The Crystalline Bandit

Part II

Wrin stood in the shadow of a building, her back against the brick wall, one boot heel propped on the surface behind her, so that her leg was nonchalantly held up by the side of the shop. She kept her head low, watching from the shadows as several men filed out from a building across the street. They laughed raucously, even though it was the middle of the night, and Wrin caught bits and pieces of their rough conversation as they walked toward her down the road. They were obviously inebriated, which could make her job easier, or could make it more difficult. It just depended on how things went.

Spiegel appeared silently beside her. "There's a narrow alleyway just down the street from here. They're going to have to take it to get to where they're going. It's probably our best bet for an ambush."

Wrin nodded and followed him down the street, careful to remain in the shadows of the buildings so the men behind them didn't see anything. Spiegel made a sharp right and led them into the narrow alley, which was darker than the exposed road had been. The only dim light came from some of the apartments overhead with occupants still awake.

Spiegel stopped about halfway down the backstreet and disappeared into a doorway, Wrin close on his heels. The door was closed, but there was enough room and cover afforded by the wide door frame that they both could hide in the shallow inlet from view of anyone entering the alley.

They stood in stillness, and the dark and quiet gave Wrin a moment to think of something other than the ambush they were planning. She realized that they were pressed quite closely together, as the doorway didn't allow much space for movement. Even with their backs pressed against opposite sides of the doorframe, their faces were still only inches from each other. She could feel Spiegel's gentle expirations on her face, even though his breath didn't make a sound, and smell the cigarette smoke that was constantly given off by his dark suit.

Their eyes met, Wrin could see the dark brown of his irises in the dim light from the overhead apartments. She looked away quickly as she heard voices reach the end of the alley, and turned her attention to her blaster, taking it from the holster at her hip, and cocking it quietly in preparation.

She held the blaster up in front of her lips, and her eyes once again met Spiegel's. He gave her a slight nod, and they both held completely still as the group of men, still laughing and yelling to one another, came down the alley toward them.

When they were about ten feet from the doorway, Spiegel placed a cigarette loosely between his lips and stepped out in front of them. Wrin remained perfectly motionless, staying hidden as she heard the men come to a shambling stop and one of them say, "Well, what's this then, lads?"

Her back was against the side of the doorframe closest to Spiegel and the group, so though she couldn't see what was happening, she could hear the exchange.

"Good evening, gentlemen. I was wondering if you might have a light?"

That was Spiegel's voice. Wrin held her breath as the men were silent, presumably searching for a light, and waited. A flare from a match lit up the alleyway for just a moment and then she heard one of the men swear as the match went out abruptly. "Hell, he's a bounty hunter."

She heard Spiegel take a few steps backward, toward the doorway, as the men advanced toward him. She could picture his hands up in deference, the lit cigarette hanging from his lips, as he said pleasantly, "Now, gentlemen. I'm not here to cause any trouble. I just needed a light."

"Bounty hunters are always out to cause trouble." It was another man, his voice deeper than the first, who spoke this time. Wrin could hear their footsteps advancing toward her as they pushed Spiegel further down the alleyway.