The crowd outside Copper Ridge State Penitentiary had grown thick as Roman Brady pushed through it, ignoring the shouted questions from reporters. He spotted the man he was looking for near the edge of the gathering, a stocky figure trying to slip away unnoticed. Roman called out, “Joe Moroni? ”
Joe stopped and turned.
“Maybe. Who are you? ”
“Roman Brady. And you’re not going anywhere till we talk.
”
Joe held up a hand to the men around him. “It’s all right. It’s okay. Step back.
Show the man a little respect. He’s a captain with the Salem Police Department. You probably recognize him from television. He screams at all the reporters.
”
Roman’s jaw tightened. “You wouldn’t happen to be the guy that shot my daughter, would you? ”
“Forget about it,” one of Joe’s men muttered. Joe kept his voice calm.
“The captain’s upset, understandably. His daughter’s being executed tonight. ”
“And you’re the one who’s going to stop it,” Roman said. Meanwhile, John Black pushed open the door to the governor’s office despite the aide’s protests.
“We’ve waited long enough. ”
Governor Thorne looked up, annoyed. “What’s the meaning of this? ”
“I’m sorry, Governor, but you’ve left us no choice,” John said.
“An innocent woman will die tonight, unless you grant her clemency. ”
Marlena stepped forward. “Governor Thorne, my daughter is scheduled to be executed tonight for a crime she did not commit. ”
The aide checked his notes.
“Samantha Brady case. ”
“I’m sure you’re familiar with it, sir,” John added. “Very,” the governor said. “I’ve just told Ms.
Brady’s counsel that he doesn’t have grounds for an appeal. ”
The aide asked, “Look, Mr. Black, Dr. Evans, does your presence here today mean that you have some compelling new evidence?
”
“No, it doesn’t,” John admitted. “Then I’m sorry. You’ve wasted a trip. ”
Governor Thorne stood.
“Look, I was elected to carry out the will of my constituents, and 70% of the people of this state favor capital punishment. ”
“Governor Thorne,” John pressed, “this state has not put a woman to death in almost 20 years. ”
“The killer’s gender didn’t matter to the victim, and it doesn’t matter to the justice system. Now if you will excuse me—”
“No, I can’t do that,” Marlena said.
“I’m sorry. My daughter’s life is at stake here, and I’m not leaving here until you grant her a stay of execution. ”
At the prison, Sami sat with her brother Eric in the small visiting room. She reached for his hand.
“You’re here, Eric, and that helps me a lot. You always feel what I’m feeling. Remember when we were little, and that guy Zach used to bully me around, and you’d always know, and you’d come out of nowhere to save me? Of course, the same was true for me.
I always knew when you had gotten hurt, when you fell off your bike or scraped your knee. I could always tell. ”
“It’s still going to be true, Eric,” she continued. “That’s why you have to promise me and live up to your promise to be happy, because I’ll know, no matter where I am.
”
Further down the corridor, in the hospital room where Roberto lay in a coma, Kate Roberts watched over him. She had her story ready, and she didn’t intend to let anything interfere with it. Roberto stirred. “You want me to confess to the murder?
”
Kate leaned closer. “There’s no one to dispute the story, if that’s what you’re afraid of. ”
“But Sami—”
“Shh. Relax.
Just relax. If the police know you’re awake, they’re going to call Roman. ”
“Sami knows the truth. ”
Kate’s expression hardened.
She thought to herself that Sami knew nothing of the sort, and that was exactly how it had to stay. “Don’t you worry about Sami, okay? ‘Cause she’ll do anything to keep herself off death row. Now let’s go back to the day of the wedding.
You knew that Franco was skimming money from the Moronis, and you knew that he was setting you up to take the fall. So you went to the house, and you confronted him. You got into an argument. He left the room and came back with a gun.
You struggled with him. You got the gun, and you shot him. You were just about to leave when Sami came into the room. She saw Franco’s body, and she passed out without ever seeing you.
And that’s when you got the idea—you got the idea to frame Sami for Franco’s murder. You dragged Sami’s body to the spot where you shot the gun. You quickly picked up the gun. You wiped the fingerprints off it, and you put the gun in Sami’s hand.
And then you left without anyone ever seeing you. So, Roberto, you had the means, you had the motive, and you had the opportunity. The only thing we need now is to get Roman in here so he can listen to your confession. ”
Roberto shook his head.
“No, no, not so fast. ”
Back outside the prison, Roman pressed the mob boss. “What makes you think that I could stop Sami’s execution? ”
“Look, I don’t want to play games with you, Joe.
We both know that Franco worked for you. ”
“That’s not true. The guy was a fashion model. He worked for Kate Roberts, that lady who owns Titan.
”
“That’s not what Roberto told me. ”
“Then Roberto’s a liar. ”
“I don’t think so, Joe, and my daughter’s running out of time. She is set to die tonight at midnight for a murder your hit man framed her for.
”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. ”
“Oh, I think you do, Joe. I think you do. And what is the big deal about protecting this hit man?
He’s no good, Joe, so why don’t you pay him back for all the aggravation he caused you? Give me his name right now. ”
“You’re wasting your time here, Captain. ”
“Then I guess I’m going to have to make you one of those offers you can’t refuse.
”
Joe smirked. “An offer I can’t refuse, huh? Now where have I heard that before? ”
“Here’s the deal, Joe.
Total immunity from prosecution—you give me the name of the hit man who killed Franco Kelly and framed my daughter. ”
“Look, Captain, I feel for what you’re going through. I do. I have a daughter myself, and there is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do for her.
”
“Then help me save my daughter’s life. ”
“I can’t. ”
“Why not? ”
“Because I swear on my mother’s life that I had nothing to do with Franco Kelly’s murder.
”
Roman stared at him. “If you didn’t have Franco killed, have you got any idea who did? ”
“I never gave it any thought. I just always assumed Sami did it.
”
Roman exhaled hard. “I don’t believe this. ”
“Captain, I know that you’re desperate to save your daughter’s life, but I am not the person who can clear her. I had nothing to do with Franco’s murder, period.
And if Roberto says otherwise, then he’s lying to protect himself. ”
At the prison, the family gathered around Sami. Austin arrived with Will, Sami’s young son. Austin spoke to the reporters outside first.
“Look, I have only one thing to say. If Sami Brady dies tonight, it’ll be a tragedy not just for her family and her friends, but for every citizen, because the trust that we put in this system that’s supposed to protect us will be for nothing. If Sami dies tonight, a little bit of all of us will die along with her. That’s all I’ve got to say.
”
In the visiting room, Sami hugged Will close. “My sweetheart, I was just talking about you. ”
Austin said, “I’m sorry. We would have been here sooner, but I didn’t find out the news.
”
Then Mickey Horton walked in, and everyone knew what his expression meant. Eric asked, “Mickey, what happened? Sami’s appeal—did the judges come to a decision? ”
“Yes.
They turned us down. ”
Sami let out a broken sound. “Oh, God, no. ”
Austin tried to comfort her.
“It’s all right. ”
“No,” she sobbed. Will had drawn her a picture, a simple drawing of the two of them together. Sami looked at it through tears.
“It’s so beautiful, Will. Hey, maybe Austin will hold on to it for me, and maybe you can put it on Will’s new bedroom wall, huh? ”
Caroline and Shawn Brady came in carrying baby Christopher, and Sami handed Will to them. She told Austin and Eric, “Then promise me something.
Promise me that after I go, you will not stop fighting for Will. ”
“I promise,” Austin said. Eric nodded. “All I care about is you.
”
In the honeymoon suite, Lucas and Nicole were settling in. Lucas had poured champagne for her and club soda for himself. “I just hope this makes up for the way I kissed you earlier,” he said. “It seemed like you were getting into it, but obviously you’re not ready.
”
“I’m sorry, Lucas. ”
“No, Nicole, it’s okay, really. I’m a patient man. ”
“Can you really put your feelings on hold like this?
”
“Yeah. I want what’s best for you. That’s what real love’s all about, isn’t it? ”
Nicole hesitated.
“Lucas… I have to tell you something that may change the love you feel for me to hate. ”
But before she could continue, Lucas showed her the necklace he’d bought for her, a piece from the Duchess of Windsor’s collection. “It’s worth it to see your face light up like that.
”
“Thank you, Lucas,” Nicole said, and she kissed him. Later, as room service arrived, Lucas noticed the waiter’s distraction. “What, are you listening to a ballgame or something? ”
“No, sir, minute-to-minute coverage of the news.
”
“Really? What’s going on? ”
“You don’t know? ”
“I’m on my honeymoon, man.
”
“Then you must be the last person on the planet who doesn’t. Sami Brady is being executed tonight at midnight. ”
In the governor’s office, Thorne had left and returned. “I apologize for interrupting.
”
Marlena pleaded, “Not necessary at all. Just please tell us you’re going to help us. Please. Tell me you’re going to save my daughter’s life.
”
“I’m sorry. I can’t do that. ”
John took Marlena aside. “The state Supreme Court denied Mickey’s appeal.
We’ve got five hours. I’m sure that’s enough time for Roman to get the information we need. ”
“There’s got to be something else we can do,” Marlena said. “Well, I have placed calls to everybody I think can help us.
I’ll check the messages, and then we’ll go see Sami. ”
Marlena left alone, her mind racing. She stopped in a quiet hallway and whispered, “Oh, God, please forgive me for what I’m about to do, but it’s for my daughter. It’s for my child.
”
Outside the prison, Caroline Brady was approached by a couple handing out leaflets in favor of the execution. She knocked the leaflet away. “Get that away from me! ”
The woman said, “My husband and I didn’t believe in the death penalty, either.
Not until our son was murdered 11 years ago. And his killer wasn’t put to death. He got released on some illegal search technicality, and then six months later, he murdered again! ”
Shawn stepped in.
“Look, I am sorry for your loss, but killing an innocent girl is not going to bring your son back! ”
“How can you say Sami is innocent? ”
“Because she is our granddaughter! Now leave us alone!
Come on. ” He guided Caroline away, but her tears broke through. “No! No!
No! Justice is not about killing. Justice is about truth, and as God is my witness, this is not the truth! ”
Back in the hospital, Roberto was growing agitated.
“I’m going to die? ”
Kate kept her voice calm and steady. “And when you do, Roman will not protect your sister or your mother. But if you go along with my story, I promise you, Roberto, I’ll see to it that your sister and your mother want for nothing.
”
“Why—why do you want so much to save Sami? ”
“Because she’s my family, and she’s the mother of my grandson. And as for your family, if you tell Roman that you killed Franco, I promise you, Roberto, I’ll protect your sister and your mother forever. ”
Roberto looked at her.
“Maybe Rosa went to get a priest because she doesn’t think I could wake up out of the coma. ” He tried to move. “I want to see my sister. I have to let her know I’m not dying.
”
Kate held up a hand. “All right, all right, calm down. I’ll get your sister. ”
But Roberto shook his head.
“That’s why Rosa went for the priest. She didn’t think I would wake up. ”
Kate leaned in. “Roberto, you have no choice.
You have to go along with what I’m asking, because after you’re gone—”
“No,” he gasped. “I will live. ”
“Well, if you don’t, Roman will not protect your sister and your mother. He can’t.
They’re not American citizens. By law, they can’t go into the witness protection program. But you see, I don’t have to follow the law, and you and I both know I have a lot of money. ”
Roberto looked at her for a long moment.
“Well… it is not this. ”
“Okay, fine. Then you tell me what choices you have, okay?
”
“Kate, I won’t take your deal. I’d rather die with honor than live with shame. ”
“We’ll, from what I’ve heard, living is no longer an option. ”
“What?
What do you mean? ”
“I really hate for you to hear the news this way, but you’re not much longer for this world. Your sister’s called the priest to administer last rites. ”
Roberto’s eyes widened.
He tried to sit up. “Move. Move aside. There is Rosa now.
” But his strength failed him, and he slumped back against the pillows. Kate watched him, her mind already working on the next move. She had promised to protect Rosa and their mother if Roberto would only confess to the murder of Franco Kelly. She had constructed the story carefully, from the argument over the skimmed money to the struggle over the gun.
Now she just needed Roberto to tell Roman the lie that would save Sami’s life. Roman, meanwhile, had left Joe Moroni and was making his way back toward the prison. He had gotten nothing from the mob boss, nothing at all. Joe swore he had no connection to Franco’s murder, and Roman believed him.
If Joe wasn’t the one behind the hit, then the whole case had another shape entirely. The time was running out. The crowd outside had grown louder, the cameras closer. Reporters counted down the hours, the minutes.
The state had scheduled the lethal injection for 12:03 a. m. , and the machinery of the execution was grinding forward. Sami held Will one last time, then handed him to Caroline.
She looked at Eric, at Austin, at her grandparents, and tried to smile. Austin pulled her aside. “You know I’ll take care of him. Always.
”
“I know,” she said. “I just wanted to hear you say it. ”
“You know, whatever good is in that boy came from you,” Eric said. “He is the best part of me.
I know that. I want to make sure that he always knows how much I love him. ”
“He knows, Sami,” Austin said. At the governor’s office, John took the call he’d been waiting for.
“Yeah, I see. Well, we’ll just have to make it happen. Yes, I will. ”
Marlena met him at the prison gate.
“Anything? ”
“The state Supreme Court denied Mickey’s appeal. We’ve got five hours. ”
Marlena closed her eyes.
“There’s got to be something else we can do. ”
“I’ve placed calls to everybody I think can help us. I’ll check the messages, and then we’ll go see Sami. ”
Marlena turned away from him.
“I’ll meet you at the prison. ”
John watched her go, troubled. “Doc. Doc, hold on.
Hey. ”
Marlena didn’t look back. Governor Thorne came out of his office one more time. He saw Marlena standing alone.
“I’m sorry. I can’t help. ” He paused. “I wish I could.
But clemency can’t be based on hearsay, especially in a case like this. The judge might not have been so harsh at your daughter’s sentencing if she hadn’t been a fugitive. ”
“She was desperate to prove her innocence,” Marlena said. “But she didn’t prove anything, except that she has no respect for the legal system.
And that didn’t help her case. ”
“But she did turn herself in. ”
“Only to assault a guard and to break out of prison. ”
“Only because the legal system had let her down again.
My only regret is that her father talked her into coming home under the misimpression that she would have the time to make an appeal. ”
John stepped forward. “Governor Thorne, if you go over the D. A.
‘s head and you grant Sami a stay, you’ll have revived this whole country’s faith in the political system and in politicians who do the right thing for a change. ”
Marlena added, “And once we prove Sami’s innocence, you’ll be a hero. But if you don’t, then that decision will haunt you and her family the rest of our lives. ”
The governor shook his head.
“I wish I could help, Dr. Evans, but I can’t grant clemency based on hearsay. ”
Marlena nodded slowly. She turned and walked away from him, her purpose clear.
The hours slipped past. The crowd chanted outside the prison. The cameras stayed fixed on the gates. Inside, the family waited together in silence, holding one another, doing what little could be done.
And in the hospital room, Roberto looked at Kate one more time. He had heard her story, the story of how he had killed Franco and framed Sami. He had heard her promises to protect his family. He had heard her tell him that he was dying.
Kate said, “Roberto, you have no choice. ”
But Roberto had made his choice. He closed his eyes. Kate waited.
The clock on the wall kept ticking. She had come too far to let Sami die now. If Roberto wouldn’t confess, she would have to find another way. The minutes were nearly gone.
Sami’s execution was scheduled to begin soon. Her family was with her in the final hour, and the only sound in the room was the quiet murmur of last words. And somewhere on the other side of the prison, a phone rang, and Roman Brady answered it.