The Melaswen Paradox (Read 295,961 times)

[André DiMera]

Chapter 747

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
David sighed.
DAVID: Why am I not surprised? It makes a lot of sense, especially the way she was acting the night she came into town.
SCOTTY: Look, I don’t even know if that’s why or not, I’m just going off of the way she talked about you and Carly this morning.
DAVID: No, I’m glad you did. I figured there had to be something more to her visit.
SCOTTY: So, what now?
DAVID: Well, in a few minutes, I’m going back to work. But after that, I’m gonna find out where Trish is and get the full story from her. She staying at the Salem Inn?
SCOTTY: Yes. But, Dad, don’t do anything crazy.
DAVID: I’m not gonna do anything crazy, Scott. I just want to put a stop to this before it even begins.
SCOTTY: Good idea.
Carly walked over to the table.
CARLY: Sorry for the wait. Hi, Scotty.
DAVID: No problem.
SCOTTY: Hi, Carly.
CARLY: Everything okay?
DAVID: Yeah, sure.
CARLY: That doesn’t sound too certain.
DAVID: It’s nothing.
CARLY: If it’s nothing, then tell me what’s going on?
DAVID: It’s not a big deal. Just some stuff Scott here was telling me about that I need to look into. I’ll tell you all about it after work, I promise.
CARLY: Okay, but I’m holding you to that.

ALAMAIN MANSION
TRIX: What?
Nicholas had just told Trix about what happened to Lawrence.
NICHOLAS: I know. It came as a shock to me, too.
Trix swallowed hard.
TRIX: D-do they know who did it?
NICHOLAS: No. The police took the body and the knife for further testing. Once they’ve done D.N.A. tests, I’m sure we will know, though.
Trix nodded. Nicholas put his arms around his daughter.
NICHOLAS: Hey, we’ll find out who did this. It’ll be okay.
TRIX: Okay. Is it okay if I go to my room?
NICHOLAS: Sure.
CIARA: I’ll be up in a minute.
Trix walked upstairs to her room.
CIARA: I’m sorry for your loss. Is there anything I can do?
NICHOLAS: No, thank you. You being here is enough. I know she and my father weren’t close, but I have a feeling Trix is gonna need you.
CIARA: Well, she’s always got me. I’d do anything for her.
NICHOLAS: I appreciate that. I’m glad you and she found each other.
CIARA: I’m gonna go check on her.
NICHOLAS: Thank you, Ciara.
Ciara nodded, then walked up the stairs. Trix’s bedroom door was shut. Ciara knocked on it.
CIARA: Trix it’s me.
The door opened. Trix had tears in her eyes. Ciara walked in, closed the door behind her, then wrapped her arms around Trix. They sat down on the bed, and Ciara held Trix, who started to cry. She gently rubbed Trix’s back.
CIARA: I know. I know. It’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you. Whatever you need, I’m here.
TRIX: This is all my fault.
CIARA: Hey, no it’s not. Of course it’s not.
TRIX: Yes it is. I killed him. I killed my Grandad.

[Kpatch]

I can't imagine why Trix would say she killed her grandfather — unless she really did.

Carly is being nosy. It's none of her business what David and his son are talking about.

[mae00]

Poor Trix. She made the comment that she wished Lawrence had never come back and now he's dead. That has to be hard to take in. I really hope that Ciara knows enough about Lawrence to point out that a lot of people wanted him dead so Trix's "wish" isn't what did this.

Carly really needs to slow her role and step back. Her and David have only been on a couple of dates. That does not give her the right to pry and demand that David tell her EVERYTHING. If Trish really is a problem and David is serious about Carly, then yes, he should tell her, but when he's ready and knows more. Not just throwing idle speculation out there. Ugh. That didn't take long for Carly to start aggravating me.

[heroicmuse]

What? If it is Trix it has to be an accident. Or brainwashing.

I wonder what, if anything David will tell Carly.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 748

ALAMAIN MANSION
CIARA: Babe, I’m sure that’s not true. You couldn’t kill anybody.
TRIX: I might as well have. I said I wished he had never come back, now he’s dead. It’s my fault.
CIARA: I don’t think it really works that way. We’ve all said stuff like that when we’re upset or angry. I know I said that kind of thing a lot when Jade and Noelle were making life hell for me and Claire back in high school. Besides, you saw how everyone was when he showed up at the party. Half the town had reasons to hate him or want him gone.
TRIX: I guess. I just can’t help feeling partly responsible for this.
CIARA: You’re not, though. Whatever happened, it’s not your fault.
Trix sniffled. Ciara kissed the top of Trix’s head and held her tighter.
TRIX: Can you stay here tonight?
CIARA: Sure I can. I might need to run home after dinner and get some clothes, but I’ll just tell my mom I’m staying with a friend.
TRIX: Thanks.
CIARA: Of course. I’ll be here for whatever you need.

SALEM WEST WOMEN’S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Jessica and Joshua walked down the hall, a guard in front of them. They stopped in front of a door and the guard turned around.
GUARD: There will be an armed guard in there with you. No touching, except for each other. If the prisoner tries to touch you, or you the prisoner-
JOSHUA: We won’t.
GUARD: If they do, the guard will intervene. If, at any time, the guard thinks the prisoner may become upset or physical, she will step in and the prisoner will be escorted back to her quarters.
JESSICA: We understand. We just want to talk to her.
GUARD: And as long as you follow the rules, you’ll be able to. The prisoner will be cuffed to the desk to lower the likelihood of her becoming violent.
JESSICA: Is that really necessary?
GUARD: It is.
The guard opened the door to the visiting room. It was mostly empty. They had come later in the day, after most of the visitors had already left. A guard with a nametag that read “Officer Foley” stood by the door. There was a second door, guarded by a second guard. Jessica and Joshua sat at one of the tables. Officer Foley reached for her walkie talkie.
FOLEY: Bring in Prisoner 59792.
JOSHUA: So, this is the place, then.
Jessica nodded.
JESSICA: Yep. This is it.
JOSHUA: And now the moment of truth. We’ll see if anything’s changed in five years.
The door on the other side of the room opened. Gabi walked into the room, followed closely by another guard. Gabi’s eyes grew wide when she saw who was sitting at the table. The guard helped her sit down, then uncuffed one hand. She kept the other cuffed and hooked the cuffs to a loop on her side of the table. Then, the other guard went by the door she had brought Gabi in from.
FOLEY: You have twenty minutes.
For a moment, Gabi, Jessic and Joshua stared at each other. Her hair had grown quite long, and though her face was harder than it had been five years previous, she was still pretty.
GABI: So...what are you doing here?

[heroicmuse]

This visit with Gabi will be interesting! I can't wait to see what happens.

I'm glad CIara talked some sense into Trix. I am sure that Hope will not be happy when she finds out Ciara is staying/stayed with Trix overnight.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[mae00]

I've had a brain fart. How do Joshua and Jessica know Gabi? Does it have to do with Nick?

I'm glad that Ciara was there to talk Trix down. Her words had nothing to do with Lawrence's death. Besides, she just said that she wished he had never come back. Not that she wished that he was really dead.

[heroicmuse]

mae00 Jessica and Joshua are Nick's parents so I assumed they were notified of who killed their son.

[André DiMera]

That is correct. In fact, if I'm correct, Jessica came back for Gabi's sentencing.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 749

SALEM WEST WOMEN’S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
JESSICA: I think you have a pretty good idea.
GABI: Well, I have another five to fifteen years on my sentence, so...my only guess can be that you’re checking up on me.
Gabi looked over to Joshua.
GABI: And you must be Joshua. You look so much like him.
JOSHUA: Thank you.
GABI: So, what do you want to know?
JESSICA: Specifically, nothing. To tell the truth, I don’t know what I came here looking for. But since the two of us are in town, we thought we’d come down here and see you.
GABI: Find out if I’m sorry for what I did, you mean. See if I’m still the monster who killed your son.
JOSHUA: I wouldn’t use those exact words.
GABI: No, it’s fine. I get it. As it happens, being stuck in here for the last five years has given me a lot of time to think. There’s not much else to do in prison, really. And as much thinking as I’ve done, I still maintain that I did what I did in self defense. Jessica, Joshua, for your sake, I’m sorry that you lost a son, but I will not apologize for defending myself.
JESSICA: Did you know that he was going to seek help?
GABI: I’ve been told that. Truthfully, I don’t know what to believe. Look, you seem like nice enough people. Like I said, for you sake, I’m sorry it was your son.
JOSHUA: But not that he’s dead.
GABI: He tried to rape me. He forced me to marry him and tried to keep Arianna’s father out of her life just for being who he is.
JESSICA: We know that Nick wasn’t a saint, despite what Julie believes. But he knew what he was doing was wrong, and he was trying to get help.
GABI: Maybe he was. But we’ll never know. And, unfortunately, that’s all I can really tell you. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed, but like I said, I can’t apologize for defending myself.
JOSHUA: I see.
JESSICA: Well, our time is almost up. At least now we’ve spoken and heard each other’s side of the story.
Gabi nodded.
GABI: I wish nothing but the best for the two of you. Like I said, you seem like nice people. And again, I’m sorry it had to be your son. I can’t imagine what that feels like.
JESSICA: Right, well…
JOSHUA: Hopefully you’ll never have to find out.
JESSICA: We saw Arianna at the party, by the way. She’s beautiful.
GABI: She is.
JESSICA: Well...
Jessica and Joshua both stood up. Officer Foley walked back over to Gabi, uncuffed her from the desk, and put her free hand in the cuff, then led her back to her cell. Then, Jessica and Joshua walked out of the prison and got back in their car.

CAR
They were quiet for a long time.
JOSHUA: So...that went well.
JESSICA: It was what I expected. She was no different than she was five years ago at the trial.
Joshua took Jessica by the hand.

[Kpatch]

Jessica and Joshua did not get the satisfaction they were hoping for.

[heroicmuse]

I'm not sure what Jessica and Joshua thought was going to happen. At least they aren't quite at Julie's level when it comes to this.

It has to be hard to be Nick's parents. It took a lot of courage for them to come face to face with Gabi at all.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[mae00]

Thanks for the explanation on Jessica and Joshua André DiMera and heroicmuse!

I've had some people close to me lose and child and I know it's not easy. But I'm still not certain what they expected from Gabi on this visit? For her to be sorry for defending herself? I'm glad that Gabi stood her ground on that. I have a conceal carry permit and I hope and pray I never have to use it's purpose or other means to take a life to defend mine or my kids, but you better believe that I will. Gabi apologized for it being their son that it happened to. That's about all that anyone can ask of her. I'm sure that if it came down to taking someone else's life to save Nick, Jessica and Joshua would have done it. And they would have the same feelings that Gabi has right now - sorry for what it cost those left behind, but not sorry for defending themselves or someone they love.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 750

SALEM P.D.
Billie was writing names on a white board. Shawn-D walked in.
BILLIE: What have you found?
SHAWN-D: Not much to report, since Lawrence’s body was taken to the morgue this morning. What about you?
BILLIE: Just compiling a list of possible suspects.
SHAWN-D: Does the list include André DiMera?
BILLIE: Not yet, but it’s definitely one I’m thinking would be good to add. Let’s see, so far we have Carly Manning, André DiMera, Victor Kiriakis-
SHAWN-D: Why are Uncle Steve, Jennifer and Victor’s names on there?
BILLIE: Well, Victor should be obvious. Lawrence was the head of his biggest competition.
SHAWN-D: Yeah, but Philp is in charge of Titan now, and so far as we know, Lawrence didn’t make any moves against Titan this time. Also, Nicholas is the one in charge of Alamain Industries, and technically was even when Lawrence was alive.
BILLIE: Good point.
SHAWN-D: And the other two?
BILLIE: Steve should also be obvious, since he helped the DiMeras make it look like Steve had died all those years ago.
SHAWN-D: Uncle Steve is also an ISA agent. Whether he has any ill will towards Lawrence or not, he wouldn’t make a move against him unless he had proof Lawrence was involved in criminal activity, or the ISA told him to.
BILLIE: True. And if it was the ISA who told him to silence Lawrence, it would have been cleaner and quieter. I’ll talk to Director Donovan, but you’re probably right.
SHAWN-D: And Jennifer?
BILLIE: She’s got motive.
SHAWN-D: So does half the town!
BILLIE: But she’s got more motive than half the town, after what Lawrence did to her.
SHAWN-D: Look, I’m sure she’s not Lawrence Alamain’s biggest fan, but I seriously doubt that Jennifer is capable of murder. And if she was, wouldn’t it make more sense for her to have done it years ago when Lawrence raped her?
BILLIE: Possibly. Well, there’s one more suspect I’ve yet to write down.
Billie wrote down Nicholas’ name.
SHAWN-D: You’re kidding me.
BILLIE: He had motive, too. There were rumblings that Nicholas wanted his father out of the business and was looking for a way to get rid of him.
SHAWN-D: Get rid of him as in get him out of the position of CEO. Billie, I’ve known Nicholas since we were kids, he wouldn’t murder his own father! Besides, he has an alibi.
BILLIE: What was it?
SHAWN-D: He was at the Salem Inn when we suspect Lawrence was murdered.
BILLIE: There are cameras at the Salem Inn, right?
SHAWN-D; Outside of the rooms, yes.
BILLIE: Good. I’ll have someone from Forensics take a look at them.
SHAWN-D: Billie, you don’t seriously think he did this, do you?
BILLIE: Honestly, Shawn, I don’t know. But we can’t leave it to chance. Until we know that one or more of these people have air-tight alibis, they’re all suspects.
SHAWN-D: I still think we should focus on André.
BILLIE: Why?
SHAWN-D: One, it’s his M.O. Two, when I went with the medical examiner to look at the body, Nicholas told me that he spoke to André about getting help with removing Lawrence from the company, but he thought he was talking to Tony.
BILLIE: Well, I can’t say that that’s not easy mistake to make. Look, I’ll work on getting the CCTV footage from the Salem Inn, you look into André.
SHAWN-D: With pleasure.

ALAMAIN MANSION
Nicholas, Trix and Ciara sat at the table, eating dinner.
CIARA: This is good.
NICHOLAS: Thank you. I will have Ivan tell the cook you enjoyed it.
TRIX: Dad, can Ciara stay over tonight? Please?
NICHOLAS: Of course. You’re welcome anytime, Ciara.
CIARA: Thanks.
Ciara took Trix’s hand under the table. She noticed Trix hadn’t eaten much, and gave her hand a small squeeze. Trix squeezed her hand back. A short time later, Ivan came back with three plates of apple crisp and three glasses with an almost clear liquid in them. Nicholas and Trix took their plates and glasses.
IVAN: Would you like some, Miss Ciara?
CIARA: Thanks. Can I have water, though, actually? Sorry, I’m just on some meds and shouldn’t drink with them.
IVAN: Of course.
Ivan returned a moment later with a glass of water for Ciara.
NICHOLAS: Ivan, how is Aunt Viv?
IVAN: Madame is still in mourning in her room, though she did take dinner this evening.
NICHOLAS: Well, that part’s good, at least.
IVAN: If you do not require anything else, I think I shall go check on her. I shall return for your dishes shortly.
NICHOLAS: Of course. Thank you, Ivan.
Ivan nodded and walked upstairs. The three finished their cake and drinks in silence, none of them knowing exactly the right thing to say. After they’d finished, Trix and Ciara excused themselves from the table. They went by the front door and Ciara put on her shoes.
CIARA: I should pick up some stuff for tonight and tomorrow morning, and let my mom know I’ll be staying with a friend. You wanna come with?
TRIX: No, that’s okay. I’ll probably take a shower while you’re gone.
CIARA: You sure? I hate leaving you right now, even if it’ll only be for about twenty minutes.
TRIX: I know. I’ll be okay, though.
CIARA: Okay. I’ll be back soon.
Ciara hugged Trix tight. Then, Ciara walked out the door, and Trix walked upstairs to her room.

SALEM INN
David pulled his car up to the parking lot. He looked again at the piece of paper with a number written on it and looked up.
DAVID: Well, here we go.
David got out of his car, walked up to a door and knocked on it. After a moment, it opened.
TRISH: David. Well, this is a surprise.
DAVID: I’m sure it is.
TRISH: What are you doing here?
DAVID: I think I could ask you the same question.
TRISH: Sorry, I’m not quite sure what you mean.
DAVID: Oh, cut the crap, Trish. Now, I wanna know what’s really going on here. And I’d like to know now.

[heroicmuse]

I'm curious to see what Trish has to say, if anything.

Hope is NOT going to like the idea of Ciara staying with Trix, if she figures out who it is she's staying with.

I hope Billie doesn't get convinced of any silly ideas about who killed Lawrence.

Great chapter André DiMera.