"We still don't know. It's frustrating, I'm well aware of that," Jimmy conceded to Kenny. "This is why I didn't want the two of you to find out before we knew either way."

"We can't keep doing this," Kenny lamented. "How possible is this? When is this guy's ex getting here?"

"This afternoon. How did Max take the news? You did tell her?"

"Yeah. Surprisingly well, although I'm not sure she believed it. She had some valid points too, Jimmy. Like how her father admitted to having Josh killed."

"Unless he didn't know."

"Yeah."

"We'll see what the ex-wife says, and go from there. The DNA results should be in by the end of the week."

2020202020

"Samantha," Max said, trying not to lose her temper, as Emily clung to her leg. "You're going to miss your bus."

"How come Emily doesn't have to take the bus?"

"Because she isn't even two yet. Let's get going."

"Why can't you take us to school? What are you going to do all day? You don't go to work. Why don't you?"

"I have leave until your cousin is born," Max countered through gritted teeth. "Now go."

"I hate the bus. It smells."

"Come on, Samantha," Nate begged. "I like it. It's fun, better then being driven in the limo every day."

"I liked the limo," Samantha whined. "Aunt Maxie? Why can't you drive us today?"

I'm going to scream, Max thought, as she pried a clinging Emily off of her leg. I can't do this. Full-time Mom, Kenny has lost his mind. "I have some appointments, that I'm already going to be late for. Please, Samantha, no more questions this morning."

2020202020

"I've never seen that child before," Katherine Rowland declared, studying the picture that was found her ex-husbands wallet. "And I don't know why he would of had it either."

Jimmy groaned internally. "You're sure? He never mentioned any children to you? One's he might have known in passing? Or of his friends."

"He didn't have any friends," Katherine trailed off. "He wasn't stable, and spent a lot of time in counseling and in hospitals. I don't know too many people who would let a dangerous mental patient near their children."

"Do you know the names of the hospitals he was in?" Skeeter interjected quickly, trying to ignore the gnawing in his gut.

"The most recent one," she trailed off. "It began with a C. Corner . . . something. Stand? Sloane? Stone. That's it. Cornerstone."

"Cornerstone? You're sure?" Jimmy verified. "Do you know the dates?"

"He was in there for the last three years or so. He was released a few months ago."

"Did he ever mention anyone from there?" Skeeter asked slowly.

"I'm his ex-wife," Katherine replied coldly. "We didn't talk often, but he sent me some letters. He had a roommate . . . Danny something, I think."

"Did you save any of these letters?"

"Why would I save anything from my lunatic ex? I didn't want anything to do with him."

"Thanks for your help."

2020202020

I don't know what I want to find here, Kenny thought, a few hours later as he and Skeeter entered Rowland's apartment. Proof that Josh is alive? Dead? Is it even possible? How could we not know that it wasn't Josh, if it wasn't? I just want the DNA tests in, so we know. So Max can have some peace of mind.

"You okay?" Skeeter asked, looking at the distant expression on his face.

"Yeah. Let's just get this over with. What exactly are we looking for here?"

"I don't know. Something that'll link him with the other victims . . . or to Danny and Josh."

Kenny nodded slowly, as they made there way deeper into the apartment. "Yeah. It's one hell of a coincidence that a friend of Danny's ends up dead though."

"I thought that you stopped believing in those."

"I did. C'mon. Lets get this over with."

2020202020

Max fingered the letter that her Mom sent her, and contemplated what to do with the information inside. I should forget it, she thought, it's not important. I'm finished with them anyway, and I shouldn't care. There is enough going without worrying about this. Like how Josh might be alive. And this new family that we're trying to pull together. Still if Josh is alive, and it's a big if, I wonder if my parents knew. Dad and Richard said that he was dead. Mom maybe? She went a little psycho at the end, and maybe she stopped it? I don't know.

"Max? Are you there?"

"Yeah. Hold on," she called back, pushing herself to her feet slowly. Eight months, she thought. I don't know how Kenny finds this so sexy, he can't keep his hands off of me when I'm pregnant. Or ever. "Ugh, I'm getting so fat."

"You're not fat," Jill said, as she and Laurie came into the kitchen. "You're pregnant, and there is a difference."

"Yeah, yeah. My pants don't fit either way and I can't see my feet."

Jill smiled, thinking about how small she really was. "You've gained 20 pounds, that's hardly anything. Stop whining. Where is everyone?"

"Work, school, or napping."

"How are you holding up? It's got to be kind of rough on you now," Jill asked carefully.

"It isn't easy," Max trailed off. "I hate sitting around and not doing anything."

"As your doctor I'm telling you that is what is best for you and the baby. You're way too far along in your pregnancy to be running after leads, especially after not taking care of yourself during the first four months."

"I didn't know during the first four months."

"That's why it's important to do it now."

Max shook her head, running her hand absently over her stomach. "I know, I know. And I'm glad for the time. I really am. I just hate the waiting."

"Do you think that it's possible?" Laurie signed.

"I don't know . . . The thing I keep coming back to is that my Dad admitted to having Josh killed. Unless he didn't know. I hate waiting."

2020202020

"Interesting," Skeeter mused, rifling through the stack of letters he found in Rowland's.

"What did you find?" Kenny asked cautiously, from the other room. "There's nothing in the kitchen."

"Danny sent Rowland several letters from Cornerstones . . . and some from after he and Jen broke out, from the road as he put it. Shit."

Kenny ignored the trepidation building in his chest, and tried to be objective. Objective, he thought, right. This is my kid we're talking about. "What?"

"You sure you want to hear this? It's kind of brutal," Skeeter asked, not sure if it was the right time or place for this. "He goes on and on about Max, and his feelings for her. Which you're well aware of. And into his agreement with her father to kidnap Josh, and sell him to the Robinsons. Danny even sent him a picture, so Rowland could see the child . . . that he thought should be his, he even sounds convinced that it is his. "Kenny gritted his teeth, but didn't say anything as Skeeter continued to skim the letters. "Yeah. He goes on, and this is dated after of the Robinson murder, about . . . how he is supposed to kill Josh. How Max's dad ordered him to it, and how he and Jen were going to go to France. How guilty he felt about killing him, and how killing her son was going to be different then the others he had killed."

"Does it say he did it?" Kenny asked through gritted teeth. "Skeeter."

Skeeter shook his head. "It doesn't say either way, at least yet. This is the last letter in this stack."

"So we don't know anything new?"

"Not yet. Wait. What's this?"

2020202020

"Hmm. Oww," Max exclaimed, bringing her hand to her stomach.

"Are you okay?" Jill asked quickly, seeing the pained expression on her friend's face. "Max? What is it?"

She shook her head, "I'm not sure. It felt like a kick, but a little crampy too. Ouch."

"Sit down," Jill ordered. "Laurie, would you get my bag out of the car please? Take a deep breath, okay? You're going to be fine."

Max gritted her teeth, grimacing slightly. "Shit. What's happening Jill?"

"I'm not sure . . . you're more than eight months along. It could be as simple as false labor pains."

"Nothing here is ever simple," Max retorted, before doubling over. "Shit, shit. What's wrong? It hurts . . . please, my baby. Crap, did my water just break?"

"Ssh, deep breaths, Max," Jill said soothingly, as Laurie came back, and looking at the puddle on the floor. "Lay back. I'm going to examine you quickly. You and the baby are going to be fine."

2020202020

"I really like, Jordan," Samantha said shyly, as she smiled up at the senior. "Really."

"Then come on," he prodded, leading her to the boy's locker room. "We'll have a good time, Sammy. I promise."

"Um," she hesitated. "I don't know. I have class and stuff . . . I missed a lot when I was suspended."

"Come on," he insisted, tightening his grip on her hand. "Mark said that you were really good. I want to try you too."

"What did he say I was good at?" Samantha practically whispered.

"Stuff," he replied quickly. "Good stuff."

Samantha shook her head. "I'm not like that. I should go."

"You're not going anywhere," Jordan snapped, pulling her next to his chest. "Do you know how lucky you are to even be talking to me? You're a freshman. Do you have any idea who I am?"

Mommy, help me, Samantha thought. Please, I'm scared. Looking around the deserted basement hallway, she prayed that someone would find her. What would Aunt Maxie do, she though wildly, she always stood up to Grandfather.

"We can do this two ways," Jordan continued, pushing her up against the wall. "What's it gonna be?"

2020202020

"How are you doing with this?" Jimmy asked Kenny, as Skeeter filled him in on Danny's letters.

Kenny shook his head. "I don't know . . . It just leaves more questions. What the hell am I supposed to tell Max? She finally had some closure, and now this. How are we supposed to lose Josh twice?"

"The DNA results should be here in the next two days," Jimmy replied. "If they don't match . . . we won't rest until we find him."

Kenny nodded. "Yeah."

"We may have found a link between the three victims though. Besides being single forty something blond men living alone, they all had a history of mental problems. Rowland wasn't the only one who spent time in a mental hospital."

"Really? Were the other two ever at Cornerstones?"

"No, but we're looking into people they all may have met. Shared doctors, symptoms, whatever link that we can find."

"Good," Kenny replied, most of his attention still focused on Rowland's connection with Josh.

Jimmy paused, observing his distant expression. "Go home. Take a break. We can pick the rest of this up tomorrow."

2020202020

"We're going to the hospital," Jill declared. "It's not false labor, Max. You're having the baby."

"It's too soon. I have another month."

"Can you walk?"

Max took a deep breath before pushing herself to her feet. "Yeah . . . Emily. She's upstairs."

"I'll stay with her," Laurie signed quickly. "And Samantha and Nathan when they get home. Go."

Max nodded, as she took deep breaths. The baby, she thought, I'm okay, just in labor. Kenny, God, I want Kenny.

"Lean on me," Jill demanded, as they made their way toward her car. "Kenny's at work? I'm calling him once we get going. Take deep breaths, and stay calm, Max. You both are going to be okay. I know it's early.

Max nodded weakly. "Okay, okay."

Jill looked over her young friend carefully, as she punched the number sheriff's station into her cell phone.

2020202020

"Jill's on line one," a voice said over the intercom in Jimmy's office. "She says that it's urgent."

"Hold on," Jimmy said, putting a halt to Kenny's objections. "Jill?"

Kenny leaned back in his chair, and knew that Jimmy was right. I just want to go home, be with Max and the kids. Maybe if she doesn't want to be a stay at home Mom . . . no way. He tuned back into Jimmy as he heard his name.

"Where? Okay. Kenny? You want to say anything to him? Or does she?" Jimmy asked. It'll be a good distraction, he mused, even if it is a few weeks early.

"What?" Kenny asked. "Jill?"

"Get to the hospital," Jill said in way of greeting. "Your wife is in labor."

Kenny sucked in his breath, as he heard Jill passing the phone back to Max. "Honey? What's going on? Are you okay? The baby?"

"Kenny," Max cried, as the contraction hit her. "It's too soon."

"I'm coming honey. Ssh, stay calm. You'll both be fine," Kenny said softly, not wanting to upset her anymore. "You can do this."

"Mmm, oww. I can't. It hurts."

"Yes you can," Kenny replied, sounding a lot calmer then he felt. "I'll see you at the hospital. I love you."

"Love - mmm."

Kenny stared at the phone for a minute before saying. "I'm gonna go . . . Max is in labor."

"Go," Jimmy said. "

Kenny shook his head, rising from the chair. "I don't know . . . she doesn't sound so good."

"I'll drive," Jimmy replied, standing as well. "Let's go."

2020202020

"Please," Samantha begged, trying to twist free of Jordan. "Don't hurt me!"

"If you didn't want this, you wouldn't have come down here with me! Stop fighting me!"

No, she screamed inside, no! Taking a final deep breath, she raised her knee to his crotch with all of her strength."Let go of me!"

"You bitch!"

"This bitch is running," Samantha yelled back, fleeing down the hall, toward the stairs. "No!"

"Not so fast," Jordan gasped, tossing her to the ground. "For that, this is going to hurt."

2020202020

"She's hemorrhaging," Dr. Meadows declared. "We've got to get this baby out now if there is any hope of survival."

"It's not time yet," Max whispered, the world fuzzy around her, as a contraction shot through her stomach. "Hmm."

"Contractions are coming less then a minute apart," Jill verified. "It's too late to stop them."

"We're doing a transfusion. She's losing too much blood! How long as she been in labor for?"

"About two hours," Jill verified. "It's happening quickly."

"Very," Dr. Meadows agreed. "I need you to push Maxine on the next contraction. Can you hear me?"

Max nodded slightly. I can't, she thought, feeling herself drifting. What do they want me to do? Push what? My baby…I'm having the baby.

"Now," Jill said. "Come on Max, you have to do this."

Max gritted her teeth, and concentrated on Jill's voice as she pushed. I feel so strange, she thought, it's like I'm floating. Do it. Push.

Jill and Dr. Meadows exchanged a look over their nearly unconscious patient as Jill laid a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Max. Stay focused. I know you're hurting, but you have to do this for your baby. Don't give up."

She looked up bleary eyed. "Jill? Where's Kenny?"

"He'll be here," Jill promised, looking at the clock. "Get ready to push again. You've got to."

"Okay," Max said trying to focus, as a contraction ripped through her. "Mmm, why does it hurt so much?"

"Keep going," Dr. Meadows said. "Three, two, one . . . stop. Good. The bleeding is slowing down too. Good job Maxine."

Max nodded slightly, thinking how it was too early. "It wasn't like this before."

"It's different every time," Jill replied, as the curtains were pushed back. "I'm glad you're here."

"Max," Kenny said, focusing everything on her. Sweaty, he thought, exhausted…She can barely keep her eyes open. "Honey?"

"Kenny," she whispered, feeling him take her hand. "I feel so strange."

"Get ready to push again, go."

Max closed her eyes, and pushed as hard as she could, and she heard Kenny encouraging her.

"I can see the head! Another one, go," Jill cried. "One more, Max, just one more."

I can't, she thought, as began to push. I can't feel my body. Feeling Kenny brush her hair back and squeeze her hand, she put all of her remaining strength into it, and collapsed back onto the pillows as a cry pierced the air.

"Oh Max," she heard Kenny said in her ear, as she closed her eyes in exhaustion. "Max?"

Jill turned her attention away from the newborn, as she saw the blood still flowing at of her friend. "She's hemorrhaging! Clamps! Stay with us, Max!"

"We need to get her to surgery," Dr. Meadows added. "Now. Mr. Lacos, you've got to get out of here now."

"She's going to be okay? Please," Kenny asked, reluctant to let go of his pale and bleeding wife. "Please? She has to be."

"We'll do our best," Jill promised. "But you've got to let us take her Kenny. She needs surgery."

Kenny nodded, stunned as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. How can this be happening? I can't do this without her. Staring down the hallway that she had been wheeled off in, he collapsed in a lobby chair to wait.

The End.