Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine, except for Jimmy Boy there.
Chapter 10
"It's the missing variable."
Charlie was stunned. This man was not cunning or calculative or a mastermind, he was evil; pure and simple evil. "You've been using other mathematicians to do the work!"
Jim nodded his head simply, "Yes." Walking close to Charlie he leaned over close, "And just when the FBI got too close, I switched the mathematicians, switched the methods, and the FBI have to start all over."
Charlie's plan to not show any emotion was not working too well he knew. Unadulterated fear shown in his eyes, his throat felt like it was swelling shut, his chest was rising and falling rapidly. But as scared as he was he also felt resolve; resolve to survive this lunatic and make sure he got caught and punished. Forcing his mouth to work again his voice came out shaky but strong, "Where are they now?"
"Oh Charlie, don't you worry, they were reunited with their families. I don't want to rob the world of some of its great mathematical minds," Jim told him. Then he sighed, "But of course they weren't released without any damage. Couldn't let them go telling the police where and who I was."
He turned and faced Charlie, "No, unfortunately I had to give them each a cocktail of drugs. This caused some physical as well as mental problem for a while. But they will recover with no lasting terminal damage. But of course once they have recovered they won't be able to remember which memories are real and which were hallucinations and they will push them all into the 'I went crazy for a while file.'
Charlie heard all this but it was like through a fog. He was lost in his thoughts.
You evil, sadistic, son of a bitch, crazy lunatic. Were you dropped on your head several hundred times as a baby? Well damn it if you think you are going to use me in your little scheme
Charlie glared up at Jim He felt his heart pumping fast his blood racing, for the first time in his life he felt as if he could actually be capable of beating someone to a bloody pulp. He now understood why Don would get so irritated with him for not getting angry when another lead panned out.
Jim was not oblivious to the obvious hate coming his way from Charlie. He turned toward the chalkboard that he had been pacing in front of since entering the room. "I suggest you get yourself under control, Professor Eppes. Because I would now like to inform you of why you are here."