Fallen into Shadows
Part 7
Two households, both alike in dignity.
The
walls had numerous dents and scratches. Portia cleared away much of the broken
wood pieces and emptied them in the waste bin. She carefully went through the
floor, sweeping up the shattered glass. There appeared to be pieces embedded in
the rug. She would have to use the vacuum to get them all out. She grasped the
table and carefully lifted it back up to its upright position. The small
footstool had two of its legs broken, but it still looked like it could be
repaired. As she went to pick up the lamp by the window, she heard the front
door.
The
footsteps walked slowly and steadily towards her. With her back towards the
door, she continued to pick up the broken pieces still scattered. She only
looked up in mild interest as her visitor entered the breakfast room. A
momentary glance and she returned to her work. The figure stood by the door
side and watched as she went around and straightened up the room. When she got
nearer, she paused and stopped. They were standing less than five feet away
from each other.
�You
betrayed me� you betrayed me.�
Her eyes are sad, but a small smile is on her lips. She sighs once then continues cleaning up the room. There was no need to reply.
The
phone rings again startling Steve as he speeds down the street. He is getting
closer. Another ten minutes at the most and he�ll be at the Pub.
�Hello?�
�Steve!
It�s me Bo. Just letting you know Stephanie�s here. She and Max just arrived.
Where are you?�
�I�m
close, man. I should be there in around ten minutes or less.�
�Well
hurry up! Kay�s been after me to tell her what�s going on.�
�Well
just keep stalling. I�m almost there. Look, have you seen anyone suspicious
around the place?�
�No. No
one�s acting or looking funny. We got two cops out side watching. So far
everything�s normal.�
�Yeah,
well it ain�t. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Maybe you should call John ��
The two
guns shots were heard clearly followed by the scream of a young woman. �Mom!�
�Bo! Bo! What was that! Bo!�� The
line went dead as Steve was listening to the dial tone.
He went
through two red lights before finally stopping and parking behind the patrol
car. The lights were flashing, signaling the disturbance inside the Brady Pub.
Pushing his way through the crowd that formed outside, he tried to get past the
officer blocking the doorway. The glass on the door was shattered; it's broken pieces littered in and around the front entrance.
He could see Bo talking to one of the officers. Another cop sat at a table, his
arm bandaged and his uniform ripped and blooded. Stephanie stood next to Max,
his arm around her shoulders as she spoke to Caroline and Shawn. Caroline gave
her quick hug then motioned for her to go sit at a booth. She looked shaken but
unharmed.
He tried to enter, but the cop at the door pushed him back,
"Sorry sir, but no one's allowed in."
"That my family in there! Bo!" He yelled out "Let me through!" He tried again, but another officer joined to keep him from entering. "I said let me in. Kayla! Bo!"
"Steve!" Bo finally heard him and came over to the door. "Sears! Connor! It's okay, he's family. Let him through."
Steve went over to Stephanie first. She immediately jumped into his arms and he held her tight. "Are you okay baby? Let me see, are you hurt?" He looked her over. Her face was white and she trembled, but he saw no injuries.
"I'm okay dad. I'm fine." She smiled at him and he pulled her back. He crushes her in his arms and whispered words of thanks as she hugged him back just as hard. He looked around the room, but didn't see Kayla. He felt the panic then, it was rising up fast as his eyes found Bo. He pinned Bo with a questioning look. Where was Kayla?
Steve sat Stephanie down as Bo gave more instructions to the cops at his side. "Check again outside, see if anyone saw anything." He motioned to the crowd at the door. "And get that area cleared. Last thing we need are spectators destroying evidence."
"Baby? Where's Kayla? " He took his daughter's face in his hands and caressed her cheeks. "Where's your mama?" He tried to remain calm. He forced a peaceful countenance on his face and gave a look that bordered between panic and disinterest. He was smiling at her, but inside he was screaming for fear. Where the hell was Kayla?
"Mom went upstairs to get some pills for him." She motioned towards the injured officer at the other table. "He's in a lot of pain."
He didn't change the calm expression on his face. He still looked at ease as he smiled at her. "Good! That's good. Guess I didn't have to worry then huh?" He pulled himself away and stood just in front of her. He put his hands in his pockets and took a step back. "Looks like everything is under control."
"I'm glad you were worried dad. It made me feel like you remembered who I was."
She was looking up at him with tear filled eyes. He wanted to look away. He wouldn't be able to keep calm if she continued looking at him that way. "For a couple of minutes, it almost felt like you did... I liked feeling that way."
"Yeah, well, I was worried you know. Anyone would be if they saw the police car outside."
"But you're not just anyone." She told him softly.
He took another step away and looked around the room. "So, your mama, she's okay too? Right?" He looked away from her then. He couldn't take a chance his look would betray what his was feeling inside. "You said she went upstairs for some medicine?"
"She went up a couple of minutes ago."
The staircase was still empty. His focus centered there, looking for the one figure that would determine if his life was worth living or not. When she finally came back in the room, Steve had to grab at the booth railing to keep from running to her.
"Baby, you just stay here okay, while I go and talk to your mama. You just stay here with Maxwell."
He looked back at his daughter and gave her a quick smile. Max nodded at him as he walked away. Bo was talking with the wounded officer again. He made a few notes then stood up and patted him on the back.
"I know you're in a lot of pain, but the ambulance should be here soon. Don't worry, you did good back there."
Steve approached but kept a respectable distance. Bo looked questioningly at him, but Steve warned him with nod to say nothing. Kayla handed over some painkillers and turned to find Steve hovering just behind her. Her face was flushed and there were bloodstains on the front of her blouse. His eye widened in surprised at the blood and he reached a hand out to her. His hand paused midway and he pulled it back down, but none to fast as Kayla looked confused at his actions.
"There's blood on you." He shifted in his stance. "I didn't know you got hurt." He wanted to grab her. He just wanted her in his arms, holding her, feeling for himself that she was all right. It was absolutely crazy not do to just that, but he kept still, forcing his arms to remain stationary at his side.
She looked down at her blood splattered blouse and back up at Steve. He had looked worried, but not now. He had the look of someone annoyed that they were caught looking. Each time he looked at her that way she felt another cut in her heart. She took a deep breath and tried to let out her pain. It wasn't doing any good. He could hurt her by not doing anything.
"I'm not hurt. I guess I got some blood on me when I was cleaning up his wound."
He just nodded at her then took a step away. He looked edgy and uncomfortable being there. His eyes kept looking around the room, wanting to leave, but he stayed. Kayla looked at Bo but he was now talking to the officer who had been by the door. She looked back at Steve, but he avoided her glance. He was acting nervous, barely keeping still beside her. His face looked calm, but his actions were saying the opposite. He kept shifting from one leg to the other. He jammed his hands in his pockets, then out again, running his fingers through his hair and across his face.
"I... I was passing by when I saw the... police car. I guess I...uh, well I didn't know what had happened." "I'm just glad you're okay! You know?"
"Yes I'm fine. Thanks for caring."
"Yeah, Sure! I mean it's good you didn't get hurt." "So what happened? Was there a robbery or something?"
"Well no! I'm not really sure what happened. We were going to have a dinner when someone shot at the door."
"Did you see who it was?"
"No actually, I had my back to the door. Stephanie had just walked in and I was facing this way." She indicated the direction towards the bar. "I didn't know what happened until the shots occurred."
"Maybe the cops were chasing a suspect and they chased him here."
"I suppose so?" She looks confused at the suggestion. "But I think those cops were just standing outside all this time." "Bo! Why were those officers outside the pub?" She called out to him as he came back inside.
The door was finally cleared and the usual yellow tape was placed across the entrance. Bo went over to his parents and told them he would have an officer posted here for the night so they shouldn't worry. Kayla called out to him again. "Bo! Answer me, why were those cops outside?"
"Huh, Oh yeah! Well..." Steve gives him that same look of caution. Bo glances angrily back at him, forcing him to lie to his sister "We...had reports of a gang terrorizing some people around here. And I thought...to be safe...it couldn't hurt to have someone patrolling the area. You know, better safe than sorry."
"But what about Stephanie? Why did you want her home so quickly?"
"Right... um, Well...down at the station, Roman got word that...some young girls had been attacked by the gang members and he...and I thought it would...be better for Stephanie...if she was home already. You know, just in case."
"Yeah, that makes sense to me." Steve agreed hurriedly. He was barely standing still next to her. He quickly motioned to Bo while Kayla turned her attention to the wounded cop. The ambulance arrived then and the paramedics came in with a stretcher. Kayla helped them place the officer and watched as they wheeled him out the door. She then walked over to Stephanie and gave her daughter a big hug.
Steve motioned again for Bo to follow him to the far end of the bar. Keeping his eye on everyone in the room, he pretended to get a drink and offered Bo a glass.
"So what going on Steve? Tell me what's happened."
"Not yet! We can't talk here. Meet me outside in about ten minutes. I'll tell you everything I know then."
"I'm not keeping this from Kayla, man!"
"Well you better! I don't want her or anyone else to know just yet." He tired to look like he was just enjoying a drink while Bo went to refill their glasses.
"I don't like this Steve! They were shot at already. This isn't good!"
"Just give me a chance to tell you what happened first. Then we can decide what to do."
"Okay, but I'm going to let Roman and John in on all this." Steve looked up at him to protest, but gave way.
"Fine! We can use their help. Damn, we're going to need a lot of help with this."
Kayla saw them by the bar and walked over. Steve quickly finished the rest of his drink by the time she joined them. She was heading right towards him. He knew he wouldn't last if he stayed there. Everything inside him was screaming to go and hold her. When she finally got to his side, he made the mistake of looking into her eyes and he was trapped. She looked at him with such love and pain. He felt himself moving towards her. He could feel his arms reaching for her. He smelled her perfume and he felt himself losing ground. He had to get out of there or all rational reason would fail him.
"What happened to your arm? It's full of cuts! Your face too! You've got small cuts all over."
Kayla had gotten hold of his left arm and was examining the scratches and cuts made by the pieces of wood and glass that struck him. She touched his face and he nearly leaped out of his skin. He pulled himself away from her, disengaging his arm from her grasp.
"Oh that! I got into some trouble earlier today. Guess I met someone who didn't like me beating him at pool. You know at the Cheatin Heart." "Look I've got to go. I've got to be someplace. I'll come back tomorrow and see how you're doing. Okay."
He started towards the door as Stephanie got up and gave him another hug. "Dad? Don't go?"
He gently pulled himself away from his daughter. "I've to go baby. I promise to come back tomorrow okay. You just stay here with your mama. Stay safe here. Don't go out all right?"
"Okay dad." She gives him one more hug as he tries to walk away. "I'm glad you were here."
"Yeah, well, just lucky I was passing by." Kayla was coming towards him again. She walked up and stood by Stephanie as Steve finally made it to the door. He had to get out of there or he would never be able to leave them. He grabbed at the door handle and went outside without looking back. Kayla and Stephanie stood together, watching him leave. Kayla leaned over and kissed Stephanie on her head before pulling her towards the stairs.�
�Start talking man! And make it the short version! I�m in no mood for a long bedtime story.� Bo told him
Steve was waiting just around the corner and signaled to Bo as he left the pub. They walked a few yards away, but still in view of the restaurant. He looked around first to make sure they were all alone. It was dark now and whether anyone was watching would go unnoticed by him. They were a lot of things that would remain hidden in the dark.
�Fine. Here�s the short, short version. I got into a car accident on the small road just off Route 15. It�s the one goes by the lake. I walked to the house there and got helped out by the owner.�
�You mean the castle?�
�Yeah! You�ve been there before?�
�Everyone knows about the castle. That�s been there for 30 years or so.
�Well anyway, it turns out the owner, who is a woman named Portia, was the one behind my memory loss.� Bo looks incredulous at his remarks. �That day, when I got caught in the boat explosion� well it was just coincidence. I was already a marked man. I was going to die anyway. Being hurt just made things more convenient.� �I got injected with some kind of serum that made me appear dead and I was later brought to that house. That woman Portia knew what the plan was and she interceded. She asked to spare my life. If she could take away my memories, if I couldn�t remember, I wouldn�t be a threat. So I was simply hypnotized to forget everything.�
Steve sat down at a nearby crate and looked out towards the water. Bo took a seat nearby. It was all so fantastical a story.
�So� she hypnotized you and you forgot�everything!�
�If you met her, it wouldn�t seem so farfetched. She�s strong Bo! I�ve never met anyone with that much power and strength.� �After she took my memories away, she put some kind of mental block on me. I guess that why I haven�t been able to remember anything. She made sure she was the only one who could return my memory to me.�
�Damn! Well we�ve got to bring her in for questioning. She�s got to tell us who�s behind all this.�
�No. I tried already. Whoever it is, she�s protecting him. She�s not talking.�
�Well we�ll just have to make her talk.�
�No, that�s just wasting precious time and we don�t have much of that. She said they would come after me again, but this time by killing off people I loved to keep me quiet. When I made my way back here, the person really responsible knew Portia would betray him and help me remember so he made a death list. One by one, names will be crossed off and people will die.�
�Death list? Did she give you the list? Whose names are on it?�
�I don�t have it, man. But I�m pretty sure everyone I know and love is on it.�
�Everyone! How the hell we can we protect that many people! We need more answers from her Steve!�
�Yeah, I know! But we�re not going to get it, I can tell you that. She would rather die than say anything. What we need to do is find out who is behind all this and fast before someone else dies.�
�Someone else� Someone�s been killed already?�
He takes the newspaper article from his pocket and hands it to Bo. Bo reads it, then crumbles the paper in his hand and throws it out to the water. He kicks at the crate, knocking a hole in its side. Steve remains sitting, barely noticing Bo�s tirade.
�He was killed that same day I found Jack in the hospital. He never had a chance, man.�
The pain was coming again and he tried to keep it down but it was so hard. There was so much of it. He thought of sleeping, for the next twenty-four hours, he just wanted to lie down somewhere and sleep, he was so tired. But the image of Marcus dead was waiting for him. It was warning him to stay alert.
�I�m sorry, man. I know how close you two were.� Bo told him. He looked up to the dark sky and tried to think of answers, but none came to him. He stood nearby as Steve ran his fingers over the cuts on his arm. He looked back towards the Pub and saw the officer stationed just outside the door. He would need to have Roman send over more men.
�Look Bo, the only way to stop this is to find out who wants me dead. If it�s Stefano, then we have to track him down. If it�s someone else, then we�ve got to do some research. We can start at the hospital. We can find the doctor and hospital staff who were with me when I was hospitalized. It must be on the medical records right? Maybe one of them was working for this guy.�
�Yeah, that�s right. We can dig up old records and see who was on duty then. We also need to get down to the station and talk to Roman and John too. I already called them both and they�ll meet us there now.�
�What about Kayla�?�
�I�ll get Roman to send over more men. I don�t think they�ll try anything else tonight. They�ll know we are watching.�
�Okay! Let�s go then. Oh! Look, I�m sorry about not getting the info on Bymera...�
�Just forgot about that! Anyway, your geek friend sent some envelope over to the station. He already did some research for you.�
�Yeah, he works fast doesn�t he?�
�Come on Steve. Let�s go. We got more work to do tonight.�
As they head towards Bo�s car to go back to the police station, Steve stops momentarily at the Pub, looking up at the lit windows on the second floor. He sees a figure walk by, passing one window then another. He couldn�t be certain, but he was hoping it was Kayla.
�Steve? Let�s go, man.�
Glancing back up at the second floor again, Steve sees the figure stops by a window. For several seconds he looks up, then turns away and rides off with Bo. The figure remains at the windows, watching as they drive off.
�I can spare about three officers, but not for long.�
�How long?� Steve asks.
�Two, maybe three days.� Roman sits at his desk leaning comfortable in his chair. Bo closes the door and takes the seat next to Steve. He checks his watch, then his phone for messages.
�That�s not enough!�
�Can�t you put some men on special assignment.� Bo chimes in. �That way we can get round the clock surveillance.�
�Not without cause we can�t. Look I�m worried too. That�s my sister and niece who are in danger, but until we know who�s behind all this, I can only assign officers for a few days. My hands are tied on this.�
Steve gets up and walks over to the board by the wall. The Eve Michael�s case is still top priority at the station. If they were going to get help with protecting Kayla and Stephanie, they would have to do it privately.
�What about John, can he provide some protection? He knows people.� Steve asks.
�By the way, where is he? I called him over an hour ago.� Bo adds.
Roman pulls out the envelope and places it on his desk. It�s still sealed and addressed to Steve care of Salem PD. �He dropped this off before you got here.� He hands the envelope to Steve who rips it open emptying the contents in his hand. �Something came up with Marlena. He thinks he found someone who saw her after she left the hotel. He�s going to check up on that and get back to us.�
�I forgot about� Any word yet on where she could be?�
�No, it�s a dead trail. No clues, no witnesses.�
�First Marlena, then Steve remembering, and now the attack at the Pub? Someone�s out gunning for us Roman. And we�re sitting here like a bunch of old men doing nothing!�
�Well? I open to suggestions little brother!�
�Yeah, even illegal ones?�
�I must be tired cause I didn�t even hear that.�
Bo slumps back in his chair as Roman calls down for three rookies to be sent over to the Pub. �You�re sending rookies?� Bo asks. But Roman motions for him to be quiet as he finishes talking on the phone.
�You got to learn to be patient Bo. Being reckless never got you far.�
Looking over the papers, Steve interrupts them and points out some revealing information about Brymera.
�This is interesting. It says here that Brymera purchased Hansen Pharmaceutical Company� in 1989. Back then, Hansen Pharmaceuticals was working on drugs and treatments for Alzheimer and restoring memory loss from damage brain cells.�
�Memory loss? Maybe they were looking for ways to force memory loss than regain it.�
�Quiet Bo! That�s quite a coincidence isn�t� Roman remarked. �You getting your memories wiped out and a company like that within Salem�s city limits.�
�And they just happen to buy the company a year before I supposedly died.� �Yeah! That�s quite a coincidence all right.�
Looking through some of the other papers, Bo spots an odd entry. �Look at this, it says Brymera S.r.l. S.RL.? What does that mean?�
�It must be an Italian company.� Roman tells them. � I have seen that before. S.r.l. means Societa com Unico Socio-Gruppo Elco Spa. Usually electronic companies in Italy have that. It�s like have Inc in American companies.�
�So Brymera is an Italian based company?� Bo asks.
�Yeah, listen to this.� Steve reads off another sheet where the history of Brymera is listed dating back from it�s inception.
�Brymera was founded in Italy back in 1893. It has offices all over Europe in France, Spain, Germany, U.K. and Switzerland. Its main headquarters is in Italy. The company started out as exporters and grew into business dealing with electronics, steel and medicine. Its founders were husband and wife�� Steve stopped and looked up at his brother-in-laws. His face drained of color as he stared at them. Bo grabbed the paper from him and read it as the same look of surprise crossed his face.
�Husband and wife, Renato DiMera and Fiona DiMera (nee Brady).
�Well now!� Roman leaned forward in his chair, looking directly at Steve and Bo. �Isn�t that a coincidence!�
Part 8
No
storm can shake my inmost calm.
Kayla emptied out her purse looking for the list she made yesterday. Since moving into Jack and Jen�s place, she put a lot of their personal belongings in storage for Abby. That meant of course, that she would need to buy some furniture and things for herself. Some of her belongings arrived from L.A. last week, and she was able to use it around the house. Still, she needed a new bed for herself as well as for Stephanie, bed sheets, towels, curtains, some bed lamps, china and silverware. Stephanie got half of her things moved in already, but the rest still littered the hallway in large bulky boxes. Most of her time was spent at the garage rather than at home helping her mom to fix up things.
Stephanie promised to be back within the hour so they could go and pick out some bedroom furniture that morning. Kayla wanted to get that out of the way so it could be delivered by the end of the day if possible. With this last week left to organize things at home, she was running out of free time before she would start work at the hospital. Her new work schedule put her at the evening shift for a several weeks. It may take a couple of months before she could request a daytime shift. That was actually fine for now. She could have free time to spend with her daughter and they could talk about recent events in their lives, concentrating specifically on Stephanie's feelings for her uncle Max.
Now she had to admit, it was a shock to find out Stephanie�s interest in Max. She could understand the attraction, but still, Max was her uncle and it just wasn�t right. He admitted that himself to the two of them. She knew Stephanie was hurt by the brush off, but better to have it happen now, then later. Max felt embarrassed by the whole situation, but at least it was all out in the open. Whatever happens now, there wouldn�t be any doubt he cared about her, just not in the way Stephanie wants him too.
Poor Stephanie! And poor Kayla, she thought to herself. Neither one of them seems to have any luck with love and romance these days. The whole mess with Steve just wasn�t getting better. He has been in Salem four months now and still nothing. She thought Marlena could help him, but now she was missing too. Sometimes when she looked at Steve, she could almost feel he was on the verge of a break through, but nothing ever came of it. He looked at her almost angrily most of the time she saw him. When he had moved out of the pub, she saw even less of him than before. As far as she knew, he hadn�t gotten a job anywhere, so she had wondered where he would have gotten the money to pay for the motel he was staying at. Bo hinted that a friend was helping him, but they both knew which friend he was referring too. She really didn�t need to be reminded of his interest in Billie.
Each time she saw them together, she felt another piece of her heart breaking. He enjoyed Billie�s company. He wanted to be with Billie. He didn�t want to be with her. She didn�t want to know how far their relationship had progressed. Both Bo and Hope said they appear to be seeing each other, but Steve went home alone. It was a small comfort knowing that, but it never lessened the pain.
She just couldn�t understand his actions. He was usually loath to be around her, but after the shooting at the pub earlier that week, he was always around. He called her last night, saying he heard she and Stephanie would be shopping for some things today and volunteered to accompany them. He had been visiting them at the house too, every day since. But when he got there, he would look frustrated and angry. At the most he would stay ten or fifteen minutes then head off as though he was being chased out. When s went out, she was constantly bumping into him these last four days. It was more than the combined amount of meetings that they had the past four months.
Was he remembering something? Did he miss her? Did he want to be with her? If he did, his was giving mixed signals. Stephanie said her papa was coming around. After the shooting, she saw something change in him. She believed he really cared about them, but was trying to hide it. Maybe it was seeing their lives in danger, but something was different. Right now, Kayla couldn�t agree too much with her daughter. Steve seemed even more reluctant to be anywhere near her, though she was constantly finding him close by. Each time she tried to get close to him or look him in the face, he would turn away and move from her. That�s not the actions of a man who cares about someone.
Steve said he would be coming around eleven that morning. Why he was even coming was beyond her understanding, but she wasn�t going to say no. Regardless of everything going on, or not going on between them, she missed him. She missed him so much, that seeing or being with him for a few minutes a gift. She heard the car in the drive way and minutes later Stephanie came through the front door. No cheery smile or hello's this morning.� "You're back early? Everything all right at the garage?"
Stephanie threw her bag at the stairs before entering the living room. She pushed a box aside with her foot and plopped herself down on one of the folding chairs.
"Honey?"
"I�ve got my angry face on mom." With her arms crossed and her face scrunched up, she was looking more like an eight year old than a young woman. �Max kicked me out of the garage. Said he was really busy today and didn�t have time to entertain me!�
Kayla smiled to herself as she put away some of her medical books on the shelf. "Your papa will be here by eleven. Think you can manage a smile by then."
"Dad's coming?" She sat up in the chair and grabbed at a book on the table. She tossed it to her mom then twirled a pencil through her fingers.
"He called last night. He said he heard we were shopping for some furniture and asked to join us."
Stephanie started smiling then. "Guess he heard we were looking for Bed Room furniture huh?"
"Stephanie!"
"Well we are! He probably just wants to help pick out a bed he knows he'll be sleeping in some day soon."
"I'm not going to listen to that kind of talk, especially from my own daughter."
"Okay, okay, but there's no denying he's been around a lot lately. Guess he's changed his mind about wanting to spend time with us."
"Well I wouldn't call ten minute visits as wanting to spend time. He's just not making sense, your dad?" Kayla shakes her head in confusion and looks at her daughter. "He comes over, barely says anything, and then practically runs out the door if more than ten minutes passes."
She remembered how he acted that way when they were first getting to know each. He was so sure he wasn't good enough for her then, but it never stopped him from coming to the emergency center and just hanging out. Other people thought he was annoying her, but she actually looked forward to his visits. History repeating itself. If only it was just that.
Drumming her fingers away at the table, Stephanie watches as Kayla stacks another row of medical books. She looks at the clock by the kitchen doorway, checking the time. Steve should be arriving within another twenty minutes or so. "Mom?"
"Yes honey?"
�Why didn�t dad want to be with you, with us? �
What are you talking about? You just said he was always coming around.�
�I mean before. Just last week he was spending all his time with� Billie.�
She pauses first before answering. It�s the same question she asked herself a million times now. �Well� you know it has something to do with his amnesia. He just doesn�t remember us yet. That�s why he feels� uncomfortable and distant. But he�s coming around. Right?�
�Doesn�t explain why he�s hanging out with Billie. He doesn�t know her either.�
�I guess�it�s because they like a lot of the same�things.�
�We can learn to like those things too.� Stephanie is leaning forward in her chair. Her arms are crossed on the table as she lays her chin on top of her hands. �I�d play pool with him� if he wanted me to.�
Kayla reaches over and strokes her fingers through Stephanie�s hair. �I know. Actually, I�ve played a few games of pool with your dad. I beat him a couple of times. Even won money off him.�
�You never told me that.�
�It was a long time ago. We weren�t even dating then.�
�Mom, dad wasn�t� just distant. � She was trying to come up with the words to tell the hurt she had felt inside. She wasn�t expecting rejection from her papa. It had hurt more than her mom realized. �Sometimes� I think I did something wrong� that I was bad. That�s why he doesn�t want�want a daughter in his life.�
Kayla dropped the item she was holding and grabbed hold of her daughter�s face. �Don�t say that! Don�t even think it! Your papa loves you! He loves you so much. You are everything to him. He would do anything for you. Anything!�
With tears in her eyes Stephanie looks back at Kayla. �It just hurts mom! Seeing him with�I want him to be with us!�
�I know honey! I want him with us too! But look, he�s going to be with us today. We have him all to ourselves. And I tell you what, we�re not going to share him with anyone.�
With a big grin on her face, Stephanie gets up from the chair and hugs her mom tightly. �Right! He�s all ours today. All ours.�
Kayla pulls back and wipes the tears from Stephanie�s face as well as her own. �So, now that, that�s out of the way, are you going to help me unpack so we can get this place looking like home?�
�Yes sergeant major!� She gives her a quick salute before working on the boxes by the window. After emptying the contents of one box, another thought came to her. Stephanie looks at her mom and hesitates, pausing a moment before asking.
"Mom, did you notice the car dad's been driving?"
"No, not really. Why?"
"It's new."
"Is it?"
"Yes. And expensive."
Kayla turns to face her. She supposed Stephanie would notice something like that first, but she did think there was something strange about. Would Billie have gotten him a new car? No, she didn't want to think that. It would mean their relationship was... No, there was another reason.
"It's probably just a rental. I remember Bo saying your dad had some accident last week. His car is probably being repaired."
"Yeah, I'm sure that's it. Except that there's no rental sticker anywhere on it."
She didn't like the suggestion Stephanie was making, but a car? "Why don't you ask him when he gets here?" Kayla said as she smiled at her
"Maybe?" Or maybe I already know the answer mom, she says under her breath.
Bo and Max were waiting for him at the garage. Stephanie had just left and none too soon. Max practically had to kick her out. She left really mad at him and he felt bad, but he had other important matters to attend to than bruised female hearts. Niece or not, she didn't need to know what was going on. When he got the call yesterday, he didn't think twice about getting the job done. A car had fallen into a ditch and someone needed it towed. But what was surprising was that it was Steve' car. When he called Steve about it, he asked Max not say where he picked it up. What was the point? The car had minimal damage and could easily be repaired within a day, but Steve and now Bo just asked him to keep quiet for now. Bo was waiting outside for Steve to show. He looked agitated and was walking back and forth by the front door. Max had covered the car and had it pushed behind the tire stacks. He watched his brother as Bo kept checking his watch.
Bo had questioned him about the condition of the car when he brought it in. "Well it's heavily scratched on the sides and front, broken headlight, bent front bumper, some damage to the hood, but nothing serious." Max told him.
"What about possible break in?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, was the door lock damaged in any way or the windows tampered with?"
"It was locked up when I got there."
"So it didn't look like someone could have broken in and taken something?"
"No. Why? Was there something missing?"
"Not sure?" Bo was looking worried, but didn't make a move to look inside it.
Steve arrived then, as Bo called him over. He told him that Max got a call to pick up his car and it was parked just behind the tires. A look passed between Steve and Bo, as Steve asked Max if he could hold his car there for a few days until he could take it to a repair shop.
"No need for that. I can fix it for you. No charge!"
"Thanks Maxwell, might just take you up on that offer. But I want to wait a few days first."
"Why wait. I can do it today and you'll have it by the end of the week."
"No. I... uh don't need it right now. A friend loaned me his car, so I'm using that. You can spend your time on paying customers."
"It's no trouble Steve. Just say the word."
"No, really Max. It can wait." He pats Max on the shoulder.
"Okay? Well, just let me know."
He walks back into the office as Steve motions for Bo to follow him. They walk a few yards away, out of earshot.
"So why'd you want to see me. I'm suppose to be at Kayla's soon."
"Does she suspect anything?"
"No. I think she and Stephanie believe I am just trying to spend time with them."
"Damn, if we could only keep a couple of cops on them. I'd feel a whole lot better." Bo told him
"You're not the only one. It's so hard being with them and not being able to hold them."
"So explain to me again why aren't we telling Kayla then?" Bo asks him sarcastically.
"Because I want to wait at least until we know who we're up against!"
"And how's that going to change anything. You can only play bodyguard for so long before they start to suspect something. Kayla's not dumb, you know!"
"Look, if I tell her now..."
"Then she'll be all over you! Or don't you want that!"
"Hell! Of course I want her. I'm going crazy not being able to kiss... damn, you know what I mean."
"So tell her. If she knows, she can look out for anyone suspicious."
"Yeah, or she could get herself or Stephanie in deeper trouble by trying to help out. You know what she's like. Remember Stockholm. She dropped everything to go there with us. She almost got killed by Orpheus then."
"And if she doesn't know, she could unwilling walk into a trap. This is a mute argument Steve. She has a better chance if she knew someone was out to get her. At least she'll be more careful."
Steve kicked at the gravel and sent small rocks flying into the air. It was a cool morning and the clouds were overcast. The gray skies reminded him of Portia's eyes. There was so much to say and keep hidden. "I just... I just don't want her to live... like she's in a prison. Always having to look over her shoulder or be worried each time Stephanie walks out the door."
"So you want to do the worrying for her, is that it?"
"Just for a little while longer, man. After everything she went through before... I... I just want her to have a normal... life." "We can just hang out as a family. The way we should be. Look I know it�s a lame excuse, but I just don't want her to worry. I just couldn't bear to see that fear in her eyes too after everything that's already happened."
"I hate keeping this from her." Bo told him. He shook his head and let out a deep sigh.� "She's going to be mad as hell when she finds out."
"Fine, she can be mad at me! I'll take the blame."
"You only say that because you know she'll forgive you in the end."
"Don't be too sure about that!" Steve forces a laugh.
"She'll probably hit me!" Bo jokes.
Steve smacks him on the back as Bo returns the gesture. "Just a little longer. A couple of weeks. Okay?"
"Two more weeks then. Just two." Bo holds up two fingers as Steve knocks his hand down.
"So? You going to tell me why I'm here." Steve asks him.
Bo pulls out his I Pod. He was called early that morning to investigate a murder. Bo looks up to see if Max or Abby has come out, but he and Steve are still alone. "This hasn't been broadcast on TV yet, but it will be in the next couple of hours. I got called out to the lake this morning."
Steve looks straight at him. "A body was found floating in the lake. A woman. No ID has been made yet. Her description is, small, petite female, around a hundred ten pounds, maybe five foot two, long red hair. Age, late fifties."
The color in Steve's face changed as Bo described Portia. "She was found by some kids who went out to do some early morning sailing, about a hundred yards from the castle." "Cause of death, a single gun shot to the heart."
Steve swallowed hard at that news. He left her there alone. She had no one to protect her. "Preliminary autopsy shows she was in the water no more than 36 hours." "I don't suppose she sounds like anyone you know?"
"It's Portia."
"Steve, I have to ask this, man..."
"She was alive when I left her Bo. She was alive five days ago."
"And that was the last time you saw her?"
He nods. "Good. Just wanted to get that clear." "By the way, Max got the call yesterday afternoon to get your car. Abby took the message. When he got there, he found an envelope containing payment for the job. No one was around."
"Was there anything wrong with the car?"
"Max says it was sealed when he got there. Maybe you can look it over yourself and see if anything's missing or has been tampered with."
"No, there wouldn't be anything! If they wanted to frame me, the car would have been left there for you to find."
"Yes, it would. So whoever killed this woman wanted you to know..."
"That he's on to me. He wants me to know what happens to people who betray him." "Damn! She was protecting him. She wouldn't tell me anything and he killed her anyway!"
"Look Steve? Whoever this is, he's got no conscience. He'll kill anyone who gets in his way. Maybe you should reconsider telling Kayla now."
He turned away from Bo and looked at Portia's car. He had been driving it all week. Steve dug his hands in his pocket and felt the car key Portia gave him. He pulled it out and looked at the two keys in the chain. It's all I can give to you, she told him. He focused his attention on the second key in the chain. Holding it up he read the small lettering on the side. First Colonial Bank of Salem. 7450A.
He turns back to Bo and shows him the keys "Bo, what does this look like to you?"
"It's a safe deposit key. Hope's got one."
"Where's the bank located?"
"On Murphy Street, near the plaza."
"I think Portia left me something for me there. Look I've got to go. I think I have just enough time to go there before I have to get Kayla and Stephanie."
"Okay. So what do you think she left for you?"
"Hopefully some answers."
"What?"
"I'll explain later. Maybe we're finally going to get a break."
He walked up to the Safe Deposit line by the corner window. A young man came quickly with an eager smiling face. Steve showed him the key and the teller disappeared behind some file drawers to retrieve log card for that box.
�Okay, here we are. Let�s see box 7450A. I just need to see some ID.� He said smiling.
Steve panicked a moment. The records wouldn�t be in his name. He wouldn�t be able to do anything. Why didn�t he think about that?
�Sir? Your ID?�
Well, the worse thing that could happen, he thought to himself, is that he�ll be told he didn�t have access to the box. Steve pulled out his wallet and showed him his driver�s license. He was still Nick Stockton on paper.
The teller took his license and matched it up to the names on the card. �Okay, looks good. Just sign here Mr. Stockton and initial on this line.�
She thought of everything didn�t she? He looked down on the card as he signed himself down as Nick. Two names were listed as holders on the box, Nick Stockton and Steven Johnson. She had planned this carefully. She really took care of everything. The teller led Steve to the vault in the back where the safe deposit boxes lined the walls. He first used Steve�s key, then inserted his to open the door and pulled out the safe deposit box. He handed Steve back his key and walked him over to the small cubicles by the vault entrance.
�Here we go sir. When you�re done, just ring the bell over there and I�ll be back to put your box away.�
�Thank you.� Steve told him and took the seat at the small table in the tiny room. He opened the box and found two small packages. He opened the larger of the two and found a bankbook and a stack of bank statements. Looking through the bankbook, he saw it was under the names Steven Johnson and Nick Stockton as well. It was filled with deposit entries occurring every two weeks. The first date was October 12, 1990. The day after I died, he told himself. The entries were handwritten and carefully listed and noted. The amounts deposited were all the same. Every two weeks, an amount of two thousand dollars was deposited to this account. The last entry was ten days ago.
�What the hell�!�
He grabbed at the bank statement and they confirmed the information on the bankbook. The current balance on the account was over Eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars. So far only deposits were made, no withdrawals.
�She left me money! Was this a joke?� He said aloud. He looked through the statements again. There were sorted by years, twelve statements in each pile. Reaching for the envelope that held the papers and found a small note taped on the side. He pulled it out and read the message Portia had written to him.
�Sixteen years of severance pay.�
He sat back in shock. Just this morning, he didn�t think he�d have enough money to buy gas and now� Portia, he thought, I don�t know what to say or think! No matter what pile he went through the information was a duplicate of the previous month. Deposited April 10th 1991, two thousand dollars to account no. 005-323. Deposited June 7th 1993, two thousand dollars to account no. 005-323. Deposited Feb 20th 1994, two thousand dollars to account no. 005-323. Deposited August 18th 1996, two thousand dollars to account no. 005-323. Deposited Dec 27th 1997, two thousand dollars to account no. 005-323. Deposited October 11th 2000, two thousand dollars to account no. 005-323. Deposited May 3rd 2005, two thousand dollars to account no. 005-323.
The pile of papers were strewn across the small table. Steve gathered them together and placed them back in the envelope. He took the smaller package and slowly opened it. There were only five pieces of paper inside. The papers all had the same letterhead, Brymera S.r.L. He read quickly down the paragraphs as the shock of this news filtered within him. The content was clearly stated and the three accompanying documents were proof of ownership. The letter was addressed to him, Steven Johnson, from the senior vice-president of Brymera, dated Oct. 9th, 2006. He wrote that all stocks formerly held under the ownership of Portia Brigid Lansing had been turned over and placed in the name of Steven Earl Johnson, effective immediately. As of Oct. 9th, he was the majority stockholder, owning thirty three percent of Brymera. He looked at the Stock papers included with the letter. They all had an official company seal at the bottom and were signed by the company president and CFO. Try as he would to talk, nothing came out. All words failed him. He looked down at the papers before him. He was given money; he was given control over this company. But what was he suppose to do with all this?
He sat motionless in his chair. He couldn�t even move his arms. He didn�t want too. The room felt smaller all of a sudden. It started to feel claustrophobic sitting there, but he didn�t think he could move just yet. He reached into his pocket and looked at the set of keys, then back at the papers on the table.
�Portia?� He said to the empty room. �What am I suppose to do now?�
Stephanie hugged him again as he stood at the doorway. He reached his arms around her and held her close for a moment. Kayla was just inside watching them. It must have been his imagination but she looked even more beautiful than she did yesterday. There was a soft glow around her and even from across the room he could almost feel the silkiness of her skin. He felt himself tremble and Stephanie pulled away from him and looked up in confusion. He cast his glance downward and focused on the floor.
�Dad? Are you okay?� She was looking up at him, her blue eyes searching his face for an answer.
�Just a bit chilly today.� He told her. �I should have worn my jacket, cause now I feel cold.� �Hope I�m not late.�
�No.� Kayla answered walking towards the two of them. �You�re right on time.� She was wearing a soft yellow colored blouse and it made her skin come alive. He imagined himself running his fingers over her cheeks, her arm. He had to turn his head away from her. She was just too damn beautiful. He shoved his hands in his pockets again and walked quickly inside passing Kayla until he reached the center of the living room. The scent of her perfume grabbed at him as he walked by her. It latched itself on him and no matter which direction he turned, the scent was in his lungs.
Kayla�s delicate features frowned for an instant as her husband yet again, intentionally shunned her. She eyes automatically sought him when he arrived and hungrily yearned for him as Stephanie gave him a hug. Couldn�t he see how much she loved him? She swallowed the hurt again and forced a smile on her face as she joined him in the living room. He was acting jumpy, jittery, as he walked in and around the empty boxes. He doesn�t even look at her. When she took a few steps closer to him, he stepped back away from her. She shook her head and sighed. It was a hopeless situation. She just didn�t know what to do.
�Should we get going?� He asked of her. He was standing by the dinning room doorway now. He had moved even further away from her.
�Sure! Let me just get my purse.� Kayla walked off to the staircase and went to the bedroom. His eye followed every step she took away from him. That voice inside, the one he continually pushed down kept whispering for him to follow her. Go up those stairs now, Dude. Or are you just going to stand there like the damn fool you know you are?
It would be so easy to just move. How far away was he from the stairs? Twenty feet?� Wherever the big Dude upstairs was, he needed him now. Please, he thought. Just get me through these next two weeks. He closed his eye and started counting.� The air around him was prickly. He could feel it gnawing on his skin. The sweat formed around his temples and his breathing became erratic again.
�Papa?� He almost fell over when she called out to him. Stephanie was standing just beside him as he turned to face her.
�Yeah baby?�
�Did you get a new car?�
He looked at her in surprise. It wasn�t a question he expected to hear. �New car?�
�The one you�ve been driving this week? You just got it, right?�
�Oh that! It�s a friend�s. I�m borrowing it until mine gets fixed. Why�d you ask?�
�No reason. Just being nosey.�
Kayla came back down just then. She put on a light jacket and stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs them. Stephanie got to the door first and opened it, letting the mid morning sun in. The sun�s rays bounced off Kayla�s soft locks as he followed her out the door. Each and every highlight in her hair was on fire. Standing behind her, he watched the dance of light as they sparkled on the curls around her cheeks. The temperature outside had cooled to a chilly autumn morning, but inside, he was literally melting away.