CHAPTER 52

Beth practically willed the phone to ring, picking it up instantly when Methos returned her call.

"Oh Adam it's just awful." She began to cry as she recounted how they'd received a frantic call around 3:30 that morning and she and the kids had rushed to her Father's farm, and were immediately been thrown into a frantic race to save the horses and as much of the stable as they could. "Ryan is devastated, and I'm well it's so hard to believe what's happened. They even suspect we might have done this ourselves an insurance scam. I don't even know how to respond to that."

Methos closed his eyes, wishing he could comfort her and help Ryan and the rest of the family through this. The stable meant so much to all of them, and when he heard which horses were lost, he knew Beth was in a great deal of pain and his daughter needed him.

Duncan couldn't hear everything, but he picked up from one side of the conversation that something terrible had happened. "Are Beth and the children ok?"

Methos nodded, but MacLeod knew from his expression that his answer was only half-true.

"We are following a lead, but if you say the word I'll be on the next plane home." Methos was sincere in his promise. If Beth needed him, he would be there.

"No you need to help Duncan find that woman." Beth wished she could be more selfish because at that moment she needed her husband so badly. There was nothing she wanted more than to bury her face in his shoulder and have him hold her while she grieved, but she knew that he needed to keep working with Duncan. "We'll be all right until you can come home."

He could hear the pain in her voice and it tore his heart. "We're on our way to Rome. It's a long story, but we're taking a flight out of there in the morning to Sydney. We think Linda Fitzgerald is there."

Beth took down the flight and hotel information in case she needed him and his cell didn't pick up. The signal kept breaking up and he wanted to make sure she could reach him.

"Is that Daddy?" Ryan's hair was still damp from her shower when she came into her parent's bedroom and heard her Mother on the phone.

Methos heard Ryan's voice. "Let me speak to her."

"Daddy Spitfire's gone it was so awful He was trapped and I could hear him, but couldn't get to him." Ryan began to sob and Beth wrapped her arms around the girl while her Father tried to comfort her.

"I'm so sorry Angel. I am so sorry I wasn't there." Methos felt his insides tighten at the sound of her heart breaking. "I know it is going to be difficult Ryan, but try to be brave. I know you can do it sweetheart, and when I get home we will look for another horse."

"But it won't be Spitfire."

"No sweetheart, it won't and I know that hurts." His words sounded so shallow in his own ears.

"When are you coming home Daddy? I miss you so much, and Mommy is so sad " She ignored her mother shaking her head and wanting her to keep silent.

"I'll be home as soon as I can Ryan. Sweetheart I love you and I'll call again later to talk with you before you go to bed, but could you put your Mother back on the line? I need to speak with her again."

Ryan gave her mother the phone and curled up on the bed while she waited.

"I'm sorry Beth. I should be there." Methos knew she needed him.

"Adam you need to be with Duncan, and I think maybe it's time I tell Ryan, Cassie and Joey why you had to go and why you need to finish what the two of you have started. They need to know about Amanda's murder." Beth knew it was the only way they would really understand why he didn't rush home.

"I think you are right. I'm just sorry you have to deal with all of this alone."

"I'm not alone." Beth blinked back the tears. "Your love is with me, and I have my family here. We'll get through this Adam, and you'll be back when you can."

They spoke for a few more minutes before Methos' phone started to lose signal.

Beth explained to Cassie, Joey and Ryan about Amanda's murder and how their Father had gone to try and help Duncan. They knew that Duncan loved Amanda and understood why he had to find whoever was responsible.

"Daddy will be careful won't he?" Cassie couldn't help but worry more because even though her mother hadn't mentioned immortals, something told her they were involved.

"You know he will be, and he's with Duncan. They'll take care of each other and he'll be back before we know it. He promised." Beth cupped her daughter's chin and encouraged her to be strong.

In the car, Duncan agonized over dragging Methos into this. "You should take the next plane home. I'll go on to Sydney, but Beth and those children need you."

Methos shook his head. "As much as I want nothing more than to go to them, physically they are fine and they will get through this, but we don't know what tricks this Linda Fitzgerald is capable of ... and if there is a chance Ellen is still alive, we need to find her. I won't lie and tell you I am not torn MacLeod, but I know what I have to do."

"You are a good friend Methos."

"Yeah well don't let it get around. I have a reputation to protect." Methos replied sarcastically.

As she listened to the phone tap, Avery Lind practically howled with excitement. "This is too perfect." She squealed as she quickly told her investigator what she wanted him to do.

"That's not going to be easy." He told her.

"But you can do it, right?"

Yes, he could do it, but he would have to set things in motion immediately. There was no time to lose if the plan was to be in motion by the time Adam Pierson stepped onto that plane the next morning.

The evening proved productive as Methos and Duncan not only found a reference to the car Linda Fitzgerald rented, but her hotel reservation as well. The reservation was for 3 weeks.

Methos felt even stronger that he'd made the right decision. With any luck they could have this over within a weeks time and he could be on his way home.

As they were leaving the hotel the next morning, the concierge called out to stop them. "This package just arrived for you Mr. Pierson. Five more minutes and you would have missed it. It's overnight delivery so I know it must be important."

Adam wasn't expecting anything, but the return label on the outside explained it all. He shook the small parcel and smiled. "Want to wager what baked good we might find in here?"

Duncan shook his head. "She is amazing. On top of everything she is dealing with, she takes time to send you a little bit of home. You know you don't deserve this don't you?"

Adam found a place in his carry on for the package, intending to open it once they were in flight. At least he would be assured of something good to eat on the trip. He felt a little better after speaking to Beth and the kids the night before. They were hurting, but as usual holding together.

It was over an hour after they'd taken off before Methos remembered the package. Reaching beneath his seat, he took out the parcel and removed the wrappings. Inside as expected was a red tin. He hadn't seen this one before, but didn't really think about it. Beth did a lot of baking for friends and neighbors.

"You're going to share aren't you?" Duncan asked, hoping there were a few pies inside. He loved Beth's fried pies.

What the two of them saw when Methos pried off the lid of the tin sucked the air out of their lungs. It was the charred hoof of a horse.