Hey everyone!
I'm finally back!
I do apologize immensely for the long wait, I hope I still have some readers left. I also apologize for the empty promises I seem to have kept posting in my author's notes about updates being soon. But life was been chaotic, which I will not bore you with. But I'm back! So I hope everyone enjoys this part! I'll have Chapter 21 up later on this week, probably the weekend! Again thanks so much!
Chapter 20
Liz Evans lay staring into her husband’s eyes. After Max told the Chief and Liz herself the details, they had both desperately wanted to get out of the hospital and with their children.
Max had insisted.
He wanted his family with him, where he felt they were safe.
Now they were lying in the Guerin’ guest bedroom, with Emma tucked safely between them, while they were positioned on their sides. Sophie and Tyler were asleep in their bassinets beside the bed on Liz’s side.
Breaking the silence, Liz whispered, “So what now?”
Max, closing his eyes and heaving a sigh that sounded as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders in response.
“Max?” Liz whispered again, careful not to wake Emma or the twins.
When he opened his eyes, Liz felt her chest tighten with the guilt she saw in his eyes. Guilt she felt was uncalled for.
“It’s not your fault,” she said.
Max gave her a small smile for her attempt at reassurance, knowing that it was his fault.
“But it is, baby,” he whispered sadly.
Liz shook her head, knowing that he was as stubborn as she was. No matter how many times she told him it wasn’t his fault, he would tell her just as many times that it was his fault. His burden to bear.
“Let’s try and get some sleep, okay?” Max pleaded.
Liz nodded knowing either of them would be resting peacefully.
She closed her eyes thinking back to the night’s earlier revelations.
***
“Max, what’s your fault? What are you talking about?” Liz questioned confused.
Lifting his head, he stared at his wife with watery eyes.
“Everything. Tonight, Isabel, Dr. Kennedy, everyone and everything,” he whispered brokenly.
Liz’s heart began beating rapidly if felt like it was going to burst right through her chest. She didn’t like where this was heading. She knew where it was heading.
She knew all along, deep down in her very soul, that these killings in Anaheim had some relation to her and her family.
“I need to report this,” Max suddenly said fiercely.
“What?!” Liz yelled startled at his sudden change in mood and topic.
“Liz, baby, I’ll be right back,” Max said.
“No! Max! What the fuck is going on!?” Liz yelled feeling angry, scared, and desperately confused all at the same time.
Max’s face broke at his wife’s outburst. Wrapping his arms tightly around her he said, “Baby, I’m sorry, I have to go tell the Chief who is responsible. Police need to be looking for who’s responsible, if I have the slightest idea who, I need to tell them right away, to stop him from hurting anyone else, or my family. You. Emma. Tyler and Sophie. Michael and Maria. Anyone else. I’ll be right back and I’ll tell you everything. I swear. Everything,” Max vowed.
“I understand that Max. I do. But call him from here. Tell him who it is. Then tell me. Just....just don’t leave me...please. Not like this. Not now,” Liz cried.
With tears filling up his own eyes, Max’s heart bursted into a thousand tiny pieces, like daggers to his soul.
“Okay, Okay. I won’t. I promise,” Max cried, kissing Liz desperately.
Pulling back, he picked up the phone resting on the table beside her bed.
Quickly dialing the familiar number, he waited for a voice with a greeting to replace the ringing.
“Chief! Listen, you need to put an APB out on Sean Danes. He’s in our database, pull up his info and his picture. He’s the one responsible for it all,” Max blurted out in a panic.
“No...Just do it! I swear I’ll call you later and explain. Just trust me. Thank you, I’ll get back to you later,” Max said before hanging up.
Blowing out a deep breath, he turned to his wife, taking her hands and squeezing tightly, he began his tale.
“It happened six years ago. I was 21. I was still basically a rookie cop. Remember those days, huh?” Max joked weakly.
Liz couldn’t even manage a smile, just a fleeting thought of how much less complicated those times where.
“Anyways, it was before I made Detective. Remember when I told you about My dad’s cop brother, Collin?” Max asked.
“Yes,” Liz whispered.
“Well, before he died he used to tell me about his job when I was a little boy. He hated being a rookie, he told me. So did I. The force gave him hell. You see, my Uncle Collin began his career with a slow track record in arrests. He ended his career being a respected Detective,” Max remembered sadly.
“He always told me he promised himself that his tenth big arrest would be his lucky one. The one that would make him a Detective, not a rookie. He’d be no longer wet behind the ears,” Max explained.
Liz froze. Lucky number ten.
“Max, what does this have to do with you?” Liz asked confused.
Blowing out another deep breath, Max said, “Well it was one night you were out with friends, and I was out with the other cops in my force. They were treating the new rookie to a drink they said, although when we got to the pub, I was the one treating them.”
“Intially, I was surprised they were including me. I thought to them I was some stupid kid with dreams of being a hero,” Max said.
“But to find out, they knew I was a good cop and I would be a great one. They began talking about the biggest case that was going on, one I heard so much about, one that I wanted to be a part of. I guess they noticed my eager eyes and ears around the station. It was the case of Kyle Danes,” Max explained closing his eyes in memory.
He opened them to meet Liz’s confused gaze.
“Kyle, but I thought I heard you say Sean,” Liz said.
“You did. Sean, the one who I believe is responsible for the murders, is Kyle’s younger brother,” Max explained.
“But why would his brother be doing this? Why would he be after you? I don’t understand!” Liz yelled frustrated and scared.
“Shhh...baby calm down,” Max said gently.
“Calm down! Max some fucking psycho is killing off people who we knew, some who were family, and who came after me tonight! And you say calm down!” Liz screamed her voice breaking into tears.
Grabbing his wife, Max squeezed her tightly.
Whispering in her ear he said, “I love you baby, I will not let anyone hurt you. I swear. You or anyone we care about. You or the children.”
He could feel Liz nodding jerkily against him in understanding.
Whispering in his ear, she asked, “But why is Sean after you if the case was about Kyle?”
Whispering back he answered, “The case was about Kyle Danes. It was my big break. My lucky number ten. It wasn’t so lucky for Kyle Danes though.”
Max felt Liz’s hot breath on his ear when she whispered quietly a question he wasn’t sure if he wanted to answer.
“Max, honey, what did you do?”
TBC
The Anaheim Killings (AU,M/L,MATURE) AN 10.16.05 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
-
MilesToGo99
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:26 am
Thanks so much for the feedback!
Cherie
Vicki LVCM
taressa05
Jason's Lover
Dreamer 4 Ever
...and to any lurkers out there! Here's the next chapter..I hope everyone enjoys it.
Previously in Chapter 20......
Whispering back he answered, “The case was about Kyle Danes. It was my big break. My lucky number ten. It wasn’t so lucky for Kyle Danes though.”
Max felt Liz’s hot breath on his ear when she whispered quietly a question he wasn’t sure if he wanted to answer.
“Max, honey, what did you do?”
Chapter 21
Max closed his eyes in painful remembrance at his wife’s whispered words.
“Max?” Liz questioned softly.
Opening his eyes at the sound of Liz’s voice, he sat still, staring into her eyes.
“I killed a fourteen year old boy,” Max answered in a voice laced with pain.
Liz’s eyes widened in absolute shock.
“W-What?” Liz asked dumbfounded at her husband’s revelation.
Swallowing past the lump in his throat and blinking back tears he answered, “Jordan Danes. Fourteen years old. Younger brother of both Kyle and Sean Danes.”
Grabbing Max’s hand, Liz pulled him down on her hospital bed and wrapped her arms tightly around him whispering words of comfort.
“Tell me all of it Max,” Liz demanded softly.
Clearing his throat, Max said, “I should first explain who Kyle Danes was. He was one of the station’s most wanted men. He was wanted in connected with three homicides and drug trafficking. He was arrested so many times and was always released on some damn technicality. Blood money can buy you great lawyers apparently. That same day, some kids had overdosed on his shit. We were looking for him. But he was a hard man to find. No one would talk. Not even a clue to his whereabouts. Not until that night, while we were at the pub. A call came in reporting that Kyle Danes whereabouts had been discovered and confirmed. All available units were to report to the scene. The scene happened to be only a few blocks away from the pub we were at.”
Max paused and took a deep breath, preparing himself for the memories he knew would surface.
“What happened then?” Liz asked.
“I remember thinking I was so excited. I couldn’t believe it. I was going to get my break. Well we arrived at the scene and some units and a news station were already there. The bastards had a police scanner and just showed up, blowing the whole arrest. We were running towards the building, passing the news camera. On our way by them, they asked what was happening. In my cocky, excited youthful manner, I answered that my lucky number ten was happening,” Max choked out.
Liz closed her eyes at his last words.
Blowing out a deep breath, Max spoke, “We raided the building. No one in sight. I saw a window open, and not thinking about calling for backup, I went out it and down the fire escape into the dark alley behind the building. There I saw Kyle Danes. With my gun pointed at him, I told him not to move. I remember being filled with such nervous excitement I thought I was going to burst. But then I heard the distinct sound of a gun being cocked. The click resounded behind me and on a knee-jerk reaction, I swung around and fired my weapon.”
“Oh God. Max, that’s not your fault. You were just doing your job,” Liz reasoned.
“My job? My job was not to kill a fucking child Liz!” Max yelled.
Liz’s eyes widened not in fear, but in shock of seeing the amount of guilt and shame in her husband’s expressive eyes.
“I’m sorry baby. I’m just. It is my fault. I was trained. I didn’t even check to see if he actually had a weapon, I just fired,” Max said.
“But did he have a gun?” Liz asked.
Max nodded in the affirmative.
“Then you were protecting yourself. It was self-defensive, “Liz argued.
“That’s what the review board said. But I know I could have fired a warning shot in the air, I could have shot him in the leg. Something. Not fire three rounds into a fourteen year old boy’s body,” Max choked out.
Liz just held her husband while he cried.
“Is this why Sean is after you...us?” Liz asked.
Max nodded. “He’s not just after us because of Jordan. He holds me responsible for Kyle as well.”
Liz swallowed hard before asking what happened to Kyle.
“After...after I shot Jordan, Kyle went into a fit of rage. He was screaming, cursing, just in complete shock, as was I. He pulled his gun on me, aimed it and was ready to fire, when another officer took him down,” Max said.
“But that wasn’t your fault either. You didn’t shoot Kyle Danes. Someone else did,” Liz said.
“I know, but Sean holds me responsible. I know it. In his eyes, If I didn’t exist, Jordan and Kyle would have ran off without being caught,” Max said.
“Was Jordan involved with Kyle’s business?” Liz asked.
“I don’t know. He had no record. Nothing. My guess he was just some young kid wanting to be like his brother. We questioned Sean in any involvement, but he had none. And I believed it. I still do. He wasn’t in his brother’s business,” Max answered.
“No, he’s in something a whole lot worse now! He’s fucking killing people off one by one over some sick game of revenge,” Liz spat out trembling with anger and fear.
“Shhhh, baby I promise it will be okay. He won’t win his game,” Max said holding his wife.
Smoothing back her hair, he stared into her doe eyes.
“I promise I’ll end this. It’s my fault it began,” Max said with guilt and determination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max opened his eyes when he smelled the scent of fresh coffee filling his nostrils.
He saw Liz sitting beside him on the bed smiling and holding a cup of coffee.
“Good morning baby, “she said before leaning down and giving him a kiss on the lips. Leaning back she handed him the cup of coffee.
Max smiled at his wife before taking a drink of his coffee.
“Good?” Liz asked.
Max nodded. “Thanks sweetie.”
“So, how are you feeling?” she asked.
Max gave a tiny smile. “I should be asking you that question.”
Liz rolled her eyes in an attempt to lighten the mood. “I’m fine, a little sore. But fine,” she answered.
When she saw Max’s concerned eyes and his mouth about to open up and protest her answer she stopped him with a stern, “I’m fine Max.”
“Okay,” Max said.
“Now how about you?” Liz asked.
“Tired. Angry. Every emotion you can think of,” he answered.
“Where are the kids?” Max asked.
“Eating breakfast with Maria and Michael in the kitchen,” Liz answered. “Are you hungry?”
Max shook his head no.
Liz began biting her lip in a nervous manner.
Max smiled at the familiar gesture. “What is it Liz?” he asked knowingly.
“I just.....How come you never told me about this Max? I mean I know you used to hardly ever talk about work, wanting to keep me from it. But how come you never told me?” Liz asked.
“Baby, I just.....I didn’t want you hear things happening like that. I didn’t want you to know that part of me,” Max explained.
“Max, I love you. Every part of you is amazing and admirable. You were doing your job. I know you won’t listen to me. But I want you to know that I don’t hold you at fault. Yes, it’s sad and awful that a young boy died, but if anyone is at fault it’s Kyle Danes for putting his brother and himself in that position. It’s Kyle’s fault that his brother’s a killer now. Kyle’s actions lead to events that made his only other family a murderer. Not you. Understand?” Liz asked.
“Yes. I love you so much,” he whispered.
“And I love you. Every part of you,” Liz whispered back.
Max sat his coffee down and held out his hand for his wife. He pulling Liz down beside him and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
“I think you should leave Anaheim. It’s not safe for you and the kids here,” Max said breaking the silence.
“What?” Liz asked shocked.
“It’s not safe Liz. You can go somewhere else. Michael and Maria should go with you. Michael can keep you safe,” Max said.
“What? No, Max. I won’t go anywhere without you,” Liz argued.
“I need to stay and end this. You aren’t safe here...around me,” Max said sadly.
“Max, stop it. Fucking stop it. You are the only one I’m safe around. If you stay. We stay. If you will go with us, then we’ll go. But we will not separate. Not for anything,” Liz said vehemently.
Max started, “But Liz-
He was cut off by Michael barging into the guest bedroom.
Seeing the look on his friend’s face Michael feared the worst.
And he got it.
“Jesse’s killed himself.”
TBC
Cherie
Vicki LVCM
taressa05
Jason's Lover
Dreamer 4 Ever
...and to any lurkers out there! Here's the next chapter..I hope everyone enjoys it.
Previously in Chapter 20......
Whispering back he answered, “The case was about Kyle Danes. It was my big break. My lucky number ten. It wasn’t so lucky for Kyle Danes though.”
Max felt Liz’s hot breath on his ear when she whispered quietly a question he wasn’t sure if he wanted to answer.
“Max, honey, what did you do?”
Chapter 21
Max closed his eyes in painful remembrance at his wife’s whispered words.
“Max?” Liz questioned softly.
Opening his eyes at the sound of Liz’s voice, he sat still, staring into her eyes.
“I killed a fourteen year old boy,” Max answered in a voice laced with pain.
Liz’s eyes widened in absolute shock.
“W-What?” Liz asked dumbfounded at her husband’s revelation.
Swallowing past the lump in his throat and blinking back tears he answered, “Jordan Danes. Fourteen years old. Younger brother of both Kyle and Sean Danes.”
Grabbing Max’s hand, Liz pulled him down on her hospital bed and wrapped her arms tightly around him whispering words of comfort.
“Tell me all of it Max,” Liz demanded softly.
Clearing his throat, Max said, “I should first explain who Kyle Danes was. He was one of the station’s most wanted men. He was wanted in connected with three homicides and drug trafficking. He was arrested so many times and was always released on some damn technicality. Blood money can buy you great lawyers apparently. That same day, some kids had overdosed on his shit. We were looking for him. But he was a hard man to find. No one would talk. Not even a clue to his whereabouts. Not until that night, while we were at the pub. A call came in reporting that Kyle Danes whereabouts had been discovered and confirmed. All available units were to report to the scene. The scene happened to be only a few blocks away from the pub we were at.”
Max paused and took a deep breath, preparing himself for the memories he knew would surface.
“What happened then?” Liz asked.
“I remember thinking I was so excited. I couldn’t believe it. I was going to get my break. Well we arrived at the scene and some units and a news station were already there. The bastards had a police scanner and just showed up, blowing the whole arrest. We were running towards the building, passing the news camera. On our way by them, they asked what was happening. In my cocky, excited youthful manner, I answered that my lucky number ten was happening,” Max choked out.
Liz closed her eyes at his last words.
Blowing out a deep breath, Max spoke, “We raided the building. No one in sight. I saw a window open, and not thinking about calling for backup, I went out it and down the fire escape into the dark alley behind the building. There I saw Kyle Danes. With my gun pointed at him, I told him not to move. I remember being filled with such nervous excitement I thought I was going to burst. But then I heard the distinct sound of a gun being cocked. The click resounded behind me and on a knee-jerk reaction, I swung around and fired my weapon.”
“Oh God. Max, that’s not your fault. You were just doing your job,” Liz reasoned.
“My job? My job was not to kill a fucking child Liz!” Max yelled.
Liz’s eyes widened not in fear, but in shock of seeing the amount of guilt and shame in her husband’s expressive eyes.
“I’m sorry baby. I’m just. It is my fault. I was trained. I didn’t even check to see if he actually had a weapon, I just fired,” Max said.
“But did he have a gun?” Liz asked.
Max nodded in the affirmative.
“Then you were protecting yourself. It was self-defensive, “Liz argued.
“That’s what the review board said. But I know I could have fired a warning shot in the air, I could have shot him in the leg. Something. Not fire three rounds into a fourteen year old boy’s body,” Max choked out.
Liz just held her husband while he cried.
“Is this why Sean is after you...us?” Liz asked.
Max nodded. “He’s not just after us because of Jordan. He holds me responsible for Kyle as well.”
Liz swallowed hard before asking what happened to Kyle.
“After...after I shot Jordan, Kyle went into a fit of rage. He was screaming, cursing, just in complete shock, as was I. He pulled his gun on me, aimed it and was ready to fire, when another officer took him down,” Max said.
“But that wasn’t your fault either. You didn’t shoot Kyle Danes. Someone else did,” Liz said.
“I know, but Sean holds me responsible. I know it. In his eyes, If I didn’t exist, Jordan and Kyle would have ran off without being caught,” Max said.
“Was Jordan involved with Kyle’s business?” Liz asked.
“I don’t know. He had no record. Nothing. My guess he was just some young kid wanting to be like his brother. We questioned Sean in any involvement, but he had none. And I believed it. I still do. He wasn’t in his brother’s business,” Max answered.
“No, he’s in something a whole lot worse now! He’s fucking killing people off one by one over some sick game of revenge,” Liz spat out trembling with anger and fear.
“Shhhh, baby I promise it will be okay. He won’t win his game,” Max said holding his wife.
Smoothing back her hair, he stared into her doe eyes.
“I promise I’ll end this. It’s my fault it began,” Max said with guilt and determination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max opened his eyes when he smelled the scent of fresh coffee filling his nostrils.
He saw Liz sitting beside him on the bed smiling and holding a cup of coffee.
“Good morning baby, “she said before leaning down and giving him a kiss on the lips. Leaning back she handed him the cup of coffee.
Max smiled at his wife before taking a drink of his coffee.
“Good?” Liz asked.
Max nodded. “Thanks sweetie.”
“So, how are you feeling?” she asked.
Max gave a tiny smile. “I should be asking you that question.”
Liz rolled her eyes in an attempt to lighten the mood. “I’m fine, a little sore. But fine,” she answered.
When she saw Max’s concerned eyes and his mouth about to open up and protest her answer she stopped him with a stern, “I’m fine Max.”
“Okay,” Max said.
“Now how about you?” Liz asked.
“Tired. Angry. Every emotion you can think of,” he answered.
“Where are the kids?” Max asked.
“Eating breakfast with Maria and Michael in the kitchen,” Liz answered. “Are you hungry?”
Max shook his head no.
Liz began biting her lip in a nervous manner.
Max smiled at the familiar gesture. “What is it Liz?” he asked knowingly.
“I just.....How come you never told me about this Max? I mean I know you used to hardly ever talk about work, wanting to keep me from it. But how come you never told me?” Liz asked.
“Baby, I just.....I didn’t want you hear things happening like that. I didn’t want you to know that part of me,” Max explained.
“Max, I love you. Every part of you is amazing and admirable. You were doing your job. I know you won’t listen to me. But I want you to know that I don’t hold you at fault. Yes, it’s sad and awful that a young boy died, but if anyone is at fault it’s Kyle Danes for putting his brother and himself in that position. It’s Kyle’s fault that his brother’s a killer now. Kyle’s actions lead to events that made his only other family a murderer. Not you. Understand?” Liz asked.
“Yes. I love you so much,” he whispered.
“And I love you. Every part of you,” Liz whispered back.
Max sat his coffee down and held out his hand for his wife. He pulling Liz down beside him and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
“I think you should leave Anaheim. It’s not safe for you and the kids here,” Max said breaking the silence.
“What?” Liz asked shocked.
“It’s not safe Liz. You can go somewhere else. Michael and Maria should go with you. Michael can keep you safe,” Max said.
“What? No, Max. I won’t go anywhere without you,” Liz argued.
“I need to stay and end this. You aren’t safe here...around me,” Max said sadly.
“Max, stop it. Fucking stop it. You are the only one I’m safe around. If you stay. We stay. If you will go with us, then we’ll go. But we will not separate. Not for anything,” Liz said vehemently.
Max started, “But Liz-
He was cut off by Michael barging into the guest bedroom.
Seeing the look on his friend’s face Michael feared the worst.
And he got it.
“Jesse’s killed himself.”
TBC
-
MilesToGo99
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:26 am
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey everyone. I do apologize for not updating in so long, most of you have probably forgotten about it. I honestly have as well. One of my best friends has been suffering from bipolar disorder for a decade and in the end of August she took her own life. So between that and school and a new job, I just haven't had the time or desire to start writing a new part. But everything is getting better and I do promise you I will finish this. I just can't say when new part will be posted. Hopefully by the beginning of November. So again, I am sorry for leaving everyone hanging and I promise to finish this for those who are still reading.
Thanks so much,
Mandy
Hey everyone. I do apologize for not updating in so long, most of you have probably forgotten about it. I honestly have as well. One of my best friends has been suffering from bipolar disorder for a decade and in the end of August she took her own life. So between that and school and a new job, I just haven't had the time or desire to start writing a new part. But everything is getting better and I do promise you I will finish this. I just can't say when new part will be posted. Hopefully by the beginning of November. So again, I am sorry for leaving everyone hanging and I promise to finish this for those who are still reading.
Thanks so much,
Mandy