JJanuary 2, 2009, Port Charles evening
In Zekker’s Bakery, business was brisk even at night. Carl Zekker rang up another satisfied customer. He smiled when he saw his younger brother Rolf come in through the front entrance. He nodded at Dana and Stanis, his counter helpers, to let them know that the counter was theirs. He joined his brother at a corner table. It wasn’t their favorite table but you couldn’t argue with paying customers. The bakery was more than half full.
“Business is good,” said Carl with evident relish. Years in the states had polished his hard German accent.
“Every day and night this week this place is packed.” marveled Rolf.
Carl jerked a thumb in the direction of the construction zone across the street. “That’s our good luck charm, Rolf.”
Rolf knew that the Mediaplex project was a source of revenue for a lot of businesses in the area not just the bakery. On nights he worked the counter, he saw that work never really stopped at the project. When it got dark, work moved indoors. He’d rarely seen the inside lights turned off. Workers scurried in and out of the building at all hours.
“And another batch of workers just started on the Digimaze building.” Carl continued. “Their breakfast orders are enormous.”
“I only have afternoon classes tomorrow. I’ll come in and help you bake.” said Rolf. “No arguments.”
“Hey, I got help. But you’re going to graduate from college and nothing is going to stop that.” countered Carl.
“College is fine. I’m ahead on all my classes. You need my help here.”
“Okay. Get some dinner and help me close tonight.” Carl turned around when he heard the door chime. He stood up smiling when he saw who it was. Hand extended he greeted his customers and old friends. “Sean! Tiffany! You two look great!”
“Carl! Nice to see you again, sugar,” said Tiffany giving Carl a big hug. Tiffany pulled back and introduced Belle. “Carl, this is our daughter Belle. Belle, this Carl Zekker, the best baker in the state.”
“You’re too kind, Tiffany.” Carl laughed and shook Belle’s hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Belle. Consider the bakery as a second home.”
“She’s been working her fingers to the bone at the theater all day long.” said Tiffany. “We needed a break.”
“Sean, I want you to meet my younger brother Rolf. Rolf, this is Sean Donely, my old boss on the docks and the man who gave me the loan to start this place when every bank turned me down cold. His wife Tiffany Hill and their daughter Belle.” said Carl beaming. Rolf stood up and faced the couple. “Rolf is studying electrical engineering at PCU.”
“Electrical engineering, eh. Listen, we’re going to be sponsoring interns and hiring technicians at DigiMaze pretty soon. We can always use good people.”
“An internship? I’d love one.” said Rolf a little stunned at the opportunity that had landed in his lap. With the weak economy he had been privately worried that landing his first job outside of school would be impossible. But an internship at DigiMaze that was something else.
“He’s going to be the best worker you’ve ever had. I’ll make sure of it.” said Carl.
“I know he will be.” smiled Sean. He pulled a folded sheet of paper from his coat and handed it to Carl. “You usually deal with Salim but he’s busy so here’s the order for the rest of the week. Plus a partial check. Invoice us for the balance.”
“Wow! You got an army over there?”
“It feels that way sometimes.” laughed Tiffany. “It’s a madhouse.”
“You have an evening order, too.” said Carl reading the order in detail. “Pots of coffee, small sandwiches, lots of fruit.”
“We have some tight deadlines and a relentless project manager. Work is going round the clock.” said Sean. “Are you going to be able to handle it? I can split the order with somebody else.”
“I got it, Sean. I’ve got some extra help coming in part-time. We’ll be fine. The advance check is a nice touch.” said Carl. “Can I get you anything while you’re here?”
“We came over here with some of our foremen.” Sean gestured towards Giles, Lars and Genji who were placing their orders with Dana. “I wouldn’t mind a sandwich. Turkey on asiago focaccia bread.”
“I remember just the way you like it. Coming up. Tiffany?” asked Carl. “We still have a pot of chicken and wild rice soup. Home made and hearty.”
“You know my weakness. A cup of soup for me.” said Tiffany. After exchanging a look with Belle, she added. “Make that two.”
Sean, Tiffany and Belle took a table near the window. They could see the crew testing the big marquee lights. Under the working neon Majestic sign, the announcement of ‘Under New Management” was hard to miss. Large work lights illuminated the square between the theater and the DigiMaze store. Many cars slowed down to gawk and gape at all the activity.
“So, Daddy, what was the family discussion you wanted to have?” said Belle straight to the point. “When are we going home?”
The distressed tone in the last comment took Sean by surprise. A quick look at Tiffany told him that she wasn’t surprised. He’d have to talk to Tiffany about this one later. Belle sounded as if she were on the edge of an epic temper tantrum.
“Well, honey, I know you miss your friends and your school.” began Sean soothingly.
“Not really.” said Belle.
“Okay,” said Sean drawling the word out as he tried to figure out his daughter’s mood. “That’s actually good because I wanted to talk about ... about moving back here permanently.”
“Oh, honey, can we?” Tiffany fairly squealed with delight.
Belle bit her lower lip. She fidgeted in her seat.
“Are you okay, sweetie pie?” asked Sean. “We’ll do the move over a month so it’s not so hectic.” He searched his daughter’s face for clues to her distress but found none.
“This feels more like home than Boston. We have Anna, Robert, Bobbie, Mac, Robin and tons of people around us here.” said Tiffany. “I always felt like we lived in a cocoon in bean town.”
“You won’t be police chief anymore, Daddy?” asked Belle.
“I don’t like to admit it but your Daddy is getting too old to be a cop and shuffle paperwork all day long. I want to get my hands dirty in the business world again.”
“You’re going to keep helping Andy?”
“We’re partners in some of our ventures. You know that. Andrew has a lot to learn and I’m glad to teach him what I know.” said Sean. “You’re still numero uno with me.”
“I’m not jealous, Daddy.”
“That’s good, sugar plum.” said Tiffany.
“Why do I get that you’re not happy about this Belle?” asked Sean. Tiffany kicked his leg under the table. He glared at her. “What?”
They were further distracted by a commotion at the counter. While they had been talking three young men had entered the bakery. They had gone straight behind the counter and were now talking heatedly with Carl. Rolf had moved to stand beside Carl.
Sean’s instinct for trouble was on alert. When one of the young men pushed Carl on the chest, Sean gave a signal to Lars, Giles and Genji. The three men quickly had the troublemakers under control and escorted outside the store.
Sean spoke with Carl. “Trouble, Carl?”
“You know I can’t talk about it, Sean.” Carl sighed.
“You can with me.” cajoled Sean.
“Business is good up and down the street because of the project, right? Now, they want a higher cut for protection.” explained Carl.
“What kind of protection?”
“The old-fashioned kind that I don’t have to spell out.” said Carl. “I can’t.”
Rolf put a hand on Carl’s shoulder. “I suggest you check some of the recent arson cases, Mr. Donely, especially the unsolved ones.”
“Rolf, that’s enough.” hissed Carl.
“All right. I understand.” said Sean. “We’ve been approached by the same parties for the same kind of protection policy. We’ve said no and that answer isn’t going to change. If you need help, we’re just across the street, remember that.”
“Thank you, Sean. I appreciate it.”
“You can spread the word if you like.” said Sean with a smile and a hard glint of determination in his eye. “Um, you know, I got an idea. We bought all the surrounding buildings at the mediaplex. It would be a good idea to diversify the store mix. I’ll ask my partners about a food court maybe with a bakery.”
“I’d be very interested in that, Sean. Plus a few others I know.” said Carl. “The other side of the street is looking more and more attractive.”
“Won’t certain parties be upset if they lose revenue from the protection scheme?” asked Rolf.
“I imagine so.” said Sean. “We’ll deal with that when it happens.”
~*~
Returning from the bakery, Belle surveyed what was previously the radio station’s former writers room. The room ran to long and narrow. The room’s saving graces were it’s high ceiling and the two windows that stretched nearly to the high ceiling. They overlooked the south side of the theater with a partial view of the square. The upper half of the windows contained panes of stained glass that in the daytime bathe the room in light and color. Bulletproof glass was on order to be hung outside to serve as protection and storm windows.
Because of its shape and view, the room was being transformed into the central workspace for the team with long counters running along one wall to serve as desks and workstations. Cubby holes and built in shelves above the counters provided more than adequate storage. Whiteboards were hung on the opposite wall. In front of the whiteboard area was a small sitting area. Suspended in the air above the sitting area with a good view of the whiteboards hung a large monitor with an attached camera. There was a secured hidden panel somewhere that held weapons and sensitive electronics. She just couldn’t remember where it was.
Since, Andrew had decided to do the wiring and gadget cabling himself, the room was a mess. Tools lay scattered on the counter. Cabling and wires ran across the floor like intertwining snakes. A box of flat monitors and keyboards lay open against the far wall.
“For someone who's meticulous and precise in everything else he does, your workplace habits are sloppy. How do you find anything?” said Belle to the pair of skinny legs sticking out from under a wide counter recently bolted to the newly plastered wall. She placed a carryout bag from Zekkers on the counter. “Here, I brought you a sandwich.”
“There is always a method to the madness even if I’m the only one who can see it.” came Andrew’s muffled voice. “What kind?”
“A French bread baguette with smoked ham, light mustard and provolone cheese with a small salad.” said Belle. “I asked Salim what you liked.”
“Efficient. Thank you.” said Andrew. “Could you hand me the spanner?”
“Do you trust me to know what a spanner is?” said Belle sarcastically. “I’m just an empty-headed girl. I might give you the wrong one and ruin EVERYTHING.”
“Fine! I’ll get it myself." Andrew withdrew from under the table. He rose prematurely and banged his head on the underside of the table. “Ow!”
"So empty-headed that I had to be treated like a simpleton." Belle continued. "Once you knew who I was, you should have told me who you were."
"And break cover in the process? That was not an option."
"You didn't trust me, Andy."
As Andrew looked for the spanner, his stomach rumbled."I barely knew you. Trust is far too much to expect."
"I did save your life, remember that, Andy?"
"You are once again deluded by your revisionist tendencies." Andrew spotted his lunch and reached for it. "I said I was sorry. Did I not?"
"Did you?" Belle tapped a finger on her lip. "I seem to remember someone ducking me every chance he got. I thought you liked me."
"I do. I did. I still do," snapped Andrew opening the take out bag and laying out his evening snack. "Don't be a daft girl!"
"Well, I might as well be a leper with the way you avoid me."
"Hardly. You're underfoot all the time."
"You need all the help you can get here." Belle shot back. "Are you going to deny that? Am I useless?"
"Thank you for all your help, Belle. You are not useless." Andrew took a bite out of his sandwich.
"You're welcome, Andy."
Andrew looked at her. "So, we're all right now?"
"I haven’t decided whether to accept your apology.”
Andrew put his sandwich down in annoyance. “What do you want? A lifetime penance.”
“Some acknowledgment that you respect me would be nice.” said Belle.
“Perhaps a big C on my forehead for being the unrelenting chauvinist you think I am would suffice.”
“You’re just so old-fashioned, Andy.”
“I prefer the term alpha male in the making like my father.” Andrew resumed munching on his sandwich. “There’s n-not-nothing wrong with that.”
Belle bent down slightly and saw the very large hold cut into the wall. “At the rate you’re going, you’ll be here all night.”
“I want it done right the first time.”
“Let me help and it will get done faster.” argued Belle. “How hard could it be?”
“I prefer to do things a certain way. H-h-hard to explain.” Andrew said. “This is good. Where?”
“Zekkers. Across the street.” Belle picked up a clean rag and began to wipe off the new counters. She could feel Andrew watching but he didn't say a word. “Mr. Zekker had some trouble.”
“Hmm, like what?” asked Andrew still eating.
“The OC and protection insurance.”
“The OC?”
“Organized crime and their intimidation of local businesses. You know - cash for protection.”
“They are persistent.” Andrew tossed his salad. “What kind of trouble?”
“A shakedown by three guys. Mr. Zekker didn’t like it.” said Belle. “If our guys hadn’t been there, it could have ended badly. For Mr. Zekker I mean.”
“Hopefully, a rise in prosperity in this area will give the merchants the confidence and money to stand up to the OC. Right now, based on the economic analysis I’ve done, this area’s businesses are barely breaking even.” said Andrew. “And, did you know, that the real estate across the street is mostly owned by OC company fronts.”
“The businesses are being squeezed twice over.” concluded Belle.
“Uh, huh. This salad is delicious.”
“That’s so wrong!”
“Predators and their prey. The trick is for the prey to evolve so it’s no longer palatable to the predator. And there are more predators in economically depressed areas than in areas that are not.” said Andrew. “The long term solution is economic stability, education and consistent growth.”
Andrew’s phone beeped. “Yes, Uncle Andre. All right. I need a few minutes to gather everyone.” Andrew looked perplexedly at Belle for a few seconds. Then his shoulders sagged. “Bloody hell, you might as well know, too.”
“Know what?”
“Go downstairs and tell your parents, Jacques and Salim that Andre has called an emergency meeting.” ordered Andrew. “I’ll explain later. You can sit in if you like.”
"I'd like that," said Belle before sprinting out of the door to let everyone know.
Andrew activated the enormous monitor. A few minutes later the images of Andre and Felicia appeared. On a small picture-in-picture area on the large screen appeared Anna, Robert and Robin from the villa. The others straggled in one by one or in pairs. They took seats all around the room.
“Everyone’s here.” said Andrew. At a questioning look from Sean, Andrew replied. “Belle can stay. She uh ... uh could prove useful. I think.”
Belle’s eyes shone with pleasure at the compliment. "Apology accepted."
Sean nudged Tiffany. His gaze on his daughter. "What apology?"
Tiffany whispered to him. “Explain later.”
“Felicia, you’re the best person to explain this.” said Andre.
Felicia began to detail her trip to Malaga including her surveillance of Senora Peterson and Etienne Gastineau. At the end she pressed a control on the console. It flashed a clear picture of Senora Peterson. “This is our mystery woman. Who is she? What is her connection to the Cassadines and now D99?”
“It can’t be.” said Anna. “She’s ... Alex said ... it can’t be her.”
“Who is she?” asked Robert.
“It might be ... it is Charlotte Devane, my aunt by marriage.” Anna said.
“Another relative,” said Robin. "They're coming out of the woodwork."
“This woman is NOT to be trusted. She kidnapped Alex at birth and raised her as her own. Then brainwashed and trained Alex to kill me and take my place. This is no one to our family.” Anna looked hard at each of her children. “Do not get anywhere near that woman. Robin, Andrew, you understand me?”
Robin nodded but Andrew remained silent.
“Let’s discuss Charlotte and the Devane connection at another time. It’s too late in the day for all this drama.” said Robert. “Let’s deal with the matter at hand. What is Charlotte to Helena? What is Charlotte to D99?”
Felicia interrupted. “A couple more things, Robert. When Etienne was looking at the pictures in the cafe, a picture dropped out. This one.” On their screen the slashed picture of Claudio appeared.
“Claudio is one of many targets then.” said Jacques. “Felicia, were you able to see the other pictures? Were they disfigured as this one is?”
“No, Jacques. I didn’t see the others clearly. That slash is hard to miss. I don’t believe I saw it on the others.” said Felicia. “The next piece of information I have is what I overheard Etienne saying on the phone. He was talking to someone named Frank. He was angry at some mistake. He mentioned that he had more information on Frank’s second job, whatever it is. And that they would have a meeting tomorrow at a place and time known only to themselves.”
“We believe the first task is the arms deal.” said Sean.
Anna added. “We know from Tracy that D99 is involved with the peace conference next month.”
“That Claudio is attending.” supplied Robert. “In a cockeyed way, it fits.”
“An assassination at such an event by terrorists ... well, it would be news.” said Jacques. “That’s the D99 end of things. What about Helena?”
“And Charlotte,” Andrew spat the name out. “What is her role?”
“Let’s call Alex in the morning. We need answers.” Anna drew a short breath as another piece of the puzzle fell into place in her head. “She’s the one.”
“The one?” asked Robert looking at Anna beside him.
“The one who wants Emma. It’s her modus operandi.” said Anna. “She did it once. She’ll do it again. And with Helena’s help, she could get away with it.”
"Take Emma like she took Alex?" Robin was horrified.
Anna nodded.
“Surely not.” said Salim. “That is insane. Unthinkably so.”
Robin spoke. “Helena has gotten away with murder, with kidnappings and god only knows what else. She commits these crimes with impunity then disappears. She’s never paid for her crimes. Now, she wants Emma?"
“She’ll have to get through all of us first.” said Anna. “I promise you it won’t be easy.”
"But, this Charlotte woman, Mom. She sounds equally capable of anything." Robin's distress was obvious.
"Robin, Emma is our highest priority. We will do anything we have to do to keep her safe." Robert's expression was solemn. The glint of hardened resolve shone brightly in his eyes.