Danny clutched the treasured document in his hand. He had called Ross Marler and told him he needed to see him tonight.
His father's will. Leaving everything to him when he turned 25 which had happened two years ago. Why hadn't his grandmother told him before now?
He had had the power to turn the company around for two years. Why was it in grandmother's safe? He had to make sure it would hold up in court. Ross could help him with the legalities of the will but Danny knew this was the break that he had been needing.
He had Carmen. According to this will, he owned 51% of Santos Enterprises. What he said was the final word. The deed to the house had also been in with the papers and had been in his name since Danny had been born. Had papa known Carmen would someday destroy everything he had worked for? She very nearly had. This will was going to change all that and it was going to be the ticket to his life with Michelle.
He was going to go over there as soon as he got done talking to Ross. He would tell her everything. All of the dirty Santos secrets everything and then he would beg her to forgive him and stand by his side for the rest of his life.
WHo knew how long this would have gone on if he hadnt found that will. Grandmother had meant for him to find it. It was his destiny.
He would confront Carmen about all of it. He would tell her he knew everything. She would beg for mercy and he would show her none. Like she had shown Dietz, like he had shown Michelle when she had sent some thug to run her down. She was going to jail as soon as he got the proof he needed from his source. He wondered what would hurt her more, the fact that he had control over everything or the fact that she would never see them again.
He was amazed to find out that he didnt really care. It was finally going to happen. The way it should have been. He could tell Michelle everything and together they could search for his real mother. He knew Michelle would understand since the woman who had raised her had not been her real mother either. Her real mother had been a fellow doctor of her fathers and Michelle had been conceived when her father had thought her mother had been killed in Beirut many years ago.
He called Frank and left a message. It was short and sweet. Only three words "I got her". Now if he could just hear the other three words he had been longing to hear his life would be perfect.
He practically skipped out of the door as he headed to his car to meet with Ross. By God, nothing was going to stand in their way this time.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Carmen peeked her head through the door at the top of the stairs. That guard was going to be a problem. She would get around it though. There wasnt any situtaion on this earth that she couldnt get the upper hand on. This was just a minor annoyance to her really.
She had managed to find out about a John Doe in room 412. It had only cost her fifty bucks too for the information. She would have patted herself on the back if she had had the time. She had to get past the guard and into room 412 and see if it was Deitz. Suddenly she had an idea. A brilliant idea.
She pulled the fire alarm. How simple was that? People began scurrying about like rats deserting a sinking ship. There were so many people about that she could just mix in with the crowd and not be noticed.
People were making there way to the stairs and nurses and orderlies were helping paitents out of the rooms and into the halls. A nurse asked the guard in front of room 412 to help her move a bed out of the way in the hall so she could get some critically injured patients out.
Carmen took advantage of the guards mometary absence. His back was turned and it was easy for her to slip in unnoticed.
Dear God, it was Dietz. He had survived the hit. Not for long she thought and went to the wall where his life sustaining machines were plugged up. She found a plug that went to his ventilator.
She got real close to his ear and whispered."Adios Dietz" and then she pulled the plug out of the wall.
Dietz's vital signs began to change and each time the machine beeped, his vitals went lower and lower.
Carmen had only to make her exit. She peeked out the door and saw the gruad was coming back to his post with a nurse. Damn it. She had counted on a little more time. They obviously were coming into this room to get Dietz to safety from the supposed fire.
She went into the closet and his herself. Holding her breath, she heard the door burst open just as the doorknob of the closet clicked into place.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Elizabeth had been taking her charts to the nurses station when the fire alarm had gone off. Most of the time it was nothing, somebody lighting a match in the elevator trying to smoke a cigarette or something like that, but they still had to go through the drill.
She went to room 412 and was somewhat concerned when she saw that the guard had left his post to help another nurse. She had a feeling her John Doe was in trouble and not from the fire. The all clear signal came over the intercom. Elizabeth grabbed the guard and together they ran to Dietz room. There never had been any fire. It had been a diversion. She could feel it. Someone had pulled the alarm in order to gain access into that room.
They opened the door and Elizabeth saw the plug out of the wall. Dietz's vitals were down dangerously low and they were getting lower. He was going into cardiac arrest. He needed CPR and he needed it right now.
She pushed a buttom on the wall and screamed "Code Blue 412". She straddled Dietz and began the compressions on his chest. She told the guard to plug the machine back in.
Doctors and nurses flew into the room and began working on Dietz. "Come on Dietz" she said between compressions. "Hang in there" and his heart began to beat and his vitals began to rise steadily.
"Someone check outside" Elizabeth hollered. "Someone was in here and pulled the plug out of the wall." she said and several of the nurses went out into the hall to look for someone hanging around. It was a sad fact that people who did this sort of thing usually stuck around to admire their handiwork. People could be sick that way.
Finally all the commotion in room 412 died down and everyone went back to their assignments.
Carmen breathed a sigh of relief. They had brought that idiot Dietz back but at least she hadnt been seen. She could just walk out of here as soon as the coast was clear.
She waited until she heard the guard tell a nurse that he had to go to the men's room. Now was her chance.
She opened the closet and fought the temptation to pull that plug again but she had better leave while she could. She opened the door and crashed right into the chest of Frank Cooper.
* * * * * * * ** ** * *
Danny left Ross's office whistling. Ross had agreed to open the office this late because he was very intirgued by what Danny had said.
The will was air tight although it would have to be probated but everything was in order. HE was the rightful heir of Santos Enterprises and sole owner of Casa Santos.
He was going to get the papers drawn in the morning adding Michelle's name to the deed. He was on his way over there now. He couldnt wait.
He got in his car and headed over there. The lights were on. Perfect, she was still up. He would get on bended knee if he had too to show her his sincerity.
He rang the doorbell. He waited a few minutes and rang it again. SHe was probably in the shower or something.
Finally he heard footsteps. He put his hands in his pockets like a teenager. His face fell when it was Rick who answered the door.
"Danny, isnt it a little late to be calling on people" he said coldly.
"Uh yeah, I guess your right. Listen I really need to talk to Michelle, Could you please tell her I'm here" he said.
"No, Danny I wont, you see, you have had your last shot at hurting MIchelle. I will not ever find my sister in the condition that I found her in tonight. Goodbye Danny" he said and started to shut the door in his face.
Danny put his foot in the door before it was slammed right into his nose. "You cant get rid of me that easily Rick. I am her husband, we belong together and now please tell Michelle I am here" he said.
"Well, you know what Danny, I would, I really would but guess what. You broke her heart for the last time. She's gone. She left before Abby and I got home and you have noone to blame but yourself" Rick said and slammed the door.