First Impressions
Parts 23-24
By Kellie
Frank tried to ease his way out the door. Michelle had finally dozed off on the sofa and he knew that if he didn't slip out now, he'd have unwanted help as he tried to find out what happened to Danny. The door creaked as he opened it and he heard Michelle say, "Not so fast, you're not leaving me here alone."
"Michelle, I really need you to stay by the phone in case Danny calls here."
"Frank," she said.
"Michelle, it's too dangerous. I can't let you come with me - department policy."
"Frank, I know you can bend the rules. Please let me come with you," Michelle asked as she gave him that doe eyed look that usually got Michelle her way with Rick.
"Michelle...Oh! I give up! You're like Harley, you won't give up until I let you come along or else you'll sneak out and follow me. I'm better off having you where I can keep my eye on you," Frank said.
"Then what are we waiting for, let's go," Michelle replied as she headed out the door towards Frank's squad car. Frank shook his head and followed her out.
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Danny lay on the damp concrete floor perfectly still, trying to figure out his next move. His mind was busily handling the information that his mother and brother knew about his career with the FBI. He couldn't help wondering how they had found out, he'd been so careful about letting them know anything about his life outside of Springfield. Suddenly, the timing hit him. His mother called six months ago about Mick, right about the time he'd finished a sting operation in Miami. He didn't recall encountering any of his mother's men during the sting, but there were a lot of arrests. Danny knew that if he managed to get out of there, he needed to go back through all the files on that case and see who was linked to his mother. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt Mick shaking his shoulder, "Danny, come on - you should be awake by now."
At that moment, a plan came to mind. Danny started moaning and gradually opened his eyes. Mick was standing over him with the man Danny had recognized earlier. "Who are you?" Danny asked Mick.
"Danny, don't you know who I am?" Mick asked.
"Danny? Is that my name? Who are you?"
Danny bit the inside of his lip as he watched Mick's eyes dart back and forth. He stood and mumbled, "Mama's going to kill me. She gave me strict instructions not to hurt Danny."
As Mick paced the room, he looked back and forth between Danny and the man. Danny started talking to Mick, "Hey, what happened? My head hurts like hell!"
Mick looked at Danny and said, "Just lie still, I'm going to send for a doctor." Mick nodded at the man to join him outside the door. Danny took the opportunity to pull out his cell phone and start dialing.
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Michelle jumped at the shrill ringing of Frank's cell phone. Frank quickly answered, "Cooper."
Michelle watched as Frank talked briefly, "Warehouse 23 by the docks off of Patton Avenue. Got it. Be careful."
Frank quickly flipped the phone closed. "Michelle, that was Danny. He's okay right now, but he needs me to help him get out of there. I don't want to take the chance you could be spotted at the scene. I'm dropping you off at Harley's."
"Frank, I'll stay in the car - in the floorboard out of sight. I'm not letting you go there alone."
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Danny managed to get his cell phone back into his pocket before Mick returned. Mick came over and kneeled beside Danny and asked, "Do you know who I am?"
"I thought I'd already told you that I don't know," Danny impatiently commented.
"Yeah, you did," Mick snidely remarked, "but I'm not so sure."
Danny raised his hand to the back of his neck and rubbed the knot that had been left when Mick hit him over the head. "Listen, I don't know who you are - Hell, I can't even remember my own name. Why would I lie about that?"
Mick paced the floor, his eyes darting between Danny and the door. Danny pulled himself up into a sitting position next to the wall, leaning against it for support. "So, you said my name is Danny. How do I know you?"
Mick raised an eyebrow cautiously as he answered, "I'm your brother."
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Frank pulled his car into a parking space across the street from the warehouse. "Michelle, whatever you do, don't get out of this car. If I'm not back in half an hour, drive to the station and ask for Detective Levy. Send him here. Under no circumstances are you to leave this car, do I make myself clear?"
Michelle nodded meekly at Frank's request. She slid down into the floorboard as he climbed out of the car. She heard him say, "Lock the doors," before he walked away.
Michelle clicked the auto lock and waited a few minutes. When she was sure Frank would have had time to cross the street, she slipped back up into the passenger seat. Michelle could make out Frank's shadow moving along the side of the warehouse. She looked the building over and spotted an open window next to a stack of crates. "Well, there's a way inside. Frank, I'll give you your half hour, then I'm going after Danny."
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"What happened to me?" Danny asked.
"You hit your head," Mick answered.
"Yeah, that's obvious. How?"
"I'm not sure, I found you on the floor here. When's that damn doctor going to get here?"
"What's your name?" Danny asked as he watched Mick's doubtful eyes dart back and forth. He had to convince Mick that he couldn't remember a thing. It was the only way to buy some time while he waited for Frank to arrive.
"Mick," he replied.
"Okay, Mick. Do you know why I was here?"
"No, little brother, I don't have any idea. All I know is that you called me and asked me to meet you here and I found you on the floor," Mick lied.
"What about that man who was here earlier - the one you sent to get a doctor?" Danny asked.
"He came with me."
A crashing sound disturbed their conversation. "Damn it, I better go see what that was," Mick said as he headed towards the door.
Michelle saw the door to the warehouse open. She watched as Mick headed off in the direction Frank went. As soon as he turned the corner of the building, Michelle took her chance. Grabbing the car keys, Michelle slipped out of the car and ran silently across the street and into the open door.
Danny looked up as soon as he heard the door close. "Michelle," he said in a near whisper.
She crossed the room and bent down beside him, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, now how the hell did you get here?" he asked.
"I don't have time to explain right now. We need to get out of here before Mick comes back."
Danny rose to his feet. As he stood, they heard Mick cursing outside the door. "Michelle get behind those crates and don't make a sound," he said as he pointed towards the corner.