Chpt. 2 "No Escaping—Part 1"

"You're not serious."

Alan looked up from the blueprint he had been studying. It was the following day after the bet and he was at work. And as he promised for the bet, he told Stan all about it. His partner had a dumbfounded expression.

"Afraid so," Alan said after a moment.

"After all these years you're going back?"

Alan nodded. "You're invited to come along and watch. Or it could also be like old times," he said.

Stan laughed. "Thanks. But if I go, it will be as spectator only."

"Fair enough." Alan looked back at the blueprint.

"Are you going to tell anyone else?" Stan asked after a moment.

"Part of the bet. By the time I leave today my bowling team will know, and so will Thomas, Fred, and Alex." The last three were golfing buddies of his that Stan also knew and sometimes played with on the course.

"You poor schmuck!"

"Don't I know it." But he was grinning.

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Charlie knew the probability of his wriggling out of the bet was very low, but he had to hope. Of course, the only ways he figured on being to do so were being deathly ill or somehow convincing Witness Protection to take him in. Charlie was grasping at straws.

"There's no escaping this time, Professor Eppes."

Charlie spun away from the board at the familiar voice at the door. "Dr. Finch, what an unexpected surprise."

It was a few days after the bet. So far Charlie hadn't said anything to any of his students or the faculty. Even Amita didn't know and for once since his return, Charlie was glad Larry was secluded at the monastery.

"Millie, I just want to let you know that I will be informing our colleagues and the students about our wager. I just need a little more time to figure out how."

Millie blinked and stifled a small laugh. "I'm pleased to hear that, Dr. Eppes. But I am not here about our bet. I'm here because yet again you are dangerously close to being late for the faculty meeting today."

Charlie released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "It's today?" he asked with a frown.

"Yes, and it starts in three minutes."

"All right. Thank you for stopping by to remind me," Charlie added, deciding he could be gracious since she hadn't said anything about mentioning the wager at said faculty meeting.

"You're welcome. Oh, and thank you for reminding me about our wager. I think the faculty will want to hear all about it." Then before she gave the gaping professor a chance to respond, she was gone.

Damn she was good!

Shaking his head, Charlie gathered what he would need for the meeting. He wondered briefly how Don was faring in fulfilling the bet. Knowing his brother, the FBI agent was probably trying to figure out how he could get out of the inevitable event. Well, no FBI case was going to get Don out of this! The question was, how could he make sure?

"Charlie, hurry up!" Amita appeared at his door. "We don't want to be late."