Chapter One

(Friday)

“Thank you for meeting with me Jason.  I’m guessing that you know why I’m here,” Mr. Brown said shaking Jason’s hand. 

“Yes, you wish to call in on a favor that Sonny owed you.” 

“That’s right.  I’m glad I caught you. This is an urgent matter.  I think once you hear what the favor is you might not be as eager to help me.” 

“When Sonny left he told me who owed him favors and who he owed.  He was very adamant that I help you any time you ask for it,” Jason told Mr. Brown.  There were few people that Sonny owed anything to so he knew that this man had done something extremely out of the ordinary for Sonny to point him out.  “Now, Mr. Brown.  What is it that I can do for you?” 

“Please call me Charley.  This is a very delicate matter.  I will be leaving the country on some business.  I will be gone for at least 5 months.  I have a 16-year-old daughter and I cannot take her with me and I cannot leave her in LA.  I have too many enemies there to leave her there in her condition.  I want to bring her to Port Charles and have her watched over.  I cannot have my men contacting me daily with reports on her, so I need someone I can trust to watch out for her if she gets into any trouble (which is something she is good at).  I need someone I can trust and Sonny was the only one I would trust Erin with.  But he is not here so I come to you,” Charley stated. 

Jason just stood there looking at him.  “So what exactly do you want me to do?” 

“Erin trusted and liked Sonny.  If she knows that he trusted you, she will trust you and do as you say.  I need for you to just keep track of her.  I’m not asking you to baby-sit her, I just want you to just to keep an eye on her.” 

“That sounds easy enough.  What did you mean in her condition?” Jason asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. 

“You weren’t around when I was working for Sonny, were you?  No, you couldn’t have been.  Erin is blind,” Charley stated with no visible emotion but Jason could tell that it still carried some pain with the memory. 

“I’ll keep an eye on her.  But I’m not quite sure why your came to me.” 

“There is no one else I would trust with my daughter’s life, she means the world to me.” 

“Okay, when can I expect her?”  Jason asked, thinking that he would have a few weeks to find a place for her. 

“Would tomorrow be too soon?” 

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes, tomorrow.  I hope that isn’t too soon.  I’ll set up a room for her in the Hotel.” 

“That won’t be necessary.  I own the apartment across the hall and there is no one there now.  She can stay there.  It is already furnished, and if she needs anything else all she will have to do is ask.”

“Thank you.  You don’t know how much this means to me,” Charlie said with a hint of relief. 

“Just one other thing,” 

“Yes?” 

“What about school?  You said yourself you could be gone for more than five months.” Jason asked.  He didn’t know why he asked, it wasn’t that he thought that school was extremely important, but something just told him to ask. 

“Oh, yes, thank you for reminding me.  She has a private tutor.  I’ll set up accommodations for her myself.” 

“Good.  Now what time should I expect her tomorrow?” 

“What time would be the most convenient?”  

“4 o’clock would be best.” 

“Okay, 4 it is.  But there is one thing I must warn you about.  There are very few people that Erin trusts, and if she doesn’t trust you…well some people would say ‘she can be a real pain’.  But if you are really the way Sonny described you then you two should get along well.” 

“I’m sure I can handle her.”