CHAPTER 41
Methos spent the next few hours pouring over the cartons of research and journals he had stored
at the house. There were a few references to Devan, but nothing that would be of any use.
Sitting back in his chair, he rubbed his eyes and then looked over at the boxes that had arrived a
few days before … more of his research he'd had shipped when he knew he would be staying
longer than originally planned.
He walked over and picked up a couple of the boxes, cutting the tape and rummaging through the
contents of papers, books and old manuscripts. Most of these he hadn't looked over in more than
two years and he really couldn't remember what he'd packed up and what was still in his vault in
Paris.
His hand froze when he pulled out one of the newer folders … a thick folder stuffed with notes
and copies of manuscripts and documents … a folder marked simply "Alexa".
Knowing the contents had nothing to do with Asher Devan, Methos knew he should set it aside
and keep searching … but he couldn't. Carefully he laid the folder on the desk and opened it,
turning page after page of the research he'd done on the Methuselah Stone and other avenues
he'd followed grasping at anything that might extend her precious life.
"Another reminder of my failure." He said to himself as he couldn't stop himself from scanning
each page, almost expecting to find something he'd missed … something that would be
discovered much too late.
He started to turn over several pages that were copied from micro-fiche … pages in an ancient
language he barely remembered … but something caught his eye … something that made him
reach up and turn the head of the lamp to cast it's light more directly on the page.
He read and re-read the passages … wondering how he hadn't recalled this particular set of
documents at all, realizing only after almost an hour of sitting and staring at the blank wall in front
of him that he didn't remember it … because he would have dismissed it as soon as he'd seen it.
It wasn't relevant for his desperate search … so it didn't matter. He shook his head wondering
why he'd even bothered to keep the copies.
Looking back at the folder, he discovered that the documents he'd been reading were only a
portion of the complete work. He flipped through the rest of the pages, hoping to find the
remainder … but they were not there. They were not there because he'd obviously stopped mid
task when he realized he wouldn't be able to use anything on the pages to help Alexa. He must
have stuffed the sheets he'd already made in with the others so no one would stumble upon his
research if they checked the waste baskets and wondered what he was doing.
He went downstairs to the small office in Beth's shop and logged onto her computer … hacking
into the Watcher files, hoping to find more of the documents somewhere in them, even though he
knew it was probably a futile effort.
The light outside the window had faded into darkness when he gave up. Looking at the clock he
realized it was past dinner time and Beth would wonder what happened to him. He called her
room and apologized … telling her he'd lost track of time but would be there in a few minutes.
Picking the phone back up he dialed again. "I need to book a ticket for your earliest flight to
Paris." He said.
---------------------------------
"You're going where?" Duncan asked, not believing what he was hearing.
"I will only be gone for a few days … four at the most, two if I'm lucky." Methos replied.
"I don't get it." Duncan replied. "You know how close she came to losing that baby … You know
how close Asher Devan is to making good on his threats … But you can't postpone whatever this
business is and are flying to Paris in the morning?" he was more than angry.
"MacLeod … I will explain it when I get back … and no … it can't wait." Methos said in a low
voice so no one in the hall would overhear. "Beth will be here in the hospital the entire time I am
gone and since she can't go anywhere … she'll be easier to protect."
Duncan shook his head in complete disbelief. "You're running from her. She's gotten to you and
you can't handle it … so you're bailing."
"I am not bailing on her." Methos gritted. "I'm doing this because it's important … I'm doing this
because …" he cut himself off, not ready to talk about it until he knew for sure. "Are you going to
protect her or not?"
Duncan let out a long breath. "Of course I'll protect her. But you better not be lying to me … you
better be back here by the time they release her. I won't make excuses for you and watch her
heart break because you are too much of a coward to face her with the truth."
"I'll overlook that remark." Methos said with an edge to his voice. "And I will be back."
Methos spent the next few hours pouring over the cartons of research and journals he had stored
at the house. There were a few references to Devan, but nothing that would be of any use.
Sitting back in his chair, he rubbed his eyes and then looked over at the boxes that had arrived a
few days before … more of his research he'd had shipped when he knew he would be staying
longer than originally planned.
He walked over and picked up a couple of the boxes, cutting the tape and rummaging through the
contents of papers, books and old manuscripts. Most of these he hadn't looked over in more than
two years and he really couldn't remember what he'd packed up and what was still in his vault in
Paris.
His hand froze when he pulled out one of the newer folders … a thick folder stuffed with notes
and copies of manuscripts and documents … a folder marked simply "Alexa".
Knowing the contents had nothing to do with Asher Devan, Methos knew he should set it aside
and keep searching … but he couldn't. Carefully he laid the folder on the desk and opened it,
turning page after page of the research he'd done on the Methuselah Stone and other avenues
he'd followed grasping at anything that might extend her precious life.
"Another reminder of my failure." He said to himself as he couldn't stop himself from scanning
each page, almost expecting to find something he'd missed … something that would be
discovered much too late.
He started to turn over several pages that were copied from micro-fiche … pages in an ancient
language he barely remembered … but something caught his eye … something that made him
reach up and turn the head of the lamp to cast it's light more directly on the page.
He read and re-read the passages … wondering how he hadn't recalled this particular set of
documents at all, realizing only after almost an hour of sitting and staring at the blank wall in front
of him that he didn't remember it … because he would have dismissed it as soon as he'd seen it.
It wasn't relevant for his desperate search … so it didn't matter. He shook his head wondering
why he'd even bothered to keep the copies.
Looking back at the folder, he discovered that the documents he'd been reading were only a
portion of the complete work. He flipped through the rest of the pages, hoping to find the
remainder … but they were not there. They were not there because he'd obviously stopped mid
task when he realized he wouldn't be able to use anything on the pages to help Alexa. He must
have stuffed the sheets he'd already made in with the others so no one would stumble upon his
research if they checked the waste baskets and wondered what he was doing.
He went downstairs to the small office in Beth's shop and logged onto her computer … hacking
into the Watcher files, hoping to find more of the documents somewhere in them, even though he
knew it was probably a futile effort.
The light outside the window had faded into darkness when he gave up. Looking at the clock he
realized it was past dinner time and Beth would wonder what happened to him. He called her
room and apologized … telling her he'd lost track of time but would be there in a few minutes.
Picking the phone back up he dialed again. "I need to book a ticket for your earliest flight to
Paris." He said.
---------------------------------
"You're going where?" Duncan asked, not believing what he was hearing.
"I will only be gone for a few days … four at the most, two if I'm lucky." Methos replied.
"I don't get it." Duncan replied. "You know how close she came to losing that baby … You know
how close Asher Devan is to making good on his threats … But you can't postpone whatever this
business is and are flying to Paris in the morning?" he was more than angry.
"MacLeod … I will explain it when I get back … and no … it can't wait." Methos said in a low
voice so no one in the hall would overhear. "Beth will be here in the hospital the entire time I am
gone and since she can't go anywhere … she'll be easier to protect."
Duncan shook his head in complete disbelief. "You're running from her. She's gotten to you and
you can't handle it … so you're bailing."
"I am not bailing on her." Methos gritted. "I'm doing this because it's important … I'm doing this
because …" he cut himself off, not ready to talk about it until he knew for sure. "Are you going to
protect her or not?"
Duncan let out a long breath. "Of course I'll protect her. But you better not be lying to me … you
better be back here by the time they release her. I won't make excuses for you and watch her
heart break because you are too much of a coward to face her with the truth."
"I'll overlook that remark." Methos said with an edge to his voice. "And I will be back."