The flight to West Virginia was calm and comfortable, adding a sharp contrast to three of its occupants. Marlena twirled her scarf about her fingers, looking out the window, as the Smokey Mountains flew by. John held the latest forensic journal, trying to hold his interest off of the reason for this trip. Dom came back from the rear of the plane, flopping himself beside his partner.
�Man, I sure hope you know what you�re doing. I can�t believe you brought Marlena. We don�t know what�s waiting for us here.� He watched John slowly put down the book,and face him.
�Dom, I wouldn�t put Marlena in danger for the world. She won't leave my side, and she�s gonna be safe. This has as much to do with her as it does me.� Marlena leaned forward and in between the men.
�And she doesn�t like it when you talk about her like she�s not here.� She leaned back in her chair, continuing to twist the scarf and to look out the window. John chuckled shaking his head at his wife in amusement. Picking up the manual, he began to read again, leaving Dom to loosen his tie of embarrassment.
The plane touched down on schedule, welcoming them to a dreary and dank day in West Virginia. The trio made their way to baggage claim and soon were loading the rental car with their belongings. The drive to the tiny bungalows that made up the Blue Ridge Hotel was completely silent, the soft hum of the local country radio barely audible. Pulling in front of the tiny room, Marlena felt her heart begin to pick up in its beats. Without any real conscious movement, her hand met John�s.
�So this is where we are staying?� Dom broke the tension and was out the car door and to the trunk. Marlena gripped John�s hand, remaining to stare out the window. John picked her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
�Hey, Doc, whaddya say we get unpacked and start this so we can get back home?� He awaited her reply but was only awarded with a half- hearted nod. The couple exited the vehicle, Marlena staying by the door, arms crossed and eyes transfixed by the scene before her. Her mind played out the scenes that had taken place in this very spot.
Going to meet the Doctor, thinking John was Stefano, running away from him, being held by the KGB, all of it. Her lips curved into a smile remembering falling in love with John completely in that place. She�d always been drawn to him, but it was there that the connection was truly made. Her daydream was broken by Dom�s face coming before hers.
�So this is the place, huh?� She smiled in a confused fashion. �The place you and John became� well you and John.� She laughed in recognition, taking a moment to dab the tears that had snuck out of the corners of her eyes.
�Oh, yes. This is where John and I fell in love. It wasn�t the normal route, but we never were ones to take a normal path.� John dropped the suitcases to his feet, reaching in his pocket for the key.
�You can say that again. Doc, how long do you think we are staying. Last time we were here we only had like one change of clothes.� He unlocked the door, slowly letting it fall open. The air hit him like a ton of bricks. Even though all these years had passed by,it still maintained the smell of wood and outdoors it had when they stayed there before. He snickered at the thought ofthem �staying� there. It had been all of half a day, if that. Turning, he picked up the luggage and motioned for the others to go before him. Dom entered the room with little pomp,leaving the couple to enter at their own speed. Marlena braced herself in the door frame, sucking in a quick breathe before stepping onto the hard wood floors. Her shoes clicked against the wood, echoing in the quiet room. John quietly approached her dropping the luggage at his sides. His arms snaked their way around her waist, she instinctively leaned back against him, holding on to his intertwined hands with her own.
�You gonna be okay?� She nodded her head to the affirmative, sighing as the memories continued to paint her mind.
�Lots of memories here. Some good. Quite a few bad. But it all came out all right in the end if I do say so myself.�
�I�ll have to agree there. Came out very good, but I�m the one who got the best deal out of it all. I wouldn�t trade a minute of it.� Marlena leaned her head back into the crook of his shoulder.
�Nor would I. Oh you, you just had to make me cry didn�t you?� She held her hands up in front of her face in mock desperation,as John turned her about. She removed her hands and stared up at him, a smile beaming at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears and love.
�Those are the only tears I ever wanna see stain your beautiful face.� He brushed the droplets with the pads of his thumbs. Patting her chin with his thumbs, he drew her face to his. Kissing her while trying to sequester his rising passion was a great feat on his part, but he managed. She smiled through the kiss, opening her eyes to see his brow knitting in frustration.
�Some things don�t change, huh?� She puckered her lips and bussed him on the lips before turning to retrieve her luggage from his side.
�So you two are staying out here right?�
�Um, I think we should talk about this arrangement.� John followed his wife to the bedroom door.
�You�re right, John. Marlena, John can have the couch and we�ll take the bedroom.� Dom�s hearty laugh lightened the thick air.
�Better yet, buddy, why don�t you share a space with a coyote?� John punched his friend in the arm in jest and gently pushed a hysterically laughing Marlena through the bedroom door,closing it behind her.
�As soon as we�re all set, we need to get started.� Dom tossed his duffle in the corner and propped his feet on the coffeetable.
�I�m ready, what next, chief?� John kicked his luggage off into the opposing corner and took up residence in the chair beside the couch.
�That was fast. Why is it women take so much more time. Look at us, here we are all ready to go and who knows how long it will take my wife. Why is that.� Dom hid his smile behind his hand, pointing up behind him.
� That is why you will be sleeping on the couch with the big burly type,my husband dear.�
Marlena took her spot next to Dom and crossed her legs, waiting the next move. The laughter quickly died down when Dom pulled out the manila envelope containing copies of all the evidence in the case.
�Okay, so what�s the common thread in all of this. Let�s see. Number one; the head of the ISA. Killed by strangulation, and found with a strawberry lodged in the airway. Number two; Victory Kiriakis, probably the most powerful man in Salem. Offed by blunt head trauma and also discovered with a strawberry stuffed down his throat. So by my calculations, we should be looking for a small red headed girl with a strawberry fetish.� Dom chuckled at his levity, stopping when he became aware of the silence from the other two occupants.
�Tough room.� John cleared his throat and leaned forward to spread the papers out across the table. Gruesome images blared up at all.
�There�s got to be more to this story. What is the connection here?� Marlena rested her head in her hands, tapping her temples with her fingers. Bolting up, she dug for the tiny business card that had the hotel�s name on it. Putting the shots of head shots the ISA provided of Tarrington and Victor beside each other, she placed the business card, that was slightly stained a pink in between them.
�There�s you connection. It�s this place. Not this place now, but this place of 1986. The ISA and Victorwere both part of all this. The strawberry is a sign to us and this hotel connects it all. Someone is taking us on a trip through memory lane, and I don�t think we are going to like the stops.�
Dom�s phone purred in his pocket, causing him to jump to his feet. �Uh, I just remembered something I left inthe car. I�ll be back in a minute.� He popped over the table and quickly exitedthe room. Once outside he ducked beside the building, flipping his phone out.
�What?�
�You forget who you are dealing with.� The voice on the other end hissed in his ear.
�I haven�t forgot. They won�t be out of my sight. You�ll have them right where you want them.�
�Good, because if anything goes wrong, you know the price.� Dom slapped the phone closed and stuffed it back in his pocket.
�Yeah but I know the prize if anything goes wrong too.� He looked in the side window, peering through the gauze sheers at the woman inside with her husband.
To be continued...