Run, Baby Run

Chapter Nine

"I began to date my best friend...and it wasn't until a month into the relationship I discovered he was...he was illegally loaning money."

Lacey paused, and folded her arms across her chest. Reluctantly Tate kept to his word. He was going to let Lacey her story without interruption.

"I guess I wasn't a best friend...I didn't even suspect what kind of business he was in.."

She murmured, cursing herself for not realizing that her childhood friend was in way over his head. How could she be so native?

"Long story short, I found myself in a situation at the wrong time...

I witnessed a murder."

His stomach dropped and his throat suddenly felt dry. Forgetting his earlier promise he opened his mouth, but no words came out. What did ahe get herself into? What did he get himself into?

"No. It wasn't him. It was Greg Swanson. It was dark but I'm sure it's him... It happened after a party at Ryan's my boyfriend house. Around twelve people started to leave, the music started to fade, only a few of his friends stayed. It happened in Ryan' basement..I went down there to get a couples beers and I didn't even get halfway down the stairway before I heard noises, it sounded like angry men bickering..but that didn't mean anything, it happened all the time. So I continued down the multiple steps, but I stopped when I heard a unfamiliar voice plead. That wasn't normal. Their words weren't distinct, they were murmuring, but I could hear their tone. I waited a minuet frozen half way down the stairway not knowing what to do. Then I heard a faint bang, pop, it wasn't loud enough for anyone upstairs to hear. The voices stopped. Fear struck me and without thinking I quickly scrambled up the stairs forgetting about the beers...at that point I didn't know that I had just heard a murder, I just knew whatever had just happened wasn't good. Five minuets later a tall, burley, spiked black hair man rushed through the basement door, immediately I recognized him as Greg. I never really talked to him, he was more of the quiet type.."

Lacey stopped, inhaling a deep breath.

" Of course I was scared to death. I didn't know if he had seen me..or what kind of business Ryan, my boyfriend was really in. It made me wonder if Ryan ...I started to realize a lot more that I should have."

Lacey paused and took another deep breath. Tate could tell she was getting more uncomfortable.

"Immediately I wanted to go to the cops..or any authority, but the next day I confused to Ryan about what happened the night before he convinced me not to tell, saying it would only put me at risk of danger....so I kept my mouth closed and desperately tried to make myself believe that I didn't see or hear anything..I knew it wasn't right, but I was so scared..."

Lacey wrapped her arms tighter to her chest to give herself some sort of comfort. Tate wanted to soothe her, or give her some comfort but he had to restrained himself.

"I heard on the Daily News, that a dead unknown male body with a bullet hole in his chest was found twenty miles from Ryan's house. and at that moment I realized what had happened that night. I still wasn't completely sure. A whole week of not eating or sleeping passed. I was always thinking...I knew it wasn't right, I couldn't let him get away with murder. I just couldn't, even though I wanted to. Finally after hours of debating I told Ryan I was going to the cops. He strongly advised against it saying that it would only hurt me. He didn't even deny that Greg could have been the murderer. I told the local police station anyways..and Greg did get arrested but then he was released the very next day because they had no solid evidence.."

Again Lacey stopped, leaving Tate with a uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"A week later I..started to get random notes..some would be on my kitchen table, or on my bed or even in my mail box. They told me to..run, because I was in danger. I still don't know who had wrote them..and when I didn't do anything....."

Suddenly Lacey's voice quivered with thick emotion.

"When I didn't do anything..my brother...was found...my older brother was murdered."

Her whole body shook and her hand went to wipe a tear from her face that had just formed. Her arms around her tighten, as she sniffled. Tate's heart clenched. He couldn't take it anymore. He didn't care if she would push him back, or if it was wrong or too soon. He felt the need to comfort her and right now maybe all she need was embrace. Instantly Lacey felt two strong arms wrap her into a gently, warm hug.

"I'm so sorry."

He whispered, softly ignoring that he had told her that he wouldn't talk until she was done. Surprisingly she didn't resisted him, maybe she was just too upset and tried. Reluctantly he pulled away, and sat back in his chair.

"There was a note that said I was next. I felt trapped and I was too confused and heartbroken to think straight. The police refused to let me enter Witness Protection..even after I showed them the note..I lived in a small apartment with my brother, my mother and father had passed years ago. I was a teenager going in my twenties and with no place to go after I got kicked out of the apartment when I couldn't pay the bills. Ryan drifted apart...and even he refused to let me stay with him..I had no where to go. I had no family members...The threats got worse..then.."

"Then you can to me right? because you thought I could make you disappear?"

He questioned, slowly. She sighed and slumped her shoulders in a nod.

"Yes, I heard about your new experiment..and I thought it would work..why didn't you go through with it?"

Tate straighten his back. She had been honest with him, it was only fair that he do the same.

"Since you cleared things up with me I will do the same..the experiment was very new...and.."

He paused, figuring how to word it.

"Yeah?"

She encouraged, raising her eyebrow.

"The experiment was only tested on Guinea pigs and test rats. You..were going to be the first human."

He swallowed hesitant to watch her reaction. But he hadn't gone through with it because she would have been in bigger danger. Even if the drug did work and her outward appearance transformed Tate knew Lacey would never be the same. His co workers, business partner, and most importantly his boss would never leave her. She would become their experiment , their test rat.