Max stood in the kitchen.
Breathe, she thought. Don't forget to breathe. Good. Now think.
She heard Logan moving around in the other room.
Think. Think.
She slid towards the front door and slipped through. The hall was empty. Eva was gone. She slumped against the wall, drawing in deep, even breaths.
Logan lied. The thought hit her like a truck. He lied. He lied to me. How long has he known? Why? Why didn't he tell me?
She gathered her nerves, then knocked on Logan's door.
"It's open," came his voice from within.
She walked in. Logan was still in front of his computers.
"Hey."
Act natural, she thought. Just be natural.
"Hey."
She reached into her bag and pulled out the book. She dropped it onto the computer desk.
"Thanks. It was good."
"Really? You like it."
"Eh, it gave me something to do instead of running amok and wreaking havoc on the fat cats of Seattle."
He gave her a look.
"Really. Good theme. War fought by children…ironic. Or would that be coincidental?" she asked.
"You dazzle me with your literary intellect. You want to borrow another one?" he smiled. Max looked away.
Logan studied her face. She looked tired. She wouldn't make eye contact with him. Something was wrong.
"You look tired."
"Nah…" she trailed off.
A thought fleeted across Logan's mind. What if…?
"Come on, Max."
Max passed several thoughts back and forth through her head. She could keep this a secret. He would never know. She could ask. But did she really want to know the answer? She could confront him, but what would he say? She had to say something.
"Max?" Logan looked at her. "Are you all right?"
"Eva."
Logan sucked in his breath.
"What? What's eva?"
"Not what, who. Cut the shit. You know exactly what I'm talking about." She looked directly at him. There was something in her eyes. It wasn't quite anger, but it wasn't quite sorrow.
"Okay, so…"
She cut him off harshly. "How long? How long, Logan? How long have you known?" Her voice bit off each word.
"I don't know. Maybe.."
"Huh? HOW LONG?"
"About two years."
Max stopped short. Logan couldn't read her face. The silence was unbalanced. It felt like it would come crashing in on them.
"Two years. That means…that means…"
"Yeah. I found you because of her…Max? Max? You're shaking. Max?"
Max was pale. Her body quivered. She reached into her bag, instinctively searching for her Tryptophan bottle.
"Max…slow down. You…You just need to... Sit."
Max sat.
Logan went into the kitchen. He returned with a glass of water.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell HER? For hell's sake, why didn't you tell either one of us? Quid pro quo, Logan. QUID PRO QUO. You promised me you'd tell me what you knew. You promised. Has this all been a lie? Have you been lying? Huh?"
"Max, no. Stop."
Max took the water and swallowed a few Tryptophan capsules, even though Logan was right, it hadn't been a seizure. But just to be safe. She set the water on the computer desk.
"Why didn't you trust me? You're like Zack. Logan, why didn't you trust me?"
"Max, it's not you I don't trust. It's Eva. There's something you need to know."
"I need to see her. I need to see Eva."
"You can't."
"Oh? Why the hell not? I've waited my whole life for something like this to happen."
"No. No."
"WHY? WHY NOT? WHY? WHY DO YOU DANGLE IN FRONT OF ME THE ONE THING I WANT IN MY LIFE, THEN PULL IT AWAY? WHY? HUH?" Max was screaming now.
Logan grabbed Max's hands and looked directly into her eyes.
"Max….Max….Eva works for Lydecker. That's why she's looking for you."
