Chapter 4

I arrived back at the house about twenty later and called Julius from inside the car. In about ten minutes he staggered outside, helped by the doctor. When they entered the car, I stamped on the accelerator and drove per the doctor’s directions. Dropping him off, we two made our plans.

“You are in no condition to snoop around, Julius.”

“Thomas, listen to me. I know this place better than you. We will meet near the river Tiber at 6 in the evening.”

“Ughh!” I didn’t lie this but he had a point. “Okay. Try not to die!”

He walked off towards the distant taxi stand and I drove to the police station with which Julius had been in touch.

After a tense meeting, when I came out to go for my rendezvous, I received a message. It was a local SIM so I could only call and message locally. I checked the message and it was from Julius.

A short text with location attached.

“Come quickly. Firefight. Need backup.”

Throwing caution to the wind, I floored the accelerator.

*****

I reached the tagged location within the hour. The absence of noise made me suspicious and worried. I pulled out my standard-issue Glock 17 and ran silently across the pavement. Sticking my head inside for a quick look I nearly got my head blown off. Luckily, I had pinpointed the shooter and diving forward towards the other gate; I aimed inside and saw him rising. In that split-second, I pulled the trigger on the gun. After two minutes of silent waiting, I ran hard into the compound zigzagging to avoid any incoming bullets. Surprisingly I couldn’t even hear the sound of a gun discharging.

I found the body of the lone shooter where I had aimed and walking inside the HQ I found it abandoned. In the hall, there were some chairs with straps to secure people.

This isn’t an HQ, it is a torture chamber.

I noticed the different jars and syringes kept neatly in shelves and blood on the seats. I stepped on something and lifting my foot, I saw the broken remains of Julius’ Smartphone. Taking a look around the room again with mounting worry, I saw a note stuck against the wall with a knife. On it was written:

YOU WILL FIND YOUR FRIEND BY THE TIBER. COME ALONE. LEAVE WITH HIM, DON’T SNOOP AROUND ANYMORE AND WE WON’T HARM HIM OR YOU.

La Elixir Donatori