#29
Blair was just walking out the door when the phone rang. She looked back at it, debating whether to answer, then sighed and picked it up. “Hello.”
“Blair, I’m glad I got you. I heard you arrived back into town yesterday.”
“Yes Briggs, I’m back but I was just going out. Is this something that can wait? I’m on my way to go see Todd.”
“Oh, Todd’s back. I’m sure he would like to hear this too. That story about the Irish mob just got legs. I know you were interested in pursuing it if we had proof and I’ve got it. My source at the LPD just informed me that the Commissioner is looking into the activities of one man, a Mr. O’Brien. It seems he’s the head of the whole O’Brien Family crime syndicate and they are moving into East Llanview. It looks like they could be behind all the latest crime activity down there. Todd might be anxious to get back to work since he’s been gone so long. A good story always got him motivated.”
Blair chewed on her lower lip. “Um, let’s hold off on telling Todd about this story, Briggs. He’s been out of touch for a while and I’m guessing he’ll want to take it slowly before jumping back into work.”
“Sure, Blair, if you say so. Where has he been all this time, if I may ask?”
Blair tucked her hair behind her ear. Things with Todd were still fragile. Should she bring Briggs in on everything that happened? Biting the bullet, Blair decided to trust Briggs, he had been loyal to Todd from the very beginning. “Briggs, what I’m about to tell you is strictly between the two of us. After Todd left Hawaii, he was shipwrecked on a deserted island with two other people. After a month or so, he decided to try and get back home to us by taking a homemade raft and leaving the island. We’ve been able to piece together that the raft somehow got him to Guam but he was badly injured and has been in the hospital in Guam since.”
“Good God, Blair, why did he wait so long to contact anyone?”
“He couldn’t. He woke up with no memory and to make it worse, Briggs, he was paralyzed from the waist down.” Just talking about it made her tears well up. All she could think about was how alone Todd must have felt.
“Wait a minute, if he has no memory how did he know to call you?”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. He didn’t. I hired Sam Vance to find him and it took her all this time to locate him. The worst part of it all is he doesn’t really remember any of us. That’s why I think we should take it easy re-introducing him to the paper. Even though he doesn’t know me that well, he does know we’re husband and wife and I get the impression he would balk if he knew about my involvement concerning a mob story.
“I see. Does that mean you’re going to drop the story?”
“No way, we’re going to go forward with it. It’s a great story and it’s just the kind of story he would sink his teeth into. For the time being, you and I will work it together while Todd recuperates. That being said, see what other information we can dig up on this O’Brien guy. Also, check and see if he has any connections to the Men of Twenty-One that Todd ran afoul of in 1996. I would love to find out more about them and if they’re backing this O’Brien character.”
“I’ll get someone right on that. Blair, I’m sorry to hear about Todd’s troubles. Now that he’s home maybe his memories will return.”
“That’s what I’m praying for, Briggs. Thank you. I’ll be in the office later this morning. I’m headed to see Todd now.” Blair hung up the phone and wiped the tears from her eyes and left for the Palace Hotel.
****
Exiting his room. Todd entered the elevator and rode it down to the main floor. He spotted the woman who had registered him. Rolling to a stop in front of a bellhop, he enquired. “Excuse me but who is the lady working the front desk right now.”
The bellhop looked down at the man in the chair. “Oh, that lady, that’s Renee Buchanan, she’s the owner. I heard she got the hotel in a divorce settlement from her ex Asa Buchanan but the two of them are still thick as thieves. I worked last night and saw her having a drink with him.”
“Okay and just who is Asa Buchanan?” Todd watched Renee but she hadn’t seen him as yet. He really didn’t want another encounter like the previous night.
“Man, you must be new to town. Asa Buchanan is the richest guy around. He’s one of the movers and shakers along with Victoria Lord and several other families here in town.”
“Thanks for the information. Which way is the hotel restaurant?” The bellboy told him and Todd headed there next. He braced himself for the stares and whispers and he wasn’t disappointed. Just as he had figured, his real self was well known around town and from some of the frowns, he wasn’t necessarily liked by all. He straightened his shoulders and took a table near the outside patio. Suck it up, Todd. You knew it was going to be uncomfortable when you made the decision to leave the safety of the hospital. You could have turned down Blair when she wanted to return here, but that would have broken her heart and you’re not that big a bastard. These people know you. So what, what happened to you is none of their business. Just ignore them and move on. Blair, the kids, and Vicki are the important ones here. Lost in his thoughts, Todd didn’t see a young man approach him.
“Sir, my name is Brian and I’ll be your server this morning. May I get you something to drink?”
Todd looked up at the waiter standing near him. He had the urge to tell the young man he wanted a scotch but he refrained. “I’ll have a coffee to start. You can also bring me a ham and cheese omelet with country fries and toast. Also, add in some fresh fruit.”
The young man took his order and walked away, giving Todd a chance to look around at the restaurant and its occupants. Several of the guests were minding their own business but some would take subversive glances his way and then whisper. Todd stared down a particularly obnoxious threesome that kept looking his way. As expected, they broke eye contact and even seemed flustered when they realized he was staring back at them. After staring down a few more patrons, Todd leaned back in his chair and opened the copy of the Banner he had found outside his room that morning. As soon as he read the masthead, he suddenly pictured himself holding a book entitled “Lord of the Banner” and along with that memory he saw a picture of a grey-haired gentleman. Todd’s hands tightened on the paper and he shivered, feeling a cold wind at his back for just a moment. Deep down he realized he was remembering the man who was his father, and the very same man who had raped Vicki long ago. Suddenly he had the face to go along with his nightmare. At that moment, Brian showed up with his coffee and broke the sense of gloom that had drifted over him. The spell broken Todd looked at the header again and marveled that Vicki was the publisher of the paper. If he had been put in charge he would have burned the paper to the ground.Todd was just finishing the front page when his food arrived. He was just starting to eat when someone spoke behind him.
“Well, Bo, lookee here. Some low life snake has crawled into Renee’s restaurant. Maybe we should call an exterminator.”
“Pa, don’t start anything.” Bo saw Todd was still in his wheelchair and he really didn’t want to approach him until he had more information.
For his part, Todd refused to take the first speaker’s bait and continued eating. As soon as the first man had spoken, Todd knew who Bo was and it wasn’t hard to figure out the one talking had to be the one and only Asa Buchanan. He took another bite of food waiting to see what the older man would do.
Asa wasn’t finished. He was trying to get a rise out of Manning to prove to both Bo and Renee that the paralysis and amnesia were faked. He figured if he riled Manning up enough he might make a mistake and give up the act. “Come on Manning, what is this, amateur hour? I thought you were more clever than that. Even faking DID to get out of spending three hundred fifty years in jail for kidnapping was more creative than this” Asa laughed. “Hah, I get it. This is to get Blair back, isn’t it? Only she would be dumb enough to fall for this act.”
Todd had been holding in his anger. Asa broke it free when he went after Blair. “That’s enough Old Man,” he turned his chair to face Asa. “I don’t give a damn what all of you think of me. You can believe this or not,” he gestured to the chair and his legs. “but don’t you ever say another word against Blair. She has more smarts in her little finger than you’ll ever have.”
“You’re a fool, Manning. That she-wolf has your number. You should have stayed away. Now she’ll take you for everything you have, and make you suffer for it too.”
Bo stepped up to Asa. “I think you’ve said enough, Pa. Manning, I understand the restraining order was lifted this morning. We’re still going to be keeping an eye on you after what you attempted in Hawaii. I’m also going to get an update on your condition from the doctors to verify what you told us yesterday.”
“Inquire all you want. I’m not hiding anything. Now I’d like to finish my breakfast and then I have an appointment at the hospital. By the way Commissioner, I apologize for calling you Chief Detective. I had no idea I was important enough for the Commissioner to come to arrest me himself.”
Bo was startled. “Wait a minute. You said you didn’t know me yesterday. How do you know I’m the Commissioner?”
“I told him.”
Todd, Bo, and Asa looked over and saw Vicki standing a few paces from them. She walked over and put a hand on Todd’s shoulder. “If you gentlemen are through with your business, I would like to talk to my brother. Todd, please continue eating before it all gets cold.” She sat down next to him and nodded coolly to Bo and Asa before turning her focus on Todd.
Asa started to say something but Bo grabbed his arm and led him toward another table on the other side of the restaurant.
Todd looked at his sister. “I wasn’t expecting to see you, but thanks for getting rid of those two. So that’s Asa Buchanan huh? You didn’t tell me what a pompous ass he was.”
Vicki smiled and shook her head at his phrasing. “Todd.”
He looked at her and grinned. “What? It’s true. Do you want some coffee?” He signaled the waiter.
Vicki waved the waiter away.“ No thank you. I ate at home. Asa can be overbearing at times, but he does love his family. That, by the way, includes your own nieces and nephews. In the past, you and Asa have had an interesting history. But you stirred up a hornet’s nest the last couple of years and he’s not fond of you at the moment.”
Todd laughed. “Yeah, I could tell. So we have a history. Some of it obviously revolves around Blair.”
“True. Let’s just say Blair and Asa hate each other. I came by to see if you got settled alright last night. What are your plans for today?”
Todd finished his breakfast and drank the last of his coffee. He smiled.
“What’s the smile for?”
“It just feels right to be sitting here talking to you. It occurred to me that we’ve done this many times in our past. Tell me something. Blair says that I own a paper, The Sun. It’s a rival paper to The Banner. Why did I start It?”
“You had just discovered you were Victor Lord’s son and you didn’t want to have anything to do with us. You took your inheritance and set out to prove to everyone that you were capable of beating your father at his game. You succeeded to make The Sun a paper that’s been giving The Banner a run for its money ever since.”
“So, who’s been running it while I’ve been gone?”
“Blair took over running it when you disappeared. I asked you a minute ago what your plans are for the day. Are you going to see Blair?”
Todd wasn’t sure how to answer that. He had a pretty good idea that Blair was probably making a beeline to the hotel and he didn’t know if he wanted to see her or not. Before he could answer Vicki, Blair walked into the restaurant. As always, she was stunning in a black and white dress that fit her like a glove. As she moved across the room he saw several men giving her a look and a small kernel of jealousy reared its head. Why do you keep holding her off, you idiot? So what if you can’t remember your past. She doesn’t seem to mind. Todd gave his head a little shake, he so wanted to stand and hold a chair for her like he used to. That thought startled him, but he knew it to be true. For the first time since she came back into his life, Todd felt a surge of possessiveness and pride. She was his wife and his heart beat a little faster as she came towards them.
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