By Gen X
The steamy sounds of jazz trickled out of the club. The sensuous cadence billowed on the smoky air trickling outside, filling the street with rhythm.
"So," Dick started to ask. He picked Barbara up and twirled her around. "Where shall we gallivant off to next?"
She giggled. The cool air whipped around her, tossing the fiery looks. "Gallivanting, eh?"
"Or meandering, wandering, heading, destined for." He stopped with a smile, keeping the nonsense to a minimum.
"Thesaurus boy knows some big words. So you want to know what we're destined for. Thinking long term aren't you now?"
Dick blushed. "I didn't mean it like that."
"Pity."
The coupled walked down the darkening street. A soulful melody followed them in their journey. They walked in comfortable companionship, content not to pursue the discussion of a deeper commitment. The street was serene and almost picturesque. The narrow alleyways were a mar. The darkened corners were perfect for...
Barb gasped as a calloused hand wrapped around her wrist. She was tugged out of the light and into the darkness. In the brick enclosure there were three of them. The one that had grabbed Barbara had been the largest. The other two sought to look impressive in light that was not quite dim enough to hide their identities.
The standard threats and demands had just been given out. That was when everything got crazy. The two idle men advanced upon Dick. Just as they did so, Barbara spun away from her assailant, her purse slipping at the sudden movement. When she completed the turn, Barbara took the opportunity to elbow the same man in the small of the back.
Surprised but not hurt, he lunched at her one again. A few minutes later, he'd be unable to figure out what had gone wrong. He'd been heading towards the red haired spitfire, but the next thing he could recall was pain. Enough so, that it left him headed in the other way.
It was all she could do to defend herself. And not bad at that. As she lifted her purse from the ground, she missed the gun that was being drawn. Missed the hammer being cocked. Missed the trigger being pulled.
Missed the bullet.
She saw a flash. Heard a shot. Saw a blur. Heard a thud.
Time speed up. The attackers running away. Blood streaming out.
"Dick!"
Numb fingers dropped the purse, just as Barbara hit her knees. The blinking streetlight went out. And the somber croon of jazz continued on.
fin