IMPOSTER - PART TWENTY NINE

PREVIOUSLY

"Yeah...repeat performance...same coordinates at the mountain. I'm going this time. I want the helicopter back and circling that quadrant. Prime objective -- locate the missing fugitive, Todd Manning. We want a final determination -- a body -- dead or alive!"

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Standing in the rush of the night air was a feeling Todd Manning wouldn't soon forget. His eyes refocused to the pale, filtered light cast down by the moon shrouded in a vaporous sky. He looked down at his arm and the rest of his body, which had been invisible to him in the cave. His arms and legs were stained with newly dried blood and his damaged arm hung limply against his chest. I need to get something to set this bone in place.
Turning around to face the exit he had just passed through, he saw that the opening was camouflaged by overgrown plants and foliage. No one could have seen this cave outlet, so he felt an even greater sense of relief as he began his labored descent along the mountainside. I'm not going to wonder how I'm going to get medical attention now…just getting back will be challenge enough.

Susie Carothers accepted the drink offered to her and raised her eyebrows at Sam's selection. So you still remember about my martinis. Not bad. You haven't lost your touch. "You always did make a mean martini, Sammy," she said coyly and sipped from the glass with the expectation of pleasure. "Mmmm…yes! Tres bien, sweetie, and just what I needed tonight."
Sam stood motionless in front of her, but a restlessness crept over him, and he suddenly wanted to busy himself with some task.
"Come sit down, Sammy!" Susie coaxed him and patted an area on the sofa near her. "We've got so much to catch up on…and besides, you never did tell me why you asked me over here tonight."
What the hell is wrong with me? I called her, and now I'm trying to figure out a way to get rid of her. She looks great, too. Shrugging his shoulders apologetically, Sam tried to casually sit down on the sofa somewhat away from her. He picked up the waiting, questioning look which appeared in her eyes as he leaned back against the pillows.
"Well…I guess I was just thinking about old times, Susie, and was wondering how you were doing…"
"Stop it, Sammy!" Susie said with a twinge of sarcasm in her pretty voice. "You never were a very good liar, so fess up. Did you get dumped?"

John Sykes ate his late night dinner watching the political commentary program he usually tuned in to see. Politics was another kind of food for him, and his mind ravenously devoured every bit of information - storing it up for future reference with ease. With the right connections and timing, he had every intention of running for office, but his sights were on a bigger prize than winning some local election. Since a very early age, he had known exactly what was motivating him as he carefully plotted his career path. Police commissioner was just another stepping stone to his desired goal - a seat in Congress and eventually, the White House. Most of his acquaintances knew of his political designs, but only a few intimate friends were allowed to know about his drive to accomplish what would appear to be the impossible dream.
Chewing slowly on the last morsel of food, he clicked off the television set with his remote as the show credits appeared on the screen. Closing his eyes, he engaged in the private daydream which he continually had - that of sitting behind a large desk in an impressive, oval-shaped office and signing presidential orders. Campaign acceptance speeches with balloons all around never really entered into this daydream. Those were the necessary accoutrements along the way, but what stirred him more than anything was imagining he had the power to change the status quo and implement his own ideas. This was his fantasy and what kept him focused and able to proceed with his plans in a tunnel-vision manner. A smile crept over his smooth features as he let the images he had dreamed up take over his thoughts.
Sighing at the disturbance, Sykes reached for the phone ringing on the table beside him.
"Sykes."
"Delgado here," said the all too familiar voice with a misleading warmth.
Sykes was astonished that the FBI man had called him at home. He sat up and immediately concentrated on his caller's words.
"Yes…what is it?"
"Sorry to disturb you, Commissioner," Del's voice rose with emphasis. "I'm calling to let you know of a new FBI directive to reinvestigate the area where Todd Manning disappeared."
"Reinvestigate?" Sykes's tone implied amazement at what he had just heard. "That area has been thoroughly investigated, Delgado. What's behind this anyway?"
"We're just not satisfied that the case can be closed until we do this, Commissioner. It's rather premature, don't you think, to write Todd Manning off as dead at this early date."
So they want a body. And I think I know who's behind this so-called "directive".
"So what are you going to do, Delgado? Are your men planning on casing the inside of that mountain? Frankly, I don't think cave spelunking is in the FBI training manual."
Del paused and for a moment, Sykes thought he had struck a nerve and would receive a return fire of words from the agent. Instead he heard a low, heavy laugh.
"Not bad, Commissioner! Oh…and you're right, it's not the everyday occurrence for us, but we're well known for our specialists in all areas of reconnaissance. Besides, you're not involved in this one. Department procedure requires me to call since the missing fugitive was from your jurisdiction."
"Delgado, I know plenty about your procedure, but I'm more concerned about a big mess over there if anyone is killed in the process. This man is definitely not worth the time and manpower you're expending."
"I'll take that into consideration, Commissioner Sykes," Del said with polite formality.
"Well, since you bothered to call me, Delgado," Sykes said testily, "I still want a full report of anything you find out. If you find him - in whatever condition - he has to come back here first."
"Certainly, Commissioner." Del said rather patronizingly and hung up. Sykes's eyes glowed with anger as he heard the click. Is there no end to this Manning? One way or another, he wanted to be unequivocally rid of Manning and his troublesome persona.

Pacing back and forth throughout the rooms of the penthouse, Tea rubbed her hands worriedly as she thought of what she had done. I gave him an ultimatum and he backed down! Del! But I also could have prevented Todd from escaping, too. I had to do something, though…especially after that dream. As she moved throughout the penthouse, every shadow in the corners of the rooms made her look twice as if she half expected to see him emerge in his usual silent way to stare at her with those hypnotic eyes. She remembered only too well how she had felt when he looked at her sometimes as if he owned her - a feeling that reached right into her soul and grabbed her - chaining her to him in some inexplicable way. Wanting to run and hide from his penetrating, controlling gaze, she would make her bravest attempt to pretend that he didn't have that effect on her. Maybe you never knew what I was feeling then, but I was sure you had to.
"It's worse now," she reflected as she made herself a cup of spiced tea. Now she was forever bound to him and there would be no rest for her until she could see him lounging lazily near her with that teasing, wicked grin of his egging her on. You are mine, querido and I am yours. Whatever else happens, nothing will change that - ever!

Sam's reluctance to move closer to her had not been lost on Susie Carothers. Her question about him being dumped had been a teasing comment, but she wasn't so sure that she hadn't hit the nail on the head. At any rate, this had to be about another woman. But who?
"Dumped?" Sam relaxed a little as he sensed she was fishing for information, but wasn't anywhere close. "Susie, your imagination is running overtime as usual. I'm not even seeing anyone at the moment."
"Besides," he continued with an ingratiating smile, "do I have to have an ulterior motive to ask you over here. We're still friends, aren't we?"
Stretching out her arms and drawing attention to her shapely figure, Susie smiled sweetly back at him. "Of course, Sammy…always. Let's just say I'm pleasantly surprised and a little curious, but I'll get over it, or perhaps I'll even find out the real reason. I'm a good detective, remember?."
Sam's eyes followed her movements with more interest, and he knew that there was a lot of truth to what she had said. Even the "detective" part was accurate since Susie had done her own sleuthing to find out about the love affair between her former husband and another woman. This is crazy! She's attractive - even more than I remember - and I need some diversion. Maybe I should see her again.

As the car rolled quietly along the road headed to Llanfair, Viki turned on the radio - needing some distraction to invade her confusing thoughts. Well, my brother is probably well on his way to being a free man…at least for the time being. If he can stay one step ahead of the police, maybe he can find his way back and straighten out the mess his alters made for him. Viki resolved to use every ounce of influence she had within the community to try and change the public opinion concerning her brother. Tea had intimated that Todd had integrated the alters, and she could only hope that this was true. He still would need help…long-term therapy as she had had in order to once more take his place back into the mainstream of life.
Glancing in the rear view mirror, she turned the mirror to see how she still looked. The day had taken its toll and she was beginning to feel the effects of the worry over her brother. Her hand reached up to her right ear where she had noticed something missing. My earring! It must have dropped off at Sam's place. Looking at the clock in the car, she noted that it was still a reasonable hour and she was not even halfway to Llanfair. It's a pretty valuable earring, too…very sentimental…a present from Sloan. Sam will probably still be up…I'll just swing around and get it. As she turned the car around, her eyes brightened as she thought about seeing him again. Okay, maybe it's an excuse, but it's a good one. The Continental swung around and once more zoomed down the road - this time, at a much faster clip than it had before.

~ TO BE CONTINUED ~