THE ONLY EASY DAY IS YESTERDAY
"The Journey of Jeremy Keller"
by OldScout
Part 26Peter Gattlin positioned his van in the parking garage
overlooking Duncan MacLeod's home and business. The white van
belonged to the local offices and was filled with all of the latest illegal
surveillance equipment. MacLeod was someone he'd have to be careful
of, the man believed in the game, and took it very seriously. But was he
the right mark?
There was no connection between any of Jeremy Keller's known
friends and Seattle. The Watcher files, however, cross referenced
Commander Parker and Duncan MacLeod. It was a long shot when he
had tried to match Tim Parker a.k.a. Tim Parcon with all immortals
known to live in Seattle. MacLeod was the only hit and thus the only
lead.
The man seemed to live a very dull life, he either spent his day
overseeing the operation of the gym, working out, or teaching classes.
Peter wasn't going to watch MacLeod continuously until Keller showed,
it was sufficient to get the bugs in place then hang back even further. If
Jeremy showed, he would try to contact him first, perhaps set up a
meeting. That would be the best time to get to him, while he waited for
MacLeod. In the mean time, however, he would also try the direct
approach.
Joe Dawson and Adam Pierson sat crowded into the coach
section of the airplane. When one traveled on short notice any seat
would have to do. Just as they expected, though, they saw Agent Ropper
board the same plane. It wasn't obvious if she noticed them since her
seat was in the front and they were practically in the last row.
"What do you think she really knows?" Joe asked his friend.
Adam looked up at the agent who was now looking back at
them. "She knows she's on the right track." Adam responded "She just
doesn't have any idea where that track is headed." Adam leaned toward
Dawson as if confiding a great secrete. "That woman is a nonbeliever.
She doesn't even believe her own eyes until she can rationalize all that
she has seen."
"But if she ever believes the truth," Joe said "she could be in
danger. There are some immortals that would kill her to stop her from
reporting them to the government."
"She knows about watchers as well, there are some of us who
would also do what ever they had to to keep the watchers from becoming
common knowledge." Adam added.
"That gives us two choices." Joe said looking back at the woman.
"We either tell her the truth and convince her that it must not come out,
or we convince her we're all just a bunch of kooks that have no real
significance once her Jeremy Keller is out of the picture."
Adam thought about Joe's options then responded "There's the
other choice, I assume your trying to avoid."
"What's that?"
"Well like we just agreed, either one of us has motive enough to
take her out of the picture."
"Don't even think it, Methos." Joe whispered "She's in touch with
somebody and we'd have more FEDs poking around here then you could
believe if something happened to her."
Adam frowned "Joe, I'm hurt that you could think me capable of
seriously considering such an act."
Joe looked at his old friend and said very sarcasticly "Right."
Duncan MacLeod was working out alone in his Dojo before
opening for the day when he felt another immortal. He expected to see
Richie since he had called the other day saying he was coming back, but
this wasn't. It was an immortal he had never met, the man looked in his
late twenties to early thirties and was impeccably dressed, his long
pressed trench coat covered a thousand dollar suit.
Not wanting to invite a fight in his home, Duncan did not go for
his sword, he just grabbed a towel and wiped his face as he approached
the stranger. "I am Duncan MacLeod." he said "How can I help you?"
The man walked forward, keeping his coat tied. "My name is
Peter Gattlin." he said then showed MacLeod his ID. "I work for the
CIA and am looking for a man who may be contacting you."
"What's an immortal doing working for the government."
"Why not?" Gattlin replied "A jobs a job, and it pays well with
lots of free travel."
"Who are you looking for?" Duncan asked suspiciously.
"A new immortal named Jeremy Keller." Gattlin answered "He
worked for us before he became an immortal. I'm just trying to bring
him in before he disappears."
"What's so important about him, and what makes you think he'll
try to contact me?"
Gattlin walked around the room looking at the equipment. "I
believe you have a mutual friend, a Tim Parcon. Commander Parker, as
he is now known, gave me your name as a possible contact."
Duncan looked at the man, he was basically telling the same
story Tim had, but Tim said he had not given his name to Gattlin. How
did this man zero in on him so quickly. Of course with his government
contacts he may have been able to do some cross referencing, but if the
government kept those kind of records, that would mean they tracked
immortals. That seemed doubtful, the only ones who could have made
the link that easily were the watchers.
"Sorry," Duncan finally said "I haven't heard from Tim Parcon in
over fifty years, and nobody has tried to contact me." He then looked at
the equipment around him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to finish
up before it's time to open for business."
Gattlin shrugged accepting the brush off. "If you think of
anything or Mr. Keller does contact your, perhaps you can give me a
call." he said and dropped a business card on a workout bench "It really
would be in everybody's best interest."
Duncan watched the man leave then looked at the card he had
dropped. All it had on it was the man's name and a 1-888 phone
number.
to be continued.........