Chapter Ten

After about an hour, Dave, Pete, and Natasha met Michael and Max back at the car. Walking back, Max and Michael had been silent. Both had been engrossed in their own thoughts, trying to rationalize the fact that they had still no lead in finding Joshua. Michael only hoped that the others had found something.

"Did you guys find anything?" Dave was the first to ask.

"No." Max's voice sounded strangled. With good reason, Michael thought, the man obviously had something weird going to inside him.

"How about you?" Michael added. He sounded overly hopeful.

"Nothing either. We tried searching the caves but we didn't find anything. He could he anywhere." Dave supplied.

"We should try tomorrow." Natasha added. "The more we look the closer we get to finding anything."

The rest of the group nodded their heads in agreement. "Since we're all wiped out now, let's stop searching today and head off to do other things." Pete suggested.

Quite agreement could be seen. Everyone got back into the station wagon and drove off. The ride was silent, most people caught in their own thoughts and plans.

*

Liz closed the front door behind her. She turned to face the street. This morning she had needed a walk to clear her mind and relive the events of last night.

Last night as she had laid her head on the pillow, Liz had closed her eyes and dreamt. There was no fog or smoke this time. No confusion. Everything was clear; Liz could see everything. She could see Max's deep brown eyes and his strong shoulders. She could see his serious expression form into an open grin when he saw her. He had been waiting there for her. Max's smile was contagious, if filled her subconscious with happiness beyond words. Liz just smiled back and had run into her Max's arms.

He caught her in the air, pulling her into his chest. Liz lay her head on his shoulder; Max laid his head on hers. Their breathy sighs seemed to fill the "room" as Max held Liz tight.

Then Liz giggled. "Max, I remember." He turned his face towards hers. "I knew you would, Liz." Then he twirled her around, spinning, as Liz laughed in his arms.

"Let's go somewhere." Max whispered to his love.

"Okay." She spoke with total trust.

Max and Liz had spent the rest of the dream night swimming in the ocean on a hot summer day, riding the roller coasters at amusement parks, taking a boat ride through the river, eating at fancy restaurants and town pizzerias, dancing at clubs, and much more. Whenever they were done Max would snap his fingers and the couple would be somewhere new. They experienced everything together that night. They held hands and shared soft kisses; they used every moment to the last drop.

Liz sighed loudly, walking along the sidewalk in Roswell. Who wanted to live through the days if you had the most amazing nights? She groaned.

Liz bumped into a woman passing on the streets. Both women were startled and fell down as neither of them had been paying any attention to their outside surroundings. Gathering herself on the pavement, Liz looked at the woman she had bumped into. She had short blond hair and amazing boots. "I love your boots."

The woman looked startled, and then pleased. She gave a gracious smile and stood up, "Thank you. I'm sorry about that crash. I wasn't really looking ahead."

Liz stood up too. "Me neither. My name's Liz Parker, by the way."

"I'm Katrina Cazza. Nice to meet you." Katrina shook Liz's outstretched hand. Katrina had a strange look on her face. "I know it's not really in my place to ask, but I will anyway, do you happen to be related to Joshua Parker?"

Liz nodded somberly. "He's my little brother."

Katrina didn't really know what to say. "I'm so sorry." She said lamely.

"It's okay. Joshua's out there somewhere and I'm going to find him. I love him so much." Katrina nodded and Liz asked curiously, "Why? Do you know anything about where he is?" Katrina hesitated slightly and Liz noticed the woman pause.

"Would you like to have a coffee with me? We could talk a bit." Liz nodded apprehensively. Did this mean Katrina knew something about Joshua? What if she's with the kidnappers? Maybe she knew what had happened to Josh. Could she know something Liz didn't? Liz knew she owed it to Josh to find out.

At a nearby café, Liz and Katrina took a seat by the window at a small table. Liz looked at the woman sitting across from her and just waited.

Katrina knew Liz was waiting for her to explain further. But she couldn't just say that she was part of an alien search party. Liz probably wanted to know everything, and Katrina couldn't tell her all that. Especially if she found out that aliens were involved in her brother's kidnapping. Liz might jump to all these awful conclusions. Kat knew she couldn't just tell her right now. She would have to give the bare minimum of the truth, just supply what Liz needed to know.

"When we saw the news, a couple friends and I decided we would try and look for Joshua. You know, he's just a boy and so innocent. Kidnaps are so terrible and we just wanted to help. So we've been looking out in the desert for him. Just a casual search, nothing sponsored or anything…No need to worry…"

Liz starred across the table at this woman. This was her ticket! She could join this group and look for Joshua! This is how she'd get involved!

"Cause you know the police weren't searching..."Katrina babbled on.

"Wait a second. Why aren't the police looking for Josh?" Liz asked, angry and surprised.

"Um," Katrina looked nervous, "Because they got some kind of call from some other department saying not to search for Josh. I just know cause I called them to find out." This was half true. Katrina's friend Ted had clued her in that the FBI had sent a call to the police ordering them not to look for Josh.

"I believe you. The government can be very corrupt. Presidential scandals, under the counter business and that sort... That's why I want to join your search party." Katrina opened her mouth in a large gape. She hadn't thought things would get this far.

Liz continued, "I want to be out there, searching for Josh. And what you've just told me changes everything. Especially now I can't just sit at home waiting for news from the police that we know will never come. I have to take matters into my own hands." Katrina was silent, her eyes wide. Liz got the impression that she was doing some quick thinking.

"Um, right, I, um, understand. Of course you can join us. You are kin after all. Um, just let me get your phone number and then I can call you with information." Why, oh, why did I just say that?? Katrina thought. Now we have to go seriously undercover! How will we not let Liz know that she's working with aliens?! Something clicked slightly in Katrina's head. She felt, she realized, almost drawn into helping Liz Parker. She felt like she had to say yes. How strange…

Liz smiled, "Thanks so much, Katrina. Oh, can I call you that?"

"Oh, uh, yes of course." Katrina stuttered slightly, standing to shake Liz's hand. "You okay?" Liz asked. "Ya, I'll give you a call, Miss Parker, or Mrs. Parker?"

"Just Liz, you call me Liz. Here's my number." Liz gave Katrina an old business card and Katrina pocketed it.

"Well, thanks, see you soon." Liz waved outside the café. Katrina just nodded and walked off, her brain going miles a minute.