Chapter 46
Lazarski sat alone in his study staring into the empty fireplace, a large brandy in his hand. How his plans had been thwarted was still playing on his mind. He didn't like losing especially money, they might have found a cure for his virus so in the long term it would be useless but he could still have some fun with it. "JEAN PAUL!" Lazarski shouted as he got to his feet. It didn't take long before a short middle-aged man with round glasses came running in. "Yes Monsieur"
"I want you to get Blane in here, with his box of tricks" Lazarski then waved the little man away before draining his glass, a grin broke across his face as he thought about what he was about to do and the fact that it might just help Du Pont's man get the disc for him was just icing on the cake. He walked over to the drinks trolley picking up the crystal decanter he poured himself another large brandy, then with a smug look on his face he settled himself down into one of the chairs to wait for Blane to appear.
Ray held the door to the bar open for Thomas, they hadn't had any luck with the French Authorities they were just as stumped as Ray and Thomas were. Ray had thought that a drink might lighten his partners mood but the look on his face as he entered the bar Ray knew that this wasn't going to be an easy task. The bar was quite busy but they managed to find two bar stools. Thomas sat down without saying anything and started to play with the drinks mat that was laid on the bar. Ray looked across at his partner and shook his head before turning to get the attention of the barman. "deux beer merci" Ray said as he held up his hand, the barman finished serving the young women before placing two beers in front of Ray. As he picked up his beer Ray turned to Thomas "Are you going to tell me what the hell has gotten into you the last few days?"
Thomas stared into his beer he could feel Ray's eyes watching him as he waited for an answer. Thomas knew he couldn't tell him the truth as Ray had made his feelings clear about Alex years before, so he had to think on his feet. "I don't understand what we're still doing here, No that's wrong I do. If Alex wasn't McCormack prodigy we wouldn't be wasting our time with this. It's a French problem now".
"So you have something more pressing in London?" Ray questioned he knew that there was no love lost between Alex and Thomas but he hadn't seen his partner react like this in years. He was about to try to dig deeper when his cell phone started to ring "Ray Muir speaking"
"Ray its Duncan MacLeod"
"Hi Duncan, nothings wrong is it?"
"No everything's fine. Alex asked me to call you. Can you come to the hospital tomorrow morning?" Ray was a little surprised that Duncan had managed to get Alex to change her mind "Yes, of course. What time?"
"I'll be here by about 9 so can you make 10?"
"Sure and thank you Duncan. We'll see you at 10" Ray then closed his cell phone as he returned it to his pocket he turned to Thomas "See I told you patience would work, Alex has agreed to see us tomorrow morning. Now that should cheer you up a bit" but Thomas said nothing he just stared at the other side of the bar sipping his beer. Ray decided to give up trying to sort this one out; he had been trying for years to calm things between Alex and his partner. Maybe he would try again another day. They finished their beers without speaking before heading back to their hotel room.
Ray awoke as the door to their hotel room opened, he blinked at the light it let in "What time is it?" Ray asked as he pulled himself up in the bed. "A little after 7" Thomas replied as he walked over to his bed laying down. "Where have you been?" Ray asked as he looked over at his partner, he didn't look like he had been asleep all night. "I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk. What time do we have to be at the hospital?"
"10, you could grab nearly a couple of hours sleep. You look like shit," Thomas didn't answer as he covered his eyes with his arm. He knew he couldn't sleep but it was a way of avoiding any more questions from Ray. When Ray realised he wasn't going to get anything else from Thomas he climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
As the door to Alex's hospital room opened Duncan got to his feet and moved in front of Alex's bed. He relaxed as Ray entered followed by Thomas "Right on time" Duncan said as he moved back to chair beside Alex. Ray moved towards Alex but Thomas stayed at the end of the spare bed. "How are you feeling?" Ray asked.
"Better, but I don't think I'll be dancing for a while" Alex smiled weakly Duncan could see from her eyes that she wasn't comfortable so he slipped his hand over Alex's to show her she wasn't alone. "But you didn't come to ask about me health did you?" Ray was a little surprised at Alex's direct approach but when he noticed that she wasn't looking at him but at Thomas he realised that she was reacting to Thomas's body language. Ray turned and glared at his partner who finally softened his stance. "We've looked everywhere we could really use your help" Thomas said as he moved closer to the bed. Alex looked across at Duncan she had heard Duncan and Adam talking about the Chateau when she was dozing, she knew he wouldn't like this but she didn't want Duncan to go after Lazarski she couldn't face the idea that she might lose him. Alex dropped her eyes away from Duncan; she was unable to bring herself to see how this might hurt him "when I was at his house I over heard some of his men talking. He has a Chateau about 20 miles south of Paris. I think it's called Ollainville" She felt Duncan's grip on her hand tighten and she knew he knew where she had found the information.
The door opened and a young blonde nurse walked nervously into the room "I'm sorry to bother you but is one of you Monsieur Muir?"
"I'm Ray Muir"
"This was dropped at the nurses station for you" the young nurse said handing a white envelope to Ray. As the nurse left all eyes focused on Ray as he opened the envelope. As Ray read the note a confused look came over his face, Thomas took the note from him and read it himself. "What the hell is this about?"
"It's from Lazarski he's laid on another demonstration of his virus but I don't understand where" Ray said as he took back the note from Thomas. Duncan got up from the chair and moved round towards Ray "Do you mind if I take a look?"
"Be my guest" Ray said as he handed it to Duncan.
As Duncan read the words on the page the meaning was all to clear to him.
'Let's play a little game. A small device has been placed near where the great general spent his last days. You have 1 hour.'
Ray hadn't missed the look of recognition on Duncan's face "You know where this is, don't you?" The anger rising in Duncan was plain to see. He looked round the room before collecting his coat from the spare bed and making his way towards the door. Ray stepping in front of him halted his progress "Oh no, this time we go together"
"I need you to stay here and watch Alex this might be an attempt to get to her"
"Duncan, I'll be fine" Alex called out from the bed. Thomas turned to Ray and Duncan "It's OK I'll stay with Alex. It will be quicker to look with two of you" Duncan couldn't fault this logic "Ok let's go" he said as he opened the door. Alex had hoped that Ray would stay but she knew there was no time to waste trying to explain the gut feeling she had. Over the years she had learned to trust it and it was telling her now that there was danger in the room.
Lazarski sat alone in his study staring into the empty fireplace, a large brandy in his hand. How his plans had been thwarted was still playing on his mind. He didn't like losing especially money, they might have found a cure for his virus so in the long term it would be useless but he could still have some fun with it. "JEAN PAUL!" Lazarski shouted as he got to his feet. It didn't take long before a short middle-aged man with round glasses came running in. "Yes Monsieur"
"I want you to get Blane in here, with his box of tricks" Lazarski then waved the little man away before draining his glass, a grin broke across his face as he thought about what he was about to do and the fact that it might just help Du Pont's man get the disc for him was just icing on the cake. He walked over to the drinks trolley picking up the crystal decanter he poured himself another large brandy, then with a smug look on his face he settled himself down into one of the chairs to wait for Blane to appear.
Ray held the door to the bar open for Thomas, they hadn't had any luck with the French Authorities they were just as stumped as Ray and Thomas were. Ray had thought that a drink might lighten his partners mood but the look on his face as he entered the bar Ray knew that this wasn't going to be an easy task. The bar was quite busy but they managed to find two bar stools. Thomas sat down without saying anything and started to play with the drinks mat that was laid on the bar. Ray looked across at his partner and shook his head before turning to get the attention of the barman. "deux beer merci" Ray said as he held up his hand, the barman finished serving the young women before placing two beers in front of Ray. As he picked up his beer Ray turned to Thomas "Are you going to tell me what the hell has gotten into you the last few days?"
Thomas stared into his beer he could feel Ray's eyes watching him as he waited for an answer. Thomas knew he couldn't tell him the truth as Ray had made his feelings clear about Alex years before, so he had to think on his feet. "I don't understand what we're still doing here, No that's wrong I do. If Alex wasn't McCormack prodigy we wouldn't be wasting our time with this. It's a French problem now".
"So you have something more pressing in London?" Ray questioned he knew that there was no love lost between Alex and Thomas but he hadn't seen his partner react like this in years. He was about to try to dig deeper when his cell phone started to ring "Ray Muir speaking"
"Ray its Duncan MacLeod"
"Hi Duncan, nothings wrong is it?"
"No everything's fine. Alex asked me to call you. Can you come to the hospital tomorrow morning?" Ray was a little surprised that Duncan had managed to get Alex to change her mind "Yes, of course. What time?"
"I'll be here by about 9 so can you make 10?"
"Sure and thank you Duncan. We'll see you at 10" Ray then closed his cell phone as he returned it to his pocket he turned to Thomas "See I told you patience would work, Alex has agreed to see us tomorrow morning. Now that should cheer you up a bit" but Thomas said nothing he just stared at the other side of the bar sipping his beer. Ray decided to give up trying to sort this one out; he had been trying for years to calm things between Alex and his partner. Maybe he would try again another day. They finished their beers without speaking before heading back to their hotel room.
Ray awoke as the door to their hotel room opened, he blinked at the light it let in "What time is it?" Ray asked as he pulled himself up in the bed. "A little after 7" Thomas replied as he walked over to his bed laying down. "Where have you been?" Ray asked as he looked over at his partner, he didn't look like he had been asleep all night. "I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk. What time do we have to be at the hospital?"
"10, you could grab nearly a couple of hours sleep. You look like shit," Thomas didn't answer as he covered his eyes with his arm. He knew he couldn't sleep but it was a way of avoiding any more questions from Ray. When Ray realised he wasn't going to get anything else from Thomas he climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
As the door to Alex's hospital room opened Duncan got to his feet and moved in front of Alex's bed. He relaxed as Ray entered followed by Thomas "Right on time" Duncan said as he moved back to chair beside Alex. Ray moved towards Alex but Thomas stayed at the end of the spare bed. "How are you feeling?" Ray asked.
"Better, but I don't think I'll be dancing for a while" Alex smiled weakly Duncan could see from her eyes that she wasn't comfortable so he slipped his hand over Alex's to show her she wasn't alone. "But you didn't come to ask about me health did you?" Ray was a little surprised at Alex's direct approach but when he noticed that she wasn't looking at him but at Thomas he realised that she was reacting to Thomas's body language. Ray turned and glared at his partner who finally softened his stance. "We've looked everywhere we could really use your help" Thomas said as he moved closer to the bed. Alex looked across at Duncan she had heard Duncan and Adam talking about the Chateau when she was dozing, she knew he wouldn't like this but she didn't want Duncan to go after Lazarski she couldn't face the idea that she might lose him. Alex dropped her eyes away from Duncan; she was unable to bring herself to see how this might hurt him "when I was at his house I over heard some of his men talking. He has a Chateau about 20 miles south of Paris. I think it's called Ollainville" She felt Duncan's grip on her hand tighten and she knew he knew where she had found the information.
The door opened and a young blonde nurse walked nervously into the room "I'm sorry to bother you but is one of you Monsieur Muir?"
"I'm Ray Muir"
"This was dropped at the nurses station for you" the young nurse said handing a white envelope to Ray. As the nurse left all eyes focused on Ray as he opened the envelope. As Ray read the note a confused look came over his face, Thomas took the note from him and read it himself. "What the hell is this about?"
"It's from Lazarski he's laid on another demonstration of his virus but I don't understand where" Ray said as he took back the note from Thomas. Duncan got up from the chair and moved round towards Ray "Do you mind if I take a look?"
"Be my guest" Ray said as he handed it to Duncan.
As Duncan read the words on the page the meaning was all to clear to him.
'Let's play a little game. A small device has been placed near where the great general spent his last days. You have 1 hour.'
Ray hadn't missed the look of recognition on Duncan's face "You know where this is, don't you?" The anger rising in Duncan was plain to see. He looked round the room before collecting his coat from the spare bed and making his way towards the door. Ray stepping in front of him halted his progress "Oh no, this time we go together"
"I need you to stay here and watch Alex this might be an attempt to get to her"
"Duncan, I'll be fine" Alex called out from the bed. Thomas turned to Ray and Duncan "It's OK I'll stay with Alex. It will be quicker to look with two of you" Duncan couldn't fault this logic "Ok let's go" he said as he opened the door. Alex had hoped that Ray would stay but she knew there was no time to waste trying to explain the gut feeling she had. Over the years she had learned to trust it and it was telling her now that there was danger in the room.