Snake is on the rampage, hell bent on revenge, whilst over in Florida the two pairs of lovers live unaware that he is still alive.
I hope you enjoy this romantic crime thriller as it makes its way to the climatic end.
The three part story Rattling Snakes Cage is copyrighted and any reproduction in any form needs the permission and agreement of the Author.
*
The flames licked the inside of the house, and Maria stood opposite watching, her heart in her mouth as the silhouette of Tony disappeared in the upstairs window, while dark acrid smoke poured out of it.
People had come out of their houses to watch, and she heard the sounds of screams in her head and then realised it was herself screaming out for Tony. The sounds of fire sirens could be heard and a fire engine drew up blocking her view. Arms went around her shoulders as she was guided over to an Ambulance, but she cried out for Tony as soft voices tried to calm her, reassuring her that the firemen would bring him out.
Tense moments passed as the Firemen raised the ladder; water was hosed into the house and brave men wearing breathing apparatus climbed into the window of the bedroom trying to save the missing man.
The crowd quietened as the one of the Fireman disappeared into the house through the window and then appeared with the body of a man slumped over his shoulder. A cheer went up and Maria held her breath as she watched the rescue, her hands grasping the paramedics who were still trying to get her to climb into the back in the ambulance.
They brought Tony's still body over to the ambulance and Maria sobbed as they worked on him, watching as they put an oxygen mask on him, and then as they did CPR. Seconds seemed like hours as they worked on him there in front of the ambulance, and the shouts and sounds of the fire melted into the background as all the people involved in the rescue stared at the scene of life or death playing out in front of them.
Eventually the paramedic gave the thumbs up and a collective sigh went around, smiles and laughter as the release of tension rippled through the emergency workers and then Maria and Tony were whisked away from their ruined home to the hospital.
The police and firemen carried on with their work to get control of the now flame enveloped building, trying to stop the fire spreading to the houses next door, the neighbours in the road praying that their homes would be saved as they stood with the crowds watching.
*
Snake drove down the motorway his mind focused on his next destination. In the boot of his car was a small suitcase, and in his pocket his airline tickets and passport. He was in a hurry to reach Heathrow Airport and to arrive in time for his flight booked for Malaga Airport in Spain.
His next stop.
*
The morning sun rose early and hot in Marbella and Davy and Shirley rose and had their customary early morning swim in their swimming pool, striking out through the crystal clean water doing laps. Bougainvillea and the occasional palm tree grew in the large garden, and after the swim they sat at the table that two and half years before Jerry had sat with the other men planning the rescue of Patrick from Wandsworth Prison, and ate a breakfast of fresh fruit and yogurt washed down by the fresh orange juice that Shirley had squeezed in the juicer before they had gone for the swim.
Overhead the sky was a bright azure blue and Shirley turned to Davy and told him she was going to go with a friend to Puerto Banus shopping for the day and asked him what he had planned.
"I've got a bit of work to do, make some phone calls, arrange some meetings. Not a lot. At lunch I'm meeting some guy that has been passed onto me by Danny who needs some new identification down at the bar at La Calla beach front. So I'll see you around late afternoon."
Taking a sip of the thick fresh Orange Juice Shirley nodded and held out her hand grinning, "I'll need a thousand more Euro please."
"What! Spent the last lot already?"
"You make it love....I'll spend it."
"You could wait a few days between shopping expeditions. You've got more clothes in your closet than they've got in the stock rooms at the Corte Ingles Store in Peurto Banus. I should charge them for storage for their stock."
"Very funny....hand it over."
And grunting he got up and walked into the house and to the safe, opening it and took out the money.
*
Walking down the corridor from the plane towards passport control, Snake drew glances from a couple of interested tourists who were walking down the marble floored walkway near him. He stood out against the other people, his black suit and black shirt, black hair and intense looks, along with the vivid snakes head tattoo on his neck, parcelled up with the forceful personality he emanated drew stares and raised eyebrows as he walked along. More than one woman gave him an interested look, but he was not interested. He had a mission and nothing was going to divert him from it.
After collecting his bag from the baggage carousel he strode over to the car hire section and arranged for a car which he picked up on the top floor of the airport car park. Checking the address he pulled out into the bright Spanish sunshine and started the hour and a half long drive from Malaga to Marbella on the motorway that wound its way West.
*
Davy sat in the beach front café eating Calamari and drinking ice cold beer with the man who wanted a completely new identity. A price was arranged and a timescale for them to meet up and for the man to pick up the new papers from Davy. At no time did Davy ask the man why he wanted a new identity; it was of no concern to him, just that the money would be paid. Shaking hands Davy got up and left the man and strolled along the beachfront, stopping off to buy an ice cream from a small outlet on the way back to his car.
Whilst Davy sat making his deal Shirley walked through the fashionable Port of Peurto Banus, visiting her favourite shops along the waterfront and down the narrow street that ran parallel with the harbour where multi million pound yachts were moored and people ogled the ostentatious show of wealth on show. Rummaging through the clothes rails in shops she tried on the occasional thing but couldn't find what she really wanted.
Eventually she decided to grab some lunch and she walked down to the popular Italian pizza and pasta restaurant Picasso's on the waterfront and sat down to enjoy her lunch and people watch.
*
Juan saw Patrick and Jerry walking across the road to the bar, and he ran across to meet them. "Hi guys.....got a moment."
Patrick looked at the young man, "Is it about the extra supply?....come on in."
Walking through the now open bar door into the gloom he said, "Nope...it's better than that."
"Better?"
"Yeah....such a sweet deal that by this time next year we could all be stinking rich."
Jerry looked at Patrick who then leaned back on his elbows casually against the bar. "If it's what I think it is forget it.....I like to stay alive and all in one piece."
"But you haven't heard what the deal is."
