Page 42 of Maximus

“What are you thinking?” Max asked her as they walked.

“Hmm?” She glanced up at him. “Oh, I’m rationalizing my morality.”

He chuckled. “So, light thoughts, huh?”

She laughed softly. “I just can’t feel regret for being part of what you’re going to do. I wondered if that meant I was morally corrupt.”

“And what did you decide?” Max looked both ways before they crossed the street, heading back to her office.

“That he shouldn’t have done the crimes. He made the choices to do the atrocities he’s done. He should be held accountable for them.” Or, in that case, die because of them.

Max covered her hand that was tucked through his elbow. “He’s following us again.”

She sighed and shook her head. “Why?”

“We believe he’s fixated on you. When he roughed you up, it gave him some sense of exhilaration.”

She looked up at him and stumbled a bit. He caught her and put his arm around her. “You think he wants to hurt me again?”

“I do. But he won’t ever have the opportunity.” Max glanced down at her. “We’re almost at the end.”

“I know.” She paused, then asked, “You’re sure the canvases were taken out of the vault?” She couldn’t believe someone could bypass the alarms, remove the canvases, put them in a case, and take them out of one of the most secure places in Russia without anyone knowing.

“I’m positive. We should know tomorrow that they’re safe and who the artists are.”

“The fact that someone wants to see the paintings, do you think he’s already sold one of the canvases?”

“Probably. We’ll keep an eye out at the showing to ensure no one else from our watch list is involved.”

“Watch list.” She shook her head. “There are so many horrible people you have a list?”

“The world is full of people who seek power at any cost. My organization ensures those without voices, power, or means are protected and represented.”

She could imagine him at the forefront of that war. He was driven and so smart, and he was hers. That knowledge filled her with a peace she hadn’t felt before. “And you can do this from behind a computer?”

“I’m very good at what I do.” He chuckled. “Far better at that portion of the job than this.”

She glanced up at him. “And yet you said there were very few better than you at this portion of your job.”

“Correct,” he acknowledged.

“What do you think the odds of us meeting in any other way would be?”

“Would you like to do the math, or were you speaking hypothetically?” Max chuckled when she made a face at him.

“Don’t expect me to do the math. Two plus two has always equaled five in my book.” She faked a shiver. “I hate math.”

Max stopped at the office door, and she entered her code while he turned his back, ensuring Sokolov saw he was intentionally not looking, she supposed. After she opened the door and they entered the office, she felt Max’s hand on her shoulder, stopping her before she opened the interior door. “Someone’s been here. Don’t say anything until I clear the room.”

She nodded and opened the door. How did he know someone had been in the office? She frowned at him but went to her desk and picked up the phone to call the transport company. She pulled her drawer out and looked for her phone book—a small black ledger in which she’d put her contact numbers. Closing the drawer, she opened the one on the right. There it was. She held it up and stared at it. “How did you get in the wrong drawer?”

Max glanced over at her and nodded. He got the message. Someone had gone through her desk. After dialing the number of the contracted trucking company, she asked if they had a location on the truck. She was put on hold and watched as Max walked around the office, appearing to look at his phone as he wandered. He stopped by her desk and sat down. She smiled at him, and he winked at her, tapping the desk. She got it. There was a bug in her desk. When the trucking company came back online, she requested the direct and expedited return of the cargo. She powered up her computer and typed an email to Abrasha indicating she’d done as he’d asked while they chatted about their day. Max suggested dinner, and she agreed immediately. “I’m done here.”

She put the phone book into the correct drawer, turned off her computer, and they exited the office with little fanfare. As they walked down the sidewalk, she asked, “How many devices?”

“One. But as we aren’t returning to the office again, it’s of zero consequence.” He shrugged and held her hand as they walked across the street.

“How did you know someone had gone into the office?”

---