Chapter Twenty Five
France, Watcher Compound
The large chartered bus pulled away from the back of the château filled with immortals. In the middle of the night, their journey began.
The interviews began one by one, as Riggo hunted for answers. In a private room, first he questioned the junior watchers.
"Were you threatened in any way or kept from leaving?" he asked.
The answers were always the same. "No I was never threatened. I left and did my business and returned when needed."
"Did you see anyone else threatened or punished in any way?" he persisted in asking.
Those answers came slowly but still textbook style. "No, we worked together and socialized like any other time."
Finally, when Riggo moved up the ladder to the senior watchers, he found more frustration. No one would talk openly, behaved strangely, and gave only cryptic answers.
Riggo gave up and decided on a different tactic. Going to the commissary, he took a plate and served up a late night meal. A day without sleep was not new to him. He took out a note pad as he ate and found a name he had not questioned yet. Steven Gibbons.
Writing a letter of request, he sealed it up and signaled a nearby messenger. "What is your name?"
The young man answered, "Aaron Wilson."
"Aaron, give this to Steven Gibbons right away and wait for an answer."
Steven was in the middle of filing paperwork when he received the summons. He saw his chance to tell the truth. Writing on the back of the letter, he told Riggo where to meet him in private. He sealed it up and told the messenger to return with his answer.
Knowing that hidden microphones were in the courtyard, Steven went there first to take out the lights, reposition a camera link and wires. He moved to the far side and waited.
Riggo appeared on time, looked around and called out, "Where are you?"
Steven came forward and pulled his arm saying, "Quiet and move out of range."
They moved as far away as the courtyard would allow them. In the dark, Steven quickly told Riggo what befell him, why they freed him again and the threats that still existed.
Unable to take notes Riggo memorized what he heard. He listened intently and asked very little as the pent up frustration and anger poured from Steven in a torrent.
Riggo reached out and held Steven's shoulder in a show of support. He requested, "I'll do the rest. Pretend you are still with Egan's plan. Do whatever he asks." Unobserved, the two men parted and returned to work.
The security captain Daemon prowled the halls like a force of Egan's unseen hand. All watchers steered clear of him and nobody talked of anything except the most mundane of subjects.
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Joe watched the clock and wished he could sleep. He finally had more freedom since they returned his legs provided he did not talk. A knock at his door almost stopped his heart.
"Come in," he called out.
Joshua opened the door and asked, "Sorry to bother you, can we talk?"
Joe sighed relief and waved his hand, "Yes, come in. I thought you were a guard coming back to tie me up."
He closed the door and turned on a light. Joshua told him, "I have an important assignment for you."
Joe sat up with interest asking, "What do you want?"
Handing Joe the letter of invite he said, "I need you to be at the gathering." He sat on the bed telling him, "I know you will make sure there is no interference for Duncan MacLeod."
Joe looked almost ready to jump up and go but something stopped him. Sadly, he gave the letter back explaining, "I can't go Josh. Amy needs me."
"This could be the end for watchers if you don't go." He pushed the letter back in his hand telling him, "Amy will be protected. On my honor, I will make sure Egan never touches her again."
Joe leaned closer and whispering, "I don't suppose you can kill him for me."
Joshua put his hand over Joe's telling him, "Not this time but they are having a trial soon."
"Why is it taking so long?" he demanded.
"Joe, everyone is caught up in the Gathering." He explained, "A sufficient number of high officials aren't available."
He looked at the invite letter again thinking about watching an epic battle. He accepted, "I'll go."
Two floors away, Riggo was quickly writing the report by hand and preparing to send it. Next, he found the fax machine disabled so he had to risk making a phone call.
Riggo's request seeking aid prompted some help. However, unknown to him, a few hired thugs remained loyal to Egan Lasco.
After a long day of threading water, the tension around the compound was thick enough to cut. A call finally came for him on the house phone but it was a very bad connection. Through the static Riggo heard, "A police van is coming in the morning to take Egan Lasco to jail."
"What?" Riggo asked, "He's going where?"
"To jail," was the answer. "The authorities are going to hold him for us."
Riggo argued, "It's not our people, they can't be trusted."
All he heard was static then the answer was, "We don't have anywhere else to put him before the trial."
More static as the line went dead. "Damn it!" Riggo swore and put the phone down. A knock sounded and the door opened. Daemon was standing there.
"I have orders." He said showing Riggo the summons.
He opened the envelope and read quietly. Riggo stated, "These are dated for today and who is it from?"
Daemon said, "From Egan Lasco giving me orders to take you into custody."
"Mr. Lasco is no longer in command." Cautiously Riggo backed away from Daemon setting the summons on a table. With a show of defiance he declared, "You are under investigation for taking orders from a former leader who is under house arrest."
The captain of the guard moved forward with a menacing stance he said, "You are not in command of this place!"
Shoving his hand deep in his pocket, Riggo gave a relaxed appearance as if he considered what Daemon said. He nodded and replied, "Maybe you're right but I can gain absolute control by morning."
As the guard took a step towards him, Riggo pushed him aside with one hand and dropped several capsules on the floor. He quickly stepped on them and backed out the door. He shut it and held tightly until a coughing Daemon grew quiet. "That will give me a few hours." Riggo said.
Steven came up to him asking, "What's going on?"
He answered, "Daemon tried to arrest me so I gassed him."
After holding the door another minute, to make sure the guard was unconscious, Riggo confided in Steven. "Tomorrow there's going to be an attempt to break Egan out."
Looking at his watch Riggo took out his personal phone and said, "I'm going to risk make a phone call stateside."
Steven told him, "Warn them that the Watcher Ops Strike Force is now in Scotland."
"What?" Riggo said with a sound of disbelief.
Steven elaborated, "Egan ordered his special forces to go after all immortals he deemed a threat to the gathering.
"That is going too far." Riggo then requested, "Assemble in secret only those we can trust."
Steven looked him in the eye and said, "You can trust my brother."
Riggo nodded and said, "I thought as much."
Steven asked, "What do you want to do first?"
Riggo instructed, "First thing that must be done, lock up Daemon and move Egan into another cell."
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