Bling looked from Logan to Max and then to Cassi. "Um...ok...so who is she?"
Max straightened up and composed herself. "Her name is Cassi and I am babysitting her."
Both men did a double take. Bling looked visibly shaken. "Did you say Cassi?"
"Yes," Max said, "short for Cassandra."
His eyes closed for a minute and Bling looked at her, "Yes, I'm familiar with the name."
She was wondering what he meant by that when she heard Logan's voice, "Babysitting?"
"Yes, Mr. Whateveryoudoisnoneofmybusiness. I am babysitting. Do you have a problem with that?"
Logan was about to reply when Bling interrupted again. "How about I take Miss Cassi here to the kitchen for some juice while you two "talk"?"
Max looked at Logan, "Fine."
"Fine." He responded.
Bling looked at Cassi. "Well, I guess it's fine. Let's go get you some juice."
******************
After Bling and Cassi left the room, Logan turned to Max, "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"Forget about it."
"Really Max, I had no right..."
"You're right. You had no right. Forget about it."
"Cute kid. Who is she?"
Max began to relax for the first time since she had been there and began to tell him how she first met Cassi, her silence, and how she got roped into babysitting.
Logan was laughing to himself but Max still noticed. "What's so funny?"
"Well," he said, trying to compose himself (it wasn't working very well.) It just seems funny to me that a person who is trained to do undercover work, covert operations, and assassinations can't defend herself from a seven year old girl."
Max had to admit that it was rather funny. She went to her jacket and pulled Cassi's thank you note out of the pocket. "Look at this. I don't know what it is. There's just something about this girl that gets to me."
Logan raise an eyebrow, "Maternal instincts?"
"Hardly. What's the dealio with Bling? I thought he was going to burst into tears when I was talking about Cassi. Any clue?"
"None. Bling doesn't take too kindly to people nosing around about his personal life."
Max put on a charming smile. "Now Logan, would I pry into someone's life?"
"No, you just pick the lock and not everyone should be picked."
"True, but this is one that this cat can't refuse."
"Suit yourself but consider yourself warned..."
******************
When Max and Logan came into the kitchen, Cassi was sitting on a stool with Bling standing beside her. She was running her hand over his smooth head.
"Girlfriend thinkin' of a new style?" Max asked.
Bling looked up and smiled. "I'm not sure but she seems to be fascinated with it. Does she ever talk?"
"Once in a while. When she feels like it." Max took her hands and made the "cat whiskers" motion. On cue, she heard Cassi, "meow."
Bling and Logan were amazed for the second time...it was so amazing. The voice that came out of this girl.
Bling looked at Max, "how did she do that?"
"It's a long story." She looked at Logan. How about you and Cassi go get acquainted and I'll give Bling the lowdown."
Logan looked at Cassi. "How about it Cassi, want to go for a ride?"
Without any hesitation, she hopped off the stool, walked over to the chair, and climbed onto his lap. As the wheeled out of the room, she could see Cassi moving her hands in front of Logan's face. When he got near the couch, Logan stopped and was doing it right back to her. It was quite a picture.
She turned to Bling, "So, how is..."
Logan's voice interrupted her questioning. "Um....Max....I think you should come here."
Irritated that she wouldn't get to ask Bling her questions, she turned and went in the room. "What is it, I was about to ask..."
Logan put a hand up to stop her. "I think you should see this."
He looked at Cassi, cupped both of his hands and starting from the center, drew them out like a box around his eyes.
A small voice said, "see you."
Logan repeated it, "see you."
Max saw Cassi's lips moving and heard the sound but couldn't believe it. "Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a streaming freedom bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly 60 seconds. It cannot be stopped and it is the only free voice left in the city." It was Logan's voice but it was Eyes Only's message....
