In 2018, John became embroiled in yet another mystery, this time involving his own strange and out-of-character behavior in poisoning his friend Steve, and violent confrontations with his son Paul and step-grandson Will Horton. This has been ordered directly by Pamela Van Damme, the Director of the ISA, under implied threats to John's family. As it turns out, Pamela had risked significant criminal and political exposure by claiming that Ava Vitali's murder was an ISA-ordered hit under "national security" auspices, and wanted revenge against Steve and his family for allowing Joey to take the blame, and jeopardizing Pamela's career (and freedom). John was being blackmailed into poisoning Steve, but was in reality trying to buy time until he could procure an antidote. The antidote worked, and the friends and business partners reconciled, but with lasting damage to Steve's eyesight, for which John still blames himself.