"What is it?"
Vincent Muldoon had picked up the phone tube and asked the question rather harshly.
"I have Nicole O'Ballahan on the line." The secretary replied.
"I'm waiting, darling."
A beep followed and then a silence. Then a cold female voice spoke softly.
"Vincent."
"Hello, Nicole... it's been a while."
"Not as much as I would have wanted."
"I guess you would have preferred a lifetime." He knew she was not in good terms with him. But this was business.
"Yes. I take it this call is about Connor MacLeod."
"I am impressed. Feminine intuition?" he tried to be gallant.
"Cut the nonsense. He's the only reason the Watchers are still working. Why else would you call?"
"I want him down." A harsh laughter followed on the other side of the line.
"And I want him to ride me." A pause followed, in which neither Muldoon laughed at the comment nor Nicole tried to say anything funny. "It will cost you." She finally muttered.
"Half a million will do? Euros."
There was no reply. She was expensive, but she would approach MacLeod differently, rather than going straight to battle with the most skilled swordsman on Earth. Unlike Briggs, who had charged hardly anything for personal revenge against the last immortal. There was a rumour in the 80's, that Briggs and Sunda Kastagir had a relation that was deeper than the mere teacher-student thing. Had he remembered it when he hired Briggs, probably he would not have been so impressed by the resume of the assassin, and would have considered someone else.
"Deal. Now enlighten me."
"He killed Robert Briggs in a bar in Buenos Aires four days ago. The latest info says he is flying to Paris."
The line died. She had hung up. He grinned. She still bore her grudge. They had had an affair when she was starting in the Watchers. He was 35, she was 21. It lasted for two years, until Julia's death hit Vincent really hard. That day he cut the relation. She left the Watchers, and entered a government agency, where she would get enough training to later become a contract killer. She had an additional advantage: she had had contact with MacLeod in the past. It would be a piece of cake for her.
-----
A blond, slender woman in her forties opened the door. Her blue eyes set on the man in front of her, who wore a grey shirt and a pair or bleached jeans.
"Oui?"
"Are you Tessa Noel?"
"I am. Who are you?" A hand was offered.
"My name is Connor. Connor MacLeod." Tessa shook the hand and opened widely the door.
"Please come in."
Connor was allowed in, and offered some coffee. He sat down with Tessa in front of him, at a large dinner table.
"You are... Duncan's cousin."
"Yes... I..." Connor did not know how to approach the woman. "I... learned of his death... recently."
"News travels slowly. Duncan died in 1982. An... an..." she stopped. Talking about it was not easy for her.
"Immortal?"
"Yes. A man came in one night and openly challenged him. Somehow Duncan knew he would lose, and made the man promise to return his sword to me if he was defeated..." Tessa burst into tears. "I found the sword by the door the following morning!"
"I am sorry... Duncan was like a brother to me."
"I can imagine it. 400 years is a long time to know somebody."
"You moved on after it?"
"I got married some years later. He's a good man. Hardworking and honest."
"I'm glad to hear that. To some extent, I know he would be glad too."
"Is it over? The... encounter?"
"The Gathering?" he asked kindly.
"That."
"I'm still here. The others aren't."
"So what is that reward like?"
"The Prize? Nothing worth." he felt amused by the mistaking of the names.
Connor drank his coffee in silence. Then he stood up, thanking Tessa for her time.
"Mr. MacLeod?" she asked slowly.
"Connor."
"Connor... I would like to ask you a favour."
"Please."
"Could you take Duncan's sword with you? I think it would be better if you have it and... I really can't look at it."
"I can't take it now. It would call attention. I can call in on... Saturday afternoon... if you can."
Tessa went to her agenda and opened it.
"Today is Thursday... no problem." She beamed as she replied.
"Until then, mademoiselle." Connor said gallantly and left.
Tessa's smile faded into a smirk. She tossed the agenda harshly and picked up her cell phone, pushing some numbers. A tattoo could be seen on the back of her hand.
"He's coming on Saturday afternoon."