Chapter Nine
The Chartered jet landed in the late afternoon on a small airstrip ten miles from the watcher Compound. A limo was waiting for them along with two more guards. Deahna was surprised when she got inside that her treatment was slightly better now and they offered her refreshments.
The drive to the watcher compound was an hour in time. Deahna was feeling anxious and still did not know what to expect. Once there, she was rushed inside and ushered into the sitting room of the once grand Château where Egan waited for her.
Egan turned form the window and greeted her, "Mrs. McFadden I am honored by your presence. I hope your journey wasn't too unpleasant."
Deahna accepted his greeting and said, "Not too unpleasant but the kidnapping part was." She held up her hand and said, "It's been a long flight and I really need to freshen up before we talk if you want this interview to be productive."
Egan consented and indicated to his guard to take her to a nearby restroom.
Once inside the little room, she locked the door and took her time.
She pondered what questions they would ask her and what she would tell them. She wanted to turn the watchers to her advantage.
Feeling one hundred percent better, Deahna unlocked the door walked out past the guard and kept going ignoring her escort back to the room where Egan patiently waited.
She seated herself on the most comfortable chair there. She told Egan, "When Frank signed the Watcher and Immortal agreement; we came to know your kind as non-aggressive."
He looked hard at her with piercing dark eyes. He said in a voice that sent a shiver up her spine, "Times have changed Deahna and I want you to tell me everything about the gathering and who this woman is traveling with Duncan MacLeod." Egan signaled the guard to lock the outer door.
Becoming indignant her eyes seethed as she told him, "This is a pivotal time in our history and you have the audacity to put your nose where it's not wanted."
Placing his hands on the arms of her chair, his face inches from hers, Egan said with an even more menacing tone, "You can answer my questions in a civilized way or downstairs in a dark cellar, strapped to a chair with proper pain inducements. Because if you don't I will kill you."
She flinched under his gaze then she said quietly, "I'm not telling you anything."
Egan's hand flew up and he hit her across the face causing her mouth to bleed. Deahna cried out from surprise but held back the remarks she wanted to say.
One guard handed Egan a gun. He took it, held it to her head demanding, "Describe what will happen at the gathering if all the Immortals fight until there is only one?"
Choosing her words carefully she answered, "Since this is the first international gathering in recorded history, I cannot say what will happen."
Egan smiled wickedly insisting, "I don't believe you." He took a step back telling her, "Here is a riddle; when I shoot you, will you wake up or not."
Deahna sat motionless trying to control her fear. After a few minutes, Egan asked her, "Still not talking? Then so be it." At the sound of the gunfire, Deahna slumped in the chair.
"I hate the mess they make." Irritated, Egan handed the guard back the gun and instructed him, "Get her to a cell and tell me when she wakes up."
Cruise Ship
Billowing smoke from the burning fire filled up the hallways and portions of every room.
"Here you are!" exclaimed Amanda as she cornered her opponent in the empty nightclub.
A tall black man came out of the smoke filled shadows and said, "I'm not looking to fight you Amanda." He put his sword point down explaining, "I came here to save you."
Amanda asked him, "I'm confused aren't you supposed to challenge me?"
"Egan put a bounty on your head and I took it but not to kill you." He replied.
"Then who are you?" she asked.
He came closer and said, "I'm Carl Robinson a friend to Duncan Macleod."
Amanda replied, "That makes me feel better. Does he know you're here?"
Carl smiled and said, "MacLeod doesn't know everything."
"I guess it just seems like he does," she commented. Covering her mouth from coughing she suggested, "Let's go topside and we can talk about it."
He shook his head, "We can't be seen talking, remember I'm supposed to kill you."
"Then what is the next plan of action?" she asked. "Because this ship will be towed to the next port in Africa and I'm not going back."
"Come with me," he told her, "We're jumping ship."
Carl led the way closer to the fire and smoke. Lying on the floor they crawled until they could go no further.
He took a small box with a detonator out of his jacket, set the timer and tossed it into the next room. He crawled past the room and down the hall. Amanda was coughing and crawling after him with a blind trust.
When the explosion came, Carl took her hand to pull her into the now destroyed room where the ocean was before them.
"I don't know if I can do this!" she screamed.
He quickly jumped into the hole pulling her with him and they fell 30 feet to hit the water below. Avoiding debris and bobbing near the ships engines, within seconds Amanda disappeared under the current.
Watcher Compound
Hours passed as the setting sun shone through the elegant curtains in Egan's study while he sat in his favorite chair watching Deahna's interrogation on video.
"I knew she would crack." He thought quietly. His mind worked quickly on all probabilities before him.
"Kendal," Egan called out.
"Yes sir?" Kendal appeared before him and stood ready.
"Where's my favorite immortal?" he asked.
Kendal replied, "Conference room 3."
Egan said, "Let's go," leading the way out of the room and down to an elevator.
Sitting with his personal guards, Methos called out the names on a list while Jeff checked the files in his laptop. Only this inner circle knew of Methos dual identity.
"Willie Kingsley?"
"Joined last week and traveling here from the United States," was Jeff's reply.
"Cassandra?" Methos asked with anticipation.
"In Scotland." Jeff stated.
"That figures," thought Methos.
"Derek Worth?" Methos read aloud.
"Currently in Florida," answered Jeff.
"Is he coming here?" asked Methos.
"We don't know yet sir he hasn't replied to our request."
"Carl Robinson?" Methos asked.
"He is on a special assignment." Replied Jeff.
"What kind of special assignment?" Methos requested.
"It doesn't say," answered Jeff, "That file is restricted."
Giving a sigh of annoyance, next Methos asked, "Claudia Jadine?"
Jeff answered, "She has refused the invitation."
Methos was thinking this over for a moment when Egan walked in asking, "Where are you at in numbers?"
Methos answered, "It's going as well as can be expected, you know everyone is on the move right now." Then he turned to ask, "Jeff how long before the next update?"
He replied, "I'm working on it."
Methos instructed, "Then work faster."
Egan gestured him to follow, "I need to talk with you moment."
Sitting down at a table across the room, he quietly told Methos what Deahna McFadden finally revealed about the gathering. "Do you understand?" he questioned, "That this battle will encompass all the immortals until only good or evil survive."
Methos shook his head telling Egan, "Battles between immortals have been going on for centuries."
"Ah," Egan countered, "But this is the big one."
Hiding his real thoughts, Methos added, "I really don't see how this can be any different."
"Because!" Egan insisted, "We're going to control the outcome!"
Methos looked doubtful telling Egan, "That would take a lot of immortals."
Egan replied, "Don't worry about that I have a plan brewing to ensure success. You must continue recruiting and training."
Methos stood up and said, "I'm having recruitment issues because you have only five have joined you so far. Also, I want access to all watcher recruits as well."
Egan hesitated asking him, "Do you feel it's necessary?"
"I do," he went on to explain, "I need to coordinate the immortals with new watchers so there will be adherence to the new rules without question."
Egan looked at him now with expectation asking, "So…What is our ultimate plan?"
With a smug look on his face, Methos simply said, "We're going to win at the Gathering?"
With an expression of success Egan banged his fist on the table and pointed at him, "You are the one who will lead Immortals into a new era of victory."
Looking at Egan as one gazes into a crystal ball, Methos could read deceit and danger still for immortals in following his course of action.
Both men stood up with an understanding between them. Sitting back at the table with Jeff, Methos picked up the list asking, "Felicia Martins?"
Jeff answered, "She's requesting a contract and payment before she joins."
"That's an excellent idea Jeff." Egan surmised, "Draw up contracts right away for all immortals joining to be paid."
Methos eyes narrowed as he watched Egan leave the room. Plan number two was now in place. All he had to do was keep Egan distracted until plan number three could hatch.
Leaving the meeting with a certain air of confidence, Egan was again lost in thought. The demon voice had a soothing tone, "I like that idea. The last horseman will be king for my side."
There was still so much to do with another company to seize and dinner with Amy. The best decision he ever made was bringing Methos back in the fold of the watchers.
Inside his office, Egan opened his laptop and tried to get through all his emails. After an hour, his eyes became blurry and his head hung down as he snoozed.
"Clang, clang, clang, and clang" was the sound of the clock striking the hour as it brought his mind back to his college days when he strode the campus listening for the chimes.
"Egan, there you are," called Jeremy. He caught up with him and they walked together.
Jeremy asked, "Are you coming with me to the meeting tonight?"
Egan Lasco replied, "Yes I promised I would but what kind of a meeting is it?"
Jeremy gave a sly smile and answered, "It's a secret organization and we watch."
A knock at the door brought his attention back to the present and he woke up. "Come in," he commanded.
Amy walked in with purpose written on her face. She said, "Egan my dear, it's been a week since the last time I saw Joe. You promised I could see him today." She sat on the chair and looked carefully at him waiting for an answer.
Egan closed up his laptop and said, "Amy you've known he is your father for how long and still you call him Joe. Do you ever call him father?"
She replied, "Only when I feel like it."
He changed the subject and asked, "How are those stocks doing that Ms. Montrose recommended?"
She answered with a solemn tone, "They're crashing."
Egan stood up and swore, "Damn her! How much did we lose?"
Amy informed him, "A hundred thousand give or take and you already have damned her. An immortal was assigned to go after her."
Egan paced the room, "I need to hurry up that last takeover bid you are working on. I need to get back the money." He turned to her and asked, "How much property has Watcher Enterprises acquired?"
Amy flipped open her notepad and read aloud, "Two more buildings were just purchased and we have one pending escrow in New York."
He smiled at this news when his stomach gave a rumble letting him know it was mealtime. "Amy let's have your father dine with us this evening. Make sure the lobster is fresh." He requested.
She stood up and went to him saying, "You know the smell of lobster makes me sick."
He told her, "Take a nausea pill and order something else for your meal. You're not showing yet so the baby is not a subject we will discuss tonight."
"Yes Egan I know and thank you." She said giving him a smile and a kiss before leaving the room.
He watched her go almost hating himself for feeling so soft around her.
.
