A/N: Thanks to those who have returned, and welcome to newbies... excuse the word, I watch too much 'Scrubs'. Anyway... good news for all you out there who have been waiting for a little action. :D
It was just as he remembered it. The noise, the smell and the sight of it. People milled around sparingly, and spoke in accents very similar to his own. He grinned happily despite himself, and looked to his company.
They smiled back, apparently fascinated by the scenery that surrounded them. It was new to her, he understood, and the excitement and intrigue in her eyes was infectious. He knew he should be concentrating, but the sense of belonging that had settled within him at once upon their arrival was hard to ignore.
They had asked some questions around the city centre, pretending to be old associates of Evans, and some people had foolishly directed them to their current position, where the man had last been seen. Tom had been the one doing the talking, and Anise had remained silent and observant by his side for quite some time now, her brown eyes taking everything in.
"Why does this guy always seem to enjoy making me wait?" Tom asked of no one in particular.
"I do not think he is doing so intentionally, Tom," Anise teased.
He eyed her for a moment, and laughed. "No, I guess not... wait... do you hear that?"
Anise tilted her head to listen, and she nodded in an affirming motion. Tom took off at a jog down the street. Anise followed without question.
Mina's words still burning in his mind freshly, he came up on the most unusual of sights. There was a large wire fence, behind which several dogs were bounding around madly, barking as if they were threatened. They were snarling, howling and pining loudly. It made him wince, and he looked to Anise as she caught up with him, even as the dogs' noise reached a new pinnacle.
"What the hell's wrong with them?" Tom called to Anise over the noise.
She had covered her ears as if pained, but apparently was still able to hear him. "I don't know. Perhaps they can smell something they do not like."
A shot from a nearby gun into the enclosure quietened the animals, especially one particular canine that was struck. It yelped considerably in pain, and slumped to the ground, motionless.
Tom started, shocked at the death of the animal before him, and turned at the sound of a voice; "Oh, that's much better."
Anise stepped back as a figure loomed out of the shadows, flanked by two others. Tom stood his ground, and raised his Winchester, the round already loaded. His eyes narrowed as he saw the pale features of Charles Evans illuminated. Anger rose in him suddenly, perhaps because the man had given Tom so much grief, or maybe it was due to the ruthless unnecessary act he had just witnessed.
The gun was still in Evans' hand, and the two men that flanked him held their own weapons. Evans made a face at Tom, one of expectance, and cleared his throat.
Tom did not waver, kept his rifle firmly aimed at Evans' chest.
"Wanna know how the dog felt?" Tom asked through gritted teeth.
"Now, now, my dear boy," Evans chuckled, admiring the gun in Tom's hands, "your temper will get you nowhere but closer to experiencing that for yourself."
The man to Evans' right was the one Tom guessed to be Jacques. The build was similar, and the hair too. The somewhat bestial expression was unwavering and identical to what he had seen before from the man. He held a pistol in his own hand.
Beside him, Anise whispered, "Tom, please..."
The sound of hammers being cocked from other positions now alerted Tom to their being surrounded. He swallowed dryly, and slowly, reluctantly, lowered his rifle.
Evans used the barrel of his own gun to point at the floor.
Tom placed the Winchester down carefully, his eyes never leaving Evans' own.
Behind them, the dogs started pining again. One was brave enough to bark ferociously at a newcomer to the group, who emerged to Tom's right.
Evans fired his gun again, slaughtering the dog.
"Stop it!" cried Anise, and Tom felt his heart quicken feverishly at the malice he was seeing and hearing. He felt a little nauseous all of a sudden.
"Oh, they are only animals," Evans breathed with a distinct air of detachment. He seemed then to realise the woman's identity and presence. "Ah, Agent Delacroix... how lovely to see you again." An odd smile came over his face, and Tom felt his jaw clench with anger.
"The feeling is not mutual," Anise retorted bravely, "I can assure you."
Jacques glared from beside Evans. Evans himself laughed heartily. "Oh, such strong words from such a pretty thing."
Tom stepped forward, but several guns were aimed now at him solely. Anise reached out with a hand, and Tom begrudgingly backed down.
"Good boy," Evans murmured, apparently no longer amused. His attention turned back on Anise. "And how has your investigation been progressing, if I may ask?"
Anise looked quite exasperated herself now. Tom hadn't seen her like this before. He wasn't sure how to feel about it.
"You know very well how it is, Evans," she retaliated bitterly. "Well you should. You are, after all, a key factor."
Evans laughed once again.
Tom's mind raced with possible actions. What should he do? The sound of dogs scampering around behind him made him want nothing more than to reclaim his weapon and blow Evans and his men to hell and back. He wanted the dogs to be quiet... he didn't want Evans to revel in killing any more of them, which actually seemed to bother Jacques too now that he came to think of it.
The man was tensed so much he appeared ready to explode if he didn't do something quickly. His gun was aimed steadily at Tom, and his dark, almost black eyes kept flickering between the two agents and the animals from behind a tangle of greasy black hair.
"What do you want?" Tom blurted, and Jacques' gun hand tightened around the trigger so suddenly he thought it was going to set it off.
Evans held up a hand to Jacques as though he could sense his associate's urge, and replied, "Quite simple, really." He eyed the dogs quietly, before saying, "For the two of you to stop... hounding me, as it were."
Tom didn't find the witticism very humorous at all, as some of Evans' men seemed to.
"So you're going to kill us?" Anise asked without a hint of fear.
Tom admired her even more all of a sudden. He watched Evans without blinking; wondering if this was how it was all going to end. His fists clenched, and every muscle in him went taut.
Evans sighed, long and pensively. "I haven't quite decided, my dear girl."
The references to adolescence were really starting to grate on Tom.
"I could either take your word that you will stop hunting me down like an animal," he paused for a moment to take in their expressions, "or I could make certain of it right now."
Tom could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and he was suddenly very aware of the presence of his Colt pistols at his waist. Should he draw them and go down fighting or stand and be murdered like the animals behind them?
"I am the one who has been hunting you down, Evans," Anise said quietly, and with conviction. "He has done nothing wrong."
Tom realised who she was indicating, and he felt his breath quicken uncontrollably.
"This is true in part," Evans agreed with a sigh of boredom. "But, the boy has been quite annoying, to give him the credit he is due. Like a thorn in my side in fact."
The gun in Evans' hand snapped up to aim at Tom suddenly, and the latter did not flinch. He simply stared at Evans, even as Anise shouted, "No! You son of a bitch!" Something else followed, but Tom was far from fluent in French. It didn't sound very polite.
Evans laughed, eyes staring into Tom's with childlike enthusiasm. "Oh, do calm yourself, Agent Delacroix," he stated. "Perhaps by killing the boy, I can rest assured you will never bother me again."
"I would hunt you down and kill you like the spineless bastard that you are!" Anise yelled at him, her voice wavering a little now.
Tom shook his head. "No, he wants to kill me, then let him. I'd rather it was me than you..."
"Oh, how disgustingly noble and American of you," Evans interrupted with a grimace. "Maybe killing you both will solve all my problems."
He drew another ornate pistol from inside his coat, and aimed it on Anise.
He cocked the hammers back.