Whisper My Name

Chapter 13

February 6, 1993

Salem Police Department, Abe Carver's Office

All you women better listen good

I know it's just a matter of time

Till one of you steps out of line...

~ This Man is Mine ~ Heart ~

With her curly chestnut hair flying behind her, Isabella stormed into Abe's office, slamming the door. The look of fury in her light brown eyes had Abe staring at her with open shock. He couldn't remember a single moment in the time he'd known her that Isabella had been this angry.

She stared at him, and said, "You want to tell me where the hell John is?" John had left the loft three days earlier to go and help Marlena. She hadn't seen him since. She'd left repeated messages at his apartment, as well as Marlena's house, and gotten no response. When she called the fish market, Caroline said she hadn't seen them since Marlena picked up the children the night Roman left town.

Abe was momentarily confused, placing the file he was reading on his desk, "John? I haven't seen John since a few days ago at the airport."

"He was with me at the loft when Marlena called. He left me at home, to go help her... because, of course, she called him, when she needed help. I just had a miscarriage, and he left me to help her. So where is he? He never came home, Abe. I've called his apartment, I've called Marlena's house, and I've called Caroline. So now, I need to know where he is!" she demanded.

Abe had thought that John drove Marlena home, and that was the end of it. "Isabella, I promise you, the last time I saw John, he was taking Marlena home. She was upset over Roman leaving town, and she was incredibly angry with me that night. I haven't spoken to either of them." Abe walked towards the coat rack, "Look, I'll take a drive over to Marlena and Roman's place, and see what's going on, okay? I'll call you when I know something."

Shane rushed towards Abe's office. John had called him that morning on the satellite phone. Prior to that, the only reason he had any inkling that John and Marlena had left town was because of Caroline's telephone call the night Roman left, and John's phone call earlier confirmed his and Caroline's worst fears. Raffi Torres was after Marlena and the children. As Shane entered the office, he didn't see Isabella standing just to the side of the filing cabinets. "Abe! We need to talk. John just called me on the ISA line in my—"

Abe's eyes went wide, and he held up his hand, stopping Shane, nodding his head towards Isabella. Shane immediately pulled up short, and stopped speaking.

Stepping forward Isabella looked at Shane intently, "You know where John is?"

He glanced at Abe, before answering her in the vaguest way possible, "He's safe. That's all I can tell you. I can't say any more."

John had been gone for three days, and Isabella lost her patience, screaming, "All you can tell me? No! That's not acceptable. Something's going on and I want to know what it is! We're engaged to be married, and I have a right to know!"

"I'm sorry, Isabella, but I can't tell you anymore," was Shane's simple reply. He couldn't tell her anymore because he didn't know much more. John had made him promise not to tell Isabella about Raffi Torres. He was worried about her health, and he was worried about her doing something hasty and foolish in response. Glancing over at Abe, he said, "I need to speak with you...soon. I'll be at my home. Meet me there as soon as you can."

Abe was fairly certain he knew why. Torres had gone after Marlena and the children. If John knew, he would have immediately stepped in. Abe looked towards Isabella, pulling his coat on, "I have to go."