Next day I bought a pick-up for the ride to Mexico City, and then we were on our way. I used the time when Rosa drove to memorize the city map and the area of the planned hunt. I had an eidetic memory – a very useful thing in this business – and by the time we arrived in the afternoon, I was well prepared on this side. In the falling darkness, I paid the hunting ground a first visit and marked some spots in the map. Next morning I wanted to take a closer look at the area, as soon as the sun was up. Then I chose a middle class hotel and checked in with an alias again. I still planned to find a solution for Rosa. I already cared too much about her; I was too distracted by her. This was not good, not for me and not for her…

While we entered the elevator, I thought about a possibility to find a place and job for her in the following hours. But as we left and walked towards our room I found myself thinking of last night, the joy and exhilarating excitement I had felt, much more, complete and overwhelming then in any hunt before. I opened the door and said nothing about tomorrow; busy enough with my own unwanted feelings.

=== Mexico City / Hotel "Isabella" ===

The room was decorated with a little plastic Christmas tree. Rosa smiled at the colorful plastic bells and the disgustingly colorful angels. "I like Christmas", she said. "But we never had such decorations at home."

Not a great loss, I suppose. I looked out of the window and scanned the area, more out of habit than because I thought I would find hostile activity.

"… We were too poor for all this; we were just together in my grandma's house, all the family, and singing, before going into church. I remember so well… I was allowed to wear a white dress, then, and I felt like a little princess." She turned around to face me. "You don't like Christmas, do you?"

I'm sure, I looked grumpy, but certainly not because of this Christmas mumbo-jumbo. "I'm not religious", I answered and hoped not to hurt her feelings.

"No Christmas in your family?"

"Not for me." I watched the street again. "I hated these sweet-covered dumb family meetings, where everyone lied to everyone. My mother used to have a Nativity Scene in the living room. One night, I changed little baby – Christ to a dead rat. This was the last Christmas I spent with my family. They watched out that their devil-spirited son never was home again these particular days. Well, I wasn't too upset about it."

My mind wandered to the things I had heard in the last meeting with Rafael's bunch. Our prey should be chosen during a Christmas celebration for urchins. Tomorrow night… I had not told Rosa anything specific, despite all her questions during our voyage from Tampico to Mexico City, and I did not plan to do so. Otherwise, she would have another, certainly unpleasant, horrifying memory of 'Christmas'…

"I need a shower", I simply said to end the topic and went to the bathroom.

Undressing, I realized I hadn't brought a weapon with me, for the first time in many years. Did I trust this woman that much, I asked myself, and answered within a second that this was the case. I was surprised to discover that, and added it to the other surprising changes I had experienced so far. When did I trust someone the last time? I turned the water on and stepped into the shower. It was so long ago, I did not even remember. Must have been the same time when I stopped to beg for something or say thank you, but simply took what I wanted…

Leaning against the back I closed my eyes and thought it was not an all too bad feeling to trust again. And it did not feel weakly at all. My senses went into state of alarm and my eyes flew open when I felt two hands on my skin. Rosa stood in front of me, smiled and then pressed against me.

"Don't do that again", I whispered, "...scare me like that!"

"I thought nothing could scare you."

She leaned her head against my shoulder while the water poured down, and then we kissed. Tomorrow night I would be on the hunt again, on the tracks of a deadly prey. But this night, it seemed, was still ours.

=== Next day / Hotel "Isabella" ===

I had nearly finished my equipment. My clothing was black as usual; it was the best providing cover for a nightly hunt. Underneath I wore a bullet proof vest from army leftovers. My favourite guns, the 'Thompson' and the 'Glock 19', I had with me, of course. In addition, a little two-bullet-gun in my boot and a 'Desert Eagle' in a shoulder belt, plus ammo and three grenades. Yes, I was ready, definitely! Was I? In every cell of my body I felt the eagerness to jump into action, to go on the tracks again. But yet, it was not the unhindered Adrenalin-pushed joy I had always sensed before… Something… was not as it used to be.

Rosa had watched me in silence the whole time.

Now she stood up and stepped towards me. "Don't go", was all she finally said.

I didn't answer; checked the fit of the ammo-packs instead a final time, then took my coat.

"Please don't go!" Rosa grabbed my arm. "Pik, please don't go! Let's call-"

"Stop that. I don't want to hear you pleading and begging!"

"But-"

"I have to go, you know that. And I WANT to go! Don't worry about me. Whatever happens this night, it will be the best!" Against my will not to plunge in some silly emotions, I raised my hand and caressed her cheek. "I could never live a normal life, Rosa. You cannot hold me. I would go mad out of boredom."

Her large eyes were like frozen in the attempt not to cry and hold her control. She was so beautiful and enticing… Not boring at all… Determined, I shove all these thoughts back into the darkest corner of my mind. "I have to go now. If I have not returned and you have not heard from me until noon tomorrow, open this letter." I pointed to the envelope on the desk, then turned around and left without any other word. But I felt Rosa's gaze in my back until the doors of the elevator closed.

=== On the hunting ground ===

We had gathered on an old scrap yard and exchanged the last settings and orders: the bloodhounds, including me, Rafael, his client, and this asshole of a social worker with the prey. Three kids, a girl and two boys. I heard one of the bloodhounds make a dirty joke about the girl; what a waste it would be if she died before he could have some amusement with her. It was the knife-throwing guy. Surely, it would be a special pleasure to cut him into pieces with his own blades…

The man saw me smiling and mistook it. "You think alike, eh? We could have both our fun with that little thing, I'm a nice guy, and this is Christmas sharing time!" He laughed, but broke off all of a sudden, seeing the expression in my face.

"Don't mess with Van Cleaf", muttered another one of the bloodhounds in 'Knife's' direction. "He's too big for you, pal."

"Ah, just fuck off, idiot!"

None of the remaining bunch seemed to know about Rafael's two attempts to kill me. Probably he had wanted to prevent dissension and uncertainty among his men. However, Rafael himself had not abandoned his plans concerning my end. I could discern that in his eyes, his voice when he spoke to me, in all his behavior. He had assigned me to the left flank, near to him. Obviously thinking this would be the easiest place to get rid of me during the hunt.

"Well, little ones…" Rafael was stepping to the 'social worker' and let his big right hand fall on the head of one of the boys. "You are smart ones, am I right? You wanna win the big icy cake in the States, yes? We only want to see how fast you can run!"

Would like to see YOU run, you piece of crap!

Rafael gave the signal for start and the three kids stormed away, direction abandoned railway warehouse. He gave them five minutes. Then our hunting party was behind them, the client next to Rafael in a Land Rover. We had only one other car, the rest of us rode on bikes, which allowed a far better manoeuvring in the area.

I got my first chance to reduce the number of enemies, while we filed under an old bridge. A shot into some wooden chests stored on one side let them fall, caused the following bike to an abrupt turn sideward – where it collided with the other one behind. Another shot and the two machines with their riders got up in flames.

Tragic incident…

I sped up to the others again, displaying sorrow for not being able to help the poor men anymore. Rafael shot me a glance from inside the car; I bet he knew the truth. Nonetheless, at the moment he could not react. His client yelled something, totally excited. They had cornered the first kid. It was the girl. She lay on the ground, holding her leg; perhaps stumbled across something. Now seeing the men with the guns pointing at her, she began to cry.

"Move!" shouted Rafael in her direction, leaving the car. "Don't you want to move your little ass?!" The client had left the car as well and stepped on the scene, a beautiful old rifle in his hands.

What a waste to use it like this, I thought. Then I decided to act. The place was not that bad, the targets were positioned rather well. But I needed a little more undisturbed open space… I took a step back, in doing so colliding 'accidentally' with the man behind me. I mumbled an excuse and had him killed before he even knew what was going on. Silencers were a useful invention, indeed. The next moment I grabbed one of the grenades, armed it and threw it right over, where the client stood and just got his rifle in shooting position. Cries sounded through the area, shots, then the explosion in between. I reached my bike again. Mounting it I heard Rafael yelling "Get me Van Cleaf! Get me this fucking bastard!"

Someone opened fire on me; I escaped narrowly cross country and through an old fence. Pausing for a moment to estimate the situation, I saw that my grenade had brought down Rafael's client and two or three other men wounded at least. The prey was gone – for the first time I was relieved about such a thing. I started the engine and turned back on the street again, pursuers behind me. Now they had a new target, a new prey. And this one would not be caught that easily! I smiled grimly.

The other bloodhounds tried to block my way. One of them made a marvellous jump with his bike and touched ground in front of me. I rode on, shooting, and knocked him off his machine. But the very next second, my luck left me. The other asshole hit my rear tire and I went down, slid some meters across the asphalt. Before I could get up on my feet again, the other man was on top of me. It was the creepy knife-thrower, and it seemed he was eager to show me his expertise right now! One blade scratched the pavement beside my head. He was fast and fit with those damned things. I tried to loose him, but he was stronger than me, and not to compare with the pickpocket three days ago in Tampico. This man was a killer, one who enjoyed what he did – like me. I kicked my knee into his stomach, reached fast for one of my weapons. He answered with a harsh upper-cut and succeeded in another blow in my face, before I managed hurling him back. Shortly I was on top of him, smashed his head against the pavement, and sensed his strength vanishing. Enough at least to place a shot…

Still breathing heavily, I struggled to my feet again and looked around. The sound of my closing-in enemies became louder. My own bike was out of business, so I had to be content with the dead guy's. I mounted and started the engine. In my mind I was unfolding the map of the area. I needed a safe spot to wait and bring the others down… Rafael, above all…