Chapter 29
When they were all in Duncan's car they decide that the house would be their first target, time was short if they were going to get to both children that night before Du Pont recovered and alerted Lazarski. The heavy Paris evening traffic was taking nearly all Duncan's attention but he still found time to glance in the rear-view mirror at Alex sitting quietly next to Methos, she was lost in her own thoughts as she looked out of the window at the passing buildings, Duncan knew that she wasn't really seeing them they were just a blur to her. Duncan then quickly glanced over his shoulder at Methos, whose eyes had been distant and cold since he had left Du Pont, he seemed to be wrestling with his own demons. "MacLeod.look out!!!" Fitz shouted bring Duncan's attention back to the road, Duncan managed to swerve just avoiding the car in front that had braked suddenly. "If you don't start concentrating Laddie none of us will ever reach our destination".
"Sorry..is everyone all right" Duncan said as he gripped the steering wheel. "Sorry what?" Alex said she had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't registered the near miss. "So do we use the same plan?" Fitz asked.
"No.the men holding the children won't know who I am" Alex said as she turned away from the window "we have to think of something else".
"Or do we" Methos said as he leaned forward "that might be the right edge we need.they're in a house so a caller wouldn't be out of place and if it's a woman they won't be so defensive.how's your little girl lost routine?" Methos asked as he turned to look at Alex, she smiled she liked the way this man thought. "I think I can manage that" she said as she struggled to get her jacket off, she then undid the top and bottom buttons of her blouse, tying the bottom of the blouse in a knot showing her bear stomach and with the top buttons undone she was showing amble cleavage. Methos raised his eyebrows "Not bad.but you'll be unarmed".
"No I won't" Alex then slipped her gun behind her back into the top of her trousers "see harmless lost girl on the outside but well armed agent on the inside".
"Ok we're here.we'll give you 20 minutes to get round the back and in place," Duncan said as he switched off the engine, he turned in his seat so he could look from Methos to Fitz "Good luck.see you inside in".
"36 is the house you want.Fitz and I will be inside as soon as we can.but there maybe a delay in us getting to you.we've no idea what's in there" Duncan nodded "I'm sure we'll cope". Fitz held the car door open to allow Alex to get into the front with Duncan, who turned in his seat to look directly at her "you don't look too good" he said Alex smiled weakly at him "this is normal for me.it's just nerves I get it on nearly every operation I go on especially when I don't know what I'm facing" Alex held up her hand and it was trembling, Duncan took hold of her trembling hand "you've never had an edge like this before" He could see the confused look on her face which made him smile "combined Fitz, Adam and myself have a few years of combat experience" Alex laughed "Yeah I forgot that" Duncan could see that she relaxed just a bit and colour started to come back to her face.
Methos and Fitz kept to the shadows as they made their way up the garden, Methos taking the lead he had expected to find at least one guard on watch in the garden, so when they didn't find one he realised that these guys weren't expecting trouble so that could mean there wasn't many inside either. He turned and signalled to Fitz that he was going for the window that was in darkness Fitz nodded. Methos reached into his pocket bring out a pocket-knife, which he opened with only a slight click; he then ran the blade along the window until he managed to push the lock aside, he then slid the window up trying to keep it as quiet as possible.
Duncan had taken the long way round through the neighbouring house's front garden, he kept low as he made his way past the large window that faced out onto the street taking up position to one side of the door. Alex checked that her gun was securely in place and that her blouse showed just enough cleavage to be of interest, she then reached for the bell. No one came at first so Alex pressed the bell again and held her finger there for a few moments, then there was movement inside Duncan nodded to reassure her that he had heard the sound of people moving too. Alex ready herself as a shape appeared behind the glass of the door, at first it only opened a little way "voulez-vous?" (What do you want?) a gruff voice said through the opening, but as the man got a better look at the way Alex was dressed he opened it wider and Alex walked closer "Is Philippe Jardin here.I'm sure this is the address he gave me".
"No one of that name lives here?" the man said with a thick French accent but Alex knew that she had to draw him out further from the house "This is Rue Murillo?" Alex asked batting her eyes at the man in the doorway "I'm afraid not.but it isn't far" came the reply. A tear rolled down onto Alex's cheek "I'm lost then.I don't suppose you can show me.or at least point me in the right direction", several moments past and Alex was beginning to think that this wasn't going to work when he move forward "If you go to end of road and." the rest of the words were lost as Duncan landed a punch to the man's head and he fell to the ground, Duncan stepped over the stunned man who was struggling to understand what had just happen, lifting his head as he struggled to focus on Duncan's face "say goodnight" Duncan said as he hit the man in the face sending his head crashing back hitting the path hard. "Let's go" Duncan said as he straightened up.
As they went inside they checked the first room they came to but it was empty except an old sofa and a television set that was on this must have been the room the man on the path came from. As Duncan and Alex left the room they were met by Methos and Fitz. Duncan motioned for them to check the upper floor while he and Alex finished checking this one, both Immortals nodded and started up the stairs. Duncan inched towards the next door and slowly opened it, he had expected Alex to follow him but she was staring at a door just down the hall, the door seemed different from the others, it looked more like a cupboard door but something drew her towards it. When Alex opened the door she saw wooden steps leading down and she realised that this house had a basement. She rested her head back against the wall as she remembered the times she was dragged or throw down stairs like these, Alex swallowed hard as her lunch nearly returned. Alex looked across the hall just as Duncan entered the room; the sound of a scuffle told her that he had found someone in there.
Alex pushed herself away from the wall pulling her weapon from behind her, she checked the safety was off before slowly inching down the stairs, her back sliding down the wall, her heart raced and her mouth went dry when she was nearly at the bottom she could see into the room, in the far corner was a small wooden table with 2 men sat playing cards a single light bulb hung over the table, it only had enough energy to bath the table in a dim light.
As she stepped onto the concrete floor the man who was facing into the room jumped to his feet reaching for his gun "Don't do that.put your hands were I can see them and move away from the table" Alex shouted the man with his back to her slowly stood up, suddenly he spun round, a gun in his hand, instinct took over Alex and she fired 2 rounds, they hit the man in the mouth blowing the back of his head off covering the other man in his blood and brain tissue. "If you don't want the same.do exactly as I say.over by the wall" Alex shouted motioning with her gun.
Methos and Fitz had checked every room upstairs except one. They both now stood outside the room they could hear the sound of muffled voices. Both knew that they had at least 2 people on the other side of the door; Methos signalled to Fitz that he was going to take the right and Fitz was to left. They burst into the room to find a naked man and woman in the bed "Oh Excuse the intrusion my dear Lady" Fitz said as the woman pulled at the sheet to cover her naked body "but we have some business here with your.err friend" Fitz said as he approached the bed, the man reached for the gun that was lying on the bedside table, Methos reacted like lightening smashing the man in his face, blood exploded over the man's face as his nose split open, the pain caused him to pass out. Fitz was staring at the woman and didn't notice Methos walking round to his side of the bed "I'm sorry about that dear Lady.we're not going to harm such a lovely creature" the next thing Fitz saw was Methos's fist knocking the girl out "What the devil are you doing?" Fitz exclaimed, Methos reached forward and moved the sheet aside in the woman's hand was a small silver gun, Methos just raised his eyebrows "Arr.I missed that" Fitz said. The sound of a muffled gunshot made them look at each other before heading for the stairs.
Duncan had reached the bottom of the basement stairs as Methos and Fitz got to the door. Alex was stood her gun pointing at the remaining man, she looked over her shoulder as Duncan walked towards her "Sorry Duncan but he went for his gun" Duncan reached up and took the gun from her "We'll deal with this.you see if you can find the child". Alex tried the door to the small room in the corner but the door was locked "Where's the key?" she demanded the man standing by the wall, he looked over at the blooded corpse of the man he was just playing cards with. Alex moved quickly patting the dead man's pockets for the key. "Oh dear" Fitz said as he walked over to Duncan "Quite a mess", Methos didn't say a word he took in the scene and he knew that Alex had a darker side that any of them had imagined.
Alex unlocked the door and as the light entered she could just make out a small figure huddled against the far wall on an old mattress. As Alex approached a small tear streaked face looked up at her with terror in her eyes "It's all right.I'm here to take you home" but the girl still looked just as scared "Duncan I don't think she speaks English.tell her we've come to take her home". Duncan came to the door but seeing how the girl was reacting he stayed in the doorway "tout le right. I'm ici pour vous prendre la maison? ", as she heard Duncan's words the child broke down and Alex rushed forward holding her close "It's Ok.your safe" Alex said quietly to the girl Duncan could see how Alex held onto the child like her own life depended on it, he didn't want to intrude but they had to move, so he walked over putting his hand on her shoulder, Alex looked up her face streaked with tears, she nodded "Ok" she then held out her hand to the little girl who took hold and followed her out of the room to the car.
"One down, one to go" Fitz said as they all climbed into Duncan's car "Let's hope it's as easy there" Duncan said as he looked in his mirror at Alex would was cradling the child in her arms "Nous devons sauver une autre petite fille avant que nous vous prennions la maison... mais nous allons vous prendre la maison" (We have to save another little girl before we take you home...but we are going to take you home) the little girl nodded. Duncan turned the car towards the warehouse at Quai Jules Guesde.
When they were all in Duncan's car they decide that the house would be their first target, time was short if they were going to get to both children that night before Du Pont recovered and alerted Lazarski. The heavy Paris evening traffic was taking nearly all Duncan's attention but he still found time to glance in the rear-view mirror at Alex sitting quietly next to Methos, she was lost in her own thoughts as she looked out of the window at the passing buildings, Duncan knew that she wasn't really seeing them they were just a blur to her. Duncan then quickly glanced over his shoulder at Methos, whose eyes had been distant and cold since he had left Du Pont, he seemed to be wrestling with his own demons. "MacLeod.look out!!!" Fitz shouted bring Duncan's attention back to the road, Duncan managed to swerve just avoiding the car in front that had braked suddenly. "If you don't start concentrating Laddie none of us will ever reach our destination".
"Sorry..is everyone all right" Duncan said as he gripped the steering wheel. "Sorry what?" Alex said she had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't registered the near miss. "So do we use the same plan?" Fitz asked.
"No.the men holding the children won't know who I am" Alex said as she turned away from the window "we have to think of something else".
"Or do we" Methos said as he leaned forward "that might be the right edge we need.they're in a house so a caller wouldn't be out of place and if it's a woman they won't be so defensive.how's your little girl lost routine?" Methos asked as he turned to look at Alex, she smiled she liked the way this man thought. "I think I can manage that" she said as she struggled to get her jacket off, she then undid the top and bottom buttons of her blouse, tying the bottom of the blouse in a knot showing her bear stomach and with the top buttons undone she was showing amble cleavage. Methos raised his eyebrows "Not bad.but you'll be unarmed".
"No I won't" Alex then slipped her gun behind her back into the top of her trousers "see harmless lost girl on the outside but well armed agent on the inside".
"Ok we're here.we'll give you 20 minutes to get round the back and in place," Duncan said as he switched off the engine, he turned in his seat so he could look from Methos to Fitz "Good luck.see you inside in".
"36 is the house you want.Fitz and I will be inside as soon as we can.but there maybe a delay in us getting to you.we've no idea what's in there" Duncan nodded "I'm sure we'll cope". Fitz held the car door open to allow Alex to get into the front with Duncan, who turned in his seat to look directly at her "you don't look too good" he said Alex smiled weakly at him "this is normal for me.it's just nerves I get it on nearly every operation I go on especially when I don't know what I'm facing" Alex held up her hand and it was trembling, Duncan took hold of her trembling hand "you've never had an edge like this before" He could see the confused look on her face which made him smile "combined Fitz, Adam and myself have a few years of combat experience" Alex laughed "Yeah I forgot that" Duncan could see that she relaxed just a bit and colour started to come back to her face.
Methos and Fitz kept to the shadows as they made their way up the garden, Methos taking the lead he had expected to find at least one guard on watch in the garden, so when they didn't find one he realised that these guys weren't expecting trouble so that could mean there wasn't many inside either. He turned and signalled to Fitz that he was going for the window that was in darkness Fitz nodded. Methos reached into his pocket bring out a pocket-knife, which he opened with only a slight click; he then ran the blade along the window until he managed to push the lock aside, he then slid the window up trying to keep it as quiet as possible.
Duncan had taken the long way round through the neighbouring house's front garden, he kept low as he made his way past the large window that faced out onto the street taking up position to one side of the door. Alex checked that her gun was securely in place and that her blouse showed just enough cleavage to be of interest, she then reached for the bell. No one came at first so Alex pressed the bell again and held her finger there for a few moments, then there was movement inside Duncan nodded to reassure her that he had heard the sound of people moving too. Alex ready herself as a shape appeared behind the glass of the door, at first it only opened a little way "voulez-vous?" (What do you want?) a gruff voice said through the opening, but as the man got a better look at the way Alex was dressed he opened it wider and Alex walked closer "Is Philippe Jardin here.I'm sure this is the address he gave me".
"No one of that name lives here?" the man said with a thick French accent but Alex knew that she had to draw him out further from the house "This is Rue Murillo?" Alex asked batting her eyes at the man in the doorway "I'm afraid not.but it isn't far" came the reply. A tear rolled down onto Alex's cheek "I'm lost then.I don't suppose you can show me.or at least point me in the right direction", several moments past and Alex was beginning to think that this wasn't going to work when he move forward "If you go to end of road and." the rest of the words were lost as Duncan landed a punch to the man's head and he fell to the ground, Duncan stepped over the stunned man who was struggling to understand what had just happen, lifting his head as he struggled to focus on Duncan's face "say goodnight" Duncan said as he hit the man in the face sending his head crashing back hitting the path hard. "Let's go" Duncan said as he straightened up.
As they went inside they checked the first room they came to but it was empty except an old sofa and a television set that was on this must have been the room the man on the path came from. As Duncan and Alex left the room they were met by Methos and Fitz. Duncan motioned for them to check the upper floor while he and Alex finished checking this one, both Immortals nodded and started up the stairs. Duncan inched towards the next door and slowly opened it, he had expected Alex to follow him but she was staring at a door just down the hall, the door seemed different from the others, it looked more like a cupboard door but something drew her towards it. When Alex opened the door she saw wooden steps leading down and she realised that this house had a basement. She rested her head back against the wall as she remembered the times she was dragged or throw down stairs like these, Alex swallowed hard as her lunch nearly returned. Alex looked across the hall just as Duncan entered the room; the sound of a scuffle told her that he had found someone in there.
Alex pushed herself away from the wall pulling her weapon from behind her, she checked the safety was off before slowly inching down the stairs, her back sliding down the wall, her heart raced and her mouth went dry when she was nearly at the bottom she could see into the room, in the far corner was a small wooden table with 2 men sat playing cards a single light bulb hung over the table, it only had enough energy to bath the table in a dim light.
As she stepped onto the concrete floor the man who was facing into the room jumped to his feet reaching for his gun "Don't do that.put your hands were I can see them and move away from the table" Alex shouted the man with his back to her slowly stood up, suddenly he spun round, a gun in his hand, instinct took over Alex and she fired 2 rounds, they hit the man in the mouth blowing the back of his head off covering the other man in his blood and brain tissue. "If you don't want the same.do exactly as I say.over by the wall" Alex shouted motioning with her gun.
Methos and Fitz had checked every room upstairs except one. They both now stood outside the room they could hear the sound of muffled voices. Both knew that they had at least 2 people on the other side of the door; Methos signalled to Fitz that he was going to take the right and Fitz was to left. They burst into the room to find a naked man and woman in the bed "Oh Excuse the intrusion my dear Lady" Fitz said as the woman pulled at the sheet to cover her naked body "but we have some business here with your.err friend" Fitz said as he approached the bed, the man reached for the gun that was lying on the bedside table, Methos reacted like lightening smashing the man in his face, blood exploded over the man's face as his nose split open, the pain caused him to pass out. Fitz was staring at the woman and didn't notice Methos walking round to his side of the bed "I'm sorry about that dear Lady.we're not going to harm such a lovely creature" the next thing Fitz saw was Methos's fist knocking the girl out "What the devil are you doing?" Fitz exclaimed, Methos reached forward and moved the sheet aside in the woman's hand was a small silver gun, Methos just raised his eyebrows "Arr.I missed that" Fitz said. The sound of a muffled gunshot made them look at each other before heading for the stairs.
Duncan had reached the bottom of the basement stairs as Methos and Fitz got to the door. Alex was stood her gun pointing at the remaining man, she looked over her shoulder as Duncan walked towards her "Sorry Duncan but he went for his gun" Duncan reached up and took the gun from her "We'll deal with this.you see if you can find the child". Alex tried the door to the small room in the corner but the door was locked "Where's the key?" she demanded the man standing by the wall, he looked over at the blooded corpse of the man he was just playing cards with. Alex moved quickly patting the dead man's pockets for the key. "Oh dear" Fitz said as he walked over to Duncan "Quite a mess", Methos didn't say a word he took in the scene and he knew that Alex had a darker side that any of them had imagined.
Alex unlocked the door and as the light entered she could just make out a small figure huddled against the far wall on an old mattress. As Alex approached a small tear streaked face looked up at her with terror in her eyes "It's all right.I'm here to take you home" but the girl still looked just as scared "Duncan I don't think she speaks English.tell her we've come to take her home". Duncan came to the door but seeing how the girl was reacting he stayed in the doorway "tout le right. I'm ici pour vous prendre la maison? ", as she heard Duncan's words the child broke down and Alex rushed forward holding her close "It's Ok.your safe" Alex said quietly to the girl Duncan could see how Alex held onto the child like her own life depended on it, he didn't want to intrude but they had to move, so he walked over putting his hand on her shoulder, Alex looked up her face streaked with tears, she nodded "Ok" she then held out her hand to the little girl who took hold and followed her out of the room to the car.
"One down, one to go" Fitz said as they all climbed into Duncan's car "Let's hope it's as easy there" Duncan said as he looked in his mirror at Alex would was cradling the child in her arms "Nous devons sauver une autre petite fille avant que nous vous prennions la maison... mais nous allons vous prendre la maison" (We have to save another little girl before we take you home...but we are going to take you home) the little girl nodded. Duncan turned the car towards the warehouse at Quai Jules Guesde.