MAIZE

THE NEXT MORNING

All five of them together returned to the Serpent's Den, avoiding the string of police tape that circled the entrance. The night before, the local authorities had responded on account to multiple frantic calls of a casino shooting. And this morning, had put up caution tape to keep civilians back as they investigated the scene. Though multiple eye witness accounts were able to testify exactly what happened.

The group had also caught word on the local radio of gunfire reports taking place throughout the streets between the eastern side of the city that same night.

The authorities had been late responding to the scene due to a block that had cut them off from the main road, and they had now begun to conduct an investigation for what transpired. As the owner, Cassandra had been sought after for a testimony to the event, but she had one of her employees at the ready to take on the authority's questions as she stuck with Maize and the rest of the group. As far as they could tell, the police had a rather vague read on the whole story. In their minds this had been a local gang robbery, they did not yet suspect a second party—namely, Maize and the others—had been involved in any way. But even so, to be safe, they would be gone before that happened.

Cassandra had many entryways into the private part of her casino, a few back doors that only she and a few employees knew about, so they were able to get in unspotted by the lurking police. Once inside, they decided to go to their shared room—as it not only had all their stuff but was an entirely vacant floor which rooms that could only be accessed by Cassandra's special bracelet once locked. No one would bother them, let alone think to look up there.

Maize knew without a doubt that they would be on the move again. They couldn't stay here, not when the place was under investigation. And besides, Zmeya knew they were here too.

Alec was the one leading the discussion as they went through the current facts of their situation.

"So we've got a bounty on our head—isn't that fun? Clearly, they're keeping close tabs on us. If they were able to catch up to us within just a few days, then I think we need to up our game."

"Meaning what exactly?" Kishan raised an eyebrow.

"We get ourselves somewhere they can't follow as easily," Maize stated. "Only question is where?"

"I don't suppose space is an option?" Kishan cut in pointedly.

Maize tilted her head to the side in thought and then shrugged. "Not sure. C, acquire a rocketship anytime in the past few years?"

"No."

"Then that's a no," she responded to Kishan flatly.

"It was always a no! I was being sarcastic! Jesus!"

"Then say so. We need actual options here," Alec muttered.

"You all are very indecisive..." Agent Hill observed quietly.

"This is the first time we've actually tried to discuss our next relocation—other times those two just took me somewhere and didn't tell each other where until we were practically on the doorstep," Kishan said.

"That seems foolish."

"Which is probably why we're actually talking about it now..."

"So what are the options? Because I know for a fact that even though the gang is rather new, they've got powerful money behind them from some source—or sources for all we know. The harder you all make it for them to find you, the harder they'll try and the more powerful resources they will bring in so that they do not fail again..."

"Despite that, it's better than just sitting around and waiting for them to find us now. It was risky even coming back here," Alec pointed out.

He was right. As was Agent Hill. Being hunted was no trivial matter, as had been proven. But Maize knew this game, she had played it many times, and she had won. "They'll be monitoring flights in and out of the city, as well as bus routes and trains. Anything that we could use to get out of Mexico."

"So are you saying we're going to be left walking?" Kishan asked.

"Not necessarily. There's more than one way to sneak out of a city. And it's not like they can lock it down, they're out of their home territory. We could get a car but..."

"But if they manage to track it faster than we can get out, we'll be putting ourselves in a very compromising position," Alec said.

Cassandra had been quiet in the corner, and she stayed that way as the discussion progressed. And she had a thoughtful look on her face.

Maize thought, That can't be good.

The bounty hunter ignored the conversation and moved closer to her. "Why do you have that look on your face, C? It's worrying me."

"Just thinking about something I mentioned earlier..." the casino owner began, flashing a sideways glance at Maize through the corner of her eyes. "You know, with this type of situation you're in...you might want to consider going to Vancouver..." Cassandra started easily.

"Wait, Vancouver? As in—Canada?" Kishan repeated. That caught the attention of the others.

"What's there?" Alec asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cassandra flashed Maize a quick look, but she wasn't asking for permission. "It's not so much a what as it is a who—"

By that point, it could not be any more clear about who she was hinting at.

"No." Maize gave her head a firm shake.

"Consider it, Blades..."

"I did. And it's a no."

"You didn't even think about it. So why not?"

Maize shot her friend a look, a silent message to tell her 'don't'. But it was already too late.

"Hold on—who's in Canada?" Alec questioned. Maize could tell from his tone that he knew they were hiding something between the two of them—as if it wasn't obvious—and he didn't appreciate it.

Well, he'd just have to keep not appreciating it, because Maize didn't plan on elaborating any time soon. If ever. If they had thought seeking help from Cassandra had been suspicious—then telling them about what Cassandra was suggesting was way worse. Way, way worse.

"It doesn't matter," Maize dismissed forcefully before any more could be said about it. She then gave the casino owner a pointed glare. "Out of all the suggestions for help you could have made, you picked that one? Are you still sane?"

Cassandra regarded her with an unimpressed look at her dismissal. "Theoretically, yes. I'm merely suggesting the one that'll be best equipped to help you," said honestly.

Maize sent her a narrowed look.

"Ok, clearly the rest of us are missing something here," Alec stated as he crossed his arms over his chest with a look of irritation. "Care to fill us in?"

Maize sent him a glare. "No, not particularly."

"I wasn't exactly asking," he retorted.

"I don't care." Maize then ignored him and focused back on the casino owner. "Cassandra, can I talk to you for a moment? Outside?" she added in a tone that left no room for arguing.

"I suppose."

Maize ignored the detective's gaze on her back as she stood and quickly left the room, Cassandra following more calmly.

"Ok, what the heck was that about?" Kishan wondered out loud as they watched the door shut.

Alec was asking himself the same thing.

"It seems miss Alberona brought up something that Maize was not comfortable discussing with all of us present. Must be something private, it would be wrong to intrude."

Alec ignored that comment. His eyes were still focused on the door. He felt his irritation simmer, he knew Maize was the secretive type and she didn't like to talk about personal things, but it was times like this that he felt she was hiding something big. And it seemed the casino owner knew about it too.

For a detective, he was getting rather tired of being left in the dark.

"Stay here for a minute," he said to the two agents as he followed towards the doors.

"What? Now where are you going?" Kishan exclaimed, though he didn't seem to be directing to question to Alec so much as to the air around him. Alec didn't answer, and just left.

Maize paced back and forth in front of her calm friend, who watched her with a mixed look of concern and annoyance.

"Consider it."

"Nope. It's not happening, C, absolutely not." Maize continued to repeat herself over and over, despite being aware she was doing so. It was a ludicrous idea.

"Oh come on, why not? Is it really that bad asking him for help?"

"Yes," Maize deadpanned.

Cassandra gave her an exasperated sigh. "Por causa del Señor, Blades!" she exclaimed. For the Lord's sake!

"I'm serious," Maize said. "I said I would leave the past—and everyone in it—behind."

"Everyone? That's rather cold." Cassandra then gave her an odd look. "And yet here you are, with me."

Mazie crossed her arms. "That's different."

"How so?"

"Because I had no choice at the time—and you sought me out first, not the other way around."

"So is that really the only reason you're not accepting this?"

Maize hesitated. "...no."

"Personal outlook aside, think about the best tactical strategy for your...team, I suppose they are."

And with that she left the room, leaving Maize standing in the hall alone with those words to consider. Team? The last time she thought she had been a part of a team, things hadn't ended so well for her...that was the wrong thing to think about right now.

But what if Cassandra was right?

Didn't matter, Maize wasn't going to do it.

Her mind was distracted, but she moved to follow Cassandra after a few minutes anyway. They had gone to the next hall to talk, and she didn't think she had been followed, which is why Maize hadn't been expecting to run into anyone. Unfortunantely for that person, Maize's reflexes were faster than her brain and she threw a defensive elbow before she could think better of it. Alec's eyes went wide and he let out a curse as he blocked her hit with his hand before it could connect with his jaw.

Maize dropped her arm when she saw it was hi and took a step back. "Jesus, watch where you're going next time."

"You're the one who attacked me!" Alec exclaimed.

"Why did you follow?" Maize questioned, ignoring his defense.

Alec ran a hand through his hair and regarded her evenly. "To be honest, I may or may not have come to eavesdrop—since you decidingly refuse to tell me a single thing...But then I thought better of it."

"Now I can't decide whether or not I wish I had actually hit you or not," Maize seethed as she took that in.

Alec gave her a look, "Like I said, I thought better of it. I just hope that whatever you had to talk about you sorted it out."

"Don't ask," Maize muttered as she carried on and walked past him back towards the room, hearing his footsteps follow a moment behind her.

They entered together at the same.

"How long will it take to get things ready to leave?" she asked after a moment. She tried not to let her agitation deep into her words as she crossed her arms, looking to her convincingly persuasive friend.

Cassandra smiled. "Oh you know me...probably no more than a few hours. That work for you all?"

"Did the rest of us miss something or do you have a destination in mind already? We were thinking of heading more to the southern part of the country..." Kishan started.

Maize shook her head. "No. That won't work, they'll be expecting us to head somewhere still within the region because we're short on resources, unlike them."

"But...we are," Alec pointed out.

"Not with me as your ally," Cassandra smiled.

"And that's why—while I hate to say it—Canada might be a good idea. That country is one of the easiest places to disappear off the radar in my experience," she said at a mutter.

Agent Hill looked considerate. "It certainly would be the last thing the gang would expect."

"That's great and all, but how do we plan on getting there? That's across the states—and we already cleared out the idea of flights," Alec said.

Kishan looked as if he couldn't quite believe they were actually considering this option. "All the way to Canada?! Isn't it freezing there? And don't they have polar bears?"

Maize stared at him, unable to tell if he was joking or not. "...no."

"You've been there?" he questioned.

"A long while ago."

"It's actually quite nice there, especially Vancouver," Cassandra commented reassuringly. "So is that a yes?"

Agent Hill looked like she wasn't going to answer, feeling it was best she let the others make the desicion. Kishan still looked like he was thinking about something totally unrelated. Alec was the only one who really seemed focused.

He sighed, "Fine. What the hell anyway. Let's go to Canada."

* * *

Just as Cassandra promised, getting all the nessarssary things in order only took a few short hours.

"Just to make things clear in case you thought otherwise," Maize said to her friend when they were alone, "I agreed to Vancouver, but I'm not involving or relying on him for help."

"How about as a last resort then?"

"I'll think about it."

"Alright, the private plane is set up to take you with everything you'll need to make it over the boarders without trouble. I also included more than enough canadian currency in that package to get you at least a vehicle and residence somewhere."

"I don't do this often, but I really can't thank you enough—or appologize, for all the shit that happened.

Cassandra laughed as she held up her hand and shook her head. "No need for either. As I told you before, I owe you a debt. Whatever I can do, I am happy to help."

"Remind me that I owe you a favour next time you need it."

"I will keep that in mind. And, if you're are still alive next summer, come back to Mexico and see the light festival, it is quite something. Don't be a stranger. Take care, Blades."

"You never dropped that nickname did you."

"No, I think it is fitting, she smiled. "Take care."

"Same follows."