Stranger With a Black Case

1996—Paradise Trailer Park, Gaskille, Florida

Callous and Tyrant, drifted along the train tracks near Paradise Trailer Park. Invisible to the teenager, Vinnie Vinetti, they followed his big sneakers over the gravelly cross-ties that lay beneath the rusty rails. You might say Vinnie inherited the twin demons. They’d followed members of his family for at least six generations. Callous gave Vinnie a shove and snickered when the kid tripped over a cross-tie. The demon flicked out his tongue and licked his beady, golden eyeballs in anticipation of this new assignment.

 

2019—The Train Station, Gaskille, Florida

Tony pushed a broom along the wall outside the train station. His heart sat like a chunk of iron in his chest. His dad—Vinnie Vinetti—afraid of someone? Vinnie was top dog. He was never afraid of anything or anyone. Till now.



Would someone really try to kill him?



A movement caught Tony’s eye. A strange man dressed in beat-up jeans, carrying a violin case sat parked on a bench, studying a small scrap of paper. He showed no sign of budging. Tony couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was off about this guy.

A detective at heart, Tony had plans to join the FBI one day. He needed all the experience this small town could offer. Thin frame, ponytail, brown jacket with too-short sleeves. Homeless? Maybe. But something about him doesn’t quite jive with the homeless look. Doesn’t act the part. He’s too clean cut, too… something.



Then the pieces fell into place.



Hit-men carry violin cases—with guns. That paper he keeps studying is a hit list. Maybe this guy is coming after someone. Maybe this guy is coming after… Dad!