Billie caught Lucas at the door before he even had a chance to close it. She didn’t knock, didn’t wait to be invited. She just walked in with that look she got when she had something to say and wasn’t about to be talked out of it. “What do you mean, Nicole isn’t coming home?
” Billie demanded. “She’s my wife,” Lucas shot back. “Not for long,” Billie said. “This so-called marriage is a joke, Lucas.
You bribed her into marrying you to get custody of Will. ”
“Oh, yeah? Really? ” Lucas laughed, but there was an edge to it.
“Is that why she’s at her apartment right now packing her bags to move in with me? ”
Billie didn’t back down. “You know, I wouldn’t plan your honeymoon yet. I just left Eric, and he’s determined to get her back.
Given the way those two feel about each other, I’d say you’re about to get dumped. ”
Lucas shook his head. Eric could do whatever the hell he wanted. He didn’t stand a chance.
“Nicole married me, Billie. ”
“Because you bribed her with a diamond the size of a golf ball,” Billie said. “What else did you give her, Lucas? Her own country?
A movie studio? ”
“I love her,” Lucas said. “I proposed to her, and she gladly accepted. ”
“Lucas, Nicole is in love with Eric.
”
“In his dreams,” Lucas said. “He’s got this ongoing fantasy, the poor deluded jerk. Nicole never had any intention of moving into that depressing little home with Eric, with some guy whose idea of a cocktail party is breaking out a six-pack. ”
“So you bribed her with champagne and caviar, and she went to the highest bidder?
”
“Nicole and I are happily married,” Lucas said. “We’re going to raise Will in this house as husband and wife as soon as we get him back. ”
Billie went still. “What are you talking about?
Where is Will? What happened? ”
“You don’t watch the news? ” Lucas said.
“Sami escaped from prison, and she took Will. That’s all right. We’re going to get him back. ”
“Sami escaped from prison?
Does Austin know? ”
“I thought Austin was involved at first,” Lucas said. “But it turns out it’s this crazy mountain lady named Tracey Simpson. Don’t worry about it.
The police got a great lead, and they’re going to track Sami down. ”
“And send her back to death row for a crime she didn’t commit? ”
Lucas didn’t flinch. “All I want is Will to get back here where he belongs.
With his dad and his new stepmom. ”
“And you have no regrets? ”
“No, why should I? I’m about to get everything I want.
”
Billie studied him for a long moment. “Well, if that’s true, then why do you look so miserable? Something is eating at you, Lucas. Could it be a guilty conscience?
”
“Why should I? ” Lucas said. “My life is great. At least it will be, when I get my son back.
”
“And it won’t bother you if Sami goes back to death row? ”
“Not in the least. ”
Billie narrowed her eyes. “You know, I’ve had this feeling for a long time that you and Mom knew more about Franco’s murder than you’re telling everyone.
”
“Even Roman is convinced the mob had a contract out on Franco,” Lucas said. “Austin said that idea originated with you and Mom. ”
“I admit, yeah, there is some substance to that,” Lucas said. “What about you?
You seduced Roberto into admitting there was a hit man, so you risked your life to get him to talk. ”
“I risked my life to get the truth,” Billie said. “Where is Mom, anyway? ”
“I don’t know,” Lucas said.
“The phone rang, and she left just before you got here. ”
Billie pressed. “Did she say where she was going? ”
“I didn’t ask.
”
Across town, Nicole stood in the doorway of her apartment with her arms crossed, trying to keep her voice steady. Eric stood on the other side, looking at her like he could see straight through every word she said. “Eric, you shouldn’t be here. ”
“We need to talk, okay?
” he said. “We’ve got to work this out. I don’t buy that you have feelings for Lucas. It was not your choice to marry him.
”
“Yes, it was,” Nicole said. “You’re just going to have to accept that. ”
“I’m not going to accept that, Nicole, because you’re not in love with Lucas. You love me.
Don’t deny that. ”
“Lucas is expecting me. I have to go. ”
“Nicole, I’m not done,” Eric said.
“What does he have on you? ”
“This was my choice. Why can’t you understand that? ”
“Because it doesn’t make any sense,” Eric said.
“Nicole, we are so right for each other. What about the promises we made? What about the future we planned? You said you’d marry me.
We were going to buy a house. We were going to have kids. ”
“That was your dream, Eric, not mine. ”
“Tell me the truth, Nicole.
Was it the money? Did Lucas bribe you? ”
Nicole looked away. “No, I didn’t do this for the money.
I did it because it’s what I wanted. ”
“Like hell,” Eric said. “Look at you, Nicole. You can’t even stare at me.
You can’t even face me. You can’t look me in the eyes because you know I will see right through you. The truth is, I’m the one you want. ”
“Eric, please, don’t do this.
”
“Don’t do what? Fight for you, for the future that we had planned together? I’m not going to walk away, Nicole. I love you, and I know that you feel the same about me.
”
He stepped closer. “Tell me you didn’t feel something when we kissed. You could never kiss Lucas like that. ”
Nicole’s voice hardened.
“Eric, you want to know the truth? You want to know what’s going on? I will tell you, and I will tell you everything. ”
She took a breath and looked him in the eyes.
“I was trying to spare your feelings, but you won’t give up, so I have to level with you. You’re a sweet kid, and we had some good times together, but that’s as far as it goes. I never meant it to last forever. ”
“Then why did you say you’d marry me?
”
“Wake up, Eric. You’re not the man I want to be with. Lucas is. ”
“No, no, these are all lies, Nicole.
”
“The bottom line is, Eric, you can’t give me the life I want, the life I need,” Nicole said. “This is the real me, but you are so caught up in your fantasy. You want me to be some boring suburban housewife. Well, that’s never going to happen.
I’m not going to be picking up the kids from school in a minivan. No, thank you. ”
“Why are you twisting everything I said? ”
“Face it, Eric, real life is not a fairy tale,” Nicole said.
“It is full of painful reality. And the sooner you accept that, the better off you’ll be. ”
“Well, my reality is I love you. ”
“Well, that’s your problem,” Nicole said.
“I am married to Lucas, and that’s the way it’s going to be. I hated hurting you, but being nice wasn’t cutting it. So do me a favor, okay? Back off.
I don’t want you in my life anymore. My husband is waiting for me. ”
Eric’s voice cracked. “Nicole, don’t do this.
”
“I have to go. ”
She stepped past him, then stopped, her back still to him. “Oh, Eric, I am so sorry. But someday you will realize that I did this for your own good.
I love you, and I always will. ”
Then she was gone. Eric stood there for a long moment, then walked into a bar and took a stool. “Give me a beer,” he said.
“Keep them coming. ”
The bartender looked at him. “That bad, huh? ”
“Couldn’t get much worse.
”
Eric stared at his glass. “That wasn’t you, Nicole. I know that wasn’t you. ”
Back at Lucas’s house, the doorbell rang.
Lucas opened it with a wide grin. “Aha! Welcome home, Mrs. Roberts,” he said.
“Wait. We’re going to do this the right way. ”
He scooped Nicole up and carried her across the threshold. “It’s all right.
”
“I really don’t think this is necessary,” Nicole said. “Nothing but the best for my new wife,” Lucas said. “The red carpet treatment. ”
Billie was standing in the living room, arms crossed.
“I’m surprised you showed up, Nicole. ”
“Why not? ” Nicole said. “This is my home now.
”
“Billie’s been talking to Eric,” Lucas said. “They don’t think our marriage is real. They think I forced you into it. ”
“Lucas is my husband,” Nicole said.
“This is where I belong. Do you have a problem with that, Billie? ”
“You’re the one with the problem, Nicole. ”
The phone rang.
Lucas picked it up. “Roberts residence. When? Are you sure he’s okay?
All right, all right. Sami’s back. ”
Nicole frowned. “Back where?
”
“She escaped from prison, and she kidnapped Will,” Lucas said. “But don’t worry about it. They caught her before she left the country. Will’s going to be safe.
I got to go pick him up. ”
He was already heading for the door. “Don’t you think you should give them time to say goodbye? ” Billie said.
“Sami has caused enough trouble, Billie,” Lucas said. “Just stay here. Make yourself comfortable, okay? I’ll be back with Will.
We’re going to make a great family. ”
Billie watched him go. “There’s going to be nothing great about it. ”
At the police station, Roman led Sami through a gauntlet of reporters shouting her name, cameras flashing.
He put his body between her and the crowd. “Stand away! Back off! ”
Abe was there too, trying to push the reporters back.
“I told you I wanted this kept quiet,” he muttered to Carson. “Whose idea was this media circus? ”
Carson, the district attorney, smiled for the cameras. “As district attorney, I represent the people, and the people have a right to be informed.
”
“This has nothing to do with freedom of the press,” Abe said. “This is about your grandstanding. You’re using this case to help your political career, threatening a young woman with execution to prove you’re tough on crime. ”
Carson ignored him and spoke into the microphones.
“Earlier this evening, convicted murderer Samantha Brady escaped from the state’s maximum security facility, death row. I am pleased to announce that Ms. Brady has been apprehended and is being transported back to Salem as we speak. ”
A reporter shouted, “Was anyone injured in the prisoner’s escape?
”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Carson said. “A prison guard was almost killed in a struggle with this cold-blooded killer. ”
Abe cut in. “The guard is in stable condition.
”
“I’ll handle this, Commander,” Carson said. “Sami Brady was in the prison hospital when she escaped. She injected a prison guard with a dangerous and powerful drug. The young woman, a mother of two, could have died.
”
“Is the state going to press further charges? ”
“Ms. Brady is clearly a danger to society,” Carson said. “She was sentenced to die for the brutal murder of Franco Kelly.
It is the will of the people that she be executed, and as district attorney, it is my job to ensure that justice is carried out just as swiftly as possible. ”
Inside the station, Sami sat with Will asleep in her arms. Roman was beside her. She looked up at him with tired eyes.
“What’s going to happen to me, Dad? What’s going to happen to Will? Dad, why aren’t you answering me? ”
“I think you’ve got a pretty good idea,” Roman said.
“Tell me anyway. ”
“You know you’re in more trouble than you were before,” Roman said. “I don’t know how else to put it, honey. ”
“I’ve already lost custody of my son,” Sami said.
“I’m going to spend the rest of my life in a jail on death row. How could anything be worse than that? ”
“I petitioned the judge to deny all appeals,” Carson said, walking over. “He’ll get back to me tonight with a ruling.
”
Abe stepped in. “Palmer, you can’t rush this. ”
“Samantha Brady has evaded justice for the last time,” Carson said. “If the judge agrees, she will be executed as soon as she returns to death row.
”
Sami turned to her father. “You know, I don’t care what happens to me. All I care about is my son. ”
“I know that,” Roman said.
“You took a big risk for him, broke out of jail, put your life on the line. ”
“I’d do anything to keep Will safe. ”
“And I’d do the same thing for you, Sami. You know that.
”
Sami’s voice broke. “What would I do without you? ”
“We’re going to get through this, sweetheart,” Roman said. “We are going to get through this.
And I got Abe to keep your escape under wraps, so when we get back to the station, at least you won’t have to deal with any reporters. ”
But Carson was already calling for Sami’s immediate execution. Roman turned to Abe, his face dark. “What the hell is he talking about?
He can’t do that. Sami’s got appeals. ”
“Not anymore she doesn’t,” Carson said. “I just spoke to Judge Wells.
He’s issued a death warrant for the execution of Samantha Brady. At midnight tomorrow, Sami will die by lethal injection. ”
Roman lunged. “You bastard.
”
Abe grabbed him. “Buddy, hey, take it easy. Take it easy. It’s all right.
”
Roman was breathing hard. “Roberto is going to come out of that coma and give us the name of the hit man who killed Franco. He has to. ”
At the hospital, Rosa sat by her brother’s bedside, holding his hand.
Lexie, the doctor assigned to Roberto’s case, came in and looked at the monitors. “Ms. Barelli, hi, I’m Dr. Carver,” Lexie said.
“I’ve been assigned to your brother’s case. ”
“He has held my hand very tight, doctor,” Rosa said. “I’m sure he knew my voice. ”
“Well, sometimes comatose patients do react to the presence of a loved one,” Lexie said.
“Does that mean that he can regain consciousness? ”
“I can’t make any promises,” Lexie said. “But it could be a positive sign, yes. ”
Rosa’s eyes filled with hope.
“Perhaps God has heard our prayers. We can’t lose Roberto. Mama and I, we need him so much. ”
Kate Roberts appeared in the doorway.
“Don’t you worry, Rosa. I’ll take care of your brother. ”
“Rosa, this is very important,” Kate said, lowering her voice. “You can’t tell anyone, not even Dr.
Carver, about our agreement. ”
“All I worry about is Roberto,” Rosa said. “I know that, I know that,” Kate said. “And you can trust me.
You can trust me to take care of you and your mother. But you must do as I say. ”
Rosa hesitated. “But Captain Brady offered to protect Roberto from the Moroni family.
”
“Rosa, I told you before,” Kate said. “Captain Brady cannot be trusted. If he thinks Roberto has broken the law, he’ll throw him right in jail. And with Roberto behind bars, who’s going to take care of you and your sick mother?
Believe me, Captain Brady will not come through for you. The only person you can trust now is me. ”
Rosa nodded slowly. “If Roberto wakes up, I will call you first.
Not Roman Brady. ”
Kate smiled. “Good girl. ”
When Kate left, Lexie pulled the chart.
Marla, a nurse, came up beside her. Lexie’s face had gone still. “Marla, this is what I was afraid of. ”
“Yeah,” Marla said.
“I’ve seen this in coma patients before,” Lexie said. “Sheer will gives them the strength to revive long enough to say goodbye to family and loved ones. ”
“How much time do you think he has? ”
“It’s only a matter of hours now.
”
In his hospital bed, Roberto’s hand twitched, then tightened on Rosa’s. His eyes moved beneath his lids. He was trying to wake up. And when he did, he had one name to give, the name of the man who had really killed Franco Kelly.
But Kate Roberts had already made sure that name would never be spoken out loud. Later that night, Roman approached Roberto’s room and leaned in close. “I grant you immunity from prosecution, you give me the name of the hit man that killed Franco,” he said. “I will make sure you get into our witness protection program.
”
Roberto’s eyes flickered open. His voice was a rasp. “Sami shot Franco. ”
“No,” Roman said.
“You know that’s not true. You know who really did it. Tell me the name. ”
But Roberto’s eyes had already closed again.
The machine beeped. Rosa was in the doorway, tears running down her face. “He spoke,” she said. “He said a name.
”
Roman turned to her. “What did he say, Rosa? ”
Rosa looked at him, then looked away. “I don’t know,” she whispered.
“I don’t remember. ”
She was lying. And Kate Roberts knew it. Meanwhile, John and Marlena were at home, surrounded by the quiet of the evening.
John had his arms around her. “It’ll keep us strong,” he said. “Vowing to love each other for the rest of our lives. I think that’s what we need right now.
”
“I know,” Marlena said. “But I’m just not sure it’s the right time. ”
“The right time? When’s the right time?
” John said. “How long do we have to keep waiting around to start our future? I need to move on with my life. I can’t keep dwelling on the past, searching for a part of myself that doesn’t even exist anymore.
I am committed to you, to being your husband. You make me complete. ”
Marlena looked at him. “I need you, too.
”
“Well, then will you marry me? ”
“Yes, I will. ”
“Will you marry me tomorrow? ”
Marlena smiled.
“Yes, I will. ”
“That’s my girl. ”
He pulled her close. “And when Sami comes home, we’ll do it right, okay?
We’ll have a big church wedding and a huge reception and a marching band, and we’ll let go a thousand white doves to celebrate her freedom. ”
Marlena laughed softly. “I’ve got to go be with her right now. Thank you for staying with the children.
”
“Yeah,” John said. “You still hang in there, okay? ”
After she left, John stood alone in the room, and the air around him seemed to shift. A voice he almost recognized spoke inside his head, soft and insistent.
Memories that weren’t his own rose up, images of a woman in a castle, of a life he had never lived, of a passion he had never felt. “Isn’t it possible,” the voice whispered, “that your relationship with Princess Gina was so much more than you ever thought it was? What if we were more than simply friends? These are real memories of real love.
Yours and Gina’s. Just let yourself feel it, please, John. ”
John shook his head. “I can’t go back there.
I got to marry you tomorrow, Doc. I got to forget all about Princess Gina. ”
But the voice inside him was already starting to win. The phone rang at Gina’s apartment.
She picked it up. “Hello. ”
“Hope, it’s John,” he said. “John, hi,” Gina said, a smile creeping into her voice.
“I’m so glad to hear from you. ”
“Look, I wanted you to know that Doc and I have decided to get married right away,” John said. “Wedding’s tomorrow. Hope, are you there?
”
Gina’s face hardened. “I will not let that happen,” she said to the dead line. She set the phone down and dialed another number. “I’ve got to get Rolf to bring back the old John Black,” she murmured.
“I’ve got to. ”
Across town, Bo stood in Vivian’s foyer, watching the party around him. He wasn’t there to socialize. He was there for answers.
He’d left Gina’s apartment an hour ago, after she’d told him to be patient, to give her time. But he knew better. The woman he loved was slipping away, turning back into that princess persona she kept hiding behind. “I never wanted to control you, Hope,” he’d told her.
“And I never will. All I want to do is love you. I want to hold you in my arms and show you how much. ”
“That was a long time ago,” Gina had said.
“I know how much I hurt you when I married Billie,” Bo said. “Believe me, that is something I know. But there has got to be a way to get past this, because you are the only woman I will ever love. What is it you’re not telling me?
”
Gina had looked away. “Bo, it’s going to work out. I’m sure it’s all going to work out. Just be patient with me.
”
“Patient as in don’t call me, I’ll call you. ”
“It’s going to take some time. ”
“Time,” Bo said. “I’m having trouble here.
I don’t see why you don’t blame DiMera for this. If he hadn’t kidnapped you and turned you into Gina, we wouldn’t have been separated for four years, and I never, never would have gone near Billie. ”
“But you did, and it happened, and now we have to deal with that. ”
“Yeah, well, I’ll tell you how I’ll deal with it,” Bo said.
“I’ll find out why he turned you into Gina, what you two did together. And then he’s going down for good. And we can put the past where it belongs, in the past. And you and I can be together.
”
Gina had finally softened. “All I want, all I want is to be with the man that I love, that I have always loved. ”
“You will be, Fancy Face,” Bo said. “Believe me, you will be.
”
Now, standing in Vivian’s party, Bo scanned the room. “This is where I’ll find out what I need to know,” he said under his breath. “Nothing’s going to stop me from getting Hope back. Nothing.
”
Back at the police station, Lucas arrived to pick up Will. Sami held the boy close, her face pale. “No, Lucas, no. ”
“Hey, Sami,” Lucas said.
“I am taking Will home now. ”
“You are not getting your hands on him. ”
“Are you forgetting? ” Lucas said.
“The judge gave me sole custody, remember? ”
Marlena put a hand on Sami’s arm. “Sami, don’t let it go for now. ”
Sami turned to her mother, her eyes wet.
“Lucas, I will never, ever let you get your slimy hands on my son. ”
But Lucas was already reaching for the boy. Will woke up, confused, and reached for his mother. Sami clutched him, but Lucas pulled him away.
“You’ll see him again soon,” Lucas said. “I promise. ”
Sami collapsed into Marlena’s arms as Lucas carried Will out of the station. Roman stood at the window, watching, his fists clenched.
“Roberto is my only hope now,” Sami whispered. “No,” Roman said. “We are going to find a way. Nobody’s giving up here.
”
Carson appeared in the doorway. “A secure vehicle is waiting outside to take Sami back to death row. ”
Marlena stood up. “Does she have to go right away?
”
“Her mom just got here,” Roman said. “Give us a break. ”
“Five minutes,” Carson said. “I’ll wait outside.
”
“Get rid of your reporter friends while you’re at it, too,” Roman said. Abe came over, his face apologetic. “Marlena, look, I’m just so sorry about everything. ”
“That’s all right, Abe,” Marlena said.
“You listen to me right now. It’s going to be all right. We’re going to find a way to make it all right. ”
Roman nodded.
“Absolutely. Nobody’s giving up here. Roberto is going to come out of that coma and give us the name of the hit man who killed Franco. ”
At that moment, in the hospital, someone walked into Roberto’s room with a needle and a pair of gloves.
The beeping of the life support machine slowed, then staggered, then stopped for a long, terrible second before a flat line cut across the monitor. Kate Roberts came out of the room and found Rosa in the hallway. She put a hand on her shoulder. “Rosa, I am so sorry.
He’s gone. ”
Rosa’s knees buckled. “No. No, we can’t lose Roberto.
Mama and I need him so much. ”
“I know that,” Kate said. “That’s why I have offered you my support. You won’t ever have to worry about money again.
But you must promise me that you will not talk to Captain Brady about anything Roberto said. ”
Rosa looked up at her with tears streaming down her face. “He didn’t say anything,” she said. “He didn’t say anything at all.
”
Kate nodded slowly. “Good. Good girl. ”
The next morning, Marlena got the call.
Roberto was dead. The only witness who could have cleared Sami was gone. She stood in the kitchen, the phone still in her hand, when John came up behind her. “What is it?
”
“Roberto,” Marlena said. “He died last night. ”
John was quiet for a moment. “Then there’s nothing left,” he said slowly.
“No witness. No appeal. No hope. ”
“No,” Marlena said, her voice hardening.
“We don’t give up. We don’t ever give up. ”
At the hospital, Lexie pulled the chart and shook her head. “He was getting better,” she said to Marla.
“His vitals were stabilizing. This doesn’t make sense. ”
Marla looked at the chart. “I went in to check on him at midnight.
He was fine. An hour later, he was gone. ”
Lexie looked at her. “You need to run a tox screen.
Now. ”
Marla nodded and hurried out. Lexie stood over the empty bed, frowning. Someone had wanted Roberto silenced.
And they had gotten what they wanted. At the station, Roman was led into Carson’s office. The district attorney was waiting for him with a thin smile. “Captain Brady,” Carson said.
“I understand you’ve heard the news about your star witness. ”
Roman said nothing. “Without Roberto Barelli,” Carson said, “there is no evidence linking anyone other than Sami Brady to Franco Kelly’s murder. There is no witness.
There is no appeal. There is no reprieve. ”
“You son of a bitch,” Roman said. “Your daughter will be executed at midnight tonight,” Carson said.
“I suggest you say your goodbyes. ”
Roman walked out without another word. He found Sami in a holding cell, Will’s little jacket still clutched in her hands. “Dad?
” she said, looking up at him. Roman sat down across from her. His face was stone. “Sami, I need you to listen to me.
”
“What is it? ”
“Roberto died last night,” Roman said. “He never woke up. He never told anyone what he knew.
”
Sami stared at him. The color drained from her face. “Then there’s no one left. No one who knows the truth.
”
“We’re not done yet,” Roman said. “We are not done. ”
“It’s over, Dad,” Sami said quietly. “It’s over.
At midnight tomorrow, I’m going to die for something I didn’t do. And there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. ”
Roman reached through the bars and took her hand. “I will find a way, Sami.
I swear to you, I will find a way. ”
Sami shook her head. “Just promise me one thing. Promise me you’ll take care of Will.
Promise me he’ll know I fought for him until the very end. ”
“I promise,” Roman said, his voice cracking. “Good,” Sami whispered. “Then I’m ready.
”
Outside, dawn was breaking over Salem. The first fingers of light crept across the city, touching the police station, the hospital, the houses where Nicole had packed her bags and Eric had emptied his bottle and Lucas had tucked Will into bed. At midnight, Sami Brady was scheduled to die. But in a small room at the hospital, Lexie held a lab report in her hand, her face pale.
“It wasn’t natural,” she said to Roman, who had just walked in. “Roberto didn’t die of his injuries. He was given a lethal dose of potassium chloride. Someone killed him.
”
Roman went very still. “Who? ”
“I don’t know yet,” Lexie said. “But I’m going to find out.
”
Roman looked at the report, then out the window at the morning light. “So there is someone else out there,” he said quietly. “Someone who knew Roberto could clear Sami. Someone who needed him dead.
”
“We’re going to find them,” Lexie said. “What time is it? ” Roman asked. “Six in the morning.
”
“Eighteen hours,” Roman said. “I’ve got eighteen hours to prove my daughter is innocent, or she dies for a murder she didn’t commit. ”
He walked out of the hospital with the lab report in his hand. Somewhere out there, the truth was hiding.
And Roman Brady was going to find it before midnight struck.