Boxes and Lovers.

  The sunlight spread across the kitchen floor in glowy , creamy , coat of cotton candy.The white furniture seemed to share the light and breath in the possibilities of the new day. Boxes of porcelain and glass were pilled up in a corner. The bare windows had no protection against the light show through them.
  Silence prevailed in the corridors of the one story house on Apple Tree Street. Carboard boxes took place of what , with time , would become the tea corner and the reading nook.There were no smells in the house , save for the smell of fresh paint.The walls were light green , the wooden floors were glistering after being waxed by the contractors. The same professionals that made sure all the doors were new and the ceiling had received a new coating of pesticide.
 
  "I hate bugs!" said Mitchel , looking at the ceiling of their new bedroom. They were in bed , naked under the white sheets.Sore tired after all the packing and hasty , inaugurational , sex in the new home.His eyes wandered a bit and then focused on the house across the street , through the unprotected window."I hope we didn't scare the neighbors , last night!" He said looking at Bernardo by his side. Having enough of his husband's looks seemed impossible to his eyes. Brown skin , strong jaw , shaved head. Full red lips , masculine nose and almond shaped eyes that , when zoomed on him , shot right through his heart,
 
  They were opposites , and that was half of the appeal to him. His Britishly tanned skin and pale blond hair looks alien in comparison to his lover's face and body.More often than not, Mitchel could feel the attentive eyes of Bernardo evaluating his features in the same way he did his. rarely had a talk about race happened among them. Both were always busy and time being of the essence , they talked mostly about their love for each other and their cases.

  "I think we should have a hound. A monstruous one." suggested Mitchel rolling his vintage wheelchair across the corridor. "I'd sure love the company during the stake out hours of your day."
"You could come with me , you know." Bernardo shot a ironic eye at his lover and finished setting the breakfast table. " Having a dog in the house would require a dog walker and a dog nanny..."
Mitchel smiled dismissing the subject. He knew that his husband would take his time to ponder on the subject for the whole day. With Bernardo it was either yes or no, anything different from that took its time to be ripe. He just wondered if the black ,Brazilian, man would pick a breed dog or a stray one. He hoped for the latter.

   "What time does Sybil come today?" asked Bernardo sitting down with a relief expression.
"The arrengement was made for nine , but she is know for being late. Specially now that she's got a new fellow." Mitchel's youngest niece was one of the few people in the world about whom Bernardo would fell confortable discussing their private matters. He cared deeply for her. She was family.
"And what do we know about him?" He said holding the mug of coffee in mid air. savoring the moment , the blond one spread a knife full of butter on his toast  , looked at the cupboards , looking pensive and then zeroed on his Bernardo's eyes  , saying; "He's a police officer!"

  "That sure looks fairy!" said Sybil walking towards her cousins' new home. White picket fence , French windows , no trees in the front yard. A two car garage , with the Maverick and the Pick Up parked side by side. "Hello , guys!" she said opening the door. "In the kitchen!" shouted Mitchel.
"That looks  , prepared in a haste!" said the girl looking at the makeshift meal. She sat down and grabbed a piece of bread.

"We need to talk about your guy!"
"How subtle , Bernardo.." mumbled Mitchel  , sipping his drink.
"What about him?"  One thing that made Sybil the only realtive with a spare key to their new home was the fact that she talked to , both of , them as if they had been raised in the same daycare center.

"How did you guys meet?" asked Bernardo passing her a glass of milk.
"At a party , I guess. he was there as a stripper  , for my friend Bachelorette party. I liked his ass and asked for his phone number. Just like you taught me!" She winked at Mitchel and they clinked their glasses.
"I thought he was a cop!"
"He is. But their salary is not a good one so , he moonlights as an exotic dancer!"
"I like it. It gives him character..." said Mitchel observing the expressions on his husband's face as a kid would watch their favorite morning show. "Why don't you invoite him over to help out with the boxes? That would be delightful!"
 "Well," said the girl feeling a bit trapped. " I gathered you'd want the house for yourselves a little longer. I just came by to check it out and set the things going for you , Mitch. He's coming by , after lunch and we're going to the movies."
"It's Monday. I thought he worked." interjected Bernardo standing up and putting his mug in the sink.


"He's just worried , you know." said Mitchel as he and Sybil were trying to clean up the breakfast mess and opening the boxes with their utensils.
"Oh , don't fret , Mitch. I love him to bits.I worry about you guys in the same way. Besides , I can't imagine the stress you both are, with the new home to put together and all."
"An by all , you mean our current popularity predicament?" They were in silence for a few seconds.
"Do you talk about it? I mean , is Bernardo ok with what happened?"
" He broods. He puts on his boxing gloves and bashes the sandbag.He looks at me with something I cannot describe in his eyes. We don't talk , though."
 "That sucks!Where do  you want me to put this porcelain bowls?They look precious!"
"On the highest shelf , I like seeing him all stretched up." Mitchel rolled his chair to the backdoor and looked outside.

 It had  all happened last year. People from the department had seen them leaving the theater , together. Then people saw them having dinner at fancy restaurants , together. The first headline about it said:

"Supernatural Love. What's the Spin on This , Mr Souza?"

 Before they were together , Bernardo had a TV Show , derived from his book series , "What You Can't See!". Investigations about all sorts of creatures and their bizarre endeavours to remain unnoticed by mankind. The show really gained an audience once it decided , in its second season, to reopen cold cases.
 Fans from all over the globe started to suggest cases in which the answers had not been sufficent to quench their thirst for justice or give them closure. Kidnappings. Apparitions. Monsters Sighting.It become the meat and bread for the show. Bernardo would provise his knowledge of the occult and his team of investigators would sort out what cases should be shown in the next episode. Things were going smoothly , until Mitchel's letter arrived.


"Dear Mr.Souza,

 You don't know me , but I'm quite confident you have heard of the Case of the Rich Body Snatchers. My family has been called that for many years , among our social circle , given the fact that , well , we actually look the part. 
 I write to you in order to prove the innocence of a relative of mine , that has lost her very promissing job as a nurse due to rumours and speculations surrounding , well , bodies being snatched at her work place.

Should you feel intrigued by my letter , I enclose my address , knonw by few.

Sincerely , 

Mitchel Daisy."






" Hello , we don't have a butler." was the first thing said my Mitchel to Bernardo , when they met. "I can't thank you enough for replying to my letter. Would you care for a drink?"
"No, thanks, and , you're welcome." The tall black man's eyes pierced throught the body of his host in a very cold manner. "That is a very nice body , you've picked."
"I beg your pardon!?"
Before answering , the investigator looked around the room of the secluded beach house.It has taken him two hours to get there. he was tired but , more than anything , he was intrigued.
  The house was beautiful. Modern  , with glass walls all over. One floor. He had seen a Maverick in his way in, but , facing it's host , he wondere who would drive that machine.
"I said , it's a very nice body , you picked. Wheelchair aside."
"Am I under the impression you actually believe I'm from a family of body snatchers?"
"You'd be right." He sat down on a chair , prior to any invitation , crossed his legs and looked the blond man in the eye. "Unlike your relatives you kept your real name over the last seven decades. You've made sure none of them knew where you've been living and hired a wizard to cast a cloaking spell around that wonderful car in your driveway."
Mitchel was speechless. He had watched the show. People had assured him the guy was nothing but an artist. And yet....

"Who was he?" asked Bernardo taking his phone from the pocket and , apparently , taking notes on everything he could see in the room.
"I'm not sure I understand your question." said Mitchel , in a low, cold voice.
"The man whose skin you're wearing. I couldn't find any history on him. Who was he? If I am to help you and not vanquish you and your family from the face of the Earth , I need to know what kind of body snatcher you are." He put his phone on his lap and put his fingers on top of it, " You see. I am a professional. An entertainer , as they say. But I also know a lot about what lies beneath." The last word was punctuated by a look at the floor that Mitchel could swear had reached the core of the planet.

"He was a whoker. A prostitute I hired in the final days of my other body. I invited him in. Payed his way through college. Got him a job and , when he was about to kill me for my money , I acted upon my basic nature and reversed the scenario." He paused and held the wheels of the chair with his strong hands." This , happened after , when I was riding my motorbike in South America.."

"Which begs the question..."

"I'm not a body snatcher. Not like my others. I like living. I enjoy living more than most people I've met. You're right in assuming that my peer would have , gladly , taken the body of another person after an unfortunate situation such as this. But I decided to thrive and I have.Living this life , in this body to the fullest and to the end is one of my goals, currently."

"Currrently?"

"Well , when you have the uncanny ability to dodge death , my friend , you tend to call things like you see them."

"And how do you see them?"asked Bernardo holding his phone again.

"I haven't got the slightest idea! Shall we talk about my niece's case , then?"

"I need to know.."

"You haven't got the right to know. Not yet , at least.." The threat was clear in Mitchel's tone and Bernardo , in spite of his bravado , felt the chill he always felt when facing the unknown. A young woman, wearing a floral dress walked in, carring a silver tray with cookies and pasteries. She beamed a smile at Bernardo and he couldn't help doing the same.

"I beg you forgive my uncle's behavior , sir. I overheard your talk. He kept telling me to simply embrace my nature and stay away from all of this demonic shit..."

"Sybil , watch your language!"

"Fuck off , Mitch! The guy seems legit! Anyway,I'm nothing like him." She sat down without offering anyone any of the deliciously looking food on the tray. " Mitch here , took me away from our fa,ily before the ritual was performed . It's a long story but , one is not born a body snatcher. I'm not. Thanks to him." She cast her benefactor a sweet look and he blushed. He blushed beautifully , in Bernardo's eyes. " I really don't need my job back. You are here for something else ,entirely."

"She needs to be proven innocent of the accusations..." Mitchel started.
"Before your family takes the matter into their own hands." Concluded Bernardo.




  They realized they were late for that once , while investigating the home where Sybil worked they ran into Sal. Uncle Sal. He was wearing a beatiful and strong Japanese man , a black suit and the most ridiculously colorful sneakers one can think of. He walked down the aisle and greeted the TV producers as the owner of the Home and greeted them with a smile that would have looked better on a snake gloating about having caught a fat prey.
  "Be welcome , Mr Souza . We love your show , here. Our residents find it most enterteining. Some of them would like to meet you and take pictures , and three are willing to get tested for body snatching."
 "How quaint!" smiled Bernardo , eyeing the man carefully and trying not to look as amazed as he was. "I thank you for being so open to our investigation, Mr..."
" Call me Mr. Sakuy , that will do. Follow me."

 Bernardo looked around, talked to people who had been under Sybil's care and filmed some interviews that pointed out that, what Mitchel had told him was true. Rumours had been spread by a handful of , jealous, nurses who had discovered Sybil's last name's associations and acted upon it. No suprises there , thought the investigator. If he had found all that he had online, a bunch of girls with lots of free time in their hands could do the same. He decided to talk to them.
The first one was a red head beauty. Curvaceous and aware of her effect on the male staff of the home.She looked at the black man as if she could blow his mind , and other things.
 "All I can say , sweety , is that , that girl has noplace in this home. I mean , look at her , eating raw meat all day and staring at me and others as if she could jump under our skin like that!" she snapped her fingers." I and the girls decided to look her up and voilà!"

The second girl was a burly dark haired bad teeth one.He could feel the bitterness and the jealousy emanating from her obstructed pores. Closing his supernatural senses , he simply asked her;
"Why body snatcher and not , slut?"
"Well...She is that  , too, I'm sure! But you see. Mr. Sakuy decided to put me in charge of the Staff Board , so I had to know everyone that works here , deeply. She was the only one with no family pictures. She had one of a handsome boy in a wheelchair , poor thing. But no one fell for the ' He's my only family' crap." She took a breath , looked over her shoulders and continued, " And there's the case of her offering..."
"What offering?" asked Bernardo.
" Well , over the years , we have residents that really get ot us. We feel like taking them home. It's against the rules , one cannot adopt a senile old fart , like that! But , some of them , told me she offered them a second chance, in a different body. When asked how she would do it, she simply said - their words -  that her family had been in the body snatching business for years!"




 "Well , I did make the offer." Sybil said , later that day , in the drawing room of the beach house. Both men were looking at ther, suprise printed in their faces. She was against the wall , holding a glass os wine. The sunlight  , in its fading moments , oozed into the room , casting shadows around the furniture. "They are all dying in there! I felt pity for them..."
" No one is judging you for that, Sybil." interrupted Mitchel."If there's one good thing our ...´gift´could do for people is prolonguing the life of those who deserved it. The thing is , we are not the ones to make this judgement. We don't pick who lives and who dies..."
" I know , because of The Rules." she said letting herself fall on a chair.
"There are rules for Body Snatching, then?" asked Bernardo to his host. He had decided to spend the weekend in tha beach house , to better look into the problem at hand. His crew was in a hotel in the nearest town.

"I'm sure you are familiar with them , Mr Souza.," said Mitchel. " We are nothing but a bunch of glorified magic dabblers who got lucky with on spell and have crafted it to it's perfection. In order to not draw attention of , whomever , we tend to lay low. The Rules are a set of paradigms devised in order to ensure no one steps outside the circle."

"Did you give any of them a new body?" Bernardo asked the girl. She looked at him in bafflement.He raised one eybrow at her. Mitchel looked at him and , for the first time , felt at ease in his presence.
"I didn't , but , I called home and told uncle Sal , I had people willing to step in and fill the void left by our departure."
Mitchel muffled a scream of disgust! " After all I did for you! How could you?!"
"They had already found us , Mitch!" She stood up."Uncle Sal , said to that aunt Roberta was now living in a skin of a media tycoon and they were willing to come out , like ..."
"Vampires. Good thing did that to them! Seen any of them lately , have you?" Mitchel said in a sarcastic way. "Humans don't share, my dear niece. The immortal blood scukers payed for their trust with their lives.How do you think they would feel if suddenly we stepped out of the shadows and said ; ´Hey , we've snatched your best bodies for more than a century. No harm done, most of them were losers , you can thank us later´ , my dear?"

"He' s right." the voice of the black man had a soothing effect on everyone in the room. "Even though my show has preyed on the hunger people developed after being exposed to the existence of the occult , you have to be careful. Torches and Pitch forks run deep in their blood. I'll sit with my crew and find a way to spind a story that shows how ridiculous this whole thing is. You have to deal with your family wish to come out. I'll hold the human side of this story. deal?"
"Deal" said the Daisies.






 "Can you believe it's been five years , since he stepped into our lives and made we look good?" Mitchel, turned his chair to his niece who was stocking food into the fridge. She stopped for a moment. "I'm sure he'll come around about the show. I mean , it's his legacy! Uncle , have you tried to convince him that the supernatural world needs him to...."
"To make us look good on human eyes? Yes , my lovely. I have , many and many times more than it would healthy for a starting couple." He rolled closer to her , " The thing is ; He started the show to promote his books. Then , it became a way for getting in touch with something he is sworn to protect mankind from , and now, we are asking him to use it to make monsters look good under the sunlight. How do you think he feels about that? People are calling him Supernatural Spin Doctor!"

"And you think it's all because of you, right?" she asked sitting on the floor in front of him .
"Well , I was the one who made him see that we are not all bad."