over as soon as I hang
up with you I'm going to check the interior of the house. Fine, I'll
wait on the exterior search until you get here... yeah-- we'll be here."
Hanging up the phone, she looks at Lucy. "Call Kevin."

Shaking her head, Lucy replies firmly. "No, not until we catch them. I
can't live wondering when they'll walk into my home again."

The door flies open as Scott bounds into the home. "Where is it?" He
asks gruffly.

Cassidy points to the package and says warningly. "Don't get your
fingerprints on it. Mac is on his way over. Stay with Lucy; I'm going
to check on Serena..." and then mutters inaudibly "... and check the
rest of the house to see if the jerk is still here."

Folding his arms across his chest he looks at Lucy with concern. "You
okay, Luce?"

"Just Peachy." She says sarcastically. "Serena is still sleeping."

"Good, I don't want her knowing they made it inside the house. As soon
as Mac gets here, I'll fly out to pick Kevin up." Scott says casually as
Lucy's eyes bore into his angrily.

"The hell you will!" She exclaims before grabbing her stomach. "Oh."

Kneeling before her, Scott looks at her fearfully. "Oh what?? What's
going on, Luce? Is it the babies?"

Scott picks up the phone to call a doctor. "Lucy, where is your
physician's number?"

"Scott, I'm fine. The baby kicked." Cassidy places her hand on her
stomach and smiles. "Wow, a real kicker here."

Mac knocks on the door before entering. His eyes fall on Scotty feeling
Lucy's expanding girth and he cocks an eyebrow curiously. "Everything
okay, Luce?"

Lucy shrugs her shoulders. "Let's see, someone broke into my home and
left a present with creepy wrapping paper. Cassidy and Scott, aka my new
parents, have decided that they will be contacting Kevin after I ordered
them not to. I am tired of being told what to do, when to do it, and my
baby just kicked me. So, how was your day?"

Mac walks over to the package and slips on gloves. He slowly opens it
and lets out a curse under his breath. Scott, Lucy and Cassidy, who just
arrived back from checking all the windows and doors, move over to the
counter and examine the gift.

"Son of a bitch." Scott mutters angrily.

"Lucy, you still don't want to call Kevin?" Cassidy asks firmly.

Looking at the tiny black robe with the embroidered name "Baby Collins",
Lucy's motherly instinct kicks in to overdrive. "I'll call Kevin, and
we're going to catch these sickos. Threatening me is one thing; this
psychopath is targeting my babies! I won't have it. I'll shred them limb
to limb before they get near my babies."

Cassidy picks up the phone and dials Kevin's suite as Scotty dials a
number on his cell phone. "Adrian? This is Scott Baldwin, I'm going to
need my plane tonight. I'll be leaving within an hour." Hanging up the
phone, he turns to Lucy. "I'll bring Kevin home to you."

Lucy kisses his cheek gently. "Thanks Pal. You both get back here
safely."

Cassidy hands the phone to Lucy. "Kev needs to speak to you." Looking up
at Scott she says calmly. "You bring my brother home, and I guarantee
you Mac and I will keep the homefront safe."

Mac nods in agreement. "I'll call Felicia and let her know I'm staying
here tonight. Scott, fly carefully."

Scott pats him on the shoulder. "That's the only way, Man. Cassidy, take
care of them and yourself. I will be back soon."

Lucy cradles the phone on her shoulder. "Doc, I'm sorry if you're mad,
but I didn't want to risk running them off instead of catching them. I
thought it was just your run of the mill wacko, I didn't realize their
target is our babies."

Kevin croons lovingly into the phone. "Relax, Honey. I trust your
judgement. Cassidy, Mac and Scott went along with you, so they trusted
your reasons as well. I'm ready to come home as soon as Scott arrives.
Just try and calm down, I promise you, no one will hurt you or our
children."

"Hurry home, Kevin. I know we can beat them together. I just need your
strength along with mine." She says tearfully.

"Sweetheart, you always have my strength, but don't cut yourself short.
You're the strongest woman I've ever met, Lucy Coe Collins. The bastards
will pay for what they've done. I will be home soon. I love you."

"I love you too." She hangs up the phone and pats her stomach gently.
"Daddy's coming home and everything will be okay. It has to be."

Cassidy walks into her room at the lighthouse and closes the door
softly. Collapsing on the bed, she picks up the phone and dials the
club.

Lucky answers on the first ring. "Lucky's-- why are you calling when you
could be here?"

"Thanks, I need a laugh." She chuckles.

"Hey beautiful, what's got you so down?" Lucky asks with concern.

Cradling the phone on her shoulder, she lets out an exasperated sigh.
"The stalker struck again. This time they made it inside the lighthouse
and left a gift. Lucky, Kevin has a very dependable security system, how
is this happening?"

Lucky stiffens as he motions to be relieved behind the bar. "Babe, hold
on-- I'm taking this in the office." Once inside the office, he picks
the extension back up. "OK, tell me exactly what happened."

"Somehow the person or person's got inside the lighthouse. They left a
package on the counter. Lucky, the wrapping paper seemed homemade and
had all these weird symbols on it. I'm running them through the computer
to find a match, but so far no luck. We waited till Scott and Mac got
here then opened the box. There was a tiny black robe and in blood red
letters embroidered on the back was Baby Collins. I'm thinking this
seems like cult activity."

Lucky slams his fist on his desk. "You know, I was pissed off when they
went after Luce, but no one goes after a kid. Kev's latest book was
about kids raised in satanic cults, correct?"

"Yeah, I'm wondering if some of his "fans" are thinking of getting a
little personal. Anyway, I just called to bring you up to speed." She
says quickly.

"I thought you called for my wit and endless charm." He retorts.

"Yeah, that too." She says with a giggle. "You'll be home later tonight
right?"

"I was planning on leaving now, Cass."

"No, Mac is here, close up the club. I'm just going run the symbols
through the 'puter and try and relax. I need my mind focused. Later,
Lucky."

 

Chapter 79 Clearing the Air

Evan sits alone in the dark apartment. Ian went to bed hours ago, but
not before asking where Em was. Ev would give anything to have had an
answer to that question. 'Where is she?' He thinks as his cell phone
rings. "Em?"

"Nope, I don't look half as pretty in a dress." Mac quips back.

"Sorry, Hey Dad. What's going on? I thought old folks went to bed before
midnight." Evan teases.

"Keep it up, Halloween's next week if you keep making comments like
that; I'll volunteer you to take Georgie and Lu trick or treating." Mac
responds good naturedly. "OK, back to the reason I called, someone broke
into Lucy's tonight."

"She OK?" Ev asks with concern.

"Yes, but she's shook up. Baldwin has left to pick up Kevin and bring
him home. Felicia is planning on coming over here tomorrow while the
girls are in school, but I was wondering if you minded pulling a shift
at the observation house tomorrow night."

"I'll run it by Emily when she comes home. I don't think it'll be a
problem." He replies cautiously.

"Ev, ignore me if I'm butting in, but is everything okay with you and
Emily?" Mac asks with concern.

"I don't know. I told her about the academy, and she went ballistic. I
should have talked to her before I made the decision. It was pretty
insensitive of me to just announce, yet again, a decision I'd made
without getting her feel on it." Ev responds, talking more to himself
than to his father.

Mac chuckles softly. "Congratulations, you're one of the few men who
learn that early. Evan, I'm proud of your acceptance into the Academy,
and believe me, I know you have to be the one to make the final decision
AFTER you have considered all factors."

"Get it out, Dad. I know you have some kind of fatherly advice, Robin
warned me about you." He says with a chuckle. "Believe me, I'm
listening."

"Why not finish school first? You have two more semesters then you're
done. You'll be promoted faster and start at a higher salary in the
police department with a degree than you will without one. You've
invested a lot of time in your education, why blow it off now?"

"I've been thinking the same thing, Honestly. I was so taken back with
getting accepted so quickly, that I reacted before thinking things
through. Anyway, I need to discuss all options with Em, if she even
wants to talk to me now." Ev says nervously. His eyes fall on the clock
as his mood drops another notch. "I better let you get back to your
friend. I'll call you tomorrow"

********

At Lucky's club, Emily absently stirs her soda. Lucky leans on the bar.
"Wanna talk about it?"

"Why are men such inconsiderate pricks?" She asks suddenly. Her mood
lightens as his face screws up in confusion. "Sorry, guess you weren't
expecting that."

Lucky, grabbing his cup of coffee and cigar, walks around from the bar
and takes a seat on the stool next to her. "You never cease to amaze me.
So, what did the white knight do?"

Giggling, she rolls her eyes melodramatically. "Oh, he decided to join
the police academy without consulting me. I know-- it's his life and
all, but damn, I thought we made decisions together." Taking a sip of
the flat soda she makes a face. "This is bad."

Lucky catches his bartender's eye and gets another soda for her. "OK, I
know he sprung the kid on you. Now he's joining the police department?
He never hinted that it was something he might want to do?"

"Well, yeah, he's talked about going into law enforcement. I just didn't
expect it to happen so soon. I love Ian; he brings out all these
maternal feelings in me. I guess I just wanted the white picket fence,
him with a job that wouldn't lunge him into the face of danger, or pit
him against my brother." Her last statement surprises her. She hadn't
even thought about Jason until just now. 'How in the hell can I live
with a cop when my brother is Jason Morgan?' She wonders to herself.

"OK, those are some pretty major questions, that only Ev has the answers
to. Em, I want to see you happy, but I gotta be honest with you. I don't
see you as the white picket fence type. You remember the times we just
took off on a whim and disappeared for a few days? Or when you and Evan
came saved Cass and my asses? You thrive on that, Emily. You sure you
really want a white picket fence, or do you just want to be included in
the decision making process?" He asks as she rolls her eyes at him.

"I knew you'd see his side of this. You're just like him! I'll do a
genealogy search one day and prove the Scorpios and Spencers are cut
from the same tree!" She smiles as she slaps his arm lightly. "You're a
good friend. No, You're the best." She kisses him lightly on the cheek.
"I better go deal with your evil twin."

Lucky busts out laughing as she walks to the door. "Right, but I'm the
evil one! Good Luck, Babe."

********

Katherine lays on her bed as the tutor continues to talk about the
Russian royal family. Visions of the tutor's head on a chopping block
brings a smile to her face. The tutor looks at her crossly. "Ms. Bell,
are you listening?"

"Yeah, they fled Russia. Next?" She says impatiently.

The door opens before the Tutor can respond. A servant walks in carrying
a tray and smiles at Katherine and the tutor. "Ms. Fairchild, lunch is
ready downstairs. Mrs. Lansbury has prepared a delicious stroganoff. Ms.
Bell, here is your lunch."

Grabbing the tray hungrily, she says happily. "Yummy, I love
stroganoff." Opening the top of her lunch, she lets out a moan. "Salad
and vegetable sticks again?"

The maid smiles at her. "You must keep your diet in check, milady.
Master Nikolas says you are to go strictly by the diet prepared by your
physician."

The tutor looks at her sternly. "When you are done, I expect you to
begin your essay on the Russian Empire. I expect a book review on the
novel that I gave you yesterday as well. We will discuss them at length
after your workout with the trainer."

"ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE!" Katherine bellows. "I want to speak to
Nikolas NOW. You are torturing me and I see through your schemes. I
won't stand for it!"

The servant looks at her condescendingly. "Master Nikolas can be reached
on his private line." She says simply before walking out of the room.

Lu knocks on the door and smiles at her. "You shouldn't yell, Ms. Kathy.
It isn't good for the baby."

Smiling through gritted teeth, Katherine waves her in. "LesleyLu, Do you
know your brother's private number?"

"Which brother?" She asks.

"Nikolas."

"Sure, Oops, I need to go, Mom's calling me." Lu leaves the room as a
frustrated Katherine hits the side of her bed angrily. "They're all in
on this. It's a plot to break me. That's okay, I can beat them at their
own game."

"Who are you talking to?" Staci's young voice asks.

"I thought I told you to knock." Katherine snaps at her.

"Sorry, I thought something was wrong; you were screaming." Stacia turns
to leave, but Katherine stops her. Her eyes light up as she says
sweetly. "Do you know your daddy's private number?"

Stacia nods. "Of course, Daddy tells me to use it anytime I want to talk
to him."

"Great! Why don't you call him now and tell him that the baby is doing
good." She says quickly.

Staci walks to the phone and dials the number quickly. "Daddy? Katherine
told me to call and tell you everything is fine with the baby. Yes, I'm
well. Okay, see you then." She hangs up the phone and looks up at the
exasperated Katherine. "What?"

"I wanted to speak to your father." She snaps.

"Well, call him." Staci picks up the phone and dials a number. " Uncle
Lucky? Daddy wanted me to call and tell you to be at dinner tonight.
Bye." Hanging up the phone, she smiles at Katherine. "Phone's all
yours."

************

Nikolas clears his throat. "One final note of business, My family would
like to extend our invitation to all staff to join us at Wyndemere for
the Hospital Halloween party. More information is provided in the fliers
that are being distributed in the staff's paychecks today."

Robin smiles broadly. "Jason has agreed to take Stone trick and
treating so if anyone wants to go to the party, I'll volunteer to cover
their shift."

Nikolas nods curtly. "I'm sorry you won't be attending, but your offer
will most likely be accepted."

Everyone leaves the board room. Jason who had been leaning up against
the corridor wall smiles at Robin as she walks through the doorway.
"Lunch?"

"I'd love it. I'm probably going to be working Halloween night. The
Cassadine's are throwing a Halloween party for the staff, and I can't
imagine you wearing a costume." She teases.

"Grownups dressing in silly get up, I don't understand it. Alexis has
to make a command performance with Tom, so I am postively taking Stone
along with me. Em mentioned her and Evan taking Ian and Georgie with
us."

Robin smiles. "Sounds like fun. Mae Ling asked me to thank you." She
lifts her eyebrow curiously. "What's going on?"

Wrapping his arm around her, he says simply. "I took care of Chinatown,
your Chinese food is safe now."

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