Chapter 52

Amy Brennan-Thomas' flight to Paris had been uneventful. As far as the Watcher Council was concerned, she was still in Seacouver.

"I need you to be my eyes and ears and legs, Amy," Joe had said. "I'll do the research... but I need someone I can trust there."

So Amy was here.

She gathered her bags from customs and flagged a taxi. Once she was settled in a hotel... she'd start the legwork. Joe wanted her to find Duncan MacLeod. She was then to be the conduit through which Joe could get information to MacLeod to help in the search for the unknown immortal.

"I know he's searching for him Amy... I feel it. Now you haven't met him so he might be suspicious of you. If he's with Methos... the doctor'll vouch for you... but if he's not... You have him call me. By then... I hope to know who this son of a bitch is."

"Aren't we interfering in their lives, Joe?"

"Damn straight! But this guy isn't just killing immortals Amy... whatever he's doing isn't part of the game. We have to intercede."

"I don't see the difference between this unknown immortal and Morgan Walker's killing of a model. You told me not to interfere then. What's the difference?"

"You wanted to involve the authorities... but that would have exposed us. This guy is killing on a grand scale Amy. He's in the open and he doesn't seem to care. He could expose all the immortals and us as well. The immortals will be searching for him... we just have to give them a head's up to help find him."

"Seems a very fine distinction Joe."

"Yeah... guess it's a matter of perspective."

"And not letting the other Watcher's know what's going on? Aren't we betraying our oath?"

"Yeah... but they're my friends... I have to do something... and I need you to help. If you can't do this... fine. I'll find Mac another way."

He'd seemed so defeated at that point that Amy had said she'd do it... no matter the consequences. She paid for the cab and followed her bags into the hotel and then up to her room. Once there... she phoned Joe.

"I'm here. I'm set to go... Where do you want me to look first."

"MacLeod showed up at his barge this morning but he just missed finding Amanda there according to his Watcher. Both were driving about Paris. I think he'll head to Amanda's old club Sanctuary to try and get a bead on her whereabouts. Go the club Amy and wait for him. And Amy... be careful."

"Has there been any sign of Methos?" she asked him, almost as an afterthought.

"No... it's as if the earth has swallowed him up." Joe replied. Amy could here a twinge of something in his voice... was it regret? She focused on his words as he continued. "Although a man who witnessed a quickening at Normandy Beach yesterday may have been him. The Watcher lost track of him."

"Witnessed... not involved?" Amy bit her lip. As much as Joe was involved as MacLeod's Watcher... she was Methos'. He was her main priority... his Chronicle was the one she most wanted to have an impact on.

"No... seems to have been the Watcher's assignment Carmen Mendoza. She met a couple kids on the beach and evidently lost her head. A man was seen to carry one of the kids off the beach while the other followed. The Watcher didn't know him... but his description could have been Methos. The Watcher stayed behind to direct the clean-up crew."

"Kids?"

"Yeah... even the kids can be deadly. Once again... be careful... I don't want to lose you."

Amy hung up the phone after a quick exchange of "goodbyes"... the words she'd considered saying went unspoken. She pulled on slacks and comfortable shoes. She gathered up her cell phone and thought about calling in officially anyway. Likely as not... someone might notice her... report her presence here to Dr. Zoll. But... as Joe had pointed out... she was not known to many of the field agents... she might be able to slip past them unnoticed. At least long enough to contact MacLeod.

Amy picked up a Paris map in the lobby... it had been years since she'd studied the layout here. Methos had moved to London after 1998 and had not returned here until coming with MacLeod a few weeks ago. She'd forgotten the layout of many of the streets she'd learned when she'd been here then. Amy checked the location of Amanda's old club and caught a taxi. She settled back into the seat and watched the Eternal City pass her by.

***

Duncan parked his Citroen in the lot and approached Sanctuary. Part of him laughed internally at the sheer gaul of Amanda to have purchased a nightclub on what had once been holy ground... what had been a church. It had made perfect sense to her... he supposed. Immortals could come and she would not have to worry about fights breaking out. They could meet and talk... and plan... and have a drink at the same time. As he stood outside the entrance, he could sense someone inside. Hoping that it was Amanda, he entered.

The interior was dim... as were most nightclubs. The ambient daylight making few inroads into the interior of the club through the tinted and partially covered windows. Duncan paused... letting his eyes adjust.

"Duncan!" Amanda's voice rang out. "I was just trying to phone you again!"

Duncan did not hesitate but crossed the bar swiftly and swept Amanda into his arms... holding her and letting the fear that had consumed him since learning she was in Paris ebb from his soul.

"Well... I'm glad to see you, too!" As the other day, Amanda had that friendly but stay-at-arms length tone in her voice. He didn't care and kissed her... thankful she was here and still alive. Within his embrace he felt her soften...responding to his kiss. "Mmmm... nice," she managed as he relaxed his hold on her.

"I was worried. I went to the barge... you'd been there... the place was a wreck."

"I surprised a... burglar," she winked at him so that he nodded... understanding that it had been a Watcher and understanding there was someone here who did not know about immortals. "So I didn't stay..." Amanda smiled and turned to face the two men at the bar.

Duncan realized one of them was an immortal.

"This is my friend Duncan MacLeod," Amanda said, beginning the introductions. "And these are my friends Burt Meyers and Nick Wolfe. I was just telling them that we could use your help."

Duncan nodded at the men. He'd follow Amanda's lead in this conversation. Nick Wolfe was the immortal Phillip had wanted to locate. Two problems solved. Now to get them all back to the church. The Highlander refrained from mentioning Liam's disappearance... at least for the moment. Nor did he mention his involvement with Phillip... time enough for both explanations once they'd left here.

Chatting away, Amanda tried to briefly fill him in on who the two men were... without, of course saying anything that might cause Burt to wonder what was going on. He was evidently in some sort of security... so was using his contacts to help Nick... an ex-cop and "friend" of one of the victims look into the killings.

Finally, Burt went to place a call.

Duncan whispered to the two immortals, "Liam's vanished. We need to get to the church and organize a search."

Amanda's face reflected fear... Nick's anger. He polished off a drink. "You two go on... I'll follow along in a few minutes."

"No... Nick... we need to stay together..." Amanda whispered to him.

"She's right... your friends are fine..." Duncan noticed the relief on Nick';s face. "A friend of mine is with them for the moment... He'll make certain they stay together. Find a reason for us to leave and let's go. My car's in the lot."

Nick nodded, then glanced at Burt nearby. "I'll tell him something... wait for me outside. I'll join you."

As Duncan and Amanda left... Nick tried to still the rage boiling within him. First David Maillot... then Cassius Marcellus... now Liam Riley. It was as if this immortal had painted a target on Nick and one by one was taking out the people he knew. He couldn't let Val and Marie... or even Amanda or anyone else become the next victim. He sloshed down the remainder of his drink and glared darkly at his reflection in the mirror over the bar.

"Burt... I'm outta here!"

"Wait... Nick?" Burt called after his friend. But Nick and Amanda and her friend were gone. Burt returned to his call. "That's right... I'm gonna need some help on this. I'm calling in a few markers. Call me back when you have something." Hanging up the phone, Burt stared out the windows into the street. He really wished someone would be straight with him about all this. Burt had been in Intelligence long enough to know when people were keeping secrets. And he most definitely felt that Nick, Amanda and that Scotsman were keeping a very big secret. They'd seemed to say one thing that meant something else entirely to them. He shook his head and was heading upstairs to do some paperwork when he heard the door open once more.

"May I help you?" he called to the attractive young woman who'd entered.

"I sincerely hope so," she replied. "I'm looking for someone... she owned this bar several years ago... Amanda Montrose... Either her or a friend of hers... Duncan MacLeod."

"You just missed them," Burt came down the open staircase once more. "They both just left... are you another friend of Amanda's?"

The woman smiled and chuckled, "No... I've never met her or MacLeod... but I'm a friend of a friend. Would you know where they were headed?"

Burt shook his head. "No... they didn't say... but a friend of mine is with them... he may call me later. You're welcome to wait. I know it's early for drinks but I do make an excellent coffee." Burt's lame attempt at flirtation was met by a smile. "I'm Burt... I'm the owner."

"Amy..." she said. "I suppose I could wait for a bit. It's very important I find them and I really don't know where to look next."

Burt poured two cups of coffee and offered her one at the bar. He leaned over and in his most pleasant voice asked, "Is this your first trip to Paris?"