Chapter Forty-Six
Rome:
After speaking with Robert, Gina directed Amanda toward the small private airport that Robert had mentioned. The two women had left the villa in Florence after MacLeod's telephone call with a number of items from his study packed into a large suitcase.
After reaching Rome and learning that flights to Athens had been cancelled, Amanda had been considering driving on south… but had agreed to wait for the others to arrive. After all… some roads were closed and any travel into Greece and the surrounding area was currently restricted. Perhaps by the time Methos and Robert arrived, some of those restrictions would have been lifted. The latest information coming from authorities indicated that the undersea quake had been 9.2 in magnitude. The resulting tsunami had moved outward from the quake, impacting not only Greece, but Cyprus, Turkey, and to a lesser extent, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt as well. The boot of Italy had experienced some rise in tides, but had been spared any major involvement.
Amanda was also concerned about the shipment of artifacts. She had no idea and no way of knowing how MacLeod had shipped the items, and where they currently were. She hoped that they weren't irretrievably lost somewhere. She parked in the lot, while she and Gina strolled toward the main terminal of this small airport which the de Valicourts patronized.
"Ah Signora de Valicourt!" the chubby man behind the counter exclaimed as they walked in . "Buon giorno! how may I assist you?" He stepped out from the behind the counter and profusely bowed, kissing Gina's outstretched hand and then exclaiming over Amanda.
"Robert is flying in from Paris later today or tonight, Signore Amalfi. Can we wait for him here? He's picking us up."
"But of course. I even have espresso and biscotti to offer why you wait. Were you two bella donnas in Roma shopping?"
Gina laughed and was speaking with him. Amanda had something else that had garnered her attention. A taxi had arrived and she sensed an immortal in it. Curious, she wandered over to the plate-glass window to get a better view. But all she saw was the taxi suddenly taking off again. Whoever it was, hadn't wanted to meet another immortal. Amanda adjusted her cape, her fingers gripping the hilt of her small broadsword as she watched the departing taxi.
"Prego per favore?" Turning suddenly, she smiled winningly at Signore Amalfi. "Is there another small airport in the area?"
Signore Amalfi looked askance at her. "Signorina, we are Roma's premier small airpost."
"I have no doubt. I was just curious."
"My friend meant nothing by it, Signore Amalfi." Gina glared at Amanda, "She's just curious about how many small flights you can accomodate."
"Si," Amanda added. "My friend was shipping something to Greece but with all the tragedy there earlier today… how would I check on the shipment?"
"Ah… perhaps I could help the Signorina trace the shipment?" Signore Amalfi was once more the genial host.
He asked Amanda a few questions… none of which she knew the answers to about the method of shipping, the company shipped with, when did it leave and from where? "But I do know to whom it was addressed," Amanda suggested with a teasing smile. "I'm just concerned about the shipment. It was priceless."
Shortly later, Signore Amalfi had managed to locate a cargo plane out of Paris and an order for a shipment of items to Phillip Alexandros on the island of Niebos.
"Grazie," Amanda said wamly as she copied down the shipping information routing number. If it was rerouted, they should be able to find it. It looked like it was nine coffins to be shipped for burial on Niebos. Amanda's eyes rose slightly at the description of the shipment as coffins.
"Your friend wants to bury family in the homeland… si?" Signore Amalfi suggested.
"Si," Amanda agreed smoothly. After she had what she needed she took Gina aside to tell her of the immortal she'd felt. "I didn't really get a look at him. Just his profile in the back seat of the taxi as it roared out of here.
"You worry too much, Amanda," Gina assured her. "He likely didn't want a challenge. He might have had urgent business elsewhere."
Amanda agreed, and the two settled in to listen to Signore Amalfi's tales of Italia, while sipping his espresso and nibbling his biscotti. But the behavior of the other immortal concerned her, and continued to niggle at the back of her mind.
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By the time their flight had landed at Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, Burt Meyers, Matt McCormick, Ryan Coltraine and Cecile Marshall had quietly passed around the information they had and had discussed plans of attack to track and stop Martin Kingsley before he could murder any additional victims.
It was therefore a surprise when they were met at the gate by Giacomo Trattori, their Rome contact, who asured them that the two had arrived safely.
"Two?" Ryan sputtered. "Is there a woman with him?"
"Si!" Tratorri said and then nodded when Cecile pulled out the photograph of Sarah Manning. "That is the signorina with him. She was very quiet and subdued. They sped through the terminal and the signore flagged a taxi. I got the number." He held up a pad of paper. "Using our local contacts I learned that he drove them first to Amalfi Field north of Roma, a private field that caters to small chartered flights."
"First?" Burt asked.
"They no sooner arrived than the signore paid the driver to take him to Ciampino, the main charter airport in the area. Likely he wanted the privacy of Amalfi… it is very small and the owner is very discreet, but had to settle for arranging a flight at the larger Ciampino."
"In an airport… he'd be unarmed," McCormick reminded them. "If I can get clearance to have my gun on me while in the terminal, we might have a chance." He turned to Trattori. "Can we get the clearance… and a delay of his flight?"
Trattori nodded. "Si… it will take some grasso… some grease," he rubbed his fingers together indicating the need for money to expedite what they wanted.
"Whatever it takes," Burt assured him. "Transportation?"
Trattori pointed the way to a limo parked in near the terminal. "We must hurry before the poliziotto makes us move again." Meyers' group and Trattori threaded their way through the crowd to climb without problem into the limo. McCormick retrieved his sword from the special diplomatic pouch they'd carried aboard.
"You won't be able to get into the airport with that thing, signore," Trattori told him.
"Humor me," McCormick said darkly. He shifted in his seat to secure his blade within his coat and settled back in the seat, silent and glowering while the limo eased into Rome traffic and then sped toward Ciampino airport.
Burt brought Trattori up to speed on Kingsley's activities in the states while Cecile and Ryan chimed in occasionally from what they knew. McCormick said nothing. He'd called his mortal wife before leaving the states… just in case… and was mentally preparing himself for what he was certain would be a challenge.
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Arriving at the smaller of Rome's main two airports, McCormick flashed his badge and left Trattori to explain while he headed into the main terminal. He could feel an immortal in the area. Pausing in mid-terminal, the crowd streaming around him, Matt tried to zero in on the immortal's location. Turning about, he finally saw him… Martin Kingsley… much as he'd been so long ago in New Orleans, suave, impeccably dressed, saluting him with a smirk before turning to leave.
Matt pushed through the crowd after him, aware that Meyers and Coltraine were following him closely. A baggage cart cut him off and he collided with it. Swiftly he picked himself up and continued on. But he no longer felt Kingsley. "Damn!" He turned about looking for exits.
"Where'd he go?" Meyers was asking him.
"I'm not certain," Matt admitted. "Check the flights out… I'll check down this way." He started off, aware that Coltraine was still on his heels.
"Did you see Sarah?"
"No," Matt admitted. Catching a flash of Kingsley's presence, he changed directions and headed further down the terminal and through a causeway connecting it to another terminal.
As he emerged from the causeway, he caught sight through a plate-glass window of Kingsley pulling a driver from a car and making off with it.
"There!" he shouted to Coltraine. "Phone Meyers and get an APB out on that car."
"APB?"
"Just do it!" Matt by this time had reached the exterior of the terminal. He flashed his badge while he commandeered a car. Coltraine climbed in with him.
"I'm staying with you so that we can stay in contact with Meyers," he explained when Matt gave him a pained look. As they pulled out to try following the stolen car, Coltraine continued. "Besides… Sarah's my responsibility. I have to find out what happened." He called Meyers again and filled him in on the situation and where they were and where they seemed headed. By this time, darkness was beginning to fall.
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Returning to the limo, Burt motioned both Trattori and Cecile to join him as he gave the driver directions.
"Our boy must have been waiting for us. He pulled us in and then made his getaway."
"What about the local poice?" Cecile asked. "Should we contact them?"
Burt shook his head. "And tell them what?" He rubbed his temples as he considered how bad this could get. If the police attempted to stop Kingsley's flight, he had no doubt that more people would die. They needed to catch up to Kingsley and deal with him. He smiled and glanced at Trattori. "Do you have a helicopter?"
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Kingsley drove like a maniac through the outskirts of Rome… and around the city until he managed to connect with a secondary road heading south. He was snarling and managing to hiss as his curses sounded in the smoky air of the stolen car.
First there had been an immortal at his destination… requiring him to change his plans. That happened, of course, one had to remain flexible when pursuing one's interests. Regrettable sometimes… but necessary. He was too close to finding Gerard to give up now. He was in no mood for any further disruptions. He'd assumed the immortals at Amalfi might also come to Ciampino, so he'd made arrangements for an escape just in case.
Locking eyes with his nemesis Matt McCormick had been both a pleasure and a curse. A curse because McCormick knew him. A blessing… because he knew McCormick. Indeed, he'd followed him from one part of the country to another… settling and continuing his little pursuits without his fellow immortal ever catching on. The game was likely up now. But no matter. He was after a much bigger prize than just observing how a mortal and then an immortal healed from similar wounds. He was after the immortal who'd ruined his life. Because of Gerard… he'd had to move on from his first life long before he should have done so. Gerard had refused to train him… teach him… and had turned away in disgust when he'd seen Kingsley's little hobby… a haunted look in his eyes.
"You were that way once," Kingsley muttered now. "You know and were aroused and interested. I saw it in your eyes. You should have joined me… not turned away… and definitely not called the local constable. You ruined it for me. You owe me!" He gripped the steering wheel as he sped down the dark and deserted road. He would not be stopped now! Gerard would be his.
A sputtering noise from the engine caused him to refocus on the here and now. "Damn!" he exploded bitterly. The fuel guage was showing empty. He'd not heard the warning, if it had been given at all. slowly he pulled to the side of the road and growled for a few moments until he saw the headlights of an approaching car. As it too, pulled to the side of the road, Kingsley leered at the reflection in the rearivew mirror. "Still on my trail McCormick? Maybe it's time I finally dealt with you." Grabbing his sword, he stepped out onto the road, carefully shrugging of his coat and flinging it into the seat he'd just vacated. "Warm-up time," he hissed to himself and started toward the figure of McCormick, likewise stepping out of his car.
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"Stay inside and lock the doors. If this goes bad, get out of here… fast," McCormick told Ryan. he tossed him his gun. "I won't be needing that," he said. The young Watcher nodded and pushed the auto-lock after McCormick climbed out, sword in hand. Ryan Coltraine swallowed nervously… aware that he was as close to a duel with two combatants as a Watcher could be.
As he watched the two men circle and set themselves for the fight, Ryan noticed the shape of a head in the car ahead. Hostage? Sarah? he wondered. He unlocked the door and, leaving it open, crept out. He paused at the ten foot open space between the two cars. By this time… the fight had started. From what he could see, the two men matched up well and it seemed an even match. Ryan moved ahead to the other car until he could see through the front passenger window.
It was Sarah!
He tapped on the window and tried the door. She looked at him numbly when he tapped. She lowered the window partway and stared at him.
"Unlock the door Sarah," he told her slowly as if she were a child. She did so as he heard the click. He pulled the door open. "Come with me Sarah."
She looked around at the fight, shuddering slightly. "I can't. He'll kill me!"
"Sarah. Come with me. I'll protect you."
She studied him a moment. "Do I know you?"
"I'm…" Ryan paused. Sarah Manning didn't know about the Watchers. "We met in Nashville."
Her yes widened in recognition and her mouth became a small "O". She stepped out of the vehicle. Ryan pulled her to him with a relieved sigh. "You're safe now."
Over the roof of the car he could make out Kingsley and McCormick still fighting… sparks showering them both from the force of their swords on the other's. Ryan wrapped a comforting arm around Sarah. "Let's go." She stumbled along with him and he could fell her continuing shudder. At least she was in one piece. He couldn't believe his luck that she was still alive. Half-way between the two vehicles… he heard a head thump on the ground near his feet and then saw the Quickening erupt. "Oh shit!" he thought as he realized that Kingsley had won.
Sarah broke free and turned to run back to the first car. "He'll hurt me if I've moved," she screamed.
Ryan pursued her and pulled her back. "He'll kill you too!" He was determined to get Sarah into the other car and to safety. Finally she stopped fighting him, and sobbed as he pulled her along. The Quickening was beginning to die away as he got her into the car. He shut the door and was racing to get to the driver's side when he realized Kingsley was standing in front of him.
"Shit!" was the last thought he had as a sharp pain pierced his chest and blood pumped out. He was dead by the time he hit the pavement.
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Kingsley kicked the mortal's body after it fell… as if to ascertain that he was indeed dead. Then he grinned and got into McCormick's car. He felt great! Better than he had in several months. After climbing in, he leaned over to Sarah and wiped his blade on her face and chest.
"An old lover perhaps? Too bad I didn't have time to give him a proper send-off." He laughed, pleased at his control over her. She just sat. He could tell she was shuddering slightly… but trying not to… or at least trying to keep it under control. He started the car and drove off. He'd turn southeast to Naples the next chance he got. Surely he could find a chart airport in the area and charter a plane. He hummed to himself as he sped up.
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From the chopper, things did not look good. Burt ordered it down when he saw the headlights of the abandoned car. The scene that met his eyes when he alighted from the helicopter was every bit as bad as he feared. Both McCormick and Coltraine were dead. Both by sword. Burt took several long deep breaths while he thought and stared down the road. Where is he going?
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