Thank you for your patience during the past week. Now back to our regular posting - jwsel and esp13
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Steve spotted Shane and John from the top of the stairs leading down to the pier. Relieved that John was okay, Steve debated heading back to the Brady house. Shane seemed to have things under control, it was cold outside, and Steve was missing the party. He had a lot to be thankful for this year and he had promised Kayla a happy and traditional Thanksgiving. Granted, that promise had been broken thanks to Roman, but he didn't want to miss any more time than he had to, particularly when Kayla was finally speaking to him again.
But he hesitated before he could turn back. Maybe John needed more convincing, since he and Shane were just talking. Neither seemed to move in the direction of the Brady house and Steve knew it would mean a lot to Kayla if John could be convinced to return.
Navigating the stairs, which were slick from nearly frozen water from the river, Steve headed toward the pair. They were so intently focused on whatever they were talking about that neither spotted Steve as he approached.
". . . partner." John was speaking as Steve got close enough to overhear. "We're going to nail Alamain. We know where he is and what he's planning."
Whoa! Steve froze. They're going after Alamain. I sure as hell can't leave now.
Ducking behind a pylon, Steve slipped a little closer to Shane and John.
"But we don't know when or what his targets are in Salem," Shane was saying. "It's a bloody needle in the haystack, and I'm staking my entire future on it."
What does that mean? Steve wondered. What's Shane planning?
John responded. "We're going to find Lawrence. We know he's in Mauritius now and he's still testing the toxin."
So they also knew where Lawrence was holed up. Steve wondered how. Neither was with the ISA anymore, but maybe they still had contacts in the agency.
Maybe contacts I can use too.
Shane and John were now talking about how to get information about Lawrence's plans. It sounded like they had the same idea as Steve - that Lawrence would use the toxin in Salem.
"Maybe I should talk to Carly," Shane said. "But I doubt she'd tell me what she knows. And, frankly, she's just on the research side. She won't know anything about Lawrence's plan for the toxin or who he might be talking to. . . . For that, we'd need Tarrington or someone with high-level access to the ISA computers."
Steve grimaced as Shane mentioned Carly, recognizing that she was a dead end. If only I would have realized that, Steve thought and silently chastised himself for what had happened to Kayla.
"Don't worry. I wasn't counting on Roman's help," Shane said. "I guess it's just up to you and me."
Maybe not, Donovan. Maybe you could use a third member on your team.
Shane ran his hand through his hair. "Lawrence is going to have to make his move soon," Shane said. "He put out the word that he had the weapon months ago. He wouldn't want to make them wait too long, because they'll get fed up and spend their money elsewhere. They'll think he's all talk and no trousers."
John laughed. "I've never heard that one before." Neither had Steve.
Shane seemed perplexed for a minute, but then realized what John meant. "All bark and no bite is how you Americans would put it. He talks a lot, but doesn't come through when it counts."
Great, Steve muttered under his breath. I'm freezing out here and missing Thanksgiving so I can get a bloody English lesson.
"Let's hope we can make that a reality," John said. "I've been trying to think of what Lawrence might target. A poison gas at a sporting event or a hospital or a school. He could kill hundreds or thousands in a matter of minutes."
Shane nodded soberly. "And Salem has plenty of targets. There's no way to completely protect all of them. . . . No, we've got to stop Lawrence at his base, before he deploys the toxin."
"So what would he use for a base?" Roman asked. "The old Jencon spots, maybe?"
"Maybe," Shane said. "But that would be pretty risky. He must suspect the ISA has guessed what he's up to. Using anything associated with his past would make it easy to locate him? That is, unless he has a way of hiding in plain sight."
Sometimes that's the best place to hide, Steve said to himself.
John nodded. "Guess we'll just have to keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
"Unless we can get something more concrete, I think that's about all we can do," Shane said, his voice grim.
Steve had contacts on the docks and, through Jack, he could often find out about things going on in Salem. He could help with whatever Shane's plan was. And maybe if he worked with Shane and John in Salem, it would lessen Kayla's fears. He knew Kayla was right about him going after Alamain alone. But, now, maybe I don't have to.
Starting forward from his hiding place among the pylons, Steve stopped short as he heard the sound of a woman's voice.
"Shane!" Kim called from the stairs. "John!"
Steve ducked back behind a pylon and heard Shane say, "Don't say anything about Lawrence. I haven't told her-"
"You haven't told her that you're going after Alamain?" John said, his voice quiet, but sharp.
"Just don't say anything," Shane urged.
Although John seemed exasperated, he said, "Fine."
Steve shook his head. So Shane was keeping Kim in the dark about this plan of his. That would probably backfire about as badly as Steve's investigation of the immunology lab.
Kim reached the men. "Are you okay?" she asked John.
"Yeah, sis, I'm okay."
She gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry about Roman, but he's just being a jerk. Nobody else feels like that about you."
"See?" Shane said. "What did I tell you?"
John looked down and shuffled his feet. "Look . . . I know how you feel and I know I shouldn't let Roman get to me, but. . . ."
"It's just awkward right now." Kim finished the sentence as John nodded. She took his hand. "Come on back to the party and you'll see it doesn't have to be."
John seemed to think for a moment, and then took a deep breath. "I don't think so. Isabella went home. I should probably go back there so she doesn't worry."
From his hiding spot, Steve watched Shane's brow furrow. "Is something going on with Isabella? Is there something you're not telling us?"
"No," John said quickly. Almost too quickly, Steve thought. "Nothing's going on. Look. . . . I'm just going to head home and spend Thanksgiving with Isabella. Just tell everyone I'm okay."
Steve could hear Shane and Kim beginning to protest, but decided this would be a good opportunity to slip away. He could not talk to Shane about his plan with Kim around. That discussion would have to wait. And it was better to get away now and avoid anyone spotting him hiding.
Sneaking among the pylons, Steve made his way to the stairs. He glanced back to see that John, Shane, and Kim were still talking, so he raced up the stairs before they could spot him.
"Did you find them?" Kayla, Marlena and Caroline asked in unison as he stepped through the door.
"They're on the pier," he said, stepping toward the fire to warm up. "Shane and Kim are talking to him. I figured I'd leave it to them to bring him back."
Roman snorted, but said nothing when confronted by glares from all of the adults.
"I just hope they come back soon," Caroline said. "The turkey's ready and. . . ." Her voice broke. "I just wanted this to be a happy holiday. We have so much to be thankful for."
"Ma, it is a happy holiday," Kayla said, walking over to Caroline and giving her a hug.
Caroline sniffled a little as she pulled away. "I know, but I wanted John and Isabella here so they know they're always part of this family."
"Sorry, Mama." Kim's voice came from the front door. Shane was behind her and helped her out of her coat. "We tried, but he didn't come back with us."
"He said he's sorry," Shane added. "But he wanted to make sure Isabella was okay."
Caroline sighed and Shawn put an arm around her shoulder.
"Come on, Caroline," he said. "We have a full house, our children and grandchildren here. So let's put aside bad thoughts and look around at everything we have to be thankful for."