Front Man: One Night in Paris Read Online Free PDF Page B

she could just lay hands on him. Sara checked her cell phone for the hundredth time, hoping against hope that he was back in the warmth of the hotel room wondering where she was. No new messages.
    Passing the museum, Sara found herself at the entrance to a magnificent park. In the distance she could see the imposing structure of the Arc de Triomphe, and further, the tip of the Eiffel Tower standing tall against the skyline. Even in her anxious state, Sara felt overwhelmed by the beauty of the city. Surely Jack must have felt it too as he walked the streets. Sara hoped it had offered him a little comfort. She quickened her pace as she made her way down the wide central promenade. It was growing late, and the city's crowds were thinning out. Suddenly, Sara felt alone, and more than a little uncomfortable. A shadow made her start, but it was only a statue, partially concealed by the ornate shrubbery. Sara sighed and hurried on. A little way ahead, she could see a crowd of young men loitering underneath one of the metal lamp posts that flanked the path. Sara pulled her coat tighter around herself and tried to walk casually as she passed them. She had just put them behind her when she heard a wolf whistle, and some rough sounding French that elicited a laugh from the rest of the group. Then all of a sudden, Sara felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder. As she whirled round, she saw that they had formed a semi-circle around her. The lit ends of their cigarettes glowed in the gloom. 
"Please...I'm just looking for someone," Sara stuttered, unnerved by their predatory expressions. They were probably younger than her, some still bearing teenaged acne across their tanned cheeks, but there was something threatening about them nonetheless. The ringleader snaked his arm around her shoulders, and said something unintelligible in her ear, gaining another laugh from his friends. Sara could smell alcohol on his breath. She tried to pull away from him, but he grabbed her arm, his fingers biting into her soft flesh with such force that she cried out. Sara looked around frantically, desperate for someone to come to her aid, but all of a sudden the vast park seemed deserted. She cursed herself for being so stupid, wandering around by herself at night. Another man was approaching her now, saying something to his buddy, a sickening grin on his face. Sara reached slowly into her coat pocket, trying to find her wallet, hoping that the remainder of her cash would convince them to leave her alone. She tried to stay calm, to keep her breathing steady, not to give herself over to the panic she could feel building. Then, like a light in the darkness, a voice rang out.
    "Hey! Leave her the fuck alone!"
    Sara turned her head to see a dark shape running towards them. The ringleader reflexively loosened his grip on her arm, and she wrenched herself away from him, running as fast as her shaking legs could manage. The voice came again,
"That's right, run! Get the hell out of here!" Not wanting to look round to see if the thugs had responded to this request, Sara ran helplessly towards the voice, and collapsed shaking into the stranger's arms.
"Hey, you ok there? You're safe now, don't worry. Bunch of jerks." The voice was American. Familiar. Comforting. Sara looked up.
"I was looking for you." There was a moment of silence as they took each other in."Looks like you found me." Jack wrapped his arms around her and pressed her close to his chest.
     

***
     
    Huddled on the bench, Sara clung to Jack's arm, unwilling to let go of him even for a second.
"Sara, I'm so, so sorry. I've dragged you out here and now you almost got hurt...thank god I got there in time. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened..."
    "Nothing happened. I'm fine. I'm just worried about you. What on earth's going on Jack?"
"Don't you read the papers?"
    "Yeah, I do. Now tell me what really happened."
    "Oh Sara. It's a long story."
    "Well I spent eight hours on a plane