Disclaimer: Not mine. Not now. Not ever (sigh)
Don swore loudly as he holstered his weapon. Megan picked Elizabeth up and was putting handcuffs on her. Don glared at Colby. "Elizabeth," he said. "Or a skinny guy in a red wig ?"
"Sorry," Colby said. " We were hiding behind another building. It looked like her. Red hair, white jacket."
Don turned to Elizabeth. "Where did he go ?" he said.
" Dunno," she answered. " We just had this plan cooked up in case you lot were on to him that's all. He didn't say where he was going."
Megan pulled her towards the door. "Well you had better come up with something," she said. "We've got you for accessory to murder and conspiracy."
They pulled her around to where they had parked their vehicles. David called in a BOLO on Mark Folsom. As they rounded the corner Don stopped dead in his tracks. His SUV was gone ! "Charlie !" he said.
Charlie had been idly looking around as Mark Folsom came around the corner. He watched wide eyed as Mark pulled off the red wig and the white jacket and threw them in a dumpster by the side of the road. Suddenly Charlie realized that he was heading right towards the SUV. Charlie closed his laptop and ducked down in the back seat out of sight. The key was dangling from the ignition where Megan had left it in case he needed the AC but Charlie couldn't grab it without being seen. He pulled his 'phone out of his pocket and put it on silent as Mark Folsom opened the drivers door. The engine roared into life and Mark drove off . Charlie lay down on the floor behind the seats and tried to control his breathing. A few minutes later his 'phone vibrated in his hand. Don. Charlie opened the phone and held it tight to his ear.
"Charlie!" Don said into his 'phone as he stood in the open. "Where are you ?"
"In the back of the car," Charlie whispered holding his hand over the 'phone to muffle the sound.
"OK Charlie," Don said softly. "Keep the 'phone open and keep quiet, OK ?"
"OK."
Don spoke to the others. "Mark took the car and Charlie's in the back seat," he said covering his 'phone. "Megan, call for back up and get Elizabeth back to the office." Megan got her 'phone out and called for a ride as Colby, David and Don ran for the other vehicle. Colby got behind the wheel, Don in the passenger seat and David in the back as Don spoke quietly into the 'phone. "Charlie," he said. "Don't answer, just listen. We're going to track you using the GPS so stay quiet we're coming. Hang in there, buddy," he added.
In the back seat David spoke up, his own 'phone to his ear. " He's headed for the 710 freeway going south," he said. "Probably headed for route 60 or interstate 5."
Colby nodded and pulled away from the curb. Don held his 'phone to his ear and tried not to think about what was happening with Charlie. It was quiet on the line, which was a good sign, he thought.
As they raced towards the freeway David spoke again. "He's turned east on 60," he said.
"Right," Colby answered gunning the engine.
"We're not far behind you," Don spoke into his 'phone.
Colby turned right on Eastern and headed straight for the freeway, bypassing the 710 and taking a more direct route. Seconds later he turned onto route 60 and sped up, expertly dodging in and out of the traffic flow.
"He's just passed the 605," David said. "Still on 60."
"We're almost on him, " Colby said. "Should have him in sight soon."
"Don't get too close," Don said. " I don't want him getting in a wreck with Charlie in the car." Colby nodded and slowed just a little.
"He's turning." David said. " On Hacienda, slowing down."
In the back of the vehicle Charlie noticed that they were turning and slowing down. He craned his neck to catch a glimpse out of the window and saw the logo of a gas station. He hunched down trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible as the car came to a halt and Mark turned the engine off and got out of the vehicle.
Charlie hardly dared to breathe as Mark slammed the driver's door. Suddenly the back door snapped open and Mark grabbed Charlie by the collar and pulled violently, yanking him out of the vehicle. Charlie dropped the 'phone and cried out in pain as he landed in a heap on the ground. Mark grabbed Charlie by his shirt and pulled him upright so that they were face to face, Charlie with his back to the car. The gun that Mark was holding was just inches from Charlie's face.
"Who the hell are you !" Mark said angrily.
"I...I'm just a professor.." Charlie stammered. " I teach applied math at CalSci." Charlie held his hands up just below shoulder level, palms out. "This is my brother's car," he added.
Before Mark could say anything else Colby drove into the gas station and squealed to a halt several feet from where Mark and Charlie were standing. Don, Colby and David got out of the SUV, guns drawn, and the few people that were around ran for the safety of the store. David moved to the right, Colby to the left, while Don took the middle.
Mark reached forward with his left hand and grabbed Charlie by the hair pulling him around so that he was between him and Don. Charlie winced in pain as Mark pulled his head back exposing his throat. Mark held the gun to the side of Charlie's neck pressing the muzzle of the gun under Charlie's jaw. "Stay back ! " he yelled. "I'll kill him if you come any closer. Drop your guns!"
Don placed his gun on the ground in front of him, Colby and David kept their weapons trained on Mark. "Listen man," Don said smoothly, " you've got nowhere to go. Don't make things worse for yourself."
" I have nothing to lose," Mark snapped. " I killed my father !"
" Your father was dying anyway," Don said keeping Mark's attention on him. " You saved him a lot of pain. He forced you to do it."
"Yes he did," Mark was getting upset. He sniffed and used his gun hand to wipe his nose. " I didn't want to do it."
Don took a half step forward, Mark jammed the gun back into Charlie's neck. Don froze in place.
" Exactly," Don said. " You just did what your father told you to do. No one can blame you for that. Put the gun down and let him go and we'll talk to the DA for you. " Don's mind was racing. This kid could go either way and neither Colby or David were close enough to take him and it was too open for them to get close.
"What'll happen to me ?"
" There were extenuating circumstances," Don said calmly. " You were helping your dad out. A jury will take that into consideration. You might not even do time."
" Really ?" Mark's hand was wavering.
"Yeah but you must give it up now. Don't add kidnapping and other charges to the mix."
Mark was thinking about it.
"Come on." Don thought. "Come on."
After what seemed like an eternity Mark dropped the gun and let Charlie go. Charlie moved forward as Colby handcuffed Mark and took him to their vehicle.
Don picked his gun up and put it away and stepped forward to Charlie who was shaking, standing with his head down and his hands covering his face. Don grabbed Charlie by both arms. "You OK ?" he asked. " He didn't hurt you ?"
Charlie shook his head and looked up at Don. "No...no I'm fine,' he said. "Is it over ?" he asked shakily.
Don guided Charlie around to the front passenger side and sat him inside. "Almost," he said. "We have to get statements from everybody involved and then we can call the DA's office and get dad released. Then there'll be court, unless they cop a plea."
"Did you mean what you said ?" Charlie asked. "About him doing no time."
"Not if I can help it," Don answered. "This was dad he was trying to frame. If I have my way he'll do 20 to life. There's other charges remember. Conspiracy, grand theft auto, kidnapping..."
"But he didn't know that I was in the car."
"Doesn't matter. It's still a federal offence." Don closed the door. "Let me put some gas in this thing and we'll get back to the office. With any luck we'll be able to pick dad up tonight."
When they got back to the office Megan and Colby were already getting statements from Elizabeth and Mark and David was getting a statement from Mary Folsom.
Don and Charlie sat at the table in the kitchen drinking coffee. It had been a stressful week for all of them. It was harder when things got personal.
Megan walked in smiling. "They're all singing like canaries," she said. " Do you want to call the DA or shall I ?"
" I'll do it," Don said. "This is a call I've been waiting to make."
Megan stayed in the room with Charlie and poured herself a cup of coffee as Don went to make the call. " I don't know why we drink this stuff," she said. " Gonna kill ourselves one day with it."
"Not unless you pour it over your head," Charlie said. "And then of couse it would be the hot liquid not the coffee per se. Statistically, coffee is very safe. The chances of you having any problems associated with coffee drinking is very small. It's inevitable given the number of studies that from time to time researchers suggest a link between coffee and certain conditions. However, the overall picture suggests that there's no risk and that you mustn't take notice of certain cases in isolation which don't always take confounding factors such as lifestyle and diet into consideration. When you allow for these when analysing epidemiological research you avoid the false positive results. Not only is coffee not a risk factor, " he added. "But research shows that it may actually have a protective effect against the development of certain diseases such as Alzheimers."
"Wow," Megan said. "That's nice to know. But does that apply to this ?" she said smiling and holding up her cup.
"I'm not sure," Charlie said grinning. " I'd have to analyse it specifically and I'm not sure that I want to know," he said looking into his own cup.
Don walked back in as they were laughing. He was glad to see Charlie smiling again. "It'll be a little while for them to do the paperwork," he said. "But we should be able to pick dad up from county lock up in about an hour."
"That's great," Charlie said. "How long before I get my house back ?"
"Probably another week at least," Don smiled as Charlie groaned. " Just as well we get along," he said.
" We do now," Charlie said. "No offence but I still want to get back to my own place and stuff."
"None taken. Let's go by the ATM before we get dad," Don said. "I think he'd appreciate being taken out to dinner."
It was the following Thursday before the DA's office removed the crime scene tape and let Charlie back home. Then he and Don spent the weekend painting and cleaning up the blood left behind. Charlie replaced the chair with a new recliner while Alan stayed with friends until they had the house cleaned up. He wanted to help but Don and Charlie insisted on him staying away - although Alan insisted that he didn't actually remember much about that day thanks to the after effects of the drug.
The following Monday Alan moved back in and Don came over for their first "home cooked" meal since the start of the affair. After they'd eaten Don and Charlie even managed to do the dishes without arguing. A miracle according to Alan.
Charlie briefly scanned the chess board and moved his knight. Don and Alan conferred and moved their bishop. Charlie grinned and moved his rook across. "Checkmate," he said.
"OK," Alan said. "That's the third time in a row. Time for a new game."
Charlie grinned. He knew that the scrabble set was about to come out but for once he really didn't mind. It was good to be a family again.
FIN.
Please give me some reviews. I'm still new at this and I'd love to know what you think and where I can improve :-)
Thanks
Debbie
