---Chapter 3---
As soon as Max knocks on the door of Michael's apartment, Michael swings it open. "So what do you mean you're being followed?" Michael demands.
".Ssshhh." Max says in a low voice. "Across the street, close to the green car."
Michael glances over Max's shoulder. The only person he sees across the street is a jogger in a blue sweat suit. "Alright, Max you're being paranoid- but come in.," Michael says, holding the door open wide.
Max walks in and locks the door. "It isn't who you think it is."
"What? Maxwell, the man was just a person out for a jog." Michael says.
"No he isn't," Max says.
"Yeah right, whatever," Michael says as he turns and goes to the fridge and takes out a couple snapples. He tosses one to Max, then flops on the couch.
"Michael, I'm telling you-"Max says.
"Alright, alright," Michael says. "So someone's following you. Let's assume it was this 'jogger'."
Max interjects, "Not just him. Every time I walk anywhere lately, some person is always following me--- sometimes two together."
"So you think people are being that obvious at following you?" Michael asks.
"No, but I just know it. It's strange," Max answers.
"Okay. So if you're being followed, what for?" Michael asks. "It's not like you're a celebrity or criminal or something. The only thing it could be- -"Michael says, leaving off the rest. Max looks up and meets his eyes. They both know of course. It could likely one be because of who they were and what they were.
"But," Max says shaking his head in consternation. "It could be anybody- enemies from our past, the government, our people-" Max stops and then says, "You don't think it could be some of our people that has found us. Maybe they're not hostile."
Michael shakes his head. "When strangers have always been prowling around us before- it's always meant trouble."
"Though they haven't done anything," Max says.
"*yet*---"Michael says.
Max sighs.
"So what are you going to do?" Michael asks him.
"Just wait, I guess. What is there to do? We don't know who is having this done or what they want. They seem to be just watching, from a distance." Max says.
"Yeah, well, if it gets any closer than that, I'll deal with them no matter who's sent them." Michael says.
~+~+~+~+~+~
[in Las Cruces, the mansion]
"So, what do you have for me?" Adam Winthrop asks, standing up from behind his desk in the office of his new home.
"Not an abundance, sir." An ordinary looking man in his mid-30's answers.
"What do you mean?" Adam asks sharply. "Have you not done as you've been told?"
"Oh yes, sir. Observation - around the clock. The team has taken turns as was ordered, sir, no errors. We've gathered numerous information. All that there was to be gathered."
The man hands Mr. Winthrop a bulging yellow folder. Adam takes it and slaps it on his desk lightly, glancing at the man before flipping open the cover. Dozens of photos and papers were piled inside.
He picks up a large photo from the top and looks at it. "What do you have, Marsellus?"
The man called Marsellus answers, "Observation photos, reports from all of the team, the subject's comings and goings, activities, records dating back to early childhood."
"What of the comings and goings?" Adam asks. "Any out of the ordinary occurrences?"
"That's the thing, sir - - - no. No demonstration of supernatural abilities, nothing seeming to be out of the ordinary. Of course the daily routines and schedules are with the reports, but the subject's activities are limited.. School, home, work, a cafe, friends' homes on occasion, sometimes a late night walk in the park, but that is it." -Marsellus.
"In over three weeks of work, this is all you have to give me?!" -Adam Winthrop.
"Yes, sir. We're not real close, generally only from a distance as you asked, perhaps if we- - -" -Marsellus.
"Then get closer." Adam says with, cutting him off.
"If you don't have anything better than this for our next meeting in a week- -" Adam says, leaving the sentence open, yet clearly a threat.
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir." -Marsellus. "Where do you want us to start?"
"These friends of his, who are they?" -Adam.
The man reaches on the desk for the folder and takes several photos among the pile. "Kyle Valenti. Son of the ex-sheriff, James Valenti. --- Michael Guerin, lives alone. The subject visited him today as I was undercover. --- Isabel Evans, sister. Goes to the community college. --- Maria Deluca, no father- household with single mother, Amy Deluca. --- And Elizabeth Parker. We suspect her to be the closest to the subject." The man, Marsellus, had layed down a photo on the desk of each person as he named them.
"There are more than our subject. Find out their identities. See if this Miss Parker is human. Find out as well, if Isabel Evans is his true sister or otherwise." -Adam.
"Yes, sir. Mr. Winthrop." -Marsellus.
"I'm sure you can see yourself out." Adam says as he glares in thought as he looks at the photo still in his hand. That of Max Evans.
---End of Chapter 3---
As soon as Max knocks on the door of Michael's apartment, Michael swings it open. "So what do you mean you're being followed?" Michael demands.
".Ssshhh." Max says in a low voice. "Across the street, close to the green car."
Michael glances over Max's shoulder. The only person he sees across the street is a jogger in a blue sweat suit. "Alright, Max you're being paranoid- but come in.," Michael says, holding the door open wide.
Max walks in and locks the door. "It isn't who you think it is."
"What? Maxwell, the man was just a person out for a jog." Michael says.
"No he isn't," Max says.
"Yeah right, whatever," Michael says as he turns and goes to the fridge and takes out a couple snapples. He tosses one to Max, then flops on the couch.
"Michael, I'm telling you-"Max says.
"Alright, alright," Michael says. "So someone's following you. Let's assume it was this 'jogger'."
Max interjects, "Not just him. Every time I walk anywhere lately, some person is always following me--- sometimes two together."
"So you think people are being that obvious at following you?" Michael asks.
"No, but I just know it. It's strange," Max answers.
"Okay. So if you're being followed, what for?" Michael asks. "It's not like you're a celebrity or criminal or something. The only thing it could be- -"Michael says, leaving off the rest. Max looks up and meets his eyes. They both know of course. It could likely one be because of who they were and what they were.
"But," Max says shaking his head in consternation. "It could be anybody- enemies from our past, the government, our people-" Max stops and then says, "You don't think it could be some of our people that has found us. Maybe they're not hostile."
Michael shakes his head. "When strangers have always been prowling around us before- it's always meant trouble."
"Though they haven't done anything," Max says.
"*yet*---"Michael says.
Max sighs.
"So what are you going to do?" Michael asks him.
"Just wait, I guess. What is there to do? We don't know who is having this done or what they want. They seem to be just watching, from a distance." Max says.
"Yeah, well, if it gets any closer than that, I'll deal with them no matter who's sent them." Michael says.
~+~+~+~+~+~
[in Las Cruces, the mansion]
"So, what do you have for me?" Adam Winthrop asks, standing up from behind his desk in the office of his new home.
"Not an abundance, sir." An ordinary looking man in his mid-30's answers.
"What do you mean?" Adam asks sharply. "Have you not done as you've been told?"
"Oh yes, sir. Observation - around the clock. The team has taken turns as was ordered, sir, no errors. We've gathered numerous information. All that there was to be gathered."
The man hands Mr. Winthrop a bulging yellow folder. Adam takes it and slaps it on his desk lightly, glancing at the man before flipping open the cover. Dozens of photos and papers were piled inside.
He picks up a large photo from the top and looks at it. "What do you have, Marsellus?"
The man called Marsellus answers, "Observation photos, reports from all of the team, the subject's comings and goings, activities, records dating back to early childhood."
"What of the comings and goings?" Adam asks. "Any out of the ordinary occurrences?"
"That's the thing, sir - - - no. No demonstration of supernatural abilities, nothing seeming to be out of the ordinary. Of course the daily routines and schedules are with the reports, but the subject's activities are limited.. School, home, work, a cafe, friends' homes on occasion, sometimes a late night walk in the park, but that is it." -Marsellus.
"In over three weeks of work, this is all you have to give me?!" -Adam Winthrop.
"Yes, sir. We're not real close, generally only from a distance as you asked, perhaps if we- - -" -Marsellus.
"Then get closer." Adam says with, cutting him off.
"If you don't have anything better than this for our next meeting in a week- -" Adam says, leaving the sentence open, yet clearly a threat.
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir." -Marsellus. "Where do you want us to start?"
"These friends of his, who are they?" -Adam.
The man reaches on the desk for the folder and takes several photos among the pile. "Kyle Valenti. Son of the ex-sheriff, James Valenti. --- Michael Guerin, lives alone. The subject visited him today as I was undercover. --- Isabel Evans, sister. Goes to the community college. --- Maria Deluca, no father- household with single mother, Amy Deluca. --- And Elizabeth Parker. We suspect her to be the closest to the subject." The man, Marsellus, had layed down a photo on the desk of each person as he named them.
"There are more than our subject. Find out their identities. See if this Miss Parker is human. Find out as well, if Isabel Evans is his true sister or otherwise." -Adam.
"Yes, sir. Mr. Winthrop." -Marsellus.
"I'm sure you can see yourself out." Adam says as he glares in thought as he looks at the photo still in his hand. That of Max Evans.
---End of Chapter 3---