Rewind and Return: To Be a Youngster Once Again

By Urban Miyares

Dr. Walter “Wally” Mora, with his quit whit, humor and sociable personality, is that one person everyone who knows and meets enjoys being around. Happily married with two children and three grandchildren, highly educated with a great medical career, you’d be shocked to know that only Wally’s wife, Claire, knew the secret that he was a highly-regarded research scientist and the director of the government’s New Jersey Chemical and Biological Warfare Laboratory.

In this startling suspense story, you will discover how the iconic American lifestyle of Wally and Claire Mora is tragically shattered after they move from New Jersey to Las Vegas, Nevada, to enjoy their retirement years with their children and grandchildren – Wally is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Claire is murdered, and on Wally’s seventy-fifth birthday he hears from a scientist in the lab that the federal government was going to kill them both, just as they did with their wives only weeks earlier. Dr. Walter “Wally” Mora’s top-secret past had caught up with him, but he has an escape strategy to avoid his certain death.
“Rewind and Return” is a story about murder, love, espionage, faith, and the answer to the often said saying “If I only knew then what I know now”.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Urban Miyares
• Release date: May 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005693657

Urban Miyares

Urban Miyares is an award-winning entrepreneur, disabled/blinded Vietnam Veteran, former national Alpine ski champion, and competitive offshore sailor.Always driven to write, from his military service and early business career to writing newspaper columns, now retired, his destiny to be an author has arrived.His first book, “My Life Outside the Fish Bowl,” is to be followed shortly by “Hap: The Last American Hero,” a romantic novel, and then by “The Pebble Garden,” a mystery-crime novel series.Urban Miyares lives in San Diego, California, with his wife, their son, and grandchildren.Connect with Urban online:Email: [e-mail]

Book preview

REWIND and RETURN

To be a youngster once again

Urban Miyares

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2021 Urban Miyares

All rights reserved.

Cover Design & Interior Layout by: Laura Shinn Designs

http://laurashinn.yolasite.com

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with other people, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

Rewind and Return is a work of fiction, although some elements are based on life experiences. Though actual locations may be mentioned, they are used in a fictitious manner and some events and occurrences were invented in the mind and imagination of the author, except for the inclusion of actual, historical facts. Similarities of characters or names used within to any person – past, present, or future – are coincidental, except where actual historical characters are purposely interwoven.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: It’s Now the Right Time

Chapter 2: Rewind

Chapter 3: A Youngster Once Again

Chapter 4: Confession of Innocence

Chapter 5: Battle with Emotions

Chapter 6: The Interrogation

Chapter 7: Liar, Liar

Chapter 8: Fog

Chapter 9: Insanity of Normality

Chapter 10: White House Doors Open

Chapter 11: Testimony

Chapter 12: Feeling Closer to God

Chapter 13: Best Friends Forever

Chapter 14: Heaven Can’t Always Wait

Chapter 15: A Metamorphosis

Chapter 16: Return

About the Author: URBAN MIYARES

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Chapter 1: It’s Now the Right Time

There is that time when you’re born, the time to live and get old, and then comes a time to die. Maybe the right time is now to Rewind my age and live life over once again, Walter Mora said silently to himself while his youngest grandchild, Tricia, an eight-year-old, emphasized each word she read aloud from her handmade birthday card.

Happy Seventy-Fifth Birthday, Grandpa Wally. The secret to life is always having fun and behaving like a kid. Grandpa, I love you, Tricia said and gave Grandpa Wally a kiss on his cheek and handed him a clear plastic display case with a white stone inside Grandpa, this is for your stone collection, and I painted LOVE on it.

Sweetheart, I’m going to put your wonderful birthday gift in front of all my special stones in the Grandpa Hut display case and I love you, too, Grandpa Wally said and gave his granddaughter a hug.

With everyone laughing at the drama of each word Tricia read on her birthday card and Tricia showing her love for Grandpa Wally, Wally joined in the laughter but wishing Grandma Claire was there to share in the laughter and be there for his birthday.

Wally wanted to have a quiet birthday party with only the immediate family and remembered how his oldest child, Sondra, objected telling him, Dad, seventy-five years is a milestone and especially this year your family and friends insist on celebrating this special day with you. Then is when Wally knew there would be a big birthday party for him as arguing with Sondra, his attorney daughter, was futile.

Even though the birthday party invitations sent with mention of No Gifts, for a few friends it was an incentive to bring gag notions about Wally’s number of bygone years. Wally welcomed the kidding about the gag gifts reflecting his advancing age, aware at any time he could reverse his antiquity and returned as a youthful version of himself – the intention Claire and he had when they were too old or deathly ill – but understood that if he did Rewind his age, it sadly would be without Claire.

For Wally’s birthday, his fourteen-year-old grandson Michael, and Trisha’s older brother, gave him a framed picture with two photos, one photo of himself at fourteen and the other a recent photo of Michael, with both of them wearing judo uniforms and yellow belt.

Grandpa, the photos of you and Michael at fourteen clearly shows Michael is a reflection of you, Ada, Wally’s daughter-in-law, Norman’s wife, and Michael and Trisha’s mother, said. Michael is working hard to achieve the same level of black belt as you reached.

Wally smiled at the framed photos showing him and Michael paired alongside him.

Dad, these photos of you and your grandson looks so much like the photos of you and your identical twin brother, Uncle Morgan, when you both were fourteen, his daughter Sondra said.

Wally looked at the photos with fond remembrances of competing with his brother in judo class when they were kids. Breaking from his daydream, Wally said, Michael, what a fantastic birthday gift, and seeing how quickly you are growing is evidence the Mora genes continue to shine even brighter with each advancing year.

Wally’s daughter, Sondra, and her husband, Fred, had only one child, Clark, a high school senior, and he handed Grandpa Wally a book on space travel for his birthday.

Thank you, Clark, and I hope you already read this book, said Wally.

Absolutely, Grandpa, and I know you’re going to love it, too. Next year I begin college towards getting my bachelor degree with a science major and after graduating, I plan to go to astronaut candidate school.

That is truly exciting, Clark, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if I joined you as your astrophysicist flying to far-off planets? Wally said with visionary thoughts after his age Rewind to be with his oldest grandson exploring the galaxy.

Dad … Ada and I went through all the photos everyone had of the family. Here is a photo chronicle of both you and Mom from your childhood up to this year, and includes me and Norman, and the grandchildren, said Sondra.

Wally looked at the large photo album having the names Walter S. Mora, MD, PhD, and Claire M. Mora, PhD in gold lettering on the album’s brown leather cover and he began to tear. Opening the album, the first page was a line illustration showing the Mora genealogy beginning with Claire and his name at the top, below were the names of their two children, Sondra and Norman with their spouses, Fred and Ada, and underneath were the grandchildren – Clark, Michael, and Trisha.

Slowly turning to the next page, Grandpa Wally smiled seeing the wedding picture of Claire and him when they were both in graduate school fifty-four years earlier— Claire older by five months. He stared at the picture with vivid memories of a special time, seemingly recent. Turning to the next page, Wally laughed aloud at the two photos, one of Claire and the other of himself as infants.

With the grandkids looking over his shoulder, Grandpa Wally slowly turned each page of Claire and his life’s picture album to the last page. It stood empty, apparently waiting for one final, album-ending photograph.

Taking a break to wipe his watery eyes, Wally said, This album is a perfect birthday gift and I already have the photo for this final page. I love you all, and this album full of special memories of Grandma Claire and me over our seventy-five years of life will proudly be displayed on my living room coffee table for all to see.

The party continued with the birthday cake, singing of Happy Birthday, with Wally quietly making a wish, and his three grandchildren helping him blow out the candles. Sondra handed him a knife for the ceremonially first cut into the cake. Wally made one cut with the knife and leaving the knife’s blade wedged in the cake Sondra then cut pieces of cake for everyone.

Wally loudly announced when everyone was eating their slice of birthday cake, Who knows where I might be in the universe at this same time for my birthday next year. No one commented on his remark; unaware of his hidden message.

Shortly after everyone ate their dessert, his birthday party ended, with hugs, kisses, and congratulations. Sondra’s husband Fred and teenage son, Clark, soon left to watch a baseball game. His son Norman, and his wife, Ada, and their two children, Michael and Trisha, were the last to leave the party with Trisha hugging him tightly.

After Wally helped bring the glasses and dishes into the kitchen for Sondra to wash, he sat at the kitchen table thinking how life was but a numerical number of your age and what you did on a specific month and day … a measurement with tomorrow but a pause in anticipation of what would happen the next numbered day on the calendar.

Sondra turned to speak and saw her father in a daze. Dad, is everything all right?

Sorry, dear … I just had a reflection of past years. I am fine and thank you for the birthday party. I had a good time, but it sure was empty without grandma here, Wally said. Miss her terribly.

Yes dad, mom was surely missed by everyone, but her spirit was definitely here with us to celebrate on your seventy-fifth birthday. So glad you agreed to the birthday party as everyone had fun. Hope you realize how many people love and care about you.

Yes, I’m most fortunate, said Wally as his hand reached for the stack of birthday cards and bag of birthday gifts. With a deep breath, Wally said as he exhaled, Sondra, I’m thinking about taking an extended vacation to get away. Possibly escape to a tropical island. Is there any reason why I need to stay in Las Vegas? You already have my full power of attorney if you need my signature and whatever you and your brother agree on is fine with me.

There is no real urgency for you to be in Las Vegas right now. The only item I know of is the pending legal action on mom’s car accident and her death, said Sondra. Dad, I can handle the legal part of what happened to mom while you are gone, but Mom’s case is proceeding far too slowly to my liking. A Las Vegas police officer did tell me that they still were unable to find the driver who stole and drove the vehicle, but found alcohol in the car’s front seat and assume he was drunk.

Also, dad, it’s becoming more bizarre each day after mom’s tragic car accident. The insurance company of the owners of the stolen car that collided with mom’s car is apparently overanxious to settle with us even before a police report filed and the unidentified driver found. This lack of information about what happened to mom has me awful suspicious that someone is intentionally hiding something from us, Sondra said.

Honey, your mom’s death surely changed the plans your mother and I had for our retirement years. I remember how excited we were three years ago when moving from New Jersey to be with you, your brother, and the grandchildren in Las Vegas. We truly loved the home your husband Fred designed and built for us in the back of your property to enjoy the retirement lifestyle in Vegas. Then the terrible car accident happened … something you are never prepared for, Wally said.

Definitely, Dad, and we weren’t ready either for mom to be gone but we are happy you are now in Las Vegas with us. Don’t know what we would have done if you were alone and still lived in our old house back East, said Sondra and gave her father a hug. We all love you and will get through this difficult time together.

Just then, the house phone rang …

Hello, Dr. Stan … so good to hear from you, said Sondra in an uplifting voice to sound positive aware that Dr. Stanley Davis’ wife, Ann, drowned a couple weeks before her mother’s tragic death. Dr. Stan, do you still live in New York City?

Dr. Stanley Davis abruptly responded with only a Is your father home?

Dad, it’s Dr. Stan, and he sounds awfully troubled, Sondra said in a low tone with her hand covering the phone’s mouthpiece.

Hey, Stan, great to hear from you on my birthday, said Wally. It seems as if the only time we talk since our retirements is when there is a tragedy or special event with either one of us. I called you when Claire and I heard about Ann’s terrible accident to say how sorry we were and I left a message on your phone.

Bernie is dead; he was murdered, Said Stan quickly.

Surprised by Stan ignoring his comment about calling him when his wife, Ann, died, and Stan not offering any condolences over Claire’s recent death Wally said, Slow down, Stan, you are talking awful fast. Did you say Bernie was murdered?

Yes, and I need to talk to you before they get me and you too, Stan said.

Wait there, Stan, said Wally. Who are ‘they’? Have you become delusional?

Wally, I’m not losing my mind, it’s those government people we both know. Bernie’s wife, Eleanor, called me an hour ago and said two men came to their home in New Jersey early this morning and took Bernie to a special meeting. Bernie told Eleanor they were from the FBI and hoped to be back home in a couple of hours, said Stan. Eleanor also said the same thing happened a week earlier when men dressed in suits came unexpectedly to their home and drove Bernie somewhere. But, today, when Bernie returned home this morning, Eleanor said Bernie looked pale and worried and told her if anything happened to him it was about your Fog Project and that you and I were next on the government’s hit list.

Stop right there, Stan. I can’t believe it, Wally said, unable to accept Stan’s story as but a figment of his apparent bended mind, possibly caused by the stress of Ann’s death or Stan’s exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins from working in the lab.

Stan ignored Wally’s words as he continued about Eleanor saying she was in shock before she was able to call 9-1-1 to report Bernie’s death when a police officer suspiciously came to their home. Then within minutes, the ambulance came, followed by the same FBI agents who were at their home earlier that day, and told her they would take care of Bernie’s body.

Eleanor told me that she went to a neighbor’s home to calm herself and when she returned home, she found her house in shambles with Bernie’s computer, cell phone, and files gone. They even removed from Bernie’s office walls all the photos of us and the technicians in the lab, said Stan. Wally, Eleanor is now in seclusion, somewhere.

Wally, I’m sure those FBI agents tried to get information from Bernie on that high-priority Fog Project of yours and gave Bernie that potent truth serum you and Bernie developed year’s earlier for intelligence … and Bernie’s heart couldn’t take it, Stan said.

All this doesn’t sound right to me. Stan, what makes you think those FBI agents were so emphatic about getting information from Bernie on that secret Project when Bernie and you weren’t involved with its research? Wally said.

Stan immediately responded as if prepared for Wally’s question and said, Intelligence apparently believe that you, Bernie, and I talked to one another about the scientific projects you assigned us, and you also confided in us about your warfare Fog Project.

Now, Stan, you know that was a priority top-secret project intelligence assigned exclusively to me, and even the appointed technician to assist me remained outside my restricted and quarantine lab area. When intelligence raided our lab and removed all our data and samples, it prevented me from completing that special project, Wally said.

Wally, they didn’t destroy any of your lab samples, said Stan. While Bernie was still working at the lab, Bernie told me military technicians experimented with your deadly Fog mixture on their own, and four chemical warfare Army specialists died.

Couldn’t be, said Wally, shaken by Stand’s comment and confused why Bernie would talk to Stan, as no one could possibly know about his Fog mixture with the deathly molecule. Even his last report on the Fog Project only briefly mentioned a substance he was researching.

Wally, Bernie also told Eleanor he was convinced your wife, Claire, didn’t die by accident; the feds murdered her, Stan said.

What! Wally exclaimed, shocked hearing Stan say Claire was murdered and bewildered why Bernie didn’t tell him all of this when they often talked on the phone and especially a week earlier when Bernie called him with offering his and Eleanor’s condolences over Claire’s death. That can’t be right, Stan. I cannot believe the government intentionally killed Claire. My daughter told me that the police said the driver of the stolen car was likely drunk and fled from the crash. Why would anyone in the government want Claire dead?

Wally, they think we also told our wives about what we did, said Stan. At first, I wanted to believe my wife, Ann, accidentally fell overboard on our Caribbean cruise just five weeks ago. Now, with Bernie’s murder along with other happenings I know of from the lab, I am convinced Ann’s death was no accident. I’m sure someone from the government was on the cruise and pushed her overboard and Ann drowned.

No, they surely didn’t kill Claire, Ann, and now Bernie, Wally said, stunned at Stan’s claim. It doesn’t make sense why they didn’t go after me first.

Stan hesitated before he said, Wally, you know how we worked for the government for a long time and met many strange people that had a dark mindset. With us together in the lab, especially when you worked on the Fog Project, intelligence surely believes with the three of us being close friends, Bernie and I also have highly-sensitive information about your Fog mixture.

Wally, they targeted our wives first to scare us and then went to Bernie’s home for information about the Fog Project with Bernie the last of us three to retire. Now, they are after me for information before they hunt for you. Wally I’m on the run and strongly urge you to disappear quickly so you and I don’t end up like the others, Stan said.

Stan, this is all so horrific, Wally said.

Yes, Wally, and I’m sure you remember that after the midnight raid in the lab how security checks intensified on all of us working in the lab. Then you, Bernie, and I whispered among ourselves that someone in intelligence suspected us of doing something prohibitive and how we felt watched even closer … we were right; they were watching us, said Stan.

Recalling how Bernie told him to be careful of Stan and not tell him too much, Wally remained quiet and let Stan continue to tell his story.

Wally, I can vividly remember how disturbed you were about the unexpected cancelation of your Fog Project and the surprise raid by intelligence. You then became quiet and hibernated in your restricted lab area where you did personal research. Bernie and I were sure you completed the Fog Project’s deadly formula when you announced your intention to retire, Stan said.

Wally was uneasy at Stan’s comment, never suspecting Stan knew about the danger of the deathly Fog mixture or that Stan and Bernie had any thoughts about him performing research secretly in his secluded area of the lab. It all seemed too farfetched, especially Stan’s story about Bernie confiding to Stan before talking to him first."

Without hesitation, as if reading from a prepared list Stan immediately said, Do you recollect the two technical assistant we once had in the lab and why one technician working with you suddenly left when the Fog Project was canceled, and the second lab technician remained even after you announced your retirement?

Wally remained quiet to learn more and Stan rushed to say, When Bernie and I last talked, after Ann was murdered, Bernie told me those two young lab technicians died in a military airplane crash in the Antarctic. Now, Wally, I know you too must find that beyond coincidental.

Unable to keep quiet any longer, Wally said, I hadn’t heard of all this and it all sounds unbelievable as if you are reading a suspense novel with Bernie, you, and me as the main characters. Stan, it’s difficult for me to comprehend why anyone in the government wants to murder those in the lab, especially our wives and us. It’s not their M-O.

Wally, the feds are surely listening to our phone conversation now and I needed to tell you before I vanished. I’m sure that with your analytical mind, you can clearly see that there are too many related incidents, too close in time with the same association. If you want to stay alive, you need to disappear immediately, and don’t be shocked if you learn of Eleanor and my deaths, just like your wife Claire, Bernie, my wife Ann, and the two technicians. Be well my long-time friend and colleagues. Goodbye for now, Stan said.

Wally sat silently with the kitchen phone still in his hand after Stan abruptly hung up. Mortified over what he just heard especially as to Stan’s allegation that the government was behind Claire’s death, he needed to be alone to think.

Dad, what did Stan say? You look upset, Sondra said.

Dr. Bernie is dead, Wally responded to his daughter.

Oh, no … I’m so sorry, dad. Bernie was such a kind man. I know you and mom were close friends with Bernie and his wife, Eleanor, for years, Sondra said knowing by her father’s troubled look that now wasn’t the right time to ask any questions.

"Sondra, this news