PREVIOUSLY

“I’ll see you in court tomorrow, Pal. Good night.” Sam walked quickly through the outer gate without looking back. Viki followed him, turning just before the gate to wish her brother a good night before disappearing around the corner.

Todd banged his head slowly against the bars, squeezing his eyes tightly closed to shut off the flow of tears. “I told you, Susannah,” he whispered. “Everyone leaves. There is never any forgiveness for Todd Manning.”

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Téa noticed the guard’s impatient glance as she hesitated outside the entrance to the block of holding cells. She knew he had good reason to be annoyed, since she was definitely dragging her feet. Somehow, the satisfying prospect of seeing Todd behind bars didn’t make up for her fear of the tongue-lashing she was sure to receive once they were face to face. Giving the policeman a look that she hoped covered her uncertainty, she walked through the gate with a confident step. Her bravado faded a bit as the door was locked behind her. The jail was dimly lit and at first she couldn’t make out Todd through the gloom. But gradually her eyes adjusted to the low light and she saw that he was lying on the top bunk in his cell with his forearm covering his eyes. Téa peered through the bars at him, knowing full well that he wasn’t asleep.

“Don’t play games with me, Manning,” she said in a hostile voice. “It’s late and I want to go home to my nice, comfortable bed. You have something to say to me, say it and let me go.” Todd slowly sat up and let his legs dangle over the edge of the bunk. He looked rumpled and miserable.

“You came,” he said in a tired voice. “I didn’t think you would.”

Determined to end this interview as quickly as possible, Téa said, “Look, Todd, I’m sorry about tonight, OK? I was so anxious to nail you, I didn’t think about Starr at all. You have every right to be furious with me.” Todd stared at her in silence, an unreadable expression on his face. “Hank will be prosecuting the case from now on, so you won’t have to deal with me anymore.” She started to leave.

“Téa, can you wait a minute?” asked Todd as he quietly slipped off the bed and moved closer to the cell door. He looked extremely nervous. “There are some things I need to say to you.” The two of them stared at each other in silence for several moments. “This is hard,” said Todd, breaking eye contact and beginning to pace the cell. “I’ve practiced this in my head for five months, but now that you’re here….” He stopped with his back turned to her and put his head down.

Suddenly, Téa didn’t think she wanted to hear what he had to say. Somehow, the sight of the man she thought she hated locked up and brought low was chipping away at her carefully maintained shell of anger. “I gotta go,” she whispered, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

“I’m sorry,” blurted Todd in a choked voice, and the sound of those words made Téa stop cold. He kept his back to her, but his shoulders were slumped. “For all of it-the lies, the botched wedding, and….and when I hit you.”

Téa’s head was spinning. She hadn’t expected this. Feeling herself softening, she fought with everything she had for her hard-won rage. “You’re sorry?” she hissed. “Oh, that’s rich! Now I’m just supposed to forget everything you’ve done, huh?” She stepped close to the bars of the cell and gripped them with white knuckles. “Well, forget it, Todd! You’re little contrite act isn’t going to fool me. I’ve had enough of your lies. If I get my wish, you’ll rot in jail for a long time!”

Todd slowly turned around and wiped at his eyes. He was crushed by the hatred he detected in her words and on her face, but his self-defense mechanisms were kicking in and a matching look of anger gradually settled over his features. “Go ahead, Delgado,” he snapped. “Try to convince me and everyone else that you don’t love me anymore. But just remember that actions speak louder than words.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” she snorted.

“If you hate me so much, why are we still married?” he asked with his eyes blazing. “I waited and waited and I never received the annulment papers.” His voice was hardly above a whisper as he added, “I let myself hope….”

Téa took a big breath and laughed derisively. “You thought our marriage still had a chance? Dream on, Manning!” She watched in satisfaction as the look on his face went from rage to disbelief to disappointment. “The only reason you haven’t received the papers is that I forgot about them. I put our little sham of a marriage out of my mind so quickly, I failed to remember that it hadn’t been legally dissolved.” He stared at her in silence, his eyes wide. “But that is something that can be resolved with a stroke of a pen now,” she said triumphantly.

Recovering, Todd said, “Keep telling yourself that, Téa. Right. You forgot you were married to the Leper of Llanview. Sure, I believe that.” He moved up on the other side of the bars until their faces were just inches apart. “I think you haven’t ended the marriage because you know we belong together-that there will always be a connection between us. You can tell yourself that you hate me, that you want me locked up, but deep down you know it isn’t true.”

“Wrong!” she shouted, annoyed that she had let him rattle her. She pulled away from the bars and stepped back, her eyes flashing. “But I won’t waste my breath anymore. You’ll see soon enough that the only feeling I have left for you is contempt.” She turned quickly and headed for the gate, calling for the guard in a loud, somewhat frantic voice. Todd moved to the side of the cell and watched as the policeman unlocked the door.

“Good night, Téa,” he said with a sneer. “Think about what I’ve said. I don’t think you’ll be getting too much sleep tonight in that nice, comfy bed you were telling me about.” She glared at him before stepping through the door. Todd slumped against the bars, letting his body slide to the floor. “Real good, Manning,” he said to himself. “You sure convinced her to forgive you.” He rested his eyes against his knees, shaking slightly. “I love you, Téa,” he whispered.

……………………………………………………………………………………………… Téa waited anxiously in the gallery of the courtroom as Judge Fitzwater disposed rapidly of several cases. She was seated directly behind Hank Gannon, watching and trying to take notes as the DA presented the evidence in several preliminary hearings. The judge bound most of the cases over for trial, although she did dismiss one because of a lack of evidence. The young ADA jumped as John Sykes slid into the seat next to her. “Are you OK?” he whispered. She nodded silently, trying to cover up her nervousness. Finally, the bailiff called the case of the State versus Thomas Todd Manning and Téa sat up and looked expectantly toward the front of the courtroom.

Todd entered the courtroom looking a little haggard, but with his head held up defiantly. He was wearing the clothes he had been arrested in the night before and his wrists were chained together in front of him. Scanning the audience quickly, he saw Téa sitting with Sykes and fixed her with an icy stare. He looked over the rest of the audience as though searching for someone. His shoulders slumped in disappointment when he found no one else he recognized, and he looked back toward the bench as the bailiff read the charges against him. Judge Fitzwater could barely hide her disgust as she eyed the defendant in front of her. Entering from the back of the courtroom, Sam Rappaport stepped forward and announced himself as counsel for the defense and Todd was led to his side and released from the handcuffs.

It took Hank less than ten minutes to present the evidence in the perjury case. He didn’t call any witnesses, but he did play an excerpt from the famous pink tape, letting Todd’s own voice condemn him as he said, “I am, and always will be Todd Manning.” Sam’s defense was a good one, basically claiming the defendant was mentally incapacitated during the time he was accused of lying on the stand. The attorney presented an affidavit from a doctor in Switzerland stating that she had examined Mr. Manning and was currently treating him for a variety of mental problems. Téa sat up in interest at the revelation that Todd had been receiving therapy for most of the time he had been gone. But the judge clearly wanted more proof that the man before her hadn’t known right from wrong during the kidnapping trial. Despite a convincing argument from Sam, Todd was bound over for trial. Téa smiled in triumph as she saw Todd put his head down in defeat.

Sam asked for a reasonable bail, but Hank brought up the defendant’s past history of escape and demanded that bail be denied. Before the judge could act in the matter, Todd quickly jumped to his feet and asked to be heard. Clearly mistrustful, she reluctantly allowed him to speak. He swallowed hard and tried his best to look sincere. “Please, Your Honor,” he said politely, “I understand why the cops want me locked up, but it’s not fair.” The judge glared at him in silence as he continued, “I…I have a young daughter and she needs me with her. Don’t punish her by keeping me in jail. I’m not going anywhere-I swear it. Just grant me bail and I promise not to run.” Judge Fitzwater narrowed her eyes and actually chuckled.

“You have some nerve expecting the court to believe you when you are in fact accused of lying under oath, Mr. Manning,” she said coldly. “And as for your daughter, you seemed to have no problem leaving her with her mother while you were undergoing this treatment for mental illness we’ve been hearing so much about. Bail is denied,” she said, banging the gavel. Todd sat down abruptly.

“Ouch,” thought Téa with a satisfied smirk. She rose and walked to the railing behind Todd. “Have fun in the pokey,” she said, leaning over the railing and laughing maliciously. Detective Sykes guffawed behind her and the two of them left the courtroom arm in arm. Todd continued staring straight ahead, although he winced at the sound of their laughter. His reverie was interrupted as a policeman stepped behind him, grabbed his shoulders and hauled him to his feet.

The prisoner turned toward his attorney as his hands were once again restrained with manacles. “They can do this to me?” he asked, somewhat dazed. “For perjury?”

“’Friad so, Pal,” said Sam, standing up and packing his briefcase. “That’s the problem with lying. No one believes you, even when you’re telling the truth.” He turned toward the back exit to the courtroom.

“Sam?” asked Todd and the plaintive tone in his voice caused the older man to turn around. “You have Susannah’s number, right?” Sam nodded as the guard tugged insistently on Todd’s upper arm. “Call her and tell her I need her,” he said in a shaky voice. His attorney sighed deeply as he watched the man he had tried repeatedly to help led away in chains.

TO BE CONTINUED

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