mask-in case I get shot in the head next time.'
DuPris was silent for a moment.
'I like you, Ms. Ortecho,' he finally said. 'I'm a great admirer of a lively sense of humor. Now would you like to tell me what really happened?'
'I just told you,' Liz answered. 'I think you should definitely write a story about RosWool for your paper. It's something people should know about. Maybe you could even get them to run an ad or something.'
'I'm still intrigued by the young man my sources mentioned.' DuPris leaned toward her, and Liz caught a whiff of his pine-scented aftershave. It made the inside of her nose itch.
'There was a guy who ran up to me,' Liz admitted. 'He might have put his hand over the wound to stop the bleeding. But the wool was already working. That's what healed me.'
She widened her eyes and tried to look innocent and stupid. DuPris stared at her for a few seconds, then sighed.
'Well, I thank you for setting the record straight.' He stood up. 'I must say I'm relieved that the young man wasn't responsible for saving your life.'
'What? Why?' Liz knew she shouldn't ask. It would have been smarter to let DuPris walk away. But the questions just popped out of her mouth.
DuPris grinned down at her. 'You seem like such an intelligent person,' he said. 'So tell me, if there were a young man who could heal with a touch, isn't it logical to assume he could also kill with a touch?' DuPris asked.
Liz shook her head. 'I'm not sure what you mean.'
DuPris eased back down into the seat across from her, his green eyes intense. 'Let's say a young man could manipulate the muscles and skin and even the internal organs to close a bullet wound with a single touch of his hand.'
Liz nodded, afraid to speak.
'Well, if the young man could do that, couldn't he also do it in reverse? Couldn't he open a hole in a person's heart or cause a rip to appear in one of their lungs-all with the same touch of his hand?'
Liz could almost see the blood pumping through the hole in the heart and the delicate lung tissue tearing open. She grimaced as the gruesome images filled her mind.
'I wouldn't like to think there was someone wandering around our town who could kill so easily and with so little chance of being stopped,' DuPris finished.
Standing up again, he tipped his hat at Liz and sauntered toward the door.
Liz rubbed her finger back and forth over the shiny silver tabletop after he left. What DuPris said did make sense. Could Max kill someone just by touching them?
'We should all go shopping together for the homecoming dance.' Stacey Scheinin gave a little bounce on her toes.
Stacey was always bouncing, or squealing, or giggling. She was like a cheerleader out of some thirteen- year-old boy's fantasies. She made Isabel want to puke.
'I thought all of you could get dresses in the same color-maybe lavender,' Stacey went on. 'That way when I get elected homecoming queen, all my attendants will be color coordinated. We are going to look totally killer up on the stage together.'
'Is there some reason you think we are going to be your attendants?' Isabel asked.
'Oh, Izzy, don't worry,' Stacey cooed. 'You can come over tonight and I'll do a makeover on you. I know I can pretty you up enough to be chosen as part of my homecoming court.'
'No thanks.' Isabel ran her eyes up and down Stacey. 'I've seen your work.'
'Go, girl,' Tish Okabe murmured.
The cheerleading squad was split between girls who wanted to be just like Stacey and girls who thought Stacey was the love child of Jerry Springer and Lassie. Isabel and Tish were definitely in the second group.
'Let's get back to work.' Stacey clapped. 'We're going to do Alien Attack until we get it perfect. Izzy, you were behind last time.'
'Yeah, me and everyone else but you,' Isabel muttered as she moved into place on the gym floor.
'Ready, okay!' Stacey called.
'Roswell aliens, causing a sensation,' Isabel began. She caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. Alex Manes slipped through the gym door. He leaned against the back wall, watching her. Just her.
Isabel did a walkover and slid into a split as the cheer ended. She gave Alex a wink, and a grin stretched across his face. That dream did it, she thought. Alex's vote is in the bag. If anyone needs to buy a lavender attendant's dress, it's Stacey. She pushed herself to her feet, her sneakers squeaking against the polished wood floor.
'Okay, everyone, next practice is Wednesday at three-thirty. Be on time, please,' Stacey called.
She needs to get out more, Isabel thought. Being head cheerleader is the best thing that's happened to her in her whole pathetic life.
Isabel started toward the locker room. Alex hurried up before she reached the door.
'Hey,' he said. He stuck his hands in his back pockets, took them out, then shoved them back in again.
He's nervous. How sweet, Isabel thought. 'That's it?' she teased. 'Just 'hey'? I thought guys were supposed to have some suave opening lines memorized for situations like this.'
'That was it,' Alex admitted.
'Catchy.' Isabel released her long blond hair from its ponytail and shook it out.
'Thought it up all by myself,' he bragged. 'But I have a backup. It's total cheese. My older brother taught it to me. Want to hear it?'
'Of course.' Isabel ran her tongue over her bottom lip. That got Alex's attention. Guys were so predictable. And they never realized when they were being played.
'Okay, pretend I'm a cop, you know, with a gun and badge and stuff,' Alex instructed.
Isabel laughed. 'I like this one already. Are you wearing handcuffs, too?'
'No way I told you this is my brother's line, and he's a classy guy. Okay, get ready to melt.' Alex cleared his throat loudly. 'I'm going to have to arrest you.'
Isabel batted her eyes. 'But I haven't done anything wrong.'
'Uh, I'm afraid that's not true.' A faint blush colored Alex's cheeks. 'It's clear you've stolen the stars from the sky-I can see them in your eyes.'
Isabel tried not to laugh, but the expression on Alex's face was just too funny. He's not my type, she thought. But he's pretty damn adorable. I wonder if he has freckles everywhere.
'You liked that, huh?' Alex asked.
'Yeah,' Isabel admitted. She'd never bothered to talk to Alex before, even though they had a bunch of classes together. But there was something about that dream they shared that kept her standing there, smiling at him.
'So, you want to go to the movies or something this weekend, now that I've proved what a suave guy I am?' Alex asked.
'No, but I'll go out with your brother,' Isabel shot back. Enough was enough. One interesting dream wasn't enough to make her lower her standards.
Alex suddenly appeared completely fascinated by the row of spirit posters behind the bleachers. 'Well, my brother did teach it to me,' he mumbled. 'But I put some of my own refinements on it.'
'I've got to hit the showers,' Isabel said.
'Um, okay. I'll give your name to my brother.' Alex turned around and headed toward the big double doors at the far end of the gym.
Isabel allowed herself a moment to enjoy the rear view, then started for the locker room. Stacey fell in beside her. 'New boyfriend, Izzy?'
'Him? No. He's just a pathetic wanna-be,' Isabel answered. 'I always have a few love slaves following me around with their tongues hanging on the ground. I guess you don't have that problem, huh, Stace?'
Isabel grinned as she strolled into the locker room. Life is good, she thought. In a few days Stacey was going
