Chapter 8
Lazarski's Apartment
Lazarski was sat reading in a high back winged chair by a fire, a crystal tumbler was next to him on a small table. When he heard a noise from behind him he put his book down and got up "What are you doing here? .I told you to watch MacLeod's barge" it was then that he noticed the blood that was covering D'Aubigne chest "did anyone see you come up here?" he took a few steps towards D'Aubigne "N.no I came up the back way.no one saw me".
"I thought I told you to stay back.I need the girl.but what I don't need is MacLeod getting anymore interested than he already is" Lazarski said through gritted teeth. Claude put up his hands "It wasn't MacLeod.he wasn't there, the girl alone so I thought." Lazarski backhanded Claude across the face sending him spinning into a cabinet "you thought.you thought.when have I asked you to think?" Claude straightened himself up and wiped the blood that was trickling from the side of his mouth "If it wasn't MacLeod then who was it?" Lazarski said as he sat back down in his chair "he didn't say.I didn't give him the chance but whoever he is, he's good".
Lazarski thought for a moment before looking back at Claude "Do you think he was after MacLeod?" Claude walked closer "I don't think so.he was very calm as he came onto the barge" Lazarski rubbed his chin "that means you'll need to be extra careful.stay well back.if she goes out alone call me.don't try and get her on your own.is that clear?" Claude raised his eyes to the ceiling, the look wasn't lost on Lazarski, he was quickly on his feet, his hand grabbed Claude's throat he then lent close to Claude's ear as he tightened his grip "Is that clear" Claude nodded as the pressure from Lazarski's hand choked away any words.
Lazarski smiled before forcefully pushing Claude backwards before he could get his balance he collided with the low table that was in front of the couch sending himself and the contents of the table flying. When Claude came to a rest Lazarski took a step forward "now go and do what I've told you and don't come here again or you might lose more than your pride".
Duncan woke up to an empty space beside him in the bed he swung his legs out of bed and slipped into his sweats and headed out on deck, he stood for a moment when he saw Alex sat on the raised deck her feet dangling over the edge as she stared out down the Seine. He walked over and without a word sat down beside her, Alex didn't react to his presence her eyes transfixed on the water but he did notice that her face was tear stained. Duncan slipped his arm around her and as she felt the warmth of his body on hers she laid her head on his shoulder "Oh Duncan what am I?"
"Hey.we don't know anything for certain yet.your nightmares maybe just that.nightmares" Alex lifted her head and looked into his eyes "I just can't stop thinking about Phil.and his face.this morning I woke up with the feeling that I should be doing something.something that I have to do alone" Duncan stroked her hair with one hand "whatever it is you won't have to face it alone.I'll be with you" Alex smiled at him "Thanks but you.I mean neither of us knows what it is" she said as she laid her head back on his shoulder, Duncan pulled her close and lightly kissed the top of her hair "I'm sure it won't be that bad".
Charles de Gaulle
Ray Muir and Thomas Bishop emerged from the terminal each carrying a black holdall, both feeling a lot happier now that their guns were back in their holsters under their jackets; they put on their sunglasses as they walked towards the row of cab's "well the weathers good" Ray said as they got in to the first cab in the long line. They gave the address of the Embassy to the cab driver, who nodded and muttered something under his breath.
Ray paid the cab driver as Thomas got the bags from the trunk; they then both went in to the building. They made their way towards the reception desk at the other end of the white walled room where a red haired man stood at the reception desk talking with a middle-aged couple, they waited for a few minutes before Thomas began impatient, he took out a small wallet from his pocket and waved in under the nose of the red haired man, he was about to tell them to wait their turn when his eyes focused on the content of the wallet "Oh..err.just excuse me a minute" he said to the middle aged couple, he then focused on Ray and Thomas "Please go through the door and someone will be with you" he said pointing to the door next to the reception desk "Thanks" Thomas quipped as he walked away.
Thomas and Ray were greeted on the other side of door by a tall slightly balding man in a smart dark grey suit "I'm Terrence Parker.What can we do for you Gentlemen?"
"We're looking for information on this woman," Ray said handing him a photograph, the man looked at the photo for a few moments "I'm sorry but I haven't seen her"
"Well Terrence you might not have seen her but someone in this office ran a check on her.and I want to talk to that person and I want any files that you might have on Alex Rogan" Ray said before Thomas could speak. "If you would like to wait in here.I'll find out who made the enquiry" the man said as he opened the door to a small room.
"Why don't you just calm down Tom.we're in Paris McCormack is paying.if it takes a few days to find her.what's your problem?" Tom pulled out one of the chairs and sat down "I just can't believe what happened.I just want to ask her what the hell she thinks she's doing.this isn't like her at all" Ray patted him on the back "Yeah me too".
The door on the other side of the desk opened and Terrence came back in with a folder under his arm "I'm sorry but the lady who dealt with this case is not in today but I think I have all the details you will require" he said as he handed a folder to Ray, who flipped the folder open, his finger traced the typed information on the page and then on the inside of the cover his fingers lifted the business card that had been stapled to the file "Bingo!" his said as he handed it Thomas who eagerly opened it. Ray turned to Terrence "We'll need a car".
"Of course.there is one available.if you would like to follow me, gentleman" Terrence said as he held his hand out to take the folder but Thomas kept it close to his body "I think we'll hang onto this".
Duncan was working on some repairs to the barge when Alex came up carrying two glasses of lemonade, Alex could see the perspiration on Duncan's arms glistening in the sunlight. A small wicked grin came over Alex as she quietly put the glasses down and she managed to take out a cube of ice from one of the drinks. She then crept up to Duncan and before he could turn round she slip the ice down his back, he jumped up trying to get the ice out of his shirt, he then turned "why you." Duncan said as he came towards her with a grin on his face, Alex backed away "Oh no you don't!" she said as she started to run away down the side of the barge
Lazarski's Apartment
Lazarski was sat reading in a high back winged chair by a fire, a crystal tumbler was next to him on a small table. When he heard a noise from behind him he put his book down and got up "What are you doing here? .I told you to watch MacLeod's barge" it was then that he noticed the blood that was covering D'Aubigne chest "did anyone see you come up here?" he took a few steps towards D'Aubigne "N.no I came up the back way.no one saw me".
"I thought I told you to stay back.I need the girl.but what I don't need is MacLeod getting anymore interested than he already is" Lazarski said through gritted teeth. Claude put up his hands "It wasn't MacLeod.he wasn't there, the girl alone so I thought." Lazarski backhanded Claude across the face sending him spinning into a cabinet "you thought.you thought.when have I asked you to think?" Claude straightened himself up and wiped the blood that was trickling from the side of his mouth "If it wasn't MacLeod then who was it?" Lazarski said as he sat back down in his chair "he didn't say.I didn't give him the chance but whoever he is, he's good".
Lazarski thought for a moment before looking back at Claude "Do you think he was after MacLeod?" Claude walked closer "I don't think so.he was very calm as he came onto the barge" Lazarski rubbed his chin "that means you'll need to be extra careful.stay well back.if she goes out alone call me.don't try and get her on your own.is that clear?" Claude raised his eyes to the ceiling, the look wasn't lost on Lazarski, he was quickly on his feet, his hand grabbed Claude's throat he then lent close to Claude's ear as he tightened his grip "Is that clear" Claude nodded as the pressure from Lazarski's hand choked away any words.
Lazarski smiled before forcefully pushing Claude backwards before he could get his balance he collided with the low table that was in front of the couch sending himself and the contents of the table flying. When Claude came to a rest Lazarski took a step forward "now go and do what I've told you and don't come here again or you might lose more than your pride".
Duncan woke up to an empty space beside him in the bed he swung his legs out of bed and slipped into his sweats and headed out on deck, he stood for a moment when he saw Alex sat on the raised deck her feet dangling over the edge as she stared out down the Seine. He walked over and without a word sat down beside her, Alex didn't react to his presence her eyes transfixed on the water but he did notice that her face was tear stained. Duncan slipped his arm around her and as she felt the warmth of his body on hers she laid her head on his shoulder "Oh Duncan what am I?"
"Hey.we don't know anything for certain yet.your nightmares maybe just that.nightmares" Alex lifted her head and looked into his eyes "I just can't stop thinking about Phil.and his face.this morning I woke up with the feeling that I should be doing something.something that I have to do alone" Duncan stroked her hair with one hand "whatever it is you won't have to face it alone.I'll be with you" Alex smiled at him "Thanks but you.I mean neither of us knows what it is" she said as she laid her head back on his shoulder, Duncan pulled her close and lightly kissed the top of her hair "I'm sure it won't be that bad".
Charles de Gaulle
Ray Muir and Thomas Bishop emerged from the terminal each carrying a black holdall, both feeling a lot happier now that their guns were back in their holsters under their jackets; they put on their sunglasses as they walked towards the row of cab's "well the weathers good" Ray said as they got in to the first cab in the long line. They gave the address of the Embassy to the cab driver, who nodded and muttered something under his breath.
Ray paid the cab driver as Thomas got the bags from the trunk; they then both went in to the building. They made their way towards the reception desk at the other end of the white walled room where a red haired man stood at the reception desk talking with a middle-aged couple, they waited for a few minutes before Thomas began impatient, he took out a small wallet from his pocket and waved in under the nose of the red haired man, he was about to tell them to wait their turn when his eyes focused on the content of the wallet "Oh..err.just excuse me a minute" he said to the middle aged couple, he then focused on Ray and Thomas "Please go through the door and someone will be with you" he said pointing to the door next to the reception desk "Thanks" Thomas quipped as he walked away.
Thomas and Ray were greeted on the other side of door by a tall slightly balding man in a smart dark grey suit "I'm Terrence Parker.What can we do for you Gentlemen?"
"We're looking for information on this woman," Ray said handing him a photograph, the man looked at the photo for a few moments "I'm sorry but I haven't seen her"
"Well Terrence you might not have seen her but someone in this office ran a check on her.and I want to talk to that person and I want any files that you might have on Alex Rogan" Ray said before Thomas could speak. "If you would like to wait in here.I'll find out who made the enquiry" the man said as he opened the door to a small room.
"Why don't you just calm down Tom.we're in Paris McCormack is paying.if it takes a few days to find her.what's your problem?" Tom pulled out one of the chairs and sat down "I just can't believe what happened.I just want to ask her what the hell she thinks she's doing.this isn't like her at all" Ray patted him on the back "Yeah me too".
The door on the other side of the desk opened and Terrence came back in with a folder under his arm "I'm sorry but the lady who dealt with this case is not in today but I think I have all the details you will require" he said as he handed a folder to Ray, who flipped the folder open, his finger traced the typed information on the page and then on the inside of the cover his fingers lifted the business card that had been stapled to the file "Bingo!" his said as he handed it Thomas who eagerly opened it. Ray turned to Terrence "We'll need a car".
"Of course.there is one available.if you would like to follow me, gentleman" Terrence said as he held his hand out to take the folder but Thomas kept it close to his body "I think we'll hang onto this".
Duncan was working on some repairs to the barge when Alex came up carrying two glasses of lemonade, Alex could see the perspiration on Duncan's arms glistening in the sunlight. A small wicked grin came over Alex as she quietly put the glasses down and she managed to take out a cube of ice from one of the drinks. She then crept up to Duncan and before he could turn round she slip the ice down his back, he jumped up trying to get the ice out of his shirt, he then turned "why you." Duncan said as he came towards her with a grin on his face, Alex backed away "Oh no you don't!" she said as she started to run away down the side of the barge