Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine

Chapter 4

Eve begins to feel at home in the DiMera Mansion. Julian blackmails someone into helping him with Allistair.

Tony watched Eve through the glass doors, thinking her to be looking very serene. Eve herself, felt far from calm.

She did not know who she was. She definitely knew she did not belong here, with this darkly handsome man, and his servants, who pampered her every minute of the hour of the day.

A cool breeze kicked up, and Eve found herself rubbing her arms for warmth. Just a few seconds later, the man...his name was Tony, brought her out a small blanket. She smiled up at him, as he positioned it around her. It was almost as if he had been reading her mind, Eve thought. She had no idea he had been watching her the whole time.

'It's where the house is...close to the lake like this. It can get rather chilly.' Tony explained.

Eve gave him a wan smile. The cold made her think of what it felt like to be barely conscious and floating in water. She shivered from the memory.

Tony moved closer to her.

'Are you alright? Maybe we should go inside?'

Eve nodded and stood up. 'I would really like to rest. I'm just feeling tired.'

Tony nodded quickly.

'Of course, my dear. You're recovering from a frightful accident. Let me get one of the maids to help you upstairs.'

Eve shook her head and reached out to touch Tony's hand. Her touch sent an electric shock through his body. He covered though.

'Tony, it is nice of you to spoil me like this, but please, do not put yourself out like this. Not for someone you don't know.'

Tony lifted a brow. Where was this kind of talk coming from? Did she really feel that uneasy in his home?

Tony squeezed her hand. 'Before you go upstairs, there is something I need to talk to you about, if you don't mind.'

Eve shrugged. 'Why would I mind? Okay.'

Tony opened the patio doors for her, and Eve walked in and sat down on the nearest sofa. Tony closed the doors, and soon, joined her on the sofa as well.

'I might as well come right out and say this: I was concerned about how you were found...you know...floating in a lake such as you were. I had some people, very discreet people look in to it.'

Eve shook her head slightly. What was Tony saying? Did he know who she was?

Tony continued. 'Your name is Eve....'

He stopped. He couldn't tell her her real last name! Tony then remembered from the file that Eve's mother had been some sort of Civil Rights Activist. She had combined her maiden and married names.

'Your name is Eve Lincoln. I'm sorry, I had gotten all of this from a written report and had a hard time remembering there.'

Eve stood up suddenly. She smiled.

'Well, let me see it then! I'll read it...maybe something will come back to me!'

Tony stood up as well.

'The investigator kept the report, but I will get a copy for you. Why don't you go upstairs and rest now?'

Eve's eyes widened!

'Tony, I can't sleep now...I know my name...Eve Lincoln...what else did you find out?'

Tony turned away from her, took a deep breath, then spoke.

'You have no family. Your parents are dead...you never married. You're a school teacher from...Minnesota.'

Eve stared at his back. She didn't know how to feel about not having any family. For that meant that no one missed her. But surely she had friends or something, didn't she? A boyfriend?

Eve did not ask any of that, because she got the real sense that Tony DiMera was just as perturbed by these set of facts, as she was. She was touched.

'I'll just read the file when you get it.'

Tony turned back around and smiled at her.

'Yes...and I know it sounds bleak, but I will help you get your life back. We will find out how you ended up here, with no memory.'

Eve nodded, smiling softly,

'Thank you, Tony. I don't know where I'd be, or if I'd even be alive now, if it hadn't been for you.'

Tony could not speak. He hoped he had done the right thing. If Dr. Eve Russell returned to Harmony tomorrow, she would still have an unfaithful husband, a hateful sister, strife with her children, and unwanted advances(Tony would assume they were unwanted!) from Julian Crane to deal with. She needed time for herself...here...with him. Besides, they'd just had a memorial service for her. Everyone assumed she had perished.

Eve could see that Tony was overwhelmed. She touched his shoulder lightly, as she walked past him and out of the room. Eve did not see Lexie's mother, Celeste, hiding in the shadows and watching her, as she made her way up the steps.

After Eve disappeared, Celeste walked into the room Tony stood in. Tony turned around, then rolled his eyes.

'Hello, Celeste. Alexandra is not here. Try her at home.'

Celeste swung her pocketbook nervously.

'That woman looks familiar, Tony.'

Tony nodded, then walked away from her, heading towards the bar.

'Did you see her in your tea leaves?' he asked, smiling, his back to her.

Celeste joined him at the bar.

'I don't want a drink.'

'I wasn't about to offer you one, dear.'

Celeste glared at him. 'If you drag Alexandra into this...'

Tony put a hand up in a halting motion.

'What are you babbling about?'

'Alexandra and Abraham need time to work on their marriage! They don't need to be dragged into some DiMera scheme to hurt people!'

Tony's eyes widened, and he turned back to his now, freshly made drink.

'I'm hurt that you would think that.'

'No you're not! And I heard everything! I also saw your face when she could not! You are lying to that poor woman, and for the life of me, I can't figure out....'

Celeste suddenly stopped talking. She then rolled her eyes.

'What is it with you DiMera men? Instead of wooing a woman like a normal person, you're idea of romance is kidnapping!'

Tony slammed his drink down!

'I take offense to that, Celeste! Eve is not a prisoner here!'

'Then tell her the real truth, whatever that is! Tony, the longer you keep this up, the harder it will be to let her go when she does remember.'

Tony looked away.

'When Eve does remember, she won't want to go back home.'

Celeste peered at him.

'Is that what you're hoping, or do you plan on fixing things so that she will feel that way?'

'Goodbye, Celeste. And don't worry about Alexandra. I will keep her and her marriage out of this.'

'And this woman? This 'Eve'?'

'She is none of your concern,' Tony said coolly, 'and if you make her your concern Celeste, you will have made an enemy of me. Do we understand one another?'

Celeste said nothing. She shook her head and walked quickly out of the room. Tony soon heard the front door slam. He smiled and sipped his drink.

****

HARMONY

Julian Crane sipped a drink as well, as he listened to his father's tirade, via the speaker phone, about the Crane houseguest.

'I want her gone! Do we understand one another?'

Julian said nothing. He walked over to the bar to get more ice for his drink.

'Do you hear me, boy?!'

Julian knew from his father's tone that his face was probably red with rage.

'Father, she's just here for Fox's amusement, that's all. She's harmless.'

There was a long silence. One so long, that Julian wondered if Allistair had hung up. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

'What kind of a fool do you take me for? When are you going to realize that you will never be able to one up me?! I know Fox thinks he's in love with that Russell girl! I know that her living there was your idea! I know that you think you can make up for some perceived wrong by indulging Fox this whim! You get her out of the mansion, or I'll get rid of her myself, do we understand one another, Julian?'

Julian wasn't surprised at what he had just heard. Allistair had just threatened Whitney. Just like he had tried to have his own daughter, his sister Sheridan, killed. Just like he was willing to let Julian, his own son, go on the run, while someone was trying to murder him, instead of helping him.

But, for his plan to work, Julian had to appear to be the usual, weak minded son he had always been. He closed his eyes and forced a syrupy tone.

'Yes, father. Right away.'

Julian heard Allistair hang up. Julian set his drink down, then sighed. Now he could begin with his plan. And that meant paying his soon 'forced accomplice' a visit.

****

Grace walked over to T.C's house carrying a basket full of muffins. She eyed the yard.

It didn't look as if the lawn had been cut in awhile. And Eve's beautiful flowers were dead. Grace swallowed the lump in her throat. Eve was dead and so were her flowers.

She knocked on the door, knowing T.C. was in. He had taken a leave of absence from his job. Grace just wondered if T.C. was still in bed or what? Had depression set in? Was he functioning?

Sam had told her of one other time T.C. had fallen so low, that he had abused pain killers. It was after he shattered his knee. After he found out that his tennis career was over.

Grace knocked on the door again. T.C. opened it. He was dressed and seemed to look perfectly normal. Like he would if Eve was alive and still living there.

Grace gave him a bright smile. 'Hey, T.C.! I brought Simone and you some of my cranberry muffins. May I come in?'

T.C. gave her a wan smile, but stepped aside so she could come in. Grace looked around the house. It could use some cleaning.

'I know the place looks a little messy...Simone tries to keep up...but you know, neither her or Whitney were ever into that kind of thing. God...you know what the worst part of that funeral service was? Not having a body...Sam said that wasn't unusual with the current....'

T.C.. stopped talking, then sat down heavily on his couch. Grace set down the basket and joined him.

'T.C., you need your family. Simone and you need to make peace with Whitney.'

T.C. jumped up!

'No! Whitney's made her choice and she's going to have to live with it!'

Grace stood up as well. God! T.C. could be so hard headed at times like this!

'I think you should know, that I've seen Whitney.'

T.C. stared at her.

'At the Crane estate? Well how is she? Are they treating her well? What am I saying?'

Grace touched his hand.

'You're saying you still love your daughter. And yes, she's fine. A little overwhelmed by all of the Crane opulence, and still missing her mother, but otherwise, she seems fine.'

T.C. said nothing and looked away. Grace squeezed his hand.

'What is it? There is something else going on here T.C.. And it is much more than just missing Eve. Is it that you two were separated before she died? Or the fight you said you had before her accident?'

T.C. removed Grace's hand from his.

'Grace...I can't stand it anymore! Something bad happened here the night of Eve's death. Something that makes me so sick...I would die if Simone or Whitney ever found out!'

Grace stared at him open-mouthed. For years, she had heard those same words from Eve about her past with Julian Crane. It seemed ironic, that now T.C.. Russell was uttering them before her.

Grace rubbed his shoulder.

'C'mon, T.C. It can't be that bad. You shouldn't tear yourself apart like this.'

T.C's eyes glistened with tears.

'Eve was running, trying to get as far away from me as she could.'

Grace removed her hand from his shoulder.

'Why? I mean, you two were in the middle of making up, right?'

T.C. tilted his head and sniffed. He looked confused.

'Uh, look, I know I shouldn't mention this, but Sam said you were wearing nothing but a robe. He just assumed...'

Grace suddenly stopped talking. T.C. didn't look sad so much as guilty! What the hell had happened that day?!

'T.C.' Grace began, her voice taking on a hard edge, 'I think you'd better be straight with me. Did Eve walk in on something here?'

T.C. moved away from her. His back was to her when he began to speak.

'Grace, Sam and you know how devastated I was after that damned reception. The day had begun badly anyway. I mean, you know how much I hate Julian Crane. I didn't want to go to his stupid wedding, but Eve said we were invited and a lot of other crap that just didn't make any sense. I mean, who cared if we were invited or not? And I knew Crane would never miss us if we we weren't there.'

Grace said nothing. T.C. continued.

'But it was Liz that talked me into going. Liz, who lived with us here all of this time and hated Eve's guts. Eve was the sister she hated so much. Now, when I think back, there is no way Eve would have purposely let her sister just suffer. Not the Eve I knew. Not knowingly.'

Grace began to get impatient!

'What did you do. T.C.?'

T.C. turned at her tone of voice. Maybe Grace Bennett was not the right person to confess his sins to. But he had to tell someone. This secret was eating him up inside.

'Liz showed up here...one thing lead to the other...Eve caught us.'

Grace took a deep breath.

'I suspected something like that. So, what now, T.C.? Does Liz get to move in?'

'Damnit, Grace! It's not like that! I drove Eve to her death! You don't think I wish to God that it had been me that went in that river instead of her?! I can't even look at Liz now.'

Grace stared at him, hard.

'Forget your guilt, T.C.. Liz had no business blaming Eve for something she knew nothing about, and was in no shape to do anything about. David knew, you know?'

T.C.'s eyes widened.

'Oh great!'

'And before you go getting mad at him, I'm going to tell you something: that Liz is a vile, evil woman. David told me Liz was always gloating about the problems you all were having with Whitney and Chad, or with Whitney and Simone. She would crow to Eve that she was going to steal you from her! Eve went through a lot. I'm not saying it was right of her to keep what she did from you. But she wanted to protect the good life she knew she had with you, T.C.! And with her children. If she hadn't cared anything about any of you, Liz would've never been able to taunt her for so long.'

T.C. sighed.

'What are you saying, Grace?'

'I shouldn't have to spell it out for you, T.C.. Liz is dangerous. Don't disgrace Eve's memory by letting that woman within a foot of your family.'

T.C. nodded.

'I already changed the locks.'

Grace smiled, then hugged him.

'Great first start. Look, I have to get going. Kay has been having some problems.'

'Nothing with the baby I hope...that reminds me, Simone told me she was going over to see her.'

Grace nodded.

'Well it's good that my daughter has one friend she can count on. She doesn't seem to think that I'm of much use.'

'Grace,' T.C. said gently, 'give the girl some time. Twenty years from now, Kay will be thanking her for the way you raised her.'

Grace wagged a finger in face.

'You just make sure that Whitney will want to talk to you in twenty years.'

'Grace, I...'

'T.C., do it for Eve. At least call her.'

T.C. nodded, but secretly, he didn't know if he could make any promises. Grace turned and opened the front door. She looked back at him sadly, before walking out and closing the door behind her. T.C. watched her leave. His eyes then moved to a picture of Eve sitting on a desk.

****

Liz opened the door to her penthouse suite. She may not have T.C. yet, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to enjoy her newfound wealth! She wondered if maybe she could blackmail her brother-in-law into some sort of marriage arrangement. Maybe she could use their close moment on the day of Eve's death, against him.

She was struggling with some shopping bags, when suddenly, they were snatched from her hands and thrown on the couch. Liz was shocked, then disgusted to look into the eyes of Julian Crane.

'My, my. Spending my father's money so quickly, Liz?'

'What the hell do you want?' Liz asked, trying to keep calm. She had been unable to shake the feeling that everyone was gunning for her, now that Eve was dead. She had had a particularly unsettling encounter at a stoplight the other day. She sat at a red light, waiting for it to change, when she glanced over in the next lane, only to find that David Hastings was glaring over at her! When the light turned green, Liz made a right hand turn to get away from him. David kept going straight.

'You know, dear, you've really hurt my feelings. You'd take money from my father, but when I offered you that blank check to leave Eve alone, you spit in my face. What did he have that I didn't?'

'A genuine contempt and disregard for whores. Like Eve. Now get out!'

Julian kept his cool for the moment. But it was taking everything in him not to strangle this woman. No one knew of his suffering, of how he had to mourn for Eve in private. Of how once again, he had been weak and caved in to marrying another woman for reasons other than love. Being without Eve all of this time had been torture enough, but now he had to live the rest of his life without ever seeing her beautiful face again.

His mind went back to that day when he and Whitney were trapped in that elevator. How after, Eve had tended to his wounds, and when he kissed her, she became angry, telling him not to ever touch her again. But he knew she hadn't secretly felt that way. And over the ensuing months, when Eve confided in him about her troubles with Liz, and how she had allowed him to hold her...it gave him some peace to know that she hadn't died hating him. He knew that deep down, Eve had loved him.

And that's why he was getting ready to do what he was going to do, for Eve.

'Tell me, Liz, why are you living here? I would've thought you would've been moved in to the Russell home by now?'

'That's none of your business! Now, if you don't get out of here I'll...'

Julian smirked.

'You'll what? Call the police? I dare say that Chief Bennett and other friends of the Russells, probably despise you just as much as I do. I have no doubt you won't be getting any police protection in Harmony.'

Liz backed away. Was Julian right? Would Sam Bennett and others on the force, purposely not help her if Julian chose to do something to her?

She swallowed.

'I'll take my chances!' She began to head towards a phone. Julian's voice stopped her from picking it up.

'Do the girls know that T.C. and you drove their mother to their death...literally?'

Liz eyed him.

'I don't know what you're talking about!'

'Oh come now! Are you not the same woman that had no problem spewing her hatred for her sister? And you weren't shy about letting people know that you were going to get her. And now that you've achieved success, you don't want to take any credit, why is that, Liz?'

Liz stood her ground.

'T.C. has not been as welcoming as I would've hoped. But he thinks he loved Eve. It will take time. Until then, I will be living in splendor here, courtesy of your father's money,'

'Yes, well, you won't have time for all of this. I've decided to put you to work.'

Liz blinked hard, then began to laugh!

'What? You're going to give me a job? How kind of you, Julian, but as you well know, your father paid me handsomely...'

'Yes, I found a copy of the check. So, when did my father approach you about making Eve's life miserable?'

Liz faltered a little.

'A few days before your wedding. He didn't need to anyway. I would've outed my sister eventually. Now, get out of here! I don't want to hear anymore tacky proposals from you!'

Julian just stared at her. The information he had was going to be the final nail in this bitch's coffin! Once T.C. heard about it, Liz would be run out of town on a rail! He was just sorry that he hadn't found this out before Eve was killed. It would've changed everything.

'Julian? I'm only going to say this one more time: get the hell out of here!' Liz yelled.

Julian smiled coldly at her.

'Do you remember when I offered you that blank check, months ago, to get out of Harmony and...'

'Yes, Julian! I remember how you tried to buy me off to save my whore sister! What of it?'

'Then you must remember that I told you that I had looked into your past.'

Liz looked bored.

'And I've told you before, I'm clever. You won't find anything I don't want you to find.'

Julian stopped smiling.

'But you see, Liz, I'm afraid I have. Tell me dear, when was it that you said you were molested by your father? After your mother died? How old were you again?'

Liz walked over to her front door and opened it.

'Leave!'

Julian walked over to the door and slammed it. He faced her.

'I don't know how I could've been so careless! Your advantage was that Eve had cut off ties with her family permanently. She didn't know if her parents were living or dead. So you could run whatever game you wanted on her!'

Liz began to back away, now feeling very frightened!'

'You stay back!'

But Julian began to advance on her!

'It always bothered me, that Eve couldn't understand how your father could've done something like that to you! He never tried a thing with her...then after I dug deep into your loathsome past, I found out something interesting.'

Liz was now backed up against a wall.

'I found out that after your mother died, your father re-married within months. I found out that she was younger, and didn't want to care for someone else's child. So, you were dumped into a boarding school...during the time your father was 'molesting' you! Tell me, did my father instruct you to make that up? Well, bravo! Eve felt guilty about it for the rest of her days!'

Liz said nothing. She clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking.

'When T.C. Russell and his children, find out that you lied about that song and dance, they will despise you, if they don't already.'

'What do you want?' she asked. Her voice shook.

Julian smiled again.

'That's better. You're going to help me get rid of my father...for a short period of time.'