Chapter Three

When Carly woke up to the morning light, she did her best to come to terms with her situation. Her memory was completely gone. A man who was a stranger to her claimed to be her husband and despite her misgivings and mistrust of him, she had feelings for him she just couldn't deny. Who in the world WAS he? And who was SHE for that matter? What was he hiding? It was all too much! She wanted to cry, but instead she forced herself to get up to face the day. She didn't have a chance to explore the mansion in search of answers, because Lawrence arrived with a tray of food and a change of clothes for her.

"I brought you some breakfast and a warm change of clothes," Lawrence spoke. "It's snowing outside...and I am afraid we don't have a lot of time before our plane takes off..."

"I am not going anywhere with you," Carly said as she was picking at her food.

"You don't have a choice," he said firmly. "We are going to Paris."

She wanted to challenge him. Just because he said he was her husband and presented the documents at the hospital as proof, did that make it true? What if he was lying?! She flashed him a glare, but deep down, she knew she had nowhere else to go. Her life was little more than a blank slate.

"Finish your breakfast, have a quick shower, then prepare for our trip. Ivan has all our bags packed."

"Of course he does."

"Carly, don't make this hard for me."

"I thought you called me Katerina."

"I do, but sometimes..." His voice trailed off and she could see pain shining in his eyes. What had caused that incredible look of pain? It reminded her of her dream the night before when she had been searching for him and could not find him. What could that dream possibly mean? What would she discover when her memory returned? She knew he was keeping something from her - something vital and HUGE.

"I have a feeling you're lying to me. You're not being entirely honest and I know it. What secrets are you keeping from me?"

"The doctor said I shouldn't spring everything on you at once. It will only upset you. I promise, all answers will come to you in time. Let's just worry about today. I have some last minute preparations I need to take care of before we leave for the airport," Lawrence stated before he left the room.

Carly ran her fork through her scrambled eggs and nibbled on a piece of bacon. She then pushed her tray aside. A warm shower sounded so nice. She headed off toward the bathroom with the change of clothes.

A few minutes later, she emerged from the steamy shower. She got dressed and attempted to tame her long dark hair. It was slightly wavy as she ran a brush through the thick mass. *I am beautiful,* she thought to herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. It was so difficult to see the stranger that stared back at her. WHO was she?!

After she was reasonably ready for her day, Lawrence returned. He looked at her, taking in her breathtaking beauty. After all these years, she could still make his heart skip a beat. He loved her like no other. She had always been the one for him.

"Katerina, we have to hurry. The jet is fueled up and my vehicle is waiting for us right outside."

"Why are you whisking me off to Paris?" she asked him suspiciously.

"Because I love you and I only want what is best for you."

"Do you really?"

She gave him a challenging look and he could only stare back just as determined. "I love you," he repeated.

With reluctance, she allowed him to lead her from the bedroom. Was she going to her doom? Would this man who claimed to be her husband hurt her? Exactly what did he have in store for her?

Snow was falling swiftly as they stepped outside of the mansion. The chilling wind whipped at Carly's hair. Even with her thick coat, the cold air permeated her flesh. She hurried into Lawrence's warm car. "Why aren't we taking the limo?" she asked as he stepped behind the wheel.

"This will be less conspicuous."

"Then you are hiding something? I knew it."

He tried to concentrate on his driving. The roads were packed with snow and ice. It was one of the worst days of winter and even as she attempted to argue with him, he ignored her. He had an extremely bad feeling about this day. Somehow he knew it would NOT go as planned.

~*~o~*~

Bo awakened, staring into Billie Reed's dark-brown eyes. He tensed as he immediately sensed that it was late and he had overslept. "Bo, everything's okay," she said with a soothing caress against his bicep.

He realized then that he had fallen asleep in Billie Reed's bed after she had given him a massage. They were curled up together quite cozy under a blanket. "Billie, I have to go," he said in alarm. "I need to get down to the station... to get the search warrant for Larry's mansion. I have to find Carly."

"I am sorry I let you sleep in, but you were so relaxed and you needed your rest," Billie said. "You've been working much too hard; trying to find Carly. You needed sleep."

"Yeah, you're right... but I need Carly more." He stood up, looking slightly disoriented as he had just awakened from a deep slumber. He decided not to change as he searched for his leather jacket and his gun belt. He had a second uniform at the police station. He'd change into it later.

"Bo, please think about what I said...about Sean Douglas needing you. We could take him somewhere; do something fun with him, after you get back from searching the Alamain mansion for any sign of Carly. Your little boy needs you."

"I need him, too...and you, too, Billie. You're my best friend."

He bent down and kissed her softly. Her lips tingled as he pulled away, staring into her eyes. "Thanks for last night. Everything you did for me," he said. "I won't forget it."

"Good luck, Bo... as you look for Carly. I hope she's safe."

"Me, too, but if Larry's involved... is anyone really safe? You know he's a rotten snake. You know all he does is hurt her and everyone else in Salem."

"He loves Nicky. I know that much."

"I need to question Nicky. He might know something about Carly. He may have seen something," Bo said as he put on his leather jacket. "I have to be going now. I'll call you later, Lady. Take care."

"You, too," she said as she gazed at him longingly.

~*~o~*~

When Lawrence arrived at the airport with Carly, he was given unfortunate news. "The pilot says it isn't safe to fly. Too much ice...and the visibility is almost zero..." said the copilot.

"DAMMIT!" Lawrence snapped. He glanced over at Carly who was standing next to him, shivering in her coat.

"I am sorry. This weather snuck up on us..."

Lawrence didn't say a word as he took Carly's arm and lead her back to the car. Once they were huddled inside it's warm interior, Lawrence said, "Okay... change of plans... we are going ...to- to... We are going on a long drive."

"Are you crazy? Did you not hear the copilot? It isn't safe. Ice, snow, freezing temperatures!"

"Katerina, we have no choice!" he said firmly. "Trust me on this."

"I don't trust you AT ALL. Where are we going?" she asked as he drove away from the airport. "What the hell are you running from?"

Lawrence looked away from the road for just a second to see the wild look of fear and distrust in her gorgeous blue eyes. "I am doing what I must... what has to be done!" he stated. "I know you don't understand, but I love you... and I won't lose you again... NOT EVER!"

~*~o~*~

Bo hurried to the Alamain mansion with a search warrant in his hands. He rang the doorbell and moments later, Ivan Marais answered. "Can I help you, Officer Brady?" Ivan asked.

"I am here with a search warrant," Bo said as he pushed his way inside. "I am going to search every room of this house...even the dungeon... and if there's any trace of Carly, your employer will be locked away for kidnapping. Where IS Larry by the way?"

"He, Madame, and Master Nicholas have gone away on a trip."

"A TRIP!" Bo exclaimed. He was just sure that Lawrence had escaped with Carly and he had her stashed away somewhere. Bo commanded his officers to comb through every inch of the mansion as Ivan looked over the search warrant.

It took two hours, but nothing was found that could possibly link the Alamains to Carly. "So you have covered your tracks well. I have to give you credit, Ivan. I'm headed to the airport next. If Carly's there with Larry, I am going to arrest him on the spot," Bo said in a growl.

Ivan was quivering in fear as Bo Brady and his officers left the mansion. He knew it was a huge stretch that everything of Carly's had been removed from the premises. It hadn't been easy, but thankfully, he had done his duty to his employers. Now he just had to sit and wait from word from Mr. Alamain. With the weather worsening outside, it was unlikely that the plane had taken off as planned.

When Bo arrived at the airport a little while later, he received news that Lawrence Alamain had attempted to take a jet to Paris but due to the winter weather, he had been forced to abandon his plan. "Where did he go...and did he have anyone with him?" Bo urgently questioned the pilot and the copilot.

"I am sorry, but we have no further information," said the pilot as they were both fiercely loyal to their employer, Mr. Alamain.

"Of course not," Bo said with an angry sigh.

Bo knew that Lawrence couldn't have gone far and he probably had Carly with him. As the snow fell heavily on his windshield, the wipers struggled to keep up. Bo called Billie on his cellphone as he drove away from the airport. "Hey, Billie. I need your help."

"Sure, Bo, whatever you need," she said, always eager to be of assistance.