Disclaimer: I don't own Numb3rs or the characters. This is my first fan fiction. Constructive criticism is welcome just please be nice about it.

Also a thank you to Starfishyeti for answering my pleading for a Beta. Please comment if you like this story.

I noticed some errors and fixed them.

Chapter 11

Alan woke to find Don, Colby and David at the kitchen table going through maps and making lists. They each had a notepad.

"So what are we looking at? I need to help."

Don looked up at his father. "We're looking at all the places Charlie possibly could go hiking. We need to narrow down the search though and I'm not real sure how."

"Well if he's overnight camping don't you need to register for a site?" asked Alan.

"Damn it! Why didn't we think about that! We can call and see if he registered at any of the state parks for a tent site. Dad, why don't you look in the phone book and see if there any campgrounds that we may have missed on our lists?"

Charlie had followed the path as far up as it went for a few hours but found that it stopped. 'Okay. So I'm at a dead end here.' He looked upwards. 'I guess I'll take a break from walking and try climbing. It looks like there are a few areas up there I can get to. When I get away I really get away.' He laughed to himself. He stopped for lunch and to rearrange his pack. 'I'm really not wanting a protein bar. I'll go for a trail mix this time and some water.' He took off his jacket and put it in the pack as he followed the sun along the horizon. 'At least there's no sign of rain today.' He waited about a half hour. 'Well here goes nothing. It's been a while but it's like riding a bike, right?'

Don punched the wall in frustration. "All of these places have no record of him? What the hell are we missing?"

David looked at Colby, worry creasing his brow. "What if he's trying not to be found? Then he wouldn't go to a campground area would he?"

"Aww damn! Whiz kid's not making this easy!"

Amita walked into the kitchen with Larry. "Actually, with the information you guys have come up with Larry and I may be able to narrow it down. We'll take this and work on it. Alan can we use either the garage or solarium?"

"Of course, Amita. Take your pick. I'll keep the coffee going and plan on a crowd for dinner again. Of course I may have to go to the store."

Colby turned to Don. "Let's go check in with the office and let them work on it. I'm sure there's paperwork waiting for us from Director Merrick."

Reluctantly, the senior agent followed his team members to the door. "Call me if you come up with anything, and I mean anything at all."

Larry turned to Don. "You will be the first we call, Donald."

Alan had left to replenish the groceries so Larry turned to Amita who was looking at the maps. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking along the same lines as David. Charlie doesn't to be found for some reason. If that's the case, we need to think about his hiking skills and where he wouldn't be bothered while using them."

Larry looked at the map. "So I concur with David's assumption that none of the state park areas would be suitable to overnight camping if hiding. So we would need to look at forest areas outside this area."

"Doesn't he go climbing too?" asked Amita. "He said he was trying to get better at it."

"Oh, my goodness! I had forgotten about that. It has been a good while since he went. This is not optimal. He wouldn't climb by himself would he?"

"Alright, let's narrow down areas that have enough open areas for tents. He'd need a fire at night and depending on how the weather is he may need better shelter than a tent would provide. So where does that put us?" replied Amita not wanting to answer Larry's last question.

"Another question is how he got there?" asked Larry. "His bike and car are here."

Suddenly Amita jumped up, grabbed her phone and dialed Don. "Larry, I don't believe none of us thought of that!" She waited for Don to answer.

"Eppes," came across the line.

"Don! Larry just pointed at something that might give us a clue. How did Charlie get to wherever he went? Taxi or bus? Couldn't we look at that for the last night he was at home or the FBI?"

"Tell Larry I said he's a genius. I can't believe we didn't think of that. God, I'm so stupid!"

"Don, you're not! None of us have been thinking too straight. This whole thing has caught us all off guard. I'll let you work on that. We're making some progress on this end too. We'll bring what we have to you at the office."

"Okay. Thank you both. Bye."

"David, Colby come here!" Don hollered.

"What's up, man?" Colby asked.

"Larry had an idea. We need to look at transportation to wherever he went. Colby, look at the taxis, David check out bus routes. He couldn't have walked to most of these places, they're too far!"

Colby slapped himself in the forehead. 'That was so obvious and three FBI agents didn't come up with it!'