Chapter 8: Midnight Rendezvous

Brady rolled onto his side, groaning in protest as he was forced out of the first restful sleep he'd had in a week. Whoever was at the door was making damn sure he woke everyone in the penthouse. Brady reluctantly rolled out of bed, shaking off the last ruminants of sleep. Clad in only his black boxers, Brady opened his bedroom door and started for the stairs, running into a very cranky Belle. John and Marlena were already at the door.

"What's the meaning of this Roman?" John demanded, his arm protectively wrapped around his wife's shoulders.

"Don't worry Black, it's not a social call. Is Brady here?"

"We've got to stop these midnight rendezvous Roman. People will talk," Brady said sarcastically from the bottom of the stairs. Roman dismissed the comment, too tired to respond.

"Actually, I'd like to speak to all of you. May I come in?" Roman asked. If it were up to John, the door would have slammed in Roman's face long ago, but Marlena stopped any negative advances with a calming hand to his shoulder.

"Of course Roman, come inside and have a seat," Marlena invited, opening the door the rest of the way to let him in. Brady flung himself down onto the couch. Belle followed suit, although she sat leaning up against her older brother, still groggy from being disturbed from her slumber. Marlena seated herself next to Belle, pulling her robe tighter around her. Roman reluctantly sat in the chair opposite of the couch while John stood protectively behind Marlena and Belle on the couch.

"What's the deal Roman?" John demanded.

"I don't suppose you've turned on the television lately," Roman commented dryly.

"Most people are asleep at this hour Roman. Ya know, insomnia is a serious health risk. You really should see someone about that," Brady stated.

"I didn't come here to banter. Look, it's been a long night, so lets just cut the bull and get down to business here. Have any of you seen Philip Kiriakis tonight?"

"Not since the dance," Belle answered sleepily.

"What's the little shit down now?" Brady questioned.

"I'm not sure he's responsible, but he's my best bet at the moment."

"Responsible for what Roman? What else has happened?" Marlena asked.

"At the way the media has jumped all over this, I'm really surprised you don't know. I would have thought Hope would have called. Salem is in a complete uproar," Roman replied. "There has been another murder. Two more incidents to be exact. Four more people have been killed, and one in critical condition." Both Belle and Marlena gasped in surprise, only John and Brady stated calm.

"Who?" Brady asked. Roman paused, not wishing to be the bearer of such bad news. He knew full well Mimi and Belle had been best friends for as long as the two could remember.

"Kate Roberts, Nicole Walker, Kevin Lambert... and Miriam Lockhart," Roman answered reluctantly, finding himself unable to look Belle in the eye as the final name came out of his mouth. Belle was floored, all feeling of grogginess drained from her body.

"Oh my God! No, no, Mimi can't be dead!" Belle wailed. Brady immediately wrapped his arms around his sister, drawing her into a tight embrace as she began to sob. John placed a comforting hand on Belle's back, and one on Marlena's shoulder. Brady was almost too shocked himself to comfort Belle, but instinct came first over everything and his first instinct was to protect the ones he loved. Nicole had been with him mere hours before, and his last meeting with Mimi left him feeling as guilty as the moment he found out Victor had been murdered not long after their last angry meeting.

"It's going to be alright, Tink," was all Brady could manage. He knew from personal experience that the closeness of family would do more good then any words ever could.

"Brady, maybe you should take your sister upstairs," Marlena suggested.

"No! I want to... please... I... what happened?" Belle asked, dreading the answer. But she needed to know, and the presence of her old brother, father, and mother gave her strength.

"Isabella, perhaps it's best..." Roman started.

"Mimi was her best friend Roman. She deserves to know," Brady interrupted, although if it were up to him, Belle wouldn't still be anywhere near Roman and his bad news. He only wished to shield his baby sister from harm, but lies and treating her as if she were a child who was unable to handle such "adult" news would do no good.

"I suppose she does," Roman replied reluctantly. He was watching Brady intently, mostly out of surprise that he had ruled him out so quickly as a suspect. Roman made no secret of his dislike for the rebellious young man, but for some reason, his instincts told him Brady was yet again wrongly accused. "Mimi and Kevin were ran off the road this evening and into the river. Bo noticed her car, looking as if she was losing control, and turned around when he saw the car following them. It was obviously an intended attack. Mimi and Kevin were steered into the railing and over the side. A car full of drunken teenagers not paying attention to where they were going smashed into the car that came after Mimi and Kevin and sent it into the river as well, but no body was found in that car. Which explains what happened at the Kiriakis Mansion, it was obviously the same person."

"And you think Philip may be responsible?" John inquired. Roman nodded in response.

"He was the only one not at the mansion when we arrived. I'll be honest. Originally Brady here was a very possible suspect, but... the facts seem to point to Philip. I was hoping one of you might know where he is," Roman said.

"As Belle told you, no one here has seen him since the dance at school," Marlena replied.

"No, this is... this is insane! Philip wouldn't do that to Mimi, or his parents or the others! He, he couldn't!" Belle sobbed. Brady wrapped his arms tighter around her, soothing her tears.

"Any ideas where he might go?" Roman questioned, choosing to ignore Belle's accusations. This family had been through so much already, Roman could imagine everything was bearing down especially hard on Isabella. Brady suddenly shot up, disengaging himself from Belle's embrace and bolting up the stairs, leaving the others stunned at his outburst. A moment later, Brady bounded back down the stairs, still pulling on a white wife beater. John grabbed his arm as Brady reached for his keys.

"Son?"

"Chloe," Brady said simply, pulling out of his father's grasp, grabbing his keys and disappearing out the door.

"Oh God! If Philip is behind all this..." Belle started.

"Then Chloe could very well be a target," Roman finished, standing up and taking out his cell phone. "John, you come with me, we're going to follow Brady to the Wesley's. I'll call for back up to met us there just to be sure," Roman instructed. John just nodded, grabbing his jacket. He gave his daughter and wife a glance of reassurance before disappearing out the door behind Roman, who was making calls to get officers to the Wesley house ahead of them. Belle buried her face in her mother's hair, letting the tears fall once again in heavy sobs.

"Oh mom," Belle sobbed. Marlena wrapped her arms around her daughter, bringing her hands up to smooth Belle's hair in a comforting motion.

"I know baby, I know. Everything will work out Belle. I know so much has happened, but your brother and your father will not let anything happen to Chloe. This ends now sweetheart. Everything's going to be alright," Marlena soothed, although at that moment, everything seemed the farthest from alright...

Brady drove like a mad man to get to Chloe's house. He couldn't shake the feeling that his Diva needed him. Brady could see the flashing lights of police cars as he approached the Wesley home. Thank God, Roman did something smart for once. Brady thought to himself. He pulled up to the curb behind the four cop cars just in time to hear the gun shot from within the Wesley home...

(earlier)

Philip silently opened Chloe's window, leaning far over from the tree outside her bedroom window to reach the window pane. He had to climb the tree to reach it, and his arms were just barely long enough to grasp the seal, but the fact that he could fall and kill himself never registered with Philip. All he knew was that his beauty was sleeping on the other side of that window, and it was time to claim what was his. Chloe might have rejected him at the dance, but Philip knew that wasn't her doing. It was all his bastard nephew's fault. Philip would enjoy beating the living shit out of Brady if he dared to try and keep him from his Chloe. Philip pulled himself onto the window seal, securing the gun he'd obtained from one of his old gambling buddies. He silently closed the window behind him, creeping slowly over to Chloe's beside. Chloe was sound asleep under her comforter, clutching the bear Brady gave her as if her life depended on it's presence. Philip reached out, gently stroking her soft cheek.

"So beautiful," Philip murmured aloud. Chloe stirred slightly, shying away from his touch. It was then he noticed the teddy bear. Even in the dim lighting the moon provided, Philip could easily read the colorful letters: Diva. "Brady," Philip growled, snatching up the bear and taking it with him to the window. He opened the window again, hurling the bear out. Chloe awoke the moment her precious gift left her grasp, setting up and letting her eyes adjust to the darkness in time to see Philip hurl her bear out the window.

"Philip! What the hell are you..." Chloe stopped mid-question, catching the glint of moonlight reflect of Philip's gun as he whirled around and trained it on her.

"Don't make a sound," Philip growled, seething from the sight of the bear he knew damn well Brady had given HIS girlfriend. Chloe gasped, momentarily frightened beyond words. This had to be a dream. Philip couldn't possibly be in her bedroom, and with a gun! She quickly regained her composure, not allowing him to see the true terror masked behind false strength.

"Philip, what the hell do you think your doing?" Chloe hissed.

"Claiming what's mine," Philip answered simply. Keeping the gun pointed on her, he grabbed a dark blue duffel bag off the floor and tossed it on her bed. "Here, pack up, we're leaving."

"Are you crazy?!" Chloe snapped.
"Depends who ya talk to," Philip replied. "I'm serious here Chloe. Pack up what you need and we'll buy the rest when we get where we're going."

"I'm not going anywhere with you. We broke up, remember?"

"No, no we didn't! I know you didn't mean it, baby. It was all that manipulative bastard Brady's fault!" Philip hissed. As Chloe threw off her covers, Philip put his gun down on her nightstand.

"This is crazy Philip! Brady had nothing to do with what happened tonight. I am not your girlfriend, I never will be again, and I'm sure as hell not going anywhere with you. Now get the hell out of my house before I call the police!" Chloe challenged, boldly reaching for her phone, her back slightly facing Philip. Philip drew a cloth, which he himself doctored a few moments before in the car waiting for them on the side of the road behind the Wesley home, out of his pocket. He walked up behind her, grabbing her roughly and clasping the cloth over her mouth. Chloe struggled against him, trying vainly to scream for help, but the strong fumes overpowered her. She went limp in his arms, dropping the phone to the floor.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this, baby," Philip apologized, laying her down on the bed while he grabbed her duffel bag. As he began to shove some of Chloe's clothes and belongings into the bag, he heard soft whispering on the other side of Chloe's door. Philip grabbed the lamp of Chloe's vanity and moved to hide behind the door.

"Chloe, sweetie," Nancy called softly as she opened the door. Philip immediately lashed out, bringing the lamp down onto Nancy's head. Nancy was quickly down for the count, but Philip hadn't anticipated Craig's fist as it slammed into his scratched cheekbone.

"Son of a bitch!" Philip cursed as he hit the ground. Craig grabbed him by the shirt collar, hoisting him up off the floor and hurling him out the bedroom door. Then he followed in time for Philip to recover enough to ambush Craig, tackling him to the ground. Their was an intense struggle, fists flying, punches being thrown, kicks, anything to gain the upper hand. Philip managed to pull away, but only succeeded in throwing them both down the stairs. Philip landed hard on his back at the very bottom, where as Craig managed to take control and pull himself up to his feet on the platform separating the staircase. Craig pounced on the vulnerable Philip, punching him repeatedly in the face before he could recover. "Fucking get off me!" Philip screamed. He shoved Craig off him, scrambling up to his feet. By this time, Philip's nose was bloody, as was his now busted lip. Craig remained unharmed. When Philip regained his balance, he lunged for Craig again, throwing the fight into the living room. Philip managed to get the upper hand, slamming his fist square into Craig's jaw and sending the bigger man down. Philip took advantage of Craig's vulnerable position, grabbing the side of the heavy bookcase and pushing it over onto Craig's chest and lower body. Much to Philip's delight, Craig yelled out in pain, the heavy bookcase weighing down upon his chest and knocking the wind out of him. "Nice seeing ya, Doc, but Chloe and I have a date with destiny," Philip said smugly, wiping blood off his face. Craig struggled against the bookcase, wishing only to rip that smug grin right of Philip's face.

"Keep your disgusting hands off my daughter!" Craig growled despite his sudden inability to breathe properly. Philip smirked, shaking his head and leaving the struggling Craig to make his way back upstairs. He stepped over Nancy's unconscious form, grabbing his gun and replacing it in his belt, picking up the packed duffel bag and slinging Chloe over his shoulder like she was a weightless, little doll. By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs again, the police Roman had called for had arrived, although they had yet to surround the house. Philip groaned, obviously irritated. Would nothing go right tonight? The officers Roman sent weren't on high alert yet, as they'd only been instructed to met Roman there. But two new recruits were making their way to the front door to investigate the seemingly quiet scene. Philip tossed down the duffel bag, removing the gun from it's place again, locked the front door, and pushed open one of the windows just enough to put the barrel of the gun into. Philip released 2 shots, each hitting their mark as both officers went down. The two gunshots were open invitation for the other officers to open fire, smashing all the windows around the door and splintering the door itself. But Philip was long gone, carrying Chloe and the duffel bag out the back door and disappearing out of sight before the few back up officers had the chance to surround the house. The moment fire ceased, Brady bolted through the officers.

"Brady, stay back!" Roman ordered. He and John arrived a split second after Brady and saw the officers go down. John raced after his son, ignoring Roman's warnings. Brady kicked in the locked, splintered door.

"Chloe?!" Brady yelled. He quickly spotted Craig, sprawled on the living room floor and pinned under a bookcase. "Dr. Wesley!" Brady cried, rushing to the doctor's aid. Craig shook him off, pointing to the kitchen door.

"No... I'm fine. Go... Philip... has Chloe," Craig managed. Brady cried out to John to help Craig before sprinting through the kitchen and out the back door. He made it to the backyard in time to hear the squeal of tires on the back road as Philip pulled away, precious cargo propped up limply beside him. Brady noticed the white teddy bear lying on the ground; he bent down and picked it up quickly, tears beginning to stream down his face.

"Chloe," Brady whispered silently. He gripped the bear tighter, so tightly his knuckles shone white. "Chloe!" Brady yelled at the top of his lungs in anguish up at the sky. Bear still clutched in hand, Brady retreated through the house, rushing past his father and all the other officers and making a break for his jeep. He had to find them. He just had to...