Chapter 9

I didn't exactly run.

Instead, I whipped around to see a very creepy looking man with a gun and a black coat and a mask.

Casey grabbed my hand and tried to pull me away, but the man with the gun just held up his gun and eyed us through his eye-holes, like, If you even dare move I'll shoot you.

Then he wiggled his finger at me- like, Come heeeeere. So I nervously took a step forward.

In a ruff, faked voice, he asked, "What is your age?"

I could almost read Casey's lips behind me even though I could see them. He was practically shouting, Don't tell the truth! in my ear.

We were in a pretty deserted place of Sisquane, so no one was even here. Instead, the man silently pointed to the back of his creepy van. It was one of those vans without any windows- creepy.

"Both of you get in there. Right now." so Casey and I slowly walked towards the van.

"What do we do? What is even going on? Is this the serial killer?"

"It's not." Casey whispered. "And then gun is not loaded, either."

"What? Why?"

"Because that's a pocketless coat. And a pocketless shirt. And pocketless pants. No man, no killer, no one walks around with a loaded and or real gun and no pocket or anything to keep it or hide it or put it. And besides, this can't be the serial killer."

"Why?" I gasped.

"Well, at first I thought it was a real gun and killer, that's why I said run. But when I noticed the gun wasn't really working I looked at him more closely. That's a police officer. He's not wearing any gloves. He's not talking a lot. He's testing us. Obviously police officers have to be extra careful, especially when there's a serial killer on the loose. Anyone could be a suspect. Maybe even two teenagers walking alone on a deserted street in Sisquane reading about the case. He's probably been following us all along."

"Should we just go along?"

"Yeah. Just act calm. I'm positive."

I eyed him. "How do you know so much about all this, anyway?"

He shrugged. "Common sense. You know I know about guns. It's not that hard to figure out what people are real and what people are fake. I'm an actor, Sammy."

"Oh.. I guess so."

So we both got in the back of the van, then the "creepy man" aka police officer came and told Casey to take of his sweater and since I wasn't wearing a sweater, he just checked my pockets.

Then he asked in a regular voice, "How much do you know about these Number-Seven cases?"

"Not a lot of facts..just a lot of theories." I replied. Casey nudged me like, Good answer.

The police officer nodded. "Mm hm. And what were you two doing around this part of Sisquane?"

"We-"

Then the police officer took off his mask and pulled out a badge from inside it. "By the way, I'm Jerry Schlimen, undercover police officer. So tell me the truth, because I can and will find out eventually. Why were you here? Fooling around? Something with drugs? Anything I should know of?"

"No, sir." Casey said. "I was just walking her home, Officer, Sir.."

"Where is her home?"

Oh no.

Oh no.

What was I going to do and say? This police officer didn't look easy to fool like Officer Borsche had when I had lied to

him! I was so totally dead.

"Actually, sir," Casey said, "she doesn't exactly live here, she lives with her mother in Hollywood. She's visiting, and right now, for two days, she's staying at her grandmother's in Santa Martina."

Dang. Casey really was a good actor! His face was totally serious and straight.

The officer squinted. "Well... Okay then. Where do you live, boy?"

"Sisuane, sir."

"Names?"

"I'm Casey Acosta, and that is Samantha Keyes."

"Samantha, huh?" he asked. "Samantha Keyes?"

"Yeah.." I said.

"You don't happen to know Officer Borchse do you?"

I nodded, "Actually I do know him."

"You go by Sammy, right?"

"Yes..."

"Well, then. I'll let you guys go for now. Sorry for bothering you kids, but this is my job. Anything I see even a little bit suspicious, I have to investigate."

"It's fine." I said, "We'll be off now."

So Casey and I hopped out of the van and were about the walk away when the officer called us back, "One second!"

"Yes?" I asked as I turned back.

"What 'theories' did you guys have?"

I sort of laughed, "Oh.. Theories that no one would listen to us for, that's all."

He raised his eyebrows and said back, "Well, that'll be all, then. Goodbye, and stay safe, okay?"

"Okay, thanks, Officer!" Casey called back and we walked away.

"Wow, that was weird." I said.

Casey looked at me and laughed. "Now really. Obviously this is a big task for the officers. They have a really big case they're working on. They're obviously stressed and busy."

I shrugged, "I guess."

We were silent for a second, then I broke the silence by saying, "So.. The library?"

He shrugged, too, "Sure. That is, if we don't get killed along the way."

A/N: Short chapter, sorry. I wanted to let you know I wasn't dead. =)