LONELY IN YOUR NIGHTMARE - PART TEN

PREVIOUSLY

"I don't want to dream anymore Todd," she said softly looking into his eyes.
"And I don't want anymore nightmares. I'll be back o.k. C'Mon relax. Let 's enjoy tonight, huh?" he calmly said.
"I am never going to leave you again…" She leaned forward and kissed him in an attempt to kiss her fears away.
He held her tight in his arms.
The candles burned bright.

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RING! RING!
"Hello?"
"Did you get the peach roses?"
"This morning. Thank you. I miss you."
"I miss you too. How's Trevor?"
"He's o.k."
"Who's with him now?"
"Judith."
"You got Judith back?"
"I was lucky. She was available"
"I can't wait to see you again…"
"When will you be back?"
"It will be a few days still. I'm selling the paper to Giest and I'm in the process of selling my other assets.."
"What are you doing now?"
"It's nine at night. I'm here in my apartment, drinking a beer. What are you doing?"
"I'm in my office. Del and I are going to dinner tonight."
"Delgado…I…"
"What Manning?"
"It's a craving…"
Pause.
"I need you…"
"Ditto Manning…"
"I'll call you tomorrow morning, all right?"
"I'll be waiting impatiently for your call."
Pause.
"I love you…Todd."
"I love you…Téa. Tschuss…"
"Adios…"
CLICK.

3 Days Later… Berlin, Germany December 2000

Todd Manning walked into his office building. Things were going well. Giest, his managing editor, was handling the contract between them. He was selling the paper to Giest for a deal. Giest was happy. The contract should be ready in a day or two. He was also giving his apartment to Giest. Giest had relatives from eastern Germany who he was going to rent the apartment too. Todd was looking to sell his boat, his porsche, his house in Garmisch, and his stock in a local beer company.
He walked into his office and was startled to see Vincent Reyes at his desk, sitting on it, holding a gun. A 9mm.
"Get the hell off my desk," said Todd raising his voice.
"I don't think so," said Vincent playing with his gun.
"Put the gun down," said Todd.
"I don't think I'll do that either…. Amigo," replied Vincent.
"What's this about?" Téa?" asked Todd just standing there.
"Yeah. This is about Téa," replied Vincent.
"She's MY wife. She's not yours," said Todd.
"I've had your wife before," said Vincent smiling.
Todd's heart fell.
"Her eyes…don't lie…"
"Téa said there was nothing between you," said Todd. "We were lovers in law school. I lost her to her ambition that time. This time I won't lose her for any reason," explained Vincent.
Todd didn't like the edge to Vincent's voice.
"Ancient history, Reyes. My wife loves me. You won't do anything to jeopardize your… friendship with her…" said Todd.
Vincent stood up and walked towards Todd.
"Who held her hand when Trevor got sick? Who held her in his arms – comforting her? Who wiped her tears away? Me, Manning, Me. Not you," said Vincent playing with the safety on the gun.
"What's your point?" asked Todd.
"My point being I'm the one who is going to return to Llanview to comfort her… over your…disappearance… your boy, is going to call me Daddy…" taunted Vincent.
Todd lost it.
"Not MY son! You are not going to lay a hand on MY son!" yelled Todd approaching Vincent.
Vincent took the pistol and pistol-whipped Todd in the face with the butt of the gun. Todd fell to the ground hard.
"You can't… kill me…" muttered Todd barely conscious, clutching his face.
"Why not?" asked Vincent coldly cocking the gun, pointing it at Todd.
"My son…needs my blood…to live… Téa will never forgive you… if you take…"
Todd couldn't hold on and lost consciousness.
Vincent cringed. Manning was right. And Trevor was such a sweet boy….
What was he going to do now?

3 Days later, Llanview, Pennsylvania December 2000

The law offices of Rappaport & Manning
"Téa?" asked Sam.
Téa stared at her desk.
"Téa?" asked Sam again.
"Um?" said Téa looking up.
"What is wrong with you?" asked Sam.
"I'm worried about Todd," said Téa.
"I don't understand…" started Sam.
In walked Téa's brother, Delmonico Delgado and Blair Cramer.
"What's up Téa?" asked Del, "I got your call."
"Yeah Téa, I got your call as well. What's got your head in a tizzy?" asked Blair.
"I haven't heard from Todd in three days," said Téa looking up from her desk. Her expression was as hard as nails.
"So?" said Blair. She sat down, "I just got back from Harrisburg a few hours ago."
"The wind blow Manning back outa' town?" asked Del taking a seat.
"Del. This isn't funny. Todd was calling everyday and then all of a sudden – nothing. Something is wrong…" said Téa - her voice rising.
"Téa, settle down," said Del.
"Well, it does sound odd," said Blair, "Starr said he stopped calling her too."
"Something has happened…" said Téa.
"Well, why don't you call your buddy Vincent…" started Blair.
"Vincent? What does Vincent have to do with this?" asked Téa.
"Well, he did go to Berlin…" stared Blair.
"What? When?" asked Téa.
"Duh. Téa. Pull your head out of your… Sorry," said Blair, "I'm just a bit upset. I had a disagreement with Dorian earlier. No excuse. Vincent went to Berlin three days ago."
Del, Sam, and Téa looked at Blair in shock.
"What do you know Blair?" asked Sam.
"I saw him at the airport. I was catching a hop to Harrisburg because I had to take care of some business there. He said his law firm was sending him to Berlin for a few days," explained Blair.
"But he's an entertainment and sports law lawyer! Besides, he told me his firm was sending him to Washington D.C. to represent a client," said Téa.
"Do you think it's possible Vincent went to Berlin?" asked Sam.
Del listened intently.
"I don't know. How jealous of a guy is he?" asked Blair.
"Vincent Reyes and I are not involved. We were in law school. Not since," spat Téa.
"Oh," said Blair.
Téa grabbed her phone and dialed a few numbers.
"Is Vincent Reyes available?"
Pause.
"Téa Delgado Manning."
Pause.
"Uh, huh. Must be some mis-communication. Thanks," said Téa hanging up the phone.
"What Téa?" asked Sam.
Del's eyes darted back and forth from Sam to Téa.
"Vincent's firm said he took a leave of absence – to give me support in my time of…need," said Téa. Her heart was sinking.
"Is it possible? I've seen his jealously first hand…" said Sam.
Téa held up her hand and reached for the phone again dialing some more numbers.
"ADA Jennifer Tucker."
pause.
"Jennifer. Hi, Remember me? Téa Delgado? I'm looking for Vincent," pause.
"Thanks. Bye."
"What?" asked Sam.
"Vincent's girlfriend. She hasn't seen or heard from him in quite awhile," said Téa.
"Give me the phone," said Blair, "It's an international number. Do you mind?" asked Blair.
Téa shook her head no. Todd had given her a number to reach him in Berlin…. why didn't she call that one?
"Giest. Wie Gehts? Blair Cramer. Seen Todd?"
pause.
"Really? When?"
pause.
"What did he look like?"
pause.
"Thanks. Ah, Danke. Tschuss."
Blair hung up.
"What?" asked Téa. She was tense.
"A man meeting Vincent's description met with Todd a few days ago. Giest hasn't seen Todd since. And the contract is ready for Todd to sign," said Blair.
"Who is Giest?" asked Del.
"Todd's managing editor at his German paper," explained Blair.
It pained Téa to know that Blair was familiar with Todd's life in Berlin…
"Todd mentioned him," said Téa, "That's it. I'm going to Berlin. Todd needs me."
"Téa – settle down," said Del standing up.
"Todd needs me," said Téa.
"Ah, what about Trevor?" asked Sam.
"Viki will take care of Trevor. She's got my power of attorney," said Téa.
"I'm going with you," said Blair.
"Blair…" said Téa, "You don't have to."
"I've been to Berlin. Have you?" asked Blair.
Téa frowned, "Whatever."
"I'm trying to give us a chance! Isn't that what you want, Téa?"
Del's eyes burned with fire, "You two going to Berlin…together? Not without me."
"Del?" muttered Téa.
"Téa, please…please…give me another chance to do… whatever the hell it is you want me to do…"
"There is no way I'm letting my sister go into a potential dangerous situation with her husband's ex-wife alone," said Del.
"Then it's settled," said Blair, "Just give me a few hours to take care of Starr."
"I'll need a few hours to take care of Trevor," said Téa.
"I'll make flight arrangements," said Del, "And I'll call you when everything is ready."
Téa turned to Sam, "I…"
"Just go Téa," said Sam smiling, "Do the right thing."
Téa gathered a few things as Del and Blair left. She couldn't believe that Vincent would have gone to Berlin with intentions of harming Todd…but what other choice did she have?

TO BE CONTINUED

************************************************************************************************ ? There is a 6 hour time difference between the Central European Time Zone and the Eastern Time zone.
Tschuss: An informal German way of saying good-bye.
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