Chapter Six
They walked for a few blocks until they came to the outdoor cafe Duncan liked to frequent when he was in the area. Sitting at a table, he ordered two meals and while they waited for the food, he thought of a suggestion.
"I have a friend who works on my sword occasionally and I'm sure he could finish your sword to make it more balanced and even a little decorative," he said trying to be kind.
She replied, "Thanks but no my sword stays the way it is. I'm too used to it to change now."
The server came to the table with strong coffee. Beth poured herself a cup and waited for Duncan to finish before asking her question.
She inquired, "Where did you get the Katana? Were you in Japan?"
After a moment he answered, "Yes I was in Japan in 1778 and a friend presented me the sword. He was a very honorable Samurai." Last night's dream was also still fresh in his mind.
Sipping his coffee Duncan felt like someone was watching. Before he met Joe Dawson, he would have just dismissed it as people being curious. After knowing about watchers, he was not too sure.
"Beth", he began, "I want you to know you can trust me and I want to be able to trust you."
She looked at him intently sensing something important he was about to reveal. "I do trust you with my head at least," she commented.
He asked her, "Did Richie tell you about watchers?"
"Just a little," she replied. "They are mortals that know about us. Mostly historians and one was his friend."
"It's a lot more than that," he told her. "A few years ago some watchers were dangerous and committed murder. Then the group morphed into a political party."
The breakfast arrived so they ate in silence until she asked him, "I don't know what it has to do with me?"
"I'm looking out for you in case there is one watching you." He told her, "I want you to be careful."
She contemplated this while finishing her meal. "Delicious." She commented and pushed her plate away. Then she asked him, "You think there is danger?"
He held up his hand replying, "That will be answered later when we see my friend Joe."
"Is he the same friend Richie told me about?" she asked feeling in a lighter mood.
"It depends," he said motioning for the waiter to bring the check. "Do you like music?"
Beth held her hand out for the check but Duncan waved her off saying, "That's all right I'll get it." He paid the bill and tipped the waiter. Together they walked to a waiting taxi at the curb that had just dropped off a passenger.
A man at the table nearby also got up to leave. After watching the two get into the taxi he stepped over to a pay phone and dialed a number.
The ride over to Le Blues Bar was slow going with the heavy traffic that was always a problem in Paris by noontime. They passed the time with small talk of nothing important.
After thirty minutes, they were getting out in front of Le Blues Bar. Duncan paid the driver and they went inside together.
First thing, Duncan saw was someone sitting at a table with a beer.
Methos called out, "MacLeod you're here and you brought a friend."
Macleod went to shake the old immortals hand saying, "I haven't seen you for…how long?"
Methos shrugged and commented, "You know how it is, months or years can pass quickly by. I flew in last night and came straight here."
A moment later Joe came out of the back room looking rumpled from sleep and worry. He glanced at Beth.
Duncan introduced her, "Ah, Joe this is Elizabeth Windsor. Beth this is Joe Dawson my friend and a great musician."
Beth shook his hand then noticed the tattoo on his wrist. She asked, "Why do you have that?" touching the imprint with her fingertip.
Joe replied, "It's just a tattoo I've had mine a long time." He was curious to her apparent interest asking, "Why do you want to know?"
She looked at Duncan with raised eyebrows, "I've seen this before."
She gazed at the tattoo a moment longer to recall the past a time when she scarcely knew what she was. A time with no family or friends and the loneliness with anger would eat at her.
"Beth what is it?" Duncan asked, "What do you remember?"
"I have memories of a man following me so many years ago. I grew tired of the cat and mouse game we played so one night I surprised him and knocked him out. Going through his things I found a book with writing but I couldn't read at the time and I saw a tattoo." She continued to hold Joe's hand while he was content to let her.
She went on to say, "When he came awake I questioned him but he wouldn't talk. I gave him all my usual warnings about not pestering me. I think he gave up because I didn't see him after that." She concluded.
Joe laughed and told her, "I'm not surprised. As a historian, I would like to know more about you. Perhaps you could fill me in sometime."
"I'll think about it." Said Beth, "I like my privacy." She let go of his hand.
Looking at the newbie Methos asked Duncan, "Can she be trusted?"
Duncan answered, "It's a little too soon." He asked her, "Beth, could you wait over there for the moment?"
She shrugged but then agreed, "If you're not talking about me then I don't care." She went over to the far side of the room and began looking at all the pictures that lined the wall.
"Tell us what you have Joe?" asked Duncan finding a chair to sit with both men.
"Something ominous is happening and I just found out about it a week ago but I waited to confirm my suspicions." Began Joe, "It seems the Watcher's are secretly having rich Immortals swindled."
Methos quietly told them, "Mac a few of my friends had their assets frozen and then a short time later they disappeared. I traced the tampering back through three accounts to the Watcher Chapter here in France."
Feeling uneasy Duncan asked Joe, "Watchers are interfering again? I thought the new agreement would prevent that."
"It did but things changed after the new president was in place." Joe revealed.
Duncan asked, "Are you telling me that the killings have started again?"
"No I'm not certain about that part," answered Methos with a wary expression. "But watchers are stealing."
Duncan was thinking if this conflict with the Watchers could start a war again. He exclaimed, "Isn't this something a Trial should be called for."
Joe agreed, "Yes, I would report him except that Egan Lasco recently donated large amounts of cash into the Watcher World Fund."
"So what does that have to do with interference?" demanded MacLeod. "That is money taken from immortals."
"It means that Egan is buying his freedom," explained Methos. "As long as the money flows no one will stop him or question him."
"Something else you need to know," continued Joe. "The latest news is three Immortals have joined Egan to save themselves and for the money."
"Now that we're aware of the danger how can these renegade Watchers be stopped?" asked Methos.
Joe was thinking about his long dead brother-in-law and the betrayal of immortal and watcher trust.
Duncan commented, "Money buys a lot of protection."
"Infiltration works," said Methos.
"That's temporary and works only if no one else takes his place," he replied.
Joe agreed, "There is someone already on the inside helping me with information."
Methos suggested, "I still vote for intelligence work."
"If you wait here I'll get the architecture plans for the compound and we'll look for a weakness." Joe said and standing up slowly he called out, "Beth, could you help me please?"
He went towards a separate storage room and Beth followed him, "I will be happy to help," glancing at Duncan with a smug smile.
When she was out of sight, Methos asked the Highlander, "Where did you find her?"
"I'll tell you but don't say anything," Duncan answered. "She used to know Richie about five years ago and came to Paris looking for him."
Methos gave a low whistle and leaned closer asking, "Then what happened?"
Duncan answered, "Well, I told her the truth and convinced her not to kill me."
"No way," Methos exclaimed, "She can't be that naive."
"I've handled it so just drop the subject," he insisted.
"Juicy gossip that I can't wait to tell Amanda." Methos said with glee.
It took only a moment for Joe to locate what they would need as he moved aside other boxes to get at the rolls of blueprints he collected.
Beth helped move some of the boxes and then noticed something familiar in one. Picking up a motorcycle helmet she said, "Richie's helmet. You've kept it all this time?"
Joe glanced at her and nodded, "I thought I might take up motorcycle riding." He kidded her and then said, "If there's anything here you want please take it."
Beth was hesitant as she looked into a few boxes letting the memory of him come back to her and she smiled. Putting the helmet back in the box she pulled out a bandana that Richie used to wear and then tied it around her neck.
It still smelled faintly like him. She stood up and decided she wanted nothing else.
Joe handed her the blueprints that he had taken from the casing that preserved it but stopped her from leaving yet.
He asked her, "I'd like to ask you a few questions on your childhood and your past as an immortal?"
She gave a long sigh knowing the memories that would be unleashed should she choose to tell him.
"I might consider it." She answered but wondering how much she could trust this Watcher and needing to ask him questions as well.
"I understand," said Joe smiling his best and suggesting, "Can I take you to dinner while you think about it?"
Beth returned the smile agreeing, "Joe Dawson you are a charmer. How can I say no?"
"Good then tonight I'll pick you up at seven." He said taking her arm to escort her out.
When they walked back into the main room, Duncan noticed the colorful bandana around her neck but did not comment.
He and Methos then pushed two tables together and unrolled the plans. Each one taking a chair and holding down a corner. Four heads bent over to study the drawings made a hundred years ago.
After an hour, their brain storming session accomplished nothing except that four opinions did not agree.
Joe rubbed his eyes and stood up instructing, "You three keep looking and I have to get to work."
He started getting the place ready for patrons that would be arriving for the early happy hour. In addition, a band was coming any time now to set up for practice.
A moment later Methos said, "Now I'm sure these are passageways," pointing to the bottom portion of the layout.
"But are they secret?" asked the highlander.
"Only one way to find out," the old man answered tracing with his finger the area in question.
Mac questioned him, "Go there or ask someone?"
"Both." Methos answered winking at Beth.
"I'll let you know later," assured Methos. Standing up he rolled up the plans again and looking at his watch said, "I'm leaving now. Tell Joe what I'm hoping to find."
"Just come back in one piece?" requested Duncan.
Methos laughed as he went to the back door. He said, "This is me Macleod. When have I not been successful?" Then he waved to them and shut the door quickly before Duncan could answer.
The band arrived and began setting up the equipment so Duncan asked Beth, "How about continuing our discussion over dinner?"
She answered, "I've already made plans and I have to go to my Hotel to get ready. I'm taking a taxi back would you care to join me?"
"No, I can't leave yet. I need to talk to Joe first," said Duncan. "Let me call you later?" He smiled to show his interest.
"No but maybe tomorrow would be better." Then smiling with sincerity she walked over to Joe said her good-bye and left with Duncan staring after her.
He remembered how it was with Tessa. She was the only mortal he dared to love for so long. He almost gave up everything to have her back again with Horton holding her ghost before his eyes almost two years ago.
Duncan looked over to where Joe worked diligently preparing for customers that always crowded the best blues bar in town. He could not put any longer off telling him the news of his daughter.