General Hospital Recap: Carly and Valentin Walk Free, Drew and Ava Take the Heat

By Daniel Okafor

Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) walked out of the PCPD on Monday, November 9, after Tristan (Dean Geyer) handed Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), Molly (Kristen Vaganos) and Joe (Jonathan Bennett) a reason to chase two new suspects: Drew and Ava.

What got Carly and Valentin released?

In the interrogation room, Valentin advised Carly to take the deal Molly was offering. Carly refused. She insisted on her innocence and suggested the D.A.'s office look into Drew instead. Meanwhile, Serena (Kelly Kruger) gave Joe a false statement, claiming she saw Valentin and Carly kissing in a hotel hallway on the night Jack Brennan went missing.

The pivot came from Tristan. He told the investigators he'd seen Drew and Ava loading something unwieldy from a laundry cart into Drew's SUV in the Metro Court parking lot on the night Brennan was last seen. Joe then realized Ava had an opportunity to slip a sleeping pill into Jack's drink. The trio redirected the case.

Molly freed the pair on insufficient evidence, with a caveat. The charges will be refiled if new evidence surfaces. Later, at the Metro Court restaurant, Valentin mused that the police were waiting to catch them covering their tracks. His advice: no further communication with Charlotte and Danny.

Who has a claim to Phoebe?

At the Metro Court, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) complained to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) about her conversation with Elizabeth. Britt read it as a sign Willow should drop the libel suit.

Jude (Wil Traval) approached Britt for a second chance. Willow noted he'd caused a stir at the Quartermaine house. Jude explained he's Phoebe's father and the adoption wasn't legal. Willow urged him to let the infant stay with Brook Lynn and Chase. He declined — no intention of abandoning his daughter. Chase (Josh Swickard) arrived, met Jude, and the argument over Phoebe turned physical. Willow and Britt separated the men before Chase threw a punch. Both men then thanked the women for the intervention, and Britt kissed Jude.

Was Josslyn out of line?

Josslyn (Eden McCoy) showed up at Sonny's (Maurice Benard), where Avery (newcomer Ayla Bullington, in a recast) was thrilled to see her. The warmth didn't last. After Sonny sent Avery to her room, Josslyn confronted him about the listening device, the bribery of Hudson, the attack on Curtis and Sidwell, and his mob crimes.

Avery eavesdropped from the hallway, then exploded. She accused Josslyn of lying and of trying to wreck the family. She yelled that she hated her — and would tell Donna to hate her, too. Josslyn said Avery would one day realize she was telling the truth.

Sonny called Joss out of line and ordered her to leave. He then comforted Avery, admitting Joss had been wrong to say those things while the kids were home. He asked Avery to keep the argument between them and not put her feelings onto Donna. Outside, a visibly rattled Josslyn tried to shake off the encounter.

What does Serena want from Jason?

In the Quartermaine kitchen, Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) told Jason (Steve Burton) she was concerned that Danny's first instinct is to solve big problems — like finding a dead body — alone. Jason admitted he'd set a bad example but said he was trying to do better. They agreed it's too late for Danny and Charlotte to come forward about Brennan, since they could face criminal charges. Alexis said she was proud Jason left Sonny's business — and Sam would be, too.

Then Serena barged in. She announced she'd gotten Carly and Valentin freed, so Jason owed her: she and Lucy want creative control of Deception (the family cosmetics company). Jason's response was a glower. He never agreed to that deal, which is the sort of detail that tends to matter in Port Charles — and with the case now pointed at Drew and Ava, the laundry-cart sighting guarantees the Brennan mystery isn't finished.