Not What You Think
Chapter 4
As the remaining three members of the Eppes team entered the bullpen, everyone glanced up. They spoke to no one, but as a unit went to the Assistant Directors office to inform him of Charlie's condition, in addition to what had just happened with Don. Don's condition was to remain a closed issue, no one outside the AD and his team needed to know. Charlie's condition, however would be relayed. He was very popular with those who knew him and for him to have been attacked here added an intensity to the office to find the person responsible as soon as possible. The AD assigned another team, but the Eppes team would run point, the other was to back them up.
The two teams meet together in the larger conference room. Entry logs had been sent up as well as preliminary forensic reports from the elevator. Charlie's computer bag had been placed in locked storage in the temporary tech area-since it had been left behind after the attack no one felt that anyone was after any of the information that Charlie may have kept on it, but no one wanted to take that chance. Finally security video had been set up to review the recording logs, from the lobby and elevator.
It was slow at first, Colby was reviewing the video, forensics had found a lot of hair and fibers, but that was no surprise since it was a public elevator. The blood had, of course, been typed back to Charlie, but there wasn't much else from that angle to help. Entry logs for the building all checked out, other that a few construction crew members who had not returned from lunch, everyone was checked out and there business in the building confirmed. This left the hope that the attack was caught on camera.
Security camera's in the lobby showed Charlie enter the building and pass the security desk. Nothing usual going on as Charlie looked around, waiting for the elevator.
"Wait a minute," Heads turned as Colby made his comment and he put the video up on the big screen in the room, "Look" he got up to point out what he had seen. It was small group of construction workers off to the side, just barely in the shot. Colby had noticed that a couple of them kept looking in Charlie's direction, then as Charlie entered the elevator one of them jogged over and got in behind him. He reached for the computer, hitting a few more keys and brought up the video feed from inside the elevator.
As the doors closed they noticed the man turn toward Charlie and stick his hand out as if to shake hands, Charlie shifted ever so slightly, then nodded and put his hand out to shake the other mans hand.
"Damn," Colby said, "Charlie never saw it coming."
They all watched in stunned silence as in the next instant, Charlie was doubled over by the first blow to his stomach. Then they watched as he struggled to remain standing through the vicious attack that continued. They saw the elevator doors open,
"What floor is that?" Megan asked as they watched the man hit the door open button, "Did they get any prints off that button?"
"Looks like the fifth floor." Colby stated, but not taking his eyes from the screen. One of the second team members pulled the forensics report, "Nothing positive on the fingerprints pulled Agent Reeves, just to many people in and out of it." They all watched again and the attacker stepped back in frame and pushed Charlie up against the wall. They saw the mans quick movement and Charlie's flash of pain as they knew that is when he'd been stabbed. The man stepped back out of frame and the elevator doors closed.
They watched as Charlie pulled his hand from his side and looked at the blood on it. Finally the elevator doors opened again, "seventh floor, ours, right before I found him." Colby spoke softly, recalling coming around that corner and seeing his friend standing there. Charlie attempted to straighten himself as he stepped out of scene, and of course the all knew what had happened since.
"Okay, David, I want every construction worker who was in the building and their foremen up here now. I know it will be a challenge, but I want them all separated, no phones if possible. If our guy left the building after the attack I don't want one of his buddies tipping him off." As David took two member of their support team with him, Megan turned to the other two, "I want a team to sweep the fifth floor, he may have dumped his weapon down there." Those two agents went to follow that angle. Megan took a deep breath and turned to Colby. "Colby I want you to get this to one of the video enhancing guys, I know we can't see this guys face, because of his hard hat, but I want to see if they can pull anything that we could us to narrow it down and find the guy." Colby stood, "I'm on it". As Colby left the room Megan whispered out loud, 'I'll brief the AD on what we have, maybe with some luck, we can get the creep in custody by the end of the day.'
Oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Larry quietly stepped into the room where Alan was keeping a watch over Don, "Alan, are they saying anything?" Larry's voice was soft in the quiet room.
"No, just that he could wake up at anytime," Alan hadn't let go of Don's hand since he'd entered the room. It had been nearly two hours and Don still lay silent on the bed. The doctor had ordered some test, but they all had come back normal. They really had no explanation to why Don hadn't woke up yet.
"No word on Charles?"
"A nurse said the surgery really shouldn't take that long, barring any complications," Alan took a deep breath and with his free hand rubbed his face, "Larry?" Larry looked at Alan as his name was said, noticing the look of exhaustion and worry in his friends face, "Why is this happening? Why both of them?" Alan disparately wanted an answer that Larry was certain there was no answer to.
"Alan, I will not begin to know the pain you are in nor try and explain it with one of my cosmic metaphors, I will simple say I don't know. However, if experience has taught me anything, you and your boys are a resilient bunch and I believe that as bleak as things may seem now, you and your boys will be fine. You're a tough group, you are the key to one another, each unique, but stronger as a unit and that unit will hold fast. All will turn out well Alan, we must believe that." Larry gently laid his hand on Alan's shoulder, who nodded.
"Thank you Larry, thank you."
"I will call Megan to let her know about the boys and to see if they have any new information. Might I bring you something upon my return?" Larry took a step toward the door, turning back to look at his best friends father, who was also his friend.
"No thank you Larry." Larry then watched as Alan laid his head on the bed next to Don's hand, as if in prayer. He then turned toward the door and with a silent prayer of his own to what ever cosmic forces were listening, he quietly left the room.