I TAKE THE DICE - PART SIXTEEN
PREVIOUSLY
Kevin: [enters and pauses at the door watching Téa and Nick. He looks shocked.]
Kevin: Téa, what have you done?
Téa: [looks up at Kevin. Pleading.] Kevin! Help me save his life!
Kevin: [bolts to her side and begins to elevate Nick.]
**********************************************************************************************************
Late at night,
Téa’s law office…
Kevin and Téa leaned over Nick’s bloody body. Nick lost consciousness. Kevin grabbed Téa’s wrap and placed it over Nick’s wound.
“I’m going to apply direct pressure. You do CPR. I have to hold the wrap here. Compressions are 15 to 2 okay?” Kevin said with authority.
Téa nods her head and silently begins chest compressions, very worried and scared that Nick would die.
“Did you call for an ambulance?” asked Kevin taking a deep breath.
“No,” Téa muttered between her count.
“Shit!” said Kevin. He was feeling frantic.
Téa paused and tilted Nick’s head giving him two breaths into his mouth.
Kevin and Téa focused on the task at hand not realizing the sirens in the background were becoming louder. After a few minutes, to their surprise, EMT’s came running into the office.
“What happened?” asked one EMT kneeling down beside Téa.
“He’s bleeding,” said Kevin.
“He was shot,” said Téa briefly as she blew into Nick’s mouth. The EMT beside her relieved her and she scooted to the side, watching them work. And EMT relieved Kevin as well. Det. West walked into the office followed by two cops. Téa looked at Kevin, shell-shocked.
“Is he alive?” asked West a bit taken back by the scene.
“Barely,” said one EMT, “We need to transport him to the hospital.”
“Do it,” said Det. West. She pointed to a cop, “Call Commissioner Buchanan.”
The EMT’s struggle to put Nick on a gurney. Téa struggled to stand up and leaned up against her desk for support. Kevin got to his feet as well.
Det. West looked at Kevin and Téa, “What happened?”
“I found Téa hunched over his body…” started Kevin wiping his hands on his pants.
Det. West looked at Téa suspiciously, “Mrs. Manning?”
“I found him bleeding like this in my office…” muttered Téa not too convincingly.
“Did you…shoot him?” asked West, watching Téa’s every move, reading her body language.
“No!” said Téa vehemently.
“Detective – look,” said a cop. He pointed to the two Faberge eggs.
Det. West looked surprised.
“Two eggs? I only owned one…” said Téa equally surprised.
“Secure the gun. Get it down to forensics to check its ballistics. Téa did you handle the gun at all tonight?” asked Det West. She had turned on a tape recorder to record what was going on. It was a bit hectic with the EMT’s working on Nick.
A feeling of horror overcame Téa, “Yes.” She admitted, “My prints are on the gun. I moved it out of the way to help Nick.”
“What about you Kevin?” asked West.
“No,” said Kevin.
“Téa, Kevin, I’ll need you to come down to the station for questioning,” directed West.
“Sure,” said Kevin.
“I have nothing to hide,” said Téa, “I didn’t shoot him.”
One of the cops who had come with Det. West escorted Kevin and Téa out of her office while another one remained with West to survey the crime scene.
“Detective, I bet one of these eggs is a fake,” said the cop.
“Take them both in for testing,” said West rubbing her forehead.
“What do you think Detective? Do you think she shot him?” asked the cop.
“I don’t know Téa Manning well but I don’t think she’s capable of murder,” said West, “That’s just my gut impressions.”
They continued working to collect physical evidence.
******************************************************************************************************
Llanview PD Station…
Kevin and Téa were lead into the police station under a heavy police escort. Bo was all ready there and he looked tired. Hank was there too. The cops escorted Kevin and Téa up to a worn out Bo. He was still wearing his tux but had his jacket off. Nora had given birth earlier that night and it frustrated him that he couldn’t be there with her right now.
“I heard there was a shooting tonight. Nick Kerensky was shot in your office, Téa,” said Bo. His voice was tired.
Téa wrapped her arms around herself, upset, “I know. Can I make a phone call? Can I call my husband? I’m not a suspect am I?” Her mind was racing a mile a minute at this point.
“No, you’re not a suspect. Not yet. Look, I’ll let you both of you make a phone call but after that I’ll need to question you,” said Bo letting out a deep breath.
Just then another cop walked up to Bo. He was excited and a bit out of breath, “Commissioner, bad news. The shooting victim? Kerensky? He died enroute to the hospital.”
Téa broke down and began to sob.
Bo sympathetically put his arms around her, trying to comfort her, “It will be all right Téa. Make your phone call.”
“Give me a minute to compose myself,” she muttered wiping her tears away.
“Uncle Bo, do you mind if I call my mom?” asked Kevin a bit rattled himself.
“Go ahead Kev,” said Bo reaching over a desk and grabbing some tissues for Téa.
Kevin found a nearby phone and dialed a few numbers, “Mom, its Kevin. I’m at the police station with Téa. Nick Kerensky’s been shot and killed. I’m a witness. Can you come down? Thanks.”
Téa looked up only to be assaulted with a feeling of helplessness as the police whirled in chaos.
*******************************************************************************************************
The Manning Estate…
It was late at night. Tina was admiring the few pictures of Todd’s family on the fireplace mantle. Todd walked in from the hall and Tina could tell he was slightly upset.
“Téa’s not here. She said she’d be here,” said Todd frowning.
“You’re worried,” observed Tina facing him.
“Of course I’m worried. I should never had let her go alone,” said Todd firmly.
“So, who’s suing you for libel?” asked Tina trying to distract him.
“Asa,” answered Todd shortly.
“No shocker there I suppose. Is your wife…a good lawyer?” asked Tina, full of curiosity.
Todd grinned, “The best.”
Tina pointed to a picture on the mantle. It was of Todd, Téa, and Trevor in Santa hats, “Cute.”
Todd ignored her, “Where’s my wife? Maybe I should call her office?”
Suddenly the phone rang and a feeling of relief washed over Todd. He bolted for it.
“Téa? Thank God! What? Slow down…” he paused drinking in her words.
“You found Nick shot to death in your office? You’re at the police station for questioning? I’ll be right down. The kids? They’ll be okay. Tina’s here.” He slammed the phone down in disgust, an intense feeling of anger now overpowering him.
Tina’s voice was full of concern, “What’s wrong Todd?”
“Téa found her law partner, Nick the Russian Geek in her office bleeding to death! She’s at the station for questioning! I’m going down there!” he yelled in fury reaching for his jacket that was draped over the couch.
“But Todd – what about your kids?” asked Tina.
“I trust you to watch them Tina, you’re my sister…” he said.
“But they don’t know me…!” protested Tina, “I’m a stranger to them!”
“Watch my kids Tina!” insisted Todd.
Tina stood there in shock as Todd reached for the door. As he opened it he stood face to face with Viki and Jessie who looked equally concerned and were about to knock.
“Todd…you heard…” said Viki walking past him into the house. Jessie followed her in.
“Téa called. But how did you know?” asked Todd confused.
“Kevin called me. Seems he was with Téa when they found Nick,” said Viki cryptically.
Todd was furious, “WHAT? She told me she was going to pick up a file..?! Téa can barely stand Kevin!! She didn’t mention him!”
“It seems Todd we don’t have the whole story,” said Viki.
Jessie smiled at Tina and they remained silent.
Todd swallowed and took a step back, “Story. This…is a news story, isn’t it? Damn it Viki!! My wife is not front page news!!”
“Calm down Todd. You have my word the Banner will exercise the utmost professionalism in covering this. Now me, you, and Tina are going to the station. Jessie’s going to watch the kids.”
Todd looked at Jessie full of concern, “I appreciate this Jessie.”
“It’s not a problem Uncle Todd,” said Jessie sweetly.
Todd walked to the door and Viki and Tina followed him. Suddenly, Trevor walked into the living room with his PJ’s on. He looked sleepy but awake.
“Daddy!” he yelled rubbing his eyes.
Todd whiped around. Seeing Trevor totally surprised him, rocking his foundations. Todd stared at the boy, noticing he was clutching a teddy bear. Impulsively, Todd’s eyes mist up and he found himself unable to speak to his son.
“Where’s Mommy? Why are you yelling? Are you mad at Mommy?” asked Trevor wrinkling his brow.
Todd swallowed. He didn’t know what to say.
“Go back to bed T.D.,” instructed Todd.
Trevor got upset at his father for ignoring his question, “Is Mommy okay? Did you get mad at her and scare her away?! Where’s Mommy??!!” cried an upset Trevor.
Viki drew Trevor into a hug, “T.D., your mommy isn’t here. Something bad has happened and your Daddy and I have to go down to the police station to meet your mommy. But let me assure you, your daddy is not mad at your mommy.”
Her words comforted Trevor a bit but he was still concerned, “Will mommy be back Auntie Viki?”
“Yes!” said Todd finally pulling himself out of shock from seeing his son, “She’ll be back tonight. I swear. I’ll bring her home tonight!”
He kneeled down next to Viki and put a light a hand on Trevor’s back.
“Promise!” demanded Trevor.
“I promise,” said Todd firmly.
Jessie knelt down and picked up Trevor, “Hey, while Daddy’s gone I’ll watch you. How does that sound?”
“I want Mommy,” said Trevor.
“I know you do,” said Jessie softly.
Todd stood up and went to kiss Trevor lightly on the forehead. Trevor flinched and pulled away, snuggling into Jessica. Todd’s eyes grew wide and he was hurt by his son’s actions. He internalized that hurt and sped around, bolting for the door. Without a word, he walked out. Viki and Tina followed him. Jessie did her best to comfort Trevor.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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