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Jordan smiled. If so then he’d better not tell the police or anyone else. But if the boss was The Apparition that meant by law he was a killer, a killer running loose and killing people. Crooks so far, but will it always be only crooks that he kills?
     
    * * * *
     
    At the Daimler’s steering wheel, Sloane pressed a secret button. A small compartment opened revealing a black costume and a black hood. The ominous darkness of the night was joined by Sloane’s laughter.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    David Stryker drank whiskey, smoked cigars and sweated sour stink. Six of his top killers sent to finalize The Apparition ended up being meat for forensic people to carve up. How could that happen? Those guys were good. Their profession was murder.
    “The Apparition is still alive, and I’m his next corpse.” He stubbed out his half-smoked cigar put a fresh one in his mouth, bit off its end, and ignited it. “Just who the hell is this guy?”
    He wiped sweat from his brow and mentally took note of his security. There were five hundred secret coded alarms at every possible entrance plus two dozen roving patrol guards, consisting of crooked cops, gangsters and professional killers. It was enough protection to keep him alive from anybody except The Apparition. He was a dead man. He knew it. That costumed nut was unstoppable.
    “Perhaps I can help you?”
    Stryker whirled around with gun in hand. In one swift movement, a hooded figure tossed a knife. Before Stryker could squeeze off a shot, the heavy knife knocked the weapon from his right hand.
    The hooded figure laughed.
    Stryker rubbed his hand. “All right, you’re here to finish me off. Go ahead, get it over with.”
    “Guns are dangerous weapons. They should be outlawed, particularly the way you just used one. Relax, Stryker. At the moment I am not here to end your life. On the contrary, I’m here to help you.”
    “Sure you are, like you helped six of my men last night.”
    “Are you so certain that was my doing? Those killers were meant to end the way they ended. I have in mind for you a much different scenario, one that will prevent you from meeting an unfortunate demise. Care to find out?”
    “Sure, why not? What have I got to lose?”
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Edgar Wells never wanted to happen what did happen. He wanted to die first. Then his beloved wife Irma would follow him later. It never happened that way. Why, why, why! Irma died and he kneeled at her graveyard marking.
    An hour later Edgar Wells stood and wondered why he was in a graveyard. Irma would be waiting for him, probably in the nearest food store. He went there. None of the clerks had seen her. The store owner said something about Irma being dead. How perfectly ridiculous, she was alive and waiting for him at home.
    At home he fiddled with the lock on the front door. Irma wanted him to replace the lock, but locksmiths were expensive.
    Inside their small house hollering for his wife until he developed a hoarse throat brought no Irma dashing to him with a warm hug and a delicious kiss.
    “She’s not here, Edgar.”
    The voice was deep with a dry raspy sound. Edgar turned and faced The Apparition.
    “Where’s my Irma? What have you done with her?”
    “Your Irma has passed away. In time you will come to fully realize she is gone from your life, but not your memory and the wonderful happiness you had with her.”
    Edgar nodded as sanity and the reality of his wife’s death returned to him. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Who are you other than The Apparition? Why are you here?”
    “My actual identity must remain a secret to all. I’m here because I need your help.”
    “Why? You’re The Apparition. According to the news media there isn’t anything you can’t do.”
    “The news media is quite often wrong, especially about me.”
    “I’m only a person incapable of doing many things.”
    “You were once a Master Chef.”
    “I was temporarily.”
    “Because everybody assisting her