A/N: So, so, so, SO sorry for the long wait! I had a research paper I had to write instead of this story... but now that it's turned in, i can focus my attention on this story fully.
Thank you to all my reviewers! Everytime I see the little e-mail from in my inbox, I smile. It really, really makes my day, and you all make me a better writer. Thank you.
Now let the plot-twisty story continue!
Chapter 2
"Well, he made it through another night," Don said, forcing a smile that did not touch his eyes. Terry stared at him a moment, as if trying to read his face, then hung her head.
"I'm so sorry Don. I know how much this hurts you," she said sympathetically. He responded with another emotionless smile.
"It doesn't make sense, though. They say he's fighting as hard as someone involved in an accident... you know, the person who wants to live. He's fighting as if he wants to be alive... and then his attempting suicide makes no sense!"
Terry put a hand on Don's shoulder and instantly, he dropped back into his emotionless state. She opened her mouth, most likely to offer words of comfort, but they were interrupted when Walt Merrick appeared.
"Hey, Don. Any new data from that brother of yours?"
"Charlie attempted suicide four nights ago," Terry replied with a tone as icy as her glare. "So no. There is no new data."
"Eh, shame. He was brilliant. Anyway, did he leave anything behind for you, Don?"
Terry looked as if she might attack him.
"I could look... but I never understand his equations," Don replied with careful detatchment. "He kept writing 'Epic' all over everything... it has to be written around the office ten times... but I don't know what that means."
"Could it be a mathmatical term?" Terry asked, eyebrows furrowed as she turned to Don. "You know... like 'Legend' refers to a key on a map..."
"It was what the kids on our block used to call Charlie to tease him," Don said, sighing heavily. "That's the only usage of the word I know."
"Well, that doesn't help our case," Merrick told them matter-of-factly. "Keep looking. We have absolutely nothing to pinpoint Mike Curzon. We need a lead, now!"
As Merrick walked away, Terry shot him yet another glare before turning back to Agent Eppes.
"Don't worry about it, Don. You've got a lot more on your mind," she spoke softly, once again resting a hand on Don's shoulder. "How about we go visit him after work today? You look like you could use some company... and I want to make sure you actually go home and go to sleep!" She ended with a joking tone, hoping to light the mood, and to her satisfaction, Don gave a small chuckle.
"Yeah... I've gotta get home to stay with Dad anyway. He needs the company," he replied, the subtle misery returning to his eyes. Terry sighed heavily, hanging her head, and then did something she rarely ever did: She hugged Don.
"I'm always gonna be here for you," she told him, stepping back and smiling... and when he smiled back, a true, geniuine smile, it left Terry with a feeling of accomplishment that lasted her the entire day.
"It makes no sense!" Charlie cried, his fist falling against the chalkboard in a defeated manner. He hung his head, his breath coming in ragged gasps, a hidden glimpse into the disturbed turmoil of his brain.
"Charlie? Maybe you should sit down..." Amita said carefully, taking a step towards the mathmetician. In the years they had known eachother, she had seen very few fits of rage from Charlie; they were enough to scare her into an extra bout of caution as she approached him.
Luckily, Charlie chose to take her advice and sank down into the closest chair.
"Another murder... and now it makes sense," he growled, tapping the chalk against his head in thought. He opened his mouth to rant, but suddenly realized that Amita was not understanding a word he was saying. He promptly got to his feet and strode up to the board. "Ok, look here... this equation? It was from the previous corpse. It corresponds to C, am I correct? The corresponding number, however, is 2..." Charlie furiously circled letters and numbers, then drew lines between them, and Amita squinted at the board in careful consideration. Charlie then turned to his files and pulled out a piece of paper. He used a pen to circle a number, then showed it to Amita. "C corresponded to 2. C stood for Children, and the murder from yesterday has two of them."
"He left you clues on the body of the previous corpse as to who he would be killing next?" Amita asked, raising an eyebrow, but Charlie began itching his head furiously. It was a tell-tale sign of his frusteration.
"But why? Why would he do stuff like this? How many people in L.A. have 2 kids? Why is he going by that?" Charlie asked, pacing the small space between the board and his desk. "It makes no sense!"
"Well, let's take a different approach... this here? Epic? You have it written all over..." Amita trailed off. There was something in Charlie's eyes she had never seen before: Terror. It was merely a passing glint, a shadow, just a brief shine in his eyes... but it was definate. In one moment, Charlie became a child huddled in a corner, shielding his face from the people around him. He didn't understand why they were hurting him. He didn't understand why they liked to cause him pain. All he knew was that he was good at Math, and Math never hurt him like this...
"Charlie? You look pale..."
"I don't know why it all leads to Epic," he replied firmly, cutting Amita off. He wasn't lying either. Epic had been used so many times to taunt him... but why was Mike writing it now? Why...?
When Don and Terry reached the hospital room where Charlie was held, it was already occupied. Larry was sitting in a chair next to the bed, his chin balanced on his hands. He looked almost normal, as if he was on some train of thought about his latest theory... except, of course, for the tears that ran down his face.
"I just don't understand..." Larry said without looking up. Don gave a small laugh that did not touch his eyes. He couldn't agree more. "He had everything going for him. He had a brother like you, a good family, friends, a future, a girl..."
"Where is Amita?" Don asked suddenly, jerking his head up. Terry, who had been lost in thought, was slightly startled by the movement. She was puzzled to see Don's eyes alight, the way they were when a new question surfaced in a crime. "She and Charlie were close... real close. I haven't seen her since... since it happened."
"Oh, I don't know..." Larry responded, shaking his head slowly. "I haven't paid attention to anything these past few days. She might have talked to me a thousand times and she might have not talked to me at all. I just don't know."
There was no one in Amita's appartment that night. She had vanished without a trace.
A/N: bum bum bum... Well, once again, I apologize for the long wait. I already have the next chapter written, so it won't take nearly as long... as long as you all review Please, PLEASE Review!
