Whisper My Name

Chapter 40

March 22, 1992

Santa Cruz, Ecuador

Cry to me, cry to me

You better not hide it

Let it come, let it bleed

~ Cry to Me ~ Heart ~

They entered the small clinic in Santa Cruz on high alert. Marlena had watched that morning as John had reloaded his weapon, and tucked it into the waistband of his jeans underneath his jacket. He'd been tense, and anxious ever since their phone call with Shane. Marlena didn't feel guilty over pushing the issue, because while John was worried for her safety, she was petrified for his. After reading what he'd written in his notebook, she was incredibly concerned. The intricacy, and the risk involved in attempting to wire a microchip into someone's nervous system was incredibly dangerous. It was unheard of. She knew she wouldn't be okay until she knew that whatever was in John's neck was removed.

They met Shane outside the clinic. He was in a disguise so elaborate they wouldn't have recognized him for who he was without him approaching them first. He was wearing a suit that made him look portly, and he had a hairpiece that was slightly longer in the back, while appearing to have hair loss on the top. The facial prosthetic aged him almost twenty years, and John had to admit that the cane was a stroke of genius. He hadn't recognized Shane at all as the slightly obese, older gentleman had approached them.

Holding out his hand, he said in low tones, "Hello John."

Marlena's eyes went wide, as she recognized Shane's distinctive voice, and then she looked around to see if anyone was watching. John gripped Shane's hand with a wide grin, impressed with the disguise. "Hey there. Are we ready to do this?"

"Everything is arranged." Quietly Shane steered them both towards the rear door, "I would ask to see if you're ready for this, John?"

Glancing at Marlena, John squeezed her hand. "We are. I have to know if there's something there, and we both know... I can't move on with my life until it's gone."

"Dr. Castillo is ready. This clinic is usually closed on Sundays, so there won't be any interruption," Shane told them.

John and Marlena entered the waiting room of the clinic, and then walked through to the exam room. Noticing the state of the art medical equipment, and John released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Dr. Castillo was a small woman, with short black hair that curled around her neck and her ears. Turning to face them, she smiled, saying, "You can call me Isabel. Dr. Castillo is so formal. I took the liberty of closing the clinic for the whole week. Shane has informed me of your... predicament, and if it is as complicated as I believe it is... you may need to stay for a few days following surgery."

"We weren't planning to stay that long," John told her. "There are individuals trying to track us down... and we don't want to draw attention."

"We have ISA agents all around the island. No one is going to get to Marlena," Shane told him. "We have people watching the ports, and at the airports. You are checked in under a pseudonym." Shane saw the apprehension in John's eyes, and then glanced over at Marlena. John was holding onto her like a lifeline. Shane said quietly, "I need you to trust me, John."

"I can't lose her," John said to Shane. He glanced down at Marlena to find her staring up at him, and he whispered, "I can't."

Marlena stroked her thumb over the top of John's hand, "You won't."

Dr. Castillo could feel the tension in the room, but there was nothing to be done for it. It was a tense, high stress situation. All she could do was proceed with empathy, so she said gently, "If you're ready, John, I'd like to start with an CT scan. I have a hospital gown ready for you... and Marlena can stay with you, if you'd like."