PURGATORY - PART TEN

PURGATORY - PART TEN

PREVIOUSLY

“Nah, it’s over between Delgado and me,” said Todd with his back toward his doctor. Looking down, he realized he was rubbing the finger where his wedding band used to be.

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“I have some news that may interest you, Todd,” said Susannah as they waited for Sam in the small conference room. “I realize you were impatient when it took me a few extra days to get here, but I needed the time to arrange a leave of absence from the clinic in Switzerland.”

Todd looked surprised. “You left? Why?”

“There are a number of reasons, Todd, and your case is not the least of them. Beyond that, I’d been feeling for quite a while that I wanted to return to the States, and Llanview seems the obvious choice. My sister is here, as you know, and I’d like to help with her baby. I haven’t been able to help my niece Rachel as much as I’ve wanted, and now I’ll be here when she gets out of prison in a few months.” Susannah looked suddenly shy. “And…and…well, I’ve been corresponding with Larry Woleck since I left Llanview, and we’ve gotten together a few times at medical conferences. Let’s just say that I feel like there might be a chance for something more, you know?”

Todd grinned. “That might be more information than I need, Susannah.” She smiled back. “So, are you saying you’ll be around to shrink my head if I stay in Llanview?”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying, Todd. Larry has offered me the head psychiatric position at the hospital, and I’ve accepted. And if Hank takes this deal, you won’t be able to get rid of me.” Todd stood up and began to pace the room for the tenth time since Sam had left.

“Something is wrong, Susannah. This is taking way too long.” He stopped and stared expectantly at the door.

“It has been a while, Todd, but you know lawyers. It probably takes them twice as long to say something than it would for you or I.” The psychiatrist wracked her brain for yet another topic that might prove a distraction for her patient while he was waiting to hear his fate. “So, how is your sister Viki?” she asked warmly. Todd’s body went rigid and she knew she had chosen the wrong subject if her goal was to calm him down. But before he could respond, Sam came through the door. Susannah made a mental note to explore what was up between Todd and his sister during their next therapy session. One look at the silver-haired attorney’s face was all it took to figure out that his negotiations with the District Attorney had not gone well.

“I’m sorry, Pal,” he told Todd, “but it looks like there will have to be a trial after all. Hank just won’t budge on the idea of jail time for you.” His client’s eyes flashed in anger as he kicked at a chair.

“I was a fool to think he’d ever cut me any slack,” he growled in a low voice.

“I think you’re right this time, Todd,” agreed Sam. “It seems Hank is willing to risk losing the case and put up with the expense of a trial rather than see you get away without serving any time.” Todd sat down abruptly and put his head in his hands.

“How much time?” he mumbled.

Sam cleared his throat. “Actually, it isn’t too bad of a deal, but given how you feel about confinement of any type, I figured you’d rather take your chance with a trial.”

Todd slammed both palms on the table. “Just spit it out! Tell me what he wants!”

“If you plead guilty to the charge of perjury, you’ll get two years probation, mandatory therapy, and…and a total of six months in jail.” Todd looked up at him with a look of complete misery on his face.

“Statesville?” he whispered.

“No, right here in the Llanview City Jail, although given the way Bo and the cops feel about you, I’m not sure if that is an advantage or not.” Todd stared into space for a long moment, then drew a deep breath.

“They’ll let me continue therapy with Susannah?” he asked.

“Yes, the therapy is part of the sentence.”

“Then take the deal,” he hissed.

“Todd, you can’t be serious!” exclaimed Susannah. “Jail is the last thing you need now.” Her patient remained silent with his hands covering his eyes.

“Todd, don’t be so hasty! You don’t have to do this!” said Sam with concern. Todd jumped to his feet.

“What choice do I have, Coach? If I’m convicted, I’ll get seven years!”

“But we have a good chance to win at trial, Todd. A sympathetic jury…”

“The trial will take weeks and all that stuff about my therapy will come out in public. No, I think I’ll just cut my losses now.” An uncomfortable silence filled the room.

“We were just starting to make some progress, Todd. I know we talked about taking responsibility and making amends, but a prison cell is hardly the best place to work out your problems,” said Susannah in a soothing tone. “Sam, do you think they’d agree to confinement in a locked psychiatric hosp…”

“No!” shouted Todd. “Forget it Susannah! I’m not going to a loony bin. Jail sucks, but I can take it.” He chuckled without warmth. “You of all people know how much punishment I can take. Let’s just get on with it. I’m the client, Sam, and I’m ordering you to take the deal.”

Sam stood up, wiping quickly at his eyes. “All right, Todd. As long as you understand that Bo and his goons won’t let you draw a breath without looking to hurt you some way.” Todd nodded, and Sam left the room.

When the attorney returned a few minutes later, he found Susannah and Todd sitting at the table in silence. She was quietly holding his hand. “They jumped all over it, Pal. Matter of fact, Hank is so thrilled at the prospect of finally putting you away, he got the court clerk to put it on the schedule for this afternoon.”

“Fine by me. Let’s get it over with.” He looked up with a dazed expression on his face.

“Sam, can they suddenly change their minds and give him a stiffer sentence after he pleads guilty?” asked Susannah.

“It’s been known to happen, but not to my clients,” said Sam forcefully. He slid into a chair next to Todd. “Look, are you sure about this Todd? Given the celebratory mood out in the squad room at finally getting you behind bars, I’d say you’re in for nothing less than a living hell for the next six months. You can still change your mind, but once we go to court, that’s it-no appeal.”

“I’m ready,” said Todd getting to his feet. He hesitated in front of the door. “Uh…Coach? After today, I won’t need a lawyer anymore, but I could sure use all the friends I can get.”

Sam pulled Todd to him and hugged him tightly. “Don’t worry, Pal, I won’t abandon you. I’ll be by to visit you as much as they’ll let me.” The door opened and a guard informed them that they were expected in court.

“Sam?” said Todd as he paused in the doorway. “It’s OK if you call me Boomer.” Sam stared after him, trying without much success to get his emotions under control.

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“John, why won’t you tell me what this is about?” asked Téa as the detective led her into the courtroom and escorted her to a seat in the front row of the gallery. Obviously something big was about to happen, because the room was almost full. Across the aisle, Kevin, Bo and Asa Buchanan laughed together, looking like they were celebrating something. They gave the thumbs up sign as a smiling Hank Gannon moved into place at the front of the courtroom.

“Trust me, Counselor,” said Sykes with a wide smile on his face. “This is something you won’t want to miss.” Glancing behind her, Téa noticed Blair Cramer stop Sam as he came into the courtroom. They exchanged a few words and Téa saw Blair’s mouth drop open in shock. She shook her head in disbelief. Sam moved forward to the defense table, shooting a cold glance at the Buchanans as he passed by. Dr. Susannah Hanen took the seat right next to Téa, and the young attorney shivered under her cold stare.

A sudden hush descended over the spectators as Todd entered the courtroom accompanied by two policemen. He waited quietly as they freed his wrists from the manacles, then moved to the seat next to Sam. Although he turned around to receive a little smile of encouragement from his therapist, he studiously avoided even the smallest glance in Téa’s direction. Everyone climbed to his or her feet as Judge Fitzwater took the bench. Opening a file before her, she took a few moments to glance over some papers, then nodded at the bailiff. The defendant was ordered to rise, and Todd stood up, buttoning his jacket. He appeared calm and collected, although looking closely, Téa saw that he was trembling slightly. The bailiff read the charges, and Judge Fitzwater fixed Todd with her icy gaze.

“Mr. Manning, I understand you now wish to change your plea?” she asked, looking at the defendant as though he was something unpleasant she had stepped in.

“Yes, Your Honor,” said Todd in a clear voice. “I plead guilty to all charges.” Téa gasped, covering her mouth in shock. She had just heard words she had never dreamed she would ever hear from Todd Manning. Looking up, she saw that John Sykes was staring down at her, a triumphant light shining in his clear eyes.

“Very well,” said the judge, glancing down at the papers. “Thomas Todd Manning, this court orders you to undergo mandatory psycho-therapy with a court-appointed doctor until such time as it can be determined that you are no longer a danger to yourself or others. You are also sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.” The judge paused for effect, almost licking her lips with anticipation. “In addition, I sentence you to two years imprisonment in the City Jail, eighteen months suspended, credit for time served.”

Loud exclamations of surprise could be heard, mingled with whoops of triumph from the contingent around the Buchanans. Todd didn’t flinch and remained facing the judge with his head held high. “Well, Mr. Manning, there is your fate, and believe me when I tell you I wish I could impose much harsher sanctions on you. Lucky for you, I choose to follow the District Attorney’s recommendations. If I receive the slightest report of any non-compliance on your part, it will be my pleasure to remove the suspension on the additional months of your jail term.” Only when the judge had made her ponderous way from the bench, did Téa see the tiniest slump in Todd’s shoulders. He looked somewhat dazed as he turned to Sam and shook his hand goodbye. Looking over his shoulder, he waved at Susannah, then held his hands out docilely for the cuffs. His two keepers marched him to the front of the courtroom, where he disappeared through the door without a backward glance.

Téa sat staring after him with her mouth hanging open, her mind a jumble of conflicting emotions. This was her moment of triumph, the result she had been dreaming about for all the months of Todd’s absence. So why did she feel so empty? “Congratulations, Counselor!” said Sykes. Téa flinched as she felt his arm snake around her shoulder. “You did it! You put Todd Manning behind bars!” Téa looked up at him with a stricken look on her face. “Don’t feel bad that it’s only for six months,” continued the detective, oblivious to her inner turmoil. “Everyone in the Llanview PD is committed to making sure he suffers as much as he would in 20 years, no matter how short the sentence.” Her eyes flashed in anger, although they were filling up with tears.

“Get away from me,” she spat, pulling away abruptly. She spun around wildly, noting Kevin laughing triumphantly, Blair glaring at her through wet eyes, Sam sitting at the defense table with his head in his hands, Susannah analyzing her coldly. Suddenly, she knew what she had to do. “Leave me alone, John,” she warned, “and don’t follow me this time!” She walked quickly through the barrier and headed to the door at the front of the courtroom. Passing through the court offices, she began to run as she entered the warren of corridors behind the courtroom.

Téa caught up to Todd and his guards as they waited for the notoriously slow elevator that led to the subterranean passage connecting the police station to the courthouse. Todd held his body at an angle to the doors, his eyes locked on the window opposite the elevator as he drank in what might be his last glimpse of the sky for six months. The doors slid open just as Téa approached.

“Please, Officers, can I have just a minute with the prisoner before you take him?” she asked. Todd stepped back away from her, holding up his bound hands to warn her off.

“No! Go away, Delgado! You got what you wanted, so just leave me alone in my misery.”

The cops hesitated, then one of them said, “Make it short, Ma’am. We’re not supposed to delay in getting him back.” One guard entered the elevator to hold it open, and the other stood just behind Todd.

“Just tell me why, Todd! Why did you plead guilty? Prison is your worst nightmare.” Téa trembled slightly, almost undone by the haunted look she saw in his eyes.

“What difference does it make?” he spat. “I hurt you, I hurt everyone, and now I’m going to pay for it. Enjoy your revenge, Téa. You’ll have the pleasure of seeing me die a little bit every day.” He turned his head and looked out the window again.

“But what about Starr?” she asked and watched him flinch at the mention of his daughter.

“Starr will have to get used to visiting her father in jail. As much as I hate the idea, I know I’ll die without seeing her.”

“Todd…”

“No, that’s enough, Téa! Go on! This is your big moment. Go celebrate with the Buchanans and your boyfriend Syko. Big, bad Todd Manning is finally going to get what he has coming to him,” he said bitterly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a jail sentence to serve.” He walked quickly into the elevator and leaned against the back wall. His eyes locked on the window, his face a study in misery. Téa stood trembling in the corridor as the remaining guard followed the prisoner onto the lift and nodded at the cop holding the door.

When the doors had finally shut and the elevator hummed as it carried its human cargo deep into the ground, Téa approached and laid her palm against the cold metal. She leaned her forehead against it and felt the hot tears rolling down her cheeks. Now she finally knew the truth of the words, “Be careful what you wish for.”

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE SERIES “HELL”