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Post by unavitasegreta on Mar 31, 2015 7:52:42 GMT -5
So much is happening! I love how you keep the action and drama going non-stop. That makes it fun and soapy. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow!!
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Post by fluffysmom on Mar 31, 2015 9:38:08 GMT -5
I'm glad that Hope and Rafe are putting the pieces together. Bev helped them even though she didn't say much.
I liked Eve and Jennifer's interaction.
I wonder if Marissa will go through with the reenactment.
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Post by André DiMera on Mar 31, 2015 12:38:37 GMT -5
I love it! There is so much action and drama! This is great! Especially Hope and Rafe putting things together!
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Post by Kpatch on Mar 31, 2015 15:49:13 GMT -5
Eve is so overprotective it's ridiculous. I kind of like knowing that Paige was in no big hurry to get back from the pharmacy. But … I hope she's okay!
It's so refreshing to see the police actually doing their job!
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Post by heroicmuse on Apr 1, 2015 5:57:36 GMT -5
Cole paced back and forth. “I dunno, man. This sounds like a bad idea. I mean, if we get caught, we’re both gonna do federal time, and we won’t see the light of day til we’re like, too old for life to be worth it.”
“You’re not getting cold feet on me, are you?” Jeff crossed his arms. “Come on, dude. You weren’t worried about getting caught when we started the robberies.”
“That was different. This… I dunno, man. Paige isn’t like Bev. Anything happens to her, we’ll have half of Salem on our butts, eager to get a piece of us. Plus I thought you wanted to score with her, man. Doing this’ll ruin your chances, won’t it?”
“That’s for me to worry about!” Jeff snapped. “What, you’re gonna turn tail on me now? You and that girl of yours?”
“Dude! Haven’t I been at your side this whole time? Look, I don’t care about Paige. She’s just a stuck up loser who used to date another loser. I’m just saying, is she worth the risk, man?”
“Sorry.” Jeff took some deep breaths. “I’m a little on edge these days.”
“We can fix that pretty easily. We have those joints we took off Bev.”
“Nah.” Jeff curled and uncurled his fists. “I’ll be okay. And yeah, she’s worth the risk, cause if we can pin this on JJ… he’ll lose his girl and his freedom all at once. But all you have to know, dude, is there’s a lot of money in this, a lot more than we got out of those stupid little robberies. Now are you in or not?”
Cole’s eyes darted back and forth. “Dude, stop being so paranoid. I’m on your side, I swear.”
“You’d better be. Because remember, if I go down, so do you… and so does your girl. Speaking of which, go meet her. It’s time to put things in motion.” Jeff handed Cole the prepaid phone. “I’ll be right behind you… so you’d better remember your job.”
Cole took the phone. “I’m cool, dude.”
“Good.” Jeff cracked open another beer and handed it to Cole. “Take a sip to bolster up your courage, then get out of here.” Cole downed the beer, then swung his backpack over his shoulder. Jeff said, “One more thing, Cole. Girls come and go, you know? You don’t owe anything to the one you got. If she gets out of hand, remember that.”
After brushing her teeth, Marissa opened the pill bottle and took out a pill. It looked so tiny in the palm of her hand. She shook her head and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her hair was stringy and there were dark circles under her eyes. She glanced down at the pill and said, softly, “Can you really fix all this, tiny little pill?” She filled her water glass and downed the pill.
After she had stood up in class against psychiatric drugs, Marissa thought at least some people would thank her or agree with her, but when class was dismissed everyone shuffled off without a word. For the next few days, it seemed like everyone was avoiding her, though maybe it was her imagination. If she sat down at a table in the cafeteria, people got up. In class, she was always surrounded by empty seats. In the dorm, she felt like she was always alone in the elevator, always alone in the hall, and even the RA didn’t answer her door when Marissa knocked on it.
Marissa looked in the mirror again. Tears were rolling down her face, tears with no feelings attached. Stupid me, she thought, staring into the mirror. Stupid, ugly me thinking JJ Deveraux--or anybody--would ever want to do anything with me. She knocked a bunch of stuff off her counter; her makeup container shattered, spreading powder all over the floor. Marissa stepped in the powder, not caring, as she headed to bed.
“Here,” Cole said, handing Bev the phone Jeff had given him. The trees cast a shadow over Bev’s face so that he could barely see her reaction. “Hope you’re happy with a basic phone, cause that’s all you’re getting. Now we need you to make a call.”
“Who?” Bev flipped the phone open, then closed it again.
“Paige.” Cole giggled. “Seems you’re in trouble and she’s the only one who can help you.”
Bev’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“None of your business.” Cole scowled. “Don’t make me remind you of our deal, Bev.”
“I’m just asking. I like to know what I’m getting into.”
Cole advanced towards Bev. “Look, bitch,” he said, “the only reason you’re not locked up in my apartment right now is cause you put on a good act for Jeff, said you would help us get certain people where they needed to be. Well, we need Paige to come to this park tonight. And that’s all you need to know, understand?”
Bev backed up a step. “And what if I say no?”
“You don’t want to do that, Bev,” Cole said. He reached out and ran his hands through her hair. “Come on baby, don’t hurt yourself this way. Just do what you’re told, no questions asked, okay?” Bev bit her lip and Cole said, softly, “If you were to disappear, nobody would miss you, not even that loser friend of yours. Jeff would be free to do whatever he wanted to you. So it’ s better you just go along with us. Besides, since when does your heart bleed for Paige? Like you’ve always said, she’s a stuck up bitch who has it coming.”
Bev hesitated. The right thing to do was… hell, there was no right thing anymore. She should have told the cops everything, but what good would it have done anyway?
“You’re right,” Bev said. “Paige isn’t worth anything. Give me the number.”
Sally and Nicole were bent over Sally’s computer, looking at something, when JJ came in. “What’s up?” he asked. “More dog pictures?”
Nicole smiled, but she said, “Not this time, unfortunately.”
“Someone out there doesn’t like you, or doesn’t like that you were hired,” Sally told JJ. “Ever since we brought you on this morning, suddenly our inbox has been flooded with anonymous tips about all sorts of crazy things, and we have to read through every single one of them to make sure we don’t miss anything legitimate. Come here and I’ll show you.”
JJ came over to the computer. Sally showed him her screen, which was full of emails marked Response to Tip Form. She clicked on one to open it. “As you can see, it says the tipster is anonymous and it’s really vague. ‘Salem’s not as sleepy as you think. Come to Horton Town Square and you’ll see.’ That sort of thing.”
“And you don’t - “
“We,” Nicole corrected him. “You’re part of the team now, remember? And no, we get some of this sort of crap every day but nothing ever approaches the volume we’ve gotten today. Someone wants to overwhelm the system, probably in the hopes you’ll get bored enough to walk out on us. Which you’re not going to do, right?”
“No way.” JJ sat down next to Sally. “So we really have to read these? I mean, can’t we delete them and just start again?”
“Don’t let Miles hear you suggest that we shouldn’t take every anonymous email seriously,” Sally told him. “He’ll think you’re trying to take shortcuts and throw a fit. And besides that, there’s no way to tell whether or not these tips are worthwhile til we read them. So even though it might take all night, we gotta sit here and sift through them.”
JJ bit his lip as he read the first one. “Give you three guesses who’s sending these.”
“Of course it’s Jeff,” Nicole said. “That’s the other reason I want you to help us.” She sat down on the edge of the desk. “People like Jeff will do whatever they can to try to make you miserable. I’m sure your mom would say just ignore them, but in the real world, that just makes things worse.”
“I noticed,” JJ agreed.
“I’m sure you’re as sick of living in the bullying capital of the free world as I am,” Nicole told him. “Think of this as standing your ground and maybe you’ll actually fool yourself into liking it. Plus, the good news is, when idiots like Jeff start focusing on making your life miserable, they forget to be careful. Somewhere in all this garbage he sent today, he told us something you can use for a major exclusive and he doesn’t even know it.”
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Post by fluffysmom on Apr 1, 2015 9:41:49 GMT -5
I'm worried about Paige, Marissa and Bev. I hope Nicole, Sally and JJ can find the clue they need to stop Jeff.
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Post by Kpatch on Apr 1, 2015 11:59:45 GMT -5
I'm worried about what they're planning to do to Paige too. Okay, this time Marissa tugged at my heartstrings. I hope the medication helps her. Ooh Sally said a whole paragraph's worth of stuff. Woohoo. It's fun to see Nicole in an actual work setting doing her job! Great chapter heroicmuse. |
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Post by heroicmuse on Apr 2, 2015 6:33:50 GMT -5
Paige’s phone rang just as she got into the lobby. Dammit Mom, I’m coming, she thought, pressing the up button before she picked up. “Yeah?”
“Is this a bad time?” Bev asked. She sounded like she was holding back tears.
“Why are you calling me?” Paige demanded.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” Bev said, and she was definitely crying. “I know we’re not friends or anything, and that’s all my fault, but I don’t have anywhere else to turn.”
“What’s wrong?” Paige was impatient but softening.
“I don’t have anybody,” Bev said, pouring on the tears. “That’s why I was so jealous of you when you were with JJ. Anyway, after I left today I went to my dad’s and he wouldn’t even talk to me, and…” Bev sobbed… “and I realized all of a sudden my life is a big mess and...and I just think it might be best if I end it all.”
Paige squeezed the phone. “Where are you?” she asked.
“I’m… I’m, oh God, I don’t know… I’m in Riverfront Park… just walking and walking…”
“Stay right there,” Paige said. “I know we’re not really friends or anything, but I’m coming.” She got off the phone, texted her mom, and went in the other direction.
JJ couldn’t help letting out a sigh as he clicked on yet another tip email.
“Nothing juicy yet, huh?” Sally asked. Nicole had gone to the studio, as it was time for her broadcast, so she and JJ were alone in the office.
“Nope. The guy can’t even be creative in his pranking us. These are all the same. ‘Expose the underbelly of Salem in Horton Town Square.’ ‘Expose the underbelly of Salem in Riverfront Park.’ How stupid does he think we are?”
“About as stupid as he is,” Sally remarked. “I’m sorry you have to spend your first evening with us doing the garbage work. I promise it’ll get better once you pay your dues.”
“I don’t get it.”
Sally smiled at JJ. “That’s an industry term. Basically the lowest one on the totem pole--that’s you, in case you were wondering--has to do all the not-so-fun stuff for a while. But once you prove yourself, you’ll move up some and leave this all behind. I won’t be surprised if by summer Nicole has you preparing the broadcasts or even going on the air with her.”
“On the air?” JJ sounded surprised.
“Does that make you nervous?” Sally asked. “It’s okay if it does. That’s why I’m back here all the time instead of on air myself. I have terrible stage fright.”
JJ deleted another couple of bad tips, hoping Sally didn’t notice that he’d deleted two instead of just one. “It’s not that. It’s just, I wasn’t planning on it. I mean, maybe with my guitar someday… but I know I’m probably not good enough for that.”
“So you’re a musician?” Sally asked. “Very cool.”
“I mess around with the guitar a little.”
Sally nodded. “Well, tell you what, JJ. You do all of these properly--and that means reading every single one--and I’ll hook you up with some people on the entertainment side. Let’s see if we can’t get you and that guitar on the stage after all.”
“Really?” JJ’s eyes were wide.
“Mmm hmm. But you gotta hold up your end. That means, no more deleting without reading. Remember, you gotta pay your dues.”
JJ slumped down in his seat, but he opened the next tip. “Whoa…” he said as he read it. His mouth dropped open. “Sally?” he said, trying to sound normal. “Uh, I think you’d better read this one.”
Cole grinned as Bev hung up the phone. “So she’s on her way?”
Bev wiped her eyes and nodded.
“Good,” Cole said. He looked at Bev, and his eyes were full of admiration. “That was impressive. I wasn’t sure you had it in you, baby, but you even fooled me for a second.” He leaned forward like he was going to kiss Bev.
Bev backed away. “I’ve done your dirty work. Can I go now?”
“I don’t think so,” Cole scowled. “You’ve been giving me a lot of attitude lately, and it makes me wonder who’s side you’re on.”
“I told you I would help, didn’t I? “
Cole grabbed Bev by the arm. “Shut up,” he said under his breath, twisting it. “I’ve had enough of your mouth.”
“Let go of me,” Bev said, struggling.
Cole tightened his grip. “I said, shut up!” He reached under his shirt. “You don’t want to listen to me, ever… well maybe this will change your mind.” He pulled out the gun and pointed it at Bev; by the time she got what was going on, he’d shoved it into her ribs.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight til this thing is done,” Cole said, “and maybe not after that. We’ll see.”
Bev’s eyes widened. “Cole, please - “
“Shut up and move,” Cole ordered, pushing Bev towards the bushes. “You wanted to know what we’re up to so bad, well now you’ll get to see it.” Bev looked around, but the park was deserted, so she had no choice but to let Cole take her behind the bushes to hide.
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Post by unavitasegreta on Apr 2, 2015 6:35:33 GMT -5
You've got me on the edge of my seat wondering what's going to happen next!!
(This was meant for the previous chapter, btw, but it looks like I posted at the almost same time you did, lol!)
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Post by Kpatch on Apr 2, 2015 10:58:03 GMT -5
Oh no Paige, don't go! Bev and Cole knew exactly what to say to get Paige to come. Now I can see that Eve actually has a reason to worry about Paige being so late coming back with the Rx. JJ, it's staring you right in the face — trouble at RIverside Park! Don't cut corners. Sally handled the newbie so well! Oh how I would love to see JJ save Paige! heroicmuse, I love how you've made stars out of all the B players. |
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Post by fluffysmom on Apr 2, 2015 11:34:19 GMT -5
JJ and Sally need to call Hope and Rafe. Paige has no idea she's walking into a trap. I'm worried about Paige and Bev.
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Post by heroicmuse on Apr 2, 2015 12:13:13 GMT -5
Now I can see that Eve actually has a reason to worry about Paige being so late coming back with the Rx. Eve's had a point all along--with Jeff on the loose terrorizing Salem U students in general, moving to the dorms might not have been the wisest thing. The problem is she is so overprotective and clingy in general that any real reason for her fears got overshadowed by her need to keep Paige close. Plus until this moment, there was no real reason for her to worry about Paige taking her time. |
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Post by heroicmuse on Apr 3, 2015 4:37:59 GMT -5
Victor sat at Parker’s bedside, watching the boy sleep. Parker’s eyes opened, then closed again. Victor sighed.
“I hate to see you laid up in a hospital bed like this,” Victor told Parker. “I guess you’re lucky in a way. Nowadays we have all these… machines and technology and things I don’t even know how to explain to keep people from dropping off the planet quite so quickly.” Victor smiled slightly at the boy. “I’ll tell you something, though, Parker, machines or no machines, you’re going to be fine. You know how I know? Because Κυριακής --” (Victor used the Greek pronunciation of his last name) “are survivors. I once had a stroke, was told I would never speak again, and now this town is full of people who would love to see me shut up.” Victor glanced at the door to make sure Daniel wasn’t coming back yet. He dropped his voice a little and said, “Even though according to all the paperwork you’re a Jonas and a whatever the hell your mother is, you have the heart of a Κυριακής and damn it, you’re family. So hurry up and get better so you can show the world what you’re made of, you understand?”
Maggie came in and put her hand on Victor’s shoulder. “So this is the business you had at the hospital today,” she said softly.
“I had a few minutes to spare after a meeting, so I thought I might as well look in on the boy.”
“Mmm hmm. So how’s he doing?” Maggie took Victor’s hand. “And just as importantly, how are you doing?”
Victor squeezed her hand back. “You don’t ever have to worry about me. I’ll probably still be standing when this hospital crumbles to pieces. As for Parker, I have no doubt after he finishes sleeping off this illness, he’ll be stronger than ever. He has to be. He’s related to at least one of us.”
The door opened again and Daniel came back in. “Ah ha!” Victor said. “So the witch has flown off on her broomstick to parts unknown, has she?”
“Victor,” Maggie said. “Parker may wake up at any second and little pitchers have big ears, especially where their mothers are concerned.”
“He knows I call it as I see it,” Victor objected. “Besides, it’s good for him to develop a tough skin. With Chloe for a mother he’ll need one.”
“Chloe and I are sharing custody,” Daniel said, calmly, as if Victor hadn’t said anything negative. “Last night she stayed in the hospital and I went home. Now, it’s my turn. And that’s the last I want to hear about it.” He turned towards Victor. “Change of subject. That specialist, uh, the one you said you could fly in… is that offer still good?”
“Of course.”
“I guess you can go ahead and ask them to come.”
“I’m delighted you have come to your senses about this,” Victor said, getting up to shake Daniel’s hand. “Dr. Kirsch will be here tomorrow. I knew you would eventually see the light, so I already took the liberty of calling him while you were powwowing with Chloe.”
Cole had made Bev sit in his lap behind the bushes. Now he was running his free hand through Bev’s hair while holding the gun against her side with his other hand. “Ssh,” he whispered. “It’ll be over soon, Bev, I promise.”
“How can you do this to me?” Bev asked, her voice cracking. “You’re talking to me like you love me and until today I thought you did. But you’re making me do these horrible things, things I don’t want to do, and now you’re holding a gun on me?”
“Don’t blame me for that, okay?” Cole snapped. “You knew from the start what I expect from my girl. But you couldn’t ever leave well enough alone. You had to spy on me and get yourself caught up in it. You play, you pay. I didn’t want to hurt you but I can’t help it that you got in over your head. If you’d just stayed out of my business it never would have come to this.”
Bev’s eyes widened. There was only one way to get out of this, and it made her sick to do it. She lowered her voice, seductively, and said, “You’re right. I was a bad girl.” Cole didn’t respond. Bev reached up and stroked his stubble. “I promise if you let me go, I’ll make it up to you.”
Cole grabbed her wrist. “Don’t try it,” he said, pulling her arm down and behind her back. “There’s only one way to make it up, and that’s to start going along with the plan. Understand?”
Bev nodded.
Just then, they heard footsteps, and Paige called, “Bev? Are you still here?” Cole clamped his free hand over Bev’s mouth. “Don’t make a sound,” he whispered.
On the other side of the bushes, Paige walked slowly around, looking over her shoulder. “Bev?” She picked up her phone and began to send a text.
Jeff slipped out from behind a tree as Paige squinted at the display. It was so dark she could barely see. She tried her best to type anyway.
“Hey,” Jeff said. Paige flinched. “Don’t be scared,” he told her, while in the bushes Cole pressed his hand harder against Bev’s mouth. “It’s just me.”
“Oh, hi,” Paige said. She stared at her phone, checking over her text.
“What are you doing here?” Jeff asked. “I mean, this park’s kind of creepy, don’t you think?”
“Yeah. I… I was supposed to meet a friend, but I guess we got our wires crossed.” Paige turned to go.
“Let me walk you back to your car.”
Something rustled in the bushes.. Paige glanced at Jeff. Something about the way he was talking was bothering her. “I…,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “I think I’ll take my chances, thanks.” She started to walk off.
She didn’t see Jeff pull on his gloves. He tiptoed up behind Paige as she walked off and grabbed her from behind, pressing his hand over her mouth. His knife felt cold against her throat as he said, softly, “That wasn't a request, sweetheart. Now put those pretty hands where I can see them and walk me to your car.”
Paige nodded, her eyes wide with fear. Her phone fell as she slowly raised her hands above her head. The phone hit the ground hard enough to crack the screen as Jeff half dragged her away, half let her walk.
The display read:
Bev, it’s Paige. I’m here in the park. Are you okay?
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Post by gapeach on Apr 3, 2015 5:32:27 GMT -5
Hope Cole doesn't find the phone.
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Post by unavitasegreta on Apr 3, 2015 7:05:18 GMT -5
First ... Uh oh, Paige!! You make me actually interested in her!
Second ... I love Victor so much. He's always awesome.
Third ... what with that cliffhanger?! Monday is so far away!!
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