Chapter Four Misunderstandings and close calls

Two fruitless weeks of patrolling the streets of Chicago were finally starting to take their toll on the Highlander. He hadn't felt a single immortal in the area around were the slayer had last struck, in fact he hadn't felt any until ten minutes ago, and despite what he might think, and occasionally say about her, he definitely didn't suspect Amanda of being the slayer.

"So Michael had me send over these files for his colleague, and I got to thinking that maybe I should come over, maybe invite Patrick for a drink and a chat, see if he's come up with anything new, and maybe take care of that pesky headhunter that's got Michael on the run."

"Headhunter? After Michael? Who is Michael, by the way?" Duncan perked up considerably. He'd finally come to realise that even if he did find an immortal in Chicago, he had no idea of what the slayer looked like, so unless he pulled a gun at their first meeting, he really wouldn't know him from Adam.

"Robert Morrison, remember? 1932? I tried to have you challenge him, show him that running away wouldn't always be an option?"

"Oh yes. That young thief you worried so about because he preferred running to fighting. I was to kill him, and then offer to train him. As I recall, he'd left the country by the time you'd managed to..talk me into it." The last part was said with a wry grin before his expression turned serious again. "So, you're saying he's running from a headhunter here in Chicago?"

"Yes. He called me two weeks ago to ask for some documents for a colleague, that would be Patrick, by the way. Clever boy, but far too fond of pressure plates to ever make a really good system. Anyway, he didn't tell me much, just enough for me to realise he'd run into a headhunter, and he'd arranged for his boss to send him out of town for a few months to get away."

Duncan almost laughed out loud. "Never say running away did no good! Amanda, you're an angel, you know that? I've been looking for the slayer for two weeks with no idea what he looks like, and here you are, telling me Michael ran into him, and managed to get away. Where is he now? I need to talk to him, have him describe the slayer, maybe he even got whatever name he's using now."

"The slayer? Is that all you know about his guy? Come on, even you wouldn't...sorry. You would, wouldn't you? I guess he's pretty bad, and maybe I should leave him alone?" Amanda had no illusions about her swordskills, and if Duncan considered someone bad, she had learned to stay away.

Duncan nodded. "He is bad, but not in the way you're thinking. He's a cheater, uses guns. And he hunts mortals, Watchers and regular people. He tortures them to death. According to Joe he's as bad as, maybe even worse than Caspian."

"You sure? I mean, Caspian was a sadistic, cannibalistic monster of legend. You really think anyone could be worse than him, and still manage to actually function in society? Wouldn't he be spending his time locked up and strapped down like in that movie with the glass wall and him all scary behind bars?"

Duncan frowned as he tried to understand what Amanda was talking about. "Do you mean like Hannibal Lecter in 'Silence of the lambs'? And I don't know. Maybe he's too much of a coward to kill as often and openly as Caspian, but he is still a sadistic murderer, and he needs to be stopped."

"Yes, I understand. But why must it always be you that goes after the bad guys? If he kills Watchers, can't they deal with it, instead of Joe sending you after a gun-wielding lunatic?" Amanda was almost in tears, at the thought of Duncan once again risking his life for others.

Leaning forward to grasp her hand, Duncan smiled gently as he tried to comfort her. "They can't interfere with immortals, Amanda. Not even if the immortal is killing them, their oaths forbid it. So no, Joe isn't sending me after the slayer, in fact both Joe and Methos tried to stop me. But you should know me by know, I can't let a monster like this get away with it. So please, help me? Where can I find Michael?"

"I don't really know. He went to L.A. first, but I don't think he intended to stay there very long. He might have moved on already. But I do know how to get in touch with him. His lawyers, the ones he used to set up the escape, they know how to contact him."

"He takes running seriously, I see. They'll probably have a list of people allowed to get in touch with him, and since I'm not on it, I'm going to need you to make the call."

Amanda smiled softly, while blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. "Using your brains at last, darling. But it won't be as easy as that. I'll have to show up in person, to make sure I match the description he's left with them. Which means that we are going to L.A."