" I think Im your daughter." The woman nodded. "Come in. Were going to need to talk." Max

remembered Logan. "Um, I left my friend in the car." "Well bring him in before the next Ice Age." Max

went back to the car. "She looks like you." Logan said. Max just nodded, dazedly. He wheeled himself

up the path, then spotted a problem. The door stoop had stairs. "Max? Can you give me hand here?"

he mumbled, embarrassed. Max just gripped both sides of the wheelchair. "Hold on." She lifted the

whole thing up the stairs and through the door. If she hadnt turned her head at that moment, Max

would have missed the look of horror and recognition the flickered across the womans face. Would

she know what I am, if she is my mother? What they did to us? Max wondered .

Just then a young girl who could have been a five-year-old Max dashed into the hall. "Mommy, Cole

wont let me use the paints!" The woman sighed. "Tell him I said he has to share. And play in the yard

for a while, Mommy had some guests, okay?" The kid nodded, then ran off. She turned back to them.

"Now, lets talk."

Logan set a tape recorder on the table. "Is your name Madrigal Lillian Guevara?" "Yes."

"Tell us everything you know." She glanced at him. "Do you really need to tape this?" Logan nodded.

"Sorry, but Ill have to check your story." She took a deep breath. "Alright. In 1999, I was twenty. I

got pregnant-" she looked at Max. "But I dont know how. I wasnt seeing anyone, the police said it

was this psycho who was injecting women. I think 12 or so. They had a profile, but they never caught

him. I couldnt go to my family, so I just ran off from college in the middle of the night." She looked

around wistfully. "I was on a scholarship. I went to this clinic. They said the guy might still be after me,

said I should go to this victims place in Wyoming." She was crying now, and said pleadingly to Max. "I

didnt know. The doctors there said they needed to correct something with my baby, a genetic thing

with gene therapy. Something-or-others syndrome. They treated me like I was an experiment-" Max

took in a audiable breath. "- but, I just thought it was doctors. One of the dieticians was nice. She used

to sneak me and the other girls in Snickers Bars™ and cookies. I only saw the other girls when

they got taken away to be induced. I got suspicious after they wanted to add cat genes to the pills.

They just strapped me down and did surgurey instead. I tried to break out, but I was in my third

trimester, and couldnt run too fast. They induced labor that night. I just got one look at my baby

before I went out cold from drugs. All I heard them say was it was a girl."

Max was walking around the house while Logan finished the interview. The house was crammed with

couches, tables, books, kids toys and artwork. A half-finished quilt being made out of t-shirts was on

a table in the living room. Who are these kids and why are they calling me Mom? read one. "Boo!"

Max almost jumped. "You surprised me." She told the young girl. "Nothing prises me!" the little girl

cocked her head at Max. " Whore you and the guy with glasses? Im Madrienne. But you can call me

Madri." Max smiled. "Im Max. The guy with glasses is Logan." "Wanna see the upstairs?" Max

nodded. "Follow me." Madri swung open a clock to reveal a staircase. "My mommy says this used to

be a secret, but she opened it up and put in the bathroom and me n Coles room." Max followed

Madri up the steep stairs. "Thats Mommys room," she pointed to a closed door on the left. "Heres

mine." The room was small, painted blue with bookcases, a desk, and bunkbeds with an 8-or-so boy

sitting on the top one. "Madri! Dont you ever kock?" he said furiosly. "s my room too, Mole. This is

Max." The boy studied her for a moment. "Sorry, Im Cole. Madris a pain sometimes." "Am NOT!"

Why did she have other kids? Max wondered increduosly If she even had a genetically engineered

one in the first place. Max tried to ignored the tightening feeling in her stomach. "Madri, Max, Cole!

Get down here ! Dinner!"

Logan was already at the table when they got down. Max sat between him and Madri. Cole and

Madrigal occupied the other side. "Its homemade macaroni and cheese. Madri, I see that, put the

broccoli back on your plate." She did so with a sulk, and Logan was unsuccessfully biting back a smile.

"So, where are you two living? What do you you do for a living? I told you, you tell me." Madrigal

asked. "Seattle." Max responded. "Im a bike messenger, Logans a-" "Private dectective." He

interrupted firmly. Then its way too late for you to drive back. Checkpoints would be suspicious, too.

Max, you can stay in the extra cot in my room, sorry Logan, you get the couch. How did you two

meet?" Madrigal asked. Logan went beet red and Max grinned. "Um, Ms. Guevara-" "Call me

Madrigal." she snapped. "Ms- Madrigal, Max and I arent" "I meant, is how did you get to be

working together? Shame though, youd be something together." Cole smirked empathicly at a Logan.

Shes like that with everybody, his look read. "Oh, Logan had a piece of art I was looking at. He

talked me into helping with some research." Max put in smoothly. "Do you comb your hair straight up?"

Madri asked Logan. "Madri!" her mother interjected, but Logan laughed. "No, actually I just never

comb it at all." He informed her.

Once Cole and Madri had been sent to bed, Madrigals voice dropped to a whisper. "How long will it

take to find out?" "My friend should have results within the next day." Max looked at Logan

sorrowfully. I waited eighteen years, she thought, but I dont know if Ill last one more.

Well, didja like it? Puh-leeze review, my writing thrives on feedback, good or bad. I know this one

was boring, but waitll the next :~)

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