The OTB jet landed and taxied to a stop inside a private hangar at the Llanview airport. Todd turned to his brother and Clint. “Okay, this is what happens next. You two are going to go to Llanfair. I called Viki while we were in the air. Nigel is waiting outside to take you both there.”
Victor started to open his mouth and Todd glared at him and stopped him. “Don’t say anything. I know you want to see Tea, and that’s been arranged. Viki is having Tea over to the house for dinner to discuss legal matters concerning The Banner and the recent money invested from OTB, but you need to know that certain rooms in the house are bugged.”
He studied his brother. Victor’s hair was now blonde, his eyes were brown, thanks to color contacts, and he sported a blonde goatee. Todd had also done some magic with some latex prosthetics, which he added to Victor’s face to round it out. “When Tea arrives Viki will introduce you. Tea has no idea you’re here and your disguise should keep her from recognizing you. Victor, do you think you can control yourself long enough to act like my representative? You just have to manage to stay in character until Viki can get you and Tea into a more private room in the house. That goes for you too, Clint.”
“I don’t understand. Why haven’t the bugs been destroyed? I can’t believe Viki left them active after finding out about them.” Clint shook his head. “She should have told Bo the minute they were found.”
“We decided to leave them active. Peterson and the organization have to believe that they’ve gotten away with everything so far. If the bugs became inactive it could alert him that something was wrong.” Todd looked at Victor. “I’m waiting for your answer. We can’t jeopardize all we’ve done by being outed now. Will you stick with the plan?”
Victor stroked his new goatee, it was something he had never worn. He had just been letting himself grow a beard like Todd’s and had been surprised when Todd had suggested the trim. It would take some getting used to. “Sure Todd, as long as I get to see Tea. So, I guess we’re going to stay at Viki’s. Where are you going to be?”
“I’m going to see Blair. Don’t worry, I’m not going to the club, there are too many people who might see through this disguise. It’s held up so far because I’ve stayed away from people that know me as Todd and because Alison and Peterson still believe I’m dead. I know they looked into Tony Butler when Blair started dating me. But they didn’t dig any further after that.” Todd got up and looked out the window of the airplane. Two limousines had pulled up and Nigel was stepping out of one of them. “Clint, Nigel is up to speed with everything but for the benefit of any bystanders out there, you are Mr. Ritchie, one of my partners.”
Clint stood up, his hair had been darkened to hide the gray and like Victor, Todd had used more prosthetics to change his nose and chin. Clint had been amazed at what those few changes had made to his looks. Both men had been able to travel to the airport in New Orleans without fear of being recognized. “Mr. Ritchie, I’ve got it. I’m glad this disguise worked for us in New Orleans, but I’ll be glad to get rid of it once we’re in Llanfair. These additions itch like all get out.”
Todd shook his head. “You can’t. For the time being, you have to wear the disguises. It could be disastrous if Matthew sees you, and even though Natalie knows you’re okay, she still believes you’re in hiding from Alison Perkins. Viki informed me that Matthew’s friend Jeffrey King did have something to do with the basket delivered to her yesterday. Bo brought him into the LPD for questioning a short time ago. We need to give Bo time to get his information. The last thing we need is for King to be released and for Matthew to tell him he saw you.”
Nigel stood by the car waiting for his passengers. He had been shocked when Ms. Viki had informed him about Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Lord and then instructed him to pick them up. Expecting to see them, he was surprised to see three strangers exit the plane. The three were walking towards him so he gave a slight bow and opened the back door to the car. “Gentlemen, Ms. Viki awaits your company.”
Todd moved forward and lowered the register of his voice. Vicki had told Nigel about Clint and Victor, but he was still supposed to be dead. “You must be Nigel, I’m Tony Butler and these are my colleagues. Mr. Ritchie and Mr. Baron. You go ahead and take them to see Mrs. Banks. I’m afraid I have someone else I need to see tonight.”
Clint stepped forward. “It’s good of you to pick us up. Thank you, Nigel.” He watched as Nigel’s eyes opened wider. He winked and got into the car.
Victor smirked and responded. “Yeah, Thanks, man.” Victor got into the car and sat back as Nigel closed the door. Then he opened the liquor cabinet in the car. “Well, how about a drink, Old Man? We’re here, I think we should celebrate.”
Nigel turned around from the front seat. “Mister Clint, I don’t think that’s wise given your heart condition.”
“Hell Nigel, one drink won’t hurt me.” replied Clint gruffly
“No sir, but do you want Ms. Viki to smell liquor on your breath the first time she sees you? Although, I must say, your disguises are quite well done. I’m sure Ms. Viki will be very surprised.
“That’s enough Nigel. Just get us to Llanfair.” Clint took the glass offered by Victor and swallowed it down in one gulp. “I can handle my liquor as long as someone isn’t drugging me. Believe me, I’m as sober as they come.”
Nigel merely shook his head and drove the car out of the hangar.
****
Jeffrey King entered his apartment and slipped off his shoes. He put his feet up on the coffee table and opened his laptop. Everything had gone as planned. Both the baskets had been delivered and received. Now he just needed to let his mentor know. He was in the middle of typing his report when there was a knock on his door. Setting the computer down, he got up to answer it. He was surprised to find two gentlemen standing there. One was a police officer.
“Are you Jeffrey King?” asked Fish.
“Yes Officer, how may I help you?”
“The commissioner would like you to come down to the station, he’s hoping you’ll be able to help us with a case we’re working on.”
Thinking there might be a good story involved, Jeffrey readily agreed. “I’d be glad to help if I can. If you gentlemen will just give me a minute. I’ll be right with you.” he said and let Fish and John McBain into the apartment. He sat down on the couch and turned off his computer, then reached for his shoes.
By chance, John looked over as Jeffrey was slipping his shoes on and saw the tattoo on the bottom of his foot. He immediately recognized it as being the same as the one he had seen in Bo’s file. First his connection to the tainted gift basket and now the tattoo. Mr. King had a lot of explaining to do.
****
He stood in the room watching the screens and took out his cell. After sending the message, he smiled as he saw Blair take off for the exit at Shelter. It would take her a few minutes to get to the Manning building so he sat back and watched Viki greet Tea and take her into the library. Within minutes, Viki again answered the door and showed Clint and Victor into the library, and introduced them to Tea. A couple of minutes later she escorted Tea and Victor into her study. Tea appeared to have no idea Victor was with her, which meant Victor was behaving himself. If he knew his brother, Tea would know very shortly who she really was with.
Knowing that everything was going as planned at Llanfair. Todd took a moment to check on Dani and was disappointed to find she wasn’t at home. Since Blair was headed to him, he was about to turn off the screens when he saw Carl Peterson arrive at LaBoulae. “What the Hell?” Dorian was obviously expecting him since she was dressed to entertain. “Damn, why didn’t I install mikes. Dorian, you better not betray us.” He flung the control across the room, unaware that Blair had entered behind him.
Blair wrapped her arms around him from behind and rested her cheek against his back. “What did that poor control do to get my husband so angry.” He felt so good. She had been so scared and angry when she first got his text, that she had dashed out of the club determined to read him the riot act for coming back to Llanview. But the moment she saw him all she wanted to do was hold him.
The moment her arms had gone around him, Todd’s anger evaporated. It had been so long since they had seen each other and so much had happened since Key West. He turned in her arms until they were facing each other. All thoughts went out the window as he looked into her beautiful eyes. He reached and moved her hair away from her face. She was so precious to him. After all this time, she still loved him and wanted to be his. He lowered his mouth seeking hers, kissing her softly. A fire ignited in him as her lips parted and her tongue sought entrance through his. That was all it took.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed against the wall. Together they began to undress each other. Todd got off the bed long enough to remove the rest of his clothes and grab a throw to cover them, then he joined Blair on the bed. He looked at her and stroked her beautiful body, his hand coming to rest on her belly. He watched in awe as the child within moved and knew it wouldn’t be long before she made her entrance into the world. He looked up and met Blair’s gaze as she watched him. “You are so beautiful. Every night before I go asleep, I have to pinch myself so I know I’m awake and that you love me. For the life of me, I still find it hard to believe.” he paused and laid his head carefully on top of his child, then kissed her and continued to caress Blair’s body with his lips until he got to her lovely breasts.
Blair’s eyes filled with tears at Todd’s words. She understood his doubt. He had always been so fearful of happiness. He was afraid it would suddenly go away like his mother had when he was young. Even after their most recent marriage, he had feared they were doomed. The last eight months had been so hard for both of them but things were finally going their way. If her plan with Dorian worked, Carl Peterson and the rest of his Organization were going to topple and then she and Todd would no longer have to hide their love from anyone again. She quivered as Todd’s lips sent lovely sensations through her body. She tangled her fingers into his hair as he kissed her breasts and drew him back up to her lips.
Because of the pregnancy, Todd couldn’t do everything he would have liked to do for Blair but he found a number of interesting things that still brought a considerable amount of pleasure to her. He discovered that the small of her back had become extremely sensitive since the pregnancy. He licked and massaged the area and then moved between her legs and savored the inside of her thighs his tongue flicking along the edges of her center, going in and out until she climaxed for him.
Satiated, Blair refused to let Todd have all the fun. She began returning the favor by nibbling on his ears and then moving lower. Her tongue slipped out every now and then as she passed over his nipples and she made her way south of his belly button. She took him into her mouth and rolled her tongue around him. Her hands massaging and touching him the whole time.
Todd couldn’t help the moan that escaped his lips as she flicked her tongue at the tip and he looked down to see the gleam in her eyes and the look of pleasure she got making him happy. She then took him into her mouth and it wasn’t long before he could no longer contain himself. Moments later she crawled back up and nestled into his arms, her head on his chest and her leg intertwined with his. His hand moved to her hair and he fondled it and smoothed it down her back. They were laying there, comfortable in each other's arms when Blair suddenly slapped his stomach.
“Ouch, what was that for?” Todd asked in bewilderment.
“That was for taking a chance and coming back to Llanview. I told you I was alright and you promised me you would stay put.” Blair tugged at his chest hairs and Todd grabbed her hand before she did any more damage.
“Babe, I figured with the Feds moving on the DC warehouse, that Alison would have other problems on her plate and that looking for Victor or Clint, would be the farthest thing from her mind. Besides, they think I’m dead and they’ve already investigated Tony Butler and haven’t come looking for me. Let’s not forget Peterson sent one of those baskets to Dorian. I swear if any of you had gotten hurt by that stuff, I would have died. I can’t lose any of you again. Do you understand that?” Todd looked down into her face. “I just can’t do it anymore. I love you and I want to be here when the baby is born, not hiding down in New Orleans. This has to end and when my plane gets back here with Sid, I’ll have enough proof for even Nora Buchanan to bring in Peterson.”
“Who’s Sid?” Blair asked absentmindedly as she rubbed her thumb against Todd’s fingers.
“You met him. He was one of the guys I worked with on the road crew. After I quit the crew, I guess he went to work for Alison. I happened to help him out of a tight spot the night before I got Clint and Victor out of the compound. He can testify that Carl was working with Alison. He saw them together. With his testimony, Peterson won’t be able to claim he never met Alison.”
Blair began kissing Todd’s chest. “I don’t think you need to worry about Carl. Dorian should be working on him right now. If all goes well, I expect him to just turn himself in.”
Todd got very still and then tilted Blair’s face up to look at him. “Blair, what did you do?”
Blair sensed that Todd suddenly wasn’t very happy. “Look, Don’t worry. Dorian and I decided to give Mr. Peterson some of his own medicine. Right about now the drugged wine should be starting to work. David was a great guinea pig.”
Todd slipped out from under Blair and immediately started to dress. “Blair, do you seriously think that Peterson would be susceptible to that Drug? He’s had ample time to study its effects and also to develop an antidote to it. My God, he sent the bottle to Dorian. Don’t you think he knew he would have to drink it too? Do you realize what he’ll do if he figures out she tried to drug him? Look I’m headed to LaBoulae. You call Bo. Hopefully, I’ll make it there in time.”
Blair grasped the throw as Todd rushed from the room. His words were reverberating in her head. “Oh God, Dorian, what have we done?!”
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