Chapter 10: How it Came to This

"I was looking for some quick cash. I figured a ski resort would be as good a place as any to lift some thick wallets. Rent was due, but there weren't enough paychecks, you know? Turn here."

Logan nodded, listening intently as Max alternated between giving him directions and telling him her story. She'd insisted they take his car, and he'd agreed, because the Mercedes was bound to draw unwanted attention. Apparently, where they were going, they needed to be as inconspicuous as possible, which, as was generally the case, didn't bother Logan at all. As Max continued, he tried to distance himself emotionally from the story, but was finding it rather difficult.

"I walked into the bar about two minutes before he bought a round for the house, so I knew he was loaded. I caught his attention, we flirted, and before I could jack his wallet, he was asking me to dinner."

"Is that how you meet all your friends?" Logan asked. He couldn't help it. He was amused by the coincidence, and her casual retelling, despite the seriousness of the situation. Glancing over, he saw a small smile play about her lips, and he felt a weird sense of accomplishment.

"Anyway," she said sternly, "turns out he doesn't carry a wallet. Turn right, and then turn left as soon as you can. He always carries a credit card, his ID, three fives, five ones, and two twenties in a weird little case in his pocket. Obviously not worth lifting."

"Obviously," Logan smirked.

"The necklace he gave me on the third date, however, I was able to fence for a pretty penny." She sighed heavily, "After that, he didn't really give me anything for awhile, but… I guess I kept hoping he would." Her voice grew quiet. "It was easier for me to let him give me things. I didn't want to give the others the idea that stealing is the best way to survive. Someday, someone would figure out that the transgenic were thieves, and that wouldn't really be good for public opinion..." The car was suddenly filled with an uncomfortable silence. He risked another glance in her direction and found that an almost haunted look graced her features, and she was tapping the door handle impatiently.

"And?" he prompted. She stared at him, as if she couldn't believe he wanted to hear the rest of the story. In truth, part of him really, really didn't want to. He didn't enjoy hearing about how another man had wooed the woman he loved, but he knew there was more to the story, and he knew that it was important to whatever was going to happen in the next few hours.

"Well, one day he got really drunk. I'm talking totally shitfaced. He'd had some kind of argument with his dad, and he kept rambling on and on about how his dad is the antichrist. When he started talking about the terrorist cells, I remembered what you'd told me."

Her story trailing off, she pointed to a large gray building on the corner they were approaching, explaining that it was a parking garage, and instructing him to park in it. She didn't say another word until they'd entered the building, ascended three floors, and Logan had parked the Aztek. Then, he turned off the car and turned to face her.

"And?"

"So, when he recovered from his massive hangover, I explained that I was one of Eyes Only's Canadian field liaisons." She looked away and bit her lip. "Sorry."

His laugh seemed to annoy her, because she turned back and looked him straight in the eye. Her expression was not an amused one. Logan could only shrug and swallow his laugh. It just seemed funny. "Canadian field liaison" was not a position he'd ever even bothered recruiting for, though, he had to admit, he did have a few contacts that might have fit that description. Nevertheless, he quickly apologized, and she continued with her story, which was, thankfully, drawing to a close.

"He spilled his guts then. I mean, he just told me everything. Things about his father, things about his own job at the company that he couldn't be sure about, but he found highly suspicious. Did you know, his uncle 'disappeared' oh-so-mysteriously?" Logan nodded. "Did you know that Will was the last person to see him, and that it was in his father's study at their house?"

"That I didn't know," Logan admitted, completely intrigued. Where had this kid been three years ago when he'd been looking into the case?

"Anyway" Max continued, though her voice had dropped to barely above a whisper, and she averted her eyes, choosing instead to look out the window at the parking garage. "He was really grateful when I told him I could help put his dad in jail. The next night, he asked me marry him."

"Oh." It hurt. Logan had to admit that it hurt. Thinking it might happen some time in the future was a lot different than hearing it had already happened. It didn't seem right, either. Will Patterson found out that his girlfriend was an Eyes Only source, and the next day he wanted to marry her? Did he think that he was in danger, and he was hoping Max could keep him safe?

"I told him that it was too soon. I'd only known him for a month. So he invited me to move back to San Francisco with him. It was a good idea, really. We were closer to company headquarters, so he was able to get the evidence I gave you, and I was able to get back to my less-than-legal activities without having to worry about what kind of role model I'm being. I send the money back to Canada with Alec, and so far the others have been fine without me." Her voice was tinged with something that Logan knew, but still couldn't quite place. It sounded like regret, but it also sounded like she missed her family. He felt a rush of protectiveness for her, and had to stop himself from reaching over to kiss her. It just wasn't the right time.

"And now Will thinks his father killed someone else?"

"Yep, and that's why you're coming with me."

"Yeah, cause it won't be awkward at all," Logan suddenly snipped lightly, suddenly aware of the absurdity of this strange love triangle. Still, he had to trust Max to sort it out accordingly.

"Let's go," was all she said in reply, and together they exited the car, while Max explained her relatively simple plan. It seemed like a decent one to Logan. He'd certainly heard worse plans escape her lips.

TBC...