Section Three

Prologue

"How could you think that was a good idea?!" Jondy demanded, eyes flashing in the dimly lit room of Lydecker's safehouse.

Turning to face her, Logan Cale cracked a sheepish smile.

"So, you're on to me."

Standing before him, hands on her hips, Jondy rolled her eyes in exasperation, reminding Logan mightily of her older sister.

"We X5 can multi-task and parallel process like no other…." Her luminous blue eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Not to mention we know how not to leave a trail that leads the enemy right to us!"

"Funny, I recall hearing similar when I found myself on your sister's shit-list…" He responded sarcastically. "But I'll have you know the Eyes Only informant net is a buzz with information about the Foster family's activities. They seem to have ramped up in recent times - causing a serious number of middle-class young women to be caught in the crossfire – I can't see why you would be -"

"But going behind my back?"

"So, you're pissy that I used my Cale connections in New York – is that it?"

"No, I'm pissed-off that you didn't consult me that you would be reaching out to Armitage Senior!" Jondy retorted hotly. "Do you know what that family is capable of? What they could compromise?"

The subtext of the larger mission to extract Max hung in the air between them.

"And how would they ever know?" Logan Cale countered confidently. "As far as Lucas is concerned he was just having a friendly meeting with a family friend. The Armitages' have been business partners with the Cale family for the last half a century or more – it would be the height of rudeness to cast aside someone as prestigious and well-connected as myself."

Jondy shot him a skeptical look, eyeing off the boxes of computer equipment that needed unpacking since his unannounced arrival this morning.

"I can reassure you – hand on heart - that Lucas will have come away from dinner the other night with a strong impression that I am the Cale family black sheep, looking for some sympathy and a way out from my family's disgraced name."

"You're certain about that?" She spat.

"Very. He gave me the same boorish pep talk as my Uncle Jonas - before Jonas got himself murdered, in part by Manticore. At Renfro's orders."

There was no denying he was genuinely angry with her now.

Jondy paused, taking in that information. Max had said he was blue-blooded rich, she just hadn't realised how much so or the three degrees of separation that existed between their lives.

"I'm sorry if this is a sensitive subject, but Max -"

"Of course I know how this could effect Max!" Cale shot back instantly. "No harm, no foul." His tone was firm as he glared hotly at her. "I got us a lot of intel that will very likely help us get her out – far more than what you have achieved in the last two months!"

Blanching, Jondy let his barb slide, wise beyond her years.

"You haven't been here - don't put your shit on to me Logan!"

Jondy sighed, taking a breath.

"Whatever. Fine. You say you have intel, it better useful."

The X5 didn't like the satisfied glint in Logan Cale's eye one bit.

"Amp up the scarcity factor." Jondy told him, thinking hard for a moment, before providing her feedback on his Eyes Only pitch. "If we play it that way Lydecker will buy the approach – easier to engage the local authorities and keep them distracted, enforce a curfew and the like - 'lock up your daughters' and all that entails."

Logan nodded, leaning back in his chair.

"Good thinking- a tad Owellian," he allowed, eying the teenager contemplatively. "Nothing like a little fear to bend the public to the will of the greater good."

His tone was wry to say the least.

"People will listen to Eyes Only. You have their trust." Jondy responded instantly. A moment later, her gaze narrowed, the blonde-haired teenager falling deep into thought before she murmured under her breath, "you know, I think that's half the battle."

Logan softened, letting out a grunt of agreement, more to himself than those present in the safehouse.

"With any luck," Jondy continued her musing, "it should give us enough time to do our thing once we execute the mission objective."

The X5 bit her lip, thinking through the potential consequences and their ramifications, as Logan turned back to setting up his computer.

"The High Sect will be in a tailspin-"

"Good." Alec cut in with relish as he sauntered into what was now becoming the makeshift Eyes Only operations quarters in the living room, visibly bruised from head to toe.

"It's about damn time White and co took some serious heat. Hey Logan-" Alec cracked a sarcastic smile, as Logan stood to greet him. "- Nice of you to finally join us."

Jondy couldn't help but grin to herself when the two men hugged.

Zane blinked, shielding his eyes against the bright dawn light with one hand as he pushed open the heavy door of the shipping container, stumbling on to the wooden wharf.

Although his ears were instantly and painfully assaulted by the beeping of industrial machinery, ducking for cover, Zane felt damn good to be back on US soil.

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