Chapter 20
Claude had left Lazarski's apartment determine to show him that he was just as useful as Du Pont. He walked through the street taking no interest in the people around him as they had to step out of his way, the midday sun had just started to wane as he arrived at his destination, he entered the bar and ordered a beer before sitting at a table in the far corner. The table was in part shadow but it gave him a clear view of the bar and the door to the back office, there he waited for the next two hours watching he only sipped his beer occasionally. Claude was about to about to leave believing that his prey was not there when the door to the office opened and a grey haired man walked slowly out towards the barman who was sat at the end of the bar reading a newspaper, Claude could just make out what was being said.
"As it's quiet I'm going to run a few errands.you'll be all right for a few hours?" the barman put the newspaper on the bar "I think I will be able to cope Joe" he said looking around at the near empty bar. Joe walked around the other side of the bar collecting his coat on the way "I'll be back before the evening rush" Joe said before making his way out of the bar, Claude waited a few moments before following.
Claude walked silently up behind Joe who was unlocking his car door, he took out his gun from his pocket and hit Joe over the head sending him crashing into the side of the car before falling to the ground, Claude finished unlocking the car and with some effort managed to get the unconscious body onto the back seat, he then got into the drivers seat and drove off into the traffic.
Duncan and Alex had taken a walk beside the river before finding a small café for lunch they sat at one of the tables outside and had been watching the world go by lost in their own thoughts when Duncan broke the silence "So you haven't ever taken a holiday?" Duncan asked Alex stopped watching the children in the park opposite to turn to him "Ray is prone to exaggerated", Duncan drank some more of his coffee "So when was the last time?" Duncan asked as he put his cup down. Alex thought for a moment biting the inside of her cheek "Well.err.I haven't taken weeks off but I did have days off" Duncan smiled at her as she tried to find an answer that would stop him asking more questions "And what did you do with your days off? visit places.friends?"
"All right you got me Ray's right.I used to use my days off to follow up leads on old cases, one's we had to drop because of lack of time that sort of thing" Alex replied stirring what remained of her coffee with a spoon trying not to look at Duncan the sound of the metal chair being moved across the paving made Alex look up "What are you doing now?" she asked Duncan reached out and took hold of her hand "I think I need to show you how to have a little fun" he said as he dropped some notes on the table to cover their meal. "Where are we going?" Alex pleaded as Duncan pulled her up the street "you can't come to Paris without seeing the sights.will start with the Eiffel Tower.then dinner.Ahhh. we'll need something to do tonight" Duncan said as he took his phone from his pocket with his free hand. Alex listened to Duncan talking to someone at the other end of the phone in French "What was that all about?" Alex asked when Duncan hung up "Tonight I'm taking you to the hottest show in Paris" Duncan said as he lightly tapped Alex on the nose, Alex frowned "You know there are other things I could be doing instead" Alex replied Duncan stopped and turning to face her he took hold of her free hand, he then looked deep into her eyes "You promised to back off for at least 5 days remember.let yourself have some fun for a change" Duncan then stroked her hair "Alex life's too short to just work all the time" Alex stared back into Duncan deep brown eyes and she knew that he was right, what would it hurt for her to live a normal life just for 5 days "Ok.ok you win.lead on" she said smiling warmly at him.
As the car came to a stop Joe started to come round his vision was still a little blurred but he could make out the interior of his car, as he struggle to sit upright the door opened and a gun barrel appeared in front of him "Come get out" the voice demanded Joe turned to look but the face was still a little fuzzy "All right.I've got the message" Joe said as he swung his legs out of the car the stranger stepping back to allow him to walk away from the vehicle "Do you mind tell me what this is all about.if it's money you want you've got the wrong guy" Claude pushed the gun into Joe's ribs "That way". Joe managed to focus on the man's face this time 'Oh my God.Claude D'Aubigne.but what does he want' Joe thought as he recognised Claude from his description in the Chronicles, he walked towards the door, his feet sending little clouds of dust into the air with every step, Claude sneezed. A cold chill went down Joe's spine, the only reason he could be of any use to Claude D'Aubigne was as bait for a trap for MacLeod, Joe looked round the room for any means of escape but the only thing he could see was another door on the far side and he knew there was no way to get to it without being shot.
"Open it" Claude commanded as the reached the door Joe did as he was asked inside the dimly lit room was a table and two metal chairs "Sit down" Claude gestured towards one of the chairs Joe complied and as he sat down he saw the rope lying on the floor to the right of the table. Joe knew that the only thing he could do now was pray Mac could take this guy. With Joe sat in the chair Claude tied his hands behind him securing him to the chair in the process he then placed a gag in Joe's mouth "Now you be a good boy and nothing is going to happened to you.all MacLeod has to do is give me the girl and you can both go home". Joe tried to hide his alarm 'Oh dear god he wants Alex.Mac will never agree to that.and I don't want him to' Joe thought as he stared at Claude who had just turned on a small heater "We can't have you getting cold" Claude sneered Joe's hand closed into tight fists, how Joe wished he could wipe that silly grin off his face. "Sorry that I can't stay but I have a few things to sort out" Claude said opening the door, Joe's mind raced if he was being left alone this could be his only chance of escape "Oh I nearly forgot" Claude said coming back into the room and going behind Joe's chair, Joe could hear him picking something up.
Claude came back into Joe's line of vision "Just in case you have any ideas of leaving me.this box contains enough explosive to level this building, it has a motion sensor built in if this door is opened.well you don't need me to explain what would happen no do you.oh if your thinking about the window there is one there too.come within 3 feet of the door or the window on this side will also trigger the devices.unless you have this little device" Claude showed Joe a little square box with 2 buttons on it "So you be a good boy and sit still" he then left the room and as the door closed a red light lit up on the device Claude had placed by the door Joe didn't have to see the one by the window to know it too was now armed.
It was getting late as Duncan and Alex walked back to the barge they were about half way across the bridge when Alex walked to the side that over looked the barge, Duncan followed "you know you've never asked me what I was doing up here the night we met" Alex said as she looked down at the reflections of the street lights in the water "I did wondered" Duncan replied, Alex leaned forward "Do you see that ledge?"
Duncan looked over the rail and followed her gaze down to a ledge about 2 ½ inches wide "yeap" he replied Alex turned her face towards him "well I wanted to see if I could walk the length of the bridge on that".
"So you never intended to jump?" he asked as he turned and leant one arm on the rail "No.it was just something to do to pass the time" she said smiling, Duncan shook his head "No.reading is something you do to pass the time.not dangling from a small ledge 40 feet above the Seine".
Alex turned round leaning back against the rail "but there isn't a buzz from reading a book.this was a challenge.one I never managed to complete" Alex said as a distance look came into her eyes she walked back to the other end of the bridge "Alex what are you doing?" Duncan called after her as she reached the far end he was sure he saw her eyes sparkle as she turned to face him. Then she climbed onto the rail and lowered herself onto the ledge "Alex No!" Duncan shouted as he quickly walked towards her but Alex was already walking towards him on the ledge. "Are you crazy you could kill yourself?" Duncan said as they drew level with each other but there was nothing he could do except walk along with her ready to grab hold if she started to fall.
Alex had nearly reached the end when she put her foot on down but there was a patch of moss and her foot slipped Duncan reacted fast to seize Alex's arm before she disappeared, "Oh no you don't" he said as he wrapped his other arm around Alex's waist pulling her back onto the ledge up against the rail, Alex's chest heaved as the burst of adrenalin force her to breath quicker. As they searched each other's eyes being this close neither could fight the attraction Duncan's lips lightly met hers but as she returned the kiss the strength of the kiss grew. Alex didn't know how long their kiss lasted but she wished it could go on forever. Duncan finally pulled away "Now will you come over this side" Alex looked down at the black water beneath her and nodded, Duncan held on as Alex climbed back onto the bridge, as her feet reached the solid ground of the bridge Duncan pulled her into his arms lightly kissing the top of her head "Come on let's get back". They walked the rest of the way with Duncan's arm around Alex's shoulders, Alex couldn't believe how she was feeling, she had never felt this way about another human being 'what is it about you Duncan MacLeod' she thought as he held the door of the barge open for her to enter.
Duncan poured them both a glass of wine taking them over to where Alex was standing "Thanks" Alex said as she took hold of the glass Duncan offered her "You have a lot of really nice things.some of them look really old.are they expensive" Alex asked as she ran her fingers down the side of the vase in front of her "Well that piece at auction could reach.100" Duncan noticed that Alex didn't look very impressed "thousand pounds" Duncan laughed as Alex's had quickly pulled away from the vase "Oh my god and you just leave it on the side here where it could easily get knocked off!" Alex exclaimed Duncan smiled before taking a sip of his wine "Where should I put it.in a vault?"
"If I owned something that fragile that was worth £100,000 I would" Alex replied "to hide something this beautiful would be a shame.if I wanted it only because it was worth money I would sell it and put the money in the bank" Alex walked away sipping her wine she leant back on the arm of the couch looking down at the red wine in her glass she let her finger run around the top of the glass "Thank for today Duncan.I really enjoyed it.you have been so good to me I don't think I will ever be able to repay you".
Duncan smiled as he put his wine down on the desk "just seeing you enjoying yourself is payment enough" he said as he went to the truck were the extra bedding was kept. Alex walked over to him as his hand went to the lid Alex put her hand on top "I don't think we'll need those" she said looking into his eyes, Duncan straightened up "Are you sure? . I didn't want to rush you" he said before Alex put a finger to his lips "your not" Duncan took her glass from her hand placing it on the side, he then cupped her face in his hands gently stroking her cheeks with his thumbs, he had looked at her face many times since they had met and this was the first time he had seen her fully relaxed and he realised how beautiful she was, he then leaned forward kissing her deeply, Alex responded to his touch. Without breaking their bond Duncan picked her up and carried her to the bed.
Claude had left Lazarski's apartment determine to show him that he was just as useful as Du Pont. He walked through the street taking no interest in the people around him as they had to step out of his way, the midday sun had just started to wane as he arrived at his destination, he entered the bar and ordered a beer before sitting at a table in the far corner. The table was in part shadow but it gave him a clear view of the bar and the door to the back office, there he waited for the next two hours watching he only sipped his beer occasionally. Claude was about to about to leave believing that his prey was not there when the door to the office opened and a grey haired man walked slowly out towards the barman who was sat at the end of the bar reading a newspaper, Claude could just make out what was being said.
"As it's quiet I'm going to run a few errands.you'll be all right for a few hours?" the barman put the newspaper on the bar "I think I will be able to cope Joe" he said looking around at the near empty bar. Joe walked around the other side of the bar collecting his coat on the way "I'll be back before the evening rush" Joe said before making his way out of the bar, Claude waited a few moments before following.
Claude walked silently up behind Joe who was unlocking his car door, he took out his gun from his pocket and hit Joe over the head sending him crashing into the side of the car before falling to the ground, Claude finished unlocking the car and with some effort managed to get the unconscious body onto the back seat, he then got into the drivers seat and drove off into the traffic.
Duncan and Alex had taken a walk beside the river before finding a small café for lunch they sat at one of the tables outside and had been watching the world go by lost in their own thoughts when Duncan broke the silence "So you haven't ever taken a holiday?" Duncan asked Alex stopped watching the children in the park opposite to turn to him "Ray is prone to exaggerated", Duncan drank some more of his coffee "So when was the last time?" Duncan asked as he put his cup down. Alex thought for a moment biting the inside of her cheek "Well.err.I haven't taken weeks off but I did have days off" Duncan smiled at her as she tried to find an answer that would stop him asking more questions "And what did you do with your days off? visit places.friends?"
"All right you got me Ray's right.I used to use my days off to follow up leads on old cases, one's we had to drop because of lack of time that sort of thing" Alex replied stirring what remained of her coffee with a spoon trying not to look at Duncan the sound of the metal chair being moved across the paving made Alex look up "What are you doing now?" she asked Duncan reached out and took hold of her hand "I think I need to show you how to have a little fun" he said as he dropped some notes on the table to cover their meal. "Where are we going?" Alex pleaded as Duncan pulled her up the street "you can't come to Paris without seeing the sights.will start with the Eiffel Tower.then dinner.Ahhh. we'll need something to do tonight" Duncan said as he took his phone from his pocket with his free hand. Alex listened to Duncan talking to someone at the other end of the phone in French "What was that all about?" Alex asked when Duncan hung up "Tonight I'm taking you to the hottest show in Paris" Duncan said as he lightly tapped Alex on the nose, Alex frowned "You know there are other things I could be doing instead" Alex replied Duncan stopped and turning to face her he took hold of her free hand, he then looked deep into her eyes "You promised to back off for at least 5 days remember.let yourself have some fun for a change" Duncan then stroked her hair "Alex life's too short to just work all the time" Alex stared back into Duncan deep brown eyes and she knew that he was right, what would it hurt for her to live a normal life just for 5 days "Ok.ok you win.lead on" she said smiling warmly at him.
As the car came to a stop Joe started to come round his vision was still a little blurred but he could make out the interior of his car, as he struggle to sit upright the door opened and a gun barrel appeared in front of him "Come get out" the voice demanded Joe turned to look but the face was still a little fuzzy "All right.I've got the message" Joe said as he swung his legs out of the car the stranger stepping back to allow him to walk away from the vehicle "Do you mind tell me what this is all about.if it's money you want you've got the wrong guy" Claude pushed the gun into Joe's ribs "That way". Joe managed to focus on the man's face this time 'Oh my God.Claude D'Aubigne.but what does he want' Joe thought as he recognised Claude from his description in the Chronicles, he walked towards the door, his feet sending little clouds of dust into the air with every step, Claude sneezed. A cold chill went down Joe's spine, the only reason he could be of any use to Claude D'Aubigne was as bait for a trap for MacLeod, Joe looked round the room for any means of escape but the only thing he could see was another door on the far side and he knew there was no way to get to it without being shot.
"Open it" Claude commanded as the reached the door Joe did as he was asked inside the dimly lit room was a table and two metal chairs "Sit down" Claude gestured towards one of the chairs Joe complied and as he sat down he saw the rope lying on the floor to the right of the table. Joe knew that the only thing he could do now was pray Mac could take this guy. With Joe sat in the chair Claude tied his hands behind him securing him to the chair in the process he then placed a gag in Joe's mouth "Now you be a good boy and nothing is going to happened to you.all MacLeod has to do is give me the girl and you can both go home". Joe tried to hide his alarm 'Oh dear god he wants Alex.Mac will never agree to that.and I don't want him to' Joe thought as he stared at Claude who had just turned on a small heater "We can't have you getting cold" Claude sneered Joe's hand closed into tight fists, how Joe wished he could wipe that silly grin off his face. "Sorry that I can't stay but I have a few things to sort out" Claude said opening the door, Joe's mind raced if he was being left alone this could be his only chance of escape "Oh I nearly forgot" Claude said coming back into the room and going behind Joe's chair, Joe could hear him picking something up.
Claude came back into Joe's line of vision "Just in case you have any ideas of leaving me.this box contains enough explosive to level this building, it has a motion sensor built in if this door is opened.well you don't need me to explain what would happen no do you.oh if your thinking about the window there is one there too.come within 3 feet of the door or the window on this side will also trigger the devices.unless you have this little device" Claude showed Joe a little square box with 2 buttons on it "So you be a good boy and sit still" he then left the room and as the door closed a red light lit up on the device Claude had placed by the door Joe didn't have to see the one by the window to know it too was now armed.
It was getting late as Duncan and Alex walked back to the barge they were about half way across the bridge when Alex walked to the side that over looked the barge, Duncan followed "you know you've never asked me what I was doing up here the night we met" Alex said as she looked down at the reflections of the street lights in the water "I did wondered" Duncan replied, Alex leaned forward "Do you see that ledge?"
Duncan looked over the rail and followed her gaze down to a ledge about 2 ½ inches wide "yeap" he replied Alex turned her face towards him "well I wanted to see if I could walk the length of the bridge on that".
"So you never intended to jump?" he asked as he turned and leant one arm on the rail "No.it was just something to do to pass the time" she said smiling, Duncan shook his head "No.reading is something you do to pass the time.not dangling from a small ledge 40 feet above the Seine".
Alex turned round leaning back against the rail "but there isn't a buzz from reading a book.this was a challenge.one I never managed to complete" Alex said as a distance look came into her eyes she walked back to the other end of the bridge "Alex what are you doing?" Duncan called after her as she reached the far end he was sure he saw her eyes sparkle as she turned to face him. Then she climbed onto the rail and lowered herself onto the ledge "Alex No!" Duncan shouted as he quickly walked towards her but Alex was already walking towards him on the ledge. "Are you crazy you could kill yourself?" Duncan said as they drew level with each other but there was nothing he could do except walk along with her ready to grab hold if she started to fall.
Alex had nearly reached the end when she put her foot on down but there was a patch of moss and her foot slipped Duncan reacted fast to seize Alex's arm before she disappeared, "Oh no you don't" he said as he wrapped his other arm around Alex's waist pulling her back onto the ledge up against the rail, Alex's chest heaved as the burst of adrenalin force her to breath quicker. As they searched each other's eyes being this close neither could fight the attraction Duncan's lips lightly met hers but as she returned the kiss the strength of the kiss grew. Alex didn't know how long their kiss lasted but she wished it could go on forever. Duncan finally pulled away "Now will you come over this side" Alex looked down at the black water beneath her and nodded, Duncan held on as Alex climbed back onto the bridge, as her feet reached the solid ground of the bridge Duncan pulled her into his arms lightly kissing the top of her head "Come on let's get back". They walked the rest of the way with Duncan's arm around Alex's shoulders, Alex couldn't believe how she was feeling, she had never felt this way about another human being 'what is it about you Duncan MacLeod' she thought as he held the door of the barge open for her to enter.
Duncan poured them both a glass of wine taking them over to where Alex was standing "Thanks" Alex said as she took hold of the glass Duncan offered her "You have a lot of really nice things.some of them look really old.are they expensive" Alex asked as she ran her fingers down the side of the vase in front of her "Well that piece at auction could reach.100" Duncan noticed that Alex didn't look very impressed "thousand pounds" Duncan laughed as Alex's had quickly pulled away from the vase "Oh my god and you just leave it on the side here where it could easily get knocked off!" Alex exclaimed Duncan smiled before taking a sip of his wine "Where should I put it.in a vault?"
"If I owned something that fragile that was worth £100,000 I would" Alex replied "to hide something this beautiful would be a shame.if I wanted it only because it was worth money I would sell it and put the money in the bank" Alex walked away sipping her wine she leant back on the arm of the couch looking down at the red wine in her glass she let her finger run around the top of the glass "Thank for today Duncan.I really enjoyed it.you have been so good to me I don't think I will ever be able to repay you".
Duncan smiled as he put his wine down on the desk "just seeing you enjoying yourself is payment enough" he said as he went to the truck were the extra bedding was kept. Alex walked over to him as his hand went to the lid Alex put her hand on top "I don't think we'll need those" she said looking into his eyes, Duncan straightened up "Are you sure? . I didn't want to rush you" he said before Alex put a finger to his lips "your not" Duncan took her glass from her hand placing it on the side, he then cupped her face in his hands gently stroking her cheeks with his thumbs, he had looked at her face many times since they had met and this was the first time he had seen her fully relaxed and he realised how beautiful she was, he then leaned forward kissing her deeply, Alex responded to his touch. Without breaking their bond Duncan picked her up and carried her to the bed.