Max once again was in for the danger of his life...Or so he thought. The accused guy looks at him up and down and huffs at him like he was waisting his time. He then walks from Max and goes over to get some paper towels to dry his hands. After he was finished, he put the used paper towels in the trash. He then walks past Max giving him an intense look before leaving the bathroom.
Max stood there for a brief moment staring at the mirror.
"That's funny," said Max, to himself. "Why didn't he attack me? I was right where he wanted me to be."
A moment later, there was a knock at the door, which got Max out of his thoughts.
"Max," whispered Gilda from the outside. "Is everything okay?"
Max suddenly came out of the bathroom and quickly took her to the side for a brief conversation.
"It was him," said Max, quickly. "The guy who shot Paul."
"What?" said Gilda, comfused.
"Me and him came face to face a minute ago," said Max. "I thought he was going to attack me, but he didn't. He just dried his hands and left."
"Oh, thank God," said Gilda, in relief. "At least you didn't get hurt."
"Yeah," nodded Max. "But when he looked into my eyes...I just don't know. It was like he knew me somewhere or something."
"Maybe he has seen you here," said Gilda. "Did you see where he was sitting?"
"He was sitting directly across from us," said Max, confidently. "He was sitting with a lady, which is probably his wife."
"Maybe they are still there now," said Gilda.
"I think so to," said Max, heading back to the table. "C'mon!"
When they came back to the table there ordered food was there waiting for them. Everyone had started eating and chatting away.
"Are you alright honey?" said Mrs. Jones. "You seemed kind of flustered."
"Yes, I'm okay," said Max. "I got less sleep last night, so I had to splash water on my face to wake myself up."
"Well, you got to start getting some rest, partner," said Chad, with a chuckle. "You're way too young to be restless, you're just a kid."
"Yeah, tell me about it," said Max.
He looks back over at the other table where the other guy was sitting at with his wife. They were discussing something very private while giving Max glances.
"Alright, so this food looks delicous," said Gilda, drawing attention to herself. "Lets eat!"
Moments later Max and Gilda started to eat their food and act is if they were mingling. But Max took the oppertunity to secretly take pictures of the guy and his wife on his wizphone that he got for Christmas from Kelbo. It looks like Max was texting but there was a magical way that the phone was programed on taking pictures so no one notices he was taking shots. A little while later, the guy and his wife decided it was time for them to leave, but this time they left the restaurant in a quick swift hurry and no one really notices. But a few minutes later Max looks over back at the table and was surprised to find no one was there, but what caught his attention was something that was left on it. It looked like someone left their wallet. Gilda was about to ask Max something but he cuts her off for a second.
"Hold that thought for one second," said Max, as he gets up and quickly goes over to the table where the guy was sitting.
It was definately a wallet that was left behind and based by the color, it belong to the lady that was with him. It is now up to Max to find out what her name really is so he can blow this case right open. He picks up the wallet and looks around just in case they decide to come back.
Everyone from Max's table was staring at him wondering what was going on.
"I guess they left something very important to them," chuckled Max to the group, as he examines the wallet.
Just as Max slowly opens the wallet just to reveal the first name, someone snatches it out of his hand. Max looks up to see the guys lady standing before him putting her wallet back in her purse.
"You sure have a knack for taking things that don't belong to you," said the lady.
"Oh, no, no," said Max quickly. "It was just that the wallet was left behind, and I wanted to make sure that your name is identfied and that it is turned in to the lost and found."
Max managed to catch the glimpse of the first name, which was Rose.
"You name is Rosie correct?" asked Max.
"Well, what do you think?" said the lady. "You're the one that probably looked at my ID to determine it."
"To figure out who you really are so that the restaurant people can contact you," said Max quickly.
Rosie shakes her head as Max before looking at him up and down like he was an actual criminal.
"I don't know, dude," she said giving him a skeptical look. "It still seems a little bit shady to me."
"I really don't know what your implying," said Max, with a nervous smile. "I was just trying to-."
Then she got really close to Max and gave him a very threatening glare. Max was caught off guard as everyone from the table looked on. Max was getting increasingly uncomfortable.
"Now you listen to me you little brat," spat Rosie, in the tone that only Max could hear. "Who do you thing we are friggin idiots? We know all about you working with the police to take us down to kiss up to the Lechmere's."
Max took a deep breath as he rolls his eyes.
"So here's how this is going to go down," Rosie goes on. "You are going to resign your duties on helping the Sherrif, you are going to keep that big mouth of yours shut, and we are all are going to pretend that we haven't met and that none of this ever happen. Do I make myself clear?"
"Hey Max, is everything okay?" asked Gilda, concerned.
"Yes everything is fine," said Max, as he gives her a cheeky smile before turning back to Rose and gave her a counter expression. "I'm afraid I can't let that happen ma'am, sorry."
"Okay, you're kidding me right? Rosie chuckled with sarcasm.
"Oh, I wish a I was," said Max. "That guy is husband isn't he?"
"And why is that any of your business?" sneered Rosie.
"Do you realize what he has done?" asked Max rhetorically. "He shot an innocent guy and almost killed him. He's in a lot of trouble, that's like attemped murder. He did all of this because of you!"
"What the heck does that suppose to mean?" asked Rosie bitterly.
"That you had an affair with Paul Lechmere," Max blurted out quickly.
"What," Rosie said as if she was getting offended.
"I'm talking about your affair," Max said more clealy. "You went behind your husband's back and cheated on him with Paul Lechmere. So then he found out all about it and he goes balistic, goes up to the resort, goes up to the resort and shoots him down nearly killing him."
Rosie gives Max a look of rage.
"Look, I know you love him to death and everything," said Max. "And I know that this is hard for you by you could just cooperate with the police and turn him in-."
"You are one foolish naive little kid," said Rosie. "Let me tell you something, you didn't even crack the surface of what happened. You don't even have your little ducks in a row."
Max looks away from her powerful gaze.
"So, I advise you to get this through your thick head, little boy," said Rose. "Stay out of our way and leave us alone. Or things will be get very ugly, and trust me, you don't want that.
That that said and done she turns and walks off leaving Max comfused.
He turns around to face the whole table who was now staring at him wondering what was going on.
"It's alright," assured Max. "She got her wallet back, all his well."
"Oh, thank goodness," said Gilda, as Max walks back to join them. "That was a lovely gesture that you did Max. I'm kind of sad though. From a distance that wallet looked kind of cute. I would've loved to use it to match my outfits."
Everyone chuckled at her joke.
"And I bet it would look perfect in your hands," said Max, as he winks at her.
Gilda blushes at Max's comment. Max turns to Mrs. Jones, who was studying the chemistry between him and Gilda for sometime. He just simply shruggs at her and sits down in his seat and starts to eat again.
After a long night at dinner and an update from Ruben, Max and the gang headed back to the resort. Just as planned the Sherrif met Max at his cabin to go over the details on what happened last night. They decided to go see Megan and let her identify the man on the photos that Max took earlier at the restaurant.
When they reached her cabin, she greeted them at the door with nice bubbly courtesy like she always does when company comes by.
"Good evening, Mrs. Lechmere," said the Sherrif politely. "We here to talk to you on the update of the shooting."
"Oh yes, please do," said Megan, as she stares at Max hesitantly.
"I also want to introduce you to one of my assistants, Max Russo," said the Sherrif.
"We actually seen each other before," said Max. "But our first meeting was a little grusome so we didn't get the oppertunity to do things the way.
Both Max and Megan shook hands.
"But it's a pleasure to finally met you, Max," said Megan with a warm smile.
"Mind if we come in for a few minutes?" asked the Sherrif. "I promise this won't take long."
"Oh sure," said Megan gestering to them. "Come on in."
As they walked into her home, the air was warm with the smell of fresh spices. It shifts out the bitter cold night temperature instantly, which Max was very pleased. She took them into her living room and all of them sat on the comfortable soft furniture as she did before when Ruben came over.
"Would you like some refreshments, or anything?" she asked.
"Well, I don't know about this guy, but I'm a little stuffed," said Max. "We just came back from one of this beautiful luxurious restaurant called Gourmet Estates."
"Oh my goodness, I love that restaurant!" said Megan. "Paul and I go every year for our anniversary."
"Wow, that's great!" said Max.
"It sure is," said Megan. "So, about the shooting, what did you want to talk about? I'm just so anxios to get this person off the street. For Paul's sake."
"I know exactly how you are feeling," said the Sherrif. "And it looks like he's making some recovery according to the report from the hospital."
"Oh, thank you so much for helping Sherrif," said Megan relieved. "I really do appreciate it."
"Hey, that's my job," said the Sherrif. "I'm suppose to help you out with these type of cases."
"Which brings us into an interesting discussion," said Max, slowly taking out his phone.
Max explains her the exact details on what happened at the restaurant. She was amazed on what she has heard and was excited at the same time."
"These were taken when he was dining," said Max, as he shows her the pictures. "That's his wife that's sitting with him."
"Oh my God," said Megan. "That's the guy! That's the guy who shot my husband!"
"Are you sure that's the guy?" verified the Sherrif.
"Sherrif, I am 100% sure," said Megan clearly.
"See there you have it, boss," said Max. "We have our shooter! Now can we finally take some legal action in all of this?"
"I just can't believe that his wife threatened a sweet innocent kid as yourself," said Megan, who look at Max with concern. "How are you holding up now."
Then all of a sudden Max had a flashnack of Rosie's encounter with him. This time reminiscing on it made a more different and real impact on him. He remembered every word that she said. But one sentence that he remembered her saying caught on which made him very hesitant.
"You didn't even crack the surfuce of what's going on. You don't even have your little ducks in a row."
Max turns back to the Megan and the Sherrif who was starting at him to see if something was wrong.
"Max?" the Sherrif asked. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine," said Max, as he looks at Megan. "There's something I didn't mention in the conversation."
"Oh," said Megan, curiously to listen.
"Before the two encounters at the restaurant," Max went on. "I found a letter that was addressed to him yesterday afternoon. It was from that guys wife Rosie."
Megan gives him a questionable look. The Sherrif takes the letter from his coat pocket and hands it across to her. She hesitantly recieves it and slowly takes it out of the envelope and reads it. After she was finished she looks away from them and the look of betrayal came over her. Max could sense that right away.
"Megan, I'm so sorry," said Max.
"Oh," said Megan, with a blank expression. "Well, I suppose I should've seen this coming."
"No," said Max as he gets up to comfort her. "It's not your fault, you didn't know."
"I know," said Megan, sadly. "But it's just that I don't know what's wrong. Maybe I should've been a better wife or something you know."
"Well, if anything, you're the victim here," assured Max. "That jerk Paul is bad news. Not to disrespect the man in your presence."
"Oh, it's alright honey," said Megan. "You're just a kid. You'll understand when you're my age."
"But if Paul hadn't did what he did, then Rose's husband wouldn't go nuts and and try to murder him in cold blood," said Max.
"Yes," said Megan. "That is sort of true."
She slowly gets up from her seat and started pacing around the room.
"I think it is time for me to confront him about this," she said as she looks out of the window of the full moon.
"You have yet to see your husband in the hospital?" asked Max, curiously.
"No," said Megan. "I guess I wasn't ready to see him in the condition that he's in. But based on the recent news I was informed with the chances are much more greater."
"But he's going to have to face you sooner or later," said the Sherrif. "Will he?"
Megan paused for a brief moment then turns to them and smiles.
"Of course he will," said Megan. "If he's the man that he claims to be."
Max and the Sherrif exchange looks.
After Max left Megan's cabin, he met up with Ruben and Collin at the resort's main center to play video games and discussing tonight's events.
"I seen you're girlfriend Gilda a while ago," said Ruben nudging Max. "And I got to say, that she is quite srunning."
"She's not my girlfriend!" said Max, passively. "She happens to be in the same club as I am...so that means that we have to spend more time with each other."
"Oh you too make a great couple," said Collin. "You just won't admit that you like her."
"What are you talking about?" asked Max, trying to sugar coat things.
"You know what I'm talking about, you dope," laughed Collin. "You like her. At least you can say you moving on from Talia for once."
"So, I just came from seeing Megan," said Max, changing the subject.
"How is she doing?" asked Ruben.
"Well...it looks like she doing okay," said Max. "She seems calm when I told her everything that happened tonight."
"Well, I guess the lady's in denial," said Collin.
"You really think so?" asked Max.
"I think this boy has a point," said Ruben, with a chuckle. "No women who is sane will be that passive over a cheating husband. You see, a women that's from the hood would plan his funeral only weeks in advance."
"I'm serious guys," said Max. "She seemed really upset."
"Why did you even tell her about the affair in the first place?" asked Collin, paying attention on killing the zombies on the xbox."
"Because that breaks the case wide open," said Max. "This would actually kill her."
"Then again, it looks like they had a boring crappy marriage from the start," said Ruben.
"So, who's this other woman?" asked Collin pausing the game. "Is she one of those 20 something hotties that hangs on the corner?"
"No," said Max. "Her name is Rosie. She's just planly the guy's wife that...happens to cheat on her enraged husband."
"Point taken," said Collin.
"But I just can't shake off what she said in our encounter," said Max, with concern.
"Like what?" asked Ruben.
"She told me that I didn't even crack the surface of what happened," said Max. "I mean, I know it looks like I got it all figured out, but I really don't know."
"What do you mean?" asked Ruben.
"What I'm saying is that, I'm not wrong about this lead right?" asked Max with a sigh. "I leading everyone to the path of justice am I?"
"I did remember you telling me that she threatened you saying that if you don't back off...that things will get ugly."
"Yeah," said Max, with concern.
"Wow, this Rosie chick must love her husband," said Collin. "She's a toughie."
"Yeah," said Ruben, looking like he has an idea. "You know what, I think before we take this big lead on the case, I think we really need to look at what we got."
"Which is the affair," said Max.
"Yeah," said Ruben. "But, what if it was more to the story than we all thought."
"Wow," said Max. "You got a point right there."
"I mean, our assuptions are really on point," said Ruben. "But now as I think about, it's all to easy."
"So, now what?" said Max. "We both talked to Megan, and I ran into the shooter and his wife at the restaurant, so that's everyone."
"Aren't you forgetting something?" said Collin.
"Like what?" said Max.
"The victim," said Collin, turning to them. "You forgot all about Paul, and his side of the story. Whether it's him or this Rosie chick, the two of them you focus needs to be on the two of them and we haven't heard didly squat from our Paul."
"Exactly," said Max, playfully punching Collin in the shoulder. "We need to talk to the victim! I'll talk to him! Tomorrow I'm helping Dr. Olestien again."
"She seems like a nice lady," said Ruben. "Too bad you have to maul her over to solve a case."
"Well, I wouldn't put it that way," said Max, with a chuckle.
