Voices From The Grave
Chapter 4
IV
"He's alive," Liz gasped, eyes wide and appearing to be in shock.
"Liz, you've been through a lot," Jim replied gently. "Coming out here to Max's grave may not have been the best thing for you right now. This is your heart talking… It's making you imagine things…"
Liz shook her head. "No, Sheriff! Max is alive. I know it."
"What makes you think that, Liz?"
"When I touched the ring… I heard him call me."
"You heard his voice?"
"More like his mind… calling to me."
"Like he was looking for you?"
"No. Like he's in trouble."
"Do you really think if Max was in trouble he would call you and have you put yourself in danger, too, Liz?"
"You don't understand, Sheriff. Max and I have… a connection. I can't describe it. He wouldn't have to call out to me. I would just know."
Jim looked at Liz for several moments then nodded.
"You know what, Liz? Strange as it seems, I believe you. If any two people ever had a connection with each other it was you and Max. I've seen the two of you… how you are together. But you know this brings up a whole bunch of questions and problems. If you're sensing Max, and he's alive… then what's in that grave? And where is Max? And if Max really is alive… then what about the others? I saw them die… some of them… but if Max is alive, I think I ought to check all of them."
"Would that be a problem, Sheriff?"
Jim whistled slightly. "I'd have to get permission from the families to exhume the bodies. Either that or get a judge's order. Judge Lewis isn't exactly my biggest fan. He's not likely to grant me an order."
"He's the one that fired you."
"Yeah. Well, he suspended me. The city council had to make it official. And when the city council was taking so much heat after graduation, Judge Lewis tried to get 'em to hire a sheriff from a big city to come take over. But the council just wanted the heat off them as fast as possible. Rushing me back into the job was the fastest and easiest and cheapest way for them to do that. I can't say as how Judge Lewis was very pleased with their decision."
"So you need Max's parents to give permission…"
"Yeah."
"I think I can get it," Liz said. "What about Maria?"
"Amy," Jim said, closing his eyes and showing more stress than normal. "I really wish I didn't have to ask Amy to do that… If Amy thought there was even a small chance that Maria might be alive, she'd dig that grave up herself with her own hands. I just don't want to get her goin' and then have to break her heart again, you know what I mean?"
Liz nodded.
Jim groaned then sighed. "I'll figure out somethin'. Maybe if we open Max's grave and Michael's… Michael was an emancipated teen. I might have the authority to open his grave without Judge Lewis' consent. Even if Hank was still around, he wouldn't have any say."
"And if you don't find Max or Michael here, Sheriff, will you speak to Amy?"
Jim nodded. "If Max and Isabel and Michael aren't here… I think then I'd be bound by every right and duty to check Maria's grave, too."
Liz smiled.
"Thanks, Sheriff."
"Can I walk you back to your car, Liz?"
"I'd appreciate that," Liz said. Vera smiled and nodded, too.
"Liz, did you get any feeling for where Max is? I mean, that's assuming he's alive, of course."
"No. Just a sudden voice in my head, like a call, only not a call… sort of a momentary connection."
Jim nodded. "Well, we'll get to the bottom of it. If there's somethin' to it, we'll find out soon enough, I promise."
Jim walked to Vera's car and waited to open the door. Can I help you, Vera?"
"No thanks, Sheriff. She's very light."
"I'll hold the door for you."
Vera helped Liz out of the wheelchair and into the front seat of the car then she closed the door and turned to Jim…
"Sheriff, do you think what you're doing is a good idea?"
"What's that, Vera?"
"Leading this little girl on like that. Humoring her the way you were. She's confused right now. I'm just not sure pretending to agree with her… her fantasies… is the right thing for her."
"Ah! I see. Vera, there are more things on this Earth and in the universe than either one of us knows about or is likely to ever understand. I'm not leading Liz on. I believe her."
Vera stood there for a moment looking at the sheriff, not knowing what to say.
"Well, I'd just hate to see her get hurt any more than she already has been…"
"I would, too, Vera. But I owe her this. And if Liz says she thinks Max is alive, that's good enough reason in my mind for me to check it out at least."
Vera smiled slightly then nodded and got into her car. Jim watched as she pulled out and drove down the road, then he followed in his own vehicle, just far enough back not to be noticed. When Vera and Liz were safely back in the apartment above the CrashDown, Jim turned around and drove back to the Sheriff's station.
**********
Back at the station, Jim stepped out of his vehicle and started to walk toward his office. Then, noticing a car parked nearby, he walked over to check it out.
"Rolls Royce! Royal blue! Nice! Not on a sheriff's salary!" Jim chuckled to himself then walked into his office prepared to sprawl out on the sofa for a few minutes to relax, but he found the sofa already occupied.
"Judge! Won't you come in?"
"I think you'll notice I already am in, Sheriff."
"I just thought I'd invite you so I wouldn't have to go to the trouble of arrestin' you for trespassing… not to mention breaking and entering?"
"I've got a key, Jim. I'm a judge. I'm also on the city council… unofficially. It's not trespassing."
"That might be a matter for some debate, Judge, but you're here, so what can I do for you?"
"I want you to stop spending valuable city time running around after that girl."
"She needs protection, Judge. I'm the sheriff. That's my job."
"Your job, Jim, is to do what I tell you to do, and I'm tellin' you to stay away from that girl!"
"Why are you all of a sudden so interested in the fact I'm protecting her, Judge?"
"That's not your business, Sheriff."
"It's mine now," Jim replied sternly.
"Thing is, Sheriff, I got a visit from the army last night. You are being accused of impeding an army investigation into the happenings at graduation."
"Is that what they're calling it? Impeding an investigation?" Jim sneered. "I would've called it attempted murder."
"Jim, you're in contempt! The army wants to clear this mess up, and it's in the best interest of this city to let them do that… as fast as possible… and get on with our business."
"I thought they already tried those guys that did it, Judge. Seems to me the army said they had it all wrapped up already. What could they possibly want now?"
"The army, Jim, is very important in this city! They pay a lot of salaries. They spend money in this town… lots of it!"
Jim looked out the window. "Is that a Rolls Royce you drove here in, Judge? Looks new. Bein' a judge has gotten to be a lot more lucrative lately, has it?"
Judge Lewis glared at Jim then stood up and walked to the door.
"I'll let myself out, Sheriff. You heed my words. The council may want you here now, but you're treadin' on thin ice… very thin ice. Stay away from that Parker girl! That's not a request… That's an order!"
After Judge Lewis had driven away, Jim picked up the phone and dialed Hansen's number.
[i]"Hello?"[/i]
"Hansen? You still want some overtime?"
[i]"Sure, Sheriff. What do you need?"[/i]
"I need you to help me watch Liz Parker."
[i]"I thought you wanted to do that yourself, Sheriff."[/i]
"And I still intend to, Hansen. I'm doubling the protection she's getting."
[i]"Why?"[/i]
"Because Judge Lewis wants me to keep away from her… and the army wants me to keep away from her."
Hansen was quiet for several moments before answering. [i]"That sounds like a good enough reason to me, Sheriff."[/i]
**********
Vera pushed Liz's wheelchair into the apartment then turned around to shut the door and lock it.
"Hello, Liz."
Liz turned her head around quickly, recognizing the voice.
"Kyle! Omigod! What in the world are you doing here? How'd you get in?"
"Your Dad let me in. He had to go back down and flip some more burgers. He said I could wait for you here. Is that alright?"
"Alright? Kyle! It's wonderful! Come here and give me a hug!"
Kyle smiled and walked over to Liz. Liz put her arms around him.
"I've almost gotten the full use of my arms back now, Kyle. I still can't feel my legs, but I haven't given up. Does your Dad know you're here?"
"No, and I'd rather keep it that way. He thinks he's protecting me. He wants me to stay out of Roswell… as far out of it as possible for the time being."
"He just wants to make sure you stay alive, Kyle. I understand."
"Yeah, I know. But what's life without a few risks, huh, Liz?"
Liz shook her head and smiled. "Well, you know I'm glad to see you, Kyle. I haven't seen any of our friends since… graduation."
"I know," Kyle said sympathetically. "I can't believe that Alex and I are the only ones left… besides you, I mean."
"Can I tell you something, Kyle?"
"Anything, Liz. You know that."
"Well, this may sound kind of crazy."
"I'll consider the source," Kyle said with a grin.
"Oh, thanks, Kyle," Liz said, returning the grin. "That makes me feel soooo much better."
"What did you want to tell me, Liz?"
"I don't think Max is dead. No… I know Max isn't dead. Michael and Isabel and Maria may not be, either."
"Okay." Kyle mulled what Liz had said over in his mind for several seconds. "Coming from almost anyone else, Liz, I'd say no way, but… why do you think they could be alive?"
"I felt a connection with Max today. I felt it! He's alive."
"And the others?"
"I… I know I don't have anything to go on to suggest that they could be alive, Kyle. I just thought that if Max is still alive, maybe… You know?"
Kyle nodded.
"And, Kyle… there's something else. I haven't told anyone yet… not even Daddy."
Kyle looked at Liz questioningly, and Liz rolled her chair into her room and returned with a small diary.
"I'm keeping a diary, Kyle."
"There's nothing strange about that, Liz. You always kept a diary."
"Not like this one."
"What do you mean?"
Liz picked up the diary and began to read…
[i]We went diving in the Golden Sea today. Max looked so gallant standing there with his hand out waiting for me to step into the surf with him. I don't know how many times we've dived together now… I've lost count. It is so beautiful. And our children love coming here. Andya is getting to be quite proficient on the Sysscha board. Maya has even dived with us a couple of times. JoLeesa loves the beach. She would rather sun herself on the beach than almost anything. Alyyx is only seven, and he's almost as proficient as Andya now on the Sysscha board, and he's already talking about how he wants to try a zoombor board. I think that's still a few years away for him, though. And Jeffy… little Jeffy really loves sitting in the gentle waves. I can't help being overprotective of him, even though I know that with his powers, he probably couldn't drown…"[/i]
"Do you want me to go on, Kyle?"
Kyle seemed at a loss for words. Then he nodded. "Well, I think it's nice, Liz. It's like a novel or something. There's nothing wrong with expressing our inner desires and our feelings as stories or fables. Buddha…"
"You don't understand, Kyle."
"I think five kids sounds a little unbelievable, though, Liz."
"Well, three of them are triplets. Look, Kyle, This isn't something I'm just making up. I'm seeing it. I'm feeling the emotions. And I write it down. Listen to this."
[i]Max and I went over to see Kyle and Jeliya this afternoon. Rayyn and Taz came out to meet us. They're getting to be such handsome boys. Rayyn looks a lot like Kyle, and Taz looks more like his mama. But I see Kyle's mischief in both of them's eyes…"[/i]
"Hold it! Hold it! Liz. You're saying you're seeing the future or something, and I'm married… with kids…?"
"I don't know, Kyle. I see these visions sometimes… and I feel these feelings, and it's like I'm there. I don't know where there is. Well, I do… kind of. It's on Max's planet… Antar. I just don't know why I'm seeing myself there. And I see these children… They're supposed to be mine… and I know them… but they don't exist. Am I going crazy, Kyle? If I'm hallucinating about these visions, could I be hallucinating about feeling Max today, too? 'Cause if I am…"
Liz didn't finish.
Kyle struggled for something to say. Finally, he seemed to find his voice again. "I don't know what you're seeing, Liz… but you're not crazy… or hallucinating either. You've had visions before, and they always mean something. I'm not sure I believe that you and Max have five kids and live on Antar in some future or something… or that I'll ever live on Antar and marry someone named Jeliya… We were married, right?"
"Yeah."
Kyle nodded. "But your visions always mean something."
"Thanks, Kyle. I knew it, too. I did feel Max today. I wasn't hallucinating. I just wish I knew what these visions meant… and why I'm having them now."
"We'll figure it out, Liz. Once we do, I know they'll make total sense."
"I hope so."
"They will."
~On the other side of Roswell, meanwhile~
"Have you handled the situation with Sheriff Valenti, Judge?"
"I did. He won't be around the girl any more. You can complete your investigation now gentlemen."
"Good."
"Just what are you investigating now, if I might ask?"
The agent pulled out a wad of money and counted out twenty-two hundred dollar bills, tossing them on Judge Lewis' desk.
"Did you have a question, Judge?"
"I forgot."
"Let's keep it that way."
tbc
Next time: Valenti tries to reopen Max and Michael's graves but is confronted by Judge Lewis with an order to desist. And Liz feels another connection… this time to Maria, who brings a message.