Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me
Chapter 5
Abe Carver is suspicious of Tony's story about Eve. Julian warns Fox that he's on a time limit.
Liz stood outside of T.C.'s door. Her hands were shaking. She needed to say goodbye to T.C., for now.
She didn't like the sound of what Julian Crane wanted her to do. On the surface, it wasn't much. Just call Allistair Crane and lure him to an arranged meeting place. But the place itself was not one of her favorite places to be.
It was the Harmony Swamp, on the edge of town. All she was supposed to do was ask Allistair to meet her there. The rest, Julian had hinted, would be taken care of.
Liz wasn't stupid! She was willing to bet everything she owned, that somehow, whatever was going to happen in this swamp, could or would be traced back to her!
Had it been worth it? Why hadn't she anticipated Julian's wreaking some sort of revenge on her, after all that had happened? How could she have been stupid enough to think that she would get to live happily ever after with T.C.? The way he had looked at her the other day...it was as if their lovemaking that day had meant nothing.
Liz was about to knock on the front door, when a movement out of the corner of her eye, caught her attention. She lowered her hand.
'Antonio?'
Antonio Lopez-Fitgerald, walked up to her and smiled. Liz smiled back. No one had so much as given her a tender glance since Eve's death.
'Hi, Liz. What are you doing here?'
Liz went on her guard. She had known Antonio long enough to know, that the tone he had just used with her, was semi-friendly.
'I'm here to see T.C. and my niece.'
Antonio tentatively touched her shoulder.
'Why don't you leave them be, Liz.'
Liz jerked away impatiently!
'You too, Antonio?'
'Oh, come on Liz! What did you expect?'
'I expect people in this town to understand how I was feeling! I wanted...no I needed, to show my sister for the tramp she is!'
'Was.' Antonio corrected. 'You know, I am just sorry that you couldn't have told me any of this when we were together. It might've made all of the difference.'
Liz folded her arms. 'Really? Meaning you might have chosen me over Sheridan? Or you might've been able to protect Eve from me?'
'My family has known the Russell's for a long time. T.C.'s father and my parents used to work on the Crane estate. I was at T.C. and Eve's wedding. And I'm sorry Liz, but it just sounds as if Eve was sick. She was a drug addict. She couldn't have helped herself, much less you.'
Liz did not answer. Standing in front of her now, was another person that would hate her guts if he knew that she had made up that stuff on her father. She looked away from him briefly, before staring at him again.
'Why are you here, Antonio?'
'I came by to see how T.C. was doing. My mother's coming by tomorrow. T.C. has plenty of people to check up on him. He doesn't need you, Liz. And I don't say that to hurt you. I just think that you'll be a painful reminder of what the man has lost.'
Liz sniffed as tears formed in her eyes. She really was all alone. This was not how things were supposed to end! Eve would lose T.C., but not her life! Maybe her and that damned Julian would leave for parts unknown! Whatever happened, Liz was supposed to be the one that lived happily ever after!
Antonio continued to stand there. Liz realized he had no intention of letting her see T.C.. She nodded, then turned to walk away. Antonio's hand on her shoulder again, stopped her.
'If you ever want to talk, call me.'
Liz had her back to him, but she nodded, sniffing again. She then walked away and got into her car. She watched as Antonio knocked on the door and Simone answered it, hugging him. He soon disappeared inside.
Liz took a deep breath, then pulled out her cell phone. After two rings, Allistair Crane answered.
'I told you to lose this number.'
'I know Mr. Crane. But this is important.'
'I doubt it. Our association is over. The plan went better than I could've ever dreamed. Your sister's death, has now put my son's dreams of being with that floozy, permanently on hold. Now, lose this number!'
'But Mr. Crane! I found out something else. Something that could destroy the Crane empire.'
There was a silence. Then Allistair spoke again.
'What is it?'
'I can't tell you on the phone.'
'You'd damned well better! Because we're not meeting face to face.'
'Actually Mr. Crane, we'll have to. I found some information that Julian had planned to use against you. I want more money in exchange for these papers. And I'm not giving them to some lackey.'
There was another silence. This time it was longer.
'What kind of 'papers' are they, Ms. Sanbourne?'
'Like I said before, I don't want to say over the phone. But let me just say this, before you decide not to meet with me. I think we both underestimated how angry and bitter Julian has been over how my sister was treated. From the looks of what I have, he's willing to take you and himself down as well. I don't think he cares anymore, now that Eve is gone.'
There was another long silence. Liz secretly hoped the man had hung up. Then maybe she could tell Julian that his father was smarter than they had both anticipated, something along those lines.
But she was startled when Allistair suddenly said, 'meet me at the Harmony Swamp.'
Liz didn't say anything for a moment. Why in the world would Allistair pick the same meeting place that Julian told her to give him?! This didn't feel right.
She took a shaky breath.
'Alright. The Harmony Swamp it is. Say, in one hour?'
'Fine.' came the curt response. The phone then disconnected. Liz stared at the phone in her hand, before ending the call on her end. She then leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.
Julian had said that things would be handled, once Allistair arrived at the swamp. Handled how?! It was the not knowing that put her nerves on edge! For a brief second, she realized this is how Eve had to have been feeling all of the time. Well, good!
When Allistair Crane had summoned her to his lair, and made his proposal about destroying Eve, they both knew that Liz's resentment of her sister not being around, when she was shipped off to boarding school by her uncaring father, and mean new step-mother, would not elicit much sympathy. It didn't matter that Liz was still seething from all of the neglect, no one would care.
That was when the elder Crane came up with the molestation idea. Liz had hated her father for re-marrying so soon after their mother's death, and his abandonment of her, anyway, so it was no chore to lie on the man. She vaguely remembered after her father died, her bitch stepmother disappeared for parts unknown, with all of their family's money.
Not that Eve would've given a damn! She was off doing God knows whatever the hell she felt like! Liz couldn't even squeeze out one tear for her sister. But she had cried plenty for herself.
Liz straightened up and turned on the ignition. The sooner she got this over with, the sooner she'd be able to find a way to extricate herself, from whatever mess she was about to get in to.
****
Julian glanced over the mail the maid had brought to him in the library. He then tossed it aside, and walked over to a patio door, glancing out of it. The sight that was before him made him smile.
Fox and Whitney were sitting poolside, looking as if they were having lots of fun. Julian stared, thinking that if he just squinted, that could've been him and Eve. What a lovely addition she would've made here at the Crane estate. Eve as the lady of the house. Eve instead of Ivy.
Julian opened one of the doors and stepped out. He walked into the pool area. Whitney looked from Fox, to Julian and smiled up at him.
'Hi, Mr. Crane.'
'It's Julian, remember?'
Whitney gave him an embarrassed smile.
'I'm sorry, I forgot. Julian.'
Julian smiled down at her, then looked over at Fox, who was squinting up at him.
'Did you need something, Father?' he asked, sounding a little peeved.
'I need to talk to you alone, Fox, in the library.'
'I'm here with Whitney.'
Whitney reached over and touched his arm.
'I'll still be here. Go.'
Fox blinked, still hearing her words 'I'll still be here'. He nodded. Julian turned and walked back inside the house. Whitney kept her hand on his arm.
'Fox, before you go in there, I want you to do me a favor?'
Fox tried not to be affected by Whitney's hand on his arm. Things had been too great around here! Teresa had really pulled through for him, keeping Chad from being around when Whitney called looking for him. She even managed to snag his cellphone and turn it off!
Therefore, Whitney had been a little down that evening. Fox had pulled some strings(actually Julian had) and managed to get an early DVD release of a film still in the theaters. The two of them watched it in the Crane library, in the dark. Fox could see that the movie had cheered Whitney up considerably. Now, all he had to do was to continue keeping Chad Harris at bay, and soon, Whitney would be his. Whitney Russell Crane.
'Anything, Whitney.' he answered.
'Try to go along with whatever your father wants...within reason.'
Fox looked confused.
'Why? Has he really charmed you that much?'
Whitney gave him a gentle smile.
'Fox, this isn't about your father duping me in anyway. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but Julian looks so sad! I think he did love my mother and he's hurting.'
Fox nodded. 'Yeah, I guess. And he can't exactly run around boo-hooing about her in front of Rebecca.'
Whitney nodded as well.
'Alright. I'll try to be decent, for you.' Fox then touched her cheek. Whitney touched his hand that was on her cheek and patted it. Fox then reluctantly slid his hand away and stood up. He then walked towards the library.
Once inside, Fox closed the patio door and stared at Julian, who was looking through a bunch of CD's.
'Uh, what did you need?' he asked, eyeing him. Was his father going to play those CD's he had of Dr. Russell singing? Fox knew his father had copied the tapes on to CD months ago. What the hell would Rebecca think? He knew she was around here somewhere.
Julian looked up from the CD's.
'There are going to be some changes around here. Serious changes that will affect how our lives will be run from now on.'
Fox didn't answer. Their lives were run how Allistair Crane saw fit. His eyes then widened.
'What are you talking about, father? What's going on?'
'All you need to know is, that I have given you a small window of opportunity to get your house in order.'
''My house in order'?' Fox repeated. 'father, you're not making any sense!'
Julian looked at him coldly.
'I think you know exactly what I mean. Do you want Whitney to become your wife?'
Fox just gaped at Julian. Julian sighed loudly.
'Fox, I asked you a question!'
'Uh, yes, more than anything.'
'Then as I said before, I've given you a window of opportunity. Use it wisely.'
Fox walked over to him. Julian's eyes were hard, yet determined.
'You've done something to Grandfather, haven't you?'
Julian said nothing, but walked over to the CD player and put one in. He then turned back to Fox.
'Allistair would never allow this, you do know that, don't you?'
Fox nodded, understanding perfectly.
'Thank you, father.' was all that he said. Julian nodded, then pressed play on the CD player. Soon, Eve's voice could be heard singing 'Stormy Weather'. He turned the sound down low. Fox left the library by way of the patio door.
Julian sat down on a sofa, his mind wandering from Eve to Liz. The look on her face had been priceless! She had uttered some nonsense about not knowing how to kidnap someone. Julian responded that since she was so good at blackmail, kidnapping should be a piece of cake!
Of course, this was too serious an undertaking for Julian to trust to some amateur. Liz's inclusion in this caper was to scare her...and to teach her and her 'accomplice' a lesson neither would ever forget. Of course, there would be repercussions for him, maybe even for Fox. But, Julian was sure that his father would soon know, that he couldn't just walk all over his only son.
Julian stood up, mesmerized, as always, by the sound of Eve's voice. He walked over to a desk drawer and pulled out a file. In it, was the name of Liz's step-mother, the woman who could confirm the fact that Liz was lying about being molested. A woman by the name of Frankie Brooks a.k.a Francessca Perrault a.k.a Celeste Perrault. Julian raised a brow. Liz would drop dead from shock, if she knew that her beloved step-mommy dearest was linked with international criminal, Stefano DiMera. This Celeste, lived in Salem now. That wasn't too far away. Julian would pay the woman a visit soon, just for insurance.
****
SALEM-The Carver Home
Abe Carver watched as his wife, Lexie, laughed at something Marlena Black said. The two of them then disappeared into another room.
God! They were finally getting their life back! Lexie was acting like the way she used to be. And now they had their very own child. Little Theo. Not someone else's kidnapped baby.
Plus, people were finally starting to lighten up on Lexie. For that, Abe was grateful. Things would be even better, if his wife would cut all ties with her other family, the DiMera's, permanently.
Marlena's husband, John Black, walked over to him. Abe smiled, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
'Thanks for having us over,' John said. 'With all that's been happening, Doc and I really needed some quiet time with friends.'
Abe looked at him.
'I'm glad you both still consider us such.'
'Hey, come on, that whole thing with Hope's baby and all that other stuff...water under the bridge.'
Abe nodded, but looked uncomfortable. John peeked at him.
'What is it, Abraham?'
Abe looked over towards the door Lexie and Marlena had disappeared through. He then looked at John.
'DiMera has a woman living with him.'
John raised a brow.
'Oh...well, good! That'll keep him from looking Doc's way.'
Abe took a deep breath.
'John, I can't help but get the bad feeling, that DiMera has sucked my wife into something beyond her control.'
John squinted at him.
'What's going on here? Is there something about this woman that's dangerous?'
'No...it's just that, first of all, I met the woman totally by accident. I came home early one day, wanting to spend some time with Lexie and Theo. They were out. I figured they might be at Tony's. They weren't, but not knowing that at the time, I stopped by.'
'Alright,' John said slowly, 'and this is when you met this woman, that's not dangerous, but bothers you?'
Abe gave John a look.
'John, the maid opened the door and this rather gorgeous, African American woman, walked down the steps. She had a cast on her arm. Anyway, she just kind of smiled at me as she went past, and continued on about her way. My point is, Lexie must have met the woman, and yet, she has never mentioned that Tony had anyone else staying with him. And why is she wearing a cast? Who is she?'
John said nothing. He wondered for a fleeting moment if his friend's curiosity about this woman, stemmed from the fact that he had described her as 'gorgeous', or were his instincts telling him something funny was going on?
'Tell you what? Let's ask Lexie right now.'
Abe's eyes widened.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, I'll ask her. You know, I'll claim I went by and saw this woman there. Then we'll see how Lexie reacts. That will tell us if anything funny is going on.'
Abe nodded reluctantly,
'I hate to have to be like this, but Lexie promised me the lies would end.'
'Hey, we don't know that DiMera's not saying anything about this woman, is necessarily part of some big plot. Maybe he just doesn't want a lot of people to know about her. Maybe he doesn't want to jinx it. Whoever she is, at least she isn't some woman I'm in love with!'
Abe smiled, then nodded.
'Lex? Could you come out here for a moment?' Abe called.
Abe and John watched as Lexie and Marlena came out of the other room. Lexie walked up to Abe and linked an arm through his.
'Did you call?' she asked teasingly. Marlena eyed John. His look told her he would explain everything later.
'Actually, John has something he wants to ask you.'
Lexie looked at John expectantly.
'Yeah, I went by DiMera's place the other day and...'
'Why?' Lexie interrupted.
'Why what?' John asked.
'Why would you go to see Tony?'
'Yes, John,' Marlena jumped in, 'why would you go over there?'
John coughed.
'I was looking for you and I couldn't find you here, and I guessed you might be with your brother.'
Lexie nodded, looking from John to Abe. Marlena was beginning to frown.
'Oh. Well, what did you want to see me about?'
John glanced at Abe. This was not going well!
'I forgot, Lexie. And I also forgot at the time when I was over there, because I saw a very beautiful woman coming down the stairs. She was wearing a cast. I was wondering who she was?'
Lexie said nothing. She took a deep breath.
'Oh. Yeah her.'
Abe looked at John. John gave her a suspicious look. Marlena watched Abe and John.
'Honey, is Tony living with someone? Has he met a woman?' Abe asked.
'Uh, yeah, I guess.' Lexie answered shiftily.
Marlena interrupted.
'I think that's wonderful. When do you think Tony will introduce us to her?'
Lexie couldn't believe how badly this was going! This was the moment she had been dreading! That someone would learn about Eve and begin asking questions! Eve could no more be a wife to Tony, much less his girlfriend, because she already had a husband! God, why hadn't Tony sent that woman back home once he discovered her real identity?!
'Lexie?' Marlena prodded. 'Is something wrong?'
Lexie looked around at the three of them. 'Look, I don't know much. The relationship happened rather quickly, and now she's living with him. Tony doesn't know if it will go anywhere, so I figured there was no point in saying anything, about someone who may not be there next week. She's very nice, though.'
John looked at Marlena, who shrugged.
'Okay, sweetheart, then what happened to her arm? John said it was in a cast.'
'Oh, yeah, she ran into something, I don't remember exactly what she said. But it was a minor break.'
'And you know this because you looked at it?' Abe asked her.
Lexie didn't like the tone of this whole conversation. She had to do something quickly!
'No, but look, if you're so curious about all of this, why don't I talk to Tony, and you can meet her or something?'
John nodded. 'I'd be curious to meet a woman that could stand DiMera's company for more than two seconds, no offense Lexie.'
Lexie gave him a blithe smile.
'None taken, John. And I do believe you have. Remember Kristen?'
The room got quiet. Abe cleared his throat.
'You still haven't told us her name, honey?'
Lexie shrugged. 'It's Eve. Eve Lincoln.'
****
Later on that evening, Eve began to toss and turn in her bed. The dream and the faces in the dream were beginning to scare her. Yet, she didn't know any of these people, did she?
There was one particular part of the dream that was the most frightening. She kept re-living being under water in a car, and not being able to get out. Then, miraculously, she was free. Why would she drive her car into the water like that?
Eve did not realize she had screamed, until her bedroom door burst open, and Tony came running in. He flipped on a light. Eve was sitting up in bed, still trying to make sense of it all. She was breathing heavily.
Tony ran to her. Eve instinctively put her arms around him. Tony held her close.
'Are you alright, darling? I heard your screams.'
Eve let go of him and looked into his eyes. She nodded, but her eyes were filling up with tears. Tony sat down on the bed.
'What was it you were dreaming of? The accident?'
Eve nodded again and sniffed.
'I know I just wouldn't have driven into water....but I don't know that for sure, Tony...I could've been trying to kill myself. I just wish I knew.'
Tony reached for her hand and rubbed it.
'All the answers you seek will come to you. And we'll face them, whatever they are, together.'
Eve stared at him. He was so handsome and kind. Tony DiMera didn't even know her. Yet, he had taken her in without question, and sworn to help her remember her past. It was the first time, in a long while, that she felt completely safe.
Tony could see that Eve was beginning to trust him. He released her hand and pulled her covers around her. Eve rested her head back onto the pillows.
Tony stood up and looked down at her.
'Goodnight, Eve.' he said.
'Goodnight, Tony.' she answered, watching him as he walked to the door, flicking off the light switch before he left the room. When he closed her door, Eve sat up in bed again.
Why was a man like that alone? Eve had almost lost track of time, but she knew she had been here at least, a couple of weeks. Tony DiMera had no special woman in his life. There were pictures of his children, Rex and Cassie, and pictures of Lexie and her baby Theo. But nothing of any special woman that held Tony's heart.
Eve sank back down onto the pillows and made a silent vow. Once she got her memory back, and moved out of here, Eve was going to find Tony a special someone.
****
When Liz reached the Harmony Swamp, she knew just from a quick glance, that all was not right.
There were two cars parked on the side of the road next to the wooded swamp. One was a newer looking Kia Sedona. The other was a Lexus. And the license plate read CRANE 1.
Liz pulled over as well, then slowly got out. She hurried over and looked into both cars. No one was around.
Where the hell was Allistair? And who owned the other car? To hell with Julian Crane! T.C. hated his guts anyway! There was no way he would believe that man over her!
Still, Liz peered into the swamp. There was no way Allistair had went in there alone. Whoever was driving the Kia had 'helped' the old man in there.
Liz turned and ran to her car. She did not realize that some distance away, someone was photographing her every move. The mysterious person also closed their lens in on the Crane license plate. Liz sped off, none the wiser.
A few moments later, two burly men stumbled out of the swamp. The mysterious person put away his camera equipment and disappeared.
One of the men, looked down at his pants and cursed.
'Christ! That old man was strong! I ought to have Crane reimburse me for the cost of these pants!'
The other man smirked.
'Those old things? Besides, we're getting paid plenty. Once we get our dough, you'll have enough money to buy all the Oshkosh's you want.'
'Uh, these aren't Oshkosh's, thank you very much! They're Ralph Lauren's.'
'Yeah, right! Look, let's get the hell out of here! I hate this place when it starts to get dark!'
One of the men got into the Kia and sped off. The other got into Allistair's car and drove off behind the Kia. Somewhere, from within the swamp, a man's hand inched out of puddle of quicksand. A ring on one of the fingers glinted in the light. The initials on it read, A.C.. The hand clasped a vine near by.
Chapter 5
Abe Carver is suspicious of Tony's story about Eve. Julian warns Fox that he's on a time limit.
Liz stood outside of T.C.'s door. Her hands were shaking. She needed to say goodbye to T.C., for now.
She didn't like the sound of what Julian Crane wanted her to do. On the surface, it wasn't much. Just call Allistair Crane and lure him to an arranged meeting place. But the place itself was not one of her favorite places to be.
It was the Harmony Swamp, on the edge of town. All she was supposed to do was ask Allistair to meet her there. The rest, Julian had hinted, would be taken care of.
Liz wasn't stupid! She was willing to bet everything she owned, that somehow, whatever was going to happen in this swamp, could or would be traced back to her!
Had it been worth it? Why hadn't she anticipated Julian's wreaking some sort of revenge on her, after all that had happened? How could she have been stupid enough to think that she would get to live happily ever after with T.C.? The way he had looked at her the other day...it was as if their lovemaking that day had meant nothing.
Liz was about to knock on the front door, when a movement out of the corner of her eye, caught her attention. She lowered her hand.
'Antonio?'
Antonio Lopez-Fitgerald, walked up to her and smiled. Liz smiled back. No one had so much as given her a tender glance since Eve's death.
'Hi, Liz. What are you doing here?'
Liz went on her guard. She had known Antonio long enough to know, that the tone he had just used with her, was semi-friendly.
'I'm here to see T.C. and my niece.'
Antonio tentatively touched her shoulder.
'Why don't you leave them be, Liz.'
Liz jerked away impatiently!
'You too, Antonio?'
'Oh, come on Liz! What did you expect?'
'I expect people in this town to understand how I was feeling! I wanted...no I needed, to show my sister for the tramp she is!'
'Was.' Antonio corrected. 'You know, I am just sorry that you couldn't have told me any of this when we were together. It might've made all of the difference.'
Liz folded her arms. 'Really? Meaning you might have chosen me over Sheridan? Or you might've been able to protect Eve from me?'
'My family has known the Russell's for a long time. T.C.'s father and my parents used to work on the Crane estate. I was at T.C. and Eve's wedding. And I'm sorry Liz, but it just sounds as if Eve was sick. She was a drug addict. She couldn't have helped herself, much less you.'
Liz did not answer. Standing in front of her now, was another person that would hate her guts if he knew that she had made up that stuff on her father. She looked away from him briefly, before staring at him again.
'Why are you here, Antonio?'
'I came by to see how T.C. was doing. My mother's coming by tomorrow. T.C. has plenty of people to check up on him. He doesn't need you, Liz. And I don't say that to hurt you. I just think that you'll be a painful reminder of what the man has lost.'
Liz sniffed as tears formed in her eyes. She really was all alone. This was not how things were supposed to end! Eve would lose T.C., but not her life! Maybe her and that damned Julian would leave for parts unknown! Whatever happened, Liz was supposed to be the one that lived happily ever after!
Antonio continued to stand there. Liz realized he had no intention of letting her see T.C.. She nodded, then turned to walk away. Antonio's hand on her shoulder again, stopped her.
'If you ever want to talk, call me.'
Liz had her back to him, but she nodded, sniffing again. She then walked away and got into her car. She watched as Antonio knocked on the door and Simone answered it, hugging him. He soon disappeared inside.
Liz took a deep breath, then pulled out her cell phone. After two rings, Allistair Crane answered.
'I told you to lose this number.'
'I know Mr. Crane. But this is important.'
'I doubt it. Our association is over. The plan went better than I could've ever dreamed. Your sister's death, has now put my son's dreams of being with that floozy, permanently on hold. Now, lose this number!'
'But Mr. Crane! I found out something else. Something that could destroy the Crane empire.'
There was a silence. Then Allistair spoke again.
'What is it?'
'I can't tell you on the phone.'
'You'd damned well better! Because we're not meeting face to face.'
'Actually Mr. Crane, we'll have to. I found some information that Julian had planned to use against you. I want more money in exchange for these papers. And I'm not giving them to some lackey.'
There was another silence. This time it was longer.
'What kind of 'papers' are they, Ms. Sanbourne?'
'Like I said before, I don't want to say over the phone. But let me just say this, before you decide not to meet with me. I think we both underestimated how angry and bitter Julian has been over how my sister was treated. From the looks of what I have, he's willing to take you and himself down as well. I don't think he cares anymore, now that Eve is gone.'
There was another long silence. Liz secretly hoped the man had hung up. Then maybe she could tell Julian that his father was smarter than they had both anticipated, something along those lines.
But she was startled when Allistair suddenly said, 'meet me at the Harmony Swamp.'
Liz didn't say anything for a moment. Why in the world would Allistair pick the same meeting place that Julian told her to give him?! This didn't feel right.
She took a shaky breath.
'Alright. The Harmony Swamp it is. Say, in one hour?'
'Fine.' came the curt response. The phone then disconnected. Liz stared at the phone in her hand, before ending the call on her end. She then leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.
Julian had said that things would be handled, once Allistair arrived at the swamp. Handled how?! It was the not knowing that put her nerves on edge! For a brief second, she realized this is how Eve had to have been feeling all of the time. Well, good!
When Allistair Crane had summoned her to his lair, and made his proposal about destroying Eve, they both knew that Liz's resentment of her sister not being around, when she was shipped off to boarding school by her uncaring father, and mean new step-mother, would not elicit much sympathy. It didn't matter that Liz was still seething from all of the neglect, no one would care.
That was when the elder Crane came up with the molestation idea. Liz had hated her father for re-marrying so soon after their mother's death, and his abandonment of her, anyway, so it was no chore to lie on the man. She vaguely remembered after her father died, her bitch stepmother disappeared for parts unknown, with all of their family's money.
Not that Eve would've given a damn! She was off doing God knows whatever the hell she felt like! Liz couldn't even squeeze out one tear for her sister. But she had cried plenty for herself.
Liz straightened up and turned on the ignition. The sooner she got this over with, the sooner she'd be able to find a way to extricate herself, from whatever mess she was about to get in to.
****
Julian glanced over the mail the maid had brought to him in the library. He then tossed it aside, and walked over to a patio door, glancing out of it. The sight that was before him made him smile.
Fox and Whitney were sitting poolside, looking as if they were having lots of fun. Julian stared, thinking that if he just squinted, that could've been him and Eve. What a lovely addition she would've made here at the Crane estate. Eve as the lady of the house. Eve instead of Ivy.
Julian opened one of the doors and stepped out. He walked into the pool area. Whitney looked from Fox, to Julian and smiled up at him.
'Hi, Mr. Crane.'
'It's Julian, remember?'
Whitney gave him an embarrassed smile.
'I'm sorry, I forgot. Julian.'
Julian smiled down at her, then looked over at Fox, who was squinting up at him.
'Did you need something, Father?' he asked, sounding a little peeved.
'I need to talk to you alone, Fox, in the library.'
'I'm here with Whitney.'
Whitney reached over and touched his arm.
'I'll still be here. Go.'
Fox blinked, still hearing her words 'I'll still be here'. He nodded. Julian turned and walked back inside the house. Whitney kept her hand on his arm.
'Fox, before you go in there, I want you to do me a favor?'
Fox tried not to be affected by Whitney's hand on his arm. Things had been too great around here! Teresa had really pulled through for him, keeping Chad from being around when Whitney called looking for him. She even managed to snag his cellphone and turn it off!
Therefore, Whitney had been a little down that evening. Fox had pulled some strings(actually Julian had) and managed to get an early DVD release of a film still in the theaters. The two of them watched it in the Crane library, in the dark. Fox could see that the movie had cheered Whitney up considerably. Now, all he had to do was to continue keeping Chad Harris at bay, and soon, Whitney would be his. Whitney Russell Crane.
'Anything, Whitney.' he answered.
'Try to go along with whatever your father wants...within reason.'
Fox looked confused.
'Why? Has he really charmed you that much?'
Whitney gave him a gentle smile.
'Fox, this isn't about your father duping me in anyway. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but Julian looks so sad! I think he did love my mother and he's hurting.'
Fox nodded. 'Yeah, I guess. And he can't exactly run around boo-hooing about her in front of Rebecca.'
Whitney nodded as well.
'Alright. I'll try to be decent, for you.' Fox then touched her cheek. Whitney touched his hand that was on her cheek and patted it. Fox then reluctantly slid his hand away and stood up. He then walked towards the library.
Once inside, Fox closed the patio door and stared at Julian, who was looking through a bunch of CD's.
'Uh, what did you need?' he asked, eyeing him. Was his father going to play those CD's he had of Dr. Russell singing? Fox knew his father had copied the tapes on to CD months ago. What the hell would Rebecca think? He knew she was around here somewhere.
Julian looked up from the CD's.
'There are going to be some changes around here. Serious changes that will affect how our lives will be run from now on.'
Fox didn't answer. Their lives were run how Allistair Crane saw fit. His eyes then widened.
'What are you talking about, father? What's going on?'
'All you need to know is, that I have given you a small window of opportunity to get your house in order.'
''My house in order'?' Fox repeated. 'father, you're not making any sense!'
Julian looked at him coldly.
'I think you know exactly what I mean. Do you want Whitney to become your wife?'
Fox just gaped at Julian. Julian sighed loudly.
'Fox, I asked you a question!'
'Uh, yes, more than anything.'
'Then as I said before, I've given you a window of opportunity. Use it wisely.'
Fox walked over to him. Julian's eyes were hard, yet determined.
'You've done something to Grandfather, haven't you?'
Julian said nothing, but walked over to the CD player and put one in. He then turned back to Fox.
'Allistair would never allow this, you do know that, don't you?'
Fox nodded, understanding perfectly.
'Thank you, father.' was all that he said. Julian nodded, then pressed play on the CD player. Soon, Eve's voice could be heard singing 'Stormy Weather'. He turned the sound down low. Fox left the library by way of the patio door.
Julian sat down on a sofa, his mind wandering from Eve to Liz. The look on her face had been priceless! She had uttered some nonsense about not knowing how to kidnap someone. Julian responded that since she was so good at blackmail, kidnapping should be a piece of cake!
Of course, this was too serious an undertaking for Julian to trust to some amateur. Liz's inclusion in this caper was to scare her...and to teach her and her 'accomplice' a lesson neither would ever forget. Of course, there would be repercussions for him, maybe even for Fox. But, Julian was sure that his father would soon know, that he couldn't just walk all over his only son.
Julian stood up, mesmerized, as always, by the sound of Eve's voice. He walked over to a desk drawer and pulled out a file. In it, was the name of Liz's step-mother, the woman who could confirm the fact that Liz was lying about being molested. A woman by the name of Frankie Brooks a.k.a Francessca Perrault a.k.a Celeste Perrault. Julian raised a brow. Liz would drop dead from shock, if she knew that her beloved step-mommy dearest was linked with international criminal, Stefano DiMera. This Celeste, lived in Salem now. That wasn't too far away. Julian would pay the woman a visit soon, just for insurance.
****
SALEM-The Carver Home
Abe Carver watched as his wife, Lexie, laughed at something Marlena Black said. The two of them then disappeared into another room.
God! They were finally getting their life back! Lexie was acting like the way she used to be. And now they had their very own child. Little Theo. Not someone else's kidnapped baby.
Plus, people were finally starting to lighten up on Lexie. For that, Abe was grateful. Things would be even better, if his wife would cut all ties with her other family, the DiMera's, permanently.
Marlena's husband, John Black, walked over to him. Abe smiled, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
'Thanks for having us over,' John said. 'With all that's been happening, Doc and I really needed some quiet time with friends.'
Abe looked at him.
'I'm glad you both still consider us such.'
'Hey, come on, that whole thing with Hope's baby and all that other stuff...water under the bridge.'
Abe nodded, but looked uncomfortable. John peeked at him.
'What is it, Abraham?'
Abe looked over towards the door Lexie and Marlena had disappeared through. He then looked at John.
'DiMera has a woman living with him.'
John raised a brow.
'Oh...well, good! That'll keep him from looking Doc's way.'
Abe took a deep breath.
'John, I can't help but get the bad feeling, that DiMera has sucked my wife into something beyond her control.'
John squinted at him.
'What's going on here? Is there something about this woman that's dangerous?'
'No...it's just that, first of all, I met the woman totally by accident. I came home early one day, wanting to spend some time with Lexie and Theo. They were out. I figured they might be at Tony's. They weren't, but not knowing that at the time, I stopped by.'
'Alright,' John said slowly, 'and this is when you met this woman, that's not dangerous, but bothers you?'
Abe gave John a look.
'John, the maid opened the door and this rather gorgeous, African American woman, walked down the steps. She had a cast on her arm. Anyway, she just kind of smiled at me as she went past, and continued on about her way. My point is, Lexie must have met the woman, and yet, she has never mentioned that Tony had anyone else staying with him. And why is she wearing a cast? Who is she?'
John said nothing. He wondered for a fleeting moment if his friend's curiosity about this woman, stemmed from the fact that he had described her as 'gorgeous', or were his instincts telling him something funny was going on?
'Tell you what? Let's ask Lexie right now.'
Abe's eyes widened.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, I'll ask her. You know, I'll claim I went by and saw this woman there. Then we'll see how Lexie reacts. That will tell us if anything funny is going on.'
Abe nodded reluctantly,
'I hate to have to be like this, but Lexie promised me the lies would end.'
'Hey, we don't know that DiMera's not saying anything about this woman, is necessarily part of some big plot. Maybe he just doesn't want a lot of people to know about her. Maybe he doesn't want to jinx it. Whoever she is, at least she isn't some woman I'm in love with!'
Abe smiled, then nodded.
'Lex? Could you come out here for a moment?' Abe called.
Abe and John watched as Lexie and Marlena came out of the other room. Lexie walked up to Abe and linked an arm through his.
'Did you call?' she asked teasingly. Marlena eyed John. His look told her he would explain everything later.
'Actually, John has something he wants to ask you.'
Lexie looked at John expectantly.
'Yeah, I went by DiMera's place the other day and...'
'Why?' Lexie interrupted.
'Why what?' John asked.
'Why would you go to see Tony?'
'Yes, John,' Marlena jumped in, 'why would you go over there?'
John coughed.
'I was looking for you and I couldn't find you here, and I guessed you might be with your brother.'
Lexie nodded, looking from John to Abe. Marlena was beginning to frown.
'Oh. Well, what did you want to see me about?'
John glanced at Abe. This was not going well!
'I forgot, Lexie. And I also forgot at the time when I was over there, because I saw a very beautiful woman coming down the stairs. She was wearing a cast. I was wondering who she was?'
Lexie said nothing. She took a deep breath.
'Oh. Yeah her.'
Abe looked at John. John gave her a suspicious look. Marlena watched Abe and John.
'Honey, is Tony living with someone? Has he met a woman?' Abe asked.
'Uh, yeah, I guess.' Lexie answered shiftily.
Marlena interrupted.
'I think that's wonderful. When do you think Tony will introduce us to her?'
Lexie couldn't believe how badly this was going! This was the moment she had been dreading! That someone would learn about Eve and begin asking questions! Eve could no more be a wife to Tony, much less his girlfriend, because she already had a husband! God, why hadn't Tony sent that woman back home once he discovered her real identity?!
'Lexie?' Marlena prodded. 'Is something wrong?'
Lexie looked around at the three of them. 'Look, I don't know much. The relationship happened rather quickly, and now she's living with him. Tony doesn't know if it will go anywhere, so I figured there was no point in saying anything, about someone who may not be there next week. She's very nice, though.'
John looked at Marlena, who shrugged.
'Okay, sweetheart, then what happened to her arm? John said it was in a cast.'
'Oh, yeah, she ran into something, I don't remember exactly what she said. But it was a minor break.'
'And you know this because you looked at it?' Abe asked her.
Lexie didn't like the tone of this whole conversation. She had to do something quickly!
'No, but look, if you're so curious about all of this, why don't I talk to Tony, and you can meet her or something?'
John nodded. 'I'd be curious to meet a woman that could stand DiMera's company for more than two seconds, no offense Lexie.'
Lexie gave him a blithe smile.
'None taken, John. And I do believe you have. Remember Kristen?'
The room got quiet. Abe cleared his throat.
'You still haven't told us her name, honey?'
Lexie shrugged. 'It's Eve. Eve Lincoln.'
****
Later on that evening, Eve began to toss and turn in her bed. The dream and the faces in the dream were beginning to scare her. Yet, she didn't know any of these people, did she?
There was one particular part of the dream that was the most frightening. She kept re-living being under water in a car, and not being able to get out. Then, miraculously, she was free. Why would she drive her car into the water like that?
Eve did not realize she had screamed, until her bedroom door burst open, and Tony came running in. He flipped on a light. Eve was sitting up in bed, still trying to make sense of it all. She was breathing heavily.
Tony ran to her. Eve instinctively put her arms around him. Tony held her close.
'Are you alright, darling? I heard your screams.'
Eve let go of him and looked into his eyes. She nodded, but her eyes were filling up with tears. Tony sat down on the bed.
'What was it you were dreaming of? The accident?'
Eve nodded again and sniffed.
'I know I just wouldn't have driven into water....but I don't know that for sure, Tony...I could've been trying to kill myself. I just wish I knew.'
Tony reached for her hand and rubbed it.
'All the answers you seek will come to you. And we'll face them, whatever they are, together.'
Eve stared at him. He was so handsome and kind. Tony DiMera didn't even know her. Yet, he had taken her in without question, and sworn to help her remember her past. It was the first time, in a long while, that she felt completely safe.
Tony could see that Eve was beginning to trust him. He released her hand and pulled her covers around her. Eve rested her head back onto the pillows.
Tony stood up and looked down at her.
'Goodnight, Eve.' he said.
'Goodnight, Tony.' she answered, watching him as he walked to the door, flicking off the light switch before he left the room. When he closed her door, Eve sat up in bed again.
Why was a man like that alone? Eve had almost lost track of time, but she knew she had been here at least, a couple of weeks. Tony DiMera had no special woman in his life. There were pictures of his children, Rex and Cassie, and pictures of Lexie and her baby Theo. But nothing of any special woman that held Tony's heart.
Eve sank back down onto the pillows and made a silent vow. Once she got her memory back, and moved out of here, Eve was going to find Tony a special someone.
****
When Liz reached the Harmony Swamp, she knew just from a quick glance, that all was not right.
There were two cars parked on the side of the road next to the wooded swamp. One was a newer looking Kia Sedona. The other was a Lexus. And the license plate read CRANE 1.
Liz pulled over as well, then slowly got out. She hurried over and looked into both cars. No one was around.
Where the hell was Allistair? And who owned the other car? To hell with Julian Crane! T.C. hated his guts anyway! There was no way he would believe that man over her!
Still, Liz peered into the swamp. There was no way Allistair had went in there alone. Whoever was driving the Kia had 'helped' the old man in there.
Liz turned and ran to her car. She did not realize that some distance away, someone was photographing her every move. The mysterious person also closed their lens in on the Crane license plate. Liz sped off, none the wiser.
A few moments later, two burly men stumbled out of the swamp. The mysterious person put away his camera equipment and disappeared.
One of the men, looked down at his pants and cursed.
'Christ! That old man was strong! I ought to have Crane reimburse me for the cost of these pants!'
The other man smirked.
'Those old things? Besides, we're getting paid plenty. Once we get our dough, you'll have enough money to buy all the Oshkosh's you want.'
'Uh, these aren't Oshkosh's, thank you very much! They're Ralph Lauren's.'
'Yeah, right! Look, let's get the hell out of here! I hate this place when it starts to get dark!'
One of the men got into the Kia and sped off. The other got into Allistair's car and drove off behind the Kia. Somewhere, from within the swamp, a man's hand inched out of puddle of quicksand. A ring on one of the fingers glinted in the light. The initials on it read, A.C.. The hand clasped a vine near by.
