Agent Eppes snapped his cell phone closed. He had finally heard back from Terry and David. He paced back and forth in the waiting room. He finally had his answers but that just led him back to more questions. Charlie had been communicating with a man named Frank Jawton from his computer. He had sent some privileged information to him including information Charlie should never have had. FBI information that Don didn't even know about that went so high up it was considered a matter of national security. Charlie's encryption was so complicated even the agents studying the messages had not been able to decifer them all.
"What have you gotten involved in now Charlie… and why?"
"I wonder that myself." Agent Simmons voice floated into his thoughts.
Don turned surprised he had not heard the other agent enter. Don slid into one of the uncomfortable metal folding chairs the events of the day finally hitting him square in the chest.
"I am beginning to wonder if maybe you really had no knowledge of this." She folded her arms across her chest.
"Just beginning? I have been telling you that for three hours."
Agent Simmons smiled a half smile. "I have had people lie to me for a lot longer than that. But not with their kid brother cooling his heels in a jail cell. I really think you would tell me just about anything at this point. That is what is making me believe you."
"That and the fact I would never and could never have access to the level of information you claim Charlie is leaking."
"That too…I suppose you know the whole story by now." Don glanced up at her, "Yes, I know your friends in the bureau have been making a nuisance of themselves. I suppose you realize the only information they are being given is what I say they can have."
"When can I talk to him?"
Agent Simmons settled herself into the chair opposite Don, "Now that gets a little tricky. My orders are to keep you two apart."
"I will find a way to see him even without your say so."
"I doubt that, but I might be able to arrange a short visit. Supervised of course."
Don glanced down at his watch, "Shit, is it really 8:00? I need to call my father, he must be going out of his mind."
"Wouldn't you rather wait until you have something to tell him? Come with me, I will take you to Charlie then you can call your whole family for all I care."
Don followed Agent Simmons down several hallways to the elevators and down to the Basement level cell blocks. Don scanned each cell they passed looking for Charlie, he finally spotted him in the third cell from the end.
"Charlie?"
"Don! What is going on? Can you get me out of here? They won't give me a pencil or a marker or anything."
"It's good to see you too Charlie." It was good to see him talking normally again, albeit from behind inch thick bars. Charlie was still making laps around his cell. Don could see where he had written formulas in the dirt on the cell floor. Charlie was not built to be kept in a cage. "What are you writing there?"
"New formulas, they wouldn't be able to crack these. I wouldn't have been caught, you would still be…"
"Still be what Charlie, still be safe? I am safe. I am right here in front of you. But you know what? They won't let me stay here forever and then I will have to leave. You need to tell me what's going on so I can protect myself. So I can stay safe… Charlie are you listening to me?"
"Yes, I am listening. I always listen. I just…" Charlie finally sat down on the bunk in his cell. He balled up one fist and slammed it into the mattress. "704 cubic feet in 26 cells…"
"Please don't start this again Charlie…"
"18,304 plus the walkway…" Charlie quickly crossed the cell pressing his head against the bars.
"Charlie…" Don grabbed his brother's hand.
"If I can just…"
"If you can what? Calculate the size of this room? Will that help Charlie? Think about it…"
"I don't know what to do anymore."
"Tell me the truth."
"That's the one thing I can't tell you Don… I can't… he will kill you…" Charlie slunk down to the floor with his back against the bars.
"All right Charlie…it's alright. I'll be fine. You just relax here I'll find some other way to get you out of this ok? You just stay with us. Don't go anywhere?"
"Where would I go?" Charlie responded with a sigh.
Agent Simmons nodded to Don and Don followed her from the cell block.