Chapter 1: A New Nightmare...
June 16, 2000
Llanview, Pennsylvania
Viki's Cabin
It was raining again. Just like the last time he was here. It looked the same, the cabin. Not that it would have changed much in just over three months. But one never knew with Viki and her whims.
He stands by the fireplace, in a daze. One of the many he had been in over the past few days. Feeling the drops of rain fall from his wet hair onto his hand. Reminding him he was real, this wasn't some bizarre dream, some God awful nightmare. This was real.
If he concentrated real hard, he could see her in front of him. Tears streaming down her cheeks. Her hand reaching out to his. The joining of their hands was like the completion of each other. Re-establishing the connection after 15 months and eight days apart.
Mr. Manning...there's been an explosion....
He swallows hard. Keep it together. Remember to breathe.
....your wife was killed instantly....
Wasn't possible. Had to have the wrong woman...the wrong car. They had to be wrong. Breathe. Remember to breathe.
I'm sorry.
Yeah, you're all fucking sorry. He blinks back the tears in his eyes. Keep it together. Three days since the cops had told him she was gone. And he was still waiting to wake up.
When they had left, he had just stood in the living room of their small house, his body in a state of complete shock. Waiting for a blind rage to overtake him. But it never did. Instead, it felt like part of him had just died. He was numb. He stood there for hours, staring at the front door, waiting for Téa to walk through. All a mistake. Had to be a mistake.
Shock had turned to devastation. Collapsing onto the floor, curling up into a ball. Not crying. He hadn't cried yet. Thinking about all the ways he could join her. Wondering if his gun was still in the house. How much liquor they had in stock. If the knives were nice and sharp.
Born to be together...we could die together
But his eyes had glimpsed the framed picture of his daughter. And like she had so many times in the past, she had saved his miserable life. He had remained on the floor, curled up. His mind trying to wrap around how all this had happened.
"I've just gotta run some errands Todd. Tell you what, I'll pick us up a pizza for dinner okay?"
"Whatever. But none of that stupid fancy pizza, like with pineapple and crap. Just plain cheese."
"You really should broaden your horizons."
"My horizons are just fine. I just happen to think there is something wrong with putting fruit on pizza. So sue me Delgado."
"I can do that. But I'd rather just kiss you."
"Oh God, you're getting mushy."
"Deal with it Manning."
The last time their lips had touched. The last time he had smelled the sweet scent of her hair. The last time he had held her close. The last words he had said to her. Breathe.
The arrival of the police the following morning had been the only thing that had dragged him up off the floor. They had brought the few items not torched in the explosion. And news.
Mr. Manning, it seems the explosion was caused by a bomb. We found some remnants of it around the scene...
A bomb. A fucking bomb. Intentional. Meant for her? Maybe, but more than likely meant for him. Proving that yet again involvement with Todd Manning leads to nothing but pain...and death.
...your wife was killed instantly...
His wife. Of three whole days. He absently reaches in the pocket of his jeans, his finger slipping through the gold band. Her gold band. Slightly charred from the accident. One of the few things he had left of her. Fitting really. The continuous circle so much like her love for him, neverending, no matter what shit he pulled. It slips on his finger about halfway before it stops, too small to fit completely. But she fit with him, so perfectly.
He can feel the tears start to well in his eyes, her face floating through his mind. He blinks quickly. He couldn't cry. That would be...acceptance. That would make it all too real. He consciously pushes down the pain inside him, and begins picturing new faces.
RJ Gannon.
Anyone named Buchanan.
....caused by a bomb...
Fucking intentional. And they would pay. He would find out who took her from him and they would pay dearly. Todd Manning was nothing if not an expert at revenge.
He closes his hand into a fist, feeling her ring against his palm. Close to him. It would never leave him now. A reminder of her, of what they had, what they would always have. A symbol of love.
For three months, things had been good. Getting away from Llanview had allowed them time to work out some of their problems. They had fought, a lot, but what else was new? But it was ...good. Together. They had consciously worked on not walking away from each other. They had tried to communicate, although more often than not they ended up exasperated with the other. But that was okay. Better than not talking at all. Better than not being together at all. Better than...now.
He sniffs, again blinking back tears. Forget about now...concentrate on payback.
Remember to breathe. For her. Breathe life for her.
His thumb gently strokes the edge of her smooth wedding band. Closing his eyes, he feels a blinding pain wash over him.
Welcome to my nightmare...
*****
A small villa
Puerto Rico
He watches closely for any sign of movement from her. It had been a long time since he had been this close. She was finally his again. Finally. For good this time.
His eyes travel from her shoulder length hair, fanned out on the pillow, down her blanket covered form. She hadn't woken up really since he took her. Her moments of consciousness were groggy at best. She had no idea what was going on.
He looks at her left hand. Ringless. Thanks to him. The nerve of her thinking she could ever wear another man's ring. He had yanked it off her hand and thrown it into the fire. Burning her old life, starting anew. Starting over.
He picks up a newspaper that he had gotten on his way out of the town he had found her.
Local Woman Killed in Mysterious Explosion.
And no one would ever think different. He tosses the paper aside, leaning over her.
"Finally, my Téa, we are together....forever. As it always should have been."