Glory Days by Star24
Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are property and copyright Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original story is copyright 2003 Star24.
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Chapter Eight
Fogle Towers Rooftop, thirty minutes later
Max crouched on the rooftop next to the skylight to Logan's apartment. She had a small device in her hand that looked like a miniature satellite dish. A wire from it led into an earpiece. She set the device down for a moment as she slowly lifted the skylight. When there was an inch of space showing on one side she slipped a piece of metal into it to hold it open. The she picked up the 'ear' and placed it next to the space. That done she sat back and waited.
Fogle Towers, Logan's apartment
Logan looked up as Gavin walked into the room.
"Was that Max's voice I heard a while ago?"
"It was my answering machine."
"What are you going to tell her?"
"Tell her about what?"
"About why you can't see her anymore."
"Why would I tell her that?" Logan looked sharply at Gavin.
"Get real, Logan. You're incapable of a real relationship with a woman; you and I both know that. Look at your marriage. You failed at that, just like you failed my sister. Max is better off without you in her life. She seems like a nice kid. Why would you want to destroy her the way you destroyed Carly?"
"I didn't intentionally try to hurt Carly."
"But you did. She killed herself when you walked away from her. You have to live with that for the rest of your like. Just like I do." He paused to let his words sink in. "By the way, I though you might want this." He reached out and placed a photograph in Logan's hand. "In case you've forgotten, it was taken just before you walked away and left her.
Logan looked down at the photograph. In the picture he was standing with his arm around a beautiful dark haired girl. He was smiling down at her and she was looking up at him. Anyone looking at it would have recognized it as a picture of two young people who were in love with each other.
"You need to tell Max, Logan. Tell her tomorrow night, after the Reunion. The longer you wait the worse it'll be for her…and you. It's the right thing to do. I know you'll see that once you've had a chance to think about it." Gavin's words cut like whips as Logan stared down at the picture.
Fogle Towers Rooftop
Max pulled the listening device away from the skylight. She held the skylight open with one hand as she pulled out the piece of metal that had held it open. Then she gently lowered it to a closed position. She sat back with a grim expression on her face.
Max's Crib That Evening
Original Cindy looked up from polishing her nails. Max was sitting across from her. She was perched on a chair back with her feet resting on the chair seat.
"Why aren't you over at Logan's tonight?" She wanted to know. "Ain't like you not to see him two nights in a row."
"He said he was busy."
"Max, what's going on? Original Cindy smells something that makes the fish market seem like sweet perfume."
"Something's wrong with Logan. I asked him, but he's not talking to me."
"You sure you not just jealous over your man spending some time with the boys?"
"No, there's something wrong about Gavin."
"He seemed nice enough." Cindy observed. "Why would you think that?"
Max looked at her. "Logan used to date his sister. She's dead. Gavin blames Logan for it."
"Whoa, hold up. How did you find all of that out if Logan isn't spillin'?"
"I went over there today and I kind of eavesdropped on them. OC there's something really wrong going down and I need to figure it out."
"Logan's a big boy. If he just found out about the sister, and if what you say is true about them being lickety boos once, maybe he just needs some time to get his head around it."
"No, there's more to it. I need Logan's computers. I need to do some hacking."
Original Cindy looked at her thoughtfully. "Maybe Original Cindy can help out there."
"How? You don't own a computer any more than I do."
"No, but would the password to the one at Jam Pony help?"
"OC you didn't."
"Long time ago. Just in case."
Max smiled for the first time that night. "Did I ever tell you that I love you, boo?"
"Just gettin' a sistah's back is all. You want that password?"
"I'm all over it." Original Cindy rose and went into her room. She came back and handed Max a slip of paper.
Max read it and burst out laughing. "Wouldn't you just know it? GHWBUSH1. Thanks OC. I'm outa here."
Jam Pony
Max let herself carefully into Jam Pony. The messenger service was dark and still, displaying none of the color and bustle that were its hallmarks during the day. She glided silently past the counter and opened the door to Normal's small office. His computer monitor sat there on the desk, papers and ledgers scattered around it.
Max slid into the chair and reached down to the CPU and pressed the power switch. The computer beeped and hummed softly as it came to life. She sat waiting impatiently as it ran through its various system checks, but finally the sign on screen came on. Normal's user name was already displayed and she quickly typed the password Cindy had supplied into the password field. Then she waited, hoping that Normal hadn't seen fit to change it. She was in luck. The screen blanked and then the main screen came up.
"Yes" Max said softly. She began to click on various files until she finally found what she wanted. "Damn. What is that search engine Logan always uses?" She sat deep in thought and finally typed in some words. A smile spread across her face as the screen she wanted opened in front of her.
USERNAME:
EyesonSeattle
PASSWORD:
1bxhemyo45dlr2
She was in. For the next hours Max concentrated on her search, pausing occasionally to print out documents. Finally she was done. Her last three inquiries had led to dead ends but she had what she needed. She cleared out the computer's caches so as not to leave any records of the Eyes password or username and shut down the computer. After she made sure that the office was in the same state of disorder it had been in when she arrived, she left Jam Pony as silently as she had entered it. The sun was coming up when she got outdoors and she was surprised at how much time had passed. She jumped onto her Ninja and sped away. Moments after she left, Normal rounded the corner. He pulled out a key from his pocket and let himself into Jam Pony.
Fogle Towers, that afternoon
Gavin hadn't made any more references to their conversation of the night before, but Logan had been conscious of Gavin watching him intently throughout the day. He had ignored him for the most part by keeping busy doing some routine and overdue maintenance on his systems.
Finally it was time to dress for the Reunion. Logan looked at the tuxedo he had laid out on his bed. The last time he had worn it had been to his cousin's wedding. He smiled to himself as he though of how beautiful Max had looked in the red dress she had borrowed for it.
"Logan?" Gavin's voice came from his doorway. Gavin stood there dressed in his tuxedo. "I'm leaving for the Reunion. I'll meet you there. I'll be leaving after that." Logan noticed that Gavin carried his overnight bag."
"Fine. I'll see you there." Logan said to him curtly.
Gavin left the room and Logan heard the door to the apartment close. He sighed as the memories Gavin had stirred up over the last few days, rushed back to him. Images of Carly laughing and teasing him flashed through his head, intercut with images of her tear-stained face as he walked away from her that last time. A picture of her lying cold and white in a coffin, all of the vitality drained out of her, replaced them.
"You're incapable of a real relationship with a woman… Max is better off without you…" Gavin's words repeated themselves to him.
"The biggest threat to her safety is you…And one day it's going to get her killed." Zack's voice suddenly rang in his head, resonating with Gavin's words and the reality of Carly's death.
Logan clenched his fist and then cursed as he felt the metal of the shirt studs he had forgotten he was holding cut into his palm. He opened his hand and watched the studs fall to the floor scattering across the room. A small spot of blood appeared in the middle of his hand where a stud point had caught him.
Max's Crib
"What do you think, OC?" Max stood in front of Original Cindy nervously waiting for her approval.
Original Cindy frowned as she slowly walked around Max examining her closely. Finally she stood in front of her.
"It's not right. I knew it." Max said glumly. She glanced down at herself. Her dress was a soft wisp of chocolate colored silk that made her skin glow golden. It was strapless and fell, softly clinging to her, to end in a slightly gathered hem high above her knees. Strappy matching sandals further emphasized her long shapely legs. Her hair fell in a soft cloud around her face and onto her shoulders. She looked sexy and sophisticated at the same time.
Original Cindy broke out into a wide smile. "Boo, you so hot Logan's gonna melt into a puddle before your eyes. If he don't make a move on you tonight, the man has some kind of serious problem."
Max smiled. "You think?"
"I know."
Max's cell phone trilled and she pulled it out and opened it. "Hey. Yeah I'll be right down."
Original Cindy handed Max a matching evening bag and carefully hugged her. "Not only does that dress look good enough to eat, it feels sexy as hell, boo. You make sure you get the boy to dance a nice slow dance with you. You hear?"
"Yes, mother." Max teased as she headed out the door.
"I'm not gonna wait up for you." Original Cindy couldn't resist calling after her.
End of Chapter Eight