Book excerpt: Christmas time in 1930s New York. After escaping through the chimney of an orphanage in Hell's Kitchen, Richard Blakemore a.k.a. the masked crimefighter known only as the Silencer is mistaken for Santa Claus by one of the children and learns that the orphanage is under siege by both a gang of brutal racketeers and an unscrupulous landlord. Richard vows to help the children and their guardians. However, it turns out that the attacks on the orphanage are only part of a much larger plot, when Richard's quest for justice leads him into the upper echelons of Manhattan's high society. Soon, the Silencer finds himself face to face with one of the most powerful men in the city, while Richard and Constance struggle to save the orphanage and give the children of Hell's Kitchen an unforgettable Christmas. This is a novella of 30000 words or approximately 100 pages in the Silencer series, but may be read as a standalone.