CONTENTS
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Readings from The
Pact With Bruno
Last update:
07/14/06 12:34:27 PM.
Visitors: 
This reading begins on page 22 of the novel.
This scene occurs near the end of a police raid on
The Neon Phoenix, a Mafia night club in Los Angeles run by Bert Leone,
Bruno's childhood friend. Townsen is the FBI agent who led the raid.
Harris is the Los Angeles Police Detective who engineered it. Enjoy
reading #1.
Harris pointed his finger. "I’m taking that clown down to the precinct.
He’s a major player behind a lot of the local shit, so I want to get a big
piece of him." Detective Harris turned away from Townsen.
"So get your butt moving!"
The man’s eyes swelled in surprise.
His fine tailored suit, clean arrest record and life-long connections to
Bruno were of no value to him now. Two of Harris’ black-clad agents
grabbed his arms and escorted him roughly toward the main door.
"Detective Harris, what do you think you’re doing?" Townsen felt his
temperature rise.
"I’m taking this punk in for a few more questions."
"That’s no street punk. He’s just an administrative flunky for the club.
Who you trying to shit?"
"Back off, Mister! Did you forget this is my show?"
"So why the sudden change of plans?"
"That’s classified." Harris barked.
"Shit. I should have known you’d eventually get on to pulling something
reckless like this."
Townsen turned in disgust and walked away.
Harris moved toward the door where his men waited with Mr. Leone. As he
approached they began walking toward the transport vehicle.
Harris reached into his pocket.
The chrome-plated .38 special was wrapped in a handkerchief and for the
moment devoid of fingerprints. He stroked it with pleasure then withdrew
his hand.
One of the officers stepped forward and unlocked the back door of Harris’
car.
The other one directed Mr. Leone toward it.
"Hold it, Reynolds." Harris ordered.
"Sir?"
"I want you to shoot this scum-bag fucker. I want him dead and that’s an
order."
Reynolds drew his holstered weapon, but hesitated. A confused look covered
his face. "Sir?"
"Now, god-damn it!"
Two semiautomatic pistol shots cracked in the night air. Reynolds turned
away from the unprovoked killing to hide the grimace on his face.
Hearing footsteps in the distance Harris moved forward quickly placing the
chrome pistol into Mr. Leone’s limp hand. He stood to review the scene
then leaned forward to adjust the man’s arm.
Harris yelled toward the crowd gathering nearby. "Can we get a
photographer over here!"
This reading begins on page 49 of the novel.
In this short scene, Bruno spends the next day
remembering his friend, Bert Leone. This excerpt involves a part of
Bruno's grieving process. Enjoy reading #2
By 1:30 Bruno had finished his lunch.
Jay had departed earlier in the afternoon to spend some time on the golf
course. Left with his thoughts, Bruno continued to recall shared childhood
antics with Bert. Occasionally tearful moments arrived. After each one
Bruno wiped his eyes, took a sip of spring water with a slice of lemon and
moved to the next waiting memory.
Distracted by playful sounds, Bruno rose to find the source of the
laughter. Down the hall from his sitting room was one of the children’s
playrooms.
It sounded like someone had accidentally left the door ajar. As he
approached, the gaiety grew. He entered and saw Emily and Rebecca, his two
granddaughters, ages six and nearly four, playing across the room.
"What’s this, two beautiful pooh bears?" He asked.
The girls giggled with delight. He approached them and knelt with massive
arms outstretched.
They ran into them.
"Papa!" They each exclaimed with glee.
"Are you two busy gathering honey for dinner?"
"Of course not, Papa. We did that earlier today." Emily explained. She
often spoke for her younger sister.
"Well, why are you both so excited?"
They giggled again.
Emily sought to control herself and was finally able to speak through her
remaining laughter. "I was telling Beck the story of how baby birds learn
to fly."
Again they burst into intense laughter. By now they each had an arm around
their grandfather’s neck.
Bruno joined their laughter without feeling the same level of humor.
"Maybe I should hear that sometime."
He hugged and kissed each girl, then stood.
"This has been a nice visit, but I have to get back to my chores. I hope
you two have a fun afternoon."
The girls went back to their play.
Bruno closed the door behind him and returned to his easy chair. Now it
was quiet. He focused on his dear departed friend again.
His grieving process was taking its intended course.
This reading begins on page 177 of the
novel.
Doug is on a late night stakeout when his mind
starts to drift. His call sign is Night-light, and his friend Jerry
is called Charlie-one. Sammy is Doug's girlfriend, and we get a
brief glimpse of his inability to commit to her. Enjoy reading #3
Doug sighed, leaned back and stretched out his legs.
Now the waiting would begin.
With little effort his thoughts found Sammy’s beautiful face and the
uniqueness of that last sunset they had shared on the veranda in Cabo.
After most others had retired to the house, they remained near the
chiseled stone railing overlooking the cliff and the Pacific Ocean.
The roar of the breakers far below on the rocks framed the boundaries of
his memory. The touch of the stone rail still held some of the day’s heat.
Breezes brushed their sandaled toes.
Cherubs smiled at them from a distance. Standing hand in hand their
anticipating fingers intermingled. Shared warmth shielded a furtive night
breeze.
Clouds in the northwest proclaimed the heavy midnight rain to come in a
few hours. Due west its fringes danced and frolicked with the setting rays
of sunlight. Deep reds, oranges and yellows painted the sky. Such extremes
broadcast a breath-stopping natural beauty.
Doug had appreciated sensations like this many times and of course Sammy
had also seen them before, but now she stopped to be a part of it all.
The conversation was mostly whispers of praise for the final good-bye of
the day that God had so lovingly painted in the sky. Doug’s mind sought
the proper words for his heart to make a moonlight proposal, but they
failed to materialize in his throat.
He jumped in surprise when Jerry’s voice brought the CB to life.
"Night-light, status check."
Looking at his watch, it was one minute until two, and then he responded.
"Charlie-one, no change."
"By the way, the entire location is now confirmed to be pee eye." Jerry’s
voice boomed.
"Affirmative, Charlie-one. See you in twenty."
Doug started the van and drove slowly forward.
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