Chapter 13
Duncan sat and listened to Ray tell him about Alex causing a scene at the Australian Ambassadors Ball, which Duncan already knew something about from the Watchers files Joe had shown him the night before. Ray explained that after the incident Alex had been suspended from duty until the dust settled she had only been reinstated for a few weeks when her partner had been killed "After her partner died Alex became obsessed with a man she killed years ago, on a case we were working, still being alive.so she was suspended on medical grounds and sent to one of our facilities for assessment" Ray waited for a reaction from Duncan but there was none "she left facility without the permission.and disappeared.until 2 weeks ago when she was involved in an incident involving an Australian diplomat.quite a nasty one, well for him anyway, then she disappeared again.if it hadn't been for the enquiry you made at the British Embassy here in Paris we would still be scratching our heads".
Duncan sat with his right arm on the side of the chair his head resting on against it as his fingers lightly stroked his forehead. Ray finished speaking and waited for Duncan to speak, Duncan took a few moments to think carefully about what he had just been told and what they left out "look I understand what you've just told me and leaving last night aside I think you want to help her but this is her decision to make" Duncan could see the troubled look on Thomas's face at his reply, Duncan got to his feet "Ok I'll talk to her but I'm not making any promises.it will be her choice if she meets with you.where can I contact you on" Thomas and Ray looked at each other before getting to their feet, they both knew this was their invitation to leave. Thomas pulled out a card of his pocket "We'll be here until we hear from you.but we won't wait for long" Duncan looked Thomas directly in the eyes "That's your choice but if you want my help you'll let me do this my way" Ray stepped in front of Thomas "We just want to talk to her you have my word" Duncan nodded and gestured towards the door "well the sooner you leave, the sooner I can go and talk to her" Ray took hold of Thomas upper arm and moved him towards the door.
Duncan had been very careful to ensure that he was not followed as he drove to Fitz's apartment, his eyes constantly searching the mirrors for any sign that someone had joined his journey. His mind ran through what he had found out about Alex, how much should he tell her, would she believe him? The woman he had got to know in the last few days didn't seem anything like the one Ray had described to him this morning.
It took a few minutes for Fitz to open the door and it was obvious to Duncan from his dishevelled appearance that he had slept in his clothes and from Fitz's blurry eyed look he had been woken up by Duncan's knocking "Arr.Laddie it's good to see you.what's the time?" Fitz said fumbling for his watch "It's nearly 11.is Alex up?" Duncan asked, as he walked into the apartment "No she must still be asleep" Fitz said as he moved aside and allowed Duncan into the room "I'll just go and see her" Duncan said as he walked down the thickly carpeted hall, Fitz followed. As Duncan reached Alex's room he turned round "and where do you think your going?" Duncan asked raising his eyebrows "Errr.Me.I was going to get some clean clothes after all I've been on duty all night" Fitz said as he turned on his heels heading for the other bedroom. The door to Alex's room was ajar Fitz obviously deciding not to shut it in case he woke her. Duncan gently pushed the door and it silently swung opened, he had taken a few steps into the room when he noticed that the bed was empty "FITZ" he shouted as he turned to leave the room. At the sound of Duncan shouting his name Fitz rushed from his room still pulling on a clean shirt and nearly ran into Duncan "What is it Laddie?" Fitz asked as he started to button the shirt "Alex isn't in her room" Duncan replied as he tried the door of the bathroom which opened with no resistance "She not here either".
"She must be" Fitz said moving past Duncan when he had satisfied himself that Alex wasn't in the bathroom he crossed the hall and entered the bedroom, Fitz even looked under the bed before standing up and scratching his head "I just don't understand it.I didn't leave the couch all night except to check on her" Duncan didn't hear the last part as he was already on his way to the living room as he entered his eyes fell on the nearly empty decanter on the table next to the couch, he stood there with his hands on his hips trying to think where Alex could have gone, when Fitz came hopping down the hall trying to put his boots on as he walked "I swear MacLeod I never left her alone for a minute" Duncan walked over to the other end of the couch and picked up the decanter "you might have been here in body but I think your mind was elsewhere.this was full when I left you last night".
Fitz tried to smile as he shrugged "Purely medicinal my boy.to help with the cold" the exasperation on Duncan's face "What nearly a whole decanter.that's not going to help with the cold unless being is a coma does.she must have left during the night but you were too drunk to hear her.I've got to find her.but I don't know where to start". Fitz had just noticed that his car keys were missing "The little minx".
"What?" Duncan asked "She taken my car MacLeod I left the keys right there" Fitz said pointing to the small mahogany table by the door "We could start with my car.I mean she has stolen it after all.you know let the police do their job while we get some breakfast" Duncan shook his head "I don't believe you, I ask you to look after someone for me and you lose her and all you can think about is breakfast.come on".
"I was only trying to help" Fitz replied as he grabbed his long coat from the stand by the door before chasing after Duncan who was already most of the way down the stairs "they have invented the elevator you know Laddie" Fitz said breathing heavily as he caught up with Duncan on the street "I think you should lay off the large dinners and brandy" Duncan said patting Fitz on the stomach after unlocking the car. Duncan drove to the police station where a friend of his worked, Fitz waited in the car as Duncan when in to see if he could trace the car, it wasn't long before Duncan returned to the car "Well?" Fitz asked as Duncan climbed into the driver's seat "Have they found it?"
"They've found it" Duncan said trying hard to keep a straight face "Where.is she still with it?" Fitz asked, "The airport and No" Duncan kept his answers short to stop himself from laughing. "What are you waiting for let's get to the airport and I can have my car back," Fitz said tapping the dashboard with his pipe "Arr" Duncan said as he pulled the car out into the midday traffic, Fitz turned in his seat to look directly at Duncan "What do you mean Arr?" Duncan could contain his amusement no longer and a big grin spread across his face he scratched his head trying to shield his face from Fitz "MacLeod!"
"Your car isn't at the airport"
"But you said that the police said it was there" Fitz exclaimed, "I didn't say that it was there just that's where the police found it.it's been towed" Duncan replied as he turned the car into the next street. "Towed! Do you have any idea how much it costs to get a car back after it's been towed? Well do you MacLeod?"
"you can afford it remember" Duncan replied "Oh yes I can, can't I.was forgetting about that" Fitz replied settling back into the seat "Do you think she left the country?" Duncan shook his head "No the car was towed from the Arrivals area.she either went to meet someone or something" Duncan said as his face grew serious, he wasn't sure why he was going to the airport he didn't really believe she would still be there.
Alex hadn't realised how long she had been sitting on the ground when a hand being laid on her shoulder jolted her back to reality "Êtes-vous tout droit?" Alex looked up into a pair of cool blue eyes "Sorry ?"
"Oh pardon me.you are English" Alex nodded, standing over her was a man in a dark blue uniform, he was in his late 50s with greying hair "are you all right?" Alex nodded and started to get to her feet, the man reached out a hand which Alex took hold of "Thanks" Alex said when she was on her feet, she quickly zipped up the black bag "I must have been tired after my flight.I just sat down for a moment" the man smiled at her, the man knew that Alex hadn't come off any flight that morning as he had seen her come in and cross to the lockers, he had worked at the terminal for a long time and anyone going against the flow of bodies always caught his attention but he decided not to question her "you must have been.I was watching you for half an hour before I came over" Alex looked at her watch over an hour had gone by while she had been sat by the lockers lost in her own memories. Alex thanked the man again for his concern before heading for the exit.
When she got outside Fitz's car was nowhere to be seen, she rolled her eyes and sighed when she looked up at the sign just feet from where she had left the car, it was a tow away zone. Alex looked around her for another means of transport, spotting the taxi sign she made her way down to where a long line of taxi's were waiting. She opened the door on the first on "Rue du Javel" she said as she climbed in.
Duncan sat and listened to Ray tell him about Alex causing a scene at the Australian Ambassadors Ball, which Duncan already knew something about from the Watchers files Joe had shown him the night before. Ray explained that after the incident Alex had been suspended from duty until the dust settled she had only been reinstated for a few weeks when her partner had been killed "After her partner died Alex became obsessed with a man she killed years ago, on a case we were working, still being alive.so she was suspended on medical grounds and sent to one of our facilities for assessment" Ray waited for a reaction from Duncan but there was none "she left facility without the permission.and disappeared.until 2 weeks ago when she was involved in an incident involving an Australian diplomat.quite a nasty one, well for him anyway, then she disappeared again.if it hadn't been for the enquiry you made at the British Embassy here in Paris we would still be scratching our heads".
Duncan sat with his right arm on the side of the chair his head resting on against it as his fingers lightly stroked his forehead. Ray finished speaking and waited for Duncan to speak, Duncan took a few moments to think carefully about what he had just been told and what they left out "look I understand what you've just told me and leaving last night aside I think you want to help her but this is her decision to make" Duncan could see the troubled look on Thomas's face at his reply, Duncan got to his feet "Ok I'll talk to her but I'm not making any promises.it will be her choice if she meets with you.where can I contact you on" Thomas and Ray looked at each other before getting to their feet, they both knew this was their invitation to leave. Thomas pulled out a card of his pocket "We'll be here until we hear from you.but we won't wait for long" Duncan looked Thomas directly in the eyes "That's your choice but if you want my help you'll let me do this my way" Ray stepped in front of Thomas "We just want to talk to her you have my word" Duncan nodded and gestured towards the door "well the sooner you leave, the sooner I can go and talk to her" Ray took hold of Thomas upper arm and moved him towards the door.
Duncan had been very careful to ensure that he was not followed as he drove to Fitz's apartment, his eyes constantly searching the mirrors for any sign that someone had joined his journey. His mind ran through what he had found out about Alex, how much should he tell her, would she believe him? The woman he had got to know in the last few days didn't seem anything like the one Ray had described to him this morning.
It took a few minutes for Fitz to open the door and it was obvious to Duncan from his dishevelled appearance that he had slept in his clothes and from Fitz's blurry eyed look he had been woken up by Duncan's knocking "Arr.Laddie it's good to see you.what's the time?" Fitz said fumbling for his watch "It's nearly 11.is Alex up?" Duncan asked, as he walked into the apartment "No she must still be asleep" Fitz said as he moved aside and allowed Duncan into the room "I'll just go and see her" Duncan said as he walked down the thickly carpeted hall, Fitz followed. As Duncan reached Alex's room he turned round "and where do you think your going?" Duncan asked raising his eyebrows "Errr.Me.I was going to get some clean clothes after all I've been on duty all night" Fitz said as he turned on his heels heading for the other bedroom. The door to Alex's room was ajar Fitz obviously deciding not to shut it in case he woke her. Duncan gently pushed the door and it silently swung opened, he had taken a few steps into the room when he noticed that the bed was empty "FITZ" he shouted as he turned to leave the room. At the sound of Duncan shouting his name Fitz rushed from his room still pulling on a clean shirt and nearly ran into Duncan "What is it Laddie?" Fitz asked as he started to button the shirt "Alex isn't in her room" Duncan replied as he tried the door of the bathroom which opened with no resistance "She not here either".
"She must be" Fitz said moving past Duncan when he had satisfied himself that Alex wasn't in the bathroom he crossed the hall and entered the bedroom, Fitz even looked under the bed before standing up and scratching his head "I just don't understand it.I didn't leave the couch all night except to check on her" Duncan didn't hear the last part as he was already on his way to the living room as he entered his eyes fell on the nearly empty decanter on the table next to the couch, he stood there with his hands on his hips trying to think where Alex could have gone, when Fitz came hopping down the hall trying to put his boots on as he walked "I swear MacLeod I never left her alone for a minute" Duncan walked over to the other end of the couch and picked up the decanter "you might have been here in body but I think your mind was elsewhere.this was full when I left you last night".
Fitz tried to smile as he shrugged "Purely medicinal my boy.to help with the cold" the exasperation on Duncan's face "What nearly a whole decanter.that's not going to help with the cold unless being is a coma does.she must have left during the night but you were too drunk to hear her.I've got to find her.but I don't know where to start". Fitz had just noticed that his car keys were missing "The little minx".
"What?" Duncan asked "She taken my car MacLeod I left the keys right there" Fitz said pointing to the small mahogany table by the door "We could start with my car.I mean she has stolen it after all.you know let the police do their job while we get some breakfast" Duncan shook his head "I don't believe you, I ask you to look after someone for me and you lose her and all you can think about is breakfast.come on".
"I was only trying to help" Fitz replied as he grabbed his long coat from the stand by the door before chasing after Duncan who was already most of the way down the stairs "they have invented the elevator you know Laddie" Fitz said breathing heavily as he caught up with Duncan on the street "I think you should lay off the large dinners and brandy" Duncan said patting Fitz on the stomach after unlocking the car. Duncan drove to the police station where a friend of his worked, Fitz waited in the car as Duncan when in to see if he could trace the car, it wasn't long before Duncan returned to the car "Well?" Fitz asked as Duncan climbed into the driver's seat "Have they found it?"
"They've found it" Duncan said trying hard to keep a straight face "Where.is she still with it?" Fitz asked, "The airport and No" Duncan kept his answers short to stop himself from laughing. "What are you waiting for let's get to the airport and I can have my car back," Fitz said tapping the dashboard with his pipe "Arr" Duncan said as he pulled the car out into the midday traffic, Fitz turned in his seat to look directly at Duncan "What do you mean Arr?" Duncan could contain his amusement no longer and a big grin spread across his face he scratched his head trying to shield his face from Fitz "MacLeod!"
"Your car isn't at the airport"
"But you said that the police said it was there" Fitz exclaimed, "I didn't say that it was there just that's where the police found it.it's been towed" Duncan replied as he turned the car into the next street. "Towed! Do you have any idea how much it costs to get a car back after it's been towed? Well do you MacLeod?"
"you can afford it remember" Duncan replied "Oh yes I can, can't I.was forgetting about that" Fitz replied settling back into the seat "Do you think she left the country?" Duncan shook his head "No the car was towed from the Arrivals area.she either went to meet someone or something" Duncan said as his face grew serious, he wasn't sure why he was going to the airport he didn't really believe she would still be there.
Alex hadn't realised how long she had been sitting on the ground when a hand being laid on her shoulder jolted her back to reality "Êtes-vous tout droit?" Alex looked up into a pair of cool blue eyes "Sorry ?"
"Oh pardon me.you are English" Alex nodded, standing over her was a man in a dark blue uniform, he was in his late 50s with greying hair "are you all right?" Alex nodded and started to get to her feet, the man reached out a hand which Alex took hold of "Thanks" Alex said when she was on her feet, she quickly zipped up the black bag "I must have been tired after my flight.I just sat down for a moment" the man smiled at her, the man knew that Alex hadn't come off any flight that morning as he had seen her come in and cross to the lockers, he had worked at the terminal for a long time and anyone going against the flow of bodies always caught his attention but he decided not to question her "you must have been.I was watching you for half an hour before I came over" Alex looked at her watch over an hour had gone by while she had been sat by the lockers lost in her own memories. Alex thanked the man again for his concern before heading for the exit.
When she got outside Fitz's car was nowhere to be seen, she rolled her eyes and sighed when she looked up at the sign just feet from where she had left the car, it was a tow away zone. Alex looked around her for another means of transport, spotting the taxi sign she made her way down to where a long line of taxi's were waiting. She opened the door on the first on "Rue du Javel" she said as she climbed in.