Closing In and Fanning Out

Stefano circled his messenger, a man who was going to take the brunt of his ire over the entire fiasco, "Dammit, you imbecile.... how could you have let him slip through your fingers? He's injured.... and the doctor drugged him... he should have been an easy mark!"

"Sir... I don't know for sure.... but he must have overheard a conversation, because he was ready for us when we showed up. He's tough as nails and the best shooter you've got, I was lucky to get away to tell you... he killed Alexie, Bret, and Rod."

He nodded, that much Dimera knew, and he thought about the reason that man's betrayal stung like no other. Uncharacteristically, he had actually allowed himself to care for John, in ways he had never cared before, almost as if he were a son, a kindred spirit who needed the older man's guidance and direction. Besides that, the man was his best operative, the best shot on any weapon he could name. John Black was the strongest, toughest, most highly skilled mercenary soldier he'd ever seen. Ignoring the pain it caused when he dwelled on it, Stefano asked the other pertinent question, "What about the woman.... who was she?"

Shaking his head, the hireling took a step backward, as if that could save him from the wrath of the master, "I don't know... I tried to get it out of Alexie, but he was too far gone... "

"Why didn't he tell me about her when he called?"

The messenger smiled in remembrance, "I don't know... maybe he had some kind of plans of his own... she was beautiful, sir..."

Instinct led Stefano to ask for details, "Describe her to me..."

His underling thought about it for a moment or two and then said, "Blond, and drop dead gorgeous Sir, a real babe....but classy... you know what I mean?"

A knowing smile crept across the dark features of his face as he nodded his understanding, and a strange light appeared in his eyes. Inexplicably, Stefano Dimera knew who the woman was, "Marlena.... he has Marlena Evans..." he said softly, barely audible to the man standing a few feet away.

Not sure whether he was going to be allowed to live, the silence making him nervous, his henchman stammered out a question, "Uh, Sir... is there... anything else you need, Sir... because if..."

"No, that will be all... just get out there and find him. If Alexie was willing to turn him over to me... he knows his time is running out, he might make some mistakes." As the man practically sprinted out of his office, Stefano smiled almost benignly, thinking, ' I shall have to remember to have him killed.... but at the moment, I have more important things to do.'

Walking across the darkened room, he turned on the stereo to play one of his favorite arias.... savoring the soulful sounds as he fantasized about that golden haired hazel eyed beauty, imagining what it would be like to touch her creamy white skin. Pouring himself a glass of Strega, he spoke to a photographic image he had memorized, "Ah Marlena....all these years I have watched you from afar....now at last you shall be mine. Soon, I will have the pleasure of your company as long as we both shall live.... ha ha ha!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shane Donovan stepped gingerly through the frame of the badly damaged door, surveying the carnage. Three men were dead, their blood splattered on the walls of what should have been a sanctuary from such brutal violence. In addition to the human cost, there was considerable destruction of property in the aftermath of a shootout, apparently involving his quarry, John Black.

He looked up from studying the crime scene, at the sound of a familiar voice, "We just missed them, Shane... the tip came in, we were on it immediately; this must have happened just before we arrived. There's no sign of Black or Dimera's people. But he was definitely here.... and it looks like the rumors on the street are true. He's been hit. We found some blood soaked bandages in the trash."

Slamming his hand down on a desk in front of him Shane expressed his frustration, "Damn... if we could just catch up with him, we might be able to help him as much as he can help us."

"Well, look on the bright side, Shane... at least now Black knows he has no allies in the Dimera organization." Pointing to the man closest to the door Jacques Anderson said, "This guy here... Father Alexie Romanowski.. word is... he was supposedly John's mentor in the ways of the Catholic Church, and the man he trusted most to help him when he was in trouble. If *he* gave Black up, then the man knows he's all alone against an empire, and he doesn't stand a chance in hell of making it out of France alive."

Shane nodded and added with a sigh that said things were looking up, "Good, then he's desperate.... that'll work to our advantage, if we can find him before Dimera's men do." Turning his attention back to the details of the scene, Shane noticed something shiny just under the edge of one of the couches. Reaching down to pick it up, he saw what it was. "A woman's earring.... now what's that doing here?" Shane was asking himself out loud when his local partner, came up behind him.

"What have you got there?"

"An earring.... what do you make of that?" The other man shook his head. "I don't know.... obviously, there was a woman here... but was it recently or a long time ago?"

One of the other men flipped on the television, having heard about a potentially relevant news item... The noise caught Shane's attention and the report intrigued him. "We've just learned that an American doctor has been reported missing by the International Society of Traumatic Stress which has been having its annual conference here in Paris. Doctor Marlena Evans was scheduled to give the keynote address at the conference yesterday morning, but she called in sick. Attempts to reach her later in the day to check on her were met with failure. Since that time, she has not been seen or heard from at the hotel in which she was staying, nor has she contacted her family in the United States. There was some type of a disturbance around one of the hotel's sparingly used service entrances, and one of the housekeepers was found dead. So far, hotel security, which has been downplaying the incident has not yet been able to establish any connection between the two events."

"Hmm.... what do you think? Coincidence.... Black is hurt and on the run.. he needs help. Somehow he finds out about this conference, sees her picture maybe, and forces the lady doctor to tend his wounds?"

Shane didn't answer; he just stood there fiddling with the earring while staring at the television screen and muttering, "Marlena... Oh, my God... it's Marlena..."

Finding himself slightly spellbound, Jacques managed to tear his eyes away from the image of a very beautiful female face to ask, "Shane, what is it? You know this woman?"

He nodded, but his voice sounded distant, as if his mind were somewhere else at the moment, "Yes... she's uh... she's the wife of someone who was very important to me... Roman Brady. Remember I told you, he was killed by Dimera...it happened a few months ago and now she turns up missing? The Brady's must be going out of their minds over this."

"Wait a minute, Shane! Do you think there's a connection here? Do you think Black took her... that he sought her out on purpose... knowing who she was?"

Shaking his head, the Englishman tried to work out some scenario whereby it was a total coincidence, but could not find one that was convincing. "I'm not sure what to think... but if he does....he might try to use her... to make peace with Dimera... thinking that if he hands her over, Stefano might let him live. It could be his only chance to avoid a slow painful death. Either that or living the rest of his life on the run and looking over his shoulder."

"Well, if he doesn't know.... we have to catch up to him before he has a chance to figure it out, or we'll lose all the leverage we've got, and she'll be in even more serious trouble than she is right now."

"Right... listen, Jacques... I have to call the Brady's... after I talk to them, I'll go through the crime scene with you and then head on over to her hotel. Alright?"

"Yes of course... I'll go talk to the lab boys... see if they've turned up anything yet."

"Sounds good...."

As Shane turned to look for a secure phone, Jacques tried to give him something to hold on to, saying firmly, "We're going to get him this time, Shane... Roman Brady's murderer won't go unpunished. "

"I certainly hope you're right, and I pray this Black character isn't the cold blooded killer his resume makes him out to be... in any case we have to get to him soon... and save Marlena. I owe it to her and to Roman."

As his Paris partner stepped away, something else occurred to him and he voiced it, "Oh... and Shane...I don't know if it'll do any good, but I'll do what I can to keep this part of it out of the media spotlight."

"I won't hold my breath.... they're like sharks in a feeding frenzy with this kind of a story."

His new friend breathed a knowing sigh and nodded his head, but said nothing further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The television was on in the Brady household, the Fish Market having closed up for the night, displaying images that nearly caused Shawn and Carolyn Brady to fall over in shock, even though they'd known part of the story for several hours now. It was so unlikely, so unreal, so bizarre and unfair all at the same time. "Oh Dear God… Shawn… how are they ever going to save her?" she said staring at images of Marlena plastered on the screen. She was reportedly being held hostage by a crazed gunman.

"I don't know darlin… I canna believe it's happening… first our Roman… and now this!"

Caroline was distraught, her faith strained to the maximum, "Oh Shawn… why.. why do these things happen? Poor Marlena… she must be so frightened… I pray he doesn't hurt her… or…worse..."

Grasping her shoulders firmly, her husband urged her to keep the faith, "No…we're not goin' ta think that way, Caroline…. She's going to survive this and come home to her babies…. God won't let the children grow up without both their parents… I just won't be believin' that!"

She nodded, fighting back the tears and trying to think positive despite the dire circumstances, "You're right… you're right.. it won't do any good to keep imagining the worst. We just have to keep praying that she'll be able to escape or that they'll capture him and she'll be free of that bastard!"

"He sounds like a horrible man… a thief and a killer for hire… I pray he won't hurt her!" Shawn replied as he took her into a protective embrace, wishing there were something he could really do for the mother of his grandchildren, the woman his son had loved with every part of himself.

Mentally preparing herself to go over to Saint Luke's Catholic Church at her first opportunity, Caroline, agreed, Yes… we just have to pray every day… that God will keep her safe."

They both whirled at the sounds of hurried activity behind them to see their son Bo hoisting a rather large black duffel bag over his shoulders. "Bo.. what in God's name do you think you're doing?"

Only slightly hesitant to meet their gaze, he wasted no time in telling them, "I'm going to Paris, Pop… That bastard Dimera killed my brother and I won't let one of his hired guns take Marlena from all of us. I'm going to go over there and find her. And if he so much as lays a hand on her… I swear… John Black is a dead man!"

His concerned parents spoke almost in unison, "No, Bo… let the ISA and the other authorities handle this. "

"Oh, right… like they've handled Dimera… no thanks!" Bo exclaimed angrily, while making sure he had all the items he needed in order to make the trip. " Ma.. Pop, there's no stopping me. I'm going to Paris… tonight!" he finished, zipping up his bag

When it was clear that there was nothing they could say or do to prevent him from leaving, Shawn heaved a heavy sigh and came up with the next best option, "Alright, son… but if you have to go… please, take someone with you. What about Abe… couldn't he go along?"

His determined son shook his head, explaining, "I called him, Pop… he can't… he tried to get a leave but he just couldn't get away. He's been named Captain in Chicago and he just can't go with me now. He was so sorry to hear about Marlena and he's contacting local law enforcement people he knows in Paris for me to hook up with when I get over there. He's also been in touch with the ISA… Shane blew this latest jewel and art theft operation wide open… he's on it… and I'm going to meet with him as soon as I can after I fly into Paris."

Hating to let him go but recognizing they had no choice, Caroline reminded their son of the pain they all had to face. Taking his right hand in hers, she urged him to take care, "Bo… we lost one son to these kind of people and we don't want to lose another.. please be careful and call us often. We're going to be worried sick about you… and Marlena."

"Don't worry… I’m coming back… with Marlena… And this Black guy, if that's even his real name.... believe me… he's gonna pay for what he's putting us through!"

They nodded and leaned in for a family hug before watching him walk out the door of the house that sat above the Brady Fish Market. Caroline began to cry and her husband drew her in closer, knowing that she was reviewing Roman's death and his funeral, just as he was, and praying they wouldn't have to plan another in the near future. "Oh, Dear God… watch over Bo as he travels to Europe. Keep Marlena safe until they can find her and bring her home. And, God.. please… cast judgement where it is due. Don't let that awful man get away with hurting people the way it seems he's doing. Let him be captured and make him pay for his crimes… for once, let justice prevail."