It was a few days later when Zack and Jennifer exited his motel room for the first time since her arrival except for get take-out or the odd errand. Jennifer was a university student at Columbia and was on Spring Break and drove out this way on a lark to find her boyfriend because the last time they had seen each other was in El Paso, Texas at Christmas, and now he was in New Mexico, and a small town and it did mystify Jennifer why Zack would want to stick around this small town. All Zack said was it was where he was born. She had known he was adopted. And had been on this quest since he turned sixteen, but with her concentrating on her studies, they had drifted apart but stayed together, and now he was on the run and had been since the prior summer. She knew his parents did not approve of his running away. So, he came to figure out what was going on before she had to back to classes. “This is some town,” Jennifer smiled as they sat in the Crashdown having lunch as the door opened and Olivia and Amelia walked in, and both frowned at Zack at the table, and especially when Jennifer leaned in for a kiss. Sighing, he did not say anything, and they did not approach. They went to their table that Jeff Parker came rushing over, and they all tried to ignore each other. Except Jennifer spotted the tension on her boyfriend’s face. “Who were they?”
“Olivia Parker and Amelia Guerin” Zack said softly as he saw the girls taking a booth but Amelia looking back at him and Jennifer.
“And they would be?” Jennifer asked.
“Olivia is my half sister. We share the same father,” Zack muttered to Jennifer’s surprise. “Yeah. Amelia is her best friend” he mumbled. “I didn’t know about Olivia until I came to this town…”
“So, this town isn’t just where you were born?” Jennifer asked as she was sensing why this place was special. “You have family here?”
“In some ways,” Zack muttered. “But they don’t want to treat me as family,” he muttered although he knew was Amelia was the friendlies person he had met, and he was not going to admit that to Jennifer because she had the tendency to be jealous. “She lives with her mother, as our father is out of the picture.”
“In prison?” Jennifer asked because she had done research because Zack had not wanted to talk much about his biological father. “She doesn’t look too much younger than you are?”
“Yeah,” Zack muttered, “She’s sixteen” he sighed. “Her mother was my biological father’s high school girlfriend. He stepped out on her to be with my biological mother, and presto I was born, and he eventually went back to his girlfriend, and my biological mother was killed in an explosion. I was put up for adoption, and they got married, and he was arrested for the explosion that caused the death of my biological mother, an incident to which he confessed. Olivia came to be born months later. Apparently, our father didn’t know about her until recently.”
“Wow,” Jennifer wondered. “That is some biography?”
“It is,” Zack allowed. “They don’t care about my birth mother too much…”
“Why?” Jennifer asked.
“They say she started the circumstances that led to my biological father’s arrest” Zack muttered. “Are you sure you want to be here in this town?”
“Are you crazy. I am fascinated,” Jennifer murmured as she took his hand and Amelia noticed as across the room Olivia and Amelia were on their lunch period from school and they stopped in for a burger, which was Olivia’s cravings these days. Amelia just wanted to get out off school premises. They had not expected to see Zack having lunch because he had not been around much in recent days and they both had some thought that maybe he had split town because he found out too much that he did not want to know.
But now, he was there, and it was evident he was with some red head, and they seemed to be involved. Olivia wondered if it was the mysterious girlfriend, who looked older than Zack and they seemed to be close. Amelia was disturbed by it, as she played with her fries. “Any clue who that red head is?”
“Nope,” Olivia shook her head as she poured tabasco sauce on the already spicy burger, and then on the fries. “Maybe it is the girlfriend?”
“He has a girlfriend?” Amelia asked interested.
“He hasn’t said much about her. So, I figured it was all some myth of a figure to get out of the questions about his intentions around her friend, but I guess she really exists” Olivia sighed. “Jealous, are we?”
“Are you kidding?” Amelia laughed. “Of course, not…”
“I sense you are,” Olivia muttered as she was thinking of how her mother was in court with her aunt trying to get access to her father. Alone time. She did not know how that was going to end up, and she was worried for her mother. So, she was indulging on spicy fries to get away from the emotions of the day. “Obviously, he has someone he’s with, and you have Greg”
“Yes, I have Greg, and I am not looking” Amelia murmured. “I am not looking for drama.”
“You might not be looking, but you can’t help but find it if you’re not too careful” Olivia muttered.
*
Meanwhile Isabel and Liz were in judge’s chambers trying to get the judge to green light an unsupervised visitation with her husband. An overnight one would be even better. They were right, the government was pitching a fight and was trying to get the judge to deny the request as Isabel knew Michael was now up at the prison trying to figure out what was going on with this Serena Scott person. Michael had not been able to get up until now, and Isabel had taken time to get a judge to take her motion. The judge decided to meet in chambers to keep the sensitive nature out of the motion out of the press. Despite it being long over. Still the media liked to report on the case, and they did not want it to get out in the press until they had to deal with. “I am not one to want to meddle in a marriage?” the judge was saying. “Why shouldn’t I allow Ms. Parker to see her husband. Clearly, she wants to see him, and Ms. Evans is telling me that the prisoner wants to see his wife?”
“He stands convicted of crimes involving his wife?” The government lawyer responded. “He’s a violent offender.”
“She doesn’t hold it against her husband and has chosen to stay married to him and she was a right to visit with her husband and allow them time to spend together however they see fit for however they want to see each other” Isabel muttered as she and Liz both knew there were another story to the Vermont debacle, but one they could not let get out. “She’s with me today because she wants to see her husband?”
“Your honor. My husband would never willingly hurt me,” Liz murmured. “He would die if he had. There is a side of the story that has not been told but it is one that we want to keep to our selves. My husband did not hurt me and no, I am not some deluded abused wife” she muttered as she glared at the snickering prosecutor. “I love him, and I have stayed married to him because I do love him, and he was good man and that has not changed. Yes, we had ours ups and downs just like any other couple and all I can say is the governments case was all based on a videotape that was tampered with and doesn’t show the full story.”
“The judge at the time allowed it to be used” the government lawyer muttered. “Clearly Ms. Parker is excusing her husband for his crimes?”
“Which is in her right. It is also her right to think whatever she wants,” Isabel muttered. “Mr. Evans wants to be able to see his wife, and at the moment, he’s behind cement walls and he is not going to do anything to hurt her?”
“How are we sure?” the government lawyer asked. “He hurt her once before. And brainwashed her to such an extent that she did not testify because he married her before he was caught?”
“My client confessed. He was not caught,” Isabel muttered, “They were married before he was arrested. When they married. Neither of them knew what would transpire. He has a right to want to see his wife, and if his wife wants to see him, then we should give them that opportunity. She was not brainwashed. It is the ability of anyone to decide whether they will testify or not. She chose not to. And yes, because of their marriage. She did not have to, and she would have seen him before now except he chose to keep her away, but he now has had a chance of heart, and he now wants to see her” she sighed as she thought of what her brother had to put up over these years. “My client has had a spotless record while in federal custody.”
“I understand you are moving to reopen his case?” the judge asked. “That there might be a change in the confession. Is there some reason to think there has been a change in the case?”
“It’s only in the opening stages your honor, and I am not ready to comment on whether it will move to a formal stage, but until something comes from it. My client wants to be able to spend time with his wife. He loves her, and they want the ability to see each other…”
“If she wants to see him. And he wants to see her,” the judge muttered as she glanced over at the determination on Liz’s face. The face told everything, and it said that she did love him, and wanted to see him, and the judge knew it “Then I will allow it.
One visitation. Which can be during the day, or an overnight. Camera’s will be present Ms. Parker, so if you feel unsafe?” the judge murmured. “If you choose an overnight. Camera’s can be turned off at a time of your choosing…”
“I will be completely safe,” Liz murmured
I can see Max, thank god
“We will reassess after the visit takes place to know whether any other can be scheduled,” the judge ruled. “I am doing this partly because I am not liking what I am hearing about the prison’s treatment of this prisoner,” the judge muttered. “I am told that he was place in isolation without cause, and he was roughed up, and none of the guards interceded” the judge asked. “And might have even helped. Mr. Rosen, you might think he doesn’t have rights but he’s human being and deserves whatever any other person is guaranteed.”
“I wasn’t aware of any rough treatment?” the lawyer muttered.
“Then keep them in line and keep yourself informed” the judge muttered. “Otherwise, I might be more lenient to any motion to reassess his case, do you hear me?” she murmured. “Because yes, he was convicted of crimes involving his wife, but he would he been long released if those had been the only charges. And we cannot judge a marriage do you hear me? You might have your own opinions but keep them to yourself and don’t interfere in the case unless there is genuine fear of danger.”
“Yes, your honor” the lawyer admitted as he glanced over at the elation in Isabel and Liz who were thrilled with the turn of events and it made Isabel think they might have a chance in the end.
“Then I’ll leave it to the parties, to decide on any arrangements” the judge muttered as she ended the session and left the office.
“This isn’t the end,” the government’s lawyer muttered as they exited the chambers.
“You bet it won’t be,” Isabel muttered as she and Liz proceeded to chat about the details of the visit with the lawyer.
*
Michael meanwhile was up at the prison. The visit today was not to see Max who was in his cell. Michael wanted to find Serena. He knew it would be tricky, but he had not been able to get here before now because the guard had not been on duty all week but was on the schedule for today. “I am looking for someone named
Scotti” Michael asked as he had been told of Serena’s nickname as in text messages Max was getting better at, he had told his childhood best friend that she was passing as a male guard. “I have some questions for him?”
“Why?” came the guard at security.
“A case I am working. Unrelated to any prisoner here at the prison,” Michael muttered as to not get this individual in trouble if they knew he was scouting for details related to Max. “I am private investigator, and he might have some relevant information for that case I am working. I was given a tip that it would be worth my while to talk to him,” he sighed. “Tell him that it is Michael Guerin, and he should know my name and want to see me. It won’t be long if I can see him as soon as possible.”
“Fine, I’ll ask.” The guard said calling into the prison and walking back to where Michael was stationed. “He’s not on break yet, so you’ll have to
wait.”
“Fine,” Michael muttered. “I can wait all day…” he sighed as he went to sit down and was prepared to wait if he needed to get some clarity to this situation.
Why the hell did this person wait, this long to come help us?
*
“Are you kidding me?” Michael was muttering to him as he scanned his messages as he waited for this person who was masquerading as a prison guard to show her face. He had been following Isabel’s messages from her attempt to go against the government in their quest to get Liz an official visit with her husband. Isabel had been giving him the run down, of how the government was trying to make Max to be some harden criminal.
Jeez Michael muttered and wanted to curse more profusely. But consideration of where he was made it impossible, as he waited for this Serena person. Sighing at the knowledge that they were still waiting for answers seventeen years into this drama. And Max was here because he had chosen to take the bullet for him, and for Isabel, all so they could start new lives with those they loved. While he took the brunt of it in this hell hole.
Max was the one who encountered the hornet’s nest as it was buzzing, while others might have taken cover. He actually engaged and took the brunt of the stings, for him, and for Isabel, all so they could get the fairy tale, while Max was denied seeing his daughter grow up, and loving his wife in any physical form besides his dreams. While he got to go home to his wife, and to his kids, and Max had been here. Hearing how the government was trying to make his brother out to be a harden criminal, when anyone else would have taken the brunt of it and learned to fight back while his friend had accepted his lot in life, and grinned and bared his decision to take the fall all the while he watched the days and years go by and barely made a fuss when he had the capabilities to try to get out of there or send word….
If he had wanted help. Given that they had helped once before, but no, he resisted the temptation and as a result Max had stayed in misery because he felt he deserved it.
So, Michael could not help but think about the weight of it as he waited, and waited, as it felt like an eternity and it did feel like he was being made to wait, for some purpose unknown to him when all he wanted was answers. He of course was used to waiting in the past, for one of those cases he tended to work, but this
Scotti seem to be making a point by making him wait. Like they were wanting to annoy him.
And it was working. Michael was the kind of person who did not need much motivation to be annoyed, and so the irritation only grew. Finally, ready to make his own point, by leaving, a message popped up on his phone, and it was from an unknown number
“Meet me at the Triple Buffalo Diner on the highway in 30 minutes. Don’t cause a fuss or ask anymore questions, or this meeting will be off, and your friend can sit and rot in prison for another seventeen years.”
Getting up without the fuss he was told not to make. Michael was not one to stay quiet, but knowing the stakes made it a necessity so he did get up, and without that fuss. Michael instead walked out of the prison and got into his car and started to drive the distance that Google told him would take him to the dining establishment. He had seen it on the way up to the prison, and so at least it would not be completely out of the way.
Making it with five minutes to spare. He walked into the greasy spoon that he knew attracted his wife back in the day. He may not have shown it at the time but his whole relationship with his wife was filled with these moments when it involved Maria. It still amazed him that she had accepted him for who he was and had not tried to change him. Sure, he had changed by the very nature that life did change you over the years, but she had not changed the core, and what made him who he had, and he appreciated it.
At the time he had not appreciated what he had, and thankfully he had not lost the chance when he so could have at any time because for most of his life, he had not believed he deserved happiness or Maria’s love. He had found his miracle in Maria and later in the birth of their son and daughter. Children he had not known he had wanted. If you had asked him at one time. He would have thought that he was too damage to want a wife, or children. Maria had changed that. He had been given a gift when Maria married him, and when their children;
Alexander James and Amelia Elizabeth Guerin were born. He had not known he was capable of the happiness they had given him as a family. They had saved him.
While Max lost himself…
He knew he and Isabel felt guilty that they had not had to pay for what they had done wrong in this life
And, we had done plenty wrong and yet it was the golden boy of their group who had taken the bullet for all of them. It was unfair.
But it was life.
Still, Max was not a saint, but he had not deserved his sentence in life when they all know if he had truly hurt Liz than he would have been dead, and there would be no saving his friend, but still, he had gotten Maria, and their kids. And Isabel had gotten happiness after disappointment with Kyle and their girls. While Max was behind bars and separated from his wife and daughter.
Max may have confessed sure, but he did not deserve the hell was in. So, Michael needed answers and he prayed this
Scotti would give them to him. Years before Isabel began her crusade to get her brother out of prison. Nothing worked, and Michael had to see the disappointment on her face each time a tip did not work out as he also felt it himself, because it was not fair and therefore, now, when he felt they were getting somewhere, he was not prepared to be led down a false road.
So, it led Michael to wait for his a
nonymous as he wondered how they were going to get his friend out of hell. “Did you order?” came the words that would take him out of his time of reflection.
“What do you think?” Michael grumbled as he was joined by a strange with a hoodie on their head. Once they flipped it off their head, only to reveal
a blonde with long flowy hair
“How do you fool them?” Michael asked as he tried form words, as his limited intelligence had told him that she had been passing for at least a couple of months now.
“Some people have a talent for it,” came the reply as they both engaged in a stare down and showdown because neither knew the other person, as they were a stranger to each other. “Michael Guerin, so we finally meet?”
“We do,” Michael conceded as he stopped his stared won as he tried to access his partner. “What are you up to?”
“Why do you think I must be up to something?” came the reply as Serena Scott took her own chance to access Michael. She did not have to go by Scotti in this place but could be her normal self for however long this endeavor would last. The assessment she was making of Michael was amusing to her of the fact Michael here on Earth had remade himself over as a wholesome family man. It had been shocking to discover that he was married with kids.
The image she was forming of Michael today was not the same as the one she knew of his life on Antar. But then she guessed this planet worked in mysterious ways. After all Max was in a prison cell. While rough and tumble Rath human identity was the family man of the group. When the opposite should be true. Yet it was not, and she had to make do with the situation they had now.
“This whole thing does not make much sense to me. Why are you coming out of the woods NOW of all times in seeking us out?” Michael muttered as he was irritated by this whole mess. “Why not before?”
“You didn’t need me before” Serena muttered in response.
“Bullshit,” Michael cursed. “Max has been in that hellhole all these years. Why have you not come and lifted a finger before now?” he grumbled and to Serena. Michael clearly was stung at the loss of his friend and brother in arms, someone who had kept him on the straight and narrow only to lose his own way off that road. Serena knew the anger was warranted, as if it were from the other side, she would see it, but she could only do what she could do, and she was here now…
“As they say ‘Life works by its own timetable’ Serena murmured in response to the irritation coming off Michael, and she knew her words did not make a difference. She knew she was absorbing their wrath against her by making this move. “We can’t pressure it to happen before it’s time,” she muttered as Michael glared at her and wasn’t buying her advertising slogan sayings “Do I have to remind you that your friend is the one who put himself where he is” she reminded Michael. “No one asked him to confess.”
“Given the government was after us, it was his only choice” Michael muttered as he gave the well-worn excuse for why his friend had taken the bullet for them.
“Was it?” Serena muttered.
“If he hadn’t, then they still would have come after us” Michael muttered. “Our whole livelihoods were at risk, and he took the fallout for us,” he groaned. “If you had been doing your job at all, then you have to know this, and where were you?”
Not ready to answer that question. “He did not have to surrender,” Serena answered. “Doing so was giving them what they wanted.”
“When you have people depending on you. You will make sacrifices if you love them. Max did it to protect us and we all know it. We were not asking him to but still he went and took the bullet for us, so that we did not get hit by it. You might think a fight is warranted and that is your right, but you were not living our lives. We were. If we had fought, then we might have lost a whole lot more because the fight does not always end the way you want it to” Michael muttered as he did not care for his friend’s motivations being questioned.
Sure, he might have the same ones, and wished his friend had not taken the route he had. But he was old enough to know Max had saved them from pain, and he had a chance to be with Maria and their kids, when the alternative could have very well happened, and the suffering would have been immense. “Why didn’t you show up before now?” he asked once again.
“I had to wait until the pieces were ready,” Serena answered.
“And it could not have been before now, and maybe if it had been seventeen years and if you have lifted a finger than it might have been of some help. Only doing it now, brings charges of being too late…”
far too late
“Do you want my help or not?” Serena charged.