Whisper My Name

Chapter 43

March 27, 1992

Maison Blanche, New Orleans, Louisiana

You're a bright light girl

In a disbelieving world

~ Bright Light Girl ~ Heart ~

Stefano DiMera paced around the living area of his home in restless frustration. To the world at large, he was dead. He had supposedly died in Mexico a year earlier, but Stefano never truly died. He was a phoenix rising from the ashes. Leaning against the marble mantle above the fireplace, he sighed, swirling his brandy in the glass he held. He stopped his movement momentarily as he stared into the flames dancing across the brick. Where was John? He had been waiting for days, and still there was no sign of John gracing his doorstep, he knew something was wrong. He turned towards the sound of footsteps, saying, "You had better have an explanation for me Rolf. Where is he?"

Rolf eyed him warily. "I aligned the signal with the satellite, and I sent the signal, Stefano. Several days ago. I sent it again yesterday. I'm not sure why it isn't working. By all accounts he should have immediately been reprogrammed and returned here to Maison Blanche."

"And you are certain that you canceled out the personality that he's been living with for the last seven years?" Stefano set his empty brandy glass on the drink cart, and slowly approached Rolf, "He should be my mercenary again, correct?"

"I'm not sure what happened! But, Stefano, you must remember that particular microchip was a prototype. You know that!" Rolf said. When Stefano became angry like that Rolf genuinely feared for his own life. "It might not work."

"Do we have a location for him at all?" Stefano asked in growing frustration. He wanted to break something. "There must be a way to track him if the chip is not working."

"According to my satellite readings he's in Oshkosh, Wisconsin," Rolf said, with a shrug of his shoulders. He had checked it several time. It didn't make sense. "But I don't understand! What's in Wisconsin?"

Stefano felt like while there were times that Rolf was a mad genius, there were others when the man was a complete imbecile. "He is on the run with Marlena, you fool! He could be anywhere. Do you have the coordinates?"

Rolf stared at him with wide eyes, "I do, but what are you planning to do?"

"I am sending people after him. They will bring him back to me, by force if necessary. I want Marlena, too, if I can. I have a feeling that she is still the only way that I can bring him fully under my control," Stefano smiled, "He will most certainly be more cooperative if I threaten the woman he loves."

"Do we really need him for this next part of your plan, if we have Gina?" Rolf asked him. If they had Gina to complete the forgeries, she could carry out the heists as well. They didn't need John.

Idiocy. Why did he have to explain everything? Stefano almost roared, "Of course, I need him! Milo and Gina always worked together. They worked together so flawlessly, and they never failed me." Stefano needed John to keep Gina compliant. "I need John!"

Rolf snickered, "Only because Milo fell from the ceiling in the Louvre, and broke his neck."

"Ah, yes, what a tragedy that was. Gina mourned him so deeply, she was lost to me, but, now... now Rolf, I have a new Gina... and as soon as we get John back, you can make him Milo again," Stefano said with a smile.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Marlena and Roman Brady Residence

Bo and Isabella helped Roman into the house the day he was released from the hospital. Raffi Torres was dead, and the surgery to repair the damage in Roman's leg was straightforward, making his hospital stay brief. Roman leaned against him heavily, and Bo felt the ache deep in his own body. He was still recovering from the weeks of torture at the hands of men who worked for Torres.