Across Midnight – By Unknown Author

Marlena awoke with a start. Reality began to seep into her brain like mud. A smile crept upon her blushing lips. She hadn’t felt this good in a really long time. A sense of warmth swam all throughout her body and soul. She leaned over and planted a kiss on John’s cheek. The stubble protruding from his face scratched her softly. Bittersweet memories filled her. After all this time they were finally where they were supposed to be. Through all the misunderstandings and lies, they could finally share their life together. They hadn’t sealed their relationship, so to speak, but she was ultimately glad just to sleep in his arms all night.

 

He lay perfectly still. She didn’t want to wake him. He looked so incredibly peaceful. He looked uncannily like Brady. Someday Brady would look just as beautiful as John did at this moment. John started to wriggle, and his eyes started to flutter a little. The cotton sheets rustled as a result. Marlena got out of bed quickly because she knew if she waited too long, she’d lose dibs in the shower. She’d lose it to the abominable snowman, or at least share it with him. Not that that idea wasn’t tantalizing, she just wanted to get her day started. She wanted to wash all the sickness and closeness of that repulsive secret room. Claustrophobia was now a new word in her vocabulary. John took a sudden turn, and before Marlena could awaken or stop him, he fell out of bed, managing to smack his forehead on the corner of the nightstand on the way down to the floor. He hit the lamp. It went tumbling and shattered. ‘Oh, I liked that lamp,’was the first thought to cross Marlena’s mind.

 

“Oh Sh-. Son-of-a-beaver!” John yelped. At least he remembered there were kids sleeping down the hall. His hands went immediately to his corresponding to the spot that hit the table.

 

“Oh my gosh! John, are you okay?” She asked although not getting a coherent answer. She took a few strides to where he sat rocking back and forth. It’s a good thing she didn’t say what first came to her mind. She would seem very insensitive. “Here, let me look at it.” He jerked back at the first sense of her touch and prying hands. In the process of trying to escape, he hit the back of his head on the same nightstand. He also somehow managed to get cut by Marlena’s long manicured nails. “Stop squirming. Now look what you did to yourself.” She sounded exactly as if she were commanding the children.

 

He could hear her stifled laugh. That made him red with anger, but how could he be mad? She was just trying to help, and she always looked so gorgeous when she smiled. A sigh left her. This was turning out to be a one-sided conversation. All John was doing to contribute was give moans and grunts every now and then. He never was really good about handling pain. Men never are. “Alright, you lie in bed and rest-” He cut her off with a few useless moans and grumbles. “I mean it!” Marlena said pointing at him, trying to sustain a grimace, and trying to sound convincingly like and authoritative figure. “I’ll go downstairs to get you some ice and breakfast.”

 

Ah behold, he speaks, “Are you making the breakfast?” His trademark eyebrow was raised at the thought of her cooking skills. She knew what was coming. Her shoulders slumped, and she shifted all her weight to one leg. She tried hard to give him “the look”, but it was futile like holding back the tide. ‘How can I just stand here and take this?’ she thought. “Are you absolutely mad woman?! Are you trying to kill me off bit by bit until there’s nothing left?” Even though he was in obvious pain, he just couldn’t pass up the chance to get a rise out of her. She looked pretty good mad too.

 

“Oh come on John.” She muttered. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. ‘Oh what a glorious day this is turning out to be.’“I’ll make some toast and eggs. I can’t screw that up completely.”

 

“Since I’m now bedridden on doctor’s orders, I guess I have no choice but to stay here and try to survive.”‘Your cooking’was the unfinished thought. He knew how far he could push her before she wouldn’t put up with it anymore. That last statement would have been one toke over the line. Marlena turned on her heel and stormed out the room and down the stairs. When she was about half way, his voice called out, “Hey!” She stopped mid stride thinking that he might have needed something more. “I hear the hospital’s food isn’t that bad. What do you say we just hop over there for a decent breakfast.” He couldn’t resist, although he had hoped he had thought of it earlier. He hated when his slow comebacks made him sound stupid, and it occurred more times than he would care to recall.

 

“Ha ha. Very funny Black.” Her tone dripped resentment. She put some whole wheat bread in the toaster. Another clunk came from upstairs. ‘Whoo-oo, third time’s a charm.’ There was no cry of pain from John, no complaining. ‘That’s odd he’s been blubbering all morning.’ “John? Honey? Are you alright?” No reply, not even a snide remark. ‘Here we go again.’“John?” This question was noticeably more urgent and apprehensive. She bounded up the stairs to reveal an empty bed with strewn sheets. Her heart jumped into her throat, but the sound of a shower running calmed her immensely. ‘Marlena why are you so uptight? You have nothing to worry about now.’ Sitting on the edge of her king size bed that she usually slept solo, she let her heart slow. She went downstairs to the smell of burnt toast. Well, so much for an easy breakfast. Cereal would be considerably easier. She searched the cupboards. The only kinds left were Lucky Charms and Cocoa Puffs. ‘The kids! Gosh I haven’t seen them in so long.’ As she finished that thought, the two bundles of joy came clumsily down the particularly steep steps. While trying to manage the steep steps, they were oblivious to how ridiculous they looked. They looked unmistakably like old people. Belle and Brady bore pajamas with feet in them. She still remembered wearing those when she was a kid. They were the best.

 

“Well, speak of the devil.” She said to them.

 

“What?” Brady had always been a bit more outspoken than Belle. Marlena started to giggle. Belle just sat on the kitchen chair and rubbed her eyes blearily. It was in that moment tears stung her eyes and nose. Belle was just so perfect and innocent. She was the best mistake Marlena ever made, and she no longer regretted having the affair. Nothing Sami could say or do could make her feel any more guilt about Belle. She was just too precious. She gave both of them monster hugs that merely left them gasping for air.

 

“Never mind. I missed you guys so much! You don’t know what it means to see you again.”

 

“I love you Mom,” Brady once again replied.

 

“Yeah, me too,” Belle finally spoke.

 

Wanting to move onto a lighter subject, “Do you guys want some Lucky Charms or Cocoa Puffs.” She held them up for them to see. “What will it be?”

 

“Can Dad make it for us?” Brady egged as he sat up to the table. He had that same look in his eyes that John did a few minutes ago. If he had risen his eyebrow, it would have been picture perfect.

 

‘Would the torture never stop?’“Has your father been making comments about my cooking when I’m not even here to defend myself?!” She gave them a look of mock distaste. “I am utterly appalled! I’m going to march right up those stairs and give him a piece of my mind, and don’t even try to stop me.” She stood there for a few moments. Then she whispered to Belle, “Psst, hey you, come on. Stop me.” As soon as Belle realized it was all good hearted, she jumped onto her mom’s arm trying desperately to hold her back.

 

“Come on Brady! I can’t do this by myself!” Brady was none too hesitant to get in on the fun. He grasped her other arm. Marlena started to drag them into the living room. She pretended to be pulled down by the children’s immeasurable strength. Soon they were all tangled around one another tickling each other splitting their sides.

 

“Alright…I think we should get you two some breakfast.” She was trying to catch her breath. She got up and the little two followed.

 

“I want Cocoa Puffs!”

 

“Me too!” Brady added.

 

Marlena gave them each a bowl of their desired kind. She poured a lot of milk to make up for the poor nutrition of the purely sugar meal. She picked up a third bowl with her as she exited the room. “Now with you two off my back, I’m now going to tell Dad exactly what I think about what he said. I’ll be back,” she said with a very unimpressive impression of Arnold, the Terminator. “I’ll beat him up so bad he won’t know what hit him.” There went a bad Marlon Brando as the Godfather.

 

“But you can’t hurt him, you’re only a girl.” Brady said surprisingly seriously.

“Only a girl. You wait until I’m through with him, then I’m coming after you!” She made a fist and shook it in his face. He started to giggle along with a chortling Belle.‘Where on earth did he get so sexist? He sure as hell didn’t get it from me. Maybe I will beat Black up for this.’

 

Ugh. She hated going up stairs with a bowl full of cereal. Balance wasn’t her forte. She made it upstairs partially successful with only spilling a few times. The water in the bathroom was still running. ‘Geez, talk about a long shower.’She set the bowl down on the notorious nightstand and walked to the bathroom. She knocked quietly on the oak door. ‘Duh Marlena, the water is running.’“John!” A few moments passed. “Honey…I brought you your breakfast. I burned the toast.” She chuckled a nervous laugh. “I’m sure you’ll be fine with the alternative…. Giving me the silent treatment huh?” The final sentence was more to herself than to John. ‘What are you doing Marlena? Honestly, rambling on like this? What are you really afraid of?’That nagging ache in her stomach began to swell to an impossible size. She couldn’t wait any longer. The door creaked as she opened the door. ‘I’ve got to get these hinges oiled.’Her mind was racing in any and every direction.

 

There wasn’t any steam on the mirror above the sink. ‘That’s not right. John likes his showers scalding hot.’His clothes weren’t strewn all about the floor either. There was blood on the sink. Her eyes weren’t scanning the room. They were just flitting back and forth to certain designated spots. She didn’t dare look in the shower. She was too scared to look at the whole picture. It is absolutly amazing how just one red liquid drop can induce so much fear into a person.‘He was just shaving and knicked himself, that’s all.’She tried to tell herself solomly. ‘That can’t be it. He shaves after his shower. And he never leaves the water running.’ Her shoulder muscles tensed and formed insurmountable knots. ‘He’s not here,’was the last coherent thought she would have for a long time. Somehow, it had taken her minutes to battle with herself and piece everything together, but she still stood like a plank dumbfounded for a few more moments.

 

She darted out of the bathroom, looked in her room, Belle’s room, Brady’s room, the guestroom, the living room, and finally back to the kitchen. “Mom, what’s wrong?” Belle asked looking apprehensively at her mother. The little girl’s feet were swaying back and forth under her chair sometimes hitting a leg in the process. She was in a sea of breakfast. Managing to get a whole spoonful of cereal was still beyond her. It didn’t help that the spoons were so big. A dribble of now chocolate formerly white milk dribbled down her chubby chin onto the table. Marlena’s eyes were as big as oranges and her hands were clenched so tightly it made her hands sting with pain, but that was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment.

 

“Nothing, honey, just keep eating.” Marlena’s hand patted Belle’s matted bed hair. She paused for a second and glanced at their content faces. “I know this is your day to stay home, but would you guys be good enough to do something with Chelsea today?”

“But Mo-” Brady tried to argue, but Marlena was already dialing the nanny’s number. The flesh under her nails was a ghastly white.

 

“Hello?” a sleepy voice mumbled hoarsely.

 

‘What the hell am I doing? I should be calling the police.’A momentary pause, “Uh…oh yes, Chelsea. This is Marlena. I know that this is your day off and all, but something has come up.” Chelsea could detect that there was something wrong without having to be told. Her employer had tried, and failed, countless times to create a facade of strength in a time of strain. “I need you to get Belle and Brady out of the house for the day. Can you do that?” An exasperated sigh left her lungs.

 

“Doctor Ev-” Chelsea wasn’t even going to voice an opposition, but Marlena wouldn’t have any of it.

 

She was wasting precious little time. “Chelsea, look, I don’t have time for this. Don’t ask any questions please.”

 

Chelsea was, needless to say, obliged to help Marlena’s children whenever possible. “Sure I’ll be over as soon as possible. Are you s-” Click. Marlena didn’t even bother to say thank you or bye. In a way Chelsea didn’t really care.

 

“Okay, you guys, I need you to go upstairs and get dressed.” As Marlena anticipated, her order was not well received.

 

“Mom, what’s going on? Where’s Dad?” Brady looked so nonchalant, but inside he was about to erupt. He was catching on to his parents’ problems much more quickly than before.

 

“Don’t question me please. Just get up there and do it!” Brady drew back considerably. It pained her immensely to see him do that, but she wasn’t quite thinking clearly. He bit his bottom lip. Marlena’s hair was getting more tousled with every passing moment. The adult and child were locked in a stern gaze with one another a battle of wills. Brady soon collapsed. He diverted his eyes to his fidgety fingers. Finally, Brady followed Belle who had started before him. He left not because that is what his mother had asked him to do, but because he was petrified. ‘What are you doing?’She picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number.

 

“Yeah?” Another groggy voice answered.

 

‘Geez, I didn’t get up that early.’“Lex? I need you to get Abe.”

 

“What is it Marlena?” Alexandra also sensed the dread in her friend’s voice.

 

‘God why do people keep asking pointless questions? Why can’t they just do what I want? It’s a simple request.’“Damn it Lexie, I have no time. Get Abe on the phone now!” Marlena was on a power trip, and it wasn’t about to end.

 

The adrenaline was pumping through her veins like numbing morphine. She could hear her heart beating so loudly nothing else registered, so she was taken aback when a man’s low bass voice shook her from her daze. “-out?” That was all she caught.

 

“What?” Her eyes were fixed on the burnt toast peaking and mocking out of the top of the toaster. She was mesmerized by it.

 

“Marlena, what is this all about?”

 

“God Abe, you have no idea how good it is to hear your voice?” Why was she going on about this meaningless garble? Now when the time had come to actually do something, she was frozen not even breathing. Why not tell him about the disappearance. ‘Disappearance?’It sounded so unrealistic and improbable to her.

 

“Okay?” He replied hesitantly. “What’s the matter? Lex sounded really worried.” Her protective wall was deteriorating rapidly.

 

“Abe, oh God, something horrible has happened.” ‘Why can’t I just say it?’

 

“Is it the kids? Damn it Marlena, just tell me what’s wrong.” Abe was having the mutual feeling of anxiety.

 

“It’s John.” That’s all she could manage at that point. Her voice cracked up an octave and became very airy.

 

“Is he alright.” There was an unnerving uncomfortable silence. Abe disbelieving anything could happen to his man-of-steel ex-partner. “Marlena spit it out!” He was getting rather impatient.

 

“He’s gone, Abe” Her voice was a shrill at the end of her sentence. Tears began to stream down her now red cheeks. “I don’t know. He was in the shower. No he wasn’t. I never realized…my cooking. Burnt toast. Oh God, what am I going to do? What am I going to do?” She trailed of into a quiet whisper.

 

“Hold on Marlena, I’ll be over right away, sit tight.” He put the receiver down. He stared off in space for a moment thinking how he should handle this situation. It was a lot harder knowing absolutely nothing about what was transpiring.

 

“Abe, what’s the matter with Marlena?” Lexie asked truly concerned. Marlena is blessed with such wonderful caring friends.

 

“There’s no time to explain. I have to go over to the penthouse.” He ran down the hallway with Lex right on his tail. She was trying to ask more questions, but he wouldn’t divulge anything. How could he if he didn’t know himself? He grabbed his coat off of the back of a chair. “Are going to come along? I’m sure she could really use a friend right now.” Abe asked.

 

Lex’s heart jumped into her throat.‘Why won’t Abe tell me anything? I know he knows more than he’s letting on.’ Instead of pestering him further she decided to just go along with it. The car doors to their new GMC slammed, and with that they were on their way.

Abe tried the doorbell once again. Why couldn’t he remember her security code? He had been there when it was installed. He had used the code a million times, but when it really counted, he drew a blank. At this rate he would never reach the confines of the penthouse. His masculine hands were clenched tightly by his sides. Lexie rubbed his back with support. What would he do without her? She was the greatest thing that had ever happened to him. Finally, a seemingly brave boy and a pensive girl with a protruding lower lip opened the big wooden door.

 

“Where’s your mom?” Abe asked gently with a smile as not to seem as anything was amiss.

 

Belle started to sob. “I don’t know awkle Abe!” She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his robust neck. “I’m scared.” Brady would not show such emotion openly. Abe was one of the few people she would talk to. He was the only man she counted on besides Grandpa Brady. This was just too much for one day. The weight of Belle’s whole world was riding on Abe’s shoulders. Sweat formed on his brow. He wiped it away nonchalantly.

 

“I know sweetie, I know. Let’s find your mom alright?” He managed to remove her vice-like grip from him. He gave her another half-hearted smile. ‘Oh God, this can’t be good.’

“Lex, go upstairs and search Marlena’s room. I’ll look down here.” Abe had it easy. He only had a couple rooms to look in, and she obviously wasn’t in the living room. He took one step into the kitchen and stopped mid-stride. The sight before him was not a pretty one. Marlena was lying in a heap of limbs. Sobs were wrenching her body every few seconds. She was delirious, mumbling to herself about a nightstand and Lucky Charms. Her blonde matted hair was stuck to her face in the places where tears had been smeared. The wet hair had begun to curl around her cheekbones.

 

“Marlena?” The tips of his fingers brushed her shoulder. It would have been a stronger more comforting gesture, but he was terrified and all strength had abandoned ship long ago. She jumped immediately at the sense of contact. Her eyes didn’t move from a fixed point on the far wall. Abe desperately bit back the bile that was forcing itself upward. Now with every breath he could taste the chalky bitterness of it. He was certain Marlena could smell it.

 

“Marlena?” he repeated. Abe sat her up his hands holding a death grip on her arms. The skin under his nails was a ghastly white. It looked like the skin would burst under his nail. He tried to get her to make eye contact with him, but he couldn’t find her focal point. It shouldn’t be hard considering her pupils were so small. There was so much more hazel than black. Usually Abe, or anyone, who knew her, could tell exactly what she was feeling. She had the most beautiful expressive eyes like that of an innocent child. She never had been good at concealing emotions. Her eyes now looked icy and glazed over. He had seen this look many times before, but not on anyone who was not taking drugs at the time. He shook her gently. No response. ‘This is worse than I imagined.’ The ring of the doorbell gave him a somewhat needed distraction. He got up to answer the door, but Belle had beaten him to the punch. A red haired lady with gentle eyes stood passively in the doorframe.

 

“Commander Carver? What are you doing here?” The petite redhead looked surprised to see him there.

 

“I was about to ask the same of you.” It is now a fact that Abe has been around John too long because John’s trademark crept up Abe’s firm brow. The thing is that he didn’t even notice.

 

“Marlena called me. She said it was urgent. Is she here? Is everything alright?”

Abe never could lie, “It doesn’t look good. Do you think you could take the children now so I can sort all of this out?”

 

“Oh, of course. You’ll call me if anything happens?” Chelsea asked. Abraham looked a little reluctant. “Oh, gosh, how stupid of me! I know that this all supposed to be confidential. This is being considered a case right?” She didn’t really want to hear the answer.

 

“Well, I just got here, and I don’t know exactly what happened. If everything is well, I’ll make it a point to call you.” Abe tacked on a professional smile at the end of his statement.

 

Chelsea knew it was insincere. There was a lot more going on than she was being told. ‘Oh well, I just take care of the kids, not ask questions.’

 

“Come on, let’s head ’em up and move ’em out. I’m sorry about being intrusive Mr. Carver.”

 

“It’s quite alright. And Chelsea-” Abe added.

 

“Yeah?” she replied with her red eyebrows raised.

 

“Thanks for taking the kids. Maybe you could take them to the pub if they get to be too much for you. I know the Brady’s would be more than happy to see those two.”

 

“Sure.” What she saw in Abe’s eyes, or rather the reassurance she didn’t see made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up ever so slightly. “Good luck.”

 

‘I’ll need it,’thought Abraham. She latched the big wooden door with the odd lookout box. She pushed the down button on the elevator. Brady tugged on Chelsea’s pant leg.

“Chelsea?” He asked a little more timid than usual. The rims of his doe-like baby blues were wet and scared.

 

A pause not undetected by the children. “Yes sweetie?” His eyes were wandering around the little room. Hers were searching his chubby face. Now it was he that was pausing with trepidation. “Come on, you know you can ask me anything.” She bent down to be at his level, to make him more comfortable.

 

“Is Mom gonna die?” He asked absolutely petrified of how she would answer the question.

 

She jumped not expecting such a blunt inquiry. “No! No, of course not. Something just came up, and she needed some time to herself.” She hoped that would be sufficient for now. “Can you understand that?”

 

He wasn’t really listening to Chelsea. “I know it’s more than that. She’s never yelled at me like that before. We were having so much fun five minutes ago.”

 

“Oh Brady, you know your mother loves you with all of herself. She’s just troubled right now, and frankly I am too. But you know what?” She lifted Brady’s, chin so he would look her in the eye. “Everything will work out fine, trust me.” She regretted that last statement and hoped he wouldn’t hold her to it. Thankfully the klutzy, lightweight elevator door opened. ‘Another day in the park. What a surprise!’ Anyplace was better than to be in Marlena’s shoes.

 

“Who was at the door?” Lexie asked. After thinking it over, she didn’t really want to stop Abe’s train of thought. He snapped out of his momentary daze. He was actually thinking about the phone call John made to him while Marlena was in the bathroom last night. John had woken Abe up. He was absolutely ecstatic. Marlena had accepted his marriage proposal. If only Abe could hear that jubilated laugh right now. ‘He was truly happy yesterday.’

 

“Huh? Oh, that was Chelsea to pick up the kids. Apparently Marlena called her before us, but after whatever it was that made her so upset.”

 

“Well, no one’s upstairs.” Lexie put her hands on her hips making her blazer jacket kind of spread out like wings at the bottom.

 

“Actually I found Marlena in the kitchen of all places,” Abe replied trying to lighten the mood by taking a stab to her culinary skills. The comment was extremely ineffective. “She’s a mess. I can’t even get a response from her. She’s so far gone, it’s blood curdling.” They both went into the kitchen both wanting to start the whole day over and change everything to how it was supposed to be. This should be John and Marlena’s long awaited reconciliation.

 

Marlena was sitting, her arms crossed on top of her knees. Her forehead was balancing on them. Maybe it was better that they didn’t see her face right away. There was a type of despair and defeat that had never appeared so horribly evident on her porcelain features. She had on a horrible smile where you can’t tell if she’s happy, distraught, or absolutely mad. Then she opened her mouth as if to speak, but she just started screaming instead. It was shrill and resonate. It left a ringing in the ears. Recognition finally blazed in her eyes. Abe had never been happier to be recognized.

 

“Marlena, are you alright?” He asked precariously. She didn’t respond but instead just leaned over on the floor and hid her face in Abe’s scruffy, wool, not to mention tacky, blazer.‘What the hell am I supposed to do now?’Abe had been in many high-risk situations, hell it’s in his job description. He had to deal with drugs, kidnappings, robberies, deaths, and worse, the families of the deceased. Somehow that all seemed much easier than the task at hand. It never really hit so close to home. He never let it. Sure, bad things had happened to Bo, Roman and others that he cared about, but somehow someway this was just different. “Marlena!” She flinched and cowered. ‘Oh great job, Abe. You pushed her further over the edge.’ He was going to have to drown that voice in the back of his head if it didn’t stop getting the better of him.

 

Marlena froze suddenly. Abe felt as though he could hear both of their hearts beating rapidly. Her eyes looked like those of a puppy Abe’s next door neighbor had when he was just a kid. He loved that Great Dane. It wasn’t full-grown when little Abe came riding across the street on his new Schwinn. To his horrified eyes, he saw the poor dog hurt in the road. It must have been a small car that hit it. He bent down on his knees and looked into the dog’s eyes. The dog knew he was dying. Abe cradled the dog in his arms until it died. Marlena had that same look in her eyes. This recollection sent a growing sense of dread gurgling in his innards.

 

“Abe, I think Stefano took him. Who else would, would do something this horrible.” She was beginning to repeat words at random.‘How would one kidnap a grown man,’Abe thought.

 

“Hold on Marlena. I’ll be right back. I’m going to use the phone and get our forensic team out here. Marlena-” he waited until he had eye contact disregarding how much he didn’t want to look her in the eye. “We’ll find him. Haven’t we always found you? We’ll find him.” Even he was alarmed by the conviction in his voice. She nodded weakly.

Lexie had been standing quietly over him as Abe crouched protectively over Marlena. Abe waited a few seconds to call and let Lex take the reigns. ‘I wish Roman could be around to help.’Abe missed his old buddy more than he realized. ‘I’ll be damned if I let DiMera take John too.’He picked up the phone to dial the station’s number.

 

Marlena sat on the couch in the living room that was a little too white for having two rambunctious children running amuck. An afghan was spread over her legs providing neither heat nor comfort. The sights and sounds of scraping feet and camera flashes made her eyes flutter and flinch each time she sensed them. Lexi had gone home about ten minutes ago, and the forensics team was beginning to wrap things up. Abe strode down the steps. He was fidgeting with his fingers and wedding ring, not a good sign. He invited himself to take a seat next to Marlena. It’s not like she would have asked for him to sit down. His weight made her lean ever so slightly in his direction. She changed her position to be more comfortable. Abe was, of course, the first to break the silence.

“Well, we’ve been through the bathroom and bedroom from top to bottom. Has someone taken your statement?” Abe finally looked up to make eye contact, but he met unrequited eyes.

 

“Yeah.” Marlena just stared out blankly seemingly to see through the wooden coffee table. Her expression hadn’t changed much from that in the kitchen.

 

“Did she get it all written down?” It was a pointless question. Abe knew the officer had gotten all down. He had read it himself.

 

“Yeah.” Abe nodded his head in approval because he felt the need to move and do something.

 

“From the evidence gathered so far it, doesn’t appear to be Stefano.” Abe was apprehensive as to how Marlena would react. He knew she wouldn’t think it to be anyone but him.

 

It surprised him when she started to chuckle in a very low tone. “Of course not. I don’t think he could fit through my bathroom window.” She knew she had gone too far by laughing. She practically called Abe a fool. She tried to recover. “Just because he didn’t have the guts or the strength to do it himself, doesn’t mean it wasn’t of that bastard’s doing. He’s got connections you know. He’s even got some on the force.” Abe was angry at that last statement, but he didn’t let it show. He has been trying to trace the leak for years, but he could never catch it. “Like that coward does anything himself anyway.”

 

“Yes, we have thought of all these things, but I have to remain objective about this. We can’t go into this hell-bent on thinking it is DiMera. We could be overlooking something. There’s no evidence, no motive.”

 

Marlena laughed again. “No motive. Abe, he has been after John and me for as long as I can remember.”

 

“But you haven’t done anything to provoke him.” Right now Abe was telling himself to forgive how Marlena was treating his intelligence and authority as a professional. She is clearly distraught.

 

“Provoke?!” Her voice was high and almost hysterical, “When have we ever provoked anything to make that excuse of a human being do anything to us?” She now was staring Abraham down, let the weaker one fall. Abe lost and looked away.

 

“Marlena, he is our, my, most likely suspect, but please don’t question procedure or my jurisdiction alright?” How could Marlena fight back? She was not trying to offend Abe. He was just available, and she would have attacked the first object to move.

 

Reluctantly she replied, “Sure, go and do your job.”

 

“Thanks, are you gonna be alright by yourself? I can post guards. I would stay with you, but I would be of better use at the station, or ‘cop shop’.” Great job Abe. That sure helped. Marlena broke into another fit of tears. At first, Abe only put his hand on her shoulder.‘Abe you idiot. Now look what you’ve done. And what a great consoler you are.’ He moved all the way next to her side and enveloped her in a warm hug. His warmth transferred to her body doing much more than heating a chilled body, but a frozen soul.

 

“I’ll be fine,” she said with no conviction.

 

“You sure?”

 

“Absolutely.” She didn’t even try to smile as a way to reassure his departure.

“Well, I’ll be heading out.” He stood and started to walk away. Upon reaching the door, he turned. “We’ll find him. I promise.”

 

“Don’t Abe.”

 

“Don’t what?”

 

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. It’s a bad habit. Lord knows John has broken nearly every one to me.” Marlena was once again staring into nothing or everything for all he knew.

 

“Yeah,” Abe said to himself. He did a subtle double take and left for the station. Once outside the penthouse he murmured, “I’ll get you, you bastard!”

 

Meanwhile, back in the penthouse, there were still noises upstairs from the forensics team. Every thump or bump reminded her of what she lost. Just four hours ago she was lying in bed with the man of her dreams. She started balling again. ‘Stop it Marlena. Haven’t you cried enough for one day? You’re not very tough are you?’ The crew came tromping down the stairs.

 

“Uh, ma’am? We have just finished up there. You can go up there anytime that you want. We have cleaned up our mess.” Without knowing what else to say, “I’m terribly sorry Ms. Evans.” With that, Marlena was alone. She would have felt utterly deserted with no one or everyone that it didn’t make a difference anymore. Marlena turned on the radio to get the deafening silence out of her mind.

 

“Why can’t I feel him?” She wondered referring to that so-called bond they shared. “John can always find me. I can do the same.” She wanted so desperately to talk to a friendly face, but she didn’t want anyone’s pity. She had had enough of Abe’s already. But it isn’t like no one is going to find out tomorrow on the news. She picked up the phone and dialed a very familiar number.

 

The radio drifted through her head along with the annoying commercials. Then Unchained Melody came on. It had little to do with her feelings or situation at the moment, but it make her cry anyway. The words were jumbled in her head.

 

That was it she couldn’t take it anymore. She got up and turned the stereo off violently. The pain felt good after she had punched the wall a few times. Her knuckles started to bleed. ‘Shit.’ At least she could feel something. The ominous wall was all encompassing. Her back leaned against the wall and she slid down into a sitting position. Her mind was like molasses. Maybe some fresh air would clear her head. She doubted it, but she went outside nevertheless.

 

The metal pole felt nice and cold against her now swelling hands. The wind tugged at her hair. She looked down from the balcony’s safety. For a split second, in a moment of pure weakness, she wanted to jump off and end it all. But it was only a split second before she reasoned things out. She had children to raise, by herself now. Her head fell so her chin was almost touching her sternum. The breeze made her cheeks cold by evaporating her tears. She didn’t even flinch when the doorbell rang. She didn’t bother to let Laura in. Laura knows the password to the security system. She can let herself in. Laura did just that. Marlena had sounded in rough shape over the phone, but Laura wasn’t expecting such emptiness in the penthouse. She caught a glimpse of Marlena perched on the balcony, head lowered in defeat.

 

‘This is worse than I thought. Well, here goes nothing,’Laura thought trying to give herself a meager pep talk. The glass door clicked behind her. It echoed in her ears. Without saying a single word, Laura turned Marlena around and gave her a much-needed hug. Marlena’s whole body tensed at the contact, then melted at the security of her best friend’s embrace. Marlena was so relieved her knees unbuckled. She started to fall. She would have collapsed had Laura not caught her in time.

 

“Laura, oh Laura, what am I going to tell the kids? I yelled at them so much. They were so scared. I think it hurt Brady a lot.” Laura broke the embrace and held Marlena at arm’s length.

 

“Wait a minute. What happened?”

 

Marlena laughed a forced chuckle. “How do I say this without sounding absolutely ridiculous?” Her smile broke as did her composure. She started crying for the thirteenth time it seemed. “John was kidnapped by Stefano.”

 

“Now wait a minute. How can you be so sure it was Stefano?” Laura asked.

 

“Oh come on Laura! Who else would do a thing like this? If someone would, God forbid, have taken the children, there could be a glimpse of doubt that it was Stefano.

Someone could want ransom money. But why would they take John? I couldn’t pay that kind of money. At least with Stefano I know that he won’t hurt him.” Marlena replied surprised at herself that she had said such a thing.

 

“How can you know something like that? Especially with his past record.”

 

“He loves me too much,” Marlena said. These words resounded oddly in both sets of ears.

 

Not wanting to talk about that issue Laura asked, “Well, how do you think Stefano pulled the whole thing off?” Laura was genuinely interested in Marlena’s theory. Marlena’s wheels were turning.

 

“His henchmen of course. Stefano can’t overpower John. Lord knows that man hasn’t gotten a day of exercise in decades. He must have sent a few thugs.”

 

“But how did they get in and out of the house with your security system?”

 

The question of the system went in one ear and out the other. Marlena replied to a question not even asked. “John was in the bathroom. And you know that window in there?”

 

“No,” Laura replied flatly. She hadn’t spent much time in Marlena’s bathroom and after all the attempts by Stefano to make her go crazy, she didn’t have a photographic memory.

 

“Well, Stefano must have pulled him through it.” Marlena said not doubting her logic.

“There isn’t a balcony out there, is there?”

 

“No.” Marlena didn’t know what Laura was trying to get at.

 

Laura didn’t want to make her look foolish, but, “So Stefano just took John out of the bathroom. Marlena, how did he carry him down an apartment building from the penthouse?”

 

“It wasn’t Stefano! It was hired men!” Marlena said with intensity. Laura said nothing. Marlena took a mental step back. She hadn’t thought of the difficulty of pulling this job off. “I don’t know how they did it, but anything is possible with Stefano.” She was trying to reassure herself more than Laura. Marlena used an age old Brady excuse.

 

Laura knew she had put a hint of doubt inside Marlena’s stubborn mind. Laura suspected it was Stefano, but she didn’t want Marlena to overlook anything. “So honey, if you want to…” Laura searched for a response to continue, “do you want to tell me the whole story?”

 

Marlena looked up with battered eyes making the first eye contact in a long time. “Sure,” she replied wondering how many times she would tell this story.

 

Abe paced back and forth on his new office’s interior. If this were Stefano’s doing, he would have left something behind. He always has. Something to drive him insane, tormenting him night and day. But then, he could not leave a clue to throw Abe off the trail. ‘Oh, I’m going in circles. I’m going crazy!’ Abe’s sweaty hand picked up the telephone receiver and dialed the Kiriakis number.

 

“Yeah? Brady here,” Bo answered. Abe was surprised at the sound of Bo’s voice. It was almost as if Roman himself had answered the phone. Abe’s throat choked up for a second, but only a second. Abe wouldn’t let it linger

.

“Um, could you come down to the station? I have a case I’m at a total loss of.”

“Sure, what’s it about?”

 

“Um, it’s personal, and I don’t want to talk over the phone.” There was something in his voice that made Bo’s eyes sting and his throat dry. He had heard this tone of voice from Abe before. This had to be something horrible. “Can you come now?”

 

“Yeah,” Bo simply replied. ‘Great job Abe. I sure feel better now,’Bo thought sarcastically. It was a good thing Abe never went into the psychology department. “Billy?”

 

“Yeah Bo?” she called distantly from another room.

 

“I’ve got to be heading to the station. Don’t wait up.” Even if it took only twenty minutes, he was going to stay out all night to avoid being with her.

 

“But I thought we were going to spend tonight together.” Billy gave her pathetic puppy-dog look that used to be rather effective.

 

“No, Abe sounded pretty upset. I’ve got to be going,” she was about to protest but it was too late. “See ya later.” With that the door slammed.

 

“God Bo, you make it so obvious you don’t love me. Well, here we go again, another lonely night. Ugh, how did I ever end up as such a mess?” She walked slowly to the living room and picked up the book she had been reading.

 

Outside the mansion Bo was also having a conversation with himself. “Billy, I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t feel anything for you. I have to get out of this. My life is total static right now.” He pulled up the collar on this trench coat and departed. It was turning into a windy day.

 

Bo arrived at the police station minutes later. Abe was in a tizzy. “Bo, why do you have a coat on?”

 

That was a rather irrelevant question, but Bo obliged just the same. “It’s pretty wind out there today.” Bo was silently studying Abe’s frantic mood.

 

“Oh, then I had better get my coat on, shouldn’t I?”

 

“You going somewhere?”

 

“You had better go with me. The more you miss, the harder it will be for me to catch you up with this.” Abe slung his spring jacket over his arm like a waiter does with his white towel.

 

This had to be huge. “Where are we going?”

 

“So many questions. Just get in the car so we can leave.” Abe was becoming rather irritable.

 

“Fine.” Bo shut the office door behind him. They both buckled into Abe’s GMC and headed out.

 

After going a few miles out of city limits, Abe still hadn’t informed Bo as to where they were headed, so Bo decided to inquire, “Abe, are you going to tell me what this is all about?” The question might well have been asked to a 2×4 piece of planked wood.

“Here’s our stop.”

 

“No I think you missed your stop a long time ago,” Bo quipped flatly under his breath. Abe now chose to listen.

 

“What’s that?”

 

“Oh, nothin’ man. Just thinking about somethin’,” Bo recovered.

 

They were met with flashing blue and red lights, which Bo always found irritating. The car pulled up just as an officer was taping off what seemed to be a U-Haul moving van. On the side of the truck the graphic depicted the mid-west as ‘The Place You Want To Be.’ But as Bo meandered to the back of the truck where the rear doors were open. The side graphic was proven deadly wrong. The entire inside was covered in blood. It was as if the person or persons had taken blood and actually painted the sides. On a closer inspection he could actually see texture in the blood from paintbrush bristles. There was medical equipment instead of the standard boxes in the moving van. With all his years as a cop, he had never seen such repulsiveness. It was as if the person who did this wanted the cops to see it like this. It was a rather unnecessary meticulous chore. He took out rubber gloves he had been given by an officer at the scene. Something caught his eye. In all the redness there was a glimpse of silver, white and yellow plastic. He took out some little plastic bags and his pocketknife. Abe was standing next to a civilian who seemed to be the person who discovered this mess.

 

“Well, I was drivin’ my tractor by cause I have two small fields that are quite a ways from each other. Well, I wouldn’t have even second guessed if I had been drivin’ a car because ya’ know tractors aren’t about to go over twenty miles per hour.”

 

“Yeah,” Abe responded in a futile attempt to make the man in the striped overalls to move things along.

 

The man, who Abe discovered was named Jim Russt, scratched his thinning, bristly, white hair trying to put the day’s events in chronological order. “Well, I noticed that the back door was open and well, curiosity got the best of me ya’ know?”

 

“Sure, yep.”

 

“Well, as I was a sayin’, I looked back there and saw what you see now. That’s pretty much all I can tell ya’.”

 

“Thanks Mr. Russt. It is much appreciated.”

 

The farmer tipped his hat as a sign of friendliness. He started to walk away but suddenly turned around, “Officer Carver? I think I ought to tell you that I touched it. I don’t want to be persecuted or nothin’. I just wanted to see if it was really blood. But I only touched it once.”

 

“Prosecuted,” Abe muttered to correct the farmer. “Thank you for telling me that Mr. Russt. I will tell that to my men.” Abe gave Jim a one-finger salute the one’s farmers had always given him when he went out driving around these parts. These people were some of the most hospitable he had ever met. Abe got his small notebook covered in leather out of his back pocket. Lexie had given to him as a birthday present a few years back. He picked out key information the farmer had given him and scribbled it down. Abe looked up to see Bo with a peculiar facial expression. It was a mix between horror and bewilderment.

 

“What’s up Bo?” Abe asked with fervor. He looked at the objects in Bo’s hands.

“Uh, Abe, this is a whole fingernail with some flesh still stuck to the back. You can tell the person didn’t take much care removing it. The flesh is pointing in that direction,” Bo pointed to the left, “so it had to be ripped off from the right. This,” Bo held up a yellow shotgun shell, “is what is confusing. If they had used a shotgun in this vicinity, there would be chunks of flesh everywhere. If someone did shoot someone with it, they took precious time to clear out the debris left behind.” Bo breathed heavy. The day’s tolls were already weighing upon him. “This has to be a professional Abe, or one sick bastard.”

 

Yes, this was all disgusting, but why was Bo so scared? He had seen these things numeral times. Not quite to this extent, but he should be able to handle this type of thing.

“This,” Bo lifted up a watch in a plastic bag, “is a watch I found. Read the back.”

Abe squinted and read the inscription.‘JB, thanks for giving me time, M.’

 

“Now are you going to tell me what this is all about, or do I have to find John’s carcass in little pieces somewhere?”

 

“Alright.” Abe felt uncomfortable with Bo’s breath and face in his. Bo’s intimidating frame leaning into Abe’s, making things worse. Abe sighed, “John was kidnapped this morning from Marlena’s penthouse.”

 

“Kidnapped. Kidnapped?” Bo began pacing, and his voice was a little higher than usual. “A man of that stature is just kidnapped out of a house with an all out security system. Abe, the alarm is too touchy. It’s impossible! I set the damn thing off, and I used the code!” ‘First Roman dies, and now this,’ Bo thought.

 

“Just calm down buddy.” Abe put a gentle hand on Bo’s hot shoulder.

 

“Calm down, calm down he says,” Bo grumbled in a barely audible voice.

 

“Marlena called me this morning. That’s when it happened. I haven’t had time to go over the forensic team’s report yet. I don’t even know what we’re dealing with here.”

 

Bo calmed down. He was astonished at how bad he lost it a few moments ago. It wasn’t only the John situations that made him blow up. It was a multitude of compiled

aggravations. “What are the chances of us finding him? It has to be pretty fair right?” Bo was grasping at straws. “There’s still a possibility he’s nearby.”

 

“Considering this is most likely Stefano’s job, John could be anywhere by now. Stefano owns several isolated islands you know.”

 

Bo was still composing himself. “Sorry man, you know I didn’t blow up because of you back there right?”

 

“Yeah, you’ve got a lot on your mind. It’s not a great time for any of us.” Abe looked about his surroundings. Seeing it fit to be handled by the lowly officers to clean up the mess, he said, “There’s nothing much we can do here. What do you say we go back, look over the reports, and wait for the blood test results?”

 

“Sure, yeah, let’s get the hell out of here. It’s creepy.”

 

“You can say that again.” Once again, the two cops drove off in the Silverado to put their noses to the grindstone.

 

“I’m so sorry Marlena,” Laura said after hearing this morning’s tribulations.

“I don’t want people to feel sorry for me!” Marlena pushed off the couch and walked to the table that has all the pictures. “I don’t want your or anyone else’s pity!”

 

“I know,” Laura’s voice was calm and reassuring. “I didn’t know what to say.”

 

“I just don’t want people to talk about me and say, ‘Oh, look, here comes that poor Marlena’ or, ‘She hasn’t been doing too well since John left.'” Laura’s face turned away. “You don’t have to deny it to me. I know you say stuff like that. I know you’re thinking it. Hell, we’ve said the same things about nearly everyone to each other.”

 

There was a long silence after this outburst. No one knew what to say especially Laura. She sat down silently and messed with her napkin. She looked up finally and saw Marlena’s frame shake with sobs. Marlena didn’t want Laura to see her cry again. Now it was a matter of pride. Marlena was tying and untying the string to her robe’s belt. She still hadn’t taken a shower, not like she wanted to go in the bathroom anyway.

“”Marlena, if you want to get away from here, you can always stay with me. I’d be glad to do anything to help you.” Laura prayed that Marlena wouldn’t find anything offensive in a simple invitation. Laura was nonetheless on guard for another attack.

 

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine.” There was a part of Marlena that wanted to take Laura up on her offer. She really didn’t feel like going back upstairs for a long time. Marlena picked up the picture of John and Belle on the couch. She thought back to last night.

“Doc, the love of my life, my best friend, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” There was a sparkle in his eye she hadn’t seen since he found out Belle was his. He smiled from ear to ear. He searched her expression for her reply. He knew even before she answered and kissed her with full force. She broke it off.

 

“Aren’t you even going to wait for an answer?” she chuckled.

 

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” he replied aghast at himself. “How vulgar of me!” He was playfully mocking. “Well, what do you say?”

 

“Of course yes, yes, yes! I love you so.” He whisked her up into his arms and plopped her onto the bed. She knew exactly where this was headed. She sat up to retard his efforts.

 

“What? What’s the matter? I thought you wanted this.” John asked perplexed and discouraged.

 

“I don’t know. I do want this, but it’s just not the right time you know?”

 

“Let’s see I proposed, you said yes, I alluringly brought you to the bed. I don’t see anything wrong with my timing at all.” John was losing hope of having his way with her.

“This was supposed to be your wedding night with Kristen. I don’t fell so great. I’ve been locked up for the past few months. Can’t we just take it a little slower?”

 

“Sure. That will be fine. At least let me hold my fiancé in my arms.”

 

How could she resist? “Absolutely.” She fell asleep instantly.

 

“Well Marlena,” Laura snapped Marlena out of her hypnotic state, “I had better be on my way. I have a full load at the hospital today. You call me if you need anything.” Laura put her light jacket on.

 

“Sure,” Marlena distantly replied.

 

“Things will look up. Just wait and see.” Laura could make no guarantees.

The telephone rang just as the door shut. Marlena didn’t feel up for conversation, but she answered it anyway. “Yeah?”

 

“Wow, Marlena I’m so glad I caught you before you went to work,” an unmistakable British voice said.

 

“Oh, hi Shane. I don’t think I’m going to work today.”

 

“Why?” Shane asked out of polite curiosity.

 

“Why don’t you go first.” Marlena was trying to evade the subject, but she knew he was going to be called in on the investigation by Abe sooner or later.

 

“Alright. I’ve got some good news,” Shane began.

 

‘I need some,’Marlena thought.

 

“Do you remember that man at Roman’s funeral that was videotaping it?”

 

‘Gee great news you got there, Shane,’ sarcasm bit her thoughts.

 

After hearing no response from Marlena, he continued, “Well, we captured the bloke. His name is Jake Birchison. Now here’s some bad news, he will not talk to any of the police officers. He insists on speaking with you. I need you to come down to our Salem Branch ISA Station as soon as possible today.” Shane was afraid of Marlena’s response to his request.

 

“I’m not really feeling up for it today. Can’t I do it some other day?

 

“I need you here today because we can only hold him for twenty-four hours. We don’t have anything on him. We’re bluffing our way through this thing, and I think he knows it.”

“It doesn’t really matter to me anymore,” Marlena retorted.

 

“It doesn’t matter,” Marlena heard Shane say under his breath in disbelief. “What about Shawn and Caroline? Don’t you think they would like to see him behind bars?”

 

“Why don’t you have them talk to him then?” Tempers were raging.

 

“Marlena! What is wrong with you? If we can’t hold him, he will flee the country. He was obviously working for someone. He will relay the message, and his employer will go after you.” That was stepping over the line on Shane’s part. He had divulged too much information. He didn’t want to scare Marlena, but if those were the means necessary, so be it.

 

“It doesn’t matter.”

 

“What in God’s name is wrong with you?” His face was boiling with the heat of rage and frustration. It was only a matter of moments before one of them went ballistic.

 

Then softly and slowly, Marlena replied, “Nothing, I’ll come down around two o’clock, alright?”

 

Shane was taken aback. “Fine, but when you come, you must talk with me. You know that I’m only a short drive or phone call away.”

 

“Thank you, but I really don’t feel like talking. I’ve got to go. See you in a little while.” She hung up to avoid anymore conversation with him.

 

Shane stood looking at the phone perplexed, then he hung up also following suit. He walked slowly to get a cup of watered down coffee. What a great trip back to Salem this was turning out to be. ‘What a welcome home party. Something is really wrong. I should call Abe before Marlena comes.’

 

Marlena tried to take a shower to wash all of this morning’s events away, but she couldn’t bring herself to go into the bathroom. She picked up the phone, “Hello, this is Dr. Evans, can you get me Dr. Laura Horton?”

 

“Sure Dr. Evans,” a faux-friendly voice replied. Marlena sat waiting nervously, messing with her hands.

 

“Yes Dr. Horton speaking.”

 

“Sorry, I know you’re busy, but can I go to your house and use your shower?”

 

Laura of course knew why this was being asked. “Oh, of course. Take your time.”

 

“Thanks so much.” There was no way that Marlena could express her gratitude. It meant so much to her. She turned off her ringer. She didn’t want to talk to anyone for a while.

 

“Oh shoot, I forgot to tell her that Mike, Jen, and Abby are at home. She doesn’t want to see anyone right now.” Laura picked up the phone and dialed, but Marlena didn’t’ pick up. ‘I guess I’ll call the house to tell them not to ask any questions.

 

Bo and Abe sat silently in Abe’s office. Be stared blankly into his black coffee. Abe was somehow pondering the phone. The opening of the door snapped both men to attention. “Commander Carver?” one of the officers asked.

 

“Yes, Jim. Do you have the forensic repots in?” Abe questioned hopefully.

 

“Actually sir, yes, I have them with me.” Samuel Isaac, who was recently promoted to inspector, handed Abe a thick manila folder. “Sir, the media talked to Mr. Russt, the farmer? Well anyway, they must have gotten to him after hearing his name on the police scanner. The newspapers and TV stations are standing outside demanding to know what’s up.”

 

“Crap!” Abe smacked the newly received file onto his wood desk. “Get them out of here. I don’t care how, just do it!”

 

“Yes, sir.” Inspector Isaac departed to accomplish a great feat.

 

“Abe?” Bo said getting quite restless after the uncomfortable veil fell after Isaac left.

“What?” Frustration pumped through Abe.

 

“Should we look over the report now?” Bo felt like a child asking one of those questions you never dare ask to your angry Uncle Brutus.

 

“Yeah, yeah,” Abe sighed as an attempt to clear the polluted air. He rubbed his shoulders only to find a knot the size of a golf ball. Just as they were about to open the file, the telephone rang. “This better not be the press. Hello?”

 

“Abraham Carver?”

 

“Shane. How are you?” Abe asked politely.

 

“Fine, but it’s Marlena I’m worried about,” Shane replied.

 

“What? You talked to her? When? Why?”

 

“Hold on. What is going on here? I smell something fishy.”

 

“You tell me why you talked to Marlena,” Abe persisted.

 

“We caught the man that was videotaping Roman’s funeral,” Shane said as if that were explanation enough.

 

“So what does that have to do with Marlena?”

 

“Jake Burchison, the culprit, will only talk to Marlena.”

 

“Why?”

 

“That’s what we want her to discover.”

 

“You didn’t ask her to do it today, did you?” Abe prayed Shane didn’t put in such a request.

 

“Why of course. I can only hold him for twenty-four hours,” Shane explained wondering why Abe was so testy.

 

“Shit!” Abe nearly dropped the phone.

 

“What is it? Carver, you had better tell me what is going on here. Why are you jumping out of your skin? Why does Marlena sound like death personified?”

 

Abe finally rendered the facts, “John was kidnapped.” That was it Abe had failed and accepted defeat. Soon Shane would drag the ISA into the investigation, and Abe would lose all jurisdictions.

 

“What? Are you mad?”

 

“There was no forced entry at Marlena’s penthouse early this morning. He had spent the night at Marlena’s. He’s just gone.”

 

“Wait, wait, why was John at Marlena’s. I thought he married Kristen.”

 

“If you want to, you can come over and help us,” Abe said trying to avoid any unnecessary conversation. He was wasting precious little time.

 

“I don’t want the ISA involved until they are absolutely necessary.”

 

“And this isn’t considered necessary?” Shane waited a while to continue, “Fine, I will come over, but not until I see that Marlena is comfortable with questioning Burchison.”

 

“My God Shane! You’re still going to make her go through with this? I can’t believe you! Have you no mercy?”

 

“She’s an adult Abraham. It was her decision to make, and she agreed. Please, this could finally answer some questions for me.” Shane was being as reasonable as he was able.

 

“Fine, but I don’t want you to think I like it one bit.”

 

“Yes I think you got that point across quite well. I think you have made it crystal clear. Goodbye Abe.” Shane wanted to leave on a better note, but there was no steady middle ground.

 

“Bye,” Abe said sourly and hung up forcefully.

 

“What’s this about asking Marlena to do something today?” Bo asked because he had only heard half of the heated conversation.

 

“Well, it looks like Shane’s going to be giving us a hand in this investigation.”

“Oh,” Bo replied. He didn’t want Abe to be pushed any further. Abe wasn’t himself today. He was filled with such anger. Bo let Abe make the first move.

 

A knock sounded at the door. “Marlena, hello. Why you’re early,” Shane said as he opened the door to reveal to Marlena an old friend. Right now she didn’t even feel like being civilized.

 

“I thought I would just get this over and done with.”

 

“Oh, I heard about John-”

 

“Jesus Christ! How fast does news travel in this town?” Marlena snipped.

 

“Calm down love. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but you know if you ever do need to talk I’ll always be a short drive or phone call away,” Shane said. His sincerity truly touched Marlena. She was on the verge of tears. They began to brim. She sniffled and regained her composure.

 

“Thank you so much. I’ll keep that in mind. Shane, I’m sorry I blew up at you, but I have been under a lot -,” Marlena rambled.

 

“There’s no need to explain.” Shane spoke this and nothing more.

 

“So, shall we get started?” Marlena asked wiping the phantom tears away from invisible tracks on her cheeks.

 

“We shall. Now, you know you can stop anytime you want. There won’t be an officer in there with you, but there will be a two-way mirror. We will be audio and video taping the whole thing. You say the word and we’ll get you out of there.”

 

“What, is he dangerous?” Marlena asked because Shane’s last statement had startled her.

 

“No, oh no, he’s not dangerous, but we’ve got him handcuffed to his chair just in case. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t put you in there by yourself if it wasn’t safe.” Shane opened the door to the room that held Jake Burchison.

 

“Here goes nothing,” Marlena dimly noted. The metal door seemed to echo as it shit in the poorly lit room. Jake’s head was hung low. His eyes were red.

 

“Marlena, how good it is to see you. It’s been a long time” This made Marlena reel.

Not thinking it through she answered, “How do you know me?” With this simple childlike question the enemy was now on the offensive. Shane, on the other side of the mirror, stepped back. “Marlena, don’t let him get the best of you, damn.”

 

“We have a mutual friend,” Jake answered with a smirk. Marlena somehow sensed that this outer sinister mask was false, and he was a scared man underneath.

 

“Who?” Marlena asked again without thought.

 

“I’m not supposed to tell, but we met about twelve or eleven years ago.” Jake let this information sink in.

 

“But ten years ago I was…oh my God! Stefano!” Jake leaned back in his chair seeing that Marlena was hooked. Fish in a barrel really. She couldn’t leave without knowing what he knew.

 

“Ah, you’ve guessed correctly as to who our friend is.” Jake craned his neck to look in the mirror. “Shane, tell us what our enchanting contestant has won.” Jake, just as quickly he had erupted into sarcasm, went back to sheer seriousness. “Would you like to know how we met?” Marlena didn’t want to answer. She would let him tell her. Feeling she would speak no more, Jake started, “Well, I took care of you, your personal nurse if you will, for nearly five years. I’ll have to admit, you weren’t much for conversation.”

 

“You bastard!” Marlena snipped.

 

“Oh, you’re a feisty one. Not a bit the Marlena I remember. You didn’t put up much of a fight the last time we were together.” Jake let out a stifled chuckle.

 

“You sick son of a bi-”

 

“Ah-ah-ah. Now let’s not get into any profanity alright?” Jake had won another battle. “So how is your little ten-year-old youngin'”

 

“What? My child is only four,” Marlena quickly corrected then soon regretted. She didn’t want some slime to know about her children.

 

“I know.”

 

“What?”

 

“I know about Belle.” Burchison used Belle’s name to get a reaction out of Marlena. Another victory.

 

“Where the hell is Stefano? I swear to everything holy if you don’t tell me where he is I will kill you!” He made a mockery of her desperation. “Now, let’s see. If you kill me, then how on earth will you know my secret?” His icy blue eyes sent chills down Marlena’s neck.

 

“Tell me!” Her face was hot with rage.

 

“I don’t know if I can. What do I get for telling you?” Boy Scout patch points. Oh no, I don’t think so. I want a Mr. Donovan to cut me a deal.” He looked into the mirror and chimed, “Oh Mr. Donovan sir, I would like to strike an agreement with you and my old friend. You can come in and listen now. The more the merrier.” There was silence for an everlasting minute. Then the door clicked loudly. Shane walked in and sat down on the chair meant for Marlena. She never got the chance to sit in it.

 

“What kind of deal are we talking about?” Shane asked with precaution. His hands were folded together on the cold wooden table.

 

“I would like you to pull a few strings and get me off squeaky clean,” Burchison replied calmly as if not seeing the absurdity of the request.

 

“The hell I’m going to do that!” Shane almost screamed breaking his usual British cool.

“Shane, can I uh, see you outside for a moment?” Marlena asked. Without answering, Shane escorted Marlena outside.

 

When they were out of hearing distance, Marlena whispered fervently, “Take the deal!”

“What? Have you gone absolutely mad? That man in there is just playing games. He doesn’t know anything.”

 

“How did he know about Belle and my coma?” asked Marlena being calm compared to Shane’s manic state.

 

“It’s not that hard to find out about it. It was in the papers! The whole bloody town knows about your entire sordid life story!”

 

“It’s more than that Shane. I can feel it. I know he’s hiding something important. And what’s all this about another child? He knows something, and if letting him loose is the only way to obtain this information, then so be it.” Marlena was beginning to persuade him.

 

“It isn’t your decision to make,” Shane finally said quietly and collected.

 

“It isn’t? He wouldn’t have said anything if I hadn’t talked to him. He would be out by the end of the day anyway, so why not get something out of this?”

 

“If he tells us without the deal we can keep you and your family safe,” Shane continued.

“Like I’m safe ever. And it’s not like Stefano wouldn’t spring him out of jail. Let’s face it, this is the only way.” He knew in his mind that she was right, but there was this pestering voice that kept nagging him to remain firm. He crumbled.

“Fine.” They walked into the room together.

 

 

“I’m glad Marlena made you see the light.” It was scary how well Jake could read people so acutely.

 

“Cut the crap Burchison. We’ll make a deal. We will give you a lessened charge if you tell us what you know.”

 

“Sorry, no go. It’s all or none. The gauntlet is in your hand.”

 

“Fine, fine. Tell us now,” added Marlena. She knew Shane couldn’t give up without some encouragement.

 

“Well, here we go. I’m going to lay it all on the table. I’ve been with Stefano since Maison Blanche. Let me say Marlena that was quite a peep show. Too bad there wasn’t a second act.” Jake just about giggled with delight of the torture he was bestowing upon Marlena.

 

She said nothing. Her rage welled and festered in her stomach. Her face was now beet red. Jake had hit the right chord. Shane of course had no idea what was being spoken of.

 

Finally, Marlena said, “How did you see that?” Her voice remained a pillar of strength, but her hands and feet were in a terrible cold sweat.

 

“Oh please, Stefano has cameras everywhere. I mean everywhere. There are even quite a few in that little penthouse of yours.” Marlena felt a surge of bile rise in her throat. She swallowed hard, but the burning sensation remained.

 

“He even has a tape called ‘The Greatest Moments of the Queen of the Night.”

 

“Enough! That’s enough!” Shane exclaimed. “We are breaking a deal with you. Don’t push your luck.”

 

“Alright, now where were we? Ah yes, Stefano,” Jake put such a stress on Stefano to get under Marlena’s skin. “I was at the ‘compound’, if you will, when you arrived. A Dr. Rohlf hired me. I was doing an internship at a hospital in Europe when I met Rohlf. Anyway, he blackmailed me to work for Stefano. At first I resisted, but once I was on the job I liked it. I had job security, money, and intelligent co-workers. None of this came without a price. I completely lost my identity. I became known as Zeke. As you probably have figured out, all of Stefano’s henchmen only go by one name. You know, my real name isn’t Jake Burchison either.”

 

“But we checked out your birth records,” Shane said.

 

“They are merely easily forged documents my dear Watson. You’d be surprised how easy it was to get my hands on a forgery.” Marlena was just leaning against a wall neat the corner. She let it all sink in. She thought back to all the little investigations she had done with Roman and John. Why hadn’t they put this much together?

 

“I had just gotten back from a medical-science conference in Sweden regarding in-vitro fertilization,” Jake, or Zeke, said letting the last few words fall silently. Marlena took a shallow gasp and closed her eyes. Shane knew what Jake was speaking of.

“Of course in-vitro fertilization had been around for a while, but this convention helped me solve a very nagging problem. How to have a child carried to term with the mother in a comatose state. The solution was quite ingenious.” Jake chuckled again as if to laugh at how witty he had been to come out of such a predicament. Jake took his time to speak. He was in no rush. Marlena hung onto every word as if they were tangible.

“Was this of Stefano’s bidding?” Marlena interjected.

 

“Yes in a way. It was originally Orpheus’ plan.” The mere mention of Orpheus’ name made Marlena break into dry heaves. Jake was ashamed that it caused such a reaction.

“The both of them are the sickest monsters I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing!”

“Hey, ease off Orpheus. You don’t know him as well as I do,” Jake defended.

 

“Sorry to be the one to break it to you, but you can’t know him. He is dead and good riddance!”

 

“On the contrary! He is alive! I should know because he is my brother.”

 

“What?” Shane blustered. He had remained quiet in the chair until then. “Where is he?”

“I gave him my word that I would not tell anyone.”

 

“Didn’t you give your word to Stefano?” Shane persisted.

 

“Yes, but how well can you stay loyal to a dead man?”

 

“No he isn’t” Marlena insisted.

 

“My sweet Marlena, do you think a lowly doctor on his chain of commands would really talk about his bosses work? I value life way more than that.”

 

“How did he die?” Shane questioned.

 

“In an explosion, but it wasn’t the explosion that did him in. The force of impact shattered his ribs sending pieces if bone fragments into his heart. He was internally bleeding profusely. I found him and took him back to the Paris lair. We stole a heart from a Paris hospital. I had never done a heart transplant before. I had studied to do so. You know, you never know want your capable of until you’re backed up against the wall. The surgery went masterfully thanks to yours truly. I was promoted to ‘personal care-giver’. Little did I know, the heart had a hole in it, so it was basically a three chambered heart.” Jake had lost Shane, but Marlena knew what he was talking about. “Think of it this way: he had a heart of an amphibian in a human.”

 

“How fitting,” Marlena deadpanned.

 

“As I assume you already know, he helped Kristen after his recovery, but something went wrong. Yesterday, after you were released from you secret room, Stefano had to literally run from the cops-” Marlena was giggling a little at the thought of Stefano running. “Since he could not get enough oxygen due to the hole in his heart, he died.”

 

“And to think, exercise was the thing that did him in,” Marlena quipped. She didn’t know why she was making jokes at a time like this. It was done to cover up how she really felt.

 

“May I continue?” Jake asked with frustration creeping into his always cool as a cucumber demeanor. “We found him by the side of the road and took him back to his hideaway.”

 

“I want to see his body. Take me to it,” Marlena insisted.

 

“I’m terribly sorry, but we cremated him last night.”

 

“Whenever a DiMera is cremated, it means they are still alive and just covering up,” Marlena said.

 

Well-manicured nails tapped on an oak desk. Strewn upon it were candid pictures of Marlena, John, Belle, and Brady. One photograph was of the family in the park. Brady was a teary eyed little guy in John’s arm as Marlena sternly disciplined Belle for kicking Brady so hard.

 

A finger went up to its owner’s lips. The person veiled in the shadows looking at the pictures was chuckling. A knock came at the door. Without receiving a response, a man passed through the tall elegant Victorian door.

 

“Excuse me, I didn’t mean to disturb you, but we are prepared now. Everything is in order.”

 

“How did it go?” the voice asked.

 

“It was difficult. He struggled strenuously.” The bearer of bad news was to say something that could potentially get him in a lot of trouble, “We had to do something to him that you didn’t want.”

 

“And what’s that?” The calm never left the voice.

 

“I think you had better come and see.” The servant led his boss down a sterile corridor like that of a hospital. The employee opened the door so the employer could see.

 

“Oh my God.”

 

Abe immediately checked the blood type of the sample from the U-haul. “Jesus!”

“What? What did you find?”

 

“The blood type of the truck sample is the same as John’s.”

 

“Do you think he’s dead?” Bo had no use for tact.

 

“No one could lose that much blood and survive.” There was a short silence as Abe thought about breaking the news to Marlena and Bo thought of how this was all impossible.

 

“What about DNA tests? We should run those. There are a lot of people out there with the same blood type.”

 

Abe thought for a second, “Yeah, I guess I did kind of jump the gun on that one, huh. We can’t give up hope, but you do know that it is most likely John’s blood.”

“Yeah, but some things don’t fit.”

 

“Like…”

 

“Like the shotgun shell. If it was used to shoot John, then where is the tissue that would have been blown off? It would have taken a lot of time to clean it all up. How could someone get John out of the Penthouse with Marlena not knowing? Stefano is the only person with a motive, but Stefano has never been this messy or careless.” Bo stood up and poured himself another cup of Joe.

 

“Do you know what else doesn’t make sense? That Shane catches the guy who tapes Roman’s funeral all of a sudden and months after the funeral. I didn’t even know the ISA was on that case.”

 

“How do you think Marlena is doing?” Bo asked thinking that she was probably getting a crash course in interrogation at that very moment. “Pretty horrible by my guess.”

Jake was stonewalling Shane and Marlena. “Well at least tell me where my supposed child is.”

 

“I’m sorry, but you’ll find that out on your own,” Jake said, but it wasn’t a shrewd comment. He had no idea where the child was.

 

“But Stefano has unknown hideouts in every corner of the earth! It’s like finding a needle in a haystack!” Shane exploded out of his chair to pace for a second or two.

 

“Jake, Zeke, whoever the hell you are, I don’t have time for this. I have other problems to deal with. If you know anything about where my child could be, you must tell me,” Marlena half demanded half begged.

 

“I told you I don’t know, but if the ISA was half as intelligent as they claim, you could put this much together: Stefano a worldly man, would raise his kid in a culturally rich place, most likely one that spoke a different language. This place would be hidden, but still close enough to a town to have him or her go to school there.”

 

“I know where Stefano hid my child,” Marlena whispered and rushed out of the room. Shane followed after her telling his men to lock Jake up. Jake was going to be upset because this was when Shane was to set him free. If Shane dropped his end of the deal, there would be hell to pay.

 

Marlena booked John’s private jet to leave for Paris with Shane. She would feel uncomfortable riding on the plane without John by her side. Her cell phone rang.

“Hello?”

 

“Doctor Evans! I’m in deep trouble!” a shrill voice cried.

 

“Susan, I want you to calm down. Tell me what’s wrong.”

 

“He’s going to get me!”

 

“Who? Who is going to get you?”

 

“The lead vampire. He’s outside the door.”

 

“Where are you?” Marlena asked. She just remembered that Susan had stayed at the Penthouse last night.

 

“At the Salem Inn.” What Marlena didn’t know was that John had asked Susan to leave so he and Marlena could be alone.

 

“Okay Susan, I want you calm down. We’ll be over as soon as possible. Hang on.”

 

“Oh I’ll try Doctor Evans!” Susan hung up the phone. She picked up Elvis and held him close to her. She heard the wooden door splinter. He would be inside any second.

“Shane we have to get as many people to the Salem Inn ASAP. Stefano is there.”

Meanwhile back in the suite, Susan was quivering in the corner of her room. Finally after minutes of pounding, the door opened. Susan turned and covered her eyes. She felt a shadow creep upon her. She turned with her eyes closed and made a cross with her fingers. “You can’t have me you lead vampire!”

 

“Susan, I think you’re mistaken. I’m not the head vampire; I’m a different one.”

 

Susan opened her eyes to see a mirror image of herself. “Kristen!” She stood with whatever control she could muster. “Well, what do you want?”

 

“Isn’t it obvious? I came to take what is rightfully mine.” Kristen’s eyes went to ‘John Jr.’.

“Well, you can’t have my baby!” Susan stood tall.

 

“You have absolutely no choice whatsoever.” Kristen snapped and a blocky man emerged from the doorway. Susan had overlooked him. “Greg, could you please sway Susan’s opinion on things,” Kristen said without taking her look off of Susan. Susan quietly and calmly set the child on the couch. Then suddenly, she grabbed for Kristen, then the lamp. Sparks went flying as she ripped it out of the wall. Elvis started to cry. Before Greg could respond, Susan had overpowered Kristen and was bringing down the lamp upon Kristen’s head, which could be a fatal blow. Greg pulled his 9mm semiautomatic with a silencer out of his shoulder holster. Two rounds hit flesh. He could hear one round hit bone. The other went cleanly through the torso. Susan gurgled a little with the blood forcing its way up her throat and out her mouth. She landed hard on the floor next to Kristen.

 

“Greg! What the hell do you think you’re doing? What are we going to do about this mess you made?” Kristen screamed as she stood up and dusted herself off. She stood there thinking. “Well, we’re going to have to clean this up as well as we can. We don’t have time for the body. Greg heard a noise outside and looked out the window. “Uh, Ms. DiMera? We have less time than you think.”

 

“Why?”

 

“The cops are outside right now.”

 

“Jeez, what else could go wrong?” Elvis was still crying where Susan had left him. Kristen picked him up; he almost immediately stopped. “At least we wore gloves. I say we just leave things the way they are.”

 

“But what about the-”

 

“We don’t have time! We have to go now!” They both rushed out of the room and headed toward the stairs. The stair door clicked behind them just as the elevator door opened to reveal Marlena, Shane, Abe Bo, and a few more cops.

 

“Look the door was broken open,” Shane said. He turned to face the room. Horrors looked him straight back. There was blood splattered over the flowery wallpaper. There were tiny chunks of flesh sliding down the wall. This couldn’t have happened long ago. The smell of gunpowder lingered. Shane saw blond hair and that unmistakable face. “Kristen! My God she’s been murdered! Why would anyone kill her?”

 

“I could think of a few,” Marlena muttered, “Let me see her body.” She didn’t believe it was really she. Marlena moved the long hair away from the face only to find Susan’s brown eyes staring up blankly at her. “Oh my God! It’s Susan,” Marlena gasped. She covered her mouth with her hand. Deep in her heart she knew it was Susan, but she didn’t want to acknowledge the feeling. Now there was no denying it. She had truly hoped that it had been Kristen instead.

 

“Boys, bring a stretcher up here and tell the hospital I want an autopsy,” Abe said to his officers.

 

“Yes sir.” Two blues left to do as asked by their superior.

 

“Abe, let’s bring this sick bastard down once and for all. He’s destroyed one too many innocent lives,” Abe stated with such conviction.

 

“Bo, we’ll do it together.” Abe stood next to Bo and made a pact of vengeance.

“I’ve got to get out here,” Marlena said. She bumped against Shane on the way out to the hotel room’s balcony. There she wept silently. Bo came up behind her, turned her around, looked her in the eye, and gave her a big hug.

 

“Marlena, we’ll get Stefano. It’s a hundred people against one. The odds are in out favor.”

 

“Make that one hundred and one against one. I’m in on this investigation. And don’t even try to talk me out of it because you can’t. There was such fire in her eyes. Contempt burned inside.

 

“I wouldn’t dream of keeping you out of this.”

 

“Good.”

 

Bo was going to have a hard time convincing Abe, but he gave her his word. The police officers got Susan’s body covered up on the stranger.

 

“Where’s Elvis?” Marlena asked in a tizzy.

 

“I think I saw a play-pen in the other room,” Shane said. Marlena rushed into the suite bedroom. A cry resounded from inside.

 

“He’s gone. He’s got him too! Will that man stop at nothing?” Marlena moaned.

“Why would Stefano take John Jr., I mean Elvis?” Bo slipped.

 

“To give to Kristen. Kristen!” Marlena exclaimed, “We have to get to her. She has Elvis! We have to stop her. Let’s go Bo.” Marlena grabbed a hold of Bo’s arm and rushed out of the suite. Abe stayed behind to clean up this mess. He doubted Kristen was involved. He still couldn’t believe all the things she had done to John and Marlena. So many things had happened since yesterday. A lot of lives have been changed.

 

“Bo let’s go to the airport. She wouldn’t dare go back to the DiMera mansion.”

 

“Sounds good,” Bo replied as he turned the police cruiser in the direction of the Salem Airport. Neither talked until they reached an airport employee who had the log of departures.

 

“Can you tell me if the DiMera jet left in the last twenty minutes?” Bo urged.

 

“I’m sorry sir, but I can’t divulge that information without a warrant.” Bo flashed his badge, yet it was still not enough.

 

“Let’s check and see if the plane is still here.” They went to the hanger where the private jets were held. The DiMera jet was in its place, but the Alamain jet was no where to be found.

 

“She took John’s plane!”

 

Kristen made herself comfortable on the Alamain jet couch. Then thought for a second and shot out of her seat. “Yuck!”

 

“What is it Ms. DiMera?” Greg asked.

 

“Nothing. I’ll just sit over here.” Kristen moved to a single chair in the corner. She had to get off of the couch Marlena and John had sex on, most likely more than once. They have probably done it in every corner of the jet. The only safe place would probably be being duct taped to the ceiling, but then, you never know. The thought of those two together revolted her.

 

“So where are we headed?” Greg asked to break and uncomfortable silence.

 

“To a private island of my father’s.”

 

“Which one?”

 

“Like it matters. It’s one in the Pacific somewhere. I think there was a battle there in WWII when we were island jumping.”

 

“Thanks for the history lesson,” Greg replied with more than a hint of sarcasm.

“Anytime.” Suddenly turbulence rocked the jet. After a few moments, it had gotten more violent. Their drinks fell off the table and the glass shattered. Kristen and Greg calmly fastened their seatbelts. Kristen reached over to the phone that connected to the cockpit. “What the hell is going on up there?”

 

“We’ve run into a patch of turbulence.”

 

“You think?” Kristen deadpanned.

 

“This is too bad to fly in. I’m going to have to make an emergency landing.”

 

“Absolutely not! It’s out of the question! We have to make it to our destination. If you don’t get us to the island, you’ll have to answer to me.” She hung up.

 

Greg spoke up, “Well, why don’t we land until this storm, or whatever this is, passes?”

 

“Because the trusty Salem PD most likely has a worldwide APB on me.”

 

“Ah, but not on me. I’ll say it’s my plane if anyone asks questions when we land.”

 

“How ingenious. How did I ever get along without you?” Kristen picked up the phone, “If you feel it is necessary to land, then do what you must.” Her icy blue eyes danced. She was so close to happiness she could smell it.

 

The pilot radioed to a small Hawaii airport saying that he was transporting Greg. An air traffic controller in the tower gave the landing a green light without a second thought until he heard the announcement of an APB on a small private jet. The APB controller caught a glimpse of the tail fin only to see JB0142 in black block characters.

 

Abe was about to go to bed alone because Lex was on the night shift. Marlena was down the hall in the guestroom. Abe had to practically drag Marlena over to the house because she insisted on going back to the penthouse. He knew it would be too much for her. It had been a long day. Coming to terms with all the situations seemed unfathomable, but one day at a time. The phone rang, “Hello?”

 

“Commander Carver, we received a call from a Hawaiian airport. They have John’s jet there, Kristen, and an accomplice.”

 

“What about a child? Did they recover a child?” Abe asked frantically.

 

“Um, let me check. Yes there was a child found with them.” “So where are they now?”

“They are in a jail there. They will be transported tomorrow morning.”

 

“Good, but what about John Jr., I mean the kid?” Abe didn’t like dealing in personal cases. People no longer became just another person, they were a part of him.

 

“He’s staying at the hospital just because there was no other place for him.”

 

“Good. I’ll be in the office first thing in the morning. Call the Hawaiian jail to beef up the security. I want every man they can afford to be posted there.” “Yes sir, goodnight.”

 

“Goodnight.” The feeling in his stomach started to fade. Things were finally starting to look up for the first time today. He got up to tell Marlena, but she was peacefully dreaming, or so he thought. Her dreams were cursed with horrible visions if John dead or being tortured. Every few hours she would shoot up in bed covered in a cold sweat. She won’t get a good night’s rest until John is beside her.

 

“I get one phone call! It’s within my rights you know.” The guard took her precious time to get to the cell. “Could you take the lead out?” Kristen asked in distaste.

 

“Don’t push me Ms. Blake. I can make this stay very unpleasant,” threatened the guard.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be out of here in no time.” The guard opened the cell door that had tan chipping paint clinging to its only salvation. Kristen dialed the number of Stefano’s Salem hideout. She was let down when Bart answered. “Bart get my father now.”

 

“Kristen, I’m sorry, but Stefano is dead,” Bart said. His face was stone. No expression would dare cross his face.

 

“Bart, it’s me. You don’t have to keep up the rouse. I don’t have time to play around. Go get Stefano.” Kristen was tapping her foot and twisting the telephone chord with her fingers.

 

“I already told you, he’s dead. He died last night running from the cops.”

 

“What?”

 

“Kristen, if you want help, you won’t get if from me. I no longer work for your family.”

“Then what in the hell are you still doing at my father’s hideout?” Kristen asked hoping to slip up Bart because she knew Stefano was trying to lay low.

 

“I’m picking up the last of my things from my quarters. Don’t even try to call the others because they all went to pick up what’s left of their shattered lives. I have nothing left to say to you.”

 

“Wait Bart! Wait!” There was fear and insecurity in her voice. “Will you call Stefano’s lawyer. He needs to get me the hell out of here. I’m in jail in Hawaii.”

 

“I don’t owe you anything,” Bart simply said.

 

“No, no you don’t, but you owe my father. If you had done your job, he would be alive right now, and you wouldn’t have to deal with this. But you screwed up, and now you’ve got to set this thing straight.” Kristen was gaining momentum.

 

“Fine, one phone call. That’s all I owe your father.

 

“Thank you Bart. I’ll make it worth your while.” Click. She sure hoped he would come through for her; if he didn’t, there would be hell to pay.

 

“I love you too John,” Marlena replied. He held her in the security of his muscular arms.

“I’ll never let you go Doc. I can’t wait until we are married. Then we can start the rest of our lives together as a family. We could buy a big house.”

 

“I kind of like the penthouse though.”

 

“Anything you want is fine with me as long as we’re together,” John said while gently kissing her on the forehead.

 

“Alright.”

 

“Marlena, Marlena wake up.” Abe hadn’t wanted to arouse her from her sleep because she most likely had not gotten much sleep last night.

 

“Hmm, what? John?”

 

“They have caught Kristen. She has Elvis. She is being detained in a Hawaii prison. She’ll arrive in Salem in a few hours. Don’t worry we have security escorting her.” Abe explained. Most of Abe’s words had not even registered. She was still rubbing her eyes when it dawned on her. “Where’s John? Did she confess to being in on the kidnapping? How long will it be until I can see him.” She searched his eyes, but found no reassurance.

 

“Hold on now, hold on. We aren’t quite that far yet. She still has to be interrogated. The Hawaiian authorities promised they would leave her for Bo and me. Trust me, if she knows anything at all, she’ll be shouting it from the rooftops by the time we’re through with her.”

 

That wasn’t what Marlena wanted to hear. The disappointment was not masked. She found little assurance in Abe’s optimism. Abe wished he had better news, but this was still a great break in the case.

 

Marlena awakened Belle and Brady and got them ready to go with Chelsea. Marlena would cling to Abe today and every day until they found John. She knew that if she wasn’t with Abe, he would never tell her about any leads. Abe of course did this to protect her just like John would have done.

 

Upon arriving with Abe at the station Marlena came face to face with Kristen. Rage bubbled up inside of her like sulfur in a hot spring. Marlena ran over to where Kristen was sitting and decked her as hard as she possibly could in the face. She heard a crack. Kristen had tried to shield herself with her handcuffed hands. Marlena had broken Kristen’s pinky. She had never done anything like that before. Sure she had pushed, slapped, and pulled hair, but this was more unrefined fighting. Marlena was a little disappointed because she didn’t win a fair fight.

 

“You bitch! You just broke my finger!” Kristen shouted. Everyone in the room turned to look at the scene playing out before them.

 

“Oh, I’m ever so sorry,” Marlena said without feeling. In fact, there was a barely visible smirk on her lips.

 

“Marlena, Marlena, whoa. Let’s just get you some coffee.” Abe escorted Marlena to the coffee makers. “You know that a police station is not the best place to commit assault and battery.

 

“Yeah, yeah, I know Abe.” Marlena looked down at her coffee with cream and sugar.

“But, I’m glad you did it because if you hadn’t, I’m afraid I would have.” Abe would never hit a woman, but he sure would yell at one in particular.

 

Officers took Kristen to the interrogation room. It was against police protocol to allow a civilian in the room during an interrogation, but Marlena had insisted on accompanying Abe. He didn’t put up much of a fight. He was saving his energy for Kristen.

 

Abe had not even latched the door when Kristen started in on her defense. “You must know that none of this is my fault. Greg did everything. He kidnapped me after he took Elvis. It was Stefano’s bidding.”

 

“Save it Kristen,” Abe said forcefully, “You hired Greg to kidnap Elvis and then take you away so you could be with John. We also know Stefano kidnapped John so he would be there waiting for you.”

 

“What? You are kidding right?” Kristen never let her eyes stray from Abe’s.

 

“We are on to your sick little ploy you heartless bitch!” Marlena blared.

 

“How in the hell did she get permission to be in here. And I don’t have to answer any questions until my lawyer arrives.”

 

“The hell you don’t! Tell me where John is.” Marlena could muster no self-control.

“John is really gone?” Kristen asked innocuously.

 

“Oh, come on. Don’t give me that. I know that you and Stefano were working together to take John and Elvis away so you could have your perfect family leaving me at the mercy of your bastard father.”

 

“You can’t be serious. You’re giving us too much credit. Do you think that Stefano will even speak to me after all the ways I screwed up his plans? He was going to take you away months ago. If it wasn’t for yours truly you would probably be in bed with him,” she looked at her watch, “right about…now.” Kristen also thought about how he would at least be alive.

 

“Sociopath!” Marlena shouted. Abe had had enough. He escorted her out of the room. Needless to say she was none too pleased.

 

“Now Marlena, we are getting nowhere with you yelling at her like that. Do you want me to not let you in that room again.”

 

“Abe, I have to be in there.”

 

“Then I strongly suggest you to calm down.”

 

“How can I calm down?”

 

“That’s it. We don’t have time to do this. You are going in the watch room.”

 

“What?”

 

“There is a two way mirror and you’ll be able to hear everything that goes on. That’s the best I can do for you.”

 

“Abe, you can’t be serious.”

 

Abe finally got her to go into the watch room. He entered the interrogation room once again.

 

“Oh no, you’re depriving me of Marlena’s enchanting company?” Kristen’s lip protruded in a pout.

 

“Kristen, when is your lawyer going to come to the station?” Abe asked.

 

“He’s on vacation, he’ll be back tomorrow.”

 

“Is there any way he could get here sooner?”

 

“He couldn’t get a flight until tomorrow, okay?” The truth was, her lawyer was digging up some dirt on Abe, and my what treasures he did find.

 

Only a small 50-watt bulb that was swinging lighted the dark room. It sent shadows chasing one after another. The room smelled of rubbing alcohol. It lingered and perpetrated every cover up odor that tried to conceal the obnoxious smell. A man was lying in the center of this chamber. A stiff blanket covered this man simply to shield onlookers’ eyes from viewing the terrors that lie beneath it.

 

“What in the hell did you do to him?” the voice demanded.

 

“Well,-”

 

“Why do I even ask? Excuses, excuses, excuses.”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over. We can only deal with it. What are his chances.”

“It’s hard to tell. It’s touch and go,” Jake replied joining the conversation.

 

“Jake! How are you? Where’ve you been?” The voice became friendly.

 

“Oh, you know, you’re regular run in with the Salem P.D., but nothing that I couldn’t handle,” Jake answered.

 

A mumble arose from the man on the table to break up the conversation. “Go check what’s going on with our patient here.”

 

“Of course.” Jake went to check his vitals and such.

 

“So, how is he?”

 

“I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

 

“Damn it!” Abe put his face in his hands. Each day turned out worse than the previous. John was slipping through their fingers with every passing moment. The frustration took a physical form as knots in his shoulders.

 

“Abe? What’s going on?” Bo simply questioned hoping Ave would tell him what was going on. Be had been left in the dark regarding the interrogations. Somehow Abe made sure that Bo was loaded with paperwork, so he somehow wouldn’t be able to attend the questioning. It antagonized Bo more than he would care to admit. He felt completely useless behind a desk, and it sure wasn’t helping the progression of the case. Bo felt like merely a garnishment to Abe’s crusade

 

“Nothing, everything, I don’t know. Say, Kristen has been really quiet this morning. Why is that?”

 

“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to tell you-”

 

“Shit! Mother f-,” Abe stopped his out of character foul language from going any further. “Why didn’t you tell me? What are you trying to do to me and my case?”

 

“Your case?” Bo muttered so it was inaudible to Abe. “I was going to tell you. What was I supposed to say? ‘Good morning. Oh, by the way, the one person who could lead us to John broke out of custody last night. Would you like some coffee, perhaps with some sugar, cream and a sprinkle of lemon,’?”

 

“Don’t get smart with me, we haven’t the time for this. Let’s just calm down. Now, tell me exactly what went down last night. Any witnesses?”

 

“Not as of now.” Bo gazed into the infinite brown of his coffee.

 

“What? What am I going to tell Marlena?”

 

“We believe one of Stefano’s men broke her out.”

 

“That’s obvious.” Abe was trying so hard to retain his self-control. “Is there anything else that we can go off of?”

 

“He or she came in between shifts, and was able to time the escape when the guards were changing posts. No witnesses, no suspects.”

 

“Yup, sounds like Stefano’s work. How can they say that he is dead?” Abe asked more to the room than to Bo.

 

“I don’t think he’s dead.” Bo stated.

 

“Why not?”

 

“How many times have we thought he was dead? Five, eight times? Each time we never see a body, but we convince ourselves, like you’re doing right now, that he’s really dead this time. Think about it. It’s practically his job to disappear, and this is one of the worst fake deaths. Death by running. That’s absurd. He’s slacking. He used to be more creative.” Abe wasn’t completely convinced. “After all, Phoenix from the ashes.”

Abe was trying to remain objective. “We have no evidence that he’s alive.”

 

“We have no evidence that he’s dead except some nut job doctor, a former DiMera employee for crying out loud!”

 

“But Burchison said too many things that make too much sense.” Abe was thinking of the past and the baby that Bo still didn’t know about.

 

“C’mon Abe. DiMera is a storyteller who hires convincing puppets. I think we should broaden the search to entail the capture of the living Stefano DiMera,” Bo urged.

Abe reluctantly accepted. There was something that wasn’t quite right.

 

Marlena and the kids greeted Martha and Frank with open arms. Brady and Belle constructed a sign that said Mr. and Mrs. Grandpa and Grandpa like a limousine driver would hold at the airport. It was their project as Marlena got ready to meet her parents at the airport. Tears formed in Marlena’s eyes as she embraces them. Marlena drove back to the penthouse in John’s Explorer that smelled like that horrible car carpet shampoo. She had told him a thousand times to either get it done at a car wash place or to buy some other brand. He was adamant that that kind was the best and “I don’t settle for anything less than best. Why do you think I’m with you?” The stupid memories always hurt the most. As she sat silently reminiscing, Belle and Brady were entertaining Martha and Frank.

 

When they arrived at the penthouse, Marlena served them coffee and excused herself to make a phone call. “Commander Carver speaking. How may I help you?” “Abe, it’s me. I need you to do something for me.” “Marlena, what’s the matter?” He could hear the desperation.

 

“Abe, will you do this thing for me?”

 

“Yeah, sure, what is it?” Abe could later; he needed to know what she needed.

“I want you to have guards keep an eye on my parents, Belle and Brady.” Marlena thought of all the times that John and she had argued about whether she would allow herself to be shadowed by guards.

 

“Why? What’s going on?” Bo entered the room to hear Abe respond. He had been checking up on the Kristen escape.

 

“I’m going to Europe, Paris actually, to find my child.”

 

“Europe! Are you nuts?” Bo’s eyebrows jumped; his curiosity perked.

 

“My parents are taking the kids to Colorado. I need you to post guards. If you don’t I’ll hire private bodyguards. I don’t care how it happens as long as they are safe.”

 

“Marlena, think about this. You’re going for Stefano’s bait. He sent Jake to tell you about the child you don’t even know if you really had.” Now Bo was just confused. “Stefano know you would go after the kid. He knew you would go to Paris. You’re playing right into his hands. It’s a trap!” “I don’t care. If it’s a trap Stefano will be there. I will make him pay for all the things he’s done.” “How? How in God’s name are you going to out fight a man who out weighs you by seventy-five pounds not to mention all of his operatives? They’re everywhere you know.” Abe was desperately trying to keep Marlena safe and out of harms way while John was gone. He would have done the same.

 

“What if Stefano’s dead? What if my own flesh and blood is alone and scared somewhere?”

 

“This isn’t a risk I’m going to let you take alone. I’m going with you, or you’re not going at all.” “Abe, you have to stay and head the investigation to find John.”

 

“I’ll let Bo take over-”

 

“That’s not necessary.”

 

“I believe it is.” Bo finally took a seat in the brown patent leather chairs. “I don’t want anymore arguments. Either I go with you or you are staying right here in Salem.” Abe hoped Marlena would accept his demands, and luckily she did. Abe also accepted Marlena’s demands by putting some of his best men to guard Marlena’s parents and the children.

 

When Abe hung up, Bo asked, “What may I ask is going on here?”

 

“You’re being put in charge of the Black case and I’m going to Paris. I’ll call you when Marlena and I get there.” Abe grabbed his leather jacket off the coat rack and slammed the door on the way out.

 

Bo opened the door and shouted, “You have a lot of explaining to do when you call me,” as Abe stormed out of the station.

 

Marlena entered they living room. “Where are the little rascals.” The cheery façade was not fooling anyone.

 

“They fell asleep, so we put them in their beds. It wasn’t hard to distinguish who’s room was who’s.” Martha explained.

 

“I know. I just can’t get Brady of his little race car fetish.” Frank wanted to cut to the chase. “What took you so long?”

 

“I’ll tell you, but there is quite a bit I have to tell you.”

 

“I’ll say,” Frank quipped.

 

And Marlena told them about everything, the kidnapping, Stefano’s death, Kristen, Susan, Jake Burchison, and Elvis. She told them everything except for the information regarding the thought that Martha and Frank may have another grandchild roaming around the world somewhere. At the end of the unfathomable tale, they are all in tears. There was an uncomfortable silence when no one knew exactly what to say. No motherly or fatherly advice could be applicable to the situation. Finally Frank embraced Marlena, and Martha followed suit. Sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all.

“Why didn’t you call us about this whole thing sooner?” Frank asked still quite hurt that it had taken so long for Marlena to tell them about all the past pain. Most children, no matter the age, come to their parents in a time of crisis.

 

“I didn’t have time,” Marlena explained.

 

“So why was it so urgent that we come?” Martha asked. “Don’t get me wrong. I want to be here for you, and I’m glad you called.”

 

Marlena told them as little that she could as to the reasons she was going to Paris. She told them that she and Abe were going there because Abe was picking up on a lead about John. Frank and Martha were far from excited about the whole idea, but they knew that any attempt to deter Marlena when her mind was made up was a lost cause.”

“How does Abe feel about this?” Frank asked.

 

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is if you’ll cooperate and go along with this. What do you say?” Marlena asked hopefully. She was going to do this with or without their blessings, but it would be one less burden to feel guilty about.

 

“I guess so, as long as Abe is always by your side.” Martha laid down the ground rules.

“Thank you. He will be. I can’t say how much this means to me.”

 

“I’m just glad that we can help.” Frank didn’t want to bring up the huge argument they had had or the past, but he felt it necessary. “I’m sorry we weren’t there for you as much as we should have in the past. I really-”

 

“Dad, really, don’t think of it again. It’s over. I’m over it. I was just frustrated and needed to vent. I’m sorry I just happened to vent on you two.”

 

“But the things we have done are unforgivable.” Marlena out and held them closely. A tear spilled over the rim of her eye, but not one of sorrow. It was a release. She was finally able to do something to better the situation she found herself in.

 

The next morning Abe gave Bo the Black, John investigation file and officially made him head of the search. Bo was a little reluctant to accept such a personal, complex, and dangerous case, but was reassured by Abe’s confidence in him.

 

Marlena knelt down to Belle and Brady’s level. She had to explain why she was leaving and the whole situation, yet somehow not scare them and shelter them as much as she could. But, they did have a right to know what was going on. Marlena knew that children have to find a way to rationalize any situation. If there isn’t a logical reasoning, they usually end up blaming themselves. That was the last thing she wanted for her children. Sami and Eric grew up with complexes. She wanted to make things right for the future to try and salvage the past. Maybe this would be her saving grace, finding John, her new child, and saving the mental competence of her children.

 

“Now Belle, Brady, you’re going to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Evans for a while. There’s going to be tons of fun stuff to do in Colorado. There are mountains and tons of open spaces where they live. You both know that I’m only a phone call away, right?”

 

“Yeah, Mom. Mom? Where’s Daddy?” Brady asked. She knew the question was going to come sooner or later, yet she had not formulated an answer that would satisfy them. She decided to give it to them straight. “Well, Daddy is gone-,” she was cut off by the screams of Belle. “Belle, baby, what’s wrong?” Marlena held her tightly. Belle continued only to cry. “Calm down sweetheart, what’s wrong? If you don’t tell me I can’t make it better.”

 

“Daddy’s dead,” Belle cried with such surety. There was no questioning in her voice.

“No he’s not!” Brady contested.

 

“Whenever grown ups say someone’s gone, they’re not really gone. They’re really dead!”

 

“No, no, honey, Daddy’s not dead. He’s alive. He just went away without telling us, and that worries me terribly. I am off to find him. That’s why I’m leaving.” She knew she shouldn’t have said that. Now the children are expecting her to come home with John in tow.

 

“He’s okay?” Belle asked. Her sobs were beginning to become few and far between.

 

“Yes, he’s okay.” ‘A little white lie never hurt anyone.’

 

After she got them calmed down she saw them off in the loving care of her parents on a private jet.

 

Later that afternoon Marlena and Abe boarded John’s jet and landed in Paris without a hitch