CHAPTER EIGHT

Hank crept slowly away from the open kitchen window, adjusted his collar up and slipped his sweaty palms into his jacket pockets.  As soon as he was out of the Lopez-Fitzgerald yard, he walked briskly to his car parked around the corner.  What luck, he thought.  There was never enough street parking in that neighborhood, and he had parked far enough away  so that no one at the Lopez-Fitzgerald house could hear him  when he left.  His wiley ways had come in handy tonight.  He knew when Luis was talking to Pilar that something was up,  but he had listened to see if Luis was maybe changing his feelings for Sheridan.   He just had that nose for trouble that came in handy in times like these.  He had expected to hear Luis confess his love for Sheridan, but to  hear this seedy confession ,from non other than Pilar,  had rocked his world.  Pilar was always the trustworthy one, now she's drugging people, he thought. Pilar, who would never tell a lie, who Sheridan thought of as a mother!  Some mother! Luis went easy on her, he thought.. .. Probably stunned, by the whole slimy mess.  God! Corruption, deceit, kidnapping, assault, and as far as Sheridan knew...murder..all in the home town he left because nothing would ever happen in Harmony!  And to think, he had almost cruised on outta there without stopping to hear that little  golden nugget of information.  Now to decide  what to do with it all. He was sure of one thing, it could be used!

There was still time to check on Sheridan.  If he saw that there were no lights, he would not stop, but he was restless now...restless but empowered.  Knowledge, they were sure right about that in school.  It would definitely pay off for ole Hank.  Hank, the Bank, he laughed to himself...Hank the Skank with the Bank--haha --he was positively delirious with his newfound tidbit. 

When he got to Sheridan's the lights were out, but he stopped for a minute to ponder the situation.  As he sat there in his rental car, he imagined himself living there at the Crane mansion.  Lord of the manor!  He pulled away and realized he needed more time for formulating his plan anyway, but the end was clear.  Lord Hank.  Ruler over all he surveyed.

By the time he got home and had a couple of beers, he had outlined his plan.   There would be several phases which would work together to bring about the end he so desired...to have Miss Sheridan Crane and the Crane fortune for himself.  It would not be easy, or pleasant, but once initiated, the worst would be over, and he could move along to easy street. 

The first thing he would do would be to speak to Sheridan and get her into that clinic.  He didn't want any interference from her with the rest of his plans.  After she was safely tucked away at the Institute, he would trick Pilar into talking to him in private, tell her it was about Sheridan, and then tell her what he needed from her. When you know a secret, it's easy to get what you need .

Sheridan was up when he got there the next morning.  She offered him coffee, and Pilar was already there helping Sheridan with a light breakfast.

"Hank, I'm sorry, I'm just feeling like such a slow poke this morning.  I must have jet lag or something.  I felt so great in Mexico, and now I just feel like I want to spend the whole day in bed. "  She poured him some coffee and asked him if he was hungry. 

"I'm sorry, Hank, I did not know you were coming or I would have brought more over from the kitchen.  What can I bring you?"  Pilar asked courteously.  She seemed to be her old self, but then he assumed she had been distracted  by the chaotic lives of these people for years now, so why wouldn't she be the same old Pilar!"

"No, really, I'm fine.  No thank you." he answered as he broke a roll apart and ate it with his coffee.

Sheridan smiled, and Pilar spoke," Will you be investigating the disappearance of your car today, Hank?"  She walked around tidying the room.

"No, the insurance company will take care of all that.  I came to see my girl here, and get today off to a bright cheery start.  Actually, I do have some business to take care of today, but not until later. " Hank kept searching Pilar's reactions to see if Sheridan had spoken with her about the drugs.

When Pilar left the cottage with Sheridan's laundry, Hank jumped in with his plan.  "Sheridan, hon, I know it's early and you look like you didn't get much sleep, but I have to know, did you speak with Pilar about the drug thing?"

"No, I haven't.  I just don't know what to say Hank, and I just have the strangest feeling this morning."  she said looking up and holding her coffee cup with both hands under her chin.

"Could it be more drugs, Sheridan." Hank exclaimed looking around the table.  Who makes this coffee?  And what about the rest of this stuff, did you have anything else?"

"Pilar brought it over. It's all from the main house....same breakfast as everyone else.  Cook made it"  she looked scared and put her coffee down.  "You don't think?"

"Sheridan, I don't know what to think, except that yesterday you were the picture of health, all bright eyed and busheytailed, and now you look like, well you look drugged!"  he told her.  "What about last night.  What did you have when you got home?" he asked. standing up from the table and pacing around looking for evidence, dishes, napkins. 

"Pilar brought some milk and cookies.  That's it. It was right after I got back.  I went to bed early.  Maybe it's something in the room, Hank.  Or nothing! I don't know!" Sheridan was still sitting arms crossed at the table.  She sat in her robe staring over at him as he looked back trying not to seem alarmed.

"Look Sheridan, I don't know what's going on here, but I will get to the bottom of this, and I'll do it in a professional manner.  That means you tell ,no one, do you hear...no one!  Not even Pilar!  I want you to go to the clinic today and get Dr. Russell to give you a medical release and a referral to that clinic on the coast....at least for a few days until  I can figure something out. Dr. Franklin can check you out and give you a second opinion, and maybe help you with the other too, the nightmares.  How did you do last night?"  He walked close up behind her and massaged her shoulders. 

"Fine, I think," she answered. "I don't know. I fell asleep early and got up about an hour ago."

"Well get dressed.  We're going to Dr. Russell's, and she's gonna do another blood test, and we'll see how this one turns out.  We know you were fine for at least a few days, and I want to see what she says now that you're back anyhow.  Please, Sheridan, for me.  I don't want anything to happen to you, hon."  He smoothed her hair back from her face with both hands from behind, stroking her forehead with his fingers and palms.

"Alright, I want to see what she has to say myself.  I'll feel a lot better if I get another blood test. I know that for sure.  Then, if this one's bad, I'll leave until you say it's safe.  I trust you, Hank."  Sheridan turned around and stood to face him closing her robe and clinching it at her waist with one hand and lightly grasping his hand with the other.  She excused herself and got ready while Hank continued to survey the room and it's contents. 

"I don't understand any of this", she called out to him .   " Who could be harming me and when?  Honestly, I've wracked my brain, Hank."  She came out looking somewhat tired but well groomed and beautiful as usual. 

When they got To Dr. Russell's office, the tests were done, and taken to the lab immediately using a different name for the patient so as not to arouse suspicion at the hospital. Sheridan didn't want anyone knowing about her problem, and she knew the Crane name would certainly be noticed.  Hank and Sheridan waited until someone called with the results which showed recent contamination to a small degree.  Sheridan was stumped, and Hank couldn't believe that Pilar was still up to her tricks after her discussion with Luis.  The woman was out of control.  While Sheridan was dressing to leave the office, Hank talked to Dr. Russell.

"Hank," she explained, "we have to assume that she has a drug problem.  What else could it be, for heaven's sake.  Let me get her in with Dr. Franklin.  If she wants to deny it here, fine.  She may be embarrassed, and I can understand that, but she needs help."

"Just make the arrangements, Dr. Russell," Hank agreed, "I'll take care of everything with Sheridan.  And thanks for everything, really".

Dr. Russell gave the medical release to Sheridan and made arrangements for her to check into the Institute as soon as possible.  It wasn't too difficult for Hank to convince Sheridan to take the opportunity to get away and be safe while he handled whatever the problem was.  She seemed almost robotic as she followed orders and left that afternoon with Hank telling her family that she was seeing a friend for a few days.  Pilar gave her some cookies which Hank promptly dumped without saying anything about them.  He just couldn't believe that Luis's mother could be so cold and calculating to someone who  trusted her and loved her like a mother.  It almost scared him.

CHAPTER 9

Now that Sheridan was safely away at the  Institute, Hank was ready to confront Pilar.  He actually detested the idea, but realized once it was over, they would all be better off...especially ole' Hank.  He planned to be quite well off.  It wasn't as bad as what he had expected.  He simply went to the Crane mansion when he knew Pilar would be there closing the cottage for the week.   Once he told her he had been listening that night, she knew the secret was out.  There was no denying it, but she wondered why he hadn't told Luis. 

 "Because Luis isn't wanted for assault and at least one count of attempted murder, and that's  if you don't count slowly poisoning my future wife.  You could have killed her!" Pilar listened knowing Hank was completely justified in condemning her for what she had been doing to her trusted friend.  "I never would have thought you could do anything like this.  Now Mr. Fitzgerald and Antonio, that's another story, but you, to tell you the truth, it pretty much destroyed my faith in you and everything I thought you were. Sheridan almost died in that car accident in Paris, and how many accidents has she had here!"  

Pilar hung her head in shame but remained standing before Hank. "I never meant for any harm to come to her.  I keep telling her she must forget.  There is something very important I feel I must say, Hank.  And I do not mean to take away any of my own guilt  because God knows I am guilty, but you must know that I love Sheridan probably more than you do.  She's like a daughter to me.  I am very careful with the drugs, and I do everything to make sure that Sheridan is rested when she has to drive herself anywhere.  I admit, I have been responsible for all of her accidents, but I did it to save her life, Hank.  If she remembers what happened that night, she may discover where her real brother is, and if that happens, the man you know as Julian Crane will kill her for sure.  I know this.  Make no mistake, Hank, this man is extremely dangerous.  And even Allistar can't protect his daughter from the man who has made himself Julian Crane.  He will cause an even worse accident behind Allistar's back.  He has all the time and means to do so.  Hank, believe me when I tell you I love Sheridan, but I must keep her from remembering to save her life.  That is the only reason I would give her those drugs."  She bored into him with her piercing brown eyes, and Hank believed she was doing what she thought she had to do. 

 He felt a little easier about his loss of faith in motherhood.  Even a mind as twisted as his had a limit, and what Pilar had done had rattled him to  the extremes.  "You won't have to worry about Julian Crane when I'm through with him.   I need four things from you, and the only thing you will have to worry about is keeping your word on those four things.  If you help me, your secret stays safe."  

"First of all, this is between you and me, understand?"  He  gently nudged Pilar's chin up to make eye contact.  He could see she was ashamed and sorry .  He  just wondered how much of it was genuine and how much of it was kicking herself for not keeping her windows shut. 

Pilar nodded,  "Of course.  I can keep a secret."

"I know you can, but I mean it.  Not even Luis, and especially not Sheridan."  Hank went on still staring intently at Pilar. " The second thing is no more drugs.  That crap stops right now.  Sheridan and I are going to make a life together out of this mess somehow, and if you cooperate, you'll get your life back too, so lay off the drugs, understand."  Pilar nodded again. "I'll take care of everything with Mr. Crane.  I promise you that.  You're gonna see a new man there, so get ready for it, and don't let on that you know anything about anything, ok! "

 Pilar was nodding and looking interested as Hank continued. "I understand, Hank.  Maybe this is happening for the best, especially if you can get my husband and Antonio off that island and back home with our family where they belong.  No one in that family understands how hard it is for us living like this."  

"I think I understand, but the third thing I need is everything you know about this guy, the one who thinks he's Julian Crane....his real name, who he was, what he did, whatever you can give me," Hank waited for her answer.

"I can get that for you by tomorrow.  I have everything written down at home in a safe place."  Pilar was so organized, he thought. 

"Great, okay, and last but not least, " He had organized his thinking too!  " I want you to get Sheridan convinced on the idea that she needs to marry me."  

Pilar looked to the side, then right  back again, as though she had  registered that part of the plan, and then seemed resigned  to do what he needed from what he could see.    He was trying to tell what was going on in that little  mind of hers. The woman wasn't exactly a treasury of emotional responses, and it made her a little harder to read.  He thought about how he had  never really seen her laugh either...how whenever he had seen her in a joyful moment, she  had always still seemed to be a little  reserved, distant.   Then he looked into her eyes, and the sincerity became apparent to him.  The sincerity was there.  Looking into her eyes was like looking through the glass back of a very straightforward clockwork, there was a lot there, but the mechanism was made to very basic specifications.  She was driven by fear and love, working together like the gears of the clock, and so far those gears were right in time with one another, a blessing for Sheridan's sake, and for his too since she was his retirement blanket.  

 Hank was still freaked out about what Pilar had done to Sheridan, but after talking with Pilar, he felt he could check back with her on a regular basis,  and being a people reader Hank decided he could trust Pilar to do what she knew she must do.  After all, she had been following orders for some time now, only this time she would at least have some hope of getting her family together.  He realized that giving her that hope would really motivate her to help him.  She would be driven to help him through both fear and love.  It would be perfect! 

Pilar was ready to get started.  "I will do what I can, but Sheridan has a mind of her own.  Believe me when I tell you that Sheridan follows her heart.  So you will have to do the convincing on that, Hank.  I'm sorry.  I know it doesn't make any difference at this point, but I am just curious.  Do you have any real feelings for her.  Could you ever really make her feel loved.  She's desperate for that, you know."  She really did care about Sheridan.  It was crazy how she could feel that way about someone and endanger her life at the same time.   

"Of course I care about her.  She's a beautiful, intelligent, caring woman, and she's a lot of fun.  I can make her happy.  I know what she needs. I just need someone to be my cheerleader, like you, you know,  someone to be on my side when she wavers.  You can do it.  You're around her all the time, and she trusts you.  I want you to mesmerize her with the idea of ole' Hank being a permanent fixture here at the Crane mansion.  It won't be hard for you at all.  Let's face it. We're perfect for each other. she's got what I want, and I can certainly keep her happy. All you really have to do is, whenever she seems sad, you know, uneasy, indecisive.. you just fill in the blank with ole' Hank.  Whatever's bothering her, Hank can solve it.  And if she seems happy, you remind her that I'm the reason for it.  If she outright asks about me, then that's when you really let loose with the cheerleading...how great I am, how I'm different, how she needs someone like me.  Just play me up, that's all I'm asking. Pretend I'm somebody else in your mind if it helps you, somebody you wish Sheridan was with.  I'm gonna be that somebody, okay!  I'll do the rest."  Hank was pacing, waving his arms, a regular little Napoleon with his  big man speech.  To make his point, he stopped and faced Pilar ,a big smile on his face and one hand over where his heart would have been. 

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