Chapters 17-18

Sam chuckled slightly, but the color drained from his face at the same time. “Funny Luis. I thought I heard you say you were your brother. I have to admit, you did a good job with the voice impersonation.”

Sam was speechless for a moment. Was it possible? Had Luis' brother been living all this time on an island near Bermuda, the same island his dead fiancée was found alive and well? “Luis, this is incredible!” Sam said in complete shock. “Antonio, I'm sorry I questioned you, but I never expected this. You caught me off guard.”

“Outside the station Luis, why?” Sam asked. He was just about to turn the handle on the front door to the station and stopped when Luis asked the question.

“Sam, you can't let anyone know Antonio is alive or that I've found him” Luis said. “It's really important no one know. We can't chance Alistair or Julian finding out.”

Sam slowly nodded his head. “I understand” he said, turning his head from side to side and then turning completely around to check the surrounding area and make sure no one was listening to him. “No one heard me,” he said assuredly.

“Sam I found my father” Luis said slowly, glancing over at Antonio. “We found him” he corrected. “He's dead Sam. Our father is dead.”

“We're sure Chief Bennett” Antonio replied. “I didn't know it until today, but I've known where my father was buried for years now. He was killed by Alistair Crane.” The bitterness in Antonio's voice was evident as the name Alistair Crane formed on his lips.

“We know it Sam” Luis answered quickly and angrily. “We also have proof and plan on getting more proof. That's why I'm calling. We need your help.”

Antonio and Luis exchanged hopeful smiles. “There's a woman with us Sam” Luis began. “Her name is Liz Sanbourne and she disappeared the same day as my father. As a matter of fact, she was on the boat with my father that exploded.”

“Yes Sam” Antonio answered. “The same way Sheridan and Luis were almost killed. Alistair and Julian hired some goons to blow up the boat. My father wasn't as lucky as the rest. He suffered irreversible internal injuries and died a short time after the explosion.”

“Oh my God!” Sam whispered under his breath. “You think Alistair and Julian were responsible for your boat exploding this summer?” He continued his voice in a whisper, afraid in his excited state he might say something too loud and be overheard.

“Sam, I told you lots has happened in the last few days,” Luis stated. “I'll tell you all about it, but I have something I need you to do for me first. I need you to go to the Crane Estate and find some documents hidden at the gazebo.”

“Dead serious” Antonio answered. “Our father hid some papers incriminating Alistair and probably Julian, at the gazebo and we need you to get them for us.”

“Guys, I've been to that gazebo” Sam said. “It's made out of concrete, marble and plaster. I'm sure if something were hidden there it would have been found long ago.”

“Not necessarily” Luis smirked, remembering his conversation with his father all those years ago. “You're forgetting that he built that gazebo by himself. It's entirely possible he built a hiding place in there.”

“Luis, I don't know about this” Sam said skeptically. “I wouldn't know where to begin and it would look pretty suspicious if I was tapping and banging every corner of that gazebo. Not to mention coming up with a reason to be on the estate grounds in the first place.”

“Come on Sam” Luis said slightly frustrated. “You're the chief of police. I'm sure you can come up with a reason to be visiting that den of thieves. Besides, you could always go see Ivy about Ethan” Luis suggested. Antonio gave Luis a questioning glance and Luis gestured that he'd explain it all later. “I can also tell you exactly where to look for the papers.”

Sam sighed in defeat. It wasn't that he didn't want to help Luis and Antonio, he did, in fact he loved the idea of getting his hands on incriminating documents on Alistair and Julian. “All right” Sam said hesitantly. “I'll do it, but I expect you to tell me exactly what's going on.”

“We'll tell you everything Sam” Luis assured him. “As soon as I know you have those papers. I need you to call me as soon as you get your hands on those documents.”

“Luis! Luis!” Liz shouted breathlessly, hurrying into Brian's room. Luis turned quickly towards Liz. Sheridan's awake. She's asking for you.”

“Sheridan's having a tough time right now Chief Bennett” Antonio explained briefly. “I'm sure Luis will explain everything to you soon.” Antonio told Sam exactly where the papers his father hid should be and gave him a vague idea what should be in the documents before ending the call. He then hurried back to Sheridan and Luis' room, wondering what exactly Sheridan remembered that put her into such a state earlier.

“Oh Luis!” Sheridan cried, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Luis just sat there with her for a moment, holding her, comforting her and whispering soothing words to her.

“Luis, you don't understand” she said, her hands grabbing his arms firmly not realizing she was digging her nails into his flesh. “I was there. I was there when Father killed my cousin Alex. I saw him and he blamed me for it. He told me it was all my fault!” Sheridan's voice was laced with pain and it was nearly killing Luis having to watch her relive this nightmare.

“It wasn't your fault Sheridan. None of this was your fault” Luis said insistently. He pulled her head up so her eyes met his. “None of this was in any way your fault.”

“But Father said it was my fault” she cried. “He told me nobody would ever love me because of it.” Tears streamed down her face. Luis pulled her close to him allowing her to feel the warmth of his embrace, something he was sure she never got from her family.

“That's not true Sheridan” Luis said. “I love you more than life itself. My mother loves you and Ethan loves you. Your father was wrong Sheridan.”

As Sheridan sobbed Luis just held her and hoped her torment would be over soon. Antonio, Liz and Doc looked on, helpless to do anything at this point except watch and listen.

“Father! What have you done with Alex?” Sheridan cried out. She began walking in circles around the room paying no attention to the people there, her mind seeing the floor of the Crane living room.

“She's all right now Luis. I think we should just let her continue. It might be the only way for her to get past this. She's finally remembering what happened and it might not be a good idea to force her back to reality. Let her remember.” Luis looked at Doc helplessly and then turned his attention back to Sheridan.

Sheridan slipped further and further back into her past. She could see everything, hear every word being said. It was as if time had stopped and jettisoned her back to that fateful night.

“I didn't do it Father, you did!” Sheridan screeched. “You killed Alex. I saw you.” Footsteps could be heard and Sheridan turned and was horrified to see a casket being brought into the living room. “What's this?” She asked, every fiber of her being riddled with fear.

“What?” She asked in horror. Her head swung around wildly when she felt two pairs of hands grab her by the arms and drag her towards the closed coffin. “NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!” She screamed. Sheridan kicked her legs and twisted her body in an effort to escape the two large men who were bringing her over to the coffin. “Please Father, I promise to be good. I'll be good from now on. I'll never do this again!” She cried.

“It's too late for that now Sheridan” Alistair replied. He nodded his head towards the men and the coffin slowly began to open revealing a blood stained white sheet covering a corpse.

Sheridan screamed hysterically as she felt herself being picked up and placed on top of the corpse. Her screams soon became muffled as the lid to the casket slowly lowered and Sheridan heard a click, locking her inside the casket with her dead cousin. Alistair stood there calmly and waited until her sobs could no longer be heard. Once there was silence in the room he motioned for the men to once again open the casket. Inside was Sheridan, passed out from sheer terror. The men lifted her from the coffin and placed her on the couch and then quickly removed the coffin from the house. </I>

“Dear God!” Liz cried, covering her mouth in shock. Tears began to well in her eyes. The very thought of what Sheridan had gone through that night making her physically ill.

“Enough Doc!” Luis demanded. “She's been through enough already. This can't possibly be therapeutic for her to relive being placed in a coffin.” Luis was so angry at this moment if Alistair Crane had been standing in front of him, he would have killed him with his bare hands. He knew the man was evil, but this went beyond cruelty. One of Luis' earliest memories of Sheridan was her freaking out when she was locked in the magician's box. He didn't understand at the time why she reacted the way she had. He wanted to cry thinking about the torment she'd been put through by that man.

Luis walked over to Sheridan who was on her knees rocking back and forth staring at her hands, tears streaming down her face. She was mumbling phrases, “I didn't mean to do it… I'm sorry… Please don't… There's blood all over my hands…” Luis gathered Sheridan in his arms and sat down on the floor with her, gently rocking her in his arms.

“Sheridan, I'm here,” he whispered. “It's all over. No one will ever do that to you again, I promise you. I love you, Sheridan. I promise you, Alistair Crane will never hurt you again. No one will ever hurt you again.”

Sheridan continued to softly cry in Luis' arms. He kept whispering comforting, soothing words to her professing his love and assuring her no one would ever hurt her again and none of this was her fault. After what seemed like eternity, Sheridan finally lifter her head and gazed into Luis' eyes. He felt tears cover his eyes as he held her heartbreakingly sad stare. “It's all right Sheridan” he said. “It's all over. Alistair can never hurt you again. I'll protect you. I promise.”

Luis pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could without hurting her. “Always remember I love you Sheridan” he said, kissing the top of her head. Sheridan sighed and closed her eyes. She could hear the beating of Luis' heart and it lulled her into a light sleep.

Doc, Liz and Antonio quietly exited the room. No one said a word, but they were all thinking the same thing. This had been an absolutely incredible day so far and it was far from over.

“Well I'm glad you're feeling better Ivy” Sam smiled before leaving the mother of his son. The last thing in the world Sam wanted to do was visit Ivy Crane, but it was the best way for him to get onto the Crane Estate without arousing suspicion. He was pleased to hear that Julian was out of town on business and no one had seen Alistair in months. If he was lucky, security would be a little lax without the Crane men around.

Sam had parked his police cruiser outside the gate so he'd have the opportunity to walk the grounds at the Estate. He also decided to visit Ivy at dusk so it would be nearly dark when he left. Sam didn't waste any time finding his way to the gazebo. He was thrilled when he passed it just to his right on the way to the main house. This way, if he got caught near it, he'd have a much easier time with an explanation to the guards.

As luck would have it, no one paid any attention to Harmony's police chief. Several members of the household staff rushing about in preparation for dinner acknowledged him but that was it. He easily slipped off his path and made his way to the gazebo that Martin built. Sam frowned when he saw several benches encased in concrete and wondered why he was going along with this crazy scheme, but when he knelt down under the second bench and felt an irregularity in the concrete, he knew Luis was right.

“Damn it if Martin didn't build a hiding place out here” he mumbled to himself. A grin began to form at the corners of Sam's mouth. He crooked his head around so he could see what it was he was feeling. It was dark which made seeing difficult, but Sam could make out a spring latch and pushed it. Within seconds Sam removed a manila envelope that appeared to be loaded with documents. He felt his heart begin to race the minute he took hold of the papers. As quickly as he'd opened the secret compartment he snapped it closed and that's when he heard it.

“You there!” An authoritative voice called. Sam froze in his spot. His heart was pounding now, fear racing through him as he'd been caught. “Hold it right there. Don't move.”

For what seemed like the tenth time in the last five minutes, Hal checked his watch. He was a patient man by nature, but sitting in the Police Captain's office for the last 90 minutes without hearing a word on anything was definitely pushing him to his limit. He was just about to get up and find out what was taking so long when the Bermuda Captain returned. Hal raised a quizzical brow showing the man he was definitely not amused by the length of time he'd been sitting.

The Captain smiled nervously. “Yes, well that's what took so long Agent Freeman. I must tell you I was quite skeptical when you first came to me, but since Miss Crane…”

“Of course” he smiled. “Since Mrs. Lopez Fitzgerald is indeed alive and well I decided to give this matter my personal attention. What I've discovered is quite disturbing, actually.”

“The night Miss Cra… the night Mrs. Lopez Fitzgerald's dental records and fingerprints were faxed from the Harmony Police Department I personally talked to one of the officers there just as the fax was coming through. There is no doubt that the records sent from Harmony are indeed those of Sheridan Crane Lopez Fitzgerald.”

The Captain, noting the discouraged look on Hal's face continued. “What I wasn't aware of was the fact that at the same time my office was receiving Mrs. Lopez Fitzgerald's records, the medical examiner's office was also receiving the exact same copies, also from the Harmony police department. The phone records indicate the transmissions were two minutes apart.”

“So when Luis compared the records of the dead woman against those of Mrs. Lopez Fitzgerald he was actually comparing Sheridan's records faxed from the Harmony PD to your office against those faxed to the ME's office, is that correct?”

Hal sat back digesting the information he'd just received. “It appears we have several problems now. One, someone on the Harmony PD is on whoever's payroll that wanted Sheridan assumed dead and the person or people who rigged the boat to explode are still at large.”

The Captain nodded his head thoughtfully. “Yes indeed. Unfortunately Bermuda is known for its bad police officers. I can sympathize with Harmony's Police Chief.”

“Sam Bennett is a good man and if he has a bad cop he'll find him” Hal said sincerely. “Captain, I'm going to need your help on the other matter, the person or people responsible for planting the bomb.”

“I'll be of assistance to you with whatever you need” he agreed readily. As bad as the cops were in Bermuda, this case could definitely give his department a black eye and he wanted to do whatever he could to rectify the situation.

Sam Stood at his full height and faced the security guard. “Chief Bennett” the guard called in surprise. “I thought we had an intruder.”

“Sorry to give you a scare” Sam said casually. “I stopped by on my way home from work to see how Ivy's doing. I hate that she's in that wheelchair because she was trying to help me fix the beacon at the lighthouse. I wish there was more I could do for her.”

“I parked my car outside the gate” he replied smoothly. “It's a habit I've gotten into lately. My wife is a great cook and I noticed I've been putting on a few pounds.” Sam patted his belly and the two men enjoyed a laugh.

“Sorry about that” Sam grinned. He held up the manila envelope he was holding and waved it at the guard. “Have your wife give Grace a call sometime. Grace would be more than happy to share some of her recipes. Her tomato soup cake is out of this world. That's what I have here. Grace wanted me to give it to the Crane cook so she could make it for Julian on a regular basis. He couldn't stop raving about it when Grace brought it to him. Too bad though, Ivy told me it was Cook's day off.”

“Have a good evening Chief” the guard nodded. Sam smiled slightly in return and headed as fast as he could without drawing attention to his cruiser. Once inside his police car and safely away from Crane property Sam heaved a huge sigh of relief.

“Damn, that was close” he said. Sam headed home. It was time to look inside the envelope and see exactly what it was that got Martin Fitzgerald killed.

Liz nodded thoughtfully, looking at Sheridan's sleeping form the whole time. “Luis, I don't know if this is the right time or not considering Sheridan's condition, but I think I might know why Alistair treated her so cruelly, at least part of the reason.”

“Alistair Crane is nothing but a no good bastard, Liz” Luis said venomously. “No one has the right to treat a child or anyone else for that matter in the manner he treated Sheridan.”

“I understand that Luis” Liz said pleadingly. Telling Sheridan what she knew was going to be hard enough. “But there are things Sheridan doesn't know. Things about her mother and father.”

“Luis” Doc said intervening, “I know what Liz is going to tell Sheridan. She told me this story many years ago, shortly after she came to this island. I think it's going to be a shock for her but one that in time she'll be able to deal with and maybe even be grateful for.”

“I promise you, she won't be. This isn't about someone physically or emotionally hurting her. It will change her life no doubt, but it might help her fit the missing pieces of her life together.”

“Luis?” Sheridan called sleepily. “Luis, are you here?” Her eyes were closed initially and then as if she'd been hit with a bolt of lightning, Sheridan sat up in bed with her eyes wide open.

“How long was I asleep?” She asked seemingly calmer now that she knew Luis was there with her. Somehow his presence always managed to make her feel better and today was no exception. If it wasn't for Luis Sheridan didn't know if she could have made it through reliving her nightmare without losing her mind completely.

Luis tucked his knee under him and sat down next to Sheridan on the bed, pulling her into a warm embrace. “Sheridan, there's nothing to be sorry for. What you remembered about that night was traumatic, plain and simple. No wonder you couldn't remember what really happened that night. No one could under the same circumstances.”

“Luis is right Sheridan” Doc said. “The mind is a very complex organ and you were put through a very trying event. Blocking out what truly happened that night was your body's way of surviving. Believe me when I tell you that the nightmares you had as a child would have been much worse had you known what really happened.”

Sheridan shook her head in disagreement. “No, I don't think so. Why would it be less traumatic for me to remember killing someone when in actuality I witnessed my father killing someone? It's not all clear but now I'm remembering some doctors playing tapes for me over and over again. Tapes convincing me that I killed someone and that it was all my fault.”

At the mention of Alistair, Sheridan welled up with tears once again. “Why Luis? Why did my father do this to me? Why does he hate me so much? As cold a man as he is, he's never treated Julian as deplorably as he's treated me.”

“I don't know sweetie” he replied, kissing her gently on the forehead. “Because he's a sick man, to save his own skin, prevent you from talking. I'll ask him right before I tear him apart limb by limb. No person, Alistair Crane included has the right to treat another human being that way and to think he did it to his own daughter.”

Liz nervously glanced at Doc who nodded his head that it was time. Liz swallowed hard and turned to face Sheridan. “Sheridan?” She called quietly. She waited until Sheridan looked in her direction. Luis knew Liz was going to tell Sheridan the reason she was there with Alex in the mansion that night and wanted to protest but Doc gave him a warning look. He sighed in defeat and pulled Sheridan into a tight embrace.

Sheridan entire body stiffened with fear. Her face, which had begun to return to its normal rosy color was now a ghastly pale. "Something I didn't remember?" She choked out.

"Oh no" Liz said quickly as she waved her hand in front of her indicating this was not news about another traumatic event. "It's nothing like what you remembered earlier. I promise."

Sheridan relaxed, if only slightly. She was still considerably apprehensive about whatever it was Liz was going to tell her. She wasn't sure she could handle another bombshell at this point.

"Thank you for that Luis" Sheridan said emotionally. She leaned her head against Luis' chest. He wrapped his arms securely around her middle and together they waited for Liz to continue.

Sheridan had an uneasy feeling as to where this conversation was heading. "How good is very good?" She asked. "Did they know each other as children?"

"Stuart was in love with your mother Sheridan, before she was married. He was very young and afraid to say anything to her at the time because Katherine had a crush on her sister Rachel's fiancé."

"Alistair" Sheridan said quietly. She'd heard about her Aunt Rachel from her mother and Julian. Surprisingly her father had never mentioned her name in Sheridan's presence.

"That's right" Liz said. "After Rachel died in that accident Alistair married your mother, which devastated Stuart. He never married stating he could never love another woman other than your mother."

Liz stopped for a moment while she contemplated how to answer that question. "Sheridan, how much do you know about your mother's marriage to Alistair?"

Sheridan shook her head slightly. "Not much really. I was very young when she died, but I do recall she wasn't very happy. She'd always smile brightly when I'd walk into the room but there was a sadness in her eyes that made me want to cry. I used to ask her why she was so sad and she'd tell me it was nothing to concern myself with, all she needed was to see me and all her sadness would go away."

"Well, according to Alex, the infatuation your mother had for Alistair wore off shortly after Julian was born. She realized he never truly loved her; she'd never be more than a cheap replacement for her sister, Rachel. Alistair became cold and hard and eventually wanted nothing to do with her. He had his heir which is all he ever wanted anyway."

"For years Katherine lived a hollow life. She watched Alistair have affair after affair and slowly turn Julian into a cold heartless man like himself. Outwardly she did what was expected of her as Alistair's wife but inwardly she felt nothing anymore. She existed as a showpiece for a man she'd grown to despise."

Tears formed in Sheridan's eyes hearing what a terrible life her mother had with Alistair Crane. She knew her mother wasn't happy but never knew to what extent her unhappiness went.

"Years later, when Julian was almost grown your mother went to spend the summer with Alex's family on the Cape. Alistair was out of the country and took Julian with him. Your mother couldn't stand the idea of spending any more time than she had to in that house so she packed her bags and left. The second day she was there she ran into her old friend Stuart."

Sheridan shifted her position. She knew Liz was going to be getting to the point of this story very shortly and it was beginning to dawn on her what it was.

Stuart was heartbroken at the way your mother's spirit had been broken living with Alistair Crane all those years. Even though she'd chosen to marry Alistair, he never wished her any ill will and wanted nothing for her but happiness. He made it his job that summer to bring back the woman he'd fallen in love with."

"Yeah, he did Sheridan" Liz said with a half hearted smile. "Your mother fell in love with Stuart that summer. She couldn't believe she didn't see what a wonderful man he was all those years ago. Your mother decided when the summer was over that she was leaving Alistair and wanted to marry Stuart. He'd given her her old life back as well as the confidence to stand up to Alistair. Unfortunately Alistair refused to let your mother leave. They had a heated argument and Alistair slapped Katherine so hard she ended up falling down a flight of stairs. It was when she was in the hospital that they discovered Katherine was pregnant… with you."

Sheridan was numb. If what Liz was telling her was true then that meant… "Liz, are you trying to tell me that Alistair Crane is not my father?" Sheridan asked in shock.

"Sam!" Grace smiled, pleasantly surprised to see her husband home early. "This is unexpected." She went to him and placed her arms around his neck and kissed him gently on the lips.

"I'm sorry Grace" Sam said anxiously. "I can't talk right now. I have something urgent to take care of upstairs." Without further explanation Sam took the stairs to his bedroom three at a time. He felt bad for giving Grace the brush off but he had to know what was in those documents and until he knew what he was dealing with he couldn't tell anyone including Grace what was going on.

Sam closed and locked the bedroom door behind him, barely acknowledging his children's presence. Sam immediately sat down at his desk, turned the lamp on and carefully opened the envelope removing its contents. Sam's heart was racing as he pulled out a dozen or so photocopies of the ledger at Crane Industries.

Sam's heart began racing when he saw the list of names of those people who had taken bribes in exchange for political favors. He could barely think straight glancing at the names of some of the highest ranking officials in the country (at the time of Martin's disappearance of course)… men and women who had accepted large amounts of cold hard cash… Cabinet members, justices as well as influential congressmen. Sam couldn't believe what he was seeing. Oh, the Cranes did have power. Power to buy whatever they wanted through the right connections… government contracts, land deals or whatever else they sought. If a copy of this ledger were ever made public…

"Oh my God" Sam whispered. "No wonder they had Martin killed. He could have destroyed the whole Crane Empire, not to mention the scandal in Washington." Sam sat there for several more minutes pouring over the papers before deciding to call Luis.

Hal watched the Captain with an amused grin. He had a feeling no one had checked this aspect of the case. In fact, he was right when he decided that no one had done anything to investigate the boating "accident" at all. That's what was on the official report, "Accident, case closed." "I'm very pleased to hear that Captain" Hal said.

"Two days before the accident, explosives were sold to three parties," the Captain explained. "Two of those parties are licensed demolitions companies."

"Chief of security at this hotel?" Hal repeated. If the matter wasn't so deadly Hal would have laughed in the man's face. "Where is he now?" He expected to be told the man disappeared just as the resort doctor had.

"I think you might want to ask Officer Lopez Fitzgerald that question. Basil was the man who took Luis and his friends out during the hurricane to look for Mrs. Lopez Fitzgerald. He drowned in the storm."

Hal was intrigued. "Interesting" he said thoughtfully. "I'll remember to ask Officer Lopez Fitzgerald about that when I see him, but right now I want to find Basil's accomplice. A job like this probably took two people."

"I don't believe this" Sheridan said defiantly. "It's not true. It can't be true." Sheridan's emotions were all over the spectrum at the moment. She felt betrayed, abandoned, cheated, relieved, lied to and hurt. "This isn't possible."

"No, it can't be true" Sheridan insisted. Luis tried to comfort her but for the moment she shook him off and stood up from the bed. "I saw the way Alistair treated Ethan when he found out he wasn't a Crane. He tossed him out of the family immediately. From what you're telling me, Alistair not only didn't toss me out, but he forced my mother to pass me off as his child. It's not true."

"Sheridan, I know this is a shock to you" Liz said calmly, "but there were reasons why Alistair didn't allow your father to claim you as his child."

Tears again began forming in Sheridan's eyes. She didn't want to believe it, not because Alistair was a wonderful father but because it meant she wasn't who she thought she was, nothing was as it seemed. Her whole life had been a lie, she'd been abused by a man who kept her from her real father, a loving man whom her mother adored. She shook her head vehemently. "No, this isn't possible. It can't be true." Despite her protests, deep in her heart she knew what Liz was telling her was the truth.

"Sheridan" Liz said barely above a whisper. She could see how much Sheridan was hurting and it was killing her inside. "Alistair was in the middle of a delicate business merger with a Japanese firm at the time. The merger meant millions for Crane Enterprises and Alistair would do nothing to jeopardize the acquisition. The man who owned the company was very family oriented. He believed in marriage for life and didn't believe husbands and wives should be unfaithful. Had he found out about your mother's condition, being pregnant with another man's child he would have called the whole deal off. As it was when he learned Katherine was pregnant, he was thrilled, thus forcing Alistair to accept you as his child."

Sheridan was beside herself with grief at the moment. Tears streamed down her face. No wonder her father hated her her entire life. She wasn't his child, just a convenient method to acquire more wealth for his esteemed Empire. "Luis, please tell me this isn't true?" Sheridan said, staring at his with the saddest blue eyes he'd ever seen.

"I am so sorry, Sheridan" Luis said, gathering her in his arms. He didn't know what to do or say that would make her feel better so he just held her and let her cry it out of her system. He hoped that given time Sheridan would realize what he believed, she was much better off without Alistair as her father.

"Oh, he tried Sheridan" Liz said emphatically. "Alistair refused to let Stuart anywhere near either you or Katherine. Stuart tried to get a court order for a DNA test, but Alistair owned all the judges on the Eastern seaboard and they refused to give him the order."

Luis could feel the anger building within him. Not only did the man physically and mentally abuse Sheridan for years, but he prevented her from having a father that wanted her, a decent man from what he'd heard, not a slime like Alistair.

"That didn't stop him though," Liz continued. "Shortly before Katherine passed away Stuart did manage to sneak into the mansion to see her. You were with him Sheridan" Liz said smiling. "It was the first time Stuart saw you besides photos Katherine had sent him."

"You did" Liz replied. "Alex said Stuart talked about that day constantly. He was heartbroken over what had happened to Katherine but he fell madly in love with you that day. He brought you a present you know."

Sheridan furrowed her brow, trying to remember. "So many people visited my mother right before she died" she said in frustration. "I wish I could remember."

Sheridan sucked in a breath. "Oh my God! He brought me a horse the day he came to visit my mother. I remember! It was a beautiful gray Appaloosa!"

"I remember him. He was the nicest man with the most brilliant blue eyes I'd ever seen. They seemed to dance whenever he smiled." Sheridan closed her eyes trying to remember more about the man. "I also remember my father… I mean Alistair coming home and being very angry. I was ushered out of my mother's room by one of the servants. I could hear them arguing. It was terrible."

"From what Alex told me things did get ugly. Alistair brought in several men from Crane security to escort Stuart out. Stuart refused to leave and because of that wound up in the hospital with two broken legs."

Liz nodded. "Stuart never saw Katherine after that day. She died while he was in the hospital. He was completely devastated at that point. All he had were the memories of that summer with Katherine and photos she'd sent him of their daughter. He made a promise to himself the day your mother died Sheridan that he would do whatever it took to get you out of that house. He knew he had to be careful though because Alistair threatened to harm both you and your mother if he ever showed his face again. With your mother dead, he had to be extra cautious."

"But he never came for me" Sheridan said quietly. Her whole life was beginning to make sense to her, her mother's unhappiness, Alistair's cruelty towards her and the total feeling of aloneness and feeling unwanted after her mother died. "Why would he leave me in that house?"

"Yes, I know" she said. "I was willed my mother's journals. I only found them last year. Father and Julian never let me have them earlier. As it was I happened upon them when I visited the vault at Crane Industries. There was no mention of Stuart in any of those diaries."

Luis perked up at the mention of the diaries. "Sheridan, don't you remember something odd we found in those diaries? There were pages neatly cut out from every one of them."

Sheridan looked at Luis in shock, She'd totally forgotten about those pages. It never would have occurred to her though that there was information about an affair her mother had. "You're right Luis" she said. "There were pages missing. Many in fact."

Doc and Brian exchanged glances, while Liz just nodded her head affirmatively. "There was something else in your mother's will, Sheridan. When she had it drawn up she left explicit instructions that Alex was to receive a copy of it which of course he showed to Stuart. In her will she requested that Sheridan be returned to her biological father, Stuart Carlson. When the will was read, the entire page with that request on it was missing."

"I don't know honey" Liz said honestly. "All I know is what Alex told me Stuart's plans were. He spent every spare minute he had trying to get proof that you were his child. He finally did which is when he came to see Alex. Sheridan, Stuart had DNA test results proving you were his child with Katherine as well as a copy of your real birth certificate which named Stuart as your father and the original copy of Katherine's will. He also had several friends that worked for the Boston Globe and New York Times that were ready to run with the story if Alistair didn't do the right thing and turn you over to us that night."

"But that never happened!" Sheridan said adamantly. The next day I was shipped off to a sanitarium in France and from there I was sent to boarding school in Paris. I was only allowed to visit Harmony once after that until I moved back here. Why didn't Stuart get me?"

"I don't know Sheridan" Liz replied. "I can only imagine Alistair somehow threatened Stuart. He probably told him Alex was dead and the same would happen to him or worse yet that he would hurt you."

Luis' cell phone interrupted them. "I have to take this, it might be Sam" Luis said apologetically. Not leaving Sheridan's side Luis answered the phone.

"Did you find it? Did you find the papers my father hid?" Luis asked, barely able to contain his excitement. Antonio moved closer to Luis anxious as well for the answer.

"I hit pay dirt Luis" Sam replied. "You were right. There was a spring loaded hidden compartment under one of the benches. I found a manila envelope in it."

"You're not going to believe this Luis, but the papers your father hid show proof that Alistair had numerous members of congress, the supreme court as well as the president's cabinet in his hip pocket. Alistair was receiving all sorts of political favors, government contracts, land deals etc. If these papers ever get out, there are numerous top officials that are going to be in a lot of trouble, not to mention Alistair and Julian."

Luis nodded and Antonio left the room to wait for the fax. "Sheridan, while you were asleep Antonio and I called Sam and asked him to check out the gazebo and see if he could find a hidden compartment that my father might have built under one of the benches. He did just that and found a manila envelope listing top government officials that were on Alistair's payroll."

"Most likely" Luis concurred. "I haven't seen the names yet but I bet there are many of them still in office, especially the congressmen and they're probably still on Alistair's payroll."

"This is unbelievable" Sheridan said. So much had happened today, Sheridan was at the point she didn't know which end was up. "So you think the names on that list are the reason your father was killed?"

"I have no doubt in my mind, Sheridan" Luis answered. "If it became public that Alistair was bribing these men, it would destroy Crane Industries, the empire would come tumbling down. I have no doubt Alistair would do whatever it took including murder to make sure it never happened."

"It seems that the resort doctor received a fax from the Harmony PD minutes after you did. They contained your wife's dental records and fingerprints as well."

"I'll be damned. So when I said there was no mistake in the records it's because the resort doctor replaced the dead woman's records with Sheridan's."