Episode 151

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Episode 151

Scene 1:

"You have ten minutes," Josh said glancing at the clock on the wall. "So make it good, Jamie. Truth. And not some ridiculous story about needing friends around you."

Jamie nodded obediently, setting his jaw firmly. He didn't like having his integrity questioned. "You were the best goddammed doctor at my hospital in Florida. You were the best damn med student in college. Right now, I've got Ian McCormick as the only doctor qualified to take over as Chief of Staff at St. Joe's. You and I both know he's a sociopath, Josh. I just can't give the job to him."

"So you came looking for me?" Josh's voice was laced with skepticism but Jamie ignored it for the moment.

"Of course I did. Look, maybe you're right. Maybe I did you a disservice when I left Florida. But I believe you're the right man for the job. Hate me if you want to, but don't turn this offer down because of it. You need this job."

"You don't know what I need!" Josh snapped angrily.

Jamie shrugged a shoulder casually. "The woman? Honey is her name? You live with her right?"

"She doesn't have anything to do with this..."

"No? That woman cares a lot about you Josh. I saw it in her eyes. She didn't want to talk to me any more than you do right now but she did. Do you think she deserves to continue living the way she is now? You're not working..."

"You don't know that!" Josh cut in.

Jamie narrowed his eyes at Josh studying him intently. "Don't I? How the hell do you think I found you? Not by your work records that's for damn sure! I hired a private detective to find you. So if you think I'll believe some story about you working in a clinic, you can forget it. I know what you do with your time, Josh. You sit in a bar and you drink until you run out of money. Then you wait for your girlfriend and she gives you more so you can continue drinking. You're pathetic," he added harshly. "That woman is far too good for you if only because she genuinely cares about you."

"Leave her out of this Jamie."

"No way. She needs this more than you do because she can't bear to see you throw your life away. You want to do that after all she's done to help you?" Jamie slid off the barstool, glaring at Josh. "Let me tell you something. I lost a good woman because I ignored what she wanted. Don't make the same mistake I did. And for God's sake, Josh, don't throw your life away over something that neither of us would have been able to prevent. You're a damn good doctor and you'd make an even better chief of staff if you would let yourself. I'm going home tonight," he said fishing in his wallet. "This is the address of the hospital in Virginia. If you want the job, you show up here within a week."

"And if I don't?"

"If you don't," Jamie repeated slowly. "You're a bigger fool than you're acting like right now."

Scene 2:

"Come on Georgia," Jory coaxed through the door. "Talk to me. I know you're here. I saw your car outside." He waited a moment before knocking again. Nothing. Well, he couldn't really blame her. After all, she had been humiliated in the worst way by someone she thought she knew. He knocked once more, listening carefully for the sound of footsteps.

"She won't let you in." Jory turned at the voice, his gut clenching tightly at the sight of Ian McCormick in the hall with him. "She can be a little stubborn when she wants to be."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jory demanded. Wasn't it enough for McCormick to embarrass Georgia in a public place, he had to come to her own home and torment her further?

"I imagine I'm here for the same reason you are," Ian returned coldly. "You may think I'm a heartless asshole, Jory, and that's your prerogative, but I do care about Georgia. In a way you could never understand."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know. Besides, as I said before, she isn't going to open the door to you. Why don't you go home and wait for her to call you."

"No way. You think she'll open the door for you?" Jory asked skeptically. "After what you did to her?"

"As a matter of fact, I think she will. She's in love with me, you know," Ian added matter-of-factly. "She wants me to explain things to her and that's why I'm here. To explain."

"Where's your wife? Does she know you're here?"

"Ellen? She's off telling her mother how she married the only man she's ever loved," Ian replied sarcastically. He gave Jory a critical gaze, leaning against the wall casually. "You know if I were you, I'd be more concerned with your pal Ellen than with Georgia. She's demented, you know."

"She's your wife!" Jory exclaimed. "How can you say..."

"Because it's the truth, " Ian interrupted him with a wave of his hand. "You think I wanted to marry her? I didn't. She trapped me. Tricked me, whatever. Think I'm lying, you go on and ask her. She'll tell you. After all, you are her friend, aren't you? She's like her mother after all. Vicious and vindictive. Georgia isn't like her. She's decent and good. And I plan to explain all this nonsense to her. When you go away," he added pointedly.

Jory wanted to laugh. Ian McCormick was egotistical and self-centered on a good day but this was incredible. There were a good deal of things that Ellen Mason was, the least of which was demented. Likely, she was in love with Ian, though only God knew why. But trap him? How could anyone in this day and age trap another person into marriage? It wasn't the fifties after all. Things like that just didn't happen. He would talk to Ellen but after he made sure Georgia was all right. Someone had to talk some sense into her, after all.

"I can't let you talk to her," he said firmly.

Ian raised an eyebrow at him, straightening in response. "Really? I don't see how you could stop me. Why don't you step aside and let me try to get her to open the door. Then we'll see who she really wants to hear from."

"What gives you the idea that I'll let you do that?" Jory asked. He planted himself firmly in front of the door. Ian was a good four inches taller than he was but Jory was pretty sure, if it came down to it, any altercation between them would be fair.

He felt a draft of air rush behind him as the door opened. "Because I do want to hear him," Georgia murmured to him softly. He glanced over his shoulder, catching the intense gaze she fixed on Ian for the briefest of moments before turning her soft brown eyes on him. "It won't make a difference but I want know why he did it. Please?"

Jory's shoulders slumped in defeat and he stepped away from the door. "It shouldn't matter to you, Georgia."

"You're right. But I need to hear it. Go home for now....I'll be all right." She smiled weakly at him, touching his arm lightly to reassure him. He nodded in assent and stepped away from the door, glaring at Ian as he took a step towards Georgia. Jory's hand flashed out and gripped Ian's arm for the briefest moment.

"Hurt her again tonight and I swear to God, I'll beat the living shit out of you," he muttered darkly.

Ian raised his eyebrows in mock surprise but held his tongue and shook out of Jory's grasp. "I'll remember that."

Scene 3:

"What I'd like to know is exactly why Fleming is here and how he got a hold of the editorial. The Observer isn't that big of a paper to get covered on the AP unless he's been keeping tabs on me..."

"I can answer that for you," Rick said from the open doorway. "I sent him a courtesy copy and invited him to Conlan's Glen."

Maura and Jude turned at the same time, staring incredulously at Rick's admission. "Why would you do that?" Maura asked in a stunned voice.

"Revenge," Jude answered before Rick could say a word. Maura glanced between the two men, feeling the overt tension that permeated the air. "Getting even really worth all this trouble, Upton?"

"Getting even? Well, I'm glad you think of it like that. Personally," Rick said, folding his arms over his chest. "I think you deserve a thorough investigation. You're quite a shady character after all."

"Rick! He isn't a criminal!" Maura exclaimed trying to insert herself between the two. "I don't know why you're doing this but, please, for my sake..."

"Don't bother, Maura." Jude pulled her back to his side, holding her elbow firmly. "Rick is looking for some one to blame for his own shortcomings. Aren't you?"

Rick rolled his eyes and uttered a brief laugh. "Right. You go right on with that line of thinking. If that's how you want to play. This isn't about losing Maura to you. This is about your strange history as a lobbyist in Washington and why you left so suddenly last year. It isn't because of some failed affair with the boss' wife either. I've heard that story and I don't buy it."

"You know, Rick. You're very good at what you do," Jude replied evenly. "But you're wrong about me. Just like Fleming was wrong. And if you continue to push me, I will push back."

Rick shook his head and turned his gaze to Maura. "Why are you so enamored of this man, Mo? He's not worth it. I thought you had better sense than to fall for a swindler and a criminal."

"He isn't a criminal or a swindler! I don't know where you heard that but it isn't true!"

"Believe what you want to believe, but I intend to prove that he is everything I said he was in my editorial. No matter the cost."

"Like your job? You don't honestly think Gwen will let you get away with this, do you?" Maura demanded.

"Of course not. I fully intend to tender my resignation if she asks for it," Rick answered turning a burning glare back to Jude. "But that won't stop me, Fontaine. Consider that a warning."

"I consider myself warned. Just be prepared for whatever Gwen Mason hands out," Jude answered.

"Mommy fighting your battles for you?" Rick taunted.

"She will despite what I say or do. But I don't intend to sink to your level. Now, get out of my office."

Rick tipped his head in a mocking salute. "Your wish is my command. But Maura, a word of warning? Watch out for him. He's not the hero you think he is. In fact, I'm going to prove that to you. Just wait," he added before leaving them alone once more.

Scene 4:

"No. I didn't order leopard print," Nicky told the woman in front of him calmly. "I ordered a jungle print. You see, the theme of the club is the jungle."

"Well, I know that Mr. Tejera. But I thought maybe you'd like something a little more exotic..."

He silenced her with a wave of his hand, tired of arguing with her. "All right then. I'll take the leopard print. But I warn you, Ms. Rose, another stunt like this and I will find another designer who is more willing to listen to what I say and not go out on their own. Do you understand?" She nodded meekly and turned to leave the room. "Rebecca?" He called after her as an afterthought, using her first name for emphasis. She turned back to him, her eyes round. "The bar area is almost finished. I don't want to see anything that I didn't ask for. I especially do not want to see any leopard print bar stools. Only the leather upholstered ones I asked for. Are we clear?" She nodded her head in answer and pulled the door open where a commotion from the front of the building floated back to them. Nicky sighed heavily and pushed his way past his designer towards the noise.

"Thought I'd find you here," Angelina said, crossing her arms as her brother emerged. Two workers stood behind her, looking miserably ineffective as they tried to usher her back out the door. But she wasn't moving. "Something about the place just screamed...you."

"Well, then I'm doing a good job. Do you like it?" He asked, the corner of his mouth turning upwards as he gestured around the room.

"It's definitely got your flair." She arched a brow, returning his gaze steadily. "What? Don't you have a hug for your little sister? Or aren't you happy to see me?"

"You don't want a hug from me," Nicky observed, glancing at the workers as they crept away from Angelina Tejera. He grinned suddenly, laughing aloud. "You came for blood! Mine to be exact."

"Why, whatever are you talking about?" Angelina asked, feigning innocence. She sauntered forward, taking in every last detail of the club's anteroom. "You wouldn't be referring to the fact that Tyler's in jail and I had to hear about it from a complete stranger? Or, would it be that you've been completely remiss in actually getting him out of jail? Or maybe...." Her words trailed off as she got close enough to her brother to reach out and smack him on his arm. "What in the hell were you thinking, Nicky? And putting down roots here? What's gotten into you?"

"This isn't such a bad place," Nicky remarked taking a step back from her. "And did it ever occur to you that our brother is safer in that jail than he would be on the street right now?" He glanced over his shoulder at the bar where a box of alcohol was being unloaded. "Come on, I'll buy you a drink and tell you why I left him there."

"Safer?" She gaped at him. "This better be good, Nicolas Tejera," Angelina told him, reluctantly following. "I want to know exactly what you've gotten my little brother involved in."

"I don't know what I've gotten him into," Nicky shrugged, taking a bottle of tequila from the bar. He upturned two glasses and filled them each. "Sorry, no lemons yet," he muttered downing the shot as he pushed Angelina's drink toward her. "But I can tell you that he's been deliberately set up. Did you know that he was at Dinah's house when they were arrested?"

She shot him a look as if to ask, "How would I know that?" But she managed a succinct, "No," as she downed only half of the shot, letting it burn its way down her throat. The stuff still brought tears to her eyes. She'd never been a strong drinker.

"Well he was there. I told them to stay where they were and Garcia...you remember him? Salvador Garcia? He was watching them and out of the blue, he tells them that I want them somewhere else. So he packs them up and drives them to her house. Then he disappears. No trace." He filled his glass again and set the bottle on the counter. "Now, you're going to ask, did I tell him to do that? The answer, Angelina, is no. I had no intention of letting them turn themselves in until I him cleared."

"So why haven't you found him yet? I thought...you were good at these things."

"I am. But someone is better," he remarked ruefully. "I've looked for him, Baby Sister. But he's gone. Probably dead by now. So, what do you think of that? You're the smart one in the family. What does that little story tell you?"

Angelina watched him thoughtfully before draining the remainder of her shot glass. "It tells me that someone wants you. And it tells me I'm about to get involved in the exact same thing I moved to New Orleans to escape. Because like it or not, I'm not leaving while Tyler's locked up in that place."

"Good. I can use all the help I can get and at least I know where you'll be," he muttered under his breath. "I happen to think the same thing as you. Someone is out to get me and they're doing it through my family. I'm arranging for a room for Mama nearby but I want Crista here too."

"Crista," she repeated in shock. "I hope you know you're completely insane! And Mama? How is she going to deal with a move? I'm sure she'd love to have her family back together, but at what price? How can you be sure we haven't all been led to the slaughter?"

"Well better dead together than apart, no?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "You're all safer here. You know it as well as I do, Angelina. Crista won't like it but better safe than sorry. I have every intention of finding out who is messing with me, don't worry about that. But as long as you're here and determined to get Tomas or Tyler or whatever he wants to call himself out of jail, I won't interfere. And I'll give you whatever help you need."

"You're not funny," Angelina pointed out. "Besides, there's only one person I can think of who might resent you enough to target your family. Although, I'm sure you've pissed off quite a few people in your years." She looked away, tapping her fingers along the bar. "You can't protect all of us all of the time. I'll do what I can, but until we know what we're up against...."

"Until we know what we're up against, everyone stays close," Nicky finished for her. "You want to take over getting Tyler out of jail, you go right ahead. But I intend to make sure everyone in my family stays safe. I am not going to let any of you pay for the mistakes I've made."