Chapter Three
Philip had been in Salem for the past two days now. After he and Rex had arrived at Salem International Airport, a limo had preempted their arrival and went immediately into Salem. The main purpose of the visit to take a look at the material Lucas had gathered, Rex was going to visit with his father and check up on Phoenix Enterprises while Philip would handle everything at Titan. They would find out if anything was wrong or not where it should be and then handle it.
So Philip headed to Titan after dropping Rex by the Dimera compound. He'd spent the day there going through all of the files Shawn and Lucas had compiled from the mysterious missing employee's personally accessed computer. After several hours of thorough examination Philip had found that all of the files contained information to accounts that had not been touched since just before Victor's death. Furthermore, according to computer data on all of the accounts, they had last been accessed with Brady's old code. Add that to the fact that the accounts had been among some expertly hidden dummy accounts and Philip knew whoever had accessed the files had clearly been a pro. This person is obviously a computer hacker or worse, she knew exactly how to bypass the new system. They knew exactly where to look and how to override the security walls in place to get at them. They also knew that all the evidence would show that Brady Black was the culprit since of course they'd used his codes. In all honesty Philip, didn't know if Brady had anything to do with any of the accounts that had been accessed. But, he wouldn't know for sure until he got a chance to talk to the woman in person tomorrow, as he, Lucas and Shawn were going to pay a little visit to her apartment.
Leaning back in the chair by the desk in the Kiriakis Manor library, he dialed the number to his private line in New York. Pressing the speakerphone button he placed the phone on the hook as it rang for the third time.
Back in New York Chloe answered the phone after checking the caller ID box and seeing that it was Philip. "Hello handsome."
Philip smiled, "Hello to you too beautiful. So tell me how was your day?"
"It was fine, what happened to calling me earlier today."
"I did call but Eileen told me that you took Lily and Nicky out to lunch."
"Correction, Lily took me out to lunch. Well Mimi and I really—,"
"Ah. What does my darling daughter want?"
Chloe hesitated; she didn't want to bring Lily going on a date this early into the conversation. So she swiftly changed the subject. "I'll tell you about that later. You tell me what's going on with Titan first. Is it anything serious?"
"It's always serious with Titan." He sighed as he unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. "Apparently, there has been somewhat of a security breach. An employee, or rather someone who assume is an employee breached some secure files that have been locked since Victor's death."
"How is that possible? I was under the impression that you changed the codes when you became the CEO. Especially, after what happened."
"I did and apparently this girl knew that. She bypassed my security walls and was able to open the files using the old codes. In any case, I've looked through the accounts and frankly I don't know what she was looking for or if she found it. This person is obviously a computer hacker or worse, I mean she was able to bypass the new system completely. She got into the accounts by using old information the old system. She has to know a whole hell of a lot about system and how it works to get through any firewalls that were in place. Those accounts were hidden and basically dead in the water."
Chloe settled down into a chair by the sitting area of their bedroom. "What else, there's something you're not telling me."
"You know that Titan has a database that lists every time someone accesses computers – including the codes the use and who uses them."
"And?"
"This woman – she used Brady old codes too get into the system." Philip paused awaiting Chloe's response.
"So you think Brady is behind this, don't you?"
"Actually, I don't. You know I've been having him watched every since he first left Salem from Louisiana to Florida. There's been no report of him having even the remotest contact with Titan. He hasn't even taken any steps to get himself involved in any companies at all since he left. The only person he even talks to from this area is John. Unless he picked some woman off the street and gave her all of his info for someone to come to Titan and access the old accounts – even he has to know I changed all the codes after he left. It just makes no sense."
"But, Philip wasn't that the exact case last time. And Brady was the culprit then, just as he probably is now." Chloe reminded her husband warningly.
"Yes, I know that but it still doesn't make any sense for him to be involved in any sort of business regarding Titan or Phoenix Enterprises. He's been basically living off his inheritance. My gut tells me that he's not behind this, this time."
"Well, what does Rex think? Does he think Brady's behind it?"
"No, Rex is under the impression it's just a competitor trying to commit a little corporate espionage"
"I doubt that, most competitors don't go after seven year old accounts. It seems highly unlikely."
"I know and that's what I thought. Lucas and Shawn seem to agree with me on that note. They think whoever went through the accounts is specifically looking for something involving Victor and after they found it they left. But, I'm not so sure it was just a one-time thing.
"Why do you say that?"
"Instinct – that and the fact that the accounts had been locked since before my father's death. Even I don't know what was in them I suspect my father locked them away himself."
Tucking her legs under her she sighed. "So basically all you know is that Victor has something in those files that the woman wanted, which she got. And now you have to figure out just what it was and why she waited seven years to get it."
"Basically."
"So what's on the agenda tomorrow?"
"Well, I've done all I can with the files. So Lucas, Shawn and I are going to check out this woman's apartment."
"Isn't that illegal Philip?"
Philip scoffed. "Of course not. It's not like we're breaking in or anything. We're just going to take a look around. And if the door just happens to open while we're there then we'll just take a little look inside to see that the apartments okay."
She didn't believe him for a second. "R—ight…uh do me a favor honey, while you're at it just don't happen to get arrested. Okay Philip?"
"We won't, honey." He acquiesced then sought a safer topic. "What were you going to tell me about Lily? What's going on with my girl?" A silence came over the phone. "Come on Chloe what's up?" He asked genuinely wanting to know what his daughter was up to.
"Okay but I want you to promise you'll keep an open mind about what I'm going to tell you."
"I promise, so tell me."
"While Lily was at dance camp she met a … a new friend —,"
Philip interrupted. "Is that all? So what's her friend's name?"
"His name is Kieran O'Neal and our daughter would like to go out with him on her first date. She knows that you don't want her to date until she's sixteen but she's ready now. So Dad what do you think?"
Philip was speechless. Lily was the apple of his eye, his precious baby girl and now she wants to date. He wasn't ready for his daughter; his baby girl to even like boys let alone go out on a date with one. " Forget it Chloe. She can't date him."
"Don't you think you're jumping the gun a little bit? You haven't even heard anything about him."
"I don't have to know anything about this little pervert to know that I don't want him to date my daughter. Besides, what kind of guy wants to date a fourteen year old girl?"
"Maybe a fifteen year old boy. Look Philip, I realize that letting Lily go out with is going to be a big step with you. But, honestly don't you think you should think about this a little more before to you automatically say no to a harmless little first date."
"No I don't need to think about anything. My baby girl is not going out with some guy that has less than honorable intentions toward—,"
"How do you know they are less than honorable?"
"Jesus Chloe, give me some credit. I once was a fifteen-year-old boy, a sixteen – seventeen year old boy. Hell I'm male; I know what goes on in their minds, all the more reason for her not to date…ever. Besides, Lily and I made a deal that she could date when she was a least fifteen and unless a year has passed I believe she is only fourteen. I see no reason to change the rules now."
"First off, Philip you made that deal with Lily when she was seven. She was barely interested in boys then. But, now all she wants is your permission to go out on one single date. Look, I'm going to meet the boy tomorrow and if I like him I say we let her go. But, we can talk about this more when you get home. So I'll let you go now. I love you, Bye." Chloe quickly hung up the phone before Philip could protest yet again.
Philip pushed the button off on speakerphone in irritation. How could she hang up on him like that when it was something so important? As he thought about that he suddenly realized that his daughter was growing up fast. Faster than he was ready for.
Back in New York, Chloe had just hung up the phone when Lily entered her parents' bedroom.
"So what did Daddy say, can I go out with Kieran?" Lily asked hopefully as she climbed onto the chair before her mother expectantly awaiting her response.
"Lily, sweetie … you know what you're father is like—."
"So I guess that means he said no." Lily replied with a crestfallen look. She didn't need Chloe to tell her what Philip's answer had been she already knew what it was.
"I- yes he said no. But, don't worry about him, he's just being overprotective because in his mind you're his little girl and he doesn't want to let you grow up just yet."
"But, I'm not a little girl anymore."
"I know that and you know that but to him you'll always be his little girl even you're my age." Leaning forward she cupped Lily's face in her hands pushing back her daughter's long hair. "But, like I said don't worry about it because we'll change his mind."
"How Mama?" She asked as a sparkle of fire shot in her warm brown eyes.
"Well first I'm going to meet this Kieran of yours tomorrow. And if he passes the mother's seal of approval I'll persuade your father to see things my way. So you leave that up to me." Lily jumped from her seat and ran to her mother hugging her enthusiastically.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, Mama. You won't regret this. Besides, I think you'll just love Kieran. He's the sweetest, kindest guy you'll ever meet. Oh Mom I can't wait till you meet him…" Lily started as she informed her mother of every single virtue that she liked in Kieran.
The next morning Philip, Lucas, and Shawn dressed inconspicuously in black piled into Shawn's Excursion to drive to the mysterious, missing employee's apartment complex.
"Where's Rex, this morning?"
"He's checking out things at Phoenix Enterprises to see if Titan was the only one that was hit."
Lucas nodded. "So what were you doing last night in the library. Sami said she saw you when staring into space last night when she and I were … you know what we were doing isn't important— what happened with you?"
"I talked to my wife and she told me some unfortunate news, that's all."
"What is she okay, are Lily and Tristian alright?"
"They're both fine. It's just that Lily wants to start dating."
Lucas looked back at his brother incredulously. "Wait a minute you were freaking out because Lily wants to date? Man, give me a break."
"Lucas, you don't understand Lily is only fourteen that's hardly old enough for her to date." Both Shawn and Lucas laughed at his declaration. "Never mind, you can't understand what I mean."
"Oh I beg to differ, dear brother of mine. You seem to have forgotten that I have four children, two of which are girls and one of them has already taken her mother and I through absolute hell with the criminal boyfriends, bad dates, first dates, last dates, ex-boyfriend, etc.
Sami and I have been through it all with Rori and she's only 19. Odds are if she brings home a guy you like – she'll end up hating him. But, if it's a guy you can't stand – she'll love him. It's a never ending cycle so welcome to the club."
"Philip don't let Lucas scare you, I'm sure he's just exaggerating. Lily probably won't bring him anyone you like. He'll probably just be someone who reminds you of yourself." Shawn added from the driver's seat as he steered the car into the direction of a street.
"Cute, Shawn just drive the damn car. Might I add that you won't be laughing when this happens to you with Corisa."
"Probably not but since we're talking about your daughter – it's funny." He turned the car into an abandoned parking lot. "I thought you said it was an apartment?"
Philip took a first glance out the window surprised to see that the place was not an apartment building but an old rundown house. It looked as if it had been abandoned for years. "It was supposed to be an apartment but I guess the info was incorrect. That's not important just park the car, Shawn so we can go have a look."
Shawn nodded parking the car in a spot a few feet away from the house. "Since, I'm the one with actually security training I'll go check out the house first then if everything is safe I'll come and get you guys." He opened his door, leaving Lucas and Philip in the car.
The two brothers didn't bother to stay in to car for a full minute before they got out and headed to the house following Shawn's footsteps. "You make someone the head of security," Lucas sighed as he and Philip stood behind Shawn as they watch him attempt to pick the lock. "And suddenly they think they know everything about breaking and entering."
"Guys do you mind, this is very delicate work and I'm trying to concentrate here. It's not exactly easy picking locks here." Shawn added talking around the small flashlight he held in his mouth. As his hands were currently working on the lock using two small screwdrivers.
"Here move out of the way," Lucas said a few minutes later he pulled out his key chain. Fumbling through his keys he opened his Swiss army knife and pulled out one of the small attachments.
"You'll never get the door open with that." Shawn said as he moved out of the way letting Lucas take his place.
"You know Shawn you're right." Within seconds the lock clicked and Lucas pushed the door open as he pocketed his keys stepping through the door.
"Does your wife know about that little opening doors trick?"
"Who do you think showed me?" Lucas replied to his brother smirking.
Shawn followed Lucas and Philip through the door and then shut it, angling his flashlight on the room.
"You know from looking on the outside of this house I never would have expected it to be so nice." Philip said looking around the expensively designed house from Shawn's flow of light. The living room was extremely elegant, the central theme being the differing hues of blues. Even the carpet was a lush shade of light blue, a color so pale it almost seemed white. The sofa and two love seats were a dark shade of blue; so dark in fact they almost looked black. "She must really love blue."
"You think?" Lucas sarcastically asked. Then turning to his brother and cousin he said, "I'm going to check out the bedrooms."
"Don't you need a flashlight?"
Lucas smirked again as he pulled a flashlight out of his pocket. "I'm always prepared. I'll call if I find anything." And with that he turned and proceeded down the hallway and into the first bedroom on the left.
"Lucas has the right idea we should split up and search. Assuming no one would hide anything in the kitchen I suggest we start with the bedrooms. So you take that one and I'll take this one." Shawn nodded in agreement.
"Jesus, Guys come here," They heard Lucas call out and then started the hallway to the bedroom he was in.
"Did you find something Lu—," Philip started as he entered the room which turned out to be more of an office. But, the words fall on deaf ears as he saw several photos lining. Some were black and white, some in color, some from newspapers and magazines. It was just tons of photos in every possible printed medium in different shapes and sizes.
"What the hell? Who are in all those photos? Shawn asked from somewhere behind him.
Philip moved closer, plucking some of the photos off the wall. Upon a closer inspection of the picture he saw who was in the pictures. He stared for seconds at a time the pictures littering the walls before turning around in what seemed like endless circles before pulling another photo off the wall. "It's us." He glanced back at Shawn and Lucas. "They're pictures of anyone related to Victor Kiriakis blood or … it's his exes, step-children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, … it's everyone in the family."
To be continued … Fear not chapter four will be posted tomorrow