"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XI)
Chapter XI “It is always very hard to say goodbye to a good friend,” the Governor said without any preamble. “Harder still when we, the people of Puerto Rico, were so accustomed to his steady hand and his wise guidance, particularly through the difficult times that have been visited upon us recently. Through more than three decades, Roberto Maldonado steered the course of his beloved Police Department, molding it into the strong, formidable force that it is today, weeding ou
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter X)
Chapter X After a quick breakfast, Lucas left with Ojeda for Superintendent Maldonado’s funeral. The security man spoke very little, satisfied with looking out of the window at the passing landscape. “Ever been to Puerto Rico before?” Lucas asked him. Ojeda nodded. “Twice. When I was seven years old, I came here with my mom and dad to visit my grandma and my aunt. They lived in Caguas, and that’s where I spent most of the time—almost an entire month in the summer—although I
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter IX)
Chapter IX Lucas tightened the knot of his tie, and tried to make it as even as he could. His father had taught him to do it, and he had had plenty of practice during his initial high school days, until the neck-tied shirts had been substituted in his senior year for open-necked, white polo shirts. But he still managed to end up with one end of the knot higher than the other. “You know,” Jeannie said behind him, looking at the mirror, “neckties and jackets suit you. You shou
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter VIII)
Chapter VIII Enrique finished his meager breakfast—a cup of coffee with no sugar, and a butter-less toast—which he had eaten on a small table on the second story balcony of his El Yunque rented house. Despite the majestic view of the lower mountains below him and the coast beyond, he hardly dedicated a glance at them, concentrating on the task at hand. His dark eyes burned into whatever images his brain was conjuring, oblivious of the world around him. To Rosario, sitting at
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter VII)
Chapter VII Several explosions shook the ground, spewing dirt and debris over the dozen or so Army Rangers hiding behind the windows of the deserted cafe. A barrage of bullets shot through the night from an ugly, two-story building across the street, raking the walls behind which the soldiers sought refuge, ravaging and shredding the last vestiges of what had been a family restaurant. Lucas returned the fire from a broken window, along with his two buddies, Aparicio and Danny
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter VI)
Chapter VI Rosario walked out of the hospital, and got into his white, 2010 beat-up Sentra. He looked at himself on the rear view mirror, combing his hair with his hands and, satisfied with his appearance, set in his phone’s GPS the address of their rented estate, at the foot of the mountains near the El Yunque National Forest. It was a good hideout, hidden in the rainforest, surrounded by thick, tropical vegetation. The drive would take roughly less than an hour, and the ro
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter V)
Chapter V Lucas sat in the hospital waiting room, one arm over his sister Vanessa’s shoulders, his chin resting on his chest, his eyes struggling to remain open. It was past one in the morning, and he was exhausted, his body and mind about to shut down, beaten down to a pulp by the events of that terrible day. He had always feared that some day Angel San Miguel’s threats would reach him from beyond the grave. Now his worst fears had materialized. A dull, listless gloom envel
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter IV)
Chapter IV The Pietri sisters were late, as usual. This time it was only partially their fault. They had been caught in a massive traffic jam originating from the Capitol, which they blamed on the ceremony inaugurating the monument for the victims and heroes of the terrorist attack. Don Moncho, their bespectacled octogenarian taxi driver, had picked them up as usual at their Miramar apartment, located on the other side of the Condado Lagoon. “Lucas, Michelle, and Alfredo are
