All the characters, except Claire Brienne, are the property of TPTB. I'm only borrowing them, I'll give them back when I'm done. Promise! Claire Brienne is the property of my imagination. This story takes place somewhere in the Third Season, before LK. Special thanks to Heather Markle, my beta-reader. Justice Better Served by Rosemary Beard Copyright 1997 Parts 1-3 Claire's heart beat wildly as she ran in terror. She needed to find somewhere public, somewhere she could get lost in the crowd. If he caught up with her, he'd kill her. They had promised she'd be safe, how did James find her so quickly? Claire turned the corner and saw it. The sign above the door said "Raven". It was a small nightclub, but there would be people there. He wouldn't try anything there, not in front of so many witnesses. Pushing her way through the crowd in front of this little club, she gasped "Please, I must get through. He's going to kill me!" A pair of large hands reached out to stop her, but she managed to slip past them and rush inside. Claire heard the man behind her shouting, ordering her to stop. She turned to look back and ran right into someone standing not far from the door. She tilted her head back and found herself looking up into a pair of pale blue eyes. Claire opened her mouth to speak but before she could form the words, darkness closed in on her. She fell forward into his arms. ************************************************ Claire opened her eyes. Slowly she sat up and looked around. Sitting in a chair nearby was the man she had stumbled into. His pale blue eyes were studying her intently. His stare made her uneasy, as if he were looking straight into her soul. Claire looked back at him, trying to fake a courage she knew she didn't feel. "Who are you?" She demanded, "And where am I?" A smile slowly crossed his lips. "As to your first question, I am Lucien LaCroix. I own this establishment. You are in my office and this is the Raven." Claire breathed a sigh of relief, she remembered pushing her way in to the club. "How did I get here?" She asked. "I brought you here. My man at the door said you pushed your way in, shouting something about being killed. I had just come out of my office when you fainted into my arms," he said, his gaze still fixed on her face. "I carried you in here and put you on that sofa. " Lucien got up from the chair and crossed the room. Picking up a crystal decanter, he poured some of the contents into a glass and walked back to where Claire was sitting. "Drink this." he said offering her the glass. "What is it?" she asked. "Brandy. You've had a shock, it will help." Claire looked suspiciously at the glass. " I don't drink." she said. "Besides, how do I know what's in it?" "Trusting soul aren't we?" he said, his annoyance growing. "No need to worry. I'm not in the habit of poisoning people." Claire sat looking up into his face. She could see the anger in his eyes. Slowly she reached up and took the glass from his hand and sat looking at it. Lucien crossed the room and poured another glass of the liquid. Picking it up he downed it with one swallow. He turned and focused his gaze once again on the girl. Cautiously she lifted the glass to her lips and took a small sip. Claire felt her face flush. She wasn't used to drinking brandy, nor being stared at. Lucien walked to the chair opposite her and sat down. "I believe I am expected to be a polite host and make conversation." he said icily. "Suppose you start by telling me your name. You already know mine." "I am Claire" she said shakily, offering him her hand. "Claire Brienne." LaCroix made no effort to take her hand, he merely leaned back in his chair. "Who is trying to kill you?" he asked, his eyes holding hers. "And why?" Claire's eyes grew large. She set the glass on a nearby table and clenched her hands in her lap, debating with herself whether she should confide in him. Standing up she walked to the only window and looked out into the darkness. Every instinct in her told her to run. There was something frightening about this man. Why should she tell him anything? He was merely a stranger. Maybe she should just go to the police. Turning back to face him, she asked, "Can I trust you?" Lucien smiled. "That's hard to say. Maybe you shouldn't." he said, "But then how do I know you are telling me the truth? You may be nothing more than an errant wife who was caught by an irate husband. How do I know this wasn't something you staged so that you could gain entrance to this club." Rising from the chair he started for the door. "Either way, I'm a busy man. I don't have time for these games. I have a club to run. Now, if you will excuse me." He was growing bored with this mortal. Claire stood there, her anger rising. "Of all the conceited, overbearing, patronizing attitudes!" she shouted, "You, You...oooh!" Grabbing at the first thing she could find, she flung a statue at him. Lucien ducked and the piece of art sailed over his head and smashed into the door. Suddenly he was in front of her. She could see the look of amusement on his face, and this only served to fuel her rage. "Get out of my way!" she ordered, "I have to go. I won't trouble you any further." LaCroix looked down at her, taking in her features. She was small, the top of her head, covered in a riot of dark curls, barely reached his shoulder. Her eyes, a soft golden brown, were large and full of fire. He was reminded of a kitten, fluffed and hissing, trying to look menacing when faced with a larger adversary. He chuckled to himself. "This could be interesting." he thought, "Quite a change from the normal routine." The sound of his laughter frightened her, she felt trapped. Lashing out in fear, she swung at him. He caught her by the wrist before she could make contact. Her fear rising, she tried to kick him. He side stepped the blow and she found herself enclosed in his arms. "Quite a little fighter aren't we." he said, laughing out loud. Claire's arms were pinned to her sides as she struggled with him, trying to free herself. He was far too strong for her, she couldn't escape his grasp. An idea flashed through her mind, and she went suddenly limp. This movement caught LaCroix off guard, and in order to retain his balance he was forced to let her go. Claire seized this opportunity and bolted across the room. Claire stood there staring at him like a caged animal. She reached across the desk and grabbed a letter opener. "If you come one step closer," she sputtered, " I'll use this. I swear, I'll kill you." LaCroix looked at her. She wasn't like the average mortal female. This one had a fire about her that intrigued him. Raising his arms, he walked slowly to the sofa and sat down. "I surrender." he said, "Put that down and let's talk." Claire's first reaction was to run, to escape. She looked at him puzzled. Why had he given up so easily? Surely he didn't believe she was strong enough to do him any great harm. Was he just toying with her, wanting her to let her guard down? "Why should I trust you?" she asked him. "Because I can help you". he said. "Put that down and come sit and talk to me." His voice took on a deeper quality, resonating through her, willing her to obey. Claire looked at him. His eyes seemed large and compelling. "Put that down and come sit with me." he said again. Claire slowly laid the letter opener on the desk. She felt as if she were being drawn into his gaze. She took a hesitant step towards him and then stopped. "No" she said. "You're doing something to my mind. I won't." "A resister," he thought to himself, "This gets more interesting all the time." Smiling at her, he stood and reached out his hand to her. "Let me help you." he said. Claire was suspicious of this strange man, but she was tired. Tired of running, tired of being hunted like an animal. But could she trust him? Slowly she walked across the room and sat down. Lucien sat next to her. "I can't pay you." she said. "I don't need your money." Lucien told her, studying her face. "I have more than enough to sustain my needs. Let's just call this a favor." Claire stiffened. "A favor?" she asked. "Why would you do this for a stranger? What do you hope to gain?" "The thrill of the hunt", he said smiling, his eyes suddenly rimmed with gold. "The hunter becomes the hunted. I find that very exhilarating." Claire wasn't sure whether or not she should believe him. True, she needed help, but why should this man be so willing to put himself in danger? "Maybe I should just go to the police?" she said, rising from her seat. LaCroix reached up and lightly took hold of her arm. Looking into her eyes, he asked "Have the police been able to protect you? You are still being hunted, are you not?" Claire stood still for a moment. The police hadn't been able to keep James from finding her. She had moved five times in the last three years and he had found her every time. Maybe Mr.LaCroix could help her. She had to trust someone. She couldn't protect herself forever. "Alright." she said, still skeptical. "I accept your offer, but you have to be able to guarantee my safety. Can you assure me that he will not find me and kill me?" A wicked smile crossed his face. "Madam" he said, rising from the sofa, " I can promise you that James will not bother you again." Claire was puzzled. "How can you be so sure?" she asked. "You don't know James. He can make himself almost invisible. The police haven't been able to catch him. What makes you think you can?" LaCroix looked amused. Turning to face her, he smiled again. There was something about that smile that made Claire uneasy. She shifted in her seat, wishing she had never come here. She could just have easily gone into any other building. Why this one? And why had she agreed to this man's offer of help. So many things about this situation didn't make sense. Was he playing with her mind again? Claire couldn't be sure and it frightened her. Seating himself on the edge of the desk, he leaned toward her. "Tell me about this James of yours." "He isn't MY James!" she said angrily, "At least not any more. I was married to him once, but that ended years ago. He's evil. I really don't know why I married him in the first place, except I was young and stupid." Claire got up from her seat and began to pace nervously. "I never should have trusted him, but I believed him when he said he loved me. I was too naive. How was I to know he was a killer?" Claire turned and looked at Lucien. A look of guilt crossed her face. "I know what you're thinking. I should have found out more about him. I had only known him for a few weeks. He told me he was a representative for an import firm, she sighed. "But he was everything I wanted: excitement, sophistication. He traveled all over the world. I trusted him to be what he said he was." Claire walked to the window and looked out into the darkness. "I found out what he really was about 6 months after our wedding." Claire wiped away a tear that had made its way down her cheek. " We were in London. I was getting dressed to go sightseeing when the phone rang. I overheard James talking. It must have been the person who hired him. I didn't hear all of what he said but I heard a name. The next day they found this person dead. He had been murdered. At first I thought it was just a coincidence, but later when I was looking for James in his study, I found a stack of pictures" Claire reached into her pocket and took out her handkerchief. She was crying freely now. Wiping her eyes she continued, "On top of the pile was a photo of the man the police had found. I recognized his photograph from the one I had seen in the paper." Claire turned and walked back to the sofa. Sighing, she sat down and began twisting and untwisting the cloth in her hands. "I don't know what finally made me realize the connection, but I went to the library and began reading the back issues of the major newspapers from every place we had been. Each time, there had been a murder and each time it matched one of the photographs I had found in James' study." LaCroix knew that Claire was genuinely frightened. He could hear her heartbeat as it raced wildly in her chest. Her fear was almost intoxicating and only with the greatest of self control did he manage to restrain his baser instincts. Rising from his seat on the desk, he walked toward her and sat down on the sofa. "What did you do with this information? Did you confront him? Is this why he wishes to eliminate you?" Claire looked up into LaCroix's face. Her eyes were large and filled with tears. "I turned him in to the police." she whispered. "I know he was my husband and I owed him a certain amount of loyalty, but he's a hired assassin, a murderer. How could I be sure I wouldn't become his victim. I was frightened." Claire buried her face in her hands and began sobbing. His eyes were tinged with gold, his anger surfacing. He knew what it was to be hunted by someone you had once loved. He felt a rare flash of tenderness for this woman, who was obviously trying her best to cope with a situation gone completely out of her control. "The p-police," she sobbed, "The police promised to protect me. J-james was supposed to go to jail. S-somehow he m-must have bought out the jury." Claire raised her head and looked up at him, the fear in her eyes quite visible. "H-he was acquitted. A-and now he is after me. H-he's gonna kill me!" Lucien stood and walked to the window, his eyes now fully golden. He had terrorized his enemies when it became necessary, but this was senseless. Claire was no longer a threat to this man. This was the act of a coward, and cowardice was something he could not tolerate. He would teach this James the true meaning of terror. Walking to the door, he summoned Alma. He whispered instructions to her and then turned to face Claire. "Come with me." he said abruptly, "We will collect your things. You will be staying here until this matter is settled." "H-here?" asked Claire, "But I thought this was a nightclub." She wiped the tears from her face. "It is also my home. You will be under my protection here." Lucien informed her, matter of factly. "Y-your home? You want me to move in here? With you?" Claire's eyes took on a look of suspicion. "Sir, I can't do that. I don't know you. How can you even ask such a thing. I came here for help, not......." Lucien glared at her. "Madam," he said icily, " You assume too much. I have neither the inclination nor the time for what you suggest. Do you wish my help or not?" He was clearly annoyed. Claire was still not quite sure whether she should trust this man. He was offering her help, but at what price? She realized she didn't really have any options. Slowly she stood and walked to where he was standing. Drawing herself up with all the dignity she could muster, she looked up into his eyes. "I have no choice. I accept your offer. But I will not be used by you or anyone else. Until this 'matter', as you call it is settled, I will allow you to protect me." LaCroix smiled. "Allow?" he repeated to himself. She would allow him to protect her? Laughing softly he escorted her out the door and into the night. ****************************************** ****** The ride from her apartment back to the Raven was spent in silence. Claire stole a sideways glance at LaCroix. She wished she knew what he was thinking. His eyes darted warily, almost as a hunter seeking his prey. LaCroix had noticed a bronze colored car following them. He could almost sense the determination of its driver. Instinct told him that the man behind the wheel was a hunter, who having found his prey, would not be easily shaken off the trail. Lucien leaned forward and motioned for his driver to stop the car. "What is it? " asked Claire. "What's wrong?" She looked worried. Had they found her already? She took hold of the door handle and prepared to make a quick exit, as the car slowed and pulled over to the curb. "Nothing for you to be worried about." Lucien lied, "I forgot an errand I must do. I'll get out here and meet you at the Raven." He gave her a short, reassuring smile. "I shouldn't be too long." Lucien opened the door and got out. He motioned for the driver to continue on. As soon as both cars were out of sight he took to the air, following the suspicious vehicle. Claire's driver did his best to evade the other vehicle, but to no avail. It continued to follow them turn for turn. Reaching the Raven the driver pulled into an alley, opening the door to the private parking garage with the remote control. The driver of the bronze car slowed as he passed the club. He watched as they entered the garage. Once the door closed, he pulled away and drove to the nearest phone booth. The man's voice, almost a whisper, reported to his employer that he had found Claire and that the target would be eliminated by morning. Satisfied with himself, he hung up the phone and exited the booth. As he turned to walk back to the car, he found himself looking up into a pair of golden eyes. LaCroix grasp him by the throat. Lifting him high into the air, he growled, "Who hired you? Tell me who it was. I will not ask again." The man was frightened beyond words. "I, I don't know." he stammered. "It was just a voice. A man's voice. He gave me a name and told me to do the job. He transferred half the money to me from someplace overseas and I get the other half after the job is done." Lucien's grip tightened around the man's throat. " I don't know." the man screamed. "I swear, I don't know!" Lowering him back to the ground, LaCroix snapped the man's neck, as quickly and carelessly as one snaps a twig. The body slumped to the ground as LaCroix turned and walked away. ************************************************* Claire followed the driver from the garage into the Raven. Once inside Alma guided her to the room she would occupy during her stay here. Claire looked around. It was a spacious room with old fashioned furnishings. She walked across the plush carpet and set her suitcases on the large bed. She busied herself with unpacking and tried not to think about her situation. Claire slid the empty suitcases under the bed. She needed a shower and some sleep. Surely she must look disheveled. Picking up her hairbrush she began brushing her hair. She had forgotten to ask Alma about the bathroom. Claire walked out into the hallway and began opening doors. The first room was dark and empty. She closed the door and walked to the next. Just as she reached for the knob, a voice from behind her asked, "Looking for something?" Turning quickly she saw Lucien standing with his arms folded across his chest. "I was looking for a bathroom if you must know." Claire snapped. "Do you always sneak up on your guests? You gave me the fright of my life." "This way." he said, and led her back into her room. "That door leads to your bathroom." Lucien pointed to a door, half-hidden by a large armoire, "You only needed to ask. I can't have you wandering around the club. I have other guests and they value their privacy. In the future if you require anything, you will ask." Claire felt like a child being scolded. "Well if you hadn't left me alone, I could have asked you. You are supposed to be protecting me," she said angrily. "How can you protect me if you're not even here?" Lucien looked down at her. The spitting kitten had surfaced again. She may be frightened of him, but she wasn't going to show it. "You're right of course," he said, making an exaggerated bow. "By your leave, Milady." He grinned, and walked down the hall, leaving Claire staring at his back. Stomping her foot impatiently, she went back into her room and slammed the door. The sound of his laughter could be heard down the hallway as Lucien continued into the club. ******* He was laughing at her! Claire leaned against the door listening as his laughter disappeared down the hallway. She should have listened when her instincts told her not to trust him, to run. Sadly she walked over to the bed and picked up the robe she had casually tossed there, and walked toward the bathroom. She was too tired to fight him tonight. Tonight she would sleep. Tomorrow she would show him that she was not a child to be scolded. As she passed the wardrobe a flash of blue caught her eye. Suddenly she stopped, a smile slowly lit up her face. Claire hurried into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Humming softly to herself, she quickly stripped and stepped under the running water.