Blair leaned against the bar and glanced at the bottle of champagne sitting there. All thoughts of work went out the window as she found herself remembering New Orleans. She was back in the grand dining room.
Todd removed the bottle from the ice bucket, poured two flutes, and started to hand one to Blair.
“Todd, you know I can’t. The baby.” Blair protested, placing a hand down on her belly.
He smiled at her look of outrage. “It’s Sparkling Cider, the finest vintage around, dated 2013. I couldn’t find one dated 1995.”
Blair giggled, “I should hope not, I really have no desire to drink vinegar.” She accepted the flute. “Thank you,” and took a sip.
“Hey, hold up. I have something to say first.” Todd raised his glass to her. “To my wife. The only one who has ever fully understood me. I promise there will be no broken mirrors this time. I’m going to do everything I can to return home permanently. I love you. I want to be there, sitting next to you on the couch, when we’re old and gray and remembering the stables.”
Blair’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh Todd. I love you, too.” She reach across the table with her free hand, and he took it.
Never liking to be too sentimental, Todd quickly gulped down his drink and stood up. “Come on, this evening is just getting started.”
Blair had no choice but to follow, and was surprised when instead of heading for the stairs, Todd took her back to the front door.
“Wait here.” He left her and walked back into the dining room. He returned holding two masks and a lace cape which he placed around her shoulders. “There, it gets a little chilly down here at night.” Slipping her mask back on and his own, he took her hand and led her outside. The carriage, that had brought her, was sitting waiting for them. “It’s Halloween and we’re taking our own private haunted tour.” He jumped into the carriage and settled down next to Blair, pulling her close. “Okay, Henry, show us all the hotspots.”
At one point in the ride, the carriage ended up in the midst of a parade and Todd began playing it up for the sightseers nodding and waving his hand. Then he pulled a bag of beads from underneath the seat and told her to start tossing them to the crowd.
Blair laughed, “You planned this all along didn’t you.” and saw his shy grin confirming her suspicions. She grabbed the beads and tossed them until they were gone. The carriage finally left the parade and Blair snuggled down into the crook of Todd’s arm. “That was fun, but I don’t supposed there are some nice quiet places on this tour. Someplace more conducive to this.” Blair reached over and turned Todd’s face to her’s and went in for a kiss.
Todd responded by enfolding her in both arms, and deepening the kiss. He left no doubt in her mind that he knew exactly what she wanted. As they separated, he said gruffly, “You heard the lady, Henry, find somewhere quieter.” Then he turned back to Blair to give her his undivided attention.
The carriage moved away from the crowded areas of town. All was quiet except the sound of the horse’s hooves as they hit the pavement.
Pausing a moment from kissing Todd, Blair looked around and gasped. They appeared to have entered a cemetery, and mausoleum after mausoleum stretched out in front of them. She had never seen anything quite like it. She felt Todd shift and withdraw from her.
Todd’s voice was strained and angry. “I told you to leave the cemetery off the tour. Get us out of here. Now!”
Blair looked at Todd and could make out his clenched jaw. He was just staring at the tombs and breathing heavily. She reached to his face and removed the mask. Gently, she touched his scar, rubbing her fingers along it until she got his attention. “Don’t think of it, just look at me. I’m here, Todd. It’s over, and we’re on our honeymoon.” She kept his eyes focused on hers and said, “Henry, perhaps there’s a nice haunted plantation we can go see instead.”
“Of course, Ms. Cramer, my apologies. Clyde, here, is just used to a particular route. I’m sorry Mr. Butler. It won’t happen again.” Henry turned the carriage around, and they departed the cemetery.
Blair moved her hands to both side of Todd’s face and slowly began to stroke his ears. She watched as he closed his eyes and sighed, the tension evaporating as she continued to caress him. She loosened his shirt and placed a hand against his chest, feeling his heartbeat.
Todd captured her hand over his heart. “I can’t ever lose you like that again, Blair. I once thought the worst thing in the world was being in prison, but I was wrong. If it weren’t for you, I would have gone stark raving mad when Mitch Laurence sealed me in that tomb. You were my last thought as I passed out.”
The sound of a glass breaking, brought Blair out of her daydream. She wiped away the tears that had started to form with the memory. She and Todd had had a long talk, shortly after the cemetery incident. Once they arrived at an isolated plantation, they had given Henry and Clyde a break. They had taken a walk around the grounds, and she had told him all about searching for him when Mitch took him. By the time they returned to the mansion, a lot of misunderstandings had been repaired.
Blair smiled to herself.
With the past behind them, they had spent the rest of the evening exploring the mansion. The master bedroom was stately, and she had naturally opened every door to see what was behind it. She wasn’t surprised to see extra clothes for her in the closet, but she couldn’t help squealing for joy when she discovered the hidden shower. After a romp in it, she joined Todd wearing the teddy she had brought in her little bag.
“That’s nice. A little skimpy.” Todd said as he raised an eyebrow admiring her.
“Well you did say to pack light. This was the only thing that would fit in my small bag.“ She turned to let him get a good look, and laughed when he grabbed her.
“You little witch, get down here.” Todd pulled her on top of him.
It wasn’t long until he had her out of the teddy, and she did her best to keep things equal by swiftly helping him out of his clothes. The rest of the night was heavenly.
More sounds coming from the kitchen brought her back to earth. She sighed. The end of the week couldn’t come fast enough for her. She was going to see Todd again. She turned and headed to find out just how much stemware had been broken.
****
Todd tossed his keys down on his table as he entered his room. It had been a long day and an even more disturbing evening. He had finally been contacted by Baker and had met with him at an obscure bar in Baton Rouge. Once there he found out that Baker had been sent out of the state by the organization. What disturbed him was that Baker had been sent to Llanview.
He shed his clothes and hopped in the shower. Letting the water wash off the worst of the road dust and sweat, he lathered up and proceeded to scrub himself down. Then he stood under the water letting the pulse of it work to loosen his tense muscles and while doing so, his mind drifted back to the conversation with Baker.
“What do you mean you’ve been in Llanview? Why didn’t you respond to my calls?”
“I couldn’t, I had someone with me the majority of the time I was there. It was too risky. I was under orders to do my job and nothing else. These people are pretty heavily connected to some powerful people in high places. I know when to steer clear of trouble.” Baker replied rather abruptly, and took a drink.
Hearing that, Todd looked around and noticed a couple of the men from the compound in the bar. “I thought we would be alone. Why are they letting you talk to me?”
“We’re here in Baton Rouge looking for more recruits. I told them you looked like a likely candidate, so they gave me the go ahead to approach you. They don’t know I arranged this meeting. Acknowledge them and they’ll go about their business.”
Todd nodded and raised his drink to the few compound guys at the bar, he smiled and turned back to Baker. Keeping the smile on his face for show, he asked his next question.
“Tell me why you were in Llanview?”
Baker set his drink down. “There is a lab in the compound that is in full production. I haven’t been given access to it but whatever they’re making is being distributed. I was sent with a unit to make the distributions around the state of Pennsylvania. Our final destination was Llanview.”
Todd’s interest was peaked. “I’m guessing you found out what you were delivering.” This time Baker smiled and Todd felt a chill go down his back. Flashes of sitting opposite the man in an enclosed room, restrained and helpless while the man tortured him, made him uneasy.
“But of course, I‘m very good at what I do. Drugs, are what we’ve been delivering. These drugs are not your normal garden variety drugs. They’re designed for a number of reasons. Control of subjects being the number one.” Baker sat back and took a leisurely drink this time.
“So who did you deliver to in Llanview?” Todd thought back to the drug that was given to Dani. Had it come from the compound?
“I met with two men. One of them was a doctor, and he was accompanied by a young black man. The doctor did all the talking. The visit was brief, and they refused to offer names. The tattoo on the doctor’s upper arm was the identification. They accepted the shipment and departed. I was able to see a Llanview Hospital parking sticker on his car. So I’m guessing the doctor is on staff there.”
"Is that all you can tell me? You left the drugs, and that was it.”
“No, there was one thing more. We picked up our own shipment. A man was given into our care. Several of my colleagues handled the exchange. I was unable to find out who the man was, but he was delivered to the compound this morning.”
Todd moved his head under the water and let the water run down his face. His hands moved to push his hair back as he recalled taking a break earlier in the day and noting a black car pull up to a building in the compound. Three men exited the car, but the man in the middle appeared in need of help, and from Todd’s vantage point he couldn’t make out the face of the man. Thanks to Baker’s information, he now knew that the man was a guest of the compound and probably not a willing one. He didn’t envy him. Grabbing a towel, Todd exited the shower and walked back into his room. Because of Baker’s trip, Todd still didn’t know if Victor was in the compound. One more day Todd, and you’ll be with Blair again. Just keep remembering that. Dropping the towel, he slipped beneath the sheets and fell into a fitful sleep, tossing and turning.
He gasped and slowly found himself breathing in the fresh air. Everything was pitch black, and he hurt all over. He couldn’t think clearly. He felt himself losing consciousness again. The next thing he knew he awoke in a chair. The darkness was gone, and all he could see was a large expanse of white surrounding him. Off in the distance, he spotted someone walking toward him. He went to get up, but he couldn’t. “NO, God not again!” The chair had changed, and now he was bound with restraints and sitting in a windowless room again.
He glanced at the door and heard it click. Todd struggled to get free, but it was hopeless. He watched helplessly as the door opened and Baker entered the room. He was carrying a tray and set it down on a table that had suddenly appeared. Something was different. Baker wore a lab coat, and there was an insignia on the outside pocket, Todd’s eyes widened as he recognized the tattoo design.
"And how are we, Mr. Manning? It’s time for a dose of medicine. Now I hope you’re not going to prove troublesome .” He lifted up the container and walked toward Todd.
Todd tried to move, but the restraints held him tight. There was something terribly wrong with the medicine. Baker was holding it with care in his gloved hand. “I won’t take it. Nooooo!”
As Baker reached to tilt his head back and forced the liquid down his throat, Todd did the only thing he could. He slipped his head underneath the one hand and deliberately butted the hand holding the medicine. The liquid spilled out of the container and began burning a hole in the floor. It wasn’t medicine, it was acid. Todd only had a second to react to that knowledge, when he was suddenly backhanded by Baker.
“That was very naughty of you. Very well, we’ll just have to resort to our old measures. She gave me permission to use whatever was necessary to silence you for good.”
"Who? Why are you doing this? I thought you worked for me."
Baker glanced at Todd and smiled. "Mr. Manning, you are clearly delusional. But don't worry, soon you won't have a care in the world You know how this works, I push a simple little switch and you say bye-bye to all you know."
Todd's blood froze at the sight of that smile, and he again struggled to get free as Baker left the room. In seconds his whole body was lit afire by the electric current shooting into him.
Todd screamed and jerked awake. He lay on the bed staring into the darkness for a moment, he was drenched in sweat. With a shaky hand, he reached for the lamp beside the bed and untangled himself from the sheet. Once his heart stopped racing, he got up and went to the sink to splash some cold water on his face. He looked at himself in the mirror but couldn’t get the image of himself in the chair out of his head. Stop this, it was just a nightmare. It’s everything working on your imagination; Baker and the compound, and that poor slob they just captured. Your subconscious is playing with you. Get a grip. Think of something good. You have a whole day ahead of you. Blair will know something is wrong if she sees you like this.
After a few more splashes of water on his face and down his neck, Todd walked back into the room. The clock read 4:00 a.m., and there was no sense trying to get any more sleep, so he started to dress for the day. He reached into his wallet and drew out his wedding ring, taking a moment to place it on his finger. Then he straightened his shoulders and removed it. It had served its purpose. He was doing all this for her and his family. He would get through the day and be with her by nightfall. He slipped it back behind her picture, running his thumb gently across her image. “I love you, Mrs. Manning, and I’ll see you soon,” he whispered and then placed his wallet away.
****
In Llanview, Blair turned over in her bed, smiling in her sleep she reached to caress the face of the man she was dreaming about and whispered. “Soon, My Love.”
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