Danny put his key in the doorlock and turned it. He had to get back to Springfield immediately. He had stopped in the lobby to call Michelle to tell her he had gotten her email and that he would be over later tonight so they could talk.
None was home and he hadn't wanted to leave that kind of message on the phone. She needed to hear everything he had to say in person. He was going to tell her he loved her and they would be together from now on.
He opened the door and was about to get in when he heard someone behind him.
"I must speak with you Danny" Carmen said.
Damn, why did he stop to make that call? Why didnt he just make the call from the car?? He could be on the road on his way back to Michelle by now. Carmen was the absolute last person he wanted to talk to. He had done his dead level best to avoid her during all of this and up until now had managed to do that just beautifully.
"Well, it's gonna have to wait." Danny said curtly. "I need to leave."
"Where do you think you are going?" We haven't had a chance to speak alone since you got back from California. We have so much to discuss" she said dramatically.
"What could we possibly have to discuss?" he sneered.
"Well Daniel, everything has been happening so fast since grandmother's heart attack. I need to speak with you privately, perhaps you could come inside with me for some coffee" she said.
"No, I can't do that. I need to go" he said and attempted to get in the car again but Carmen was not about to be put off.
"Where could you possibly have to go Danny? Surely you aren't gong back to California now" she said in total disbelief.
"No, I am not going back to California. I am going to Springfield and I need to leave now" he said.
"Why on earth would you be going to Sprinfield when you are needed here" she said as realization finally hit her "Michelle" she spat.
"First of all, I am not needed here. The arrangements have been made and Federico and Ray are going to escort the body home and why I am going to Springfield is none of your damn business" he said swinging his legs into the car.
"Danny, I'm sorry, I shouldnt have said that. The reason I came out to find you is because I needed to tell you something that happened the other night" she said.
"What was that?" he said in an agitated tone.
"A rival family shot and killed Dietz" she announced dramatically.
Danny hated being forced to play in this drama.
"I know, Pilar told me last night. I am gong to check it out when I get to Springfield" he said trying to put Carmen off the trail.
She had that bloodthirsty look in her eye just then when she was telling him about Dietz. He was going to have to play this out. He knew Carmen was behind all of this.
"Danny, dont you see I need you right now. Forget Michelle, your responsibility is to the family" she said.
"I know what my responsibility is and I dont take it lightly. I dont need you to constantly remind me of what I have to do" Danny said. She would really be surprised if she knew where his responsibility really lay.
"Good, at least we still understand each other. I will be home later this evening. We can discuss everything over dinner" she said and spun on her heal and went back towards the hospital.
Danny watched her leave. Why had she brought up Michelle? He had a bad feeling in his gut. Carmen was up to something and it had better not have anything to do with Michelle, he vowed.
He wondered where Michelle was now. Wasn't that girl ever home?? He needed to see her tonight. He couldnt wait. They had waited long enough. He was going to tell her everything he could. He would tell her how he had really stayed in Springfield, how he had visited with her when she had been sick and about Carmen's forging the annullment papers. He couldnt tell her of his plan yet or about what he was going to do with Carmen. He didnt want her to be involved in anything that could possibly put her life in danger.
He manuevered the car out of the parking garage and was on his way. So much has happened this last week and he was still trying to sort through it all.
Michelle had come to him when he had needed her. He hadn't had to ask her to come, she had come all on her own. He was so glad she had although he had been very surprised that she had, especially after the way she had reacted when he told her not to come up here.
He remembered how her tone changed after he told her not to come, No, that wasnt right, her tone changed after she had asked if he had heard about Dietz and he had told her that Pilar had told him.
He was still puzzled at why she was upset about that, at least he thought she was upset, her tone sure had changed right there. As a matter of fact, now that he thought about it, she had been ready to fight him tooth and nail about coming up there before he had told her he knew about Dietz.
Something wasnt right about the whole situation. She had backed off only after finding out Pilar had told him about Dietz. Why would that make her, oh damn, damn, ... he knew.
Michelle had been adament about knowing when he answered his sisters email. Hers was right there before Pilars. She wanted to know about his response because it would mean he had read his email, therefore, he would have seen hers.
She had no way of knowing that he hadn't read his mail when he talked to her last night. She didnt know that Pilar had told him in person.
No wonder her tone had changed so drastically. She probably had thought that he had read it and was still telling her not to come.
"Oh baby, I'm sorry" Danny said aloud in the car. She had come anyway. Even though she thought he didn't love her and that he wouldnt welcome her, she had swallowed her pride and come to him anyway. That was why she was gone when he woke up this morning. She had been afraid to be there when he had woke up this morning.
He would tell her he had read her email just his morning and that he loved her too. He could get it all straightened out tonight, but first he had to find out where in the world she was.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
I don't care how you do it Jimmy, just make sure it gets done today before Danny gets to Springfield" Carmen said and slammed down the phone. Danny was on his way to Springfield for Michelle. She was certain of that. How dare he put that little twit in front of family business?
Their agreement was for Michelle to stay safe while Danny was away in California. He wasn't in California anymore so all bets were off. She didnt feel badly either, she wasnt breaking her part of the agreement. Danny was no longer in California and Michelle Bauer was fair game as far as she was concerned.
She had told JImmy to give Michelle a good scare. One that she would report to Danny and that Danny would be able to recognize it for the warning that it was. JImmy would make sure that it didnt get traced back to her. Danny would understand the meaning of the warning as what could happen to Michelle if he didnt stay away from her.
Danny couldnt be sure if it were her or another family since Dietz had been killed. It was perfect. She smiled to herself at the thought of another perfect plan she had put into motion.
She was fairly certain that Danny had believed another family was involved in Dietz' murder. He wouldnt question the fact that Michelle could be in jeopardy. Danny knew the way the business worked at if he wanted his precious MIchelle to be safe, he had to play the game. He knew the rules, but when he had come back from California, all that salty sea air and sun must have turned his brain to mush because apparantly he had forgotten. She would make sure this message was sent loud and clear and that Danny wouldnt step out of line again.
She had also failed to get Pilar alone. Bill Lewis has stationed himself next to her at all times. She didnt even think he had gone to the restroom. He had looked so smug standing there and silently challenging her to do something about it. If Mr. Bill Lewis wasnt careful, she might have to take care of him also. Noone was going to take her children away from her. Noone. She wanted them to marry and have children of course, but not to these two Springfield idiots. They were going to marry someone of her choosing. She just couldnt see what they saw in these two anglo nobodys. She shuddered to think what any grandchildren resulting from these two unions would look like.
The Santos's had a strong hispanic background and she was going to keep the family line true hispanic. What kind of mother would she be if she allowed them to marry out of their ethnic background??
She knew what was best for her children and it was high time Danny Santos learned that. If he didnt, the next time Michelle's accident would be of the permanent kind.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Where was Elizabeth? Michelle wondered. She had checked in at the nurses station to get her assignment. The nurse there, Sheila was her name, had mentioned that she had been spending a lot of time with the John Doe in room 412 and that was probably were she would be found.
Michelle started towards room 412. A John Doe. How interesting. Michelle wondered what kind of injury had befallen the unknown person. She probably wouldnt be assigned to a John Doe. Usually someone with more experience got those cases since the people either ended up dying or had no memory whatsoever when they woke up.
She lightly tapped on the door. There was no answer. Gently she pushed the door open. "Elizabeth?" she called.
There was no answer again but she saw a book on the table next to John Doe's bed. She had been here recently. Either she had been reading while she monitored him or else she had been reading to him.
Sometimes she did that herself. She had read "Old Yeller" to Lewis when he had been too weak to do anything but listen. It seemed to calm the patients just hearing voices and there had been some studies that entertained the theory that people in comas were still responsive to some stimuli such as sound.
Elizabeth would probably return soon .It was probably going to be easier to just wait here and let Elizabeth find her rather than trying to chase her down all over the ward.
She sat in the chair that Elizabeth had been sitting in earlier. She picked up the book. So, Elizabeth was a Stephen King fan. She had never liked him, much too creepy.
She put the book with the distorted clown's face on the cover down and proceeded to wait. She looked on the floor and saw a scrap of paper that had fallen under his bed. SHe bent down to pick it up and read it. It was just a scrap and she was going to throw it away when she noticed a name and number on the paper. Call me SJ was all it said.
She put it on the nightstand. Was SJ part of John Doe's family? Was she a girlfriend? Did she know this man was even in the hospital? She would ask Elizabeth if anyone had called this SJ person. She could have a clue as to who this mystery person was.
As if he felt her thoughts about him, he began to stir. His head was facing the opposite wall so she had not gotten a look at his face yet. Soon the patient began thrashing about. She put her hand on his arm to calm him.
That seemed to agitate him further. He began to utter words that made no sense. She thought she had heard the word Danny but she knew that was just her overactive imagination. She heard the word Danny with an alarming regularity even when noone is around to speak it.
She was just going to get Elizabeth when the patient turned his face towards her.
"OH my God" Michelle said. It was Dietz. Right here in this room. Why was he being called a John Doe?? Where was his wallet?? Didnt he have any identification? Did Danny know he was here? She didnt think so, Danny thought Dietz was dead. She needed to tell him where Dietz was.
He hadn't said if he were going to stay in New York another day or not. He hadnt said much of anything last night. Last night was not about words, only about comfort and compassion.
She shook her head in order to tame her wayward thoughts. She would have to wait and see if Danny called her. She didnt have much of a choice. Dietz was thrashing about wildly now. She had to find Elizabeth and she went out the door intent on doing just that.