A/N. Hope you all had a great weekend. Thank you for your reviews. I'm almost done with this ...

Chapter 14

Youssef Khalim looked down at his brother who was clasping his thigh in agony and back at Mac in astonishment. "You didn't kill him. You didn't kill any of the guards. Why?"

Mac hesitated unsure what to do. He didn't want to give himself away. He'd come too far to protect his team to give them up now. He took a deep breath glad that the balaclava would help disguise his voice. "I wished only to free Detective Danville. I have accomplished that."

Youssef furrowed his brow and thought for a long moment before pointing to his brother who was glaring at Mac with a mixture of fear and hatred. "And my brother?"

"Both your brother and sister must atone for their actions." Mac reiterated Youssef's words from earlier.

Youssef looked at him strangely for a moment and then nodded slowly. "Are you going to go to the authorities?"

Mac thought for a moment. "That depends on you. From what I have been told you have been working very hard to maintain good relations between our two countries. I do not think either of us wish to see that end."

Youssef nodded again, a small smile touching his lips as the load from his shoulders lifted a little. "I will ensure that reparation is made. You have my word. The gold artefacts …?"

"I do not know where they are. They are in the hands of the authorities and I am sure that steps will be taken to ensure that they are restored to their rightful owners." Mac hoped that Marsh would at least do what was right but even if he didn't he was sure that Henley would.

Youssef pondered his words carefully as he continued to look at the masked man in front of him. "I do not understand your role in this but I think that somehow you do not wish it to be known." Youssef took several steps towards Mac who stood his ground. "But I thank you. It is perhaps time for my brother and sister to return to their country of birth."

"No." Someya screeched. Youssef whirled around to face her.

"Silence. You have brought enough shame on our family. You made a good marriage and you threw that away. You had wealth and you squandered it. It is now time for you to pay for your foolishness." Youssef thundered. "And as for your brother ..." Youssef was unable to continue as Amir pushed himself from the ground and launched himself at his brother. Youssef went flying backwards into Mac who stumbled under the man's weight. Before he could recover Amir dragged himself over to the Mercedes and flinging open the door threw himself inside.

Mac pushed Youssef to one side and raised the semi-automatic as the engine roared to life. He loosed off a short volley of shots as the car careened away from him in a shower of gravel. The shots ricocheted off the back of the car. "Dammit." Bullet-proof. Mac only had one option. He turned back to Youssef. "I'm trusting you to do what is right."

Youssef nodded, sadness etched into his face. "You have my word."

Mac took off the way he had come without another word. He stumbled through the bushes and ran for the hole in the fence. He scrambled through the jagged gap and up across the side road to the bushes on the other side. He flung his leg over the bike and pulled off the balaclava drawing in great gulps of air. He pushed the balaclava in his jacket and slung the semi automatic over his shoulder. He grabbed the helmet and jammed it on his head and gunned the bike. The engine roared as he took off down the road. The bike swerved from side to side uncontrollably. Damn thought Mac to himself. It had been a while since he ridden one other than riding pillion behind Don earlier that evening. He took the corner a little fast and skidded but managed to pull out of the skid as he turned into the straight.

Mac accelerated as fast as he dared. He glanced at the gates to the house that were just beginning to close as he sped past. He knew Amir had to be a little way ahead of him despite having to wait for the gates to open. The bike sped along and Mac felt exhilarated from the adrenalin rushing through his body. As he rounded the bend he caught a glimpse of tail-lights. He wasn't far behind and he knew that Amir would be forced to break at the junction where the road from the estate joined the main road. Mac pushed the bike a little harder.

Amir was definitely slowing. The wound in his right thigh was making it difficult to drive fast. Amir began to feel a light-headed as the blood seeped slowly from his body. He tried to push the accelerator further but the pain in his leg was unbearable. His hands, sticky with blood, slipped on the steering wheel. Suddenly he realised he was at the junction. He tried to turn right but his hands lost their grip and his leg wouldn't obey him. He was going too fast and was unable to brake quickly enough. Despite all the technology and engineering that had been put into the car, it couldn't hold the road. Amir knew it was too late.

Mac was almost upon him when they arrived at the junction. Too late he realized that Amir wasn't going to be able to make the turn. Mac hit the brakes but too hard and he felt the bike move from under him. The bike twisted skidding towards junction. There was nothing that Mac could do in those few seconds but watch helplessly as the car spun out of control, hit the embankment and ploughed into the structure beyond. Mac felt himself hit the ground and roll and then the very air around him seemed to turn to fire.

'CSI:NY - CSI:NY - CSI:NY - CSI:NY – CSI:NY'

Agent Marsh flung open the front doors of the country club followed by four agents. He halted briefly as he found himself in an elegant foyer facing a large polished oak table decorated with an enormous flower decoration. Several club members standing to one side stared at him disapprovingly. His crumpled grey suit, partially undone tie and raincoat were hardly "de rigueur" for such an establishment. Marsh walked over to the reception desk. The young blond woman manning the desk valiantly hid her surprise and greeted him politely.

"Good evening sir. May I help you?" She smiled her fixed smile reserved for all members of the club.

"Where's Detective Taylor?" Marsh thundered.

"I'm sorry sir?" The girl looked momentarily confused as she glanced at a list of that evenings' members and her fixed smile faded a little. "Is he a member or a guest?"

"How the hell should I know?" Marsh was forgetting his manners. "Find him. He's having dinner in a private room."

"Oh I see sir." The fixed smile returned. "Bear with me sir. I'll call the manager and find out for you. We have several groups in this evening." She reached across for the phone and dialled a number.

Marsh drummed his fingers on the desk as he waited. He glared at the other members of the club who were whispering among themselves. "Never mind I'll find him myself." He stalked off trying to remember the layout of the building from the satellite display that Henley had shown him earlier. He was sure that it was at the back of the building on his left.

"Sir, sir … I'm sorry but you can't go in unless you're a member. It's club policy." The young woman rushed after him as he entered the bar. The bar was elegantly furnished in shades of plum and claret red. The wooden tables and bar were polished till they shone and were positioned so they had a view through large terrace doors over the manicured gardens at the back of the club house. Subtle flower arrangements decorated side tables and the lighting and music were soft and discrete making it the perfect place to relax away from the stress of the city. The quiet buzz of conversation stopped as Marsh stormed into the room. "Sir please, the manager will be right here." Marsh glared around the bar.

"Excuse sir, may I help you?" Marsh did a 180 degree turn to come face to face with a tall, grey-haired man, impeccably dressed in pressed trousers, club blazer and tie. "I'm Malcolm Kingsway, the manager here. I understand you are looking for one of our guests. If you'd be so kind as to come this way." Malcolm gestured back towards the entrance hall. "Thank you, that way we won't disturb our members. Now who is it you are looking for?"

"Detective Mac Taylor." Marsh hissed. He failed to notice the club receptionist disappear discretely through a side door.

"Perhaps I could see some identification please Sir?" He ignored Marsh's glare of annoyance and continued in a smooth placating voice. "You must understand that we have a lot of … er … shall we say high-profile members. It would be very remiss of me to allow just anyone in. I'm sure you understand." Marsh was furious but had no choice but to comply. He handed over his identification which Malcolm looked at stretching his arms away from him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his glasses. "Ah that's better. Old age catching up with me I'm afraid … er … Agent Marsh." He handed the ID back. "Now let's see of we can find your Detective Taylor. I have a list of our guests right here in my office." He smiled at Marsh who looked as though he was about to explode. "Ah General Gray. Good to see you again sir." Marsh was forced to wait as the manager greeted his guest. If he didn't know better he would have said these were delaying tactics.

'CSI:NY - CSI:NY - CSI:NY - CSI:NY – CSI:NY'

Six pairs of eyes now stood transfixed by the screen in font of them. They had followed Mac's progress on the screen until his heat signature had merged with that of the exploding car. Adam hit a key to change to the satellite imagery but it was too dark to make out anything other than the flames.

The door to the room swung open and the young receptionist put her head in. "There's someone in reception asking for Detective Taylor. Malcolm's delaying him as long as he can." She disappeared and the door closed quietly. Adam had no choice but to close down the laptop and hide it with the other equipment under the table at the back of the room. Everyone ran to take a place at the table. Danny reached for his drink. Don picked up his cards carefully hiding his bloodied trouser leg under the table. Sheldon grabbed some cheese and a roll and popped a piece in his mouth sprinkling some crumbs on the table. Adam regained his place and grabbed his cards as Reed stood by the coffee urn with a cup in his hand. To everyone's surprise, Sid grabbed a phone from the table, pulled one of the curtains aside, opened the terrace window and disappeared outside. "Stepping out for some air ..."

A little over five minutes later a polite knock was heard and the door opened. Malcolm entered with a "Sorry to disturb you gentlemen ..." Marsh pushed past him and glanced around the room a look of triumph coming over his face. "I knew it. I just knew it ..." he yelled. "Where is he?"

Everyone looked at one another and said nothing.

"I know you are up to something. Where is Taylor? Tell me or I'll ..." They never knew what he was going to do as Marsh's phone rang. He picked it up angrily. "What?" he listened for a moment. "An accident? … Are you sure? … Is Taylor involved? … Very well. I'll be there right away." Danny glanced at Don. He thought Marsh looked a little disappointed. Marsh hung up the phone and glared around the room. He was furious. "I know you are all involved in this …" He hesitated. The problem was that he didn't have any idea what 'this' was. "Now where is Taylor …" He broke off as he heard laughter coming in through the window.

"That's what my second wife said ..." Sid stepped back in through the window. He breathed out loudly. "Ah, that's better. Nothing like a little fresh air after dinner and it's a lovely evening if it's a little chilly. ... Ah Malcolm, a fabulous meal as always! Do give my compliments to the chef ... I don't suppose he's give me his recipe for the Alfredo … it's absolutely exquisite? ... Ah no I thought not ... Oh good you've brought coffee. " Sid beamed at the everyone in the room. Sheldon frowned slightly with curiosity as he noticed that Sid was no longer wearing his jacket. "Ah! Agent Marsh isn't it? Would you care to join us?"

Marsh stared at Sid as though he had stepped straight out of the insane asylum. "Join you …?" he stammered.

"Coffee or a nightcap perhaps…? I was just saying to Mac how I do enjoy a brandy on the odd occasion. My good friend Malcolm here has a particularly fine Armagnac. Obviously I don't indulge when I'm driving but as our young friend here has kindly volunteered ..." Sid smiled innocently at Marsh who continued to stare at his open-mouthed. "No well ... what about you Mac?" Sid moved away from the window allowing Mac to step in through the door. He was wearing Sid's jacket.

"Just coffee please Sid." Mac grinned at Marsh. "Good evening Agent Marsh. What brings you here?"

Marsh stared at Mac in disbelief for a few seconds his face turning bright red, almost apoplectic with rage. Then, without a word, he whirled around and stormed out of the room.

Mac pulled a face. "Was it something I said?"

Malcolm Kingsway smiled and shook his had in amusement as he left quietly closing the door. The moment it closed, Mac's face dropped. "Jo?" he asked.

"She's going to be fine Mac." Sheldon looked carefully at Mac, his brow furrowing. "But I'm guessing you're not."