Chapter 32
Duncan stirred as they entered "It's only me Mac just getting a drink" Methos said, Duncan realising there was no threat turned over and fell back to sleep. Alex made them both a coffee and the sat talking quietly on the couch for some time before Alex fell asleep, Methos took the coffee cup from her hand and sat reading one of Duncan's books by the light of a small lamp.
Methos looked up as Duncan woke up, Methos could see the tense look on his friend's face when he realised that Alex was missing, Duncan pulled on his trousers before walking towards where Methos was sitting Methos pointed to the couch as Duncan approached and Duncan relaxed "What are you doing in here and why is Alex on the couch" Duncan whispered as he stood watching Alex sleep "make me a coffee and I'll tell you about it" Methos replied, Duncan pointed towards the kitchen before getting a blanket gently laying it over Alex's sleeping body. "Tell you what Mac you get dressed, we'll go pick up my car.then I might just treat you to breakfast" Duncan looked shocked at Methos's offer "Ok I'll be as quick as I can.can't have you changing your mind" Methos watched as Duncan grabbed some clothes and headed for the bathroom, Methos looked back at Alex sleeping on the couch before he turned and went outside to wait for Duncan.
Before Duncan left he wrote a note leaving it on the coffee table in front of the sleeping Alex, he brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes, Alex stirred but she didn't wake. Duncan then picked up his car keys and locked the door after him as he went out onto the deck.
It was a little after 11 o'clock when Duncan parked his car outside the barge and waited as Methos brought his car to a stop beside him. He got out and walked round to Methos who was just getting out of his car "you know I can't believe you the first time in I don't know how long you said you'd pay and you conveniently manage to leave your wallet on the barge" Methos followed Duncan up the gang plank "Hey I told you I dressed in a hurry this morning I just overlooked it" Duncan turned to look at Methos as he reached for the door handle "yeah righ..", the door swung open with no resistance both Immortal's exchanged worried looks. As they got to the top of the steps the scene below made their blood run cold "ALEX!" Duncan shouted but there was no reply, he still checked the other rooms but she wasn't there. "Damn" Duncan said as he wandered through the overturned chairs and bookcases "She put up a hell of a fight by the look of it.at least she isn't dead" Methos said trying to find something good in this "We don't know that" came Duncan's reply "If Lazarski just wanted her dead we would be looking at her body now.no she must have something he wants" Methos said as his eyes scanned the devastation "and by the look of this place they didn't find it here." Methos stopped talking as he saw the package on the desk without saying anything to Duncan he walked over to it turning it round, it was a plain brown box addressed to Duncan.
"This wasn't here earlier was it?" Methos asked as Duncan turned round to face him "no" Duncan said as he joined Methos at the desk "Then I think this might be how they got in here.Alex wouldn't open the door to just anyone she's too smart for that.this package needed a signature". Duncan took hold of the package he then reached for the scissors that were in the pot on the desk "What are you doing?" Methos exclaimed, "I'm going to see what's inside" Duncan said as he cut into the tape "Do you think that's wise it could be booby trapped".
"It's the only clue we have.if you're nervous why don't you wait out on deck?" Duncan said as the scissor cut through the last of the tape. Methos looked up and sighed before moving closer as Duncan pulled back the flaps of the box, they both looked inside at the bottom laid another smaller package wrapped in brown paper and tided with string, Duncan reached in and picked it up, from the weight Duncan thought it must be a book, he pulled the bow and the string fell away. It was a book but from the look of the paper and the cover it was very old, the pages were handed written, Duncan didn't understand the words written there he looked up at Methos "Do you understand this language?"
"yes.it's an ancient dialect from a civilisation that died out long before the ancient Greeks.may I?" Duncan handed the book to Methos "So why would someone send it to me?" Duncan asked but Methos didn't reply he was carefully flicking through the pages "Methos?"
"Oh sorry Mac.I thought I would never see this again"
"It's your?" Duncan exclaimed a little shocked by this news "Well it was until Lazarski stole it from me"
"So what is it about?" Duncan asked his frustration starting to become obvious "It's a tale of a man who lost something precious to him, a slave he had fallen in love with but she loved another and ran away" Methos turned the book over the rear cover was missing and as Methos read the last few lines he realised so was the last few chapters "it tells of his journey to bring her back.which he managed by killing her lover".
"Great" Duncan said as he sat on the edge of the desk.
"Lazarski was never one for reading as the condition of this book shows.he thinks the story shows his triumph over us by getting Alex back but he's lost the ending.the way this story ended was the Gods brought her lover back to life to avenge her" Duncan looked at Methos something in his expression made Duncan thing this wasn't just a story it was personal. "And did you?"
"Yes.but I was too late to save her.hey I never said." Duncan smiled at him "you didn't have to my friend it was all in your face when you saw the book" Duncan replied. Methos put the book back into the box "well we had better start looking I don't want to be late again.you can clear this lot up later" Methos said heading for the door "but where do we start he's not going to be at the house or the warehouse" Duncan said as he follow, Methos looked over his shoulder as he got to the top of the steps "Joe.we'll start there.his watcher might know something.then we'll see if we can find our friend Du Pont". Duncan didn't ask anymore the look on Methos's face told him that whatever was in that book upset him, it wasn't often that you could see any emotion on the old one's face but this had disturbed him.
The bar looked empty as they walked up to the door, no customers and no sign of Joe. As they entered Duncan called out "Joe are you here?" A head appeared from behind the bar "Hey Mac" as Joe looked at the faces of the two Immortals he knew this wasn't a social call "What's happened?"
"Lazarski's snatched Alex" Duncan replied as he walked up to the bar "Oh no! When?"
"This morning while we went to get Methos's car.has your Watcher been in touch?" Duncan asked Joe could hear in his voice anxiety and hope that Joe would have the answer "I wish I could tell you he had but I've heard nothing.give me a couple of hours and I'll see what I can find out" Duncan nodded resigned to the fact that this was the best Joe could offer. Methos put his hand on Duncan's arm "let's check out the places we went last night there might be someone hanging around we could ask" Methos knew he had to keep the Highlander busy "Ok.we'll be back in a couple of hours" Duncan replied before turning for the door "Be careful" Joe shouted after them but neither acknowledged his words.
Alex came round her head thumping she tried to open her eyes but the feeling of something touching her eyelashes told her it was pointless, she was blindfolded. As she tried to move the ropes at the wrists and ankles bit in "Get the boss.the bitch is awake" the sound of the voice stopped Alex from moving further, it would be pointless as she was definitely not alone. Alex heard several pairs of footsteps before she was dragged from the ground where she had been laying, her arms gripped as someone else took her blindfold off, the bright light in the room hurt her eyes as she desperately tried to focus of the figures in the room, she couldn't quite make out the faces yet but the voice she did recognise "Well I think the wheel of time has come full circle.here you are and here I am.did you really think a worthless creature like you could ever hope to beat me?" Alex didn't answer she was fighting her own battle between the terrified small child inside her and the emotionless woman she had become. Lazarski stepped forward until he was sure she could see his face "now.why don't you make this easy on yourself and tell me where to find the disc"
"Go to Hell" Alex spat back. Lazarski ran his hand down her cheek Alex wrenched her face as far away as she could but he just moved along with it. "I thought you might be a little stubborn.but I understand it's only you and me here.you've built your barriers to that haven't you?" Alex didn't respond "So you might be able to disregard your own safety but how are you with his?" Lazarski said beckoning to one of his men who left the room, moments later he returned with another man, a third man being held up between them. "I think you know this gentleman.I found him spying on me," Lazarski said lifting the man's head. Alex tried to hide her recognition but the shock of seeing the battered face of Ray made it difficult "Now if you don't tell me what I want to know it will be him that receives the pain" Alex's mind raced she knew that both of them were definitely dead if she gave Lazarski the disc, there was only one thing to try "Ok.I'll tell you but he walks first".
"Your in no position to deal" Lazarski snarled back at her. "Maybe.but I don't think you have the time to play for long.either you take my deal or you can kiss goodbye to your money and your other deal.I don't suppose your business partners will take kindly to being messed about" Lazarski's rage boiled over and he back handed her across the face "LEAVE HER ALONE" Ray shouted, Alex shook her head and Ray fell silent. "Ok.he'll walk" Lazarski nodded towards Ray and one of the men holding him took out a knife "I don't trust you Lazarski.Ray walks to a place I tell him when no one else is in the room..I give him an hour to get there.when I've called and found out he's there I'll tell you where to find the disc" Alex could see the rage in Lazarski's eyes but she knew that she had won this round "Tie her to that chair.one of my men is going to be watching through the glass if you try anything I will kill him". Alex sighed as Lazarski and his men left her alone with Ray, who came over to her "Alex you can't do this".
"there isn't time to argue about this.you have a wife and kids at home.I don't have anyone so the maths is very easy.now go to Le Blues Bar ask for Joe he will know what to do" Ray looked around at the man checking that they weren't doing anything but talking "That's not what I mean.the shipment Lazarski's waiting for it's a biological agent.if he gets his hands on that.I over heard some of his men talking.he's going to use it against a city unless they pay him not to.do you understand?" Alex licked the blood from her lip "yes I get it.you get to Joe tell him everything you know before you get Thomas involved.don't worry Ray he isn't going to win this one". The door opening stopped Ray from saying anymore "That's enough of the touching farewells.you take him.you have 1 hour to get to your destination if your not there when she calls.I will kill her very slowly.do you understand?"
"I understand" Ray said before two of Lazarski's men hustled him out of the room "I will be back in an hour" Lazarski said as he headed for the door.
"I can't wait" Alex said under her breath, her mind going to the promise she made to Adam "sorry Adam but this isn't just about protecting you or Duncan from the game.the stakes are a lot higher now" she said to the empty room.
Duncan stirred as they entered "It's only me Mac just getting a drink" Methos said, Duncan realising there was no threat turned over and fell back to sleep. Alex made them both a coffee and the sat talking quietly on the couch for some time before Alex fell asleep, Methos took the coffee cup from her hand and sat reading one of Duncan's books by the light of a small lamp.
Methos looked up as Duncan woke up, Methos could see the tense look on his friend's face when he realised that Alex was missing, Duncan pulled on his trousers before walking towards where Methos was sitting Methos pointed to the couch as Duncan approached and Duncan relaxed "What are you doing in here and why is Alex on the couch" Duncan whispered as he stood watching Alex sleep "make me a coffee and I'll tell you about it" Methos replied, Duncan pointed towards the kitchen before getting a blanket gently laying it over Alex's sleeping body. "Tell you what Mac you get dressed, we'll go pick up my car.then I might just treat you to breakfast" Duncan looked shocked at Methos's offer "Ok I'll be as quick as I can.can't have you changing your mind" Methos watched as Duncan grabbed some clothes and headed for the bathroom, Methos looked back at Alex sleeping on the couch before he turned and went outside to wait for Duncan.
Before Duncan left he wrote a note leaving it on the coffee table in front of the sleeping Alex, he brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes, Alex stirred but she didn't wake. Duncan then picked up his car keys and locked the door after him as he went out onto the deck.
It was a little after 11 o'clock when Duncan parked his car outside the barge and waited as Methos brought his car to a stop beside him. He got out and walked round to Methos who was just getting out of his car "you know I can't believe you the first time in I don't know how long you said you'd pay and you conveniently manage to leave your wallet on the barge" Methos followed Duncan up the gang plank "Hey I told you I dressed in a hurry this morning I just overlooked it" Duncan turned to look at Methos as he reached for the door handle "yeah righ..", the door swung open with no resistance both Immortal's exchanged worried looks. As they got to the top of the steps the scene below made their blood run cold "ALEX!" Duncan shouted but there was no reply, he still checked the other rooms but she wasn't there. "Damn" Duncan said as he wandered through the overturned chairs and bookcases "She put up a hell of a fight by the look of it.at least she isn't dead" Methos said trying to find something good in this "We don't know that" came Duncan's reply "If Lazarski just wanted her dead we would be looking at her body now.no she must have something he wants" Methos said as his eyes scanned the devastation "and by the look of this place they didn't find it here." Methos stopped talking as he saw the package on the desk without saying anything to Duncan he walked over to it turning it round, it was a plain brown box addressed to Duncan.
"This wasn't here earlier was it?" Methos asked as Duncan turned round to face him "no" Duncan said as he joined Methos at the desk "Then I think this might be how they got in here.Alex wouldn't open the door to just anyone she's too smart for that.this package needed a signature". Duncan took hold of the package he then reached for the scissors that were in the pot on the desk "What are you doing?" Methos exclaimed, "I'm going to see what's inside" Duncan said as he cut into the tape "Do you think that's wise it could be booby trapped".
"It's the only clue we have.if you're nervous why don't you wait out on deck?" Duncan said as the scissor cut through the last of the tape. Methos looked up and sighed before moving closer as Duncan pulled back the flaps of the box, they both looked inside at the bottom laid another smaller package wrapped in brown paper and tided with string, Duncan reached in and picked it up, from the weight Duncan thought it must be a book, he pulled the bow and the string fell away. It was a book but from the look of the paper and the cover it was very old, the pages were handed written, Duncan didn't understand the words written there he looked up at Methos "Do you understand this language?"
"yes.it's an ancient dialect from a civilisation that died out long before the ancient Greeks.may I?" Duncan handed the book to Methos "So why would someone send it to me?" Duncan asked but Methos didn't reply he was carefully flicking through the pages "Methos?"
"Oh sorry Mac.I thought I would never see this again"
"It's your?" Duncan exclaimed a little shocked by this news "Well it was until Lazarski stole it from me"
"So what is it about?" Duncan asked his frustration starting to become obvious "It's a tale of a man who lost something precious to him, a slave he had fallen in love with but she loved another and ran away" Methos turned the book over the rear cover was missing and as Methos read the last few lines he realised so was the last few chapters "it tells of his journey to bring her back.which he managed by killing her lover".
"Great" Duncan said as he sat on the edge of the desk.
"Lazarski was never one for reading as the condition of this book shows.he thinks the story shows his triumph over us by getting Alex back but he's lost the ending.the way this story ended was the Gods brought her lover back to life to avenge her" Duncan looked at Methos something in his expression made Duncan thing this wasn't just a story it was personal. "And did you?"
"Yes.but I was too late to save her.hey I never said." Duncan smiled at him "you didn't have to my friend it was all in your face when you saw the book" Duncan replied. Methos put the book back into the box "well we had better start looking I don't want to be late again.you can clear this lot up later" Methos said heading for the door "but where do we start he's not going to be at the house or the warehouse" Duncan said as he follow, Methos looked over his shoulder as he got to the top of the steps "Joe.we'll start there.his watcher might know something.then we'll see if we can find our friend Du Pont". Duncan didn't ask anymore the look on Methos's face told him that whatever was in that book upset him, it wasn't often that you could see any emotion on the old one's face but this had disturbed him.
The bar looked empty as they walked up to the door, no customers and no sign of Joe. As they entered Duncan called out "Joe are you here?" A head appeared from behind the bar "Hey Mac" as Joe looked at the faces of the two Immortals he knew this wasn't a social call "What's happened?"
"Lazarski's snatched Alex" Duncan replied as he walked up to the bar "Oh no! When?"
"This morning while we went to get Methos's car.has your Watcher been in touch?" Duncan asked Joe could hear in his voice anxiety and hope that Joe would have the answer "I wish I could tell you he had but I've heard nothing.give me a couple of hours and I'll see what I can find out" Duncan nodded resigned to the fact that this was the best Joe could offer. Methos put his hand on Duncan's arm "let's check out the places we went last night there might be someone hanging around we could ask" Methos knew he had to keep the Highlander busy "Ok.we'll be back in a couple of hours" Duncan replied before turning for the door "Be careful" Joe shouted after them but neither acknowledged his words.
Alex came round her head thumping she tried to open her eyes but the feeling of something touching her eyelashes told her it was pointless, she was blindfolded. As she tried to move the ropes at the wrists and ankles bit in "Get the boss.the bitch is awake" the sound of the voice stopped Alex from moving further, it would be pointless as she was definitely not alone. Alex heard several pairs of footsteps before she was dragged from the ground where she had been laying, her arms gripped as someone else took her blindfold off, the bright light in the room hurt her eyes as she desperately tried to focus of the figures in the room, she couldn't quite make out the faces yet but the voice she did recognise "Well I think the wheel of time has come full circle.here you are and here I am.did you really think a worthless creature like you could ever hope to beat me?" Alex didn't answer she was fighting her own battle between the terrified small child inside her and the emotionless woman she had become. Lazarski stepped forward until he was sure she could see his face "now.why don't you make this easy on yourself and tell me where to find the disc"
"Go to Hell" Alex spat back. Lazarski ran his hand down her cheek Alex wrenched her face as far away as she could but he just moved along with it. "I thought you might be a little stubborn.but I understand it's only you and me here.you've built your barriers to that haven't you?" Alex didn't respond "So you might be able to disregard your own safety but how are you with his?" Lazarski said beckoning to one of his men who left the room, moments later he returned with another man, a third man being held up between them. "I think you know this gentleman.I found him spying on me," Lazarski said lifting the man's head. Alex tried to hide her recognition but the shock of seeing the battered face of Ray made it difficult "Now if you don't tell me what I want to know it will be him that receives the pain" Alex's mind raced she knew that both of them were definitely dead if she gave Lazarski the disc, there was only one thing to try "Ok.I'll tell you but he walks first".
"Your in no position to deal" Lazarski snarled back at her. "Maybe.but I don't think you have the time to play for long.either you take my deal or you can kiss goodbye to your money and your other deal.I don't suppose your business partners will take kindly to being messed about" Lazarski's rage boiled over and he back handed her across the face "LEAVE HER ALONE" Ray shouted, Alex shook her head and Ray fell silent. "Ok.he'll walk" Lazarski nodded towards Ray and one of the men holding him took out a knife "I don't trust you Lazarski.Ray walks to a place I tell him when no one else is in the room..I give him an hour to get there.when I've called and found out he's there I'll tell you where to find the disc" Alex could see the rage in Lazarski's eyes but she knew that she had won this round "Tie her to that chair.one of my men is going to be watching through the glass if you try anything I will kill him". Alex sighed as Lazarski and his men left her alone with Ray, who came over to her "Alex you can't do this".
"there isn't time to argue about this.you have a wife and kids at home.I don't have anyone so the maths is very easy.now go to Le Blues Bar ask for Joe he will know what to do" Ray looked around at the man checking that they weren't doing anything but talking "That's not what I mean.the shipment Lazarski's waiting for it's a biological agent.if he gets his hands on that.I over heard some of his men talking.he's going to use it against a city unless they pay him not to.do you understand?" Alex licked the blood from her lip "yes I get it.you get to Joe tell him everything you know before you get Thomas involved.don't worry Ray he isn't going to win this one". The door opening stopped Ray from saying anymore "That's enough of the touching farewells.you take him.you have 1 hour to get to your destination if your not there when she calls.I will kill her very slowly.do you understand?"
"I understand" Ray said before two of Lazarski's men hustled him out of the room "I will be back in an hour" Lazarski said as he headed for the door.
"I can't wait" Alex said under her breath, her mind going to the promise she made to Adam "sorry Adam but this isn't just about protecting you or Duncan from the game.the stakes are a lot higher now" she said to the empty room.