Sighing, Maria remained in her seat after the bell rang to signal the end of class. She was in no hurry to go to History today. It had been hard enough facing Michael in English this morning, and he hadn't even looked at her. She didn't know if she could handle his closed-off, emotionless demeanor again, not after everything they'd been through on Saturday night.
After he'd left the Evanses' house, the five of them had sat, silent, each enmeshed in thought. Finally, Isabel had shepherded them all to bed, but Maria had slept fitfully for the short time that she was actually able to rest. It was only due to her physical and emotional exhaustion that she was able to get as much sleep as she did. Sunday night hadn't been much better, but at least she had been in the familiar comfort of her own room.
Although Liz had tried to cheer her during their mutual shift at the Crashdown on Sunday afternoon, she hadn't really known what to say. Nor had Maria, who got through the day pretty much on auto-pilot, smiling mechanically at the customers and trying to avoid thinking about anything, much less feeling.
She'd wakened on Monday morning with the same listless feeling and was immediately sent back to bed by a concerned Amy. A day of lying in bed staring at the ceiling hadn't helped much, and her mom had looked troubled as she'd given her daughter a tight hug before Maria left for school this morning. Maria held on to that hug as best she could during the day, but its simple comfort had long since faded.
As students began to enter the room for the next class, Maria reluctantly gathered her possessions. In the hall, she briefly considered bailing on History, but knew that the ramifications of cutting class could have a bad effect not only on her grade but also on what little free time she had. Her mother would certainly not be too happy to deal with a truant daughter, and Maria didn't feel up to the parental 'discussion' that would ensue if Amy found out.
She made it to class just before the bell rang, and Mrs. Lyons watched her as she made her morose way to her desk and sat down. Carefully not looking in Michael's direction, she opened her notebook and stared numbly down at it.
Mrs. Lyons broke through Maria's distraction a few minutes later. "Maria?" she heard, and looked up to realize that all the eyes in the room--save one pair--were plastered on her. A titter arose from behind her, and she frantically tried to recall what the teacher had just said.
"Perhaps if you paid attention, you would be able to add something to our discussion," Mrs. Lyons said sternly. Maria colored and nodded. Trying to focus on the remainder of the lecture, she didn't notice Michael giving her a very speculative--although somewhat distracted--look. The rest of the class period passed much more quickly, and Maria was able to at least give the pretense that she was following Mrs. Lyons's every word.
Heading to her locker after class, she found Alex waiting for her. "Hi, Alex," she said in a wan tone, giving him an emotional smile. "What's up?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Alex returned steadily. "You weren't in school yesterday, and you wouldn't answer the phone. Your mom told Liz you weren't feeling well." He looked at her in concern. "You holding up okay?"
She shook her head numbly. "Not really. But I don't have much choice, do I? I have to get on with my life, just like everything was fine. Or normal. Or something."
Alex studied her for a moment, then asked, "So in this so-called normal life of yours, are you working tonight?"
"Yeah. I get to deal with all the worn-out trick-or-treaters," she said without enthusiasm. "Just another incredibly stimulating evening in Roswell, New Mexico. Happy, happy Halloween."
"Actually, I was thinking about heading over to the Crashdown this evening myself," Alex commented. "My mom's decided to go all out for Halloween this year, and I don't think I can deal with seeing her hand out candy dressed as a French maid."
The corners of Maria's mouth lifted fractionally. "You're kidding."
"Nope."
"That's actually kind of frightening."
Alex nodded ruefully before continuing, "So I'll see you tonight, okay?"
Maria paused, then said carefully, "Are you sure avoiding trick-or-treaters is your only reason for hanging at the Crashdown?"
"I don't know what you mean," he said, an innocent look on his face. She wasn't buying it.
Eyeing him with suspicion, she said, "So you're back on stalking duty? I thought that the forty-eight hours with no baby-sitter and no Michael lurking in the vicinity was too good to be true."
He pounced on her offhand comment. "What do you mean, no Michael?"
"I mean that the past two days were the first in weeks that I haven't constantly either seen you or felt him around. I figured you were backing off." He looked troubled by this. "Why? Wasn't that the plan?"
He swallowed. "I don't think so."
"Look, Alex, I know you promised not to tell me what you two are up to, and Michael's certainly not talking. But I'm not going to blindly sit back and act like I don't know you guys are there, either. You're a little too obvious. Well," she mused, "Michael wouldn't be, if I couldn't sense him. He's actually pretty good at lurking." She looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. "A really useful talent there. Anyway, if it's so important that I have a baby-sitter around, why the sudden change of heart? I was home all day yesterday, while you were both in school, and I didn't--"
He interrupted her. "We weren't both in school. I mean, I was, but Michael wasn't. I figured he was lurking over at your place."
"I don't think so. I would've felt it," she answered slowly. "No Michael vibe."
"That's...odd," he said. Well, he wasn't going to give up the watch, especially if Michael was slacking off. After all, it was the boneheaded alien's idea in the first place. It looked like he needed to have a chat with the elusive Mr. Guerin. "I'll go to the Crashdown with you now," he decided. "You driving?"
She shook her head. "Mom needed the car again."
"Okay, we'll walk. Let me run by my locker and we'll head out," he suggested, and then paused as he caught sight of a tall blonde moving down the hallway. "On second thought, wait right here," he ordered, and moved to intercept Isabel before she got too near. Maria bit down her protest at his abrupt command, and watched curiously as Alex spoke with Isabel. They were just far enough away that she couldn't overhear their conversation.
"Isabel. What are you doing this afternoon?" demanded Alex unceremoniously.
"Hello to you too, Alex."
"Sorry," he threw back, then repeated, "What are you doing this afternoon?"
"I was going to the library to do some research for my term paper, then home to help Mom get ready for the trick-or-treaters. She's really into it this year."
"She's not by any chance dressing up like a French maid, is she?" he asked, momentarily distracted.
"What?"
"Never mind. Anyway, I need you to do me a favor."
She didn't hesitate. "Of course. What?"
"I need you to go with Maria to the Crashdown and stay with her until I get there."
"Okay," she responded immediately, but added, "Why? What's going on?"
"I can't tell you that," he admitted.
"Is this back to your promise to Michael?" she demanded. At his hesitant shrug, she threw up her hands and burst out, "I swear that if he were himself, I would kill him." Alex didn't respond and she went on, "I know, I know. Fine, I'll take Maria and stay with her, and I won't ask any more questions. For now, at least. But we all need to talk, and soon."
Alex nodded. "You're right, we do." They began to move towards Maria, who was leaning against her locker, waiting impatiently. As a sudden afterthought, Alex added, "And Isabel? Keep your eyes peeled, okay?"
"Why? What am I watching for?" the tall blonde asked curiously.
"I don't really know," he admitted. "Just anything...unusual."
She studied him for a moment, but seemed to find an answer of some sort in his face. "Okay," she answered with a nod.
"Thanks," he said gratefully.
Smiling, she quoted his response from the night of the first dreamwalk into Michael-land. "Any time, Alex. Any time."
Fidgeting nervously, Maria watched them approach. As they neared, she looked up at one and then the other. Alex smiled gently down at her.
"You're in luck," he said with a grin. "Isabel's got the Jeep, and she'll drive you to work."
Maria looked at him, suspicion on her face. "And I suppose she's the stalker of the day? The dynamic duo is now a trio?" she said tiredly.
"I'm just in the mood for something fattening. With lots of Tabasco sauce," put in Isabel cheerily.
"You can't fool me," Maria shot back. "You've been roped into baby-sitting detail for some reason that only Michael knows." With a sigh, she pushed herself away from her locker. "Okay. Let's go."
Alex watched them leave and then set off purposefully in the other direction. Now to find Michael, and determine just why he'd seemingly given up on his own plan to protect Maria.
* * * * *
Four and a half hours later, Alex entered the Crashdown, which was still busy with the dinner rush. Isabel was sitting by herself in a booth, calm in the midst of chaos, gracefully flipping through the pages of a fashion magazine. "About time you got here," she commented. "I've read this thing three times."
"I might as well have been here instead," Alex answered grumpily. "I didn't accomplish anything." He slid into the booth, sitting opposite her.
Isabel watched him curiously. "What were you trying to do?" she asked.
"Talk to Michael. But I couldn't find him."
Isabel looked concerned. "He's been impossible to track down since Saturday night, and believe me, Max and I have tried. He wasn't in school at all yesterday, and he didn't answer the phone."
"He was back today."
Frowning, Isabel corrected him. "He may have been there in body, but he wasn't in mind. He was...distant. Even more than he's been since the...split. It was as if he were paying attention to something nobody else could see. I'm worried about him."
Alex leaned on the table and stared down, lost in thought. Eventually, Isabel broke in and changed the subject. "Well, it seems like my evening was as much a waste as yours." She gestured over to where Maria was serving a tray of burgers to a famished-looking group of teenagers. "I watched her, but nothing unusual happened."
"That's good," said Alex, forcing a smile into his voice.
"Well, now you're here, I guess I'll head home," Isabel decided. "Maybe I can still help my mom with some late trick-or-treaters."
Alex felt a twinge of guilt. "Sorry I made you miss it."
"It's okay, Alex. Mom will understand. She always does." Smiling, she slid out of the booth. "You get back to watching Maria. Max and I will concentrate on talking to Michael. We'll get through to him somehow."
Alex wanted to believe her, but had doubts. "What if you can't?" he asked softly.
The smile slid off her face as a serious look appeared in her eyes. "We have to. Things can't go on like this." Reaching into her bag, she fished out her wallet.
"Let me get that," he offered. "After all, you did me a favor."
She didn't quibble. "Thanks, Alex."
He watched her go, then turned his attention toward the small blonde waitress who was ringing up some departing customers. She looked strained. Sure, she smiled cheerfully at the couple as they paid their bill, but he knew her too well to accept that she really felt that happy. She was just getting to be an excellent actress, that was all.
Heading over to the booth, Maria quipped, "I see the second shift is on. Can I get you anything?"
"A root beer and a burger would be great," he answered, not bothering with a menu. He studied her carefully. Her eyes looked lost, but her face displayed a cheerful demeanor that was quite at odds with what he knew she was feeling. She bore up under his probing gaze for a moment, then snapped, "What? I'm fine."
"Okay. You're fine, nothing's wrong in the world, and I'm just here for a bite to eat. No problem."
She flushed. "Look, I...I'll just go get your root beer, okay? You can worry about me later." Turning abruptly, she headed for the counter before he could speak up. Alex tiredly rubbed the back of his neck. Surprise, surprise. This wasn't going to be easy.
* * * * *
Alex was still sitting in the booth as she finished closing up the restaurant. Agnes had been scheduled, but had left early, leaving Maria to clean up by herself, and she'd stubbornly refused Alex's offer of help. She wanted to keep busy for as long as possible, in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid all thought processes.
Yawning, she finished sweeping up and put the broom and dustpan away. It was just like Alex to wait for her, so he could make sure she got home okay. She suspected that he would have even if he hadn't been on stalker detail. She smiled and called out, "I've just got to change, and we can go, all right?"
An affirmative grunt accompanied her into the back room. Untying her silver apron, she headed over to her locker, only to stop abruptly at the sight of the alien lying on the couch. The small, green, stuffed alien doll, that is. Its head had been ripped off and a folded piece of notebook paper was speared to its small chest with an open safety pin. With her hands trembling, Maria freed the note and unfolded it. The printing on it scrawled violently across the page. GUESS WHO'S NEXT? it asked.
In a shaky voice, Maria called out softly. "Alex?"
"Yeah?" came the response.
Her voice continued to tremble. "Could you come here? Please?"
Instantly he was through the door and by her side. "What is it?"
"Look," she faltered, pointing to the decapitated doll and handing him the paper. "It's another note. Only this time there's more to it."
He read the message and looked at the stuffed toy. "This is getting serious, Maria."
"I know. And it's not just pointed at me any more. It's an alien, Alex. Someone knows about Michael, Max, or Isabel. Or all three of them," she stated in a frightened voice. "Liz should be upstairs. I'll get her; you call the other three. We need to talk."
CHAPTER 26
Darting up the steps to the Parkers' home, Maria felt a thousand questions race through her mind. She impatiently shook them off and tapped on the apartment door before poking her head inside.
"Hello, Maria," called Nancy Parker as she entered from the kitchen. "Everything all right?"
"What? Oh, yeah, it's fine. We're all locked up for the night," Maria blurted quickly. "Ummm...is Liz home?"
"She's in her room," Nancy answered. Watching as the girl hesitated for a moment, she continued, "Since when have you stood on ceremony here, Maria? Go on back."
"Alex is downstairs. We just...we wanted to talk to Liz about a school project." Well, she'd found the first two notes at school, so that wasn't completely untrue, was it?
"I'll send him on in when he comes up," Liz's mother offered. "You go ahead."
"Thanks, Mrs. Parker," Maria said, pasting a smile on her face before heading down the hall to Liz's room. The door was open and she walked right in. Liz was sitting on her bed, a book in her hands. "Liz, we need to talk."
Setting the book down, Liz answered, "What's going on?"
"I don't mean you and me," Maria explained quickly. "I mean all of us. All six of us. Alex is downstairs calling the others."
"What happened?"
"We've got a problem. I found another note. And it's not just me they're after any more."
* * * * *
Max listened impatiently as the phone on the other end rang for the fourth time. Finally, he heard a click, and Michael's answering machine began to play. The recording was short and to the point: "Leave a message." If Max hadn't been so concerned, the message would have amused him like it usually did. It was quintessential Michael, wasting no time on trivialities. But this was not a usual situation, and Max was worried.
He spoke into the phone. "If you're there, pick up, Michael. We need to talk." There was silence on the other end of the line, and he went on, "You made a promise, Michael. You promised that if I helped you with the dreamwalk, we would talk. And you've been avoiding me ever since. The time is now, Michael. Either pick up or I'll come over there and dog you until you come through. You're not sliding out of this one."
Another moment or two of silence, and then he heard a soft click as the phone on the other end was picked up. "Now's not a good time," a gruff voice on the other end said.
Max sighed, exasperated. "It's never a good time, is it, Michael? Look, we can't wait any longer. Either come over here or I'll come over there, but either way, we need to--"
A flustered Isabel burst into his room, interrupting his diatribe. Clutching her cell phone in her hand, she spoke urgently. "We need to get to the Crashdown right away. Something's wrong."
Max's heart took a giant leap into his stomach. "Liz?" he exclaimed in panic.
"No, she's fine. So are Maria and Alex. But there's a big problem. We need to get over there, now." She noticed the phone in his hand. "Is that Michael?" she guessed.
"Yeah. I finally got through," her brother answered.
"Good, he needs to come, too. Tell him," she ordered, and then lifted the cell phone to her ear. "Alex? You still there? Max and I are coming, and Max is on the phone with Michael, so he'll tell him about it, too. We'll be there as soon as we can."
"Change in plans," Max said to Michael. "Meet us at the Crashdown. We've got a problem."
The response was terse. "I can't."
Finally losing his temper, Max shouted into the phone, "You can and you will. If your friendship with Liz and Alex, if your relationship with Maria, if Isabel and I have ever meant anything at all to you, you'll be there. Ten minutes, Michael." Hanging up the phone, he grabbed his shoes and spoke to a startled Isabel. "Come on."
* * * * *
Maria sat on the edge of Liz's balcony, watching the other four as they tensely conversed. "He's not coming," she murmured numbly. "We might as well get started."
"He'll be here," Max insisted. "He won't let us down."
Isabel put her hand on his shoulder. "You told him ten minutes, Max. It's been forty."
"Something held him up, but he'll be here," her brother repeated.
"We don't have a lot of time," Alex pointed out. "Mrs. Parker thinks Maria, Liz and I are up here talking about a school project, but it's getting late. She'll come kick us out soon. We can't afford not to talk about this, so let's get started. If Michael--" Max flashed him a fierce look. "When Michael gets here, we'll catch him up. All right?"
The other four agreed, although Max was somewhat hesitant. Biting her lip, Maria began.
"For the past few weeks, I've been getting these...weird notes. Liz knows about it, and I just told Alex the other day, but I didn't want to bother you guys with it. I thought...well, I hoped that it was nothing. And then I fell down the stairs, and I thought maybe somebody had pushed me--"
"What?" interrupted Isabel with a gasp.
"I'm fine, Max healed me, there was no proof of foul play, we got over it," Maria explained. She turned to Max. "Or so I thought, anyway. That's when Liz told you that Michael and I were...well, that I was ignoring his existence."
Isabel let out a disbelieving laugh and Alex nodded knowingly. "I had the same reaction, Isabel."
"Anyway," Maria continued, pointedly ignoring Alex's comment, "I thought someone was playing practical jokes on me or something, and that one just got out of hand. But today something happened that made me question what was really going on." She swallowed. "I guess it's better if you see for yourself."
"What?" asked a worried Liz.
"It's in the break room. Max, Isabel, why don't you go back down the fire escape and we'll let you in downstairs, okay?"
The two aliens quickly clambered down the ladder, while the three humans took the more traditional route back through the apartment. As they passed through the Parkers' living room, Liz told her mother, "I'm just going to walk Maria and Alex out, Mom."
"It's rather late," Nancy pointed out. "Do you two have a ride home?"
Alex and Maria exchanged a glance; he spoke. "Sure, Mrs. Parker. Actually, some friends are stopping by to pick us up."
"Good night, then," she said with a smile.
Heading downstairs, they let Isabel and Max in through the back door, and Maria led them all to the couch where the alien doll was still lying in pieces. "After we closed up, I found that." She showed the two aliens and Liz the note, which she'd held tightly ever since she'd first read it. Worried glances were exchanged all around.
"What do you think it means?" Liz asked no one in particular.
Maria answered. "Someone knows about you guys," she told the two aliens. "Or about Michael. This is a definite threat."
Isabel tried to brush her concerns away. "It could be just a Halloween prank," she ventured halfheartedly, but then shook her head. "Okay, I know it's not."
Liz studied the toy for a moment, and then asked, "Maria, why do you think this is a threat to Max, Isabel and Michael?"
"Ummm, look at it. It's an alien, Liz."
"But the whole town is filled with alien souvenirs. For that matter, your mother makes dolls just like this one. I'm not trying to downplay this," Liz assured her friend. "This whole thing is pretty disturbing. I just don't want us jumping to conclusions without a little more information."
"You said you'd been getting notes, other than this one? What did they say? Maybe they'll give us a clue," suggested Max.
Moving to her locker, Maria pulled the other two notes from her bag and held them out to the others. "These are the other notes I got. I found the sketch in my locker at school and the other one on my car."
"You won't get away with it," Isabel read aloud. "Get away with what?"
"I don't know for sure," the smaller girl admitted. "But it was right after that very public fight with Michael, and now with the alien...maybe it has something to do with him."
Isabel looked around the room, then voiced her thoughts. "Whoever it is must have been paying a lot of attention to Maria's comings and goings to be able to plant these notes without being seen. It's got to be someone nearby."
"Or someone with good equipment, like the FBI stuff we found in Michael's apartment," mused Alex. "Or hey, is invisibility a Czechoslovakian power?"
"No," answered Isabel shortly, then turned to Maria. "However they're doing it, they're really watching you."
"Okay, I already have one pair--excuse me, make that trio--of stalkers already, just among my friends," Maria pointed out. "I do so not need another one." Liz and Max exchanged confused looks, and Maria went on, "Didn't you know? This afternoon, Isabel was added to the Maria-watching detail."
Max looked at his sister, who shrugged nonchalantly. "What? Alex needed a favor, so I helped out."
"It's too bad Michael isn't here yet," Max mused. "Maybe he could get a vision from one of these notes, get a clue as to who sent them and what their intentions are."
Alex opened his mouth to speak, but closed it abruptly. He'd promised Michael not to tell Maria about the drawing and the alien's attempts to get visions from it, and now he was ruing that very same promise. But it had seemed like the thing to do at the time...
"If he can do it, maybe you can too," suggested Liz to the two aliens. "It's worth a shot, anyway."
They agreed, much to Alex's dismay. Each holding one of the notes, Max and Isabel closed their eyes, trying to summon up a vision that would give them some answers. Isabel's attempt met with no success, but after a moment, Max swayed on his feet and opened his eyes with a jerk. "Did you see something?" Liz asked.
"I think so," he answered, eyes opened wide in shock.
"What?"
He looked down at the sketch he was holding. "I saw who drew it. It was...it was Michael," he said reluctantly.
The three girls fixed their eyes on him. "What? How?" sputtered Isabel.
Maria shook her head, rejecting the idea. "No. You're wrong, Max. Michael wouldn't do this to me. You're wrong."
"I saw what I saw, Maria. I don't want to believe it either, but..." Max's voice trailed off.
"I don't care what you saw. I don't believe it!" she burst out.
Alex swallowed. He had warned Michael that his little replacement sketch was going to get him into trouble, but he'd never expected this. He could explain it so easily, but he'd made a promise. As it turned out, a colossally stupid one, but a promise nonetheless.
He had a sudden urge to go scour the streets until he found Michael and, super strength or no super strength, crack the infuriating alien a good one across the jaw. Of course, that wouldn't make Maria any more pleased with him than she already was. Or Isabel, come to think of it. And he doubted Liz would approve of the violence either. Oh well, for the sake of his own health it was just as well. But he was certainly going to try every verbal trick he could think of to secure Michael's permission to tell all. Just as soon as he saw him.
He suddenly realized that a heated debate was going on right in front of him.
"I think we have to at least consider the possibility, Maria, much as I don't want to," Max stated earnestly. "We all know he's not exactly himself. None of us can tell what's going on in his head. He might be worse off than we thought."
Isabel reluctantly added, "And Alex looked for him all afternoon, and couldn't find him. Maybe he was lurking around, waiting for an opportunity to leave you...well, the latest note."
"No, he wasn't. I would have felt it if he was nearby, and he wasn't. Just because I don't know where he was this afternoon doesn't mean that he's guilty of anything." Maria rushed on vehemently, "For that matter, I have no idea where Alex was all afternoon, or you, Max, or Liz. And Isabel could have sneaked into the back room while I was working. But that doesn't mean I'm going to go around suspecting any of you. You're not capable of this, and neither is Michael. It's...it's nasty."
Max was relieved to have an excuse to back down. He didn't want to believe it anyway. "Okay, so it's none of us. Maybe I was wrong, and didn't see what I thought I saw. I'm not all that experienced at this vision thing."
"So we rule out using visions as a clue, at least until Michael gets here and can try," Alex put in.
"I'm still not convinced it has something to do with the Czechoslovakian situation," said Liz. "If they're trying to get to you guys, why use Maria? Why not go directly to threatening you? I don't get it. It's too subtle."
"Unless they're specifically trying to get to Michael," Isabel said softly. "As much as he'd like us to think otherwise, she is--or was--his weak spot."
Alex frowned and asked, "Are they trying to get to Michael through Maria, or to Maria by using Michael? If she's his weak spot, he's certainly hers."
Maria shook her head, not really denying it. "But who would really know that? A few public arguments and one kiss in the school hallway last spring, that's all anyone would ever have seen. We weren't exactly a visible couple. He had a hard enough time acknowledging me in public as a friend, let alone a girlfriend. The only people who knew about us were you guys. Well, and my mom kind of suspected, I think."
"Finding him asleep in your bed was probably a pretty good indication," said Alex, straight-faced.
She glared at him. "You're not helping, Alex." A thought struck her. "And for some reason, I kind of think Mark could tell."
"Mark?" asked Isabel. "Mark Blumenthal?"
"Yeah. He made a comment or two at rehearsal last week that...well, let's just say that he seems to think that...he knows Michael and I have a past, I guess."
"What did he say?" asked Liz curiously.
"It doesn't matter. That was after I found the other two notes, anyway."
Alex tried to lighten the mood. "Was this before or after you laid one on him during rehearsal?" he asked innocently.
"Maria!" Liz gasped.
Blushing rosily, Maria looked defiantly around at her four friends. "Okay, so I used the show to try and make Michael jealous. So sue me." Her chin in the air, she continued, "Well, it must have worked, at least a little. At least Mark thought so." Alex's lips twitched with repressed humor, while Isabel and Max stared at her, eyebrows raised in a matching expression of disbelief. Liz just stood there, stunned. "Okay, so maybe it was a little too high school of me," Maria admitted, "but guess what? I am in high school! I'm allowed to do stupid things occasionally! Get over it!"
After a moment of silence, Max coughed and brought the subject back to the issue at hand. "I'm glad you told us about this," he told her, gesturing towards the notes. "I wish you hadn't waited so long."
"I didn't want to bother you with it. You would have told Michael, and I needed him to concentrate on fixing his own problems," she explained, then gave a small snort. "I mean, we're doing so well on that front...we didn't need anything else to worry about."
"So you just ignored the threat to you?" snapped Isabel. "Talk about doing stupid things, Maria! We are all friends here. If one of us has a problem, then all of us have a problem." Her voice calmed down somewhat. "Just let us know about things that happen, okay? No more secrets."
Maria smiled up at her. "No more secrets," she agreed. Without even discussing it, they both turned and looked pointedly at Alex.
"What?" he said defensively. Receiving knowing looks from the two blondes, he admitted, "Look, I want to tell you what's going on, but I've got to talk to Michael first. You wouldn't want me to betray your confidence, would you? So don't ask me to betray his." He paused. "Besides, what I know isn't really anything you can't figure out for yourself."
Maria pounced on this. "He's not just stalking me. He's guarding me, isn't he?" Alex looked back at her, not giving a clue one way or another. Knowing him so well, Maria took this as confirmation. "I knew it! But from what? Yeah, okay, he saw the sketch, but I convinced him it was just a joke, so why is he doing it? He has no idea about the other note, or tonight's decapitated alien, or the fact that I fell and broke my ankle--"
An extremely upset voice from behind them barked, "You what?" As one, they turned to see a white-faced Michael standing in the doorway.
CHAPTER 27
"Michael," breathed Maria. He'd come. She hadn't been sure he would, but she'd hoped. And he was here, so suddenly that she'd hardly had time to sense him before he spoke. He'd actually come. He...
...looked terrible. His eyes were dark pools in a washed-out face; his clothes were wrinkled; even his hair stuck out sloppily. In more directions than usual. Maria noted this in a flash, instantly forgetting the notes, the beheaded alien, everything except Michael. "Are you all right?" she asked tensely.
Ignoring her question, his eyes bored into hers. "You what?" he demanded, then looked away and visibly seemed to take control of himself. "You what?" he repeated, softer this time.
"I..." she began, only to stumble to a halt at the dead look in his eyes.
Alex sighed. This was evidently going to take some time. "We've got a lot to discuss. Why don't we sit down?" he suggested.
Nodding her thanks, Liz led the others into the Crashdown's dining room and summoned the energy to play hostess. "Let me take your coats," she said to the alien trio. Isabel handed hers over with a smile, with Max following suit. Liz turned to the newcomer, who was standing in the doorway leading back to the break room, his eyes fixed on Maria. "Michael?" she said, her hand out for his jacket.
He turned to her and mumbled, "I'll keep mine." Shoving his hands in his pockets, he ignored the odd look she gave him before she turned away to drape the Evanses' jackets neatly over the counter.
"Come sit down," ordered Maria, who had slid into the booth, beside Alex. Michael reluctantly approached, reaching an arm out to snag a chair and pull it over to the booth next to her. As Liz crossed to join them, he hesitated, then gave a little nod towards the empty chair, silently offering it to her.
"Thanks," she said. He didn't respond, only moved back to grab another chair and pull it over, setting it slightly apart from the others and then sitting. He looked up to find five pairs of eyes studying him. He ignored four of them.
"Tell me what happened to you," he said, scrutinizing her face.
"I will; that's why we're all here," Maria answered, "but first, please tell me you're all right."
Michael looked away and said in a toneless voice, "I'm fine."
"You are not!" she burst out. "You look horrible."
His mouth twisted and he replied coldly, "It's Halloween, isn't it? See my costume--I'm a human."
Not liking the direction this was taking, Max took charge. "Calm down," he commanded. "We have a lot to talk about, and everyone needs to act rationally here if we're going to accomplish anything." He looked around. "Any arguments?" No one spoke. "Okay, this is how it's going to play out. Michael, you will reassure Maria about your health, and she will tell you what's been going on. Then we will talk about your little stalking project. Anything else we need to discuss will come after that. Got it?" Again, no dissension, although Michael's jaw clenched. Max turned to his oldest friend. "She's right, Michael. You look like hell. Have you gotten any sleep since Saturday night?"
The answer was controlled. "No."
"Then after this, I'm taking you home so you can get some rest. If you can't fall asleep on your own, I can--"
"No. And I'm fine. Are you done now? Can we move on?," he said, meeting Maria's eyes once more.
Alex spoke up. "Hey, if you'd gotten here with the rest of them, you'd already know what's going on. The early bird gets the information, buddy. What kept you so long, anyway?"
The alien began to fold his arms over his chest, then stopped with a jerk and let them drop back down to rest at his sides. "Nothing." He turned to Max. "You said to come. I came. So get on with it. I don't have all night."
"Michael!" Isabel chided.
Maria, who'd been watching with narrowed eyes, interrupted. "No. He's right. Don't push him."
"I really don't think--"
"It's all right. He kept his end of the bargain--he says he's fine. So we need to keep ours. Go ahead and tell him, Max. We're not keeping secrets any more, remember?"
Max looked around at his sister and friends. Maria gave him a deliberate nod, and he began to tell Michael about the notes Maria had received. It didn't take very long, and throughout the telling, Michael, who was getting visibly more tense with each minute, kept his gaze fixed resolutely on Max. Maria kept hers on Michael.
"...and I tried to get a vision from it, but it didn't work very well," Max wound up.
"You mean, you saw something that couldn't have happened," Alex added.
Michael turned to the other alien. "Why? What did you see?"
Max looked ill at ease, and Alex spoke quickly, trying to send a signal to Michael. If he could just prod the taciturn alien enough to make him come clean about it..."He saw the artist, and guess who it was?"
"It doesn't matter," Max claimed. "It can't have been real, anyway."
"Why don't you try it, Michael?" suggested Liz. "You've had the best success at getting visions in the past. Or if you can't get something from the sketch, maybe you'll pick up something from one of the other notes. Anything to help us figure out who's sending them, and what they want."
"He can't," objected Maria. "No powers, remember?" She locked gazes with Michael, who shifted uncomfortably before tearing his eyes away from her.
Indignant, Isabel spoke. "That's not his fault, Maria."
"Oh, I know that. Don't go all mother bear on me, Isabel." Maria's tone was casual. "Michael can take care of himself. Heck, he's even taking care of me, isn't he?"
"Which would be easier to do if you had told us about this stuff sooner," Michael lectured tautly.
"What, you're complaining that I'm keeping things from you?" Maria cried incredulously. "This from Mr. 'I'm Going To Lurk In The Shadows And Not Tell Anybody What's Going On'?"
"You should have told Max and Isabel at least, even if you couldn't trust me."
Maria's jaw dropped in shock. "Couldn't trust you? Who said anything about not trusting you?"
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Liz interrupted. "Let's get back to the matter at hand, okay? Since what Max saw was wrong, and Isabel and Michael didn't have any luck, it looks like visions aren't the way to go. We could use another plan."
"We don't need it," said Michael abruptly. "I can tell you what Max saw, and it wasn't wrong. He saw me, didn't he? So I must be the one causing the problems." His voice grew bitter. "Max wasn't wrong. Don't you know by now? Max is never wrong." Thrusting back his chair as he stood, he crossed to the counter and leaned on it, his back towards them.
Maria followed. She spoke to his back, carefully not touching him. "He is wrong, Michael. He may have seen you drawing the sketch, but the vision was misleading. He could only see your actions, not your intent. You aren't the one making the threats. I know you, Michael, and I don't believe it."
From his seat in the corner of the booth, Alex spoke. "Look, I know I made you a promise, but I'm sorry, I think I have to break it. So if you don't want me to, you'd better speak up now." Michael remained silent, his back still turned.
Alex took a deep breath, then spoke to the other four. "Okay, this is what happened. Michael did draw the sketch." Putting up a hand to halt Maria's incipient protest, he continued, "But the sketch you have now isn't the one from your locker. He replaced that one so he could keep it and try and get a vision from it. When you dropped it at lunch that day and he picked it up, he got a feeling of danger, but he couldn't tell what or how, so he kept it to try and get more information. No luck there, but he's been keeping an eye on you ever since. Well, with my help."
Maria swung back around to face the alien at the counter, noticing the set tenseness of his shoulders, as if awaiting a blow. She supposed she should feel angry with him, for keeping this all a secret in the first place. It was what he was expecting, she knew. But somehow she couldn't. She took a step closer towards him, noting him stiffen perceptibly, and spoke simply. "Thank you, Michael." Turning away, she missed his slight relaxation as she calmly moved back to the booth, sitting once more. Alex, beside her in the booth, looked at her with surprise and pride.
"Pretty cool move, DeLuca," he said under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear. She gave him a careless shrug.
"Hey, no big," she responded with a smile.
Max, sitting back in the booth, let out a breath of air and relaxed for the first time since he'd had the vision of Michael with the sketch. He should have had more faith in Michael. Maria had, why hadn't he? Looking up, he saw Liz gazing warmly at him, as if she could tell what he was thinking. She gave him a reassuring smile, and he began to feel like maybe things weren't all that hopeless after all. To hide his almost elated rush of feeling, he looked down at the notes, which Maria had tossed onto the table. "If this isn't the real sketch, maybe the right one will tell us something. Where is it, Michael?"
There was no response, and he turned to look at his friend, who hadn't moved since he'd gotten to the counter. Michael's head was slightly tilted as if his attention were focused elsewhere, but all Max could see beyond him was the pass-through to the kitchen, and nothing looked unusual there. Puzzled, he called out again. "Michael?"
It took a moment for him to be heard, but then Michael turned with a jerk and brought his attention back to the group. "Yeah?"
"Where is the other sketch?"
Fumbling in his pocket, the alien pulled out a folded piece of paper, slightly the worse for wear. Max unfolded it and compared the two sketches.
"Wow," said Isabel, who was looking over his shoulder. "It's a very good copy, Michael." Michael shrugged it off. "Except I think yours looks a little more like Maria."
"Let me see," the sketch's subject demanded, taking both drawings and studying them carefully. Satisfied, she refolded the one Michael had drawn and got up from the booth.
"Where are you going?" asked Liz as the girl moved past her.
"To the break room to put this in my bag," Maria responded calmly.
Michael watched her, a confused expression on his face. "Why?"
"You drew it, so I'm keeping it."
He managed to get one word out. "But--"
"Hey, if you don't like it, draw me another one. Without a giant X scrawled across my face. Until then, this one's mine," she answered lightheartedly. Swinging the door to the break room open, she froze, startled, as she heard a voice from upstairs.
"Liz? Are you still down here?" Nancy Parker called as she descended the staircase.
Recovering, Maria greeted her. "Oh, hi, Mrs. Parker. Sorry, everybody's in there. Our ride came and we got to talking. I just came in to change out of my uniform, and we'll go." The woman passed into the restaurant proper, and Maria began to fumble hurriedly with the buttons on her uniform, keeping a careful ear on the conversation in the next room.
"Hi mom," said Liz, just barely avoiding sounding guilty. "We--"
Max, who had stood at the woman's entrance, spoke quickly. "Hello, Mrs. Parker. We were just leaving."
"Hello, Max. And Isabel." Nancy turned and studied the third member of the alien trio, who was still standing by the counter. "And Michael. It's been a while since we've seen you here." He ducked his head and studied the floor at his feet. "You should try to come in a little more often," she added kindly. "Just because you don't work here any more is no reason to be a stranger." Looking up to see the gentle expression in her eyes, Michael swallowed and gave a quick nod. Liz's mother smiled at him and then turned to the others. "So, the three of you came by to give Maria and Alex a ride?"
"Actually," said Maria as she entered, dressed in street clothes, "Max and Isabel are taking Alex, and Michael is walking me home." She fixed her eyes on Michael, challenging him to contradict her in front of Mrs. Parker. He looked like he wanted to protest, but shoved his hands in his pockets and remained mute.
Mrs. Parker eyed them both with interest, then said, "It's pretty late, and there may still be Halloween pranksters running around. Why don't you give Liz a call when you get home, so we'll know you got in all right?"
In concern, Maria noted the slight drooping of Michael's shoulders as he looked down at the floor once more. She could tell what he was thinking, that Liz's mother didn't trust him with her. A tiny spark of indignation began to glow deep within her. Why, what did the woman think he would do? Michael, of all people, who'd gone out of his way to watch out for her. Michael, who--
That spark of indignation flickered away as Nancy continued, "That goes for all of you, as a matter of fact. I expect Liz to get four phone calls in the very near future, telling us you're all home safe, all right?"
Four voices rose in assent. Even Michael, caught in Mrs. Parker's firm gaze, nodded. Maria looked over to the table.
"Don't worry, I've got those project notes we were working on," said Alex, holding up several folded pieces of paper.
"Good. I've got the other materials in my bookbag," she said, gesturing to where she'd thrust the pieces of alien doll from the couch.
"So we'll continue working on the project tomorrow?" Liz asked, and they nodded back at her.
"Yeah, we'll see you then," Maria said, and then started for the break room and the back door. "Good night, Mrs. Parker. Coming, Michael?"
Wordlessly, he followed in her wake. Saying their good nights, the other three left the restaurant as well. Outside, they headed towards the Evanses' Jeep, which was parked in the alley. "Hop in, we'll give you a lift," Isabel offered.
"That's all right. I feel like walking. After tonight, I could use some fresh air," said Maria calmly. "Besides, now that my stalker here is out in the open, he can walk me home and protect me at the same time."
Max studied her dubiously, then commented with a shake of his head, "We're not done discussing this. We still have a lot talk about."
"I know," said Maria. "I've got rehearsal tomorrow, and I think Liz is on for a few hours in the Crashdown. How about if everyone comes over to my house for dinner? My mom had plans to meet some friends, so the house will be empty."
"Dinner? Are you actually going to make dinner?" asked Alex in alarm. "There's a reason you're a waitress and not a cook, you know."
"So we'll order pizza or something," she shot back. "The point is, we'll be able to talk without interruption."
"It sounds good to me," said Max. Isabel nodded her agreement.
Maria turned to Michael. "What about you? Do you have to work? Can you be at my place at 6:00?"
"Yeah."
"Okay then, six it is. I'll tell Liz," Maria decided. She smiled at Isabel, Max and Alex as they climbed into the Jeep. "I'm glad you all know," she said. "It feels better to have you in on this."
"We needed to be," pointed out Isabel. "The six of us work best as a team."
"You're right about that. See you tomorrow." Maria watched as the Jeep pulled out of the alley, and then turned to the silent alien who stood nearby. "Come on. Let's get me home."
Together they began the walk across town to the DeLuca residence. Maria gave an occasional glance up at Michael, who looked as if he were miles away in thought. She didn't feel the urge to pull him back; somehow just walking next to him was enough for now. So they continued silently down the streets, passing the occasional dog-walker and late-night Halloween partier. Arriving at her house, she unlocked the back door and then turned to look up at Michael. "Good night," she said warmly. He stood looking back down at her, and didn't move. "What?" she asked with a laugh.
"Aren't you..." he began, "Aren't you going to get on my case?"
"For what?"
"For everything. Not telling you about the note, for watching you all the time, for...everything."
Maria studied his carefully controlled expression and took note of a hint of pain lurking in his eyes. "Nope. Not tonight, anyway." She smiled at him. "Look, I'm home safe, things are fine. Will you please go back to your place and get some rest? No hanging around at all hours of the night, waiting for some unknown threat to appear." His mouth worked, but he didn't answer, and she went on, "Look, I won't be able to sleep if I know you're hanging around, and I will know, remember? You need to get some sleep, too. I'll be fine, I promise."
He hesitated for a moment and then commanded gruffly, "Latch your window." She nodded.
"I will." With one last look up at him, she stepped inside and locked the door behind her. She watched as he looked around suspiciously and then headed around the house towards the front sidewalk.
A noise behind her made her jump, and she turned around her heart pounding. It was only her mother, standing by the refrigerator.
"Oh...hi, Mom," she exclaimed.
"Hi honey," Amy returned. "Late night at work?"
"Ummm, yeah," Maria responded absently. "So, did you get a lot of trick-or-treaters?"
Her mother smiled. "Not too many. There's still a stash of chocolate left over for you." She went back to pouring herself a cup of herbal tea.
"Oh, good." Maria set her bag down on the counter and fidgeted for a moment. "Mom?"
"Hmmm?"
"Are you still going out tomorrow night?"
"I'm planning on it."
"Well, is it all right if I have some friends over for dinner?"
"What friends? How many?" Amy asked.
"Oh, just a few. Liz, and Isabel and Max Evans, and Alex." Her voice faded, and she mumbled, "Oh, and Michael."
Amy raised her eyebrows in surprise, and looked past Maria to the back door. "Michael, huh?"
Maria met her eyes, answering defensively, "Yeah."
Studying the importuning expression on her daughter's face, Amy agreed. "I suppose it's all right. But don't keep them here too late; it's a school night."
"I won't," Maria assured her. "They'll probably be gone before you get back, anyway."
"Sure then. Have a good time."
"Thanks, mom," Maria said in relief. "Well, I have a little more homework to do, so I guess I'll go do it. Good night." She picked up her bookbag and headed towards her room, shutting the door behind her. Tossing her bag on her bed, she moved purposefully towards the window and opened it, hissing, "Michael! I told you to go home!"
A figure detached itself from the shadows. "I know. I just wanted to make sure you latched your window."
"Oh. Okay," she responded. "And then you'll go home and try to get some sleep?"
"Yeah, then I'll go home," he promised.
"Good night, then." She gently closed the window and turned the latch, locking it in place as he watched carefully. He didn't move away from the house, and she unlatched the window before opening it for a second time. "What is it Michael?" she asked, intently studying his worn face. "Was there something else you wanted to tell me?"
For a moment, he looked like he was going to say something, but he bit back the words and looked away, shaking his head roughly.
Disappointed, Maria sighed, "Okay, then. Goodnight." A moment later she was once more safely locked in. Putting a palm against the glass, she leaned close to the window, and said softly, "Pleasant dreams."
His mouth twisted in a quick grimace that was gone before she was sure she'd seen it, and then, surprisingly, he put a hand up to hers, with only the windowpane separating them. "Yeah, you too," he responded, then turned and disappeared into the night. She watched him go, and then slowly picked up the phone to call Liz.
Continue to CHAPTERS 28, 29 and 30
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