Chapter Seven
Waiting for the right time Duncan signaled to Joe that he needed to see him in private. When they were in the back room with the door shut Joe asked first, "What happened with Amy? You did see her right?"
Duncan nodded sadly explaining, "Joe she wasn't too happy to see me either and you're right about that fact that she doesn't want you in her life."
Joe looked devastated by the news. All he could say was, "Thanks for trying Mac."
"You might not like this but she did give a condition if you want to see her again," said Duncan with a bleak expression.
"What is it?" He questioned, "I'll do anything if she gives me a chance."
Duncan asked him, "Even quit the Watchers Joe?"
Joe looked sick just to consider quitting especially now. He ached all over from age and the arthritis he endured. It would be so easy to give up.
"I can't," he said in despair, "I can't quit."
"I knew you wouldn't." He consoled him gripping Joe's shoulder in understanding.
Feeling hopeless Joe cried out, "How could she ask that of me?"
"I don't know her motives," said Mac and then he suggested, "Perhaps to get you out of the way?"
"Then she is going to have a long wait," replied Joe as he became resigned to the idea that he would not see Amy for a long time.
Mac informed him, "Methos is going to find out about some secret passages we saw on the plans. Tomorrow we should know something more."
Joe nodded still upset by Amy's condition given to him. He opened the door to leave, "Thanks again for trying."
Duncan followed him out asking, "Do you want me to stay and keep you company?"
Joe shook his head and kept walking past the large bar to the small stage. He picked up his prized possession and began to finger the strings. It was a motion that always brought him comfort.
Amy, his daughter was beyond him now. She chose to keep him out of her life and it broke his heart. He sat on the stool and strummed the first song that came to him.
Duncan went out the front door with his mood mirroring his friends. Hailing a taxi, he slid into the backseat while keeping his sword hidden on his lap.
Giving his address he sat back to think. Why did Egan need to subjugate immortals and steal their money? Watcher presidents certainly did live well.
Immortals needed the Watchers and vice versa. The relationship between Mortals and Immortals was a tenuous thing held together with a string of trust.
The few immortals who knew about watchers trusted them with their secret. Moreover, whether they realized it or not mortals silently trusted immortals with their vigil against evil that threatened both races.
He wished he could tell Beth how he felt and what she made him feel. His thoughts turned constantly until he neared the barge.
Getting out and paying the fare, he took a few steps before he felt a shiver go through him and knew someone was already there. He approached carefully checking the door. It opened easily without a sound.
Only one person would have the nerve to pick his lock.
He saw Amanda sitting on his chair and eating a sandwich.
Smiling broadly he said, "I'm surprised to see you Amanda. Come here sweetheart how are you?"
Standing up and smiling back she said, "I expected to find something better to eat." Making a face, she put the half-eaten sandwich on the table. She went to him and embraced him warmly.
"Can I guess why the visit or do you want to tell me?" asked Duncan holding her gently.
"I'll tell you." She said looking up to his brown eyes. "I missed you," seeing his eyes roll trying guess an ulterior motive. "Why do you do that?" She asked him.
"You haven't talked to Methos today have you?" he asked her.
Amanda wrinkled her nose and said, "Oh is he here in town?"
"Don't play games Amanda. Just tell me why you're really here," said Duncan wrapping his arms tighter around her waist so she could not avoid his stare.
She gave the appearance of relenting, "Oh all right. I was threatened by a couple of immortals and I came here to hide out."
"Is that everything?" he questioned her.
Looking anxious and putting her arms around his neck she asked, "You would protect me right?"
He hugged her back, "Yes, you know I will."
She bent her neck up and kissed him showing just how much she missed him.
Duncan returned the kiss trying not to let his confusing emotions come through. He remembered what they felt for one another during a time when they clung to a need for love.
He closed his eyes holding Amanda close and smelling her sweet hair. He thought, "I have two women on my mind. I'm really in trouble now."
Amanda knew him too well and said, "That wasn't a very warm kiss." She looked deeply in his eyes asking. "Is there something wrong you're not telling me about?"
He stood back from Amanda and gave a weak smile saying, "You know I'm glad you're here. Let me take you out to dinner."
"And what else is going on?" She prompted him to spill his secrets.
He said evasively, "I'm hoping this situation can be cleared up before anyone gets hurt." He saw her expression change and explained, "I'm hungry right now so let's go eat."
Letting go of her hand Mac went over to the closet to change his shirt to a deep maroon. Then he put on his black coat with the strap that held his Katana always ready.
Amanda's mood stayed cautious as she watched him. She finally asked him, "Can we go to my favorite restaurant?"
"What the one called CHEZ FRANCOISE? It wouldn't have been my first choice but if you insist." He told her taking a tie with him.
Picking up his sword next, he slipped it into place. As they went outside Duncan secured the door against everyone except Amanda.
A cold evening breeze was blowing making them button up their coats as they walked to get Duncan's car from the garage.
Amanda disliked Paris weather in early spring and wondered when Duncan would pull up anchor and move to a warmer climate.
Several miles away Joe had picked up Beth in his car and he took her to a nice little restaurant Coté Bergamote. If privacy was what she wanted then she had keep her sword hidden. After ordering dinner Joe tried to be very charming asking a few easy questions.
He started with, "Just tell me what you remember of your childhood?"
Beth laughed quietly feeling modest. She began, "I had a normal childhood. There were some friends and a brother. I played games and learned to do all the things expected of a child back then." She continued unable to stop the memories when they came. "I grew up and took the place at my mother's side to become a healer."
He asked her, "What were your family's names?"
With effort she replied, "My mother name was Rose," she watched him write on his little note pad and then said, "My father's name was Jonathan and my brother was Joram."
Joe remarked, "That's an unusual name Joram."
"Yes," she agreed, "well I was adopted. I was told by my parents when I was older. Years later my mother became pregnant by some miracle and had a dream about the name Joram."
"So what else did you do?" he asked her.
"I was engaged very young and my mother suggested a spring wedding." She ended shortly and looked down.
Joe asked gently, "What happened?" trying to catch her expression.
She said shortly, "That I can't tell you."
He replied, "I understand if it's too painful to talk about."
She said in a whisper, "I don't know why it happened to me." Her eyes suddenly lost their innocence.
Joe reached over to cover her hand with his telling her, "I feel sorry for what you had to go through." He always hated giving broad remarks but he did not know what else to say.
Brown hair covered the sides of her face while her gray eyes looked like distant rain clouds. She hesitated then began quietly, "Our small village was just a pinpoint on a map but we were invaded by evil men. Immortals came there looking for other Immortals who were living in our village."
She stopped because the waiter brought a bottle of wine and poured. Beth took a sip then after a moment continued.
"Joe, I grew up with these people and I never knew what they were. When I saw a beheading and the Quickening, I was so terrified. I ran while my family was killed. I thought I had gotten away, but they found me." She stopped again not willing to continue and hating the memory and the need to hold back tears.
Joe sympathetically told her, "I remember reading in the Watcher chronicles about the Templar Massacre. There were also Watchers slaughtered that day." He looked sadly at her saying, "It was written there were no survivors."
Beth gave him a sarcastic smirk then commented, "Yes I guess you could say I'm a survivor."
Finishing her wine their dinner arrived so they ate in silence. She wanted to forget what she told him. Joe could not help but go over it in his mind. Putting the pieces together it almost all fit but he still had questions.
Arriving at Chez Francoise, Duncan put the tie on. They stood in line and each tried to guess how long the wait would be.
After twenty minutes Duncan finally said, "I'm hungry now and I know a place where we can get a table right away."
Amanda pouted, "Probably because the food isn't that good."
Duncan said, "The food is good and besides what we have to discuss is more important than your pallet."
"All right," she relented again, "This time Mac. But you owe me dinner here on a better night."
He promised her, "Next time I'll make reservations."
As they walked back to the car, Duncan pulled the tie off relieved with its absence. He opened the car door and held it for Amanda. The drive to the other restaurant gave him time to think but his thoughts kept coming back to one immortal.
The conversation continued between Joe and Beth. She narrated between bites, "My family was poor by today's standards but we were very close."
"To family past and present Beth may we never forget them," said Joe holding up his glass thinking of his daughter. As he toasted her, he saw her face change expression.
She finally asked him, "I need to know about the day Richie died?"
"Like what?" Joe asked sipping his wine.
She probed deeper, "Were you there? Did the accident happen the way Duncan says?"
Looking solemn Joe nodded slowly, "Yes I was there right after it happened and I believe him."
She let out a long breath and said quietly, "I'm still trying to believe that story about a demon."
He asked her, "What did Richie tell you about him?"
"He told me a few stories and that I could trust him. Also about Duncan tried to kill him before you stopped him. I thought he was exaggerating."
"No he was right about on both counts," said Joe. He took her hand and said earnestly, "Some things in Duncan's past were dark and it almost destroyed him but he fought hard to come back."
She was feeling at the same time seeing an immortal walk into the restaurant.
Glancing their way Duncan looked surprised but he just waved from across the room going on with Amanda to their waiting table.
Joe saw where she was looking at a woman walking with Duncan. He said, "That's just Amanda and they're old friends. She probably came to see him for the same reason Methos did."
Beth just commented, "And why should I care."
"So what's the verdict?" asked Joe, "Do you believe MacLeod or do you still want revenge?"
She answered, "I haven't decided yet." Conscious it was the wrong thing to say to his friend.
Joe gave a chuckle, "I told him he would have his hands full trying to figure you out."
Just as she sat down Amanda saw Joe was eating with a woman and was curious asking aloud, "Who is Joe having dinner with?"
Duncan answered, "That is Elizabeth Windsor. She was a friend of Richie's years ago. I didn't realize they were having dinner here."
"She came here to see Joe?" she asked.
"Kind of," he admitted. "She wanted to find out what happened to Richie. Now can we drop it?"
Amanda peered at him closely and said, "No Mac, now tell me what's up with this girl?" As the realization dawned on her that the buzz emanating from across the room was very different.
Duncan selected from the small wine list and told the waiter what he wanted. When they were alone, he answered her question.
"She wanted to find Richie and then asked me how he died," explained Duncan feeling uncomfortable.
"How did she handle the truth?" asked Amanda knowing him all too well.
"Not very well," admitted Duncan, "She wanted to kill me."
Amanda's eyebrows went up as she questioned, "What changed her mind? It had to be more than your charm." She teased.
Duncan looked serious telling her in confidence, "I gave her the chance to challenge me and it became tense. She has a lot of anger."
"Have you asked yourself why she didn't take vengeance on you?" Amanda pointed out seeing what he did not.
"I think I know why," said MacLeod and he leaned forward to answer quietly, "She has never killed before and that's not an easy thing to do even with revenge in your heart."
Amanda questioned, "And this girl you hardly know has found her way into our click?"
Duncan countered with, "That's what happens when you miss the brain storming sessions at Joe's place."
"Oh stop you are a terrible liar, Duncan Macleod." Amanda said with a feminine wisdom far older than the younger immortal sitting there.
He confessed to her, "I know it sounds crazy."
"Okay change of subject please," she relented and looked at the menu one more time.
Joe and Beth finished their meal first and when leaving the restaurant stopped by Duncan's table to be polite.
"Hi nice to see you Amanda," said Joe giving her a kiss on both cheeks.
"This is Elizabeth Windsor, Beth this is Amanda." Joe made the introductions so Duncan would not have to and said, "We are going back to my place if you two want to come by later for drinks."
The two women exchanged looks and a quick hello not bothering with pleasantries.
Duncan stood up and said, "Thanks, I think we'll do that."
Joe smiled and shook Mac's hand, "Good then until later? Enjoy the food here it's excellent."
Beth gave Duncan a quick smile and a good-bye and then followed Joe to the front door.
Amanda smiled her good bye and watched them go saying, "That's a big sword under her coat."
Duncan replied, "That's right and she can use it too."
His remark brought more questions to her mind but Amanda held off for now spying the waiter coming towards them with a loaded tray.
The dinner was delicious and after the wine consumed. Duncan narrated a short version on the crisis now looming before them.
Amanda did not appear at all surprised. "I know something about it," she stated, "That's why those guys were after me."
Duncan looked sharply at her, "How long have you known about the conspiracy?"
"Only a few weeks," she answered. Quietly she told him what happened to her. "I was a Cannes for the festival hoping to run into you there when two Watchers cornered me and made me go with them using a gun. In the car, an immortal called Felix was waiting. He said I had to join Egan or die."
"Seems rather dramatic," said Duncan looking serious.
The waiter stopped at their table long enough to bring the check. When he left she continued, "I pretended to go along with their plan until he told me what Egan wanted."
Amanda leaned closer to whisper, "They want me to set up a large scale heist. We are talking a million in dollars."
He felt alarmed by her story telling her, "You? But you've never done anything that big."
"I know and that's what I tried to tell them," explained Amanda, "That's the only information I have." She began looking around to see if anyone watched them.
"It sounds like they want money for something bigger than immortals." He guessed aloud, "But what it is, is the million dollar question."
Amanda voiced her uncertainty telling him, "I feel trapped. What if I can't do it and they take my head?"
Duncan reached out and caressed her cheek telling her, "I won't let them take your head." He promised with all his heart.
She smiled hearing his sincerity. The last caring words he said to her the night before he left Paris was, "You make my heart glad. You always have."
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