CHAPTER FIVE
Jack and Gabrielle enters Jack’s room, both laughing from a story Jack told her about his time on the ship to Europe.
"So they all thought it was rats nibbling on the bread and it turns out to be a mere boy?" Gabrielle laughs.
"Yes. It was quite amusing the looks on their faces. The boy of course had no friends or family, so I shared my cabin with him."
"That was very kind of you," Gabrielle nods. "Reminds me of myself. Here I am intruding on your space because no rooms are available."
"It’s no problem Gabrielle. There’s plenty of room," Jack laughed. "Just sleep well and we’ll think of what your next move will be."
"Ok. Night Jack."
"Night Gabri."
"Gabrielle."
"Ok Gabri," Jack smiled, knowing that the short version of her name irritated her.
"Fine John!"
*
For the next two weeks Gabrielle and Jack became good friends and were practically inseperable. They told each other little secrets and big secrets as well. Jack shared how he had once stolen a loaf of bread when he had first come to paris penniless and without a home. Gabrielle too revealed her biggest secret, one that amazed and amused Jack because she got around so well. She had only one leg. She was born that way she had said and told him not to treat her any differently then he did when he thought she had two.
It was two weeks before Gabrielle got a visit from the feared Jonesy, looking for his woman and his money.
Jack was setting on his chair, sketching the nude Gabrielle layed out on his bed, his main focus of course was her hands. He couldn’t get enough of drawing them. They were the most loveliest hands he ever saw, so naturally expressive. Jack finishes up when there’s a loud banging on the door.
"Come on out Gabrielle! I know you’re in there!" a rough booming voice yells.
"Oh no," Gabrielle gets up and slips on her robe.
"Who’s that?" Jack asked, staring at the door, not sure if he should open it or not.
"Jonesy. My…keeper you can say. He’s found me," Jack notices the look of fear that appears in her eyes and becomes determined. There was no way in hell he was going to allow this Jonesy person to harm Gabrielle in anyway. She was his friend and deserved some protection.
"Don’t worry. Everything will be alright," Jack reassured his friend. "Just let me open the door and handle it."
She only nods, hoping that she didn’t get Jack in too much trouble.
"Where is she?" A tall burly man pushes pass Jack once he’s opened the door. "I know she’s here! The clerk downstairs said she was!"
"Who are you looking for?" Jack calmly asked.
"Gabrielle! My girl! Where
is she? You better not lie to me!" The man pulls out a
revolver and points it at Jack’s chest. "Now where is
she!"
"I’m here Jonesy. Don’t hurt Jack. He was just
being kind to a stranger. That’s all," Gabrielle steps
out of the closet she had chosen to hide in. She wasn’t
going to come out, but once she saw Jonesy pull that revolver out
on Jack, she couldn’t remain hidden. Jonesy was crazy. He
would kill Jack just because he couldn’t have her.
"Gabrielle what are you doing?" Jack asks, his eyes wide in fear for her. There was no telling what Jonesy would do to her.
"I can’t let him hurt you Jack. If he wants me, here I am," Gabrielle shruggs, not taking her eyes off her pimp.
"Come on Wench!" Jonesy grabs her arms and begins pulling her towards the door.
"No Jonesy no! I’m not going back with you!" Gabrielle protests, trying to pull away from him.
"What was that wench?! Did you dare talk back to me?! Talk back to this," Jonesy takes his fist and punches her so hard that she flies back against the wall. "Now You’re coming with me and there’s going to be no argument."
Jack immediately comes to Gabrielle’s defense. He grabs Jonesy’s revolver hand and forces him to drop the gun which skitters across the floor right next to Gabrielle who was holding her face.
"You little punk! I’ll teach you to get between me and my property!" Jonesy grabs Jack by the throat and forces him against the wall. Jack struggles to losen the man’s tight hold, but it’s no use. He soon finds himself beginning to lose conciousness, his lungs beginning to burn from the lack of oxygen.
"No!" Gabrielle screams and looks for a weapon. She couldn’t let Jonesy hurt Jack. The kind artist was just trying to help her. He didn’t deserve to die because of his kindness to a prostitute he knew nothing about. She spots the gun and immediately grabs it. "Jonesy let him go!" Gabrielle shakedly points the gun at her ex-pimp.
"Shut up whore!" Jonesy yelled, tightening his old on Jack’s throat.
Gabrielle and Jack both jump in shock as the gun goes off as Gabrielle pulls the trigger. Jonesy’s eyes become full of shock and disbelief, a little bit of respect also shone in his eyes as the life poured out of them. Five seconds later he’s in a dead heap on the floor, Jack too is also on the floor catching his breath.
"Did I do that?" Gabrielle asked in shock.
"You sure did," Jack nods and checks for a pulse on the fallen man. "He’s dead. You killed him."
Gabrielle’s eyes widen in horror. "Oh no! Jack I didn’t mean to honest! I just wanted to hurt him so he’d stop hurting you!" Gabrielle exclaimed in terror. "I’m not a murderer!"
Jack goes to her and pulls her into a hug. "Shhh Gabrielle. I know you’re not a murderer. It was self defense. The police will understand."
"Police? Oh Jack no! I can’t go to the police! They’ll throw me in jail and throw away the key!"
"Gabrielle, we have no choice. If we go to the police now and tell them what happened, they’ll believe us. But if we don’t and they find the body and trace it back here…they won’t believe a thing we say. Going to the police now is the right thing to do."
Gabrielle sobs and looks down at the ground. Jack was right, but she was so scared. Not only of the police, but of Jonesy’s friends and other employees. The girls will definitely be out for her blood. Jonesy was their means of survival and she’s taken that away from them.
"Jack…how about Jonesy’s friends and employees? They’re going to be out for our blood for this," Gabrielle sniffs.
"We’ll just have to get you on a train out of Paris then now won’t we? I have a little saved. I can get you tickets out of that."
"Ok. Fine. We’ll go to the cops," Gabrielle sighs in defeat.
Five days later…
Jack and Gabrielle stand facing each other at the trainstation, knowing that this may be the last time they ever see each other again. They had gone to the police and the police believed their story and allowed them to go free. Gabrielle was going to try to stay in paris with Jack, but changed her mind when Jack had to once again rescue her from one of her ex-coworkers trying to strangle her. So Jack had made her reservations to go to Cannes, far away from Paris.
"I’m going to miss you Jack. You’ve been my knight in shining armor," Gabrielle hugs her friend tightly. "I don’t know how I’m ever going to thank you for all you’ve done for me."
"Take care of yourself.
Ok. Make each day count and be careful."
"I will. Good-bye Jack," Gabrielle pulls away from the
hug, tears streaming from her eyes as the horn blares for
it’s last boarding call.
"Good-bye Gabi," Jack smiled teaseingly just to get a playful punch in the arm.
"See ya John," Gabrielle waves heading for the train.
Jack stood and watch the train disappear into the distance and sighs sadly. He was going to miss her, she was his best friend here in Paris, but he knew this was for the best. Maybe someday, they’ll meet again. Sighing he turns and heads back to the artist hostel.