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Chapter 22
Todd watched Tea in silence as they sat in Bo Buchanan’s office alone, her thoughts veiled by her professional demeanor. She was in full-blown lawyer mode, her dark eyes focused, her brow slightly furrowed, her finger tapping lightly against her lips as she concentrated on the wall behind Bo’s desk.
“What are you thinking about?”
Tea jumped a little, startled by Todd’s voice and when she turned to look at him, she seemed surprised by his presence. Standing up, she paced around slowly.
“Motive…opportunity…the same things Bo Buchanan is thinking about?”
Todd jumped up, a confused expression on his face.
“Motive? Opportunity? What the hell are you talking about? There was no motive or opportunity because I didn’t do this? Tea…you believe me right? You believe I didn’t do this?”
“That doesn’t matter…I’m here to defend you.”
“Damn it, Tea! I don’t want your fucking professional, legal opinion…I don’t want to know what my lawyer thinks…I want to know what my wife thinks!” Todd walked over and stood very close to her, looking into her eyes desperately. “Tea…tell me that you believe me.”
Tea looked up at him…his hazel eyes penetrating hers. In the past many had put their trust in him and he had lied to them repeatedly. Thoughts flashed quickly through her memory like a slide-show of deception…the accidental death of Hugh Armitage, his involvement with Georgie Phillips’ death, giving Blair’s newborn away…and, how cruelly he’d lied to her about having DID, duping her for months as he professed his love for her. This man she adored had a rage inside him that could trigger a temper capable of almost anything…she knew this. Was he capable of raping Blair? Did he rape her?
“How can you even ask me such a thing? Do you think I’d be here if I didn’t? Of course I believe you…I know you didn’t rape Blair. But…right now…I can’t be your wife…I can’t let my passion and love cloud my judgment. I need to think clearly, to stay focused, one step ahead of Bo…and try to figure out how to get you out of this.”
Todd put his arms around her and drew her closer, closing his eyes and sighing deeply with relief. Even after all they’d been through…he still had his moments of doubt about her trust in him. He’d certainly given her enough reasons in the past not to.
“She’s faking it, Tea…it’s some sort of scam.”
“Well…we’ll know soon enough. Bo went to get the medical reports…they were just faxed in to him.”
Todd looked worried as he turned his face away from her.
“Todd…I need more details from you. I need to establish a timeline before Bo comes back.”
“What time line?”
Tea felt him shaking a little as she pulled away from him. He was scared.
“You said she called you before you left the office. What time was it.”
“It was…a little before…8…maybe quarter of.”
Tea started pacing around, talking out loud.
“Okay…she called you before 8…you said the call only took a minute then you left for the parking garage. So…it took you a couple of minutes to get to your space…so that would make it about…7:55…you walked to your car and Blair was there. How long did your…uh…confrontation take?”
“She walked out of the shadows, just appeared there, then she started telling me she was going to file for full custody of Starr. I told her to go to hell and started walking toward my car…that’s when she came at me. We struggled for about a minute before I finally pushed her off of me, jumped into my car and took off. It took…maybe 5 minutes.”
“Five minutes…that would make it…around 8:00 tops. You got home at exactly 9, I remember the clock striking the hour as you entered. That gave you about 1 hour to rape Blair and get home. Now, it takes around a half hour to get home…so…that leaves about 30 minutes unaccounted for.” Tea stopped and looked up at Todd…a question in her eyes.
“Go ahead, Tea…ask me. Do you want to know how long it takes to rape someone? Is 30 minutes enough time?” asked Todd as he turned away from her and leaned his head against the smooth, cool bars.
Tea walked over and put her hand on his back.
“I’m sorry, Todd. I know how difficult this is, but…this is what Bo and Hank will be asking.”
Todd turned around, his eyes downcast.
“Sure, 30 minutes is plenty of time to do that to someone. But…it was snowing like hell when I got on the freeway, Tea. Traffic was all backed up…it took me longer to get home.”
Tea smiled.
“Yes…it was snowing. This is good…this will work in our favor, but…that’s quite a bit of time unaccounted for. Todd, did you stop anywhere…see anyone on your way home, someone who remembered seeing you?”
“No…I went straight home. You know Tea this doesn’t even matter. I didn’t rape Blair…and if she’s faking this, the medical reports will prove it. She is faking it. Believe me…if I had assaulted Blair, I would have finished the job…she wouldn’t be around to rat on me,” said Todd coldly.
Tea shivered at Todd’s words, believing a part of him capable of the deed. As they looked at one another, Bo Buchanan came through the door holding several pages in his hand, a few seconds later, Hank Gannon came in and nodded to Tea. Tea smiled weakly.
Bo sat behind his desk.
“Alright, Manning…according to your statement…a few minutes around 8:00 PM Blair attacked you in the parking garage, scratching your neck and tearing your shirt…you pushed her away and took off…leaving her there.”
“That’s what happened.”
“According to Blair, you two argued…she told you she was suing for full custody of Starr…then, she says you lost it. You flew into a rage…started beating on her, tearing at her clothing, you pushed her onto the floor, beside your car…and you raped her. She tried to scream but you covered her mouth and punched her…she passed out at some point…when she woke up…she walked to the front of the garage and the garage attendant called the police. His call came in at 8:15.”
“SHE’S A LYING BITCH,” yelled Todd, rising out of his chair and glaring at Bo.
Bo and Hank looked at one another.
“Todd, please sit down. Let’s listen to the rest of what Bo has to say,” said Tea calmly, taking his hand and pulling him back into his chair. “What about the medical reports?”
Bo rifled through the papers in his hand.
“Blair is in stable condition…nothing life threatening…but pretty beat up. Bruised ribs, contusions and bruises to her head, face, arms and inner thighs…all consistent with sexual assault. There is evidence of violent sexual intercourse…vaginal tearing…some bleeding.”
“That’s impossible…I mean…she’s faking it, right…” whispered Todd.
“There’s something else…there was tissue under her fingernails…that’s why I was gone so long…I was waiting for the lab results. The blood type…it matches yours, Manning. It’ll take a few days for the DNA results to come back.”
Todd stood up.
“OF COURSE IT’S MINE…I ARLEADY TOLD YOU THAT…SHE SCRATCHED ME,” he shouted, pointing at the bandage on his throat.
“What about body fluids?” asked Tea.
Bo sat back in his chair and looked up at Todd.
“Blair said…Todd used a condom.”
“WHAT? Oh…sure…I’m a rapist, right? I always carry condoms in my pocket just in case I’m in the mood to rape someone and don’t want my body fluids traced. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”
“Bo…I’m on the pill. We don’t use condoms,” said Tea.
“That doesn’t prove anything, Tea…you know that,” said Bo turning to Todd. “It’s no secret that you and Blair have been fighting over Starr, there’s a lot of hostility between you two and, by your own admission you were in the parking garage together…that gives you motive and opportunity…and with a previous rape conviction…well…we’re going to have to book you.”
Todd and Tea looked at one another. Todd shoved his hands deeply into his pockets…and…suddenly froze.
“I want a moment alone with my lawyer,” said Todd nervously.
Bo looked up at Hank, then got up and walked out of the office with him, shutting the door behind him.
“Todd? Amor…what is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost? Did you remember something else?”
“Tea? Do you love me?”
“You know I do.”
“But…do you trust me?”
Todd’s face looked pale as he removed his trembling hand from his pocket and held it out in front of Tea. She stared down at his hand as he opened it slowly revealing a shiny, black and red condom wrapper. It had been torn open. Tea gasped.
“This was the coat I was wearing when I saw Blair. Tea…she…must have planted this in my pocket…that’s why she kept grabbing my clothing…,” he stammered.
Tea looked stunned, and for a split-second, she doubted her own instincts…but quickly recovered.
“Give that to me,” she said, taking it out of his hand and shoving it into her pocket quickly.
“Tea…that’s evidence…”
“No…that’s a piece of paper I found and threw away when I cleaned out your pockets.”
“You’re not jeopardizing your career because of Blair, Tea! I won’t let you…”
“You can’t stop me! Look…they’re going to book you, Todd. I can’t stop them…but, you’ll be arraigned in the morning and I’ll post bail. At most…you’ll have to spend the night here. Then…we need to find out how Blair was able to accomplish this…she’s not smart enough do this on her own. Trust me…I won’t let her get away with this.”
“Me and my fucking past…it never ends…it never fucking ends. I’m so sorry, Tea…all I ever do is cause you pain…”
“You have nothing to be sorry for…this is Blair’s doing, not yours. Amor…please don’t blame yourself, don’t fall apart…that’s exactly what Blair is hoping for. Believe me if it’s the last thing I do…I’ll make sure she pays for this. Now…let’s go out there and face the music…” she said, taking his hand as they walked out to face Bo and Hank.
2003 Copyright by Trog
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