It was dark when Alexander got into the cab. He had his small paper out, with the address of this so called "voodoo doctor" individual by the name of Adio. He didn't have a second name. The cab was like any other cab. It smelled like mixed perfumes and a bit of pine from his pine cologne, but other than that it was quite normal. The air conditioner wasn't as cool as he imagined, but it was functional.
"Where to my man?" The taxi driver asked him.
"Um… can you turn on the light. I can't see this," he told the cab driver and he gave him the small, crumbled paper.
"Oh… shit. I can't see this either. Hold up," The cab driver said. He turned on the little light from his car and when it lit up, he squinted his eyes. The man had to put pressure on his view, because the address had been scrapped with pencil. The cab driver was black. He had short trimmed hair, a black jacket, a polo shirt and black jeans. He seemed to be dressed for some sort of special occasion, or maybe he wore clothes like that to work. Either way, he dressed casual, but elegant.
"I think this is Amberson district, Waifer street. This is a really dangerous area. Are you sure you want to go there?" The driver asked him.
"Yeah. You leave me there and go," Alexander replied.
"Whatever you say," the cab driver said. Then he turned off his light and Alexander saw the black Sudan a few feet behind him, but he didn't think much of it, not until much later.
"What?" The cab driver asked him as Alexander continued to pierce out the back window.
"I don't know. I thought… Do you remember seeing a black car when I got in?" Alexander asked the driver.
"No, why?" the driver said. Alexander didn't reply. He was observing the car carefully. The driver looked at Alexander through his rear view mirror and then he looked back into the night. There were a few cars behind them, so he couldn't tell which one Alexander was referring to.
"Take a left here," Alexander said.
"But, that's not the way," the cab driver replied.
"I know. I just want to see something," Alexander said and the driver nodded.
"Ah… okay… I see what you mean," the cab driver said taking a hint. He turned left just as Alexander had said.
"Go slow, let's see what happens," Alexander told him and the driver dropped in speed. He looked back and kept his eyes fixed on the street. A car came behind them, but it wasn't the car he had noticed. The car he had seen wasn't there. The driver continued to drive so slow that the driver behind him began to hunk his horn.
"Turn around, it's okay. It was… my mistake," Alexander said. The cab driver gave him a nod. Alexander felt terrible. What was the matter with him? Were his instincts failing him? He hunched his shoulders feeling disappointed.
"Hey man… don't worry about it. You should be relieved," the driver said.
"I guess," Alexander replied. The driver turned in U as soon as there was a road that was one. Then, he returned back on track. It was a long ride and the driver turned the radio on. He put some music, jazz. Alexander was fine with it. He didn't know who was playing, but it didn't matter to him. They arrived at Amberson district after half an hour and twenty minutes later the driver had reached Waifer street.
"Okay, my man. This is it. Are you sure you don't want me to wait for you?" the driver asked him.
"No, I can't afford it," Alexander replied.
"I'll turn the engine off and wait for you," the driver said.
"Really? You'd do that for me?" Alexander asked him.
"I'll wait five minutes," the driver replied. Alexander saw that there was a road with a dead end and a couple of buildings. He shook his head.
"Na, man. It's going to take more than five minutes. How much do I owe you?" Alexander asked.
"$52.38," the driver said.
"Shit…" Alexander replied. The driver arched an eyebrow, but Alexander took out his wallet and paid him.
"I have $60. Do you have change?" Alexander asked.
"Yeah. Hold up," the driver said. Alexander paid and then, the driver gave him the change he needed.
"Okay, thanks," Alexander said and put the change in his pocket without counting the money.
"No problem. Good luck then," the driver said.
"Yeah, thanks. I think I'm going to need it," Alexander replied. He opened the door, got out and then shut it again. It looked like an empty alley. Luckily, he had a gun with him. It was well placed in a holster, in his pocket jeans. It wasn't comfortable to take out, but it was better than not carrying at all. It was a cool night with a crescent moon and few stars. He felt a soothing breeze. He walked in between buildings, there were a few lampposts that brightened the street and sidewalk. There were still shadows beside trees, a mail box and a few street signs, but he could see without tripping. The streets were kind of broken a bit. Beer bottles were on the floor next to shattered glass on the edge of the sidewalk and parts of the street. Had there been a fight there? Maybe someone shot a window? He didn't know, but the cab driver was right, this wasn't such a safe spot to be around and now he sort of regretted not keeping him around for the five minutes he offered. He brushed the guilt away. There was no point in thinking like that anyway. He walked on. The place was located in between two apartment buildings. It looked like a small shop of some sorts and it was just at the dead end. Alexander noticed at first sight, the car that was parked next to one of the apartment buildings, the black Sudan.
"So, I had been followed…" Alexander said. He felt both relieved because he had good instincts and also a bit paranoid. Who was this Adio dude? Was he one of Mancinni's men? Was this revenge or had this just been a coincidence? He walked towards the small shop. He decided to take his gun out, just in case. It was better to be safe than sorry. He scanned the area gazing all directions as if by doing it with the four cardinal points of a compass. The coast was clear. He touched the door knob and it was unlocked. He turned it.