Chapter Twenty-Two: Part Two
In Alberto’s, the conversation, laughter and music 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. JC walked out of the narrow walkway on the other side of the same building, getting into a passing car that only slowed without stopping. A grim smile was the only communication as both noses turned up at the smell of the rolled clothing that Juan-Carlos was quickly stuffing back into a heavy garbage bag.
‘At least we get to burn that outfit now.’ Edison said, a grim hangman’s smile on his face.
‘It’s served me well. I’ll have to break in another one sooner or later I guess.’
‘First class job, son.’
‘Thanks, Dad.’
~~~~~
Kate watched Rick take his earpiece out moments before Dom did the same thing. As it went into his pocket, Rick looked at the amigas and nodded. The three girls saw in his eyes and tight smile that it was over. The details could wait.
Giselle was a godsend only minutes later, asking where JC was. Dom got on his phone and noisily told JC to, ‘Stop working and get your butt to Alberto’s, pronto! And bring that workaholic father of yours with you.’ Thirty minutes later, JC arrived with Edison and their night became a celebration within a celebration. The girls could barely contain their questions but understood from the demeanour of the others that their curiosity could wait.
At one point, JC took Giselle aside. When they came back a few minutes later, her face was a little longer, but she was still smiling. JC gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze before she took a deep hug from him. With Giselle still wrapped around him, he looked up to see Dee give him a wink in support.
Dom and Natalie followed Rick and the girls to their apartment. JC was already there and opening the windows to clear the air. He had showered and changed there before going to Alberto’s, but the odours of his disguise were of the type that lingered quite persistently. When hot cups of coffee and tea were on the table, Natalie said to the amigas, ‘Band-Aid off fast or slow?’
‘Fast,’ said Dee, the others nodding in agreement. Nat looked at JC. He said, ‘Silvio died tonight by his own hand. He was planning to firebomb Alberto’s tonight and kill everyone there. He died instantly when his IED – sorry – his bomb, went off prematurely. It is doubtful that there will be any possible forensic identification of his remains. We will continue to keep extra security around the lab and gigs visible for the next week before we all decide that he must have gone away of his own accord.’
The table was silent.
Kate looked to JC. ‘How?’
‘He had a hand grenade taped to two plastic jerry cans full of fuel. When I say he died of his own hand, all he had to do was not action his plan to kill everyone I care about, and he would still be happily on the way to the rest of his life.’
‘It was no accident though.’ Dee’s statement was also a question.
‘Dee, it was death by misadventure, with a little passive insurance. He only needed to leave and walk away, that’s all. If he hadn’t picked up the bomb, he’d still be breathing. When he picked up the bomb in the dark of the alley near Alberto’s, the pin fell out of his grenade, and it went off in his lap. It was violent but instantaneous. If it makes any difference, he was air pollution before he could have known or felt a single thing. The human brain and nervous system just doesn’t work that fast.’
Another silence hung heavily over the table. Kate's and JC’s eyes locked. She got up, walked around the table and hugged him, holding him tightly, sobbing in great waves of relief and catharsis. ‘Thank you,’ she said every time she could find her breath.
Juan-Carlos gently passed Kate to Rick when her initial reaction had passed. Dee and Carrie hugged JC next. When Carrie asked him if he was okay, the others turned, shocked at themselves for not asking him already and apologising. He raised his open hands and assured them that he was absolutely at peace with everything.
They talked about things until Natalie was happy that the amigas were stable and reconciled with the fact that Silvio was gone. Staying with the girls, Rick walked the others out before coming back in. After another cup of herbal tea and talking about things some more, they all went to bed.
Kate was in his arms and stared at the ceiling for a while before she spoke. ‘That’s what you were talking about when we were in your apartment the first time. Silvio made it him or us… and everyone else in Alberto’s!’ Kate shivered at the thought that he intended them all to die in a violent inferno. ‘It really is that simple, isn’t it?’
‘That’s the ugly and despicable brutality of it, Kate,’ he said, pulling her closer into him. She breathed in his scent and found peace in his presence, as he found his own peace in hers. He regulated his breathing to hers and felt her respond, automatically slowing and relaxing. They melted into each other and fell asleep.
~~~~~