Thanks again for the feedback. I love getting your reviews. I'm pleased to
hear you're enjoying this!
My thanks again to the long-suffering Alaidh!!
Chapter 3
"Zack, what are you talking about?" glared Max.
The blonde soldier shrugged. "Just turn on the news."
Max swung round to look at Logan, who was still regarding Zack.
"Okay," said Logan evenly, the words no sooner out of his mouth when he realized his situation.
Colouring slightly, he said quietly to Max, "Can you get me my chair?"
Max's eyes flew to his face, and then wordlessly she went to his study and wheeled it over to him.
Studiously avoiding Zack's gaze, Logan transferred into it, then pushed himself into the study to turn the TV on.
Looking up, Max caught the shocked look on Zack's face. Logan had been walking the last time Zack had seen him. At that moment, the TV came on, the noise covering their conversation.
"Looks like you didn't get your miracle after all," Zack spoke softly to her.
For a second Max saw herself running into Logan's apartment, frantically calling his name, the gun on his desk.
Bringing her focus back to Zack she said, "Who says I didn't."
Zack could sense there was more to what she was saying, but left it at that, following her to where Logan was steadily regarding the TV.
".....were known for their heinous crimes against the community, and were only exposed on an Eyes Only broadcast last week. Our source claims Eyes Only was responsible for executing the leaders of the gang, who were to be apprehended by police in the next few days to face charges of murder, theft, and wrongful imprisonment."
In disgust, Max reached forward and turned it off. "Who'd ever believe this crap?"
Logan wheeled over to his computer and turned it on, two fingers pressed to his forehead as he waited, a myriad of emotions churning through his mind. First and foremost was the guilt that he'd ignored all the Eyes Only calls he'd had that day, because of his own stupid pride. Would he ever learn? Now all the time and effort that had gone into protecting the reputation of Eyes Only could well be undone in one day of foolish self-indulgence. Perhaps he could have done something if he'd discovered the facts earlier. Unconsciously, he shook his head, angry at his own incompetence.
"Don't be so hard on yourself," said Max quickly, watching him carefully. With a slight edge to her voice, she added, "Some dirt bag was bound to try something like this, sooner or later."
Contradicting her, Logan snapped, "I should've been ready for it."
"What're you gonna do?"
For once Logan felt like he didn't know what to do. He stared unseeingly at his computer, absently running his hand over his temple. He felt sick, his thinking process in chaos.
"Logan?" asked Max again.
"First, I'll have to run through my messages - see what I've missed. Hopefully someone'll know where this rumour has come from." To Max he sounded far from confident.
"D'you think the same person's responsible for takin' out the Marconi gang and the Eyes Only dirt?"
"That," stated Logan, "or someone taking advantage of the situation."
For once Logan didn't know where to start.
Pushing back decisively from his computer he said, "I'm gonna make a cup of coffee while I think this through."
As Logan left the room, Max gave Zack a quick glance, and then walked to one of the large picture windows near the couch, tracing the progress of one of the raindrops with her finger.
Zack followed her, standing just behind her. He spoke with intensity. "You can't afford to get involved in this, Max."
Max turned on him angrily. "You were willing to use Eyes Only to contact the others after you were captured." Enunciating each word carefully she added, "He saved their lives."
With her voice dangerously low she finished, "You think I'm gonna walk out on him when he needs me, then you're as whacked as whoever's makin' up this crap."
A loud crash from the kitchen made her hurry in that direction.
The floor was covered in coffee granules and broken glass, Logan regarding it with frustration.
"I got it," said Max, ready to get the broom.
"No!" The intensity of Logan's voice startled her. Seeming to get himself under control, he added with a little more restraint, "I can do it myself."
"Fine. Have it your way."
Logan watched her as she followed Zack back into the living area, then spun round to get the broom, wondering how it was that he was so distracted by Max being alone with Zack in the other room, when he should have been grappling with Zack's latest revelation.
Zack, meanwhile, followed Max into the other room. "You want to help him?"
Something in his tone of voice made her turn quickly towards him.
"I got some info on my way down here. Might have something to do with whoever planted the bomb."
"You have?" She was all ears now.
"Everywhere I stopped they were talking about it. Some old guy in the mountains told me he'd worked as a cook for some kind of vigilante group that were camped out up there."
"How do you know it's the people responsible for last night?"
"I don't, but I think it's worth checking out." After a pause he said smoothly, "You wanna come with me, Maxie?"
Max looked at him, her eyes large, looking fleetingly like a trapped animal. As always, Zack was captivated by her beauty.
"You wanna help Logan don't you?"
A torrent of thoughts was rushing through Max's head. She wanted to help Logan, but intuitively she knew that going alone with Zack into the mountains was the last thing he needed right now - not after all that had happened in the last few weeks.
"How far is it?" she rapped out at him.
Zack shrugged. "A three or four hour drive north-east. I was in a little town back up in the hills."
Max thought long and hard for a moment. "I gotta talk to Logan."
Walking back into the kitchen, she watched quietly while Logan emptied the last of the coffee into the trash.
"Just as well I like tea," she smiled, a little unsure of her reception.
Putting the broom and pan down, Logan turned to her with a strained smile on his face, "Perhaps you should make it then. My track record hasn't been good lately."
Filling the kettle, Max said carefully, "Zack thinks he might have a lead on this vigilante group."
"Good of him to tell us," muttered Logan, getting out some cups.
"He met some guy, up in the mountains, three maybe four hours drive from Seattle."
Logan frowned up at her. "He's serious?"
"He seems to think it's a genuine lead. You know Zack - Mr Cautious when it comes to things like that."
Logan merely nodded. He had an idea of what was coming.
He felt a sinking feeling when Max said, "He wants me to go with him to check it out."
"Uh huh," replied Logan unemotionally, wheeling to the refrigerator to get out some milk.
Diving in, Max said quickly, "I think you should come too."
Logan seemed to take a long time studying the contents of the refrigerator.
"What do you think?" she prompted.
It still seemed to take a long time to find the milk. The disaster of the Cape Haven trip was still fresh in his mind - he had no wish to be humiliated in front of Zack, it had been bad enough in front of Max.
"You could bring your laptop," added Max, "stay in touch with what's happening here, and Bling could hold the fort for you in Seattle."
Logan was torn, and he knew he couldn't keep his head in the fridge much longer. Of one thing he was sure, he hated the thought of Max being alone in the mountains with Zack. Zack - the perfect Manticore soldier.
"You milkin the cow in there?"
Grabbing the milk he closed the door. Making sure the lid was on, he put it on his lap and wheeled to the counter where the cups were.
Almost in spite of himself, he heard his voice saying, "No. I gotta fix this up from here."
"We could find somewhere to stay before we go. It'd be right up your alley - all work, no fun at all. I'll resist all temptation to enjoy myself; I won't even admire the scenery," looking directly at Logan as she said the last word, a slightly provocative smile on her lips.
Feeling strongly tempted, Logan pushed through to his computer. "It won't work," he said flatly, "besides, I'll have to do some damage control here."
Not willing to give up, Max suggested, "Why don't you work on this stuff tonight, then, if you don't have a better lead, you come with Zack and me in the morning."
Logan made a vague gesture, agreeing half-heartedly to her idea, not really believing in his heart it would eventuate that way.
Max smiled at him, and for a moment he thought it would be worth any indignities he might suffer on the trip just to see that look on her face.
"I'll finish the tea, then I'll come and help you work through the backlog."
Wondering at the back of his mind if she knew 'why' there was a backlog, he started the long task of playing through his messages.
***********************************************
It was distracting knowing Zack was in the other room, but mostly Max stayed at the computer with him, cross-checking any information that came in.
Logan was beginning to feel very depressed about the whole situation. It would appear that no one on the informant net had caught hold of anything in the wind. Some called in merely to pledge their continued support, but others who seemed to think there was an inkling of truth to the rumour either called to hint at their disquiet, or to applaud the extermination of a pest.
With a growing resentment for the ones responsible for both the bomb and the rumour, Logan stabbed viciously at his keyboard.
Maybe we should take a break," suggested Max.
"I haven't tried Matt yet. Maybe he can shed some light."
"I'm gonna raid your cupboard," whispered Max, as she heard him greet the detective.
Hearing Zack's footsteps, she sung over her shoulder, "You wanna a drink Zack?"
"Thanks."
Max thought he almost smiled for a moment. Must be getting soft, she mused.
Poking her head in the pantry she came across two muffins Logan had bought at a bakery. Making a quick executive decision, she surmised that Logan probably wouldn't eat one anyway, so that left one each for her and Zack. Sitting at the kitchen counter, they both ate in some sort of companionable silence. Her brother wasn't really one for small talk, and Max was contemplating how to break it to him should some miracle happen and Logan should make the decision to come.
Logan seemed to take a while to come through to the kitchen, so grabbing his tea, Max sailed through to him saying brightly, "I ate your last .".muffin, she was about to say, but seeing the expression on his face the word caught in her throat.
"What is it?"
Logan didn't answer immediately. His head slightly tilted, he preferred the safety of his computer screen to her expressive face.
"Logan?"
"That was Matt," he began, but didn't seem to know how to proceed.
"Has something happened?" asked Max, beginning to feel concerned.
She saw Logan squint slightly at the screen. "Seems Matt saw my car as I pulled out of Inverness Road last night."
"So"
"Add that to the comment I made the morning I got the latest file."
"Which was?"
Logan gave an annoyed sigh, "I made some off the cuff remark about scum and C4."
"You did?" Max raised her eyebrows. It didn't sound all that unreasonable to her, but she didn't think that would be what Logan wanted to hear right now.
"You've just been under a lot of pressure lately. That's not a crime."
"I think it's what you call circumstantial evidence," was the cynical reply.
"I can't believe Matt, of all people, would bail out so fast!"
"He hasn't. I guess I'm just disappointed that he would even 'question.' I dunno, he's a policeman," Logan sighed again. "He's trained to suspect people."
"Does he suspect you?"
"I think I've convinced him that I'm not the spokesman for Eyes Only, just a disgruntled employee." he finished dryly. "Anyway, he's gonna look into some things for me. " Not looking at Max, he added, "I told him I'd be away for a few days, following a lead."
He knew Matt probably didn't mean the way it had sounded, but even the hint of disbelief in his voice had hit Logan hard. If people like Matt had doubts - well! Impulsively, he'd changed his plans.
"That's good," replied Max, trying to hide the smile from her face. "I could do with the personal input of Eyes Only on this case."
Unlocking his brakes, Logan said, "Well, maybe a field trip will clear my mind."
*******************************************
"Just how do you think you're going to stay objective if Logan comes with you?" Zack was frankly incredulous.
"I think he has the right to come along seeing as how it is 'his' name we're trying to clear," snapped Max.
"You know how I feel about personal involvement!"
"I think you've made that perfectly clear. You don't like the dealio - just give me the 411 and Logan and I will check it out ourselves!"
Zack looked at her, wondering whose gene it was that had made her so stubborn.
Her suggestion went against everything they'd been taught, but he had to admit to himself that the thought of her going alone with Logan was definitely an undesirable one.
With his face emotionless he said, "I'll take you there."
"Thank you," replied Max stiffly, bugged to find the same resentment towards Logan he always showed. "Logan's gonna arrange somewhere for us to stay. We'll leave in the morning after breakfast."
"What's wrong with now?" Zack was ever one to strike while the iron was hot.
"Because Logan's gonna drive, and he'll need to sleep," she replied shortly.
Zack stifled a sigh - this was what you got when you dealt with non- Manticore people. "I hope you know what you're doing Max." he warned her.
"You just show us where this old timer is so we can clear Eyes Only's name."
TBC
My thanks again to the long-suffering Alaidh!!
Chapter 3
"Zack, what are you talking about?" glared Max.
The blonde soldier shrugged. "Just turn on the news."
Max swung round to look at Logan, who was still regarding Zack.
"Okay," said Logan evenly, the words no sooner out of his mouth when he realized his situation.
Colouring slightly, he said quietly to Max, "Can you get me my chair?"
Max's eyes flew to his face, and then wordlessly she went to his study and wheeled it over to him.
Studiously avoiding Zack's gaze, Logan transferred into it, then pushed himself into the study to turn the TV on.
Looking up, Max caught the shocked look on Zack's face. Logan had been walking the last time Zack had seen him. At that moment, the TV came on, the noise covering their conversation.
"Looks like you didn't get your miracle after all," Zack spoke softly to her.
For a second Max saw herself running into Logan's apartment, frantically calling his name, the gun on his desk.
Bringing her focus back to Zack she said, "Who says I didn't."
Zack could sense there was more to what she was saying, but left it at that, following her to where Logan was steadily regarding the TV.
".....were known for their heinous crimes against the community, and were only exposed on an Eyes Only broadcast last week. Our source claims Eyes Only was responsible for executing the leaders of the gang, who were to be apprehended by police in the next few days to face charges of murder, theft, and wrongful imprisonment."
In disgust, Max reached forward and turned it off. "Who'd ever believe this crap?"
Logan wheeled over to his computer and turned it on, two fingers pressed to his forehead as he waited, a myriad of emotions churning through his mind. First and foremost was the guilt that he'd ignored all the Eyes Only calls he'd had that day, because of his own stupid pride. Would he ever learn? Now all the time and effort that had gone into protecting the reputation of Eyes Only could well be undone in one day of foolish self-indulgence. Perhaps he could have done something if he'd discovered the facts earlier. Unconsciously, he shook his head, angry at his own incompetence.
"Don't be so hard on yourself," said Max quickly, watching him carefully. With a slight edge to her voice, she added, "Some dirt bag was bound to try something like this, sooner or later."
Contradicting her, Logan snapped, "I should've been ready for it."
"What're you gonna do?"
For once Logan felt like he didn't know what to do. He stared unseeingly at his computer, absently running his hand over his temple. He felt sick, his thinking process in chaos.
"Logan?" asked Max again.
"First, I'll have to run through my messages - see what I've missed. Hopefully someone'll know where this rumour has come from." To Max he sounded far from confident.
"D'you think the same person's responsible for takin' out the Marconi gang and the Eyes Only dirt?"
"That," stated Logan, "or someone taking advantage of the situation."
For once Logan didn't know where to start.
Pushing back decisively from his computer he said, "I'm gonna make a cup of coffee while I think this through."
As Logan left the room, Max gave Zack a quick glance, and then walked to one of the large picture windows near the couch, tracing the progress of one of the raindrops with her finger.
Zack followed her, standing just behind her. He spoke with intensity. "You can't afford to get involved in this, Max."
Max turned on him angrily. "You were willing to use Eyes Only to contact the others after you were captured." Enunciating each word carefully she added, "He saved their lives."
With her voice dangerously low she finished, "You think I'm gonna walk out on him when he needs me, then you're as whacked as whoever's makin' up this crap."
A loud crash from the kitchen made her hurry in that direction.
The floor was covered in coffee granules and broken glass, Logan regarding it with frustration.
"I got it," said Max, ready to get the broom.
"No!" The intensity of Logan's voice startled her. Seeming to get himself under control, he added with a little more restraint, "I can do it myself."
"Fine. Have it your way."
Logan watched her as she followed Zack back into the living area, then spun round to get the broom, wondering how it was that he was so distracted by Max being alone with Zack in the other room, when he should have been grappling with Zack's latest revelation.
Zack, meanwhile, followed Max into the other room. "You want to help him?"
Something in his tone of voice made her turn quickly towards him.
"I got some info on my way down here. Might have something to do with whoever planted the bomb."
"You have?" She was all ears now.
"Everywhere I stopped they were talking about it. Some old guy in the mountains told me he'd worked as a cook for some kind of vigilante group that were camped out up there."
"How do you know it's the people responsible for last night?"
"I don't, but I think it's worth checking out." After a pause he said smoothly, "You wanna come with me, Maxie?"
Max looked at him, her eyes large, looking fleetingly like a trapped animal. As always, Zack was captivated by her beauty.
"You wanna help Logan don't you?"
A torrent of thoughts was rushing through Max's head. She wanted to help Logan, but intuitively she knew that going alone with Zack into the mountains was the last thing he needed right now - not after all that had happened in the last few weeks.
"How far is it?" she rapped out at him.
Zack shrugged. "A three or four hour drive north-east. I was in a little town back up in the hills."
Max thought long and hard for a moment. "I gotta talk to Logan."
Walking back into the kitchen, she watched quietly while Logan emptied the last of the coffee into the trash.
"Just as well I like tea," she smiled, a little unsure of her reception.
Putting the broom and pan down, Logan turned to her with a strained smile on his face, "Perhaps you should make it then. My track record hasn't been good lately."
Filling the kettle, Max said carefully, "Zack thinks he might have a lead on this vigilante group."
"Good of him to tell us," muttered Logan, getting out some cups.
"He met some guy, up in the mountains, three maybe four hours drive from Seattle."
Logan frowned up at her. "He's serious?"
"He seems to think it's a genuine lead. You know Zack - Mr Cautious when it comes to things like that."
Logan merely nodded. He had an idea of what was coming.
He felt a sinking feeling when Max said, "He wants me to go with him to check it out."
"Uh huh," replied Logan unemotionally, wheeling to the refrigerator to get out some milk.
Diving in, Max said quickly, "I think you should come too."
Logan seemed to take a long time studying the contents of the refrigerator.
"What do you think?" she prompted.
It still seemed to take a long time to find the milk. The disaster of the Cape Haven trip was still fresh in his mind - he had no wish to be humiliated in front of Zack, it had been bad enough in front of Max.
"You could bring your laptop," added Max, "stay in touch with what's happening here, and Bling could hold the fort for you in Seattle."
Logan was torn, and he knew he couldn't keep his head in the fridge much longer. Of one thing he was sure, he hated the thought of Max being alone in the mountains with Zack. Zack - the perfect Manticore soldier.
"You milkin the cow in there?"
Grabbing the milk he closed the door. Making sure the lid was on, he put it on his lap and wheeled to the counter where the cups were.
Almost in spite of himself, he heard his voice saying, "No. I gotta fix this up from here."
"We could find somewhere to stay before we go. It'd be right up your alley - all work, no fun at all. I'll resist all temptation to enjoy myself; I won't even admire the scenery," looking directly at Logan as she said the last word, a slightly provocative smile on her lips.
Feeling strongly tempted, Logan pushed through to his computer. "It won't work," he said flatly, "besides, I'll have to do some damage control here."
Not willing to give up, Max suggested, "Why don't you work on this stuff tonight, then, if you don't have a better lead, you come with Zack and me in the morning."
Logan made a vague gesture, agreeing half-heartedly to her idea, not really believing in his heart it would eventuate that way.
Max smiled at him, and for a moment he thought it would be worth any indignities he might suffer on the trip just to see that look on her face.
"I'll finish the tea, then I'll come and help you work through the backlog."
Wondering at the back of his mind if she knew 'why' there was a backlog, he started the long task of playing through his messages.
***********************************************
It was distracting knowing Zack was in the other room, but mostly Max stayed at the computer with him, cross-checking any information that came in.
Logan was beginning to feel very depressed about the whole situation. It would appear that no one on the informant net had caught hold of anything in the wind. Some called in merely to pledge their continued support, but others who seemed to think there was an inkling of truth to the rumour either called to hint at their disquiet, or to applaud the extermination of a pest.
With a growing resentment for the ones responsible for both the bomb and the rumour, Logan stabbed viciously at his keyboard.
Maybe we should take a break," suggested Max.
"I haven't tried Matt yet. Maybe he can shed some light."
"I'm gonna raid your cupboard," whispered Max, as she heard him greet the detective.
Hearing Zack's footsteps, she sung over her shoulder, "You wanna a drink Zack?"
"Thanks."
Max thought he almost smiled for a moment. Must be getting soft, she mused.
Poking her head in the pantry she came across two muffins Logan had bought at a bakery. Making a quick executive decision, she surmised that Logan probably wouldn't eat one anyway, so that left one each for her and Zack. Sitting at the kitchen counter, they both ate in some sort of companionable silence. Her brother wasn't really one for small talk, and Max was contemplating how to break it to him should some miracle happen and Logan should make the decision to come.
Logan seemed to take a while to come through to the kitchen, so grabbing his tea, Max sailed through to him saying brightly, "I ate your last .".muffin, she was about to say, but seeing the expression on his face the word caught in her throat.
"What is it?"
Logan didn't answer immediately. His head slightly tilted, he preferred the safety of his computer screen to her expressive face.
"Logan?"
"That was Matt," he began, but didn't seem to know how to proceed.
"Has something happened?" asked Max, beginning to feel concerned.
She saw Logan squint slightly at the screen. "Seems Matt saw my car as I pulled out of Inverness Road last night."
"So"
"Add that to the comment I made the morning I got the latest file."
"Which was?"
Logan gave an annoyed sigh, "I made some off the cuff remark about scum and C4."
"You did?" Max raised her eyebrows. It didn't sound all that unreasonable to her, but she didn't think that would be what Logan wanted to hear right now.
"You've just been under a lot of pressure lately. That's not a crime."
"I think it's what you call circumstantial evidence," was the cynical reply.
"I can't believe Matt, of all people, would bail out so fast!"
"He hasn't. I guess I'm just disappointed that he would even 'question.' I dunno, he's a policeman," Logan sighed again. "He's trained to suspect people."
"Does he suspect you?"
"I think I've convinced him that I'm not the spokesman for Eyes Only, just a disgruntled employee." he finished dryly. "Anyway, he's gonna look into some things for me. " Not looking at Max, he added, "I told him I'd be away for a few days, following a lead."
He knew Matt probably didn't mean the way it had sounded, but even the hint of disbelief in his voice had hit Logan hard. If people like Matt had doubts - well! Impulsively, he'd changed his plans.
"That's good," replied Max, trying to hide the smile from her face. "I could do with the personal input of Eyes Only on this case."
Unlocking his brakes, Logan said, "Well, maybe a field trip will clear my mind."
*******************************************
"Just how do you think you're going to stay objective if Logan comes with you?" Zack was frankly incredulous.
"I think he has the right to come along seeing as how it is 'his' name we're trying to clear," snapped Max.
"You know how I feel about personal involvement!"
"I think you've made that perfectly clear. You don't like the dealio - just give me the 411 and Logan and I will check it out ourselves!"
Zack looked at her, wondering whose gene it was that had made her so stubborn.
Her suggestion went against everything they'd been taught, but he had to admit to himself that the thought of her going alone with Logan was definitely an undesirable one.
With his face emotionless he said, "I'll take you there."
"Thank you," replied Max stiffly, bugged to find the same resentment towards Logan he always showed. "Logan's gonna arrange somewhere for us to stay. We'll leave in the morning after breakfast."
"What's wrong with now?" Zack was ever one to strike while the iron was hot.
"Because Logan's gonna drive, and he'll need to sleep," she replied shortly.
Zack stifled a sigh - this was what you got when you dealt with non- Manticore people. "I hope you know what you're doing Max." he warned her.
"You just show us where this old timer is so we can clear Eyes Only's name."
TBC