ii.

Larry ran into his office. He looked around and sighed. He had to grab as much of his stuff as possible. He began with his notes, shoving them into a bag. He was frantic. It had to have been Marcus who was killing those poor men. All the clues led up to it, from the New York references to Marcus' nickname for him. He hadn't heard from Marcus in over ten years. The man used to show up, unannounced, to wherever Larry had lived at the time to remind him to keep his silence. Larry had thought, since Marcus had stopped visiting, that it was over and he could have a normal life. There were many reasons he lived alone, Marcus being one of them. Larry sighed, caught in a memory when Amita's voice shook him from it. "Larry? Larry, what're you doing?"

Larry turned and squirmed his face, like a child would when caught. "Amita, how are you? Can I help you with something?"

Amita extended her hand, indicating the mess in the office, "More so, can I help you?"

Larry sadly shook his head, "No. You can't."

"Something wrong?"

Larry began to pack again, "Nope. Just cleaning. Charlie isn't with me, he's at home. You can try his cell."

"I talked with Charlie just a minute ago." Amita said, walking in.

Larry's heart sunk. Of course Charlie would have said everything to Amita. They were best friends. Amita could get Charlie to talk about anything. Larry would be a liar if he said that he didn't harbor a little jealousy over their relationship. Larry turned, "Look - I'm not sure what Charlie told you-"

"He said you're scared. You look like you're scared. Running scared. Are you going to run from us?" Amita moved in further and Larry seemed to shudder.

"Listen, Amita, you don't know what this is about-"

"Because you won't come to us. Larry, we're your friends, Charlie your boyfriend." Amita tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear:a sign of nervousness.

Larry shrugged, "As well you should be, but try not to be. I've got to leave town for a few days..."

"How about I drive you to Don's. Maybe you can talk to him?" Amita offered.

"No!" Larry said, the terror slipping back into his voice, "No. I can't. I won't. I... no."

"Larry, what happened? You're scaring me now."

"Amita, please." Larry begged, "Just let me go."

Amita shook her head, "No. Just tell me from the beginning. You could even start with telling me what happened today."

Amita sat Larry down, the older physicist shaking. Larry shook his head, his eyes filling with unshed tears that he was trying to hide. Larry whispered, "You can't know."

"Ok, Larry, then just talk with me about what happened between you and Charlie today? Let's just sit here and talk."

Larry sighed and rubbed his face again. Regrettably, he was worrying Charles,

which he had never wanted. He turned to Amita, "Yes. Sit and talk... you're stalling."

"No." Amita said quickly, "I'm concerned over a friend."

"I don't doubt your concern - just your application of said concern. Who is coming? Did you call the police? You... I didn't do anything. You can't make me talk."

A new voice came from the doorway, "Talk about what, Larry?"

Larry turned to see Don, with Charlie looking concerned behind him. Larry stood up and backed away. "Don, I have always been thankful for your presence in my life up until right now..."

Charlie cleared his throat, "What's going on Larry? What do you have to do with the case?"

Larry began to shake again, "I can't..."

Don moved forward, his training kicking in. It had taken a long time for Don to accept Charlie and Larry's relationship. Don had eventually decided that it was alright, and he had accepted Larry as a new brother. If someone was going to hurt Larry, then Don would make

sure that person would regret it. Don slowly walked up to Larry, "Larry. You know me. You

know my abilities. I'm only here to help, and I need you to trust me."

"I do trust you, Don. It's... it's someone else I don't trust." Larry whispered.

Charlie wanted to run to his loved one. He looked so small, frail, and Charlie hated to admit it, but old. Where was his young, beautiful love? Don was talking again. "Larry. If you know anything, you need to come down and help us. Help us get this guy."

Larry shook his head, "At the risk of sounding undeniably cliche... I can't. He'll kill me."

"What do you know about our killer?"

"If you don't leave me alone, Don, I'll be your next body." Larry said, his voice showing how frustrated he was getting.

"More reason to get you to safety. If we catch him, you and I both know that a lot of people will be safer."

Larry finally backed up into a wall. "Don, please understand. I can't. If he knew I was talking to you... he'd kill me, just like all of those boys. Arrest me if you must. I know what the cards mean. I know who it is. This is why I must remain silent."

"Who has scared you so much that other people's lives mean nothing to you?" Don's new tactic cut Larry, and worked.

"OK. ok... but safety. I need to be promised absolute safety. I... I don't want that Witness Protection Program stuff."

Don nodded, "We'll get you a safe house. I'll make sure its the best of the best. Just tell us everything you know."

"The murders are for me. They're all for me. I... I witnessed a murder thirty years ago." Larry looked at his feet as Charlie gasped. He had no idea that Larry was harboring such secrets.

Don placed his hands on Larry's shoulders, "You did the right thing, Larry."

"I hope so because if you're wrong... I'm dead."

Larry and Don moved towards Don's SUV. Don told Charlie to head home and wait for the faxes. Charlie looked sadly as he and Larry exchanged a glance. Amita placed a hand on Charlie's shoulder. "Come on," She said, "I'll drive you home."

"I should follow Don and Larry. I need to be with Larry right now." Charlie said.

Amita smiled and said, "How about we grab a movie and some popcorn, and we wait instead?"

Charlie looked up at Amita, frightened. "I can't watch a movie right now... Larry-"

"Cannot be helped by you, Charlie. Come on. It'll be kettle corn." Amita smiled, letting Charlie know that she'd take care of him until word from Larry came about.

Charlie smiled, recognizing her intention. "Make it ice cream, and you've got a deal."

"You really are just a big girl, aren't you?" Amita teased. "Let's go. My treat."

Charlie shoved a giant spoon of double choco chunk into his mouth and pointed at the television, "Completely improbable. That cannot happen."

"Charlie. It's a flying luck dragon. They don't exist, so by the proof of Falcor existing, we must assume that all of your assumptions about Falcor are incorrect. Therefore, Atreyu really can fall asleep and stay on."

Charlie shook his head, wincing slightly at the oncoming brain freeze. "No. It's absolutely impossible, especially with their angle and the flipping thing."

"The flipping thing?" Amita said, trying hard to keep the ice cream in her mouth due to her laughing.

"Falcor's rotating. You know what I mean." Charlie mock glared, before spinning the portable phone in his hand again.

Amita noted how Charlie's focus was returning to the phone in his hand. She quickly changed the topic, "So, how probable is the Nothing?"

Charlie raised his hands, "Oh, lets not get me started! According to Larry, it represents anti-matter and the ratio of expansion of the universe in black holes doubling, therefore creating - well - destroying, really, all matter."

Charlie swallowed hard. Larry still was with Don. Charlie looked at his ice cream, swirling it around, "Amita... do you... do you think these murders really are for Larry? He said he witnessed a murder. He's kept that quiet for thirty years - enough to make someone crazy."

Amita tucked a leg beneath her, "I don't know Charlie, and overthinking it will drive you crazy. I know you, remember."

Charlie smiled, "I'm glad you're here. I'm glad we remained friends."

Amita grinned, "Me too, Charlie. I mean, I've known that you've liked Larry for a while, and I think dating me way back then... well it was the kick you needed to realize that you and Larry were meant to be."

"I never meant to hurt you." Charlie said quietly, "You're my best friend, and it kills me that I hurt you."

Amita smiled, "That's sweet, but you can forgive yourself. Besides, I got really popular after dating you."

Charlie looked up shocked and laughed. It was semi-true. She was referring to having her picture taken with Charlie for Time magazine when they presented their time continuum theory together. Amita was a fantastic student, and even had an advisee of her own now. She worked in the computer science department. Charlie said quietly, "Thanks for being here."

"Thanks for being you, Charlie. I lucked out when I came to CalSci." Amita said honestly.

Charlie cleared his throat, the emotions catching him again, "So... So... How's your boyfriend?"

Amita grinned, looking much like a small girl, "James is fine. More than fine. He's fantastic. And most likely wondering where I am."

Charlie laughed, "He'd kill me for kidnapping you like this."

Amita pointed at Charlie with her Mint Oreo filled spoon, "Well James can deal. You need me."

"Yeah because I didn't have a ride home." Charlie said, his smile crooked.

Amita huffed and threw her pillow at the Mathematician. She stood up and took her phone out, "I should call though. Be right back."

Charlie nodded and turned his head back to the movie. By the time Amita had returned, Charlie was fast asleep.

Larry hadn't stopped shaking and Don's anger had increased tenfold. Larry had been in there lives for as long as he could remember. The eccentric man had at one time been a great annoyance to him. It had disturbed him that someone who had helped raise Charlie was now dating him. Charlie wasn't normal, and frankly, nor was Larry. Don tried again, "Larry... normally, you witholding the name of the murderer is illegal. You're safe, I promise."

"You don't understand. When he dropped me off... It was terrible, and because of it, I missed Richard. I didn't get to see him again until Challenger!" Larry exclaimed.

Don nodded, "Feynmen must've been very important to you."

Larry nodded, "He was a gentle man, and I respect him. He'd never have let something like... the man I drove with to happen to him."

Don quirked an eyebrow, "Larry. Tell me exactly what happened once you reached Philadelphia."

Larry turned white and began to tell his story.

August 1977 - Philadelphia

Marcus pulled into a rest stop. Larry had remained silent for the entire trip. He was currently curled in a ball, asleep. Marcus laughed and grabbed the yankees cap from Larry's head. Larry woke up, blinking and stretching his muscles. They were quite sore. Marcus said to him, "Get out. Were in Philly - want something from the store?"

Larry looked at the convenient store, flashing back to earlier that day. Marcus was a murderer, possibly. Murder. Larry rolled the word around in his head. Marcus rapped him hard on the top of the head, "Hello... spacy physicist... Ground control to major tom..."

Larry squirmed away, "Ok Ok, stop... lets just go. I just want to go to the conference and go home."

The two walked towards the door, Marcus trying the handle first. It was locked. "Shit, they're closed."

Larry shrugged, "Let's go, then."

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Marcus said, "You're not going to tell anyone, are you?"

"No. I promise." Larry said, looking at his feet.

Marcus grabbed Larry and threw him against the wall of the convenient store, "Not a soul, right?"

Larry shook slightly, "Yeah, man, I promise! No one!"

"Or else what?"

"You'll kill me. I get it. Let go of me, please!" Larry begged.

Marcus let go of Larry and the two walked to the car. Marcus paused at the hood of the car and grabbed the young physics student. Larry barely had a chance to yell before Marcus began to beat on him. The entire time during the assault, Marcus yelled out, "Tell no one. You promised. You break your promise, I'll kill you."

After Marcus was done, he leapt into his car, threw Larry's bag out, and drove away. Larry crawled to a payphone, calling an ambulance. He'd keep his silence. The sirens were all he heard, mixed with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack blaring on the parking lot radio, right before he passed out.

tbc...