Chapter 12

"Ready to deal?"

"Name your terms." Max said, she told herself think fast and the only thing she could do was play along. She felt Logan looking at her with disapproving eyes, he had to have known her plan to string White along for more time but still he didn't agree. She softly shook her head; Logan's feeling had to wait until later.

"I underestimated you 452 I expected more of a fight."

"Let's just get this over with. I'll give you want you want but first I want something, a sign of good faith you aren't going to screw me over." Max sat in the empty chair that had been close by and began to hope it would all work out for the best, that she could help Alec without hurting anyone.

"I am a man of my word but fine, what do you want?"

"I want to talk to Alec, I need to know he's alive and fine or we call this whole thing off." Max knew she was playing with fire pushing White when it was clear he was the one in control but she still took the chance. She wouldn't be herself if she didn't.

White laughed on the other end. "If I didn't know better I'd stay you were desperate. I'm feeling nice tonight, I'll let you talk to him then you give up Ray's whereabouts."

Max felt her heart start to race, she had to tell him something and there wasn't much time. The line grew silent but she covered the phone anyway and looked at Logan. "I have to tell him something on Ray. Create a good sounding fake address to throw him off to buy us some time." She explained. She didn't know what came next but she knew she had to find Alec herself, a trade with White wasn't going to happen.

"Whatever he wants don't do it." Alec's voice came over the phone.

Max smiled softly. "Hi to you too. Don't worry about it, I've got it covered. How are you?" the surge of emotions flooding her body from just finally knowing he was ok scared her, it was so strong.

"Just fine, my buddy Ames here has me held up in a nice four star room of crap. But at least I'm alive. He had a doc do the surgery and I'm a hundred percent now. I should be grateful but then hell would freeze over."

"Always making jokes. Is he around? Listening?"

"Yeah and no"

"Damn it. Listen I'm going to find you but I need something to go on. I'm gonna feed White a load of BS to buy us some time but it won't be much. I need your help."

"Ever sine that night you've been saving my ass. I'm sorry you have to clean up my mess again."

"What? You were sick; you couldn't have done anything this isn't your fault. Let's save that for later, give me some sort of clue." Max rushed to say.

"Max you're not listening I really am sorry. You're always saving my ass, I mean hell I tried to kill you that night and you still helped me."

"Alec---"

"Enough with the mushy chit chat 452." White came back on the line. "Where's my son?"

Max looked to Logan and he handed her a piece of paper. Canada? Why was it always Canada? "London. A private school where he's happy living a normal life with kids his age." It sounded convincing in her ears. Her tone had regret and anger over the fact Ray's life would change now that she gave up his whereabouts, or so it seemed.

"An address 452."

"Not yet, you gotta give to get. When will you let him go?" Max asked and racked her brain trying to figure out what Alec was trying to tell her. There was something there his tone had let on, she had to figure it out.

"When I know for sure you aren't screwing me over."

Hell might freeze just yet. Max rambled off an address Logan created last minute after following her new plan. It would be hours before White could verify it by going himself or sending another agent. That was all the time she had to find Alec or game over.

"Max this is dangerous." Logan pointed out. It was a poor excuse for a plan, there was no layout and it was simply reckless. Her life was on the line as well but she didn't seem to care, it worsened Logan's mood to know she was willing to go so far.

"It'll work." Max sternly said and silently adding; it has too. She raked back her long brown hair with a sigh as she replayed Alec's last words. It kept referring to that night. It seemed like so long ago, they had both gone through so much apart and together. They were no longer the same people.

As bitter as the memory was she began to think of it, every detail hoping something would stand out.

"Max?" Logan tried again trying to get her attention. "I don't think you're thinking straight. This could end very badly."

"Do you have a better plan?" Max finally looked at him and waited but he remained silent. "Exactly. We don't have enough time and so far this is the best way to go. I just have to find where he is." Her voice grew soft toward the end. So much was riding on her shoulders, she had to figure it out or she'd fail and another life would be lost. Not again, she silently vowed.

"Did he give you anything to go on?" Logan asked. He knew there was no talking her out of any of it so the best thing he could do was help and hope she'd make it back to him.

"Yeah I think." Max rose from the sofa. "I'll be back, there's somewhere I have to check out." She explained as she headed for the door. She didn't know what she was looking for but she knew it was worth checking out.

"Be careful."

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Isabelle A.