Written in 65 minutes .

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Port Charles Hotel: Suite

“You don’t think it’s a little, uh, morbid to have booked the same suite?” Robin Scorpio turned away from the locked terrace doors to find Brenda by the fireplace, staring at the crackling flames. “We could have stayed with my uncle. Or Ned.”

Brenda looked at her friend, her dark eyes slightly unfocused, then sighed. “No. No. I wanted to do this on my own terms. To stop running. I’m so angry with myself for letting Lorenzo—Luis—whoever he is scare me away from the life I wanted to build. I’ve lost too much time. It ends here. Where it should have ended last year.”

“All right, you get to handle this however you want. I just wish I understood why this is the plan,” Robin complained. She crossed to her luggage, still piled by the door. “A Halloween party at Luke’s? It’s such an obvious trap—”

“It is, but if Scott and Mac are right—” Brenda folded her arms, wrapping them tightly around her torso, “if this is Luis, he won’t be able to resist. For all he knows, I’m really here to do Lucy a favor.” She hesitated. “But I understand if you’ve changed your mind about going to the party. It’s…it’s the first time you’ve seen Jason since you left—”

“Since I blew up his cozy little lie with Carly, you mean,” Robin said coolly, “and he told me he never wanted to see my face again. Yeah, that’s going to be a little awkward. But since he managed to Michael away from AJ again and he’s moved on with Lizzie Webber, I’m not worried about his reaction. And I’m not interested in what he thinks anyway. I came here to support you. He’s just going to have to deal with it.” She lifted her suitcase and stalked into one of the adjoining bedrooms, slamming the door behind her.

Brenda flinched, then looked back at the flames. One way or another, it was all going to end, she told herself. Even if she had to kill Luis or Lorenzo herself this time.

Morgan Penthouse: Master Bathroom

Elizabeth gripped the eyeliner more tightly and leaned in closer to the bathroom mirror. It was hell trying to apply this with her weaker hand, but after more than a week of using her left, she was starting to get the hang of it.

And then the liner slipped, and a streak of black hit her nose.

“Damn it.” Elizabeth nearly threw the little stick right in the trash, but took a deep breath. She slid her other arm out of the brace, and flexed her hand. She could move her fingers now which was an improvement, but—

She bit her lip, transferred the eyeliner to her right hand, took a deep breath, and tried again.

A few minutes later, the eyeliner had been applied, outlining her blue eyes with smoky black color, lightly smudged. She’d had to go very slowly and she hadn’t been able to grip very tightly, but—

It was progress. Real progress. Just maybe she’d be able to hold a paintbrush again one day or a colored pencil, and watch it fly across the canvas or paper, the images in her head appearing in front of her.

“I still don’t like this—” Jason began, stepping inside the bathroom. He hesitated, one hand on the door frame. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Nothing—and I’m not going to cry,” she managed, her voice thick, She looked at him, smiling tremulously. “I put on my makeup. And I used my right hand.”

Jason dropped his eyes to her hand, saw the eyeliner still clutched in her fingers and he exhaled slowly. “You used—you used your hand.”

“I think maybe it’s starting to—” She closed her palm around the stick. “I still don’t have fine motor control, but it’s like Tony said. Maybe the nerve just needs to heal.”

“That is—” Jason came forward, his hand sliding away from the doorframe, reaching out for her. He dipped his head down, brushed his mouth against hers. “That’s really good news.”

“I know.” She tipped her head back so that their eyes met. “And I know you don’t want me to go tonight. I don’t want to go either. But we agreed. We want this to look like a normal night. Lucy’s throwing a charity benefit for the pediatric AIDs wing. You’ve always donated to that. And if you bring me, it doesn’t look like you’re worried about my safety—”

“I am—”

“Nikolas is going to stick to my side all night. Emily offered Zander, but—”

“I don’t want him anywhere near this,” Jason muttered, and Elizabeth nodded in agreement.

“I won’t be alone. I’m not the target tonight, Jason. If we’re right, Brenda being out in public — he won’t be able to resist. And he won’t want to hurt her.”

Jason sighed, tugged her into an embrace, and she curled into it, ignoring the tenderness in her shoulder. “Even if we grab Alcazar, it doesn’t solve our Ric problem—”

“One psychopath at a time,” Elizabeth said. She kissed the edge of his jaw. “Now, go get ready.”

“I’m not wearing a costume,” he reminded her, and she rolled her eyes, leaving him behind in the bathroom to take his shower.

As if she were stupid enough to think he’d put on a mask or even a themed jacket. She’d found one of his all black suits, and figured that was good enough. She’d located one of her black dresses and Bobbie had brought her a pair of cat ears attached to a headband. That was as dressed up as she wanted to be tonight.

She headed downstairs, leaving the brace off. Maybe her hand would improve even more quickly if she used it more.

As she stepped off the bottom step, there was a knock at the door. There hadn’t been a call from the security desk so it meant someone on the approved list. When she pulled the door open, she found Mike on the threshold.

“Oh. Um, hi.” Elizabeth tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, stepped back. “I didn’t know you were coming by tonight.”

Sonny’s father stepped inside, his hands in his pockets. “I wasn’t—I wasn’t going to, but,  well, Bobbie filled me in when I went to see Carly and the baby today.” He furrowed his brow at the sight of her hand wrapped around the edge of the door. “Your arm is better?”

“Getting there.” Elizabeth released the door, flexed her fingers again. “It’s the best it’s felt yet.”

“I’m glad. Really. I know you were worried about your art, and well, that’d be a shame. I, ah, wanted to know if there was anything I could do tonight. Um, you know, to help.”

Elizabeth bit her lip, considered. “Well, Jason’s nervous that I’m going, and Nikolas is supposed to stick with me all night. But I know if you were there, too, he’d feel even better.”

Mike blinked. “You’re—you’re going? I would have thought—with the baby—” He cleared his throat. “I mean, you know best. I just didn’t think you’d risk it.”

“It’s important that tonight look normal, like any other charity. If Jason goes alone, it’s suspicious, don’t you think? He could just donate. So if I go, it looks like he’s doing it for me.” Elizabeth flexed her hand again, staring down at it. “I know it seems awful, going tonight with everything—”

“Life has to go on, Elizabeth,” he said gently, and she looked at him. “I’m trying to be a better father and better friend than I was a few days ago. Than I’ve been all my life. Jason’s a good man, and you and I have always liked each other. That doesn’t have to change.”

Her eyes watered, and she closed them. “Oh, man, it took forever to get this eyeliner on,” she managed, heading for the desk and plucking at a tissue. “It means a lot to me that you feel that way, Mike, and I know Jason’s going to be relieved.”

“If this man killed my little girl, then I want to make him pay. Whatever that takes, and if the best way to make sure Jason can focus is look after you, than that’s what we’ll do.”

“Good. Good—” Elizabeth leaned over to pick up the ringing phone, sure that it was someone at the desk. Maybe Brenda had decided to come here instead. “Hello?”

“Elizabeth? Oh, thank God. You’re the one that answered. You have to help me. He’s insane, and you’re the only one who can help.”

Elizabeth looked at Mike, her eyes wide, her blood running cold. She forced her voice to remain even. “After everything you’ve done, I wouldn’t help you across the street, Ric. Give a reason to change my mind.”

General Hospital: Hospital Room

“I told you, Mama, you should go tonight. I know you’re worried—”

“No, no, I’d be one more person for Jason to keep track of.” Bobbie folded her arms, tried to force herself to remain seated, but then was up and pacing the room again. “It’s just come together so quickly, and I’m worried. What if it doesn’t work? What if Alcazar just disappears?”

“What if the sky falls down?” Carly said, trying to tease, but her voice faltered. “We have to trust Jason—”

“I trust him. But he didn’t come up with this plan. Scotty did. And I wouldn’t trust him with an ant farm right now,” she muttered.

“It’s a good plan. It is. Trying to draw Alcazar out into the open, baiting him with Brenda.” Carly made a face. “Not that I’m happy she’s back. I was glad to be rid of her.”

“Oh, don’t start any of that again.” Bobbie looked back at her daughter. “She’s been through hell.”

“And she brought that pasty-faced brat with her for emotional support. Haven’t I been through enough?” Carly asked, turning her face to the ceiling. “Shot in the head by my own husband, and now the universe brings two of the most annoying people on the planet back to town. If Miss Goody Two Shoes tries to screw with Jason’s head again, I’ll get out of this bed and pop her—”

“You’re trying to distract me, and it’s not going to work.” Bobbie returned to her seat. “Brenda and Robin are here to help us, Carly. Not take your husband.”

“I just—” Carly closed her eyes. “I just wish I could talk to him. It’s been so long since we could even hear each other. Can you— I mean, could you find out if he…I just want to know how he is. To tell him I know he didn’t mean to do this. He’d never mean it. He was so broken, Mama.”

“I’ll reach out to Rose Lawn and find out.” Bobbie squeezed her hand. “We’re going to get through this. We’re almost done.”

“That’s what I thought when they brought me home from Venezuela, but well—” Carly sighed. “Here we are, still hoping it’s almost over.”

Morgan Penthouse: Living Room

Jason jogged down the steps, tugging the hem of his black suit jacket down to his wrist, coming to a stop halfway when he realized Mike was standing by the desk—and Elizabeth was on the phone, her face pale.

Mike saw him first, gestured for him to stay quiet. Jason, his heart pounding, came down the last few steps, crossing to them slowly.

“I don’t care what mess you’ve gotten yourself into this time, Ric. You’re nothing but a liar, and so far you haven’t given me a good reason to do a damn thing for you—”

Jason scowled, sent Mike an irritated look. The older man just shrugged.

Ric said something else on the phone and Elizabeth grimaced. “Well, thanks, but we already figured out that Luis was still alive. You have nothing we want, Ric. As far as I’m concerned, you can go rot wherever you are—” She stopped, bit her lip, then looked at Jason, something shifting in her eyes. “I need to talk to Jason. I’m not making any promises. Do you know the number you’re calling from?”

Mike was already handing her a pad of paper and a pencil. Elizabeth scribbled something down with her bad hand, but it was mostly legible.

“If we decide to do anything with this, you’ll hear from us. But don’t hold your breath—” She clicked the phone off in mid-threat, then looked at Jason. “He stole a cell phone from one of the guards on a yacht that’s docked in the harbor. That’s why he had service. Because Luis is here in Port Charles.”

Jason exhaled slowly. “A yacht. That makes sense. Easy for him to go off grid. Anything else?”

“He wanted to trade information for his safety. I wasn’t impressed by the Luis reveal, but he told me that Luis has a plan that isn’t about Brenda. Or he did. Ric doesn’t know if he changed it.”

“What’s the plan?”

Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “Get Sonny and me into a room so he can tell Sonny he nearly killed his sister.”

Mike jolted. “What?”

“It’s a lie,” Elizabeth added quickly. “Ric cooked something up — Luis thinks I’m Sonny’s sister. I don’t know what’s going on, but—”

“You’re not leaving the penthouse,” Jason said immediately, snatching up the cordless. “I’m calling Mac. As soon as we have eyes on Alcazar at the party, he can raid the yacht. But you’re not going anywhere near the party—”

“I have to go, Jason,” Elizabeth insisted.

“He’s right, Elizabeth. If there’s a chance Alcazar is going to try to get you—” Mike began, but she shook her head.

“We don’t know what’s a truth or a lie. Ric could be setting you up,” she told Jason who scowled. “All he does is play games. You said he worked for Luis before all of this started. He told me he came up with this ridiculous sister thing because he thought he could con Sonny with it. I don’t know why he thought it would work—”

“You’re the right age,” Mike said roughly, and both Jason and Elizabeth looked at him. “Adela. She was pregnant when she died. The baby died with her. It was the last time I saw Sonny at her funeral. He blamed himself. But you—you’re the right age. You and Courtney. Born the same year.” He dragged a hand down his face. “Christ. I haven’t thought about that in years. Sonny blamed himself for not getting rid of Deke sooner. Blamed himself for his sister’s death. And he’ll blame himself when we tell him about Courtney. I went to the funeral, and he saw—he saw a picture of Courtney in my wallet — I didn’t mean to — he was furious with me. Furious that I’d started another family while his mother was in her grave. It was the last time we saw each other until I came to Port Charles.” He looked at Jason. “Sonny, in the condition he’s in, he wouldn’t think about all the reasons it doesn’t make sense. If he thought for a second that he’d nearly killed his pregnant wife and his pregnant sister, on top of his mother and Lily—”

Jason scrubbed his hands through his hair, trying to absorb everything Mike had told him. It lined up with what Sonny had talked about that last night. The guilt. Ric finding out about that dead sister—

“Wait. Wait. That doesn’t make sense. Why would Ric think that would work?” Elizabeth asked. “He’s Sonny’s brother—how could he tell anyone I was Sonny’s sister— ” She stopped, looked at Jason. “Isn’t he?”

“I think,” Jason said, carefully, “that Mac needs to make sure we take Ric alive. Because if I go near him right now—” He shook his head. “One lunatic at a time,” he muttered. “I’ll call Mac, pass this information on. But you’re staying home—”

“I’m going,” Elizabeth interrupted. “Mike is going with us, and between him and Nikolas, I won’t be alone all night.” She lifted her chin. “Now do you want to keep arguing or get this over with?”

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