Bo was frustrated, to say the least. Every lead they tried to follow in Sami's abduction led to dead ends. And the family had a feeling that something would go wrong.

That feeling wasn't helped by Eric calling every few hours the last few days. He could feel how upset and scared Sami was. No one doubted him, even if they couldn't understand, or even believe the bond the twins shared.

And now Eric had stopped calling. No one had heard from him for two days and it set Bo – and the rest of the Bradys as well – on edge. Something wasn't right. Bo hoped it was a simple matter of Eric taking off to search for his twin. But…

He sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face. He knew that the DiMeras were behind it all. And he knew they weren't dead. That would be too easy for his family if they were, wouldn't it?

"Bo?"

He looked up at Hope as she entered the squad room.

"Hey Fancy Face," he greeted softly. He was glad he and his wife had something to focus on together.

Bo still wanted to find his daughter, but he had allowed the search he and Billie were conducting drive a wedge between them. And while he didn't like the idea of not knowing where his kidnapped niece was, it gave his wife something to help him with. He may not always agree with Sami, but he loved her.

"How are you holding up?"

He shrugged. "As well as can be expected, I guess. It doesn't help that Eric's gone AWOL or something."

Hope tried to give a reassuring smile. "Hey, you're talking Sami and Eric. They never make things easy, do they?"

Bo chuckled sadly. "Nope."

"So what have you and John turned up?"

"Not a whole lot. ISA has their operatives on the lookout for anyone matching Sami's description, but nothing yet."

"Well, if this is a DiMera plot, which is more likely than not, she'll surface sooner or later with one of their goons."

"Yeah. Doesn't make me feel any better though."

"I know." Hope looked uncomfortable before she spoke again. "How's Billie's search for Georgia going?"

"Not good. She's turning up dead ends there too." He sighed. "I know this is all connected to the DiMeras, but until we turn up a clue I have no idea how."

"We'll find something. I know it."

"Yeah, but when? And what else will happen before that?"

lumilumilumilumilumilumi

John was just as frustrated when he woke from his nap as when he had lain down.

He didn't like the feeling of helplessness at his failure to locate Sami so far. As an ISA agent he should have a clue or something to who had taken her.

Okay, he knew who had taken her. Or at least was responsible for her disappearance. It had DiMera written all over it.

And he felt uneasy, like the rest of Salem was on borrowed time.

First Doc, Roman, Jack, Vic, Caroline and Cassie died when Melaswen was destroyed. Then Phillip was captured followed by Sami's kidnapping. And now no one could contact Eric or Carrie and Mike. He didn't like that one bit.

The penthouse doorbell rang, interrupting his musings.

Bo and Hope were standing there when he opened the door.

"Any luck?" Bo asked without preamble as he and Hope entered.

"None. You?"

"Nope."

"Crap."

"Yeah."

Hope sighed as she sat down on John's couch. "This is bugging me. If Tony and Stephano are dead, then how are they pulling this off? Is it one of their lackeys doing it for them? But why bother if the DiMera's are dead?"

"I'm sure one of them is alive, if not both of them," John insisted.

Bo looked at Hope, a strange glint in his eyes. "And if Tony's still alive…"

"Maybe Doc and Roman are too," John finished the train of thought.

"And Ma. God! What the hell is he planning?"

Hope looked thoughtful. Bo watched her eyes get a faraway look.

"Whatcha got fancy face?"

"If Tony is alive, then he possibly has Roman, Marlena, Caroline, Victor, Jack and Cassie. Now Sami. And nobody's heard from Eric or Carrie for a few days now. I mean, it's too early to jump to conclusions, but it kind of adds up."

"Maybe he's got Eric and Carrie too?" John asked, ice settling in the pit of his stomach.

"Remember, Bo, when Sami and Eric were babies and Stephano kidnapped them?"

"Yeah. Maybe Tony's working along the same lines. Half the people he has are Bradys, or tied to us."

"We should call Kayla and Kim again. Check in on them and the kids," John insisted.

"Good idea," Bo agreed.

John had the feeling things had just got worse.

TBC….