DISCLAIMER: Please see all previous; no ownership, no profits made.
A/N: I know it's been far too long since this has been updated; my apologies – other stories have had me in their clutches. Thanks to all of you who have written asking for updates to the story; thanks to everyone for reading and hanging in on this one. And if anyone has a review they're not using, I'd really like it if you'd just drop it off here... :)
CALE INDUSTRIES 10:15 A.M.
Logan had been holed up in Research and Development much of the morning, meeting with Jake as the two compared information they'd found in their respective reviews of the few remaining files, notes and materials scrounged in the nooks and crannies of Cale Industries' several labs. Logan was again reminded of what a good call it had been to bring Jake into his confidence, and was appreciative of his input as they tried to piece together the facts behind the development and delivery of the killer 'drones. The first Monday after they'd met at the coffee shop, Jake brought Logan a handful of seemingly innocuous papers that, to anyone other than an engineer in labs like those at CI, might look like random file notes, not related to any particular technology or project. But Jake was able to identify them as belonging to the project's senior optical engineer, Rick Collins, and as documenting Collins' initial work toward the facial recognition technology required for the 'drones search and destroy missions – all begun a good eighteen months before Jonas' death. With that, Jake's participation and expertise were locked in to step with Logan's quest, and the two had managed to communicate, one way or the other, every day following their first.
This morning, they met in a small office Logan had commandeered in the division, a far cry from the airy executive suite Bennett had prepared for him with tree-lined views and expensive furnishings, but which he could monitor for taps and intrusion far more easily than in his assigned space. Each man pulled up a summary file on his laptop of notes and findings which outlined material already covered, with the new information he'd gleaned since their last discussion. Logan had found invoices and a few file records that, when cross- referenced, allowed him to track dates and a billing code which then provided a way to trace of materials and employees involved on the project; Jake could take the seemingly unrelated data and build for Logan an idea of what CI had done, step by step, by whom, how, and when...
Logan looked over at the other man as he finished his own notes for project files he wanted to locate, and reflected how quickly he'd decided to trust him. He'd vetted Jake before even contacting him, though not as thoroughly as he normally would for an Eyes Only contact; he'd not had sufficient time. But this wasn't Eyes Only work, and there was no sign that the engineer couldn't be trusted. He hated that each day he drew the talented man further into the dark, ugly, dangerous world he increasingly believed was involved with the hoverdrones, but he'd been candid with Jake, at least as to the level of danger involved, and Jake had never wavered. As he pushed Max and Bling away, he drew Jake closer. He hoped that he wasn't sealing the man's fate with reliance on his input, even as he decided to raise the stakes for them all...
"Jake ..." Logan had decided to take this to yet again the next level, if his newest "operative" thought it would work. "I have a project that I'd like you to think about, see if it's possible, to help move this thing along." Logan began. "I met the director of the hoverdrone project the other night..."
Jake's head snapped up, and he asked, "The woman you asked about, before, from the security videos?"
Logan nodded, his voice dropping a little, unconsciously, even in the small office they checked regularly for bugs. "Dr. Elizabeth Renfro. She was up front about having done business with Jonas and the company. From what she said, they're still interested in doing business with CI in the future, but they have no need of us at present nor any specific plans for the future. That tells me that not only do they have everything they needed from CI for the drones, but that she isn't planning to come back for quite a while, if at all. I want her back here so I can find out who she's working for..." Jake's look in response stopped him for the moment, and, not understanding, Logan assured him, "there's no reason at all that she or anyone would need to know specifically who was involved in whatever we do to get them here..."
"It's not that, exactly," Jake began, awkwardly. "Logan, everything we've found so far just solidifies the hunch we've each had, that this is a covert group with government assets and the authority – either spoken or by lack of oversight – to do whatever they feel like doing, including kill anyone who gets in their way." He hesitated, but then managed, " I was just getting used to having you around..." Uncomfortable with his role as his employer's protector, but knowing he might be the only one who had a clue that Cale needed one, he tried to make Logan see reason. "I hate the idea of your luring them back if they're gone for a while. They're going to catch on that you've been investigating them. Even I know you were ... are ... a reporter, with a reputation for going after the big dogs. After years away, you come back to the family business on the heels of a series of murders tied to CI's hoverdrones. How can they not suspect you?" Jake's concern was sincere – and acute. "You won't get out of it unscathed."
Logan looked back up to the worried expression of the engineer, reminding him of the looks he'd seen from Max, from Bling ... and his own intensity mellowed slightly with his appreciation. "I might – with your help." He could see the uncertainly in Jake's face and added, "I trust your judgment, Jake, and I've seen your abilities. Hear me out, and if you can help me with this – and you think I can get away with it..." his smile encouraged, "we might get them interested ... and have them lose interest ... with just enough time to take a peek into their secret clubhouse..."
CALE INDUSTRIES 11:08 A.M.
Forty minutes later, there was a knock at the door, and Logan's assigned personal assistant, who had been in the same job for Gilbert Neal, prior to his disappearance, quietly opened the door. "Mr. Cale, there's a gentleman here to see you, who said he has an 11:15 with you. I'm sorry if I neglected to calendar an appointment..." she apologized softly, suspecting that yet again, her nonconformist boss was off 'doing his own thing,' which normally would irritate her keen sense of organized propriety. However, with this Mr. Cale... her initial discomfort in working for a younger man, one confined to a wheelchair, gave way to inflated admiration for his determination to function, just as if there was no wheelchair ... and on to appreciation for his kindness to her, and intense interest in saving the company, even if, apparently, he was a bit ... unconventional. Along the way, she'd altogether stopped even registering the wheelchair...
Logan looked surprised at her words, initially, but it quickly resolved. "Oh, uh, no, Mrs. Brandt, I just forgot to tell you; I'd forgotten we agreed on a time. It's Mr... uh..." he prompted.
"Gillette. Zack Gillette."
Logan nodded, his face not too telling, he hoped, his guess at the announcement correct. He tried not to smirk at Zack's choice of name – so there would be no question, Logan assumed. "Right. Thank you, Mrs. Brandt; would you tell him I'll be ten minutes or so?"
"Yes, sir" she nodded, and backed out of the doorway, pulling the door shut behind her. Logan stared at the door, immediately pulled back to the reminder of how dangerous this game was to Max, and for that matter, to Zack. Once he told Zack why he'd called him, especially if the X-5 ever learned of the reasons why he needed to get Max out of Dodge, there would be no going back, and there was an excellent chance he would never again see...
He swallowed the ache he felt at losing Max, and worked to remember what was at stake, tried to find the rage again that he'd felt at what had been done to his father's company, but it was too much work just trying to hold up while he thought his heart might break... Finally getting his thoughts and reactions under some level of control, Logan glanced over to Jake, who'd again been looking in concern at his boss when he saw the changes that had come over Cale's face, both initially, with the announcement of his lunch visitor – and then afterward, when the door closed, and the beleagered man's expression rippled in pain...
Logan drew a breath and picked up where they'd stopped at the interruption. "At any rate... I'd like to go over the proposal in a day or two, and probably somewhere..."
"Boss..." Jake couldn't keep it in any longer, and interrupted, "who is this guy? You didn't have an appointment..." he challenged. "You said something earlier about having someone go bring in some sandwiches, just a half hour ago."
Logan looked back up to the expression of clear worry Jake held for him now, and shook his head. "It's okay; I really did expect him, I just ... wasn't sure when he'd show up."
Jake seemed to be assessing carefully, but finally observed, "Not good news."
The thought of what he was about to do caused Logan to pause, the pain threatening to worm its way through his stubborn resolve... but he couldn't risk Max; if anything happened to her and he hadn't done his utmost to get her away... Logan's expression hardened as he shrugged to volunteer, "no, but, uh... just some unrelated business; nothing that will affect the projects here..." he looked back at the engineer. "I promise you that."
Jake nodded, unhappy with the situation but accepting, for the moment – and Logan saw in his reaction another familiar response, like he'd seen from so many who had helped him, over the years. What would Zack's response be to what he planned to say? What would Max's be?
The sudden stab of pain at the thought threatened to shake him from his plan, but he drew a deep breath and unlocked his brakes, backing up from the desk where he's been working. "I'm not sure that I'll be back today, but I'll be around tomorrow."
"Okay." Jake considered him. "And if there's anything you need, that I can do..."
Logan just nodded. "Thanks, Jake. I really do appreciate all you've been willing to do already."
The engineer wavered, then offered, "Just... be careful..."
Logan felt the darkness nibbing at him but managed a grim smile. "I will. You too..." Logan moved out of the small office and on down the corridor out of R & D, heading to his office before meeting Zack. It had been days since he'd seen Max, a couple since they'd even spoken. Depending on how this went, it might be that he'd not see her again ...
...ever.
The pain he felt was as sharp as any he'd ever felt, the loss of his life and his world now as overwhelming as anything he'd experienced after the shooting ... the only thing that mattered now, that would see him through, was keeping Max safe. Any other thought was ruin...
CALE INDUSTRIES 11:32 A.M.
Logan crossed the large, open lobby to see a strong form in an expensive suit. As the man turned, even expecting him, Logan was surprised to see that the man before him, looking very much at home in the surroundings and business attire, was indeed Zack. Well, though Logan offhandedly, if he's going to steal camouflage for an mission, he might as well go for quality when quality will fit in...
He went up directly to the younger man, all the while remembering that he needed to treat Zack exactly as he would a business contact. Stopping before him, Logan extended his hand, noting the gold cufflinks in French cuffs. Not standard Manicore issue, but nice, he mused wryly to himself. "Thank you for coming. I'm glad to see you could make it."
"Of course." Zack's appearance might have changed, losing the Marlon Brando look with the biker garb, but his demeanor and expression in appraising Logan as the men shook hands were the same as they'd been before, cool and suspicious. Still, clearly, he'd wasted no time in arriving and apparently appreciated the need to remain covert. Zack waited.
"It's nearly lunch time – have you eaten?" Logan asked. "I know a place where we can discuss business over lunch as easily as we can here."
"That's fine." Zack was willing to play the part too, and relaxed just a little, even offering a small smile. He stood by, unmoving, as Logan went closer to the reception desk.
"I'm going to lunch – I expect to be back this afternoon."
"Certainly, Mr. Cale," the receptionist smiled professionally – and Zack couldn't help but notice how completely Logan fit into these surroundings...
"My car is right out front..." Logan nodded toward the large, wide wall of windows overlooking the green, landscaped property softening the large parking lot. He barely glanced up as the younger man opened the door and stood aside to let Cale precede him, noting yet again in passing that even with his return, the maintenance people had not managed to get the automatic door working, to make his exit easier... Focus, he chastised himself. This will be hard enough as it is...
They crossed the sweeping front entry in silence, Zack's training reminding him to bide his time even with curiosity nibbling at him. He'd managed to get a sense of what had been going on with his own reconnaissance since receiving Logan's cryptic message, and he'd found very quickly that Logan's family and their business had been all over the Seattle news, with murder and investigations and financial ruin in the mix. He was certain that Logan hadn't called for his help with those matters, but was literally asking for Zack's help for Max. Logan's message had been brief: "Zack, it's Logan. I could use your help with your sister; she's going to get herself in trouble again at school. You know she won't listen to me. Get back to me, will you?" No number left, and "school" had to be Logan's way of telling him that Manticore was involved...
That was three days ago. It took him one day to travel, and he'd spent the other two days after arrival doing local recon, to glean what it might be that Cale –or what Max– needed from him. He'd checked in on Max, unseen, and followed Cale as covertly. And what he'd seen spelled a lot: Max apparently fine, involved with her job and friends; Cale playing executive, suddenly looking and dressing like he actually belonged in the expensive penthouse he owned, coming and going with a lithe blonde at his side and assistants and minions doing his bidding. From what Zack could see, there was no contact at all between Max and Logan while he was there. The final clue, however, was the look of him, the darkness in Logan's eyes, visible even at a distance: Cale was focused, driven – bent on revenge. For what – and against whom – Zack never saw. But it was enough for him to find the appropriate garb to approach Logan as he now was...
Now forcing the meet, Zack had followed Cale's lead as the newly minted vice-president took off his suit coat to lay it in the back of the Aztek across the seat, the coat probably a hindrance to the man who now lifted his disassembled wheelchair into the space behind Zack. Neither of them said anything as Logan started his car, Zack waiting for Logan to speak as proof it was safe. It wasn't long...
"Thank you, Zack, for coming so quickly." He pulled out from the parking area to the road. "It may be unnecessary but in case anyone is watching, let's go to lunch. You deserve at least a good meal for your trip."
"What's it all about?" Zack asked, as always, his manner with Logan brusque.
Logan glanced over to him and, hesitating only a moment, looked back to the road. "You need to get Max away from Seattle, as soon as you can manage. It's not safe for her here."
Zack's eyes narrowed as he looked at the face now clean shaven, gaunt with the crusade he appeared to be chasing. "I think I've said that before, more than once. What makes you believe it now?"
Logan appeared to have no reaction to his words, but didn't answer right away. Finally, he allowed, "I never disagreed with you."
"But you let her stay..."
"Like I had a choice." Logan snorted, not taking his eyes off the road.
"Well, has that changed? Or have you?" At Cale's silence, Zack goaded, "what makes you ready to have her leave now? And to call me out of Canada to help you get rid of her? Not that leggy blonde fussing over you last night..." He expected the quick dart he saw of Logan's eyes to his, in question – men like Logan were so predictable...
But Cale swallowed, and his hands tightened on the wheel and the hand control he held, his eyes again turned back to the road. "Does it matter?" he asked. He still hadn't decided how much to tell Zack, not knowing how Max's "brother" would take to being summoned as he had. He didn't want Max to get wind of why he wanted her gone – knowing Max, she'd be all the more ready to stay and be at his side, demanding that she be there for him. He couldn't trust Zack not to spill it all to her, for whatever reason he might have. Not yet...
"If you want me to be convincing. The first time I tried to get Max away from here – away from you – she wouldn't budge. You never did anything to help me get her out of the area until that first trip to the cabin – and she came back, because of you. It's pretty clear you wanted her around, too, 'til now. What can I offer to make her want to leave?"
Logan refused to react. "That's your call."
"It would help if she could believe it." Zack countered.
Logan was silent for several moments, then drew a breath to offer, "How about if it's something that you can believe? Something that will convince you that you and she need to be gone for a while? Although I wouldn't recommend telling Max–it probably will just make her want to stay."
Zack stared at him, silent only for a moment before grudging, "I'm listening."
...to be continued...