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Fragments By Emma Smith Chapter 1 Cathy We parked the car close to the place and walked the remaining few hundred yards. It's not a nice part of town and the three of us are a little uncomfortable being there. We've been here before though and we know where we're going. There's a little alleyway next to a warehouse. Half way along this passageway is a shop. It's musty place full of old things. Some of them would clean up nicely. They might fetch a good price in one of the flashy shops in the West Side of town. The creepy guy who runs this place doesn't care. It's a bit of a sideline for him. His main business is suffering. That's the reason we're nervous. Last time we came here it was to arrange some revenge on a nasty piece of work we all hate. This time we're going to have to pay. The stupid thing is we didn't ask what the price would be. I don't remember which of us found out about him or who suggested we do it. It might have been Alicia's idea. She's always keen on anything involving pain or violence. I admit I misjudged what we were getting. I thought he was some sort of heavy, who'd beat up our "friend" for us. Instead he claimed to be some sort of magician. Said he could do much more than hurt our pigeon physically. He talked of strange powers and cursed objects. He said there would be a ritual to charge the object with our dark thoughts. He also said that if it didn't work we'd owe him nothing. I don't think we believed he could do anything to help us. What the hell though. We decided to give him a chance. He said we should return in a week and that's tonight. We step over cardboard boxes and discarded bottles. I look around me nervously and clutch at my bag. I notice Alicia doing the same and smile to myself. I don't know why she's nervous though. She hates him more than any of us. She wanted to take him out herself. Before we can knock the door opens and we walk in. The atmosphere is heavy somehow. There is a faint smell of something in the air. I can't place it but it reminds me of something I dislike. The room is full of what most people would call junk. There is very little space thanks to the cluttered furniture and piles of objects. The man is waiting for us inside. He stands with his arms folded, looking us over. He has an imposing presence and he makes me nervous. "There should be four of you shouldn't there?" He said flatly. "Pauline is sick. She's in the hospital." I told him. "A pity. So untimely." He said without any feeling behind it. "She'll be out soon they say." "So it's just the three of you. The angry Alicia, the jaundiced Julie and the catty Cathy." "So you did it to Selby for us?" I asked. "Yes. As I said I would. Your enemy has suffered greatly." "And now?" Julie said. "You must pay my price." He said. "Must we?" Alicia asked. "That is the agreement." "But you didn't quite succeed did you? We wanted him ruined. Kicked out of that stupid job he cares about so much for one thing." Julie said. "I'd like to see the bastard dead." Alicia shouted. "A week of mental torment followed by a complete physical transformation. A breakdown is certain, maybe even a suicide." The man said, firmly. "Is it?" I asked. "Yes." He said firmly. "We're not convinced. We think you might be putting one over on us." "What?" the man roared. "Your stupid mirror transformed his mind as well as his body. She might be able to adjust." "Don't blame me. It was your hatred that directed the curse. Perhaps one of you doesn't hate him as much as you claimed?" I wonder about Pauline. She's the most gentle of us and I don't think she wanted to hurt him, just teach him a lesson. Perhaps she moderated our input to the curse? "Still. We had an agreement." I said. "And I did as we agreed." He replied. "So are you going to finish the job properly?" asked Alicia. "No." "Right. I've asked nicely. Now you get it." She produced a gun from her bag. I don't know where she got it. She's never carried one before as far as I know. She pointed it straight at the man. It didn't waver as she trained it on him. He stood there calmly, without moving with the gun pointing at his head. "You'll only hurt yourself. Put it down. While you can." He told her very calmly and slowly. "Fuck off. I'm not going to kill you. Just teach you some manners. How to treat paying customers." She aimed the gun lower, pointing it towards his arm. He stood there unmoving and silent. Alicia pulled the trigger. The noise of the gunshot cracked around the room and echoed. She screamed and went down on the floor, dropping the gun. "Better get that out of here." The main said quietly. "Bastard, it hurts!" screamed Alicia. Julie went to help her and pulled her sleeve back to see how bad the wound is. I looked at her and she nodded back. Then she tore off the sleeve and tied it round Alicia's arm. "That was very stupid. You will all return in two days time and I will describe my payment." We helped Alicia out of the door and back to the car. I don't quite know what happened. For a second I thought someone had shot her from out of my view. I think the creepy guy did it though. I don't know how but he made her attack rebound on her. I hope Julie can fix her up. Going to a doctor would need too many explanations. I think we're in big trouble. I have a strong feeling of it. This guy helped us get our own back on Selby but he hasn't named his price yet. I'm not sure it's going to be money he wants. Julie started to drive away and I continued to think dark thoughts. I have to go see Pauline later today and see how she's getting on. That's something else we didn't expect to happen. Chapter 2 Marianne We all have bad Mondays from time to time but the one this week turned out quite amazing. The entire town seems to be playing some sort of practical joke on me. I got to work at my normal time and parked the car. I took the short cut across the grass to the main entrance like I always do. I was going to breeze through the gate as usual but the guard insisted on seeing my pass. He asked me if I'd just started work. I tried to tell him I've worked there for ages but he saw the name on my card. He said something about knowing my brother and waved me through. I was mystified by it all. Normally I just wave the badge at him and nod sort of disdainfully as I sail past. Things got worse when I got to my office. That's when I found the rest of the joke. It must have taken them a huge amount of work to set up. Everything about my desk was wrong. The wrong things were on it. There was a nameplate saying Mike Selby where mine should be. I soon found out that they'd done it to everything. They've changed the name on my e-mail account and the telephone list among other things. My password still worked though and I logged into the computer. As I sat there I had some very odd thoughts. When I woke up yesterday I couldn't work out where all my clothes were. I had to go and buy some new work suits and everything to go with them. I could hardly find anything. That didn't make any sense and neither does this. Ten minutes later other people started to arrive and looked at me in a funny way. I ignored them. I turned back to the computer and started flicking through e-mails. Then someone came across to me and asked me where Mike is. "I'm sorry. I don't know anyone called Mike." "You're at his desk though." "His desk?" "That's right Miss?" "Oh, call me Marianne." "Can I see your pass please? I'm sorry but I don't recognise you." "Sure." I handed it over and he studied it for a second. He was about to give it back when he did a double take. "Ms. Marianne Selby?" "That's right." I said. He thought for a moment then he smiled. "So. He has a sister then? I wish he'd mentioned you before." "Who has a sister? I'm an only child." "Mike." "Mike who? I don't know the guy. Never heard of him. Now can I get back to work please?" "I'm going to have to ask you to come with me." "If these figures are late I'll be in big trouble." "Just stop typing and step into my office. We'll have a chat with the boss." He took me gently by the arm and marched me into his office. I sat down and waited for him to fetch my boss. This should straighten things out. A joke is a joke but it's going to get in the way of efficiency and that will never do. "Hi Ed. Can you tell these lunatics to stop kidding around?" I asked. "I'm sorry Miss but I don't know who you are." He replied. "How can you say that? Of course you know who I am. You invited me round for dinner next week. I just bought a new dress for the occasion. Why are you saying these things?" "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to get the police. This is all beyond me I'm afraid." He picked up the phone and I sat quietly waiting for them to arrive. I can't understand what's going wrong today. Chapter 3 Cathy The hospital smelled like they always do. The faint odour of antiseptic hung in the air and masked the more unpleasant smells that might well be floating around. As I walked to Pauline's room I heard various calls over the public address system. This hive of healing is very busy today. I suppose it's the same every day. Fluttering white coats passed me in the corridor as doctors hurried to their patients in response to the broadcast appeals. I was somewhat shocked when I saw her. I expected her to look worse than I remembered. She looks very weak. She only came in for more tests and she looked fine the other day. Maybe I'm imagining things. It could be the harsh white light in here making her look worse than she really is. "Hi Pauline." "Cathy. Thanks for coming to see me." "It's a pleasure. Just lie there and rest." She really does not look well. I won't mention it of course. When you're ill the last thing you want is people coming and telling you that you look awful. I hope she can rest and get better soon. "Cathy. I feel really tired. I don't know what's wrong with me." "What do the doctors say?" "They don't seem to know either. They just keep giving me more tests." "I'm sure they'll fix you up. They're very good these days." I sat and held her hand for a while. I couldn't help noticing the flowers on the bedside table and the elaborate vase they're standing in. "They're very nice." "Yes. They came with the room. They were delivered nearly as soon as I arrived." "I brought you some fruit. I'll leave it here on the table shall I?" "Thanks. I hope I'll be up to eating later." "I hope so too." We talked for a while and I could tell she was near to falling asleep. She needs her rest. I wanted to ask her if she's told anybody about our plan to get Selby but I don't think she's well enough. "Well goodbye then. I'll come back tomorrow." "Bye Cathy. It was nice to see you." I closed the door to her room behind me quietly. As I was closing the door I could have sworn I saw a faint glow from the vase. It has to be a trick of the light. I managed to get five minutes with one of the doctors. I got the impression he didn't really want to talk to me but I insisted. "Do you know what's wrong with her?" I asked him. "Frankly no. It's a mystery." "She looks much worse than when she came in." "Yes I know. We're trying our best." "She looks so weak." "Yes. We're trying to stabilise her condition but I have to admit it doesn't look good." "If she needs anything then please make sure she gets it. Oh and call me if anything changes. Please." "I'll do that. Goodbye." I gave him my card and walked out of the building into the fresh air. I don't feel very good. The doctor sounded very pessimistic about her. I could see him mentally swatting away malpractice suits. Yesterday I thought she'd be out of there soon but it doesn't look that way now. I hope she gets better. She's the one I like best among the four of us. The four conspirators. I wish we'd never started it now. Nothing's gone right for us since we did. Chapter 4 Marianne I sat in an interview room at the police station and repeated my story for the benefit of a couple of policemen and a tape recorder. I don't think the men were much more impressed than the recorder. When I'd finished my statement they sent the tape away to have it typed up and put in another tape for the interview. They asked me a lot of questions. Most of them I couldn't answer. I could tell they didn't believe me. "What's happened to Mr. Selby?" "I don't know." "Why are you in his home?" "I don't know about that. It's where I live." "Why has nobody in the building seen you before?" "I don't know." "Are you related to the missing man?" "Missing? I don't know who he is." They kept on firing questions at me. Every now and then they went into a huddle and conferred. After about an hour they decided to take a break. I had a few minutes to gather my wits again, such as they are right now. They brought the typed copy of my statement to me and I read it casually before signing it and handling it back. Then the questions started again. "How long have you known Mike Selby?" "Who?" "What were you doing in his house?" "I already told you. It's mine" "Why did you claim to know all those people this morning?" "I do know them. I've worked with them for years." After another half-hour of this they were beginning to get really exasperated. They were getting nowhere and they knew it. "What am I being charged with?" "We're working on it. It could be several things. You haven't exactly co-operated with us." "How can I? I don't know what you're talking about." "We'll let you have a think about things for a few minutes then we'll start again." During this second break a third officer came in waving a piece of paper. "It's sorted guys. I just heard from her doctor. Some foreign dude. Foreign name anyway." "What did he say?" "That she just got out," He tapped his head significantly several times. "He said she's being re habituated or something." "So she's got nothing to do with this guy disappearing?" "Her brother apparently. No. This doctor says the additional shock of that sent her back over the edge." He dumped the paper he'd been waving on the desk and left the room. "So Miss. I think it's probably best if you go back home and lie down. I must warn you that we may need to talk to you again. You should stay in town for the moment." "Yes, of course. I just feel so confused." "I'll get someone to drive you back." They returned my things to me and led me out of the room. So I'm supposed to be mad am I? Well I've got an ID card in my bag that says I'm not. I don't know this doctor either or what game he's playing. I think I'll play along with it though for a while. A ride home is definitely better than a night in the cells. Chapter 5 Cathy At the appointed time we returned to the shop in the run down district. Like before we all seemed to be in a subdued mood. I noticed Alicia carried a much smaller bag this time. I don't think she'll be trying the same trick again. I don't know about the rest of them but I couldn't help remembering our previous visit. It seems like ages ago but it was only last week. We'd been taken inside, downstairs to a little room to carry out our ritual of hate and set the curse in motion. It seemed so silly at the time. We all sat around a small table in near darkness. In the middle of the table a mirror sat, seeming to glow slightly. We'd linked hands and the man had told us to visualise the one we hated. To put our hate forward in our minds and let it flow out of us. To describe our hurts. To imagine him being brought to his doom. For fully fifteen minutes we sat there, united in our hatred and contempt. It felt slightly petty and unreal to me. It was only too clear that Alicia really did hate the most out of all of us. I could see Pauline looking unhappy for some reason. After our meeting we filed out quietly past the man. He just smiled smugly and asked us to come back. Tonight we were brought into the same room and sat around the table like the other time. "How is your friend?" He made the word sound like an insult. "She's still pretty ill. She can't be with us tonight." I told him. "So. We'll just have to make do." He mimed pulling a gun out of his pocket. He cocked his finger and pointed at Alicia, making shooting motions with his thumb. He started to laugh quietly to himself. "Look you fucker, just get on with it." She told him. She's always had a terrible temper. I wish she'd calm down and not jump headfirst into trouble. "Don't be in such a rush dear." He told her. "She's right. Just tell us what you want." I said. "To start with. I want the mirror back. One of you will get it and bring it to me." "To start with?" "That's right. I might have a few more amusing tasks for you if you don't screw this up." "How are we going to get it?" Julie asked. "That's up to you. Just do it." "What if we don't?" Alicia asked in a dangerous tone. "You will, if you know what's good for you." He got up from the table and walked around it. He laid his hand gently on each of our shoulders. When he came to me he caressed my neck. I felt sick. I wanted to be anywhere else than in a room with this strange, creepy, man. "You don't want to let me down." He told us all. When we were left our mood had worsened. We sat in the car for a while and argued about what we should do. Things got a bit heated but we couldn't see an easy way out. We decided to get the mirror back. That shouldn't be too difficult and it should be only marginally illegal. I got home to find a message from the hospital. Pauline had got worse again. The doctor sounded puzzled and worried. She just seems to be fading away and nobody knows why. Chapter 6 Marianne I woke up still feeling a bit strange. I dragged myself out of bed and got dressed. I thought about going out but I decided against it and watched some TV instead. A chime from the doorbell interrupted my viewing and I found a serious looking man on the doorstep. He seemed a little ill at ease but I let him in and got him a coffee. "I telephoned earlier. This is somewhat difficult for me Ms. Selby." He began. "Yes, doctor?" "Doctor Vetrano. I spoke to you last week." "I don't remember that. "No, you probably wouldn't. The thing is I know things about you that I ought to tell you. If I do it could make things worse." "Maybe you shouldn't tell me then." I said. "If I don't tell you then you may never make sense of what's happened." "Just a minute. About last week. Why don't I remember?" "Maybe I should start from the beginning. You'll have to bear with me for a little while." "I admit I'm curious but I'll try and contain myself." I told him. "Somewhere in this town is a man with great power to do evil. I have felt him before and run across some of his work. He delights in causing pain and suffering." "Sounds like my boss." "This isn't a joke Ms Selby. He exists. In times past entire communities would band together to hunt down such a one. These days, even in my old country in Eastern Europe, it doesn't happen. No one believes anything any more. Even the old legends have lost their power." "Don't tell me this guy is a vampire." I said. "No, not that. I simply meant that modern towns and cities are ideal places for evil to hide. No one believes in it so nothing stops them. They set themselves up and poison the lives of those around them." "You sound like you know what you're talking about. I guess you must know something about these people." "I have certain powers. I know they are insufficient to defeat the one nearby. I have not even been able to locate him so far." "Doesn't sound good." "No. I am disappointed by my failure but I still strive to seek him out. If we can shine a light on him then we can beat him back, for a time." "Very interesting. But how does it relate to me?" I asked. "Well. Sometime back you must have made some enemies." "Who?" I asked. "I don't know for sure. These people wanted to hurt you anyway." "And?" "They went to see this evil one. They made a deal with him. I don't know the details but the upshot of it was that he would use his powers to attack you." "And then?" "He got to you using a cursed mirror. This is where it gets hard to explain and difficult to know whether I should?" "Doctor. People keep claiming that I've gone mad and I'm half beginning to believe it myself. I need to know." "You're sure?" He asked. "Yes." "Very well. Perhaps it is best that you should know. Last week you weren't Marianne Selby. A cursed object was delivered to you and over the course of the week it transformed you. You were Mike Selby. That's why he's disappeared." "I don't believe it." I told him. "I know it's hard to take in but it's true. By the time it finished its work you were no longer the same person physically or mentally." "I just don't believe a word of it." "Very well then. Where is Mike Selby? How do you explain the events of this morning? Why do you seem to remember things but nobody remembers you?" I thought about it for a while. I felt uneasy. There are things that I can't explain. I don't know if I want to accept an explanation like this though. "I don't know. I have a feeling that something's wrong but I don't know what it is." I said. "I'm sorry. You can see why I wasn't sure what to tell you. You have to try and accept it, deal with it." He said. "Why can't I remember anything?" "It must be a side effect of the curse. It's tried to hide itself from you so you can't easily get help." "I'm not saying I believe you. Just suppose you're right. Can you help? Could it be reversed?" He paused for a moment before speaking. "I don't think so. I have studied long and hard on this and I don't know how it can be done. I am sorry." "Did I talk to you last week?" I wondered. "Yes. I tried to help you. You weren't convinced and I didn't realise the true danger fast enough. I'm sorry." "Don't be. I'm sure you did your best. What am I saying? I'm talking like I believe all this." "It might be important that you do." He said. "What do you mean?" "I mean that they might not be finished with you yet." "How did I get in touch with you in the first place?" I asked him. "Via a friend. She said she was very worried about you but wouldn't tell me why." "Who was it?" "Her name is Pauline Simmons." "I must talk to her then, see if see knows anything else." I pulled at his sleeve urgently. He looked at me sadly. "We must talk of other things I am afraid. There will soon be another move in the game and with your help we might just be able to claim a point." Chapter 7 Cathy The three of us convened a hasty conference when the news arrived. I invited the others over to my place. We were a very subdued gathering and nobody really wanted to talk. My heart felt heavy. A shadow seemed to have fallen on us. "I don't believe it either." I said. "You're telling me. She was sitting with us all only a week ago." said Alicia. "How did it happen?" Julie asked. "The hospital rang me. She died during the night. They still don't really know why. They think it might be one of those highly resistant infections." "Picked up in hospital?" asked Alicia. "It doesn't quite add up but I don't know what else to say." I told them. Julie looked like she was about to cry. She'd known Pauline better than any of us I suppose. "No fucking way," Alicia said. "She was as strong as any of us. I can't believe it." "None of us want to believe it. We all liked her. It's hard to take in." "The funeral is on Friday. I assume we're all attending." Everyone nodded and the mood around the table became even darker. Then I tried to steer the conversation round to the little job we had agreed to do. I didn't want everyone to start thinking about the strange timing of her death. I'm still thinking about it myself and I don't like it one bit. I think that maybe the old bastard killed her but there's no way to prove it. "I say we just go in there and grab it. If the bitch squeals we knock her out good." "Alicia. You are the least subtle person I know. You'd open bottles with a baseball bat." "What do suggest then? We knock on the door and ask her for it? 'Please can we have our magic mirror back?'" "Yeah. Exactly that. But with a bit of a story behind it and maybe three seconds of rational thought." I told her. "Fine. We'll try it your smart-ass way. But if doesn't work then I go in." "That's very reasonable of you." I told her. I really do wish she'd wise up a bit. You can't solve everything by beating people up and shouting. I need her to stay a little bit calmer. We all have to work together on this. Chapter 8 Marianne After my long talk with the Doctor I wasn't entirely convinced but I started to entertain the suspicion that some of what he told me might be true. I don't want to believe it all. I've decided it doesn't matter whether or not I believe the stranger aspects of the tale. I know who I am now and that's how I have to live. If there are people out there trying to get to me then I have to fight them. The rest can be sorted out later. I followed the first of his suggestions and telephoned the police. I had my "brother" officially listed as missing. That should direct some attention away from me. Thanks to my new learned friend they haven't charged me with anything. It looks like, legally at least; I'm off the hook for the moment. Eventually his insurance company will pay up and I'll be quite well set up. He'd certainly piled up a fair stack of money. I don't know what he planned to do with it but I shouldn't have to work quite as hard in future. I didn't have to wait very long to put the rest of his advice into effect. I heard the chime of someone at the door. I checked myself out in the mirror and went to open it. I saw a young woman in a severely cut business suit. Her hair was tied back and bunched up and she wore glasses. She looked the stereotypical part and if not for the Doctor I might have taken her at face value. I didn't invite her in. She fiddled with some papers she was carrying. "Ms, err Selby?" She asked. "Yes, that's me." "Ah. I'm so glad I caught you in. I'm afraid there's been a terrible mix up. I have some bad news for you." "I don't know what you mean." "I'm Catherine from the Gallery. You had a piece delivered recently." "Yes. I have it on the wall. It certainly adds to the ambience and character of the room." I said. "That's the problem. They messed things up. The item should have gone to someone else with a similar name." "Oh. How tragic. I can see how that could easily happen." Oh yeah. There must be at least five other people in the whole town with the same name. "And you see. Our client is very unhappy. Furious in fact. He wants his mirror and he's making a lot of trouble." "Oh. I wouldn't want you to go to any trouble." I said. "Yes, quite. Now would you be prepared to return it to us?" "Well I don't know. It doesn't really fit in with my decor but I have grown rather attached to it." "Oh we'll compensate you for your trouble. Shall we say a hundred?" "It looks very nice above the fireplace." I told her. "A hundred and twenty five?" "It does have so much character." "A hundred and fifty." "I suppose it would be unfair to deny your rightful client the pleasure of this wonderful thing. Just a moment and I'll fetch it." I went inside and took the mirror down. I put it in the packing I'd prepared for it. I returned to the door and handed it over. "I'm sorry. I didn't keep the original packaging." "That's not a problem. Thanks for being so helpful." She counted out the money and gave it to me. Then she started to turn away from me. "By the way. Which gallery did you say you were from?" "Ah, err, Thompsons. It's a small place. You probably won't have heard of it." "No. Sorry. I haven't. Goodbye then and be careful. You don't want seven years bad luck do you?" "Ha ha. No thank you. Goodbye now." I closed the door behind her. Whatever else you might say the Doctor is very clever. That was almost exactly what he predicted would happen. Chapter 9 Cathy Once again we sat in the darkened room. Though it's quite warm outside it always feels colder in here. I shivered involuntarily as the man looked us over. The mirror sat in the middle of the table, just unwrapped. It shone in the gloom with a faint unearthly light. I'm trying to think. Where have I seen that recently? "Very well done. A quiet job too." He picked up the mirror carefully and inspected it closely. "Not even scratched. Excellent." He gloated. My gaze wandered around the room. In this room the piles of junk were restricted to the edges of the room. I ran my eyes over the shelves and the objects sitting on them. I could see several things that looked like knives. I wonder what he does with them. My nervousness is making my mind wander a bit, trying to distract me from what might be coming next. I don't imagine any of us are going to enjoy paying the rest of his price. "Now. I'll tell you what you're going to do next." He said. I don't want to betray my nerves by standing up and walking around. My gaze flicked around the room again. It settled on a pile of books and papers for a second and then moved on. I noticed a half-burnt candle sitting on another shelf. I turned my head and saw a brief glint of light, like from the mirror. I turned back towards it. There it was. Half hidden behind some other things. I jumped up and grabbed it. "What's this?" I waved the crystal vase in the air. I'd seen it before. In a hospital room. "Put it down you fool." He told me. "You did do it didn't you?" I shouted. "It's a mistake." Said the man, angrily. Before he could continue speaking we heard a very loud crash. I got up and ran into the front room. Fragments of glass littered the floor. In the middle of them a large brick sat there, a piece of paper tied to it. I picked up the note and took it through into the back room. The man took it from me without speaking. He opened it. "It says 'Look behind the mirror'. You idiots! You've led them to my doorstep." "No fucking way. We were very careful." Alicia protested. "So how did they find me? No one can use magic against me without me detecting it. My power is supreme in this town." I picked up the mirror and turned it over. "I don't think they did use any magic." I pulled the tiny object from where it had previously been embedded in wax and passed unnoticed. A small transmitter by the looks of it. The man still looked furious. "So I am discovered. I will leave this place and set up a new base. Very inconvenient." "What about us?" "I've had my fun with you. I had more amusement planned but what the hell. I can find people like you anywhere." Alicia moved toward him with a dangerous look on her face. I made a grab for one of the knives on the shelf. "Fun? Yeah. Well let's see if you can find your nose after I knock it off." "Stupid woman. Didn't you learn last time?" He gestured and we suddenly found ourselves frozen in place. Then there was a bright red flash. When we recovered the man had disappeared. I searched but couldn't see any trace of him anywhere in the building. I noticed the lock on the door was still in place, along with the door chain. He hadn't left via that route. "He's gone." I told them. Chapter 10 Marianne The ceremony had been quite short. There were quite a few of her friends there and many tears were shed. I felt a bit like an interloper and I tried to keep a low profile. The Doctor came along with me and took my arm during the service. "He got clean away didn't he?" I asked him. "Yes my dear. I'm afraid it was only a very small victory. It's the best we could hope for. He's too strong for us to defeat, for the moment." "He's just going to do it again to other people." He looked very sad. "I imagine so. I just wanted to break his influence in this town, get him on the run for a while." "Then will you help me get him?" "I'm not sure we can, but I'll be happy to do my bit," He smiled. "Perhaps we can show the old country a thing or two?" I swore a solemn and probably unwise oath in memory of the woman who'd been my friend in a previous life. A life I didn't come away from with very much credit apparently. From what I hear I used to be a stubborn bastard. Well now I'm going to put some of that to good use. I'm going to track this guy down and then he's going to pay. For what he did to me, and to the others. I'm going to get him. I promise it. The End