Date: Mon, 9 Oct 1995 10:01:04 EDT Reply-To: Russ McMillan Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Russ McMillan Subject: DL&J, Part 5/5 Death, Lies, and Jewelry, Part 5 by Russet McMillan mcmillan@astro.psu.edu Several days later, Duncan was surprised to find Angie knocking at his door. "Richie's already gone," he said apologetically as he let her in. "Yeah, I know," she said. "I came to talk to you." Her mouth was set in a serious line. Duncan led her to the loft. "How's your head?" She brushed at the small square of gauze on her brow. "It was only a couple stitches. Listen, um -- did Richie tell you where he wanted me to send the reward?" "Ah, so you did return the necklace." "Yeah. I told them I never knew what was in that box. If Richie had listened to me, it would have been returned three years ago." Duncan grinned. "Well, Richie's stubborn. But he can admit when he makes a mistake. Maybe that's why he wanted you to keep the reward." Angie's eyes widened. "Me!" "That's right. You're the one who kept the necklace out of Perez' hands, after all. Anyway, Richie's supposed to be dead." Angie frowned. "Yeah, that's what I wanted to talk about." "Have a seat. Would you like anything to drink?" "No. Thanks anyway." Angie seemed nervous, almost angry. "Mr. Macleod, I thought -- I always figured you were just about the best thing that happened to Richie in his life. But now I'm starting to wonder. What kind of stuff have you gotten him into?" "What do you mean?" Duncan sat on the couch. "He told me about how he had to stage his own death in order to get away from the guys who were after him." "Ah." "But from the way he acted to Perez, it's not like he's turning over a new leaf or anything. He's still asking for trouble. It's just a matter of time before he has someone else out for his blood." "That's true," Duncan admitted sadly. Angie looked at him, working up her courage. "You killed Perez, didn't you?" Duncan considered for a long moment. "He didn't leave me any choice," he said at last. "You could have gone to the police!" "No. That wasn't an option." "Why not? Because then the police would have investigated you? What would they have found out? How many people have you killed to keep your secrets?" Duncan was silent. "How many people has _Richie_ killed? When I knew him, he was a punk, yeah, but not a killer. Then you gave him a job and got him off the streets, and I thought, great! But now he's on the run, all his friends think he's dead, and I can see in his eyes -- he's different. He's changed. _You_ changed him." "That change was inevitable, Angie. I did the best I could for him." "Then at least let him go now! Whatever racket you got him into, now's his chance to get out of it." Duncan sighed, wishing it were so simple. Yet Angie had a point. He couldn't really doubt that Richie's life had turned out better because of Duncan's involvement; he had seen too many young Immortals ruined by their first teacher, or lack of a teacher, to believe otherwise. But he was troubled by the possibility that Richie's life would actually be shorter because he was Immortal. Certainly it would be much grimmer, and bloodier. Certain that her position was right, if still unsure how Duncan might react, Angie glared at him. "Let him start a new life," she urged. "And this time, you stay out of it!" Duncan looked up at her. "You love him," he realized. "No -- well, yes -- I don't know. I've known him since we were in third grade. He's like a brother to me. If there ever could have been anything else . . . well, it's too late for that now." "That's right," Duncan agreed, his voice rough. "Better for you to just stay out of it. Forget about Richie and get on with your own life." His own pain over Anne's departure rang through the words. "Dammit!" Angie hissed. "You're not going to let him go, are you?" "I can't. It just doesn't work that way." She surged to her feet and slung her purse over her shoulder, eyes burning into him. "Then damn you, Duncan Macleod. And all the self-righteous bastards like you!" She stormed into the elevator and left. Duncan leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. He could let Angie's accusations roll off him because they were based in untruths. But the real accusation was in her misunderstanding, in the untruths themselves. He had urged Richie not to tell her the truth, and he was sure he had been right. Every person they told was another soul pulled into the coils of their destiny, warped by the pressures of the Game, all too often endangered or killed by their association. Yet every person they didn't tell was another friendship sacrificed to fear and distrust. Could safety and peace of mind really excuse such a monumental lie? Duncan couldn't answer the question. =========================================================================