The Musician | Marcel Gerard

Chapter Three

 Marcel went back the next day to find the woman in the exact same spot. He stopped and tossed some coins into her hat. She looked up at him and sighed.

 "You're back, huh?" she asked.

 "You don't seem very happy to see me," he remarked.

 "No, it's not-well, you are a handsome man, Mr. Gerard. And I appreciate your donations. I'm just surprised at your interest in my music."

 He shrugged. "Well, not many things interest me these days, so I just want to enjoy this one. I was wondering, though...how do you know my name when I'd never even seen you until about a week ago?"

 "Like I said, you're quite the name around here. If you must know, the name's Vera. Vera Jones."

 "No, I feel like there's more to it than that," Marcel said. "You know exactly who I am, don't you?"

 "Look, this isn't the time or the place to be having this discussion," Vera said. "So if you would kindly move along."

 "Then when can we talk?" Marcel asked. "When's your quitting time?"

 "Usually around six."

 "I'll be here," Marcel said quickly. "That's a promise."

 "What if I leave early?" she asked.

 "Then I'll just search the city until I find you."

~~~~~~

 Vera decided to leave at five instead of six, just to experiment. If Marcel Gerard did show up at six like he said he would, she would already be long gone. 

 She walked home as quickly as she could. For the past year, she had been renting out the little apartment above one of the local bakeries. The owners had been kind in letting her stay, and didn't charge her too much rent for the apartment. Hopefully, Marcel Gerard didn't even know the place existed. He probably had plenty of other things to be worrying about, like his underground supernatural empire that so many poor citizens of the city never even knew existed.

~~~~~~ 

 Marcel Gerard arrived at six, just as he had promised. And, just like he had already presumed, Vera Jones had taken off. He sighed, looking around the area. There was no sign of her anywhere.

 He understood that she was suspicious of him at first; he hadn't exactly been subtle in coming around. But that look on her face when he told her his name. She knew exactly who he was, and he got the feeling she was afraid of him. And he had the intense urge to know why. 

 Marcel went to go find Thierry; he was always helpful whenever Marcel needed it.

 "I need you to help find someone," he said. "And it's important."

 Thierry raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

 "Yes. Why?"

 Thierry raised his hands. "Nothing. It's just that you haven't been too interested in anything recently. So, who is it?"

 "I need the address of one Vera Jones. There's something I think I need to discuss wih the young lady."