ROSWELL on PLANET-SF

CHAPTER EIGHT

Their bodies were intertwined; she traced her finger down his flawless skin, over chiseled muscles and stared into his deep eyes, falling. Max cupped her sweat-slicked ass and plunged deeper inside of her. She smiled at him and he felt good. Better than he had in a long time. The guilt was washing away. Pushing Lindy away from him that afternoon was the best thing he could have done. Deep done he knew he could have never slept with her, not when he had this at home. It was Liz. His Liz. The one he had risked everything for and the one whose heart he had broken. He never wanted that feeling again. She was his life, she always had been.

"I love you Max," she sighed and licked the sweat from his neck.

"Liz, you are my world." He meant what he was saying. He knew he couldn't live without her, it wasn't a question anymore. He leaned down and kissed her, still he held part of himself back, and any thoughts that had been creeping through his mind for the last couple o fmonths she didn't need to know about. He splayed his arm in back of her and rocked back and forth deep inside of her. She tried to move on top of him, but he shook his head. "No, let me make you feel euphoric. The way you always make me feel." She smiled as he withdrew from her. His mouth leading down her breasts leaving a trail of spit. He rolled her nipples with his tongue, teasing. He kissed her navel and spread her legs apart. He tantalised her with his mouth and then his tongue. Probing, sucking, lapping. Her back arched, fists to her sides, she knew the passion building up inside her was going to be released and she wanted him closer. Lowering herself back onto the mattress, she reached to him. Grasping his hair she tugged gently and pulled him back up to her. He didn't kiss her mouth but everywhere else was fair game. He felt the roil of devotion and excitement rage through him. The hairs on his arms stood up, he gasped and shook and came with such force he thought he was going to melt into her. She clasped his back and told him she loved him over and over.

* * *

Isabel Evans flew first class to New York City. Manhattan. She was staying on Fifth Avenue and loving every second of it. For three days she was staying in an upscale hotel and her publisher paid for everything. They want to meet me, she thought, they think I have real talent, they're paying me an insane amount of money for doing something I love. Life is good. Isabel was nervous at first, but her publishing representative, Helene Trenton, was an angel. Isabel liked her on sight. She sat down with her and explained everything in detail. She read the contracts with her while her agent Donnie listened in on speakerphone. Isabel Evans was going to write six more Robin books in three years. A new manuscript had to be turned in every six months. Helene told her there may be more and they'd discuss it after the first book in the contrat was published. She was handed a cheque for more money than she thought she'd ever see at one time. Screw the apartment she was thinking about, she was buying a house.

With her cheque tucked safely in her purse she took a tour of Central Park, the Children's Zoo and even Broadway. The following day she strolled through Battery Park and visited the Statue of Liberty. She didn't go up in her though; the roughness of the Stanton Island Ferry had made her incredibly seasick. She ate dinner at the hotel restaurant and retired to her room. Breaking out the laptop she started working on her forth Robin book and smiled to herself. She was already ahead of the game.

* * *

Michael took a deep breath as he walked from his office. He closed the door and looked at the frosted glass: Sheriff Michael Guerin. Every time he saw that he smiled. Not this time though, he had nothing to smile about. He took another deep breath as Deputy Jo Davie approached him. She was relatively new, but Michael liked her. Her short strawberry blond hair and pixie face made her seem younger than she was. No wonder she always tried to prove herself by being a hard-ass.

"Do you want me to go?" she asked. "I know-"

"No. I'm the Sheriff. I'll do it." He smiled but didn't mean it. "Thanks for asking, Jo. That was considerate."

She nodded and walked away. Michael walked from the department and put his hat on, he slid sunglasses over his eyes and got in the 4x4. He drove slow, too slow, but he knew no one would honk or yell at him to get out of the way. After taking the long way there, he pulled up in front of the high school and went in. He walked to the principal's office, a place he knew quite well.

Upon leaving the ofice he literally bumped into Kyle Valenti as he was walking in. "Michael? What're you doing here?" Kyle asked, surprised to see him.

Michael slid his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose and gave him a look. One Kyle had never seen before and frankly never wanted to see again. Michael shook his head once and brushed by him. He walked slowly down the halls of his alma mater. Where he once came as a boy to hide and fit in all at the same time, now he came as a man. A man who had not only a wonderful family but a good job as well; a job of respect. Some thought he'd never have either and he'd proved them wrong. He shook his head as he approached the door; it was closed. Class was in session. He opened it and took a step inside, instantly getting the attention of all the students. Max Evans, English teacher, was standing at the chalkboard, he had been dissecting a short story, its title on the board: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Michael looked at the board for a few seconds trying to remember the story. Ritualistic murder, that was it, he thought. He looked to his friend who was looking back at him. Max Evans, his brother. Max took a step towards him, confusion on his face turned to alarm. He dropped the chalk on the floor and walked slowly towards him, shaking his head.

"Max, could you step outside?" Michael said softly. He didn't want the students to hear. "Please?"

Max stepped outside the door and stared at the mirrored lenses that distorted his own image. "Liz? Sloane?"

"They're fine," Michael nodded and saw the relief flood through Max's eyes. "Max Evans, you're under arrest for the rape of a minor." Michael watched as the colour drained from Max's face. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you at government expense."

"Michael," Max could barely say his name.

"I'm sorry." He looked down the hall. "I have to cuff you." He pulled out the handcuffs and manipulated Max's arms round his back. He snapped the bracelets and closed his eyes.

"I never raped her-"

"Stop. Don't say anything to me, okay?" Michael led him down the hall towards the front of the school. "Not a word. You can't."

Max nodded numbly and walked a step in front of him outside and to the 4x4. Michael helped him in the backseat and shut the door. Before he got to the driver's side, he had removed his hat and ran his hands through his damp hair. He replaced the hat and got inside. He didn't look at Max in the backseat. Max the teacher who he had just arrested for rape.

Max sat silently in the backseat. The handcuffs were digging into his wrists. He stared at the back of Michael's head. His best friend, no, his brother, was taking him to jail for something he didn't do. He hung his head, how could he tell Liz? Oh God, this couldn't be happening.

Michael stared straight ahead as he drove back to the department. He didn't want Max to say anything and he thought he got that point across. Did Max actually do it? He shoook his head, no way. Or did he? He parked on the side lot and escorted Max inside. He handed him off to Deputy Jo Davie to be fingerprinted and booked. He went into his office and shut the door; he wanted privacy because this was going to be one of the hardest calls he ever had to make. He picked up the handset and started dialling Liz's work number, then hung up. She was home. She had taken a few days off to stay with Sloane while Isabel was in New York. Isabel. What was she going to say? He dialled the Evanses' condo and took a dep breath. Liz answered as the machine picked up. He could hear her sweraing as she turned it off.

"It's Michael," he said absently. Of course she would know his voice.

"Michael, how are you today? I was just thinking about calling-"

"Stop."

"What's wrong?" Liz asked, alarmed. "Michael?"

"I need you to come down here, to the department." He was trying to put the words in order in his head before he spoke but it was a puzzle. "There's...Uh..."

"What, Michel?" Panicking. "Just tell me. What's wrong?"

"It's Max-"

"Oh God!" She started to cry.

Shit, Michael thought, she thinks something bad happened to him. Well, didn't it? "No, he's okay, Liz. Liz?"

"Where is he?"

"He's here."

"He's okay?"

"Liz," he let out a deep breath. "Max has been arrested. Can you come down here?"

"Oh." Liz was thrown off guard. "Why?"

"Please, just come down here, okay?"

Liz told him she'd be there in minutes.

Liz hung up the phone and looked at her daughter lying on the floor making her own pictures in the colouring book. She grabbed her purse and picked up the book and crayons and stuck them in there. She grabbed Sloane's hand and they walked to the car. Liz felt like she was going to burst. Max had been arrested. Unbelievable. She had no idea what he could have been arrested for. Not an inkling. She got Sloane buckled in the backseat and drove at a safe speed to the department. She knew if she were alone that she would have broken every traffic law to get there. She parked next to the 4x4 and got Sloane out. She took her hand and led her inside. Michael was waiting by the front desk; Liz rushed to him.

"What's going on?" she asked. Her words shook.

"C'mon Sloane." He picked her up. "I'm going to let you play in my office while I talk to your mommy, okay?" He smiled at the girl who nodded at him in return. He carried her into his office and put a couple of phone books on the chair at the desk, then sat her on top of them. Liz put her colouring book and crayons on the desk. "We'll be right back, okay?" Sloane nodded and immediately went back to her colouring.

"Where's Max?" Liz asked once the office door was closed.

"Wait," he grabbed the arm of a passing dispatcher and asked her to stay with Sloane. She smiled sweetly and agreed. Michael led Liz back outside to a picnic table used by employees. "I arrested Max-"

"You?" She nearly shouted at him. "Why?"

"I'm the sheriffc, I had to." He ran his hands through his hair and looked at her. "I arrested Max for rape of a minor." Liz sat stunned, she covered her mouth and began to cry. Michael pulled her into him and let her cry over his badge.

"Why?"

"Liz," he stroked her hair. "I'm so sorry, I had to."

"What happened? Who?" She tried to regain her composure but the damage had been done. Already her eyes were red; her pretty features seemed distorted.

"A student, Liz, she's seventeen. She said Max raped her in his jeep yesterday afternoon." Michael continued to hold her while she shook her head back and forth.

"She's lying Michael, you know she's lying." Liz cried, holding on to him tighter than she knew. "Max couldn't..."

"I'm sorry, Liz. I had to, it's my job." Overbearing guilt was so evident.

"Michael, I'm not mad at you," she looked into his eyes. "Did he...?" She let the question hang, not sure if she wanted an answer or not.

"I don't know anything yet, Liz." He told her the truth. "He needs a lawyer. He'll be arraigned in the morning."

"Will he have to stay here all night?"

Michael nodded. "If he's held over for trial you can post bond at the arraignment. He should get bail. Max and his family have been upstanding members of the community. He has a wife and child here so he's not a flight risk." God, how can I be saying this about Max?

"Can I see him?" She asked quietly not quite sure if she really wanted to or not.

Michael nodded and picked up her hand giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Can you do this?"

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "Tell me what happened." She wiped tears off her cheeks.

"She came to the office. She was his student last semester. She said they had a fling of some kind," he saw the pain in her eyes and it broke his heart. "She said she tried to break it ouff, but he wouldn't listen to her. She's convincing Liz. What time did Max get home yesterday?"

Liz opened her mouth to answer than shut it. "I don't think I have to answer that Michael."

"No, you're right. Don't." He shook his head. "Anyway, she went to the hospital last night for a rape kit. When I called all they could tell me was that there had been sexual intercourse and they collected samples. She's got bruises on her forearms. She knew the inside of the jeep, Liz. She can describe everything in detail."

"What's her name?"

"I can't tell you, she's a minor."

Liz nodded and glanced towards the building. "I'd like to see him now." Michael led her back inside and to the back of the building where the holding cells were. He walked away to the entrance after telling her he'd wait for her outside. Liz took a deep breath as she walked into the room. All the cells were empty except one. That one held her husband, the father of her child. The only man she had ever loved. He sat on the cot in the corner, his face covered by his hands. She stood in front of the cell and looked at his fallen form. Was he capable of the crime he was arrested for? Part of her died when she couldn't answer the quesion.

Max looked up and saw her. He stood and approached the iron bars that separated them. His face was red; his eyes were wet. "Liz."

She shook her head at him. "Don't."

"I didn't do it, Liz. You have to believe me." Tears rolled down his cheeks. "I could never, you know that. Please believe me!"

"Michael said you have to stay here until you're arraigned tomorrow." She pushed away emotion, there would be plenty of time for that later. "I'll try to come up with the money. I'll have to call your parents."

"Do you believe me?" he croaked. "I love you, Liz."

"I'll be back in the morning." She didn't meet his eyes, she couldn't. She turned away from him, ignoring his cries for her and walked away. She met Michael outside the door and broke down. He held her and let her cry.

* * *

Liz made it home with Sloane and found Kyle waiting at her front door. He looked at her and went to her. She hugged her fiercely. He took the keys from her hand and opened the door letting Sloane in.

"I know," was all he needed to say. "It's all over the school."

"Do you know the girl?" Liz asked, making a pot of coffee. Her new tears were dry now.

"No, but I read her file." Kyle looked around before he said anything else. "You can't say anything; I could lose my job."

"I promise Kyle. Just tell me."

"She's never been in trouble, has a 3.5 GPA. She's member of all kinds of clubs; an ideal student. She's a senior and going away to Columbia in the fall." He shook his head. "I can't believe it, though."

"I don't know what to believe. What's her name?"

"I can't tell you Liz, but you don't know them. Her family moved here from the East Coast about two years ago. You'll find out her name soon enough, but not from me."

"Thank you." She looked out of the open kitchen door to her daughter. She was sitting at the dining room table holding a framed picture of her parents' wedding. "Sloane."

"She can stay with us," Kyle volunteered. "Isabel gets back tomorrow night, I know she'll want to help, but until then, let me take Sloane home."

"Will Morgan mind?"

"Of course not. She's got some days off coming to her." He glanced at the phone. "Let me call her and tell her to take a few days off. She won't mind. She'd be pissed if I didn't offer." Liz watched as he made a brief call, without citing specifics, and told her they were taking Sloane for a little while. He smiled and hung up. "She said she's leaving work right now and won't go back until Tuesday."

"Thank you." Liz walked out of the kitchen and to her daughter. "Sloane, guess what? You get to spend a couple of days with Kyle and Morgan, does that sound like fun?"

Her eyes lit up; she loved playing with Morgan. She was so funny. Liz told her to go to her room and they'd pack a bag together. She followed the bouncing five year old and began to pack clothes, toys and stuffed animals. Sloane put the wedding picture on top before Liz zipped up the bag.

"Will you come too?" Sloane asked quietly.

"No sweetie, I have to stay here." Liz couldn't imagine trying to explain to such an innocent little girl why her daddy was in jail. "But I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Is daddy coming?"

"No honey, daddy can't come."

Sloane looked at the floor then back to her mother. "Is daddy bad?"

Liz bit her lower lip. "Daddy's fine. You know he loves you, right?"

"Yes," she nodded fiercely. "And he loves you, mommy."

Liz nodded although not as fiercely as her daughter had and walked her to the living room. "Thank you Kyle, I don't..."

"I know." He picked up Sloane's bag. "We'll be fine. Are you going to call his parents?"

"I have to, he needs a lawyer." She dreaded that phone call and decided to just go over there. "Thank you for taking Sloane. I can't worry about her right now. Thank Morgan for me."

Kyle took the little girl's hand and led her out the front door. Liz followed a few minutes later and drove to the Evanses' home. Both cars were in the driveway. Great, she sighed. She walked to the door and took a deep breath before knocking. Diane Evans answered and let her daughter-in-law in. Liz tried to control the shakes as Phillip entered the room. They looked at Liz, something was wrong.

"What's going on, Liz?" Diane asked as casually as she could. "Is everything all right?"

"No," Liz blurted out. "Nothing is all right. I'm here because Max needs a lawyer and I don't know what to do!"

"What happened?" Phillip sat down next to her. "Why does he need a lawyer?"

"He was arrested," she sighed. Better to hear it from her than anyone else. "He was arrested today for rape of a minor."

Diane Evans brought her hand to her mouth, shocked. Phillip took a deep breath and looked at Liz. "Did he do it?"

"I don't know anything." Liz shook her head sadly. "All I know is he's being arraigned in the morning and he needs a lawyer."

"I'll make some calls." Phillip left the room.

"Oh my baby," Diane began to weep. "Where's Sloane?"

"She's at Kyle's for the night, at least." Liz couldn't comfort her. She knew he was her son, but he was also Liz's husband. She watched Max's mother breakdown. "Michael said he should be able to be bonded out tomorrow, but we don't have the money."

"Liz," Diane said through tears. "We're moving in less than two weeks. All of our money is tied up in the houses. We won't have enough to...And we can't put this house up because there's a contract on it..."

"I'll figure it out," Liz forced a smile as Phillip came back in the room. "Did you find someone?"

"I did." He sat next to his wife and wrapped his arm around her. "His name's Jared Knox. He's a good criminal lawyer and he owes me a favour. He'll be at the arraignment in the morning. I know Max isn't capable of something like this."

Liz wanted to agree; sadly she couldn't. She knew better than almost anyone that sometimes Max didn't think. She said her goodbyes and with hugs she left. She went back to the empty condo and cried.

* * *

Michael didn't want to see MAx again, not like this, but he had to. He walked down and stood in front of his cell. His friend looked like a different man than he had in the classroom. His hair was disheveled fromhours of running his hands through it. Dark circles had formed around his eyes. He looked like a smaller man int he cage, curled up on the hard cot. Michael didn't say anything; he waited for Max to notice him. After a few minutes Max finally did look up. He saw Michael and stood on unsteady legs and walked to him.

"Where's Liz?" Max's voice broke. "Is she coming back?"

"I don't know Maxwell," Michael took a deep breath.

"Do I have to stay here?"

"Yeah bro, I'm sorry. You'll be arraigned tomorrow morning and then I think you should be able to be bonded out."

"Do my parents know?"

"Probably," Michael nodded and watched max crumble further. "You need a lawyer. Liz said she was going to go to them for help."

Max nodded and walked back to his cot. "I didn't do it Michael. You have to know that, you have to believe me. I didn't do it!"

Michael bit his lip and nodded. "I have to go. I'll be back in the morning. I'll bring you some clean clothes, okay?"

Michael walked back to his office and shut the door. He looked at a few photos he had under the glass of his desk blotter. Max and Liz's wedding with him and Maria; two couples and four friends who had the world at their feet. Shattered. He left the department and drove home. Maria was waiting at the door for him. She looked better, he thought, not as angry. She hugged him and he pulled her tight, burying his face in her hair. He kissed her neck and looked at her.

"Rough day, copper?" she joked then saw the pain in his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Worst day of my life, I think."

* * *

Liz called the hotel Isabel was staying at and waited to get connected to her room. She answered with a song in her voice.

"I need a favour," was the best Liz could come up. She didn't want to call, but she had no one else to turn to.

"What's wrong?" Isabel turned serious.

Liz told her what she knew and then asked for money to bond Max out. Isabel said to call her at the hotel as soon as she knew how much and she'd wire the money to her. After many thanks, Liz hung up and lay down on the couch. From there she cried herself to sleep.

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STORY OF LINES:
6 - THE BEAT GOES ON

CHAPTER EIGHT

WRITTEN BY BECKY W

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