Chapter 14:
Charlie did not answer. Don, David and Terry stood looking between these two wondering what was going on.
Don bristled at being ignored. He noticed that Charlie was in regular street clothes, but his hands were cuffed in front of him. Don hadn't received an answer the first time so he tried again. "What are you doing here?"
"I had your brother brought here for the investigation. Isn't that usually how it works? You bring him into the case when it seems unsolvable. He does his magic and it saves lives. Usually yours."
"Charlie was still staring at his shoes."
"Isn't that right Charlie?"
"I told you already, I can't help you," Charlie said finally.
"No, you WON'T help us, and that's not the same thing."
Charlie started to tip on his feet so Don led his brother to a chair and sat him down. He told David to get Charlie some water. "Charlie I need to know. This list… these agents… you weren't involved in their deaths were you? I mean you couldn't have… could you?"
Don waited while Charlie continued the stare at the floor. He didn't know what else to say or do. Why wouldn't Charlie answer him? Did he have something to hide after all?
Charlie looked up at Don through his curls. His eyes were red rimmed. He could see the war waging inside Don. He knew his brother cared for him but he was fiercely loyal to the bureau and would hunt down anyone who killed an agent. He couldn't let his brother think he was a murderer. He just couldn't give them a name… "No…"
The one word was spoken so softly that at first Don wasn't even sure he had spoken.
"I just received and transmitted the lists. I didn't even know those agents were dead… at first…"
"When did you find out?"
"Later…"
Don slammed his hand down on the table. "Charlie you are talking in riddles again!" He softened his voice when he noticed that Charlie had tensed. This was not a criminal he was giving an interrogation to, this was his brother. He placed a consoling hand on Charlie's shoulder and knelt next to his chair. David handed him the cup of water he had retrieved and he had Charlie take a long sip before he said quietly. "Please start at the beginning."
"I thought I was helping you…you needed information about agents killed in the line of duty. Specific names… dates… information…I didn't know…"
"Slow down Charlie… I never asked you for information. Who told you to gather this stuff?"
Charlie shook his head. "Can't tell you. Only after I had gathered the information… it was a trap. They said you would be in trouble if anyone found out. They said you would be blamed for these deaths. They said they could connect them to you. I wasn't sure… I was confused. They wanted me to get other information for them… I had no time to think, I just did it and then I was… trapped…" Charlie collapsed in his chair mid sentence.
Don checked his breathing, it was fine but his heartbeat was barely noticeable. "Call an ambulance!" Don shouted to no one in particular he cradled Charlie's limp body in his arms, "Stay with me buddy, stay with me…"