Dancing with the Stars

Chapter 18

Since knowledge is but sorrow's spy, It is not safe to know.

William Davenant

Trap in a world of secrecy and betrayal.

Kendall was a tall man nondescript, not handsome or ugly. He was an unmarried older gentleman. He had his own apartment rented it from his friend Bob. It was outside Los Angeles in a quiet neighborhood. It was a two-story white building at the end of a Cul e sac. Kendall had the top floor all to himself. It was furnished and well kept. Kendall like things in a particular order. Kendall was always fussing about his cleanliness. You would always find him wearing a suit with a crisp white shirt and bow tie. Kendall was well verse and always remember people names and what they did. It was his job to remember them. Kendall blends in with the crowd. Where if he didn't want anyone to remember him, they wouldn't. Kendall was trained. Train to infiltrate. In the war they would send him across enemy line in the middle of the night. He would sneak in and scout and return with where the Japs were. Kendall was also good at getting info out of the Japs that were capture. But all war comes to an end. Kendall found that working at home was mundane and boring. It was after the war that Mr. Anderson found him working at a theater. He asks if he would be willing to do something for his country. Kendall thought about it and agreed. Not knowing that he would spend the rest of his life trap in a world of secrecy and betrayal.

Kendall lived in a community just out of war where everyone was paranoid of everyone. The word communist was on everyone mind. If you didn't conform like everyone you must be a communist. Kendall work as a manager at a theater in downtown Los Angeles. It was where he could meet the right people. His real job was working for Mr. Anderson. Mr. Anderson gave him a list. Kendall was given a list. A list of names; actors, directors, screenwriters and others that might have ties to communism. Or any individuals who were seen as communist sympathizers.

His job was to find out if they were indeed communist sympathizer. He was told to meet with a reporter name Wicker and to see if he knew anything. Kendall did but all he had was hearsay. It was Kendall job to find out the truth. The stakes were high. The possibility of communist infiltrate Hollywood was astounding. Kendall memorizes the list of names and slowly became a part of the Hollywood stars.

Mr. Anderson wanted to investigate whether communist agents were in Hollywood and have planted propaganda in Hollywood films.

Kendall intertwined himself with the who who's in Hollywood. He set himself up as an agent. Kendall was always looking for new stars to give to the producers. It gave him a way to mingle and find out information he wanted. Kendall was to find out about the Hollywood stars. Who was secretly promoting communist values and let Mr. Anderson know.

It saddens him to think that his friends might be a communist sympathizer.

The names on the list Mr. Anderson gave him. Dan, Al, Frank, George, Bob, Charles, Ed, Sam, Ron, Matt, and John. He recognized all of them. George, Bob, and Frank, he always hung out with. The others he seen often at the parties George hosted. Kendall succeeds at what he did. He became everyone friend. Kendall learns to blend in to survived right out of the war. He didn't mind it, it suited him well. It was an honor to serve his country. That what he thought he sign up for. Kendall soon learns he had to live a lie. To betray a friend. It was something Kendall didn't sign up for. Kendall thought he would be serving his country not the selfishness of others.

He spent years perfecting his cover. Step by step Kendall worm his way into the life of the Who who's in Hollywood. The producers, the up-and-coming stars. They all knew Kendall. He was good at what he did. It took skill and patience to achieve what Kendall wanted. It is why Mr. Anderson gave him this assignment. Mr. Anderson knew Kendall had longanimity to complete it to the end.