"And Then They Came..." ( Chapter XX )
Chapter XX Governor Pietrantoni stood behind the podium bearing the seal of Puerto Rico, while Secretary of State Arizmendi, Fire Chief Francisco Oronoz, Police Superintendent Alejo Montañez, and other agency heads crowded around him. A television technician stood behind a camera, signaling with his fingers the seconds left to go on the air. Several reporters loitered at the back of the television studio. As the count went to zero, the Governor took a deep breath and
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XIX)
Chapter XIX Agent Flanigan sipped quietly from a cold glass of beer, contemplating with relish the mound of mofongo—a Puerto Rican dish made up of fried, mashed green plantain mixed with garlic, olive oil, and small bits of pork rind—plus the deep fried chunks of pork placed next to it. His mouth watered. Two days before, the The Rock look-alike had asked his new friend Michael to recommend a place where he could eat some typical local food. Lucas’ brother-in-law had recomm
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XVIII)
Chapter XVIII Francisco awoke slowly, looking confusedly around him at his unfamiliar surroundings. It was some sort of dark, air conditioned room, with a bed, a desk with a small television set, and a chair. Even though its windows were closed, light filtered from the outside. Weakened from the powerful anesthetic he had been injected, he stumbled out of his bed onto the grayish tiled floor, struggling to his feet. He walked straight to the door, and attempted to turn its h
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XVII)
Chapter XVII The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Providencia was packed with mourners. Not only had the three Pietri sisters—Fanny, Evelyn, and María—been beloved members of the community for more than a half a century, but their jewelry store, El Joyero de San Juan, had been a centenary institution in Old San Juan, where various generations, besides shopping, had met, gossiped, lamented, celebrated, and laughed about countless moments in their lives. As Lucas, Vanessa, and J
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XVI)
Chapter XVI Lucas was met by Governor Pietrantoni at the bottom of the stairs that led to La Fortaleza’s second floor. It was five minutes past six o’clock in the morning, and only now the rising sun was lightening the dark night sky into a deeper glowing blue that hinted of the approaching day. Pietrantoni looked haggard and exhausted, as if he had not slept throughout the night. He was wearing an old gray sweater and faded jeans, his usual garb when he was not engaged in
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XV)
Chapter XV Enrique watched from the second floor balcony as the kidnapper’s team stopped its van, and carried into the house the still unconscious boy. He noticed that Yousef was limping badly, holding on to his right knee. Nour, the short-haired woman who had shot one of Francisco’s bodyguards, and Hassam, the shorter of the two men who had grabbed Francisco and who was now carrying the boy, walked ahead. The Iranian Javid, still dressed in his UPS uniform, and Yousef follo
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XIV)
Chapter XIV Lucas sat by Michelle’s hospital bed, holding on to her left hand, while Archie sat on the opposite side, resting his head on her other hand, pressing it against his cheek. Ojeda, Lucas’ bodyguard, stood quietly by the room’s door, next to the two policemen watching the entrance. It was six-forty in the evening, and Lucas had barely arrived ten minutes before. It had been a busy afternoon. After leaving San Juan he had first visited the hospital, only to find tha
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XIII)
Chapter XIII The second shrill “riiiiiiing!” of Nuestra Señora de la Providencia’s Elementary School bell reverberated throughout the entire block, signaling the end of the schoolday. Lucas’ godson Alfredo, wearing the wide phosphorescent orange vest assigned to the “patrol boys” in charge of directing traffic at one of the various street crossings, prepared to handle the stream of screaming kids—from grades 1 through 6—that would soon spurt out from Nuestra Señora’s three g
"And Then They Came..." (Chapter XII)
Chapter XII “So you said you had an idea,” Lucas said to his brother-in-law as they exited the rotunda. Archie looked at him distractedly, following with his eyes the policemen carrying Maldonado’s casket. “Not now,” he said quietly to Lucas. “I have to follow my boss to Fajardo. Let’s talk about it tonight, at your house.” “I’ll tell Jeannie to prepare some dinner for you,” Lucas replied. Archie nodded, and increasing his speed, headed towards one of the black SUV’s waiting
