Promise of Forever
Parts 18-19
By Kelly
Michelle and Danny make their way out of thetunnel and make it back to Harley just has she is filling Frank in on what isgoing on.
"Well, Mr. & Mrs. Santos, care to fillme in on just what you thought you were doing," Frank asks not looking veryhappy.
"Ummm, hmmm, Hi Frank, how youdoing," Michelle asks trying to change Frank's mood.
"Not very well, Michelle, lets see I get afrantic call from my sister, about some plan going south, I get here, she tellsme you and Danny were never divorced, that Danny was in there show a tape thatyou had made of Theresa confessing to killing Mick, Theresa went crazy, shotswere fired, and then you decide to yet again play "Miss Nancy Drew",and go into a situation where God knows what's going on to rescue your husband.Just how do you think I should be doing, hmmm, Michelle?"
"See Frank, Danny's here, he's fine, I didrescue him."
"I'm not amused Michelle, and I'm becomingless amused by the second, so Danny, since your wife is trying to be cute andnot give me details, maybe you could fill me in?"
"Frank, Harley pretty much filled you in,as for my wife and her "rescue" I will deal with her later. EverythingHarley said is true, Theresa did kill Mick, we have her confession on both videoand audio tape."
"Great, let me see this tape, and we willbust her."
"Problem there Frank, see when Theresashot me, I hit my head when I fell and was knocked out, the tape is still in theVCR in the house, I was trying to figure out how to get it back, when my wifeshowed up."
"GREAT, JUST, GREAT! You know if you threewouldn't have taken it upon yourselves to spring this trap, and called me in thefirst place we wouldn't have this problem, now we have nothing, because you canbe damn sure Bernardo has destroyed that tape by now, and now they know you havebeen playing them all along. Not smart guys!"
"Calm down Frankie, do you think yourlittle sister is stupid enough not to have made a copy of the tape," Harleysays pulling the tape out of her purse.
"Great, can I watch this in there?"
"Yes, Frank there is a TV and VCR, pleasedo watch it."
"Thanks, Danny."
Frank watches the tape, and tells the trio whatthey already knew, it was enough to send Theresa away for good.
"Now, if it's all right with you, can theprofessionals take it from here?"
"Frank, wait, I have one more thing youwill be interested in. How would you like to bring down Bernardo along withTheresa," Danny says with a smirk.
"How can we do that Danny, Bernardo hadnothing to do with Mick's death."
"I know that, but I have all theinformation you need to bring Bernardo down too, Michelle, did you bring it withyou?"
Michelle pulls the ledger out of her bag,smiling she hands it to Danny, "Of course I did Danny, I can't wait forthis to finally be over."
Danny gives the ledger to Frank, "Dannyhow did you get this, or don't I want to know?"
"It's OK Frank, that was the originalplan, Michelle and I pretended to be divorced, I faked marrying Theresa, and Igot all the information on Bernardo's business, Theresa confessing to Mick'smurder was the surprise."
Franks looks over the ledger book, "Well,Danny you have been very thorough, you have enough here to make sure that noneof the Sandoval family sees the light of day ever again."
Frank gets on his radio, "Men, this isCooper, we are moving in, I don't want any mistakes, we have enough to bringdown the Sandoval Family, and I want this done by the book."
Frank leaves to raid the house. Michelle andDanny embrace, Danny whispers into Michelle's hair , "It's finally going tobe over, Baby, soon we can go home, and get back to our life."
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Danny and Michelle are holding each other, bothpraying that this is really going to be the end, and they can have the life theyhave worked so hard for and deserve. Harley lightly touches both of theirshoulders, hating to intrude, but wanting to make sure they are all right.
"Hey, Guys, are you both OK? Danny, that'sa nasty gash on your head, and you were out for quite awhile, don't you thinkyou should go to the hospital to get checked out?"
"Thanks Harley, I'm fine, just a littleheadache, I think I'll stay right here so I can hear what's going on, just tomake sure this is really over. Will you take Michelle to the lighthouse for me,I'll be there as soon as I can, Michelle still has some explaining to do,"Danny says giving Michelle that look he gives her, when he's not happy withsomething she's done.
"Danny, I'm not leaving either, I havejust as much at stake as you, Harley, you go ahead, and thank you so much foryour help."
Harley knows that she doesn't want to be in themiddle of this, she knows how stubborn both Santos' can be when they have theirminds made up. "Well, I think I'll just be going, you call me and let meknow how everything goes. Bye!"
"Damnit Michelle...."
"Damnit Danny! Don't even start with me!How many times have you saved me, hmmmm, I was just returning the favor.Actually I liked being the rescuer instead of the rescuee for once."
Danny smiles his slow smile at Michelle,knowing she is right, and this is one fight he can't win and doesn't really wantto have. "OK, you win, and by the way, thanks for getting me out of there.I love you, Baby."
"I love you too, Honey. Shhh, it soundslike something is going on in the house."
Michelle and Danny listen as Theresa andBernardo start to argue. Theresa is beyond reason since she discovered thatDanny is gone, and she has no idea how he got out.
"Poppy, this is unacceptable, how stupidare your men? Danny was hurt and he still managed to sneak out of here, if Ididn't know better I would think that little bitch Michelle helped him. When Ifind them I will make them both suffer."
"YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING! Danny wasright all along, I can't believe I helped you maneuver this. You murdered Mick,and planned to destroy Danny. You are no longer my daughter. I will not killyou, but I will not protect you from this, I am sure that Danny has told thepolice about you killing Mick, and you are on your own, get out of my sight, youdisgust me!"
"Oh, I think not daddy dearest, I am youdaughter and you will protect me or else, I will make you pay to," Theresascreams at Bernardo pointing the gun at his head, "Gee Daddy do you think Iwill miss again?"
"THERESA put it down, you don't want to dothis."
As Bernardo is trying to talk Theresa intodropping the gun the police come in the front door.
"Daddy, too late, the police are here, ifI'm going away for one murder I might as well go away for two, after all, lifein prison is life in prison," Theresa says with a cold smile, pulling thetrigger and killing Bernardo.
Frank and David burst into the room, too late,Bernardo is dead, and Theresa is holding the gun to her head.
"Drop it Ms. Sandoval, there's no wayout."
"Get it straight Detective Cooper, it'sMrs. Santos, and yes there is a way out," Theresa says as she pulls thetrigger taking her own life.
Danny and Michelle have heard the entire sceneunfold....
"God, Michelle, I can't believe she didthat. She killed her father, and herself."
Michelle wraps her arms around Danny holdinghim as tight as she can, "Honey, I'm so sorry, I know you cared about herand Bernardo."
"No, Michelle, I thought I did once, butnot anymore, I'm sorry it ended this way, but I'm not sorry they are gone, andyou shouldn't be either do you understand? Theresa was crazy and she broughtthis on herself, true Bernardo didn't deserve what she did to him, but it'sover, and we are safe. Do you see that?"
"Danny we would have been safe if theywould have been arrested."
"I know that Baby, but actually we aresafer this way, we can be kept out of it completely. Everyone will know that shekilled Mick and that she turned on her father, when he refused to help her. Wecan finally have the life we deserve. I hope you don't think I'm being cold andheartless about this, I'm sorry they are dead, but, I'm so relieved they are outof our lives and we are free."
"Danny you aren't heartless, honestly, Ifeel the same way."
Danny turns in Michelle's arms and draws herinto a kiss. "Let's go home Mrs. Santos."
"That's a wonderful idea, Mr.Santos."