Dr. Larry Wolek had decided to semi-retire a few years ago, but had kept his name attached to Llanview Hospital. Every so often, he was asked to come in and help out, if they were short-staffed. That was why hew was in the emergency room that night as they brought Tea Delgado in, followed by a man who looked remarkably like his brother-in-law, Victor Lord Jr. The EMT’s were firing off information as the man hovered over the lawyer laying on the gurney.
“Sir, you’re going to have to step back while we take a look at her,” Larry said.
“No, I’m staying right here. Work around me, Larry,” Victor said.
Dr. Wolek was stunned into silence but when he finally regained his voice, his request came much firmer because of whom he realized he was dealing with. “Victor, you can’t stay right next to her. Look, can you at least move to the side of the room? Please?”
Victor looked at him, then kissed Tea’s hand. “Hang in there honey,” he whispered as he stood off to the side. He watched Larry, eagle-eyed as he and the nurses when to work.
“Blood pressure is good, heartbeat is slightly elevated,” Larry said, knowing the other man in the room would badger them if he wasn’t kept informed.
“We found her unconscious in the cemetery and we think she was injected with something,” the tech informed the doctor.
“Okay, run a blood test for toxicology. Start her on an IV and saline. She is dehydrated,” Larry said. He looked over to Victor and eventually pulled him outside. “Do you know where she’s been recently?”
Victor shook his head. “She was kidnapped a few weeks ago, I think, by this lunatic, Helena Cassadine. The woman also had my son, but we managed to get him back yesterday.”
“Yeah, Viki called to tell me and let me know about my son “ Larry informed him as he looked the other man up and down. “Forgive me for asking but how are you…I mean, Todd…”
“Don’t worry about me now, make her better!” he yelled like a child making a demand.
Larry nodded and went back into the room. Victor paced back and forth in the hallway when Jessica found him. “Victor what happened?” his blonde haired niece asked.
“We found Tea at the old man’s grave, but she was unconscious. Larry is working on her now to figure out what’s wrong. Helena should be in custody if John’s done his job correctly. Other than that…” Victor said as he peeked in the room. He could see that Tea’s eye were open and she was talking to Larry. He barged into the room “Tea?”
She smiled at him weakly. “Am I dead or dreaming?” she asked.
“No, not dreaming and certainly not dead,” he replied, cupping her cheeks as he kissed her. “You’re alright?”
“Well, we have her on fluids and we want to watch her for a few days, but right now, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with her,” Larry told him. He could tell neither one of them was paying attention to him so he excused himself.
Jessica Brennan saw him come out of the room. “Uncle Larry, how’s Tea doing?” she asked.
Larry gave her a smile. “Right now, everything seems alright but I want to keep her for observation. I also want to get in touch with John McBain. He may have some more information if he’s questioning this Helena Cassadine.” He looked back into the room. “You may want to call your mother and let her know.” With that he walked off.
Jessica made he way to the lounge and called Viki. When the other end picked up, she immediately told her mother, “They found Tea.”
Back at the hospital in Port Charles, Viki sent up a silent prayer of thanks. “That’s wonderful news! Did the get Helena?”
“From what little I got, they seem to have her under arrest,” Jessica told her.
“Is Victor there? Can I talk to him?” her mother asked.
“One minute.” Jessica walked back to the room and entered. She smiled at Tea as she handed the phone to her uncle. “Mom wants to talk to you,” she said.
Victor took the call. “Viki?”
“Victor, how is Tea?” his sister asked.
“Well, she seems fine, but the doctors, they want her to stay for observation,” he informed her. “And I agree with them. It all feels…too easy.”
“Do you think she’s like to see her son?” Viki asked, a smile on her face.
At that suggestions, Victor also smiled. “I think she’d like that.”
“I know Natalie said she wanted to get back to Llanview. Liam misses his father, so I’ll see what she says about taking the baby along with her,” Viki said.
“Thank you. I would really appreciate that,” he responded then added, “Tell…tell Todd and Blair the good news for me.” With that he ended the call.
Viki went back into Todd’s room, he was laying there, talking with Jack about sports when he saw her return. “Is everything alright?” he asked.
“Ah, that was Victor and they did get Tea back.” With that said, cheers went up from Starr and Jack. Blair merely smiled, her memories of her last visit with Tea tempering her reaction. Todd actually seemed happier about the news. At last, something seemed to be going right for his evil twin and it had a great affect to lessen any guilt Todd had been feeling for the last few months.
“I need to call Natalie and see if she’s willing to take the baby back with her when she goes home. Excuse me,” Viki said as she stepped out.
Jack made a face at his aunt. “Why does she keep calling him, ‘the baby’? His name is Victor the Third, right?”
“I think I heard it said some time today that your uncle doesn’t want to give your cousin that name,” Blair said.
“Seriously, would you like to have that name, Jack?” Todd asked. It still sent shivers down Todd’s back. He could still remember the conversation he had with the man who supposedly returned from the dead all those years ago telling him he would have been named Victor Lord Jr., if given a say.
Jack had thought it over. “I can see a point there. Has he thought of a name yet? It’s just weird He was Victor Lord the Third, now, he’s just ‘him’ or ‘the baby’. They need to give the kid a name already.”
“I think they should name him Todd,” Starr piped in.
“Yeah, like that’ll happen,” Todd snarked.
“Seriously, dad, you delivered him. I would think you’d be honored,” she replied.
“Starr, as sweet as that sounds, I still have a lot to atone for, not the least of which being that because of me, Delgado thought her son was dead, and then she nearly lost him for real. I’m the last person they’ll name the kid after,” Todd said.
“Wait, I have a suggestion,” Blair said. “How about Thomas? Think about it. Both of that little boy’s uncles are technically named Thomas. The anglicized version of Tomas and---”
“Blair, please don’t say it,” Todd said as he put his hands over his ears. “You know I’ve always hated that name. Why do you think I’ve always gone by Todd?”
“Thomas Todd Manning,” Blair finished, a smug smile on her face.
Todd’s head dropped back onto the pillow. “You know where the Thomas comes from?” Three pairs of eyes were on him. “Peter Manning’s father was Thomas. Irene wanted the name Todd, as we learned from the journal, but Peter had to put in his two cents and stuck Thomas at the beginning.”
“So you were named after your grandfather?” Jack asked.
“Thomas Manning was no more my grandfather than his SOB of a son was my father,” Todd retorted, his face reflecting his emotions.
Jack looked over at his dad then at Starr. She shook her head, indicating to drop the topic. Then she grabbed her bag. “I think Jack and I should head home. We’ve been here for how long and I need a shower. I also want to see the baby.” She walked over to her dad and kissed his cheek, then did the same with her mom. Jack did a manly fist bump with Todd and allowed his mother to give him a kiss and ha hug.
When the walked into the hospital’s hall, he grabbed his sister’s arm “What is the deal with Dad and his childhood? I don’t even really remember us talking about it before he came back, with Victor.”
“Jack, there are some things he’s never really talked about. All I know is that he was abused by Peter Manning and so was his adoptive mother. It got so bad for her, she left and had to leave Dad behind which broke her heart and Dad’s.” She looked back at the door to the hospital room. “Come on, let’s go.”
Back in the room, Blair sat on the bed and took Todd’s hand. “You know, for you, mentioning Peter Manning’s father name is really opening up. Is there more to that story about Thomas Manning?”
“You know, Blair, I’m kinda feeling tired. Maybe you should call the kids and go home with them,” he suggested, trying to avoid the conversation.
“Sorry, but I know this tactic, and it won’t work on me. Come on, I know you the best and I know you never mentioned a grandfather,” Blair told him.
Todd turned to her, and took her cheek in his hand as he pulled her in to a kiss. When they broke apart, he said, “He died just after Bitsy left. He was a real traditionalist, real old-fashioned. He didn’t know why she had left and really hated her…until he caught Peter beating the crap out of me. He warned Peter that if her didn’t stop, he’d tell someone about it. It didn’t occur to me until I learned that I was adopted what he meant.”
“He would have contacted Victor Lord, you mean,” she reasoned.
“Or at least someone connected to the trust. But Peter stopped for a few months. Then Thomas died and the beatings continued. I hated him for it, initially. I was too young to put all the pieces together so I misunderstood things then. That’s why I never went by his name. And even after I finally understood, Todd just stuck. I guess now..I see that he was trying to protect me,” Todd admitted. He let out a sigh. “One day, in the near future, before we get remarried, I promise you I will sit down with the kids and answer any questions they have about me, my childhood. I never wanted it to touch them, but if they have questions, I give them answers.”
“Before the wedding?” Blair asked. When Todd nodded, she repeated it with a smile. “Before the wedding.” Then another pause before a realization dawn on her. “You know, when we do get married, and I hate to mention this, but we’ll be tied with your sister for marriages.”
“What, Viki? No, trust me, we will never get near Viki Lord numbers. I mean, this is going to be, what, number eight for her?” Todd asked, counting the many husbands of his sister off in his head.
“That’s not the sister I was talking about.” Blair’s eyes slid to him. When he gave her a perplexed look, she explained further. “Tina and Cord just had wedding number four to each other last year and this will be our number four as well.” Todd looks shifted from confused to horrified as he fully understood what she had meant. Then Blair added insult to injury when she said, “Well, you and Tina have always been more alike then even you realized. Think about it, you both came back from the dead, you both act stupidly and impulsively, even if you mean well, you have both insisted on how much you loved Cord and I and how we would always belong together. Maybe the doctors were wrong. Maybe it’s you and Tina who are the long-lost twins.”
Todd looked about ready to curl up and die. Thinking back on it, Blair was right, not that he would admit it to her. But he scrunched his face into so many different contortions, showing the pain of her words, that Blair nearly fell off the bed laughing. Soon enough Todd was laughing too and it felt good to laugh. It felt good to laugh and to be alive.
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Thursday, September 6, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The End of Blame: Chapter 2
The jet was fueled and ready only a few moments after they arrived at the airport. In the private loading area, they walked, almost shell-shocked, but in a hurried pace, him holding her hand, and her fighting more tears, mascara running under her eyes. They had no luggage; neither one had thought to go home and get anything, and during the copter ride, she had made calls to Starr and Addie, and almost broken down to the point of him landing the copter to hold her. He said, "Blair..."
She turned toward him, and dropping his hand, said, "Don't even think you're going without me!"
"No, Babe. No more of that. We're in this together. We're both going to find him." He extended his arm, and she went into his embrace.
She said, "What about Little Ray, Todd? My baby..." she began crying again. He was worried about her; her emotional state was just getting back to a more regular and even path, and now this.
He wasn't sure how to answer her. "You can stay, if you want to."
"No, I can't be away from you, and let you do this alone. I just can't. Not after everything." She sounded small, childlike. As she became more and more upset, he began to become more and more concerned.
"What can I do, Blair? Tell me." He said softly.
"I want Ray with us. I need him near me, or..."
He thought, and said, "Trust me, Babe, I'll think of something. I'll find away. You won't be away from your baby for long."
She quieted, but then looked up to him, "What if we can't find..."
He put his fingers to her mouth to calm her. "No. We will. Now, let's go."
"You'll find a way for us to have Ray with us, won't you?" She repeated, in a pleading manner, taking his hand again and entering the gate that lead to his private jet. In that moment, she had noticed that it changed very little from the way it appeared when he left her, almost twenty years before, and she suddenly felt sick. Swaying a bit, he put his arm around her waist and held her from falling over.
"Whoa. Easy now," he said, gently, keeping her on her feet. "Lean against me."
"I felt dizzy for a minute."
"I know, come on." He guided her, in the crook of his arm, into the gate that lead to his private jet.
On the plane, he sat her on the leather couch that lined one wall, and sat by her, watching her. She closed her eyes, and he could see that she was fighting queasiness. He said, "Do you need me to get something?"
"No," she said, thinking that he needed her as much as she needed him. Get it together, now. "No, I'm all right."
He said, "It will be all right, Blair. I promise. Trust me."
She looked at him, knowing she had heard the words so many times before, but now, she had come to believe what he said with all of her heart. "I do."
"Can you calm down? We have a lot of work to do when we get there and I'm going to need you."
She nodded. "What time will it be when we land?"
"About eleven at night," he said.
"It will be dark. How will we find him? What..."
"Shhhh. Here, lean against me," he said, putting her head down onto his shoulder with his hand. She rested it there, and sniffled. "Trust me, Blair."
***
She took Jack's hand and said, "Come, this way."
He followed her, both of them looking side to side in teenage paranoia. "This way, a little further. There is the harbor, and that small white one is my grandfather's boat."
Jack said, "If we take your grandfather's boat, he'll find out it's gone, and then have an idea where we went. That makes no sense. Let's go rent a boat ourselves. Isn't there a place?"
Her English was not perfect, but from her time in the frontistiria, she was generally fluent. He found this to be on their side. She was beautiful: long, shining dark hair, very dark eyes, perhaps the darkest he had ever seen, and small in stature and feather-light. She wore a short, tiered skirt and a tank top. Her skin was very tanned, and smooth and clear. She said, "Yes, this way."
She lead him by the hand, into a small alleyway, and there was a boat rental store. Looking at it, he realized two things: how would he explain the late hour, and the fact that he was not yet an adult? He turned her to him and said, "Wait. No one is going to give us a boat. Not at this hour."
"This is not America, Jahck." From the first moment, she had called him 'Jahck' and he had let it go. It was the way her accent spun the word, and he rather liked it. It was different. It was from her. From the first time he saw her, he was completely taken in by her beauty and her smile. "I will talk, you will pay."
He checked his pocket, and his wallet was still intact, which meant his credit card and cash was there. He nodded, and they went inside. After a lengthy conversation in a foreign language, she pulled him to the counter. He took out his card, and handed it to the man. The man looked at it, and shrugged, running it through the machine, and then handing it back. Jack signed, and the man handed him a key. He pushed a paper toward him to sign. Jack signed it, of course not knowing what it said, but Orinia translated the basic idea. It was an agreement to return the boat. Putting the pen down, Jack awkwardly smiled, and they left, beautiful Orinia leading the way with him in tow, holding her hand, ambling through the streets of Greece.
***
It had only been two hours, and they had another eight to go. She nervously got up to use the bathroom, and he watched her go. This isn't good. Not good? It's totally fucked up. She can't lose another child, heck, neither can I. Where IS he?
In their haste to get out of the country and find him, they had not asked enough questions, and in trying to call Viki back, they had not been able to make contact. He would try again, via the Airphone, in a while, possibly when and if Blair slept, as not to disturb her more. As much as he was concerned about her, he realized he was just as fearful. He had searched his mind, as they sat together in silence, as to who could possibly have taken his son, what the motivation would be and why it would be now. He knew that Carlo was dead; he had no doubt in his mind of that, he'd seen the body himself. Now thankful for that fact, he moved on. Leona was dead; he assured himself ten or twenty times in the last two hours of that comforting fact. He went over, painfully, in his mind, the last moments of The Slice and Dice's life, and repeated it to himself to remember that his son was not in the clutches of the brutal rapist and masochist he'd spent more than eight years with.
So, who was left? The Thin Man. He hadn't really thought about him in such a long time, he lost the mental image of him. He just remembered him as pencil thin, and usually responsible for bringing him food, if one could call it that. Burly. He'd never do it; not really in his nature, unless ordered or threatened to. He'd always wanted to let Todd go. He remembered an instance when he almost had him convinced to free him, and the Slice and Dice had come in, midstream. He'd interrupted, sending Burly out, and bringing his blade out of his pocket. Pushing the memory away, his mind went to Baker and Kent. None of his fears made sense, for one reason: they all were still incarcerated back in the states and had been since their capture. He sighed. He'd not told Blair, at least not verbally, that his nightmares were back with a fury. He was too worried about her and her pain to mention it.
He had made his share of enemies over the years, but why they would emerge now was puzzling to him. She returned from the bathroom, looking somehow thinner, but her face was cleaned up and with that, the redness around her eyes was more pronounced. He put his hand out, "Mrs. Manning, it's going to be all right. I know it will."
She nodded, taking his hand. Sitting back next to him, she put her head back onto his shoulder, his arm securely around her. She said, "Todd, just we have to find him, is all."
"We will, we will find him," he said, wanting it to be that simple.
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She turned toward him, and dropping his hand, said, "Don't even think you're going without me!"
"No, Babe. No more of that. We're in this together. We're both going to find him." He extended his arm, and she went into his embrace.
She said, "What about Little Ray, Todd? My baby..." she began crying again. He was worried about her; her emotional state was just getting back to a more regular and even path, and now this.
He wasn't sure how to answer her. "You can stay, if you want to."
"No, I can't be away from you, and let you do this alone. I just can't. Not after everything." She sounded small, childlike. As she became more and more upset, he began to become more and more concerned.
"What can I do, Blair? Tell me." He said softly.
"I want Ray with us. I need him near me, or..."
He thought, and said, "Trust me, Babe, I'll think of something. I'll find away. You won't be away from your baby for long."
She quieted, but then looked up to him, "What if we can't find..."
He put his fingers to her mouth to calm her. "No. We will. Now, let's go."
"You'll find a way for us to have Ray with us, won't you?" She repeated, in a pleading manner, taking his hand again and entering the gate that lead to his private jet. In that moment, she had noticed that it changed very little from the way it appeared when he left her, almost twenty years before, and she suddenly felt sick. Swaying a bit, he put his arm around her waist and held her from falling over.
"Whoa. Easy now," he said, gently, keeping her on her feet. "Lean against me."
"I felt dizzy for a minute."
"I know, come on." He guided her, in the crook of his arm, into the gate that lead to his private jet.
On the plane, he sat her on the leather couch that lined one wall, and sat by her, watching her. She closed her eyes, and he could see that she was fighting queasiness. He said, "Do you need me to get something?"
"No," she said, thinking that he needed her as much as she needed him. Get it together, now. "No, I'm all right."
He said, "It will be all right, Blair. I promise. Trust me."
She looked at him, knowing she had heard the words so many times before, but now, she had come to believe what he said with all of her heart. "I do."
"Can you calm down? We have a lot of work to do when we get there and I'm going to need you."
She nodded. "What time will it be when we land?"
"About eleven at night," he said.
"It will be dark. How will we find him? What..."
"Shhhh. Here, lean against me," he said, putting her head down onto his shoulder with his hand. She rested it there, and sniffled. "Trust me, Blair."
***
She took Jack's hand and said, "Come, this way."
He followed her, both of them looking side to side in teenage paranoia. "This way, a little further. There is the harbor, and that small white one is my grandfather's boat."
Jack said, "If we take your grandfather's boat, he'll find out it's gone, and then have an idea where we went. That makes no sense. Let's go rent a boat ourselves. Isn't there a place?"
Her English was not perfect, but from her time in the frontistiria, she was generally fluent. He found this to be on their side. She was beautiful: long, shining dark hair, very dark eyes, perhaps the darkest he had ever seen, and small in stature and feather-light. She wore a short, tiered skirt and a tank top. Her skin was very tanned, and smooth and clear. She said, "Yes, this way."
She lead him by the hand, into a small alleyway, and there was a boat rental store. Looking at it, he realized two things: how would he explain the late hour, and the fact that he was not yet an adult? He turned her to him and said, "Wait. No one is going to give us a boat. Not at this hour."
"This is not America, Jahck." From the first moment, she had called him 'Jahck' and he had let it go. It was the way her accent spun the word, and he rather liked it. It was different. It was from her. From the first time he saw her, he was completely taken in by her beauty and her smile. "I will talk, you will pay."
He checked his pocket, and his wallet was still intact, which meant his credit card and cash was there. He nodded, and they went inside. After a lengthy conversation in a foreign language, she pulled him to the counter. He took out his card, and handed it to the man. The man looked at it, and shrugged, running it through the machine, and then handing it back. Jack signed, and the man handed him a key. He pushed a paper toward him to sign. Jack signed it, of course not knowing what it said, but Orinia translated the basic idea. It was an agreement to return the boat. Putting the pen down, Jack awkwardly smiled, and they left, beautiful Orinia leading the way with him in tow, holding her hand, ambling through the streets of Greece.
***
It had only been two hours, and they had another eight to go. She nervously got up to use the bathroom, and he watched her go. This isn't good. Not good? It's totally fucked up. She can't lose another child, heck, neither can I. Where IS he?
In their haste to get out of the country and find him, they had not asked enough questions, and in trying to call Viki back, they had not been able to make contact. He would try again, via the Airphone, in a while, possibly when and if Blair slept, as not to disturb her more. As much as he was concerned about her, he realized he was just as fearful. He had searched his mind, as they sat together in silence, as to who could possibly have taken his son, what the motivation would be and why it would be now. He knew that Carlo was dead; he had no doubt in his mind of that, he'd seen the body himself. Now thankful for that fact, he moved on. Leona was dead; he assured himself ten or twenty times in the last two hours of that comforting fact. He went over, painfully, in his mind, the last moments of The Slice and Dice's life, and repeated it to himself to remember that his son was not in the clutches of the brutal rapist and masochist he'd spent more than eight years with.
So, who was left? The Thin Man. He hadn't really thought about him in such a long time, he lost the mental image of him. He just remembered him as pencil thin, and usually responsible for bringing him food, if one could call it that. Burly. He'd never do it; not really in his nature, unless ordered or threatened to. He'd always wanted to let Todd go. He remembered an instance when he almost had him convinced to free him, and the Slice and Dice had come in, midstream. He'd interrupted, sending Burly out, and bringing his blade out of his pocket. Pushing the memory away, his mind went to Baker and Kent. None of his fears made sense, for one reason: they all were still incarcerated back in the states and had been since their capture. He sighed. He'd not told Blair, at least not verbally, that his nightmares were back with a fury. He was too worried about her and her pain to mention it.
He had made his share of enemies over the years, but why they would emerge now was puzzling to him. She returned from the bathroom, looking somehow thinner, but her face was cleaned up and with that, the redness around her eyes was more pronounced. He put his hand out, "Mrs. Manning, it's going to be all right. I know it will."
She nodded, taking his hand. Sitting back next to him, she put her head back onto his shoulder, his arm securely around her. She said, "Todd, just we have to find him, is all."
"We will, we will find him," he said, wanting it to be that simple.
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Port Charles Chronicles: Chapter 15
Todd had spent the morning talking to his investment advisors and detailing his desire to pick up the Port Charles Press. “You don’t say. What else do they own? Get me that company and don’t take no for an answer. I want to own the paper by tomorrow.” Todd hung up and made a note on his laptop. He glanced over at the still rumpled sheets on the bed and smiled to himself. He was glad Blair had gone to meet Starr. He wanted to keep remembering something happy. If he told Blair what his latest plan was, it was sure to start an argument and he didn’t need that. Although she was adamant about helping him, he knew she didn’t want to leave Llanview. He would have to tread carefully and not push her too hard. After the last couple of episodes with Irene, he realized how close he was to letting everything go. If he scared Blair away, there would be no one to stop his freefall.
Starr had called earlier and wanted to go shopping. Blair had jumped at the chance to spend time with her daughter, especially after everything Starr had been through in the last months. Todd had encouraged her to go with Starr because he felt they both deserved some girl time. He had hated seeing Starr behind bars. He still couldn’t get over the feeling that Hope died because of him. Getting found not guilty of his brother’s murder, and then finding out Starr was accused of attempted murder, only added to his guilt. Todd slammed his laptop shut and got up, angrily moving toward the window. You thought you were so smart. You escaped your mad mother and only ended up falling back into old habits. He closed his eyes as the memory of his brother’s death played in his mind again.
He slumped against the wall. He had disliked his brother on sight. He remembered listening in on the conversation Tea had with Victor over Jack’s part in the death of Gigi Morasco. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing and even worse, he realized Victor had just gotten Jack off the hook by buying the father of Jack’s friend and letting the friend take the fall. Todd had had to ask himself, if he would have done what Victor did or if he would have finally done the right thing and insisted Jack pay for his crime. After all those years in Irene’s hands, he wanted to see himself as a better man, but the truth was he probably would have made the same choice Victor had. No matter what, he loved his son. He didn’t want the boy to go to jail. So why had he hated Victor so much? Face it, Todd, he was you and you’ve always hated yourself. Todd leaned his forehead against the cool wall. Admit it, you were killing yourself that night, and you did such a good job, you blew yourself out of the water with Blair and Starr, and everyone you loved. He stared a moment longer out the window then glimpsed the bed out of the corner of his eye. Snap out of it, you idiot. Blair’s right here, right now, and she’s not going anywhere unless you make her. You just need to get your act together. Suddenly, he remembered his appointment. Todd left the suite determined to get through the session and get the help he needed.
A short time later he entered a rather austere office. Minimalist, I like it. There was no receptionist, which was odd given he had talked to one the day before. Now there was only a note by a bell. What the hell!
The Doctor is in. Ring if you ‘really’ want to talk. Otherwise, go away.
Are you kidding me? Todd wanted to laugh, the doc had a weird sense of humor. He rang the bell and waited.
Dr.Kevin Collins heard the bell go off. He looked at his appointment book and saw it was his caller from the day before. He had done a little research on the guy the previous evening. The file sat in front of him.
Todd Manning was the publisher of The Sun, a millionaire, a rapist, and most recently the man accused of murdering his own brother after returning from an eight years absence. He claimed to have been held prisoner by his own mother, who had replaced him with the brother he killed. He was a real peach of a guy; who was walking around free because he had been found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity caused by PTSD.
Dr. Collins shook his head, he had already agreed to see the guy, but he seriously doubted the guy really needed his help. By all accounts, the man was a real live wire and would need careful handling. He picked up his coffee and walked out of his office to see the man who claimed his life was on the line. If nothing else, his phone call the previous day had been intriguing. The man had sounded serious. If he was, then Kevin felt obligated to at least see him. He stood in his doorway and watched as the man appeared to be checking out the office. He took in the overall appearance of the man in front of him. At first glance from the back, Todd Manning looked remarkably normal, he looked altogether and certainly didn’t seem too concerned with the fact that he was snooping. Then he turned around and Kevin’s expert eyes picked up on some of the more tell-tale signs of someone with a problem. The fidgeting hands, the eyes wary and sunken from lack of sleep, his whole body was wound tighter than a drum. The man looked like he really wanted to turn and run. “Good Morning, Mr. Manning isn’t it? I’m Dr. Kevin Collins.” He held out his hand wondering if the man would shake it or not.
Todd had been caught a little off-guard when the doctor had first walked out. He had been doing what he normally did when left alone in an office. He had been looking through some papers on the desk behind the counter. If the guy was going to leave a front office unmanned. Todd would never turn down an opportunity to check what might be lying around. He always liked to know his opponent. Todd was trying to regroup his nerves. He really didn’t like shrinks, because he hated anyone knowing too much about his inner thoughts but this time, for the first time, he had no choice. There was no way he was spending time in St. Ann’s or any other institution like that. He was not crazy. He turned around to face the doctor and instead saw her.
“Are you so sure of that?” His mother asked standing just beside the doctor. She had on a white doctor’s coat and a clipboard in her hands.
Todd reacted instantly by backing away from her, completely unaware that the doctor had just put out his hand.
Kevin had been expecting the man to either take the hand or not, but he hadn’t expected the man to pale and back away. At first, he thought he had just startled the man, but then he realized the man wasn’t looking at him. “Mr. Manning, are you alright?”
“Tsk, Tsk, seeing things. Obviously, this patient isn’t well. It appears he’s not quite right in the head.” Irene wrote on her clipboard and smiled at her son.
Todd swayed and backed up a few more steps until his back hit the counter. “Leave me alone!” His head had started to pound again and he closed his eyes to block her out. With one hand pressed against his temple and the other holding him upright against the counter, Todd never saw Dr. Collins approach him.
Kevin moved cautiously to Manning’s side. He hadn’t gotten an answer to his question and the man’s behavior seemed to indicate there was a problem. Carefully he tried to get his attention by laying a hand on his shoulder. He was totally unprepared for the response.
Todd felt like he had been scalded. He hissed and pushed the doctor away. “Don’t touch me!”
He was back in that sterile white room. They were approaching. Baker held the syringe in his hand and nodded at the men with him. Todd was helpless to stop them as the two men grabbed his arms and held him. He watched Baker move in and felt the injection. Then it was as if his veins were on fire and Baker began asking his questions. “Get away from me, all of you! What do you want from me?” The pain was unbearable, he was burning up. “Please, could I have some water?
Dr. Collins was stunned. Whoever Manning was talking to, it wasn’t him. He seemed to be reliving something. Whatever was going on was painful, Kevin heard it in his voice. It appeared the diagnosis of PTSD was true. He knew from experience that he had triggered something when he had touched the man. Now he had to decide how to bring him out of the event.
“Certainly, all you have to do is answer the question. Where is it? You tell us and I can make all this go away.” Baker held up another syringe.
Todd looked at that syringe knowing it would take away all his pain, but he also knew he would never get it. “I can’t, I don’t know where it is. Why won’t you believe me?” His head began to throb and Todd was helpless to do anything. He was strapped in a chair, on fire with whatever they had injected into him and he felt himself slipping away.
“God, my head.” Todd dropped to his knees, trapped in his vision. Holding his head, he slumped against the lower counter and began his mantra. They would make the pain go away, they always did. “ I have a daughter, her name is Starr. Starr has a mother. Starr’s mother is Blair. Blair is my wife. …”
Dr. Kevin Collins was alarmed and debated calling for help, the man at his feet was obviously in pain. He listened and came to the conclusion that Mr. Manning had been telling the truth the day before. The man in front of him was at his breaking point. He reached for his phone and was about to make the call when he began noting a change in Manning’s voice. Manning was close to breaking, but something inside him was keeping that from happening. His voice was getting stronger as he recited his words. He was fighting back against his demons, it appeared. Kevin didn’t know the man, but he realized the man wasn’t ready to give up the fight just yet. That was a good sign. Now he just had to figure out a way to get the man to trust him long enough to help him. He put the phone down and waited to see what would happen next.
As Todd recited his litany, the image of the room along with Baker and company dissolved, it was replaced instead with a picture of Starr standing in the police station, defiant and ready to take her punishment for going after Sonny. She was his daughter through and through. Then he saw Blair berating him on the dock. She told him in no uncertain terms that she would help him fight Irene. There wasn’t much she could do on that front, Irene was his battle. He loved Blair for wanting to stay by his side. The pain in his head lessened. He opened his eyes to discover he was on the floor. Worse yet, it was the doctor’s office. You’ve done it now. There are probably men with white jackets waiting for you. Better get up and face the music. He noticed a pair of shoes off to one side of him and his eyes traveled up, taking in the man in front of him. The man was holding out a hand, and Todd took it and rose to his feet. Dr. Collins was older than him, with some graying beginning to shade his hair. He was about Todd’s height and in pretty good shape judging by his grip. Todd released the hand as soon as he was up and looked around the room.
“It’s just you and me, Mr. Manning. There’s no one else here. Perhaps you’d like to come into my office and sit down for a moment. Some coffee might help?” Kevin waited to see whether Todd Manning would turn and leave, or stick around for the help he needed.
Todd ran a hand through his hair. He wasn’t sure what to say or do. He had come for help, not because he wanted to but because he was ordered to. Now after what had just occurred, it was a different story. “You didn’t call for help. Why? Is what just happened, normal around here?”
Kevin smiled at that. “No, it’s far from normal. I have to ask a question, though. Is it normal for you?”
“I’m not sure I know what’s normal for me anymore. Have you got anything stronger than that coffee?” He moved to grip the counter. His legs felt a little rubbery. Even though he knew he had been in an episode, he still felt like his insides were churning. His eyes met Dr. Collins’ eyes. “I can’t live like this. Can you help?”
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Starr had called earlier and wanted to go shopping. Blair had jumped at the chance to spend time with her daughter, especially after everything Starr had been through in the last months. Todd had encouraged her to go with Starr because he felt they both deserved some girl time. He had hated seeing Starr behind bars. He still couldn’t get over the feeling that Hope died because of him. Getting found not guilty of his brother’s murder, and then finding out Starr was accused of attempted murder, only added to his guilt. Todd slammed his laptop shut and got up, angrily moving toward the window. You thought you were so smart. You escaped your mad mother and only ended up falling back into old habits. He closed his eyes as the memory of his brother’s death played in his mind again.
He slumped against the wall. He had disliked his brother on sight. He remembered listening in on the conversation Tea had with Victor over Jack’s part in the death of Gigi Morasco. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing and even worse, he realized Victor had just gotten Jack off the hook by buying the father of Jack’s friend and letting the friend take the fall. Todd had had to ask himself, if he would have done what Victor did or if he would have finally done the right thing and insisted Jack pay for his crime. After all those years in Irene’s hands, he wanted to see himself as a better man, but the truth was he probably would have made the same choice Victor had. No matter what, he loved his son. He didn’t want the boy to go to jail. So why had he hated Victor so much? Face it, Todd, he was you and you’ve always hated yourself. Todd leaned his forehead against the cool wall. Admit it, you were killing yourself that night, and you did such a good job, you blew yourself out of the water with Blair and Starr, and everyone you loved. He stared a moment longer out the window then glimpsed the bed out of the corner of his eye. Snap out of it, you idiot. Blair’s right here, right now, and she’s not going anywhere unless you make her. You just need to get your act together. Suddenly, he remembered his appointment. Todd left the suite determined to get through the session and get the help he needed.
A short time later he entered a rather austere office. Minimalist, I like it. There was no receptionist, which was odd given he had talked to one the day before. Now there was only a note by a bell. What the hell!
The Doctor is in. Ring if you ‘really’ want to talk. Otherwise, go away.
Are you kidding me? Todd wanted to laugh, the doc had a weird sense of humor. He rang the bell and waited.
Dr.Kevin Collins heard the bell go off. He looked at his appointment book and saw it was his caller from the day before. He had done a little research on the guy the previous evening. The file sat in front of him.
Todd Manning was the publisher of The Sun, a millionaire, a rapist, and most recently the man accused of murdering his own brother after returning from an eight years absence. He claimed to have been held prisoner by his own mother, who had replaced him with the brother he killed. He was a real peach of a guy; who was walking around free because he had been found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity caused by PTSD.
Dr. Collins shook his head, he had already agreed to see the guy, but he seriously doubted the guy really needed his help. By all accounts, the man was a real live wire and would need careful handling. He picked up his coffee and walked out of his office to see the man who claimed his life was on the line. If nothing else, his phone call the previous day had been intriguing. The man had sounded serious. If he was, then Kevin felt obligated to at least see him. He stood in his doorway and watched as the man appeared to be checking out the office. He took in the overall appearance of the man in front of him. At first glance from the back, Todd Manning looked remarkably normal, he looked altogether and certainly didn’t seem too concerned with the fact that he was snooping. Then he turned around and Kevin’s expert eyes picked up on some of the more tell-tale signs of someone with a problem. The fidgeting hands, the eyes wary and sunken from lack of sleep, his whole body was wound tighter than a drum. The man looked like he really wanted to turn and run. “Good Morning, Mr. Manning isn’t it? I’m Dr. Kevin Collins.” He held out his hand wondering if the man would shake it or not.
Todd had been caught a little off-guard when the doctor had first walked out. He had been doing what he normally did when left alone in an office. He had been looking through some papers on the desk behind the counter. If the guy was going to leave a front office unmanned. Todd would never turn down an opportunity to check what might be lying around. He always liked to know his opponent. Todd was trying to regroup his nerves. He really didn’t like shrinks, because he hated anyone knowing too much about his inner thoughts but this time, for the first time, he had no choice. There was no way he was spending time in St. Ann’s or any other institution like that. He was not crazy. He turned around to face the doctor and instead saw her.
“Are you so sure of that?” His mother asked standing just beside the doctor. She had on a white doctor’s coat and a clipboard in her hands.
Todd reacted instantly by backing away from her, completely unaware that the doctor had just put out his hand.
Kevin had been expecting the man to either take the hand or not, but he hadn’t expected the man to pale and back away. At first, he thought he had just startled the man, but then he realized the man wasn’t looking at him. “Mr. Manning, are you alright?”
“Tsk, Tsk, seeing things. Obviously, this patient isn’t well. It appears he’s not quite right in the head.” Irene wrote on her clipboard and smiled at her son.
Todd swayed and backed up a few more steps until his back hit the counter. “Leave me alone!” His head had started to pound again and he closed his eyes to block her out. With one hand pressed against his temple and the other holding him upright against the counter, Todd never saw Dr. Collins approach him.
Kevin moved cautiously to Manning’s side. He hadn’t gotten an answer to his question and the man’s behavior seemed to indicate there was a problem. Carefully he tried to get his attention by laying a hand on his shoulder. He was totally unprepared for the response.
Todd felt like he had been scalded. He hissed and pushed the doctor away. “Don’t touch me!”
He was back in that sterile white room. They were approaching. Baker held the syringe in his hand and nodded at the men with him. Todd was helpless to stop them as the two men grabbed his arms and held him. He watched Baker move in and felt the injection. Then it was as if his veins were on fire and Baker began asking his questions. “Get away from me, all of you! What do you want from me?” The pain was unbearable, he was burning up. “Please, could I have some water?
Dr. Collins was stunned. Whoever Manning was talking to, it wasn’t him. He seemed to be reliving something. Whatever was going on was painful, Kevin heard it in his voice. It appeared the diagnosis of PTSD was true. He knew from experience that he had triggered something when he had touched the man. Now he had to decide how to bring him out of the event.
“Certainly, all you have to do is answer the question. Where is it? You tell us and I can make all this go away.” Baker held up another syringe.
Todd looked at that syringe knowing it would take away all his pain, but he also knew he would never get it. “I can’t, I don’t know where it is. Why won’t you believe me?” His head began to throb and Todd was helpless to do anything. He was strapped in a chair, on fire with whatever they had injected into him and he felt himself slipping away.
“God, my head.” Todd dropped to his knees, trapped in his vision. Holding his head, he slumped against the lower counter and began his mantra. They would make the pain go away, they always did. “ I have a daughter, her name is Starr. Starr has a mother. Starr’s mother is Blair. Blair is my wife. …”
Dr. Kevin Collins was alarmed and debated calling for help, the man at his feet was obviously in pain. He listened and came to the conclusion that Mr. Manning had been telling the truth the day before. The man in front of him was at his breaking point. He reached for his phone and was about to make the call when he began noting a change in Manning’s voice. Manning was close to breaking, but something inside him was keeping that from happening. His voice was getting stronger as he recited his words. He was fighting back against his demons, it appeared. Kevin didn’t know the man, but he realized the man wasn’t ready to give up the fight just yet. That was a good sign. Now he just had to figure out a way to get the man to trust him long enough to help him. He put the phone down and waited to see what would happen next.
As Todd recited his litany, the image of the room along with Baker and company dissolved, it was replaced instead with a picture of Starr standing in the police station, defiant and ready to take her punishment for going after Sonny. She was his daughter through and through. Then he saw Blair berating him on the dock. She told him in no uncertain terms that she would help him fight Irene. There wasn’t much she could do on that front, Irene was his battle. He loved Blair for wanting to stay by his side. The pain in his head lessened. He opened his eyes to discover he was on the floor. Worse yet, it was the doctor’s office. You’ve done it now. There are probably men with white jackets waiting for you. Better get up and face the music. He noticed a pair of shoes off to one side of him and his eyes traveled up, taking in the man in front of him. The man was holding out a hand, and Todd took it and rose to his feet. Dr. Collins was older than him, with some graying beginning to shade his hair. He was about Todd’s height and in pretty good shape judging by his grip. Todd released the hand as soon as he was up and looked around the room.
“It’s just you and me, Mr. Manning. There’s no one else here. Perhaps you’d like to come into my office and sit down for a moment. Some coffee might help?” Kevin waited to see whether Todd Manning would turn and leave, or stick around for the help he needed.
Todd ran a hand through his hair. He wasn’t sure what to say or do. He had come for help, not because he wanted to but because he was ordered to. Now after what had just occurred, it was a different story. “You didn’t call for help. Why? Is what just happened, normal around here?”
Kevin smiled at that. “No, it’s far from normal. I have to ask a question, though. Is it normal for you?”
“I’m not sure I know what’s normal for me anymore. Have you got anything stronger than that coffee?” He moved to grip the counter. His legs felt a little rubbery. Even though he knew he had been in an episode, he still felt like his insides were churning. His eyes met Dr. Collins’ eyes. “I can’t live like this. Can you help?”
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Monday, September 3, 2012
The End of Blame: Chapter 1 (mild adult)
Todd and Blair had fallen asleep on the blanket in the warm afternoon sun, and she was awakened by the sound of Sheik lapping at the water in the pond. Both horses had been tied loosely to nearby trees, and she saw him, drinking a bit from the calm, glassy miniature lake they were resting by. The other horse, Maybel, seemed to like the idea, and crossed as well to drink. She looked up from where her head was resting and saw Todd, peaceful, which was not often, and sleeping. He still had his arms around her. She was not necessarily interested in waking him; knowing him as she did, his sleep did not come easily, and when he grasped uninterrupted rest, she rarely wanted to disturb it. Instead, she remained, listening to his breathing, and feeling herself gently lift up and down on his breastbone as he did.
She thought back to their lovemaking not a half hour before. He had always been a generous lover, but since his return, he was even more so, and much open with his thoughts and words. He was everything she had always loved about him, but more. As much as she dreaded seeing the scars and wounds all over him, his experience apart from her had rendered them much more connected and immersed in each other. For a moment, she flashed back to his tight stomach, his beautiful form over her, his hand touching her the way she loved, and his expression as he moved inside her with his body and loved her with his heart.
Blair noticed that Maybel was having trouble reaching the pond, and the mare lightly neighed in frustration, at which Todd jerked awake. "Oh, I fell asleep," he said, looking around him for a moment.
"Yeah, you did. Or we did."
"You're still here."
"Of course, what did you expect?"
"I don't know. Not sure what I expect. Every day is an adventure for me. I never know what I'm going to get. I figured that out nine years ago, when I woke up, without you, without anyone, strapped to that chair."
A slight queasiness came over her when he spoke about it, even now. She'd seen the chair, first hand. She'd even been fastened to it, and she'd seen a small slice of the tortures he endured. It was behind them, but it still made her feel sick. She wondered how he could go on and be part of everyday life after what he had gone through. With the boys gone on the cruise in Europe with Viki, they both had been able to face more of their feelings and be supportive to the others' plight. At times, and more again recently, he still woke, sweating and gasping, while she still found it hard to face the world sometimes after losing Sommer.
But, he was there, always there, pushing her along toward life. And, she had no knowledge that right then, at that very moment in their silence, lying with each other, he was thinking the same thing about her. He saw her grab her blouse and pull it on. He said, "Cold?"
"A little chilled, not really cold." She moved closer to him, and he hugged her in, and she felt the warmth from him cover her. "That's better," she said.
He took the end of the blanket and pulled it over, creating a cocoon around them. He said, "Do we have to go back?"
She smiled and nestled into his chest. "I know, just us against the world. This reminds me of something."
"Under the blanket, the stables, right?"
"A little, yeah. Look at us, Todd. It's almost twenty years ago."
"I know, Babe. It's hard to believe sometimes, but here we are."
"Yeah, here we are." They both closed their eyes again, Blair drifting into sleep again, and him, gently holding her. A few moments passed and he heard the muffled buzzing of her cell phone, and at first, thinking it was a bee or angry hornet, he looked around him searching for the sound. She stirred and said, "My cell phone. We might want to get it, could be the kids." She scrambled to a sitting position and her breasts fell forward through the open blouse she had thrown on. At that moment, he realized he was still naked, and stood to jump into his pants. He buckled them, while she searched for her phone through her things. It was thrown to the side, resting in the grass. He put his shirt back on and pulled his hair back into the ponytail again, a strand falling into his face. As he worked on his shoes, she was dialing back the number she got the call from.
She said, "Viki? Is that you? How are you and the boys doing?" and waited for the response. Her face slowly changed from pleasant recognition to alarm. She shot her face upward and found his eyes, and as they met, she broke into tears and put out her hand, offering the phone to him, covering her mouth.
He grabbed the phone and said, "Sis, what is it?"
He stopped short, and through her tears, she saw his face sink. His complexion paled. "What do you mean?" Blair put her face into her hands, and rested her head on her knees. She was half-dressed, and still on the blanket. She was afraid to watch his face, and hid her eyes as she cried. She heard him say, "Where did this happen? Yeah, well, we'll be right there."
He went to her on the blanket, and put his arms around her, "Come on, we're going. Get your clothes on, we'll ride back and get on the copter and go to the airport now."
"Can it be...Carlo? How can this happen?" She sounded far away.
"Carlo's dead, Blair. I don't know," he said, handing her the bra and her leggings, and putting his hand out to help her up. Trying to avoid the panic that was rising in his throat, he focused on her, and helped her balance as she redressed.
This was it. Was Carlo tormenting them from the grave? Was there some curse, that he had tried to push out of his mind, on him and his family for as long as they lived? He asked these questions, and more inside his head, as he tried to support her and give her his strength. She was white, her hands were shaking, and she was audibly sobbing as she forced herself to get her clothing back on. She stumbled a bit, and accidentally fell against him, but rested there, and gave in to tears. "Oh, Todd," she cried, and then softly, "no, oh, please."
He took a moment to comfort her, but inside him, he wanted to race to the airport and get them out of the country and over to Greece. He almost lost patience with her, but reminded himself what she must be going through. She's just lost a child. She's terrified to lose another. She's been your lifeline, even while apart. Calm it down, Manning.
He waited, and to his relief, within a few minutes she said, "We have to go, Todd. Now." She raced to Sheik, and mounted. Todd got the blanket, repacked it, and got on Maybel with a slight clumsiness. He was not as graceful as Blair was in dealing with horses, at least not yet.
They rode back to the stables at the highest pace that he could manage. She let him lead, so that she would not leave him too far behind. Pulling the horses back into the stables, they made their way to the copter, and loaded themselves in. He concentrated, as to steady his hands, because he had to fly them on to the airport. Then, he would load them into the jet and take off. He had her call ahead to his pilot, and he heard her say, "Get there now, or lose the job. It's an emergency. Our son is missing."
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She thought back to their lovemaking not a half hour before. He had always been a generous lover, but since his return, he was even more so, and much open with his thoughts and words. He was everything she had always loved about him, but more. As much as she dreaded seeing the scars and wounds all over him, his experience apart from her had rendered them much more connected and immersed in each other. For a moment, she flashed back to his tight stomach, his beautiful form over her, his hand touching her the way she loved, and his expression as he moved inside her with his body and loved her with his heart.
Blair noticed that Maybel was having trouble reaching the pond, and the mare lightly neighed in frustration, at which Todd jerked awake. "Oh, I fell asleep," he said, looking around him for a moment.
"Yeah, you did. Or we did."
"You're still here."
"Of course, what did you expect?"
"I don't know. Not sure what I expect. Every day is an adventure for me. I never know what I'm going to get. I figured that out nine years ago, when I woke up, without you, without anyone, strapped to that chair."
A slight queasiness came over her when he spoke about it, even now. She'd seen the chair, first hand. She'd even been fastened to it, and she'd seen a small slice of the tortures he endured. It was behind them, but it still made her feel sick. She wondered how he could go on and be part of everyday life after what he had gone through. With the boys gone on the cruise in Europe with Viki, they both had been able to face more of their feelings and be supportive to the others' plight. At times, and more again recently, he still woke, sweating and gasping, while she still found it hard to face the world sometimes after losing Sommer.
But, he was there, always there, pushing her along toward life. And, she had no knowledge that right then, at that very moment in their silence, lying with each other, he was thinking the same thing about her. He saw her grab her blouse and pull it on. He said, "Cold?"
"A little chilled, not really cold." She moved closer to him, and he hugged her in, and she felt the warmth from him cover her. "That's better," she said.
He took the end of the blanket and pulled it over, creating a cocoon around them. He said, "Do we have to go back?"
She smiled and nestled into his chest. "I know, just us against the world. This reminds me of something."
"Under the blanket, the stables, right?"
"A little, yeah. Look at us, Todd. It's almost twenty years ago."
"I know, Babe. It's hard to believe sometimes, but here we are."
"Yeah, here we are." They both closed their eyes again, Blair drifting into sleep again, and him, gently holding her. A few moments passed and he heard the muffled buzzing of her cell phone, and at first, thinking it was a bee or angry hornet, he looked around him searching for the sound. She stirred and said, "My cell phone. We might want to get it, could be the kids." She scrambled to a sitting position and her breasts fell forward through the open blouse she had thrown on. At that moment, he realized he was still naked, and stood to jump into his pants. He buckled them, while she searched for her phone through her things. It was thrown to the side, resting in the grass. He put his shirt back on and pulled his hair back into the ponytail again, a strand falling into his face. As he worked on his shoes, she was dialing back the number she got the call from.
She said, "Viki? Is that you? How are you and the boys doing?" and waited for the response. Her face slowly changed from pleasant recognition to alarm. She shot her face upward and found his eyes, and as they met, she broke into tears and put out her hand, offering the phone to him, covering her mouth.
He grabbed the phone and said, "Sis, what is it?"
He stopped short, and through her tears, she saw his face sink. His complexion paled. "What do you mean?" Blair put her face into her hands, and rested her head on her knees. She was half-dressed, and still on the blanket. She was afraid to watch his face, and hid her eyes as she cried. She heard him say, "Where did this happen? Yeah, well, we'll be right there."
He went to her on the blanket, and put his arms around her, "Come on, we're going. Get your clothes on, we'll ride back and get on the copter and go to the airport now."
"Can it be...Carlo? How can this happen?" She sounded far away.
"Carlo's dead, Blair. I don't know," he said, handing her the bra and her leggings, and putting his hand out to help her up. Trying to avoid the panic that was rising in his throat, he focused on her, and helped her balance as she redressed.
This was it. Was Carlo tormenting them from the grave? Was there some curse, that he had tried to push out of his mind, on him and his family for as long as they lived? He asked these questions, and more inside his head, as he tried to support her and give her his strength. She was white, her hands were shaking, and she was audibly sobbing as she forced herself to get her clothing back on. She stumbled a bit, and accidentally fell against him, but rested there, and gave in to tears. "Oh, Todd," she cried, and then softly, "no, oh, please."
He took a moment to comfort her, but inside him, he wanted to race to the airport and get them out of the country and over to Greece. He almost lost patience with her, but reminded himself what she must be going through. She's just lost a child. She's terrified to lose another. She's been your lifeline, even while apart. Calm it down, Manning.
He waited, and to his relief, within a few minutes she said, "We have to go, Todd. Now." She raced to Sheik, and mounted. Todd got the blanket, repacked it, and got on Maybel with a slight clumsiness. He was not as graceful as Blair was in dealing with horses, at least not yet.
They rode back to the stables at the highest pace that he could manage. She let him lead, so that she would not leave him too far behind. Pulling the horses back into the stables, they made their way to the copter, and loaded themselves in. He concentrated, as to steady his hands, because he had to fly them on to the airport. Then, he would load them into the jet and take off. He had her call ahead to his pilot, and he heard her say, "Get there now, or lose the job. It's an emergency. Our son is missing."
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Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
Dance with the Devil: Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Todd Manning had never been real big on rules. That was why when he had been moved out of ICU later he had asked his nurse to look the other way and let Blair, Starr and Jack stay in the room the night. Liz was by now aware of his charm tactics and agreed, since the room he was in was larger than the standard rooms. So, as it got late, Jack and Starr grabbed chairs and put their feet up on a window sill while Blair managed to fit herself on the bed next to Todd. This was how Viki and Tina found the family the next morning.
“Will you look at them,” Tina said with a smile. “They all looks so cute!”
Viki smiled as she walked up to the bed and gentle nudged her brother. “Good morning Todd. Feeling any better?” He opened his eyes and mumbled something at her. Then he turned to Blair and saw her slowly awaken.
Blair looked up bleary-eyed at Viki. “Oh, I must have fallen asleep here last night!” she said, trying to act innocent.
Viki smirked at her. “Yes, that’s why Nurse Webber gave me that winking smile when I walked past the nurses station this morning,” she replied.
Tina had roused both of the kids and they all gathered around the bed. “How are you feeling this morning, Todd?” the redhead asked.
“Well, Tina, I was in the middle of a very…stimulating dream until some people had to come and wake me from it,” he told her, his eyes sliding to Blair, who blushed.
“Dad, please!” Starr exclaimed, her hand going to her ears.
Todd chuckled. He did enjoy teasing his family with inappropriate comments. “Fine, I’ll tell you. With Blair falling asleep next to me last night, I could fell the weight of her on my legs. So, I am doing better.” He looked around, but just saw his sisters. “We’re my evil twin?”
Viki threw Tina a look, but Todd didn’t seem to notice it. “Ah, he went to keep an eye on Manning Enterprises. Said something about an agreement you two worked out for his to run it while you’re recovering.”
“Yeah, I figured I’d better get well soon, so I have the strength to take him apart when the time comes,” Todd said.
“Or, here’s another idea,” Viki offered. “You can come to an agreement about managing the inheritance. I’m sure that was what was intended for it in the first place.”
Todd chose to ignore his sister’s statement. Changing the topic he asked, “Where’s Victor the Third?”
“The baby’s back at your house,” Viki replied. “When we left here last night, we picked up some things for him and he was still asleep when I left to come here. Danie and Sam are being good older siblings and watching over him.”
“Victor also said he was going to have the baby’s name changed when they were able to free Tea,” Tina piped in.
“I can understand that sentiment. I sure as hell am glad I’m not named Victor Lord,” Todd commented, then looked at his eldest sister. “Sorry, sis.”
“Well, I understand why you feel that way. Victor certainly shares it. That’s why he wants to change the baby’s name,” Viki said. “Now, about you. Have you spoken to the doctors?”
Just them, Danny Wolek walked into the room. He smiled at the assembled family that was there. “Hello Aunt Viki, Tina. How are you feeling today, Todd?” he asked.
“Like I’m being pecked to death by the mother hens,” he said, pointing to Viki and Tina. “Seriously, I really would like to get out of here, like, now.”
“Well, I‘m here to tell you, you’ll be taken down to the physical therapy room and we’ll see how well you do in there. From that, we’ll get a workout plan in place for you.” A nurse same in with a wheelchair and Todd was put in it and wheeled away.
When he left, Blair hung back with Viki as the kids followed their father. “What’s really going on with Victor?” she asked.
“He got a call last night from Helena Cassadine. She wants to meet him in Llanview today at two, at the cemetery. He went back with John McBain last night and they are going to come up with a plan to rescue Tea,” Viki explained.
“You didn’t tell Todd that,” she noticed.
“Victor doesn’t want Todd to know and I agree with him. Todd is feeling a tremendous amount of guilt about this entire situation, which he should. But with his recovery, I don’t want him to be burdened any more,” Viki said.
The two women made their way down to the PT room to find Tina, Starr and Jack there with Carly Jacks. Todd was on a mat on the floor. The blonde was exercising Todd’s legs, stretching them out and back. “Okay, how does that feel?” she asked.
“Hurts like hell,” he replied, a wince on his face. “Haven’t felt this much pain since my football days. But I’ll take the pain. Least I know I have feeling down there.”
After doing that for a few minutes, Todd got back into his chair and wheeled himself to a set of parallel bars. “Now, I want you to lift yourself up onto the bars when I tell you,” Carly ordered. “Blair, why don’t you stand at the other end and Jack and Starr, you two go on either side of your dad.” With everyone in position, Carly then said. “Todd, when you’re standing, I’m going to pull the chair away a little. Now, try standing.” Todd looked as Blair as he pushed himself off the chair and gripped the bars. “That’s good, Todd., that’s good. You want to try taking a step?”
Still looking at Blair, Todd nodded. Without even being told, he took one step, then another, then another towards Blair. His kids took the steps with him, ready to spring into action should their father fall. Todd made his way down as Carly wheeled the chair behind him.
“That’s it, Todd,” Blair said softly. She was reminded of Starr and Jack when they were learning to walk. With each step they took, she would hold her breath, waiting and watching.
“Come on, dad,” Starr said, encouraging him as he moved.
Jack watched him, eagle-eyed. “You’re doing it, Dad! Come on, one more step.”
Finally, Todd reached the end of the bars. He looked at Blair and, as he reached out for her, collapsed into her arms. Blair managed to brace him as he fell and held him up as Carly scooted the chair over to him. Once he was sitting down again, he smiled. “Look ma, not hands.” The family all laughed as Todd and Blair kissed. When they parted, he said, “Now we can start planning that wedding.”
In Llanview, John and Victor were sitting in the cop’s office at the station, going over the final plan with a few other officers. Victor hung back, staring at a picture he had found the night before at Llanfair. It was of him and Tea on their wedding day. He was still looking at it when his phone rang. He noticed the number and alerted John. “Where is my wife?” Victor asked as a way of answering.
“She’s with me, Mr. Lord. And you will get her back, if you follow my instructions,” Helena replied. When she was met with silence, the conversation continued. “You were given control of Manning Enterprises by your poor, paralyzed brother, Todd Manning, correct? With carte blanche power?”
“Yes,” Victor replied, his mind working to figure out what she wanted. “You want Manning Enterprises? What are you going to do with a newspaper and a few magazines? I don’t see you as a football fan.”
“Those assets are worth a great deal of money when separated,” Helena said. “Nearly one hundred million dollars. I told you there would be a price to be paid and that is it. Since you failed to bring me my great-grandson, I will take your brother’s company instead. And don‘t worry. I have a lawyer here to draw up the paperwork.” With that, the call ended.
John looked at Victor when he hung up his end. “You have the power to sign over those assets?”
“Yeah, I have an agreement with Todd. He gave me the power before he went into surgery,” Victor replied, leaning against the desk. “And I guess the lawyer she mentioned is Tea. Which means they’ll be ironclad.” He thought about it for a minute. “It’s a risk I’ll have to take to get Tea back.”
“Okay then. It’s almost two. Lets get into position. We all know the drill,” John said, coming off like some corny sports coach.
They headed to the cemetery and Victor waited by the place were the crypt had been. Viki had it dismantled after Jessica’s bought of DID in 2008. Most of the remains had been reburied right on that very spot, with the exception of one. Victor Lord’s grave was clear on the other side of the cemetery, away from the rest of his family. He looked around again and saw the spot where Joe Riley and Ben Davidson were buried. Then he noticed one other grave. Walking over, he stared at his name on the tombstone. A shiver ran down his spine. Here it was, the evidence of the lie that his family, especially his brother, had been told about him.
“Yes, it is disconcerting to see your name in a place like this,” a voice told him. He turned around to see Helena Cassadine standing behind him, alone. “I remember when I needed to put my beloved Stavros’ name in stone, even as I worked to have him nursed back from the grave. No parent should have to bury a child.”
If Victor hadn’t known how sick and twisted this woman was, he would have felt sorry for her. But he had come to learn the about her and all he felt was disgust. “Where is Tea?” he asked.
A menacing-looking man approached with a briefcase which was handed to Helena. “First things first, Mr. Lord.” She opened it up and took out a legal document. Closing the briefcase, she handed it to him to use as a desk and gave him a pen. “For you to sign.”
“I’m not signing anything until you tell me where my wife is,” Victor stated firmly.
“She is here. Once you sign these handing me over Manning Enterprises, I will tell you can find her,” Helena said.
Victor took the paperwork and turned away from her. He perused it, trying to buy time for McBain’s men, who were scouring the cemetery. At last, he heard the signal and turned back to Helena. “No, Mrs. Cassadine, no deal,” he told her quietly
All of a sudden, shouts of “Freeze!” could be heard from every direction. McBain came forward, gun in hand. “Helena Cassadine, I’m placing you under arrest. Hands where I can see them!”
Helen looked towards Victor. “I see you still can’t keep your part of the bargain. You’ll soon learn the consequences for that.”
Victor’s eyes went wide and he began running around the cemetery, shouting for Tea. At last, over by Victor Lord’s plot, he saw a lot of activity. “Tea!” he shouted as he ran. When he reached it, the cops and paramedics were there. He tried to get to Tea, but was held back by a number of police officers. “Let me get to my wife, damn it! Let me go!” he shouted as he desperately tried to break free and get to her. “Tea. NO!”
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Todd Manning had never been real big on rules. That was why when he had been moved out of ICU later he had asked his nurse to look the other way and let Blair, Starr and Jack stay in the room the night. Liz was by now aware of his charm tactics and agreed, since the room he was in was larger than the standard rooms. So, as it got late, Jack and Starr grabbed chairs and put their feet up on a window sill while Blair managed to fit herself on the bed next to Todd. This was how Viki and Tina found the family the next morning.
“Will you look at them,” Tina said with a smile. “They all looks so cute!”
Viki smiled as she walked up to the bed and gentle nudged her brother. “Good morning Todd. Feeling any better?” He opened his eyes and mumbled something at her. Then he turned to Blair and saw her slowly awaken.
Blair looked up bleary-eyed at Viki. “Oh, I must have fallen asleep here last night!” she said, trying to act innocent.
Viki smirked at her. “Yes, that’s why Nurse Webber gave me that winking smile when I walked past the nurses station this morning,” she replied.
Tina had roused both of the kids and they all gathered around the bed. “How are you feeling this morning, Todd?” the redhead asked.
“Well, Tina, I was in the middle of a very…stimulating dream until some people had to come and wake me from it,” he told her, his eyes sliding to Blair, who blushed.
“Dad, please!” Starr exclaimed, her hand going to her ears.
Todd chuckled. He did enjoy teasing his family with inappropriate comments. “Fine, I’ll tell you. With Blair falling asleep next to me last night, I could fell the weight of her on my legs. So, I am doing better.” He looked around, but just saw his sisters. “We’re my evil twin?”
Viki threw Tina a look, but Todd didn’t seem to notice it. “Ah, he went to keep an eye on Manning Enterprises. Said something about an agreement you two worked out for his to run it while you’re recovering.”
“Yeah, I figured I’d better get well soon, so I have the strength to take him apart when the time comes,” Todd said.
“Or, here’s another idea,” Viki offered. “You can come to an agreement about managing the inheritance. I’m sure that was what was intended for it in the first place.”
Todd chose to ignore his sister’s statement. Changing the topic he asked, “Where’s Victor the Third?”
“The baby’s back at your house,” Viki replied. “When we left here last night, we picked up some things for him and he was still asleep when I left to come here. Danie and Sam are being good older siblings and watching over him.”
“Victor also said he was going to have the baby’s name changed when they were able to free Tea,” Tina piped in.
“I can understand that sentiment. I sure as hell am glad I’m not named Victor Lord,” Todd commented, then looked at his eldest sister. “Sorry, sis.”
“Well, I understand why you feel that way. Victor certainly shares it. That’s why he wants to change the baby’s name,” Viki said. “Now, about you. Have you spoken to the doctors?”
Just them, Danny Wolek walked into the room. He smiled at the assembled family that was there. “Hello Aunt Viki, Tina. How are you feeling today, Todd?” he asked.
“Like I’m being pecked to death by the mother hens,” he said, pointing to Viki and Tina. “Seriously, I really would like to get out of here, like, now.”
“Well, I‘m here to tell you, you’ll be taken down to the physical therapy room and we’ll see how well you do in there. From that, we’ll get a workout plan in place for you.” A nurse same in with a wheelchair and Todd was put in it and wheeled away.
When he left, Blair hung back with Viki as the kids followed their father. “What’s really going on with Victor?” she asked.
“He got a call last night from Helena Cassadine. She wants to meet him in Llanview today at two, at the cemetery. He went back with John McBain last night and they are going to come up with a plan to rescue Tea,” Viki explained.
“You didn’t tell Todd that,” she noticed.
“Victor doesn’t want Todd to know and I agree with him. Todd is feeling a tremendous amount of guilt about this entire situation, which he should. But with his recovery, I don’t want him to be burdened any more,” Viki said.
The two women made their way down to the PT room to find Tina, Starr and Jack there with Carly Jacks. Todd was on a mat on the floor. The blonde was exercising Todd’s legs, stretching them out and back. “Okay, how does that feel?” she asked.
“Hurts like hell,” he replied, a wince on his face. “Haven’t felt this much pain since my football days. But I’ll take the pain. Least I know I have feeling down there.”
After doing that for a few minutes, Todd got back into his chair and wheeled himself to a set of parallel bars. “Now, I want you to lift yourself up onto the bars when I tell you,” Carly ordered. “Blair, why don’t you stand at the other end and Jack and Starr, you two go on either side of your dad.” With everyone in position, Carly then said. “Todd, when you’re standing, I’m going to pull the chair away a little. Now, try standing.” Todd looked as Blair as he pushed himself off the chair and gripped the bars. “That’s good, Todd., that’s good. You want to try taking a step?”
Still looking at Blair, Todd nodded. Without even being told, he took one step, then another, then another towards Blair. His kids took the steps with him, ready to spring into action should their father fall. Todd made his way down as Carly wheeled the chair behind him.
“That’s it, Todd,” Blair said softly. She was reminded of Starr and Jack when they were learning to walk. With each step they took, she would hold her breath, waiting and watching.
“Come on, dad,” Starr said, encouraging him as he moved.
Jack watched him, eagle-eyed. “You’re doing it, Dad! Come on, one more step.”
Finally, Todd reached the end of the bars. He looked at Blair and, as he reached out for her, collapsed into her arms. Blair managed to brace him as he fell and held him up as Carly scooted the chair over to him. Once he was sitting down again, he smiled. “Look ma, not hands.” The family all laughed as Todd and Blair kissed. When they parted, he said, “Now we can start planning that wedding.”
In Llanview, John and Victor were sitting in the cop’s office at the station, going over the final plan with a few other officers. Victor hung back, staring at a picture he had found the night before at Llanfair. It was of him and Tea on their wedding day. He was still looking at it when his phone rang. He noticed the number and alerted John. “Where is my wife?” Victor asked as a way of answering.
“She’s with me, Mr. Lord. And you will get her back, if you follow my instructions,” Helena replied. When she was met with silence, the conversation continued. “You were given control of Manning Enterprises by your poor, paralyzed brother, Todd Manning, correct? With carte blanche power?”
“Yes,” Victor replied, his mind working to figure out what she wanted. “You want Manning Enterprises? What are you going to do with a newspaper and a few magazines? I don’t see you as a football fan.”
“Those assets are worth a great deal of money when separated,” Helena said. “Nearly one hundred million dollars. I told you there would be a price to be paid and that is it. Since you failed to bring me my great-grandson, I will take your brother’s company instead. And don‘t worry. I have a lawyer here to draw up the paperwork.” With that, the call ended.
John looked at Victor when he hung up his end. “You have the power to sign over those assets?”
“Yeah, I have an agreement with Todd. He gave me the power before he went into surgery,” Victor replied, leaning against the desk. “And I guess the lawyer she mentioned is Tea. Which means they’ll be ironclad.” He thought about it for a minute. “It’s a risk I’ll have to take to get Tea back.”
“Okay then. It’s almost two. Lets get into position. We all know the drill,” John said, coming off like some corny sports coach.
They headed to the cemetery and Victor waited by the place were the crypt had been. Viki had it dismantled after Jessica’s bought of DID in 2008. Most of the remains had been reburied right on that very spot, with the exception of one. Victor Lord’s grave was clear on the other side of the cemetery, away from the rest of his family. He looked around again and saw the spot where Joe Riley and Ben Davidson were buried. Then he noticed one other grave. Walking over, he stared at his name on the tombstone. A shiver ran down his spine. Here it was, the evidence of the lie that his family, especially his brother, had been told about him.
“Yes, it is disconcerting to see your name in a place like this,” a voice told him. He turned around to see Helena Cassadine standing behind him, alone. “I remember when I needed to put my beloved Stavros’ name in stone, even as I worked to have him nursed back from the grave. No parent should have to bury a child.”
If Victor hadn’t known how sick and twisted this woman was, he would have felt sorry for her. But he had come to learn the about her and all he felt was disgust. “Where is Tea?” he asked.
A menacing-looking man approached with a briefcase which was handed to Helena. “First things first, Mr. Lord.” She opened it up and took out a legal document. Closing the briefcase, she handed it to him to use as a desk and gave him a pen. “For you to sign.”
“I’m not signing anything until you tell me where my wife is,” Victor stated firmly.
“She is here. Once you sign these handing me over Manning Enterprises, I will tell you can find her,” Helena said.
Victor took the paperwork and turned away from her. He perused it, trying to buy time for McBain’s men, who were scouring the cemetery. At last, he heard the signal and turned back to Helena. “No, Mrs. Cassadine, no deal,” he told her quietly
All of a sudden, shouts of “Freeze!” could be heard from every direction. McBain came forward, gun in hand. “Helena Cassadine, I’m placing you under arrest. Hands where I can see them!”
Helen looked towards Victor. “I see you still can’t keep your part of the bargain. You’ll soon learn the consequences for that.”
Victor’s eyes went wide and he began running around the cemetery, shouting for Tea. At last, over by Victor Lord’s plot, he saw a lot of activity. “Tea!” he shouted as he ran. When he reached it, the cops and paramedics were there. He tried to get to Tea, but was held back by a number of police officers. “Let me get to my wife, damn it! Let me go!” he shouted as he desperately tried to break free and get to her. “Tea. NO!”
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Saturday, September 1, 2012
Dance with the Devil: Chapter 72
On the way back to the Manning estate, Viki and Victor picked up a few baby items at Wyndhams. They got home and were accosted by Danie and Sam, who were eager to see the baby. After an hour, Danie managed to get Sam to bed and Viki helped Victor with his younger son. As the child slept in a playpen, Victor hung on the side and just watched him. His sister stood in the doorway, keeping and eye on the father and son. Eventually, she was noticed. “I never had Sam when he was this small,” he told her. “He looks so peaceful, doesn’t he?”
“Yes,” Viki agreed. She looked at her brother. “Little Victor Lord, the Third.”
The father shook his head. “No, that’s not going to be his name. I don’t know why Tea even thought of that one.”
“She was honoring you,” Viki reminded him. “She wanted her son to have something to connect him to you and that name was what she felt would do it.”
“And you didn’t shutter when you heard it, Victor Dalby Lord, III?” Victor knew that name still got to her. Hell, it still to him.
Viki grimaced, remembering Tea holding the baby and introducing him to the family. She could still see the look on Todd’s face as he turned to see how Viki would react. Though there was more going on that day for him regarding the baby, shoe could tell Todd was still worried about his sister.
As he stood up, Victor saw Viki’s reaction. He looked back at his son and then headed out the door, Viki following. He leaned against the wall and let out a breath. “The first thing we’re going to do when we get Tea back is choose a different name. I don’t want my son to live under any shadow associated with that name.” He then looked at his watch. “I want to get to he station, see if there’s anymore news on the search.”
“I think I’ll go with you,” his sister said.
“No, I’d like you to stay here,” he replied. Then he saw the look Viki gave him and realized it was not a suggestion. “Fine, I’ll tell Danie, have her stay with Sam and the baby.” A few minutes later, they were headed out the door. Arriving at the police station, Victor saw McBain. “Any news on Tea?”
John McBain looked over as Victor and Viki approached them. He knew that look on Victor’s face meant business. “Well, we have bad news and we have good news. Unfortunately, they found the GPS tracker Ewen put onboard. We lost the trace up near Lake Champlain.”
Impatiently, Victor asked, “That’s the bad news, right?”
John offered a smirk as a response. Then he said. “They, however, didn’t find the wire trace Ewen also put on the satellite line in the yacht. That’s the good news. We know from that where Helena is because that can be moved, even off the yacht. Plus, we did get some more information out of he two accomplices.” John sat on the edge of the desk as he began his explanation. “Seems Allison was following Tea all the way from Llanview when Blair sent her up her for Starr. She may have actually snatched her earlier, but Todd went looking for Tea when she never showed up in court. He found her unconscious in a hotel parking garage and was trying to get her to the hospital in Tea car, while Allison followed. She says she witnessed everything that happened, the birth, the complications and Todd seeking help from Heather.”
Victor absorbed the information and pointed to the interrogation room. “She in there?” When John made the slightest nod, Victor headed over the door and crashed in, finding the police commissioner with Allison.
“Mr. Lord!” Anna yelled, but he didn’t stop until he had Allison backed up against a wall by the collar of her shirt.
“You saw everything that happened the night my son was born and you DID NOTHING?” he screamed at the woman. “Why? WHY DID YOU NEED MY SON?”
Allison merely smiled. “He was repayment, for the sins of a father…and a grandfather…and an uncle for that matter.”
John and Anna were trying to pull Victor off the prisoner before he did any more damage. “Victor, it’s not worth it,” John warned.
“Where is Tea? WHERE IS MY WIFE?” came Victor’s next question.
Before an answer could be said, Victor’s phone rang. He released Allison to answer it. Before talking into the cell, the voice on the other end asked, “Do you still want your wife?”
Victor looked to John and mouthed Helena. John moved to a desk and started a trace on the call. Then Victor turned his attention to the caller. “Where is Tea?”
“Meet me at the cemetery where the Lord family crypt was tomorrow at two. And this time, come alone,” Helena ordered. With that, the call ended.
Victor looked at Anna. “She’s in Llanview. I’ve got to get down there,” he said as he walked past Anna towards the door.
“Wait, Victor,” John said. He was on the phone. “Okay, you got that? Yeah, get back to me after you’ve looked into it.” John ended his call. “I just had the LPD check. No yacht pulled up into a slip. However, a flight landed about fifteen minutes ago at the private jet at the airport. It matches the radar signature of a Cassadine jet.”
“So, she got off the yacht somewhere up near Lake Champlain and flew to Llanview,” Anna said. “Well, in a way it makes sense. This all began, from your ‘death’ in Llanview.”
“Anna, Victor and I are going to head back down to Llanview now and get into position. I’ll alert the LPD of the situation,” John said.
“You heard her say no cops, right?” Victor said.
“Yeah and if you think you’re going to this meeting alone tomorrow, you really are crazy,” the cop replied. “Look, we’ll come up with a plan on the way back to Llanview, but there will be authorities at the cemetery tomorrow.”
At that, Victor reluctantly agreed. He moved over to Viki. “Stay with Danie and the boys, please. And don’t let Todd know. He’s got too much on his plate.”
His sister just looked at him. “Victor, stay at Llanfair. We’ve already got security in place there,” Viki told him. When he nodded, she gave him a hug. “Be careful.” With that, Victor and John left.
Viki made her way back to the mansion and found Danie up. “What’s going on?” she asked.
Viki sat her down. “Victor got a call from the woman who has your mother. He’s going to meet her tomorrow back in Llanview. John McBain went with him.”
Danie got up and grabbed her bag. “I want to be there,” she said. “I want…I want…”
Viki wrapped the girl in an embrace. “I know you want your mother,” she said, soothingly. “But your father wants you to stay here. I’m going to need help with the boys anyway.”
At that, a cry came over the baby monitor. Danie quickly wiped her eyes of the tears. “I’d better go check on him,” she said.
Viki stopped her. “We’ll both go.”
When they got up to the room, Danie went in and picked him up. “Hey, little guy, what’s the matter?” she asked. He smelled fine and had eaten before being put down. As Danie held the baby, his tears subsided. “Is that all you wanted, to be held? Or do you want your mommy, hum?”
Viki watched as Danie walked around the room, singing and swaying with the baby in her arms. He seemed to be smiling as she did that. Viki sent up a quiet prayer that this family would eventually be reunited. Eventually, she made her back downstairs when the doorbell rang. When she opened it, she was relieved to see Clint standing outside.
Walking in, he kissed the top of her head. “John called me to let me know what was happening,” he said after they parted.
“Yes, Victor got a call while we were at the station. He was about to strangle Allison Perkins,” Viki said. “If I didn’t already know she was crazy, I would definitely have figured it out by now. She said that this whole kidnapping/baby switch was all to pay for his sins, his and Todd’s and father’s.”
“Viki, in all the years we’ve known Allison, she’s never been right in the head,‘ Clint told her.
“Well, whatever the case, John and Victor are headed back to Llanview and they’re going to come up with a plan. God, Clint, I just hope Tea’s alright in the end. I don’t know what my brother will do if she’s not.”
Clint put an arm around her and she leaned against him. “Hey, I also stopped at the hospital. The doctors ran some more tests on Todd and they say all is looking good. In fact, they may even want to have him try standing tomorrow.”
Viki sighed with relief. “Well, at least Todd’s getting better. Were Blair and the children still there when you left?”
“Yes,” Clint said, “and I don’t think they’ll be moved until he leaves the hospital. Blair won’t even hear of leaving him.”
“Okay, well, I told Victor I would stay here with the kids. Danie’s with the baby, who according to Victor will not have his name, and Sam’s asleep. I think I may try to catch some shuteye now,” Viki said.
Clint nodded. “I got you a change of clothes, and one for me. We’ll stay here the night and go back to the hospital in the morning.” He kissed her again as they stood. “It’s been a long day and you need your rest. Besides, if all turns out the way we all hope, you’ll be dealing with not one, but two ornery brothers soon.”
“Gee, thanks for mentioning that to me,” she replied with a laugh as she made her way upstairs again. Danie had gotten the baby back down and had turned in herself. Sam had been asleep since they had gotten home and nothing ever seemed to wake the boy. Viki made her way to a bedroom and after changing climbed in, falling asleep in Clint’s arms.
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Port Charles Chronicles: Chapter 14
Walker put the phone down and walked to his desk. He picked up the file on Tomas and read Calmar’s recent report. Calmar had his orders regarding Johnny Zacchara. They had already begun filling his head with the false memories and he hadn’t a clue. Calmar and his CIA contacts were masters at deception and targeting puppets to take falls for their endeavors. Zacchara was just one of many. He had no idea his liquor had been spiked. The drug entered the system quickly and anyone who imbibed was easily controlled. The night Tomas went after Anthony, Calmar and his men were prepared ahead of time. They had waited patiently as Sonny Corinthos had stormed in and almost killed Johnny. They had orders to keep Zacchara alive, but they knew Corinthos wouldn’t kill him with Mrs. Jacks on the premises.
They moved in not long after Corinthos left and found Zacchara and Carly Jacks lying on the floor in his apartment. It was a very simple feat to implant the suggestions into them and place them both strategically in his bedroom. Carly Jacks was instructed to remember that she had slept with Johnny and he was with her the entire night. Johnny’s memory had him leaving Carly and shooting out Anthony’s tires before returning to Carly. Thanks to the drug, neither had any idea their memories of the night were false. They had continued to tamper with Johnny Zacchara by using the drug to feed his anger over Anthony’s use of Claudia, thereby convincing him even more that he had shot out the tires and killed the little girl and her father.
Having received the call from Tomas, Walker put in the call to Calmar.
“You’re up again. Anthony’s dead. You know what to do next.”
“Yes sir, any changes?” Calmar asked.
“Go with the story we worked out. That is what Zacchara needs to believe. I suggest you get in touch with Tomas for details.”
Walker hung up. He had to hand it to his “pseudo” mother, Irene. She and her CIA pals had come up with some interesting techniques and drugs over the years. Now they would implant the memory of Anthony’s death and disposal of his body on the Quartermaine property. into Zacchara’s memory. The plan was running smoothly. Walker made a notation in the file. Soon he would offer to take Anthony’s territory off the beleaguered and confused Johnny Zacchara’s hands, who would immediately agree because he was being programmed to do just that. Then it would be a simple matter to drop an anonymous tip about Johnny to the police.
Walker left his office and headed down the hallway to the room his brother’s disciple occupied. She was a bit of a strange bird, but very resourceful. He had his reasons for keeping her around. She was very receptive to the protocol and soon she would be taking orders from him with as much fervor as she had given his brother. He slipped the mask on and entered her room.
Alison woke up feeling groggy, the last few days had been a blur. She had been informed she had been ill for several months and had just recently started responding to treatment. Her last clear memories were about shooting Viki Banks. She was uncertain how she got where she was, but it wasn’t a hospital. It was too fancy. She thought the place seemed familiar and kept getting images of walking through a passage. She had been looking for something. For one brief moment, she was sure she had found it, but then the elusive thought slipped away. As the afternoon wore on, her thoughts became clearer and she realized although the room was fancy she was still locked in. Someone didn’t want her going anywhere. She began to recall more, people coming to talk to her, food and drink provided, but the memories of how she ended up in the room were still out of reach. She was sitting on her bed looking out the window at the beautiful garden when she heard the door open behind her. She looked up startled.
“What do you want? Why the mask? Oh, never mind I’m not stupid, you don’t want me to know who you are. So I’ll ask again. What do you want?” Alison glared at the man in front of her.
Walker smiled behind his mask. She had spunk. Strange, he had always heard she was a bit of a sheep when it came to his brother.
“That’s my question? My men tell me you’re feeling better. I don’t understand your anger. You broke into my home. You held a gun on me, then collapsed. Don’t you remember?” Now he would find out just how many of the new memories were beginning to take.
Suddenly Alison saw herself looking for the entrance to the building. She was outside walking the perimeter. Then she found it, right where Mitch had said it was. She slipped her hand through the ivy and gave the metal ring a tug. Sticking the gun into her waistband she opened the stone door. Surprisingly it opened with ease and she found herself in a lit tunnel. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The place was supposed to be empty. She pulled her gun back out and proceeded down the corridor until she found another door. It wasn’t locked so she entered. The room she entered was very elegant and not what she expected from Mitch. It would be a great place to hide but not with people already occupying it. She made her way down another hallway and found what she thought might be a bedroom. As she opened the door she saw a figure sitting with his back to her. She walked quietly behind him and stuck the gun in his back. He turned slowly and ...Oh God, his face, the scars.
Alison’s memories flooded back .“I saw you....” She didn’t know what to say. She stared at the mask suddenly understanding his need to hide his face. “I’m sorry, I meant you no harm that night. I was just looking for a place to hide.” Just like that, she realized she was in Mitch’s hideout and obviously, it was far from empty.
“So you do remember. I must say, asking for shelter with a gun isn’t very nice.” Walker was pleased. Calmar had done a good job, she no longer remembered seeing him as Todd Manning. Now he would simply work on her and the sympathy he saw in her eyes. Yes, this was going to work. “You say you needed a place to hide. I can understand that.” He lifted a hand indicating his mask. He knew he could now remove it because she would see what they wanted her to see. Still, for now, he would play the recluse afraid to show his face. It would further cement the image of him in her mind. He needed her help and getting her to believe his story was paramount to his plan. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Miles, Miles Cochrane, and you are?”
Alison suddenly found herself at a loss. The guy was actually being polite. She answered before even realizing he might know her name. “Alison, Alison Perkins.” As soon as she said it she was alarmed. God, what had she done? He’s going to call the police and you’ll be right back in prison.
“Well, Ms. Perkins, perhaps you would like to tell me why you need to hide. I can assure you, I won’t throw you out without at least giving you a chance to explain.” He was curious about what sob story she would give him. He had no intentions of turning her over to the police. That was the last thing he would do. He loved a good story and he had a feeling Alison was going to be very amusing. He could see the gears spinning as she thought he was going to be an easy mark.
Okay, Alison play your cards right and you could end up with a nice cushy place to stay. “Mr. Cochrane, I don’t know where to begin. I recently escaped from a place worse than hell. My stepfather had me imprisoned there because he wanted my family’s estate. I was forced to sign over all that I owned in exchange for my life. Then he informed me that I was being committed for my own good and as long as I was a good girl, I could live out my life in the institution. No matter what I told the ones in charge they all believed my stepfather. You have to understand. When a blackout occurred, I took my chance to get free and came here. I remember hearing my uncle talk about an estate up here that had been abandoned.”
It was all he could do to stifle his laugh. She had clearly read a great deal of romantic fiction. He kept up his facade and played the understanding host. “Ah yes, my men said you mentioned someone named Mitch Laurence, and as you can see this estate is occupied. However, I wonder how you happened upon a gun in your escape from, excuse me, where did you say ?”
Alison’s mind was working hard. She remembered a high-security mental hospital for the criminally insane in New York State. Come on Alison, think. Yes, that’s it. “It was called the Sitwell Institute and I got the gun out of an orderly’s desk. You have to understand, I didn’t intend to use it. I just wanted to make sure no one took me back.”
She was not above lying. He knew the gun had been fired and Tomas had reported she was the one who shot Victoria. He had had a moment of concern when he had heard that news. Although Viki wasn’t really his sister and was as self-righteous and uptight as they came, she had always seemed to care for him. Still, he was grateful he’d never have to listen to another lecture. Bringing his mind back to the woman in front of him. “Well, it seems you’re highly resourceful. As you were sick when you first arrived, it would be ungentlemanly of me to just turn you out on the street. So you may stay here for a while if you wish. I would ask that you not interfere with my men and their duties. I trust you’ll also understand that I like my privacy, but perhaps you might join me for dinner occasionally. I’m not averse to a conversation if you can stand to be in my presence. You will be allowed the run of the estate except for my private quarters. Is that acceptable?” He watched her face and knew she was going to take his offer.
Alison couldn’t believe her luck. The guy must really be lonely to allow a perfect stranger access to his home. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.” She was now free to find out what had happened to Mitch, then she could make her next move. She looked at her host wondering how he had become so scarred and what his story was. Well, maybe she could work on getting him to talk at those occasional dinners. Mitch had taught her how to find a person’s weakness and use it. There had to be something here she could use to her advantage.
Walker nodded and turned to leave her. He counted silently in his head as he walked away. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6..
“Excuse me, Mr. Cochrane?”
Excellent she was falling deeper into his trap.
“I don’t want to impose further but it’s been a while since I’ve had someone to talk to at dinner. Perhaps you would let me join you, just for tonight?” Alison crossed her fingers. If she was going to make the most of this place, she knew she would have to get on the good side of Miles Cochrane.
Affecting a long-suffering sigh, “Oh, I suppose since I’m allowing you to stay it might be nice to have someone to talk to. Ms. Perkins, would you join me for dinner?” He smirked behind his mask. Now he understood why Mitch used her. She might be smart, but she was also easily manipulated. “As you’ve obviously been on the run, I will see that you get some clothes to wear. I’m afraid your outfit leaves a lot to be desired.”
Alison looked down at her clothes and had to agree. She had swiped them at a thrift store that night in Llanview. At least her host hadn’t seen her prison garb. It was obvious he hadn’t kept up on the news. “Thank you. I do apologize for my appearance and would be grateful for a change of clothes. Also, I’m looking forward to our dinner.”
“Very well, one of my men will bring you to my quarters at the proper time. One more thing. If you’re to be my guest, you must understand there will be no phone calls allowed. As I stated before, I prefer my privacy. Have a good afternoon. I’ll see you at dinner.” Walker turned around and exited the room, removing the mask and smoothing his hair back into place. He pulled out his wire-rimmed glasses and adjusted his jacket again. Yes, having Alison in his pocket was going to make the task that much easier, Blair would never know what hit her.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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They moved in not long after Corinthos left and found Zacchara and Carly Jacks lying on the floor in his apartment. It was a very simple feat to implant the suggestions into them and place them both strategically in his bedroom. Carly Jacks was instructed to remember that she had slept with Johnny and he was with her the entire night. Johnny’s memory had him leaving Carly and shooting out Anthony’s tires before returning to Carly. Thanks to the drug, neither had any idea their memories of the night were false. They had continued to tamper with Johnny Zacchara by using the drug to feed his anger over Anthony’s use of Claudia, thereby convincing him even more that he had shot out the tires and killed the little girl and her father.
Having received the call from Tomas, Walker put in the call to Calmar.
“You’re up again. Anthony’s dead. You know what to do next.”
“Yes sir, any changes?” Calmar asked.
“Go with the story we worked out. That is what Zacchara needs to believe. I suggest you get in touch with Tomas for details.”
Walker hung up. He had to hand it to his “pseudo” mother, Irene. She and her CIA pals had come up with some interesting techniques and drugs over the years. Now they would implant the memory of Anthony’s death and disposal of his body on the Quartermaine property. into Zacchara’s memory. The plan was running smoothly. Walker made a notation in the file. Soon he would offer to take Anthony’s territory off the beleaguered and confused Johnny Zacchara’s hands, who would immediately agree because he was being programmed to do just that. Then it would be a simple matter to drop an anonymous tip about Johnny to the police.
Walker left his office and headed down the hallway to the room his brother’s disciple occupied. She was a bit of a strange bird, but very resourceful. He had his reasons for keeping her around. She was very receptive to the protocol and soon she would be taking orders from him with as much fervor as she had given his brother. He slipped the mask on and entered her room.
Alison woke up feeling groggy, the last few days had been a blur. She had been informed she had been ill for several months and had just recently started responding to treatment. Her last clear memories were about shooting Viki Banks. She was uncertain how she got where she was, but it wasn’t a hospital. It was too fancy. She thought the place seemed familiar and kept getting images of walking through a passage. She had been looking for something. For one brief moment, she was sure she had found it, but then the elusive thought slipped away. As the afternoon wore on, her thoughts became clearer and she realized although the room was fancy she was still locked in. Someone didn’t want her going anywhere. She began to recall more, people coming to talk to her, food and drink provided, but the memories of how she ended up in the room were still out of reach. She was sitting on her bed looking out the window at the beautiful garden when she heard the door open behind her. She looked up startled.
“What do you want? Why the mask? Oh, never mind I’m not stupid, you don’t want me to know who you are. So I’ll ask again. What do you want?” Alison glared at the man in front of her.
Walker smiled behind his mask. She had spunk. Strange, he had always heard she was a bit of a sheep when it came to his brother.
“That’s my question? My men tell me you’re feeling better. I don’t understand your anger. You broke into my home. You held a gun on me, then collapsed. Don’t you remember?” Now he would find out just how many of the new memories were beginning to take.
Suddenly Alison saw herself looking for the entrance to the building. She was outside walking the perimeter. Then she found it, right where Mitch had said it was. She slipped her hand through the ivy and gave the metal ring a tug. Sticking the gun into her waistband she opened the stone door. Surprisingly it opened with ease and she found herself in a lit tunnel. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The place was supposed to be empty. She pulled her gun back out and proceeded down the corridor until she found another door. It wasn’t locked so she entered. The room she entered was very elegant and not what she expected from Mitch. It would be a great place to hide but not with people already occupying it. She made her way down another hallway and found what she thought might be a bedroom. As she opened the door she saw a figure sitting with his back to her. She walked quietly behind him and stuck the gun in his back. He turned slowly and ...Oh God, his face, the scars.
Alison’s memories flooded back .“I saw you....” She didn’t know what to say. She stared at the mask suddenly understanding his need to hide his face. “I’m sorry, I meant you no harm that night. I was just looking for a place to hide.” Just like that, she realized she was in Mitch’s hideout and obviously, it was far from empty.
“So you do remember. I must say, asking for shelter with a gun isn’t very nice.” Walker was pleased. Calmar had done a good job, she no longer remembered seeing him as Todd Manning. Now he would simply work on her and the sympathy he saw in her eyes. Yes, this was going to work. “You say you needed a place to hide. I can understand that.” He lifted a hand indicating his mask. He knew he could now remove it because she would see what they wanted her to see. Still, for now, he would play the recluse afraid to show his face. It would further cement the image of him in her mind. He needed her help and getting her to believe his story was paramount to his plan. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Miles, Miles Cochrane, and you are?”
Alison suddenly found herself at a loss. The guy was actually being polite. She answered before even realizing he might know her name. “Alison, Alison Perkins.” As soon as she said it she was alarmed. God, what had she done? He’s going to call the police and you’ll be right back in prison.
“Well, Ms. Perkins, perhaps you would like to tell me why you need to hide. I can assure you, I won’t throw you out without at least giving you a chance to explain.” He was curious about what sob story she would give him. He had no intentions of turning her over to the police. That was the last thing he would do. He loved a good story and he had a feeling Alison was going to be very amusing. He could see the gears spinning as she thought he was going to be an easy mark.
Okay, Alison play your cards right and you could end up with a nice cushy place to stay. “Mr. Cochrane, I don’t know where to begin. I recently escaped from a place worse than hell. My stepfather had me imprisoned there because he wanted my family’s estate. I was forced to sign over all that I owned in exchange for my life. Then he informed me that I was being committed for my own good and as long as I was a good girl, I could live out my life in the institution. No matter what I told the ones in charge they all believed my stepfather. You have to understand. When a blackout occurred, I took my chance to get free and came here. I remember hearing my uncle talk about an estate up here that had been abandoned.”
It was all he could do to stifle his laugh. She had clearly read a great deal of romantic fiction. He kept up his facade and played the understanding host. “Ah yes, my men said you mentioned someone named Mitch Laurence, and as you can see this estate is occupied. However, I wonder how you happened upon a gun in your escape from, excuse me, where did you say ?”
Alison’s mind was working hard. She remembered a high-security mental hospital for the criminally insane in New York State. Come on Alison, think. Yes, that’s it. “It was called the Sitwell Institute and I got the gun out of an orderly’s desk. You have to understand, I didn’t intend to use it. I just wanted to make sure no one took me back.”
She was not above lying. He knew the gun had been fired and Tomas had reported she was the one who shot Victoria. He had had a moment of concern when he had heard that news. Although Viki wasn’t really his sister and was as self-righteous and uptight as they came, she had always seemed to care for him. Still, he was grateful he’d never have to listen to another lecture. Bringing his mind back to the woman in front of him. “Well, it seems you’re highly resourceful. As you were sick when you first arrived, it would be ungentlemanly of me to just turn you out on the street. So you may stay here for a while if you wish. I would ask that you not interfere with my men and their duties. I trust you’ll also understand that I like my privacy, but perhaps you might join me for dinner occasionally. I’m not averse to a conversation if you can stand to be in my presence. You will be allowed the run of the estate except for my private quarters. Is that acceptable?” He watched her face and knew she was going to take his offer.
Alison couldn’t believe her luck. The guy must really be lonely to allow a perfect stranger access to his home. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.” She was now free to find out what had happened to Mitch, then she could make her next move. She looked at her host wondering how he had become so scarred and what his story was. Well, maybe she could work on getting him to talk at those occasional dinners. Mitch had taught her how to find a person’s weakness and use it. There had to be something here she could use to her advantage.
Walker nodded and turned to leave her. He counted silently in his head as he walked away. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6..
“Excuse me, Mr. Cochrane?”
Excellent she was falling deeper into his trap.
“I don’t want to impose further but it’s been a while since I’ve had someone to talk to at dinner. Perhaps you would let me join you, just for tonight?” Alison crossed her fingers. If she was going to make the most of this place, she knew she would have to get on the good side of Miles Cochrane.
Affecting a long-suffering sigh, “Oh, I suppose since I’m allowing you to stay it might be nice to have someone to talk to. Ms. Perkins, would you join me for dinner?” He smirked behind his mask. Now he understood why Mitch used her. She might be smart, but she was also easily manipulated. “As you’ve obviously been on the run, I will see that you get some clothes to wear. I’m afraid your outfit leaves a lot to be desired.”
Alison looked down at her clothes and had to agree. She had swiped them at a thrift store that night in Llanview. At least her host hadn’t seen her prison garb. It was obvious he hadn’t kept up on the news. “Thank you. I do apologize for my appearance and would be grateful for a change of clothes. Also, I’m looking forward to our dinner.”
“Very well, one of my men will bring you to my quarters at the proper time. One more thing. If you’re to be my guest, you must understand there will be no phone calls allowed. As I stated before, I prefer my privacy. Have a good afternoon. I’ll see you at dinner.” Walker turned around and exited the room, removing the mask and smoothing his hair back into place. He pulled out his wire-rimmed glasses and adjusted his jacket again. Yes, having Alison in his pocket was going to make the task that much easier, Blair would never know what hit her.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.
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