Chapter 6

I know I have told a few of you that there was a Robson chapter next (twice now). But each time I go to edit a later chapter seems to fit better. I almost, positively guarantee that Robson is next, most likely, probably, maybe.

Jean entered the Randolph and made straight for the bar. Malcolm Tucker didn't strike her as the type of man who would skulk about in his room. She stood in the doorway for a moment allowing her eyes to adjust. She found him sprawled across a chair in front of the open fireplace. She walked over to him and sat in the chair opposite him.

He'd seen her enter the room. She was not the type of woman who wasn't noticed. Everyone in the bar seemed to glance her way. He'd wondered who would come calling. It had been a mistake to go to Laura's office. He should have known she would have protectors.

Raising his glass, he mock saluted her before draining it of its amber liquid, "I guess this is the part where you've come to threaten me."

Jean relaxed into the chair, "What makes you think that Mr. Tucker?"

He motioned to the server, "Aren't you here to protect the innocent, forgive the pun, Laura Hobson?" The server took the empty glass from him and he smiled up at her, "Love, I'll have another and the lady will have…" He looked at Jean with a devilish smile, "Something white and fruity?"

Jean smiled at the young woman, "Do you have the Dalmore 1263 in stock?"

"I believe so ma'am."

"We'll take the bottle and charge it to Mr. Tucker's tab."

They sat in silence until the young woman returned with their bottle and poured a generous amount in each of their glasses. Once she was gone Malcolm raised his glass and lightly touched her, "You surprise me Jean."

She took a sip from her glass and gave him an appraising look, "Why is that Mr. Tucker?"

"I had you pegged for a fruity drink person. Something sparkly and light. And you can call me Malcolm, Jean."

"I would prefer you call me Mrs. Innocent or Chief Super Innocent and I will continue to call you Mr. Tucker. Also you shouldn't judge me by what you know of Nicola." She saw him flinch at her sister's name, "You will find that past our looks we are nothing alike."

He watched her drain her glass and lean forward to refill her glass, "I don't think I can call you anything to do with the name Innocent because I suspect you are anything but." The enigmatic smile that played across her face fascinated him, "What if I just call you ma'am? Yes I think I quite like ma'am." He deliberately drew out the word, rolling it across his tongue as he watched her.

Jean paused, attempting to control her breathing. She was called ma'am all day long by a host of people in her office. Those four letters had never had this effect on her, "That will work fine Mr. Tucker."

Malcolm refilled his glass then relaxed into the chair. His long legs stretched before him crossed casually at his ankles, "Why don't you tell me all of the ways you will make my life miserable if I don't leave Laura alone?"

"What makes you so sure that's why I'm here? I could be here to tell you off for ruining Nicola's life."

Again he flinched at the mention of her sister's name. He hid it better this time but Jean had still seen it. He shook his head as he looked at her over his glass, "I suppose that could be the reason but I suspect you have a better measure of your sister. You know that wasn't all my fault."

Jean nodded acknowledging the truth of the statement, "Too true, I am curious about one thing."

"What's that?"

"You could have walked, named names and you would have been a free man. Why didn't you? Why did you choose to go to jail? And by everything I could learn, you opted to do the full five years."

While his body appeared to be relaxed in the chair, he practically vibrated with excitement, she had looked into him. He nodded slightly at her impressed with her understanding, "It was the honorable thing to do. I keep the secrets."

She cocked her head at him, "You keep their secrets and they take care of you after?" He nodded, watching her closely as she finished her second glass of whisky. She topped off his glass before pouring another for herself, "And what would you have done if they hadn't kept their end of the bargain?"

His eyes seemed to darken to the flat black she'd only ever seen on sharks in documentaries, "I would have destroyed them."

"Is that what you plan to do to Laura?"

He smiled, perhaps the first genuine smile she'd seen on him, "And the shoe drops."

"She doesn't deserve it you know. She's happy. If you love her as much as I suspect you did, I would think you would want her to be happy. Even if it's not with you."

"What makes you so sure I don't still love her?"

"I'm almost certain you still do. Do we ever really stop loving people?"

He sat up in his chair and leaned closer to her, "No ma'am, people like us don't."

Jean had to look away. She wasn't sure if it was the whisky, the ma'am or the truth of his statement but suddenly she couldn't look at him. She drew a deep breath, drained her glass and stood. She gave him a tender look finally understanding something crucial about Malcolm Tucker, "Sometimes the best way to love people is to let them go."

Their eyes locked he made a snap decision, "I don't generally tell people when they make a mistake. Usually, I exploit that mistake and make them suffer for it."

She smiled, "What mistake have I made Mr. Tucker?"

"You assume I am the guilty party. I've been to prison ma'am but it doesn't mean I am guilty. I might just be the innocent party in this particular equation."

"You're wrong, Mr. Tucker. I suspect there is plenty of guilt to go around. But how long does someone have to pay for their guilt?"

He watched her turn to walk away impressed with how steady she seemed, Jean Innocent was a worthy opponent, "How is she?"

Jean paused but didn't turn to him, "She's happy."

"Then it all was all worth it." Jean turned sharply to look at him. He met her gaze with a look of heartbreaking tenderness, "Tell her I'm sorry."

She nodded, "I will…Malcolm." Jean turned to leave suddenly not quite as steady on her feet.