Dance with the Devil: Chapter 72

On the way back to the Manning estate, Viki and Victor picked up a few baby items at Wyndhams.  They got home and were accosted by Danie and Sam, who were eager to see the baby.  After an hour, Danie managed to get Sam to bed and Viki helped Victor with his younger son.  As the child slept in a playpen, Victor hung on the side and just watched him.  His sister stood in the doorway, keeping and eye on the father and son.  Eventually, she was noticed.  “I never had Sam when he was this small,” he told her.  “He looks so peaceful, doesn’t he?”

“Yes,” Viki agreed.  She looked at her brother.  “Little Victor Lord, the Third.”

The father shook his head.  “No, that’s not going to be his name.  I don’t know why Tea even thought of that one.”

“She was honoring you,” Viki reminded him.  “She wanted her son to have something to connect him to you and that name was what she felt would do it.”

“And you didn’t shutter when you heard it, Victor Dalby Lord, III?”  Victor knew that name still got to her.  Hell, it still to him.

Viki grimaced, remembering Tea holding the baby and introducing him to the family.  She could still see the look on Todd’s face as he turned to see how Viki would react.  Though there was more going on that day for him regarding the baby, shoe could tell Todd was still worried about his sister. 

As he stood up, Victor saw Viki’s reaction.  He looked back at his son and then headed out the door, Viki following.  He leaned against the wall and let out a breath.  “The first thing we’re going to do when we get Tea back is choose a different name.  I don’t want my son to live under any shadow associated with that name.”  He then looked at his watch.  “I want to get to he station, see if there’s anymore news on the search.”

“I think I’ll go with you,” his sister said.

“No, I’d like you to stay here,” he replied.  Then he saw the look Viki gave him and realized it was not a suggestion.  “Fine, I’ll tell Danie, have her stay with Sam and the baby.”  A few minutes later, they were headed out the door.  Arriving at the police station, Victor saw McBain.  “Any news on Tea?”

John McBain  looked over as Victor and Viki approached them.  He knew that look on Victor’s face meant business.  “Well, we have bad news and we have good news.  Unfortunately, they found the GPS tracker Ewen put onboard.  We lost the trace up near Lake Champlain.”

Impatiently, Victor asked, “That’s the bad news, right?”

John offered a smirk as a response.  Then he said.  “They, however, didn’t find the wire trace Ewen also put on the satellite line in the yacht.  That’s the good news.  We know from that where Helena is because that can be moved, even off the yacht.  Plus, we did get some more information out of he two accomplices.”  John sat on the edge of the desk as he began his explanation.  “Seems Allison was following Tea all the way from Llanview when Blair sent her up her for Starr.  She may have actually snatched her earlier, but Todd went looking for Tea when she never showed up in court.  He found her unconscious in a hotel parking garage and was trying to get her to the hospital in Tea car, while Allison followed.  She says she witnessed everything that happened, the birth, the complications and Todd seeking help from Heather.”    

Victor absorbed the information and pointed to the interrogation room.  “She in there?”  When John made the slightest nod, Victor headed over the door and crashed in, finding the police commissioner with Allison.

“Mr. Lord!” Anna yelled, but he didn’t stop until he had Allison backed up against a wall by the collar of her shirt. 

“You saw everything that happened the night my son was born and you DID NOTHING?” he screamed at the woman.  “Why?  WHY DID YOU NEED MY SON?”

Allison merely smiled.  “He was repayment, for the sins of a father…and a grandfather…and an uncle for that matter.”

John and Anna were trying to pull Victor off the prisoner before he did any more damage.  “Victor, it’s not worth it,” John warned.

“Where is Tea?  WHERE IS MY WIFE?” came Victor’s next question.

Before an answer could be said, Victor’s phone rang.  He released Allison to answer it.  Before talking into the cell, the voice on the other end asked, “Do you still want your wife?”

Victor looked to John and mouthed Helena.  John moved to a desk and started a trace on the call.  Then Victor turned his attention to the caller.  “Where is Tea?”

“Meet me at the cemetery where the Lord family crypt was tomorrow at two.  And this time, come alone,” Helena ordered.  With that, the call ended.

Victor looked at Anna.  “She’s in Llanview.  I’ve got to get down there,” he said as he walked past Anna towards the door. 

“Wait, Victor,” John said.  He was on the phone.  “Okay, you got that?  Yeah, get back to me after you’ve looked into it.”  John ended his call.  “I just had the LPD check.  No yacht pulled up into a slip.  However, a flight landed about fifteen minutes ago at the private jet at the airport.  It matches the radar signature of a Cassadine jet.”

“So, she got off the yacht somewhere up near Lake Champlain and flew to Llanview,”  Anna said.  “Well, in a way it makes sense.  This all began, from your ‘death’ in Llanview.” 

“Anna, Victor and I are going to head back down to Llanview now and get into position.  I’ll alert the LPD of the situation,” John said.

“You heard her say no cops, right?” Victor said.

“Yeah and if you think you’re going to this meeting alone tomorrow, you really are crazy,”  the cop replied.  “Look, we’ll come up with a plan on the way back to Llanview, but there will be authorities at the cemetery tomorrow.”

At that, Victor reluctantly agreed.  He moved over to Viki.  “Stay with Danie and the boys, please.  And don’t let Todd know.  He’s got too much on his plate.”

His sister just looked at him.  “Victor, stay at Llanfair.  We’ve already got security in place there,” Viki told him.  When he nodded, she gave him a hug.  “Be careful.”  With that, Victor and John left.

Viki made her way back to the mansion and found Danie up.  “What’s going on?” she asked.

Viki sat her down.  “Victor got a call from the woman who has your mother.  He’s going to meet her tomorrow back in Llanview.  John McBain went with him.”

Danie got up and grabbed her bag.  “I want to be there,” she said.  “I want…I want…”

Viki wrapped the girl in an embrace.  “I know you want your mother,” she said, soothingly.  “But your father wants you to stay here.  I’m going to need help with the boys anyway.”

At that, a cry came over the baby monitor.  Danie quickly wiped her eyes of the tears.  “I’d better go check on him,” she said.

Viki stopped her.  “We’ll both go.”

When they got up to the room, Danie went in and picked him up.  “Hey, little guy, what’s the matter?” she asked.  He smelled fine and had eaten before being put down.  As Danie held the baby, his tears subsided.  “Is that all you wanted, to be held?  Or do you want your mommy, hum?”

Viki watched as Danie walked around the room, singing and swaying with the baby in her arms.  He seemed to be smiling as she did that.  Viki sent up a quiet prayer that this family would eventually be reunited.  Eventually, she made her back downstairs when the doorbell rang.  When she opened it, she was relieved to see Clint standing outside.

Walking in, he kissed the top of her head.  “John called me to let me know what was happening,” he said after they parted.

“Yes, Victor got a call while we were at the station.  He was about to strangle Allison Perkins,” Viki said.  “If I didn’t already know she was crazy, I would definitely have figured it out by now.  She said that this whole kidnapping/baby switch was all to pay for his sins, his and Todd’s and father’s.”

“Viki, in all the years we’ve known Allison, she’s never been right in the head,‘ Clint told her. 

“Well, whatever the case, John and Victor are headed back to Llanview and they’re going to come up with a plan.  God, Clint, I just hope Tea’s alright in the end.  I don’t know what my brother will do if she’s not.”

Clint put an arm around her and she leaned against him.  “Hey, I also stopped at the hospital.  The doctors ran some more tests on Todd and they say all is looking good.  In fact, they may even want to have him try standing tomorrow.”

Viki sighed with relief.  “Well, at least Todd’s getting better.  Were Blair and the children still there when you left?”

“Yes,” Clint said, “and I don’t think they’ll be moved until he leaves the hospital.  Blair won’t even hear of leaving him.”

“Okay, well, I told Victor I would stay here with the kids.  Danie’s with the baby, who according to Victor will not have his name, and Sam’s asleep.  I think I may try to catch some shuteye now,” Viki said.

Clint nodded.  “I got you a change of clothes, and one for me.  We’ll stay here the night and go back to the hospital in the morning.”  He kissed her again as they stood.  “It’s been a long day and you need your rest.  Besides, if all turns out the way we all hope, you’ll be dealing with not one, but two ornery brothers soon.”

“Gee, thanks for mentioning that to me,” she replied with a laugh as she made her way upstairs again.  Danie had gotten the baby back down and had turned in herself.  Sam had been asleep since they had gotten home and nothing ever seemed to wake the boy.  Viki made her way to a bedroom and after changing climbed in, falling asleep in Clint’s arms.


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