"Given what apparently happened when I went back, slow-down doesn't exist there. But my friend poses a good question. You gave me a freebie the first time I ever spoke to you, but you popped up several times to do things that I don't remember making a deal for. So was there a price for that, or was it all part of that equation you mentioned?"

Cole knew how to toe the line on being a skeptic and not biting the hand, as well as not directly steeping on the toes of the being much more powerful than hem. So it was very obvious that he was walking that line between respect and annoyance. "Not that I have a lot to ask for. Here at least." The major thing he would isn't up to Max at all.