Jekyll & Hyde Inc.

Some time later, to Daniel’s surprise, Tina suddenly leaned forward and rapped imperiously on the partition between them and the driver. When he reluctantly glanced back at her, Tina brusquely ordered him to stop the cab. The driver was so eager to be rid of his passengers he slammed on the brakes and brought the cab to a very abrupt halt. Tina threw the door open while the taxi was still rocking back and forth and got out, not even glancing back to see if Daniel was following. He clambered out of the cab, taking his time to make a point, and saw that they’d stopped next to a tree-lined path overlooking the River Thames. Tina glared at the taxi driver.

“You. Stay here, while we go for a little walk. When we come back, you can take us the rest of the way.”

“You have got to be kidding,” said the driver. “I’m not hanging around here while you make up your mind what you want. I’ve got other fares waiting.”

He was doing his best to sound calm and determined and not at all troubled by the two Hydes, but he wasn’t fooling anyone. Tina leaned in close to the driver’s window and fixed him with a hard look.

“You. Stay here, while we go for a little walk. Or there will be trouble.”

“Hell with this,” said the driver.

He slammed the taxi into gear, but Tina had already pulled the door open. She reached in and ripped out the driver’s seat belt, tossed it carelessly to one side, and then grabbed hold of the driver and hauled him bodily out of the cab. His loud protests gave way to screams as she dragged him across the leafy path to a set of iron railings, and then lifted him up and threw him into the Thames. Daniel hurried over to stand beside her and look down at the river, feeling just a little relieved when he saw the driver swimming strongly for the bank.

It had all happened too quickly for Daniel to intervene, but he wasn’t entirely sure he would have if he could. The driver had been very rude, when all his instincts should have told him that was a really bad idea. Daniel turned to Tina to make some kind of comment, and found she was already striding off down the path. As though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. And perhaps for her, it hadn’t. Daniel sighed, shook his head, and went after her. If only to see what she’d do next. Tina didn’t even glance at the Thames, just stared straight ahead. Daniel quickly caught up and moved in beside her, and then strode along in companionable silence as he wondered what to say.

“Why did you want to stop here?” he said finally.

“I needed somewhere quiet,” she said, still not looking at him. “Somewhere I could think.”

Daniel nodded. He was sure he was picking up some kind of vulnerability behind the brisk words. Something very much at odds with her usual determined exuberance. He decided not to press the point, just for the moment, and walked along beside Tina, giving her time to decide whatever it was she needed to say. She did slow her pace a little, which made it feel a little less like she was trying to put something behind her.

The early hours of the morning lay sprawled across London like a comforting blanket, tucking the city in so it could sleep peacefully. The whole setting seemed very quiet and very peaceful, with hardly any traffic passing by, and not another pedestrian to be seen anywhere. As though Daniel and Tina had the river walk and the night all to themselves. A light breeze came gusting down the path, playfully tousling their hair. The trees suddenly fell away behind them, and streetlamps dispensed pools of gentle golden light interrupted by periods of darkness, so that Daniel and Tina were constantly walking out of the light and into the dark, and then back again. Their footsteps sounded slow and deliberate, as though they knew what they were doing. It all seemed peaceful enough, but Daniel didn’t think Tina had stopped the cab just so she could take the air and enjoy the atmosphere. She didn’t seem to be paying any attention to the sights and sounds of the night. Instead, her head was bowed and her gaze was turned determinedly inward.

More time passed, and she still hasn’t said anything, so Daniel decided he’d better make the first move, and get the ball rolling.

“Are you having second thoughts?” he said carefully. “About us?”

Tina shot him a quick look, accompanied by a smile that came and went before he could decide what kind of smile it was.

“This isn’t about us. And it’s definitely not about you, so stop worrying. It’s about the Frankenstein Clan.”

“You’re having second thoughts about what we did there?” said Daniel.