Once again, my many thanks for all the reviews – they make my day!! They
were very much appreciated as always.
Sorry about the delay with the last few chapters, but my beta Alaidh has been struggling on with an injured hand and has been surviving on copious amounts of codeine so my extra special thanks to her!!!
Chapter 19
Logan had to ensure that Max was happy before he left, so he ordered in some pizzas for their dinner, and dropped Max off at her motorbike back at the market on his way home.
"I'll see you back at the motel at six," she said to him through the driver's window as he prepared to drive off.
Max looked at him for a moment longer. "MacFarland may still be after you. Maybe you'd better get Bling to meet you in the parking lot when you get home."
Logan stared through the windshield with a slightly exasperated look.
"Wouldn't hurt," prompted Max, in one of her more cajoling tones.
Logan turned to her with a small smile that acknowledged the fact he knew he was being played.
"Okay," he agreed.
Max's smile lit her eyes.
"Be careful/take care," they both said at the same time.
With a grin on their respective faces, they drove off in different directions into the wet Seattle night.
**********************************************
It was close to midnight by the time Logan got back to his apartment, obediently having arranged for Bling to meet him as he drove in.
He could feel his heart rate increase a little as he drove his car down into the parking garage beneath his apartment, in spite of his reticence in making Bling wait for him
Bling greeted him with his easy, good-natured smile. "All quiet down here."
"I'm glad," admitted Logan, casting a quick glance around as he pushed himself away from the car in readiness to close the door. "What are Riley...?" 'and Bob up to' he went to say, when he was silenced by Bling gesturing with a finger to his lips.
Logan immediately looked around, but could see nothing.
Bling stepped forward and closed the door, saying in a calm, serious undertone, "Head for the elevator, now."
By this time, the sound of hurried footsteps echoing through the area was becoming increasingly loud.
Logan locked the doors of the car with his remote and headed straight towards the elevator, with Bling close behind him.
Bling had just put his hands on Logan's shoulders to hurry him along when a voice stopped them.
"Bling, Bling!"
They both stopped.
She had come around the corner, quite out of breath, one hand to her slender throat in a gesture of relief, blue eyes hopeful, she eyed the both of them expectantly.
"You haven't seen my cat have you?"
Bling and Logan looked at each other, an amused expression on both their faces.
"I just opened the car door, and she jumped straight out before I could stop her."
The blue eyes looked around searchingly, noting the blank look on each of their faces.
"So, you didn't see her, huh?"
Logan said, "Sorry."
Bling continued to smile at her.
Logan looked up at Bling prompting him, "We didn't see a cat; did we Bling?"
Breaking from his thoughts, Bling said, "I'm sorry Candy; we've just come in. Didn't see a thing."
Logan smiled at her sympathetically in agreement with Bling's words, finding her very easy on the eyes.
"It's such a pest. This is the second time she's done this. I think there must be mice down here or something," she prattled on, one hand pushing her dark hair away from her face with an impatient gesture.
Switching from one topic to the next like lightning, she suddenly put a hand out to Logan. "Bling and I are old friends," she said, throwing Bling a smile, but I've never had the pleasure of meeting you."
Logan couldn't resist a quick look at Bling before he introduced himself, taking the proffered hand.
"Nice to meet you," Candy smiled in response, then with a quick anxious look around, she was back to her quest. "I'd better keep going. It took me an hour to catch her last time. Be seeing you," she finished, with what Logan thought was a very particular look in Bling's direction.
Logan looked up at Bling quizzically. "Old friends?" he repeated, as they covered the final distance to the elevator.
"Well, when I'm not kickin' your ass, I do have a life," Bling replied smoothly, completely unabashed. "We've had coffee together a few times."
Pressing the 'up' button, Logan said suspiciously, "What about the 'lady friend' you went out with the other night?"
The elevator doors opened just then, and Logan wheeled himself inside, but kept his eyes on Bling as if to say the conversation wasn't finished.
Bling smiled at the penthouse button as he pushed it.
"Well?" prompted Logan, his journalistic instincts sniffing a story.
"Mmm, she's special." Then with a grin at Logan he said, "But I like to keep my options open."
*****************************************************
Riley was asleep by the time they got in, but Bob welcomed Logan like an old friend.
Looking around, Logan was relieved to find his apartment still in one piece.
"We took Bob out for a few walks," put in Bling, correctly interpreting his expression.
"That's another I owe you," said Logan. He went to push himself through to his computer when he spun back around. With a wry smile he said, "Thank you."
"No big deal," replied Bling, a little surprised.
Hesitating for a moment, his gaze eventually returning to Bling's face, he confessed with a little difficulty, "I know I'm not always the easiest person to get along with."
"You can sure say that again," laughed Bling outright.
Not quite the answer he expected, but admitting to Bling the accuracy of his words with his own rueful smile, he added, "Anyway, I want you to know that I appreciate the stuff you do for me."
Still taken aback by Logan's unexpected candour, Bling simply said, "It's my pleasure, man, my pleasure."
Logan nodded at him a little self-consciously, and this time continued on to his computer, reflecting that his words were probably well overdue.
*****************************************************
Now armed with the password to Stuart MacFarland's files, Logan spent an extremely profitable couple of hours hacking into the other man's security arrangements, confirming, as Phillip had said, that Byron was indeed a 'guest' in his old family home.
The other thing of concern to Logan was the continuing threat he discovered that MacFarland had one major target in mind, and it appeared that D Day for the assault was 8 o'clock, the following evening.
Relentlessly trying every trick he knew, it appeared that MacFarland had simply kept the target of the assault in his own head, because it definitely didn't seem to be in his computer.
"Dammit!" he muttered, as the sixth successive thing he'd tried hadn't worked.
Mindful of the time and the early hour he had to meet Max the following morning, all he could do was put word out on the Informant Net, and hope that Byron or Phillip could fill in the missing link.
***************************************************
Max was on the lookout for him when he pulled up at the motel only a few hours later, and had hustled the other two out to the car in a matter of minutes.
It was a typical wintry Seattle morning: drizzling rain from a grey sky. Hardly inspiring for the task they had to do, thought Logan.
Zack, on the other hand, viewed the unfavourable conditions as propitious.
"This is good," he announced to those in the car. "The guards will be miserable, cold and wet."
"Just like us," agreed Max flatly.
Logan had the directions to the house from his computer, but he checked here and there with Phillip to make sure he was correct.
Looking at the older MacFarland son, Logan thought he looked ill and tense as if he hadn't slept in days. Maybe he hadn't, he surmised.
Zack filled Logan in on what they would require him to do. The property was surrounded by an eight foot fence, which while it posed no problem for the two X5's, there was no way Byron MacFarland would be able to jump over it.
"Have you two got a plan?" asked Logan to Max.
"We've talked about it," she acknowledged. "Let me off when we're about 100 yards from the house."
Logan looked at her.
"We've got it covered, Logan," she told him, seeing his expression.
"I know," he replied, "but be careful anyway," he added softly.
Phillip MacFarland leaned forward and tapped Logan on the shoulder. "This is 100 yards from the house. It's the next property down, number fifty- five."
Stopping the car, Logan took his laptop from Max, booted it up and hacked into the surveillance tapes of the house where Byron was being held.
Flicking through the images, with Zack looking over his shoulder and Max leaning in from his right, they did a thorough search of the house.
"There he is." Max pointed to the image of a dressed Byron MacFarland breakfasting at a small table in a bedroom.
"They keep early hours in your family," remarked Max over her shoulder to Phillip.
He managed a wan smile.
"What do you think, Phillip? Definitely two guards?" asked Logan.
Running a hand through his hair, MacFarland shrugged, "I guess so."
Logan then called up a map of the house that pinpointed the location of the bedroom Byron was in.
Going back to the security feeds, the inside guard could be clearly seen outside the bedroom door.
He was a tall, burly individual, and appeared to be heavily armed.
Logan resisted the temptation to make a comment.
"There's gotta be a third man in the security room," added Max, "otherwise no one's viewing the cameras."
Zack nodded, turning questioningly to Phillip.
The other man shrugged as if in a daze. "I guess you're right. I hadn't thought of that."
"Then you'd better start thinking," replied Zack roughly, "because we're risking our lives to get your brother out!"
Phillip seemed to snap out of his languor at that, sitting up a little straighter in the back seat. "You're quite right. I'm sorry," he added as a general comment.
Still concentrating on the screen, Logan said, "I checked out all the security to the house last night. It's not set up for anything major. They're just relying on the cameras and the guards."
"Logan, you can cover the feeds can't you?" asked Max.
Logan nodded briefly, calling up the security feed of the front gate in readiness.
Presently it showed the guard standing immovably behind the huge, elaborate wrought iron gates. With the push of a few buttons, Logan had eradicated the genuine security camera feed, freezing the frame, and leaving a 'still' to be seen by the person monitoring the screen. Fortunately it was a still morning, or this plan wouldn't have worked.
"Give us three minutes inside, then open the gate," Max said to him.
********************************************
Zack was right. The guard on duty at the front of the house was decidedly wet, cold and miserable.
His endless night improved remarkably by the appearance of a breathtakingly beautiful girl.
"Excuse me, can you help me?" she asked.
There was something about her voice that made him think he'd go to the other side of the world to help her if he could.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I'm unable to leave my post."
"You see, my car broke down, and my father'll have a heart attack if I don't make it home in time," she finished forlornly.
"Look, I'd like to help you..."
"But...?" added Max enticingly.
She stood in front of the wrought iron gates that the guard stood behind.
"My car's just down the street," she cooed.
She could see the guards resolve weaken.
What trouble could there be from this young girl he guessed?
Unlocking the gates, he stepped forward.
"I just don't know how to thank you," Max babbled on in her most beguiling manner, "but what about this?"
The guard barely had time to register his surprise as her fist connected with the side of his jaw. He wasn't going to be eating on that side for some time to come.
Seeing the guard go down, Zack ran up and dragged him quickly back through the gates and tied him up, leaving him hidden from view between some bushes and the fence.
With a quick wave at the security camera as she ran past, knowing that Logan would be watching the genuine feed, Max and Zack continued up the main driveway towards the house.
Trusting that Logan had all the cameras in his control, they headed for the back door, picking the lock and entering the house within seconds.
The house was furnished in the manner of twenty years earlier, and it had the musty smell of being seldom used.
Making their way through the living room, she noticed the picture of a blonde haired woman and two fair-haired boys, each with their arms around their mother in an affectionate embrace. Gazing at it, she felt a pang for the mother she never knew and the lack of love in her own childhood. The smile on the mother's face was infectious.
"Come on," urged Zack, sensing her dawdling.
Hurrying on, they headed up the stairs, Max going first.
With no attempt to conceal herself, she walked up the stairs boldly, calling out, "Hello, anyone there?"
The sudden appearance of a large man with an automatic rifle made her give a gasp of relief, "Oh I'm so glad there's someone home, because I was beginning to think I had the wrong place."
The guard looked at her in surprise, trying to figure out why this beautiful girl was walking up the stairs of the house.
"You shouldn't be in here," he stated brusquely.
By this time Max was on the same level as the guard.
"Doesn't Nicole live here?" she asked with pretty confusion.
The guard knew what to do if a knife-wielding man with a machine gun arrived at the door, but what was he supposed to do with a kooky 'twenty or so' year old.
In spite of all his training, he dropped his guard momentarily, slightly lowering his rifle. It was all Max needed. In two steps, and appearing almost as a blur to the guard, she darted forward, wresting the gun from his hands after an immobilizing karate chop to his forearm.
Zack following behind her, finished off the guard with a well-controlled blow to his head. The man wouldn't be getting up for a while.
Max quickly tried the door to Byron's room, not surprisingly finding it locked.
"Byron, stand back, we're here to get you out," she whispered loudly through the door.
Hearing some sound of assent, she quickly checked the pockets of the guard, standing up triumphantly with a key ring of house keys.
The third one she tried slipped into the keyhole perfectly and turned smoothly, unlocking the door with a slight click.
Opening the door, she walked in to see a bewildered Byron MacFarland staring at her.
"You," he said in amazement.
"You didn't think we'd ditch you, did ya?"
Byron continued to stare at her. "After what my father did to your friend?" he asked in a shocked voice.
Max had a feeling he was missing a few pieces of the puzzle, but knew now wasn't the time to fill him in, so all she said was "Logan's okay and we gotta get outta here right now. Come on."
They were only at the top of the stairs when they heard the sound of a car horn break the silence of the early morning with its raucous noise.
Max and Zack looked at each other quickly. Both assuming it was Logan, they knew it had to be trouble.
***************************************************
Logan kept his eyes glued to the security feeds he had in front of him. There were five cameras in all in the house, including the one at the front gate, and he had ensured that none of them betrayed Max and Zack's presence.
As soon as the three minutes were up, still in the security files, he hacked into the gate control and opened it, swinging the Aztek through the gate and up the driveway, hoping furiously that they hadn't underestimated the time it would take them to get Byron.
There was no sign of Max or Zack, so he turned the car around in readiness to make a quick exit, turning on the wipers as the steady drizzle of the morning 'obligingly' turned to rain.
Glancing back down at the screen, he was horrified to see four heavily armed figures clad in military fatigues rushing down the hallway in the direction of Max and Zack.
Glancing around wildly for inspiration, his eyes lit on the car horn. Without hesitation he pressed it with quick short jabs that spoke of the need for urgency, his eyes never leaving the screen.
Vaguely aware of Phillip MacFarland behind him, Logan's hand stole to the compartment of his door where his gun was hidden.
Max and Zack were within range of the cameras by this point, and Logan could see them racing across the short entrance hall from the stairs heading towards the front door.
Close behind them were their pursuers, guns raised, but so far disinclined to fire, hopefully, Logan thought, because of the presence of Byron MacFarland.
Max and Zack could have easily outstripped the guards, but were hampered by having to slow themselves to the speed of the other man.
Even from his viewpoint, Logan could see that Byron appeared dazed and Logan wondered briefly if his father had drugged him. Whatever the reason, the guards were very nearly upon them, and Logan could only watch the drama unfolding with frustration.
Suddenly, Zack turned to face the guard closest to them, and Logan could see him yelling something at Max, which was probably to run to the car. Logan shook his head in exasperation as he saw Max turn and fight the next guard, taking him down with a vicious kick to his kneecap, and then be immediately grabbed around her throat by the crook of one of the guard's arms.
Byron MacFarland was now running for the door, and in seconds Logan had him in actual sight. The man stood in the doorway for a moment, staring blankly at his surroundings. Aware of a sudden movement behind him, Logan turned to see Phillip jump out and rush to the aid of his brother.
Quickly swinging his attention back to the security feeds, Logan was anxious to find that he could no longer see Max. Zack was still in evidence, as were three of the guards, two lying prone and the third soon to join them as he sank to his knees then finally totally collapsed as he took an X5 chop to the back of his neck. Logan couldn't help wincing in sympathy.
At that moment the front door opened once more, and Logan discovered the whereabouts of the fourth guard. Byron and Phillip had barely cleared the front steps when a figure came hurling through the air from the top of the steps, followed by a particularly satisfied Max who continued on down the steps to ascertain that her victim was not getting up.
"Max, come on," Logan yelled at her, only too keen to get them all out of there.
Turning to see Zack coming out of the house, she hurried forward herself, putting an arm under the elbow of Byron MacFarland, and hustling him into the car.
Max had just run round and slipped into the front passenger seat when Zack appeared at the car.
Slipping his gun back into the door, Logan watched the rear view mirror until Zack was in the car. With the slight skidding of tyres as the wheels took their time to get traction on the fine stones, Logan continued to accelerate hard down the driveway.
****************************************************
"Everyone okay?" asked Logan, still checking his rearview mirror for signs of pursuit.
Logan looked at Max as she turned to smile at him, hair a little wet, her eyes shining with the rush of adrenalin to her body, cheeks slightly flushed, panting a little, her breathing just a fraction faster than usual. He had to admit that there was something incredibly sexy about 'kickin' ass' when it came to Max.
"I'm fine," she murmured to him, deceptively demure.
Logan gave her the hint of a disapproving look, just to prove that he was totally unaffected by her, and that his interest in her well-being was purely platonic, but he had to admit that at times like this, her beauty was a major distraction.
"We're all fine back here," commented Zack, having been aware of the by- play in the front seat.
"That's good," answered Logan, perhaps a little too heartily.
"It seems 'Daddy' was kinda hopin' for some company," Max said, turning to look at Byron and Phillip.
"At least he doesn't want them dead," added Zack. "Those guards could've nailed you if they'd wanted too," he added to the brothers.
Logan nodded. "Shoot to kill was definitely not their command."
"I suppose it's back to the motel?" asked Max, not sounding thrilled with the prospect.
"Nothing but the best," quipped Logan.
********************************************************
Stopping on the way to check that Byron was clean of bugs and tracking devices, and to buy some food, they arrived at the motel shortly after 8am.
The weather hadn't improved, but they were able to get a parking space close to their room.
Pulling up in front of it, Logan reflected it looked even worse by daylight. Aware of Max's accusing eyes on him, he gave her an encouraging smile before she got out to retrieve his chair. "It has a certain 'charm' wouldn't you say?"
"If you're a 'snake' maybe," she suggested
At least it was warm inside, and after spreading their food out on the table and hot drinks had been made, Logan felt it was time to press the MacFarland brothers for some answers.
Byron still seemed confused by the morning's events, and he was particularly upset every time he looked at Logan and was reminded of what his father had almost done to him. It was as if the attack on Logan embodied for him the depths to which his father had sunk, and he wasn't sure he wanted to face it.
"I just don't know what's happened to him," Byron muttered almost to himself. "I don't know the man he's become."
Phillip placed a bracing arm around his younger brother's shoulders and looked at Logan. "We must stop him," he said simply.
Logan nodded. "With your help, we should be able to, but we need some answers."
Both brothers nodded decisively, Byron seeming to gain some strength from his brother's attitude.
"What can we tell you?" he asked with a deep breath.
"When I looked into your father's security files, I kept coming up with a possible major target for tonight. Now, it wasn't clear who it was aimed it. Any idea?"
To Logan's disappointment, both brothers shook their heads.
"What about the Eyes Only rumours?" asked Max, asking the question closest to her heart. "Where did all that crap come from?"
"Eyes Only?" asked Phillip in surprise. "Why are you interested in that?"
Looking at Max momentarily, Logan replied, "Because Melody Banks was a friend of mine."
"I read about her death," acknowledged Byron. "I'm sorry."
"She was killed because she was a track to be covered," Logan explained to them.
Both men looked at Logan with puzzled expressions.
Losing a little bit of patience with their lack of understanding, Max put in edgily, "Someone was paying her big money to report her crap, then they killed her. That simple."
Phillip shook his head. "It just gets worse and worse doesn't it?"
"What do you mean?" asked Logan warily, leaning forward slightly.
Phillip looked at Byron. "Father didn't tell you about this. Only I knew."
"Knew what?" asked Max, ready to shake him.
The older brother looked at Logan. "My father was contacted by someone, I'm not sure who, or how they came to know of my father's plans, but it was essentially that if my father agreed to let Eyes Only be blamed for the attacks, they would provide us with some 'super soldiers'."
At the words 'super soldiers' Max felt a familiar hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Keeping his face composed, Logan said, "What exactly do you mean by 'super soldiers'?"
"They're stronger, faster, tougher than any other men I've seen," answered Phillip.
Zack, who had been keeping watch by the window as the others were talking, now came over to the others. "Did you notice a kind of tattoo on their neck?" he asked bluntly, without looking at Max.
"How did you know about that?" asked Phillip in surprise.
"What did the tattoo look like?" pressed Zack.
"Lines, resembling a barcode you might say."
This time Max looked at Logan. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but couldn't risk with the presence of the MacFarland brothers. Instead, the expression of her eyes spoke volumes – fear, worry, concern but above all contrition. There was only one reason why Manticore would be going after Eyes Only.
Catching her look, Logan shrugged in a dismissive gesture. "Let's just concentrate on putting on end to all this," he remarked to them all.
TBC
Sorry about the delay with the last few chapters, but my beta Alaidh has been struggling on with an injured hand and has been surviving on copious amounts of codeine so my extra special thanks to her!!!
Chapter 19
Logan had to ensure that Max was happy before he left, so he ordered in some pizzas for their dinner, and dropped Max off at her motorbike back at the market on his way home.
"I'll see you back at the motel at six," she said to him through the driver's window as he prepared to drive off.
Max looked at him for a moment longer. "MacFarland may still be after you. Maybe you'd better get Bling to meet you in the parking lot when you get home."
Logan stared through the windshield with a slightly exasperated look.
"Wouldn't hurt," prompted Max, in one of her more cajoling tones.
Logan turned to her with a small smile that acknowledged the fact he knew he was being played.
"Okay," he agreed.
Max's smile lit her eyes.
"Be careful/take care," they both said at the same time.
With a grin on their respective faces, they drove off in different directions into the wet Seattle night.
**********************************************
It was close to midnight by the time Logan got back to his apartment, obediently having arranged for Bling to meet him as he drove in.
He could feel his heart rate increase a little as he drove his car down into the parking garage beneath his apartment, in spite of his reticence in making Bling wait for him
Bling greeted him with his easy, good-natured smile. "All quiet down here."
"I'm glad," admitted Logan, casting a quick glance around as he pushed himself away from the car in readiness to close the door. "What are Riley...?" 'and Bob up to' he went to say, when he was silenced by Bling gesturing with a finger to his lips.
Logan immediately looked around, but could see nothing.
Bling stepped forward and closed the door, saying in a calm, serious undertone, "Head for the elevator, now."
By this time, the sound of hurried footsteps echoing through the area was becoming increasingly loud.
Logan locked the doors of the car with his remote and headed straight towards the elevator, with Bling close behind him.
Bling had just put his hands on Logan's shoulders to hurry him along when a voice stopped them.
"Bling, Bling!"
They both stopped.
She had come around the corner, quite out of breath, one hand to her slender throat in a gesture of relief, blue eyes hopeful, she eyed the both of them expectantly.
"You haven't seen my cat have you?"
Bling and Logan looked at each other, an amused expression on both their faces.
"I just opened the car door, and she jumped straight out before I could stop her."
The blue eyes looked around searchingly, noting the blank look on each of their faces.
"So, you didn't see her, huh?"
Logan said, "Sorry."
Bling continued to smile at her.
Logan looked up at Bling prompting him, "We didn't see a cat; did we Bling?"
Breaking from his thoughts, Bling said, "I'm sorry Candy; we've just come in. Didn't see a thing."
Logan smiled at her sympathetically in agreement with Bling's words, finding her very easy on the eyes.
"It's such a pest. This is the second time she's done this. I think there must be mice down here or something," she prattled on, one hand pushing her dark hair away from her face with an impatient gesture.
Switching from one topic to the next like lightning, she suddenly put a hand out to Logan. "Bling and I are old friends," she said, throwing Bling a smile, but I've never had the pleasure of meeting you."
Logan couldn't resist a quick look at Bling before he introduced himself, taking the proffered hand.
"Nice to meet you," Candy smiled in response, then with a quick anxious look around, she was back to her quest. "I'd better keep going. It took me an hour to catch her last time. Be seeing you," she finished, with what Logan thought was a very particular look in Bling's direction.
Logan looked up at Bling quizzically. "Old friends?" he repeated, as they covered the final distance to the elevator.
"Well, when I'm not kickin' your ass, I do have a life," Bling replied smoothly, completely unabashed. "We've had coffee together a few times."
Pressing the 'up' button, Logan said suspiciously, "What about the 'lady friend' you went out with the other night?"
The elevator doors opened just then, and Logan wheeled himself inside, but kept his eyes on Bling as if to say the conversation wasn't finished.
Bling smiled at the penthouse button as he pushed it.
"Well?" prompted Logan, his journalistic instincts sniffing a story.
"Mmm, she's special." Then with a grin at Logan he said, "But I like to keep my options open."
*****************************************************
Riley was asleep by the time they got in, but Bob welcomed Logan like an old friend.
Looking around, Logan was relieved to find his apartment still in one piece.
"We took Bob out for a few walks," put in Bling, correctly interpreting his expression.
"That's another I owe you," said Logan. He went to push himself through to his computer when he spun back around. With a wry smile he said, "Thank you."
"No big deal," replied Bling, a little surprised.
Hesitating for a moment, his gaze eventually returning to Bling's face, he confessed with a little difficulty, "I know I'm not always the easiest person to get along with."
"You can sure say that again," laughed Bling outright.
Not quite the answer he expected, but admitting to Bling the accuracy of his words with his own rueful smile, he added, "Anyway, I want you to know that I appreciate the stuff you do for me."
Still taken aback by Logan's unexpected candour, Bling simply said, "It's my pleasure, man, my pleasure."
Logan nodded at him a little self-consciously, and this time continued on to his computer, reflecting that his words were probably well overdue.
*****************************************************
Now armed with the password to Stuart MacFarland's files, Logan spent an extremely profitable couple of hours hacking into the other man's security arrangements, confirming, as Phillip had said, that Byron was indeed a 'guest' in his old family home.
The other thing of concern to Logan was the continuing threat he discovered that MacFarland had one major target in mind, and it appeared that D Day for the assault was 8 o'clock, the following evening.
Relentlessly trying every trick he knew, it appeared that MacFarland had simply kept the target of the assault in his own head, because it definitely didn't seem to be in his computer.
"Dammit!" he muttered, as the sixth successive thing he'd tried hadn't worked.
Mindful of the time and the early hour he had to meet Max the following morning, all he could do was put word out on the Informant Net, and hope that Byron or Phillip could fill in the missing link.
***************************************************
Max was on the lookout for him when he pulled up at the motel only a few hours later, and had hustled the other two out to the car in a matter of minutes.
It was a typical wintry Seattle morning: drizzling rain from a grey sky. Hardly inspiring for the task they had to do, thought Logan.
Zack, on the other hand, viewed the unfavourable conditions as propitious.
"This is good," he announced to those in the car. "The guards will be miserable, cold and wet."
"Just like us," agreed Max flatly.
Logan had the directions to the house from his computer, but he checked here and there with Phillip to make sure he was correct.
Looking at the older MacFarland son, Logan thought he looked ill and tense as if he hadn't slept in days. Maybe he hadn't, he surmised.
Zack filled Logan in on what they would require him to do. The property was surrounded by an eight foot fence, which while it posed no problem for the two X5's, there was no way Byron MacFarland would be able to jump over it.
"Have you two got a plan?" asked Logan to Max.
"We've talked about it," she acknowledged. "Let me off when we're about 100 yards from the house."
Logan looked at her.
"We've got it covered, Logan," she told him, seeing his expression.
"I know," he replied, "but be careful anyway," he added softly.
Phillip MacFarland leaned forward and tapped Logan on the shoulder. "This is 100 yards from the house. It's the next property down, number fifty- five."
Stopping the car, Logan took his laptop from Max, booted it up and hacked into the surveillance tapes of the house where Byron was being held.
Flicking through the images, with Zack looking over his shoulder and Max leaning in from his right, they did a thorough search of the house.
"There he is." Max pointed to the image of a dressed Byron MacFarland breakfasting at a small table in a bedroom.
"They keep early hours in your family," remarked Max over her shoulder to Phillip.
He managed a wan smile.
"What do you think, Phillip? Definitely two guards?" asked Logan.
Running a hand through his hair, MacFarland shrugged, "I guess so."
Logan then called up a map of the house that pinpointed the location of the bedroom Byron was in.
Going back to the security feeds, the inside guard could be clearly seen outside the bedroom door.
He was a tall, burly individual, and appeared to be heavily armed.
Logan resisted the temptation to make a comment.
"There's gotta be a third man in the security room," added Max, "otherwise no one's viewing the cameras."
Zack nodded, turning questioningly to Phillip.
The other man shrugged as if in a daze. "I guess you're right. I hadn't thought of that."
"Then you'd better start thinking," replied Zack roughly, "because we're risking our lives to get your brother out!"
Phillip seemed to snap out of his languor at that, sitting up a little straighter in the back seat. "You're quite right. I'm sorry," he added as a general comment.
Still concentrating on the screen, Logan said, "I checked out all the security to the house last night. It's not set up for anything major. They're just relying on the cameras and the guards."
"Logan, you can cover the feeds can't you?" asked Max.
Logan nodded briefly, calling up the security feed of the front gate in readiness.
Presently it showed the guard standing immovably behind the huge, elaborate wrought iron gates. With the push of a few buttons, Logan had eradicated the genuine security camera feed, freezing the frame, and leaving a 'still' to be seen by the person monitoring the screen. Fortunately it was a still morning, or this plan wouldn't have worked.
"Give us three minutes inside, then open the gate," Max said to him.
********************************************
Zack was right. The guard on duty at the front of the house was decidedly wet, cold and miserable.
His endless night improved remarkably by the appearance of a breathtakingly beautiful girl.
"Excuse me, can you help me?" she asked.
There was something about her voice that made him think he'd go to the other side of the world to help her if he could.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I'm unable to leave my post."
"You see, my car broke down, and my father'll have a heart attack if I don't make it home in time," she finished forlornly.
"Look, I'd like to help you..."
"But...?" added Max enticingly.
She stood in front of the wrought iron gates that the guard stood behind.
"My car's just down the street," she cooed.
She could see the guards resolve weaken.
What trouble could there be from this young girl he guessed?
Unlocking the gates, he stepped forward.
"I just don't know how to thank you," Max babbled on in her most beguiling manner, "but what about this?"
The guard barely had time to register his surprise as her fist connected with the side of his jaw. He wasn't going to be eating on that side for some time to come.
Seeing the guard go down, Zack ran up and dragged him quickly back through the gates and tied him up, leaving him hidden from view between some bushes and the fence.
With a quick wave at the security camera as she ran past, knowing that Logan would be watching the genuine feed, Max and Zack continued up the main driveway towards the house.
Trusting that Logan had all the cameras in his control, they headed for the back door, picking the lock and entering the house within seconds.
The house was furnished in the manner of twenty years earlier, and it had the musty smell of being seldom used.
Making their way through the living room, she noticed the picture of a blonde haired woman and two fair-haired boys, each with their arms around their mother in an affectionate embrace. Gazing at it, she felt a pang for the mother she never knew and the lack of love in her own childhood. The smile on the mother's face was infectious.
"Come on," urged Zack, sensing her dawdling.
Hurrying on, they headed up the stairs, Max going first.
With no attempt to conceal herself, she walked up the stairs boldly, calling out, "Hello, anyone there?"
The sudden appearance of a large man with an automatic rifle made her give a gasp of relief, "Oh I'm so glad there's someone home, because I was beginning to think I had the wrong place."
The guard looked at her in surprise, trying to figure out why this beautiful girl was walking up the stairs of the house.
"You shouldn't be in here," he stated brusquely.
By this time Max was on the same level as the guard.
"Doesn't Nicole live here?" she asked with pretty confusion.
The guard knew what to do if a knife-wielding man with a machine gun arrived at the door, but what was he supposed to do with a kooky 'twenty or so' year old.
In spite of all his training, he dropped his guard momentarily, slightly lowering his rifle. It was all Max needed. In two steps, and appearing almost as a blur to the guard, she darted forward, wresting the gun from his hands after an immobilizing karate chop to his forearm.
Zack following behind her, finished off the guard with a well-controlled blow to his head. The man wouldn't be getting up for a while.
Max quickly tried the door to Byron's room, not surprisingly finding it locked.
"Byron, stand back, we're here to get you out," she whispered loudly through the door.
Hearing some sound of assent, she quickly checked the pockets of the guard, standing up triumphantly with a key ring of house keys.
The third one she tried slipped into the keyhole perfectly and turned smoothly, unlocking the door with a slight click.
Opening the door, she walked in to see a bewildered Byron MacFarland staring at her.
"You," he said in amazement.
"You didn't think we'd ditch you, did ya?"
Byron continued to stare at her. "After what my father did to your friend?" he asked in a shocked voice.
Max had a feeling he was missing a few pieces of the puzzle, but knew now wasn't the time to fill him in, so all she said was "Logan's okay and we gotta get outta here right now. Come on."
They were only at the top of the stairs when they heard the sound of a car horn break the silence of the early morning with its raucous noise.
Max and Zack looked at each other quickly. Both assuming it was Logan, they knew it had to be trouble.
***************************************************
Logan kept his eyes glued to the security feeds he had in front of him. There were five cameras in all in the house, including the one at the front gate, and he had ensured that none of them betrayed Max and Zack's presence.
As soon as the three minutes were up, still in the security files, he hacked into the gate control and opened it, swinging the Aztek through the gate and up the driveway, hoping furiously that they hadn't underestimated the time it would take them to get Byron.
There was no sign of Max or Zack, so he turned the car around in readiness to make a quick exit, turning on the wipers as the steady drizzle of the morning 'obligingly' turned to rain.
Glancing back down at the screen, he was horrified to see four heavily armed figures clad in military fatigues rushing down the hallway in the direction of Max and Zack.
Glancing around wildly for inspiration, his eyes lit on the car horn. Without hesitation he pressed it with quick short jabs that spoke of the need for urgency, his eyes never leaving the screen.
Vaguely aware of Phillip MacFarland behind him, Logan's hand stole to the compartment of his door where his gun was hidden.
Max and Zack were within range of the cameras by this point, and Logan could see them racing across the short entrance hall from the stairs heading towards the front door.
Close behind them were their pursuers, guns raised, but so far disinclined to fire, hopefully, Logan thought, because of the presence of Byron MacFarland.
Max and Zack could have easily outstripped the guards, but were hampered by having to slow themselves to the speed of the other man.
Even from his viewpoint, Logan could see that Byron appeared dazed and Logan wondered briefly if his father had drugged him. Whatever the reason, the guards were very nearly upon them, and Logan could only watch the drama unfolding with frustration.
Suddenly, Zack turned to face the guard closest to them, and Logan could see him yelling something at Max, which was probably to run to the car. Logan shook his head in exasperation as he saw Max turn and fight the next guard, taking him down with a vicious kick to his kneecap, and then be immediately grabbed around her throat by the crook of one of the guard's arms.
Byron MacFarland was now running for the door, and in seconds Logan had him in actual sight. The man stood in the doorway for a moment, staring blankly at his surroundings. Aware of a sudden movement behind him, Logan turned to see Phillip jump out and rush to the aid of his brother.
Quickly swinging his attention back to the security feeds, Logan was anxious to find that he could no longer see Max. Zack was still in evidence, as were three of the guards, two lying prone and the third soon to join them as he sank to his knees then finally totally collapsed as he took an X5 chop to the back of his neck. Logan couldn't help wincing in sympathy.
At that moment the front door opened once more, and Logan discovered the whereabouts of the fourth guard. Byron and Phillip had barely cleared the front steps when a figure came hurling through the air from the top of the steps, followed by a particularly satisfied Max who continued on down the steps to ascertain that her victim was not getting up.
"Max, come on," Logan yelled at her, only too keen to get them all out of there.
Turning to see Zack coming out of the house, she hurried forward herself, putting an arm under the elbow of Byron MacFarland, and hustling him into the car.
Max had just run round and slipped into the front passenger seat when Zack appeared at the car.
Slipping his gun back into the door, Logan watched the rear view mirror until Zack was in the car. With the slight skidding of tyres as the wheels took their time to get traction on the fine stones, Logan continued to accelerate hard down the driveway.
****************************************************
"Everyone okay?" asked Logan, still checking his rearview mirror for signs of pursuit.
Logan looked at Max as she turned to smile at him, hair a little wet, her eyes shining with the rush of adrenalin to her body, cheeks slightly flushed, panting a little, her breathing just a fraction faster than usual. He had to admit that there was something incredibly sexy about 'kickin' ass' when it came to Max.
"I'm fine," she murmured to him, deceptively demure.
Logan gave her the hint of a disapproving look, just to prove that he was totally unaffected by her, and that his interest in her well-being was purely platonic, but he had to admit that at times like this, her beauty was a major distraction.
"We're all fine back here," commented Zack, having been aware of the by- play in the front seat.
"That's good," answered Logan, perhaps a little too heartily.
"It seems 'Daddy' was kinda hopin' for some company," Max said, turning to look at Byron and Phillip.
"At least he doesn't want them dead," added Zack. "Those guards could've nailed you if they'd wanted too," he added to the brothers.
Logan nodded. "Shoot to kill was definitely not their command."
"I suppose it's back to the motel?" asked Max, not sounding thrilled with the prospect.
"Nothing but the best," quipped Logan.
********************************************************
Stopping on the way to check that Byron was clean of bugs and tracking devices, and to buy some food, they arrived at the motel shortly after 8am.
The weather hadn't improved, but they were able to get a parking space close to their room.
Pulling up in front of it, Logan reflected it looked even worse by daylight. Aware of Max's accusing eyes on him, he gave her an encouraging smile before she got out to retrieve his chair. "It has a certain 'charm' wouldn't you say?"
"If you're a 'snake' maybe," she suggested
At least it was warm inside, and after spreading their food out on the table and hot drinks had been made, Logan felt it was time to press the MacFarland brothers for some answers.
Byron still seemed confused by the morning's events, and he was particularly upset every time he looked at Logan and was reminded of what his father had almost done to him. It was as if the attack on Logan embodied for him the depths to which his father had sunk, and he wasn't sure he wanted to face it.
"I just don't know what's happened to him," Byron muttered almost to himself. "I don't know the man he's become."
Phillip placed a bracing arm around his younger brother's shoulders and looked at Logan. "We must stop him," he said simply.
Logan nodded. "With your help, we should be able to, but we need some answers."
Both brothers nodded decisively, Byron seeming to gain some strength from his brother's attitude.
"What can we tell you?" he asked with a deep breath.
"When I looked into your father's security files, I kept coming up with a possible major target for tonight. Now, it wasn't clear who it was aimed it. Any idea?"
To Logan's disappointment, both brothers shook their heads.
"What about the Eyes Only rumours?" asked Max, asking the question closest to her heart. "Where did all that crap come from?"
"Eyes Only?" asked Phillip in surprise. "Why are you interested in that?"
Looking at Max momentarily, Logan replied, "Because Melody Banks was a friend of mine."
"I read about her death," acknowledged Byron. "I'm sorry."
"She was killed because she was a track to be covered," Logan explained to them.
Both men looked at Logan with puzzled expressions.
Losing a little bit of patience with their lack of understanding, Max put in edgily, "Someone was paying her big money to report her crap, then they killed her. That simple."
Phillip shook his head. "It just gets worse and worse doesn't it?"
"What do you mean?" asked Logan warily, leaning forward slightly.
Phillip looked at Byron. "Father didn't tell you about this. Only I knew."
"Knew what?" asked Max, ready to shake him.
The older brother looked at Logan. "My father was contacted by someone, I'm not sure who, or how they came to know of my father's plans, but it was essentially that if my father agreed to let Eyes Only be blamed for the attacks, they would provide us with some 'super soldiers'."
At the words 'super soldiers' Max felt a familiar hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Keeping his face composed, Logan said, "What exactly do you mean by 'super soldiers'?"
"They're stronger, faster, tougher than any other men I've seen," answered Phillip.
Zack, who had been keeping watch by the window as the others were talking, now came over to the others. "Did you notice a kind of tattoo on their neck?" he asked bluntly, without looking at Max.
"How did you know about that?" asked Phillip in surprise.
"What did the tattoo look like?" pressed Zack.
"Lines, resembling a barcode you might say."
This time Max looked at Logan. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but couldn't risk with the presence of the MacFarland brothers. Instead, the expression of her eyes spoke volumes – fear, worry, concern but above all contrition. There was only one reason why Manticore would be going after Eyes Only.
Catching her look, Logan shrugged in a dismissive gesture. "Let's just concentrate on putting on end to all this," he remarked to them all.
TBC