Chapter 14

Leaving the highway Charlie totally forgot about calling his father. His thoughts circled around his calculations. Had he considered everything and did Amita have all the data she needed? At the very last moment Charlie saw the woman who stood in the middle of the road desperately waving her hands. He slammed on the breaks.

"Please, you must help me!" she yelled and ran toward him.

Blood was seeping from a wound on her cheek, "please come with me, my husband is still in the car. He doesn't respond. I do not know what to do."

It was Charlie's first reaction to reach for his mobile to call for help. But he couldn't find it.

Charlie rolled down the window, "do you have a cell phone?"

The woman didn't appear to hear him as she was desperate and sobbing. Normally it was Don's part to play the hero but he wasn't there. Reluctantly Charlie parked the car and went over to the woman who'd since returned to her car. Her husband was jammed in the driver seat. It looked serious and Charlie could smell gasoline. He looked around a little desperately but there was no one else around. From the corner of his eye he saw a movement, then he felt a blow to his head. Everything went dark.

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Shortly after 6 am somebody was buzzing at Don's door. First he thought the annoying sound was part of his strange dream. He was running for his life but could hardly move. Again the annoying sound intruded. Don woke up slowly. He felt like he'd been hit by a truck as he swung his legs out of bed. Dressed only in shorts he shuffled to the door.

"I'm coming", he growled and opened the door after he'd looked through the peephole.

"Dad?!" he said baffled and knuckled his eyes as if he was still dreaming.

"Hi Donnie," without further ado his father shoved him gently aside and entered, "I didn't wake you up, did I?" he asked.

"No dad, it's so hot outside, I decided shorts will do it for today. I was just about to put a tie around my neck. What the hell are you doing here; it's six in the morning? Did you bring some breakfast along. Maybe some scrambled eggs in one pocket and donuts and coffee in the ...."

"Donnie, I came here because I'm concerned about Charlie, really concerned."

"You gotta be kidding," Don snarled as he went back into the bedroom and dropped onto the bed.

Alan followed him, "get up Donnie, you can't sleep any longer."

"Believe me Dad, I can," Don took one of his cushions and buried his face in it, "today, I do not need to be at the office before eleven and I was awake until four watching a hockey game. We can talk about Charlie later."

"Don I'm serious. When Charlie left this morning, he forgot his cell phone. I found it on the carpet. He hasn't checked in at the hotel, or even shown up. I need your help," Alan was pacing around nervously.

Don sat up sighing and ran his fingers through his hair leaving it spiky.

"Ok dad, just calm down. First I need some coffee. Want some, too?"

Alan shook his head, "I'm already a nervous wreck. No thanks."

He followed his eldest into the kitchen and took a seat at the kitchen bar. Then he told Don about last night.

"You know our whiz kid," Don smiled and sipped carefully at the mug, "he probably screwed up the new navigation system. He is a math genius but when it comes down to driving a car ...." Don sighed and put the mug back on the table.

"Might be possible," Alan ran his hand across his face, "nevertheless I'm concerned. Would I be here otherwise? I don't know Donnie, thinking about Craven ..."

Don put the coffee aside, it was too hot to drink anyway, "and what do you want me to do? Call the cavalry?" he snarled.

Alan didn't answer.

"Dad, I almost got suspended. I can't tell them to start a search for Charlie because you feel it in your bones something might be wrong."

"Do I ask too much? All I want is that you use your contacts," his father hissed, "You have ways and means..."

"Dad I can't use the LAPD for solving my private problems. Imagine what will happen when Charlie shows up in two hours and tells us he just got lost."

Alan got up, "okay so if you're not going to do something, than I will. I know his approximate route."

"Great dad, jump in your car and follow Charlie. You gotta be kidding me. He left his cell phone at home and for how long is he overdue now? One hour? One and a half?" He glanced at the kitchen clock. "Stop making yourself crazy."

His father had the hand already on the door knob as Don stopped him.

"Wait," he cleared his throat, "how about we wait until eight. Then if there's still no sign of Charlie, I'll do what I can ..."

Alan drew in a breath, "okay. Maybe I'm a little too concerned and suffering from mother hen syndrome or something. I'm on way to Kline & Sons. Just let me know ..."

"Sure dad, I'll keep in touch." Alan nodded briefly and left.

To suffer from a lack of sleep because you've spent the night in bed with a hot chick was one thing. But to have a lack of sleep because you spent almost all night in front of a TV and were dragged out of bed by your dad because he was worried about his youngest was something else. Therefore Don's look was more than grim when he entered the bullpen and found Megan lolling in her chair thoughtfully chewing at a pencil.

"Don't you have a home with a bed in it?" he muttered.

"Oh, Larry is having lots of fun with the guys from NASA again so I sat alone at home last night and watched some of those old black and white movies. I cried my eyes out and finished a big bowl of popcorn, which made me toss and turn in bed. I finally decided to watch the sunrise from the Hills and thought how beautiful life could be if there were no more Cravens running around. Then I drove to the office and took a closer look at files I'm not supposed to look at and compared them with these from the Lydia Wise case. And what is your excuse?"

"My dad had paid me a visit around six this morning," Don said and sat down on the edge of Megan's desk. "Charlie has gone to Bakersfield. He left his cell phone at home unfortunately and hasn't called yet. Now dad's concerned something might have happened to him because of Craven and blah blah blah."

Megan sat up straight, "and did you check on it?"

"I just called the LAPD and ask for accidents or current road blocks, nothing," Don said. "Maybe he's somewhere out there cursing his new navigation system and the dealer who sold it to him." He bit back a grin.

"And what else are you going to do?"

"I told dad to wait another hour. If Charlie doesn't show up by then we've got a problem. But I'm sure it won't be necessary."

Megan put her hand on his and gave him a confident smile, "everything's gonna be alright."

But it wasn't. Apparently, Charlie had vanished into thin air. For a missing person report Don had to wait about 48 hours. Too long, so he decided to ask Dt. Walker for help and he agreed without hesitating. At first they found nothing. But around 1 pm a cop from Bakersfield called in. He and a colleague were driving along a road when they discovered something strange that hadn't been there the day before: skid marks, shattered glass and parts from a bumper.

"And he's sure about that?" Don insisted.

Gary nodded, "absolutely, looks like someone had had an accident and tried to cover their tracks."

"Thanks Gary, I'm heading there as fast as I can."

He looked at his team and picked Colby, "I may need a helping hand out there," he said grimly.

"No problem," Colby jumped to his feet and got his jacket.

"It would be great if I can come with you guys," Theodor suggested.

Don shook his head, "thank you Junior. But as long as we don't know what's going on you better stay with Agent Reeves. Just tell her I'll give her a call as soon as I'm in Bakersfield."

"Yes, Sir I will," he said crestfallen.

Don considered informing his father. But he still really didn't know anything so he decided against it. It could be some mistake or whatever even if his gut instinct told him another story. As soon as he and Colby sat in the car Don hurried him up. He pushed the SUV at its maximum speed along the highway and didn't shy away from switching on the lights and siren. There was no conversation. When they arrived at the scene the road was already blocked.

One of the cops approached them, "Special Agent Eppes?"

He nodded once, "and Agent Colby," they flashed their badges.

"I'm Officer Formosa, the one who called Dt. Walker."

Don's heart hammered in his chest when he asked Formosa: "What did you find out?"

Formosa swallowed, "I wish I had better news. The skid marks are pretty clear and match with the tires your brother had on his car. The parts of the bumper we found are also a match."

Don clenched his jaw.

"We've sent the pieces of glass to the lab for further examination," Formosa told him, "Your brother's car has GPS tracking, right?"

Don nodded slowly.

"Unfortunately it doesn't work either."

"Someone had been very thorough," Colby muttered, "far too thorough."

The radio on Formosa's shoulder crackled briefly.

"Excuse me, Sir," he said and walked toward his car, "come in Dorothy."

"We just received a call from Bernhard Fox. He owns the wrecking yard ten miles from your location. He's sure the car you're looking for is there."

"Thank you Dorothy, out."

Don had listened to the conversation, "show me how to get to Fox's wrecking yard," he ordered.

"No problem, Sir." Before Formosa jumped into the car he barked some instructions at his colleagues.

Don thought the trip to Fox would last for ages. Actually it hardly took fifteen minutes.

Bernie was a skinny guy bothered by arthritis and his skin looked like tanned leather. He welcomed the three with a toothless smile and immediately led them to the car. The windshield was broken, the roof totally wrecked, a crane had lifted the car, no doubt about that.

Colby looked in alarm at Don, "it's Charlie's car, isn't it?"

Tears stung in Don's eyes and he started to shiver, "yes", was all he could say.

"Who brought the car in and when?" Colby asked.

"I'll get you the papers, just a second," the old man scurried nimbly like a weasel despite his handicap across the yard.

"I'm sorry, Agent Eppes," Formosa said regretfully, then he radioed Dt. Walker to inform him.

"Here we are", Fox croaked.

He showed Colby the clipboard with the relevant data, "Miller's Wrecking Service brought the car in."

He chewed his lower lip and scratched the back of his head.

"What's the matter?" Colby wanted to know.

"Now that I think about it ... something was wrong ..."

"What?" Don snapped and made the little man jump.

Meanwhile Colby was pulling on some latex gloves.

"I know each of Miller's drivers but this guy … He didn't seem familiar at all."

Formosa mumbled something into his radio. About two minutes later his suspicion was confirmed: One of Miller's vehicles had disappeared.

"This is an officially FBI investigation from now on," Don declared.

He was struggling for composure and thought how it would feel to slam Craven's head against a wall. But this was neither the right time nor the right place for personal feelings. He had to think straight and to use his razor-sharp mind. This was the only chance to save his younger brother.

"I'll arrange everything necessary. You'll get full support!" Formosa promised.

Suddenly Don's stomach churned. He rushed around a stack of wrecked cars and threw up. Then he fell on his knees into the dust. He opened his mouth for a silent cry. Never before in his entire life had he felt so helpless. But he had to be strong for Charlie. He couldn't let himself go or show any signs of weakness.

As Colby joined him he was already back on his feet.

"Are you okay, Don?" he asked concerned.

Don nodded numbly and tried to get rid of the dust. Then he pulled the car keys out of his pocket and handed them to Colby.

"Here you are. I think you should drive," his voice sounded strange, "did you find anything in Charlie's car? Blood ..."

"No, nothing like that Don. I also didn't find any of Charlie's personal belongings, no notebook, no bags. I bet there won't even be any fingerprints."

They went back to Fox and thanked him for his help. Formosa already sat in his patrol car.

Don strapped himself to the SUV's passenger seat, leant his head against the neck support and closed the eyes. He hated himself for ignoring his father's concerns. He felt like a traitor. It was his duty to protect Charlie and he'd failed miserably. When this was over, he would seriously consider quitting his job. tbc

Thanks ALEO for your tremendous support!