Chapter Sixteen – Philip in Italy: The Informant
Philip and Shawn were driving to Philip's last possible lead given to him by his private investigator. So far none of the others had panned out. This was going to be Philip's last chance to learn anything about Jarod's paternity. It had been a little over three weeks since he had left Salem, with no definite information Shawn was beginning to get annoyed.
"Philip we've been all over north Italy and still no information about Jarod or his parents. How do you know that this is even going to be real information? It could just be another person who claims to have information but is really after your money. You don't even know." Shawn said as Philip parked the Lexus in a front of a villa.
Philip didn't say anything until after he had turned off the car and got of out his seat. Closing the car door he stood there for a few minutes letting the breeze come over him. His hair blew over his eyes masking the emotion that showed in them. Pushing a strand of his hair out of his eyes, he turned and looked at Shawn. "I didn't ask you to come with me, Shawn. As a matter of fact I told you to stay in Salem with your wife and try to work out your problems with her. If you are tired of being here, then go back home. But, don't expect me to, I made a promise to myself that I would find out who Jarod's father is –– if I am his father. I'll find out who took him from me and then and only then, I will go home."
"Philip I'm not trying to tell you not to find out about Jarod's paternity. I totally understand you wanting to do that and I don't blame you for it. It was my decision to come and help you with this because you've always been there for me. All I am saying is that you've got your hopes pinned on this one person and I don't want you to be hurt if it isn't what you need. If this person doesn't know what happened." Shawn responded as he watched Philip climb the steps going up to the villa. "Look just promise me that if this guy doesn't turn out to be what you expected you'll come home with me."
Philip stopped right at the door before he rang the bell and looked at Shawn squinting because the sunlight shining in his eyes. "If this isn't what I expect then I will go back to Salem. But, only if this doesn't work out." He rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer the door.
A woman with slivery blonde hair answered the door. "Mr. Kiriakis and Mr. Brady, please come in, the boss is waiting for you." She showed the men the way towards a library. Both Shawn and Philip were silent as they followed her down to the exquisitely designed hallway. "Please wait in here." She said holding open a door for them. After they passed her into the room she left, leaving the two men completely alone in the room.
"Okay so how did she know our names?" Shawn asked as he and Philip looked around the room.
"I have no idea. I mean my alleged informant knew my name of course but I never said anything about you." Philip stopped talking as he spotted something interesting on the shelf. He walked over to take a closer look at the little statuette. "Hey Shawn, come here for a second. Tell me … what does this look like to you. It almost looks like–––,"
"It's a phoenix raising from the ashes." A deep accented voice said from the doorway. Both Shawn and Philip turned immediately upon hearing the voice. They would know that voice from anywhere; it was a blast from the past.
"Stefano Dimera" Shawn said the anger deeply invested in his voice, he immediately tensed. "What are you doing here, playing games like this? Philip is here to get some information not to play one of your sick little games. So whatever you have planned forget it." He said unable to hide his misgivings about why Stefano was truly there and completely ready to aid Philip at the first sign of trouble.
"Spoken like a true Brady. I see that the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree, does it? You carry the same determined tenacity as your father. Tell me Shawn, is he still as hotheaded as he used to be?" Stefano asked knowingly provoking the young Brady as he sat down in his chair near the window on the opposite side of the room.
"Philip come on, let's go. He doesn't know anything. Let's just go before something happens." Shawn said turning to Philip and blocking his view of Stefano. "Besides, even if he did you know, it wouldn't come without a price that I'm willing to bet you won't want to pay it."
Philip hadn't said a word; he was silently shocked that Stefano had even claimed to have any information, that he was the one to get in contact with him. He knew that Shawn was right, though, whatever Stefano knew if wouldn't come without it's own price. The question was, if he was willing to pay the ultimate price for the info.
He resolved a few short moments later that he hadn't come this far just to let the information go right pass him. This was his last chance to find out the truth and he was going to take the risk, whatever it may be. So he turned to face Shawn. "I know you don't think I should trust him. But, he has the answers I've been looking for. I can't pass this chance up. It is my last and only chance to find out what happened to Jarod." When Shawn looked as if he was going to interrupt he said, "Shawn nothing you can say will change my mind. I-I'm willing to take whatever risk there is to find out the truth once and for all."
Shawn was very annoyed with Philip's decision to say the least. He knew better than anyone that it was a mistake to trust a Dimera on anything. "You're making a mistake Philip. You should never trust a Dimera. Let alone Stefano Dimera. You know all of the things he's done and you are making a mistake trusting him. I just hope you know that. I'm not going to sit here and watch you do this. I'll wait for you outside so we can leave when you finally come to your senses." He eyed Dimera suspiciously sheering, an unconscious mimic of his father, before stalking out of the room.
Stefano watched on in silent amusement, the Brady's always been a brooding lot. There was no doubt Shawn was a Brady through and through. He even distrusted him like Bo did. "Well, now that Young Brady has left might we get down to business."
"Not just yet. While I know you think that I am an idiot. I'm not and neither for that matter is Shawn. He was right when he said I should never trust you. You wouldn't be offering this information for nothing. So why don't you tell me what you want from me."
"I never thought you were a idiot, as you say. Quite the opposite in fact Philip. I think you are a very shrewd and cutthroat businessman much like your father. That's something I admire. But, tell me what makes you think that you have anything that I might want? Couldn't it be that I just want to help you out?" Stefano suggested testing Philip.
"Damnit, Dimera stop playing games and tell me what you want from me. Otherwise, I am leaving." Philip threatened as he walked menacingly toward the door. His hand was on the doorknob.
"I guess that means you don't want to learn about the child. Jarod, I believe is what they called him," Stefano paused as he noted the ridgeness of Philip's stance. He turned around and stood completely still his hands now clenched by his sides. "So you don't want to know about how your son was taken from you without your knowledge of his existence even." He had struck a chord with the young Kiriakis. However, he hadn't expected silence from him knowing that Philip was relatively easy to anger. He watching in complete silence as Philip pulled himself together and sat down in the seat before him.
"What do you know and what's it going to cost me?" He asked quietly realizing that Stefano clearly knew he was the father.
"Nothing. I won't be the one to tell you what happened." When Philip started to interrupt, Stefano continued. "I don't honestly expect you to believe it if I tell you so I am giving you the address and name of a woman, Signora Lazzarino, she will tell you all you need to know and more." He pulled a small card from his coat pocket and handed it to Philip. Philip stared at the card for a minute before pocketing it.
He rose from the chair and started to leave but didn't when he got to the door and opened it. He turned back to face Stefano. "If you don't want anything from me, then why did you give me this information? What do you get out of me knowing about my son?"
"I get nothing from it. However, I would hope that when I return to Salem one of these days you'd allow me the courtesy that I am giving you. That is all my reasoning for it simply. There was a time once when your wife allowed me the benefit of the doubt instead of judging me as some sort of monster as many people do. So let's just say I am returning the favor in a way and leave it at that."
Philip nodded slightly and walked to the door getting ready to leave. "Stefano whatever your reasons are for doing this I … thank you." He left the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*~
Shawn was waiting at the car just like he said he would be when Philip came out of the villa. "That was fast, what did he tell you?" Shawn got into the car along with Philip.
"Nothing, he didn't tell me anything." Philip replied as he shifted the car into gear.
"See! I told you he wouldn't tell you anything."
"He wouldn't tell me anything because he didn't think I would believe him. He gave me the name and address of a women who could tell me what happened and that's where we're going now."
"And you think this person could be legit, don't you?" Shawn questioned. "She could be on his payroll for all you know."
"I thought about that but, look at the address on the paper Shawn," he reached into his pocket and pulled out the card, handing it to Shawn all the while keeping his eyes on the road.
Shawn took the card and read the address, although his Italian wasn't as good as Philip's but he could read it clearly. "It's on Via Mazzini so what?"
"That's the address of an old mission. A couple of years ago it was turned into a hospital. Generally, the nuns work there as nurses so why would someone on Stefano's payroll be working in a hospital. He would have given them enough money to not have to work at all." He glanced over at Shawn.
"Are you sure this is hospital? I mean how do you know?" Shawn asked.
"Right after Chloe and I were married she came with me here and got into an accident they brought her to that hospital. It wasn't all that long ago only a few years I know it has to be it. Besides, that it was one of the biggest hospitals in the area and they wouldn't close it or no one would have no place to go." Philip answered nonchalantly.
"Okay then we'll see if this Signora Lazzarino knows anything in a few minutes I guess." Shawn said as the car pulled in front of the hospital.