IMPOSTER - PART THIRTY EIGHT

PREVIOUSLY

"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.

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No! It can't be! That voice…the way he said it…it's him! A cold shiver trickled down his sides and over his back as recognition settled in, and his hands struggled to get a grip on the wheel of the car. You're here…in this car… with me!

The words spoken hung in the air - their meaning and intent rich with emotional drama and a challenge. There was no question anymore as to what she had been sensing all evening, but the stark finality of it sent her tumbling into a place of confusion. Viki could only stand there and let the sheer force of his words invade her protective shell and leave her defenseless. No! I can't let you turn me inside out like this…
"You're out of your mind!" she abruptly turned away from him - willing herself to consciously deaden the feeling of panic reverberating within her and attempting unsuccessfully to insert her key into the door lock.
"Am I?" Sam's arm shot forward in front of her to block her from escape. "I haven't proposed to anyone in years, Viki…I'm just as confused as you are…but I know one thing from tonight that wasn't a reality before this - I am in lovewith you!"
"Bet you're kind of surprised to hear from again," the backseat voice said archly with a touch of unmistakable amusement. Slider shut his eyes with dread as it dawned on him that he was probably right in his assumption. It had been his modus operandi to constantly bait him because he had always known that Slider was his equal in intelligence. That game between them was obviously still being played out.

"So who am I speaking to?" Slider said slowly - his mind suddenly focused and ready for whatever he would hear.
"Take a wild guess."
"All right…my guess is…Nick."
"Bully for you! You haven't lost it…nope, you're still good."
Nick!! Have you been in his life all this time? It's not possible…you were supposed to be gone…
"Terence Alexander Paxton, the Third," Nick said rolling the names off his tongue with a kind of sinister relish. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

The hospital corridors hummed with muffled and sometimes louder voices and noises as Tea's mind began working on what she would do next. I'm not staying in this place any longer than I have to. I hate hospitals anyway!
Closing her eyes she allowed herself the luxury of her thoughts and the still very real memory of her night of passion and love with her husband. Every moment with him had been a wild abandonment to ecstasy but more than that, she had reached deep inside him and seen more of his soul than she felt sure he had ever allowed anyone to see before. This was what she had been longing for since she had first known he was important to her.
As she remembered their evening together, she also thought of something that had disturbed her in the midst of their long-awaited intimacy. There was still a part of him yet undiscovered which he was hiding from her, but she had dismissed it then as her own misguided instincts coming into play. I know you still have a secret that has never been revealed…I need to find you…I need to know…
Opening her eyes, she saw Del talking to one of the nurses and she smiled as she thought about the strict instructions he was probably giving her. What am I going to do with you? You'll suffocate me with love one of these days. Glancing at the array of machines near her bed, a dispassionate and deadly serious look crossed her face. You're not going to like me much after what I'm going to do, Del, but it's my life…
Here he comes…I've got to be as cool as a cucumber on this…he knows me too well…
Del's brown eyes softened as he approached his sister's bed and looked at her - her long, shiny hair flattened out against the pillow. She looked very wan and pale - more than usual - and he felt so helpless thinking about what she must be going through. She was always so giving and concerned about him even as a child, and he wanted more than anything to make her emotional pain go away. The healing process would have to begin now, so that she could forget what that man had done to her.
"Chiquita, how are you feeling now?" he said as he neared her bedside.
"I'm fine, Del. Well, I'll be fine…you don't have to worry," she said as simply as she could with a nod of her head.
"I always worry, and I will continue to do so, " he said with emphasis and a reassuring touch of his hand. "Is there anything you need from home?" he inquired - checking the clock on the wall.
This is going to be easier than I thought. It will take him awhile to get the things I need.
"Yes, if you don't mind, Del. I need my overnight bag and some things from the penthouse. Nothing much. Are you going now?"
"I'd better. I have to catch some shuteye before tomorrow morning. I've got some loose ends to tie up on this case…"
He stopped with a look of panic as he realized what he had said. Estupido! She doesn't need a reminder!
Tea pretended that she hadn't picked up on his slip and continued, "You must be so tired. Yes, go ahead. I may try to nap some myself."
"You need to. You need to get your strength back. Tomorrow they're going to run some tests."
Tea sighed and looked away from him. "It's all really unnecessary, but I suppose I have no say in the matter."
"None." He patted her arm again and listened as she went over the items she needed.
"You'll need a key," she said and directed him to her purse.
"Oh right. I guess I will," he said. No, I don't. I had a key made some time ago when that sicko husband of yours was first causing trouble.
Bending down and kissing her lightly on the forehead, he assumed a businesslike stance and said, "Back as soon as I can."
Watching him leave made her heart ache as she thought of what her betrayal would mean to him. It wasn't her intention to hurt him, but she wasn't going to be kept in the dark by him or anyone. Please forgive me, Del…

In a split second Viki Carpenter's world had changed - from safe to threatening. Her heart had known only loneliness in recent years and with an isolated fortitude she had taken each day for what it brought her - delighting in the accomplishments of her children and those around her. Until this night she had had no real reason to believe that anything or anyone would ever make this different for her. Nothing at all - until now.
With unrelenting purpose he had pushed aside her need to remain unscathed, and deep inside her resolve had begun to drift away like a slow moving tide. After all the times that she had chastised her brother about needing to trust and give his heart to someone, it was now obvious that she had not taken her own advice at all. Maybe I never knew what you were going through…I understand so much more now…
"Sam," her voice sounded so strange and faraway as if it was coming from someone else.
"Tell me…tell me now…" he said with a strong urgency as if he knew that there would be something lost forever if she didn't speak.
What she saw in his eyes was even more disturbing and still completely baffling to her. This man loves me…and he wants me…not someone else…me!

"Did I rattle you a little, Terence?" the smooth, suave voice broke into the silence. "Maybe you thought I'd forgotten about all the particulars," he added in a tone of proud assessment.
It's you all right. You're playing a game as you always did. I don't want to play, but I have to again…I have to…for Todd.
"Maybe…maybe a little. You were always sharp, Nick." Slider said with caution edged in his statement.
"Yes, you didknow that, didn't you?" he said as if mulling over the full import of a memory lodged in both their minds. "Ahhhh…what we went through together - eh Terry?"
You know I hated that nickname! There's so much you knew about me…so much I didn't want you to know because you used it against me. But I know a lot about you, too…and now I have the ammunition.
As if reading his thoughts, Nick next statements curdled Slider's blood as the car streaked toward the horizon.
"I'm glad I found you. Todd didmiss you. You and need to catch up on old times. "
Old times. Yeah right! Maybe you are ready to go back there. This is it then, isn't it? You've hit your last stride this time, and now the past has finally caught up with you.
"So I'm assuming you're taking us to a safe place?" he said with a low yawn as if he was rather indifferent to where he was going.
"Yes. You know they think you're dead."
"More brilliance on the part of the FBI and the police. Truly amazing. Well, don't worry about them anymore. They're baffoons. We're beyond anything they have to offer."
Slider's eyes darted once more toward the mirror and he saw with some relief that the speaker huddled in the backseat was not moving around anymore -- as if he was about to fall asleep. If I have to deal with you, I need some time to think.
His relief was short-lived, as Nick seemed to choose his words even more carefully this time.
"By the way...we still have a game to play out, don't we? This time I've decided there won't be any rules…and the winner takes all!"

~ TO BE CONTINUED ~