The knocking on the door is persistent and John pries open one bloodshot eye.
"Who is it?"
"John, it's Bo. Let me in man, I have that information you wanted."
John is up and pulling on his jeans almost before the words are out of Bo's mouth. He pulls open the door, trying to ignore the pounding headache that has settled in behind his eyes and wordlessly ushers Bo inside.
"You were right," Bo nods exhaustedly. He has been up all night drilling contacts for information and trying to separate truth from fabrication. "The old man is up to something all right."
"No kidding," John rubs cold fingers across his closed eyelids. "What did you find out?"
"As far as a I can work it out, and he's laid a lot of false trails, Stefano has a private jet on the tarmac at Salem Airport. The pilot has filed a flight plan for Europe. Leaving tomorrow night."
"So that's it then?" John feels his stomach sinking practically through the floor. "*Tomorrow night*?"
"Well whatever he's doing, it's tomorrow night." Bo shrugs, working his fingers over the stiff muscles in his neck. "But it's not necessarily on the jet. He's got a luxury yacht moored down river *and* a chopper scheduled to fly into Ridgecrest at midnight. And those are the ones that we know of for sure."
John looks at Bo, his eyes dark with anger and fear. "He's going to take her Bo. The old bastard is going to try and take her from me again... and I'm not sure I can stop it this time."
~
"Grace," Stefano comes up behind Grace as she looks idly at the display in the window of Ballistix. A white pair of hip hugging rio pants skim the hot pink stiletto sandals that she wears. The sandals match the hot pink tank top and her hair is pinned up on top of her head. "My dear, as always, you look stunning." He leers at her slightly. "Are you prepared for our imminent departure?"
Grace turns around, a smile shading her lips as she slides off her designer sunglasses. "Well, that rather depends, doesn't it?"
"On what, my dear?" Stefano takes the bag in her hand and they slowly walk through the mall together.
"On the *details* of our imminent departure." She trails her fingers across the toughened glass of the jewelry store window, her eyes registering the glitter of the diamonds behind it.
"Tomorrow night," Stefano touches her arm and she turns to look at him. "We will drive an hour south of Salem. There is a private airfield there. I have chartered a plane from there to New York. From there it is merely a commercial flight to Stuttgart."
"Commercial?" Grace looks distinctly unimpressed.
"It is the last thing John Black will be expecting," Stefano's lips stretch into a fleshy smile. "Before he realizes it, you will have slipped out of his fingers and he will not find us again."
"Good." Grace says stiffly. She has been edgy all morning and even this news does nothing to dissipate the anxiety that has been building inside her. "And the arrangements with the D.A.?"
"All under control, Grace," Stefano has an air of assurance about him that relaxes her slightly and she allows herself the luxury of a smile. "The wheels are in motion, you will not have to worry about the Salem Police department for much longer."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" They both turn at the sound of the voice and find a furious Sami glaring at them, her arms crossed in front of her. Grace says nothing, wondering how much of the conversation Sami has heard. "How could you talk to him as though nothing is wrong? How could you even look at him and not care how much he has hurt your family. What the hell is wrong with you Mom?" She doesn't wait for a reply, but turns back to Stefano. Taking a step towards him, she narrows steely eyes. "You stay the *hell* away from my family and if I ever so much as see you lay a hand on my mother again, I *swear* I will kill you myself."
"Ahhh," Stefano chuckles richly, "my dear Miss Brady, quite the little lioness these days. I see you inherited your sense of determination and fire from your parents."
"You see *nothing*, Stefano." Sami hisses. "You don't know the first thing about my family. All you see is your own twisted agenda." Her eyes shine with tears. "If there was any kind of justice in the world, you would be the one that was dead, not my father." She takes another step towards Stefano so that she is practically eyeball to eyeball with him. "I hope you rot in *Hell* for the things that you have done."
"Samantha, that is enough." Grace finally speaks up.
"Don't you *dare* try and defend him to me." Sami spins around to fix her furious glare on her mother. "I don't care if he's supposed to have turned over a new leaf. Stefano DiMera never does *anything* if there's nothing in it for him. *You* know that better than anybody."
She looks back at Stefano, who is watching them with a touch of amusement and she lets out an exclamation of frustration. Grabbing Grace's arm, she pulls her away from Stefano. When they are out of sight of him, Sami finally stops and faces her mother, her hands on her hips.
"What the hell is going on with you Mom?"
"I'm sorry?" Grace merely raises her eyebrows as she tucks her purse under her arm.
"I can't believe you. You act like..." Sami lets out a grunt of frustration as she eyes her mother. "I don't even know *what* you're acting like, it's too weird. And you're talking to *him*? Like he's just another friend you encounter at the mall?"
"Hardly, Samantha," Grace's voice is hard and cold.
"God, I feel as though I don't even know you any more. Belle called me the other night in tears because you haven't called her in two weeks. Two weeks, Mom. This is *Belle* we're talking about."
"I've been busy and I don't exactly need your censure on top of everything else that's going on in my life, Sami," Grace narrows her eyes. "If you feel like you don't know me then maybe it's time you take a good hard look at the way you treat other people and maybe you'd understand why they don't want to be around you any more."
"Oh hey Mom, people in glasshouses..." Sami returns angrily but after a moment, she softens and looks away. When she looks back, there is pain in her eyes. "Y'know, I thought we'd gotten our relationship back on track. Guess I was wrong huh?"
"Yeah," Grace wrinkles her nose, sarcasm heavy on every syllable, "guess you were."
Sami takes a deep breath, resisting the urge to turn and walk away. It's obvious that's the reaction her mother is trying to provoke, why she's not sure, but she won't give her the pleasure.
"I heard about what you're doing. Divorcing John I mean." She chews the inside of her lip for a moment. "Are you sure you're doing the right thing Mom? I mean, you guys love each other so much. I know John made a terrible mistake, sure but...."
"But *nothing*, Sami," Grace spits the words out swiftly and with an almost violent conciseness. Her lips are set in a thin line as she glares at Marlena's suddenly holier than thou daughter. "You wouldn't understand what John's betrayal did to our marriage. You're so ready to step up to the plate with a lie to further your own agenda but you never realized how they destroy any love and affection that exists between people. Well it's time somebody told you the truth, sweetheart." The endearment is twisted into something horrible as it rolls off Grace's tongue. "Lies destroy trust. They disintegrate every emotion they touch, and you Sami, have killed anything I ever felt for you. You might be my daughter, but you have the morals of a guttersnipe." The corner of her lips curl into an embittered smile. "I guess you get those along with your brains, from your father. So please don't talk to me about whether I am doing the right thing or not. My husband and my family have caused me nothing but grief and I'd divorce the lot of you if I could."
Sami can only stare at Grace, her eyes wide and two identical red spots burning on her cheeks. She feels as though all the breath has been sucked from her lungs and her stomach hurts. And then the tears prickle in her eyes, hot and embarrassing as Grace stares at her with scorn.
"Mom.. I...I.." she flounders for something to say, but there is nothing. There is nothing that can make this right, nothing that can even make it bearable. Turning, she flicks the tears from her eyes and runs blindly, not even knowing where she's headed. All she knows is that she can't be here. She can't face this. She can't....
Grace wears a satisfied smile as she watches the young woman dash from the mall. She turns when she hears Stefano's laugh and she slides her sunglasses back on.
"Find something amusing, my darling?"
"Grace, your perversity sometimes shocks even me," he takes her arm and they walk again. "Poor little Sami Brady. Such cruel words from her own mother."
"Well, they say the truth hurts," Grace shrugs languidly. "The patronizing little bitch had it coming."
"No doubt," Stefano nods.
Grace slows to a stop, an idea forming along with the wicked smile on her lips.
"Actually, there are a few of Marlena's so called friends and family around here who could do with hearing some home truths..." She lifts one eyebrow. "What say, since we're out of here tomorrow, you and I take in a little lunch. At the Brady Pub?"
~
"So, your guy will call if there is any more news?" It seems like the thousandth time John has asked that particular question and Bo nods tiredly.
"I can't do too much without tipping Abe off, but I have a couple of guys watching DiMera and his place. He won't be able to do too much without us knowing about it."
"And he's down here?" John looks around the busy mall.
"Somewhere, yeah." Bo nods, scanning the patrons with experienced eyes. "He won't be too far away."
John rounds the corner just before Bo but he pulls up short when a young woman runs straight into him.
"Woah, woah, wait up there." Without even being aware of it, a flicker of recognition passes through him and he places his hands on her shoulders. "Samantha?" She slowly raises her eyes to meet his, watery mascara smeared across her cheeks. "Sami, sweetheart, what's wrong?"
He quickly leads her to a bench and sits her down, motioning for Bo to get her some water from the nearby café. "Can you tell me what happened, Sami?"
Sami opens her mouth to say something, but seeing his concern, a strangled sob is all that escapes. She buries her face in her hands and allows the tears to fall as John folds an arm around her shaking shoulders.
It seems like an eternity later that Sami finally pulls herself together enough to lift her head. Wiping her face with her fingers, she merely seems to smudge the mascara further over her skin. She sniffs and looks sideways at John.
"Sorry," she ventures.
"Sorry? For what?" John frowns.
"For this." She waves her hands in the air as she tries to fight off more tears. "It's so dumb."
"Not if something upset you honey," John waits for Bo to pass her the water and a wad of napkins he's swiped from dotcom. "Look , you don't have to tell me if you don't want-"
"It's Mom," she blurts out as she shreds one of the napkins between her fingers. "I...." she looks angry with herself as she unsuccessfully fights the tears and she flicks her hand across her face in pure frustration. "I was only trying to help y'know?"
"What happened with your Mom?" Bo asks impatiently. He's silenced however, by a look from John as he slides onto the bench alongside Sami.
"Did Marlena say something to you, peanut?"
Sami blinks disconcertedly. "Uh... she was talking to Stefano. And then I ... I asked her if she was sure she was doing the right thing... leaving you, I mean." She takes a deep breath. "John, she was...." she shakes her head, her pained eyes wide. "She wasn't Mom at all. The things she said..."
"Listen to me Samantha," John's voice drops, "don't listen to her, okay? She's really mixed up at the moment and she doesn’t mean the things that she's saying."
"Aren't times of stress when how you really feel comes out?" Sami asks miserably, her whole demeanour practically begging John to argue with her.
"No," John shakes his head. "Times of stress are when you say the things you don't really mean. They're when you try and hurt people because you are hurting yourself. It's not fair Sami, but it's human nature, and your Mom, you're right, she isn't herself right now. Just cut her a little slack okay, and don't take her words to heart. The Marlena I know would never purposely hurt her children. Or anyone, for that matter."
That seems to give Sami cause for pause and she looks at him as she wipes the moisture from under her eyes. "You're worried about her."
"And you're a very perceptive young woman," John attempts a smile, but he doesn't quite pull it off. If *she* is going after members of Marlena's family now, who is next? "I love her, Sami."
"I know you do," Sami nods. "And I think if anyone can get through to her, John it has to be you."
"I'm glad you have such faith in me," he smiles ruefully.
"Someone has to, John," Sami replies, such a shivering urgency in her voice, John feels his stomach turn. "Someone has to or I think we're going to lose her."
~
"Well, well." Stefano and Grace stand just inside the Brady pub watching the amusing little scene unfold before them. Maggie and Caroline Brady are engaged in a heated discussion about Bo and Hope.
It is not long before the disagreement escalates into a fight and Maggie turns to storm out of the pub. It is then that she sees Grace standing next to Stefano. When she had last seen Marlena and John at Tuscany, she had not been privy to the circumstances that had preceded Hope's accident. Now she knew everything, including John and Hope's liaison in Hawaii and the fact that Hope had found Marlena with Bo on the boat.
But as much as her heart breaks for Marlena's pain, she cannot condone what she sees in front of her. Marlena in the company of the one man ultimately responsible for this whole nightmare.
"Marlena, what the hell is wrong with you?" she demands, her blazing temper barely below explosion point.
"Well good afternoon Maggie, it's nice to see you too." Grace's sweet reply is tempered with a good deal of sarcasm.
Maggie's eyes flash with anger at the cutting edge to Grace's words. "You know, I'm having a great deal of trouble understanding anything that's going on here, but you... with Stefano DiMera... after everything he's done to your family and mine." She shakes her head, her fiery red hair flicking across her shoulders with the force of her ire. "That about takes the cake."
"Dear Maggie," Stefano lays his hand possessively on Grace's arm and her lips twitch in amusement. "Why is it that everyone in this town is so very quick to judge?"
'*Quick*?" Maggie's eyes widen in incredulity. "You've spent twenty years toying with our lives, *tormenting* us and you think that's *quick*?" She turns her gaze back to Grace. "I don't understand you any more Marlena. We are your friends, we could help you through this."
"And how could you do that Maggie?" Grace asks scathingly. "You can barely say a civil word to anyone in the Brady family. Your *niece* was the one that whored herself for my husband, somehow I think that creates a conflict of interests, don't you?"
"My *niece*, is lying in the hospital." Maggie's face pales with barely suppressed fury. "They don't know if she will make it and you don't seem to care at all."
"That would be because I don't particularly," Grace replies airily. "I'd apologize for my lack of concern, but given that Hope screwed me over without the first thought, I don't feel particularly inclined to care about her wellbeing right now."
A chill runs through Maggie as she hears the steel behind Grace's words. The hazel eyes that are usually so warm and welcoming are now cold and calculating and Maggie has the sudden impression that she is looking into the face of a stranger.
"Marlena..." Her voice is hollow and clammy, sticking to the sides of her throat as she tries to spit the words out. "What is wrong with you? You're scaring me, this isn't like you at all."
"Your concern ... well it could be touching, but I really think it's somewhat hypocritical since the first thing you did when I walked in here was attack me." Grace's expression slides easily into an affronted grimace. "I don't need your judgements, Maggie. I don't need your anger and I sure as hell don't need your half-hearted attempts at friendship." She narrows her eyes, her pupils dilating into inky pools. "Get out of my sight."
Maggie bristles, her posture stiffening as she glares back at Grace and then without a word, she pushes past Stefano and slams the door of the pub behind her. Grace looks at Stefano and then up at the bar where Shawn and Caroline are watching her, disbelief etched on their faces.
And then, to everyone's amazement, she laughs.