Note to readers: This is an introductory piece--the remainder of the series contain the details we all want to hear about--the love, passion, sex, dirt, greed, and the denouement.
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Time and Location of FBI Deposition:
2 Am--Labor Day 1999, Chicago FBI Field Office
FBI Bureau Officer (O): "Let's begin, shall we? What is your full name, Mr.
Dietz?"
Dietz: "No, Mr.'s please. Until you've gotten my statement and I've got the assurances of your bureau, I'm just plain Dietz to you. That is what my dossier says right? You know the records you've been keeping on me for over 15 years?"
O: "You know we aren't at liberty to talk to you about these matters Dietz. We have to wait for your legal counsel and our CIA operative to arrive."
Dietz: "Yeah, sure I know the drill, Grant-the CIA operative knows me, he'll fill you in on what I've talked to him about in the past."
O: "All right then, let's just share some coffee and some small talk right now. Any thing you want to get off your chest, you know off the record?"
Dietz: "Are you referring to the Santos family or to Carmen Santos, the boss? I see the way you eye her at parties."
O: "You got that right buddy, that is one fine looking woman, ever see her in that black lace get-up she wears to parties and liaisons? Szzzzz. Hot. How do you keep your cool around her, I'd need a bucket of ice water to keep me cooled down around her?"
Dietz: "Yeah, you would think that. But man, do you have any idea the shivers that run up my spine when that women yells for me in that shrill tone, DIETZ? I tell you its like someone running their fingers across a blackboard over and over again. Sometimes I think I'm going to lose it with that woman. And remember you just get to hear her the few minutes you are around her. I hear her 24-7.
You think she is a hot babe? Man the things I could tell you about her. Ever wonder why she only seems to wear 4 suits and that one black number? It is because she is cheap. Heck she could buy and sell most of the members of the Springfield Country Club but she will not even buy herself new suits. Hell the red, purple and blue numbers are as old as her kid, Pilar.
She even chintzed out on the wedding reception for Danny and Michelle. There wasn't even any wedding cake for the servants and her body guards. She has her own limo and driver but often prefers to drive that old Chevy herself just to save on gas. I tell you, you just do not know this woman and you do not want to either. I think the last time she got lucky was before Pilar was born. She is not exactly a person who gets off on love if you know what I mean. The only times I've seen her get excited is at the shooting range or when she reads The Jane's Encyclopedia of Modern Weaponry."
O: "Yeah, but she is a loving mom to those kids."
Dietz: "Yeah the kids, ha! When Mick died, ha ha, so died the last of the real Santos line. She loves the other one a little too much if you know what I mean. But read my first report, you'll get the gist."
O: "Yeah, but she's had it rough, losing her man and having to take over the business at so young an age."
Dietz: "Man, are you an operative or a man in heat over that ice queen? Ever wonder how she came to take over the business at so young an age? Didn't you ever wonder how old man Santos's mother didn't rightfully take over the business, herself? Didn't you ever wonder how the old lady became so sick all of a sudden? I mean didn't you all find it funny that the older woman went into a coma for 10 years?"
O: "Hey did I hear you refer to the Santos heir as the other one?"
Dietz: "We just talked about that, you aren't too swift are you? No wonder you need people like me to help you out. How long have you been tailing the Santos family? I know the investigation is at least as old as the other one.
I am not here to give you an education, I am here trying to finally do what is right and to save my own skin."
O: "Oh, here's the CIA Op now, hey David, we were just chatting until you got here."
Dietz: "David Grant, in the flesh, man, you know I don't suffer these op fools gladly, where you been? Out arresting someone to cover up your tracks? Still got that detective, Frank Cooper fooled?"
David: "Dietz, Frank is a lot smarter than you think. He is actually working with us. His wife didn't leave him just because he made out with that fake lady cop and their place burned down again! In fact, Frank's new love interest is proving to be quite the informant and will help us a lot, not to mention take some heat off of you. But before we get down to your formal deposition, how long do you think you are safe doing what you are doing?"
Dietz: "Grant we discussed this before. I am in this until I know the other one and his bride are safe. Pilar will be fine, once the truth comes out and Carmen and the others are exposed. What you have to ask yourself is whether you are ready for the whole upper echelon of Springfield's elite to fall. By the time we get through with this, there won't be enough money left lying around for rich dishes like that hot Beth Spaulding to buy peroxide."
David: "Hey let's stop all this and get down to the facts at hand. Start off with where you filled me in last, right after Memorial Day. And don't leave anything out this time, Dietz, we've got your wife, kids and that redheaded writer you like so much in safe places but that could all change if we find you are double crossing us. "
Dietz: "Okay, get me a soda and let's start with what happened on June 3, 1999."