Chapter 5
~~*Cry of the Vulture*~~
"So, where do you think she'll be" asked Two as they marched along the upper floor of the mall.
"I have no idea" replied One who has only half listening due to his attention on his shirt which he was vigorously rubbing in an attempt to remove the blood. Two looked round and smirked.
"Oh, just leave it will you. It won't come off by you rubbing it; you'll need to get some stain remover on it."
One just pouted.
"What was the question again?"
Two sighed. "Clean your ears out. The question was 'Where do you think this girl will be?"
One arranged his face into what looked like a thoughtful expression and replied "Well, from my experience of women I expect she'll be trying on make-up or something."
"What do you mean by 'your' experience of women? You've never had any."
"That's all you know" said One with a sly wink.
"Enough info thank you very much" grimaced Two "So, make-up you say? But all the shops are closed"
"All but one" corrected One jabbing a finger across at the shop opposite that appeared to sell nothing but make-up.
"She has to be in there. There's no where else for her to be" said Two.
Just as they were about to step into the store; One stopped as he caught sight of a woman working inside. "We better take the sunglasses off"
"Why?" inquired Two
"You can never really tell with women. They can easily get scared and provoked by the smallest of things and then they start attacking you with random objects. Usually bags or vases!"
Two sighed and removed the black sunglasses from his face and put them in his pocket. One followed suit.
"I am sorry I ever doubted you on your 'experience' of women"
"Apology accepted" grinned One "Shall we get going?"
The shop was completely deserted apart from the cashier that was clearing up. The twins approached her and she looked up. As soon as she realised what she was looking at she backed away into a display behind her, causing several bottles of perfume to topple off the shelves and smash on the floor.
Two wrinkled his nose in disgust as the overpowering aroma of 'Eau de Toilette' reached his nostrils.
"Wh-What do you want?" the woman stammered.
"Have you seen this girl?" asked Two, pulling out a small photo of a woman with shoulder length brown hair and a business type suit.
"Who are you?" the woman asked
"We are from the police. We have reason to believe that this woman is part of a criminal organisation that assassinates random people at her master's orders" replied Two.
One stared at his brother in rapt admiration for his speed at lying.
"So, have you seen her?" pressed Two.
"Yes, I have. She was in here a few minutes ago making a final purchase when she remembered that she had left her purse in the toilets. She asked me to put her purchase aside for her and that she would be back in a minute."
"So she is coming back here?" questioned One
"Yes. That's what she said."
"Do you mind if we take a look around?"
"No. Be my guests. I'll just clear this up" replied the woman gesturing at the broken bottles and puddles of perfume littering the floor.
"Oh, and when she returns, do not mention us to her" said One
"Why?"
"It would be liable to scare her off" finished Two "I mean, wouldn't you be scared if you heard that the police were searching for you?"
"Yes, I suppose you're right. I'll best be getting back to clearing up"
"You do that ma'am!" smirked One with a fake accent.
"I won't even bother asking why you just said that" sighed Two.
"By the way. Where did you get that photo from?" asked One as they wandered up the aisle.
"The Merovingian always gives me one in case I need to use it. Though I never have had too, before now."
"And just why did you use it now?"
"Because I couldn't deal with a woman in distress asking unnecessary questions so I thought it best to get the point and quickly" explained Two.
They continued round the shop, looking at various different kinds of make-ups. Blusher and nail polish in many different colours lined the shelves and gift boxes with brand names and ornate lettering were stacked around the shop. The twins winced at a particularly expensive lipstick in a gross shade of brown.
"Why would people even think about buying this stuff?" mused One as he examined a shelf full of different mascara.
"Well, we do wear some make-up" admitted Two
"Yes, but at least ours is decent, not like some of the foul colours in here" retorted One.
"Oh look" piped up Two "A half way decent shade of lipstick"
"Really? Where?" One hurried over to join his brother
"Made you look!" grinned Two
"Hang on!" One said "What are these doing in a make-up store?"
"What are what doing in a make-up store?"
"Those" remarked One pointing at a large display full of sunglasses.
"I have no idea" sniffed Two.
"I wonder if any would suit us."
"There's only one way to find out."
They went through pair after pair of sunglasses, checking themselves in the small mirrors as various times and then replacing them back on the hooks.
"What about these?" Two turned to face his twin who was wearing large, round Polaroid style glasses in a bright shade of blue.
"They make you look like you're going skiing" smirked One.
Two raised an eyebrow and put the glasses back on the display." Well yours are worse. They make you look like an insect!"
"I think we are best suited to these" said One, pulling out his black glasses from his pocket. Two pulled his out and put them back on.
"Yes. I think you are right."
They strode back over to where the cashier had just finished clearing up.
"Has she come back yet?" asked One
"No, not yet. I am sorry to keep you waiting but I am going to have to close up in a few minutes."
She stopped as she caught sight of the glasses on Two's face and in One's hand.
"Oh, are you wanting to buy those?" she said "I'm sorry, I didn't realise."
"Oh no, these are ours" corrected Two
"Yours? Well, you didn't come in with them?" the woman eyed them suspiciously
"They were in our pockets when we came in."
"Well I didn't see them."
"Since they were inside our pockets, you wouldn't would you?" scowled Two
"Ok. I'll let you off this time. But only because I trust you people of the law" she smiled.
The twins nodded and One managed to force a small smile of appreciation.
"The girl must have forgotten where the shop is" sighed the cashier "Oh, well. She'll just have to come back tomorrow for it."
Suddenly the sound of running footsteps echoed along the floor outside. The twins and the cashier looked up as a young woman rushed into the shop, breathing heavily. She was quite tall with green eyes and chestnut hair tied up in a ponytail and she was wearing a white jacket and t-shirt with jeans.
"I am so sorry" she panted "I couldn't find my purse for ages until I discovered it in lost property then I forgot where your shop was."
"Yes. I surmised as much" laughed the cashier "Now it was this gift box wasn't it?"
"No. It was the one next to it, with the gold ribbon. It's for my mother's birthday"
"How nice for her" the cashier put the box in a carrier bag, put the money in the till and handed the bag to the woman.
"Ok, I'm closing now so could all three of you go outside to talk?"
"All three of us?" the woman said turning round "Oh. Who are you?"
"We'll explain when we get outside" said Two.
"You needn't be worried" the cashier assured her "They're perfectly pleasant."
"Alright then" the woman resigned.
They left the shop and stood outside next to a large potted plant.
"Right. First things first. Who are you two and why do you want to talk to me?" the woman asked.
"We are from the police and-"
"Drop the act." snapped One "The other one's gone now."
"Ok, fine" said Two "Would you come over here please." He beckoned to her as he stepped backwards.
"Would one of you please tell me what the hell is going on here?"
"Is your name Estelle Croft?" questioned Two.
"Yes, my name is Estelle Croft, but how did you know that?"
"If it is then you have nothing to fear" he replied with a smile "Now if you would come over here I will show you the reason why we want to speak you."
Estelle walked forward but very cautiously as though every step nearer was an effort.
"That's right. Now stand right here facing me so I can show you."
She stood directly in front of Two, her eyes locked with his.
"Go on then" she said "Show me why you want to speak with me."
No sooner had she said these words; she felt an incredible pain sear through her wrists as they were yanked roughly behind her back and held there fast. She looked as far as she could behind her and saw that One had her in a tight grip, so much so that she could feel her wrists going numb.
"I told you that you would have nothing to fear. Well in truth I meant that you will not need to fear anything, anymore." Two whispered in her ear.
"What do you mean" she gasped.
"Exactly what I say" he purred.
She shivered as he ran a pale finger down her cheek and neck, eyes lingering for a moment on a small scar on her collarbone.
"What do you want with me?" she cried.
"It's not me that wants anything with you" he whispered "I'm just acting on orders."
Estelle's eyes widened as she registered what he said and quite suddenly she pushed with all her might against him sending him backwards into the plant behind, sending it flying to the ground with a heart- stopping 'crash!'. This attack took him quite by surprise and he instinctively whipped out his switchblade and pressed it to Estelle's neck.
"Now you listen to me and listen well" he snarled "This can either be quick and easy, or I can make it long and drawn out. It's up to you."
"You're right" she snapped "It is up to me." She clenched her teeth and dug her long fingernails as hard and she could into One's gripping hands. He let out a sharp yelp of pain and let go, caught completeley off his guard by the sudden strike. Estelle saw her chance. She pulled away from the twins and bolted down the mall leaving her bag behind her on the floor.
"He'll never take me back" she screamed as she ran "Never! I will not return to that French lech!"
~~*Cry of the Vulture*~~
"So, where do you think she'll be" asked Two as they marched along the upper floor of the mall.
"I have no idea" replied One who has only half listening due to his attention on his shirt which he was vigorously rubbing in an attempt to remove the blood. Two looked round and smirked.
"Oh, just leave it will you. It won't come off by you rubbing it; you'll need to get some stain remover on it."
One just pouted.
"What was the question again?"
Two sighed. "Clean your ears out. The question was 'Where do you think this girl will be?"
One arranged his face into what looked like a thoughtful expression and replied "Well, from my experience of women I expect she'll be trying on make-up or something."
"What do you mean by 'your' experience of women? You've never had any."
"That's all you know" said One with a sly wink.
"Enough info thank you very much" grimaced Two "So, make-up you say? But all the shops are closed"
"All but one" corrected One jabbing a finger across at the shop opposite that appeared to sell nothing but make-up.
"She has to be in there. There's no where else for her to be" said Two.
Just as they were about to step into the store; One stopped as he caught sight of a woman working inside. "We better take the sunglasses off"
"Why?" inquired Two
"You can never really tell with women. They can easily get scared and provoked by the smallest of things and then they start attacking you with random objects. Usually bags or vases!"
Two sighed and removed the black sunglasses from his face and put them in his pocket. One followed suit.
"I am sorry I ever doubted you on your 'experience' of women"
"Apology accepted" grinned One "Shall we get going?"
The shop was completely deserted apart from the cashier that was clearing up. The twins approached her and she looked up. As soon as she realised what she was looking at she backed away into a display behind her, causing several bottles of perfume to topple off the shelves and smash on the floor.
Two wrinkled his nose in disgust as the overpowering aroma of 'Eau de Toilette' reached his nostrils.
"Wh-What do you want?" the woman stammered.
"Have you seen this girl?" asked Two, pulling out a small photo of a woman with shoulder length brown hair and a business type suit.
"Who are you?" the woman asked
"We are from the police. We have reason to believe that this woman is part of a criminal organisation that assassinates random people at her master's orders" replied Two.
One stared at his brother in rapt admiration for his speed at lying.
"So, have you seen her?" pressed Two.
"Yes, I have. She was in here a few minutes ago making a final purchase when she remembered that she had left her purse in the toilets. She asked me to put her purchase aside for her and that she would be back in a minute."
"So she is coming back here?" questioned One
"Yes. That's what she said."
"Do you mind if we take a look around?"
"No. Be my guests. I'll just clear this up" replied the woman gesturing at the broken bottles and puddles of perfume littering the floor.
"Oh, and when she returns, do not mention us to her" said One
"Why?"
"It would be liable to scare her off" finished Two "I mean, wouldn't you be scared if you heard that the police were searching for you?"
"Yes, I suppose you're right. I'll best be getting back to clearing up"
"You do that ma'am!" smirked One with a fake accent.
"I won't even bother asking why you just said that" sighed Two.
"By the way. Where did you get that photo from?" asked One as they wandered up the aisle.
"The Merovingian always gives me one in case I need to use it. Though I never have had too, before now."
"And just why did you use it now?"
"Because I couldn't deal with a woman in distress asking unnecessary questions so I thought it best to get the point and quickly" explained Two.
They continued round the shop, looking at various different kinds of make-ups. Blusher and nail polish in many different colours lined the shelves and gift boxes with brand names and ornate lettering were stacked around the shop. The twins winced at a particularly expensive lipstick in a gross shade of brown.
"Why would people even think about buying this stuff?" mused One as he examined a shelf full of different mascara.
"Well, we do wear some make-up" admitted Two
"Yes, but at least ours is decent, not like some of the foul colours in here" retorted One.
"Oh look" piped up Two "A half way decent shade of lipstick"
"Really? Where?" One hurried over to join his brother
"Made you look!" grinned Two
"Hang on!" One said "What are these doing in a make-up store?"
"What are what doing in a make-up store?"
"Those" remarked One pointing at a large display full of sunglasses.
"I have no idea" sniffed Two.
"I wonder if any would suit us."
"There's only one way to find out."
They went through pair after pair of sunglasses, checking themselves in the small mirrors as various times and then replacing them back on the hooks.
"What about these?" Two turned to face his twin who was wearing large, round Polaroid style glasses in a bright shade of blue.
"They make you look like you're going skiing" smirked One.
Two raised an eyebrow and put the glasses back on the display." Well yours are worse. They make you look like an insect!"
"I think we are best suited to these" said One, pulling out his black glasses from his pocket. Two pulled his out and put them back on.
"Yes. I think you are right."
They strode back over to where the cashier had just finished clearing up.
"Has she come back yet?" asked One
"No, not yet. I am sorry to keep you waiting but I am going to have to close up in a few minutes."
She stopped as she caught sight of the glasses on Two's face and in One's hand.
"Oh, are you wanting to buy those?" she said "I'm sorry, I didn't realise."
"Oh no, these are ours" corrected Two
"Yours? Well, you didn't come in with them?" the woman eyed them suspiciously
"They were in our pockets when we came in."
"Well I didn't see them."
"Since they were inside our pockets, you wouldn't would you?" scowled Two
"Ok. I'll let you off this time. But only because I trust you people of the law" she smiled.
The twins nodded and One managed to force a small smile of appreciation.
"The girl must have forgotten where the shop is" sighed the cashier "Oh, well. She'll just have to come back tomorrow for it."
Suddenly the sound of running footsteps echoed along the floor outside. The twins and the cashier looked up as a young woman rushed into the shop, breathing heavily. She was quite tall with green eyes and chestnut hair tied up in a ponytail and she was wearing a white jacket and t-shirt with jeans.
"I am so sorry" she panted "I couldn't find my purse for ages until I discovered it in lost property then I forgot where your shop was."
"Yes. I surmised as much" laughed the cashier "Now it was this gift box wasn't it?"
"No. It was the one next to it, with the gold ribbon. It's for my mother's birthday"
"How nice for her" the cashier put the box in a carrier bag, put the money in the till and handed the bag to the woman.
"Ok, I'm closing now so could all three of you go outside to talk?"
"All three of us?" the woman said turning round "Oh. Who are you?"
"We'll explain when we get outside" said Two.
"You needn't be worried" the cashier assured her "They're perfectly pleasant."
"Alright then" the woman resigned.
They left the shop and stood outside next to a large potted plant.
"Right. First things first. Who are you two and why do you want to talk to me?" the woman asked.
"We are from the police and-"
"Drop the act." snapped One "The other one's gone now."
"Ok, fine" said Two "Would you come over here please." He beckoned to her as he stepped backwards.
"Would one of you please tell me what the hell is going on here?"
"Is your name Estelle Croft?" questioned Two.
"Yes, my name is Estelle Croft, but how did you know that?"
"If it is then you have nothing to fear" he replied with a smile "Now if you would come over here I will show you the reason why we want to speak you."
Estelle walked forward but very cautiously as though every step nearer was an effort.
"That's right. Now stand right here facing me so I can show you."
She stood directly in front of Two, her eyes locked with his.
"Go on then" she said "Show me why you want to speak with me."
No sooner had she said these words; she felt an incredible pain sear through her wrists as they were yanked roughly behind her back and held there fast. She looked as far as she could behind her and saw that One had her in a tight grip, so much so that she could feel her wrists going numb.
"I told you that you would have nothing to fear. Well in truth I meant that you will not need to fear anything, anymore." Two whispered in her ear.
"What do you mean" she gasped.
"Exactly what I say" he purred.
She shivered as he ran a pale finger down her cheek and neck, eyes lingering for a moment on a small scar on her collarbone.
"What do you want with me?" she cried.
"It's not me that wants anything with you" he whispered "I'm just acting on orders."
Estelle's eyes widened as she registered what he said and quite suddenly she pushed with all her might against him sending him backwards into the plant behind, sending it flying to the ground with a heart- stopping 'crash!'. This attack took him quite by surprise and he instinctively whipped out his switchblade and pressed it to Estelle's neck.
"Now you listen to me and listen well" he snarled "This can either be quick and easy, or I can make it long and drawn out. It's up to you."
"You're right" she snapped "It is up to me." She clenched her teeth and dug her long fingernails as hard and she could into One's gripping hands. He let out a sharp yelp of pain and let go, caught completeley off his guard by the sudden strike. Estelle saw her chance. She pulled away from the twins and bolted down the mall leaving her bag behind her on the floor.
"He'll never take me back" she screamed as she ran "Never! I will not return to that French lech!"