Promises
Parts 29-30
By Candy
Two months later:
Michelle was growing
more and more restless by the minute. The only time Danny would let her leave
the house was to go to a doctor's appointment or lamaze classes, where she was
escorted by both he and Carlos. There hadn't been any more direct threats, but
Bernard kept in daily contact with Danny and warned him this wasn't over yet,
not by a long shot.
"That's it," Michelle exclaimed, rolling off the bed. "I can't
take this anymore."
"Baby, you are supposed to be on complete bed rest," Danny sighed.
"Dr. Sedwick isn't going to ease up on that until your blood pressure comes
down."
"How's my blood pressure supposed to come down!" she shouted.
"I'm seven months pregnant and I'm being held prisoner in my own
house."
He grabbed her arm as she tried to walk past him and pulled her down on the bed
beside him. "Have I ever told you how cute you are when you're mad?"
"How can you even look at me," she groaned. "I look like a
beached whale."
He began kissing her ear and worked his way down her neck, "You, my dear,
are beautiful and irresistible."
"Danny," she sighed.
"Guess I got a little carried away," he smiled, sitting up.
"You can get carried away anytime," she smiled back. "In fact,
you can get carried away again right now."
"Glad you're in a better mood now," he said.
"So that's what this was all about," she laughed. "You were just
trying to distract me from my bad mood."
"Yes, but believe me that wasn't the only reason," he grinned. "I
have some calls to make, so I'll be downstairs in my office."
"I think I'm going to take a shower," she said. "Care to join
me?"
"It's probably best if I go on downstairs," he sighed. "If I
don't we may never leave this room."
"Is that such a bad thing?" she smiled.
"You are too much," he kissed her again before standing up. "I'll
see you downstairs."
Danny was laughing to himself when he entered his office. As if on cue, his
phone started to ring. "This is Santos."
"Danny," Bernard answered breathlessly. "I'm glad I got
you."
"Bernard, what's wrong?" he asked, his good mood quickly vanishing.
"I just got word from an associate who's been working with me on your
situation," he explained. "It's not good news."
"What is it?" Danny demanded.
"The attempt on Michelle's life is supposed to take place within the
week," he explained.
"What?" Danny exclaimed. "After two months of little movement and
now…"
"Danny, you know she's getting more desperate," Bernard explained.
"Is she still being followed?" he asked.
"Of course," he responded. "Are you planning on confronting
her?"
"No, not just yet," Danny replied. "I need a little more time to
get the proof I need."
"Just make sure you don't wait too long," he said. "I'll be in
touch."
"Thanks," Danny hung up the phone.
"This is almost over," he said to himself. "Soon Michelle and I
will be able to live in peace."
-----------------------------------------
Michelle came downstairs a little while later to find Danny and Carlos deep in
conversation. When they heard her, they both turned to her with a look on their
faces as if they had been caught red handed.
"What's up?" she asked curiously.
"Nothing," Danny said a little too quickly. "I think we're
finished here Carlos."
Carlos picked up on the tone in his voice and shook his head as he walked
outside.
"What's going on Danny?" she questioned.
"I told you, nothing," he said, avoiding her eyes.
"Look at me," she began. When he refused to look her in the eye, she
grabbed his chin and turned his face to her, "Look at me!"
"What?"
"I can see it in your eyes," she whispered. "Something happened,
didn't it?"
"Bernard called, but there hasn't been any news," he lied.
"Nothing?" she sighed, dropping her hand. "Why doesn't this
person do something instead of making us live like this?"
He grabbed her in his arms. "I promise this will be over soon. We just have
to sit tight and be patient."
"My patience is running thin," she frowned, pulling away. "You
want some breakfast?"
"You go sit and I'll make you something," he said, pushing her toward
the living room. "How does my special omelet sound?"
"Okay," she nodded, sitting down on the couch. "Make it
two."
"Two?" he laughed, sitting down next to her.
"Hey, I am eating for two," she defended. "Besides, I'm as big as
a house already, so what's a few extra pounds."
"I don't care," he began. "Just as long as you eat something. You
know, as much as you complain about how big you are, you seem to forget that Dr.
Sedwick said you were a little underweight."
"Underweight!" she laughed. "That's a joke!"
"She was serious, Michelle," he protested. "I feel like I've been
force feeding you lately."
"There's just been a lot going on," she defended.
"I know," he sighed. "But you have to take care of
yourself."
"I just asked for TWO omelets, didn't I?" she said.
"Okay, okay," he laughed as he stood up. "Two omelets on the
way."
They ate in the living room by the Christmas tree. "I can't believe it's
Christmas Eve and we can't even enjoy it," Michelle groaned.
"Who says we can't enjoy it?" Danny asked. "Your family and Pilar
and Bill are coming over tonight for dinner. Then afterwards we can have our own
little celebration."
She smiled at the grin on his face. "I guess I just haven't really been in
the Christmas spirit," she sighed.
"I know," he said. "But for tonight and tomorrow, let's forget
about everything except enjoying ourselves."
"I'll try," she smiled.
"You know," he began. "All this time, we've been sitting under a
mistletoe and you've been breaking tradition."
"Danny you hung mistletoe all over the house," she laughed.
"Well, I guess you just don't care anything about tradition anymore,"
he feigned hurt, turning his back to her.
"Oh, I wouldn't want to do that," she smiled, pulling him closer to
her. "Can't break tradition."
She leaned in and kissed him, lightly at first and then a little more demanding.
"So how was that?" she smiled, breathlessly.
"Pretty good," he smirked.
"Pretty good?" she gasped. "Well, let's try that again."
When they separated again, he smiled. "I think the mistletoe is my favorite
Christmas tradition."
"Mine too," she laughed, leaning in for another kiss.
----------------------------------------
Later that afternoon, Michelle fell asleep on the couch and Danny worked in his
office, trying to get some work done before their guests arrived. The phone rang
again, starling him.
"It's Bernard. We've got movement."
"Where?" Danny demanded.
"There's a warehouse downtown at the corner of Seventh and Broadway,"
he said. "She's supposed to meet him there in thirty minutes."
"I'm on my way," Danny said.
"I'll meet you there," Bernard said.
"No," Danny snapped. "I have to do this on my own."
"There's no need in arguing about this," he demanded. "I am not
letting you go in there alone. I will meet you there."
Danny hung up the phone and opened up his desk drawer. He reached all the way to
the back and pulled out a box he had hidden back there. Quickly opening it, he
pulled out his gun and made sure it was loaded.
"Carlos," he called out.
"I'm right here," he came up from behind him. "What
happened?"
"Bernard just called," he explained quickly as Carlos followed him to
the garage. "She's meeting him at a warehouse at the corner of Seventh and
Broadway. I'm on my way."
"You need me to come with you?" he asked as Danny got in the car.
"No," Danny shouted. "Bernard is meeting me there. I want you to
stay here with Michelle. She's still sleeping on the couch in the living room.
Her family and Pilar are supposed to be here around 7:00 and I hope I'm back by
then. You be even more alert and under no circumstances do you let her out of
this house. And don't tell Michelle anything about where I am."
"Okay," he nodded as Danny started his car. "Danny, be
careful."
He nodded as he shut the door and backed down the driveway. Carlos watched him
leave and went back inside. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed.
When it was answered, he began, "He just left. Bernard called him and told
him about a meeting at the warehouse…Yeah, I know…I know what to do."
_____________________________________________________
Michelle woke up a little while later with a splitting headache. That's what you
get for falling asleep on the couch, she thought. A good neck rub from Danny
would do the trick. After several attempts, she finally rolled off the couch
onto her feet and began to look for Danny. She walked into his office when a
hand grabbed her shoulder.
She jumped as she turned around, "Carlos! You scared me to death."
"Sorry," he smiled. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Where's Danny?" she asked.
Carlos' eyes glazed over, "He left a little while ago. He had a little work
to do at the office before your guests arrive."
"On Christmas Eve?" she questioned. "You've got to be kidding
me."
"He said he wouldn't be long," Carlos snapped.
"Okay," she said as an uneasy feeling crept into her stomach.
"I'll just give him a call."
"No," Carlos demanded. "He said he didn't want to be disturbed so
he could finish up and get home."
"Okay," Michelle said, still unconvinced. "I think I'm going to
go upstairs and lie down for a little while."
"Good," Carlos said. "I'll be down here if you need
anything."
Michelle rushed into her room, closing the door behind her. She picked up the
phone and dialed Danny's office.
"Diane, this is Michelle," she said quickly. "Did Danny come into
the office today?"
"No Michelle," she said. "He called in this morning and said he
was spending the day with you. Actually, it being Christmas Eve, he told us to
go ahead and leave. I'm the last one here and I was about to lock up."
"So you haven't seen or heard from him since this morning?" she
questioned.
"No, I haven't," Diane replied. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," her voice unsteady. "He just went out without telling me
and I was just wondering where he was."
"I'm sure you can reach him on his cell phone," Diane said.
"You're right," Michelle said. "I don't know why I didn't think
of that before. Listen, that's my other line. Thanks."
She clicked the phone over, "Hello?"
"Michelle Santos?" the muffled voice asked.
"Yes, who is this?" her heart began to beat faster.
"If you want to see your husband alive again, I suggest you get down to the
lighthouse."
"What?" panic was in her voice. "Who is this? What do you
want?"
"Enough with the questions. You get here now or your husband dies."
"How do I even know Danny is really there?" Michelle demanded.
"You want proof. How's this for proof." She froze when she heard
Danny's voice calling out to her from the other end of the phone. "You get
here and you come alone."
Before she could respond she heard the click of the phone. What was she going to
do? She hurriedly scoured through Danny's side of the closet. She knew he kept
one gun down in his office, but he had another one up here on this shelf
somewhere. Where did he hide it? There, she found it. She handled it gingerly,
remembering her last experience with a gun. But she had to have something for
protection. She slipped it into her pocket and headed out the door, grabbing her
keys. She shirked back when she reached the bottom of the stairs and saw Carlos
walking through the living room toward the sunroom. She had to find a way to get
past him. The only way was to distract him.
Her mind reeling, she ran through the living room, screaming, "Carlos,
help. I saw someone in the backyard. I think they're trying to break in."
He quickly drew his gun. "Get into the kitchen and stay low. And under no
circumstances do you leave this house."
She watched him as he slowly made his way out the door and into the back yard.
Then she made her way to the garage door and looking up at the alarm panel,
tried desperately to remember the right combination to turn the alarm off. She
gave a sigh of relief when the alarm flashed disarmed. As quietly as she could,
she closed the garage door behind her and got into her car. She knew he would
hear the car from the back yard, but she hoped to be out of the driveway before
he could stop her.
-------------------------------------
"Are you sure we're at the right place?" Danny asked Bernard.
"My contact said this was the place," he explained. "It's been
almost an hour, though."
"Why hasn't anyone shown up?" Danny sighed. "Something's not
right about this."
"What do you want to do?" Bernard asked.
"I think we should get closer," he said. "Maybe they came in
through a back door or something."
"Danny, you know how dangerous that could be," he said.
"We'll just have to use the element of surprise," Danny pulled out his
gun and opened the car door.
"Well, if you're going," Bernard sighed, "So am I."
-------------------------------------
Michelle pulled up to the lighthouse and shut the car off. She had kept a close
eye on her rearview mirror and Carlos hadn't followed her. But she was sure it
wouldn't be long before he found her. She eased out of the car and patted her
pocket again just to make sure the gun was still there. Her eyes scanned all
around her, taking in her surroundings. This lighthouse had been so many things
for her. It had been so special to her and Jesse. But with each passing day, it
was harder and harder to remember the times she spent here with Jesse. The
memories of her days and nights with Danny here consumed her mind. From the
first night they were there together trying to make Jesse jealous to the last
time, the night after Carmen's trial. It had been so long since they had been
here. So much had changed since then.
Her mind drifted back to reality as she realized that they were coming together
again at this place that held so much history for them. But this was different.
Something inside her knew after tonight, their lives would never be the same
again.
Slowly she opened the door and went inside, keeping her hand firmly nestled
around the gun in her pocket. "Danny?" she called out.
There was no answer so she walked in a little further. The next thing she heard
was the floor creak with footsteps coming up behind her. But before she could
turn around, she felt an excruciating pain in the back of her head and then
everything turned black.