Chapter 51
The only light in the room was from the dying embers of the fire, a figure was sat in the chair his head rested back against the leather, the last flickering of the fire danced around the crystal of the glass in his hand. The phone ringing brought Lazarski from his thoughts "Yes" the irritation very obvious in his voice "Err, the pilot wants to know where and when you want him to file his flight plan"
"Has the goods arrived?" Lazarski said as he put his empty glass down on the small table beside him "Yes Sir they've been loaded we are ready as soon as you are"
"Good, I'll call later with the flight details and passenger list" Lazarski said as he hung up the phone. He had been waiting to hear from Du Pont that his property was being returned to him but it was very late now; he would get his answers in the morning and Du Pont had better hope that it was what he wanted to hear.
The conversation had become very difficult with Thomas's arrival and Duncan hadn't got any more information from Ray as Thomas never left them alone. They had talked about Lazarski and where Alex might have gone but nothing specific. Eventually, Duncan had made his excuses and left. It didn't take him long to make his way to Shakespeare & Company he was careful to make sure he wasn't followed. He parked his car several streets away and made his way to the shop on foot. Methos opened the door after Duncan lightly tapped on the glass. "Everything all right?" Duncan asked as he walked into the shop, Methos checked that there was no one else in the street as he locked the door. "I checked on her just now she's still sleeping" Methos said showing him into the small office "Get anything of use?" Methos asked as he closed the office door "I think I'm beginning to understand why Thomas has a grudge against Alex but I want to hear her side of the story".
"I'd leave it a few hours Mac she needs to rest" Methos said as he picked up his coat Duncan wiped his hands over his eyes "You look all done in, Mac. The bed in the basement is a double try and get some rest". Duncan smiled wearily "I don't want to wake Alex."
"I don't think a canon volley will wake her at the moment. Any way she could do with the body warmth, she did lose quite a lot of blood. Other than that there is always the office chair" Methos said pointing to a rather rickety wooden chair next to the old tatty desk by the window. "Where are you going?" Duncan asked.
"Back to my place. I'll check back with you later tomorrow. " Methos said as he opened the office door "Oh, Mike will open the store at 9 tomorrow I left a message to let him know I have guests, so don't worry if you hear movement". Methos said as he pulled on his coat, Duncan followed Methos to the door "Watch your back" he said as Methos stepped through the door "Always do" Methos said smiling as he walked away.
Duncan turned out the light in the office and made his way to the basement he closed the wine rack door quietly behind him before walking across to Alex. Her face seemed to glow in the warm amber light from the small lamp. Alex didn't move as Duncan gently brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. Duncan slipped off his shoes and climbed onto the bed beside Alex, he leant on his elbow as he watched her sleeping for a while. As he settled down beside her Alex moved closer to him and as she wrapped her arm around his, he closed his eyes and allowed sleep to wash over him.
Lazarski lay in his bed staring at the shadows on the ceiling he had only managed a couple of hours of fitful sleep, he hadn't slept much since he had found her again. From the first time he had seen her as that frightened tear stained little child she had seemed to crawl under his skin, he lost her once before he wasn't going to lose her again. He threw back the covers and picked up the phone "Has Du Pont been in contact yet?"
"Sorry Sir no one has called. Do you want me to get him for you?"
"Yes I tell him I want him here by 9 no later and he had better have what I want" Lazarski said clicking off the phone. He looked over at the clock it was just before seven enough time to leisurely get ready.
Thomas cautiously picked up his shoes and headed for the door he froze as Ray turned over but when his partner didn't wake up he continued closing the door, very carefully to avoid any noise behind him. Ray opened his eyes as the door closed he hadn't been asleep for sometime but something in his gut had told him to pretend to be asleep to see what Thomas would do. Ray pulled on his trousers grabbing his jacket and gun as he wriggled his feet into his shoes; he then took off after his partner but at a distance he wanted to see what he was up to. Ray kept Thomas's car just in view as he followed it through the early morning streets of Paris and he watched as Thomas parked his car in an alley opposite a small bar, Ray couldn't see the name of the bar from where he was but he knew that it must be Joe's bar.
Lazarski paced the floor as he watched the clock make its way to 9 o'clock at 5 minutes past the main doors opened and Du Pont and two of his men walked in. Lazarski just turned and stared at Du Pont expectantly "Well?"
"Err, no one has been to the barge all night" Du Pont didn't like the look in his partner's eyes and he knew that he didn't have the news he wanted to hear. "I've had men out looking all night but they haven't found her. We have a good lead, we just need time to follow it through" Lazarski didn't say anything he walked round to the other side of his desk. "I thought I told you I want to leave today? I have a pilot and plane waiting and it's costing me money"
"Yes you did but she's a little more resourceful than anyone could have imagined" Lazarski fiddled in the central drawer, "I told you what to expect and you assured me that you could handle it. I don't like waiting and I don't like failure" he said without looking up "Maybe you need something to concentrate your mind" he then lifted a silver gun from the drawer, pointed and fired in one swift movement and the young man on Du Pont's left looked down at his chest and then over at Du Pont before crashing to the ground. Lazarski revelled in the look of shock and horror on Du Pont and his other bodyguards face. "Now get out of my sight and when you come back make sure I'm not going to be disappointed. Meet me at the airport by 7."Lazarski walked up to stand inches from Du Pont's face and stared into his eyes "Don't make me come looking for you" he stood for a several minutes staring into Du Pont's eyes until Du Pont looked away "and take that with you" Lazarski said pointing at the crumpled body.
Joe arrived a little after 9 to clear up the bar and get it ready for that night; he hadn't seen the car in the alley or the one down the street. First Joe collected the empty glasses before starting to restock the bar. He had just placed a bottle of Jack Daniels onto the shelf when the phone rang.
"Le Blue's bar" Joe said as he turned for another bottle. "Joe is that you?"
"Yeap, Paul is that you?" Joe could hear the fear in the young man's voice "I want out, you've got to get me out now"
"Calm down, slow down you're not making any sense" Joe said as he moved towards the office "He shot Robert he just shot him right in front of me, like he was nothing, nothing and, and he's taking the virus with him. I can't just stand by and watch him kill innocent women and children. I didn't join for this I can't, I won't follow them to the states"
"When are they leaving? Paul I need to know" Joe grew impatient as he waited for Paul to answer "Paul"
"He said we were to meet him at the airport at 7 and to have the woman with us. Joe I want out you have to help me" Joe rubbed his hand over his chin "Ok, ok there's a safe house in Rue du Dome, I'll make the call just get yourself there. Can you do that Paul?"
"Yes, thanks Joe" the phone went dead in Joe's hand, he put the phone down and picked up his car keys, he had to tell Duncan what Lazarski was planning but first he dialled the safe house to let them know Paul would be arriving. He kept the call short before heading out to his car. As Joe's car pulled away Thomas slowly rolled his car forward to the end of the alley, waited a few moments before pulling out and following Joe.
The smell of fresh coffee brought Alex from her sleep as she opened her eyes they looked right into Duncan's face "Hi there sleepy head"
"Hi, is that for me?" Alex said as she struggled to sit up. Duncan put down the cup and helped her "Here" he said as he handed the cup to her. He watched as she sipped the coffee "I had a long talk with Ray last night. He told me a little about what's been going on between you and Thomas" Duncan said as he sat on the edge of the bed "want to talk about it?"
"Not really, it's a long story" Alex said as she peered over the rim of the coffee cup. Duncan smiled at her "I'm not going any where so I think we have some time". Alex sighed and put the cup down "So what did Ray tell you?" Duncan took hold of her hand "He told me all about what happened in training but he only touched on what happened with Christina". Alex pulled her hand from his and looked away she hadn't expected Duncan to ask her about this, he knew that he had touched on a nerve, he waited silently just reaching out and taking hold of her hand again.
Finally, Alex turned back but she couldn't make eye contact with him. "Christina was my partner and I suppose the closest I've ever had to a friend. She was just out of training and when McCormack gave her a choice of partners, for some unknown reason she chose me. The first time I met her I had been on a surveillance op for 3 days, I hadn't slept. Well when you're on your own you don't get the option, she waltzed into the squad room straight up to me.
"Hi Alex, I'm Christina, Christina Carter" Christina said holding out her hand
"How nice for you" Alex looked first at her face and then her outstretched hand but ignored the hand and continued to pour herself a cup of coffee. "Now I tired and a little pissed off at being called in here so if you want to make friends I suggest you try the typing pool" Alex said as she walked around Christina to one of the free chairs. Ray got up and walked over to Christina "I'm Ray Muir, you just arrived?" Christina smiled at him "Yes, I qualified last week" Ray caught her looking over at Alex.
"Don't take it personally she's just not good around people" Ray wanted to take the heat out of Alex's obvious rejection of the new agent. "She might not be good around people but I've heard she's really good at this job. A fantastic clear up record" Ray smiled "It sounds to me that someone has done their homework. Who did you get as your partner?" Ray asked before he took a drink of his coffee. Christina nodded towards the dozing Alex "She is". Ray spluttered his mouthful of coffee back into his cup "Your not serious"
"I asked to be assigned to her and McCormack agreed"
"Does she know?" Christina shook her head "No, I was about to tell her." Ray started to smirk as he moved to one side "this is something I've got to watch". Christina then moved towards Alex and sat down beside her. Alex looked up blurry eyed from the lack of sleep "What do you want now? Can't you spread your sunshine elsewhere?"
"I thought we should get to know each other," Christina said smiling warmly at Alex "and why would we want to do that?" Christina nearly laughed as she saw Ray duck behind the pillar "because I'm your new partner". As she said the words a silence descended over the room and all eyes turned to Alex. Ray watched as the tiredness Alex had been feeling seemed to disappear "I don't think so. McCormack knows how I work"
"McCormack has already agreed"
"HE SAID WHAT. OH NO, I'LL SEE ABOUT THIS" Alex leapt to her feet and slammed the door back on it's hinges as she stormed off to McCormack's office.
Alex smiled at the memory of that day "I went into his office all guns blazing but no matter what reasons I came up with he would shoot it down. So I had to accept it but not before I tried to shake her loose, in fact I was down right nasty to her but she hung on and eventually after about 2 months she grew on me. In fact I think we made quite a good team. Then she met Thomas as their relationship grew I slipped back into my old ways. I would clock off the same time as Christina but when she left I would clock back on. I tried to work cases that Christina hadn't been involved in but there was this case an arms dealer with a taste for young children, I thought it was Lazarski. I had a lead or rather we had a lead but Christina had plans with Thomas that night but I couldn't wait I followed it up alone. To cut a long story short my lead led right to him, it wasn't Lazarski, his name was Martins. So I brought him in. What I didn't know was Christina was in the building; Thomas has been called in because of a case he was working on. I met Christina in the hallway; it didn't take her long to figure out what I had been doing. She went ballistic I was tired and in no mood for reason. We argued Ray and Thomas took Martins away and we went into the squad room." Alex bit her lip as she fought to control her emotions Duncan gently squeezed her hand.
"I said some things that night that I wish I could take back" the door opening stopped Alex speaking "Joe?" Duncan said as he got up from the bed. Joe walked towards them "I'm sorry Mac"
"Why? What's wrong?" Duncan asked as he steps towards his friend but he stopped when he saw Thomas behind Joe a gun pointed at Joe's head. "Arr don't stop your touching story, you almost had me convinced that you had feelings" Duncan moved to shield Alex "Now its time for you to pay for what did".
The only light in the room was from the dying embers of the fire, a figure was sat in the chair his head rested back against the leather, the last flickering of the fire danced around the crystal of the glass in his hand. The phone ringing brought Lazarski from his thoughts "Yes" the irritation very obvious in his voice "Err, the pilot wants to know where and when you want him to file his flight plan"
"Has the goods arrived?" Lazarski said as he put his empty glass down on the small table beside him "Yes Sir they've been loaded we are ready as soon as you are"
"Good, I'll call later with the flight details and passenger list" Lazarski said as he hung up the phone. He had been waiting to hear from Du Pont that his property was being returned to him but it was very late now; he would get his answers in the morning and Du Pont had better hope that it was what he wanted to hear.
The conversation had become very difficult with Thomas's arrival and Duncan hadn't got any more information from Ray as Thomas never left them alone. They had talked about Lazarski and where Alex might have gone but nothing specific. Eventually, Duncan had made his excuses and left. It didn't take him long to make his way to Shakespeare & Company he was careful to make sure he wasn't followed. He parked his car several streets away and made his way to the shop on foot. Methos opened the door after Duncan lightly tapped on the glass. "Everything all right?" Duncan asked as he walked into the shop, Methos checked that there was no one else in the street as he locked the door. "I checked on her just now she's still sleeping" Methos said showing him into the small office "Get anything of use?" Methos asked as he closed the office door "I think I'm beginning to understand why Thomas has a grudge against Alex but I want to hear her side of the story".
"I'd leave it a few hours Mac she needs to rest" Methos said as he picked up his coat Duncan wiped his hands over his eyes "You look all done in, Mac. The bed in the basement is a double try and get some rest". Duncan smiled wearily "I don't want to wake Alex."
"I don't think a canon volley will wake her at the moment. Any way she could do with the body warmth, she did lose quite a lot of blood. Other than that there is always the office chair" Methos said pointing to a rather rickety wooden chair next to the old tatty desk by the window. "Where are you going?" Duncan asked.
"Back to my place. I'll check back with you later tomorrow. " Methos said as he opened the office door "Oh, Mike will open the store at 9 tomorrow I left a message to let him know I have guests, so don't worry if you hear movement". Methos said as he pulled on his coat, Duncan followed Methos to the door "Watch your back" he said as Methos stepped through the door "Always do" Methos said smiling as he walked away.
Duncan turned out the light in the office and made his way to the basement he closed the wine rack door quietly behind him before walking across to Alex. Her face seemed to glow in the warm amber light from the small lamp. Alex didn't move as Duncan gently brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. Duncan slipped off his shoes and climbed onto the bed beside Alex, he leant on his elbow as he watched her sleeping for a while. As he settled down beside her Alex moved closer to him and as she wrapped her arm around his, he closed his eyes and allowed sleep to wash over him.
Lazarski lay in his bed staring at the shadows on the ceiling he had only managed a couple of hours of fitful sleep, he hadn't slept much since he had found her again. From the first time he had seen her as that frightened tear stained little child she had seemed to crawl under his skin, he lost her once before he wasn't going to lose her again. He threw back the covers and picked up the phone "Has Du Pont been in contact yet?"
"Sorry Sir no one has called. Do you want me to get him for you?"
"Yes I tell him I want him here by 9 no later and he had better have what I want" Lazarski said clicking off the phone. He looked over at the clock it was just before seven enough time to leisurely get ready.
Thomas cautiously picked up his shoes and headed for the door he froze as Ray turned over but when his partner didn't wake up he continued closing the door, very carefully to avoid any noise behind him. Ray opened his eyes as the door closed he hadn't been asleep for sometime but something in his gut had told him to pretend to be asleep to see what Thomas would do. Ray pulled on his trousers grabbing his jacket and gun as he wriggled his feet into his shoes; he then took off after his partner but at a distance he wanted to see what he was up to. Ray kept Thomas's car just in view as he followed it through the early morning streets of Paris and he watched as Thomas parked his car in an alley opposite a small bar, Ray couldn't see the name of the bar from where he was but he knew that it must be Joe's bar.
Lazarski paced the floor as he watched the clock make its way to 9 o'clock at 5 minutes past the main doors opened and Du Pont and two of his men walked in. Lazarski just turned and stared at Du Pont expectantly "Well?"
"Err, no one has been to the barge all night" Du Pont didn't like the look in his partner's eyes and he knew that he didn't have the news he wanted to hear. "I've had men out looking all night but they haven't found her. We have a good lead, we just need time to follow it through" Lazarski didn't say anything he walked round to the other side of his desk. "I thought I told you I want to leave today? I have a pilot and plane waiting and it's costing me money"
"Yes you did but she's a little more resourceful than anyone could have imagined" Lazarski fiddled in the central drawer, "I told you what to expect and you assured me that you could handle it. I don't like waiting and I don't like failure" he said without looking up "Maybe you need something to concentrate your mind" he then lifted a silver gun from the drawer, pointed and fired in one swift movement and the young man on Du Pont's left looked down at his chest and then over at Du Pont before crashing to the ground. Lazarski revelled in the look of shock and horror on Du Pont and his other bodyguards face. "Now get out of my sight and when you come back make sure I'm not going to be disappointed. Meet me at the airport by 7."Lazarski walked up to stand inches from Du Pont's face and stared into his eyes "Don't make me come looking for you" he stood for a several minutes staring into Du Pont's eyes until Du Pont looked away "and take that with you" Lazarski said pointing at the crumpled body.
Joe arrived a little after 9 to clear up the bar and get it ready for that night; he hadn't seen the car in the alley or the one down the street. First Joe collected the empty glasses before starting to restock the bar. He had just placed a bottle of Jack Daniels onto the shelf when the phone rang.
"Le Blue's bar" Joe said as he turned for another bottle. "Joe is that you?"
"Yeap, Paul is that you?" Joe could hear the fear in the young man's voice "I want out, you've got to get me out now"
"Calm down, slow down you're not making any sense" Joe said as he moved towards the office "He shot Robert he just shot him right in front of me, like he was nothing, nothing and, and he's taking the virus with him. I can't just stand by and watch him kill innocent women and children. I didn't join for this I can't, I won't follow them to the states"
"When are they leaving? Paul I need to know" Joe grew impatient as he waited for Paul to answer "Paul"
"He said we were to meet him at the airport at 7 and to have the woman with us. Joe I want out you have to help me" Joe rubbed his hand over his chin "Ok, ok there's a safe house in Rue du Dome, I'll make the call just get yourself there. Can you do that Paul?"
"Yes, thanks Joe" the phone went dead in Joe's hand, he put the phone down and picked up his car keys, he had to tell Duncan what Lazarski was planning but first he dialled the safe house to let them know Paul would be arriving. He kept the call short before heading out to his car. As Joe's car pulled away Thomas slowly rolled his car forward to the end of the alley, waited a few moments before pulling out and following Joe.
The smell of fresh coffee brought Alex from her sleep as she opened her eyes they looked right into Duncan's face "Hi there sleepy head"
"Hi, is that for me?" Alex said as she struggled to sit up. Duncan put down the cup and helped her "Here" he said as he handed the cup to her. He watched as she sipped the coffee "I had a long talk with Ray last night. He told me a little about what's been going on between you and Thomas" Duncan said as he sat on the edge of the bed "want to talk about it?"
"Not really, it's a long story" Alex said as she peered over the rim of the coffee cup. Duncan smiled at her "I'm not going any where so I think we have some time". Alex sighed and put the cup down "So what did Ray tell you?" Duncan took hold of her hand "He told me all about what happened in training but he only touched on what happened with Christina". Alex pulled her hand from his and looked away she hadn't expected Duncan to ask her about this, he knew that he had touched on a nerve, he waited silently just reaching out and taking hold of her hand again.
Finally, Alex turned back but she couldn't make eye contact with him. "Christina was my partner and I suppose the closest I've ever had to a friend. She was just out of training and when McCormack gave her a choice of partners, for some unknown reason she chose me. The first time I met her I had been on a surveillance op for 3 days, I hadn't slept. Well when you're on your own you don't get the option, she waltzed into the squad room straight up to me.
"Hi Alex, I'm Christina, Christina Carter" Christina said holding out her hand
"How nice for you" Alex looked first at her face and then her outstretched hand but ignored the hand and continued to pour herself a cup of coffee. "Now I tired and a little pissed off at being called in here so if you want to make friends I suggest you try the typing pool" Alex said as she walked around Christina to one of the free chairs. Ray got up and walked over to Christina "I'm Ray Muir, you just arrived?" Christina smiled at him "Yes, I qualified last week" Ray caught her looking over at Alex.
"Don't take it personally she's just not good around people" Ray wanted to take the heat out of Alex's obvious rejection of the new agent. "She might not be good around people but I've heard she's really good at this job. A fantastic clear up record" Ray smiled "It sounds to me that someone has done their homework. Who did you get as your partner?" Ray asked before he took a drink of his coffee. Christina nodded towards the dozing Alex "She is". Ray spluttered his mouthful of coffee back into his cup "Your not serious"
"I asked to be assigned to her and McCormack agreed"
"Does she know?" Christina shook her head "No, I was about to tell her." Ray started to smirk as he moved to one side "this is something I've got to watch". Christina then moved towards Alex and sat down beside her. Alex looked up blurry eyed from the lack of sleep "What do you want now? Can't you spread your sunshine elsewhere?"
"I thought we should get to know each other," Christina said smiling warmly at Alex "and why would we want to do that?" Christina nearly laughed as she saw Ray duck behind the pillar "because I'm your new partner". As she said the words a silence descended over the room and all eyes turned to Alex. Ray watched as the tiredness Alex had been feeling seemed to disappear "I don't think so. McCormack knows how I work"
"McCormack has already agreed"
"HE SAID WHAT. OH NO, I'LL SEE ABOUT THIS" Alex leapt to her feet and slammed the door back on it's hinges as she stormed off to McCormack's office.
Alex smiled at the memory of that day "I went into his office all guns blazing but no matter what reasons I came up with he would shoot it down. So I had to accept it but not before I tried to shake her loose, in fact I was down right nasty to her but she hung on and eventually after about 2 months she grew on me. In fact I think we made quite a good team. Then she met Thomas as their relationship grew I slipped back into my old ways. I would clock off the same time as Christina but when she left I would clock back on. I tried to work cases that Christina hadn't been involved in but there was this case an arms dealer with a taste for young children, I thought it was Lazarski. I had a lead or rather we had a lead but Christina had plans with Thomas that night but I couldn't wait I followed it up alone. To cut a long story short my lead led right to him, it wasn't Lazarski, his name was Martins. So I brought him in. What I didn't know was Christina was in the building; Thomas has been called in because of a case he was working on. I met Christina in the hallway; it didn't take her long to figure out what I had been doing. She went ballistic I was tired and in no mood for reason. We argued Ray and Thomas took Martins away and we went into the squad room." Alex bit her lip as she fought to control her emotions Duncan gently squeezed her hand.
"I said some things that night that I wish I could take back" the door opening stopped Alex speaking "Joe?" Duncan said as he got up from the bed. Joe walked towards them "I'm sorry Mac"
"Why? What's wrong?" Duncan asked as he steps towards his friend but he stopped when he saw Thomas behind Joe a gun pointed at Joe's head. "Arr don't stop your touching story, you almost had me convinced that you had feelings" Duncan moved to shield Alex "Now its time for you to pay for what did".