Chapter 13

Alice met Jack in the middle of the town square; it was market day which was beneficial as there was so many people around that nobody could have possibly noticed them come from their very controversial homes. They walked arm in arm down a completely different street so as to be somewhere that their faces where reasonably unfamiliar. Little was said as they walked, each was occupied by troubled thoughts. Jack more so then Alice.

The street was almost deserted, everybody having headed to the market to catch the bargains while they stood. The circumstances suited them and they quite happily sauntered down the empty street, at least they were until an old lady suddenly jumped out of the shadows.

"A penny for the poor miss?" the beggar woman asked taking Alice off guard. She had forgotten her attire was of a higher status then she was accustomed and having never experienced the notion of beggars actually asking for money from her, she was at a loss of how to react.

Jack pulled her away equally as inexperienced in the question but still able to rightly say he didn't have a thing to give. The old woman persisted for some reason convinced she was on to something. Jack told her calmly that they had nothing to give but clearly she was deaf because she continued asking her well-rehearsed question. He was losing his tether, the whole point of coming up this street was so they could be left alone and he could finally explain what he needed to explain to Alice. It had been put off too many times now and he was more than determined to say it presently.

"Y'know what, piss off! Yer draft beggar, go piss some other bloody tosser off for a change and leave us a bloody alone!" Jack yelled at the unsuspecting woman.

The woman gave an indignant snort and looked Jack up and down with disgust.

"In the comp'ny of a respec'able lady too!" the beggar replied, turning abruptly and skulking away to find her next victim.

"Yeah well, it ain't like she hadn't heard it all before, uses it too occasionally." Jack called after her determined to get the last say.

Alice tugged Jack's arm trying her best to get him to stop yelling at the poor woman. She couldn't help that she didn't know Alice was born and bred a thief.

When the beggar was out of sight, Alice forced Jack to halt. Something wasn't right.

"Jack what's wrong with you? You've been agitated all morning, and don't think I don't notice anything; your attitude to that woman was completely out of character." Alice forced him to look her. She didn't care that the beggar was perhaps a little upset by her treatment she cared about what it meant to Jack, the behaviour was out of the ordinary and quite over the top something was clearly bothering him.

""It's Max. I was meaning to tell you about it last night but well things happened." Jack breathed a sigh of relief finally it was coming out.

"Well nothing's happening now so I'm all ears; go on tell me what's wrong." Alice replied anticipating his news with an open mind.

"Max has planned a house robbery and I refuse point blank to have any part in it." Jack said skirting around the truth.

"Um, why? I know we both have issues on housebreaking but you've done them before, so what's wrong with this one?" Alice said taking Jack's hands in hers noticing they were ever so slightly shaking. Finding this odd she looked up, Jack's eyes where wide with worry.

"Oh god, it's Mr Brownlow's isn't it." Alice suddenly realized. Jack nodded solemnly.

"That's why I don't want to do it. I don't want to do that to you." Jack pulled Alice's hands up between them both and kissed them.

"Tell Max he has any pick of that street and that there are more worthy houses to rob." Alice suggested.

"I'm scared, Alice, I'm scared he won't accept it, scared he'll try something." Jack said feeling depressed at the confession, something he had never admitted to anyone was his fear and it made him disheartened to have no other choice but to admit it.

"We'll go together if you like, it might be better if I was there to back you up being that I know the street quiet well, he might be less likely to 'try something' if he has a thorough alternative." Alice said, calming Jack down.

Jack liked the idea, it was sound and logical. Why couldn't he think like that? Never mind that now, he had to put the plan in action. With Alice by his side he was sure he'd have the confidence to confront Max.

"Come on then, let's go!" Alice said tugging him.

"What, now?" Jack said surprised.

"Why not? I don't have anywhere to be and he's obviously planning this to be soon isn't he?" Jack nodded, "Then what are you waiting for?"

He didn't know. Some reason to forget the whole thing, some reason that Max would change his mind without having to intervene? There was no reason why he was hesitant except for the fact that he had an odd feeling. But it was nothing just nerves. Max had that effect. Putting it behind Jack smiled at Alice and started heading in the direction of Max's hideout. Alice waited for him to catch up with her and stole a kiss. Jack took Alice's hand, for reassurance.

They walked back through the town square, down another side street and then an alleyway until finally Jack halted Alice.

"Is this it?" Alice said pointing to the building they had stopped outside of. It was a murky looking structure, the windows were all boarded up and the door was left swinging on its half broken hinges. Jack didn't answer but picked his way cautiously to the door, pushing it fully open and wincing at the creaking sound it made. Yes, this was the house. He paused when it was completely open. He didn't want to go in. He didn't want to do it. Every nerve in his body was telling him this was a very bad idea.

Watching him for a few seconds Alice, getting fed up with his reluctance to get this over with, pushed passed him and grabbed his hand. They were going in. The interior was dim. There was absolutely no light coming in from any direction. The floor was a rough wood and there was the noise of a drip somewhere in a dark corner. There was limited furniture a chair in the far corner and a side table with a half-drunk tankard left on it. There was another door which Jack knew led to Max's workroom and a moth ridden curtain separated the sleeping quarters from the main room.

Alice walked confidently into the middle of the room, Jack tailed behind her. Their footsteps echoed in the sparse space.

"Hello?" Alice called into the darkness. Nothing. Just an echo of her question returning to her. Something was amiss.

Suddenly something flew across the room, landing awkwardly directly in front of Alice. Alice jumped back, Jack catching her. He could feel her breathing quicken and her pulse elevating.

"Welcome." The flying object greeted, sinisterly. He was seemingly pleased with his entrance and its reaction. His grin revealed his decaying teeth as he stepped closer to Alice.

"What the hell do you think you're playin' at, scarin' her like that? Goodness knows what it could've have done to the baby." Jack yelled at Max. He stepped in front of Alice, his blood boiling, enraged to think Max could have harmed both Alice and their unborn child.

Alice blushed. She had never known Jack to be so protective of her, he never needed to. She was quite capable of fighting her own battles usually. It was a strange feeling to know that the dispute was about her and she wasn't sure how best to react to this.

Max snapped his head to Jack, his grin widen (as if it wasn't wide enough) and he took a step closer to Jack.

"Why, Dodger, I never took you for such a man! Clearly you're not the weakling I took you for."

Jack took a step back, swallowing his words. Just as sharply as he had turned his head, Max strode away from Jack and towards Alice.

"Come to apologize and accept the job have you?" Max asked his eyes fixed on Alice.

Jack glanced at Alice, not liking how close he was getting to her. Alice stayed completely still as Max circled her, eyeing her up and down as he did so. She wasn't afraid, not yet.

"Or is something…" Max stroked Alice's hair and then caressed her cheek. "…bothering you?" Alice grabbed Max's hand and pulled in away from her.

"I don't think so, mate." Alice hissed.

"Feisty." Max mused laughing to himself. He understood now why Jack had refused. He understood why he had tried to attack. Jack had already had the girl, the girl Max wanted for himself. Thief.

"I'm not doing it Max. I'm not robbing the Brownlow's." Jack told him. His confidence stepping up a mark as his anger towards Max grew. He knew Alice was quite well-knowledged in how to rid herself of certain characters who thought they could get their own way but that didn't stop him being angry at Max for trying.

Alice saw Max's body tense at Jack's words. He wasn't used to rejection and had usually been so overpowering that nobody ever dared decline him.

"You dare refuse such a job?" Max spat at him.

"There are plenty of other houses along that street. You can have your pick. I know the neighbourhood I could tell you which houses are wealthier then Mr Brownlow's." Alice bargained.

"NEVER!" Max yelled his voice echoing menacingly across the room, striking Alice dumb. She had expected him to at least consider her words before coming to that decision.

"Why?" Jack enquired instinctively. There had to be a reason, there always was with Max, something that he desperately wanted from that particular house.

Max shot Jack such a glare he felt he had already been killed and sent to wherever it was that would take him. As if to get revenge on Jack's abstinence, Max's eyes glinted and he grabbed Alice and forced a kiss on her lips. Kicking him as hard she could Alice pushed him away from her, disgusted by his insolence.

"Max, for a smart bloke, you can be such a…such a… git." Jack spat at Max. Looking down at him with a glare of revulsion, Jack passed him taking Alice's arm and turning to the door. He did want to spend any longer in the company of such a senseless creature.

Max stood momentarily speechless. No one had ever been brave enough to call him that. No one had been so stupid. He couldn't be allowed to get away with this, neither of them could. Snapping to his sense, Max released his knife from his belt, it was very shiny due to a unpredicted but highly necessary wash after another man had fallen victim to it. Sprinting after the couple Max grabbed hold of the nearest, Alice.

"Don't Move." Max warned pressing the knife up against Alice's neck.

"Come here." He commanded Jack. Obligingly Jack stepped cautiously towards Max. He didn't want to make any sudden movements that might make Max press his knife harder on Alice.

Alice kept calm. She could see what Max was doing and she knew she was reasonably ok so long as Jack did as he was asked. And she was already forming a way of escaping this predicament, so long as Max did as she thought he would do.

When Jack was in reach Max transferred his fury on him, the knife plunged through the air aiming for Jack's heart. It stopped midway. Alice had used all her strength to prevent Max's knife reaching Jack. Before Max had a chance to retaliate, Alice kicked him in between the legs.

"Run!" she yelled at Jack, making a dash for the door while Max was recovering from the shock. It would hold him off for a while, for how long, she wasn't certain. They needed to get as far ahead as they possibly could in the time lapse. Grabbing each other's hands as they exited the derelict building they spurred themselves on up the alleyway. They distinctly heard the slam of the broken door as Max, desperate not to lose sight of them, propelled it off its hinges and it landed heavily on the cobbled street. Max was red with rage with his knife wielded in his hand he set off after the two offenders. His fury impelled him on. Faster. Faster. He had to get them.

Sorry it took so long, had to rewrite this a few times to get it right but I hope you enjoy it after the long wait!