Battle the Dark: Chapter 28

Shaun stormed into the penthouse, angry and loud.  "Addie!  Come down here, please?"


She walked quietly down the staircase.  "Shhh, you'll wake Little Ray."


"Well he's going to have to be awake then, because Jack just said he saw Blair and that nun walking out of here, with suitcases."


Addie sat, and stared up at Shaun with large, doe eyes.  "They did?"


Shaun was definitely flustered.  "Where did they go?"


Addie sat back, "I didn't know they left."


"Well, they did."


"Oh, they did?"


"You know they did.  Now, where did they go?"


"I don't know.  Can I think about it?"


"Addie, stop this.  Blair's in danger.  She and that nun are not matches for Carlo Hesser.  Where did they go?"


"They went to find Todd."


"Obviously.  Did they go to Ireland?"


"Maybe, that could be where they said they were going."


"Sheesh."  He stormed out, now looking for any sign of them.  He headed to the elevator, and Addie heard it signal when it arrived.  


She said aloud, "He's pretty mad."


A few minutes later, he marched back into the penthouse.  "Uh, they're gone."


"Yeah, I guess so."


"Also, Addie, I need to know where they were going, I've got to follow them.  They are going to need protection and help."


Addie thought a moment, "I told Blair to bring you.  She said no because she was afraid of this very thing."


He waited, "Addie, please tell me."


"All right, they went to Ireland.  I suppose it is best that you are with them.  I'm sending the boys to Llanfair, Viki will hire more security and it will be safe there.  Don't worry, Shaun, we will take care of the boys."


"You should have stopped her, but I don't have time now to argue.  Gotta go.  Get the boys out of here, now.  No telling what those crazies will do to Todd Manning's kids."


***


The flight touched down in Dublin Airport, and Blair and Sister Rebecca were ready to do whatever it would take to find Todd.  First, however, they needed to locate Timothy and John, and put themselves nearby.


"We're here.  It's been years, my dear, just years."  Sister said, looking around the airport.  


Blair, on the other hand, had nothing but chills running up her spine.  "Yes," she said, "it's been a long time."


"You've been here, when Todd disappeared before, eh?"


"Yes.  I came here to try and find him when he vanished...the day after our wedding.  That was so long ago. It feels like another lifetime."


"Perhaps it was.  Where did you search?"


"The island of Innishcreg. I saw the place he died.  But of course, he wasn't even dead.  The people involved with The Men of 21 wanted us to believe he was.  We were never the same after his return.  He was totally broken.  So many circumstances."


"I'm sorry, dear heart, but things are all right now, remember that."


"Yeah, except he's gone."  She teared up again.  "I don't know if I can do this."


"You can.  I am here to help ya.  I think I know where Timothy and John might be.  Let's get our luggage and a taxi."


John and Timothy had barely scratched the surface of the list of areas in which The RA21 believed could be inhabited by The Men of 21.  The list was extensive, and they put as many feelers out as possible to discover the truth of Todd's whereabouts.   They had met with several of the subversives involved with the RA21, and had scoured their sources and memories for any clues.  As of the moment, they had uncovered nothing about the exact whereabouts.


Hold up in a small flat in Rialto, they sat and worked by a dim bulb light, in a tiny den area, lined from floor to ceiling with books.  It was Timothy's humble abode; John was both intrigued by the man and cautious, considering what he knew about how Irish terrorist groups work.  Timothy had assured him that the RA21 were not terrorists, but he wasn't sure they had the same definition.


There was a knock at the door, and Timothy left John with the list and maps, and, grabbing a .45, he went and carefully opened it.


"It's about time, you weren't going to leave us out here too long, were ya?"  It was his sister and none other than Blair Manning.


John was utterly disgusted.  "Blair, what the hell are you doing?"


"Finding my husband, John, why the hell are you questioning that?"  Her bitch was back.


***


Todd sat, in the near dark, straining his eyes to see his surroundings.  He had been searching, with his eyes, every crevice for an out; it was impossible to find one.  He also had scrutinized the passageway to the sliding electronic door, and saw nothing that he could use to get out.  It was getting dark, and soon, he would be in the dank, pitch black, since the light that Leona had brought was flickering to burn out.


He heard the sliding door move, and he faltered between being happy to hear the movement of Leona's arrival, perhaps bringing food or a blanket and light, and terrorized by the thoughts of what he might do.


"Mr. Manning, I've brought some supplies."  He had a huge pack on his back that contained an air mattress, which he placed on the cold ground and began to inflate it.  He also brought out two more of the LED lights, some sandwiches and bottled water, a blanket and a small pillow.  Leona threw one of the sandwiches toward him.  


He caught it, and looked at his keeper.  "You're feeding me?"


Leona laughed, "I always have.  You weren't around or aware of a lot of my time with you.  I often fed you, and brought you good stuff, not that whitish slop they gave you.  You really think you could have stayed in good shape that way?"


He'd never thought about it before.  Ripping open the wrapper, he started to eat.  "Who trimmed my beard?"


"That was me.  Just didn't want you too mangy."


Leona grabbed a bottle of water and tossed it; Todd caught it without flinching.  He drank the whole thing within minutes, and said, "Is there a place to freshen up in here?"


Leona went around a rocky ledge that totally disguised a small alcove with indoor plumbing.  There was a small shower stall, a toilet, a sink and a small mirror.  "Happy?"


"Sure, overjoyed.  Thanks.  Where's my hot tub, though?"


"You always were a riot, Manning.  That's why I took such a shine to you."


Todd continued to eat, watching Michael Leona set up the camp that Todd was to live in, for however long his life was.  "I wasn't around or aware of a lot?"


"No.  It probably seems like you were, from your memories, but can you really account for eight years of days and hours?"


Todd realized he was right.  There had to be weeks of things he never knew about or was not remembering, yet.  He hadn't ever thought of this; in all of the therapy he'd undergone, they'd never discussed what was missing.  He'd have to mention it to Ray, if he ever saw him again.


He finished the sandwich and Leona threw him another bottle of water.  "Keep hydrated.  We wouldn't want you to become dried out, and die early."


Todd uncapped it and drank more.  He felt as if he had not had water for months, even though it was less than twenty-four hours.  "Gee, thanks."


"Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm rushing to off you."


"I know.  You want to keep me around.  I'm your fun."


"You have been, yeah.  It's been a while.  Quite a ride."  Leona said with a very straight face.


Todd saw that there was a perverse attachment and a sick seriousness in the man's words.  Michael Leona, The Slice and Dice - the enemy - would somehow mourn his passing.


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