Don't Shoot the "Messenger", Ch. 1

Chapter 1
         
      Todd’s mind was distracted by his earlier session with Ray. He pulled into the clearing surrounding his home when he realized how dark it was. “Strange, the security lights should be on. Damn it, if those idiots damaged the system taking out the cameras earlier, I’m going to have somebody’s head.” He climbed out of his car as Williams moved toward him from the garages.
 “What’s going on Williams? Why are the lights off?”

      “Sir, it seems the whole city is without lights. The emergency radio says the blackout covers half the state.”

       “I see. Is the family inside?"

      “Yes, Sir. Mrs.Manning and I returned a short while ago from Philadelphia. The blackout occurred not long after. I was on my way to turn on the extra generators when you arrived.”
Todd looked up at the night sky, so clear and beautiful without the lights to mute it.

     “Williams just turn on the generator for the freezers and the like.  A little candlelight never hurt anybody.” The moonlight was actually providing quite a bit of light as Todd let himself in. Candles illuminating the entrance way gave a magical feel to his home. He made his way into the living room admiring the way Blair’s portraits looked in the flickering light, both fireplaces were blazing, filling the room with warmth. He paused to look at his family gathered around the big fireplace. They appeared to be having an enjoyable time as Starr and Jack assisted Hope and Sam with their marshmallows, carefully reaching them into the fire. He watched as Hope”s caught on fire and Starr quickly blew it out and set it to cool briefly before adding it to the chocolate and graham crackers.

    Hope giggled as it melted .“Do again, Mommy.”

    Blair was watching it all. She was utterly enchanting curled up on the couch, offering advice and encouragement to Sam as he tried to roast his marshmallow by himself. His little face expressive as he watched the marshmallow expand over the heat., all the while he listened to Jack’s advice to not get it too close to the flames. Todd was a little surprised. usually, Jack went out of his way to tease his little brother.

       No one had heard him enter. They were fully engrossed in their activities.
He strolled up Blair and gave her hair a slight tug. Causing her to jump and look back
.
”Tawd! You scared me.“

     He smiled and bent to kiss the nape of her neck. “You should be scared. I could have been anybody. Where’s Shaun?”

    “He just left to see if he could help Williams. Besides, why should I be scared? Gregor is dead and there are no more assassins after you. I think it’s actually okay to be doing something normal. Care to join us?”

    “I thought you’d never ask. Those things look mighty sweet.” His gaze was on Blair’s flirty pajamas peeking out from her robe. “When do I get a S'more.”

     Blair felt the heat rush through her, Todd’s mind was on something other than food. “Hold it right there Mister, dinner before dessert.”

      “Alright, then what’s for dinner.” He looked at the other plates set out on the floor and turned back to Blair grinning from ear to ear.

     “ Hot dogs” Even as she said it, she wanted to take it back. Todd’s eyes blazed and it was all she could do to keep from taking off the throw covering her. It had gotten very hot in the room suddenly.

     Todd knew his dessert would have to wait and he decided to stop teasing her although it was difficult. He sat down in front of her on the floor next to Sam, and Starr handed him a stick.

     “Hey Jack, hand me a dog.” Then he made a great show of putting his hot dog on a stick and putting it into the fire, “Mmmm, roasted hot dog. Can’t wait to eat.” Suddenly a pillow hit him in the back of his head, the hit caused Todd to push his hot dog deep into the fire, where it went up in flames. “Hey woman, look what you did to my dinner?” Everyone was laughing as the dog shriveled into a black mess. Todd pulled the hot dog out of the fire and shook his head. “There goes my meal. I guess I’ll just have to settle for dessert.”

     “NO, you don’t. The children had to eat their dinners before they got their dessert and you’re going to do the same. Just make another one and stop being a child.”

     Todd shrugged and loaded another hot dog on his stick and this time he got down on his stomach and got serious about cooking it. At Sam’s request, he told another Sir Dragon story and when he completed it, it was time for bed. The boys protested and Starr reminded them of school. Todd grabbed up Sam and she took Hope as Jack guided them up to the rooms with candles. Blair picked up the food and cleaned up the area, pouring a couple of drinks she sat down to wait for Todd.

A few minutes later, Todd stood in front of her looking down at her. “Blair, I’ve got something to show you.” He stooped to put her slippers on her, then held out his hand. “Come with me.” She took his hand, wondering what he was up too and watched as he grabbed the throw and escorted her out to the terrace. Before she had a chance to get cold, he had the throw around his shoulders and his arms around her. “Look up!”

Blair gasped at the sight overhead. Millions of stars filled the night sky. She had never seen so many in the heavens before. “Todd, it’s breathtaking.”

“You’re breathtaking. You outshine every one of them.”

She snuggled deeper into his embrace, feeling his warmth as they suddenly saw a shooting star. Blair made a wish and then there were more. They watched the natural fireworks as a meteor shower flashed through the sky. Todd felt her shiver. “Hmm, time to go warm you up properly, I still haven’t had my dessert.” Before going in, they watched as the lights of Llanview began turning on down below them, looking almost like a mirror image of the starlight overhead.

Blair sighed at the beauty and turned to face Todd, reaching to clasp his face, her fingers caressing his ears and her thumb tracing his scars. Their lips met in a slow satisfying kiss and then they walked back inside strolling together, extinguishing the candles until they reached the grand stairway. They separated and each took a side blowing out the candles until they were once again together at the top. Moonlight filtered in through the stained glass windows as Todd took Blair’s hand and led her into their suite. Their eyes adjusted to the ambient light from the moon filling the room and shining on their bed. As she lay beneath him, another night came to mind; the night they made their very own Starr. 

Blair looked at him seductively, “Well, come get your dessert.“

He smiled down at her. Then passionately devoured her, determined to get every tasty morsel.

***

The next morning, Todd joined the family as they sat stunned listening to the aftermath of the blackout. An announcement blared over the airwaves that several prisoners had escaped from Statesville Prison. A number of prisoners and state employees had been injured during the breakout. Llanview found itself turned upside down as several prisoners wreaked their own havoc on the town. Two prominent citizens, The Banner’s publisher Victoria Banks, and Commissioner Bo Buchanan were seriously injured and were taken to Llanview hospital in the night. Prisoners still unaccounted for included Allison Perkins, Ivan Kipling, and Mitch Laurence.

It took a minute for everything to register. Todd jumped up from the table, immediately concerned, wanting to check on his sister. In the midst of his scramble to do so, a phone call came in. Jack answered, and handed the phone off to his sister. They watched as Starr turned pale. She listened and then looked at Blair. “Mom, it’s Cole. He’s....he’s hurt. They have him a Llanview Hospital. I have to go. Mom. . .”

“Don’t worry about Hope, I’ll call Kym, she can watch the kids. We’re coming with you.”

After making arrangements for Kym to arrive, Todd spoke up, “I’ll take Starr, and when Kym gets here, join us at the hospital. I have to check on Vicki, too.”

Arriving at the hospital, Todd and Starr found out the location of both parties. Starr rushed to the room where Cole was being treated, and Todd followed, to make certain things were all right for his little girl. He had seen the concern on her face. She still cared deeply for Cole. Every time she and Hope came back from the visit to Statesville she would get quiet for a while. She was trying to make things work with James and he had no problem with James per se, but he wondered if Starr was being fair to the guy. He saw her face the first second she saw Cole again and thought of poor James. His daughter loved the man in front of them; James didn’t stand a chance. After a few moments, he left Starr to find a doctor to determine what was going on. Luckily, Larry came around the corner. “Larry, you know anything about Cole?”

“Yeah, he came in last night, pretty shot up. Seems he saved a guard’s life. It was touch and go for a while. Is Starr in there?”

“Yeah. I brought her. I think she really loves this kid. Is he going to make it?”

“He’ll be all right. They are going to want him back at the prison very soon. Better let Starr know.”

Todd stood in the doorway, watching his daughter with Cole. It had been hard to accept that Hope’s dad was Marty’s son, even harder still to find out the kid was in prison for murder. He knew the story, knew how it went. He couldn’t really blame the kid after what Eli did to Starr and Hope, not to mention Blair. Besides, he owed Marty. He thought about different ways to get the kid out of this trouble but wasn’t sure he could get away with any of them. Maybe it was time to try a different tact.

Only one thing came to mind. “Dorian” Just thinking about it to himself, he shuddered. “This is going to hurt.” The idea of owing Dorian anything really stuck in his craw, but for his daughter, he would do anything. What’s the use of having a Senator in the family if you can’t use her?

“By the way, Larry, where’s Vicki and how is she?”

“She’s doing okay. It was scary for a short time, but she’s a fighter.  She’ll probably go home tomorrow.”

“You’re kidding right?’

“No seriously, she’ll need to take it easy but she’ll be fine.”

Todd went down to her room and looked in. Vicki was alone. Eh, good time. “Hi, Sis. How’d this happen? Didn’t by any chance have anything to do with him did it?” He had been wondering ever since he heard his name. Who else would want to hurt Vicki?

She looked up from her bed, and turning toward him, she was rather uncertain if she should tell him the truth or not. He had come so far, and this could be a setback. Worse, it could send him into some irrational rage that could take him from her and his family again. But at the same time, he had been apart from them for so long, and those experiences made changes in people. She contemplated. She inhaled audibly and decided. “Yes, it was Mitch. He took Natalie.”

“I hadn’t heard that. What happened?”

She cut right to the chase. “Todd, he’s dead.”

He could not help but smile. “Huh. Too bad. May he rot in hell. But who shot you?”

“Allison Perkins, henchwoman.”

“That nutcase.”

“Yes.”

“Did they get her?”

“No, she is still on the loose. God knows where she is. I am so concerned for Jessica and the children.”

“I don’t think she will be back. She shot you and left you for dead. She’s not going to come back. I need to talk to Bo. You’re going to be around, right?”

“I’m not going anywhere. You can stop your worrying.”

“Me, worrying?” He leaned over and gave her a kiss, and then left the room. Todd spotted John coming out of Bo’s room. “Well, guess I don’t have to go see him, you’ll do.”

“What do you want, Manning?”

“Heard on the news that Kipling and Laurence were two of the ones who got loose. Vicki told me Laurence is dead. Is that true?”

“By rights, he should be. Your niece filled him full of holes. But we have a problem. His body is missing from the morgue.”

“What the hell?”

“You and me both.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“Hey, we’re looking, all right?”  John could see Todd's mind working.  

“That’s a huge comfort, McBain, thanks, that the guy who raped my sister and tried to fillet me and bury me alive with my father’s dead corpse is out there.  Really glad you’re looking.”

“Manning, don’t go doing anything stupid.”

“I’m only going to protect my family. You can’t stop me from doing that.”

“If it breaks the law, I can.”

Todd didn’t say more, but John knew what thoughts were behind his cold stare. “Later,” he said, walking off. He had a lot to think about. Kipling was out, not good. Mitch was out there, double not good. And that mad woman. Another issue to deal with.

Returning to the room his daughter had last been in, he noticed her coming out in tears.

“Dad, he has to go back. I can’t let him go back! He’s Hope’s father. I love him,” and she collapsed against Todd’s shoulder.

Damn it. He hated when she cried. She was his baby girl, the one he could still see in his mind’s eye the first time he held her in Vicki’s attic all those years ago. Somehow, it seemed like last week.

“I’ve got something in mind, don’t worry, Starr. Trust your old Dad.”

She calmed and dried her tears. “I know. Just be careful, Dad. I don’t want you ending up there with him.”

“Give me some credit, Starr. I have learned a few things. Come on, let’s go home for now. I need to get busy on some things. People to call.  Plans to make. Unless you want to stay...” He caught Blair’s eye over her head.

“I’m going to do that, Dad, I am going to stay for a while.”

Blair came up behind Starr and pulled her into a back embrace. “It’s okay, Starr. Is Cole all right?”

“Yeah, he’s okay.” Starr began to fill Blair in on the circumstances and Todd’s promise. Blair looked at him over Starr’s head with an admonishing eyebrow raise.

“I told her, everything is going to be just fine,” he said, smiling.

“Tawd, just what do you have planned, Mister?” Blair put her hand on her hip, as was customary with them.

“Relax, Blair, nothing illegal,” then grinning, embracing them both, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my girls.”

The two ladies couldn’t resist him and fell into his arms, squeezing back.

He rested his chin on the top of Starr’s head. Nothing will happen to either of you, ever.

“I’ll be back home later, I have to go take care of a few things.” And with that, he left them, both wondering what he was up to next.