Danny still didn't understand why Michelle had told Dr. Edwards that she didn't want to see him. That made absolutely no sense to him whatsoever. He wracked his head for some reason any reason why.

Why had she been so freaked out when she heard his name? Unless what Nino had said was true. That she knew Mick. Could she have killed him?

Danny pushed that thought to the edge of his mind. He couldn't imagine Michelle hurting let alone killing someone. There had to be another answer to all of this.

He had to get some answers. This was turning into chaos. Every turn he took sent him down another endless road with no destination in sight. Danny was beyond frustrated.

How was he supposed to get any answers? He couldn't turn to anyone. Michelle wouldn't see him, Mick was dead, Nino wasn't to be trusted and Drew......, "Yes," he said aloud as he turned on his heel heading back inside the hospital.

He had totally forgotten about Drew. Danny knew that she had to hold the key to this entire thing. She had known Mick, Michelle and Nino. There had to be a connection there somewhere.

Danny got off the elevator on the third floor and headed straight to Drew's room. To his shock the room was deserted. Danny stood there unable to move. Where could she have gone? She was in no condition to running around alone.

He walked back to the nurses station, "Excuse me. I was wondering if you could tell me where I can find Drew Jacobs. Seems that she has been moved to another room." That seemed to be the most obvious answer to him.

"She's in room 315," the nurse returned looking up from Drew's chart.

"Really? Is she having a test or something cause I was just down to see her and she isn't there."

"No, no tests have been scheduled."

"Then where the hell is she?" Anger was building again. Why did he know that his last door had just been slammed in his face.

"Maybe she went to the lounge," the women offered.

"Have you even seen this girl? Do you know what's wrong with her?" Danny was flabbergasted by the nurse's remark. Drew wouldn't have been able to get out of bed much less walk down the hall.

"I'm sorry sir I just came on duty," she apologized.

"Page Dr. Edwards, now!" Danny barked.

"Excuse me?"

"I said page Dr. Edwards!"

She didn't hesitate. She did exactly as Danny ordered. Dr. Edwards was astonished to once again see Danny. "Mr. Santos, I assured you that I would contact you the minute I have some news regarding Michelle Bauer. Dr. Spencer is in seeing her right now. That's all I know."

"This isn't about Michelle. It's about Drew Jacobs."

"Drew Jacobs?" he echoed.

"Yes. Did you release her?"

Dr. Edwards found himself chuckling at that remark, "Release her?"

"Yes," from the look on Danny's face he knew this was no laughing matter.

"Heavens no."

"Then would you mind telling me where the hell she is?" Danny spat without realizing it.

"In her room right where she should be."

"Wrong answer. Would you like to try for door number 2?"

"Back up wait a minute. What are you talking about?" it was Dr. Edwards turn to be frustrated.

"I am saying I went to talk to Drew and she's gone. Vanished into thin air." Vanished was the appropriate word. Except Danny had a pretty good idea who the magician had been.

"There has to be a mistake."

"I wish," Danny returned sarcastically. Drew was his one shot at getting some real answers. Now it'd looked as though he was back to ground zero again.

Danny followed the doctor to Drew's room. Nothing had changed since he had been there last. The room was still completely, utterly empty. Danny checked the tiny locker for any sign of her. Everything was gone.

"Damn!" he said as he slammed the tin door closed.

"Can I ask why you are so interested in her?"

"I think she knew what happened...better yet who caused Michelle to have her accident. She was my ticket to finding out the truth about everything."

"Everything?" Dr. Edwards said quizzically.

"Doctor I really think the less you know about this the better," Danny arched his brow while answering.

"Are you trying to say that she didn't leave of her own volition?"

"What? You mean to tell me you think she could have?"

"Well, it is possible. Unlikely, but possible."

The wheels in Danny's head were spinning out of control. This definitely had Nino's fingerprints all over it. He figured he needed to silence Drew anyway he could. He couldn't have her telling him anything else.

"Dr. Edwards," Danny began, "I can't stress to you how important that you keep everyone out of Michelle's room! Do you understand me? I am beginning to see a pattern here that I'm not liking. Is it possible to have her moved to another part of the hospital?" Danny wasn't about to take any chances with her life.

"Sure. I'm assuming that Dr. Spencer would be moving her to the heart floor after his exam anyhow."

Reality came flooding back to Danny. Michelle was really ill. He was being pulled in too many directions right now. He couldn't see straight. First things first he had to keep Michelle safe and away from Nino.

"Here," Danny handed him over a slip of paper, "That's my cell phone number. Call the minute you know anything about Michelle's condition."

"Certainly."

"I'm sorry this has caused a disruption to the hospital but Michelle's life depends on it."

"I understand."

Danny spoke with Tito and Max. He instructed them to send for reinforcements. They were going to need them. He also made it clear once again that Nino Rivera was to die before he ever got into Michelle's room.

As Danny drove in the direction of Chicago University, he tried to put order to his thoughts. Tried to get a clear picture of exactly what he was dealing with.

The few facts he did know didn't make a bit of sense. They were all disjointed. It was like a jigsaw puzzle that was missing quite a few pieces. All he did know was Mick was dead. Mick had slept with Drew for sure and most certainly dated Michelle. Every other thing that he had been told he was holding in question now. He was even beginning to doubt that Bernard had been on the up and up with him. The more Danny thought things through the more he kept coming back to the families. They would have been the only ones with the ability to send him in these circles.

He was pleased to find the frat house parking practically empty. He should have done this from the very beginning, instead of taking everyone else's word on just who his brother had become.

Danny climbed the stairs heading towards Mick's room. He felt the butterflies in his stomach as he turned the knob on the door. He was anxious at what he was about to find. On first glance it looked like any other room, bed, desk, computer. Nothing out of the ordinary. That was until Danny let his eyes travel to the bulletin board. There was Michelle starring back at him. There wasn't an inch of cork that wasn't covered with her face. Danny was in a trance as he inched his way closer. His breathing quickening with each step closer he took.

Most of the pictures were candid shots. Michelle more then likely never knew they were even being taken. Her on campus, her coming out of the sorority, her going in to the hospital. Danny ran his hand through his hair this was too weird even for Mick.

He started opening the desk drawers. There were stacks and stacks of receipts from the coffee shop Michelle had taken him to. Mick had to have been following her. The was one from the college book store, the mini-mart and one from the lingerie store in the mall. Bra size 34B. Danny knew that had to be Mick's writing. My god he had been stalking her. Following her everywhere she went. Danny crumpled the receipt in his fist. He detested his bother so much right now. Danny slammed the drawer shut in anger. A folder fell at his feet.

He could taste the bile rising in his throat as he began reading. It was police report filed by Michelle. She had gone to ask for protection from Mick. She claimed that he was harassing her. Stalking her every move.

Danny felt as if he had been kicked in the chest. He was the one to put a stop to this report. He had Bernard bury it. "I'm so sorry Michelle," he whispered continuing to survey the room. It was as if the room was a shrine to her. Every which way he looked there was her face. He was dizzy from turning circles taking everything in. One thing that didn't add up was the fact that Nino had claimed they were an item. This didn't look that way. This looked like a crazy man trying to obtain something he just couldn't get. Damn he needed to find Drew Jacobs.

"Dietz," Danny said into the phone, "I need you to find Drew Jacobs."

"Daniel, we have to talk first." Dietz countered.

"I don't pay you to undermine me!" Danny yelled.

"Danny........"

"Dietz, this isn't a request it's an order. Find Drew Jacobs. I need her found. I won't be able to put any of this together without her!"

"But....Danny,"

"Dietz," Danny returned through clenched teeth.

"I have some information about Michelle Bauer," he was sure to get Danny's attention with those words.

"What?" Danny did his best to hide the panic in his voice. He was certain that it was bad news.

"She knew Mick, Danny. She was the one to bring him up on harassment charges."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"How did you know?" Dietz was utterly confused now.

"I'm in Mick's room as we speak. I found a copy of the police report. And let's just say Michelle Bauer is alive and well in this room."

"What?" Dietz asked.

"Never mind," Danny pushed forward with the reason for his call, "I need you to locate Drew Jacobs. I have no doubt that Nino is behind her disappearance. She must be found. I'm sure that she's the key to us finding Mick's killer. She knew all three of them. Mick, Nino and Michelle. Find her Dietz. Do whatever it takes."

"Danny there's something else I think you should know about Michelle." Dietz didn't even know how to tell Danny about Michelle being brought into the hospital the night Mick died. And that Nino had done that.

"I don't have time right now. I'm heading over to Michelle's place. I want to be sure that Nino isn't leading me on another wild chase."

"You mean like Alverez?"

"Exactly! Just find Drew Dietz. She can't have gotten far. Nino beat the shit out of her. Until a couple of hours ago she was in the hospital. He didn't want her talking I know that for sure."

"I'll do my best Daniel. The Rivera's are as good as the Santos' for making people disappear."

"I need better then your best Dietz."

Danny drove across campus. He kept thinking about what Nino had said about Michelle dropping out of sight right when Mick was murdered. She wouldn't have had to do that if she had nothing to do with Mick's death. His stomach churned again. He couldn't let himself think that she had killed his brother. He had promised Carmen that he would take care of whoever was responsible. He closed his eyes seeing her face before him. Even if it had been true, which he was sure it wasn't, how would he live up to his words. There was no way in hell he could kill her. He loved her.

Danny slipped into Michelle's room unnoticed. It was the middle of the afternoon and most of the girls were at class. He closed the door behind him softly.

He stood still for a moment remembering the last time he had been here. If he breathed in deep enough he could still smell her scent. There was no way she could have killed Mick. No way that the sweet innocent girl that he had met was a killer.

He took a good look around the room. There were posters hanging on the walls, family photos on the desk and dresser. One stood out that hadn't the other night. It was a picture of Jesse. Danny readily noticed it now knowing what he knew. He picked it up for closer inspection. It was signed all my love Jesse.

Danny couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. He knew who stupid it was to feel that way but he couldn't stop himself. Jesse had most definitely broken her heart and shattered her world with his suicide but she had loved him once. He hoped that he got the chance to feel that love too.

He didn't even know what he was looking for as he paced about the room. Actually he felt rather foolish even being there. He knew better then to take Nino's word on anything. Danny grabbed for his leather jacket knocking a stack of Michelle's things to the floor.

Most of them were school papers but one caught his attention. It was written in Mick's script. Danny's eyes burned holes in the paper as he read the words:

Michelle,

I think that it's time we get a few things straight.

You can't just expect me to let you go like that.

Meet me at the warehouse down at the docks. Don't

think you can get away that easy. I will find you no

matter where you try to hide. Be there!

Mick

Danny must have read that piece of paper a dozen times. He didn't even know the person who had written that. Mick had always had a temper but even this was over the top for the Mick that Danny remembered.

"What are you doing in here?" It was the same girl he had talked to before when he had been looking for Michelle.

"Nothing," Danny said slipping the note in his pocket.

"Who are you?" she questioned.

"Danny Santos," to hell with the spy game he thought.

"Santos?" the began backing away just as Michelle had tried to do. "What one of you torturing her wasn't enough? Did they send out reinforcements?"

"What?" Danny said dumbfounded.

"Mick was bad enough. What more can you do to her?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Like you don't know," she spat back.

"I don't," Danny said honestly. Maybe there was some hope yet for piecing this puzzle together. He pulled the girl into Michelle's room closing the door behind him.

"What do you plan on doing to me?" she asked fear on her face.

"I want some answers." he returned calmly. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten this girl. Right now she was all he had to find out the true connection between his brother and Michelle.

"What if I don't have any?"

"I think you have plenty. So let's stop playing games here and tell me everything that you know." Danny said putting his face against hers.

"Who are you?" she asked again.

"I'm Mick's brother. Thought we covered that one already. Who are you?" he countered.

"Liza Meade. Michelle and I used to be roommates."

"So what can you tell me about my brother and Michelle?"

"What do you care for?"

"Well see there's this little matter of who killed him."

"You think Michelle killed Mick? You are kidding right? Mick was a sick bastard who deserved to die for what he did to her but she didn't kill him."

"What did he do?" Danny questioned afraid of the answer. Between the shrine in his room and the cryptic note that he had just found, he was getting a pretty sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"They dated for a bit. Michelle broke it off and he went nutso on her. Calling all the time, showing up here all hours of the day and night, he would wait for her everywhere. He wouldn't take the hint."

"So for that he deserved to die?" Danny couldn't help sounding disturbed.

"Did you even know anything about your brother? People avoided him like the plague. Unless of course you needed a fix. Then Mick Santos became your best friend."

"Then why would someone like Michelle get hooked up with a guy like Mick?" That was the question that Danny really needed an answer to.

"She transferred here from Springfield U. Things were pretty bad for her back there. Lost her boyfriend and all. Mick was really cool with her in the beginning. A super great guy actually. It just turned ugly when Michelle didn't want to date him anymore."

"Ugly?" Danny repeated.

"Yeah." she looked away.

"Ugly how?" Danny wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"I don't think I should be talking about this. It was pretty private. Michelle didn't talk about it much. What I know is sketchy at best."

"I really need to know."

"She tried to get him to leave her alone. He just wouldn't take the hint. I remember him standing outside her window one night screaming if he couldn't have her then no one would. She was pretty scared. Even tried to file charges against him but nothing ever happened."

Danny felt his head spin. He had been responsible for Mick being able to continue to terrorize her. He thought he had been protecting his brother. Protecting the family business. He never once stopped to think about the person who Mick had been badgering. God what a mess this had all become and he still wasn't any closer to finding out who killed Mick. His heart wanted to believe that Michelle hadn't been the one. But listening to this girl speak about all Mick had done to her it was hard not to wonder if he had just pushed her too far one night.

"Do you remember anything else? It's important that I know everything."

"Why?" she asked. "Really what do you care what he did or didn't do to Michelle?"

"I care believe me I care. More then I should probably."

"Why?"

"I just do. Can you remember anything else that would be of any help?"

"Not really. Michelle was in the hospital awhile back. She missed most of last semester. She has been pretty quiet ever since."

"When was she in the hospital?" Danny inquired.

"Let me think. I'm pretty sure it was around the time Mick died. Yeah actually it was."

"Thank you," Danny could have kissed this girl. That explained Nino's comments about her dropping out of sight after the murder. But the hospital. Why had she been in the hospital? He had finally gotten a few answers but still there were more questions. "Do you know why she was in the hospital?"

"There were a lot of rumors going around at the time but Michelle never really said much and we didn't really ask her."

"What were the rumors?" Danny pushed.

"I don't really remember. I think someone said she had an abortion, another one said she slit her wrists. One guy even said he heard she was raped."

"Raped?" the word caught in Danny's throat.

"Yeah, but like I said she never really wanted to talk about it and we just really left it at that."

"You have been a lot of help. You don't know how much."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"You aren't like your brother are you?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"No reason. It's just that you don't seem so scary. Sorry I gave you the third degree at first."

"Understandable. And no I'm nothing like my brother."

"I'm glad for Michelle's sake. She really didn't need another one like him."