Olivia's Challenge
Zem Challenge
5:45am
Zander looked around the park. The docks had been out, most of PC for that matter. Where could a wanted kidnapper meet up with his former victim to get some cash to make their way back to Canada. He and Em had been able to arrange a meet here. She was suppose to be wearing the green cardigan again. He'd reminded her again what would happen if they were caught together. Aiding and Abetting. Aiding and abetting her own kidnapper. He spots her coming toward him still a distance away.
"FREEZE." Zander stiffens at the harsh voice from behind him. "Put your hands over on your head." Zander complies mentally pleading for Em to see what is going on and either keep on going or turn around and walk away; she can't get involved with this. In the next heart beat he is slammed up against a tree the bark scraping the side of his face. His feet are kicked apart and he is frisked from head to feet. Taggart plants a hand in the middle of his back making sure he isn't going anywhere.
One by one his hands are cuffed behind his back the ratchet of the metal bracelets tightening around his wrists tightening like a fist in his stomach. He is so screwed,so screwed. "Zander Smith, you have the right..." The miranda warnings roll over him not even impacting. Sure things had been a mess but it had been easy too. The likelihood of getting caught had faded since the night he'd chatted up a pretty girl and ended up putting a gun in her side and forcing her from the party in a stolen car. Taggart shakes him by the collar of his jacket. "Do you understand these warnings?"
"Yeah, yeah whatever."
"You're lucky I didn't just punch your ticket, cop killer. But count on it... I'll be there when they pump you full of the same crap you deal and you take a long permenant nap."
"I didn't kill anyone!" Zander protests even as he is shoved in the back of the cop car. As Taggart pulls away from the curb, Zander looks out the window. Emily is standing there on the sidewalk, biting her lip and looking so scared. Scared for him. Zander shakes his head and mouths silently "go home." And then he looks away forcing himself to not look back as the distance grew between them.
The booking process is completed quickly, efficiently everything is done by the book: No I's undotted, no T uncrossed. His property confiscated and searched. Thank you, God; I got rid of Emily's phone number. The little sheet of paper had been creased and worn where he'd rubbed his thumb over the number wanting to call it twenty times a day. It had been memorized in minutes branded onto his brain. The cops of the PCPD were treating him like the new exhibit at the zoo. Everyone checking out what the mighty hunter Taggart had brought in for the commissioner and the ADA Dara Jensen. "He didn't have any weapons or drugs on him. Only some ID and in the inside pocket of his jacket some grape pixie sticks."
"Are you sending them out for analysis? Could be some cutsie way of delivering drugs." Dara suggests. "Like putting acid on smiley face stickers."
"Already bagged and tagged and on it's way to the lab."
"Do I get a phone call?" Zander demands finally. Please Em, please have gone home rather than here.
"Give him his phone call. I suggest you call an attorney. You need one." Dara advises Zander. Taggart winces. He would have much rather had some time solo with the suspect to get a confession out of him. Too many people walked in this town even with confessions.
Zander is given the phone and uses his body to block the number he is calling. "Don't say anything." He says swiftly as the line is answered. "I need you to get hold of Alexis Davis and tell her Alex Smith is in custody and I need an attorney. Don't come down here. I'll call you later."
"But..." Zander hangs up the phone before Emily can protest. Swiftly he dials in 411 into the phone and then after it connects hangs up. The cops might try to figure out who he called but it wouldn't be as easy as *69. "I'll wait for my attorney before making any statements."
Damn, Dara thinks. I would be the one to tell him to contact an attorney. Her record against Alexis was abysmal.
At the Quartermaine mansion, Emily races down the stairs and the door to the gatehouse. "Alexis!"
"Emily. Take a deep breath." Alexis looks up from where she is going through some briefs on the couch and takes off her reading glasses. "What is going on? Is it Ned? Lila?"
"No. No, Alex Smith needs you to be his lawyer."
"Alex Smith?" Alexis pales. This had to be a coincedence. "How do you know Alex Smith?"
"We have to go. He's at the PCPD. I'll explain everything on the way." Em stands in the doorway. "Please. He needs you."
Alexis slides back on her shoes and gathers her briefcase. "I'll drive; you start talking."
Alexis strides into the PCPD. This couldn't be happening. Ned was going to kill her. First she'd defended Tony Jones on kidnapping charges and now this. Now way Alex could have killed a cop, kidnapped Emily. It was impossible. "I'm here to see my client."
"If it ain't the mob mouthpiece now you taking the street dealing scum too, counselor?" Dara taunts. "Gee and I thought you and Ned were a thing. Well kiss that goodbye."
"My client?" Alexis doesn't allow herself to be drawn in.
"This way, Ms Davis." Taggart leads her to the interrogation room. "He's all yours... for now."
Alexis walks into the interrogation room not even looking at her client she shuts the mini blinds between the squad and this room. Turning around she takes a deep breath and exhales. Reaching across the table she slaps Zander with all her might. "How could you? How could you do something so stupid? So risky? You could have been killed. By Sorel, by the cops, by Emily's brother. How could you not let me know where you were? That you were in town?"
"I missed you too, Mom." Zander works his jaw trying to not take offense at the blow. He had an idea what was next.
Alexis comes around the table and hugs him close. It's awkward with him being cuffed to the table but she manages to squeeze him tight. "I've been so scared since the last letter was returned unopened. I thought she'd found you." Alexis brushes Zander's hair back from his face. "Drugs, Alex?"
Zander winces. "It was stupid. I never used but that's no excuse. I was just riding the edge and when Sorel drugged Emily and killed the cop I fell over."
"But you didn't kill the cop." Alexis leads Zander through the whole story from top to bottom filling in any blanks that Emily had left on the trip over. "Well you've been incredibley stupid and there are going to be consequences but I think I can keep you out of prison. But you have to do what I say."
"And if I get out of here?" Zander wonders.
"Well your cover is blown. Helena has free run of this place and there are no secrets in this town for long. I know you're a little old to be living with Mom but we don't have to hide anymore. We won't be able to." Alexis walks over to the door and opening it up waves Taggart and Dara in. She walks around the table and takes Zander's hand.
Dara looks at the perp and then at Alexis holding his hand. She's seen plenty in her years of lawyering but most handholding is mental not actual. She quirks a brow. "Well I hope you aren't counting on any deals. We've got your client cold. The needle was reinstated for guys just like this."
"You don't have anything on Alex." Alexis asserts. "You'll have exactly what I give you. You can prove nothing. But if you want Sorel you'll start giving Mr Smith immunity on the other charges."
"Sorel?" Dara says greedily.
Taggart snorts. Another one was going to get away in the furtherance of justice. What a freaking joke.
"In exchange for my son's testimony, he's to be granted immunity for all the charges rising out of this incident."
"Your Son?" Emily asks wide eyed from the doorway.
"Hey Em. It looks like I'll be staying in Port Charles after all."
Finish time 6:37a