Hope from the Ocean: 42

The limousine pulled up in front of Courtown Demesne, and it was mostly dark, except for one light that Todd immediately recognized.  Aiden seemed to understand as well, and said, "She's waiting for ya, eh?"

"She promised.  I did, too."

"This is a beautiful place.  I can't say it's a surprise to me, what it looks like.  I've read about it many times in local magazines.  What is a surprise is that ya own it."

"Yeah, well, just a little thing I picked up when figuring out how to handle things here in Ireland.  Blair didn't want me to be near this country again after the last few times."

"Well, ya came.  And made a difference."  They got out of the stretch, and headed to the front door.  

The door opened before he had a chance to even touch the handle.  Blair was there, in her camisole and silk pants, with a silk robe over them.  She fell onto him, with tears and relief all over her face and in her words.  "Todd," she said, and looked into his eyes.  

He took her hand, and backed away slightly, saying, "This is Aiden.  He could use some rest and family time.  I hope it's okay."

"Of course it is."  She extended her hand.  "Pleased to meet you," and she shook it, looking into his sparkling blue eyes.  The contrast to his dark hair was striking.  She noticed the scar on the side of his head, but ignored it, being used to Todd having many, she'd learned to look past them.  "Welcome to our home."  All three went into the house.

***

"Here at the annual summit of The Men of 21, we welcome our new leader today.  In honor of him, we have a great deal of entertainment planned, beginning with our stock holdings, as being read by Mr. Harrigan."  The voice did not have the Irish accent John was used to hearing.  Instead, the man sounded distinctly English.  "Let's give him our attention.  It's not long before midnight now."

As the man attempted to read the information aloud to the rest of the guests, John and the federal agents accompanying him stood outside the opening.  For a moment, he flashed on his previous experience in the same location.  Todd, bleeding and beaten, flung over Patrick Thornhart's shoulder, and Hesser, hissing and spitting in anger as they cuffed him.  He noticed a bead of sweat on his brow that was making its way to his eyes, and he doused it with his sleeve.

He made eye contact with the head agent, and they counted silently to three with each other, before storming the room.  To his surprise, there were quite a few men, and at a rough estimation, he thought perhaps twenty-five or more.  The room was just as they had left it almost three years before.  He said, "Freeze.  Federal Agents from the United States who have been granted the jurisdiction to make these arrests.  Hands up, gentlemen.  My entertainment starts now."

***

"Aiden, I'm hoping you'll be comfortable in the cottage," Blair said.  She and Todd lead him to the last of the three white buildings with black trim.  It was brisk in the night air, but not too cold.  They walked across the cool grass and used the moonlight and Todd's flashlight (he still had it in his belt loop) to find their way. 

"It's fine.  Whatever I get, is better than what I am used to.  Thank ya kindly.  And thank ya, Todd, for checking on Darren.  I'm feeling better now that I know he's out of the woods."  He made his way into the doorway, and turned on a light.  The room was softly lit, and wouldn't take long to warm up.  "Good night, both of ya.  I know Todd had a promise he made to his 'One True Babe,'" he said.

Todd and Blair took hands after she flashed him a feeble grin at the comment, and walked back to the main house.  She was already crying, with relief, and he was telling her small details of the story.  He was careful not to make the whole thing sound as deadly and dangerous as it was.

Back at the house, she said, "I can't believe you're here.  I . . . have to admit, for a while I doubted it. I was, well, kind of hysterical when you left."

"I heard.  But I'm all right.  I promised, didn't I?"  He didn't let on how close he came to never returning to her.  Instead, he cut his losses and moved to the present.  Putting his hands on either side of her face, he kissed her, moving his tongue along hers and making it dance in her mouth.  She did the same in response to him, and felt lifted off the ground by his lips and hands.

They parted, but Todd moved his mouth along her face, and down to her neck, his lips parted, breathing her in.  "My God, I thought I'd never feel this again.  I was so scared,"  she said.

"Nothing to be scared of, now.  I'm here."  He bent his knees, and hiked her into his arms, carrying her to the bed, his mouth fastened to hers.  He said, "You feel so good," as he slid his hands down her body and undressed her delicately.

She took his hand and stopped him.  "No.  You've been through so much.  Lie down, and let me pamper you."

He leaned down for a kiss on her breast, and then obeyed.  On his back at last, he realized how exhausted he was, as she slowly stripped away his clothes, and he struggled to keep his eyes from closing.  After the first layer of attire, she said, "Come on.  I know what you need."  She got up, and took his hand, leading him to the bathroom.  Drawing a hot bath, she said, "You're very tense, and tired."  She continued undressing him, until he was standing in front of her, nude.  Aside from a few scrapes and bumps, he was in perfect form, and his trim body made her feel warm, stirring something deep within her.

After a few moments, he stepped into the tub, and she started to wash his back and arms with a soft natural sponge.  He closed his eyes, and let a sigh escape him.  "I'm home," he said, dreamily.

"Yes, you are.  You're home.  Where you belong, with us,"  She said this putting his hand, albeit wet, onto her belly.

***

"How do we get this slider open?"  John said, surveying everything around the opening.

"That's a good question.  Not even sure Manning knew this.  What are the chances that Thornhart's alive in there?"

"Pretty damn good, if they are holding a summit and we just heard them explain they had entertainment.  If Todd's right, Patrick's in there waiting for his executioners."

"Any suggestions, Lieutenant?"

John thought.  "I can give Todd a call and ask him about the door, how it operates, how close it is to where Patrick might be?  Then possibly we can shoot through it?"

"It looks like it's galvanized steel, something that might not allow bullets to penetrate.  Might be our only recourse, though."

"No key code.  No device for prints."  John looked around the edges of the door.  "We also have to realize there may be a handler in there with him."

"What about a print reader?  Embedded in the door?"

"Possibly."  He began to touch around the edges, but realized his prints would never open it.  Then, remembering the man with the slit throat, he and the agent stood him up and ran his hand along the door panel.  It was tedious, but finally, at a spot nearest the left edge and completely centered, the door lit up under the touch of the man's dead hand, and the door slid open.

Letting the corpse fall, John and the agents entered, guns drawn.  John called out, "FBI.  All weapons down, hands up," as they rounded the small alcove into the main part of the room.

Patrick was sitting up, alone, on the rock chair at the far side of the room.  "Bout time ya got here, McBain, I was getting close to the end."

John breathed a sigh of relief, and asked, "You alone?"

"Of course, ya were expecting a group, perhaps a celebration?"

Patrick didn't look too bad to John, considering how long he had been gone and how bad Manning had looked not three years before in the same room.  John said, "I'm just glad we found you."

"I can only think of one way," Patrick said, standing.  It was then as he winced and John got a closer look that it became evident that the man was thirsty, hungry and had been beaten.

"Can you walk?"

"I can.  Are ya going to let me in on how ya found me.  As I said, I can only think of one way."

"And what way is that?"  John asked, slightly playfully for what they all had endured.

"Manning."

"You guessed right."

"He came here, in these catacombs, to help find me?"

"He did.  He almost blacked out, and actually did after he made it to the exit.  He carried a young guy on his back the whole way.  Seems the kid took a bullet aimed at Todd."

"I know why he did it.  And it's my job to make certain that he finally lets go.  He doesn't owe Margaret or me anything else.  He's done enough.  Is he here, so I can talk to him?"

"First, he's not.  He rushed home to Blair.  Second, it's almost three in the morning.  You might have to wait until tomorrow."

"That's fine.  But he's getting a talking to from me,"  Patrick winced, taking a few steps.  

John said, "Your handler.  Was he . . . anything like . . ."

"No.  I don't think there's a human being alive like Michael Leona.  Thank the heavens.  This one injured me because I fought back.  Otherwise, he would have just held me here and provided what he was told.  They only wanted me to be the entertainment this evening.  Nothing more."

John said, "Marty will be happy."

"That she will.  Thanks to Todd, and all of ya, and Blair.  I know she had something to do with giving him the strength to do this, and letting him accomplish it for himself."

"You know them well."

"It's been short of twenty years, now, McBain.  I know Todd Manning better than I imagined, come to think of it.  A sort of brethren."

John thought how much that was how he felt after Greece.  It seemed Todd Manning, though definitely flawed, had that very effect on people.

***

After the bath, Blair brought him soft, comfortable pajamas, and he hopped into the bottoms.  Leaving his shirt off intentionally, she led him back to the bed, and said, "Just lie down, right here."

"I feel great."

"Good."

He listened and lay on his stomach, his face turned to the side, his back up to her.  She straddled him and massaged his shoulders.  At first, he winced and complained of tightness and pain, and after a few minutes, he was silent, and she could hear a faint snoring coming from him.  She bent over and kissed his cheek, gently, right above his scar.  

"Oh, God," she said, finding tears again, but this time, they were more relief, "You're all right.  I was so scared, Todd.  So scared," she touched his hair, and then lowered herself next to him.  She turned on her side, determined to look at him as long as she could before closing her eyes in sleep.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.