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| IMPOSTER BY MARIQUA |
CHAPTER 70 |
"Got your attention? What are you talking about, Nick?" Slider slung back at him as his eyes zeroed in on the white-knuckled grip Nick had on his cane.
Nick's eyes flared up unnaturally -- his body language reminding Nick of some wild animal poised to strike. He didn't like it.
"You're an amateur," Nick said with such derision that Slider once again felt prickles of fear multiply over his skin.
"And you're not making any sense...come on, Nick...let's not play these childish games, okay?"
Slider's eyes were studying every facial change in Nick's face. He knows something...but what?
"The psychology of the mind...fascinating stuff, isn't it?" Nick snidely blurted out. "Analyzing why people do the things they do...very big business, and the pseudo psychologists who do the analyzing are right down there in the muck, aren't they, Slider?"
Careful...he's leading you down some path..
Moving slowly toward the center of the room, Slider pretended to be unconcerned with the person behind him. "Whatever it is you're spouting, Nick, I'm not interested. I've got things to do."
"Yeah? I thought you'd be extremely interested...even spellbound. I'm about to demonstrate how little you know about me."
It had taken all of ten minutes to do it. Jason Patterson was good at his job. Years of sleuthing had fine tuned all his techniques, and he had an especially good one for getting people to open up and talk. He also knew it was best to keep away from old-timers like himself who would know him. The eager, young hotshot "wannabes" at the police station were only too willing to share what they knew because they were aiming to get into those important inner circles. Human nature. People said he had a gift for judging it, and he had to admit that they were right.
The unwitting informer never had a clue that he was being soaked for information by a detective with years and years of experience. It was like taking candy from a baby to him. Many times obtaining the hidden details was anything but exciting, but sometimes it led to something really big. His uncanny ability to sniff out concealed facts had never forsaken him.
Thanks kid...
Jason patted his coat pocket after writing down what he had learned and putting the small notebook in it. I already know more than Viki Lord would even tell me...this is all about her brother.
An hour had passed from the time they started the trip, and Edwards had sat silently in deference to his superior who wanted no conversation. Stoneface Sykes...wonder if you know what the men say about you? There's no love lost, but that doesn't bother me. You're going places...I know that...maybe you'll take me with you when you do...
Tea Manning...doesn't surprise me at all that you're racing up there to get to her. There's been talk before about you and Manning's wife. Even Manning knew it, I suspect...he was one smart customer. Was...maybe is.. This trip could bear out what I've always thought about the Sun's publisher. That man is like a cat...with plenty more lives to live.
"When we get there, I'll need some time with her," Sykes abruptly broke the silence again.
"Sure," Edwards nodded obediently. "What if...well, what about if he's with her."
Sykes scowled immediately, but his face changed just as rapidly, and a devilish smile crossed his lips. "That's why I asked you to come along, Edwards. If Todd Manning presents himself to us in the flesh, you're going to help me bag him."
She had barely unpacked anything, so it was relatively easy to get her things together and leave the hotel. Tea zipped up her suitcase and checked the bathroom again. All set. The feeling about leaving should have been a good one. She was going to be with her husband -- except she now knew she was going to be with an alter.
An alter. Just saying the word to herself again gave her a fresh, new set of sensations. Once again she was being forced to go into some unknown area of Todd's past, and she wondered if she was at all equipped to handle it. I' ve misjudged the circumstances before. I don't know this "Nick". What's his agenda?
Turning off the last light, she walked over to the window and took a final look at the breathtaking view. The person who would know would be Slider. He must know Nick. How was he going to break it to me? Have I stumbled into something that is much more complicated...and even dangerous? Oh,Todd...I wanted to find you...just you...and instead I get another obstacle thrown up in my face!
I can't think about it too much. There will be time now to really question Slider and get to the root of Nick.
The ringing of the phone in her room startled her out of her thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Miss Morris?"
"Yes?"
"This is Mr. Carson down at the desk. I don't usually do this, but, well....I'm just going to take a chance here. There was a man hanging around who was asking some questions about you."
"Really...what did he look like?"
"Well, he's been here before. He saw you leaving the hotel and asked me if you were Mrs. Martinez. I corrected him and told him your name. It occurred to me that he might not be a friend of yours."
"What did he look like?"
"Uh...he was dark haired, rather tall and fairly young...in his mid twenties I would say."
"I don't believe I know him, but thanks for telling me, Mr. Carson. My bill's all paid up, and I'm all checked out, right?"
"Yes maam."
"Good. Then, I'll be leaving. Mr. Carson...I'd appreciate it if you said nothing more to this man, or any other person who might be inquiring about me."
"Will do, Miss Morris. Again, it was a pleasure to have you at the Fountainebleau."
Tea hung up the phone -- her mouth lowering ruefully as she thought of what this could all mean. Someone was looking for her. That much she could figure out. Del? It could be one of his men -- maybe even one of the lead men he so often used to check things out before he could get there. Whatever. Todd...Nick had been right. The best thing was to go somewhere where they would never think to look.
That man is probably still here...there could be others, too...just waiting for me to show up down in the lobby. This time, at least, I came prepared for sneaking out.
Opening up her suitcase again, she rummaged through the contents and extracted a single item.
Definitely something you would do, querido...
"I know a lot about you, Nick," Slider said with a weary edge to his voice. He's just in one of his superior moods...
"You don't see what's right under your nose, Slider," Nick muttered in disgust. Something in his tone perplexed Slider. It was combative as usual, but even more so, and Slider had the disturbing feeling that he was indeed about to be shocked by something that Nick did. He didn't have long to wait.
The long, wooden stick whizzed past him -- inches away from striking him and landed with a clank against the wall. Slider spun around with rage pouring through his body as he prepared to face down the man who had slung it so carelessly across the room.
"How dare you..." he stopped in mid-sentence as he saw the once propped-up body beginning to straighten up and physically unbend from its slumped state.
A transformation was taking place in front of him. A memory flashed in front of his eyes as he remembered another transformation unfolding and the horror of what had then materialized came plunging back into his consciousness. The crippled, unsteady body of the man who had been recovering in his apartment had suddenly evolved into a body that stood tall, straight and looked oppressively strong.
"What do you think, Slider...look...no cane...it all works again!" he said with exultant pride as he slapped the side of his legs for emphasis. All of me is back!"
All of you! That means...that means that you're physically well or...well enough. When did it happen? This recovery is nothing short of some kind of miracle!
Nick strode over to him -- his hair flying out behind him -- and stood right in front of Slider. "How about this, huh? I can do all the things I used to be able to do...well, most anyway."
"That's...that's great," Slider said somewhat reluctantly because he was reeling from what his mind was conjuring up. Nick, in all his sadistic glory! He can go anywhere now...leave anytime...he can even take off with someone else...
Nick's hazel eyes flickered with amusement as he saw the shaken, confused expression on his benefactor's face. You didn't know how very much I wanted to shake the dust of this place and get the hell away from you, did you? I worked on this...I suffered to get to this point! Now I'm going to reap al l the benefits...
Both men said nothing as each of their minds played with the many possibilities of this new development. From somewhere in the background, two or three knocks at the door cut into the quiet tension in the room.
"Someone's knocking," Nick spoke at last, and the way his eyes darted to the door betrayed something that Slider spotted right away. He knows who this is! If it's Sherry, I'll...
Nick moved to answer it, but Slider turned and pushed past him -- giving Nick a cold, forbidding stare.
Reaching the door, Slider steeled his mind for what he thought might be happening. He's healed up now...she won't listen to me...what if she's come for him?
The knocking persisted and stopped as his fingers grasped the doorknob
and
opened the door. A woman stood in front of him -- a woman whose face
was
instantly recognizable, but whose outward appearance did not go with
what he
remembered. There was the slightest tinge of honey color to her skin
and the
same large, warm, expressive eyes, but her hair was no longer a
blended,
chestnut brown. Holding a pair of large sunglasses in her hand -- her
lips
curving up rather mischievously -- she turned her head a fraction of an
inch
for him to get the full effect of her short and very brassy, platinum
blonde
hair.
