CHAPTER 15
Once Richie and Methos had come to an understanding, the four of them sat down and
discussed options and strategy for dealing with the situation. Joe had a friend in law enforcement
near Atlanta … a guy he served in the military with. He was going to ask if he could find out more
about the suppressed statement and anything else involving the case. For now, Asher was still in
the Atlanta prison … but they didn't think that would last.
"It's only a matter of time … and I doubt Asher Devan enjoys confinement." Methos remarked,
reminding them all of the grudge the immortal would have as a result of his previous encounter
and subsequent burial.
"Remember … he had people working with him … any one of them could turn up here at any
time." Duncan warned. "I don't think she should be unprotected … we need to find a way to
watch over her without her becoming suspicious."
"I spend as much time as I can in the evenings at her place … but it would be a little awkward if I
started hanging around during the day … while she's working." Richie replied.
"It's too bad she wasn't interested in letting Methos board with her …" Joe mused.
Duncan looked up from where his hands were smoothing across the surface of the table. "That's
it."
"What's it?" Richie and Joe asked almost simultaneously.
"We find a way to make her WANT to let him board with her." He replied.
Methos frowned. "She doesn't hate me … but I'm not sure she would be that keen on the idea of
having another boarder. Yes she let me keep the boxes there so I wouldn't have to move them to
your place and then again when I found somewhere else to go … but …" his voice trailed off.
"I could tell her I have to move … ask her if I can rent a room." Richie offered.
"Bad idea." Duncan replied immediately and Joe agreed.
"She wouldn't suspect anything if it was Methos … we've already established he needs a place."
Duncan continued. "And he wouldn't be … distracted." He looked pointedly at Richie.
"I don't see it happening." Richie replied, ignoring the look.
"Leave it to me." Duncan said as he picked up his keys to go. "Can you get another ride back to
my place?" he asked Methos.
Methos nodded. "I thought I would hang out here at Joe's … see if his friend comes up with
something."
"You really think you can talk her into it?" Richie asked … wanting Beth to be protected … not
completely thrilled that it would be Methos who might carry the weight of that task.
"Like I said … leave it to me." And with that he was out the door.
A few minutes later he was roaring up in front of the bakery in his convertible. Beth saw him pull
up and since there weren't any customers she stepped out on the porch to greet him.
"Nice day for a drive don't you think?" he asked as he strode up the walk.
"Perfect … a little warmer than it's been … blue sky … probably one of the last really nice days
before winter sets in." she replied wrapping her arms around herself since she hadn't stopped to
put a jacket on.
"Can I talk you into getting out of here for awhile? Take you for a drive up the coast maybe? I
know a great little place for lunch." Duncan smiled and she almost laughed at his unabashed
charm.
"Unfortunately I have the shop … " she replied.
"I can take care of the shop. It's slow today … you go with Duncan." Esperanza had heard the
conversation from the door and knew it would be good for Beth to get out.
Beth gave her a look … wishing she hadn't made that offer … but now there was no way out …
not without hurting Duncan's feelings or being rude. "Ok … but give me a minute to throw on
something a little warmer."
Beth changed into a pair of jeans and a plaid button down shirt over a white turtle neck sweater.
Grabbing a baseball cap and a scrunchie along with her purse and jacket, she skipped down the
steps … thinking after all that it might be nice to get out for awhile.
"You be a good boy." She called to Barkley who watched as she pulled her hair back and shoved
the hat over her head to keep the wind from doing it's worst.
"Ready?" Duncan asked as he opened the door on her side of the car.
"Ready." She replied with a smile.
Duncan drove out of town and up the sea coast. Beth hadn't been that direction and couldn't get
over how beautiful it was. "That water looks so blue … and so clear … the Atlantic is pretty, but
it's not the same color … there's something different."
"Yeah … it's got a richer hue to it … but now the gulf … the gulf is the deepest blue on this side of
the globe … have you ever seen the Mediterannean?" Duncan asked.
"No … I'm afraid until I moved to Seacouver I hadn't been west of Texas or any further north than
Boston … and definitely not out of the country." She replied. "But I've been to the gulf … my
girlfriends and I used to go there for spring break in college … it was fun … not out of control like
Daytona."
Beth got quiet as she thought about her friends she left back east.
"You miss it don't you?" Duncan asked as he rounded another curve.
"Miss it? You mean home?"
"Yeah … home … friends … family."
"I miss it so bad sometimes I don't think I can breathe … it doesn't seem real not to be there."
She replied.
"I know what it's like to be homesick …" he offered. "I want you to know that if you ever want to
talk about it ... I'm a pretty good listener."
Beth turned in her seat to look over at him. "I appreciate that … but I'm afraid I can't really talk
about it without losing it … Detective Taylor smuggled a few videos from my family … and I can't
even bring myself to watch. I miss them so much …" her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. "But
I can't watch." Her voice broke on her words.
For several minutes they rode in silence. Duncan put his hand over hers in an understanding
gesture and let her decide whether to continue.
"You know they have to pretend I'm in some institution?" she confided and Duncan was
surprised. "After Craig died … I said some pretty crazy things … and after the trial … the threats
… well … it was pretty easy for people to believe I'd lost my mind with grief. That's the cover
story Lt. Taylor came up with to keep my family safe … to keep me safe."
"Are you worried the people that are looking for you won't buy the story?" Duncan asked … glad
to finally be on the subject of her safety … the topic he'd hoped she would discuss with him.
"I'm so worried." Her voice quivered as she confessed her fears. "I'm afraid they will find out the
woman that carries my name is some poor homeless creature who needed to be taken care of
and resembled me … I'm afraid they will try to hurt my family … and I'm afraid … they will find me
and finish what they started in Atlanta."
Duncan pulled the car into a scenic overlook and they both got out. "Esperanza told me about
the nightmares … I sort of figured it was related."
Beth looked out over the water and took in a deep breath. She didn't blame Esperanza for telling
Duncan about the nights she'd awakened to the sound of screaming. "It gets worse all the time
… it's like my sub conscious knows the danger is getting closer … and it's trying to warn me."
"Maybe you should listen … take precautions …" he replied.
"Like what? I've got a gun … a dog … a new identity …" she laughed. "Guess you figured that
too."
Duncan smiled … he hadn't really thought about it before they read the report the night before,
but she didn't need to know that. Looking around to make sure no one was within ear shot, Beth
extended her hand. "Leandra Ralston … nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too Leandra … but I think we better stick to Beth for now … wouldn't want to
slip up." He replied as he squeezed her hand. "Seriously Beth … we're all worried about you …
and since you've trusted us this far … don't you think maybe it might be easier if you trusted us
with all of it? We can protect you … we want to protect you."
Beth walked back over to the car and leaned against the door. "Why would you want to put
yourself through this? You haven't known me that long. Why put yourself in the middle of
something that is already ugly … and is probably going to get worse?"
Duncan came to face her. "We may not have known you long … but we like what we've seen so
far … and we care about you … me … Joe … Richie … it's like you're a part of us now. We know
how to keep secrets and we know how to protect ourselves … and you." He finished.
"Exactly what do you have in mind? Round the clock surveillance?" she asked. Touched that
they felt that way.
"Well … now that you mention it … I do have an idea …" Duncan began as he indicated they
should get back in the car. "The diner is only a few miles up the road. I'll tell you about it there."
Beth listened as Duncan made his proposal. Adam needed a place to stay … she needed
protection … and besides … she still had some painting to do and some interior remodeling …
Adam helped Mac with a place he'd fixed up before … seemed like a good match.
"And why would Adam want to hang around my place, watching out for me … when he has his
own life … his own interests?" she asked.
"Wherever Adam stays he is going to spend most of his time at home … reading … researching
… he's a historian … it's what he enjoys. We might as well make use of it." Duncan replied.
"And why would he want to do this for me?" Beth repeated. "He hardly knows me."
"He knows Joe and Richie and I like you … and care about your safety … and he's fond of you.
He said you had a good sense of humor … and … did I mention he needs a place to stay?"
"I don't know … this could go on for a long time Duncan. Asher Devan … the man who killed my
husband … he is in prison … he's got time to do nothing but plan for his people to find me and do
what they will … He might even wait years to make his move … lulling me into a false sense of
security."
"I don't think so .. " Duncan replied, reaching for her hand across the table. "Look Beth … please
don't be angry, but when you told us about your husband and the threats … we sort of looked into
the case …" he looked up to make sure she wasn't angry. "And I don't think he'll wait long … he
doesn't seem the patient type."
"Well forgive me for saying this … but Adam doesn't appear to be the aggressive type either …at
least not physically." Beth's picture of the lean man in baggy sweaters didn't exactly fit the body
guard stereotype.
"You would be surprised." Duncan replied.
Beth put her face in her hands and let out a light scream of frustration into her palms.
The thought of having to defend herself … especially in the coming months, made her uneasy.
And as frustrating as she knew Mr. Pierson to be … still it would be someone who would be there
… maybe her subconscious would give her a break if she had a sense of protection. She knew
she should tell Duncan about the baby … but she wasn't ready … not yet. She needed a little
more time to prepare herself before she shared with anyone besides Esperanza.
"Ok." She said finally.
"Ok?" Duncan repeated.
"Ok Adam can move into the other two rooms on the third floor … and you can do whatever you
think is necessary to protect me." She replied almost as if it were an unwanted jail sentence.
Duncan grinned. "It's going to be all right. You'll see." He respected her courage and her
reluctance to depend on someone else. She was a strong woman.
Once Richie and Methos had come to an understanding, the four of them sat down and
discussed options and strategy for dealing with the situation. Joe had a friend in law enforcement
near Atlanta … a guy he served in the military with. He was going to ask if he could find out more
about the suppressed statement and anything else involving the case. For now, Asher was still in
the Atlanta prison … but they didn't think that would last.
"It's only a matter of time … and I doubt Asher Devan enjoys confinement." Methos remarked,
reminding them all of the grudge the immortal would have as a result of his previous encounter
and subsequent burial.
"Remember … he had people working with him … any one of them could turn up here at any
time." Duncan warned. "I don't think she should be unprotected … we need to find a way to
watch over her without her becoming suspicious."
"I spend as much time as I can in the evenings at her place … but it would be a little awkward if I
started hanging around during the day … while she's working." Richie replied.
"It's too bad she wasn't interested in letting Methos board with her …" Joe mused.
Duncan looked up from where his hands were smoothing across the surface of the table. "That's
it."
"What's it?" Richie and Joe asked almost simultaneously.
"We find a way to make her WANT to let him board with her." He replied.
Methos frowned. "She doesn't hate me … but I'm not sure she would be that keen on the idea of
having another boarder. Yes she let me keep the boxes there so I wouldn't have to move them to
your place and then again when I found somewhere else to go … but …" his voice trailed off.
"I could tell her I have to move … ask her if I can rent a room." Richie offered.
"Bad idea." Duncan replied immediately and Joe agreed.
"She wouldn't suspect anything if it was Methos … we've already established he needs a place."
Duncan continued. "And he wouldn't be … distracted." He looked pointedly at Richie.
"I don't see it happening." Richie replied, ignoring the look.
"Leave it to me." Duncan said as he picked up his keys to go. "Can you get another ride back to
my place?" he asked Methos.
Methos nodded. "I thought I would hang out here at Joe's … see if his friend comes up with
something."
"You really think you can talk her into it?" Richie asked … wanting Beth to be protected … not
completely thrilled that it would be Methos who might carry the weight of that task.
"Like I said … leave it to me." And with that he was out the door.
A few minutes later he was roaring up in front of the bakery in his convertible. Beth saw him pull
up and since there weren't any customers she stepped out on the porch to greet him.
"Nice day for a drive don't you think?" he asked as he strode up the walk.
"Perfect … a little warmer than it's been … blue sky … probably one of the last really nice days
before winter sets in." she replied wrapping her arms around herself since she hadn't stopped to
put a jacket on.
"Can I talk you into getting out of here for awhile? Take you for a drive up the coast maybe? I
know a great little place for lunch." Duncan smiled and she almost laughed at his unabashed
charm.
"Unfortunately I have the shop … " she replied.
"I can take care of the shop. It's slow today … you go with Duncan." Esperanza had heard the
conversation from the door and knew it would be good for Beth to get out.
Beth gave her a look … wishing she hadn't made that offer … but now there was no way out …
not without hurting Duncan's feelings or being rude. "Ok … but give me a minute to throw on
something a little warmer."
Beth changed into a pair of jeans and a plaid button down shirt over a white turtle neck sweater.
Grabbing a baseball cap and a scrunchie along with her purse and jacket, she skipped down the
steps … thinking after all that it might be nice to get out for awhile.
"You be a good boy." She called to Barkley who watched as she pulled her hair back and shoved
the hat over her head to keep the wind from doing it's worst.
"Ready?" Duncan asked as he opened the door on her side of the car.
"Ready." She replied with a smile.
Duncan drove out of town and up the sea coast. Beth hadn't been that direction and couldn't get
over how beautiful it was. "That water looks so blue … and so clear … the Atlantic is pretty, but
it's not the same color … there's something different."
"Yeah … it's got a richer hue to it … but now the gulf … the gulf is the deepest blue on this side of
the globe … have you ever seen the Mediterannean?" Duncan asked.
"No … I'm afraid until I moved to Seacouver I hadn't been west of Texas or any further north than
Boston … and definitely not out of the country." She replied. "But I've been to the gulf … my
girlfriends and I used to go there for spring break in college … it was fun … not out of control like
Daytona."
Beth got quiet as she thought about her friends she left back east.
"You miss it don't you?" Duncan asked as he rounded another curve.
"Miss it? You mean home?"
"Yeah … home … friends … family."
"I miss it so bad sometimes I don't think I can breathe … it doesn't seem real not to be there."
She replied.
"I know what it's like to be homesick …" he offered. "I want you to know that if you ever want to
talk about it ... I'm a pretty good listener."
Beth turned in her seat to look over at him. "I appreciate that … but I'm afraid I can't really talk
about it without losing it … Detective Taylor smuggled a few videos from my family … and I can't
even bring myself to watch. I miss them so much …" her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. "But
I can't watch." Her voice broke on her words.
For several minutes they rode in silence. Duncan put his hand over hers in an understanding
gesture and let her decide whether to continue.
"You know they have to pretend I'm in some institution?" she confided and Duncan was
surprised. "After Craig died … I said some pretty crazy things … and after the trial … the threats
… well … it was pretty easy for people to believe I'd lost my mind with grief. That's the cover
story Lt. Taylor came up with to keep my family safe … to keep me safe."
"Are you worried the people that are looking for you won't buy the story?" Duncan asked … glad
to finally be on the subject of her safety … the topic he'd hoped she would discuss with him.
"I'm so worried." Her voice quivered as she confessed her fears. "I'm afraid they will find out the
woman that carries my name is some poor homeless creature who needed to be taken care of
and resembled me … I'm afraid they will try to hurt my family … and I'm afraid … they will find me
and finish what they started in Atlanta."
Duncan pulled the car into a scenic overlook and they both got out. "Esperanza told me about
the nightmares … I sort of figured it was related."
Beth looked out over the water and took in a deep breath. She didn't blame Esperanza for telling
Duncan about the nights she'd awakened to the sound of screaming. "It gets worse all the time
… it's like my sub conscious knows the danger is getting closer … and it's trying to warn me."
"Maybe you should listen … take precautions …" he replied.
"Like what? I've got a gun … a dog … a new identity …" she laughed. "Guess you figured that
too."
Duncan smiled … he hadn't really thought about it before they read the report the night before,
but she didn't need to know that. Looking around to make sure no one was within ear shot, Beth
extended her hand. "Leandra Ralston … nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too Leandra … but I think we better stick to Beth for now … wouldn't want to
slip up." He replied as he squeezed her hand. "Seriously Beth … we're all worried about you …
and since you've trusted us this far … don't you think maybe it might be easier if you trusted us
with all of it? We can protect you … we want to protect you."
Beth walked back over to the car and leaned against the door. "Why would you want to put
yourself through this? You haven't known me that long. Why put yourself in the middle of
something that is already ugly … and is probably going to get worse?"
Duncan came to face her. "We may not have known you long … but we like what we've seen so
far … and we care about you … me … Joe … Richie … it's like you're a part of us now. We know
how to keep secrets and we know how to protect ourselves … and you." He finished.
"Exactly what do you have in mind? Round the clock surveillance?" she asked. Touched that
they felt that way.
"Well … now that you mention it … I do have an idea …" Duncan began as he indicated they
should get back in the car. "The diner is only a few miles up the road. I'll tell you about it there."
Beth listened as Duncan made his proposal. Adam needed a place to stay … she needed
protection … and besides … she still had some painting to do and some interior remodeling …
Adam helped Mac with a place he'd fixed up before … seemed like a good match.
"And why would Adam want to hang around my place, watching out for me … when he has his
own life … his own interests?" she asked.
"Wherever Adam stays he is going to spend most of his time at home … reading … researching
… he's a historian … it's what he enjoys. We might as well make use of it." Duncan replied.
"And why would he want to do this for me?" Beth repeated. "He hardly knows me."
"He knows Joe and Richie and I like you … and care about your safety … and he's fond of you.
He said you had a good sense of humor … and … did I mention he needs a place to stay?"
"I don't know … this could go on for a long time Duncan. Asher Devan … the man who killed my
husband … he is in prison … he's got time to do nothing but plan for his people to find me and do
what they will … He might even wait years to make his move … lulling me into a false sense of
security."
"I don't think so .. " Duncan replied, reaching for her hand across the table. "Look Beth … please
don't be angry, but when you told us about your husband and the threats … we sort of looked into
the case …" he looked up to make sure she wasn't angry. "And I don't think he'll wait long … he
doesn't seem the patient type."
"Well forgive me for saying this … but Adam doesn't appear to be the aggressive type either …at
least not physically." Beth's picture of the lean man in baggy sweaters didn't exactly fit the body
guard stereotype.
"You would be surprised." Duncan replied.
Beth put her face in her hands and let out a light scream of frustration into her palms.
The thought of having to defend herself … especially in the coming months, made her uneasy.
And as frustrating as she knew Mr. Pierson to be … still it would be someone who would be there
… maybe her subconscious would give her a break if she had a sense of protection. She knew
she should tell Duncan about the baby … but she wasn't ready … not yet. She needed a little
more time to prepare herself before she shared with anyone besides Esperanza.
"Ok." She said finally.
"Ok?" Duncan repeated.
"Ok Adam can move into the other two rooms on the third floor … and you can do whatever you
think is necessary to protect me." She replied almost as if it were an unwanted jail sentence.
Duncan grinned. "It's going to be all right. You'll see." He respected her courage and her
reluctance to depend on someone else. She was a strong woman.