A/N I do not own these characters. If I did I would be fabulously wealthy and wouldn't need to post my fan fiction here. I would be writing for the show and dining regularly with Michael Easton (snicker perks of the job. LOL) and I wouldn't let that hack Higley near them.

Chapter 2

Natalie stood at the door waiting; she smiled to herself at the weirdness of the situation. After all the promises and vows she had made to herself, her life had come to this. Running from the law and about to ask the head of Atlantic City's crime syndicate for help. It hardly mattered that they were friends and had been for many years what mattered was that she was here doing something she had vowed never to do.

Along with her wry amusement was the very real worry that if the cops didn't find her someone else would, someone who didn't care what actually happened. She knew that leaving town was her only chance to come out of this alive and out of jail.

"Natalie!" Called a voice from just beyond the doorway.

Natalie looked up as a tall good-looking black man came into view. He was wearing an expensive suit and lots of gold. "Vince!" Natalie said smiling up at him as he engulfed her in a quick hug.

After a few minutes of hugging and happy exclamations Vince got down to business. He knew Natalie well enough to know something was seriously wrong. She didn't usually drop by for unexpected visits. Ushering her to a private room and calling off his bodyguards he sat down and motioned for Natalie to take the chair right across from him. "What brings you here Natty?" He asked getting to the point.

Natalie looked down at her hands for a second then back at him, "I need your help," she said softly.

Vincent looked at her in surprise; it was not like Natalie to ask for help. "What kind of help?" he asked.

"I need to disappear. I need a new identity, a different car, some cash and a place to hide out." Natalie answered him. Fidgeting with her shirt she looked at him and waited for the inevitable question that she knew was coming. It wasn't long before he asked it.

"Why? Natalie what have you gotten yourself into?" Vince wanted to know. He and Natalie had been friends for years. She had interceded when his sister was being attacked by a bunch of girls at school. He would forever be grateful for that. Even after his sister left the country to marry an Italian chef he and Natalie stayed close. Their friendship was solid but she didn't participate in his business and had never once asked him to do anything illegal for her.

"Last night I... I..." she struggled to say, then started again. Telling him only a brief accounting of the events the night before she finished with, " and so I need to leave, to get out of town fast."

Vince nodded at that sentiment still shocked at her story. He believed her about what happened but he know that anyone who didn't know her, didn't care about her, would think she was lying. It was too fantastic a story, too improbable, just too damn unlikely for anyone to believe. Plus what she had done was illegal and she would be sent to prison for the rest of her life.

"Ok Natalie, I'll help. You know I will" Vince said reaching over and giving her a brief hug. Pulling back he called someone and spoke briefly into the phone. After a minute he put the phone down and said, "I'll have everything you need with in the hour."

"Ohhh thank you Vince! You're the best!" Natalie said a bit tearfully. An hour later she was back on the road with a new car, new identity a place to go and enough money to get her far away.

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Two days later John wasn't any closer to finding the Balsom girl then he had been when he talked to her brother Rex. After an interesting conversation with Roxanne, the girl's mother, he concluded that Natalie wouldn't tell her a thing. Roxanne Balsom, Roxy for short, looked to be the poster child for bad parenting. She was a drunk and had a terrible gambling addiction. She hadn't even cared that her daughter could be in real trouble. She had just lamented that Natalie had friends in high places but never helped her out at all.

Shaking his head and feeling sorry for Natalie Balsom he thought about Roxy's words. 'Friends in high places?' What exactly did that mean? He couldn't believe that Natalie would have friends with in the police department or government offices. Suddenly it hit him. Those were HIS idea of high places not Roxy's! Roxy was a gambler; her idea of high places would probably be those that could pay off her debts for her!

"Stupid!" he muttered to himself. He had wasted 2 days watching the Balsom's when he should have been staking out someone else entirely! He started his car and drove to the Atlantic City police Department.

Asking for information concerning the crime organizations in the city he began scouring the files for a possible connection to Natalie.

"Got it!" John muttered some 4 hours later. Surrounded by papers and files he sat at the desk looking triumphant. HE found the link! Natalie had been in school with Vincent Jones's sister. According to this report there was some altercation and Natalie defended the sister and earned Vincent's gratitude. His friendship and loyalty. Even After all these years John was willing to stake his reputation that they were still close. "Time to pay you a visit Mr. Jones." He said, again talking to himself.

After making a few calls John found out that Natalie indeed do go to the man for help. This didn't look good for her. Not good at all. If she was friends with the leader of the most powerful crime organizations in Atlantic City it was entirely possible that she could have committed the cold blooded murder she was accused of.

After a few more calls he found out that Jones had helped get rid of her car and probably her identity. Calling the DMV he quickly discovered that Jones had gotten her a car, another quick call to the bank yielded a substantial with draw form Jones account. Undoubtedly to give to Natalie so she would have some money to get far away.

Jones hadn't even bothered to hide his transactions, which on his part was a pretty good mood. The more hidden a move the more suspicious it looked. Doing it all out in the open was smart, it attracted less unwanted attention. Heck If John hadn't known of Natalie's connection to Vince's sister, who was out of the country, he wouldn't have looked twice at these actions.

After making yet another call he had an address. It was in upstate Maryland. Getting in his car he first filledit up and headed out to get his quarry. Hoping she came peaceably and that she would still be there when he got there he drove all afternoon. Getting there around dusk he quickly pulled in and got out of the car.

Walking quietly over to the door of her motel room he listened for noises inside. Not hearing anything he tried the doorknob, locked. Taking out some tools he quickly picked the lock and smiled when he felt it pop open. Slowly pulling open the door he say that the main room was empty. 'She must be in the bathroom' John thought to himself.

Hearing the water in the other room turn on he smiled to himself, sat down on the bed and waited for her to come out.

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Natalie washed her face and combed her newly washed hair, deep in thought. It had been 2 days, 2 days since she had seen Rex, 2 days since she had seen anyone she knew. She missed her friends and family more then she had ever imagined she would. She even missed Roxy, as hard to believe as it was.

Finishing up she brushed her teeth and slipped on her robe over her PJ's. She wanted to order a Pizza and didn't want to open the door in her nightclothes. Opening the bathroom door a billow of steamed came out and she walled out not noticing John sitting thereon the bed watching her with interest.

"Hello Natalie." John said, wanting to startle her. He had been surprised she didn't notice him but it was for the best. It was easier to deal with people when they weren't expecting you.

"AHHH!" Natalie screamed and dove for the floor. Fully expecting to be riddled with bullets before she hit the floor. When nothing happened she looked up and saw a gorgeous Man sitting on her bed. He had long dark hair, a handsome face (that was frozen in shock at her action) and a sculpted body. But what held her attention was the gun he had sitting on his lap.

Realizing if he had wanted her dead he would have shot her already she stood back up and demanded, "Who the Hell are you?"

To be continued...