The Fourth Life: Chapter 44

"Mr. Thornhart, did you at any time see the defendant, Carlo Hesser, in Ireland during your captivity?"


"I can't say that I did, but I knew..."


"Answer the question."


"No, I didn't see him.  But I knew he was there, he was...."


"No further questions, your honor."


The defense attorney walked to the table, and picked up a folder, then sitting down, leaned toward Carlo and made a statement, while Patrick stared.  "You're working for the devil himself, man,"  he said aloud.


"Mr. Thornhart, you may step down."  The judge said.  Patrick, hesitant, left the witness stand.  He returned to his seat, and shook his head.  Todd nodded to him, with approval, even though he knew it was not a positive step.


"The prosecution calls Margaret Saybrooke."


Marty, appearing quite meek and demure, walked to the stand.  After being sworn in, she waited for the first question.  "Ms. Saybrooke, during your time in Ireland, did you have the happenstance to cross paths with the defendant?"


"Not by sight, no."


"Can you explain this to the court?"


"I was kidnapped and held by an organization, The Men of 21."


"And what significance does this group hold?"


"They are the men who originally mistook Todd Manning for Patrick Thornhart and shot Todd in the back, leaving him for dead.  Soon after, Todd returned to Llanview and the vendetta between he and Carlo Hesser started.  They also held Patrick captive, Todd again, this time for eight years, and me."


"During your time in captivity, did you ever meet or deal with one Michael Leona?"


"I thank God every day I didn't."


"How about the defendant?"


"I did.  He was my captor, or at least one of them.  I didn't see him, because they kept me blindfolded, but I heard him.  I'd recognize his voice anywhere.  It sends chills down my spine."


"Objection.  Irrelevant."


"Overruled."


"Ms. Saybrooke, in your statement, you mention overhearing several conversations.  What did you hear?"


"I heard someone whom I believe to be Carlo Hesser talking on the phone.  I heard him address a man, but the name was Leona.  I remember it because it was a pretty woman's name."


"What were the two discussing?"


"Todd Manning."  The court went into disarray, with voices whispering, papers shuffling, and the judge had to use his mallet to call order.


"Ms. Saybrooke, did you ever hear the captor give orders to Mr. Leona?"


"Yes."


"Were the orders to torture Mr. Manning?"


"Objection.  Leading the witness."


"Sustained."


"Ms. Saybrooke, what were the orders given by your captor to Michael Leona?"


She stumbled, then said, "He ordered him to 'make Manning talk, whatever means necessary.'"


"No further questions, your honor."


The defense attorney approached the bench.  "Ms. Saybrooke, did you hear these orders this past Summer?"


"No."


"Did you hear them last year?"


"No."


"How long ago were these orders?"


"About 4 years ago."


"No further questions."


Todd realized he was fighting a losing battle.  Unless Zeus came back to testify, no one could link Carlo to his kidnapping and abuse the last go round, except maybe Blair, who had 'bent the truth' as she put it.  For a minute, he was lost in the thought of her, hoping that went he got back to the hospital, she would be alert and back to herself and begging to hold her little Moonbeam, Ray.


"The prosecution calls Todd Manning to the stand."


Todd did not move; his mind was elsewhere, as he studied the back of Carlo Hesser, and momentarily imagined him with the Grim Reaper robe on, and his head missing.  Sister Rebecca Katherine nudged him with her elbow, "Todd?  Dear?"


He shook himself loose of his daydream and stood.  His knees felt tight, as if he had not moved in hours.  He walked to the witness box, deliberate, and gave his own advice back to himself: Don't look at Hesser.  


He was sworn in, and focused his eyes on the DA, who approached the bench.  "Mr. Manning, I understand this is difficult for you, with your wife being in the hospital for her injuries sustained from the shooting..."


"Objection, inflammatory."


"Sustained."


"Mr. Manning, tell us about the evening when you were abducted by Michael Leona from your penthouse apartment in Llanview Center."


Todd froze for a moment, seeing Blair, with the skinner pointed to her beautiful face, and Little Ray, in her arms.  He swallowed, then said, "I walked in on him, holding a blade to my wife and baby.  I knew what he was capable of, so when he threatened to take her ear, I was certain he would do it.  He made clear to us that he wanted the baby, and I tried to talk him out of it."


"And how did you do that?"


"Have you ever changed a diaper?"


The court laughed casually, and the DA continued, "So you described child care to him, as a way to deter him?"


"Sort of.  But it wasn't in fun, or in jest.  I was desperate.  I knew what he could do to my son, and to my wife, and I would have done anything, just as she would..."  he stopped, thinking of her testimony; how Leona had wanted to possess and defile her, just as he had...


"Mr. Manning?  Are you able to continue?"


Todd cleared his throat.  "Yes.  I was willing to do or say anything to get him away from them.  He was....Michael Leona was a very sick man."  His voice cracked, and he struggled to keep composure.


"What happened then?"


"He made me lower the gun.  I knew he could cut her, badly, faster than I could kill him.  I did as he asked, and talked him into taking me first.  I knew that was what his boss really wanted: to get to me.  A revenge vendetta, I guess."


"So, you traded yourself for your wife and child, is that correct?"


"Yes, sir."


"While in captivity, were you tortured?"


"Yes."


"Often, once?"


"Every day.  It was a ritual for Leona.  He was past pleasing his 'boss' at that point.  He was just into it for his own needs."


Sister Rebecca Katherine covered her mouth, and choked back tears.  She grabbed her beads and began to pray for Todd as he continued.


"How did you know Michael Leona was connected with Carlo Hesser?"


"About a year ago, maybe longer, I helped bring Carlo and the American Chapter of The Men of 21 down, and Carlo revealed himself to us before he shot Zeus Zelenko in cold blood in front of many witnesses."  Todd turned and looked directly at Hesser.  "You see, he used to dress up, in a robe to cover his face, and use a lighter, similar to the one that my adoptive father burned me with as a child, to send me into a catatonic state."


The courtroom went wild with speculation and whispers.  The judge said, "Order.  Proceed."


"So, you had seen Mr. Hesser in this suit and also seen him in conjunction with Leona at a prior date."


Todd did not answer.  He was staring at Hesser, who stared back, with that thin, hidden smirk on his face.  


"Mr. Manning?"


Todd didn't move or shift.  His glare was piercing.  Patrick leaned over to Marty, and whispered, "He's going to blow, Margaret.  It could be bad.  Blair doesn't need him in jail right now."


"Mr. Manning, are you able to continue?"  The judge asked this time.  


Todd finally broke his scowl, and focused back on the DA.  "Yes, I am."


"Mr. Manning, can you explain to us the day you were finally rescued from the torment of Michael Leona?"


"I had lost track of time.  I had to...fight for my life.  I knew it would be me or him.  Somehow, I found the strength to come out the living one.  I still don't know how.  I was dehydrated, bleeding and in a lot of pain."


"You overtook him?"


"Yes.  He was practicing his ritual, and I fooled him into believing I was not able to fight back."


"And you were soon discovered."


"Yes.  I felt I was going to die, I could not get to water, I was bleeding out from a stab wound and my other wounds, and I thought I was passing away, dreaming.  That's when Patrick Thornhart found me.  When he carried me out, over his shoulder, we later ran into Hesser."


"Mr. Hesser was there?"


"Yes.  Attending the meeting of The Men of 21, who had mostly deserted him."  He looked back at Hesser, and then back to the DA.


"So he was present?"


"Yes."


"Mr. Manning, being very candid with us, can you tell us how certain you are that Hesser was Michael Leona's 'boss?'"


"Very certain.  They escaped prison together, Leona was carrying out the same behaviors he had, with the same rituals.  Hesser was there, in the exact same catacombs."


"Thank you.  Your witness."


"Mr. Manning," the defense attorney approached.  He was rotund, a little sweaty, and not quite balding on top.  "did you see Mr. Hesser give any orders to Leona?"


"No, sir, I did not."


"Did you hear Leona receive any orders from the defendant?"


"No, I did not."


"Did Mr. Hesser visit you during your incarceration in the catacombs?"


"No."


"Then, your knowledge of his presence is by supposition; that based on his past involvement in your abduction and torment, you have determined him to be in charge of it during this last instance?"


"Yes.  I am certain of it."


"Mr. Manning, how do you explain your wife's new testimony?"


"I'm sorry?"


"Your wife added something to her testimony the other day, that was not in her statement; that she heard Mr. Leona refer to Carlo as his 'boss.'  How do you explain that?"


"I don't know, you'll have to ask her."


"Mr. Manning, and this is my final question.  Didn't you also have a personal vendetta against Carlo Hesser that dates back to 1996 when he was accused of being 'Poseidon' and later was presumed dead, which was said to be your doing, for which you framed Patrick Thornhart?"


"I have no bigger vendetta against Mr. Hesser than he already has with me."


"Answer the question, Mr. Manning.  Don't you also have a personal vendetta against my client?  Don't you look at him with disgust, and dream of the things he caused to happen to you and wish him dead?"


Todd held his breath for a moment.  "Yes.  I do wish that.  I can't lie and say I don't."


The court erupted into a frenzy of talk, while the judge attempted to call the court to order.


"No further questions, your honor."  


"Redirect, your honor?"  The DA said.


"Proceed."


"Mr. Manning, why do you wish Carlo Hesser dead?"


Todd didn't answer.  For a moment, he was lost in thought.  Kill the bastard.  He's right there.  End it all, now.  There won't be a need for more trials and more talk.  


The DA waited.


Todd said, "I'm sorry, can you repeat the question?"



"You admitted that you want Hesser dead.  Can you tell us why?"


"He gave the orders, admittedly, for Michael Leona, Malcolm Baker, Timothy Shaw, Chet Wallace, and the rest of them, to torture me for eight years and keep me from my family.  This enabled Leona to threaten my wife, and try and rape and cut her in front of me.  This last time, I believe it caused Leona to break into my house, and to try and take my wife and child, and again, attempt to rape her.  And, I don't want him ever able to do this to anyone else, ever.  I want to protect my family and the rest of Llanview."


"No further questions, your honor."


"Mr. Manning, you may step down."  The judge said.


Todd, whose hands were shaking, turned to leave the witness stand, and make his way back to his seat.  Sister Rebecca Katherine was crying, and all he wanted to do was be with Blair.  He needed her.


"This court is adjourned for today, we will return to session tomorrow at 9:00 a.m."


Todd sat for a moment, and his view went to the skylight.  Closing his hazel eyes, he saw her, her beautiful green jewels staring into it, and heard her, "There's God coming down, Todd."  He shut his eyes, tight, to keep the memory away.  Standing to go, he walked behind this defense table, dragging one hand on the rail that separated the spectators from the court.  He looked up, drawn to see the man, and Hesser briefly caught his eye.  The defense attorney had approached the bench, and Hesser stood, in chains, waiting to be escorted.  Todd was shocked when the man spoke in a whisper, "Mr. Manning, I see your beautiful wife is not here today.  A pity she did not get a chance to hear you talk about your murderous fantasies."


Patrick turned as he heard Carlo's words, and then saw Todd fly over the barrier before he could grab his arm, and knock Hesser to the ground.  A growl was heard by all as Todd lunged for Hesser, and pushed him against the defense table and then the floor.  Todd, sitting over Hesser's chest, was pummeling the man's face with complete unrestraint.  Sister Rebecca Katherine called out, "No, Son!  Stop this!"


Patrick hopped the rail, as two police guards came came to life as well.  Trying to pull Todd off Hesser, Patrick said, "No, man, you can't do this, your wife and children need you." and then yelled, sharply, "Todd!"  Todd froze, finally focusing on the bloody mass in front of him that was Carlo's face, and his bloodstained knuckles.  He pulled back, and Patrick jerked him to standing.  The guards turned to Todd and said, "You're under arrest for assault.  You have the right to remain silent..."


Just then, a figure appeared at the back of the courtroom.  "Just a minute," he said.  It was none other than John McBain. 


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