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The Tessarae Inn |
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Regrets In Jade Tones
CHAPTER 20 Todd checked out the living room and then the kitchen carefully. He moved slowly looking for any trace of Starr or Jason. The house was almost miniature in scale but it was surprisingly neat and tidy. There were no dirty dishes in the sink and the living room sofa had puffed pillows and the objects on the coffee table were neatly arranged or stacked. RJ was checking the free standing, dilapidated garage behind the house but he already knew what he was going to find. They both had noticed the tracks. He eased down the hallway to the right. Even though the neighbors confirmed that Cooper left twenty minutes or so ago he wasn’t going to take any foolish chances. He opened the first door to the right—a closet. Next on the left was a bathroom. The last door on the right did not open when he turned the knob. It was locked. He pressed against the door but it didn’t give. “Go away, don’t hurt Starr no more. Leave us alone.” Todd’s heart lurched. He recognized Jason’s voice despite the pain and fear that swamped the sound. “Get away from the door,” Todd yelled then raised his leg and rammed his foot against an area near the lock. The door sprang open. Jason barreled toward him with his head lowered as if he was going to ram him. Todd called his name. Jason stopped in his tracks and looked up. Jason just stared at him as if he couldn’t move and was afraid to make a sound. He was just a little boy—a scared little boy and in some place Todd kept hidden from everyone he felt a surge of anger so deep and profound it threatened to implode into a destructive rage. No one in this world had a right to frighten a little boy that much. No one. He stretched his hand out to Jason, who walked slowly to him. Where was Starr? Todd looked around the room. It was a dim, dank, smelly place and he could barely see anything. His heart was racing. Where was Starr? Finally, he saw her lying on the bed with her hands tied behind her back. She didn’t move. “Starr,” he said softly and for a lifetime there was no reaction but finally she rolled over. He could see the tears in her eyes until slowly she seemed to recognize him. “Daddy?” He walked to the bed quickly and untied her hands. Jason was right next to him. Todd bent down and untied his hands as well. He lifted Starr and she swung her legs around his waist and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and laid her head down. He pulled Jason close to him and the three of them walked down the damnable hallway and out the front door. When RJ rounded the corner of the house and saw them he squatted down as if all of the strength had gone out of his legs. Todd looked away from him but he gently pushed Jason who ran to RJ and wrapped his small arms around his neck. “Are you crying, Daddy?” asked Jason. “Yes, I am.” “I didn’t know grownups cried.” “I’m crying because I’m so happy to see you.” Starr raised her head and watched them for a few seconds. “I thought you weren’t coming.” “I’ll always come for you, Starr. Don’t ever give up on me, okay?” She nodded then laid her head on his shoulder again and started crying. ====== It had gone without saying that the children had to be checked out. He called Viki and insisted that she meet him at the hospital in five minutes. He should have called Blair but he couldn’t do it. Not until he knew. There were certain fears that nothing in his life would ever erase. Starr being hurt like that was one of them. He couldn’t stand to think about it, much less watch Blair’s heart break into a thousand pieces if it was true. Could not do it. When Larry and Viki came out of the examination room and told him that physically Starr was fine--there was no evidence of physical or sexual abuse—for the first time in two days he actually took a breath. He spotted RJ walking down the hall toward him with Jason in his arms. RJ nodded once and Todd was surprised at the relief he felt. Jason was okay too. Todd shooed Viki away and rushed into the examination room to get Starr. The nurse tried to get him to leave her there for a few more minutes and Viki and Larry tried to convince him to let the children stay overnight in the hospital but there was no way that was going to happen. The children were going home. RJ was cruising toward Dorian’s at ten or so miles above the speed limit when Todd realized for the first time that his phone wasn’t working. He had tried to call Blair but the phone was dead. He cursed himself. There was no telling what kind of important calls he had missed. He reached for RJ’s car phone then changed his mind. They were only a few minutes from the house. He glanced back at Starr and Jason. They were asleep. He and RJ had not said one word to each other since they left the hospital and loaded the children in the car. It was over. A phone call wouldn’t change anything one way or another. In just another minute or so, he and RJ would walk into Dorian’s carrying the children home to their mothers. Todd had not made his final decision about Toni Reynolds despite the way they tended to snap at each other. He didn’t quite hate her like he did so many other people but she was not his favorite person nor he hers. Yet, on some level, he respected her and he would damn sure rather deal with her than the Cramer Coven that would have swooped in if only they weren’t stuck in the middle of South America some place. But Toni was not the person he wanted to see when he strolled into the foyer of Dorian’s with Starr in his arms. Still watching her scoop Jason into her arms and touch him like he was a porcelain object had tugged at his heart. She touched Jason gently from head to toe as if she couldn’t believe he was real. RJ was such an emotional mess after watching her reaction, he walked back outside for a “few breaths of fresh air.” “Where is she?” “I don’t know,” said Toni setting Jason down and reaching for Starr. “She asked me to come and stay here until she returned.” Starr seemed perfectly content to go to Toni so he let her climb into Toni’s arms. “From where?” “I don’t know, Todd, and I won’t lie I’m a little worried.” Starr lifted her head and looked at Toni. He glanced at Toni, who nodded her head. “I’m taking them upstairs and put them to bed.” He stared at her for a second then looked away. When the police officer tried to protest by saying he needed to talk to the children that was when Todd decided he’d give Toni a second chance down the road. She lit into the man with such ferociousness that the officer slinked away cowed. No one was going to get by her to get to those children.
======= Todd gripped the edge of the writing table that he was sitting on. Where the hell was Blair? No one had seen her since the police station. Antonio had finally filled him in on the call from Wyatt but then said it was obviously just a ruse, but Todd wasn’t sure. The timing of the meeting corresponded to the time when Wyatt left the house. Antonio, however, swore that Wyatt had not shown up and Blair definitely had not been there. Where was Blair? When Téa rushed into the living room he immediately looked at Antonio. “Explanation.” Antonio looked sheepish then said, “I didn’t get a chance to tell you. She was called in as a consultant because she defended Cooper in a case a number of years ago. Bo thought she could offer some insight into Cooper.” “Did she?” “We got the call about the meeting at the park right after she got to the station. All hell broke loose and I haven’t had a chance to really talk to her.” “I’m so sorry, Todd,” said Téa as she moved closer and closer to him. Todd eyed her warily. “Can you help?” “I’ll try. That’s why I’m here. Where’s Blair? I thought she would be waiting here.” “You’ve seen Blair?” Antonio cleared his throat. “Blair came to the police station shortly after Téa arrived.” “Where’s Blair?” “I thought she was here.” “Don’t lie to me, Téa. Have you done something to her?” “What is wrong with you, Todd? Of course, not. Why would I want to hurt Blair?” Todd could see that Antonio was watching them as if some soap opera was about to play out for his personal benefit. As luck would have it, Antonio’s beeper sounded. He glanced at it and said, “I’ve got to call the station.” Todd studied Téa. Paris seemed to be working for her. He honestly hoped she was happy but it didn’t really matter whether she was or not. And he had neither the energy nor the resolve to pretend otherwise. She was just one more thing in a long line of things he had used to hurt Blair. It had always been about Blair. Antonio placed the phone back in the receiver. “Téa, could I speak to you for a minute.” Immediately warning signals flashed in Todd’s head. “About what?” “This is official business.” “This is my damn house. Tell me what is going on.” Téa stepped closer to Todd. “I’m sure Todd can hear anything you have to say.” Antonio sighed loudly. “There’s been a report of a woman matching Blair’s description being abducted in the parking lot at the park.” “That can’t be,” squealed Téa. “Blair didn’t know about the meeting and YOU and your special team were there, right?” “I left you alone with her. Did you let it slip about Cooper’s call?” “No. I don’t think so. You know how Blair flies off the handle. We had a rather heated discussion. She was overwrought, of course, with Starr missing. I told her not to blame herself. I’m sure she tried as best she could to be a good mother to the child.” “Are you insane?” hissed Todd. “Me? I’m not the one who did everything to get custody of my child then turned right around and handed her over to that woman. Oh, but that’s right you were pretending to be insane at the time.” Antonio was quiet for a moment then he walked close to Téa. “Tell, me,” he said in low husky voice, “that you did not lie to me.” “What are you talking about?” “You are the one Cooper told where he wanted to meet Blair, right?” “Yes. He said the East-End Parking Lot.” “No. You told me the West-End Parking Lot.” Téa’s eyes grew wide and she began to shake. “I couldn’t have made that kind of mistake.” Antonio recoiled backwards. “It was a mistake,” screamed Téa. “An honest mistake.” Todd looked at Antonio. “He has Blair. And Téa delivered her to him on a silver platter.”
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