Chapter 50
Taylor's call came at 10:00 p.m. By that time... MacLeod, Methos and Eleanor had already arrived at the docks and were awaiting final location. Phillip had remained behind to keep an eye on Derrick.
Once Taylor told them exactly where he was and just what was needed to get Joe out alive... Eleanor slipped out of the car and made her way to the warehouse by means of the shadows. MacLeod and Methos arrived via car at the entrance and carefully got out.
As he had warned them... Taylor had an armed man waiting at the door. As long as the two immortals didn't make any sudden movements... there would be no problem. Once "Adams" and Taylor were engaged in battle... MacLeod could leave with Joe... but not until then. Taylor had re-iterated. "I'm not interested in you MacLeod... just Adams."
"Can you take this bastard?" asked MacLeod as they got out.
"Unless he cheats..." Methos met MacLeod's gaze grimly. They both knew Taylor was going to cheat somehow... well they had their own "ace in the hole."
"Just get him for me... or disable him so I can have him!"
"Right!" The two immortals stepped toward the entrance... the armed man opened the door and let the immortals enter... then closed and re-locked it behind them. He'd been told to wait outside until Taylor gave him word that MacLeod was to be allowed to leave with the old man. Then he was to leave himself. Taylor had warned Grant not to interfere... not to stick around... just keep an eye out. Anyone else who showed up was expendable.
Within the warehouse there was a single spotlight... illuminating Joe's bound and gagged form sitting on a chair. Methos and MacLeod both drew swords and slowly moved toward Joe. They could sense Taylor's presence... but where exactly?
Taylor's voice rang out, "I could easily kill him... you could watch him die... but I need MacLeod to leave here... so this one lives... unlike those who died when you first left."
Methos answered, "I don't know you... why all this just to get me here? Why challenge me?"
"You DO know me!" Taylor screamed. "You were there when they died! You ran away! You sat there and drank her lemonade and made conversation... but when trouble came you ran! You ran and they all died!"
Behind them... Duncan sensed Eleanor's arrival outside. He heard a slight scuffle and knew she'd taken out the gunman. Methos' face was creased in thought. He shook his head.
"I don't know what you mean... enlighten me." He met Duncan's gaze and nodded... he'd also felt Eleanor's arrival. "Get Joe!" he mouthed silently.
MacLeod replaced his sword in his coat and removed Joe's gag. "He's insane Mac," the Watcher said.
"I know..." Duncan worked on Joe's bonds. Then pulled his sword back out and cut through them. Time to get him out of here. "Where's your cane?"
"I think he has it with him... he took it. Looks like you'll have to help me."
"Probably his way of making certain I couldn't interfere." Duncan helped Joe up and supported his weight on his arm as they walked slowly toward the door. Above, he heard Taylor tell his man to let them go. The door opened just as they got to it. Eleanor grabbed Joe's arm to free up Duncan.
"Do you remember me yet? West Texas? You came riding in all friendly like but you ran out on us! You left us all to die! Your friends followed you in and slaughtered us!"
From her vantage point, Eleanor saw Methos' shoulders sag slightly. He'd remembered something. Something he didn't feel good about. "MacLeod... get Joe out of here... Methos needs me now."
"But that's not the plan..."
"Screw the plan... I think I just figured out what this was about! If I'm right... he needs me... not you." Eleanor gave Joe's arm a squeeze and headed into the center of the room.
Duncan hesitated, but then realized the faster he got Joe to safety... the faster he could get back. They headed out of the warehouse toward the car. Halfway there... he remembered... Ellie doesn't even have her sword with her. They hadn't thought she would need it... she was just there to help with Joe. Duncan sped up as much as he could... worried that something was going horribly wrong.
