“Lower your guns, men,” ordered the guard who held the squirming boy. He motioned to Jordan and Allison to step closer. “The boy says he doesn’t have it.”
Allison growled. “You don’t expect him to say he does, do you? I saw him lift it right out of my friend’s pocket.”
The guard laid his musket on the ground and made a quick search of Peach. He found the article in question in his pocket. “This what all the fuss is about?” He threw it at Jordan who caught it and examined it.
“This is it,” he said angrily.
His statement brought fresh denials from Peach. “He’s lying, sir! That timepiece belongs to my sister. He took it from her. I was trying to get it back. There’s an inscription on it. Says, ‘George.’ He was my father. He willed the watch to my sister, Francine.”
“If you believed that, you’ll believe anything!” Jordan said.
“Didn’t say I did. The kid could have read it.”
“Then give us the boy so we can turn him over to the constable,” Allison said. Jordan and Peach tensed, waiting for the guard’s reply. They were prepared for either a yes or a no. No would be easier.
“No. You have the watch back,” said the guard. “If you two hadn’t been drinking so much he wouldn’t have been able to take it.” It was obvious to him now the men had just come from a tavern. They reeked of ale ten paces off. “Get out of here and don’t come back. You’re lucky you weren’t shot.”
“What are you going to do with the brat?” asked Jordan.
“I’ll send him on his way when I know you’re not waiting to grab him.”
“Have it your way.” Allison turned to go. “Hope he doesn’t pick your pocket.”
When Jordan and Allison were out of sight the guard released Peach. “That was a stupid thing to do.”
“I’m telling you the timepiece belongs to my sister, sir,” Peach said, wiping his tear-stained face. “She was furious when they took it. Says the streets aren’t safe for anyone these days.”
“How long ago did this supposedly happen?”
“A few hours ago. We were on our way home and she was checking the time and all of a sudden she didn’t have it any more. They grabbed it right out of her hand! I told her I was going to get it back. She begged me not to.”
“You didn’t listen very well.” He was beginning to believe there was some truth to the boy’s story.
“I know. I hope she doesn’t come looking for me. If she sees those men she’ll scratch their eyes out.”
“You make your sister sound like quite a tiger.”
Peach laughed, enjoying himself. “She is. Blazing golden eyes and—”
He never finished. The guards all jolted to attention as Alexis’s piercing scream reached their ears.
“That’s her! That’s my sister!” Peach was frantic. “She must have seen me leave the house!” He started to bolt in the direction of the screams but he was stopped.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have to go after her. They might hurt her.”
“C’mon, Davis. John. It seems tiger lady got herself in a bit of trouble.” He turned back to Peach. “What’s your name, son?”
“Peach. Albert, really, but everyone calls me Peach.”
“Well, Peach, we’ll help your sister. You wait inside. Matt’s in there. Tell him where we’re going. We’ll have your sister back in no time at all.”
“And what belongs to her,” Peach called as he ran past them into the building.
The three men started running toward the screams. They were joined by two more guards who heard the same thing. In the darkness they almost stumbled over Alexis who had ceased her cries and was now sobbing uncontrollably on the ground. The five men circled around her and she looked up. She tried to move away, her eyes filled with terror.
The three guards who heard Peach’s story were immediately certain he had spoken the truth. Even at night those eyes flashed flecks of gold.
