Carlo was reading when they came to get him. He found it curious that he had a visitor. They had been few and far between, and he had just seen his lawyer. Surprise crossed his face when he walked into the room and saw the man standing with his back to him. He had thought himself rid of Samuel Toddman and had been infuriated when word had come to him that Toddman had survived the head wound. Christian Vega had disappeared and now Samuel was standing in the room with him. “Mr. Toddman, what an unexpected pleasure.”
Todd smiled, Carlo’s tone belied his welcome. Carlo was seething right at that moment.
“Mr. Hesser I felt it necessary to come and offer you my condolences on your capture. I was certain after our last chat in my home, that you considered yourself out of reach by our lowly police dept. It seems you were mistaken.” Todd carefully reached for a chair and set himself down
.
Carlo stared hard at Manning. It was obvious that his eyesight was still affected and that he had come on some sort of fishing expedition but if Todd thought he could goad him into some sort of confession he was mistaken. “Mr. Toddman, I’m really surprised to see you, I heard about the personal attack in your own home. As for my incarceration, this is all a mistake. The police have a little information and they seemed to have mixed me up with someone else.“
“AH, I thought I heard they had some witnesses, it seems a shame that my own personal patron has gotten himself into this bind. Perhaps I could be a help? Of course, I would have to tell them how you threatened my wife and children just the day before I had an assassin enter my home. Oh and I couldn’t forget to mention that you had me watched the whole time I lived in Paris. On second thought, that might actually hurt your case.” Todd took out the ring and was playing with it.
Carlo was sure now that Samuel had come to gloat. He still hadn’t shown any sign of having gotten his memory back. Carlo refused to believe Nora had anybody that could place him at Kipling’s lab. He knew Manning had been killed and his men were working on taking down Toddman. But he found himself relaxing in Samuel presence. The man still had no real idea who he was and that would help Carlo’s lawyers. “My dear Samuel, I’m hurt. Whatever gave you the idea I was threatening your lovely family or that I was having you watched. I’m merely an admirer of your fine artwork. How is that lovely wife of yours? It really is a shame about your eyesight I was so looking forward to another portrait.”
Todd hated Carlo at that moment and he pushed the ring on his finger. His eyes met Carlo’s. “You’ve bought your last portrait, Carlo. I’m going to see you put into the hell you belong in and I’m going to watch them throw away the key.”
Carlo started as he looked into the coldest eyes he had ever seen. “My God, you can see,” he uttered the words and watched as Samuel smiled. There was nothing humorous in that smile, in fact, a chill went down Carlo back. Samuel was out for his blood, and now he wondered what else he had missed about the man. The man sitting opposite him at that moment was no longer an artist intent on protecting his family, this man was an entirely different animal. A very dangerous one. Carlo knew that look. He had seen it in the eyes of some of the men who worked for him. “Who are you?”
“Someone who knows exactly what you did Carlo. You’d better pray you end up with a life sentence because the day you get free will be your last day on this earth.” Todd looked Carlo up and down to make his point. “I just wanted you to know who you messed with.” Todd sat back in his chair, struggling to keep his demon under control. He hadn’t meant for Carlo to get to him but when he had talked about Blair, Todd’s restraint had given way. He stared at Carlo and saw his eyes drop and took the opportunity to take a deep breath and remove his ring. He closed his eyes giving them a chance to readjust to the fog. He gathered himself before reopening them and decided to let Samuel handle things.“Samuel, take over, I need a moment.”
Carlo looked away unable to believe what he had just heard. The man sitting across from him was deadly. He thought he knew everything there was to know about Todd Manning, but this was something new and alarming. Could this change in personality be the result of the head injury? If so, his lawyers needed to be warned to tread lightly.
“My apologies, Carlo, I’m afraid I got a little warm under the collar for a moment, I hope you’ll forgive my outburst.” Samuel smiled. He had gotten a kick out of Todd and the reaction Todd had gotten from Carlo. Although, he had to admit his own surprise at the tone Todd had used.
His eyes jerked up and Carlo found himself looking into unfocused eyes again. The man who had just spoken was Samuel, Carlo couldn’t help himself, he brought a hand up and waved it in front of Samuel. Samuel never even blinked. “What the hell are you trying to prove with this fake blind act, Samuel. We both know you can see.” Carlo got up and headed to Samuel’s right to see if his eyes would follow.
Samuel knew Carlo had gotten up but the lighting in the room wasn’t the best and he had trouble distinguishing one blob from another. He turned his head in the direction he thought Carlo had gone. “I assure you the blindness is very real Carlo. You saw me in my own home. That’s why I was such an easy target for your assassin. Why on earth do you believe I can see?”
Carlo stood opposite the guard whom Samuel was looking at. He was puzzled, Samuel really didn’t appear to know he was talking to the guard. If he really was blind how had he achieved that effect earlier? Something strange was going on. Maybe it had been a trick of the lighting in the room and the cold tone in Manning’s voice, but Carlo was sure Manning had met his eyes just moments before. No, Manning could see, he was sure of it. “Nice try Samuel, but I know what I saw. You can drop the act. If you don’t I’ll make sure my Lawyers know you’re using it as a ploy for sympathy. You won’t get away with it in court.“
Samuel zeroed in on Carlo’s voice and said. “Believe what you will. This blindness is real and so is the bullet wound to my head. Both are the results of your handiwork Carlo. I know you’re behind the death of Todd Manning. I promise I will be in court to tell my story even if he can’t. Officer, I believe I still have someone else to see. Thank you for bringing Mr. Hesser here.”
Carlo angrily got up he had never been so summarily dismissed before. “Why you...”
Before he could do anything the guard stopped him. “Enough Hesser, your time is up let’s go.” Carlo was forced to leave but not before he saw the smile appear on Samuel’s face. As he left the room he passed his partner Ivan. So Samuel was going to visit with Ivan too. That was a visit he would want more info on after Toddman left.
Samuel turned as the door opened again. He made his way back to the table and sat down. As he sat there, he heard the chains rattling around Ivan‘s waist. Ivan must be a bit of a problem if they had him handcuffed or maybe Bo just wanted to make sure Todd was safe.
Ivan looked at the man sitting in front of him. He had been told Samuel Toddman wanted to talk to him. Of course, he knew Samuel Toddman was the alias of the man he had experimented on all those years ago, but this was the first time he saw the man without all the bandages. His eyes quickly picked up on the fact that Mr. Toddman was blind. He noticed how dilated Toddman’s pupils were and he ventured to guess that the man in front of him didn’t like the disadvantage it put him in. “Mr. Toddman I believe this is the first time we’ve met. To what do I owe this visit?”
Samuel felt a shiver ripple through him just hearing Kipling’s voice. He closed his eyes as the memory of what Ivan had done to him popped in his head. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. “Actually I was wondering how someone who once took the oath to do no harm came to be such a monster. Just when did you lose your humanity, Dr. Kipling?” He knew his words got through to Kipling when he heard the quick intake of breath from the man across from him.
Ivan looked sharply at Samuel. The man had come to say something and wasn’t mincing words. He was aware Toddman was one of the witnesses against him but he had been told Samuel had no memory of his time in the clinic. That was obviously wrong. “Mr. Toddman, I assure you my patients are always my first concern.”
“I’m sure some of the patients in your research facility are treated with kid gloves. It's too bad the ones you’ve picked as guinea pigs didn’t get the same treatment. Let me guess. Certain patients were expendable for the sake of the project and I’ll bet they’re the ones with limited funds too.”
“Mr. Toddman these are unusually harsh words to say to someone you don’t even know.”
“Well that’s the problem, I do know you Ivan, and I know what you did to me. You didn’t even bother to heal the wounds I had, you just performed your damn experiment.” Samuel had to get up before he did something that would get him into trouble. He walked away from the table and put the ring on his finger. He stood with his back to Ivan as his vision cleared. “You came in day in and day out, with only one purpose in mind to get your damn information. I know it was you, I know your voice and I know that damn black hand that pulled the lever. The jury is going to hear it, too. So you can act innocent all you want, but it’ll come out in the trial.”
“Mr. Toddman, I can see you’re distraught, but I assure you, you have me mistaken for someone else.”
Todd turned around and walked back to the table. He planted his hands down directly in front of Ivan and lowered his face till he was face to face with Kipling “I will never ever forget your face you son of a bitch. I know exactly what you did and you’re going to pay.” His tone was so threatening even the guard stepped forward to interrupt Todd, who turned and stared him down making him back away. The guard did so uneasily, his hand resting on his sidearm. He had seen the menace and darkness in Todd’s gaze. Todd turned back to Ivan, not giving the guard a second thought. “I hope we understand each other Doctor.”
Ivan had been startled to find himself staring into two very aware eyes. He knew those eyes saw him and hated him. The threat had been blatant and Toddman hadn’t even bothered to hide it from the guard. He had been forced to back up under that hatred and had to admit, the man now facing him was a different ball of wax. This man knew what he was doing and would play to the jury for sympathy and never once let them know the real him. Ivan was fascinated by the turnaround and couldn’t wait to talk to Hesser. He wondered if Hesser had met the angry one. One thing was sure, if the man in front of him made it to trial, it was all over. Ivan realized Toddman was waiting for an answer. He leaned back to get further from the anger and said. “I think I understand you, but I would love to know your name.”
“I’m the guy that just died,” and with that cryptic comment, Todd turned and exited the room.
Ivan was led back to his cell which was across from Carlo’s. “Well, that had to be one of the strangest visits I’ve ever had. The man is a mystery. You never told me we had a mad man in our hands.”
“What happened Ivan?”
“One minute I was talking to Samuel Toddman. He doesn’t have very fond memories of me it seems. I’m afraid you were right, Carlo. He recalls our sessions. But he’s not the one I’m worried about.”
“So you met him too. Ivan, you’re a doctor, Is Samuel Toddman blind or not?”
“Carlo, I don’t know what to tell you. That was also weird. I would swear that Samuel Toddman is indeed blind. I took a good look at his eyes and there is definitely a problem there but the other one saw me, I’m certain of it. I’m not sure how he accomplished it and I would love to explore it further. We have an enemy, Carlo, that means us harm, and if the courts don’t get us, he will. Do you agree?”
“Unfortunately, I believe you are right Ivan. The problem is I don’t know this man. At first glance, I would have said it was Todd Manning, but although Manning is smart, he’s a bit of a loose cannon. The man I saw today is dangerous. I think it’s time for plan B. I already sent word through our operative to our partner. We should hear something soon. Did you get a name from our unusual visitor today?”
“Not one I really understood, he said he was the man who just died. What did he mean?”
“Damn, it means Mr. Toddman has his memory back, including his real identity. We’re in a terrible and unfortunate situation, Ivan.”
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Chasing the Monsters: 69
It felt good to be back in Llanview. Passing Rodi's, he smiled to himself. The beautiful glass doors and walls of The Diamond Gallery, polished and perfect, reflected nighttime traffic lights and cars as they sped past it.
The Second Chances Mission, now run and managed by Anthony, was perched on the corner. Passing it, he was filled with memories of first meeting Tina, and also, his and Jack's first meeting with Bea. He thought of his son's generosity, and smiled to himself. As the cab stopped at the traffic light to wait, he laughed a little at how Tina had stowed away in his car to get to La Boulaei. And by that chance, she had enabled the Mannings to get away safely from Mitch Laurence's plot.
There were so many things about Llanview that he loved. The center of Angel Square, Logan's Department Store, the Manning Building (for it belonged to his boy) were part of his life now. Many of the other spots, not as dear, such as the hospital, he also passed. Regardless, he still didn't call it "home." In fact, Ireland always called to his heart, no matter how many roots he was setting down. It was just a fact. He was an Irishman, born and bred, and always would be. Perhaps, if things went well between he and Dorian, he would take her there, on a trip of sorts, and show her its beauty. In the past few years, nothing but the dismal sadness associated with Todd's kidnapping was evident to all of them when overseas.
Timothy disembarked the cab, and went into the building, carrying his suitcase and a small garment bag. Hitting the elevator call button, he greeted the doorman, and whistled while waiting. Finally, the bell rang and the elevator opened, and he stepped in. As he turned to push the button, against the side wall was Dorian, in a very black fur coat, clearly with nothing else on under it.
Timothy gasped, "Dorie, what in the name of . . ."
"It's faux," she said, as the elevator door closed.
***
The next morning, Todd exhausted his resources to try and track Tina and everything came back without any result. "Where the Hell are you, Tina? No offense, but you're not the brightest bulb in the bunch," he muttered to himself. Thinking of her past, he realized anything at all could have happened to her, on a road trip from here to "Hickville." But, there was no trace of her, or her rental car, and hadn't been for a few days. "Come on, Sis. Where are you?" he said, putting a trace, with hacking stealth, on her credit cards. "She can't go a day without buying something," he said aloud. "I'll find her that way, at least, and probably sooner."
His eyes fell on the trashcan, where yesterday's mail scraps were, and he suddenly remembered the letter. Rushing to the bedroom, he stuck his hand under the covers and pillows and pulled out Mitch's correspondence. He reread it:
***
Timothy, one leg hanging off the penthouse sofa, had Dorian strewn over him like a blanket, her fur coat was on the floor beside them, coupled with his clothes. He noticed he was still wearing his button-down shirt, and it was open, all of the buttons undone, or popped. Both of them were breathing heavily, for the second time since he returned, and he said, "I suppose that was another welcome home."
"Yes, that was another welcome home," she said, breathless.
"For an old coot, I'm not half bad, eh?"
"Not at all. For a young coot, neither."
"Like y'ar ex?"
"David? I suppose that the one thing he's good at is sex. You've got maturity and romance on your side," she said, kissing his chest.
"To what did I owe this spectacular greeting?"
"I suppose it was your heroic work in Chicago, bringing down the perpetrators."
"It wasn't all that heroic, in essence. Ya see, he had taken his own life."
"The perpetrator?"
"Yes. I told ya I'd fill ya in later."
"I wasn't expecting that."
"Well, he's dead. He couldn't carry the guilt, and the fear of the scandal and spending his old age in jail. He shot himself."
"Does Todd know this?"
"No. Not yet. I felt, well, he had enough at the time. I'll tell him when the time is right."
"He said he's doing well," she added, playing with his chest hair.
"Oh?"
"Yes, when I went to see him yesterday."
"Ya went to see him?"
"I did."
"Well, what did he say?"
"He said he was fine. I told him . . . I told him . . well, how I feel," she said, resting her head back down on his chest. She could hear his heart.
"Dorie. Ya did?"
"I did. And, he said he loved me. I was quite shocked. That ought to last us, oh, three days or so."
"I'm proud of ya. He needs acceptance, from anyone who can give it."
"I know that," she said. "He got me right here, in this apartment. When he came here that day and I was here? I heard everything. He broke my heart. Peter Manning was an animal."
"Well, this is true. I am sure he received it well."
"He did. Blair was so emotional about it."
"She loves ya both. Y'ar like a mother to her."
"I suppose I am. She's had it rough, too, no one thinks of it much."
"Addie was mentally ill. Blair was in foster homes, is that it? She mentioned something, briefly, once."
"Yes, she was, until she was a bit older. I stepped in when she was older and I realized what was going on."
"Her father?"
"An orderly, at the mental hospital, supposedly. Raped Addie, and Blair was born."
"That's terrible."
"Addie could never talk about it much, and had little memory of the whole thing."
"Sickening, to take advantage of someone like that."
"Deplorable. He was never caught, no one could ever tell who he was, including Addie."
It was quiet for a while, and then Timothy said, "Ya did a nice thing, for Todd."
"I know. And for me. I think you made me see the light. He has grown on me quite a bit over the years."
***
"Blair! Blair!" he bellowed, and she came out of the bedroom with Jewel and into the office.
"What is it, Todd? Goodness, you'd think the world is ending!"
Jewel said, "Daddy!"
"Hi Baby," he said, and then looked at Blair, "I have to talk to you and Jewel can't hear."
"Okay, okay, I can go and put her down, or have your mother take her?"
Bitsy appeared at the doorway. "What's going on? I heard you, Todd, yelling from the other room."
"Well, this is important. Tina's missing, and I think that nutcase Laurence has something to do with it."
"No, Todd, come on. He's in jail, behind iron bars, you said so yourself, not a day or so ago." Blair said.
"It's him. He's pissed that I ignored his note."
"Note?" Bitsy asked.
"Momma," Todd said, "It's nothing, just forget it."
"No, Todd, what is it?" Bitsy pleaded.
"Tell her, Todd. She deserves to know what's going on," Blair said.
"He wrote me a letter. He wants me to . . . do something." Todd said.
"What? What does he want you to do?" Bitsy asked.
"He wants me to . . . let you go and see him. But we're not talking about it, Momma. You're not going anywhere near him."
"Todd, how did he take Tina? Are you certain he has her? Did he send someone to hurt her?" Bitsy was beside herself.
"Momma, we don't know. It would be pretty hard, from jail." Blair said.
"Remember Jenna's mother? She wasn't in jail," Todd said, pacing. "I'm going there and find out what he did with my sister."
"Todd, wait, now, stop. We have to think this out. How could he have anything to do with that from there? She was driving across the country." Blair said.
Todd was getting his jacket on, and determined. Bitsy said, "No, Todd, you can't go see him. He hates you, he did hate you, from the start, you know that. He hated Victor Lord, so he hated you."
Todd stopped. "I'm going to find out what he did with my sister."
"Todd, no. I don't want you to go there," Blair said. "I don't want you talking to him, just like you don't want your mother to go."
"Todd, listen to Blair. There's another way, we can call the police." Bitsy said.
"He wants to play this kind of game, then he doesn't know what he's getting into," Todd grabbed his wallet and keys and put them into his pocket.
"Todd, no," Blair said, taking his arm.
"Blair, let go."
"Todd, no, you promised not to leave me. You promised that the family came first."
He put his hands on her arms, and steadied her. "Listen, Babe. Nothing's going to happen to me at the jail. You know that. Guards, McBains, and Bo's, oh my."
"Todd, I'm serious. I don't want you to go. Please."
"I'm going to be okay. Just . . . it's all right. He can't hurt me in the prison," Todd said.
"If he can hurt Tina from the prison, then he can hurt you, Todd. Please," she whispered.
"He won't." Todd said.
Bitsy, who had fallen very quiet, suddenly said, "Because of me. He won't because he'll want to try and see me. Todd can use me for protection. Isn't that what you're thinking? He won't hurt you, as long as there's me to bargain with?"
Todd and Blair both turned in shock toward Bitsy. Todd said, "Yes, actually, you're right."
"No, I don't like this. Don't, please, Todd," Blair said.
"He won't hurt me, Blair. He wants to see Momma, and as long as he believes he has a chance of that . . . I mean, if he does something to me, he'll never see her, right?"
Blair had no answer. "I don't . . . Please. Not Mitch. Remember, what he did, Todd? Holding us at La Boulaei, threatening our children? He cut you, he almost shot us. He . . . buried you alive, Todd. Please, just let it go. We'll get John, he'll help find Tina."
He kissed her, pulling her to him, by her shoulders, and then said, "I have to do this, Blair. Once and for all, I have to do this." And before she could say more, he was gone.
Bitsy walked to Blair, and took her hand. "He will be back. He's going to be all right."
Blair sat down, still holding Bitsy's hand. "I can't lose him."
"You won't. I know Mitch. He wants what he wants. And it's clear, he wants to see me."
Blair looked at her mother-in-law, who now sat next to her. She said, "I've never heard you talk this way, Momma. It's . . . different. How would you know what he wants?"
Bitsy paused, and her cheeks flushed. "I can't be sure, not really. It's all true, though. Todd's been through enough, and you. It just makes sense. I'm your insurance."
Blair smiled. "I guess."
"He'll be all right, Blair. He will."
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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The Second Chances Mission, now run and managed by Anthony, was perched on the corner. Passing it, he was filled with memories of first meeting Tina, and also, his and Jack's first meeting with Bea. He thought of his son's generosity, and smiled to himself. As the cab stopped at the traffic light to wait, he laughed a little at how Tina had stowed away in his car to get to La Boulaei. And by that chance, she had enabled the Mannings to get away safely from Mitch Laurence's plot.
There were so many things about Llanview that he loved. The center of Angel Square, Logan's Department Store, the Manning Building (for it belonged to his boy) were part of his life now. Many of the other spots, not as dear, such as the hospital, he also passed. Regardless, he still didn't call it "home." In fact, Ireland always called to his heart, no matter how many roots he was setting down. It was just a fact. He was an Irishman, born and bred, and always would be. Perhaps, if things went well between he and Dorian, he would take her there, on a trip of sorts, and show her its beauty. In the past few years, nothing but the dismal sadness associated with Todd's kidnapping was evident to all of them when overseas.
Timothy disembarked the cab, and went into the building, carrying his suitcase and a small garment bag. Hitting the elevator call button, he greeted the doorman, and whistled while waiting. Finally, the bell rang and the elevator opened, and he stepped in. As he turned to push the button, against the side wall was Dorian, in a very black fur coat, clearly with nothing else on under it.
Timothy gasped, "Dorie, what in the name of . . ."
"It's faux," she said, as the elevator door closed.
***
The next morning, Todd exhausted his resources to try and track Tina and everything came back without any result. "Where the Hell are you, Tina? No offense, but you're not the brightest bulb in the bunch," he muttered to himself. Thinking of her past, he realized anything at all could have happened to her, on a road trip from here to "Hickville." But, there was no trace of her, or her rental car, and hadn't been for a few days. "Come on, Sis. Where are you?" he said, putting a trace, with hacking stealth, on her credit cards. "She can't go a day without buying something," he said aloud. "I'll find her that way, at least, and probably sooner."
His eyes fell on the trashcan, where yesterday's mail scraps were, and he suddenly remembered the letter. Rushing to the bedroom, he stuck his hand under the covers and pillows and pulled out Mitch's correspondence. He reread it:
Manning,
John McBain should really be more careful about what he promises to those he needs to rely on in the future, whether it is to give information or hold back from doing the things they long to do to those that wronged them."Those that wronged them . . ." he thought aloud. "Tina foiled Mitch's plan. Duped him into thinking she was on his side, going to give him the Bhadrah diamond. I never responded to his letter. Shit. He's got her."
***
Timothy, one leg hanging off the penthouse sofa, had Dorian strewn over him like a blanket, her fur coat was on the floor beside them, coupled with his clothes. He noticed he was still wearing his button-down shirt, and it was open, all of the buttons undone, or popped. Both of them were breathing heavily, for the second time since he returned, and he said, "I suppose that was another welcome home."
"Yes, that was another welcome home," she said, breathless.
"For an old coot, I'm not half bad, eh?"
"Not at all. For a young coot, neither."
"Like y'ar ex?"
"David? I suppose that the one thing he's good at is sex. You've got maturity and romance on your side," she said, kissing his chest.
"To what did I owe this spectacular greeting?"
"I suppose it was your heroic work in Chicago, bringing down the perpetrators."
"It wasn't all that heroic, in essence. Ya see, he had taken his own life."
"The perpetrator?"
"Yes. I told ya I'd fill ya in later."
"I wasn't expecting that."
"Well, he's dead. He couldn't carry the guilt, and the fear of the scandal and spending his old age in jail. He shot himself."
"Does Todd know this?"
"No. Not yet. I felt, well, he had enough at the time. I'll tell him when the time is right."
"He said he's doing well," she added, playing with his chest hair.
"Oh?"
"Yes, when I went to see him yesterday."
"Ya went to see him?"
"I did."
"Well, what did he say?"
"He said he was fine. I told him . . . I told him . . well, how I feel," she said, resting her head back down on his chest. She could hear his heart.
"Dorie. Ya did?"
"I did. And, he said he loved me. I was quite shocked. That ought to last us, oh, three days or so."
"I'm proud of ya. He needs acceptance, from anyone who can give it."
"I know that," she said. "He got me right here, in this apartment. When he came here that day and I was here? I heard everything. He broke my heart. Peter Manning was an animal."
"Well, this is true. I am sure he received it well."
"He did. Blair was so emotional about it."
"She loves ya both. Y'ar like a mother to her."
"I suppose I am. She's had it rough, too, no one thinks of it much."
"Addie was mentally ill. Blair was in foster homes, is that it? She mentioned something, briefly, once."
"Yes, she was, until she was a bit older. I stepped in when she was older and I realized what was going on."
"Her father?"
"An orderly, at the mental hospital, supposedly. Raped Addie, and Blair was born."
"That's terrible."
"Addie could never talk about it much, and had little memory of the whole thing."
"Sickening, to take advantage of someone like that."
"Deplorable. He was never caught, no one could ever tell who he was, including Addie."
It was quiet for a while, and then Timothy said, "Ya did a nice thing, for Todd."
"I know. And for me. I think you made me see the light. He has grown on me quite a bit over the years."
***
"Blair! Blair!" he bellowed, and she came out of the bedroom with Jewel and into the office.
"What is it, Todd? Goodness, you'd think the world is ending!"
Jewel said, "Daddy!"
"Hi Baby," he said, and then looked at Blair, "I have to talk to you and Jewel can't hear."
"Okay, okay, I can go and put her down, or have your mother take her?"
Bitsy appeared at the doorway. "What's going on? I heard you, Todd, yelling from the other room."
"Well, this is important. Tina's missing, and I think that nutcase Laurence has something to do with it."
"No, Todd, come on. He's in jail, behind iron bars, you said so yourself, not a day or so ago." Blair said.
"It's him. He's pissed that I ignored his note."
"Note?" Bitsy asked.
"Momma," Todd said, "It's nothing, just forget it."
"No, Todd, what is it?" Bitsy pleaded.
"Tell her, Todd. She deserves to know what's going on," Blair said.
"He wrote me a letter. He wants me to . . . do something." Todd said.
"What? What does he want you to do?" Bitsy asked.
"He wants me to . . . let you go and see him. But we're not talking about it, Momma. You're not going anywhere near him."
"Todd, how did he take Tina? Are you certain he has her? Did he send someone to hurt her?" Bitsy was beside herself.
"Momma, we don't know. It would be pretty hard, from jail." Blair said.
"Remember Jenna's mother? She wasn't in jail," Todd said, pacing. "I'm going there and find out what he did with my sister."
"Todd, wait, now, stop. We have to think this out. How could he have anything to do with that from there? She was driving across the country." Blair said.
Todd was getting his jacket on, and determined. Bitsy said, "No, Todd, you can't go see him. He hates you, he did hate you, from the start, you know that. He hated Victor Lord, so he hated you."
Todd stopped. "I'm going to find out what he did with my sister."
"Todd, no. I don't want you to go there," Blair said. "I don't want you talking to him, just like you don't want your mother to go."
"Todd, listen to Blair. There's another way, we can call the police." Bitsy said.
"He wants to play this kind of game, then he doesn't know what he's getting into," Todd grabbed his wallet and keys and put them into his pocket.
"Todd, no," Blair said, taking his arm.
"Blair, let go."
"Todd, no, you promised not to leave me. You promised that the family came first."
He put his hands on her arms, and steadied her. "Listen, Babe. Nothing's going to happen to me at the jail. You know that. Guards, McBains, and Bo's, oh my."
"Todd, I'm serious. I don't want you to go. Please."
"I'm going to be okay. Just . . . it's all right. He can't hurt me in the prison," Todd said.
"If he can hurt Tina from the prison, then he can hurt you, Todd. Please," she whispered.
"He won't." Todd said.
Bitsy, who had fallen very quiet, suddenly said, "Because of me. He won't because he'll want to try and see me. Todd can use me for protection. Isn't that what you're thinking? He won't hurt you, as long as there's me to bargain with?"
Todd and Blair both turned in shock toward Bitsy. Todd said, "Yes, actually, you're right."
"No, I don't like this. Don't, please, Todd," Blair said.
"He won't hurt me, Blair. He wants to see Momma, and as long as he believes he has a chance of that . . . I mean, if he does something to me, he'll never see her, right?"
Blair had no answer. "I don't . . . Please. Not Mitch. Remember, what he did, Todd? Holding us at La Boulaei, threatening our children? He cut you, he almost shot us. He . . . buried you alive, Todd. Please, just let it go. We'll get John, he'll help find Tina."
He kissed her, pulling her to him, by her shoulders, and then said, "I have to do this, Blair. Once and for all, I have to do this." And before she could say more, he was gone.
Bitsy walked to Blair, and took her hand. "He will be back. He's going to be all right."
Blair sat down, still holding Bitsy's hand. "I can't lose him."
"You won't. I know Mitch. He wants what he wants. And it's clear, he wants to see me."
Blair looked at her mother-in-law, who now sat next to her. She said, "I've never heard you talk this way, Momma. It's . . . different. How would you know what he wants?"
Bitsy paused, and her cheeks flushed. "I can't be sure, not really. It's all true, though. Todd's been through enough, and you. It just makes sense. I'm your insurance."
Blair smiled. "I guess."
"He'll be all right, Blair. He will."
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Friday, August 25, 2017
Chasing the Monsters: 68
"Good afternoon, Blair, are you alone?" Dorian asked, coming into the foyer at Unforgettable.
"No, Todd's in the office, Dorian, Jack and Sam are at school, the kids are playing with Bitsy upstairs. Why?"
"I just stopped by to . . . well, to . . . Blair, how are things here?"
"They're fine, Dorian," Blair said, not offering to take her jacket.
"I . . . came by to . . . see if things have settled down since Todd ran off half-cocked to deal with Zeus."
"Yes, things are settled. He's fine, I'm fine, we're fine." Her niece took the stance of arms folded over her chest. "Is there something you wanted?"
"I'm sure by now you know that Timothy and I are on our way back to each other."
"Yes, I've heard. Todd told me. Of course, I didn't hear it from you, but . . ."
"Yes, well, I've been thinking a lot of coming by, or calling. The truth is . . ." she hesitated. "The truth is, I'd like to see Todd, please."
"You want to see Todd? Dorian, let it be, will you?"
"I don't think I can, will you call him or shall I go up?" she said, pushing by Blair a bit to get to the staircase. She ascended, with Blair on her heels.
She went to the door of the office that was open, to let the kids come in and out as they wanted. He looked up. "Oh great, first a letter, then this," he muttered. "Hello, Auntie Dorian," he said, standing and walking toward her. He shoved his hands into his front pants pockets, and stood in front of her.
"Todd, hello," she said, and Blair stood, leaning against the door frame, arms still crossed.
"Dorian, let's go, will you? Todd's working, and I'm sure he doesn't have time for twenty questions." Blair said.
"Now, Blair, I haven't got twenty questions, actually. Just one."
Todd said, "Shoot," and shrugged casually. Blair rolled her eyes, but wasn't budging.
Dorian placed her purse down on the desk, and turned. "Are you all right?"
Todd laughed. Blair squinted, and stood up from the door frame, dropping her arms. Todd said, "That's the question?"
"Yes, indirectly. Of course, I'd like more details, but I came by to check on you, Todd. Is it true what Timothy said? This might be over, for you, at last?"
Todd squinted himself at her, with a slightly crooked smile sneaking through his expression.
Blair said, "Dorian, please. We're fine, nothing's going to hurt us that Todd's dealing with."
Todd spoke up. "Wait, Blair, she's not checking to see if you're in danger, or the kids." He turned back to Dorian. "You're asking . . . if I'm past what's happened, to me. Me, personally. Aren't you?"
She flushed. "Yes. And if Blair would let me speak, you'd understand."
Blair walked into the room, and sat herself on the couch, crossing her legs, and sitting silently to listen. Even though it may have been a good idea to give them privacy, she felt a protective need to stay with her man.
Dorian said, "I . . . came to see if you're all right, Todd. If it's true that this all is behind you."
He smiled, openly. "Yes. Yes, I'm all right, Auntie Dorian. It's over."
She looked directly into his face, and smiled. "I'm glad, Todd. Sincerely. You know, I heard you, at your father's apartment a short while ago, and I . . . can't say how sorry I am that most of the caregivers in your life never stood up for you and helped. It took my niece, and her love, to rescue you, it seems."
Todd attempted to deflect the power her statement had on his emotions, "Yeah, she's okay, that one," he nodded his head toward Blair, who was stunned, and her eyes were glistening with tears.
"I suppose I wanted to make sure," Dorian said, fondling her necklace, nervously. "And all I've wanted is for it to be over, and for you to be . . . well, done with it, I suppose."
"I am. Finally. Facing all of it worked. Your niece being there was what made it easier, though." He shot a look at his wife. Then he said, "She's my one true babe, and it will never change. So, thanks for raising her, at least part of the way."
Blair's tears slightly spilled over, and she wiped under her eye with her fingertip.
Dorian said, "Todd, it's always been clear to me, even when things weren't right, you were deeply and utterly in love with her, and everyone could see it. But, what I really wanted to say was. . .that, I'm sorry for all the things you've been through Todd. It must have been very painful."
He shrugged again, and said, "It is what it is, or at least, what it was. So to answer your question, I'm okay, Dorian, thanks."
She smiled, and said, "And, Todd, I wanted to tell you, also, that . . . well, I . . .What I am trying to say, is . . ." she stuttered and then stopped. She stepped closer and kissed his cheek softly. "I may not show it, or agree with you, but I do care very much what happens to you." She rubbed the lipstick off his face, with water in her eyes.
Todd looked away, and then to the floor, before looking up, and smiling. "Auntie Dorian." He looked back to Blair, who was a total mess, but smiled through her tears. "If I'd only learned how to say what had to be said, some twenty years go, we could have avoided a lot of the wasted time," his voice cracked and he looked back to his wife's aunt, "but, here we are. And I love you, too."
She smiled. "Yes, here we are. Well," she picked up her purse, "I've got to be going. I really just wanted to . . . well, to tell you that."
She turned to go, and he said, "Oh, uh, Auntie Dorian? Would you like to stay and have lunch with us? I mean, I was planning on cooking up something. You know your girl there can't cook to save her life."
"You seem to take care of the cooking and other things for her," she said. "Yes, I'd love to."
He walked to her and put out his elbow, and she took it, and they both left the office together, with Blair, in tears, behind them. She stood up, and went to his desk, taking Kleenex from the box there, and wiping her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up all over her face.
Leaning over to put the tissue into the wastebasket, she spied a piece of paper, crumpled on the floor, with a corner of the envelope poking out, legible. It read "Statesville Prison" and she felt her heart leap. She unwrinkled the paper carefully, and read it. "Mitch. God," she said aloud, softly, "Blair Manning, your man can't catch a break," she took it and brought it to the bedroom, before turning and descending the stairs to join them.
***
Cord sorted through his mail, and came upon a postcard from Arkansas:
Finding his way into the foyer, he called for the head cleaning woman, and said, "Genny, have you seen anyone around here, who might, well, look lost? Strawberry blonde, about so high" he said, putting his hand near his chest. "Pretty little thing?"
"No, sir. No one like her around here," she said.
"I want you to ask the rest of the staff if they saw anyone like that," he said, but he knew she hadn't been around, because Tina, of all people, would have made her presence known.
He took the postcard back out of his vest pocket and read it over. "Girl, you sure know how to time things. If it's not walking into my wedding to another woman with my newborn son, it's deciding to come across country right when my latest romance falls apart," he said to no one. "But where the Hell are you, Tina?"
He went to the phone to call Viki.
***
Later, Todd and Blair got into bed, the house was quiet, and the only light was coming from the skylight above them. She took her place against him in the dark, and he wrapped his arm around her. He said, "What a day."
"Yeah. Dorian was the shocking part. She basically said she loves you."
"The shocking part is that I said it back."
She playfully slapped his belly. "Oh, stop. Anything else happen today?"
"Well, I don't know, the kids, that was fun tonight playing that game, that HuckleBuckle something."
"Yeah, that was fun. Your mother loves those kids so much."
"I know. They love her, too. Jack was so moody. He's almost a man."
"Yeah, I guess so, huh? Hard to believe. Remember what a beautiful baby he was?"
"I can't forget that. Ever. That face."
"Yes," she said snuggling, and sliding her hand under the pillow, she said, "Anything else?"
"No, why?"
She pushed up on her elbow and turned on the lamp next to the bed. "What would you call this, Todd Manning?"
He looked and realized she was holding the letter from Mitch that he'd opened earlier that day. He said, "Oh that?"
"Yeah, that."
"It's nothing, really, come on."
"It's dated right before we went to Greece, and you just opened it."
"So? He's a psycho."
"Exactly. Why didn't you tell me this?"
"To be honest, your aunt's declaration sort of wiped my slate clean."
She rolled her eyes at him. "He's almost threatening us here."
"No, he's full of hot air. Now heed my message and kiss me here," he said, pointing to his treasure trail.
"Todd! I'm serious!"
"And I'm not?"
She folded her arms. "Stop playing around, this is not a joke. Mitch Laurence is dangerous."
"Yeah, when he's not behind iron bars."
"He got out before."
"Yeah but that was then, this is now."
"What does he want with your mother?"
"I don't want to know," he said, cringing. "I just ignore him. He'll go away."
"Well, I guess." She leaned back against the pillows.
He said, "Now back to that heeding . . ." and his phone rang. "It's late," he said, leaning over to get it. "Hello? Sis?" he covered the receiver, "It's Viki." He went back to the call, "Yeah? What's up? Huh? What do you mean? How does he know? Shit. Yeah, I'm on it, first thing in the morning. Yeah, don't worry." He hung up and stared at the ceiling.
"Well, what is it?" she asked, still holding Mitch's letter.
"Tina's missing."
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"No, Todd's in the office, Dorian, Jack and Sam are at school, the kids are playing with Bitsy upstairs. Why?"
"I just stopped by to . . . well, to . . . Blair, how are things here?"
"They're fine, Dorian," Blair said, not offering to take her jacket.
"I . . . came by to . . . see if things have settled down since Todd ran off half-cocked to deal with Zeus."
"Yes, things are settled. He's fine, I'm fine, we're fine." Her niece took the stance of arms folded over her chest. "Is there something you wanted?"
"I'm sure by now you know that Timothy and I are on our way back to each other."
"Yes, I've heard. Todd told me. Of course, I didn't hear it from you, but . . ."
"Yes, well, I've been thinking a lot of coming by, or calling. The truth is . . ." she hesitated. "The truth is, I'd like to see Todd, please."
"You want to see Todd? Dorian, let it be, will you?"
"I don't think I can, will you call him or shall I go up?" she said, pushing by Blair a bit to get to the staircase. She ascended, with Blair on her heels.
She went to the door of the office that was open, to let the kids come in and out as they wanted. He looked up. "Oh great, first a letter, then this," he muttered. "Hello, Auntie Dorian," he said, standing and walking toward her. He shoved his hands into his front pants pockets, and stood in front of her.
"Todd, hello," she said, and Blair stood, leaning against the door frame, arms still crossed.
"Dorian, let's go, will you? Todd's working, and I'm sure he doesn't have time for twenty questions." Blair said.
"Now, Blair, I haven't got twenty questions, actually. Just one."
Todd said, "Shoot," and shrugged casually. Blair rolled her eyes, but wasn't budging.
Dorian placed her purse down on the desk, and turned. "Are you all right?"
Todd laughed. Blair squinted, and stood up from the door frame, dropping her arms. Todd said, "That's the question?"
"Yes, indirectly. Of course, I'd like more details, but I came by to check on you, Todd. Is it true what Timothy said? This might be over, for you, at last?"
Todd squinted himself at her, with a slightly crooked smile sneaking through his expression.
Blair said, "Dorian, please. We're fine, nothing's going to hurt us that Todd's dealing with."
Todd spoke up. "Wait, Blair, she's not checking to see if you're in danger, or the kids." He turned back to Dorian. "You're asking . . . if I'm past what's happened, to me. Me, personally. Aren't you?"
She flushed. "Yes. And if Blair would let me speak, you'd understand."
Blair walked into the room, and sat herself on the couch, crossing her legs, and sitting silently to listen. Even though it may have been a good idea to give them privacy, she felt a protective need to stay with her man.
Dorian said, "I . . . came to see if you're all right, Todd. If it's true that this all is behind you."
He smiled, openly. "Yes. Yes, I'm all right, Auntie Dorian. It's over."
She looked directly into his face, and smiled. "I'm glad, Todd. Sincerely. You know, I heard you, at your father's apartment a short while ago, and I . . . can't say how sorry I am that most of the caregivers in your life never stood up for you and helped. It took my niece, and her love, to rescue you, it seems."
Todd attempted to deflect the power her statement had on his emotions, "Yeah, she's okay, that one," he nodded his head toward Blair, who was stunned, and her eyes were glistening with tears.
"I suppose I wanted to make sure," Dorian said, fondling her necklace, nervously. "And all I've wanted is for it to be over, and for you to be . . . well, done with it, I suppose."
"I am. Finally. Facing all of it worked. Your niece being there was what made it easier, though." He shot a look at his wife. Then he said, "She's my one true babe, and it will never change. So, thanks for raising her, at least part of the way."
Blair's tears slightly spilled over, and she wiped under her eye with her fingertip.
Dorian said, "Todd, it's always been clear to me, even when things weren't right, you were deeply and utterly in love with her, and everyone could see it. But, what I really wanted to say was. . .that, I'm sorry for all the things you've been through Todd. It must have been very painful."
He shrugged again, and said, "It is what it is, or at least, what it was. So to answer your question, I'm okay, Dorian, thanks."
She smiled, and said, "And, Todd, I wanted to tell you, also, that . . . well, I . . .What I am trying to say, is . . ." she stuttered and then stopped. She stepped closer and kissed his cheek softly. "I may not show it, or agree with you, but I do care very much what happens to you." She rubbed the lipstick off his face, with water in her eyes.
Todd looked away, and then to the floor, before looking up, and smiling. "Auntie Dorian." He looked back to Blair, who was a total mess, but smiled through her tears. "If I'd only learned how to say what had to be said, some twenty years go, we could have avoided a lot of the wasted time," his voice cracked and he looked back to his wife's aunt, "but, here we are. And I love you, too."
She smiled. "Yes, here we are. Well," she picked up her purse, "I've got to be going. I really just wanted to . . . well, to tell you that."
She turned to go, and he said, "Oh, uh, Auntie Dorian? Would you like to stay and have lunch with us? I mean, I was planning on cooking up something. You know your girl there can't cook to save her life."
"You seem to take care of the cooking and other things for her," she said. "Yes, I'd love to."
He walked to her and put out his elbow, and she took it, and they both left the office together, with Blair, in tears, behind them. She stood up, and went to his desk, taking Kleenex from the box there, and wiping her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up all over her face.
Leaning over to put the tissue into the wastebasket, she spied a piece of paper, crumpled on the floor, with a corner of the envelope poking out, legible. It read "Statesville Prison" and she felt her heart leap. She unwrinkled the paper carefully, and read it. "Mitch. God," she said aloud, softly, "Blair Manning, your man can't catch a break," she took it and brought it to the bedroom, before turning and descending the stairs to join them.
***
Cord sorted through his mail, and came upon a postcard from Arkansas:
Road trip! Nice here, but I'll be there soon! Make sure you're home to meet me!
Love, Tina
P.S. I'll be there next Thursday, sometime between 9 am and noon.He looked at the date. "Next Thursday, Girl, you're . . . that was yesterday!" he said aloud, and raced to the main house.
Finding his way into the foyer, he called for the head cleaning woman, and said, "Genny, have you seen anyone around here, who might, well, look lost? Strawberry blonde, about so high" he said, putting his hand near his chest. "Pretty little thing?"
"No, sir. No one like her around here," she said.
"I want you to ask the rest of the staff if they saw anyone like that," he said, but he knew she hadn't been around, because Tina, of all people, would have made her presence known.
He took the postcard back out of his vest pocket and read it over. "Girl, you sure know how to time things. If it's not walking into my wedding to another woman with my newborn son, it's deciding to come across country right when my latest romance falls apart," he said to no one. "But where the Hell are you, Tina?"
He went to the phone to call Viki.
***
"Yeah. Dorian was the shocking part. She basically said she loves you."
"The shocking part is that I said it back."
She playfully slapped his belly. "Oh, stop. Anything else happen today?"
"Well, I don't know, the kids, that was fun tonight playing that game, that HuckleBuckle something."
"Yeah, that was fun. Your mother loves those kids so much."
"I know. They love her, too. Jack was so moody. He's almost a man."
"Yeah, I guess so, huh? Hard to believe. Remember what a beautiful baby he was?"
"I can't forget that. Ever. That face."
"Yes," she said snuggling, and sliding her hand under the pillow, she said, "Anything else?"
"No, why?"
She pushed up on her elbow and turned on the lamp next to the bed. "What would you call this, Todd Manning?"
He looked and realized she was holding the letter from Mitch that he'd opened earlier that day. He said, "Oh that?"
"Yeah, that."
"It's nothing, really, come on."
"It's dated right before we went to Greece, and you just opened it."
"So? He's a psycho."
"Exactly. Why didn't you tell me this?"
"To be honest, your aunt's declaration sort of wiped my slate clean."
She rolled her eyes at him. "He's almost threatening us here."
"No, he's full of hot air. Now heed my message and kiss me here," he said, pointing to his treasure trail.
"Todd! I'm serious!"
"And I'm not?"
She folded her arms. "Stop playing around, this is not a joke. Mitch Laurence is dangerous."
"Yeah, when he's not behind iron bars."
"He got out before."
"Yeah but that was then, this is now."
"What does he want with your mother?"
"I don't want to know," he said, cringing. "I just ignore him. He'll go away."
"Well, I guess." She leaned back against the pillows.
He said, "Now back to that heeding . . ." and his phone rang. "It's late," he said, leaning over to get it. "Hello? Sis?" he covered the receiver, "It's Viki." He went back to the call, "Yeah? What's up? Huh? What do you mean? How does he know? Shit. Yeah, I'm on it, first thing in the morning. Yeah, don't worry." He hung up and stared at the ceiling.
"Well, what is it?" she asked, still holding Mitch's letter.
"Tina's missing."
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Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Chasing the Monsters: 67
Having arrived back in Chicago very late that night, they decided to crash at Timothy's hotel room. The next day, they found themselves walking through the damp dewy grass, Timothy leading the way. Jack Ribsky hung back, following, slowly, his reluctance showing. Finally, Timothy stopped, and said, "It's just over there, Mate. Ya don't have to, but if ya don't, it will just be harder when ya do."
"And you would know this."
"Yes. I know this. When Erin died, it took me all too long, and it only made things worse."
He looked over the hillside. Then, he looked back to Timothy. "You have any plans?"
"No, my plan is to wait here for ya, if ya want. As long as ya need."
"Would you go with me, over there?" He nodded toward the hill where Timothy had told him that his wife was at rest.
"If that's what ya want, I'm willing."
He nodded, and Timothy kept walking, Ribsky trailing behind.
Finally, over the hillside, they came to her gravesite; the stone her son had chosen was rose in color, and very small, with her name etched clearly. "There's another plot here, for me," Ribsky said, still standing back. Timothy stepped to the side, as if to invite the widower closer. He gingerly stepped up and looked down. He said, "Another plot, right next to hers. We bought them that way."
"I understand," Timothy said, stepping back.
"Pam," he said, and nothing more. He lowered his head, and was quiet for a moment. He repeated, "Pam." He turned back to Timothy. "She's really gone."
"Yes."
"She left me."
"Yes."
"When she first got sick, and we made that list, we both cried all night when we were done. Then she said, 'there's no more crying after this, let's just do those things and do them well.'"
"Y'ar angry with her, for leaving before ya had the chance."
Ribsky looked back to the grave. "I guess I am."
"It's part of it. Not strange, not something to be ashamed of. Being angry is part of it, believe me. Ya don't feel guilty about it."
"I don't understand why she did this to us? She . . . we had time left."
"But, she didn't."
Timothy placed a strong hand on the man's shoulder as Ribsky broke down. The Irishman said, "Ya have to go on, ya know that."
"I can't see it. Without Pam? I can't see anything more."
"There's more. There's y'ar son, and his children. There's so much more. I felt the same, until Todd and his family gave me a reason, and then, I sobered up and found my purpose. Ya have one, ya do. If ya let it be seen."
He sniffed and went to his knee. "Pam," he said, lightly touching the disturbed ground. "I'm sorry."
Timothy continued to keep his hand on Jack's shoulder, even if just to let him know there was someone else there that he could turn to. Finally, after a while longer, Ribsky stood up. "Pam, I'm going now. I'll . . . be talking to you," he said, "every night."
***
"Hello, Dorie," Timothy said, tossing his sport coat on the couch, after removing his mud-ridden shoes. The hotel had already brought his bags down to the lobby, and his rental car was being brought around.
"Timothy." She said his name, decidedly, and he loved the way it sounded from her mouth.
"Yes, Beautiful," he said. "I'm coming home. Probably later today. My work here seems to be finished. At last."
"Will the men be prosecuted?" she asked.
He was surprised at her first question. "It's not what it seems. I'll fill ya in later. But, ah, y'ar very concerned with that, eh?"
"Well," she said, moderately embarrassed, "I do care about my niece."
"Ya care about y'ar nephew, too. Ya just can't admit that ya love the boy."
"Oh come now, Timothy, he's not a boy," she said.
"He may as well be one, since his childhood was taken from him. And this ya very well know, Dorie."
She pursed her lips, remembering Todd, at the penthouse, a few weeks back, and the words she'd overheard. "I suppose. He does behave rather childishly at times. But, is it over for him? I mean, for Blair and the children?"
"Ya need to ask him if it's over for him, Dorie. A conversation with him might not hurt, letting him know ya were pulling for him in this, and that y'ar glad it's come toward an end."
"I suppose, but that's neither here nor there right now," she said. Then she continued, "As his lawyer, I am sure you know there was an incident? I'd think you'd know about it. Blair said that his memories were triggered by some items in a trunk, and he ran off to Greece to kill Zeus."
Timothy second guessed her. "He ran off to Greece because of a trunk?" he asked, emphasizing how ridiculous she sounded.
"Well, no. He was looking through the trunk and dealing with memories, and Sam mentioned something Zeus had done to him as a child, and Todd lost his mind and ran off to murder the man."
Timothy wasn't upset by her words, in fact, he calmly said, "But he didn't."
"Well, no, how did you know that?"
"Because in my estimation, Dear Heart, Blair went after him, eh?"
"Well, yes," she began.
"And in y'ar heart, ya know he's not a violent man, not by nature, only by nurture, correct?"
She didn't answer at first. Then she said, "I suppose that's true."
"He wouldn't kill the child's father, and likely, not any man, unless to protect his family. He was chasing monsters of his own, he was, and I dare say he won." His voice showed a victorious exuberance.
And pride.
She went on, fishing, "What about the men who ignored his calls when he was a boy? Did you find them? What did you mean when you said, 'it's not what it seems?'"
"Let's just say those monsters are at rest as well," he said.
"Get home, soon," she said.
"I will be. And ya take care of that woman on the other end of the line who just wants to go and hug her nephew and tell him she loves him, but somehow can't. I love ya, Dorie." He hung up.
***
Todd went to his office and saw a pile of mail on his desk. With all the involvement in the Zeus situation, letters and advertisements had collected, and he'd not had the chance to go through them.
He began to sort through the letters and postcards, and saw a mix of junk and real mail, sorting it into two piles.
It was then that he came to a plain white envelope with a handwritten address, direct to him. Not recognizing what it was, he opened it, casually, and began to read.
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"And you would know this."
"Yes. I know this. When Erin died, it took me all too long, and it only made things worse."
He looked over the hillside. Then, he looked back to Timothy. "You have any plans?"
"No, my plan is to wait here for ya, if ya want. As long as ya need."
"Would you go with me, over there?" He nodded toward the hill where Timothy had told him that his wife was at rest.
"If that's what ya want, I'm willing."
He nodded, and Timothy kept walking, Ribsky trailing behind.
Finally, over the hillside, they came to her gravesite; the stone her son had chosen was rose in color, and very small, with her name etched clearly. "There's another plot here, for me," Ribsky said, still standing back. Timothy stepped to the side, as if to invite the widower closer. He gingerly stepped up and looked down. He said, "Another plot, right next to hers. We bought them that way."
"I understand," Timothy said, stepping back.
"Pam," he said, and nothing more. He lowered his head, and was quiet for a moment. He repeated, "Pam." He turned back to Timothy. "She's really gone."
"Yes."
"She left me."
"Yes."
"When she first got sick, and we made that list, we both cried all night when we were done. Then she said, 'there's no more crying after this, let's just do those things and do them well.'"
"Y'ar angry with her, for leaving before ya had the chance."
Ribsky looked back to the grave. "I guess I am."
"It's part of it. Not strange, not something to be ashamed of. Being angry is part of it, believe me. Ya don't feel guilty about it."
"I don't understand why she did this to us? She . . . we had time left."
"But, she didn't."
Timothy placed a strong hand on the man's shoulder as Ribsky broke down. The Irishman said, "Ya have to go on, ya know that."
"I can't see it. Without Pam? I can't see anything more."
"There's more. There's y'ar son, and his children. There's so much more. I felt the same, until Todd and his family gave me a reason, and then, I sobered up and found my purpose. Ya have one, ya do. If ya let it be seen."
He sniffed and went to his knee. "Pam," he said, lightly touching the disturbed ground. "I'm sorry."
Timothy continued to keep his hand on Jack's shoulder, even if just to let him know there was someone else there that he could turn to. Finally, after a while longer, Ribsky stood up. "Pam, I'm going now. I'll . . . be talking to you," he said, "every night."
***
"Hello, Dorie," Timothy said, tossing his sport coat on the couch, after removing his mud-ridden shoes. The hotel had already brought his bags down to the lobby, and his rental car was being brought around.
"Timothy." She said his name, decidedly, and he loved the way it sounded from her mouth.
"Yes, Beautiful," he said. "I'm coming home. Probably later today. My work here seems to be finished. At last."
"Will the men be prosecuted?" she asked.
He was surprised at her first question. "It's not what it seems. I'll fill ya in later. But, ah, y'ar very concerned with that, eh?"
"Well," she said, moderately embarrassed, "I do care about my niece."
"Ya care about y'ar nephew, too. Ya just can't admit that ya love the boy."
"Oh come now, Timothy, he's not a boy," she said.
"He may as well be one, since his childhood was taken from him. And this ya very well know, Dorie."
She pursed her lips, remembering Todd, at the penthouse, a few weeks back, and the words she'd overheard. "I suppose. He does behave rather childishly at times. But, is it over for him? I mean, for Blair and the children?"
"Ya need to ask him if it's over for him, Dorie. A conversation with him might not hurt, letting him know ya were pulling for him in this, and that y'ar glad it's come toward an end."
"I suppose, but that's neither here nor there right now," she said. Then she continued, "As his lawyer, I am sure you know there was an incident? I'd think you'd know about it. Blair said that his memories were triggered by some items in a trunk, and he ran off to Greece to kill Zeus."
Timothy second guessed her. "He ran off to Greece because of a trunk?" he asked, emphasizing how ridiculous she sounded.
"Well, no. He was looking through the trunk and dealing with memories, and Sam mentioned something Zeus had done to him as a child, and Todd lost his mind and ran off to murder the man."
Timothy wasn't upset by her words, in fact, he calmly said, "But he didn't."
"Well, no, how did you know that?"
"Because in my estimation, Dear Heart, Blair went after him, eh?"
"Well, yes," she began.
"And in y'ar heart, ya know he's not a violent man, not by nature, only by nurture, correct?"
She didn't answer at first. Then she said, "I suppose that's true."
"He wouldn't kill the child's father, and likely, not any man, unless to protect his family. He was chasing monsters of his own, he was, and I dare say he won." His voice showed a victorious exuberance.
And pride.
She went on, fishing, "What about the men who ignored his calls when he was a boy? Did you find them? What did you mean when you said, 'it's not what it seems?'"
"Let's just say those monsters are at rest as well," he said.
"Get home, soon," she said.
"I will be. And ya take care of that woman on the other end of the line who just wants to go and hug her nephew and tell him she loves him, but somehow can't. I love ya, Dorie." He hung up.
***
Todd went to his office and saw a pile of mail on his desk. With all the involvement in the Zeus situation, letters and advertisements had collected, and he'd not had the chance to go through them.
He began to sort through the letters and postcards, and saw a mix of junk and real mail, sorting it into two piles.
It was then that he came to a plain white envelope with a handwritten address, direct to him. Not recognizing what it was, he opened it, casually, and began to read.
Manning,
John McBain should really be more careful about what he promises to those he needs to rely on in the future, whether it be to give information or hold back from doing the things they long to do to those that wronged them.
Nevertheless, all I've wanted was one thing, and that was to see your mother, again. She's a woman, a very grown woman, who can make her own choices, and, as she has in the past, you won't hold her back from seeing me, not ultimately.
I helped save your child, your life and Barbara and Blair's by giving John McBain the information he wanted.
Should this go unrewarded?
I'm asking, once more, and this last time, cordially, that you bring your mother, Barbara, to me. I won't be speaking of what will happen if you stop her from coming to see me, because there's no need for that. In fact, I am positive she wants to see me, as I do her. I suggest you heed.
~The Messenger."Bastard," he said aloud, crumpling the letter in his palm. He tossed it into the wastebasket, missing, and continued to look through the pile.
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Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Chasing the Monsters: 66
Tricia Miller sat back down, and her eyes were different; her shell was cracking. "Tell me, please, Timothy, is your son whole? Is he able to live his life after . . . what Peter Manning took from him?"
Timothy looked to the ceiling. "My son is in his forties now. It has taken most of his life to do exactly what you just described, and it has just recently come to a head. He's just now being able to begin to let go," he heard his own voice crackle.
She looked to her hands, and then said, "He has to know that my husband suffered every day. He has to know that. If it wasn't drugs, or alcohol, it was depression and morbid thoughts. We were never happy. Nothing was ever the same. He never got over what role he played."
"I appreciate hearing that," Timothy said, "but I'm not sure the suffering of someone else can take away what was done. But I will tell him."
"All right," she said. "One more thing."
"Certainly," he said, and Ribsky seemed more like a statue than anything else. Timothy knew that the ending to his quest was the beginning of the man's bout with grief.
"My husband died thinking of this. He knew more than I'm saying, but I don't think it's necessary, because I have the sense that you know it all, as well."
"Yes, I do," Timothy said.
"He died thinking of it. And when I say that, I mean it. You see, Ben died at his own hand. He used his service revolved and shot himself."
Jack immediately got up, and raced to the door and out of the house, and Timothy, not wanting to dart out and desert the woman after her admission, said, "I'm so very sorry, and ya must understand if I have to go. Ya see, Mr. Ribsky's wife died eight days ago, and it was suicide. Can ya excuse me, please?" He stood.
"Of course. It's amazing how many people that monster was able to destroy, without hardly trying."
Timothy nodded, taking her hand and covering it with his other. He said, "I must go. Do ya need me to return?"
She said, "No," her tears spilling over. "No. I'm fine, and glad that I can finally get this off my soul."
He nodded and went outside.
"Jack, wait," Timothy called after the detective, who was racing in the opposite direction of the car. "Where are ya going?"
"I just gotta go, wherever. Let me go, Broderick."
"Ya can't run from this," he called after him, gaining on him, but not reaching. There was still a good stretch between them. But Timothy followed him without fail. "Running won't help ya. It will catch up, sooner or later," he huffed.
Finally, Jack stopped, leaning forward with his hands on his knees, and breathing heavily. Timothy came up beside him, did the same stance, and said, "Where were ya goin'?"
Ribsky looked at Timothy, and his face was streaked with sweat, and now, Timothy saw, tears. "I don't even know. I just . . . started walking."
"Ya need to come back to the car, ya do. Ya have the keys, and I'll be stranded. I know where ya need to go. It will fix what ails ya."
He stood. "And I'm supposed to trust a man who doesn't drink anymore?"
"Ya have to. Who else is here?" Timothy said, starting to head back to the car.
Jack Ribsky followed. When they got to the car, Jack got in, and Timothy did as well. Ribsky said, "Where to?"
"To Chicago, where ya live. There's someone ya have to go and see. It's time, and believe me, it will be an important visit."
***
"Tell me something? Yeah, sure, Momma," he said, walking to the sitting area. He started a small fire in the fireplace, and sat down.
She sat across from him, and folded her hands over her knees. "I wanted to talk to you . . . about something I did."
He shrugged. "Okay. What did you do?"
"I am not sure you remember it. And I . . . believe you should know the truth."
"I remember everything, Momma." It felt so good to mean it.
"How do you know that?"
"I just do. I remembered the last pieces of it, in Greece. Funny, that's where I started to remember a couple of years ago."
"It took years for you to remember it all?"
"Yeah, I guess so. With the captivity and what they did to me there, the PTSD, I guess it compounded it all. When I first met Blair, I remembered almost nothing about Peter, except the surface bad Dad stuff. I feel like I've got it all now, somehow."
"I feel I have so many sorries to say."
"You've said them all. I've already told you what I feel about all that. There's nothing to be sorry for."
There was a long pause. "Todd?"
"Yeah, Momma?"
"Do you remember . . . about the sparrows?"
He swallowed. "Yes."
"I'm . . . sorry. I was sick, Todd. Believing it helped me believe there was an escape."
"I know. But you loved me. The only person in my first 25 years who did. Some of the things you taught me actually helped me survive it all."
Her hands shook, and she tried to keep them still. "I was wrong. I left you." Her voice was small and soft.
"You did what you had to. You were under Mitch's spell, anyway. You wanted to be free of Peter. Who wouldn't?"
She didn't address the mention of Mitch. "Peter wouldn't let me take you, when I went. I planned to get you back. Mitch promised, at first, to get you back for me. Then, something changed, and he told me I'd be able to have you back, soon. I followed what he said, the lie about my new life. When I got back, I begged him. I pleaded. He finally agreed that he would get you. A few days later, he said you had died in a car accident. Shortly after that, Peter came to get me," she took a breath, "and then, the Time of Black."
"You tried," he said. "Besides, it wasn't all bad, all the time. When I pleased him, things were okay. He bought me a lot of stuff. I got that car, got in college and he footed the bill. When I messed up . . ."
"Please," she interrupted, "wait." She seemed to be gathering herself together.
"I don't have to say more, really, about that. You know what he was capable of."
"Yes," she said, breaking down.
He watched her cry into her hand, and tenderly said, "Momma, it's okay. It's all over with."
"It will never be all over with for me," she said. "I left you there. With that monster."
Todd felt nothing but pity for her. "Hey, we all screw up, Momma. Don't be so hard on yourself. Laurence had the opportunity to free both of us, and used you, in your weakest time. If there's anyone to blame, aside from Peter himself, it's him."
She was quiet a moment. When she could finally talk again, she said, "I jumped. You fell because of me."
"No, that's not what happened, Momma."
"What do you mean? It is what happened, I was there. I jumped off, you called my name, I can still hear it. Then you lost your footing and fell. You told me that yourself. You told Peter and I both."
It's not what happened, Momma. I looked down, thought you were dead. Called to you, and you didn't answer. I didn't want to live anymore, so I let go . . . your son let go of life at seven, and somehow survived . . .
Todd mustered up composure and looked at his mother's face. She was crying; the tip of her nose was red. Her eyes were filled with tears, and more were on her cheeks. She seemed frail and small, and he willfully made a decision, seeing her pain. "Oh, yeah, that's right. I forgot. That is what happened. But it was a mistake, not because of you, Momma. I just slipped. I was just a little kid. You know how that is."
Blair, standing outside the door, her arms folded over her chest, listened. She felt water drop from her eyes when she realized her husband was keeping this last truth from his mother, and fully understood why.
"I wasn't well. I was drunk, often, and on medications. I wasn't in my right mind," Bitsy said, softly.
"I'd be drunk too, if Peter was my man."
She smiled, but that only gave way to more sobbing. "He was so bad, Todd. He was so mean . . . he was just so hateful."
"I know," he said, patting the sofa next to him.
She got up, and went, sitting beside him. "I'm sorry for the things he did."
"You can't be sorry for what you're not responsible for. You have to let go, Momma, like I'm trying to do. I spent most of my life chasing this monster, either trying to please him, or within myself, or in my dreams or memories. It's over. He has no power now, over either of us. You have to let go, sooner or later."
Bitsy leaned her head against her son, and shut her eyes, a few last tears springing from them. She said, "Then I'll try." Both were quiet for a few moments. She said, "I am so happy that I found you again, and that I could get well enough to be with you and your family, Todd. It's the happiest thing in my whole life, being with you all." She sniffled.
He wanted to cry with her, but instead, he said, "Hey, don't be getting tears or nose stuff on my shirt," and gently touched the top of her head.
"I won't."
"Now, I should tell you . . ." he stopped.
"Yes, what is it? I want to hear, whatever it is."
"I just wanted to say . . . I wanted to thank you, Momma, for trying to be there for me."
"I didn't do a very good job, Todd," she said, continuing to cry.
"You did, Momma. You did the best you could, and that's all anyone could do. So, thank you," he said. He put his arms around her.
She hugged her son, her head turned on his chest like a child. He found himself comforting her. Blair studied him, as he held strong. Turning his head, he caught her eyes, as she cried but smiled, with her hands to her lips, as if in prayer.
He nodded once to his wife, and turned back to his mother, disengaging their hug. Bitsy wiped under her eyes, and said, "Well, I'm relieved you're home, and in one piece. When she ran after you, I knew Blair would make sure you were all right, Todd." She turned to her daughter-in-law. "Blair, I'm so grateful that you are The One. I knew it when I first saw you, when I didn't know who I was. Remember?"
She smiled and walked to the woman, putting her arms around her, and they embraced, as Todd stood, shoving his hands into his front pants' pockets, awkwardly, but with a sure and satisfied look on his face.
Bitsy said, after letting go of Blair, "Well, I'm going down to help with the kids. You've both been flying for hours. You should rest before Family Night."
"Thanks, Momma," Todd said, as she left. As she walked out, Todd watched her go, and Blair watched him. Then, she sat beside him on the couch. It was quiet for a few moments, as he gazed into the fire. She said, "You know, a girl can tell a lot from how a man treats his mother."
"She can, huh?"
"Yep. What you did for her tonight was beautiful, Todd."
He smiled modestly, and interwove his fingers with her. "You heard?"
She nodded.
He looked at Blair, and shrugged. "She's my mother. The only one I knew."
"I know. I know, Todd."
"She knows, though."
"What?"
"That you're the one. You've always been the one. She knows."
"And you're mine," she said, embracing him. "I'm so proud of you, and to be your wife."
His eyes moistened. "Proud enough to hit the old tub?"
"You know it. I love you," she said, kissing his cheek, and then opening her blouse before heading to the bathroom, backward, their hands still joined.
He followed her.
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Timothy looked to the ceiling. "My son is in his forties now. It has taken most of his life to do exactly what you just described, and it has just recently come to a head. He's just now being able to begin to let go," he heard his own voice crackle.
She looked to her hands, and then said, "He has to know that my husband suffered every day. He has to know that. If it wasn't drugs, or alcohol, it was depression and morbid thoughts. We were never happy. Nothing was ever the same. He never got over what role he played."
"I appreciate hearing that," Timothy said, "but I'm not sure the suffering of someone else can take away what was done. But I will tell him."
"All right," she said. "One more thing."
"Certainly," he said, and Ribsky seemed more like a statue than anything else. Timothy knew that the ending to his quest was the beginning of the man's bout with grief.
"My husband died thinking of this. He knew more than I'm saying, but I don't think it's necessary, because I have the sense that you know it all, as well."
"Yes, I do," Timothy said.
"He died thinking of it. And when I say that, I mean it. You see, Ben died at his own hand. He used his service revolved and shot himself."
Jack immediately got up, and raced to the door and out of the house, and Timothy, not wanting to dart out and desert the woman after her admission, said, "I'm so very sorry, and ya must understand if I have to go. Ya see, Mr. Ribsky's wife died eight days ago, and it was suicide. Can ya excuse me, please?" He stood.
"Of course. It's amazing how many people that monster was able to destroy, without hardly trying."
Timothy nodded, taking her hand and covering it with his other. He said, "I must go. Do ya need me to return?"
She said, "No," her tears spilling over. "No. I'm fine, and glad that I can finally get this off my soul."
He nodded and went outside.
"Jack, wait," Timothy called after the detective, who was racing in the opposite direction of the car. "Where are ya going?"
"I just gotta go, wherever. Let me go, Broderick."
"Ya can't run from this," he called after him, gaining on him, but not reaching. There was still a good stretch between them. But Timothy followed him without fail. "Running won't help ya. It will catch up, sooner or later," he huffed.
Finally, Jack stopped, leaning forward with his hands on his knees, and breathing heavily. Timothy came up beside him, did the same stance, and said, "Where were ya goin'?"
Ribsky looked at Timothy, and his face was streaked with sweat, and now, Timothy saw, tears. "I don't even know. I just . . . started walking."
"Ya need to come back to the car, ya do. Ya have the keys, and I'll be stranded. I know where ya need to go. It will fix what ails ya."
He stood. "And I'm supposed to trust a man who doesn't drink anymore?"
"Ya have to. Who else is here?" Timothy said, starting to head back to the car.
Jack Ribsky followed. When they got to the car, Jack got in, and Timothy did as well. Ribsky said, "Where to?"
"To Chicago, where ya live. There's someone ya have to go and see. It's time, and believe me, it will be an important visit."
***
"Tell me something? Yeah, sure, Momma," he said, walking to the sitting area. He started a small fire in the fireplace, and sat down.
She sat across from him, and folded her hands over her knees. "I wanted to talk to you . . . about something I did."
He shrugged. "Okay. What did you do?"
"I am not sure you remember it. And I . . . believe you should know the truth."
"I remember everything, Momma." It felt so good to mean it.
"How do you know that?"
"I just do. I remembered the last pieces of it, in Greece. Funny, that's where I started to remember a couple of years ago."
"It took years for you to remember it all?"
"Yeah, I guess so. With the captivity and what they did to me there, the PTSD, I guess it compounded it all. When I first met Blair, I remembered almost nothing about Peter, except the surface bad Dad stuff. I feel like I've got it all now, somehow."
"I feel I have so many sorries to say."
"You've said them all. I've already told you what I feel about all that. There's nothing to be sorry for."
There was a long pause. "Todd?"
"Yeah, Momma?"
"Do you remember . . . about the sparrows?"
He swallowed. "Yes."
"I'm . . . sorry. I was sick, Todd. Believing it helped me believe there was an escape."
"I know. But you loved me. The only person in my first 25 years who did. Some of the things you taught me actually helped me survive it all."
Her hands shook, and she tried to keep them still. "I was wrong. I left you." Her voice was small and soft.
"You did what you had to. You were under Mitch's spell, anyway. You wanted to be free of Peter. Who wouldn't?"
She didn't address the mention of Mitch. "Peter wouldn't let me take you, when I went. I planned to get you back. Mitch promised, at first, to get you back for me. Then, something changed, and he told me I'd be able to have you back, soon. I followed what he said, the lie about my new life. When I got back, I begged him. I pleaded. He finally agreed that he would get you. A few days later, he said you had died in a car accident. Shortly after that, Peter came to get me," she took a breath, "and then, the Time of Black."
"You tried," he said. "Besides, it wasn't all bad, all the time. When I pleased him, things were okay. He bought me a lot of stuff. I got that car, got in college and he footed the bill. When I messed up . . ."
"Please," she interrupted, "wait." She seemed to be gathering herself together.
"I don't have to say more, really, about that. You know what he was capable of."
"Yes," she said, breaking down.
He watched her cry into her hand, and tenderly said, "Momma, it's okay. It's all over with."
"It will never be all over with for me," she said. "I left you there. With that monster."
Todd felt nothing but pity for her. "Hey, we all screw up, Momma. Don't be so hard on yourself. Laurence had the opportunity to free both of us, and used you, in your weakest time. If there's anyone to blame, aside from Peter himself, it's him."
She was quiet a moment. When she could finally talk again, she said, "I jumped. You fell because of me."
"No, that's not what happened, Momma."
"What do you mean? It is what happened, I was there. I jumped off, you called my name, I can still hear it. Then you lost your footing and fell. You told me that yourself. You told Peter and I both."
It's not what happened, Momma. I looked down, thought you were dead. Called to you, and you didn't answer. I didn't want to live anymore, so I let go . . . your son let go of life at seven, and somehow survived . . .
Todd mustered up composure and looked at his mother's face. She was crying; the tip of her nose was red. Her eyes were filled with tears, and more were on her cheeks. She seemed frail and small, and he willfully made a decision, seeing her pain. "Oh, yeah, that's right. I forgot. That is what happened. But it was a mistake, not because of you, Momma. I just slipped. I was just a little kid. You know how that is."
Blair, standing outside the door, her arms folded over her chest, listened. She felt water drop from her eyes when she realized her husband was keeping this last truth from his mother, and fully understood why.
"I wasn't well. I was drunk, often, and on medications. I wasn't in my right mind," Bitsy said, softly.
"I'd be drunk too, if Peter was my man."
She smiled, but that only gave way to more sobbing. "He was so bad, Todd. He was so mean . . . he was just so hateful."
"I know," he said, patting the sofa next to him.
She got up, and went, sitting beside him. "I'm sorry for the things he did."
"You can't be sorry for what you're not responsible for. You have to let go, Momma, like I'm trying to do. I spent most of my life chasing this monster, either trying to please him, or within myself, or in my dreams or memories. It's over. He has no power now, over either of us. You have to let go, sooner or later."
Bitsy leaned her head against her son, and shut her eyes, a few last tears springing from them. She said, "Then I'll try." Both were quiet for a few moments. She said, "I am so happy that I found you again, and that I could get well enough to be with you and your family, Todd. It's the happiest thing in my whole life, being with you all." She sniffled.
He wanted to cry with her, but instead, he said, "Hey, don't be getting tears or nose stuff on my shirt," and gently touched the top of her head.
"I won't."
"Now, I should tell you . . ." he stopped.
"Yes, what is it? I want to hear, whatever it is."
"I just wanted to say . . . I wanted to thank you, Momma, for trying to be there for me."
"I didn't do a very good job, Todd," she said, continuing to cry.
"You did, Momma. You did the best you could, and that's all anyone could do. So, thank you," he said. He put his arms around her.
She hugged her son, her head turned on his chest like a child. He found himself comforting her. Blair studied him, as he held strong. Turning his head, he caught her eyes, as she cried but smiled, with her hands to her lips, as if in prayer.
He nodded once to his wife, and turned back to his mother, disengaging their hug. Bitsy wiped under her eyes, and said, "Well, I'm relieved you're home, and in one piece. When she ran after you, I knew Blair would make sure you were all right, Todd." She turned to her daughter-in-law. "Blair, I'm so grateful that you are The One. I knew it when I first saw you, when I didn't know who I was. Remember?"
She smiled and walked to the woman, putting her arms around her, and they embraced, as Todd stood, shoving his hands into his front pants' pockets, awkwardly, but with a sure and satisfied look on his face.
Bitsy said, after letting go of Blair, "Well, I'm going down to help with the kids. You've both been flying for hours. You should rest before Family Night."
"Thanks, Momma," Todd said, as she left. As she walked out, Todd watched her go, and Blair watched him. Then, she sat beside him on the couch. It was quiet for a few moments, as he gazed into the fire. She said, "You know, a girl can tell a lot from how a man treats his mother."
"She can, huh?"
"Yep. What you did for her tonight was beautiful, Todd."
He smiled modestly, and interwove his fingers with her. "You heard?"
She nodded.
He looked at Blair, and shrugged. "She's my mother. The only one I knew."
"I know. I know, Todd."
"She knows, though."
"What?"
"That you're the one. You've always been the one. She knows."
"And you're mine," she said, embracing him. "I'm so proud of you, and to be your wife."
His eyes moistened. "Proud enough to hit the old tub?"
"You know it. I love you," she said, kissing his cheek, and then opening her blouse before heading to the bathroom, backward, their hands still joined.
He followed her.
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Todd Manning, Enigma Chapter 9 (Mild Adult)
Chapter 9
Blair almost stepped on the watch when she entered the bathroom. “That’s strange.” She picked it up and placed it on the counter next to the ring. She looked out at Todd where he stood shedding his shirt, the light in the room picking up the scars on his back. She loved looking at him. His shoulders, broad and strong, cast a shadow on the wall. Muscles from chest to waist, he was still the modest, unassuming man that had trouble hearing he was handsome. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his back. His silky hair was under her cheek and he smelled of musk and ocean breezes. “Mmm, you smell glorious.”
Todd rubbed her arms, reveling in the feel of her pressed against his back. Blair slipped a hand free and moved his hair to one side and began kissing his shoulders then she began to trail down his back with her lips finding each and every scar and tasting each with her tongue. Blair felt him quiver as his skin reacted to the sensation. Blair moved around to the front, continuing her exploration with his stab wound from Nora. She shoved him gently down on the bed and knelt on the floor in front of him delving lower to the knife wound he had received from Powell.
Todd’s abs rippled in pleasure at the sensuous touch of her tongue. He felt the lightest touch as her hands released his belt and obligingly lifted his hips.
Slowly she lowered the zipper and removed his jeans. His breathing was becoming ragged and her senses, too, were heightening. Her hands fingered and kneaded him as she maneuvered her mouth steadily closer. Slowly, she sucked and rolled her tongue around him, delighting in the feel of it; she neared the tip, drinking his excitement in. Blair alternately blew and caressed, then drew him into her mouth.
Todd could barely contain the feelings raging through his body, instinctively reacting to her mouth and the touch of her lips and tongue. The fire that had started low in his belly now filled him. It reached a fever pitch, threatening to explode at any moment. “God! Blair, what are you doing to me?”
Blair straddled him and began to ride him. Her body arched in pleasure at the feel of him inside her. Together they moved in sync, their breathing increasing. Todd gripped her waist as she undulated above him unable to stop, as all sensations exploded, their shouts mingling together. Blair folded down into his embrace, satisfied and spent. Her breath fluttered across his chest in sweet caresses as Todd stroked her body slowly enjoying the texture of her soft skin under his fingers. He could tell from her breathing when she fell asleep and he carefully laid her next to him on the bed. With one arm still wrapped around her, he let his exhaustion pull him into sleep.
The light was filtering in through the window as Todd rolled over and realized Blair was no longer beside him. He reached over to the nightstand feeling for his ring and remembered he had left it in the bathroom. He made his way across to the bathroom and found it, slipping it on. As his vision cleared he took a good look at himself. He could see the dark circles under his eyes, the scar on his forehead still prominent against his pale skin, he was a mess. Hesitating briefly, Todd picked up his watch and put it on. He took a deep breath as nothing happened and finished getting ready for his day. Thanks to Blair, his night had been dreamless and he hadn’t had to use medication. Michael was right. Blair was his best medicine, and as much as he wanted to keep her tied to his side that wasn’t going to happen. Todd sat down on the edge of the bed and remembered how she had taken charge last night. It was so reminiscent of their first time, he had been reluctant because of his past. The rape of Marty hanging over him, he didn’t trust himself, but Blair was there offering herself to him. That night would always be special to him. Now she was his again, there had been so many troubled years, but they were in the past and he wanted to keep them there. Todd reached down and picked up the clothes she had dropped. Her delicate perfume still clung to them and he breathed it in.
It suddenly occurred to him that the house was unusually quiet. Where the heck was everybody. He looked at his watch and realized it was late morning. Had he really slept all that time without the dream? “Bless you, Blair,” he whispered as he put her clothes down.
“Bless me for what?”
He jumped at her voice and turned to her. “Bless you for being the best sleep medicine I’ve had in a long time.” He walked over and drew her into his arms. “You are the most important person in my life, and I’m lost without you.”
Blair reached up caressing his cheek as he lowered his head his lips finding hers with a gentle kiss. She gazed into his eyes and was relieved to see a steady gaze looking back at her. He was definitely calmer than the previous day. The sleep had indeed done him some good. She linked her arm in his, “I’m glad you’re up. Nora called, the trial is in two days. She’s sending a car for you so she can go over your testimony. Bo said to remind you to wear the vest. They aren’t taking any chances with the shooter still at large.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll wear the vest for you, but I wish it wasn’t necessary.” They walked downstairs and she took him into the breakfast room where he saw she had everything set out. “You sit down and eat. If the policeman arrives, he can wait.” Blair pushed him into a seat, kissed him and headed out of the room.
“Hey, where are you going?” Todd looked after her.
“Just eat, I’ve got work to do.” With that, she disappeared from sight.
As he started eating, he heard her practicing in her studio. Todd reached over and picked up the Sun. The headline read. “Manning Murdered.” His reporter had kept it simple and direct. The article spoke about the upcoming trial and how the death might affect the prosecutor’s case. Then it offered queries regarding the police laxness in their protection of key witnesses. Todd knew he’d be hearing back from Bo on that line. Still, it was those kinds of questions that got the people reading. Todd looked at his sister’s paper and saw she had taken the sympathetic route. She expressed deep regrets at the loss of her brother and offered support to his family. He couldn’t fault her going that route. For the longest time, she had considered Jake her brother and she had loved him as such.
It still rankled within him that they had believed in Jake and had had no problem accepting him as Todd. Todd realized they couldn’t have known how all this had happened, and it made his anger toward Carlo and Ivan so much more volatile. He was holding his juice glass when suddenly it shattered in his hand and Todd quickly mopped up the remaining juice taking a cursory glance at the hand. He wasn’t sure if he had reacted in anger or if the hand had spasmed. Todd laid down the wet napkin, testing the hand and it appeared to be cooperating. That was a good sign the implant hadn’t been the cause, but at the same time, it meant his temper had been.
Todd began picking up the pieces of the broken glass. One of the shards cut his finger and he watched fascinated as the blood spread out on the glass. There was something lifelike about it; the crimson sheen, the glossy edges, the darkness of it. He was almost mesmerized until the pain registered, and he quickly wrapped the finger. “Damn it, Todd, what’s the matter with you?” His trance frightened and disturbed him.
“Todd, what was that crash?”
Todd shook his head as he heard Blair’s voice. He looked down and saw the mess at his feet. “Nothing Blair, I just got clumsy. Don’t worry about it.” he quickly cleaned it up. Just clean it up, don’t think back, don’t think . . . He kept his mind occupied long enough to bandage his finger and then the doorbell signaled the arrival of his ride to the station. Blair insisted he put the vest on and then his jacket to cover it. After a brief perusal of the area surrounding Dragonheart, he was allowed to enter the car and they proceeded into town.
They arrived at the station and once again Todd waited till they were certain he could get out then he entered and made his way to Nora’s office. He had to admit, it was weird not to be coming before her in handcuffs. He reached her office as she was deep in a conversation with Bo. In the past, he would have just barged in. but now, he knocked and waited patiently for them to finish their business. Samuel was a calming influence on him the last couple of months, even if Pete had other ideas entirely.
Nora looked up in surprise at the knock, then did a double take. Todd was actually standing there just waiting to be acknowledged; that had to be a first. “Come on in, Todd.”
“Well, you'll be glad to know there were no incidences on the way over here, Bo. Obviously, they decided to back off since they succeeded in getting Todd Manning. The shooter is probably waiting for the chance to take me out right before the trial.”
“Todd, I’m working on bringing you and Jake to the courthouse together and without a lot of fanfare the morning of the trial. All rooftops within shooting distance are going to be checked and double-checked. I’ll leave you two to talk.” Bo looked at Nora as she nodded and he exited.
“Okay, Todd I would like to talk to Samuel, if I may for a few minutes.”
Todd nodded and closed his eyes. “You’re on, Samuel “
Samuel opened his eyes. “How are you this morning Nora, although I guess it’s getting close to noon? What did you wish to know?”
“Samuel. I need to know just how much you remember now about your time at the Kipling clinic. I don’t want any surprises when Kipling’s lawyers start questioning you."
“Very well but I hope you realize this isn’t easy to talk about, nor is it easy to listen to.”
Samuel began describing the events that took place the first morning he remembered being at the clinic. As he got into the details surrounding the treatments he started experiencing a headache and Todd knew right away what was taking place. Before Todd could take over, a pain shot through the back of his head. Samuel jerked in his seat as a current seemed to run through him from the base of his skull down to his heart and he gasped clutching his chest. His hand had gone to the back of his head at first and the ring had sparked, easing the pain in his head but unable to stop the chest pain. Todd took over, reaching into his pocket for the nitro tablets.
Nora was on her feet as soon as she realized what was occurring and called 911. She stood and watched as Todd slipped a pill under his tongue and leaned back in the chair still in a lot of pain.
“Samuel, I called 911, has this happened before?"
Todd looked up at Nora trying to catch his breath. “Unfortunately too many times to count,” he whispered conserving his oxygen. The pain was starting to ease as the tablet did its work. They were suddenly interrupted by the EMTs and Bo. The next few minutes were spent monitoring him. With the influx of additional oxygen, Todd’s color returned and his heartbeat steadied. “I thought I was through with the pain when they removed my implants, but we discovered the other day I still have a few left in me. I’m sorry Nora, I didn’t know they were going to be a problem.”
“Do you mean to tell me that you had these headaches and chest pains for the last eight years. My god, it’s a miracle you survived this long.”
Samuel had returned and Todd took a back seat so Samuel could finish his story. “You see Nora that is why I went to Paris. I couldn’t remember my past and every time I tried I would be attacked by pain which in effect cause my heart to start having problems. I was told by the doctors that if I didn’t stop pushing the memories, I would kill myself.”
“I’m worried about this, Todd, it seems you are physically pushing yourself . . . are you certain you are all right?”
He thought about this. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’m all right.”
She doubted him. “What’s next then?”
“I told you, they’re guilty and I am positive of that. I’m willing to . . . I’m going to let everyone know.”
“All right, Todd.”
“Nora?”
“Yes.” She maintained her business-like air.
“Can I get a visitor’s pass? I want to . . . I guess I need to go and see them.”
She thought for a long moment. Shuffled some papers. Looked back up, waiting for a crack in the armor. “That’s not procedure, Todd.”
He waited, then so out of place, he heard his own voice. “Please.”
She looked up from her desk again, pondering his obsession. “I really cannot give you a visitor’s pass. Not under these circumstances.”
He turned to leave. Then he heard, “however, there’s nothing to stop you from going anyway, is there?”
Without looking back, he closed the door to her office and descended the stairs. As he got to the bottom, he made the conscious decision to remove the ring. They were expecting him to be blind.
Bo had followed him down and saw Todd hesitate. He watched as Todd reached carefully for the door in front of him and realized Todd had decided to talk to Hesser and Kipling without his sight. “Hold up, Todd, are you sure you want to do this. What do you think you’ll accomplish? They know your incapacitated and since you can’t see, what do you hope to gather from this visit?”
Todd turned to face Bo, “I want them to know I’m not scared of them. They sent Christian after me, and I’m still here. Carlo needs to know I found his hideout, and I need to hear Kipling talk. I know you don’t understand, but I have this picture in my head of Kipling. I have to put the picture and voice together. It sounds crazy, but it’s necessary. Can you set it up, Bo?”
Bo opened the door to the cell level and offered his elbow to Todd. “I’ll set it up but I think you’re making a mistake. If you’re having trouble recalling things for Nora, are you sure your heart can take a direct confrontation?”
“I think my heart will be just fine, Bo. If I can’t face them now, then they’ve beaten me before the trial starts.”
Bo led Todd to a room and got him settled then he arranged for Hesser and Kipling to be brought down. “Todd, there will be a guard here at all times. When you’ve finished, he’ll bring you back to my office.” Todd nodded and prepared to meet his enemies.
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