Chapter 8
One of the captives dies. Alistair's fate is revealed.
Roman Brady slammed his office door, then watched as Tony DiMera took off a glove, wiped a chair off quickly with it, before sitting down. Roman rolled his eyes, then stood before him.
'So, come to turn yourself in?'
Tony didn't even blink.
'Captain Brady, I've come to give you valuable information about a series of ghastly kidnappings. I have also come without legal representation. I certainly hope you don't plan to take advantage of that fact!'
'Just cut the crap, DiMera! Tell me where everyone is!'
Tony sniffed.
'On one of my father's private islands, in the South China seas. Believe me, I am just as horrified as you are about this whole business!'
Roman smirked, then folded his arms. He then drew up a chair so he could sit next to him.
'I just bet you are. You know, we have evidence that proves that this whole thing started with you. Stefano just finished up your dirty work.'
Tony jumped up! Roman stood up as well. They tried to stare one another down, but eventually, Tony broke off eye contact. He turned away.
'Mt father was responsible for everything. And he did it out of some sense of misguided love for me. I know that my family has a slightly tarnished reputation...'
''Slightly tarnished'? I would say shot to hell and back!'
Tony turned back towards Roman.
'Look, we can quibble about unimportant things later! I came down here, because I was horrified when I realized what my father had done. Now, shouldn't you be getting a rescue team together or something?'
'Where in the South China seas, DiMera?'
Tony reached into his suit jacket pocket. He brought out a map and handed it to Roman. Roman snatched it from him and unfolded it. He eyed it, then looked at Tony.
'Where did you get this?' he asked.
'I've known of this little 'home away of home' of my father's, for years. He asked me to meet him there.'
'Why? So you could check over your handy work?' Roman asked snidely.
Tony's eyes narrowed.
'How many times do I have to tell you, that I had nothing to do with this?'
Roman sighed.
'Look, I'm going to get everyone back first, before I work on putting your sorry ass in prison! I don't believe your cock and bull story, and neither is anyone else! The sorriest thing of all is that the woman you did this for, probably now hates your guts!'
Tony tried to keep his temper in check. But, his anger was not directed at this cumbersome, public servant standing in front of him. But, at Julian Crane.
Crane had won back Eve's heart. Stefano had sent him tapes of the two of them making love in a hut. His father had warned him that Eve was not worth all of the trouble, and had begged his son to allow him to just kill everyone, with the exceptions of Lexie, Theo and Celeste.
But the tape had not only made Tony angry, it had also fueled his desire to win Eve away from Crane. But, from what he could see, keeping Eve and her friends on that island, would not go well in his favor.
He had also decided that turnabout was fairplay. Tony had already been in contact with a real estate agent in Harmony. He too, would buy an estate very close by to the Crane mansion.
And Stefano would have to be the sacrificial lamb. Tony had already started the ball rolling. The police would find all of the evidence they needed to prove that Stefano had been responsible for everything.
Roman had turned away and left the office with the map. Tony sat back down. Now all he had to do was sit and wait.
****
Julian ran down on to the beach. Everyone looked at him, as he reached the group, out of breath. Julian looked directly at Abe.
'Where is Eve?' he rasped.
'What's wrong?' Abe asked. The others peered at Julian.
'What's wrong? What's wrong is that Eve is getting ready to sell herself to that cretin, for all of us! I don't know about the rest of you, but I will not allow her to take that deal!'
Abe stepped forward.
'None of us would either, Julian. We were just trying to come up with a plan to escape.'
Julian rolled his eyes to the heavens! Austin gave him a nasty look.
'You know, you don't have to roll your eyes! We're doing the best we can!'
'Well, now that I'm here, you can do better!' Julian sneered. 'We need to overpower the guards first. I know the way back to that compound! How you allowed Eve to return without you is beyond me!'
Julian was directing his comments to Abe. Pilar , John and Marlena sensed trouble. John and Marlena circled Abe, to keep him from doing anything to Julian. Pilar moved closer to Julian.
'Calm down! We'll figure out a way to get out of here.' she told him.
'Well why don't you think of something, AGENT Pilar?! Surely you've been in similar situations on missions or something?'
'Leave my mother alone, Julian!' Teresa yelled warningly. 'If you were any kind of real man, you wouldn't have lost track of Dr. Russell in the first place!'
'Alright, alright!' Marlena shouted. 'This is getting us nowhere! Look, one of the guards is coming over here now. So, let's just be smart about this.'
The guard pulled a gun out of the wasteband of his shorts.
'What's going on over here? Break it up!'
The voodoo masked guard pointed the gun at all of them. They began to disperse. But Abe, walking past the guard, doubled back and began to struggle with him! Teresa began screaming! Two more guards began running down the beach towards them!
'Oh great!' Julian hissed, backing away as John jumped in to help Abe. Julian eyed the other guards that were on their way. They seemed to be fumbling for their guns.
Pilar and Austin, taking advantage of their fumbling, ran towards them and jumped each guard! Austin wrestled his guard to the ground, kicked off his voodoo mask, flung it away, then jumped on his face...feet first!
As if that wasn't shocking enough to watch, Julian felt as if he had been stripped of his manhood, as he watched Pilar knee her guard in his privates, then while the poor oaf sank to the ground, Pilar snatched off his mask and beat him about his head and face with it!!!
Teresa, Marlena and Julian stood back and watched, gaping at one another. They stopped when they heard the gunshot. Austin and Pilar, having disabled the other guards, looked over at the guard Abe and John had wrestled. The guard was unconscious on the ground.
''Well thank God that one's been taken care of!' Julian sighed loudly, proud that his suggestion of disabling the guards had worked so well! Of course, they would have to work quickly, since Stefano had probably been watching the whole thing.
'Oh my God!' Marlena cried out, running over to John and Abe. John had an anguished look on his face. While he had been helping Abe wrestle the gun from the guard's hand, he had ended up pointing it into Abe's stomach. The gun had went off. The guard himself, had only been beaten unconscious.
Pilar and Austin ran over there as well. Julian hurried over to the two guards that those two had beaten down. He found their weapons, then hurried back over to the crowd.
Abe was still conscious, but losing a lot of blood fast. Julian pulled on Austin, who was standing over Abe, while John, Marlena and Pilar were kneeled over him, trying to apply pressure to his wound. Teresa was peering from afar.
'Austin! We have to hurry if we're ever going to get out of here! Take this gun!'
Austin tore his eyes from Abe to Julian. He took the gun.
'Abe is going to die, isn't he? Austin asked him.
Julian looked down at Abe. He had lost consciousness. Julian looked back at Austin.
'I don't know. But, either way, he should be with his wife and son. We have to go and find them.'
Teresa hurried over just then. She stepped in between Austin and Julian. She looked up at Austin.
'Austin, no! If something goes wrong, you'll have no better protection than him!' she yelled, indicating Julian, with a nod of her head.
Julian, for his part, didn't feel Eve had the time for him to be insulted! He pushed Teresa aside, something that earned him a hard look from Austin. But Julian cut him off before the lad could day a disparaging word.
'Austin, we don't have time for all of this bickering! Marlena , Pilar and your girlfriend here, can stay with Abe. But John, you and I need to get to the compound. And I'm the only one that knows where it is. Let's go!'
John stood up and took off his tee shirt, ripping it, as to make a bandage for Abe. Julian and Austin hurried over to him.
'John, we have to go now if we're going to finally get Stefano.' Julian warned. He tried not to look at Abe. Julian was no doctor, but he didn't think things looked too good.
'Abe is dying, for Christ's sakes!' John cried out. Rebecca suddenly appeared, having changed from her evening wear to something more beach appropriate. She had quickly accessed the situation, and moved so she could be near John. She turned big, sympathetic eyes on him, and even went to so far as to begin gently, caressing his arm, as if to comfort him. Marlena was so busy trying to talk to Abe, that she did not notice any of this.
Austin then looked at Julian.
'Maybe we should stay here. I mean Abe does look pretty bad off...'
Julian rolled his eyes. Well screw every damned bloody one of them! He would save Eve himself!
Julian snatched Austin's gun from him! Teresa gave him a dirty look.
'Hey! Watch it with that thing!' she cried out.
But Julian gave Austin a look of contempt.
'You're fired!'
Austin looked from Abe, back to Julian. He blinked.
'What?'
'You heard me! You're fired!'
'You can't fire me! I work for Alistair!'
Julian smiled.
'Oh, I'm sorry, did I forget to tell you? Someone shot my father! So, now you work for me...and you're fired!'
Pilar's head whipped around when she heard the part about Alistair getting shot. Teresa looked at her mother, then Julian. Rebecca moved away from John, who then knelt down beside Marlena and Abe, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
'Your father was shot? When did this happen, Julian?' Rebecca asked.
'He called during our 'dinner' with DiMera. I heard the shots over the phone. Now, if you 'good people' will excuse me, I have to save Eve from making the biggest mistake of her life!'
'She already has by getting involved with you!' Teresa cracked, moving so she could stand next to Austin.
'Teresita!' Pilar snapped. Teresa looked at her, stunned by her mother's tone of voice.
Pilar stood up and walked over to Julian. She held out her hand. Julian slowly handed her the other gun.
'After you,' she said.
****
'I don't believe you!' Lexie yelled, turning her back to T.C..
T.C. glanced over at Eve, who shrugged.
'Lexie, I care too much for you to lie to you. Your father asked me to kill Abe. Whatever you think of me, you have to warn your husband about Stefano. I don't think he plans to let him leave here alive!'
Lexie turned back around. Sure, she knew Stefano hated Abe, and thought she could do better. But to outright murder him? Her father knew that that would be unforgivable. He would never risk his relationship with her by killing her own husband. Never!
'T.C., you must have misunderstood. Father knows how much I love Abe. He's Theo's father...he would not do this. You've made a mistake.'
T.C. looked at Eve. Lexie turned away from him again. T.C. walked back over to Eve.
'She doesn't believe me.' he said in a low voice.
'Leave it alone. I think the more you press her, the worse you'll make it.'
'Eve, Abe is in danger!'
'I realize that! But look at our situations here. There's nothing we can do for him. Lexie is the only one that can save him.'
'How?' T.C. asked, eyeing Lexie, who still had her back to the both of them.
'T.C., she is going to have to use her instincts...I think if Stefano thought she knew what he was planning, he would back down.'
'She doesn't believe me, Eve. She's not going to confront him.'
'I wouldn't be so sure. That accusation is so damning...I think she's going to have to say something.'
Lexie turned back towards them again. Suddenly, Stefano appeared in the doorway behind her. Eve and T.C. looked at him. Lexie turned and faced him.
'Father? What's going on?'
Stefano did not answer her directly. He looked at Eve.
'Tony has been delayed. But, since you are here, and I do believe you plan to keep your word, I will honor your request.'
Before Eve could answer, Stefano then looked at T.C.
'You disappoint me.'
T.C. glared at him. Lexie looked suspicious.
'Why would you be disappointed in T.C., Father? And where is Mother?'
'Your mother is around here somewhere, dear. I think you should get Theo ready to leave.'
A guard walked in quickly and whispered in Stefano's ear. Stefano looked at the guard, then looked at T.C. and Eve. He then looked over at Lexie. He held out his hand to her. She walked over to him and put her hand in his.
'Darling, there is bad news. I need to talk to you now, in private.'
'What? What is it, Father?'
'Just come with me now, Alexandra!' he said sharply.
Lexie, not liking the urgency of his tone, allowed Stefano to pull her from the room. The guard followed. Eve looked at T.C..
'Something bad has happened.'
T.C. nodded.
'And why was it so important that Lexie leave with Stefano just now?'
'Abe...something has happened to Abe?' Eve asked, half hoping she was only guessing.
'Not something! Stefano found a way to get to him, despite me.' T.C. answered.
Eve shook her head.
'We have to get out of here, T.C.'
T.C. looked at her.
'What about your deal with DiMera? He just said he was going to let us go.'
Eve snapped!
'Have you lost your mind?! I didn't hear him say that?! First Tony has been delayed, if he was ever really coming here in the first place! And did you hear the way he spoke to you? Stefano's angry that you didn't kill Abe! He's not going to reward you with your freedom! Now you stay and pine over Lexie if you want, but I'm getting the hell out of here!'
T.C. watched as Eve peeked out of the diningroom doors, then stealthily, began to ease down the hallway. She remembered where that one door was, the one that guard had let her in through.
T.C. took a deep breath. As much as he cared for Lexie, it was becoming all the more apparent, that she did not have enough influence over Stefano to save them all. That and Eve had been right. Stefano had given him a rather murderous look! He looked down the hallway, Eve had just opened a door, when an alarm went off!
Eve looked back at T.C., her eyes wide and frightened. T.C. ran to her, and together, they bolted out of the compound.
****
Stefano pulled Lexie into the diningroom with Celeste. Celeste stood up out of her chair.
'What's going on, Stefano?' she asked, feeling a sudden wave of panic. Lexie stood next to her mother.
'Father! You're scaring me! What's happened?'
Stefano rubbed his hands together, mulling how he was going to phrase his next sentence, without sounding gleeful.
'There was an altercation on the beach, Alexandra.'
Lexie looked over at Celeste, who shrugged.
'I have been here the whole time. I know nothing of it.' she said.
'Your husband tried to take matters into his own hands, darling, he was gravely injured.'
Lexie let out a gasp/ cry. Celeste put an arm around her.
'So you're saying that one of the guards shot Abraham, is that it?' Celeste asked sharply.
Stefano nodded, his eyes on Lexie.
Lexie pulled herself together.
'I'm going to him! I can save him! You let me go down there now!'
Stefano nodded.
'Of course, darling. But I already dispatched a doctor to him. He is on his way down there as we speak. I will have one of the guards escort you down to the beach.'
'I don't need an 'escort'! I'm going now and don't try and...'
That was when they all heard the alarm. Stefano's eyes widened, as three guards ran down the hall, past the doorway. A fourth one stopped to give Stefano a report.
'The Russell's have left the compound! We're going after them!'
'Father!' Lexie yelled. 'Leave them alone! I want you to stop this and let us go! My husband may be dying!'
Stefano turned and hugged her. He looked over her head at Celeste, who was glaring at him. He let go of her.
'Of course, darling. You're right.'
Stefano then looked at the guard.
'Call your men back. No one's going anywhere anyway. Take my daughter down to the beach to be with her husband.'
The guard looked puzzled, but nodded. He tried to take Lexie's arm, but she snatched it away. The guard followed after her.
Celeste walked up to Stefano.
'You've really done it now. If Abraham dies...'
'Then he dies.' Stefano said coldly, looking her in the eye.
Celeste didn't even blink. His ruthlessness had failed to appall her years ago.
'What do you plan to do with us now, Stefano? Because I'm beginning to get the feeling that Tony is not coming, if he ever was. What are you planning?'
Stefano moved towards the doors. He then stopped and looked back at her.
'A helicopter is coming...to take you, Alexandra, Theo and myself, away from here. The others are going to have a final meal...of arsenic.'
Celeste gasped!
'Stefano, I'm begging you, don't do this! You can let us all go and make a getaway! It doesn't have to end like this!'
Stefano smiled.
'It was fun, as always, Celeste. I will be dropped off in a separate location than yours...Alexandra is going to need you, since I lied about sending a doctor to the beach.'
Stefano then left the room. Celeste stayed rooted where she was. Why was she not surprised that Stefano had been so cruel? She had to warn the others about the up coming arsenic. But how?
****
Julian and Pilar hurried through a stretch of jungle, not saying anything to one another. Just as they reached a large boulder, a thrashing sound could be heard. Pilar grabbed Julian's arm and pulled him behind a tree with her.
'What do you think it is?' he whispered. He couldn't help but be impressed with her bravado. Pilar seemed ready to take on whatever dangers they may have to face.
'Probably more guards. We'll be outnumbered, so our best bet is to just let them pass by and keep going. I have no doubt that Stefano is aware we're coming anyway.'
'Why did you agree to help me, Pilar?'
Pilar gave him a glance.
'I'm not helping you, Julian. I'm helping Eve and myself. I don't want to see Eve sell herself to Tony DiMera either. That and...I have to catch Stefano DiMera. He may be my last hope for ever finding Martin.'
Julian looked away guiltily. He remembered what his father had said about Martin Fitzgerald, before he was shot. Alistair had hinted that Martin had just galavanted off somewhere. Julian decided it was best not to say anything to Pilar about it. Alistair really hadn't told him much, and he could've just as well been lying about it anyway.
The thrashing became louder. Pilar crouched behind the tree, as did Julian, who could barely breathe.
The 'thrashers' appeared in the form of Eve and T.C., who rushed past their hiding place. Julian was more than a little surprised to see that Eve could run so well. He smirked when he noted that T.C. couldn't seem to keep up with her.
Pilar stood up and called for them.
'T.C.! Eve!'
Eve and T.C. stopped in their tracks and turned around. They both looked more than a bit surprised to see Pilar and Julian. Eve ran straight into Julian's arms. T.C. looked at if he wanted to snarl, but Pilar stepped directly in front of him, not only to keep him from starting something with Julian, but as to get his full attention.
'What happened up there? How did Eve and you get away? Is Tony here?'
T.C. tore his eyes away from Julian and Eve, and concentrated on Pilar.
'First of all, I had one hell of a stay up there! Stefano asked me to kill Abe.'
'What???' Pilar asked, shocked.
'Yes, he practically offered me his daughter and grandson on a platter, if I'd kill him. I refused. Eve and I think something has or is getting ready to happen to Abe anyway. Stefano said he really needed to talk to Lexie about something.'
Pilar nodded.
'One of the guards shot Abe. It doesn't look good.'
T.C. sucked in a breath.
'T.C., is Tony here?' Pilar asked again.
T.C. shook his head.
'Stefano said he had been delayed, but Eve doesn't think he was ever going to show. I don't know, I get a bad feeling that things are winding down around here, and not for the better.'
'Okay, well, you go with Eve and Julian back to the beach. See what you can do for Abe. I'm going to find Stefano.'
T.C. grabbed her arm.
'Are you crazy? Pilar, you can't confront him on your own!'
'T.C., he knows what happened to Martin! I am not leaving this island until I find out what happened to my husband, once and for all!'
Pilar then lurched away from him, and ran in the direction that Eve and T.C. came from. T.C. stared after her open mouthed, then looked at Eve and Julian.
'We can't let her go back up there alone.' T.C. said.
Julian looked at Eve.
'I don't think DiMera will kill her.'
T.C. overheard that.
'You would think that!'
Julian walked up to T.C.. Eve held onto his arm.
'I know it. And I think Stefano will get pleasure out of shocking Pilar with something she never imagined. There would be no fun in just killing her. He will want her to live with what she is about to learn.'
T.C. glared at him.
''What she is about to learn?' Meaning something you probably knew the whole damned time!'
Eve stood in between them.
'That's enough! Julian told me that Abe was shot. We have to get back down to the beach. Maybe I can help before it is too late.'
Eve then turned and hurried back towards the beach. Julian and T.C. stared one another down, before Julian broke off eye contact and followed after Eve. T.C. looked back in the other direction Pilar had run off in, before ultimately, deciding on following after Eve and Julian.
****
HARMONY
Fox sipped a cup of coffee, before sitting down at a table by the pool. He had made plans to go to Salem today. He had decided after his talk with Ethan the other day, that he needed help. And he needed it from someone who was a force to be reckoned with. Victor Kiriakis came to mind.
Fox had snooped through a locked file cabinet, he found in Julian's bedroom. He had also found other things, but he never wanted to speak of those things, out loud, ever!
But, Fox had found what he needed among those files. Victor Kiriakis was someone that had been an ally to the Crane's when needed, and a powerful enemy as well. Fox planned to inform Kiriakis of Alistair's involvement in this whole kidnapping scheme. And since he had a fondness for Austin Reed and John Black(those men were Kiriakis's former step-son and former son-in-law, respectively), Fox knew he would be angry enough to help not only find everyone that was missing, but maybe, help Fox topple his grandfather once and for all.
Fox stood up from the table, leaving the coffee cup. He was about to walk off towards the garages, when he heard his name being called. He turned around. It was Whitney.
She had just stepped out of a side door and wore a yellow sundress. Her hair was up. She looked as if she belonged here. As far as Fox was concerned, she did.
Whitney walked over to him. Fox held out his hands to her. Whitney put hers in his.
'What are you doing up so early?' he asked.
Whitney looked him over. Fox was dressed in a three piece suit. She couldn't recall ever seeing him dress this way, except for at his father's wedding, and her mother's 'funeral'.
'I heard you go past my room...I know you've been working hard to find out what the police know. I realized I don't thank you enough for all that you do for me...for all you have done.'
Fox squeezed her hands.
'Whitney, I don't want your thanks, I want your love.'
'Fox...'
'Here me out, Whitney. This thing will be over soon. Everyone will be returning and things are going to be different. Your mother will probably be living in this house.'
Whitney had to admit, she hadn't really thought of that as a possibility. Whitney had just thought that her parents were probably back together. She had assumed that the danger would reunite them. She guessed it was possible that that might not come to pass.
'And when it is over,' Fox continued, 'you are going to have to make a choice between myself and Chad. Have you heard from him?'
Whitney nodded.
'He called a few times, but, the conversations disintegrate into arguments. I don't know how we got so far apart.'
'You're far apart because you don't belong together.'
'Fox...'
'It's true, Whitney, and you know it.'
Fox then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a box. He held it up, then set it down on the table.
'I think you know what's in that box, Whitney. I'm going on a business trip today. I'll be back tonight. When I return, I'll want an answer to the question that usually goes along with what's in that box.'
For the first time in a long while, Whitney didn't feel overwhelmed or pressured. She slowly reached for the box. But, she did not open it.
'I want you to go and see Chad today.' Fox said.
Whitney's eyes flew from the box to Fox.
'Chad?'
'Whitney, you need to see him before you decide anything. You need to know whether you could really live your life with me, without wishing you had stayed with Harris. And you'll know it, once you see him. If there is something between the two of you, I want you to leave the ring on the dresser in my room. If there isn't, then I won't find anything there at all.'
Whitney just stared at him. Fox was giving her an ultimatum. She guessed this little triangle they were living through, couldn't go on forever. She would have to decide between the two of them.
Ethan and Sam walked into the pool area. Fox turned around to look at them. Whitney stood beside Fox. Ivy, came out of the house and walked up to Ethan and Sam. She hugged Ethan.
'My, my! What a sight for sore eyes! My handsome son, along with his equally handsome father!'
Fox rolled his eyes. Whitney linked her arm through Fox's, as if she knew that that comment might hurt him. Fox smiled over at her.
Ivy turned around to look at Fox and Whitney, and noticed the box in Whitney's hand. She and Whitney locked eyes for a moment, before Ivy turned back to Sam and Ethan.
'What brings you by?' Ivy asked, trying to put the box out of her mind.
'Actually, I was coming to see you, Fox, when I ran into Ethan. There is news about everyone Stefano kidnapped. Tony DiMera gave the Salem P.D. a map as to where to find them. The FBI, along with local police authorities in China, are moving in to rescue them as we speak.'
Ivy frowned.
'Everyone is in China?' she asked.
'On an island in the South China seas. Stefano DiMera sent us, and the police in Salem, a video tape of how everyone was looking.'
Fox rolled his eyes. 'How thoughtful of him!'
'But everyone looked okay? I mean, did you see my parents?' Whitney asked. Fox put an arm around her. Ethan noticed the box in Whitney's hand as well.
Sam decided that Whitney was a big girl, and she had to hear the truth.
'Honey, I didn't see your father on this tape...but that's not to say that he wasn't there.'
'Oh God!' Whitney cried, the turned into Fox's arms. Ethan pulled his father aside. Ivy moved with them. She always marveled at how much Sam and Ethan looked alike. If only she had chosen Sam.
'What are you thinking, Dad?' Ethan asked.
Sam looked at Ethan and Ivy.
'I'm thinking T.C.'s temper could have gotten the better of him. He's been kidnapped and Julian is on the same island as him. That's a recipe for disaster.'
Ethan nodded. Ivy looked over at Fox and Whitney.
'Plus, there's more bad news. Or, it may not be to all of you.'
'What is it?' Ivy asked.
'I really have to speak to Fox first.' Sam answered, moving away from Ethan and Ivy, and walking over to Fox and Whitney. Fox looked up. Whitney began trying to compose herself.
'Fox, there's something else you need to know. We've tried to keep this from the media, but it's only a matter of time.'
Fox looked at Ethan, who shrugged.
'What is it, Chief Bennett?' Fox asked. Whitney tensed up. He put an arm around her waist.
Sam looked around at everyone.
'We got a call over at Crane Industries. Your grandfather Fox, Alistair, was shot to death...it looks like it happened sometime last night.'
Fox looked at Ethan. Ethan looked at Fox. Ivy noticed the looks her sons were giving one another, and strangely enough, began to feel protective of both of them. She stepped forward.
'Do you have any suspects, Sam?' she asked.
Sam looked at her.
'The whole town...but no...as of yet, no one person. But I wanted to inform you, Fox, that we will do our best to find out who did this.'
Fox kept a cool tone.
'Bringing our loved ones home should be first on your list Chief Bennett. I'm sure my Grandfather would agree.'
Everyone else looked at one another. Probably because it was a stupid comment. No one, including Fox himself, thought for one minute, that Alistair Crane, from whatever hell he had been sent to, would not mind if the police worked on other cases, before finding his killer!
But Sam figured it was some sort of semi-grief talking.
'Okay then! I will keep you informed on the kidnappings. I have to get going and find out how the rescue attempt is going.'
'I'll walk you out, Sam!' Ivy said, never missing a chance to be near her beloved. The two walked off. Whitney looked at Fox.
'Fox, I am so sorry! I don't know what to say!'
Fox took her hands in his.
'I don't want you to think about all of this unpleasantness. But, the good news about our folks, does change what we talked about earlier. So, I'll want an answer from you, by tonight.'
Whitney took a deep breath and nodded. She then let go of his hands, said goodbye to Ethan, then walked back into the house. She still had to call Chad.
Fox then turned to Ethan.
'Wow! Now you can marry Whitney, free and clear, hey?' Ethan noted.
Fox gave him a disapproving look.
'I know what you're thinking, and I did not kill Alistair. How about you?'
'How about me? I was with my wife last night!'
'And I was here with my future one, okay?' Fox answered. His mind then drifted on to other things. Like how long it would be until Alistair's will was read.
****
ISLAND
When Eve, Julian and T.C. returned to the beach, Abe was already dead. Lexie was screaming her head off!
'Where was the doctor??? Where was the doctor???' She was sobbing and looking around at everyone accusingly. Marlena and John cried in one another's arms. Teresa sought comfort in Austin's.
Lexie had Abe's head in her lap. There was a pool of blood on the sand. Eve began to ease over to Lexie, but Julian pulled her back.
'Eve, just leave her alone. She looks so wild, I fear she may strike out at you or something.'
Eve looked at Julian. Though his logic was a bit faulty, she and Lexie had not been getting along lately. Maybe Julian was right. She nodded in agreement, then looked down at Abe. This couldn't have been an accident. Poor Abe. She had just spoken to him, hours before. He had begged her to wait for him, when she had insisted on going up to the compound to take Stefano's deal. If she had just waited for Abe, would he be alive right now?
T.C. eased over to Lexie, and knelt beside her on the sand. Lexie stopped crying for a moment, then let go of Abe's head. T.C. pulled her into his arms. Eve felt a knot in her stomach, watching the tender scene. She realized she wasn't so much jealous, as she was pissed! Lexie had done things that Eve was pretty sure, outranked any of her own past misdeeds, but T.C. could accept Lexie's past, no problem. Why had he had such a hard time forgiving her then?
Eve felt Julian grasp her hand. She looked down at his hand, then at him.
Teresa let go of Austin and looked around.
'Where is my mother?' she asked, her voice sounding panicky.
Rebecca, who was staring at John and Marlena, suddenly looked up at the sky.
'Does everyone hear that?'
John and Marlena looked up as well. Austin looked away from Teresa and stared upwards. Julian and Eve did so also. Julian then smiled.
'The cavalry is here, my darling. We are going home.' he said.
One of the captives dies. Alistair's fate is revealed.
Roman Brady slammed his office door, then watched as Tony DiMera took off a glove, wiped a chair off quickly with it, before sitting down. Roman rolled his eyes, then stood before him.
'So, come to turn yourself in?'
Tony didn't even blink.
'Captain Brady, I've come to give you valuable information about a series of ghastly kidnappings. I have also come without legal representation. I certainly hope you don't plan to take advantage of that fact!'
'Just cut the crap, DiMera! Tell me where everyone is!'
Tony sniffed.
'On one of my father's private islands, in the South China seas. Believe me, I am just as horrified as you are about this whole business!'
Roman smirked, then folded his arms. He then drew up a chair so he could sit next to him.
'I just bet you are. You know, we have evidence that proves that this whole thing started with you. Stefano just finished up your dirty work.'
Tony jumped up! Roman stood up as well. They tried to stare one another down, but eventually, Tony broke off eye contact. He turned away.
'Mt father was responsible for everything. And he did it out of some sense of misguided love for me. I know that my family has a slightly tarnished reputation...'
''Slightly tarnished'? I would say shot to hell and back!'
Tony turned back towards Roman.
'Look, we can quibble about unimportant things later! I came down here, because I was horrified when I realized what my father had done. Now, shouldn't you be getting a rescue team together or something?'
'Where in the South China seas, DiMera?'
Tony reached into his suit jacket pocket. He brought out a map and handed it to Roman. Roman snatched it from him and unfolded it. He eyed it, then looked at Tony.
'Where did you get this?' he asked.
'I've known of this little 'home away of home' of my father's, for years. He asked me to meet him there.'
'Why? So you could check over your handy work?' Roman asked snidely.
Tony's eyes narrowed.
'How many times do I have to tell you, that I had nothing to do with this?'
Roman sighed.
'Look, I'm going to get everyone back first, before I work on putting your sorry ass in prison! I don't believe your cock and bull story, and neither is anyone else! The sorriest thing of all is that the woman you did this for, probably now hates your guts!'
Tony tried to keep his temper in check. But, his anger was not directed at this cumbersome, public servant standing in front of him. But, at Julian Crane.
Crane had won back Eve's heart. Stefano had sent him tapes of the two of them making love in a hut. His father had warned him that Eve was not worth all of the trouble, and had begged his son to allow him to just kill everyone, with the exceptions of Lexie, Theo and Celeste.
But the tape had not only made Tony angry, it had also fueled his desire to win Eve away from Crane. But, from what he could see, keeping Eve and her friends on that island, would not go well in his favor.
He had also decided that turnabout was fairplay. Tony had already been in contact with a real estate agent in Harmony. He too, would buy an estate very close by to the Crane mansion.
And Stefano would have to be the sacrificial lamb. Tony had already started the ball rolling. The police would find all of the evidence they needed to prove that Stefano had been responsible for everything.
Roman had turned away and left the office with the map. Tony sat back down. Now all he had to do was sit and wait.
****
Julian ran down on to the beach. Everyone looked at him, as he reached the group, out of breath. Julian looked directly at Abe.
'Where is Eve?' he rasped.
'What's wrong?' Abe asked. The others peered at Julian.
'What's wrong? What's wrong is that Eve is getting ready to sell herself to that cretin, for all of us! I don't know about the rest of you, but I will not allow her to take that deal!'
Abe stepped forward.
'None of us would either, Julian. We were just trying to come up with a plan to escape.'
Julian rolled his eyes to the heavens! Austin gave him a nasty look.
'You know, you don't have to roll your eyes! We're doing the best we can!'
'Well, now that I'm here, you can do better!' Julian sneered. 'We need to overpower the guards first. I know the way back to that compound! How you allowed Eve to return without you is beyond me!'
Julian was directing his comments to Abe. Pilar , John and Marlena sensed trouble. John and Marlena circled Abe, to keep him from doing anything to Julian. Pilar moved closer to Julian.
'Calm down! We'll figure out a way to get out of here.' she told him.
'Well why don't you think of something, AGENT Pilar?! Surely you've been in similar situations on missions or something?'
'Leave my mother alone, Julian!' Teresa yelled warningly. 'If you were any kind of real man, you wouldn't have lost track of Dr. Russell in the first place!'
'Alright, alright!' Marlena shouted. 'This is getting us nowhere! Look, one of the guards is coming over here now. So, let's just be smart about this.'
The guard pulled a gun out of the wasteband of his shorts.
'What's going on over here? Break it up!'
The voodoo masked guard pointed the gun at all of them. They began to disperse. But Abe, walking past the guard, doubled back and began to struggle with him! Teresa began screaming! Two more guards began running down the beach towards them!
'Oh great!' Julian hissed, backing away as John jumped in to help Abe. Julian eyed the other guards that were on their way. They seemed to be fumbling for their guns.
Pilar and Austin, taking advantage of their fumbling, ran towards them and jumped each guard! Austin wrestled his guard to the ground, kicked off his voodoo mask, flung it away, then jumped on his face...feet first!
As if that wasn't shocking enough to watch, Julian felt as if he had been stripped of his manhood, as he watched Pilar knee her guard in his privates, then while the poor oaf sank to the ground, Pilar snatched off his mask and beat him about his head and face with it!!!
Teresa, Marlena and Julian stood back and watched, gaping at one another. They stopped when they heard the gunshot. Austin and Pilar, having disabled the other guards, looked over at the guard Abe and John had wrestled. The guard was unconscious on the ground.
''Well thank God that one's been taken care of!' Julian sighed loudly, proud that his suggestion of disabling the guards had worked so well! Of course, they would have to work quickly, since Stefano had probably been watching the whole thing.
'Oh my God!' Marlena cried out, running over to John and Abe. John had an anguished look on his face. While he had been helping Abe wrestle the gun from the guard's hand, he had ended up pointing it into Abe's stomach. The gun had went off. The guard himself, had only been beaten unconscious.
Pilar and Austin ran over there as well. Julian hurried over to the two guards that those two had beaten down. He found their weapons, then hurried back over to the crowd.
Abe was still conscious, but losing a lot of blood fast. Julian pulled on Austin, who was standing over Abe, while John, Marlena and Pilar were kneeled over him, trying to apply pressure to his wound. Teresa was peering from afar.
'Austin! We have to hurry if we're ever going to get out of here! Take this gun!'
Austin tore his eyes from Abe to Julian. He took the gun.
'Abe is going to die, isn't he? Austin asked him.
Julian looked down at Abe. He had lost consciousness. Julian looked back at Austin.
'I don't know. But, either way, he should be with his wife and son. We have to go and find them.'
Teresa hurried over just then. She stepped in between Austin and Julian. She looked up at Austin.
'Austin, no! If something goes wrong, you'll have no better protection than him!' she yelled, indicating Julian, with a nod of her head.
Julian, for his part, didn't feel Eve had the time for him to be insulted! He pushed Teresa aside, something that earned him a hard look from Austin. But Julian cut him off before the lad could day a disparaging word.
'Austin, we don't have time for all of this bickering! Marlena , Pilar and your girlfriend here, can stay with Abe. But John, you and I need to get to the compound. And I'm the only one that knows where it is. Let's go!'
John stood up and took off his tee shirt, ripping it, as to make a bandage for Abe. Julian and Austin hurried over to him.
'John, we have to go now if we're going to finally get Stefano.' Julian warned. He tried not to look at Abe. Julian was no doctor, but he didn't think things looked too good.
'Abe is dying, for Christ's sakes!' John cried out. Rebecca suddenly appeared, having changed from her evening wear to something more beach appropriate. She had quickly accessed the situation, and moved so she could be near John. She turned big, sympathetic eyes on him, and even went to so far as to begin gently, caressing his arm, as if to comfort him. Marlena was so busy trying to talk to Abe, that she did not notice any of this.
Austin then looked at Julian.
'Maybe we should stay here. I mean Abe does look pretty bad off...'
Julian rolled his eyes. Well screw every damned bloody one of them! He would save Eve himself!
Julian snatched Austin's gun from him! Teresa gave him a dirty look.
'Hey! Watch it with that thing!' she cried out.
But Julian gave Austin a look of contempt.
'You're fired!'
Austin looked from Abe, back to Julian. He blinked.
'What?'
'You heard me! You're fired!'
'You can't fire me! I work for Alistair!'
Julian smiled.
'Oh, I'm sorry, did I forget to tell you? Someone shot my father! So, now you work for me...and you're fired!'
Pilar's head whipped around when she heard the part about Alistair getting shot. Teresa looked at her mother, then Julian. Rebecca moved away from John, who then knelt down beside Marlena and Abe, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
'Your father was shot? When did this happen, Julian?' Rebecca asked.
'He called during our 'dinner' with DiMera. I heard the shots over the phone. Now, if you 'good people' will excuse me, I have to save Eve from making the biggest mistake of her life!'
'She already has by getting involved with you!' Teresa cracked, moving so she could stand next to Austin.
'Teresita!' Pilar snapped. Teresa looked at her, stunned by her mother's tone of voice.
Pilar stood up and walked over to Julian. She held out her hand. Julian slowly handed her the other gun.
'After you,' she said.
****
'I don't believe you!' Lexie yelled, turning her back to T.C..
T.C. glanced over at Eve, who shrugged.
'Lexie, I care too much for you to lie to you. Your father asked me to kill Abe. Whatever you think of me, you have to warn your husband about Stefano. I don't think he plans to let him leave here alive!'
Lexie turned back around. Sure, she knew Stefano hated Abe, and thought she could do better. But to outright murder him? Her father knew that that would be unforgivable. He would never risk his relationship with her by killing her own husband. Never!
'T.C., you must have misunderstood. Father knows how much I love Abe. He's Theo's father...he would not do this. You've made a mistake.'
T.C. looked at Eve. Lexie turned away from him again. T.C. walked back over to Eve.
'She doesn't believe me.' he said in a low voice.
'Leave it alone. I think the more you press her, the worse you'll make it.'
'Eve, Abe is in danger!'
'I realize that! But look at our situations here. There's nothing we can do for him. Lexie is the only one that can save him.'
'How?' T.C. asked, eyeing Lexie, who still had her back to the both of them.
'T.C., she is going to have to use her instincts...I think if Stefano thought she knew what he was planning, he would back down.'
'She doesn't believe me, Eve. She's not going to confront him.'
'I wouldn't be so sure. That accusation is so damning...I think she's going to have to say something.'
Lexie turned back towards them again. Suddenly, Stefano appeared in the doorway behind her. Eve and T.C. looked at him. Lexie turned and faced him.
'Father? What's going on?'
Stefano did not answer her directly. He looked at Eve.
'Tony has been delayed. But, since you are here, and I do believe you plan to keep your word, I will honor your request.'
Before Eve could answer, Stefano then looked at T.C.
'You disappoint me.'
T.C. glared at him. Lexie looked suspicious.
'Why would you be disappointed in T.C., Father? And where is Mother?'
'Your mother is around here somewhere, dear. I think you should get Theo ready to leave.'
A guard walked in quickly and whispered in Stefano's ear. Stefano looked at the guard, then looked at T.C. and Eve. He then looked over at Lexie. He held out his hand to her. She walked over to him and put her hand in his.
'Darling, there is bad news. I need to talk to you now, in private.'
'What? What is it, Father?'
'Just come with me now, Alexandra!' he said sharply.
Lexie, not liking the urgency of his tone, allowed Stefano to pull her from the room. The guard followed. Eve looked at T.C..
'Something bad has happened.'
T.C. nodded.
'And why was it so important that Lexie leave with Stefano just now?'
'Abe...something has happened to Abe?' Eve asked, half hoping she was only guessing.
'Not something! Stefano found a way to get to him, despite me.' T.C. answered.
Eve shook her head.
'We have to get out of here, T.C.'
T.C. looked at her.
'What about your deal with DiMera? He just said he was going to let us go.'
Eve snapped!
'Have you lost your mind?! I didn't hear him say that?! First Tony has been delayed, if he was ever really coming here in the first place! And did you hear the way he spoke to you? Stefano's angry that you didn't kill Abe! He's not going to reward you with your freedom! Now you stay and pine over Lexie if you want, but I'm getting the hell out of here!'
T.C. watched as Eve peeked out of the diningroom doors, then stealthily, began to ease down the hallway. She remembered where that one door was, the one that guard had let her in through.
T.C. took a deep breath. As much as he cared for Lexie, it was becoming all the more apparent, that she did not have enough influence over Stefano to save them all. That and Eve had been right. Stefano had given him a rather murderous look! He looked down the hallway, Eve had just opened a door, when an alarm went off!
Eve looked back at T.C., her eyes wide and frightened. T.C. ran to her, and together, they bolted out of the compound.
****
Stefano pulled Lexie into the diningroom with Celeste. Celeste stood up out of her chair.
'What's going on, Stefano?' she asked, feeling a sudden wave of panic. Lexie stood next to her mother.
'Father! You're scaring me! What's happened?'
Stefano rubbed his hands together, mulling how he was going to phrase his next sentence, without sounding gleeful.
'There was an altercation on the beach, Alexandra.'
Lexie looked over at Celeste, who shrugged.
'I have been here the whole time. I know nothing of it.' she said.
'Your husband tried to take matters into his own hands, darling, he was gravely injured.'
Lexie let out a gasp/ cry. Celeste put an arm around her.
'So you're saying that one of the guards shot Abraham, is that it?' Celeste asked sharply.
Stefano nodded, his eyes on Lexie.
Lexie pulled herself together.
'I'm going to him! I can save him! You let me go down there now!'
Stefano nodded.
'Of course, darling. But I already dispatched a doctor to him. He is on his way down there as we speak. I will have one of the guards escort you down to the beach.'
'I don't need an 'escort'! I'm going now and don't try and...'
That was when they all heard the alarm. Stefano's eyes widened, as three guards ran down the hall, past the doorway. A fourth one stopped to give Stefano a report.
'The Russell's have left the compound! We're going after them!'
'Father!' Lexie yelled. 'Leave them alone! I want you to stop this and let us go! My husband may be dying!'
Stefano turned and hugged her. He looked over her head at Celeste, who was glaring at him. He let go of her.
'Of course, darling. You're right.'
Stefano then looked at the guard.
'Call your men back. No one's going anywhere anyway. Take my daughter down to the beach to be with her husband.'
The guard looked puzzled, but nodded. He tried to take Lexie's arm, but she snatched it away. The guard followed after her.
Celeste walked up to Stefano.
'You've really done it now. If Abraham dies...'
'Then he dies.' Stefano said coldly, looking her in the eye.
Celeste didn't even blink. His ruthlessness had failed to appall her years ago.
'What do you plan to do with us now, Stefano? Because I'm beginning to get the feeling that Tony is not coming, if he ever was. What are you planning?'
Stefano moved towards the doors. He then stopped and looked back at her.
'A helicopter is coming...to take you, Alexandra, Theo and myself, away from here. The others are going to have a final meal...of arsenic.'
Celeste gasped!
'Stefano, I'm begging you, don't do this! You can let us all go and make a getaway! It doesn't have to end like this!'
Stefano smiled.
'It was fun, as always, Celeste. I will be dropped off in a separate location than yours...Alexandra is going to need you, since I lied about sending a doctor to the beach.'
Stefano then left the room. Celeste stayed rooted where she was. Why was she not surprised that Stefano had been so cruel? She had to warn the others about the up coming arsenic. But how?
****
Julian and Pilar hurried through a stretch of jungle, not saying anything to one another. Just as they reached a large boulder, a thrashing sound could be heard. Pilar grabbed Julian's arm and pulled him behind a tree with her.
'What do you think it is?' he whispered. He couldn't help but be impressed with her bravado. Pilar seemed ready to take on whatever dangers they may have to face.
'Probably more guards. We'll be outnumbered, so our best bet is to just let them pass by and keep going. I have no doubt that Stefano is aware we're coming anyway.'
'Why did you agree to help me, Pilar?'
Pilar gave him a glance.
'I'm not helping you, Julian. I'm helping Eve and myself. I don't want to see Eve sell herself to Tony DiMera either. That and...I have to catch Stefano DiMera. He may be my last hope for ever finding Martin.'
Julian looked away guiltily. He remembered what his father had said about Martin Fitzgerald, before he was shot. Alistair had hinted that Martin had just galavanted off somewhere. Julian decided it was best not to say anything to Pilar about it. Alistair really hadn't told him much, and he could've just as well been lying about it anyway.
The thrashing became louder. Pilar crouched behind the tree, as did Julian, who could barely breathe.
The 'thrashers' appeared in the form of Eve and T.C., who rushed past their hiding place. Julian was more than a little surprised to see that Eve could run so well. He smirked when he noted that T.C. couldn't seem to keep up with her.
Pilar stood up and called for them.
'T.C.! Eve!'
Eve and T.C. stopped in their tracks and turned around. They both looked more than a bit surprised to see Pilar and Julian. Eve ran straight into Julian's arms. T.C. looked at if he wanted to snarl, but Pilar stepped directly in front of him, not only to keep him from starting something with Julian, but as to get his full attention.
'What happened up there? How did Eve and you get away? Is Tony here?'
T.C. tore his eyes away from Julian and Eve, and concentrated on Pilar.
'First of all, I had one hell of a stay up there! Stefano asked me to kill Abe.'
'What???' Pilar asked, shocked.
'Yes, he practically offered me his daughter and grandson on a platter, if I'd kill him. I refused. Eve and I think something has or is getting ready to happen to Abe anyway. Stefano said he really needed to talk to Lexie about something.'
Pilar nodded.
'One of the guards shot Abe. It doesn't look good.'
T.C. sucked in a breath.
'T.C., is Tony here?' Pilar asked again.
T.C. shook his head.
'Stefano said he had been delayed, but Eve doesn't think he was ever going to show. I don't know, I get a bad feeling that things are winding down around here, and not for the better.'
'Okay, well, you go with Eve and Julian back to the beach. See what you can do for Abe. I'm going to find Stefano.'
T.C. grabbed her arm.
'Are you crazy? Pilar, you can't confront him on your own!'
'T.C., he knows what happened to Martin! I am not leaving this island until I find out what happened to my husband, once and for all!'
Pilar then lurched away from him, and ran in the direction that Eve and T.C. came from. T.C. stared after her open mouthed, then looked at Eve and Julian.
'We can't let her go back up there alone.' T.C. said.
Julian looked at Eve.
'I don't think DiMera will kill her.'
T.C. overheard that.
'You would think that!'
Julian walked up to T.C.. Eve held onto his arm.
'I know it. And I think Stefano will get pleasure out of shocking Pilar with something she never imagined. There would be no fun in just killing her. He will want her to live with what she is about to learn.'
T.C. glared at him.
''What she is about to learn?' Meaning something you probably knew the whole damned time!'
Eve stood in between them.
'That's enough! Julian told me that Abe was shot. We have to get back down to the beach. Maybe I can help before it is too late.'
Eve then turned and hurried back towards the beach. Julian and T.C. stared one another down, before Julian broke off eye contact and followed after Eve. T.C. looked back in the other direction Pilar had run off in, before ultimately, deciding on following after Eve and Julian.
****
HARMONY
Fox sipped a cup of coffee, before sitting down at a table by the pool. He had made plans to go to Salem today. He had decided after his talk with Ethan the other day, that he needed help. And he needed it from someone who was a force to be reckoned with. Victor Kiriakis came to mind.
Fox had snooped through a locked file cabinet, he found in Julian's bedroom. He had also found other things, but he never wanted to speak of those things, out loud, ever!
But, Fox had found what he needed among those files. Victor Kiriakis was someone that had been an ally to the Crane's when needed, and a powerful enemy as well. Fox planned to inform Kiriakis of Alistair's involvement in this whole kidnapping scheme. And since he had a fondness for Austin Reed and John Black(those men were Kiriakis's former step-son and former son-in-law, respectively), Fox knew he would be angry enough to help not only find everyone that was missing, but maybe, help Fox topple his grandfather once and for all.
Fox stood up from the table, leaving the coffee cup. He was about to walk off towards the garages, when he heard his name being called. He turned around. It was Whitney.
She had just stepped out of a side door and wore a yellow sundress. Her hair was up. She looked as if she belonged here. As far as Fox was concerned, she did.
Whitney walked over to him. Fox held out his hands to her. Whitney put hers in his.
'What are you doing up so early?' he asked.
Whitney looked him over. Fox was dressed in a three piece suit. She couldn't recall ever seeing him dress this way, except for at his father's wedding, and her mother's 'funeral'.
'I heard you go past my room...I know you've been working hard to find out what the police know. I realized I don't thank you enough for all that you do for me...for all you have done.'
Fox squeezed her hands.
'Whitney, I don't want your thanks, I want your love.'
'Fox...'
'Here me out, Whitney. This thing will be over soon. Everyone will be returning and things are going to be different. Your mother will probably be living in this house.'
Whitney had to admit, she hadn't really thought of that as a possibility. Whitney had just thought that her parents were probably back together. She had assumed that the danger would reunite them. She guessed it was possible that that might not come to pass.
'And when it is over,' Fox continued, 'you are going to have to make a choice between myself and Chad. Have you heard from him?'
Whitney nodded.
'He called a few times, but, the conversations disintegrate into arguments. I don't know how we got so far apart.'
'You're far apart because you don't belong together.'
'Fox...'
'It's true, Whitney, and you know it.'
Fox then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a box. He held it up, then set it down on the table.
'I think you know what's in that box, Whitney. I'm going on a business trip today. I'll be back tonight. When I return, I'll want an answer to the question that usually goes along with what's in that box.'
For the first time in a long while, Whitney didn't feel overwhelmed or pressured. She slowly reached for the box. But, she did not open it.
'I want you to go and see Chad today.' Fox said.
Whitney's eyes flew from the box to Fox.
'Chad?'
'Whitney, you need to see him before you decide anything. You need to know whether you could really live your life with me, without wishing you had stayed with Harris. And you'll know it, once you see him. If there is something between the two of you, I want you to leave the ring on the dresser in my room. If there isn't, then I won't find anything there at all.'
Whitney just stared at him. Fox was giving her an ultimatum. She guessed this little triangle they were living through, couldn't go on forever. She would have to decide between the two of them.
Ethan and Sam walked into the pool area. Fox turned around to look at them. Whitney stood beside Fox. Ivy, came out of the house and walked up to Ethan and Sam. She hugged Ethan.
'My, my! What a sight for sore eyes! My handsome son, along with his equally handsome father!'
Fox rolled his eyes. Whitney linked her arm through Fox's, as if she knew that that comment might hurt him. Fox smiled over at her.
Ivy turned around to look at Fox and Whitney, and noticed the box in Whitney's hand. She and Whitney locked eyes for a moment, before Ivy turned back to Sam and Ethan.
'What brings you by?' Ivy asked, trying to put the box out of her mind.
'Actually, I was coming to see you, Fox, when I ran into Ethan. There is news about everyone Stefano kidnapped. Tony DiMera gave the Salem P.D. a map as to where to find them. The FBI, along with local police authorities in China, are moving in to rescue them as we speak.'
Ivy frowned.
'Everyone is in China?' she asked.
'On an island in the South China seas. Stefano DiMera sent us, and the police in Salem, a video tape of how everyone was looking.'
Fox rolled his eyes. 'How thoughtful of him!'
'But everyone looked okay? I mean, did you see my parents?' Whitney asked. Fox put an arm around her. Ethan noticed the box in Whitney's hand as well.
Sam decided that Whitney was a big girl, and she had to hear the truth.
'Honey, I didn't see your father on this tape...but that's not to say that he wasn't there.'
'Oh God!' Whitney cried, the turned into Fox's arms. Ethan pulled his father aside. Ivy moved with them. She always marveled at how much Sam and Ethan looked alike. If only she had chosen Sam.
'What are you thinking, Dad?' Ethan asked.
Sam looked at Ethan and Ivy.
'I'm thinking T.C.'s temper could have gotten the better of him. He's been kidnapped and Julian is on the same island as him. That's a recipe for disaster.'
Ethan nodded. Ivy looked over at Fox and Whitney.
'Plus, there's more bad news. Or, it may not be to all of you.'
'What is it?' Ivy asked.
'I really have to speak to Fox first.' Sam answered, moving away from Ethan and Ivy, and walking over to Fox and Whitney. Fox looked up. Whitney began trying to compose herself.
'Fox, there's something else you need to know. We've tried to keep this from the media, but it's only a matter of time.'
Fox looked at Ethan, who shrugged.
'What is it, Chief Bennett?' Fox asked. Whitney tensed up. He put an arm around her waist.
Sam looked around at everyone.
'We got a call over at Crane Industries. Your grandfather Fox, Alistair, was shot to death...it looks like it happened sometime last night.'
Fox looked at Ethan. Ethan looked at Fox. Ivy noticed the looks her sons were giving one another, and strangely enough, began to feel protective of both of them. She stepped forward.
'Do you have any suspects, Sam?' she asked.
Sam looked at her.
'The whole town...but no...as of yet, no one person. But I wanted to inform you, Fox, that we will do our best to find out who did this.'
Fox kept a cool tone.
'Bringing our loved ones home should be first on your list Chief Bennett. I'm sure my Grandfather would agree.'
Everyone else looked at one another. Probably because it was a stupid comment. No one, including Fox himself, thought for one minute, that Alistair Crane, from whatever hell he had been sent to, would not mind if the police worked on other cases, before finding his killer!
But Sam figured it was some sort of semi-grief talking.
'Okay then! I will keep you informed on the kidnappings. I have to get going and find out how the rescue attempt is going.'
'I'll walk you out, Sam!' Ivy said, never missing a chance to be near her beloved. The two walked off. Whitney looked at Fox.
'Fox, I am so sorry! I don't know what to say!'
Fox took her hands in his.
'I don't want you to think about all of this unpleasantness. But, the good news about our folks, does change what we talked about earlier. So, I'll want an answer from you, by tonight.'
Whitney took a deep breath and nodded. She then let go of his hands, said goodbye to Ethan, then walked back into the house. She still had to call Chad.
Fox then turned to Ethan.
'Wow! Now you can marry Whitney, free and clear, hey?' Ethan noted.
Fox gave him a disapproving look.
'I know what you're thinking, and I did not kill Alistair. How about you?'
'How about me? I was with my wife last night!'
'And I was here with my future one, okay?' Fox answered. His mind then drifted on to other things. Like how long it would be until Alistair's will was read.
****
ISLAND
When Eve, Julian and T.C. returned to the beach, Abe was already dead. Lexie was screaming her head off!
'Where was the doctor??? Where was the doctor???' She was sobbing and looking around at everyone accusingly. Marlena and John cried in one another's arms. Teresa sought comfort in Austin's.
Lexie had Abe's head in her lap. There was a pool of blood on the sand. Eve began to ease over to Lexie, but Julian pulled her back.
'Eve, just leave her alone. She looks so wild, I fear she may strike out at you or something.'
Eve looked at Julian. Though his logic was a bit faulty, she and Lexie had not been getting along lately. Maybe Julian was right. She nodded in agreement, then looked down at Abe. This couldn't have been an accident. Poor Abe. She had just spoken to him, hours before. He had begged her to wait for him, when she had insisted on going up to the compound to take Stefano's deal. If she had just waited for Abe, would he be alive right now?
T.C. eased over to Lexie, and knelt beside her on the sand. Lexie stopped crying for a moment, then let go of Abe's head. T.C. pulled her into his arms. Eve felt a knot in her stomach, watching the tender scene. She realized she wasn't so much jealous, as she was pissed! Lexie had done things that Eve was pretty sure, outranked any of her own past misdeeds, but T.C. could accept Lexie's past, no problem. Why had he had such a hard time forgiving her then?
Eve felt Julian grasp her hand. She looked down at his hand, then at him.
Teresa let go of Austin and looked around.
'Where is my mother?' she asked, her voice sounding panicky.
Rebecca, who was staring at John and Marlena, suddenly looked up at the sky.
'Does everyone hear that?'
John and Marlena looked up as well. Austin looked away from Teresa and stared upwards. Julian and Eve did so also. Julian then smiled.
'The cavalry is here, my darling. We are going home.' he said.