First Impressions
Parts 29-30
By Kellie
Michelle slowly drug herself up the road. After walking nearly a mile, she spotted a small white frame house. She managed to make it to the front porch. Seeing the open front door, she called out, "Hello, is anybody here? I need help," before collapsing in a heap on the steps.
A moment later, Michelle heard the screen door squeak as it opened. She looked up and saw a tall man in a white t-shirt and jeans. "Miss, are you alright?"
"Can I use your phone? I need to call the police," she said as she ran her hand through her hair.
A few minutes later, the man returned with a cordless phone, a glass of ice water, and a first aid kit. He handed Michelle the phone and the glass of water. After taking a swallow of water, she began to dial. "Frank, it's Michelle. Mick found us." After filling Frank in on the events thus far with Mick, she handed the phone to the man. "Detective Cooper needs directions to come out here and pick me up. Can you tell him where we're at?"
The man took the phone and spoke with Frank. After hanging up, he spoke, "Miss, I couldn't help over hearing what happened to you this afternoon. Are you sure you're alright."
"A little worse for the wear, but I'll survive," Michelle replied. "By the way, I'm Michelle and you are?"
"I'm Jimmy," he replied as he opened the first aid kit. "Let me help you clean these cuts up while we wait for Detective Cooper to arrive."
Michelle nodded as Jimmy opened a bottle of peroxide and began cleaning the scrape on her elbow. She looked out at the road as she silently prayed for Danny's safety.
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At the bottom of the embankment, Danny groaned as he tried to move. Struggling to open his eyes he looked around. He saw Mick slumped over the front seat, his head resting against the front dashboard. Danny could tell the impact of the wreck threw Mick over the console between the bucket seats into the windshield. Feeling for a pulse and finding only a faint one, Danny knew he needed to find help. "Phone," he mumbled as he felt in his pockets. The realization that he left the cell phone lying on the table when Mick surprised him and Michelle at the farm came to Danny. He started trying to push the car door open, to no avail. "Damn it!"
Danny started looking around the car. "Mick, I know you have a cell phone somewhere," he muttered as he began checking the pockets on Mick's sport coat. Finding it, Danny pulled it out and began dialing Frank's number.
"Cooper," he heard on the other end.
"Frank, I need help," Danny began has he told Frank where the wreck had occurred.
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Michelle sat on the porch as Jimmy went inside to put away the first aid kit. As soon as he was inside the door, Jimmy started dialing. "Boss, you'll never believe who's shown up on my doorstep. That Bauer girl who witnessed the hit Mick did on that cop." He paused as he listened to instructions. "I'll get her there, as soon as possible."
As soon as he hung up, the phone began ringing again. Jimmy answered it to find that Detective Cooper was on the other end. Jimmy walked outside and handed the phone to Michelle. When she hung up, she looked at Jimmy and said, "Frank needs me to meet him at the hospital. Can you drive me there?"
The wheels in Jimmy's head began turning; this was just the opportunity he needed. A perfect way to get the girl in the car without a struggle. "I'll have to stop at work and check in with my boss on the way there. It shouldn't take but a minute. Let me run upstairs and put on my work clothes and we'll go."
Michelle nodded as she watched Jimmy go inside. A few minutes later, he emerged dressed in a dark suit. "Let's go," he said as he led Michelle to his car.
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Frank arrived at the accident scene shortly after the EMS crew. The fire department had arrived first and were already well into the process of cutting the roof off the car with the Jaws of Life. Frank cautiously made his way down the embankment. Making his way to the car, Frank saw Danny was already out of the car. As Frank approached the area where Danny was seated, he could hear Danny telling the paramedic, "I'm fine. Believe me, I've made it through worse." Danny looked up and spotted Frank. "Listen, you'll have go now. I have to talk to Detective Cooper - ALONE," he forcefully explained to the paramedic. Frank nodded as he approached. He waited silently as the EMT packed up his gear.
"Danny, what's going on here?"
"Frank, that's not important. I need to know what you've done about Michelle."
"I talked to Michelle right before you called me. She's at a farmhouse about five miles from here. After you asked me to dispatch help for the wreck, I called her back and asked her if someone there could bring her to the hospital to meet us," Frank replied.
"You what! Frank, my mother has people everywhere. Since Michelle works at the hospital, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't have someone watching for her there. We've got to get there, now!"
Danny began to stand. Frank caught him under the arm as he began to loose his footing on the embankment. The EMT working on getting Mick secured to a backboard so they could remove him from the car called out, "Hey, sit down. I'm sure you have a concussion. You don't need to be moving."
Danny waved him off and started to race up the hill with Frank close behind. They quickly got into Frank's patrol car and headed towards the hospital.
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"So, Jimmy, what exactly do you do for a living?" Michelle asked as she tried to strike up a conversation with the man.
"I work as a..." he paused, "personal assistant. What about you?"
"I'm a med school student," she answered as she looked at the large houses they were passing. It suddenly dawned on Michelle that they were on the road where the Santos compound was located. "Where exactly do you work?"
"You'll see," Jimmy evasively replied as he began to slow the car down.
Michelle looked up to see that they were turning into the Santos driveway. Her mind began racing as her heart started pounding. "Oh my gosh! You work for Mick," she said with a shocked whisper.
"Not exactly," Jimmy replied. "I actually work for Mick's mother."
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Frank and Danny tore into the ER looking for Michelle. Spotting Lillian, Frank rushed over and asked, "Lillian, have you seen or heard from Michelle today?"
Lillian answered, "No, I haven't. Is there a problem?"
"I hope not," Frank answered as he looked at Danny.
Heading towards the door to search the parking lot, Danny and Frank were pushed aside as the ambulance carrying Mick arrived. Danny froze as he saw the EMT giving Mick CPR. Frank put his hand on Danny's shoulder, "I know Mick's a sorry bastard, but he's still your brother. I'll go check the parking deck and surrounding lots. You wait here."
Danny nodded silently as Frank signaled Lillian to come over. "Lillian, this is Danny Santos. His brother Mick was the guy they just brought in. He was in the car also, could you get him checked out?"
"Of course, Danny come with me," Lillian replied as she took him by the elbow and steered Danny towards an ER cubicle.
Danny nodded as he heard Frank say, "I'll be back in a few minutes."