*****

The Next Day
Yosemite National Park
Near Lake Vernon…

It was mid morning. Bo Buchanan and US Marshal Peter Ryan walked along a path through the forest. Lake Vernon loomed up ahead. Bo wanted to join the search to look for Téa. Not because of Todd - but because of Hank. Hank was his best friend and Téa was Hank’s ADA. Besides, Bo liked Téa for the most part, even though he didn’t care for Todd.
A junior US Marshal came running up, “Agent Marshal…we’ve got something! Follow me!”
Bo and Ryan took off after the junior agent emerging into a clearing next to the Lake Vernon shore.
Bo saw the remnants of a fire, “How long has this fire been out?” asked Bo. Ryan examined the fire, “About a day I’d guess. This is a good sign.”
Bo and the agents searched the surrounding area. Bo paused behind a bush.
“Ryan…come here…” said Bo. He pointed to blood on a rock.
“Someone is bleeding,” said Ryan, “Someone is hurt.”
“But who?” asked Bo.
Ryan issued instructions to his junior agent, “Take the rock back and have the blood typed and try to match the blood type against the 3 missing personal.”
The agent nodded and picked up the rock.
“Let me borrow your walkie talkie,” said Bo addressing Ryan.
Ryan gave it to him. A Command Post was set up at the crash site, one that could get messages out to the outside world.
“Cee Pee…this is search team one. Buchanan speaking. I need you to get a message to Hank Gannon, the Llanview DA that at this time there are signs the crash survivors are still alive.”
“Roger, Buchanan…” squeaked the radio.
“Well, let’s just keep looking…” said Ryan.

Laurel Lake…

Téa, Mike, and Raymond traveled slowly finding another lake and coming to rest by it. They all agreed to take turns during the night but Raymond didn ’t sleep, taking most of the shift. Mike relieved him for an hour or two and Raymond napped. Raymond’s leg ached but he had a high tolerance for pain. At daybreak, Raymond and Mike went fishing. Téa had gotten up and kept watch over the fire they had made. Her ribs ached, her arms were sore and she felt filthy all over. Her Polaroid picture of her and Faith in Santa elf costumes was beat up but she didn’t care.
Raymond came up with two fishes and stood over her. He had tried to button up his shirt but several buttons were missing. His hair was unkempt and scraggily and he had the beginnings of a beard.
“Where’s Mike?” asked Téa.
“Mr. Rudney will be up in a minute Ms. Delgado. He’s trying to get himself clean,” answered Raymond sitting down next to her in front of the fire. He took out the knife and began to clean the fire on the rock. The fish smelled horrible and Téa found herself nauseated by the smell. She tried not to look at Raymond cleaning the fish however she was interested - yet grossed out - at the same time.
Raymond looked at her, “What’s he like Ms. Delgado? Mr. Delgado I mean…”
“Mr. Delgado?” questioned Téa.
“Your husband?” asked Raymond scrapping out guts.
“Manning. Todd Manning. That’s his name. Manning’s my married name…” answered Téa.
“Sorry. You still want me to call you Ms. Delgado?” asked Raymond.
“Whatever you feel comfortable with,” Téa answered.
“So - what’s he like?” asked Raymond.
“He’s complicated, Raymond. He doesn’t want…he’s not a likeable guy…but he feels. And we’re connected you know - on a very intense, emotional level…he ’s in agony right now…without me with him…I can feel it…” she whispered as if in a trace.
Raymond finished a fish and put it on a stick giving it to her to hold over the fire.
“Is he good to you Ms. Delgado?” asked Raymond.
“Yes…he’s…very intense…” whispered Téa. She couldn’t find the right word.
“What makes a woman like you…you know…want to be with a guy like me… a rapist?” asked Raymond sincerely, “I’d like to know…’cos…maybe…one day…I’ll find a girl like you…” he continued cleaning the fish, his face turning red, clearly embarrassed by the question.
“I didn’t know Todd then Raymond,” said Téa, “I met him during a point in his life when…he had paid for his crime…and was just trying to …make a life for himself…I had read about the things he’d done and I knew that he didn’t want to repeat them, that he was truly sorry for them…”
“He was different?” asked Raymond.
“Yeah…and you can be different too Raymond. Stay with Mike and work hard in the law office…” said Téa.
Raymond put the fish on a stick and held it over the fire.
Mike walked up a little wet, “How’s it going guys?”
Téa looked up at him and smiled.

Llanview,
St. James Cemetery…

It was chilly for December but Todd had bundled up Faith in blanket after blanket. He ignored the cold. He sat in a bench near Georgie Phillips grave. He came here whenever he felt a need to calm his tortured inner soul. He held a sleeping Faith tight. He had bothered to run a comb through his hair but he had grown a little bit of a beard in neglecting his goatee.
He felt a presence slide down next to him and looked up, “Viki.”
“Todd. What are you doing out here in the cold with Faith?” asked Viki.
“Hey - I’ve got her bundled up good…” said Todd.
“Look, Todd, just don’t plan to be out here long with Faith like that…” said Viki in a “nagging” tone of voice.
“All right. Look, I just wanted to come out here and…I don’t know…feel better I guess,” said Todd.
“With your buddy Georgie Phillips…?” asked Viki.
“Georgie’s a loser! Just like me!” said Todd.
Viki made a face, “You are not a loser Todd.”
“I’m a loser Viki…I can feel it…I’m losing her…I’m losing Téa…” answered Todd.
“That’s the stress talking Todd. Have you been to see your therapist lately?” asked Viki frankly.
“No. I gotta be here for Faith. I don’t have time to see him…” said Todd.
“Do yourself a favor and make the time,” said Viki standing up, “C’Mon…let’ s go.”
Todd looked at her with his sad, soulful eyes, “Where?”
“Out of the cold,” said Viki.

Office of the District Attorney…

Viki literally dragged Todd and Faith into Hank Gannon’s office. Hank looked up from the mound of paperwork on his desk.
“Any word Hank?” asked Viki.
Todd said nothing as he clung to his daughter.
Hank stood up and walked over to Todd, peeking a look at Faith, “No word yet, I’m afraid.”
Hank’s phone rang, “Hang on,” said Hank answering the phone.
Viki and Todd looked apprehensive.
Hank hung up the phone but his face was a mask.
“Well?” asked Todd, “Any news on Delgado?”
“It’s not bad news. Bo’s found evidence that the crash victims are still alive - alive enough to build a fire,” said Hank.
“Anything specific about Téa?” asked Todd.
“No, I’m sorry,” said Hank.
Faith began to fuss. Todd tried to calm her down, “sssh…hey Faith…your Mom will always be a part of you…she’ll always be in our hearts…sssh…that’s a piece of her we’ll never lose…” he whispered.
Viki looked on sadly, “We’ll have news about Téa soon Todd…”