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Body and Soul
By Sleuth
Michelle sat on her bed staring at the phone. When would he call? The wait was driving her crazy.
She turned on her radio and tried to find a station .. she searched and finally found some music that was soft and soothing. She needed something to pass the time until the phone rang.
He promised he would call. She knew he would keep his promise.
This was not a station she usually listened to , the music sounded different.
My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you dear only
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul
I spend my days in longin'
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I tell you I mean it
I'm all for you body and soul
I can't believe it
It's hard to conceive it
That you turn away romance
Are you pretending
It looks like the ending
Unless I could have one more chance to prove, dear
My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul
My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I would gladly surrender myself to you body and soul
She finally lay down on the bed and in minutes she was fast asleep.
She dreamt that she saw a woman with dark hair singing in a nightclub. The audience seemed to like her they all applauded loudly when she was done.
She seemed familiar to Michelle.. but she could not place her.
When she awoke for some reason the dream haunted her all day.
Around noon the phone rang. Danny spoke in hushed tones.
" Michelle, I have to make this fast. Things are getting complicated and I don't have time to explain. ..and"
Michelle cut him off.. "Danny, I have some things I need to tell you.. about the shooting.. Bill told me some information and I think you need to know. First of all he said the clock at your house said 9:10 when all the shooting started. When Ben called here my clock said 9:00 .. how do you reconcile that?"
"What are you getting at Michelle?"
"I am saying that something is wrong. How could Ben know about a shooting before it started Danny?"
"Your basing that on the fact that your clock said 9:00 , Michelle?"
"Well, what else could that mean?'
"Maybe your clock was wrong .. did you think of that?"
"Anyway, we have bigger problems at the moment.. I just wanted to talk to you as your husband and explain some things. First , you have to stay away from me for a while. Ben has made threatening noises and I don't know who he is connected to or who might want to get revenge against my family.. please understand I want to be with you but it just isn't possible right now. "
Michelle stared into space. She did not want to say the wrong thing to Danny. She knew he would not accept that his mother had done this again. He was so into protecting his family and her too , she had to admit. It was just Danny.. nothing she could do about that.
"Well..." Danny said
" Danny I won't even try to explain.. please come over and we can be together for a little while. Maybe like a normal couple.. just an hour or so. I promise no talk of families or Carmen.. ok. huh?"
"Do you know how much I want that Michelle. Please understand it just can't happen yet. It is too dangerous."
Carmen walked into the room and asked Danny" Where is Pilar?"
Danny pointed to the phone and shook his head.
"Sorry, Daniel I didn't realize you were on the phone" she stared at Danny for a few minutes and then left the room.
"Damn, Michelle.. we do need to talk.. I will stop by in the morning."
"Good.. pancakes or eggs.. " she laughed " or maybe both?"
" Just you will be fine" Danny said in a soft voice
"Danny.. what if your mother planned this whole thing.. why can't you see that this what may have happened. She said herself that she almost killed her own daughter. Don't you remember that.. ?"
"Yes, Michelle.. I remember everything about that night. Can't we talk about us for minute. Will you give me a second to talk about how much I love you and miss you.. would that be all right?" Danny said in a coaxing tone.
" Well, how can I say no to that" Michelle smiled
They talked of their future plans and all of the things they would do for almost an hour. Michelle hung up the phone and almost felt like a married woman whose husband was only gone on a business trip. After a few a minutes that feeling went away and she was profoundly lonely again.
Carmen called Bernard and said that she was sorry that Danny had bothered him with this, she knew that he understood that Danny was just concerned for his mother.
Bernard told her that he had talked to Danny and they understood each other. He also told Carmen he had checked every source he could think of and had turned up nothing. He could not imagine who Ben Warren was connected to , if anyone ,in the business.
" His connections seem to be with FBI and people like Johnnie Cochran.. I don't know where that might lead us but I will keep looking. Danny is a good boy Carmen. Don't worry so much, O.K?"
Carmen thanked him for his concern and hung up the phone.
The next morning Danny walked into Michelle's bedroom and she was sitting on the bed listening to the same station.
It was all 40's tunes and Michelle was listening intently to "Body and Soul"
"Do you believe this Danny.. I can't seem to turn this stupid station off"
Danny smiled and sat next to her on the bed. He kissed her shoulder and she turned to face him.
" Well, maybe on second thought .. " she never got to finish the sentence because her lips were otherwise occupied.
At least that morning was theirs.
That night Danny called again.
"Michelle, I have an idea. We have a summer home in San Cristobel. My mother has some business she wants me to take care of out there. Why don't you fly there and I will go separately. No one need know we are together. I think ..no I know it would be safe there"
" Oh Danny, that sounds wonderful. I will just tell Rick I am going away to think for a while. That will make him happy I am sure"
"Great , I'll order the ticket now.. you can pick it up at the airport. When can you leave?'
"Well, I was thinking of tomorrow morning"
"Good enough..see you in San Cristobel"
Michelle was glad to hear that the plane was landing. The ride was a little bumpy. She hoped that landing went smoothly. "I want my feet planted on the ground as soon as possible," she thought.
When she got off the plane she saw a familiar profile. It was Danny and she ran up behind him and put her hands over his eyes.
"Don't do that Michelle" Danny laughed. If this wasn't far from Springfield.. you wouldn't get off this easy" He kissed her and they both felt so free. No Dietz, no mama, no Rick.
Michelle loved the look of this place. The house sat up on a cliff overlooking the sea. They heard the surf pounding at night and by day they lay on the beach and coveted the solitude.
After a week of this Danny told Michelle that he had to get some work done. His mother was calling all over San Cristobel trying to find out where he was and what he was doing.
Michelle told him to go ahead and do what he had to do, she could entertain herself for a few days. As long as he was there at night.
He drove off and Michelle decided since there were no servants around that she would really look around the house.
It was tastefully decorated. Not quite like Casa Santos, she thought. She walked from the balcony and notice a small stairway. It looked as if it lead no where. She walked up the stairs and found a door that was hidden behind a painting. The painting was large and almost covered the top half of the door. She carefully opened the door. The room she saw was musty and dark. Only an antique desk stood against the far wall. She went to the desk and opened the drawer. Inside the drawer she saw a velvet box. She was almost glad that Danny had decided to go into town.
She carefully lifted the box from the drawer. The papers she found inside were brown with age. There was a bundle of letters. "I can't ignore this," she thought
She noticed the first letter was postmarked San Francisco. The date was June 1942
She opened the envelope and read:
Dear Mark,
I know I will write this a hundred times and probably never mail it. I fought for us as long as I could. Your mother won. I lost. You lost too, you became a coward. I hesitate to use that word when I know where you are going. I only mean in the sense of our love..you were a coward. I will try to remember all the good times and forget the bad. I have a career now and it seems to be going well. I may head off for New York.. who knows. Maybe someday I will meet with your mother's approval.. but probably not. Anyway it will not matter. We will be finished. Maybe in some other lifetime we will meet again under better circumstance.. you think?
I loved you from the moment I saw you. You did take some convincing ,remember that? I followed you around and I thought you would never notice me. I looked into those brown eyes and I knew you were the one for me.
Well, I will close. If I mail this and you read it. Know that I still love you and always will.
Goodbye,
Debbie
Michelle felt a chill run down her spine. She opened the next envelope and read:
Dear Debbie,
I know you were furious with my mother. She really didn't understand our situation. You know that she thinks that no one is good enough. Her standards are impossible to meet. All she had to hear was singer and San Francisco.. well you know the rest.
I am sorry that things turned out this way. I think in my heart of hearts I knew they would. We are from such different backgrounds. I also think that you know that I loved you beyond words.
I hear your voice now coming from the radio and I want to take some magic pill to take me to you. I would stay forever.
I head for the south pacific tomorrow. I will leave from Oakland. I will not be able to call you .. but I will write. At least that I can do without interference from anyone.
Please know that when this is over and I can be my own man again I will look for you everywhere. Don't think you can hide from me. I will always need you and want you.
Love,
Mark
Michelle felt as though she were intruding into someone's life but she could not stop reading.
Dear Debbie,
I have written so many letters and you never answered. You cannot imagine what this has done to me. I know I was a coward not to fight my mother. You were right all along. I have been so lonely for you. I found one of your old records that some other GI had and bought it from him for twenty dollars. I would not have cared if it cost a thousand. I just had to hear you sing one more time. It was the record of Body and Soul.
Remember that? You were so sweet and giving that night. I should have told you a millions times that you were the love of my life. If I ge t out of this damn war alive nothing will keep us apart. Please answer my letters.. I love you still.
all my love always,
Mark
Michelle looked further in the box. There was a picture the girl in her dream. She had dark hair and was standing next to a tall blond man. They were posed by an old car she didn't recognize. She was smiling up at him and he was staring straight ahead. His arm was around her waist.
Michelle picked up another piece of paper a newspaper article. It almost crumbled in her hand.
Senator Arthur Grafton's son dies at sea.
Senator Grafton said today that he had been notified by telegram that his son was lost at sea. There has been no time announced for a memorial service. Senator Grafton was too grief stricken to speak to the press any further. He referred all inquiries to his press secretary.
Michelle felt the tears welling in her eyes. She looked at the top of the box written on a metal plate it said "Personal effects of Mark Grafton"
She sat for a minute staring at the picture and then carefully placed the letters and pictures back in the box. There were other letters but she could not bear to read them yet.
She heard Danny returning and realized she had been up in this room for 2 hours." Where had the time gone? "she wondered.
"Michelle.. Michelle... where are you?" Danny called out.
" Be right there Danny"
She came down the stairs and Danny stared at her for a moment and said" Where were you, what is up there?" He looked puzzled.
"I found a room up there Danny.. I was just curious, you know.. looking for some way to entertain myself.." she laughed.
"Well, get over here and entertain me."
"I do all the time.." they embraced and Danny asked if she had eaten lunch. He said he hadn't and was starving.
"No servants today..you will have to make do with my cooking" she threatened.
"Uh oh... that doesn't sound to good" Danny laughed.
"How about a picnic on the beach.. I will get some wine and sandwiches.. I think I can handle that. Maria will be back at dinner time and by then we will be really starving. She loves it when we are really hungry. "
They went to the beach and Danny suggested a swim. Michelle for some reason did not want to go in the water.
"Danny , can I tell you something. I know you are going to think that I have gone completely bonkers, but.."
"But what?"
"I found some old letters up in that room today. It was so odd. Remember that station I was listening to and that old 40's music"
Danny shook his head "Not really.. I guess I was focused on you. "
"Well, I had a dream and this woman was singing in a bar or lounge or something and she was singing old songs and the audience really liked her. "
Danny looked at Michelle and smiled.
"I guess that was a good dream huh?"
"No there is more. I couldn't get her off my mind the rest of the day. When I went up to that room and found the letters .. I just felt like it was all connected.. it was an strange feeling"
Danny shook his head and looked puzzled.
"Michelle what are you talking about.. what letters?"
"There were letters from a man named Mark.. he wrote to his .. well I guess it would have been his girlfriend or lover and his mother had driven them apart"
"Oh c'mon Michelle your beginning to sound like Pilar." he teased.
"Why, because I think there is a connection with my dream and these letters? I think it is pretty obvious , Danny" Michelle stared out at the ocean
"Michelle, c'mon.. this is our time.. don't drift off thinking about some old letters"
" I need your full attention." he whispered in her ear
"I know but .. it was so strange to find those letters and it was all about the mother coming between them. I know you don't like me to bring that up.. but your mother.."
"Michelle" Danny said in a warning tone
"Allright, I won't talk about it anymore.. only because I love you and so far no one has bothered us here." she said
They picked up their picnic basket and walked hand in hand back to the house. Maria had arrived and said she had menu that needed approval. Michelle looked at the menu and told Maria it looked marvelous and they were starving. Maria smiled broadly and went to the kitchen.
Danny and Michelle sat on the terrace drinking their wine. The breeze was beginning to pick up off the ocean and the sun was setting. The sky was streaked with orange and they watched as the sun seemed to sink into the sea. They were interrupted by the phone ringing and Danny answered.
"Hello"
"Danny this is Deitz, I thought I would find you there. Your mother got word that Michelle is there with you and she is on the warpath. I thought I better warn you , she is on her way."
"Damn.. yes I know.. thanks Deitz" Danny said and hung up the phone.
Michelle looked puzzled and asked "What was that about"
"Who else.. mommy dearest.. is this ever going to end?"
Danny walked off the terrace and straight into Maria who was carrying a tray of pate and crackers.. they ended up on the floor. Michelle started to laugh and thought better of it when she saw Danny's face. He was obviously upset . Maria looked flustered and then started picking up the crackers one by one. Michelle started helping Maria and Danny turned to her and said" Let Maria do that Michelle.. we need to talk"
Michelle shrugged her shoulders and looked at poor Maria who was trying to remove the pate from the floor.
She followed Danny into the office and closed the door.
"Michelle my mother is coming here. I want you to be prepared. There is about to be the battle of a lifetime .. I have to take a stand. She can't do this anymore. I have had enough and I am sure you have also.. so just know that no matter what is said or done.. this is the end. She cannot betray me anymore. I have tried to be the dutiful son.. that didn't work. I have tried to out maneuver her over and over.. I am tired of the whole thing. This business is going to be legitimized or I will die trying"
Michelle embraced him and cried with relief. It will finally be over.. they can finally plan a family..she thought briefly about the letters.. another couple another time. It didn't end well, maybe this time it would.
That night they lay in each other's arms and talked about what was ahead of them. Danny knew that the other families would fight this.. especially the older families who had not prepared their members for the transition. Much like a huge organization there would be fall out. People would lose status and positions long fought for.. Danny knew this.. and his mother would fight it from fear about her own status. He was sure of that. They were both silent and listened to the surf pounding against the cliffs. The echo seemed louder tonight than any other.
"Danny, do you remember my talking about the letters I found?"Michelle whispered.
" Of course.. what about them?"
"When I read them I thought about us.. how hard we have had to fight to be together.. why all of this has happened. It seems as though everything we have tried to do has been blocked and one more hurdle to overcome... I wonder why some lives are so simple and others just never seem to work out right?"
"Everything will work out, baby .. don't worry about that. I will make sure it does.. try to get some sleep, o.k.?"
Danny fell asleep before Michelle could and she got up from the bed and stared out the window at the night sky for a while . She sat in th e chair by the window and watched Danny sleep. He had a slight smile on his lips and she wondered why. He looked so peaceful. Why did she feel so anxious. She glanced up at the sky again. The moon had a ring around it. Didn't that mean something? She sighed and climbed back in bed pressing herself against Danny's back. Sleep came quickly after that.
The next morning Maria knocked gently on their door. Danny was already up and in the shower. Michelle pulled herself from sleep and called out"Come in"
Maria entered and said that there was an important phone call from a Mr. Bernard . It was for Mr Santos.
"Maria, tell Mr Bernard that Danny will have to call him right back. He is in the shower" Just then Danny entered the room from the master bath and was surprised to see Maria. Maria was a little surprised herself and backed out of the room.
Michelle was laughing and said" You should be more careful Mr Santos.. we are not alone"
Danny smiled and said," I'm sure that Maria will be leaving early today. She looked rather faint." They both laughed. "Poor Maria ou r visit hasn't exactly been easy for her,"Michelle said.
He grabbed his robe from the end of the bed and then Michelle told him there was a call for him. He picked up the phone and spoke briefly with Bernard. Michelle saw the stunned look on his face. He put down the phone and stared out the window then he sank down in the chair and covered his face with his hands.
"Danny.. what.. what is the matter?"
Danny uncovered his face and tears were streaming from his eyes.
"My mother.. the plane.. "
Michelle jumped from the bed and ran to Danny embracing him and burying his face in her breast. He was sobbing and she could not shed a tear. She stroked his hair and held him as you would a child. She was rocking him, she didn't even realize what she was doing. Her mind leaped to her foreboding feeling last night. Michelle felt as though her head would explode, her thoughts so fragmented that she could hardly piece them together. The letters the talk about the "battle" what did all this mean. Now Carmen was gone.. but what would happen next?
Later that day Danny went to speak with the coast guard. They were searching the waters for wreckage from Carmen's plane. She had left Springfield in a private plane with only her pilot and one bodyguard.
Michelle paced the balcony ,looking out at the sea. She still had not shed a tear. Her only thoughts were of Danny and his reaction to his mother's death. There was emotion there that she could not share. She tried not to think these thoughts.. but they would not stay away. What if she wasn't dead ,but merely hiding? What if she faked this too as she had the shooting? Her mind was swirling with thoughts and she could not concentrate on anything.
Finally she found herself back up in that little room looking through the personal effects of Mark Grafton.
She carefully opened the box and removed the aging letters. There were a bundle of letters that showed "return to sender" stamped on the front. She opened the first one and read:
Dear Debbie,
I am writing because you will not take my calls. I know you think I am being weak. My mother needs me right now. She has not been well since our last argument. My father is gone most of the time now. Big things seems to be happening in DC. I try to understand your anger but to tell you the truth I don't see why you can't at least answer my calls. We really need to talk this out. Don't keep pushing me away, please.
Love you,
Mark
Michelle sat on the floor and read the next letter. She looked at the post mark. They all seemed to be mailed before he went into the service.
Dear Debbie,
Now even my last letter has been returned. Please, please don't do this to us. The world is going crazy with so many problems. My father says there will be war soon. I hope we don't get involved but what if we do? We may never see each other again. Can't you at least answer my mail.
You don't have to see me if you don't want. Just remember that our lives can change in an instant , do you really want to leave our situation the way it is. My mother will come around eventually. I just can't say anything now because she has not been well.
Please answer my letters.
All my love,
Mark
The letters all written the year before the attack on Japan. "A whole year," Michelle thought. She wondered where Debbie was and why she didn't even answer the letters.
In every letter he became more desperate in his pleadings for her to call him. Then in June of 1941 they stopped. They must have gotten together again for a short period. Michelle sighed and wondered about the feeling of two people she never knew. She understood those emotions better than she understood Danny's tears for his mother. After all she had put them through. She had no tears for Carmen.
Later that afternoon Danny returned. She embraced him as he entered the door. He held her so close that she could feel his heart beating. He hung onto her like a drowning man .
Michelle kept repeating, " I know, I know.. " but still no tears from her eyes.
When he stepped away from her she could see tears in his eyes.
" They haven't found anything yet. I hope they can explain the accident soon. The explanation I got today didn't make any sense. I know Gary was a good pilot.. He always stayed with the flight plan or changed it immediately if there was a change. He was so fussy about checking out everything before a flight. Never left it to mechanics.. he did the check himself. There could be no mechanical reason for this crash"
Michelle felt the same feeling of foreboding she felt last night. "What are you thinking Danny.. that this was no accident?"
Danny stared at her for a moment. His black eyes narrowed and said" That is exactly what I am saying."
The phone rang and Maria answered it. She called out "Mr. Santos, it is your sister. "
Danny sighed and picked up the phone.
" Yes , Peanut.. I am afraid it is true. No , I don't know what happened. I really don't know anymore that you do. No I am not lying to you. Please stop crying I can hardly understand you. Don't worry I will take care of everything here. No ..no absolutely not.. not until I find out what happened. No Pilar.. I mean it, you can not come here. Put Bill on. Now Pilar..."
"Bill, look .. try to calm her down. I don't know what happened but Gary is a good pilot. I know he would have taken every precaution. He always checks everything out himself. "
There was a silence and then Danny said in a dark voice.."What did you say... " another pause and then" Who in the hell is that and why didn't she use Gary?"
"Look keep Pilar safe and try to calm her ,O.K.. I will call you back later.. thanks Bill.. really thank you."
Danny quickly dialed the number for the hanger in Springfield.
"Hello, this is Danny is Gary there? Well, where is he? When he returns tell him to call me in San Cristobel.. immediately"
He hung up the phone and turned to Michelle. "What in hell is going on back there. She always uses Gary.. he is the only one she trusts.. damn"
Michelle did not answer and for some reason she wished she could go back to that little room and continue reading the letters. There was such a parallel between the lives.. the only thing missing was the connection to the mob. She tried not to smile at the silly thoughts going through her mind. She hoped Danny did not see the fleeting smile .
Danny saw nothing. He was intent on trying to figure out why his mother deviated from her former practice of always doing everything the same way. She had trusted employees and she used them constantly. Just like Dietz, no matter how many ways he annoyed her she always trusted him. Maria entered the room and asked if they would like some lunch. Danny said he was not hungry and Michelle was deep in her own thoughts and did not answer at all.
"You Mrs. Santos.. would you like some lunch. I have to leave early and I have prepared a nice lunch for you?"
"I am sorry Maria..no I am not hungry"
Maria left the room. She hated it when they didn't eat. She knew they were sad over Mrs. Santos. Secretly she wondered why.. she was so evil. Not at all like the young Mrs. Santos.. always so sweet to Mr. Santos. "They really should eat something" she muttered to herself.
Danny sat staring at the phone as though he could mesmerize it into ringing. Michelle sat staring out at the sea and wondering what the rest of those letters held. Her mind turned to Carmen .. sleeping with the fishes.. she almost smiled again.. but caught herself. Maybe she was getting hysterical.
The FAA had been contacted according to the Coast Guard would do a complete investigation.
One hour later the phone rang and Danny answered on the first ring.
"Hello, yes Gary .. what in the hell happened and why did my mother use some other pilot?"
Gary explained that he was told to stay put until she called him from San Cristobel for the return flight. He had no idea why she had used Thomas instead of him. He was just doing as she asked.
Later that night as Danny slept Michelle crept out of the room and upstairs to the room that held the letters.
She quietly opened the box and withdrew another packet of letters.
Dear Son,
You mother is sorry that she sent that article about Debbie. She really didn't mean to hurt you. She just feels that you should be happy that you escaped marriage to that girl. She is not our kind. You know that. She is in a business that attracts all kinds of riff raff. The man she married is involved with some very sordid people.
Please remember that your mother loves you and wants only the best for you.
Take Care,
Dad\
The next letter was from his mother and repeated her sorrow over hurting her son. She apologized profusely for interfering in his life. She did however conclude by saying that this Debbie person was only a singer and not really of their class.
The more Michelle read the more she could see the parallel between her life with Danny and this couple. It was so sad. They were kept apart because they listened to everyone else and not their hearts. Michelle wiped a tear from her eye. The first today. Shed for two complete strangers not her husband's mother.
Danny turned over in bed and put his arm out to touch his wife. She was not there. Suddenly he was fully awake. He sat up and looked around the room. He called her name.. no answer. After the day's events he felt panic for the first time.
The door opened and Michelle walked into the bedroom on tiptoes. Danny said" Where were you? You scared the hell out of me.. where....? "
"Danny, I just went upstairs.. I just wanted to look at those letters.. you would not believe how much they are like our situation was.. the mother did everything to keep them apart and then he was killed in the war and .."
"Michelle.. please , we have some real problems here. I always thought you were a smart girl why are you dwelling on some old letters about people you don't even know?"
" I am not stupid Danny... don't talk down to me" she said sharply
" Baby.. I am not.. O.K. just come to bed.. let's get some sleep..o.k. tomorrow is going to be very hectic and I need to know you are with me.. all right?"
Michelle got into bed and put her arms around him.
"O.K. no more talk about old love lives.. I promise."
Danny sighed and held her close.
The ocean continued to echo off the cliffs and soon they were both asleep.
In the morning there was a call from the coast guard. The FAA was on the scene and there was wreckage recovered from a five mile area. The crash had taken place not far off the coast of San Cristobel. They told Danny they would know more later in the day and would be in touch. No bodies were found as yet.
Michelle and Danny ate their breakfast in silence. The sea that once soothed them now seemed like a constant reminder of the accident. Danny suddenly got up from the table and left the terrace. Michelle knew that she should follow and comfort him. She could not. It was as if Carmen was between them again. She could not share his sorrow.
She knew that she should.. but remembering all the pain that she had caused made it impossible. Michelle felt as though this was one more trick. Carmen would try even from her watery grave to come between them. Hate was a terrible word and Michelle thought it was one emotion she would never feel. She was wrong. "This must be hate." she thought. She stared out at the sea "Where are you Carmen.. still trying to find a way.. some way to kill our love?"
Maria came out and took the half empty plates from the table. Michelle sighed and asked Maria for a little more coffee. She couldn't face Danny yet.
Danny was on the phone with Gary. "Gary , who is this pilot that my mother wanted to use, how long has he been with us?"
Gary explained that he had been with the organization for more than a year. Since last February. He was a good pilot with thousands of hours of flying time. All his licenses up to date. He had no reason to think it was pilot error that cause the crash. This man was a loyal employee Gary explained.
Danny hung up the phone and wondered what he should do now. With his mother gone the family was now his to rule. What and how to go about the next step.. he had no idea.
The phone rang. Michelle was walking in from the terrace, she and Danny met by the phone. Danny picked up the phone and it was the FAA liaison.
"Mr. Santos, we have found a piece of evidence and it has some curious implications. We have to test it of course. It may take a while before we have anything conclusive. I thought you would want to know. It is the control cable. We will be able to tell you more at the end of the day perhaps."
"What does that mean.. the control cable?"
"It means if our suspicions are correct someone tampered with the cable and the pilot lost control on approach. We will let you know more later"
Danny hung up and Michelle asked him what the FAA had said.
"If what they are telling me turns out to be true Michelle.. we may have some very big problems on our hands. It means I am back where I started. Trying to find out who has tried to kill..no, has killed my mother"
Michelle stared at him and thought "Please no.. this will mean there is no way to end this nightmare. I don't know if I am strong enough for this."
Danny walked to his office and closed the door. The phone rang constantly all morning and afternoon. Danny had locked himself in and Maria had been instructed not to answer the phone. Danny would answer all calls himself. Michelle was locked out in more ways that one.
She wandered back upstairs to the room that was now becoming a haven for her. She could lose herself in the letters and news articles from the box.
She found a letter buried in the bottom of all the others. It had not been opened. The post mark said New York.
She carefully opened the flap on the envelope. It opened easily.. the glue was all but gone.
Dear Mark,
I am truly sorry that I never answered your letters. I could not bring myself to think about you anymore. I knew that the life I was living was far worse than when we met. I suppose your mother told you that I had married. It was a terrible mistake. He is a man who has no morals and treated me with nothing but contempt. I don't want to go into details but suffice it to say.. it was a very bad experience. It is over now and I am on my own. I have tried to recover some of my career. It is not easy. He had so many connections and now they are all closed to me.
My darling Mark.. I hope you can forgive me. Say that you will. Maybe when you come home we can find a way to be together.
All my love always,
Debbie
Michelle noticed that the date was a day after he was lost at sea. There lives together lost. She felt so sorry for them. She did not dare tell Danny about this now. He already thought she was being silly .. feeling connections to people she never knew. She wondered why these letters were here in this house. Why had she dreamt about some singer she knew nothing about. She tried to find other things in the box to give her an answer but that was not to be. She had read all the letters and rereading them wouldn't solve a thing. She sighed and stood up when she realized someone was standing behind her.
"Michelle, what are you doing now?" Danny said
" Oh Danny.. I'm sorry did you call me.. I guess I didn't hear you"
Meanwhile in the office of the FAA in San Cristobel the head agent sat talking on the phone
"Bernard, how goes it? Yes, I think we found it. No we haven't called Santos yet, why?"
Bernard sat in his home in Springfield and explained to Charles exactly how it went.
"Look Charles.. Carmen was becoming a liability. she was obsessed with Daniel. She was getting out of control. Whatever you found.. keep it under your hat , hear? We just got all the other families calmed down. That last fiasco of hers caused a lot of bad blood. Got a call from Judge McDaniel he was all riled up.. sweating out the next election.. didn't need a gang war going on , you know. The kid is O.K. , I knew his father forever.. Danny is solid. He wants out in the worst way. Has himself a beautiful wife from a good family.. let it die.. with Carmen"
Charles was silent for a moment.
"O.K. Bernard, I hear you.. but I think one of our people may have said something.. I am going to have to stop a lot of people from talking.. this could get expensive"
"Charles.. it will never become expensive.. you got me?"
"O.K. but you realize someone put slow acting acid on that cable.. someone did you a favor ,huh?"
"You don't worry about that" Bernard said flatly.
"Gottcha.. I will call the Santos kid.. tell him it was just a mechanical failure and that we are closing the whole thing. Will that do it, Bernard?"
"Charles.. I guess we owe you another one. You are saving everyone from a very big mess"
Michelle was about to show Danny the letters and the pictures from the box when Danny's cell phone rang.
"Hello"
" Mr. Santos, this C. Mayhew from the FAA. We found that there was a mechanical failure with the plane. The cable was worn and the pilot lost control on the approach to the airport a few more miles and he would have made it.. so we are closing this up.. It really isn't necessary to pursue this any further. I am very sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathy."
"Hold on am minute Mr. Mayhew.. some said that they were testing the cable.. what is going on here?"
"Well, of course we had suspicions.. Mr. Santos we do know of your mother's affiliations, we intended to take every precaution. We tested every theory . Someone just jumped the gun and we are sorry for the confusion. Any other questions sir?"
"No.. I guess that's it." Danny turned to Michelle. "They said it was just a mechanical failure, no hit.. just an accident?"
Michelle gave a sigh of relief. Danny said he had to make a few calls. Michelle sat down on the floor again and opened the box. If only she could find some clue.. something. She felt like someone trying to catch the mist in the air.
Danny sat down at his desk and called Dietz.
"Dietz, I have just heard from the FAA that this was an accident. I want you to put out some feelers. Something doesn't smell right. Call Bernard.. see if he has heard anything. Then call around to the other families. Just use the excuse that you want to inform them of the FAA decision. See how they react.. O.K. can you do that last thing for my mother?"
Dietz sat at the desk in the Santos living room. He was sitting in Carmen's chair. "Sure Danny, I will do that for your mother and for you. Anything you want, you know that, Boss" Deitz smiled and hung up the phone.
"Sure in a pigs ear.. Danny.. sure" he laughed
Michelle awoke with a start. She had fallen asleep on the dusty floor, the box still in her hand. She sat up and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.
Danny came through the door. He sat down beside her on the floor.
"Planning on making your home up here?" he smiled
" I just thought it would make me feel better to read these letters. Someone else's problems I guess. Take my mind off ours" Michelle touched his face .
"Michelle this will be over soon. Once I am sure that this truly was an accident . Then I will make some calls and we can be free"
"Danny , I hope you mean that. I have done a lot of thinking while all this was going on. I realized that perhaps I am not strong enough to deal with this life. I mean the life that Carmen lead. That was her life. It should not be ours. She must have been strong and driven to continue with that life .. maybe I learned something about myself .. and about Carmen."
"Soon , I promise.. and I always keep my promises.. it was the way I was raised"
Bernard hung up the phone after talking to Dietz. The phone rang again.
Bernard stood up and said" Yes, your highness.. absolutely. Everything was done as you asked. No, no problem with Danny .. he will not continue as head of that family. He has no idea .. he just wants his marriage and a life with his new wife. He is just where we want him to be."
Bernard hung up the phone and said" God I hope so.. for my sake"
The Prince hung up the phone and walked to the balcony. He could see the Santos summer home. All of San Cristobel was within his view. He remembered 24 years ago spending many nights at that house. Carmen .. yes.. what a delicious thing she was then. Still gentle and loving then. Always obsessive but charming. Not what she became. The fool of a husband didn't see what went on right under his nose. He walked to the safe in his bedroom. The prince withdrew a picture from the safe. He looked at the baby . How beautiful he was. "Carmen took him away from me. Blackmailed me, ripped my son from me. Now I have taken him back. I should have done this long ago. I should have saved him long ago. "
At the Santos home a messenger stood outside the door. He rang the bell and when Maria opened it he gave her a small white envelope.
Please accept my invitation to dine at the palace. I am so looking forward to meeting you and your wife. I have been a friend of your mother's for many years. I heard of her unfortunate accident and would like to offer my condolences. Please know that this is a private dinner. I would not expect you to attend otherwise.
His Highness Prince of San Cristobel
The End
