Dream a Little Dream

Chapter 40

Stakeouts are a grinding, often unrewarding part of police work. Linc Murphy and Andy Capelli had been doing more than their share of it lately, trying to find out who was behind the latest gang activity in Port Charles.

They crouched at windows so long, their knees creaked. They sat in cars until their rear ends were numb. They ate too many take-out meals to count.

But all the aches, pains and lousy lo mein had paid off. They were sitting around a conference table with Police Commissioner Mac Scorpio, District Attorney Ric Lansing, federal prosecutor John Durant, and Detective Marcus Taggert, who was overseeing the investigation. And they had the goods.

Andy handed Mac some file folders. “Manny Ruiz is our guy,” he said.

“You sure?” Mac asked.

“Look in the folder, sir,” Linc said. “We've got him coming and going from key gang meetings, we've got pictures and tapes of people reporting to him. That T-Bone guy Cordell Parker told us about led us right to him almost as soon as he was out on bail.”

“What do we know about this guy?” John asked.

Manny Ruiz had been a low-level hood for years – he'd done time once for possession, but that was all on his rap sheet. He'd been rumored to be leader of a small gang for years, but nothing could be pinned on any of them. Manny had gained respect – and attention – from the area mobsters when he stood up to both Sonny Corinthos and Luis Alcazar during their turf war. Manny had insisted that they not bring their battles into his neighborhood. When trouble did come, Manny was rumored to settle it quickly – and lethally. After one shootout between Corinthos and Alcazar minions, the bodies of said minions were discovered in an abandoned factory parking lot, beaten almost beyond recognition. Neither side messed in Manny's neighborhood after that. After the deaths of Luis and Sonny, Manny had continued to lay low.

“He was smart,” Andy said. “Every gangster in town tried to draw him to their side, but he kept out of things. He knew Corinthos, Alcazar and the Five Families would cannibalize each other. All he had to do was lay low, and he'd be the only one standing.”

Ric nodded. “So now we're learning the players,” he said. “Rodriguez and Garcia dug up stuff on the other gang – looks like Juan Escobar is our man there.”

“So when can we shut 'em down?” Andy asked.

John shook his head. “We're nowhere near there,” he said.

Andy slumped back in his chair. “I was afraid of that,” he said.

“Don't feel bad, Capelli,” John said. “You've all done great work so far. And there's been great teamwork here – a real example I'll be able to point to down the road of how working together can make a difference.”

“But ...” Linc prompted.

“But there's not enough evidence,” Ric said. “If we try to pull them in now, they'll know that we're on to them. We can't tip our hand. That could make things explode. We have to have as close to an open-and-shut case as we can get.”

“What'll that take?” Marcus asked.

“In a perfect world, we catch them in the act,” John said. “Whether it's taking a drug shipment, or distributing drugs, or some sort of gang warfare. I'd like to be able to take both gangs down at once, and have them lead us to their sources. But it's not a perfect world.”

“That could take time,” Marcus said. “And in that time, a lot of innocent people could get hurt. It really sucks.”

“But if we don't do it right, it'll be that much harder to end it,” Mac said. “As hard as it is, I'd rather wait and get it right the first time than have it drag out into a long, bloody turf war. That happens, other gangs and outside mobsters could jump in. Then we're right back to where we were when Corinthos, Alcazar and the Five Families were around.”

“Okay, so, what now?” Andy asked.

“Now, we keep digging,” John said. “We keep an eye on them and learn their comings and goings, their habits, where they live, what their personal circumstances are, anything we can use as leverage. I'll fill Dobbs over at the FBI in on what we know. Maybe they have information there that'll help.”

“Oh, great,” Andy mumbled. “Marshall will try to get her mitts on the case.”

“Watch it, Capelli,” Mac snapped.

“It's all right,” John said. “I can understand their reluctance to work with her. But she's top-notch when it comes to data analysis. She has a great ability to connect the dots. Besides, we keep her buried in that, she stays out of the field.”

“Sounds like a win-win,” Marcus said.

* * *

Epiphany Johnson answered the knock at her apartment door.

“Good morning, Ms. Johnson,” Georgie Jones said, TJ Hardy beside her. “We came by to see if you needed to run any errands. TJ and I can drive you around, since you probably don't know Port Charles that well yet.”

“Your timing is perfect, Georgie,” Epiphany said. “Come on in, you two.”

TJ and Georgie stepped in. Wayne was in the wing chair, reading yesterday's Port Charles Herald, which Felicia had left. Celeste was doing laundry. Stan, Epiphany explained, was sleeping in.

“I had to call Dr. Wexler this morning,” Epiphany said. “In the rush to get out, we forgot to refill Mama's and Daddy's prescriptions. So she said she'd call it in to some drugstore near here, something like CBS?”

“CVS,” TJ said. “It's not that far from here. We could walk to it, and show you around the neighborhood. Or we can take my car if you need to go to the grocery store.”

“No, we're good, thanks to you two and your sister,” Epiphany said. “Just the prescriptions, and a few other drugstore-type things, are it. It looks like a nice day out for a walk. Want to come, Mama? Daddy?”

“No, thanks,” Wayne said. “I think I need another day to just lay low.”

“I want to finish these clothes from the trip, so we can pack up and go home as soon as possible,” Celeste said. “You go on and have a nice walk.”

* * *

“Ambulance 19 off,” Lucky Spencer radioed in.

Lucky and Sam McCall were returning to their Iroquois County Rescue Squad station after a call.

“It's coming up on lunchtime,” Lucky said. “You've gotta be hungry – you started at 5:30 this morning. Want to stop somewhere?”

“Yeah, I'm pretty hungry,” Sam said. “But let's just get lunch back at the station. Powell went to Wegmans this morning, so there's stuff in the fridge.”

Lucky noticed a strange look come onto Sam's face. She was looking ahead and slightly to the right, towards a road that turned off from the one they were on.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Lucky, could you turn right up ahead?” Sam asked in a dreamy voice. “There's something I want to show you.”

Lucky would have crawled over white-hot coals when she talked like that, but didn't let on. He turned and headed down the road.

“What are we looking for?”

“That's it, up ahead on the right, just before the road dead-ends,” Sam said. “That's the house I was talking about the other night at the party. I wanted to see it again ... and to have you see it. Maybe it's not as bad as I think.”

Lucky pulled up and shook his head. It looked pretty bad. But, like Sam, he could see the potential. He grabbed the binoculars, got out of the ambulance, and climbed onto the roof.

“What are you doing?” Sam asked.

“I can check out the roof this way,” he explained. “Mmmm-hmmm. Ah. Mmmm-hmmm. Ooookay.”

“Could you translate that into English, please?” Sam said, laughing. Lucky climbed off the ambulance roof and walked over to her window.

“The roof itself looks pretty good,” he said. “No missing shingles, no discoloration, no curled edges. I'd say it's got another three to five years at least. But the gutters are crap – dented, rusted, uneven. Those would have to be replaced immediately. Mind if I look around a little more?”

“Go ahead,” Sam said, picking up a walkie-talkie and following him.

“I can see why you like this place,” Lucky said, peering in the windows.

“What do you see in it?” Sam asked.

“Great setting,” Lucky said. “Man, Danny would go nuts for that park across the street!”

Sam laughed. “I thought that, too.”

“It'd be a nice yard,” Lucky continued. “Some good trees. Landscaping would make all the difference.”

“I can't imagine what I'd do beyond just clearing it out,” Sam said.

“Great layout inside,” Lucky said. “You'd have all the room you need. It'd be a big change from Kelly's. And you said the boiler and hot water heater are pretty new?” Sam nodded.

Lucky stood on the front porch, looking in the kitchen window. His face grew thoughtful.

“You're seeing the problems,” Sam said gloomily.

“It'd be a ton of work, Sam,” he said. “I can understand why you'd be worried about stretching yourself too thin. Some things, like the roof, could wait. Some things, you could do yourself – dealing with the flooring, painting. But there are some big-ticket things that need to be done. The kitchen alone, even if you went with Ikea cabinets, would probably run at least five grand. The plumbing, the electrical, the gutters, the yard work, replacing the windows. Those aren't cheap.”

Sam looked towards the ambulance with a sad face. She wished she hadn't brought Lucky down here.

“You're right,” she said, trying to make her voice sound less doleful. “I guess I just needed a second opinion.”

“I'm not saying to rule it out, Sam,” Lucky said. “If the owner comes down in price enough, I'd grab it.”

Sam looked back at the house, then got into the ambulance. Lucky followed.

“That's an idea,” she said, fighting the impulse to lean against his shoulder. “But I'll keep looking, too. Thanks, Lucky.”

“Anytime,” Lucky said, fighting back the desire to lay her head on his shoulder.

* * *

“I thought I'd see Laura and Lulu this morning,” Epiphany said, as they walked away from Vagabond towards the main strip of the Waterfront District.

“Mrs. Spencer took Lulu over to Port Charles High this morning to register,” Georgie explained. Epiphany furrowed her brow.

“I thought she went to school down in New York,” she said.

“Lulu's school burned down over the summer,” Georgie explained. “It was easier for Lulu to transfer here than try to find a new school down in New York on short notice. Her dad's here, so's her grandmother, brothers, aunts Bobbie and Amy, and her cousins Lucas and Carly. She and I have been friends for years, along with Serena Baldwin and Brooke Ashton, so she'll know people at school.”

“Makes sense,” Epiphany said. “It's really nice the way you're here for people, Georgie. You, too, TJ. Ever consider medicine?”

TJ laughed. “I start med school next week at Port Charles University,” he said. “My parents are both doctors, so was my late grandfather, who was chief of staff at General Hospital. My cousins, Steven and Sarah are doctors, too, along with his dad, my uncle Jeff. My grandma Hardy was a nurse, as is Steven's and Sarah's sister Elizabeth. Steven and Elizabeth work over at General Hospital. Gran was head nurse there until she retired earlier this year. Sarah and Dad are working in Africa. Mom is in private practice near here. Uncle Jeff works in Bosnia.”

Epiphany stared. “That's some family business you have there,” she said. “What about you, Georgie?”

“I'm sort of squeamish about blood and guts and stuff,” she said. “I'm looking to get into social work. I work over at Ward House a few times a week. Lulu might go there, too, now that she'll be here.”

“What's Ward House?” Epiphany asked.

Georgie told of Ward House, an orphanage with a day care center next door. She then spoke of the Mary Mae Ward Foundation, which also ran group homes for developmentally disabled adults, and helped with foster care for drug-affected and AIDS babies.

“Mary Mae Ward was a really good friend of Mrs. Spencer,” Georgie said. “The Spencers bought their house from her when they first came back to Port Charles. I never knew her – she died when I was really young. But I know her grandson, Justus Ward. He's a lawyer who does a lot of pro bono work and also is on the board of the foundation.”

“I think I'll learn a lot from you two,” Epiphany said.

After picking up the prescriptions along with some toiletries, Georgie and TJ took Epiphany on a walking tour of the district. She marveled at Steve Hardy Park.

“It was named for my grandfather,” TJ said.

“You must be so proud!” Epiphany said. “It's beautiful!”

Once the tour was over, they went back to the apartment. Celeste invited them to stay to lunch, but Georgie had a date with Dillon and TJ had told Audrey he'd be home for lunch. So they left.

Just before lunch, Celeste finished the last of the laundry.

“Stan's stuff is all folded here for him,” she said. “I can't believe he's sleeping in like this. He's usually up early even on his days off. He must be pretty tired.”

All of a sudden, there was a thunderous knock at the door. Everyone jumped.

“Mama!” Stan cried. “Mama!” He sounds like he did when he was a little boy and had nightmares, Epiphany thought as she went to the door.

Stan stood there, still in the shorts and t-shirt he'd slept in, barefoot, his face ashen.

“Are you watching the TV?” he demanded breathlessly.

“No,” Epiphany said. “I ran some errands and we were just going to make lunch. What's going on?”

“The levees broke,” Stan said.

Celeste gasped. Wayne hung his head. Epiphany stared in horror.

* * *

Patrick Drake was shadowing in the emergency room, observing how it was run. He liked Dr. Yang Se Chung, who went by “Yank.” He was calm and in-charge.

Tomorrow, the interns would start assisting in the ER. Finally, Patrick thought. I'll really be practicing medicine.

Patrick checked his messages on his lunch break. He was meeting with an interior designer, Angel Ellis, that night at the penthouse. Angel had left a message confirming their appointment. Once again, not a peep from his father, Noah.

Patrick put his phone back on his belt with a sigh. Absorbed in his own thoughts, he turned the corner for the cafeteria and nearly collided with Robin Scorpio.

“Oh!” she said. “Excuse me!”

Patrick was caught off-guard, both by the near-collision and seeing the person over whom he'd embarrassed himself the first day. Patrick didn't like being off-guard.

“I'm sorry,” Patrick said. “Um ... Miss Scorpio ... I also have to apologize for the other day, mistaking you for a secretary.”

Robin gave a friendly smile.

“Don't worry about it, Dr. Drake,” she said. “You can't be expected to know everyone in the hospital on your first day. Don't worry, you'll learn your way around.”

What Robin thought was friendly support, Patrick took as condescending.

“I'm sure I will,” he said, in a cold, formal voice. “Excuse me, I only have a short break.”

He brushed past Robin without a backward glance. I don't need a smug pat on the head from the teacher's pet, he thought wrathfully.

Robin looked after him in annoyance. What a pompous ass, she thought. She picked up her cell phone and sent a text message to Karen Wexler and Elizabeth Webber to meet for drinks after work at Luke's.

* * *

Laura and Lulu Spencer sat at a round table in the front office at Port Charles High School, filling out forms for Lulu to register as a student.

“They need my immunization records,” Lulu said.

“Got it,” Laura replied, reaching into an accordion file holder. “Here's your transcript, too.”

Laura looked over the forms. Everything was set. They walked over to the counter and handed the paperwork to one of the secretaries.

“Everything looks in proper order,” the secretary said. “I just need the principal to sign off on it, and you'll be all set.”

After a brief meeting with the principal, Lulu and Laura went back out to the main office area to leave. From where they stood, they could see a break room with the TV on. The phrases “levees broken” and “massive flooding” reached their ears.

Laura looked at Lulu with a sick expression.

“Oh, no,” Lulu said.

“Come on,” Laura said, pulling Lulu's arm with one hand and reaching into her purse with the other. Once out in the hallway, she found her cell phone and hit the button that dialed Luke at the Haunted Star.

“Hey, Angel, everything set with Lulu?” he asked.

“Luke, get online,” Laura said urgently. “I heard something about the levees breaking.”

She could hear keys being tapped, then a long silence, followed by a hushed expletive.

“It's bad, Angel,” he said. “I'll head over there right now. You two going to meet me?”

“We'll be there right after you,” Laura replied.

* * *

Brenda Jacks twirled her hair nervously as she and Jax walked up the sidewalk to a trim, split-level home on a cul-de-sac.

Inside the house was Benito, the little boy they were hoping to adopt. Today was the first test. Would he like them? Would they pass muster with the authorities?

She felt Jax's hand on her back. It was a warm, safe feeling. She smiled up at him.

“It'll be all right, whatever happens,” he said softly. “Just be yourself. You don't have to try too hard.”

Brenda smoothed her hair as Jax rang the doorbell. A tall, angular woman in the traditional suburban mom uniform of khakis and a fitted button-down shirt answered the door.

“Mr. and Mrs. Jacks, please, come in,” she said. “I'm Polly Campbell.”

They all shook hands, and walked into the house. Brenda had to fight back her reaction upon seeing Benito in the living room, coloring in a coloring book.

He had silken dark hair, curling at the ends. His soft olive skin was made for smooching. His large brown eyes had an amazing fringe of dark, curly lashes.

“Ben, say hello to Mr. And Mrs. Jacks,” Polly prompted him.

“Hello,” he said softly, looking out from under his eyelashes with a shy smile. Oh, God, Jax thought. Look at those dimples!

“Hi, Ben,” Jax and Brenda said in unison.

“You have everything with you?” Polly asked Jax. The pretext of the visit was plans for the Ward House picnic that weekend. Jax was on the board. This way, the social worker explained, Benito would be himself without any pressure.

“Mr. Jacks and I are going to go talk in the kitchen,” Polly said to Ben. “Can you keep Mrs. Jacks company?”

Benito nodded and smiled shyly at Brenda.

“What're they talking about?” he asked.

“The picnic at Ward House this weekend,” Brenda said. “They're helping to plan it.”

Benito smiled broadly. “Aunt Polly told me 'bout it,” he said. “Is there really gonna be a pony?”

“I think so,” Brenda said. “And games, and a cookout. It should be fun. What are you coloring there?”

“Bob the Builder,” Benito said. “He's cool.”

“I've seen those,” Brenda said, pointing to a bulldozer in the picture. “Jax and I are building a house, and the construction guys have started clearing the land. They have these, and dump trucks, and those things right there,” she said, pointing to a backhoe.

“Diggers!” Benito crowed. “I love watching diggers. Bob the Builder has them on his show all the time.”

“Can I color with you?” Brenda asked.

“Yeah!” Benito said, pushing the crayons towards her.

* * *

After several moments of paralyzed shock, Epiphany sat down dazedly into a chair. Celeste and Wayne sat on the couch. Tears streamed down Celeste's cheeks. Wayne shook his head.

“It's gone, it's all gone,” he said in a low voice.

“And it wasn't even a category 5 storm!” Epiphany exclaimed. “Oh, God, our home ...”

Celeste broke into sobs, thinking of the things they had to leave behind. They'd brought the most precious things with them, but, still, their home and everything in it were the accumulation of a lifetime. Wayne put his arm around her and let her cry. She didn't cry for long.

“No more of this,” she said to herself, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. Then, to the others, she said. “We're safe here, we're together. We have a lot to be thankful for, starting with you taking the lead and getting us out, Epiphany. Let us thank the Lord for all we still have. Others aren't as fortunate today.”

“Like Marcellus,” Stan said softly.

“Has he called?” Epiphany asked.

“I can't reach him,” Stan said in a dull voice. “No service down there. I don't know if they stayed in their home, or went to the Superdome. No way to find out.”

They were startled out of their thoughts by a knock on the door. Epiphany answered, and there was Luke. He pulled her into his arms without a word.

“I'm so sorry, Piph,” he said. She hugged him back.

“Mama was just saying we have a lot to be thankful for,” Epiphany said. “You and your family lead my list right now.”

“Amen,” Wayne said.

Just then, Laura and Lulu arrived. After more hugging, Epiphany pulled away.

“I'll be right back,” she said, then she went into her bedroom and shut the door. Laura followed her, and opened the door softly.

Epiphany sat on the edge of the bed, head buried in her hands to muffle the sobs. With tears in her own eyes, Laura sat next to her and held her.

“I can't do this,” Epiphany said hoarsely. “I have to be strong for them.”

“Then let me be strong for you right now,” Laura said. “Get it out now. Holding it in only makes it worse.”

Epiphany grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it, so her parents wouldn't hear her cry, and laid her head on Laura's shoulder.

Out in the living room, Lulu sat on the floor next to Celeste, holding her hand.

“I have no idea what to do now,” Wayne said.

“Can't do anything right now,” Luke said. “The city's flooded. Even if your house doesn't get much damage, you won't be able to go home for at least a few weeks. Don't worry about doing anything today. We'll see how it shakes down and go from there.”

“Luke,” Stan spoke up. “I hate to ask you for anything after all you've done, but my best friend Marcellus is down there – he didn't evacuate, so far as I know. Is there anyone you know who can find him?”

“I don't know, Stan,” Luke said. “Maybe someone I know knows someone. Write down his name and address and I'll see what I can do.”

Stan scribbled everything down and handed it to Luke, who put it in his wallet.

“I'll go make some calls now,” he said. “Be back in a bit.”

* * *

Lucky and Sam made sandwiches in the squad's kitchen, and took them into the rec room. The TV was on, but it was a commercial.

“Mind if I turn it to the news?” Lucky asked her.

“Go ahead,” she said, then took a bite of her ham and cheddar sandwich. Lucky switched the channel. Sam looked up a few moments later, and saw he was white as a sheet.

“What is it?” she asked.

“The levees broke,” Lucky said. “Oh, God. Their home is right near there!”

“Whose home?” Sam asked.

Lucky told her about the Johnsons, and how they'd evacuated to Port Charles. “They've probably lost their home, and everything they left there,” he said.

“Oh, God,” Sam breathed. “How awful! I mean, it's great that they're here and safe, but still, to lose your home!”

Lucky looked down at the floor.

“I remember that house so well,” he said. “I'd go there after school when Mom and Dad were working. Stan and I would play pirates in the back yard, then his grandma would make a fuss over us tracking dirt in. But two minutes later, she's giving us milk and cookies. Growing up the way I did wasn't easy. That house was one of the few stable places I ever knew.”

Sam smiled ruefully.

“And here I was throwing a pity party for myself because I can't have the house I want,” she said. “Kind of puts things in perspective. Is there anything I can do for them?”

Lucky smiled.

“That's great of you to ask, Sam,” he said. “I'm thinking of having everyone over to Vagabond to meet Stan one night. Since it looks like he could be here for a while, he might as well make some friends.”

“I can do that,” Sam said. “Let me know when you want to do it, and I'll let the girls know.”

* * *

“You looked so natural with him,” Jax said in the car on the way home. Brenda let out a long breath of relief.

“It felt so good to finally meet him,” she said of Benito. “It was all I could do not to scoop him up and cover him with kisses. But that probably would have scared him.”

“Probably,” Jax said. “But I think we've passed the first test. The next will come at the picnic. If he's still warm to us, we can move forward.”

Brenda reached over and squeezed his hand.

“I'm so happy right now, I'm almost scared,” she said. “I keep wondering what's going to go wrong.”

Jax nodded.

“It's natural,” he said. “I've had the same fears. Maybe it's a reaction to all that time trying for a baby, getting our hopes up, and being disappointed over and over. It's a way to protect ourselves, in a way.”

“But we're not giving up, right?” Brenda asked.

“Not on your life,” Jax said. “Let's get you home, hot mama. We might not have a place to ourselves much longer. Might as well take advantage of it.”

Brenda laughed as Jax wagged his eyebrows at her.