Téa sat down on her bed at the palace. It was late at night. She stared at the key she held in her hand. A key Todd gave her as a Christmas gift. She wrinkled her brow, deep in thought. Todd knew what she was up to. Todd thought of her… Todd, in his way, was watching over her.

“Fine, I’ll leave, but I’ll never be out of your life!”

She flipped it around, “I’ll never be out of your life either, Todd Manning, will I?” she whispered looking at the key.
“Todd, what are you doing right now? Where are you? What do you think of late at night? Do you sit on a bed, like I do - thinking of me - me thinking of you?”
Téa paused, “Why did you send me this key? What’s behind this key? What will I find, Todd? You? The real you?”
She let out a breath and put the key on her nightstand. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

The DA’s Office…

Téa knocked on Hank’s door and walked in. Hank smiled.
“I see you dropped the charges on Blair and Max,” remarked Hank.
“Yeah. It was the right thing to do,” said Téa feebly smiling.
“I see at least I can still trust your instincts,” said Hank.
Téa appeared surprised. She didn’t even trust her instincts. How could anyone trust her after the…
“Thanks, Hank,” muttered Téa, “So, anything else going on?”
“Yeah. Your office will be ready after lunch. And we have a working lunch at the country club,” said Hank, “With the police commissioner.”
“A case?” asked Téa.
“Yeah. Senator Graham. The case against his daughter is clear cut but he’s going to be a bit trickier to indict. He’s not confessing and Sykes isn’t very credible…” explained Hank.
“I see,” said Téa, “Well, is it o.k. I do an errand and meet you at the country club?”
“Sure. Meet me at 12,” said Hank.
“Will do,” said Téa. She walked out.

Angel Square…

Téa never felt quite comfortable in Angel Square, but she knew there was a locksmith near Carlotta’s diner and she wanted to know more about the key that Todd sent her. A gust of wind blew her scarf off her neck. She grabbed the scarf and repositioned it. She found the locksmith and went inside.
Why did she care about finding out what was behind Todd’s key?
As she went inside, the locksmith looked at her.
“What can I do for you?” asked the locksmith.
Téa walked up to him and handed him a key, “Ah, can you make a copy of this key?”
“Sure,” he said taking the key from her. He examined it and began to make a copy.
“So, ah, can you tell what the key goes too?” asked Téa.
God! Did that sound stupid or what?
“Don’t you know?” asked the locksmith making the extra key.
“Ah, no. The key was part of a…mysterious gift,” she replied.
“The key is a house key…” said the locksmith.
“A house key?” questioned Téa.

“I want the whole package…”

“So where’s the house, Todd?” asked Téa outloud.
“Miss?” asked the locksmith.
“No, nothing,” replied Téa. She paid for the extra key and left.

The Banner…

Viki Carpenter sat behind her desk in her office and ran her fingers through her hair. Clint had gone off to London and she was swamped without a managing editor. Kevin couldn’t focus on work with Cassie’s problems and Jessie broke her heart by telling her she wanted to give her baby up for adoption. Maybe she should ask Mel to fill in for Clint until she could find a replacement. She heard a knock on the door and looked up.
“Téa? C’Mon in. What a pleasant surprise…” said Viki getting up from behind her desk. The two women exchanged a brief hug.
“Hi Viki. I’m not bothering you am I?” asked Téa. She was wearing a power suit under her winter coat that was unbuttoned.
“No. What’s up? How were your holidays?” asked Viki.
“Ah…lonely…” muttered Téa honestly. She was surprised she felt comfortable enough to tell Viki this.
“Yeah,” said Viki softly, “I know family means a lot to you.”
Téa gave Viki a brief smile, “Ah…I didn’t know…who else I could go too…”
“Is this about…Todd?” asked Viki clasping her hands together in front of her.
Téa nodded her head and handed Viki a key, “He sent me this. It’s a…Christmas gift.”
Viki took the key and looked at it, “Oh? What’s it for?”
“You don’t know?” asked Téa, “I was hoping you would know…”
“I’ve never seen this key before,” said Viki handing it back to Téa.
“No, keep it. It’s a spare…” said Téa, “A locksmith told me it’s a house key.”
“That’s our Todd. He never makes anything easy, does he?” asked Viki. She held onto the key.
There was a moment of silence between them.
“Téa…”
“Yes?”
“Did you know I had an alter - Niki Smith - who pretended to be me - and I didn’t know about it. She’d walk around Llanview saying she was Viki but she was really Niki,” said Viki softly.
Téa made a face, “No, Viki, I didn’t know that. Why are you telling me this?”
“No reason. Food for thought, Téa,” said Viki.
Téa glanced at her watch, “Oh, I have to go. I have a working lunch.”
“All the best to you Téa,” said Viki as they exchanged hugs. Téa left.

Carlotta’s Diner…
A few days later…

Téa sat down at the counter of Carlotta’s diner at the end of the day. She enjoyed coming here and talking to Carlotta. Carlotta gave Téa a cup of tea.
“How’s work treating you?” asked Carlotta.
“It keeps me busy,” said Téa, “Hank and I are working on indicting Senator Graham for Obstruction of Justice.”
Cristian Vega walked in holding a federal express envelope and handed it to Téa, “It’s for you.”
“Who is it from?” asked Téa.
Cristian shrugged his shoulders, “There’s no return address.”
Téa looked at the package, “The address - it’s in Todd’s handwriting…” her face became hard and she frowned.
“Why does he always send you mail to the diner?” asked Cris.

Todd’s room…

It was late at night. Todd Manning sat on his bed and closed his eyes.
“Starr…” he whispered. He lay down on his bed and took Starr’s picture off his nightstand and stared at it.
How he missed his daughter! He loved her so much. He loved children. What if…he could have a child with Téa? It had been over a month since he exchanged vows with Téa - but he knew she had not signed divorce or annulment papers - and she had been so very angry with him he expected her to get a quickie…whatever…but she hadn’t. She was still his wife - by her choice. A child…with Téa…a beautiful boy…he all ready had a wonderful girl. He would have to make quite an effort to turn his life around to have one with Téa…
He put down Starr’s picture and picked up Téa’s…
“Do you think of me Delgado? Like I think of you - late at night - in bed? I can’t…get you out of my life… I don’t want too. I’m in love with you, Téa - I need you to want to be in my life…” he whispered - praying she had gotten his latest clue.