IMPOSTER - PART TWENTY FIVE

PREVIOUSLY

"Tea! Te...a!" his shadowy face gave way to a deep anguish and as she observed him, another emotion slammed into her as she saw brutal, cutting, unspoken pain in his glowing eyes. Something is wrong -- terribly wrong! I feel it in my heart like you said! Where are you, querido?"

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The long arms of Todd Manning groped tentatively along the walls of the narrow tunnel which wound around like a snake, so that he couldn't see what lay ahead of him. His eyes had begun to adjust to the tiny range of light which the lighter provided him, and he consciously willed himself to continue moving forward. It had occurred to him every other minute as he went deeper into the mountain that he might have to turn back. He had weighed his options -- imprisonment or a chance to get away and in time make his way back to the woman who had changed his life forever. No contest. Still there was also a nagging foreboding in his brain that there might not be any way out and that he would wind up wandering aimlessly through these caverns until he finally dropped dead. I have a wife -- a wife who is waiting for me back there. Do I risk never coming tback to her -- never seeing those soft, brown eyes and listening to her throaty, Latino voice?

He began to focus in on her as if she was there with him, and it seemed to help him conquer some of the penetrating fears which were beginning to work their way slowly through his body. This night had brought them back together again, and her wild desire for him had overwhelmed him more than he cared to admit to himself. I still don't know if I deserve you, Mrs. Manning. You're in a marriage with a man wanted by the FBI and the police, and everyone you know except maybe Sam and Viki will think you should get rid of me as soon as you get the chance. I can just hear the smug, hypocritcal Buchanans telling you to get the hell out of this marriage! Asa would love to put the screws to me with Bo not far behind. He paused as he suddenly noticed that the remote sound of the dogs barking had virtually evaporated and all that was left was a cold silence emanating from the rugged walls around him.

The Twinkies! The thought of what he would do for food broke into the other barrage of thoughts in his head, and he wished that he had taken at least one of the Twinkies from the car. Always prepared! Right, Manning! A smile gently played on his lips as he remembered Tea wolfing down the cupcake and his brazen move to remove the icing from her lip. I want to have many more moments like that one with you. His mind's eye began to think about the prospect of a lazy, Saturday morning in bed with her and he shivered with what he was imagining. There's no way I'm going to be cheated out of that!!

Maloney watched silently as one of his men reported their position to Sykes. This is it, then. He's history. He'll end up trapped in there and die of thirst or starvation -- his body never to be recovered. The mountain will be your permanent resting place, Manning. I'm kind of sorry that you and I didn't get a chance to square off. You impress me with your resourcefulness. Not many have. And you're one hell of a runner! Maloney thought of the woman he had seen out in the field with the luminous, but haunted face. She had looked shaken up, and he knew that she was also covering for her husband. Damn shame to see a young woman like you become a widow. At least you won't witness his final moments on this earth.

Viki pulled the Continental into the circular drive in front of Sam's house. The extra large windows across the front of the contemporary home looked artful and inviting, and she imagined that that the interior of his home was masculine but solidly comfortable inside. It was nothing like Llanfair with its imposing traditional facade, but she liked it. With a small sigh, she leaned her head against the glass of the car window and tried to lessen the jumbled parade of anxieties going around in her head.

"Viki?"

"Sorry...what Sam?"

"Would you like to come in for a nightcap? I know it's late, but you look like you could use one."

Viki turned to him -- not in the least insulted by his remark about how she looked. It had been awhile between offers of any kind of male companionship, and this was an evening which had ended up completely different than she had visualized. Maybe I should have the good sense to just get on home. Jessie knows I was going to be very late, and I could call Joey to check on her. What would be the harm anyway? For some reason she felt as if she needed the presence of this man near her for a little while longer. He had been so reassuring and comforting that she was unwilling to give this up just yet.

"That sounds very good to me right now, Sam," she said -- her tired eyes lifting somewhat with the prospect of some relaxation.

"Great!" Sam said with a twinge of surprise at his enthusiasm that his offer had been accepted. He didn't really know why he had asked anyway -- it just sort of came out. I'm being unusually solicitous toward her. Must be because of Todd. Yeah, that's it.

Pushing open the car door, he stepped out and slammed the door shut and walked briskly over to her side of the car and opened her door. For a second she looked up at him standing over her -- his silhouette outlined against the darkness of the night. His hand reached out to hers to help her out of the car, and as soon as his hand touched her, a shock of excitement passed through her. This is crazy!! I must be overwrought with everything that's happened. He just.looks...so damn good!

Sykes lowered the cell phone and spoke out commandingly to his subordinates. "We have the cave staked out for the night. The rest of you can go on home!" Out of the corner of his eye, he evaluated Delgado's demeanor. He looks like he's ready to kill someone -- namely Todd Manning. Trouble is, Todd Manning has really eluded him and his pals this time. He's not coming back to pay the piper. No...your punishment is waiting for you in the fires of Hell, Manning!

"You must be relieved, Delgado. Your sister is finally free of Manning for good," Sykes spoke out in his customary lulling voice.

The brother of Tea Delgado plastered a smile on his face and his eyes glinted warningly at Sykes. "Don't ever assume anything, Commissioner. Your training must have stated something to that effect. Never underestimate a fugitive from justice, either."

For once Sykes broke his mask of severe indifference and his laugh which was generally tempered with restraint, rang out in the night air. "You're not suggesting that Todd Manning will survive in that mountain, are you? Delgado, I think you're giving that spoiled, rich publisher way too much credit!"

Delgado's jaw tightened, but he refused to rise to the bait, and he spoke evenly and slowly to the police commissioner. "With all due respect, Commissioner, a thorough study of Manning's background would have convinced you otherwise that I have sound justification for saying what I did. He's a Machiavellian creature who lands on his feet every time!"

Sykes raised an eyebrow and appraised Delgado again as he said this. Delgado was certainly full of surprises, and he decided he'd better not underestimate him. Go ahead and wait it out for Manning then, Delgado. It's obviously something you have to do for your sister. When enough time has passed, you'll change your tune.

The pockets of air seemed to thin out as Todd walked at a more steady pace. When am I going to get somewhere? There's got to be something at the end of this! He reduced his intake of air -- trying to conserve on his oxygen. His mouth puckered and he licked his lips as he thought of water. It has been so long since he had had anything to drink, and his throat was getting tight. The stress and his ever-recurring headache made his temples throb, and he reached automatically into the pockets of his pants -- searching for something. Deep down below his wallet and keys, his fingers touched something soft. Drawing it up he held the lighter toward it. A hankerchief. He twisted the gray colored material and wrapped it around his head like a bandana and knotted it in back. The silky fabric felt good against his forehead and kept the long wisps of hair off his face.

Even though the air around him was surprisingly cool, the intense nature of his plight had caused him to sweat. He rolled up his sleeves to his elbow and unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt. Man, that's better. How long has it been? Fifteen...twenty minutes? His watch told him nothing since he had scarcely noticed the time at all in the last few hours. Eleven o'clock. I hope you're home now at the penthouse, Tea -- safe and sound. At this hour most of the tracking party would probably be leaving, but he was sure that they still would have a few men positioned outside. As he continued to work his way through the cavernous maze, he saw something ahead which halted him in his tracks. There was a split in the passageway which led to separate entrances to more tunnels. Great! Just what you needed, Manning! Now what are you going to do?

Viki stepped through the doorway of Sam's home and smiled at what she saw. It was just as she had pictured, and even more so. There was a quality about the expansive, high-ceiling living room which appealed to her. Perhaps it was the laid-back tone of it and the unpretentiousness of the furnishings. Sam Rappaport was a lawyer who commanded a very high salary figure and had worked for some of the country's most notable and powerful people. He could have established himself in some very fancy surroundings, but instead seemed content to live in a place less austere. Just something else I like about you.

"Well, name your poison!" Sam quipped, flashing a smile at her and all the while silently watching her surveyal of his house. Okay, Rappaport, tone down the excessive charm. This is Viki Carpenter standing in your living room, and she's not like a lot of the women you've known. She'll see through you in a New York minute!

"Oh...well, let's see...considering what we've been through tonight, Sam...make mine a double Scotch on the rocks."

Sam's hand shook unexpectedly and he nearly dropped the lid off the ice bucket. "Please!" Viki said and turned back toward him with a smooth, benign expression on her face but also a flicker of mischief playing in her vivid blue eyes.

Sam recaptured his lost composure and nodded hurriedly. "Sure! Be right back...the ice!" he added, holding up the bucket for her to see.

Viki smiled again -- noting his surprise at her request and logging it in her mind for future reference. There's a lot you don't know about me, Sam Rappaport, but I suppose, on the other hand, there's a lot I don't know about you either..."

Sykes strode over to his Lexus in an obvious hurry to get behind the wheel and head home. It was late and he was dog tired -- making him reluctant to pursue the Carpenter/Rappaport aiding and abetting issue any further that evening. What does it matter anyway? Viki Carpenter would be told in a few days that her brother would not be coming back. He didn't relish the fact that he would probably be the one to tell her. He had to be extremely careful since Viki Carpenter was a very well-respected citizen of Llanview who owned a newspaper which could chew him up and spit him out in its editorials. She might turn around and even take action against the department if she felt that they hadn't handled it properly. Public opinion would be very much on her side -- even if it had never been on the side of her bizarre-acting sibling.

A voice behind him cut through his thoughts.

"There's still a chance."

"What do you mean...a chance?" Sykes eyes darkened dangerously at the suggestion that his job was not yet completed.

"A chance that Todd Manning will make it out of there alive," Edwards said nonchalantly as Sykes spun around to confront him. "I mean that he could be lucky enough to find a way out of that mountain -- it's happened to others lost in those caves for a few days."

"Duly noted, Edwards, but don't count on it!" Sykes said in a blase manner with little interest in Edward's speculations. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm calling it a night. You need to wrap it up here, too."

"Yes sir," Edwards said as he watched Sykes disappear inside his $45,000 luxury automobile and shook his head as the car sped away. He doesn't believe it. It's a waste of time to let him in on what I know about those caverns. He's made up his mind like the rest of them. Now he can go back to his own privileged world. Strange that Manning and Sykes have brushed up against money and power, but of the two, Manning's background was the worst...or was it? There's been talk about some of Sykes' history...

Todd stood motionless while he sized up the two entrances with gaping openings. Is this my fork in the road? Is this where I decide my fate and either live or die as a result? I'm choosing Door Number One -- on the left. Seems appropriate. I've always been out in left field as far as anyone in Llanview thought. A few small beads of sweat drizzled down over his forehead and and he licked his lips again -- this time from anxiety. He swiped his hand over his mouth and almost jerked back after he had done it. I've never done that except as...Pete! Shaking himself to rid himself of the thought of that invasive alter, he walked over to the new tunnel.

The interior walls around the entrance he had chosen seemed rougher and almost crustier than the previous tunnel and had more of a glistening appearance on the rock surface. Gripping the lighter even tighter, he haltingly began walking through -- noting that the air seemed damper but also richer in oxygen content. With relief he filled up his lungs again, but within moments the pleasant sensation disappeared and gave way to a new sensation -- cold terror. Instead of a flickering light illuminating the passageway before him, Todd Manning was suddenly encased in a cocoon of opaque darkness. The flame from the lighter had gone out!

~ TO BE CONTINUED ~