Chapter Eight: AND THE WIND BEGAN TO HOWL

The hills and canyons of Palos Verdes Estates were brown from the drought. Atticus literally hit the ground running when he replaced Milo. He knew he would be richly rewarded for his loyalty to Lee Baylord.

Atticus ran to the gardener’s quarters. Luis was on the phone talking to his son who was extremely upset because tonight was his first gig at the COMEDY AND MAGIC CLUB in Hermosa Beach and he wanted his dad to be there. 

Luis never went anywhere. He tended the grounds of the Baylord Estate and then kept to his little cottage at the bottom of the hill.

“For God’s sake, papa, ICE is not after you.”

“My English is not so good.” Luis confessed.

“They don’t arrest you for that,” the comedian assured his father.

“Someone is beating the door!” Luis exclaimed.

“I sent a taxi. Papa, don't make me beg.”

Luis opened the door. Atticus thrust a screaming baby into his arms.

“Take the child. I have to stop the boss from killing his wife,” Atticus disappeared into the darkness and took the shortcut back to the main house through a wooded area across the dry creek. A coyote pack began to howl.

Luis waved down cars on the poorly lit street. His speech deteriorated as his blood pressure soared dangerously high. 

Off in the distance he heard blood curdling screams.

A car stopped but sped off when the driver saw how Luis was drooling, the baby in his arms was wailing and a man in the distance was screaming as if he was being skinned alive.

Atticus was ripped apart by starving coyotes.

Luis staggered to the bus stop. Everyone on the bus called the police. ICE intercepted.

~ To Be Continued ~