Chapter 3: Late Night Interrogations

Brady groaned, the loud banging noise at the front door waking him from his strangely peaceful sleep. He looked around, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness.

"What the hell..." That's when he brushed up against Chloe, who was sleeping beside him on the Wesley couch. Judging by the blanket that now covered them both, they'd fallen asleep somewhere along the line and neither Nancy or Craig had the heart to wake them. Brady gently pulled his arm out from under a still slumbering Chloe, wondering briefly how she could remain asleep with that racket at the front door. He grumbled the whole way to the door, not noticing Nancy and Craig descending the stairs. "What?!" Brady demanded, flinging open the door. "Oh, great, it's you."

"Lovely to see you too, Brady." Roman replied solemnly.

"What do you want Roman? If you haven't noticed, its, what 2 in the morning?"

"Which leaves me to wonder what you're doing here," Roman commented. "But that's not why I came here. I need you to come in for questioning."

"What's the meaning of this Officer Brady?" Craig demanded, coming up behind Brady with his worried and confused wife.

"It's none of your concern Dr. Wesley. I just need Brady here to come down to the station with me," Roman replied.

"Well, I sure as hell am not going anywhere at this ungodly hour until you tell me why," Brady snapped. Roman sighed heavily.

"Victor Kiriakis is dead," Roman answered with little emotion. It was too damned late, or too damned early depending on how you looked at it, for emotion.

"Brady?" A sleepy Chloe asked quietly, pushing passed her shocked parents to stand beside Brady.

"Grandpa Vic is dead?" Brady breathed, obviously in shock. Roman nodded.

"Yes. Shot and killed late this evening," Roman replied. Brady nodded, his face a complete blank.

"Alright, I'll go," Brady said softly.

"Wait. I'm coming with you," Chloe said, now fully awake and alert.

"Chloe honey..." Nancy started.

"Actually Mrs. Wesley, it would be best if Chloe came along. I may have a few questions for her as well, if that's alright with you," Roman said. Nancy was about to protest, but Craig stopped her, grasping her shoulder reassuringly.

"Yes, of course Roman. We'll drive them to the station," Craig offered.

"No. My Jeep is outside, I'll drive and then take Chloe home, you two should stay here," Brady said.

"Brady, dear, I really think we should..." Nancy protested.

"Please, Mrs. Wesley? I'll get Chloe back home safe, there's no need for the two of you to worry. I promise, I would never let anything happen to Chloe," Brady said sincerely.

"He has a point dear. Come now, lets let them go with Roman. The sooner they go, the sooner they'll be back." Craig agreed.

"Alright you two, lets go. I'll follow you to the station," Roman instructed. Chloe grabbed her jacket, gave her mother and Craig a quick hug goodbye and followed Brady out to his Jeep. Roman said a quick goodbye to the Wesley's before retreating out to his own car. Nancy and Craig watched both vehicles pull out of sight before going back inside. Brady remained silent as they pulled away, concentrating intently on the road.

"What's this?" Chloe asked quietly, attempting to get Brady's mind off the current situation.

"Your surprise," Brady answered solemnly as Chloe pulled out the little clear plastic container. Inside, was a little white teddy bear, clothed in a black shirt with the word 'Diva' monogrammed in colorful glitter. A single brandy rose lay on top of it. "I don't think they do purple roses. The only other one I liked was blue, but blue always seems to convey a depressing message, so I went with that one. The bear was cuter too," Brady said, lacking much emotion. He doubted it would really mean anything right now anyway. Chloe just nodded, not sure what to say. It had to be one of the most special gifts anyone had ever given her, but somehow, she didn't feel she had the right to be happy right now.

"Thank you Brady, it's... it's beautiful. I love it," Chloe said. After replacing the bear to it's spot in the backseat, the rest of the ride was spent in silence until they reached the Salem P.D.

"This way," Roman instructed, leading them to his office. The station was a buzz with activity despite the late hour. "Have a seat," Roman said, indicating the two chairs in front of his desk. Chloe and Brady complied, each taking a seat. Roman tossed his keys on the desk, slumping down in his own chair. "Alright, lets make this as short as possible. Where were you tonight Brady?"

"Chloe's house, obviously," Brady replied, lacking his usual fire.

"All afternoon?"

"No. I got to her house sometime after 8:00. 8:20 maybe."

"That right Chloe?" Chloe nodded. "Alright, where were you before you arrived at Chloe's? Specifically around 7:30 this evening."

"I didn't kill my grandfather Roman," Brady replied dryly, thinking he should have known that Roman would accuse him of such a thing. After all, Roman made no secret that he believed Brady to be guilty of trying to hurt his sister, why not his grandfather?

"I'm not insinuating you did, I just want to know where you were."

"Why? I mean, if you aren't suggesting I had anything to do with it, why does it matter where I was?" Brady questioned, frustrated. Chloe placed a calming hand on his knee.

"Why won't you just answer my questions? Got something to hide Black?" Roman asked. Brady sighed, adverting his gaze to the floor.

"I was in a flower shop," Brady muttered almost incoherently.

"Speak up."

"I was in a flower shop!" Brady practically yelled. "The florist across the street was closed, so I had to find another one. There, happy? The tough guy rebel is really nothing but a hopeless romantic," Brady muttered sarcastically.

"What's the name of the florist? Can someone vouch for your whereabouts?" Roman asked, making a few notes.

"I don't remember. It's the new one across town, next to that Tony's pizza place," Brady answered. Roman nodded, satisfied for now. Judging by the slight blush on Chloe Lane's face, he needn't ask anymore questions about the nature of the florist visit.

"Okay, so, when was the last time you saw your grandfather?"

"This morning. Dad needed me to come in to work to interview applicants for seamstress positions. Grandfather came to Basic Black to discuss something with Dad."

"I see. So, he came looking for John, and ran into you instead? Did the two of you have an argument?"

"A disagreement. I told him he had no business coming to Basic Black after her blew up at my father for visiting him at Titan," Brady replied wearily.

"Anything else of any significance?"

"We argued about what an abusive, compulsive schizophrenic his son is," Brady replied smugly.

"Uh huh. So, you argued, and Victor left right after, correct?" Brady nodded. "And what time would you say this was?"

"Around noon I guess."

"And what time did you leave Basic Black?"

"Around 3:00. I had a run in with Kate. She wanted to know what I said to Victor."

"She mentioned that..." Roman muttered to himself. "Where did you go after you left work?"

"Home. I still had a lot of paperwork and I had to get reports ready for Dad."

"Such a hard working man..." Roman murmured. Brady refused to respond, knowing he'd just lose his temper. "You just went home? No stopping for lunch or anything? Didn't leave the house until you went to the florists?"

"That's right. I didn't leave until around 7:30ish, after I called Chloe," Brady answered, growing tired of all these explanations. Roman nodded, making a few more notes.

"Alright, last question. Did you know that Victor kept a gun in his home office?" Roman asked. Brady grew tense, but nodded.

"Yeah, he mentioned it. Of course, anyone living in that house would more then likely know it was there."

"You mean Philip, Kate, and Henderson?" Roman questioned. Brady nodded.

"I would imagine if I knew, they would have to know too," Brady replied.

"Alright. That's enough for now. We'll probably need a statement from you and your parents in the morning Chloe. For now, you two are free to go. You know the drill, no leaving town," Roman said.

"Are you getting statements from Philip and his dear mother?" Brady questioned.

"That's not for me to discuss with you Brady. Why, do you think I should?"

"I think Philip's mental stability is without a doubt questionable, and Kate has tried before you know, so what do you think? But that's just my humble opinion."

"And you, Chloe? What's your opinion?"

"I... I don't think Philip or Mrs. Roberts could have done such a thing," Chloe replied softly. Roman nodded.

"Alright. I'll be seeing you both in the morning," Roman said, waving them out. Brady took Chloe by the hand and led her silently out the door and back to his jeep. Roman shook his head, resting his elbows on the desk and massaging his pounding temples. Where was the extra strength Tylenol and scotch when ya needed it...

Brady quietly shut the door to the Penthouse, trying not to wake anyone. He just dropped off Chloe, and was now finally home, where he could take a hot shower, crawl into bed, and sleep till noon.

"Son," John surprised Brady, who was just about to make his way up the stairs. John had been in the kitchen getting more coffee, having been too worried to go back to sleep after Roman's call.

"Hey dad," Brady muttered tiredly.

"I take it Roman got a hold of you?"

"Yeah. I feel asleep at Chloe's. He found me there."

"Son, I..."

"Dad, can this wait? Right now, all I wanna do is take a long shower and go to bed." Brady said. John nodded, understanding.

"Alright Brady, we'll talk in the morning. You go, get some rest." John said. Brady continued up the rest of the stairs and disappeared into the darkness of his room...