Max was waiting. She was so tired of waiting. She couldn't start the meeting without Alec there. Unreliable Alec. How hard was it to walk across a building to a room on time? Not very. Alec finally strolled in as if he had no worries on his mind. For a brief moment, Max envied Alec's care-free attitude. He almost always seemed like he had no problems and he had that ever present smirk on his perfect face. Max knew he did have issues, but the way he was able to keep it from weighing him down angered her. She wished she could do that. Horrified at the fact she'd just admired Alec caused her to snark out at him instead. "Couldn't make it across the hall, Alec?"
"Well..."
"I don't want your excuses. I've heard every single one of them."
"I like to think I have a few original ones left."
His adorably knowing smirk appeared, only frustrating Max even more.
"Just sit, Alec."
"Yes, M'am."
He grabbed the nearest plastic chair and sat. Max nodded to Luke and Dix who immediately stood. Luke lifted up the small metal scrambler.
"I kept looking for the buyer, but I couldn't really track them. I did find the seller, though. Brennan Johntry. He only dabbles in the black market."
Dix took over, "Johntry has no previous record. Never been arrested, never been in the military or involved in the government up to this point, there would be no clue that he even exists. He's just your regular guy. But from what I can tell, he started selling things on the black market two months ago, after his wife died."
"So basically he was perfect until he found himself alone."
"Yeah. That's probably why he was so easy to track. He's inexperienced."
"So maybe we should pay Brennan Johntry a visit."
"That'd be your best bet in discovering who bought the scrambler."
"I want all of you to spread out and be ready to leave if I need you. Divide into two teams. Alec, you're coming with me. Meet me in the genetics lab in ten minutes, and do try to be on time."
Alec shrugged and left to find his motorcycle for their departure.
Alec revved the engine after they'd gotten far enough away from the protesting crowd. Max was driving slightly ahead of him, her entire body and bike blending into the shadows. He stood out, his lime green bike casing like a beacon in the velvety blackness. He considered painting it when they got back because the brightness bothered him. He chastised himself for thinking about it. He didn't have time to be worrying about such petty things like his motorcycle color. One thing he was rightfully worried about was Max. She had been incredibly quiet since they met at the lab and the more he thought about it, she wasn't quite the same during the meeting. Sure, she'd snipped at him, but her heart wasn't in it. He could tell. He thought it might be because of Lucy's presence in Terminal City. He resisted the urge to ask her about it, deciding he should wait until they returned to Terminal City. Silence enveloped him as Max turned off her Ninja in front of a small Victorian style house. He flicked his engine off, almost surprised they had arrived at their destination. Max removed her helmet and stretched. She always resembled a cat when did that, her feline DNA shining through. Alec slid off his bike and stood at Max's side. They sprang up the small steps, Max making a few hand signals. Alec slipped out of sight as Max knocked lightly on the door.
"Brennan Johntry?"
"Yes." The man was tall, shaggy blond hair falling in his bright green eyes. "Who are you?"
He stood behind a screen door, almost as if he thought the thin wire would protect him from the world. She could easily break through it and snap his neck if she so desired, but she restrained herself.
"I'm Blythe Carlson. I need to talk to you."
"I'm not interested."
"Mr. Johntry, please let me in. This is important. I knew your wife."
Brennan shook his head, and his face clouded over at the mention of his wife.
"I don't know you. I can't help you."
Max did a quick scan of the man. He still wore his wedding band and she wondered if he still loved his wife. He did appear to be in mourning. As he started to shut the door, Max's hand shot forward, breaking through the screen and she pushed him back. Alec made himself seen as Max forced Brennan down the hallway. Max jerked him against the wall.
"Okay. I lied. My name's Max and I'm a transgenic. You sold someone several scramblers to use on our cameras. I really didn't appreciate it. It screwed my entire day over."
"Why don't you share with my friend and I who you sold the scramblers to?" Brennan shook his head and he almost looked like he was going to burst into tears any minute.
"I-I-I don't now what you're talking about."
"Yeah, you do. See, your heart rate spikes everytime you lie and you lied to me. I hate it when people lie to me."
Brennan clamped his mouth shut and she could almost see the lies circling his brain. She slammed his head up against the wall again with a loud crash.
"Stop lying!"
Alec was almost surprised at the violence Max was showing. She usually reserved violence for him strictly. He turned his attention back on Brennan, who slowly seemed to be breaking down. He was clutching his head as pain shot through his skull. Max moved her arm back and waited for him to speak.
"My wife died from cancer and I have these bills."
"I'm supposed to insert sympathy here, but guess what? I don't have any. I've lost people to, my brothers and my sisters. I don't feel sorry for you."
Brennan slid down the wall.
"I needed the money to pay the bills, so I put some tech up. I work with computers."
"So you made the scramblers?"
"I found the directions on the Internet and I made them. Then I sold them."
"To who?"
"It's not like they use their real names. Don't tell me you don't buy stuff off the black market, Miss Self-Righteous Transgenic."
"Who'd you sell it to?"
"Some girl. Name's Rissa Alein. It's fake, but that's all I can tell you. I don't know anything else."
His heart rate was steady again. Max figured he was telling the truth. She stood away from him, turning to Alec.
"You think that's enough to go on?"
"How about a description?"
"She was black haired, brown eyed. Average looking. Nothing special at all. She looked normal."
Alec nodded and grinned charmingly.
"Thank you for your time."
Max looked indecisive. Alec reached out and pulled her with him. Max seemed to snap out of her zone and started her Ninja. The two zoomed away towards Terminal City.
They parked their bikes inside the labratory. Max stayed straddled on it for a few minutes. She rarely had a chance to just ride around on her bike anymore. She felt so cooped up now. She was used to being on the run, being outside in the pollution and the freedom. She missed it. She missed a lot of things. Original Cindy, Sketchy, Jam Pony, heck, she missed Normal. Alec touched her shoulder and she jumped. "Alec!"
"What's going on, Maxie?"
"Nothing."
"You're heart rate spikes when you lie."
She hated it when Alec flung her words back at her. Alec was staring at her intensely as he waited for a real answer. He seemed to be searching her for some clue as to what she was feeling. Max knew he was waiting. As much as she hated to admit it, Alec was her confidant and she did want to tell him. She just didn't know if she was ready for it. She was filled with guilt every time she saw Alec, thinking of all the consequences he'd suffered because she'd run away, and the guilt she felt over seeing Lucy, knowing she'd never fought Mr. Barrett and let him abuse them. She decided it was time to tell someone about the Barretts.
"It's Lucy."
"She brings back bad memories."
Max nodded slowly.
"I was little. I'd just barely escaped Manticore and I was all alone. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I looked like an escapee; my head was shaved, I was in a thin government issue gown, no shoes, and my barcode was visible to everybody. I was afraid and I didn't know how to react. I hadn't eated in several days and I was cold. So cold."
Max shivered as if trying to prove the point she'd just spoken.
"I was walking down the snowy street when Lucy and her mom came. They talked to me and asked me if I wanted to go home with them. I knew they would give me food, so I did."
Max closed her eyes, the memory washing over her.
"I felt a little bit of hope that day. Lucy seemed happy to have me there, and in a way she reminded me of Jondy. I went with them for the food and maybe because I missed Jondy so much. We went to this little house and I felt at home. It was warm and comfortable. Mrs. Barrett asked me if I'd like to stay with them and I jumped at the chance. Lucy and I would share a room and we would share the chores. I didn't mind. The chores were easy for me. But then two days later, Mr. Barrett came home. He was unbeliveably drunk. I mean, this guy could drink Sketchy into a hole. He sort of stormed in and demanded a beer. Lucy rushed to get it for him. I watched from a corner and it took him a little while to notice I was there. When he did see me, he asked 'who the runt was?' Mrs. Barrett told him calmly that I was staying with them now. That didn't make him very happy. He backhanded her and he stood, towered over me, and he punched and kicked me several times. It wasn't any worse than I'd suffered at Manticore and I knew how easily I could overpower him. I was terrified, though. I didn't want to return to Manticore and I was afraid they'd find out what a monster I really was. So, I took every beating he gave me. Even worse was Lucy. He would beat her, sure, but he also sexually abused her. He would come into our room and take her away. I could always smell her fear and her eyes-they were so haunted. I hated it. But I didn't know what to do. Four months later, the Pulse hit and I ran. I never looked back. I left Lucy there with that man and she had to live there for many more years."
Max felt her eyes well up with tears, her eyes glistening in the dim light.
"Lucy keeps denying what happened, even though I was there. She keeps it bottled up and it's going to kill her. It's just there, beneath the surface, waiting to come through. It's all my fault."
Alec wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"Contrary to popular belief, you do not run the world. You were, what, eight? You didn't know how to act in the new world and you could not control that man. You cannot blame yourself for this, Maxie."
"Have you seen Lucy? She's so nervous and afraid. It's because of him. If I had stopped him..."
"It'd already been happening. He was doing it before you got there. Stop blaming yourself."
Max snuggled into Alec's chest, letting his scent settle over her. She remembered why she would tell him anything. He understood. She didn't have to hide parts of herself from him because Alec already knew about her darkest part. He didn't condemn her for it because he had it too. She felt his embrace tighten and he pressed featherlight kisses on the top of her head. She smiled a little before pulling away from his warmth.
"Thanks, Alec."
Then she became skittish. She was having a moment with Alec. She didn't to have a moment with Alec. She got off her Ninja immediately and fled the old lab. She couldn't be in there with him anymore.