Don
Chapter 20

Nothing unusual and nothing out of place, satisfied, he drove out of the hospital grounds and drove home at a leisurely pace.

The times he spent with the Doc were always enlightening ones. It left him a bit bewildered and amused at the English language.

Don shook his head. Maybe he might have a talk with Larry and see if he could give some enlightening thoughts to this.

With his wandering thoughts and leisurely drive, he nearly didn't notice a car following him. He thought it funny that it was late at night and instead of overtaking him, it just followed him at a slower pace. His keen eye took in the make of the car, a sedan, but the color was a bit difficult to make out. It could be dark green, turquoise or even a shade of dark blue.

He saw the traffic lights. It was going to change. He slowed down thinking that car behind him will slow down too. Then he could see the color properly and also maybe the license plate numbers, but the driver stepped on the accelerator, overtook him and dashed across.

It was too fast for Don to make out the numbers or the color. Funny, Don thought to himself, and after a while, it was a forgotten incident.

When he finally arrived at Charlie's house, it was almost 11.45 pm. As soon as he switched off the engine, Alan came out.

"Donny, are you alright?" he asked anxiously.

"Yes, Dad. Why are you still up? Gosh it's almost midnight! " Don said, looking at his watch.

Charlie came running out, "Don?"

"Woh…. What's the matter? Charlie? Dad?"

"We were worried. We called your cell and it went into voice mail."

"Oh, sorry, I went to see Dr. Chandra, and we took a bit of time in his clinic. Sorry it took so long. I had my phone on silent mode and forgot to switch it back," Don said and took his cell from his belt and pressed the 'off silent mode' button.

"Went to see Dr. Chandra, are you alright? Your hand's giving you trouble?" Charlie asked.

"Hey guys, let's get inside the house. The neighbors must be wondering why the Eppes are talking in the garden so late at night." Don said walking ahead of them and heading for the kitchen.

"Dad, you've left some food for me? I'm very hungry. The last meal was the three pieces of pizza during lunchtime."

"Donny, food's in the microwave. What happened?"

Don went back into the dinning room, took out his gun and badge and put them together with his keys. He wanted to put it in the small basket but changed his mind and put all in a drawer.

"Yea what happened, Don?" Charlie asked, following his brother around.

"Hey Charlie, I thought Dad said you went out."

"I did and came back forty minutes ago, and Dad was in near state of panic."

"Sorry, I had see Dr. Chandra to change my bandages, that's all."

"And it took so long?"

"Well, dad, you know Dr. Chandra, he liked to go on and on." Don didn't want to say more. " Look, he said I must change it daily to avoid infection. it was a bit puffy, and it throbbed a bit today."

"Is that all, Donny?"

"Yes, dad, that's the truth. Now can I eat?"

"Oh yes, it's ready. Charlie, do you want some?"

"Why not? All the anxiety has been lifted, taken away when you, Don, came home safely. My stomach is feeling a bit empt. I need to replace the emptiness with some food." Charlie said innocently.

Alan muttered, 'talking nonsense,' under his breath, and Don had to smile.
At times like these and when Charlie does his 'logic' talk, it always lighten the atmosphere.

In the end all three of them had spaghetti around midnight. Don told them about the invitation of Trixie's, and he told Charlie to let Amita and Larry know about it. Charlie nodded mouth full of food.

After their 'dinner', Charlie said he will do a bit of work before going to bed, to let the food settle a bit first since now his stomach is quite full.

Don went up, said he'll shower and it's bed for him. He had a very long day, and he was bone tired. He went back to the drawer, picked up his firearm and went upstairs. "Night dad, Charlie." he called out to them.

Alan soon went upstairs, "Don't stay up too long, Charlie."

"Yea dad, night"

"Night" Alan replied and went up. He walked towards Don's room, gently pushed the door open a bit, and peeped in. Don with his hair still wet and clad only in his pj pants was sprawled across the bed, dead to the world.

Alan went near and saw that his hand was now covered with a pristine white bandage. Alan shook his head and went to him, "Don…Don…."

"Sleep……' he mumbled.

"Yes, but put on your shirt. You'll catch a cold in the morning. Come on."

Alan helped a very sleepy Don put on his top and made him get under his blankets.
"Goodnight my son." Alan whispered to an already fast asleep Don.

Alan switched off the lights and went out.

"Morning Dad. Thanks for waiting up yesterday." Don said.

"Donny, you're early. You want pancakes?"

"No, thanks dad, just coffee will do. I am going to see Lt. Gary Walker of the LAPD afterwards. I might have breakfast with him."

"So early?"

"Yes, I'm supposed to see him in his office at 8.30, so I will get him to meet me outside for breakfast instead of going into his office."

Alan nodded and pushed a cup of coffee towards Don.

'Gary? Morning, it's Don, can I meet you at the Rooster Rest Cafe round the next corner of your office at 7.30?"

"Yea, yea, and how do you know I'm in the office so early?" Lt. Gary asked.

"Well, after working a few cases with you, one knows one of the same kind."

"Ha, ha, so you're in the office now?"

"No, at home waiting for you to get to your office. So I'll see you at the RR 7.30?"

"OK, you'd better move your butt. I'll be there in ten minutes."

"OK, see ya." Don replied and turned to his dad, "See you dad. Today I'll try to make it early. You're leaving around what time?"

"Around 8pm. I'll make pot roast and leave it in the microware for you both."

"Don't bother with dinner, dad, we'll go out and grab something before you leave for Stan's.

"No, I'll make the dinner. I have time. You come back early, and we'll have it together."

'"Ok, I'll be back early then, Dad. See you, bye and have a good trip, just in case something crops up. Enjoy yourselves, tell Art I said hello. Who else is going?"

"Two other shelter guys, you've not seen before. You take care, you hear. I don't want to come home and find you in a hospital. And you tell Trixie, I'll see her next day. We'll have a party in the house before she leaves, alright? We'll talk about that when I come home."

"Yes, dad, we'll do that. Bye and take care. Don't swim in the ocean. There may be sharks."

"Ha ha…."

Don parked near to the LAPD and walked a short distance to the Rooster Rest Café. He saw Gary by the window. He waved to him.

"Morning, Gary, what's up?" Don asked as he sat opposite him.

A pretty young waitress came near and Don said, "Give me what's he's having and a cup of strong coffee."

"You don't want anything heavier?" Gary was having two toasts with butter and jam.

"No, breakfast is the most important meal, I know, but cannot eat too heavy early in the morning.
Actually coffee will do for me but since staying in Charlie's house, am getting used eating something during breakfast. Dad's always making them even though Charlie and I said no."

"Say, how's that Genius brother of yours?"

"Fine, thank you. What's so urgent that you want me to come down and meet you?"

"Got some info about your Logan guy. Well, not your Logan guy but someone who looked and dressed like him. Three days ago my men caught one look-a-like near the ATM machine in Greir Street Market.
They followed him and saw him handing the money to another guy.

They did not follow the 2nd guy, but managed to catch the first guy.

We had to release him after interrogation; ummm sorry I did not know about this, was on 2 days' leave. I found out yesterday and had tried to call you.

"He was just a hired hand to run an errand. We didn't have anything on him. He said he was given a card to withdraw a certain sum of money for another guy. Whether the other guy was connected to Logan, we are not sure. Got his name from this false Logan, whose name is Jimmy Forth and the other guy's name is Sammy Costa."

Don got a shock, and it showed in his face and Gary asked, "You know them?"

Tbc

My Thanks to Marilyn for the beta.