Chapter 8

"I don't know where to meet them exactly," said Garrett while he and Lewis were walking briskly on their way to a nearby port on a night full of street lights in the City of London. He was carrying the red jacket he used for disguise yesterday, planning to do the same for the "performance" tonight.

"Worry not," Lewis replied. "We just have to look for the boss and a number of his men on a port, not to mention Ms. Thomas. Or you can just ask for one of them nearby. You should change coats now."

Garrett changed jackets with Lewis holding onto the former's. Garrett said, "I'm gonna ask one then."

"I'll follow you."

Lewis stood by while Garrett spotted an Untamed thug and approached him.

"Heard of the boss's performance?" Garrett asked the thug.

"I did.." the thug replied. "Matter of fact, I'm about to go there. You should come with me."

Lewis saw the two walking beside each other and then tailed them.

While following them, he suddenly bumped into someone reading a book.

The book fell and pages that came out of it were spreading on the ground. Lewis hurriedly helped the old man who looked to be in his fifties pick up the book and its pages.

"No one looks where they're going in this city!" The man exclaimed.

"My apologies," Lewis apologized. "I'm surprised you can still read at this time. Perhaps the street lights are brighter than I think."

He got the pages and gave them to the man. When he saw the man's face and short but wavy hair, he realized this person would do the same thing as he would do: strolling around London.

"You... you're that man... I often see you on my strolls."

The old man replied, "The same can be said about you, young man."

Lewis realized the situation he was in and snapped out of it. "Oh, I'm very sorry mister, but I should get going."

"You must be in a hurry, yes. Should you want to hear tales, you can find me at places with warm ale. Off you go then."

The man then went off walking and Lewis did the same, hoping he did not lose track of Garrett. He thought of the pages he caught a glimpse of. They contained paragraphs of character names and dialogues.

He assumed the man was a fellow writer. Perhaps both had one thing in common.

Lewis was able to catch up and follow Garrett and it looked like they were about to reach a port in the same city. The nearer they were, the fewer the people. It was a port after all. Full of barrels, boxes and cranes.

Many Untamed men were already at the port preparing for the "performance." Most of them were patrolling. Lewis went to the nearest barrell to hide himself and scanned the whole area.

The number of the Untamed was already overwhelming. Lewis guessed they were really looking forward to the event. Then he spotted a carriage, assuming Beatrice would be inside.

Meanwhile, Garrett was welcomed by a few thugs and the boss himself.

"Ah, so you have come here," the boss greeted Garrett. "You really must have looked forward to this."

Garrett replied, "Course, boss."

The boss ordered him, "She's inside the carriage. Bring her out."

Garrett heeded the instruction and went to the carriage.

He opened the carriage and he saw Beatrice, the same woman he saw yesterday at the stronghold. This time, she had her mouth covered with cloth.

The traumatized Beatrice repeatedly shook her head in hopes of avoiding another misfortune. Garrett held her hands and neared himself to her.

"Don't worry," he whispered. "We're copping you out of here. Just play along."

Beatrice looked at Garrett with surprise. Although she did not want more of what she had gone through, she never expected someone would actually rescue her.

Garrett pulled Beatrice out of the carriage. The thugs made noises of cheers when she got out. The boss was very happy to see her out of the carriage too.

Garrett, after bringing her to the center, shoved her down to the ground. The men cheered louder. He stepped back as he completed the boss's order.

"Well done," the boss commended while looking at Garrett. "Men..."

It did not sound right yet Garrett was oblivious to it.

He suddenly felt a hard kick from behind, putting him on his knees. Two thugs held both of his arms to keep him down.

Afterwards, the man kicked him again, this time pinning him to the ground. His torso was planted to the ground and his arms were in the air while being held by two men.

The boss approached the restrained Garrett and bent his knees to speak to him.

"I received reports from my men that you invaded one of my properties in my borough and stole my letters. Ah, yes. There were two of you. Where is he now?"

Garrett was enraged by the sudden turn of events. He wiggled his body in an attempt to escape from the thugs. He angrily answered the boss, "I ain't tellin' you where he is!"

It was unexpected. So unexpected that Lewis, who was watching behind the barrel, was totally flabbergasted.

A barrel of pistol came in contact with the back of his head out of nowhere. Impulsively, he turned around from that direction and saw two thugs. "Get up!"