One world Restraunt.One World Observatory
Lower Manhattan, NYC Monday Sept 11.
A beautiful September Monday afternoon,clear blue as far as the eye can see.
As I enter into One World Restraunt it's a busy New York day and as I glance around the glass tables a familiar figure waves her hand. It's Alana Constantine,present DA of New York Count and one hell of a tough prosecutor. I immediately head to the table and take a seat. I ask, "You got his phone call too?"
"Yes,Praetor called me too," Alana declares.
"Any idea why he wants to talk about? Has to be related to September 11th." I remark as I drink my water.
Alana inquires "When was the last time you saw and talk to Praetor?"
"Iraq. Fujullah when during the Iraq war and again by chance in Dubai."
"I see." I glance around the restraint,not to crowded I note. A waiter brings us four menus.
"Why an extra two?" I ask.
"Praet has his Senior Warrant Officer present at all times. Perk with his job," Alana declares with a slight annoyance in her voice.
Minutes later I recogonize them the minute they enter. Praetor Lorenzo and his SWO Arina Smirnova.a sharp dressed Russian with eyes like a hawk. I watch her behavior: as she stand her eyes sweep restraint back and forth for anything threatening. One thing about Arina she's a quick draw with her Glock as is Praetor. She whispers in Praetor's ear: "All clear."
Alana nor I didn't have to raise our hands to signal them for Arina Smirnova new where we're sitting and they approach out table. Seconds later they take their seats Praetor and Alana exchanges big hugs as old friends do; then Praetor and I handshakes. His handshake is firm and strong. "You're in good spirits." He remarks.
"I try," I quip.
"What this meeting all about?" Alana asks.
"How well do you recall my late fiancé Merina? Either one of you," Praetor states with strong emphasis in his voice.
Alana and I give his question deep thought as Arina Smirnova stares at us both. Merina. Yes, I recall him going into detail about her the love of his life which he lost on Tuesday September 11th sixteen years ago. "I remember that you and Merina kisse and made up in Central Park in December 2000. You two had a big spat and didn't speak for days.Weeks."
"Make that a month," Alana adds with a smile. "She gave him hell from what his sister Wendy told me at the time."
Arina Smirnova chuckles.
"Funny to you isn't comrade," I shoot back at Smirnova. "Your boss lost his fiancé and his sister while they were working at Cantor Fitzgerald. Merina nor Wendy couldn't escape from the trade center and they didn't jump. It's documented in my files."
Alana grins. "He told you off Comrade Smirnova."
Praetor takes command. "You made your point. Want to know more?"
"Does this involve you and Merina?" I ask relax as I drink my goblet of ice water.
"It does but let's discuss it after a light dinner and desert." He declares.
"I have all day," Alana and I respond in unison.
After light dinner,desert and over small glass of red wine, Praetor tells his story. Parts of their story I already knew his sister Wendy Lorenzo fix them up together sometime in the late 90s. Wendy work as a computer programmer at Camper Fritzgerald and Merina had been the brilliant stockbroker a quick up and comer in the Financial Markets and she was one of those who love her job. I didn't think Preator Lorenzo needed matchmaking to be honest with you. He's his own man and often does thing his way. As for Merina? She's a different story all together, one minute a party girl in the Hamptons and a serious stockbroker who can call markets like the best financial pundits. She even turn down a job at Fox News,Bloomberg and CNBC. But that the person she was. Of course I never met her.
On the day the planes struck the North and South Tower of the World Trade Center she lost her life as did Wendy. In the process of cleanup of Ground Zero, Praetor's sister body had been found but not Merina's. For years this left a deep hole in his heart but it's a story I'm familiar with: there are still those never recovered and for some it's hard to move on. Some I can tell you have move away from New York City because of those losses but not all.
Praetor had been in that same boat. I don't use that term lightly either.
"Merina had our wedding planned to the last detail," Praetor adds without hesitation.
"Where were you two going to be married?" Alana asks.
"A beach in Key West," Praetor responds. "We were going to use my condo for the reception."
"The same condo Hurricane Irma flooded?" Alana adds unexpectly.
"The one and the same," Praetor declares with a sigh.
As the afternoon conintue into early evening I let Praetor continue about Merina and their plan nupitials in Key West and their plan Caribbean honeymoon. No,this September 11th is about life not about death. Though Merina wasn't found her name is read along with those who were lost and never returned on that eventful beautiful Tuseday in September 2001.
note this is a work of fiction. Drawn from my manuscsript 9/11/01.
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