Chapter Twenty-Five - The Task at Hand
"How are you going to get the hard drive out of the office in the middle of this party, without being noticed." Zack asked doubtfully, glancing around the room crowded with people.
"Out the window, how I went in the last time, I'll go out this time. By the time people notice I am gone, the hard drive and I will be long gone." Max replied easily, leaning back in her chair, pleased. It had taken her a week and a half of constant working to hatch a feasible plan to nail Delaney. And she knew if Zack was pointing out weak excuses like 'can you get out fast enough' that she had hit a winner. She panned the room, studying the people in the room as they studied her plans. Zane was the first to speak up. "Personally, I think this is a very well thought out plan, and the fact that you have arranged sufficient back-up, which is usually your weakest point, demonstrates that you have thought of everything."
Max smiled softly. "Let's just say I have been convinced to use extra back-up this time." She said, glancing at Logan, who stood in the doorway. He didn't smile back. Ever since Max's plan to kill Delaney had been revealed, Logan had not spoken a word, and had stood, staring directly at Max, disapproval shooting out of his eyes. Logan turned and walked from the room, not wanting to hear another word.
Slowly, one by one, each person in the room murmured their agreement. Zane, Krit, Jondie, and the rest of the X-5's, with the exception of Zack, gathered up their folders and files, leaving the apartment, agreeing to meet back the next day to finalize plans. All that remained were Zack, Logan, Max and Julia, Max's informant inside the Delaney enterprise. After speaking for a few more minutes with Julia, she left, leaving Max to sit alone in the room with Zack.
"What are you still doing here?" Max asked playfully as she straightened her own piles of papers.
"Well I had some news, and I wanted you to be the first to know."
Max stopped stacking the manilla folders she had been collecting from around the table. She looked up to study Zack's face, which didn't give up much as he was the master at disguising his emotions.
"Paige's pregnant." He said soberly.
Max stood still, trying not to express any emotion herself. "How do you feel about it?" She asked softly.
Then a huge, absolutely ridiculous grin spread across his face. "Other than the complete shock, the fact that *I* am going to be a father, it's pretty cool." He said lamely.
"Ohhh!!" Max squealed, running over to give Zack a hug. "This is so cool! I am going to be an aunt to more lil' monsters! How'd Paige take it?"
"She's pissed that she has to stop teaching her various martial arts classes, but then she started crying, which scared the hell out of me, and then she yelled at me, and then she seemed happy. I don't know, she's always been confusing, as are the rest of you females, but this is bound to make it worse." He said laughing.
After a few more minutes of conversation, Zack grabbed Max's hand. "I know you have been working non-stop on this, and even you need to relax. Go relax, unwind. This is going to be a hard case, even with your good plan."
Max just shrugged her shoulders. "I'm fine." She said, even as she sat back down to her computer.
Zack rolled his eyes and exited the room. He changed his mind as he approached the front door, and turned on his heel to walk to the kitchen, where he found Logan pouring himself a glass of water. "Logan, do me a favor."
Logan glanced up, surprised that Zack was voluntarily talking to him, then realizing that he wanted something from him, accepted it. "Ok." He said.
"I know you're against Max doing this, and I can understand why. But she is more likely to complete the objective successfully and safely if she has little else to worry about. You f***ing about with her head isn't going to help her stay safe at all."
Logan stared forward, silent a moment, seeing the truth in his words. "She's stressed out right now." Zack continued. "You might want to pull her away from her computer." With that, Zack turned and strode from the room. 'Mission Accomplished' He thought as he walked out the door. He may not like Logan all that much, but if he willing to take a swing at him, well, then he must be alright.