Olivia slips away early from work to meet Alex at a small bar. Olivia orders a red wine. She surprised when Alex orders Glenmorangie. When they don't have it, she settles for a draft beer. "Glenmorangie?" Olivia asks. Alex nods. "Single malt whiskey" Olivia responds "I know what it is… I also know it is Duncan Macleod's drink of choice. Munch has been pouting about not getting it with Duncan." Alex doesn't respond so Olivia continues. "You wanted to see me…so talk."
"Olivia the night before last, I found Duncan in my bedroom. I didn't see him at first sitting in the dark…. Olivia, he told me he killed that guy in the park. He also said it was self defense. My boss is pushing for charges to be filed…" Alex draws a deep breath and lets it out as Olivia waits for more information. "I spent last night at Duncan's home." Olivia is shocked. "I fell asleep on a couch in some sort of trophy room slash museum. I woke up during the night and went looking for a bathroom and almost got killed by Melinda. I feel like I've tumbled down the rabbit hole into 'Wonderland' where nothing is as it should be. You've been spending a lot of time with one of them… Can you help me get a handle on what is going on?"
"Alex, I think these people have always been among us. It's like theirs is a world within ours. Adam doesn't tell me much. He says stuff that is astounding like it is commonplace. He says he's the only one to have been on stage with both the Rolling Stones and Julius Cesar… But, there feels like there is far more that he doesn't say. It is like you were a kid and the adults never told you everything." Alex nods. "I walked around his trophy room and he told me some things that made my head swim." Olivia swallows some wine. "Exactly. But it sounds like he was more willing to talk than Adam."
"I'm still stuck with the problem of what to do with Duncan. With the gag order in place, I can't declare that it was self defense. I can't talk about the motives of these people. I don't even understand them. I can't tell anyone that he admitted to it without proof after I tossed my bra over his head. I can't…" Olivia coughs mid swallow. "You tossed your bra over his head?" Alex turns crimson. "I didn't see him in the dark as I was getting ready for bed." Olivia just stares. "He was sitting in the chair where I toss my dirty laundry…" Olivia nods. "Yeah, better to leave that part out."
"Olivia, the guy that confessed was behind it though. He told Melinda's student that he was a match for Duncan. I don't know why he would do that or why his blood was found at the scene." Olivia realizes Alex wants her to get the information from Adam. Alex takes a sip of beer. "I can see why Adam scolded Melinda about involving us." Alex nods. "One more thing… I think Duncan is going to kill the guy that Adam forced to confess. I think Adam wants him somewhere where that won't happen. Meanwhile, Melinda is living at Duncan's place and doesn't know Duncan killed her student. If she finds out…and doesn't accept the explanation…one or the other…most likely Melinda will die."
After a long pause, Alex says "What is it like being with one of them?" Olivia leisurely finishes her wine before answering. "I think it is like being with anyone else. They are very different from each other. I thought Adam was boring. He seems so…accepting…so patient. There was no anger about anything, no passion. It never occurred to me that it was because he's been through worse. Now, my fear is becoming that he's done worse. But, if he did, it was long ago…at least that's what I tell myself. And there is passion…it just moves at a different pace…one that takes a long time to get used to. But, Duncan may not be like that at all."
"There is something else you should know. There is another one in town, a woman. Adam says she's what we would consider a 'good guy' whatever that means, but he says he's afraid of her. She's apparently acting as a bodyguard for someone at Hudson. I actually met her. She intimidated a bunch of cops at the range. She's carrying a modified forty-four and she's very, very good with it. None of those guys are going to want to check her without a SWAT unit, and I'm not sure that would balance the scales after seeing Adam recover. The more I think about it that may have been her real purpose for being there. Stabler and I will go looking for her tomorrow." Alex's eyes grow wide. "Why?" Olivia responds "Just to let her know we know she's there…find out who she's working for." Alex nods. "Be careful." Olivia smiles "Of course."
That night as Olivia is receiving her massage she says "Alex met Duncan." Olivia is surprised by Adam's slightly startled reaction but he says nothing. "She said that Duncan said he killed Melinda's student in self defense after the other guy got him to go after Duncan." Adam doesn't answer but continues to work on Olivia's lower back. "If that is the case, why did we find his blood and Melinda's student's but nobody else's? " Rather than answer Adam playfully squeezes one of Olivia's butt cheeks.
"Why would he set up that fight?" Adam lies down next to Olivia so they are eye to eye. "When one of us takes another's head, we are largely incapacitated for a few minutes. He wanted to take Duncan while he was still in that state. But he found that Duncan was too good for him even then." Olivia digests this information. "You're trying to get him where Duncan can't get to him." Adam nods. "Why?" Adam sits back up and continues his massage. "Because every fight is a chance to get killed, it doesn't matter how good you are. There is always a chance. Duncan ignores that fact." Adam works his way patiently down the back of Olivia's thigh. "You aren't protecting him…you're protecting Duncan." Adam chuckles and begins to work on Olivia's gluteus maximus. "You're learning."
The next morning Munch briefs Olivia, Elliott, Cragan, and Alex on his search of old records. "I've been searching for references to decapitations that were not witnessed in New York back to when it was New Amsterdam. Except for the spike the Captain is familiar with in the 1980's, they are remarkably rare. We're not looking at something like the Mob or gangs defending turf. These are singular and rare events." The Captain thanks Munch and asks "Anybody have anything to add? … Olivia?" They all shake their heads.
As they leave, Olivia whispers to Alex. "Meet me at that bar tonight at six."
Stabler and Olivia go to Hudson University to search for the woman Adam noticed. They watch students moving between classes and going to the library without success. As they watch from a convenient bench they suddenly hear "Looking for me? It's Olivia, isn't it?" from behind them. Stabler turns quickly to see a blond woman as Olivia cringes at being surprised. "You must be her partner." She says as Elliott drops his jaw. "I've been meaning to stop by your station, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I have a permit to carry. I'm going to reach very slowly into my pocket and show you." She retrieves her papers and hands them to Elliott.
Olivia explains "We wanted to talk to you to see who you are working for." The blond smiles "Why? Couldn't I just be taking a few classes?" Olivia shakes her head. "Like you would need to take a course on history. We know what you are." The woman pouts "What? Ouch. Am I not human?" Elliott hands the papers back. "They seem to be in order Ms. Albright." She takes the permit back and flirts "Call me Kyra." Olivia says "Ms. Albright, I'm thinking you're carrying a second weapon." Kyra smiles "You'd be right. There is an eighteenth cutlass under my coat." Stabler understands why Olivia is somewhat hostile, but he doesn't feel the same way. The woman continues "I'm not hunting. You have met others like me?" In her head, Olivia thinks 'Meddle not in the affairs of dragons for they are subtle and dangerous.' Olivia only nods to Kyra.
"You haven't said who you are protecting." Olivia observes. "I'm not protecting anyone in particular. I'm a guest adjunct professor teaching a course on ancient Sparta…pretty much the bottom of the academic food chain. I don't even get a parking space. But I keep an eye out for bad behavior. I'm a bit too old to be a student, but there are a few with teacher fantasies." Elliott nods "Well if you see anything illegal call us" and he hands her his card. She looks it over "Well… Elliott, why don't you write your cell number on the back?" Elliott just smiles and Kyra puts the card away.
"May I see your wrists?" Kyra asks. Puzzled Olivia and Elliott comply. "Just wondering" Kyra says with a giggle.
As they get back to the car, Olivia teases "You know she's probably a few hundred years old. It's like watching a pedophile stalking a victim." Elliott glares back "What does that make you? Adam is thousands of years old. He's a really old guy." Olivia shrugs it off "It makes me lucky."
After work, Elliott goes back to the campus and seeks out Kyra. Handing her a picture of his daughter he asks "How much would it cost me to have you protect her?" Kyra giggles looking at the photo "More than you can afford. Is she your daughter?" Elliott nods. "I'll keep an eye out for her…I'm not going to spy on her and report to you. Anything I do, is a favor for her." Elliott is relieved. "Her name is Kathleen. She's bipolar, but medicated." Kyra nods. "I've met her." Elliott says "I'm not going to ask. Thanks."
Elliott starts to leave Kyra says "Any questions not about your daughter?" Elliott turns back "Too many. But I've been told it isn't a good idea to ask them." Kyra says "All right. I was born four hundred and fifty years before Christ. I asked to see your wrists because I wanted to see if you were Watchers." Elliott is shocked and uneasy. "Watchers?" Kyra smiles. "You weren't going to ask any questions, but you got two answers…" Elliott decides to let it go.
The next morning Elliott goes to Olivia and confesses speaking with Kyra. "Olivia, she's not hundreds of years old like Duncan or Melinda, she's thousands… She was hundreds of years old before Christ. My head is still spinning." Olivia smiles and nods. "If I hadn't been with you…seen what we saw…I'd think this was all one of Munch's conspiracy theories. But she said the oddest thing. She said she wanted to see our wrists because she wanted to know if we're Watchers." Olivia's brow wrinkles in puzzlement. "What is a Watcher?" She asks. Elliott shrugs "That would be the next thing we need to figure out."
That night Elliott watches Duncan's antique shop from a car drinking a coffee. He's surprised when Alex knocks at the window. He unlocks the door and she gets in. "I'm not harassing them. It's a public street." Elliott explains. "I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong. Is anything going on?" Elliott shakes his head, relieved that she isn't telling him why he should not be doing this unofficial stakeout. Alex opens a paper bag with a thermos of coffee and a salad. "So this is a stakeout?" Alex says as Elliott watches amused by her intensity. "Yeah. Just relax. Sometimes it is hours and many times nothing happens at all. I don't recall anyone ever bringing a salad." Alex stops crunching on her salad. "Sorry. I didn't know there was an official menu." Elliott laughs. "There isn't. At least your crunching drowns out whatever is chewing under the backseat." Alex's eyes open wide "There is something in here with us?" Elliott nods "Mouse probably. I hope it doesn't get into the wiring. That's what happens when guys leave their food wrappers in the car." Alex sniffs the air. "What is that smell?" Elliot explains old food wrappers, coffee cups, cigarettes…and farts. Alex is disgusted. "Lots of street food has been eaten in these cars…makes for gas." This explanation doesn't help.
Unseen from the shadows Kyra watches them.
In a warmer, less smelly, and less rodent infested place Olivia asks Adam "What is a Watcher?" Adam explains "A person that watches a thing or event. At sporting events they are often referred to as fans." Olivia rolls her eyes. "Listen, I know you likely don't tell me the whole truth most of the time. But this is the first time that you've completely avoided a subject…at least as far as I know. What is a Watcher and what is distinctive about their wrists?"
Adam doesn't answer. Olivia just waits. Finally Olivia says "Normally, I figure I can wait out a subject, but I can't with you." With a slight grin Adam nods "No, you can't. The Watchers are an ancient organization of mortals who watch and record the activities of immortals. But they don't interfere. They don't interact with law enforcement. Their field people have tattoos on their wrists." Olivia digests this information. "So they would know what happened to Melinda's student." Adam nods "Probably. It isn't like they stay so close to their assigned subject that they see everything let alone hear everything."
Olivia has a sudden thought. "So they know about…us?" Adam smiles "Nope. They lost track of me hundreds of years ago. I joined them as a researcher." Adam gets a mischievous grin. "I was in charge of finding me and I made sure that would never happen. But even if I had a Watcher, they know that most interactions are with mortals who have no idea we exist. You would be…a footnote."
"What is 'hunting' in your world?" Olivia asks. "Exactly what you're thinking it is." Comes Adams answer. "Where did you hear that term? Where did you hear about the Watchers?" Olivia responds as casually as she can "Kyra." She receives a not too gentle swat on her behind. "Did you mention I'm here?" Olivia winces. "No…of course not…and neither did Elliott."
At around one o'clock in the morning the unofficial stakeout breaks up as the upstairs lights at the antique shop have been out for awhile. Stabler offers to drive Alex home but she says she'll take a nearby subway. Stabler is uncomfortable, but Alex insists. As Alex moves toward the subway station, Kyra follows at a considerable distance and sticking to the shadows.