Chapter Two
Over the next few days, it became Porthos's tradition to head off to the market for fresh bread every day. By the third day, they had settled into a relaxing regime of good food, excellent wine, art galleries, theatre and walks in the late Spring sun.
On the fourth morning, Porthos had already headed out when Athos decided to go in search of coffee. They had depleted their store in just three days and there were a few neighbourhood outlets which emitted some very enticing aromas.
Stopping off to buy a paper, he tucked it under his arm when he spotted a familiar figure heading away from him down an alley across the road. Making his way across the street, he ducked into the alley, but if it was Porthos, he was gone. There was an obvious dog-leg turn up ahead and without knowing where the alley led, he turned back.
A few moments later, he felt someone grab his shoulder and spin him around. Caught off guard, he dropped his paper as he was pushed into the wall, under the glare of two hooded strangers. There was no-one else around, the bend in the alley had not only hidden his attacker's approach, but shielded them from view from that end. Athos took a step to the right, to bring them out of the shadows and into the patch of sunlight that fell on the entrance of the alley.
In doing so, the two lunged.
oOo
Running an exasperated hand through her long hair, the woman sighed as she fought to keep her temper.
"Surely you don't need me to tell you how to negotiate, Bertrand!"
Absorbed in the frustrating conversation with her business partner, she slowed to a halt on the pavement, resisting the urge to stamp her foot in fury. She rarely lost her temper but this was too much. She had been working on this for months and it was slipping away from her. Tossing her hair back, something caught her eye across the road.
Two men; no, three, and the glint of something in the sunlight. Two of the men were wearing grey sweatshirts, with the hoods pulled up, which was unusual in the Spring sunshine. She watched carefully as the man they seemed to be targetting initially stood his ground, before reaching into the pocket of his jeans and handing something over.
Bertrand was still talking but she had ceased to listen. A man was being robbed in broad daylight. In her neighbourhood, no less!
Whatever was handed over was quickly grabbed by one of the hooded men, but the other one now reached for the man's wristwatch.
It was then that the man exploded into action.
Pulling his hand back, he threw a powerful punch which sent the thief reeling backward. In doing so, though, he had left himself open and the other thief delivered a blow to his left side, before grabbing his companion. At that point, as the man doubled over, the woman turned her phone on them and shouted, as she took a photo of the scene unfolding in front of her. Not only that, but she began to run across the street, punching in the emergency number as she ran.
Her furious cries were drawing attention and the two thugs decided it was time to go, heading back up the alley and disappearing around the corner.
The man looked up, startled to see the fierce, blonde vision coming toward him, her hair backlit by the sun. It took his breath away. He was just wondering how it was possible for her to move in slow motion, when suddenly, the alley tilted violently and his legs gave way.
She reached him as he slid down, coming to rest upright with his back to the wall; one leg bent beneath the other. She was talking, but he couldn't make out her words.
His eyes strayed down to his wrist and he sighed in relief.
His watch was still there.
oOo
With the phone clamped to her ear, she knelt in front of him.
He was well dressed. Dark jeans and boots, an expensive, navy v-necked sweater with a white tee shirt underneath. Well-groomed and wearing a very nice, masculine, rather arousing fragrance.
Where did that thought come from?
She angrily shook herself and reached for his hand.
He had given them a money clip, she realised now, as it was discarded on the floor. They had taken the money and discarded or dropped what was probably worth more, as the clip was obviously solid gold and held one rather exquisite diamond in the centre of the bar. The money should have been enough for the likes of them, but they wanted his watch and he had exploded.
Now connected to the police dispatcher, she lost no time in speaking to - no, demanding, that someone "get the hell here," as she tucked the money clip into the pocket of the man's jeans.
Keeping the line open, she followed relayed instructions and reached out and gently moved his arm away from his side.
"There's a knife!" she said in horror, suddenly realising that his sweater was wet. "There's a knife in his side."
It was almost buried in his ribs under his arm, with just a section of the blade showing.
She had thought he had just been struck and possibly winded, before remembering seeing something glinting in the sun from across the street. It had been that which had drawn her attention. The dispatcher was talking, but she wasn't listening now as the man in front of her had stirred at her sudden exclamation;
"Where?" he suddenly murmured, thickly, reaching with his hand in the general direction of dull pain.
She put the phone down and carefully guided his hand toward it and he groaned.
"Mustn't take it out ..." he said. "It will … cause too much damage."
"That's what they just said," she said softly, pulling her silk scarf from around her throat and beginning to wrap it around the blade. She pushed her hand firmly against the wound, biting back a sob.
"S'good," the man said, looking up.
Their eyes met.
He stared at her with wide green eyes, before reaching up in an attempt to touch a long strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder.
"Be still," she murmured. "They're coming."
He frowned and tried to speak, but she put her finger to his lips.
"Sshhh. Save your breath."
For she could see he was struggling now. Struggling to breathe.
Where are they … where are they?!
She could sense people behind her now. She twisted around, to see people beginning to hover.
For God's sake!
"Is there a Doctor here?" she called out, firmly. No-one spoke, they just shuffled their feet and strained for a better look.
"Anyone?!" she glared at them. "Well, sod off then, or one of you at least go and wait for the ambulance. Make yourselves bloody useful."
Galvanised into action, a couple of them went to stand in the entrance to the alley, casting looks back in case they missed someone actually dying in the street. She turned back to the man and realised he was probably her age. Her heart twisted, as he was still staring at her.
"I wouldn't argue with you," he whispered, his lips pulling into an approximation of a smile, but his eyes were beginning to glaze and his breathing was becoming laboured.
He was moving now, his face intent, his hand reaching for his other pocket, where he struggled to pull out a phone. She helped him and he looked up at her once more with those green-grey eyes, pupils blown. Her stomach twisted, as she took it from his shaking hand.
"Aramis," he said, before gathering himself one last time. "Aramis."
"What's your name?" she asked gently.
She watched his lips move, the frown deepening on his forehead.
"Athos," he finally managed.
She smiled in assurance that she really didn't feel.
Athos. She had this stranger's name and could describe him. That was good.
She started to scroll through his contacts with her free hand when his head dropped forward onto his chest with a long sigh.
"No, don't you dare!" she ordered firmly; dropping the phone in her lap and reaching forward and gently pushing his head back to look at his face.
Just then, she heard sirens.
"They're here, Athos!" she cried, urgently. "Hold on, they're here."
His eyes were shut though and his breathing was becoming more laboured by the minute. Her right hand was still clamped to his side, her pale silk scarf unrecognisable now. There was a larger crowd around them now as the ambulance pulled up and two paramedics spilled out.
As the crowd turned away to watch their approach, and before the medics arrived at her side, she quickly unclipped Athos's watch and slipped it into the pocket of her jacket.
To be continued ...
