Chapter 4
*Meanwhile Upstairs*
"Jeez Chloe, I know the ISA wants us to always be prepared, but did you have to include everything AND the kitchen sink in your luggage?"
"Quit complaining Tek, you of all people know how hard just being back in Salem is going to be for me. I am nervous the way it is of seeing Brady again after hardly any contact while I was over in Europe. Pile on top of that keeping it a secret that I am an ISA agent here to help uncover the serial killer's identity while not getting killed myself, well it's a lot for a girl to handle."
"Chin up Chlo I was just kidding around with you. You are one of the most capable agents and people I have the pleasure of knowing."
"Why Tek, is that a compliment? I never knew you were capable of such niceties."
"Don't let it go to your head little miss smarty pants. Don't forget it is only you and I here now and if you repeat that I even hinted at what I truly think of you I will deny it with every fiber of my being." Tek smiled and winked at Chloe, "That being said let's get you unpacked and figure out what you will be wearing for Victor's party tonight when you see Brady again."
"Ah, I love you too Tek", Chloe giggled and then turned serious; "I just don't know what I am going to do or say when I see him again. I feel like it has been so long.."
"Don't worry I am sure he'll take one look at you and forget everyone else in the room. Speaking of which, have you had a chance to look over the packet the ISA sent you concerning Salem PD's top suspects and their motives for being the serial killer?"
Chloe took a seat on the bed while Tek pulled up a chair and sat on it backwards facing her.
"Yes I have," Chloe's head crinkled as she frowned with frustration, "I can honestly say that I have trouble believing any of them could be our killer. I mean some of them like Sami and Nicole I can definitely do without but to have one of them resort to murder..well I just don't see it."
"I agree with you Chloe but the fact still remains each of them does have a motive for wanting Abe, Jack, and Maggie dead. The theory on Caroline is that she was murdered as revenge on the Brady's which would also explain the attack on Bo and Hope at Belle's fashion show. Poor Cassie was just recently killed because she knew too much. It's just too bad she wasn't able to tell anyone what she knew before she was murdered."
"It's all so senseless Tek. So many good people killed before their time, and I'm afraid of what will happen next if we don't stop this killer soon. I know I must be objective in this case and look at all the suspects but I can't help but focus on Nicole as the main suspect, either that or some one we haven't thought of yet." "Why do you say that Chlo?"
"Well, all the other suspects have had someone close to them die. For example, Rex had Cassie his own flesh and blood, Kate was also her mother so in my mind it doesn't make sense that she would murder her own daughter no matter how much they did or did not get along. I know from my own past with Nancy, sure I hated her at times but I would never want to see her dead she was my mom, I am sure Kate feels the same way about Cassie. Tony, well he was the surrogate father to the twins and loved them as his own so I can't see him involved either."
"What about Victor, Sami and Lucas?"
"Victor, well he's easy his true love was Caroline and he would never hurt her for anything in the world, plus she was Sami's grandmother. Plus, I don't think Victor would have brought me back here to get busted. Lucas, well.he's a little harder but from what I have read on him he was truly broken up about Maggie's death even going back to drinking alcohol even for a short time, so I can't believe he would kill her so easily."
"Ok, now that you've told me why it isn't the other 6 why Nicole?"
"Well, it's no secret I didn't like her when I was in Salem before, but besides that she isn't directly related to any of the victims. I think in addition to Caroline being killed because she was a Brady she was also a threat to Nicole's life with Victor no matter how unhappy that life is. There is something that doesn't quite fit the puzzle though.."
"And that would be..?"
Chloe got up and started pacing around the room while she spoke.
"Nicole, she...she isn't what I'd exactly call smart. I mean sure her history with men shows that she's ruthless and a little more than a skank, but I can't see her hacking into computer files and sneaking around and killing people with ease the way that this murderer is doing. No, something doesn't quite fit, she does seem to be hiding something so I think I need to keep my eye on her more closely then the rest, but as I said before I think it's someone no one has thought of yet."
Tek sighed deeply and said, "Well I guess we have our work cut out for us then, I am going to get going and let you get ready for Victor's shin-dig. I know you can't wait to shock everyone with the fact you're back."
"Yea.well we'll see how that goes; I'll talk to you tomorrow, right?"
"Bright and early...Have fun!"
"I will. Goodbye."
Tek walked out of Chloe's room and started down the stairs of the Kiriakas mansion.
"Chloe doesn't know how right she is about needing to keep an eye on that witch Nicole and not only for being a suspect in a murder case. If I was her I'd keep that bitch as far away from Brady as possible." Tek thought to himself. "I only hope she knows what kind of danger she is stepping into especially living here while investigating this case. I'll have to try and keep a closer eye on her, and if I can't I know just the man who can.." Whistling to himself as he opened the door to leave Tek looked over his shoulder and up the stairs "Yes I think it may be a good idea to give him a call.just in case."
*Back Upstairs*
Chloe fingered the material of the dress she had unpacked after Tek had left her room. When she had seen the creation in the dress shop in Paris she knew it was made for her. She picked up the gown and held it against her body as she daydreamed of holding her Brady once again.
"Time to get to work on looking my best," She thought to herself, "I just hope things between us haven't changed."
*Outside the door*
Victor stood outside Chloe's room and listened to her talk to herself about her upcoming meeting with Brady.
"Well my dear, I hate to disappoint you," He said softly "but things have changed around here and not necessarily for the better. But now that you're back.well one can only hope."
With that he turned away from the door and headed back downstairs to make sure the party preparations were going as planned.
*Meanwhile Upstairs*
"Jeez Chloe, I know the ISA wants us to always be prepared, but did you have to include everything AND the kitchen sink in your luggage?"
"Quit complaining Tek, you of all people know how hard just being back in Salem is going to be for me. I am nervous the way it is of seeing Brady again after hardly any contact while I was over in Europe. Pile on top of that keeping it a secret that I am an ISA agent here to help uncover the serial killer's identity while not getting killed myself, well it's a lot for a girl to handle."
"Chin up Chlo I was just kidding around with you. You are one of the most capable agents and people I have the pleasure of knowing."
"Why Tek, is that a compliment? I never knew you were capable of such niceties."
"Don't let it go to your head little miss smarty pants. Don't forget it is only you and I here now and if you repeat that I even hinted at what I truly think of you I will deny it with every fiber of my being." Tek smiled and winked at Chloe, "That being said let's get you unpacked and figure out what you will be wearing for Victor's party tonight when you see Brady again."
"Ah, I love you too Tek", Chloe giggled and then turned serious; "I just don't know what I am going to do or say when I see him again. I feel like it has been so long.."
"Don't worry I am sure he'll take one look at you and forget everyone else in the room. Speaking of which, have you had a chance to look over the packet the ISA sent you concerning Salem PD's top suspects and their motives for being the serial killer?"
Chloe took a seat on the bed while Tek pulled up a chair and sat on it backwards facing her.
"Yes I have," Chloe's head crinkled as she frowned with frustration, "I can honestly say that I have trouble believing any of them could be our killer. I mean some of them like Sami and Nicole I can definitely do without but to have one of them resort to murder..well I just don't see it."
"I agree with you Chloe but the fact still remains each of them does have a motive for wanting Abe, Jack, and Maggie dead. The theory on Caroline is that she was murdered as revenge on the Brady's which would also explain the attack on Bo and Hope at Belle's fashion show. Poor Cassie was just recently killed because she knew too much. It's just too bad she wasn't able to tell anyone what she knew before she was murdered."
"It's all so senseless Tek. So many good people killed before their time, and I'm afraid of what will happen next if we don't stop this killer soon. I know I must be objective in this case and look at all the suspects but I can't help but focus on Nicole as the main suspect, either that or some one we haven't thought of yet." "Why do you say that Chlo?"
"Well, all the other suspects have had someone close to them die. For example, Rex had Cassie his own flesh and blood, Kate was also her mother so in my mind it doesn't make sense that she would murder her own daughter no matter how much they did or did not get along. I know from my own past with Nancy, sure I hated her at times but I would never want to see her dead she was my mom, I am sure Kate feels the same way about Cassie. Tony, well he was the surrogate father to the twins and loved them as his own so I can't see him involved either."
"What about Victor, Sami and Lucas?"
"Victor, well he's easy his true love was Caroline and he would never hurt her for anything in the world, plus she was Sami's grandmother. Plus, I don't think Victor would have brought me back here to get busted. Lucas, well.he's a little harder but from what I have read on him he was truly broken up about Maggie's death even going back to drinking alcohol even for a short time, so I can't believe he would kill her so easily."
"Ok, now that you've told me why it isn't the other 6 why Nicole?"
"Well, it's no secret I didn't like her when I was in Salem before, but besides that she isn't directly related to any of the victims. I think in addition to Caroline being killed because she was a Brady she was also a threat to Nicole's life with Victor no matter how unhappy that life is. There is something that doesn't quite fit the puzzle though.."
"And that would be..?"
Chloe got up and started pacing around the room while she spoke.
"Nicole, she...she isn't what I'd exactly call smart. I mean sure her history with men shows that she's ruthless and a little more than a skank, but I can't see her hacking into computer files and sneaking around and killing people with ease the way that this murderer is doing. No, something doesn't quite fit, she does seem to be hiding something so I think I need to keep my eye on her more closely then the rest, but as I said before I think it's someone no one has thought of yet."
Tek sighed deeply and said, "Well I guess we have our work cut out for us then, I am going to get going and let you get ready for Victor's shin-dig. I know you can't wait to shock everyone with the fact you're back."
"Yea.well we'll see how that goes; I'll talk to you tomorrow, right?"
"Bright and early...Have fun!"
"I will. Goodbye."
Tek walked out of Chloe's room and started down the stairs of the Kiriakas mansion.
"Chloe doesn't know how right she is about needing to keep an eye on that witch Nicole and not only for being a suspect in a murder case. If I was her I'd keep that bitch as far away from Brady as possible." Tek thought to himself. "I only hope she knows what kind of danger she is stepping into especially living here while investigating this case. I'll have to try and keep a closer eye on her, and if I can't I know just the man who can.." Whistling to himself as he opened the door to leave Tek looked over his shoulder and up the stairs "Yes I think it may be a good idea to give him a call.just in case."
*Back Upstairs*
Chloe fingered the material of the dress she had unpacked after Tek had left her room. When she had seen the creation in the dress shop in Paris she knew it was made for her. She picked up the gown and held it against her body as she daydreamed of holding her Brady once again.
"Time to get to work on looking my best," She thought to herself, "I just hope things between us haven't changed."
*Outside the door*
Victor stood outside Chloe's room and listened to her talk to herself about her upcoming meeting with Brady.
"Well my dear, I hate to disappoint you," He said softly "but things have changed around here and not necessarily for the better. But now that you're back.well one can only hope."
With that he turned away from the door and headed back downstairs to make sure the party preparations were going as planned.