TRIALS OF THE HEART - PART FIVE

PREVIOUSLY

"Remember, Todd, not a word to anyone about this. We need the element of surprise." When the guard appeared and unlocked the door, Tea made to gather her things and leave as well, but Todd shyly asked if she could stay for a few minutes. She shrugged and sat down on the bench again, but her heart had started to beat a little faster. Todd waited until the guard was gone, then moved closer and sat on the opposite end of the bench from his wife.

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Bo Buchanan was working late when there was a tap at his office door and Sam Rappaport asked for a few minutes of his time. The commissioner nodded his head, but looked at the attorney with distaste as he approached his desk. "So, Rappaport, you've been using your high-powered attorney tactics to intimidate my officers." Bo stared at the other man coldly. "I don't like it and I won't be threatened."
Sam looked back with equal coldness in his blue eyes. "That's very interesting coming from you, Commissioner, seeing that you have been threatening and abusing my client since he got here. And I'm going to see that it stops."
Bo laughed without warmth. "That's almost funny, considering that Todd Manning is the king of abuse and threats."
Sam sighed and smoothed his hair back with his hand. "This is getting nowhere, Bo," he said. "I know there is no love lost between you and Todd, and I guess I can't blame you for that, but do you have any inkling about how hot it is down there in that cell? Do you want to kill him?"
Bo smirked. "Don't tempt me," he said. Seeing the hard look on the other man's face, he continued. "He's in jail, Rappaport, and I'm sorry if it doesn't compare to the country club life he's gotten used to. It's where people end up who bash in the skull of a pregnant girl."
Sam's eyes narrowed. "Your job is to hold him for trial, Bo, not to punish him." Sam shrugged and walked to the grimy window. "Look, I'm not demanding as his attorney, I'm asking as someone who cares about him. Just basic human treatment that you'd give to anyone trapped in that heat...fans, a couple of bottles of ice water, maybe a cool shower once in a while...."
"All right, you've made your point. I'll see what I can do. But treating Manning as a human is a waste of time. The man's an animal."
Sam's eyes filled with rage. He stepped closer to the commissioner. "That's about all I'm going to take of that, Bo. You know nothing about Todd's childhood, what his father did..."
"Blah, blah, blah, blah. The old "he was abused and not responsible for anything" defense, huh Rappaport? I expected more from you," sneered Bo
. Sam turned on his heel and marched purposefully toward the door. "Just see that there are some changes in my client's condition, or you'll be hearing from the judge," he called over his shoulder. He flung open the door.
"Rappaport, wait!" called Bo reluctantly. Sam turned around and stared at the commissioner with open anger. "I...I...was wondering..." stuttered Bo. "How is...how is Nora doing?" spat out Bo, obviously finding it distasteful to talk about his wife with his rival. Sam closed the door and turned around slowly.
"Nora and I aren't on speaking terms right now, so I wouldn't know," admitted Sam frankly.
Bo stared at him. "You want to tell me why?" he prodded.
Sam snorted. "You can't guess? She's even less of a fan of Todd's than you and feels I shouldn't be sullying the reputation of our new firm defending a convicted rapist," answered Sam. "Matter of fact, we had the mother of all arguments about it. I knew Nora had no sympathy for Todd, but her reaction was way off base. She used to say anyone had the right to counsel, but apparently that sentiment stops short of Todd Manning." Sam shook his head. He looked Bo in the eye. "I take it you two haven't patched things up yet?" he asked.
"Not that it's any of your business, but you're right, we still can't get past all the Georgie stuff. I thought we had made a break-through that night at the lodge, but then Nora just shut down on me. She's holding me at arm's length, and I don't quite understand why."
"Well, join the club, Pal," said Sam derisively. "I didn't expect her to sit as my co-counsel, but a little legal advice would be nice now and then. She won't even lift a finger to help me in the smallest way."
"Manning has put her through a lot of crap, Sam, and you shouldn't expect her to...."
"It's her job, Bo. She's here to help defend the clients, not to judge them." He threw up his arms. "But look who I'm talking to--the dean of vigilante justice." Sam turned and yanked open the door. He looked back at Bo. "All I know is that Nora is going through something big right now and I'm not sure it has all that much to do with Todd. Take my advice, Pal, and get her to open up about it. She wants your shoulder to cry on, not mine." He strolled out the door and closed it behind him. Bo looked thoughtfully after him.

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"Is this enough to spring me, do you think?" Todd asked.
"Depends," Tea answered. "If we can place someone with the car, then, yes, there is a good chance," she continued in a lawyerly manner. "If not, we can at least use it to create doubt in the minds of the jury, and that might be enough for an acquittal." Tea looked up and met Todd's gaze. He had an expression that she couldn't read. "Did you have any more questions?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said with a snort. "Why did you betray me by calling Sam from Niagara Falls?"
Tea was taken aback. "I didn't betray you!" she insisted. "I was trying to help you, but as usual you decided to go it alone." She stood up and looked down at him. "I'm not going to apologize for that, Todd, so go ahead and hold a grudge like you always do. But now I have a question. Why couldn't you trust me with the real story about the night Georgie died? Why couldn't you let me help you before you decided to run?" Tea was expecting more defensive anger, so she was surprised when Todd shrugged and pulled one knee up to his chest.
"Trust is hard for me, Delgado. You know that. And maybe I didn't want to involve you."
Tea suppressed an exasperated retort that sprang to her lips, and sat down on the bench with a tired sigh. The setting sun had left a faint orange glow behind the barred window, and the recessed light fixtures cast strange shadows of the iron bars in the cell. Tea slowly unwrapped the scarf from her neck and unceremoniously used it to pat off her perspiring face. "It's so hot in here, Todd," she murmured. "I don't know how you bear it." Todd sat very still with his head resting against the wall behind him.
"I can take the heat, Tea," he said quietly. "It's all the other junk I'm having a hard time with."
Tea bunched the expensive scarf between her fists. "I'm sorry you've lost your freedom again, Todd," she said. "It's terribly hard for you to be locked up, I know. And Bo and the cops are being particularly cruel this time." She reached a hand back to Starr's recent artwork, now hung on the grimy wall with an old piece of chewing gum, and ran her hand over it. Todd watched the fluid motion of her bare arm, then moved his eyes to the reminder of his child.
"I guess I have you to thank for that," he said, moving his fingers close to, but not touching, hers. "I don't know why you stuck around, Delgado," he continued in a quiet voice.
She looked at him a long time before answering. "I'm not sure I know why myself. But it's obvious you need legal help, and that's what I do."
He took a deep breath. "So you're in this as my lawyer only?" he asked in a matter of fact tone, although his eyes had a desperate look to them.
Tea turned away from him and covered her eyes with her hands. "I don't know, Todd," she said weakly. "It's awfully hard to overlook the fact that you didn't trust me when you found yourself in trouble. That you were willing to run away from our marriage...."
His voice was almost a whisper as he said, "But I couldn't stay away, Tea. I came back with that ridiculous attempt at getting the truth out of the Buchanans up at the lodge. I...I didn't want to lose you."
She snapped her head towards him and saw that he hadn't moved, but his eyes were shinier than before. "And now it's too late for us because I blew it," he continued with a catch in his voice. "Even if a miracle occurs and I'm acquitted, you'll never take me back..." he trailed off.
Tea swallowed hard. "Look, Todd, this is not the time and place to discuss the future of our marriage. You need me to be your lawyer now. Let's concentrate on getting you out of here, then we'll talk." She brushed away a tear. Todd shifted his position so he was sitting closer to her. He leaned over so their heads were just inches apart.
"I've got another lawyer, Delgado, but you're my only wife. I need to know if you're still with me, if we have any kind of chance for a life." Very slowly, and half expecting him to pull away, Tea reached out and clasped one of his hands in hers.
"I can't sort out my feelings about you and give you the best defense at the same time. Let's take things in their logical order and concentrate on an acquittal first."
"When have we ever been logical, Tea?" he asked. "I've been in here for weeks thinking I had nothing left to live for, but today you brought me Starr and made me see I hadn't lost her. Then you came in here and offered a possible defense that just might get me off. But what about you? Is there a chance for our marriage?"
Tea reached up her free hand and softly smoothed his hair back, barely touching him. Still clasping her hand, Todd slowly touched a tendril of her hair at the temple that had sprung free from her hairdo. He wound it around his finger, then moved the palm of his hand down her jaw. Tea's hand moved to the side of his face. She ran her thumb lightly over his scar. As though by mutual consent, they pressed their foreheads together, closing their eyes, and enjoying the intimacy of the moment. The fingers of their clasped hands remained laced together tightly. They pulled apart slightly and Tea tilted her head up expectantly. But instead of covering her mouth with his, Todd gently traced her lips with his thumb while cupping her face in his hand. Letting out a little sigh, he pushed back and released her. "You're right, Delgado. We have a lot of garbage to get rid of between us and this isn't the time or place."
In spite of what she had said, Tea couldn't help being disappointed. She let go of Todd's hand and drew away slightly, and cleared her throat. "You can start by trying to trust me, Todd. I only want to help you, you know." He gave her a little grin and a sidelong glance that caused her heart muscles to contract.
"You don't ask much, do you?" he smiled. He stood up abruptly and walked to the center of the cell. Gesturing at the amenities, he said, "Look around you, Delgado. Do you see my fan club lined up to cheer for me? You, Sam, and Viki are all I've got. Trust you? Like I have a choice! Just don't expect me to be happy about it, OK?" Tea grinned back at him, amused in spite of herself. "So what are you doing lounging around this jail cell?" he teased. "Heck, I'd be out the door in a shot if they'd let me. Go defend me, or something." Tea got to her feet and started gathering her things as Todd called for the guard. She stopped in the open cell door and looked affectionately at her husband.
"Can I bring you anything tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yeah. An AK-47 would be nice." They both chuckled as the guard bristled. Tea reached up a hand to caress Todd's cheek and he covered her hand with his own. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment, then Tea stepped through the door and Todd was locked in again. He gripped the bars of the cell as the guard unlocked the outer door. "Do they make those milkshake thingies with that purple fruit I like?" he asked.
"Purple fruit?" asked Tea in confusion.
"Yeah, you know. That fruit you brought for Moose from that Latin market down in Angel Square. Guacamole or something."
"Guava? Are you talking about guava? I think they make smoothies with guava juice," answered Tea.
"Good. You can bring me one tomorrow. Only make it bigger."
Tea smiled indulgently. "It's a date, Mr. Manning. In the meantime, you can just...chill!"
They both laughed as the clueless guard shook his head in disapproval. Tea turned back after the guard had locked the door to the corridor behind her, so for a moment the Mannings were looking at each other through two sets of bars. Smiling one last time at her husband, Tea followed the guard out. Todd looked after her with a little smile of his own. He walked back to the bunk, sank to the floor in front of it and leaned his back against the hard mattress. For the first time in a long time, he didn't notice the heat.

TO BE CONTINUED