Chapter 30

Paris

Bright colors swirled about him and the smells and sounds of the open-air market filled Joe Dawson's senses as he walked slowly through the milling crowds. He had a hankering for some fresh fruit. Slowly he maneuvered among the stalls… looking for just the right piece of fruit. He wasn't certain what he wanted… but he wanted fruit. About once a week he came down here in good weather. Joe liked the carnival atmosphere… the music… the faces of the people milling about. It was a part of the old Paris that yet remained in this modern world.

As he was standing looking at some melons displayed before him… a young man standing next to him brushed against him, then casually reached across in front of him to select and pay for a melon. The young man flashed him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry Joe," he said as he retrieved his selection and then sauntered away.

Joe stared after him. He seemed familiar… but who? As he was staring thoughtfully after the young man trying to remember him from somewhere, Joe's hand brushed against his coat pocket. He felt something in there. Ramming his hand into it and he felt carefully around to find a small cardboard box. Joe withdrew his hand and looked around thoughtfully. As if it was part of his routine, he crossed to the outdoor cafe on the far side of the market. After taking a seat, he ordered a cup of coffee and stared blankly at a menu. Slowly and carefully he felt once more for the box in his pocket. Had the boy put it there? It wasn't wrapped, so he maneuvered the top off and felt inside. There was a slip of paper.

Carefully… he withdrew his hand… the small scrap of paper hidden within his fist. Joe wiped his hand across the menu and opened the paper up. There was an address and a time written on it. Joe considered it. Could it be Mac? Had he returned to Paris? Methos? Or maybe Amanda? Any of them might have taken this route to get him to meet them. On the other hand… What if it was a trap of some sort?

The waitress brought his coffee and took his meal order… he handed her the menu… re-pocketing the paper in his pocket… carefully pulling the flap over his pocket and patting it. As he sipped his coffee… he considered how to get to the address. He knew he was likely being watched… but maybe not all the time.

Finally he called Amy from his cellphone. "Hi darlin'… I doubt I'll make our dinner date tonight. Gimme a rain check?"

"What's wrong?"

Joe grimaced. "I'm havin' a little squeak in my right leg… I think I'm goin' to the center later to have them take a look at it… Might take a while. Can we do dinner tomorrow?" It was the only thing he could come up with at short notice. If he changed his routine… he needed to make it seem innocuous.

"Sure… call me later." Amy rang off. She'd be on pins and needles he knew. They'd set some conversations for phone calls which they suspected were likely monitored, that would mean something was up. He hoped she'd caught that. This hadn't been one of them… but he had to have a reason for going where he was going.

Joe ate his meal, paid, and then headed for the medical center where he could get service on his prosthesis. Whoever had sent him the note… had likely realized it might be the safest place to meet with him.

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At the center he checked in at the desk and said he needed an adjustment… he had an appointment. Finally he was ushered into an empty workroom. He had a seat and waited. A few minutes later… a woman in a white coat… dark hair piled on top of her head entered and Joe broke into a grin.

"Ellie," he whispered as she shut the door.

"Hello Joseph. Sorry about the subterfuge… but I saw you were being watched and followed. I didn't want to take the chance." She stepped closer and smiled, touching one hand to the side of his face… stroking his almost white beard. "You look great, Joe."

"Naw… I look old. You on the other hand look great… positively glowing."

She laughed, shaking her head. Then she sobered. "Have you seen Methos?"

Joe nodded. "A few days ago… I warned him about Watchers. Somethin' bad seems to be goin' down."

Ellie wandered toward the window. "And you don't know what?"

"I'm on the outside lookin' in these days. They retired my ass." Joe smirked.

Ellie gazed at him sadly. "Because of us?"

Joe shook his head. "No… because of me. I broke the rules once too often. But it was my choice."

"I'm so sorry."

Joe thought she really did look sorry. "So what's the deal?"

"Methos… something has happened… I just know it… I can't explain… I thought that maybe you could help me locate him. I can feel him… he's alive… but something is wrong. I can't get a clear picture."

"What are you talkin' about? You can feel him?" Joe crossed to the window to stare down at her.

"We share thoughts…" she finally said. "He took a quickening somewhere… but something happened afterwards… Now… although I can feel him… I can't contact him. I don't know… maybe we're too far apart… although I didn't think that would make a difference." Ellie began to run a hand through her hair… then realizing it was up… she pulled the hand away and stared at Joe with a worrisome look on her face. "I had thought you could help. I'm sorry to have bothered you." Dejection was clearly apparent in her demeanor. She turned away.

"Hey…" Joe began… and then waited for her to meet his grin. "I didn't say I couldn't find out things. I still have a few contacts inside. Give me a day or two… Is there some way for me to reach you if I learn anything?"

"I hadn't planned on staying in Paris," she said… and then smiled. "But I could stay a day or two… just to give you some time. Meanwhile I can keep trying to get a fix on him."

"So how do I reach you?"

"Do you ever go to Darius' old church?"

"Occasionally…"

"If you go there, I'll see you. I'll send Derrick out to get the message."

"That was Derrick at the market? Damn that kid's grown!"

"Yes… he's very tall and still growing. But then," Ellie laughed. "Most people seem tall to me."

"Does he know yet… I mean about his being immortal?"

Ellie looked away. "I'm not certain. We havn't told him… but I think he may suspect. It worries me. It's dangerous for them to know, Joseph. Sometimes… if they know… they don't come back, even after a violent death. But he knows he has some of Darius' memories… he and Methos have discussed that. And he often asks me things about Darius… as if he's trying to understand things that don't clearly make sense to him."

"Then mum's the word." Joe grinned.

Ellie nodded. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For everything… for being a friend… for helping."

"What are friends for."

Ellie reached up to give him a light kiss then she backed away. "If I learn anything… I'll let you know."

"Same here and Ellie… I still owe you a pizza." Joe smiled.

Ellie laughed and nodded. "And a Cub's game."

"And a tour of Chicago." He winked. "This time darlin'… we're gonna have that date."

Ellie nodded sadly. "Yes… that would be nice." She left then. Joe waited a few minutes longer before he left as well. He'd have to have a long talk with Amy… and he might need to get Burt more involved. But Joe Dawson knew one thing… Ellie needed him… and he was going to figure out a way to help. Damn… it felt good to be needed again!