Ciara Brady
ran through the bushes, heart thumping in terror. After chipping the wall made
of rotten wood with her fork she’d managed to squeeze through the hole she’d
made; scratching her shoulder and arm rather badly. But she didn't care about
the pain- she had to get out of the woods, find a way of getting back to Mum
and Dad. She couldn’t let them catch her.
She stopped
when she felt a stitch on her side; breathing hard. She had no idea how long
she’d been running but she figured she must have covered enough distance. She
was far away from the cabin, or at least she hoped so.
‘Mummy...’ she
whimpered, tears running down her cheeks. ‘Daddy...’ If she didn't hurry they, whoever they were,
will find her, lock her up again!
She hurried
on, keeping to the trees. She had to get to the main road!
A light ahead
of her indicated that she was getting close... maybe a car will stop... and
take her home. Excited, Ciara burst out onto the road and that instant there
was a screech of wheels, the car narrowly missing her. Ciara raised her hands
to her eyes, blocking the glare of the headlights.
‘Oh my God!’
she heard a woman exclaim and the door opened. ‘Are you alright? What are you
doing out here?’
Ciara ran to
the stranger, filled with relief. ‘Help me... take me home!’ she begged,
grasping her by the waist. ‘Don’t let them take me!’
‘Slow down...’
the woman squatted, holding her face. ‘“Them”?’
‘Bad people...
they kidnapped me... I want to go home!’ Ciara sobbed, slipping her arms round
the woman’s neck.
The woman
shushed her, holding her close. ‘There, there... sweetie. I’ll take you home to
your Mum and Dad now. You’re safe with me.’
Ciara nodded
and sniffled, feeling much better. ‘Thank you.’
‘Come on,’
picking her up, the stranger carried her to the car, placed her on the front
seat and buckled her up. By the interior car light, she saw the bleeding cut on
Ciara’s shoulder. ‘We’ll have to do something about that cut first ...’
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bo and his men
came back to the station, exhausted. Dean Hartman, one of their best and loyal
officers had managed to trace the kidnappers’ latest call but had stupidly gone
to their hideout himself, without informing Bo. But then they’d received a
distress call from Dean and hurried to the kidnapper’s hideout; an old cabin on
the outskirts of Salem. The cabin was in flames and Dean was lying unconscious not
far away, shot on the shoulder. For several terrifying minutes Bo thought his
daughter was in it but on investigating after the fire was put out, only two
charred bodies was found in the ruins.... the kidnappers. According to Dean,
after he was revived, one of the kidnappers had shot him but he didn't remember
anything else except vaguely hearing the sound of them arguing before passing
out. He did however remember seeing a
woman in the room.
Hope’s grief
and anxiety had grown ten-fold. A few years ago, she had found Zach bleeding to
death on their driveway and for a long time she and Bo had been cold strangers.
Ciara’s birth had eventually reunited them and the paternity test had sealed
the reconciliation. But now their marriage was crumbling; not because of the
kidnap but their heated arguments about the kidnapper’s demands. Hope was more
than ready to pay the ransom- her entire trust fund if necessary- to get her
little girl back- but Bo had refused; according to his last vision if she did, Ciara
would die. They had to follow his own methods. Some methods.
‘If you’d only
listened to me and let me pay the damned ransom- we’d have her back by now!’
she screamed at Bo, tears pouring down her cheeks. ‘But no, we had do things
your way! This is your fault!’
Roman jumped
into the fray. ‘Cut it out, now’s not the time to pass blame. Something just
went wrong tonight...’
‘Everything’s
gone wrong since I was stupid enough to listen to your brother!’ Hope spat.
‘The hell with his damned visions... they’ve gotten us nowhere... NOWHERE!
Obviously the third kidnapper took Ciara away before torching the place, God
knows what he’s doing to her now, or has already done!’ Bo slipped his arms
round her but she fiercely slapped them away. ‘Don't you touch me! If Ciara ends
up dead, I’ll never forgive you!’ She began to cry again.
‘If there’s
anyone to blame...’ Justin said bitterly, ‘it’s that boy of yours... Dean. He
shouldn’t have gone out there without telling you, obviously his mind was on
the reward money you promised.’
Bo gritted his
teeth; he clearly detected criticism towards him in Justin’s words, not towards
Dean. And ever since their daughter was kidnapped Hope has been drifting further
and further away, losing her faith in him. But his visions have never failed
him; he knew deep in his heart that Ciara was alive and he’d done the right
thing. And it was only a matter of time they’ll find her safe and sound. But as
for Dean, reward or not, was going to go on suspension when this whole mess was
over for not following police protocol. If this was the way he going to behave
all the time, his chances of making detective would be a long way off, the stupid, stupid fool!
Justin took
Hope’s arm, an action that made Bo’s hackles rise but he said nothing. ‘Come...
you need rest. I’ll take you to Mickey and Maggie’s. Come on.’ He glanced at Bo
for confirmation and Bo nodded. In time he and Hope would be able to out this
episode behind them and be back to the way they were and Justin keeping his
hands to himself.
‘What’s the
plan now?’ Roman asked as soon as the door closed behind them.
‘Kyle and his
sister are dead... I just knew there was a third kidnapper.’ Bo paced the room.
‘He grabbed Ciara after killing them and torching the cabin, to another
location. We wait for him to call.’ He
rubbed his eyes, thinking about his darling little girl. She must be so frightened
right now.
Roman squeezed
his arm comfortingly. ‘Bo... You did what you thought was best. We don’t always
agree but I believe in you, I always have.’
‘I know and
thanks, I appreciate it. And I just hope I’ll be vindicated in Hope’s eyes when
this is over. I can’t lose her again.’
‘You won’t.
You two have been through worse scenarios, Hope’s just very upset right now.
Give her some space and time to relax, she really doesn't blame you.’
‘But Justin
obviously does.’ Bo said bitterly.
‘Justin’s an
idiot under thousand dollar suits; his opinion doesn't matter so ignore him.’
‘How’s the
other idiot?’
‘Lexie says
it’s a flesh wound, he’ll be alright. He was more interested in making detective
than the reward, or so he kept saying.’
‘He endangered
my daughter’s life!’ Bo shouted. ‘He didn't follow procedure and he’s going to pay
for it.’
‘He’s
dedicated Bo, he’s always been. Maybe he felt the need to prove himself, that’s
why he acted on impulse. I’m not defending him; he’s just human; like all of
us.’
Bo sighed,
rubbing his neck gripped with tension. This whole episode was getting to him in
more ways than one; he felt so helpless and alone with the way Hope had
distanced herself from him. He needed her more than ever right now. If only...
Soft,
tapered fingers sensually working on his shoulders and neck, her soothing voice
in his ear. She always knew where the knots of tension were, swiftly smoothing
them away. She made everything better... all the time...
‘You okay lil’
brother?’ Roman broke his train of thought.
‘Fine. Just
tired.’ Was the gruff reply. He hadn’t thought of her in years, except on
very rare occasions and only for a minute before forcibly blocking her face away,
refusing to picture of her very happy with a man he hated so much and wishing
he’d made a bigger effort to keep her...
No, no... He
was not going to think of what might have been. It only broke the heart into
two. He loved Hope. She on the other
hand belonged in the past.
But
she wouldn’t act this way, a voice in his head
pointed out. She always believed in you.
She never questioned you... you were larger than life to her.
Bo closed his
eyes, tightly. This was one of the reasons why he forced back memories of her.
She always made him feel better and longing for her now was like wishing for
the moon.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
‘Don’t eat so
fast. You’ll choke in a minute. Here...’ the stranger gently wiped Ciara’s
mouth with a paper napkin.
‘Thank you.’ Feeling pleasantly full, Ciara looked at her
new friend sitting opposite her. They were at a diner; the woman had insisted
they stop to attend to her shoulder and get some food. Borrowing a First-Aid
kit from the proprietor, she’d cleaned her wound and bound it with a band-aid
as skilfully as a doctor. Then she’d ordered a hot meal, making sure she ate
every crumb; taking only coffee herself.
Ciara looked
at her carefully. The stranger was pretty, with shoulder length brown
hair and bright green eyes and she liked the long dark coat she was wearing.
‘What’s your
name?’
The woman smiled
warmly. ‘You haven’t told me yours.’
‘Ciara Alice
Brady.’ Ciara replied proudly. ‘My Mummy and Daddy are detectives.’
‘That’s very
interesting, Ciara. Brady you say.’
Ciara nodded. ‘You
know them?’
‘Only your
Daddy... but we’ve never met. You have any idea who kidnapped you, Ciara?’
Ciara shifted
uneasily in her seat. ‘Mummy and Daddy always told me not to talk to strangers.
But... this man, I met him at the park one day.’
‘Did he tell
you his name?’
‘Kyle. He gave
me a lollipop, he was so nice to me.... he looked
nice!’ Ciara said, so ashamed she’d disobeyed her parents.
‘It’s
alright.’ The woman soothed her, patting her hand. ‘I’m sure they’ll be too
happy to see you to stay mad at you. Go on.’
‘Well... I saw
him again at the carnival; I was with Susan, my sitter. He said Mummy was in
the hospital, that she was hurt in an accident and Daddy sent him to come get
me. I went with him but...’ Ciara gulped, painfully remembering, ‘he drove me
to a small house, and he...’ she began sobbing, ‘he blindfolded me and tied my
hands behind me, and he put something on my ears... music kept playing, all I
heard was music, I couldn't hear them talking.’
‘You’re sure
this Kyle wasn't alone?’
‘After he
blindfolded me I smelt perfume, I guess the other person was a woman, she
touched my cheek... her hand was soft.’
‘I think you’ll
make a wonderful detective one day Ciara.’ The woman said, very impressed.
Ciara grinned,
feeling better again. No one could’ve paid her a better compliment.
‘But...’ she
added, ‘I remember something. I never heard what they said... but I did hear
something, something weird.’
‘What was it?’
Ciara wrinkled
her face, wondering how to describe the sound. ‘It went click, click, click...
I heard it now and then.’
‘A matchstick?’
Ciara shook
her head. ‘I don't know... it was a weird sound, I never heard it before.
Somehow I got my hands out of the rope they used on me and I used my fork to
break the wood. I heard them yelling at each other in the other room but I didn't
hear much, I just wanted to get out of there.’
‘Mmm...’ the
woman frowned thoughtfully. ‘This Kyle was arguing with his partner then.
Probably over the ransom they must have gotten from your parents.’
‘What’s a
ransom?’
‘Ransom is
money kidnappers collect in exchange for the people they take. But why would
they kidnap the daughter of two detectives? I don't understand.’
‘My grandpa is
very rich... Daddy’s father; Victor Kiriakis.’ Ciara replied. ‘And I know Mummy
has some money.’
‘Then that
explains it... I’ve heard of your grandfather of course, he’s one of the
richest men in this country. Well... you’re safe now. And when we get you back
to your family, you will tell your parents exactly what you just told me. These
people who abducted you have to be punished and they will be, thanks to you.’ The
woman smoothed Ciara’s hair. ‘Let’s get you home now.’
Ciara clung to
her new friend’s hand as they walked to her car. Even after what had happened
to her, her instinct told Ciara this woman can be trusted. She had the warmest
eyes she’d ever seen, as green as the stone...what was it called again... an
emerald. Glancing at the hand on hers she noticed something else; her friend
was wearing a sliver ring with a strange design; two hands holding a heart. Everything
about this strange woman was very interesting. She hoped she would stay in
Salem for a long time; she liked her very much already.
‘Thank you for
helping me like this.’ she said as they drove off towards town. ‘You don't even
know me.’
‘Maybe not,
sweetie. But if there’s one thing I hate most are people who kidnap children.
They are the worst set of people to walk the earth.’ For an instant, the
stranger’s eyes hardened. ‘They deserve
to be punished. And whoever did this to you will
be punished... a hundred times over.’
Ciara sat back
in the leather upholstered seat, even more relaxed. No wonder she felt so safe
with her; her new friend sounded a lot like her Daddy.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Even though Bo
was a husband, father, grandfather and the Commissioner of Police; to Caroline
he would always be the little boy who went to her for comfort whenever he was
sad or upset. And her son was clearly very unhappy under the anger he was
displaying. As soon as she walked into the office with Victor at her heels the
first thing she did on sighting Bo’s haggard face was hold him tightly,
silently consoling him like she’d always done. Holding back his tears, Bo
hugged her back, loving her so much for being there for him, especially at this
time. He felt so alone right now.
‘Hi Ma.’
‘Has the third
person called yet?’ she asked. ‘Roman told me what happened.’
Bo shook his
head. ‘But he will, any moment from now.’
‘Bo, you
should have allowed Hope or me to pay the ransom instead of offering a
reward...’
‘Keep quiet
Victor!’ was Caroline Brady’s sharp admonition. ‘Bo knew what he was doing and
I won’t stand for your sanctimonious attitude! How dare you question him?’
‘It’s alright
Ma.’ Bo didn't give his biological father so much as a glance. ‘His opinions
have never mattered.’
Victor
bristled at the barely veiled insult. ‘Ciara’s important to me too, all I said
was...’
‘I don't care
what you were trying to say. Ciara’s my daughter, not yours.’ Bo now faced him,
eye to eye. ‘You want to question me my judgment calls, at least I don't spend
my time putting my children down, unlike you who make a sport out of it. Get
off my back, Victor. I already have enough to worry about.’
‘Allow me pay
the ransom, Bo. I’ll double it if necessary.’ Victor said as if Bo hadn’t
spoken at all.
‘I won’t let
you sign my daughter’s death warrant. Hope will not pay the ransom and neither
will you because I said so!’ Bo’s eyes glinted. ‘You stay out of my way, or
else.’
Abe, who was
in the room swiftly intervened before the two men could come to blows. ‘Bo’s
right, Victor; this is official police business. And you don't have the right
to question Bo’s methods; he did the right thing whether you think so or not.’
‘I have the
right to express my opinion...’
‘You have the
right to be silent Victor or I’m
going to ask you to leave.’ Abe’s voice was like steel, his face hard. ‘You
have no say in the matter; if you won’t respect Bo’s position, you’ll respect
mine. Understood?’
Victor glared
but didn't reply. Abe Carver has never been intimidated by him or anyone else
for that matter.
‘Where’s
Hope?’ he asked instead, turning to Roman.
Roman waved
his hand impatiently. ‘Justin took her to Mickey and Maggie’s to cool off. She’s
better off there in the meantime anyway... We can’t have her make a mistake by
telling the kidnapper she wants to pay the ransom. Thanks to that moron Dean...
he’ll probably ask for more.’
Bo shook his
head, still furious with Dean Hartman for compromising the case. Maybe it would
be better if the ransom was paid after all... vision or no. Ciara and Hope were his highest
priority and things weren’t going according to plan, he had to vindicate
himself somehow.
Then a miracle
happened, in the form of Ciara running through the door, straight to him
screaming, ‘Daddy... Daddy!’
Disbelief and
excruciating joy gripped Bo as he held his daughter in his arms and kissed her,
other arms holding her as well; the sounds of laughter and sobbing.
‘Oh thank
God... thank God!’ Caroline cried, pressing her face against the child’s face.
‘Are you alright, those people didn't hurt you?’
‘How did you
get here, who brought you?’ Bo demanded, brushing back hair from her face.
Scrambling down, Ciara ran to the door, hurrying to the woman standing outside
with several uniformed officers and grabbed her hand.
‘She saved
me... She’s my friend now!’ she beamed up at her as she dragged her inside the
office.
Bo gaped at the
stranger in shock and amazement. So did Roman, Abe, Caroline and Victor.
‘Carly?’ He exclaimed in disbelief at the
sight of his ex fiancée for the first time in several years. He had allowed
himself to think about her, now she was standing in front of him in the flesh.
The woman
frowned, looking baffled. ‘I’m sorry?’
‘Carly?’
Caroline stepped forward, eyes scanning the familiar face, a face she never
thought she would behold again. ‘Don’t you know us?’
She shook her
head. ‘I think you’ve got me confused with someone else. I was on my way here
and I found your Ciara on the road. My name is Clarice; Clarice Parker.’
Bo felt he was
reliving that incredible yet agonizing night all over again as he stared hard
at her. When she’d walked up to him and Billie like a ghost from the spirit
world after weeks of mourning her death... his joy had turned to horror and
helpless anger on realising she didn't know him... her memories of their love
completely erased, thanks to Vivian and Lawrence Alamain. It was Carly, it had
to be; he would know that beautiful face anywhere. But what happened to her
over the years, how come she was answering to the name Clarice now? Most
important, why couldn’t she remember him again?
Ciara frowned
as well. ‘Why are you calling her Carly? Her name’s Clarice.’ She looked up at
her. ‘Isn't it?’
‘Of course it
is.’ She turned back to the group, still gaping. Look, I can show you some ID
if you want... I’m not this Carly person.’
Victor opened
his mouth to speak but Abe swiftly interrupted him. ‘Abe Carver, Mayor.’ He shook
her hand. ‘We can’t tell you how glad we are Ciara’s safe and grateful to you
for bringing her home... isn’t we?’ he looked meaningfully at Victor. Forcibly,
Victor pulled himself together and shook her hand as well. ‘Victor Kiriakis,
I’m Ciara’s grandfather. This is Caroline Brady; her grandmother.’
Caroline
ignored the hand, hugging her instead. Clarice looked bemused as she pulled
back but she smiled shyly.
‘I’m Commander
Roman Brady, this Ciara’s father, Bo.’ Roman said, as amazed as the sudden
appearance of Bo’s ex. She looked genuinely confused by the name they were
calling her. She truly didn't know them and there was something different about
her; her clothes. The Carly they knew never wore long dark coats or knee high
boots.
‘Pleased to
meet you both. I suppose you have questions to ask me, right?’
Roman looked
at Bo, wondering if his emotions will allow him do so.
‘Yeah...
that’s right.’ Bo said, composing himself as well. ‘Ma, take Ciara to Maggie’s.
Sweetie, your Mum’s at your Uncle Mickey and Aunt’s Maggie’s... go there and
give her a wonderful surprise, okay? I have to talk to Clarice here.’
‘Okay.’
Kissing him on the cheek, Ciara hugged her new friend round the waist. ‘I’ll
see you later?’
The woman
smiled. ‘Yes, later dear.’
‘Let’s go,
Victor.’ Abe said commandingly as Victor made no move to leave. Victor looked
at Bo then at Clarice for one long minute before following them.
‘Sit
down, Clarice.’ Bo said as the door
closed behind them.
‘Thank you,
Commissioner Brady.’ Carly sat down.
Bo sat down
opposite her, staring at her hard. What
did Larry do to her after they left Salem?
‘I need to ask
you where you were coming from, when you found my daughter on the road.’
Carly/Clarice
hesitated. ‘I was coming back from Cuba, a mission.’
‘Mission?’
She hesitated
again, and then reached for her purse on the table, opening it and pulled
something out. ‘I guess you have to know this at least.’ She held up an
ID. Beside the card was an ISA badge.
If Bo was
shocked before, it wasn’t compared to how he felt now.
Carly/ Clarice
put the ID wallet back in her purse. ‘I was there for two months, barely
escaped. Call me paranoid, but when I landed, I chartered a boat and drove the
rest of the way. That was when I saw your Ciara.’
Bo stared at
her hard. ‘You came back for debriefing then.’
‘Yes.’ She
shrugged. ‘I don't know where I’ll be going next for a while. I’m wounded.’
‘You are?’ Bo
asked, immediately concerned.
‘I was shot in
the back.’ A faint mocking smile was on her face. ‘Occupational hazard. I can’t
tell you more than that, Commissioner Brady.’
Bo wanted to
ask, why don't you remember me? What
happened to you, Princess?
‘Is that all
for now?’ Carly/Clarice said, rising. ‘It has been a long trip...’
Bo raised too,
eyes on her face, looking for signs of recognition. None at all. She was
clearly suffering from severe amnesia, unless she wasn’t Carly after all.
‘Well thank
you for my daughter, Agent Parker. But you need come back here tomorrow and
give your full statement.’
‘Of course.
I’ll be here.’ She held out her hand and he took it, his heart lurching. Not
only because of the touch of her hand in his but by what she was wearing on her
finger. The silver Claddagh ring he’d given her in ’92 as an early Christmas
present.
She was Carly
Manning, his Carly. And he still
couldn't believe it.
