| The highway onramp seemed like a good time for Maria to begin her interrogation. They had a long ride ahead of them and she believed it might be best to just get a few things out in the open. "So Liz," Maria turned to face her backseat companion. "Who was that back there?" "Weren't you listening to me?" Liz snapped. "I told you they were going to find me and kill me." "Right, the bad guys," Maria narrowed her eyes. "How did they find you?" Liz shrugged, but it wasn't convincing. "Damn it, just answer her!" Michael, apparently listening to the conversation, snapped from the front seat. "I don't know!" Liz shouted before she crossed her arms over her chest and turned her attention to the window and the passing darkness. "Liz,"' Max turned around in his seat to face her. "Are you okay?" The concern in his voice was overpowering. "No Max," she leaned forward. "I'm not okay. I'm getting ready to go to jail, how would you feel?" "Yeah Max," Maria's eyes twinkled. "Since you're going to jail too, how do you feel?" Max turned to his friend for help but was turned down with silence. "Leave him alone," Liz faced Maria, her voice small and weak. "He didn't do anything wrong, it was me. Just promise me that Max won't get any retribution for helping me." Maria tilted her head to one side seeing a different side of Liz. A side with a little compassion for her helper. Maybe Liz Parker wouldn't only try to save her own ass, but Max's too. Human nature in its equality. "So DeLuca," Michael called back from the front seat, "San Francisco and not Montana?" "If I can get her back to Frisco I'm good, I get paid and she'll be off of my hands." Maria cast a sideways glance at Liz. "So again, Parker, how did they find you? Do you actually deserve the name Dumb?" "Yes," Liz glared, "As a matter of fact I do. I used my stupid credit card yesterday. I guess that's how they found me." "You are such a bad criminal," Maria rolled her eyes and crossed her legs wishing desperately for some different clothing. "Is that how you planned on running and hiding by using your credit card? God, haven't you ever watched any TV show before?" "I had to," Liz said quietly, she averted her eyes away from Maria and away from Max. "Liz?" Max reached over and touched her arm. "What's going on?" Liz Parker wiped at her dry eyes. "I used the credit card for a plane ticket. I was going to leave in the morning." "Yeah, you were going to leave in the morning all right." Michael snorted. "Probably in a body bag, though." "I swear, if I had my stun gun I'd shock the shit out of you," Maria shook her head. "I told you, I'm not a criminal!" Liz pleaded. "I was leaving because I didn't want to see Max get hurt, he's been so nice to me�" "And I'm sure he'll come see you on visiting days," Maria stretched her legs out in front of her. "I was scared, I'm still scared." "I have to interject something here," Michael said from the front seat. "Maybe this was already discussed during your bout of kidnapping, but Liz, if you have all this cash, why didn't you just run with it? Why the hell are you using a credit card?" "I don't have the money anymore. I only had it for a brief time." She explained to Michael the way she thought she had been used as a scapegoat and ignored the deep sighs and incessant eye rolling coming from Maria. "So where is the money?" Michael asked a question that Maria never had. "I gave it away." "You gave it away?" Michael smiled into the rearview mirror. "Why?" "It wasn't mine and the people it actually belonged to were bad, so I gave it away to a good cause." "And what cause was that?" Maria yawned her boredom. "That's why I was in San Francisco, I donated it all to Save the Sea Turtles." Maria snickered then closed her eyes. "Wake me when we're at least a hundred miles away from here, okay? I have to get some different clothes on." * * * "Maria?" Michael leaned over the driver's seat. "Maria!" "What?" Maria DeLuca's eyes snapped open. She looked at Michael in front of her and then turned to see a sleeping Liz Parker next to her. She sighed and pulled the straps of her dress up. "Oh. Where are we?" "Socorro," Max answered. "About a hundred and sixty miles outside of Roswell." Maria nodded and sat up; she looked out her window and saw they were parked in a parking lot of an all-night discount department store. "Michael," she smiled sweetly at him. "Can I have some money for some new clothes?" Without hesitation, Michael handed her his wallet. "Try not to break the bank." She winked at him and placed her hand on the door handle. "Come on Max, you're coming with me. Michael, I think you should hang out back here in case Dumb decides to wake up and try to run away." "Would you quit calling her that!" Max snapped in a heated whisper. "Nope, give Michael your wallet." Max started to protest but then relinquished his wallet to Michael without question. He got out of the car and met Maria on the other side. They walked into the store together, Maria with her finger hooked in the belt loop of his pants. She walked straight to the ladies' department and picked out a pair of khaki shorts, a black tank shirt and a white button down short sleeve shirt. She pulled Max to the shoes and then had him carry a pair of white sneakers while she picked out socks. At the register, she grabbed four cold bottles of soda and a handful of candy bars. She paid with a credit card of Michael's and was relieved when it went through. At the front doors she noticed a restroom and pulled Max into it after much protesting. "I don't trust you," she said evenly and reached around to unzip the back of her dress. "Turn around." Max turned around and waited until she told him to turn back before he did. "You really did look nice for our date." Maria looked down at the dress over her arm. "Thanks, but it wasn't a real date." "I know," Max smiled brilliantly at her. "So, I noticed in the car that you said after we drop Liz off in San Francisco that you'd be bringing 'Dumber' back to Roswell. I guess that means you're coming back?" Maria nodded and hated the way his voice was so smooth. "Yeah, I'm coming back." He nodded. "After seeing how you and Michael interact, I'd be shocked if you weren't. I think you just might be perfect for each other." Maria fought a blush and pointed to the door. "Let's go." TBC |
| Part 30 |
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