A/n: thanks for your great reviews for 30. Here's the rest of that conversation you've been waiting for…
By the way, maria656, I think you can safely assume that evil cliffhanger woman is here to stay.
Chapter 31: Absolution
"Valerie was pregnant?" Max gasped, stunned by the revelation.
"So she claimed. We left the country so we could get the best possible medical treatment for her. Went to live in the UK for a while. Then I found out she wasn't pregnant at all. It was just a ploy to stop me getting rid of my shares in the company. Seemed she'd got used to living the high life and wanted it to continue. I'd signed the share contract by then; there was nothing I could do to reverse the decision. In the end, I offered her a huge divorce settlement and she took it."
"Then I went back to college for a postgrad in journalism. I was determined to do something about the poverty and corruption that had broken out since the pulse. Particularly since my own uncle was one of the worst offenders. Nathan Herrero taught me for a couple of semesters and when I graduated he offered me a job. He was running an anti-establishment newsletter called 'The Pacific Free Press' at the time. It was great work, but dangerous."
"After he disappeared, I took it over. When hit men started coming after me I stopped producing the letter and started posting anonymous articles on the Internet. It was back up by then but very few people had access to it. I needed a way to reach a wider audience. So, I came up with the idea of Eyes Only. I had plenty of contacts already from working on the PFP, and it wasn't hard for a hacker like me to dig up dirt on people. Been working on it ever since."
"Then, one night, I was recording another bulletin when a cat burglar broke in. And, well, you know the rest."
"So, Jonas is indirectly responsible for Eyes Only? He'd be so upset if he knew."
"He would. Partly why I did it in the first place. That's it, anyway."
"Uh uh. Not until I say so. Why did you use your eyes for the broadcasts?"
"Because they're the only thing I inherited entirely from my mother. I take after her more than my dad. And I think she would have liked the idea of Eyes Only."
"Tell me more about her."
"She was great. She was the only member of the family who didn't think money was the most important thing. She organised all sorts of charity events, mostly for children's causes. Whenever dad bought her a gift, she cared more that he'd thought about getting her something than how much it cost. As you can probably imagine, Margo hated her."
"Figures. What was her name?"
"Linda Eastman. She refused to change it when she got married. She could be as stubborn as dad when she wanted to."
"So that's where you get it from. I always wondered. What about your sister?"
"After mom died, Kat kind of took over trying to look after everyone, even though she was the youngest. Especially me, for some reason. We ganged up for protection against Jon mostly. He was nasty to her most of the time too. Except for when she was about twelve, and some kid had been teasing her and made her cry. She told Jon, and he talked his entire football team into beating the crap out of him. Got into a lot of trouble over that."
"Guess your brother had some decency, then."
"A little. He was my father's son, after all. Dad always believed in retribution. Maybe that was why mom's death hit him so hard. There was no one he could blame for cancer. And the car accident that killed Jon and Kat he could only blame on himself for buying the thing in the first place."
"It wasn't your fault, Logan. What happened to your dad I mean."
"You try telling him that. Only you can't, because he's been dead for 15 years. I still remember that day in crystal clarity. I know exactly how much time I had; twenty seven seconds from when I saw the movement to when the shot was fired. I even know the exact pattern the blood made on my skin when my father's face exploded two feet from mine. There's only one other day in my life I remember as well as that; the day I got shot. Down to the pattern of the tarmac when I fell."
"You were sixteen, Logan. What were you supposed to do? It's not like you were looking over your shoulders for hit men."
"But I should have been. It was the first time in months dad hadn't had a bodyguard at his side. I should have realised…"
"Do you trust me, Logan?"
"Of course, more than anyone."
"Then you have faith in my opinion?"
"You know I do. What…"
"Logan." Max took hold of his shoulders and gazed into his eyes. "There was nothing you could do. It wasn't your fault."
"When you say that I can almost believe it's true."
"Maybe because it is." Max smiled, unable to believe she was having this conversation again, but reversed.
"I'm going to need a little more convincing."
"I think I can do that." Logan leaned forwards and kissed her firmly.
"Thanks, Max." He said, gathering her closer to his chest.
"Anytime," she replied, snuggling up to his warm bulk. Suddenly she felt very tired.
Several minutes later, Logan looked carefully down at Max, fast asleep in his lap. He smiled tenderly, and gently shifted her position to free his right arm. She moaned slightly and pressed herself closer to him, but didn't wake. He pulled off his glasses and set them carefully on the arm of the couch before wrapping his arm back around her and closing his eyes. In less than a minute his even breathing matched hers as they slumbered together, their cocoon firmly back in place.
Tell me what you thought. Sorry it's a bit short.