The Intruder

The question just popped out of her mouth. Maria had been wanting to ask Liz that for days. But she kept telling herself that was not what she should be thinking about. All she should be worried about was getting Michael free. Spending even a few seconds thinking about who he was going to go out with when he got home was just disgusting.

But she couldn't help it. Of course she wanted Michael home safe. Of course that was the most important thing. Of course she wanted that even if he ended up with Isabel.

Of course she would have to curl up in a little ball and die if he did.

Liz led the way through the gate and tried the side door. Locked. "You didn't answer my question," Maria said as they moved around the house to the glass door leading to the dining room.

"I didn't answer because I don't know," Liz replied as she gave the door a tug. It was locked, too. "I guess it could happen, but maybe it's better just to wait and see and not think about it too much beforehand. At least you told Michael how you felt about him, so however it goes down, you won't have to keep wondering if it would have turned out differently if he knew how you really felt."

Yeah, so when he chooses Isabel, I'll be positive that he knew I loved him and that he didn't care, Maria thought. That will make it way, way better.

Liz reached another sliding glass door, this one leading to the living room. She tried it, and it slid open soundlessly. "We're in," she told Maria.

Maria listened hard, but she didn't hear any footsteps. They'd been pretty sure the house was empty, and it seemed like they were right. "Let's move before my feet go on strike again," she said. She stepped into the living room, Liz right alongside her.

"If Valenti has an office here, it's probably down that hall," Liz said.

Maria nodded and took a right. The place is like a hotel, she thought as she glimpsed a bedroom through an open door. Totally impersonal. It was worse than a hotel, really. Hotels usually had some kind of bad painting on the wall. The walls here were bare.

The next door was closed. Maria opened it. Jackpot-desk, computer, filing cabinet.

"Files or computer?" Liz asked.

"Files," Maria answered. She hurried over to the low three-door cabinet and sat down in front of it. She pulled open the top drawer, and the whole thing almost toppled over on her. She used one hand to hold the cabinet in place and one hand to pull out the first file. It was all Kyle stuff. Report cards, a suspension notice, some vaccination records. Nothing useful.

The second file wasn't any better. Just canceled checks and old bills. The third file had tax stuff. The fourth file had Sheriff Valenti's birth certificate, the lease for the house, and a copy of his car registration.

"Valenti's middle name is Elmer. It's just not as easy to be scared of someone named Elmer," Maria said. She started to giggle.

"Oh no, Maria. Not now," Liz begged.

Maria locked her teeth together and tried to think of something completely unfu

Liz moved up behind her and wrapped her hand over Maria's mouth. Maria squeezed her eyes shut and took deep, slow breaths until she felt the urge for hysterical giggling fade. She reached up and pushed Liz's hand away.

"I think whoever it was headed to the kitchen," Liz whispered. "If we keep all the way to the right side of the hall, I think we can make it to the living room and out the door without being spotted."

Maria nodded her agreement. She stepped out of the office and pressed her back to the right wall. She crept sideways down the hallway, her eyes locked on her feet.

About halfway there, she coached herself. Keep moving. She took another step, then felt Liz's fingers dig into her arm. Maria looked up-and saw Kyle Valenti staring at them.

Maria's heart slammed up, lodging in her throat. She could feel it in there, a hot, meaty lump. At least it was saving her from another laugh attack.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" Kyle demanded.

"We're, uh, decorating all the football players' houses. You know, as a surprise to… give our guys a boost before the next game." Maria held up her crocheted bag, glad it was her biggest one. "We have crepe paper and everything. Rah, rah!"

Kyle crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not on the football team," he informed her.

"Uh, uh, uh…" Maria swallowed hard, trying to shove her heart back into place.

"Really? This is all my fault!" Liz cried. "I always think of you as on the team. I guess because you're so big and strong. Well, we better go find the right house." She grabbed Maria by the arm and pulled her past Kyle. They raced out the front door and didn't stop ru

"Did you actually look at Kyle Valenti and say, 'You're so big and strong'?" Maria gasped.

"Sickening, isn't it?" Liz answered. "At least we got a look at Valenti's office."

"And found nothing." Maria sighed. "At least I didn't."

"Me neither," Liz said. "I hope the others are having more luck than we are."

Max shot a look at Adam. Was he cute? Max took another fast glance. It's not like he had to watch the road that carefully. It was straight, and flat, and pretty much empty, with the desert stretching out on both sides.

But no matter how often he took one of his fast peeks, Max just couldn't decide. Was Adam cute? Well, what he meant was, would girls think Adam was cute? It was a hard call. There were some things, like kittens or fuzzy ducklings, that were pretty much no-brainers. Definitely cute.

But Adam. Max was pretty clueless, although he had heard Maria saying that Adam's eyes were the most amazing shade of green. And eyes, they were important to girls, right?

Even if Maria thinks he's cute, that doesn't mean Liz thinks he's cute, Max told himself. And even if Liz does think he's cute, that doesn't mean anything. I mean, admit it, you think other girls besides Liz are cute. Like Maria. Be honest, you think Maria is walking, giggling cuteness.

But Liz. Whoa. Liz was so beautiful, it practically made him dizzy every time he saw her. She affected him the way no other girl ever did or ever would. And that's what he wanted Liz to feel about him. And that's most assuredly what he didn't want her to feel about Adam. Not like she did. Or at least he was pretty sure she didn't. But if Adam was cute, she might.

Wasn't there some study about how when a woman looked at a man and found him attractive, her pupils dilated? Maybe that's how he could tell if-

If Michael or Alex could hear what you're thinking, they would rag on you for the rest of your days, Max told himself.

"I guess we're far enough away from town for our practice session," Max said. He pulled the Jeep off the highway and drove another mile or so into the desert.

Adam was being awfully quiet. Max wondered what he'd been thinking about during the drive. Was he thinking about Liz? Was-

Max told himself to shut up and pulled the Jeep to a stop.

"Do you have a headache?" Adam asked. "You keep rubbing your head."

Max hadn't even realized he'd been doing it. It wasn't that he had a headache exactly, but there was this constant pressure behind his eyes. He thought it was from trying to block all the sensations and knowledge from the collective consciousness. It's not that he didn't want to learn everything he could about his heritage. But when he let himself experience the consciousness, it was all-consuming. And he couldn't afford the distraction right now. Later, after Michael was safe, there would be plenty of time to give himself over to it.