Port Charles Chronicles: Chapter 23

    Tomas arrived back from Port Charles and went straight to his room.  Dani was still at the hospital with Tea so he didn’t expect any interruptions.  He set his case on his bed and opened it, taking out the weapon.  He began to take it apart and got out his cleaning supplies.  Putting on some gloves, he carefully removed the remaining bullets in the chamber.  He smiled when he recalled the blood he had seen on the dock as he recovered his spent bullets.  He had managed to hit his target after all.

    “You didn’t escape completely, Todd.  I just know you’re going to enjoy my little gift.  It won’t kill you, but you’re going to wish it had.”  He put the unused bullets away, being careful not to let them come in contact with his own skin.  They had come in handy a number of times when he had needed to slow down his victims.  Manning was moving way too fast with Blair.  The solution on the bullet would throw a definite monkey wrench into their reunion.  He finished cleaning the barrel and the silencer and replaced all the parts back into the case.  He stowed the case under his bed and changed his clothes.  He was supposed to pick up Tea and bring her home
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    Just as Tomas was about to leave the house his cell phone went off.  Tomas was surprised.  Usually, he was contacted by Calmar.  What had prompted this call?  “Why are you calling me, we had a deal.  I get you out of the mess and back to your old life and you leave everything here alone.”

    “Tomas is that any way to talk to your brother-in-law?”

    “My brother-in-law is dead and he’s going to stay that way.  This was your idea as much as mine.  We both knew the game was up when Manning resurfaced.”

    “Yes well, once Irene was captured I knew it wouldn’t take her long to realize I wasn’t her precious Victor.  Getting out from under her control was just what the doctor ordered.  Actually, I called to commend you on your excellent job of disposing of Anthony Zacchara.  I’m anxious to get the next phase of retrieving my territory underway.  I believe it’s time for Lorenzo Alcazar to reappear in Port Charles.  Johnny Zacchara is beginning to crack under the guilt he feels for accidentally killing Starr’s daughter and her boyfriend.  Of course for my part, Cole was just a punk and not good enough for Starr.”

     Tomas listened and couldn’t help feeling that small bit of compassion for Starr and Blair.  Hope shouldn’t have died, but such was fate.  Collateral damage happened even to the innocent.
He heard Flynn’s tone. “You really hated the Thornhart kid didn’t you?”

     “That kid tried to kill me. First, he got Starr pregnant and then he went after me because he thought I pushed Marty down some stairs.  He was just like his father, Patrick.  I was taken to the compound just one time while I was playing Todd and I stumbled on Baker trying to get some information out of Thornhart. When Marty and her son first returned to Llanview all I heard about was precious Patrick.  After Marty’s accident, I felt like fate had dropped her into my lap.  She had no memory and I was her savior.  It was child’s play to make her love me.  I couldn’t resist the chance to rub it into Patrick’s face after Marty had consensual sex with me.  If Baker and his men hadn’t been there, I know Patrick would have tried to kill me too.   I hated both Thornhart men.  It really galled to have to let Marty go with that bum, but she found out about us and besides, by then she was a fruitcake.  Let's get back to the purpose of this call.  Lorenzo is needed in Port Charles.   It’s time.  Zacchara is primed to release it to you.  I want you there asap.”

     This was the call Tomas had been waiting for.   He could go into Port Charles as Lorenzo, take over for Zacchara and be able to get Manning in the process.  “Fine, I’ll get your territory for you.  Do you have any problem if I stick around for a while?”

     There was silence and then. “I don’t care what you do, Tomas, just don’t get caught.  If I feel you’re a danger to me, I’ll make sure you don’t have a chance to say anything.  Do you understand?”

     “Understood.  Don’t worry, if I get caught my CIA background and real identity should be sufficient to get free.  I trust my funds were deposited as agreed.”

      “Your funds were transferred this morning as soon as the kill was confirmed.  I’ll be waiting to hear from Lorenzo soon.”

      Tomas heard the line go dead.  Walker was a ruthless man and if he thought he was threatened there was no telling what he might do next.  You made a pact with the devil, Tomas.  Now you have to live with it.  He walked back over to his bed and pulled a suitcase out.  Opening it, he took out the wallet from a special compartment.  Lorenzo Alcazar was about to return from the dead.

     An hour later he strolled into the hospital.  He found Tea with Jack and Dani.  He and Jack had an uneasy truce in place.  Jack had given his approval for his mom to date Tomas because he wanted anyone else for her other than his dad.  He acknowledged Jack with a nod and turned to his sister. “So, Parajita, it’s time we got you back home.” He smiled and went to get her bag, as Tea reached for it. “I’ve got that.  Dani, you and Jack can get the flowers.”

     Tea looked at her brother suspiciously.  “What’s got you so cheerful this morning?” Not very happy herself, she found Tomas’ exuberance unusual.   Less than a week before, he had been in the dumps because Blair had gone to Port Charles.

     “It’s nothing, something just went my way business-wise and I’m feeling like my life is going to take a better turn.  I received a windfall for some work recently and I‘m expecting more work to come my way.”  He began pushing Tea’s wheelchair.

     Tomas smiled again as he thought about the gift he had given Todd, the man should have been dead many times over.  If he had his way, Manning’s death would come very soon and he’d be there to pick up the pieces for Blair. Tomas was suddenly brought out of his reverie by Tea’s voice.

     “Hey, watch where you’re going, Tomas.  You almost ran down that poor patient.”

      Tomas stopped abruptly. “I’m sorry Tea.”

      Tea looked over at her shoulder at her brother. “ Really.  Where are you today?  Your head is in the clouds.   I just asked you a question and you didn’t answer.”

      “What did you want to know?”

      “Have you talked to Blair?  I thought for sure she’d be back in town by now.  Jack told me she called yesterday but didn’t say when she was coming home.  I thought maybe you two had talked.”  Tea saw the look of annoyance that crossed Tomas’ face.  “Judging by your look just now I’m guessing you haven’t spoken to her.  You shouldn’t worry.  She’ll be back when she gets Starr settled.”

      Tomas knew that Blair was in Port Charles for more than Starr, but he didn’t want to upset Tea with a mention about Todd.  She now had to mourn her dead baby on top of Victor’s death and Todd Manning was at the top of her hate list.  Soon he hoped to be able to tell her that the man she believed killed her husband was himself dead.  He turned to Jack and pretended interest in Blair’s whereabouts.  “So your mom’s still in Port Charles, how’s Starr doing?”

      Jack shrugged his shoulders.  “I don’t know, Grandma Addie just told me that Starr got off for attempting to kill the mobster, who caused Hope’s death.  It’s too bad she didn’t succeed.  Little Hope never hurt anyone.  Cole wasn’t so bad either.  If I had been Starr, I would have done the same thing.”

      Tea had been watching Tomas’ face when Jack spoke and he seemed upset about something.  More than probably he was thinking the same thing she was.   Jack was beginning to sound too much like Victor and Todd.  She had loved Victor but she knew Victor had had trouble controlling his impulses to hurt those he felt deserved it.  In that respect, he and Todd had been alike.   But Victor had loved her and Todd was incapable of loving anyone but himself.  She had been pleased when Blair had finally seen the light where Todd was concerned and turned her back on him.  Hopefully, she hadn’t had to spend too much time with him while helping Starr.  “Jack, you shouldn’t think that way.  You’re still in trouble because of Gigi,  I know you don’t want to be anything like your father.  You need to start thinking before you act.  You’re young, you can change.  Your father will never change.”

     Jack nodded, his real father had killed the only father he had known, then lied about it.  When he got arrested for hurting Gigi, he had actually started to think Scarface might have been telling the truth.   He had been about ready to give Scarface a chance when the truth had come out, and John McBain had arrested Scarface for murdering Victor.  Now he wanted nothing to do with the man.  Tea was right.  He didn’t want to be like his father.

     At Jack’s words about Hope, Tomas felt a little regret for her death.  He had been trying to kill Anthony and the kids had been casualties. Todd Manning was to blame for Hope’s death too.  Starr, Hope, and Cole wouldn’t have been on that road if Todd hadn’t been on trial.  This is a good time to feed Jack’s hatred of Todd and make inroads with the kid.  Don’t waste it.  “Jack, your aunt is right.  I know you feel cheated because your father got off for killing Victor.  Don’t let your hatred for him drive you to do something foolish.  You’re a good kid, you just got mixed up for a time.  Your father had plenty of chances to change and never did.  He let his selfishness rule him, never forget that.”

     Tomas watched as Jack listened.  He saw Jack’s jaw clench tightly as he thought about Todd killing Victor.  Jack would continue to hate Todd as long as someone kept reminding him of the “Murder”.  Tomas also saw Tea’s face and knew his words had struck a raw nerve there, too.   He needed to find a way to bring Blair home.  Maybe he could put a notion into Tea’s head and use Tea to draw Blair back.  That’s it, if Blair thinks Jack’s in trouble, she’ll leave Port Charles, then I’ll be free to take out Todd.  He leaned down close to his sister’s ear. “Tea, I think we need to come up with a strategy to get Blair home.  Jack needs her.”

    Tea smiled lovingly at her brother.  “I believe you’re right, Tomas.  We’ll talk later.”

    ***

     Blair smiled, Todd was actually whistling in the shower.  Once he realized she and the proposal were real, his mood had changed dramatically.  As she listened, she ordered some breakfast for both of them.  His fever had definitely broken and it appeared to be just a minor flu bug after all.  Still, she was worried about him all the same.  The fever had just aggravated his depression the night before.  She knew this was just a brief interlude and soon Todd’s troubles would be back.

     Todd walked out of the bathroom and saw Blair setting up breakfast.  “Please tell me there’s some meat on that platter.” Blair just nodded and lifted the cover revealing both bacon and sausage.  Todd made a beeline and grabbed some bacon to munch on as he looked for something to wear.  Blair watched amused as he deftly slipped into his slacks with one hand and held the bacon with the other.

     Todd popped the rest of the bacon in his mouth and began to button his shirt.  It was a little bit of a struggle, his injured hand stiff and uncooperative.  The next thing he noticed, two smaller hands were covering his and he looked into Blair’s green eyes.

     “Let me do that.  So what’s the plan for today?” Her eyes left his for a moment to concentrate on the buttons.  He didn’t say anything to her question, so she looked back up and he was just staring at her.  “What?”

      He smiled and leaned in for a small kiss. “Thanks.” He almost laughed as she blushed suddenly, then he answered her first question.   “I don’t know, I wanted to get out and look for someplace else to live.  Never been too fond of hotels for very long.  Haven’t had the best of memories in them.  What do you say?  Want to go house hunting?”

     “Wow, Todd Manning wants to look at houses.  I’m shocked.  I would have thought you’d be looking for some high-rise penthouse?  You were always fond of looking down from the top of the world.”

    “The penthouse was great, but I want someplace that has a yard where I can get out and roughhouse with the boys.  I‘ve got to find a way through to Jack and, at least, we have sports in common.  I know I’m jumping the gun here.  I was just starting to make progress with him when everything hit the fan.  Now he hates me with a passion again.  Blair, he’s my son, I have to make him understand.” He turned away from her, his thoughts once again on the angry young man back in Llanview.

     Blair watched the light die in Todd’s eyes.  Just like that, his mood had fallen back into a somber one.  His shoulders slumped as he turned away and she wanted to cry.  She understood his need to connect with Jack and she wished at times like these, Jack was more like her.  It wasn’t Todd’s fault that he had been taken from Jack, but Victor had raised Jack to be like him.  Now she realized just how destructive that had been.  In the last few years, Victor had become so self-centered and ruthless but she had been too close to see it.  Stepping back, she saw how Jack had begun turning into a carbon copy of Victor and her sweet fun-loving boy changed into a troubled teen.  She walked over and wrapped her arms around Todd, leaning her head against his back. “You’re going to get through to him, it’s just going to take time.  Once he’s here, away from Llanview and its memories, both of you can start to heal.”

    Todd gripped her arms and squeezed, then stood straighter and turned back to her. “You’re right.  Hell, what kid wouldn’t want to see a city that’s run by gangsters.  New adventures in dealing with the seamier side of life.  Maybe then I won’t look so bad.” he grinned quirkily.

    Blair laughed lightly and nodded.  “You’re right.  You’re small potatoes next to these guys.  Come on, let’s go tour picturesque Port Charles and find a place to raise our family.”  She took him by the hand and led him out, determined nothing would bring back his dark mood if she had anything to say about it.







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