Sorry guys, this one was supposed to be longer, but I couldn't get it all fixed up in time, so it'll have to be just this section. Work… blech.

Chapter Four

Alec's motorcycle was parked in the alley behind the bar, so Max settled into the shadows nearby to wait. The normal stench of an alley was almost enough to drive her away, but she stuck it out. If Alec really was working for these people, and they were about to kill the guy who'd come into the bar, then Max was going to have to intervene.

Alec had said he was on a job. She had to hope, to trust, as hard as that was to say, that there was more going on than she knew, despite the horrible feeling that was like a lead weight on her chest.

After several minutes a cargo van pulled up and backed into the alley near the bar's rear exit. Alec appeared with the would-be gunman slung over his shoulder in a fireman carry. A man got out of the driver's seat and walked to the rear to open the cargo doors. The man was short, with close-cropped hair, and fairly nondescript features, wearing a blue workman's coverall. Alec's boss came out of the bar and watched as Alec chucked his burden into the back of the van. The guy was still alive and looked to be intact as far as Max could tell and she felt the weight on her chest lessen just a bit.

The driver slammed the door closed and turned, giving Max a better look at him. He was like Alec's new boss. Max could see the dangerous lack of emotion in his eyes and it sent a chill down her spine.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," the boss said.

The driver shrugged. "I'll add it to the bill."

"You want me to go along to tote this guy?" Alec offered.

The driver just stared at him as if he were a bug that had suddenly learned to talk. It was a predatory sort of look, like he might want to pin that bug to a board as part of his collection. "I've got it," was all he said.

The boss held up a hand to keep him from leaving. "Do you have a moment? I need to talk to you about our little project. I'm not pleased with the lack of progress."

"Of course."

Both men shot a quick look at Alec and then came to a mutual decision. "Alec, watch the van. We'll be back in a minute."

"Yes, sir," Alec answered and placed himself in front of the van doors, although he didn't look happy at being left out of their little meeting.

The two men went back inside the bar and closed the door behind them.

"You can come out now, Max. I know you're there."

Max frowned, annoyed at herself for getting caught, but she stood up and walked out of the shadows.

"Just couldn't stay away, could you?"

"I figure you been getting in my business this long," she shot back, "I should return the favor."

"What are you still doing here?" he demanded. "I told you to leave."

Max chose to ignore that question, just like she'd ignored the order to go. "You working for criminals now?"

Alec rolled his eyes, and threw up his hands. "I warned Logan this wasn't going to work. I knew you'd butt in sooner or later and mess it up."

"What?"

"Look, we don't have long, so listen up. It's taken me weeks to set this up, Max. I had to get away from Jam Pony and make it look real, then I had work my way here, so do not screw this up. I don't even want to tell you what I had to do to get in Anderson's good graces."

He rubbed his knuckles absentmindedly and Max knew he wasn't talking about a pre-employment questionnaire. Working for men like this also made more sense of the bullet wound.

"Logan knows about this?"

"He's the one who asked me to do it. He's been trying to take down Anderson's organization, then something came up that made it critical, but he needed inside information. I don't have time to tell you everything and I don't even know if Logan will, but go talk to him. Anderson can't see you here again." Max was so stunned by the barrage of information she didn't know where to start. Alec put his hands on her shoulders and shook her. "Are you listening to me, Max? Anderson cannot see you here again."

"You're… you're not…"

"A moody jerk who's gone off the deep end and dumped all his friends? Not so much…"

The relief that washed over Max was almost overwhelming and she felt light-headed.

He wasn't Ben. Alec wasn't going crazy like Ben. He was on a job. It was okay.

Before she could think better of it, she'd thrown her arms around him. Alec staggered back under the unexpected hug attack, but finally put his arms around her, patting her back awkwardly.

Max pulled away, took one look at him, reared back and punched him. Once again, Alec staggered back and thumped into the van.

Alec shook himself, then straightened, rubbing his jaw. "Thanks, Max. I love it when you're a reasonable person. Now can you go before you screw this whole thing up?"

Even as he said it, the bar door opened. Max blurred back out of sight just in time.

The driver stepped out into the alley and looked around as if he'd caught a hint of movement, but seemed to set it aside. "Boss says you can come along," the driver offered. "Keep your mouth shut or I'll shut it for you. Understand?"

Alec just nodded. The man headed for the driver's seat and Alec for the passenger. He took one second though to turn around and glare, warning her not to follow and foul his game.

Max sighed and decided she would play along. For the time being.

Besides, she needed to have a nice long chat with someone else.

More soon… And I have a feeling Max is going to have a few choice words for Logan.