Four days later, at around 8 o'clock on a bright and sunny Monday morning, Bengiman entered Michael's room unannounced. Where he was shocked to find Felina and Michael, fully clothed, passed out on top of the covers of Michael's massive, four poster bed. The two had been out all weekend and had only stumbled to his room just a few hours before. Bengiman stood over them for a moment as they slept, unaware of his presence, and Bengiman Pruce thought it was a very good thing he had not come in and found the pair, naked together, under the covers, for even he, himself, did not know how he would have reacted.
"Michael!" Bengiman shouted as the two awoke immediately to the sound of his booming voice.
"Bengiman? What are you doing in here?" Felina asked wiping the sleep from her mascara smeared eyes.
"Your brother has asked me to bring Michael over to his office, downtown." Bengiman replied as he watched Michael get up quickly off the bed and dash into the bathroom to get ready.
"Why? Is something the matter?" Serena asked as she looked around the room for her high heel shoes.
"No, he has those documents to show him." Bengiman sighed sounding a bit depressed.
Here Felina's eyes grew wide as she said "What is the new name?" she asked, just as thrilled as she was when Xation and herself had obtained the forged documents for Bengiman, when he was released from prison in January of 1989.
"Charles Michael Le Mesa." Bengiman Pruce said as he paused, thinking about his old life and name, Norman Pierce.
"Oh, I like the sound of that!" Felina said happily as she turned to leave Michael's bedroom.
"Oh, I bet you do." Bengiman said with a sarcastic jealous tone, giving Felina a very disapproving look.
"Bengiman do not look at me like that!" she chided him saying "Do not worry, nothing has happened! Michael and I are just friends..," then teasing him she added "for now."
"Felina." Bengiman said as he reached out touching her shoulder "If you ever get scared at night, you can always come to my room and curl up in my bed."
"Oh Bengiman! I'll keep that in mind." she gave a sweet smile and with that Felina went upstairs to her room as Michael hurried to brush his teeth, comb his hair, pop 2 vicodan, and change into a clean suit.
Bengiman waited out in the driveway in his black Range-Rover turning the air conditioning on full blast that hot day. Michael climbed up into the large s.u.v. a little nervous to be alone with Mr.Pruce, after all Michael knew very little about Bengiman Pruce, or his background. But he did know that Bengiman had a brief relationship with Felina, and he was very jealous of Michael and Felina's sudden friendship, he also was aware that Bengiman carried a concealed hand gun in a shoulder holster, under his jackets, at all times, serving some security role for Xation and his family. With this knowledge Michael envisioned Bengiman taking him out to the country and putting a bullet in his head, or leaving him stranded in the La Miserade district, one of the many 'no go zones', where even the local police and government were too afraid to step foot in. No, even though this had crossed Bengiman's mind, those were not his instructions. So he obeyed Xation's request and drove over to the Porteno district, Buenos Aires central business district, the Microcentro, by the docks and piers off the Atlantic. Michael stared up at the modern, tall, steel structures wrapped in smoked glass, surrounded by the vast blue waters, this part of down town reminded Michael of his home town of Chicago and he felt more homesick than ever.
Bengiman and Michael entered the lobby of black polished marble floors and walls, with gold and crystal accents. The two took the elevator all the way to the top floor of the 75 story skyscraper, where Xation's company occupied the 73rd, 74th, and 75th floors. Bengiman had been in the building hundreds of times but Michael had not, and he was a little lost, as he followed Bengiman down the long hall ways. Michael felt, nervous and still a little drunk from last night, but he felt the effects of the vicodan kick in, making him feel relaxed as he went into Xation's enormous corner office with a spectacular view of the city and the ocean. They were so high up you could see the slight curvature of the earth, out over the Atlantic, across the horizon. Xation sat behind a massive glass and chrome desk with the latest computer money could buy, as he stood next to Hays deep in discussion about some pressing matter.
"You wanted to see me." Michael said as the two men turned their attention towards the door.
"Ah, Michael come in." Xation said greeting him warmly shaking his hand. "If you two gentlemen will excuse us." he said to Bengiman and Hays who quietly exited Xation's office, going over to Hays' office so Xation could speak to Michael alone.
"You have an amazing view from up here." Michael said trying to use a complement to ease the tension, for now he was alone with Xation, Michael suddenly felt very ill at ease.
"I have, at last, obtained what you have requested from me." Xation said as he sat behind his desk pointing to a file in front of Michael.
"Are you serious!?" Michael said incredulous.
"It was not an easy task, but it has been accomplished nonetheless." Xation gave a brief untroubled smile and, as Michael reached out to open the file, Xation laid another, thicker file, on top of it. Michael said nothing, a sickening feeling churning up in the pit of his stomach. "I have 2 files on you." he paused handing the thick file over to Michael. "This one, contains all the information I could find on Dr.Michael Cullen."
Michael flipped it open where he saw, to his dismay as he sat there in silence, a stack of copies of transcripts from his pre-trial hearing, arrest sheet, dozens of copies of the many newspaper articles detailing his crimes/felonies, how he had fled the state and prosecution, 'his whereabouts still unknown', as it was reported in the Chicago Tribune. Michael was angry that Xation had gone so far as to amass a file on him and now their were two people who knew the truth about his situation. And, somehow, Michael just knew Xation had most likely given all this damning information to Hays and Bengiman. Michael was correct in his assumption.
"And then there is this new file, a new life for you." Xation said as he took the first file back from Michael, handing over the thinner file to him.
Michael opened up the file and found an American birth certificate, a United States passport, a Tennessee driver's license, a medical diploma from Tulane, along with an Argentine license to practice medicine and prescribe medication, all with the name of a one, Charles Michael Le Mesa, born March 27, 1958, in Shelby County, Memphis Tennessee. Michael looked over the superbly forged documents with his old pictures from his passport and drivers license. The documents looked authentic and real to him and Michael was very pleased. "I don't know what to say." he stammered.
"Thank you. What you want to say is, Thank you." Xation laughed a little.
"Yes! Of course! Thank you Xation!" Michael said then he gave a strange concerned look and said "It's just..,"
"What is the matter?" Xation asked a sudden dispirited tone in his voice.
"Well, I was just wondering. Why did you go to all the trouble of getting a fake medical diploma and this fake license to practice medicine in Argentina?" Michael asked perplexed.
"You are a doctor, you should still practice medicine. It would be foolish to let all of your education and medical training go to waste." Xation explained.
"I really do not believe, even with these documents, that it will be very ease for me to get hired on at a hospital here in the city." Michael sighed as regret and worry filled his mind.
Xation merely smiled, sat back in his comfortable executive chair and said "Well now my friend, I have been giving your future, here with us, much thought and.., I have a business proposition for you."
I have a business proposition for you.., this phrase echoed through Michael's ears, instantly recalling the night Azir had said the exact same words to him, and that turned out horribly, horribly wrong. But Michael had come this far, leaving everything he knew and loved behind, to start a new life. So Michael took out his new drivers license, HIS license, Charles Michael Le Mesa's license, then 'Charles' looked over at Xation and said "I'm listening."
"Michael!" Bengiman shouted as the two awoke immediately to the sound of his booming voice.
"Bengiman? What are you doing in here?" Felina asked wiping the sleep from her mascara smeared eyes.
"Your brother has asked me to bring Michael over to his office, downtown." Bengiman replied as he watched Michael get up quickly off the bed and dash into the bathroom to get ready.
"Why? Is something the matter?" Serena asked as she looked around the room for her high heel shoes.
"No, he has those documents to show him." Bengiman sighed sounding a bit depressed.
Here Felina's eyes grew wide as she said "What is the new name?" she asked, just as thrilled as she was when Xation and herself had obtained the forged documents for Bengiman, when he was released from prison in January of 1989.
"Charles Michael Le Mesa." Bengiman Pruce said as he paused, thinking about his old life and name, Norman Pierce.
"Oh, I like the sound of that!" Felina said happily as she turned to leave Michael's bedroom.
"Oh, I bet you do." Bengiman said with a sarcastic jealous tone, giving Felina a very disapproving look.
"Bengiman do not look at me like that!" she chided him saying "Do not worry, nothing has happened! Michael and I are just friends..," then teasing him she added "for now."
"Felina." Bengiman said as he reached out touching her shoulder "If you ever get scared at night, you can always come to my room and curl up in my bed."
"Oh Bengiman! I'll keep that in mind." she gave a sweet smile and with that Felina went upstairs to her room as Michael hurried to brush his teeth, comb his hair, pop 2 vicodan, and change into a clean suit.
Bengiman waited out in the driveway in his black Range-Rover turning the air conditioning on full blast that hot day. Michael climbed up into the large s.u.v. a little nervous to be alone with Mr.Pruce, after all Michael knew very little about Bengiman Pruce, or his background. But he did know that Bengiman had a brief relationship with Felina, and he was very jealous of Michael and Felina's sudden friendship, he also was aware that Bengiman carried a concealed hand gun in a shoulder holster, under his jackets, at all times, serving some security role for Xation and his family. With this knowledge Michael envisioned Bengiman taking him out to the country and putting a bullet in his head, or leaving him stranded in the La Miserade district, one of the many 'no go zones', where even the local police and government were too afraid to step foot in. No, even though this had crossed Bengiman's mind, those were not his instructions. So he obeyed Xation's request and drove over to the Porteno district, Buenos Aires central business district, the Microcentro, by the docks and piers off the Atlantic. Michael stared up at the modern, tall, steel structures wrapped in smoked glass, surrounded by the vast blue waters, this part of down town reminded Michael of his home town of Chicago and he felt more homesick than ever.
Bengiman and Michael entered the lobby of black polished marble floors and walls, with gold and crystal accents. The two took the elevator all the way to the top floor of the 75 story skyscraper, where Xation's company occupied the 73rd, 74th, and 75th floors. Bengiman had been in the building hundreds of times but Michael had not, and he was a little lost, as he followed Bengiman down the long hall ways. Michael felt, nervous and still a little drunk from last night, but he felt the effects of the vicodan kick in, making him feel relaxed as he went into Xation's enormous corner office with a spectacular view of the city and the ocean. They were so high up you could see the slight curvature of the earth, out over the Atlantic, across the horizon. Xation sat behind a massive glass and chrome desk with the latest computer money could buy, as he stood next to Hays deep in discussion about some pressing matter.
"You wanted to see me." Michael said as the two men turned their attention towards the door.
"Ah, Michael come in." Xation said greeting him warmly shaking his hand. "If you two gentlemen will excuse us." he said to Bengiman and Hays who quietly exited Xation's office, going over to Hays' office so Xation could speak to Michael alone.
"You have an amazing view from up here." Michael said trying to use a complement to ease the tension, for now he was alone with Xation, Michael suddenly felt very ill at ease.
"I have, at last, obtained what you have requested from me." Xation said as he sat behind his desk pointing to a file in front of Michael.
"Are you serious!?" Michael said incredulous.
"It was not an easy task, but it has been accomplished nonetheless." Xation gave a brief untroubled smile and, as Michael reached out to open the file, Xation laid another, thicker file, on top of it. Michael said nothing, a sickening feeling churning up in the pit of his stomach. "I have 2 files on you." he paused handing the thick file over to Michael. "This one, contains all the information I could find on Dr.Michael Cullen."
Michael flipped it open where he saw, to his dismay as he sat there in silence, a stack of copies of transcripts from his pre-trial hearing, arrest sheet, dozens of copies of the many newspaper articles detailing his crimes/felonies, how he had fled the state and prosecution, 'his whereabouts still unknown', as it was reported in the Chicago Tribune. Michael was angry that Xation had gone so far as to amass a file on him and now their were two people who knew the truth about his situation. And, somehow, Michael just knew Xation had most likely given all this damning information to Hays and Bengiman. Michael was correct in his assumption.
"And then there is this new file, a new life for you." Xation said as he took the first file back from Michael, handing over the thinner file to him.
Michael opened up the file and found an American birth certificate, a United States passport, a Tennessee driver's license, a medical diploma from Tulane, along with an Argentine license to practice medicine and prescribe medication, all with the name of a one, Charles Michael Le Mesa, born March 27, 1958, in Shelby County, Memphis Tennessee. Michael looked over the superbly forged documents with his old pictures from his passport and drivers license. The documents looked authentic and real to him and Michael was very pleased. "I don't know what to say." he stammered.
"Thank you. What you want to say is, Thank you." Xation laughed a little.
"Yes! Of course! Thank you Xation!" Michael said then he gave a strange concerned look and said "It's just..,"
"What is the matter?" Xation asked a sudden dispirited tone in his voice.
"Well, I was just wondering. Why did you go to all the trouble of getting a fake medical diploma and this fake license to practice medicine in Argentina?" Michael asked perplexed.
"You are a doctor, you should still practice medicine. It would be foolish to let all of your education and medical training go to waste." Xation explained.
"I really do not believe, even with these documents, that it will be very ease for me to get hired on at a hospital here in the city." Michael sighed as regret and worry filled his mind.
Xation merely smiled, sat back in his comfortable executive chair and said "Well now my friend, I have been giving your future, here with us, much thought and.., I have a business proposition for you."
I have a business proposition for you.., this phrase echoed through Michael's ears, instantly recalling the night Azir had said the exact same words to him, and that turned out horribly, horribly wrong. But Michael had come this far, leaving everything he knew and loved behind, to start a new life. So Michael took out his new drivers license, HIS license, Charles Michael Le Mesa's license, then 'Charles' looked over at Xation and said "I'm listening."
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