A/n: thanks once again for the great reviews, everyone. Sorry this is so late, it took me ages to figure out the new document manager.

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

Chapter 11: Betrayal

Jonas put the phone down. "That's it," he said. "The technicians will pack up the stealth drone and have all the data ready to deliver."

"Good. See how much longer life is when people help each other?" Max replied, satisfied.

"I still don't understand why you are so worried about what happens to Logan. I'll happily double whatever he's paying you." Jonas tumbled from his chair to the floor from the force of Max's tiny fist connecting with his jaw.

"Logan doesn't pay me anything, you money-grabbing son of a bitch! And if you value your balls I suggest you don't try and make that offer again."

"You must be in love with him then. A gold digger who actually cares about her victim. Junior never was good at spotting them."

"You think I'm a gold digger? Have you actually met your wife? Or do you only roll her out for special occasions?"

"All the Cales have girls buzzing around them like flies. From what I heard, even Logan was quite the playboy when he was younger. He couldn't possibly have anything you would want except money."

"You'd be amazed," said Max. "What I don't get is why you hate him so much. What did Logan ever do to you?"

"The boy's never done a decent day's work in his life. He's useless."

"You don't know him at all, do you? You have no idea how many times I've found him sleeping on his keyboard because he's sat up all night working. Half the time you can't separate him from that computer with a crowbar."

"You call those little articles he writes work? If it wasn't for the trust fund he'd be penniless."

"Just because he doesn't make money from his writing doesn't mean it's not worth doing. Money isn't everything."

"And you'd know, I suppose, being a Greenwich Guavera?"

"No, I'd know being a bike messenger and trying to get by on 300 bucks a month after rent. Now on that note, I'd better bounce before I lose my job." She headed for the door, then paused and looked back as she reached it. "Oh, and Jonas? If you even think about screwing with me you're a dead man. Later." She swept out.

Jonas waited a couple of minutes before picking up the phone and dialling. Max tuned up her hearing and listened in from just outside the door.

"Gil? We have a problem. My nephew's been kidnapped. The ransom is the stealth drone." He paused to listen to the reply. "Not Alexander, my other nephew, Logan. Yes, the crippled one. No of course I don't want to pay, but his girlfriend's threatening to tell the world unless I do." Max tried hard not to grind her teeth.

"We have to set up the drone for an S and D on her. I've tried to buy her off, but she's not having it. Miss Guavera needs to be silenced. Good. Thanks, Gil, I appreciate it. This deal's going to set up Cale industries for the next fifty years. Call me when it's done."

Max stepped away from the door and headed out, wondering how a hoverdrone could be an effective search and destroy weapon.

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

Only short, I'm afraid. Hope you liked it. Let me know.

I'll try and get 12 up in a couple of days, although blitz and revision are giving me a real headache at the moment.