Chapter 2


three weeks later...


Miriam Lockhart whizzed about her apartment trying not to be late for the fifth time that week. She looked over at her clock and saw that she already was. "Shit!"

She hurriedly buttoned her light blue police issue work shirt and slipped into her navy skirt. She was a Civilian Aid officer at the Salem P.D.

Actually she was more like a glorified secretary, but she liked her job and did it well. She just had a problem of getting there on time.

Mimi checked her reflection in the mirror and smoothed down her flyaway curls. Grabbing her purse, she raced out the door.

Mimi didn't have her own car, seeing as how all her money went for rent, so she hopped on the bus headed towards downtown Salem.

****


Brady Black could be a real son of a bitch. When it came to his business, he didn't let anything get in his way. Working for the Dimera's had changed him. He had become a hardened, sardonic man. Although he still held a soft spot for his wife Chloe and their 5 year old son, Thadeus Jonathan Black.


His wife, Chloe, had always wondered why he chose to join the Dimera's rather than his grandfather's family business. Brady would always make some sort of an excuse, but truth be told, Brady wanted to keep Chloe far away from Philip Kiriakis.

Philip was the type of man who didn't know what the word 'no' means. Brady knew that if Chloe was around, Philip would try to make her his again.


So Brady had joined his Uncle Tony's family. Tony was the head of the family, but his son Rex took charge of the day to day things. Just then the phone rang. It was Rex. "Hello, Rex."

"Brady. Glad I caught you. Kiriakis has a new member in his crew."

Brady raised an eyebrow, "Really? Pray tell."

"Jason Masters."

Brady scoffed, "Masters?"

Rex frowned, "You know him?"

Brady smiled, "Yeah, he's nothing but a thug. Now he's trying to hack it as a gangster for Kiriakis. Believe me, Dimera we have nothing to worry about.


Brady was happy being second in command. He kept his image up as the V.P. of Basic Black, where his sister worked as a fashion designer.

At the thought of his sister, Brady looked at the frames on his desk. He didn't get to see Belle that much anymore, due to Shawn.

His cousin Shawn was a do-right man, and he had an unshakable sense of justice. Brady should know, he had tried to crack him. But Shawn held fast with his beliefs and worked to bring down his brother in law and his uncle, but Salem was so corrupt that no one would be able to touch them.

****

Shawn hauled Jason out of the back of the squad and pushed him into the P.D. Shawn had been following Jason for about a week after being tipped that he know worked for Kiriakis. On a minor traffic violation, Shawn had Jason pulled over and brought in for questioning.


Mimi sat at her desk and answered the phones.

"Salem P.D. Can I help you? Ma'am, please slow down. What? You're stuck in your bathroom? Okay, okay. Calm down, Mrs. Jackson. I'll send someone over to help you."

Mimi hung up the phone and looked at the officer standing beside her desk grinning at her.

Mimi sighed, "Mrs. Jackson had locked herself in again. Would you go help her?"

Officer Kendall laughed, "That old bag locks herself in can at least once a week."

Mimi rolled her eyes, "I know. Just go help her."

Mimi couldn't help but feel sorry for the 80 year old woman living alone. Half the time she phoned the police just to chat.


Mimi was sorting papers when Shawn and Jason appeared. Jason was handcuffed behind his back, with Shawn pushing him into the office.

Shawn was a plainclothes policeman and dressed like a thug. He wore baggy pants, a white T-shirt, black jacket and Air Jordans. His badge hung from a chain around his neck and he wore his gun in a shoulder holster.

Mimi looked up, not paying attention to his prisoner. "Hey, Shawn."

Shawn glanced over at Mimi distractedly, "Hey Meems."

Jason turned his head sharply at the name and there sitting pretty as a picture was Miriam Lockhart. They locked eyes and Jason gave her a sexy grin before he was shoved in the 'Box'. The Box is what they called the interrogation room.


Mimi sat there, slightly nervous. Jason looked so different, so polished, so...hot! Mimi knew he was back in town, Philip had told her- but wow! He defiantly looked good in his black suit and purple tie. His hair, spiky as usual and that sexy grin upon his lips!

Mimi dug into her bag and pulled out her cell.

She crouched down at her desk, "Philip, please."

A short while later Philip answered. "Mimi. What's happening?"

"Shawn just brought Jason in, they're in the Box."

Philip frowned through the phone. "Who's in there with him?"

Mimi looked across the room, "Just Shawn right now. I guess now we find out if he's to be trusted, huh?"

"We can trust him, I'm sure. But if he betrays us, then you know what will happen." Philip disconnected and Mimi stowed away her phone and went back to her duties.