The dinner could have been better. Of course, it could have gone much worse. Colby, Megan, and David were quiet the next morning at the office. Funny how a seemingly innocent event could linger in their minds for the rest of the night and into the next morning. Nothing had happened, though. That was the subdued feeling was so disquieting. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened, barring the reason why the team was there in the first place. That was bizarre enough.
Megan knocked on the door. Colby and David stood behind her, waiting silently for one of the Eppes. Surprisingly, it was Charlie who opened the door. They hadn't seen him since he stormed out of the office with Don. He smiled and invited them in.
Colby couldn't help noticing the smile never reached his eyes. Charlie had never been difficult to read, but Colby was lost. What happened to the innocent man who pushed his math on anyone who would listen that turned him into an angry man, perfectly capable of engaging in a shouting match and emerging as the apparent victor.
"Come in. Dad's grilling the burgers." Charlie ushered them inside, herding them towards the porch.
Alan Eppes was visible in the window, wearing an absurd apron and a chef's hat. Don was standing next to him, listening to him. They followed Charlie through the kitchen and out the back door. Alan was telling a story to Don. The back porch was illuminated by the fading sunlight. The whole setting seemed picturesque, somehow. The sun gently silhouetting the two men, their hair glowing gold.
"Mr. Eppes!" Megan smiled endearingly. Who wouldn't enjoy seeing the man that behaved like the team's father? Also, he was making them dinner.
Alan turned around. "Aha. I was wondering when you were going to get here."
"Sorry, Mr. Eppes. Traffic was even worse than usual."
"It's completely fine, David. Good thing that my grill took so long to start!"
David grinned. "And why was that?"
"My tank of gas was empty. I could have sworn that I just bought a new one!" He pointed the tongs accusingly at Charlie. "Did you use any of my gas?"
"What? No." Charlie answered, but his voice was lacking the enthusiasm and energy that usually accompanied having Megan, Colby, and David over for dinner. Colby frowned, but David and Megan hid their concern behind polite smiles.
Colby, however, didn't get the memo. He shot a quick look at his fellow team members. Megan glared at him and shook her head minutely. Leave it alone. Her gaze traveled back to Alan. He was also looking at Charlie curiously.
Don noted the awkward silence and glanced over at Charlie, who was looking pained and annoyed and increasingly frustrated.
"Dad, are your burgers burning?"
And with that, the silence was broken. Alan whirled around and exclaimed at finding that his burgers were indeed being burned. Megan and Colby stepped out of the way as Alan rushed into the house to grab a plate. David inched closer over to Don, trying to be subtle and avoid detection from either Eppes. Don was watching with an amused grin. Charlie was looking at all of them with the air of the only sane person in a room full of crazies.
Alan reappeared, brandishing a platter for the meat. He charged toward the grill and proceeded to salvage what he could of the burnt burgers.
Those burgers had been delicious, consumed with great gusto. However, throughout the munching and praising Alan, the three guests had exchanged looks. The agents had tried to shoot meaningful glances at each other when they thought Charlie wasn't looking.
The evening dissolved into comfortable chatter. Alan and David were engaged in a conversation about how much a casserole could be baked before it became too dry. Colby and Megan were chiming in their thoughts about the best spices to use when they were not amiably bickering with each other. Don was staying quiet, letting his dark eyes roam over his friends and father. Charlie was also staying quiet. Far quieter than he normally was at these gatherings.
Colby looked sideways at the curly haired man, never pausing in his debate with Megan.
David glanced subtly at the mathematician during the lulls in his conversation.
Alan snuck a peek at his youngest when David got a glass of water.
Megan caught a glimpse of her friend when Colby engaged Alan in an argument.
Don stared at his brother discretely, trying to decipher the other man's emotions.
Charlie's face was neutral. Blank. If he noticed them looking at him, he gave no reaction.
Colby could have punched himself. Of course Charlie had noticed! Why else would he have been so quiet and withdrawn throughout the dinner? No sense beating himself up about it though. What's done is done. That was last night and now it is this morning.
"Have you gotten farther on your profiles?" They were in their workroom, where they could put the maps and pictures on the screen. David was looking at the two of them, holding a folder loosely.
Megan sighed and leaned forward. "No. Well, partly. I have one done. Hank Schwartz. But I'm still working on Don's: Oliver Jenson. You?"
David gave a soft laugh. "Not yet. I have Robert Peterson."
"I've got Frank Ivering." Colby went to the laptop and pulled up the information he'd found on Ivering. His driver's license dominated the screen. A little stick of a man, he barely reached five foot five. His blonde hair was cut short, almost a buzz cut but not quite. His lips were twisted into a scowl, a strange facsimile of a smile.
"Usually you try to smile for a picture." Megan frowned, trying to analyze him just by looking at the picture.
Colby chuckled. "This guy didn't get the memo." He put his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. "He's a high school teacher at Charlottesville High School and lives on the edge of the city. It's a small house, large yard. He lives alone and makes a low income. It is a possible location and motivation for involvement in the robberies."
"No high school teacher makes very much. Does he have a record?"
"No. There's nothing that indicates any previous involvement. I've pulled his records." The financial statements joined the driver's license. Colby circled a line. "Except here. Now, without pulling any money from his bank accounts, he all of a sudden has enough cash lying around to pay off his house."
"That does seem a little suspicious."
David snorted. "For being so skilled that they can stump the FBI, these robbers, or at least one of them, are stupid."
"I was thinking of going to interview him."
"Interview, Granger, or bring him in?"
"Either one works."
The other two agents shared a glance. "I'm coming." David stood and went to grab his stuff.
Megan sighed, sinking deeper into her chair. "I need to finish my profiling on Jenson." She scrunched her nose. "Not very appealing."
Colby left to go to the elevators. Maybe something good will come from this. Maybe he'll run. If he runs, then there would be probable cause to arrest him. Don't need to bother with a warrant.
His partner came up behind him. "I'll drive."
"Like you'd ever let me drive."
David just laughed and entered the elevator, Colby joining him.
Megan watched until the two men passed from her line of sight. She sighed. "You'd better give me a vacation after this, Don." Hawaii would be nice. Grabbing the folder that corresponded with Jenson, she sat down to work with palm trees swaying in her mind.
Hello my lovely audience! I am back! I want to say thank you to everyone who viewed my stories while I was away. There was not a day that I did not have at least one or two views. You are amazing! I think I have finally banished the block in my mind, and I am currently working on Chapter 17 and also some for my other story, Definitions. (Reviews speed up the process! Just so you know)
I have recently discovered the amazing feature of Ao3, (Archive of our own) that allows one to download the story they are reading. I now have an account there, under the same pen name: KKray. I am working on posting all of the chapters on that site.
Notes about this chapter: I am making up LA's geography. I have no idea if Charlottesville, California actually exists, or if it's near LA. I don't care. It may exist solely for my story. Let me know how I did!