TOO CLOSE TO HOME
Chapter 20
After retrieving his bike from his office, Charlie was hard at work figuring out the equation. He could not face the possibility that another student might die despite Don's reassurances. He knew it was going to hard enough not to see Lorelei in class come Monday.
Alan was keeping a close eye on Charlie, having learned to recognize the signs that his youngest was pushing himself to the limit of his endurance. At least he could make sure that Charlie didn't skip any meals as long as he was home. Alan didn't like resorting to using his parental authority on his son. But sometimes it was the only way. He just wished that he could something about Charlie's restless nights.
Sunday afternoon Don showed up to the house to talk to Charlie. "Hey, Buddy, I've got some good news. The DNA results came back. You are officially cleared as a suspect."
"As if there was any doubt," Alan commented. Both he and Don considered Charlie to be one of the gentlest people around. They'd rarely heard him raise his voice in anger. In that way he was so much like his gentle mother.
Charlie, hard at work, acknowledged the news by saying, "I'm glad about that."
"The forensic tests were inconclusive but we're doing all we can, Buddy."
Alan sighed. "Charlie, why don't you take a break? You've been at it since I don't know when."
"I did for breakfast." He rubbed his tired eyes.
Don looked at his brother and suggested, "Charlie, why don't you go rest on the couch for about thirty minutes?" You can't be working on this every waking minute."
Charlie thought about it for a moment before acquiescing. "Okay. Thirty minutes and not a second more. And don't touch anything on the table."
"Thirty minutes is fair enough. And we won't bother your work," Alan promised. He watched as Charlie stood up and moved rather stiffly over to the couch in the living room where he lay down. Alan knew he was mentally counting the minutes until he could get up again.
Charlie lie waiting for the thirty minutes to be up so he could get back to work. But the much needed sleep he'd been depriving himself of crept in. As hard as he tried to fight it off, it was no use. Within a few minutes his eyes had closed and he was fast asleep.
Alan picked up an afghan and silently spread it out over his son. Then putting a finger to his lips, he motioned for Don to follow him outside so they could talk. Looking back at the house, he said, "He really needed that."
Don sighed. "He's still not sleeping?"
"You know how it is when he gets his mind on something. He forgets just about everything."
"You think he'll be mad at us when he wakes up?" Don asked. "You did promise him thirty minutes."
"Frankly I don't really care. I hope you catch that killer soon. I'm not sure how much longer he can keep doing this to himself."
A/N Sorry about the little mix up. Chapter 20 was actually Chapter 19. Problem fixed now. If I goof up again, just read what chapter it is in the actual story.
