Hearts and Diamonds
The Wells family is together again as a whole unit. While they continue to bond as a family, the tentacles of the DiMera legacy still reach out, and trouble cannot be far behind. The Brady's of Salem are still reeling from the losses they have suffered, and the Kirakis scores have yet to be settled.
Chapter I
Ace raced down the stairs, this was the day! He had marked it off on the calendar along with Kacie for the past week. This was their real, honest to goodness birthday, and it would be the first party he had ever had. Kacie had a date on her birth certificate, but now she too had the real honest to goodness date. EJ had spent a great deal of time and used all of his persuasiveness on getting Lexie to recall just when the twins had been born. Her defiance had more to do with wanting to forget what had been forced on her than dislike of the children, so finally she had worked it out with EJ, and it had not cost him all that much either.
August 12, 2009, and it was now 2014, he was five years old, so was Kacie...and his cake was going to be chocolate with mint frosting, the ice cream was going to be mint chocolate chip, and it was going to have a dolphin on it. Kacie wanted a princess cake, and strawberry ice cream, but there was no accounting for taste! He already knew what he was going to wish for, he had given up on the dolphin, but not on this wish. Mom knew, Dad knew, now it was just a matter of them pulling it together for him.
The yard was set up for the party. EJ looked out at what Samantha had set up, amazed at what a childs birthday party could end up being nowadays. To Sami, this was her way of making up to both of the children the time they had been lost, Kacies' illness, Aces being shoved from place to place, and finally the ordeal of being held as a hostage to a legacy they should have remained innocent of. The trauma of just getting over everything had been a years worth of dealing with their fears and anxieties. The children had been very resilient, but Sami knew there were still scars left. This party was also a big part of the healing process. She wanted it to be perfect! EJ just wanted it to be over!
There were three bounce houses out on the lawn, a clown who was hired to do face painting, a rock climbing wall, pony rides, and a batting cage for the bigger boys and girls to test their skills. Justin was already inside that one, whacking away as the balls came whizzing out of the chute. Jessica was over by the pony with Kacie, the two of them were feeding them some of the carrots set out in the bucket.
EJ thought he had seen it all, until the dance floor was being laid down, and the six piece band started setting up.
"Samantha!" he caught up to her, as she was giving final orders to the caterer who was working with Alfred the cook.
"Ok, yes, these canapés should be perfect, the shrimp cocktails should be kept in the frig inside, until 3, we don't want anyone getting ill!"
"Samantha, I am the one who is getting ill, this is not a party for two five year olds, this is bigger than our wedding reception!"EJ looked exasperated.
"Please, EJ, let me get this finished, go watch Justin bat, he has been waiting on you for an hour! He wants to show you how fast he can take a pitch!" She had really tried to keep the scope of the party under wraps from him, fearing just such a reaction!
"Why is all this necessary? A band? For a bunch of kids?"
"Well I am sure they would enjoy some good music too, but no, the band is for the parents to dance to." Sami looked at him with a 'please, EJ, let me get this back on schedule!' kind of look.
"Just how many are we to expect for this shindig?" EJ was starting to get worried, Samantha had never been know to be this extravagant, it was usually him who went top heavy for entertaining.
"I have RSVP's from two hundred and seventy five, but I have had Tippin calling for people I may have forgotten, EJ, I want everyone here who was so kind to us when we got back..I would feel awful if I slighted anyone!"
"Yes, that would be terrible if anyone in the town of Salem was forgotten" EJ shrugged, then went over to the batting cage. He knew there was nothing to be done about it now, but swore he would be more involved in the other twins birthday party. He looked in the box for a cricket bat, and finding none, he headed inside to get one, since he had never gotten the hang of the feel of an American bat.
Ace watched his brother for a bit, but baseball was not what he was interested in today. His mind was on the pile of presents, and he wanted to know if what was on his wish list was in the pile. Inky trailed alongside him, still a puppy in mind and soul, but the slight graying of his muzzle and his penchant for more and longer naps was evident to both Sami and EJ. Calling him to follow, Ace ruffled the neck of the little cocker who looked at him with a pair of black fringed brown eyes that melted with love.
Spying what he thought was the most likely package, Ace picked up the roundness of the wrapped gift and shook his fist in a YES! It was a sleeping bag, and when he looked at the pile, he counted out several more just like it. He had been bringing down the catalogue for a couple of weeks to pore over it and show the different pictures to his parents.
"See, we can sleep in this side of the tent, you and Mom take the middle, and Kace and Jess over here. We can cook on this stove, it is a Coleman! Then we cut wood for fires with this axe. We can catch fish to eat, and pick berries, take our baths in the lake! That would be so much fun!"
His enthusiasm had won over his brother and sisters. Mom and Dad however, were not quite so convinced.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like a new bike..or a trampoline.."Sami was not sure she was the camping type.
"Maybe it would be best to rent some kind of conveyance, like a motor home, or a travel trailer" EJ suggested hopefully, but knowing his son as he did, he figured it was a lost cause.
"No..that would not be real camping..I want to go real camping! Uncle Bo says it is the best way to do it, under the stars and out with the.."
"Bears and wolves" Sami had finished. Though in the end, they had agreed to give their son his wish.
That night in bed, EJ had pulled her in next to him, even though the night had been warm. "Have you ever been camping young lady?" he smoothed her hair, which had grown out to chin length, and was now worn in a sophisticated shaggy cut.
"Are you kidding? My idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn with no coffee shop!"
'How are we going to do this in a tent? With our children on either side of us?" he was slipping the straps of her nightgown down as he asked the question, and moved his lips to where the straps had been..
"EJ, we may have to..."she was going to say something, but his lips made her gasp, as she pulled him atop her to look him in the eye.
"have to what?, tell me..what will we do?" He was teasing her as he spoke.
"EJ, we may have to just wait to make love until we get back from the week of camping!"
"I knew I would hate it!"
Chapter II
Kate was with Carrie, sipping her cocktail while looking out at Victor on the dance floor with Hana.
"I do not understand that at all, he is acting like he thinks he is half his age!" Kate was perturbed enough at having been dragged to this overblown birthday party as it was, but Phillip had insisted they had to show for appearances sake.
"I think it is sweet, she takes such good care of him, like she did Lucas I hear". Carrie rather enjoyed sticking it to her former mother in law, remembering how she had been thrown aside by Austin, and how little Kate had supported her. At that moment, Lloyd came up to offer Carrie a glass of champagne. His arm slipped about her, and he whispered in her ear, asking her to join him on the dance floor. Matthew had a partner on the floor too, Kacie was dancing with him, standing upon his shoes as he moved around the floor and looking up at him adoringly. Besides her Daddy, Matthew was her second best guy. When she saw Carrie and Lloyd dance by them, she smiled and waved hi to her "Aunt Carrie and Uncle Lloyd.". She had acted as a flower girl at their wedding. Carries's heart still caught a bit when she saw her niece, but Carrie had accepted that this was the relationship she had with the little girl now, and she loved her as much as she ever had. With Sami and EJ, she had a quiet truce to help keep the relationship.
Kacie was dressed in a pale yellow frock, her pigtails tied at the ears with matching ribbons which she really hated! The chemo she had undergone three years ago had kept her hair from growing back very fast, still it was the pigtails that annoyed her the most! They came to just about ear level, and poked her constantly. She so wanted the long lustrous curls of Jessica, and Mom kept saying they would come, but it was taking so long! Matthew, though, he just smiled at her and said she was pretty, and he loved her dress, her hair, and the little white shoes that had the taps on the bottom! As she danced with him, she smiled out at Chelsea, not minding her competition for his heart this time.
Justin had come to sit next to his Popa John and Gran Marlena. He never understood why she was always so uncomfortable with him, but he withstood her stiffness to enjoy the company of Popa. They would talk baseball for as long as they could, and John would always start a pick catch game with him and whoever else wanted to play. Marlena seemed already wanting to leave, and John would ignore her signals until he saw she seemed too agitated to stand the pressure anymore. Her nervousness had less to do with what she felt towards the children, or any guilt she had, it was due to her nightmares about Kristen. John had held her in his arms several nights as she had begun screaming out his name to help her as she had remembered being in this very house with Kristen holding her prisoner in the room walled off from the wine cellar. When John walked off with Justin, she had felt the anxiety returning, so she slipped one of her pills out from her purse, swallowing it with a bit of the glass of wine she was sipping.
Only Kate had noticed Marlena taking the medication, and she smiled to herself with a bit of satisfaction. She had always wondered when exactly the weakness she always knew Marlena had would manifest itself.
"John deserting you again, you really should hold your man on a tighter leash, never know what he may get into if you don't."Kate did not wait for an invitation to sit, and Marlena did not extend one either.
"How have things been at the hospital? Any new neuroses cropping up?" her voice was calm and whispery, but Kate always had a venomous undertone.
"I have been working hard, if that is what you mean. The hospital is putting on additional staff next month though, we have a new psychologist coming on board from London. That should take some of the load off". Marlena was polite, not taking the bait that Kate was swirling under her nose.
"Wonderful, you look as though you need the rest. Well, I must run and mingle now, Sami might think I did not appreciate being invited if I don't ".
"She said she does not want to cut you out of Kacie'.s life, you were once her grandmother too."
"Yes, I remember. The things I do for my children, now I have only Philip who ignores me and Billie, who she wants nothing to do with me at all. I should never have bothered. Maybe my sons would still be alive" her voice and eyes went distant.
Philip danced with Annaliese, and she admired the ring on her finger. He had replaced her original one with one that had a couple more carats, and she now seemed satisfied.
"Soon, I want to make a baby with you Annaliese, and no more stalling!" His grip on her hand had gone from firm to cruel, and she yanked it away. This bargain she had made with this devil was turning out to make her pay a heavier price than she had counted when she had turned to him after Austin had been killed. Not only did she still have Kate as the mother in law from Hell, now she had the husband from the same part of the universe to contend with. His bitterness with his first wife carried over to her, and she had the bruises to prove it. When he saw Shawn and Belle glide past, his eyes had raked over Belle, making Annaliese laugh at him.
"La Belle, she is with her handsome husband, and looking most content. Pregnant again, and I spoke to her earlier..it is a son, mon ami! I guess they do not need to use the test tube method, they do things the old fashioned way!" her laugh in his ear was mocking of him and again, he gripped her cruelly, trying to hurt her as much as he could. However, she had tired of his games, and in a move she knew he would not anticipate, she had kicked out at his artificial leg, knowing it would go skidding across the floor, as he fell down, sprawling at the feet of Belle and Shawn.
Shawn had offered his hand, and Belle had retrieved the metal leg fitting, but Phillip had merely scowled, and ignored the outstretched palm. From Belle he took the leg, and struggled over to a chair, sitting and replacing the prosthesis once more. His face was red from the humiliation, and he would speak to no one as he reattached his leg. He glared as he saw EJ approach Annaliese.
"Interesting dynamic between the two of you. How long has it been this way between you love birds?"
She turned her cats green eyes upon EJ, sizing him up and finding him to be most pleasing to her predatory instincts.
"Mr. Wells..you do ask the most impertinent questions. However, I love impertinent questions..so the answer is...from probably the first time he ever made love to me..if you could call it that..he tends to make up for his inadequacies by playing rough..if you know what I mean".
"I do apologize, I had no intention of prying".
"Oh, well that is a shame, I was so looking forward to laying my life out for you to enjoy!"
"Yes, well, thank you, but I see my lovely wife is looking for me now..do excuse me" EJ beat the hasty retreat, but making mental notes of all she had said, and all he had seen. He had yet to deal with Phillip or Victor, living in the same town as them made them a bit more invulnerable. To come out and accuse them of being responsible for the deaths and the explosions at the Pub would have come as hard to believe for a community who though of them as pillars of the town, and major employers as well. EJ knew, as a patient man, there would come the right time to bring them down, no one could hide a crime like that forever.
Chapter III
To Sami, the party was coming together quite nicely, the children were enjoying all the activities, as were the adults. A party like this was a rarity in Salem anymore since the tragedy. It was time to bring them back. Sami had mourned for her grandparents, been shocked at the loss of both Lucas and Austin, but she wished them peace in their next lives. Bo and Hope had just finished rebuilding the Pub, and another party was going to be scheduled for the grand opening in October. Sami had offered to help with those festivities, and this was all good practice.
On her cue, the band had started up some country music, and she had run to get Hope, Chndler, Marlena, Maggie, Chelsea, Belle, Carrie and Billie out on the floor to start up some line dancing! The boot scooting boogie soon had fifty people out on the floor, with EJ and Harris standing on the sidelines clapping and laughing as Bo and John got totally messed up in the step sequence, but Sami, having none of that from the sidelines ran and pulled them into the action! When the abaya wearing Hana pulled Victor out onto the floor, it seemed as though miracles were occurring. Only Kate and Philip glared from the sidelines, as Annaliese made her way into the line.
"I told you what would happen if you married that little witch!" Hissed Kate.
"Unless you wanted to see your only grandson move back to Switzerland, you should be grateful that I kept them here!"
"Other ways could have been tried". Kate huffed, and Phillip knew what she meant, but for all that they were often at each others throats, Annaliese did have the power to excite him, he liked the bitch in her, and taming it was a challenge he enjoyed.
"And what of Hana? Has Victor turned her into a pet or something?" it was galling to see the old fool out there with that woman, and Kate felt it made him look especially idiotic with her still in that ridiculous fashion of dress.
"Pop said if I touched a hair on her head, he would see me out on the street driving a cab!" He also hated the influence the mously little woman exerted over his father. Almost any moment he had free, Victor wanted to be in her presence. He offered no apology for it, and dared anyone question him about why he felt this way about her. Phillip downed the beer and headed back for another.
Theo looked around, finally running into Zach and Justin at the batting cages. His mom had dropped him off, and drove off. She still hated being around crowds, preferring to sit at home alone, once in awhile talking on the phone with a caller she would never identify to him. Her legal problems had been fixed by Uncle EJ, but she still was unable to work. Theo had been assured by his uncle that he was going to take care of that, and soon Lexie would regain her respected place in the community.
"Your mother has suffered enough, Theo, and you need her to be able to raise and support you, with your father still ill. I will help her, just be patient."EJ put his arm about Theo's shoulders as he said all of this, then he had left him at the batting cages as he got back to Samantha and the party.
As they walked among the guests, arms about each others waists, they greeted and mingled with the people of Salem. It had been over a year since they had gotten to be a full fledged family again, and besides all of the struggle of pulling their lives back together, they had been deeply involved in getting Salem back together, a town that had been through so much since that horrible night. EJ and Sami had donated the money and land for a park memorializing those who had died that night, and it was soon to be dedicated.
The Brady Pub was reopening and Bo and Hope were going to operate it, with the help of Belle and Shawn. It had been a while in getting their lives back on track, Shawn had a lot of issues he had worked on over the last two years. Belle had been patient, and finally with the chance to run the business with her, and his Mom and Dad, he had conquered the anger that had plagued him as a young man. He would never be a business tycoon like Phillip, but he was happiest tinkering with a motor anyway.
Bo had left the dance floor after executing a credible "boot scoot' dance, to head over to talk to his father, Victor. He never really felt Victor was his Dad, but he was his Father. There was a difference, and they both knew it.
"Bo...nice party, I am enjoying it immensely." Victor was cool, but cordial. Hana, as always sat on the ground at his feet, looking up at him, trying to anticipate his every need. When his cigar seemed to have an ash ready to fall, she moved the ashtray to capture it.
"Yeah, Victor, this is quite a shindig..but I must say, I am surprised you would want to attend a birthday party for EJ and Sami's kids. Did not know the little snips meant that much to you!"
"They would be Carolines grandchildren as well, would they not, and you know how I felt about your mother..I loved her almost all my life..I still cherish her memory, and these children are her memory! I think Ace is almost the most fearless child I have ever heard of, and Kacie, well she is the image of Caroline to me!"
"Glad to hear you say that Victor, I would hate for anymore accidents to happen to anyone connected to the Brady family ever again."
"Bo, I would hate that as well..Hana, could you bring me a glass of iced tea, my dear?"
Bo watched the woman walk gracefully across to the bar area. "Personal question, but your relationship with Hana strikes a lot of people as rather odd, care to fill me in on what is going on with you and her?"
"She calms me down, and as the recipient of the heart of the man she loves, she feels Lucas lives on in me..I am the heart of Lucas, she says. It is nice to have someone who feels you can do no wrong Bo, it is comforting to have someone who just wants to be around you. Hana expects nothing from me, asks nothing of me, all she wishes is for me to be happy. It is lovely,. rather selfish of me sometimes, but I just can't give her up."
It was almost dusk when the two giant cakes were wheeled out, and the two guests of honor lined up to blow out candles and open gifts. When Ace got the the camping equipment he pumped his fist up and down, calling out "Yes!" His dream was going to come true with a trip to the Yosemite National Park.
Kacie was rewarded with her fondest wish too, in the person of a small bundle of fur that Inky was also interested in. A new puppy had joined the Wells household. Tan and pink tongued, the little golden lab promised to grow into her paws in no time at all, but for now, Kacie could hold her with no trouble, as the puppy licked and gave the wet nose of love to her new mistress. Tippin, of course, remembering the old housebreaking ordeals with Inky forced his smile to beam on his little mistress. Ahh well, life in this house was at least never dull..always a new challenge!
Chapter IV
She put her valise up in the overhead, vowing to never again fly coach. The two seats in her row were already occupied with one very overweight lady who was taking up a seat and a half, and the other seat was filled by a young boy who looked to be about seven. It was soon apparent they were mother and son, nd giving a sigh of resignation, she resolved to make the best of a bad situation As she sat down in the aisle seat, the woman on the inside next to the window decided she had to use the loo. Her smile was stretched across her face, but she decided this might be a time to ask if the woman would rather have the aisle. The gratitude on her face was all the answer needed by Kristen. Settling herself in next to the window, it was more comfortable now, and she would not be as disturbed if the woman had to move again.
She wanted the time to study her new identity, get familiar with all the jargon she would have to use as the newest staff psychologist on staff at Salem University. Buying a new identity was never cheap, but this identity had cost a kings ransom. Stefano had not balked when she told him she needed a lot of money. After all, what is money for, if not to help the ones you love. What she planned to do with it, he did not care, there was so little left of amusement in his life since Ace had left, his considerable assets were at her disposal. Soon she was equipped with a degree, a phony but verifiable work history, and letters of reference from some very esteemed colleagues who knew what was good for them.
The flight into Salem would be twelve hours and a few minutes. Though she might have preferred silence and the chance to study the young boy immediately started a conversation with her, so rather than fight it she used it to practice her newfound accent, and her new identity. To her delight though,he proved to be a source of invaluable information.
"Hi, I'm Andy, I go to school in Salem..do you live in Salem, are you from Salem, what is your name? Does that hurt?" he was pointing to the severe bun her black hair was pinned into.
"Well hello Andy, I am glad to make your acquaintance. No, this hairstyle is one that is necessary for my profession, I need to look like I am in charge, "she laughed as she said it, but was thinking, maybe I should let my hair down just a bit, come to think of it, I am in a slight bit of pain.
" My name is Doctor Antonia LaDierma, and yes I am going to be living in Salem..but I am not from Salem, I have lived and studied in London for quite some time, but I am originally from Florence, Italy. Have you learned about Florence in your Geography classes?"
"Sorry Lady, I am just in the third grade, never heard of that one. But we went to see my Grandma in London..now I have to come back and go to school next month. I go to school in Salem at Roman Brady Elementary. It got named after a cop who died. I go to school with his grandson and granddaughter. Justin is my best friend, he has a sister her name is Jessica. She is pretty, but I told Justin not to tell her I said that!
"Oh, so you go to Roman Brady Elementary school, and your best friend is Justin, would that be Justin Wells?"
"Yeah, how did you know that?" Andy was surprised. "We are on the same soccer team too, he is really good at it."
"Andy, I used to watch EJ Wells race a long time ago, and I still keep on his career from time to time. But tell me more about your friends! What is Jessica like, besides being very pretty!?'
It was a long conversation, and soon she was asking him and his mother to please call her Antonia..it was her way of getting used to the alias. Being a natural actress was second nature to her, and soon she found herself actually believing her name was Antonia.
"You have spent the night with the family of the race driver, EJ Wells? Ohh, my, what does their house look like..is it very big?"
"Yes, it is monstrous big! It used to be a bad guys house, but not now. It was the DiMera house, lots of people got kilt there, but it is ok now!"
"Oh, yes I have heard there was supposed to be lots of tunnels and secret passages there! Have you ever seen anything like that there?"
"No, mamm, Justin and Jessica said their daddy fixed all that. He was afraid they might get locked up or sumpin..but they do have a big swimming pool, and some dunes for riding motor bikes. Their mom kinda does not like it when we do that, but Mr. Wells says it is ok, long as we follow all the rules. I just love going to their house. I would go there when we get home, but they are gonna be gone on a camping trip til just before school starts!"
"Camping? I have never been camping. Where do they go camping at?"Antonia was keenly interested in this bit of information.
"Well, Justin said he thought it would be at Yosemite. His dad bought some land near there, so they was gonna go see it, then go in. They are backpacking in on horses! That sounds like so much fun! Justin says they gotta take their own food, and keep it away from the bears! I could keep bears away, know how to do it Antonia?"
"I'm sure I have not a clue! How do you keep bears away/"
As Andy gave out his plan for scaring bears away, her mind traveled to the myriad tunnels of escape Stefano had laid out in the old DiMera Mansion. Unless EJ was still involved in a lot of construction projects on the house, there was no way he could have blocked them all. The Wells family would also be gone for awhile on this camping trip. It was almost as though a higher power or a lower one was making this all so much easier for her than she had hoped it could be!
The child finally had slept, and his mother had pulled a blanket over him. Kristen complimented her on what a nice boy he was, and she had beamed.
'Yes, he is a handful sometimes, but he is a good boy, we lost his father awhile back. There was a terrible bombing of a local pub. He was just there to give a friend who had had a bit too much to drink a lift home, and got caught up in it. This friend of his he was talking about, Justin..well his Mom and Dad have been so good to us. Paid for this trip to see my mom, my Andrews funeral expenses, and gave me a job even. Those folks are a blessing to Salem. They may be from DiMera stock, but all they have been is good for the town of Salem, just fine folks!"
"Well then, I hope I quickly learn to know them! I will be working with Mrs. Wells mother you know, Dr. Marlena Evans!"
Chapter V
The porters unloading the Mythic Jet were used to a lot of sights, but to unload a bunch of camping equipment from a luxury private jet was a first for all of them. Fresno Airport was a small one, and soon, many of the employees were also checking out this strange sight.
Tippin was fretting, there was no way the family could possibly survive this week, and he was loathe to let them go off on their own like this. However the Mr.'s instructions were written, and he was to follow them to the letter. He was only to check off that all the items were loaded onto the top of the rented SUV, and then let them go off on their own as a family on a camping adventure. Tippin was to wait at a local hotel, and they would contact him when they were on their way back down from the wilderness. She was doing her best not to show it, but Tippin could see the Mistress was worried as well.
"You there, be sure the tent is secure, and those sleeping bags, tie them up tight now!"
"Tippin, it says from this point on the map on there is no cell service, what if we have an emergency?"
"Please don't have one madam, just please don't!"
EJ came up just then, after finishing another business related call. "Well, now,looks like we are all loaded up..Tippin, great job as usual! Shall we do a nose count, then carry on?"
"Line up now my little soldiers!" EJ called out to the kids. Ace was first in line, holding the dancing Inky on his leash. Kacie had fought for the right to bring Sophie, her little lab who was already bigger than Inky! Justin was helping her to control the puppy, who was threatening to yank her down the tarmac with her enthusiasm and happiness at being off the plane. Jessica was last down the stairs, as she had spent a lot of time in the cockpit, she was dreaming of being a pilot already!
Tippin stood and waved them off. Be still, he told himself, it is only a week! What could possibly go amiss in one short week?
"Daddy how much further? When do we get to the horse camp? How many more miles?"
"Well now Ace, it is approximately sixty eight miles which will take us a little over an hour depending on traffic" EJ was patience itself as he gave Ace this information.
Ten minutes later as they made it onto the freeway onramp from the airport came the plaintive plea of Kacie, "Daddy, I hafta go pee pee!"
As EJ waited for all four of the kids and Samantha to emerge from the station bathroom, his watch showed they were only slightly off schedule. He took the time to walk the dogs, and give them both some water. When everyone was back into the car, he again made his way onto the on ramp. Ten miles up the road, the second shoe dropped!
"EWWWW! Daddy! Daddy! Stop the car, stop it now!"Sophie is throwing up"Jessica sounded the alarm as the pup's digestive track had taken all it could with the plane ride, the car ride and the strange water.
It only took and hour to clean out the car, change the clothes of Jessica and Kacie who had taken the brunt of the bilious assault and they were once again on their way.
Sami was taking most of this in stride, as this was almost every day stuff to her as the designated soccer mom. She could see him begin to grip the wheel in a white knuckled way.He led a very disclipined life most times, things were just expected to go his way. His household ran on rails, that was what he paid Tippin for. The children were mostly neat and tidy, he tolerated some muss, but an animal throwing up in his car was not his usual circumstance. Checking the GPS on the dash, Sami prayed the remaining miles would go without a hitch.
"I don't friggin believe this!" EJ was fuming as Samantha came up to caution him on his language in front of the children. The back tire was flat, not only flat, but with a big flap of rubber hanging loose.
"Don't worry, Daddy, I can help. I help Harris with the quads all the time!" and Justin was as good as his word as he found the tool to unscrew the brackets holding the spare under the vehicle carriage. To the relief of EJ, it was a proper tire, not a blasted doughnut! Sleeves rolled up, he began to take the lug nuts off the flat tire, and get the new one situated on the car. In almost no time at all they were rolling again, but EJ knew they needed to find a station and purchase another tire.
"It says here there is a town just about eight miles up, called Coarsegold! I bet we can get a tire there honey!"
"Daddy, how much further? How many more miles, what time is it? What time do we get to the horse camp? I'm hungry, we got any snacks?"Ace it seemed was always in a growth spurt nowadays, and it was impossible to get him satisfied!
EJ was thinking back to what Samantha had said about it probably not being a good idea for them to make love during the week they would be sharing the tent with the kids. He found the solace of Samantha to always be a balm for what ever ailed him during the day. Groaning aloud at the thought of what he was going through now, he wondered if there might be a headline reading "Father Goes Mad, Eats Entire Family!" by the end of the week!
Chapter VI
As soon as she had cleared the customs and was on the way to baggage, she stopped to listen to the page: "Doctor Antonia LaDierma, white courtesy phone please!"
"This is Doctor LaDierma" she waited to see who was on the line, as she had made no arrangements.
"Hello Doctor, this is John Black, my wife is Doctor Marlena Evans, your soon to be colleague. She asked me to pick you up, and get you to your hotel. Cabs can be hard to come by this time of the evening.
"Oh, my, I am so sorry to put you to this kind of trouble..but thank you, I was worried about how to find my way around, you are too kind!"
"Hey, you are gonna be my lifesaver, keep my wife from working all the hours on the clock! I will meet you at baggage carousel 7A, that is where your flight is unloading, I think you will recognize me, I am about six foot two, and wearing the black shirt and grey pants."
'Well, yes, I think I will know you then Mr. Black, besides, I think I saw a picture of you and Doctor Evans in my information packet anyway!" she hung up the phone, smiling to herself..oh John, my darling, I would know you in the dark!
Heading towards the carousel, she pulled the pins from her bun, and shook her hair down. The horrible cut given to her by Sami in the prison had grown out quite a bit, and what was not natural, was supplemented by extensions. She now sported a jet black head of hair, swinging down to the middle of her back. It was straight, but with an excellent cut, and the color worked with her blue green eyes. The hairbrushes quick strokes made it frame her face very attractively. The lipstick she applied completed the picture, and even though she had spent twelve uncomfortable hours on a plane, she looked very calm, cool, and collected as she went forward to meet the only man she had ever loved, and still loved. How long would it take to make him love her as well? Not too long once Marlena was removed from the picture.
John was leaning laconically against one of the pillars next to the baggage area. When she saw him, once again she felt that old familiar quickening of her heart. To long for someone for this many years and finally see them in the flesh, but not be able to just throw yourself into their arms was a form of torture worse than anything the sheikh had ever put her through. It was a hell that only thinking and dreaming of this moment had ever assuaged. She had fought so hard for John, fought hard and dirty. This time would be different though, she would win! A DiMera always won in the end. It was but a matter of time, and the right plan!
"Doctor LaDierma? My, Marlena did not tell me how beautiful you were!" John was always gallant, and he did mean it, for she was a very attractive lady. Even when she put the glasses on, it only added a trace of intelligence to the patrician face.
"A pleasure to meet you Mr. Black, and as I said, it is so appreciated for you to fetch me at such an hour! I am to be staying at a suite at the Salem Inn, I understand it is just around the corner from the hospital, so that will be convenient! Oh, look, we are in luck, those are my bags there!"
The conveyance was loaded up, and John laughed as he counted them up. "You must have really paid a lot to exceed the baggage allowance, it may have been cheaper just to charter a plane!"
" A lady needs to be properly accessorized Mr. Black, and who knows when I will get time to shop if your wife is a busy as you say", it was amazing to her how they could talk like this, so easy with each other. That was how it was before. Before Marlena had to ruin everything.
At the Inn, the porter took her bags up, and she turned once again to John.."please, may I buy you a drink, it would help me relax too..unless you are in a hurry?" her voice was persuasive, and John thought 'why not", Marlena was asleep anway, and he was a little keyed up himself. A drink sounded like a good idea.
She had a hard time believing how easily this was happening. His beer was left on the table, and he excused himself to use the mens room. Well, she thought, I may never get a chance as good as this one, so why not? She put the small drop of the drug in his beer, and used the swizzle stick from her drink to mix it in. Leaning back in her chair, she sipped her Cosmopolitan as she tapped her raptor fingernails on the glass. When his smile changed as he looked at her, she reached under the table to grasp his thigh. This was a drug used by the sheikh to enhance his ardor when he was sorely in need of it, but also a drug that added forgetfulness to the mix. A man under its influence did not remember he had a wife, and if he did, he would not care.
John's breath became heavier, and he took her hand to kiss the inside of her wrist. Now it was her turn to feel the excitement. She stood, pulling her skirt down, and reached for his hand. The elevator doors had barely closed when she fell on him, and he pulled her against him in a frenzied dance of pure animal need. When the doors opened they ran for the room as her fingers fumbled with the card key, until he took it from her in exasperation, and slid it to make the green light appear.
He tore open the buttons to her jacket and blouse, hiking up her skirt, and ripping the underwear away. The moment of passion was over quickly, and with it, John's sanity returned, along with a guilt that threatened to make him physically ill.
"What did you do to me?"His voice was accusing as he leveled his eyes on her, the eyebrow lifting. He seemed to be figuring something out, but could not quite put all the puzzle pieces together.
"I think, from the evidence in here, my clothing, these bruises, I should be asking you that question..John Black!"
The gun she had hidden in her luggage was now out, and pointed at him. "I had not thought to take you so soon, but when opportunity presents itself, my father always said, be prepared to act!"
'I do not think you are big enough to make me go anywhere whoever you are?"
"I know, I am not big enough..but Raphael is." And the gentlman who had been hiding in the bathroom area, and who had been highly amused by the antics he had been listening to came out, knocking John to the floor with the crunchion held in his hand.
Chapter VII
The clocks alarm went off at six thirty, and Marlena rolled over to seek the warmth of John in the bed. Startled at not finding him, she opened her eyes and saw the bed had not been disturbed on his side. Sitting up in the bed, she looked about for any sign he had been in the room at all last night. Seeing none, she put on her robe and headed down the stairs. Maybe he had been later than he had planned on, and had not wished to awaken her when he came to bed.
He was not downstairs either. She was trying to stay even minded about this, she did not need to be taking the medication this early, it would only exerbate the problem. Still, the edges of the ocean of panic were lapping at her feet, and she knew she had only a short time to keep from drowning it's waves. The pill was in her purse, she just had to make it over to the purse, open the purse, find the pill box and open it. That was all she had to do, but with John gone, it was harder and harder..where was the purse? Where did she leave it? It was on the desk, she fumbled with the clasp, and then it fell from her hands, spilling the contents on the floor, but worse, the pill box had flown under the sofa. Crawling on her hands and knees, she found it, and as she was about to lose her breath in the final spasm of the full blown panic attic, she managed to get the pill into her mouth!
It did not matter that the pill would not be taking effect for a few minutes at best, the fact that she had managed to get it into her mouth at all was a miracle. John should have been here with her! He knew he had to be with her when this happened or at least within phone distance. Where was he?
He woke up rubbing the back of his head, as he recalled the blow that had felled him. It hurt, and so did his conscious. He was now lying on a bed, but he was no longer in the hotel suite. The room was contained but had no door he could discern, or windows, and the only furnishing was this bed, and a stainless steel toiliet and sink in the corner. he could see the sun was just coming up. His watch showed him it was half past six, and he reached for his pants pocket to retrieve his phone.
"Mr. Black, I would not bother, your phone is in good hands. Mine." The mans voice had a slight Italian accent, and it mocked him. John decided it would be best not to take it to heart, just ask some questions, see if he got any answers.
"What in the hell do you want with me? And who is your boss lady?"
"Well, John, my darling, what I want is you. I want you back. That is all I have ever wanted."
"Kristen..."John had the puzzle partly solved, but he knew many pieces were still missing. His head still ached, and the pain reliever they had given him took effect once more and he slept on.
"Is my husband's car in the parking garage?" the question did not seem all that difficult to answer, and Marlena was about to be sharp with the attendant who finally was able to tell her no.
"Are you positive?" she did not mean to badger, but she had to have an answer. The terror was threatening to come back, and she needed John now!
"Doctor Evans, it don't look like he came back in last night to park..sorry ma'am, if I see him I'll shore tell him you need him right away..ok ma'am?' the attendant could sense the agitation in her voice, but gee whillikers, his job was to park the cars, not keep tabs on the owners!
Now the panic ocean was engulfing her, she had one more thought. John went to pick up Doctor LiDierma, she dialed the Salem Inn, and asked to be put through to that room. The device in the phone rolled it over to Kristens cell, but she saw the caller and answered "Doctor LaDierma here..who is this please..it is frightfully early!"
'Oh, oh, Doctor LaDierma,I do apologize for waking you, I know you had a long trip..but this is Marlena Evans here, I see you made it to the Salem Inn...good, but did my husband make it there to pick you up?"
"Umm no, was he supposed to? I have my assistant, Raphael with me, he rented a car, and brought me back to the suite. It is lovely too, thank you for finding me such wonderful accommodations! I love it here!"
"Oh, I must have given him the wrong flight information,"covering quickly, Marlena then said, "Well, Doctor LiDeirma.."
"Antonia, please, just call me Antonia!" Kristen smiled, she could almost see the torment on her rivals face through the phone, it was so pleasing to hear it after all these years she had suffered.
"Well, then Antonia, please let me have you for a lunch meeting on Thursday, that will give you time to rest and get settled, and you call me Marlena. I will have my secretary call and confirm. Sorry I can't chat longer, I must get off and get going on my day!"
"Of course, Marlena, I need to get on with mine as well". Kristen closed her phone and looked once again at the sleeping John. It would be a three day session, but by that time, he would be ready to do what he should have done years ago. Kill Marlena, and love the woman who was destined to be his soul mate! Her!
Chapter VIII
The arrival at the camp where they would pick up the horses that would take them into the back country was only two hours behind schedule. EJ had made up a lot of time, his ability to drive even the cumbersome SUV on the mountain roads in a swift and smooth manner had been helped along by the fact that the kids had all fallen asleep. EJ had popped a classic opera CD into the player and listening to it had calmed his edgy nerves considerably. As the tragic lamentations of Tosca discovering her beloved Cavardossi dead filled the interior of the car, the last bend in the road was rounded, and EJ pulled into the meadow where the horse camp and lodge lay like a beacon and an end to this really horrid day!
"Good to see you all got here safely, I was about to send out a search party" the host of the camp was already helping them to unload the gear, and handing it off to his helper. The kids all woke up, and piled out of the car, each one going in a different direction, with Sami hot on their tails, as visions of them lost in the woods edging the meadowed area filled her with dread.
"I wanta go pet the horsies!" Kacie was tugging at her mothers arm.
"I'm hungry, when do we eat?" Ace grabbed onto her other arm.
"Justin, Jessica..get the dogs back here! Put the leashes on them!" Sami saw the animals had gotten loose from the car and were excitedly heading towards the area where the horses were corralled.
'Ok kids, I am Jake, and this is Mikey, and you are gonna get one heck of a meal tonight, so have your ma take you up to the lodge there, wash up, and come on over to the chuck wagon over there, and our cookie will fix you all right up!"
The smells coming from that mobile kitchen were wafting over to them now, a blend of savory smells that was making their mouths water, and the kids eagerly headed in to cleanup. The novelty of this adventure was really getting to them now, they were going to eat out of a chuck wagon!
"Mr. Wells, I hope you all get a good nights sleep, we generally feed you breakfast at about five thirty in the morning, and at first light the horses set out to the camp in the back country."Jake gave these instructions with a tone of 'this is how it is around here, so follow my rules!'
"Oh, I am sure we will all sleep like babies. It has been a most trying day!" EJ turned to survey the entire property. He had purchased the land and the lodge recently, planning to keep it as a nature reserve, allowing only limited access to make sure it stayed unspoiled. From what he could see, Jake was a competent and conscientious steward, which meant he would be keeping his job. The lodge where they would spend the night was of a simple log construction, with a highly pitched roof of tin to make the snow slide off easier. It seemed in good repair, along with the outbuildings. A cheerful window box was filled with summer flowers, pansies, and a few snap dragons to make for a more homey look. EJ approved.
It was a lovely meadow area, green still for August, and the profusion of wildflowers with the lavender and gold contrasting with the green of the meadow grass was reminiscent of some of the meadow of the higher areas of Italy or Switzerland. Surrounded by the forested ridges of the Sierra Mountains, EJ could picture why Ansel Adams had love photographing this area, and the Yosemite Valley. It was beautiful, and EJ started to feel a lot better about this camping trip!
Dinner was eaten around the campfire, plates perched on laps, while they listened to Jake play his banjo, and sing some old campfire songs. The barbecued brisket, beans, biscuits and coleslaw were followed by some slices of apple pie with cream that even the weight conscious Sami devoured. Some of the other guests who were camping out in the adjacent camp grounds came to join the festivities. The evening went by very fast, and when bedtime came, there was no protest from the Wells kids, they trooped in to the bunk beds lining the main hall and once Mom and Dad had come round to tuck each one in, and kiss them all good night, it was off to dreamland.
EJ turned then to Samantha, "I think a nice shower would be the perfect end to this day, how about you Mrs. Wells?"
"I would love that Mr. Wells..after you?"
"No, this is the wilderness, and we need to conserve all resources. I cannot see wasting water, so we should, in the interests of conservation of course, shower together!" He emphasized his point by picking her up and carrying her into the bathroom.
Before he set her down, he gave her a long, lingering kiss. Her nose wrinkled, and he gave her a questioning look.
"You still smell a bit like puppy puke, but on you darling , it is sexy!" She kissed him, then, unbuttoning his shirt while he watched. It amazed him how she had the power to excite him by just that simple act. Her fingers on his skin were cool, but each place they touched began to burn. Controlling himself, though, he turned on the water to warm up before they finished undressing.
Sami laughed as they finished toweling each others backs, "I don't think that showering together saves a lot of water".
"It might not save water, but it saved my sanity! You are the best relaxing agent I have going for me, my love, a triple martini has nothing to compare with you!"
'Well, I hope that is enough for you for a few days, we can't be doing this sharing a tent with our kids" she giggled.
EJ swallowed hard as he remembered her admonition. "Well, then, maybe since we do have our own room for this night, we should continue this discussion in there, and see what it leads up to."
"EJ, we do need to get some sleep, I mean breakfast at 5:30? I cannot imagine what would taste good at that time of the morning!"
"Sleep is highly overrated, and we may just work up an appetite!" He pulled her naked body against his own, kissing her as he pushed her towards the bedroom.
Chapter IX
"Hey! Time to rise and shine..kids are up and raring to go! Mr. Wells, Mrs. Wells..breakfast is on, coffee is hot. See you in five minutes, time's a wasting!" Jakes cheery voice was like chalk on a blackboard to EJ, and he pried his eyelids open with his finger. The watch on the side table was barely readable in the darkness of the room until he switched on its light feature. Groaning, he saw it was indeed o'dark thirty something., and he slapped Samantha on the rump to rouse her, as she was very able to ignore most signals to awaken.
Slapping his hand away, she pulled the covers tighter around her in a classic tuck and roll maneuver. Now he would not be able to use his tickle torture against her, she had learned a few tricks in sleeping with him all these years. EJ decided the only way to win the battle was to employ the full on rip all covers off attack!
"Damn you, it is freezing in here!"She was now awake, rubbing her eyes, and other sore spots. It had been a very vigorous night. He tossed her the jeans she was planning on wearing, along with the other things she had laid out.
"Hurry up darling, the children are out there with Jake, and he may need protection!"
Thinking of the poor man in the clutches of Ace propelled Sami into her jeans and flannel shirt. Tucking it in, belting it, she turned to EJ for his opinion.
"You are magnificent as always! I am so happy to see your butt back the way it should be!"
"Thank you, I think. Wow! You look like a picture out of a Western, you know..Handsome Stranger!" she laughed, as the grouchiness of early morning left her and the excitement of this new experience with her family began to entertain her mind. There was always something new to write about with her family now!
"Okay folks, now listen up good, this is a wonderful way to see the back country, but we want ya'all to come back here safe and sound in five days ok?"
Justin was very attentive. He saw himself as second in command after EJ in protecting his Mom and brother and sisters. When Jake said to never leave out food stuffs they were not eating, explaining about the bears, Justin listened. When Jake told them the dogs must not ever be off leash, as bears were not fond of dogs, but mountain lions found them to be good eating, Justin listened.
EJ knew all of this from the reading he had done, but was proud to see his eldest son take such an interest in keeping all of them safe. Ace and Kacie were still too excited about the prospect of getting to ride a horse to listen to anything. Jessica was exercising her responsibility of seeing that the dogs were fed, walked, then put into the crate that would set atop the small wagon the pack horses would be pulling with all the equipment.
'It will take you about four hours to get to the site we picked for you. You might see a few hikers out there, nothing much else 'cept the occasional bear, or wolf, lots of deer, maybe a mountain lion. Don't worry, they all got plenty of food out there, so they ain't likely to wanna munch on ya'all. Keep your food in the bear lockers, and you should be fine."
Sami looked at EJ, the worry on her face showing, but he smiled in his confident way, and whispered into her ear, "I am the only wolf who may munch on you darling, relax, this is all perfectly safe. We are going to have an amazing time! Look at the kids, they are loving this! This is going to be a vacation we will remember all our lives."
"Why does that worry me?" was her thought, but she gamely put her foot into the stirrup of the dappled horse chosen for her and followed behind EJ. The two youngest were on smaller ponies, Kacie had gotten the blonde palomino colored one, Ace the chestnut. Justin and Jess were seated upon two white mares, and EJ had the jet black stallion. He was known to be the most intelligent animal on the place, and all agreed that their Dad looked almost as good as Zorro sitting astride the horse.
All were tethered together, and the horses knew where they were heading. They seemed to be willing enough to stay to the marked trail, the reason being they knew the campsite was their feeding station. Many treats awaited them there, carrots, sugar lumps, apples as well as some tasty oats. This was where they got their reward instead of the tedious hay fed them at the lodge. Ace and Kacie were looking forward to hand feeding their little ponies! The dogs yapped for awhile as they were pulled along, but finally they lay quietly, just watching the world go by or napping once in a while.
It was a moderate climb from the meadow floor to the alpine lake setting where the camp was waiting for them. Ace had already taken out his toy laser pistol, and was taking aim at the bandits he saw lurking behind every boulder. His imagination, and his inkling to want to be a secret agent man when he grew up were in full manifestation as he found and eliminated all the bad guys in the area. Kacie spent her time looking around, and fondly petting the mane of the horse. Jessica was trying out her new digital camera, and Justin was keeping a lookout for any and all dangers lurking out on the trail.
The hours of the ride went quickly, and when they reached the lakeshore, the horses led them down to the wooded area with a small clearing. They could see the fire circle, and the stack of cordwood that marked the spot they would camp out. EJ got the tent up quickly, with Justin and Ace's assistance. Both his sons were quick studies. Ace hammered in the stakes, while Justin and EJ tackled the job of lifting the tent onto the poles. The girls both pitched in making up the air mattresses with the sleeping bags, and Sami unpacked the foodstuffs into the bear proof locker.
"Why didn't we get a bear proof tent" she thought while setting the lock.
By the time the camp was fully pitched, it was time for some lunch. This meal had been packed by the lodge, and consisted of some meats and cheeses, bread, fruit, and bottled water. When it was finished, Justin dutifully collected all the trash in the bags provided. Everything hauled in was to be hauled out. There was also a bear proof area to collect rubbish in.
'So what do we have on for dinner" Sami asked of EJ, she figured he had it well in hand. When he pointed out to the lake, and the poles she got that worried look again. "EJ, what if we don't catch any thing, we cannot starve them!"
"The lake is stocked, apparently you just throw a hook out and fish jump on!"
By evening the catch consisted of a four inch trout that was not legal and had to be thrown back in. Dinner became pancakes from the mix, no butter, syrup that you had to make by mixing it with water, and a can of pork and beans. Water had to be drawn from the lake, boiled, then you add one of the tablets provided to purify it. The campfire was finally started, and the round of songs they sang were a lively way to end an evening that despite not being gourmet food was quite fun. When they all crawled into their sleeping bags, they were looking forward to the adventures awaiting them all the next day!
It was late into the night when Sami woke to the sound of her sleeping bag being unzipped. EJ's hand crept in to caress her, and she turned to him in exasperation. "What are you doing EJ, oh god, I know what you are doing..please..we can't"..
"Darling, I need you, desperately..please," and he continued his caress, smiling as he felt her giving in to her own need.
"The children..EJ..oh my.."her hands were now unzipping his side and beginning their own explorations.
"We will be quiet, I promise.."and she was not refusing him anymore, but helping him along.
"Daddy..daddy..hey, don't shake her, she's tired!" Ace was sitting on his haunches by their air mattress, he had to go to the bathroom, and could someone please take him huh?
Chapter X
Marlena made her self get ready for work and head into the office. It would not do for her colleagues to start diagnosing her. She knew what she had, and she was treating it on her own. Knowing John would have disapproved, she kept that part from him, as far as he knew, another doctor on staff was administering her meds, and giving her counseling. Her hands shook as she took out another of the small pink pills she had been taking. If it had been her own patient, she would have been alarmed at what was going on, but this was different. she knew what she was doing.
Once in the office, she closed the door, leaned against it, wiping the sweat off her brow with a Kleenex. She looked at the phone, and finally decided she did have to call someone, but who? The only one she could think of who would not call in the police would be Bo Brady. It just would not do to have the police coming in to this just yet, what if John was just wanting time to himself? She had not been the easiest person to live with for the past year. The trauma of knowing Kristen was out there somewhere, just biding her time was making her life a living hell. She did not think that Kristen would come to exact revenge, she knew it. The only question was how and when. Daring not to voice what was really frightening her was what if is was now, and John was missing because of that? The idea was ridiculous, she knew that, but it did not stop her from thinking about it anyway.
"Jenny, please make sure I save a luncheon appointment on Thursday for the new Doctor, her name is Doctor La Dierma, get us reservations at Chez Rouge for around twelve thirty. Marlena looked at her blackberry to see if there was anything else she needed to remember. Then she dialed Bo's number.
'Hey Marlena, what's up?" Bo was up on a ladder doing some last minute adjusting of the new ceiling fans he had installed in the Pub.
She had not meant to lose it, but it was so hard nowadays, and with John not here, the thought and the fear she had that Kristen was coming finally broke down her walls, and she sobbed into the phone, which caught Bo off guard. He climbed down from the ladder, and began asking her questions.
"He hasn't called, and did not come home last night? The woman he was supposed to pick up says he did not show up at the airport? Ok..look, let me check with airport security, if he got there his car will be on the films. If he calls you, though, let me know ok, so I won't have to pull any strings and bring attention to it anyway."
Kristen lay down next to John, administering the drug once again, as Raphael looked on. "I suppose I should make some arrangements to take care of those films at the airport. No problem with them seeing him come in, we just don't want them seen leaving with you. As for the bartender downstairs, well, we won't have much to worry about with him. I thought I saw the manager interviewing someone else as I came up."
"I have always admired your efficiency Raphael, I am going to need a lot of that in the next couple of days. John's programming is very deeply imbedded now, he is probably the only mind controlled pawn who was ever able to shake it off. I cannot believe I helped him to overcome that..if I had not, he would be mine even now. He is all I have ever wanted you know, and soon he will be mine. I am going to make him so happy..and now..what is the status of the diamonds..is the sale complete?"
"Oh yes, we got top price for them, and the money is being wired from London probably as we speak. You will not be hurting in that department. Now, if he is properly conditioned, we need to begin his reindoctrination." Raphael had a speciality. He was not muscle, but could act that way in a pinch as long as the element of surprise was with him as it had been last night. Raphael was more of a mental expert. He knew what triggered a persons mind to respond the way it was supposed to. The right drugs, the right suggestions, the right stimulus, and anyone could become what John once was. An assassin who killed who he was told to kill. He did not ask why, that was not in the program.
The images projected now into Johns brain were wrenchingly painful, horrid to watch, but as the images kept coming, more brutal and bloody by the second, from the first reaction of dread and horror came the first smile of pleasure.
"That was quicker than I had thought possible, he is almost ready. Damn! I do good work don't I?'
John opened his eyes, looked at Kristen with no sense of remembering he had a wife who was waiting for him, he only had eyes for Kristen at this moment. He knew instinctively who she was, and he knew he loved her. Her hand reached out to stroke his face, and he covered her hand with his own, turning his cheek into the coolness she offered. This felt as right as he could ever imagine. He felt as though he was home. After so many years of fighting who and what he really was, he was once again himself. Sleep overtook him again, as the programming was an exhaustive process. Most who underwent it lost ten percent of their body weight in sweat and other bodily fluids. The pan next to his bed had caught most of what he had thrown up, and Raphael removed it to the bathroom to clean up the mild stench.
"Will you be alright here while I take care of security at the airport?"
"I will be perfectly fine, take your time, but do it right. No loose ends for my father to have to fret about. You know he was not keen on this idea. Then again, he owed me big time as you know!" Kristen had been left to languish in a prison, after having spent a lot of time in the harem of a sheikh who had thrown her aside for a younger, but dumber woman. Kristen had paid him back by making sure she embezzled a good deal of his oil profits, diverting them to one of her fathers accounts.
It had finally come to Stefanos notice what she had done, so he had arranged for her "release". God what a bunged up job that had been too! If she had not been quick on her feet, and able to converse in Turkish, she might still be rotting in that hell hole. A year of being free, studying, and changing her appearance and accent was how she kept busy. It was also a time to arrange her new identity. It amused her for her name to be an anagram of DiMera, would the very stupid Marlean figure it out before she died? Kristen really hoped in a way, the last thought in the mind of her rival would be the realization of who she had lost her life to.
Raphael pulled over next to the River, looked about to make sure he was not going to be observed, The body of the bartender was weighted down and stuffed into a plastic bag. It made a splash as it hit the rivers surface, bobbed about a second, then sank beneath the swirling waters. He then donned the uniform of an airport security detail. He so loved some aspects of the Homeland Security Act. It made many things easier on him, since everyone assumed that everyone else was assuming it was an act guaranteeing security! Within two hours, he had erased every system in the place for the prior twenty four hours. No one would want to admit this had happened on their watch, so the implication would be that nothing at all had happened during that time. Raphael understood how well the psychology of cover my own ass worked in all workplaces.
Now if any one cared to investigate where John had really been, there would be nothing to show he had ever been at the airport. It was all taken care of. Raphael pulled off the uniform in the mens room, and put on his own clothes for the drive back to the Inn. He had earned his five thousand a day fee today and then some.