42
Luke paced the dock, awaiting Sonny’s arrival. They had talked on the phone earlier and had agreed to meet at the docks. So far the mobster was running late and Luke was growing more and more impatient by the minute. Luke turned to leave when Sonny finally showed up.
"Going some where Luke?" Sonny looked at his friend curiously.
"I need to talk to Jason Sonny. I need you to help me save my son."
Sonny sighed. He wished he could tell Jason to turn himself in for Baker’s murder. But he couldn’t. Jason was his own man and didn’t really take orders from Sonny. There was really nothing he could do to get Lucky out of prison.
"I’m sorry man. There’s nothing I can do."
Anger burned in Luke’s eyes. He could pummel both Sonny and Jason right now. They didn’t even care that an innocent young man was about to go to jail for a crime he didn’t commit. "Well, thanks a lot friend," Luke walked away, again searching his brain for a way to save his son.
~*~
Elizabeth and Earl were in the police station waitng for Lucky to be brough into the visiting room. Earl looked around the mostly bare room, wondering how Lucky had ended up in such a place.
"Elizabeth. Earl," Lucky came in. The guard remained in front of the door, giving the trio some measure of privacy as they greeted one another.
Elizabeth and Earl looked at one another. Not really knowing themselves. They just had to come and try to talk some sense into Lucky, even though they knew it probably wouldn’t work.
"Lucky…we came to beg you to tell the truth. You’re not helping Luke by doing this. You’re only making things worse. For both you and him," Elizabeth squeezed his hand, wishing that the cuffs were off and he was ready to come home.
"She’s right Lucas. You have to tell the truth," Earl squeezed Elizabeth’s hand in a show of support.
"I don’t have to do anything. Listen, I understand why you don’t want me to do this," Lucky looked at his wife, his eyes full of love and understanding. "I miss you too sweetie. But I can’t let my dad go to jail for this. The McCoy’s have ruined too much of his life already. I won’t let them ruin anymore."
"But what about our lives Lucky? Mine, yours, and our baby’s? Why are you letting them ruin ours?" Elizabeth’s tears spilt forth.
"Elizabeth…don’t cry. I can’t stand it when you cry," Lucky held her hand tightly, wishing he could do more. "Listen, I’ll be home in no time. There’s no proof that I killed Tom. I’ll be set free. So will dad."
"Lucky…you can’t protect Luke from this forever. They’re going to find out soon. And then you’re both going to be in trouble," Earl sighed.
"Not if dad leaves town like I told him to," Lucky grinned happily. As far as he was concerned, his plan was perfect.
"That’s not going to happen Cowboy. I’m not going anywhere while Bubba and Deputy Dog have you in the pokey," Luke entered the room.
"Dad? What are you doing here? Get out. Go now before they discover what really happened," Lucky hissed.
"Luke!" Earl angrily got to
his feet. He had a few short words for Luke. Words that he wished
he didn’t have to say in front of Lucky and Elizabeth.
"Outside! I have something to say to you and it’s best
we keep it to ourselves."
"Can’t it wait?" Luke asked, still a bit aggitated
over Sonny’s refusal to turn Jason in.
"No it can’t. Now outside!" Earl pushed Luke out the door, leaving Lucky and Elizabeth staring after them curiously.
"Now what is this about?" Luke watched Earl pace back and forth. "Come on Earl. Say what you have to say. I want to get back to Lucky."
"Who did you go to see Luke?"
Earl asked. "You weren’t at the club. So where were
you?"
"Off to see Corinthoes. He had some information…"
"I wish I never gave you that boy. If I had known that this is what would have happened…"
"Earl, don’t say that. I love Lucky and so does Laura. We would never do anything to hurt him. You, of all people, should know that," Luke’s eyes and voice shone with hurt. He didn’t know where’d he be if he didn’t have Lucky in his life.
"I thought I did. But seeing that boy setting in handcuffs because of something you did…"
"But I didn’t do it and neither did Lucky. It was Jason Morgan."
"Jason Morgan?" Earl asked in
concern and shock. "What does Jason Morgan have to do with
any of this?"
"It’s a long story. But it was him that killed
Baker."
"Well then let’s go. We should tell the police what we know," Earl pulled on Luke’s arm, but the other man didn’t budge.
"Not a good idea Earl. Jason is Sonny Corinthoes’ right hand man. Why do you think I went on the run from Frank Smith last time? I refuse to run from Sonny."
"Well then, what are we going to do Luke? Let Lucky go to prison for this? Let him ruin his life?"
"No. Of course not. I have a plan. One that will get Lucky out of the slammer and back home with Elizabeth."
"Well I hope it works. Because if it doesn’t…"
"It will," Luke insisted. "Now let’s get inside before visiting hours are over," Luke led Earl back into the station.
None of them noticed Nikolas walking up, a frown marring his handsome features. He had heard everything and knew just what to do about it.
~*~
Fifteen minutes later, Nikolas stood in front of Jason’s penthouse, pushing away the tinge of fear he felt at the moment. Maybe he should just forget about this. What was he expecting to happen anyway? Jason turn himself in just because the Cassadine Prince says to? He didn’t think that was going to work after all. For one, Jason wasn’t a Cassadine. The title had no clout with him.
Ringing the bell, Nikolas waited. He would just ask Jason what he knew. Appeal to his concious….if he had one.
"Nikolas," Jason stood in the doorway, staring blankly at the young man before him.
"I need to know…what do you know about Tom Baker’s death?" Nikolas got to the point, not wanting to beat behind the bush. The sooner he got the information he needed, the sooner he could help his brother.
"What do I know about Tom Baker’s murder?" Jason narrowed his eyes. His voice was hard and cold. "Listen, Nikolas…it’s not healthy to be digging like this. There are things out there, better left uncovered. If Lucky said he killed Tom Baker…well then he did."
Nikolas opened his mouth to answer, but Sonny interrupted, his voice full of disbelief. "He did it. I should have known he would…"
"What?" Jason looked at his employer/friend. "What’s happening?"
"Luke confessed to the murder. They’re booking him now," Sonny explained, meeting Jason’s eyes. "This changes everything Jason. You know that. You know what we’ll have to do."
Jason bowed his head. "I understand."
~*~
Nikolas returns to Wyndemere just as Lucky and Elizabeth set down. Concern filled him as he saw Lucky’s head in his hands.
"I heard," Nikolas came in. "Luke confessed."
"Yeah. He just walked in there and confessed to everything," Elizabeth rubbed Lucky’s back.
"Everything was going great," Lucky sighed, his voice full of unshed tears. "Why did he have to confess. He wouldn’t even let me see him. He told Earl to tell me to go home. But he’ll die in there all alone. Those bars, cutting him off from freedom like that. He won’t survive it."
"Shhh Lucky. Everything is going to be alright. They’ll find out who the real murderer is and then Luke will be free," Elizabeth tried to comfort her husband. "Everything will be ok."
Looking at his distraught brother, Nikolas hoped that what Elizabeth said was true. Because it was obvious that a jailed Luke would destroy his brother.