Banshee Song Book One

Chapter Twenty-Nine



Colin entered the Brady Pub and was immediately impressed by the number of people inside. It wasn't the number that was impressive; the pub was usually hopping this time of day. No, what was impressive was that none of the many people bustling around the small restaurant were paying customers; the pub was closed.

In the hours following that morning's horrific discovery of Lexie's sudden departure, the pub had been transformed into a makeshift headquarters and support center for Bo and Hope. A palpable aura of nervous energy hung in the air and there was a constant hum of people talking. Occasionally a loud outburst would erupt in the room as someone expressed their anger over their present situation. At times, quiet muffled sobs could be heard, the sound of a mother's breaking heart.

Colin took it all in in a second with a quick glance at the crowded pub. He saw John and Marlena by themselves at a booth in the corner. John was angrily barking orders into his cell phone while his wife tried unsuccessfully to calm him down. Abe, Roman, and Bo were gathered together near a table. Abe and Roman carried on their own conversations on their sleek digital phones, while Bo scowled at a laptop computer screen.

On the other side of the pub, Hope sat a booth surrounded by friends and family who sought to comfort her. Despite the many yards that separated them, Colin could easily see the pain and fear on her tear-stained face. His heart twisted within him at the familiar emotions that she displayed. He knew exactly what she was going through.

With a slight, but firm shake of his head, he resolutely shut down the painful memories of the past. He had to focus on the present. He made his way over to the senior Shawn Brady where he stood behind the counter making coffee.

"Uncle Shawn. I came as soon as I could. Has there been any news?"

Shawn sadly shook his head, his heart heavy for his family's pain, a pain he knew all too well. "Nae, not a single clue. Even despite Abe's federal contacts and John's- I don't even want to know - sources, there hasn't been any information on Stefano and Lexie's whereabouts. It's like they just dropped off the face of the earth."

"Well, disappearing IS one of Stefano's many talents. Even my friends at Interpol aren't having any luck. There are just too many places where they could be." Colin stole a quick glance at Bo and noticed the tension in his posture, the quiet fear in his eyes. "You know, Bo and I may have had our differences, but I certainly would never have wished this on him. On anyone." He murmured quietly.

"Aye, 'tis been a long, cruel week for my son. And I'm afraid it's about to get worse."

Colin nodded thoughtfully. "As horrible as this all is, I can't help but feel a little relieved. Stefano is gone and Chloe is safe. He wasn't here for her after all."

Shawn nodded in agreement and a small smile reflected in his eyes. "Aye, tha 'tis a relief. Where is she now, anyways? I saw her this mornin' at Bo and Hope's."

"She and Brady have left for New York already. She has her Julliard audition this weekend."

"I guess Chloe and Brady are well on their way to New York now." Belle said thoughtfully in search of to occupy her boyfriend's mind.

Shawn looked up from his plate of uneaten food; a Brady burger and fries, courtesy of Grandma Caroline. "Huh? Oh yeah. Guess so. I'm glad that they are at least able to get away from this mess."

Shawn chuckled in spite of his dark mood. Chloe and Brady practically had to be forced on their trip. After the shocking discovery of Isaac's kidnapping, she and Brady had wanted to stay behind to support Shawn and his family. But Shawn had been adamant. "No, you are going to this audition, you're going to enjoy yourself in New York this weekend. And that's final!"

Chloe had finally reluctantly agreed after Shawn programmed his cell # onto the speed dial on her cell.

"See? Now I'm just a button press away. Now get going! Call me when you get there." He had told her as she and Brady were leaving.

Brady had likewise wanted to stay to help his father. He knew that John was hurting deeply over the news that he wasn't Isaac's father. And that he was handling it in typical John Black fashion, by burying his pain under a mask of cold anger. It took a great deal of arguing and finally a direct order from John to make Brady leave with Chloe. Brady kissed Belle goodbye on her head. "Keep an eye on Dad for me, 'kay Tink? I'll talk to you later!" And with that, the young couple was on their way.

Belle smiled at the memory of Brady driving away in his Jeep. She knew of Chloe's 'plans' for the weekend and wondered what her brother's reaction would be. {His jaw is going to hit the floor when he sees Chloe in her lingerie.}

She shook away her naughty thoughts and looked across the booth to where Shawn was absentmindedly playing with a ketchup-laden, lukewarm french fry. She reached over and placed her hand over his.

"How are you dealing, with all this 'mess'?" she asked to use the word he had used earlier.

"I'll let you know when I figure it out." He glanced over to where his mother was silently weeping for her missing son. Belle could see the sympathetic pain reflected in his brown eyes for his mom. He sighed deeply and turned back to Belle. "This is just too much."

"That's not good enough, DAMMIT!" John yelled into his phone, uncaring of the curious stares that he was drawing. Marlena placed a restraining hand on his taut shoulder only to have him shrug it off. She simply sighed and rolled her eyes, accepting the fact that her husband was once again in one of those 'mercenary' moods. She had no idea who he was talking to, and was pretty sure that she didn't want to know.

"I want every available man you've got looking for this guy. He's done too much to too many people to just ignore. And now he's added kidnapping to the list. (pause) Listen Nick, you owe me. I'm callin' in my marker. I don't care what it takes to find him, just do it." John finished quietly and snapped his tiny cell phone shut. He sat down at the booth and steepled his fingers together under his chin.

Marlena sat across from him and turned concerned eyes on her husband. She had seen him like this before, always in times of crisis; dark, angry, dangerous. She knew that it was a holdover from his years as Stefano's personal soldier, but the knowledge didn't quite erase the twinge of fear she felt when she saw her loving husband act this way.

John felt his wife's questioning gaze and threw up a defensive wall around his emotions. Later, when they were alone, when he'd had a chance to process everything, only then would he tell her what he was feeling. Right now, he didn't know how to feel. For two years he had had a son. A son he couldn't raise, love, or hell, even acknowledge. But he had had a son. This week he buried the son that he had so secretly loved. Then he learned that that boy wasn't his son, that another little boy was. And now that hope too is dashed with the results from one simple test. Two years of secret anguish, fear and turmoil. For nothing.

All because Stefano Dimera had played yet another trick on him. And for that he would pay.

Bo sighed and quickly vacated his seat. His eyes had grown tired from staring at the computer screen for so long. He had finally given up when the in-depth government records were beginning to blur before his eyes. He glanced around the pub and again marveled at the number of people who were here to support he and his wife. He looked for Hope and found her standing alone looking out the diner's windows at the world outside. He went to stand beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

She laid her head back against his chest. "I dreamed this." She said as her eyes stared vacantly out into space. "I dreamed that they would take my son. Even before I knew he was my son, I dreamed that they were stealing Isaac out of my arms." Small tears formed in her eyes. "And now they have." She whispered hoarsely as new tears found their way down her cheeks.

Bo hugged her closely to him, wishing he knew how to comfort her. "I'm so sorry, Fancy Face." He said simply.

She turned grateful eyes to her husband. "Thank you. I know that this is strange for you; fighting for a kid you don't know. It's hard to explain how important that little boy is to me. It's like we already have this strong connection. I felt it every time I held that sweet boy in my arms. I knew he was mine. This doesn't replace what I felt for J.T., what I still feel for him. Nothing ever will. But I need my little boy, Bo. I need to feel him in my arms again." She cried to him, her eyes pleading.

"You will. I promise that we will get our son back."



Stefano surveyed the grounds before him, a rare look of extreme pleasure on his face. "This will do perfectly." He grinned at the sniveling man before him.

"I'm glad it meets your approval." Rolfe said with a large wagging smile.

Stefano glanced back at the castle behind him. "I trust that Alexandra has gotten settled in?"

"Yes, boss. She and the child are feeling quite at home."

"Good." Stefano's grin widened. "You know, I could not have planned this better myself. Our impromptu departure from Salem could not have come at a better time. While all of Salem is looking for Isaac, I will be free to act on my true plan. Come this Sunday, Chloe Lane will be mine."