Return

Автор: Anastasia

"No," his answer was short. "I just think it’s time for you to return to Earth and stop playing games with your imagination." A harsh answer was on the bit of my tongue but then I saw Praeger, who observed our talk with an interest and I could see a grin on his face. "I guess we’ve got to discuss more important matters," I said, throwing my glance at the watch. "Lindsay," Praeger looked at me in a quizzical way, " do you know Elsinger well?" I merely stared at him for a while, wondering why on Earth he could ask me something like this. I didn’t mention Anton entering the room and that both he and Peter stopped frozen to listen to my answer.

"Well, after all he’s my boss and I think I have to know him," I shrugged. "But if you mean friendship or something like this then you’re wrong." "Then what were you doing in his apartment tonight?" continued Mat. "Where?" I could hardly believe my ears.

"In his apartment. Oh, come on, Lindsay, I’m just curious."

"Lindsay, what does it mean?" Peter intently watched me and I knew what he was thinking.

"I don’t know," I replied being honest. Nothing on Earth could make me visit Elsinger at such an hour. But it was only the first blow.

Praeger continued: "And how do you explain calling me last night and asking me to come over and to take you from Elsinger. I didn’t think you’d ever do such a thing." My jaw dropped. I never thought I was crazy but how could I do all these things without even knowing it?

"I am at a loss," I stammered, "I can’t remember doing something like this." Peter and Anton exchanged glances and I knew what they meant: firstly I was insane; secondly I was a traitor, dealing with Elsinger.

"I’m really sorry to say that but you’re suspended from the work," Praeger’s eyes were cold. I was numb; I just stood staring at Matt. He avoided my glance, just like the other members did. "Well," I didn’t recognize my own voice, "then I go, I suppose. See you guys." I collected my bag and left the room. It was a nightmare, it had to be one. Acting on an impulse I went to Elsinger’s HQ. Knocking at the door I heard "come in" and entered the office. Frank was sitting at his table, writing something. I guess I caught him unawares cause he told me without raising his head: "Rollins, you can sit down." I quietly lowered to the next standing chair. "How’s the case going on? Found something new about that Russian plant?"

My heart dropped. Curtis was investigating our case, Connor’s case! I had to warn him! As silence progressed, Elsinger finally looked up from his papers and grew pale: "Lindsay, what on Earth are you doing here?" I was genuinely pleased to him for an instant without the usual disguise he was wearing.

"And what do you expect me to do? To quit O.S.I.R.? Why do you ruin my relationship with the team?"

"You’re clever enough to find out for yourself," there was a mocking smile on Elsinger’s lips.

At that moment Curtis entered the room. Our eyes met. I liked this quiet serious man with shining black eyes. To me he seemed all – knowing, almost omniscient but perhaps I was wrong again.

"Lindsay, how are you doing?" he eyed me with surprise but there was warmth in his glance.

"I do all right but you should be cautious," I stood up, "I think that Connor’s death was pretty enough for the O.S.I.R.," I was sure that both Curtis and Elsinger saw a hint in my words but none of them showed it. "Good bye, gentlemen," I went out and closed the door. Escaping into the bright day I paused, not sure what to do next. Ten my cellular phone rang. I took it out and immediately recognized Connor’s voice: "Lindsay, we’ll meet at the airport in two hours." I felt ill at ease. My mind was sending mild alarm signals: I was sure I had already heard Connor saying this. But then my heart took over me. How could I ignore Connor’s call? Airport sounded strange all right but it was a right place to meet for someone who didn’t want to show up. I headed y car and son was driving home, to collect some papers I had to show Connor.

In two hours I was standing at the entrance of the airport but there was still no trace of Connor. And then everything happened too quickly: I saw a car with darkened windows and instinctively bent down. It was just the right time to do so – a bullet hit the glass doors behind me. In the same moment I rushed into the building, my heart beating wild against the rib – cage. Flashing a look back I saw two agents dressed in black running after me. "Damned fool," I cursed knowing very well who was after me. It was a trap; it has been a trap from the beginning. The whole Connor – Doyle – resurrection story was a lie used just to get rid of me. How could I be that foolish? I should never trusted Elsinger, Connor’s example standing in front of my eyes. And it was I warning Curtis! Well that was the price to pay for being a dummy.

As I continued running, I looked around me: there was no way out of the hall. The agents stopped and took out the gun. Moving like a lightning, I rushed over to the long queue of people, boarding the plane. I slid in and saw a stewardess smiling at me: "Your ticket, Ma’am." I blushed: there was really no escape. I looked back and saw my pursuers talking furiously to the guard. It was over now. The guard was walking towards me. In that moment a man standing next to me handed the stewardess two tickets: "Voila." And pointing at me added: "Ma petite femme." I forced a smile: "Oui, vous йtйs trиs gentille." My French has never been especially good but obviously that of the stewardess even worse because she smiled and let us enter the plane. I threw a look over my shoulder and there they were, my pursuers, really at a loss, not knowing what to do. I almost fainted from relief. As we sat down, I looked more closely at my savior. He had a faintly familiar face and it wasn’t for some minutes later that I realized that he looked like Connor in many ways. The same raven curly hair, blue eyes looking a great deal like Connor’s. But he wasn’t Doyle and this time I was sure. He noticed my attentive look and smiled. I said: "Thank you for saving my life." I tried my best to remember the French I used to learn at Oxford.

"Oh, it’s not common for me to have a chance to save a beautiful woman, it’s really nothing, but you’re lucky I’ve got another ticket. Gerard d’Abbeau," he stretched out his hand.

"Lindsay Donner," my hands were still shaking though I already started to calm down.

"What’s wrong? Have you committed a crime?" Gerard asked.

"Not that I knew," I sighed and pausing to choose the right French word I continued: "I’m working, well I’d rather say I’ve been working cause I’ve been certainly fired by now, for a scientific organization. I had a great boss, dear and caring as he was. So one day we went to investigate a case of very dangerous parasite species. It was the last case for my boss, he was contaminated and died. As I returned I found evidence that proved that there was a complot against him, that he knew he was going to die cause he was betrayed. And I didn’t know it; I had no idea how dangerous it was. Until now and that is why I’ve been chased," I realized my voice was shaking.

"Oh, I am sorry I shouldn’t have asked," Gerard sounded genuinely sympathetically.

"It’s ok, I just felt obliged to tell you the reason for my escape," already talking to Gerard, I began to feel sleepy. I was exhausted after a sleepless night and my wild chase. I guess Gerard understood cause before I even said something else, I was fast asleep.

The plane is landing, we get out. "Connor, everything all right?" I ask because Doyle seems to be upset to me: upset and absent – minded. We’re on the plant. "Lindsay, I’m giving you an order. Leave now!" I linger, looking into his face, into his dear blue – gray eyes. "Leave!" it sounds harsh but I know that Connor doesn’t want to let me go.

I’m outside the plant waiting for Peter and Connor to come out. Peter rushes out, running and the plant explodes behind his back. "Peter, where is he? Where’s Connor?"

"Lindsay," someone’s strong hands were shaking me, "Lindsay wake up!" It took a great effort to open my eyes. I saw Gerard’s worried face: "Are you all right?" There was also a stewardess towering over me. "It’s ok, thank you," my throat was dry and I could feel my cheeks were wet. I must have been crying. "Connor, please let me go!" I begged in my heart. But I know it wasn’t Connor who couldn’t let go, it was I.

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