Good Deed Bad Deed

He got up quickly and helped her ease into it. She wound the silk scarf loosely around her neck and glanced up at Ben, wondering what would come next. He seemed to be hesitating, and Ana could tell he was thinking ahead, perhaps deciding how to play out the rest of their first meeting. When Ana picked up her handbag and tablet case, obviously anxious to leave, Ben knew he wanted to slow things down.
“We still haven’t decided on a time for the ‘real’ interview. I’m only in London for another three days. Then I’m expected at my parent’s country house for a scheduled period of questions and suggestions about my life.”
“Well, your tone of voice didn’t sound resentful, so I guess you don’t mind, or else you’re used to it.”
“No, they’re great. I don’t mind their efforts to micro-manage my life. I listen politely and then do as I please. And though they wouldn’t admit it, by now they know it goes in one ear and out the other. Actually, I think it’s a case of needing a periodic catharsis for all of their secret worries about their children. These few days of ‘advising’ will last them for months.”
Ben’s expression softened as he spoke of his parents, and although he wouldn’t have guessed, it gained him some points with Ana. As they headed for the door Ben stuffed a generous tip into the jar at the end of the bar, earning him a smile and a nod from the harried bartender. As they started through the doorway, Ben put his arm around Ana’s waist. She turned to him with a devilish expression and said, “No worries. I plan to make an exit that’s much more graceful than my entrance.”
Once outside, they paused under the portico and noticed that the rain had stopped. A chilly breeze carried the scent of wet pavement and an eclectic assortment of aromas from nearby restaurants. The sky was cosmos-dark, and stars peeked through the wisps of gray clouds that remained after the all-day rain.
Ben turned to her and asked, “Are you still cold? I’ll need to dash up to the street to get you a cab. Do you want to wait here or come with me?”
“I’m too cold to just stand here and wait. It’ll save time if I come with you. Remember, I won’t be able to keep up with your long legs. I have to tip toe around the puddles or these boots will be history.” Ana looked down and sighed. “They may be already.”
“Hold onto my arm for balance. And by the way, what possessed you to wear suede in this weather?” His laugh said that he was teasing, not criticizing.
“I travel light. It’s the only pair I brought. Guess we Americans don’t know English weather very well. Live and learn.” She slid her arm through his and said, “Let’s go.”
When they had made their way up the alley and reached the street, Ben stepped out to the curb to see if he could spot a cab approaching. He looked both ways and saw that the street was devoid of vehicles. At the same moment, a dark sedan came around the corner, tires screeching, slammed on its brakes, and stopped directly where he stood. A man jumped out, ran around the back of the car and lunged for Ben, startling Ana and causing her to yell for help. The man had a shaved head and wore a frayed leather jacket. He kicked at Ben with muddy motorcycle boots, trying to knock him to the ground. Ben momentarily lost his balance and the man grabbed his arm and violently twisted it behind his back. Ben cried out with pain, but managed to spin around, only to meet his assailant’s fist with his face. Ben fell backwards against the car, disoriented. As he rushed forward in another effort to fend off the attack, Ana once again screamed out for help.
In a brief moment of serendipity, a trio of robust-looking young men came lumbering up the alley from the pub. Seeing what was happening, and being full of beer and bravado, they willingly jumped into the fray. The driver of the sedan finally got out to assist in subduing Ben, leaving the engine running for a quick getaway. Ana felt helpless and terrified, but she immediately recognized the driver as the man whose conversation she observed while waiting in line for the restroom. The young men tackled the two assailants. The largest of the three pounced on the man with the shaved head, and the other two took on the other. Both men were pushed to their knees and then face down on the sidewalk, while their arms were held behind them, ready for handcuffs. Ben was still staggering from the blow to his face, but had tried to join the fight. They told him to stay back, and Ana ran to his side.
There wasn’t a policeman in sight, so without handcuffs or weapons, they had only two choices: They could stay and continue struggling with their prisoners while a bystander called 999, but the two would continue trying to free themselves; the other choice was just to release them and send them on their way. Evidently, the young threesome felt they had given enough of their time, so they released the assailants, kicked each of them in the ‘arse,’ all yelling expletives, and watched them jump into their vehicle. As quickly as they had come, they were gone, the dark sedan screeching away on the wet street and disappearing into the night.
The huskiest of the three took Ben squarely by the shoulders and asked, “What in hell did you do to piss them off?” His buddies chuckled and slapped each other on the back. “Are you all right, mate,” he asked, his tone now serious. “Do you need an ambulance?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. No ambulance needed,” he said, showing a bit of bravado himself. He reached up to wipe the blood from his chin.
Ana