Only one of the following statements is true:

1) I was the drummer for Ugly Kid Joe

2) I own Chuck

3) Adam Baldwin appeared in the movie "Full Metal Jacket"

4) Yvonne Strahovski plays right field for the Los Angeles Dodgers

Chapter 9

I awoke to the slight feeling of motion under me. Opening my eyes, I could feel light streaming in my face. I struggled to sit up, wincing at the dull ache in my arm.

We were inside a car, a late-model SUV, based on my limited automotive knowledge. I looked to the side to see the other half of 'we.'

Sarah Walker was in the driver's seat, looking remarkably calm for somebody with a gun in her lap. She was dressed in all black, with her blonde hair tied back in a pony tail. She looked like the most beautiful ninja I had ever seen. I admonished myself slightly for that thought, reminding myself that she was Chuck's girlfriend.

"Are you here to help me find the truth about all of this?" I asked.

"I'm not here to help you, Morgan. I'm here to save your life."

"Well that's…helpful." Looking through the window behind Sarah, I could see we were still in downtown Los Angeles.

"How are you feeling?" Sarah asked.

"Great. You must think I'm so pathetic, fainting like that."

"I think you've got a pretty deep wound in your arm, Morgan. I have to get you to a doctor."

"Oh." Looking back at my arm, I could see a piece of red cloth wrapped around it. On further examination, it didn't look like it started out as a red cloth. "Bryce?" I asked.

Sarah was silent for a moment, but I noticed that she was gripping the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. "I had to leave him there."

"But he's…"

"Yes." There was sadness in her voice, which surprised me until I realized they must have been working together.

"So you and he and Casey, you're all working together?"

"Yes," she answered quietly.

I sighed. "I guess I should have known. You know, everybody used to tell me that there was something weird about you, because you were dating Chuck. I would always say 'You don't know Chuck' and explain how he was such a great guy and it wasn't strange at all that a beautiful woman like you could love him. Guess the joke was on me, huh?"

Sarah looked at me, her blue eyes calmly regarding me. "People don't know what they're talking about."

I thought about that for a bit. After a moment, I said, "So is there anybody that was in Chuck's life that isn't involved in this? I wouldn't be surprised if that guy back there went to summer camp with Chuck in the sixth grade."

Sarah smiled briefly. "I doubt it, unless Chuck went to summer camp in Romania."

"So you know him?"

"By reputation."

"And I'm sure he's got a lovely one, too. So I suppose you're not going to tell me why you 'know of' Romanian killers, are you?"

"I know you want answers, Morgan. Just believe me when I say I'd like to tell you more, but I can't."

I was silent for a moment. Finally, I said, "I'm sorry. About Bryce."

She nodded. "How is your arm?"

"Still hurts."

"Ok, there has to be a doctor near here somewhere." I glanced outside. The neighborhood was still a bit rough, but I had an idea of where we were.

"I know one."

"Is that Ellie?"

We had stopped in front of a small building. A sign over the door said "St. Stephen's Downtown clinic." Through the window, we could see a tall brunette industriously move about a small waiting room.

"Yeah, she volunteers here."

Sarah looked almost frightened. "Morgan, you go ahead, I'll wait for you."

"You don't want to go in? I thought you and Ellie were friends?"

"We are. Were. I just can't face her. I have to take care of a few things anyway. But I'll be back, and I'll get you to safety."

I left the SUV and headed to the clinic. I guess I was a bit surprised by her reaction. From what I'd just seen of Sarah, it was hard to believe that she would be afraid of Ellie.

A woman looked up as I entered. She studied my face for a moment, and I quickly looked down, hoping that she didn't recognize me. I didn't see any TVs in the waiting room. This was a good thing, as it meant that she may not have seen any of the news reports. "Umm, I'm here to see Dr. Woodcomb."

"She'll be right out." She looked at me again, but then her gaze transferred to my arm. "You need her to look at that?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Well, you're lucky things are pretty slow today. Have you been here before?"

"Uh, no. She just comes highly recommended."

"Ok, have a seat."

The waiting room was a bit lacking in reading materials. Not anxious to leaf through a six-month old 'Star' magazine, I just sat there and tried to process the recent events of the day. I couldn't say I was surprised that Sarah was involved with whatever was going on, since it was her prior place of employment that started me off on the investigation. Somehow, she must know what happened to Chuck, especially since she was so anxious to avoid his sister. Still, she had saved me from the Romanian, so I was inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt.

My thoughts were interrupted by Dr. Ellie Woodcomb entering the waiting room. By her expression, it was clear that, unlike the other woman, she had seen the news.

"Dr. Woodcomb, this man is here to see you."

"Um, thanks Rhonda, I'll take him to the exam room. Please follow me sir."

Once we were inside, she quickly turned on me. "What are you doing here, Morgan? And what's been going on? The police say you killed somebody."

"Well to answer your questions, my arm, more than you can possibly believe, and I didn't."

Ellie removed the cloth wrapped around my arm, and made some 'Tsk' noises. Rubbing a wet cloth on the wound, she said, "Ok then, talk to me, Morgan. Explain to me what's going on."

"It's a long story."

"I can work very slowly if I have to. Does this in any way involve Chuck?"

"I think so."

"How?" Ellie paused to look at me.

"I…don't really know. All I can say is that a lot of people that Chuck knew seemed to have double lives."

Ellie nodded, then walked to a shelf to grab a bottle. "Double how, exactly?"

Based on Sarah's warning to me, I decided that I shouldn't go into specifics. "Something very secret. But somehow Emmitt was involved in something other than the Buy More. And there were others too."

Ellie gave me a long look. "I don't suppose who are going to tell me who these others are."

"I'm not sure I can right now. And I don't know much in the way of details anyway. Ow!" I felt a stinging on my arm.

"Relax, it's just iodine. So some people are involved in something mysterious that may or may not have something to do with Chuck."

"Pretty much. I'm not even sure it's criminal."

"But you think they were involved in Chuck's death."

"Somehow."

"That seems pretty criminal to me, don't you? And they're framing you for this murder, too?"

"You mean you don't believe I did it?"

"Please, Morgan. You may be a lot of things, but you're not a murderer. So, when was the last time you had a tetanus shot?"

"Um, what?"

"That wound is pretty deep. If you haven't had a tetanus shot, I'll have to give you one now."

"Oh well, I'm pretty sure I had one last year."

"I don't believe you." She opened a drawer and pulled out a rather long needle.

"You believe me when I say that there's a vast conspiracy surrounding Chuck's death, but you don't believe me when I say I had a tetanus shot last year?"

"I don't think you have any reason to lie to me about Chuck. As for the shot," she grabbed my other arm and plunged the needle in.

"Yowww!"

"That's what I thought. Here," Ellie handed me a lollipop. "Here. Look Morgan, I think you may have found something. I always wondered about what happened to Chuck. It never seemed to make sense to me that he'd get in an accident like that. I know Devon thinks I'm just been in denial, but a sister knows. Since I started here, things have gotten a little better for me, but I don't know that I'll every really be able to move on until I know for sure."

I nodded.

"But, you are obviously over your head. Whatever's going on, you need to be careful. I think a tetanus shot is the least you should be worrying about."

She was right, of course. I thanked her as she finished re-bandaging my arm. I followed her out the exam room door.

"I sent Rhonda out for coffee. I don't know if she's seen the news or not, but it would be better if you left before she gets a good look at you."

I followed Ellie back into the waiting room, and found Anna waiting for me. I looked back, questioningly.

"I called her. You came here by yourself, and it's not a good idea for you to drive home. And she's worried about you."

"Are you alright, Morgan?" Anna asked, betraying no sign of our recent troubles.

"Never better," I shrugged.

"Thank you Ellie," Anna nodded to the doctor, and we left the clinic.

"I'm parked down the street," Anna said.

"Listen, you don't need to do this. I'm ok," I protested. I looked around for Sarah, but didn't see her.

"Ellie's right. You shouldn't be driving yourself home. And it's no problem." I noticed she hadn't looked at me since we left the clinic.

"You do believe that I didn't kill Emmitt, right?"

"Of course, Morgan."

"Look, I know I've been difficult at times. I'm sorry for whatever I put you through." She was moving quickly down the block, and I had to hurry to keep up with her.

"I know you are, Morgan." Anna finally looked up, and I saw tears in her eyes.

We turned the corner, and I stopped in surprise. Instead of Anna's Civic, there was a police car parked there. Standing in front of it was Officer Grimmeault. "Well, long time no see, Mr. Grimes." Turning around, I found Officer Wallace standing behind me.

"You turned me in?"

"I'm sorry, Morgan. I know you didn't do anything, but you'll be much safer if you're not trying to run away." Anna grabbed my arm, but I pulled away. "They promised that they will look into everything and figure out what's really going on, so you have nothing to worry about."

"Thank you, Miss Wu. We'll take it from here." Officer Wallace grabbed me, and placed handcuffs around my wrists. Meanwhile, Officer Grimmeault ran through the usual litany about my rights.

"Do you really need the handcuffs?" Anna protested.

"Just routine procedure. Nothing to worry about." Wallace led me into the back of the police car. As we drove off, I turned around to see Anna, now with tears freely streaming down her cheeks.

I know this was only a very brief appearance for Sarah, but she'll be back. And thanks to everybody again for all the kind reviews!