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| IMPOSTER BY MARIQUA |
CHAPTER 74 |
Nick's entrance back into the outer world had been a quiet, stealthy one -- very unlike the way he had exited. Yanking back Todd's weakened soul had been as easy as it had ever been, and he was sure that only a few minutes had been lost to him. Yet, as he narrowed his eyes at the now pale, shaken face of Tea Manning, he felt a sense of unease. During the missing lapse of time, Toddy and his wife had been face to face again, and in the dark, soundless world he was hurled into, he had not been able to fathom what was happening between them.
...but I can find out what I need to know...now...
Tea's mind screamed in silent agony as she recognized the signs of the alter's return. There was nowhere to hide from the cruel stare now ruthlessly aimed at her as the alter completed his takeover of the body of her husband.
The name...I have it! "Sherry"...he said it...but who is Sherry?
Waiting...and more waiting...the story of my life...the story of the last four years with you...and now you do this!
"NO!!" Sherry's body squirmed against the hold he had on her, and she pushed against his chest with all her strength -- a wild, turbulent emotion suddenly forcing its way in to dominate her.
Slider stepped back -- his flushed face still betraying his recent abandonment to passion, and his fevered eyes looked apprehensively at her.
"What? Sherry?"
Standing apart from him, Sherry put her hand up to her lips which were still vibrating from his kisses.
"Sherry...I know what you're thinking," Slider started speaking to somehow fill the awful silence between them.
"Really...I doubt that...I sure as hell doubt that!"
Dead-end. There was no such thing in FBI logic -- only snags -- and Del had to come to terms with the fact that he had hit a major one. One of the hotel staff questioned had seen a woman whose facial features fit his sister, but whose hair was certainly not his sister's color.
Tricky, Tea...very tricky...
That had been several hours earlier, and Del guessed that she had probably replaced her "disguise" with yet another. She knows that she's being watched now, and she won't try to make a break for it...not just yet...she'll probably hide out for a while...but where?
Connections. He had already assumed that there was a connection with Chicago for her, and he suspected it had to do with her late husband. Todd Manning's files were now being accessed by computer, and the minute they called him with anything that might show him the link, he would be ready to act.
"Yes...what've you got?" Del demanded impatiently -- his cell phone to his ear.
"You wanted information on Todd Manning?" a young voice asked in a businesslike tone.
"Yes! Go ahead."
"Todd Manning is from Chicago originally. He used to live in the Lincoln Park area. The house is on Dearborn Street."
"Anyone there now?"
"No. It was being rented, and the last renter moved out a month ago."
"Well, who's the owner?"
"The owner...well, it looks like...yes...the owner is Todd Manning."
Slider did not like the cold, piercing stare that Sherry was giving him. It made him suddenly feel that the last few minutes had been some aberration of time. Sure...she's upset...this wasn't what either of us planned...it just happened...
Her reaction still bothered him. He knew that in some way he had broken some unspoken code of behavior between them and had succeeded in shattering their friendship forever. But this is more than friendship now...I've finally found my life...
...and Nick..you can kiss your designs on her good-bye!
"Then...you need to know," Slider advanced toward her with a new familiarity.
"This was..."
"What?" Sherry threw out with an obnoxious laugh. "Are you going to give me a textbook analysis? Let's see...what would the experts call what just happened between us? Any ideas, Slider?"
Slider paused and checked her face again -- his own face beginning to reflect surprise and disbelief that she was acting this way.
"Okay," he nodded reluctantly. "I guess you must be reeling from this...like I am. We've never done this before."
"Right!" Sherry's eyes blazed and she folded her arms triumphantly.
"...and you and I...well, what we've been...to each other...has never been..."
"Keep going...I think you just might be on to something."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Slider snapped back defensively at her sarcastic tone. "Why are you so bent out of shape about a kiss?"
"A kiss? Why don't you do us both a favor and go back to your books!"
Sherry said coldly. "I sure didn't see that as merely a kiss, and if I hadn't stopped you..."
"All right then...why did you anyway?" Slider pressed -- surprising himself that he asked her the question.
Sherry's eyes began to blur with tears as she thought of all the lonely days and nights she had spent desiring the man in front of her -- wanting him to take her in his arms just as he had done and say the words that would bond her to him forever. But you just don't get it, do you? You had so many chances, and you blew every single one of them...
"Wait!" Sykes put a restraining arm on Edwards before he was about to open the car door.
"What is it?"
"Over there...that man near the elevator..."
Edwards nodded -- his eyes registering his agreement with what Sykes was trying to tell him. "Yep...FBI.. She must be here."
They watched as the man lifted his arm to talk into a phone. Turning suddenly he walked to the parking garage elevator -- disappearing behind the closing doors.
"Looks like he got new orders," Edwards remarked dryly.
"With any luck, they'll clear out of here soon." Sykes said with irritation that Del and his men were way ahead of him.
"Maybe they found her?" Edwards asked somewhat cautiously.
"Maybe...but I doubt it. Tea Manning is no fool."
Sykes peered through the glass of his car again and tapped his finger lightly on the wheel.
"Wait a few minutes...then go up to the lobby and see if you can find out anything. You'll be less recognizable to them if they're still here."
"Sure," Edwards said.
After about ten minutes, Edwards left the car to go to the elevator. Sykes sank back into the rich leather and turned on his CD player. He didn't like waiting, and he didn't like playing these little games with the FBI, but he had no intention of letting Delgado know that he was tracking his sister. I' ve come this far...I'm not backing down now...
"No, I want to get back to you, Slider," Sherry retaliated. "You were about to tell me something...like maybe why you started this in the first place. I think I want to know now," her dark eyes challenged him.
"It's not easy to explain."
"Try me."
His smooth, handsome face shifted and tightened. Taking a deep breath, he began.
"I guess things have changed between us, Sherry."
"And that would be... because...?"
Slider swallowed uncomfortably. "I don't know...well, maybe I do. Damn! I feel like I'm on some stage and all the lights are shining down on me! What do I tell her? What will she believe?
The truth...she'll want that. I could make up something, but she'd see through it.
"I suppose it has something to do with...Nick," he said and felt the flush of heat on his skin.
"Come on, Slider," Sherry said testily. "You come in here all worked up, and then you...you kiss me! Why would that have anything to do with Nick?"
For once Sherry saw his normally candid eyes look furtive as he began to speak.
"The other day...I...I saw you and Nick...together."
Allowing the seconds to go by while adjusting to being back again, Nick began blocking his enraged emotions, and forcing his mind to clear and assume the sharp edge it had had before. You should never have pulled that little trick, Tea...it's just made me even more aware of the danger of being around you...and every sneaky wile that you have up in that pretty head of yours will now be null and void..
The reentrance of Nick into Todd's body was not unfamiliar to Tea as she remembered her experience with another alter. Outwardly his face and body stood in the same position as it had before. Yet the man who had softly touched the tears on her cheek had vanished and another one was inserted into the tall, masculine frame -- his whole aura radiating the personality of someone she didn't know -- someone calculating and formidable like her own husband, but still different. With Todd, she had finally learned how he was able to protectively mask his love for her, but this man's eyes had no such hidden emotion behind them.
"Do I know you, Tea?" His silky voice seemed to coat each word for emphasis. "That's a weird remark coming from you."
Careful! He's trying to lay a trap...maybe he doesn't know what happened while he was gone...
Nick!! So that's it...he saw us...maybe in the hallway...now it's all just too crystal clear...
"What did you see?"
"Uh..you and he were...," Slider stopped and remembering the scene, his ire once more rose to the surface. "Well, you were practically making love in the doorway!"
"Oh, I see," Sherry's eyes brightened with awareness. "You think that we did it in your apartment then?"
"No!... yes...I don't know what I think!" Slider flushed under her intense scrutiny.
The idea that Slider had spied on them and had known everything flustered her, but for some reason she remained outwardly calm. So this is what that kiss was all about...you had no real competition all those years...and now Nick is here and taking over your territory. But I'm not your territory, Slider...I could have been...I would have been with one word from you at any time.
"Wonder what's holding Slider up?" Nick asked suddenly, and Tea's mind surged with relief.
Thank God...he's not going to do anything...at least...not yet...I can get a hold of myself and think of something else to distract him...maybe even call Todd back...
"Hmmm..." I have an idea where he is," Nick said and turned to walk over to a table. Picking up the phone, he smiled a sly, secretive smile at her -- his eyes never leaving hers as he punched in the numbers.
"One ring...two rings..." he counted out loud. Then with an air of insincerity, he said. "Wonder where she is?"
She? Tea felt excitement flooding through her, and she could only dare hope that he wasn't watching her too closely.
"You're home!" Nick said with satisfaction, and his eyes continued to mark every detail of Tea's composure.
"Where have you been... Sherry?" He said with emphasis on the name, and his eyes pinpointed the sudden light of knowledge that appeared in Tea's eyes.
Bingo! Toddy has been a busy boy...you know about her...
