PART XV Let's Get Cracking!

Penny stood dumbfounded as Cindy looked at her in her familiar pose: hand on hip and her head pushed out.

"How long have you remembered, Cindy?" Penny asked.

"It's been coming back to me in bits and pieces", Cindy replied, "But when you and Mario came, it all came back in a very short order."

"You know that you are changing history drastically with this Rock'n roll gig of yours."

"Maybe for the better, Penny", Cindy said as she gathered her thoughts, "There was never a woman who really made a music splash in the fifties."

"Cindy", Penny said as she grabbed both her shoulders, "We have to stay focused on our mission. You are talented in many areas, but we cannot stay here in 1957."

Penny turned and looked toward the cafe where Mario excused himself and looked back at Cindy with a seductive smile.

"You know that Mario has been very worried about you."

"Oh, that's so sweet", Cindy replied as her eyes squinted. Her expression then changed to that of a serious nature. "Before I was dumped out by the old bridge, they stopped by a warehouse...the same old building in downtown San Jose that had been abandoned for 45-years... in 2002."

"Of course", Penny said, "The San Jose Mercury News ran an article about this building sometime around 2001. Built after the 06 quake, it's located close to the Southern Pacific railroad track and was originally a packing plant. The article mentioned that no one has had access into it since 1957."

"Wouldn't the city need to get into at least check for faulty wiring or possible fire hazards?" Cindy asked.

"The owner was able to secure a restraining order to keep the fire department if my memory serves me correctly", Penny continued.

"The fire department?" Cindy asked in shock.

Penny nodded. "Apparently the city was so concerned that they tried to purchase the property by eminent domain. But the owner...Vincent Montgony... had it secure in legal red tape."

"My Vincent Montgony?" Cindy gasped, referring to the old mobster that hired her to do the radio show in 1986. "You are right. But why didn't I remember this before?"

The just looked at each other.

Mario came out of the Diner and paused for a second when he noticed the two women talking. Reaching in his shirt sleeve, he pulled out a pack of smokes, put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. After a deep exhale, he proceeded up to Penny and Cindy at the ticket line.

"Hello, Dee Dee", Mario said to Cindy in a somber tone.

Cindy grabbed his arm and pulled him to the rear of the merry-go-round.

"Mario, my memory has returned", Cindy said as she gently put her hand on his face. Mario leaned against a girder that held up the roof deck's side wall and took a drag from his cigarette.

"Where I come from", Cindy whispered, "Men like you a dinosaurs." Cindy stepped up a little closer to him and looked up. "I know how you feel about me."

Mario looked down for a second, then dropped his cigarette to the ground, smothering it with his boot.

He then looked deep into Cindy's green eyes under the bushy brows, "I have never in my life met anyone like you, Cindy", Mario whispered, "I could provide for you... I could..."

"Shhh", Cindy interrupted as she put her finger over his mouth, "There is something I must do that is bigger than the both of us."

She reached over and kissed him on the cheek, looked at his sad face for a second, then walked back to Penny. Children on the merry-go-round horses smiled as they passed. Laughter, rotating lights and the bright sound of carnival music were all around, all while he helplessly watched the only woman he had ever loved walk out of his life.

"We need to get to that warehouse, Cindy", Penny said, "I'll have Mario take the Buick back to the house so he can get his bike. Meanwhile, we'll catch the nearest city bus to downtown San Jose."

"What about Mom?" Cindy asked, "She has big plans for me!"

"Take it from an older woman, Cindy", Mom only has big plans for Mom. As for Dee Dee, she will meet the same fate as Buddy Holly, James Dean and, of course, Elvis."

A half hour later, the big Buick pulled into the driveway at Lakemuir Drive. Mario's Harley sat up against the garage. As he brought up the convertible top, he stared at the house. Before they left, he remembered that Penny left the living room light on. But now the house was completely dark.

Mario locked the car and slowly walked toward the front door. As he grabbed the knob, there was an odd but familiar smell. It was the same smell that he remembered from Korea just before the explosion aboard his ship. In a quick reflex, Mario ran to for the street at full speed.

All the sudden, a loud explosion engulfed the house, accompanied by the sound of broken glass and the splintering of wood. The force threw Mario head first out to the sidewalk. The house was in flames.

Only minutes later, all was quite. Sirens could be heard in a distance, but it was too late. Smoke rose from the rubble that was once a house. Mario laid lifeless on the sidewalk, covered with debris, glass and blood.

PART XVI The Mysterious Warehouse!