After a quick tap on Commissioner Scorpio's door, Dara walked into the middle of a strategy meeting. "Mac, Marcus, how are things coming along?"

"Not too good. We haven't come up with very many leads. It seems nobody knows anything, or if they do they aren't talking," Mac replied.

"Helena Cassadine is willing to talk," Marcus Taggert hinted.

Dara shook her head. "The last thing I want to do is interview that woman. I always feel like the fly who tries to make friends with the spider. Ugh! She's so polite and concerned, but in the back of my mind I know that she's just stalling for time while she finds a way to deliver a deadly dose of venom."

"Come on, Dara," Mac protested though he smiled. "That's a little colorful, even for Helena Cassadine."

"I'll do it," Taggert volunteered. "I'll go talk to Mrs. Cassadine."

"Why am I not surprised? Okay, Taggert," Mac said, "I will let you speak to Helena Cassadine - on one condition. You talk to her and then you come straight back here and report to me. No matter what she tells you."

"No problem." Marcus grabbed his jacket and hurried out the door.

"No going off on your own!" Mac yelled.

"We both know that Marcus is going to stretch the boundaries of your orders, Mac," Dara laughed.

"Yeah, I know. That is why I let him go up against Helena Cassadine. As good a detective as Marcus thinks he is, he'll meet his match in her."

"Hello, Alexis."

"Stefan?" Alexis stared in confusion. "You're supposed to be in jail."

"It would seem obvious that I am not." Stefan walked into the room and calmly proceeded to pour himself a drink.

"What happened? Why did the Commissioner release you?"

"I get the impression, Natasha," he stared at her, "that you are disappointed to observe my release from the Port Charles jail."

"Don't be ridiculous, Stefan. I am not thrilled with what you did to Nikolas and me, but I would never be happy to see you in jail for any lengthy period."

That qualifier 'lengthy period' told Stefan just how angry with him Alexis was. "It is most fortunate for me, then, that my current attorney did not wish to see me incarcerated for any length of time."

"Current attorney?" Alexis repeated. "Who?" She didn't believe that Stefan would have gotten some other attorney to represent him.

"Jessica Griffin," he remarked casually. "A most able solicitor. I don't think you know her."

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