A/n: thanks for the reviews, guys. Great to hear from you.

I was concerned about why the tape wouldn't be sent directly to Jonas myself, but the story doesn't really work otherwise. I did come up with an excuse, and it's in this chapter. If it makes sense (or not), please let me know.

Sim's First Law: More reviews mean more updates.

Chapter 7: Panic

The tape flickered from static to a picture of Logan with a gun against his head. He looks ok, thought Max in relief. No obvious injuries, a little pale, but that's not unusual for him. He turned towards whoever was holding it on him as the recording began. As he did so, the ugly swelling on the back of his head came into view. Damn, someone must have knocked him out pretty hard. Good thing he has a hard head.

"Back off a little, willya, 734? I'm not goin anywhere."

Max gasped. "Brin…" she whispered. She didn't even hear the rest of the video. Panic-stricken thoughts cascaded through her mind.

Brin's there. Manticore has Logan. Oh my god, I was right, it's all my fault, I can't believe it. How did they find him? What do I have to do to keep him safe? If they want me to give myself up I will. I won't let anything happen to him if I can stop it, not again. I care about him too much to let them hurt him. There must be some way I can save him, save my Logan from them. I can't lose him, I… Cindy interrupted, talking over the rest of the recording.

"What? You sayin the black helicopter dudes have Logan? Damn, boo, how'd they figure out he knows you?"

"Shh," said Bling. "We don't know that they do." He rewound the tape and played it again. This time Max managed to hear more than the first sentence.

"This tape needs to be sent to Jonas Cale immediately. He has until noon on March third to deliver the stealth drone to the federal government. He must have the drone on wharf twelve on the Seattle waterfront at that time to meet his side of the deal."

"In return he gets ten million dollars and me back alive. If he chooses not to comply I will be killed." He turned his head away again. "That do, Director?" the tape was stopped before any reply was made.

"See, Max? They don't want Logan because of you. None of this is your fault." Bling's comforting words couldn't overcome the terrible fear in her heart.

"But Manticore still has him. And they'll still kill him unless I can get them what they want by this time tomorrow."

"What I don't get is why they didn't send the tape to Logan's family directly," said Original Cindy thoughtfully.

"Guess they thought that if Jonas had the tape and decided to ignore it no one would know. By sending it to Logan's, they could be sure that people who cared about him would see it and so could blackmail Jonas into saving his life by giving up the stealth drone." Bling replied logically. OC took a good look at the expression on Max's face. She'd never seen her homegirl look so scared.

"Don't worry, sugar. I'm sure Logan's rich relatives will come up with this stealth drone thing."

"Are you kidding? Logan hates his family, and the feeling is more than mutual."

"Then I guess you'll have to persuade them to help out." Bling was smiling now, imagining the faces of Logan's snooty relatives when Max started on them.

"Now persuasion I'm good at. I'm gonna pay good old Uncle Jonas a visit." She pulled the tape out of the machine and grabbed her jacket on the way out. "Later."

Sim's First Law: More reviews mean more updates.

I know, this chapter is even shorter than usual.

Tell me what you think quickly and I'll post the next one in two days.