|
|
Aaron and Terry's.
Mac sat on the couch while Detective Taggert walked around the
living room
studing it. Aaron came into the room, he had left for a moment
to go and put a
shirt on. "Now what exactly can I do for you Commissioner?"
Aaron sat directly
in front of Mac and stared into his eyes.
"We've never actually met but I have heard some things about
you from my niece
Robin." Mac said unaffected by Aaron's intense gaze. "That's
one of the
reasons I decided to come to you with this." Signaling to Taggert,
Mac held out
his hand for the sword they brought with them. "Robin said that
you used to
deal in antiques. I was wondering what can tell me about this."
He layed the
sword on the table in front of Aaron.
"It's a sword." Aaron said flatly.
"Yeah well we know that," Taggert said. "What else
can you tell us about it?"
Aaron sighed and picked it up. "May I?" he said before
opening the plastic the
sword was wrapped in. Mac and Taggert watched as he examined
the blade for a
few moments and then set it back down. "It's a Toledo."
"Toledo?" Mac enquired.
"A Toledo Salamanca." Aaron explained. "One of the
finest swords ever made.
They're very rare and worth a small fortune. Whoever this belongs
to is a very
rich man."
"Yeah well not any more." Taggert said moving behind him.
"The man who owns
this sword was murdered the other night. Do you know a man named
Eric Regan?"
"No I don't."
"Where's your wife at Mr Grey?" Taggert asks changing the subject.
"My Wife?" Aaron says momentarily confused by his intrest.
"My wife is
alsleep and I'd appreciate it if you kept your voice down Detective.
I don't
want you waking her up."
"Perhaps your wife knows Eric Regan." Taggert says trying
to push Aaron.
"No. She doesn't."
"Are you sure. I mean wives have all kinds of friends they're
husbands don't
know about."
Aaron was about to say something when Mac got up and spoke.
"Thank you Mr Grey
for your help." He looked at Taggert who picked up the sword
and started for
the door. "I'm sorry if we disturbed you."
"Not at all Commissioner. I'm glad I could be of assisstance."
He closed the
door behind them and leaned against it. Running his hand over
his beard he
thought. <What the hell was that about?!?>
An abandoned factory
Dusk.
The two figures danced and weaved as each attempted to inflict
a fatal blow on
the other. Finally one of them made a mistake, her blade came
up a little too
far and a little too fast. The other smiled as his opponent stumbled
off
balance and he quickly took advantage. He made a couple of fast
cuts and his
foe slumped to one knee. Drawing back the sword he intoned, "There
can be only
one." and brought the weapon down in a two handed stroke.
Inside the building a lightning storm erupted. The man
screamed as the power
assualted him and he fell to his knees. Then as suddenly as it
started it was
over. He pulled himself up and began to brush off his clothes.
Running his
hands through his hair Mr Murty left the building.
CHAPTER FOUR
Nightshade,
That evening.
Mariah sat at the bar having a glass of the house's own and smoking
a
cigarette. It was early yet but the club was already filling
up. She saw Emily
Quartermaine come in and waved her over. Emily had been coming
to Nightshade
for well over a year. Sometimes with friends, sometimes by herself
and after a
couple months Mariah introduced herself to her. Mariah's opinion
of mortals was
well known among the others but there was something about this girl
she couldn't
help but like. Now no matter how busy the club was Mariah always
made time for
her and Emily to talk during her visits.
"Hello Emily." Mariah said in an accent that Emily couldn't
place. It was
definately European but she just couldn't pindown from where.
"Don't you look
lovely this evening. Let me see." She up from the bar to
get a better look at
Emily's outfit. She wore a black mini-dress with black stockings
and heels,
over the dress she was wearing Jason's black leather jacket.
The only bit of
color was her red lipstick. "Very nice." She said kissing
Emily's cheeks.
"Thanks." Emily said sitting on a stool next to Mariah.
The bartender placed a
club soda in front of her without her even ordering it. "The
place is going to
be packed tonight." She said taking a sip of her drink and looking
around the
club.
"Yes. It's going to be a good night." Mariah said
sipping her own drink.
"Now tell me. How are you doing?" For the next hour she
and Emily talked while
the club filled up and came to life. Mariah listened as Emily
told her what
crisis the family was involved in this week and Emily listened as Mariah
complained about liquor deliveries and health inspections.
Brenda and Robin walked into the club. Although it's been
open for a few years
neither one can remember ever coming here before. They looked
around the room.
The dance floor was packed, music blaring from the sound system.
They spotted
Emily sitting at the bar with an exotic-looking woman. Emily
just started
laughing when the girls approached.
Seeing Mariah look over her shoulder, Emily turned around.
"Robin! Brenda!"
she cried as she got off her stool and the three women hugged.
"You guys,
there's someone I want you to meet." She turned back around to
Mariah. "Robin.
Brenda. This is Mariah. She owns this place."
Across the room in one the back booths a dark man watches the
scene. <Careless
Aaron. Careless Theresa. Letting your kittens stray.>
Mariah takes Robin's and Brenda's hands in turn. "Good evening,
ladies.
Welcome to Nightshade. I certainly hope you will have a good
time tonight."
"Don't worry. In this place how could anyone not have a
good time." Brenda
said.
Mariah was about to say something when a young woman with blonde
hair came up
to her. "Yes Traci, what is it?"
Traci moved closer to Mariah so the others couldn't hear.
"We have a problem
in back."
Turning her head to look Mariah's face went hard and she whispered
into Traci's
ear. "Find Derek." Turning her attention back to Emily
and her friends Mariah
said, "I'm sorry but I have a minor problem that needs fixing."
She got up off
her stool. "Emily don't forget to say goodbye before you leave."
Then she went
in back to deal with an unwanted guest.
She walked up to the dark man in the booth. Her face filled
with scorn and
disgust. "You are not wanted here. Leave."
"Or what?" the man said.
"Or I'll make you leave." The man at looked up and saw
Derek and two Enforcers
standing before him. He could see the rage rising within Derek.
"You're not
going to be asked again."
Deciding now was not the time for a confrontation the man got
up to leave. As
he started walking toward the door Derek grabbed his shoulder.
"Remember this.
If you ever come back here again. You won't walk out."
Derek tightened his
grip. "Do you hear me, Aris?"
"I hear you Derek."
Mariah and Derek watched as the two Enforcers escorted Aris out
of the club.
Mariah turned to Derek. "What the hell is that bastard doing
here?" she asked
getting angrier by the second her eyes turning gold.
"We both know why he's here." Derek said placing his hands
on Mariah's
shoudlers trying to calm her down. Sitting her down in one the
booths he
watched as she slowly calmed down, her eyes changing back to their
normal blue.
"I think you should tell Terry." Mariah looked at him.
"She has to know that
Aris is in Port Charles."
"I know, you're right. She should know." She got
up and started for her
office. "Maybe this time she'll take care of him for good.
She should have
killed that son of a bitch two hundred years ago." she said as the
office door
closed behind her.
Emily walked to Mariah's office. She was about to knock
when Derek stopped
her. "Can I help you?" he said to her. She turned
to him and he came face to
face with a rather atttractive young woman with long brown hair and
brown eyes.
"Is there something you need?" He asked trying not to stare at
her.
"No...I...just", Emily stammered while looking at the tall man
with dark hair.
<He's gorgeous.> She regained her composure a few seconds
later and hoped that
he didn't notice that she was staring at him. "I just wanted
say goodbye to
Mariah. I'm leaving now."
"I'm sorry but she's on the phone now and can't be disturbed
but I'll be sure
to tell her Miss....."
"Quatermaine. Emily Quartermaine. Thanks."
She said as she walked away.
<My pleasure Emily Quatermaine.> Derek's thoughts were
interrupted by Mariah
coming out of her office. "Did you tell her?"
"Yes. They're on their way over now." She sat down
and signalled for a drink.
She lit a cigarette and blew smoke into the air. <All hell
is about to break
loose.> She thought taking another drag.
CHAPTER FIVE
Mariah's office at Nightshade.
"God Dammit! How could you let that son of a bitch just
walk out of here!"
Aaron said angrily to Derek his rage growing.
"Don't raise your voice to me Aaron!" Derek said the anger
in his own voice
rising. "You may not be one of us but you know the rules of refuge
as well as
we do!"
Terry decided she had better step in before the friends come
to blows.
"Enough! Both of you!" The two men look at her. "We
have enough to worry
about without adding you two to the list. We need to sit down
and talk about
this rationally."
"How in the name of hell can you be so calm!" Aaron said
to his wife in
disbelief. "That's Aris walking around out there."
"I know who it is." Terry said taking her husband's hands.
"I also know that
if all he wanted to do was kill me he would have done it by now."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better" Aaron said
sarcastically.
Terry touched a hand to her husband's cheek and turned to Derek.
"Any idea
where Aris is now?"
"I have people searching for him." Derek answered.
"If he's hiding anywhere
in the city my Enforcers will find him."
"Before or after he kills someone." Aaron says flatly.
"Aaron..." Derek starts but Aaron interrupts him.
"I'm sorry Derek. I don't
mean to take this out on you. I know you're doing everything
you can."
Derek walks over to him and places a hand on his shoulder.
"Forget about it,
my old friend. I understand." He turns and walks to the
door. "I'm going to
go see what my people have turned up so far."
After Derek leaves Terry gets up and starts pacing the room.
" I think we
should tell Venus."
"No."
She stops pacing and stands in front of Aaron. "Why not?
Don't you think she
has right to know that he's here."
"No she doesn't." Aaron stands up to face his wife and
grabs her by the
shoulders. "And you know why. We both know exactly what
she'll do if she finds
out that Aris is in Port Charles." Aaron pulls Terry close and
she rests her
head on his chest. "Why don't we go home, love. I don't
think there's anything
more we can do tonight." Terry nods and the couple come out the
office and make
their goodbyes to Mariah as leave the club.
The docks
A little later.
Liz was pacing back and forth by the bench. <Come on
Lucky hurry up.> A sound
from behind startles her. <It was probably a cat or something.>
Liz screams as
a hand touches her from behind. Turning around she sees him...it's
Mr Murty.
"I'm sorry Liz. I didn't mean to scare you." he says
innocently.
"Tha... That's... That's okay." Liz said trying desperately
not to panic.
Studing her for a moment Murty comes to a decison. "You
know don't you."
Liz's heart almost stops. "Yes. You know. I can see
it in your eyes." Liz
tries to scream tears starting to run down her cheeks as his hand touches
her
face but no sound will come out. "You're such a special girl
Elizabeth. I'm
really disappointed." His hand moves into her hair. "I
thought we going to
have some more fun before the end." Suddenly Murty stiffens sensing
a presence
nearby.
"Is there a problem here?"
Liz sees Murty smile. "Now there's a voice from the past."
He takes his hand
away from Liz who is still too terrified to run and turns around to
see his old
friend Aaron Grey and some woman. "Talk about a small world."
"Maloch."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Paris, 1908.
Leaving the flower stand with his roses Aaron turns and heads
back to the
hotel. He wants to get back before Terry wakes up. Walking
along one of the
back streets he hears a girl scream. Scanning the area he pinpoints
where it's
coming from. Coming up to the alley he feels it. <Damn.>
He sees the girl
lying on the ground crying, blood dripping from her mouth. <She
can't be more
than 15 years old.> He approaches the man standing over her.
His hand moves to
his sword. "Back away from her." He commands.
"Stay out of this." The man replies. "I paid good
money for her. She's mine
to do with as I please."
"No. She's not."
The man hears Aaron pull his sword from it's sheath and turns
to face him.
Staring menacingly at him he pulls his own sword and introduces himself.
"I am
Anton Maloch and you are dead."
"Aaron Resharde."
The two men advanced on each other. Aaron didn't want to
kill him, not yet,
his only concern was getting the girl away from here. The two
of them cut at
each other for several moments, then Aaron finished it with a sudden
thrust into
Maloch's heart.
Leaving his sword in Maloch's heart he walks over the frightened
girl. Helping
her up he wraps his coat around her. As they leave the alley he pulls
the sword
from his heart and holds it for a moment at the man's throat.
"Some other time
Maloch." He walks off with the girl who is still crying.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Still picking on little girls I see. What's the matter
Maloch, grown women
put up too much of a fight?"
Liz slowly backs away from Murty and towards Aaron and Terry
as he speaks.
"Still sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong Resharde?"
"I'm funny that way." When Liz reaches Terry, who puts
her arms around the
frightened girl, Araon steps forward and confronts Murty.
"Not this time." Murty says staring directly into Aaron
eyes. "This one is
special Resharde." He turns his head to Liz. "So beautiful.
So innocent. So
much fear."
"You really are a sick bastard. I should have killed you
in Paris."
"Yes. You should have." Murty says his attention
focused on Aaron again.
"And that's a mistake you are going to regret." For a split second
Aaron
thought the man was going to attack, but he was surprised when Murty
started to
back away. "But not now. Our little dance will have to
wait." He looks at Liz
and blows her a kiss. "Good night, Elizabeth. I guess we'll
have to finish our
business..... later."
Aaron watches Murty disappear into the darkness and goes over
Terry. Liz is
now sobbing uncontrollably in Terry's arms. "It's okay.
Shhhhh.....it's
alright." She whispers to Liz.
CHAPTER SIX
Aaron and Terry's.
Just before dawn.
Aaron sits alone in the dark. They got home about an hour
ago after dropping
Liz off at her house. It took some convincing from them to get
her to believe
that she was in no immediate danger. But with a little help from
Terry, <God
bless the Whammy.>, they managed it. She relaxed visibly (a little
more help
from Terry) when Aaron promised her that Murty will never hurt her
or anyone
again.
He finishes his drink and gets up to pour another one when a
voice comes from
behind. "Aaron come to bed." He looked over his shoulder
at her. She was
wearing a black nightgown and her hair was down, flowing over her shoulders
and
down her back. Walking to her husband she wraps her arms around
his waist.
"What's wrong love?"
"What's wrong?" Aaron almost laughs. "Where should
I start? Let's see.
We've got Aris out there somewhere waiting for right time to make his
move and
it's just a matter of time before Venus finds out about him and freaks.
We've
got Maloch...or Murty...or whatever the hell he's calling himself stalking
some
poor highshool girl. Mac Scorpio is starting to nose around and
don't even get
me started on that Jax guy."
"Poor baby." Terry's voice was teasing.
"Don't make fun of me."
"I'm not making fun." She takes his hand and leads him
back to the bedroom.
"Look. We'll stop Aris. We'll stop Maloch. And as
for Mac Scorpio, well,
we'll sick Robin on him." Aaron laughs as Terry pulls him down
on the bed.
Mac's office.
Morning.
Mac is sitting at his desk going over the report of another headless
body
found. <Victim 3 and counting.> Felecia sat in a chair
in front of his desk,
waiting patiently for him to stop reading. She had just returned
from a short
trip to Texas with her girls. Finally Mac closed the file and
sighed audibly.
"Something wrong?" Felecia asked.
"No. It's just this case." Mac told her. He
got up and hugged her. "Welcome
back."
"Thanks." She said returning the embrace and then sat back
down. "So anything
new on the mysterious Mr Grey?"
"Nope nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing." Mac said frustrated. "We've got info on
him from Toronto and Paris
but before that the information gets spotty at best and in most cases
no
information at all."
"There has to something somewhere." Felecia gets up and
starts pacing the
room.
"I paid him a visit the other day."
Felecia stops when she hears this and looks at him. "What
did you make of
him?"
"He seemed nice enough, but....." Felecia looks puzzled.
"I mean this guy
comes to town for what is supposed to be a short visit and ends up
buying an
abandoned dojo and moves in. He has a wife that no one execpt
Robin and Brenda
has met, who doesn't go out during the day because of some strange
skin
disease."
"What disease?" Felecia asks curiously.
"Robin mentioned it. What did she call it?" Mac thought
for a moment trying
to remember. "Py.... Pyri.... Pyrophia I think she said."
"Did you see her when you met him?"
"No. Her husband she was sleeping."
"Sleeping?"
"That's what he said."
Felecia rubs her hands together and stands up. "So what
do we do now?" Mac
shrugs his shoulders. "What about V? Do you still want
her to work for you?"
"She hasn't done anything wrong. I can't offer her a job
and then take it away
because she didn't tell us that she knew some guy who came to town.
Besides...," Mac says returning to his desk. "...she's
a damn good detective.
What are you going to do?"
Felecia picks up her purse. "I think I'll pay Mr and Mrs
Grey a visit. We've
hit a dead end on the information front so why don't we try and get
some from
the source."
Brenda's house.
Brenda and Robin we're eating breakfast when the doorbell rang.
Robin got up
to answer it. She opens the door and lets the visitor in.
"Hello, Brenda."
Brenda looks up in surprise and screams as she runs to the man.
"Jax!"
Next
Part
Main
Menu