Chapter 50
Ray was sat in his car in a back alley he was staring at his phone, he had just spoken with his partner Thomas and something about his partner's voice didn't sound right. Ray didn't understand why Thomas wouldn't meet up with him, neither of them knew Paris very well and it was hard to concentrate on driving and watch the streets for Alex. Even his suggestion to call Duncan had been dismissed but something in Ray's gut told him that he was on the outside of something and he had to find out what. His phone lit up as he looked for Duncan's number and he waited as the phone dialled.
Duncan's phone rang just as he parked the car outside Joe's he could tell from the number displayed on the screen that it was Ray. "You go inside I'll be in when I've dealt with this" Methos had an idea who was on the phone so he just nodded and taking hold of his bag headed for the bar. "MacLeod"
"Hi Duncan it's Ray. Have you had any luck?" Duncan looked across at the bar, as some people were leaving making quite a bit of noise "No, not yet"
"Look you know Paris better than any of us where do you think I should look now, all the streets are being to look the same to me".
"Why don't you both go back to the hotel I'll call you when we find her" Duncan wanted both the British agents off the streets. Ray could hear the people in the back ground and had already figured that Duncan must be parked by a bar or club "How about we meet at your barge?" Duncan remembered Alex's warning about the barge, what he wasn't sure of was did Ray know, was he part of the trap "No, I'll come to your hotel but there are a few other places I want to try first".
"Ok I'll call Thomas to meet us there" Ray replied he was becoming uneasy about this whole situation with every passing minute. "Thomas isn't with you?" Duncan questioned, "No we split up to cover more ground. Why?"
"No reason I just thought you would've been looking together" Duncan replied trying to figure out what it meant but something in Ray's voice made Duncan believe he didn't know anything about what Thomas was up to but for now it was probably safer for Ray to be kept in the dark. "So we'll meet in what an hour?" Ray wanted to pin Duncan down to a time frame, he didn't want to wait all night. "No, I'll be there in a couple of hours"
"Ok see you then" Ray said as his hung up the phone he leant forward putting his elbows on the steering wheel and stared at the empty street ahead of him a sick feeling hit his stomach that all of this had something to do with the strange way his partner had been acting but how exactly he wasn't sure.
Duncan made his way into the back room of Joe's bar, Methos was sat on the edge of the couch cleaning Alex's wound. Duncan walked over to Alex she looked up at him and smiled "You just can't keep out of trouble can you" he said as he knelt down by her. He looked over at Methos "How bad is it?"
"She's managed to rip most of the stitches but I can sort them out" Methos looked back to Alex "The problem is I have no anaesthetic so this is going to hurt. Do you think you can handle it?" Alex nodded "Go for it" Duncan took hold of her hand as Methos set to work stitching the wound back together. Alex closed her eyes as the needle went through her flesh and tried to take her mind to another more pleasant place. Duncan had an feeling of what Alex was trying to do but from the pain on her face she wasn't managing very well, so he moved closer so he could whisper in her ear about some of the places he was going to take her giving her his voice to concentrate on. As Duncan's voice washed over her Alex found herself relaxing as his velvet tone transported her to places she had never been.
As Methos finished the dressing Alex slipped into an exhausted sleep, Duncan watched Methos work as he leaned against Joe's desk on the far side of the room. Methos got to his feet as Duncan checked his watch "You got an appointment?" Methos said as he walked across the room "I've told Ray I'd meet them at their hotel. I needed to buy us some time I'm sure he was about to suggest we contacted the police" Methos sat down beside Duncan "You know she can't stay here Mac. If her friends could use their friends in the Paris police to find this place after all they know Joe and we can't use my place for the same reason" Duncan turned to face Methos "So any ideas we know the barge is being watched" Methos smiled "Shakespeare & Company. I've never changed the listing so it can't be linked to me"
"Great, do you think you and Joe can get her there without being seen?"
"Can Joe do what?" Joe asked as he came back in from the bar "I need you to help Methos get Alex to his shop before Ray or Thomas find this place" Joe shook his head "Mac we have a problem, Thomas is here" Duncan looked across at Alex sleeping on the couch "Does he know we're here?"
"He's seen your car but he doesn't know Methos and Alex are here" Duncan got to his feet, he looked around the room as he wiped his hand across his mouth "Is your car round the back?"
"No, I parked it out front tonight" Joe answered then a thought struck him "but Philippe's car is out the back. I'll get the keys he can take mine at the end of his shift but I think you had better get out front in case he decides to come back here". Duncan walked over to Alex knelt down beside her "Alex, Alex you have to wake up now" Alex opened her eyes "What? Is everything OK?" she asked as her eyes focused on Duncan's face "Thomas is here. You've got to get up and go with Adam. There's no time for questions" Duncan replied helping Alex to her feet without being asked Methos came to Duncan's side and took over supporting Alex. "I'm going to talk to him. I'll see you at the shop later" Duncan said as he followed Joe towards the door to the bar "Duncan" Alex called after him causing him to stop in the doorway and turn towards her "Be careful Duncan he's good don't underestimate him" Duncan smiled and nodded before disappearing through the door into the bar.
As Duncan walked out into the bar Joe walked over to Philippe who stopped serving to talk to him, he then headed back into the office to give the keys to Philippe's car to Methos. Duncan walked over to the table Thomas was sat at pulling out one of the chairs; he turned it round and sat down leaning his arms on the back of the chair. "I didn't know you knew this place" Thomas put his glass of beer down "I didn't but a call to my friends in the Paris police and they have your friend Joe listed as the owner here, so I took a chance that Alex might come here" Duncan picked up the beer mat in front of him "Well, Joe hasn't seen her all night and Adam hasn't had any luck either. I thought we were meeting at your hotel?" Thomas smiled at Duncan "When I saw your car I thought I'd save you the trip".
With Methos's help Alex made it to the car, she rested against it as he opened the door for her and helped her gently into the seat. "Where are we going?" Alex asked as Methos got into the driver's seat "A little place I know, it's not much but it will do to keep you out of trouble" Alex laughed "trouble has a way of finding me"
"Yeah, I've noticed" Methos said smiling back as he slowly moved the car down the back alley only switching on the lights as he got to the street. "Looks like you've had a bit of a misspent youth yourself," Alex said as she shifted in the seat to get more comfortable but all Methos would do was smile.
Duncan got to his feet and turned the chair back round and pushed it under the table, "we had better get going your partner is expecting us. Do you need a lift?" Thomas got up "No, it's ok I've got wheels" Thomas said as he searched Duncan's face for any clue that this man in front of him wasn't telling him the truth but there was nothing for him to see. "I'll see you there" Duncan said as he turned for the door as his hand found the cold metal of the door handle he closed his eyes for a moment as he fought his instinct to turn back and make Thomas tell him what the hell was going on. He then opened the door and went to his car. Duncan sat in his car waiting until Thomas came out and got into a black Rover that was parked in a small group of cars to the left of the bar, only then did Duncan put his Citroen into gear and head for the hotel.
Methos helped Alex from the car "Don't worry I'll move it as soon as your settled" he said and to Alex it seemed that he had read her mind. Methos didn't turn on any lights as they made their way through the book store "I don't know why but I never pegged you as a book store owner type" Alex said as she rested against the shelves while Methos unlocked the door to the basement "Really?"
"Really, it's just something in your eyes doesn't quite match what you're trying to show people. I think there is a lot more to you than your willing to admit Adam Pierson." Methos looked at her face in the light of the street lamps "I think the same could be said about you" Methos said as he helped her through the door. He smiled to himself that she could read him so well after all the years he had practiced at hiding that part of him. Just maybe it was because he had seen the same darkness in Alex's eyes the first time he had met her that she could so easily see it in his. It was only when they were in the basement that he turned on the light. Alex blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light; there wasn't much in the room but a few old crates and a wine rack. "Not very homely" Alex said as she looked around and watched Methos walk over to the far wall and to her amazement the wine rack opened just like a door. "This isn't much better but you shouldn't be disturbed here".
Alex pushed herself away from the wall and started to walk towards him, Methos could see this was taking great effort as she was still weak. Methos saw her face drain of what colour there had been and her body started to sway quickly he moved across to her putting her arm over his shoulder and his arm around her waist. "I think you need to get some rest. It's not much further," Methos said as he guided her to the old metal-framed bed in the corner. By the time they reached the bed Methos was having to support most of Alex's body weight, which made it difficult for him to pull back the cover that revealed a fully made up bed. As he helped Alex onto the bed she looked wearily up at him "Looks like you have guests here often."
"Let's just say I like to be prepared," Methos said as he pulled off her shoes and lifted her legs onto the bed. Alex tried to speak again but the exhaustion won and her eyes closed as Methos pulled the covers over her. "We'll talk some more later" Methos said quietly as he switched on the small lamp by the bed "but there are a few things I need to check up on" he said as he switched out the main light and left Alex sleeping while he went up to the office.
The door to the hotel room was ajar when Duncan arrived cautiously he pushed the door open. "Duncan, any news?" Ray said walking towards him. Duncan's eyes scanned the room but there was no one else there. "No, she may have found somewhere to hold up until morning or."
"Or he already has her. You don't have to worry about saying it I've been thinking of nothing else since I got back. Thomas hasn't got back yet so I'm hoping he might have some good news."
"He hasn't I bumped into him at Joe's bar. He said he'd meet us here." The look of confusion on Ray's face at the mention of Joe's bar went further to convince Duncan that Thomas was acting alone. "Joe's bar?" Ray asked as he walked over to the small fridge "You know Joe, Joe Dawson a friend of mine, he has a bar I took Alex there once. I hoped she might go there but he hasn't seen her".
"Would you like a drink?" Ray asked as he took a beer from the fridge "Yeah, thanks." Duncan replied as he moved further into the room to take the bottle of beer Ray was holding out to him. Ray gestured for Duncan to sit in one of the two chairs by the small table in the corner. "Ray, I've been meaning to ask you something"
"Shoot" Ray said as he sat in the other chair. Duncan took a swig of his beer before continuing "I just wondered is there some sort of history between Alex and Thomas? It's just I thought I noticed something the other day" Ray got to his feet and walked over to the window, drank some of his beer while images of the past filled his mind. Duncan waited patiently, hoping he would get his answer before Thomas arrived. Finally, Ray turned round
"You're right there is little love lost between them. It goes way back. You see they trained together Thomas is very competitive he doesn't like being beaten by anyone especially a woman, he's held a grudge ever since Alex beat him in the finals. It seemed to simmer down for a while. Thomas became my partner and we worked separate cases from Alex. Then a case Thomas and I had been working for months hit a wall, nothing we did seemed to get us closer to the main man. McCormack decided assigned Alex to the case, she was a loner a maverick or as Thomas nicknamed her Rogue, she does things that I personally don't agree with but she does get results."
"So Alex got the man you were after?" Duncan asked as he carefully weighted up the man stood in front of him. "Oh yes, she got him all right. I've never asked her exactly how but there were several complaints lodged at the time, none actually came to anything though. Thomas just lost it when she brought him in. He was determined to make one of the complaints stick, Alex was suspended for a while but some how she got away with it. McCormack agreed to keep them apart which worked really well then Christina arrived"
"Christina?" Duncan questioned he hadn't hear of her before.
"Christina Carter, she was beautiful, bright, intelligent and she fell in love with Thomas and he fell head over heels for her. I've never seen a woman effect my partner like that". Duncan placed the bottle of beer on the table "I don't see what that could have to do with Alex. Was she jealous?"
Ray laughed "Alex jealous hardly, the only time she even noticed was when it started to effect the way Christina worked. You see Christina was only just out of training and had requested Alex as her partner and McCormack jumped at the chance to make Alex take another partner. She hadn't had one since the last one got injured and demanded to be assigned to someone else. You see Alex liked working alone and she fought really hard to avoid it but McCormack wasn't having any of it, so Alex tried to shake Christina loose but she was one determined lady and she stuck like glue. Even Alex had to eventually give in and except her but as Christina and Thomas got closer she wanted a life as well as work, not a concept Alex knows much about. So Alex slipped back into her old ways and she worked cases while Christina was off. When Christina found out there was one hell of an argument Alex told her she wasn't going to recommend her at the end of her trial period. Christina left shouting she would prove she was as good as Alex."
Duncan got to his feet "So what happened?" Ray looked up at the ceiling to get his emotions in check before continuing "She wasn't. She decided to try and bring down a guy called Maxwell even Alex had been very cautious around that guy. The distress call came in the next morning by the time Thomas and I arrived Christina was dead. Maxwell had caught her snooping around one of his warehouses; she was trying to gather evidence of him doing one of his deals, he executed her. Thomas blamed Alex and when no one would listen he started drinking, gambling all sorts of stuff to shut out the pain. Alex took off after she got to the warehouse and found out Christina was dead. We looked but we never did find Maxwell or any of his gang. Alex was missing for two months then one day she walks back into headquarters, she was on her way to McCormack's office when I met her in the hallway. I've never seen anyone's eyes like that before and I hope I never do again but before I could get her out of the way Thomas came out of the restroom. He just lost it and attacked her but she did nothing to defend herself. McCormack and I separated them and he made Thomas take a leave of absence. He underwent therapy and it all seemed fine until." Ray didn't get to finish as Thomas walked into the room.
Ray was sat in his car in a back alley he was staring at his phone, he had just spoken with his partner Thomas and something about his partner's voice didn't sound right. Ray didn't understand why Thomas wouldn't meet up with him, neither of them knew Paris very well and it was hard to concentrate on driving and watch the streets for Alex. Even his suggestion to call Duncan had been dismissed but something in Ray's gut told him that he was on the outside of something and he had to find out what. His phone lit up as he looked for Duncan's number and he waited as the phone dialled.
Duncan's phone rang just as he parked the car outside Joe's he could tell from the number displayed on the screen that it was Ray. "You go inside I'll be in when I've dealt with this" Methos had an idea who was on the phone so he just nodded and taking hold of his bag headed for the bar. "MacLeod"
"Hi Duncan it's Ray. Have you had any luck?" Duncan looked across at the bar, as some people were leaving making quite a bit of noise "No, not yet"
"Look you know Paris better than any of us where do you think I should look now, all the streets are being to look the same to me".
"Why don't you both go back to the hotel I'll call you when we find her" Duncan wanted both the British agents off the streets. Ray could hear the people in the back ground and had already figured that Duncan must be parked by a bar or club "How about we meet at your barge?" Duncan remembered Alex's warning about the barge, what he wasn't sure of was did Ray know, was he part of the trap "No, I'll come to your hotel but there are a few other places I want to try first".
"Ok I'll call Thomas to meet us there" Ray replied he was becoming uneasy about this whole situation with every passing minute. "Thomas isn't with you?" Duncan questioned, "No we split up to cover more ground. Why?"
"No reason I just thought you would've been looking together" Duncan replied trying to figure out what it meant but something in Ray's voice made Duncan believe he didn't know anything about what Thomas was up to but for now it was probably safer for Ray to be kept in the dark. "So we'll meet in what an hour?" Ray wanted to pin Duncan down to a time frame, he didn't want to wait all night. "No, I'll be there in a couple of hours"
"Ok see you then" Ray said as his hung up the phone he leant forward putting his elbows on the steering wheel and stared at the empty street ahead of him a sick feeling hit his stomach that all of this had something to do with the strange way his partner had been acting but how exactly he wasn't sure.
Duncan made his way into the back room of Joe's bar, Methos was sat on the edge of the couch cleaning Alex's wound. Duncan walked over to Alex she looked up at him and smiled "You just can't keep out of trouble can you" he said as he knelt down by her. He looked over at Methos "How bad is it?"
"She's managed to rip most of the stitches but I can sort them out" Methos looked back to Alex "The problem is I have no anaesthetic so this is going to hurt. Do you think you can handle it?" Alex nodded "Go for it" Duncan took hold of her hand as Methos set to work stitching the wound back together. Alex closed her eyes as the needle went through her flesh and tried to take her mind to another more pleasant place. Duncan had an feeling of what Alex was trying to do but from the pain on her face she wasn't managing very well, so he moved closer so he could whisper in her ear about some of the places he was going to take her giving her his voice to concentrate on. As Duncan's voice washed over her Alex found herself relaxing as his velvet tone transported her to places she had never been.
As Methos finished the dressing Alex slipped into an exhausted sleep, Duncan watched Methos work as he leaned against Joe's desk on the far side of the room. Methos got to his feet as Duncan checked his watch "You got an appointment?" Methos said as he walked across the room "I've told Ray I'd meet them at their hotel. I needed to buy us some time I'm sure he was about to suggest we contacted the police" Methos sat down beside Duncan "You know she can't stay here Mac. If her friends could use their friends in the Paris police to find this place after all they know Joe and we can't use my place for the same reason" Duncan turned to face Methos "So any ideas we know the barge is being watched" Methos smiled "Shakespeare & Company. I've never changed the listing so it can't be linked to me"
"Great, do you think you and Joe can get her there without being seen?"
"Can Joe do what?" Joe asked as he came back in from the bar "I need you to help Methos get Alex to his shop before Ray or Thomas find this place" Joe shook his head "Mac we have a problem, Thomas is here" Duncan looked across at Alex sleeping on the couch "Does he know we're here?"
"He's seen your car but he doesn't know Methos and Alex are here" Duncan got to his feet, he looked around the room as he wiped his hand across his mouth "Is your car round the back?"
"No, I parked it out front tonight" Joe answered then a thought struck him "but Philippe's car is out the back. I'll get the keys he can take mine at the end of his shift but I think you had better get out front in case he decides to come back here". Duncan walked over to Alex knelt down beside her "Alex, Alex you have to wake up now" Alex opened her eyes "What? Is everything OK?" she asked as her eyes focused on Duncan's face "Thomas is here. You've got to get up and go with Adam. There's no time for questions" Duncan replied helping Alex to her feet without being asked Methos came to Duncan's side and took over supporting Alex. "I'm going to talk to him. I'll see you at the shop later" Duncan said as he followed Joe towards the door to the bar "Duncan" Alex called after him causing him to stop in the doorway and turn towards her "Be careful Duncan he's good don't underestimate him" Duncan smiled and nodded before disappearing through the door into the bar.
As Duncan walked out into the bar Joe walked over to Philippe who stopped serving to talk to him, he then headed back into the office to give the keys to Philippe's car to Methos. Duncan walked over to the table Thomas was sat at pulling out one of the chairs; he turned it round and sat down leaning his arms on the back of the chair. "I didn't know you knew this place" Thomas put his glass of beer down "I didn't but a call to my friends in the Paris police and they have your friend Joe listed as the owner here, so I took a chance that Alex might come here" Duncan picked up the beer mat in front of him "Well, Joe hasn't seen her all night and Adam hasn't had any luck either. I thought we were meeting at your hotel?" Thomas smiled at Duncan "When I saw your car I thought I'd save you the trip".
With Methos's help Alex made it to the car, she rested against it as he opened the door for her and helped her gently into the seat. "Where are we going?" Alex asked as Methos got into the driver's seat "A little place I know, it's not much but it will do to keep you out of trouble" Alex laughed "trouble has a way of finding me"
"Yeah, I've noticed" Methos said smiling back as he slowly moved the car down the back alley only switching on the lights as he got to the street. "Looks like you've had a bit of a misspent youth yourself," Alex said as she shifted in the seat to get more comfortable but all Methos would do was smile.
Duncan got to his feet and turned the chair back round and pushed it under the table, "we had better get going your partner is expecting us. Do you need a lift?" Thomas got up "No, it's ok I've got wheels" Thomas said as he searched Duncan's face for any clue that this man in front of him wasn't telling him the truth but there was nothing for him to see. "I'll see you there" Duncan said as he turned for the door as his hand found the cold metal of the door handle he closed his eyes for a moment as he fought his instinct to turn back and make Thomas tell him what the hell was going on. He then opened the door and went to his car. Duncan sat in his car waiting until Thomas came out and got into a black Rover that was parked in a small group of cars to the left of the bar, only then did Duncan put his Citroen into gear and head for the hotel.
Methos helped Alex from the car "Don't worry I'll move it as soon as your settled" he said and to Alex it seemed that he had read her mind. Methos didn't turn on any lights as they made their way through the book store "I don't know why but I never pegged you as a book store owner type" Alex said as she rested against the shelves while Methos unlocked the door to the basement "Really?"
"Really, it's just something in your eyes doesn't quite match what you're trying to show people. I think there is a lot more to you than your willing to admit Adam Pierson." Methos looked at her face in the light of the street lamps "I think the same could be said about you" Methos said as he helped her through the door. He smiled to himself that she could read him so well after all the years he had practiced at hiding that part of him. Just maybe it was because he had seen the same darkness in Alex's eyes the first time he had met her that she could so easily see it in his. It was only when they were in the basement that he turned on the light. Alex blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light; there wasn't much in the room but a few old crates and a wine rack. "Not very homely" Alex said as she looked around and watched Methos walk over to the far wall and to her amazement the wine rack opened just like a door. "This isn't much better but you shouldn't be disturbed here".
Alex pushed herself away from the wall and started to walk towards him, Methos could see this was taking great effort as she was still weak. Methos saw her face drain of what colour there had been and her body started to sway quickly he moved across to her putting her arm over his shoulder and his arm around her waist. "I think you need to get some rest. It's not much further," Methos said as he guided her to the old metal-framed bed in the corner. By the time they reached the bed Methos was having to support most of Alex's body weight, which made it difficult for him to pull back the cover that revealed a fully made up bed. As he helped Alex onto the bed she looked wearily up at him "Looks like you have guests here often."
"Let's just say I like to be prepared," Methos said as he pulled off her shoes and lifted her legs onto the bed. Alex tried to speak again but the exhaustion won and her eyes closed as Methos pulled the covers over her. "We'll talk some more later" Methos said quietly as he switched on the small lamp by the bed "but there are a few things I need to check up on" he said as he switched out the main light and left Alex sleeping while he went up to the office.
The door to the hotel room was ajar when Duncan arrived cautiously he pushed the door open. "Duncan, any news?" Ray said walking towards him. Duncan's eyes scanned the room but there was no one else there. "No, she may have found somewhere to hold up until morning or."
"Or he already has her. You don't have to worry about saying it I've been thinking of nothing else since I got back. Thomas hasn't got back yet so I'm hoping he might have some good news."
"He hasn't I bumped into him at Joe's bar. He said he'd meet us here." The look of confusion on Ray's face at the mention of Joe's bar went further to convince Duncan that Thomas was acting alone. "Joe's bar?" Ray asked as he walked over to the small fridge "You know Joe, Joe Dawson a friend of mine, he has a bar I took Alex there once. I hoped she might go there but he hasn't seen her".
"Would you like a drink?" Ray asked as he took a beer from the fridge "Yeah, thanks." Duncan replied as he moved further into the room to take the bottle of beer Ray was holding out to him. Ray gestured for Duncan to sit in one of the two chairs by the small table in the corner. "Ray, I've been meaning to ask you something"
"Shoot" Ray said as he sat in the other chair. Duncan took a swig of his beer before continuing "I just wondered is there some sort of history between Alex and Thomas? It's just I thought I noticed something the other day" Ray got to his feet and walked over to the window, drank some of his beer while images of the past filled his mind. Duncan waited patiently, hoping he would get his answer before Thomas arrived. Finally, Ray turned round
"You're right there is little love lost between them. It goes way back. You see they trained together Thomas is very competitive he doesn't like being beaten by anyone especially a woman, he's held a grudge ever since Alex beat him in the finals. It seemed to simmer down for a while. Thomas became my partner and we worked separate cases from Alex. Then a case Thomas and I had been working for months hit a wall, nothing we did seemed to get us closer to the main man. McCormack decided assigned Alex to the case, she was a loner a maverick or as Thomas nicknamed her Rogue, she does things that I personally don't agree with but she does get results."
"So Alex got the man you were after?" Duncan asked as he carefully weighted up the man stood in front of him. "Oh yes, she got him all right. I've never asked her exactly how but there were several complaints lodged at the time, none actually came to anything though. Thomas just lost it when she brought him in. He was determined to make one of the complaints stick, Alex was suspended for a while but some how she got away with it. McCormack agreed to keep them apart which worked really well then Christina arrived"
"Christina?" Duncan questioned he hadn't hear of her before.
"Christina Carter, she was beautiful, bright, intelligent and she fell in love with Thomas and he fell head over heels for her. I've never seen a woman effect my partner like that". Duncan placed the bottle of beer on the table "I don't see what that could have to do with Alex. Was she jealous?"
Ray laughed "Alex jealous hardly, the only time she even noticed was when it started to effect the way Christina worked. You see Christina was only just out of training and had requested Alex as her partner and McCormack jumped at the chance to make Alex take another partner. She hadn't had one since the last one got injured and demanded to be assigned to someone else. You see Alex liked working alone and she fought really hard to avoid it but McCormack wasn't having any of it, so Alex tried to shake Christina loose but she was one determined lady and she stuck like glue. Even Alex had to eventually give in and except her but as Christina and Thomas got closer she wanted a life as well as work, not a concept Alex knows much about. So Alex slipped back into her old ways and she worked cases while Christina was off. When Christina found out there was one hell of an argument Alex told her she wasn't going to recommend her at the end of her trial period. Christina left shouting she would prove she was as good as Alex."
Duncan got to his feet "So what happened?" Ray looked up at the ceiling to get his emotions in check before continuing "She wasn't. She decided to try and bring down a guy called Maxwell even Alex had been very cautious around that guy. The distress call came in the next morning by the time Thomas and I arrived Christina was dead. Maxwell had caught her snooping around one of his warehouses; she was trying to gather evidence of him doing one of his deals, he executed her. Thomas blamed Alex and when no one would listen he started drinking, gambling all sorts of stuff to shut out the pain. Alex took off after she got to the warehouse and found out Christina was dead. We looked but we never did find Maxwell or any of his gang. Alex was missing for two months then one day she walks back into headquarters, she was on her way to McCormack's office when I met her in the hallway. I've never seen anyone's eyes like that before and I hope I never do again but before I could get her out of the way Thomas came out of the restroom. He just lost it and attacked her but she did nothing to defend herself. McCormack and I separated them and he made Thomas take a leave of absence. He underwent therapy and it all seemed fine until." Ray didn't get to finish as Thomas walked into the room.