11 - ‘Come gentle night…’

Kemp lost track of the time as he watched everything going on in the club. When the band came on stage he listened avidly, soaking up the music. The singer was, in his opinion, fantastic. If he could ever be even half that good he’d be happy.

After the first beer he decided to switch to soda, not liking the faint buzz the alcohol had given him. He’d had beer before, always with the same results and had long ago decided it really wasn’t for him.

After the band finished its second set he suddenly realized that it was late, and dark outside. He pushed away from the bar, stopped long enough to tell Sinclair and a couple of the waiters he’d met that he was leaving and then walked out onto the noisy, crowded street.

“Yes!” he almost shouted, now that he could express his feelings at finding a job so quickly. He pumped his fist in the air causing a couple of tourists to move warily out of his way. I knew I was right coming down here. And soon I’ll be able to pay my own way, but damn, first I need to go shopping. Not tonight though, it’s too late.

Turning the corner he started up the street that led back to the B&B. As he walked he started humming one of the songs the band had played, almost skipping along to the beat of it, oblivious to everything around him.

“Well, well, what have we here?”

The harsh voice brought Kemp back to reality. Ahead of him stood two men. The one who had spoken smirked at his surprise. “Looking for us?”

Kemp’s hands fisted as he momentarily stood his ground. “Not really.”

“Now why don’t I believe that?” The man took two steps forward and Kemp whirled around, ready to run, only to find a third man behind him.

“Where’s your weapon boy?”

“Weapon?” Kemp was now thoroughly confused.

“I think they mean something like this,” someone said quietly from the shadowed entrance to a courtyard between two of the buildings. Something silver flashed momentarily as the man added, “Shall we take this somewhere less public, gentlemen?”

The tallest of Kemp’s three assailants nodded. “Two for the price of one, I like that idea.” He strode forward, grabbing Kemp’s arm to pull him into the gloom, his two compatriots right behind them.