CHAPTER TWO
The invigorating, salty aroma of popcorn drifted through the ranks of fans. Up and over the seats, streaming past where beers sloshed sideways from the stadium-logoed paper cups, held high for that crowd-rippling wave. The mouthwatering scent of hot dogs joined in to add its own particular ambiance to the mix.
This memorable scent moved forward, fueled by an investable tang of twisted human energy, wrapping itself around the cheers that roared from all around. The clamor grew to deafening while this scent-jogging journey evolved into a tangible memory of America’s favorite pastime.
Most of the audience came for a day of cheering for their team, to drink their fill of beer and satisfy their pent up rage. To relieve their daily stress and get their ever loving tickets worth. To be part of the crowd, part of the noise with many opportunities to joyously cuss a God-fearing blue streak.
He was there, standing to the back of the crowd, while they cheered their teams on. Wide shoulders pushed at him and jeers rose over his head. Delano didn’t care about baseball or team spirit. He wasn’t even aware that any other being existed. His focused gaze never left the blonde woman while his pulse pounded like a living drum and his palms itched with anticipation.
Her corn silk hair sparkled in the LA sunlight, as she lowered her head to hear what her date whispered to her ear.
Delano watched her sweet mouth whisper back and he grew hard while he unconsciously licked his dry lips. I will take that mouth. He could even picture that sweet moment, when she would be all his. He smiled with satisfaction.
Delano had a pastime that kept him extremely happy. He collected wigs you might say. Lots of beautiful hair. His collection had every color under the salon rainbow.
But it was getting the wigs that was the real thrill. Yes, he would admit, it could get ugly and a bit bloody but that was part of the fun. The women would be alive for several days before he took their hair. He let out a long breath. He would do whatever he wanted with them. Such power, such a thrill. Like nothing else he’d ever tried. He got hard again at the very thought of it. Tonight would be a new venture into this heady world. He knew this pretty blonde would have just the right lightness to her hair to make a perfect angel wig.
A homer in the ninth inning and the home team won, as the crowd roared and they all stood and cheered. More shouts bounced down through the aisles, some were angry while others merrily laughed with victory
I win this game. Delano concluded as he watched the blonde leave with her boyfriend. I don’t even have to follow because I know where they’re going. To his place, and she’ll come out sometime early in the morning. And when she does, ole Delano will be there, waiting.
He moved slowly and unobtrusively through the crowd, making his way along the stairs. A rather unremarkable man, Delano stood at five foot six with a medium build, short-cropped dirty blond hair and dull brown eyes.
Invisible! He smirked at the word. They never see me coming and they never notice when I leave. Just like with that redhead last week. A glorious surge of glee pumped through him at the mere thought of that one. What fun! This hobby gave him a feeling of elation, unlike anything in his unremarkable life ever did.
Delano whistled an old tune as he maneuvered his way to the car. He experienced a peculiar power as though he were truly invisible in the world and therefore, unconquerable. His snickering continued. Yeah, like an invisible villain from some comic book.
He raised his gaze to search for his car and headed over to it. He needn’t hurry but he was so excited for this evening and his date with the blonde that he wanted to get home and get everything ready for her visit. His basement had been the perfect place for his hobby.
When he took out his keys and placed them in the door lock, he heard a noise.
Raising his head, he gazed around and spotted a man who leaned against his green Buick near the trunk.
Tall, wide shouldered and very daunting, the man simply smiled at him. His light grey steely eyes glittered at him belying the smile he wore.
Delano stood frozen. Invisible, except for today.
The man strolled forward and was standing next to him at the car door when he finally spoke, “So, you like baseball, do ya?”
Delano furrowed his brows. “Yeah…I guess?”
The man shook his dark head. “Nah, that’s not the game you’re after.”
Delano felt his heartbeat pick up. Was this guy here to mug him? “Um, you can have my wallet and my watch?” Better to just give him what he wanted and move along.
The man chuckled as he stepped closer. “No. I’ll pass. I’m here to take more than that. But I will be taking them a bit later.” He grabbed Delano’s keys as a hard object pressed against Delano’s ribs. “There isn’t going to be any party tonight for you, killer.”
“Are you a cop?” he asked as he knew what the hard object was sticking into his ribs. Fuck, how did they catch him, he’d been always so careful?
The guy laughed. “You wish. But come to think of it, I do uphold some laws. Now move to the back of your car.”
Delano’s eyes widened.
“And don’t think about running. I’m in great shape but I fucking hate running in weeds.” He looked perturbed at the thought.
Delano gazed around to see that indeed, the edge of the lot was wild with weeds, bushes and trash “W-what is this about?” he asked.
The man chuckled again, a deep resonating sound. “Come on. You didn’t honestly think that you could stalk and murder, Dan Moretti’s granddaughter did you?”
Delano shuddered. “S-she’s…”
The aggressive stranger moved him forward and shoved the keys into his hand. “You dumbass. Thinking you were so smart. Then you go and pick her? She’s part of a very protective family. You chose wrong, moron. They know about you and the deeds you’ve done. This is one I will be glad about.”
Delano now knew he was in real trouble. “B-but I didn’t hurt her. I-I—”
“Just open the dammed trunk.”
With shaky hands, Delano tried to fit the key in the lock and fumbled with it to give him some time to try to get out of what was coming. “I-I could pay you to—”
The man with the gun shoved himself close to him his voice a low growl, “You couldn’t pay me enough to let you live. All those girls? What you did to them. I am doing the world a fucking favor!” He reached down and twisted the key into the lock.
Delano started to cry. Huge tears rolled down his face as his whole body shook.
“Yeah, think of how they felt when they knew they were gonna die. Only you stretched it out didn’t you? Making them suffer before you fucking scalped them alive.” The man’s eyes deepened in color as he seethed. “You fucking monster.”
Nervously, Delano looked around.
“Nope,” the man said as the trunk popped open. “No escape. If you believe in god, now is the time to say your peace. Though, I really don’t think that’s who will be greeting you when you leave this world.” He plucked the smaller Delano from his feet and dropped him into the trunk.
Gasping and huffing, he didn’t even get the chance to fight him as he landed hard onto the spare tire. Not that he would ever win against a man of this size. “Please? Please!” Delano begged as he hugged his ribs that he thought might have busted on the tire iron.
“Is that what they said to you? When you tortured them?” The now thunderous looking hitman asked.
Delano wept and pleaded.
“So no prayer?” the angry looking man quipped with a raised brow arched at him as he raised a long silver gun with a silencer on it.
Delano’s tear filled eyes widened. “Y-you’re… that guy! The hitman. The Silencer?”
Nodding, he aimed the dangerous barrel down at Delano’s head.
Delano felt that familiar power and rage rise in him. “Well, you’re a monster too! Killing people for money!”
The man didn’t even pause at this. “Really? You’re about to die and what do you do? Compare me to your sorry ass? Nice try. I just wish I could give you the same as you gave those poor girls. I’d show you what a monster I can really be. It’s what you deserve, but alas, I haven’t the time.”
Delano’s useless bluff and rage instantly dissipated when he realized he really had no way out of this. “Oh, god! Oh, god!”
“Yeah, well don’t expect him to listen to you.”
All Delano could see through his tears was the hole in the silencer tip as he sobbed like a little kid.
“Shhh…” the hitman shushed him. “Remember the rule. Silence is golden.”
Delano heard the popping sound, then felt the piercing pain and finally, he was greeted by the silence.