Whisper My Name

Chapter 47

April 1, 1992

Maison Blanche, New Orleans, Louisiana

Darkness was my bane

Suddenly, a sunbeam arch

Thrilled me to my weary heart

It was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen

~ Love Alive ~ Heart ~

Stefano had confirmation that John Black and Marlena Brady were back in Salem, and yet the registered coordinates for the microchip, that should be in John's neck, was still Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Stefano had lost his control over John Black, and now lived with the very real fear that all of his secrets, those known by Ronald Culpepper, Milo Schmidt, and Father Julio Rober... as well as everything known by Forrest Alamain, were all going to be his downfall. It was obvious that the microchip had been removed, and once Bart had reported back to him about the lab in Osh Kosh, Stefano truly began to fear the end. John's microchip was in an ISA lab. There was nothing he could do to bring his mercenary back. The man was lost to him without the microchip to control him. Stefano's only option would be to kill John, and what a waste that would be.

Sighing deeply, he walked towards the veranda doors, looking out over his garden inhaling the deep rich scent of magnolias. He watched for several moments as Gina sat beneath a tree on a blanket singing to a child she believed belonged to Milo Schmidt, her lover who broke his neck falling from the Louvre. In truth it was the child of Bo Brady. She'd been pregnant during her accident with Ernesto Toscano. Stefano hadn't known until nearly four months later. She had no idea who she really was, or who's baby she rocked in her arms. She was no use to him without a partner, and with the child in tow, she was practically worthless. Rubbing his hand over his face in frustration, he mumbled, "I am getting too old for this." Making up his mind, he turned to go, and find Rolf.

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

Dr. Carly Manning's Apartment

Carly held the telephone nervously in her hand. This was not a phone call she wanted to make. She hadn't spoken to Vivian in nearly ten years, ever since Forrest had been lost in Grenada, and calling her now felt incredibly awkward. But then she remembered his eyes, and his voice. She didn't doubt him. He was who he said he was. Vivian would probably think she'd lost her mind, but she had told Marlena and John that she would do this. She would reach out to his mother for him. The telephone rang, and a voice on the other end said, "Alamain residence."

Clearing her throat, Carly nervously said, "Hello. Can I speak with Vivian Alamain, please?"

"May I ask who's calling?" the man responded in a voice lacking emotion.

She sighed, recognizing who he was, and said softly, "Ivan, it's Katarina Von Leuschner."

"Katarina?" the man asked her hesitantly, a hint of surprise sneaking into his voice.

"Yes. Is Vivian home?" she asked. Her stomach was swirling, and she wanted nothing more than to hang up the telephone, and be done with it, but again, John's blue eyes reminded her of what she had to do.

Losing all sense of professionalism, Ivan asked in shock, "Where have you been?"

She sighed heavily. "I need to speak with Vivian, and it's rather important."

Clearing his throat, Ivan straightened up, and said, "Of course, yes...hold on..."

She heard shuffling, and muffled conversation, as if Ivan were covering the receiver, and speaking to someone else. Very likely it was Vivian. A voice came on the line, confident, feminine, and clear. "Katarina? Is that you?"