On a Mission
Logan had called Max and asked her if she could come over, and she obliged him when she got off work. After letting herself into his apartment, she knocked lightly on his office door, standing casually in the doorway.
"Hey," she smiled slightly, studying Logan as he dilligently worked on something on his PC, obviously intent on his work. She longed to trail a fingertip over the crease that appeared between his eyebrows as he stared in concentration at his screen, kiss the lower lip that he was biting on thoughtfully, "'Sup?"
"Hey yourself," Logan greeted her with a smile of his own as he turned to face her, "I've been looking into corrupt cops in one of the sectors - one in particular," He filled her in briefly, "And I need his personnel file."
"A computer system that the great Eyes Only can't crack?" Max's eyebrow arched. She ventured further into the office, "Or are you after a hardcopy in some dusty old filing cabinet somewhere?"
Logan smirked, "Hardcopy in a dusty filing cabinet sounds about right."
"Hmm," Max grinned wryly, propping her hip against the side of Logan's workstation, "You have any idea where a girl might come across a dusty filing cabinet which just happens to contain that kinda thing?"
Logan rolled out from under his desk, pulled open a drawer and reached in for a folder.
"Directions, layout of the station and clear instructions of how to get to where you need to go." He offered Max the folder.
She took the folder, careful not to brush against Logan, and flicked through the folders contents, quickly scanning the documents contained within, "Sector 21, South-West precinct... Haven't been in that one before..." Max smirked slightly, "Shouldn't be a problem though, you've seen one copshop, you seen 'em all, right?"
Max dropped the folder lightly back on the table, having absorbed the relevant details, and Logan moved a hand to collect the folder and put it away. You never knew who could drop in, glance at papers left lying around and find out things they weren't supposed to know.
"Just a matter of gettin' in then. Don't suppose you just happen to have a cops uniform in my size, lyin' around here somewhere?" She quipped with a smirk.
Logan just eyed the grin and resisted the urge to laugh, settling on a lazy smile, "My bedroom."
He was indeed a man prepared for anything.
"Kinky." Max commented, arching an eyebrow and smirking.
"I know someone who knows someone," Logan answered cryptically before simply shrugging his shoulders and giving a smile.
"'K, so just let me go slip into something a bit more... Uniform." she chuckled as she crossed the room, walking out of the office and heading into Logan's bedroom.
Logan rolled his chair back, tipped his head and allowed himself a moment to admire the view before yanking his attention back to work. Made everything a little easier to bear.
"Don't mind the mess," He called after her, even though his room wasn't particularly messy - just a few wayward clothes here and there.
Max found the uniform hanging in the closet and changed into it, glancing around Logan's bedroom curiously. She noticed up a book of the bedside table, picked it up and flicked through it then put it down again. She eyed the dresser curiously, then shook her head and chuckled at her own nosyness. Fixing her hair into a neat french braid, she folded her clothes and set them at the foot of the bed, then opened the bedroom door, and headed back to Logan's office.
Stepping inside, she put on the uniform cap, and asked, "Whaddaya think, could I be one of Seattle's finest?"
Logan had buried himself back in another case, this one rife with corruption just like always, but turned his head as Max reappeared. The pen in his mouth just sort of hung there as his eyes swept her form. There was an audible noise in the back of his throat as he cleared it and nodded his head. "Definitely."
Max grinned, a very slight flush showing in her olive complected cheeks. "Better get to work then."
"Good idea," Logan muttered as he pulled his eyes away and made them focus on the screen in front of him. "You head on down to the car - I'll save this and be right with you."
*****
Max stepped into the South-West police precinct, nerves buzzing - cop shops didn't exactly make her list of fun places to hang out. It'd be fine though, get in, get the papers, get out.
Striding purposefully to the front counter, she nodded to the rookie seated behind it, pulling out and flashing the ID and badge Logan had provided her with.
"Hi, I'm from the East precinct, I'm just here to take care of some paperwork.." she gave a wry smile, rolled her eyes, "You know how it is. Can you direct me to records and evidence?"
"Sure, Officer Salinas," Officer McDougal gave her a sympathetic smile, "It's through that door, turn right into the corridor, go all the way to the end, and head downstairs to the basement. Third door on the left. Can't miss it. Harry Shaw will be able to help you out with whatever you need."
"Thanks." McDougal buzzed her through, and she headed down to the basement.
She hadn't needed the directions, having familiarized herself with the building using the blueprints Logan had shown her. Her sensitive ears picked up a low rumbling sound, and she quietly approached the door she'd been directed to, and she peered around the frame to see a pudgy middle aged man with thinning hair sitting behind the counter, snoring peacefully. Max smirked. That made her job easier.
The security camera in the hall was pointing in her direction, so she stepped inside, waited a moment for it to pan away, and stepped back into the hall. Careful to keep out of the camera's path of sight, she ventured down the corridor, stopping outside another door further down, and tried the handle. Locked. That would've been too easy, anyway.
The camera was panning back toward her, so she stepped across the corridor and concealed herself in the shadow of a vending machine, slipping her lock-picking tools from her pocket as she waited; counting out the seconds till the security camera began to pan away, before emerging from her hiding spot and working the lock. Moments later she was inside, closing the door quietly behind her as the camera began its slow pan back in that direction.
Moving silently through the archives, she passed row upon row of dusty boxes on shelves. They were old case-files, mostly. There, along the back wall, was a bank of filing cabinets - that was what she was after.
Finding the right cabinet, she again used her picks to work the lock, then pulled out the drawer, trying to keep it as quiet as possible by pressing her hands to the reverberating metal sides of the drawer to dampen the sound. She flicked through the files, found the one she was looking for, withdrew it, glanced at it's contents and transferred them into a manila envelope.
Now it was just a matter of gettin' outta there and makin' tracks. She wove her way back through the stacks then stood in the shadows, looking out into the hall through the Perspex windows which stretched between the clerks counter and the ceiling.
From this angle, she could see the camera. She began counting as she crossed back to the door, waited 4 seconds, then eased it open and stepped out into the hall. Moments later, she was climbing the stairs.
The officer who'd helped her at the front counter stepped into the corridor, cup of coffee in hand, "You get what you need, Salinas?"
"Sure did." Max held up the envelope, gave a perfunctory smile, and was about to depart when a conversation down the hall caught her attention.
"C'mon, this guy was supposed to be shuttled to Langford yesterday, but because of your stuff up, he wasn't, and now the captain's sayin' he can hear this guy singing his opera in lockup from his office and that if he has to hear this guy sing one more fuckin' aria he's gonna have both our jobs. It's your screw-up Hoffman, take care of it."
"But my wife's having a baby!" came a desperation tinged reply.
"That's what you thought yesterday. Get it done."
"Some people," A third, familiar sounding voice said, interrupting the two officers, "don't appreciate good vintage music from more civilized times."
Max raised an eyebrow and took a step backwards to peer around the corner, and saw two police officers, and a familiar figure in handcuffs leaning back against the wall. Break. Oh boy.
Break did a small double take as he saw one female officer looking around the corner at him. He could've sworn it was that Max girl, he had helped escape from prison the year before, but it couldn't be, she wouldn't be one of them.
Seeing Break's minute reaction, Max made up her mind. She owed Break. She owed him big time. He'd taken a beating for her, and then helped OC get the tryptophan to her. He'd probably served an extended sentence due to the fact he'd helped her out.
"Excuse me." she muttered to the officer she was standing with, and strode off down the hall, looking Break dead in the eye, willing him to work with her.
"Hey guys." Max addressed the cops, "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and I think I might be able to lend a hand. Seein' as I'm heading up to Langford to drop some papers off anyhow, maybe I can take him with me. Save you guys the trouble."
Break's eyebrow quirked at her voice, it was Max! Now what was she doing in here in a cop uniform? Didn't she know how to stay out of trouble at all?
"And you are?" questioned one of the cops, the one who'd been doing most of the talking, the other officer looked less hostile, and maybe a little hopeful.
"I'm Officer Salinas, from the East Precinct - my boss sent me down here to pick up some paperwork, which I'm supposed to deliver to Langford." She gave a small shrug, "I just figured, since I'm heading that way... But it's no skin off my nose if you wanna cart him there yourselves."
"Well, if she's heading that way anyway..." interjected the father to be, turning to the other cop, "C'mon Addison... it's not every day you become a dad."
The hard-ass gave Max a long assessing look, studying how she looked in the uniform, perhaps just a shade too slowly. Then he met her eyes, and stopped. Cool, hard cop eyes looked back at him, too hard almost, for a rookie. "You think you can handle this guy?"
"Him?" Max glanced at Break, dark eyes showing a faint gleam of amusement, "Yeah. We've met before - arrested him at a rally last year. They have a nickname for him up at Langford, ya know? Pavarotti. He's gettin' to be a regular fixture."
Break did his best not to blush at mention of the nickname, but hey, he had the voice, so why not use it to make everyone else as miserable as he was in jail. Except when he was doing what he had to do to get out with Bill. He wasn't sure what he should do about that if he did end up in Langford, he heard the man wasn't as desperate now, and had a bodybuilder boyfriend.
"C'mon Hoffman, please?" Addison looked beseechingly at the other cop. Hoffman gave Max another once-over. "Yeah fine, whatever. Get her to fill in the paperwork and you're free to go, Addison. You'd better name the kid after me."
With that, Hoffman turned and headed back into the bullpen. "Great, thanks man!" Addison called after him, then turned to
Max. "You have no idea much you've made my day, Salinas. C'mon, let's fill out the paperwork."
Addison turned and hurried through a doorway into an office, found the papers, signed them, in a couple of places, then handed them to Max. She squiggled on them artistically, and turned to Break. "C'mon Pavarotti, your audience awaits you."
"Yes ma'am," he said cordially. He had best rub it in Addison and Hoffman's faces that he would be cordial to her, whereas he had just done his best to drive them mad with various arias of different eras in operatic theatre.
Max led the way out of the police station and away from the doors, keeping a firm hold on Break's arm. Her eyes scanned the street at the end of the lot searchingly. She wondered where Logan was. Parked out of sight? Driving laps maybe.
"Don't look back." she murmured quietly to her handcuffed friend, "Just keep walking, and act as normal as possible."
"Will do," whispered Break, marching forward like a condemned man on his way to his death. If there was one thing he could do besides opera, it was act. And it took very little to make this convincing, as he remembered the men in black body armor that had shown up right after his helping Max's friend smuggle medicine to the Warden's house.
Logan had driven Max as far as he could go and then pulled the car around to their agreed meet up point. It had become a habit, his driving her to her jobs because a: it made him feel better about asking her to do things for him and b: she always had wheels if she needed them. Max had her Ninja after all but sometimes she required something with more weight and width and that was Logan's SUV.
Now Logan considered himself to be a patient man, but whenever he was sat waiting for Max he became the most impatient person on the planet. He constantly checked his watch, looked out the window and then checked the rear view. The radio had become a welcomed distraction and he listened to what people had to say and rolled his eyes at the propaganda the government happened to be spurting this time. He leaned back into his seat, scrubbed at his hair and then drummed his fingers against the wheel.
"There he is." Spotting Logan's SUV, Max hurried over to it with Break in tow, knocked lightly on the window to alert Logan that he should start the engine, opened the back door for Break, and got in the front seat. "Logan, meet Break. Break - Logan. Let's roll."
The large man squeezed into the car as quickly as he could manage without appearing very desperate to get away from the scene. He put a grin on his face, "Nice to meet you Logan...have to admit I was surprised to see Max in jail again, in that uniform."
Logan turned his head, a little taken aback at the company in the back seat before he just replied. "Nice to meet you too,
Break." He'd seen stranger things in his time and he pretty much expected the unexpected these days. Without blinking an eye he turned the key, started the engine and then pulled the car away from where he'd had it parked.
"Got it," Max grinned at Logan, holding up the manila envelope then tossing it on the dash, "And, as you can see, I also grabbed something extra. Break helped me out last year when I was in Langford - I wouldn't have gotten outta there alive if not for him." She explained as she dug in one of the pouches on her belt and withdrew a set of handcuff keys which she passed back to Break. "Just returning the favour."
Break slowly worked the key into the handcuffs, "And I really appreciate it Max. Got busted for the same old Police Brutality poster deal."
Logan's eyes slid to the manila envelope and a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. In that little folder he had more than enough to ruin a corrupted cop's life and bring down a dirty precinct. The wheel was turned, the car pulled around a corner and acceleration dropped then climbed again.
"Killed two birds with one stone," He remarked ruefully as he glanced at Max then turned his attention back to the road.
"Yeah, think you could hack into the system and set it up to look like Break got to Langford, and was then released?" Max shook her head, gazing moodily out the window, "Lame-ass charge anyway. Didn't there used to be a thing called free speech?"
Max twisted in her seat to look at Break, "You should probably keep it on the down-low for a week or so that you're out."
"Yeah well the Constitution didn't matter much after the Pulse, neither did the amendments like the Bill of Rights," muttered Break. He paused a moment and smiled, "Well I guess I can finally clean the backroom at the shop if you're going to have me stay low for a bit."
"Free speech went out the window as soon as the pulse hit and people got scared," Logan offered up before he gave a slight nod to Max to show that he'd take care of her request later.
"Yeah, I'm a bit too young to remember freedom first hand," There was a hint of irony to Max's smile, "But it sounds like it was nice."
The truth was, she'd had her first taste of relative freedom around the same time the rest of the nation had lost it. She glanced up into the rear-view mirror, met Break's eyes. "What're you gonna do with the back room once you get it cleared out?"
"I haven't really decided yet," the large man had to confess, "I just know it's needed done for years, but I've put it off for..." he paused, taking time to compose himself before he could fall apart, "personal reasons."
Logan's eyes slid to the mirror as he heard the pause and then glanced away, returning his eyes to the road. Logan wasn't the sort to intrude and so he let Max and Break talk as he focused on getting them back to where they needed to be.
Max quirked a curious eyebrow at Break. "I was thinking..." she paused, then shrugged, "I know you like to do what you can about the corruption, put posters in your window for rallies and that sorta dealio, but you keep getting’ pinched for it, and that doesn't help anyone." She held up a hand to ward off argument, "But, there might be something else you can do, something... more effective."
"And what would that be Max?" Break was intrigued. He knew this girl was in some sort of trouble, but a way to strike back against those who were so corrupt?
Max slid a glance towards Logan, then met Break's curious gaze in the mirror, "Have you ever heard of the S1W?"
Honestly, Break thought he wouldn't be surprised, but hey, occaisionally things happened to do so, and this was one of them. He looked at her for a few moments before answering. "Yes... I have. Nice group from the sound of it, I must admit the ration cards at the VA was a true piece of justice."
"Wasn't it though?" Max shot a slightly amused smirk at Logan, "Anyway, I have an... acquaintance in the S1W and she mentioned needing private places to hold their meetings and stuff..."
Break was shocked, but he tried not to let it show too much, albeit he was unsuccessful. Thinking over the sheer danger of it for a moment, he gave a nod, "They could. I wouldn't bother them."
"I know the government media's said some pretty bad stuff about them, but they're not bad people, Break. They're not terrorists, they just want to make things better, more like before the Pulse..." she gave a small shrug, "Anyway, it's just a thought, because you seem like you have similar ideals... It wouldn't be every week, probably, they like to move the meetings around, safer that way. It's not without its risks, but think about it, and let me know."
Break gave a nod, "The government calls everything and everyone that doesn't like military rule a terrorist. I don't have to think about it. Tell them it's fine. Just at least browse around the shop once in a while, even if they don't buy anything."
"Just like that, huh? Cool." Max chuckled, "I'll talk to my S1W connection, let her know."
She glanced out the window, then tilted her head and aimed a querying look at Logan, "Where to now?"
"Where does your friend need to go?" Logan asked as he looked up at the mirror, regarding Break for a moment, "Makes sense for me to drop him off first."
"Your shop's on Melbourne Avenue, didn't you say?" Max recalled what he'd told her when they were locked up in Langford the previous year, and she angled a look of enquiry at Break, "D'ya want us to drop you there, or somewhere else?"
"Sounds good to me, thanks," Break replied, with a thankful smile.
"Melbourne Avenue it is," Logan murmured as he dropped the acceleration and turned a corner, slipping into a shortcut he knew. It wouldn't be much longer.
Max found a pen and pad of paper in the glove compartment and jotted down the number of the cell phone Logan had given her, and Logan's phone number as well, ripping off the sheet, she passed it back to Break, "The first number's mine, the second is his, if you need me, give me a call, or if you can't reach me, ring Logan... I'll drop by the shop some time soon."
Break accepted it with what he hoped was a calm expression on his face, despite the fact he was in over his head on this, "Thanks, will try."
With a few more roads and alleys it wasn't long until the SUV was drawing up on the street and Logan turned his head to look over his shoulder at Break, "We're here." He leaned over, offered up his hand, "It was good to meet you, Break."
Break took the hand calmly and shook it, "Nice to meet you to Logan! Thanks for busting me out Max..."
Max turned in her seat, "Hey no problem, I've busted outta worse places than that," Max smirked slightly as she reached for Break's hand and clasped it briefly before knocking her knuckles against his, "Remember to keep a low profile for a while, I don't wanna have to bust you out twice in one month. Take care."
Break couldn't help but smile, "Sure thing Max. Thanks to both of you again!"
As he got out of the car, he tried to shift his focus on what to do about the windows. They had been busted by the cops during the raid, and plywood wouldn't do. Well it would have to until he could get more glass, and maybe some higher grade this time. It would take longer, but be worth it.
As Logan pulled the car away from the curb, Max watched Break and hoped she'd done the right thing by suggesting what she had.
Pre-played with the talented freedom_press and abw_vintage
"Hey," she smiled slightly, studying Logan as he dilligently worked on something on his PC, obviously intent on his work. She longed to trail a fingertip over the crease that appeared between his eyebrows as he stared in concentration at his screen, kiss the lower lip that he was biting on thoughtfully, "'Sup?"
"Hey yourself," Logan greeted her with a smile of his own as he turned to face her, "I've been looking into corrupt cops in one of the sectors - one in particular," He filled her in briefly, "And I need his personnel file."
"A computer system that the great Eyes Only can't crack?" Max's eyebrow arched. She ventured further into the office, "Or are you after a hardcopy in some dusty old filing cabinet somewhere?"
Logan smirked, "Hardcopy in a dusty filing cabinet sounds about right."
"Hmm," Max grinned wryly, propping her hip against the side of Logan's workstation, "You have any idea where a girl might come across a dusty filing cabinet which just happens to contain that kinda thing?"
Logan rolled out from under his desk, pulled open a drawer and reached in for a folder.
"Directions, layout of the station and clear instructions of how to get to where you need to go." He offered Max the folder.
She took the folder, careful not to brush against Logan, and flicked through the folders contents, quickly scanning the documents contained within, "Sector 21, South-West precinct... Haven't been in that one before..." Max smirked slightly, "Shouldn't be a problem though, you've seen one copshop, you seen 'em all, right?"
Max dropped the folder lightly back on the table, having absorbed the relevant details, and Logan moved a hand to collect the folder and put it away. You never knew who could drop in, glance at papers left lying around and find out things they weren't supposed to know.
"Just a matter of gettin' in then. Don't suppose you just happen to have a cops uniform in my size, lyin' around here somewhere?" She quipped with a smirk.
Logan just eyed the grin and resisted the urge to laugh, settling on a lazy smile, "My bedroom."
He was indeed a man prepared for anything.
"Kinky." Max commented, arching an eyebrow and smirking.
"I know someone who knows someone," Logan answered cryptically before simply shrugging his shoulders and giving a smile.
"'K, so just let me go slip into something a bit more... Uniform." she chuckled as she crossed the room, walking out of the office and heading into Logan's bedroom.
Logan rolled his chair back, tipped his head and allowed himself a moment to admire the view before yanking his attention back to work. Made everything a little easier to bear.
"Don't mind the mess," He called after her, even though his room wasn't particularly messy - just a few wayward clothes here and there.
Max found the uniform hanging in the closet and changed into it, glancing around Logan's bedroom curiously. She noticed up a book of the bedside table, picked it up and flicked through it then put it down again. She eyed the dresser curiously, then shook her head and chuckled at her own nosyness. Fixing her hair into a neat french braid, she folded her clothes and set them at the foot of the bed, then opened the bedroom door, and headed back to Logan's office.
Stepping inside, she put on the uniform cap, and asked, "Whaddaya think, could I be one of Seattle's finest?"
Logan had buried himself back in another case, this one rife with corruption just like always, but turned his head as Max reappeared. The pen in his mouth just sort of hung there as his eyes swept her form. There was an audible noise in the back of his throat as he cleared it and nodded his head. "Definitely."
Max grinned, a very slight flush showing in her olive complected cheeks. "Better get to work then."
"Good idea," Logan muttered as he pulled his eyes away and made them focus on the screen in front of him. "You head on down to the car - I'll save this and be right with you."
*****
Max stepped into the South-West police precinct, nerves buzzing - cop shops didn't exactly make her list of fun places to hang out. It'd be fine though, get in, get the papers, get out.
Striding purposefully to the front counter, she nodded to the rookie seated behind it, pulling out and flashing the ID and badge Logan had provided her with.
"Hi, I'm from the East precinct, I'm just here to take care of some paperwork.." she gave a wry smile, rolled her eyes, "You know how it is. Can you direct me to records and evidence?"
"Sure, Officer Salinas," Officer McDougal gave her a sympathetic smile, "It's through that door, turn right into the corridor, go all the way to the end, and head downstairs to the basement. Third door on the left. Can't miss it. Harry Shaw will be able to help you out with whatever you need."
"Thanks." McDougal buzzed her through, and she headed down to the basement.
She hadn't needed the directions, having familiarized herself with the building using the blueprints Logan had shown her. Her sensitive ears picked up a low rumbling sound, and she quietly approached the door she'd been directed to, and she peered around the frame to see a pudgy middle aged man with thinning hair sitting behind the counter, snoring peacefully. Max smirked. That made her job easier.
The security camera in the hall was pointing in her direction, so she stepped inside, waited a moment for it to pan away, and stepped back into the hall. Careful to keep out of the camera's path of sight, she ventured down the corridor, stopping outside another door further down, and tried the handle. Locked. That would've been too easy, anyway.
The camera was panning back toward her, so she stepped across the corridor and concealed herself in the shadow of a vending machine, slipping her lock-picking tools from her pocket as she waited; counting out the seconds till the security camera began to pan away, before emerging from her hiding spot and working the lock. Moments later she was inside, closing the door quietly behind her as the camera began its slow pan back in that direction.
Moving silently through the archives, she passed row upon row of dusty boxes on shelves. They were old case-files, mostly. There, along the back wall, was a bank of filing cabinets - that was what she was after.
Finding the right cabinet, she again used her picks to work the lock, then pulled out the drawer, trying to keep it as quiet as possible by pressing her hands to the reverberating metal sides of the drawer to dampen the sound. She flicked through the files, found the one she was looking for, withdrew it, glanced at it's contents and transferred them into a manila envelope.
Now it was just a matter of gettin' outta there and makin' tracks. She wove her way back through the stacks then stood in the shadows, looking out into the hall through the Perspex windows which stretched between the clerks counter and the ceiling.
From this angle, she could see the camera. She began counting as she crossed back to the door, waited 4 seconds, then eased it open and stepped out into the hall. Moments later, she was climbing the stairs.
The officer who'd helped her at the front counter stepped into the corridor, cup of coffee in hand, "You get what you need, Salinas?"
"Sure did." Max held up the envelope, gave a perfunctory smile, and was about to depart when a conversation down the hall caught her attention.
"C'mon, this guy was supposed to be shuttled to Langford yesterday, but because of your stuff up, he wasn't, and now the captain's sayin' he can hear this guy singing his opera in lockup from his office and that if he has to hear this guy sing one more fuckin' aria he's gonna have both our jobs. It's your screw-up Hoffman, take care of it."
"But my wife's having a baby!" came a desperation tinged reply.
"That's what you thought yesterday. Get it done."
"Some people," A third, familiar sounding voice said, interrupting the two officers, "don't appreciate good vintage music from more civilized times."
Max raised an eyebrow and took a step backwards to peer around the corner, and saw two police officers, and a familiar figure in handcuffs leaning back against the wall. Break. Oh boy.
Break did a small double take as he saw one female officer looking around the corner at him. He could've sworn it was that Max girl, he had helped escape from prison the year before, but it couldn't be, she wouldn't be one of them.
Seeing Break's minute reaction, Max made up her mind. She owed Break. She owed him big time. He'd taken a beating for her, and then helped OC get the tryptophan to her. He'd probably served an extended sentence due to the fact he'd helped her out.
"Excuse me." she muttered to the officer she was standing with, and strode off down the hall, looking Break dead in the eye, willing him to work with her.
"Hey guys." Max addressed the cops, "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and I think I might be able to lend a hand. Seein' as I'm heading up to Langford to drop some papers off anyhow, maybe I can take him with me. Save you guys the trouble."
Break's eyebrow quirked at her voice, it was Max! Now what was she doing in here in a cop uniform? Didn't she know how to stay out of trouble at all?
"And you are?" questioned one of the cops, the one who'd been doing most of the talking, the other officer looked less hostile, and maybe a little hopeful.
"I'm Officer Salinas, from the East Precinct - my boss sent me down here to pick up some paperwork, which I'm supposed to deliver to Langford." She gave a small shrug, "I just figured, since I'm heading that way... But it's no skin off my nose if you wanna cart him there yourselves."
"Well, if she's heading that way anyway..." interjected the father to be, turning to the other cop, "C'mon Addison... it's not every day you become a dad."
The hard-ass gave Max a long assessing look, studying how she looked in the uniform, perhaps just a shade too slowly. Then he met her eyes, and stopped. Cool, hard cop eyes looked back at him, too hard almost, for a rookie. "You think you can handle this guy?"
"Him?" Max glanced at Break, dark eyes showing a faint gleam of amusement, "Yeah. We've met before - arrested him at a rally last year. They have a nickname for him up at Langford, ya know? Pavarotti. He's gettin' to be a regular fixture."
Break did his best not to blush at mention of the nickname, but hey, he had the voice, so why not use it to make everyone else as miserable as he was in jail. Except when he was doing what he had to do to get out with Bill. He wasn't sure what he should do about that if he did end up in Langford, he heard the man wasn't as desperate now, and had a bodybuilder boyfriend.
"C'mon Hoffman, please?" Addison looked beseechingly at the other cop. Hoffman gave Max another once-over. "Yeah fine, whatever. Get her to fill in the paperwork and you're free to go, Addison. You'd better name the kid after me."
With that, Hoffman turned and headed back into the bullpen. "Great, thanks man!" Addison called after him, then turned to
Max. "You have no idea much you've made my day, Salinas. C'mon, let's fill out the paperwork."
Addison turned and hurried through a doorway into an office, found the papers, signed them, in a couple of places, then handed them to Max. She squiggled on them artistically, and turned to Break. "C'mon Pavarotti, your audience awaits you."
"Yes ma'am," he said cordially. He had best rub it in Addison and Hoffman's faces that he would be cordial to her, whereas he had just done his best to drive them mad with various arias of different eras in operatic theatre.
Max led the way out of the police station and away from the doors, keeping a firm hold on Break's arm. Her eyes scanned the street at the end of the lot searchingly. She wondered where Logan was. Parked out of sight? Driving laps maybe.
"Don't look back." she murmured quietly to her handcuffed friend, "Just keep walking, and act as normal as possible."
"Will do," whispered Break, marching forward like a condemned man on his way to his death. If there was one thing he could do besides opera, it was act. And it took very little to make this convincing, as he remembered the men in black body armor that had shown up right after his helping Max's friend smuggle medicine to the Warden's house.
Logan had driven Max as far as he could go and then pulled the car around to their agreed meet up point. It had become a habit, his driving her to her jobs because a: it made him feel better about asking her to do things for him and b: she always had wheels if she needed them. Max had her Ninja after all but sometimes she required something with more weight and width and that was Logan's SUV.
Now Logan considered himself to be a patient man, but whenever he was sat waiting for Max he became the most impatient person on the planet. He constantly checked his watch, looked out the window and then checked the rear view. The radio had become a welcomed distraction and he listened to what people had to say and rolled his eyes at the propaganda the government happened to be spurting this time. He leaned back into his seat, scrubbed at his hair and then drummed his fingers against the wheel.
"There he is." Spotting Logan's SUV, Max hurried over to it with Break in tow, knocked lightly on the window to alert Logan that he should start the engine, opened the back door for Break, and got in the front seat. "Logan, meet Break. Break - Logan. Let's roll."
The large man squeezed into the car as quickly as he could manage without appearing very desperate to get away from the scene. He put a grin on his face, "Nice to meet you Logan...have to admit I was surprised to see Max in jail again, in that uniform."
Logan turned his head, a little taken aback at the company in the back seat before he just replied. "Nice to meet you too,
Break." He'd seen stranger things in his time and he pretty much expected the unexpected these days. Without blinking an eye he turned the key, started the engine and then pulled the car away from where he'd had it parked.
"Got it," Max grinned at Logan, holding up the manila envelope then tossing it on the dash, "And, as you can see, I also grabbed something extra. Break helped me out last year when I was in Langford - I wouldn't have gotten outta there alive if not for him." She explained as she dug in one of the pouches on her belt and withdrew a set of handcuff keys which she passed back to Break. "Just returning the favour."
Break slowly worked the key into the handcuffs, "And I really appreciate it Max. Got busted for the same old Police Brutality poster deal."
Logan's eyes slid to the manila envelope and a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. In that little folder he had more than enough to ruin a corrupted cop's life and bring down a dirty precinct. The wheel was turned, the car pulled around a corner and acceleration dropped then climbed again.
"Killed two birds with one stone," He remarked ruefully as he glanced at Max then turned his attention back to the road.
"Yeah, think you could hack into the system and set it up to look like Break got to Langford, and was then released?" Max shook her head, gazing moodily out the window, "Lame-ass charge anyway. Didn't there used to be a thing called free speech?"
Max twisted in her seat to look at Break, "You should probably keep it on the down-low for a week or so that you're out."
"Yeah well the Constitution didn't matter much after the Pulse, neither did the amendments like the Bill of Rights," muttered Break. He paused a moment and smiled, "Well I guess I can finally clean the backroom at the shop if you're going to have me stay low for a bit."
"Free speech went out the window as soon as the pulse hit and people got scared," Logan offered up before he gave a slight nod to Max to show that he'd take care of her request later.
"Yeah, I'm a bit too young to remember freedom first hand," There was a hint of irony to Max's smile, "But it sounds like it was nice."
The truth was, she'd had her first taste of relative freedom around the same time the rest of the nation had lost it. She glanced up into the rear-view mirror, met Break's eyes. "What're you gonna do with the back room once you get it cleared out?"
"I haven't really decided yet," the large man had to confess, "I just know it's needed done for years, but I've put it off for..." he paused, taking time to compose himself before he could fall apart, "personal reasons."
Logan's eyes slid to the mirror as he heard the pause and then glanced away, returning his eyes to the road. Logan wasn't the sort to intrude and so he let Max and Break talk as he focused on getting them back to where they needed to be.
Max quirked a curious eyebrow at Break. "I was thinking..." she paused, then shrugged, "I know you like to do what you can about the corruption, put posters in your window for rallies and that sorta dealio, but you keep getting’ pinched for it, and that doesn't help anyone." She held up a hand to ward off argument, "But, there might be something else you can do, something... more effective."
"And what would that be Max?" Break was intrigued. He knew this girl was in some sort of trouble, but a way to strike back against those who were so corrupt?
Max slid a glance towards Logan, then met Break's curious gaze in the mirror, "Have you ever heard of the S1W?"
Honestly, Break thought he wouldn't be surprised, but hey, occaisionally things happened to do so, and this was one of them. He looked at her for a few moments before answering. "Yes... I have. Nice group from the sound of it, I must admit the ration cards at the VA was a true piece of justice."
"Wasn't it though?" Max shot a slightly amused smirk at Logan, "Anyway, I have an... acquaintance in the S1W and she mentioned needing private places to hold their meetings and stuff..."
Break was shocked, but he tried not to let it show too much, albeit he was unsuccessful. Thinking over the sheer danger of it for a moment, he gave a nod, "They could. I wouldn't bother them."
"I know the government media's said some pretty bad stuff about them, but they're not bad people, Break. They're not terrorists, they just want to make things better, more like before the Pulse..." she gave a small shrug, "Anyway, it's just a thought, because you seem like you have similar ideals... It wouldn't be every week, probably, they like to move the meetings around, safer that way. It's not without its risks, but think about it, and let me know."
Break gave a nod, "The government calls everything and everyone that doesn't like military rule a terrorist. I don't have to think about it. Tell them it's fine. Just at least browse around the shop once in a while, even if they don't buy anything."
"Just like that, huh? Cool." Max chuckled, "I'll talk to my S1W connection, let her know."
She glanced out the window, then tilted her head and aimed a querying look at Logan, "Where to now?"
"Where does your friend need to go?" Logan asked as he looked up at the mirror, regarding Break for a moment, "Makes sense for me to drop him off first."
"Your shop's on Melbourne Avenue, didn't you say?" Max recalled what he'd told her when they were locked up in Langford the previous year, and she angled a look of enquiry at Break, "D'ya want us to drop you there, or somewhere else?"
"Sounds good to me, thanks," Break replied, with a thankful smile.
"Melbourne Avenue it is," Logan murmured as he dropped the acceleration and turned a corner, slipping into a shortcut he knew. It wouldn't be much longer.
Max found a pen and pad of paper in the glove compartment and jotted down the number of the cell phone Logan had given her, and Logan's phone number as well, ripping off the sheet, she passed it back to Break, "The first number's mine, the second is his, if you need me, give me a call, or if you can't reach me, ring Logan... I'll drop by the shop some time soon."
Break accepted it with what he hoped was a calm expression on his face, despite the fact he was in over his head on this, "Thanks, will try."
With a few more roads and alleys it wasn't long until the SUV was drawing up on the street and Logan turned his head to look over his shoulder at Break, "We're here." He leaned over, offered up his hand, "It was good to meet you, Break."
Break took the hand calmly and shook it, "Nice to meet you to Logan! Thanks for busting me out Max..."
Max turned in her seat, "Hey no problem, I've busted outta worse places than that," Max smirked slightly as she reached for Break's hand and clasped it briefly before knocking her knuckles against his, "Remember to keep a low profile for a while, I don't wanna have to bust you out twice in one month. Take care."
Break couldn't help but smile, "Sure thing Max. Thanks to both of you again!"
As he got out of the car, he tried to shift his focus on what to do about the windows. They had been busted by the cops during the raid, and plywood wouldn't do. Well it would have to until he could get more glass, and maybe some higher grade this time. It would take longer, but be worth it.
As Logan pulled the car away from the curb, Max watched Break and hoped she'd done the right thing by suggesting what she had.
Pre-played with the talented freedom_press and abw_vintage