The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
LIES FEARS & LOVE
BY TROG |
CHAPTER
29 |
chapter 29
THE SUN
“Oh, yeah, Briggs, this is a great headline, “Mayor Demands Recycling”,” said Todd as he held up a mock-up of his latest headline.
“Well, it is a big story. All the other papers are going with it,” Briggs said sheepishly.
Todd walked over to his wastebasket and shoved it in there unceremoniously.
“There. That’s what I think of the Mayor and his program. How about something on the funny money in his re-election campaign, ha?”
“Well, that’s just speculative! There’s no proof.”
“Well, get me some proof!” Todd shouted, bouncing around his office in a manic state. “ Don’t you know how to get a story anymore, Briggs. Whatever happened to tough, investigative journalism?”
“It gave way to cheap, sensationalistic crap meant to titillate readers and sell newspapers at any cost, irregardless of ethics or standards,” said Briggs sarcastically, in an unusual moment of bravery.
Todd looked over at Briggs and broke into a rare smile at his beleaguered editor.
“Are you talking about me, Briggs?”
“Well, Sir, you do have your moments.”
Todd stared at him for a moment then walked over to the window and looked out on Llanview. Soon Tea and Leo would be with him, and he could give Starr that family she craved.
“You think I don’t have any journalistic integrity, Briggs? You think I’m not respected in Llanview’s venerable journalist community?”
“Well....quite frankly, Sir...no.”
Todd turned around. He walked over to Briggs and looked him in the eye, something he rarely did.
“You know, Briggs, I was reading your bio the other day...it was a slow news day...and you use to be quite the roving reporter?”
Briggs looked at him with uncertainty, wondering where all this was heading.
“Yes, I really enjoyed it. I was even nominated for an AP award for investigated journalism. Those were good days.”
“How would you like to do that again,” said Todd.
Briggs looked up at him, anxious and worried.
“You’re demoting me?”
“No, I’m not demoting you. Listen, I want that story on the Mayor. I want The Sun to have the exclusive on this dude’s corrupt fun-raising schemes. And I don’t trust the hacks that work for me, so as of this moment, you are on this story. I don’t even want to see you until you have something for me. I’m sure your assistant can come up with crap like “Mayor Demands Recycling.”
Briggs looked at him then smiled.
“Do you mean it?”
“Yeah, I mean it! I want you to report to me, exclusively...no one is to know about this. I know something’s rotten in the state of Llanview...I can smell it.”
“Well, Mayor Minnelli does have a sketchy past, and he certainly rose up rather quickly in the political ranks of this town. But he is well connected...all of Llanview society supports him. And he raises so much money, he can run virtually unopposed.”
“So, what do you say Briggs, are you up for it?”
Briggs stared at his enigmatic publisher in awe. As long as he’d known Todd Manning he still had the ability to surprise him.
“Yes, I’m up for it. I’ll start right away, talk to some of my old contacts down at City Hall and see if there’s anything there.”
“Good. Now get lost and go earn your paycheck,” said Todd, walking over and sitting behind his desk.
Briggs headed for the door, but turned around one more time to look at his mysterious boss.
“May I ask, what brought this on,” Briggs asked.
Todd looked up at him.
“Maybe I’m growing up,” he said.
Briggs nodded his head and walked out.
Todd picked up the phone and dialed Tea’s apartment again. He had called her at her law firm this morning and was told that she wasn’t in. Then he had left messages all afternoon at her place, but she hadn’t returned them. Finally, Lourdes answered the phone.
“Lulu, Todd Manning. Let me speak to Tea.”
There was a long pause on the other end.
“She’s not available, Mr. Manning.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s...out.”
“She’s been out all day! Where the hell did she go, I need to speak with her and her cell phone is turned off.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Manning. I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
“Well, tell her I called, okay? I have some pesky redecorating questions,” he said hanging up and feeling rather uneasy.
“Hi, Todd.”
Todd looked up and his sister Vicki was standing there, looking pretty and soft in a pale pink suit.
“Oh, no!! What did I do now? Are you here to collect a check for your broken window, cause you can tell Bennie that I already took care of it,” said Todd, not getting up.
“No, Todd. The window is all repaired and I thank you for your expediency in that matter. I’m hear because I received a rather interesting call from Blair this afternoon and I wanted to discuss it with you,” she said sitting on his orange sofa.
Todd got up and approached her.
“What about?”
“Apparently she would like for me to be her matron of honor at your wedding in the next few weeks.”
“What are you talking about? Blair and I aren’t getting married. I told her so yesterday!”
“Well she’s under a different impression. Are you sure you made it clear to her?”
Todd sat down next to her.
“Very clear. I think she even knows about Tea.”
“Than why would she call me with this!”
“Cause she’s a lunatic, like her mother! Blair never could accept reality. She probably figured with you in her corner I’d change my mind. There’s not going to be a wedding...at least not with Blair.”
Vicki looked over and smiled at him.
“Oh? Are you and Tea getting married?”
“Well, I didn’t ask her yet, but she and Leo are coming to live with me at the penthouse.”
Vicki watched her idiosyncratic brother. He looked rested and handsome in his brown, pinstriped suit worn unconventionally with a beige t-shirt. There was something so different about him, so attractive. He seemed so calm, yet so confidant and vital--a manly charm emanated from his presence that she hadn’t ever seen before. She found herself smiling admiringly at him.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that. I hate that!” he yelled, looking annoyed as hell.
“I can’t help it, little brother, you look quite handsome today.”
“Yeah, right,” he said shoving his hands in his pockets and kicking the carpeting, embarrassed by her compliment.
“So, tell me about, Leo.”
Todd looked out the window. She saw a small smile coming to his lips at the mention of his son.
“Hey...he’s a kid...you know...accept better, because he’s mine...mine and Tea’s,” he said, coming over to sit beside her, “ and this kid can play football, I mean, he can’t throw yet but he’s got this killer, baby-death-grip hold, you know? And....he likes me, Vicki...I can tell. He cries when I leave,” Todd said, his eyes misting up. “He’s amazing, Vicki, just like Starr. I never thought I’d feel that way about another kid...but I do. I’ve only known him a few days, but...I’d die for him right now.”
Vicki took his hand and held it.
“It’s weird, ha?” asked Todd.
“Children bring an indescribable joy to our lives, Todd,” she said watching Todd. “And how are things with Tea?’
Todd got up and turned his back on Vicki, and stared out the window not wanting her to see him.
“Tea.....is....Tea’s my whole world,” he said in a voice so filled with emotion that it brought tears to Vicki’s eyes.
Vicki got up , walked over to him and turned him around to face her. Todd looked down at her and suddenly took her in his arms, embracing her warmly. Todd let her go after a few moments and shifted around awkwardly.
“I think it’s happening, Todd.”
“What’s happening?”
“Maybe you’re finally starting to forgive yourself for your past. Maybe you even like yourself a little.”
Todd looked long and hard at her.
“Maybe. But only a little...very, very little...so don’t get carried away. Anyway, Tea likes me and my kids like me...and that’s all that matters,” he said stepping back from her.
“They don’t like you, Todd...they love you. And so do I.”
“Oh, come on, Vicki, give me a break, here, I’m trying to run a business. Enough of this...love...stuff. Go away now!”
Vicki laughed, picked up her purse and headed for the door.
“Okay, Todd, but do me a favor and talk to Blair again. I think you’d better set her straight,” she said as she went through the door.
Todd went back behind his desk and dialed Tea’s apartment again, but all he got was the machine.
“Where the hell are you, Tea? I need to clear some redecorating crap with you ...and when are you coming to Llanview...hurry up. Tea...come on....I miss you...I love you,” he said hanging up quickly.
“Oh, man, I can’t believe I just left such a sappy message on an answering machine.”
to be continued...
2001 Copyright by Trog
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