Chapter 5
Don's assignment in Sacramento for a few days turned out to be ten days. He had not talked to either his dad or Charlie during this time. When he got back it was late, he met with the rest of the team, filled them in and they began to gather the notes on the case. It was an ongoing investigation in Sacramento and due to the size of corporate involvement other local offices were also sending agents.
When they finished up for the night Don had considered calling Charlie's house. But it was late so he left along with the rest of his team and headed home. It had been a while since he spent any real time at his apartment and it felt too quiet now.
Don went to the refrigerator for a beer and considered how much he really needed to talk to Charlie. He missed him and wanted to set things right. It had just gone on too long and he was the only one to blame for it. Don may never understand his younger brother when it came to how his mind worked but there were things about Charlie that he had gotten to know about very well over his life.
Charlie looked up to him and while sometimes that was humbling, quite often it got to be overwhelming and it was too much pressure especially during their earlier years. Charlie was much more than just his genius IQ. He was a great brother and as he had found out since his return to LA, a good friend. He was not the least bit deceitful or spiteful. The guilt that Don had felt since the physical encounter he and Charlie had in his classroom the last time he saw Charlie was weighing heavy on his very soul.
The way he had treat his brother was unforgivable. Don knew that usually during finals Charlie was busy and as he had brought up, it was even more so this time due to his Leave of Absence.
He lay down on his couch to sleep for a few hours. He planned to be at Charlie's house bright and early in the morning.
Don slept a little longer than he had intended to and called Charlie's house when he was making his coffee.
"Hi Dad."
"You know Donnie; I had to find out from Megan that my own son was out of town."
I'm really sorry about that Dad, I was on a case. How did the dinner go with Pauline's family?"
"Well, there were a few problems. The food was great and nothing major was broken is about all that I can say that is positive. Those grandchildren of hers are nothing short of little terrors and I seemed to be the only one all night correcting them. The oldest two actually started a food fight before I escorted them both out to the patio with their plates and told them that this is where the animals eat."
Don laughed as he pictured the look on the kid's faces at this comment.
"I also figured out why she seemed to think having this dinner here rather than her place was such a great idea."
"Sorry it did not go well Dad, it makes my trip to Sacramento seem more of a Godsend now though. Hey is Charlie around?"
"No, he left early this morning for the airport."
Don was disappointed. He had hoped to catch up with Charlie before he left. "You know Dad, all he told me was that he was going away for a while after school was out."
"I have to tell you he wasn't very open with information Donnie. He took a shuttle, said he didn't want a ride. Charlie and I have not talked every much over the past few months and that was mainly due to the fact that Charlie was busy with first the case and finals, then grading papers, tying up loose ends and packing. I was busy with work and of course spending time with Pauline."
Don accepted an invitation to dinner that evening with his dad. He then tried to call Charlie and was surprised to find that his cell phone service had been disconnected.
At dinner, Don tried to get information on Charlie. Alan could not tell him much.
"Donnie, this is pretty much all I know, Charlie set up a new bank account that would pay the household utilities. He had closed his bank accounts including credit accounts and opened new ones. He also had arranged with the dean to be gone for a year from teaching. He told me that if something urgent happened I could contact him through Director Thompkins with NSA and gave me a phone number for him."
"Why did Charlie disconnect his cell service?" Don asked
"I didn't know that he had, he didn't mention anything at all about his cell. His flight was one way to Washington DC and the only reason I know that is because I got a quick look at his itinerary after he printed it out. He said he would keep in touch."
Don was surprised by all of this. "When he said he was going away for a while, I was thinking that he would be taking an extended vacation. This sounds pretty long-term. Maybe even permanent."
"You know, when Charlie and I talked about this trip, I didn't notice that he wasnt really giving me any details. In retrospect, he was more than a little vague with answers. He did assure me that Director Thompkins didn't contact him regarding long term work on any case; it was Charlie himself that initiated the trip.
Don left that evening frustrated over all of the unanswered questions. He felt guilty that he had not made everything right between him and Charlie before he left. Don hoped for a chance to talk to him soon. He told Alan if he heard from Charlie to ask him to please call, day or night.
On the flight to Washington, Charlie thought about how much better his students had done on finals then they would have without the time he had spent with them individually. Chelsea had really surprised him. She must have studied non stop after their last tutoring session and her score of one of the highest. Mark, as Charlie had expected had received the highest score though. A success story that he would always count as one of his finest teaching memories.
Charlie took the time to consider his future; would he return to LA? He wasn't sure. He knew that Director Robert Thompkins of the NSA was the one that would be able to assist him. They were friends and Charlie knew Bob would have input as far as what Charlie wanted to do.
Charlie had considered what he had done over his life and while Math was his passion, the rest of his life had been put on the back burner. He wanted to make some changes to himself and that meant he needed to expand his world beyond math. He told himself he was doing this for him, but had to wonder if he was not also doing this as a way to be more of the brother that Don had wanted from him.
Yes, math was his life and passion, but there had always been things Charlie had enjoyed outside of math - he wanted to do more and he knew that with some work, he could do more. Charlie did not necessarily feel that he was hiding from anyone else as he felt more that he needed to Not be Dr. Charles Eppes to make the changes he wanted in his life. Bob had always told him that he was needed with the NSA on a full time basis.
Charlie had purposely cut ties with his father and Don by changing cell phone services and giving his dad as little information as he could get by with. Having a brother in the FBI would make it impossible to be untraceable, but all he really wanted was time and space away from home and most especially Don and he knew Bob would do what he could to assist him. Charlie had to smile to himself, if he had told Bob he wanted to hide out from his family, Bob would see that no one, not even the FBI, could find the slightest link to Dr. Charles Eppes.
On this trip he would be Dr. Charles Eppes, Mathematician and Consultant when he needed to be. But he intended to be Charlie Eppes, normal citizen as much as he could.
Robert Thompkins had mentioned that he would like Charlie to work on a new security system for the military bases in the United States. It was Charlie's idea that he relocate to Washington D.C. to work on this system now. It would give him the time away he needed so that he could make some decisions as well as it would be easier to learn the system already in place.
After his plane landed, Charlie took out his new phone and put in a call to Director Thompkins. The Director had said he would handle it when Charlie has inquired about an apartment in the area. Bob told him that he had plenty of room at his house for him and that he would love it if he stayed there. The young man was feeling a streak of independence he had not felt before and insisted that he wanted his own apartment and if it were possible he would like to be near hiking trails.
Bob gave him the address of the apartment that was rented for Charlie and the manager's name. He informed his young friend that the rental and utilities were all to be paid for by the NSA and was actually listed under a government name. The manager would not even be asking for Charlie's name or information. So much for the independent streak.
The highlight of the conversation being that he would be very close to a great park that had hiking and biking trails.
Charlie gave the address to the cab driver and watched the sites during the drive. He had been to Washington DC many times over the years of course but he had rarely paid attention to the scenery.
The cab pulled up in front of a large six story apartment building. Charlie had only brought two suitcases and his backpack containing his laptop. There was an agent waiting outside the building for him and gave him the key to the secured front door, along with a key to the apartment, number 602. Charlie thanked the agent and once through the security door, he took the elevator to the top floor.
Charlie was amazed as how spacious and completely furnished it was, right down to the toilet paper and even food in the pantry and veggies in the refrigerator. Somehow, this is not how he thought it worked in the real world. Oh well, there would be plenty of time to be independent eventually.
Charlie opened the drapes in front of the large living room window and he saw that he had an excellent view of that great park that Bob had mentioned. He chuckled to himself. It looked as though this rental was obtained with careful thought and planning rather than a quick phone call as Charlie has assumed. Bob really was a great friend to have.
Charlie unpacked his clothes, toiletry items and a few photos that he had brought with him. Before he headed back outside to catch a cab, he stopped and introduced himself to the apartment manager.
Aaron Dodds was a little surprised that the new resident from the sixth floor was here in the office. Usually the government rentals were rarely seen and never came in to talk. He liked Charlie Eppes' friendly smile and firm handshake. The tired looking young man with the long and rather windblown curls was here for information.
"I hear there are some good hiking trails in the park that I have the great view of. What else can you tell me about it?"
"Yes sir, the Rock Creek Park is famous for the hiking trails. There are also paved trails for biking or skating. The Park is one of the oldest in the country and most people are surprised to find a park of this size in DC itself."
"That's great; I look forward to exploring the trails. I plan to stay active during my free time while I am here."
"Then you will be interested to know that we have a rooftop pool, along with an indoor pool and a fitness room if you would like to work out. The equipment is all top of the line."
Bob had really gone all out here. "Thank you Aaron for your time and I will be sure to check those as well."
Charlie went out the front of the building and had planned to hail a cab, when a limo driver approached him. 'Bob, we really will be having a talk about my fast disappearing independence'.
"Dr. Eppes?" At Charlie's nod, the driver introduced himself. "Sir, I am Brian McMillen and I have been assigned as your driver for your stay here in DC."
"Brian, please call me Charlie and I will consent to your being my driver for today, but I do not intend to have a limo service for my stay here."
Brian opened the door and Charlie got into the back seat.