From: "Veronica Bowles" <yellowrubberduck31@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 18:19:59 -0400
Subject: Sequel. New Post
Source: direct
Title: Choices II -"Without Consent"
Author: Mystic25
Email: yellowrubberduck31@hotmail.com
Distribution: Archive, so long as my name and info are
kept the same.
Genres: Story/Romance/Angst
Relationships: Max/Logan married
Content: violence and sex (they're married, it's not like
it's a sin.)
Keywords: Sequel. Alternate universe
Rating: I'm gonna say PG14, it might be R, but I don't
think the sex is that detailed. I'll let the archivist
decide so I don't get yelled at for using a wrong rating.
Spoliers: none. one small reference to "Flushed"
Summary: The strength of Max and Logan are put to the test
when Logan's ex kidnaps their son.
Disclaimer: I don't own Valerie, Logan, Max, or any of the
other characters associated with Dark Angel. They are the
property of Cameron/Egle and Fox. Jesse however is my own
creation, and so are any characters introduced in this story.
Author's note: This story won't really make any
sense unless you have read the first story "Choices"
But I think this could be read alone as well.
*****
5:15 p.m.
She opened the door silently as possible, and was surprised
how it made virtually no noise at all. <Logan always
loved to make sure things were in working order> She
closed the door, and moved silently through the building.
She was glad she had kept the house key to this place,
and was still a little surprised how her ex still wanted
her to have a key to *his* house.
There was no one in the living room except for an elderly
woman asleep on the overstuffed couch. Valerie took
stock of her old place. In all this time Logan never
changed the furniture. It all looked exactly the same
as when she lived here, right down to those 'Scientific
American' Journals he kept in a stack on the coffee
table.
Valerie moved over to the bookshelf against the
north wall. There were *some* things that were
different about this place. All the photos of her
and Logan were gone. Now there were ones of him
and his new wife, on their wedding day, when she
was pregnant, and many of their baby, either alone,
or with them.
She picked up the closet one, and examined it,
a smile tugging at her lips. He looked like
him. Wonder if he looked the same in real life.
She placed the picture back where it was, and
walked off to the hall, careful not to wake
the old woman, couldn't have her interfering.
She reached the nursery and made her way over
to the crib. Peering down at the small child
something tugged at her heart. She had never
had the chance to be the mother to Logan's
children, and now the thought of another
woman given the opportunity made her angry.
She reached down and gently picked up the
infant. His little eyes opened, and he pondered
her with a wary look.
"It's okay little one." she reassured, in a soft
tone "I'm just gonna take you on a trip." She walked
out of the nursery and into the living room.
The woman was still asleep, and that made Val's
life all the more easier "Let's go take a ride."
she said to the infant, before walking out the
door as silently as she came.
*****
5:45 p.m.
"..and then Skethcy landed flat on his ass"
"That sounded like an interesting thing to watch" Logan replied
through the phone.
"Funny as hell" Max said with a smirk, from her end. She
was just telling Logan the latest escapade of Sketchy and
his amazing 'bike tricks' "Are you at home now?" she added
to her husband.
"Yea" he responded, shifting his cell phone so he could
dig out his key with the other "It didn't take that as
long as I thought to pick up some gouda."
He had just come back from the local store with the
ideal topping for his fetuchini al pesto. Max loved
this dish, and had called him earlier to tell him how
she hadn't eaten a thing all day except for some Doritos
at lunch break, which was cut short thanks to Normal's
'work 'till ya drop' ethic. Logan knew that since she
was still breast feeding Jesse that she needed extra
calories in her diet. And so he suggest his culinary,
artery clogging masterpiece, both for their son, and
because she sounded so damn cute when she whined to
him like that.
"That's good to hear baby" Max responded "'cause this
woman is *starving*." There was some noise at the other
end, followed by Max's voice proclaiming "he's my
husband you moron." She removed her hand from the
receiver "Sorry, one of the new guys thought I
shouldn't say 'baby' over the phone. I swear he'll be
a miny Normal before his first week."
Logan laughed at that "That would be a bad situation."
"Tell me about it" Max said straight out "Is it still
okay for Cindy to come over?" she added.
"Of course it is sweetheart" Logan began "She's a friend
of yours, and you don't have to *ask*, we're married, it's
just as much your house as it is mine."
"I got it" Max replied "I just wanted to make sure
her reservations were confirmed" she finished teasingly.
"Yes they are" Logan told her inserting the key into
the lock.
"Well then I'll let you go so you can prepare" she
replied with a smile.
"Okay I'll see you in a bit angel."
"Bye baby" Max said, shooting a 'don't even think about it'
gaze at Mason, who was about to say his remark from earlier.
"Bye" Logan said in reply, hitting the 'end' button. He
turned the key in the lock, and soon realized that the
door was already opened. That was weird, he was sure
he locked it before he left. Maybe Mrs. Culverson went
out for a minute and forgot to lock it again.
He entered his penthouse and shut the door behind him.
"Back so soon?" Mrs. Culverson said from her spot on
the couch.
"The market was unusually less crowded then it
normally is" Logan replied unearthing the gouda
from the plastic bag. He looked back towards her
"Thanks for watching my son on such short notice."
"It was my pleasure" Mrs. Culverson responded "That
is the sweetest baby I ever sat for, didn't even
make a sound" she smiled at Logan "He must get that
from his father, because any man who goes out for
expensive cheese so he can make his wife one of her
favorite meals has to rank high on that scale."
"Your flattery is greatly appreciated, but really
not needed" Logan replied walking into the kitchen
He unwrapped the cheese from the plastic it was in
and began to crumble the dried mass into a shaker.
Mrs. Culverson stood up from the couch and made
her way over to the kitchen. She sniffed appreciatively
at the rich aroma of pesto sauce "Your wife is a lucky
woman, my husband can't even boil water."
Logan smiled as he stirred the bubbling green sauce
"Kinda sounds like my Max, she re-built the frame to
her motorcycle once after it got messed up by some idiot
car, but when it comes to cooking, let's just say it's
a gray area" He closed the lid to the pot and addressed
the elderly woman again "I'm gonna go check on Jess,
could you make sure that this doesn't boil over?"
"Of course" she responded.
Logan smiled his thanks "You are a wonderful woman"
he smiled again as he saw her blush.
"Save that sweet talk for her" she said, shooing him
away from the kitchen.
Logan walked down the hall towards the nursery.
He pulled the door opened slowly, in case the baby
might still be asleep "Hey Jess, let's go watch
daddy cook-" he stopped in mid sentence when he
saw that the crib was empty.
He raced back out to the kitchen "Mrs. Culverson
did you move the baby anywhere?"
"Why no" She responded stirring the sauce with a
wooden spoon "He is still in his crib"
"No he's not" Logan replied, seeing her shocked
look.
"Where could he be?" she asked, becoming concerned
as well.
"I don't know" Logan responded in a panicked voice
The two adults began to do a through search of the
penthouse, but there was no sign of the baby.
After Logan came our from checking the bedroom, a
horrifying revelation dawned on him <Oh shit, the
door was unlocked> He ran back out to the living
room, and examined the front door "Mrs. Culverson
did you go outside at all?"
"No" she replied negatively "After I set Jesse down
for his nap I sat down to read."
"This door was unlocked when I came home" Logan
said "And I remember locking it after you
came" his voice took on a higher tone of worry
"Did anyone stop by after I left?"
"No" she answered again "I sat here the entire
time reading before I fell asleep-" she broke
off as she realized the meaning of her statement
"Oh my god Mr.Cale I'm so sorry"
Logan didn't respond he just ran out into his hallway.
His eyes scanned up and down the corridors, there was
no sign of the baby. "*Jesse!*" he called out, his voice
reverberating against the walls <xe's a two month old
baby dipwad, he can't talk yet> He dashed back into
the house and grabbed his cell phone from where he left
it on the table. He hit speed dial two, and tried to
collect himself before the call went through.
"I am so sorry, so sorry" Mrs. Culverson kept chanting
from her position behind him.
"It's not your fault" Logan reassured, running an
aggravated hand through his hair. The other party
on the phone picked up "Matt it's Logan" he began
and said one of the things that every parent fears
"My son is missing."
*****
Jam Pony X-Press
5:53 p.m.
"Max it's for you" Normal shouted to her.
She got up from her place on a crate by Cindy and
strolled over to the counter
"Make it quick" Normal said handing her the phone "This
is on company time"
Max glowered at him before placing the phone to her
ear "Yea"
"Max it's me." Logan said from his end
"Checking up on me?" she teased
"I wish that was the case."
"What's wrong?" she asked, sensing that something happened
"Jesse's gone" came the reply
"What do you mean *gone?*" Max shouted so loudly that everyone
stopped to stare. She lowered her voice "gone where?"
"I don't know" came her husband's panicked response
"When I got home the door was unlocked and-" he paused
to catch his breath "he wasn't in his crib"
"Oh my god" Max stated in disbelief, this seemed like
a horrible dream "I'm coming home" she announced
abruptly ending the call.
She sprinted to where she had left her jacket and yanked
it on her body.
"What's wrong boo?" Cindy asked seeing the frantic
look in her eyes.
"Jess is missing" Max got out, jamming her hands into
her leather riding gloves.
Cindy stood up "What happened?"
"I don't know" Max answered sounding as panicky as
Logan did on the phone "I need to get home" she
raced out to the entrance of Jam Pony, where her
Ninja was.
"Where are you going?" Mason asked going after
her and grabbing her by the arm "Work isn't over"
"Get the fuck out of my way you prick!" she snarled
kicking him in the chest so that he realized her arm.
She jumped on her Ninja and sped towards home.
*****
6:15 p.m.
Max had made it to the penthouse in record time,
going 75 miles all the way. The elevator ride
seemed to take forever, and when it finally dinged
on her floor she practically pulled apart the doors
and raced out into the hall.
As she neared her house she could see officers with
the Seattle PD lining the hall. Her door was opened
and yellow police tape was stretched out across
the frame. She ducked under that, but a hand stopped
her from going inside "You can't come in here Ma'am
this is a crime scene."
"This is my fuckin' house!" she growled back, and the
officer let her go. She walked through the doorway,
the place was crawling with cops.
"Max!" Logan called out to her where he was talking
to his friend Det. Matt Sung.
She approached him, and they met halfway "I can't believe
this is real." she stated, surveying the scene "All the
way up here, I kept saying that this was just some crazy
nightmare."
Logan embraced her hard "I wish it was"
Det. Sung approached them "Mrs. Cale?" he said
addressing Max.
She pulled apart from Logan and looked at Matt.
"I'm Detective Matt Sung of the Seattle PD, I just want
you to know we're doing everything we can to find your
baby"
"How did it happen?" she demanded
"From what we have right now it looks like someone
came in and kidnapped him. Mrs. Culverson said she
fell asleep about fifteen minutes before Logan
came home, which leaves plenty of time for someone
to take the child out of his crib and leave without
notice."
Max was satisfied with that statement up to a point
"But it couldn't be just anyone off the street Det."
she shifted from Logan, asserting her knowledge of
forced entries "The door was unlocked, which means
that they somehow manipulated the locks. The person
had to know exactly where we live, otherwise it would
have taken to long to locate the building, find the
correct floor and *then* still manage to pick the
locks and leave all in a period of about fifteen
minutes."
Sung was impressed by her knowledge, and collectivenss
of the situation. She didn't fit all the other profiles
of the panicky mothers.
"That's a possibility Mrs. Cale-"
"Call me Max" she interrupted
"Max" Sung finished "I'll have my team look into it, also
I'll need a recent photo of the baby"
Max nodded and walked over to the mantle. She pulled
out a small framed picture of Jess. It had been taken
by Bling, and showed Jesse smiling away in that little
custom made NY Knicks Jersey.
She handed it to Matt
"This will be fine" he said looking at it
Max nodded again, feeling tears prick the corner of
her eyes, along with another type of 'wetness' making
it's presence known along her shirt.
"Shit" she cursed to herself "I have to take care of
this" she said to Logan and retreated towards the
bathroom. She retrieved the electronic milk extractor
from under the counter. It had been a baby shower
present from Kendra, but Max hadn't used it that
much. Usually she was home when Jess had his feedings.
The machine's suction felt strange on her breasts,
so cold, not like Jesse's warm baby breath. Her
eyes teared up again, who could do this to them?
She switched off the machine, moving at first to
clean it, but decided to screw it, she had more
important things to worry about. She left her
soiled shirt where it lay, and pulled on the
first thing that she found clean in the hamper,
which happened to be Logan's old MIT sweatshirt.
She left the bathroom hurriedly and rejoined the
others a second later.
Det. Sung was no longer talking to Logan, he was
now helping another officer dust for prints
around the door.
"Anything?" she called out to Matt, moving to
stand by Logan.
Matt looked up from his task "We got a few prints
around the door knob, Mrs-I mean *Max*" Sung
corrected himself before going on "You're probably
right about our guy knowing where to find you,
but that doesn't mean they have to be a smart
kidnapper" He finished up and stood to face her
and Logan at eye level "Were almost done collecting
here, and then we'll run the evidence with the
guys in forensics"
"How long will it be 'till you know?" Logan demanded
"With the finger prints, it shouldn't be to hard, we
just have to run it against the ones in the database"
Matt reassured them "It should take a few hours"
The other officer's were packing up their equipment
and beginning to file out the door. Sung stared to
leave as well, but not before addressing Max and Logan
once more.
"I call you the second we get the prints run"
Logan nodded "Thanks" he voice was devoid of all
emotion, he just felt dead inside.
Matt left them, the door closing silently behind him.
Max turned towards Logan with a sad gaze. It was one
that he had only seen once before, when she had a
seizure caused by her labor, one that almost cost
Jesse his life. "This can't be real" she whispered
brokenly, the sadness in her eyes intensifying,
and she uttered one word "Why?"
Logan embraced her again, drawing her head into the
hollow of his shoulder "I don't know baby" he answered
sadly, and felt her start to cry. This released the damn
in him as well, they clung tightly together, feeling the
aftershocks of the terrible event that occurred that day.
*****
Unknown Location
"God *please* stop crying" Valerie spoke harshly to
the wailing infant.
He had been doing this ever since she left with him
in the car. Thinking that he might be hungry, she tried
feeding him. Okay so she tried giving him milk, knowing
*full* well that it wasn't healthy for a baby, but she
sure as hell didn't have any baby formula on her, and
going out to get some was out of the question. Knowing
Logan, he probably had the whole Seattle PD canvassing
the city for this baby.
Jesse continued to wail, his little face becoming
redder.
"You sound like your daddy when he screwed me"
Valerie stated bluntly, drawing up vivid images
from memory of those passionate filled nights.
She shifted Jesse in her arms so that he was
looking her in the face "Does mommy scream
as loud as you do when she comes?" she couldn't
believe she was having this discussion with
a two month old baby, but it's not like he
would say anything she didn't want to hear.
"I'll bet she does" she smiled lazily "Something
as dark as her probably has a deep throaty yell"
her last words were tinged in bitterness.
Val had only met her once, but that encounter was
enough for develop a disliking for the woman.
Physically she was striking, dark eyes, long curly
raven hair, and a chest that she would kill to have.
But that was not the root of her distaste for her.
It was her attitude. The ways she talked to her ex
made Val realize that Max was someone who did not
take crap from anyone.
Oh sure *she* was like that herself, after a couple
of beers, but this woman, the way she talked to Logan,
she had a certain edge that Val lacked. Logan *never*
talked to her like that, even when she was drunk. He
always treated her like a delicate flower, being
careful to make sure she didn't break. But he was
edgy with Max, shooting out comebacks as fast as
she gave them to him, never once breaking their
banter to ask if he said something that could have
upset her. He knew that she was strong, and that
she didn't need anyone to coddle her. This revelation
was what drew her over the edge.
And now to see the living, breathing creation of
their love bound in the same strength, it stirred
her hatred all the more. She had originally just
planned to take Logan's little 'wifey' hostage,
but knew that taking the baby would hurt her
far more then anything she could do to her
physically. Although Logan would be caught in
the crossfire of her little game, it was
something Val was willing to risk. After all
she wasn't married to him anymore was she?
She set Jesse down on the crappy excuse for a
bed, and made her way over to the dresser.
She checked the clip on her hand gun, happily
noting that it was full. <At least that little
perp didn't rip me off when he sold it to me>
She replaced the gun on the rotting dresser.
Opening the little refrigerator, she produced
a bottle of Scotch. She sat down on the nasty
mustard yellow blanket and began to down
the alcohol.
"This should make that crying of yours less
annoying" she said with a sleazy smile, and
raised the mouth of the bottle to her lips
again.
*****
Downtown Seattle
19th Precinct
9:15 a.m.
The Next Morning
Detective Sung was sitting at his desk when Max stormed
up to him "Why the hell didn't you call? You said
it would only be a few hours" her tone was razor
sharp from the sleepless night she just came out of.
"We had a major robbery at Chase National Bank Max,
so I was kinda tied up with that" he stood up to
meet her angry gaze.
"Oh so *my* son's kidnapping suddenly got pushed
to the side? Is that what your saying?" her
words were livid.
"You know that wasn't the case" Matt interjected.
He gestured for her to sit.
Max flipped the wooden chair around and angrily
sat where he indicated.
"We are *still* trying to find who took your baby
Max, despite what you think, but this is a broken
city, there is a lot of stuff that can go down"
He moved to lean against the front of his desk.
"Sorry" she finally admitted "I just didn't sleep
last night" she placed her hands on the back of
the chair.
Matt touched her shoulder softly "It's understandable"
He picked up a file from among the pile of others
that littered his desk "I *did* find something"
Max immediately perked up "What is it?"
Det. Sung sighed slightly "I'm afraid our guy is
a little smarter then we thought he would be. There
weren't any finger prints on the knob except for
Logan's, and I as sure hell know he wouldn't try
to take his own son"
"Dammit" Max cursed under her breath "That fucker
was wearing gloves" She ran a frustrated hand
through her hair.
"That's what I gathered as well" Sung agreed, and
added "You seem to know a lot about this type of
thing, do you work in law enforcement?"
This produced a small smile from her "I'm a bike
messenger Detective, the only enforcing I do is
making sure people sign for their packages"
Matt smiled slightly at her remark "You'd make a
damn good cop."
"If there were such a thing anymore" Max responded.
She looked up at Matt "excluding you of course,
you seem pretty decent"
"Thanks" Sung replied "I try to come off that way"
Max gave him a half grin "Better then most" she got
out, suddenly feeling her body tremble.
Matt noticed "Are you okay Max?"
"Fine" she returned, producing her pill bottle from
her leather jacket pocket. She popped open the bottle
and shakily downed two into her mouth. After the
Tryptophane took effect, the seizure stopped "That
got it" she muttered. All the stress she was experiencing
wasn't doing good things to her brain's seratonin levels.
She looked back up at Matt "These things can be a real
bitch"
He nodded, suddenly realizing where he remembered her
from. She had been arrested about a year ago, for
breaking into a hospital for stealing drugs, most
likely the same ones she had with her. Now he knew
how she knew so much about forced entries. He had
helped break her out, Logan telling him that without
the medicine that she tried to steal, she would
lapse into a coma and eventually die. He had often
wondered what happened to that spirited woman that
Logan had wanted him so desperately to break out
of jail. Now he knew, Logan had *married* her.
"You remember me don't you?" Max said straight out
"Deleting my file didn't erase your memory"
Matt nodded "Who could forget a woman who tried to
jump the fence while on of our prisoners distracted
the guards by singing opera?" he said this quietly
so the other officers wouldn't hear. Arrest or not,
she was a decent woman, and he didn't want to land
her back in jail.
"Yea" Max remarked "It was one of those 'magical nights'"
Her pager beeped, she pulled it out from the carrier
clipped to her waist "Work asap" it read. She sighed.
"Trouble?" Matt remarked
"My boss is bitchin' me for being late" she replied,
replacing it at her waist. "I better get going"
she stood up "It'll be a welcome distraction to
just sitting at home"
Sung stood up, in a polite gesture. "Call me if you
can think of anything else we might find useful"
He placed a hand on her shoulder again "I'm gonna
find him Max" he looked at her with a strong gaze
"I promise you."
Max nodded softly, and turned to leave, maneuvering
her way through the maze of desks.
Matt watched her retreating figure. He really felt
for her and Logan. Having three kids himself made
him well aware of the pain of a missing child could
bring.
Officer Jonson placed a file on his desk "Got one
for ya Matt, an auto theft case"
"Give it to someone else" Matt said, handing the file
back to him "I have a more important case I'm working
on"
*****
Jam Pony X-Press
10:35 a.m.
"Where have you been?" Normal pounced on her as soon as
she entered the building "You are thirty minutes late"
Max blatantly ignored him, leaning her bike against
a wall and retreating to her locker.
"Any news?" Cindy said approaching her
Max pulled out her navy blue baseball cap and angrily
slammed the door to her locker. She turned to face Cindy
with teary eyes "No"
"Oh boo" Cindy replied sadly, she hugged her friend tightly.
Cindy pulled back after a moment "Who the hell could do
something like this?"
"I wish I knew" Max sad voice suddenly became angry "I'll
beat the shit our of them when I find out who it is" she
yanked her hat on backwards and walked to retrieve her bike.
After she recovered her wheels she sunely made her way over
to Normal. "Got any for me?" her voice was completely
deadpanned.
Normal threw a small box at her "this one goes out to that
little marine shop by the water front"
Max sighed "That's a long way for this puny thing" she
complained jamming the package into her backpack.
"Well if you want this job you'll do it" Normal informed
her, and added "Speaking of puny things" he held up a small
rattle "I believe this belongs to your little rugrat"
Max snatched it from him "Where did you get this?" she
demanded
Normal didn't answer fast enough for her liking because
she soon jumped over the counter and had him by the
collar "I asked *where* did you get this?" her anger was
livid. She pounded him against the wall for emphasis
"Answer me!"
"Max stop!" Cindy called out going through the metal
door that led to where she was. She grabbed her by the
arms, trying to pull her off him.
Max eventually let go of Normal, but she still remained
only centimeters from his face "Do you know where he is?"
she was now screaming.
"No where who is?" Normal asked confused "All I know is
that I try to do you a favor giving you back this nasty,
slobbery piece of plastic and you attack me" he pushed
Max back with his arms to get her out of his personnel
space "You are a loose cannon girl, I could fire you
for this"
"Whoa now" Cindy said, holding back Max with her arm, seeing
her about to jump again. "No one is getting fired okay?"
she turned towards Normal "Her son has been kidnapped"
Normal looked at Max in disbelief "Well why didn't you
say anything about it?"
Max didn't answer him, breaking loose from Cindy's grip
she wheeled her bike out the building. "I got shit to
deliver" she announced over her shoulder, not turning
around.
After she was out of sight of the others she examined
the small plastic rattle, looking at the tiny finger
smudges that Jess's little hands had made all over the
handle.
She hastily wiped away the tears that had fallen from
her eyes, placed the rattle in her jacket pocket and
began the long journey to the waterfront.
*****
"Does that meet your approval Logan?" Matt's voice asked
over the phone.
Logan stared at the flyer that his friend had faxed to him.
Jesse's picture had been enlarged and placed in the center.
And below that it read : JESSE TREVON CALE Missing: April 15,
2020 DOB: February 6, 2020 Age: two months If anyone knows
anything about this missing child contact Detective Matt
Sung of the Seattle Police Department's 19th Precinct.
555-2486 ext. 124.
"It looks just like what it's suppose to look like" Logan
replied, stating the obvious.
"I mean is there anything else you think I need to add?"
Matt asked.
"How about what I plan to do to the perp who did this?"
"Logan, I doubt my superiors would allow you to stab our
suspect with the blade of a bayonet and *then* empty
the shells into his heart"
"It works for me" Logan spat out.
"For now let's stick with what we have" Matt replied.
pausing briefly before adding "We'll find him Logan"
"You better" was all Logan said before hanging up.
His door opened, revealing Bling who approached him where
he was seated at his computer chair.
"I heard about what happened" he said
"News travels fast" Logan mumbled to himself spinning the
chair around to face Bling.
"Are the cops looking into it?" Bling asked
Logan shoved him the flyer "Hot off the press this morning"
his words were laced in bitterness. "No one's gonna pay
attention to a flyer like this" his expression was angry
"People just throw these kind of things out with the trash,
no money, no sex, just a *boring* story about another missing
child."
Bling ignored his remark "How's Max holding up on this?"
"About as well as I am" Logan replied hastily. He ran an
aggravated hand through his hair. "It's so quiet without
him here." he added suddenly.
Bling placed a firm hand on his shoulder "It'll be loud
again man, don't worry." he hoped his words sounded
encouraging.
They lapsed into silence which was broken several seconds
later by the ring of the phone on Logan's desk.
Bling made the move to answer it, when Logan didn't "Hello?"
he paused briefly "Hey girl, how ya doin'?" he paused again
looking at Logan "Yea he's here, hang on a sec." he placed
his hand on the receiver "It's your woman" he handed Logan
the phone.
"Hey baby" Logan said, once the phone was up at his ear.
"Hey" came her soft reply.
"How are you doing?"
"Hangin' in there" she responded honestly. "Normal so graciously
gave me back a rattle that Jess left at work one da-" her voice
broke on a choked sob at the last word.
"Sweetheart, are you still there?" Logan asked, not being
able to hear her anymore.
"Yea." she finally responded weakly, sniffling "still here"
"Will you be okay?" he asked concerned.
"Not until I get my son back." she responded.
Logan felt the twinge at his heart that his wife was
experiencing at that same moment across town "Me too."
he replied.
"I gotta get moving." she said "I'm suppose to be delivering
a package here."
"Where would that be?" he responded curious.
"Maryana."
"Normal made you pedal *way* down there?" he asked stunned
"That's fifteen miles away from Jam Pony."
"It's a good distraction." she stated
He caught her meaning, and didn't press the subject anymore.
"Then I'll let you go."
"Okay" she responded "Bye Logan"
"Bye" he said, and caught her before she hung up "Max?"
"Yea?"
"I love you baby."
"Love you too." she answered back, disconnecting the call.
Logan hung up from his end. He stood up to face Bling.
"You wanna go get some coffee? Just sitting here is
driving me insane."
"Sounds good bro." Bling responded to his friend.
Logan snatched his leather jacket from where it
was draped on the back of his computer chair.
He grabbed his keys off the marble counter top,
along with his cell phone.
Bling killed the lights, and locked the door, and
the pair left the penthouse silently.
*****
Unknown Location
The bottle of Scotch was long gone. Val laid horizontally
across the bed, her legs dangling off the end.
Jesse had managed to fall asleep for a brief moment,
but being only two months old, and also having his
mother's odd sleeping patterns he was soon wide
awake. He began to cry again, his diaper soiled,
and now he was developing a rash from not being
changed in almost a day.
Val came out of her alcohol induced haze and looked
at the infant "Your just like the damn energizer bunny."
she sneered drunkenly. Her head throbbed like a bitch,
so she reached for the bottle of aspirin that was at the
corner of the 'night table'
It helped clear out the cobwebs, but now she could hear
every pitch of the infants cries.
"What is it that you want?" she growled, staring him in
his red eyed face. A fowl smell assaulted her senses.
"Damn" she muttered pinching her nose "You dropped a bomb."
She needed to change him, the smell was starting to make
her nauseous, however she had no diapers on her, so she
settled on ripping off a corner of the bed sheet instead.
She changed him out of his soiled diaper and into her
little improvisation. "All better." she announced, but
Jesse didn't believe it, because he continued to cry.
Val was at the end of her rope "SHUT UP! PLEASE!" she
chanted. But he couldn't, he did what he only knew to
do at his age, he wailed.
*****
Seattle West Side
Black Market 'Shopping District'
12:25 p.m.
"Hey gorges, back it up over here."
Max stopped her pedaling, and turned to face the man
behind the booth with a scowl "What the hell do you
want?"
The man held up his hand "Hey calm down sugar, I just
want to offer you some of my quality merchandise."
he held up a small test tube containing white LSD
crystals.
Now Max was not normally a patient woman, and what
little she did have had left during the last day
from hell. She dismounted her bike and prowled up to
the guy.
He obviously thought she was interested because he
started in on his 'sales pitch' "This is the good
stuff, one hundred percent pure trippin' power-"
his marketing strategy was interrupted by Max's
leather gloved hand crushing his trachea.
"You tryin' to sell angel dust to a nursing mother?"
her voice had a definitive growl.
"Didn't know you had something to feed." he squeaked out.
"Yea well I do." she snarled, increasing her grip on his
neck "Next time it would do you good to ask." she abruptly
let him go, where he landed in a unceremonious heap at her
feet.
"By the way, your pitch really sucks." she left him
lying in the dirt, and returned to where she left
her bike.
She peddled on for about a few more minutes, before
nearly running into a small boy who came across her
path. "Hey Niko, where you headed?"
The small four year old Chinese boy looked up at
her "I got this for mommy." he held up a small bag
of tea leaves "She ran out."
Niko's mother worked a medicine booth on this strip.
Under the counter stuff, Max had bought many a bottle
of Tryptophane from her, even when she didn't need
them. She knew how hard it was trying to get by with
little money. "I'll walk you home." she announced
suddenly, this place was not exactly safe for a child
to be out alone, even in broad daylight.
She dismounted her bike, and walked with Niko to his
mother's booth, which doubled as a home by the small
shed like building behind it.
"Here's you tea momma." Niko announced once they approached
where she was working.
The tall woman with long black hair said thank you in Chinese
to the oriental man who had just bought some aspirin from her,
and turned to her son "Thank you Niko, put in the house for
mommy please?"
Niko nodded and went in back of the booth.
"Hey Ju-Yin." Max called out to the woman.
She obviously didn't realize that she was there because
she looked up surprised "Max" she smiled "It's been
a while." she placed the bills she had just received
in her dented cash box. "You haven't been around to
see me in a while, you find another supplier?"
"Fraid so." Max admitted, pulling off her left leather
glove, revealing the jade wedding band on her ring finger
"'Cept I told him I wanted more then just pills."
"You finally hooked up." Ju-Yin said examining her hand.
"About damn time." she admired the band "He must be worth
a lot, purple jade is a bitch to find, and even more to
buy."
"He is." Max admitted, when Ju-Yin released her hand.
"But I didn't just shack up with him for his money.
He's sweet, and has this amazing body." she grinned
sinfully at the thought.
"You gonna show me a picture? Or leave me to use
description?" Ju-Yin asked, closing the lid to her
cash box.
Max pulled out a small picture she placed in the pocket
of her jacket. She normally didn't carry around anything,
except for some lip gloss, but after what happened, she
needed something to feel close to her son.
Ju-Yin took it when she handed it to her "He is handsome."
she agreed, looking at the photo of Logan and Jesse that
Max had taken about two weeks ago. "Is that your baby?"
Max nodded.
"Boy or girl?" It was hard to tell by the photo.
"Boy." Max answered "His names is Jesse"
"That's the same name on the poster the Sector Police stuck
on my booth." Ju-Yin announced, handing Max back her photo.
Max was confused "What poster?"
Ju-Yin placed her hand near the roof of her booth and pulled
something off of it. "See for yourself."
Max took it from her. Her expression clouded over as she read
the information that Det. Sung had printed up.
The light went on in Ju-Yin's head "It's your son isn't it?"
Max nodded slightly, shoving the flyer back at her.
"I'm sorry." the other woman said taking it from her,
when Niko walked back out. "Do you want me to help you
momma?"
"Not today sweetie." Ju-Yin said to her son "There isn't
that much business."
Niko noticed the flyer she had in her hand "Did anyone find
that little baby?" he asked with all the concern of a four
year old.
"Not yet." Max answered
"How do you know?" Niko asked defensively, well as defensive
as a little boy could get.
Max approached him an knelt down to his level "because that
is my little baby."
Niko looked at the flyer and the back up to Max "You are his
mommy?"
Max nodded.
The small boy hugged her "Then I *really* hope he is found."
Max hugged him back "Thanks hon. I appreciate it." she released
him and stood back up.
"You oughta think about getting a gun." Ju-Yin said out of the
blue "If you do find out who did this you might need it. Word
is babies are expensive."
Max was horrified as she caught the hidden meaning behind
her words. She herself was well aware of the circle who
sold off children for medical research, but she never thought
it could happen to her child.
"There was a woman who bought one here a few days ago."
Ju-Yin went on, breaking Max's train of thought. "She
said that she had a baby of her own to protect. Seemed
strange though, she looked like upper society and she
bought from us." Ju-Yin stated.
Max to thought this was odd "Why would an upper crust
by a rod from the Lower Markets?"
"Beats me." Ju-Yin replied, straightening out her merchandise
"All I know is that Bilone was happy for the business. She
dished out a lot of money for it."
They were interrupted my the beep of Max's pager.
She checked it "Where the f**k are you?" She sighed,
and looked back up to Ju-Yin "Gotta motor, my boss
is gettin' pissy again."
"Take care of yourself Max." Ju-Yin stated, wrapping her
arms around Niko. "I hope your son comes back to you safe,
and if you need anything that the mainstream doesn't sell,
come by."
Max smiled "I will." she laid down two twenty dollar bills
on the wooden 'counter.'
Ju-Yin opened her mouth to object, but Max interrupted her.
"Consider this a down payment for my next visit." she smiled
at her and Niko and walked back over to her bike.
They watched her pedal away. /Being married to wealth hasn't
changed her/ Ju-Yin though with a smile placing the bills along
with the others. She made a mental note to say a prayer to Budda
for Max's son's return.
*****
Jam Pony X-Press
"Where were you?" Normal demanded, after Max walked back into
the Jam Pony headquarters "You were gone for almost an hour."
"It's a long way to Maryana last time I checked." Max growled
back. "I delivered your precious package, so why are you bitchin'
me out?" she retreated to her locker, not waiting to hear another
one of his idiotic responses.
She dropped her backpack into the metal storage space, and
slammed the door shut again, and then at a second thought,
she re-opened her locker, and yanked out the cell phone she
kept in the front pocket of her backpack.
She walked back out of the cubby of lockers, to get better
reception. As she approached Normal's desk he raised up his
hand "Phones off limits Max, you suck all this companies
money with that running mouth of yours."
"Relax" Max responded annoyed, making a big show of
holding up her cell phone. She hit speed dial one.
Getting the answering machine at home, she proceeded
to hit the next speed dial button, Logan's cell.
This time someone answered "Hello."
"It's me." she replied
"What's up?"
"I need to talk to you."
"You are." Logan pointed out.
"I mean not over a line that can easily be traced." she
responded quietly.
"Okay then hang up."
Max became confused "What?" she then felt a hand on her
shoulder, and automatically whirled around in defense.
Logan stood there, his hands in a surrendering gesture.
"Don't do that." she ordered closing her cell and
placing it in her jacket pocket.
He did the same as well "Sorry, I was just in the
neighborhood, and thought you could use this."
he held out a steaming syrofoam cup of Colombian
Supreme.
"Thanks." she said taking it and drinking appreciatively.
"So what did you want to tell me?" Logan asked
"Not here." Max responded snatching his arm, and dragging
him over to the lockers.
"What's up?" he asked once they were out of earshot of the
others.
"I think I have something on Jess."
Logan looked at her, all serious "What is it?"
*****
ten minutes later.
"..and she didn't say who it was?" Logan asked after hearing
his wife relay the events of the previous hour.
"Just that she was rich." Max responded "which is strange
considering the location."
Logan nodded, agreement written on his face "Did she
talk to this guy at all?"
"A little, but nothing more then a few casual words among
retailers." she replied.
"But what makes you think this has anything to do with
Jesse's disappearance?" he asked, confused.
"Mother's intuition." she replied. "I don't know Logan."
she added, seeing a small amount of disbelief in his
eyes. "I just have a feeling about this."
"But the police can't go on a feeling Max." he shot back.
"I'm not asking them to." She stood up.
"Your gonna talk to this man, J.J. Bilone, yourself?"
"Yea, so what?" she responded, starting to walk off.
He followed her "Max-"
"What is your problem with this?" she turned to face him.
"Don't you want to know?"
"Of course I do." Logan said in his defense. "But we need
more to go on then a hunch."
She whirled on him "Since when have my urges ever steered
you wrong?"
Both Max and Logan were so intuned to themselves, they didn't
realize the crowd they were attracting.
"I didn't say they did." he responded.
"But that's what you were implying." she retorted
"There was no implication Max." he replied "I'm just
saying that you sometimes your urges have consequences."
"Like when?"
"Not counting all the others, how about the one eleven
months ago?" he spewed out the words before he realized
what he was saying. /Oh god, I didn't/
He could see rage written on her face "Max I-" he was
interrupted by her backhanding him across the face.
There was an eerily silence that settled on the place.
Everyone had seen what had just happened.
Logan took a minute to straighten out his glasses, and
wipe the trickle of blood her maneuver had drawn. "Max.."
he began again.
She interrupted him by shoving a piece of paper in his
face. "This is the place, meet me there at four. if you want
to go on my 'hunch' that is." she whirled around, and faced
him on a second thought, just like that other time she was
this pissed at him. "And as for my 'urge' I'm not the one who
said it would all work out." she stormed off to retrieve all
the accumulated packages that she let pile up because they
were to far to deliver. "I'll be out for a while again."
she snarled to Normal. She shoved them all in her backpack
and yanked her bike from against the wall.
Logan watched her go, her posture rigid./There you go
shooting off that wise ass mouth of yours boy/
Herbal approached him, with a tissue "Thought you might
need this."
"Thanks." was all Logan said, taking it from him.
Cindy had just come in as Max left. "What the hell happened?"
She took in Logan's appearance "What did you do?"
"You should've seen it." Sketchy responded to Cindy's question
"Logan said something or other to piss Max off and she knocked
him one."
"What did I tell you about that?" Original glowered at him.
"There's been enough ass kicking today Cindy." Logan shot
back hastily, placing the paper Max shoved at him in the
pocket, and chucking the bloody tissue in the trash.
"You better damn well apologies for whatever it was." she
said to him.
"I'll grovel my heart out later." Logan responded, walking
out of the building.
Cindy just rolled her eyes "This is why men are second class
citizens."
*****
4:02 p.m.
Max dismounted her Ninja, placing her yellow tinted glasses
atop her head. After she finished at Jam Pony she went home
to change. Logan had not been there, which was just as well,
because she wasn't in the mood to see him right now.
She walked up to the Strip for the second time that day.
As neared the market place she caught site of Logan's
Aztec parked by a booth. /What did you expect? you
told him to come/ She mentally flipped off her conscious
and headed to where Bilone set up shop.
Logan appeared out of the shadows "You're late, you said four."
his eyes were teasing slightly, trying to break the tension.
Max was not in the mood "Spare me the lectures."
He held up his hand "I'm sorry."
"Whatever." she muttered under her breath.
"I mean about before." he said going after her when she
walked off. "I didn't mean what I said." /why does this
situation seem so familiar?/
"Like I said spare me another one of your lame ass excuses."
she kept walking.
"It's not an excuse." Logan said, catching her by the arm. "It's
an apology."
She stopped then and turned to face him "Why did you say it?"
"I don't know." he answered honestly. "My mouth sometimes shoots
off before my brain has time to process." he spun her around to
face him completely. "I may not get this urge that you have, but
that doesn't excuse my behavior. You and Jess are the most
wonderful things that happened to me, regardless if we went
in reverse and conceived before tying the not."
"So you didn't just marry me out of obligation?"
Logan was shocked that she would even think that. /you
really fucked up this time man/ "No." his response
was fierce. He held her face in his hands. "I love
you Max. I've always loved you. Jess is living
proof of that. I never in anyway felt that it was
expected of me to marry you. I am old fashioned in
a lot of ways, but not in this. The only 'obligation'
I fulfilled when I proposed is making sure that
the woman that I loved didn't slip out of my reach
another time."
Max looked at him sadly, tears brimming in her eyes
"Sorry I hit you." she noted the redness that was still
evident on his face.
"I deserved it." Logan interjected. "I was an ass."
"Yes you were." she said hugging him.
He hugged her back strongly. "Are we okay?" he asked, unsure.
"Yea." she responded, pulling back "As good as any couple who
lost their baby." one tear fell from her eye that had been
forming there.
Logan wiped it away with the back of his hand "Let's
see if we can do something about that last part."
She nodded, and together they continued to their
destination.
"Hey J.J., like a word with ya." Max said standing in front
of his business. She wiped off her eyes, and placed a hard
expression on her face.
Bilone looked to her gaze, obviously pleased that she was
there. "Hey girl, what can J.J. do for your sexy thang
this afternoon?"
"This girl's 'thang' is well taken care of." Max shot
back with a glance at Logan. "My *husband* and I just
need a little of your time."
J.J. became disappointed at the word "husband." He
shot an unreadable look at Logan. "what is it?"
he suddenly felt the need to be business like.
"My girl Ju-Yin told me of a big sale you made to a High
Class lady the other day." Max replied.
"The medicine woman speaks the truth." J.J. responded,
leaning back in the folding chair he was sitting at.
"It was a twenty-two Smith and Wesson."
"How much did the transaction cost?" Logan asked
"Five hundred." Bilone responded
"Cash up front?" Max inquired
"Only kind of money J.J. accepts." he responded. "Cause what's
a man in my kinda work gonna do with some travelers check or
shit like that? There aren't any cash deposit boxes on this
strip last time I checked."
"Didn't seem odd to you that someone had that much cash on
them?" Logan asked suddenly.
Bilone looked at him "How much are you packin' right now
dude? Youz obviously from the same stock."
"Which is why I asked." Logan said. "The 'stock' you claim
I associate with are a lot more paranoid then the locals
here. They like to make sure their money is safely tucked
away someplace steel and locked."
"I didn't ask." J.J. answered finally. "As long as my
customers hand me the green I don't give a damn if it
came from hell." he paused.
"Did she mention anything about a baby?" Max asked
"Yea, chick mentioned something about 'protecting' her
kid, or some crap like that." he responded. "But I
didn't see no kid."
"Where did she go?" Logan asked.
"Do I look like the travel buereau?" Bilone shot back. "I
handed her the iron and she slinked away like a cat, uppity
bitch."
"Didn't like her?" Max asked of his last statement.
"She kept acting like she was Grade A prime rib or somethin'"
J.J. sneered. "Not that she didn't have a nice package on her,
but way she was advertisin' you'd think that gold came out
of her center."
"What she pay you in?" Max asked suddenly, "Large or small
bills?"
"Small." Bilone responded. "All in twenties."
"Let me see them."
Bilone blew her off "Why? so you can rip me off?"
Max reached out and grabbed him by his gold chain "What
part of 'let me see it' didn't you understand?" she
growled.
Bilone broke free from her grip "Aiight girl, just take
it easy." he yanked out his stash of bills, shoving a
twenty at her. "That's one of them there."
Max took it from him, scanning the bill with her keen
eye. Like the door knob, there were no finger prints,
but that's not what she was looking at. "I appreciate
it." she remarked when she was finished, giving him back
the money.
"Are we done here?" J.J. asked "'cause I gotz payin'
customers to attend too."
"We'z done aiight." Max spoke in the same ghetto fashion
as Bilone. She walked over to her bike, Logan following
her.
"You wanna tell me what just went down?" he asked as she
mounted her Ninja.
"Not here." she said using the same cryptic reply as earlier.
"Max-" Logan started in.
"Just trust my intuition on this 'kay?" she looked up at him
with a piercing gaze.
Logan sighed briefly "Okay."
"Meet me at the nineteenth precinct." she said, lowering her
glasses back over her eyes. She started the engine and sped
down the road.
Logan climbed back in his car. /Truthfully when HAS her urges
ever let me down?/ He headed down the street with that thought
in his mind.
*****
Seattle PD
19th Precinct
5:30 p.m.
"Max, Logan." I was just about to call you." Matt said when
the pair entered the lighted room. He gestured for them
to sit.
Logan took the chair on the right, and Max took the one
on the left, mirroring her earlier position by flipping
the chair around.
Once they were seated Matt opened a file. "I found hair
on that picture you gave me of Jesse." he addressed Max.
"Our guys are running it now."
"How long will that take?" Logan asked.
"About two days." Matt responded "It takes a little time
to break down the DNA of the strand."
"Forget that." Max interrupted "I have something now."
Matt gave her his full attention. "What is it?"
"I know a woman who works the Strip," Max began "And she
said that there was some chick that ranked up in the
Hierarchy who bought a weapon from J.J. Bilone."
"As in Mr. Seattle NRA?" Matt asked breaking in.
She nodded "Me and Logan paid a visit to Bilone this
afternoon, and he had in fact made 500 on an 22 S&W to
a lady claiming that she had to protect her baby with it."
"And you think she might have something to do with
this?" Matt was slightly confused.
Max nodded "How many rich women go shopping on the
strip in daylight, carrying a wad of twenties?"
"I agree with you Max, but there aren't many hover
cams in that part of town, which is one of the
reasons people like to set up shop there. So we won't
be able to get a clear idea of what the woman looked
liked."
"But Andrew could tell us." Max took in the two men's
confused faces, before going on. "I got J.J. to let
me look at some of the green. The bill was crisp, almost
new, which means that she had to have made a withdrawal
that afternoon, otherwise the money would have gotten bent
or something."
"Yes, but that still doesn't help us." Matt interjected
again. "A lot of banks carry new money."
"But not the ones that don't need it Detective." Max stated.
"When the bank runs low, the Feds send an armored truck
and hooks them up with more cash. That bill was almost
*brand* new, it had to have come from a shipment that
morning."
"And how many banks in Seattle had cash shipments that
morning." Logan replied, suddenly realizing where Max
was going with this. "Do you know?" he asked, looking
at his detective friend.
"I could check." Matt replied "But it's still a long
shot, there are hundreds of people in Seattle, and
who knows how many of them made withdrawals." he
picked up his phone. "Hey Joey, it's Matt I need
the listings for all the armored car services in
Seattle."
"But how many yanked five hundred in all twenties?"
Max asked.
"Thanks." Matt said hanging up. "I've got someone
faxing it to me."
A few minutes later Matt's fax machine came alive.
"Damn, there's twenty-one services in this city."
He took a pencil and drew two lines on the fax print
out, and then ripped it into three separate sections.
He handed one to Max, and the other to Logan. "It'll
go a lot faster then doing it myself."
They wordlessly took them from him. Matt sat
back down at his desk, and dialed the first number
on his list. While he waited, he scribbled down
two badge numbers on his blotting pad. "They
were two former partners of mine who got killed
on duty. I doubt they would mind if I used their
badge numbers to help this go along more smoothly."
Max just smiled her thanks, as Matt's call came
thorough "Yes this is Detective Matt Sung of the
Seattle PD, I'm calling in regards to your delivery
hours.."
*****
thirty minutes later.
Both Logan and Matt had no luck with the services they
called. None of them delivered any new bills on that
day. They sat back in their chairs, defeated.
Matt had wisely moved their little escapade into
an interrogation room, knowing that 'civilians'
could not use false identification.
Max had just hung up on her line. "I'm really racking
up the free vacation points on this cell."
"Is that all?" Matt asked
"I still have one left." Max said punching the number
into the key pad. "Hello this is Officer Mendez of
the Seattle PD." "My badge number?" "JTT038632."
Max no longer needed to look at the paper, her
photo graphic brain having long ago processed the
information. "I'm calling in regards to-what?"
"Yes they have female cops down here." she became
annoyed. "I need information on-NO I don't want
to strip search you idiot." "Disrespecting an officer
is a federal offense." "You don't want to know where
I plan to aim my gun." her tone had become a low
growl. "Now I need to know if your company made
any shipments of cash to any banks on April fifteenth
between the hours of nine and three." "Uh-huh, yea,
I'm getting it, Cradock Marine twelfth street branch."
"Thank you." she disconnected before he said anything
else.
She then dialed the number the moron from earlier
gave her. "This is Officer Mendez of the Seattle PD,
badge number JTT038632." she cut to the chase.
"I need some information on a shipment of money that
was delivered to your bank by Truman Armored Car Service
on April fifteenth."
The bank transferred her to account information.
"How can we help you officer?" the manager of the section
asked.
"I need to know how many people made a withdrawl from
the bank after the armored car service you deal with
delivered your new shipment of bills."
"There were quite a few officer Mendez is it?" the man
on the other end responded "About one hundred."
"Can you narrow that down by just giving me the names
of women who withdrew money sometime before three o'
clock p.m.?"
There was clicking of computer keys at the other end
before he responded "I have it listed here that
there were fifteen women making a transaction that
time of day."
"Now even further." Max said into the phone "Give
me only the ones who took out at least five hundred
dollars all in new twenties." she could feel them
closing in.
This time the list was considerably shorter. "I have
it listed here that a Valerie Stylinder withdrew
650 dollars at 2:15 that afternoon."
Max paused to catch the breath that suddenly left
her. "Thank you." she hung up.
"What did you find out?" Matt asked
Max turned to face him "Valerie Stylinder made the
withdrawal from Cradock Marine that afternoon."
Logan turned to face her "As in my ex Valerie?"
"The one and only." Max replied "Guess she decided
to hang around after all."
"Oh god the key." Logan groaned, dropping his head
to his hand. He looked back up to Max "Now I know
why the door was unlocked that day, she still had
that key I gave her."
"That would explain how she got in and out in such
short time." He looked to Max as well "looks like your
intuition paid off."
"I am so dumb." Logan be-rated himself.
"No your not baby." Max interjected, with a hand on his
shoulder "You didn't know that she would pull something
like this."
He whipped back up to face her "The one time I *wasn't*
paranoid, and looked what happened."
Max rubbed her husband's shoulder "It wasn't your fault.
The world is just fucked up."
Logan reached for her hand that was on his shoulder
"Not all of it."
Max caught his hidden meaning, and kissed him gently.
Matt had been typing up Val's file, who had numerous
DUI arrests. He printed out her picture and handed
it to Logan. "I think it's about time for an Eyes Only
Bulletin."
*****
Crash
6:15 p.m.
"It seems so quiet without my boo here." Cindy stated
to the others seated around the table.
"I know." Herbal agreed "But after what the woman
went through she probably be visiting far away places
by now."
"Unless Logan apologized." Kendra put in her two cents,
and took a healthy drink of her beer.
"He better have." Cindy shot back "otherwise I'm gonna
send him back to that wheel chair."
"Can I watch if you do?" Sketchy asked.
Cindy shot him a 'whatever' look, and sipped her margarita.
"..Do Not attempt to adjust your set, This is a Streaming
Freedom Bulletin. It will run approximately sixty seconds,
It cannot be stopped, it cannot be traced, and it is the
only free voice left in this city." Valerie's picture
appeared on the screen. "This is Valerie Stylinder, who
lived a relatively quiet life until April fifteenth when
she kidnapped this child <Jesse's picture replaces Val's>
"Two month old Jesse Trevon Cale."
This drew their attention "Eyes Only knows who took our
boy?" Cindy gazed intently at the screen.
"Her whereabouts are unknown." the broadcast went on
"But it is imperative that there are. She has recently
purchased a .22 Smith and Wesson. Children and guns
are not a good scenario, and this is true now. If there
is anyone who knows where this woman is at, call
Detective Sung immediately at the Seattle 19th precinct."
the message faded as fast as it came.
"Some psycho with a gun has Jess?" Kendra said in
disbelief.
"I think I'm gonna do like Max suggested." Cindy
began "And kill the little bitch who's responsible
for this." she finished the rest of her margerita
in one slam.
*****
Unknown Location
Nicholis Mercde watched as the TV finished it's broadcast.
He did not speak english very well, so he really did not
understand what it was about. The little switch board
contraption lit up on Room number 23.
Nicholis sighed, it was that woman again. She had done
this at least twelve times in the last hour. Since he
was the only person who worked there he went to see
what she wanted. He climbed the stairs to the second
floor and made his way down to room 23.
"Senora?" he rapped on the door "Que es?"
The door opened and Val looked at the short little
spanish man. "There's no running water in here."
she pointed out.
Nicholis didn't understand her. "Que?"
Val then made a big show of slowing down her english,
thinking that this would help her translation. "There
is NO..no..<what's spanish for 'water?'> ..AGUA, no
agua, sen-ior."
"Ah." Nicholis got the gist of what she was trying to
say. "Lo siento Senora, pero los gentes son trabajado
en el agua." seeing that she didn't get it he held
up a notice that was posted on the door that told
of the water problem. "Mira senora."
Val signed /that's just great, this place is a rat hole/
"Never mind." she shut the door in his face, just as
Nicholis realized that she was the same woman from
the TV broadcast.
He pounded on the door. "SENORA! Necessito hablar con tu,
SENORA!"
"Go away." Val cried flopping back down on the bed beside
Jesse. /Well at least he stopped crying/ She stroked the
baby's face with the cool metal of her gun. Jesse looked
up at her.
"You like that huh?" she smiled, her hand fumbled on the
trigger slightly and the gun went off..
Into the wall. She had been touching Jess's face with
the handle, not the barrel.
"These clips aren't for you, there for mommy." she
smiled, wiping the tears of the baby who became alive
with wailing after the gun went off.
*****
Foggle Towers
Logan had completed the broadcast, and now sat
back on the couch. Max was curled up beside him
her head resting on his shoulder.
"Do you think anyone will call?" she asked
"I don't know baby." he replied honestly, his hand
rubbing the skin of her belly. "I hope that there
are still a few decent people in the world."
She sighed a little at his contact. "Why would
your ex do something like this?"
"I don't know." he answered again. "Val was always
one to be unpredictable. During our honeymoon she didn't
want to have sex every night, she wanted it ALL the time.
And she video taped us doing it so we could watch WHILE
we did it for real."
"Are you sure that wasn't something that you enjoyed?" she
asked, recalling their own honeymoon. "As I remember it, we
never did get much of a chance to see the 'nature' you said
was beautiful at your parents cabin."
Logan chuckled slightly. "What about that night by the
lake?"
"I wasn't focused on the great outdoors." she responded
huskily, remembering how they had come out to take a little
break from their 'excertions' and taken each other again
on the sands of the shore. She could still recall the
way the waves lapped at her back, and the feel of the
sand on her skin.
She shuddered. "The scenery WAS beautiful." she remarked
her hand beginning to travel lower in Logan's lap.
He caught her hand in his own. "So was my view." his
eyes suddenly dilated ten times their size. He kissed
her once on the forehead, then on each eye, and finally
claiming her lucious mouth.
Max wound her arms around his neck and deepened their
contact. She nibbled his lower lip to get him to open
his mouth, and when he did she assaulted him with her
tongue, claiming the places she knew so well now.
Logan pushed her down gently with his weight so that she
was lying underneath him. He lifted up her green sweater
with his teeth, yanking it up over her head, and then
proceeded to blaze a trail of kisses from her juglar vein
to the valley in between her breasts.
She moaned against him while working to rid him of his
sweater. After the barrier was gone she moved her hands
lower, feeling him hardening through his jeans. She
teased his head with the tip of one finger, and he
groaned, even through the hard demin fabric. She rolled
him onto his back, which giving the narrow width of the
couch sent them both onto the floor.
Logan groaned again, and Max laughed "Sorry baby." She
straddled his waist and proceeded to place searing kisses
all over his exposed chest. His hands slid up her bare
back, caressing the silky skin there. He pulled her closer
and gently bit down on the tendons of her neck. This
was an action that he discovered drove her crazy. While
his mouth was occupied he reached one hand under the
waist band of her pants and her satin underwear. He teased
her wet core with elegant fingers.
She arched against him with a deep moan, her hands
moving lower to unbutton the brass button of his
jeans. Freeing the ring from the hole, she slid down
the zipper. Logan's hand caught her wrist, halting
her actions. "I hate to ruin the moment angel, but
we need some contraception. You're still breast feeding."
He immediately saw how his statement broke the mood by the
cloud that rolled over her eyes. He stroked her long
curls softly, and drew her face down towards for a kiss.
A few tears splashed on his neck and rolled down his
muscular chest.
The phone at Logan's desk began to ring. "That could
be Matt." Logan said, suddenly becoming serious.
Max's mood changed as well. She moved off of Logan
so he could get up.
Logan walked over to the phone, and picked it up.
"Hello?" "What is it?" "Yea?" he paused, in
disbelief "Are you sure?" "Okay" "Thanks, we're
on our way." He hung up and turned towards Max.
"They found that a Valerie Styinder checked into
a rundown hotel on West Ave. on April fifteenth
at five o'clock."
"Did she have Jess with her?" Max asked, yanking
her sweater back on her head.
"The manager of the hotel had really broken english
so Matt said it was hard to tell." Logan caught
his sweater when she threw it at him, and pulled it
on, and added to that his leather jacket.
"Let's take my Ninja." Max announced pulling on her
leather ridding gloves. "We can make it there faster
without worrying about traffic."
Logan nodded, grabbing their sector passes, and followed
her out the door.
In the hallway Mrs. Culverson stopped them "Mr. and Mrs.
Cale."
Max and Logan turned to face her.
"Did they find Jesse yet?"
"They have a lead on the person." Logan replied.
"Oh I am so glad." the elderly woman replied. "I hope he
is all right. I have been at my wits end, worrying about
what happened, because I fell asleep that day."
"It wasn't your fault." Max responded, using the same
phrase Logan had used when this nightmare started.
"You had no way of knowing."
Mrs. Culverson smiled "You are a very forgiving soul
dear. That baby couldn't have a better mother."
Max smiled softly. "Thanks." they began to leave, when Mrs.
Culverson called out again. "I'm glad to see that you still
managed to try and do normal things inspite of this mess."
Logan was confused. "What is she talking about?"
he whispered to Max.
She couldn't help but snort at the woman's remark.
"Sweetie, you need to zip up your pants before we hit
the street."
Logan realized his state of dress, and pulled the
metal clasp back up to full mast. He laughed slightly
as the pair made their way too the elevator.
*****
West Ave.
Outside 'Siesta Hotel'
Matt was standing by the entrance of the building,
along with another officer, when Max and Logan
pulled up on the Ninja.
Max killed the motor, and she and Logan dismounted.
"Is she in there?" Max asked turning to face Sung.
"I'll bet my pay check on it." Matt said, turning
to look at her. He then addressed the other officer.
"Jonson, this is Max and Logan Cale, the parents
of the child."
They exchanged greetings, before heading into the
building. In the lobby there was no one except
for a small spanish man behind a desk.
"Sir" Officer Jonson began pulling out his badge
"We're with the Seattle PD, we are under the suspicion
that a Valerie Stylinder is registered here."
Nicholas again looked confused. "Que?"
"Great." Jonson complained. "One of the only guys who
can lead us to our suspect, and he can't speak the
english lingo."
"Senior." Max began pulling out the picture of Val
that Matt had printed up "Estamos buscando a esta mujer."
She shoved the printout in his face. "Su nombre es 'Valerie
Sylinder'. Ella aqui de Abril el decimo quinto."
"Si." Nicholas began exasperated "Esa es esa mujer loca!" he
gestured to a small box on his desk. "Ella suena mi senal sonora
cada quince minuites y se queja. Si ella no deseo permanecer en
un agujero de la rata, ella no debe haber venido a esta cara de
la cuidad!" he pounded on the rickety table with both fists.
"La tiene contolo hacia fuera todaia?" Max asked, putting the
printout back in her pocket.
"No ella todavia esta aqui, ganadome y reganado toda la
hora maltida."
"Ella tenia un bebe con ella cuando vino?"
"Si Si." Nicholas replied shaking his head. "Ella dijo que
era su hijo."
"What is he saying?" Jonson demanded of Max.
She turned to him. "He says that a woman named Valerie did
check in here with a baby two days ago."
"Did he say what room number?" Logan asked.
"I'll find out in a second." Max responded addressing Nicholas
again. "Que numero de habitacion?"
The man suddenly leered at her "Como sobre usted deje la ley aqui,
podria mostrarle los accomidations." he ran his eyes over her body.
Max suddenly seized him by his collar and dragged his upper body
across the counter "O como me rompo alredor el pene por la mitad
con mi zapato!" her voice was full of rage. "Ahora en donde esta
en ella?"
"23." Nicholas squeaked out "habitacion numero veinte y tres.
Segundo suelo."
"Gracias." she let him go abruptly so his fell back on the floor.
"He says she's staying in room twenty-three, second floor."
Max informed.
"What else did he say?" Logan asked sensing there was more to
it then that.
"Just that he wanted to show me a good time. I threatened to
dismember his balls." she said this all in a low growl.
"Okay then lets go." Jonson said removing his weapon from
it's holster. He looked to Max and Logan "You two would be
better off outside."
"Like hell I would." Max shot out, heading over to the
stair case. Jonson caught her by the arm, which she snapped
back in one fast maneuver. "You wanna help me or not?"
"It isn't safe for you up there Max, you are inexperienced-"
Max snorted at this remark. "There's a lot you don't know
about me Officer." she moved away from him, taking the stairs
in twos.
"Max!" Jonson called out to her. He looked back towards
Matt. "Cover me at this level in case she tries to run
for it." He then cast a glance a Logan "That wife of
yours is a piece of work." he sprinted up the stairs
as well.
*****
Max had made it to the second floor long before Jonson
ever did. She moved silently through the halls, looking
for room 23.
When she found it, she pressed herself flat against the
wall. In one maneuver she picked the lock, and entered
the room.
There was no one there. She prowled over to the bed, and
saw the empty bottle of scotch. And in the waist basket
there was one dirty diaper. She also checked the dingy
bathroom, but it two was empty. She moved to exit the
bathroom, when the door, caught her in the forehead,
and she fell back against the sink.
She recovered from the blow in time to hear the catch
of a gun's safety being released. "Hello there."
Max stared into the face of Logan's ex, who was holding
her son with one hand, and the S&W with the other.
Max made a move to come forward, but Val moved the gun
from her to Jess. "Uh uh." She actually let Jess play
with the cool metal of the barrel. "He is a handsome
baby Max." Val spoke in a calm voice, walking over
to the bed and sitting down. "He must get that from
Logan."
Max decided to play along with her game. She didn't want
to do anything that would hurt her baby. "Why did you take
him from us?"
Val laughed slightly. "I don't know. It seemed like such
fun. I debated on taking him or-" she broke off to look
at Max "you, but I decided that this would hurt more then
if I took you."
"Why do you want to hurt me?"
"Lots of reasons." Val shot back. "I just happen to think you're
a bitch."
Max looked at her with a 'say what?' gaze. "You think *I* am
a bitch after what you did, and what your still doing?"
"Don't you get it Max?" Val came back looking at her with
a scowl. "What I do is not half of what you do. You have
given Logan everything he wanted. You are his counterpart.
The strength I lacked. He can be rough with you because
he knows that you can take it. I was ALWAYS the fucking
delicate flower, something to be guarded."
"That ain't my fault." Max retorted, trying to keep her
anger low, but finding it harder and harder to do.
"I can help the way I live my life."
Val smiled cynically, pointing the gun at her. "But I
can help the way it ends-"
Jonson broke though the door "DROP THE WEAPON!" he shouted
at Val. "DROP IT NOW!"
Val raised her hand in a surrendering gesture, but then
at the last moment made a dash for the hall.
Max chased after her with Jonson right behind. They made it
out to the rail. Val stopped suddenly, and aimed the gun
at Jesse's head. "Don't even think about it!" she screamed.
"VAL PUT THE GUN DOWN!" it was the voice of Logan from the
bottom of the stairs.
"Hey lover." she called out to him "Wanna see what this
delicate flower can do?"
Her face was turned away, so Max took the advantage, and kicked
the gun out of her hand. It skitted by her feet and she hastily
pushed it up to her hand by kicking it. "Guns are dangerous
around babies."
"So are ledges." Val stated, placing Jesse over the edge
and dropping him off.
Max's heart stopped "NO!" she screamed dropping the gun.
She took a dive over the rail, going after her son.
She held her posture in a vertical position to give her
body more weight so she could get under him. Her hands
managed to grab her baby's small body seconds before
they both crash landed into a wooden table.
"MAX!" Logan screamed hurrying to where they landed.
She was on her back, both arms firmly grasping Jesse
who was still crying historically. Her eyes were closed,
and a thin trickle of blood flowed from her forehead,
and she wasn't moving.
"Max, can you hear me?" Logan shook her gently, worriedly,
vaguely aware of Matt calling for an ambulance.
Logan locked two hateful eyes on Val, who in the midst
of Max's fall had lost her upper hand, and Jonson had
gained his. He soon had her handcuffed.
"I could kill you!" he shouted hatefully. "Why did you
have to do this!"
During his tirade, Max's eyes fluttered open "Logan?"
He turned immediately to the sound of her voice. "I'm
here Max. Jess is here too, and he's fine."
She gave a small smile, groaning slightly.
"Where does it hurt baby?" he asked, brushing a hand over
her pained filled features.
"Just in my leg." she answered, and much to Logan's surprise
she sat up. She winced as she reached out to touch it
gently, cradling Jess with her other hand. She held him
tightly to her, reveling in the feeling of having her baby
back in her arms. "Mommy missed you sweetheart." she said,
tears leaking out of her eyes.
Logan ran a hand along both her legs. Although there were
a few bruised areas on her right leg along with a gash
that ran the length of the same thigh, he couldn't feel
the telltale protrusions of any broken bones.
"I think I just sprained my ankle or something." Max diagnosed.
"I had one of my legs slightly twisted when I moved
to catch Jess and it unbalanced my weight when I landed,
which is why I fell."
"We'll let a doctor decide that sweetheart." Logan stated.
He moved to pick her up off the floor.
Matt saw what he was doing, and moved to help by taking
Jess out of Max's arms. "I'll give him back at the
hospital." he reassured.
Max looked slightly pained to have him taken away from her.
"You better." she announced, resting a head against Logan's
shoulder.
The paramedics had arrived, and wheeled a stretcher into
the building.
Val was being brought down, just as Logan and the EMS crew
met halfway in the center of the room. He laid her down
carefully on the stretcher, relaying what he saw happen
to the two paramedics.
Janis, one of the EMS medics was impressed. "You took a
big risk, jumping off that ledge Mrs. Cale." she inserted
an IV into Max's arm, while her partner taped gauze over the
gash in her leg. Janis taped the needle in place and added
"You could have been killed."
Max looked over to Val, as she was being led to the cruiser.
"That's just the way I am." She winced slightly as Janis
taped gauze over the small superficial cut that marred her
forehead. As a precaution the medics also immobilized her
lower leg and placed a cervical collar around her neck.
They wheeled her out of the building, with Logan close
in tow. As he climbed into the ambulance he turned back
to Matt, who was close behind him "I'll take him now."
Matt didn't argue, and gently handed Logan back his infant
son. A smile played across his lips as he saw the faint
trace of tears in Logan's eyes as he looked down at the
baby.
"Now I know you took a lot of rides in the last few days
Jess." Logan addressed his baby in a gentle tone "But this
time you and me are gonna take a ride with mommy to make
sure she's okay and that you are too." He kissed Jess's
little forehead, and reached out one hand to grasp Max's
as doors of the ambulance closed.
*****
Crash
7:45 p.m.
"Damn" Cindy cursed, ending the call. She was getting no
answer at the penthouse, or on Max's cell.
"No luck?" Kendra asked, coming back from her 'bathroom
break'
"No" Cindy replied facing her and taking in her friends
disheveled appearance. "Obviously you had some."
Kendra nodded with a sly smile.
Cindy shook her head, and tried one more time, this
go around dialing Logan's cell.
"I just hope that he hasn't gone and shot off that
mouth of his again." she stated as she waited for
the call to go through. After a few rings it did.
"Logan" Cindy began, her tone set for a reprimand
"Where the hell have you been-" she broke off
as she heard Logan's explanation of the events that
just went down. "What did you do to her?" Her tone
changed when he corrected her on her thinking "Is
she okay?" She listened intently to the rest of the
conversation "I'm coming down there."
"What is it?" Kendra asked "Did they find him?"
"Yea they did." Cindy responded, turning to face
her "But he and my boo had to take a spin to
Metro."
"Oh my god. What happened?" Kendra wanted to know.
"Logan didn't say much over the phone." Cindy pulled
her jacket over her green halter top. "I just know I'z
gotta get down there."
Kendra nodded at her statement "I'll handle the tabs.
Just let us know what you find out." her voice and
expression were full of worry.
"I will suga." Cindy responded and left the dimly lit
bar in a hurry.
*****
Metro Mercy
Waiting Room 1-b
8:15 p.m.
Logan sat slumped over in the blue chair. Around him people
bustled in and out. This city was full of crime and accident
prone people, judging by the number of gurneys that came through
the halls, among them were Max and Jess.
When the ambulance pulled up she was unloaded from the back
and brought into the ER bay. Like a swarm of ants, doctors
and nurses approached them, asking questions and running tests.
It reminded him of his own accident a year and a half ago.
All those doctors and their cold, sterile hands. But now
it hurt even more then it did back then. Because he had to
watch someone he loved being prodded like meat.
He was told that he had to wait while she was being examined
in the ER. Also Jess was taken from him for observation.
So now he sat alone, not knowing what to do with himself.
He had paced for the last twenty minuites, drank bad hospital
coffee and watched the clock as a dog watches a bone.
"So what's the dealio?"
Logan snapped up from his hunched position to look into
the face of Cindy, who had sat next to him without his
noticing.
"No one will tell me what's going on." Cindy went on.
"Me neither." Logan admitted to her. "The doctors say
they just need to be 'examined." he leaned back against
the chair.
Cindy turned in to face him "What exactly went down today?"
"I found something else that's wrong with my ex." Logan
said, not moving from his position. "Alcoholism wasn't
good enough for her, she had to add kidnapping and
attempted murder to the list."
Cindy adapted a stunned look on her face "That Valerie
chick is your ex wife?"
Logan nodded, solemnly "We found her with Jess in some
shit filled motel, and she had this gun." His eyes bore
a look of rage. "She just aimed the damn thing point
black at Jess's head." his words matched his expression
"Max kicked it out of her hand," he could see the
'that's my girl' look from Cindy at this statement "but
then Val simply dropped Jess over the rail from two
stories up, and Max went after him. She wasn't in the
best position or something because they both fell into
the only decent piece of oak furniture in that crappy
lobby."
Cindy was stunned. "What's wrong with that bitch?"
she was of course referring to Val.
"I don't know." Logan answered, standing up again.
He turned to face the wall and lowered his head
against the painted white surface. He stayed
that way, lost in his own thoughts.
"Logan?"
He turned at the sound of that voice, and saw Max
coming towards him on two wooden crutches. He
hurried over to her as well, meeting her half way
in a fierce hug. He reveled in the feeling of her
warm body against his.
She hugged him back just as tightly, dropping the
crutches on the floor so she could wrap her arms
around him. "I'm okay baby." she reassured pulling
back to look into his eyes "It was just a sprain
like I thought." she looked down at her foot
wrapped in an ace bandage, and then back up to
her husband "nothing broken"
Cindy approached the pair "Your man isn't the only
one who wants some sugar." she kissed her cheek
and embraced her. "Glad it wasn't any worse."
"Me too." Max agreed and pulled back. "Just a sprained
ankle, and fifteen stitches. five here." she pointed to
her head "And ten here." she pointed to the small
sterile bandage that adorned her calf.
"All that came from landing into a table?" Cindy
asked in slight disbelief.
"It was oak girl." Max informed "That's hard shit,
I'm just glad it was me and not Jess." She turned
to Logan then "Where is he?"
"They had to take him in for observation Max." Logan
stated "Just to make sure he didn't sustain any injuries
during the fall or prior."
Max whirled on him then, not even considering that until
this moment "You don't think she did anything-"
"I don't know." he interrupted "He seemed fine in the
ambulance. I think it's just a precaution."
"Mr. Cale?" a doctors voice interrupted their conversation.
Logan handed Max back the crutches and the trio made their
way over to where the doctor was.
"I'm Dr. Rodell. I work in the PICU. I just finished
examining your son."
"Why is Jess in intensive care?" Max broke in "I thought
he was just brought in for observation."
"Doctor, this is my wife Max." Logan introduced her to the
other woman.
Rodell turned towards Max "It's better we place him in
PIC-U for this Mrs. Cale. In case something were to happen,
we're equipped to deal with it more in there then a ER made
for adults." she paused and addressed both Max and Logan
"But I'm glad to report that aside from minor diaper rash
your son is physically fine."
There was a collective sigh of relief "Thank god." Cindy
said from behind them. Logan rubbed Max's shoulders and
she intern leaned against him, a huge weight lifted off
her.
"I want to see him." Max stated. It was not a request.
"The nurses are giving him a bath at the moment-" Rodell began
"I'll wait until their done." Max interrupted. After three
days away from her child she wasn't about to stand not seeing
him for even five more minuites.
Dr. Rodell sighed defeated "PICU is on the second floor."
Max gave a slight nod and began limping her way over to
the elevator.
Logan and Cindy caught up with her as she waited for the
doors to open. Once they did the trio stepped into the
elevator car, and rode in silence to the second floor.
*****
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Waiting room 6-A
15 minuites later
"Suga you need to sit down, you're wearing a hole in the
carpet." Cindy advised Max from her seat in a wooden chair.
When they had reached the PIC-U department the head nurse
informed them that Jesse would be brought back out in ten
minuites. Max had not sat down that entire time, pacing
back and forth on her crutches and looking at the white
door which lead to the room where the newborns were bathed
about every thirty seconds.
"It's been fifteen damn minuites." Max muttered under her
breath. "What's taking so long?"
"Girl it's only been five minuites longer then they said
it would be." Cindy reassured her friend "Just calm down."
At that same moment the glass door opened as Logan re-entered
the room. He had made a trip down to the hospital cafeteria
to get coffee, or the hospitals equivalent to it. He handed
one of them to Cindy "Maybe there's a reason they keep the
cafeteria so close to the ER and the ICU wards." he stated,
trying to break the tension with a little humor.
Cindy sipped her 'coffee' and scowled at the taste "You
got that right."
Logan laughed softly, and turned to look at Max "Baby
come and sit down, you look tired."
"I don't get tired Logan." Max informed "It's not in
my genes." she never once broke her train of movement.
"Yea well regardless of what your DNA was programmed
for, you look worn out, and you need to sit down
before you fall down."
"He's right suga." Cindy agreed "You look like you
need a break."
Max sighed, and came over to where he and Cindy were
seated. She removed the crutches from under her arms
and fell back into one of the chairs.
Logan took the crutches from her and placed them
to the side. He drew her close to him with one
arm. "He's just in for a bath."
"I know." Max admitted softly "It's just-I miss him."
"Me too." Logan agreed gently, kissing her hair.
The white door opened and a nurse stepped out.
"I think someone here wants to see mom and dad."
Max shot up from her position, taking in the sight
of the nurse carrying Jesse, who was dressed in
fresh hospital baby clothes.
She moved to stand up, but the nurse held up her hand
"I'll bring him to you Ma'am, you should stay off your
ankle." she walked over to them. "Look sweetie." she
was addressing Jess "it's mommy." she placed him in
Max's waiting arms.
Max's eyes teared up as she gazed down at her son "Hey
there." She stroked his face softly. "It's been a while
kiddo." A tear broke and traveled slowly down her face.
She looked up at Logan and saw that his eyes were wet
as well.
He kissed her softly and gazed down at their son "It
was to quiet around the house without you Jess." Logan
began "We missed our early morning symphony."
Max laughed through her tears, and Cindy came up and
knelt beside them. "Auntie missed her boy too." she
kissed his little forehead softly.
Max broke from this scene to look up at the nurse
"Has he been fed?" Though she had pumped regularly
since Jess was taken, her breasts were still heavy.
She shook her head "I figured you would handle that."
Max looked at her with gratitude as she left. She
wasn't wearing a nursing bra, or one that clasped
in the front, so she began to reach around to
her back. Logan saw what she was trying to do and
lifted up her sweater and freed the little clasps
for her.
She thanked him with a smile, and lifted up one side
of her sweater and positioned her son so he could eat.
He latched onto her immediately and began to nurse. She
reveled in the sensation of his warm baby's breath on
her exposed skin. She had gone without it for far to
long. Logan pulled her back to him, wrapping both arms
around her waist.
"This is amazing." Cindy stated out of the blue. "I
thought that Original Cindy had done it all. Lived
through the Pulse, met my first and true love who's
lovin' me from heaven now." she smiled skyward at
that last remark. "But seeing my suga feedin' her son,
that's one that tops them all."
Max smiled softly, stroking her baby's soft brown hair.
Jess continued to suckle well into to the five minute
mark. Cindy had since gotten on Max's cell and had called
Kendra.
"...yea our girl's okay. Just a few scraps and a sprained
ankle." She could hear Kendra relay the good news to the
people who were listening by the phone. "Is de baby all right?"
Herbal's Jamaican accented voice asked in the background.
"Suga tell everyone that my boy'z all good." Cindy stated
"He's alert, awake-"
"And hungry." Max broke in loudly for the benefit of her
friends on the other line. She sucked in a breath as Jess
worked harder in getting himself fed. He even placed both
tiny hands on either side of his mother's breast to keep
his position.
Logan had to laugh at the greediness his son was showing.
But then again, this was probably the first time he ate
something decent in days. He leaned down towards Jesse
and kissed his head. Then he placed another kiss on the
skin of Max's full round breast.
"I know you're hungry Jess," Logan began in a gentle
reprimanding tone "But you gotta let mommy have some
left in reserve."
Max laughed at her husband's choice of words "Reserve
baby? What do you think the 'well' is gonna be tapped
dry?" her voice was full of lighthearted teasing.
"Considering how much our son has been eating, and how
little you have, it's a possibility." he put more emphasis
on the second part of his statement. She had hardly eaten
anything in the last few days, save for some coffee and
half of a club sandwich he had originally made for himself.
Her body had a very high metabolic rate, so she needed to
constantly replenish it. And not eating wasn't helping any.
"You're right about that." she stated in agreement. "I am
*starving*. I never did get to eat my 'specially requested'
dinner."
"I kinda got cheated out of that as well." Cindy added, having
since ended her call with Kendra "But it's excusable this time."
A few seconds later Bling came through the glass doors, totally
unaware of the foreshadowing conversation that went on before
he arrived. "Who's in the mood for a little pasta?" He held
a paper bag in his hand. "Logan here asked me to swing by his
house and pick up this." he revealed the corningware container
of fetuchini al pesto.
"Since we missed out first dinner engagement." Logan began,
carefully moving out from under his wife and helping Bling
with the contents of the bag "I thought we could have it
now."
Cindy cocked an eyebrow "In a hospital waiting room?"
Logan offered her a smile "It's something different.
I'm not doing it because I think my food is bad."
He served up his culinary art on the paper plates
he asked Bling to pick up.
"Not bad." Cindy remarked in-between bites. "You got
skills in the kitchen boy."
Logan grinned at her from his position beside Max
"Thanks."
They ate for a little while longer, then Bling chucked
his plate in the trash. His hand reached into the bag
again and pulled out a bottle of pre-post alcohol.
"I'd like to propose a toast." He pulled the cork on
the bottle. "With this very tasteful bottle of dark
burgundy that Logan had stashed in his wine racks."
Max was about to object and remind him that she
couldn't drink, but silenced when he also produced
a bottle of sparkling water "And this, for my girl."
She smiled her thanks and took the paper cup from
him.
"I don't know if I should be upset that you went
through my wine racks, or happy that you didn't
bring that bottle of really cheap rose my uncle
bought for ten dollars in El Salvador." Logan
stated matter-of-factly.
"I have taste." Bling reminded, handing out the other
two cups to him and Cindy. He raised his cup in the air
"Here's to friendship, and the courage I've seen in the
last to days."
"To my girl." Cindy continued "For taking that woman
to school, and being a great mom to my boy."
They all laughed at that remark.
"To my son Jesse." Logan glanced at the infant in Max's arms.
"I am so glad that you are safe, and back where you belong.
And to my beautiful wife." He turned his eyes upwards to meet
Max's gaze "For the passion of not giving up, and for reminding
me each day of why I fell in love with you."
Max couldn't help it, she had to kiss him for that one.
"To Jess being here again with us, the way it should
be." she locked her eyes on Logan "To you baby, for
giving me this, and loving me despite was I was created
to be." Her eyes glistened with tears. Logan kissed
her again, and wiped them away with his hands. "I love
you for who you are, not what you were *suppose* to be."
he whispered.
They all drank to their toast. Max curled up beside
Logan, her arms still around Jesse. Her body ached
with fatigue from the sleepless nights of the past
few days. "Sorry about cutting the festivities short."
she remarked drowsily.
Logan gently kissed her hair "That's all right sweetheart.
It's early, but I think we all could use some sleep."
He carefully took Jess from her and handed him over to
Cindy. Then he scooped her up in his arms and stood up.
Bling snagged her crutches, and they maneuvered their
way to the door.
Max felt the warm comfort of Logan's body around her,
and she let it carry her away. There may be many more
battles to fight, but she was content in knowing that
she had won this one.
*****
19th Precinct
Seattle
9:15 p.m.
"Why did you do it Ms. Styinder?" Matt's hard voice
echoed off the walls of the small interrogation room.
Val stared blankly at him, casually smoking a cigarette
"You wouldn't understand." Smoke spewed from her mouth.
"What? How you kidnapped a small child from his crib, and
nearly killed him and his mother? What's hard to understand?"
his tone was cold, clipped. He did not get this woman.
She took another drag from the Morley. "There were worse
things that I could have done." More smoke. "I did what
I had to do."
"That's not a reason Valerie." Matt stated, switching to
her first name. "You're looking at one year for kidnapping,
and another five for attempted murder. That's six years
of taking 'community showers' living in filthy cells,
and undergoing strip searches every hour. What rationalization
do you have to do something to wind up in a place like this?"
He stared at her long and hard, demanding an answer.
She snubbed her cigarette butt in the ash tray. "I guess I
wanted to show Logan that I wasn't a weak woman, that I could
be just as strong as *her*." she spat out the last word like
it was poison.
"Well if 'strong' is defined by taking a baby away from his
family, making his parents go through hell for the last two
days so you could lure the mother into a trap to try and kill
her, then yea Val, you have 'strength' nailed." Matt pointed
out sarcastically.
He motioned for Officer Jonson to come in from outside
the door.
"Take her back now." he ordered.
Jonson nodded, and hauled Val up from the chair. Her hands
remained handcuffed at her back. He led her out of the
room and closed the door. Jonson placed her back in her cell.
She sat on the cot, watching the woman in the next cell
lifting cinder blocks as weights.
"Trying to work up the arms to break outta here?"
The woman ceased in her actions and shot Val a chilling
look. "You wanna start something Richy bitch?"
Val backed off. She faced the wall, wishing for some
scotch or vodka to make this shitty place more bearable.
She didn't want to admit it, but these people scared her.
Suddenly all her tough bravado was gone. She wasn't as
hard as she thought she could be, and unfortunately she
had found that out too late.
*****
End
This one took a couple of weeks to complete. I kept having
lapses of inspiration. I plan to my next one in this series
on Max and Zack going back to Manticore to rescue Tinga.
Tinga's son and husband re-enter the picture, and Max will
somehow wind up getting herself taken, I just haven't figured
out how. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
And also tell me what you think about this one.
The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.
Choices
By: Mystic25