Whisper My Name

Chapter 36

February 27, 1992

Pier 14, Salem

Why do people lie to each other

Hiding like children behind pretty words - and walls

Time after time you come to find

Children play too rough

~ One Word ~ Heart ~

The sun was just slipping below the horizon, and Roman found himself staring out at the water of the Salem River as he stood on the pier. He remembered coming here with Marlena years ago. Those were obviously happier times. All he felt now was bitterness, anger, and frustration. His wife was somewhere shacked up with John Black after shipping their children off to Denver. How fucking convenient. Every time John checked in with Shane it was the same, Marlena didn't want to speak with him. She wouldn't even allow him the opportunity to explain himself. The only way he knew that John wasn't fooling them all was because Shane had spoken to her. He'd heard her voice and assured Roman that she was alive, and sounded well. It wasn't enough, but it was all he had at the moment. The problem was, it wasn't enough. Nightmares plagued him. Images assaulted his mind. Pictures of Marlena's head thrown back in ecstasy while crying out John's name. Visions of John's sneer as he said, "You didn't protect her or the children, because you're weak, Roman! Weak!" Sleep was something that was nearly impossible to come by.

The click of footsteps across the wooden planks came to his ears, causing him to turn and locate the source. When Isabella stepped out of the shadows, her curly hair a halo around her head, Roman sighed and gazed back towards the water. She was the last person he wanted to see. He was still frustrated after hearing about the stunt she'd pulled in Colorado. She'd nearly gotten Marlena killed.

Isabella stopped walking momentarily, when she realized Roman was standing there alone on the edge of the pier. She wiped the tears from her face quickly, trying to hide the evidence of her sadness, but it was too late. He'd already seen her, although he didn't seem much interested. "I didn't realize anyone was down here," she said softly, stepping off to the side.

"There usually isn't, when it's this late," he told her, watching her carefully. Coming down to the pier to cry was almost as pathetic as him coming down to the pier to sulk. Weren't they a pair?

Isabella took a deep breath, "So, you're back. Does that mean Torres has been caught?"

"No. He's still out there somewhere," Roman muttered. "The Salem PD is looking for him. The ISA is looking for him. He'll be caught eventually." There was no way that rat could hide forever. It was only a matter of time, but time wasn't something Roman had on his side, with Marlena off somewhere rediscovering her love for her ex-husband.

"Then I guess that means John won't be back anytime soon," she said bitterly, knowing he wouldn't return until Marlena was out of danger. She thought about the protective way he'd acted towards Marlena at the cabin in Colorado. As much as she wanted to deny it, there was no mistaking the way he'd reacted. There was also no mistaking the guilt in his eyes as she'd asked him about his relationship with Marlena. His paltry apology was worthless. "Not that it matters, I guess."

Roman eyed her warily, "What do you mean?"

Isabella scoffed, "Come on, Roman! Are you serious right now? I don't know you that well, but you're not stupid," she said, wiping the tears from her face, as they started to flow again. "They've been gone for weeks. Weeks! The day you left Salem they were gone!"