Chapter 13
All hell breaks loose in Harmony, yet again.
Rebecca was taken down to the police station for questioning, soon after Sam and Luis's visit to Ethan and Gwen's home. And from there, things got worse...much, much worse.
Luis asked if Sam and Hank could take over the questioning of Rebecca, while he dealt with a family matter. Sam, assuming it was more bad news about Teresa, told him that him and Hank could handle Rebecca, who was now sobbing. Ethan and Gwen had followed Sam and Luis down in their car, but had not yet arrived.
Luis then went outside to meet with Antonio, who's hairy hand, looked normal again, now that he was calm. Then, together, they hightailed it over to Tony DiMera's mansion.
Tony was less than welcoming, nor did he believe the claims of the Lopez-Fitzgerald brothers, that Antonio had fallen victim to the same ailment that had burdened Abe. Tony then asked them to prove it.
Antonio became outraged at the suggestion, claiming he couldn't just change at will! But, Tony had ignored his words and peered at him, not only had his hands grown hairy at that moment, but he grew sideburns! That was all the proof the Count needed, but, he did ask what was in it for him?
Luis, against his better judgment, told him about Rebecca's newest troubles, knowing it went against professional ethics. Tony had smiled, for not only was he pleased that Rebecca was looking at jail time, but one of his investigators had found the infamous tape that proved him, and Stefano, innocent of rape. Rebecca, dingbat that she was, had hidden it in a vent, but had not taken it with her, when she moved in with Gwen and Ethan.
His lawyer, Marshall Travers, was meeting with the D.A. at that moment, and was showing him the tape. So, even if Rebecca managed to weasel out of jail time for pushing the Lopez-Fitzgerald girl down the stairs, she probably would be brought up on charges for lying on him and his father!
Tony left the room without comment, leaving Luis and Antonio to wonder if DiMera would help them. He then returned shortly, giving him a small bottle of pills. He told them he still had enough for Abe, whenever he returned.
Antonio thanked Tony profusely! Tony slyly told him that maybe, someday, Antonio could return the favor. Luis had pushed Antonio out towards the hallway at that point, uneasy with the request. The last thing his brother needed, was having to deal with a DiMera calling in a favor!
Back at the police station, Rebecca just lied, lied and lied! She stuck to her story about being in the study with Julian, when Teresa tripped down the stairs. Unfortunately, that did not jive with the story that Teresa told, which was that Julian was upstairs with Rebecca, when she was pushed. It was decided that Julian Crane would have to be brought in for questioning.
And worse yet, Lainie, the maid that had let Rebecca in, had not left town after all, but had caught up some bills and bought a few necessities with her hush money. She came to the police station, asking to speak to Sam Bennett.
****
After a sensuous love-making session, Eve pulled Julian down the stairs. Both of them were dressed in matching, black, silk robes.
'Darling, this really isn't necessary. I will call someone and we can order in.' Julian insisted.
Eve continued to pull him down the stairs. The twins were asleep, hopefully for a little while longer. She smiled.
'You know, for over twenty years, I cooked for T.C. and the girls, that is when I was home. I'm going to take advantage of the fact that we have no servants, and cook my hubby a real meal.'
'And I wasn't getting proper nourishment before?' Julian asked, his tone teasing. His eyes then fell upon the horrible graffiti that was on the wall. He had decided he was going to press charges against all of the staff! Maybe if they all thought they had something to lose, then one, or more of them, would finger the true culprit of not only the graffiti, but of all of the destruction on the front lawn.
As they reached the bottom step, the doorbell rang. Eve looked at Julian, and he let go of her hand, to walk over to the door. He opened it to Sam and Hank Bennett.
'Julian, Eve.' Sam said coldly, peeking around Julian to eye Eve.
'Sam, what brings you by?' Julian asked in a bored tone.
Hank spoke up.
'Looks like you've had some trouble here?'
Julian waved a hand impatiently.
'Just some angry servants. I was forced to fire all of my staff.'
Sam raised a brow.
'And that would be because they were witnesses to Rebecca shoving Teresa down the stairs?'
'Sam!' Eve yelled, coming forward. She stood behind Julian.
'Hello, Eve. My, you look rich now. I guess you've left those 'T.C Years' behind, haven't you?'
Julian didn't like Sam's tone.
'How dare you speak to my wife in that manner! Say whatever you have to say, then leave us!'
'You know, Grace has not been the same since she found out what you and Ivy pulled!' Sam snapped. Hank pulled on his arm.
Julian squinted at him.
'But I'm sure you're not as hard on Ivy, are you, Chief Bennett? Look, if you came to re-hash all of that past stuff, then you can leave right now!'
'Actually, Julian,' Hank began, 'we're here because your maid, Lainie Higgins, came in to talk to us.'
Sam smirked.
'You remember Lainie, don't you?'
Julian grabbed Eve's hand and pulled her away from Sam and Hank. Eve looked confused.
'Why would Lainie talk to the police?' she asked him.
'I don't know.'
'Well, do you think she's mad because you fired her?' Eve asked.
Julian looked away. Eve couldn't possibly know that Lainie had been paid to leave town! She probably had heard from some of her other dismissed colleagues, and decided to cause trouble. She can definitely put Rebecca in the house, though!
'I don't know, dear. Why don't you go upstairs and get dressed? I'll handle the police here, okay?'
'Julian...'
'Darling, I don't want you putting up with Sam Bennett's noxious behavior! You've apologized over and over for your part in that Hastings debacle. Now, if Sam can't be decent, that is not your concern. That and we are victims here too!'
Eve nodded. Julian kissed her, then watched as she hurried up the stairs. He then turned back towards Hank and Sam. Hank was pointing at the graffiti that said that he 'sucked AZZ', and laughing. He stopped abruptly when he caught Julian glaring at him.
'Uh, I was just looking at...'
'I know what you were looking at! Now you're going to deal with me.' Julian answered coolly, sizing Sam up.
But Sam, and his family, had been through too much crap from the Cranes, for him to back down now.
'Sending the wife away, hey, Julian? What's the matter? Are you afraid that she may hear some new lies about you?'
'Lainie was fired with the rest of the help.' Julian said.
'Oh, well that's not the story she's telling.' Sam replied.
'Yes, well I'm sure she is indeed telling a 'story'. Yes, Rebecca was in the house. But she was downstairs when Teresa fell.'
'And where were you?' Hank asked.
'I was upstairs with the twins, saying my goodbyes. As you all probably know, Teresa found a letter that I had written to my wife. Eve and I have talked about it, and she is aware of what was in it.'
Sam ignored that.
'So, you wouldn't mind showing us where you think Rebecca and Teresa were, in accordance to yourself, would you?'
Julian didn't like the sound of this!
'Now? Really, Chief Bennett...'
'Oh, you see, Julian, things are moving so quickly now! You see, Rebecca is at the station. We brought her in for questioning. Did you also know, that low and behold, DiMera's lawyer came in with some tape, that shows that Rebecca and DiMera were lovers.'
Julian felt like slapping his forehead! Good God, what had Rebecca been thinking! And to pull a scam like that on the DiMera's? Of all people? His poor ex could very well end up in quicksand!
'What about the bruising around her neck? How do we know that DiMera didn't fake the tape?'
'We found it in a vent in her apartment.' Hank answered.
'So? Maybe DiMera had someone plant it there.'
'No one planted anything, Julian! All of Rebecca's plots are coming to an end. And this last one, with Teresa, is going to land her some jail time! Now, are you going to let us in?'
'I'm calling my lawyer.' Julian replied dryly. 'Now leave this property immediately, before I call the mayor!'
Sam took a step forward. Hank pulled him back.
'Come on, Sam. We'll be back later. Let's concentrate on Rebecca now.'
'Oh and by the way, I will be down to the station to drop those charges against my father.'
Sam's mouth dropped open!
'You're going to let Alistair off of the hook for trying to kill your kids?!'
'Yes!'
'Why?!'
'That, Chief Bennett, is none of your concern!'
Julian then slammed the door in their faces. Sam pulled away from Hank.
'You know, people bitch about the DiMera's, but Julian and his damned father, have done their fair share of damage around here! I think Julian is still covering for Rebecca!
'Okay, Sam, even if that is true, he was blind! He couldn't really tell us what he saw.'
'But he knows what he heard! Teresa said that she screamed for Rebecca to let go of the letter, when she felt herself slipping. Julian had to have overheard that altercation, yet, he still claims that Rebecca was already downstairs, or some such bull^%%$%! And at the very least, I thought maybe we could finally get Alistair Crane on something! I'm getting the truth out of somebody around here, if I have to beat it out of them!'
****
Julian peered out from behind a curtain. Thank God those two stupid oafs were leaving! And what the hell was Sam Bennett's problem? He seemed more bitter than usual!
Eve came back downstairs and saw Julian peeking from behind a set of curtains. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him.
'So, were Harmony's finest satisfied?'
Julian dropped the curtain and turned to face her.
'No, no they were not. First of all, apparently, Tony DiMera has been cleared of rape...which means Stefano will be as well.'
Eve slowly removed her arms from around him.
'Well, honey, I told you about what Tony said. They found that tape he was talking about, didn't they?'
'Yes! But Eve, these are the DiMera's we're speaking of. Tony could've faked that tape and planted it in Rebecca's apartment.'
'Why, Julian? If he was going to do that, then why didn't he do it sooner? He's been embarrassed and humiliated in this town.'
'As he should be!'
'Okay, I don't disagree with you, but still...honey, you're just going to have to face the fact that Rebecca lied about all of this...probably to get John Black's attention.'
Eve touched the side of his hair.
'What else did they say? About Teresa?'
Julian's jaw tightened.
'Apparently, whatever Rebecca is telling them, doesn't match my story.'
Eve tilted her head.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean that Rebecca seems to be claiming that she was in the study with me the whole time, when she heard Teresa fall down the stairs.'
The expression on Eve's face, changed from surprise to pure disgust!
'Julian, she is trying to suck you into her web of lies! I've had it with that woman!'
Eve then turned and walked towards the stairs. Julian followed after her.
'Eve, darling! Where are you going?'
Eve stopped and turned to look at him.
'I'm going to the police station and giving her a piece of my mind!
Julian tried to grab her arm!
'Eve, wait!'
'No, Julian! Just when we're finally settling down to a nice, peaceful life, Rebecca has pulled us into one of her sick schemes! She pushed a family friend down OUR stairs! Because she did that, we're now implicated! I am going down to that police station and making her tell the truth!'
Eve then turned and rushed up the stairs. Julian began running up after her.
'Eve?'
But Eve did not answer, as she hurried down the hallway towards their room and shoved the door open. She then walked over to her closet. Julian was close at her heels.
'Darling, do you think it's a good idea to go over there, while you're in this state of mind?'
Eve stopped looking through clothes, to stare at him.
'I know that Rebecca and you have a connection, though, I will never understand it. I guess it's like how T.C. and I will always have something...but Julian, because she isn't telling the truth, you look like a liar now. I don't know if I will be able to get through to her, but I have to try.'
'Okay, I understand that. But maybe you should leave that to the police? I'm sure they are experts in getting people to tell them what they need to know.'
Eve turned back towards the closet, and pulled out a Ralph Lauren, red, wool suit. She then turned back to Julian.
'Stay with the twins. I won't be long.'
Julian watched miserably as Eve headed towards the bathroom. This whole thing got worse and worse as time wore on! If only Rebecca hadn't shoved Teresa down those stairs! And soon, Sam Bennett would be back, forcing him to show him exactly where he thought Teresa, Rebecca and himself were, when this whole thing happened! It was only a matter of time, before Rebecca, or himself, tripped up so badly, that the police caught them both red-handed....or Eve did!
*****
The first person Eve saw when she walked into the Harmony Police Station, was Lainie, their ex-maid. Eve walked over to her. Lainie looked up from her chair.
'Mrs. Crane! What are you doing here?'
'What are you doing here, Lainie? Look, I'm sorry that Julian fired you. Maybe I can talk to him, or give you a good reference.'
Lainie looked confused.
'Mr. Crane didn't fire me.'
Eve tilted her head.
'Oh?'
'Uh, no. He gave me some money to send me out of town. I was cleaning in the TV room, when your husband found me and gave me some money to take a trip with. But you know Mrs. Crane, I really needed to catch up some bills more, so I spent it on that. Then, I was watching TV and saw what happened to poor Teresa! I never heard a thing! I mean I was cleaning and I never heard a thing!'
'Well, Lainie, if you don't know anything, then why are you here?'
'Oh, well, I saw Mrs. Hotchkiss on the news, swearing up and down that she was in the study and that Teresa just tripped...but I saw her go upstairs with Mr. Crane. I'm happy he can see again, too.'
Eve was unsettled by the conflicting stories. Teresa said Rebecca pushed her, Rebecca supposedly said she was in the den and HEARD Teresa come tumbling down the stairs, and Julian said Rebecca was standing over Teresa, when his sight came back. What the hell was going on here?!
And now Lainie, who had no reason to lie about anything, was telling her that Julian paid her to leave town. Meaning, Lainie knew something that either implicated Rebecca or Julian.
'Mrs. Crane? Are you alright?' Lainie asked.
Eve had closed her eyes briefly. She was getting that feeling again. The one she got when she suspected Julian had only told her half, or most of the truth! She had to see Rebecca!
'I'm fine, Lainie. Thank you. You've cleared some things up for me.' she said, moving past her.
Rebecca had her back to Eve, and was sitting in front of Sam's desk. Sam was not there at the moment. Eve walked up to her, then stood in her view. Rebecca looked up, then back down, before looking up again.
'Eve! Is Julian with you?' she asked, as she slowly began to stand up.
'No. He's at home. Where he's going to stay.'
Rebecca sighed. She didn't like Eve's tone and she sensed a lecture coming up. Where were Gwen and Ethan anyway? Ethan was coming to see if he could talk some sense into his father, and let her go.
'Why are you here then?' Rebecca asked tiredly.
'I want you to stop trying to use my husband as your alibi! You shoved Teresa down those stairs, and you somehow want Julian to say that you didn't! You are on your own now. Julian won't lie for you anymore.'
Rebecca smiled sweetly at her.
'Is that right?'
'Yes...it is. So don't go calling 'Pookie' anymore!'
Rebecca just smirked. That infuriated Eve even more!
'You know you have a lot of nerve! First you lie on Tony for rape...'
'And what? You feel sorry for him? Eve, you should be glad I was sleeping with him. I was doing you a favor. My God, with each moment he was with me, it kept him from mounting your pathetic daughter!'
Eve slapped her! No one paid any attention, or cared enough to stop what might happen. Rebecca decided she had had enough of this uppity bitch! She had practically stepped aside and let Eve have Julian! And all the while, Julian had hinted strongly, that he would help her snare another rich husband to replace him! Well, he had reneged on his word, now she was going to take care of him!
Rebecca leaned closer to Eve, and dropped her voice to a vicious whisper.
'Yes, I did shove that little bitch down the stairs! And it felt good when I did it! After all the pain she had caused my family, a little tumble down some stairs, doesn't begin to make up for all that she has done. And you know what? Julian knows I did it! You know why? Huh, Eve? Do you know how Julian knows that I did it?'
Eve began to feel light headed. She was going to hear something she wasn't going to like. And from a bitch at that!
'Because Julian regained his sight in time to see me shove Teresa Lopez-'Bitchgerald', down those stairs! Then he covered for me! And it would've been my word against hers, if we hadn't forgotten about that damned letter!'
Eve stepped back, appalled by Rebecca's sheer gall!
'What's to stop me from telling one of these officers, that you just confessed to trying to kill Teresa? What, Rebecca?'
Rebecca smiled.
'Because if you do, your precious Julian, formerly my Pookie, will go down with me as an accomplice. Now do you really want to see your husband in prison, away from your babies, all over Teresa? My God, Eve! Think about what he's done for you! It's not like you're squeaky clean where the law is concerned!'
Eve turned and began to walk away, when Rebecca grabbed her arm!
'Don't be too hard on him, Eve. I wasn't. Especially after he told me that Alistair had seen the whole thing on his cameras, that he still keeps in your house! I suspect that Julian was forced to make some sort of deal with his father, just to keep that tape from coming out. I wonder what it...'
Eve snatched her arm away, then drew back her fist and punched Rebecca! She went flying backwards onto Sam's desk. Paperwork fell to the floor.
Now the other officers came running over! Two helped Rebecca up. Another held onto Eve.
But Rebecca coughed, then smiled, despite the pain in her eye.
'Mrs. Crane is just under stress. She didn't mean what she did, did you Eve?'
Eve said nothing.
'Eve?' Rebecca asked in a taunting manner.
Finally, Eve said no, that she didn't know what she had been thinking. Rebecca announced that she accepted Mrs. Crane's apology. The officer let go of Eve, and she lurched away from him and walked out of the police station.
Rebecca smiled, as an officer brought her an ice-pack. Eve had just agreed to cover for her as well. Things were going better than she had expected.
Rebecca stood up and looked out of a window. Where were Ethan and Gwen?
****
Simone was shaking by the time she reached Tony's front door. Why had she gone out at all today?!
She had been lying on her bed, watching TV. The news about Rebecca had been bittersweet. For while she was glad that Tony had not raped anyone, it was clear he had been cheating on her.
She had suddenly felt cooped up in her room. Simone had stood up, grabbed her car keys and coat, and walked out into the hallway, towards the stairs.
No one had seen her leave. That was because when she reached the landing, Lexie Carver was downstairs, accusing her father and Celeste of having an affair!
She had wanted to defend both her father and Celeste, but somehow, their arguing made her feel all the more cooped up. She slipped out of the door without them noticing.
Simone then got into her car, backed out of the drive, and took off. She drove faster than she usually would have, but she had felt so free...without any worries...like when she was with John.
She had been avoiding his calls. She didn't know why she was being so immature about this! She needed to tell John she was having his baby. Or was it Tony's?
As she was thinking along those lines, Simone did not notice that she was about to smash into a car that was actually doing the speed limit. Before she could hit the brakes, she crashed into it so hard, that the car went veering off the road and into a tree!
Simone screamed, pulled over to the side of the road, then jumped out and hurried over to the car, who's horn was now blaring. She peeked into the driver's side, then began to bawl loudly!
It was Ethan and Gwen Winthrop! Ethan's eyes were closed, and there was blood on his face. Gwen was...Simone's eyes widened, and she slowly walked over to the passenger side and looked in.
Gwen's eyes were wide open. She was staring at nothing. She was dead.
****
'Simone! Simone come in before you catch your death of cold!' Tony said, ushering his young wife in. He was quite pleased to see her.
But she grabbed his hands! He noticed how cold they were.
'What is it? What's wrong?' he asked, seeing the panic in her eyes.
'I had an accident, out on Harmony Creek Road....I killed someone! Tony! I killed someone! And I don't know if the baby is alright...and...I don't know if...'
Tony grabbed her face!
'You think you've killed someone's baby, is that it?'
Tears blurred Simone's vision.
'No! No, I mean my baby....our baby...I think I'm alright...but...'
Tony pulled her into his arms. A baby! A chance for him to be a real father? He let go of Simone.
'Alright, darling, tell me where this accident was again? I will call the police...anonymously of course, and then we'll see what's going on, okay?'
But Simone could barely breathe!
'I killed Gwen! Her eyes were open! She's dead...maybe Ethan too!'
Ethan and Gwen Winthrop! Good Lord! No matter what he thought of Rebecca, this would kill her!
But then again, he was going to be a father! He wondered when Simone planned on telling him this good news? Well, it didn't matter now!
Tony picked Simone up and began to carry her upstairs. She was still sobbing.
'It will be alright now. You're home. I will take care of everything.'
****
Tony drove by the scene, fifteen minutes later. He had not called the police, and was somewhat relieved to see that someone else had anyway. He kept driving by, as to not look like an ordinary gaper. He glimpsed someone with blonde hair, being zipped into a body bag.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have another 'Passions' series running on a fanfiction website of mine at http://priscillapal.hypertransitory.com/
It is called 'Passions:The Alternate Reality Series' . You can read the first chapter right now.
All hell breaks loose in Harmony, yet again.
Rebecca was taken down to the police station for questioning, soon after Sam and Luis's visit to Ethan and Gwen's home. And from there, things got worse...much, much worse.
Luis asked if Sam and Hank could take over the questioning of Rebecca, while he dealt with a family matter. Sam, assuming it was more bad news about Teresa, told him that him and Hank could handle Rebecca, who was now sobbing. Ethan and Gwen had followed Sam and Luis down in their car, but had not yet arrived.
Luis then went outside to meet with Antonio, who's hairy hand, looked normal again, now that he was calm. Then, together, they hightailed it over to Tony DiMera's mansion.
Tony was less than welcoming, nor did he believe the claims of the Lopez-Fitzgerald brothers, that Antonio had fallen victim to the same ailment that had burdened Abe. Tony then asked them to prove it.
Antonio became outraged at the suggestion, claiming he couldn't just change at will! But, Tony had ignored his words and peered at him, not only had his hands grown hairy at that moment, but he grew sideburns! That was all the proof the Count needed, but, he did ask what was in it for him?
Luis, against his better judgment, told him about Rebecca's newest troubles, knowing it went against professional ethics. Tony had smiled, for not only was he pleased that Rebecca was looking at jail time, but one of his investigators had found the infamous tape that proved him, and Stefano, innocent of rape. Rebecca, dingbat that she was, had hidden it in a vent, but had not taken it with her, when she moved in with Gwen and Ethan.
His lawyer, Marshall Travers, was meeting with the D.A. at that moment, and was showing him the tape. So, even if Rebecca managed to weasel out of jail time for pushing the Lopez-Fitzgerald girl down the stairs, she probably would be brought up on charges for lying on him and his father!
Tony left the room without comment, leaving Luis and Antonio to wonder if DiMera would help them. He then returned shortly, giving him a small bottle of pills. He told them he still had enough for Abe, whenever he returned.
Antonio thanked Tony profusely! Tony slyly told him that maybe, someday, Antonio could return the favor. Luis had pushed Antonio out towards the hallway at that point, uneasy with the request. The last thing his brother needed, was having to deal with a DiMera calling in a favor!
Back at the police station, Rebecca just lied, lied and lied! She stuck to her story about being in the study with Julian, when Teresa tripped down the stairs. Unfortunately, that did not jive with the story that Teresa told, which was that Julian was upstairs with Rebecca, when she was pushed. It was decided that Julian Crane would have to be brought in for questioning.
And worse yet, Lainie, the maid that had let Rebecca in, had not left town after all, but had caught up some bills and bought a few necessities with her hush money. She came to the police station, asking to speak to Sam Bennett.
****
After a sensuous love-making session, Eve pulled Julian down the stairs. Both of them were dressed in matching, black, silk robes.
'Darling, this really isn't necessary. I will call someone and we can order in.' Julian insisted.
Eve continued to pull him down the stairs. The twins were asleep, hopefully for a little while longer. She smiled.
'You know, for over twenty years, I cooked for T.C. and the girls, that is when I was home. I'm going to take advantage of the fact that we have no servants, and cook my hubby a real meal.'
'And I wasn't getting proper nourishment before?' Julian asked, his tone teasing. His eyes then fell upon the horrible graffiti that was on the wall. He had decided he was going to press charges against all of the staff! Maybe if they all thought they had something to lose, then one, or more of them, would finger the true culprit of not only the graffiti, but of all of the destruction on the front lawn.
As they reached the bottom step, the doorbell rang. Eve looked at Julian, and he let go of her hand, to walk over to the door. He opened it to Sam and Hank Bennett.
'Julian, Eve.' Sam said coldly, peeking around Julian to eye Eve.
'Sam, what brings you by?' Julian asked in a bored tone.
Hank spoke up.
'Looks like you've had some trouble here?'
Julian waved a hand impatiently.
'Just some angry servants. I was forced to fire all of my staff.'
Sam raised a brow.
'And that would be because they were witnesses to Rebecca shoving Teresa down the stairs?'
'Sam!' Eve yelled, coming forward. She stood behind Julian.
'Hello, Eve. My, you look rich now. I guess you've left those 'T.C Years' behind, haven't you?'
Julian didn't like Sam's tone.
'How dare you speak to my wife in that manner! Say whatever you have to say, then leave us!'
'You know, Grace has not been the same since she found out what you and Ivy pulled!' Sam snapped. Hank pulled on his arm.
Julian squinted at him.
'But I'm sure you're not as hard on Ivy, are you, Chief Bennett? Look, if you came to re-hash all of that past stuff, then you can leave right now!'
'Actually, Julian,' Hank began, 'we're here because your maid, Lainie Higgins, came in to talk to us.'
Sam smirked.
'You remember Lainie, don't you?'
Julian grabbed Eve's hand and pulled her away from Sam and Hank. Eve looked confused.
'Why would Lainie talk to the police?' she asked him.
'I don't know.'
'Well, do you think she's mad because you fired her?' Eve asked.
Julian looked away. Eve couldn't possibly know that Lainie had been paid to leave town! She probably had heard from some of her other dismissed colleagues, and decided to cause trouble. She can definitely put Rebecca in the house, though!
'I don't know, dear. Why don't you go upstairs and get dressed? I'll handle the police here, okay?'
'Julian...'
'Darling, I don't want you putting up with Sam Bennett's noxious behavior! You've apologized over and over for your part in that Hastings debacle. Now, if Sam can't be decent, that is not your concern. That and we are victims here too!'
Eve nodded. Julian kissed her, then watched as she hurried up the stairs. He then turned back towards Hank and Sam. Hank was pointing at the graffiti that said that he 'sucked AZZ', and laughing. He stopped abruptly when he caught Julian glaring at him.
'Uh, I was just looking at...'
'I know what you were looking at! Now you're going to deal with me.' Julian answered coolly, sizing Sam up.
But Sam, and his family, had been through too much crap from the Cranes, for him to back down now.
'Sending the wife away, hey, Julian? What's the matter? Are you afraid that she may hear some new lies about you?'
'Lainie was fired with the rest of the help.' Julian said.
'Oh, well that's not the story she's telling.' Sam replied.
'Yes, well I'm sure she is indeed telling a 'story'. Yes, Rebecca was in the house. But she was downstairs when Teresa fell.'
'And where were you?' Hank asked.
'I was upstairs with the twins, saying my goodbyes. As you all probably know, Teresa found a letter that I had written to my wife. Eve and I have talked about it, and she is aware of what was in it.'
Sam ignored that.
'So, you wouldn't mind showing us where you think Rebecca and Teresa were, in accordance to yourself, would you?'
Julian didn't like the sound of this!
'Now? Really, Chief Bennett...'
'Oh, you see, Julian, things are moving so quickly now! You see, Rebecca is at the station. We brought her in for questioning. Did you also know, that low and behold, DiMera's lawyer came in with some tape, that shows that Rebecca and DiMera were lovers.'
Julian felt like slapping his forehead! Good God, what had Rebecca been thinking! And to pull a scam like that on the DiMera's? Of all people? His poor ex could very well end up in quicksand!
'What about the bruising around her neck? How do we know that DiMera didn't fake the tape?'
'We found it in a vent in her apartment.' Hank answered.
'So? Maybe DiMera had someone plant it there.'
'No one planted anything, Julian! All of Rebecca's plots are coming to an end. And this last one, with Teresa, is going to land her some jail time! Now, are you going to let us in?'
'I'm calling my lawyer.' Julian replied dryly. 'Now leave this property immediately, before I call the mayor!'
Sam took a step forward. Hank pulled him back.
'Come on, Sam. We'll be back later. Let's concentrate on Rebecca now.'
'Oh and by the way, I will be down to the station to drop those charges against my father.'
Sam's mouth dropped open!
'You're going to let Alistair off of the hook for trying to kill your kids?!'
'Yes!'
'Why?!'
'That, Chief Bennett, is none of your concern!'
Julian then slammed the door in their faces. Sam pulled away from Hank.
'You know, people bitch about the DiMera's, but Julian and his damned father, have done their fair share of damage around here! I think Julian is still covering for Rebecca!
'Okay, Sam, even if that is true, he was blind! He couldn't really tell us what he saw.'
'But he knows what he heard! Teresa said that she screamed for Rebecca to let go of the letter, when she felt herself slipping. Julian had to have overheard that altercation, yet, he still claims that Rebecca was already downstairs, or some such bull^%%$%! And at the very least, I thought maybe we could finally get Alistair Crane on something! I'm getting the truth out of somebody around here, if I have to beat it out of them!'
****
Julian peered out from behind a curtain. Thank God those two stupid oafs were leaving! And what the hell was Sam Bennett's problem? He seemed more bitter than usual!
Eve came back downstairs and saw Julian peeking from behind a set of curtains. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him.
'So, were Harmony's finest satisfied?'
Julian dropped the curtain and turned to face her.
'No, no they were not. First of all, apparently, Tony DiMera has been cleared of rape...which means Stefano will be as well.'
Eve slowly removed her arms from around him.
'Well, honey, I told you about what Tony said. They found that tape he was talking about, didn't they?'
'Yes! But Eve, these are the DiMera's we're speaking of. Tony could've faked that tape and planted it in Rebecca's apartment.'
'Why, Julian? If he was going to do that, then why didn't he do it sooner? He's been embarrassed and humiliated in this town.'
'As he should be!'
'Okay, I don't disagree with you, but still...honey, you're just going to have to face the fact that Rebecca lied about all of this...probably to get John Black's attention.'
Eve touched the side of his hair.
'What else did they say? About Teresa?'
Julian's jaw tightened.
'Apparently, whatever Rebecca is telling them, doesn't match my story.'
Eve tilted her head.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean that Rebecca seems to be claiming that she was in the study with me the whole time, when she heard Teresa fall down the stairs.'
The expression on Eve's face, changed from surprise to pure disgust!
'Julian, she is trying to suck you into her web of lies! I've had it with that woman!'
Eve then turned and walked towards the stairs. Julian followed after her.
'Eve, darling! Where are you going?'
Eve stopped and turned to look at him.
'I'm going to the police station and giving her a piece of my mind!
Julian tried to grab her arm!
'Eve, wait!'
'No, Julian! Just when we're finally settling down to a nice, peaceful life, Rebecca has pulled us into one of her sick schemes! She pushed a family friend down OUR stairs! Because she did that, we're now implicated! I am going down to that police station and making her tell the truth!'
Eve then turned and rushed up the stairs. Julian began running up after her.
'Eve?'
But Eve did not answer, as she hurried down the hallway towards their room and shoved the door open. She then walked over to her closet. Julian was close at her heels.
'Darling, do you think it's a good idea to go over there, while you're in this state of mind?'
Eve stopped looking through clothes, to stare at him.
'I know that Rebecca and you have a connection, though, I will never understand it. I guess it's like how T.C. and I will always have something...but Julian, because she isn't telling the truth, you look like a liar now. I don't know if I will be able to get through to her, but I have to try.'
'Okay, I understand that. But maybe you should leave that to the police? I'm sure they are experts in getting people to tell them what they need to know.'
Eve turned back towards the closet, and pulled out a Ralph Lauren, red, wool suit. She then turned back to Julian.
'Stay with the twins. I won't be long.'
Julian watched miserably as Eve headed towards the bathroom. This whole thing got worse and worse as time wore on! If only Rebecca hadn't shoved Teresa down those stairs! And soon, Sam Bennett would be back, forcing him to show him exactly where he thought Teresa, Rebecca and himself were, when this whole thing happened! It was only a matter of time, before Rebecca, or himself, tripped up so badly, that the police caught them both red-handed....or Eve did!
*****
The first person Eve saw when she walked into the Harmony Police Station, was Lainie, their ex-maid. Eve walked over to her. Lainie looked up from her chair.
'Mrs. Crane! What are you doing here?'
'What are you doing here, Lainie? Look, I'm sorry that Julian fired you. Maybe I can talk to him, or give you a good reference.'
Lainie looked confused.
'Mr. Crane didn't fire me.'
Eve tilted her head.
'Oh?'
'Uh, no. He gave me some money to send me out of town. I was cleaning in the TV room, when your husband found me and gave me some money to take a trip with. But you know Mrs. Crane, I really needed to catch up some bills more, so I spent it on that. Then, I was watching TV and saw what happened to poor Teresa! I never heard a thing! I mean I was cleaning and I never heard a thing!'
'Well, Lainie, if you don't know anything, then why are you here?'
'Oh, well, I saw Mrs. Hotchkiss on the news, swearing up and down that she was in the study and that Teresa just tripped...but I saw her go upstairs with Mr. Crane. I'm happy he can see again, too.'
Eve was unsettled by the conflicting stories. Teresa said Rebecca pushed her, Rebecca supposedly said she was in the den and HEARD Teresa come tumbling down the stairs, and Julian said Rebecca was standing over Teresa, when his sight came back. What the hell was going on here?!
And now Lainie, who had no reason to lie about anything, was telling her that Julian paid her to leave town. Meaning, Lainie knew something that either implicated Rebecca or Julian.
'Mrs. Crane? Are you alright?' Lainie asked.
Eve had closed her eyes briefly. She was getting that feeling again. The one she got when she suspected Julian had only told her half, or most of the truth! She had to see Rebecca!
'I'm fine, Lainie. Thank you. You've cleared some things up for me.' she said, moving past her.
Rebecca had her back to Eve, and was sitting in front of Sam's desk. Sam was not there at the moment. Eve walked up to her, then stood in her view. Rebecca looked up, then back down, before looking up again.
'Eve! Is Julian with you?' she asked, as she slowly began to stand up.
'No. He's at home. Where he's going to stay.'
Rebecca sighed. She didn't like Eve's tone and she sensed a lecture coming up. Where were Gwen and Ethan anyway? Ethan was coming to see if he could talk some sense into his father, and let her go.
'Why are you here then?' Rebecca asked tiredly.
'I want you to stop trying to use my husband as your alibi! You shoved Teresa down those stairs, and you somehow want Julian to say that you didn't! You are on your own now. Julian won't lie for you anymore.'
Rebecca smiled sweetly at her.
'Is that right?'
'Yes...it is. So don't go calling 'Pookie' anymore!'
Rebecca just smirked. That infuriated Eve even more!
'You know you have a lot of nerve! First you lie on Tony for rape...'
'And what? You feel sorry for him? Eve, you should be glad I was sleeping with him. I was doing you a favor. My God, with each moment he was with me, it kept him from mounting your pathetic daughter!'
Eve slapped her! No one paid any attention, or cared enough to stop what might happen. Rebecca decided she had had enough of this uppity bitch! She had practically stepped aside and let Eve have Julian! And all the while, Julian had hinted strongly, that he would help her snare another rich husband to replace him! Well, he had reneged on his word, now she was going to take care of him!
Rebecca leaned closer to Eve, and dropped her voice to a vicious whisper.
'Yes, I did shove that little bitch down the stairs! And it felt good when I did it! After all the pain she had caused my family, a little tumble down some stairs, doesn't begin to make up for all that she has done. And you know what? Julian knows I did it! You know why? Huh, Eve? Do you know how Julian knows that I did it?'
Eve began to feel light headed. She was going to hear something she wasn't going to like. And from a bitch at that!
'Because Julian regained his sight in time to see me shove Teresa Lopez-'Bitchgerald', down those stairs! Then he covered for me! And it would've been my word against hers, if we hadn't forgotten about that damned letter!'
Eve stepped back, appalled by Rebecca's sheer gall!
'What's to stop me from telling one of these officers, that you just confessed to trying to kill Teresa? What, Rebecca?'
Rebecca smiled.
'Because if you do, your precious Julian, formerly my Pookie, will go down with me as an accomplice. Now do you really want to see your husband in prison, away from your babies, all over Teresa? My God, Eve! Think about what he's done for you! It's not like you're squeaky clean where the law is concerned!'
Eve turned and began to walk away, when Rebecca grabbed her arm!
'Don't be too hard on him, Eve. I wasn't. Especially after he told me that Alistair had seen the whole thing on his cameras, that he still keeps in your house! I suspect that Julian was forced to make some sort of deal with his father, just to keep that tape from coming out. I wonder what it...'
Eve snatched her arm away, then drew back her fist and punched Rebecca! She went flying backwards onto Sam's desk. Paperwork fell to the floor.
Now the other officers came running over! Two helped Rebecca up. Another held onto Eve.
But Rebecca coughed, then smiled, despite the pain in her eye.
'Mrs. Crane is just under stress. She didn't mean what she did, did you Eve?'
Eve said nothing.
'Eve?' Rebecca asked in a taunting manner.
Finally, Eve said no, that she didn't know what she had been thinking. Rebecca announced that she accepted Mrs. Crane's apology. The officer let go of Eve, and she lurched away from him and walked out of the police station.
Rebecca smiled, as an officer brought her an ice-pack. Eve had just agreed to cover for her as well. Things were going better than she had expected.
Rebecca stood up and looked out of a window. Where were Ethan and Gwen?
****
Simone was shaking by the time she reached Tony's front door. Why had she gone out at all today?!
She had been lying on her bed, watching TV. The news about Rebecca had been bittersweet. For while she was glad that Tony had not raped anyone, it was clear he had been cheating on her.
She had suddenly felt cooped up in her room. Simone had stood up, grabbed her car keys and coat, and walked out into the hallway, towards the stairs.
No one had seen her leave. That was because when she reached the landing, Lexie Carver was downstairs, accusing her father and Celeste of having an affair!
She had wanted to defend both her father and Celeste, but somehow, their arguing made her feel all the more cooped up. She slipped out of the door without them noticing.
Simone then got into her car, backed out of the drive, and took off. She drove faster than she usually would have, but she had felt so free...without any worries...like when she was with John.
She had been avoiding his calls. She didn't know why she was being so immature about this! She needed to tell John she was having his baby. Or was it Tony's?
As she was thinking along those lines, Simone did not notice that she was about to smash into a car that was actually doing the speed limit. Before she could hit the brakes, she crashed into it so hard, that the car went veering off the road and into a tree!
Simone screamed, pulled over to the side of the road, then jumped out and hurried over to the car, who's horn was now blaring. She peeked into the driver's side, then began to bawl loudly!
It was Ethan and Gwen Winthrop! Ethan's eyes were closed, and there was blood on his face. Gwen was...Simone's eyes widened, and she slowly walked over to the passenger side and looked in.
Gwen's eyes were wide open. She was staring at nothing. She was dead.
****
'Simone! Simone come in before you catch your death of cold!' Tony said, ushering his young wife in. He was quite pleased to see her.
But she grabbed his hands! He noticed how cold they were.
'What is it? What's wrong?' he asked, seeing the panic in her eyes.
'I had an accident, out on Harmony Creek Road....I killed someone! Tony! I killed someone! And I don't know if the baby is alright...and...I don't know if...'
Tony grabbed her face!
'You think you've killed someone's baby, is that it?'
Tears blurred Simone's vision.
'No! No, I mean my baby....our baby...I think I'm alright...but...'
Tony pulled her into his arms. A baby! A chance for him to be a real father? He let go of Simone.
'Alright, darling, tell me where this accident was again? I will call the police...anonymously of course, and then we'll see what's going on, okay?'
But Simone could barely breathe!
'I killed Gwen! Her eyes were open! She's dead...maybe Ethan too!'
Ethan and Gwen Winthrop! Good Lord! No matter what he thought of Rebecca, this would kill her!
But then again, he was going to be a father! He wondered when Simone planned on telling him this good news? Well, it didn't matter now!
Tony picked Simone up and began to carry her upstairs. She was still sobbing.
'It will be alright now. You're home. I will take care of everything.'
****
Tony drove by the scene, fifteen minutes later. He had not called the police, and was somewhat relieved to see that someone else had anyway. He kept driving by, as to not look like an ordinary gaper. He glimpsed someone with blonde hair, being zipped into a body bag.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have another 'Passions' series running on a fanfiction website of mine at http://priscillapal.hypertransitory.com/
It is called 'Passions:The Alternate Reality Series' . You can read the first chapter right now.