La Danza Morte' - Robert F. Clifton (inspirational books to read .txt) 📗

get back to what we want to do”,Wallace replied.

“Does that mean looking after Natasha?” asked Harry.

“If I were you I'd be very careful when it comes to mentioning Natasha to me,” Wallace replied.

“Listen, don't tell me how to act or what to say when it comes to my client. Right now, I'm willing to be here and answer your questions. However, we both know that I can refuse. On the other hand I could sit here with my lawyer. So, let's get this over as soon as possible.”

“Fine. First question, since you are Natasha and other dancers agent, tell me what you do.”

“ My job is to advise, manage and direct Natasha in her work and profession. I also work to ensure that the business side of her career is managed. Then, of course I'm always looking for better opportunities for her which goes with her talent, skills and training. Her profession as a dancer particularly in ballet is a hard road to travel. So, an agent, such as I am, one that Natasha can communicate with means that together we have a working relationship. We are comfortable together. We respect each other and as a result I can inspire her. I can motivate her and seek more and better settings for her, both professionally and privately.”

“O.K. Tell me how you came to represent her”, said Wallace.

“I have contacts with several dance academies. When a talent like Natasha comes along I'm notified. Naturally then I contact her and after my evaluation I explain why it is necessary for some one like her to have an agent. In this case she agreed and we signed a contract.

“And I assume that contract means that you get ten per cent of everything she makes financially.”

“Correct.”

“So, when Gabriela was replaced by Natasha her salary was raised.”

“Yes, naturally.”

“As did your percentage.”

“Of course.”

“One could look at that as giving you a motive to do away with the lead ballerina.”

“If you think that I killed Gabriela then arrest me.”

“If I do arrest you it will be when I have all the evidence to get you either a death sentence or life in prison.”

“Then I suggest you hurry because the show leaves here on October the thirty first.”

“There's no statute of limitation on murder. You can leave.”

“Thank you. If we meet again under the same circumstances I'll be with my lawyer.”

“If we meet as you say in the same way, you'll need one.”

As a member of the Major Crime Squad Detective Wallace had been assigned an unmarked radio car. He was allowed to take it home, but regulations were that the vehicle couldn't be used for personal use. That being the case and the fact that he had begun to pick up Natasha at the hotel after he left work he decided to use his own gold colored, Ford Granada. Generally, Natasha would be standing outside in the alcove and he would drive up to where she stood and she would open the door and enter, sitting next to him. This time, after she was comfortable he turned to her and asked, “Just when were you going to tell me that the show ends here in October?”

“Soon Robert. Actually, I don't even want to think about it.”

“Where will you be going?”

“Pittsburgh. We'll be there for two weeks, then we start rehearsal for the Nutcracker. We'll do the Nutcracker during the Christmas season, in Buffalo.”

“And, just what the hell am I supposed to do?”

“About what?”

“Us.”

“We'll be fine. I'll write, we can talk on the telephone and I'm sure there will be times when we both can get away from our work. I'll only be a few hours away by air.”

“Wonderful. I was planning Thanksgiving and Christmas with the two of us being together.”

“Please, can we talk about this later. Right now, I'm tired and my feet hurt.”

“It's no wonder your feet hurt. How can you dance on your toes time after time, day after day?”, he asked.

“It's the shoes Robert. They're called, “Pointe Shoes”.

You know them as ballet slippers. The shoe has a boxed toe and each pair then has to be adjusted to the foot. I make the adjustments to my shoes by constantly fitting and sewing. When it comes to the box inside, sometimes I pad it with lamb's wool. I also tape my toes.”

“Then why do your feet hurt?”

“Viktor was somewhat demanding today. He made me dance one of my solo numbers over and over.”

“Is he the one that's bothering you?”

“No.”

“Well somebody is. Why won't you tell me about it and who it is?”

“Just leave it alone. Please.”

“So, you're leaving, just when I was going to ask you to move in with me.”

“If I wasn't leaving I certainly would have.”

“If that's supposed to make me feel better, it doesn’t.”

The next day while sitting at his desk the telephone on his desk rang. See that it was an internal line he answered, “Detective Wallace.”

“C.S.I. I thought you'd like to know that the results are in on the analysis of the yellow, frosted glass you gave us,” said the technician.

“And?”

“And it tested positive for dioxin.”

“Could you tell how much was in the glass?”

“No.”

“O.K. Thanks.”

“What's up?”, asked Frank Stiles seeing a disappointed look on Wallace's face.

“C.S.I. confirmed that dioxin residue was found in the frosted glass we submitted for testing.”

“Good, another piece of the puzzle presents itself. Why so glum asked Stiles.

“Evidently they can't tell the strength of the dioxin they found.”

“To tell you the truth Walley, I don't see a problem. We have the Medical Examiners report and the hospital emergency room report. Both reports indicate that approximately 500 mg of Lanoxin was found in Gabriela Brunsdorff's system.” offered Stiles.

“Yeah I know, but things like that bother me, especially when I have to testify in court,” Wallace replied.

“Well, it seems to me that when it comes to the finding and the strength of Lanoxin in the glass, it will be the C.S.I. people that will have to answer the question, not you.”

“Yeah, you might be right.”

“Are you going to watch the Eagles game this Sunday or are you doing something with the ballerina?” asked Stiles.

“I don't really know Frank. Things all of a sudden are falling apart. The show ends here in October and moves on to Pittsburgh. After that it goes to Buffalo.”

“So, what are you going to do and don't tell me you're going to become one of those love sick Johnnies that follow the lead actress all over the country and stands in the wings watching while she takes curtain call after curtain call. When she's finished doing that she gets surrounded by fans and press reporters all who push you out of the way. When the question of who is that man you've been seen with, she mentions your name and relates that you use to be a cop, somewhere in New Jersey. Is that what you want pal?”

“Of course not.”

“Then, even though it's none of my business if I was you I'd write her off. Look at it this way, if she really loved you she would be staying here in Nautilus Beach, not getting on the train heading for Pittsburgh.”

“She has her career.”

“So do you.”

“And to be honest with you, she's never mentioned that she loves me.”

“Then, she probably doesn’t.”

“All I know is I've got a lot of thinking to do.”

“Are you seeing her tonight?”

“We have reservations at the Glass Menagerie.”

“That might be the right place to break it off Wally.”

“Or, to get her to stay.”

“I give up. You're acting like you're back in high school again, a victim of puppy love. Do what you want. As for me? From now on I mind my own business.”

At eight five pm the maitre d' escorted Natasha and Robert to their table. Once seated Natasha looked over the dining room.

“What a beautiful decor. Do you come here often?”, she asked.

“Often enough to be able to get a reservation on busy nights here.” Wallace replied.

“Then I'm sure that you know someone.”

“The owner, Manny Hoffman.”

A waiter appeared and filled crystal glass with water, left menus with the couple and said that he would return when they were ready to order.

“Well since you say you frequent this place, what do you recommend?”, she asked.

“Since you have to watch your weight I suggest the Cornish

game hen. If you want to take a chance of maybe gaining eight ounces then I say go with the Lobster Newberg.”

“What are you having?”

“The Newberg.”

“Then I'll have the same.”

“Drink?”

“Ice tea.”

Wallace ordered for both of them but ordered coffee for himself.

As the talked the orchestra come on stage and began playing dance tunes.

“Oh how nice. You didn't tell me that there was dining and dancing.”

“Well, now that you know do you want to dance?”

“Yes.”

They walked out onto the dance floor and as they began to dance the female vocalist walked to the microphone and began to sing ,In The Still Of The Night.

“Cole Porter. Did you request them to play that song.”

“No, just the luck of the draw”, he said as he pulled her closer to him. As he did the vocalist sang, “Or will this dream of mine, fade out of sight? Like the moon growing dim, on the rim of the hill, in the chill, still of the night.”

With those words of the song a sadness came over him. Deep in his heart he knew that he was going to lose her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Seven

Viktor Baranovsky

 

At the end of the morning rehearsal Robert Wallace made his way to the stage where Viktor Baranovsky stood reading the notes he had made during the ballet practice. “Mr. Baranovsky, could I speak with you please?”, asked the detective.

Baranovsky looked over the top rim of his eyeglasses and seeing Wallace said, “You? This must mean that it's my time in the barrel. Alright, lets get this over with. Wait there. I'll come to you. Take a seat over there by the steps leading to the stage.”

Wallace took a seat, leaving room so Baranovsky could sit next to him. After a few minutes Viktor sat down. “Alright, ask your questions officer,” he said.

“You know why I'm here so I won't go into that. Actually, I'm looking for information of Gabriela. I hope you can provide me with some information,” said Wallace.

“Like what?”

“Her reputation and your opinion of her as a dancer.”

“That's easy. Gabriela was one of the leading ballerina's in the world. My opinion? She was and for along time the ballerina in several of my ballet's”.

“Since you mentioned she was with you for a long time I've been told that she was thirty five years old. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“I'll admit to not knowing anything about ballet and ballerina's, but the word is that thirty five is considered old for a ballerina.”

“That's true, but if the dancer has an exceptional talent as did Gabriela, then age is not a factor.”

“I see. What else can you tell me? Where was she from and was she married?”

“Gabriela was born in Berlin, Germany in 1937. Being Jews the family got out of the country after Hitler came to power and the persecution of Jews began. They went first to Canada then made their way to New York. Her father was a diamond cutter and found employment in the diamond district in Manhattan. Gabriela's mother, Elisheva was a stay at home housewife and kept a kosher home, but all of her life had wanted to be a dancer. As a result she pushed her daughter, Gabriela to pursue a career as a ballerina.

The young girl took dance lessons at a small dance studio. There, her talent was discovered and soon she was a student at the American School of Ballet in New York. Like most dancers she auditioned and was accepted as a member of the cast in several off Broadway shows. In one such show she met and married a male dancer in the troupe?”

“Interesting. Do you happen to know his name?”

“Yes, Viktor Baranovsky.”

“Gabriela is your wife?”

“She was my wife. We divorced several years ago.”

“I won't ask why.”

“There is