Chapter XXXV
Marlena went to answer the knock at the door. "Roman, Kate, what a surprise, please come in. Can I get you some coffee?"
Kate breezed in, taking off her coat and scarf to hand off to Marlena. "What do you have that is a bit stronger?"
"Can I offer you some cognac, Pierre Ferrand?" John remembered Kates likes. He went to the cabinet and poured some from the decanter. Kate took it and swirled it about the glass, stopping to savor the aroma before she sipped it. Two sips, and she was handing the glass over to John for a refill. He did so, raising his eyebrow and wondering why she needed this much alcohol so early.
Roman sat, and waited for the rest to join him. "This is about Sami, we have to do something!"
Marlena shook her head in disbelief. "Roman, Sami has a lot going on now with EJ on the Phoenix Support. I have meant to go out to see her, but just have not had the time. So what do you want us to do? And really, she is so independent now, I don't think there is anything that she hasn't already got well in hand."
"We need to get her and those kids away from EJ!"
"Actually, we need to find out what they both had to do with Wills death!" Kate joined in.
John recocked the eyebrow, "What are you talking about?"
"Eric has been working at the station, holding things together for EJ at Sami's request. He had to go through Kates files, and in doing so he found a blog diary that was written by Chandler Loring. She is sleeping with Harris, apparently quite a serious fling going on there..Harris confided in her about why Will took off that day.."and Roman told the story again.
"Well, Roman, this is a tragedy, but all in all, it was still a terrible tragic accident., and Kate, how did Lorings diary files get in your possession anyway?" John was quick to exploit a point.
"Just a file mix up, I probably thought it was work related..and uploaded it to see what she had been working on..I don't know, and what difference does it make anyway..Eric is the one who finally read it, not me!"
Roman held his hand up for them to get back to his original point. "We have a Brady woman married to a DiMera. We have unsolved crimes in this town, and all have an EJ Wells fingerprint on it somewhere..I have two grandchildren under that mans control, and a third one lying in his grave damnit! Now Tony DiMera is back in town, and it would not surprise me a bit to find the two of them are in cahoots together!"
Kate gave a sly smile at that. John saw it, and she quickly put on her other façade. Pulling out a handkerchief from her purse, she dabbed at her eyes. "I have been mourning Will for a year, I go to his grave every week, do I ever see his mother there? No! Now I hear this about Will! Sami probably forced him to listen to a bunch of lies about his father, and that is what got him so upset!"
"Kate, we all heard the tape that day in the chapel. You can't deny it anymore. I am surprised that Sami has forgiven me for not turning on you. I still think of you as a friend though, I know Sami did her part to make you hate her. But Sami did not tell Will any lies if she was a part of this. It was all true..but Sami would never have wanted Will to find out this way..in this you are right."Marlena was trying in her usual way to be reasonable.
"I think we need to confront Sami about this, let her know what EJ did, what else we think he has done and have her make a decision about who she is going to be loyal to!"
"Roman, she may not choose the way you think she should" John cautioned.
"Every Brady in the family will be looking to her to stand up for us! I can't imagine Sami letting us down. She is still a Brady, always will be!" Roman was sure of his stand.
"I think you are going to make a mistake if you do this..I think she loves him, he certainly seems to love her. The kids with them make their own family unit, Roman, one you will find hard to break up. Just my opinion!"
Marlena was unsure, but of all the people here, she had to say "Roman, believe it or not, John knows Sami better than all of us."
"What in the Hell..she is my daughter you know!"
"I raised her most of the time, Roman. That was not your fault, it was just the way things worked out. The biggest mistake I ever made was not following through on the commitment I made to her and Eric..but I thought it would make things harder for you and Marlena. None of us thought about Sami and Eric in all of this, least of all, you Roman. Now you want to try and run her life? She will not let you, and I will not be a part of this..count me out..Doc? " John was asking her how she felt.
"I agree with John. Whatever Sami does now with EJ is her decision..we all stood by when she married him, and nothing horrible has happened to her. She seems very happy according to what I see, and Belle too."
Kate was through with this tactic.."We have reason to believe that EJ has in his possession the entire catalogue of the crimes Stefano has committed. This would detail all the secrets he has about you John..and you too Marlena! "
This information brought John to his feet. The fact that Stefanos crimes against him and all the others may be in the possession of EJ was a different matter, and one that he would commit himself to helping Roman uncover. It was the secret to unlock his past!
"Aaah" thought Kate, "My work here is done!"
Roman tried to come in when he took Kate back to the suite, but she pleaded exhaustion. "Can I see you tomorrow?" his voice almost pleaded. She found it pathetic, but was not going to risk alienating him again.
"Of course, I always want to see you Roman, you are my reason for living" she teased him
"I wish I could believe that Katie-did." Roman kissed her then left.
"Talent like yours is so wonderful to watch Kate," Tony came from his hiding place in her bedroom. He wore his silk pajamas, and walked up to her, reaching for her scarf as he did. He unwound it, then kissed her neck, making her eyes close in delirious pleasure. She could not figure out why he was so intoxicating to her. except for the perfume of power he always wore, and she wanted it, she wanted him!
His kiss stopped abruptly, "Is Roman ready to help us get the ledgers back"
"He is readier than you can ever imagine..and John too!"
Tony continued the kiss, and in his imagination, the woman in his arms was Samantha Brady Wells..Someday, he was going to get so much pleasure in letting Kate know who he really wanted!
Chapter XXXVI
Sami's hands were shaking when she handed the ledger over to Harris. He took it from her, then led her to a chair. As he looked over the pages she had earmarked, enlightenment appeared on his features. His face reassured Sami that the problem was close to being solved.
"Aaron, get down in here stat!" Harris had called in Peter, the main technician to EJ's bedside, and had him read up on everything in the scientific writings of the ledger. To Samis amazement, the technician was fingering the ledger, then imputing information into the computer, which was spitting out a printout on the other side of the room..
"Sami, everyone on this detail has been handpicked by me, we had to have people we could trust, and that is hard to come by in this town" All the nurses were now in EJ's room, readying monitors, defibrillators, anything and everything that may be needed when EJ was brought out.
Somehow, when she saw all of this she was not comforted in the least. What if something went wrong? Then she felt him..his presence calming her, sending his love and asking for hers back. Sami closed her eyes and willed him to feel her love. His eyelids fluttered and he opened them with that endearing blinking that he did so often!
"Hello Samantha." And she flew into his arms. His voice was the same as it had always been, gentle with her, but firm as he gave the orders for the others to leave them. Harris smiled at EJ in complete understanding as he herded everyone else out.
His arms felt the same way they had always felt, strong and safe, the kisses on the top of her head just as warm, the stroking of her cheek had the same tenderness, nothing was different, but everything was. She felt it in the way he looked at her, like something was hurting him so deeply that he could not find the words to express the pain to her. So she did it for him.
"I know you never meant to hurt Will..you wanted him to love me the way I loved him..for that all I can say is thank you for trying. You should have told me, and I know you realize that. I see it in your eyes..but forgive yourself EJ, I forgive you, and I know that Will had forgiven me, I just hope he also forgave himself.
EJ, we really cannot do anything about the past, we can think about it, but it doesn't change it. We can learn from it, but often it is the wrong lesson. We can try not to repeat it, but the past has so much good in it too. I don't know what we will do about it, but I still love you, I cannot stop loving you! I swear if I should die and get to heaven and find you are not there, I shall just turn around and go the other direction screaming out for you! And you had better answer me!"
EJ silenced her with a kiss, as he could not bear to hear anymore. It was sometimes painful to be forgiven he was finding. His need for her was so great, he tore away the remaining moniter cords and pressed her to him. She pressed back, pulling him onto her so that she could physically show how much she had missed and needed him.
When it was spent, she lay sheltered in his arms, listening to his breathing as he slept. She tried to get up, but his arms tightened, and he would not release her.
"No, stay" he mumbled.
"Aren't you hungry". But he shook his head.
"Thirsty?" he still shook his head.
"EJ?" he looked at her.
"I have to pee!"he smiled as he released his hold, and told her "come back quickly!"
The rest of the night was spent in whispered love making, and gentle talk of the children and their part in helping him to get the message to her. She was astounded at the idea of the connection to their father..at last they fell into an exhausted peaceful sleep that was the first for Sami in many days.
By the next morning the nursing staff had taken over again and insisted that they had to check him over. The beauty of the Phoenix was that it kept so many body systems going in perfect harmony. The muscle groups were exercises electrically so that no wasting syndrome occurred. Body chemistry was kept in delicate balance, and due to EJ's peak physical condition, he was almost in better shape than when he had gone under. The toxin was also cleared from his system, another benefit to being on the Phoenix.
Harris was still in super security mode though. Eric was not to be told that EJ was up, in fact no one was to know yet! EJ agreed. Sami did not know why they were insisting on this, but her fear for EJ was greater than her insisting on trusting Eric, so she agreed.
"Eric, have breakfast with me, Tippin has made brought up some great looking scones!"
"What was all that noise down here last night, the security guy didn't know what was going on, just said that no one could go in..is EJ alright.?"
"He's fine Eric, just fine. What do you have going on in the office today? Is Kate coming in now or is she still playing the Lucas card?"
"Actually, she and Dad came in together yesterday, she took him into her office and they stayed there almost all morning."
Sami looked intently at Eric as he said this. What was her father doing with Kate? Probably the usual, she thought. Funny how he always preached family loyalty to her whenever he got the chance, but he still could associate with that woman! Her fondest wish was that EJ would find a way to cut her loose from Mythic. Let Chandler take her position, she would get more work done anyway! What was EJ's reason for keeping her on anyway?
"Harris, no one outside the circle is to know I am up, is that clear?"
"Yes, I know, Sami knows too. We are informing the staff also. It had been very hard procurement, but no one in the household staff was not a trusted member of EJ's inner circle. Nanny was well trained as both a minder of children and a skilled body guard. Tippin was the same, as well as a skilled marksman. The cook, Albert, well he was just a cook, but the best cook in the entire world.
Eric was the only problem, and Sami and Tippin were handling him.
"Is Kate still with Tony?"
Harris smiled "you mean in the biblical sense, yes…but she seems to be including Roman in her favors now..quite the little Jezebel!"
After Eric left the house, EJ asked Sami to have the twins brought down. For now, he was going to confine himself to this room just in case they got unexpected visitors.
"Daddy…you up..Daddy!" Justin crowed his greeting, but Daddy no longer understood, and Justin knew immediately.
"I sign you Daddy..I sign you!" Sami interpreted for EJ, and he quickly got the idea from the two babies. EJ asked Sami for the thank you sign, and she showed him.
"Daddy says thank you, both of you! I love you so much, and I will never go from you again!" Both babies covered him in love, so happy to have him back and reacting to them with his touch. It was so much better than the mind talk, even though they missed it, they had missed his hugs and kisses and touches so much more!
Chapter XXXVII
"Is it ready Bo" Roman called over to Bo's desk. He was awaiting some paperwork to be signed by the judge, a search warrant for the DiMera Mansion. Kate had informed them that there was reason to believe that the books that held the keys to Stefanos Empire, and his entire criminal history was in the possession of EJ Wells.
" And just how did you come by this information Kate?" Roman had kissed her neck as he asked the question.
Kate had wrapped the sheet around herself as she sat up in the bed. She had looked at Roman, stroking his chest with one black polished fingernail.
"Tony told me, Roman, and if you must know I have slept with him in order to get this information..now don't condemn me..I was doing it for the good of all!"
"Or the good of Kate Roberts?"
"Roman, I have one son infected with a terrible disease, he can't be cured, now he is off to Africa to work in some God forsaken relief program!"
"Well Lucas was consorting with prostitutes Kate, and that means you have to be very careful, I mean even with you I practice safe sex…"
She threw the pillow at him, letting him know she was insulted!
"Lucas was careful, he always was, I taught him that..No!, This was all an EJ Wells plot because he thought…" Kate stopped realizing her mouth had gone too far. To cover she bent to Romans chest and kissed him until his breath sharpened and she knew he forgot the point he had been about to press. Damn, he was easy!
"And now Philip, Philip is wasting away hooked to a machine because of an insect bite? I just don't buy it Roman, EJ is behind it!" That was all it took, and Roman was talking with the entire Brady family, and asking the judge for a search warrant for his daughters home.
Tippin brought in a pot of coffee, "Good to see you looking so well sir", and then poured three cups for Sami, Harris and EJ.
"Thank you Tip, the coffee smells great, I missed it so!" EJ took a sip of the hot fragrant beverage. He then turned his attention to Harris.
"Is everything set, I fear we will not have a lot of time!?"
"I think it is pretty well covered, they won't get much, watch this!" Harris pushed a button on his remote panel and the entire computer system disappeared on an elevator, and another one that was an exact replica took its place.
"So what is on that system, enough to keep them busy?'
"They will think they hit the mother lode, but nothing that can incriminate us, it is all Stefanos work."
Sami squinched her eyes, she had to know this, but she wished she did not. "EJ, what about the ledgers, are you going to give them any of them at all?"
"We can't let them get control of some of them, it would change too much in the worlds power balance Samantha, I am sorry, some of what your parents and John want to know must still remain a mystery to them. But they will be able to learn some things that may set their minds at ease a bit."
This was a world alien to Sami, a world of double cross, triple cross, until it was hard to keep straight in your mind who you had not crossed yet!
"What about Philip" Sami wanted to know, in a way he still represented her nieces father to her, and she was concerned.
"Aaron is heading to the hospital to take care of him, he cannot be caught, but don't worry, he can handle it, he is a pro. Peter will have to remain here, as it would be suspicious if all the technicians were gone when they got here.
"How do you know anyone is coming?"
"Samantha" EJ put his hands on her shoulders, "Commander Brady has been sleeping with Kate once again, and we bugged the apartment. Kate is also sleeping with Tony. Kind of a musical bed situation. She has your father convinced that we are running Stefanos Empire, and for all intents and purposes she is right. Tony, of course wants it back, but Stefano gave it to me, and for good reason. My cousin is a bit of a mad man lately, almost bent on world wide destruction..he feels he has nothing to live for, so why should the world go on? I think he thinks if the Salem Police Department has the ledgers in their possession they may be easier to come by".
Harris laughed, "May as well check them into the public library, they would at least have him sign for them!"
EJ grinned his agreement " Love, I know that Roman has had a search warrant signed this morning, so we should expect them within an hour.I will have to pretend to still be under, you must not let them know otherwise! Don't be frightened of them, we are going to let them take what we want them to take and nothing else."
The seven police cars arrived within fifty three minutes of EJ saying they would be coming.
Abe, Roman, and Bo all were at the door when Tippin answered it. They were in best official mode and crisply, Abe asked for "Samantha Gene Brady Wells?" and Sami came to the door.
He handed her the search warrant, one in her name, and one in the name of Edward James Wells. 'We are here to search the entire house, and it is in your best interest to cooperate".
"Please go sit down, officers, I need a little time to read this, and since you are aware that EJ is still not conscious, I think I need time to read his also. Then there is the matter of my needing my attorney to read this also. So if you would care to wait, it should not take more than three or four hours!" in his bed, eyes closed tightly, EJ fought the chuckles making him spasm! "Good girl!"
Sami made a call to Gwens office, and she said she could be there within an hour. "Don't let them so much as look in a cookie jar until I get there!"
ChapterXXXVIII
The doorbell rang in succession three times before Tippin was able to get to it. He had busily been serving all the officers coffee and doughnuts, and seeing to all their comforts much to the annoyance of Commander Brady and Commander Carver. Both of them kept looking at their watches, and looked to the door in anticipation of it being the attorney. The department budget was going to be busted over this operation, all Abe could think was this had better pay off!
"Good day, Doctor Evans, Mr. Black, how nice to see you!, and Mrs. Roberts, such a pleasure!" Tippin was the epitome of breeding and manners at all times, and this very strange day was no exception.
"Please come in, I will tell Mrs. Wells you are here!"
Before Tippin could usher the first three guests in, Eric and Belle also appeared at the door, and behnd them Caroline and Sean. "Oh my, we are getting a houseful..please go in and sit down with everyone else..I will see to more refreshments" this was almost upsetting to Tippin now, he was going to have to ask Mrs. Wells to let him know when company was expected! How was he to be properly prepared?
Samantha came out of EJ's room, carrying the twins. They both saw Belle and Eric and squealed their delight! "Hi Auntie" Justin signed, and Jessica squirmed to be let down to crawl over to Eric. He picked her up and smiled as she patted his cheek. Then they both wanted to greet Gramma and Granpa Sean. Marlena looked on, at babies she had seen only twice in their lives. Time was so precious, and she could never find any for these two. John looked especially uncomfortable, this was not something he would have chosen to do, but Roman had insisted on a full family unified front.
Sami was not pleased at the visitors, and looked at Roman accusingly. "What are you up to now Dad? And who invited you to my home Kate? For that matter, which of you called to say you would be visiting me? Mom? Actually, I have not had any phone calls from you. Belle, you know you are always welcome, but why are you here with this little group? What's going on? Eric? You want to tell me?"
Roman stepped forward, "Sammy, you are going to have to make a choice in your life?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"You married a DiMera, not something any of us here really approve of, but until we found out something about your husband recently, we let you live your own life."
"I'm so pleased about that Dad, and I am so sorry for not getting your written permission!"
"No need to get sassy Samantha Gene?" Roman was using his best disciplinary voice.
"No need to be fatherly, Commander Brady, you are about fifteen years too late! Now speak your piece! And since this has nothing to do with police business, will you please remove the other officers from hearing range?" Sami was losing her temper, and Harris gave her a motion to be calm by putting his finger to his lips.
"Sami, your father just wants to help you" Marlena tried to put a calming voice in, but Sami was not about to be swayed by a mother she barely had contact with anymore.
"Samantha, listen to your mother, I swear, she only wants what is best for you" Johns voice made it through the red haze of anger, and Sami could not figure out why. For so long she had hated him, then she had made peace of a sort. Now he was here with the rest of them trying to tear the fabric of her life apart for what reason?
Roman handed Sami a transcript to read. Once she saw the subject, she knew that EJ's secret had not been his alone. Harris looked at her and read her face. He waited for her to accuse him, to accuse EJ, for a family to be torn apart by a terrible mistake and error in judgment. He waited, but it did not come.
"I cannot believe how you have all come here to make an accusation against my husband, and right now, he cannot even defend himself. But if he could, this is what he would say:
Samantha, I made a mistake in not trusting in your love immediately..but I know if I had only told you, you would have forgiven me. You have forgiven so much more from so many more, your family here included. I never meant to hurt Will, I wanted him to love you, and cherish you the way a mother should be cherished. That is why I did what I did. I know now we should have talked to him together, I should have made you make him face up to things..I am so sorry!" the words came from Sami's hearts, as they had been the same words EJ had said to her.
"That is what EJ;s defense would be, and since it was still an accident, I see no reason for this conversation to continue."
"Sami! Damnit, I said you have to make a choice!"
"Between what Dad, you and EJ, no contest!"
"No, do you want to be a Brady, and stand with us?' Roman swept his arms to indicate Eric, and Belle, Marlena, John, Sean and Caroline and himself.
"I think I have made my choice, so if the rest of you agree with Commander Brady, so be it, I am going upstairs to put my babies down for a nap.
She turned on all of them, but heard footsteps behind as Eric followed her. A second later, Belle was running up the stairs behind.
"Peanut, wait, I'm sorry"..John followed. Marlena hesitated a second, then she also took to the stairs.
Sean and Caroline looked at Roman, "Roman, this was a mistake, we would never have come if we had known what you were going to say..how could you?"
Roman stood with Kate Roberts. "That went well" was all she could think to say.
Tippin came over to Kate with a phone, "call for you Mrs. Roberts, the hospital".
"Oh God! He is?" Kate was joyous with news "Roman, Philip is awake, I have to go now!, I'll drive myself back!"
Chapter XXXVIV
Kates phone rang as she drove back to Salem University Hospital. "Kate, such good news, darling..I am so thrilled for you" Tony's silken tones caressed her ears. "I will meet you there, I want to see for myself how Philip is..and Kate? Where is Victor now? This was not our arrangement, and just what did you give up for Philip to be brought up? Come on Katie, tell me what it was,you know I will find out, just make it easy and tell me darling.."
Kate was pulling into the parking lot when she saw Tony and Jules standing there, still talking on the phone to her unaware. She kept talking and made it into the hospital lobby where for some reason she felt safer. She had to keep Tony from knowing what she had done. If only she could keep him from looking her in the eyes, because when it came to lying to him, she was no good, he was not Roman Brady.
"Victor? I am afraid I don't know, and as far as I am concerned I hope I never see him again!" She had almost closed the elevator door, when Jules foot stopped it, and both he and Tony stepped in. Jules pushed the button for the roof, and Kate huddled in the corner, terrified that her double crossings had finally caught up with her.
While at the DiMera Mansion, Roman was now doing exactly what Kate had asked him to, but did not realize it was exactly what Harris and Sami had ordered her to do that day in the office in exchange for Lucas and Philips life.
"Seduce my father, that should be easy enough for you" Sami instructed. "Tell him a few stories that we will give to you, just enough to convince him that he has cause for a search warrant..after that, don't worry, your troubles are over Kate..your sons will both be just fine.."
So Kate had double crossed Roman, now she had to do the same to Tony and hope he never suspected if her beautiful neck was not to be broken like a dry twig.
Roman was barking orders to his men, instructing them to load up the computer and the entire system lit up in the basement. Books from all the shelves were boxed up, including the leather bound ones with the initials SD stamped on them. John opened a couple of them, under surveillance of the other officers, read a few pages and whistled. Pretty strange stuff Stefano was into in his earlier years, mainly mind control science. John was hoping his past was somewhere in these books.
Sami watched as every room in her house was invaded and violated. She had been warned by EJ and Harris to expect this, but to have her father and uncle as well as a man she had once thought of as a family member doing this was ugly. When they went into the nursery she flew in ahead of them. "My children have no part in this, what do you think you are doing?"
The officers dropped their heads shamefully, but Officer Peters came forward to gently explain "We have to search every room, Mrs. Wells, would you like to take the children out yourself?"
Nanny and Sami carried them after waking them and Sami's heart broke when Justin began crying and signing "bad mans!, bad mans!" as he saw the men go into his room and tear apart his crib bedding. Jessica clung to Samis neck, and signed for "Daddy! Daddy!"
EJ had remained silent during the whole ordeal, not giving any clue to anyone that he was conscious and totally aware of everything going on. When the time was right, Commander Brady was going to find he had lost everything, his reputation, his career, and the respect of his family. But now, things were happening exactly as planned. The lawyer had seen to it that the terms of the search warrant were followed to the letter of the law. At last, they all left, and Sami cried at the devastation they had left behind.
Lorene and Tippin came out "Don't worry Mrs., we will have it right as rain before long! You just go to Mr. Wells, he will make you feel better."
EJ was dressed, and looking over the tapes of the search their security system had done. He was making sure they had not inadvertently taken something that was truly valuable. They had not, and what they had would be of no use to them in any legal proceedings..so it would play out that Roman had overplayed his hand. Harris was sorting some papers they had just riffled through, mainly EJ's medical files. When Sami came in, she looked so upset that EJ hurried to her to take her in his arms.
"Don't worry, darling, we can fix it, it is just a bit of organizing" but Sami wailed in her absolute distress.."EJ, they even went through my dresser drawers, all my lingerie, I can't wear any of it, they emptied the babies drawers, they threw diapers everywhere, my God, what were they thinking! They even went into Wills closet, they threw his clothes down, they broke his toy box, his figures!" to Sami it was as if they had killed him again, just the disrespect shown to the shrine she had made of his room.
EJ looked to Harris, "Get in there and straighten that out now please!" with all he had to worry about, and plan for, this was too important to Sami to put off. Then he had pulled her head to his shoulder and stroked her as she cried it out. The whole week had been so stressful for her, and she had carried it off beautifully. She was his equal and his partner in every way that could ever count!
Chapter XL
Tony sat drinking his coffee on the veranda, looking at the newspaper article complete with pictures and laughed heartily. Commander Roman Brady caught on camera in flagrante delicato with the ever lovely Kate Roberts in a Salem Police Squad Car, no less. Aaah..this was definitely worth giving up a few points to EJ for. He reached for his phone and dialed.."EJ, cousin, how nice to hear your voice. Ok, I gave up the pictures, the rest of the article is about the horribly over done search of your house..I really think we have done it cousin,..the complete destruction of Commander Roman Brady! This is really the most delightful game we have ever played! But you should know, I will be the winner in the end!" with that he moved his rook up to guard a wayward bishop.
"Tony, when it all comes down to it, what else is there for you and me but the game?" EJ sacrificed a pawn to force the bishops loss.
"There is always the lovely Samantha?" he moved the rook back to safety.
"Tony, that is the only thing that would ever make me kill you, if you harm my wife or children, is that clear? That little farce with kidnapping her was not funny, and really you should consider that type of action out of bounds, we are gentlemen you know". His knight took the rook. "You really must learn to pay more attention Tony!"
"By the way, the stock on the Phoenix has split again, thank you for the tip!"
"Yes, the publicity for both Philip and I caused quite a stir",: EJ moved to guard his queen more thoroughly. "Victor is now working for me, Philip also. They are running Titan, as Stefano always said, keep friends close, and enemies closer!"
"EJ, the ledgers you gave up? I am so disappointed in you, I spent all that money getting them stolen from the Salem Police, and I find they are as useless as a set of Encyclopedia Brittanicas…"
"Sorry about that, by the way, how is Lucas doing? I have not had time to check on him lately."
"Umm yes, well that little pawn is doing quite well. He is having an affair with one of the clinic Doctors, seems to be quite in love. Kate of course may not be so pleased, her name is Doctor Nabila Solange, she is beautiful , intelligent, and HIV positive of course."
"Tony, the whole village is HIV positive, thanks to Stefano". EJ had found that Stefano found his own ways to test his medical research discoveries.
"I know, and you are so conscientious in wanting to help there, but it all seems so pointless cousin."
"Tony, we do what we can. I find myself getting involved in many hopeless causes, for what else is there to do but try?..It helps to ease the boredom..you know I have to live on the edge!"
"How is Kate lately, is she still with you?" EJ had bought out Kates interest as he felt they would now have a very hard time working together.
"Kate? Well we had a bit of a falling out, she seemed to think I was in love with another woman, and she was not at all pleased about that. The last I heard, she was in Switzerland meddling in Austins love life once more!"
"So sorry to hear that, is the woman you love anyone I should know?"
"I did not say I was in love, I said Kate thought I was..and the other woman, well, let's just say it is something that has to be put on hold!" Tony was giving away nothing, but EJ evaluated every word for future play.
Harris came in, and handed EJ his phone. The tail for Roman was reporting in. At 0700 hours, Commander Roman Brady had appeared at the station for the purpose of turning in his badge. Commander Brady had then gone to his house where he had put his revolver to his head and committed suicide. The ambulance was removing the body as they spoke.
EJ spoke to Tony "It is done". Neither of them spoke for a moment. Both had reasons for wanting Roman destroyed. However, mainly, it was just part of the game.
End of Family Dys-Function
Next Installment
Rains of Redemption