Chapter 5

“That’s the dilemma...”

“That should be his...”

“He’s dead.”

“What about a wife, children ... parents?”

“Great Grand Children ... and they’re the reason the junk was sold.”

Suddenly ... I’m responsible ... and I don’t know.

When I said, “I don’t know.”

Black shoe said, “How can you not know?”

“Why should I.”

“You’re in possession,” Black shoe said.

“You haven’t even looked at the line of evidence.”

“The boxes tell the story ... DDR. Communist country with which we have no trade agreement.”

“Had.” I said ... and this really pissed him off. “We have now.”

It was said sub rosa but I heard it...

“Fuckin’ commie.”

“How can you possibly say that?”

“You allowed a Spanish Revolutionary to hold a meeting in your home.”

“The organizers said he was a Republican ... my Dad was a Republican ... of course I let him speak.”

“There is a difference between Spanish Republicans and American Republicans.”(1)

“I know that ... when he started fomenting discord and communist revolution I grabbed my wife and son and left.”

“Yeah ... sure ... any witnesses?” That was smugly said.

We had hitchhiked to the University Student Union at Michigan State. The ride was a Music Professor on her way to work. She knew us and stopped, “Need a lift, sailor.”

Banter ... strictly banter ... I swear.

When she let us off at the Union, several friends were ‘taking the air’ on the Union steps ... no smoking in the building. They always made a fuss over our son.

“How many do you need?”

“You have them?” Instant scoff. “Reliable ... not student rabble.”

I named the professor, and the security guard, ‘also taking the air’ at the Union entrance who had mentioned how grownup David IV acted.

He spoke to his lapel ... just like in the movies or on TV ... and fumed.

20 minutes later, he slapped the curly wire in his ear ... frowned.

“You bought the building boxes at an auction. Why didn’t you say?”

“You didn’t ask ... you had your own agenda you were following.”

He huffed.

“I think I need an attorney.”

“You need a lawyer ... do you have something to hide?”

“I need the respite and shelter from government thugs guaranteed citizens by the constitution. That’s my final word.”

“Cora ... did you get all that on tape?”

“Every word.”

(1)Spanish Republicans were loyal to the left-leaning Popular Front government government of the Second Spanish Republic, and consisted of various socialist, communist, separatist, anarchist, and republican parties, some of which had opposed the government in the pre-war period.