I don't own this. Duh.
The safe house was nestled in the woods. There were no houses for at least two miles, and the nearest two lane road was another ten. People here minded their business, and smoke coming from the old March place's chimney was no cause for alarm.
Three men were sitting contentedly around the fireplace, warm and snug after an excellent meal. One, a lanky man with a hat down so low over his face that the only features that could be made out were the lower part of an angular face and a black beard, was smoking contentedly on a cigarette. Another sat polishing the sword that was dearer than life to him. The third member of the party, garbed in a bright red jacket, was bouncing excitedly from window to window, watching the rain fall and the lightning and thunder flash and crash.
"I've never been here before," Lupin said. "I've just had the old place in my back pocket for those times when we need to lie really low for awhile."
"Do you even know where we are?" Jigen asked.
"You were rather vague," Goemon interjected from his corner.
'Davisville, Tennessee. Why?"
"Davisville," Jigen said flatly, clenching his cigarette in his teeth.
"You've been here before." It was not a question. There was a story here, if Lupin could only pry it out of his taciturn friend.
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"Was it a woman?"
"I said I'd rather not talk about it. Besides, it was a long time ago."
"So it was a woman! How did a woman in Davisville break your heart?"
"I said I'd rather not talk about it!" Jigen shouted, his eyes flashing under his hat.
"Lupin, I believe it would be wise to drop the subject.' Goemon looked up. "He obviously does not wish to discuss it."
"Alright, I won't make you." Lupin made a proper display of pouting repentance. His apology, however, was sincere. "I'm sorry for pushing you."
"Quite all right, Lupin."
The stormy evening passed quietly until there came a knock on the door. Lupin climbed up to look through the peephole. "It's a woman. Nice-looking one, too."
Goemon went and opened the door on a soaked and bedraggled curly-haired brunette. "Come in."
"Thank you. I'm Allison Taylor. I live in the next house up the road, and my car died on the way up in the storm, and this is the closest place. I hope I'm not inconveniencing you by asking if I can stay here until the storm is over."
"Of course not. Sit down." Lupin was a master of gallantry as he helped Allison to a seat and went to get her a cup of coffee.
During all of this, no one had noticed Jigen go completely white, cigarette in his hands, forgotten for the moment. "Allison?" he whispered.