Chapter 79

E.J felt he was in the middle of a nightmare; and not because he was being thoroughly questioned by Rafe and Steve who obviously detested him. Olivia… the love of his life… abducted. As he dashed over her house, he'd hoped against hope he wouldn't be too late. But he had been too late…Olivia already carried off and her mother shot. E.J could still hear the sound of Olivia fighting off her abductors, abject fear and anger running through him. Who was responsible for this? Was Olivia being tortured… or worse right now?

He repeated the words he heard over Olivia's phone and the sound of her fighting off her assailant. He also remembered the sound of a shot and a man shouting at. It took him a few minutes to remember the exact words but he managed to.

Rafe finally switched off the small tape recorder; the interrogation over. From the time log in E.J and Olivia's cell phones; he was telling the truth about being on the phone with her when the intruders entered the house. Despite his deep fretfulness about Olivia, E.J was quick to notice the look of contempt on the two detectives' faces. Judgmental fools… he thought angrily. What did they know of his love for Olivia Brady or hers for him?

'If you two have something else to say, just say it.' He said coldly. 'I already know what you're thinking anyway.'

'We're going to skip over the fact you seduced an 18 year old girl…'

'Not that it's any of your business, Detective Johnson, but I never slept with Olivia. I love her, whatever you think of me. And before you ask, I'm not behind this.'

'Sure E.J, lying and kidnapping isn't your speciality.' Rafe added, glaring at him.

E.J kept his temper in check. After all his past was against him; arranging Sydney's kidnap, all to punish Sami and drive a wedge between her and Rafe. Okay, he was guilty of that, among other things. But he was a totally different person now, even though more than half the town would never believe it. And considering how devastated and worried about Olivia how dare they accuse him of being behind her kidnapping?

'I have nothing to do with this,' was his "trying to be calm" answer. 'I was at the airport- like I already told you- on the phone with her, saying goodbye to her. You already know I was leaving town, you and Sami.'

'A very convenient arrangement I would say.' Rafe said. 'You and Olivia fall out, suddenly you decide to leave town and then she gets kidnapped.'

'We made up!' E.J snapped. 'My decision to leave the country was for her sake alone; our relationship was driving a wedge between her and her parents! Yes, I know you don't believe me but it's the truth. You people don't understand what Olivia and I have…'

'Oh please, shut it!' Steve interrupted harshly. 'You're just making up more tales as you go along and expect us to swallow it. How come you decided to make up with Olivia, after her father publicly kicked your ass? Then you suddenly decide to leave town and Olivia's kidnapped. A hell of a coincidence, don't you think?'

'So I'm a suspect?' E.J bit out.

'You got that right. Everyone knows how well you deal with your jealousy, you choose your special form of punishment… and revenge. This is something you can easily arrange.'

'The girl I love is out there somewhere, at the mercy of lord knows who, and you are standing here hurling accusations at me!' E.J raised his voice. 'For the last time, I have nothing to do with this! I want Olivia back safe as much as anyone!'

'Yeah, yeah E.J… be sure to write down that emotional speech for later.' Rafe said snidely. 'Just don't leave town in the meantime.'

Did the stupid fool actually think he was planning on going anywhere, with Olivia in danger?

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Roman and Kayla had the job of ringing up the family to tell them the bad news; rather than let them find out about it the next morning in the papers. Bo rang Frankie who promised to come over to Salem immediately. After leaving a guard outside Carly's room, Bo went to the station with Roman and Hope.

After hanging up, Bo looked in on Carly again. She was sound asleep, her wounded arm resting on her chest. Bo kissed her on the forehead, stroking her cheek. If he hadn't been so pig-headed and allowed his anger get the better of him, she and Olivia wouldn't have been alone in the house in the first place. 'I'm so sorry, princess,' he said softly, pressing his face against her neck, remorse gripping him like a vice.

'Bo?'

He raised his head to look at Hope who was standing at the doorway awkwardly. 'Can I come in?'

'Sure, come in.'

Hope closed the door quietly, in order not to wake Carly. 'How… how are you holding up?' she whispered.

'My pregnant wife shot and our daughter kidnapped. What do you think?' Bo asked bitterly, still holding Carly's hand. 'And she keeps saying it's not my fault when it is.'

'Well it's not,' Hope replied. 'You had no way of knowing this was going to happen, Dean tricked us all into thinking Carly was being stalked.'

'You and I both know Dean, he wants revenge more than the ransom he's going to ask for. It's a no win situation. I let Carly pay the money, Dean will kill Olivia. I forbid her to pay it, Dean will still kill her and Carly will never forgive me for failing her.'

'It's not going to go down that way, Brady. We're going to find Olivia and bring her home safe.' Hope said firmly. 'When Ciara was kidnapped, it was hard for us to be both cops and parents. I was too angry and scared for Ciara to respect your methods and I accused you of a lot of things, things I've long regretted. It was hard for you to make that offer of a reward and sticking by that decision, but you did. We know Dean and we're going to beat him at his game and he'll go back to prison; him and whoever's helping him. It's going to be alright, okay?'

Bo nodded. 'Thanks,' he mumbled, turning to look down at Carly. Hope was long resigned to the fact Bo was firmly committed to his new wife but she couldn't help the twinge of jealousy within her as she watched him tenderly stroke Carly's hair.

Roman entered, holding a photo in his hand. 'Sketch artist's all done, and we've got a positive match.' As he spoke he handed it to Bo. Hope's blood ran cold as they stared at the photograph of the man Carly had described. It was Patrick Lockhart.

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'What do you think?' Roman asked Bo as they watched the airport terminal's surveillance tape. E.J was talking on his cell, the audio isolated enough for them to hear what he was saying. Bo's face tightened with anger and disgust at E.J's intimate words to his daughter, his expression not changing when E.J's tone turned to panic. 'Olivia, answer me!' they heard him shout on the phone then the sight of him dashing away, cell still in his hand. 'It's way too convincing not to be real, Bo; much as I personally hate to admit it.'

Bo said nothing.

'I know… it's just too weird.' Roman said. 'We'll handle that problem later but in the meantime, it doesn't look he's involved with Dean or Lockhart. From what the warden said, they shared a cell and somehow found out about Olivia. What I don't understand is why the hell would Lockhart risk going back to prison again by teaming up with Dean. He served his team, why do this?'

'Money, what else and probably revenge; it's what he and Dean have in common.' Bo replied, sheer anger still on his face. 'We wait for the ransom demand, then plot how we get my little girl back.'

In the meantime, E.J was telling his father and stepmother about Olivia's abduction and finding Carly injured on getting to their house. 'Obviously they're going to receive a ransom demand anytime soon.' E.J added as he paced the room, anger and distress on his bruised face. 'How could this happen? When I find out who did this…'

'Elvis...' Stefano began. E.J stopped to glare at him. 'I don't want a lecture from you too, father. No matter what Bo Brady says, I'm not about to just sit back and do nothing. You know what Olivia means to me.'

Bo had informed him loud and clear the matter was none of his business. 'I don't know what sort of sick fixation you have for Olivia or how the hell you managed to convince her to have anything to do with you,' his angry hazel eyes locked with E.J's, 'but I'll warn you one more time, Junior. I find out you're interfering in any way I'll arrest you.'

'If you want to see me as a predator, Commissioner Brady; go ahead. But you're disrespecting Olivia by assuming she gave herself to me, we didn't do what you're insinuating. And I want to help find her.'

'Help?' Bo repeated the word harshly. 'What have you ever done to my family except bring in as much damage as you can? It's not enough you almost ruined Sami's life, you had the nerve to insinuate yourself into my daughter's! The only way you can help is keep yourself out of my family's business!'

'Of course I'm aware of your feelings for the child but you don't want to go against Bo Brady either,' Stefano warned. 'This is a police matter after all , best for you to let them handle this. Her mother is more than wealthy so there won't be a problem about paying the ransom.'

'From the little I heard, this is more about money.' E.J replied. 'That's what really worries me. Anything can happen to Olivia and I don't know what I'll do if it does. Somehow, no matter what the Commissioner says, I'm going to find her myself, before they harm her.'

'E.J, I understand what you're going through, but Stefano's right- Bo's mad enough with you already. Just let the police do their job,' Kate pleaded.

But there was no way E.J DiMera was going to do that; no way in hell.

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Bo stayed by Carly's side all night so when she woke up the next day, found him asleep on a chair beside her bed. He opened his eyes when she reached out to touch his arm. 'Hey,' he said softly, leaning down to kiss her.

'Have they called?' Carly asked anxiously. 'Any word at all?'

'Not yet.'

Carly bit her lip, eyes filling with tears. 'I'm so scared, Bo.'

'I know, I'm scared too. Please don't cry princess,' he urged, wiping her tears with his fingers. 'I promised Lexie and Kayla not to upset you; remember the babies.'

'I know… but I can't help it Bo, Olivia out there at the hands of those men and what they could be doing to her right now.'

Bo hugged her, pressing his lips against her forehead. 'Princess, you've always trusted me,' he whispered. 'so I need you to trust me now. I'm going to find our daughter, I promise.'

Carly sniffled, struggling to compose herself. She raised her eyes to look at her husband, wondering what his strategy was going to be. When Ciara was kidnapped, he'd told Hope not to pay the ransom. What was going to be his plan this time? But while Carly was excruciatingly afraid for their daughter, she didn't want make Bo feel she was going to start questioning his methods. A terrible event involving a child usually tore couples apart and she wasn't going to let that happen to them.

'I do trust you, and I love you. Very much,' she replied quietly, tears sliding down her cheeks again, rubbing the arm encircling her.

'I love you too,' Bo wiped her eyes again. 'And I'm sorry for letting this happen. I should've been there with you both, I'm so sorry.'

'It's not your fault, I told you before and I meant it.' Her pale face now wore a stern expression. 'Bo, I need you... more than ever. Enough of this self blame, I need you to find our daughter. Do everything you can, use any means... just bring her back alive. Please.'

Gripping his wife's hand, Bo vowed to do just that.

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Olivia again struggled to loosen her bonds but they were painfully tight. She shivered in the cold, pitch dark room; wondering how long she was going to be held. Her throat felt unpleasantly scratchy and her arms ached from being tied behind her all night. She coughed, waiting for her kidnappers to come back.

After what seemed like an eternity, the door opened. Patrick entered, followed by a girl with short blonde hair, who held a brown paper bag. 'Good morning, Miss Brady.' He said with a faint smile. 'Sleep well?'

Olivia glared at him and at his companion. Her eyes widened at what the woman had round her neck. Her amethyst pendant. 'How dare you, that's mine!'

'Finders, Keepers; honey,' the woman smirked, touching it.

'I swear to God...' Olivia snarled, almost mad with fury.

'Now, Now... what did I say about that temper of yours?' Patrick raised his hand. 'You don't want Dean coming at you again, do you? You really hurt his pride hitting him the way you did. We brought you breakfast.'

'I'm not hungry,' Olivia said through gritted teeth.

'Don't be stupid.' Patrick snapped in return. 'The last time we need is you dying on us. we're going to get our money; count on that. Eat, you need your strength for what we want you to do later.'

Olivia sullenly accepted the sandwich and orange juice she was fed with, trying to outline a plan to escape.

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Tamara wept in her uncle's arms at the news of Olivia's abduction. Abe and Lexie tried to comfort her, assuring her Olivia will be found. Nathan, on hearing the news from Maggie, was devastated. 'Who did this, who?' he demanded, angry tears stinging his eyes.

'I don't know, honey.' Maggie said, her arm round his shoulders. 'Bo and Roman are doing all they can to find her.'

Nathan felt angry and helpless, his heart clenching at the image of the girl he loved frightened and alone in some dark place. What were they doing to her as they speak? Will they let her go after the ransom was paid? 'I need to talk to Bo.' He rose to get his jacket.

'No, No...' Maggie stopped him. 'You'll only get in the way.'

'I have to know what's going on!'

'And we'll find out, in due time. Meanwhile, Bo, Roman and Steve are investigating and they need to be focused. You're not the only one who's worried about Olivia.'

Nathan again cursed himself for breaking up with Olivia and going to Baltimore, what the hell was he thinking at the time? And just when it seemed that Olivia was ready to forgive him, this happens. Baby... hang in there... please God... he thought in anguish, tears falling down his cheeks.

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Bo turned as Victor barged into Carly's room, an angry uniformed officer at his heels. 'I'm so sorry sir, I told him no unauthorized visitors...' he began.

'That's ok, you can go.' Bo rose to glare at Victor. 'I thought I told you never to come anywhere near us.' He fought to keep his voice down as Carly was asleep.

'You can't expect me to hear about what happened and stay anyway. Like it or not, Olivia's my granddaughter.'

'Which you were willing to doubt after Vivian fed you lies.'

Victor's lips tightened. 'You have got to let that go some time, Bo. We are in a crisis and I'm not going to be shut out because of a mistake I made.' He looked down at Carly's pale face and back at him. 'I admit it. I let my hurt pride over Carly blind me. No matter what secrets she kept from you in the past, she would never pass off another man's child as yours. I regret what I did. You have to move past this, for the sake of the family.'

'Last time I checked, nobody in the family wants anything to do with you. And no, it's going to be a very long time before I ever forgive you for what you did. I want you to leave, right now.'

'I'm not going anywhere. You're my son and what affects you affects me.' For the sake of the sleeping woman, Victor kept his harsh tone to the minimum volume. But Bo, remembering how Carly was buried alive, couldn't let it go. If Victor hadn't believed Vivian's lies after Olivia got poisoned, she wouldn't have had to go through that terrible trauma a second time. 'Either leave or I throw you out myself.' He threatened.

Victor raised his chin. 'You know where I am.' He said, leaving the room.

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Frankie was told the bad news and was already his way to Salem. The rest of the family came by to see Carly, who insisted on going home but Kayla and Lexie refused to let her; Bo firmly told his wife she was not to argue with them. At noon, Roman, Steve and Rafe arrived at the hospital, along with a harried Caroline.

'Mum found this on the counter at the Pub and called me.' Roman pulled out a slim, black flash drive from his jacket pocket. It was wrapped in cellophane with a note glued to it; which read Play Me.

'Do you suppose it's from... from Olivia's abductors?' she asked, her voice trembling.

'It probably is. Stay with Carly and don't tell her about this, okay?' Bo requested.

'Sure of course.'

Bo and the other men went to Carly's office; Rafe turned on the laptop he had brought and inserted the flash drive. Inside was an Mp4 video, which was opened.

'Oh my God...' Bo whispered, Roman and Steve squeezing his arm. Olivia was on the screen, her jaw covered with livid bruises and one eye spotted a black circle, her arms tied behind her back. Yet her expression remained defiant.

'Mum... Dad...' she began, her voice trembling just a little, 'If you're watching this, please don't fret... I'm fine. They've promised to let me go... if you would wire 30 million dollars to a bank account number you will see at the end of this video. 30 million dollars or I will be... tortured to death.'

'I'll kill them,' Bo vowed, tears streaming down his cheeks as the numbers appears on the screen. 'I'll kill them both!'