TOO CLOSE TO HOME

Chapter 27

Terry finished reading the suspect his rights and stood up. "Take him away," she ordered the two agents who had just arrived.

"I'm glad that's over," Don said.

"Terry nodded. "You and Charlie both, I'd say. Now he doesn't have to wonder if the next victim will be someone he knows." Together they headed back to where they'd left the mathematician.

"It's all over, Buddy. "We've got him," Don told Charlie. "You should've seen Terry take him down."

"I'm glad," Charlie replied. His voice sounded shaky but Don was ready to just chalk it up to relief.

"Don, since you're agent in charge, why don't you go back to the office and get started on the paperwork. I can give Charlie a ride home if he wants it," Terry suggested.

"I want it," Charlie spoke up. He had a headache from the blow he'd sustained and was more than ready to catch a ride.

"Okay, Buddy. I'm pretty certain that this is our guy but we won't be sure until the DNA results come back," Don said, clapping Charlie on the back. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay." His attention was focused on the handcuffed suspect who was being marched past them to an awaiting police vehicle.

"I'll see back at the office," Terry said. She looked over at Charlie. "You ready to get going?"

After putting his bike in the backseat, Charlie got in the front. He leaned his head back and let out a long sigh. Terry looked over at him and asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm okay. Just a bump and some bruises. Nothing to worry about. I will be so glad to get home and go to bed," Charlie replied, waving off her concern.

Alan had arrived home from his night out with Art Stanley to find no sign of Charlie. Knowing of his habit to work late on Thursday nights and that there was a killer striking the campus, he was inclined to worry. So he decided to wait up until his youngest son arrived home. Hearing a car pull into the driveway, he got up and went to the door.

"Thanks," Charlie said, unloading his bike and putting it in the garage.

"I'm going to step in for a moment. I need to talk to your father," Terry said, falling in step beside him.

"Hi, Dad," Charlie said, entering the house and heading straight for the stairs. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Charlie." He turned to Terry. "Good evening."

"Good evening, Mr. Eppes. I just wanted to let you know that it looks like we caught the Campus Killer," terry told him.

"That's good. I knew this thing was starting to get to Charlie. Hey, if you and Don aren't busy Saturday, how about coming over for lunch?" Alan suggested.

"I'll Keep that under advisement. Goodnight, Mr. Eppes, Charlie. Right now I need to get back to the office," Terry said, turning to let herself out.

"Tell Don not to work so late," Alan said, going to lock the door.

Charlie had been listening from where he'd paused on the stairs. "Matchmaking, Dad? I know you're doing it with me and Amita. But Don and Terry?"

"Sometimes a father has to look out for his sons," Alan stated. He switched off the lights and headed upstairs, humming the song from 'Fiddler On the Roof'.

Charlie just shook his head as he ducked into his room.