Chapter 15: Informant Lost

John adjusted the dials on the tracking device, setting them to the required specifications to track the DiMera ship's location. As much as Brady had wanted to rent a boat and begin following them using the device Aida had given him, but John had insisted they check out Jordan, check his equipment and see what information he had on DiMera. Jordan gave them specific directions over the phone to get to his place, and was quick to comply with each question and demand John had for him once they arrived at the rundown apartment. As shabby as the place looked, John had never seen such expensive, state-of-the-art tracking/computer equipment. Some of it was of course illegal for civilians to own, but an "associate" of DiMera's such as Jordan couldn't be bothered with such notions as "illegal."

"The system will automatically print out all points they reach. It gives all the proper coordinates to find your way. You'll be able to follow their exact path once they get where they are going," Jordan explained.

"I still say we shouldn't wait! Aida gave us this hand held device, no doubt so we could follow. I think it's a big risk to wait. This is DiMera for God's sake! Dad and I each have a cell phone, we can keep mine open for Aida's call, and keep in contact with you," Brady insisted. Jordan shook his head.

"You can't keep even those high tech gadget cell phones of yours charged long out there on the water. We have no way of telling how long they'll be out there, not to mention they may still travel on land. We need to wait it out. I know Victoria, she's not about to let anything happen to her sister," Jordan insisted.

"He's right, son. You said you trusted her, just be patient, and keep that faith. This is the best we can do until Aida clues us in on their new location," John stated. Brady sighed, frustrated that he couldn't do more to rescue his Diva.

"I know. But I... I feel so damn helpless just sitting here waiting!" Brady complained, involuntarily beginning to pace the small confines of Jordan's crowded equipment room. "He put a chip in her head, Dad. Aida didn't come right out and say that, but I could tell. It's the only way DiMera could get her to do what he wants."

"We'll deal with that when we find Chloe, Son," John insisted. "I know the procedure, I can remove the chip."

"Here, Brady. Victoria sent over all the files of the procedure, notes on Princess Gina and your father's reactions, and all that. You can read up on it while we wait if you'd like," Jordan offered. Truthfully, the offer wasn't really out of kindness, but Brady's pacing made him nervous as hell. Brady nodded, glad for the distraction. He placed his cell phone beside the keyboard as he sat down in front of Jordan's computer screen. All the files of the procedure were logged into his computer by Victoria, although she herself couldn't perform the surgery. She'd often told herself if it wasn't for fear of harming or even killing her sister, Victoria would remove that damn chip from her sister's central nervous system in a heartbeat. Jordan brought up the files, giving Brady full access to the vast material before retreating back to the tracking monitors. Brady sighed deeply, attempting to calm his completely shot nerves. He felt like a failure, just sitting here doing nothing while his Chloe was out, only God knew where with Stefano DiMera. But his father was right. They were doing the best anyone could. Still, he couldn't get over that feeling of complete helplessness. Brady had never been completely straight forward with Chloe when they were talking about his personal life, and it scared him to think he never would get the chance. Brady shook his head, vowing to remain positive. He'd told Aida he trusted her, and he truly believed that she would help bring Chloe back to Salem, where she belonged. Those eyes, those haunting eyes, had proved that to him; Brady knew now that Aida would sacrifice her life if she had to to keep her twin sister from suffering the same fate. That was something Brady could put his faith in. Even if she had been raised a DiMera, the girl hadn't an evil bone in her body. Brady spent the next hour or so trying to concentrate solely on the computer screen, rather then the cell phone sitting next to the keyboard...

Victoria hugged herself tightly as she walked by herself along the deck, the cool breeze lifting her hair off her shoulder in places, but failing to calm her nerves. She'd been on edge all day long, and it was obvious Elizabeth picked up on it instantly. She hadn't questioned her on the matter, but Victoria was almost sure she would sooner or later. Most of the rest of the afternoon had been spent in meetings with Stefano, briefings on what would go down once they arrived wherever the hell it was they were going. Stefano had stated that this new life would be quite a switch from their dealings in Europe. To Victoria, that meant only one possibility: if she wasn't to be an art thief, she was to live the only other lifestyle Stefano had raised her for. The life of a bounty hunter. No matter where Stefano relocated, he always had very powerful connections, people who would carry out deals for him, and people who would ask him for service. Victoria had once believed that her father enjoyed toying with the lives of others far too much to order the destruction of another human life, but she knew better then that now. Perhaps his favorite pawns, the citizens of Salem, would escape death at DiMera's hands, but Stefano obviously felt no remorse for a bounty kill. It sickened her, just thinking about it.

Victoria stopped at the railing at the stern of the ship, looking out over the water, appearing to seem almost longing for what they were leaving behind. Life in Paris had been almost unbearable as it was. But this new life... if she was right... this would be a whole new kind of hell. And there was nothing she could do to fight it. To make things worse, it disturbed her to see Elizabeth so eager to please her father, no matter what that meant she would have to do. Rolf had done his job well. Elizabeth had no memory of any of her life before she was taken to Europe, and was trained only to believe in the trust of her family. Meaning Stefano could make her do anything and everything he wanted. Though she hadn't been given a chance to know the real Chloe, Victoria could feel it in her heart that Chloe Lane would have never given up so easily to the demented will of Stefano. Chloe meant it when she said she'd never be a DiMera. Stefano had had to make her into a completely different person to get her to submit to his will, but it pleased him none the less. He didn't need her soul to satisfy him. After all... he already had Victoria's. Chloe Lane was dead, leaving Elizabeth DiMera to become another pawn in Stefano's game, not to mention she would become a new trump card against the Blacks and the Bradys. Victoria was about to pull out her cell phone, though she knew better then to risk contact here, when she felt the presence behind her.

"What are you doing out here Izzy?" Victoria asked. Elizabeth laughed, coming up beside her twin.

"How do you always know it's me?"

"It's a twin thing," Victoria replied simply. "Besides... I didn't automatically feel like vomiting, so I knew it couldn't be Merdoc." Elizabeth wrinkled her nose at the mention of her bumbling partner.

"Did you cause that busted lip, or did he actually get in a fight with one of the guards?" Victoria laughed, shaking her head.

"Is that what he told you? No no, that's definitely my handiwork. He made the mistake of opening his big fat mouth by saying that sooner or later, I would either kill him, or sleep with him."

"Ugh. That's so typical of him. Have you seen the way he looks at every woman on the team?"

"You in particular," Victoria noted dryly. Even altered, Merdoc still appeared to retain the same obsession as Philip had. I suppose it just proved what she'd already known the moment she first laid eyes on him; Philip Kiriakis was twisted and distorted at the very core.

"I'm surprised he's intelligent enough to tell the difference between us," Elizabeth stated. "So, what did you do?"

"Bit his lip," Victoria replied solemnly. "He tastes bad," she added, smiling slightly, but the smile lacked any real emotion.

"I could imagine," Elizabeth muttered. By now, she too was looking out over the water. She couldn't explain it, but she felt as if there was something she should be looking for, some reason she shouldn't leave Paris. "Vicky, what's got you so upset? You are the most focused person I know, but you've been so out of it today."

"It's nothing, Izzy, really. Just thinking is all."

"About the mission last night?"

"Some, actually," Victoria admitted. There was another thing that was bothering her. "He died."

"Who?"

"The guard I shot last night at the party. I heard in the marketplace today that he didn't make it, too much blood lost."

"You never miss your target," Elizabeth stated. Victoria closed her eyes, masking her deep emotions she knew were useless to try and hide. She had missed her target. She had never intended to kill the man. He was supposed to merely be disabled so they could escape.

"Do you have to say it like cold blooded murder is a good thing?" Victoria whispered.

"Victoria, what IS wrong with you? This is... this is our life, it's what we do, right?" Elizabeth prodded. She wished she could remember her life, she only had bits and pieces here and there, memories Stefano had wished her to have. All she knew was to please her father and to remain loyal to her family. That would bring them all to victory in the end. Stefano often boasted that's why he choose such a name for Victoria. She's the very symbol of our victory their father would say. Elizabeth often asked about the origin of her name. Stefano would always reply that, to him, the name represented strength, dignity, and power. The answer always brought a bright smile to Elizabeth's face. Stefano had told her that, unlike Victoria, Elizabeth hadn't been able to grow up under his roof, although he would never explain why she could not remember her life before her father found her. She often felt she paled in comparison to her sister. They looked exactly alike, but Victoria held herself so much differently then Elizabeth did. Or at least she had until now.

"Izzy, do you ever wonder why you can't remember anything about your life, aside from the last three months?" Victoria asked, almost reading her sister's mind.

"I... well... damn it, Vicky, why must you always know what's on my mind?"

"It's the same reason you can usually read me like an open book," Victoria replied. She turned her sister to face her, taking hold of her hands. "Look, Izzy, I know what kind of life we are expected to live. This is all I've ever known, and I'm sure I'm the last person you'd expect to see acting soft. Believe me, it scares the hell out of me, but... I want you to know, that no matter what Elizabeth... I love you. You are my sister, my twin sister, and I'll always stand by your side. I just... I'm tired, Izzy. I don't give a damn anymore about what I was raised to believe. All I know is... this life... it... it's killing me," Victoria admitted softly. Elizabeth looked stunned; after all the praise she received, Elizabeth would have thought Victoria was very happy with her life. They had everything a girl could ever ask for.

"Victoria, what are you saying? Are you saying you don't care about father..."

"No, Elizabeth, that's not what I'm saying. Even though... even though my beliefs are changing, I'll always love him." It made her sick to say it. But it was true. Even if she tried not to... Stefano DiMera's hold on her was just far to deep. She would be forced to love the monster that was her father, with her last breathe. " He's my father, whether I like it or not. Listen, Izzy, let's not talk about all this now, okay? I'm just... confused is all. Even I have my off days."

"Boy do you ever," Elizabeth exclaimed with a sly smile. Victoria pushed her playfully, turning back to gaze out over the water.

"Alright you, enough twin bashing. Wouldn't want a busted lip to match Merdoc's, now would you?"

"Evil girl," Elizabeth muttered. "Alright, I'm gone."

"Izzy?" Victoria called before Elizabeth walked off, although she didn't turn to face her twin.

"What?"

"Remember what I said. Always. And remember this. Things with our father... are never what they seem," Victoria said. Elizabeth looked at her sister's back questioningly, but decided against asking. She really didn't feel up to the answers.

"You are one hell of a puzzle, sis. I swear, even I can't seem to figure you out," Elizabeth stated before disappearing into the door which lead to her father's smoking room.

"Neither can I," Victoria admitted silently to the now darkened skies. She waited until Elizabeth was gone before pulling out her cell phone, despite knowing deep down it was not safe to do so, but needing to for reasons she couldn't explain, and began to dial the familiar number...

Brady jumped at the sound of the phone ringing, grabbing his cell phone before John or Jordan could.

"Aida?" Brady asked hopefully. There was a slight paused before he heard her voice.

"I'm never going to get used to being called that," Victoria replied. Brady breathed a sigh of relief, the frustration of the past two agonizing hours gone the moment he heard that soft voice which reminded him so much of his Diva's.

"Aida, what is it? Do you know where DiMera is taking you and Chloe?"

"No. He wouldn't say. Just that it'll be a complete switch from our life in Europe. He said something about meeting up with "an old family friend.""

"Any ideas who that might be?"

"Well... from father's tone of voice, it sounded to me like he definitely wouldn't be welcoming him or her with open arms. It sounded like he wanted to get back at an enemy of his," Victoria replied. "What about with you? Can you track us alright? I haven't tested this device from such great distances."

"No, everything's fine with the equipment. Jordan says we'll be able to follow your exact path," Brady replied. John motioned for Brady to give him the phone, but he just shook his head. "Aida, what about Chloe? How is she?"

"To be honest..." Victoria hesitated, pondering her answer, "she... doesn't seem to be anything like the Chloe Lane you knew. I think she still feels a connection to her past, but... she won't try to figure it out. Stefano has her too loyal to him."

"Damn him," Brady cursed out loud. "Damn him for doing this to her! She's been through enough in her life already without having to have this put on her too!"

"I'm so sorry Brady. I should have done more to..."

"No, just stop. No time for blame, Aida. We just have to focus on getting our Chloe back to Salem, where she belongs. Now, please, you'd know DiMera better then any of us. Where could he be heading? You've noticed your surroundings, where do you think he would relocate?"

"I don't know. Father has dealings all over the world. I can't even for the life of me figure out why he would be traveling by ship rather then taking the jet. My best guess... well, three places come to mind. Father's major dealings, besides France and Europe, are in London, Wales, and Dub..." before she was allowed to finished, someone cut her off, grabbing her roughly from behind and pulling her into a tight embrace, pinning her arms while another figure took the cell phone.

"Aida?! Aida, what's wrong?" Brady demanded, beginning to panic. He could hear what sounded like a struggled, muffled cries, and a demented laugh that reminded him far too much of his insane uncle. John sensed the urgency, grabbing the phone from Brady and bringing it to his own ear.

"Aida, are you..." John started.

"Ah, John, so good to hear from you." John's blood ran cold as the new voice reached his ears.

"DiMera," John sneered. Brady's jaw clenched, his burning anger suppressing the fear he now felt for Aida and Chloe's safety. Jordan, thinking ahead, put himself in front of the computer screen, printing out and saving copies of ever coordinate and check point before the signal was lost.

"Why, John, you don't sound pleased to be speaking with me," Stefano said tauntingly. "Can't imagine why."

"What have you done to them, you sick bastard?" John demanded.

"Now now, John, flattery will get you no where," Stefano stated. He watched as Victoria struggled against Merdoc's surprisingly strong, sound grip on her. The one time he didn't screw up, and it had to be now! Finally Stefano could let go of the regret at ever taking him along, and Victoria's regret at not blowing his head off the previous night only grew stronger. "It seems you and the Little Black have been a very bad influence on my most prized child. Bad form, John, trying to use my own flesh and blood against me."

"Cut the bullshit DiMera. You know nothing of bad form, or playing fair. Just as long as you get what you want."

"Ah ha, 'tis true, you know me so well. Stefano DiMera always gets what he wants."

"What have you done with Chloe and Aida, DiMera?"

"Victoria and Elizabeth are no longer your concern," Stefano stated, stressing the new names which he himself had chosen for his twin daughters.

"The hell they aren't! You've crossed the line this time, Stefano. I swear, if you..."

"Don't make idol threats with me John. You may be my most formidable, and capable of opponents, but you are powerless now," Stefano stated firmly. He walked up to the struggling Victoria, jerking the ruby necklace off her neck. "I must say, I am so very disappointed, however, that you managed to turn my own child against me. Such high hopes for my precious Victoria, lost now. Although, I must commend the use of this little device here. Imagine, hiding a tracking device in her favored piece of jewelry so you could follow suit. Very clever indeed," Stefano commented. He threw the necklace over the railing and into the water below. "You'll find your little tracking device at the bottom of the ocean. As for my daughters... you shan't be seeing them ever again. I always win John, you of all people know that best. They are mine. Mine, to do with what I will," Stefano said, before disconnecting the phone call and tossing the offending cell phone over the edge as well. He turned to Merdoc and Victoria, delighting in his daughter's attempts to escape. "Take her down below to the cargo hold. Restrain her there, we shall deal with her infidelity once we reach our destination."

"Damn you, father! Damn you for ruining my life!" Victoria screamed, vainly struggling against Merdoc as he began to pull her back with him. "You took away my family, my soul! You took everything from me! You never gave me a chance to live! I will never forgive you for that father, never! I swear to you, I won't let you hurt Chloe the way you did me, do you hear me father?! You can do what you want with me, but you will NEVER take her!" Victoria yelled. Victoria's screams brought the attention of a few of Stefano's team, not to mention one very pissed off Elizabeth. She hadn't heard the argument, but she did know one thing: Merdoc was hurting her sister.

"Let her go!" Elizabeth demanded, advancing towards her twin and her foolish partner. Stefano stopped her with a mere raise of his hand.

"No, Elizabeth. Let him be. He's doing only what I ask."

"Father, why..."

"It seems your sister here has betrayed us," Stefano interrupted. "You see my dear, it appears she's been associating with some of my enemies. My most hated, the Black family, no less," Stefano stated, weighing his daughter's reaction. Elizabeth turned towards the struggling pair, the same rage written all over face. Only this rage, was directed at her sister.

"THIS is what you meant by sticking together?! What you meant when you said you'd always love us, no matter what?!" Elizabeth demanded. Victoria shook her head, pleading with her sister with her eyes to believe in her.

"Izzy, no, I..." SMACK Victoria's efforts were cut short when Elizabeth back handed her across the cheek, sending her stumbling further into Merdoc's controlled embrace.

"How could you?! How can you betray us like this?! Your no sister of mine, traitor," Elizabeth spat, turning away from her once beloved sister in disgust. As her own blood began to trickle slowly out of the corner of her mouth from her sister's violent slap, Victoria no longer felt the urge to fight. The strong connection that she had felt all her life to her long-lost sister seemed almost... severed now. And with so little effort on her sister's part. Victoria merely gave up, allowing Merdoc to drag her to the entrance to the cargo hold. As the door closed in front of her face, she caught sight of her father, instantly recognizing the look on his face; total triumph. Stefano DiMera... had won...

John slammed the cell phone down on the desk, cursing.

"Damn it!" John swore. "He found the tracking device, he threw it over board. And now, he knows Aida was helping us."

"God, there's no telling what he'll do to her!" Brady moaned. Jordan remained the only optimistic one as he looked over the printout.

"Relax guys, this isn't over yet. Not by a long shot," Jordan stated.

"What do you got?" John inquired.

"Victoria definitely does her job well. Someone else might not be able to interpret this, but I have enough information to know exactly where Stefano is heading." Jordan stated confidently. He walked to the other side of the room, grabbing a black bag from under a desk.

"Men, we're heading to Ireland..."