Max called a man he'd worked with before, James.

He was a loyalist, though he didn't work for any pack's specifically. He was a freelancer, kinda like Max. Though, not entirely. He was still human and most of the work he did was patching up guys when they couldn't heal on their own. Max was someone that sent people to get patched up instead. Or to be buried, depending on the situation.

James answered on the tenth ring. He must be busy.

"Hey, Max. What's up?"

Max didn't waste time beating around the bush. "Need a little extra cash?"

The man on the other line hesitated. "Depends…"

Max frowned. "About four hundred for a couple days work?" James' sharp intake of breath brought a slight smile to Max's lips.

"Alright, I'm listening." Max paused as he heard Amanda moving around in the living room. He knew from experience that she could hear everything he said. "…Let's meet somewhere to talk."

Amanda sat on the couch after Max left. She'd been strictly sticking to her no contact and no speaking policy that she'd thought up on the way home after picking him up. But it was hard. She'd thought about going out to distract herself, but didn't want to call any of her old friends. Her coworkers had invited her out tonight, but she'd already declined the invitation. It wasn't that she didn't like her co-workers, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to be closer than they already were. Half of them were over forty and the other's had kids and family drama. She'd wondered on more than one occasion if she was just making excuses. She was an ex-street kid that used to sell herself and went to NA meetings twice a week. All their problems seemed so…normal. Finding out one of your co-workers was an ex-junkie was a hard pill to swallow.

Amanda groaned as she leaned back against the couch. She watched the images flash on the television's screen without any interest. What was wrong with her? She was twenty-eight years old, at a dead end job, in a non-existent relationship with a guy that was probably not human. Something had to be wrong with her, right?

"Fuck it." Amanda said as she clicked the television off. She picked up her phone from the coffee table and dialed the co-worker that'd invited her out.

Max met with James at a not so local park, though it wasn't too far from his apartment. James was already there, waiting at a picnic table, watching a few women jog by as Max approached.

Seeing him, James waved with a smile. Max strode forward then sat next to the distracted man.

James' attention deviated from Max again as one of the women slowed to a walk and adjusted the song playing through her head phones. The other continued on without her, not seeming to notice her companion had been left behind. Max sat back against the table, watching the woman along with James. She wasn't bad to look at; she seemed to run to maintain her figure, rather than trying to lose weight. She wore black skintight jogging pants that cut off at her knees and a top that clung to her figure without covering her navel.

Finally, as the woman picked her pace back up to catch up with her friend, Max turned to Jame. "I need some help finding someone."

James continued to watch the women even as she drew further away. "Yeah?" He asked, distracted.

Max continued. "I need help finding someone in Jackson's territory."

That got his attention. James turned to Max, mild disbelief on his face. "What? Why?"

Max shot him a look, which caused James to avert his eyes and respond, "Right, I don't actually want to know." James leaned back against the table as he groaned. "That's why you offered so much."

Max didn't respond, watching James' reaction. James clicked his tongue as he thought it over. Max waited quietly by the side. James continued to mull it over until the two women returned after running full circle around the mile long track. His eyes followed them as he spoke.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

Max shook his head. "You just need to find out where he's staying, call me as soon as you figure it out and let me know. Nothing else. I need him found within the next couple days." James chewed the inside of his lip as he thought it over some more.

He asked, "Wolf?"

Max nodded at his side.

James sighed. He turned to face Max as he threw one hand up in impatience and exasperation. "Alright."

Max's mouth twitched, threatening to break out into a smirk. He pulled the photo from his pocket and handed it to James.

"This is him, it has more information on the back. He'll probably be somewhere protected, so I wouldn't get too close." James took the photo and frowned down at it as he listened to Max. He pulled out his wallet and shoved the photo into its folds. The two sat for a while longer, Max answering any questions that James had. Max left first, while James continued to people watch.

They weren't friends, not by a long shot. Both knew that the extent of their relationship was business partners, at best, and neither seemed to want to change that in any way.