Chapter 3: "What's happening?"



Valerie Lanier walked in her house, and went straight to her room. She felt safe there. She sat on her bed
and silently began reviewing what she had just witnessed.

Just the fact that she had witnessed a major crime, was way too hard for her to believe. It had all seemed
so incredibly unreal to her.

But BECAUSE of the fact that it still seemed so unreal, the thing that was bothering her the most was NOT
because of what she had seen. Instead, it was what she HADN'T seen that was the problem. She still
wasn't sure whether or not Wood had seen her at the grocery store or not.

Just then, the phone rang loudly, pulling her out of thought.

"Hello?" Val said.

"Val-l-l...." The raspy voice could barely be heard; Val had to strain to hear them. "You saw me Val."

OHMIGOD! IT'S HIM!! How does he know my name? Oh, Hank said it yesterday when we treated him. DUH.

"Who the hell are you?" Val screamed.

"Just don't say anything about what you saw today, or-" he paused to emphasize the fact that he was
completely and utterly serious. "-you will pay!"

Val Lanier slammed down the reciever and began to sob uncontrollably.

~*~

"Where is she?" Tyler Connell wondered aloud.

Val was supposed to be at the station over an hour ago.

"That's not like Val to be late," he declared to Hank and Jamie. "I'm starting to worry. This IS NOT natural."

"Then MAYBE-since you are so worried and all-call her," Hank and Jamie replied semi-sarcastically at the
exact same time.

"MAYBE I will," Tyler replied, getting increasingly worried.

He couldn't let his true feelings out about Val, though. He had to be careful. Tyler had kept it secret from
everybody just how much he actually cared about her. He had liked her A LOT for what seemed like forever.
Being on the EMS squad with her for long, tiring hours, and getting to know her had only enhanced his
feelings for her.

He picked up the reciever and dialed Valerie Lanier's number.

~*~

Val's sobs had exhausted her so much she had eventually fallen into a dreamless sleep.

The telephone ringing shook her out of sleep. She sat up boltright and stared at the phone, contemplating
whether or not to answer it.

After a few more rings, she decided not to answer it just in case it was Adam Wood again with those
terrifying threats.

And with that thought, Val amost instantly fell asleep again.

~*~

With a frustrated groan, Tyler replaced the telephone reciever. "Damn it! Where the hell is she?" he
muttered angrily at himself. His concern was getting the best of him. "Hank! Jamie! Val's not answering!"

"Since you are soooo worried about her,the why don't you go over to her house and see if she's there.
Maybe she fell asleep and didn't hear the phone ring or something and maybe that's why she's late, "
Hank suggested. "We haven't had a call all day, and if we do I'll beep you, okay?"

Ty thought for a moment. It WOULD be great to have a few minutes alone with Val. But what if something's
wrong? What if she'd hurt?







~Keep readin peeps and make sure you tell me what you think!~