IMPOSTER - PART THIRTY SEVEN

PREVIOUSLY

"You look like hell Z," Slider spoke first as Todd moved slowly toward him.
"That's because I've been there," Todd said with a voice laden with a deep, sad knowledge of things that others had never seen. He moved toward Slider like some sort of ghostly apparition, stopping in front of him.
"Slid…"
Suddenly his face and body appeared to freeze in time and his large frame caved in --- falling like a dead weight against the chest of his astonished friend.

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Slider fell forcibly back against a wall of the shed - the body of Todd Manning slumped forward against him. Now what? Damn Z! You picked a fine time to throw in the towel…not now! Holding Todd up with incredible effort, he thought about what he could do. With police probably still prowling around, he couldn't afford to delay any longer. It's just you and me again Z…we're going on a trip.

Sam hesitantly looked back at Viki and wondered if there was anything or anyone this woman couldn't see through. In some ways I was better off to have never met you, Viki…I could keep to myself. I can tell you want more…
"Well?" Viki's voice interrupted his thoughts, and he saw the determination flaring in her eyes.
"Well…you just don't understand that I'm not who you think I am."
"Sounds very mysterious, Counselor, but I'm not buying it. Try again."
Slamming his fist on the wheel of the car, Sam almost sputtered out his agitation. "Look, Viki…we're both adults here…you must have heard some things about me."
"Like the fact that you and Susie Carothers were very simpatico last year?" Viki said slyly.
Sam pointed his finger at her accusingly. "See, I knew it! You saw Susie tonight at my place, didn't you?"
"Why do you ask?" Viki said blandly as if his question amounted to nothing in particular.
Sam shook his head and a twisted grin appeared on his face. "You're just not going to give me an inch, are you?… I'm trying to spare you Viki…can't you see that?" he ended with a tone so serious that she stared in shock back at him.
What is this, Rappaport? Are you being gallant or are you just running scared?

Del walked alongside Tea as she was being wheeled into a hospital room - holding her hand and patting it mechanically. Dr. Brodder wanted her to get some further tests, and Del knew that he wanted to stay with her until he was satisfied that she was okay. As he watched while the nurse helped her into a bed, he heard the beep of his cell phone in his jacket.
"Delgado," he answered.
"Chief, it's Parker. Thought you'd want to know. We got word that Commissioner Sykes is on his royal high horse about the car crash. His men are all over us trying to get information on what happened. They're demanding a report be sent over to them pronto."
"Give them the pilot's log sheet…nothing more. I'll brief you tomorrow when I get in," Del replied testily - sensing that he would once more have to lock horns with this overly slick police commissioner. You can kiss my Puerto Rican ass, Sykes!. Yours must be on the line right about now, and you're going to try to lay some blame somewhere, but it won't be on my head!

With Todd's body supported and lifted up against his right side, Slider managed to drag him forward a step at a time to his car. Years of throwing a baseball had strengthened his arm well for such a task. Setting him carefully in the back seat of the car, he leaned him at an angle against the door and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. Looking down at him as the overhead light in the car highlighted the interior, Slider was once more stunned at Todd's condition. I don't know what happened to you, but you look like you're lucky to be here Z. Checking his pulse again, he satisfied himself that Todd had passed out from sheer exhaustion. This arm looks bad…maybe Sherry can help out…

Tea stared at her brother standing a few feet from her bed wearing his official look and talking into a phone. Oh, Del…you'll never change…Popi was right about you. You love to be in charge. It's something I've had to accept about you and now, after fighting with you over the years about silly things, I see that it's just who you are. Why is it that I can never figure anyone out until it's too late? She sighed a little, but she didn't feel the least bit sad. Inside she was almost deliriously happy, and it was taking every effort she had to remember to behave as a woman who had just lost her husband. The connection had not been broken. She knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Somewhere in the world, her husband was alive…no matter what anyone would say to the contrary.
The tension between them had escalated again, and Viki's heart was pounding furiously as she waited for Sam to justify his strange behavior. First, you kiss me like I'm the last woman on earth, and then you pull away with remarks about your playboy image. I never thought you were two-faced Sam, but you're scaring me now.
Inside his feelings were in a state of chaos, and Sam tried to calm himself down before the words spilled out into the ominous silence hanging like a curtain between them. Easy…you're going to frighten her off…she's not ready. What am I saying…I'm not ready…or am I? The kiss had done one thing that had sealed permanently any doubts he may have had about her. He wanted to shout out loud the revelation that had slammed into him and thrown him into this turmoil.
I love you.

Viki saw his face flush and shivered with a strange dread. You are running scared. This is just too much for you isn't it? Too real. Why did I think you could be different? I'm sure you were just curious to see if I could be another one of your conquests. I'm sorry I couldn't be the woman you think you want!!
"Good night, Sam," she said with an ire that seemed to ignite and burn savagely from within. With pointed aloofness, she opened the car door and walked pristinely up the walk to her door. Shuffling the keys around in her purse, her eyes began to fill with warm tears and she felt as if she was rooted to the doorstep. The slam of a car door stung her consciousness and moments later a voice behind her heightened every nerve ending she possessed.
"Stay right there!" he ordered her and she tensed as she heard his footsteps come up the walk and she felt his presence right behind her. His hands reached around her to touch her arms, and he spoke in a strange voice - strained but still very vehement.
"You're mad…I know. You deserved a straight answer from me, and I…I screwed it all up. I didn't think I had the right…after all that's happened… and it's been just one night."
I won't be trifled with Sam. These little games may be your calling card with those women, but I don't know how to play. Just say your goodbye speech and get the hell out of my life.
"What does one night have to do with anything?" Viki said - wishing she could stop the flow of tears on her already stained face.
"Nothing…and everything. That's just it, Viki. This night has meant everything to me," he said with barely concealed emotion -- moving his arms along the sides of hers.
Viki heard the words, but didn't even dare allow herself to hope that there was anything to them. Bitter disappointments had taken their toil in her life, and she never allowed herself to assume that everything would work out in the end.
"What do you want from me, Sam? Viki spoke out as she tried to prevent herself from succumbing to the unbelievable feeling of happiness as he touched her. "I'm not a Susie Carothers…I'm not in the habit of recklessly tossing my principles out the window for a man. Why are you even here?" she blinked back her tears and shakily pulled her keys out of her purse.
With another woman the answer would have been easy…too easy. It would have been a simple, straightforward request to be mutually agreed upon by two consenting adults.
Seconds later his arms turned her gently toward him and his eyes moved slowly from her lips and then to her eyes - focusing on her with a bright, exciting intensity which astounded her.
"I'll tell you now exactly what I want," his voice spoke with a warm, caressing quality and a look of awe on his face as if he were saying something new and amazing. "I want to…marry you."

The Integra sped down the highway through the thick, settling mist - its driver checking his rear view mirror every few minutes to see if the backseat occupant was okay. Better that you sleep Z…being awake is probably extremely painful. Well, you got your wish, Slider, ole' bean. Things were getting just too normal around the university, and you needed something else to cut through the sameness of your days. Checking the motionless form of his passenger, he shook his head in disbelief that he was actually driving Todd Manning back to his home. I'm aiding and abetting a wanted fugitive…well, a dead one now. Is there nothing I wouldn't do for you?
Tuning in to a local station, Slider heard another news bulletin concerning Todd Manning.
…more details on the crash of Todd Manning's car will be released tomorrow morning…Todd Manning was the publisher of the Sun newspaper and the brother of Viki Carpenter, publisher of The Banner newspaper. He was the son and heir of the late Victor Lord, founder of the Banner. Mr. Manning is survived by a daughter, Starr, and his wife, Tea Delgado Manning.
"Ohhhhhh," a long, low moan from behind Slider's seat caused him to jerk involuntarily, and his eyes tried to penetrate the glare of the mirror to see what was happening behind him.
"Z? You okay?"
"So…Toddy has been eliminated from everyone's life now…but not mine!" a clipped, superior-sounding voice uttered from the depths of the darkness in the rear of the car. Slider heard the screech of his wheels as he swerved the car across the centerline of the highway -- his heart racing with what he had heard and the sudden connection with a memory from long ago.

~ TO BE CONTINUED ~