Author’s Note
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This fan fiction is about Todd. The one and only irrepressible Todd that we grew to love. So forget about the DID… it never happened. Not in this story. I want to strive to be fresh and original. I will be taking Todd in a whole other direction. I’m sorry to say that alas… Blair has died. Sorry Blair! Todd has full custody of Starr and no longer lives in Llaneview. So free you’re minds and strap on you’re seatbelts…it’s gonna get bumpy!
Peace and Love,
VTW…Veronica T. West
ECSTACY
CHAPTER ONE
SAN FRANSICO, CALIFORNIA
Todd Thomas Manning was a sinner and proud of it. He smiled slyly recalling all his past transgressions. They deserved it…every last one of them. He felt no guilt or remorse about anything, not anymore. He was who he was. He strolled along Ghiradelli Square with a glossy shopping bag in one hand and his little girl Starr holding his other.
Father and Daughter were exact replicas of each other. Both had the same color hair, eyes, and face. Only Starr was a female version of Todd. She was an exquisite child.
Her beautiful chestnut hair was wavy and hung in a shining curtain to her waist. Amber doe eyes dominated her tiny face; she had a button nose and a rosebud mouth. She had a lovely disposition and that was the icing on the cake as far as Todd was concerned. She was apple of his eye. And the ruler of his heart. No one else even came remotely close.
“Daddy? Can I please get a chocolate?” Starr looked up at him hopefully. They were just coming up to the famous candy store where the luscious confections were displayed invitingly.
Todd raised an eyebrow and he sighed deeply, pretending to be in serious thought. He of course was going to say yes, but Shorty didn’t know that. He hunched down to her eye level. “Hmm… I just don’t know. Didja eat all of your lunch?”
Starr giggled irrepressibly. “You know I did! I even ate the salad!” She exclaimed. She raised an identical eyebrow. “How about it, huh?” She asked archly.
Todd chuckled and shook his head. His daughter was amazing and already a charmer. “You got it, kid.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the tip of her nose.
The truth was he couldn’t deny her anything. After the death of her mother Blair, six months earlier, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make her happy and secure.
Blair’s passing was a tremendous shock. Her car was hit by a drunk driver on her way home from The Sun. She lingered in a coma for three days before she died. Todd flew in from SF and took care of everything, the funeral arrangements, the rosary and consoling his child.
Dorian had tried to bulldoze her way in, but Todd would have none of it.
Unbeknownst to her, Blair had made Todd executor of her estate with strict instructions. Dorian had threatened legal action and Todd just laughed in her face and told her to fuck off. It was a moment he’d always look upon and smile.
He packed Starr up, much to the protest of Dorian, and left town one week after Blair’s funeral. Vickie was cool, she stood by Todd as she always did and tried to smooth things over with Dorian. Todd told her she oughta tell Dorian to jump on her broomstick and fly straight to hell.
Vickie bit her lip and tried to hold back a smirk. They were very much alike in some ways.
She had long ago accepted Todd for who and what he was. He was her brother. Her blood. He was a Lord just like she was, and her loyalty for him was complete and final.
It was a two way street. Todd turned into an animal if anyone uttered a word against her. So she sighed dramatically and kissed him, then sternly told him not to get into any trouble.
He grinned unrepentantly and promised no such thing. He and Starr left town and Todd had no intentions of ever going back.
“Come on daddy, let’s go,” Starr urged. She tugged on his hand and dragged him to the store. While she picked out her candy Todd cut his narrowed eyes back and forth, and scanned the crowed coolly. It was a habit he couldn’t help, not in his line of business.
He was a very expensive, very discreet, locator. A finder. He obviously couldn’t get a Private Investigator’s license, not with his criminal record. Nor did he care to. He hated rules, and ethics and legalities. They got in his way. He slowly, by word of mouth, had an underground reputation as an excellent hunter.
He could find anybody, anywhere and at any time. He loved it, for him the thrill of the hunt was exhilarating.
He was smart, ruthless and cagey. Anyone who wanted to hire his services had to first be referred by a client. A background check was then done on the person. He had hired a freelance computer hacker to do that. Darcy had a genius IQ and cost him an arm and a leg, but was well worth it. There wasn’t a computer on the planet she could not get into.
If the person checked out, then they were required to leave a message with instructions of who they wanted found on an untraceable answering machine. Todd rented a one-room office in a seedy part of town. He paid the rent six months at a time and under an assumed name. There was no way it could be traced back to him. The tiny, windowless office only had a table with the answering machine on it. The door however, was unbreakable. It was impenetrable stainless steel. Todd could get his messages from a cell phone and erase them as well. He rarely went there, he didn’t want to be recognized. He then got in touch with the person, and set up a meet, usually at night, and always on his terms. He required twenty-five thousand dollars up front. Just for the privilege of the meeting. No refunds and no questions. Depending upon what the job entailed, the risk factor, and whom the person was he was tracking, his services could be retained for upwards of one hundred thousand dollars. Not that he needed the money. He was a multi-millionaire, but acquiring more of it was enjoyable.
His clients were wealthy, powerful and most importantly, had secrets and skeletons in their closet. A fact Todd never let them forget. He always came to the meet’s carrying. It was either his P7 automatic, or a silver-plated .45. He felt comforted by the gun nestled underneath his armpit. He sometimes dealt with unsavory people, and wasn’t about to let anyone get the drop on him.
He was set to have a meet with a client tonight. Lucas Forsythe was extremely rich and an enigma. Todd’s background check yielded absolutely nothing. Lucas Forsythe did not exist. No IRS records, no drivers license, no birth certificate. There wasn’t one thing that could pinpoint where he lived or how he made his money. Todd had a few ideas. Usually when someone checked out in this fashion, they were up to their necks in illegal activities.
He had Darcy digging. He hoped she would have something for him by tonight. The only reason he even agreed to the meet was he trusted the client who referred him, as much as Todd could trust anyway. He was loyal to his child and his sister. He trusted no one else.
“I’m ready to go daddy,” Starr said sweetly. She had selected her treat and had the bag clutched in her dainty little hand.
Todd gazed at his child indulgently. “Okay Shortey, let’s go home.”
They lived in a one hundred year old Victorian house in Pacific Heights. The house was white with crisp navy blue trim. It had a wrap-around porch with white wicker furniture and lush green ferns reposing in clay urns. The house was large and refurbished beautifully. It had a huge front and backyard, complete with pool, redwood swing-set and clubhouse for Starr.
As they entered the house Todd was nearly knocked down by Rocket, Starr’s dog. He was a white and silver Alaskan Husky, with the cool blue eyes of a wolf. His nails clicked on the wood floor as he tap-danced around Starr and Todd, moaning and yelping in excitement.
Starr giggled and wrapped her arms around Rocket, nuzzling her face in his soft fur. His pink tongue was lolling out his mouth and he immediately rolled on his back, his big paws were dangling in mid air.
Starr merely thought of him as her beloved pet, Todd knew otherwise. He was a highly trained guard dog who would protect his daughter to his death. Todd had flown to Zurich and acquired him. He was gentle as a lamb with Starr, and fiercely protective of the both of them.
“Some watchdog you are, “ he quipped, scratching Rocket’s belly with the tip of his shoe.
“Hello Senor Lord. I thought I heard you and the nina.” Rosalie Perez looked down affectionately at Starr. She was in her sixties and round as she was tall, which was five foot nothing. Todd had hired he as a housekeeper shortly after Starr had come to live with him. He never once regretted it. Rosa and Starr adored each other and Todd had genuine fondness for her as well.
“Hey Rosa.” Todd sniffed the air. “God, is that what I think it is?” The aroma wafting through the house was incredible. Rosa was a fantastic cook. She chuckled. “Si. Arroz con pollo. I know it’s you’re favorite.” Todd’s stomach rumbled. “I’m gonna get fat if you keep cooking the way you do,” he complained with a grin.
Rosa eyed him up and down. “You?” She scoffed. “Ha! You need to gain about fifteen pounds. You are too skinny!”
Todd rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Hmm… well anyway, I’m gonna be in my study for a while. Shortey, you be a good girl and listen to Rosie, okay?”
Rosalie took Starr’s hand. “Come Chiquita, you will help me make cookies, Si?”
Todd watched them go. He turned around and went into his study. He wanted to find everything he could about the mysterious Lucas Forsythe.
The house was quiet. Todd tucked Starr into bed and read her a story. Rosa had retired for the evening as well. Todd went into his room and began dressing for work.
He brushed his hair straight back from his forehead and pulled it into a smooth ponytail. The glossy tail fell halfway down his back; Starr teased him about their hair being the same length. Todd hated short hair and let it grow out. It suited him. As did his goatee and scar, he could have gotten it removed, but chose not to. A small, thin silver hoop earring glinted at his ear. That, and a discreet silver crucifix he wore on a chain around his neck, were the only two pieces of jewelry he wore. Starr had given them to him for Father’s Day.
He stood clad only in a pair of white BVD cotton briefs. His body was muscled and toned. He was an avid kick-boxer and ran five miles a day. He stepped into a charcoal gray Armani suit. The shirt was black silk and opened at the collar. He adjusted his gun belt and walked to his safe. He pulled out the sliver plated .45. Todd grabbed a clip punched the magazine in. He jacked the shell and slipped in his holster. He laced up a pair of handmade Italian shoes and smoothed his suit coat down flexing his shoulders slightly. He shrugged on an ankle length black topcoat. He walked downstairs silently. He picked up a black briefcase and stopped to set the alarm. Rocket sat in the hall with his head on top of his paws.
“Guard Rocket,” Todd commanded.
The large dog thumped his tail on the floor. His ears pricked at the command. He lifted his head and cocked it to the side. His eyes were sharp and alert.
Todd smiled. He had no worries. Starr and Rosa were safe. Rocket was a killer. He ruffled his head and walked out the door. He climbed into his ink-black Shelby convertible and gunned the powerful engine. He felt the adrenaline rush kick in.
He grinned whitely. The hunt was about to begin.
CHAPTER TWO
Todd cruised along the busy city streets with the wind in his hair and Santana on his stereo. He pulled into a side street and cut the engine. He glanced at his watch. Forsythe was due in about fifteen minutes.
Todd always came to his meets early… always. He stepped out of the car and slowly walked into the alley. He preferred dark, secluded places to do business. He didn’t like crowds. He heard a slight behind noise him and tensed.
In one smooth motion Todd reached in his coat and pulled out the .45. He spun around. The gun was up and ready, Todd had it pointed straight at the mans head. His eyes were flat and hard. “Who the fuck are you?” He rapped out. He looked like a stone killer.
The man laughed drolly. “Is this the way you normally greet you’re clients?” He was tall, six foot one or so. He was expensively dressed and about ten years older that Todd. He was a hard body and it showed. He had the look of a serious athlete. His hair was completely silver, obviously premature, because his face was unlined and youthful. Jet-black eyebrows rested above metallic gray eyes.
His hair was high and tight, like a Marine. He wore a pair of small gold-rimmed glasses that did not detract from his looks in the slightest. Nor did it give his face any trace of vulnerability. He looked tough and cold.
Todd held the gun steady and narrowed his eyes. “Who are you?” He repeated.
“Lucas Forsythe. I believe we have a mutual friend? We were supposed to meet here at ten o’clock. I got here a little early.”
Todd slowly brought the gun down and returned it to his holster. He bit the corner of his lip and smiled slightly. “Coming up behind me is a good way to get your head blown off.”
“Relax Mr. Manning…I come in peace,” He chuckled softly. His mild tone was deceptive. His eyes glowed sharply behind the glasses and held no humor.
Todd faced Lucas squarely. Legs apart, weight distributed equally. He had a shark’s sense of self-preservation. He didn’t trust Forsythe, not at all. “So,” Todd said abruptly. “Let’s get down to it.”
Lucas reached in his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope. He handed it wordlessly to Todd.
Todd took it and glanced inside. The money was in five, one-inch thick stacks. He walked to his ride and opened his briefcase. He tossed the envelope inside. “You have the information?”
Lucas nodded and gave him a folder. “It’s all in there.”
Todd leafed through the file. “And you’re sure she’s here in the city?” Lucas smiled bitterly. “Yeah, that’s what my people tell me.”
Todd looked up. “Well, if you’re people know it, then why do you need to hire me?”
Lucas shook his head. “My crew has been trying without success for the past couple of month’s. They have gotten absolutely no results,” he said, disgusted. “I need to find her, it’s imperative that I do. You have an excellent reputation and came highly recommended. And I only hire the best.”
Todd smiled slightly. He wasn’t impressed by the flowery compliment. “And you’re crew knows she’s in SF because…?”
“She slipped up. There is a credit card receipt from a car rental agency. It showed up about one week ago. Right here in San Francisco. I flew here as soon as I found out.”
Todd nodded. “Where did you say you flew from?”
Lucas grinned coldly. “I didn’t.” He spread his hands. “So. Will you take the job?”
“Yes. It will cost you one hundred and a quarter. Half now, the other half upon completion of the job.”
“A little steep, isn’t it?” Lucas asked mildly.
Todd raised an eyebrow. “It depends on how you look at it. How bad do you want the girl?”
Lucas pulled his lip through his teeth. “Badly.”
“Well… then it seems a small price to pay doesn’t it?” Todd smiled like a wolverine. But his eyes were like chips of hard amber. “I’ll contact you tomorrow with instructions on where to wire the funds. You got a clean cell phone number?”
Lucas scribbled down a number on a book of matches and tossed it. Todd caught it. “I’ll find her…count on it.”
Lucas smiled. “Oh, I will Mr. Manning. I will.”
