Julie and Chad Hit a Roadblock Searching for Abigail — and EJ Blackmails Paulina into Reappointing Him DA

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At Paulina and Abe’s, they have the place decorated for a farewell party for Johnny and Chanel, but it’s also their anniversary and Juneteenth. Paulina doesn’t know how to say goodbye to her baby. Abe says to think of it as them heading off on a new adventure of their own.

There is a knock at the door, and Paulina tells them to come in, assuming it’s Chanel and Johnny. It’s Eli and the twins coming home to surprise everyone. Abe says they had no idea they were coming. Eli says they wanted to surprise them for their anniversary and Juneteenth. Eli asks about the banner, and Abe says they’ll explain it later.

Abe asks if Lani is still in DC. Eli reveals she is here, but she stopped by the bakery to check on Chanel. Paulina asks why she didn’t come here to look for her. Eli says she assumed Chanel would be working, plus she knows there is friction between them. Paulina guesses she should be glad they are talking, even if behind her back. Eli says Lani understands what she did, and Paulina reveals she and Chanel patched things up. The bad news is she’s still losing her baby.

Chanel is moping around Horton Square. She’s hung the closed sign on Sweet Bits. Suddenly, Lani surprises her sister. Chanel asks about Eli, and Lani says he and the twins are here too. Lani asks why she looks so down. Chanel says she’s closed the bakery because she and Johnny are leaving Salem. She explains Johnny got a job as the first AD on a film with his favorite director. She says the film starts shooting almost immediately, so they have to leave.

Lani is glad they came to visit before they took off. Chanel is happy they are here as she needs the support. Lani says this move is a good thing, but it can be stressful for the little one. Lani asks how it is going? Chanel says they heard the baby’s heartbeat for the first time and it’s a steady beating drum. As far as the radiation, they still won’t know for a little while. Lani asks about her and Mamma. Chanel says she forgave her, as she couldn’t leave town with things bad between them. Lani knows letting her go is going to be hard for their mother. Chanel says she won’t be the only one, Johnny’s father will hate this.

At the DiMera mansion, Stefan follows EJ around, and EJ asks why he’s being an annoying brother. Stefan wants to know how EJ is going to get his job back to help Gabi. EJ says he made his case to Paulina, and it will happen. Stefan tells him it better, or he’ll show everyone the DNA tests on little Jude. If that happens, Nicole, Eric and Jude will take of to live as one big happy family.

Suddenly, Johnny appears and asks what is going on. EJ explains he and his uncle were just discussing business. Johnny comments, “Like how Aunt Kristen is the new CEO?” Stefan says he was just teasing his father about losing something when he doesn’t have to. Johnny asks what that means. Stefan decides to go hang with Jude, while he still has the chance.

Stefan leaves, and Johnny says that was weird. EJ says he’s getting used to him rambling on incoherently and asks about Chanel’s appointment. Johnny says it went well. EJ tells him that Nicole stacked the library with pregnancy books for them. Johnny is thankful, but they may not get the chance to read them all as he’s accepted a job in California. He explains he will be working for his favorite director on his upcoming superhero movie. He knows his dad never approved of his dream, so he’s not expecting his blessing.

EJ says Johnny has his blessing, and he’s made it clear that following his footsteps at DiMera wasn’t his path. EJ has come to admire his convictions for following his own dreams, and he respects that. EJ just wants him to be happy, and he’ll soon find out as a parent, things go by quicker than he’d imagine. He tells Johnny to make sure to make every second with the people he loves count or live with to regret it.

Back at Paulina and Abe’s, Lani and Chanel arrive as Eli learns about the move to LA. Everyone exchanges hugs and well wishes. Paulina is so thrilled to see them, and they’ve missed them so much. Lani says she heard she’s been having trouble with some of the citizens. Paulina says some are trying to get her recalled as mayor, but Abe suggests they not dwell on politics.

Johnny arrives and exchanges hugs with Lani and Eli. Johnny thanks Paulina and Abe for throwing this party for them. Paulina says this is a day to celebrate family and she is glad to have them under one roof, even if it is for today. Johnny admits he’s brought someone from his family to join them, and it’s his father, who basically begged to come. EJ enters and asks if there is room at the table for him, madame mayor.

EJ speaks with Abe and Paulina and says it’s lovely that they can put aside their differences and send their kids off together. She assumes he’s talking about the recall, and EJ says those concerned citizens are getting jumpy. Paulina wonders how those concerned citizens would feel about a disgraced DA getting his job back. EJ points out he was never disgraced and that she fired him over a conflict of interests, which no longer exists as Kristen has been put in charge of the family company. Now, she has a legitimate reason to appoint him back to his job. She calls this blackmail. Eli interrupts and asks if everything is okay. EJ says Paulina was just giving him a hard time over Johnny taking Chanel to LA. However, he wants them to know the DiMera jet is always on standby to take them to visit at any time.

Eli tells Paulina and Abe that he’s going to head out and take the twins to see Julie, as they know what would happen if she found out he was in town if he didn’t stop by.

Later, EJ tells Paulina that they will soon have a grandchild in common. So, is she going to fire Melinda and give him his job back so he can tear up the concerned citizens’ petition? Or will he have to use tough love?

Outside of the Brady Pub, Jada runs into Stefan and is glad she did. He inquires why? Jada says she understands he and Rafe were hoping Clyde would reveal that Gil Carter killed Li to clear Gabi’s name. Stefan says it was their hope, but Clyde refused to help. Jada says he didn’t refuse, it’s just that he just wants his charges reduced. However, she has a way to get Clyde to give up what he knows. Jada says they shut down his drug operation, and Stefan needs to convince Clyde he wants to help him get it started again.  Stefan doesn’t see that as a good idea and wonders why a cop is asking him to engage in illegal activities with a murderer. Jada says to get Gabi out, and Clyde will trust him, as he helped him running drugs out of The Bistro before. Stefan notes, “Not by choice, and he’s not stupid enough to try again.” Jada says he will, as he’s greedy.

Stefan asks what Rafe thinks of this plan, and she admits he doesn’t know. Stefan says his wife is already in solitary thanks to a fight Clyde arranged, so if he turns on him, there is no telling what Clyde will do. He’s not willing to take the risk. Jada says, “Even if this is your only chance to get Gabi released?” He replies, “Maybe it’s not.” She asks what else he has in mind. He says he wouldn’t be standing here talking to her if he had a plan. He has no interest in getting involved with Clyde again. Jada knows how desperate he is to get Gabi out of prison, which makes her think he has a plan, and he just doesn’t want to tell her. He asks what that would be? Without the black book of Gil’s that Trask is holding, there is no way to get her out of prison. Lani says he’s a DiMera, he won’t let the law hold him back, and she thinks he’s going to bust her out. He admits he considered it but isn’t going to. Jada says either way, he has a plan, and he doesn’t want help from the cops. He reminds her the last time he got help from the cops, his wife ended up in prison.

At the bank in Chicago, Chad and Julie wait for Clyde’s safety box to be brought out to them by the president of the bank, Mr. Mooney. He brings it to them and says they just need the combination to open the box. Chad says they don’t have it, and admits they were given permission by the owner Clyde Weston to open it. Mooney says this box is actually registered to Rebecca Goldman. Chad notes that’s the dirty cop, and Clyde’s girlfriend, who is in custody. The president can’t open the box without the code.

Julie complains that they came all the way from Salem, and she assumes Mr. Mooney can open the box for them. Mooney says he can’t make any exceptions, and besides, he doesn’t have the code. Chad asks for a minute alone, so he leaves them. Chad calls Rafe to try to get the code.

Mooney returns, and Chad fortunately got Rafe to get Goldlman to talk. He gives them privacy with the box. They open it, and inside is a USB drive.

They plug the drive into a computer and watch grainy footage of an empty room that appears to have cell bars. Suddenly, a blonde woman comes into the frame, but her face is obscured. Julie asks, “Could that be Abigail?” Chad can’t tell, and they can’t see her face. Julie asks him to play it again.

Back in Salem, Eli surprises Julie. She saw him looking at the photos on the mantel. He can’t believe the didn’t lose them in the fire. Julie says they did, but fortunately, Jack scanned them all, so they have digital backups. Julie asks why they are here, and he says it is for Abe and Paulina’s anniversary and Juneteenth. Eli says the kids are with Doug in the kitchen, and he heard he just returned from Chicago. Julie says she had issues to deal with but isn’t sure they are fully dealt with.

Chad arrives at the Salem PD to see Clyde, only to be told by Jada the prison transport just picked him up, and he’s not allowed to have visitors.

Stefan returns to the DiMera mansion, and EJ appears. Stefan says he was just about to call Nicole, but EJ says it won’t be necessary. He’s been reinstated as district attorney. EJ assures him that he will reopen Gabi’s case so justice will be done.

Back at Paulina’s, she delivers the bad news to Trask over the phone and says they’ll find another place for her, perhaps heading up sanitation. Trask hangs up on her.

The family gets together to light and blow out candles on the cakes. Chanel admits she went a little overboard on the number of cakes as it was the last time she could bake for them for a while. Abe has a way of honoring the day, and he pulls out the poem “We Rose” by Kristina K and recites it.