First Impressions
Parts 17-18
By Kellie
Danny flipped the phone closed and looked up to see Michelle standing in the doorway with a shirt and some overalls in her hands. "I found these in a box in the hall closet. There's more there if you want to go through the clothes, but I not sure you could wear many of the things there. You're a bit taller than Hart was."
Danny reached out and took the clothes. "I guess these will have to do," he said as he headed back into the bathroom. A few minutes later, he emerged wearing the black t-shirt and the faded overalls. "All I need is a straw hat and I'll look like Old McDonald."
Michelle laughed at the remark as she sat on the bed Indian style looking over the grocery list. "Was that Frank on the phone earlier?"
"Yeah. He thinks Mick's tailing him. He's going to get his sister, Haley - Harley - I can't remember her name - to bring us some supplies."
"It's Harley. She's named after the motorcycle," Michelle commented.
"She's named after a Harley Davidson?" Danny laughed.
"Yeah, she is. Her mother, Nadine, liked bikes and named her Harley Davidson," Michelle said with a chuckle.
"How can people stick their kids with such names?"
"There are some doozies out there. Some of the names Dad and Rick have told me from ER admissions are hysterical."
Danny sat down on the edge of the bed across from Michelle; "You couldn't top being named for a motorcycle."
"Wanna bet?" she teased.
"I'll take that bet," Danny replied before adding, "What'll you wager?"
Michelle twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she rolled her eyes in thought. "If I win, you'll wear R.J.'s cowboy hat and let me get a photo of you in the Old McDonald garb."
"You just want to hold this over my head forever," Danny commented as he hooked his thumbs under the straps of the overalls.
"Exactly," Michelle giggled.
"Well, since we don't have a camera, I'm not sure how you'll pull that off," Danny remarked. "But if you can't top the motorcycle name, I get to take you out for dinner when this mess is over."
"Sounds like I'd win either way - a blackmail photo of Farmer Danny or a free meal," Michelle laughed.
Danny smiled as he watched her tuck the loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Okay, let's see if you can top the name Harley Davidson."
Michelle gave a sly smile as she began, "Well, my brother was treating a little boy in the ER one night. He asked the boy his name."
"So, what was it?"
Michelle sounded out the name for Danny, "k - ah - tex"
"That doesn't sound too bad."
"It gets better," Michelle said as the laughter began to seep into her voice. "Rick asked the mother, how do you spell that, for the release form. Her answer was K-O-T-E-X."
Michelle began to burst out into hysterical laughter. Danny's mouth dropped in shock as it registered with him that the little boy was named for a feminine hygiene product. "Where the hell did that woman come up with that as a name?"
Michelle composed herself before continuing. "Rick asked about that and the woman said that she saw a box in the grocery store with some pretty blue flowers on the front, so she decided to name her son after the pretty box."
"That can't be true. You have to be making that one up," Danny remarked.
"It's definitely true, you can ask Rick when we finally get out of here."
"Believe me, I will," Danny said with a laugh.
Michelle picked up the grocery list and began to write.
"What are you adding now?" he asked.
"A disposable camera, of course," she replied.
Danny reached across to pull the list from her hands, "Not so fast, Missy."
Michelle held it over her head out of his reach as he stretched across the bed towards her. The next thing Michelle knew, they were face to face - their bodies stretched out across the bed side by side as she tried to keep the list out of Danny's reach. She dropped the pad and moved her hands to his head as their lips met.
_______________________________________________
Harley was juggling Zach on one arm as she flung the diaper bag over the opposite shoulder after unlocking the front door, when Frank came up.
"Hi, Sis. How's my favorite nephew today?" Frank asked as he made funny faces at Zach.
"As I recall, he's your only nephew and he's teething. Care to spend some quality uncle/nephew time together this afternoon?"
"Bad morning?"
"That's an understatement."
"What's wrong?" Frank asked.
"Where shall I start? Let's see, it's Sunday morning and Phillip's off playing golf with Rick, Zach was up all night crying, Susan broke curfew and I had to ground her, and the nanny is on vacation this week. Please tell me things are going better than that for you."
"Well, actually I came to ask you to help me out on a case; but since you have your hands full with this little guy, I'll handle it myself," Frank remarked as he tousled Zach's hair.
"Wait a minute. Someone remembers that I have a brain that can think about more than diapers and teenage daughters. Get in that house and fill me in," Harley ordered as she steered Frank inside the door.
Frank took Zach and settled on the sofa while Harley got a fresh teething ring from the freezer. When she returned, she handed Frank the cold plastic toy as she spoke, "What case is this and what kind of help are you needing?"
"Harley, this case is one I'm working on in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigation. It also involves the Internal Affairs division. You're going to have to keep everything I tell you to yourself, the lives of at least two people depend on it."
"Frank, you know I can keep a secret."
"That's what worries me," Frank remarked as he rolled his eyes.
"Frank, you know I can," Harley said as she punched his arm.
"I know that when it comes to a case, you can keep your trap shut. It's everything else that you blab to the world."
"Tell me one time when I repeated something you asked me to keep secret."
"Harley, there are so many choices. I could talk for weeks about all the secrets you've spilled."
"Such as," Harley retorted.
"Telling Marina about time I cut my hair into a mohawk that I dyed bright blue."
"Frank, that was no secret. It's in the family photo album."
"Not anymore. Now about that case, can I count on you?" Frank asked.
"My lips are sealed."
"Okay, I've been working on finding a leak within the department. Someone on the inside has been feeding Mick Santos information about our investigations into the Santos family operations. I've gotten a contact within the family who's been working with me to bring Mick down."
"Frank, where do I come into the picture?"
"Well, last night my informant was set up by Mick Santos for David Grant's murder."
"Frank, I saw the news this morning. Are you telling me that your informant is Danny Santos."
"Yeah, I am and there's more." Frank paused and took a deep breath before continuing, "There's a witness who can prove Danny didn't pull the trigger."
"Who?"
"Michelle Bauer. She was on a date at the beach with Danny at the time of the murder. Mick stole a gun from Danny's car and killed David. David was involved in the case with me. He was tailing Mick as part of our investigation. Danny called me as soon as he realized what was happening. Since we don't know who in the department is involved with Mick, it's up to me to keep Danny and Michelle safe until we get the goods on Mick."
"So that's where Michelle's been. Rick was acting more nutso than usual when he came by to pick Phillip up for their golf game since she didn't come home last night."
"Harley, you can't breath a word of this to Rick. I know he's worried about Michelle, but if anyone finds out you know anything about this, you'll be in danger too."
"I know." Harley paused before asking, "Why exactly do you need my help?"
"I picked up a tail late last night, Mick. I can't go out and check on Danny and Michelle without leading him right to them."
"Where are they and what do they need?"
"The only place I could think of last night was Cassie's house. Since she's in San Cristobel, it's empty."
"I'll drop Zach off to visit with Pop and Selena for a little while and go out there. How do I get in touch with them?"
Frank handed Harley a card with a number on it. "Call this number. It's the cell phone I gave Danny when we started this investigation. You and I are the only ones with the number. I've got to get going. I need to lead Mick on a wild goose chase."
"Frank, be careful," Harley remarked as they both stood and he handed Zach to her.
"You too," he replied as he went out the door.
Harley walked over to the desk and looked out the window before she picked up the phone. She watched Frank pull off and waited. A minute later, she saw Mick's car pull out of a parking space down the street and follow the same route that Frank had taken. Harley closed her eyes and swallowed hard before she dialed the number Frank had given her.