Chapter 9
Charles walked over to the desk placing his brief case on the corner; he flicked open the 2 brass catches. He lifted out 2 large buff coloured folders placing them down beside the laptop. "This is everything in the central files. I hope you find what you're looking for".
Methos moved quickly across the room picking up the top folder, he walked around the desk and sat in the chair as he started to flick through it. Charles looked down at the 2 glasses of wine.
"Best not waste such a good year," Charles said as he picked up 1 of the glasses before walking over to the window. Methos didn't answer he was already engrossed in the information contained in the first folder. Charles watched from where he stood by the window as Methos turned over page after page. "Is it what you wanted?"
Methos only looked up quickly at him before looking back to the papers "I'm not sure, it says here that he died after a car accident. His wife's name is listed but I can't seem to find the daughter's".
Charles crossed the room to stand beside Methos; he bent over to look at the folder.
"It should be listed on the next of kin form, it's a green one" Charles said as he reached over and pulled the green page from near the bottom of the pile "Here".
Methos took the page that Charles held out, his eyes scanning it, Craig Knight's wife Jessica was there and a little further down was the daughter's name Christina. Methos pushed the green paper back into the pile before closing the file and reaching for the next one. He had just opened it when his cell phone rang, Methos carried on leafing through the papers as he reached across the desk picking up his phone. "Hello"
"Methos?" came the reply.
"Yeah. Joe? It's a little early for you isn't it?" Methos said as he ran his finger down the page. "I couldn't sleep. Have you found anything?"
Charles tapped Methos on the shoulder and mimed that he had to go, Methos nodded his thanks before turning his attention back to the papers and the phone. "I'm still working on it. I've eliminated one possibility. So anything happened your end?"
"Mac came into the bar the other night looking for you."
"What did you tell him?" Methos replied as he turned over to the next page.
"Just that you went out of town."
"So did he say why he was looking for me?" Methos said turning another page.
"Just that he found out that Sandi has been shortened from Alessandrine that was why you couldn't find a listing for her with Immigration." Joe waited for a reply but there was silence.
Methos's finger had just come to rest on the next of kin page for Jonathon Edward Knight at the name of his daughter. "Methos?"
"Sorry Joe" the name Joe had just said and the one Methos had just read were the same and somewhere deep in Methos's memory something stirred.
"Then I think I just found her father" Methos said as he looked down at the green page. "So does it tell you anything else?"
Methos flicked over a few pages his eyes falling on an article that had been clipped from a newspaper; a phrase leaped out at him from the page "Joe, I'll have to call you back. I promise if I find out anything I'll let you know".
Methos didn't wait for a reply before disconnecting the call.
Late evening in Seacouver
Since their night together Sandi had hardly been back to the Chester and she had no intention of sleeping there tonight either. They had worked out that morning and spent the afternoon in bed.
It was late when they finally left the restaurant, it was a warm evening and they had decided to walk home through the park. Sandi had her arm through Duncan's, her head resting against his arm. "Thank you, I've really enjoyed tonight".
Duncan kissed the top of her head as he put his arm around her pulling her closer "My pleasure".
Neither of them had noticed the figures moving through the shadows following their every step. They walked handed in handed towards the lake, they had just reached where the trees came closest to the path when suddenly a man jumped out in front of them. Even in the dim light Duncan could see the gun in his hand but there was no demand for money before he raised the gun. Duncan could see that it wasn't him the man took aim at, moving quickly Duncan kicked out. The gun fired as it was wrenched from the man's hand but the bullet flew off into the trees, Duncan pushed Sandi behind him.
The man then tried to land a punch but Duncan side stepped and slamming his knee into the man's stomach. The man collapsed on the ground at Duncan's feet, he then landed a punch to the man's jaw and his head crashed into the path.
"DUNCAN!!!" Sandi screamed as another man grabbed her around the throat. Duncan span round taking a few steps forward.
"Take another step and I'll snap her neck," the man snarled. "I wouldn't do that if I were you".
"What are you going to do about it?" the man laughed as he slowly started to back away with his arm still around Sandi's neck. Duncan could see that the grip the man had on Sandi was getting tighter and he watched as her eyes started to close as her air was cut off.
"This" with lighting speed his sword came to rest millimetres from the man's neck. "Now let her go or loose your head."
Duncan watched as the man calculated his chances before he released his grip and Sandi crumbled to the ground. Duncan lowered his blade and stepped forward to catch her, the man took his chance and ran past Duncan just as he managed to take Sandi's weight. The man didn't even try to collect his friend as he ran. Duncan returned his sword into his coat before picking up Sandi's semi conscious body.
They had reached the well-lit street at the edge of the park before Sandi had come fully round and she was able to walk. As soon as Duncan had put her onto her feet he took out his cell phone.
"What are you doing?" Sandi questioned.
"I'm calling the police, what do think?" Duncan said as he dialled 911 but before the call could connect Sandi had reached up and pressed the end call button. "What did you do that for?"
She reached her hand up to Duncan's face "Duncan, I just want to go home and forget it happened. The police will have us there for hours and I can't even remember what either of them looked like. Please, let's just go home."
Duncan hailed the first cab he saw to take them the rest of the way back to the loft. Sandi sat with her eyes closed and her head resting on Duncan's shoulder. The events of the last hour ran through his mind as he looked out of the window.
When they arrived back at the loft Duncan poured them both a brandy before joining Sandi on the sofa.
"Well, that's more excitement than I want on a night out" Sandi said as she took the glass of brandy from Duncan.
Duncan didn't reply he just took a sip of his brandy and stared down at the chessboard. "Duncan are you all right?"
Slowly, he turned to face her "Are you going to tell me what that was all about?"
"What do you mean?" Sandi replied as a frown appeared across her face.
Duncan looked down at the brandy in his glass "Did you know those men?"
"No...they were just muggers. Why would I know them?" Sandi said as she put her glass down on the table.
"They didn't demand anything, no money, credits cards nothing. They were too well dressed for muggers. Not to mention it was you the gun was aimed at."
"What are you trying to say?" Sandi said as she moved to the edge of the sofa. Duncan wiped his hand over his face "Maybe you should tell me but I just get the feeling that you're not telling me something".
Sandi picked up her glass, she drank down the remaining brandy as her mind raced as what she should say.
"Why would you think that?" Sandi said as she put down her glass and stood up.
"You're being very calm for someone who was nearly killed tonight and why won't you let me call the police?"
Duncan could see that Sandi was becoming agitated as she started to pace the floor "I told you I just didn't want to spend the rest of the night at the police station and then find out that they can't do anything anyway."
Duncan got to his feet his whole being was telling him there was more to this. He moved towards the phone on the desk "you may not remember them but I do."
As his hand reached the phone Sandi called out "Duncan, please don't"
"Give me one good reason?" He said as he turned to her. Sandi took a few steps towards him part of her wanted to tell him everything but she didn't think he would understand.
"Duncan why can't you just let it drop" she said as she moved closer to the chair where she had left her bag. Duncan sat on the edge of the desk "I can't help you if you don't tell me what is going on."
Sandi could hear the impatience in his voice and she felt the panic rising in her.
"I can't, I just can't. You'll never understand" Sandi shouted before picking up her bag and running for the door. Duncan moved to grab her arm but she managed to avoid his hand. He hadn't expected her to react like this and hadn't been ready for her to run. Sandi threw open the door and ran down the steps.
"Sandi, wait" Duncan called after her but she had disappeared into the night before he had got to the bottom of the stairs.
Washington
As the phone rang on the desk a black-gloved hand reached across "So how many are left?"
"We managed to get to the Canadian yesterday, so out of the original 15 there are 9 and we located the English woman today."
"I take it they are both dead?"
"The Canadian definitely won't need his invitation but the English woman got away with the help of some guy she's been staying. I still don't know where he got that sword from with but she won't last out the week. I promise."
"A sword?"
"Yeah, can you believe that? A gun I would've expected but this was something out of one of those Samurai movies."
The man ran his other gloved hand over the sword that was laid on the desk in front of him "What did this man look like?"
There was a slight delay before the voice on the other end of the phone answered, "He was over 6ft with black hair, well built and he knew all that martial arts stuff."
"Did you catch a name?"
"When I grabbed her she shouted the name Duncan. I thought it was the woman you are interested in. Surely, he isn't important?"
"Everything is important. Now you remember that I only have 5 slots and you only have 4 days to bring the number down or it will be you that pays the price" the gloved hand replaced the receiver he then sat back in the chair. He picked up the jewel rapier that had been resting on the desk "It won't be long now my friend and you will have your sport."
London
Methos picked up the newspaper clipping slowly he read it through again. A sword had killed Jonathan Knight, the details in the article were a little sketchy but it gave Methos more to go on and he moved his attention to his laptop.
Several hours later Charles had managed to drag him away from the computer for some dinner. Methos tried to concentrate on the conversation but his mind kept going over the coroners report he had managed to gain access to, he had very nearly gained access to the police file when Charles had dragged him away. He didn't know why he was still following this, he had first thought that Sandi's father might have been an Immortal but that had been disproved by the coroners report. He couldn't explain it but something about all of this was troubling him.
Eventually he made his excuses to Charles and returned to his room, it didn't take him long to get access to the police report he needed. It appeared that Jonathan Knight had been at a private fencing club when he died. The club was on the estate of Philippe Fernanadez Lopez. No charges had been filed against anyone at the club that day. Methos picked up the coroners report again the wounds on Jonathan's body didn't look like an accident to him.
Methos yawned it had been a long day so he decided to get some rest, maybe the light of day would make things clearer. Methos plumped the pillow before settling down in the bed, his eyes had only been closed for a couple of minutes when they shot open, Lopez that was a name he had seen in the Watcher files.
He jumped out of bed and without switching on any lights started up his laptop, at first he had tried to log on to the Watcher network as Adam Pierson but it didn't get him the access he needed. He sat back in the chair thought for a moment before tapping in the name Joe Dawson and Joe's password. The files didn't have the information he needed, he needed to be sure that the Lopez that was involved in Sandi's father's death and the Immortal were the same, so he ordered his Chronicle. He knew that it would be sent to Joe at the bar so he would have to leave tomorrow.
The Chester
By the time she arrived at her room door her face was streaked with tears and mascara. Her eyes were so blurred she had trouble getting the key into the lock. When she got inside she rested her head back against the door and looked around the room. Sandi slowly crossed the room and sat on the bed she knew Duncan was right those men were there to kill her. She hadn't thought that she would be putting others in danger. What had she been thinking to stay so long in one place?
She then reached across to the small cabinet by the bed and opened the drawer. For a few moments she stared down at the black envelope lying on the bottom of the drawer. She sighed heavily as she picked it up and pulled out the black paper from inside. There in gold writing were the names of the 15 people invited to try for the 10 million dollar prize, under the names was written the first round was one of survival. She now was fully aware of what that meant.
Sandi looked around the room she had taken some of the clothes over to Duncan's loft but there was still enough here, grabbing an empty holdall she began to pack what was left. If those men had been able to find her in the park it might not be long before they came here, she had to move. With everything packed Sandi reached for the door handle, she rolled her eyes, her fencing gear was still at the dojo how was she going to get it without running into Duncan?
She decided that she would think about that later, her first priority was to find somewhere else to stay.
Charles walked over to the desk placing his brief case on the corner; he flicked open the 2 brass catches. He lifted out 2 large buff coloured folders placing them down beside the laptop. "This is everything in the central files. I hope you find what you're looking for".
Methos moved quickly across the room picking up the top folder, he walked around the desk and sat in the chair as he started to flick through it. Charles looked down at the 2 glasses of wine.
"Best not waste such a good year," Charles said as he picked up 1 of the glasses before walking over to the window. Methos didn't answer he was already engrossed in the information contained in the first folder. Charles watched from where he stood by the window as Methos turned over page after page. "Is it what you wanted?"
Methos only looked up quickly at him before looking back to the papers "I'm not sure, it says here that he died after a car accident. His wife's name is listed but I can't seem to find the daughter's".
Charles crossed the room to stand beside Methos; he bent over to look at the folder.
"It should be listed on the next of kin form, it's a green one" Charles said as he reached over and pulled the green page from near the bottom of the pile "Here".
Methos took the page that Charles held out, his eyes scanning it, Craig Knight's wife Jessica was there and a little further down was the daughter's name Christina. Methos pushed the green paper back into the pile before closing the file and reaching for the next one. He had just opened it when his cell phone rang, Methos carried on leafing through the papers as he reached across the desk picking up his phone. "Hello"
"Methos?" came the reply.
"Yeah. Joe? It's a little early for you isn't it?" Methos said as he ran his finger down the page. "I couldn't sleep. Have you found anything?"
Charles tapped Methos on the shoulder and mimed that he had to go, Methos nodded his thanks before turning his attention back to the papers and the phone. "I'm still working on it. I've eliminated one possibility. So anything happened your end?"
"Mac came into the bar the other night looking for you."
"What did you tell him?" Methos replied as he turned over to the next page.
"Just that you went out of town."
"So did he say why he was looking for me?" Methos said turning another page.
"Just that he found out that Sandi has been shortened from Alessandrine that was why you couldn't find a listing for her with Immigration." Joe waited for a reply but there was silence.
Methos's finger had just come to rest on the next of kin page for Jonathon Edward Knight at the name of his daughter. "Methos?"
"Sorry Joe" the name Joe had just said and the one Methos had just read were the same and somewhere deep in Methos's memory something stirred.
"Then I think I just found her father" Methos said as he looked down at the green page. "So does it tell you anything else?"
Methos flicked over a few pages his eyes falling on an article that had been clipped from a newspaper; a phrase leaped out at him from the page "Joe, I'll have to call you back. I promise if I find out anything I'll let you know".
Methos didn't wait for a reply before disconnecting the call.
Late evening in Seacouver
Since their night together Sandi had hardly been back to the Chester and she had no intention of sleeping there tonight either. They had worked out that morning and spent the afternoon in bed.
It was late when they finally left the restaurant, it was a warm evening and they had decided to walk home through the park. Sandi had her arm through Duncan's, her head resting against his arm. "Thank you, I've really enjoyed tonight".
Duncan kissed the top of her head as he put his arm around her pulling her closer "My pleasure".
Neither of them had noticed the figures moving through the shadows following their every step. They walked handed in handed towards the lake, they had just reached where the trees came closest to the path when suddenly a man jumped out in front of them. Even in the dim light Duncan could see the gun in his hand but there was no demand for money before he raised the gun. Duncan could see that it wasn't him the man took aim at, moving quickly Duncan kicked out. The gun fired as it was wrenched from the man's hand but the bullet flew off into the trees, Duncan pushed Sandi behind him.
The man then tried to land a punch but Duncan side stepped and slamming his knee into the man's stomach. The man collapsed on the ground at Duncan's feet, he then landed a punch to the man's jaw and his head crashed into the path.
"DUNCAN!!!" Sandi screamed as another man grabbed her around the throat. Duncan span round taking a few steps forward.
"Take another step and I'll snap her neck," the man snarled. "I wouldn't do that if I were you".
"What are you going to do about it?" the man laughed as he slowly started to back away with his arm still around Sandi's neck. Duncan could see that the grip the man had on Sandi was getting tighter and he watched as her eyes started to close as her air was cut off.
"This" with lighting speed his sword came to rest millimetres from the man's neck. "Now let her go or loose your head."
Duncan watched as the man calculated his chances before he released his grip and Sandi crumbled to the ground. Duncan lowered his blade and stepped forward to catch her, the man took his chance and ran past Duncan just as he managed to take Sandi's weight. The man didn't even try to collect his friend as he ran. Duncan returned his sword into his coat before picking up Sandi's semi conscious body.
They had reached the well-lit street at the edge of the park before Sandi had come fully round and she was able to walk. As soon as Duncan had put her onto her feet he took out his cell phone.
"What are you doing?" Sandi questioned.
"I'm calling the police, what do think?" Duncan said as he dialled 911 but before the call could connect Sandi had reached up and pressed the end call button. "What did you do that for?"
She reached her hand up to Duncan's face "Duncan, I just want to go home and forget it happened. The police will have us there for hours and I can't even remember what either of them looked like. Please, let's just go home."
Duncan hailed the first cab he saw to take them the rest of the way back to the loft. Sandi sat with her eyes closed and her head resting on Duncan's shoulder. The events of the last hour ran through his mind as he looked out of the window.
When they arrived back at the loft Duncan poured them both a brandy before joining Sandi on the sofa.
"Well, that's more excitement than I want on a night out" Sandi said as she took the glass of brandy from Duncan.
Duncan didn't reply he just took a sip of his brandy and stared down at the chessboard. "Duncan are you all right?"
Slowly, he turned to face her "Are you going to tell me what that was all about?"
"What do you mean?" Sandi replied as a frown appeared across her face.
Duncan looked down at the brandy in his glass "Did you know those men?"
"No...they were just muggers. Why would I know them?" Sandi said as she put her glass down on the table.
"They didn't demand anything, no money, credits cards nothing. They were too well dressed for muggers. Not to mention it was you the gun was aimed at."
"What are you trying to say?" Sandi said as she moved to the edge of the sofa. Duncan wiped his hand over his face "Maybe you should tell me but I just get the feeling that you're not telling me something".
Sandi picked up her glass, she drank down the remaining brandy as her mind raced as what she should say.
"Why would you think that?" Sandi said as she put down her glass and stood up.
"You're being very calm for someone who was nearly killed tonight and why won't you let me call the police?"
Duncan could see that Sandi was becoming agitated as she started to pace the floor "I told you I just didn't want to spend the rest of the night at the police station and then find out that they can't do anything anyway."
Duncan got to his feet his whole being was telling him there was more to this. He moved towards the phone on the desk "you may not remember them but I do."
As his hand reached the phone Sandi called out "Duncan, please don't"
"Give me one good reason?" He said as he turned to her. Sandi took a few steps towards him part of her wanted to tell him everything but she didn't think he would understand.
"Duncan why can't you just let it drop" she said as she moved closer to the chair where she had left her bag. Duncan sat on the edge of the desk "I can't help you if you don't tell me what is going on."
Sandi could hear the impatience in his voice and she felt the panic rising in her.
"I can't, I just can't. You'll never understand" Sandi shouted before picking up her bag and running for the door. Duncan moved to grab her arm but she managed to avoid his hand. He hadn't expected her to react like this and hadn't been ready for her to run. Sandi threw open the door and ran down the steps.
"Sandi, wait" Duncan called after her but she had disappeared into the night before he had got to the bottom of the stairs.
Washington
As the phone rang on the desk a black-gloved hand reached across "So how many are left?"
"We managed to get to the Canadian yesterday, so out of the original 15 there are 9 and we located the English woman today."
"I take it they are both dead?"
"The Canadian definitely won't need his invitation but the English woman got away with the help of some guy she's been staying. I still don't know where he got that sword from with but she won't last out the week. I promise."
"A sword?"
"Yeah, can you believe that? A gun I would've expected but this was something out of one of those Samurai movies."
The man ran his other gloved hand over the sword that was laid on the desk in front of him "What did this man look like?"
There was a slight delay before the voice on the other end of the phone answered, "He was over 6ft with black hair, well built and he knew all that martial arts stuff."
"Did you catch a name?"
"When I grabbed her she shouted the name Duncan. I thought it was the woman you are interested in. Surely, he isn't important?"
"Everything is important. Now you remember that I only have 5 slots and you only have 4 days to bring the number down or it will be you that pays the price" the gloved hand replaced the receiver he then sat back in the chair. He picked up the jewel rapier that had been resting on the desk "It won't be long now my friend and you will have your sport."
London
Methos picked up the newspaper clipping slowly he read it through again. A sword had killed Jonathan Knight, the details in the article were a little sketchy but it gave Methos more to go on and he moved his attention to his laptop.
Several hours later Charles had managed to drag him away from the computer for some dinner. Methos tried to concentrate on the conversation but his mind kept going over the coroners report he had managed to gain access to, he had very nearly gained access to the police file when Charles had dragged him away. He didn't know why he was still following this, he had first thought that Sandi's father might have been an Immortal but that had been disproved by the coroners report. He couldn't explain it but something about all of this was troubling him.
Eventually he made his excuses to Charles and returned to his room, it didn't take him long to get access to the police report he needed. It appeared that Jonathan Knight had been at a private fencing club when he died. The club was on the estate of Philippe Fernanadez Lopez. No charges had been filed against anyone at the club that day. Methos picked up the coroners report again the wounds on Jonathan's body didn't look like an accident to him.
Methos yawned it had been a long day so he decided to get some rest, maybe the light of day would make things clearer. Methos plumped the pillow before settling down in the bed, his eyes had only been closed for a couple of minutes when they shot open, Lopez that was a name he had seen in the Watcher files.
He jumped out of bed and without switching on any lights started up his laptop, at first he had tried to log on to the Watcher network as Adam Pierson but it didn't get him the access he needed. He sat back in the chair thought for a moment before tapping in the name Joe Dawson and Joe's password. The files didn't have the information he needed, he needed to be sure that the Lopez that was involved in Sandi's father's death and the Immortal were the same, so he ordered his Chronicle. He knew that it would be sent to Joe at the bar so he would have to leave tomorrow.
The Chester
By the time she arrived at her room door her face was streaked with tears and mascara. Her eyes were so blurred she had trouble getting the key into the lock. When she got inside she rested her head back against the door and looked around the room. Sandi slowly crossed the room and sat on the bed she knew Duncan was right those men were there to kill her. She hadn't thought that she would be putting others in danger. What had she been thinking to stay so long in one place?
She then reached across to the small cabinet by the bed and opened the drawer. For a few moments she stared down at the black envelope lying on the bottom of the drawer. She sighed heavily as she picked it up and pulled out the black paper from inside. There in gold writing were the names of the 15 people invited to try for the 10 million dollar prize, under the names was written the first round was one of survival. She now was fully aware of what that meant.
Sandi looked around the room she had taken some of the clothes over to Duncan's loft but there was still enough here, grabbing an empty holdall she began to pack what was left. If those men had been able to find her in the park it might not be long before they came here, she had to move. With everything packed Sandi reached for the door handle, she rolled her eyes, her fencing gear was still at the dojo how was she going to get it without running into Duncan?
She decided that she would think about that later, her first priority was to find somewhere else to stay.