I Don't Own The Numb3rs Characters. I am just borrowing them, so please do not sue. I would like to thank N'kala, D. Lerious, and Lewisa Clark for all their help.
Larry was in his classroom, clearing up his things to go home. It was only five o'clock in the afternoon, but the storm clouds outside made it look like midnight. The math building was pretty quiet for the most part. He could just make out the steady scrape, snap of chalk on a blackboard coming from the classroom at the end of the hallway. Chances were it was Charlie. Larry knew Charlie was helping Don on a case of some kind. He just wasn't sure what it was exactly. There was a loud crash of thunder, followed quickly by a downpour. Larry went to close the window.
Suddenly someone grabbed the back of his shirt and flung him against the wall. Pain exploaded in Larry's head. He let out a strangled cry of surprise, but it was cut off by a hand gripping him by the throat, pinning him against the wall. Larry tried to yell for help, but it came out a hoarse whisper. He clawed at the hand trying to make who ever it was let go. He kicked and squirmed and tried to break free, but the hand didn't budge. Larry looked up to see his attacker.
The only thing he could be sure of was that the attacker was male. He had on a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head. Black wrap around sunglasses covered his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was cold and full of hate."Where is Charles Eppes?"
Larry shook his head. Or at least, he tried to. "Wh-who?" he croaked.
The response was not one the attacker wanted. He punched Larry in the jaw.
"Tell me where he is!"
That was the last thing Larry was going to do. Fear for his own safety was quickly being replaced with fear for Charlie's. Larry closed his eyes. He couldn't betray his friend. He just couldn't. He tried to talk, not an easy task."I don't know who you're talking about. I don't know anyone by that name. I'm sorry. Please let me go!"
This time he was rewarded with a punch to the stomach. At least the attacker released his throat. Larry fell to his kness. He wrapped one arm around his stomach while he used the other arm to hold himself upright. The thought of running occured to him, but he was too unsteady to even stand up.
"Liar! I saw you talking to him this afternoon. Now tell me where he is before I kill you!"
Larry shook his head. The likelyhood that this creep would let him live was pretty much nonexistant. Even if he did let Larry live, Larry would never be able to live with himself if he betrayed Charlie. He wondered if this creep had anything to do with the case Charlie was helping Don with. It was at that moment that Larry suddenly realized just who his attacker was.
From what he had heard from news reports there was a serial killer on the loose called The Phantom. He was so named because he never left any evidence at crime scenes, few witnesses lived long enough to i.d. him, and the ones who did live never got a good look at him. Charlie must have been helping Don track this guy. That's why he was here. If he killed Charlie he'd lessen his chances of being caught!
Larry swallowed. "H-he was just asking me for the time, that's all. I swear I don't know him!" Tears streamed down Larry's face. "Please, I'm telling you the truth!"
The Phantom kicked him hard in the ribs, sending Larry sprawling.
"Stop lying to me!" When he spoke again, he sounded puzzled. "How can you be so loyal to him? If you just tell me where he is I'll let you go."
Larry lay on the floor sucking in air through his teeth. Of course this monster couldn't understand what loyalty was. Charlie was Larry's best friend. More than a friend. He loved Charlie like a son. Larry closed his eyes. He prayed death would claim him before he would break.
Charlie was having a hard time concentrating on the equations in front of him. Something felt wrong. There was a feeling of uneasiness that he just couldn't shake. He put the chalk back in the tray and removed his headphones. He heard a loud crash. His heart stopped when he realized it had come from Larry's classroom. Charlie tore down the hall as fast as he could. When he came to the doorway he saw Larry lying on the floor crying and gasping for breath. A man in a hooded sweatshirt stood over him, a revolver pointed at Larry's head. "Last chance. Where is Charles Eppes?"
Charlie ran into the room and wrapped his arms around Larry, shielding his friend from futher harm. "Leave him alone! I'm right here. What do you want?"
The hooded man smiled. "My dear professor, you've come very close to getting me caught. I can't let you do that. You're going to have to die."
A cold wind of terror blew through Charlie. He wasn't ready to die. His thoughts turned to Larry. Maybe Charlie could convince The Phantom to spare Larry's life. Charlie swallowed. "Let Larry go! He didn't get a good look at you. There's no way he can identify you. Please let him go!"
Larry lifted his head, tears of despair in his eyes. "Charles-" he whispered.
The Phantom just smiled coldly and aimed his gun at the two friends. There was a loud click as he turned the safety off. Charlie bowed his head. "I'm sorry Larry. I'm so sorry." Larry reached up and squeezed Charlie's wrist.
STAY TUNED...