Chapter 12

Pilar gets bad news. Julian gets a disturbing call.

Hours after Tony DiMera's phone call to 911, in which he asked for an ambulance, and informed them of the dead body bricked up in the basement, all hell broke loose in the community.

There was a crowd outside the DiMera mansion, as word of a dead body in the basement, seeped throughout the community. People wondered who it could be?

Julian, who received a call from Pilar about Eve, arrived at the hospital with Fox, intent on scrapping the 'deal', getting a good lawyer for Eve, and finding a judge beholden to the Crane's, to bribe!

Pilar was standing right outside the elevator on Eve's floor, when Julian and Fox stepped off. She tried to block their way.

'Pilar!' Julian snapped.

'Julian, I told you how things were going to be! Now you can't be seen here, as if you still care about Eve!'

'C'mon, Pilar!' Fox piped up. 'that's a little harsh, don't you think?'

Pilar looked him the eye.

'The game is already in motion. Tony now believes that your father and Eve are no longer a couple. He believes that Julian has forsaken his responsibilities to Eve and the twins. His showing up here will only arouse DiMera's suspicions. You have to leave, Julian.'

'The hell I will! I knew this damned deal was no good for Eve or our unborn children! Now look where she is?! And after finding a body in the basement! Christ! Why am I not surprised?!'

'Julian, turn around and go! I will stay here and call you with updates on Eve.'

Fox looked at his father, then tried to pull on his arm. But Julian snatched it away! He then pointed at Pilar.

'Pilar, dear, I'm surprised to see you here at all.'

Pilar knew from his tone of voice, that he was getting ready to insult her again. But she just took a deep breath. She was close enough to him to knee him in his privates, if he got smart!

'Why is that? It is my job to make sure that you hold up your end of the bargain.'

'No, that's not what I mean. Have you forgotten who used to own the DiMera home, long ago?'

Pilar didn't blink for the longest moment. Fox wondered if she was alright!

'Father, what are you talking about?'

Julian turned away from Pilar, and looked at Fox.

'Your grandfather, your maternal grandfather, Harrison Winthrop, owned that estate. Pilar here used to work there with her husband...before she moved to our estate with her LATE husband, Martin....'

'Shut up, Julian!' Pilar snapped.

'My God! How did you get a badge? The only person that's been missing from this town in years is Martin Fitzgerald! From all reports, that body that their pulling out of that pillar, has been there for at least 20 years...'

'Father!' Fox hissed. Whatever he thought of Pilar personally, she was still Teresa's mother. And he hoped like hell, that whoever that was they were digging out of there, was not her father!

Julian moved past Pilar and walked over to Dr. Parks, who had just entered the hallway. Fox continued to watch Pilar.

'Pilar, I want to apologize for my father...he's just stressed...'

But Pilar put a hand up, as if to ward him off. She then walked over to the elevators and pressed the down button.

Julian Crane had not said anything that had not been in the back of her mind, since the news got out that there was a dead body in the DiMera basement. One of her first thoughts, was that, God help her, she hoped it was a woman. Because if it turned out to be a man, then there was a likely chance that it was Martin.

She couldn't deal with Julian's crap right now! Pilar decided to go over to the DiMera house, and find out what was going on.

****

'Dr. Parks, surely you can tell me something?!' Julian practically begged.

Dr. Parks slammed down her charts!

'What is it with the people in Eve's life, that they don't understand what the words 'stress free' mean? First you drag her off to God knows where, then she mysteriously ends up in the hospital here again, only with Tony DiMera by her side! He told me that it was the stress of being abandoned by you, that caused this! So, no, Julian, since you have no intention of marrying Eve, I owe you no news on her condition!'

'DiMera is a liar!'

'Yeah, whatever! And you're not going in there while Tony is in there! The two of you in the same room is a recipe for disaster!'

Julian eyed her.

''Tony'? You're calling him by his first name now? How big a donation did he give to the hospital, Dr. Parks?'

'That's none of your concern!'

'It is, since I'm still on the board! Now, I want you to tell me how Eve is doing or else...'

'Or else what? How about I tell Mr. DiMera you're out here harassing the staff about Eve? I'm sure he'll ask that we call security! Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go check on Eve now!'

Dr. Parks walked away from him. Julian began to follow her, but Fox pulled on his arm again. Once again, Julian snatched it back!

'Leave me be! I'm going to see Eve!'

'Oh, how do you plan to accomplish that, hey? You heard the doctor. All she has to do is tell DiMera you're here, and he'll have us both thrown out of here for sure!'

'I'm not going anywhere! And let Pilar or any other FBI agent try and stop me! They're too stupid too catch Stefano DiMera themselves, so now, they're bullying normal citizens into doing their dirty work!'

'Okay, I hear what you're saying. But that was so cold what you said to Pilar back there...'

'Oh Christ, Fox! You know I'm telling the truth! And I am sorry that I may have dashed her hopes of being reunited with Martin. But God, when someone just disappears, when they ordinarily wouldn't have, chances are they're dead!'

'Think about how you would feel if Eve just never came home one day? Knowing how much you love her, could you just accept that she was dead, without knowing for sure?'

Julian didn't like his son's comparison. One, because he couldn't see it happening, nor did he ever want to think about anything like that! But mostly, because he was fully aware that Martin Fitzgerald had been FBI. And if that was him in that brick pillar, then he had probably died on the job. Eve had now been pressed into service for those people. There was a good chance she might die in the hands of the DiMera's, people that she was working hard to put away.

'I'm sorry for Pilar. But I can't get used to that authoritative tone she uses with me. I ordered her around for many years and now...'

'What comes around, goes around?' Fox asked, smiling.

Julian raised a brow.

'I'm going to see Eve. DiMera had the nerve to show his face here, the first time Eve was hospitalized, when no one wanted him here. I think it's only fitting that I do him the same favor.'

'What about Eve? C'mon, Father, you don't want to stress her out...'

'Fox, what stressed Eve out, was running into a body in the basement! She's probably scared out of her mind, with no one but Tony with her! I'm going to see her, if for no other reason, to let her know that she is safe.'

Julian then turned and strode purposefully down the hall. Fox sighed, then walked over to the waiting room chairs to sit down. He would have to call Whitney and let her know what was going on....at least with her mother's medical condition. Hopefully, he'd be able to catch up with her soon. If not, he was getting on a plane and going back out to California.

****

Julian found Eve's room and peeked through the glass on the door. She was asleep. Tony was sitting by her bedside, watching her. Julian was about to open the door, when his cell phone rang!

Highly annoyed, Julian backed away from the door and answered it.

'Hello?' he asked, his tone surly.

'Pookie?'

'Rebecca! Darling this is a very bad time...'

'I know.'

Julian raised a brow. She sounded strange.

'What do you mean, 'you know'?'

'Well, it's night...and I'm working late here at Basic Black alone...and...I got a visitor...if you know what I mean.'

'I haven't the foggiest notion! Now, pet, if you want to discuss financial matters, I will call you back but...'

'Hello, Julian.' a deep, accented voice said.

Julian looked back towards Eve's door, then walked down another hallway. He then walked out onto a terrace. He was alone.

'Stefano. Put Rebecca back on the phone! If you've harmed her in any way...'

'My Julian, how protective you are of your women! One would think that you care more for Rebecca here, than you do the mother of your unborn twins.'

'Why are you calling?' Julian asked, glancing around.

'Julian, things have not quite worked out the way I anticipated.'

'Meaning?'

'Meaning, my son now has a chance at happiness with Eve...or so he thinks. Love does addle the brain...or so I've been told. My Anthony has no clue that Eve and yourself, are really working with the authorities, to help catch me, and put myself and Anthony away. My son will be crushed when he finds this out.'

'Would that please you?' Julian asked, wondering why Stefano chose to pay Rebecca a visit.

'Of course. That was why I tormented him with the choice of my giving a video of his arsonist ladylove, doing what she does best, or a tape of him shooting your father.'

Julian dropped the phone slightly and closed his eyes. Good God! Tony had killed Alistair! Great! If he didn't know it for sure before, he did now. Eve was living with a murderer!

'Julian?'

'I'm still here, Stefano. Why don't you get to the point?'

'Well, you see, I realized that when Tony chose to sell out Eve, instead of himself, it was probably for the best. After all, he really didn't do a very good job.'

Julian was losing his patience with this maniac! What the hell was he talking about?!

'Meaning what?'

'Meaning that your father is alive...but unfortunately, not well. He has been residing at one of my compounds, comatose.'

Julian just shook his head. Could this whole situation get any worse? His bastard father was still alive...making all that he had done to keep the Crane fortune, and Chad's suicide, all that more meaningless! Damn him!

'Julian?' Stefano asked, thinking that he had given him sufficient time to digest the news.

'What do you want from me? And what do you want from Rebecca?'

'Oh, Rebecca here is just helping fulfill a partnership, she thought once abandoned. I'm calling because I do need your help.'

Julian smirked!

'I need yours as well, Stefano. I need for you to turn yourself in, so that Eve can get the hell out of your son's house!'

Julian looked around again. He was alone on the balcony, but his voice did carry there for a moment.

'Julian, Julian. Are you upset about the finger Eve found in the basement? Well, my Anthony, as loathsome as he's become, had nothing to do with that unfortunate incident. He wasn't even around there when that happened!'

'It sounds as if you do know something about it?'

'Let's not get off track here. This is why I called: I want to take my daughter Alexandra, and my grandson, Theo, away from Salem and Harmony. I want them to come and live with me.'

Julian rolled his eyes! What the hell did that have to do with him? 'If I understand correctly, Lexie hates your guts for murdering her husband. And she does appear to be somewhat happy with T.C. Russell. You see, Stefano, Lexie serves a purpose for me too. Because T.C. is in love with her, I don't have to look at his half-crazed face, everytime Eve and I are together. Besides, I really don't see her leaving with you...'

'No, I don't expect she will come willingly.'

Julian could smell a potential kidnapping! God! As a general rule, one never gets into bed with the DiMera's! You never got rid of them! Years later, they came sniffing around, looking for some kind of re-payment for an old favor! That was probably the reason Stefano was keeping his comatose father close by!

'And I come in how?' Julian asked, sighing.

'You get my daughter, and my grandson, on to one of the Crane jets. The jet will be flown by one of my own personal pilots. I will take things from there.'

Julian closed his eyes briefly. Dear mother of God! As if things weren't crappy enough, now Stefano was asking him to kidnap someone! Unbelievable! God, he needed a drink! And that little something he said about Rebecca 'fulfilling a partnership she thought abandoned', brought to mind a conversation he had had with her, back when they were on the island. A conversation about helping Stefano kidnap Marlena Black!

'Why would I help you kidnap your daughter and grandson? Give me one good reason, and please don't say anything about sparing Alistair's life. I could give a damn!'

Stefano chuckled deeply. And for quite awhile. Julian glanced at his watch, as the laughter seemed to go on forever. Finally, it stopped.

'Because I have many sources in the FBI. Because I can go over Jason Blair's head. Because I can give them the tape of Tony shooting Alistair, giving them my son, and getting them to drop their search for me. I can get Eve off of the hook, in just a few hours.'

Julian could scarcely breathe. Was this possible? Was there finally a chance for Eve to come home to him? Home where he could take care of her? Where together, they could await the birth of the twins?

But the price was so high! Get Lexie and her baby on to a Crane jet, with a faux pilot that did not fly for Crane Industries, to take them off to God knows where, never to be seen again! Julian knew, that if he did this, he would never be able to look the heartbroken T.C. Russell in the eye again. Nor could he ever tell Eve.

'Let me add a little sweetener,' Stefano purred, 'I will keep Alistair here with me, for the rest of his life. He will never interfere in anyone's life again.'

That was a little too much to pass up. Julian shook his head, then spoke.

'Fine. I'll do it.'

'Good. Good, Julian. Believe me, you won't regret this.'

'I already am!'

'You'll get over it. My pilot will call me when my daughter and grandson are in the air. Then, I will make the appropriate calls. Eve will be free of her obligations to the FBI, both of you will be cleared of all charges, Tony will be in custody, and Alistair will never bother you again. I would say you're getting quite a lot for your small hand in all of this.'

'Let me speak to Rebecca!' he ordered. A few moments later, Rebecca came on the line.

'I'm glad you agreed to it, Pookie. Now I don't feel so bad.'

Julian raised a brow.

'Is Stefano still there?'

'No, they're gone.'

''They'? Who's they?'

'Stefano and Marlena.' Rebecca said innocently.

'Becky, no!' Julian yelled, looking around again.

'Julian, this working at Basic Black, and following John around town, wasn't cutting it! I wasn't getting anywhere! When Stefano called me, and brought up our deal, I jumped at the chance! Believe me, Pookie, John will be much better off without her.'

'How did you get her to him?' Julian asked curiously.

'Oh, honey, that was easy. I called Marlena and pretended that I was having visions of making love with John. I then told her that Stefano did something to me, the night we were all supposed to have dinner with him back on the island? Anyway, I made it sound like he had programmed me to take John away from her or something. I told her I needed psychiatric help.'

'That sounds a bit lame, dear.'

'Well, it worked like a charm. I told her I was working late at Basic Black and to come over. She did, Stefano was waiting. He chloroformed her and had her taken away by two men. Problem solved!'

Julian shook his head and rubbed his forehead.

'Becky, don't you think that John is going to be more than a bit upset? I mean, he's not going to have time to fall for your ample charms, when he's trying to find his wife.'

'Don't worry about me, Julian. Just worry about holding up your end. I think Stefano has been very generous with you. Tony and Alistair out of the way? You couldn't ask for more! I have to go now, Pookie. I have work I have to dump on Kate's desk. That's our arrangement. She puts me in a position I know nothing about, does my work, I help her keep Teresa and Austin apart. Gotta go! Bye!'

Julian heard the sharp click, and hung up himself. Lord, what had Rebecca, and himself, for that matter, gotten themselves in to?

A plan was forming. One that would get Lexie to meet him at the airport, and then wash his hands of this whole mess! But, then he realized that what he was thinking of, would require him to get Lexie to bring her baby as well. Julian realized he would have to re-think his plan.

He put away his phone and walked back into the hospital. As he turned down the hallway to Eve's room, he spotted Tony coming out with Dr. Parks. They both walked off in the opposite direction. Julian took the chance to hurry down the hallway, and slip into Eve's room.

Eve was already awake and sitting up. She smiled when she saw Julian.

'Julian! I...you have to go! If Tony sees you...'

But Julian hurried over to her, and she threw her arms around his neck. She then let go of him.

'Really, honey, you have to go now...'

'Darling, I need to know that you're okay. That the twins are alright.'

Eve nodded quickly, eyeing the door.

'I'm fine. It was just the shock of knowing someone had been bricked up like that. For someone's finger to be sticking out...I just don't want to think about it!'

'Shhhh!' Julian said, pulling her into his arms. 'Put it out of your mind. This will soon be over.'

Eve pulled away again.

'What do you mean?'

'I mean, that I know some people, who know for a fact, that Stefano DiMera will probably be caught soon, without your help. So, we'll soon be free.'

But Eve shook her head.

'But that's not the deal, Julian. If I don't get the information, I could go to prison. I could stand that, but if you got into trouble too, and couldn't raise our babies...'

'That's not going to happen! Everything will be alright. Look, I have to leave you, but, I want you to hold on, stay strong, and just keep doing whatever you are doing with Tony. And when it gets too much to bear, think of the cribs that I ordered, for our babies. We will put them up together, I promise.'

Tears sprang into Eve's eyes. Julian kissed her quickly, wishing it could be longer, but knowing that if he didn't put Stefano's plan in motion, the life he wanted with Eve, might just slip away.

Julian began backing away from her. Eve reached out to touch his hand, before he backed out of reach, then slipped out of the room.

Eve turned on to her side. Cribs. With all that was going on, she hadn't given cribs, baby furniture, clothes, any of that stuff, much thought. But it did give her some peace. She had opted not to tell Julian what Tony had told her about murdering Alistair. He was worried enough as it was.

****

L.A.

Whitney answered her cell phone, out by the pool.

'Hello?'

'Whitney? God, where the hell have you been?'

Whitney smiled.

'Fox! I'm sorry, honey, I've just been really busy! The rehearsals ran into the night, and I was off with some of the other contestants...'

'Teresa too?'

'Yeah, of course Teresa too. What's going on? You sound funny?'

'Honey, I was just worried. I was worried that Simon Cowell might try to put the moves on you or something. I can tell from your tone that everything is okay then?'

Whitney smiled, as she eyed the woman walking towards her.

'Everything is fine, honey. But, I'm dropping out of the competition.'

'What?!' Fox yelled, then looked around. An old woman put a finger to her lips. Fox rolled his eyes and turned his back.

'Fox, there is too much going on back there for me to ignore. I belong with you, and my family. Besides, I'm not enjoying this as much as I thought I would.'

'Because of Cowell?'

'Fox, everything is fine. Simon will not be a problem.'

'Okay, Whitney, but you did sign a contract, remember? I mean, don't you have to do summer tours and stuff?'

'You know something, Fox Crane, if I didn't know any better, I would swear you didn't want me to come home. Is everything alright there?'

Fox took a deep breath.

'Okay, okay. Your mother is in the hospital again.'

'What?!'

'My father is with her now.'

'Well, I don't understand, I mean, I thought they were on the run?'

Fox saw Julian walking towards the elevators, as if he were in some kind of hurry.

'Whitney, I have to go. It looks like there may be some word on your mother. I'll call you right back!'

'I'll be right here.' Whitney said, then hung up. She then looked up at Ivy, who was standing in front of her.

'Well, well. Was that my son?'

Whitney stood up, still holding her phone.

'That was Fox. Though I know he wouldn't really consider himself, 'your son'.'

Ivy folded her arms. Whitney marveled at how well put together she looked, even after having just had sex with a beast like Simon Cowell.

'I didn't know you were in L.A., Ivy?' Whitney asked, her tone innocent sounding.

'Yes, I have friends here I like to catch up with. One of those friends is Simon Cowell.'

'You don't say?'

Ivy gave her a look. That last sentence had bordered on sarcastic. She eyed Whitney, but continued.

'Yes. He told me about how you cheated on my son, with him the other night.'

Whitney just stared at her blankly. Ivy was beginning to feel unnerved. Whitney didn't look in the least bit shocked. Could it be possible that she had confessed all to Fox on the phone just now?

'Actually, Ivy, I need your help with Simon. I want out of this 'American Idol' thing. It took my fake night with Simon, for me to realize that I don't need any of this. What I do need is Fox.'

Ivy squinted at her.

'You need my help getting out of your contract? Why? You'll need something to hold on to when your relationship with Fox falls apart....'. Did Whitney say 'fake night'?

Whitney smiled, as Teresa walked up behind Ivy, then tapped her on the shoulder. Ivy whirled around, and Teresa handed her a copy of a picture of Ivy and Simon. Ivy gasped, then snatched the picture!

'I'm thinking of becoming a photographer,' Teresa said gleefully, 'I mean, I think I captured the essence of you: a lying, cheating, whore!'

Ivy balled up the picture! She then sneered at Teresa! She actually bared teeth!

'Now, now, Ivy! If you don't get Whitney out of that contract, not only will I sell this picture to every tabloid I can find, but, I will also tell them that you cried out for Sam Bennett during...'

Ivy reached out to slap Teresa, but Whitney grabbed her arm and whirled her back around!

'You know, when I think back to all of those times that Fox told me you were no damned good, and I didn't listen, I feel like a total fool! Because I couldn't imagine that you really hated him, or me, as much as he thought. I'm not going to have any choice but to tell Fox about what you did here. Needless to say, I don't ever want to see you again, and Fox won't either, I'm sure. Though, I know that's the way he feels already.'

Whitney let go of her arm, and Ivy pulled it away roughly. Whitney then walked around her, and together with Teresa, they walked back up to the apartment.

Ivy swiped at the angry tears that had formed in her eyes. She then took out her cellphone and dialed Simon Cowell's number.

****

Pilar arrived at the DiMera home, parked, then showed her badge to Hank Bennett, who nodded, then let her through. There were still plenty of gapers, including Liz Sanbourne, who was now wondering if bricking Lexie up, would be a better way to get rid of her!

Pilar walked into the living room. Shane Donovan was standing there with Sam Bennett. Both Sam and Shane looked surprised to see her.

'Pilar? I thought you were going to stay at the hospital and watch Julian Crane?' Shane asked.

But Pilar looked from him to Sam.

'Sam, have you seen the body?'

Sam nodded slowly.

'Yes, but the medical examiner said he had been there over 20 years. So, there really wasn't much to see.'

'You said, 'he'? Was there anything personal on him? A wallet? Anything?'

Sam shook his head at Shane, who was nodding. Sam put a hand on Pilar's shoulder.

'We don't know it was Martin, Pilar. So, don't go getting excited over nothing.'

But Shane disagreed. This woman needed to know for her own peace of mind, whether her husband was still alive or not. Otherwise, she would be a on a wild goose chases for the rest of her days.

'Pilar, one of the fingers had a wedding ring on it.'

Pilar's eyes widened!

'Let me see it! Let me see it!' she yelled, her heart beating a mile a minute. Sam shook his head sadly, as Shane walked over to the Medical Examiner, who was just getting ready to take the body out. He handed Shane something. Shane took it, then walked back over to Pilar. He held out the ring.

Pilar backed away, covering her mouth with one hand. The other reached out for the ring. She then began sobbing, dropping to the floor. It was Martin's wedding ring.

Sam went over to her and pulled her up off of the ground. He glared at Shane, then whispered to Pilar.

'Come on, honey. You're coming home to stay with Grace and me.'

Pilar did not respond, but numbly, allowed Sam to guide her from the house. Shane shook his head regretfully.