Assassins Chapter 10

Don sighed. He just couldn't find anything in the files that gave a hint about who wanted Charlie's dead. The problem was that Charlie had worked on too many cases and there was no possibility to narrow the cases down. Don threw the file he had been looking at on the desk and looked at the next one.

When his phone rang he immediately answered it. Did something happen to Charlie? Don was already worried and when he heard Aaron's desperate voice his fear grew worse. He listened closely to what the agent told him. It was about Amita. Someone had tried to kill her and she was in surgery right now. Aaron had shot the person who did it; the LAPD was at the crime scene already and Aaron had informed Charlie about everything and now the mathematician seemed to be in his own world and didn't react to Aaron's words. Don said that he would come right away, ended the call and ran to the elevator.

'As if the worry about Charlie isn't enough already.', Don thought while the elevator went down. Now Amita had been hurt too and Don didn't know how she was. A thought occurred on the agent's mind. Maybe the man who had tried to kill Charlie was the one who had attacked Amita. Don really hoped for it. Because if he was right then the man was dead and Charlie was out of danger. But Don had no guaranty that he was right. Now he had to drive to the hospital as fast as possible.

Charlie still tried to understand the information Aaron had given him. Someone had tried to kill Amita? But... Why? Amita had done nothing wrong. Nobody had a reason to hurt her. Except for... Charlie didn't dare to finish the thought.

Maybe it was because of him. What if someone had hurt Amita because she was important to Charlie? If it had been the man who had tried to kill him. And now, after the attack on Charlie had failed, the person hurt the people dear to him. That was the only explanation Charlie could come up with. But on the other hand... what kind of advantage would hurting Charlie's friends bring? There had to be another reason. Charlie thought about it.

What did he and Amita have in common?

They were both professors at CalSci. But that was no reason to kill them since they were well-liked and Amita had started her job only a few days ago.

What else?

Charlie gazed at the door where the agents who protected him stood. Of course! The FBI! Charlie and Amita were both working on some cases. And probably some criminals knew that. Charlie gulped. Someone had tried to kill Amita and him so that they couldn't help the FBI anymore. But that person was dead. Aaron had said that he had shot the man who had attacked Amita. That meant that he and Amita were safe now... or not? Unless there were more attackers than one. Charlie hoped that it wasn't like that but a strange feeling told him that the possibility for more criminals was really high. But that didn't matter because the FBI protected him and Amita here in the hospital. They were out of danger.

Relieved Charlie lay back down and closed his eyes for a moment. The surgery would go well and Amita would get better just like him. And soon they could drive to CalSci together and teach there, both as professors. And since Amita wasn't a student anymore they could start to have an open relationship. But only if they really fit together. Sometimes Charlie had his doubt about him and Amita being able to be a pair because they had nothing to talk about except for math. But Larry had said that this especially showed how great they fit together.

Charlie's eyes shot open and he sat in his bed upright.

Larry! How could he forget about his friend? Larry helped the FBI too, even more than Amita. And if there were more than one attacker... Charlie reached for the telephone next to his bed and dialed the number of Larry's office. He hoped that his friend would answer.

The sound of a telephone ringing woke Larry up and he looked around in confusion. Where was his phone? He searched for it beneath papers and books and luckily found it.

"Fleinhardt?", he mumbled sleepily but he was wide awake when he heard Charlie's voice. His friend said something about Amita getting attacked and being in surgery now.

"Oh my! I'm coming over right away, Charles. I'll be there as fast as possible."

Larry jumped up, reached for his jacket and the key to his car. But Charlie begged him to wait.

"Excuse me? My best friends are in hospital and I shall stay here and wait? No, my dear friend. I'm coming now.", the physicist answered but waited for Charlie's reply.

("Larry... I believe that you're in danger too. I think that the attacks on Amita and me are related to our work for the FBI. You better stay at CalSci and call Megan.")

Larry didn't want his friend to worry about him. But on the other hand he wanted to go and see Charlie and Amita as soon as possible. Sighing Larry sat back on his chair and thought about it.

"Alright, Charles. I'll stay here. Is Don coming to the hospital?", Larry gave up the discussion but made sure that Charlie was not alone.

The mathematician assured Larry that Don was on his way and satisfied with that answer Larry ended the call and dialed Megan's number. The agent answered her phone fast and after Larry had told her about the talk with Charlie she said that she would come right away and she ended the call. Larry remembered Charlie's words. He was in danger too? It was a strange feeling now that he thought about it. The professor hoped that Megan would be there soon. Waiting anxiously he decided to walk to the entry so that Megan wouldn't have to search for him too long. She probably knew that he was in his office but he didn't just want to sit and wait. Larry stood up and opened his office door. He startled.

"Joss? What are you doing here?"