PREVIOUSLY

“I don’t know what to say, Téa…” started Todd, his voice continuing to shake.
“You don’t…have to…say…anything…just stay…with me…” she replied.
“I’ll find your kids, Manning. I will,” said Bo full of conviction.

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July 2001…

Fiona Braxton pulled into a small motel approximately thirty miles out of Llanview. The motel was made up of small cabins and was a part of a campground with a lake in the background. She observed the surroundings and surmised maybe - one or two other cabins were occupied. The place was perfect for what she wanted.
For the last ten minutes, Trevor Manning, who was sitting in the back seat with his sister, Starr, had been kicking one of the passenger doors with his foot. The sound of his foot hitting the door was finally getting on Fiona’s nerves.
Fiona put the car in park in front of the registration office and turned around to look in the back seat.
Her voice was cold, “Tell that kid to stop hitting the door before he hurts himself.”
Starr glared at Fiona.
“Tell him!” demanded Fiona.
Starr turned to Trevor, “T.D., stop it.” She grabbed his foot.
Trevor looked at Starr, his eyes blazing.
“Please?” asked Starr.
His eyes softened, “All right.”
“Now listen up you two,” said Fiona, “I’m going inside to get us a cabin.
If you two want to see your parents again, you’ll do what I say.”
Starr and Trevor sneered at her.
Fiona got out and locked the car. Then she went into the registration office.
“Do you think Mommy is all right?” asked Trevor looking at Starr.
Starr made a face, “I hope so. Don’t worry. Daddy will find us.”
Trevor nodded his head.
After a few minutes, Fiona came out jingling some keys. She opened Starr’s door.
“Listen up. I got us a cabin. We’re going to go inside and relax. I’ll get you something to eat,” said Fiona.
“We don’t want to go anywhere with you. We want our Daddy!” demanded Starr.
“Listen kid, don’t piss me off. Your Daddy will be here soon enough. Now get out of the car,” said Fiona firmly.
Starr and Trevor got out of the car and walked in front of Fiona. Starr noticed Trevor had a slight limp.

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Llanview General…

Téa sat up on her hospital bed. She had a bandage on her brow over her sutures. Her stomach felt queasy. She didn’t know if it was because her body was physically ill or because it was a physical reaction to the fear she felt knowing Fiona Braxton had kidnapped Starr and Trevor and she couldn ’t have stopped her. She took a deep breath. She couldn’t cry now even if she wanted too. She was all cried out.
Todd walked in with a pair of sunglasses in his hands. Slowly, he walked over to her, “I got you these glasses, Delgado.”
“Thanks,” said Téa.
“How you feeling Delgado?” asked Todd handing her the glasses.
“My stomach is in knots,” said Téa looking into his eyes. He didn’t turn away. She placed the glasses beside her. She didn’t want to put them on just yet.
“So’s mine,” said Todd, “Bo and I talked to Blair in the lobby. She’s upset.”
“Can’t say I blame her,” muttered Téa.
Todd sat down in the chair opposite of her, “She’s going down to the station with one of Bo’s detectives. She’s going to put a public service announcement on the air within the hour. She wanted me to go with her but I told her I needed to stay with you and as soon as Wolek released you we’d meet her at the station.”
“Have you talked to Judith? Are the twins o.k?” asked Téa.
“Yeah, I called Judith. I told her to take the twins over to Viki’s.
There’s more people over there,” explained Todd. Gently, he took Téa’s hands in his and then softly he raised one hand and gently stroked her cheek on the side of her good eye.
“Oh, Téa…” he whispered.
Bo Buchanan walked into the room. Startled, Todd pulled away. Bo raised an eyebrow. Did he just catch the Mannings exchanging an intimate moment?
“How are you doing, Téa?” asked Bo.
“I’m a mess,” said Téa honestly.
“Any word Bo?” asked Todd. It was hard for him to keep himself composed. “Fiona’s car was spotted on the outskirts of town heading north so we’re extending the search to nearby towns,” explained Bo. He dug into his pockets and pulled out some change.
Todd and Téa just stared at him.
“I’m a bit short. You guys got any change?” asked Bo, “I wanna get a coffee from the machine.”
Todd stood up to dig in his pockets. Téa, also, dug into her pant’s pockets. She made a face. Todd and Bo looked at her.
She pulled out a handful of change and a crumpled piece of paper.
Bo and Todd looked at her intently. She uncrumpled the paper and read it.
“What is it Téa?” asked Bo.
“Fiona wrote it,” said Téa making a face.
“What does it say?” asked Todd coldly.
Téa took a deep breath and read, “Téa – I’ll return the kids to you safe and sound if you deliver Todd to me. I’ll call soon to let you know where and when to conduct this little exchange. Fiona.”
“Me? For the kids?” questioned Todd.
Bo motioned for Téa to hand him the note. She did so.
“Yeah – you for the kids,” said Bo, “That Braxton’s pretty sly.”
Todd made a face, “Well, we’re going to do it.”
“Manning – we can’t give into her demands,” protested Bo.
“Yes we can. Me for the kids. It’s that simple. I’ll do anything for those kids. Anything. You’d do the same for yours,” said Todd firmly.
“Yeah, I would,” said Bo.
“We should call Blair and tell her about this note,” suggested Téa.
There was a knock on the door. Viki walked in.
“Hi, Viki,” said Todd standing up and crossing his arms.
“I came as soon as I could. You should turn on the TV. Blair is on with her public service announcement,” said Viki. Téa stood up and exchanged hugs with Viki.
Bo grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Everyone intently listened to Blair as she put recent pictures of Starr and Trevor up and requested those who had information to call the station’s hotline. As soon as she was finished, Bo walked out to make the phone call to her.

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Fiona’s cabin…

Fiona watched Starr and Trevor pick at their food. The cabin was sparsely furnished. There were two beds, three chairs, two bureaus, a window overlooking the lake, and intercom that connected the room to the registration office, and a bathroom.
Trevor put a small bit of rice on his fork and ate it.
“Look kid – what’s wrong? I got you kids these tacos, beans, and rice ‘cos it’s Spanish food. Aren’t you Spanish?” asked Fiona. Her comments were well intentioned but made out of ignorance.
Trevor frowned and didn’t say anything.
“Tee’s from Puerto Rico,” said Starr.
“What’s the difference?” asked Fiona.
Starr made a face.
“All right, look, I’m going to the office to call your Daddy…” started Fiona.
Starr and Trevor’s face lit up.
“You are?” asked Trevor.
“Yeah, I am. I’m hoping to work out a deal. If things go how I want them too, you should be back with Tee sometime tonight,” said Fiona, “Now don’t get stupid by trying to sneak out of here. You don’t know where you are and you might get lost.”
Fiona stood up and walked out of the cabin.
Trevor put down his fork and made a face.
“What’s wrong T.D?” asked Starr.
“My ankle hurts,” said Trevor.
“Here, let me see,” said Starr getting out of her chair and sitting down before Trevor, “Which one?”
Trevor held out his right ankle.
“You shouldn’t have been kicking the car door,” said Starr looking up at him.
“I wanted to get out,” said Trevor stoticly.
Starr rolled up his pants leg and tried to wiggle his sneaker off.
“Ooowww!” yelled Trevor. Starr stopped and felt his ankle. Trevor flinched. Then, she felt his other ankle. There was a difference. She tried to peek inside his sock.
“I think your ankle is swollen,” said Starr.
Trevor made a face, “Hope Daddy gets here soon.”

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Llanview General…

Dr. Wolek walked into Téa’s hospital room. Todd and Téa were staring at each other. Viki watched them. Bo followed Dr. Wolek inside the room.
Slowly, Todd and Téa broke their connection and looked at Larry and Bo.
“How’s your head feel?” asked Larry.
“Oh. I have a headache,” replied Téa.
“Well, I doubt it would have gone away just yet,” said Larry sitting down in front of her, “I’m just going to check you out and if all you have is a headache, I’m going to give you some aspirin and release you, all right?”
Téa nodded her head. Larry shined a light into one of her eyes.
Todd’s cell phone began ringing. He reached into his jacket’s pocket, pulled it out, and answered it. Bo listened intently.
“What?” demanded Todd.
“Todd,” chanted Fiona, “It’s Fiona…”
“Fiona you shit! Where are my kids?” he demanded.
Bo pulled out a mini-tape recorder and pressed the record button. At least he’d have Todd’s side of the conversation.
“Tisk. Tisk. Resorting to name calling now…”
“Where are the kids Fiona?” demanded Todd again.
“Your kids are safe and rest assured, I haven’t hurt them. Did you get my note I left with Téa?”
“Yeah – Téa and I got your note,” replied Todd.
“Téa’s eye isn’t too black, is it?” asked Fiona.
“It’s black enough,” said Todd, “Now where are the kids?”
“Do you know where the Happy Lake Motel is?” asked Fiona.
“The Happy Lake Motel? Never heard of it…”
“Well, I suggest you find out where it is. Quick. Be here and meet me at the sailboat dock on the lake at five tonight. Bring Téa with you and nobody else. If I even think I smell cops you better pray your kids know how to swim,” said Fiona.
CLICK.
“You Bitch!” exclaimed Todd.
“What did she say Manning?” asked Bo.
“If I want to see the kids I gotta go to the Happy Lake Motel with Téa and meet Fiona at the sailboat dock by five o’clock,” said Todd summing up the conversation, “And no cops.”
Bo looked at his watch, “Well, it’s two-thirty. We better get to work.”
“No cops Bo,” said Todd firmly.
“Sorry – Todd,” said Bo, “But that is not an option.”
Todd made a face. He looked at Téa.
“Téa’s going to be all right,” said Larry, “I’m going to sign her release papers.”
“Téa,” said Todd, “She said she’d hurt the kids if we showed up with cops.”
“Todd,” replied Téa, “We need help to deal with Fiona. We need Bo’s help.”
Again, Todd made a face, “All right Bo, but I don’t want this place crawling with cops. Just you and two or three of your best cops.”
Bo tried not to laugh, “All right, you have a deal Manning. Now let’s go down to the station and find out where the Happy Lake Motel is at.”
Téa, Todd, and Viki followed Bo out of the room.

TO BE CONTINUED

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