But before Arsene could swing it again Ben leapt forward and plowed his fist into the man’s bulbous nose. The impact took the heavy man right off his feet and he fell onto his back with a loud thump. Ben staggered and went down on one knee as reaction set in from the blow to his head. Arsene rolled over and scrambled out the door on hands and knees cutting himself on the broken glass in his haste. Blood was gushing from his flattened nose. He pushed himself up and hobbled away as quickly as he could.
Ben watched him go. He pushed himself to his feet then turned to Richard. “Did you get that?”
The man with the phone was wide eyed and shaking. He nodded and handed the phone back to Ben who saved the movie. He sent a copy to his online storage immediately.
While he was working on the phone Richard stepped closer. “You’re bleeding!”
“What?” Ben asked.
“Your scalp. It’s bleeding!” he explained.
“Badly?”
Richard looked closer. He pulled his phone from his pocket and made a quick call. He spoke rapid French to someone and hung up. “Henry is on his way with his suture kit. He was a doctor before he retired. Let’s get that cleaned up.”
“We have to let Stephanie know we’re ok,” Ben said.
“Right. You go sit in the kitchen while I get Stephanie,” Richard instructed and Ben did as he was told. There was a small table for three against one wall and he pulled out a chair and noticed he had blood dripping down his chest. Probably from his scalp wound.
He heard an odd warbling sound and realized it was probably the police. Faster than he expected but that was a good thing.
Richard stepped back into the kitchen with Stephanie holding his arm.
“Ben?” she called out.
“Here.”
She turned towards the sound of his voice and approached.
“Careful, I’m kinda covered in blood,” he warned. She stopped and gasped.
“Arsene’s?” she asked.
“No, mine. He clocked me on the head with his walking stick and cut me. Scalp wounds tend to bleed a lot,” he explained calmly.
“Arsene’s blood is all over your front hallway. Ben crushed the man’s nose. I swear there was nothing left of it! I’ve never seen anyone get hit that hard!” Richard gushed.
“POLICE!” shouted a voice from the back door.
“In the kitchen to your left!” Stephanie called out.
The door opened and two men in uniforms came in and took one look at Ben and started shouting at him in French. Richard started barking back at them and they stopped to look at the man. The kitchen door pushed open once more and another well-dressed man carrying a doctor’s bag stepped in.
“Ah! Henry, your patient is here!” Richard said pointing to Ben. Richard then spoke to the police in French and gave them his statement.
Ben looked up at the man standing before him. He looked like a blond version of Richard. Maybe just a little older. “Hello.”
The man nodded and went into doctor mode. He moved to the sink and got some clean dishcloths. He filled a large bowl with water and brought it back to the kitchen table. He cleaned the wound and pursed his lips.
“Monsieur, you will need four stitches. I do not have any pain killers,” Henry said apologetically.
“It’s ok, go ahead,” Ben said wearily.
Henry nodded briskly and efficiently began to stitch the wound closed. Ben gritted his teeth as the needle passed through his flesh but Henry was quick and it was soon over. He patted Ben’s shoulder with a smile to indicate he was done.
“Thank you,” Ben said.
“The police would like your statement,” Richard said.
Instead Ben queued the video on his phone and played it for the police who watched wide eyed. When it was over one of the officers left to see the scene and returned with the walking stick in his hand. They spoke to Richard and Henry and the former looked over at Ben.
“They would like to take your phone as evidence. I told them this was not possible. Will you send them the file?” he asked.
“Of course. Just get the address and I’ll send it,” Ben said.
Henry wrote it down on a notepad he found on the counter. The police said something about ‘Dumond’ then left.
“They will now go to arrest Arsene. There is a clear case of break and entering as well as assault. The video is very convincing.” Henry showed Ben the address and he emailed a link to the online version of the file to it.
Ben sat back and rested his throbbing head against the wall. Henry finally got a good look at his chest.
“You have been a soldier?” he asked Ben.
Ben looked at him in surprise and chuckled. He shook his head no. He looked to Richard to explain and the man did in French. Henry’s eyes widened in surprise.
“He is a hero!” Henry said and Ben glared sharply at him then calmed himself.
“I see you do not like to be called that,” Henry said quietly.
“My apologies but no,” Ben replied.
Henry looked at Richard with raised eyebrows.
“He is the subject of your next piece?” he asked. Richard nodded quickly. “Good,” he said and Richard smiled and gave him a kiss. They glanced nervously at Ben but he didn’t react negatively so they relaxed.
Stephanie made her way over to Ben and reached out to feel his face. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Thank you for protecting me against Arsene. He is a monster! We may finally be free of him!”
“I hope so because he packs a mean wallop!” Ben said, wincing as he gingerly touched his scalp.
“Do not touch your stitches!” Henry scolded.
“Sorry Doc!” Ben said. Henry had the most surprised and genuinely pleased look on his face. Richard started to laugh with delight.
Ben looked at him curiously.