CHAPTER 9

NEW SCENE

"Lobster cob salad, please" Gina smiles up at the waiter, as she hands him her menu.

"Quant little village, you have here John… What was it like growing up here…?"

John smiles, handing his menu back to the waiter as well. He ordered a stake, medium-rare.

"Same as anywhere else, I suppose… Leopold… My father, treated me much the same as Stefano did. Trust only goes as far as your training… The Allamains are treated like royalty in this place… Ironically, my father did send me to the seminary… not because he is religious, but because it will make the family look good. I was about seven…"

"John?" Gina sits forward, "I know I promised that we will not speak of him… but you never told me how you ended up working with Stefano…."

"It was nothing spectacular. We met when I was about ten years old. I tried to pick-pocket him, he was to fast. I hated my life, felt trapped at the seminary, wanted more danger… So we faked my death, and I started training with him, at first with a private tutor, for languages and math, then at around thirteen, with a retired army veteran, then at sixteen we decided that being a priest would be a good cover, so I went back to a seminary in the states. We figured it was the one place Leopold would never find me. That's when I officially changed my name…"

Gina smiles sadly at him, if only John could be whole again, not just her John, but the…. Salem John, as well. If he could have all his memories in tact, he would remember his childhood…. But where would that leave her? Would he…. She shakes her head again. It doesn't matter, he is with her now. She smiles at him.

"Well, I love your name…. John." She teases, cocking her eyebrow. John leans forward across the table, and they kiss…

"I'm sorry, Sir…" some one clears their throat…

The look up and smile.

"One Lobster cob salad for the most captivating Lady in the establishment, one Medium-rare steak for the gentleman…" with a flourish the man sets their food in front of them. "My name is Felix, and I am the owner of this here fine establishment." He introduces himself.

"Felix, my good man, I need to discuss something with you." John stands up, Gina cocks an eyebrow, wondering what other surprises he has in store as he leads the other man to the back of his café, with a hand on his back…

"Well, Forest…" Felix says, "Fancy seeing you here."

"I don't go by that name anymore."

"Yes, Franz told me when you phoned last night. Everything is set up and ready…. I just need your documentation."

John takes out the package.

"I do not have any alias identities with me…. That unfortunately is still locked away in the Faversham bank in Paris, so this will have to do…" He takes out the two books.

"Gina, it seems were smart enough to bring an alias passport with…" he hands over his passport, that he found in Gina's handbag on the sub, as well as the Hope-alias one of hers that was in there.

"It won't be perfectly legal, seeing as one is an alias, but it's the thought that counts, and we have no intentions of coming out of hiding. At least, if Stefano has his people red flagging our identities, my name is very common, Gina von Amberg," he shakes his head, "not so much. That would tell Stefano exactly where we are."

Felix nods, then smiles.

"I'll bring over some Nachtmuzik? It will explain our… conversation back here."

John shakes his hand.

"Thanks, Felix."

NEW SCENE

"No champagne, John?" Gina asks, as they enjoy their meals.

"Nope. Felix has something much better on ice…"

"Better than champagne?" Gina laughs…. Then is interrupted by Felix's voice.

"Yes, your highness… Much, much better." At the term of respect, Gina looks over at John.

"You busted me." She states. John laughs, Felix plops down two whisky tumblers, filled with ice, then shakes the thick liquid in the bottle, opens it and pours the dark brown liquid over the ice.

When he is done, he puts the bottle down on the table, hands them each a glass.

"Eine Kliene Nachtmuzik." He announces "Taste some."

Gina puts her lips to the glass, and swoons as the thick dark chocolate liqueur coats her tongue. It's heaven with ice.

John smiles, as he watches her, before taking a sip himself.

NEW SCENE

When Gina opens her eyes, John is right in front of her. They kiss, a slow, languid kiss.

"It's supposed to be an aphrodisiac…" he teases, Gina cocks an eyebrow back, "You are aphrodisiac enough…"

NEW SCENE

Stefano grunts as he descends the couple of steps from the plain.

2 PM! This storm really did a number on their turnaround time. And it is doing nothing for his mood.

"If I find you now, Gina, I will wring your pretty little neck!" he growls, as he ducks into the waiting car, out of the rain…

ACTUAL, POSSIBLY MODIFIED SCENE

"I'm sorry, sir…. There is really nothing we can do until the storm passes…" the coast guard shrugs at Bo who is glowering at him from under his raincoat's hood.

"Oh, come on, man, it's been what, 48 hours already."

"I know, and chances are that he's not alive anymore. In fact, considering he's proximity to the rocks when he disappeared, I'm not surprised that we didn't find him before the storm hit."

"Are you telling me there is nothing you can do? You're giving up?"

"No sir, I am saying, as soon as the storm passes, we will go out looking for him again, however, I think you need to prepare his wife for the worst. If we do find him, it probably won't be pretty."

"Yeah, only thing is, he was probably out of the water in 5 minutes…." Bo mutters under his breath, as he pushes against the wind, making his way back to the hotel. He'll stop for coffee first, then go see Marlena with the, well, no news.

NEW SCENE

"Marlena." Marlena answers her cell phone, hoping to get some good news.

"Hi, Doctor Evans?"

"Speaking?" she's starting to feel confused.

"It's Mr. Sewill, from the county clerk's office in Salem…. I need to speak with Mr. Black."

"Well, uh, he's not able to come to the phone right now…" Marlena closes her eyes to shut out the thought that he may never be able to come to the phone again.

"Oh, well, I suppose I could speak with you as well. I am looking for a copy of the marriage certificate you both signed. I am afraid the priest had somehow misplaced the original. I know he always gives a copy to the groom."

"Oh… I, uh, I'll get him to phone you." Marlena hangs up, without even realizing. Her legs give way, and she falls down on the couch. They're not legally married yet. And if John…. She shakes her head. Off course, he'll come back. They'll sort it out then.

She stands up again, looks out the window. The lightening seems to be gone, and without the thunder. It's still pouring, but she can see signs of the storm letting up.

"Please God! Let us not be too late!" she whispers.