In the dead of the night. An hour before dawn. The phone.
Suddenly demanding immediate attention.
Insisting.
“Yes.”
The voice was quiet. Measured. Unhurried. Almost a whisper. But there was something in the voice—something dark and lurking. Something deadly. Something incredibly deadly.
“Listen, Smitty. You got to stop him. Now—tonight! Before it’s too late. Jesus Christ, this is crazy. Fucking crazy!”
“Stop who?”
“Vinny. He’s gone nuts. Ever since that cop arrested his brother and sent him up to prison, he’s gone off his rocker. Got just enough alcohol in him to go nuts. He’s gone. Said he’s gonna make that fucking cop pay. Make ’em all pay for screwing his brother over. Stop him, Smitty. Stop him before it’s too late!”
“Where?”
“Cop lives on Melrose. That’s all I know. But Smitty… listen. Vince says he’s going to kill the cop’s family first. One by one and make the cop watch. Took a friggin’ axe with him. He’s gonna chop ’em all to pieces, for Chrissakes! I’m tellin’ ya, Vince has flat gone off the deep end!”
Click. The phone went dead.
