Trust Me
      Chapter 7
 

God offers to every mind it's choice between truth and repose. Take which you please--you can never have both. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Michelle left Abuela's room and walked towards Danny's office. She was reluctant to go. Danny hadn't been mindful of her feelings and needs these past few weeks and she felt like she was the only one working at keeping their marriage alive. For all intents and purposes she was invisible to Danny. The lack of contact with him left her feeling numb. He didn't want to talk to her and he certainly had not shown any interest in her physically. Abuela's advice had been hard to follow. Michelle felt hurt and she had a sense that going to Danny could possibly hurt her even more. It was a feeling that she couldn't shake, but as she made her way down the hall she was firm in her decision to confront her husband.

When she got to his office she looked at the door and considered turning around and leaving. Michelle thought it was odd that no one had been lurking around the office. She half expected Jimmy to stop her. Before she knocked she bent her head to the door and listened for voices. Silence. Raising her hand she rapped on the wood door and listened for a response. Nothing. He's not here. Her heart sank. While she had been nervous and hesitant to see him she found herself even more disappointed that he hadn't been sitting behind his desk. Turning to leave, her head cast down, she suddenly heard noises coming from another one of the rooms. It was the conference room. The sound was muffled, but she could tell it was angry voices. She moved closer to the door and leaned her head in to listen.

"This is my responsibility. I won't let you take this away from me."

"Danny, what are you talking about?", Michelle wondered. She had always believed that Danny blamed himself for Pilar's death. What were they taking away from him? Every time she turned around there were more questions. Then she heard Danny's voice again and it chilled her. "NO! Dietz is mine." The hair stood up on the back of her neck and she found herself glued to the spot. She couldn't move.

There was no doubt in her mind. Danny was talking about killing Dietz. He was going to kill someone. Her husband, the man she loved and trusted, intended to commit murder. Her Danny, the Danny she knew couldn't kill anyone. "Right?" Then the door slammed and his hands were on her arms, as he righted himself.

"Michelle? What the hell?" , he was angry. "Dammit she was listening. Again!"

She looked up at him and saw it in his eyes. She was afraid. She unconsciously backed away from him. Her voice was lost to her. All she could do was stare at him.

He watched her back up and saw the look in her eyes and realized she was scared. How much had she heard?

His voice softened, "Honey, what a surprise." He moved to take her in his arms. "I was just going to see you."

His arms came around her and she froze. Her body tightened and she held her breath. She wanted to give in to him. She wanted to release all of her tension and let him hold her. Michelle wanted to forget what she had heard and she wanted to melt into his body and believe again. She couldn't.

He felt her tension. Her arms were around him. He felt the palms of her hands on his back, but he knew. "She knows." He felt his body become weak. He couldn't breathe. He felt like he might throw up. He tried pulling he closer. Let her forget this. She doesn't have to know. Try to convince her. Do it. Convince her again. You can do it. She trusts you. He had a million thoughts running through his head.

She extricated herself from his arms and looked at him. Waiting. Maybe he would explain everything. Maybe he would tell her she had misunderstood. Danny can make you believe. He trusts you. Trust him. Believe him. Don't let this be true. Her jumbled thoughts threatened her sanity.

In a voice she barely recognized she said, "Make me understand. Explain. Tell me everything. Why Danny? Is it too much of a challenge for you to let go? Are you trying to do what you think is right? Is this what you want?". The words tumbled out, question after question, she barely gave herself a pause between each one. She wanted answers.

He wouldn't face her. He stared at the floor.

Then she ran.

Danny stood there and watched her retreating form. He wouldn't stop her. She knew and there was nothing he could say to her that would make her believe in him again. He walked to his office and sat down at his desk.

Carmen sat at the conference table and smiled. "Well, John, it seems Daniel is becoming more like his father every day. I didn't expect him to put up a fight about this. "

"Ma'am I don't think Danny is the man for this job. He's too close to the edge. Besides, I thought we were supposed to keep Danny's hands clean..."

"John", Carmen interrupted, "Daniel has managed to remain above the menial, dirty work of our family, but this drive he has now is good for him. Who better than my son to avenge my daughter's death?".

John stared at his boss and wondered why this woman felt the need to destroy her son. She had one child left to her and she was blind to his feelings. Danny didn't deserve the burden. He was in pain and reacting to that pain. "Well Carmen if that's it, I'll be on my way." He got up and moved to the door. As he left he vowed to keep his promise to Danny's father.

Carmen stayed in the room pondering her good fortune. There was a time when she thought her son was lost to her. Giving him the job of taking out Dietz had been a test. A test she was certain Danny would fail. He had too many conflicting emotions. He had not been able to kill Michelle and she knew he would not be able to kill Dietz. Carmen had sent Danny to find Mick's killer because she had already had a glimpse of his weakness. It was true, Danny was never supposed to participate in killings, but she had broken her promise to her husband and sent him to hunt his brother's killer because she thought it would bind him to the family even more. Danny had chosen to believe Michelle instead of honoring his dead brother. To Carmen it had been a blow to her ego. She had failed as a mother. Her two sons had been different, she recognized that, but Danny chose a stranger over family. That ate at her soul.

Pilar's death had been the catalyst that changed things. Carmen was reassured that her son was hers again to mold and form into a true leader. It was fascinating to watch him become the man she had hoped he would. Not even Michelle had distracted him from his mission. Vengeance, it fueled desires in many people.

Dietz had been holed up in a motel outside of Springfield for the 5 weeks. His patience was wearing thin. The motel was cheap and disgusting. The managers spent more time with their side business of renting rooms on an hourly basis. The hookers paid a percentage to the manager and the owner probably got a cut too. He was just smart enough to keep his distance in case the police came knocking. For Dietz it was a hell hole. He had gotten used to his comfortable life style.

Comforting himself with a bottle of bourbon Dietz sat in the dingy motel room planning the demise of Danny Santos. He thought of the life he would have with Carmen. The beautiful, strong and powerful Carmen Santos. Once he killed Michelle her obsession with the girl would end. It was Carmen's dream and he planned on fulfilling it. Danny would be the last obstacle in his course. Dietz knew Danny would never get over Michelle's death. It would destroy him. The idea of destroying Danny pleased him. Danny was weak and in their life there was no place for weakness. Carmen didn't need her children. She was better off without that hothead Mick. Mick's recklesness could have brought them all down. He was a good thug, but he was careless. Being careless was something they could not afford. When the Bauer girl had knocked Mick out with that rock it had been so easy to finish him off. He'd watched the tide come in and drag Mick's unconscious body into the water. In his final moments Mick had called out to him for help. Dietz had walked away. Killing Pilar had not been part of his original plan. The girl was easy to manipulate and Dietz did not see her as a threat, but the way her death affected Danny that was the bonus. Danny would not stand down from the challenge. He knew it. It was a declaration of war.

Biding his time, Dietz waited for the perfect moment to off Michelle. His main problem had been her lack of activity since Pilar's death. She had remained in the house. The few times she'd ventured out she'd been heavily guarded, but that Bauer girl really hated being tailed and she'd gotten away from Jose quite a few times. Dietz had seen her do it and realized that it was just a matter of time. It didn't look too difficult. His plan was coming a long fine and Dietz didn't want to risk ruining everything, therefore the gift he'd sent Danny through the mail would be perfect.

Danny had to know he was watching and Dietz wanted to watch him fidget and worry about protecting his wife. The image of Danny facing his biggest fear brought a smile to his face and then he laughed. He also knew Danny didn't have it in him to kill another man. Yeah, Danny would act like he was up to the task, but he'd never be able to follow through. It was game and Dietz felt like a winner. His laugh echoed throughout the room. It was the laughter of a demented man.

He sipped from the plastic cup, he knew Carmen would like this. She'd commend him on his brilliant plan. She'd welcome him and then they could really begin their life together.

Michelle ran to their room. She had to get out. She felt trapped and frightened. Where could she go? Abby? The lighthouse? Europe? Where could she find an escape from this hell? She clamored for her freedom. Michelle wanted to breathe. She felt dead. Her life with him had been a dream. There was nothing left to hold on to. Danny was going to do the one thing she had thought he wasn't capable of. Running into the walk-in closet she reached for a bag. She began pulling clothes off of the hangers. Shirts, pants, dresses flew around her and before she realized what was happening there was a pile of clothes surrounding her as she knelt on the floor sobbing.

How could she leave? This was her home. Danny was her life. She acknowledged the truth. Leaving him was impossible. She had lost control of her destiny the day she had fallen in love with Danny Santos. She was terrified. She lay down on top of the clothing and closed her eyes. What was she going to do? Could she accept his decision? Would she accept his determination to continue the cycle of violence? She didn't have any answers. The emotional exhaustion overcame her as she fell into a sleep that was no more comforting than the reality of her awakened state.

Danny sat in his chair and watched the driveway from the screen of the closed circuit TV. He waited to see her car pull out from the driveway. He waited for Michelle to leave him. She has no choice. I can't let this go. She won't accept the choices you've made. She can't. He wanted to see her leave his life for good. It would finalize things for him. He had expected her to leave one day. He had never thought that day would come so soon. She deserved better. He had known all along that she didn't belong with him. Michelle had believed in them and he had not.

There was a knock at his door. He didn't answer. There was another knock and then the door opened. It was John.

Danny let his eyes leave the televison screen for a moment to say, "John it's not a good time."

"Danny, I hate interrupting, but we've got a big problem." John wondered what was wrong with Danny. He was watching the surveillance television with an intensity that made no sense. Danny looked defeated.

"Not now." His voice was controlled and very precise.

"Danny, this can't wait. We got something in the mail today."

"What part of not now don't you understand, John? Get out." his eyes flashed angrily and he ran a hand through his hair, all the while he waited for Michelle to appear on the TV screen.

"Danny, it's a threat. A threat on Michelle's life." He figured his best chance of communicating with Danny was just to blurt everything out.

The mention of Michelle's name brought Danny's gaze from the TV screen to John's face. He had a frantic look on his face. He grabbed the phone and dialed the extension for the front gate. "If you see my wife's car, don't open the gate. She is not to leave the property. I mean it. Don't let her leave." Turning to John he said, "Where is it?"

"Danny, there are pictures...pictures of Michelle. All of them are recent and were taken when she was alone and unguarded."

"Unguarded? What the hell are you talking about? She hasn't been without protection since Pilar died. Are you telling me Jose's slacking off? Where are the pictures? I want to see them. Was there a note?"

"Wait a minute Danny.", he handed him the pictures. "It looks more like a case of Michelle ditching her tail. There are 3 pictures, no note. I already talked to Jose. He says that he knows exactly when they taken and he says he's spoken to Michelle about this. Apparently, she has talked her way out of letting you know what has been going on. Jose tells me she hates being followed. Maybe you need to talk to your wife." John had already told Jose that under no circumstance was he to allow Michelle to lose him again. In addition, John had added Steven Suarez to the detail. Michelle might be swift enough to lose one of his men, but two was highly unlikely.

"Okay. I see. I'll take care of Michelle. Thanks.", he dismissed John.

Danny got up and walked to the window. Looking out into the woods that surrounded the property he considered his options. Michelle was leaving and he had to stop her. There was no way he was going to let his wife go. He wasn't going to let her be a target. He'd have to face her and probably answer a lot of questions. Michelle wasn't going to leave him until he could guarantee her safety. If she still wanted out afterwards then he would have to face it. For now, he was going to keep her safe and if that meant keeping her in the house, so be it.

"I'm sorry Michelle.", he said out loud as he looked at the pictures of his beautiful wife.

He picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Hey. It's me. I need your help..."

An hour later Michelle woke up and found herself with a cramp in her neck and her closet a wreck. She hadn't slept well and she was still very much confused about her predicament. She didn't want to face the fact that Danny was considering murder, but she knew she would have to in order to set things right between them. Maybe she could help him. Maybe Danny just needed to listen to someone who was objective, rather than his mother or any of the others. She began picking up the clothes and hanging them up again. What could she do? Then she had an idea. It was a long shot, but she was confident enough to believe that she had found someone who could help her help Danny. She ran to the room and picked up the phone. She dialed the number as fast as she could.

"Pick up. C'mon be there. Please.", she said as she listened to the phone ring. On the fourth ring she was beginning to lose hope. Then she heard the person pick up the phone and say hello.

"Hi. It's Michelle. I need you to help me..."