Todd Manning, Enigma Chapter 1

The man was a puzzle. Years ago he had walked into the infirmary at Statesville prison intent on getting a certain young man to begin therapy. The young man had been full of self-loathing and anger, but the more they talked, the more he recognized a young man who had been damaged at a very young age. Todd had struck a nerve with him, and he had found himself liking the young man. That wasn’t supposed to happen. He had worked for years with sex offenders, and Todd was the first one that Ray had felt the urge to provide more than therapy for. He had wanted to offer protection and friendship, but at the time Todd had too many walls up. He had never been able to figure out what it was about Todd that had made him feel that way, it had just happened. Now years later, he had finally extended his hand in friendship and Todd had taken it.

He had received Todd’s call out of the blue. After seventeen years, he thought he had seen everything until he had started new therapy sessions with Todd. The sessions had been brutal. Together he and Todd and his wife Blair had peeled back many of the layers, that made up Todd. Now a new layer had been added. Blair had called asking for advice. Todd had recently awakened from a coma that had occurred after he was shot. He had taken to shutting himself in his office for long periods of time and she was scared something had happened to him during that long coma. Shortly after receiving Blair’s call, Todd had called on his own and asked for a face to face meeting. Ray had agreed to a meeting for later that afternoon, but he decided to get in touch with Dr. Wolek to find out what he could about Todd’s coma and recovery.

Ray sat waiting for Todd to arrive. He was still going over in his mind what Larry told him about Todd’s injury and subsequent coma. Larry hinted that something unusual had taken place when Todd woke up but then Larry had been called away in an emergency. Now Ray found himself wondering what else had happened to his friend this time.

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Todd got off the phone with Ray. He went looking for Blair, he wondered if she had ever finished the ring to hold the implant. He had been almost afraid to ask, in his mind he kept seeing the one from his dream. In his dream Blair had fashioned a ring with a delicate dragon on top, Todd needed to see the new ring so he could let go of the dream. He had called Ray for that very reason. He couldn’t get rid of the dream. He knew Blair was worried because he was spending so much time in his office, but he had been trying to find out more about Blair’s past. One thing sticking in his head was the need to find Blair’s father. Before his call to Ray, Todd had called Addie. He wanted to talk about Blair and even though Addie’s memories might be somewhat faulty, it was about time he had a proper chat with his mother-in-law. She had agreed to chat with him but had informed him that she had skydiving lessons and they would have to meet in the morning. Todd had been shocked when she said that, but he had agreed to see her the next day.

Blair was singing softly to herself when Todd wandered into the studio. He was still a little pale from his ordeal and she was worried about his state of mind. Todd had only told her snippets of the dream he said he lived while in his coma. All in all, he seemed happy and plans had gone ahead for getting Carlo and Kipling. Todd had informed Bo of the whereabouts of Kipling’s personal torture chamber after he had gotten confirmation from his reporter working inside. Then Jake had come over one evening and they had taken a drive. Blair wasn’t informed where they went, but she was pretty sure it had something to do with Carlo. When Todd had arrived home he had once again gotten quiet. He had also started staying up again and Blair knew it was because he was afraid to sleep. She stopped singing and went to him. “Hello, stranger, what brings you to my lair?”

He smiled shyly, “I was drawn here by your siren’s song Blair. Is that something new for Capricorn?”

“It’s one of the newer songs out there. Just thought I’d see if it would work for me. What really brings you looking for me, Todd?”

Yep, that’s what he loved about her, to the point. She had walked over to him and moved some hair out of his face, Todd backed up a bit. She was distracting as hell, “I was wondering if you’ve finished the ring and case for the implants?" How could he explain his dread to her? She had been hovering since he came home from the hospital and she hadn’t grasped just how traumatic the dream had been. How could he tell her everything that had happened without coming off sounding crazy? The reality of the dream is what bothered him the most. It hung over his head and that was why he needed to see that ring.

Blair was a little hurt when he backed away. Usually, he loved it when she touched his hair why had he pulled back now. She had planned on surprising him with the ring and watch but maybe since it was bothering him she could give it to him now. “They’re finished Todd, I was planning on giving them to you tonight, but if you’ll wait here I’ll get them." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and left the room.

Todd could make out the large blob in the corner of the room and realized it was the piano. He wandered toward it and felt his way around to the bench. Opening it he touched the cool ivories and let his fingers play across them. When he had been little, his mother had played. He could remember sitting and playing with the keys and making funny tunes back then. He closed his eyes and let his fingers begin their meandering. It had been such a long time ago in college when he had taken lessons, wanting to somehow get a little closer to his mother. He had gotten proficient enough to learn a few classical pieces, but he had a love for jazz that only Blair had an inkling of. She had once remarked that she had never figured him for a jazz lover until she had discovered his meager collection of artists. Todd loved the ease of movement jazz offered the player. He sat there and began playing 'My One and Only Love', hearing the saxophone playing in his head. He was deep into the piece before he caught the scent of her perfume behind him and his hands fumbled as he realized she had been listening. He regained his composure quickly and finished the piece bringing the song to an end and then he turned on the bench. “Sorry Blair, I just got lost in the moment.”

Blair was stunned. When she had started back down the hallway with the jewelry, she had been shocked to hear music coming from the room and was wondering if Todd had turned on the in-house stereo system from the room. Nothing had bowled her over more than to walk into the room and realize that Todd was making the music at the piano. “Todd, you never said you knew how to play the piano. That was great."

“It’s not like I hid it, it just never came up, and I haven’t sat down at one in a long time. My mother Bitsy used to play before she left and I decided to learn when I was in college. Not even Peter knew about it. It was just an elective in the middle of my school classes, so he didn’t pay much attention. I don’t know what prompted me to play just now. I guess I’m feeling sentimental for some reason. I’m a fair player, nothing to get excited about, but it relaxes me. I had forgotten how much till now. Did you get the ring?”

“I’ve got it right here. Give me your right hand.” Blair took the ring out of the box and carefully placed it on his ring finger. Since she was holding his hand at the time, even she felt the electric current that went through the hand when the implant came in contact with his skin. The shock sent a little quiver through her and she watched his eyes as they focused on her. Todd had felt the tingle from the ring and his senses came alive as his eyes fastened on Blair. God, it had seemed like years since he had seen her last. He stood up and pulled her into his arms, the ring temporarily forgotten, as his eyes feasted on her features and stopped mesmerized as she licked her lips. He took those moist lips, feeling them give under his assault, her arms wrapped around his neck and she began giving as good as she got. Todd lifted her up on the piano and slowly unbuttoned her blouse, his lips trailing kisses from her neck down, as he removed her bra and fondled her perfect breasts in his hands.

Blair arched in pleasure as he caressed her, then his hands and lips began their journey lower. Blair shivered in delight as he slowly removed her remaining garments, leaving her lying naked atop the piano, feeling the heat rise in her, as he took his time looking at her lying there. Her eyes widened when she realized he intended to take her there, and the feel of the cool piano beneath her did nothing to stop the fire raging in her as he straddled her, and took his sweet time playing his fingers along her like he was playing the piano just moments before. In her head, she heard the melody he had been playing and her body began moving to the rhythm in her head as he played, bringing her to the climax of his song.

Todd raised his head to look at her and saw her eyes half-lidded with pleasure. He kissed her gently and slid off the piano, grateful that it had held up to his lovemaking. Todd had been putting his jeans back on when Blair rolled on her side looking at him utterly unabashed, basking in the afterglow, Blair stretched like a kitten atop the piano, and Todd felt his loins tighten in response to the picture she made especially when she teasingly began to purr. “God Blair, give a man a break." She crooked her little finger and motion him closer. His lovely siren wasn’t fully satisfied and Todd found himself pulling her off the piano and twirling her to the more comfortable couch where, before he knew it, she had stripped him of his jeans and pulled him back on top of her. Later, his strength finally giving out Todd, collapsed beside her breathing hard, but knowing he could do no more. Blair sensed he had reached his limit and held him letting him rest against her.

When his breathing slowed, he levered himself off of her and reached once more for his jeans, holding onto the couch to steady himself. The dizziness he had felt on standing righted itself and he sat on the edge of the couch and watched Blair pad barefoot over to the piano to get dress. She was beautiful and he continued to wonder how he had gotten so lucky. Todd saw her reach down and pick up the second box on the floor near the piano and remembered the piece of jewelry that had given him his sight. He lowered his gaze to his hand and couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped him. It was the ring from his dream. He knew exactly what the second box held. A watch to match the ring, right down to the dragons. What did it mean? It was scary thinking about the coincidence. He prayed that was what it was, some strange coincidence that the ring and watch in his dream matched the ones Blair had just given him. What other answer was there?

Blair heard the gasp and had looked over to Todd to see what the sound had meant. He was staring at the ring and she wondered what had startled him. She had hated using the implants, the thought of letting Todd have any more contact with the things scared her. They had already inflicted so much pain on him, but for some reason, they were allowing him to see. She picked up the second box and walked over to him, handing him the box. His hands were shaking as he opened it and she looked at him with concern. “Todd are you alright? I knew we overdid it. I’ll never forgive myself if you relapse.”

The minute he had seen the watch, Todd’s mind had started to reel. “Samuel! Tom! One of you guys. I need you. This can’t be happening.“

Samuel and the rest of the guys had been staying close ever since Todd had awakened from his coma. He took over immediately as Todd found himself unable to cope at the moment. “Blair, he’s gone for a minute. I can’t explain right now, but it isn’t anything you did.”

“Samuel, I don’t understand. Why did he feel the need to go?”

“You need to give him time. Something happened when we were in that coma. We can’t even help him, except to give him someplace to go. I wish I had an answer just as much as you. I will tell you something about the ring and watch disturbed him, but I don’t know what exactly. He’s called Ray, whatever is going on, has him needing answers. So bear with him.”

Blair sat down next to Samuel, tears in her eyes. “I thought he would like the designs. He’s the master of Dragonheart and I wanted something unique and special to remind him of it.”

Todd reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes. “Blair, I love the ring and the watch. I can’t explain what’s going on. If I tell you, you’re going to think I’ve lost it. Hell, I already think I’ve lost it. I going to go talk to Ray. Hopefully, he’ll be able to help me make sense of all this. I’ll be back later. Thank you for the beautiful pieces you’ve given me to house the implants." Todd left her.


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