ANOTHER SECOND CHANCE - PART TEN
PREVIOUSLY
"What can I do for you?"
"I need to talk to you. It's very important. I need you to tell me what
happened the day my husband was arrested.
****************************************************************************************************
Minnie steps aside to let Tea in. She motions to the couch, inviting
Tea to
sit down.
"I really don't how I can help you, Mrs. Manning. I told the police
everything I know," Minnie says cordially.
"Please, call me Tea. I have your police statement...I'd just like to
double
check a few things. It turns out there were some...um...discrepancies
in
Todd's statement. I just want to make sure yours is accurate."
Minnie shrugs her shoulders. "Okay."
Tea turns and takes Minnie's statement from her bag. She hands it to
Minnie.
"Just read this over and tell me if it's accurate."
Tea watches her very closely. Her heart is in her throat...her hunch
about
this has to be right...their whole future is riding on it. She notices
Minnie's face looks more and more confused as she reads.
Minnie looks up at Tea. "I don't understand. This isn't what happened
at
all, I never said this."
Tea tries to hide her relief. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm positive."
Tea smiles. "Why don't you tell me what really happened."
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Todd is lying on the couch in the cabin reading over a copy of the Sun
Viki
had brought him. He has to admit Tea and Blair have done a pretty good
job.
He is startled by a breathless Tea bursting through the door. He looks
up,
and from the smile on her face, he can see things went well with
Minnie.
"What happened?"
"We were right, the statement we have is NOT Minnie's original
statement...not
only that...she would be willing to testify if need be."
Todd allows himself a smile, "You're amazing Delgado."
"I know," she says, grinning at him. She is standing next to him. Todd
grabs
her hand and pulls her down on top of him. She giggles as she loses her
balance and lands on him. Todd slips his hand into her hair and pulls
her
into an intense kiss.
They part reluctantly. "So what did you find out?"
Tea stares at him blankly for a second...the kiss still lingering.
"Oh...well...we were also right about the Buchanans. Seems Kevin told
Minnie
that he would pick up Starr and River at the park at 4:00, and also
strongly
suggested that she get there earlier...supposedly so the kids would have
time
to play."
Todd smirks. "I knew it."
"We have a witness that involves the Buchanans...at least Kevin but I
would
bet he's not in it alone," Tea says.
"Yeah, but now we have to find out what happened to the real
statements."
Tea rubs her hand softly over his chest. "I could go back to Llanview
tomorrow and talk to Sykes, he may be able to help us."
Todd rolls his eyes, and instinctively tightens his arms around her.
"What?"
"Well, I just don't like the guy. He likes you, though, so I'm sure he
would
do anything to help you," Todd replies, somewhat sarcastically.
"What does that mean?"
"Oh, c'mon Delgado...the guy drools all over you every chance he
gets."
Tea grins, "Jealous, Manning?"
Todd grins back. "Me, jealous?"
"Yeah, you."
"I just don't like the way he looks at you...it's like he's got some
crush on
you."
Tea leans down and gently traces kisses along his jawline. "Too bad...
cause
the only guy I've got a crush on is right here."
Todd smiles, loving the feeling of her lips on his face.
"Yeah?....Prove it."
Tea lifts her head and seductively smiles at Todd. She covers his lips
with
hers, and engages him in an incredibly passionate kiss. Todd runs his
hands up
and down her back, lifting up her shirt to feel the soft skin beneath.
He
uses his strength to shift his weight and turn over...so he is on top of
her.
He gently breaks the kiss, bringing his hands to unbutton her blouse.
He
looks into her eyes, quickly undoing each button.
"I love you Delgado."
"I love you Manning."
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Todd lays in bed, holding Tea close. She is sound asleep...as well she
should
be...they had quite a night. Todd smiles at the memory. He wonders how
he
survived without her the last couple of months. He slept for a couple
of
hours...but that was about his limit. It was okay with him to just lie
and
hold her...watch her sleep...listen to her breathe...
He hated that she was going to see Sykes. It wasn't that he didn't
trust
her...cause he does...he just doesn't trust Sykes. There's something
more
though...something nagging at him that he can't put his finger on....for
no
reason...his mind flashes back to his conversation with Viki....
...there had been talk that he had been covering for Barbara about
Drew's
death...
...all of the talk, the suspicions just seemed to disappear....it seemed
to
die down around the time you were arrested...
Todd grins ...a theory beginning to form in his mind....
He pulls Tea closer...gently kissing her forehead..."Just hang in there
Delgado....I have a feeling we may win this one after all."
To be continued....