PREVIOUSLY

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.

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July 2001…

Téa’s Ford Mustang made it’s way north on Pennsylvania State Highway 2C. Todd drove, Téa sat in the front passenger seat and Bo Buchanan sat in the back, next to Trevor’s childseat. It had been silent between them since they left Llanview en-route to the Happy Lake Motel.
Todd’s thoughts drifted back. Téa and him followed Bo to the police station after Téa was released. Blair joined them at the police station. She had called Del about the kidnapping. Del said he would drop everything and take the next flight to Llanview. Of course, Téa was looking forward to seeing Del but it irked Todd how Del was always conveniently there for Téa and now, Blair. More than anything, Todd wanted Téa to know she could count on him.
Bo had discussed the plan. He would have his two best detectives, undercover, sailing in a sailboat not far from the sailboat dock. Bo would sneak up as close to the dock as he could without Fiona noticing. An EMS vehicle followed them out just in case anyone was seriously hurt. It didn’t run it’s lights or sirens.
Todd knew Fiona had a gun. Téa told them that down at the police station. The plan was to ensure the kids were released to the safety of Téa’s custody and upon his first opportunity, Todd would shove Fiona into the water. Bo’s undercover detectives would pick her up. And hopefully no one would get hurt. He let out a deep breath as he kept his eyes on the road.
Bo leaned back in the back seat. He raised his eyebrow as he observed Téa slowly, and almost hesitantly, raise her hand to Todd’s shoulder and then gently run her fingers through his hair. Todd let out a sigh and glanced at Téa. Todd’s eyes returned to the road.
“Remove your glasses,” whispered Todd, “I want to see your eyes.”
Slowly, Téa complied with Todd’s request. And again, Todd glanced at his wife. Bo thought he should look away but didn’t. There was a connection in their look and that surprised him.
“You have beautiful eyes,” whispered Todd. Téa smiled.
Bo noticed they passed a sign indicating Happy Lake Motel, Five miles.
“We’ll be there soon Manning,” said Bo.
“I saw the sign Buchanan,” said Todd.
“Ah, what time is it?” asked Téa.
“Quarter of five,” said Bo.
Again, there was silence between them. As Todd pulled up to the motel, the ambulance backed off 100 meters from the entrance. Todd drove in and parked the car in front of the registration cabin.
Todd and Téa could see the sailboat dock in the distance. Trevor was sitting down and Starr was standing up, next to Fiona. Todd looked at his watch.
“We got five minutes,” he said.
“We should get out,” said Téa.
“Good luck you two,” said Bo who was crunched down behind the seat so he couldn’t be seen, “Remember Manning, stick to the plan.”
Todd frowned, “Sure, Buchanan.”
Todd and Téa got out of the car. Téa forgot to put her sunglasses back on.
They walked behind the registration cabin to the start of the sailboat dock.
Todd could see there was a sailboat not far from the dock in the water.
“You two are early,” said Fiona raising her voice so she could be heard.
“Mommy!” yelled Trevor stoticly.
“Daddy!” yelled Starr.
“Let the kids go Fiona!” said Todd raising his voice.
“Not quite yet,” said Fiona, “By the way Téa, nice eye.”
Téa frowned, “Well, I have you to thank for it.”
“Here’s the deal. Todd comes to me. When he’s here, I’ll let the kids go,” said Fiona.
“Let the kids go first,” replied Todd.
Fiona nodded her head no, “Sorry Todd – it’s my game. Not yours.”
“All right,” yelled Todd.
Fiona grabbed Trevor by his shirt collar, “C’Mon kid, stand up.”
Trevor winced in pain, stood, and almost fell over. Starr reached out to him and he supported his weight by leaning on her.
“Todd – Trevor!” exclaimed Téa.
“What’s wrong with Trevor?” demanded Todd.
“Something is wrong with the kid’s ankle but I swear I didn’t touch him!” yelled Fiona.
“Daddy – T.D’s ankle is swollen with blood!” yelled Starr.
“Oh, Shit,” muttered Todd.
“Trevor’s having an attack,” muttered Téa.
Todd turned to Téa and drew her into a passionate kiss. He wanted to linger on his wife’s lips…he wanted to…
Instead, Todd whispered, “As soon as you get Trevor in your arms and Starr beside you, take them to the ambulance and get him to the hospital as soon as you can. And don’t look back to look at me. O.k. Just don’t do it.” Téa nodded her head, tears flowing down her cheek.
“Ain’t that sweet?” said Fiona, “The Mannings love each other.”
Todd broke the embrace, turned around, and aggressively walked down the dock towards Fiona and his kids. Téa crossed her arms and couldn’t stop her tears from flowing down her cheek.
As soon as Todd approached Fiona, she flashed her gun by slyly moving her power suit’s jacket so he could see it. He frowned but the kids were facing him so they didn’t see it.
“All right kids – go to Téa…” instructed Fiona.
Trevor whimpered as he tried to walk.
Starr looked up at Todd.
“Can you walk T.D?” asked Todd softly trying to keep his own composure.
“It hurts…Daddy…” said Trevor leaning on Starr.
“Look, let me carry him to Téa since he can’t walk,” said Todd.
“I don’t know about that,” said Fiona.
“Starr can stay with you while I carry Trevor to Téa. When I come back, Starr can leave…” said Todd firmly.
“All right,” said Fiona putting her hands on her hips.
“I’ll come back Shorty,” said Todd picking up Trevor. Trevor clung to his father, his face contorted by pain.
“I know you will Daddy,” said Starr.
Todd turned around and briskly walked down the docks towards Téa, “Mommy will take good care of you son. She will…you’ll see…”
“Yes, Daddy…” he whimpered.
It pained Todd to hear the agony in his son’s voice.
Téa held out her arms as Todd approached her. No words were spoken. Téa took her son into her arms. They exchanged the look.
“Sssshhhh….it will be all right T.D.,” whispered Téa.
Todd turned around and approached Fiona again. As soon as Todd was facing Fiona, she let Starr go.
“I love you Daddy,” said Starr.
“I love you too, Shorty,” said Todd trying not to choke on the words, “Now go. Tee’s waiting for you.”
Starr nodded her head and ran down the docks joining Téa. Starr took Téa’s hand. Téa, with Trevor in one arm while her other hand held Starr’s hand, walked past the car, past the registration cabin, and out of sight of Fiona and Todd.
Fiona drew her pistol and pointed it at Todd, “Something is not right.”
“What?” questioned Todd glaring at her.
“I would have expected Téa to get in the car and drive off but she walked right past it…like she had to go somewhere else…” pondered Fiona.
Todd remained silent, continuing to stare at Fiona.
“Police are here,” said Fiona, “And I told you no police.”
Fiona paused and brushed her hair back off her forehead.
“I AM NOT going to jail Todd!” screamed Fiona, “You are the bad guy here – NOT ME!”
“Right. How am I the bad guy?” demanded Todd as he watched Fiona wave her gun around.
“You started this,” whined Fiona, “You bought my father’s paper out from under him…” her voice cracking, “You made him WANT to die…”
“Fiona, why are you making weird faces?” asked Todd.
“Me? Weird?” Fiona’s voice cracked.
“Yeah…” muttered Todd.
Fiona fell to her knees and looked up at Todd, tears flowing out her eyes, her arms shaking, as she waved her gun back and forth between her and Todd. Todd was getting nervous.
Fiona started to cock and de-cock the gun.
“My father IS NOT COMING BACK Todd!” yelled Fiona.
“Put the gun down, Fiona,” instructed Todd.
“My father LOVED me!” yelled Fiona.
Todd took a breath.
Fiona cocked the gun and began to play with the safety.
Todd was clearly nervous.
“Put the gun down Fiona,” said Todd again.
She glared at him and pointed the gun at Todd, “Any last words Manning?” she asked continuing to play with the safety.
“Let me be a father to my kids…” replied Todd.
“Oh, GOD,” muttered Fiona.
There was silence between them.
“Our Father, who art in Heaven…” began Fiona.
“What are you doing? Praying?” asked Todd approached Fiona. He got closer to her. Fiona stuck the gun out further.
“…hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come…”
“Stop it Fiona!” said Todd inching forward.
“Thy will be done…”
And with that, Fiona threw the gun into the water and then jumped into the water herself.
“What are you doing Braxton?” yelled Todd, “Drowning yourself? Why? What about the kid?”
Todd saw an undercover cop jump into the water from the sailboat but he wasn ’t as close as he would have like to have been.
“DAMN YOU BRAXTON!” yelled Todd jumping into the water after her. He found her not struggling against the lake’s currents. She didn’t fight him as he brought her to the surface. The undercover cop helped Todd slide Fiona onto the dock. She was conscious but limp and disoriented. Bo was there to assist Fiona.
“What happened Manning?” asked Bo.
“She just weirded out, started praying, and followed the gun into the water,” recapped Todd as he propped himself onto the dock, out of the water.
Fiona held her stomach and lightly rocked back and forth, “Oh baby…sweet Baby…” she sang.
Todd, dripping wet, just nodded his head while looking at Fiona, “Is it over Buchanan?”
“Yeah. I’ll take her up to Bellevue – have her admitted. She sounds like a certifiable 51-50 to me,” said Bo.
“Good. Now I want to get back to Llanview. I need to be with my wife and my kids,” said Todd firmly.
Bo nodded his head recalling the scene in the car when Téa gently stroked his hair…
“Remove your glasses… you have beautiful eyes…”
“Fiore! Ride with Manning in his car back to Llanview,” instructed Bo.
Fiore was the detective who had jumped in the water.
“It’s my wife’s car…” muttered Todd walking down the docks.

TO BE CONTINUED