The news crews were already staked out in front of the state penitentiary when I got there, the cameras catching every scream from the crowd. Some chanted “Set Sami free,” others shouted for justice for Franco Kelly. The hate in their eyes was just as loud as the love. My grandson Will was in Austin’s arms, his little face searching for his mother even though he didn’t fully understand why she was behind those walls.
Roman was off trying to strong-arm Joe Moroni, the man he believed had ordered the hit on Franco, and I was standing in the governor’s office with Marlena, begging for a life that was ticking down hour by hour. Governor Thorne wouldn’t even look at us at first”“I’ve already told Ms. Brady’s counsel there are no grounds for an appeal,” he said, shuffling papers like we were an inconvenience„
“Governor,” Marlena stepped forward, her voice steady despite everything,“ my daughter is scheduled to be executed tonight for a crime she did not commit. ””
“70% of the people in this state favor capital punishment,“ he shot back„”The killer’s gender didn’t matter to the victim, and it doesn’t matter to the justice system.
””
“This state hasn’t put a woman to death in almost 20 years,” John pressed„
“And you haven’t given me one compelling reason to stop it now,” Thorne said„
Marlena planted herself in front of his desk”“I’m not leaving here until you grant her a stay of execution,” she said„
He finally looked up at her, his face hard”“I’m sorry. I can’t do that. ””
Back at the hospital, Kate Roberts was leaning over Roberto’s bed, whispering a story into his ear like she was planting a seed„Roberto wasthe man who had actually shot Franco, though nobody knew it yet except Kate„“You went to the house,” she told him,“ you confronted him about skimming money from the Moronis„He came back with a gun. You struggled„You got the gun, and you shot him„Sami came in, saw the body, and passed out without ever seeing you„You dragged her over, wiped your prints off the gun, and put it in her hand.
””
Roberto coughed, his throat raw from the coma he’d just woken from„“You want me to confess to a murder I didn’t commit? ””
“If you go along with my story,” Kate said,“ I’ll protect your mother and sister for life„But if you don’t, Roman won’t touch them„They’re not citizens, they can’t get witness protection„I can, though, and I have money. ””
“What about me? ” he rasped„“I spend life imprisoned„Or maybe I get the death penalty.
””
“From what I’ve heard,” Kate said softly,“ living isn’t really an option for you anymore„Your sister’s already called the priest. ””
Roberto stared at her, his breath shallow„He knew what she was doing„But he also knew his sister Rosa was out in that hallway, believing her brother was dying„And Kate was offering him a way to make sure Rosa and his mother would be taken care of„He didn’t have time to think about honor„He had a family to protect„
Roman found Joe Moroni outside the prison, surrounded by reporters„“You wouldn’t happen to be the guy who shot my daughter, would you? ” Roman asked„
Joe stepped back, hands up„“The captain’s upset, understandably„His daughter’s being executed tonight. ””
“And you’re the one who’s going to stop it,” Roman said„
He pulled Joe aside, away from the cameras„“Franco worked for you,” Roman said„
“That’s not true„He was a fashion model„He worked for Kate Roberts,” Joe said„
“That’s not what Roberto told me,” Roman said„
“Then Roberto’s a liar,” Joe said„
Roman leaned in close„“I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse„Total immunity from prosecution—you give me the name of the hit man who killed Franco and framed my daughter.
””
Joe shook his head„“I swear on my mother’s life, I had nothing to do with Franco Kelly’s murder„I can’t help you. ””
Roman’s jaw tightened„He had hours left, and his only lead was a dead end„
Inside the prison, Sami was holding Will on her lap, trying to be brave for him„Mickey had already delivered the worst news—the Supreme Court had turned down her appeal„
“It’s okay to cry, honey,” she told Will, stroking his hair„“Mommy was crying for a little bit, but I’m okay now. ””
Austin handed her a piece of paper„“Will drew you something,” he said„
She unfolded it, her eyes filling„It was a drawing of her and Will together, stick figures holding hands under a yellow sun„
“It’s so beautiful, Will,” she whispered„“Maybe Austin will hold onto it for me, and you can put it on your new bedroom wall, okay? ””
She looked over at her parents, Caroline and Shawn, who were trying to hold it together„“I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful family,” she said„
But the clock was still ticking„
Eric was standing in the corner, silent„Sami turned to him„“Promise me something, Eric„Promise me that you will always be there for Will„And promise me you’ll be happy„Because I’ll know, no matter where I am.
””
He couldn’t speak,fust nodded,swallowing the lump in his throat„
Lucas and Nicole were isolated in their honeymoon suite, completely unaware„Lucas had just given her a necklace from the Duchess of Windsor’s collection, and she was trying to act like a grateful bride„But she was thinking about Eric„She had been thinking about Eric when Lucas kissed her earlier,and she’d had to pull away„
“What do you want to do now? ” Lucas asked„
“Why don’t we discuss it in the hot tub? ” she said„
“I’ll just call Will and check up on him,” Lucas said„
He picked up the phone,and the room service guy walked in carrying champagne„“You must be the last person on the planet who doesn’t know,” the guy said„
“Know what? ” Lucas asked„
“Sami Brady is being executed tonight at midnight,” the guy said„
Lucas dropped the phone„
Outside, the crowd was growing„Austin stepped up to a reporter’s microphone with Will still in his arms„
“If Sami Brady dies tonight,” he said,“ it’ll be a tragedy not just for her family,but for every citizen„Because the trust we put in this system that’s supposed to protect us—if she dies, a little bit of all of us will die along with her.
””
Caroline was on the other side of the crowd, a woman shoving a petition in her face„“Get that away from me,” she snapped„
A man stepped forward„“My wife and I didn’t believe in the death penalty, either,” he said,“ not until our son was murdered 11 years ago„His killer got released on a technicality,and six months later, he murdered again. ””
Shawn stepped between them„“I’m sorry for your loss,” he said,“ but killing an innocent girl is not going to bring your son back. ””
“How can you say she’s innocent? ” the man demanded„
“Because she’s our granddaughter,” Shawn said,“ and as God is my witness, this is not justice„Justice is about truth, and this is not the truth.
””
But his voice was swallowed by the chants„“Kill Sami Brady„Kill Sami Brady„”
John was on the phone with everyone he could think of, trying to buy time„“The state Supreme Court denied the appeal,” he told Marlena„“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„
“I’ve placed calls to everybody I think can help,” John said„“I’ll check the messages,and then we’ll go see Sami. ””
Marlena nodded,but as he walked away, she slipped into a quiet corner, her hand shaking as she pulled out her phone„
“Oh, God, please forgive me for what I’m about to do,” she whispered„“But it’s for my daughter„It’s for my child. ””
She dialed a number she never thought she’d call„
Back at the hospital, Kate was still leaning over Roberto„“You have no choice,” she said„“You have to go along with what I’m asking„Because after you’re gone—””
“No,” he rasped„“I will live.
””
“If you don’t,” Kate said,“ Roman will not protect your sister and mother„But if you tell him you killed Franco, I promise you, I’ll protect them forever„I don’t have to follow the law„And you and I both know I have a lot of money. ””
Roberto stared at her„He thought about Rosa, sitting out in that waiting room, crying over him„He thought about his mother, who had sacrificed everything to get them out oftheir old life„
“Why,” he asked,“ why do you want so much to save Sami? ””
“Because she’s my family,” Kate said,“ and she’s the mother of my grandson. ””
He closed his eyes„He didn’t have time to weigh the cost„He had a family to protect„
“Fine,” he said„“Get Roman.
””
