The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
AFFLICTION
BY TROG |
CHAPTER
19 |
CHAPTER 19
Todd paced manically in the expansive livingroom of his penthouse. The sun was setting on Llanview and he looked out the window watching the golden rays disappear slowly into the approaching dusk of the evening.
He had spent most of the day with Vicki, providing a paltry solace to her overwhelming grief. Jessica had called Joey and Kevin and they were on their way back to Llanview, while Todd called Andrew Carpenter to the house tomorrow to make arrangements for a memorial service and funeral for Ben. Tomorrow he would help Vicki buy a coffin and order flowers and a headstone--morbid arrangements for a celebration of death.
Vicki was devastated. In between bouts of frantic crying she would lapse into a deep, catatonic silence that left her confused and frightened, walking from room to room like a ghost looking for something she‘d lost. Finally her exhausted mind and body could take no more and Todd persuaded her to take a tranquilizer that Larry Woleck had provided and he had left her sleeping in her bed with Jessica looking after her.
Watching the setting sun, the night extinguishing the day, he thought of Ben Davidson. He was dead. Although Todd had never been overly fond of his sister’s choice of a husband, never believing he was good enough for Vicki, he knew that Ben Davidson had loved her and made her happy...he had given her back a vitality, a youthful spark that had been missing in Vicki for many years. Now he was dead...and Vicki was alone again.
Tea. Todd closed his eyes and thought of her. How was he going to tell her that her husband was a killer who most likely was responsible for Ben’s death...for Vicki’s widowhood. How could he protect her from this danger without endangering her life in the process.
When the doorbell rang he jumped up quickly, jolted by the deep, ominous chime. Rushing across the room in a few steps he opened the door widely expecting Antonio, but it was Tea who stood there.
“Oh, querido, I just heard about Ben Davidson....I’m so sorry,” she said as she slid her comforting arms around him and he accepted them greedily as the door closed behind them and they leaned against it. He pulled her tightly against him, breathing in her beautiful scent as her warm, soft body soothed his aching heart. She looked up at him, her shiny, dark eyes full of intensity and compassion, touching his face lovingly. “How’s Vicki doing?”
“She’s a wreck. I left her a little while ago...Jess and I gave her something to make her sleep....I think she’ll be out for the night.”
They walked toward the sofa, arm in arm, and sat down. Todd held her again, wanting to feel her comfort and love for a few moments more before the walls came crashing down around them. His lips caressed the smooth skin of her cheek and played with her silky hair before he kissed her tenderly. As she pulled away from him their eyes connected and she noticed a fearful look in his.
“On the radio they said Ben had been shot! Is it true, Todd?”
Todd nodded.
“Who could have done this?”
Todd got up and paced around.
“Well...Ben had a pretty violent past...Bo thinks it just caught up with him,” said Todd. “Tea...I...I need to tell you something...”
Again the doorbell rang and they both looked at the door. Tea got up quickly and started heading for the stairs.
“Todd...I’d better go upstairs...”
“No! Stay where you are,” said Todd as he moved to answer the door leaving Tea standing at the bottom of the stairs.
When Todd opened the door Antonio came hurrying in.
“What the hell is this about, Todd...” he asked before noticing Tea standing there. “Tea...well this is the last place I’d expect to find you.”
Tea looked away from him and crossed her arms.
“I came by to see if Todd was okay...I just heard about Ben Davidson,” she said quietly without facing him.
Todd closed the door and walked over to stand beside Tea. He sensed her uneasiness and he took her hand in his and looked straight into her eyes.
“Tea...I need to tell you something...that’s why I asked Antonio here.”
Tea looked up at him, mystified and confused. Looking over at Antonio she realized that he was as clueless as she was about what Todd was doing. Todd lead her to the sofa and sat her down as he turned to Antonio who stood silently by observing them. It was obvious to Antonio from a few moments in Todd and Tea’s presence, from their tenderness with each other, that they were lovers again.
Todd rubbed his eyes nervously before he began.
“A few days ago...Ben Davidson came to see me in my office. I was kind of surprised...we’re not exactly friends...but he said he had something to tell me...and it concerned....you,” he said, looking directly at Tea.
“But...I hardly know Ben.”
Todd walked over and sat next to her taking her hand again.
“He said that a few nights back he and Vicki ran into you and ...your husband, Aaron...at The Palace.”
“Yes...Ben and Vicki were having dinner there...I introduced them to Aaron.”
“Well...it seems that Ben recognized Aaron.”
Tea got up and looked down at Todd curiously.
“Ben knew Aaron? But...Aaron didn’t mention knowing Ben. He did ask me how I knew Ben and Vicki, but nothing beyond that,” said Tea. “I don’t really understand, Todd. How did Ben know Aaron?”
Antonio walked closer his eyes focused on Todd.
Todd pushed his hair back anxiously and stood up beside them.
“Ben said he’d only met him once...a few years ago...in Las Vegas.”
“Wasn’t Ben Davidson connected to organized crime back in Vegas?” asked Antonio.
Todd nodded his head looking at Tea’s confused face.
“Yeah...that’s where he recognized him from.”
Tea walked right up to Todd.
“That’s impossible. Ben was mistaken, Todd...Aaron has never even mentioned being to Las Vegas. And what could Aaron possibly have to do with organized crime...he’s a business consultant.”
Todd looked away from her.
“I don’t think he is, Tea. Ben said he remembered him being a...a contract killer. Ben Davidson said that Aaron Blackmoor is a paid assassin.”
Tea just stood there staring at Todd and letting his words sink in as Antonio’s mouth dropped open.
“That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! Todd...Aaron is my husband. I live with him...I know him. Ben was obviously mistaken...probably had Aaron confused with someone else.” she said, nodding her head confidently.
Todd walked over to the desk, grabbed a piece of paper and handed it to Tea.
“Ben called a few of his old acquaintances from Vegas and one of them faxed him this picture. The man in that photo is Klaus Herzog. He’s known as Goldenboy, an international killer...a hitman who never misses his mark.”
Tea’s hand started to tremble as she looked at the picture of her husband. She shook her head in disbelief as she walked toward the window staring down at the faxed photo.
“No...no...this is all a huge mistake, Todd. Obviously Ben was mistaken. My husband’s name is Aaron Blackmoor...I’ve seen his birth certificate...I’ve seen his passport...he’s not Klaus...whatever. Todd this is all one, huge mistake. Ben was misinformed...can’t you see that?”
Todd walked over to Tea.
“BEN IS DEAD, TEA!” shouted Todd, trying to get through to her. “And I think Aaron Blackmoor shot him because Ben recognized him that night at The Palace.”
“YOU’RE WRONG, TODD! Aaron Blackmoor is a kind, decent man...a dull businessman. HE IS NOT A KILLER! He’s my husband, for God’s sake! I think I would know if he was off killing people...this is ridiculous,” shouted Tea.
Antonio walked over to Todd’s telephone and started dialing, but Todd ran over and ripped the phone out of his hand.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m calling Bo to tell him what you know.”
“LIKE HELL YOU ARE! Do you think I’m going to entrust Tea’s life to the ineptitude of the Llanview Police Department?” said Todd, slamming down the phone.
“Todd...I’m a police officer. It’s my duty to inform Bo of this...I can’t keep it to myself.”
Tea walked over to Antonio.
“Antonio, you act like you believe this! This is not true!”
“Tea...I don’t know if it’s true or not...but we have to find out. What possible motive could Ben Davidson have for coming to Todd with a story like this?”
Tea wrapped her arms around herself and shook her head as a slow, simmering fear began stirring inside of her. Walking back to the sofa, she sat down quietly and began to rock slowly back and forth and her eyes misted over as she thought of her husband who suddenly seemed like a complete stranger. She stared at the piece of paper in her hand.
Antonio watched as Todd walked over and sat beside her as Tea dropped the picture to the floor and fell into Todd’s arms.
“Querido...this can’t be true. This could all be a mistake,” she cried softly as Todd held her.
“Tea...I don’t think it is. Ben recognized him and now he’s dead. Bo said it looked like a professional hit...I don’t think that’s a coincidence,” he said, pulling away from her and wiping her tears. “Tea. How well do you know your husband?”
Tea stared at him then walked over to the window looking out on the dark city. The truth was that there was so little to know about him.
“I know that he’s Canadian and that he has no living family,” she said turning around slowly. “I guess the truth is...I don’t know anything about him. We keep to ourselves, mostly. When we socialize it is usually with my friends and coworkers...never his. He doesn’t like discussing his work with me...he says it’s too boring,” Tea said with a sad, little laugh.
Suddenly Tea put her face into her hands and began to cry as Todd rushed over and held her.
“Oh my God...Todd...if this is true...I’m responsible for this...for Ben’s death,” she sobbed into his shoulder as Antonio stood by not knowing what to say or how to help her.
“No! You’re not responsible...he’s responsible. But Tea...we need to get you away from him without his suspecting that you know the truth about his identity. Do you understand me, Delgado? You can’t let on that you know who he is...or...he’ll...he’ll do what he has to to protect himself.”
Tea looked up at Todd with fear in her eyes.
“Antonio...you gotta help us,” said Todd looking over at him.
“I’m a cop, Todd! I can’t get involved in this without reporting it to my superiors...or my career is over.”
“HE’LL KILL TEA IF HE FINDS OUT WE’RE ON TO HIM! Sorry, Antonio, but I don’t give a flying fuck about your precious career...now...are you going to help us, or not?”
Tea stared at Antonio then back at Todd.
“Todd, I can’t ask Antonio to get involved in this. It’s not fair.”
Todd looked up at the ceiling fuming at Antonio who stared at Tea, this beautiful and compassionate woman who had flown to his mother’s bedside without a thought for herself. Tea Delgado was more than a good friend to him, she was family. He shook his head and threw his hands in the air.
“Todd’s right, Tea. The more people that know his true identity the worse it is. We need to get proof of what he is and what he did before reporting it or he’ll just walk away. Then he’d probably kill us all.”
Antonio walked over to Tea who was leaning against Todd, weak and emotional.
“Tea...think. Has he ever done anything strange or unusual? Does he keep guns in the house? Does he have an office where we could find some proof of what he does?”
Tea shook her head in frustration.
“No! He works out of our home and his office is...just ordinary. He hates guns...as far as I know he’s never owned one. He’s just...normal...ordinary, Antonio.”
Antonio sighed deeply before taking out a small pad from his pocket.
“Alright, Todd. Tell me everything Ben told you.”
“Ben said his real name is Klaus Herzog and he’s of German decent...his grandfather was a Nazi or something. Ben thought he was born in Argentina, but was raised in Canada. He has dozens of aliases and is known internationally as Goldenboy. Apparently he’s very expensive...like a million dollars a hit...and he’s batting a thousand. He’s never missed a target. That’s all he told me.”
As Antonio jotted the information down, Tea listened to Todd as if he were telling some strange and fictional story about a stranger whom she didn’t know...but he was talking about her husband, a man she had laid down with every night for the past four months. A man who made gentle love to her then supposedly flew off to parts unknown and murdered people indiscriminately.
“Let me see what I can find out about this man. But Todd, the moment I have some solid proof...I need to take it to Bo. Are we agreed?”
“Fine...but not until it’s solid. Not until it’s something that can land him behind bars and away from Tea...are we agreed?” asked Todd.
They all looked at one another and nodded, accenting and accepting their strange and sudden pact in this dangerous adventure they had just embarked upon silently.
Antonio embraced a shaken Tea quietly then looked at Todd.
“You look out for her, Manning...do you hear me?”
Todd nodded and walked him to the door.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” said Antonio before walking out.
Todd walked back over to Tea who was looking out into the darkness, traumatized and dejected. Slipping his arms around her he pulled her closely to him.
“I love you. And I’ll never let anyone hurt you, or take you away from me,” he whispered as her body dissolved into his.
to be continued...
2002 Copyright by Trog
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