Chapter 16

Teresa and Austin find themselves in danger. Eve's memory returns.

Eve still had her key to the front door of the DiMera mansion. She unlocked it and walked in. She closed the door behind her.

She didn't see any crime scene tape, but there was a lot of powder and dust around. Eve guessed they were for fingerprints.

She rubbed the back of her neck. If Tony could make up a fake life for her, she supposed he might be capable of kidnapping people. But why Lexie? Eve had no doubt that Tony loved his sister. He wouldn't harm her. Then again, Tony hadn't turned out to be the man she thought he was.

There didn't seem to be anyone around. Not even a servant. But there was a black sedan parked out front. And she didn't think it belonged to anyone from Tony's family. Eve walked into the study and sat down on a couch, setting the file down beside her. She then put her head in her hands and began to cry.

She then stopped suddenly. Why was she crying? She now knew who she was...or at least, who she was supposed to be. She should be celebrating. She did have a family, she did belong somewhere. She did have children.

And who was this T.C. Russell? What kind of man was he? According to the file, she had been married to him for almost over 20 years.

Eve lifted her head and looked around the room, sighing. She wasn't going to fool herself. She would miss this house...and Tony. There was a part of her that didn't feel right leaving him in the condition he was in. After all, he had nursed her back to health. There was a part of her that said forget the stupid file! Maybe Julian had been right about why Tony did what he did. Maybe he had been afraid of losing her.

At the same time, Tony had known how much she wanted to know who she was again. To tell her that she had no ties anywhere...it just hurt that Tony would've been so cruel.

And now Julian. Eve stood up. She couldn't deal with any of these people anymore. She had to get back to Harmony and let her family know she was alive. She walked out of the room and headed towards the staircase. As she reached the top step, two men that had been lurking about downstairs, appeared. They did not see Eve either, as they headed towards the library. When the men reached the room, they closed the door. One of them took out a cell phone and punched some numbers.

'We're here.'

On his end, Stefano DiMera sat in a room, surrounded by television cameras. On various screens, T.C. and Pilar were attempting to make some sort of shelter. On another camera, Celeste and Lexie stood on a beach, while Abe yelled at them. Marlena and John were standing a little ways behind Abe.

'Dr. Russell will come back to that house. Make sure she is taken away to the 'safe place' we agreed on. I plan to get Tony out of that hospital and moved somewhere where he can be treated and cured. And once my son does wake up, I want the woman he loves to be by his side. Is that understood?'

The man nodded, looking at the other one.

'We'll head over to the Crane estate now and get her.' he said into the phone.

Stefano nodded.

'Make sure that anyone that gets in your way is dealt with. Including Julian Crane.' He then hung up, twisting his Phoenix ring on his finger. He was going to make sure that all of Tony's dreams didn't come crashing down around him. He would take over from here.

Stefano stared at Celeste and Alexandra, then sighed. It was unfortunate that those two got in the way of Tony's plans. He made a mental note to have someone pick up his grandson, Theo, from the Black penthouse. Stefano then eyed Marlena. She was looking more beautiful than ever.

****

Julian had to pull Rebecca's hands from around his neck. He then pushed her down in a chair. Rebecca stared up at him, her expression changing from happiness to annoyance.

'What is wrong with you, Julian?'

Julian sat down beside her in another chair. Whatever his feelings for his wife, Julian was seething at the idea of Alistair involving her in this! That and he had never expected her to return.

Then again, neither had his father. Thus, the reason for the fake note giving Rebecca a reason to return, and unfortunately, false hope.

Julian reached for her hands and laced them into his.

'Eve is alive, Rebecca.'

Rebecca said nothing, but stared at him, with her huge eyes. Her grip on his hands tightened, almost painfully! Julian managed to disentangle his bruised fingers from her grip.

'Eve who?' she asked in a snide voice.

Julian stood up and looked down at her.

'You know who. Eve Russell.'

Rebecca stood up as well.

'And how did this 'miracle' occur?'

'Why don't I fix you a drink, darling?'

'Just tell me what you need to tell me, Julian!'

Julian cleared his throat.

'Alistair told me Eve was alive. She survived the car accident and has been living here.'

Rebecca folded her arms.

'Eve Russell has been living here, when everyone thought she was dead? I'm sorry, but there's a lot missing here! She never struck me as the type that would let her family suffer like that. Then again, they weren't too thrilled with her anyway, after learning about you.'

'Eve has amnesia. She doesn't remember who she is or the life she came from.'

Rebecca gave him a knowing look.

'But you plan to take care of that, don't you? That's why you're here, isn't it?'

Julian nodded, his eyes probing hers. Rebecca snickered.

'Julian! You have got to stop living in this fantasy world! Alistair will never allow this! Never! And the same goes for Fox's little daydream of being with Whitney! He'll disinherit the both of you, and despite both of your noble protestations of love for these women, neither of you can do without money. Neither one of you would make it having to work 9 to 5 each day! Now, let's go back home to Harmony, Pookie.'

She reached out for his arm. Julian pulled it away.

'Rebecca, you need to hear this: Alistair has already proven, by sending you here, that he will not allow me to be with Eve. But yes, I am willing to give all of this up for her. I should've never married Ivy. I loved Eve on my wedding day to her....and to you. I will make her remember me, and I have no intention of leaving here until that is accomplished.'

Rebecca's mouth dropped open!

'I will tell the authorities about...'

Julian waved a hand impatiently.

'Yes, yes, I know dear! You'll tell all to the police about Father and my attempts on Sheridan's life. Yes, I know. And the police will wonder why you kept it a secret for so long. They may even wonder if you were an accessory.'

Rebecca took a step back.

'You're serious about all of this, aren't you?' she squeaked.

Julian nodded, then walked up to her, resting his hands on her shoulders.

'Rebecca dear, you could be a great help to me in all of this.'

'Oh right! I help you get Eve Russell! Why in the living hell would I want to do that?!' she sneered, close to tears.

Julian reached out and wiped away a tear.

'Have I forgotten to tell you that Eve has been living with one Count Anthony DiMera? He happens to be in a coma right now, but when he awakens, he's going to need a shoulder to cry on.'

Rebecca's tears stopped instantly.

'Eve has been living with Tony DiMera?! My God! He's gorgeous...and dark and...and...'

'Rich?' Julian offered.

Rebecca took and annoyed breath!

'Well, yes, that too! But of course, that's not the main reason I admire him! He's always been so hard to get close to. How the hell did Eve luck up on him?!'

Rebecca jerked away from Julian. He smiled. He could see the wheels in her head spinning already.

And they were. Tony DiMera! Oh! She remembered a party her and Jonathan had attended of his, long ago, when he was married to some money grubber. She had married him in Vegas years ago. Rebecca remembered pressing up against him in the hallway, only to be interrupted by some servant. Rebecca turned back to Julian.

'You say he's in a coma?'

Julian eyed the bar briefly, before looking at her again.

'That's right.'

'Why?' she asked suspiciously.

Julian shrugged.

'I have no idea. But no one has said that he will die or anything.' Julian walked over to her again. He touched her arm.

'Rebecca, whatever has happened between us, we've always been honest. Would I really have been so appealing without the Crane fortune?'

Rebecca looked away and began whistling some obscure tune. Julian smiled again. He turned her face back towards him.

'Alright, now that we have the truth, I think you should look upon this as an opportunity....to become a Countess.'

Rebecca's eyes glittered.

'Yes, I see what you mean, Pookie. That and Eve Russell wouldn't know how to be a proper Countess, no offense.'

'None taken.'

'Okay,' Rebecca said, rubbing her hands together. 'what do we do first?'

'Well, I do believe you should go to the hospital and visit your future husband. Maybe begin talking to him. The sooner you can pull him out of that coma, the sooner you can begin redecorating the mansion.'

Rebecca nodded and smiled. Julian helped her with her light jacket, then walked her to the door. It was as he reached it, that he remembered something.

'Oh, by the way darling, the mansion here is a bit crowded. I'll put you up at a hotel.'

Rebecca stopped abruptly.

'Excuse me?' she asked, looking him up and down.

'Darling, Eve is staying here, while Tony recuperates. It would just be too uncomfortable, you know, with the both of you here.'

Rebecca eyed him, then folded her arms.

'Alright. Well, since Eve is living here with you, I'll move into the DiMera mansion.'

Julian's eyes widened!

'Good lord, Rebecca! You can't do that!'

'Why not? I plan on living there one day soon anyway!'

'Well, yes but...but...' Julian sputtered. He didn't have the heart to tell her that he didn't believe she could really get DiMera to marry her! Julian figured at best, she could hope to get DiMera in bed, thus distracting him from Eve.

Hilda walked into the hallway.

'Hilda,' Rebecca began, 'who else besides the Count, lives at the DiMera mansion?'

'It's just him and Ms. Lincoln. The servants have all left, now that the Count is in so much trouble.'

Rebecca looked at Julian.

'In trouble? What does that mean?'

'Oh, they think he kidnapped a couple of people. But they can't prove anything. And even if they do, if you can marry him before the law gets to him, everything will be yours while he is in prison.'

While Rebecca mulled that over, Julian noted that Hilda was still standing there.

'Did you need something, Hilda?' he asked.

'Yes, I just thought you'd want to know that I saw Ms. Lincoln walking back over to the DiMera property. Is she bringing more things over?'

Julian's head snapped up towards the staircase! He then hurried up the stairs. Rebecca looked at Hilda.

'Who is Ms. Lincoln?'

'Oh, she's the woman that's staying here with Mr. Crane. Her name is Eve Lincoln.'

Rebecca nodded with understanding, then watched as Hilda walked off to the other parts. Rebecca then decided that now would be the time to get a look at her future home.

****

Austin and Teresa pulled up outside of the mansion. The gate was half open. Austin got out and pushed it all the way in. He then got back into his car and drove up.

Teresa had been quiet most of the trip, and Austin did not push her for conversation. His thoughts then wandered to the anticipated picnic, and who would be there. He hoped to God that Sami Brady would not be there! The last thing he needed was to look at her lying face today! And he definitely didn't want her hassling Teresa.

Austin pulled up outside of the house, behind a black sedan. He looked over at Teresa, who was staring at all the grandeur.

'Where are all the other cars? This place looks like a ghost town.' Austin noted.

'I'm going to get out and look around, Austin.' Teresa said.

But Austin already had out his cell. He shook his head at Teresa.

'Teresa, I don't think that's a good idea. I'm going to call my mother to find out what's going on, then we can look around.'

Teresa nodded, then watched as Austin got out and began dialing his cell. Teresa quietly got out as well. Austin had his back to her.

'Mom?'

'Hi sweetie! Listen, I'm glad I caught you before you left Harmony...'

'Uh, actually, you didn't. I'm outside of the DiMera mansion as we speak.'

Teresa sighed, then turned away from Austin's back, and eyed the grounds. Her breath suddenly caught! For walking towards the side of the house, across the grounds, was a woman that looked a lot like Rebecca Crane!

'What the hell is Rebecca doing here?' Teresa muttered softly. Was it possible that Rebecca was somehow involved in her mother's disappearance? No! For that would mean that she was responsible for Mr. Russell's and the other ones from here. And Rebecca was not smart enough to do all of that by herself!

But maybe she was involved with the DiMera's somehow! And now that she thought back, Teresa had heard that Rebecca was out of town(thought there was some gossip that she had left Julian!). Rebecca had been missing from Harmony during all of the times of the kidnappings!

Teresa blinked. Little Ethan had to spend time with that red-headed cow and Julian. If she was involved with something criminal, Teresa felt she had a right to know. She gave Austin a glance, then slipped away from the car. She hurried in the direction in which she had seen Rebecca.

****

'What happened?' Austin asked, unaware that Teresa was gone.

'Honey, things are bad! I was hoping I could catch you and tell you not to come, or bring your young lady.'

'Well it's too late. I'm parked outside of the DiMera mansion.'

'You're what?!' Kate Roberts almost screeched.

Austin pulled his cell away from his ear a bit. He then pulled it back.

'Yes. Listen Mom, the girl I brought, her name is Teresa Lopez-Fitzgerald. Her mother was one of the people kidnapped. She is an FBI agent. They think she was kidnapped out of the DiMera mansion.'

'Austin, listen to me. Celeste Perrault and Abe and Lexie Carver have been kidnapped! And now the police think that John and Marlena Black have been too! Tony DiMera is in some kind of coma and all Roman will say is that this woman that Tony has been involved with, could be the key. He said she was from Harmony as well.'

Austin squinted. Tony was involved with someone from Harmony, and together, the two of them were somehow responsible for all of this trouble?

'Sweetie, get out of there! Come by 'Basic Black' or my apartment, but get away from the DiMera house! It's still considered a crime scene! And God knows who's still lurking about there!'

'Okay, Mom. I'll tell Teresa and we'll come and see you at work. Bye.'

Austin hung up quickly, then looked down in the car. Teresa was not there!

'Christ!' he hissed, looking around. He hoped like hell Teresa hadn't found a way into the house. But, he suspected that was just what happened. Austin licked his lips, then moved towards the front door.

****

Julian came racing back down the stairs. Eve was nowhere around! Why in God's name would she go over to the DiMera house?!

He began to head towards the front door, when Hilda the housekeeper, stepped in front of him, pointing a gun! Julian put up his hands.

'I should've checked your references!' he sniped.

Hilda cocked the gun.

'Yes, you should have.' she smiled. She then took out her own cell phone, punching numbers with one hand, the other still pointing the gun at Julian.

'She's already in the house. Go and find her, then await further instructions from Mr. DiMera.'

Julian's eyebrows rose! Mr. DiMera? But Tony was still in a coma, wasn't he? It then hit him that 'Hilda' , if that indeed was her real name, was probably referring to Stefano! Christ! Where was Eve? And who was supposed to find her over there?

Hilda then hung up and put away her phone in her apron pocket. She then concentrated on Julian.

'Let's go, Mr. Crane. We're going next door. You're going to say goodbye to your girlfriend.'

Julian rolled his eyes and sighed, his hands still up. As he walked past Hilda, he very quickly doubled back and began wrestling with her for the gun. Julian managed to get it out of her hands and it went sliding across the polished floor, towards the staircase. Hilda turned her head to look at it. That was when Julian punched her very hard in the face! She dropped to her knees. Julian watched her eyes roll around a bit, before she fell all the way to the ground. She appeared to be unconscious. Julian then ran over to where the gun was and picked it up. He then ran towards the front door, whipped it open, then began running across his property and towards the DiMera's.

****

Rebecca found a side door open. She pulled on the knob, and was about to pull back the door, when a rustling behind her, startled her. She found herself glaring at Teresa!

'What the hell?!' Rebecca sniffed, looking her up and down.

'I could say the same thing about you, Rebecca! What are you doing lurking around out here?'

'Not that this is any of your business, Teresa, but I'm here to inspect my new home!'

Teresa raised a brow.

'Have you been drinking again? This home belongs to the DiMera family. The same family that's probably responsible for kidnapping T.C. Russell and my mother!'

Rebecca gaped at her!

'What the hell are you talking about?! Who's kidnapped those two? And why? It's not like either one of them are ransom worthy!'

Teresa was outraged! She swung her hand up near Rebecca's cheek and scratched it! Rebecca screamed and grabbed Teresa's throat!

'You little whore!' Rebecca yelled.

'You OLD whore!' Teresa screamed back, trying to pry her nemesis fingers from around her throat!

****

One of the men had just hung up with Hilda. He looked at his partner.

'The woman is somewhere in the house. You take the upstairs and...'

He stopped suddenly. His partner looked at him, then turned and followed his gaze. There were shadows playing on the curtains on one of the side doors. They also heard yelling.

Both men hurried to the doors and opened them quickly. Teresa and Rebecca fell into the room! They both looked up, then looked at one another. Both men grabbed each of the ladies and pulled them up hard!

'Hey!' Rebecca protested.

'Get your hands off of me!' Teresa cried out.

****

Eve walked down the upstairs hallway, only carrying one suitcase. She felt guilty about even having one. She had come to Tony with nothing, and would have preferred to leave the clothing he had given her, behind.

But Eve supposed one had to be practical. If she left here with nothing, then she'd be naked!

She reached the top of the staircase, and was on her way down, when she looked down and saw the front door open. A young man in his twenties, eased the door open and looked around. He then called out the name, 'Teresa'.

'Can I help you?' Eve asked, hurrying down the stairs with her suitcase.

Austin was startled to see this woman, and began to think that she looked vaguely familiar. But before he could ponder it, the doors to the drawing room opened.

Both Austin and Eve were shocked to see the two thugs, holding Rebecca and Teresa tightly. They also had guns.

Teresa looked from Austin to Eve.

'Dr. Russell?! You're alive! Get out of here! Get out of here while you can!' Teresa screamed.

Eve instinctively dropped the bag and hurried over to the young, Hispanic girl. The thug holding on to her, backhanded Eve so hard, that she went flying back past Austin, and bumping her head against a wall!

Austin ran back to check on Eve, kneeling down. He then stood up quickly.

'She's unconscious.' he said, his hands now in the air.

Teresa managed to break away from her thug, and rushed over to Eve. She knelt down and cradled her head in her own lap. She then looked up at Austin.

'My God, Austin! Dr. Russell here has been kidnapped just like my mother and the others! This means they're still alive somewhere!'

Rebecca snorted, and was rudely pushed over by Austin and Teresa.

'That's not what Julian said!' Rebecca said.

Teresa looked her up and down.

'What the hell are you talking about? Never mind! Who cares?! Austin, what are we going to do?'

Austin knelt down beside Teresa and an unconscious Eve. He then spoke in a low tone, as one of the thugs, got on a cell phone and began talking. Rebecca had her hands in the air, since the other thug still had a gun on the three of them.

'My mother told us to get out of here. She said that two more people in Salem were kidnapped recently as well.'

Rebecca looked down at Austin.

'Good God! What has Julian got us in to?'

'Julian?' Teresa asked. 'What has he got to do with any of this?'

The first thug, hung up his cellphone. He then pointed his gun on them as well.

'Come on. The three of you are going for a plane ride.'

The second thug looked at his partner.

'But not her?' he asked, indicating Eve.

'Yes. But she still goes to the scheduled place. The doctor there will look at her. Mr. DiMera was not pleased that she had been hit.'

Teresa began shaking her head! None of this made any sense! Why were they going on a plane, and Dr. Russell someplace different? And where was her mother? Was she here? Or was she in the place that she, Austin and Rebecca were headed to?

The first thug spoke to the second.

'Let's get the three of them settled, then come back for her later.' he said. The second one nodded, then pointed the gun at Austin, Teresa and Rebecca.

'The three of you, let's go. Out the back.'

Austin pulled on Teresa's arm, as she reluctantly let go of Eve, then stood up. Rebecca followed closely behind them. At first she had assumed they had had the bad luck to stumble into some kind of robbery. But now it was obvious that she could end up dying next to that slut, Teresa Lopez-Fitzgerald! Life was so unfair!

The two men marched the three of them down a back hallway.

****

Julian reached the same side doors that Rebecca and Teresa had been pulled through, minutes later. He stumbled over to the couch and collapsed, out of breath. While he was in relatively good shape, all of this running around was for much younger men! What he really wanted to do was lie down on this sofa, with a brandy in hand!

But when he looked over into the hallway, and saw Eve lying there, he knew there was no time for that!

'Eve!' he cried, and hurried over to her. He knelt down and pulled her head into his lap.

'Eve? Eve darling, wake up! Wake up!'

Eve's eyes fluttered, and she began to try and focus. Julian's face went from fuzzy to crystal clear. She stared up at him.

'Julian?'

'Yes, my darling! Do you think you can sit up or stand? What happened?'

Eve sat up abruptly. She then looked around in a panic.

'Where is Teresa? Julian, we have to help her and Rebecca! Oh, and there's some other man here as well and...'

Teresa? Rebecca was at the hospital, wasn't she? Then something hit Julian. He pulled Eve up on her feet slowly. He then looked into her eyes.

'Eve, you remember Teresa? And Rebecca?'

Eve stared at him.

'Of course I do! I....'

It then hit Eve that yes, she did remember! She remembered everything! T.C. and Liz, being underwater...everything!

She looked at him.

'You came back for me, Julian. You never gave up hope that I was alive, did you?'

Julian smiled at her. No, he thought, he never really thought she was secretly alive! That revelation came courtesy of his father.

'No, my darling, I never did. Look, we have to get out of here! Stefano DiMera is after you now!'

Eve's eyes widened.

'Oh God, Julian! What did I stumble in to here? I'm so sorry to have pulled you into my mess, again!'

'Nonsense! And I would've been pulled into this whether you wanted me here or not! I would've never let you marry Tony DiMera, much less let him touch you. Now, we have to get out of here first, then call the authorities.'

Eve nodded. Julian grabbed her hand, and began to open the front door, when he stopped suddenly, turned back around and pulled Eve into a passionate kiss! Eve threw her arms around him, returning his kiss and embrace. Julian was the first to let go.

'When this is over, I want to know where you want to go on our honeymoon!'

Eve smiled.

'Uh, I think that's a bit premature, Julian. I'm still married and so are you and...'

She stopped. Julian was looking at something behind her. She turned quickly and saw the two thugs advancing upon them. Julian pulled her into his arms.

The thugs smiled.

'If the two of you hadn't been playing kissy face there, we might have missed you.' the first thug said.

'What is it that you want?' Julian demanded to know. Eve was shaking.

'You're going to join the others, Crane! You, Dr. Russell, will be joining Count Tony DiMera in an undisclosed location. After all, you can't expect him to get better if he doesn't have the woman he loves, by his side.'

The thugs motioned with their guns, for Julian and Eve to go down the same hallway that Austin, Teresa and Rebecca had just walked through.

****

Eve sat in the passenger seat of the plane, alone. She knew that Julian, Rebecca, Teresa and Austin were back in the cargo hold. She didn't like that.

The cockpit was sealed, so she didn't know who was piloting the plane. The thugs had handed them over to two men wearing Jerry Springer masks. Eve was shoved into a passenger seat. The others were taken to the cargo hold.

During the trip there, in a van, Eve had watched as Teresa was comforted by the young man she had seen earlier. She found herself happy to see Teresa with someone else, and not pining for Ethan Winthrop.

Rebecca had begun blubbering as well. Eve had nodded at Julian, who comforted her. Only Eve felt strangely calm.

When Teresa had asked her what happened to her in the van, one of the thugs screamed at her to be quiet. After that, the only sounds were the soft cries coming from Teresa and Rebecca.

Eve stared out into the clouds. She would be where Tony was. Tony DiMera. Stefano DiMera. She shook her head. What a mess she had gotten herself and everyone else, in to!

And for Tony to go to such lengths to keep her by his side. God, enlisting the help of his criminal father...this seemed ten times worse than the seemingly private hell her sister Liz had put her through.

Her thoughts then went to Whitney and Simone. God, they had to have suffered terribly, thinking that she was dead! And T.C.? Liz and him were probably engaged by now!

As Eve thought along those lines, she heard a scream! Eve jumped up and opened the door to the cargo hold.

She saw Julian, Austin and Teresa. They all appeared to be wearing parachutes. Where was Rebecca? Eve then noticed that the plane door was open! Good Lord! Had Rebecca fallen from the plane? Or worse yet, been thrown?

The two men with the Jerry Springer masks, were trying to push Austin and Teresa from the plane! Eve saw Julian stand up and pull out a gun! Eve gasped! Where did he get that from?

'AUSTIN! AUSTIN!' Teresa screamed, as she was finally picked up and thrown from the plane. Julian managed to shoot the Jerry Springer that threw Teresa from the plane, but not in time to save her. That Jerry Springer fell from the plane as well, after getting shot in the chest. Julian then turned and tried to help Austin, but that Jerry Springer, turned away from Austin and began grappling with Julian for the gun. Austin jumped out of the plane after Teresa!

Eve hurried in, looking around for anything to help Julian. Her eyes fell upon some sort of ax, and she picked it up, hurrying over towards Julian and the last Jerry Springer.

Julian was closest to the edge. The Jerry Springer had his back to Eve. Eve slammed the ax into the Jerry Springer's back! The force of the blow sent Julian reeling backward out of the plane!

Eve screamed, then ran and jumped out of the plane after Julian, and unfortunately, without a parachute.

PART 2 of the Tragic Accident: Island of Passion

Part 2 of this saga, soon to be posted this weekend, deals with all members of Harmony and Salem, that were shoved from the mysterious airplane, living life on a remote island, under the watchful eye of Stefano DiMera. Meanwhile, the residents of Harmony and Salem, have to work together if they ever want to see their loved ones again!