Welcome to the Cassadines: Book II of Kismet

Chapter Six

***Gone***

Voices lulled to mumbles. The uniformed officers became nothing more than blurred images in blue. The entire scene seemed surreal to Stefan. His family had just been reunited. How could something like this happen to his dear Sabrina?

"Mr. Cassadine," Tommy said as Stefan planted his foot on the bottom step of her staircase. "You shouldn't go up there."

Stefan sensed the younger man's agitation the moment he arrived at Sabrina's condominium. He knew that Thomas cared for his younger sister. Their relationship was in its infancy stage, and despite Sabrina's often cavalier attitude toward matters of the heart, Stefan knew she felt something deeper for Hardy.

Stefan glanced up the staircase and back at Tommy. He saw the younger man's face pale and his mouth tightened. Stefan knew he had no choice but to see what desolation lay in wait for him upstairs.

The downstairs living area, in complete disarray, should have been his warning that the second floor would be a horrid sight to behold. Seeing her bedroom tossed as if everything was worthless saddened Stefan's soul. Then, he wandered to the other side of her bed. The thick carpet squished beneath his footsteps. Pools of blood darkened the previously white carpeting.

He shoved his fist into his mouth to keep from crying out. Tears flowed down his cheeks unchecked. He stepped back and stumbled over a fallen bookcase. He came close to losing his footing, but he quickly righted himself. Weakened by his lack of knowledge and fearing for his sister's life, Stefan wept.

Hands gripped his elbows. Unrecognizable people guided him from Sabrina's bedroom to a secluded spot in her kitchen. Someone handed him a shot of whiskey. He drank it all in one swallow before hurling the glass at a far wall. When he could at last focus on his benefactor, he saw the faces of Hardy and Commissioner Alejandro Garcia staring back at him.

"You must find her!"

"We know that," Alex said. "We will."

"Sabrina and I were supposed to have dinner last night. I had an emergency and couldn't make it. I tried to call her later, but she never answered the telephone," Tommy said, his voice shaky. "Do you know where she was last night?"

Stefan sadly shook his head. "I spoke to her earlier in the day. She mentioned her plans with you... What happened here? Who could have done this?"

"There was a struggle," Alex said. "She put up a good fight-"

"She's not dead," Stefan declared.

"I don't believe she is," Alex replied. "The lab has informed me the blood we found upstairs isn't hers. It's a mixture of cow and pig blood. So far, we haven't found anything that would suggest she's no longer alive."

"The blood from cows and pigs?" Stefan questioned, rising to his feet. "What does that mean?"

"We were hoping you'd know," Alex said. "Your family has its share of enemies. Most of the people in Port Charles are unaware of your familial ties. Is that true for your European circles?"

Stefan shook his head. "Are you suggesting this was an attack against her because she's a Cassadine?"

"Given the circumstances, I don't believe this was a random act of violence," Alex said. "As soon as possible, I'd like for you to supply us with a list of your business associates and acquaintances. The more we know, the sooner we'll be able to act."

Stefan ran his hand over his face and nodded. He stood and looked at both men. "I'll have that list for you within the hour."

~*~