Up until now, Max had made a point of sticking to small roads and avoiding highways and interstates. In this case, that seemed to have backfired. There wasn't even any traffic to try to get lost in.

Max didn't want to be in charge, and he had made that clear to his friends. His track record in the past had not been great, and Liz's vision of their future had confirmed his worst fears. Nevertheless, he was driving, there were flashing lights in his rearview mirror, and there was no time for a conference. Max made the only decision he could and pulled over, feeling the van shake as it hit the gravel on the side of the road.

Max was glad no one asked about his plans. It wouldn't make the others feel any better to hear he didn't have any.

"I got your back," Michael said. His tone suggested the faith he had in Max, his belief that Max would get them through this… despite all evidence to the contrary. Nevertheless, Max felt himself straighten up, buoyed by Michael's belief, no matter how misplaced that belief might be.

He rolled down the window as he watched the policeman get out of the car. There was only one of them, Max noted. And he was a sheriff, not a state policeman. Better, Max thought. Less chance of him mobilizing the whole state against us.

The sheriff, who was somewhere in his forties, had a deadly serious expression on his face. When he approached the van, Max nodded and said, "Officer." Max, fighting the urge to say anything else, waited for the sheriff to do something.

"Do you know why I stopped you?" the sheriff asked.

"No sir," Max said. "I don't think I was speeding."

The sheriff shook his head. "No, this is a safety stop. You have a broken taillight."

Max felt a rush of relief. "Thank you, I will get that fixed right away," he said.

"Good, I'll write you a summons for it, but you won't have to pay if you get it repaired in forty-eight hours," the sheriff said.

Max knew what was coming next, and his stomach tightened.