The Curse of Dr. Zola

Chapter 16

By May of 2008, Bucky had a pretty good list of clients, considering he did it the old-fashioned way of knocking on doors.

Mary had purchased a riding lawn mower and a push type, plus all sorts of tools. When he began protesting, she reminded him that it would be necessary for upkeep anyway, he relented…a little. He still insisted on giving her so much money towards the cost, and some rent money. She agreed on one condition….that he pay the same rate as he would have in 1944.

Since he collected pay in cash, but he couldn't have a bank account, he needed a place to stash his money. They decided the secret room was the best place. She bought a fire-proof safe for him to store his money. They also made some discoveries. In the secret room were compartments designed for further secrecy. One held the blueprints for the house, the unofficial ones, and it showed where all the other secret compartments were. They began opening the compartments and Mary discovered where all of her mothers' wealth went to; cash, and jewelry were stuffed into each compartment! It looked like millions and millions of dollars' worth!

One night watching the news, there was a clip about NYC's billionaire Tony Stark. He'd been kidnapped and held in the Middle East by some terrorist group but somehow managed to escape. Apparently, later the group camp had been destroyed by an iron clad man, and now, here was Tony Stark, giving a press conference, and claiming to be Iron Man!

Mary googled Tony Stark, and found his biography less than stellar; an arrogant playboy, with narcissist tendencies. He was brilliant, true, but he wasted his money on floozy women and booze. His father, Howard Stark, made his money, lots of it, in making weapons for the military in WWII.

"I remember Howard from the expo."

"It says here, Howard and his wife were killed in a car crash December 16, 1991. Tony was an only child, and he inherited everything, including, Howard's genius. Bucky, I wonder…."

"What?'

"Well, maybe he can help us." She turned from the computer. "Maybe he knows someone, maybe we can find out what really happened to you."

"It's worth a shot."

She continued searching, and when she gasped, Bucky sat up. "What is it?"

"Come look."

There, on the computer, was a picture of Steve, posing with Howard Stark!

Bucky was quiet as he stared at the old photo.

"Are you okay?"

"It seems like yesterday."

She put her hand on his arm. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry."

He swallowed, and went back to the sofa. She joined him, and rested her head upon his shoulder. He adjusted his position and drew her into him.

They had gotten closer over the winter, but unlike the 1940's, Bucky had not made any moves on her. He was a changed man, a still grieving man.

"Maybe we can take a trip down to Manhattan and try to see him."

"I won't drive in the City, but I know where we can catch the bus."

So, that's what they did, except it didn't turn out the way they expected.

"OK, I understand. So, then can we make an appointment?"

The receptionist flipped thru pages and pages of the book in front of her. "How about July 30th?"

"That's 2 months away. There's nothing before that?"

"I'm afraid not."

Sighing, Mary nodded. The woman took their information and bid them a good day. Bucky put his arm around her shoulders and they left Stark Tower.

"After this Iron Man thing, he's probably pretty busy."

"I know, Bucky, but right now, he's the closest thing we have to finding out answers."

"Hey, I've waited 63 years to find answers; I think a couple more months aren't going to hurt."

"Ok, so, what do want to do now?"

"Wanna take the train into Brooklyn?"

A couple of days before the appointment in July, Mary got a message on her answering machine, apologizing, but Mr. Stark would have to re-schedule, and a date in August was left.

When that date came, the same thing happened with a new date in September.

And then there was a new date for October.

"No one is that busy, that he can't spare 5 minutes!"

"I suppose…." Bucky was at a loss for words.

"Well, let's take another trip, maybe we'll luck into a cancellation."

"I'm sorry, but Mr. Stark isn't seeing anyone today."

"Can we wait in the lobby for a while, maybe someone cancels?"

"If you're here without an appointment, you'd be loitering. I'd have to call the police."

"Are you kidding me? We just need literally 5 minutes."

"I'm sorry."

"Can we at least book another appointment?"

"Mr. Stark isn't accepting any new appointments at this time."

"What? We've been waiting since May."

"I know, but he's a very busy man."

"What about the appointment we do have?"

She looked it up. "Oh, yes, I see it. I'm afraid it would have to be canceled as well."

Mary looked like she was going to explode, so Bucky turned her towards him. "It's not the end of the world. We'll figure something out."

"But, Bucky…."

"We'll figure it out, we will."

He put his arm around her and they walked out.