Tomorrow's Yet to Come

Chapter Seven   In a New York Minute

"I can't believe we're in New York!" squealed Maria. She threw her arms around Michael and hugged him excitedly. "Us, here, now, in the Big Apple. It's fantastic."

"If you ever call it that again, we'll have to pretend not to know you," said Isabel, dryly.

"Shut up, Isabel," Maria said, amicably. "We are here in New York City, the hub of the music world. You are not going to rain on my parade."

"You are such a geek, DeLuca," said Alex. "And you, my dear wife are not any better. You're just as excited as Maria, and you know it."

"All right, fine, I am excited," said Isabel. "I'm just trying to be a bit more restrained about it."

"Okay, great, we're all excited," said Michael. "Now can we please get something to eat and I don't know, maybe start looking for a place to live?"

"Oh, can we please, please, please go to China Town to eat?" begged Maria. "Real, honest to God Chinese food. Please, can we?"

"God, yes," said Isabel. "Anything to shut you up." She sounded condescending, but the grin on her face showed the others that her griping was good-natured.

The four Roswellians quickly found a hotel, and stowed their luggage and set out to eat, and explore their new city.

"So, stay together or split up?" asked Alex, his mouth full of mu shu pork.

"Split up," said Maria and Isabel simultaneously.

"Split up," agreed Michael.

"So, I'm guessing you don't want to get a place together, then?" deadpanned Alex.

"Look, Alex. It's not that I don't love you to pieces," said Maria. "You know I do. But this is a chance for all of us to spread our wings and explore the world."

"Much as it pains me to say this," said Isabel. "Maria is right. I mean, it's not like we can't hang out and stuff, but we need to be on our own for a while."

"Pass the fried rice," said Michael. He reached out and took the silver dish that Isabel passed to him. "Damn, it's cold." He focused on the dish still in his hand, and the rice began to steam. "There, that's better. Anyhow, here's what I think. We should start apartment hunting today, and we can hook back up for dinner, and see what we've found. What do you think?"

"It sounds like a plan," said Alex. "Damn, the tea is cold too," he said, hefting the silver teapot in his hand. "I'm not too impressed with your authentic Chinese restaurant Maria. He used his powers to heat the tea and poured himself a cup, and liberally added sugar.

"Let's pay the bill and get out of here, then," said Maria. "And somebody else can pick the place for dinner. I don't seem to be having much luck in that department."

They paid the bill, and walked out into the steamy New York heat. None of them noticed the stranger who followed them out of the restaurant, after paying special attention to their table littered with leftover Chinese food, and empty bottles of Tabasco sauce.

Later that night

"Oh, God, this pizza is so good," moaned Maria. "That crap they served at the Flying Pepperoni pales in comparison. Now, on to more important business, did you guys find a place to live?"

"Yeah," said Alex. "It's not the penthouse of Isabel's dreams. But it's a nice 2-bedroom apartment, not too far from the university. The rent is astronomical, but money isn't a problem."

"Thank God, for that," said Isabel. "I never realized what an expensive city this is. Have you guys found anything, yet?"

"A couple of places," said Michael. "Since we weren't looking for something rent controlled, we had pretty good luck. We have an appointment to go back and look at one again tomorrow."

"Yeah, that will give them a chance to kill all the cockroaches," said Maria. "Michael, those places were dumps. I think we can afford to raise our standards just a little."

"Define dump, for me, will you, Maria?" said Alex. "Cause some how, I'm thinking your idea of dump, and the rest of the world's version of dump just aren't the same."

"Thank you, Alex," said Michael. "I found a 2 bedroom apartment in a renovated brownstone. Maria's just unhappy because it's on the third floor."

"Well, I don't for one second think it's going to be you carrying all the grocery bags up the three flights of stairs, Michael Guerin," said Maria, her voice tinged with annoyance.

"Is that the only thing you hate about that apartment, Maria?" asked Isabel."

"Yeah, other than that, it's pretty nice. We'd have access to the roof, and there's a cute little patio garden up there, and the landlord seems really nice. It's just all those stairs," Maria's voice trailed off.

"You know those new found powers of yours Maria? Well, did you ever think about making the bags nice and light?" asked Isabel.

"I can do that?" Maria asked, her voice filled with awe.

Isabel rolled her eyes in an 'Oh please, spare me,' look. "Of course you can, Maria. Tell me honestly, do you ever do anything more with your powers than fix your hair?"

"Not since we got rid of Tess, the phantom menace," admitted Maria.

"Well you should," said Isabel. "You never know what's going to be out there."

"Lighten up, will you?" said Maria. "Tess is dead, Rath and Lonnie are dead. What else so we have to worry about? Kivar getting in his UFO and flying down to kidnap us?"

"Maybe," said Michael. "In any event, it wouldn't make sense for any of us to not to keep our powers honed."

"Excuse me," said a man, walking up to the booth where they sat. "May I borrow your hot pepper flakes?"

"Oh, sure," said Isabel. She grabbed the glass shaker of pepper flakes and passed it to the guy. "Here you go."

"Thanks," he said, reaching for the flakes.

Isabel looked closely at him for a second, then looked quickly away. She waited until he was out of earshot before she spoke.

"Let's get out of here," she said. "That guy, the pepper guy. There's something about him that I'm just not liking."

"Okay, Isabel, no sweat," said Alex. He jumped up and went to the counter and got a box to put the leftover pizza in. He returned and quickly slid the leftover pie into the box. "See, no problem. We're out of here."

The group exited the restaurant, quickly. Alex, Isabel and Maria turned left, and Michael turned right and crossed the street. He then reversed direction and walked back until he stood on the opposite side of the street from the restaurant. He watched as the stranger exited the building and walked in the direction that Maria and the others took.

As he walked down the street, he pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number.

"It's me," he said when the call connected. "Isabel was right, he's following you. I want you to turn left at the next intersection, then cross the street. There's a department store there. Duck inside and split up. We'll meet in the sporting goods department." Michael disconnected the call, and shoved his phone back in his pocket. He watched as Maria and the others turned down the block and entered the department store. Much to his dismay, the stranger walked past the department store without giving it a single glance.