Chapter 15
Austin and Teresa head to Salem. Fox and Julian have unexpected guests.
Austin found Teresa sitting on a park bench, curled up. She was blinking hard, but was unsuccessful at keeping her tears at bay. Austin eased down next to her on the bench. Teresa sniffed and looked away.
'You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.' Austin said gently.
Teresa wiped away a tear and looked over at him.
'My mother was kidnapped. Along with two other people from Salem.'
Austin's mouth dropped open!
'What the hell is going on?! Sheridan told me that someone across the street from your Mom, and lady from Salem were kidnapped as well! This just sounds like something Stefano DiMera would do!'
Teresa began to tear up again. Austin touched her hair. It was dark and glossy.
'I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you like that. God! What is wrong with me? Either I'm making you angry or I'm making you cry.'
Teresa gave him a tender glance.
'It's not you, Austin. But that name...Stefano DiMera...it scares me half to death! Everyone has heard of him. People that get in his way end up dead!'
'Okay, but why would your mother have gotten in his way?' Austin asked.
Teresa took a deep breath.
'Luis just told me that our mother is an FBI agent.'
There was a silence. Austin digested the news. Teresa nodded.
'I know. Believe me, I know. I'm still trying to process this. My mother was a housekeeper all of her life. I never remember hearing or seeing anything, that would make me think she was anything else!'
Austin looked confused.
'I'm sorry, Teresa. I'm still confused.'
'So am I! Luis claims that the FBI isn't saying much. Only that Mama went after DiMera because she thinks he's responsible for my father's disappearance.'
Austin was quiet. He had heard gossip around Harmony that Martin Fitzgerald had abandoned his family, years ago, after having been caught stealing from Crane Industries. He supposed it was possible that that had not been the case, and that Stefano DiMera, somehow, someway, did something to Teresa's father.
'I can't just sit here!' Teresa cried out with frustration.
Austin touched her hand.
'I know you feel helpless right now. But if your mother is an agent, then she'll know how to protect herself.'
'My father was also an agent. And look what happened to him.'
Austin exhaled.
'I'll tell you what? Let's go to Salem.'
Teresa looked at his hand on hers, before meeting his eyes again.
'I don't understand.' she answered.
'Let's go to Salem. I was supposed to go anyway, there's a DiMera barbecue. You come with me, you can look around the house, maybe get a feel on your mother's whereabouts.' Austin suggested. He left off the part about how he was going to ask her to go with him anyway. But she was in no shape to deal with anything but her mother.
Teresa nodded slowly.
'My mother would have almost had to have been in that house! I mean, what other place in Salem would hold the most clues about where Stefano DiMera is!'
Austin nodded, then stood up. He grabbed her hands and pulled her up with him.
'So, we leave?'
Teresa nodded.
'Yes, but I have to get someone to watch little Ethan. And we can't let Luis or anyone else know what we're up to. They'd freak.'
Austin nodded again.
'Understood. Let's get going, okay?'
Teresa nodded again, then, impulsively hugged him. Austin was more than a bit pleased, as he returned her embrace. He didn't honestly think they would find anything during the barbecue, since the DiMera's were slick, but, it might give Teresa some peace of mind. And, it would give him time alone with her.
Austin let go of her, then held out his hand. Teresa reached down and grabbed it. As they started to walk out of the park, they ran in to Liz.
'Teresa! I just heard about your mother and...
Teresa glared at her and began pulling on Austin's hand. Liz heard her tell the young man that she was with, to stay away from her because she was trouble! Liz sighed and began walking in the other direction. She then stopped abruptly. Antonio appeared in her path.
'Antonio? If you're looking for Teresa...'
Antonio cut his eyes from hers, to Teresa and Austin's retreating backs.
'The person I'm looking for is you, Liz.'
Liz didn't like his tone. She had known him long enough to know that his voice meant something unpleasant was about to be brought up. With the way her life was going these days, that could be anything!
'Alright, Antonio. What did you want to talk to me about?'
Antonio gestured towards a bench. Liz almost sighed. A 'sit- down' talk. This was going to be bad! But, she obliged him and walked over to the bench he had indicated. She then sat down. Antonio joined her.
'You've heard that my mother is missing?' he asked, his eyes probing hers.
'Uh, yes. I was actually trying to tell your sister how sorry I am about it.'
'Yes, I'm sure you are, deep down. You see, I was at my mother's house, yesterday, before anyone knew anything was wrong. I was looking for some things I kept stored there. Anyway, low and behold, I find your name written on some slip of paper in the kitchen. There was a time and place. The time was a couple of days ago. The place was the FBI Offices. Why would my mother have been meeting you? And why there?'
Liz decided she had nothing to lose. She had been pulled in already the other day, and interrogated about Pilar, T.C. and Celeste's disappearances. It was then that she was told that Pilar disappeared along with Celeste's son-in-law and her daughter.
Liz blamed everything on Celeste! And why shouldn't she? It was all probably her fault! She was the one hooked up with that crazy bastard DiMera! And it made her sick that that slick piece of baggage, had roped T.C. into her sordid life! Liz wondered if T.C. was even still alive.
Liz looked at Antonio.
'The woman that was kidnapped with T.C. is named Celeste Perrault. She used to be my step-mother.'
Antonio looked surprised.
'Step-mother? You never told me your father re-married?'
Liz nodded, sensing where this conversation was about to head. She was not prepared for Antonio's touching her hand.
'So, this woman sat back and did nothing while your father molested you?'
Liz looked into his eyes. She couldn't tell him the truth. He would hate her. And he was the only person left around here who cared anything about her.
'Yes. I told your mother I wasn't too interested in helping...because of that. But she seemed sure that somehow, I could rekindle some kind of relationship and find out something about Stefano's whereabouts. It didn't work. Celeste was never the nicest woman.'
'I'm sorry. I know my mother would not have asked that of you, unless they were sure your step-mother was the key.'
Liz looked away and nodded, feeling slightly guilty for lying to him. Antonio did not catch on.
'I wonder why she came here?' he thought out loud.
'What do you mean?' Liz asked.
'Well, I heard that this Celeste is from Salem. I mean, did she come here to see you?'
'No. I actually saw her in T.C.'s hospital room. She claimed she was there to give him her condolences over Eve.' Liz said, her mind beginning to swirl. Celeste had never given a damn about anyone but herself! And she hadn't even known Eve! The more she thought about it, the more it seemed unlikely, that her step-mommy dearest, suddenly grew some kind of conscience and decided to pay a condolence call over a woman she never met.
Antonio watched her.
'What is it? What are you thinking?'
Liz looked at him.
'Antonio, you don't know what that woman was like. I'd say maybe she was only ten years older than Eve. Too young for my father. She didn't care anything about me or what I was going through. For her to suddenly care about the family of a woman she never met, just doesn't seem right. I never thought to ask your mother if the FBI knew why Celeste was in Harmony.'
'I'm sorry you had to re-live that part of your life again, Liz. But, I don't think my mother would have asked of you, what she did, unless maybe she thought you could help. Think Liz! Is there anything you know about your step-mother at all that might help us find my mother?'
Liz felt for him, she really did. But she shook her head helplessly.
'Antonio, I wish I could help you, really, I do. But I'm telling you, I knew nothing about that woman. That's what made her entrance into our lives all the more shocking. I never knew she was connected with Stefano DiMera. I never got to know her at all.'
Antonio frowned. Liz cocked her head.
'What?'
'I don't know. It kind of makes you wonder if your father knew anything?'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, aren't you now just the least bit curious as to where he met such a woman? Surely, he had to know of her connection to DiMera? Why would he take such a chance?'
Liz rolled her eyes.
'My father was a heartless bastard! He could've cared less about the danger he was exposing me to by bringing a woman like that into our home. My mother had hardly been dead three months.'
Antonio decided to end this topic of conversation. He believed Liz knew nothing. He was sorry he had to bring it up at all. It just seemed to re-ignite her anger at her past mistreatment at the hands of her family.
'Look, I have to go. Liz, if you remember anything at all, please, let me know.'
Antonio stood up. Liz did as well. She touched his shirt.
'You know I will. And you have to keep the faith. Pilar is still alive and able to fend for herself.'
'And the others as well.' Antonio said.
Liz nodded.
'T.C.. I haven't had the guts to see Simone. She's still so angry with me.'
'She's got plenty of people over at the Bennett's looking out for her. She'll be fine.'
Liz gave him a shaky smile, as he touched her cheek, then walked away. She then sighed, her thoughts back on Celeste. There was a part of her that was tempted to look into this a bit further. Celeste had not just come here to see Eve's family. And Liz doubted that old age or time had given that slut compassion for others. No, something was off there.
But, with the prospect of Stefano DiMera being involved, Liz decided it was best not to delve into things that did not concern her. She would lay low for a few days, then pay Spence Lowell a visit. Liz refused to be kept in the dark about what was being done to find T.C..
****
BERMUDA
Whitney sat out by the pool at the hotel, her thoughts on Fox. She didn't know why, but it bothered her, that she herself, was not sorry about the night of passion she had just spent with him.
Fox had asked her for a chance. Whitney briefly wondered if this whole trip had been about seducing her in the first place. When she thought about it, she found that that prospect didn't even bother her. What was the matter with her? She still loved Chad, didn't she?
Whitney exhaled, looking around. Fox and her were going to come down to the pool together, when he received a phone call. He had told her to go on ahead. What was taking him so long?
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She decided to just go with whatever happened. Chad was not here with her now, Fox was. And Fox had been there when she needed him.
Whitney suddenly opened her eyes. She needed to talk to Teresa! That girl was always better at figuring out others than she was!
Whitney began to reach down into her mesh tote bag for her cell phone. It was then, that someone stepped into her sun. Whitney looked up in surprise. It was Chad!
Whitney stood up.
'Chad? What are you doing here?'
Chad was grinning at her. He was wearing swim trunks and nothing else. He pulled her into his arms. Whitney felt distinctly uncomfortable. Why was that? She'd known Chad for years now. They had been engaged. Yet, she was more comfortable in Fox's arms than in Chad's. It must be guilt, Whitney thought.
Whitney pulled away from him, giving him a bright smile. Chad was still grinning.
'You don't know what it meant to me...to know that you want us to be together again.'
Whitney raised a brow.
'I'm sorry, I'm not following you.'
But Chad was still grinning!
'The ticket you sent to me...look, let's get out of here. I know that Fox hurt you when he ran off with that other girl. But he's just like his father, Whitney. I tried to tell you that.'
Whitney squinted at him, then gently took one of his hands.
'Chad, I didn't send you a ticket here.'
Chad's smile wavered just a bit.
'Of course you did.'
'No, I didn't.'
Chad was beginning to feel like a fool. He realized it was not from what Whitney was saying, so much as the expression on her face. She did indeed seem truly shocked to see him standing in front of her.
'Baby, you sent me a note. It said that Fox had run off and left you here alone.'
Whitney was appalled! Who had written Chad a note like that?!
'Chad, Fox wouldn't do that and...'
'What the hell do you mean, 'Fox wouldn't do that'?! How do you know? You barely know this guy Whitney, and you've let him come between us!'
A couple of people near by began to stare at them. Whitney was beginning to get angry herself!
'I didn't let Fox do anything! I told you after my mother died that I needed time to myself! But no! You wanted to move out to L.A. and make money off of me!'
Chad sucked in a breath and stepped back.
'What the hell are you talking about? 'Make money off of you'? What the hell does that mean?'
Whitney took a deep breath.
'I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way.'
'Mean for what to come out? You said that as if I wanted you to prostitute yourself or something!'
'No, but you wanted to capitalize on my singing talent!'
Chad snorted!
'Baby, you're not that good!'
Now Whitney was truly offended!
'I'm not that good, hey? But you kept telling me I was for what, Chad? So you could get me into bed?'
Chad held up a hand.
'You know what? The ticket I got is round trip. I'm going back home, packing a bag, then doing what I should have done from the start. I'm going to Los Angeles.'
Whitney said nothing. She then looked away.
'You will never get me to believe that part of the reason you're acting like this, isn't because of Crane's money!'
Whitney looked back at him.
'Why I couldn't see it before, I will never know.'
'See what?' Chad asked rudely.
'Your very bad habit of not ever seeing your own role in our problems. It's shame my father and you don't get along, because you're very much alike.'
Chad lifted a brow.
'Wow, Whitney! You've actually been thinking of someone beside yourself! Marvelous, baby!'
'Now what are you accusing me of?' Whitney asked tiredly.
'When you heard about your father, did you just decide to lay back and chill while the FBI handled everything? I mean, did you figure there wasn't much you could do about it, so why bother to come home?'
Whitney began to shake her head.
'What the hell are you talking about?' she asked with disgust.
Chad stopped speaking abruptly. My God! Whitney really had no idea about her father's kidnapping! And he had no doubt Crane had a hand in that!
Chad calmed down.
'Whitney, honey, your father was kidnapped a couple of days ago! Right in front of his house! You're telling me you didn't know?!'
Whitney shook her head, backing away from him. She then turned and began to run. Chad chased after her, calling out her name.
****
'Let me get this straight: Dr. Russell has been living with this DiMera guy all of this time?'
'Well, yes, Fox, though I don't think I like your tone.' Julian said.
'What tone? Look, the way you told this to me, I had the impression Whitney's mother was being held against her will or something!'
'In a way she was. DiMera faked some file and gave Eve the impression that she was a school teacher from Minnesota.'
'Minnesota! Holy Christ!' Fox uttered.
'Yes, I know. I was equally appalled.'
'Okay, well, you said she has amnesia. How are you going to get her to remember you before Grandfather's deadline?'
Julian sighed.
'It will be a challenge. Then again, I've always loved doing things the hard way. I do believe Eve actually does remember me some, and just doesn't want to admit it.'
'Why wouldn't she want to admit it?' Fox asked.
'Because Eve thinks she's in love with DiMera.'
'Oh God!'
'I know it seems bleak, son, considering our time constraints. But, I've made significant progress since yesterday. Eve now knows that DiMera lied to her, and is staying with me.'
Fox smiled.
'That is good news, Father. I have to say, I admire the hell out of your moving in next door to this DiMera creep. You're really going all out.'
'Yes, well, enough about me. How are things going on your end?'
Fox now grinned.
'Better than I ever expected. Let's just say that my relationship with Whitney has moved to a new level.'
Julian raised a brow.
'You are doing well.'
'Yeah, but not well enough to get her to agree to marry me. I think Harris is what's holding her back. That and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep her father's disappearance from her. She should know.'
'You'll have to be the judge on that, Fox. If you feel secure enough in what's going on between the two of you now, that you feel that returning to Harmony won't ruin your progress, then by all means, tell her.'
Fox nodded, then turned, as he heard his hotel room door open.
'I have to go, Father. Let me know how things are going.'
'I will. Good luck to you son. Goodbye.'
Fox hung up and walked over to the door, opening it and looking out into the front room. Whitney was standing there...along with Harris.
'What the hell are you doing here?' Fox asked, staring at the last person he ever wanted to see.
Whitney ran to him. Chad clenched his fists, as he watched his girlfriend run to Fox and throw her arms around him. It was almost as if it had been instinctive. Fox put his arms around her and smiled at Chad, then let go of her.
'Whitney, what is it? Did he do something?'
'Yeah, Crane, I did! I told her what you should have!' Chad sneered.
Whitney wiped her eyes and looked back at Chad.
'What are you talking about now, Chad?'
Chad looked at Whitney. She was still half-clinging to Fox.
'Tell me you don't believe that Fox here didn't know about your father?'
Whitney looked at Fox, who covered with his 'totally clueless' facial expression. He made a mental note to get Chad for this!
Whitney looked up at Fox.
'Fox? Did you know about my father?'
Fox pulled Whitney aside and then touched her face.
'Whitney, what's going on here? What about your father? And why is he here?'
Whitney felt instant relief. Of course Fox knew nothing about this! And if he had, he would've told her the first minute he learned about it!
'Chad said that my father was kidnapped and that the FBI was looking in to it.'
Fox glared at Chad. He walked up to him.
'What the hell kind of sick game are you playing?! If you wanted to make things right with Whitney, all you had to do was come down here and be straight forward! But you tell some story about her father being kidnapped to scare her into leaving with you?! What the hell were you going to do to her when she found out you were lying?!'
'Oh, that's rich, coming from you, Crane! Go look at a newspaper, Whitney! Your father and some woman from Salem, poor Pilar and some other people from Salem, are all victims! No one knows who will be next!'
Whitney believed him. She also believed Fox knew nothing. His expression was of someone who was horror stricken.
'Poor Simone...and Teresa! Who would want to kidnap Pilar?' Whitney cried.
Chad stopped glaring at Fox and looked at Whitney.
'They think a guy named Stefano DiMera.'
Fox looked away. His father had failed to mention that other people had been kidnapped as well! This DiMera family sounded like a bunch of maniacs!
'Stefano DiMera? I've heard of him! I thought he was dead?' Whitney asked, her voice trembling.
Chad eyed Fox.
'I guess he's not. Look, I'll wait while you go to your room and pack. Then we can leave.' Chad said.
Whitney suddenly looked uncomfortable. Fox walked up to Chad.
'Whitney's things are in here, Chad.'
Chad sucked in a breath! He looked from a smug Fox, to Whitney. He then walked over to her.
'Tell me he's lying!'
'Look, Chad, I don't have time for this. I'm going to pack my stuff and head back to Harmony. I can only think about my father and sister right now.'
Whitney then turned and headed towards the bedroom. She closed the door. Chad started to rush Fox, but Fox's voice stopped him.
'The Cranes own this hotel, Harris. You lay a finger on me, and I will make sure that you stay in jail down here, do you understand me?'
Chad shook his head, looking Fox up and down.
'You knew, didn't you? You knew Whitney's father was missing and just kept it from her until you could get in her pants, didn't you?'
'Get out. Whitney and I will be traveling on the Crane Jet. So, if you'll excuse me, I have to make arrangements to fly us out of here.'
Chad stared at him.
'This isn't over. I will make Whitney see what you really are.'
'Yeah, well, good luck to you Harris. I'm sure the girl of your dreams is out there somewhere. Whitney's not her. She's mine.'
Chad sucked in a breath! That was the boldest statement to come from Crane yet!
'I'll be going back to Harmony as well, Crane. I won't let you keep me from Whitney this time.'
'I didn't before. I didn't realize you had money for a return ticket?' Fox asked, picking up the phone.
Chad smirked.
'Someone sent me a ticket here, Crane. Someone pretending to be Whitney. Looks like I'm not the only one that doesn't want to see the two of you together.'
Chad then turned and slammed out of the room. Fox slammed the phone down! Goddamn his grandfather! That whole ticket thing reeked of him! Fox now knew that Alistair had no intention of making this easy for him, or Julian.
****
Julian hung up with Fox and rubbed his eyes. He then stood up and looked towards the stairs. Eve was up there.
She had been quiet on the drive back here. Julian knew that she was still in shock after reading her real file. For now, Eve was forced to admit to herself that Tony had lied to her from the very beginning of their relationship.
Julian stared up the staircase, wanting to go to her, but knowing that she really needed time alone. He closed his eyes. Time would soon be running out for him, if he could not get Eve to remember the love they shared, and convince her to marry him.
He, unlike Fox, felt no guilt whatsoever about not telling Eve about T.C.. He had never deserved Eve anyway. His being dead would just make their wedding plans move along much smoother.
For a brief moment, he thought of Eve's other daughter, Simone. Julian would like to forge some sort of relationship with the girl, for Eve's sake. When they returned to Harmony, Julian would make getting to know Simone a priority.
Julian turned away from the staircase and walked into another room. One with a bar. He began to pour himself a drink, when the doorbell rang. Julian had hired a housekeeper, her name escaped him at the moment.
Julian heard the door open, then he heard someone calling for 'Pookie'. His heart dropped. Good God! Was that Rebecca?
Julian put the drink down and hurried out into the front hallway. The chauffeur was hauling her luggage inside. The maid looked confused.
'Uh...thank you...uh....'
'It's Hilda, Mr. Crane.' she said patiently.
Julian looked at her.
'Thank you, Hilda. I'll see to this.'
Rebecca smiled at him, then ran over to him, throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a big kiss. Julian broke it off immediately.
'Becky, what are you doing here?' he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.
'What do you mean? I got your letter.'
'My letter?'
'The letter that said you loved me and you wanted me to come home! That and Alistair told me where you were. Julian, I must say, I don't understand why you bought this house!'
Julian pulled on both of her hands.
'Darling, let's go in the other room and have a drink. I'll explain everything in there.'
'Uh, okay. But actually I was hoping we could have a little 'make-up sex'. I've missed you, Pookie.'
Rebecca then kissed him, long and hard. Julian broke away from her again. Damn his father! He should have known his promises not to interfere were for naught! Julian wondered what kind of underhanded trick he had pulled on Fox?
'Let's go into the other room, alright?' he said, pulling her hand sharply. The last thing he needed was for Eve to get up and see Rebecca. They disappeared into another room.
But, Eve peeked around the corner from upstairs. She had been up and she had seen a red-headed woman. Eve sighed. The woman was probably the wife that was mentioned in that awful file. Her name was Rebecca.
Eve had stared at her, as she had kissed Julian posessively. Eve's mind drew a blank. She did not remember this woman.
Eve carefully crept down the stairs, file in hand. Even if Rebecca hadn't shown up here, Eve had no intention of staying here. The file said she had a husband and two daughters back in this town called Harmony. It also said that Julian had been a lover of hers. From the gist of the file, her relationship with Julian might have cost her her marriage.
When she got to the bottom of the stairs, Eve stopped and looked towards the room she had spied Julian take that woman to.
The file had made her relationship with Julian seem sordid. But when she looked into his eyes, there wasn't anything sordid about the love he saw there for her.
But, she was tired of not remembering anything. She just had impressions and strange dreams. Like the ones she had about Julian.
Eve sensed that she had real feelings for Julian. Even with amnesia, she was drawn to him. But her file said she was married to someone named T.C.. She needed to find him and get her life back. She was going over to the DiMera mansion to get some things, then she was heading off to Harmony.
Eve turned and walked towards the door. She eased it open, then carefully closed it behind her.
Austin and Teresa head to Salem. Fox and Julian have unexpected guests.
Austin found Teresa sitting on a park bench, curled up. She was blinking hard, but was unsuccessful at keeping her tears at bay. Austin eased down next to her on the bench. Teresa sniffed and looked away.
'You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.' Austin said gently.
Teresa wiped away a tear and looked over at him.
'My mother was kidnapped. Along with two other people from Salem.'
Austin's mouth dropped open!
'What the hell is going on?! Sheridan told me that someone across the street from your Mom, and lady from Salem were kidnapped as well! This just sounds like something Stefano DiMera would do!'
Teresa began to tear up again. Austin touched her hair. It was dark and glossy.
'I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you like that. God! What is wrong with me? Either I'm making you angry or I'm making you cry.'
Teresa gave him a tender glance.
'It's not you, Austin. But that name...Stefano DiMera...it scares me half to death! Everyone has heard of him. People that get in his way end up dead!'
'Okay, but why would your mother have gotten in his way?' Austin asked.
Teresa took a deep breath.
'Luis just told me that our mother is an FBI agent.'
There was a silence. Austin digested the news. Teresa nodded.
'I know. Believe me, I know. I'm still trying to process this. My mother was a housekeeper all of her life. I never remember hearing or seeing anything, that would make me think she was anything else!'
Austin looked confused.
'I'm sorry, Teresa. I'm still confused.'
'So am I! Luis claims that the FBI isn't saying much. Only that Mama went after DiMera because she thinks he's responsible for my father's disappearance.'
Austin was quiet. He had heard gossip around Harmony that Martin Fitzgerald had abandoned his family, years ago, after having been caught stealing from Crane Industries. He supposed it was possible that that had not been the case, and that Stefano DiMera, somehow, someway, did something to Teresa's father.
'I can't just sit here!' Teresa cried out with frustration.
Austin touched her hand.
'I know you feel helpless right now. But if your mother is an agent, then she'll know how to protect herself.'
'My father was also an agent. And look what happened to him.'
Austin exhaled.
'I'll tell you what? Let's go to Salem.'
Teresa looked at his hand on hers, before meeting his eyes again.
'I don't understand.' she answered.
'Let's go to Salem. I was supposed to go anyway, there's a DiMera barbecue. You come with me, you can look around the house, maybe get a feel on your mother's whereabouts.' Austin suggested. He left off the part about how he was going to ask her to go with him anyway. But she was in no shape to deal with anything but her mother.
Teresa nodded slowly.
'My mother would have almost had to have been in that house! I mean, what other place in Salem would hold the most clues about where Stefano DiMera is!'
Austin nodded, then stood up. He grabbed her hands and pulled her up with him.
'So, we leave?'
Teresa nodded.
'Yes, but I have to get someone to watch little Ethan. And we can't let Luis or anyone else know what we're up to. They'd freak.'
Austin nodded again.
'Understood. Let's get going, okay?'
Teresa nodded again, then, impulsively hugged him. Austin was more than a bit pleased, as he returned her embrace. He didn't honestly think they would find anything during the barbecue, since the DiMera's were slick, but, it might give Teresa some peace of mind. And, it would give him time alone with her.
Austin let go of her, then held out his hand. Teresa reached down and grabbed it. As they started to walk out of the park, they ran in to Liz.
'Teresa! I just heard about your mother and...
Teresa glared at her and began pulling on Austin's hand. Liz heard her tell the young man that she was with, to stay away from her because she was trouble! Liz sighed and began walking in the other direction. She then stopped abruptly. Antonio appeared in her path.
'Antonio? If you're looking for Teresa...'
Antonio cut his eyes from hers, to Teresa and Austin's retreating backs.
'The person I'm looking for is you, Liz.'
Liz didn't like his tone. She had known him long enough to know that his voice meant something unpleasant was about to be brought up. With the way her life was going these days, that could be anything!
'Alright, Antonio. What did you want to talk to me about?'
Antonio gestured towards a bench. Liz almost sighed. A 'sit- down' talk. This was going to be bad! But, she obliged him and walked over to the bench he had indicated. She then sat down. Antonio joined her.
'You've heard that my mother is missing?' he asked, his eyes probing hers.
'Uh, yes. I was actually trying to tell your sister how sorry I am about it.'
'Yes, I'm sure you are, deep down. You see, I was at my mother's house, yesterday, before anyone knew anything was wrong. I was looking for some things I kept stored there. Anyway, low and behold, I find your name written on some slip of paper in the kitchen. There was a time and place. The time was a couple of days ago. The place was the FBI Offices. Why would my mother have been meeting you? And why there?'
Liz decided she had nothing to lose. She had been pulled in already the other day, and interrogated about Pilar, T.C. and Celeste's disappearances. It was then that she was told that Pilar disappeared along with Celeste's son-in-law and her daughter.
Liz blamed everything on Celeste! And why shouldn't she? It was all probably her fault! She was the one hooked up with that crazy bastard DiMera! And it made her sick that that slick piece of baggage, had roped T.C. into her sordid life! Liz wondered if T.C. was even still alive.
Liz looked at Antonio.
'The woman that was kidnapped with T.C. is named Celeste Perrault. She used to be my step-mother.'
Antonio looked surprised.
'Step-mother? You never told me your father re-married?'
Liz nodded, sensing where this conversation was about to head. She was not prepared for Antonio's touching her hand.
'So, this woman sat back and did nothing while your father molested you?'
Liz looked into his eyes. She couldn't tell him the truth. He would hate her. And he was the only person left around here who cared anything about her.
'Yes. I told your mother I wasn't too interested in helping...because of that. But she seemed sure that somehow, I could rekindle some kind of relationship and find out something about Stefano's whereabouts. It didn't work. Celeste was never the nicest woman.'
'I'm sorry. I know my mother would not have asked that of you, unless they were sure your step-mother was the key.'
Liz looked away and nodded, feeling slightly guilty for lying to him. Antonio did not catch on.
'I wonder why she came here?' he thought out loud.
'What do you mean?' Liz asked.
'Well, I heard that this Celeste is from Salem. I mean, did she come here to see you?'
'No. I actually saw her in T.C.'s hospital room. She claimed she was there to give him her condolences over Eve.' Liz said, her mind beginning to swirl. Celeste had never given a damn about anyone but herself! And she hadn't even known Eve! The more she thought about it, the more it seemed unlikely, that her step-mommy dearest, suddenly grew some kind of conscience and decided to pay a condolence call over a woman she never met.
Antonio watched her.
'What is it? What are you thinking?'
Liz looked at him.
'Antonio, you don't know what that woman was like. I'd say maybe she was only ten years older than Eve. Too young for my father. She didn't care anything about me or what I was going through. For her to suddenly care about the family of a woman she never met, just doesn't seem right. I never thought to ask your mother if the FBI knew why Celeste was in Harmony.'
'I'm sorry you had to re-live that part of your life again, Liz. But, I don't think my mother would have asked of you, what she did, unless maybe she thought you could help. Think Liz! Is there anything you know about your step-mother at all that might help us find my mother?'
Liz felt for him, she really did. But she shook her head helplessly.
'Antonio, I wish I could help you, really, I do. But I'm telling you, I knew nothing about that woman. That's what made her entrance into our lives all the more shocking. I never knew she was connected with Stefano DiMera. I never got to know her at all.'
Antonio frowned. Liz cocked her head.
'What?'
'I don't know. It kind of makes you wonder if your father knew anything?'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, aren't you now just the least bit curious as to where he met such a woman? Surely, he had to know of her connection to DiMera? Why would he take such a chance?'
Liz rolled her eyes.
'My father was a heartless bastard! He could've cared less about the danger he was exposing me to by bringing a woman like that into our home. My mother had hardly been dead three months.'
Antonio decided to end this topic of conversation. He believed Liz knew nothing. He was sorry he had to bring it up at all. It just seemed to re-ignite her anger at her past mistreatment at the hands of her family.
'Look, I have to go. Liz, if you remember anything at all, please, let me know.'
Antonio stood up. Liz did as well. She touched his shirt.
'You know I will. And you have to keep the faith. Pilar is still alive and able to fend for herself.'
'And the others as well.' Antonio said.
Liz nodded.
'T.C.. I haven't had the guts to see Simone. She's still so angry with me.'
'She's got plenty of people over at the Bennett's looking out for her. She'll be fine.'
Liz gave him a shaky smile, as he touched her cheek, then walked away. She then sighed, her thoughts back on Celeste. There was a part of her that was tempted to look into this a bit further. Celeste had not just come here to see Eve's family. And Liz doubted that old age or time had given that slut compassion for others. No, something was off there.
But, with the prospect of Stefano DiMera being involved, Liz decided it was best not to delve into things that did not concern her. She would lay low for a few days, then pay Spence Lowell a visit. Liz refused to be kept in the dark about what was being done to find T.C..
****
BERMUDA
Whitney sat out by the pool at the hotel, her thoughts on Fox. She didn't know why, but it bothered her, that she herself, was not sorry about the night of passion she had just spent with him.
Fox had asked her for a chance. Whitney briefly wondered if this whole trip had been about seducing her in the first place. When she thought about it, she found that that prospect didn't even bother her. What was the matter with her? She still loved Chad, didn't she?
Whitney exhaled, looking around. Fox and her were going to come down to the pool together, when he received a phone call. He had told her to go on ahead. What was taking him so long?
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She decided to just go with whatever happened. Chad was not here with her now, Fox was. And Fox had been there when she needed him.
Whitney suddenly opened her eyes. She needed to talk to Teresa! That girl was always better at figuring out others than she was!
Whitney began to reach down into her mesh tote bag for her cell phone. It was then, that someone stepped into her sun. Whitney looked up in surprise. It was Chad!
Whitney stood up.
'Chad? What are you doing here?'
Chad was grinning at her. He was wearing swim trunks and nothing else. He pulled her into his arms. Whitney felt distinctly uncomfortable. Why was that? She'd known Chad for years now. They had been engaged. Yet, she was more comfortable in Fox's arms than in Chad's. It must be guilt, Whitney thought.
Whitney pulled away from him, giving him a bright smile. Chad was still grinning.
'You don't know what it meant to me...to know that you want us to be together again.'
Whitney raised a brow.
'I'm sorry, I'm not following you.'
But Chad was still grinning!
'The ticket you sent to me...look, let's get out of here. I know that Fox hurt you when he ran off with that other girl. But he's just like his father, Whitney. I tried to tell you that.'
Whitney squinted at him, then gently took one of his hands.
'Chad, I didn't send you a ticket here.'
Chad's smile wavered just a bit.
'Of course you did.'
'No, I didn't.'
Chad was beginning to feel like a fool. He realized it was not from what Whitney was saying, so much as the expression on her face. She did indeed seem truly shocked to see him standing in front of her.
'Baby, you sent me a note. It said that Fox had run off and left you here alone.'
Whitney was appalled! Who had written Chad a note like that?!
'Chad, Fox wouldn't do that and...'
'What the hell do you mean, 'Fox wouldn't do that'?! How do you know? You barely know this guy Whitney, and you've let him come between us!'
A couple of people near by began to stare at them. Whitney was beginning to get angry herself!
'I didn't let Fox do anything! I told you after my mother died that I needed time to myself! But no! You wanted to move out to L.A. and make money off of me!'
Chad sucked in a breath and stepped back.
'What the hell are you talking about? 'Make money off of you'? What the hell does that mean?'
Whitney took a deep breath.
'I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way.'
'Mean for what to come out? You said that as if I wanted you to prostitute yourself or something!'
'No, but you wanted to capitalize on my singing talent!'
Chad snorted!
'Baby, you're not that good!'
Now Whitney was truly offended!
'I'm not that good, hey? But you kept telling me I was for what, Chad? So you could get me into bed?'
Chad held up a hand.
'You know what? The ticket I got is round trip. I'm going back home, packing a bag, then doing what I should have done from the start. I'm going to Los Angeles.'
Whitney said nothing. She then looked away.
'You will never get me to believe that part of the reason you're acting like this, isn't because of Crane's money!'
Whitney looked back at him.
'Why I couldn't see it before, I will never know.'
'See what?' Chad asked rudely.
'Your very bad habit of not ever seeing your own role in our problems. It's shame my father and you don't get along, because you're very much alike.'
Chad lifted a brow.
'Wow, Whitney! You've actually been thinking of someone beside yourself! Marvelous, baby!'
'Now what are you accusing me of?' Whitney asked tiredly.
'When you heard about your father, did you just decide to lay back and chill while the FBI handled everything? I mean, did you figure there wasn't much you could do about it, so why bother to come home?'
Whitney began to shake her head.
'What the hell are you talking about?' she asked with disgust.
Chad stopped speaking abruptly. My God! Whitney really had no idea about her father's kidnapping! And he had no doubt Crane had a hand in that!
Chad calmed down.
'Whitney, honey, your father was kidnapped a couple of days ago! Right in front of his house! You're telling me you didn't know?!'
Whitney shook her head, backing away from him. She then turned and began to run. Chad chased after her, calling out her name.
****
'Let me get this straight: Dr. Russell has been living with this DiMera guy all of this time?'
'Well, yes, Fox, though I don't think I like your tone.' Julian said.
'What tone? Look, the way you told this to me, I had the impression Whitney's mother was being held against her will or something!'
'In a way she was. DiMera faked some file and gave Eve the impression that she was a school teacher from Minnesota.'
'Minnesota! Holy Christ!' Fox uttered.
'Yes, I know. I was equally appalled.'
'Okay, well, you said she has amnesia. How are you going to get her to remember you before Grandfather's deadline?'
Julian sighed.
'It will be a challenge. Then again, I've always loved doing things the hard way. I do believe Eve actually does remember me some, and just doesn't want to admit it.'
'Why wouldn't she want to admit it?' Fox asked.
'Because Eve thinks she's in love with DiMera.'
'Oh God!'
'I know it seems bleak, son, considering our time constraints. But, I've made significant progress since yesterday. Eve now knows that DiMera lied to her, and is staying with me.'
Fox smiled.
'That is good news, Father. I have to say, I admire the hell out of your moving in next door to this DiMera creep. You're really going all out.'
'Yes, well, enough about me. How are things going on your end?'
Fox now grinned.
'Better than I ever expected. Let's just say that my relationship with Whitney has moved to a new level.'
Julian raised a brow.
'You are doing well.'
'Yeah, but not well enough to get her to agree to marry me. I think Harris is what's holding her back. That and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep her father's disappearance from her. She should know.'
'You'll have to be the judge on that, Fox. If you feel secure enough in what's going on between the two of you now, that you feel that returning to Harmony won't ruin your progress, then by all means, tell her.'
Fox nodded, then turned, as he heard his hotel room door open.
'I have to go, Father. Let me know how things are going.'
'I will. Good luck to you son. Goodbye.'
Fox hung up and walked over to the door, opening it and looking out into the front room. Whitney was standing there...along with Harris.
'What the hell are you doing here?' Fox asked, staring at the last person he ever wanted to see.
Whitney ran to him. Chad clenched his fists, as he watched his girlfriend run to Fox and throw her arms around him. It was almost as if it had been instinctive. Fox put his arms around her and smiled at Chad, then let go of her.
'Whitney, what is it? Did he do something?'
'Yeah, Crane, I did! I told her what you should have!' Chad sneered.
Whitney wiped her eyes and looked back at Chad.
'What are you talking about now, Chad?'
Chad looked at Whitney. She was still half-clinging to Fox.
'Tell me you don't believe that Fox here didn't know about your father?'
Whitney looked at Fox, who covered with his 'totally clueless' facial expression. He made a mental note to get Chad for this!
Whitney looked up at Fox.
'Fox? Did you know about my father?'
Fox pulled Whitney aside and then touched her face.
'Whitney, what's going on here? What about your father? And why is he here?'
Whitney felt instant relief. Of course Fox knew nothing about this! And if he had, he would've told her the first minute he learned about it!
'Chad said that my father was kidnapped and that the FBI was looking in to it.'
Fox glared at Chad. He walked up to him.
'What the hell kind of sick game are you playing?! If you wanted to make things right with Whitney, all you had to do was come down here and be straight forward! But you tell some story about her father being kidnapped to scare her into leaving with you?! What the hell were you going to do to her when she found out you were lying?!'
'Oh, that's rich, coming from you, Crane! Go look at a newspaper, Whitney! Your father and some woman from Salem, poor Pilar and some other people from Salem, are all victims! No one knows who will be next!'
Whitney believed him. She also believed Fox knew nothing. His expression was of someone who was horror stricken.
'Poor Simone...and Teresa! Who would want to kidnap Pilar?' Whitney cried.
Chad stopped glaring at Fox and looked at Whitney.
'They think a guy named Stefano DiMera.'
Fox looked away. His father had failed to mention that other people had been kidnapped as well! This DiMera family sounded like a bunch of maniacs!
'Stefano DiMera? I've heard of him! I thought he was dead?' Whitney asked, her voice trembling.
Chad eyed Fox.
'I guess he's not. Look, I'll wait while you go to your room and pack. Then we can leave.' Chad said.
Whitney suddenly looked uncomfortable. Fox walked up to Chad.
'Whitney's things are in here, Chad.'
Chad sucked in a breath! He looked from a smug Fox, to Whitney. He then walked over to her.
'Tell me he's lying!'
'Look, Chad, I don't have time for this. I'm going to pack my stuff and head back to Harmony. I can only think about my father and sister right now.'
Whitney then turned and headed towards the bedroom. She closed the door. Chad started to rush Fox, but Fox's voice stopped him.
'The Cranes own this hotel, Harris. You lay a finger on me, and I will make sure that you stay in jail down here, do you understand me?'
Chad shook his head, looking Fox up and down.
'You knew, didn't you? You knew Whitney's father was missing and just kept it from her until you could get in her pants, didn't you?'
'Get out. Whitney and I will be traveling on the Crane Jet. So, if you'll excuse me, I have to make arrangements to fly us out of here.'
Chad stared at him.
'This isn't over. I will make Whitney see what you really are.'
'Yeah, well, good luck to you Harris. I'm sure the girl of your dreams is out there somewhere. Whitney's not her. She's mine.'
Chad sucked in a breath! That was the boldest statement to come from Crane yet!
'I'll be going back to Harmony as well, Crane. I won't let you keep me from Whitney this time.'
'I didn't before. I didn't realize you had money for a return ticket?' Fox asked, picking up the phone.
Chad smirked.
'Someone sent me a ticket here, Crane. Someone pretending to be Whitney. Looks like I'm not the only one that doesn't want to see the two of you together.'
Chad then turned and slammed out of the room. Fox slammed the phone down! Goddamn his grandfather! That whole ticket thing reeked of him! Fox now knew that Alistair had no intention of making this easy for him, or Julian.
****
Julian hung up with Fox and rubbed his eyes. He then stood up and looked towards the stairs. Eve was up there.
She had been quiet on the drive back here. Julian knew that she was still in shock after reading her real file. For now, Eve was forced to admit to herself that Tony had lied to her from the very beginning of their relationship.
Julian stared up the staircase, wanting to go to her, but knowing that she really needed time alone. He closed his eyes. Time would soon be running out for him, if he could not get Eve to remember the love they shared, and convince her to marry him.
He, unlike Fox, felt no guilt whatsoever about not telling Eve about T.C.. He had never deserved Eve anyway. His being dead would just make their wedding plans move along much smoother.
For a brief moment, he thought of Eve's other daughter, Simone. Julian would like to forge some sort of relationship with the girl, for Eve's sake. When they returned to Harmony, Julian would make getting to know Simone a priority.
Julian turned away from the staircase and walked into another room. One with a bar. He began to pour himself a drink, when the doorbell rang. Julian had hired a housekeeper, her name escaped him at the moment.
Julian heard the door open, then he heard someone calling for 'Pookie'. His heart dropped. Good God! Was that Rebecca?
Julian put the drink down and hurried out into the front hallway. The chauffeur was hauling her luggage inside. The maid looked confused.
'Uh...thank you...uh....'
'It's Hilda, Mr. Crane.' she said patiently.
Julian looked at her.
'Thank you, Hilda. I'll see to this.'
Rebecca smiled at him, then ran over to him, throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a big kiss. Julian broke it off immediately.
'Becky, what are you doing here?' he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.
'What do you mean? I got your letter.'
'My letter?'
'The letter that said you loved me and you wanted me to come home! That and Alistair told me where you were. Julian, I must say, I don't understand why you bought this house!'
Julian pulled on both of her hands.
'Darling, let's go in the other room and have a drink. I'll explain everything in there.'
'Uh, okay. But actually I was hoping we could have a little 'make-up sex'. I've missed you, Pookie.'
Rebecca then kissed him, long and hard. Julian broke away from her again. Damn his father! He should have known his promises not to interfere were for naught! Julian wondered what kind of underhanded trick he had pulled on Fox?
'Let's go into the other room, alright?' he said, pulling her hand sharply. The last thing he needed was for Eve to get up and see Rebecca. They disappeared into another room.
But, Eve peeked around the corner from upstairs. She had been up and she had seen a red-headed woman. Eve sighed. The woman was probably the wife that was mentioned in that awful file. Her name was Rebecca.
Eve had stared at her, as she had kissed Julian posessively. Eve's mind drew a blank. She did not remember this woman.
Eve carefully crept down the stairs, file in hand. Even if Rebecca hadn't shown up here, Eve had no intention of staying here. The file said she had a husband and two daughters back in this town called Harmony. It also said that Julian had been a lover of hers. From the gist of the file, her relationship with Julian might have cost her her marriage.
When she got to the bottom of the stairs, Eve stopped and looked towards the room she had spied Julian take that woman to.
The file had made her relationship with Julian seem sordid. But when she looked into his eyes, there wasn't anything sordid about the love he saw there for her.
But, she was tired of not remembering anything. She just had impressions and strange dreams. Like the ones she had about Julian.
Eve sensed that she had real feelings for Julian. Even with amnesia, she was drawn to him. But her file said she was married to someone named T.C.. She needed to find him and get her life back. She was going over to the DiMera mansion to get some things, then she was heading off to Harmony.
Eve turned and walked towards the door. She eased it open, then carefully closed it behind her.
