(no subject)
Chapter One
Constantine leaned forward to try to see through the fogged up windshield
as the wipers rythymically bounced to counter the fine mist. He exhaled
the smoke from his cigar as he strained his eyes to see the mailbox
almost hidden in the bushes on the right side of the lane. He thought to
himself "damn that Caruso, why did he have to hide the body at night,
I'll be lucky to find her at all". He never noticed the van.
As he drove onto the oyster shell driveway, he rolled down the window,
and stuck his head out, letting the droplets refresh him, knowing he had
an awful task ahead. He cut the headlights and awoke Gennaro who was
sleeping in the back seat. "Wake up--we're here, get the shovels", he
said as the car came to a halt.
They trudged over the small hill behind the barn and saw the first
marker, neither of them daring to turn on their flashlights. They
followed the barely apparent trail to the edge of the pond, and paced off
the seventy paces from the willow tree and found the pile of freshly dug
earth. They both began digging, thankful at least that Caruso had
tightly bound her body in 15 layers of plastic, at least that would hold
down the stench. It only took twenty minutes to finish the grisly task,
but it took another fifteen to carry their load to the trunk of the car.
They never heard the infra-red camera clicking, taking note of their
every move.
Why did she have to trust Heller? It was her last mistake, he played her
like a piano. She never saw it coming. She knew Caruso would never
allow anything that would even resemble a breach of trust, but she let
her guard down, and now she has to be re-buried, so that business could
carry on. Heller's men knew the moment they came in to make the grab
that she was done for. They at least had Heller's and Marco's
protection, she had only her false belief in Caruso's love, a terribly
thin reed. Their deception was so implausible it was laughable, "Jolly
Rogers on Parade" he thought to himself, as they drove back towards the
city.
Quick, simple and sudden. They crashed thorugh the door of the
warehouse, taking the others by surprise. Two quick shots and security
slides down the wall in a crumpled heap, bloodstains splattered in a
crimson arc behind him. Nevermind that he had two kids. Grab the dope
and the money, back out menacingly and talk like pirates, all they needed
was eyepatches, a parrot on their shoulders and a skull and crossbones
and the cliche would be complete. Their imaginary cutlasses drawn they
withdrew into the night. She was done for.
Constantine tried to imagine the fear she must have felt as Caruso moved
towards her, with that grin he always had when he felt cornered. As his
greed took over, and his own sense of self preservation dictated her
death she closed her eyes and heard only the barely audible click as he
cocked the hammer. She squeezed her eyes tighter as he squeezed the
trigger. Bright flash then nothingness.
Chapter Two
Heller knew they had to be taken care of, they were the only link to him.
That stupid pirate charade had been funny, but in the end it was a
mistake. The fake boat getaway had not provided the diversion they had
hoped, and Heller knew Caruso would not rest until he had it all back,
including the many pounds of flesh to pay for the betrayal. How could
she have been so naive? Nevermind, whats one more casualty in this
oversaturated market? He called out to Marco, "Get Chollie Din on the
phone", knowing that this was his last best hope to counter what was
coming. At least he had Caruso's Achilles heel in his hip pocket.
"Chollie, remember that debt? from when Brinton Haley's bagman fell
silent? I need to collect." Chollie laughed, in his totally effeminate
way, and said "how could I have guessed, I heard already". Chollie's
tone was deadly, "Who?" he lisped. Heller hissed "Caruso, and the Deli
Boys". Chollie paused and said, "who first?" "Caruso", Heller said in
as tense a voice as he had ever uttered.
Constantine leaned forward to try to see through the fogged up windshield
as the wipers rythymically bounced to counter the fine mist. He exhaled
the smoke from his cigar as he strained his eyes to see the mailbox
almost hidden in the bushes on the right side of the lane. He thought to
himself "damn that Caruso, why did he have to hide the body at night,
I'll be lucky to find her at all". He never noticed the van.
As he drove onto the oyster shell driveway, he rolled down the window,
and stuck his head out, letting the droplets refresh him, knowing he had
an awful task ahead. He cut the headlights and awoke Gennaro who was
sleeping in the back seat. "Wake up--we're here, get the shovels", he
said as the car came to a halt.
They trudged over the small hill behind the barn and saw the first
marker, neither of them daring to turn on their flashlights. They
followed the barely apparent trail to the edge of the pond, and paced off
the seventy paces from the willow tree and found the pile of freshly dug
earth. They both began digging, thankful at least that Caruso had
tightly bound her body in 15 layers of plastic, at least that would hold
down the stench. It only took twenty minutes to finish the grisly task,
but it took another fifteen to carry their load to the trunk of the car.
They never heard the infra-red camera clicking, taking note of their
every move.
Why did she have to trust Heller? It was her last mistake, he played her
like a piano. She never saw it coming. She knew Caruso would never
allow anything that would even resemble a breach of trust, but she let
her guard down, and now she has to be re-buried, so that business could
carry on. Heller's men knew the moment they came in to make the grab
that she was done for. They at least had Heller's and Marco's
protection, she had only her false belief in Caruso's love, a terribly
thin reed. Their deception was so implausible it was laughable, "Jolly
Rogers on Parade" he thought to himself, as they drove back towards the
city.
Quick, simple and sudden. They crashed thorugh the door of the
warehouse, taking the others by surprise. Two quick shots and security
slides down the wall in a crumpled heap, bloodstains splattered in a
crimson arc behind him. Nevermind that he had two kids. Grab the dope
and the money, back out menacingly and talk like pirates, all they needed
was eyepatches, a parrot on their shoulders and a skull and crossbones
and the cliche would be complete. Their imaginary cutlasses drawn they
withdrew into the night. She was done for.
Constantine tried to imagine the fear she must have felt as Caruso moved
towards her, with that grin he always had when he felt cornered. As his
greed took over, and his own sense of self preservation dictated her
death she closed her eyes and heard only the barely audible click as he
cocked the hammer. She squeezed her eyes tighter as he squeezed the
trigger. Bright flash then nothingness.
Chapter Two
Heller knew they had to be taken care of, they were the only link to him.
That stupid pirate charade had been funny, but in the end it was a
mistake. The fake boat getaway had not provided the diversion they had
hoped, and Heller knew Caruso would not rest until he had it all back,
including the many pounds of flesh to pay for the betrayal. How could
she have been so naive? Nevermind, whats one more casualty in this
oversaturated market? He called out to Marco, "Get Chollie Din on the
phone", knowing that this was his last best hope to counter what was
coming. At least he had Caruso's Achilles heel in his hip pocket.
"Chollie, remember that debt? from when Brinton Haley's bagman fell
silent? I need to collect." Chollie laughed, in his totally effeminate
way, and said "how could I have guessed, I heard already". Chollie's
tone was deadly, "Who?" he lisped. Heller hissed "Caruso, and the Deli
Boys". Chollie paused and said, "who first?" "Caruso", Heller said in
as tense a voice as he had ever uttered.