Secrets
Chapter 1
The light rain had stopped as Alex walked onto the bridge; everything was coated with a thin layer of water that glistened in the streetlights. The metal felt cold under her fingers as she gently ran them along the railing as she slowly walked to the centre of the bridge, Alex's shoulders ached and she stopped shrugging off the back pack she was carrying, she slipped one arm through a strap, using the other hand to rub her shoulder, she then lent on the railing looking down at the fast flowing water beneath, the lights from the banks danced on the surface of the water. Alex lifted her head looking around at the boats moored along the river bank, there where two near the bridge one was brightly coloured and well lit, the larger boat moored just in front was black and in total darkness. Alex lent her elbows onto the railing she pinched the top of her nose, her eyes were sore from lack of sleep, 'was it 72 hours or 80 hours' she thought to herself. She had been on Lazarski's trail ever since she had managed to get that little weasel Trent to tell her what he knew, it hadn't been easy but she had found a way to convince him. It had shocked her later just how brutal she had become but she knew that it she was ever going to convince her boss that she wasn't going crazy she had to find Lazarski and this time he wasn't going to walk away.
She had arrived in Paris late that afternoon and had followed up on the lead that Trent had given her but Lazarski wasn't there, she would try again later but now all she wanted was to get some sleep but she had spent all evening trying to find a hotel room but what she hadn't known was that it was Paris fashion week, until a rather snooty little man, in a green uniform, behind a marble reception desk said "Madame, this is Paris fashion week we have been booked up for months.maybe one of the lesser hotels may have something" he then dismissed her with a wave of his manicured hand. Alex had to hold herself back all she wanted to do was break the little bastards arm but she had just forced a smile onto her face and went back out into the rain.
A few hours later and a lot of "Non's" later she had come to a small hotel that the last hotel had suggested she tried, it was very small and hidden from view in one of the side street in one of the less fashionable areas of town but the middle aged lady with bleached blonde hair had been as helpful as she could, she had a room but it was booked she had just received a phone call saying the guest was delayed if he didn't arrive before 11pm the room was hers. Alex had thanked her and promised to return before the outer door was locked at 11pm. As she stepped out into the cold damp night air Alex turned the collar of her jacket up, right now she wouldn't care what the room was like she would take a tent as long as it meant that she could finally get some sleep.
As she walked along the street Alex looked at her watch still another hour to go, she tried to blow some warmth onto her cold hands before she put them back into the jacket pockets. Alex wandered the streets and found herself on the banks of the Seine, she slowly walked onto the bridge 'well, what am I going to do for the next hour?' she thought she then lent forward looking over the railing, her eyes scanned the structure of the bridge she then noticed the narrow ledge that ran along the bridge on the other side of the railings 'I wonder if I can walk to the other end of the bridge and back, just using the ledge' Alex looked around it might be only just gone 10 O'clock at night but the cold must be keeping people inside as the street was deserted 'what the hell you only live once' she thought as she climbed over the railings.
Duncan came to the end of the road, his hands pushed deep into his pockets trying to keep them warm, he had been to a friends party for some designer Duncan didn't know and after meeting him, he didn't want to, he might be a genius with fabric but as a person he had a lot to learn, so he had made his excuses and left. Not wanting to wait around for a cab in case his friends tried to persuade him to stay, he had decided to walk but as the cold wind bite into his body he regretted his hasted, if he had taken a cab he would be home now with a good brandy and a good book. As he got closer to the bridge he could see a lone figure leaning against the railings, he thought to himself that it was a little cold to be just standing there. Duncan's eyes widened as he watched the figure start to climb over the railings "Oh great!" he said softly as he started running towards the bridge, he wasn't in the mood to save a jumper but he couldn't stand by and watch someone throw their life away.
Alex had carefully positioned her feet on the ledge, it was only just big enough for one foot in front of the other, at first she held on with one hand but as she started to feel balanced she lifted her hand from the railing and started to walk. She hadn't gone more than a few steps when she heard a man shout, Alex looked up just as a man came running towards her, his long black coat blown open like a cape, as he ran and before Alex could say anything or react the man grabbed her, she started to overbalance her hands trying desperately to find something solid to save her from falling, the only thing she could find was the man's coat. With her struggling, the man's momentum and the wet slippery surface of the road suddenly Duncan found himself being pulled over the railings and as he did the woman was twisting still trying to grab something more stable. As Duncan realised that he could do nothing to stop either of them falling he watched in horror as the head of the woman he was trying to save hit the concrete ledge with a sickening crack before they both plummeted to the dark cold water of the Seine.
Duncan surfaced first he frantically looked around for the woman but he was alone, he quickly looked up at the bridge just to make sure she hadn't managed to grab hold of something but the bridge was empty, after taking a deep breath he dived under the dark waters. Duncan had to surface another two times for air before he managed to bring her to the surface. On his third dive he found her body it was being pulled down by the weight of the bag she was holding, Duncan freed her arm from the straps and let the bag sink to the bottom. He then brought her to the surface and as quickly as he could he swam towards the shore, his eyes scanning the bank to find someone to help him but there was no one. Duncan could see the lights on Maurice's boat "MAURICE..MAURICE" he shouted while trying to keep the woman and himself afloat but his call went unanswered. Finally, he managed to get to some steps and get them both out of the water. Duncan flipped the still body over, he checked for breathing and found none "Come on breath" Duncan said as he pushed on her chest, followed by filling her lungs with his breath "Come on breath".
Alex coughed as the water of the Seine finally left her lungs her eyes flickered open "What the?" Duncan helped her to sit up "Don't talk you've been for a bit of a swim.well we both have" Duncan said smiling and raising both eyebrows but instead of the reaction he was expecting, he found himself backing away "What the hell do you think you were doing.you could've killed me" Alex spat at him, the anger in her voice was very clear, as the words left her mouth a splitting pain went through her head and she lifted her right hand to her head. Duncan just managed to grab her as she fainted into unconsciousness before she could fall back into the river. As her body went limp in his arms Duncan ran his hand over her wet hair, as he lifted his hand away from her hair he could see that it was red with her blood, quickly he put one arm behind neck and the other under her knees and lifted her up, he wasn't far from the barge and as there was no one around to help him he decided it was the best place to take her as he could call for an ambulance from there.
Just as he got to the gangplank to his barge Maurice appeared on the deck of his boat "Maurice.Maurice.over here.can you give me a hand", Maurice turned round at the sound of Duncan's voice "Oh my friend what have you there?" he said as he raced over to where Duncan was standing "Why are you all wet?.Why is the lady all wet?" Maurice asked "I'll tell you about it later.do you think you can get my key from my coat pocket and open the door" Duncan said as he nodded his head in the direction of the barge "Oh but of course" Maurice said as he retrieved the key and scuttled up the gangplank, Duncan smiled to himself as he followed.
Maurice unlocked the door and went inside turning the lights on Duncan walked past him and laid Alex gently onto the couch "Oh but she is bleeding" Maurice said as he stood beside Duncan, "I'll fetch a cloth" before Duncan could stop him Maurice was already on his way to the bathroom. Duncan for the first time since he had grabbed the woman could see her clearly, she was slightly built with shoulder length blonde hair, her skin was very pale but the shock and the cold could be making it paler that it normally was he thought. His thoughts were interrupted as Maurice came rushing back into the room with a small bowl and several small cloths.
Duncan knelt down beside her and cleaned the wound; he had just finished when her eyes slowly opened "Don't move.you've had a bad knock on the head" Duncan said.
"Where am I.Who are you?.and why am I all wet" Alex asked a puzzled look on her face. Duncan frowned "you don't remember?" he watched as her eyes moved as she tried to remember, then a look of terror came across her face "I don't remember anything.I don't know my name.where I come from or who you are?" Duncan put his hand onto her arm "It's all right calm down.check your pockets.you might have something on you that will tell us who you are" Alex carefully went through one pocket after another but it wasn't until her last one that she pulled out a crumpled and very soggy piece of paper, she handed it to Duncan.
Duncan carefully unfolded the paper it seemed to be a hand written letter, the ink had run but Duncan could just make out a name at the top "Alex Rogan" Duncan looked up to see if the name meant anything to his unexpected guest but there was none. "I think this is a letter addressed to you, does the name mean anything to you?" Alex shook her head the pain started again Duncan looked over at Maurice "Can you take care of Alex I'm going to get some dry clothes for both of us and then I'll take her to the hospital" Duncan patted Maurice on the shoulder "No worries my friend.I will keep the beautiful lady company" he replied as he sat on the arm of the couch.
When Duncan returned he had changed into dry clothes and had some others in his arms "They won't be your size but they're dry.you can change in the bathroom" he said as he helped her to her feet. While Alex got changed Duncan told Maurice what had happened "It is a good job that you are a strong swimmer my friend.I'm afraid I did not hear anything" Duncan patted Maurice on the shoulder "That's all right my friend you weren't to know". Alex came out of the bathroom "right let's get you checked out.Maurice can you lock up for me?" Duncan said as he walked to where Alex was leaning against the wall "Of course" Maurice answered as Duncan put his arm around Alex and guided her out of the barge.
Chapter 1
The light rain had stopped as Alex walked onto the bridge; everything was coated with a thin layer of water that glistened in the streetlights. The metal felt cold under her fingers as she gently ran them along the railing as she slowly walked to the centre of the bridge, Alex's shoulders ached and she stopped shrugging off the back pack she was carrying, she slipped one arm through a strap, using the other hand to rub her shoulder, she then lent on the railing looking down at the fast flowing water beneath, the lights from the banks danced on the surface of the water. Alex lifted her head looking around at the boats moored along the river bank, there where two near the bridge one was brightly coloured and well lit, the larger boat moored just in front was black and in total darkness. Alex lent her elbows onto the railing she pinched the top of her nose, her eyes were sore from lack of sleep, 'was it 72 hours or 80 hours' she thought to herself. She had been on Lazarski's trail ever since she had managed to get that little weasel Trent to tell her what he knew, it hadn't been easy but she had found a way to convince him. It had shocked her later just how brutal she had become but she knew that it she was ever going to convince her boss that she wasn't going crazy she had to find Lazarski and this time he wasn't going to walk away.
She had arrived in Paris late that afternoon and had followed up on the lead that Trent had given her but Lazarski wasn't there, she would try again later but now all she wanted was to get some sleep but she had spent all evening trying to find a hotel room but what she hadn't known was that it was Paris fashion week, until a rather snooty little man, in a green uniform, behind a marble reception desk said "Madame, this is Paris fashion week we have been booked up for months.maybe one of the lesser hotels may have something" he then dismissed her with a wave of his manicured hand. Alex had to hold herself back all she wanted to do was break the little bastards arm but she had just forced a smile onto her face and went back out into the rain.
A few hours later and a lot of "Non's" later she had come to a small hotel that the last hotel had suggested she tried, it was very small and hidden from view in one of the side street in one of the less fashionable areas of town but the middle aged lady with bleached blonde hair had been as helpful as she could, she had a room but it was booked she had just received a phone call saying the guest was delayed if he didn't arrive before 11pm the room was hers. Alex had thanked her and promised to return before the outer door was locked at 11pm. As she stepped out into the cold damp night air Alex turned the collar of her jacket up, right now she wouldn't care what the room was like she would take a tent as long as it meant that she could finally get some sleep.
As she walked along the street Alex looked at her watch still another hour to go, she tried to blow some warmth onto her cold hands before she put them back into the jacket pockets. Alex wandered the streets and found herself on the banks of the Seine, she slowly walked onto the bridge 'well, what am I going to do for the next hour?' she thought she then lent forward looking over the railing, her eyes scanned the structure of the bridge she then noticed the narrow ledge that ran along the bridge on the other side of the railings 'I wonder if I can walk to the other end of the bridge and back, just using the ledge' Alex looked around it might be only just gone 10 O'clock at night but the cold must be keeping people inside as the street was deserted 'what the hell you only live once' she thought as she climbed over the railings.
Duncan came to the end of the road, his hands pushed deep into his pockets trying to keep them warm, he had been to a friends party for some designer Duncan didn't know and after meeting him, he didn't want to, he might be a genius with fabric but as a person he had a lot to learn, so he had made his excuses and left. Not wanting to wait around for a cab in case his friends tried to persuade him to stay, he had decided to walk but as the cold wind bite into his body he regretted his hasted, if he had taken a cab he would be home now with a good brandy and a good book. As he got closer to the bridge he could see a lone figure leaning against the railings, he thought to himself that it was a little cold to be just standing there. Duncan's eyes widened as he watched the figure start to climb over the railings "Oh great!" he said softly as he started running towards the bridge, he wasn't in the mood to save a jumper but he couldn't stand by and watch someone throw their life away.
Alex had carefully positioned her feet on the ledge, it was only just big enough for one foot in front of the other, at first she held on with one hand but as she started to feel balanced she lifted her hand from the railing and started to walk. She hadn't gone more than a few steps when she heard a man shout, Alex looked up just as a man came running towards her, his long black coat blown open like a cape, as he ran and before Alex could say anything or react the man grabbed her, she started to overbalance her hands trying desperately to find something solid to save her from falling, the only thing she could find was the man's coat. With her struggling, the man's momentum and the wet slippery surface of the road suddenly Duncan found himself being pulled over the railings and as he did the woman was twisting still trying to grab something more stable. As Duncan realised that he could do nothing to stop either of them falling he watched in horror as the head of the woman he was trying to save hit the concrete ledge with a sickening crack before they both plummeted to the dark cold water of the Seine.
Duncan surfaced first he frantically looked around for the woman but he was alone, he quickly looked up at the bridge just to make sure she hadn't managed to grab hold of something but the bridge was empty, after taking a deep breath he dived under the dark waters. Duncan had to surface another two times for air before he managed to bring her to the surface. On his third dive he found her body it was being pulled down by the weight of the bag she was holding, Duncan freed her arm from the straps and let the bag sink to the bottom. He then brought her to the surface and as quickly as he could he swam towards the shore, his eyes scanning the bank to find someone to help him but there was no one. Duncan could see the lights on Maurice's boat "MAURICE..MAURICE" he shouted while trying to keep the woman and himself afloat but his call went unanswered. Finally, he managed to get to some steps and get them both out of the water. Duncan flipped the still body over, he checked for breathing and found none "Come on breath" Duncan said as he pushed on her chest, followed by filling her lungs with his breath "Come on breath".
Alex coughed as the water of the Seine finally left her lungs her eyes flickered open "What the?" Duncan helped her to sit up "Don't talk you've been for a bit of a swim.well we both have" Duncan said smiling and raising both eyebrows but instead of the reaction he was expecting, he found himself backing away "What the hell do you think you were doing.you could've killed me" Alex spat at him, the anger in her voice was very clear, as the words left her mouth a splitting pain went through her head and she lifted her right hand to her head. Duncan just managed to grab her as she fainted into unconsciousness before she could fall back into the river. As her body went limp in his arms Duncan ran his hand over her wet hair, as he lifted his hand away from her hair he could see that it was red with her blood, quickly he put one arm behind neck and the other under her knees and lifted her up, he wasn't far from the barge and as there was no one around to help him he decided it was the best place to take her as he could call for an ambulance from there.
Just as he got to the gangplank to his barge Maurice appeared on the deck of his boat "Maurice.Maurice.over here.can you give me a hand", Maurice turned round at the sound of Duncan's voice "Oh my friend what have you there?" he said as he raced over to where Duncan was standing "Why are you all wet?.Why is the lady all wet?" Maurice asked "I'll tell you about it later.do you think you can get my key from my coat pocket and open the door" Duncan said as he nodded his head in the direction of the barge "Oh but of course" Maurice said as he retrieved the key and scuttled up the gangplank, Duncan smiled to himself as he followed.
Maurice unlocked the door and went inside turning the lights on Duncan walked past him and laid Alex gently onto the couch "Oh but she is bleeding" Maurice said as he stood beside Duncan, "I'll fetch a cloth" before Duncan could stop him Maurice was already on his way to the bathroom. Duncan for the first time since he had grabbed the woman could see her clearly, she was slightly built with shoulder length blonde hair, her skin was very pale but the shock and the cold could be making it paler that it normally was he thought. His thoughts were interrupted as Maurice came rushing back into the room with a small bowl and several small cloths.
Duncan knelt down beside her and cleaned the wound; he had just finished when her eyes slowly opened "Don't move.you've had a bad knock on the head" Duncan said.
"Where am I.Who are you?.and why am I all wet" Alex asked a puzzled look on her face. Duncan frowned "you don't remember?" he watched as her eyes moved as she tried to remember, then a look of terror came across her face "I don't remember anything.I don't know my name.where I come from or who you are?" Duncan put his hand onto her arm "It's all right calm down.check your pockets.you might have something on you that will tell us who you are" Alex carefully went through one pocket after another but it wasn't until her last one that she pulled out a crumpled and very soggy piece of paper, she handed it to Duncan.
Duncan carefully unfolded the paper it seemed to be a hand written letter, the ink had run but Duncan could just make out a name at the top "Alex Rogan" Duncan looked up to see if the name meant anything to his unexpected guest but there was none. "I think this is a letter addressed to you, does the name mean anything to you?" Alex shook her head the pain started again Duncan looked over at Maurice "Can you take care of Alex I'm going to get some dry clothes for both of us and then I'll take her to the hospital" Duncan patted Maurice on the shoulder "No worries my friend.I will keep the beautiful lady company" he replied as he sat on the arm of the couch.
When Duncan returned he had changed into dry clothes and had some others in his arms "They won't be your size but they're dry.you can change in the bathroom" he said as he helped her to her feet. While Alex got changed Duncan told Maurice what had happened "It is a good job that you are a strong swimmer my friend.I'm afraid I did not hear anything" Duncan patted Maurice on the shoulder "That's all right my friend you weren't to know". Alex came out of the bathroom "right let's get you checked out.Maurice can you lock up for me?" Duncan said as he walked to where Alex was leaning against the wall "Of course" Maurice answered as Duncan put his arm around Alex and guided her out of the barge.