Chapter 3
As they came out of the barge the sun was shining and it's warmth had started to chase away the cold of the dawn. Duncan decided, as it wasn't too cold they would walk, so they walked over the bridge there was no sign of a backpack where Alex had been stood on the night before. After they had crossed the bridge they came to a junction Duncan looked back at Alex as she had fallen behind "which way?" he asked, his arms out stretched either side of his body, Alex shrugged as she walked over to him "I.I don't know.I wish I did" Duncan dropped his arms back to his sides "take your time, look around".
Alex looked down both streets "Err I think this way" she said pointing to her right "then this way it is" Duncan said as he linked his arm through hers, Alex flinched as she felt the contact, Duncan casually let his arm drop away so as to not to make it obvious that he had noticed and nothing was said. They had been walking for sometime when Alex stopped, she was staring across the road at a small café, there were three tables with green and white tablecloths on them outside, and only the table by the door was occupied. Duncan came to her side "do you recognise it?" Alex shrugged "there is something about it that seems familiar"
Duncan smiled "I could do with a coffee" Duncan started to walk across the road when he realised that Alex was not with him he turned round "come on it's just a coffee" Alex jogged across to Duncan and they crossed the rest of the way together. As they sat down at one of the spare tables they both could see the board that was covering a space where there once had been a large pane of glass. "Must be a lively place," Duncan said as he nodded towards the board but Alex didn't say anything she seemed distracted, Duncan waited silently flipping the cardboard drinks mat off the table and catching it. A small dark haired man with a black apron came out of the café flicking over the pages of his notebook and licking his pencil as he walked towards them, when he was at the table he looked up his face suddenly changed from friendly to angry "YOU.how dare you show your face here" Duncan looked at Alex and then back at the waiter "Do you know this woman?"
But the waiter was in no mood to chat "Get out of here I told you yesterday after what you did your not welcome here" the man was getting very agitated pointing away from the café Duncan got to his feet his hands in front of him "All right we're going" Duncan then pulled Alex onto her feet "But Duncan I don't know what he is talking about" Alex pleaded as Duncan lead her away. He stopped at the end of the street "Right Stay here" as he turned to walk back Alex grabbed his arm "Where are you going?" Duncan put his head on one side "To talk to that guy in the café.find out what the hell happened.now wait here" Duncan said pointing to the ground. Alex leant against the wall and watched as Duncan walked back to the café.
The waiter was clearing the table nearest to the door as Duncan walked towards him; he looked up as Duncan approached "Monsieur.Can I have a word?" Duncan asked, the waiter put the last cup on the tray and turned to go inside "I have nothing to say to you, Monsieur" Duncan followed him inside the café "I just want to know what happened yesterday with the lady I was with" the man put the tray onto the counter and span round "I think you can see that for yourself" he said pointing towards the boarded up window.
"She broke the window" Duncan exclaimed raising his eyebrows "Not just the window.she came in here went over to a gentleman at that the corner table.they talked and then an argument broke out, I'm not sure of all the words but they weren't very polite.then she mad.attacked him" Duncan took a step forward "Attached him?" the man went round the counter and started to put the cups into the sink "yes.she started to walk away.he got up to follow he said something I didn't quite catch.she then punched him twice.he fell backwards breaking the chair and the window.she then took off" the man rubbed his hands on a cloth "I should have called the police.those windows are expensive to replace" Duncan raised his eyes to the ceiling as he put his hand inside his jacket pulling out his wallet, Duncan took out several large notes and held them out to the man behind the counter "will this cover it?" Duncan saw the man's eyes light up "that should just cover it, Monsieur". Duncan leant on the counter as he handed the money over "So did you know the gentleman?" the man shrugged "He came in everyday drank coffee.sometimes ate.but I haven't seen him since" Duncan held out his hand "Do you know his name?" the man took the money "I'm sorry Monsieur but I don't know his name" the man held his hands up and shrugged. Duncan thought for a moment "Well what did he look like?.tall.short.brown hair.blonde?" the man hesitated until Duncan produced another banknote "I would say he was a little shorter that you.brown hair and.yes he had a scar on his cheek err.it was the shape of a half moon".
"Thank you for all your help and it's all right I won't bring her here again", Duncan then went outside as he looked up the street to where he had left Alex she wasn't there "Damn" he said out loud as he ran up the street, he slid to a halt as Alex came out of a doorway "Well what did he say?"
"I thought I told you to stay there?" Duncan said pointing to the wall about 10 feet away "I was cold.it was just a little more sheltered here.well" Duncan motioned for her to walk on "He said that you went into his café yesterday and you attached a man.breaking a chair and that window.do you remember any of that?" Alex wiped her hand over her eyes "No it's just a blur.I can remember sitting at a table but nothing else.I'm sorry"
"Come on let's see if we can find a café that you didn't have a fight in" Duncan said smiling, "Ok.I could do with a drink".
The waiter watched as Duncan left the café before picking up the phone, it only rang three times before it was answered "yes"
"She was here.but there was something wrong she didn't seem to remember being here and she had someone with her.he was the one asking the questions"
"What did you tell him? The gruff voice on the other end of the phone asked.
"Only what you told me to say.nothing more I swear"
"What did this man look like?"
"He was taller than me with long black hair tied back in a ponytail.I managed to see a name in his wallet when he paid for the window"
"What name?"
"Duncan MacLeod" the waiter replied.
"You have done well.let me know if either of them return" then the phone line went dead.
After they had eaten Duncan decided that they should return to the barge and try again tomorrow. As they walked down a street that was lined with café's, their tables and chairs spread out on the sidewalk, there was a shout from behind them "Stop theft!" then a man barged through the middle of them, he had a bag tucked tightly under his arm before Duncan could react Alex was running after him, it took a few seconds before he realised what Alex had done "Oh Great" he said as he took off after them.
Alex's heart was pounding as she chased after the thief, dodging around tables, chairs and people in her pursuit, her eyes always focused on her prey, nothing seemed to matter but bring him down, she saw him duck into an alley "Now I've got you" she said as she turned into the alley. She had to dodge quickly to one side as something was thrown at her but it didn't take her long for her eyes to fix on her target "Your not going anywhere" she said smiling, she then noticed there was a knife in the man's hand, she smiled and beckoned him forward, as he lunged clumsily towards her Alex grabbed his hand and using his own momentum bent his arm around behind him forcing him onto the ground Alex knelt on his back "Drop it or I'll break your neck" she growl as her free hand grabbed his hair. She watched as the man let the knife go she took hold of it, still holding the man's head up by his hair she brought the cold steel of the knife up against his throat, Duncan ran into the alley "Stop.what do you think your doing" he shouted Alex blinked looking up at Duncan and then back to the man on the ground a red trail of blood was just starting to trickle down the man's neck, Alex dropped the knife leaping up she pinned herself back against the wall a look of disgust and terror on her face.
Duncan walked over picked the man up by his collar and the bag he had stolen, he then walked him to the end of the alley just as a police car screeched to a halt, Duncan spoke with the officers before they left with their thief, Duncan then walked slowly back down the alley to Alex who hadn't move she was still pinned up against the wall her eyes wide open looking at the empty piece of ground where the young man had been. "The police want us to make a statement.I talked them into letting us do it in the morning" Duncan said as he took hold of Alex's arm she didn't resist his touch and allowed herself to be guided from the alley and back to the barge, nothing was said.
The barge was empty when they arrived, Alex watched from the couch as Duncan poured them both a drink, he handed one to her as he sat down "Do you want to tell me what all that was about back there.you could've been killed" Alex took the glass and drank some of the amber liquid "I don't know.I.I just reacted.instinct I suppose" Duncan sipped his drink "Instinct!.what were you going to do with the knife if I hadn't come along?"
Alex looked into his eyes "I.I honestly don't know.I just felt this rage inside me.when you shouted and I looked back at the man his face changed it wasn't who I thought it was.Duncan I'm scared I think I could've killed him" Duncan could see the tears welling up in her eyes, he put his hand on her arm "It's going to be all right.the answers are in there we just have to find away to get to them.you look tired why don't you lay down.there are some things I need to do.I'll properly be out for a couple of hours you can get some rest, we'll talk when I get back.now stay in here.don't leave the barge" Duncan said as he got up "but we have to make a statement" Alex replied Duncan smiled "they said tomorrow will be fine.so don't worry about that.get some rest I won't be too long" Alex nodded and watched as Duncan left the barge, she then drank the rest of her drink before stretching out on the couch.
As they came out of the barge the sun was shining and it's warmth had started to chase away the cold of the dawn. Duncan decided, as it wasn't too cold they would walk, so they walked over the bridge there was no sign of a backpack where Alex had been stood on the night before. After they had crossed the bridge they came to a junction Duncan looked back at Alex as she had fallen behind "which way?" he asked, his arms out stretched either side of his body, Alex shrugged as she walked over to him "I.I don't know.I wish I did" Duncan dropped his arms back to his sides "take your time, look around".
Alex looked down both streets "Err I think this way" she said pointing to her right "then this way it is" Duncan said as he linked his arm through hers, Alex flinched as she felt the contact, Duncan casually let his arm drop away so as to not to make it obvious that he had noticed and nothing was said. They had been walking for sometime when Alex stopped, she was staring across the road at a small café, there were three tables with green and white tablecloths on them outside, and only the table by the door was occupied. Duncan came to her side "do you recognise it?" Alex shrugged "there is something about it that seems familiar"
Duncan smiled "I could do with a coffee" Duncan started to walk across the road when he realised that Alex was not with him he turned round "come on it's just a coffee" Alex jogged across to Duncan and they crossed the rest of the way together. As they sat down at one of the spare tables they both could see the board that was covering a space where there once had been a large pane of glass. "Must be a lively place," Duncan said as he nodded towards the board but Alex didn't say anything she seemed distracted, Duncan waited silently flipping the cardboard drinks mat off the table and catching it. A small dark haired man with a black apron came out of the café flicking over the pages of his notebook and licking his pencil as he walked towards them, when he was at the table he looked up his face suddenly changed from friendly to angry "YOU.how dare you show your face here" Duncan looked at Alex and then back at the waiter "Do you know this woman?"
But the waiter was in no mood to chat "Get out of here I told you yesterday after what you did your not welcome here" the man was getting very agitated pointing away from the café Duncan got to his feet his hands in front of him "All right we're going" Duncan then pulled Alex onto her feet "But Duncan I don't know what he is talking about" Alex pleaded as Duncan lead her away. He stopped at the end of the street "Right Stay here" as he turned to walk back Alex grabbed his arm "Where are you going?" Duncan put his head on one side "To talk to that guy in the café.find out what the hell happened.now wait here" Duncan said pointing to the ground. Alex leant against the wall and watched as Duncan walked back to the café.
The waiter was clearing the table nearest to the door as Duncan walked towards him; he looked up as Duncan approached "Monsieur.Can I have a word?" Duncan asked, the waiter put the last cup on the tray and turned to go inside "I have nothing to say to you, Monsieur" Duncan followed him inside the café "I just want to know what happened yesterday with the lady I was with" the man put the tray onto the counter and span round "I think you can see that for yourself" he said pointing towards the boarded up window.
"She broke the window" Duncan exclaimed raising his eyebrows "Not just the window.she came in here went over to a gentleman at that the corner table.they talked and then an argument broke out, I'm not sure of all the words but they weren't very polite.then she mad.attacked him" Duncan took a step forward "Attached him?" the man went round the counter and started to put the cups into the sink "yes.she started to walk away.he got up to follow he said something I didn't quite catch.she then punched him twice.he fell backwards breaking the chair and the window.she then took off" the man rubbed his hands on a cloth "I should have called the police.those windows are expensive to replace" Duncan raised his eyes to the ceiling as he put his hand inside his jacket pulling out his wallet, Duncan took out several large notes and held them out to the man behind the counter "will this cover it?" Duncan saw the man's eyes light up "that should just cover it, Monsieur". Duncan leant on the counter as he handed the money over "So did you know the gentleman?" the man shrugged "He came in everyday drank coffee.sometimes ate.but I haven't seen him since" Duncan held out his hand "Do you know his name?" the man took the money "I'm sorry Monsieur but I don't know his name" the man held his hands up and shrugged. Duncan thought for a moment "Well what did he look like?.tall.short.brown hair.blonde?" the man hesitated until Duncan produced another banknote "I would say he was a little shorter that you.brown hair and.yes he had a scar on his cheek err.it was the shape of a half moon".
"Thank you for all your help and it's all right I won't bring her here again", Duncan then went outside as he looked up the street to where he had left Alex she wasn't there "Damn" he said out loud as he ran up the street, he slid to a halt as Alex came out of a doorway "Well what did he say?"
"I thought I told you to stay there?" Duncan said pointing to the wall about 10 feet away "I was cold.it was just a little more sheltered here.well" Duncan motioned for her to walk on "He said that you went into his café yesterday and you attached a man.breaking a chair and that window.do you remember any of that?" Alex wiped her hand over her eyes "No it's just a blur.I can remember sitting at a table but nothing else.I'm sorry"
"Come on let's see if we can find a café that you didn't have a fight in" Duncan said smiling, "Ok.I could do with a drink".
The waiter watched as Duncan left the café before picking up the phone, it only rang three times before it was answered "yes"
"She was here.but there was something wrong she didn't seem to remember being here and she had someone with her.he was the one asking the questions"
"What did you tell him? The gruff voice on the other end of the phone asked.
"Only what you told me to say.nothing more I swear"
"What did this man look like?"
"He was taller than me with long black hair tied back in a ponytail.I managed to see a name in his wallet when he paid for the window"
"What name?"
"Duncan MacLeod" the waiter replied.
"You have done well.let me know if either of them return" then the phone line went dead.
After they had eaten Duncan decided that they should return to the barge and try again tomorrow. As they walked down a street that was lined with café's, their tables and chairs spread out on the sidewalk, there was a shout from behind them "Stop theft!" then a man barged through the middle of them, he had a bag tucked tightly under his arm before Duncan could react Alex was running after him, it took a few seconds before he realised what Alex had done "Oh Great" he said as he took off after them.
Alex's heart was pounding as she chased after the thief, dodging around tables, chairs and people in her pursuit, her eyes always focused on her prey, nothing seemed to matter but bring him down, she saw him duck into an alley "Now I've got you" she said as she turned into the alley. She had to dodge quickly to one side as something was thrown at her but it didn't take her long for her eyes to fix on her target "Your not going anywhere" she said smiling, she then noticed there was a knife in the man's hand, she smiled and beckoned him forward, as he lunged clumsily towards her Alex grabbed his hand and using his own momentum bent his arm around behind him forcing him onto the ground Alex knelt on his back "Drop it or I'll break your neck" she growl as her free hand grabbed his hair. She watched as the man let the knife go she took hold of it, still holding the man's head up by his hair she brought the cold steel of the knife up against his throat, Duncan ran into the alley "Stop.what do you think your doing" he shouted Alex blinked looking up at Duncan and then back to the man on the ground a red trail of blood was just starting to trickle down the man's neck, Alex dropped the knife leaping up she pinned herself back against the wall a look of disgust and terror on her face.
Duncan walked over picked the man up by his collar and the bag he had stolen, he then walked him to the end of the alley just as a police car screeched to a halt, Duncan spoke with the officers before they left with their thief, Duncan then walked slowly back down the alley to Alex who hadn't move she was still pinned up against the wall her eyes wide open looking at the empty piece of ground where the young man had been. "The police want us to make a statement.I talked them into letting us do it in the morning" Duncan said as he took hold of Alex's arm she didn't resist his touch and allowed herself to be guided from the alley and back to the barge, nothing was said.
The barge was empty when they arrived, Alex watched from the couch as Duncan poured them both a drink, he handed one to her as he sat down "Do you want to tell me what all that was about back there.you could've been killed" Alex took the glass and drank some of the amber liquid "I don't know.I.I just reacted.instinct I suppose" Duncan sipped his drink "Instinct!.what were you going to do with the knife if I hadn't come along?"
Alex looked into his eyes "I.I honestly don't know.I just felt this rage inside me.when you shouted and I looked back at the man his face changed it wasn't who I thought it was.Duncan I'm scared I think I could've killed him" Duncan could see the tears welling up in her eyes, he put his hand on her arm "It's going to be all right.the answers are in there we just have to find away to get to them.you look tired why don't you lay down.there are some things I need to do.I'll properly be out for a couple of hours you can get some rest, we'll talk when I get back.now stay in here.don't leave the barge" Duncan said as he got up "but we have to make a statement" Alex replied Duncan smiled "they said tomorrow will be fine.so don't worry about that.get some rest I won't be too long" Alex nodded and watched as Duncan left the barge, she then drank the rest of her drink before stretching out on the couch.