========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 18:52:27 -0400 Reply-To: JJSWBT@AOL.COM Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Wendy Tillis Subject: Isabel 08/13 Isabel By: Wendy Tillis jjswbt@aol.com Copyright April 1996 Part Eight ===================== Joe sat at the computer keyboard and thought about what to try next. He was convinced, though he couldn't explain why, that there was more to Sister Gabriel than he and Paul had found in the records when they had checked in November. Joe had been busy. His sister had been sick, the Bar had been busy and he just hadn't gotten back to his research as soon as he had wanted. Now, with the deaths of Ray Allen and Grey Buffalo, he thought he ought to try again. In addition, Sarah Lao was missing. No one had heard from her since yesterday evening. He went back into the database and tried different combinations of factors to try and find a female Immortal that matched Sister Gabriel's physical characteristics who "disappeared" around 1630 - the time that Sister Gabriel, as Dorothea, "appeared". After a lot of false starts he had 5 names. Sophia Andreas Alexandra Muransky Messalina of Rome Celia of Trent Regina Wallace All five women were tall with black hair and grey or green eyes. Four had dropped off the Watcher's rolls between 1500 and 1650 . Messalina, who had changed her name to Isabel in 550AD, had not been seen since 1407 but there a note in the file that she was presumed alive as late as 1554 when another Immortal had been heard to mention her name. Any of these five women could be Sister Gabriel - or none of them could be. Joe began the slow process of reading each file - searching for clues that would link the woman in the file to the woman here in Seattle. Sophia he eliminated immediately. She had become Immortal in 1423 and there was no evidence that she ever learned to use a sword before her disappearance in 1557. . Sister Gabriel - as Dorothea - was an effective swordswoman by 1652. Alexandra Muransky was a possibility, Joe supposed. She had been a very religious woman - the nunnery might have appealed to her. She had disappeared in 1627 - the right time period. But, as he read further, he saw that she had walked with a decided limp. Sister Gabriel didn't limp. Surgery on Immortals was an interesting undertaking - they healed so well that major surgery became difficult, if not impossible, to perform . Could she have had the limp corrected ? Maybe. Messilina . There was quite file on her. Joe began to read and realized he had seen part of this file before. Where? Think! Yes, part of a training exercise in Watcher school years ago. What had it been about? He kept reading - she had quite an impressive list of kills - but it seemed she wasn't really a "hunter" - just very capable of defending herself. Joe scrolled through the file, hoping something would catch his eye. He was tired and wanted to finish this so he could go home. Near the end of the file , he found it. When Don Salzer and Methos had started this database they had tried out a variety of formats. One feature they had added to some files was a list of "known associates" - other Immortals that the subject Immortal had been seen with in non-combat related situations - friends, lovers, students, etc. Isabel's file happened to include such a list. Joe scanned it. Gauis of Rome Gemanicus Fasil Peter of Gaul Etienne of Navarre Catlo of Bavaria Joe stopped and re-read the list. Etienne of Navarre. Joe felt a shiver run down his spine. He pushed his chair back from the desk and hauled himself to his feet. He was stiff from sitting too long. Etienne of Navarre. Joe walked over to the phone and dialed Headquarters in Zurich. It would be 2:00AM there- too bad. Someone would have to get out of bed. Two hours later Joe hung up with Zurich. It was as bad as he feared. He picked up the phone again and started to dial MacLeod's number - then he stopped and hung up. Calling him would violate the very strict rules he had agreed to almost two years ago when Duncan had returned from France after overcoming the Dark Quickening. Duncan had been understanding and certainly pleased that Joe had prevented him from killing Richie while under the sway of Coltec's Quickening. But Duncan was also adamant that such interference - no matter how helpful - had to stop. Duncan had made it clear that the only way they could remain friends was if they kept Watcher and Immortal business strictly separate. The Duncan that had returned from France that year had been a harder man than the one Joe had befriended years before and the passing of time had not softened him. Duncan would not appreciate a call from Joe now- even if the information might save his live. Joe stood with his hand on the phone for a minute longer than let it go. OK, he was a Watcher - he would watch. If what he *thought* was happening really *was* happening - he might still have time to warn MacLeod. He would get some proof first. Joe pulled on his coat and headed for his car. It looked like a long day. ================= Joe sat in his car and tried to stay awake. This was the third night he had sat vigil over Sister Gabriel's apartment, waiting for something, *anything* to happen. He was getting too old for this, he thought. It was cold but he knew he would fall asleep even faster if he ran the heater. He had been sitting outside the Youth Center for hours. Montgomery Street was a one way street and so Joe had been able to park on the same side of the street as the building, with the driver's seat at the curb. This worked better for him if he needed to get out of the car - he could swing his artificial legs directly onto the sidewalk. The days were short and it had gotten dark but there was a street light just up the way that provided enough light to see anyone coming or going. Of course, if they went out a back door, he wouldn't know it. Sister Michael had arrived at about 5:30pm and gone in - alone. The lights upstairs in the apartment had been out until Sister Michael arrived so Joe assumed Sister Gabriel was still out. Now it was almost 9:00pm. He decided to it another hour and then call it quits. He didn't really know what he hoped to see. It was just instinct- or training- when in doubt you Watch. The hour had almost passed when Joe saw a figure in his rear view mirror. The person was approaching steadily - coming toward the Youth Center. Joe couldn't tell if it was a man or woman. All he could see was that the person was tall, had long hair and was wearing a long dark coat. He waited, knowing he would get a good look as the figure passed by the car. The figure was almost even with the car now. Joe pretended to look at the map on his lap. Suddenly, the figure reached for the door handle. Joe realized too late that the car door was unlocked. The figure jerked the door open and the last thing Joe saw was the silver flash of a sword coming at him. ================ Duncan woke to the sound of ringing bells. He reached for the alarm before he realized that it was the phone. He picked it up even as the other hand turned the clock so that he could see it. It was almost 4:00am on Sunday morning. "Hello?" " MacLeod. It's Methos." "Methos? What's wrong?" " Dawson's dead. Beheaded." Duncan felt sick to his stomach. He and Joe may have drifted apart in the last two years but he had still been a good friend. "What happened? Who did it? How did you find out? Aren't you still in London?" "I don't have all the details yet. Some guy walking his dog found him around 1:00am, your time. The police notified his niece, Lisa Horton, and she called Headquarters. I happened to catch the flash as it went out over our network. The organization is in panic. . ." Duncan cut in. "Where was he? What was he doing?" " He was sitting in his car over on Montgomery Street. I don't know what he was doing there - but I'm going to find out." Methos sounded very determined. " Montgomery Street?" Damn, Duncan thought to himself. Right outside the Youth Center. Right in the same area Allan and Grey Buffalo had been killed. Sister Gabriel. Isabel. "Are you coming back here?" Duncan asked. " I don't know when I can get away. I'm just lowly Adam Pierson over here - I can't run off to Seattle without good reason. My friendship with Joe was only supposed to be casual - they won't expect me to head off for the funeral." "God, I can't believe this. Joe dead." " I can't believe it either. He was a good man. He didn't deserve this. Look, Methos. I have to go - I need to check this out. I'll be in touch." "If you find anything out, MacLeod, I expect to hear about it." "Don't worry , you will. And let me know if you manage to get away." " I will. Good bye, MacLeod." "Bye." Duncan hung up and sat staring at the floor. Joe dead. That didn't seem possible. Beheaded. It had to be one of us, he thought. Isabel was the only logical choice. But why? Had he seen something? She hadn't seemed like type to commit the cold blooded murder of a mortal. He didn't want to believe her capable of it. But - there were Allan and Grey Buffalo's killings too. Duncan got dressed and picked up his sword and looked at it. Lord but he was tired of this. He had thought Isabel was a friend. No it was worse than that - he had started to think of her as *more* than a friend. Had she just been befriending him - and the others - to make killing them easier? Gaining their trust, getting them to let down their guard? Hiding behind the nun's habit? She had admitted that she wasn't a nun because of any particular devotion to God - but to use the position as a way of stalking other Immortals for their heads? That made her no better than Kalas. Well, if that *was* her game, he'd make sure she paid the same price as Kalas. Joe deserved that much. Duncan tucked the sword under his coat and went out into the night to find her. When Duncan arrived at the Youth Center, he immediately knew Sister Gabriel was not there. Where would she be at 5:00am? Duncan hesitated and then rang the bell for the nuns' apartment. Sister Michael's voice came down over the intercom. " Yes?" "It's Duncan MacLeod. I need to speak to Sister Gabriel." " She. . . she isn't here." " Can I have a word with you, Sister? Please?' The was a pause and then Sister Michael buzzed the door open and Duncan went in. He walked up the flight of stairs to the apartment door. Sister Michael was there to open it before he knocked. She looked tired and wary. " Come in , Mr. MacLeod. As I told you, Sister Gabriel isn't here." " Where is she?" " I . . I don't know. She is probably at the Church." "When did she leave? Please, Sister, it is important." " Why ? Why is it important?" " You know what happened outside here tonight?" "Yes. I saw the police cars. An officer came up to ask if I had seen anything." " Did you see anything?" "No. I didn't. Sister Gabriel . . ." " What about Sister Gabriel?" Duncan wanted to shake the nun but he knew that wouldn't help her answer any faster. " She came in last night, around 10:30 . She looked very upset. She went right into the bathroom. I . . I saw her through the door- it wasn't closed all the way. She was washing her hands. It looked. . . it looked like there was blood on them." "Did you ask her about it? What did she say?' " She said - that she'd had an accident. I tried to ask about it but she wouldn't say anything. She just changed her clothes and left again. " " Did you tell the police any of this?" " No, I should have but I didn't. I don't believe Sister Gabriel had anything to do with that poor mans' death. She couldn't have." " I hope you are right, Sister. I . . thank you for talking to me. If she comes back- please - don't mention I was here. Can you do that, Sister?" " Yes. I don't understand what is going on though - maybe if you could explain it to me. . ." "Believe me, Sister, you don't want to know. Good -bye, Sister." Duncan left the apartment and went back out onto the street. She had come in with blood on her hands right after the time the police thought Joe's murder had occurred. Damn. Damn it. Damn her. Duncan got in his car and drove toward St. Thomas'. When he pulled up near St. Thomas', he could see her standing on the church steps, talking to Father Matthew. Safe on Holy Ground. She turned as she felt Duncan arrive and then turned back to the priest. Duncan walked steadily toward her. Father Matthew started to come down the steps toward Duncan but she blocked his way and seemed to sent him back into the church. Duncan was still too far away to hear what was said but it appeared that she was sending Father Matthew away. As the door closed behind the priest, Isabel turned to face Duncan. She was out of uniform this morning - wearing jeans, a green sweater and a heavy dark brown trenchcoat. She stayed at the top of the stairs as Duncan arrived at the bottom. "Come down here." Duncan ordered. " Duncan. Listen to me. I didn't kill that man. I didn't have any reason to kill him." " Come down off Holy Ground, *Sister* Gabriel. Or do you only kill unarmed men and out-of-shape Immortals?' Her face hardened at the insult and she drew her sword and slowly started down the stairs. Duncan pulled his sword and backed up to give her room. " I didn't kill any of them. Why would I kill them? And that man last night - he wasn't even an Immortal. Why would I kill a mortal?" " Because he was Watching you." "Watching me? What do you mean - 'he was watching me'?" Isabel sounded confused. " Because he was a Watcher, maybe he saw you kill Grey Buffalo?" " Watcher? What the hell does that mean?" Duncan paused. " A Watcher. Secret society of mortals that knows about us and watches us. Come on - you had to know about them." " I have no idea what you are talking about. Secret society? Duncan- I don't know anything about that." They had kept walking as they talked - Isabel advancing, Duncan backing up - until they were now in the small public park on the east side of the church . Definitely not on Holy Ground now. "It doesn't matter if you knew what he was. He was killed outside your apartment. Allan and Grey Buffalo were killed near there too. You came in last night with blood on your hands. You killed him." Duncan paused. " Joe Dawson was my friend." Duncan lunged at her with the katana. She blocked his attack easily, trapping his blade and reaching forward with her other hand to grab his wrist. She had strong hands, Duncan noticed. She held him there a second and then let go. She stepped back without a counter attack. Duncan brought his blade back up but didn't attack immediately. "MacLeod. Listen to me. I did have blood on my hands last night. I was out looking for whomever killed Allan and Grey Buffalo. I came home. I saw that car parked by the Center. I saw the blood on the inside of the windscreen. I opened the car door to see who it was. There wasn't anything I could do for him - he was dead. I'd never seen him before. I got blood on my hands when I touched the body. Then I closed the door and went upstairs. I *didn't* kill him. Think! Would I be so stupid as to kill a mortal outside my apartment and just leave him there? " Duncan did stop to think about it. He didn't want to believe she had killed Joe and the others. She had come off Holy Ground to face him - if she had been guilty , she would have stayed where she was safe, wouldn't she? And it didn't make sense that she would have left all those bodies so close to her apartment. Duncan shook his head as if trying to clear it. He could fight her. He might even be able to beat her. But he didn't *want* to kill her. She had become a good friend in the past few months - he didn't want to kill another friend. Not if he wasn't *sure*. He almost smiled to himself. He knew what Methos would say - that he just wouldn't kill a woman unless forced into it. Duncan looked back at Isabel. She had been standing patiently, waiting for him to decide whether to fight or not. Duncan realized that he had been open to attack while his mind wandered and she had just stood there calmly. " Isabel. I want to believe you. But. . if you didn't kill them, who did?" " I don't know." She was able to look him in the eyes as she said that - but Duncan knew there was *something* she wasn't saying. " You don't know?" "If I knew who was doing the killing and where to find him- I would kill him myself. Believe me, Duncan. I'm not a threat to you or your friends. I want the killing to stop too." Duncan suddenly felt very tired and heartsick. He had been running on adrenaline and rage since getting Methos' phone call two hours ago. Now that he couldn't gain immediate revenge by killing Isabel, he was hit with all the sadness and pain that he had been ignoring. He dropped his sword point and seemed to sag slightly. Isabel stepped forward and started to put her arms around him. He stiffened at that and she stepped back. " It's OK. I understand. I am sorry about your friend. We'll find who did this. They'll pay for it." " But that won't bring Joe back, will it?" " No. Nothing brings them back, But revenge does make the pain easier to bear. You'll get your revenge." Duncan half smiled. "I thought vengeance was the Lord's prerogative." " Well, remember, He works in mysterious ways. Go home Duncan. Get some rest." " I might." Duncan started to walk away but turned back. " If I find out you lied to me, that you had *anything* to do with this - I'll kill you. Holy Ground or not- I'll kill you." " I wouldn't expect anything less." Duncan walked back to his car. He wasn't convinced she was telling the truth but he wasn't prepared to kill her either. Maybe he did need some sleep. Isabel watched him walk back to his car and then drive off. She felt badly for him. It was hard to lose a friend. Lord knows she had lost enough of them in the past 2000 years to know. She did feel bad about lying to him but it was for his own good. She would find Etienne and deal with him herself. ======== End Part 8