Evil Under The Sun

By Chrissy

Corinna and Makala had only two things in common. They were cousins and they were both nineteen years old. Other than that, the two women were poles apart in looks and in nature.

Makala stood momentarily forgotten in the hallway while Corinna and Luis flicked curious and admiring glances at one another. It occurred to Makala that her cousin and Luis could almost be brother and sister for both were quite beautiful. Extraordinarily beautiful, in fact. Both had eyes the same lovely shade of amber, both had dark ebony curls falling across their perfect features. Both were slim and compact and lithe and graceful. Both were flawless in their splendor. Beside them, Makala felt awkward and towering, aware of her thick thighs, thin straight hair and plain, everyday features.

Corinna dragged her eyes from their flirtatious tour of Luis's body and she turned to her cousin with a scowl. "What the fuck is going on here?" she demanded, her voice angry. "Your parents are all in a fucking lather. They've been phoning here all afternoon and the line keeps going dead. Your mother phoned my parents and I had to drive over here and find out what the fuck is going on. Listen, Makala, I have more important things to do with my time than check up on my sniveling lard assed cousin!"

Makala flinched at the insult, but she took an anxious step forward, her face urgent with anxiety.

"He killed Bella. He shot her," she babbled, her head low, her eyes averted from where Luis stood watching. Although she spoke softly, her accusing words seemed to echo about in the marbled hallway. She suddenly became aware that she was wringing her hands and she snatched them behind her back self-consciously.

To her dismay, Corinna threw back her head and laughed with obvious contempt, dismissing her cousin's seemingly foolish statement with a flick of her hand.

She turned to Luis - who had stood for many seconds not saying a word, his head on one side as he surveyed with open appreciation the attractive girl standing before him.

"And WHO might you be ?" she asked.

"Luis. And you?"

"My name's Corinna. Is this true? Did you kill Bella?" she smiled at him, one eyebrow raised flirtatiously. What a total hunk! She thought.

"Maybe." His direct stare threw Corinna off balance for a moment.

But she regained her composure quickly. Arms akimbo, head on one side she pouted at Luis, her eyes slanting in open attraction. She could not get over how gorgeous he was. What on earth was her plain Jane cousin doing with this heavenly hunk?

A few seconds went by as Luis casually lit a cigarette and gazed at her through the smoke, "Can you make coffee?" he asked suddenly.

The wide flirtatious smile evaporated in an instant. "Make coffee?!!" Corinna almost stumbled in surprise at his words. "What do you take me for? A fucking waitress?"

"I dunno," Luis smiled with mocking amusement. "Is that what you are? A fucking waitress?"

"Fuck no!" Corinna yelled. Makala felt a start of pleasure at her cousin's sudden humiliation. She wasn't used to this. "I'm HER cousin," she jerked her head in the direction of Makala. "A fucking waitress!! Listen, asshole, I have a dozen people who WAIT ON ME! When I say jump, they ask how fucking high. My parents have more fucking money than you'll ever see in one fucking lifetime!"

"What a pity they didn't spend any of it on charm lessons for their mouthy bitch of a daughter," Luis replied, his voice indolent and sneering. Makala saw two red spots appear on her cousin's cheeks. There! She thought with a sudden surge of pleasure. She felt that one! She realized she was suddenly enjoying herself very much. Luis was every bit a match for Corinna, who was accustomed to men falling at her feet.

Corinna had a history of getting what she wanted, when she wanted. When she was only three years old Corinna had almost died from a childhood disease. She had clung to life for many weeks. As a result, her terrified parents indulged their pretty daughter in every whim, every pleasure. Whatever Corinna wanted, Corinna got. She hated school, so she was tutored at home and a steady stream of teachers came and went. If she wanted a toy, a dress, a candy, anything at all - it was given to her and more. Corinna was spoiled beyond all normal limits. She would pout and stamp her foot and her harried parents would race to bring whatever it was that their demanding daughter wanted. As a result the girl grew more petulant, more selfish, more demanding and - as Makala discovered whenever she was forced to play with her cousin - more spiteful and cruel with each passing year.

When they were younger, when no one was looking, Corinna would pinch and bite and hurt Makala. At first Makala would cry. But no one would come to her aid. Instead she would be chastised by her parents who would berate her for not being a good playmate for her pretty cousin, Corinna. So she learned to put up with the torture, which increased at time went by.

But the teenage Corinna was soon rushing headlong out of control. At the tender age of 12 years she stole the family car and plowed it into a tree, almost killing herself and the four other young girls with her. When she was 13 she ran away from home for the first time. When she was 15 she was caught selling drugs on the streets of Madrid. When she was 16, Corinna entered a rehabilitation centre for teenagers hooked on drugs where she gave birth to a little boy who was taken away and adopted within the hour. More jail time followed.

Through it all, her parents supported their daughter - always blaming someone else, always paying bail, always believing the lies she told. Their little Corinna was perfect. It was always someone else that was corrupting her, leading her astray. She was pretty and easily led. She would be brought back into the home and coddled and spoiled, until the next little indiscretion.

Corinna stared opened mouthed at Luis. She could find no words for him so she spun her attention back to Makala. She knew she could handle Makala.

"What's been going on here? Who is this clown?" she snapped angrily.

Makala started to speak, but with a curse Luis pulled the gun from the waistband of his jeans and fired a shot into the ceiling making both girls jump in fear.

"All I want is coffee," he said with a menacing growl. "Is that so hard? Is that so difficult to comprehend? So let's stop the chitchat and get back to the kitchen, ladies. I don't care which one of you makes it, I just want it made. OKAY?!!"

The gun at their backs he pushed both girls ahead of him down the hallway and back into the kitchen.

Corinna came to an abrupt halt and stared down at the dead body at her feet. "It's true" she gasped, her huge amber eyes filled with shock. "Bella's dead."

Luis aimed the gun at her. "Do you want to live?" he asked coldly.

Corinna nodded, a scared sob falling from her lips.

"THEN MAKE SOME FUCKING COFFEE!" he yelled in frustrated annoyance.

To Makala's surprise, Corinna plonked herself down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table. "I'm NOT making coffee" she stated firmly. "Kill me if you want, but I'm not making coffee for you. People bring ME coffee. I'm no servant."

Luis swaggered over to where she sat and placed the barrel of the gun against the girl's smooth cheek. She shook in fear, but did not move from the chair. He smiled tightly and leaned over her raking the gun into her cheek making the skin red.

"You're not following orders," he whispered his voice liquid with menace.

"I've never followed orders in my life," Corinna returned firmly, folding her arms and seating herself more solidly in the chair.

Makala scrunched her eyes closed expecting a gunshot, convinced that her cousin would die at any second, but Luis suddenly turned and aimed the gun at her.

"Do YOU want to live?" he asked with an icy smile. Her whole body stiffened in fear.

"Yes" she murmured, the breathy word coming out in a long hiss. A huge tear rolled down her cheek and she felt warm mucus on her upper lip.

"Then make a pot of coffee. That's all. That is all I am asking. I don't ask for the world, do I? Only a hot black coffee."

Makala stumbled to the counter. She filled the coffee maker with water and fumbled with measuring coffee. She plugged in the machine and shuffled anxiously to sit back at the table.

"See? That's wasn't so hard was it?" Luis breathed.

Makala shook her head and looked down at the floor, wanting to sink right into the ceramic tiles and disappear.

But once again Luis had switched moods and was now in a good humour. He smiled widely and paced the kitchen "Ahh, coffee! Nothing smells as good. Don't you think?" he stopped and sat down at the table next to Corinna and pushed his face close into hers.

"You know what?" he whispered, his voice flirting and soft. His breath warm on her skin, his eyes running over her.

"No, what?" Corinna stammered, unsure of where things were going now.

"You are one sweet-assed bitch."

Despite herself Corinna smiled. She looked up at him through thick black eyelashes.

"Gee, thanks. That's the nicest thing any one has ever said to me." Her voice dripped playful sarcasm.

Makala watched as Luis leaned in and kissed her cousin. The kiss was open mouthed with lots of noisy wet tongue action. Corinna was not resisting. She swayed against Luis, her attitude willing. They broke apart, their eyes making direct flirtatious contact.

"You want to fuck?" Luis grinned.

Corinna sighed happily. She was back in charge. The man was crazy about her. "What? Here on the kitchen floor next to a dead body?" she teased.

Luis laughed. "Is there any other way?"

"Yeah. There's - like - the bedroom."

"Papa's bedroom or mama's bedroom?" Luis smiled.

Corinna drew back. "What do you mean?"

"Well, me and cousin dearest here have already fucked in mama's bedroom."

Corinna flicked an angry glance at Makala. "What? You and fat ass have fucked?"

"Yeah, like I said. In mama's bedroom."

Corinna tossed her hair contemptuously. "I don't believe it. She's a convent virgin."

Luis turned to Makala. "We fucked, didn't we, honey?"

Makala nodded slowly.

Luis turned back to Corinna. "She's a good fuck. She's a wild woman." He was enjoying the little competition he had started between the two women. "She's one of the best I've ever had."

Makala experienced a jolt of sheer joy. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it! she thought happily watching Corinna's jaw drop.

"The coffee's ready," Corinna snapped suddenly, changing the subject. "Pour me a cup, Makala, dear."

Makala rose from her seat, but Luis stopped her. "No. I want YOU to pour the coffee." he turned to Corinna.

"No way," she replied.

Luis picked up his gun and rubbed the steel cold barrel against Corinna's neck. "Do it! " he snapped.

"NO!" Corinna held firm. Only Makala saw the muscle twitch beside her left eye.

Her defiance seemed to impress Luis. He grinned and laid the gun back on the table. "You are one stupid bitch" he snapped, although his voice carried a definite note of respect.

He flung a glance at Makala. "Okay, Pour the coffee, cousin!"

"And make it quick!" Corinna drummed her fingernails on the table. She knew just how to handle Luis. Throw him off balance, that was the key. And the guy was sensational. What a fucking beautiful specimen! Corinna wanted to suck every part of him. If need be, she would die fucking him. He was absolutely gorgeous. And exciting. Had she ever met a man as exciting? So what if he'd killed Bella!? The woman deserved to die. She was much too fat to live!

Makala rushed to pour two cups of coffee. Cringing, she placed a cup before Luis and Corinna.

However, the two of them were too busy lighting cigarettes and ogling each other to notice.

Corinna took up the gun from the table and began to examine it.

"Did anyone give you permission to touch that?" Luis asked with a slow grin.

Corinna drew on her cigarette and fell into his mood. She leaned toward him. Her hand cupped his groin, the heel of her palm grinding into his genitals. "What about THIS?" she asked with a sly grin. "Do I need permission to touch this?"

Luis covered her hand with his own. "Don't start something you might not be able to finish."

"Oh, I'm willing to see this through to the end," she tossed back her hair and slanted her eyes.

Luis grinned. "Drink your coffee, sweetie." He spun around to Makala. "Want to make it a three-some, cousin? What do the French call it? A manage a trois?

His words angered Corinna and she snatched up the gun again. "No fucking way! We do it just the two of us!"

"What about her? Your fat assed cousin?"

"Fucking shoot her for all I care!" Corinna stormed. "No threesomes. I'm enough woman for you, Luis!" Makala's mouth went sudden dry and she stared up at Luis with huge, frightened eyes.

But Luis hooted with laughter and grabbed Makala's hand pulling her to her feet and dragging her from the kitchen. "Come on, kissing cousins. Let's retire upstairs to the bedrooms for some fun. Which one shall we try this time? Mama bear's bed? Papa bear's bed…or ...maybe…" he turned to Makala. "Baby bear's bed? Which bedroom is yours, cousin?"

"That one," Makala pointed as they reached the top of the stairs. Holding her hand in a vice like grip, Luis dragged her toward the door and kicked it open with force. The door swung back and slammed into the wall behind with a bang. Luis dragged Makala into the room with Corinna trailing behind, the gun still dangling from her hand.

Luis began pulling open drawers and within seconds he found a pair of tights. "I'm going to have to tie you up, cousin Makala. We can't have you running around the countryside calling for a policeman, can we?" Makala shrank back as he advanced towards her. Corinna bounced onto the canopy bed, her eyes bright with excited anticipation. "Tie her up so she can watch us," she cried wildly bouncing the springs of the bed. "Get that chair and tie her to it. Come ON!" her voice shrill. "Do it, Luis. Do it!"

Her smile faded as Luis flung down the tights and stormed across to her. His face contorted with rage he raised a finger into her face. "Don't you EVER tell me what to do, sweetheart!!" he yelled, beside himself with anger. "Or I swear I'll fucking kill you!"

"He's going to kill us both anyway," Makala murmured softly from the other side of the room, "Don't you understand, Corinna? We're both dead."

But Corinna only laughed, her eyes meeting Luis's evenly. Luis scared her, but she continued to believe she could handle him. She could handle any man on this planet. You controlled them with sex. That's all it took to manipulate a man. Sex. Hot sex. And she couldn't wait to have some red hot sex with dangerous Luis. Danger made everything so much more exciting.

"I'm sorry, baby," she crooned, untying the string halter top she wore. Her breasts were high and perky. She was extremely proud of them. She slanted her eyes at Luis. "But I can't wait much longer, baby."

"But, honey, *I'm* worth waiting for," Luis replied teasingly, yet the amber eyes remained frosty cold. "Are you?"

She pouted and began unzipping the low slung hip hugging jeans. "What do you think?" she asked, her head cocked to one side.

Luis whistled under his breath and quickly shoved Makala into the chair, she grimaced as she felt him tie the knots around her wrists and ankles. She still wore her mother's pink robe, which had become undone revealing her own nakedness. As he kneeled to tie her to the chair, Luis suddenly smiled up into her face. His tongue came out and he licked one pink nipple. She felt it harden almost instantly. Then his handsome face came close to hers, his warm breath brushed against her skin. He kissed her slowly.

Alone on the other side of the room, Corinna sat up in sudden annoyance.

"Hey! Leave that fat assed convent bitch alone, Luis, and come over here for a good time."

As Luis's mouth left hers Makala glimpsed over at her cousin. Their glances caught and for a moment they looked into each other's eyes, sudden mortal enemies, two women bound to the same man. Oh, how I loathe you, Makala thought with quick savagery. I despise you. I wish you were dead. She was surprised at the strength of her own hate.

Luis looked from one woman to the other with a slick grin. "Maybe I should untie her and let the two of you go at it right here on the carpet. It should be an interesting match." Luis laughed his boyish laugh. "I wonder who'd win?"

"Oh, Luis. Stop wasting time and come over here," Corinna whined. She didn't like the attention Makala was getting.

This time Luis did as he was bid. He strode across the room, pulling off the leather jacket and tugging the white t-shirt over his head. He dropped down onto the bed and pulled off his boots, flinging them across the room. Then he stood, and casually unbuttoned his jeans. Totally naked he turned to Corinna as she lay sprawled on the bed.

Her eyes widened. "Wow!"

"Is that all you can say?" he smiled.

"Oh, double wow!" she grinned back, her eyes on his engorged cock.

From her vantage point, Makala watched as a naked Luis pulled the eager Corinna to her feet and leaned down to kiss her. She was surprised at the tenderness of the kiss. There was a definite gentleness as he drew her slim nubile cousin into his arms, his hands on her buttocks pressing her to his groin. The kiss was long and deep and so tender and soft with passion it seemed out of place and so different from his urgent behaviour with Makala.

As they stood beside the bed the two beautiful slender bodies began a slow undulation in a rhythm as old as all time. Arms wound about, open palms traveled over smooth firm skin. Luis broke from the long kiss and lowered his face down Corinna's body, his tongue licking and sucking every part of her taunt skin on its way below. He paused at her pert breasts and suckled each nipple causing a gasp to fall from her lips. Slowly he fell to his knees and his dark curly head was level between her legs. "Open up," he murmured, his voice husky. "I want to taste you."

Corinna's eyes were half closed with desire as she looked down at Luis on his knees before her. "If you're going to eat me, Luis, baby," she drawled, her voice thick, "we're going to have to lie on the bed. Otherwise I'll just fall down. My knees are about to buckle as it is."

As the two beautiful people moved to lie on her very own bed, Makala realized that if she worked her wrists she would be able to free herself from the binds that tied. She wriggled and within seconds one hand fell free. However her attention was again distracted by the scene before her.

Luis was licking and tasting between Corinna's legs, while her cousin moaned and squirmed about, one hand gripping the white coverlet, the knuckles showing white and tense. Makala stared open mouthed, her bolt for freedom suddenly forgotten. She had no idea men did this kind of thing to women. Licked them 'down there'. At first it revolted, but then quickly it fascinated her senses as she tried to imagine the feel of a man's lips upon her own forbidden lips. Certainly her cousin seemed to be enjoying every sensual second of tongue action.

A wave of good feeling surged through Makala and she brought the freed hand into her own hot, wet groin and the fingers began their own familiar play.

Her eyes could not stray from the couple on her bed. She watched in complete enchantment. They were now face to face sitting on the soft coverlet and kissing as if they could not get enough of the taste of one other's mouth. Luis was being surprisingly gentle and slow. Then, with a smooth movement, he pulled Corinna into his lap and the girl gasped as he entered her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms going about his neck. Slowly, ever so slowly, Luis moved himself in and out. It was lazy and seductive with none of the animal grasping that he had displayed with Makala. She watched as Corinna threw back her head, her long curls falling in the air. Luis leaned down to suck the outstanding nipples presented to him. His speed was increasing, but remained controlled and regular.

Then unexpectedly his eyes moved across the room and suddenly locked onto Makala's. An eyebrow raised as his amber gaze dropped down to her free hand working so rapturously between her legs. She snatched it away guiltily.

"Having fun?" he asked, his amused eyes enjoying Makala's flaming face.

"Oh yeah," Corinna slurred, thinking he was talking to her. "But speed it up, baby. I like it fast and hard."

Luis turned his attention back to the woman in his arms. He doesn't even care that I am no longer tied up, Makala thought in surprise. A quick move to free her bound ankles was followed by the sudden realization that she could not leave. She was free of her binds. She could race from the room and bolt down the stairs and get away. But there was no way she could move. She wanted to see. She was spellbound in her seat. Her fingers went eagerly back between her legs, her pupils dilated as she stared, her jaw slack, her neck craned forward to see everything.

Luis drew Corinna back and forth in his lap. Her curls flew about and she held her arms tighter about his neck as their movements grew wilder with desire. They were approaching orgasm when Luis pushed his lover down onto her back. Makala's hypnotized eyes settled on the man's smooth round buttocks that dimpled so deeply with each intense thrust.

Corinna was crying out now, almost grunting, almost animalistic in her rhythmic cries. Her legs were stretched straight up in the air, her toes strained wide and rigid in ecstasy.

But Makala's eyes could not stay on her cousin. They were bound by the perfect beauty of Luis. Every muscle, every contour in his smooth bronzed back defined, his biceps round and firm, his skin now glistening and covered by a sheen of sweat. He pumped with frantic rhythm, every thrust bringing a wild cry of "Oh God!" from Corinna, whose face shone flame red and whose arms clung so possessively to the wild thrusting man on top of her.

Makala knew that Luis was quickly approaching orgasm. Her fingers stopped their feathery play between her legs as she found her eyes settling onto the glint of the metal gun as it lay on the carpet next to the bed. With a stifled cry she jumped from the chair and dived at the weapon.

Quickly she picked it up. It was strangely cold and heavy in her hand. She stared down at it for a while and then her eyes went back to the bed. Closing one eye and holding the gun aloft, she aimed at the pumping, climaxing pair before her. So wrapped in their rapture, neither one even knew she stood so close, so dangerously close. Corinna saw nothing for her eyes were scrunched tight in acute ecstasy and Luis's face was buried into the neck of the girl beneath him.

Makala knew she had crossed some kind of line. Something inside had snapped. At this point in time it no longer mattered whether she lived or died. As she gazed down, Makala wondered who would get the first bullet. Luis? Or Corinna? Which one did she hate the most?

But hesitation would be her downfall for the sexual climax broke in all its ravished thunder and Corinna's eyes flew open.

"She's got the fucking gun!" she yelled violently pushing at Luis. The incredulity on her cousin's face shifted to a kind of horror and suddenly Makala's fears were gone. She felt powerful and strong and filled with a loathing that brought out everything cruel and fierce and wild in her. Her teeth clenched, her face contorted in murderous fury. All she had to do was pull the trigger.

Her finger jerked, just a fraction. But it was enough. The gun exploded in her hand. She had a brief impression of Luis rolling from Corinna's body and of seeing a gushing blur of red on her cousin's chest when she was felled by another bullet from another gun. The bullet slammed into her back and pierced her heart, killing her dead in an instant.

***

Police Officer Rodriguez was worried. His wife was spending money like wildfire. Debts were mounting and now a new baby was on the way. He needed that big promotion that was coming up. If only he could do something to make his supervisors notice him. Still, maybe today would be his big chance.

Alone in the police car, he had received a call directing him to check out the residence of a high ranking government official. Something was wrong with the phones, the radio dispatcher said. The family was away in Marbella and could not get through to their house. It didn't seem like much, but if he did a good job he might be in line for that promotion. Man, he needed the extra money bad.

He pulled his police car into the parking lot at the back of the house. A car was already there. A black Porsche. He knew the owner of that car. Corinna Diaz. Every police officer in town knew that car. The girl was constantly in trouble. She had a criminal record as long as your arm. But her parents were stinking rich and always bailed their unruly daughter out of any trouble. This was looking more and more interesting.

Officer Rodriguez parked and climbed from his vehicle. Shielding his eyes he gazed up at the many windows. All seemed peaceful. He moved toward the house and found that the kitchen door was unlocked. He pushed it open and entered the coolness of a large kitchen. He was about to call out when his eyes alighted on the unmoving bulk of woman lying on the floor. He sucked in a ragged breath and stopped dead in his tracks. Holy Shit! The woman was dead. A dot of red blood was visible between her eyes. She had been shot execution style! The fatal wound was clean and precise.

Police Officer Rodriguez felt himself tremble. He fumbled with the leather gun holder on his belt and pulled out his weapon. His first reaction was to run back to the car and radio for help, but then he stopped. If he handled this situation the right way he would be in line for that big promotion for sure. If he radioed for help he would have to sit on the sidelines while someone else took control.

With the gun in his hand he carefully stepped over the dead woman and moved out to the darkened hallway. He was suddenly aware of noises and movement upstairs. The gun outstretched before him in a sweating palm, he slowly climbed the stairs, taking each step carefully, his head swiveling about anxiously. He quickly pinpointed the source of the sounds and moved in that direction.

The bedroom door was open and inside the room he saw three people. A young couple lay on the bed in the final throes of lovemaking. Standing next to the bed was a young girl, she was almost naked except for a pink robe that fell from her shoulders. She was holding a gun and aiming it at the couple on the bed. Police Officer Rodriguez's eyes went to the gun in the girl's hand and he saw the finger move on the trigger. There was a flash and the girl on the bed screamed. At that moment his own finger jerked back the trigger of his own gun and there was a burst of bright light and a crack of noise. He saw the young girl jerk like a rag doll, the gun dropped from her hand and she fell back from the impact of his bullet.

Both girls lay dead.

Shaking uncontrollably Police Officer Rodriguez stared into the molten gold eyes of the naked man who climbed from the bed and came toward him. "I…I…didn't mean it. I…I…didn't mean to kill her," the officer gasped, stuttering and incredulous. He almost stumbled to the ground, but the man caught him in strong arms.

"You saved my life, man" Luis muttered evenly. "You fucking saved my life."

***

"Come on, little baby Porsche" Luis grinned, his foot moving on the accelerator, his hand shoving the gears into overdrive. "Let's see what you've got under that hood."

He twisted the knob raising the volume of the radio until the speakers thumped a deep bass tone as if the car possessed its very own heartbeat

He popped another cigarette into his mouth and snapped in the lighter with the heel of his hand. He could not stop smiling. Things had gone his way once again. Things ALWAYS went his way.

Police Officer Rodriguez turned out to be a complete fool. The sight of two dead women, blood gushing from jagged gunshot wounds had sent him over the edge. The man had gone into shock. His body convulsed uncontrollably and he had almost passed out. It had been so easy for Luis to whisper a story into the ear of the semi-comatose man. To alter the facts. To imbed his innocence into the subconscious.

The officer's report had made it clear. Luis had been covering the girl, protecting her, trying to save her life from a rampaging Makala.

Despite the fact that he possessed nerves of steel, Luis told his story with a persuasive tremor in his voice. He met Makala just that day in Madrid, he said. She seemed very nice and she had invited him back to her house for a drink. He didn't know she had been on an all night drug binge. She started acting crazy the minute they got to the house. She had a gun. She killed the family cook and held Luis prisoner all day. When Corinna showed up, she ordered them both to strip naked and held them at gun point. Makala was raging and insane and taking huge amounts of cocaine, Luis said, she had decided to kill them both when Rodriguez arrived.

"He's a hero," Luis told the police reporter. "That man saved my life."

Overcome with grief, Corinna's parents had fawned their overwhelming gratitude on Luis. He had tried to save their daughter's life and had failed. Their gratitude was such that they bestowed upon Luis a great deal of money as well as their daughter's black Porsche convertible. They just could not stop thanking him. He didn't know how he kept the smirk hidden while they groped all over him.

Makala's parents had met with him in private the next day. Sitting on the sofa, clutching at each other anxiously they implored Luis for his cooperation. The story could not hit the media, they wailed. Makala's father would be destroyed. So they, too, had given him a huge payment in return for his silence.

The grin on the handsome face grew wider. Fucking idiots. Everyone was so fucking gullible.

The police had ordered him to stay in the area until the investigation was complete. But Luis never did anything he was told. Especially if it was the police ordering him about. And he knew that once the investigation began, his story would not hold water and Officer Rodriguez's memory might suddenly clear. He might remember that Luis had been fucking on the bed and had quickly rolled from atop Corinna the second he saw the gun in Makala's hand. His first reaction would always be to save his own skin. And no drugs would be found in Makala's blood. And the police had his gun. A gun that had killed so many on the streets of Madrid.

So he was now on his way to Barcelona. He knew exactly what he was going to do. He would sell the little black Porsche convertible and head to the airport. He'd never had so much money in his life. He could live very nicely on his new fortune. Live for quite a while in relative luxury. He would deposit the money into an account that would be accessible from his new home. His new home in America.

He'd always been attracted to America. America was the land of the gun. A place where he'd fit in nicely.

And he had a whole new identity in the glove compartment. A passport. A birth certificate. All the legal documents he would require to enter another country. His new name in America would be Miguel Bain. He liked it. It had a nice ring to it. He had killed the real Miguel Bain months ago while working for the police and had stolen the man's legal papers in the event they might come in handy one day. The picture on the passport was almost identical. He could foresee no problem at US customs. So it was goodbye to Luis and hello to Miguel. A new name. A new life. A new land.

Luis dragged on his cigarette and stared ahead. He was approaching the outskirts of Barcelona and a few houses dotted the roadside. Through a windshield blurred by smoke that streamed from his mouth, he saw an old woman, bent and frail and leaning heavily on a cane, step from the sidewalk onto the road.

"Look at that!" Luis hissed angrily. "The old bitch never even looked. Just walked straight off the curb. Who does she think she is? Does she think she fucking owns the road?"

His foot moved on the accelerator. He had plenty of time to brake, to slow down, but instead he sped up, the little Porsche's efficient engine responding to the increased pressure on its accelerator.

Unaware of her surroundings, the old woman shuffled onto the road, her legs wobbly, her head bent down, her eyes careful to watch for uneven cracks in the asphalt. She had no idea of the danger she was in.

Her ears were not what they used to be. She did not hear the roar of the car engine bearing down on her.

Luis flicked his cigarette from the window. Both hands gripped the wheel. The old bitch! The fucking old bitch! NO ONE stepped out in front of him! He would get such pleasure from seeing her blood spattered everywhere.

A quick glance around told him there was nobody about. He was alone on the road. Luis grinned. It didn't matter what he did. Or how bad he was. He would get away with it. Everyone was so fucking stupid! He never got caught. Not ever!

"Get out of my way, bitch!" He yelled as the car bore down on the old body. "America is waiting!"

It was at the last second that he swerved. At all once he remembered that he must sell the car and he wouldn't get much for a Porsche with bits and pieces of a dead grandma stuck on the hood. The car whooshed around the old body and she stumbled and fell.

He glanced in his rearview mirror and his beautiful lips smiled a cold contemptuous and yet strangely sensual smile.

The old woman was an unmoving heap on the road. He gave a cruel laugh. Probably a broken hip, he thought happily, or maybe worse. Maybe the bitch was dead from shock.

Then his beautiful amber eyes returned to the empty road ahead. "America! Here I come. Are you ready for Miguel Bain?"