Prologue

It had just rained during the day, and the night was cold. In the streets of J. City Antonio laid by the side of the road, on a cold tar covered with thin cardboard, the jacket he had done nothing to block the cold, he shivered as sleep was far from coming; he was cold and hungry. Both these facts made it difficult for one to fall asleep, after sitting there for hours in a fetal position blowing air on his hands to get them to warn with no success.

He stood up and walked around to warm himself up. The streets were quiet at this time of night, only one car would pass occasionally, the street lights in the alleyway he was walking in kept flickering like the bulb was about to meet its end as well. After walking for a few minutes half jogging trying to get his blood running and be a bit warm, he heard a noise up ahead.

He slowed down his jogging and tiptoed forward. He poked his head out to see what was going on right around the corner, a black SUV with the plate written M2 was parked not so far from where he was standing, he walked closer to get a better look at what was going on when he got close to the car the back door was opened but there was no one inside, both back and front.

He looked up ahead and saw three men. One holding a gun on the one on the ground while the other had his hands on his back watching. He looked around to see if there was anyone else besides the three but there was no one. He looked at the car beside him and saw a briefcase. It was silver, and it stood out on the black leather seats, next to it was a walking stick and those were the only things in the car.

He looked back at the men and saw that they were still occupied. So, he took the chance and snatched the briefcase quickly then hid it under his big jacket then ran from there; he ran for a long time before he looked back to see if there was anyone following him but there was no one; the streets were quiet but there was that one occasional car that would pass. He sighed in relief then looked around to see if he can tell where he was.

He noticed he was downtown, which was good because that meant that he could find a cheap motel here, but first he needed to open the case and see what was inside. The streets were his home since he ran away from the orphanage at eleven, so he knew just where to go to get the privacy he needed. He walked to the spot and when he got there; he looked around to make sure that there was no one around.

When he was certain that he was alone he took the case out to open it, he was disappointed to find out that it had a combination; he sighed then looked around and found a brick. Smashed the case with the brick until it burst open, a few dollars fell out as it opened, he quickly closed it taking the two hundred dollars that fell out and looked for a motel.

Whatever else that was in the case he was going to see it when he gets to the motel room. It was easy to find a motel as they filled downtown J City with them. He walked in and a later at the front desk was busy chewing gum loudly and kept making bubbles. Her lips were red like a vixen but Antonio had no time to be looking at women. When you are homeless, you have your priorities straight and those were to worry about where to get your next meal, not women.

“We have nothing to spare.” Said the vixen when she saw him. “I need a room.” He told her but would not meet her eyes. “Do you have money?” asked the woman bursting the bubble from her gum looking at him lazily. “Yes, I have money.” He answered still not looking at her, too she was not interesting but what was burning him at the moment was the case he had hidden under his arm, he could not wait to get into the room and open it to look at what is inside properly.

“That would be $150,” said the woman holding her hand out to take the money, he stretched his hand and gave her the crumpled two $100 notes. She took them then gave him a chance and a room key. He thanked her with a low voice and hurried to find the room. When he got to the door, he fumbled with the key and opened the door, then quickly slammed it shut behind him locking it.

He took out the case and put it on the bed then removed his jacket and threw it behind him and it fell somewhere in the room. He took small steps towards the bed where the case sat slightly open with dollar bills sticking out, he finally got to it and opened it. The case was full of cash and some documents. His eyes popped as he looked at the green bills in front of him. He had never seen so much money in his life; he shivered just by looking at it and that made him quickly close the case.

But before he did, something caught his eye, a logo, he stretched his arm and took the document. When he saw the familiar logo right in front of him, his knees gave in and he fell on the ground on his ass with a thud. He knew who the case belonged to, and he also knew that when the owner finds him, he is as good as dead.