General Hospital Fan Fiction Message Board

Morgan can feel Lisa’s eyes on him as he is turning down the bed. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.”

“Of course not. It was a great dinner. Baby is a great cook.” Lisa takes off her earrings and sets them back in the nook in her jewelry box and then rubs her ears and runs her fingers through her hair. It might have been a great dinner but it had also been tense.

“You and Georgie had me paranoid going in.”

“You saw the way that the guys treated Baby.”

“That was weird.” Morgan agrees. “I mean Uncle Jason’s guys are loyal to him but I don’t think there is one that he would really turn his back on. There have been too many betrayals either through infiltration by the feds or just... greed. And for someone that doesn’t like my sister you sure know a lot about her company.”

“I really don’t. I’m like a military brat without the military. I was basically raised under CSMC control from the time I was ten when they came and pulled my mother and me out of our apartment in the middle of the night. Eight years... plus really since I know they were keeping an eye on me in college. My mother is a fan. Whatever Baby says my mom will go along with but Anders... If Baby told him to get a gun and go into the local train station and spray the place with bullets... he’d do it. Any one of the guys over in that house would do the same. After what Baby did for Javier tonight...” Lisa shakes her head.

“Yeah, I had a feeling that there was something going on there.”

“Baby’s dining room table is her boardroom. Anyone who is around the company any amount of time figures that one out. It defines the pecking order. And because that’s the way she does business all the branches run that same way too. If there was a summit then Mouse or Bruno, the guy that trained Javier, would be at her right hand depending on who was in town and then you can move down the table and determine who is in favor and who is not. And nobody sits at the foot of the table... ever. By putting Javier at the head of the table when she’s here visiting that puts him way up at the table when they have the next summit. I don’t think it’s just because he founded Miami Nice.”

“And this Josef Koslov– the boyfriend... he’s a gangster right? Russian Mob?”

“I wouldn’t say that to his face but yeah. He did time in Russia. Baby held his business together while he was in and put as much pressure as she could to get him out because it wasn’t for the criminal activity... he was actually put in for political reasons. As soon as he got out he moved to Greece. They gave him a diplomatic passport and the Russians have been trying to get him back on their team ever since. Cause he might be Russian Mob but he gets projects done on time and under budget if you can believe that. I used to hear stories about the way Baby ran his business. Everyone knew she was running it while he was in. But she’d never say anything in the meetings, just hang back and let Josef’s second be the mouthpiece. Stories say that she went through a few seconds before getting one that would go along. And then when Josef got out of the gulag he was a mess. He’d lost a ton of weight, had TB, it took about a year to get him healthy again. He ran his meetings, Baby was never in the room but the meetings were always held in places where Baby controlled access.”

“And does he return the favor for CSMC?”

“Oh no.” Lisa shakes her head emphatically. “Anders has gone golfing with Josef. You know done the social thing because Chandy is Baby’s cousin. But when it comes to business– Josef has no say. He doesn’t even do the advice thing. If he’s got something to say then it’s to Baby in a closed room with nobody else there. Same thing with Baby’s Uncle Stefan... I mean come on the guy is a Cassadine. They specialize in world domination tries all the way back to the seventies. If he has an opinion he doesn’t give it in front of Baby’s guys... it’s a waste of time. Those guys don’t hear any voice but Baby’s when she’s in the room.”

“Can you name the top five?”

Lisa grimaces. “In CSMC? Mouse in Port Charles for sure, Bruno out in LA about the same rank– Manny but maybe not since he’s retired. He’s the one who trained Anders. Frankie doesn’t have the power of like the heads of branches but he has a direct line to Baby because he does the security for Koslov’s grandmother and Baby’s daughter, Faith. On some things Edward Quartermaine, on other things Dillon Quartermaine or Cole Radcliffe but they are more advisors rather than in the chain of command. I don’t know. It’s easier to do branches– LA, The City, Chicago– although there are more than a few that say that Marta has more juice than the head of CSMC- Chicago...”

Morgan interrupts to bring her back to point. “Boston?”

“Yeah. I’d say that Anders is probably in the top ten, maybe the top five. He was the first guy she brought on when she took over while she was still in high school.”

“And she never has been betrayed.”

“I didn’t say that. There are tons of people who probably want her to fall on her face but from inside CSMC...” Lisa shakes her head. “Her daughter? Faith, the one she adopted? That story has made the papers, I mean come on, because of her being an actress and everything. The guy who had her starring in underage porno used to be the head of CSMC-LA. The cops have been looking for him for years. They are never going to find him. Frankly, I don’t think they are looking that hard anymore.”

“And his family...”

“They are CSMC. Baby kept them. Just got rid of him.” Lisa says it like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

That declaration gives Anders pause. “Okay reading through the lines– you’re telling me Kristina killed the guy...”

“...probably just ordered it. It happened in LA so it was probably Bruno.”

“And that his family stayed with the killers rather than going to the cops.”

“Yeah, you’d think that was a big old weak spot. Somewhere the cops or the feds could put on the pressure... maybe try to take Baby down through them. Or the wife could keep her eyes closed and just remember her husband had moved a fourteen year old girl into an apartment and was using her in porn films as well as sexing her up himself. Baby is always real big on giving people choices but she makes sure that if there are three choices that two of them seriously suck. I heard her do it more than once with my mother. She probably did the same thing with the guy’s wife. Something like– you can stay with him and get nothing because she was going to destroy him for messing with the CSMC reputation. Baby doesn’t play where the CSMC reputation is concerned. Or option two you could divorce him and get half of whatever is left over after CSMC got done with the guy... again... basically nothing. Or option three go along with the CSMC party line and get a share of CSMC- LA– a monthly income, keep the house, keep the kids in private schools, the maid service, the cars. The only thing that the woman would be losing would be a defective pervo husband– getting not zero, not fifty percent but one hundred percent of the family assets. And once seven years was up she could file for the life insurance.”

Morgan sits down on the bed. “And the kids?”

“Depending on how old they are, how oblivious they are?” Lisa shrugs. “The police report that was in the tabloids said that the guy knew that he was going to get busted for embezzling and took his boat and split for South America and nobody has seen the guy since. And I wouldn’t bet against Mouse keeping an eye on the kids– checking their grades and what they are doing online. If one of them gets in trouble there will be a goon squad there within twenty minutes just like there was for me.”

“And if something happened to us, after the baby was born.”

“My mom–definitely.” Lisa doesn’t hesitate with the answer. “She would take the baby and raise it. But yeah, Baby would probably put her more than two cents in. If you were out of the picture probably give the kid a card with the emergency line on it and a visa card.”

“It was a really good dinner.” Morgan sighs.

“See and that is what makes her so dangerous... get you full and comfortable and then sneak in something reasonable.”

“It really is a cult isn’t it?”

“Yep. Amway has nothing on CSMC.”

“There is an inherit weakness in cults. What happens if something happens to Kristina?”

Lisa shakes her head. “I don’t even want to think about that. There is nobody who could take her place. It would be a mess. I don’t want her running my life but Anders would have a longer life expectancy with her than without her.” There is a long pause and Lisa can tell that Morgan is thinking. Finally it gets to be too much. “What?”

“Just thinking that I need to get a new dining room table– a nice round one.”

The following morning, Georgie is up early with the sun to take advantage of the daylight hours. She starts checking all her sources to see if there have been any sightings of Macon. Gainesville is still investigating. She touches base with Mouse just before he’s heading to bed just to make sure there are no overlaps there. Logging on to work, she does the same with Lucky checking in with him to hear about how it is to work with Mac pretty much full time. According to Lucky, is like being back on the police force again. Jacques comes into the study bearing a tropical fruit cup and a cup of coffee. Georgie reaches for it. “Thanks.”

“How is it going?” Jacques takes a comfortable seat to the side of the desk.

“Last in Gainesville as far as we know. So he could be in Miami, could be in Tarpon Springs. If he is in Tarpon Springs, he won’t be there for long.”

“Why not?”

“Lisa’s mom has security that would make Fort Knox proud. I might be giving the guy credit he doesn’t deserve but if he could figure out that Lisa wasn’t in Gainesville he should be able to see the trap Doreen Pappas would be.” Georgie muses. “The cop up in Gainesville took the information I sent to him seriously. Maybe he double checked it with Chief of Police up in Port Charles but Macon’s picture is all over Gainesville.”

“Raising the heat there.” Jacques muses before raising his voice to normal. “I will have to go into the office today. There are a few meetings and projects that have to be handled onsite. Pete, it is the same. There will be deliveries today.”

“Books for the bookcase?” Georgie grins.

“This is true.”

“I’ve got plenty to keep me busy.” Georgie taps the laptop. “The work is starting to pile up in Port Charles but there is some that I can do by remote. And having the books arrive will distract Lisa for the a little while. Today isn’t the problem.”

“It’s a week from now or two or a month or two.” Jacques nods.

Morgan hands over a flash drive of dictated notes and directions to his secretary. She takes it automatically this is the way things were handled whenever Morgan worked from home. “Mr White is in your office and he has a woman with him. She didn’t have an appointment but she really wanted to see you.”

“What’s her name?”

The secretary refers to a note on her desk. “Kristina Ashton of CSMC. She didn’t have an appointment. She isn’t on the schedule.” The secretary’s tone has more than a hint of it’s not my fault in her voice. “They are with her.”

Morgan looks at the two bodyguards who are dressed in colors appropriate to the tropical heat but their jackets definitely are cut to be carrying sidearms. “I know. She just came into town unexpectedly last night.” Morgan says reassuringly. “Have you already offered coffee?”

“Of course.” His secretary is affronted that he would even ask.

“Thanks. Have fun with that.” He refers to the flashdrive and goes into his office. “Good morning, Mr White. Kristina.”

“Morgan, I apologize for not making appointment. It’s just an unexpected trip to Miami.” Kristina says from where she’s standing next to the window.

Morgan can pretty much see the drool and avarice in Mr White’s covetous look at Kristina. Everything about her posture and dress screamed old money, class and probably finishing school too.

Just Mr White’s kind of people. “Not at all, Ms Ashton.” Mr White smarms.

“Please-- call me Kristina.” Baby puts a hand on Mr White’s forearm. “I hope you won’t take this the wrong way, Mr White, but the things I have to talk to Morgan about...”

“Of course. Confidentiality. Your business is safe with us.” Mr White gives her hand a pat and then gives Morgan a look like don’t screw this up. White closes the door on the way out.

Morgan does a slow clap.

Kristina gives a short curtsey. “How can you stand that guy?” She shudders and then starts to really check out Morgan’s office. “How can you stand this place?! If I had to come in here every day I’d slit my wrists.” She waves Morgan off. “I know not a good example. I work from home where ever I am. But even Jensen, Campbell and Winthrop isn’t anything like this.”

“There aren’t too many firms like JCW.” Morgan doesn’t pretend to not know Baby’s talking about the predominant Port Charles firm. “Is that who does your legal work?”

Baby nods. And keeps exploring. She gets the feeling that Morgan is in this office somewhere but maybe not. Maybe his house is where he reveals his real personality. “Dara Jensen used to date Uncle Stefan. Gia Campbell actually mentored under Tasha before her break, and the core of their law library is hers and of course Cass Winthrop handled all of Daddy’s divorces until he stopped marrying them. They’ve been handling CSMC business since inception. Dara does all the trusts and real estate, Cass arranged Fancy’s adoption...”

“And Gia?”

Baby grins. It’s more of a baring of teeth in a ladylike snarl. “Oh she went after the radio station and shock jock that interviewed Fancy and tried to humiliate her. The shock jock is now doing road and weather updates in Fairbanks and CSMC owns the radio station.”

“How in the hell did you ever get past the FCC?!”

Baby mocks as if she’s hurt with a hand to her heart as if stabbed by his disbelief. “They love me. They’d been trying to get rid of that guy for years. And they love what I’ve done with the station.” Baby finally comes in for a landing and takes a seat so that Morgan does too. “I asked Aunt Skye for advice on programming. I know she does print but it was good advice anyway. And then I sicced Bruno on the station manager. And it isn’t even all CSMC artists getting air play. Alecia and Maureen, the head of CSMC LA use the radio station as a recruiting tool. Find out the status of people’s contracts, how happy they are, who is getting screwed by their current management. It’s been very profitable. Why didn’t you go to work for JCW. I know they put an offer to you.”

“Location, location, location.”

He’s staying out of Port Charles. “But here?”

“It’s the best international business firm in Miami.”

“But it’s so... stiffling.”

“It’s good training,”

Baby nods. And he’s not planning on staying here. Just out of Port Charles. “Well when you’re ready to jump to your own place... you may want to contact JCW anyway. They worked a deal with CSMC– Talent. Paul, the first guitarist of Mayday decided to go business end. Gia uses our offices when ever she has a gig in Boston. Same thing with Tower building out in LA Paul is not quite a branch office of JCW up in Boston but I think Gia treats him like one. I’m sure that Dara would like to have an office down in the Hurricane Zone since she does Cat 5 business.”

“Why are you really here?” Because I am not talking business prospects with you.

“To tell you that I’m going to keep moving. Macon probably knew I was in Gainesville which is why he went for the storage units. I’ve kept it low key here in Miami. There isn’t a branch office in New Orleans. Too much of a risk. We’ve kept out of the hurricane zone for the most part. Just here, Tarpon Springs and Costa Rica. Our southern Branches are within reach of the zone but not in it. I pop up on the tabloid radar in New Orleans...”

“And Macon may head that way.” Morgan nods.

“There are no guarantees of course so you’ll have to keep your guard up until we have word that he is either back in custody or in the ground.”

“And you will let me know, even if you don’t tell the cops right.”

“Do you shoot?”

“No.”

“Shame that. It’s a great stress reliever. You’ll know when the threat has been eliminated. You can get hold of me through Mouse. He always knows where I am.” Baby laughs. “There are times when I think he put a GPS tracker on me in my sleep.” She comes over and gives him a kiss on the cheek. “It was great to finally meet you.” She doesn’t wait for his reply before heading out the door. From where he stands in the middle of his office he can see the way that the bodyguards jump to their feet with an almost military precision with one taking lead and the other following Baby.

As soon as Baby had appeared the threat alert seemed to jump a few colors. Morgan would bet money that anyone dumb enough to approach Baby would so find themselves up against a wall with a forearm against the back of their neck being frisked for their stupidity. As soon as they are on the elevator, Morgan is reaching for the phone. “Hey.”

“What did you forget?”

“Guess who was at my office this morning.”

There is a long pause. “How are you?”

Morgan shakes his head. “No, Lisa, I have not drank the koolaid.”

Her sigh of relief is audible. “Good. Thanks for that. I tell ya it’s a lonely feeling being the only one that hasn’t. It’s so... nice to be around you, Georgie, Jacques and Pete.”

“Oh she could probably take Pete. You ever see the way that guy eats?” Morgan jokes.

“Jacques too. She’s fluent in French raised in Swiss boarding school and spent a lot of time in France too. Okay now I’m depressed all over again.”

“She’s leaving town. Says she’s going to head over to New Orleans make some noise and see if she can draw Macon to her.”

“Would you consider me totally petty if I said her making my psycho all about her is kind of annoying?”

Morgan laughs at that. “You’ll get over it, if it works and Macon is back in custody.”

“She’s got a foot in the door now, Morgan. This isn’t the last you’ve heard of her.”

“I know. I can deal with it as long as she’s up in Port Charles and we’re not.”