Disclaimer: I do not own Numb3rs or the characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The math in this story is from Wikipedia.
A/N: This chapter includes an original character, Jack Gibsen.
Chapter 3"Velocity is a vector measurement of both the rate and direction of motion," Charlie explained as he looked down from the same balcony Don and his accomplices had stood on not long ago.
Stepping back from the railing, Charlie silently berated himself for how easily he'd been defeated. Don must have known he had Charlie hooked the moment they heard Colby's definition of velocity. For Charlie, hearing someone use a mathematical term incorrectly had always been like an irresistible itch. And Don knew how to get him to scratch.
Colby looked at him blankly. "Uh-huh."
Charlie sighed and tried again. "The velocity of an object is its speed and its direction."
"In other words, how fast something's moving. So, I was right," Colby said in a pleased voice.
Charlie waffled his hand in a so-so gesture. "Sort of. But both speed and direction are required to define velocity. Think of an airplane. An airplane that's circling the runway waiting to land is changing its velocity because it's continuously changing its direction. Even though its speed remains the same. Conversely, an airplane taking off in a straight line is also changing its velocity as it picks up speed."
"So, what does that have to do with water balloons?" Colby asked.
"Well…" Looking down at the wet pavement below, he explained, "The first water balloon thrown at Amita and me landed just behind us. That's because the person throwing it failed to account for both the direction we were headed and the speed. By the time the water balloon landed, we were already a step ahead."
"Wait, they tried to get you too?"
Charlie turned around and showed him the back of his pants, which were wet below the knees.
Colby smiled, clearly delighted to discover he hadn't been their only victim. "Huh. Funny they didn't have that problem when I was the target."
Charlie cleared his throat. "Yes, well, I believe they managed to discover their error and correct it by the time you came along."
Colby looked slightly irritated and went back to their original topic. "So, what you're saying is, we have to lead the target a little."
Charlie nodded excitedly. "Yes, that's exactly it. By the time the balloon reaches the ground, the person will have entered that same space."
"No problem," Colby shrugged. "We do that all the time. That's how you aim for a moving target. Especially over a distance, like with a rifle."
Charlie found it slightly chilling to hear him describe shooting another human being so casually. Of course, it did explain why Don was so familiar with the concept of velocity.
Choosing not to dwell on that thought any further, he changed the subject. "So, who is our intended victim?" Charlie immediately winced at his own poor choice of words, but Colby didn't seem to notice.
"Ah… it's this agent, Jack Gibsen. Guy just really rubs me the wrong way, you know?"
Charlie froze. He suddenly realized the other reason Don had sent him out here on the balcony. It wasn't just to help Colby with his aim. It was because if anybody hated Jack more than Colby, it was Charlie.
Most of the agents in Don's office accepted Charlie's involvement in various cases. Even those who initially questioned it had been won over by the results. But Jack still saw Charlie as interloper and took every opportunity to shut him out.
The worst had been a few weeks ago right after a bust. Waiting in a van nearby, Charlie had overheard Don's name mentioned in the same breath as 'ambulance requested' and feared the worst. Rushing to the scene, Charlie had been stopped by Jack. Charlie had argued that he just wanted to find his brother and that he had clearance to access the scene once it had been secured. Jack ignored him and ordered the officers controlling the crowd not to let him through under any circumstances. Charlie had to wait a long twenty minutes before Don finally found him. Don was fine – he'd been the one requesting the ambulance for one of the men captured in the raid. Jack had just let Charlie sweat because he didn't think Charlie had any business being there in the first place.
Charlie shook off his musings and tried to focus on what Colby was saying. "I mean, the new guy's always in for a little hazing. I can accept that. But Jack takes it to a whole other level. Anyway, Don said he'd be here any minute."
Still a little annoyed at his brother, Charlie asked suspiciously, "And how does he know that? Because he told him to come here?"
Colby shook his head. "Nah. Apparently, he's supposed to drop off some files today." With a grin, he added, "Of course, Don did ask him to call when he's getting close. Said he didn't want to miss him."
Charlie shook his head and laughed. Deciding this was a cause he could get behind, he rubbed his hands together in anticipation and scanned the sidewalk below.
After a couple of minutes, Colby exclaimed, "There! I see him."
Looking in the direction Colby was pointing, Charlie spotted Jack climbing out of the passenger side of a car. He bent down to say something to the driver, and then turned and walked toward the building as the car pulled away from the curb.
Charlie turned and grabbed a couple of balloons out of the large bucket at their feet. He chuckled at their odd shape. "Whose idea was it to use latex gloves for balloons?"
Colby grinned back at him over his shoulder. "Don's."
"Hey, Jack!" Colby shouted. "Hope you brought your umbrella!"
Jack looked up, which was exactly what Colby was waiting for. The first balloon he threw fell short, but the next one caught him mid-chest. Charlie threw two balloons, managing to hit his target both times.
Leaning over the railing, Charlie laughed and waved as Jack glared up before darting into the building.
"So, what do we do now?" he asked as he turned to look at Colby.
But Colby wasn't there. As he looked around the balcony, Charlie realized he was alone. Colby was gone. And so was the bucket of remaining water balloons.
TBC