Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta Georgia was a nightmare. Their plane was delayed and they were going to have to wait at least another hour to board. Michelle wished she had taken Danny up on his offer to make them some breakfast this morning but she had been so anxious to get started on the journey. The journey that would lead them to Rosie.
She was hungry now and Danny went to find a vending machine to get her something to eat. She would need to keep up her stregnth. If all went the way it should, she would be feeding Rosie tonight and she would need substance.
She was so nervous. All of her thoughts were now of Rosie and where Mick had taken her. What was he going to do to her? He was a cruel man, had seen that first hand, but she felt sure he wouldnt hurt her. Would he? She just didnt know anymore.
Danny returned with some crackers. He apologized at not having found anything better. it was either the crackers or a Butterfinger but it would be enough. Danny sat down with her and looked at the board with the arrivals and departures listed. He looked so anxious. He had been very quiet on this trip so far and she knew he was thinking and planning what to do.
She had come out of the shower earlier and heard him talking to someone on the phone. He was speaking in hushed tones as if he didn't want her to hear him. She hadn't asked who he was talking to. He would tell her if he wanted her to know. Somehow, she thought it was best that she didnt know.
The flight from Springfield to Atlanta had been uneventful and they had both slept much of the way. Danny had held her hand the entire way and was still holding it as if he were afraid she would disappear again.
She hated Mick for putting Danny through this hell. Danny had thought she was dead and had been trying to get on with his life. She had seen the closet with all of her stuff. He had kept it all. There was a photo of her on his nightstand and their wedding album was out of his desk as if he looked at it frequently. He had not forgotten her as she had feared.
She hadnt needed any pictures to remember Danny while she had been gone. She had his face etched in her memory the entire time and there was their little girl who resembled Danny so strongly that she saw him each time she looked at Rosie.
She had thought of Danny every day and had dreamed of him every night. He had probably dreamed of her each night but at least she had had the hope that she might be reunited with him one day. He had not had that hope. He had thought she was lost to him forever.
When Mick had told her that Danny had remarried she had felt like she had wanted to die. Only Rosie kept her going. She had had a feeling that Rosie was a girl while she had been carrying her. Danny had always said he wanted a little girl. It was Rosie that had given her a reason to live and to find Danny whether he had remarried or not.
Danny was still staring straight ahead and it was then that she saw what he was looking at. A young woman was seated across the terminal in a chair and she was holding a baby that looked to be about Rosie's age. The little pink shoes and dress was a dead give away that she was a girl. Danny's eyes were fixed on her as she lay in her mother's arms drinking a bottle with her chubby little fist tightened around the piece of hair that she had clutched.
She knew he was thinking about his own daughter and the pain etched in his eyes was evident. His longing expression broke her heart. She leaned her head on his shoulder in a show of support to let him know that she understood completely how he felt.
The baby that had become an object of interest to both of them now was beginning to become agitated and fussy. She looked at Danny and his emotions were written all over his face. He wanted his daughter. He had never seen her, but Michelle knew that he loved her. He was ready to go to hell and back for Rosie and Michelle feared that he may have to do just that. They both might.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Now Miguel, I want to make sure you understand what I am saying" Mick said and Miguel nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Mick" he said bowing his head to stare at the floor. What he had just told him to do was unthinkable, but what choice did he have?
"Okay then, let's go over this once more. What are you going to do when Michelle and Danny arrive on the island today and call you?" he said menacingly.
" I am going to pick them up when they call me. I will ask Danny to help me put their stuff in the car and then I will take off with Michelle and leave him behind" he said and hated the words that came out of his mouth.
"And what will happen if you dont do this?" Mick said.
"You will kill my sister and the baby?" he answered.
"And do you believe I will follow up on my threat?" Mick asked.
"Yes, Mr. Mick" he said clearly upset.
'And why do you believe I will do it?" Mick asked tormenting Miguel as he would a fly by pulling off its wings.
"Because I have seen you order someone killed" he answered, pain in his big brown eyes.
"And do you know how I will have it done?" Mick continued, loving his role of interrogator.
"Yes, Mr. Mick, you will sic the dobermans on them and have them torn apart" he said as him mind filled with horrible images of the last time he had seen that happened. Mick had made him and Louisa watch the brutal attack on their brother. He would never forget that and although he felt very badly for Michelle and her husband and baby, he couldnt allow his sister to be put in danger and he didnt think that Mick would hurt Michelle or the baby.
Mick had a sick obsession for Michelle that had led him to abduct her from her happy life with Danny. Miguel suspected that the obsession was the closest thing to human emotion that Mick was capable of feeling.
He had a bad feeling for Danny. He could not know for sure what Mick would do to him. Mick had come back to the hacienda and had caught him talking to Michelle. He had made his threats and Miguel knew better than to doubt him. He didnt want to hurt Michelle or her husband, but he couldn't risk his last remaining family member's safety.
They were set to arrive in Barbados sometime tonight. They were going to call him when they landed and then he would meet them and then betray them. He felt sick to his stomach. Mick was going to steal Danny's wife again and take her to somewhere on the island that Miguel wouldn't even know.
He had no choice but to just wait for the call that would come from Michelle signalling their arrival and then he would do Mick's bidding. He prayed that God in heaven would forgive him for sacrificing one life for another but there really was no other way.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
He was back. Louisa heard him pull up in the jeep. She prayed his mood had softened some. She was so frightened of him when he got like this. His threats earlier to give Rosie away had sent chills up her spine. He would do it in a second to exact revenge on her for escaping.
She had a feeling today was the day. Rosie had slept and had been acting better although she could tell she still missed her momma. The bottle wasnt going to do the trick and she had found the perfect excuse to go back to the hacienda and rendevous with Michelle and Danny. Rosie was almost out of milk and when Mick had insisted they leave so suddenly, she had forgotten about the milk in the freezer. Rosie hated the formula she was having to drink and that was part of the reason she was so unhappy.
Mick wouldn't deny Rosie her milk would he? She hoped not. This was her last chance to get back in time to be able to meet up with Michelle.
Mick was sinking deeper and deeper into his dementia. He had appointed himself lord and ruler over this section of the island and he made all the rules. They had no choice but to follow them.
Louisa knew time was not on their side. The sooner they could meet up with Danny and Michelle and foil Mick, the better it would be. He had taken Rosie and run once, he wouldn't hesitate to do it again. This time he might not be so forgiving. Maybe he would give Rosie to that couple to raise and maybe he wouldnt go to the trouble.
She heard his footsteps on the porch and prepared herself for the inevitable. He was coming in and she prepared herself for the rotten mood he was sure to be in.
He was smiling. Like the cat who ate the canary. Something was up. He was too happy. What had he done? What was he about to do? She had a very bad feeling about this. Something bad was going to happen today, she could feel it all the way down to her soul. She had a terrible feeling that the day was not going to go according to their plan at all.
******************************************************
Finally, they were allowed to board the damn plane. Their meager bags were inspected and then they were allowed on the plane. He was glad he had not brought his gun with him as it would have surely been confiscated right now. He would have one when they got to Barbados though. His contact had assured him of that. He was going to set up everything to be ready when they got down there.
The delay in Atlanta was going to cost them the daylight they would have had when they finally got to Barbados. It would be nightfall when they arrived and Danny was beginning to think that it may just work out to their advantage if they arrived under the cloak of darkness.
He had called Alan Spaulding this morning and he had agreed to help them. The Spaulding's owned a vast section of land in Barbados that had been left to them by their father Brandon who had led a secret life in Barbados with his beloved Sharina after he had faked his own death. That love affair had produced Vicki, Alans' half sister he had been told.
He had briefly explained to Alan their situation without going into some of the personal details. Alan had said he would contact his people right away and everything would be set when they arrived. The Spauldings were every bit as influential in Barbados as the Santos's were in San Cristobel. The similairites in the two countries was probably the reason Mick had chosen to live in Barbados once he had faked his own death. The parrellels between the two families was amazingly similar.
He had to curb back the anger that rose in him when he thought of what Mick had put Michelle through. His blood pressure threatened to reach the boiling point but anger wasn't an emotion that he could afford to enterain right now. That would come later. He didn't need to waste his time cluttering up his thoughts with anger just yet. He would have time to give his anger its due when Michelle and Rosie were safe.
They were to call Miguel when they arrived and while Michelle was doing that, he would call Alan's contact. Alan had not given him a name but had told him he would recognize him when he got to the island.
He found their seats and helped Michelle get settled in. He kissed her forehaed in a show of support and she gave him a small smile. She looked exhausted. Clearly she still wasn't well and now she was putting her body through this additional trauma of being separated from their daughter.
She looked frightened also. What had Mick done to her to put that look in her eyes? Her hands were beginning to shake and he took them in his own and held them to his cheek. Together they prepared for the airplane to take off.
Soon they were in the air and on their way. "Why don't you try to sleep baby" he said and she nodded her head and placed it back in the head rest. He could see the worry in her face although he knew she tried to hide it from him.
She had known that Mick would turn his anger on her for running away from him, but she had come looking for him anyway. She trusted in his love for her and his love for their daughter. He would not let her down. One way or another, Michelle and Rosie would be free of Mick and would be back home in Springfield where they belonged and he didnt care what he had to trade Mick to make that happen. As long as they were safe, nothing else mattered.
Mick had moved Louisa and the baby somewhere. Hopefully Miguel would know where they had been moved but his gut told him that Miguel didnt know. He had a feeling that they would have to start from scratch and he knew didly about Barbados. Hopefully Alan's man would be able to help them find Mick.
He tried to dismiss the ominous feeling in his bones. Something told him that it wasn't going to be as easy as telling Mick to hand over his daughter and give him back his wife. Mick had never been a very graciuos loser. He needed to remember that. Mick might not be above harming Michelle or Rosie to get back at him. Look at what he had done to them already.
He began to mentally prepare himself for the confrontation with Mick. He wished he knew how soon they could get to their daughter. The waiting to see her was killing him. He wanted to touch her, to hold her close and to see the product of his and Michelle's love. He had never wanted anything more in his life.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Why are you so happy?" Louisa finally found the courage to ask. He was still looking at her with an I know something you don't know look and it was making her skin crawl.
"Why shouldn't I be happy Louisa?" he said. "I have everything that I want back almost and it looks like I will get to be reunited with my brother to boot. Although I dont think he is going to be very happy to see me, what do you think?" he said smirking.
"I think that Danny will stop at nothing to get his wife and daughter back, is what I think and I don't see anything good coming out of this whole situation. Why don't you just let her go back with her family Mr. Mick?" she asked. "Why do you insist on keeping her from the one that she loves?"
"Because Louisa, it's obvious you don't know the Santos's very well. I saw her first and Danny is a Santos too and he knew the rules but forgot them. You don't go after someone else's woman. I wasn't dead a month before he had his paws on her and that is not acceptable you see. No, Danny forgot how to play and I had to remind him by changing the rules a little to my advantage. He won't forget this lesson again. I wonder which one he would want more if it came down to it, Loiusa, his wife or his daughter" he said with a sick smile.
Louisa's eyes grew wide with fright. What was he saying? What did he mean? She was going to ask him when she saw that maniacal look in his eyes that he always got when he had slipped into his madness and she decided to remain silent. She couldnt take any chances of upsetting him anymore.
He had slipped though. He had told her just enough for her to piece together what he was planning. Maybe there was still time to stop him. She would call Miguel when they got to the main house.
Mick had agreed to let her go to the main house to retrieve the milk for Rosie but the baby stayed with him, just in case she got any funny ideas, he had said. His other driver Rudy would be taking her and she was not to speak to him, just to get the milk and then come back. If they took too long, he would assume that she had changed her mind about following his instructions and she would never see the baby again, nor would Michelle and Danny.
Louisa had agreed to his terms but still harbored the hope that once she got in touch with Miguel that they could together figure out how to help the couple that were on their way to Barbados.
* * * * * * * ** * * * *
Alan Spaulding read the fax one more time. This was unbelievable. Danny Santos had no idea what he was getting into. His brother Mick had faked his death and was now involved in an international espionage ring. He had been trading American intelligence secrets with a man in Switzerland who had been under investigation for months. According to this report, Mick Santos had an accomplice in this ring, a woman accomplice.
Danny hadn't said much about why he needed help in Barbados but Alan had pieced it all together. Michelle was some how involved in this spying ring and he needed to find his brother to be able to free her.
He tried his contact that he had sent down to Barbados. He got his voice mail and left a message telling him to get in touch with him as soon as he got the message. Things were much more difficult than he had originally thought and the danger was going to be more intense. He wanted his contact to know what he was getting into. He had never before minded getting his hands dirty, but this might be different. This time the government could get involved and it looked very much like Michelle Santos has been involved in an act of treason and he didnt think Danny knew anything about it.
He needed to make sure his contact was up to the new development that had been introduced into the puzzle.
He should just call him back and wash his hands of this entire situation but something kept him from doing that. His gut told him to wait and see what happened when Danny and Michelle got down to Barbados. He cleared his schedule for the next few days in case he needed to make a trip down to the island himself. He had never had any love loss for Carmen Santos or any of her family, but her son Danny was different. Danny was a decent man.
He and Michelle would be walking into the lion's den when they got to Barbados. He knew it in his bones and he was very afraid that Michelle just may have been the one to set the trap.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Wake up baby" Danny said. " We are getting ready to land" and Michelle sat up instantly. Her stomach was in knots. What were they going to find when they land? What news would Miguel have for them?
They fastened their seatbelts and held hands as the plane began to make its descent to the place where their daughter was being held captive. Danny patted the backs of her hands to show support, both unsure of what would happen when they landed.
Michelle's body reacted to the thoughts of Rosie. She had prayed that she would be able to nurse her tonight but she wasnt even sure if she would get to see her. She had to face the fact that she might not see her daughter until tomorrow at least.
The plane touched down and Michelle jumped off to board and Danny held his hand out to stop her. "Let's wait" he said and Michelle was confused. She wanted to get off the plane now and call Miguel. What was Danny waiting for?
"Danny I dont understand" she said. "Lets go".
" Let's wait until it clears out first. I need to meet with someone only I am not sure who it is yet. I was talking to Alan Spaulding this morning and he has arranged for us to have someone here who knows the island and might know where Mick could have taken Rosie. We have to use all the help we can get. Miguel probably doesn't know where Mick has taken her and that won't be much help to us, but Alan's contact might. We have to take that chance Michelle" he said.
"Okay but I need to call him just the same just in case, dont you think" she asked with uncertainty in her eyes. The tears were threatening again too. She had been separated from Rosie for more than 24 hours and she hadn't been away from her that long before.
Rosie would be confused without her momma. She would hate drinking out of that bottle and she would miss Michelle rocking her to sleep. She knew Louisa would take excellent care of Rosie and would protect her with her life. She would not have risked going to find Danny had she not been sure of that. She wanted to be with their daughter and whatever it took to get her there was fine with her. Danny was in charge now.
"Who do you think Alan sent here?" Michelle asked. "Why would he go through all the trouble to help us?"
"I just had a gut feeling that he would know some people down here and I called him. He offered to help and I took it. Whatever gets us to Rosie the quickest is the way I am gonna take. I don't trust Mick and I don't know if I can trust Miguel either. What if Mick got to him? I have been thinking about that while you were sleeping. I really think that Alan's contact is our best bet right now to get to Rosie. Let's wait and when everyone is off the plane, we'll go and see who it is." he said.
"Okay Danny, I don't care who helps us. I would accept help from satan himself if it would just get me to Rosie" she said and Danny shook his head in agreement.
Finally all the passengers had unloaded and they got up to leave the plane. They descended off the tarmac and made their way into the terminal. Michelle breathed in the air that her lungs had become familiar to breathing the last ten months. The air down her was different and her lungs adjusted to it immediately.
There was still a sea of faces and Michelle looked around to see if any of them looked familiar. Danny was leading her to a doorway that none of the other passengers were going through.
Michelle saw them then. The drug sniffing dogs that they had at the doorways checking baggage. She saw the dobermans and she stopped dead in her tracks and began shaking.
A horrible flashback was entering her brain and she began keening in a low voice. "No, no, no"
"Michelle?" Danny said. "What the hell?"
Danny grabbed Michelle's hand and they went into the terminal in the opposite direction. She stopped shaking and he was going to ask her what had scared her so badly when he happened to look over at the baggage claim and immediately recognized who their contact was. "Well I'll be damned" Danny said and together they walked over to their only hope of finding their daughter.