"The one thing I hate about Americans is their inability to brew a good pot of tea," Murdoc complained. He had followed MacGyver down the street a little way to a small diner that offered tea, pointing a Derringer at him from the inside pocket of his jacket.
"Please stop pointing that thing at me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Murdoc dismissed him.
"You've lost a lot of your tact, Murdoc."
"It was beaten out of me," Murdoc hissed, "And I blame you. To business, shall we?" he changed the subject quickly and MacGyver nodded, "I need a favour."
"You're kidding," he growled, "You tried to kill me!"
"Is that why I was the only one mortally wounded?" Murdoc arched an eyebrow then sipped his tea again only to cringe at the foul taste, "And do I also have to mention the years of physical therapy, thousands of pounds worth of plastic surgery and my recurring heart and chronic pain problems? Besides, I want to talk about my son."
MacGyver chewed on his biscuit, "Someone thought it would be a good idea to breed more of you?"
"Charming," said a woman who was sitting behind Murdoc in an adjoining booth. She moved to kneel on her chair and leaned into their booth. She leaned over Murdoc's shoulder. "We don't need him anyway."
She was pale, and her hair was a deep chestnut colour, slicked back with some gel. Her hair was cut at the nape of her neck, and her face was hard, her nose quite pointed. She was dressed conservatively in a dark grey suit. MacGyver looked from the woman and back to Murdoc, and back at the woman.
"Alexis," Murdoc looked her in the eye for a second, "It is not polite to intrude on a conversation like that."
"Dad. Shut up," she snapped, "I have some more information."
That would explain the similarities in their faces, MacGyver thought to himself, and they have very similar eyes and cheekbones. Come to think of it, she looks a little like Murdoc when he was playing 'Sarah'. Except she has grey eyes.
"How many of them are there?" MacGyver asked cautiously.
"Only two," he said, not allowing himself to be insulted by the comment, "My son, Dane is a student at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, at least he was until he was abducted from campus three days ago, no evidence or witnesses."
"Not exactly," Alexis addressed her father, "I have campus security footage dating back two weeks. Dane was followed. I couldn't get a clear enough picture, so no facial recognition. I can send them off to you later."
"How'd you get the tapes?" Murdoc asked her.
"Remember that campus cop I had trouble with when I went there?" she asked Murdoc, who nodded, "I read him the Riot Act and asked him for a favour."
Murdoc smiled slyly, "Well done."
"He was definitely targeted," MacGyver interjected.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Alexis bit at him, "How lost we would have been without your glorious contribution to the evolution of human thought."
"Maybe they want me," Murdoc said, "After all these years, I am still top of the hit parade. The title of the world's best assassin is only gained by killing the last. Oh, and I did sent an entire agency to the wall. I'm sure that someone's still bitter about that."
"Have they made any demands yet?" MacGyver asked.
"No," Murdoc answered.
"Why does it have to be something to do with you?" MacGyver asked, "It could be your connections."
"Or mine," Alexis said stiffly, "I honestly think that Hartigan can't tie his shoes without me. You know, the same way you can't tie your shoes without Mum."
"Thank you, Alexis," Murdoc growled, and he looked across the table at MacGyver again, "Will you help us?"
"We don't need him," Alexis insisted, "Look at him; he's an old, fat bellend."
"Hey!"
"Look in the mirror."
"Alexis," Murdoc sighed, "This is hardly the way to ask a friend for help."
"A friend?" Alexis stood, "Is that why he left you for dead, what, eight times? What a real great fucking mate you have there."
Murdoc grabbed her wrist as she began to walk away, "We need him, Lexy," he looked her in the eye, "He is the best."
Alexis sighed and shook him off, "Fine Dad, you do it your way. I'll find Dane myself. Don't wait up for me."
Murdoc waited until Alexis had left before speaking again, "Don't worry about her. I taught her everything she knows."
"Did she join the family business or something?" MacGyver asked him.
"Hell no. I'd never make her do that," he dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand, "She's my little princess," he gave a sentimental smile, "She's an aide to the British ambassador. Needless to say I am very proud of her."
"Mmph," MacGyver snorted into his tea.
"Are you going to help me or not, MacGyver?" Murdoc asked, "But remember, if you don't, a twenty year old kid will be killed because of your terminal righteousness."
MacGyver smiled at him for a moment, "Alright, Murdoc. Same deal as last time. No guns, no killing."
"Fine," Murdoc sighed, "You're getting softer."
"No," MacGyver sipped his tea, "You're getting glaucoma."
