Chapter 6
Alistair warns Julian. Eve makes a deal with Stefano.
Eve and Lexie sat on opposite parts of the drawing room, with one of the guards watching their every move.
T.C. had been taken away to one of Stefano's personal dentists. Hopefully, T.C. would have a replacement tooth by the morning.
Julian and Stefano had disappeared. And Eve was worried about Julian.
Lexie fingered her hair, which just a few minutes ago, had been locked painfully in Eve's hands. She glared over at her.
'You didn't have to trip us!' she hissed. The guard gave her a look.
'And you didn't have to bring T.C. in here!' Eve shot back, eyeing the guard, who gave her a warning look.
Lexie looked away. She knew Eve had a point. And she felt responsible for T.C.'s now broken tooth. If she had just left him in that locked room, none of this would have happened.
'Who is Liz?' Lexie asked, and began inching closer to where Eve was sitting. The guard moved towards her. Lexie held her hands up.
'I'm not going to do anything, I swear!'
'If I have to break up another fight between the two of you, your father will not be pleased.' the guard warned.
Lexie nodded.
'I know. You won't have to.'
The guard stood still, as Lexie made her way next to Eve on the couch, and sat down beside her.
'Who is Liz?' Lexie asked again.
Eve eyed her.
'I suppose you should know, if you plan to be in T.C.'s life.'
'Eve, I'm married to a wonderful man. T.C. and I aren't planning on running off together.'
'I wasn't planning on being with Julian, Lexie, until I saw T.C. and Liz, who is my younger sister, sleeping together.'
Lexie looked away quickly. T.C. had betrayed his wife by sleeping with her sister?
'T.C. wouldn't do that.' she answered.
Eve stood up and looked down at her.
'Whatever, Lexie. But I know my sister, Abe, and what I see before my very eyes. You care for my husband. Abe thinks you've been lying around here doing nothing, when you could've been persuading your father to let us go. Your husband was right.'
Lexie slowly began to stand up. The guard moved closer to them.
'And my sister,' Eve finished, 'will eat you alive when she realizes that you are impeding her goal to become Mrs. T.C. Russell.'
'I love Abe!' Lexie reiterated.
'And T.C. has no feelings for you whatsoever?'
'What do you care, Eve? Your practically Mrs. Julian Crane already!'
Eve turned away from her and looked at the guard. How long was Julian's meeting with Stefano going to take?
The doors to the drawing room opened, and a guard escorted Celeste into the room. Lexie ran to her and hugged her. Celeste returned the embrace, then let of of her quickly, and walked over to Eve. Lexie looked a little surprised.
'Eve, what is going on?'
'Oh, Celeste! Julian has disappeared with Stefano...I haven't seen Rebecca...'
'Rebecca is back at the camp.' Celeste said.
'Really? Why? Did she say anything?'
Celeste sniffed.
'She claimed that Stefano made a pass at her, and when she refused him, he sent her back to camp.'
Eve eyed her.
'But you don't believe that, do you?'
Celeste shrugged and moved to sit down on the sofa. Eve joined her. Lexie still stood, unable to believe how her mother had just practically ignored her so that she could talk to Eve!
'She returned to the camp crying...John and Marlena are comforting her now...but I know Stefano, Eve.'
'And Rebecca is not his type or something?' Eve asked.
'No, it's not that. If Rebecca had really turned down a pass made by Stefano, she wouldn't have been allowed to return to the camp.'
'Oh, wait a minute!' Lexie interrupted. 'I know Father has his problems, but if he did anything to Rebecca, he was only teasing or having a little fun! He wants Marlena and that's that!'
Eve gasped! Celeste stood up and faced her daughter.
'And you know this, how?' she asked.
Lexie took a deep breath.
'Father told me that he wants to invite her up here to stay. I begged him not to, but I really don't have any influence over him.'
Celeste looked away. Lexie could tell her mother was clearly disappointed in her.
Eve shook her head.
'We have to do something! We can't allow him to kidnap Marlena again!'
'He's just inviting her to stay...'
'Oh right, Lexie!' Eve snapped. 'Do you really think that if, or when, he decides to let us go, that Marlena will be included?! We have to do something!'
Celeste looked around. The guard that had been standing here had left. He must've heard everything. She looked at Eve and Lexie.
'Where is Stefano now?' she asked them.
'He's with Julian. And I am so frightened for him!' Eve cried. Celeste walked over to her and hugged her. Hurt, Lexie turned and left the room. She decided to check up on her son.
****
Julian tried to hide his boredom, as Stefano reminisced about some business deal he had made with Alistair, years ago. He finally cleared his throat.
'Look, the trip down memory lane was nice, but I want to know if, or when, you intend to release us.'
Stefano smiled.
'Because of your deadline? The one that your son and you were both given by Alistair?'
Julian gave him a hard look.
'And you know this how?'
'I know everything, Julian.'
'Is my father in on this thing as well?' Julian asked, wondering if it would really surprise him if the answer turned out to be yes?
Stefano turned and walked over to a desk. He then touched a button on the phone.
'Have you been listening?' Stefano asked.
'Yes, yes I have.' Alistair Crane's voice boomed from beyond the speaker phone.
Julian's jaw tightened. Stefano walked up to him.
'I'm going to leave the two of you alone, while I have a talk with Eve. Excuse me.' he said, before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
'What is the meaning of this, Father?!' Julian hissed.
'My, Julian, you sound almost angry?'
'How could you even think of joining up with that thug, DiMera?!'
'Sometimes, 'thugs' serve a purpose, my boy. Now, let's get to the heart of the matter.'
'The 'heart' as you put it, is that you're guilty of kidnapping and God knows what else! All of this was to keep me from marrying Eve?'
'My God! How did I ever sire such a stupid son?! This is more than just about you! There's the Martin Fitzgerald angle and...'
Julian's eyes widened!
'What the hell does that mean? Is that why Pilar is here?'
'Let's just say that both DiMera and I, decided that Pilar should know where her husband is, once and for all.'
Julian shook his head slightly.
'Why do you say it like that?'
'Because once Pilar learns of his fate, she will leave this island with her tail between her legs. Believe me, her husband is no one's prisoner.'
Julian lifted a brow again. That almost sounded fascinating. Almost.
'Is DiMera letting us go or what?' he demanded.
'That depends on you, Julian.'
'What the hell does that mean, Father?' Julian didn't like the smell of this whole thing! He had walked into a trap that he had not seen coming.
'On how much you love Dr. Russell.' Alistair answered, somewhat snidely.
'Just tell me, Father!' Julian almost screamed.
'Alright, alright, son. Take a look to your left. What do you see?'
Julian looked to his left. It was a TV/VCR combination set.
'A TV and a VCR. What does that have to do with anything?'
'There's a tape inside, son. Walk over to it and play it.'
With monumental dread, Julian walked over to the VCR and did as he was told.
****
Stefano stood outside the door that Eve and Celeste were in. He almost felt sorry for Julian Crane. For he himself, had seen what was on that tape. Stefano suspected that if Julian reacted the way he, and Alistair knew that he would, then Eve and Julian, would be over as a couple, by tonight.
Stefano opened the door to the room. Celeste and Eve were sitting on a couch. They both stood. Stefano smiled at Celeste.
'Hello, dear.'
Celeste did not smile back.
'Stefano, what is the meaning of all of this? Release all of us!'
Stefano walked up to Celeste and pinched her cheek. She slapped his hand away. Eve backed up.
'We will talk later.' he said to her. He then nodded to a guard, who had come back into the room.
'Escort Ms. Perrault to my private dining room.'
Celeste looked at Eve, then back at Stefano.
'What are you going to do, Stefano?'
Stefano shook his head.
'Wait in the diningroom and all will be clear.'
'Tell us now!'
Stefano grinned at her.
'Darling, if you are so anxious to know of my plans, then why don't you tap into your 'psychic abilities' or something? Then you would know what I was up to.'
'You sonofabitch!'
'Tsk, tsk, language! And in front of a guest. I'm glad that our daughter was not in the room, to hear her mother speak to her father in such a disrespectful manner!'
He then nodded quickly, and the guard grabbed Celeste's arm. She wrenched it away, giving Eve one last glance, before walking out of the room on her own accord. Stefano then closed the door behind them, and turned towards Eve.
'Eve, how nice to finally meet you, face to face. The woman that has captured my Anthony's heart. How has your stay been?'
Eve gaped at him!
'Where is Julian?'
'Oh, he'll be rejoining us in a minute. I actually thought you might want to hear news of Tony?'
Eve peered at him.
'Is he out of his coma?'
Stefano reached for her hands. Eve instinctively backed away.
'Yes' Stefano answered. 'He is. He also remembers nothing of his former boorish behavior.'
''Former boorish behavior'? You mean when he lied to me about who I really was? When he began kidnapping innocent people, just because THEY knew who I really was?'
'My dear, my son is not like me. He would not have done any of this, unless he was not in his right mind.'
'If you knew he was sick, then why did you finish his job for him? Why didn't you try and help the people that were already kidnapped?'
'Eve dear, I have! I made sure they were comfortable and clean. That they had enough to eat and drink...that they had privacy, a place to sleep...'
'Oh cut the crap! What is it that Tony wants?'
Stefano licked his lips.
'To see you. To beg for your forgiveness. He knows that you love Julian Crane. But he doesn't want you to hate him. Please...for his sake...for me...go to him.'
Eve squinted at him.
'And what do I get out of this?'
Stefano raised a brow.
'You get to put an end to unresolved feelings. I know you loved my Tony, even if it was for a brief time. I know that you were hurt when you found out the truth. Please, let my son apologize to you...in person. Maybe a friendship could be forged?'
Eve didn't know what to say. There had been a kind, gentle side to Tony, that Eve had found impossible to believe, had been fake. Still...
'If I go to Tony, will you let the others go?'
Stefano pretended to think about it. He then nodded.
'Of course, dear. I'd have no reason to keep anyone else here.'
Eve walked up to him.
'I will go to Tony, on two conditions: everyone is freed, meaning you don't try to keep Marlena Black here, and second, if you know anything about Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald's husband, you tell her. And I won't go to your son until I am assured of both of those things.'
Stefano kept a poker face. In order to pretend to keep his word, he would have to work quickly. He nodded.
'How about this: I will bring Tony here. And that will not be done, until everyone has left. That means that you agree to stay behind...without Julian.'
Eve looked away. This could be some sort of trick, she supposed. But Eve realized it was worth the risk, if it would free everyone...Julian included. They were all here because of her anyway.
Eve turned back to Stefano.
'Agreed.'
'I will get the ball rolling then. You say your goodbyes to everyone, then a guard will escort you back here, to wait for Tony.'
Eve shook her head.
'I'm not coming back here, until I see that everyone is being freed. Everyone.'
Stefano nodded his assent. Eve turned away.
Stefano smiled, then turned and left the room. He closed the door behind him and stood out in the hallway. It was time to speed some things up.
****
Julian ripped the video out of the player and smashed it onto the ground! Alistair laughed from the speaker phone.
'I have plenty more where that came from, son. So, let me summarize what will happen if you don't agree to end this ludicrous fantasy of making your whore a Crane: I will send that tape to the authorities in Harmony, whom I own. Eve will go to prison...and believe me Julian, there is not a defense attorney around, that you will be able to buy, that will get her off!
Julian closed his eyes. Somehow, someway, Alistair had managed to obtain tapes of Eve not only burning down the Blue Note Jazz lounge, that Liz had owned, but of Orville Perkins apartment, as well!
'Son, the woman is an arsonist! Masquerading around Harmony has a good samaritan doctor! My God! After one argument, she could burn down the mansion!'
'What about Fox?' Julian asked in a dull tone.
'I'm not that worried about him. Ever since Whitney Russell found out about your kidnappings, Fox's progress with her has regressed. He wouldn't have met my deadline anyway. That, and the Harris lad has shown more spunk than I would've given him credit for! Fox doesn't stand a chance.'
Julian said nothing. A plan was forming. One that could get Eve out of her situation. A lawyer that Alistair probably couldn't buy. One that could keep his beloved from going to prison.
'I'll think about it, Father.' he said.
Alistair was thrown, and sounded like it!
'What do you mean by that? There's nothing to think about! Either you give this woman up, or, she will go to....'
There was a loud sound from Alistair's end, like a firecracker! Julian, who had not been looking at the phone, looked over there quickly.
'Father? Father?' Julian asked, only mildly concerned. He then turned and walked towards the door of the room. He opened it quickly. Stefano was coming his way.
'I think someone shot, Father.' Julian said matter of factly. Stefano's eyes widened, and he hurried into the room. Two guards followed after him.
'Alistair! Alistair!' Stefano's voice boomed. Getting no response, he turned to the guards.
'Have some of our people check out what's happened with Alistair Crane...be very discreet.'
The guards nodded and left the room. Stefano sighed.
'If your father has been killed, then all of your problems are over, aren't they?'
Julian said nothing. A guard walked into the room.
'Eve and you are going back down to the huts. I think you both will have a lot to discuss...in a short amount of time.'
'What does that mean?' Julian snapped, more unnerved than ever.
'All in due time.' was all Stefano said. The guard nodded to Julian, and he left the room with him. Stefano looked at the speaker phone.
****
HARMONY
Luis was more than a little surprised, when someone from FedEx, delivered two packages to his home, after 7:00 P.M.. Somehow, he didn't think they worked that late.
Both were about the same size. Luis sipped a bottle of beer, then tossed them down onto a nearby table. Sheridan pulled open a sliding glass door and stepped into the room.
'Hey! Who is at the door?' she asked, walking up to him and rubbing his back.
'FedEx guy. Kind of late for him to be coming around.'
Sheridan nodded. Then her eye caught one of the packages. She reached down and snatched it up!
'What?' Luis asked.
'That's my father's handwriting!'
'Alistair?' Luis took the package from her. It had no return address.
'I doubt very much this is a belated wedding present.' Luis sniffed, ripping it open. It turned out to be a VHS tape.
'Oh, God, I don't even want to know what it is.' Sheridan said with disgust. 'Let's just leave it here and go back out to Bo and Hope.'
Luis had ended up throwing an impromptu barbecue for his colleagues from Salem. In the morning, he was headed back to Salem with them, to interrogate Julian's maid, Hilda Duff.
'Sheridan, I have to see what this is. This other thing that came as well, could be from your father too.'
Sheridan snatched it up and stared at it.
'That does not look like his writing. But who knows, maybe a secretary addressed that one. Whatever it is, I don't want to know!'
Sheridan then turned and walked back out on to the patio, sliding the glass door closed, hard. Luis stared after her.
He was sorry he couldn't just walk away like she could. But there was something about his wife's father, and brother, that just ate at him! It was probably because he never fully believed, that they didn't have anything to do with the disappearance of his father, Martin Fitzgerald.
Luis looked back at the glass door, then walked over to the TV. He turned it on, then put the tape in. He pressed play, then stood back to observe. What he saw next, caused his jaw to drop.
It was a tape of Eve Russell, throwing gasoline around a building. Luis looked back at the glass door, to see if anyone was coming, then turned back to the TV. He squinted. There was a sign on the building. It read 'The Blue Note Jazz Club'.
The Blue Note? That was that damned club that Liz Sanbourne had briefly owned, wasn't it? Teresa, Whitney, Fox and Chad, had almost been killed in the blaze! Sam had told him that Julian Crane had admitted to some sort of negligence! If Julian Crane was responsible, then why was he looking at Eve, clearly setting fire to the place! And with people inside!
Luis stopped the tape and pulled the tape out. What was he going to do? He had to worry about the kidnapping of his sister, mother and everyone else, not some old crime! Luis walked over to the envelope in which it had come in, and began to shove it back inside. But he couldn't. Something was blocking its way.
Luis pulled the tape out and peered into the envelope. There was a note inside. Luis pulled it out and opened the folded paper. It was from Alistair Crane. It read that the tape would show that Dr. Eve Russell was a two time arsonist, and that if Luis and Sam did not look into the crimes, Alistair would go above their heads.
Luis looked at the tape. Alistair was saying that Eve had set another fire as well? And that it was on this same tape? Great!
Luis ripped up the note and flung the tape aside, just as Bo Brady came in off of the patio, sipping a beer.
'Hey!'
Luis jumped and turned around.
'Hey Bo!'
Bo walked towards him.
'Sheridan's pretty upset out there, though she's trying her best to hide it. Hope is with her.'
Luis ran a hand through his hair.
'Her bastard father sent a tape of someone we know, committing a crime! I'm not going to have any choice but to pull this person in. As if I don't have enough to worry about!'
Luis then snatched the other package up. Frowning, Bo moved towards him.
'What's that? Another package from your father-in-law?'
Luis shrugged.
'Sheridan didn't recognize it as his writing. But they did come together.'
Bo suddenly took the envelope from him. He then cursed!
'What?' Luis asked, beginning to panic.
'This is Stefano DiMera's handwriting.' Bo confirmed. Luis took it from him and tore open the envelope. Another tape was inside! Luis held it up.
'I think you'd better go and get Hope.' he said.
****
As soon as Julian and Eve returned to their hut, they were in one another's arms. Julian then set Eve away from him.
'Are you alright? Did he harm you in any way?'
Eve shook her head, wondering how she was going to tell him about the decision she had made?
'No, I'm fine. How about you?'
Julian pulled on her hand. Together they sat down on the bed.
'Eve, we have some decisions to make.'
Julian looked so serious! Eve reached out and touched his hair.
'It's alright. Just tell me.' she coaxed him.
Julian cleared his throat.
'Father is working in collusion with Stefano DiMera.'
Eve's expression did not change.
'Oh, well why am I not surprised? Stefano told you this when you were alone?'
'No. Father called.'
'Oh.' Eve got up from the bed and walked over to the window of the hut. No one else appeared to be in their huts, from what she could see.
Julian stood up as well. Eve's back was to him.
'Eve, Father has tapes of you not only burning down the Blue Note, but Orville Perkins apartment as well.'
Eve turned back around. She didn't look particularly horrified. Julian took advantage of her silence to get everything out.
'He will not do anything with them, if I give you up. If I don't, he will send copies to the authorities and make sure you go to prison. Anyway, as Father was asking me for my answer, I believe someone shot him.'
Now, Eve looked shocked!
'Good God! Was he conscious? I mean, could you tell anything at all over the phone?'
'Eve, I really don't care. If he's dead, our problems are over...with the exception of finding all of the copies of that tape and destroying them. And if, somehow, a tape does fall into the wrong hands, well, I know of a fabulous lawyer that will help us.'
Eve gave him a soft smile, then walked back over to him and reached out to touch his cheek.
'Stefano has agreed to free everyone, if I meet with Tony. I agreed to it.'
There was a long silence. Julian didn't think he had heard her right.
'What?'
Eve reached for his hands, but he snatched them away!
'Julian!'
'How could you have agreed to something like that?! We will never see you again! I will never see you again!'
'Please calm down...'
''Calm down?' Tell me, Eve, what does Tony want to 'meet with you' about?!'
Eve took a deep breath.
'He wants to apologize for what he has done...Julian, I know this could be a set up, but don't you see this is the only way?Simone and Whitney need T.C.. Teresa and Austin and the others, shouldn't be here!
'And you should?'
'No! But that's the deal! I'm hoping it's above board, and that all I have to do is listen to Tony's apology and then I'll be free to leave. But, I doubt it. Oh, and he has agreed to tell Pilar what happened to her husband.'
'Oh for God's sakes, Eve! Martin Fitzgerald ran out on Pilar and his four children! That's what happened!'
'We don't know that!'
'Father practically hinted at it! Pilar is not a reason to go along with this depraved plan! We will all stay here until we can find a way to outwit DiMera!'
'No, Julian.'
'Then I will stay here with you!'
Eve shook her head. She knew she was going to cry any minute. In fact, the minute was now. She began to sob.
'Julian, be good about this...I will find a way back...to you...to my children...I can do this if you'd just be good...'
Julian pulled her to him and began to kiss her, passionately...hungrily. He then stopped and looked into her eyes. Eve stared at him, unblinking, tears still falling down her cheeks. Julian then began kissing her again, moving from her mouth, to her neck.
'Tell me Eve...tell me you could leave this...what we have...tell me that Tony DiMera could make you feel like this...'
Eve began to cry again, as she threw her arms around him, not caring that her dress was coming off. She practically snatched Julian's tie off of his collar, and soon, with his help, the rest of his clothes came off as well. The lovely pink gown, and the tuxedo attire, lay on a heap on the floor of the hut.
They didn't make it to the bed, as Julian made passionate and angry love to Eve, as if he could will her to stay with him.
Eve, for her part, responded to his thrusts eagerly, and yet gently. Afterwards, when she thought about that night, that moment, she realized she had been trying to soothe him as well, as if to tell him she would be alright without him.
After their lovemaking, Julian and Eve lay on the floor of the hut, not caring if someone came along and peeked in their window. Julian's head lay on her chest, and she felt his breathing finally slow. He soon fell asleep. Eve's tears started up again. Now was the perfect time to leave him.
****
Stefano opened the dining room doors to find Celeste sitting at the head of the table, as if she were some sort of queen. He smiled.
'Ah Celeste.'
Celeste stood up.
'I take it you won't be letting us go?'
'Oh, on the contrary, everyone is free to go. I will have a boat here within two hours. I figured no one would want to fly on one of my planes again.'
Celeste began walking towards him, her mouth open.
'Everyone?'
'Well, Eve will be staying behind.'
'Stefano, no!'
'It was her choice, Celeste! Really! Besides, her and Tony need to work some things out.'
Celeste glared at him.
'Tony is better then? He will be coming here?'
'My poor son was not in his right mind. Surely, you noticed the changes in his behavior?'
'Actually,' Celeste said dryly, 'I really couldn't tell.'
'Well, whatever. I called you here because I was just a bit curious about something.'
'What is it, Stefano? And make it quick. If we really are leaving, then I want to be with the others.'
'Oh, yes, of course, my dear. I'll just get to the point. Why did you pretend that you didn't know Martin Fitzgerald?'
Celeste blinked.
'I don't know what you mean...'
'Oh yes, of course you do. When Pilar showed you that picture of her husband, you pretended as if you didn't know him. Why? I mean, you really shouldn't be ashamed...'
'Can I leave?'
Stefano stepped out of her way so she could pass him. But before she reached the door, his voice stopped her.
'Eve asked me to make sure that Pilar knew what happened to her husband. Surely, you wouldn't want me to break my promise to Eve, or lie to Pilar, would you?'
Celeste turned around to face him.
'You want something. What is it?'
Stefano pulled out a chair at the table. Celeste reluctantly came back into the room and sat down in it.
Alistair warns Julian. Eve makes a deal with Stefano.
Eve and Lexie sat on opposite parts of the drawing room, with one of the guards watching their every move.
T.C. had been taken away to one of Stefano's personal dentists. Hopefully, T.C. would have a replacement tooth by the morning.
Julian and Stefano had disappeared. And Eve was worried about Julian.
Lexie fingered her hair, which just a few minutes ago, had been locked painfully in Eve's hands. She glared over at her.
'You didn't have to trip us!' she hissed. The guard gave her a look.
'And you didn't have to bring T.C. in here!' Eve shot back, eyeing the guard, who gave her a warning look.
Lexie looked away. She knew Eve had a point. And she felt responsible for T.C.'s now broken tooth. If she had just left him in that locked room, none of this would have happened.
'Who is Liz?' Lexie asked, and began inching closer to where Eve was sitting. The guard moved towards her. Lexie held her hands up.
'I'm not going to do anything, I swear!'
'If I have to break up another fight between the two of you, your father will not be pleased.' the guard warned.
Lexie nodded.
'I know. You won't have to.'
The guard stood still, as Lexie made her way next to Eve on the couch, and sat down beside her.
'Who is Liz?' Lexie asked again.
Eve eyed her.
'I suppose you should know, if you plan to be in T.C.'s life.'
'Eve, I'm married to a wonderful man. T.C. and I aren't planning on running off together.'
'I wasn't planning on being with Julian, Lexie, until I saw T.C. and Liz, who is my younger sister, sleeping together.'
Lexie looked away quickly. T.C. had betrayed his wife by sleeping with her sister?
'T.C. wouldn't do that.' she answered.
Eve stood up and looked down at her.
'Whatever, Lexie. But I know my sister, Abe, and what I see before my very eyes. You care for my husband. Abe thinks you've been lying around here doing nothing, when you could've been persuading your father to let us go. Your husband was right.'
Lexie slowly began to stand up. The guard moved closer to them.
'And my sister,' Eve finished, 'will eat you alive when she realizes that you are impeding her goal to become Mrs. T.C. Russell.'
'I love Abe!' Lexie reiterated.
'And T.C. has no feelings for you whatsoever?'
'What do you care, Eve? Your practically Mrs. Julian Crane already!'
Eve turned away from her and looked at the guard. How long was Julian's meeting with Stefano going to take?
The doors to the drawing room opened, and a guard escorted Celeste into the room. Lexie ran to her and hugged her. Celeste returned the embrace, then let of of her quickly, and walked over to Eve. Lexie looked a little surprised.
'Eve, what is going on?'
'Oh, Celeste! Julian has disappeared with Stefano...I haven't seen Rebecca...'
'Rebecca is back at the camp.' Celeste said.
'Really? Why? Did she say anything?'
Celeste sniffed.
'She claimed that Stefano made a pass at her, and when she refused him, he sent her back to camp.'
Eve eyed her.
'But you don't believe that, do you?'
Celeste shrugged and moved to sit down on the sofa. Eve joined her. Lexie still stood, unable to believe how her mother had just practically ignored her so that she could talk to Eve!
'She returned to the camp crying...John and Marlena are comforting her now...but I know Stefano, Eve.'
'And Rebecca is not his type or something?' Eve asked.
'No, it's not that. If Rebecca had really turned down a pass made by Stefano, she wouldn't have been allowed to return to the camp.'
'Oh, wait a minute!' Lexie interrupted. 'I know Father has his problems, but if he did anything to Rebecca, he was only teasing or having a little fun! He wants Marlena and that's that!'
Eve gasped! Celeste stood up and faced her daughter.
'And you know this, how?' she asked.
Lexie took a deep breath.
'Father told me that he wants to invite her up here to stay. I begged him not to, but I really don't have any influence over him.'
Celeste looked away. Lexie could tell her mother was clearly disappointed in her.
Eve shook her head.
'We have to do something! We can't allow him to kidnap Marlena again!'
'He's just inviting her to stay...'
'Oh right, Lexie!' Eve snapped. 'Do you really think that if, or when, he decides to let us go, that Marlena will be included?! We have to do something!'
Celeste looked around. The guard that had been standing here had left. He must've heard everything. She looked at Eve and Lexie.
'Where is Stefano now?' she asked them.
'He's with Julian. And I am so frightened for him!' Eve cried. Celeste walked over to her and hugged her. Hurt, Lexie turned and left the room. She decided to check up on her son.
****
Julian tried to hide his boredom, as Stefano reminisced about some business deal he had made with Alistair, years ago. He finally cleared his throat.
'Look, the trip down memory lane was nice, but I want to know if, or when, you intend to release us.'
Stefano smiled.
'Because of your deadline? The one that your son and you were both given by Alistair?'
Julian gave him a hard look.
'And you know this how?'
'I know everything, Julian.'
'Is my father in on this thing as well?' Julian asked, wondering if it would really surprise him if the answer turned out to be yes?
Stefano turned and walked over to a desk. He then touched a button on the phone.
'Have you been listening?' Stefano asked.
'Yes, yes I have.' Alistair Crane's voice boomed from beyond the speaker phone.
Julian's jaw tightened. Stefano walked up to him.
'I'm going to leave the two of you alone, while I have a talk with Eve. Excuse me.' he said, before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
'What is the meaning of this, Father?!' Julian hissed.
'My, Julian, you sound almost angry?'
'How could you even think of joining up with that thug, DiMera?!'
'Sometimes, 'thugs' serve a purpose, my boy. Now, let's get to the heart of the matter.'
'The 'heart' as you put it, is that you're guilty of kidnapping and God knows what else! All of this was to keep me from marrying Eve?'
'My God! How did I ever sire such a stupid son?! This is more than just about you! There's the Martin Fitzgerald angle and...'
Julian's eyes widened!
'What the hell does that mean? Is that why Pilar is here?'
'Let's just say that both DiMera and I, decided that Pilar should know where her husband is, once and for all.'
Julian shook his head slightly.
'Why do you say it like that?'
'Because once Pilar learns of his fate, she will leave this island with her tail between her legs. Believe me, her husband is no one's prisoner.'
Julian lifted a brow again. That almost sounded fascinating. Almost.
'Is DiMera letting us go or what?' he demanded.
'That depends on you, Julian.'
'What the hell does that mean, Father?' Julian didn't like the smell of this whole thing! He had walked into a trap that he had not seen coming.
'On how much you love Dr. Russell.' Alistair answered, somewhat snidely.
'Just tell me, Father!' Julian almost screamed.
'Alright, alright, son. Take a look to your left. What do you see?'
Julian looked to his left. It was a TV/VCR combination set.
'A TV and a VCR. What does that have to do with anything?'
'There's a tape inside, son. Walk over to it and play it.'
With monumental dread, Julian walked over to the VCR and did as he was told.
****
Stefano stood outside the door that Eve and Celeste were in. He almost felt sorry for Julian Crane. For he himself, had seen what was on that tape. Stefano suspected that if Julian reacted the way he, and Alistair knew that he would, then Eve and Julian, would be over as a couple, by tonight.
Stefano opened the door to the room. Celeste and Eve were sitting on a couch. They both stood. Stefano smiled at Celeste.
'Hello, dear.'
Celeste did not smile back.
'Stefano, what is the meaning of all of this? Release all of us!'
Stefano walked up to Celeste and pinched her cheek. She slapped his hand away. Eve backed up.
'We will talk later.' he said to her. He then nodded to a guard, who had come back into the room.
'Escort Ms. Perrault to my private dining room.'
Celeste looked at Eve, then back at Stefano.
'What are you going to do, Stefano?'
Stefano shook his head.
'Wait in the diningroom and all will be clear.'
'Tell us now!'
Stefano grinned at her.
'Darling, if you are so anxious to know of my plans, then why don't you tap into your 'psychic abilities' or something? Then you would know what I was up to.'
'You sonofabitch!'
'Tsk, tsk, language! And in front of a guest. I'm glad that our daughter was not in the room, to hear her mother speak to her father in such a disrespectful manner!'
He then nodded quickly, and the guard grabbed Celeste's arm. She wrenched it away, giving Eve one last glance, before walking out of the room on her own accord. Stefano then closed the door behind them, and turned towards Eve.
'Eve, how nice to finally meet you, face to face. The woman that has captured my Anthony's heart. How has your stay been?'
Eve gaped at him!
'Where is Julian?'
'Oh, he'll be rejoining us in a minute. I actually thought you might want to hear news of Tony?'
Eve peered at him.
'Is he out of his coma?'
Stefano reached for her hands. Eve instinctively backed away.
'Yes' Stefano answered. 'He is. He also remembers nothing of his former boorish behavior.'
''Former boorish behavior'? You mean when he lied to me about who I really was? When he began kidnapping innocent people, just because THEY knew who I really was?'
'My dear, my son is not like me. He would not have done any of this, unless he was not in his right mind.'
'If you knew he was sick, then why did you finish his job for him? Why didn't you try and help the people that were already kidnapped?'
'Eve dear, I have! I made sure they were comfortable and clean. That they had enough to eat and drink...that they had privacy, a place to sleep...'
'Oh cut the crap! What is it that Tony wants?'
Stefano licked his lips.
'To see you. To beg for your forgiveness. He knows that you love Julian Crane. But he doesn't want you to hate him. Please...for his sake...for me...go to him.'
Eve squinted at him.
'And what do I get out of this?'
Stefano raised a brow.
'You get to put an end to unresolved feelings. I know you loved my Tony, even if it was for a brief time. I know that you were hurt when you found out the truth. Please, let my son apologize to you...in person. Maybe a friendship could be forged?'
Eve didn't know what to say. There had been a kind, gentle side to Tony, that Eve had found impossible to believe, had been fake. Still...
'If I go to Tony, will you let the others go?'
Stefano pretended to think about it. He then nodded.
'Of course, dear. I'd have no reason to keep anyone else here.'
Eve walked up to him.
'I will go to Tony, on two conditions: everyone is freed, meaning you don't try to keep Marlena Black here, and second, if you know anything about Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald's husband, you tell her. And I won't go to your son until I am assured of both of those things.'
Stefano kept a poker face. In order to pretend to keep his word, he would have to work quickly. He nodded.
'How about this: I will bring Tony here. And that will not be done, until everyone has left. That means that you agree to stay behind...without Julian.'
Eve looked away. This could be some sort of trick, she supposed. But Eve realized it was worth the risk, if it would free everyone...Julian included. They were all here because of her anyway.
Eve turned back to Stefano.
'Agreed.'
'I will get the ball rolling then. You say your goodbyes to everyone, then a guard will escort you back here, to wait for Tony.'
Eve shook her head.
'I'm not coming back here, until I see that everyone is being freed. Everyone.'
Stefano nodded his assent. Eve turned away.
Stefano smiled, then turned and left the room. He closed the door behind him and stood out in the hallway. It was time to speed some things up.
****
Julian ripped the video out of the player and smashed it onto the ground! Alistair laughed from the speaker phone.
'I have plenty more where that came from, son. So, let me summarize what will happen if you don't agree to end this ludicrous fantasy of making your whore a Crane: I will send that tape to the authorities in Harmony, whom I own. Eve will go to prison...and believe me Julian, there is not a defense attorney around, that you will be able to buy, that will get her off!
Julian closed his eyes. Somehow, someway, Alistair had managed to obtain tapes of Eve not only burning down the Blue Note Jazz lounge, that Liz had owned, but of Orville Perkins apartment, as well!
'Son, the woman is an arsonist! Masquerading around Harmony has a good samaritan doctor! My God! After one argument, she could burn down the mansion!'
'What about Fox?' Julian asked in a dull tone.
'I'm not that worried about him. Ever since Whitney Russell found out about your kidnappings, Fox's progress with her has regressed. He wouldn't have met my deadline anyway. That, and the Harris lad has shown more spunk than I would've given him credit for! Fox doesn't stand a chance.'
Julian said nothing. A plan was forming. One that could get Eve out of her situation. A lawyer that Alistair probably couldn't buy. One that could keep his beloved from going to prison.
'I'll think about it, Father.' he said.
Alistair was thrown, and sounded like it!
'What do you mean by that? There's nothing to think about! Either you give this woman up, or, she will go to....'
There was a loud sound from Alistair's end, like a firecracker! Julian, who had not been looking at the phone, looked over there quickly.
'Father? Father?' Julian asked, only mildly concerned. He then turned and walked towards the door of the room. He opened it quickly. Stefano was coming his way.
'I think someone shot, Father.' Julian said matter of factly. Stefano's eyes widened, and he hurried into the room. Two guards followed after him.
'Alistair! Alistair!' Stefano's voice boomed. Getting no response, he turned to the guards.
'Have some of our people check out what's happened with Alistair Crane...be very discreet.'
The guards nodded and left the room. Stefano sighed.
'If your father has been killed, then all of your problems are over, aren't they?'
Julian said nothing. A guard walked into the room.
'Eve and you are going back down to the huts. I think you both will have a lot to discuss...in a short amount of time.'
'What does that mean?' Julian snapped, more unnerved than ever.
'All in due time.' was all Stefano said. The guard nodded to Julian, and he left the room with him. Stefano looked at the speaker phone.
****
HARMONY
Luis was more than a little surprised, when someone from FedEx, delivered two packages to his home, after 7:00 P.M.. Somehow, he didn't think they worked that late.
Both were about the same size. Luis sipped a bottle of beer, then tossed them down onto a nearby table. Sheridan pulled open a sliding glass door and stepped into the room.
'Hey! Who is at the door?' she asked, walking up to him and rubbing his back.
'FedEx guy. Kind of late for him to be coming around.'
Sheridan nodded. Then her eye caught one of the packages. She reached down and snatched it up!
'What?' Luis asked.
'That's my father's handwriting!'
'Alistair?' Luis took the package from her. It had no return address.
'I doubt very much this is a belated wedding present.' Luis sniffed, ripping it open. It turned out to be a VHS tape.
'Oh, God, I don't even want to know what it is.' Sheridan said with disgust. 'Let's just leave it here and go back out to Bo and Hope.'
Luis had ended up throwing an impromptu barbecue for his colleagues from Salem. In the morning, he was headed back to Salem with them, to interrogate Julian's maid, Hilda Duff.
'Sheridan, I have to see what this is. This other thing that came as well, could be from your father too.'
Sheridan snatched it up and stared at it.
'That does not look like his writing. But who knows, maybe a secretary addressed that one. Whatever it is, I don't want to know!'
Sheridan then turned and walked back out on to the patio, sliding the glass door closed, hard. Luis stared after her.
He was sorry he couldn't just walk away like she could. But there was something about his wife's father, and brother, that just ate at him! It was probably because he never fully believed, that they didn't have anything to do with the disappearance of his father, Martin Fitzgerald.
Luis looked back at the glass door, then walked over to the TV. He turned it on, then put the tape in. He pressed play, then stood back to observe. What he saw next, caused his jaw to drop.
It was a tape of Eve Russell, throwing gasoline around a building. Luis looked back at the glass door, to see if anyone was coming, then turned back to the TV. He squinted. There was a sign on the building. It read 'The Blue Note Jazz Club'.
The Blue Note? That was that damned club that Liz Sanbourne had briefly owned, wasn't it? Teresa, Whitney, Fox and Chad, had almost been killed in the blaze! Sam had told him that Julian Crane had admitted to some sort of negligence! If Julian Crane was responsible, then why was he looking at Eve, clearly setting fire to the place! And with people inside!
Luis stopped the tape and pulled the tape out. What was he going to do? He had to worry about the kidnapping of his sister, mother and everyone else, not some old crime! Luis walked over to the envelope in which it had come in, and began to shove it back inside. But he couldn't. Something was blocking its way.
Luis pulled the tape out and peered into the envelope. There was a note inside. Luis pulled it out and opened the folded paper. It was from Alistair Crane. It read that the tape would show that Dr. Eve Russell was a two time arsonist, and that if Luis and Sam did not look into the crimes, Alistair would go above their heads.
Luis looked at the tape. Alistair was saying that Eve had set another fire as well? And that it was on this same tape? Great!
Luis ripped up the note and flung the tape aside, just as Bo Brady came in off of the patio, sipping a beer.
'Hey!'
Luis jumped and turned around.
'Hey Bo!'
Bo walked towards him.
'Sheridan's pretty upset out there, though she's trying her best to hide it. Hope is with her.'
Luis ran a hand through his hair.
'Her bastard father sent a tape of someone we know, committing a crime! I'm not going to have any choice but to pull this person in. As if I don't have enough to worry about!'
Luis then snatched the other package up. Frowning, Bo moved towards him.
'What's that? Another package from your father-in-law?'
Luis shrugged.
'Sheridan didn't recognize it as his writing. But they did come together.'
Bo suddenly took the envelope from him. He then cursed!
'What?' Luis asked, beginning to panic.
'This is Stefano DiMera's handwriting.' Bo confirmed. Luis took it from him and tore open the envelope. Another tape was inside! Luis held it up.
'I think you'd better go and get Hope.' he said.
****
As soon as Julian and Eve returned to their hut, they were in one another's arms. Julian then set Eve away from him.
'Are you alright? Did he harm you in any way?'
Eve shook her head, wondering how she was going to tell him about the decision she had made?
'No, I'm fine. How about you?'
Julian pulled on her hand. Together they sat down on the bed.
'Eve, we have some decisions to make.'
Julian looked so serious! Eve reached out and touched his hair.
'It's alright. Just tell me.' she coaxed him.
Julian cleared his throat.
'Father is working in collusion with Stefano DiMera.'
Eve's expression did not change.
'Oh, well why am I not surprised? Stefano told you this when you were alone?'
'No. Father called.'
'Oh.' Eve got up from the bed and walked over to the window of the hut. No one else appeared to be in their huts, from what she could see.
Julian stood up as well. Eve's back was to him.
'Eve, Father has tapes of you not only burning down the Blue Note, but Orville Perkins apartment as well.'
Eve turned back around. She didn't look particularly horrified. Julian took advantage of her silence to get everything out.
'He will not do anything with them, if I give you up. If I don't, he will send copies to the authorities and make sure you go to prison. Anyway, as Father was asking me for my answer, I believe someone shot him.'
Now, Eve looked shocked!
'Good God! Was he conscious? I mean, could you tell anything at all over the phone?'
'Eve, I really don't care. If he's dead, our problems are over...with the exception of finding all of the copies of that tape and destroying them. And if, somehow, a tape does fall into the wrong hands, well, I know of a fabulous lawyer that will help us.'
Eve gave him a soft smile, then walked back over to him and reached out to touch his cheek.
'Stefano has agreed to free everyone, if I meet with Tony. I agreed to it.'
There was a long silence. Julian didn't think he had heard her right.
'What?'
Eve reached for his hands, but he snatched them away!
'Julian!'
'How could you have agreed to something like that?! We will never see you again! I will never see you again!'
'Please calm down...'
''Calm down?' Tell me, Eve, what does Tony want to 'meet with you' about?!'
Eve took a deep breath.
'He wants to apologize for what he has done...Julian, I know this could be a set up, but don't you see this is the only way?Simone and Whitney need T.C.. Teresa and Austin and the others, shouldn't be here!
'And you should?'
'No! But that's the deal! I'm hoping it's above board, and that all I have to do is listen to Tony's apology and then I'll be free to leave. But, I doubt it. Oh, and he has agreed to tell Pilar what happened to her husband.'
'Oh for God's sakes, Eve! Martin Fitzgerald ran out on Pilar and his four children! That's what happened!'
'We don't know that!'
'Father practically hinted at it! Pilar is not a reason to go along with this depraved plan! We will all stay here until we can find a way to outwit DiMera!'
'No, Julian.'
'Then I will stay here with you!'
Eve shook her head. She knew she was going to cry any minute. In fact, the minute was now. She began to sob.
'Julian, be good about this...I will find a way back...to you...to my children...I can do this if you'd just be good...'
Julian pulled her to him and began to kiss her, passionately...hungrily. He then stopped and looked into her eyes. Eve stared at him, unblinking, tears still falling down her cheeks. Julian then began kissing her again, moving from her mouth, to her neck.
'Tell me Eve...tell me you could leave this...what we have...tell me that Tony DiMera could make you feel like this...'
Eve began to cry again, as she threw her arms around him, not caring that her dress was coming off. She practically snatched Julian's tie off of his collar, and soon, with his help, the rest of his clothes came off as well. The lovely pink gown, and the tuxedo attire, lay on a heap on the floor of the hut.
They didn't make it to the bed, as Julian made passionate and angry love to Eve, as if he could will her to stay with him.
Eve, for her part, responded to his thrusts eagerly, and yet gently. Afterwards, when she thought about that night, that moment, she realized she had been trying to soothe him as well, as if to tell him she would be alright without him.
After their lovemaking, Julian and Eve lay on the floor of the hut, not caring if someone came along and peeked in their window. Julian's head lay on her chest, and she felt his breathing finally slow. He soon fell asleep. Eve's tears started up again. Now was the perfect time to leave him.
****
Stefano opened the dining room doors to find Celeste sitting at the head of the table, as if she were some sort of queen. He smiled.
'Ah Celeste.'
Celeste stood up.
'I take it you won't be letting us go?'
'Oh, on the contrary, everyone is free to go. I will have a boat here within two hours. I figured no one would want to fly on one of my planes again.'
Celeste began walking towards him, her mouth open.
'Everyone?'
'Well, Eve will be staying behind.'
'Stefano, no!'
'It was her choice, Celeste! Really! Besides, her and Tony need to work some things out.'
Celeste glared at him.
'Tony is better then? He will be coming here?'
'My poor son was not in his right mind. Surely, you noticed the changes in his behavior?'
'Actually,' Celeste said dryly, 'I really couldn't tell.'
'Well, whatever. I called you here because I was just a bit curious about something.'
'What is it, Stefano? And make it quick. If we really are leaving, then I want to be with the others.'
'Oh, yes, of course, my dear. I'll just get to the point. Why did you pretend that you didn't know Martin Fitzgerald?'
Celeste blinked.
'I don't know what you mean...'
'Oh yes, of course you do. When Pilar showed you that picture of her husband, you pretended as if you didn't know him. Why? I mean, you really shouldn't be ashamed...'
'Can I leave?'
Stefano stepped out of her way so she could pass him. But before she reached the door, his voice stopped her.
'Eve asked me to make sure that Pilar knew what happened to her husband. Surely, you wouldn't want me to break my promise to Eve, or lie to Pilar, would you?'
Celeste turned around to face him.
'You want something. What is it?'
Stefano pulled out a chair at the table. Celeste reluctantly came back into the room and sat down in it.