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Chapter 138 — Pamela
Mason was lying on the bed and watched as sun rays are creeping into the bedroom. Mary asleep beside him. He turned his head and looked at her. Yesterday's events seemed moved close. He did let her down again... He felt sorry for himself while Mary was suffered from this bastard--
He gently sat up but Mary immediately began to stir.
"Mason?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Sleep, it's too early yet."
He quietly stands up, walked around the bed and sat beside him. Touched her hair.
"Are you leaving?" Mary opened her eyes and blinked.
"No, not yet. Sleep."
He stands up and quickly left. Mary sighed and pulled the legs off the bed. She knew that look... He feels guilty.
When Mary goes downstairs, Mason already is finishing his breakfast.
"Why you're leaving so early?"
"I want to get the restraining order," he quickly glanced at her. "Can I ask you do not to leave the house for a few days?"
"Why? Mason, I see no reason to hide. Mark would no dare to come here anyway. As he said as he not going to stay in the town."
"We can not trust him."
Mary shuddered, feeling some deja vu. In earlier days Mason used this tone when he insisted her to charge Mark.
"Mason, I should tell you something."
"What?" He intensely looked at her.
"When Mark was going to his car I saw the toy on its back window. It was look alike to the toy that had your mother's car when she driving out of your father's house."
Mason raised his head and pressed his lips. Then he shook his head.
"It's a coincidence."
"Maybe."
"Just a coincidence. Nothing else here can not be," Mason said rather abruptly and headed for the door.
Mary put down her coffee cup and caught up with him at the door. She's kissing him feels that he softening a bit. Mason quietly breathing out. She straightened his tie, her hands pressed to his chest.
"Be careful, okay?"
"Okay."
He wanted to leave, but Mary held him yet.
"You're not guilty," she whispered and let his hand out.
Mason weakly smiled.
"Thank you."
He left and Mary anxious looked after him. She was afraid of what he can do.
* * *
Mason had no problem to get the order which forbid Mark McCormick to approach Mary Capwell closer than 100 foots. Past Mark's charges was enough for the judge even if he nevertheless asked that Mrs. Capwell write her statement. Mason promised that she would do.
With the order in his pocket Mason drives to Cruz's place but unfortunately he was not at home. Hence, it remained as the most difficult thing for Mason. After short searching he found out the name of the luxury hotel where his mother was stayed in. He wanted to see her in any case.
Fifteen minutes later he called his name for the hotel clerk. The clerk dialed the phone number, humbly listened and lets Mason in.
Mason takes the elevator up the 15th floor and knocks at the door of his mother's room--
"Mason, my dear son!" Pamela rushed to embrace him. "I am so happy to see you!"
It seemed that the room was flooded with bright light. Hugging his mother Mason felt himself as a little boy who received a long wished gift. He even almost forgot that he's an adult.
But then the moment of happiness was ended and he gently takes his mother away. Her cheeks glistening with tracks of tears.
"I'm sorry," she wiped her eyes with the handkerchief, lightly brushing makeup. "It's tears of happiness. I'm so glad to see you."
"I'm glad too," Mason said very sincerely. "I did not see you for so long time."
Pamela paused then looked up him.
"I've let you down, I have? I promised that I'll back to you..." her voice broke, "... but so never did."
"I've been waiting for you," Mason choke out. It's no point to pretending for being overwise. "I know it's was my father who forbidden you to return--"
"Yes, CC did take you from me. Your father is the powerful man."
"I'm aware," Mason said.
"I just could not fight with him. Rather first I tried to do but I've done many stupid things and just gave your father a weapon against me. Later I could already see you without his permission--"
"... but you already had Charlie--"
"You must understand I could not lose my younger son too."
"But now you gave him our father. What's matter, mom? Are you pregnant again?"
"How can you be so cruel?" Pamela's eyes fill tears. "You have no idea about the reasons of my actions!"
"So clue me in!" Mason hardened. "What made you send my young brother here by so a cruel way? You'd bored with him or he becomes more alike to our father? What is it? Why do you treat with him like that?"
"I wanted to save him," Pamela quietly said.
"For the sake of God, from whom?"
At this moment there was heard a rap on the door.
"Not now," Pamela loudly said.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Tonnell, but it is urgent."
Mason winced at the sound of the voice. What?
Pamela sighed and said: "Come in."
The door opens and... lets in Mark McCormick in driver's uniform. He just stared at Mason as Mason does. It seems Pamela was not surprised at his appearance.
"What is it, Mark?" she asked. "I'm very busy."
"Mrs. Tonnell, your husband's waiting for you down the hallway. I think you're going to the restaurant on the coast," Mark said blankly, never taking his eyes off Mason.
"Husband? Mrs. Tonnell? Mom, you never said that you're married more one time."
"Mom?" Mark echoed in the shock.
"Say Anthony I'll be there in five minutes," Pamela sharply said to Mark.
As soon as the door closed after McCormick as Mason attacks his mother with questions: "What does it all mean? Charlie never said that you're married again."
"Mason, I can not explain to you all, I just have no time--"
"Yes, I heard that your husband is waiting for you. I wonder should I call him Dad."
"I see that you're offended, but this is not the time or place."
"It is unlikely that we will have more one such conversation."
Pamela looked up his stiff face.
"Okay. Wait here, I'll try to do something."
She disappeared behind the door. Mason groaned and collapsed on the sofa. Even can all be worse?
He waited for her mother for half an hour, but she never appeared. Then the bellboy brings him the note from Pamela. She asked Mason meet her in the small beach restaurant in two hours.
Mason slipped the note into his pocket and goes the police station.
Now Cruz was on the job. Mason told him that McCormick appeared in the town and noticed that Cruz seems not surprised.
"Were you aware?" Mason angry asked. "Why did you not tell me about? He scared Mary almost to death."
"We just received this information. I was going to call you, but do not have enough time."
"Get McCormick involved in something again?" Mason grabbed it. "Why should you have informed about his arrival?"
"Well, if be precise I'd informed not about his arrival but about arrival of the person for who he's work as the driver."
Mason suddenly became cold.
"Go on."
"One of most famous East Coast mobsters made his appearance in Santa Barbara. Just see McCormick works as his personal chauffeur."
Mason paled: "What's his name?"
Cruz curiously looked at him: "Anthony Tonnell. What's the matter?"
"Nothing. Okay, Cruz, keep me inform."
Mason hurried out because he's not in mood to further questions. So Mary was right. She really saw his mother's car.
He glanced at his watch and go to meet Pamela.
His mother was waiting for him at the table. She seemed very nervous, constantly looking around as if she afraid that she was being watched. However when she's beams and seemed to calm down when Mason comes closer.
"Thank God, you're here."
"I could be not," Mason sat down opposite her. "We're not seen each other for long time. Too long."
Pamela did not answer; she just stared at him as if trying to memorize his features. Mason painfully thought that it's not looks as their meeting and first conversation as he imagined earlier.
"Probably you do not know what you should think," Pamela finally spoke.
"I hope that you'll explain me."
"Mason, it's not simple--"
"I have no doubts, but you just try. So why you sent my younger brother to our father? And why the fact that you're married was hidden? By the way, my father aware?"
"He does," Pamela turns away and looked toward the ocean. "And he always did."
"About what?"
"It's a long story. When me and your father getting the divorce, I had an affair with Anthony."
"Are you... want to say that you're married to him for many years?"
"Oh, no, we'd break up soon after and I got out of touch with Anthony for many years. It was he who found me a few months ago. And I even not notice that I'm proved to be married again."
"If you regret why do you not divorce yet?"
"It's more difficult than it looks, Mason."
"I can help you--"
"You do not need. Please, don't. You have no idea what kind of the person."
"I can see. I'd already informed about his... uh, reputation. But I do not care; you're my mother after all."
"Do you know who Anthony is?" an inexplicable expression appeared on Pamela's face. Some like a mixture of suspicion and guilt. "Then you must understand that he is the dangerous man. Yes, and I'm feels good with him. Besides I love him," she weakly smiled. "As the saying goes old love does not rust."
"Are your husband knows about Charlie?" Mason realized the truth still before she answered. "He's have no idea. So why you sent the boy here."
"I already told you that I wanted to protect him. Anthony does know nothing about my youngest son. And I could not let him know."
"But why?"
"He does not like children. And I do not want that he would send Charlie to some boarding school in Singapore. Charlie would be better with his real father. I'd lost him in anyway," Pamela paused. "I see you think that I'm too badly treating your brother. My heart almost burst when he cried yesterday. But I could not take him along. Let he would hate me but be in the family where he is loved."
"Mama, I'm sure we could be works out. If you just let me--"
"No, Mason, I'm not. This is my choice and my burden. And I'll carry it myself." She suddenly blushed. "You seem to have the impression that Anthony poorly treats with me. It's not like this. There was a time when I was in love with him. We broke up because of ridiculous circumstances. And I can not lose him again."
"Mom--"
"I know that he have a shortcoming--"
"It is an understatement. Being a kind of mafioso leader seems really a big disadvantage."
Pamela quickly glanced up him.
"He's not too bad. I'm sorry that I cannot accept your help, but I want none of my children had any bearing on him."
"I do not desire to get acquainted with your new husband," Mason shook his head. "But I want to ask you something. What do you know about your chauffeur?"
"Mark?" Pamela was surprised. "Nothing. He just drives me and Anthony. Most often it's Anthony," she added. "What's the matter?"
"This man... raped the woman who I love. It's happened a few years ago, and then she was married to him."
"My God... Mason, are you sure?"
"Absolutely," he grins. "He caused a lot of pain to Mary and me."
"Mary... it's the name of your wife, right?"
"Yes. We got married one and half years ago."
Pamela shrugged helplessly.
"I even had no idea--"
"Last night that bastard almost raped her again."
"What a nightmare!" Pamela looked into his eyes. "I'll talk to Anthony."
"Well, I do not think that a mafioso could be embarrassed about the former rapist--"
"You do not know him. Mason, I promise I will do everything that I can that the maniac will not bother anyone of yours."
"I want not you put yourself at risk."
"No, I'll not, of course. Do not worry. I'll be alright."
She looked at her watch and sighed sadly.
"It's time. Anthony is waiting for me."
"Is he aware that you meet me?" Mason supposed that she responds negatively, but Pamela nodded.
"He does. Of course, he knows that I have the adult son with CC Capwell and understands that I want to see him. I had much more problems to talk him out of inviting you to dinner. Mason, I beg you, stay away from this man."
"Of course, I will," Mason stands up after his mother did.
Pamela kissed him goodbye and hugged. Then she without looking back quickly went to the fancy white car that was parked on the nearest parking lot. The driver — fortunately it's not Mark McCormick at this time — opened the door for her.
Mason forced to take eyes off the retreating car and then stunned at the view in front of.
"Mary! What the hell are you doing here?"
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