Still slightly dazed from his discovery that Renfro was alive Alec walked back to the lab where Max was still lying unconscious. The DNA researcher was speaking in a hushed voice to Logan while Asha looked on. Alec only had to strain his hearing a little to overhear everything that was being said to Logan.
'Even if you had brought her in earlier I doubt there was much that could have been done. The virus is in its late stages. I don't know how it was placed in her body in the first place. The fact that she had consumed a large amount of alcohol with the element which activated the virus certainly speed the process up. It takes a transgenic less time to "sober up", as the alcohol is observed into the blood stream and then broken down quickly so not to cause any symptoms of alcohol consumption or a hangover. Because of this quick pace the poison has been carried quicker than even the person who planted the virus could imagine.'
Logan seemed to be thinking something over. 'So the poison which caused the virus was in the alcohol?' He shot Alec a blaming look over the shoulder of the researcher.
However the researcher shook his head. 'No. The virus was already in her body, however something in the alcohol set the virus off'
That revelation didn't make Alec feel any better about blaming himself, okay, so he hadn't put this virus in Max, but he had persuaded her to drink the Vodka which had set it off. In a way it was his fault.
The researcher continued 'Because of this rapid spread of the poison, the virus will run its course within six hours'. Run its course. Alec knew that was a nice way of saying she would die in six hours. Six hours, that meant Max would be dead by the time 0700 came around. Something the researcher had said before struck Alec. "The poison has been carried quicker the even the person who planted the virus could imagine".
Did this mean that Renfro didn't know the exact timeframe of the virus? Had she assumed that the poison was spreading slow enough for Max to still be alive in the morning. But Max wouldn't still be alive then, and what good would an antidote be to a dead transgenic? Alec realised he didn't know whether Renfro actually planned on giving Max an antidote, it wasn't as if the two of them had spoken of the terms of this meeting, except that he was to come with Max alone.
Alec interrupted Logan and the researcher noting the desperate tinge on Logan's usual whiny voice. Alec knew Logan blamed him for Max's drinking antics, but he suspected that Max's ex also blamed himself for not making sure she was okay after their break-up. He probably thought he'd driven her to drink. Don't flatter yourself, Alec though snidely.
'Can I use your phone?' He asked the researcher 'Gotta call normal to tell him Max wont be in tomorrow, you know how irritated he gets when us 'lowlifes' don't turn up' Logan shot him a look and Alec knew he thought he was being an insensitive prick. Alec didn't have time to explain, nor to walk all the way back to the phone booth. He needed the phone now, he didn't have time to worry about whether the call would be traced.
When he got hold of the phone he went into an empty room and dialled the number from Max's neck again. After two rings it was picked up.
'Granny May's Florist. Jenny speaking, can I help you?' Alec almost laughed. A Florist? Could they have a worse cover story if they tried?
'I need to speak to Renfro' Alec snapped into the phone.
'I'm sorry' the voice on the other end replied sweetly 'You've got the wrong number'. The line went dead. Alec was getting sick of these people hanging up on him. Helplessness was building up and he felt useless. No wonder Max hated him so much, maybe she could tell he was useless and that's why she never bothered with him. Alec slammed his fist down on the desk, he was startled as the phone rang, almost as if his fist on the desk had caused it to ring. He picked it up.
'What's the problem 494 changed your mind about saving your little friends life?'
Ha. He knew there was no florist.
'There wont be a life to save at 0700.' He said tonelessly 'If we are going to do this we have to go it now'.
There was a pause. 'Very well 494. Be there in 30 minutes'
Alec walked back into Max's room. Receiving strange looks from Logan and Asha. The researcher had gone and Logan was sitting next to Max, holding her hand. Like he had earned the right to hold her hand, both the people he had turned to for help had failed Max. Alec stood stiffly in the doorway for a moment as he watched Logan finally notice the markings on her neck. Alec knew then it was time to go. Max would kill him if he got Logan caught up in all this. He pushed Logan aside lightly and gathered Max up into his arms. Logan stared at him again with the same 'what the hell are you doing' look he had given him before.
'What the hell are you doing' He confirmed that Alec's interpretation of the look had been correct.
Alec shrugged. 'I need to borrow your car'
Logan stood up to face him. 'Where ever you need to go I will drive you'. Alec knew then that Logan realised he knew more than he was letting on.
'Just stay out of this Logan. You don't owe Max anything anymore'
Logan held out his keys reluctantly to Alec. 'That's not true, I owe her my life more times than I can count. I'd like to help pay her back.'
Alec wavered for a minute. It could be helpful to let Logan in the loop. But he remembered Renfro's words. 'Come alone.' He shook his head. 'Sorry Logan, you have to sit this one out. I know you've taken on Manticore before, but this time I have to handle it.'
As soon as Logan echoed 'Manticore' Alec knew he'd said too much. He was sure Logan already knew Manticore was behind this, but Alec had just mistakenly cemented Logan's suspicions than Alec knew a lot more than he had shared with him.
Logan looked from Alec to Max for a long moment before he nodded. 'Go. Help her. If anything goes wrong, contact me. I know Max would worry about my safety, but you shouldn't. Her life comes first.'
Alec didn't say that if push came to shove he would always put Max's life before Logan's, but he was thinking it. He gave Logan a sharp nod and headed towards the car.
Every minute mattered to Max's survival and Alec drove quickly to Sector 11.