First Impressions
Parts 27-28
By Kellie
Danny slipped into Rick's car. Telling Rick about his role as a federal agent had been the last thing he wanted to do, but he needed a way to get to the farm to check on Michelle without one of his mother's men tailing him. Borrowing a hospital lab coat and the car from Rick seemed like the easiest way to slip off unnoticed. Rick had promised to give him a half an hour head start before announcing to Carmen and Mick that he'd vanished from the hospital. Danny silently put the car in gear and drove out to the farm.
Danny pulled the car around to the back of the house and went up to the back door. He lightly knocked, but Michelle didn't come to answer. Danny knocked a little louder, but still got no answer. He tried the door and found that Michelle had locked it. "Okay, where would you hide a spare key around here, Cassie?" He looked around and began checking under potted plants, door mats, and under stepping stones in the yard. Spotting the gas grill, it occurred to Danny that maybe Cassie had one of those magnetic key holders. He looked up under the grill and found one. Opening it up, he found a key. Danny unlocked the door and slipped inside. He went from room to room and found no sign of Michelle. Seeing no sign of forced entry, he began calling out for her, "Michelle, are you here?" Finally he heard a thud from the attic. "Michelle, are you up there?" he shouted.
"Yeah, the door to the stairs is stuck. I can't get out of here," she shouted in reply.
Danny started looking around and finally found the door to the attic staircase. On the floor in front of it lay the doorknob. "No wonder you couldn't get out," he said as he put the knob back into the door and turned it. Michelle was sitting on the steps waiting when he opened the door.
Taking in her dusty, sweaty appearance, Danny asked, "How long have you been stuck up here?"
"What time is it now?"
"A little after one."
"About three hours."
"Dare I ask what possessed you to head up there?"
"I got bored and decided to do a little exploring. It was fun until I tried to get out of here. There's a lot of neat old stuff up there. I'll tell you about it later. Excuse me," Michelle said as she dashed down the hall.
Danny turned and followed, "Where are you going?"
"Danny, I've been dying to get out of there and use the restroom for over an hour," she replied as she flung the bathroom door shut.
"I bet you're hungry, too. I'll go fix you a sandwich," he called out from the other side of the closed door. Danny couldn't help chuckling over her dilemma as he headed downstairs.
After taking a few minutes to wash up, Michelle headed down to the kitchen. Danny was sitting at the table talking to Frank. "Hi, Frank."
"Michelle, glad to see you survived being locked in the attic," Frank remarked.
"Me, too. If I see a dust covered box or a cobweb again, it'll be too soon," she remarked. Michelle looked over at Danny who was studiously reviewing a file. "I guess that's the file Danny wanted earlier."
"Yeah, I brought it out as soon as it came in," Frank answered.
Michelle sat down and started eating the sandwich Danny had set out for her. She nodded as Frank rose and said, "I've got to get to the church, David's funeral starts in an hour."
Danny stood and walked out with Frank. They spoke for a few minutes on the porch and Michelle saw Frank drive away before Danny came back in.
"I guess your not staying long, either," Michelle remarked.
"What? Did you say something?" Danny asked as he looked up.
"I guess you're preoccupied with that file. I said that I guess you won't be staying here long."
"When I finish with the file, I'll have to get back."
Michelle propped her elbow on the table and set her chin in the palm of her had while she twisted a strand of her honey colored hair with her free hand.
"Michelle, what's wrong?"
"Danny, this place is spooky and lonely when I'm here alone, especially at night. I can't turn on any lights on the off chance that someone will discover I'm here. It's also boring. Frank comes to check on me, but he can't stay long. I'm just tired of sitting here twiddling my thumbs," Michelle said with an exasperated sigh.
Danny walked over to her and pulled her to her feet wrapping his arms around her waist. "Bored and lonely, huh? I guess I'll have to do something about that," he said before he brought his lips to hers.
Michelle opened her mouth under his probing tongue. She ran her hand through the curls at the base of his neck as he moved down to place nibbling kisses along her jaw line. Michelle moved her hand to his shoulder and began to slide it down. She grabbed his shirt and started pulling the tail out of his jeans. They opening of the door and a loud voice broke them apart.
"I knew that stupid cop would lead me to the girl, eventually. I didn't expect to find you here, lover boy," Mick snidely remarked.
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Danny dropped his hands to his side and looked in Michelle's terrified eyes as he waited for Mick's next remark, "I guess you remembered a whole lot more than you were letting on, huh little brother - Like maybe the fact you work for the FBI."
"Mick..." Danny began.
Mick raised his voice as he said, "I think we should all take a little trip." He held up his gun and pointed it at Michelle, "Let's go."
"Mick, leave her alone. I'll do whatever you want, just leave Michelle here."
"How could I get a piece of her action if I left her here," Mick smirked as he ran his free hand along the side of Michelle's face.
"Get your hands off of her, you sorry SOB," Danny yelled.
"Jealous, little brother?"
"Danny, let's just do what he wants," Michelle whispered as a single tear ran down her face.
Once they were outside, Mick put Michelle in the back seat of the car and climbed in. "Danny, you're driving," he said as he tossed the keys at Danny.
"Where are we going?"
"Just drive, I'll tell you where in a few minutes. Just let me think."
Danny noticed the sweat breaking out across Mick's forehead and the shaky manner in which he was holding the gun, "Mick, time for another fix? What's the drug of choice today - crack, LSD?"
"Shut up and drive," Mick shouted.
Danny got to the end of the driveway, "Which way, Mick?" He looked in the rearview mirror and saw Michelle cowered in the corner of the car as Mick's eyes darted back and forth.
"What?" Mick asked.
"Which way?"
"Towards town."
Danny turned right and glanced back at Michelle, her eyes met his in the rear view mirror. Danny nudged his head towards the passenger side door trying to signal Michelle to open the door and roll out when he slowed for the upcoming stop sign. Michelle nodded that she understood, so Danny began to try and get Mick occupied in conversation. "Mick, how did you find out about my job?"
"What did you say?" Mick said as he looked back at Danny.
"I want to know how you found out I'm working for the FBI," Danny replied.
"What does it matter, little brother? When I'm done, you'll be of no use to them."
"What will Mama think about that?" Danny asked.
A look of panic crossed Mick's face at the thought of explaining what he was preparing to do to his mother.
"Come on Mick, I'm sure you've got a way to handle Mama," Danny said as he began to slow for the stop sign.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Mick shouted as Danny slammed on the brakes throwing Mick into the floorboard. Michelle quickly pushed the car door open and jumped out of the car. As soon as he saw she was out, Danny floored the gas before Mick had a chance to react.
Hearing the tires squeal and smelling the odor of burning rubber, Michelle began rolling along the grassy shoulder of the road away from the car. Once she was unable to hear the car, she stopped and lay still for a few minutes as she tried to get her bearings. Knowing that if Mick got control of that car, he'd come back for her, she willed herself to get up. Slowly Michelle came to her feet. Her jeans were torn and her clothing was covered with grass stains, dirt, and blood. Michelle looked at the large, bleeding scrapes covering all the exposed skin on her body. She could tell that she had been lucky - no broken bones. The bruises were already becoming painful, but somehow she found the energy to start walking. "God, please let there be a house nearby so I can call Frank," she prayed out loud as she walked.
Mick grabbed Danny from behind, putting his hands around Danny's neck. Danny began gasping for breath as he tried to steer with one hand and pull Mick's hands off his neck with the other. The car began weaving from side to side as it sped down the road. As they rounded a sharp curve, the car went through the guardrail and down a steep embankment.