to leave. He paid the bill and left a big tip for the waiter, and the two of them went out into the night air. As they left, Joseph noticed a man leave right after them and head down the street at a fast pace. "Looks and feels like rain." Joseph said.

"Yes it does, we better take a short cut that I know." she quipped and added. "We wouldn't want to get that uniform all wet, at least not with water."

The two of them hurried down the street, made a few twists and turns and found themselves in a rather dark secluded alleyway. Suddenly, Joseph spotted a man walking toward them. He appeared to be the same one who had rushed past them when they were leaving the cafe. In his hand he now carried a mean looking switchblade knife, its long blade extended. Joseph reached into his pocket and found his key ring there. He quickly arranged the keys so that they stuck out between his fingers, transforming them into a set of pointed lethal brass knuckles. Crouching down, and turning sideways he waited for the guy to make the first move. Waving the knife in front of him, the man demanded Joseph hand over his money.

"Why don't you try to take it from me, punk." Joseph snarled at him.

The enraged man made a thrust at Joseph, the knife coming within inches of his body.

"Can't you do any better than that?" Joseph chided him.

Again and again the man tried to stab the soldier, but with the dexterity of a trained close combat fighter, he managed to escape the knife thrusts. "Get out of here." Joseph yelled at Joanne, but she just stood there.

"Grab him Joanna, hold the son of a bitch for me," the frustrated goon yelled. "I'm going to make the bastard look like Swiss cheese."

The quick thinking fighting man, avoiding and deflecting his attackers knife thrusts, looked for an opportunity to strike back. Finally, finding an opening, he swung his key laden fist and hit the man right in the belly. As the attacker bent over in pain, Joseph brought his knee up and smashed him on the jaw. The coup de maitre was a toe right in the groin. The man went down. He rolled around winding up in the fetal position moaning. Reaching down and picking up the knife Joseph turned to Joanna and said "Bitch, you tried to set me up, didn't you. I should use this knife to cut that pretty face of yours so that you won't tempt others into dark alley ways."

"Please", she pleaded, "I'll do what ever you like. Just don't hurt me. Come, we can still go to my place."

"Too late for that." he said grabbing her arm and leading her back the way they had come. "I wouldn't dirty my cock with you."

After they got out of the alley way he let go of her arm and told her to get lost. It had started to rain real hard now, one of those heavy humid downfalls that New York is famous for. Joanne ran back down the alley way and Joseph heaved a sigh of relief. He started to shake and shiver even though it was still warm. Soaking wet, he made his way back through the now deserted streets to the Cafe. He thought of going in to call the police but then again