Next day, Methos's flat
Death sat in front of his booting laptop. His temper had finally cooled and he was able to think clearly again. He eyed the destroyed glass topped-table to his left and then let his eyes wander over the other damaged furniture's in his room. The destruction had helped to work the overwhelming rage out of his system and to bring the rational and clear thinking strategist back. Now he was able to make a plan.
He hacked into the watcher database and searched for watchers named George. As a result, 45 watchers appeared on the screen. After also adding that the watcher had to stay near or in Paris as main criteria, only two watchers were left.
Death clicked the file of the first listed watcher and read. The man was described to be a 45-year-old English man. He was divorced and no children or other relatives were mentioned. According to his file, he had been in the watchers for about 25 years now. He apparently had been a field watcher until his assignment had lost his head about four month ago. After that, the watcher had been ordered back to headquarters and was now doing research. Before Death closed the file, he made a note of the watcher's current home address and office number.
Then he opened the other file. It noted that the other watcher was a 34 years old Welsh, who was not married but involved with another female watcher. His current status was active. This meant that the watcher was currently observing an Immortal. According to the file, he had been watching his assignment for about three years. Neither the watcher file nor the Immortal chronicle included any striking entry.
Death decided to focus his attention on the older George first, because as a researcher he was much easier to access than the younger field watcher.
About three hours later, Death sat in the corridor of HQ on a visitor chair and observed George's office while he pretended to wait. When George finally left his office and went to the Men's room at the other end of the corridor, Death followed.
George had already finished and was washing his hands as Death entered. Showing his Adam Pierson persona, Death moved behind the him and looked into the mirror, which reflected the other man's face. He had short brown hair and a small scar on his chin, which was almost covered by a short beard. His eyes were the same colour as Darius's. Suddenly, Death no longer saw the George's face being reflected in the mirror but the dead priest's. For a brief moment he once again could hear the pleas of the old priest and the laughter of his killers.
Then the moment was gone and he found himself back in the Men's room. When his eyes locked with the man's in the mirror, the man smiled and turned to greet him." Hello, you are Don Salzer's young colleague, aren't you? I have heard of you. You research the whereabouts of Methos."
Although Death expected this man to be the one he was searching for, he froze as he heard the man's voice – a voice he would never forget. This was the bastard.
Cold anger exploded in his stomach and he clenched his fists until his nails cut into his flesh, drawing blood. The desire to slice the man's throat open became almost overwhelming. He pushed the nails deeper into his flesh and used the inflicted pain to stay focused and not to surrender to burning rage. Forcing himself to stabilize the Adam Pierson persona, he smiled back. "Yes, you are right," he managed to answer with Adam Pierson's polite voice "that's me".
"My name is George Lander," the man then introduced himself. "I've been working in research since my assignment was killed…" Death felt the other mans examining eyes on him. "Maybe we can have dinner some time and talk about your search object," he smiled. "A conversation between researchers so to speak."
"Sure," Death agreed "why not…that will surly be very interesting…for both of us".
"Great," Lander said "I would really love to talk with you a little bit longer but I have a meeting to attend. I'll call you and then we can talk." He smiled and then left the room.
If Landers had turned and looked back at this moment, he wouldn't have recognized the man standing in front of the mirror as Adam Pierson any longer. Totally gone was the harmless young researcher persona, instead, there stood a very dangerous man with cold golden eyes. The former friendly smile had turned into an evil grin. "Yes, we both WILL have a conversation…but YOU will not like it." Death flashed his own reflection a last smile and then turned to leave HQ.
