Bounty Hunter [REWRITTEN VERSION]

Chapter 42: Converstaion Slightly Overdue

MAIZE

He didn't say anything right away, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes, enough that she knew something was coming.

The day had been filled with a flounder of chaotic activities, but they both were suddenly reminded by one important detail that hung in the air between them. A certain agreement had been put off until now due to the distractions of the day had kept their minds mostly away from the topic, a conversation that needed to happen that was now slightly overdue. The one look in the detective's eyes said it all. One day with a bit of chaotic humour did not deride them from their current predicament. She had seen this coming.

'I didn't follow you out here for no reason. I'll be a gentleman and grab us something to drink, but then we need to talk...'

The past night's conversation had slipped her mind due to the short disorderly mayhem that had arisen shortly after what was supposed to be their chance to go over exactly what had happened earlier that same day, but she was reminded of it now and knew immediately, why the detective stopped her.

"You want to take the time to talk now that things have calmed down." It wasn't a question, simply a mere statement, clearing the air if you will.

Alec nodded once, seeming not surprised that she had immediately caught on. "No time like the present," he answered. "And I think we both know it's important."

She agreed. "Here or in private?" Maize asked. Who knew exactly what would come up in their conversation, and the two agents still hadn't heard everything that had gone down on the highway. Whether they decided to disclose all the facts or continue to keep it to themselves, for the time being, would probably be determined in their fortuned discussion. Alec clearly had something on his mind, and somehow she could get the sense that he didn't want to disclose it to the others right away.

"In private," he answered, not to her surprise. "We can wait until after dinner and then meet outside."

That sounded like a reasonably well plan. That way they could also avoid Ryder and whatever inquires he might have to them sneaking off around his property. She did trust Ryder, but she also knew that Alec did not. There was no way he would be joining their conversation either—despite the fact that he basically already knew all the facts from what Maize had told him, though it would probably be best not to tell Alec that.

She nodded. "Deal."

* * *

They did exactly as they said.

He was standing out there before she came out. His form outlined like a silhouette in the sun that was slowly sinking behind the horizon of trees and tinging the sky with the colours of fire and mist.

It was a silent mutual agreement to walk as they spoke, that way they wouldn't be caught standing still in a spot they felt they might be overheard. Not that that was a big concern, the five of them were supposedly the only ones out there for miles, but even so, with what they had been through so far, paranoia was a bound thing, and whatever was on Alec's mind made him seem conflicted about something. He was oddly silent for the first little while. But anyone, especially her, could tell from one look at his face that it was because his mind was being anything but.

When it was clear his brain was too busy with whatever was nagging him to begin, she was the one who started and broke the silence with an easy icebreaker. "Alright, yesterday night you said to get comfortable because you said we had things to talk about, but as I recall, we were interrupted before that could happen. You didn't say anything about what it was about, though I did take a wild guess based on your expression and the fact that it's a little obvious at this point," she said. "What happened yesterday, what about it?"