| Maria DeLuca and Marshal Kit Sherman stayed huddled over a laptop computer and several stacks of paper at the kitchen table for over an hour. Deputy Marshal Brian Krinkle stood in back of the female Marshal with a stone face and statue demeanor. Michael Guerin occasionally paced the room, his eyes usually falling on Maria. Sometimes they fell on Marco, who was usually on his cell phone, sometimes it was Max, and sometimes it was even Liz. He caught himself looking more and more at the Angelfish and tried to imagine how they were going to transport them in the car back to Roswell. He glanced back at Max and felt sorry for him. Max was holding Liz's hands in his and she looked terrified. Michael did feel sorry for her as well to a certain extent. She wasn't exactly the hardened criminal he had hoped for; she was just a stupid, small woman who made bad choices. "Alright," Maria said loudly and shook the Marshal's hand across the table. "Marshal Sherman, you have yourself a deal." She looked over at Liz and nodded for her to join them at the table. Liz looked at Max and after a reassuring smile and nod she rose and led Max by the hand to the small kitchen. "Sit," Maria ordered and Liz sat immediately. She felt Michael who had moved in to stand behind her and smiled. "Okay Parker, this is the story�" Liz listened intently with her eyes wide and her mouth shut as she learned her fate. She was going to be taken into custody by Marshall Sherman where she would stay until it was time to testify. She would be placed in the Witness Protection Program until the trial was over and the sentencing had begun. In the event of an innocent verdict or a mistrial, Liz would stay in the WPP indefinitely. Otherwise, she would receive a commuted sentence. "So, if they go to jail, I'm free?" "Yes," Marshal Sherman answered. "If they are convicted by your testimony and evidence, you're a free woman." "I can move anywhere then? When this is all over? I could move back to Roswell?" Maria felt Michael's hands on her shoulders. "Sure you don't want to stay here?" He whispered in her ear. "Yes Ms. Parker, you'll be able to move anywhere that you want. But nothing can happen until you turn states evidence and it results in a conviction." "When can I start?" Liz smiled wildly and looked at Max. "They trial probably won't come for about a year, after the delay you caused�" Marshal Sherman smiled bitterly. "You're just going to have to take it one day at a time. Are you ready to go?" "Will I really be safe?" Liz didn't ask the Marshal's; she directed her question at Maria. "Yeah, you can bet on it," Maria nodded. "I told you I'd take care of it. Now get the hell out of here." Liz stood and wrapped her arms around Maria, who stood frozen, an annoyed expression on her face. "I'm sorry Maria, I should have trusted you back in Vegas." Maria nodded. "But I do trust you now and thank you." Maria nodded and shrugged out of the other woman's clasp. "Just try not to live up to your name anymore, okay?" Liz nodded and stepped away; she turned back to Max. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Max nodded and followed her back into the living room out of earshot from the others. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Liz shook her head. "I just hoped you'd be the same person I knew in high school and you were." "Don't apologize," Max smiled. "I always wanted you to ask me out back then�" "I always wanted to," he confessed. "Maybe when this is all over�?" "Yeah Max, when it's all over." Liz stepped into him and embraced him. Maria and Michael watched standing arm to arm. "You're one helluva woman DeLuca," Michael draped his arm over her shoulders. "Don't you ever forget it," she looked up at him and smiled and knew that was something he would never forget. "I need to talk to Marco for a minute while Max and Dumb are saying their good-byes." She motioned for the dark-haired man to follow her out of the room. They were only gone a few minutes before Maria returned to Michael's side. "Just had to turn in a few markers." Michael nodded. "Well, what now?" What now? Maria felt the nervousness rise up in her. Now was the time to start something new. * * * The good-byes were short. Liz Parker was led away by the US Marshals with renewed hope in her eyes. She saw the same hope in Max's. "Well, I'm outta here DeLuca," Marco swooped her up into a hug and kissed the corner of her mouth. "I'm going to miss the hell out of you." He set her down and turned to Michael and outstretched his hand. "Take care of this Wildcat, okay?" Michael nodded. "You can bet your life on it." "DeLuca, don't worry about a thing," Marco said as he walked to the front door. "I'll personally oversee everything myself. Do you have an address to ship to yet?" Maria smirked and nudged Michael in the ribs with her elbow. "Would you write down our address for him please? Marco's going to pack my place up." Michael raised his eyebrows at her in surprise. "So, we're not staying here too long are we?" Maria shook her head. "Nope, I think just long enough to pack up some clothes, figure out what to do with my fish and give you a tour of the parking lot." TBC |
| Part 38 |
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