The Lady the Priest and a Rabbi

By B. Ruiz

Lina Curam daughter of a holocaust survivor will execute revenge on the remaining Nazis survivors and their descendants. Deprived of a loving mother as a child because of her mother’s past traumas. Lina will use her inherited wealth, power and political connections to bring to justice those that have inflicted so much pain to her and her family. With a measure by measure and an eye for eye kind of judgment Lina struggles with her conscious and religious beliefs. But Judaism and Christianity have shaped her verdict.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669843870

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Copyright © 2022 by Bethania Ruiz.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Cover Design by Bianca Alexis Astralaga

Rev. date: 09/27/2022

Xlibris

844-714-8691

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Contents

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1Nothing Hidden Under the Sun

Chapter 2Find Me Under the Sun

Chapter 3Natural Causes

Chapter 4Wisdom Is Better than Strength

Chapter 5I Sell You, My Body. Pay me with your Morals

Chapter 6The Jewish Cardinal

Chapter 7The Hired Worker

Chapter 8My Eyes do See. My Ears do Hear. I am still Me

Chapter 9The Shame Is on the Aggressor

Chapter 10Hold my Hand in my Darkest Hour and Be the Moon that Lights Up My Path. I Will Cross Over Alone, but never Let My Hand Go.

Chapter 11Whoever keeps the Fig Tree Will Eat Its Fruit

Chapter 12In the Multitude of Counsel There Is Wisdom

Chapter 13And the Preacher Preached, Words of Truth and Wisdom

Chapter 14The First Letter

Chapter 15If Vegas Nevada Could Talk

Chapter 16Et Tu?

A Note to The Reader

Acknowledgement

To my wife Magnolia. Thank you for believing in me in all I do. Here is the finished product.

Bethania

The intensive care unit staff was aligned in the hallway leading to the operating room. Nurses, doctors, social workers, chaplains, respiratory therapists including the housekeeping staff had stopped their duties to show deference to a man that deserved none. The hospital staff was standing ceremoniously with the rest of the intensive care unit staff. They were all waiting for the patient in room number thirteen to pass by on his way to the operating room. It was called THE WALK OF HONOR. The patient in room thirteen was an organ donor and there were three patients waiting for him to expire so that he could save their lives. He was being transported to the operating room to have his organs harvested as stated in his advance directives. Since the bishop had died of multiple organ failure some of his organs could not be used. An accomplice to one of the biggest genocides in history, in his last hours on earth; was about to save three human beings. The bed made its final round past the hospital staff. The bishop was connected to a mechanical ventilator machine. He was in a comatose state, helpless and at the mercy of others. So much reverence and respect, he did not deserve.

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. A time for war and a time for peace.

King Solomon

Chapter 1

Nothing Hidden Under the Sun

What a nice view, she thought as she looked out the double glass doors. It was indeed, a very nice view. One could see the white sand, the blue ocean and the palm trees moving in unison against the wind. Lina loved the tropical weather, the small private island within the island of the Dominican Republic had been her home for many years, she liked the privacy of it. She had built and designed her tropical home according to her needs.

Ah! I really don’t want to get up this morning.

A sudden knock on her bedroom door, interrupted her thoughts.

May I come in? Said Marika

Sure, as long as you are not coming in empty handed Replied Lina.

Marika put down a silver tray, on it there were two fried eggs over easy, a glass of orange juice and bacon. In a little cup there were a few vitamins.

Good morning my sweet girl. Marika said.

"My favorite, I could eat this every morning! Thank you! Replied Lina joyously.

She started to eat her breakfast when her cell phone rang.

Good morning. A voice said on the other end.

-She froze and stopped chewing. It was a phone call she had been expecting but one she did not want to answer but that when she did, she knew it was her time to make all things from the past right.

We found him, the voice said and he is closer to you than what you think

Be here at 1300 she said, I am sure you know the address

See you at 1300 my lady

Gabriel, make sure to leave your sarcasm at the door.

Marika? she called out but Marika did not answer. She called her a second time and still no answer. She got up from the bed walked to the kitchen and found Marika sobbing wiping away her tears.

I have a very bad feeling that something terrible is going to happen said Marika her voice trembling.

I am not going to lie to you, something terrible will happen but not to me, not to you. I cannot allow fear to paralyze me. I will not allow it. Did you forget? Or have you forgiven? Asked Lina.

Neither Replied Marika regaining her composure.

How can anyone forget such monstrosity! We all have waited, to think you were so little, your parents did not deserve that, no one does

Let us stay focused. I have to get dressed. I will see you later. Lina gave Marika a kiss on the forehead.

Marika was in her fifties or early sixties, no one knew her exact age. She believed that a lady should not disclose her age. She had been Lina’s au pair since birth. She knew her and loved her like her own daughter. The feeling was mutual, Lina took care of her and protected her like her own mother. Their bond was unbreakable and had been sealed with blood. A woman can do anything if she puts her mind to it, she had always said to Lina. And Lina had it all in her favor. Beauty, health, powerful allies and a vast fortune. She felt proud that in spite of all the tragedies that had happened to Lina none of them had destroyed her. Scarred yes.

Ha, it is true what does not kill you makes you stronger Marika repeated again in French Ce qui ne tue pas vous rend plus fort. She lit one of her favorite lady Dominican cigars and said, Good luck my beautiful girl".

The elevator doors leading to the foyer’s main entrance opened up and Lina stepped out. She looked at her watch, it was 1300. She was waiting anxiously for the call from the security gate to announce the arrival of her expected guest. The intercom made a buzzing sound and Lina rushed to answer without waiting for the butler.

Madam, I have a Mr. Gabriel Mensajeros at the gate he says he has an appointment with you at 1300

Let him in please Felipe. Felipe?

Yes Madam?

Please do not forget to inspect him for weapons and remove any if present, my rules apply to everyone, including Gabriel.

Very well, will do. Replied the guard.

A few minutes later Gabriel Mensajeros stepped into foyer and Lina directed him to the elevator. Lina and Gabriel got on the elevator and went up to the second floor of the penthouse where her study was. It was a beautiful and elegant room, with a large mahogany desk in the center, and built-in bookcases in the wall. It was her favorite room in the mansion. Lina liked to keep the books she read. She had a vast collection of classic books. She disliked reading from electronic devices. She liked the old fashion way of holding a book and feeling its pages.

What are you having? She asked Gabriel.

I will have a black coffee please. Just black no milk nor sugar. And hello to you too. Said Gabriel directing his gaze towards Michael who was sitting quietly on a sofa. Michael acknowledged him.

Lina picked up the telephone on her desk and requested for a black coffee to be brought in and requested an espresso for her.

"Where are they? She asked.

We found one, I figured he can lead us to the rest of them.

Gabriel reached into his Italian suit inside pocket and pulled out a small envelope, he took out a photograph and an address and handed it to Lina.

Lina took one look at the photograph and sat down very slowly in her brown Italian leather chair matching her desk. She held the photograph in her hand and studied the photo for a few seconds.

His eyes, I am almost certain he is one of them but there is only one way to confirm it. She picked up the telephone and dialed a number and asked for the flight plans to be cleared. She requested for her private jet to be ready as early as four am.

There was a light knock on the door, and Marika came in carrying two coffees on a silver tray.

Marika you look wonderful as usual Gabriel said.

You look well yourself. Thank you.

Is there anything else you need Lina?

No thank you, but I do want you to stay. Please do have a seat. Said Lina.

Alan Rosenthal? That is the name one of those bastards is going by? What a mockery!" Said Lina.

-Gabriel found this asesino (criminal) living in a small town in Florida, hiding under a Jewish name. A town called Tamarac. I am leaving as soon as the jet is ready and the flight plans are all clear. Michael and Gabriel are coming with me.

Michael was Lina’s personal security guard. A young Israeli retired intelligence agent. A trained killer machine product of the Israeli special forces or the Agency. Michael had no conscience to judge him, he did what needed to be done. Nothing to reproach his actions. He could kill anything or anyone and forget about it right after. A criminal to match the criminals. Lina trusted Gabriel Mensajeros, but not the way she trusted Michael. Gabriel was impulsive, vain and emotional. Michael was cold and tactical and always on a protective mode when it came to Lina. Gabriel was the messenger of the operation and Michael the force, and the strategic brain.

I hope this is the end of it. I hope that once and for all we can all finish this and go on. Said Marika.

I made a promise to myself years ago, and I intend and will fulfil it. Said Lina.

Please be careful. Marika stood up. She hugged Lina and kissed her on the forehead.

Bis spater Gabriel (German for see you later) Said Marika.

-Bis spater Marika." Replied Gabriel.

- Gabriel handed Lina a green folder that contained all of his research.

In the early 1969s a developer named KB came from the Midwest and bought land where he could create an active adult community. He called his new city Tamarac. It is part of the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. Which had been estimated to have a population over 66,054.

Sounds like a small town and going by your research its population is mostly retirees. Said Lina.

Of course, that has changed in the past years due to blacks and Hispanics and other nationalities migrating to Florida. Added Gabriel. I have been to Miami. Gabriel said. But mostly South Beach. It’s just too hot and overcrowded for me in Miami. There is excellent food and beautiful women though.

I had to do a job there once in Fort Lauderdale, at least one of us is familiar with the area. Said Michael.

Tell me a state or city where you have not been Michael. Said Gabriel.

It is a puzzle to me that a person with so much power and opulence would end up in a small town in Florida. Said Lina.

"Well, it is the perfect front if you ask me, who would look for him or the others there. According to this report he goes by the name of Alan Rosenthal. Born in December 12, 1925, Born in Bamberg, Germany. I also obtained his medical records. He has not been too lucky in health. Minor stroke in 2001. Had a recent left hip open reduction and internal