Chapter 45
“I hope you have good news for me this time,” Helena said into her phone, lounging back in her private jet.
“Everything is going according to plan. Luke wasn’t too thrilled with the delivery, but he and Nikolas are already going after the first clue.”
“Luke and Nikolas, working together?” Helena asked in wonder. “Now that’s something I wish I was there to see. No matter, it won’t last long. They’ll be so busy fighting with one another, they’ll never figure out all of my riddles.”
“I don’t know, they’re already at his club looking for the first one. What happens if they decipher them all?”
Helena laughs. “Oh, you don’t really think I left the antidote for them, do you? My goodness, no! This is just my way of playing with Luke, that’s all. It will keep him entertained while I leave the country. It’s really nothing more than a distraction.”
“Is there even an antidote for this poison?”
“Of course, it’s in my yacht, in my safe. Eventually, I may decide to hand it over, but I don’t foresee that happening anytime soon. Keep me apprised of Luke’s progress, I’ll be in touch.” She hung up and smiled, happy that her plan was going so well. In a few hours, she would be touching down in Monaco, her new home.
~*~
Lucky walked out of Liz’s room and over to the small group of people in the waiting area. Ariel stood up and hugged him. “How is she?”
“The same,” he said flatly, his eyes distant. He had been sitting with her for hours, trying to think of something he could say or do that would bring her out of her coma. “Has my dad called?”
“No, not yet. You aren’t worried, are you?” she asked, still afraid for Nikolas.
“He’s fine, don’t worry. I was just wondering if there was any news about their hunt.” Lucky squeezed her hand, then went to one of the chairs near his other friends and sat down.
“You look like you could use some sleep,” Brenda said, looking at him with concern. He shook his head.
“I’m not going anywhere until she’s better.”
The doors opened, and Chloe and Carly came rushing in.
“Lucky, how is she? We just heard!” Chloe said, stopping to catch her breath.
“She’s in a coma, but otherwise, she’s fine. How did you hear about it?”
“I called Carly while you were in there,” Emily said. “I thought they’d want to know.”
He nodded. “Of course. It was good of you to come. The more familiar voices she hears, the better. At least, that’s what the doctor said.”
Carly impulsively stepped forward and pulled her cousin into a hug. “She’ll be okay, Lucky, she has to.”
“I hope you’re right, Carly,” he said softly, hugging her back.
“Lucky!” Sonny called out, hurrying into the room with Ned, Jax and Alexis behind him. He quickly kissed Carly, then reached over to hug Lucky. “I’m sorry man, is there anything I can do?”
“Yeah, you can find Helena,” he answered bitterly.
Sonny nodded. “Hey, you need it done, it’s done.”
“Thanks, man, but don’t do anything to her yet. She may be the only person who can save Elizabeth right now.”
“I called Jerry, and he promised to tell Bobbie as soon as she got home. She’s been at Kelly’s all day, and probably hasn’t heard about Liz. I know she would want to be here,” Jax said.
“Thanks,” Lucky said, smiling at Jax and Alexis. “I’m sure Elizabeth would be happy to know she has so many friends.”
~*~
“Okay, how hard can this be?” Luke asked, scratching his head.
“Pretty damn hard,” Nikolas said, sitting down at a nearby table to think. “Why did she have to be such a coward and run out of town like that?”
“Because she knows better than to stick around after what she pulled. Hurting Liz is as bad for her as hurting Laura would be. Leaving was probably the smartest thing she’s ever done.”
“Maybe, but now we’re stuck with these stupid riddles to solve. I may be a Cassidine, but I didn’t get her diabolical genes. I don’t know if I can figure this one out. Should we go back to the hospital and see if Lucky has any ideas?”
“Yeah, maybe that’s not a bad idea. Come on, let’s get out of here. That painting gives me the creeps if I look at it for too long.”
They hurried out of the club, and jumped into Nikolas’s Jag, then sped back to the hospital.
“I’m driving next time, and that’s final,” Luke said loudly as they burst into the waiting room.
“Oh no, no one drives my car but me! Anyway, I’ve seen how you drive that ugly pink thing of yours, there’s no way you’re getting behind the wheel of my Jag!” Nikolas shot back.
“For your information, the ‘ugly pink thing’ is a classic! Didn’t your private tutors teach you anything useful?”
“Dad!” Lucky shouted, breaking into their argument. Once he had their attention, he stepped forward. “Did you get it?”
Luke sighed and held up the new clue. “No, but we got this. ‘Luke, darling, as much as we may flirt with one another, we both know I would never fall for you’ is all it says.” He shivered again at the mental image it produced.
“I knew it, I knew she was going to make a whole big thing out of this!” Lucky said, rubbing his face in frustration.
“Wait a minute,” Alexis said suddenly. “Read that again?”
Luke did, then looked up at her in anticipation. “Come on Natasha, I can see the wheels turning in that pretty little head of yours. Whaddya got?”
Alexis grinned and held out her hands like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “The parapet!”
Luke cheered, grabbed her face and kissed her. “You’re a freaking genius! I knew those Cassidine genes of yours would come in handy some day! Hey, Jax, hold on to this one, she’s a keeper!”
Jax merely glared at him, stepping next to his wife and putting a possessive arm around her waist. “I’ll do that, Luke, just don’t ever kiss her again, okay?”
“Sure, whatever. Come on, Nikky, it’s time to go back to your old stomping grounds,” he said, grabbing Nikolas and hurrying out of the room again.
~*~
“Mrs. Cassidine?” the pilot said nervously over the intercom. “You may want to fasten your seat belt. We’re coming across some nasty turbulence.”
“Thank you, Donnie,” she said, clipping the belt around her waist. She sat back, bracing her arms on the seat, hoping it wouldn’t be too rough. She never liked plane travel much, and turbulence always made her nervous. That’s why she preferred to travel by boat whenever possible.
A few minutes into the rough patch of sky, the plane suddenly lurched forward, plummeting into the sea below.
