Disclaimer: Highlander belongs to Davis/Panzer. They are being borrowed and returned hopefully in about the same shape they were taken in. Jeff, Emmy, and just about everyone else, belong to me. You can use them if you like, just return them please.

Chapter 24

Rick was actually in his office, filing away the last of his reports on the Chase case, when he felt an Immortal buzz. He looked up to see Marcus standing in the shop entranceway. He reached over and grabbed the other file sitting on his desk, the one he had brought for Marcus. With it in hand, he got up and headed out into the lobby. "When you didn't return my calls yesterday, I was worried something had happened to you."

Marcus shook his head. "Nothing's happened to me, but that parasite has killed another victim. It was all over the news last night when I got out of court. I'm sorry for not calling you after I got out, but I was... upset."

Rick nodded. He understood Marcus' rage. He had seen it before in other older Immortals who felt that they needed to change the world, or at least to stop others who had plans to try and do so themselves. He felt his cheek twitch and fought the nervousness down. "It's not a problem, I've had those days myself." He smiled and held out the file. "You'll want this. I told you my guy is good. He's strung together all the information about this guy you could possibly want. It even has a current address."

Marcus took the folder, turning the pages without even looking at them, a distant expression on his face. "I always thought it was smart of you to befriend a reporter and tell him what you were. They love sharing secrets with the world, but sometimes I think they like having their own even better."

Rick smiled, again suppressing the tick in his cheek. "Oh yeah. In Jeff's case, that's definitely true. It's like his joke on the business. I share all this information with you, and yet I know ten times more about the world than you will ever be able to comprehend."

Marcus dropped his gaze to the papers in the file, not moving but for turning the pages. He stopped at the one he wanted and looked back up at Rick. "And he's sure this is a current address for him?"

Rick nodded. "Jeff never does anything halfway. He's positive. It was his residence yesterday. It should still be the same one today. Look, Marcus, I know we're not close, but this guy is trouble. I want you to know I think you're a great guy. Good luck and, as they say in Spanish, vaya con Dios."

Marcus gave a slow blink, then reached out his hand and shook Rick's. "I am thankful for your blessing Rick. Don't lose your head." With that, the older Immortal turned and headed out the door. Rick stood silently watching after him and wondered, as he always did when a battle was about to begin, if he would ever see the other man again.

Jeff's dreams were filled with spinning numbers when the phone rang, waking him up much later in the day than he was used to. He picked it up and pushed the button. "Hello?" he asked groggily.

"Hey Jeff, it's Matt. I didn't wake you up this late in the day did I?" Matt asked, sounding slightly smug.

Jeff sighed as he sat up and realized he was still at his desk, study books in front of him. "Yeah, but it's okay, I apparently fell asleep studying last night. I got in late, so I had to make sure I'd done some prep before going to bed."

Matt laughed quietly on the other side of the phone. "That explains why you're still asleep. Jeff, don't you think you might be over-preparing for this test?"

Jeff sighed. "I would if I'd ever done well at any standardized test in my life, but as I haven't, no. I think this is a good idea."

Matt only grunted this time. "Well, that's not exactly why I'm calling."

"I figured you had a different motive. What's up?"

"I just wanted you to know that Marcus is going after Edward."

"You sound okay with that... are you?" Jeff knew that even some of those who only watched grew to really love their Immortals.

"Yeah, I'm pretty confident that Marcus is better. Just because he's a lawyer doesn't mean he doesn't keep in shape."

"True," Jeff replied, getting up from the chair and walking around the room, stretching his sore body. "Well, I wish both of you luck. I hope it turns out to our advantage."

"As do I." The phone went dead. Sometimes Matt had the weirdest way of saying goodbye.