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       __________________________________________________________
 Phillip Evans' cell phone rings.
"Dad?"
"Max. Thank God. Are you okay?" he asks. "Is Liz there with you?"
"Yes, Liz is here. We're fine."
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Is Michael there?"
"Yes, he is son."
"I need to talk to him."
Phillip looks at Michael.
"Max wants to talk with you."
"Michael, I need to meet you in Tucson. Can you do it?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Good. You'll need a phone."
"I'll borrow your dad's."
"I'll call you later."
"So what's the deal? What do we do?"
"I think if you go back to Roswell, they won't do anything, at least not yet. Liz's parents should be okay. The Crashdown's too public so maybe everybody should sit tight there."
"Okay, we can do that," says Michael. "Oh, and you need to talk to Isabel."
"Why?"
"She wants to tell everybody everything."
"Everything?"
"Yeah," he says.
"Let me talk to her."
"Isabel," says Michael, holding up the phone. She crosses the room where she has been sitting with her mom.
"Max?"
"Isabel, please don't say anything yet. I have to do something first."
"Yeah, I bet you do."
"What do you mean?"
"I saw you Max, you and Liz."
"What?"
"I dreamwalked you to make sure you were all right. What are you guys doing?"
"Is, can we talk about that later? I need you to promise me that you won't say anything until we get back."
"What are you going to do?"
"I can't say just yet."
"But you can tell Michael."
"I haven't told Michael."
"Listen, I can't stay on the phone much longer. Give mom and dad my love. Are Liz's parents right there."
"Yes, they are."
"Can you put one of them on?"
"Mr. Parker." Isabel gives Mr. Parker the phone.
"Lizzie?"
"Hi, Dad. Please try not to worry. I'm okay, really."
"When are you coming back?"
"I don't know. Look, I have to go."
"Lizzie, wait."
"I love you both."
The phone goes dead.
Liz stuff her scrubs in the trash bag while Max packs the campers pack with the food and water he'd bought, plus the few items of extra clothing he got for them both, toothbrushes, paste, etc.
"That's it," he says.
"One more check," says Liz, who quickly rechecks the bathroom. "Okay, we're clean," she says. They gather up their stuff and leave the room.
"What's this?" as Liz looks at the open-air convertible.
"I made a few alternations to the jeep."
"Nice," says Liz.
"I figure nobody would be looking for us in this," he says, putting on some cool shades. He opens the trunk and Liz throws the bags in the back while Max places the canvas bag neatly inside. He closes the trunk.
"Get in," says Max. "I'll check us out."
Liz takes the sunglasses Max bought for her and puts them on. She looks to see if there is anyone around, but it seems quiet. The warmth of the sun feels good and it almost feels normal. She leans her head back against the seat. It's only a minute before Max returns.
Max climbs in the car and looks at Liz.
"You look happy," he says.
"I suppose I am," she says.
Max smiles and turns the engine over and drives it out the parking lot and heads for the I-10 onramp to Tucson.
Isabel, Michael, Kyle and Maria are outside. Isabel looks at the van.
"I think silver would be nice, don't you think?" she says, changing the exterior paint.
"Not bad," says Maria. "How about blue?"
Isabel obliges.
"Blue's nice," says Michael. "Doesn't draw too much attention."
"What about the plates?" asks Kyle.
"Easy," says Isabel, who changes the plates.
"It looks like something my mother would drive," says Maria.
"Then nobody's going to be interested in it," says Kyle.
"Hey," says Maria.
Valenti exits the mine followed by the Amy, the Evans and Parkers.
"All ready," says Michael.
"Looks good," says Valenti.
"Well, at least no one will be picking us for stealing cars."
"VIN!" says Valenti.
"What?" says Michael.
"Vehicle identification number. It's on the dash and maybe in the engine compartment."
"No sweat," says Michael. He runs his hand over the numbers and jumbles them up so no one sees. "See, all taken care of."
"You know this is a felony," says Phillip Evans.
"Well, it's not like I haven't been arrested before," says Michael.
"Why do I have this feeling we need bail money?" says Amy.
Diane Evans and Nancy Parker look at Amy.
"Okay, let's go," say Valenti, before they find us before we can get back.
Max and Liz enjoy the ride to Tucson. It's a beautiful day and Max isn't in a hurry to get there. He knows it'll be a while before Michael arrives, so he stays within the speed limits. He stops for gas in Benson and picks up a paper. There's a front page lead-in on a terrible accident involving a semi on Rte. 10. near Los Cruces. It says four people died. He hands it to Liz. It makes no mention of Max and Liz. It only says something about jeeps dragging along the highway and that four occupants in two jeeps died at the scene, but that the accident was till under investigation. Liz looks at Max. It takes the edge off their happiness.
As the van enters the outskirts of Roswell, Michael tells Valenti to take him to the airport.
"Why," he asks.
"I need to go out of town," he says.
"How are you going to pay for the ticket?" says Valenti.
"I'll think of something. I thought I could borrow it or something until I get my stuff back."
Valenti frowns.
"It's important."
When they get to the airport, Michael gets out with Valenti, but Kyle, Isabel and Maria jump out.
"What are you doing?" says Michael.
"We're going with you," says Maria.
"No, you can't," says Michael. "Get back in the van!"
"It's not your decision, Michael," says Isabel.
"You're right. It's Max's and he said me."
"I don't have the money to pay for four tickets," says Valenti.
Kyle whips out his credit card.
"Buddha says he who has a full cup ..."
"Okay, cut the Buddha crap, let's go."
"Besides, you're going to need money when we get there."
"We're wasting time!" says Michael.
The four of them take off in a run before Valenti can stop them. He throws up his hands.
Liz and Max enter the Tucson airport and immediately check incoming flights from New Mexico. "Three hours," says Max. "We have a three-hour wait"
"Let's get something to eat while we're waiting. It'll help kill the time."
"Yeah," says Max, putting his arm around Liz's waist. "Good idea."
"Let's go somewhere where we can sit in private," she says looking at the fast food area.
They enter the airport restaurant and take a seat away from the door, where they are not easily seen. A waitress brings a menu.
"Can I get you folks a drink?" she asks.
"A coke," says Liz.
"Me, too," says Max.
"I'll be back in a moment to take your order.
After she leaves, Liz turns to Max.
"Max, what's The Boneyard?"
"It's something I read about at the UFO Museum in a book I borrowed," says Max.
"What's so important about it?"
Max sees the waitress returning with their drinks.
"I'll tell you when Michael gets here."
The waitress puts the drinks on the table.
"Two cokes," she says, "What would you like?"
"Liz?"
Liz quickly looks at the menu. "I'll have the Southwest Chicken."
"I'll have the Spicy BBQ ribs," says Max, "and can we have some buffalo wings and jalapeño poppers first?"
"Sure thing, you like it hot, huh, folks?" she says.
"Yes," says Max as she smiles.
"Hungry?" says Liz.
Max nods. Outside of the donuts, neither one of them had eaten very much over the last couple of days.
"You?"
"I think I just have a need for real food," says Liz.
Max takes the Tabasco sauce on the table and dumps some in his coke.
"What we're about to do is dangerous," says Max. "You don't have to do this. I can buy you a ticket home."
"Max, I didn't come all this way just to back out. We've been through a lot, but I'm here. I've done things I never thought I'd do. I've so many broken laws ... I've lied for you ... I've protected you ... I love you, Max. I'll always be here for you," she says, taking his hand.
The waitress brings over the wings and poppers.
As soon as she leaves, they look at each other, then greedily dig in. Liz playfully shoves a popper into Max's mouth. Why is it, he thinks, that food tastes so much better after Liz touches it?
The Evans, Parkers, Jim Valenti and Amy DeLuca gather and the Crashdown. Nancy Parker had the staff whip up some nice hot dinners for everyone.
"This has gotten out of hand," says Diane Evans. "We have to find some way of controlling our children."
"We never had a problem with Lizzie before," says Jeff Parker.
"Not before she met Max," adds Nancy Parker.
"What do you mean by that?" says Phillip Evans.
"Well, Lizzie always did what we wanted her to do," says Jeff. "She was ..."
"Perfect?" says Diane Evans.
"Well ... yes."
"Well, Maria's not perfect, but since she and Liz have been hanging around with your children and Michael, she's gotten worse," says Amy. "But Liz, Liz certainly hasn't been herself."
"Maybe we should just cut them some slack," says Valenti. "I mean, they are doing what teenagers do." They are stare on Valenti in disbelief.
"Disappearing for days at a time is not good," says Nancy Parker.
"I have to agree, but I'm not sure what to do." says Diane Evans. "Max and Isabel are going to therapy, but it doesn't seem to be helping."
"Maybe we should split them all up for awhile," says Nancy.
"It didn't work before," says Phillip.
"We didn't enforce it before," says Jeff Parker.
"Max and Liz," says Diane, "they seem so attached. ... I'm not sure there's anything we can do to stop them."
"Well, she did go out with Sean," says Nancy.
Amy DeLuca bites her tongue, but thinks ... and promptly got Sean arrested.
"I think a good talking to is all they need," says Valenti.
"No, they need discipline," says Jeff Parker. "I don't like too, but they have to learn that they just can't do what they please all the time."
"I think I agree," says Diane.
"We should hear them out first," says Phillip.
"You think there's a reason for how they're behaving?" asks Jeff Parker.
"Liz won't talk to us," says Nancy.
"I think they have a secret," says Diane.
"You do?" says Valenti.
"Yes," she says, "I think you know that. You've been protecting them, haven't you?"
The waitress brings the bill as Max shovels in the last piece of chocolate cake.
"How can you even finish that?" asks Liz. "I'm so full."
"It's good," says Max.
"Not as good as the Crashdown's?"
"No, not as good as the Crashdown's."
He pulls out his wallet and leaves the money and tip on the table. His money reserves are low so he changes several of the ones to tens.
"Come on," he says, "we have just enough time to get to the gate.
As they reach the gate, they see Michael, then Maria, Isabel, and Kyle.
"What are you all doing here?" asks Max, surprised and distressed to see the gang.
"You didn't think you were leaving us out of this, did you?" says Isabel.
"Yes, and just what are you guys doing here?" asks Maria.
"Let's go, in case anyone else is here," says Max.
They move swiftly out the airport and to the car.
"Nice wheels," says Kyle. "Can I drive?"
"No," says Max and Michael simultaneously.
"Where are you staying?" asks Isabel.
"No where," says Max.
"I thought maybe we could stay at Laurie's," says Michael, "you know, give me a chance to make sure everything's okay."
"I don't think that's a good idea," says Max. "There's too many of us and the FBI might look for us there.."
"Come on, Max," says Michael, "it's not like we have a full bankroll right now. It's a free place to crash for the night. We'll be outta there before anyone figures it out."
"Laurie's cool," says Maria. "And she has that big house."
"Big?" asks Liz.
"Liz, you are not going to believe it."
"Okay," says Max, reluctantly and hands the keys to Michael. "you drive."
Michael and Maria climb in the front. Kyle, Isabel, Max and Liz get in the back. Liz sits on Max's lap to make more room for Isabel and Kyle.
"Where did you find this, baby?" asks Michael.
"It's the jeep we stole from Eagle Rock," says Max.
"No kidding?" asks Kyle.
"Nice," says Michael, as he puts the car in gear, squealing the tires.
Michael pulls up to the gates of the Duprees' mansion and rings the bell.
"Who is it?" comes a voice.
"It's the team of Guerin and DeLuca again. We're here to see Laurie."
The gates open.
"Some people just have all the clout," says Maria. Isabel rolls her eyes.
At the end of the drive, Laurie is outside waiting for them. She doesn't even wait for Michael to get out of the car to give him a hug.
"I guess things are good," says Michael.
"I'm so happy to see you," she says.
"You remember Maria and Isabel and Max."
Laurie nods.
"It's nice to see you again." Isabel thinks how changed she is, actually happy. She smiles and the dark circles under her eyes are gone. She seems more confident and less afraid.
"And this is Liz, and Kyle."
"Hello," Laurie says.
"Hi," says Kyle and Liz.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, we were in the neighborhood and I thought I'd check and see if everything was all right."
"Yeah, things are great," she says.
"And I was hoping we could crash here for one night."
She looks at all Michael's friends.
"You want to come in?"
Michael smiles. "Yeah, we'd like to come in."
"Mr. Guerin," says Aunt Mary, not pleased at all. "What a pleasure it is to see you again. And your enterprising girlfriend, too. How nice! And who are all these people?"
"These are Michael's friends, Aunt Mary," says Laurie. "They're staying the night."
"How lovely for you," says Aunt Mary. "I'll see that rooms are made up. I'm afraid you'll have to make do with four."
"Four's fine," says Michael.
"Have you eaten?" asks Laurie.
"No," says Michael.
"Liz and I have," says Max, but we can keep you company. "Is that okay, Liz?"
She nods.
"I'll tell Juanita on the way out," says Aunt Mary. "You know your way to the dining room."
"Thank you sooo much," says Maria.
They pile into the dining room where Michael and Max help Laurie pull extra chairs to the table. Juanita comes in and begins to set the table.
"This is Juanita," says Laurie.
"Hi," they all say.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" asks Liz.
"No, this is my job," she says politely, "I'll do it. You stay and enjoy your friends."
"So Laurie, life is good?" asks Michael.
"I'm going to school," she says.
"That's great!" says Maria.
"I feel at home," she says. "And grandpa, here's with me everywhere."
"Have you any friends yet?" asks Isabel.
"Oh, yes, they come over frequently," she says, "I'm learning to be happy."
"That's good," says Michael.
"So what are you doing here?" says Laurie.
"A little road trip ... you know, just passing through kind of thing," says Michael. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine thanks to you. Grandpa would be proud of you."
"Speaking of Grandpa, the diary ... I'd like to read it."
"Yeah, sure ... I'll go get it for you." She begins to get up.
Maria stops her. "Not now, later."
The dark-suited man is behind the desk. He begins to write up a report on the Eagle Rock fiasco and tears it up. He hates looking bad. Four dead agents to explain, a missing van and jeep, 12 escapees. Not exactly career making material. Unless he does spin control. Maybe he can turn it around -- maybe make it appear the he wanted them to escape. After all, he did acquire a lot of medical info. However, he knows he needs to get Liz Parker back ... and Max. A special agent comes in the door.
"Not now!" the dark-suited man shouts.
"Sir, we think we have a lead."
His head jerks up and his eyes narrow as he watches the agent.
"What do you have?"
"Kyle Valenti booked four seats on a flight to Tucson and paid for it by credit card."
"You're sure?"
"The description given by the airline clerk matches Valenti, Guerin, Isabel Evans and the DeLuca girl."
"Tucson," he says, "why Tucson? Why does that sound familiar?"
He does a quick search on his computer.
"Get me Agent Duff."
"Anything else?"
"The parents are back in Roswell."
"Max and Liz?"
"No sign."
"The accident happened on Rte. 10, didn't it?"
"Yes, sir," he says.
The dark-suited man gets a map of New Mexico and Arizona from his desk. He follows Rte. 10. It leads straight to Tucson.
"They're meeting at Tucson. ... How soon can I get a flight to Tucson?"
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