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| IMPOSTER BY MARIQUA |
CHAPTER 67 |
Every dream…every thought…every denied desire…all were converging into this moment for her as she waited for his lips to reach hers. The hazel eyes she had missed so terribly were here -- staring down at her with spellbinding intensity. These were the eyes that she had lost herself in the night they had made love when the missing connection between them had finally been sealed for life. Her excitement at seeing him again had overwhelmed every instinct, and she accepted without question what was handed to her because it was what she so desperately wanted.
Looking up at him, she prepared to submerge her soul into his as she had done that night in the peaceful countryside. Your eyes touched me in ways that were as powerful as the physical…I remember…I want to see into your soul again, Todd Manning…I want to see your love for me…
A thrill shot through her as she cast her eyes up at him in expectation, and her lips parted -- tingling with vivid memories and constant yearning. Come to me, querido…
Her rapt eyes sought his -- this time wanting to see the love shining through and feel the metaphysical pull of his unique mind. There was no question that she was seeing a man possessed with desire as his eyes bore down into hers with deep, passionate purpose. It should have been exactly what she had imagined all those restless nights in her empty bed. That night under the open sky, she had been given a full, unencumbered look at the man who was her husband, but as she felt his hands moving sensually through her hair and saw every feature of his face react, some barrier slammed down in front of her -- some barrier that shouldn't have been there at all.
What's wrong…I can't see you…something isn't right…
The lips that touched her lips were his -- warm and full and erotically charged. Even the way his warm mouth moved deeper and deeper into hers was achingly familiar, but she couldn't get past what she had just experienced -- that some shield had been placed around him that she couldn't get through. W hy are you hiding from me?
Rifling through papers, John Sykes once again stared at the phone on his desk. After his conversation with Edwards, he had been mulling over the curious turn of events. Tea Manning in Chicago…but for what reason? Edwar ds had managed to point to an idea that was both irritating and repugnant to him. That Todd Manning could still be alive was a tremendous stretch, but the tiniest bit of doubt remained, and he knew from past experience that he had to address it. Now he might also have to think about the possibility that the police department had been negligent in its investigation of his death and that there could be hell to pay down the line.
So what do I do? Where do I go from here?
There was another disturbing idea floating around…the idea that the Feds also knew where Tea was. Consumed with arrogant pride, he hated to think that the Feds would have any kind of jump on his department. They were always an unwelcome nuisance in the local jurisdiction, and even though Tea was Delgado's sister, he didn't want him to find her first.
There's nothing else to do…I'm dispatching men to Chicago and they're going to bring her back…
Picking up the phone, his eyes locked in steely determination. "Edwards? Sykes. I'm giving the go ahead now. Report anything unusual. I want details periodically…understood?"
If he's alive…I'm going to bury him in Statesville forever…
There was no turning back. She was physically aroused by everything he was doing. How she had wanted him! Each moment in that field had been savored by her active memory, and once more she wanted everything that he had to give. Except…except...
It's perfect…too perfect…
Suddenly the imagined barrier was no longer just a supposition in her mind. No…there is something blocking us from getting to each other…but what?
He had raised up -- his lips withdrawing from hers slowly. Her eyes had opened again to see his slanted, lowered lids, and she was suddenly aware that he was averting his gaze from hers.
The whole scene reminded her of something…no, someplace else where she had been on another sofa when the features of her husband had also been this close to her, but it had all been a sham. Because…because it wasn't you!
Terror began poring into her -- terror triggered by the very vivid memory of a man who looked like her husband but acted like a wild animal. Calm down…calm down…this can't be Pete…Todd said he was gone…I believed him…
But…but I can't find you, querido…why?
"Tea," Nick finally spoke -- easing himself up and drawing away from her. "I've missed you."
Not something he wouldn't say, but it's still not right...
"Oh, I've missed you so, querido!" Tea tried again hoping to get a response from him that would satisfy her doubts. "You have no idea what I've been through."
"I can imagine, Tea…it…it must have been very hard for you with everyone believing I was dead."
"No more than what you've been through," she said with compassion as she looked again at his wounds.
"Todd," she suddenly playfully added, "At least you had that emergency card ."
"Yeah," Nick said warily and tried to think back to what she was talking about. One of those little games Toddy liked to play…
You don't know…you don't seem to know...
Viki hung up the phone and for the first time since Todd's death, she smiled a real smile -- one inspired by the fact that she wasn't just sitting on her hands anymore. I'm doing something…I have to…then I can feel like I didn't desert you, Todd…even in death. I know you'd do the same for me. That's why I have to know all the answers.
Picking up the phone again, she spoke brightly, "Jason? Yes, Victoria Lord here. Oh, I know it's been a long time…yes…yes, I did remarry, but he passed away. Well, thank you for that…listen…I'm sure you're wondering why I'm calling now. I've got a job for you. Are you available? Oh good! It's very urgent, Jason…and well...it's right up your alley…are you game?"
Smiling a smile that she reserved for those times when she had to pretend that everything was okay, her face bloomed with happiness instead of the worry she was now feeling. We're playing a game now, aren't we? Todd, you wouldn't do this to me…not after that night…we were through with all of that. Nothing stood between us…
Her last thought brought her up sharply as she remembered one tiny doubt that she had had even during their most intimate moments in that field. It had stayed with her in some compartment of her mind -- safely tucked away to be taken out and looked at later, but now it had fallen into her lap as some unwanted package.
You laid yourself open to me that night…I know that…as much as you ever could, but I felt that there was something else that we both had to deal with…
Even considering that he had been through a horrible time since he had left her did not make up for what was lacking in him now. We came so far, Todd…we were finding our way…
Nick breathed deeply through his nostrils as he saw her observing him. Always were the probing lawyer, Tea…it's what attracted Toddy to you in the first place and also what made him want to run from you…you never gave up…
Who am I talking to…because I don't believe it can be you…my heart is telling me otherwise…are you…are you..God forbid...another alter?
Her mind had voiced this startling concept, and instinctively she knew she had hit on it. Whoever this was, it was not her Todd. No! I don't want this…we were rid of Pete…but who are you?
"Are you feeling better?" Nick asked her -- making conversation while trying to read what was behind her eyes.
"Yes…lots, thanks. Does Slider know that you're a fugitive?" she threw in and watched his eyes become more alert.
"Yes…he knows the basic stuff, but not everything."
Let's try this one on for size…to see what you will say…"I know you've been here awhile, and it's a good hideout…but we've got to make plans, Todd…what we're going to do."
Oh! What we're going to do…don't think so, Tea…sorry to spoil your little reunion, but I'm already taken. At least now that you're here, I know I have to move up my plans.
Nick's face remained passive as he answered her. "I'm still recovering, Tea…as you can see…I do want you to be near me, but I can't go anywhere now…Doctor's orders."
"Doctor's orders?" Tea asked -- her interest peaking. "Who is this doctor? Weren't you taking a big risk in seeing one?"
Nick smiled a lazy, unnerving smile. "Well, this doctor came to me, and I trust her." She's the only person on this earth now that I trust.
The way he had said it made her shiver inside. Her?
Slider slumped down in his office chair and leaned his head back in the chair trying to will away the stress of the day. Only hours away from a confrontation with Nick…then maybe he could resume his life…they all could. Sherry would finally know the truth, but would she forgive him? The last hour spent in the meeting had only served to increase his thoughts of her and what she would think of him. If she loves him…Slider shifted in his chair as a violent stab of pain twisted within him. God…she can't…
Nick's hair slid over his eyes as he pulled himself up with effort and
groped
for his cane again -- all the while feeling her complete absorption in
all
his movements. She's analyzing me now…maybe she even thinks that I
may not
be her Toddy…well, if so…she's run into a brick wall…and she doesn't
know
anything about the power I have over Toddy. He stood towering over
her --
his face a darkening, set mask as he began to reevaluate just whom he
was
dealing with. Don't try to outsmart me, Tea…you would regret it…
