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“I love you, Max. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” he said. She continued to wag her tail, her face smiling at the affection Hugo was showing her. “If I don’t come back, you be good for Alice.”

Max continued to wag her tail in excitement.

“Know that I love you.” He gave her a few scratches behind the ears and stood up.

His eyes bloodshot, he wiped away a tear rolling down his cheek. His somber expression turned to furious determination as he found his phone sitting on the end table. He picked it up, unlocked it, and searched online for the phone number to Sylvia’s Bistro. He pressed the entry.

The pause between each ring was an eternity. Thoughts raced through his mind. He wanted to hang up. He wanted to continue. He wished Alice was here to help.

A woman answered. “Thank you for calling Sylvia’s. How may I help you?”

“Is Sebastian available?”

“I’m sorry. Mr. Savino is unavailable at the moment,” she replied.

“I really need to speak to Sebastian. When will he be available?” Hugo asked.

“I can relay a message for him,” she answered.

“Tell him Hugo Dodds is calling. He’ll know what it’s about.”

There was a pause.

The silence was excruciating. Hugo glanced at his phone’s screen to make sure he didn’t lose connection. He continued to wait. Each doubting thought ran through his mind the longer he waited.

“Hello?” Hugo asked.

“One moment,” the woman said, breaking the silence. “What would you like to tell Mr. Savino?”

“Tell him I’ll be at the restaurant tonight after closing. Just us. No one else. Let’s make a deal.”

The silence returned. Hugo tapped the wooden hockey stick against his thigh.

Come on. Come on.

“You’re in luck. Mr. Savino informed me the restaurant will be closing an hour early tonight,” the woman’s voice said.

“Good. Tell him I’ll be there a half hour after.”

“Wonderful. He looks?—”

Hugo hung up the phone. He continued tapping the stick against his thigh. Hugo focused on the red velvet couch. The memory of his first night together with Alice drinking wine drifted through his mind, when he unknowingly messed with her magical hourglass and slowed time. The memory of the same hourglass saving Alice the night he rushed her lifeless body home. How he was able to revive her with The Lovers’ Kiss. The silly little spell. That stupid spell.

Alice’s words rushed back to him.Some have died trying to obtain it.

He marched out of the living room, opened the basement door, and descended the stairs. On this night, two more names would join the list. Sebastian and Sylvia Savino. Hugo would make certain of it.

The Second Sonata Movement

“ALLEGRETTO”

Chapter 12

Table Stakes

The night was dark, the moon mostly engulfed by a layer of dense clouds. Porch lights and the orangish glow of the street lamps lining the Newbury Grove town center provided relief from the darkness creeping over the land. It was quiet. Shops had closed for the evening. People were at home, staying warm and secure in the late autumn cold. The occasional car drove by, winding their way through the town toward their destination.

Ghostly vapor trails were like momentary bread crumbs as Hugo marched toward the town center. His pulse increased with each step. His heart thumped louder and louder in reverberations only his body could hear. His hand twitched. His exhale lingered, trying to calm and steady himself.