╢Only The Strong Survive ╢Elvis Presley╢

♪ 4. Your safe place ♪

May 21th, 1965, Graceland.

Elvis Presley was given a two-day pass and returned to his estate on the first plane. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he scanned the people there.

Vernon, Joe, and the Colonel stood as Elvis wondered who to choose for his target. He looked at the Colonel, who was staring at him with great composure.

—Tom.— Elvis walked over to him. —By what right were Nancy and her sister allowed in here, huh?

—I wasn't here when it happened — Colonel said, raising his eyebrows. —But there were your dad and Joe.

Elvis looked at his father, then at Joe. He walked over to Joe and pointed a finger at him:

— We're going to my office.

Joe swallowed as the enraged Elvis left him and started down the hall. Joe looked at Vernon, who patted him on the shoulder.

— Just take it easy, son.

Joe nodded as he saw Elvis's belongings being brought in. As Joe followed his boss, the Colonel muttered:

—I'll bet the value of this land poor Esposito won't come out alive from your son's study.

— He will hold on — Vernon said quietly. — Elvis is furious, but he probably won't kill him ... 

—If the situation were different, it would be a nice joke — Colonel remarked. —But we know what happened before.

Vernon looked away - the Colonel realized that Elvis' psyche was failing and that he was beginning to be dangerous, but until his protégé had killed anyone yet, he felt he didn't need to intervene. Jo's death was disguised as an assault in the street - after all, the streets of Memphis are dangerous after dark, right?

—It would be good if Patricia really disappeared from his life — Colonel said. —As soon as she came into his life, problems started.

—Depends what problems you have in mind — Vernon replied. —It's not her fault my son became obsessed with her.

— Maybe, but she is his main distraction. Elvis is not focused on his work, only on her. We know it's not love, Ver. It's a sick desire, and Elvis needs to recover from it.

— You think he's just going to quit? — Vernon lifted the corner of his mouth. — Tom, she has his baby. Elvis won't rest until he gets Gladys back.

— You think Patricia will come back to him?

—Never — Vernon sighed. —My son ... his behavior is not rational. Patti wanted to leave before, but you know what happened.

— Yes, but know one thing — Tom grabbed Vernon's arm and led him to a secluded place. — If he gets her and does something to her, we'll have to intervene.

— So what would we do? Put Patti in a protected place?

—Of course - you had to do that right now, not be a puppet in Elvis' hands, Ver. If you really helped her, this girl would live somewhere quiet today, away from your son's madness.

Vernon didn't answer, and the Colonel finished:

— We can't let him kill her. He may want it now - she left him at her own request, after all. Double betrayal? We know Elvis barely took the first. Now he is unlikely to be so forgiving of her, especially since she took his daughter.

— He will look for them.

—Yes, and I want the innocent victim Patricia to live. If necessary, Elvis will have to be hospitalized.