A/n: thanks again for the reviews, they inspired me so much I've actually typed up to chapter 7 already. I'm just going to be evil and leave a bit of a gap between updates.
This fic is starting to overtake blitz, I have a bit of writer's block on that I'm afraid, but I'll do my best to post chapter 11 as soon as I can think up some good stuff to put in it.
Sim's First Law: More reviews mean more updates.
Chapter 3: Support Your Local X5
When Bling arrived, he found Max pacing anxiously in front of the window, talking on the phone.
"…if you hear anything at all about what might have happened to him, please just call me. Thanks, Matt, I owe you." She hung up. "Bling, you got here quick."
"I was on my way over when you called. Do we have any leads on what might have happened to Logan?"
"None. There's nothing missing, not even enough to fill an overnight bag. Everything's exactly where it should be. If it was someone looking for Eyes Only, they'd have taken his computers. What cases has he been working on lately?"
"Nothing much. He said he was going to write a few above ground articles while it was quiet, refresh his cover. I thought you knew that."
"He hasn't been talking to me much for a while. Oh, no, you don't think Manticore could have figured out he knows me…"
"No way. If there was anything Manticore-related going on he'd have told you. Did you check if his gun was there?"
"I can't believe I didn't think of that…" Max ran into the office and opened the drawer. Her heart leapt into her mouth as she saw it was empty. Bling entered just in time to see the first tear roll down Max's cheek. She swiped it away impatiently, trying to focus on finding a clue to Logan's disappearance. "It's gone."
Bling moved over and hugged her. "He'll be ok, Max, we'll find him." Max knew he was just saying that. The deep, paralysing fear that bubbled within her forced more tears of pain and frustration from her eyes until she was sobbing on Bling's shoulder. The desolation and loneliness she felt was so strong it was overwhelming her legendary self-control.
"Oh, god, please don't let anything have happened to him…" she whispered.
I can't let go like this, she told herself angrily, when the tears dried up. If I want to get Logan back I have to get my head in the game. And I am going to get him back.
"Better now?" Asked Bling gently.
"Not even close. But thanks. Come on, we should search the whole place, maybe we'll turn something up. I'll do the office, you take the bedroom."
Just then, Max's pager went off. She checked the number, hoping against hope… "Work," she said, the disappointment almost making her want to start crying again. "I'm gonna tell them I need a personal day, you up for forging a doctor's note?"
"Always. I'll go make a start on the bedroom while you call them."
Max dialled the familiar number on Logan's phone. "Yeah?"
"Cindy, it's me."
"Where are you, boo? Normal says if you're not here in ten minutes he's gonna fire you. Tell me you ain't just hangin' with that sugar daddy of yours again."
"Cindy, Logan's missing."
"Missing? What do you mean missing?"
"I mean he's disappeared. His car's here, none of his stuff's been touched, but he's… gone." Max did her best to hide the quaver in her voice.
"Oh, boo… how you holdin' up?"
"I'm not. Bling and me are searching the apartment, trying to find some kind of clue. Cover for me with Normal?"
"You got it, Max. Just you find your rollerboy. Late."
"Thanks, Cindy. See ya." Normal leant over the counter towards her as she put the phone down.
"Don't bother with the excuses, girly, I heard everything on the extension. Tell Max she can take as much time as she needs until her boyfriend shows up."
"Are you feeling aiight? That's almost nice."
"I've never heard Max sound upset before. But the rest of you lousy bums are gonna have to work twice as hard to cover for her until she gets back, so bip bip bip. Here, hot run to sector six. Tell the other cretins before you go."
Sim's First Law: More reviews mean more updates.
Hope you liked it. But I won't know unless you tell me…