To Protect a Witness

Chapter 3



Orlando paced the detective's office restlessly. Viggo should have

been here by now! What if something happened? What if Lonny...?

No, he would not think like that. Viggo was fine.



He heard the office door open and looked up, expecting to see

Detective Hilman. To his immense relief, however, Viggo stepped into

the office. He rushed toward him and they both threw their arms

around each other, holding on desperately.



"Viggo, I was so worried," Orlando said breathlessly.



"It's alright, baby. I'm fine, thanks to you," Viggo murmured. "You

saved my life."



"I also put you in danger," Orlando stated, despising himself for

nearly being the cause of his beloved's death.



"No, you didn't, but what happened?" Viggo asked.



"I think I can answer that," Detective Hilman said from the

door. "You may want to sit down for this."



***********************************



"So Lonny is this powerful gangster, mobster, whatever, and Orli

witnessed him killing this guy, so now he wants to kill Orli because

he's afraid Orli will testify against him in court, which is all you

need to put him away for good. Is that right?"



Hilman nodded. "But it gets worse. If we put Orlando in hiding,

Lonny will go after whoever he thinks is close to him. Which is why

we need the names of whoever Lonny knows that are close to you,

they'll have to go into hiding with you."



Viggo and Orlando exchanged glanced. "Well," Orlando started. "Mum

and Sam."



"Henry and Exene," Viggo put in.



"Elijah, Dom, Billy, and the Astins. Does he know Atti?" Orlando

asked Viggo.



"No," he replied. "Beanie, Ian, Karl, John, and Liv."



"Pete and Fran," Orli added. "Is that it?"



"I think so," Viggo answered.



"Well, it's a good t the the place I have in mind is pretty big. I

have to make a few calls, I'll be back in a few," Hilman stated

before walking out of the office.



The realization of what kind of situation he wn ann and that he had

dragged all of the people he loved into hit Orlando hard. "Maybe I

should have just let those two guys catch me, then nobody else would

be in danger," he muttered softly to himself, but Viggo heard him.



Viggo got up and knelt down in front of Orlando. "Orlando, that

wouldn't have stopped this guy from hurting others, it would have

just allowed him to kill you. And I tell you right now, that would

destroy me."



"Viggo, I don't want anyone hurt because of me," Orlando said on the

verge of tears.



"Don't worry, love, nobody's going to get hurt," Viggo assured,

pulling the younger man in his arms. They remained in each other's

arms, their presence reassuring each other.