CHAPTER EIGHTY
Taking Her Place

Alexis returned to her apartment to search for a few key files and then met Mason at the docks almost an hour minutes later. If she was quiet on the ride over, he made none of his usual comments. More than likely, he realized the seriousness of the situation and was only concerned with helping her find out if what they both had come to suspect was true.

Alexis had wandered to a point on the side of the boat where she could be alone for a moment. Staring out over the water, she thought abut how different this boat ride from all the others she had taken out to the island. Her heart felt heavy and ached with a fresh renewal of grief.

Her phone rang and Sonny's voice came on as soon as she answered it.

"Is everything all right?" she asked anxiously.

"I called to ask you the same thing." Sonny said.

"I'm n my way to Wyndemere and I'm as well as I can be expect to be." Alexis said. She hesitated. "I miss him, Sonny. I miss knowing that he's waiting for me. I miss knowing he's here…" She shook her head, forcing her grief aside. "I'm okay…really I am."

"Alexis…"

"I'm okay." She insisted. She tried for a lighter tone. "I'm glad you called."

"Yeah. Me too." Sonny hesitated.

"What is it, Sonny?" Alexis picked up on the hesitation in his voice. There was something he didn't want to tell her. "What is it?"

"It's nothing serious. It's just that I may be a little longer getting home than I expected."

"And it's nothing serious?"

"It's things that can only be taken care of by me, but it's nothing dangerous. I promise."

He was telling her all that he could. Alexis wanted to let him know that she understood. "Well, if you promise, then of course...but being late is gonna cost ya, Corinthos."

"Name your price."

"Hmmm… breakfast in bed might be a way to start off."

"You got it." Sonny said. He could feel her smile through the phone and it made what he had to do more bearable. "Look, I gotta go."

"See you soon?"

"As soon as I'm able."

"I'll be waiting."

Sonny hung up. He rubbed one hand across his face, tired by thoughts of the hours ahead. Things were not as simple as he had led Alexis to believe. And it had all started with the meeting he'd had right after he'd left her.

It was with a team of demolition experts that he had had brought in. Sonny had used his contacts to acquire his own samples of the bomb remnants and had them turned over to his team. He'd put this plan into play after he'd left Alexis that morning. His mind went back to the conversation they'd had.

"The bomb was meant to be more than lethal."

"Aren't most bombs?" Sonny asked.

"Some were meant to be more incendiary than others, such as this was. The flames burn hotter and faster, meaning its function was not just to kill – but to incinerate. Leaving no traces of itself."

"So, no body to be found."

"That's one theory, yes. There is another aspect of this bomb that was – interesting. The wiring was done in a manner that is consistent with certain foreign-born techniques."

"You're saying that the bomb was built outside the U.S.?"

"Or at the very least, the components were. It's highly improbable that anyone would take the chance of building a bomb and then trying to smuggle it into the country."

"Can you tell me its origins?"

"Not at this time, but we're hopeful that with further analysis, and perhaps a second search of the bomb site, that information will be forthcoming."

Sonny had left them to it. That wasn't the end of his duties. He arranged for them to have access to the bombed out warehouse, and then turned his attention to other matters.

He was leaving that meeting when his phone rang. More complications. In the wake of the bombing, there were concerned rumblings up and down the East Coast. Friend and foe alike wondered what Sonny's plan of action would be. Was this the beginning of a war, a vendetta, or a scorched-earth blood feud? So there were multiple phone calls to make, some in conference, some in private, assurances exchanged, fears smoothed away and challenges met. He could not be seen a weak and thereby invite further attacks, neither could he be seen as flying off into a mindless rage, striking out at innocent parties or imagined foes. Past misgivings were being re-aired, sparks of conflict scattering throughout the organization and it was Sonny's responsibility to see that each and every one of them were extinguished.

He had his work cut out for him.


Once they arrived at Wyndemere, Alexis led Mason to what had been Stefan's office. Johnny followed them, silent and expressionless; in the public eye he was just the perfect bodyguard again. Seeing without being seen, hearing without being heard.

Her steps slowed as they approached the room. Alexis realized that she'd avoided it since she'd learned of the explosion. And was glad she had put it off until she didn't have to go into alone. Even so, she paused at the threshold, looking around. The room was totally decorated to Stefan's personal taste. Expensive, opulent, yet, but nonetheless imbued with a dark understated elegance that was well suited to the man that had ruled there. Alexis looked at the massive leather chair sitting behind the massive mahogany desk. She could almost see Stefan sitting there, his lips carved in his sardonic smile. Conversations from their past echoed in her ears.

"Alexis?" Mason's voice shook her from her reverie. "Are you all right?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine. Just..just memories…" she said softly. And there would be time for those later. It was the present and the future she had to concentrate on. "let's get to it.." she said as she stepped into the room.

Alexis walked straight to the desk, laying her briefcase on top. She walked around it, but hesitated as she faced the chair.

Mason came around the opposite side of the desk to face her. He placed his hands on either side of the chair. "Isn't this where the CEO of the Cassadines conducts business?"

Alexis nodded, not trusting herself to speak past the tight lump of tears in her throat. Stefan should be here… she thought to herself. This was his domain…

"Then," Mason said, gently. "Isn't this yours now?"

He was right. Alexis took a deep breath.

And sat.