The Best Laid Plans...
Disclaimer: They're not my characters (unfortunately) :-)
Summary: When Alan is arrested it's up to Don, Charlie & the team to clear his name.
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry - Robert Burns
This story is set in 2005 & assumes that Don was born in 1970, Charlie in 1975. That they both graduated high school in 1988 and that they graduated from University in 1991 (Charlie) and 1992 (Don).
PS: If anyone knows where Don went to college I'd love to know...thx.
Prologue.
Alan opened the letter and read it slowly a frown on his face. He was alone in the house. Charlie was at school and Don at work so he didn't have to explain to anyone. He walked over to the fireplace, screwed the letter and envelope up in his hand and threw them into the fire. He watched as it was consumed by the flames.
He went in to the kitchen and started preparing dinner, deep in thought. Back fifteen years...to 1990. A lifetime ago. An unpleasant memory and one that seemed to be coming back to haunt him.
The Crime.
Two days later. At the Eppes house.
There was a sudden knock at the door. Charlie looked up from what he was working on irritated at the break in his train of thought. "Rats," he thought as he got up to answer it.
The man standing there looked like a salesman. Middle aged, greying hair, worn suit.
"Yes ?" Charlie said.
"Good afternoon," the man said. " I'm looking for Alan Eppes. Is he home ?"
"He's out right now," Charlie said. " He's downtown at a planning meeting. He won't be back for several hours. I'm not actually expecting him until after dinner."
"Oh.. I see," the man answered. "Well could you give him a message for me ?"
" Sure."
The man stepped forward and placed his right hand on Charlie's left shoulder. Before Charlie could react to the intrusion the man punched him hard in the stomach with his other hand. Charlie bent forward gasping for breath. The man leaned forward and spoke softly into Charlie's right ear. "Tell Alan that Philip Breshears was here. Got that ? Breshears."
Charlie nodded weakly still fighting for air.
"Good." He lifted his hand from Charlie's shoulder and punched him on the left cheek. Charlie fell to the floor, his head spinning. The man walked out and closed the door behind him.
It was seven thirty before Alan arrived home. He was puzzled as he pulled up. Charlie's car was in the driveway but all the houselights were out. "Maybe he's with Don," he thought.
He walked up to the front door, unlocked it and then switched on the lights. Several lamps switched on throughout the living room. "Charlie ?" he said as he saw his son. "What are you doing sitting in the dark ?"
Charlie looked up at him, still holding the icepack on his face and holding his right hand across his stomach. " Dad ?"
Alan dropped his dinner leftovers on the table and ran over to where Charlie was sitting on the couch. He knelt down in front of him and moved the hand that was holding the icepack so that he could see Charlie's face. There was a large bruise on Charlie's cheek just under his eye. "What happened ?" he asked. "Who did this to you ?"
"You had a visitor, " Charlie said. "Phillip Bres...something."
"Breshears ?" Alan asked.
"Yes. Breshears. Who is he, dad?" Charlie asked wide eyed. "Why is he looking for you ?"
" It's a long story, Charlie," Alan answered. " From a long time ago. Where are you hurt ?"
"He hit me in the stomach, and the face."
" Let me see." Charlie was reluctant but Alan insisted and when Charlie winced and cried out when Alan pushed on it he pulled Charlie to his feet. " Come on," he said. " I'm taking you to the doctor to get that checked out."
Charlie didn't want to bother but there was no use in arguing. " We need to tell Don about this," he said as Alan pulled him out to the car.
"No!" Alan said firmly. " I'll take care of this, Charlie. This is my business."
After he'd got Charlie tucked up in bed for the night Alan sat by the fire to think. The doctor said that Charlie was bruised but otherwise OK. He'd given him some pain pills which was why he was asleep right now. Strong stuff Percocet.
He sipped slowly from the beer bottle in his hand.
Charlie was not having a great day. He'd started off the morning by arguing with his father about the night before. He still thought that they ought to tell Don about it - whatever it was. Alan had not been at all forthcoming about who this Phillip Breshears was. Then when he'd got to school and was about to start his first class he realized that his notes, and the students homework, were in his briefcase, on the piano, at the house. Wonderful.
Later in the day Larry also hadn't been too helpful reminding him that it was his father's business and when he was ready he would tell him. Nuts!
At two o'clock he decided to call it a day. His classes were done, his face hurt, and his mood had not improved any at all. He stepped out into the sunshine and headed for his car. At least the weather was nice.
As he approched his house he saw LAPD cars parked in his drive and also in the street, their red and blue lights flashing. The black coroners van was also parked in the yard. A police officer was surrounding the house with yellow caution tape.
He parked across the street. "No," he said to himself as he ran from the car to the house, leaving the car door open. He was stopped by a uniformed officer.
"I'm sorry, sir," the officer said firmly, holding him just outside the yellow tape. " You can't go in. This is a crime scene."
"This is my house," Charlie said panicking and pushing against him. "My father..."
Just then the coroner pushed a body out to his van. Encased in a black body bag.
"No!" Charlie said pushing harder against the cop. "No!"
The officer held him firmly then Charlie relaxed as he saw Alan also come out of the house. Except that Alan had his hands behind his back and two plain clothes officers were pushing him towards a marked police car.
"Dad!" Charlie yelled out. "Dad!" He pushed against the police officer again.
Alan looked across at him. "Charlie?" he said as they pushed him into the car. "Charlie. Get hold of Mr Finley. Get my lawyer!" The detectives closed the door on him and one of them walked over to Charlie. He nodded at the uniformed officer who released Charlie.
"And you are ?" the detective asked.
"Charlie," he answered. "Charlie Eppes. This is my house. That's my father."
The detective spoke to Charlie for a few minutes and told him that they would need him to give a statement later. Charlie stood in shock only half listening to what the detective was saying. He watched as the detective went back to the car and they drove away.
He ran back to his car. He had to see Don!
He didn't trust himself to drive far so he parked his car at CalSci and took the bus to Don's office. He was getting more agitated by the minute. Even the elevator up to Don's floor seemed to be taking longer than usual.
He saw Don talking to Megan and made his way towards him. "Don," he was saying. "Don, Don." over and over again.
Don looked over and saw him coming towards him. He started to smile but then he noticed how flustered Charlie looked. Something was wrong. He walked over to him and stopped him by grabbing his arms gently but firmly. Charlie was still stuttering his name. "Charlie," he said. "What is it ? What's wrong."
"It's..it's dad," Charlie stammered out.
"Dad? What's the matter ? Is he hurt ?"
" He's been arrested...for murder!"
Next: The FBI takes the case.
There we go. Please give me some reviews.