Chapter 6:

"That's a great idea!" Antonio exclaimed as he thought it through.

Liz smiled, happy to know that he felt that way.

"But what do we do?" Antonio asked.

"Well, we have to do an extensive search, online, in person, and just try to
find sources leading up to it. Look for people who fit the descriptions and such.
Try to get people who can help us. The FBI and such."

"Great, great!" Antonio continued, getting more and more excited after
each word that came out of Liz's mouth. "We have to tell Luis. I'm sure he can
help us. He is after all a police officer."

"Luis!" Antonio called, opening the front door of the cottage. Liz followed
him outside where they saw Beth and Luis sharing a sweet kiss.

"Umm, ya?" Luis asked after Beth and him parted from their kiss, "what is
it, Antonio?"

Liz gave the thumbs up sign to her new friend Beth. She grinned in return.

"Liz here had a great idea to find our father before Christmas!" Antonio
blurted out. "Kinda like a nice holiday gift to Mama and our siblings."

"What?!" Luis asked, astonished. "He's been missing for ten years, Antonio.
How do you expect to find him now? Especially in two weeks!"

"We can do it, bro. I know we can!" Antonio answered, trying to make his
younger brother feel the way he did.

"I guess it's worth a try. Anything for mama. I'll call up Sam Bennett, the
Police Chief here in Harmony and see if he can somehow connect me to the FBI."

"Great!" Beth exclaimed.

A few hours later, Antonio called Beth and Liz over to the Crane Mansion.
He said that Luis had find some sources that seemed accurate in their search for
Martin Fitzgerald.

"Well," Luis began after Beth and Liz arrived. "Seems like there is someone
who fits the description of my father in New Mexico. Right by where Paloma is
currently living with my Aunt Maria. So I figured Antonio and I will go there to do
a comprehensive search."

"NO!" Beth and Liz shouted in unison.

"Why not?" Luis asked concerned. He turned to his brother, who had the
same puzzled look on his face.

"Because Luis," Beth began, grabbing his hands and stroking them gently,
"I have to come with you. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you
and I wasn't there."

"Same here, Antonio," Liz agreed.

The two men thought it over for a minute. They didn't want the women to
get involved but they could see how much they cared. Besides, they might be
some help. Who knows?!

"Ok," Luis finally relented. "But don't you two ever leave our sights! I mean
it; this is could be dangerous stuff we're dealing with."

Liz and Beth nodded, secretly smiling at each other. It seemed like they
were going to be spending some quality time with the men they loved. Hopefully,
by the end of this trip/search, the men would love them back just as much and
would forget about that rich blondie named Sheridan.

Luis and Antonio had to leave shortly after that. They had to go to work.
Beth and Liz stayed behind in the Crane Mansion as they began to draw up more
schemes to get their men.

Just then a stout, old man came down the stairs. When he was upstairs, he
had listened to every word that had come out of Luis', Antonio's, Beth's and Liz's
mouths on his secret videos. It alarmed him a bit. Especially when they began to
talk about searching for the disappeared Martin Fitzgerald.

No one can know what REALLY caused Martin's death, Alastair Crane
thought to himself. Those two girls seem smart and they look like they love those
two Lopez-Fitzgerald's. With a little manipulation, I can get them to do what I
want....


"Hello ladies," Alastair said, sweetly, trying to win them over. As he
descended the stairs and said a hello to them, he brought with him an air of
authority. Beth knew all too well about this man and soon Liz would, too.

But Beth was no fool. She knew who Alastair was and what he was capable
of. She didn't respond to his greeting - just folded her hands and narrowed her
eyes at the man.

My, she's a tough one, Alastair thought to himself. SHE should have been
my daughter and not that lame excuse of a Crane named Sheridan!

"Who is he?" Liz asked, in a low tone.

"Sheridan's father," Beth whispered back.

"Oh the enemy!" Liz replied.

"Come now!" Alastair began, having heard what the two women were
whispering to each other. "I'm not the enemy! Far from it. That is, unless you
want me to be." He crossed his arms and stared back at the ladies, waiting for a
response from either of them.

"Now I know that you NEVER get out of your office unless something
important arises," Beth began, challenging the man, "would you mind telling us
why you're here at this moment talking to us? What do you want, Alastair?" She
stared at him expectantly.

"I'm quite aware of your schemes, Ms. Wallace," he responded. "And if you
help me, I just might get you and your friend what you want."

Beth and Liz turned to look at each other. They did want Luis and Antonio
more than anything but was it safe to play hardball with a man who was known to
be as dangerous as he was? And besides, what did HE want in return?

{A/N: it's getting better folks. as u c alastair is thrown into the mix, and
he'll influence every other character. keep reading folks. and please review!}