Under The Waves
Chapter
Eight
(A few days later.)
Chloe sat in the living room of the mansion, a novel in her lap. She tried to read it, but as usual, her mind was on other things. Stefano had left the morning after her covert operation, promising to return in just a few days, but never telling her where he was off too. It worried her that she had somehow been caught, either as the informant to the ISA or had been caught in the arms of Brady Black.
She glanced around the living room, and watched as Lexie was sitting at the desk writing something. Even her half-sister had seemed a bit more on edge since Stefano's departure, and try as she might, Chloe could just not figure her out. Lexie was either up to something, or just plain nervous.
Chloe was also nervous, but for different reasons than Lexie. It had been three days since she last spoke to Shane Donovan. In fact, she hadn't heard a word from him since her last drop on the pier. She had been keeping her fingers crossed all the while, hoping that what she had given them would be enough to bring Stefano down.
She shut her book closed with a loud sigh and stood from the couch. "Lexie... I'm... going out for awhile."
Lexie's head whirled around, looking up from the papers in front of her, and she stared at Chloe suspiciously. "And where are you going?"
"That's none of your business, sister."
Lexie gave her a fake smile and shrugged. "I'm just curious... That's all..."
Chloe resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her sister's phoniness and replied. "I don't know... I might go catch a movie or something. Maybe I'll just take a walk, get some fresh air. I'll see you later."
She didn't wait for Lexie to say anything else. Chloe swiftly walked into the entryway and out of the house, leaving a very curious Lexie behind her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Salem Place)
Chloe drifted around the mall somewhat aimlessly. Even though it was almost a week before Thanksgiving, people had already begun their Christmas shopping. So far, she had been lucky, sneaking around and not spotting anyone that would recognize her. She didn't really have a good reason to come out today, she just wanted out of that stuffy mansion and away from her sister.
It was fairly cold outside, but still nice for this time of year. Chloe stopped and bought a cup of hot chocolate to warm herself up, then made her way to an empty bench. Sitting around at the mall and observing people was something she really hadn't had much opportunity to do in the past four years. A favorite pastime of her former life, and something she found that she still enjoyed now.
Chloe sipped on the hot chocolate slowly, but quickly put it down when the phone in her jeans pocket began buzzing.
She answered it with a frantic tone. "Hello..."
"Chloe, it's Shane. Are you alright?"
Chloe ran her fingers through her hair and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine... I've just been a little on edge lately. Especially since I haven't heard from you in a few days."
"I apologize... I didn't want to call until I knew something for sure."
"Well... What's going on?"
"Your mission was a complete success. In fact, I'm heading to Salem right now with my team."
Chloe leaned back in her seat with surprise. "Right now? When will you be here?"
"Tomorrow evening. We'll begin our plan to arrest Stefano as soon as we get there. We have to do everything we can to make sure he doesn't evade capture somehow. We'll need your help of course. You know the mansion pretty well by now, and all the possible escape routes."
"I do... And, you know, I will do everything I can to help you... I want this as much as you do."
"It's surprising... Stefano's children are usually so loyal to him..."
Chloe bit her lower lip and sighed softly. "I'm not like Stefano's other children... I have a very good reason to be disloyal. You should know that he's out of town right now... He is supposed to be back the day after tomorrow."
"Fine, fine. We need a few days to get the unit together anyway. I'll be calling again when we reach Salem."
"I'll be looking forward to it. Good bye."
Shane bid her goodbye and Chloe turned the phone off, slipping it back into her pocket. She didn't know whether to be excited or nervous about Shane's words. It seemed that Stefano DiMera would finally be forced to pay for his crimes. But, part of her was still frightened. She knew that this whole thing was still a huge risk, but she hoped it would be one that would pay off.
Chloe grabbed her cup and threw it in the trash next to her bench. She stood and began walking through one of the less populated areas of the mall, her head filled with all sorts of thoughts. She was barely paying attention when she ran into something solid, and a pair of strong hands gripped her arms tightly.
She looked upwards and into the familiar blue eyes that belonged to Brady Black. They stared at each other for a moment until Chloe broke away from his grasp. She tried to walk away, but Brady grabbed her arm and pulled her into an unlocked utility closet. He slammed the door behind them and leaned up against it, blocking her only possible exit.
Chloe looked around at the room cluttered with maintenance equipment and then glared at Brady angrily. "DAMNIT, Brady... What in the hell do you think you're doing? How many times do I have to tell you to stay the hell away from me?"
"I'm sorry, Chloe... I just... It's your mother."
Chloe's anger faded immediately into a pale look of concern. "My mother? Nancy? What's wrong?"
"She was in a car accident last night. Don't worry. She's fine. Some broken bones, a concussion. Her car was totaled though... Craig said she's very lucky that it wasn't worse. She could have been killed..."
Chloe laid her hand on her chest with a sigh, tears welling up in her eyes. "I -- I miss her so much. And Craig... God, I miss them."
Brady nodded sadly and replied. "I know... And, I know you're mad at me right now for bringing you in here. But, I thought you would want to know. She's your mother..."
"There's nothing I can do though... I'm glad you told me... But, it's just like anything else that's happened over the past four years. I can't do a damn thing about it. I can't run to the hospital and be with her like I should be." Chloe wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and looked down at the floor. "And... if she hadn't made it through the accident. I couldn't even go to my own mother's funeral... Couldn't hold Craig's hand while we grieved together. Do you know what's that like?"
Brady walked towards her and brushed his fingers through her hair. "I think I understand. Maybe not to that extreme, but you miss your life, like I have missed you every second of every day. My life has not been the same without you in it, Chloe... And... I don't know if I can bear this much longer..."
"You may not have to, Brady... At least that's what I hope for with all of my heart. I -- I can't really say anything, but you HAVE to know that I'm doing everything I can to fix all of this."
Brady smiled and kissed her forehead. "Then I know what to put on my Christmas wish list... The same thing that's at the top every year."
Chloe chuckled softly and nodded. "I hope you get your wish this year. I hope we both do..."
"There's something else I need to tell you... Another reason why I brought you in here. There's going to be a huge party at the Penthouse Grill tomorrow night."
Chloe raised her eyebrows curiously and joked with him. "You're not asking me to be your date, are you? Because, I don't think I can do that..."
Brady shook his head and laughed at her. "No, no... That would most definitely get you in trouble. I'm telling you because my dad and Roman Brady suspect that Stefano is going to make a move that night, at the Grill."
"Wait -- What would make them think that? Stefano isn't even in Salem, and he won't be back until the day after the party."
"I don't know exactly, they won't give me the details of it... But, they're beefing up security detail at the Grill like the President's going to be there."
Chloe crossed her arms over her chest and frowned in confusion. "But... If they're so scared of Stefano, why don't they just cancel the party?"
Brady smiled slightly and replied. "Cancel the party, and Stefano wins in another way. It's either be in danger at the party with the entire police force there, or be in danger in our homes... alone."
"Right. That's true. If Stefano wants somebody dead, you'll end up dead no matter where you are. But... If he's planning something big, why isn't he going to be in town to enjoy it?"
"Unless he's coming home a day early to surprise you..."
Chloe nodded and put her hands on her hips with a sigh. "Damnit, I wish I knew what he was up to."
Brady looked at her in surprise. "You mean you don't know anything at all about his plans?"
"No, I don't. He won't tell me anything..."
Chloe's mind raced, trying to figure out Stefano's plan, and why she hadn't heard anything about something going down at the Penthouse Grill. Maybe this was just another part of her test, or maybe it was something much bigger than that. She put her hand on the back of her neck and looked away from Brady to think.
After a long pause, she looked back up at Brady and put her hands on his chest, pushing him towards the door. "Brady, you've gotta get out of here... Get away from me right now."
"Chloe... I... I'm supposed to be at that party... and..."
"Don't go tomorrow, Brady. Please, don't go. Leave town if you have to, but don't go to the party. I think there might be more going on here than meets the eye... Please promise me you won't go."
Brady looked into her eyes as she pleaded with him. "But, what about my family? I can't let them go without me... I have to protect them. Shawn, Belle, Marlena, my Dad... Chloe, I can take care of myself, but I worry about them.."
Chloe shook her head and a few more tears spilled out of her eyes. "I know you THINK you can take care of yourself. But, you might just be right at the top of Stefano's hit list... And... I can't let you go."
"I HAVE to go. But, I swear to you that if anything looks even remotely suspicious, I will leave... and take my family with me."
"Oh God, Brady... You HAVE to be careful. Don't make any rash decisions right now. You ARE in danger. We all are..."
Brady wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, tenderly stroking her hair. "I know... But, we'll make it through this, Chloe. Stefano is not going to win this time."
"I hope you're right." Chloe looked up into his eyes and for the first time, he truly saw the fear in her eyes. "You -- you can't be here, Brady. Thank you for telling me about my mom, and the party... Seeing you again -- it's only made it more risky for us. You have to go now. Please be careful tomorrow night."
Brady leaned in and pressed his lips against hers for a kiss that was too brief. "You be careful, Chloe... Don't put yourself in any more unnecessary danger."
Chloe shook her head and smiled weakly. "It's too late... I already have. And... it's not unnecessary danger, either... It's the way it has to be. Now, go, please go..."
Brady nodded and gave her another quick kiss before heading out of the utility closet. Chloe leaned against a large shelf with a sigh. Everything seemed to be happening at once, the ISA was heading to town, the party at the Penthouse Grill, and whatever else her father might have in store for her.
She grabbed her cellphone and dialed Shane, wanting to pass along what Brady had told her about the Penthouse Grill. She waited as it rang with no answer and connected to his voicemail.
"Damnit..." Chloe groaned in frustration and turned the phone off. She couldn't leave a voicemail, not wanting someone who wasn't Shane to check his messages and figure out that she was the DiMera mole.
Chloe ran her fingers through her hair and shut her eyes, trying to shut off the thoughts in her mind for at least a minute. She stayed there for fifteen minutes, and then slowly slipped out of the closet, back into the crowd of people walking about the mall. Three times now she had ended up in the same place as Brady, and she kept her eyes peeled for anyone who may have been watching her, but it was hard to see through the crowds.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Early Evening)
Chloe was sitting on the living room couch with her novel in her lap again. She heard a clatter of porcelain and saw Eliana come in with a tray to lay down in front of her.
"I brought your tea, Miss DiMera."
Chloe closed her book and set it aside with as smile. "Thank you, Eliana... But, why did you bring two cups?"
"Your sister Alexandra was in the kitchen with me a minute ago. I thought she might want to join you."
Chloe nodded and poured herself a cup of the hot steaming liquid. "Oh, well, that would be a surprise... Thank you, Eliana."
Eliana smiled politely and returned to the kitchen as Chloe began sipping her tea. Her fingers sifted through the pages in front of her, as she tried to keep her mind off what happened today. She heard the click of Lexie’s heels on the wood floors and looked up to glare at her half-sister.
"Lexie... What a surprise."
Lexie grimaced and crossed her arms over her chest. "I do live here too. In case you've forgotten."
Chloe shook her head and frowned slightly. "I've tried to forget, and yet, I just haven't been able to. Would you like a cup of tea, sister dear?"
"No, thank you... But, we do need to talk."
Lexie came and sat the chair nearest to Chloe and Chloe poured herself another cup of tea. "We need to talk, do we? What is it now, sis? You still mad because you're not daddy's little girl anymore? No, wait, you're not STILL whining about losing Honest Abe and Little Isaac -- I mean, ZACK -- even though that happened six years ago... Hmmm... What could it be?"
Lexie shook her head and smiled widely at her. "None of that... Believe me, it's so much better than any of that, Chloe. You're REALLY gonna love this. Maybe not as much as I love it... but I have to admit it's one of my more amusing topics."
"Well, then... Please, spill it. I don't really want you to waste any more of my precious time on hyperbole."
"You see, Chloe... I've always been a little suspicious of you. Always watching you, making sure that you don't do something that might betray our family. And, now I know I was suspicious for a reason."
Chloe's mouth opened with surprise and she put her cup down on the silver tray. "What? What are you talking about?"
Lexie laughed wickedly and continued. "See... You and I, we've never been close. But, that's not news to you. What might come as a shock however, is that I don't buy your little act for even a second... Since you've come to Salem, and probably a little while before that even, you've been different. Not exactly the same perfect daughter that Father thinks you are."
Chloe hid her fear well, and shook her head, trying to keep Lexie off her trail, even though deep down she knew she had been caught. "I don't know what you're talking about, Lexie. I'm still the same Chloe that I've always been. I'm a DiMera, just like you -- only a lot tougher."
"You'd be surprised with just how tough I can be, little sis. I'm no fool, that's for sure. See, you went out on your little outing to the mall today. And, I decided to follow you myself, make sure you weren't getting yourself into trouble."
Chloe stood and began pacing in front of the couch. "You're insane, Lexie..."
Lexie got up from the chair and walked around the coffee table to stand in front of her. "No, you are, little sis. Making time with Brady Black where anyone could see you slip into that utility closet together? Father is not going to be happy with you when he gets home."
Chloe moved a few steps backward and shook her head. "He -- he found me. He was trying to play one of his old games with me. Trying to convince me that I'm some fantasy woman he made up in his sick little head. I told him to stay away from me..."
"Chloe, Chloe, Chloe... You are SUCH a good liar. But, you can't lie to me anymore... I heard your phone conversation, setting up your secret tryst, telling him that you had a good reason to be disloyal to your father. Gee, I wonder what that reason could be..."
Chloe shut her eyes for a moment to think. Lexie had overheard her conversation with Shane, but thankfully she assumed that it was a conversation with Brady. At least half of her betrayal still remained a secret.
Chloe's eyes snapped open and she shot daggers at her half-sister. "So... You think you know everything, don't you? Well, what are you going to do now, Lexie? Besides running off to daddy like some tattle-tale telling on their four-year-old sister... What are you going to do?"
Chloe was trying to intimidate her physically, but Lexie refused to back down. "Besides let Father in on your little secret? I'm going to make sure you suffer. I'm going to make sure you don't get away..."
She put her hands on her hips and stared at Lexie doubtfully. "Oh really? And how is that? You can't fight me, Lex... You know I'd take you down before you even have time to curl your fingers into a fist. I'm stronger, I'm faster, I'm *younger*, and I have more experience... So, now what do you do?"
Lexie grinned maliciously and practically hissed out her reply. "Drug your tea."
Chloe's eyes widened and she took another step backwards in shock. "What? You drugged me?"
"Of course. Like you said, I know that I can't fight you... You're right about that. But, I don't have to fight you, because in less than two minutes, you'll be out like a light."
Chloe ran around the coffee table towards the door, and felt the drugs begin to take effect as everything moved in slow motion around her. Lexie stood in the same place and watched her as she struggled with opening the front door, her vision starting to blur.
"You can run all you want, Chloe... You'll be unconscious before you even get to the front gate."
Chloe finally got the door open and ran as fast as she could out the front door. Lexie had been right, she was halfway across the front lawn when the darkness overtook her, sending her towards the ground in front of her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She felt the cold cement pressing against her cheek, the chill of the room around her causing goosebumps to sprout on her skin. Chloe lifted her head slowly, still feeling the effects of whatever Lexie had put in her tea. She picked herself up into a sitting position and looked around the room.
The bright light coming from the bulb in the center of the ceiling hurt her eyes at first, but she slowly adjusted to it. The room was all concrete walls and floor with only a bed in one corner. She stood slowly, her knees still shaky underneath her and began investigating for a way out.
The cold gray metal door was practically impenetrable, with no lock for her to be able to pick. There was no other way out of the room that had no windows at all. It was more like an airtight tomb than anything else.
"Geez, Lexie... I guess I didn't give you enough credit... Not bad at all."
It was clear that she was in one of the rooms underneath the DiMera mansion, probably meant to stay hear until Stefano returned and took care of her himself. She reminded herself that as bleak as this was, it could be a lot worse. As far as she knew, Stefano and Lexie had no idea that the ISA was ready to bust the DiMera organization wide open.
Chloe began walking around the room, checking for security cameras and listening devices. She had become an expert in such things since beginning her career as an international thief, and found nothing of the sort in this room. At least that was one thing on her side, it would give her a chance to figure out an escape without anybody being able to watch her or listen in.
The metal door opened with a clang and Chloe jumped in surprise. Two large thug-like men who were definitely working for Lexie walked in. They threw Brady's unconscious body into a heap at her feet and walked out quickly.
Lexie peeked around the door quickly and grinned at her. "You and your boyfriend have fun, sister... Because, as soon as father gets home, you'll both be dead."
Chloe's face fell with sadness as she tried to reply to her sister, but Lexie just slammed the door and locked it tight. Chloe fell to her knees and turned Brady over so that his head was resting in her lap. He was out cold, and there was a trickle of blood on his forehead from a physical struggle. He looked like he had fought hard, and Chloe began to cry softly over him.
"Oh Jesus... Brady... What did they do to you? I am so sorry..."
She shut her eyes tightly and pulled him farther into her lap so she could wrap her arms around him gently. For better or worse, she knew this would end soon. Both of them and their loved ones had been through so much misery in their lives, and Chloe swore to herself that she would put an end to all of it. She just had to think of a way to get out of here.