Under The Waves
Chapter
Seven
(One Week Later)
Chloe stood in an alleyway in one of the more seedy districts of Salem, a large black envelope in her hand. She grabbed her cellphone out of her pocket and quickly dialed the number to Shane Donovan's direct line.
"Donovan..."
"It's me. It's Chloe... I got the package. Please explain."
"Your full instructions are inside. Everything you need to know is in those pages. There are two devices inside. The smaller will plug into a computer and download all of it's data in just a couple of minutes."
Chloe pulled the small device out of the bag and stared at it. "You want me to plug this into the DiMera mainframe... What about encryption and security? What if I can't hack into it?"
Shane spoke reassuringly to her. "You will be able to. What you can't do on your own, the device does it for you. It's a new favorite toy of the ISA, it can self-decrypt practically anything. If you can get us what's on that computer, then this operation of ours will be over very very soon."
Chloe sighed softly and slid the device back into the envelope. "So, you want me to break into the place where I live and hack into the computer system?"
"Effectively, yes. And, I would suggest that's how you go about it. Do not go into the basement from inside the house. Find another way... You have all of the blueprints and schematics of the house's security system and secret entrances. If you need help with that, call me."
"No, no, I think I can figure out a way in. But, what about the alarms and the security cameras?
"That's the what the other device is for. It will power off all of the alarms and cameras for twenty minutes. The downloading of the mainframe will only take five minutes. So, that gives you fifteen to get in and out safely."
Chloe shut the envelope and stuck it under her arm. "Plenty of time. I've had a lot stickier situations on some of the jobs I did for Stefano in the past."
Shane replied with a note of warning in his voice. "I'm sure you have, but you are putting yourself in grave danger by doing this. If you need further instructions, or back up, call me."
"I will. Thank you. Hopefully, I won't need to call until I have another drop ready for you."
"Be careful out there."
"Of course."
Chloe turned the phone off and slid it back into her pocket. The sun was about to set over the city of Salem, and Chloe was sneaking through the back alleys to where her car was parked blocks away. She always kept her eyes open, making sure that nobody could follow her or track her. For the first time, she was actually grateful for the four years of training she had working for Stefano. It had taught her the rules of survival in any game, and would most definitely be of assistance in tonight's mission to invade the DiMera mansion. A place she hesitated to call home, even though it had been for the past two weeks. In her heart, however, her home was wherever Brady was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Much later that evening.)
Chloe had made sure to drift about the downstairs part of the house for most of the evening. She sat in the living room, drinking tea and reading a novel. But, in actuality, she was closely observing the other residents of the mansion. The evening grew into night, and she waited patiently as Lexie said her goodnights and went to bed. Stefano decided that it was time to go to bed as well, and excused himself too.
She casually said good night to both and continued reading for awhile, before going to her bedroom upstairs. Chloe gave them all plenty of time to fall asleep, making sure that Rolf and Bart were not lurking about either. When she felt she had waited a sufficient time, she began making her preparations for what she was about to do.
Chloe changed into a pair of black jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt, braiding her hair into one long braid that fell down her back. She slipped her feet into her black sneakers and sat on the edge of the bed to read Shane's instructions for what was probably the twentieth time today. Once she knew for sure that she had them fixed in her brain permanently, she lit them on fire, burning them into the trashcan and ridding herself of the evidence.
She checked both devices to make sure they were on and ready for her, and slid them into the pockets of her jeans. One last step, which was to put a pair of black gloves on, and she was ready to go. Chloe crept out of her room and down the stairs, staying as quiet as a mouse as she slipped out the front door and into the dark of the night. It was early November and the chill of winter whipped at her face as she ran around the mansion's grounds.
She found the door she was looking for, the one that led underground and into the bowels of the DiMera mansion. Her hand slipped into her pocket and pulled out the device that would disable the security system. She opened the door and walked into the stairwell, placing it on the steps, where Shane had told her to place it to knock out the system for the entire lower level.
Chloe set her watch for the twenty minute window of time, and turned the security device on. She waited for the green light to go on, and then slipped through the door at the bottom of the stairs. Stefano had not allowed her access to this part of the house, and she imagined it was for a very good reason. However, she did have all of the schematics in her head, and she silently thanked God for giving her a nearly photographic memory.
She made her way down the winding hallways and found the door to the room she was looking for. The one where Rolf had most of his technology stored, and more importantly, the room with the DiMera mainframe. A powerful computer that stored files on anything and everything you would ever want to know about Stefano and his many dirty deeds over the years.
Her gloved hand slipped a hairpin out of her hair and easily picked the lock, once again putting her burglary skills to the test. She slipped inside the room and looked around it hesitantly before slipping into the chair at the computer. Chloe plugged the device that Shane had given her into the port, and waited for the computer to boot up. He had been right, the device easily surpassed all of the walls put up to block unauthorized users. Moments later, it gave her a status bar, telling her that the file download would take five minutes.
Chloe stood and looked around the walls filled with all sorts of equipment. She didn't know what most of it was, but hoped that Shane would. She had a tiny camera in her back pocket and she slipped it out to take pictures of everything she could, knowing that the ISA would be interested in whatever Rolf had down here. The computer beeped at her, and she returned to see the download completed.
She unplugged the device and was about to shut down the computer when another thought entered her head. The timer on her watch told her she had plenty of time before she had to be out, so she quickly did a search for her name and for Brady's name. Most of what was in their files was what she already knew. Their real life histories, along with the ones that Stefano had created for them. Nothing she didn't already know.
Chloe groaned in frustration, hoping that maybe Shane and the ISA would be able to find out more about Stefano's plans for her from the files she had just stolen. Although Stefano insisted that he was planning something diabolical for the usual band of Salemites, she had yet to find out what it was. That only led her to believe that his plans had nothing to do with the Bradys or John Black. His plan more than likely focused on her and Brady.
She shut off the computer and took a quick look around, making sure everything was exactly as it had been before she broke in. Chloe shut off the light and locked the door behind her, running down the hallway towards the stairwell. She had just a few minutes to spare, so she grabbed the security disabler and ran back out into the cold night.
Her feet carried her swiftly across the lush grounds of the mansion towards the street, and past the main gate. She thought it was funny that for a man like Stefano, he didn't have guard dogs or security patrolling the grounds. It certainly seemed that people like John, Bo, Roman or Abe barged in the front door whenever the felt like it, without being stopped at the gate.
Once she was a safe distance from the house, she grabbed the cellphone out of her pocket and dialed Shane. He was the only one at the ISA she spoke to or made any contact with at all. All of her exchanges were done by undercover agents in Salem tracking Stefano, and they were done after she was safely away from the drop spot.
"Donovan..."
"It's Chloe... I'm done."
"Done? How did it go?"
Chloe took a deep breath in and smiled. "Perfectly smooth. No problems at all. And that's what scares me."
There was a pause from Shane's end, and he spoke with concern. "Scares you? Why would pulling off your mission perfectly scare you?"
"Because... I've done enough of these stealthy break-ins in the past four years to know that nothing is ever perfect. Something always goes wrong, and usually it's better if it goes wrong during the break-in, instead of after."
"Good point... But, all that's left now is the drop-off, and you're home free. With the information you've given us so far, and what you got tonight... We may have enough to get Stefano for good."
Chloe's heart beat faster in excitement. "You really think so?"
"I don't want to get your hopes too high up. But, you've really done an amazing job, Chloe. I hope what I get from you tonight will be the last piece of the puzzle..."
"I do too..."
"Take the package to the 5th street pier, down near the docks..."
Chloe froze in her tracks, on the sidewalk of the street that ran near the DiMera mansion. The 5th Street Pier was the same one that she had last seen Brady on, the one that had been one of their special places. She almost wanted to laugh at the coincidence.
"5th Street Pier... Okay, then what?"
"There's a crate marked with a blue triangle and the words, Lima, Peru. It looks just like any other shipping crate, but lift it up and leave the package underneath. Call me when you're leaving the pier and I'll send my man out to pick it up. You know how it works."
"That I do... Thanks, Shane."
Chloe turned the phone off and put it back in her pocket. It wasn't exactly a short walk to the pier, but she much preferred the walk instead of taking one of the cars from her father's garage.
The long walk to the pier gave her a lot of time alone with her thoughts. Too much time. She knew that every time she made a phone call to Shane Donovan, every time she passed the ISA information regarding Stefano, she was putting her life on the line. But, it was the only thing she could think of to do. She wanted Stefano out of the way, and if meant she had to give up her life to do it, she would.
Her own life was of very little concern to her anymore, especially since she hadn't had one truly happy moment in over four years. The only things that worried her was her baby and Brady. As long as Stefano was around, neither of them were safe. Stefano would want the child to grow up as a DiMera, and Chloe would kill Stefano herself before she allowed that to happen.
She finally reached the pier, a light layer of fog curling up near the edges of the water as she searched for the crate that Shane had referred to. She found it quickly, and took the device that stored the computer information out of her pocket and slid it under the crate along with the security disabler and her tiny camera. Chloe put the crate back in place and quickly dialed Shane on her cellphone.
"Chloe?"
"You got it. The package is signed, sealed and delivered."
"Perfect. See... Everything went off without a hitch. Just get home safely, and get some rest. I know it must be late in Salem."
Chloe nodded and shivered slightly at the cool November air. "Yes, it is. I'll talk to you soon."
Shane bid her goodbye, and she slid the phone back into her pocket. What she didn't hear was a set of footsteps coming down the steps and on to the pier. She turned to leave and found herself only inches from Brady Black.
Chloe jumped in fright, gasping as she laid her hand on her chest. "Looks like I found the hitch... What the hell are you doing down here?"
Brady shrugged nonchalantly and put his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Taking a walk..."
"At three in the morning? Are you insane?"
"Sometimes... I... I can't sleep. So I take walks."
Chloe raised her eyebrows and looked at him questioningly. "On the pier? In the middle of the night?
Brady shook his head. "Not always on the pier. Sometimes to other places... Places where I can think about you..."
"Brady... Please don't..."
"I'm just telling you the truth. Now tell me something -- What in the hell are YOU doing on the pier at three in the morning?"
Chloe shook her head vehemently and took a couple of steps backwards. "I can't tell you that. So, don't ask."
Brady stared at her curiously. "Chloe... What is going on? You know you can trust me..."
"And I do... I trust you with my life. But, right now, you have to trust me with yours. What I'm doing -- I'm doing it for you. I'm doing it for us. And, that's all I can say."
"Chloe, if you're in danger, I want to help. I NEED to help."
Chloe smiled sweetly and shook her head. "There's nothing you can do. I have to do this on my own. I know you're always the big hero, rescuing the damsel in distress, but not this time. Let the damsel save the day, Brady. It's the only way."
"I just -- I worry about you..." Brady smiled and walked closer to her, removing his hands from his jeans to lay them gently on her arms. "I know, you're going to tell me that you can take care of yourself. I know that you can and that's what keeps me from worrying about you even more. But -- I still worry."
"I understand... But, you have to put all of your faith and trust in me right now. I know it's not easy... I wouldn't trust me, after everything that I have put you through, but..."
Brady shook his head and put his fingers over her lips to hush her. "Chloe, don't even say that. You're not the person who did all of those terrible things. Not anymore. I don't blame you for anything, and you shouldn't blame yourself. This is all DiMera's fault..."
Chloe bowed her head and looked towards the ground with a sigh. She thought about all of the time that had been wasted between them, and tried to fight back her tears. And now, even with all of her memories and her real personality back, she still wasn't allowed to have what she wanted. She knew she should resist, but she needed to feel safe again, to feel the love that Brady held in his heart for her.
"Brady..." She spoke through her wavering voice, as her tears started to slip out of her blue eyes. "I -- I -- I just want you to hold me. Please hold me."
Brady didn't hesitate at all. He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her close to him. Despite the cold outside, his body heat radiated through her, keeping her from shivering. She cried softly into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his back. Brady gently ran his fingers in circles on her back, trying to comfort and reassure her.
He held on to her for quite a while, until her soft sobs seemed to slow down. Minutes went by, before he spoke softly to her. "Chloe... Do you remember the night before the wedding? The night that we were -- we were kidnapped?"
Chloe lifted her head from his shoulder and nodded. Tears stained her cheeks and Brady tenderly brushed them away with his fingertips. She sniffled slightly and replied. "Every time I close my eyes, I remember it. Even when I didn't have my memories, I had nightmares about it. I don't think a trip down this particular memory lane is going to cheer me up right now..."
"I just... I remember waking up strapped to that chair... It was so dark. And, I reached out for you, and I grabbed your hand. I found you and I told you that everything was going to be okay."
"Everything wasn't okay though. It hasn't been okay since then. Things are about fifteen states away from being okay..."
Brady nodded in agreement and kissed her forehead gently. "But, they will be okay... I found you in the darkness that night. We will always find each other, even if takes a long time to get there. Somehow, by some miracle or I don't know what... You found yourself, the real Chloe Lane, underneath it all, and that's all the proof and reassurance I need. Everything IS going to work out."
Chloe smiled and nodded in understanding. "Aren't I the one who is supposed to be comforting you? I mean, I'm the one supposedly taking care of things..."
Both of them paused, and Chloe's ears pricked up at the noise in the distance. They both heard it, footsteps coming towards the pier. Every muscle in Chloe's body tightened up in fear, and she grabbed on to Brady's arm in fear.
"Sh*t... We have to hide."
"Chloe..."
"SHUT UP. Just do what I say."
Chloe quickly dragged him off to a hiding spot in the corner. They huddled behind another stack of crates together, and Chloe motioned for Brady to duck down out of sight. Her heart was pounding in her chest so loudly, she was almost afraid that whoever was coming would be able to hear it beating loudly.
She peered over the crate in front of her, and kept a hand behind her to tell Brady not to move. A shape of a young, fit man moved about the pier towards the crate with blue triangle, the one that Chloe had left her package under. His hands lifted the crate and slid the contents out, quickly slipping them into the inside of his bulky leather jacket. She listened as he spoke into a cellphone, confirming that the package had been received and swiftly walked away.
They waited a few minutes, until she could be sure that the ISA agent was out of earshot, and then Chloe came out of the hiding place with Brady following. She dusted off her black jeans and groaned in frustration.
"Damnit... Damnit... Sh*t."
Brady looked at her with an amused glance as he dusted his own clothing off. "You didn't use to curse this much back when I first met you."
Chloe rolled her eyes and glared at him. "Yeah, I didn't have quite as much to curse about when I was in high school. You almost made me blow my cover."
"Your what? Your cover?"
"I -- I didn't say that. Forget I said that, okay?"
Chloe was cringing as Brady looked at her knowingly. "Now, I get it. I caught you in the middle of some sort of covert operation. Who are you working for? ISA, CIA, Interpol? Who?"
Chloe shook her head in denial, and walked closer to him. "Damnit, Brady, stop being so inquisitive. You know I can't tell you anything. And we -- we can't keep running into each other like this."
"It's not like I expected to find you here..."
Chloe sighed softly and grabbed on to both of his hands. "I know, but this can't happen again. Twice is too many. If you see me on the street again, or anywhere, ignore me. Act like you don't see me. We have to be very careful."
Brady nodded in understanding and put his hands on her hips to pull her closer. "You're hard to ignore, Diva."
Chloe grinned at him, a twinkle in her blue eyes for the first time in a very long time. "And you, Brady Black, are even harder to get rid of."
Brady wrapped his arms around her waist, and Chloe tilted her face to bring their lips together. He kissed her deeply, and she slid her hands up his arms as she sighed contentedly. Her fingers came to rest in the soft blonde hair at the back of his head, and Chloe could feel herself melt into him, his heart beating against her, as the kiss deepened.
Her heart, body and soul wished for this to go on forever, to shut out the world around them and concentrate only on each other. But, she knew better than that, so she broke away from him and slipped out of his embrace.
"Brady... I'm sorry... I can't let myself get carried away."
Brady looked pained by their separation, but he did understand why it had to happen. "You're right... I'm sorry too..."
Chloe looked around her with a look of paranoia. "I -- I've gotta go... I can't be here anymore. I -- I do love you."
"I love you too... Be careful."
Chloe nodded and headed towards the stairs, sharing one last look with him before she walked away. She jogged at a steady pace back towards the DiMera mansion, her tears practically freezing her face as they streamed down her cheeks. Seeing Brady was supposed to make her feel better, but it only made their current situation harder. She had to run home, knowing that if she looked back she would run into his arms and stay there forever.