TRIALS OF THE HEART - PART ELEVEN

PREVIOUSLY

"Well, are you tired? Do you want to go to bed?" asked the officer, picking up the key ring. Todd remained immobile.
"I'd rather stay here for a while, if it's all right," said Todd quietly. Rodriguez opened a desk drawer and threw out a deck of cards.
"Then you'd better earn your keep," said the cop. "Deal the cards."

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"Court is adjourned," declared Judge Fitzwater and everyone got to their feet as she left the room.

"Well, Todd," said Tea as they sat back down at the defense table. "Tomorrow it will finally be our turn." The prosecution had just rested after building a devastating case depicting Todd as the murderer of Georgie Phillips. It was now late August, and the trial had dragged on for two months.

Todd gave Tea a little forced grin, but he was feeling far from cheerful. Things had been pretty smooth between the couple since the fiasco of their anniversary celebration a month before. Tea had done everything in her power to ease the pain of imprisonment for her husband, but it was obvious the long trial was taking a toll on him. She spent almost every evening with Todd, distracting him with games and funny stories, but by unspoken mutual consent the subject of their future together never came up. The prospect of being separated forever loomed large, and they were dealing with it as best they could under awful circumstances.

The defense team was no closer to finding the driver of the black Porsche spotted by the witness the night of Georgie Phillips' murder. Sam Rappaport had tried to keep their spirits up, but Tea was a lawyer, and she knew they would have an uphill battle to prove Todd's innocence.

The young attorney pulled a file folder from her briefcase and took a deep breath. "I wish I didn't want this so much," she sighed, looking into her husband's hazel eyes. Her fingers nervously played with the pendant around her neck, engraved on both sides with the initial "T".

A fleeting look of pain passed over his face. "That's no good, Delgado," he said. "Remember I told you: never want anything that someone can prevent you from having. This just isn't going to happen."

Tea squeezed his hand. One of the nice things that had come out of their troubles was that Todd now allowed little physical intimacies without pulling away. Early in their relationship, he had flinched every time she tried to touch him, but now it was almost as though he craved the little hugs, the pats, the soft touch of his hair that were as natural to her as breathing. She had felt almost deliriously happy one night when he had finally let her brush his hair in the jail cell. And the kisses…well, the kisses were few and far between, but oh so memorable. No perfunctory peck on the lips for Todd Manning. When he decided to kiss her, he gave everything of himself, and took everything she had in return. Looking at him now, she wondered what it would be like if this petition succeeded and she was able to take him home with her that night. Would he continue to be affectionate and even loving? Or would the familiar surroundings of the penthouse cause a return to the old ways, coldness and isolation?

"I don't know whether I want it or not," he said, seeming to read her thoughts. He looked at her lips. "It might be better not to know what I'm missing when they ship me off to Statesville."

"Todd, please try to be optimistic. You're depressing me," she said.

He shook his head and looked over his shoulder to where Sam was talking with Hank Gannon and Bo Buchanan. "This won't work, Tea."

"Why wouldn't they agree, Todd? We've addressed their every concern. Look how you've impressed Judge Fitzwater with your newfound self-control. If she's willing to go for it, why won't Hank and Bo?"

"You don't understand. To them it's 'once a rapist, always a rapist'. I'm always going to be that out-of-control monster that ruined their perfect paradise. They'll never give me a break."

Sam stuck his head between them. "OK, they've agreed to meet with us. You ready to give it a try?" Todd looked past his mentor to the DA's table where Hank Gannon was packing up for the day and trading jokes with Police Commissioner Bo Buchanan.

"I changed my mind, Coach," said Todd uncertainly. "There's no way they'll go for it, so let's just drop it, OK?"

"Oh, c'mon, Pal," said Sam good-naturedly. "You'll never know unless you give it a shot. Right, Tea?"

"Let's just see what happens, OK Todd? The worst that could happen is that we'll be in the same boat we are now." She stood up and drew him to his feet. Sam wrapped an arm around his back for reassurance and pushed him toward Hank and Bo. After looking back and forth between the matching scowls on the faces of the DA and the Commissioner, Todd pronounced the proposed meeting a waste of time. Tea hooked her arm through her husband's.

"What's this about, Rappaport?" asked Bo with impatience.

"We'd like your cooperation on something," answered Sam, watching as Tea handed the file folder to Hank. "We've re-petitioned Judge Fitzwater to grant bail to our client and she agreed to consider it, provided the two of you sign off on the plan." Hank and Bo exchanged startled glances, then both broke out in derisive laughter.

"See I told you," said Todd angrily, looking back and forth between his attorneys. "There's just no way either of them will ever cut me any slack."

"Don't panic yet, Pal," said Sam, glaring at their adversaries. "Look…Bo…Hank. I think we have a pretty strong proposal. My client will put up any amount of money you deem appropriate. Instead of jail, he spends his time outside of court confined to his apartment. Counselor Delgado, an officer of the court, has agreed to be responsible for him. You keep track of him with an ankle monitor, and everyone is satisfied."

Bo chuckled. "I'm only satisfied when there are lots of steel bars and locks between him and the law-abiding citizens of Llanview," he said.

"I concur with that," said Hank, staring at Manning. "I'm happy with the current arrangement."

The policeman assigned to guard the defendant that day moved closer to the group, waiting to escort Todd back to jail. Sam wasn't about to give up easily, though, and continued with the argument. "There is no need to be punitive, gentlemen. This is going to be a long trial, and the taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for housing our client any longer when he has no intention of fleeing." Bo and Hank broke out in fresh peals of laughter.

"Your client has a history of escape, Rappaport," said Hank getting suddenly serious. "Are you forgetting that? I'd be stupid to even consider letting him out of custody for a minute." Tea held Todd's hand tightly as she felt him tense.

"That was a long time ago, Hank," said Sam. "He was a frightened kid with no one to turn to. Now he owns a major business and he's got a wife and a child to hold him in Llanview. You have my word he's not going anywhere." Bo took a step toward Todd.

"What's the matter, Manning? Jail getting to you? Are you going stir-crazy?" he taunted.

Todd considered any number of smart retorts, but he wanted his freedom badly, and opted for the truth. After a brief pause he said, "I'd like to get out of jail, yeah. I've been away from my daughter for too long."

"Commissioner, my client has been in your custody for two months now. In all that time has he given you any reason to complain of his behavior?" asked Sam.

Bo continued to stare at the prisoner. "Other than a mouth that should be registered as a lethal weapon, no," he said truthfully. "But that doesn't mean I'd trust him to show up for trial if the judge granted him bail. The answer is no."

"We'll pay for a round the clock police guard," said Sam, getting desperate. Bo and Hank shook their heads simultaneously. Todd had finally had enough.

"I tried to tell you both!" he shouted. "There's no way they'll ever trust me, and I was a chump for letting you talk me into trying this! Now you've given them more ammunition to use against me. Thanks a lot!"

"Wait, Todd," said Tea, trying to soothe him. "Look, gentlemen," she said in a reasoning tone. "We're not trying to pull anything here. Sam and I both will vouch for him…"

"Then you're even stupider than I thought!" shouted Hank.

Silence reigned for a few seconds, then Todd took a menacing step toward the DA, his face a mask of fury. Tea and Sam held him back as Bo muttered, "Hey, Hank, tone down the rhetoric a bit, will you?"

"Hate me all you want," spat Todd, "but you apologize to my wife and my friend! Now!"

The DA stared at him a minute, then said, "I was out of line. Forgive me, Sam, Tea."

Todd glanced down at Tea with a profound look of regret, then turned and walked quickly to the door at the front of the courtroom, threw it open and abruptly disappeared. The policeman, who was caught off guard by his speed, was reduced to chasing after his charge while fumbling with a pair of handcuffs. Tea dissolved in tears and Sam returned to his briefcase, snapped it closed and turned with unconcealed anger toward the two men.

"Did that make you happy, gentlemen?" he hissed. "Did you get your kicks for the week doing that to him?"

"Excuse me, Rappaport," said Hank. "Maybe I was thinking about how he bashed in the head of Georgie Phillips, and I forgot to be sympathetic."

"It's not for you to decide his guilt," said Sam, narrowing his blue eyes. He helped Tea pack up her things, then put his arm around her. She sobbed into his handkerchief. They marched through the barrier of the courtroom, but Tea stopped halfway down the aisle and turned back.

"You know, I thought it was his usual paranoia, but he's right: neither of you will ever let him get away from his criminal past. At least the jury has a chance of being impartial." She turned on her heel and left, followed by Sam.

Hank snorted and shook his head as he grabbed his briefcase and prepared to leave, but Bo continued staring after the defense attorneys for a long time. "Can you believe the nerve of those two, asking us to ease up on that creep?" the DA asked his friend.

"Tea is in love with the guy, and Manning is like a son to him. I don't think Rappaport can be objective." Bo turned to the DA. "Have you ever thought what it would be like to have your kid get into trouble?"

Hank looked somber. "I've been there, Bo, when Rachel was on drugs. But she isn't violent, at least. I don't have to worry about her going off at the drop of a hat and hurting someone. Manning is a menace. Rappaport should get him to cop a plea and end this for all of us." The commissioner watched as his friend left the courtroom. He sighed and sat down in one of the seats, trying without much success to ignore the nagging little voice in his head.

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Standing on the doorstep, Bo thought how strange it seemed to be ringing the doorbell to his own home. He had been living with his father since he and Nora had broken up, although his real home these days was his office at the police station. His wife answered the door dressed casually in jeans and sweater, and the commissioner was gratified that she seemed happy to see him. Nora invited him in, explaining that her daughter Rachel was expected home later that evening. Bo was secretly glad that Rachel wouldn't be a factor. He had been wanting to have a private conversation with Nora for months, but something always thwarted his attempts at re-establishing the connection they had always felt in each other's presence.

Nora brought him a beer and asked how the Manning trial had gone that day. Bo explained that Hank had rested the case for the prosecution. His last witness had been Blair Cramer. She had tried every trick in the book to try and muddy the waters, but in the end, Hank had forced her to tell the truth about finding the bloody gloves in Todd's office, and to admit that Todd had acted very odd in the time between the murder and his arrest. Nora listened with interest to everything he had to say. After hearing about the rejection of Todd's petition for bail, she seemed pleased.

"That's good news, Bo. A petition for bail in the middle of a trial is a sign that the defendant is getting restless. Todd must be getting desperate. Hank really wrapped him up tight with the case for the prosecution. Maybe the pressure will cause him to break, and he'll let Sam ask for a deal. If he pleads guilty to a lesser charge, then Rachel could start to put this all behind her, and he has a chance of getting out of prison in time to have a meaningful relationship with his grandchildren. If he goes down for the murder, it's life without parole."

Bo looked at his wife with interest. "You want him to get a lesser sentence, Honey? I would have thought you'd like to see him get the full punishment the law provides."

Nora looked startled, and a little confused. "I do," she said quickly, then realizing that she had contradicted herself, she said, "I mean I don't know." She stood up and faced the fireplace so Bo couldn't see her face. "What I'm saying is that Todd should get what he has coming to him, but I can't help thinking of that little girl of his. It will be hard on her."

Bo took a swig of beer from the bottle. "I'm sure you're right," he said. "Have you ever seen him with his daughter? It's weird. He's a completely different person when she's around. And it's obvious she adores him. It's too bad that sweet little thing has to suffer when he goes away." Nora stared into space, her mouth working slightly as she was lost in thought. Her husband took another sip. "I'm telling you it's really strange, Honey, but Manning has been almost civil during this trial. With his temper, I figured we'd be giving the stun gun and leg irons a workout, but he's managed to keep himself under control pretty well. I'd like to gag him sometimes, but as long as his attacks are only verbal, I'm willing to let him vent."

Nora turned toward Bo and looked at him warily. "Why are you telling me all this?"

Bo seemed surprised. "I don't know. Just making conversation, I guess. My point is that Manning has changed somehow and I think I know the reason why. It's that little spitfire wife of his."

"Tea?" asked Nora, surprised.

"You should see her, Honey. She rarely leaves his side and she stands up for him at every turn." He put down the bottle. "Drew thinks they're in love, even though I told him they married for money."

"She does love him," said Nora quietly. "She told me so when she went back to him last spring."

"I guess it will be hard on her when he goes to Statesville," said Bo, watching her closely. "You know, we haven't talked, really talked, in months and here we are wasting breath discussing Todd Manning. Tell me how you've been." After a few minutes of conversation, he felt like the old connection with Nora was back in place where it had always been, and he could finally broach the subject he had really come to talk about. "Tell me about Rachel. Is she doing any better these days?"

Bo watched as his wife literally shut down before his eyes. "What do you mean by that?" she snapped.

"Well, it's no secret Rachel hasn't been herself since the murder. She really took it hard."

"That's not surprising. Georgie was her roommate."

"But Honey, it's been months and Rachel is still a basket case. You know you can talk to me about anything, and I'll be here to help you."

"What are you implying, Bo?" yelled Nora, getting distraught. "If you're going to start flinging around unsubstantiated accusations, you can just get out now!"

Bo didn't budge. "Nora, is Rachel back on drugs? Drew is convinced that's it, but I didn't want to worry Hank."

Nora looked startled. "Drugs? You think she's on drugs?" She marched across the room so her husband couldn't see the look of relief on her face, and flung open the front door. "Get out!"

"Honey…" started Bo.

"No! Out! After all this time, if you can't trust me to take care of my own daughter, then there is nothing more to say, Bo!"

"Please let me help," he pleaded.

"Rachel is not on drugs and she hasn't done anything wrong, and I will prove it to you! I can't believe I let you fool me into thinking you wanted to get back what we had. You just came here to use my daughter as a weapon to wound me!" She clinched her jaw. "Don't come back here, Bo. I don't want you to upset Rachel. And tell Drew to stay away too."

Bo's skin was a sickly gray as he sadly walked out the door. When Nora had slammed it behind him, he leaned back and took a couple of deep breaths. Every nerve in his body was tingling, and he knew that he could no longer ignore his suspicions.

This wasn't about drugs, and it wasn't about Manning. There was only one other thing that it could be about, and Bo didn't even want to go there. Life without Nora wasn't an option, and he wracked his brain for a way out of his untenable situation.

From far away, he heard Hank's voice from that afternoon saying, "Manning is a menace. Rappaport should get him to cop a plea and end this for all of us." An idea began to form in Bo's mind. Nora's voice spoke to him next. "If he pleads guilty to a lesser charge, then Rachel could start to put this all behind her."

With his jaw set in grim determination, Bo headed back to the police station.

TO BE CONTINUED