Part 24
ROSWELL
Jeff Parker kicked several pebbles with his boot, his hands firmly planted in the front pockets of his blue jeans. He could see Nancy, Diane Evans and Amy DeLuca in his perpherial vision in a tight circle. The six parents had agreed once again to meet at the quarry, the place they where they had burned Liz’s journal and agreed not to let anyone else in. Like all plans, that one had to be changed with the emergence of the mysterious FBI Agent Sarina Zachary. Jim and Philip were meeting with her then bringing her to the quarry if they felt it was safe to talk to her. Jim believed she could help them and their kids, and having been without word from Liz in almost two months, Jeff was willing to take the chance.
He turned toward his wife, Diane and Amy, tears evident on their faces. “I’m not sure how much longer I can take this,” Diane said as Jeff walked to the circle. “I’ve got to know they’re okay.”
“I’m sure they’re fine,” Nancy replied, pressing her shoulder against Jeff’s chest, his arms tightening around her.
“They’re smart kids.”
“Maria’s not,” Amy snapped. “She’s probably already knocked up with the first of many Guerin offspring.” She paused and wiped ferociously at her eyes, looking at the other mothers, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m supposed to be there when that happens.” Diane walked to Amy’s side, offering a comforting shoulder. “I need her here,” Amy continued. “I need her home.”
“Maybe this agent can help us,” Jeff sighed, releasing Nancy to let her join Diane and Amy. Watching them huddle together once again, soft cries echoing through the quarry, Jeff didn’t understand why he couldn’t believe that himself.
* * *
Sarina sat in the back seat of Deputy Valenti’s tan Ford Explorer on a dead end road near Roswell’s old soap factory. She had met with Deputy Valenti at the police station, sneaking into his vehicle as she had before his heart attack. The Explorer had then snaked through the streets from the police station to the law offices of Philip Evans. Mr. Evans had not been what she expected. She had expected a man, tall and brooding with anger boiling in his eyes. The Philip Evans that faced her now was none of those things. He looked tired and sad...and afraid.
“Thank you for meeting with us, Agent Zachary,” Mr. Evans began. It was the first time since he entered the van that he had looked Sarina directly in the eye, and Sarina found herself taken aback by his tactics. It was no wonder he was a good litigator. He was precise and professional but Sarina could spot the fire lingering in his eyes. “Would you like another danish,” he asked, offering the open box of pastries to her.
“No, thank you.”
Nodding and returning the box to the dashboard, Mr. Evans turned to face her as much as the seat would allow, tapping a pencil onto a yellow notepad in rapid succession. “You understand this is very difficult for us,” he said, glancing to his left at Deputy Valenti, their postures oddly matching despite their difference in stature.
“I understand,” Sarina began, “and I’m more than willing to do what I can to help.”
“Thank you,” Mr. Evans said with a forced smile. “In that case, we’ll need to review the evidence.” He turned away from Sarina, toward the floorboard and bent at the waist. She leaned to her left slightly, trying to get a better idea of what he was doing when she remembered he had brought a black leather briefcase into the vehicle with him. When he turned back to face her, he held a mini-tape recorder in his left hand. Smiling softly, he balanced it on the middle consol of the Explorer and pushed the record button. “What do you know about the men that are chasing our children?”
“I know the men are well-trained and highly dangerous. They once were members of an elite and secretive branch of the FBI called the Special Unit.”
“We’re vaguely familiar with the Special Unit,” Philip seethed, his voice low.
“Then you know what your children are up against,” Sarina continued. “These men will stop at nothing to eliminate -”
“Do you know about the so-called White Room,” Philip interrupted, his face now a ruddy complexion.
“There was a vague reference to the White Room floating through the FBI. Again, the men that are members of the Special Unit will stop at nothing to eliminate the threat they perceive your children to be. If the White Room exists, it may be put to use if your children are found.”
“Why are you so eager to help, Agent Zachary? You’ll forgive me for asking but you seem to have a high standing within the Bureau. Why be a turncoat?”
“I had accidental contact with Liz Parker in Las Vegas. I was questioned extensively about Liz and her friends in Reno by two rogue agents. I am now thought to be contaminated and am another possible target for the Special Unit. All of you are targets.”
“These kids haven’t done anything wrong,” Philip argued as he adjusted his position on the leather seats. “Tess maybe but she received her comeuppance.”
Sarina shook her head and shrugged slightly. “All I know is that these agents wanted to know about your children. They want to find them, even if they get killed in the process. Your children are in serious danger.”
“You still haven’t told us why we should trust you, Agent Zachary.”
“I think she has, Phil,” Jim said with authority, the conviction in his voice startling Sarina.
“It is a valid question, and I don’t blame you for your hesitation to let me into your inner circle, Mr. Evans. You just have to believe that I want to help your children and since I can’t help them directly, I want to help you help them.”
The two men sat in silence for several seconds and Sarina relaxed her stance somewhat. She had not planned to become this emotionally invested in the situation. It was harmful for her; she was still an agent. She could still be reprimanded for her actions. There was just something about Liz Parker’s photograph that had struck a chord inside her like no other case had. She had to help her. Liz and her friends were in danger and Sarina knew she was the only one who could mend the broken hearts of these parents. “Has Jesse Ramirez been in contact with you?”
“Jesse,” Philip questioned. “Jesse is my son-in-law. Why? Do you know him?”
“Jesse and I were at the academy together. I think I need to talk to him, as soon as possible.”
* * *
“Jesse? Honey?”
“Yeah, Ma,” Jesse called from the back yard of his mother’s small home. He dropped the garden hoe onto the ground beside the mound of mulch framing her newest rose bushes and walked to the back screen door. His mother smiled as he opened the door, leaving Jesse no other choice but to return the smile. “What’s wrong?”
She presented her son with a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and the cordless phone. “Some lemonade for you,” she said, kissing her son’s forehead and brushing away the faint traces of mulch on his face with her thumb. “And Rachel is on the phone.”
“Rachel? Rachel who?”
“You know, Rachel, your secretary. How many Rachels do you know,” she teased, thrusting the phone to his ear as he guzzled the lemonade.
“Rachel,” Jesse said, choking on his words as the lemonade continued to make its way down his throat. He sneered at his mother, who smirked at him in kind, and turned away from the screen door. “What’s wrong? I haven’t missed any statutes or court dates, have I? I thought everything was taken care of -”
“Oh no, Jesse,” she replied in hushed, clipped tones. Jesse’s mind quickly tried to add up the pieces of this puzzle. If this was in fact Rachel, it was not the Rachel he worked with. That Rachel had a sweet and soothing voice. Sometimes he would just invite her into his office simply to hear the melodic tones and inflections her voice provided. They were friends at work; Jesse couldn’t allow it to go any farther, no matter what his mother and possibly Rachel herself wanted, especially when Isabel was still imbedded so deeply into his heart.
“Rachel, what’s wrong,” he asked again, this time more forcefully. He felt like he was yelling into the phone and raised his head to make sure his mother was still inside the house.
“An old client of yours is here,” Rachel continued, the noise in the background almost overshadowing her small-sounding voice. “She’s being awfully pushy, Jesse. Ron and Dave are here trying to convince her to leave. I think she’s on drugs -”
“Call the police,” Jesse interrupted.
“Or something,” Rachel continued, speaking as if she hadn’t heard Jesse’s warning. “She got very emotional when I told her you weren’t here.” Then, in the background, Jesse heard a voice that made his heart stop. It was a woman’s voice and he was fairly certain it belonged to Isabel.
“Let me...talk to her,” Jesse said, his own voice shaky. He sat the empty glass onto the concrete birdbath in the midst of his mother’s garden, afraid that he would either crush the glass between his hands or drop it onto the ground.
“Jesse, are you sure -”
“Please, Rachel. I...I think I can handle her. Just make sure Ron and Dave don’t leave you alone with her.”
“Okay,” Rachel said, and Jesse waited what seemed an eternity before her heard Isabel’s voice on the other end of the telephone line.
“Isabel,” his throat cracked and he wished he had more of his mother’s lemonade. Stepping away from the birdbath, he began to pace in small circular paths.
“I thought you’d be here.”
He exhaled and clutched the phone tightly with both hands. “I’m in Roswell.”
“I know,” she sighed and Jesse could hear the irritation in Isabel’s voice. “I had to get away from the rest of them. There are some things you need to know, things I have to tell you.”
“Tell me,” Jesse said as he paused in his pacings. Whatever Isabel wanted to tell him, he had the feeling it had to be bad news. She would never abandon Max and the others and fly across the country for happy news.
“Can’t,” she replied. “Not this way. I have to see you face-to-face.”
Jesse’s mind was a frantic blur. He ran the back of his hand across his forehead, surprised to find beads of sweat collecting there. It definitely had to be bad news. “I’ll be in New Orleans at the end of next week for an ATLA convention. Can you get to New Orleans? I can meet you there. We can get lost there for a few hours between meetings.”
“Okay.”
“I miss you,” he whispered, covering the receiver with both hands. “I miss you so much.” But the phone went dead, leaving Jesse wondered if she had even heard his last declaration.
Linger *COMPLETE* (CC,M/L,MATURE) 2/7/05
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Forum Moderators
Part 25
Part 25
ROSWELL
“Why is it so necessary for you to talk to Jesse right away,” Philip questioned as Sarina settled herself against the back seat of the Explorer. “You’ve been in Roswell for weeks -”
“Is Jesse here,” Sarina asked, immediately raising herself up from her reclined position. “I...I thought he was in Boston with a new job.”
“He is,” Jim replied, causing Sarina’s head to whip in his direction. “But he came back to visit his mother.”
“Would your daughter try to contact him,” Sarina questioned Philip, her knees almost touching the floorboard of the Explorer as she strained forward from the spacious back seat.
“I -”
“Would Isabel call him,” Sarina shouted, her face reddening almost instantly, the small vein in her forehead pulsating wildly.
“Y...yes,” Philip answered, turning his eyes to his right to meet Jim’s. Their gazes identical in the silent concern that lingered in the Explorer. Both men had questioned Sarina’s motives but now, given her explosive outburst, the shadows of doubt crept back into their minds. “She’s called him before.”
“If the FBI knows about Isabel’s relationship with Jesse, his phones are probably tapped and his house is probably wired,” Sarina replied softly, more to herself than Jim or Philip. “Please Mr. Evans,” she said after a moments silence. “It’s imperative that I talk to Jesse. If your daughter has contacted him, she could be leading her enemies right toward her, toward all your children.”
“I...I’ll make some calls,” Philip agreed, reaching into his black briefcase for his cell phone.
* * *
Jesse all but jumped from his car before it came to a complete stop on the gravel road leading into the quarry. The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting interesting shadows and shapes onto the water, and Jesse thought the quarry would make a wonderful spot for a romantic evening. He cursed aloud as his foot slipped off a rock, almost causing him to lose his balance as he ran toward the four parents. “Has she been here yet,” he asked as he ran to Diane’s side, startling Diane, Amy DeLuca and the Parkers with his sudden appearance.
“Jesse,” Diane questioned. “Has who been here? What are you talking about?”
“Philip called me and said I had to drop everything and meet with him here. He said he was bringing an old friend to see me.”
“Who?”
“Sarina Zachary,” Jesse continued. “She’s a friend from the academy. Last I heard she was a pretty good FBI agent. She hasn’t been here yet?”
“Hello, Jesse.”
The five adults turned toward the gravel road and stared at the dark-haired woman accompanying Philip and Jim toward them. Her hair was long and flowing, eerily matching the movement of her black linen pants and khaki tunic-like shirt. She seemed quite comfortable walking across the jagged rocks toward the four strangers in a pair of black sandals.
“Sarina,” Jesse said, a playful smile crossing his lips. “It...it’s good to see you.”
Sarina returned his smile full force, throwing herself into Jesse’s opening arms, much to the confusion of the six parents. “I’m sorry we couldn’t see each other on better terms.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Has Isabel called or contacted you in any way,” Philip asked once he and Jim were within conversation distance from their friends and Jesse.
“Isabel,” Diane questioned, turning toward her husband, her brows furrowed in confusion. “Philip, what’s going on?”
“I spoke to her this morning actually,” Jesse replied as he released Sarina’s waist and allowed his arms to drop to his sides. “She’s in Boston.”
“What about Max?”
“And Liz?”
“And Maria and Kyle?”
“She said she was alone,” Jesse answered, raising his hands to calm the parents’ eager chatter. “That everyone was in L. A.”
“Oh, Philip, that means we can finally bring them home. Let’s call our travel agent and book a flight to L. A.”
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Sarina interjected, mimicking Jesse’s earlier motion to quiet the underlying chatter.
“What,” Amy asked, unable to disguise her accusatory tone very well. “Why?”
“It’s likely now that since Isabel contacted Jesse the FBI have narrowed her position to a small grid radius. They’ve probably alerted all the regional media and transit authorities to be on the look out for a woman matching Isabel’s description. And they’ll use whatever force necessary to
bring her into custody.”
“Isabel is in that much danger,” Jesse questioned, his shoulders sinking forward as the thought the FBI harming Isabel crossed through his mind. “I...I didn’t...”
“It’s possible, yes,” Sarina softly responded. “It’s also possible that she has placed everyone in Roswell in danger.”
“What was so important that she called you and put all of us in danger,” Amy questioned, brushing her way past Jim to look Jesse directly in the eyes. “What couldn’t possibly wait?” Jim snaked his hand around Amy’s forearm and pulled her backwards into his arms, Amy immediately burying her head against his shoulder.
“She wouldn’t say over the phone. She just said she wanted to tell me in person.”
“Did you agree to meet with her,” Sarina prompted and Jesse nodded weakly in response.
“I’m supposed to meet her in New Orleans at the ATLA convention.”
“I’ll go in your place,” Sarina said, “and intercept Isabel.”
“No,” Philip argued, wrapping his arms around Diane’s shoulders. “If anyone should go, it should be a member of her family or someone she knows. She...she doesn’t know you. She might do something -”
“That’s exactly why it should be me, Mr. Evans. If the FBI is monitoring Roswell again, the six of you need to maintain as much normalcy as possible.”
“But -” Diane began, but Sarina’s outstretched hand silenced her.
“Once I get Isabel, I can make both of us disappear and arrange a meeting between you when it’s safe. If Isabel goes to New Orleans and is spotted by the Bureau, she could be walking straight into a trap. I hate to say this, but trusting me is the only option you have.”
ROSWELL
“Why is it so necessary for you to talk to Jesse right away,” Philip questioned as Sarina settled herself against the back seat of the Explorer. “You’ve been in Roswell for weeks -”
“Is Jesse here,” Sarina asked, immediately raising herself up from her reclined position. “I...I thought he was in Boston with a new job.”
“He is,” Jim replied, causing Sarina’s head to whip in his direction. “But he came back to visit his mother.”
“Would your daughter try to contact him,” Sarina questioned Philip, her knees almost touching the floorboard of the Explorer as she strained forward from the spacious back seat.
“I -”
“Would Isabel call him,” Sarina shouted, her face reddening almost instantly, the small vein in her forehead pulsating wildly.
“Y...yes,” Philip answered, turning his eyes to his right to meet Jim’s. Their gazes identical in the silent concern that lingered in the Explorer. Both men had questioned Sarina’s motives but now, given her explosive outburst, the shadows of doubt crept back into their minds. “She’s called him before.”
“If the FBI knows about Isabel’s relationship with Jesse, his phones are probably tapped and his house is probably wired,” Sarina replied softly, more to herself than Jim or Philip. “Please Mr. Evans,” she said after a moments silence. “It’s imperative that I talk to Jesse. If your daughter has contacted him, she could be leading her enemies right toward her, toward all your children.”
“I...I’ll make some calls,” Philip agreed, reaching into his black briefcase for his cell phone.
* * *
Jesse all but jumped from his car before it came to a complete stop on the gravel road leading into the quarry. The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting interesting shadows and shapes onto the water, and Jesse thought the quarry would make a wonderful spot for a romantic evening. He cursed aloud as his foot slipped off a rock, almost causing him to lose his balance as he ran toward the four parents. “Has she been here yet,” he asked as he ran to Diane’s side, startling Diane, Amy DeLuca and the Parkers with his sudden appearance.
“Jesse,” Diane questioned. “Has who been here? What are you talking about?”
“Philip called me and said I had to drop everything and meet with him here. He said he was bringing an old friend to see me.”
“Who?”
“Sarina Zachary,” Jesse continued. “She’s a friend from the academy. Last I heard she was a pretty good FBI agent. She hasn’t been here yet?”
“Hello, Jesse.”
The five adults turned toward the gravel road and stared at the dark-haired woman accompanying Philip and Jim toward them. Her hair was long and flowing, eerily matching the movement of her black linen pants and khaki tunic-like shirt. She seemed quite comfortable walking across the jagged rocks toward the four strangers in a pair of black sandals.
“Sarina,” Jesse said, a playful smile crossing his lips. “It...it’s good to see you.”
Sarina returned his smile full force, throwing herself into Jesse’s opening arms, much to the confusion of the six parents. “I’m sorry we couldn’t see each other on better terms.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Has Isabel called or contacted you in any way,” Philip asked once he and Jim were within conversation distance from their friends and Jesse.
“Isabel,” Diane questioned, turning toward her husband, her brows furrowed in confusion. “Philip, what’s going on?”
“I spoke to her this morning actually,” Jesse replied as he released Sarina’s waist and allowed his arms to drop to his sides. “She’s in Boston.”
“What about Max?”
“And Liz?”
“And Maria and Kyle?”
“She said she was alone,” Jesse answered, raising his hands to calm the parents’ eager chatter. “That everyone was in L. A.”
“Oh, Philip, that means we can finally bring them home. Let’s call our travel agent and book a flight to L. A.”
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Sarina interjected, mimicking Jesse’s earlier motion to quiet the underlying chatter.
“What,” Amy asked, unable to disguise her accusatory tone very well. “Why?”
“It’s likely now that since Isabel contacted Jesse the FBI have narrowed her position to a small grid radius. They’ve probably alerted all the regional media and transit authorities to be on the look out for a woman matching Isabel’s description. And they’ll use whatever force necessary to
bring her into custody.”
“Isabel is in that much danger,” Jesse questioned, his shoulders sinking forward as the thought the FBI harming Isabel crossed through his mind. “I...I didn’t...”
“It’s possible, yes,” Sarina softly responded. “It’s also possible that she has placed everyone in Roswell in danger.”
“What was so important that she called you and put all of us in danger,” Amy questioned, brushing her way past Jim to look Jesse directly in the eyes. “What couldn’t possibly wait?” Jim snaked his hand around Amy’s forearm and pulled her backwards into his arms, Amy immediately burying her head against his shoulder.
“She wouldn’t say over the phone. She just said she wanted to tell me in person.”
“Did you agree to meet with her,” Sarina prompted and Jesse nodded weakly in response.
“I’m supposed to meet her in New Orleans at the ATLA convention.”
“I’ll go in your place,” Sarina said, “and intercept Isabel.”
“No,” Philip argued, wrapping his arms around Diane’s shoulders. “If anyone should go, it should be a member of her family or someone she knows. She...she doesn’t know you. She might do something -”
“That’s exactly why it should be me, Mr. Evans. If the FBI is monitoring Roswell again, the six of you need to maintain as much normalcy as possible.”
“But -” Diane began, but Sarina’s outstretched hand silenced her.
“Once I get Isabel, I can make both of us disappear and arrange a meeting between you when it’s safe. If Isabel goes to New Orleans and is spotted by the Bureau, she could be walking straight into a trap. I hate to say this, but trusting me is the only option you have.”
Part 26
Part 26
“She’s not here, Max,” Kyle admitted reluctantly, joining Max in the bedroom where he and Michael had last seen Liz. It was well-past midnight but Langley’s part was still in full swing. The four of them had agreed to split up and search Langley’s house and grounds, assuming Liz was still present. “I’ve searched the entire downstairs and even stumbled onto a casting call in Langley’s office but I can’t find her. Are you sure she’s still here?”
“No,” Max replied, his voice filled with anger as he continued to pace in a small circle at the foot of the bed. “The only thing I’m sure of is that Liz is with Langley.”
“She’s not upstairs,” Maria said as she stepped into the bedroom. “I heard some heavy breathing in one of the bedrooms so I didn’t go in but I’m fairly certain it wasn’t Liz’s range. You find anything, Kyle?”
“Nada,” Kyle replied, shaking his head. “Maybe Michael will have more luck.”
“Dammit,” Max growled, raking his fingers through his hair, pausing to face Kyle and Maria. He looked more agitated than he had been no less than five minutes earlier, his face reddened and his hands twitching slightly. “Why did Isabel have to pick now to disappear? Doesn’t she know how selfish she seems?”
“I don’t know,” Maria replied softly, placing her hand on Max’s shoulder in a calming gesture. “Let’s just worry about Liz right now. I think she’s in more danger.”
“But Isabel’s pregnant,” Kyle amended primarily to himself, his voice low and mumbled. Somehow though, Max heard him.
“Then as the father of her baby,” Max screamed as he stormed past Maria, almost knocking her down. He stopped his forward progression just inches from Kyle. “You should want to keep her here where we can watch her. What if something happens to her? What if she and your baby dies -”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kyle argued, bumping his chest into Max’s as both men’s faces flushed in anger. “I have no control over Isabel. She’s her own -”
“That’s bullshit! There are laws for fathers. She took your baby -”
“Tess supposedly took your baby through outer space, if she was ever really pregnant at all. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be running for our lives. All you had to do was keep it in your pants, or kill her when she gave you the chance. She could have stolen that kid before she came back and killed all those military personnel.”
“Kyle,” Maria began but her words went unnoticed by both Kyle and Max, their frustrated and angry outbursts filling the room.
“You don’t have any room to make judgments about my life, Kyle. Isabel is married.”
“Isabel and I never had sex,” Kyle yelled as he threw his arms into the air in frustration. “It’s not my baby.”
“So Jesse is the kid’s father,” Michael asked and all three heads whipped in his direction. “That explains a lot.” He stood in the doorway with his hands firmly planted in the pockets of his black dress pants. His once neat ponytail looked windblown and disheveled, and he stared at them as if he had been standing in the doorway for several minutes. “I’ll bet she went to Boston.”
“Oh God,” Maria gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Kyle turned toward one corner of the room and ran his hands through his hair, locking his fingers together behind his neck. In one fatal swoop, his plan to defend and protect Isabel had come crashing to the ground, and now, not only was Liz in danger from Langley, Isabel was most likely in danger from herself.
“Did you find Liz,” Max asked as he stepped toward Michael, his hands shaking. His voice cracked and he quickly cleared his throat to mask it. He would worry about Isabel and her actions later; right now, he had to focus all his energy on finding Liz.
“No, Maxwell. She and Langley are long gone. I did find out what kind of car they took off in. It was a black Mercedes, supposedly Langley’s favorite car. A guy told me that when Langley drives himself, that’s the car he uses.”
“We passed a black Mercedes screeching down the driveway,” Max replied, glancing toward Maria whose mouth was again covered by her hands. Max’s knees gave way and he fell to the floor, mentally cursing himself for letting Liz slip through his fingers and ignoring his instinct to go after the black Mercedes when he and Maria arrived at Langley’s.
* * *
NEW ORLEANS
Sarina sat down beside the fountains on the north side of the Riverwalk Mall. Her normally brown hair now had a red tint to it with blonde streaks framing her face. The ATLA convention was being held at the convention center almost 4 blocks away but Sarina felt certain Isabel would not show herself there. Too many attorneys might recognize her as either Philip Evans’ daughter or Jesse Ramirez’s wife and Sarina knew such recognition would be deadly. She nonchalantly pulled the small wedding photograph Jesse had given her before she left Roswell out of her front pocket and quickly scanned the crowd for any sign of Isabel.
Crossing the plaza toward the aquarium, she pulled a camera from her purse and pretended to take a photograph of several small children playing in the fountain. She laughed at the giggling children, her first genuine laugh since her involvement with this situation began. Tucking her camera back into her purse, she ambled toward the river, the wind from the Mississippi lift her hair off her shoulders, whipping it into small spirals. She returned it to its regular shape with her fingertips and continued walking, her eyes completely open for any signs of Isabel.
She was almost to the French Quarter before she spotted her. Just on the other side of a group of street musicians playing jazz, on a rod-iron bench facing the Mississippi sat Isabel Evans Ramirez. Her posture was impeccable, her profile striking as Sarina continue to watch her from afar. Sarina scanned the area for any signs of FBI agents or local law enforcement and sighed in relief when she found none. She turned her attention back toward Isabel and froze when she found Isabel staring directly at her. Instead, however, Isabel struggled to her feet, and Sarina’s eyes instantly widened at Isabel’s swollen stomach. She quickly compared Isabel in the flesh to Isabel the photograph, not caring about covert tactics any longer, and immediately understood why Isabel had wanted to see Jesse face to face.
Sarina quickened her pace toward Isabel while Isabel slowly made her way to the edge of the boardwalk. “I knew you’d be here instead of him,” Isabel commented before Sarina reached her side, her face straight ahead, staring out across the river toward the East Bank.
“D…did he call you,” Sarina asked, assuming a stance similar to Isabel’s, and maintaining an acceptable distance - close but not too close.
“No, I have other ways of communicating,” Isabel remarked, lowering her head to pick at a frayed portion of the rope fence. “Why should I trust you? Why should I place my life and the life of my son in your hands? You’re FBI. You’re one of the people I’m running from.”
“I’m contaminated,” Sarina admitted. “I accidentally touched Liz in Las Vegas and was intensely questioned by two former members of the Special Unit. I’m well aware of who you’re running from, and it’s not me.”
“Everyone else is safe, aren’t they?”
“As far as I know,” Sarina admitted honestly, “but we can’t stay here.”
“No, we can’t,” Isabel agreed, turning toward Sarina for the first time in their conversation, a red sheen dancing across her skin. Sarina’s face paled and Isabel’s smile that followed was forced. “Do you know anything about assisting in births?”
“I know a little. Why? Do we need to get you to a hospital?”
“No,” Isabel said, walking toward Jackson Square, her hand wrapped tightly underneath her protruding stomach, assuming Sarina would automatically follow. “No hospitals.” She felt Sarina at her elbow but continued walking. “Hospitals haven’t seen anything like me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not from around here,” Isabel whispered, almost leaning on Sarina. “And if I survive this, you’re going to know everything about me. Everyone in the French Quarter will if we don’t get out of here soon.” Isabel placed one hand in the small of her back and groaned, her steps becoming smaller and small with each step she took. “I guess I’ll have to trust you now, Agent Sarina Zachary. Can we go some place where we won’t be bothered? Do you know a place like that?”
“I do but it’ll take us about 12 hours to get there. Will you be okay? Do we need to find some place in New Orleans?”
“No, I’ve seen enough of New Orleans. I can make it,” Isabel replied but her grip on Sarina’s arm tightened. “Where are we going?”
“Knoxville, Tennessee.”
“She’s not here, Max,” Kyle admitted reluctantly, joining Max in the bedroom where he and Michael had last seen Liz. It was well-past midnight but Langley’s part was still in full swing. The four of them had agreed to split up and search Langley’s house and grounds, assuming Liz was still present. “I’ve searched the entire downstairs and even stumbled onto a casting call in Langley’s office but I can’t find her. Are you sure she’s still here?”
“No,” Max replied, his voice filled with anger as he continued to pace in a small circle at the foot of the bed. “The only thing I’m sure of is that Liz is with Langley.”
“She’s not upstairs,” Maria said as she stepped into the bedroom. “I heard some heavy breathing in one of the bedrooms so I didn’t go in but I’m fairly certain it wasn’t Liz’s range. You find anything, Kyle?”
“Nada,” Kyle replied, shaking his head. “Maybe Michael will have more luck.”
“Dammit,” Max growled, raking his fingers through his hair, pausing to face Kyle and Maria. He looked more agitated than he had been no less than five minutes earlier, his face reddened and his hands twitching slightly. “Why did Isabel have to pick now to disappear? Doesn’t she know how selfish she seems?”
“I don’t know,” Maria replied softly, placing her hand on Max’s shoulder in a calming gesture. “Let’s just worry about Liz right now. I think she’s in more danger.”
“But Isabel’s pregnant,” Kyle amended primarily to himself, his voice low and mumbled. Somehow though, Max heard him.
“Then as the father of her baby,” Max screamed as he stormed past Maria, almost knocking her down. He stopped his forward progression just inches from Kyle. “You should want to keep her here where we can watch her. What if something happens to her? What if she and your baby dies -”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kyle argued, bumping his chest into Max’s as both men’s faces flushed in anger. “I have no control over Isabel. She’s her own -”
“That’s bullshit! There are laws for fathers. She took your baby -”
“Tess supposedly took your baby through outer space, if she was ever really pregnant at all. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be running for our lives. All you had to do was keep it in your pants, or kill her when she gave you the chance. She could have stolen that kid before she came back and killed all those military personnel.”
“Kyle,” Maria began but her words went unnoticed by both Kyle and Max, their frustrated and angry outbursts filling the room.
“You don’t have any room to make judgments about my life, Kyle. Isabel is married.”
“Isabel and I never had sex,” Kyle yelled as he threw his arms into the air in frustration. “It’s not my baby.”
“So Jesse is the kid’s father,” Michael asked and all three heads whipped in his direction. “That explains a lot.” He stood in the doorway with his hands firmly planted in the pockets of his black dress pants. His once neat ponytail looked windblown and disheveled, and he stared at them as if he had been standing in the doorway for several minutes. “I’ll bet she went to Boston.”
“Oh God,” Maria gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Kyle turned toward one corner of the room and ran his hands through his hair, locking his fingers together behind his neck. In one fatal swoop, his plan to defend and protect Isabel had come crashing to the ground, and now, not only was Liz in danger from Langley, Isabel was most likely in danger from herself.
“Did you find Liz,” Max asked as he stepped toward Michael, his hands shaking. His voice cracked and he quickly cleared his throat to mask it. He would worry about Isabel and her actions later; right now, he had to focus all his energy on finding Liz.
“No, Maxwell. She and Langley are long gone. I did find out what kind of car they took off in. It was a black Mercedes, supposedly Langley’s favorite car. A guy told me that when Langley drives himself, that’s the car he uses.”
“We passed a black Mercedes screeching down the driveway,” Max replied, glancing toward Maria whose mouth was again covered by her hands. Max’s knees gave way and he fell to the floor, mentally cursing himself for letting Liz slip through his fingers and ignoring his instinct to go after the black Mercedes when he and Maria arrived at Langley’s.
* * *
NEW ORLEANS
Sarina sat down beside the fountains on the north side of the Riverwalk Mall. Her normally brown hair now had a red tint to it with blonde streaks framing her face. The ATLA convention was being held at the convention center almost 4 blocks away but Sarina felt certain Isabel would not show herself there. Too many attorneys might recognize her as either Philip Evans’ daughter or Jesse Ramirez’s wife and Sarina knew such recognition would be deadly. She nonchalantly pulled the small wedding photograph Jesse had given her before she left Roswell out of her front pocket and quickly scanned the crowd for any sign of Isabel.
Crossing the plaza toward the aquarium, she pulled a camera from her purse and pretended to take a photograph of several small children playing in the fountain. She laughed at the giggling children, her first genuine laugh since her involvement with this situation began. Tucking her camera back into her purse, she ambled toward the river, the wind from the Mississippi lift her hair off her shoulders, whipping it into small spirals. She returned it to its regular shape with her fingertips and continued walking, her eyes completely open for any signs of Isabel.
She was almost to the French Quarter before she spotted her. Just on the other side of a group of street musicians playing jazz, on a rod-iron bench facing the Mississippi sat Isabel Evans Ramirez. Her posture was impeccable, her profile striking as Sarina continue to watch her from afar. Sarina scanned the area for any signs of FBI agents or local law enforcement and sighed in relief when she found none. She turned her attention back toward Isabel and froze when she found Isabel staring directly at her. Instead, however, Isabel struggled to her feet, and Sarina’s eyes instantly widened at Isabel’s swollen stomach. She quickly compared Isabel in the flesh to Isabel the photograph, not caring about covert tactics any longer, and immediately understood why Isabel had wanted to see Jesse face to face.
Sarina quickened her pace toward Isabel while Isabel slowly made her way to the edge of the boardwalk. “I knew you’d be here instead of him,” Isabel commented before Sarina reached her side, her face straight ahead, staring out across the river toward the East Bank.
“D…did he call you,” Sarina asked, assuming a stance similar to Isabel’s, and maintaining an acceptable distance - close but not too close.
“No, I have other ways of communicating,” Isabel remarked, lowering her head to pick at a frayed portion of the rope fence. “Why should I trust you? Why should I place my life and the life of my son in your hands? You’re FBI. You’re one of the people I’m running from.”
“I’m contaminated,” Sarina admitted. “I accidentally touched Liz in Las Vegas and was intensely questioned by two former members of the Special Unit. I’m well aware of who you’re running from, and it’s not me.”
“Everyone else is safe, aren’t they?”
“As far as I know,” Sarina admitted honestly, “but we can’t stay here.”
“No, we can’t,” Isabel agreed, turning toward Sarina for the first time in their conversation, a red sheen dancing across her skin. Sarina’s face paled and Isabel’s smile that followed was forced. “Do you know anything about assisting in births?”
“I know a little. Why? Do we need to get you to a hospital?”
“No,” Isabel said, walking toward Jackson Square, her hand wrapped tightly underneath her protruding stomach, assuming Sarina would automatically follow. “No hospitals.” She felt Sarina at her elbow but continued walking. “Hospitals haven’t seen anything like me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not from around here,” Isabel whispered, almost leaning on Sarina. “And if I survive this, you’re going to know everything about me. Everyone in the French Quarter will if we don’t get out of here soon.” Isabel placed one hand in the small of her back and groaned, her steps becoming smaller and small with each step she took. “I guess I’ll have to trust you now, Agent Sarina Zachary. Can we go some place where we won’t be bothered? Do you know a place like that?”
“I do but it’ll take us about 12 hours to get there. Will you be okay? Do we need to find some place in New Orleans?”
“No, I’ve seen enough of New Orleans. I can make it,” Isabel replied but her grip on Sarina’s arm tightened. “Where are we going?”
“Knoxville, Tennessee.”
Part 27
Part 27
NEW ORLEANS
“What’s in Knoxville,” Isabel asked, her face dripping with sweat, an unusual ruddy sheen mixing with the perspiration. Sarina held her tightly around the waist despite their height difference. Both women struggled to walk and Sarina wished she had parked her rental car illegally on one of the side streets on the outskirts of the French Quarter instead of in the garage behind Harrah’s Casino.
“I helped in a drug raid there a couple of years ago. We went into probably the nastiest place imaginable. It used to be a great building in the 1950s but now it’s used by pimps and druggies. I don’t think anyone would notice anything unusual there and, if they did, it most certainly wouldn’t be reported to any of the local authorities.”
“Good,” Isabel replied with a weak smile. “There may be some fireworks.”
Sarina laughed slightly but deep down, she wasn’t certain if Isabel was kidding or not.
* * *
Mist surrounded her. She gritted her teeth and continued to run, pulling something heavy behind her with her left hand. The weight continued to slow her progress no matter how fast and hard she pumped her legs.
Her chest burned. Breathing felt like a thousand tiny knives stabbing her esophagus, small fires trailing up and down her wind pipe and through her nasal passage, but she continued through the mist, knowing it couldn’t last forever.
She stopped abruptly in her run and watched as her family ran past her, seemingly lost to the mist. Raising her hands over her head, she called after them, surprised to discover she had no voice. Green electricity flashed upward from her fingers. She screamed again. Had her voice had sound, the decibel level of terror that rippled from her throat would have been enough to propel her body to the ground.
She blinked and the scene shifted. A dimly-lit room, sparsely furnished except for a bed, a chair and a small table came into focus. On the bed lay Isabel, her hips and thighs covered in shimmering red blood. Liz gasp and stepped forward toward the bed, watching in awe as Isabel’s son entered the world, the dark-haired FBI Agent Sarina Zachary the first face to welcome him.
No, Liz screamed, yellow light pulsating from the palm of her hand, knocking the agent off of the bed and onto the floor. “Stay away from them.”
“Liz,” Isabel meekly called and Liz forgot the fallen agent and the threat she posed at once, rushing to Isabel’s side.
“Isabel.” Isabel’s entire body quivered with red energy, electric current moving through her veins like blood. Small tremors rocked her frail body. Liz felt the blows as if they were circulating through her own body and she reached for Isabel’s hand.
“Take him,” Isabel whispered, wrenching her hand out of Liz’s grasp. “Take Alex and be his mother.”
“But you’re his mother.”
“Protect him, Liz. I can’t be there for him.”
“The agent can’t hurt you anymore, Isabel. I’ve taken care of her. She’s not a threat to you or to Alex.”
“She was never a threat, Liz. Sarina’s a friend.”
Liz’s shoulders shook as tears streamed down her face, Isabel’s newborn baby echoing her cries. “No, Isabel. Please don’t leave him. He needs you. You’re his mother. Please.”
“Come to Alex, Liz. Come and take him home.”
Liz awoke with a start, her entire body thrashing forward in the bed. Her hands trembled as she slowly inched them up her face and into her hairline.
“With all that screaming, Liz, you’ve got to be a powerhouse in the sack,” Langley mused, offering her a half filled glass of water. Liz flinched away from his reach, surprised to see that he was no longer in Max’s shape. He was Cal Langley again and his presence made her even more shaken than her dream.
“Stay away from me.”
“Just take the damn water,” Langley ordered as he thrust the glass into one of Liz’s partially clinched fists. “Water’s good for you. Helps restore the balance.”
“The what,” Liz questioned, wrapping both her hands around the glass, hoping to minimize the amount of water she spilled on herself and maximize the amount that went into her mouth.
“You know,” Langley continued, sitting at the small table in front of the window to Liz’s right. “Water is the common element that binds us, some horse shit like that. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Riverdog.”
“You knew Riverdog?”
“Don’t sound so amazed, Liz. I wasn’t always a Hollywood producer. You know about my humble beginnings as a clapper loader, and I did actually protect the un-royal brats for a time.”
“The dupes in New York, right, the duplicates of Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess? That’s why you called them ‘un-royal?’”
Langley laughed, dusting his pudgy fingers over his bald head as he propped his legs onto the table. “Yeah, they were doomed from the start, which is why I had to move on to bigger and better things.”
“How could you just abandon them,” Liz asked, lowering the now empty glass to her lap. “They were helpless and defenseless. You were supposed to protect them.”
“Which set, the Roswell pods or the New York ones? I couldn’t be in two places at once, but like I said, they were doomed from the start. One vital piece was missing.”
“What piece?”
“You.”
NEW ORLEANS
“What’s in Knoxville,” Isabel asked, her face dripping with sweat, an unusual ruddy sheen mixing with the perspiration. Sarina held her tightly around the waist despite their height difference. Both women struggled to walk and Sarina wished she had parked her rental car illegally on one of the side streets on the outskirts of the French Quarter instead of in the garage behind Harrah’s Casino.
“I helped in a drug raid there a couple of years ago. We went into probably the nastiest place imaginable. It used to be a great building in the 1950s but now it’s used by pimps and druggies. I don’t think anyone would notice anything unusual there and, if they did, it most certainly wouldn’t be reported to any of the local authorities.”
“Good,” Isabel replied with a weak smile. “There may be some fireworks.”
Sarina laughed slightly but deep down, she wasn’t certain if Isabel was kidding or not.
* * *
Mist surrounded her. She gritted her teeth and continued to run, pulling something heavy behind her with her left hand. The weight continued to slow her progress no matter how fast and hard she pumped her legs.
Her chest burned. Breathing felt like a thousand tiny knives stabbing her esophagus, small fires trailing up and down her wind pipe and through her nasal passage, but she continued through the mist, knowing it couldn’t last forever.
She stopped abruptly in her run and watched as her family ran past her, seemingly lost to the mist. Raising her hands over her head, she called after them, surprised to discover she had no voice. Green electricity flashed upward from her fingers. She screamed again. Had her voice had sound, the decibel level of terror that rippled from her throat would have been enough to propel her body to the ground.
She blinked and the scene shifted. A dimly-lit room, sparsely furnished except for a bed, a chair and a small table came into focus. On the bed lay Isabel, her hips and thighs covered in shimmering red blood. Liz gasp and stepped forward toward the bed, watching in awe as Isabel’s son entered the world, the dark-haired FBI Agent Sarina Zachary the first face to welcome him.
No, Liz screamed, yellow light pulsating from the palm of her hand, knocking the agent off of the bed and onto the floor. “Stay away from them.”
“Liz,” Isabel meekly called and Liz forgot the fallen agent and the threat she posed at once, rushing to Isabel’s side.
“Isabel.” Isabel’s entire body quivered with red energy, electric current moving through her veins like blood. Small tremors rocked her frail body. Liz felt the blows as if they were circulating through her own body and she reached for Isabel’s hand.
“Take him,” Isabel whispered, wrenching her hand out of Liz’s grasp. “Take Alex and be his mother.”
“But you’re his mother.”
“Protect him, Liz. I can’t be there for him.”
“The agent can’t hurt you anymore, Isabel. I’ve taken care of her. She’s not a threat to you or to Alex.”
“She was never a threat, Liz. Sarina’s a friend.”
Liz’s shoulders shook as tears streamed down her face, Isabel’s newborn baby echoing her cries. “No, Isabel. Please don’t leave him. He needs you. You’re his mother. Please.”
“Come to Alex, Liz. Come and take him home.”
Liz awoke with a start, her entire body thrashing forward in the bed. Her hands trembled as she slowly inched them up her face and into her hairline.
“With all that screaming, Liz, you’ve got to be a powerhouse in the sack,” Langley mused, offering her a half filled glass of water. Liz flinched away from his reach, surprised to see that he was no longer in Max’s shape. He was Cal Langley again and his presence made her even more shaken than her dream.
“Stay away from me.”
“Just take the damn water,” Langley ordered as he thrust the glass into one of Liz’s partially clinched fists. “Water’s good for you. Helps restore the balance.”
“The what,” Liz questioned, wrapping both her hands around the glass, hoping to minimize the amount of water she spilled on herself and maximize the amount that went into her mouth.
“You know,” Langley continued, sitting at the small table in front of the window to Liz’s right. “Water is the common element that binds us, some horse shit like that. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Riverdog.”
“You knew Riverdog?”
“Don’t sound so amazed, Liz. I wasn’t always a Hollywood producer. You know about my humble beginnings as a clapper loader, and I did actually protect the un-royal brats for a time.”
“The dupes in New York, right, the duplicates of Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess? That’s why you called them ‘un-royal?’”
Langley laughed, dusting his pudgy fingers over his bald head as he propped his legs onto the table. “Yeah, they were doomed from the start, which is why I had to move on to bigger and better things.”
“How could you just abandon them,” Liz asked, lowering the now empty glass to her lap. “They were helpless and defenseless. You were supposed to protect them.”
“Which set, the Roswell pods or the New York ones? I couldn’t be in two places at once, but like I said, they were doomed from the start. One vital piece was missing.”
“What piece?”
“You.”
Part 28
Part 28
“Me? No, no, I’m not any missing piece. You…you’re wrong.”
“No, Liz, you’re wrong,” Langley argued. “You are very important.”
“As a bargaining too, a pawn, maybe,” Liz replied with a roll of her eyes. “If Max hadn’t saved me -”
“If Max hadn’t saved you,” Langley interrupted, standing up from his chair and facing the small window overlooking the parking lot. “He wouldn’t be the man he was meant to be.”
“I -”
“The world changed, Liz, all because a boy loved a girl.”
“Cal?”
June 25, 2002
It was the first time I had ever called him by his first name or even acknowledged that he had one. It surprised me as much as I could sense it surprised him. I could tell he was visibly shaken and for some odd reason, I wanted to go to him and comfort him as I had comforted Maria, Isabel and Max. He looked peaceful and humbled, and humility was an emotion I did not know Cal Langley possessed.
“I thought I was saving you from Max,” Langley admitted. “Everything he has ever touched turns to shit and I just wanted to save you but over the last two days -”
“Two days?”
“I realize now that I’m not who you need,” he continued, ignoring Liz’s shocked gasp at the amount of time they had spent together. “You need Max, as much as it pisses me off to admit that, and I…I’m…sorry for what I’ve done to you.”
“I’ve been here for two days,” Liz questioned, moving toward the edge of the bed, her eyes keenly trained on Langley. “Where are we?”
“Sedona, Arizona. Not the Ritz,” Langley added with a chuckle, fanning his hands across the room. “But we made do.”
“We were here alone together for two days and I was,” Liz broke off and glanced over her shoulder at the partially made bed.
“You were dreaming,” Langley said as if he sensed Liz’s inner turmoil. “And just before you woke up, you shot green sparks out of your fingertips and scorched that wall.”
I followed his extended finger and for the first time since I awoke, I surveyed the room. The damage was substantial. All the glass not visible to passers-by was shattered, scorch marks marred the walls opposite the bed and the comforter where I had slept. All this damage that I had created, this combustion chamber building within me was one of the two reasons we had went to L. A. Now, the only person we thought capable of helping me was telling me he couldn’t.
“You’re the only one that can help me,” Liz cried. “I can’t control what’s happening to me, and these dreams -”
“The dreams about Isabel.” Liz gasp but Langley only shook his head thoughtfully. “You have the ability to predict the future, for lack of a better explanation, and what you see can happen. You’re a conduit now, Liz. Accept it.”
“I can’t control these abilities,” Liz pleaded. “I don’t want to know the future. I don’t want to dream about Isabel’s death.”
“If you don’t want this power, don’t use it. Ignore it. Be human.” Langley turned toward the small closet and pulled a black suit jacket from within. Liz watched, stunned, as he put on the jacket and pocketed his wallet and keys, tucking his dark sunglasses into his jacket’s inner pocket. “Max will be here soon.”
“Max? How does he know where I am?”
“I called him. I’m leaving before he gets here because he threatened to kill me, among other things, and I don’t want to die today. “
“We came to you when we should have been running for our lives,” Liz continued, blocking Langley’s pathway to the door. “We came to you for help and now you say you won’t help me. That’s not fair.”
“Life ain’t fair, Liz. I didn’t ask you to come looking for me.”
“You will help me," Liz commanded, her brown eyes trained directly on Langley’s small blue ones. “It’s your job to be a protector and you’ve reneged on your duties long enough.”
“I will, eh,” Langley questioned, his trademark smirk flashing across his face. He looked as smarmy as he had the first time they had met, only this time his eyes betrayed him, letting Liz know that she was now the one in control. “What am I going to help you do exactly?”
“Find Isabel.”
“You’ll have to use your abilities to find Isabel,” Langley coolly reminded Liz as he deposited himself into the chair he had vacated moments earlier. “You’re the one with the connection to her. You’re the one that can find her.”
Liz’s face paled, the thought of using her uncontrollable powers was too terrifying, too frightening. “Isabel is the one with the dreamwalking ability. I…I can’t do that.”
“Isabel is pregnant and a hybrid, right?” Liz nodded in response and Langley leaned backward into the chair. “She won’t be able to control her powers. Just another of the highpoints of alien hormones,” he added with a smirk. “If she’s alive, you’ll be able to find her.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Lay back, relax and let your mind blank out. I’ll be over there,” he said, pointing to the farthest corner of the hotel room away from Liz. “Just in case.”
“Thank you,” Liz replied, her voice cracking slightly as she settled herself onto the bed and closed her eyes.
“Me? No, no, I’m not any missing piece. You…you’re wrong.”
“No, Liz, you’re wrong,” Langley argued. “You are very important.”
“As a bargaining too, a pawn, maybe,” Liz replied with a roll of her eyes. “If Max hadn’t saved me -”
“If Max hadn’t saved you,” Langley interrupted, standing up from his chair and facing the small window overlooking the parking lot. “He wouldn’t be the man he was meant to be.”
“I -”
“The world changed, Liz, all because a boy loved a girl.”
“Cal?”
June 25, 2002
It was the first time I had ever called him by his first name or even acknowledged that he had one. It surprised me as much as I could sense it surprised him. I could tell he was visibly shaken and for some odd reason, I wanted to go to him and comfort him as I had comforted Maria, Isabel and Max. He looked peaceful and humbled, and humility was an emotion I did not know Cal Langley possessed.
“I thought I was saving you from Max,” Langley admitted. “Everything he has ever touched turns to shit and I just wanted to save you but over the last two days -”
“Two days?”
“I realize now that I’m not who you need,” he continued, ignoring Liz’s shocked gasp at the amount of time they had spent together. “You need Max, as much as it pisses me off to admit that, and I…I’m…sorry for what I’ve done to you.”
“I’ve been here for two days,” Liz questioned, moving toward the edge of the bed, her eyes keenly trained on Langley. “Where are we?”
“Sedona, Arizona. Not the Ritz,” Langley added with a chuckle, fanning his hands across the room. “But we made do.”
“We were here alone together for two days and I was,” Liz broke off and glanced over her shoulder at the partially made bed.
“You were dreaming,” Langley said as if he sensed Liz’s inner turmoil. “And just before you woke up, you shot green sparks out of your fingertips and scorched that wall.”
I followed his extended finger and for the first time since I awoke, I surveyed the room. The damage was substantial. All the glass not visible to passers-by was shattered, scorch marks marred the walls opposite the bed and the comforter where I had slept. All this damage that I had created, this combustion chamber building within me was one of the two reasons we had went to L. A. Now, the only person we thought capable of helping me was telling me he couldn’t.
“You’re the only one that can help me,” Liz cried. “I can’t control what’s happening to me, and these dreams -”
“The dreams about Isabel.” Liz gasp but Langley only shook his head thoughtfully. “You have the ability to predict the future, for lack of a better explanation, and what you see can happen. You’re a conduit now, Liz. Accept it.”
“I can’t control these abilities,” Liz pleaded. “I don’t want to know the future. I don’t want to dream about Isabel’s death.”
“If you don’t want this power, don’t use it. Ignore it. Be human.” Langley turned toward the small closet and pulled a black suit jacket from within. Liz watched, stunned, as he put on the jacket and pocketed his wallet and keys, tucking his dark sunglasses into his jacket’s inner pocket. “Max will be here soon.”
“Max? How does he know where I am?”
“I called him. I’m leaving before he gets here because he threatened to kill me, among other things, and I don’t want to die today. “
“We came to you when we should have been running for our lives,” Liz continued, blocking Langley’s pathway to the door. “We came to you for help and now you say you won’t help me. That’s not fair.”
“Life ain’t fair, Liz. I didn’t ask you to come looking for me.”
“You will help me," Liz commanded, her brown eyes trained directly on Langley’s small blue ones. “It’s your job to be a protector and you’ve reneged on your duties long enough.”
“I will, eh,” Langley questioned, his trademark smirk flashing across his face. He looked as smarmy as he had the first time they had met, only this time his eyes betrayed him, letting Liz know that she was now the one in control. “What am I going to help you do exactly?”
“Find Isabel.”
“You’ll have to use your abilities to find Isabel,” Langley coolly reminded Liz as he deposited himself into the chair he had vacated moments earlier. “You’re the one with the connection to her. You’re the one that can find her.”
Liz’s face paled, the thought of using her uncontrollable powers was too terrifying, too frightening. “Isabel is the one with the dreamwalking ability. I…I can’t do that.”
“Isabel is pregnant and a hybrid, right?” Liz nodded in response and Langley leaned backward into the chair. “She won’t be able to control her powers. Just another of the highpoints of alien hormones,” he added with a smirk. “If she’s alive, you’ll be able to find her.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Lay back, relax and let your mind blank out. I’ll be over there,” he said, pointing to the farthest corner of the hotel room away from Liz. “Just in case.”
“Thank you,” Liz replied, her voice cracking slightly as she settled herself onto the bed and closed her eyes.
Part 29
Part 29
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
Sarina watched Isabel waddle into the BP from the phone booth in the corner of the parking lot. She held the phone receiver with her left hand, the dial tone ringing incessantly in her ear, as Isabel struggled to get inside to the restroom. They had been in the car together almost six hours and thus far, Isabel had succeeded in changing the car’s interior color four times and the exterior color twice. Sarina had glanced in her rearview mirror somewhere in Mississippi to discover Isabel with pink hair, her own hair color quickly following suit. Wringing her hands as she dialed Jesse’s cell phone number, she now had a firm grasp of what Isabel had meant in New Orleans about fireworks. Luckily, their antics had not drawn more attention.
Before one entire ring was complete, Sarina hung up the phone and picked up the receiver again, dialing Jesse’s cell phone number once more. That was the signal they had agreed upon before she left Roswell, and Sarina had promised she would call Jesse when she found Isabel.
“Where’s Tus -” Jesse questioned without saying hello and Sarina could tell by the tone of his voice he had been waiting for this phone call on pins and needles.
“In Alabama,” Sarina replied, cutting him off. “I don’t have long. I’ve got her and she’s fine.”
“Where are you taking her? I can meet you. Can I talk to her?”
“Can’t tell you,” Sarina barked, looking over her shoulder to see Isabel slowly returning to the car. “Gotta go. She’s safe.” Sarina returned the phone to its rightful position and walked to the car, praying Isabel’s fireworks could wait until they reached Knoxville, almost six hours away.
* * *
A watery substance enveloped her, making the hairs on her arms and neck stand on end. Small electrical charges flickered down her spine and into her legs, sharp knife-like pains hit her squarely in the lower abdomen. She placed her hand low on her stomach and was rewarded with what could only be described as an unborn child’s kick. Before she could control it, liquid trailed down her legs, pooling between her feel. Startled, Liz jumped backwards when she noticed the liquid was red.
“Liz.” Isabel appeared beside her suddenly, her entire body bathed in the red liquid. “Liz, you have to help me.” A tremor flashed through both of them, and Liz watched in horror as red electricity shimmered through Isabel’s veins, a phosphorescent liquid running down her bare legs.
“Isabel,” Liz began, moving closer toward her sister-in-law.
“No,” Isabel cried as another tremor shot through their bodies. Liz grabbed her stomach and doubled over onto the ground while Isabel remained standing, her arms wrapped protectively underneath her protruding stomach. “Please, Liz, just…get here. There’s nothing you can do for me other than to help Alex.”
“There’s so much -”
“It’s blood,” Isabel said, carefully stepping toward Liz, her bare feet sloshing through the thin layer covering the ground. “Alien blood, my blood. I’m not going to live through this.”
“Yes, you will,” Liz corrected as she stood to her feet, her posture almost identical to Isabel’s.
“No, I won’t, and when I’m gone, you’ll have to take care of them. Alex and Max and your little girl. We both know I’m dying, Liz. I’ve seen your dreams.” Isabel smiled weakly at Liz before another gush of liquid pelted the ground, splashing onto Isabel’s legs and feet, narrowly missing Liz’s. “I’m in Knoxville, Tennessee. Please hurry.”
“She’s in Knoxville, Tennessee,” Liz replied solemnly as she sat up on the bed. Langley stepped out of this corner and walked toward her, reclaiming his chair at the table. “I have to go to her.”
“Where the hell is Knoxville, Tennessee,” Langley questioned when Liz walked past him toward the bathroom, her stocking feet padding loudly on the worn carpet. Liz turned the faucet on and ran cool water over her shaking hands, ignoring him for the moment. “And what’s in Knoxville?”
“I don’t know,” Liz said, her face damp with water as she pulled the hand towel from the rack and dried her face, neck and arms. “I just know that’s where she’s going and I have to get there.”
“She ain’t gonna make it.”
“Don’t you think I know that,” Liz screamed, throwing her hands toward the ceiling in frustration as the mirror over the sink shattered, raining shards of glass around her feet. “Isabel is dying,” Liz continued, oblivious to the destruction she had begun inflicting on the room. “And there’s nothing I can do to save her. I healed Max. I brought him back from another man’s body, and now, when there’s a child at stake, I can’t save his mother.” She wobbled but managed to catch herself before she fell onto the glass shards surrounding her. Green energy rippled off her fingertips as she braced herself against the sink base, the carpet underneath her feet changing from brown to green to yellow to blue in rapid succession. Unable to stop herself, she began to cry.
Langley watched in amazement as Liz’s powers affected everything around her. He had long suspected it during the two days Liz had lain unconscious on the bed, but now he realized it made perfect sense. Liz was pregnant. “Liz,” he began as he walked toward her crumpled form, waiving his hand over the area she had changed in her grief. “Liz, we’ve got to go. Come on, let’s go find Isabel.”
“But Max -”
“Do you really think I give a damn about Max? You’re what’s important now and if you want to find Isabel, then I’m going to be with you every step of the way. I have no freaking idea where Tennessee is, but we’ll figure it out. Let’s go,” he said again, this time offering his hand to her. “The room’s paid up until tomorrow. Leave Max a note. Trust me, he’ll follow.”
Liz rose slowly to her feet with Langley’s assistance and immediately went to the small desk, removing a piece of the hotel stationary to leave a note for Max. Langley gathered her shoes and purse as Liz finished the note and placed it on the edge of the desk for Max to see. Together, she and Langley exited the hotel room, bound for Knoxville, Tennessee.
* * *
Max burst into the room, he and Michael using their shoulders to break down the door instead of their alien powers. He growled when he saw the room was empty, even though everyone split up to search, just in case. He collapsed on the bed, throwing his arms over his head and sighed loudly in frustration. Langley had sworn to him Liz would be here and he would be gone. Max had all but threatened to damn Langley to his own private White Room when Langley had called him the day before. Langley had offered their location, with Max having ordered it, which caught Max completely off guard. Now, as he sat up and watched Maria, Michael and Kyle scour the room for clues to Liz’s whereabouts, Max tried to imagine the best way to rid the world of Cal Langley once he caught up with him.
“A note,” Maria squealed, excitedly rustling a piece of paper in front of Max’s face. “It’s a note from Liz.” She handed it to Max, she, Michael and Kyle crowding around him to read over his shoulders.
“Where the hell is Knoxville, Tennessee,” Michael questioned, stepping back from their tiny group and dropping onto the bed. “Why would Liz think Isabel was there?”
“I don’t know.”
“It could be a trap,” Kyle offered as he hopped onto the small dresser opposite the bed. “Langley said Liz would be here and obviously, she’s not, so he could have written the note himself.”
“Kyle,” Maria gasp, her voice thick with agitation. “Liz is not dead. Don’t even think that.”
“I didn’t. I’m not.”
“This is Liz’s writing,” Max said, moving from the bed to the small table. He read the note again. It was simple and to the point. I’m going to Knoxville, Tennessee to be with Isabel. Please follow. Liz. Max’s imagination began working overtime, his mind conjuring up all the ways Langley could have made Liz write this note under duress. In that moment, with his emotions heightened, he felt the familiar prickling sensation and realized he was picking up a flash. A flash that could lead to the truth about what had happened in this room.
He could feel fear, hatred, confusion and anguish. He was fairly certain all of those feelings were coming from Liz. Langley wasn’t human; he had no emotions, no need for emotions. Max’s mind was made up to follow Liz as her note dictated and based off of what he was feeling when a final thought burst into his brain.
Liz was pregnant.
“That bastard,” Max screamed and jumped up from the chair, sending it flying backwards onto the floor. Maria, Michael and Kyle also jumped to their feel, their faces showing their confusion at Max’s outburst. Max crumpled the note in his fist then opened it just as quickly, the ashy remains of Liz’s not fell to the floor around his feet. “We’re going to Knoxville, Tennessee, and when I find Langley, I’m going to kill the son of a bitch.”
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
Sarina watched Isabel waddle into the BP from the phone booth in the corner of the parking lot. She held the phone receiver with her left hand, the dial tone ringing incessantly in her ear, as Isabel struggled to get inside to the restroom. They had been in the car together almost six hours and thus far, Isabel had succeeded in changing the car’s interior color four times and the exterior color twice. Sarina had glanced in her rearview mirror somewhere in Mississippi to discover Isabel with pink hair, her own hair color quickly following suit. Wringing her hands as she dialed Jesse’s cell phone number, she now had a firm grasp of what Isabel had meant in New Orleans about fireworks. Luckily, their antics had not drawn more attention.
Before one entire ring was complete, Sarina hung up the phone and picked up the receiver again, dialing Jesse’s cell phone number once more. That was the signal they had agreed upon before she left Roswell, and Sarina had promised she would call Jesse when she found Isabel.
“Where’s Tus -” Jesse questioned without saying hello and Sarina could tell by the tone of his voice he had been waiting for this phone call on pins and needles.
“In Alabama,” Sarina replied, cutting him off. “I don’t have long. I’ve got her and she’s fine.”
“Where are you taking her? I can meet you. Can I talk to her?”
“Can’t tell you,” Sarina barked, looking over her shoulder to see Isabel slowly returning to the car. “Gotta go. She’s safe.” Sarina returned the phone to its rightful position and walked to the car, praying Isabel’s fireworks could wait until they reached Knoxville, almost six hours away.
* * *
A watery substance enveloped her, making the hairs on her arms and neck stand on end. Small electrical charges flickered down her spine and into her legs, sharp knife-like pains hit her squarely in the lower abdomen. She placed her hand low on her stomach and was rewarded with what could only be described as an unborn child’s kick. Before she could control it, liquid trailed down her legs, pooling between her feel. Startled, Liz jumped backwards when she noticed the liquid was red.
“Liz.” Isabel appeared beside her suddenly, her entire body bathed in the red liquid. “Liz, you have to help me.” A tremor flashed through both of them, and Liz watched in horror as red electricity shimmered through Isabel’s veins, a phosphorescent liquid running down her bare legs.
“Isabel,” Liz began, moving closer toward her sister-in-law.
“No,” Isabel cried as another tremor shot through their bodies. Liz grabbed her stomach and doubled over onto the ground while Isabel remained standing, her arms wrapped protectively underneath her protruding stomach. “Please, Liz, just…get here. There’s nothing you can do for me other than to help Alex.”
“There’s so much -”
“It’s blood,” Isabel said, carefully stepping toward Liz, her bare feet sloshing through the thin layer covering the ground. “Alien blood, my blood. I’m not going to live through this.”
“Yes, you will,” Liz corrected as she stood to her feet, her posture almost identical to Isabel’s.
“No, I won’t, and when I’m gone, you’ll have to take care of them. Alex and Max and your little girl. We both know I’m dying, Liz. I’ve seen your dreams.” Isabel smiled weakly at Liz before another gush of liquid pelted the ground, splashing onto Isabel’s legs and feet, narrowly missing Liz’s. “I’m in Knoxville, Tennessee. Please hurry.”
“She’s in Knoxville, Tennessee,” Liz replied solemnly as she sat up on the bed. Langley stepped out of this corner and walked toward her, reclaiming his chair at the table. “I have to go to her.”
“Where the hell is Knoxville, Tennessee,” Langley questioned when Liz walked past him toward the bathroom, her stocking feet padding loudly on the worn carpet. Liz turned the faucet on and ran cool water over her shaking hands, ignoring him for the moment. “And what’s in Knoxville?”
“I don’t know,” Liz said, her face damp with water as she pulled the hand towel from the rack and dried her face, neck and arms. “I just know that’s where she’s going and I have to get there.”
“She ain’t gonna make it.”
“Don’t you think I know that,” Liz screamed, throwing her hands toward the ceiling in frustration as the mirror over the sink shattered, raining shards of glass around her feet. “Isabel is dying,” Liz continued, oblivious to the destruction she had begun inflicting on the room. “And there’s nothing I can do to save her. I healed Max. I brought him back from another man’s body, and now, when there’s a child at stake, I can’t save his mother.” She wobbled but managed to catch herself before she fell onto the glass shards surrounding her. Green energy rippled off her fingertips as she braced herself against the sink base, the carpet underneath her feet changing from brown to green to yellow to blue in rapid succession. Unable to stop herself, she began to cry.
Langley watched in amazement as Liz’s powers affected everything around her. He had long suspected it during the two days Liz had lain unconscious on the bed, but now he realized it made perfect sense. Liz was pregnant. “Liz,” he began as he walked toward her crumpled form, waiving his hand over the area she had changed in her grief. “Liz, we’ve got to go. Come on, let’s go find Isabel.”
“But Max -”
“Do you really think I give a damn about Max? You’re what’s important now and if you want to find Isabel, then I’m going to be with you every step of the way. I have no freaking idea where Tennessee is, but we’ll figure it out. Let’s go,” he said again, this time offering his hand to her. “The room’s paid up until tomorrow. Leave Max a note. Trust me, he’ll follow.”
Liz rose slowly to her feet with Langley’s assistance and immediately went to the small desk, removing a piece of the hotel stationary to leave a note for Max. Langley gathered her shoes and purse as Liz finished the note and placed it on the edge of the desk for Max to see. Together, she and Langley exited the hotel room, bound for Knoxville, Tennessee.
* * *
Max burst into the room, he and Michael using their shoulders to break down the door instead of their alien powers. He growled when he saw the room was empty, even though everyone split up to search, just in case. He collapsed on the bed, throwing his arms over his head and sighed loudly in frustration. Langley had sworn to him Liz would be here and he would be gone. Max had all but threatened to damn Langley to his own private White Room when Langley had called him the day before. Langley had offered their location, with Max having ordered it, which caught Max completely off guard. Now, as he sat up and watched Maria, Michael and Kyle scour the room for clues to Liz’s whereabouts, Max tried to imagine the best way to rid the world of Cal Langley once he caught up with him.
“A note,” Maria squealed, excitedly rustling a piece of paper in front of Max’s face. “It’s a note from Liz.” She handed it to Max, she, Michael and Kyle crowding around him to read over his shoulders.
“Where the hell is Knoxville, Tennessee,” Michael questioned, stepping back from their tiny group and dropping onto the bed. “Why would Liz think Isabel was there?”
“I don’t know.”
“It could be a trap,” Kyle offered as he hopped onto the small dresser opposite the bed. “Langley said Liz would be here and obviously, she’s not, so he could have written the note himself.”
“Kyle,” Maria gasp, her voice thick with agitation. “Liz is not dead. Don’t even think that.”
“I didn’t. I’m not.”
“This is Liz’s writing,” Max said, moving from the bed to the small table. He read the note again. It was simple and to the point. I’m going to Knoxville, Tennessee to be with Isabel. Please follow. Liz. Max’s imagination began working overtime, his mind conjuring up all the ways Langley could have made Liz write this note under duress. In that moment, with his emotions heightened, he felt the familiar prickling sensation and realized he was picking up a flash. A flash that could lead to the truth about what had happened in this room.
He could feel fear, hatred, confusion and anguish. He was fairly certain all of those feelings were coming from Liz. Langley wasn’t human; he had no emotions, no need for emotions. Max’s mind was made up to follow Liz as her note dictated and based off of what he was feeling when a final thought burst into his brain.
Liz was pregnant.
“That bastard,” Max screamed and jumped up from the chair, sending it flying backwards onto the floor. Maria, Michael and Kyle also jumped to their feel, their faces showing their confusion at Max’s outburst. Max crumpled the note in his fist then opened it just as quickly, the ashy remains of Liz’s not fell to the floor around his feet. “We’re going to Knoxville, Tennessee, and when I find Langley, I’m going to kill the son of a bitch.”
Part 30
Part 30
“I’m going to kill that son of a bitch,” Max seethed, choking the steering wheel of the van as he merged onto Interstate 40 outside of Flagstaff. He had almost left them in Sedona as his rage for Langley took precedence in his mind. None of them had spoken to him since chasing the van for two miles, Michael finally able to convince Max to pull over on Highway 89A. Kyle rode beside him in the passenger seat; Michael and Maria huddled together behind them, their faces visible in the rear view mirror. “Get the atlas! I’m going to kill that son of a bitch.”
Maria sprang into action, pulling the used Rand McNally road atlas from underneath Max’s seat. “Got it. What now?”
“Find Knoxville, Tennessee.” Maria hurriedly flipped through the atlas pages and with Michael’s help, they found Knoxville relatively quickly. “What’s it say,” Max barked when the back seat became quiet. “How do I get to Knoxville?”
“Looks like you can stay on 40 and just ride it into Tennessee,” Michael responded, surveying the interstate map in the front of the atlas. “No problem. It’s a straight shot.”
“Good,” Max replied and Maria, Michael and Kyle felt the van accelerate, slightly sputtering as Max pressed the gas pedal as far to the floor as possible.
* * *
“What are you thinking about,” Langley questioned when Liz’s shaky sigh echoed through the car. He glanced sideways at her, suburbia zipping past them as they drove east on I-40.
“Nothing,” she answered lamely, lowering her hands to her lap.
“You’re thinking about Isabel,” Langley corrected and after Liz’s shocked expression wore off , their silence once again filled the car.
“I’m trying to figure out how to save her. I have all this power and -” Liz broke off, turning in her seat as she stared out the passenger side window.
“Maybe Isabel’s ready to die. Maybe she’s accepted her fate.”
“How can anyone be ready to die? How can you just...give up your life? I...if I...if this were happening to me, I...I’d fight it with everything I had.”
“That’s you,” Langley countered. “Maybe Isabel’s resided herself to the fact that she’s going to die. Hybrid pregnancies are a thing of the unknown. There’s no way to predict what’s going to happen.” Langley stole another glance at Liz, watching her fists clinch and unclinch in her lap and he knew she would survive. She would fight. She wouldn’t let anything take her away from Max and their children. “Isn’t that why Isabel told you to come,” he continued, sensing that her emotions were getting the better of her. “So you would take her son?”
“I don’t know if I can do that. He’s Jesse’s son too and if Isabel dies, Jesse will want him.”
“Maybe,” Langley agreed with a shrug before he reached for the radio dial. He flipped between channels and after finding nothing but country stations, he turned the radio off with a load groan.
“What did you mean about hybrid pregnancies?”
“Why?”
Liz adjusted herself so she was facing Langley and pulled her left leg underneath her, wrapping the thin blanket they had taken from the hotel in Sedona around her lower body. “You said that hybrid pregnancies are a thing of the unknown. Surely someone has to know about them. They were written into the destiny book.”
“I didn’t mean anything,” Langley replied, stealing another glance at Lz.
“Yes, you did. You know something about hybrid pregnancies and I want to know what it is.”
Langley sighed and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. His lips pursed in thought and a stony grimace encompassed his entire face. “Hybrid pregnancies are unpredictable, Liz. That’s all. The original intent was for the protectors to study the hybrids when they became pregnant. Now, no one knows what can happen.”
“Too bad Tess is dead,” Liz said quietly, resting her head backwards on the seat. “She’s the only hybrid that’s survived a birth.”
“That’s not exactly true,” Langley replied, looking over his shoulder to check his blind spots. He pressed his foot to the accelerator as he navigated through traffic to find a suitable place to pull onto the shoulder of the interstate to discuss this newest bombshell. “The hybrids aren’t supposed to mate with each other.”
“What,” Liz asked, her voice rising an octave as Langley pulled the black Mercedes onto the shoulder of I-40, Oklahoma City almost fifty miles ahead of them. “Tess was pregnant. She and Max slept together.”
“Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess could have screwed each other 24/7. It would have never produced a child. The hybrids were supposed...designed to mate with humans. They were supposed to stay together as a Four Square for unification purposes only.”
“Tess was pregnant,” Liz repeated, “with Max’s son. I...I saw the baby. I watched Max connect with his child. I was there when Max gave him up for adoption. I stood by Max as he chased every lead in order to find his son. I...I went to jail for him.”
“Liz, I know you’re upset -”
“No, you have no idea,” Liz said as she thrashed at Langley’s outstretched hands. “You can’t possibly understand what it’s like to know that everything you’ve believed for two years has been a lie. She…she could have lied about everything.” Green energy crackled and shot from her fingertips just as Langley successfully grabbed her wrists, shooting ten small holes into the room of the Mercedes. “I...my life could have been so different. I...I kept Tess in Roswell. It’s my fault one of my best friends is dead. And Isabel,” she squeaked, tears streaming down her cheeks as she feebly struggled against Langley’s hold. “It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is. Whose baby was it? She brought an innocent child to Roswell, a child she said was Max’s. Who did he belong to?”
“I don’t know.”
“And the crash. There was a spaceship.” Liz jerked her right arm out of Langley’s grasp and ran it underneath her nose. “How did so many people believe there was a crash? Can her mindwarp really be that powerful? She killed all those people, those innocent people.” She cradled her face in her hands, her shoulders heaving forward while her cries reverberated through the car.
“I don’t know, Liz. I’m sorry,” Langley admitted, offering the small package of Kleenex he kept in his coat pocket to clean his glasses. “You can’t think about that. You have to think about you.” Her shoulders continued to heave as Langley merged the Mercedes back onto the interstate.
“I’m going to kill that son of a bitch,” Max seethed, choking the steering wheel of the van as he merged onto Interstate 40 outside of Flagstaff. He had almost left them in Sedona as his rage for Langley took precedence in his mind. None of them had spoken to him since chasing the van for two miles, Michael finally able to convince Max to pull over on Highway 89A. Kyle rode beside him in the passenger seat; Michael and Maria huddled together behind them, their faces visible in the rear view mirror. “Get the atlas! I’m going to kill that son of a bitch.”
Maria sprang into action, pulling the used Rand McNally road atlas from underneath Max’s seat. “Got it. What now?”
“Find Knoxville, Tennessee.” Maria hurriedly flipped through the atlas pages and with Michael’s help, they found Knoxville relatively quickly. “What’s it say,” Max barked when the back seat became quiet. “How do I get to Knoxville?”
“Looks like you can stay on 40 and just ride it into Tennessee,” Michael responded, surveying the interstate map in the front of the atlas. “No problem. It’s a straight shot.”
“Good,” Max replied and Maria, Michael and Kyle felt the van accelerate, slightly sputtering as Max pressed the gas pedal as far to the floor as possible.
* * *
“What are you thinking about,” Langley questioned when Liz’s shaky sigh echoed through the car. He glanced sideways at her, suburbia zipping past them as they drove east on I-40.
“Nothing,” she answered lamely, lowering her hands to her lap.
“You’re thinking about Isabel,” Langley corrected and after Liz’s shocked expression wore off , their silence once again filled the car.
“I’m trying to figure out how to save her. I have all this power and -” Liz broke off, turning in her seat as she stared out the passenger side window.
“Maybe Isabel’s ready to die. Maybe she’s accepted her fate.”
“How can anyone be ready to die? How can you just...give up your life? I...if I...if this were happening to me, I...I’d fight it with everything I had.”
“That’s you,” Langley countered. “Maybe Isabel’s resided herself to the fact that she’s going to die. Hybrid pregnancies are a thing of the unknown. There’s no way to predict what’s going to happen.” Langley stole another glance at Liz, watching her fists clinch and unclinch in her lap and he knew she would survive. She would fight. She wouldn’t let anything take her away from Max and their children. “Isn’t that why Isabel told you to come,” he continued, sensing that her emotions were getting the better of her. “So you would take her son?”
“I don’t know if I can do that. He’s Jesse’s son too and if Isabel dies, Jesse will want him.”
“Maybe,” Langley agreed with a shrug before he reached for the radio dial. He flipped between channels and after finding nothing but country stations, he turned the radio off with a load groan.
“What did you mean about hybrid pregnancies?”
“Why?”
Liz adjusted herself so she was facing Langley and pulled her left leg underneath her, wrapping the thin blanket they had taken from the hotel in Sedona around her lower body. “You said that hybrid pregnancies are a thing of the unknown. Surely someone has to know about them. They were written into the destiny book.”
“I didn’t mean anything,” Langley replied, stealing another glance at Lz.
“Yes, you did. You know something about hybrid pregnancies and I want to know what it is.”
Langley sighed and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. His lips pursed in thought and a stony grimace encompassed his entire face. “Hybrid pregnancies are unpredictable, Liz. That’s all. The original intent was for the protectors to study the hybrids when they became pregnant. Now, no one knows what can happen.”
“Too bad Tess is dead,” Liz said quietly, resting her head backwards on the seat. “She’s the only hybrid that’s survived a birth.”
“That’s not exactly true,” Langley replied, looking over his shoulder to check his blind spots. He pressed his foot to the accelerator as he navigated through traffic to find a suitable place to pull onto the shoulder of the interstate to discuss this newest bombshell. “The hybrids aren’t supposed to mate with each other.”
“What,” Liz asked, her voice rising an octave as Langley pulled the black Mercedes onto the shoulder of I-40, Oklahoma City almost fifty miles ahead of them. “Tess was pregnant. She and Max slept together.”
“Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess could have screwed each other 24/7. It would have never produced a child. The hybrids were supposed...designed to mate with humans. They were supposed to stay together as a Four Square for unification purposes only.”
“Tess was pregnant,” Liz repeated, “with Max’s son. I...I saw the baby. I watched Max connect with his child. I was there when Max gave him up for adoption. I stood by Max as he chased every lead in order to find his son. I...I went to jail for him.”
“Liz, I know you’re upset -”
“No, you have no idea,” Liz said as she thrashed at Langley’s outstretched hands. “You can’t possibly understand what it’s like to know that everything you’ve believed for two years has been a lie. She…she could have lied about everything.” Green energy crackled and shot from her fingertips just as Langley successfully grabbed her wrists, shooting ten small holes into the room of the Mercedes. “I...my life could have been so different. I...I kept Tess in Roswell. It’s my fault one of my best friends is dead. And Isabel,” she squeaked, tears streaming down her cheeks as she feebly struggled against Langley’s hold. “It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is. Whose baby was it? She brought an innocent child to Roswell, a child she said was Max’s. Who did he belong to?”
“I don’t know.”
“And the crash. There was a spaceship.” Liz jerked her right arm out of Langley’s grasp and ran it underneath her nose. “How did so many people believe there was a crash? Can her mindwarp really be that powerful? She killed all those people, those innocent people.” She cradled her face in her hands, her shoulders heaving forward while her cries reverberated through the car.
“I don’t know, Liz. I’m sorry,” Langley admitted, offering the small package of Kleenex he kept in his coat pocket to clean his glasses. “You can’t think about that. You have to think about you.” Her shoulders continued to heave as Langley merged the Mercedes back onto the interstate.
Part 31
Part 31
“I got you, Hope.”
“I got choo, Awex.”
“Mommy! Mommy!”
“I wub Mommy!”
“Isabel,” Liz questioned, shielding her eyes with her hands as she stepped into the heavy fog, the sounds of children laughing imbedded so deeply into her mind, she couldn’t focus on anything else, particularly if Isabel was present. “Isabel, where are you?”
“I here, Mommy, but I Hope.” Liz felt a slight tug at her thigh and stared down to find a small girl smiling back at her. “Isabew Hope. Find Awex wif me?” Liz stooped to the girl’s level and the child immediately grabbed Liz’s hand, clutching it with her tiny hands as she tried to pull Liz forward. “Come on, Mommy. Find Awex.”
“I...I’m sorry,” Liz gasp, her confusion mounting as the little girl continued to tug on her hand. “I...I can’t help you.”
The little girl’s lips pursed tightly and she released Liz’s hand, slinging Liz’s arm toward the ground with all her might. Liz’s brow furrowed in confusion while she slowly stood and the little girl crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. Before anything further could happen in the mock stand-off, a small boy, about a head taller than the little girl, ran out of the fog. “Awex,” the little girl screamed, jumping up and down and clapping her hands together wildly, her displeasure with Liz instantly forgotten. “Got choo! Got choo!”
“Mommy! Mommy!” The little boy plowed into Liz’s side and threw his small arms around her thighs, squeezing her until his arms shook.
“Mommy! Mommy,” the little girl echoed, still jumping as she wrapped her arms around one of Liz’s legs and squeezed.
“Alex,” Liz asked, tears in her eyes as she ran her fingertips through the little boy’s fine dark hair. “Isabel’s Alex?” She loosened the children’s grip on her legs and dropped to her knees in front of them, her hands wrapped around their tiny arms.
“I your Alex,” the boy corrected as the little girl began to jump up and down again, throwing herself into Liz’s unsuspecting arms. “Come get me.”
“But I don’t know where you are,” Liz admitted while the little girl hummed to herself and ran her fingers through Liz’s hair. “I can’t find you.”
“Yes, you can,” Liz heard Isabel’s voice echo through the fog and she released the children and stoop up. “Fifth Av -”
“What? Isabel?”
“Help, Liz -”
Liz awoke with a start, the thin blanket from the Sedona motel covering her as she reclined in the back seat. The Mercedes was parked in a vacant parking lot and Langley was no where to be found as she surveyed her surroundings from inside the car. She slumped into the seat, pulling the blanket around her shaking body. She was not cold; she was frightened, and the closer she and Langley got to Knoxville, Tennessee, the more the inkling of fear plagued her mind. Her dreams or visions were becoming increasingly confusing, not only in their frequency but also in their content, and she was afraid of what she might actually find when she finally found Isabel.
She leaned forward, intent on climbing to the passenger seat to exit the car and stretch her legs for a minute when Langley appeared at the driver’s side door. He smiled at her and quickly entered the car while Liz settled back into the back seat. “You okay,” he questioned, balancing a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee as he put the keys into the ignition.
“Where are we?”
“Some mall,” Langley replied as the car engine roared to life. “Got you one too,” he said, pulling a small box from the front seat and handing it to Liz. “And some water.”
“Are we close to Knoxville?”
“We’re in Knoxville,” Langley admitted, his cinnamon roll almost gone. “It ain’t much of a town, but who knows. This is all I’ve seen.”
“How long have we been here?”
“Most of the night. I was hoping you wouldn’t be out for two days like you were last time so I parked here. We can afford to not be in a hurry. We should get a few things when the mall opens.”
“What kind of things,” Liz questioned as she nibbled at the cinnamon roll, her stomach suddenly queasy.
“You know, new clothes, baby things, shit like that.”
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Liz admitted, closing the cinnamon roll container as a grimace crossed her face. She opened the water and took a small sip. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”
“Did you have another vision?” Liz nodded mutely, her eyes welling with tears as she avoided Langley’s stare. “Was it about Isabel?”
“No, it was about Alex and a little girl. They kept calling me ‘Mommy.’ I...I don’t understand it.”
“I don’t know,” Langley mumbled, staring at his watch. “C’mon. Let’s go get you some comfortable clothes.”
* * *
Liz returned to the Mercedes with Langley, her black dress and strappy shoes carefully stored in one of the five shopping bags she carried. She bought two pairs of blue jeans and a pair of black knit pants at Old Navy, several casual button-up shirts at Lerner New York and a good pair of tennis shoes at Rack Room. Langley had offered to treat her to a shampoo and style at one of the beauty shops but she politely declined. Her mind was not on new clothes; it was on Isabel. “Any luck with finding the motel?”
“Yeah,” Langley said once Liz was settled into the passenger seat. “I talked to some people and they seem to think we should head downtown or down this street called Magnolia. Wherever she is, I’m betting Isabel is in the bad part of town.”
“You think there’s a bad part of this town?”
“Every town has a bad part,” Langley said, putting the car into gear and driving out of the mall parking lot.
“I got you, Hope.”
“I got choo, Awex.”
“Mommy! Mommy!”
“I wub Mommy!”
“Isabel,” Liz questioned, shielding her eyes with her hands as she stepped into the heavy fog, the sounds of children laughing imbedded so deeply into her mind, she couldn’t focus on anything else, particularly if Isabel was present. “Isabel, where are you?”
“I here, Mommy, but I Hope.” Liz felt a slight tug at her thigh and stared down to find a small girl smiling back at her. “Isabew Hope. Find Awex wif me?” Liz stooped to the girl’s level and the child immediately grabbed Liz’s hand, clutching it with her tiny hands as she tried to pull Liz forward. “Come on, Mommy. Find Awex.”
“I...I’m sorry,” Liz gasp, her confusion mounting as the little girl continued to tug on her hand. “I...I can’t help you.”
The little girl’s lips pursed tightly and she released Liz’s hand, slinging Liz’s arm toward the ground with all her might. Liz’s brow furrowed in confusion while she slowly stood and the little girl crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. Before anything further could happen in the mock stand-off, a small boy, about a head taller than the little girl, ran out of the fog. “Awex,” the little girl screamed, jumping up and down and clapping her hands together wildly, her displeasure with Liz instantly forgotten. “Got choo! Got choo!”
“Mommy! Mommy!” The little boy plowed into Liz’s side and threw his small arms around her thighs, squeezing her until his arms shook.
“Mommy! Mommy,” the little girl echoed, still jumping as she wrapped her arms around one of Liz’s legs and squeezed.
“Alex,” Liz asked, tears in her eyes as she ran her fingertips through the little boy’s fine dark hair. “Isabel’s Alex?” She loosened the children’s grip on her legs and dropped to her knees in front of them, her hands wrapped around their tiny arms.
“I your Alex,” the boy corrected as the little girl began to jump up and down again, throwing herself into Liz’s unsuspecting arms. “Come get me.”
“But I don’t know where you are,” Liz admitted while the little girl hummed to herself and ran her fingers through Liz’s hair. “I can’t find you.”
“Yes, you can,” Liz heard Isabel’s voice echo through the fog and she released the children and stoop up. “Fifth Av -”
“What? Isabel?”
“Help, Liz -”
Liz awoke with a start, the thin blanket from the Sedona motel covering her as she reclined in the back seat. The Mercedes was parked in a vacant parking lot and Langley was no where to be found as she surveyed her surroundings from inside the car. She slumped into the seat, pulling the blanket around her shaking body. She was not cold; she was frightened, and the closer she and Langley got to Knoxville, Tennessee, the more the inkling of fear plagued her mind. Her dreams or visions were becoming increasingly confusing, not only in their frequency but also in their content, and she was afraid of what she might actually find when she finally found Isabel.
She leaned forward, intent on climbing to the passenger seat to exit the car and stretch her legs for a minute when Langley appeared at the driver’s side door. He smiled at her and quickly entered the car while Liz settled back into the back seat. “You okay,” he questioned, balancing a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee as he put the keys into the ignition.
“Where are we?”
“Some mall,” Langley replied as the car engine roared to life. “Got you one too,” he said, pulling a small box from the front seat and handing it to Liz. “And some water.”
“Are we close to Knoxville?”
“We’re in Knoxville,” Langley admitted, his cinnamon roll almost gone. “It ain’t much of a town, but who knows. This is all I’ve seen.”
“How long have we been here?”
“Most of the night. I was hoping you wouldn’t be out for two days like you were last time so I parked here. We can afford to not be in a hurry. We should get a few things when the mall opens.”
“What kind of things,” Liz questioned as she nibbled at the cinnamon roll, her stomach suddenly queasy.
“You know, new clothes, baby things, shit like that.”
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Liz admitted, closing the cinnamon roll container as a grimace crossed her face. She opened the water and took a small sip. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”
“Did you have another vision?” Liz nodded mutely, her eyes welling with tears as she avoided Langley’s stare. “Was it about Isabel?”
“No, it was about Alex and a little girl. They kept calling me ‘Mommy.’ I...I don’t understand it.”
“I don’t know,” Langley mumbled, staring at his watch. “C’mon. Let’s go get you some comfortable clothes.”
* * *
Liz returned to the Mercedes with Langley, her black dress and strappy shoes carefully stored in one of the five shopping bags she carried. She bought two pairs of blue jeans and a pair of black knit pants at Old Navy, several casual button-up shirts at Lerner New York and a good pair of tennis shoes at Rack Room. Langley had offered to treat her to a shampoo and style at one of the beauty shops but she politely declined. Her mind was not on new clothes; it was on Isabel. “Any luck with finding the motel?”
“Yeah,” Langley said once Liz was settled into the passenger seat. “I talked to some people and they seem to think we should head downtown or down this street called Magnolia. Wherever she is, I’m betting Isabel is in the bad part of town.”
“You think there’s a bad part of this town?”
“Every town has a bad part,” Langley said, putting the car into gear and driving out of the mall parking lot.
Part 32
Part 32
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
June 28, 2002
We found Isabel in the Fifth Avenue Motel just north of downtown in Knoxville, Tennessee. To say it was a five star establishment would be a severe embellishment, as Cal and I had to dodge several drug addicts and prostitutes in the hallway on our way to Isabel’s room. The man at the front desk had been less than helpful when I gave him Isabel’s picture, but Cal had managed to convince him it would be in his best interest to help us.
We knocked on the door of Room 305, Isabel’s supposed room, and Cal agreed to wait outside while I entered alone. I liked Cal, despite the problems he and Max have, and I know there would have been no way to convince the others to travel halfway across the country to find Isabel. Of course, now that I’m here, I’m not sure what’s going to be waiting for me on the other side of the door.
“Look Liz,” Langley said, grabbing Liz’s arm just before she pushed the door to Isabel’s room open. Liz glanced down at where their skin touched in surprise as she cautiously raised her head to meet his face. Never in the days that she had been with him had Langley touched her in that manner. Every time their skin had met, there was always malice behind Langley’s motivations. Langley noticed her confusion and released his grip on her forearm slightly. “You should know that anything could be on the other side of that door. Isabel may already be dead and her baby too. You just gotta be ready for that.”
“Okay,” Liz whispered faintly as she nodded her head up and down. She had replied so faintly that Langley hadn’t been sure she’d answered at all and squeezed her arm again. “Okay,” Liz replied, this time placing her right hand on top of Langley’s and removing his hand from her arm. Langley turned away from her and Liz placed her palms on the door, allowing her shaky breath to even out as much as possible before she stepped into the unknown.
While Cal’s warning had prepared me somewhat, there was no possible way for me to know the full extent of Isabel’s condition. Just like Cal said, there could be anything waiting for me on the other side of the door, and I had to force myself to step through it.
Liz closed her eyes as she carefully pushed the door open with her palms. Her first step into the darkened room was a shaky one and she clinched her fists by her side to control some of the trembling. The door shut behind her and Liz spun on her heels toward the doorway, her eyes now wide open, and she wondered if she were walking into some sort of trap. Slowly turning away from the door after convincing herself that Langley wouldn’t let anything happen to her, she stepped further into the darkened room, sparse sunlight filtering in from the solitary window, and Liz focused on the dust floating in the room.
“You’re here,” someone said, startling Liz so she reflexively held her palm away from her body in defense. A red light crackled on the fringes of Liz’s peripheral vision and Liz turned partially to her left. Lying on the bed, red energy pulsating through her body at a swift pace, was Isabel, who looked as near-death as the junkies Liz and Langley had passed in the hallway.
“God, Isabel,” Liz whispered, immediately stepping to her sister-in-law’s bedside. She knelt in the floor next to the bed, her fingers looming near Isabel’s energized skin. Isabel’s once-vibrant face showed signs of sickness, yellowish gray in color, and Liz was momentarily blinded by tears. She moved to hold Isabel’s hand when a woman’s voice stopped her.
“I wouldn’t touch her. It makes her worse.”
Liz rocked back onto her feet as the woman stepped from the shadows of the room. She glanced at Isabel momentarily, unable to control the tears that slipped down her face as she watched Isabel’s body shake with tremors, the red energy palpitating at a much faster pace than it had previously. She wiped at her face with the backs of her hands and watched as the woman’s face came into focus. “You,” Liz questioned, staring at the woman whose name and face had haunted so many of her dreams.
“Isabel said you’d come but I didn’t believe her.”
“You know the...truth...about her?”
“I didn’t at first,” Sarina admitted, “but I do now. I’m one of Jesse’s friends. Sarina Zachary.” Sarina extended her hand to Liz, stepping out of the shadows of the room.
Liz glanced toward Isabel momentarily, watching as red energy continued to trickle through Isabel’s body. Liz stepped toward Sarina, her own hand extended. “I’m Liz Evans. Isabel is my sister-in-law.” The two women shook hands quickly and Liz turned her attention back to Isabel, just as Langley burst into the room. “It’s okay,” Liz said as Langley spotted Sarina. “She’s a friend.” Langley nodded his agreement to Liz’s statement and stood in front of the door as Liz walked back to Isabel’s side. “How did you find her?”
“She called Jesse’s office and agreed to meet him in New Orleans. I went to New Orleans in his place and brought her here.”
“Thank you,” Liz replied softly, and she felt Langley’s hand grip her shoulder when a baby’s cries echoed through the room. “Alex,” Liz cried, unable to contain her tears any longer, and Langley released her as she stormed past Sarina into the bathroom.
I thought that when I gave my heart completely to a baby, it would be my own. But as I fell onto the bathroom floor over Alex’s tiny body, I knew that I’d already given my heart to him. His cries increased and I couldn’t stop the flood of emotion that overtook me, right there on the nastiest bathroom tile floor imaginable. His tiny legs and arms kicked furiously and his face contorted as his cries continued and I had no choice but to join him. I knew he was crying because he’d just lost his mother. He felt her body disintegrate to dust the moment it happened; he would never remember anything about his natural mother as he grew up and I knew in those first moments without her, he felt totally alone in the world. I, on the other hand, cried for all that I’d lost on this journey. Alex. My home. My parents. My innocence. And now, Isabel because, just like Alex had felt her die, I felt a part of my mind contort as her energy hit the air. My only hope is that her last moments were peaceful and that she knew I’d protect Alex with my life.
Liz fumbled blindly with the blue blanket surrounding Alex. His arms and legs still jerked but she could tell he was fighting sleep, having exhausted himself by crying. She swaddled him tightly and carefully picked the tiny boy up off the bathroom floor. Cradling him gingerly against her chest, she walked out of the bathroom and into the main room where Langley stood with the Sarina. “I’m sorry, Liz, but Isabel’s gone,” Langley whispered as she brushed past him and toward the only window in the room. Liz didn’t dare look at the bed because she knew whatever remained of Isabel would be on that bed and if she looked, that would be the last memory she’d ever have of her friend, Max’s sister and Alex’s mother. “Didja hear me,” Langley asked and Liz felt the heat radiating off his body as he stepped closer to her.
“I heard you,” Liz whispered, twisting her upper body from side to side. “Isabel’s gone.”
“Can you take her outside to my car,” Langley asked Sarina, who had remained in the corner of the room. “It’s the black Mercedes. I...need to clean this up.” Sarina nodded mutely and walked to Liz’s side, putting her arm around Liz as the two women walked silently out of the room.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
June 28, 2002
We found Isabel in the Fifth Avenue Motel just north of downtown in Knoxville, Tennessee. To say it was a five star establishment would be a severe embellishment, as Cal and I had to dodge several drug addicts and prostitutes in the hallway on our way to Isabel’s room. The man at the front desk had been less than helpful when I gave him Isabel’s picture, but Cal had managed to convince him it would be in his best interest to help us.
We knocked on the door of Room 305, Isabel’s supposed room, and Cal agreed to wait outside while I entered alone. I liked Cal, despite the problems he and Max have, and I know there would have been no way to convince the others to travel halfway across the country to find Isabel. Of course, now that I’m here, I’m not sure what’s going to be waiting for me on the other side of the door.
“Look Liz,” Langley said, grabbing Liz’s arm just before she pushed the door to Isabel’s room open. Liz glanced down at where their skin touched in surprise as she cautiously raised her head to meet his face. Never in the days that she had been with him had Langley touched her in that manner. Every time their skin had met, there was always malice behind Langley’s motivations. Langley noticed her confusion and released his grip on her forearm slightly. “You should know that anything could be on the other side of that door. Isabel may already be dead and her baby too. You just gotta be ready for that.”
“Okay,” Liz whispered faintly as she nodded her head up and down. She had replied so faintly that Langley hadn’t been sure she’d answered at all and squeezed her arm again. “Okay,” Liz replied, this time placing her right hand on top of Langley’s and removing his hand from her arm. Langley turned away from her and Liz placed her palms on the door, allowing her shaky breath to even out as much as possible before she stepped into the unknown.
While Cal’s warning had prepared me somewhat, there was no possible way for me to know the full extent of Isabel’s condition. Just like Cal said, there could be anything waiting for me on the other side of the door, and I had to force myself to step through it.
Liz closed her eyes as she carefully pushed the door open with her palms. Her first step into the darkened room was a shaky one and she clinched her fists by her side to control some of the trembling. The door shut behind her and Liz spun on her heels toward the doorway, her eyes now wide open, and she wondered if she were walking into some sort of trap. Slowly turning away from the door after convincing herself that Langley wouldn’t let anything happen to her, she stepped further into the darkened room, sparse sunlight filtering in from the solitary window, and Liz focused on the dust floating in the room.
“You’re here,” someone said, startling Liz so she reflexively held her palm away from her body in defense. A red light crackled on the fringes of Liz’s peripheral vision and Liz turned partially to her left. Lying on the bed, red energy pulsating through her body at a swift pace, was Isabel, who looked as near-death as the junkies Liz and Langley had passed in the hallway.
“God, Isabel,” Liz whispered, immediately stepping to her sister-in-law’s bedside. She knelt in the floor next to the bed, her fingers looming near Isabel’s energized skin. Isabel’s once-vibrant face showed signs of sickness, yellowish gray in color, and Liz was momentarily blinded by tears. She moved to hold Isabel’s hand when a woman’s voice stopped her.
“I wouldn’t touch her. It makes her worse.”
Liz rocked back onto her feet as the woman stepped from the shadows of the room. She glanced at Isabel momentarily, unable to control the tears that slipped down her face as she watched Isabel’s body shake with tremors, the red energy palpitating at a much faster pace than it had previously. She wiped at her face with the backs of her hands and watched as the woman’s face came into focus. “You,” Liz questioned, staring at the woman whose name and face had haunted so many of her dreams.
“Isabel said you’d come but I didn’t believe her.”
“You know the...truth...about her?”
“I didn’t at first,” Sarina admitted, “but I do now. I’m one of Jesse’s friends. Sarina Zachary.” Sarina extended her hand to Liz, stepping out of the shadows of the room.
Liz glanced toward Isabel momentarily, watching as red energy continued to trickle through Isabel’s body. Liz stepped toward Sarina, her own hand extended. “I’m Liz Evans. Isabel is my sister-in-law.” The two women shook hands quickly and Liz turned her attention back to Isabel, just as Langley burst into the room. “It’s okay,” Liz said as Langley spotted Sarina. “She’s a friend.” Langley nodded his agreement to Liz’s statement and stood in front of the door as Liz walked back to Isabel’s side. “How did you find her?”
“She called Jesse’s office and agreed to meet him in New Orleans. I went to New Orleans in his place and brought her here.”
“Thank you,” Liz replied softly, and she felt Langley’s hand grip her shoulder when a baby’s cries echoed through the room. “Alex,” Liz cried, unable to contain her tears any longer, and Langley released her as she stormed past Sarina into the bathroom.
I thought that when I gave my heart completely to a baby, it would be my own. But as I fell onto the bathroom floor over Alex’s tiny body, I knew that I’d already given my heart to him. His cries increased and I couldn’t stop the flood of emotion that overtook me, right there on the nastiest bathroom tile floor imaginable. His tiny legs and arms kicked furiously and his face contorted as his cries continued and I had no choice but to join him. I knew he was crying because he’d just lost his mother. He felt her body disintegrate to dust the moment it happened; he would never remember anything about his natural mother as he grew up and I knew in those first moments without her, he felt totally alone in the world. I, on the other hand, cried for all that I’d lost on this journey. Alex. My home. My parents. My innocence. And now, Isabel because, just like Alex had felt her die, I felt a part of my mind contort as her energy hit the air. My only hope is that her last moments were peaceful and that she knew I’d protect Alex with my life.
Liz fumbled blindly with the blue blanket surrounding Alex. His arms and legs still jerked but she could tell he was fighting sleep, having exhausted himself by crying. She swaddled him tightly and carefully picked the tiny boy up off the bathroom floor. Cradling him gingerly against her chest, she walked out of the bathroom and into the main room where Langley stood with the Sarina. “I’m sorry, Liz, but Isabel’s gone,” Langley whispered as she brushed past him and toward the only window in the room. Liz didn’t dare look at the bed because she knew whatever remained of Isabel would be on that bed and if she looked, that would be the last memory she’d ever have of her friend, Max’s sister and Alex’s mother. “Didja hear me,” Langley asked and Liz felt the heat radiating off his body as he stepped closer to her.
“I heard you,” Liz whispered, twisting her upper body from side to side. “Isabel’s gone.”
“Can you take her outside to my car,” Langley asked Sarina, who had remained in the corner of the room. “It’s the black Mercedes. I...need to clean this up.” Sarina nodded mutely and walked to Liz’s side, putting her arm around Liz as the two women walked silently out of the room.
Part 30
Part 33
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
Liz carefully laid Alex in the carrier in the back seat of Langley’s car, Sarina flanking her as she did so. Once she was satisfied the sleeping baby was secure, Liz turned her attention toward Sarina. Sarina stepped backwards away from Liz and leaned against the door of her rented Buick Regal, her black slacks and brick red tank top littered with dust. “Thank you for helping her,” Liz replied, at a loss for words although she desperately wanted to have a conversation with Sarina. Her mind couldn’t help but wonder if this was the mythical Sarina that Future Max had said would be her friend.
“It was no problem,” Sarina said, a small smile cresting on her lips. “I’m glad I could be there for her...so she wouldn’t have been alone.”
Liz crossed her arms over her chest and stared heavenward, her lips trembling as she fought the urge to scream and cry. “I...I remember you...from Vegas. We bumped arms at the Bali Hai casino.” She laughed slightly, a couple of tears slipping down her cheeks. “I had nightmares about you for weeks. I was so afraid we’d be caught.”
“I was questioned about you,” Sarina admitted, shifting her weight uncomfortably. “I was pulled off my regular detail and taken to Reno by two agents. They questioned me, showed me video surveillance where we’d touched. That’s where I found out Jesse was involved.”
“They didn’t hurt you, did they,” Liz asked as she stepped forward and placed her hand on Sarina’s fore arm.
“Oh, no,” Sarina replied quickly, waving off Liz’s concern. “I thought their questioning methods were a little off, but nothing else happened. That’s when I went off the radar though. I called around and found out Jesse was in Roswell, so I went there...to warn him.”
“Did you see...anyone else?”
“I met everyone,” Sarina said. “Your parents, Max’s, Deputy Valenti, Ms. DeLuca.”
“Are they -”
“They’re fine, worried of course, but they seemed to be holding it together pretty well.”
“Oh,” Liz sighed, covering her hand with her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. They had been gone from Roswell almost two months, with no word from their families and no way to get secure word to them. Knowing that Sarina had been in her hometown, had seen her parents with her own eyes and said they were fine lifted a huge weight off her heart. “Thank you,” Liz said, wrapping her arms around Sarina’s neck in a fierce hug. “Thank you.”
Sarina accepted Liz’s hug, placing her hands tenderly in the small of Liz’s back, feeling Liz’s body begin to quake as her emotions finally took hold.
“Liz?”
Liz released Sarina and quickly wiped her eyes with her hands when Langley called her name. She spun away from Sarina and stepped behind the Mercedes as she and Langley met at the truck of the car. Langley glanced at the ground momentarily before handing Liz a small red box. “What’s this,” Liz questioned and she felt Sarina step toward them, standing on her left side.
“It’s Isabel...her remains.”
Liz lowered her head to the red box, her mind blank and a whirlwind of activity at the same time. “Red was her favorite color.” She barely finished the sentence before emotion overtook her, prompting Langley to pull her into his arms, her left shoulder buried in his chest, as she clutched the small red box tightly in her hands.
Alex’s cries startled Liz and she extracted herself from Langley’s arms, avoiding his concerned stare, and climbed into the back seat to check on Alex. Carefully placing the red box in the back window, Liz curled herself around Alex’s carrier and he immediately stopped crying.
“I’ll be dammed,” Langley said, he and Sarina watching the event in amazement as a clap of thunder rolled through the sky.
“What should we do with them?”
“Leave ‘em for now,” Langley replied as he pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket. “I’ve got to call her dumbass husband.”
* * *
“How long have I been asleep,” Liz questioned as she stepped out of the Mercedes toward Sarina on the opposite side of her Buick, facing Knoxville’s downtown. “Did it rain?”
“You’ve been asleep just long enough to miss a summer rain shower,” Sarina replied with a smile and Liz looked upward as the sun beamed down onto the asphalt parking lot. She blinked several times and watched the rain evaporate in the heat.
“Sorry I missed that. It doesn’t rain much in New Mexico.” She turned in a small circle, her hands digging deep into the back pockets of her blue jeans. “Where’s Langley?”
“Making a phone call.”
“Oh,” Liz replied softly. “How’d you find this place?”
“I was involved in a drug bust here a few years ago with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.”
“I can see why,” Liz said, her tone light. “It’s not exactly the most clean establishment.”
“No,” Sarina laughed. “No, it’s not. It doesn’t help that the Rescue Mission is just down the block. It’s not the most sterile environment either, especially for a baby.” A look of guilt crossed her face as she glanced over Liz’s shoulder toward Alex’s carrier. “I’m sorry he had to be born in that.”
“Why,” Liz asked. “There was no other place available. I’m grateful that you chose to protect Isabel and Alex. You didn’t know anything about them or any of us. Once you knew the truth, you could have easily turned her in to the FBI.”
“I would have never done that, not after Reno.”
Liz smiled warmly at Sarina. “Thank you. You did a wonderful thing for my family and I’m very appreciative. I don’t know if I can ever tell you how truly thankful I am.”
“Max is on his way,” Langley interrupted from behind them, closing the cover on his cell phone and dropping it back into his jacket pocket. “He’s in Knoxville, probably five exits away. I gave him good directions.”
Liz spun toward him, a confused expression on her face. “You’re leaving?”
“Yep.”
“You won’t stay so you and Max can talk this out? I think there are some things that you can share with him.”
“Nope. I’ll leave the truths to you.” He smiled widely at Liz, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
“So this is it?” Liz’s voice shook with emotion and she recognized a hint of anger in her statement.
“‘Fraid so,” Langley admitted with a shrug. “Why? You gonna miss me? I did kidnap you, you know.”
“I remember,” Liz replied.
“I don’t think I should be hearing this,” Sarina said. “I’d hate to have to arrest you. I’ll go check on the baby.” She stepped away from Langley and Liz and walked toward the black Mercedes.
“You won’t stay and talk to Max,” Liz pressed. “He’ll want to know the truth about why you took me.”
“No, I’ve gotta get back. Got a few...projects to work on.” Liz nodded her understanding but still lowered her head at the thought of saying good-bye to Cal, the man who had originally been her enemy now parting as her friend. “But I’ll be looking out for you, Liz Evans, you and your family.” He pulled her into a quick, awkward hug then dug into his interior jacket pocket for his card file. “In case you ever need me again,” he said as he presented Liz with his business card. “You’ll know how to get in touch with me. Just tell my secretary who you are and you’ll get right through.”
“Thank you, Cal, for everything. I don’t know how -”
“I figure it’s about time I start protecting someone. Might as well be you.” He chuckled and Liz smiled slightly in response. “Just have a good life, Liz,” Langley said, a serious tone in his voice, walking briskly to driver’s side of his Mercedes. Sarina closed the back door of her Buick, Alex nestled safely inside, and Langley started his car with one more parting glance at Liz. “Be happy and have a good life,” he called to her again, his voice echoing through the passenger side window as he drove the car out of the parking lot and north onto Broadway.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
Liz carefully laid Alex in the carrier in the back seat of Langley’s car, Sarina flanking her as she did so. Once she was satisfied the sleeping baby was secure, Liz turned her attention toward Sarina. Sarina stepped backwards away from Liz and leaned against the door of her rented Buick Regal, her black slacks and brick red tank top littered with dust. “Thank you for helping her,” Liz replied, at a loss for words although she desperately wanted to have a conversation with Sarina. Her mind couldn’t help but wonder if this was the mythical Sarina that Future Max had said would be her friend.
“It was no problem,” Sarina said, a small smile cresting on her lips. “I’m glad I could be there for her...so she wouldn’t have been alone.”
Liz crossed her arms over her chest and stared heavenward, her lips trembling as she fought the urge to scream and cry. “I...I remember you...from Vegas. We bumped arms at the Bali Hai casino.” She laughed slightly, a couple of tears slipping down her cheeks. “I had nightmares about you for weeks. I was so afraid we’d be caught.”
“I was questioned about you,” Sarina admitted, shifting her weight uncomfortably. “I was pulled off my regular detail and taken to Reno by two agents. They questioned me, showed me video surveillance where we’d touched. That’s where I found out Jesse was involved.”
“They didn’t hurt you, did they,” Liz asked as she stepped forward and placed her hand on Sarina’s fore arm.
“Oh, no,” Sarina replied quickly, waving off Liz’s concern. “I thought their questioning methods were a little off, but nothing else happened. That’s when I went off the radar though. I called around and found out Jesse was in Roswell, so I went there...to warn him.”
“Did you see...anyone else?”
“I met everyone,” Sarina said. “Your parents, Max’s, Deputy Valenti, Ms. DeLuca.”
“Are they -”
“They’re fine, worried of course, but they seemed to be holding it together pretty well.”
“Oh,” Liz sighed, covering her hand with her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. They had been gone from Roswell almost two months, with no word from their families and no way to get secure word to them. Knowing that Sarina had been in her hometown, had seen her parents with her own eyes and said they were fine lifted a huge weight off her heart. “Thank you,” Liz said, wrapping her arms around Sarina’s neck in a fierce hug. “Thank you.”
Sarina accepted Liz’s hug, placing her hands tenderly in the small of Liz’s back, feeling Liz’s body begin to quake as her emotions finally took hold.
“Liz?”
Liz released Sarina and quickly wiped her eyes with her hands when Langley called her name. She spun away from Sarina and stepped behind the Mercedes as she and Langley met at the truck of the car. Langley glanced at the ground momentarily before handing Liz a small red box. “What’s this,” Liz questioned and she felt Sarina step toward them, standing on her left side.
“It’s Isabel...her remains.”
Liz lowered her head to the red box, her mind blank and a whirlwind of activity at the same time. “Red was her favorite color.” She barely finished the sentence before emotion overtook her, prompting Langley to pull her into his arms, her left shoulder buried in his chest, as she clutched the small red box tightly in her hands.
Alex’s cries startled Liz and she extracted herself from Langley’s arms, avoiding his concerned stare, and climbed into the back seat to check on Alex. Carefully placing the red box in the back window, Liz curled herself around Alex’s carrier and he immediately stopped crying.
“I’ll be dammed,” Langley said, he and Sarina watching the event in amazement as a clap of thunder rolled through the sky.
“What should we do with them?”
“Leave ‘em for now,” Langley replied as he pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket. “I’ve got to call her dumbass husband.”
* * *
“How long have I been asleep,” Liz questioned as she stepped out of the Mercedes toward Sarina on the opposite side of her Buick, facing Knoxville’s downtown. “Did it rain?”
“You’ve been asleep just long enough to miss a summer rain shower,” Sarina replied with a smile and Liz looked upward as the sun beamed down onto the asphalt parking lot. She blinked several times and watched the rain evaporate in the heat.
“Sorry I missed that. It doesn’t rain much in New Mexico.” She turned in a small circle, her hands digging deep into the back pockets of her blue jeans. “Where’s Langley?”
“Making a phone call.”
“Oh,” Liz replied softly. “How’d you find this place?”
“I was involved in a drug bust here a few years ago with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.”
“I can see why,” Liz said, her tone light. “It’s not exactly the most clean establishment.”
“No,” Sarina laughed. “No, it’s not. It doesn’t help that the Rescue Mission is just down the block. It’s not the most sterile environment either, especially for a baby.” A look of guilt crossed her face as she glanced over Liz’s shoulder toward Alex’s carrier. “I’m sorry he had to be born in that.”
“Why,” Liz asked. “There was no other place available. I’m grateful that you chose to protect Isabel and Alex. You didn’t know anything about them or any of us. Once you knew the truth, you could have easily turned her in to the FBI.”
“I would have never done that, not after Reno.”
Liz smiled warmly at Sarina. “Thank you. You did a wonderful thing for my family and I’m very appreciative. I don’t know if I can ever tell you how truly thankful I am.”
“Max is on his way,” Langley interrupted from behind them, closing the cover on his cell phone and dropping it back into his jacket pocket. “He’s in Knoxville, probably five exits away. I gave him good directions.”
Liz spun toward him, a confused expression on her face. “You’re leaving?”
“Yep.”
“You won’t stay so you and Max can talk this out? I think there are some things that you can share with him.”
“Nope. I’ll leave the truths to you.” He smiled widely at Liz, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
“So this is it?” Liz’s voice shook with emotion and she recognized a hint of anger in her statement.
“‘Fraid so,” Langley admitted with a shrug. “Why? You gonna miss me? I did kidnap you, you know.”
“I remember,” Liz replied.
“I don’t think I should be hearing this,” Sarina said. “I’d hate to have to arrest you. I’ll go check on the baby.” She stepped away from Langley and Liz and walked toward the black Mercedes.
“You won’t stay and talk to Max,” Liz pressed. “He’ll want to know the truth about why you took me.”
“No, I’ve gotta get back. Got a few...projects to work on.” Liz nodded her understanding but still lowered her head at the thought of saying good-bye to Cal, the man who had originally been her enemy now parting as her friend. “But I’ll be looking out for you, Liz Evans, you and your family.” He pulled her into a quick, awkward hug then dug into his interior jacket pocket for his card file. “In case you ever need me again,” he said as he presented Liz with his business card. “You’ll know how to get in touch with me. Just tell my secretary who you are and you’ll get right through.”
“Thank you, Cal, for everything. I don’t know how -”
“I figure it’s about time I start protecting someone. Might as well be you.” He chuckled and Liz smiled slightly in response. “Just have a good life, Liz,” Langley said, a serious tone in his voice, walking briskly to driver’s side of his Mercedes. Sarina closed the back door of her Buick, Alex nestled safely inside, and Langley started his car with one more parting glance at Liz. “Be happy and have a good life,” he called to her again, his voice echoing through the passenger side window as he drove the car out of the parking lot and north onto Broadway.