Roswell Fanatics

Title: The Anaheim Killings
Author: MilesToGo99
Rating: MATURE
Disclaimer: Roswell and it's characters are not mine.
Summary: Sequel to The Vanishing of Liz Evans. You don't need to read it to follow this one, but I would recommend it to fully understand their past. Takes place two years later. Max and Liz adopted Emma. They moved to Anaheim, California. They are 27 years old and Emma is 7 years old. They have had a peaceful life so far in Anaheim, but their peaceful life is going to be thrown into chaos once again. Feedback would be greatly appreciated! Hope everyone likes it!

Mod Note: Genre - AU without Aliens

The Vanishing of Liz Evans

Chapter 1

Detective Max Evans sat on his back porch of his four-bedroom home in Anaheim Hills, California. The house was a little out of his and Liz's price range, but his parents helped them out, considering they needed this. They needed the change desperately. He, Liz, and Emma had been a tight-knit family for two years. Two wonderful years. He and Liz had officially adopted little Emma. She was now Emma Evans. Just the mere thought of them or even the slightest mention of them brought a wide smile to his handsome face. After the whole devastating ordeal with Cole Jensen, they all decided they needed a new start. A new outlook on life. To achieve this new outlook, they needed new scenery. They wanted to get as far away as possible, but still remain in the country. They mutually decided on the West Coast. To be more specific, California. Max placed a map of California in front of Emma, while she closed her eyes and randomly placed her tiny, seven-year-old finger on the map. Her finger landed on Anaheim in Orange County. That was how they came to be here. Michael and Maria gave a tearful goodbye. Maria making them swear to call everyday or she would fly down to Anaheim and personally strangle all of them. She was serious. His parents gave an equally tearful goodbye, albeit supportive one.

Max looked up at the sound of the screen door sliding open. He gave his wife a devastating smile. Her smile in return was equally devastating.

"Hey baby," Max said softly.

"Hey yourself," Liz replied before slipping into her husband's lap.

Max wrapped his around snugly around his wife and splayed his palms across her abdomen.

"How's the baby doing?" Max whispered in his wife's ear after placing a soft kiss on her neck.

Liz smiled and placed her hands over her husband's on her still flat abdomen.

"Perfect. Let's hope the next seven months stay that way," Liz said. Her eyes immediately clouded over in remembrance at her words.

Max noticed the look in her eyes and knew all to well what put it there. It was the same thing that put the look in his eyes too.

"Hey sweetie, nothing's going to happen this time. We'll see this child through. He or she is going to be born perfectly healthy and happy. You'll see," Max reassured his wife.

Liz smiled in acceptance. She knew the baby would be okay. After experiencing her miscarriage at the hands of Cole Jensen, she would do anything to protect this child. She would do anything to prevent having to go through that again. Max would too.

"Where's Emma?" Max asked.

"She's taking a nap," Liz answered.

"She usually sleeps for a couple of hours, right?" Max asked.

Liz eyed her husband with big, doe eyes filled with suspicion.

"Yeahhh...Why?" She asked.

"Well, I was thinking, we basically have peace and quiet for two hours. You know what that means..." Max trailed off with a suggestive look upon his face.

Liz jumped off her husband's lap and grabbed his hand and made a mad dash to their bedroom with Max laughing huskily behind her.

********************************************************

Max lay in bed watching his wife sleep. He was so happy. They were in a new environment. They were happy. Liz was pregnant. Emma was doing wonderful. He had a great job as a Detective for the police force. Liz was working at a local elementary school, the same one Emma was attending. Things were finally looking bright for the Evans family.

The first few months following Liz and Emma's return home after Jensen were hard. He had Liz's nightmares to deal with, along with a child's. He didn't even know how to comfort them. He also had his own nightmares to deal with. Emma refused to sleep in her own bed for months. She'd insist on being sandwiched between himself and Liz. That was perfectly okay with him. That's when he decided they needed to move.

The move was a right choice. They had a great life in Anaheim. Their house was absolutely beautiful. He loved Anaheim Hills. As did Liz and Emma. He couldn't wait until the newest addition came into their life also. Their life was calm and peaceful now.

When Max Evans fell back asleep with his expectant wife cradled protectively in his strong arms, he didn't have a clue it was about to be thrown into chaos again.

Chapter 2

Liz Evans awoke to the sound of Max and Emma laughter bouncing off the walls and making it's way to her ears. She grinned at the sound. She took a deep breath and the smell of frying bacon and blueberry muffins filled her nostrils. Her grin grew wider. Every morning since her pregnancy began she had been craving bacon and blueberry muffins. Max said he could handle that, because it was definitely normal compared to some of the cravings he had read about in the many pregnancy books he had read.

She crawled out of bed and slipped on her red fuzzy Elmo slippers Emma had picked out for her when she went shopping with Max. Emma said she needed something to keep her feet warm so the baby's feet would stay warm. She sighed when her feet were encased by the warm, plush material.

Walking into the kitchen, she smiled at the sight of her Max and Emma setting the table.

"Something smells good," Liz said grinning.

"Liz!!!" Emma yelled excitedly, "Me and Max made breakfast!"

"I see...it looks delicious honey," Liz gushed.

Emma smiled proudly...Max smiled proudly as well.

"Sweetie, go wash your hands before you eat," Max told Emma, while looking at her flour-coated hands.

Emma scurried towards the bathroom to wash her hands.

Max walked towards his wife with a sexy smiled plastered on his face.

Liz's heard sped up at the picture he made.

Wrapping his arms snugly around his wife, he gave her a slow, thorough kiss. Leaning back he whispered, "Good morning."

"Good morning," Liz sighed.

He bent down and placed a kiss on Liz's pajama-covered abdomen. "Good morning to you too," he said with love.

Liz's heart clenched with emotion at the look of awe upon her husband's face.

"I still can't believe our baby is in there," Max breathed softly in astonishment.

"It's definitely in there," Liz said.

Max look down at Liz's feet and grinned. Standing up in whispered in her ear, "I've always loved you in red," he whispered before slapping her lightly on her bottom.

Liz squeaked and was about to respond when Emma can prancing into the room, waving her hands around, announcing that her hands were clean.

**********************************************

Jesse Ramirez walked through the woods and sighed when he saw the image of a sheet-covered body laying in a pile of leaves.

"What do we have?" he asked.

"Female. Mid-twenties. Hands bound. Multiple bruises and lacerations over her body. There's a knife sticking out of her chest. Went right through her heart," another officer answered.

Jesse nodded.

"There's something else," the officer said.

"What?" Jesse asked warily.

The officer pulled off the bloodstained sheet and Jesse got his answer.

************************************************

Max and Liz lay cuddle up on a lawn chair while Emma splashed around in the pool.

"I'm so glad today's Saturday. The week's been way too long, " Liz complained.

"You overworking yourself?" Max asked concerned.

Liz rolled her eyes. "Max, I 'm two months pregnant. I'm not overworking myself. I teach wonderful kids," Liz said," I think you're overworking yourself."

Max heaved a groan. "Okay, okay, neither of us are overworked," Max defeated.

Liz smiled.

"I can't wait until the baby's here," Liz whispered.

Max smiled against her hair. "I know, me neither. I'm scared and excited all at once. I just want the baby here with us."

"Emma's excited," Liz commented.

"I know. The other day she was talking about how she couldn't wait for the baby, so her family could be bigger, "Max said with a look of love in his eyes.

Liz was about to comment when Max's cell phone began to ring.

Liz and Max groaned simultaneously.

"Answer it, " Liz grumbled.

Max smiled sheepishly before answering his phone.

"Evans," Max greeted.

"Max, it's Jesse. We need you down at the Anaheim Resort RV Park. There's been a murder. A young woman," Jesse informed quickly.

Max closed his eyes and sighed in distaste.

"I'm on my way," Max told his partner reluctantly and without enthusiasm.

Max looked at Liz sadly.

"You have to go," Liz said quietly.

"I don't want to. But Jesse said there was a homicide and they need me down there," Max said just as quietly.

Liz breathed a long sigh.

"Go," she ordered Max.

"I love you baby," Max said while nuzzling his wife's cheek.

Liz smiled a genuine smile, "And I love you," she replied.

As Liz watched her husband go say goodbye to Emma, her stomach began to fill with the heavy weight of dread. She was unsettled by that feeling. She didn't know why she was feeling that way. Unconsciously, she knew that was a sign of bad things to come. That one phone call from Jesse Ramirez was the start of something that was bound to have a long-away and rough end.

TBC

Okay I have a new part! I hope everyone likes it! Thanks for all the feedback!

hoLLyBEHRy
Jadeling
dreamer19
Strawberry88
sweetbrowneyes
hazz
roswellluver
mrsjbehr



Chapter 3

Detective Max Evans pulled up to the Anaheim Resort RV Park with a feeling of dread. Stepping out of his car, he looked around and saw yellow tape, police cars, and the coroner. No matter how long he had done this job, everytime he saw the coroner it always sent chills up his spine. The coroner usually meant someone died before they were meant to. There was of course cases of natural causes, but more often than not, someone had their life brutally ripped away from them for the pleasure of someone else.

He spotted his partner, Jesse Ramirez and began walking towards him. Jesse was a good cop, a good partner, and a good friend. Jesse had been his partner since he signed onto the Orange County Police Department. It had taken him some time to get used to the fact that he was no longer working with his lifelong friend Michael Guerin, but in time he did get used to it and he had to admit Jesse was a good partner.

Jesse's wife, Isabel was also a good friend of theirs, especially Liz. Liz and Isabel met when Jesse invited Max and Liz over for a dinner at the Ramirez household when they first moved to Anaheim. Liz and Isabel were immediately taken with one another. Max knew she was desperate for a female companion, someone to talk to. She was missing Maria terribly and Isabel helped dissipate some of that emotion. Coincidentally, Liz and Isabel both worked at the same elementary school. Isabel was a school counselor.

Jesse noticed Max coming toward him and he made his way over to meet Max.

"Hey Evans, " Jesse said.

Max nodded in return. "What's the facts?" Max asked.

"A twenty-six year old woman. We found her ID. Her name's Ashley Roberts. She lives in Anaheim. We're contacting her family as we speak," Jesse said.

"Cause of death?" Max asked reluctantly.

"Coroner obviously thinks it was the one stab wound to her chest. She also has several bruises and cuts over her body. Some of which we think are post-mortem. Probably caused from dragging her body through the woods. She was found with her hands bound behind a tree and she was sitting on the ground in an upright position," Jesse answered.

Max swallowed hard while rubbing a hand over his face tiredly.

"Come on Max, she's over here," Jesse said.

Max followed Jesse to where the young woman was bound to the tree.

Max couldn't see her yet, because she was surrounded by several officers and medical examiners.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion as he made his way to the victim. Each step he took, another officer would seem to disappear out of the way. Each step that shook the ground, revealed another part of the her body. Max's heart rate increased with each step.

When he finally reached the body, he gasped at what he saw.

In the middle of Ashley Robert's chest, the number one was carved right beside the knife sticking out of her young heart.

*********************************************
Liz Evans leaned back in her chair, sighing while she listened to Maria's incessant rambling.

"....then you will not believe what he did Liz....he told me to shut the fuck up! Can you believe that?! He actually told me to shut the fuck up. Not shut up, not shut the hell up...hey I could live with shut the hell up..but he said shut the fuck up!?" Maria screeched.

Liz visibly winced at the sound.

"Maria, I'm sure Michael didn't mean it," Liz reasoned.

"The hell he didn't!" Maria screamed once again.

Liz intelligently controlled her urge to tell Maria herself to shut the fuck up.

Deciding to change the subject quickly before her ear drums completely ruptured from damage, she said the one thing she knew that would do the trick.

"The baby is doing okay," Liz said softly.

She sighed when she heard Maria's obvious change of tone.

"I wish I was there," Maria mumbled sadly.

"Me too. But you and Michael are still coming to visit in a couple of months, right?" Liz asked hopefully.

"Wouldn't dream of not coming," Maria answered meaningfully.

"Good, now I've been thinking of baby names," Liz said.

"Ooooooohhh....let's hear it," Maria said excitedly.

"Well......We were thinking about Tyler Michael for a boy, or if it's a girl....Sophie Maria," Liz said with a smile plastered on her face.

She was met with silence, not the expected loud reaction from Maria.

"Maria?" Liz questioned.

"I...I..I don't know what to say," Maria said in a tear-filled voice.

"Say you love me for wanting to name my baby after you or Michael," Liz said cheekily.

"I love you for wanting to name your baby after me or my husband," Maria said quickly.

"That'll do," Liz said.

*******************************************

Jesse Ramirez looked over at his partner, Max Evans and knew how he was feeling. He was feeling sickened by what happened to the young Ashley Roberts. He was feel apprehension about that fact that a one was carved into her body in such a barbaric way. As if hearing his thoughts Max asked a question.

"What do you think it means?" Max asked, although he already knew the answer.

"That she's the first," Jesse answered cryptically.

"The first of what?" Max asked inanely.

Jesse just gave Max a knowing look.

Max nodded knowingly.

"Right, the first to die," Max said fearfully.


TBC

Chapter 4

It had been three weeks since Ashley Roberts untimely death. The Orange County Police Department were walking on eggshells waiting for victim number two to appear. They knew he/she would. They had absolutely no leads. They were at a dead end. They just hoped that with the next victim, would come more evidence. They had no way of knowing when, where, or how the murderer would strike again. And who would be struck down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max walked through the house in search of his wife. He looked from room to room. Just a year ago, the very idea would have caused him to panic, but now he knew there was no need to panic. Liz was around here somewhere. Even though he hasn't broken out into a full-fledged panic mode, he still has a place in the back of his mind where his deep-rooted fears manifest themselves. Every man fears losing his family. After you were a breath away from actually doing so, your fears are amplified, almost to a fatal level. It becomes more than just a morbid fear. It takes on a realistic feel, because the fear is just that.....real. The reality that it could happen to you. It has almost happened to you. That it could happen again.

Shaking off his unpleasant thoughts, Max turned the corner and saw the light from Liz's office faintly lighting the dark hallway. Pushing the door quietly open, he leaned against the door frame and smiled at the vision his wife made. Her back was towards him, but he could see she was wearing her only wearing her Elmo slippers and one of his old T-shirts. Her dark hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. A few wayward strands were falling haphazardly around neck. She was looking down at a table full of books. He knew she was biting her lip in avid concentration.

"Max, stop staring. If you keep that up, I might just begin to think you have a complex," Liz teased her husband.

A huge grin appeared on his face at his wife's words.

Sighing dramatically, Max walked up behind Liz while saying, "I'm afraid I do have a complex. I just can't seem to help myself. I'm a flawed man, but what can I say..." Max paused while leaning down to brush a kiss behind Liz's ear, "The reason behind my complex is incredibly beautiful," Max breathed softly into Liz's ear.

Liz's breath quickened when she felt his words tickle her ear.

"Beautiful, huh?" Liz asked breathily.

"Uh-huh...breathtakingly beautiful," Max said while running his hands over his wife's slightly bulged belly. It wasn't noticeable to anyone but to himself and Liz. She was hardly showing, with her just only been three months along.

"How are you feeling?" he asked gently. Liz was still having morning sickness. She actually had morning, afternoon, evening, and nighttime sickness so far in her pregnancy. Very sporadic. Their baby was certainly giving it's mother a run for her money.

"Well, I no longer feel like I'm going to regurgitate all of my internal organs," Liz said dryly.

Max visibly winced at her words.

Max gently turned his wife's chair around and kneeled in front of her. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

Liz smiled softly. "I'm not. No matter how miserable I feel, I couldn't be happier."

Max leaned forward and kissed his wife softly.

"I love you," he said tenderly.

"And I love you," Liz returned.

Max looked over Liz's shoulder and raised a questioning brow. "So, what's with all the books?" he asked curiously.

Liz smiled sheepishly. "Oh, well I was looking through books for children that help explain pregnancy and babies."

"Baby, I know I can be a little dense sometimes and baby knowledge isn't exactly my forte, but I hardly think I need to have the fundamentals explained to me with kid gloves on," Max said grinning.

Liz swatted him while flashing him an equally deep grin.

"You dumbass. I'm going to have to explain to my kindergartners, why their teacher is suddenly going to be getting fat. I know they'll have gazillions of questions, So I'm trying to find books that say the basics in the most innocent of ways," Liz explained.

"Sounds like a great idea," Max praised his wife.

Liz blushed. She didn't know why she blushed. Probably her hormones.

Max spotted a book and picked it up. "I Was Born to Be a Sister," he read aloud.

"Oh...that's for Emma. I, well I know she is a little apprehensive about how things are going to change and I want her to feel reassured about them. I want to include her in everything," Liz said.

Max looked at his wife with even more love shining through his amber eyes. "God, I love you," he whispered adoringly.

Liz's eyes just filled up with tears in response.

Max grinned.

"Damn hormones," Liz muttered in disgust.

"Indeed," Max agreed.

Liz merely rolled her eyes in response.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max and Emma stood in the living room, ready to go. They were both waiting patiently for Liz. Well, maybe not so patiently.

"Liz!!!" Emma yelled dramatically, "We are gonna be late and Isabel is gonna get all red-faced!"

Max grinned in amusement. Then his grin faded when he realized the little seven year old was right. Isabel Ramirez was not someone who tolerated anything, especially guests being late for dinner at her home. She liked things planned and on time. One minute late might as well be one hour late in her eyes. One hour late to her means you shouldn't even bother coming.

"Wait here," Max ordered Emma gently while he went to hurry his wife along.

When he found her sitting on the edge of their bed with a dress in her hand crying softly his heart clenched.

"Liz, baby, what's wrong?" he asked concerned.

"I...I...I'm getting fat!" Liz yelled.

Max blinked in confusion. "Huh?" he asked.

"Huh?! That's what you say? Max look at me!" Liz yelled.

Max looked at her and definitely did not see a fat lady. He his beautiful wife who was four months pregnant with their child.

"Baby...you look beautiful," Max reassured her.

Liz snorted. "Beautiful? I can't even get my dress zipped up."

"Here...let me try," Max offered.

Liz stood up and stepped into her dress, while Max pulled it up and tried to zip it.

It was not zipping up. He tried and tried, and the damned thing wouldn't budge.

"See!" Liz shouted.

Maybe their baby was getting bigger than they thought. She was almost now four months pregnant. After Liz had fun with her little books with Emma and her students, she seemed to blossom. Quick. In the past month since then, she had gotten a lot bigger than they expected. Liz was petite, and she was only a few months along.

"Umm....maybe you could wear something else," Max suggested ignorantly.

"What?! I want to wear this dress. I want it to fit!" Liz sobbed.

Max started to panic. Liz had never had such an emotional episode during her pregnancy. He was at a loss.

"Umm...." he trailed off.

He heard the phone ring. He ignored it because he knew Emma would get it before it could even ring a second time.

"Liz, honey, you are so beautiful," Max said with truth in every word.

Liz sniffled, "Really?"

Max smiled in hope. That seemed to work.

Then Emma's fearful voice shouted down the hallway, "That was Isabel! She said we're late!"

Max's eyes widened when he saw Liz's tears started running again. She stood up and began pacing frantically. Damn Isabel and her timing.

"Oh God! I can't go out like this! Max, what do I do?" Liz asked.

Max merely gulped in response. He was at a loss for words. God how he wished Maria would walk through that door. She'd know what to say.

Chapter 5

It had been a few days since the whole dress not fitting/Liz thinking she's fat/Isabel pissed off....basically a tears and raised voices fiasco. After, what Max Evans thought, were the most stressful minutes of his life, he calmed Liz down. He only did that after a phone call to Maria asking for her help. Between the two of them, Liz relaxed.

Isabel was more of a tough case. Jesse, himself, and not even a pregnant Liz could get her to quite bitching...only Emma's request that Isabel take her shopping did the trick. No one else even thought of mentioning Isabel's favorite pastime. But little Emma is quick on her feet, and she made the entire evening go off as planned....after a few unplanned moments.

His cell ringing broke him out of his thoughts. Seeing Liz's name on the caller id, he answered it quickly.

"Hey sweetie," Max spoke sweetly into the phone.

Liz smiled at the sound of her husband's voice. "Hey baby," she said back.

"How are you feeling?" Max asked.

"I'm good actually. I feel even bigger today. I swear Max, I think I actually grew overnight. This baby of yours is intent on making me into the size of a sumo wrestler," Liz grumbled, but had a contradicting smile on her face.

Max chuckled at his wife's words.

"Maybe it just needs more room to kick around in," Max pondered.

"A fetus does not need that much room," Liz said.

"What time is your appointment tomorrow?" Max asked excitedly.

"Only you would get all giddy about a doctor's appointment," Liz said.

Max ignored her. "Well, the time?"

"It's at nine," Liz said.

"I'll be there," Max said.

"Max, I love you, but you honestly don't have to come to every appointment," Liz said.

"I know. I just want to. I don't want to miss a thing. Not this time," Max said with a tinge of sadness in his voice.

Liz smiled, "I don't want you to miss anything either. Either of us. I love that you want to be involved in everything. Of course, I'm not surprised. I didn't expect anything less of you. I knew you'd be a great father. I mean, look at you with Emma. You're amazing," Liz gushed.

"Stop it, you're making me blush," Max joked in a weak voice. Tears of gratitude at his wife's words were presently clogging his throat.

"Okay, I have to get off here now and get Emma ready. Isabel is going through with her promise to take Emma shopping," Liz said.

"Okay, just don't wear yourself out. Promise me you'll take a break if you feel tired, no matter what Isabel says," Max ordered.

Liz rolled her eyes.

"Yes, sir," she joked.

"And call me if you need anything," he added.

"Yes, sir," Liz joked again.

"I love you baby," Max said.

"I love you too...and call me if you need anything," Liz said.

Max grinned. "Yes ma'am."

************************************

"Isabel, please...I don't want to go in there," Liz whined.

"Oh come on Liz. You can get something sexy for Max," Isabel suggested.

"What's sexy?" Emma asked.

Liz gasped while Isabel said quickly, "Something pretty."

"Isabel..seriously...I can't be...pretty...in anything that's in that store. I'm a little on the beastly side," Liz said.

"You're not a beast Liz....you're sexy," Emma said innocently.

Liz gasped while Isabel held back her laugh.

"Oopps.." Isabel trailed off.

"Honey, sexy does mean something...pretty. But only grown-ups can use it. So you should never say that word until you are one," Liz explained.

Emma nodded in understanding. "Okay...I'll just say pretty then."

Liz breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't really need her Emma going around saying sexy. Her coworkers at the school would not appreciate that. That's what she loved so much about Emma. Her quick understanding. You didn't have to ask her twice to do something. She understood it and did it. Only if Isabel was a little more like Emma...especially right now.

"Anyway, Liz seriously. You know Max worships you and thinks you are just gorgeous no matter what. And you are. You still have a great body. Just one that is with child. Let's get you something to wear for Max," Isabel pushed.

"Okay, okay," Liz relented.

"I'll go pick something out and you take Emma to the bookstore across from here. I'll go in there and see you guys when I'm done," Liz said.

"Got it," Isabel said while pushing Liz inside Victoria's Secret and ushering little Emma to the bookstore.

***********************************

Max was just coming out of the bathroom, when Jesse almost ran right into him.

"What's the hurry Jesse?" Max laughed.

His face quickly contorted into one of concern when he saw the look on Jesse's face.

"What's wrong?" Max asked quickly.

"Another body has been found," Jesse said quickly.

"Let's go," Max said.

***********************************
Max looked down at the body of Ethan Robinson. He was twenty-eight years old. An investment banker. An investment banker with the number two carved viscously into his chest.

"Cause of death was the blow to head. He died instantly with that hit," the medical examiner said.

Max once again looked down at the body lying lifelessly on the cold, metal slab of a table.

"I suspect he was beaten with a baseball bat. The size of the bruises coincide with that particular weapon," he added.

"So, basically someone took a baseball bat and beat him to death?" Jesse asked disgusted.

The medical examiner nodded. "In simple terms...yes."

"Max, I don't know if this helps or not. Now we are completely at a loss. No consistency except for the numbers carved into the victims' chests. One female with a stab wound to the chest...the next a male who was beaten to death. Different causes of death and different genders," Jesse said frustrated.

Max nodded, "You're right. We don't have a particular type he's interested in. Anyone's game...anyone could be number three."

Chapter 6

When Max Evans walked through his front door, his senses were immediately bombarded with the smell of garlic. He grinned knowing what that scent meant. Liz made his favorite, garlic chicken. He quickly shut the door and walked into the dining room and his breath caught in his throat at what he saw. The dining room was turned into a literal dream. White candles and white rose petals adorned the table along with a centerpiece of white roses with a blush of pink to them in full bloom. The table was set with a pasta side dish, garlic bread, salad, a bottle of wine, and sparkling cider...for Liz of course. When he looked in the door way of the dining room leading to the kitchen, he saw Liz walking through it carrying the plate of her infamous garlic chicken.

His heart stopped when he saw her. She was wearing a white, silk dress that had a deep V-neckline. The neckline showed off just the right amount of her newly blossoming body. With his eyes traveling down her body, Max saw the prominent bulge of her growing belly. The dress fell just above her knees. He took in her bare legs and feet and smiled.

"Wow," Max breathed. It was the only word he could form.

Liz blushed at her husband's response and ducked her head shyly while carrying the dinner to the table.

"Emma's staying at Isabel and Jesse's tonight. I know Isabel wanted to get her hands on poor Emma's hair. So I wanted to do something special for you," she said sweetly.

"You didn't have to do all of this. Isn't this my job? Making a romantic dinner for my pregnant wife?" Max asked grinning.

"I'm not an invalid Max. I wanted to. You've been so stressed with this case lately. I know you can't tell me the specifics, but I know enough that you are seriously wearing yourself down. You need to take a break, relax. And that's what this is for," Liz answered honestly.

Max Evans looked genuinely moved. He was genuinely moved.

"Baby," he whispered.

Liz walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him.

"You'll stop whatever is happening Max. You always do. It might not be when you want or how you want. It might be sooner rather than later. But you'll stop it. You'll make everything okay. That's what your best at...or one of the many things your best at," Liz said into Max's chest.

Max exhaled a ragged sigh. A tired one. Liz always knew what was bothering him and she walks knew just what to do and say. That was one of the things she was best at.

"Thank you," he whispered into her hair.

"Anytime," Liz said smiling.

****************************************

Max and Liz sat on the couch cuddled up eating dessert. Again, Max's favorite, cherry cheesecake.

"So, how was your day?" Liz asked between mouthfuls of cheesecake.

Max replied with a vague, "Not a day I'd want to relive...at least the former part of my day. I'd love to relive this evening as many time as possible," he replied smoothly at the end.

Liz smiled. She knew he was trying to divert the conversation.

"Max..." Liz prodded.

Max sighed. He knew what she wanted to know. He knew he shouldn't tell her. But he could never deny her anything. Except the details.

"Another body. A 28-year-old man," Max answered.

Liz gasped.

"And let's not talk about it. You know I can't give you any details. Not even his name. They aren't releasing it yet. When they do, I'll tell you what they release. You can only know what the general public know. You already know more than they do. They don't even know number two has been found," he said.

They wanted to keep it all under wraps, but the first body and what happened was somehow leaked. So know everyone was tightlipped. Only the vital people to the case knew specifics.

Liz lay a reassuring hand on his shoulder while saying," Okay. We'll talk about my day."

Max smiled a real smile. "I'd absolutely would love to hear about your day."

"Well, shopping was....stressful...with a bit of fun laced into it. I did get a surprise for you," she said.

Max raised a questioning brow at his wife, "Another surprise?"

Liz nodded smiling.

"What kind of surprise?" he asked full of excitement.

"Oh...the good kind. The lacey...sexy...revealing kind," Liz replied while standing up and pulling Max towards the bedroom.

"That's the best kind," Max said grinning.

"Indeed it is," Liz said.

*******************************************

Liz and Max sat in the doctor's office waiting room. They were anxious.

"What's taking so long?" Max asked impatient.

"Max, they'll call us in soon," Liz assured him.

"You said that twenty minutes ago," he said grumpily.

Liz rolled her eyes at his behavior.

"Liz Evans?" the receptionist called.

Liz stood up while asking, "Yes?"

"The doctor will see you now," she replied.

Liz grinned triumphantly while Max had a mixture of annoyance and relief etched onto his face.

*****************************************

"Okay, Liz, this will be a little cold," Dr. Audra Kennedy warned.

"Okay, I'm ready," Liz said.

Liz jumped a little when she felt the cold gel being spread onto her burgeoning abdomen.

Max and Liz's entwined hands tightly while looking at the screen like children waiting to open their Christmas presents.

"Oh my God," Dr. Kennedy whispered.

Max and Liz both immediately stiffened at the doctor's words.

"What? What's wrong?" Max asked worriedly.

"No...No, nothing's wrong," Dr. Kennedy replied smiling.

"Then what is it?" Liz snapped.

"There's two heartbeats," the doctor replied with the same smile on her face.

Max and Liz both wore expressions of complete shock.

"Huh?" Max asked dumbly.

"Twins. You're having twins," she said.

Liz looked to Max with watery eyes. He wore the same expression. Complete happiness. The thought that maybe this was a sign that everything was going to be okay. That maybe they were blessed with two babies, because they so violently lost one before.

********************************

"Twins!!!" Maria screeched excitedly.

"Bullshit!" she screeched again.

Liz laughed while rolling her eyes.

"Not, bullshit Maria. Two strong heartbeats. Two strong babies," she replied happily.

"Oh my God chica! This is such awesome news! I am so happy for you and Max. Really, babe, you two deserve it more than anyone," Maria replied.

Liz's eyes welled up and she felt her happiness skyrocket even more than she thought possible at her friend's words. "Thank you Maria," she whispered.

"When do you find out the genders?" Maria asked.

"Not until a few more weeks," she replied.

"I can't wait. Wait...you are going to find out, right?" Maria asked worriedly.

"Of course we are Maria. Max and I want to know the sex of our babies," Liz said.

"Thank God. Because I don't know what I would do if you decided you wanted to be surprised. I might have to bribe the doctor to tell me...or even have Michael break in and steal your files," Maria said seriously.

Liz knew she would probably go to those lengths. Maria was not known for her patience. She was more known for her impatience.

"Michael and I will be there in two weeks Liz. I can't wait. I bet your so big. I want to see Emma too. How is she doing?" Maria asked.

"She's great. She's so excited there are two babies. She can't wait," Liz replied smiling. She was grateful Emma was overjoyed with the news of twins as well.

"I can't wait to tell my students. Spring break is over in a couple of days. So they'll know soon," Liz said.

Liz was absentmindedly watching the news while listening to Maria. Something caught her attention. "Maria, hold on," Liz said.

"Anaheim is in a state of alarm at the recent finding of a body. Ethan Robinson, 28-years old, was found murdered two days ago. He is the second victim in the past two months. He was found with the identical marking as was the first victim, 26-year-old Ashley Roberts. The markings are numbers carved into the victim's bodies. Ashley Roberts, number one, and Ethan Robinson, number two. These gruesome murders are shaking our community. Here is video taken of Ethan Robinson's wife, Theresa Robinson, leaving her house. She is obviously devastated by the news. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families," the newscaster reported.

Liz's eyes widened in recognition when she saw Theresa Robinson's anguished eyes seemingly staring back at her through through the televison screen.

TBC

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Chapter 7

Liz Evans was pacing frantically back and forth through her living room. She was eagerly awaiting Max's arrival. After recognizing Theresa Robinson on the news, she gave Maria a quick, vague goodbye and immediately called her husband. She told him cryptically that she needed him home now and hung up without further explanation.

She felt sick to her stomach. The sick feeling had nothing to do with the two children growing inside of her womb. Her hand flew to her stomach protectively at the thought of them. She would let nothing happen to these babies. Not again.

She looked up at the sound of the door opening and made a mad dash into her husband's arm, squeezing him tightly.

"Liz, baby, what's wrong? What's happened?" Max asked full of panic.

Liz just squeezed him tighter in response.

Max's heart filled with even more fear. When he received Liz's call, he had been out of his mind with worry. He raced home as fast as he could, breaking every traffic law he was sworn to uphold himself. On the frantic drive home, his mind conjured up the worst possible scenarios. Liz was hurt, the babies, or Emma. Each scenario was more drastic and gruesome than the one before.

"Liz...Liz, please, honey, what's wrong?" Max asked on the verge of tears.

Liz choked out a sob in response.

"Is it the babies...Emma?" he asked in fear.

"No," Liz broke out in a cry.

Not knowing what else to do, Max picked up his wife and carried her over to the couch. He sat down and Liz curled up in his lap. He wrapped his arms protectively around her until her cries quieted down.

What seemed like an unbelievably long, excruciating time later, Liz finally spoke.

"I know the man's wife who died," she said quietly.

Max pulled back to look into her tearstained face.

"What?" he asked not understanding.

"Ethan Robinson. Number two. I saw his wife on the news, Theresa. Max, I know her. You might remember her too." Liz said.

"How?" Max asked.

"In college. She was in a few of my freshman classes. I remember her. She was Theresa Lewis then. But I recognize her. She was in our English 101 class. We both had it with her. Don't you remember her?" Liz asked.

Max thought for a while then answered, "Vaguely. I remember her vaguely. But that was like, nine years ago Liz."

"I was always the one with the amazing memory," Liz joked weakly.

Max gave her a small, heartfelt smile for her effort.

"Okay, so you know her, we both do. What's that got to do with anything?" Max asked still confused.

"Max..what if...what if this has something to do with us?" Liz asked fearfully.

Max then understood completely what she was saying....what she feared.

"Baby," he whispered before cupping her cheeks and kissing her gently on the lips.

"It has nothing to do with us. We have no connection whatsoever to Ashley Roberts. We didn't even know Ethan Robinson. We barely know his widowed wife. It's just a coincidence. It has to be. What could it possibly have to do with us?" Max asked gently.

Liz shook her head jerkily while her eyes filled with fresh tears.

"It's just...It's just I can't go through anything like that again. I won't survive it. None of us will. I try not to think about it and for the most part I don't. I'm honestly okay now. I am. I really am. I'm happy. It's just sometimes it creeps up on me, at the most unexpected times. And it's absolutely paralyzing and terrifying. I can't breathe when it happens. I become so paranoid. It doesn't happen very much, but it did today. When I saw someone I recognized, Theresa, and how she was related to a murder. It scares me, Max," Liz whispered in a tearful voice.

Max's chest felt like it was going to explode at Liz's heartbreaking admission. Tears streamed down his own face.

"Oh, God," he whispered brokenly.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"I don't want you to worry. I don't want you to walk on eggshells around me. I'm fine. You know I am. I have you, Emma, our babies. We have a great life now. I don't tell you about these moments because they honestly rarely happen anymore. It's been months since it has. I swear," Liz said.

"Okay, but if you ever, I mean ever feel like that again, tell me, please," Max said painfully.

"Cross my heart," Liz said while making the motion of crossing her heart.

"Okay, I'll check into things at work, make sure what's going on. But, baby, I honestly don't think this has anything to do with us," Max reassured his wife.

Liz nodded, half-convinced. She knew it probably didn't. But she wanted to be positive.

"Okay, sounds like a plan," she said.

"I'm so sorry to scare you like that Max. I should have told you over the phone that nothing horrible was wrong. I was just out of it," Liz said embarrassed by her actions.

"Don't ever apologize for needing me. Ever," Max said vehemently.

Liz nodded before whispering, "I love you Max."

"I love you," he whispered back before leaning forward to kiss his wife. Right before his lips descended on hers, the front door burst open with a hyper Emma running in with Isabel right behind her.

"Max, Liz!!!" Emma yelled before jumping onto the couch and rooting Liz off Max's lap and taking her place.

Liz and Max both giggled at their actions.

Isabel saw their tearstained faces and became worried.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

Max and Liz nodded while smiling. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just my hormones," Liz said assuring Isabel.

That explanation seemed to be enough for her.

"How did your day go sweetie?" Liz asked while smoothing Emma's dark waves off her face and staring into her bright eyes.

"It was fun," Emma said.

"You weren't gone very long, only a few hours. I thought with Isabel taking you shopping you'd be gone for days," Max joked.

Isabel sent him a glare. "We decided to go to the park instead," she announced.

"Ahh...that's why I don't see an abundance of shopping bags," Liz teased.

Isabel directed the same glare towards Liz.

"It was such a nice day outside, I thought we'd go to the park instead. Emma loved it," Isabel said fond of the little girl.

"I did. I loved a lot," Emma agreed.

"Well, guys, I have to get going. I need to go home and get my work together, with school starting again on Monday," Isabel said.

"Okay, I need to do that too, but I'll just put it off until Sunday. Thanks so much again Isabel," Liz said gratefully.

"Anytime Liz. You know I love that little girl," Isabel said.

Liz nodded.

"Bye Max..Emma," Isabel said before walking out and hearing a chorus of goodbyes.

********************************************

Liz was curled up in bed, reading over her work for school. She was planning new lessons for her students. With it being a Friday night, she only had two more days before it began again. She was eager to get back to her students.

"Hey honey," Max's voice broke into her thoughts.

Liz looked up into her husband's tired face walking through the bedroom door.

"Hey baby," Liz said.

"You look tired," she said.

"Yeah, a little. With this case going on, there's a lot of pressure to end it," he said.

Liz smiled sadly, "I know you'll end it."

Max gave his wife a small smile of gratitude. He also saw the unmistakable question in her eyes.

"I looked into it. I even talked to Theresa Robinson. She doesn't even remember me. She barely remembers you. I searched every possible avenue. I don't see any connection baby," Max said.

Liz's features relaxed visibly.

She put her work aside and patted the bed.

Max eagerly climbed into the bed next to her. She lay her head on his chest while he wrapped his arms around her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Better now. The babies are doing good. I just can't wait to find out the genders. Only a few more weeks," Liz said excited.

"I know. It's unbelievable," Max said smiling sleepily.

Max felt his wife smile against his bare chest before placing a soft kiss there.

"Goodnight Max," she whispered gently.

"Hmm...goodnight love," he whispered back.

TBC

Thanks so much for the feedback everyone! I really appreciate it!

Sorry it's kind of short, I promise I'll have a longer update this weekend!



Chapter 8

It had been two weeks since Liz Evans saw the news broadcast about Ethan Robinson's death. In those two weeks two more bodies were found.

The first, a twenty-seven year old woman, Tess Harding, was found hanging from a tree in her own backyard. The number three mutilated the flesh of her chest.

The second, a twenty-five year old man, Brian Harper. He was found in a hotel room by a maid. She found him lying face down in the bathroom floor, surrounded by shattered glass. He apparently was rinsing his mouth out in preparation for bed, when he suddenly collapsed dead on the floor. Poison was the cause of death in that case.

There were still no leads. Max Evans and Jesse Ramirez were slowly going crazy with the thought that they might never catch the culprit. How do you catch a killer who has no apparent motive, no apparent choice in victim or style in killing? It was next to impossible, but it was possible to catch him. Max Evans was going to make that possibility a reality.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Liz the house is fine. Everything looks fine," Max said exasperated with his wife.

Liz shut her husband up with a glare in his direction.

"No, it's not fine Max. Maria and Michael are going to be here today and I want everything perfect for them before we pick them up from the airport. They are going to be staying here, so I want everything to look nice," Liz said frustrated.

"Everything looks beautiful," Max commented.

Liz huffed defiantly at this comment.

Max walked over to his wife and began gently massaging her shoulders. "Liz you need to relax, it's Maria and Michael. Our friends. You don't need any added stress," he said.

Liz leaned back into her husband, immediately relaxing at his touch and words.

Liz sighed while saying,"I know..it's just-

"Hormones," Max interrupted knowingly.

Liz elbowed him in the stomach.

"That wasn't hormones," Liz retorted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are we there yet?" Emma whined from the backseat impatiently.

"No, we're not," Max said for what seemed like the billionth time.

"Honey, we're almost to the airport, about five more minutes, okay?" Liz said.

"Okay," Emma agreed.

"I know you're excited to see Aunt Maria and Uncle Michael. We are too," Liz said happily.

"Yeah, I really need to talk to Michael about some things," Max said distracted in his thoughts.

"The case?" Liz asked knowingly.

"Yeah, I figured maybe he could take a look at things and see what he thinks. A fresh perspective or something. I'll take anyone's perspective at this point," Max grumbled.

Liz lay a reassuring hand on her Max's arm, "It'll all work out."

Max nodded unconvinced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max, Liz, and Emma looked anxiously at each face coming through the terminal. Face after face, they didn't see who they desperately wanted to.

Finally, the last two faces appeared and they belonged to The Guerins.

Maria's eyes widened excitedly as did Liz's. They both took off at a dead run for each other, or more like Maria at a dead run, Liz's close to five month pregnant body wouldn't allow for such a speed. They bolted into each other giggling excitedly. They felt another body collide with theirs as well, a smaller one, Emma's.

"Oh my god!" Maria squealed.

"Look at you, you're so pregnant. Oh, you look absolutely beautiful," Maria gushed.

"No, I look fat, you look beautiful," Liz commented back.

"I think you're both pretty," a small voice said.

"Oh Emma!!" Maria screeched.

She bent down at her level and began squeezing her cheeks. "Look at that face. Such a doll," she said before hugging her.

Max and Michael exchanged warm hugs before they both laughed at the sight the females made.

"Oh Max, I can't forget about you. Handsome as ever," Maria said causing Max to blush.

He embraced her while saying, "It's good to see you too."

"Michael.....," Liz trailed off looking at him expectantly.

Michael rolled his eyes before hugging her tightly, then Emma.

"So, what's on the agenda?" Maria asked.

"Well, I figured we'd show you two around tonight," Max said.

His cell phone went off interrupting the impending conversation about plans.

"So, Liz, are you still going to name your baby after me?" Maria asked.

Liz rolled her eyes, "Of course Maria."

Max came back with a look of shock on his face.

"What's wrong Max?" Liz asked worriedly.

"I...I," He couldn't finish.

"Max?" Michael questioned stepping forward.

"Maria could you please take Liz and Emma home. I'm so sorry about his. Michael, if you could come with me," Max said visibly shaking.

"Max, what's wrong damnit?!" Liz said on the verge of tears.

Max looked up to meet his wife's wide, fearful eyes. His heart lurched at the news he was about to tell her.

"Another body was found," Max said.

"Already?" Liz asked in disbelief.

Max nodded shakily.

"Who was it?" Liz asked trembling inside, already dreading the answer.

Max swallowed hard before answering.

TBC

Thank you again so so so much for the feedback! I don't have time to respond to everyone individually right now, so thanks to everyone! Time to help ease your anger at being left such a cliffhanger. Enjoy!


From CHAPTER 8:

"Another body was found," Max said.

"Already?" Liz asked in disbelief.

Max nodded shakily.

"Who was it?" Liz asked trembling inside, already dreading the answer.

Max swallowed hard before answering.



CHAPTER 9

"Isabel," Max choked out.

"What?!" Liz screamed in tearful shock.

"Isabel...her body was found," Max said all he could.

"Where?! How?!" Liz asked desperately.

"I...I don't know. I'm supposed to go down to the station. Jesse's he..." Max trailed off now knowing what he could possibly say to describe how Jesse must be feeling. Broken is one word he could think of. Enraged another one.

"Liar," Liz whispered angrily.

"W-What?" Max asked in shock.

"I said you're a liar!" Liz screamed.

Max's heart broke at the look on Liz's face. Complete devastation covered up by denial. He said, "No..Liz-

Liz interrupted,"No! I don't want to hear it! You're fucking lying! Isabel is fine. She's perfectly fine. It's just one big misunderstanding," Liz said.

Max, Michael, and Maria all looked at one another not knowing what to say. They all had tears in their eyes at their wife and friend's obvious despair.

Emma was on the verge of crying hysterically Max noticed.

"Umm..Maria, could you?" He asked looking towards Emma.

Maria nodded in understanding. "Hey honey, why don't we go over by the windows and we can watch the airplanes?" Maria suggested.

"No..Liz,"Emma protested.

"Emma, please honey, go with Maria," Max begged almost desperately.

Emma nodded in consent and walked off with her small hand tucked safely inside Maria's.

"Liz," Michael said, "Max isn't lying."

Liz spun around and pinned an angry glare on Michael.

"How the fuck would you know? Huh? You didn't answer the phone, you don't know what's going on!" Liz screamed.

"Liz, baby, calm down. You can't get worked up. Think about the babies," Max reminded her.

"Max, the babies are fine. I would know it if they weren't. I'm calm. I'm fine. Isabel is fine. I'll prove it," Liz said while taking out her cell phone and dialing the familiar number of her close friend.

It rang and rang and rang.

With each ring, Liz's heart sped up more, her tears flowed faster, her body shook more violently and her heart clenched in her chest more tightly.

While dropping the phone to the floor, she collapsed along with it sobbing violently.

"Oh god..oh god..Max," Liz sobbed out.

Max immediately was at Liz's side and holding her while rocking back and forth.

"It's okay baby, it's okay, I swear we'll find out what happened and who did this. I swear it," Max vowed to his wife.

"I...oh god...I can't breath," Liz said gasping.

"Sit up Liz, take deep breaths, please," Max begged frantically.

"I...I, " Liz gasped out.

"Michael, call an ambulance! Now!" Max barked out in panic.

"No..Max, I'm fine," Liz said.

"No, you're not, you can hardly breath," Max denied her statement of reassurement.

"I can..see? I just, I just, oh god," Liz said in anguish.

Max's tears fell harder for the loss of his friend, the for the anguish of his Jesse, and for the anguish of his wife. Especially at seeing her anguish, he doesn't know if he could handle Jesse's.

******************************************
Max and Michael walked through the halls of the police station. Both emotionally drained. After Liz's meltdown, Max picked Liz up and carried her to the car. He chose to forgo his previous idea of Maria taking her back. He drove himself, his pregnant Liz, Emma, Maria, and Michael back to their home.

He tucked Liz into bed, she had fallen asleep on the way home, surely from her emotional outburst. He had to reassure Emma, that Liz was fine. The baby was fine. But he had the anguished conversation with her about Isabel. She didn't take it lightly. She was just as bad as Liz. The pain they both felt was palpable, smothering. Combined with his own grief, he almost passed out.

He didn't want to leave them, in fact, he vehemently refused after seeing their condition. But Liz said he had to go, had to help Jesse, had to help find who took Isabel from all of them. It would be their only solace. So he left his grieving pregnant wife and child with a heavy heart of guilt, with Michael along side him, and Maria at home keeping watch over his family. That gave him some peace of mind, albeit a small one.

Now, he was about to see Jesse. When he did, it was not the grieving husband he expected. It was an enraged man, with eyes of murder.

"Jesse...I'm so sorry," Max said tearfully.

When Jesse whipped around at the sound of Max's voice, Max's breath left his body at the anger in his eyes. What else did he expect? Max would be the same way. Consumed by anger..and grief. Only Jesse was keeping his grief safely tucked away in the center of his anger.

"Max. Thank God you're here. We need to find this bastard. We have to. I'll kill him. So help me God I"ll rip him in pieces with a smile on my face," Jesse said while pacing the room like a caged animal. His voice shook with anger; a venomous voice.

"Jesse, we'll find him. I swear it. We will," Max assured him.

"I know we will!" Jesse screamed, "There's no other acceptable outcome to this fucking shit!"

"Where do we start?" Michael asked.

Jesse looked to him, finally noticing him.

"You are?" he asked roughly.

Michael bit back his usual sarcasm to the tone in Jesse's voice, choosing a different route, for this man has been through hell.

"Detective Michael Guerin," he introduced himself.

Recognition dawned in Jesse's eyes. "Max's friend and old partner," he said.

"That's me," Michael confirmed.

"I'm Jesse Ramirez," he said and quickly shook hands.

"Michael's going to help us," Max said.

"Good, we need everyone we can get. The more people we have, the more ground that will be covered," Jesse said.

"What happened Jesse?" Max asked hesitantly. He didn't want Jesse to have to talk about how his wife was killed, but they needed the facts.

Jesse froze at this question.

Max and Michael waited with collective breath held.

When Jesse finally spoke, they both released their breath.

"She was coming home from shopping. She wanted to throw a dinner party. You know Isabel. It was late. I hate when she's out that late by herself. Apparently her car had gotten a flat tire. She was up shopping at some new store. She called me and told me where she was. She was on some basically deserted road, with it being pitch black outside. I asked her why the hell would she take that road, she said she forgot how to get out of there, so some man told her the directions. Obviously the fucking wrong ones," Jesse muttered in rage.

"Her phone was going dead, and I told her I'd be there quick to pick her up. I wanted to call someone to help her, like Triple A, but she said we didn't need to mess with them, since I was only twenty minutes away. I listened to her, damnit, I should not have. Then her phone went dead," Jesse paused in remembrance.

Max and Michael waited in horror for the rest of the story.

"I guess those twenty minutes weren't that short of a time after all. Because when I showed up, I found my wife laying on the hood of her car with her head bashed in by a fucking rock! A fucking rock! Some bastard took a rock and fucking slammed it into my wife's face! Some bastard carved the number five in her fucking chest. Mutilated her. Fucking bastard!" Jesse started screaming.

He began throwing things and kicking things in a fit of rage, finally tired out, he fell to his knees with his face in his hands.

"Jesse...I'm so sorry, God, I," Max trailed off not knowing what to say. He knelt down beside his friend and embraced him.

Jesse immediately began sobbing, finally releasing his grief.

"She's dead, my baby is dead. Someone hurt her, bad. I can't do this. I need her back. I need her," Jesse sobbed over and over.

"I know, I know," Max whispered.

Jesse stopped crying and stood up and mumbled an apology to Max and Michael.

"No, Jesse, it's okay, I'm here for you, "Max said.

"She's gone. He's still out there. I need you to be there for Isabel, not me. We need to find who did this," Jesse said.

"We will," Max promised.

"I'll stay in Anaheim as long as you guys need us," Michael offered.

"Thanks man," Jesse and Max both said.

"I, I need to go see Isabel's mother. She needs me right now too. We need to go over the funeral details. Ummm...You guys go on home, I know Liz and Emma need you too. We'll meet up later, after I get done with this stuff and we need to start going over what we have," Jesse said in a monotone, flat voice. Devoid of emotion.

"Okay, Just call me when you're done," Max said.

Jesse nodded before walking out.

When he left, Michael let out a huge breath. "Jesus Christ man, I...that was rough," Michael said.

"I know. I also know it's not the last of it. Jesse's going to have a rough time. We all are," Max said dreadfully.

**************************************

Max and Michael walked into his home and found Maria sitting on the couch in silence.

"Hey," Michael said.

"Hey," she said before standing up and giving him a kiss and wrapping her arm around them.

"How are they?" Max asked.

Maria shook her head in the negative.

Max nodded in understanding.

"They need you Max," Maria whispered.

"I know. I need them too," he whispered back.

Max walked down the hall and opened his bedroom door and found his beautiful wife lying on her side facing him with Emma lying on her back right up against Liz. Both had tear stained cheeks. His heart clenched. He walked over to the bed, crawled up on it and lay down on his side facing Liz. He put his arm over Emma and placed his hand on Liz's stomach, while the other one traced her face.

He finally broke down and cried himself.


TBC

Chapter 10


Isabel Ramirez's funeral was an event that none of the attendees wished to attend. But their wishes didn't hold priority, because Isabel was taken from them unwillingly and so violently. Whether they wished it or not, Isabel was gone, and they had to pay their respects.

****************************

Max, Michael, Maria and Emma were all dressed and ready to leave. Emma was definitely not a willing participant. She had blatantly refused to go, saying that Aunt Izzy was just sleeping and she wouldn't go and disturb her naptime. Max knew she didn't really believe that. Max also know she was just holding onto any thread of hope that Isabel wasn't really gone, that this was just some sinister trick the devil was pulling. But it wasn't a trick. It was though, the act of someone who could actually be the devil himself, walking on earth posing as a human being. Nevertheless, Emma had gotten dressed, after a fit of tears, which Max, of course, helped her through, while shedding a few of his own tears.

Now the four of them were waiting patiently for Liz to emerge down the stairs.

After waiting a long time, they all became worried. Maria was the first to voice those worries.

"She's been up there a really long time," she said stating the obvious.

"Too long," Max murmured.

"Maybe she doesn't want to wake up Aunt Izzy either," Emma said thoughtfully.

Max smiled sadly,"None of us do sweetie."

"I'm going to go check on her," Max announced standing up.

When Max opened the bedroom door, his heart ached at the sight he saw. Liz was standing in front of the bed staring nervously at the pile of black dress clothes thrown haphazardly upon it. It was a sense of déjà vu, for not too long ago, his wife was in the same predicament. Except this time she was stressing about what to wear to Isabel's funeral, instead of Isabel's small dinner party among friends.

"Liz, honey, we need to leave soon," Max said gently.

"Max, help me," the pleading look in her eyes broke his heart.

"Baby," he whispered.

"Max, I don't know what to wear. I have to look perfect. Isabel would want that. You know that. She always looked flawless. She would want all of us to look the same for her funeral. She's up there watching us, waiting to see what we're going to wear. I have to look perfect. Damnit! Max, what do I do?" Liz asked desperately finishing her emotional rant.

When Max heard her desperate voice he broke. He immediately ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her. He sat down on the bed, with his pregnant wife in his lap, rocking her back and forth while she literally cried her heart out.

"Shh, baby, clam down. We'll find something. Something Isabel will love," Max assured his wife in a broken tone.

"Really?" She asked hopefully.

"Yeah, let's see, how about this dress. Wasn't Isabel with you when you picked it out?" Max asked.

Liz nodded.

"Well, then she wouldn't have let you buy something horrible, now would she? Obviously she liked the dress," Max said reasonably.

Those seemed to be the magic words, for Liz chose to wear that particular dress.

****************************************

The first thing Max Evans noticed when he pulled up to the church, was that Jesse Ramirez's car was not there. He frowned in concern. Michael noticed this frown.

"Maxwell?" he questioned.

"Jesse's not here," Max observed.

"What?" Liz asked.

"Jesse, his car isn't here," Max answered.

"Well, where is he? It's his wife's funeral!" Liz said already getting emotional again.

"Calm down honey. Michael, we're going over to Jesse's," Max said.

Michael nodded.

"Max?" Liz asked with obvious worry.

"It's okay baby, we'll be back soon with Jesse," Max reassured his wife before kissing her softly. He bent down and kissed her stomach twice. One for each of his children. He then gave Emma a chaste kiss on the forehead.

Turning to Maria he said," Take care of my family."

Maria nodded while whispering a soft, "Always." She didn't need prompting for the task. They were her family too.

******************************************

When Max and Michael entered the home of Jesse and Isabel Ramirez, they were greeted with the smothering stench of alcohol.

"Oh god," Michael gasped out.

Looking around, they saw the house was definitely lacking someone to clean it. Isabel. She definitely put cleanliness next to Godliness, Max thought fondly.

"This place is a fucking mess," Michael whispered.

"I know. Let's find Jesse," Max said.

When Max finally laid eyes on Jesse, he was asleep in his bed, clutching the wedding photo of Isabel and himself in one hand, and an empty liquor bottle in the other.

"Jesus Christ," Max whispered. He felt sick to his stomach at the condition Jesse was in. Thinking back, he knew he was almost in this same condition a few years ago. If he had gotten to Liz a minute after he did, he would be the one drinking away his pain.

"Jesse, get up," Max said walking over to him.

No movement.

"Jesse!" Max yelled loudly.

Still no movement.

"Michael, go in the bathroom and get a cup of cold water," Max said.

When Michael came back with the requested water, Max doused Jesse with it.

That did the trick.

Jesse jumped up startled, "What the fuck!?" he yelled.

"Get up and get dressed," Max ordered.

"Excuse me?" Jesse asked.

"I said, get up and get dressed. We have your wife's funeral to attend," Max said. He knew he was being harsh, but it would be the only way to get Jesse up.

"Fuck you," Jesse spat.

"Get up," Max said again.

"NO! I'm not going!" Jesse yelled.

"Damnit Jesse, yes you are! You'll never fucking forgive yourself if you miss Isabel's funeral," Max yelled. He saw a flash of pain go through Jesse's eyes at the mention of his wife's name.

"That's right, Isabel! You're wife! The funeral starts in about five minutes. She could kill you if you were late. You can lose it after the funeral. But you need to get it togther man, otherwise, you'll hate yourself for the rest of your life for missing her final goodbye," Max said.

Jesse's face was displaying the emotion battle he was having within. Anger, pain, and finally defeat. He stood up silently, went to the bathroom and jumped in the shower to clean away the smell of alcohol he had been basically washing himself in. After all, he couldn't go to his wife's funeral like that.

***********************************

Isabel's funeral was an event everyone wanted to forget, but none of them could. Jesse's final breakdown was etched into their minds and souls. His animalistic cries when his wife was lowered into the ground, still rung in their ears. It would haunt everyone forever.

The only peace in this would be the following few months. No murders would occur. But when the devil in disguise finally decided to make his reappearance, all hell would finally break lose. Everyone would become more deeply involved than they wished. But again, their wishes weren't the devil's top priority. Their fears were.

TBC