FRAGMENT

>PROLOGUE<

The limousine sat motionless at the center of the desolate car park, its sleek exterior mirrored by the rain-soaked ground beneath. Adjacent to it stood a dilapidated ice-skating rink, an abandoned relic on the brink of demolition. The once vibrant parking lot lights, now on the precipice of their last flicker, had dimmed when the previous owner’s financial downfall left them bankrupt.

Positioned strategically around the vehicle were three private security personnel, their vigilant presence a constant companion to the enigmatic passenger within. The passenger questioned whether any of them would truly lay down their lives in defense. A profound bond was absent from their interactions. Yet, there was a resolute trust in their shared commitment to maintaining discretion when it truly mattered.

In the dimly lit surroundings, one of the guards sparked a cigarette, igniting a flame that was shared with a comrade. Their muted conversation ceased abruptly as two orbs pierced the darkness, alerting their senses. They instinctively readied their firearms, knowing that their response in such situations could mean the difference between life and death.

The sedan approached slowly, its mechanical groans echoing through the night air before coming to an abrupt halt. The driver’s door swung open with a forceful kick, revealing a figure known as Rich. He swiftly circled the front of the vehicle, taking his position by the passenger door. A nonchalant nod of acknowledgment passed between him and the security personnel as he brushed some drizzle off the shoulders of his tailored suit and opened the door for his passenger.

He reached out his hand to his passenger, but her magnetic presence stole the spotlight. She wore a provocative black dress that subtly accentuated her curves, paired with black stockings and high heels. A faux fur stole gracefully adorned her shoulders, enhancing her captivating charm.

In any other setting, bystanders might have regarded them as a charming couple, en route to enjoy a night of opulent opera entertainment. However, their presence at the desolate skating rink hinted at motives far from innocent.

“God, I wish my sister was here for this,” she whispered.

“Don’t worry about her,” Rich hushed. “Remember what we came here for.”

She turned to him.

“I just don’t know about this.”

“He’s good for it,” Rich seethed. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

Rich guided her toward the awaiting limousine, his demeanor akin to a police officer leading a suspect to an interrogation room. The security team conducted meticulous searches reminiscent of airport security personnel, their hands methodically sweeping across their own bodies, while one member thoroughly inspected the contents of the lady’s clutch purse.

After their meticulous inspection, the security personnel stepped back, giving way to the opening of the limousine door. Illumination spilled onto the damp ground, revealing a hand—large and weathered—extending outward. A steel ring adorning one finger caught the moonlight, gleaming with the intricate coat of arms it bore.

With grace and poise, the lady stepped forward, delicately placing her hand in his. A voice, rich with intrigue and a hint of menace, broke the silence.

“My, my, Candy. You grow more irresistible with each encounter,” he remarked, his words tinged with a mixture of admiration and mischief.

Candy responded to his statement with a flirtatious giggle, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Oh, Mr. DeWalt,” she said, then playfully curtsied, an elegant gesture laced with a touch of audacity.

“How many times have I got to tell you to call me Teddy?” he responded, his voice deep, a slight drawl in his tone.

Amidst another enchanting giggle, he gallantly guided her into the opulent sanctuary of the limousine’s interior. As she descended gracefully, the soft glow of the ambient lighting caressed her form. With a satisfying click, the door sealed shut, enveloping them in an intimate world of their own.

Rich deftly retrieved a tin from his coat pocket and extracted a cigarette, holding it firmly between his lips. With a casual yet confident demeanor, he extended the offer to the guards, a knowing smile playing on his face. One by one, they slowly withdrew from their respective posts to accept the proffered cigarettes. After a brief shuffle to exchange lighters, Rich produced a gleaming gold lighter, its button pressed, and a blue flame shot forth, casting a warm, fleeting glow that danced upon his dark features.

Drawing a few contemplative puffs from the cigarette, tendrils of smoke swirled around him, creating an almost protective shield against the biting cold. He stood in silence, as he always did during these transactions, waiting patiently for the manufactured passion to ebb away. Then he would move her on to the next high-powered client. The man in the limousine wasn’t the first for the night and wouldn’t be the last.

Within the cozy cabin, bathed in the inviting glow of the interior lights, Teddy guided Candy to a seat opposite. He extended a hand towards Candy’s delicate features. With tenderness, he traced the back of his hand against her cheek, savoring the softness of her skin. As his hand traveled further, it came to rest upon the plush fur draping around her shoulders.

He tugged at it, pulling it free, before dropping a hand to her knee.

“Teddy,” she crooned. “Are you happy with the services that I provide?”

“Of course, baby,” he sang back, eagerly parting her legs with thick fingers.

“It’s just that…”

“Just what?”

“Some other girls I know get a lot more for doing less,” she said.

He retracted his hand, straightened his tie, and perched on the edge of his seat. “This talk of business is really killing my libido.”

She reached for him, running a hand under his lapels. “We can make business talk sexy,” she whispered.

“We have an agreement… an understanding.”

“Oh, Teddy,” she said. “I love what we’ve got. I just think sometimes agreements should be renegotiated.”

He smiled, running his tongue along the inside of his mouth, then leaned back and crossed his legs. “Get out.”

Her eyes widened, jaw dropping in disbelief. “What? What do you mean?”

Chuckling to himself, he surveyed the room before fixing his gaze on Candy, his arms folded.

You think you’re the only girl I’ve got on my payroll? The only one who can do what you do.”

“Teddy, it’s not like that.”

“How’d you mean it? Huh? You’re a dime a dozen, Candy. Home brand trash that just so happened to suck good. But you aren’t the only one.”

She fell to her knees, hands on his. “Baby, please. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just—”

“Go!” he roared, forcefully pushing her away. “I didn’t get to where I am… where I’m going… to be hustled by anyone.” He looked her up and down. “Someone like you, some two-bit whore.”

Lying on the floor, she turned her head and spoke over her shoulders, her expression transforming from concern to defiance. “I know things,” she breathed.

He snapped his head towards her, his eyes narrowing. “What did you just say?”

Now on her knees, she looked up at him. “I said I know your dirty little secrets. I know the horrible things you’ve done, the terrible things you’re planning to do.”

“You bitch!”

“What? Do you think I cover my ears when you unwittingly reveal your secrets in the throes of passion?” she retorted defiantly.

Losing control, he let his hand fly, striking the side of her face with the back of his hand, and she fell to the bench seat. She scrambled and reached for her clutch purse, but he jumped on her, his weight easily pinning her down.

DeWalt flipped her around. “You’re not going to say anything to anyone,” he ordered.

At that moment, she swung the clutch around, contacting his face. He flinched at the contact, the edge opening the soft skin below his eye and drawing blood.

“You fucking bitch!” he roared and clamped his hands around her neck.

“Rich…” she expelled.

The limousine, which had been gently swaying on its suspensions, came to a sudden halt, its silent rocking ceasing. Rich turned to the nearest security personnel, a sense of finality in his voice. “I suppose our business here is concluded for today.” He dropped his cigarette and stubbed it out with the toe of his boot. “It was a pleasure seeing you boys again.”

Together, the group circled the vehicle and approached the rear door. A guard yanked on the handle. Candy’s lifeless body slumped to the ground, her vacant gaze fixed upon the full moon. Caught in a moment of disbelief, Rich locked eyes with Teddy DeWalt, uncertainty evident on both their faces.

“What did you do?” Rich breathed.

As raindrops fell, a security guard quickly reached for his weapon. Seizing the opportunity, Rich swiftly delivered a powerful punch, connecting with the side of the guard’s head. Glancing at Candy’s motionless form one last time, he sprinted back to his car.

“Get him!” DeWalt’s voice boomed. “Don’t let him get away!”

Rich flung open the car door in a rush, a searing pain tearing through his side as a bullet tore through his coat. His cry of agony filled the air as he collapsed into the vehicle, each breath labored yet brimming with unyielding determination.

Clenching his teeth against the pain, he ignited the engine, forcefully shifted the gear into drive, and stomped on the accelerator pedal just as another bullet found its mark. The vehicle surged forward, leaving a trail of shattered glass and twisted metal in its wake as it hurtled into the obsidian night.

Yet, just as swiftly as it had raced, the acceleration died, and the vehicle limped toward its unintended destination: a looming brick wall, where it came to a gentle nudge.

DeWalt dialed a number on his phone and waited for it to be answered, but when it did, he spoke first.

“I have a situation.”

A woman’s voice came on the line. “Another one?”

“Yes.”

“How bad is it?”

“How bad does it need to be?”

A brief silence, then, “I’ll make arrangements.”