Chapter Twenty-Two

Part One

Silvio eased his quiet hybrid electric car along the dark and deserted alley without headlights. Earlier in the day, he had pulled the bulbs from the interior light fittings to avoid attracting attention when the doors opened. He selected a spot where the shadow was deepest, parking with his passenger’s side right up against a solid brick wall so it wouldn’t inadvertently block another vehicle and be noticed if one happened to come through. Silvio grimaced as he stood, taking a moment to let the pain from his groin settle before awkwardly picking his way…   >> MORE <<

Part Two

In Alberto’s, the music and laughter completely masked the deep ‘thump-whump’ of Silvio’s demise; the car, the buildings and the distance muffled the sound. In an ironic twist of fate, Silvio’s passing happened, uncared about and unobserved by anyone but Juan-Carlos. The restaurant was kicking up a storm and even the sirens responding to the already dying flames were unnoticed. Everyone in the restaurant was having too much fun.

*

A few alleys over from the fire, a figure in ragged clothes slipped behind a building…   >> MORE <<

Part Three

The burnt-out car made Page 2 headlines and generated many theories. The complete destruction of the car and the fire department’s enthusiastic efforts to extinguish the remaining flames severely hampered the efforts of the police. The inferno’s intensity, and the Fire Department’s response, had reduced both the car and its contents to bare twisted metal and a few dirty puddles of watery ash…   >> MORE <<