Chapter Twenty Two

Watcher Chapter, France

Inside the office, Egan Lasco was hurriedly putting all of his affairs in order. Finally, he called out, "Come in."

As Joshua entered the room, the phone beeped again. Joshua said, "It's Mark Kalpak with urgent information."

Egan picked up the phone hitting the button, "Yes Mark what is it?"

Joshua could hear the news from where he stood. "Glenshee, it's at the Spittal of Glenshee."

Egan asked, "Do you know when?"

Mark said, "Very soon, maybe three weeks."

Egan thought this through for a moment and said, "I'm sending my best watchers so take care of everything. When they get there you will make arrangements for their travel."

He hung up the phone with a brooding look on his face. Joshua cleared his throat and said, "It's time sir." He slid the telegram across the table.

Egan looked at it already knowing what it meant. He leaned back and rubbed his eyes with fatigue. Pushing the papers towards Joshua he said, "Here are your orders making you acting president. You have to sign here," he flipped the page over, "and here. Have Steven notarize it then your real work will begin."

"I understand," he said taking a pen to sign where indicated.

Egan spoke into the intercom to his personal security, "Is my room ready?"

"Yes sir, just as you ordered."

He gave additional orders, "I want extra cameras installed around the complex with the feeds going to my secret room only."

"Yes sir, right away." The speaker crackled.

To Joshua he said, "Make sure Amy has a key."

One more time Joshua tried to change Egan's course of action saying, "If fooling the Watcher Council is to succeed, there must be no more violence towards watchers or immortals."

"That is my new policy if you read the updates. However," Egan ordered, "If this doesn't work, I want this man Riggo neutralized before he can make a report."

Heathrow Airport, London

The plane from the United States had a stopover in London. Riggo met with a watcher high official during his wait and turned over copies of his orders along with evidence of Egan Lasco's treason.

They stood in the corner of the crowded waiting area, and discussed what could go wrong. Riggo confided to Hugh, "I have a small phone hidden in my clothes. If things get rough I am to call you for a rescue."

Hugh Richman replied, "Let's hope it doesn't go that far. I'm still a little short handed."

Riggo asked, "Do you have any trusted connections in France?"

"Those are the problems," Hugh told him, "With Immortals travelling all at once and talk of the gathering; I've had some watchers withdraw."

Sympathizing with Riggo's predicament, Hugh said, "Here, take these," handing him a small bottle of capsules he instructed, "If you get desperate, drop a capsule near your foot and step on it then walk away. It creates a gas cloud and should disable anyone near you."

Riggo nodded thanks and pocketed the bottle.

Hugh looked at his watch and said, "I can send one person to look out for you but if it gets dangerous don't be a hero. We'll all deal with Egan Lasco when this is over."

The speaker began announcing the boarding flights in several different languages. Hugh shook his hand and said, "Good luck, Riggo. Hope to see you safe."

To lighten the mood, Riggo winked and said, "Thanks mate."

Hugh waved good-bye and watched the final boarding. Turning away, he glanced down at the envelope Riggo entrusted to him. He opened it to peer inside, gave a low whistle of disbelief. Closing up the envelope, he made his way out of the airport. Without realizing it, he passed two immortals on the way.

Scotland

Carl Robinson drove through that evening and past midnight before they stopped for gasoline. Amanda went inside for refreshments. As she came back outside with a variety of snacks, she felt the eerie presence of an unseen immortal.

Carl stopped pumping the gas. He looked around and told her, "Get in the car."

"Wait!" a voice called out behind them.

Amanda turned and let out a scream of recognition. Dropping her bag of goodies, she ran and embraced her old friend.

She felt relief telling him, "Jeremy, I never thought I would see you again."

He hugged her back saying, "It's good to see you, darling how you have been?"

Carl walked closer, looked him over with suspicion and asked, "Were you following us?"

With his arm around Amanda, the stranger held out his other hand and said, "I'm Jeremy Dexter and you are?"

Taken aback, Carl answered, "Carl Robinson so who are you to Amanda."

"To answer your question I was following you and mostly trying to catch up with her" He looked at Amanda with affection, "You are priceless."

Amanda blushed with the coyness of a schoolgirl. She asked him, "How did you find me, also have you had any fights lately?"

"Whoa one question at a time I've got a lot of ground to cover from my last job to how I made it here." He pointed across the street to an all night diner, suggesting, "I'm starving if you are."

Happily, Amanda agreed, "Yes, I have so much to tell you." She asked Carl, "Are you coming too?"

He looked at Jeremy with fading suspicion and said, "Sure, I'm hungry. You go ahead, I'll move the car."

He watched them walk away arm in arm like best friends. Picking up Amanda's snack bag, Carl sat in the car for moment thinking about the past two weeks and how possessive he had become towards Amanda. She was under his protection and he did not care who Jeremy Dexter was.

He drove across the street and parked in the lot. Getting out, he locked the car and went inside looking for the pair. Even at a distance, he could see their animated conversation. He just knew this would turn into a pissing contest.

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