Chapter FOURTEEN
EJ and John climbed the front stairs of the palliative care hospice just outside of the Salem city limits. They'd spent all of the morning and half of the afternoon at the police station, giving their statements and it seemed to EJ, getting nowhere. As soon as Roman told them they were free to go he had gone back to the mansion, got in his car and driven here and some how John had tagged along for the ride as well.
"So tell me again why we're here nephew?" asked John, "You said you rang earlier and they confirmed Stefano was still sleeping the sleep of the eternally damned."
"I just want to make sure I check everything," said EJ grimly, "Lucas must have had help - there is no way he had the resources to just disappear the way he has. Kate's claims that she had nothing to do with the whole thing seems to be checking out so I just want to make sure I leave no stone unturned in finding my family."
EJ walked up to the reception desk and smiled charmingly at the young nurse behind it.
"Hello," he said evenly, "I was just wondering if we would be able to see Stefano DiMera today please?"
"And sorry, who you are both?" she asked them with a polite smile.
"Disinherited son and usurping half brother," supplied John happily.
EJ grimaced internally at John's brutal honesty.
"My Uncle is a bit of a joker," said EJ, turning the charm up a couple of notches to try gain the woman's trust, "I'm his son EJ DiMera and this is my Uncle, John Black and we really would be most appreciative if we could see my father today."
"Right," said the nurse with a bit of a frown, "Well it is past visiting hours. We normally don't allow visitors after 3pm."
EJ moved a little closer, giving her his most brilliant smile along with a warm look - he knew it could be a deadly combination if he wanted it to and he wanted it to right then.
"Look Nurse…" he trailed off, looking at her expectantly.
"Taylor," she supplied, "Violet Taylor."
"Violet," he said huskily, "What a simply lovely name."
"Ah thanks," she said, blushing a little under the man's close scrutiny wondering if she'd ever seen a more handsome man in her life, at least one that wasn't on a movie screen.
"I'm heading back to London tonight," he lied smoothly, "And I'm not sure when I'll be able to get back here."
"I understand," she said sympathetically, "But rules are rules and I can't just let you…"
"Look Violet," he said, "Sorry, may I call you Violet?"
"If you like," she said weakly, feeling her heart give a little flutter at the sound of her name being said in those rich, accented tones.
"Violet," he said, looking very serious and almost forlorn, "The last time my father and I spoke we didn't part on good terms. Then when this happened I realised that I may never be able to rectify that. I know that he is in a coma but it would mean the absolute world to me if you were to allow me the chance to tell him how sorry I am and how much he means to me. I don't want my last words to my father to be the harsh ones we parted on. Please Violet, if you could find it in your heart to bend the rules, just this once. I promise you, we'll only be a minute - just long enough to tell my father that I love him."
"I guess," said Violet, biting her lip anxiously, touched by his story and finding those big brown eyes particularly hard to say no to, "But only for a minute - if someone catches you I'll be in big trouble."
"Violet," said EJ warmly, leaning across the desk and pressing a kiss to her cheek, "You are a treasure beyond price."
Violet gave a little embarrassed half giggle, feeling herself flush at his attentions.
"He's in room 308," she told them, trying to regain her composure, "Down the hall, turn left and it's second on your right."
EJ smiled at her and John gave his usual blank look and the two men set off.
"That was pretty good nephew," said John flatly, "Even I was beginning to choke up there for a minute. You did everything except tell her that you ran over your puppy on the way here."
"That was my back up story Uncle," said EJ dryly, intent now on getting to his father's room and checking at least one possibility off his list of co-conspirators with Lucas.
"Excuse me!" he heard Nurse Violet calling out behind them, "Mr DiMera!"
EJ grimaced but then turned around with a brilliant smile.
"Yes Violet?" he smiled down at the woman who was chasing them down, "Is something the matter?"
"I just need you to sign the visitors log," she said, indicating the clip board she was holding, "I've put down that you visited at 2:38pm, just to make it look all above board."
"Thank you Violet," said EJ, taking the offered pen and clip board and nodding for his uncle to continue on, "I can't tell you what it means to me."
EJ caught John up a minute later and stood at the door of 308. John was standing by the bed of the occupant but a half screen blocked EJ's view of the man.
"So?" EJ prompted him, starting into the room.
"Well it's the worst case of bed hair I've ever seen," said John expressionlessly, "And is it just me or does my half brother look completely different horizontal then he does vertical?"
By this time had walked round to the foot of the bed and saw what his uncle was talking about. The man in the bed was not his father. He was roughly the right size and age but he wasn't Stefano DiMera.
"It's not him," said EJ grimly.
Would this man never die?!
"I guess that would explain it too," mused John, "So who is he then?"
EJ tilted his head and squinted, realising he recognised him.
"Carlo DelVechio," said EJ tensely, "He used to be one of father's accountants."
"I'm guessing that it isn't a co-incidence that he just happened to find himself in a coma around about the time Stefano wanted to pull a fast one hm?" said John expressionlessly, "That is a hell of a retirement plan my brother has got going there for his employees."
Violet reappeared then and gave them a nervous look.
"I'm sorry," she apologised, "But I'm going to have to ask you both to leave, there is going to be a change of shift in another ten minutes and it would be better for us all if you were gone by then. Did you get to say goodbye to your father Mr DiMera?"
"Not exactly Violet," said EJ stoically, turning around to face her, "He's not my father."
"What do you mean?" she asked in consternation.
"That," said EJ, jabbing a finger at the man in the bed, "Is not Stefano DiMera."
"Of course he is," she said in confusion, "I was here when he was admitted with all the paper work, this is Stefano DiMera, at least that is what all of his ID said."
"Apparently there has been a small error," said EJ wryly, "Because let me assure you Violet, that poor unfortunate is not my father."
"Oh dear," said Violet worriedly, "I think I'd better go and get someone."
"Well Stefano would be great if you could," said John ironically, "Otherwise how about the administrator of this place."
Violet scurried off and left EJ and John looking down at the man who wasn't Stefano.
"So everyone has been thinking that this is Stefano all along," said John thoughtfully, "Guess this makes a strong argument for visiting parents that you institutionalise once and a while huh? Maybe they put it in one of their brochures by way of a cautionary tale."
"It had to have been my father helping Lucas," said EJ expressionlessly, ignoring John's ramblings, "He had the resources and he has always wanted Johnny, it also explains Rolf's involvement."
"I have control of your father's estate," said John with a frown, "My people would have noticed money moving around."
"Please," said EJ with a humourless laugh, "My father has so many business interests that never make it onto anything resembling legitimate books."
"So I could be even richer than I think," said John with interest, "Nice."
EJ shook his head at his uncle and pulled out his cell phone, dialling a number that was becoming increasingly familiar.
"Mr Newman," he said calmly, "I've got some new information, I need you to dig deeper for me."
oooOOOOooo
"You have got to be kidding me!" said Sami, shaking her head at the man as he walked into the room, leaning heavily on his cane.
"And it is so lovely to see you too Samantha," said Stefano not without some irony.
"You're in a coma," she said weakly even though it was quite obvious that he wasn't.
"Not any more I'm not," he said, stopping a few feet away from, "No thanks to your mother."
"What do you mean by that?" scowled Sami.
"Marlena was the one who injected me with the drug that caused my catatonia," said Stefano almost casually.
"You're lying!" spat out Sami, "My mother would never do something like that - even to someone like you."
"It appears Samantha that you don't know your mother as well as you think you do," commented Stefano idly, "Because I can assure you my dear that she did do exactly that."
Sami shook her head at him, unwilling to believe anything that man told her but she had more pressing concerns right now.
"Where are my children?" she asked him harshly.
"Playing quite happily in the nursery down the hall," said Stefano mildly, "I just came from there."
"I don't want you anywhere near my children!" she snarled, going to move past him and go to them but two large men appeared behind Stefano, blocking her path.
"My son might have been happy to take orders from you Samantha," said Stefano, his voice hardening, "But you will not find me so accommodating I can assure you."
"Where is EJ?" asked Sami worriedly, "Have you hurt him? What have you done?"
"Elvis is dead to me," said Stefano coldly, "He's has disappointed me one time too many. He turned his back on his family, on his heritage and for what… for you!"
Stefano looked Sami up and down insultingly and shook his head, tutting away.
"Such weakness can not be tolerated in anyone who wishes to carry the DiMera name," said Stefano, "I have no further interest in Elvis or his brother and sister since they left me to die in that hospital bed."
"But you didn't die," said Sami, relieved that EJ at least was okay which she meant that he was looking for them even now, she knew he was.
"Despite your mother's best attempts I awoke from my coma just before I was to be moved to the…" Stefano made a distasteful noise, "… the place they wanted to intern me to see out the rest of my days in. I made arrangements that no one would realise what had happened."
"What kind of arrangements?" asked Sami in confusion.
"Let's just say that accountants can be far more useful than just balancing books," said Stefano with a humourless smile.
"What does that mean?" asked Sami, bewildered.
"It doesn't matter Samantha," he said dismissively, bored with the conversation now.
"What do you want from me?" she asked him, trying to remain calm although she was very frightened of the answer but didn't want to show him that.
"You?" said Stefano with a shrug, "Nothing."
"Then why am I here?" asked Sami, looking at Rolf and becoming nervous at the other man's pained expression.
"You were part of the deal," said Stefano calmly, "I wouldn't have bothered myself but then…"
He shrugged.
"But love makes fools of us all eh Samantha?" he finished.
"Love?" she repeated in confusion, "What are you talking about?"
"He's talking about the fact that I still love you Sami."
Lucas appeared from behind the two men, walking in to the room and standing between her and Stefano.
"You've got to be kidding me!" exclaimed Sami staring at her ex-husband wide eyed.
"I zink from now on you can assume zat zere is no joke Zamantha," said Rolf, speaking at last, "If vill zave everyvun some time."
Sami looked dazedly at Rolf and then back at Lucas.
"What is this Lucas?" she asked him, the shock starting to give way to anger, "What have you done?"
"Lucas here was very helpful," said Stefano, "He gave me information about you and the twins Samantha, so much so that last night we were able to arrange it so that whilst the rest of your family slept, some of my men were able to come and take you and your children out of the house undetected."
"You helped this maniac?" asked Sami, her voice starting to rise, "Why would you do something like that Lucas? Why?!"
"I love you Sami," said Lucas urgently, stepping closer to her and putting his hands on her arms, "I don't want to lose you. I know we've had our problems but I also know that if we could just spend some time together, away from everyone else then we could sort out everything and be happy like we used to be."
"We were never happy Lucas!" said Sami angrily, beginning to get a little frightened because it was almost like he believed what he was saying could actually happen.
"Don't say that Sami," said Lucas painfully, "We were and we can be again, you, me and Ali."
Sami looked at him, a feeling of dread suddenly overtaking her.
"What… what is this?" she asked looking between Lucas and Stefano fearfully, "What have you done Lucas?"
"Lucas has simply brokered a deal by where everyone gets what they want," said Stefano smoothly, 'He has his… adoring wife returned to him along with his daughter and I have Gianni to raise as a DiMera worthy of the name."
"Wh… what?" said Sami weakly, taking an unsteady step back as she began to realise what it was the two men had been planning.
"You, Lucas and your daughter will be leaving here to start a new life," said Stefano as this was the most normal thing in the world, "As will Gianni and I."
"You… no…" stammered Sami, "You're not… Lucas?"
"It will be fine," said Lucas, tensely, "Johnny won't want for anything. Stefano is his grandfather, he loves him and will look after him."
"You… you expect me to just hand over my baby to this monster?" asked Sami in horror, "He's my son! He's Ali's brother! How could you even think of something like this Lucas, let alone help it happen!"
"It's for the best Sami," said Lucas urgently, "It was the only way we could be together, don't you see? You and Ali and I can be a family again and Johnny will have his grandfather."
"How can you even begin to think that I would be alright with this?" screamed Sami, "He's my son Lucas! You're telling me I have to give up my son like it's nothing! I won't do it! You can't make me!!"
"Actually you have no say in it Samantha," said Stefano dismissively, "It is done."
"NO!" she shouted and looked pleadingly at Rolf, "Rolf, please, can't you do something? Help me!"
"I am zorry Zamantha," said Rolf and he really was.
He'd grown quite fond of this rather manic young woman and would not wish something like this one her. He knew how much she loved those children but neither one of them were in any kind of permission to argue. He knew Stefano and how quickly his moods could change. If he wanted to Sami and her daughter would never make it out of this house alive and Rolf didn't want that for her. If something was to be done about this then they needed to chose their moment and now was not that moment.
"Please!" sobbed Sami, almost hysterical now, "I'll do anything, just don't take my son, I'm begging you, please Stefano!"
"But it's only fair Samantha," said Stefano, unmoved by her tears, "You took my son and now I'm taking yours. Can't you see the poetry in that my dear?"
"You animal!" she screamed, lunging at him so that Lucas had to grab her to restrain her, "I'm going to kill you!"
"Now, now Mrs DiMera," he tutted unaffected by her threats, "That is no way to carry on eh? You have fulfilled your role in Gianni's life - he no longer needs you. I will be all that he needs, all that he knows. I will have my legacy Samantha and seeing as my son does not wish to fulfil his birthright then I find it only fitting that his son will."
With Lucas still holding Sami back Stefano turned around and left the room, closing the door behind him. As the door clicked shut Sami began to scream and found that she couldn't stop.