Chapter 3
"Federal agents can't comment on open investigations. If you're looking to frighten your viewers, you'll have to do it without our help."
The image cut from Don's statement back to the investigative reporter who'd pounced on them outside the restaurant the night before. "That's the only comment Special Agent Eppes would make about the brutal murder of Michelle Gutierrez. We can only hope he found some new leads during his leisurely dinner." The camera panned over to reveal the restaurant behind him. "I'm Mark Garan, reporting…"
Charlie snarled and picked up the remote to click off the TV in disgust. Naturally, the reporter failed to mention the reason he'd corned them at the restaurant was because he'd been unable to gain access to Don any other time over the last few days because he'd been practically living at the office.
Alan, seated next to him on the couch, had a slightly different response. "Oh! I should've been taping it!"
Charlie turned to stare at his dad who shifted a little uncomfortably under his gaze. "What? I'm not saying it was the most flattering report ever, but come on. When was the last time you saw your brother on TV?"
The last time he'd seen his brother on TV, Don and his team were pinned down by gunfire in a shootout with bank robbers. But that probably wasn't the answer his dad was looking for. Fortunately, Charlie was saved from formulating a suitable response when the phone rang and Alan got up to answer it.
Charlie supposed he shouldn't be surprised. Alan was so proud of his sons that it sometimes colored his view of reality. Last year, Charlie had been invited to testify before a congressional subcommittee and it had been televised on C-SPAN. Upon reflection, even Charlie had to admit his testimony had been painfully boring, but his dad had lovingly recorded every moment on videotape.
Charlie idly plotted to find that tape and 'accidentally' record over his testimony with something better. He cheerfully mused over the myriad things that would qualify as more entertaining than his testimony: Golf? Bass fishing? An infomercial?
His thoughts were interrupted by Alan's excited cry from the kitchen. "Donnie! Yeah! Yeah, we just watched it. Nah, I forgot to tape it. Don't worry, I'm gonna call the TV station first thing tomorrow and see if they can send me a copy. They might. Well, they might. Oh, look who knows so much…" Alan wandered back to the family room with phone in hand as he searched for his reading glasses. "Yeah, well, I'm gonna look up the station's information right now and we'll just see who's right. Here – talk to your brother."
Alan shoved the phone at Charlie, muttering, "Kid thinks he knows everything."
"Hey, Don," Charlie greeted happily as he watched his father stalk off to his computer in a huff. He couldn't remember the last time someone had referred to Don as a 'kid' but it couldn't happen often enough in Charlie's book.
"Sorry about the news report," he offered sincerely. "That reporter is a real jerk."
"Ah, forget it," Don said. "Guy's just doing his job. It's not the first time the media's tried to make us look bad and it won't be the last. You can't take that stuff personally, you know?"
"I know," Charlie replied, but he couldn't help feeling guilty for unintentionally giving the reporter ammunition for his negative piece.
Don sighed loudly into the phone, allowing a little of his true feelings to surface. "Well, at least I looked okay, right?" he offered in a defeated tone.
Without waiting for Charlie to reply, Don switched to a new topic, teasing, "You should have heard Dad go on about your testimony on C-SPAN. 'He looks good, but the hair. They don't have barbers in Washington?'"
Charlie snickered and glanced over in the direction Alan had disappeared before whispering, "You don't remember what happened to that tape do you? I was thinking of accidentally taping over it with an old rerun of 'Seinfeld' or something."
"Forget it, buddy. That tape holds a place of honor in my home."
Charlie sat up straighter, surprised and touched by Don's words.
Don continued, "Yeah, that thing's better than any sleeping pill on the market. Five minutes and I'm out. Guaranteed."