Chapter 47
Paris
Duncan smiled wanly as he and Phillip approached Darius' old church. Duncan had been so familiar with the feel of Darius there over the years... it had been an empty sensation to pass the church in recent years and realize his old friend was dead. He'd heard of Liam Riley from Amanda... a soldier who'd had a religious conversion on the battlefield and become a priest.
"He's not a holy man like Darius was, Duncan... He's just a good man trying to do the right thing," Amanda had once told him. Now it seemed that Liam Riley had been assigned to serve Darius' old parish. Feeling a presence at the church once more seemed so right and yet so bittersweet.
As he and Phillip approached in the early morning hours... Duncan was surprised to see a child at the gate. He paused, his hand already reaching for his katana.
Phillip's hand rested quickly on his, "It's all right... I know her... Hello lass... still here."
The girl visibly relaxed and bowed slightly to Phillip. "Still here "Swordmaster" and I am greatly troubled." She looked at Duncan... her eyes taking in his size and his stance... weighing the danger.
"About what lass?"
"Liam has vanished... only recently. There's a blood trail." the girl pointed to the drops leading from the gate out into the street.
Duncan followed the drops to a sewer grate. He leaned down and tried to see what was within the darkness. The grate shifted slightly. Duncan met Phillip's gaze and nodded.
"Go inside lass... wait for us."
"But I can help!"
"Inside... leave this to young Duncan and myself."
The girl's shoulders sagged. "I was supposed to be watching him... I fell asleep. Nick wanted me to watch him... keep him safe."
Duncan stood. "Nick Wolfe?"
The girl nodded.
"Where is he? We came here looking for him!"
The girl shook her head. "I don't know at the moment. Please... find Liam!"
Phillip motioned her back into the church and then he and Duncan lifted the grate and shifted it... to drop into the swirling darkness of the Paris sewer.
"Who's the child?" Duncan asked as they lit torches to make their way through the sewer.
"Goes by the name Valeraine. She's been around awhile. I ran into her recently when I was here. She was concerned that Kenny was after Eleanor and wanted to warn her."
"She knows Ellie?"
"Well... she's met her... she calls her Marie-Charles. She knows Methos... "the doctor" too. She knew they were friends. She's one of Methos' students. Actually," Phillip chuckled, "she's quite capable... for a child."
"Now why doesn't that surprise me." Duncan replied with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"More blood!" Phillip pointed at a single drop. "He must have really injured him somehow... Still I doubt there'll be much more. He'd have likely healed by this point."
They went some distance further... but Phillip was right... there was no more blood and no more clues. Even Duncan's years as an Indian scout did not help. If there is no trail... one is hard to follow. It was as if the earth had swallowed up Liam Riley and his unknown abductor. Reluctantly the two immortals headed back the way they had come and re-surfaced once more onto the street. Glancing sheepishly at the passing Parisians... they replaced the grate and crossed into the old church.
Parishioners for early mass were beginning to gather. Duncan led the way quietly to Liam's office... Darius' old cell... and entered with Phillip who closed the door behind him.
Duncan stared at the two immortals who were there. The young woman with short brown hair and a gentle smile rose and offered her hand. In heavily accented French she introduced both herself and the child. "I am Marie-France and this is Valeraine."
Duncan was startled. "Marie-France of Ste. Genevieve?" When the woman nodded the questions already in her eyes. Duncan began to pace. "The doctor sent me there... to meet with you... to take care of a young lady... one of us... not yet immortal."
"We do not take them in. He knows this."
"It was to get her out of Paris. She saw the Slasher."
Valeraine interrupted, "Was she there when David Maillot died?" The girl shrugged at the looks the men gave her. "He was Nick's teacher. That's why Nick went looking for him. He was afraid for us to go back to the convent quite yet... besides I did not wish to go... That's why we were here. He wanted me to look after Liam and Marie-France."
"Nick was concerned that we might be waylaid on the way or that the man might follow us. He wanted to be certain we were all safe." Marie-France added.
"Amanda was going to try and find him I think," Valeraine added as an afterthought.
"Amanda!" Suddenly Duncan's heart beat heavily in his chest. "You've seen Amanda?"
Marie-France nodded, "Last night. She came to see Liam and left soon after."
"I have to find her," Duncan started for the door and was met by Phillip's arm.
"Wait, Highlander. We need to think about this."
"Get out of my way!" Duncan's voice rose as he attempted to move past the Greek.
Phillip sighed, and dropped his arm. "Be careful... I'll be here. And then we need to find young Nick."
Duncan raced out of the church, ignoring the startled stares of parishioners, and then paused at the gate wondering where Amanda might have gone. If she were in Paris... where would she stay... Would she look for him? The barge! Duncan no longer cared if some Watcher saw him... he headed for the quai and his barge... hoping that she was there and that she was safe.
***
In the street behind him... Kenny watched him go. He had no idea why his two quarries had split up... but they had. Kenny had to make a swift choice about whether to follow MacLeod or to stay here at the church with the Swordmaster. He thought only a moment... and then settled once more into the shadows to watch. He'd stay here... perhaps either the Swordmaster or Valeraine would leave holy ground... and he could make his move.
Kenny had been surprised to see his fellow child immortal here in Paris... He'd thought her still at the convent. But this might be an excellent chance to do her in. Now if he could just manage to surprise her somehow.
