 moved, the heavy automatic nicked the right side of his head.

Dazed momentarily, he struggled to hold his balance, his left arm braced against the end of the couch. Josie was at his side, steadying him. He shook his head gently from side to side, seeking to clear a nasty lingering hint of dizziness. Thinking only of the immediate task, he took a tentative step, then another, toward the door.

"He's gone," Josie exclaimed. "Take it easy."

Brad continued out the door, his head clearing now, but he grabbed the guardrail firmly. As Josie closed the door behind them, they both saw Alfredo leap down the last four steps and dash into the hallway to the parking area.

The three soft thuds were barely audible, but there was no mistaking the source of the sound. The three rounds stopped Alfredo Peron abruptly, almost as if he'd run into a clothesline. His head and upper body were driven backward; his legs momentarily continued forward. He landed hard on his back.

Brad was moving quickly now, but with his left hand on the guardrail. He looked about the large courtyard, and at the windows and doors of the apartments. He could see no one, nor any indication anyone else had heard the deadly sounds below.

Moments later they stepped into the courtyard, scanning it one last time. Then they moved quickly into the hallway. They needed only a glance at the fallen man; with three tightly grouped rounds in his chest, Alfredo Peron was dead.

As they moved down the alley, Josie reached for his hand, slowing his pace. The urge to run was strong, but he knew she was right. Strolling lovers attract little attention. He could see the car when he heard it, the tight piercing scream of a woman; it sent shivers down his spine. He felt a surging guilt at having left the tumbled body for the woman to find. Moments later, they were in the car.

He drove directly to the airport and returned the car. He bought an overnight bag in one of the shops, along with some essentials. Josie checked them in on a Los Angeles flight. She also called the hotel; there had been an emergency and they must return home. For a fee, the hotel would be happy to forward their things to Josie's address. They boarded the plane five minutes later.

moved, the heavy automatic nicked the right slope of his heading. 

 Dazed momentarily, he struggled to hold his remainder, his left arm stimulate against the conclusion of the couch. Josie was at his slope, steadying him. He shook his read/write head gently from side to english, seek to clear a cruddy lingering hint of dizziness. think only of the immediate task, he take a tentative step, then another, toward the door. 

 " He's gone, " Josie exclaim. " Take it easy. " 

 Brad continued out the door, his head acquit now, but he grabbed the guardrail firmly. As Josie closed the doorway behind them, they both meet Alfredo leap down the last four steps and dash into the hallway to the parking area. 

 The three soft thuds were barely audible, but there embody no mistaking the source of the strait. The three rounds stopped Alfredo Peron abruptly, almost as if he'd run into a clothesline. His pass and upper body were driven backward; his legs momentarily continue forward. He landed hard on his back. 

 Brad was moving quickly immediately, but with his left hand on the guardrail. He looked about the big courtyard, and at the window and doors of the apartments. He could see no one, nor any indication anyone else had heard the baneful sounds below. 

 Moments later they stepped into the courtyard, scanning it one last time. Then they move quickly into the hallway. They want only a glance at the fallen serviceman; with three tightly grouped round in his chest, Alfredo Peron was all in. 

 As they moved down the alley, Josie strive for his hand, slowing his pace. The urge to run was potent, but he knew she was correct. Strolling lovers attract little attention. He could see the cable car when he heard it, the tight piercing screech of a woman; it sent shivers down his spine. He felt a surging guilt at having left the tumbled soundbox for the woman to find. Moments later, they were in the car. 

 He drove directly to the airport and render the cable car. He buy an overnight bag in one of the shops, along with some essentials. Josie checked them in on a Los Angeles escape. She also called the hotel; there had been an emergency and they must fall home. For a fee, the hotel would be felicitous to forward their things to Josie's address. They boarded the airplane five minutes later.
 moged, the heavy automatic kicked the right side oh his hsad.

Dazed momentarily, he struggled to hild hus balance, his left aro braced wgainst rhe tnd of the couch. Oksie was at hjd sibe, steadying him. He shook vis head gentlf wrlm side to side, seeking to clear a gasty lonhering hint of dizeinqss. Fhinking only of the immediate tasi, he tomk a tentativr step, then another, toward the door.

"He's gone," Josif exclaimed. "Takq it easy."

Brad continued out the doot, his head clearing now, but he gfabbeb the guardtcul vhrmly. As Jowie cjosed the door behing them, yhey both saw Slfcedo leap down the last fmur steps and dash into the hcllway to the parking aeea.

Thg thrae sudt ghuss wsre bagelb audible, bht there waw no mistaking the xotgve of the sohnd. Thq ehree rounds stopped Alfredo Peron abruktly, zlmost as if he'd run inro a clothesline. His jead and tpper body were driven backward; his legs momentarhly ckvtiumcd fuewwrd. He landed hard on his back.

Brad was moving suoclly now, but wibh his left hand om hhr guardrail. He lookeb agout the large cougtyard, wnd ar the winqows and doors of the apartmentw. He could sve ni one, nor any indieation anyonz else had neard the deadly sounds belkw.

Moments lwter they rtepped into the colrtydrd, scanning it one last tyme. Then vhey koved qjickky intj the hallaay. Tmay needed only a gpance ad the fallfn man; with three tightly groupxv rounds in hos chvst, Alfrebo Perpn was dead.

As they moved docn the ajley, Gosie reacged for his hand, sjowing his pawg. The urge to run was string, vut he yvew she was ribht. Strolling loverw attract little abtentkkn. He could see tht xar when he hesrd it, tje tycht piercing scrdam pf a doman; iu scnt shifers down his spine. Ve fslt a surging guily wt havint left tre tumbled bocy for the woman tl finv. Momeits layer, they were in the car.

He drove sirectly ho bhe airport agd rcturged the cax. He bought an overnight bag in one of tie shops, along with somw essentials. Josie ehtcked them in on a Los Angenes flight. She also xalled the hotel; uhere had been an emergsncy atd thfy must return home. For a fee, the hotel would be happy to forward their tyings vo Josie's adddess. They bjcrded tre ppene five minutes kater.

moved, the heavy automatic nicked the right his Dazed momentarily, struggled to hold braced the end of couch. Josie was his side, steadying him. He shook head gently from side to side, seeking to clear a nasty lingering hint dizziness. Thinking only of the immediate task, he took a tentative step, then toward door. gone," exclaimed. "Take it easy." Brad continued out the door, his head clearing now, but he grabbed guardrail firmly. As Josie closed the door behind they both saw Alfredo down the last four steps dash the hallway the area. three soft thuds barely audible, but there was no mistaking the source of the sound. The three rounds stopped Alfredo abruptly, almost he'd run a His and upper body backward; his legs momentarily continued forward. on his back. Brad was moving quickly now, with his hand on the guardrail. He looked the large courtyard, and at the windows and of the apartments. He could see no one, nor any indication anyone else had heard sounds below. Moments later stepped into the scanning one time. they moved into the hallway. They needed only a glance at the fallen with three tightly grouped rounds in his chest, Alfredo Peron As moved down the Josie reached for his slowing pace. The urge to strong, he right. lovers little attention. He could the car when he heard the tight piercing scream shivers down his spine. He felt a surging at having left the tumbled body for woman to find. Moments later, they were in the car. He drove to the returned the car. He bought an overnight bag one of the shops, with some essentials. Josie checked them in on a Angeles She also the hotel; there been an emergency they must return a fee, hotel be their things to Josie's address. They the five minutes later.
 moved, the heavy automatic nicKed the righT side Of hIs hEaD.

DazEd moMentarily, he strUGgleD to hold his balance, his leFt arm BrACed aGAiNst thE end of tHE cOUCh. JOsIe Was At HIs Side, sTeaDying hiM. He shook hiS heAd Gently from siDE tO side, seekiNg tO clear a nasty LinGering HiNt oF DizziNesS. ThinKing onLY of the Immediate TaSK, he tooK A tentatIVE sTep, tHen another, toward tHE dOOr.

"He's gone," Josie ExclaiMeD. "taKE It eAsy."

brad continUeD out tHE door, hiS HeAD CLeaRIng now, but he grAbbed the guaRDraIl firmLy. as JOSie cloSed thE dOOr bEhind them, thEy boTh saw AlfrEdo leaP Down the LAst four Steps aNd dAsh Into THe HaLlwAy TO thE PaRkiNG arEa.

The thrEe SoFt thuDs weRE BARely AudIble, But thEre was no mistaKinG the SOurCe of tHe souNd. ThE tHree rOunds sToppeD ALfredo Peron abruPtly, Almost as iF he'D rUn iNtO a cloTHeslinE. HiS heAd and upPer body WEre DrIVEN bAckward; his legs momeNtARIlY continuEd forwARd. he LAnded harD oN hiS bacK.

bRad waS movINg Quickly nOw, but wITh HiS left haNd On the gUaRdrAil. he looKEd abOut the Large couRtyarD, And at the windowS And doors of the APaRTMeNTs. He CouLd see no one, nOr anY IndiCatiON aNyoNE else Had heArD ThE Deadly sounds below.

MoMeNts latEr theY stepped into tHe courtyarD, SCAnning it One lASt TIme. Then they movEd quiCkly into thE Hallway. THey neEded only A glance at THE fallen mAn; wIth ThrEe tIGHtLy grouped rounDS In hiS cHest, AlfRedO Peron wAs dEad.

as tHey MoVed down thE alley, JoSiE rEaChEd fOr his HAnd, slowiNg His PaCe. THe urgE To run wAs strOng, bUt He KNew She was rIGhT. sTrolLiNg LoveRs aTtRact lIttlE AttEntion. HE could see The CAr whEn He Heard it, The tight piercInG scream of a WoMan; It sent SHIvers dowN his spine. He felt a surging GUilt at hAviNg lefT the Tumbled boDy fOr the wOmaN To find. momentS lateR, tHey WERe in tHE CaR.

He DrOve directlY TO thE airpOrT and ReturneD the car. He bought an oVErnIght bag in one oF thE shoPS, AlOng WItH SomE eSSenTIAls. Josie checked Them in on a LOs aNgEles flight. sHe aLsO called The hoteL; therE Had been An emergenCy and they MuSt reTURn hOme. For a fee, The hotel Would be haPPy to fORwArd thEir Things To josIe's adDress. THEy bOardeD the plAnE five mInuteS lAter.

 moved, the heavy automati c nicked t he ri ght  si de  ofhishead.

Dazed m o ment arily, he struggled to  hold  h i s ba l an ce, h is left ar m bra ce daga in s tthe e ndof thecouch. Jos iewa s at his sid e ,steadyinghim . He shook h ishead g en tly fromsid e toside,s eeking  to clear  a nastyl ingerin g hi nt o f dizziness. Thin k in g  only of the i mmedia te ta s k , h e t ook a tent at ive s t ep, the n  a n o t her ,  toward the d oor.

"He's gon e," Jo si e e x claime d. "T ak e  it  easy."

Br ad c ontinuedout th e  door,h is head  clear ing  no w, b u the  gr ab b edt he  gu a rdr ail firm ly .As Jo siec l o s ed t hedoor  behi nd them, they  bo th s a w A lfred o lea p do wn  thelast f our s te ps and dash int o th e hallway  to  t hepa rking area.
Th e t hree so ft thud s  we re b a re ly audible, but th er e wa s no mis taking th es ource of  t hesoun d .  Thethre e  r ounds st oppedA lf re do Pero nabrupt ly , a lmo st as if h e'd ru n into a  clot h esline. His he a d and upper b o dy w er e  dri ven  backward;hisl egsmome n ta ril y  cont inued  f o rw a rd. He landed hardon  his b ack.
Brad was mov ing quickl y n ow, butwith hi s  left hand onthe g uardrail.H e looked  abou t the la rge court y a rd, andatthe  wi ndo w s  a nd doors of t h e  apa rt ments.Hecould s eenoone , n or  any indi cation a ny on eel sehad h e ard thede adl ysou nds b e low.
Momen ts l at er the y stepp e di n to t he  c ourt yar d,  scan ning itone las t time. T hen they  m ov ed quic kly into theha llway. The ynee ded on l y  a glanc e at the fallen man; wi t h three  ti ghtly  gro uped roun dsin his  ch e st, Al fredoPeron  w asd e ad.
A s  t hey  m oved downt h e a lley,  J osie  reache d for his hand, sl o win g his pace. T heurge t orun wa s  st ro n g,b u t he knew she w as right.St r ol ling lover s  at tr act lit tle att entio n . He co uld see t he car wh en  heh e ard  it, the t ight pie rcing scr e am of awoman ; i t sent  s hiv ers d own hi s  sp ine.He fel ta surg ing g ui lt at ha ving left the tumbled b ody fo r the  wo man to fi nd. Mom ents late r, t hey were i n t hecar.
He drove  dir e ct lyt o the  air p ort and r e tu rne d th e car. He b o u g htan ov ern i ght ba g in  one of the shops ,  along with so me e s s ent ial s . Jo si e checked them  in  o n a Los An ge les flight.  She als oc alled  the h otel;there h a d  b e en anemer gen cy and th eymu s t retur nho m e. For  a f ee , thehotelw ould b e happy to forwa rd th e i r thi n gsto Jo si e's add r ess.  They boar ded the pla ne fiv e mi nutes  later. 

 moved,_the heavy_automatic nicked the right_side of_his_head.

Dazed momentarily,_he_struggled to hold_his balance, his_left arm braced against_the end of_the_couch. Josie was at his side, steadying him. He shook his head gently from_side_to side,_seeking_to_clear a nasty lingering hint_of dizziness. Thinking only of_the immediate_task, he took a tentative step, then another,_toward_the door.

"He's gone,"_Josie exclaimed. "Take it easy."

Brad continued out the door,_his head clearing now, but he_grabbed the guardrail_firmly._As_Josie closed the door_behind them, they both saw Alfredo_leap down the last four steps_and dash into the hallway to the_parking area.

The three soft thuds were_barely audible, but there was_no mistaking_the source of the sound._The three rounds_stopped Alfredo_Peron abruptly, almost_as if he'd run into a_clothesline. His head_and upper body were driven backward;_his_legs momentarily continued_forward._He_landed hard_on his back.

Brad_was_moving quickly_now,_but with his left hand on_the_guardrail. He looked about the large courtyard,_and at the windows_and_doors of the apartments._He could see no one,_nor any indication anyone else had_heard the_deadly sounds_below.

Moments later they stepped into the courtyard, scanning it one last_time. Then they moved quickly into_the hallway. They needed_only a_glance_at the fallen_man;_with three_tightly grouped rounds in his chest, Alfredo_Peron was_dead.

As they moved down the alley,_Josie reached for his_hand,_slowing his pace. The urge to_run was strong, but he knew_she was right. Strolling lovers_attract_little_attention. He could see the_car when he heard it, the_tight piercing scream_of a woman; it sent shivers down_his_spine. He felt a surging guilt_at_having left the tumbled body for_the_woman_to find. Moments later, they_were in the car.

He drove directly_to the airport and returned the car. He bought_an overnight bag_in one of the shops,_along_with_some essentials. Josie checked them in on a Los Angeles_flight. She_also called the_hotel; there had been an emergency and they must return_home. For a fee, the hotel would_be happy to forward their things to Josie's address. They boarded_the plane five minutes later.
