CHAPTER FIVE Lisa walked calmly through the hospital corridors, headed towards the nurses’ station. There she saw Audrey Hardy going over a medical chart with another nurse. Afterwards, Audrey signaled Lisa to walk with her away from the ears of the other staff members. “Lisa, thank you for coming down.” “It’s no problem, Mrs. Hardy. What can I do for you?” Lisa asked. “Elizabeth asked me to call you. She wanted to ask you something, but she wouldn’t tell me what it was.” Tentatively, Lisa asked, “Does she know about Lucky?” Audrey nodded, “I told her last night.” “How did she handle it?” “To be honest, I’m not sure,” Audrey admitted. “But how well can anyone handle something this devastating? How are Luke and Laura doing?” “As well as can be expected. I think they’re still in shock,” Lisa said softly. Audrey nodded understandingly, “I’ll walk you to Elizabeth’s room.” As they walked towards the room, Audrey said, “I have to admit, I was concerned about telling Elizabeth what happened. I was afraid that knowing that Lucky was gone might discourage her recovery.” Lisa looked at the older woman with concern, “Does that seem to have been the case? Is Elizabeth’s condition deteriorating?” “I think it bears watching,” Audrey said simply. Lisa expected her to say more, but when she didn’t, Lisa didn’t ask any further questions. The women walked in silence the rest of the way. Audrey let Lisa be alone with Elizabeth, even though it was against her better judgment. Lisa wasn’t sure why, but didn’t question that either. Lisa pulled up a chair next to Elizabeth’s bedside. “Hey Liz,” she said softly. Liz looked up at Lisa slowly. Lisa could tell that the young woman had been crying. “Lisa, thanks for coming,” Elizabeth said softly. “Anytime. How are you feeling?” “Dull,” Elizabeth said. “Do you believe what they say happened to Lucky?” “I never expected anything like this...” Lisa started. Elizabeth cut her off curtly, “That wasn’t what I asked, Lisa. Do you BELIEVE it? I mean, do you think it really happened?” Elizabeth waiting, staring into Lisa’s eyes for her answer. Lisa tried to figure how best to put her feelings into words, “I haven’t really thought of it that way. They told me there was an accident, and I didn’t question it. I don’t think I’ve even felt it yet. I know I haven’t processed all the facts.” “Lucky is your little brother. You and he have a bond. Don’t you think you would know if something had happened to him?” Elizabeth asked seriously. “I’d like to think so,” Lisa said truthfully, “but I also don’t know. It’s never been put to the test. I think I have that bond with my kids and with Stefan, but I really don’t know about anyone else.” Lisa knew this conversation was headed somewhere, “Why? Obviously, you don’t feel like you’re being told the whole story, or something.” “Lucky and I are extremely close.” Lisa smiled, “That goes without saying. You guys were going to get married. Everyone knew you guys were inseparable, kind of like Luke and Laura are.” Elizabeth looked in Lisa’s eyes and reached out and took her hand, “Lisa, please don’t think I’m delusional or something with what I’m going to say. Okay?” When Lisa nodded, Elizabeth continued, “I don’t think Lucky’s dead. In fact, I know he’s not.” “What makes you so sure?” Lisa asked. “Gram says that I was the only one thrown from the car. That’s not right, Lucky reached out and touched my face. She also said that the accident was because of the earthquake. I felt the ground shake AFTER the accident. I know that I didn’t regain consciousness, but still, I know what I felt. I think I was fading in and out or something. But I know that Lucky talked to me after the accident.” Elizabeth was sure that her admission would convince Lisa. Unfazed, Lisa asked, “What did Lucky tell you?” “He called me by name. He pushed my hair away from my face. I tried to talk to him, but couldn’t. Gram told me that Lucky never got out of the car. I refuse to believe that. I know what I know.” Elizabeth continued to hold on tightly to one of Lisa’s hands. Lisa ran her free hand through her hair, and sighed. Lisa knew that Elizabeth fully believed what she was saying. Lisa suddenly felt overwhelmed by the same sense of dread that filled her before the earthquake. “You run your hand through your hair just like Lucky,” Elizabeth said softly. Lisa smiled, “Dad does the same thing. Although, Dad has a lot less hair than Lucky and I.” “You believe me, don’t you?” Liz finally asked. Lisa took a deep breath before responding, “I think that you firmly believe what you told me. And I want to believe it. I do. More than anything else, I want some sort of hope and possibility that my brother is alive. But to be honest, Elizabeth, I don’t know how.” Elizabeth nodded understandingly as she released Lisa’s hand. She knew that her story did seem a bit far fetched, especially with the evidence contradicting her. “Will you at least do me one favor then?” “Anything.” “Will you make sure that Commissioner Scorpio treats this as something more than just an open and shut accident case?” Lisa nodded, “I’ll see what I can do.” She stood and turned to leave. Just before she got to the door, she turned back around and looked at Elizabeth. “Liz, if you ever need anything, anything at all, just let me know. I’ll take care of it. Okay?” Liz nodded, “Thanks, Lisa.” Lisa left the room and breathed heavily. She leaned against the wall and let her head drop. She breathed in slowly and deeply, trying to regain her sense of mental balance. What Elizabeth had told her had stirred up some sort of gut feeling that she just couldn’t shake. After a couple of minutes, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed. “Mrs. Lansbury, this is Leezia. Would you have Wenders have the launch meet me at the docks?” “Of course, Mrs. Cassadine. Shall I inform Mr. Cassadine of your impending arrival?” the older woman asked. “Yes, thank you.” Lisa hung up, straightened her purse on her shoulder and walked out of the hospital. She maneuvered only on autopilot. “Don’t you think you would know if something had happened to him?” Elizabeth’s words echoed over and over in her mind. “You tell me, Lucky. Would I know?” Lisa asked aloud. *****
