Reaching for the Moon by ThePekingNoodle

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Chapter Twenty-Eight: Oops!!

In which truths come out…

"Looks like the boss was right. Dunno how he did it but this clown managed to get himself out of the car before the train hit last night." The taller goon said to his companion.

"So now what do we do?" asked the second goon.

"We make it look like someone broke in here to rob the place and our friend accidentally got himself shot in the process."

Logan was thinking frantically as the two goons with guns discussed his fate. "Um, gentleman. Maybe we can make a deal here," he finally suggested.

The two looked at him. "What kind of a deal?"

"The kind where you don't shoot me and in return I give you a lot of money?" Logan offered.

"The boss gives us lots of money and steady employment." The first goon replied.

"Yeah, you're not offering us more than a one shot deal," chimed in the second.

"How about one way tickets to anywhere you'd like to relocate to, along with identity papers and startup money?"

"Nah. We like Seattle."

"Yeah my mom's here and I gotta take care of her."

"Enough wasting time. Tie him up and let's trash the place. Don't want to risk anyone coming cuz of a gunshot before we set it up." The first directed his companion who proceeded to bind Logan securely to his desk chair.

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Max had enjoyed CRASH and her new friends but she was ready to head out. She looked around for Kendra but couldn't spot her.

"If you're looking for your girlfriend she headed out with a hot boy about twenty minutes ago." Original Cindy told Max correctly guessing her thoughts.

"Yeah, while you were beating my butt in pool," muttered Sketchy.

"I told her I'd wait for her." Max said.

"Sugah, take it from an expert. That girl ain't comin' back here tonight. Only thing she's thinkin' about has to do with the boy she headed out of here with."

Max sighed, "I gotta head home. If she gets back, tell her to call me if she needs me to come back for her." She tossed some money on the table. "This should pay for my share
of the beer." Then she turned and headed out of CRASH to where she had left her bike parked in an alley.

The bike was right where she had left it and she made her way back to Fogle Towers in no time. If Logan asked she'd just tell him she'd dropped Kendra home first. Of course, one of these days he was going to wonder about how she was getting around since the car was totaled, but she'd deal with that when she had to.

The elevator ride to the penthouse was quick. When the doors opened and she started to climb out, she noticed that the apartment door was ajar.

"Did you just hear the elevator?" a rough voice said.

"I'll go check." Answered another voice. Neither one belonged to Logan.

Max quickly pressed the Door Close button and pushed the up button for the next level.
When the elevator opened, she slipped out of it and headed for the emergency stairs.
She ran lightly down the stairs to Logan's level and cautiously cracked open the door.
No one was in sight, so she slipped out into the hallway and made her way along the wall to the door of the apartment, which was now closed. That didn't deter Max who had it open in seconds. She peeked around it and seeing no one, she eased inside and closed it soundlessly.

Inside the apartment there were sounds of drawers and closet doors being opened, and what sounded like the drawer contents being dumped on floors. She heard the two voices from earlier, but nothing from Logan. She slipped along the wall until she came to the computer room. It was empty except for Logan who was bound and gagged and tied to his desk chair. His eyes met Max's and he shook his head in the direction of the door telling her to get out.

Max shook her head and quickly headed over to release him. As soon as he was free Logan opened a drawer and pulled out a gun. "Get out of here," he hissed to her.
Max shook her head no. Logan started to argue but just then there were footsteps and the sound of a gun being cocked.

"Well, well, well. Lookee here." The shorter goon stood pointing his gun at Max.
"Looks like the little wifey got home. Boss was right she's a looker, "he leered. "Drop your piece or I shoot her."

"Let her go, she has nothing to do with this." Logan demanded.

"Drop the gun," said the second goon coming up beside the first one. Faced with two guns pointing at Max, Logan had no choice but to comply.

"Get over here." The goon motioned to Max.

"Max, don't" Logan said.

"I'll shoot him right now if you don't," said the goon, and Max shrugged and began to walk over to him.

"What we gonna do with her?" asked the second one.

"Boss didn't say. No reason we can't have some fun before we bring her home to him."
Max had come within arms length by then and he reached out to grab her. "Come here baby. We're gonna go party for a while. You take care of him." The last was to his henchman.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Max asked sweetly.

"You think lover boy over there is gonna stop us?"

"No. I am." She replied.

At that both goons burst into laughter. At the same time Max whirled into action. Moving so fast that she was a blur, she disarmed them both with quick hard chops to their gun hands. Then she spun and kicked the first one square in the face breaking his nose. Blood poured out, and as he held his hand to his face she turned to the second one. A punch to the stomach doubled him over, and then she gripped his neck and squeezed to cut off his air supply. He dropped to the floor unconscious. She turned back to the first and rendered him unconscious as well. When she finished with them she turned nervously to Logan.

Logan was standing there staring at her. He knew that there was no way that had been a demonstration of normal martial arts. Max had moved like nothing he had ever seen before in his life.

"Who are you?" he asked.

Max looked at him. "I'm Max."

Logan just continued to stare and her face hardened.

"You meant what are you, didn't you?" she asked bitterly. "Don't worry I'll get out of your life now. Tie them up and call the police."

She turned and started to leave the room. Logan quickly strode over to her and grabbed her arm spinning her to face him. "Max, you caught me by surprise is all. I've never seen anyone move like that. I didn't know it was possible to move like that."

"It isn't." She said shortly.

"Max, we need to talk."

She yanked her arm free and was about to leave, when Logan's computer suddenly beeped. The video had completed compiling and a preview was automatically opening up on the screen.

Max watched, fascinated, as Logan's eyes framed by a moving red, white and blue banner suddenly filled the screen.

"This is a Streaming Freedom Video Bulletin…" Eyes Only's familiar introduction began to play. Logan walked over and punched some keys and the video stopped and then closed. He turned to face Max whose expression had changed from stony to almost amused.

"Logan we need to talk." She tossed at him.

End of Chapter Twenty-Eight…TBC…