Prologue

The street was dark, the alley even darker. It was quiet, except for the occasional groups of teenagers walking past, laughing loudly, and leaning against each other as they tried to walk.

I peered through the camera's lenses.nothing yet. It was nearing midnight, but no sign. Shifting my weight, I stretched my legs and let them dangle over the pulpit of the apartment building closest to the alley. A van turned the corner and drove through the alley, parking a little further ahead of where I was sitting. I zoomed in on the occupants. It was them.

Grey vapour came out of his mouth as he looked around, memorizing everything. His bodyguards stood around him, trying to look tough as they waited for their customer to come. The man had his hat pulled low over his face, his jacket collar turned up against the cold. He tried hard, I mused, to conceal the scar on his left cheek. But I still saw it, clearly through the camera.

I stood up and grasped the briefcase beside me, with a final glance to the alley, I headed downstairs.