CHAPTER 40

'I must admit Madam,' Gus Pascal said to Vivian, 'I never expected an astute man like Mr Kiriakis to actually fall for it.'

'Hatred is a powerful drug,' she replied, 'use it carefully and with the right doses, it has the expected effect. I simply used what I had in my disposal to get him on my side. Now,' she went on briskly, 'you have the casket?'

'As we speak.'

'Excellent. Do it tonight and make sure no one hears her screams; or see you at all. When this affair is over, expect a huge fat bonus from me.'

'Thank you, madam. And congratulations on your engagement.'

Vivian would hardly call Victor's proposal romantic but who was she to throw away a golden opportunity?

'I appreciate your good wishes. Now prepare yourself for what you're going to do.'

'Be assured Madam, I'll get the job done.'

Vivian hung up, slipping the phone back into her purse, realising her hand was trembling, from excitement. Her revenge was coming out nicely, more than she'd dared hope. She'll never forget in a hurry that fateful morning when she'd read in the papers of Lawrence's death... how he was described to the whole world as psychotic and abusive... his death labelled as a suicide. Then she'd received the urn containing his remains and a cold note from Olivia, after which Gus had gotten the whole story from Gideon about what really happened. Her grief and rage had known no bounds; she'd helped her brother Leopold raise him, she'd taught him all he knew- she'd loved him like her own son and he'd been crushed in his prime... by Carly's bastard child!

Vivian shut her eyes, quelling the pent up anger rising within her. The first step was already complete. Now for Carly, who was yet to know she was going to spend the final few hours of her life in a deep, unmarked grave in the woods, with no one around to rescue her... Olivia was dying and Bo Brady wouldn't have the faintest idea where to search for her.

I really outdid myself this time, she smiled smugly.

'Ms Alamain.'

She turned, eyebrows raised at the man who'd called her name. 'Yes?'

The man moved forward. 'I'm E.J DiMera.'

'Oh!' Vivian exclaimed, 'so, you're Stefano's son. Well, I'm really pleased to meet you, young man. And how is your father?'

E.J ignored the hand stretched out to him, his handsome face wearing a very cold look. 'Let's skip the pleasantries; I'll come straight to the matter. I know.'

Vivian shook her head. 'Pray tell, what are you talking about?'

'You poisoned Olivia Brady,' his voice shook with anger.

'That is the general rumour spreading about but I assure you,' Vivian drew herself up in affected dignity. 'It's completely untrue. I have no reason to kill that dear child. I've known her since she was a baby.'

'The baby you kept away from her father for several years, the child that psychotic nephew of yours abused...'

'Don't speak ill of Lawrence!' Vivian shouted, the insult stinging deep. 'He was a sick man!'

'Who threw a defenceless woman several storeys down! Don't you tell me you have no motive, I know Olivia killed him...'

'Yes, she did!' Vivian choked.

'Out of self-defence.' E.J finished grimly. 'Even if it wasn't, he more than deserved what he got.'

'Lawrence was a brilliant; powerful man... he didn't deserve to die, to be slandered posthumously!' Vivian spat, 'but no matter what anyone thinks, I have nothing to do with Olivia's poisoning! Her biological father's the police commissioner; heaven knows just how many enemies he's made in the course of his career...'

'You lie very convincingly Ms. Alamain, but you should be aware I've dealt with cleverer liars in my time. I just want to let you know something.'

Smartly, he grabbed the back of Vivian's head in a vice-grip.

'How dare you!' she struggled, more outraged than scared . But E.J's fingers were like steel, his eyes fixed on her face.

'I'm giving you this warning, you old bitch. You better pray nothing happens to that girl because you'll have me to deal with, not the Commissioner. If, and I mean if, she dies, you die. The police may need proof to get you but I don't. There won't be anywhere to run because I'll find you, make no mistake.' Was the ominous promise.

'Let go of me, you animal!' Vivian said, refusing to back down. 'Let go of me I said!'

E.J's hand relaxed and she sprang back, face red with anger. 'You'll be sorry for this, Mr. DiMera. No one treats me that way, ever!'

'Well, there's a first time for everything. And I always mean what I say,' E.J's voice was low and colder than before, his eyes menacing . 'As of now, keep looking over your shoulder.'

Vivian glared at E.J's retreating back, adjusting her coat. His father all over. His threat was however baffling; if she didn't know better, she could swear Bo was using him to entrap her. E.J and Olivia... ridiculous!

But she didn't bother herself by thinking further on the subject or E.J's threat. It took a lot to scare her and Vivian Alamain's never been known to scare easy.

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Maxine knocked on the door, bearing a large bouquet of flowers. 'These just arrived, Dr. Manning.'

'Thank you Maxine, put them over here.' Carly pulled the card off, reading it.

'Who are they from?' asked Max as the Head Nurse closed the door behind her.

'From Olivia's class. They must have all chipped in.' she smiled faintly.

'I'm willing to bet she's got loads of guys in love with her already.'

Carly shrugged. Since her arrival, Olivia's attracted a lot of admirers; Chad Woods, the son of the D.A, a few infatuated young constables and several Salem High seniors who kept Olivia's cell phone busy nearly every day, to Bo's annoyance. Carly knew it was resentment towards the Hortons' that made Olivia shun Nathan and it hurt that her daughter was yet to live the life she'd been denied for so long, instead of still concerning herself with looking out for her mother. A young girl shouldn't be burdened with that, especially since Bo's willingly taken over that role.

'Olivia's just starting to find boys interesting; it's still all new to her.'

'I can understand that, with everything you two went through.'

'I'd rather not dwell on that. We have a new life now, or at least we really will when she gets better and Vivian's finally out of our lives.' Touching Olivia's cheek, she looked at Max anxiously. 'Frankie doesn't know about this, so please don't...'

Max didn't look pleased but nodded. 'I won't tell him, promise. But what's the deal with that woman; didn't she think everyone would obviously suspect her first?'

'She's the most devious woman on the face of the earth,' Carly said bitterly. 'No one knows her like I do. She knew that very well and used it to her advantage. Then somehow, got Victor to side with her.'

'But Olivia's his granddaughter!'

'Bo and I are as stumped as you are, Max. I don't know what to think anymore; I just want this affair to end.'

'You better watch out yourself, Carly. God knows what that bitch has in line for you.'

'I'd like to see her try doing anything to me this time. If I disappeared, Bo and the family will be on to her fast, even if she tries using Victor as a shield. She can't pull the same scheme twice and get away with it.'

Her beeper went off in the pocket of her white coat. Pulling it out and glancing at it, she sighed.

'Excuse me, Max. You'll stay with us while you're in town?'

'That would be great, thanks.'

As soon as Carly left, Max leaned over Olivia, tracing her eyebrow with his finger. 'You better wake up real soon, little lady... because I can't wait to get to know you a whole lot better.'

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Phillip looked up Justin entered the living room. 'How was your trip?'

'Same all, same all.' Justin looked exhausted as he sank on the leather coach. 'Can't wait to really get some time off. Where's Victor?'

'Probably isolated himself in the study.' Phillip said scathingly, scowling.

'What's up with you?' Justin asked in astonishment.

Phillip narrated what happened to Olivia and Victor's bizarre behaviour.

'You're kidding me!' Justin shouted. 'Victor's actually taking her side? What the hell's wrong with him... Olivia's a Kiriakis! Wasn't he that bent on being a part of her life?'

'I can't even begin to guess the reason behind this weird attitude of his, Justin, It doesn't make any sense. I just hope Bo gets evidence to nail that bitch because I can't stomach seeing her around here.'

'She's been here?'

'More often since Olivia's been at the hospital.'

Justin shook his head, accepting the glass Phillip handed over to him. 'Olivia's gets poisoned, Victor takes sides with Vivian... the same woman who not only buried Carly alive, but also ruined his marriage to your Mum. Something's sick is going on here.'

'And it gets worse. He's not even been to see her, not even sent her flowers or a Get Well card.' Phillip continued angrily. 'Brady and I confronted him and all he did was bite our heads off. Even Bo can't understand the whole situation.'

Justin sipped his brandy. 'She obviously has some sort of hold on him, it's the only logical explanation. I can think of. Or... he's trying to trap her somehow, make her admit she poisoned Olivia and expose her to Bo.'

Phillip frowned. 'That could be it. I didn't really think about that.'

'I'm probably right. I don't buy this heartless attitude of his, not towards Olivia. He adores that kid for heaven's sake.'

'Who doesn't?' Phillip smiled faintly, remembering their first encounter. 'She's the first girl I know to put me in my rightful place.'

'Just like she's the first female Kiriakis to have the mark.'

Phillip started. 'She has the mark? You're kidding.'

'I saw it the night we met at Bo's house, when I shook her hand as I was leaving. Same place, side of the left wrist. Victor always says that mark's only occurred on the Kiriakis men, Isabella didn't have it. Poor kid... I'll stop by the hospital once I take a shower and change my clothes.'

'I'll come with you.'

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'Good evening Mr Kiriakis.' The sergeant opened the door.

Olivia looked pale and thin against the pillows, dark smudges under her eyes. Victor swallowed as he stood over her, trying to quell the rising panic in his stomach. He'd eavesdropped on Justin and Phillip's conversation from the other side of the door and hurried over to the hospital ahead of them just to be sure Justin was mistaken. He just had to be, Olivia wasn't Bo's daughter, she wasn't a Kiriakis... he knew the whole truth. Vivian had given him more than enough proof!

With trembling hands, Victor took hold of Olivia's left hand, turning it. On the side of her left wrist he saw the small dagger shaped birthmark that's occurred in the Kiriakis clan for generations, mostly among the men. It was exactly like his; like Bo, Justin, Shawn Douglas and Brady's!

'Oh God...' he whispered, his blood running cold. He rubbed it hard with his thumb. No smudge.

'Oh good Lord... that bitch!' he said, through gritted teeth, shaking with anger. 'That lying bitch!'

Vivian actually did poison his granddaughter and now, he was an accessory to murder!

I still need to be sure... he thought, looking down at her, still refusing to accept the evidence staring at him in the face. Dropping her hand, he reached out, yanking a few strands of chestnut hair off the top of Olivia's scalp and wrapped it in his handkerchief. It has to be some sick coincidence, Victor tried reassuring himself but had the sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach that Vivian's made him the biggest idiot in Salem.

As he was thinking this, Carly was frantically struggling with an assailant at the hospital's darkened parking lot. Before she could scream, she was viciously hit on the face, crumpling in the masked man's arms.

'Nighty-night Dr. Manning.' Gus chuckled.