Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 19:43:00 PST Reply-To: Mike Goldman Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Mike Goldman Subject: Counterfeit Friends (13/22)--HL Story Over the next two weeks, things kept appearing at the bar that were addressed to Rory. They ranged from a photo of a department store in London to a postcard commemorating the anniversary of Michael Collins' assassination. Each time the articles arrived, Duncan always seemed to be right behind them, questioning Rory in an innocent voice as to what each object could mean. Joe and Richie could tell that something was going on between Duncan and Rory, but still had no idea as to what it could be. The few times Joe had tried to talk to Rory about it, he had been met with either silence or a weak assurance that it was nothing. Macleod had not been particularly forthcoming, either. The anonymous "gifts" also seemed to be affecting Rory's performance. Before, she had always lit up when she stepped on a stage, using her voice to communicate her feelings to the always appreciative crowd. Now, that light seemed to be dimmed and she sang in a much more pedestrian manner, taking nearly no chances with the music. On Friday night, Joe was closing up while Duncan and Richie sat at a table, chatting with him across the bar. Rory and Matt were unplugging one of the amps from the stage in order to take it into a shop to be looked at. Using a dolly, they moved the amp from the stage to the back door of the club where they had parked the band's slightly decreipt van in the alley. Winded, they took a break for a moment, eyeing the distance between the van and the back door of the club. "Could someone tell me why Mark thought this was close enough?" Rory asked rhetorically. Matt answered anyway. "Do you really want him backing down an alley after that guard rail scraping incident in Sault Ste Marie?" Rory rolled her eyes. The right side of the van *still* looked as if Godzilla had taken a swipe at it. Matt's next response was cut off by a yawn. "Why don't you go home?" Rory suggested. "Who's gonna help you move this thing?" "I'll back the van down this way and Richie can help me lift the amp into the back." "You know you have problems using that rear-view mirror yourself." "I'll just open the driver's side door and stand up while I drive." She raised her voice. "Richie, can you stick around for a few minutes to help me with this?" Richie looked back towards them. "Sure. Just let me know when." Duncan also looked back at them. "I can help if you'd like." He could almost see Rory bristling. "If I *want* your help, Macleod, I'll *ask* for it." she ground out between her teeth. Joe looked up from counting his receipts. "Rory," he said sharply. "what is wrong with you? Mac's just offering to help." She chose not to answer. "Go on," she told Matt, "we've got it." "OK." he tossed her the keys and left, calling out a goodbye to everyone at the bar. Rory steadfastly refused to look at them. She scooted her way around the amp and walked into the alley. At the bar, Joe looked at Duncan and shrugged. "I'm sorry, Mac, I don't know what's wrong with her lately." Dimly, they could hear the creaking sound as Rory opened the back doors of the van and then the driver's side. They then heard the ignition start up and the clunking sound of the van being put into reverse. The next sound they heard was a loud boom. =========================================================================