Chapter 27
After the messages were sent, both Charlie and Don walked to Don's desk and prayed silently for a call to come in. The office seemed to be void of its normal hum of activity. Charlie tried to think of anything other then the gunshot and Amita's scream. He knew it was her, there was no way of denying it. I hope she's okay Charlie thought but soon it seems his thoughts were answered when his phone beeped and both Charlie and Don fell off their chairs at the noise
"I th-thought you were an FBI agent" Charlie stammered out once he recovered. He knew why he jumped at the beep: he's jumpy, especially when he's in deep thought and now posed no difference
"Be quiet, I just wasn't paying attention. Normally my senses are in high alert…was that a text message?" Don asked looking over at Charlie. However,Don didn't get answer because Charlie was too busy trying not to implode
"Uh…I…um…" Charlie stammered looking down at his phone. Too many emotions were coursing through him to come up with a coherent sentence. Amita said that she loved him and had loved him for a long time. She said this now though because she had been shot, had assumed (correctly) that she was going into shock (which means they have very little time), and was afraid that she wasn't going to get to say it herself.
"Charlie, give me the phone" Don said gently. He knew that whatever was on the phone was causing Charlie's problems. As Don read what was on the phone, he understood why Charlie was acting that way. I don't blame him Don thought if Terry had told me that she had gotten shot and was most likely going into shock and chose this moment to tell me that she loved me because she was afraid that she wouldn't get to say it herself, I think I would act the same way "Charlie buddy, we'll get her back. One hour, just one hour"
"DON! SHE DOESN'T HAVE AN HOUR!" Charlie yelled and everyone turned to look at them
"Charlie, she's going to be ok" Don said trying to reassure him
"NO SHE'S NOT! She's gone into shock and still bleeding. You can't bleed for two hours and expect to live. I'm surprised that she's still awake and alive"
"Charlie stop talking like that"
"I can't help running the numbers Don. Statistically she's dead. Don-" Charlie started and then his voice cracked. He wasn't going to cry again he already felt foolish for doing so the first time
"Its ok Charlie" Don said hugging his brother. Don got Charlie to rise and walk towards the conference room but then Don's cell phone rang. Everyone froze for a moment, Don ran answer the phone and then pressed speakerphone so that others could monitor the call"Terry?" Don called into the phone
"Yes Don. Joe wants to talk to you" There was a pause and then Joe's voice rang out of the phone
"Agent Eppes. I have a change in my request"
"And that is?" Don asked as calmly. He (and the rest of the office that was listening) crossed their fingers
"Your brother is a genius mathematician right?" Joe asked calmly
"None smarter" Don answered proudly looking at Charlie. Charlie barely acknowledged they were talking about him. Had it been any other day he would have blushed at his brother complimenting, even boasting about him.
"Right, right" Joe answered sounding extremely bored "If he's so smart I want him to come up with an equation or algorithm or something for me"
"What do you want it to do?" Don asked with an edge of fake anger in his voice. He wanted to make this real and if he sounded too calm he would blow it
"I want an algorithm that will give me access to bank accounts. It takes my mathematician a relatively long time to hack into the accounts. I want an equation that will get me in there faster. You have two hours, oh and agent hurry, Amita's looking a little pale" A click and then a dial tone. Don hung up and then looked at Charlie. He paled and then ran to the bathroom. The whole office softened and they knew that they had to hurry not only to save an agent but Amita too. Don waited a minute before going after Charlie. He stepped into the bathroom and looked for his brother. He saw a pair of knees along with feet and he knew it was Charlie.
"Hey buddy" Don said lightly taking a seat next to the stall. He was answered with the sound of his brother getting sick again. Don opened the stall door and rubbed his brother's back while he finished. They sat there in silence for a moment waiting to see if there was anything left
"Thanks Don" Charlie said rising, then flushed the toilet and walked out to wash out his mouth and blow his nose. Don followed
"Do you want to tell me why you got sick? I mean I know the food here sucks but…" Don said attempting to make a joke and failing
"I saw her Don" Charlie's whisper barely heard above the running water
"Saw who?"
"Amita. I saw her dead. Pale and cold, he eyes wide open" Charlie paled and ran to the stall again but there was nothing left. Don waited for him to return to the sinks before continuing the conversation
"Charlie, you can't think that way. Obviously she was ok enough to have sent you that text message" Even as Don said the words he knew that it didn't hold up to much. How much strength and wits do you need to send a text message?
"Don, she's bleeding heavily. We need to get her out. We can't wait another hour, she may be beyond help by then" Charlie finished out his voice shaking so hard, Don was surprised that he was still able to understand what he had said
"Charlie" Don said taking him by the shoulders and staring him in the eyes, seeing a little bit of the glossing overin them that happens when Charlie shuts down"You have to stay with me, you have to keep hope. Amita, will be ok" Charlie, looked like he wanted to cry but he took a deep breath and nodded
"Let's go. I'll need to transfer everything onto a disk andthen we'll give it to them. Don, promise me after I'm done with the disk we'll go get them. I don't care how fast I get it done. Promise me, Don." Charlie said stopping in front of the door
"We'll try Charlie but you have to remember that they can't get suspicious. If we hand it over too early, they may call off the trade" When Charlie paused Don knew that Charlie hadn't thought of that
"I don't want to do anything that will hurt them but Don, I don't think Amita has that long…I don't think she'll make it another two hours"
"I know buddy I know" Don replied putting an arm around his baby brother's shoulders. He was shaking slightly. As Don lead Charlie out of the bathroom, he couldn't help but think all we can do now is wait.