CHAPTER 79
Once they were in the van, Joe made a discreet phone call and in a few minutes had the address
of a mortuary operated by someone in the Watcher network. "They will take good care of
Claudia." He assured Richie. "We will let them prepare her for a private service, very discreet."
Richie nodded as he stared straight ahead. Duncan thanked him and put his arm around
Amanda, pressing his face into her hair.
Methos followed the driving directions and half an hour later they were pulling into a garage
behind the mortuary. Two men met them with a gurney, removed Claudia's body and the basket
from the back of the van.
A third man, who wore the tattoo of a Watcher, came out to speak to Joe. He was obviously
uncomfortable by the presence of so many immortals, but understood the need for discretion.
"You can wash up inside if you like. There is a sink and I can get you something clean to change
into. Everyone but Methos was covered in blood and there was no way they could go back to the
hotel like that without arousing a tremendous amount of suspicion and attention.
Methos knew neither Duncan nor Richie was really in a frame of mind to deal with the details of
Claudia's funeral and burial, so he went with Joe to the office and helped make the decisions
about what she should wear, music, etc… "Will you want the casket to be open?" the man with
the Watcher's tattoo asked?
Methos and Joe thought probably not, but just in case Richie or Duncan had to have a last look
they asked them to go ahead and prepare her. The mortician was quite good and assured them
he could put things right and make her presentable if those mourning her death should want one
last look.
Methos pulled out a credit card. It was one he had for Adam Pierson and was tied to his address
in Seacouver, which was no secret to the Watchers. "Spare no expense. Whatever you need, I
will cover it."
"Adam Pierson?" the man looked up from the card. "You've been quite the talk of The Watcher
network."
"Yeah well, we all have to have our 15 minutes." He replied dryly.
"Or should I say Methos?" the man added, raising an eyebrow as he looked directly at him.
Joe sputtered and began to laugh. "You think he's Methos? As in the fabled oldest living
immortal no one has seen in thousands of years?"
Methos went along with his friend's laughter, smirking at the idea. "Right, and I knew Helen of
Troy, Peter the Great and Abraham."
The man was obviously a bit embarrassed. "Well you were connected with the Methos project,
and it is rumored you've been taking a lot of heads lately."
"My involvement with the project was before I knew I was an immortal." Methos replied flatly.
"And as for taking heads, well if you thought your wife ran out on you on your wedding night you
might be a bit inclined to taking your rage out wherever you can find it."
Then turning to Joe he added. "Great, if these guys keep it up I'll have every immortal on the
planet going after my head."
"So you aren't Methos?" the man asked.
"Of course not!" Methos face contorted with the absurdity. "I'm Adam Pierson, mild mannered
Watcher until I ended up on the wrong side of a mugging and woke up to find the watcher had
become the watched."
"Hanson, I've known you for twenty years. You've never been one to buy into idle gossip or wild
theories. This kid is no more Methos than we are. He just lost control for awhile and happened
to know where several immortals called home which made it easy." Joe added.
"That was quite unfair of you Mr. Pierson. You should not have used your knowledge as a
watcher to further your own gains." Hanson replied.
"Yeah … well … " Methos didn't apologize, but looked away, focusing outside the window.
Hanson asked if he could speak with Joe alone, and Methos complied by leaving. "You can give
him my card when you are done processing it."
Once he was gone, Hanson spoke in a hushed tone. "Joe, it's just you and me now. Tell me the
truth. Is Pierson Methos?"
"We don't even know there is a Methos." Joe began. "For all we know he is a legend or lost his
head centuries ago. But I can tell you this. If you align yourself with those who are starting this
rumor, you could end up losing the rank you've worked so hard for. He's a young man with a lot
of troubles, not the least of which getting used to being immortal. But he's not Methos and he
really doesn't need the hassles right now. He just found out that his wife didn't leave him, but
was kidnapped. You guys keep this up and he is right. He'll be on everyone's most wanted list
… and we would be guilty of interfering."
"And what do you call what you are doing now Joe?" Hanson asked.
"I admit it. I'm friends with MacLeod and I knew Pierson from his first days with the Watchers."
Joe told him. "Someone kidnapped me and they rescued me. If not for them, I'd be dead."
"It's hard for you to be objective now." Hanson replied.
"Just don't get your hand caught in this thing." Joe told him. "You're a nice guy and a damn good
watcher. This whole Pierson/Methos thing is a dead end and the one who will be hurt are guys
like you who should know better."
Hanson appeared convinced. "Here's his card. Tell him I'll make sure your friend receives the
best treatment. I was a fan of Claudia Jardine's. It will be an honor to take care of the details
myself."
"Thank you." Joe replied, shaking his hand.
The details done, they met the others back at the van.
Not knowing exactly what other plans Shafer might have had in the event things had not turned
out as he had hoped, or knowing if Garrett would try to continue anything, Duncan and Methos
went alone upstairs to the hotel suite and the room they had shared, and returned with their
things and Ellen's. Joe had a friend with a villa outside of Munich. The group could be safe there
and plot their next course of action … finding Beth and the baby.
There was also the matter of procuring swords for Amanda and Richie, who lost theirs when they
were kidnapped. Duncan knew of a place they could go the next morning.
Once they arrived at the villa, everyone fell into silent thought. Richie and Duncan were lost in
their own particular grief over Claudia, but her loss had affected them all.
"Why don't I call that restaurant we saw on the corner. I jotted down the number. If they don't
deliver, Methos could go pick up dinner." Joe offered.
"I'm really not hungry." Amanda replied. I just want to get a shower and climb into bed. "Can I
borrow a T-shirt?" she asked.
Methos pulled a shirt out of his bag and tossed it to her.
"I've got something that will fit you in the morning" Ellen offered. "We can go shopping first thing
while Duncan gets the swords." The two women walked upstairs and retired for the night, both
exhausted.
"I think we should order something anyway." Methos told Joe. "They may be hungry later."
Joe nodded.
Once Methos returned with the cartons of dinner from the restaurant, only he and Joe had an
appetite to eat. It was getting late, but neither was ready to rest. Richie was sitting alone in the
dark on the balcony overlooking the city, and Duncan was sitting in front of the fireplace on the
floor … just staring at the flames.
"What time do you think it is in Seacouver?" Adam asked Joe. He couldn't wrap his mind around
time zones right then.
"About six a.m., why?" Joe asked.
"I need to call Esperanza. When I spoke with Beth's father early this morning he told me that she
had contacted him and wanted to get in touch with Duncan. Said she had news about where
Beth and the baby were being held." Methos replied.
"Esperanza? How would she know anything?" Joe asked.
Methos shrugged. "I don't know, but I can't believe she'd claim to have information if it wasn't
true. Ever since he told me about it I've had this feeling, but there was no time to call." He
rubbed his face in his hands and looked across the large room to the place MacLeod was sitting.
"It's eight in Ridgetop. I think I'll give Peter Harris a call and let him know I will be following up on
that lead."
Joe picked up the crutches Duncan had thought to put in the van for him before the day's events
and started toward the bedroom on the first floor. "Let me know if you find out anything." He told
Methos, leaving him alone to make the call.
Methos let Peter Harris know they were all right. He didn't burden the man with the fact that
Claudia hadn't survived. With MacLeod and Richie both within earshot, he didn't want to go into it
and there was really no reason. The man had enough to worry about making sure Rayna and the
family were safe.
He waited two more hours, lying awake on his bed and thinking about everything that had
happened before he called Esperanza.
Dialing the number, Methos sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window at the city
lights.
"Hello?" Esperanza answered.
"Esperanza, it's Adam."
"Adam! Oh il mio Dio! Dove ha lei è stato? Lei stanno bene? Lei ha trovato Beth ed il ?"
Esperanza began speaking quickly in Italian, wanting to know where he had been, how he was
and if he had found Beth and the baby."
"I'm fine Esperanza, and no … I haven't found them. I was hoping you could help me. Peter
Harris said that you called." He explained.
"My sister Rosa has seen her." Esperanza began.
"She's seen her?" Adam was shocked. "You mean she's back in Seacouver?"
"No … no … she's in Italy. Rosa went back to run the family business and a week ago she
looked up through the window of her bakery and Beth was there." Esperanza continued. "She
was there with a man."
"Are you sure?" Adam asked, not daring to believe they could be this close to finding her.
"Ci, I am certain. Rosa spoke with both of them. She didn't let on that she knew Beth, but found
a way to let her know that she would help. Her nephew was able to copy the car tags and saw
where they went. The car turned on a dead end road that goes up into the mountains. There are
only a few villas up that road." She added.
Adam took down the information about the town and where he could get in touch with Rosa.
"You don't know how much I appreciate this."
"I know how much you love her." Esperanza replied. "We all love her. I am happy that we had
the good fortune of Rosa stumbling onto her."
"It was." He acknowledged.
"Adam, are you all right?" Esperanza asked, noting how his voice sounded flat and his words
sparse.
"I'm fine." Adam replied.
"You don't sound fine." She challenged. "Duncan told me that you believed Beth chose to leave
with that man. I knew when I met you that you had seen many, many heart aches before. Your
eyes say so much when someone knows to look."
"To believe Beth would betray your love like that after all you had been through and as deeply as
you care for her … it must have torn you apart." She observed.
"I'm fine Esperanza."
"The guilt is eating you up isn't it?" she continued.
"Guilt?" he asked.
"You feel guilty for not believing in her … for not trusting her. But someone who has hurt as
deeply as you have is much easier to jump to the worst conclusion."
He didn't want to talk about it any more. Esperanza was reading him too well.
"Thank you for the information Esperanza. I'm going to call Rosa in the morning and will let you
know when Beth and the baby are safe."
Esperanza knew she was being dismissed, and didn't push any further. "Be safe Adam, and
bring her home. Bring them both home."
The line went dead and Methos looked up to find Richie standing in his doorway.
"You know where she is?" he asked.
"I know where she was. I'll know more tomorrow when I can call Rosa."
"I think you should call her now. She won't mind the hour when Beth and the baby are at stake."
Richie commented.
Methos nodded. "I'll call her and leave in the morning. You can all follow after Claudia's service
if you want to help find her."
Richie shook his head. "No, I'm not waiting. If you know where she is then no way I'm staying
behind. The service can wait until we find her. Claudia wouldn't want us to wait even a day. She
loved Beth and the baby. She would want us to find them now."
Methos saw the determination in Richie's eyes. Picking up the phone he dialed the numbers.
"Be ready to leave at first light." He said.
Once they were in the van, Joe made a discreet phone call and in a few minutes had the address
of a mortuary operated by someone in the Watcher network. "They will take good care of
Claudia." He assured Richie. "We will let them prepare her for a private service, very discreet."
Richie nodded as he stared straight ahead. Duncan thanked him and put his arm around
Amanda, pressing his face into her hair.
Methos followed the driving directions and half an hour later they were pulling into a garage
behind the mortuary. Two men met them with a gurney, removed Claudia's body and the basket
from the back of the van.
A third man, who wore the tattoo of a Watcher, came out to speak to Joe. He was obviously
uncomfortable by the presence of so many immortals, but understood the need for discretion.
"You can wash up inside if you like. There is a sink and I can get you something clean to change
into. Everyone but Methos was covered in blood and there was no way they could go back to the
hotel like that without arousing a tremendous amount of suspicion and attention.
Methos knew neither Duncan nor Richie was really in a frame of mind to deal with the details of
Claudia's funeral and burial, so he went with Joe to the office and helped make the decisions
about what she should wear, music, etc… "Will you want the casket to be open?" the man with
the Watcher's tattoo asked?
Methos and Joe thought probably not, but just in case Richie or Duncan had to have a last look
they asked them to go ahead and prepare her. The mortician was quite good and assured them
he could put things right and make her presentable if those mourning her death should want one
last look.
Methos pulled out a credit card. It was one he had for Adam Pierson and was tied to his address
in Seacouver, which was no secret to the Watchers. "Spare no expense. Whatever you need, I
will cover it."
"Adam Pierson?" the man looked up from the card. "You've been quite the talk of The Watcher
network."
"Yeah well, we all have to have our 15 minutes." He replied dryly.
"Or should I say Methos?" the man added, raising an eyebrow as he looked directly at him.
Joe sputtered and began to laugh. "You think he's Methos? As in the fabled oldest living
immortal no one has seen in thousands of years?"
Methos went along with his friend's laughter, smirking at the idea. "Right, and I knew Helen of
Troy, Peter the Great and Abraham."
The man was obviously a bit embarrassed. "Well you were connected with the Methos project,
and it is rumored you've been taking a lot of heads lately."
"My involvement with the project was before I knew I was an immortal." Methos replied flatly.
"And as for taking heads, well if you thought your wife ran out on you on your wedding night you
might be a bit inclined to taking your rage out wherever you can find it."
Then turning to Joe he added. "Great, if these guys keep it up I'll have every immortal on the
planet going after my head."
"So you aren't Methos?" the man asked.
"Of course not!" Methos face contorted with the absurdity. "I'm Adam Pierson, mild mannered
Watcher until I ended up on the wrong side of a mugging and woke up to find the watcher had
become the watched."
"Hanson, I've known you for twenty years. You've never been one to buy into idle gossip or wild
theories. This kid is no more Methos than we are. He just lost control for awhile and happened
to know where several immortals called home which made it easy." Joe added.
"That was quite unfair of you Mr. Pierson. You should not have used your knowledge as a
watcher to further your own gains." Hanson replied.
"Yeah … well … " Methos didn't apologize, but looked away, focusing outside the window.
Hanson asked if he could speak with Joe alone, and Methos complied by leaving. "You can give
him my card when you are done processing it."
Once he was gone, Hanson spoke in a hushed tone. "Joe, it's just you and me now. Tell me the
truth. Is Pierson Methos?"
"We don't even know there is a Methos." Joe began. "For all we know he is a legend or lost his
head centuries ago. But I can tell you this. If you align yourself with those who are starting this
rumor, you could end up losing the rank you've worked so hard for. He's a young man with a lot
of troubles, not the least of which getting used to being immortal. But he's not Methos and he
really doesn't need the hassles right now. He just found out that his wife didn't leave him, but
was kidnapped. You guys keep this up and he is right. He'll be on everyone's most wanted list
… and we would be guilty of interfering."
"And what do you call what you are doing now Joe?" Hanson asked.
"I admit it. I'm friends with MacLeod and I knew Pierson from his first days with the Watchers."
Joe told him. "Someone kidnapped me and they rescued me. If not for them, I'd be dead."
"It's hard for you to be objective now." Hanson replied.
"Just don't get your hand caught in this thing." Joe told him. "You're a nice guy and a damn good
watcher. This whole Pierson/Methos thing is a dead end and the one who will be hurt are guys
like you who should know better."
Hanson appeared convinced. "Here's his card. Tell him I'll make sure your friend receives the
best treatment. I was a fan of Claudia Jardine's. It will be an honor to take care of the details
myself."
"Thank you." Joe replied, shaking his hand.
The details done, they met the others back at the van.
Not knowing exactly what other plans Shafer might have had in the event things had not turned
out as he had hoped, or knowing if Garrett would try to continue anything, Duncan and Methos
went alone upstairs to the hotel suite and the room they had shared, and returned with their
things and Ellen's. Joe had a friend with a villa outside of Munich. The group could be safe there
and plot their next course of action … finding Beth and the baby.
There was also the matter of procuring swords for Amanda and Richie, who lost theirs when they
were kidnapped. Duncan knew of a place they could go the next morning.
Once they arrived at the villa, everyone fell into silent thought. Richie and Duncan were lost in
their own particular grief over Claudia, but her loss had affected them all.
"Why don't I call that restaurant we saw on the corner. I jotted down the number. If they don't
deliver, Methos could go pick up dinner." Joe offered.
"I'm really not hungry." Amanda replied. I just want to get a shower and climb into bed. "Can I
borrow a T-shirt?" she asked.
Methos pulled a shirt out of his bag and tossed it to her.
"I've got something that will fit you in the morning" Ellen offered. "We can go shopping first thing
while Duncan gets the swords." The two women walked upstairs and retired for the night, both
exhausted.
"I think we should order something anyway." Methos told Joe. "They may be hungry later."
Joe nodded.
Once Methos returned with the cartons of dinner from the restaurant, only he and Joe had an
appetite to eat. It was getting late, but neither was ready to rest. Richie was sitting alone in the
dark on the balcony overlooking the city, and Duncan was sitting in front of the fireplace on the
floor … just staring at the flames.
"What time do you think it is in Seacouver?" Adam asked Joe. He couldn't wrap his mind around
time zones right then.
"About six a.m., why?" Joe asked.
"I need to call Esperanza. When I spoke with Beth's father early this morning he told me that she
had contacted him and wanted to get in touch with Duncan. Said she had news about where
Beth and the baby were being held." Methos replied.
"Esperanza? How would she know anything?" Joe asked.
Methos shrugged. "I don't know, but I can't believe she'd claim to have information if it wasn't
true. Ever since he told me about it I've had this feeling, but there was no time to call." He
rubbed his face in his hands and looked across the large room to the place MacLeod was sitting.
"It's eight in Ridgetop. I think I'll give Peter Harris a call and let him know I will be following up on
that lead."
Joe picked up the crutches Duncan had thought to put in the van for him before the day's events
and started toward the bedroom on the first floor. "Let me know if you find out anything." He told
Methos, leaving him alone to make the call.
Methos let Peter Harris know they were all right. He didn't burden the man with the fact that
Claudia hadn't survived. With MacLeod and Richie both within earshot, he didn't want to go into it
and there was really no reason. The man had enough to worry about making sure Rayna and the
family were safe.
He waited two more hours, lying awake on his bed and thinking about everything that had
happened before he called Esperanza.
Dialing the number, Methos sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window at the city
lights.
"Hello?" Esperanza answered.
"Esperanza, it's Adam."
"Adam! Oh il mio Dio! Dove ha lei è stato? Lei stanno bene? Lei ha trovato Beth ed il ?"
Esperanza began speaking quickly in Italian, wanting to know where he had been, how he was
and if he had found Beth and the baby."
"I'm fine Esperanza, and no … I haven't found them. I was hoping you could help me. Peter
Harris said that you called." He explained.
"My sister Rosa has seen her." Esperanza began.
"She's seen her?" Adam was shocked. "You mean she's back in Seacouver?"
"No … no … she's in Italy. Rosa went back to run the family business and a week ago she
looked up through the window of her bakery and Beth was there." Esperanza continued. "She
was there with a man."
"Are you sure?" Adam asked, not daring to believe they could be this close to finding her.
"Ci, I am certain. Rosa spoke with both of them. She didn't let on that she knew Beth, but found
a way to let her know that she would help. Her nephew was able to copy the car tags and saw
where they went. The car turned on a dead end road that goes up into the mountains. There are
only a few villas up that road." She added.
Adam took down the information about the town and where he could get in touch with Rosa.
"You don't know how much I appreciate this."
"I know how much you love her." Esperanza replied. "We all love her. I am happy that we had
the good fortune of Rosa stumbling onto her."
"It was." He acknowledged.
"Adam, are you all right?" Esperanza asked, noting how his voice sounded flat and his words
sparse.
"I'm fine." Adam replied.
"You don't sound fine." She challenged. "Duncan told me that you believed Beth chose to leave
with that man. I knew when I met you that you had seen many, many heart aches before. Your
eyes say so much when someone knows to look."
"To believe Beth would betray your love like that after all you had been through and as deeply as
you care for her … it must have torn you apart." She observed.
"I'm fine Esperanza."
"The guilt is eating you up isn't it?" she continued.
"Guilt?" he asked.
"You feel guilty for not believing in her … for not trusting her. But someone who has hurt as
deeply as you have is much easier to jump to the worst conclusion."
He didn't want to talk about it any more. Esperanza was reading him too well.
"Thank you for the information Esperanza. I'm going to call Rosa in the morning and will let you
know when Beth and the baby are safe."
Esperanza knew she was being dismissed, and didn't push any further. "Be safe Adam, and
bring her home. Bring them both home."
The line went dead and Methos looked up to find Richie standing in his doorway.
"You know where she is?" he asked.
"I know where she was. I'll know more tomorrow when I can call Rosa."
"I think you should call her now. She won't mind the hour when Beth and the baby are at stake."
Richie commented.
Methos nodded. "I'll call her and leave in the morning. You can all follow after Claudia's service
if you want to help find her."
Richie shook his head. "No, I'm not waiting. If you know where she is then no way I'm staying
behind. The service can wait until we find her. Claudia wouldn't want us to wait even a day. She
loved Beth and the baby. She would want us to find them now."
Methos saw the determination in Richie's eyes. Picking up the phone he dialed the numbers.
"Be ready to leave at first light." He said.