Chapter 11 of 12

(Bladelover)

"Honestly, Mac," Joe shrugged, "we don't have anything on Meinhoff that can remotely be construed as involving Methos. Our earliest 'record' of him is some hearsay that he might have murdered his lover and his first student after catching the two of them together in Madrid. But since we didn't have anyone on him back then, there's no corroboration."

The Watcher and the Scot were at Joe's computer in the back of the bar. Joe had been able to give Duncan the current location and recent history of Johann Meinhoff, but precious little that would shed light on his connection to Methos, or on the old immortal's subtle depth of concern.

"Methos is holding something back, something significant," Duncan insisted.

"That's not exactly a new thing for him," Joe reminded him. Duncan was about to say more, but an immortal presence caught his attention and raised his alertness. Hurrying back into the public room of the bar, he didn't relax any when he saw it was Kendall returning.

"I thought you were going to follow him," he said, more harshly than he'd intended.

"So did he," retorted Kendall. "He was waiting for me. Took me aside and read me the riot act about not letting me fight his battles and so forth. Sent me away like a wayward puppy." Shame and embarrassment coated his every word. He took his hand out of the pocket of his coat and brought it down in a fist hard on the bar.

"All right, take it easy." Duncan really felt for the man. "There's still a chance we can do something to help."

"Oh?" Kendall's tone suggested he thought he was being patronized and was in no mood for it. "How? Have a beer in his honor? Say a toast praising the invincibility of Adam Benjamin?" He lowered his voice quickly after realizing that Joe could clearly hear everything he was saying.

Duncan moved closer, playing along with the illusion that Joe was ignorant of things immortal. "I've made a few calls. I've got Meinhoff's Paris address."

Galvanized by this news, Kendall was suddenly energized. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Duncan grabbed him by the arm. "We're going to talk to him, Crane. That's all."

Kendall smirked. "We'll communicate by any means necessary."

Duncan smoldered. This guy could really be a hotheaded fool. "Crane, if M— if Adam really wanted Meinhoff dead, do you think it ever would have gotten this far?" Cursing his near slip on his friend's name, Duncan watched as Kendall's expression shifted from unbridled bravado to reluctant acceptance.

"Okay, suppose you're right and Benj—Adam doesn't want to kill him? Clearly, Meinhoff doesn't return that sentiment."

"We'll talk to Meinhoff, try to find out what this is really about. Then maybe we can convince him to back off. Maybe we can even help them work it out." Duncan almost rolled his own eyes when those words came out of his mouth. If the old man caught them interfering, he would certainly not be willing to sit down for an encounter-group session.

Kendall was obviously thinking the same thing. "Adam was right. You really do fancy yourself some sort of Boy Scout." There was a touch of wonder in his voice, as though he'd just discovered that fairies really do exist.

Duncan's eyes narrowed. When this was all over, he and Methos would be having a talk.

"So we're clear on the fact that we're not going to challenge Meinhoff?" Kendall nodded with a sigh. "Okay. Let's go."

As the two of them left the bar, Kendall asked, "Suppose Meinhoff wants to do more than just talk to us, MacLeod?"

Reaching into his coat for effect, Duncan cocked an eyebrow and said, "I believe in being prepared."