CHAPTER SIX

A R LONDON

Roxton is led out of the tunnel by Jose, he watches Roxton warily not trusting him for a second.

JOSE: You seem different.

ROXTON: Just keeping my mind on the job.

Jose nods and is silent until they get outside.

JOSE: Do you need help?

ROXTON: I know what I'm doing.

He leaves Jose standing by the tunnel exit and runs down the street, Jose waits for a few minutes then follows closely behind.

* * * * * *

Bradly keeps hold of Marguerite as they stand on the dock, people nod and smile as they walk past, not noticing anything wrong.

BRADLY: Keep smiling my dear, we'll soon be out of London.

MARGUERITE: I've got nothing to smile about.

BRADLY: In one hours time you'll be leaving Pedro behind forever.

MARGUERITE: Leaving one hungery wolf to be persude by another.

She pulls away from him and he grabs her arm.

BRADLY: If you want to escape you'll have to try harder then that.

MARGUERITE: All in good time.

He pulls her towards the boat and is stopped by an elderly man.

MAN: It's been such a long time since we last spoke.

BRADLY: And I regret to say you'll have to wait even longer.

The man pulls him away from Marguerite, Bradly looks back at her.

MAN: It's urgent that I talk to you.

Marguerite steps back slowly away from Bradly.

BRADLY: I'm sure it can wait.

While the man talks to Bradly, Marguerite quietly slips away, when Bradly turns around she's gone lost in the crowd.

* * * * * *

Roxton knocks on the door of the Bradly's house, the door swings open and he steps inside.

ROXTON: Marguerite?

Jose steps behind him.

JOSE: Since when were you and signorina Krux on a first name basis?

Roxton turns and faces him.

JOSE: You're not John Roxton.

ROXTON: Oh I am, just not the Roxton that you know.

He punches Jose in the face sending him flying backwards, he looks around befroe dragging Jose inside the house. Roxton walks into the living room and surveys the area, a piece of paper on a glass centre table catches his attention, he picks it up and reads it. After a few seconds he drops the letter to the floor and runs out of the house towards the dock.

* * * * * *

Challanger and Malone stand outside the Zoological Society impatiently waiting for Applegate to show, they ignore the inquisitive stares they get from passersby nad try to concentrate on the job at hand.

MALONE: Why would he sell us out?

CHALLANGER: Because he's Applegate.

MALONE: I guess Marguerite was right, Applegate never changes...He's here.

Applegate jogs up the steps to meet them, his smug smile fades as Challanger drags him inside the society building.

APPLEGATE: Hey! What's going on here?

MALONE: What did you tell the press about us?

APPLEGATE: I didn't tell them anything.

MALONE: Three of the local and two international pepers say otherwise.

CHALLANGER: What did you say?

APPLEGATE: I...

CHALLANGER: The truth.

A policeman taps Challanger on the shoulder.

COP: I need to ask you a few questions, about Mr Roxton.

Applegate smirks and walks out, the policeman turns to Malone.

COP: If you could come too, the sooner we sort this out, the sooner you can both get back to work.

* * * * * *

Marguerite watches as Bradly searches the dock for her, she turns around and starts to walk the other way when a hand grabs her by the shoulder, she freezes when she hears the foreign voice.

PEDRO: We meet again signorina Krux.

MARGUERITE: Pedro I presume.

PEDRO: Who else?

MARGUERITE: Well I thought you might be my worse nightmare but I shot him in the other London.

He looks at her puzzled.

PEDRO: You've changed since I saw you last.

MARGUERITE: Yes, you could say I was a different person.

She looks past him and sighs with relief as she see's Veronica sneaking up behind Pedro.

MARGUERITE: I'd like you to meet a friend of mine.

PEDRO: I'm not here for small talk.

MARGUERITE: That's strange, neither is she.

Veronica puts the knife to his kneck.

PEDRO: I don't believe we've met.

MARGUERITE: How did you find me?

VERONICA: I followed you from the house.

MARGUERITE: Take him to James.

VERONICA: What are you going to do?

MARGUERITE: (She looks towards Bradly) I'm going to teach someone a lesson.

* * * * * *

LONDON

Challanger bangs his fist on the table causing Professor Fitzgerald to jump, he adjusts his glasses and looks at Challanger.

PROFESSOR: I don't understand you're attitude towards this Challanger.

CHALLANGER: If people saw a live lizard man there'd be a panic.

PROFESSOR: Not if we cage it...Him...Tribune...Th...

MALONE: I can assure you Tribune won't allow himself to be locked up.

CHALLANGER: He'd eat you first.

PROFESSOR: I can't promise anything.

* * * * * *

A man watches the scene playing before his eyes, the woman he loves being saved from her 'fiance' by Lord John Roxton. Marguerite steps in front of Roxton, she lowers the gun that's in his hand.

She turns to the alley and looks at him, worry even fear in her eyes, he steps back into the shadows.

ROXTON: Get out of the way Miss Krux!

MARGUERITE: You can't kill him.

ROXTON: Why not?

MARGUERITE: Firstly because someone's watching us and secondly because if you shoot him you're changing Lord Roxton's life.

ROXTON: And that's supposed to bother me?

MARGUERITE: It should do...This isn't you're life to live.

* * * * * *

A R LONDON

Malone and Challanger walk out of the station and stand outside.

MALONE: That was intense.

CHALLANGER: I don't think they suspected anything.

MALONE: Applegate said he'd meet us outside the Botanical Gardens.

CHALLANGER: Of course.

* * * * * *

Marguerite walks back over to Bradly, he turns to her his face stone cold angry.

BRADLY: Don't you ever walk away like that again! Or...

MARGUERITE: Don't threaten me...Are we going or not?

He grips her arm and pulls her on board. He pushes her into their cabin and slams the door shut.

BRADLY: Stay here!

MARGUERITE: You don't own me anymore.

BRADLY: Oh really!

He walks towards her.

MARGUERITE: Really.

The door swings open and Roxton stands in the doorway, Bradly turns to face him.

MARGUERITE: Roxton this isn't you're fight!

* * * * * *

LONDON

MARGUERITE: Challanger wants to see us all...

ROXTON: I don't take orders from Challanger.

MARGUERITE: About getting out of here.

ROXTON: And what about him?

He indicates Aiden.

MARGUERITE: I'm sure he'll get what he deserves, eventually.

The man watches as Marguerite and Roxton enter the Zoological Society, he comes out from the shadows and walks over to Aiden.

MAN: We meet again.

AIDEN: You were dead!

He kneels down in front of Aiden.

MAN: That's what I wanted you to think.

AIDEN: So what are you going to do now?

The man stands up.

MAN: Make sure you can never hurt her again.

He draws his gun and shoots Aiden, he falls back and looks up at the man.

AIDEN: Why didn't you kill me?

MAN: Because I want you to live in fear knowing that I'm always watching you.

He kicks Aiden in the head sending him sprawling on the ground then casually walks towards the Society.

* * * * * *

A R LONDON

As Challanger opens the door he freezes, he and Malone turn to face Applegate who stands before them, Veronica stands in front of him a gun in her back.

CHALLANGER: What the hell do you think you're doing?

APPLEGATE: You people are going to make me a lot of money.

* * * * * *

MARGUERITE: John please, let me handle this.

He stands stubbornly in the doorway.

ROXTON: I'm not leaving you alone with him.

MARGUERITE: The I'll talk to him outside.

ROXTON: Fine...I'll be right outside if you need me.

She smiles at him as he close the door, she faces Bradly and back hands him across the face.

MARGUERITE: You're never going to hurt anyone ever again.

BRADLY: I'll have you arrested for this!

MARGUERITE: Dead people can't talk.

* * * * * *

Marguerite meets Roxton back on the dock, he looks at her thankful to see she's all right.

ROXTON: That was quick.

MARGUERITE: It's been a long day, he's sleeping it off.

James runs towards them breathing heavily and worried about something.

JAMES: Veronica said you'd be here...

MARGUERITE: Where is she?

JAMES: He took her, Applegate has her.

* * * * * *

LONDON

The man follows Marguerite and Roxton as they walk into the main hall, he waits outside and listens to the discussion going on behind closed doors.

A R LONDON

Roxton and Marguerite arrive outside the Botanical Gardens, they look around but see no sign of Veronica.

ROXTON: They must be inside.

As if on cue they hear Challanger's protests.

MARGUERITE: Their all inside.

VERONICA: (To Applegate) you won't get away with this!

APPLEGATE: I all ready have.

ROXTON: I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Applegate pushes Veronica out of the way and faces Roxton.

APPLEGATE: You've got a bad reputation around here.

ROXTON: Where I come from yours isn't much better...Put the gun down.

APPLEGATE: You first.

MARGUERITE: 5-1 Applegate, the odds aren't exactly in you're favour.

He crouches down and slides the gun across the floor, they hear a shrill whistle and seconds later voices outside.

MALONE: Police?

As Applegate stands back up he takes a knife from his boot, he turns to throw it at Veronica when Malone shoots him, the sound echos throughout the gardens sending the police into a frenzy.

CHALLANGER: They'll be here at any minute.

ROXTON: Is there a back way?

CHALLANGER: I hope so.

As they run through the wild plants and exotic trees the police barge into the gardens.

"Stop right there!".

MALONE: Through here!

* * * * * *

LONDON

Malone stops suddenly and leans against the door, Challanger and Marguerite turn to him concerned.

CHALLANGER: Are you all right?

MALONE: Don't you feel that?

TRIBUNE: (To Fitzgerald) I'm not going to be insulted by a member of such an inferior race!

As he slams the door shut he falls backwards.

TRIBUNE: Not again.

The man leans forward and taps Tribune on the shoulder.

MAN: Are you...

He watches as Malone and Tribune disappear before his eyes as he steps back his surroundings change and he's lost in a dark swirling haze.

* * * * * *

PLATEAU

VERONICA: We're home!

MALONE: How? Challanger?

CHALLANGER: As soon as I have an explanation you'll be the first to know.

Tribune stumbles out of the cave disorientated, he walks towards the explorers.

TRIBUNE: I pity you humans, I really do...How you manage to live in that primitive place you call London...

MALONE: Tribune?

CHALLANGER: You where in London?

MARGUERITE: Typical! Why did he end up in London while we where taken to a cheap copy?

TRIBUNE: Believe me I'm as disgusted as you are.

They turn to leave Tribune.

TRIBUNE: By the way does this human belong to any of you?

He drags the man out of the cave.

MARGUERITE: Richard!

Roxton looks at her inquisitively.

ROXTON: You know him?

She faces him clearly disturbed.

MARGUERITE: John...This is Richard, my...My husband.

THE END

Please R & R