I do not own the Numb3ers characters
Chapter 34
For as long as he lived Don would remember the shock that he felt when that small handgun appeared in the hand of his brother and was pointed right at him. His reaction was born of instinct. Even his left hand knew what to do without orders from his brain. He reacted and pulled out his gun. It was the sound of his partner doing the same thing though that brought Don out of his shocked state.
Someone that did not know Charlie, that didn't know that Charlie didn't have it in him to shoot, was holding a gun on his brother. His natural instinct to protect Charlie would have won out no matter what Charlie's next move. But Derek was a whole other story.
Don was not willing to bet Charlie's life that Derek would not shoot him. At the same time that they both yelled "Drop it", Don shifted his body into his partner's arm to get his aim away from his brother. It was just seconds later that the gun in Charlie's hand fell to the ground along with a very small cell phone and bounced off the grass.
It took Don's mind a minute to take in what had just happened. Charlie was the most shocked of all. His eyes were big and round and his mouth was hanging open in disbelief. He was staring at the gun. It was clear that he didn't even know he had had it in his hand. It was also clear that the phone call was Charlie's intention since he could now hear a frantic voice on the other end. Don breathed a heavy sigh, put his gun away, closed his eyes and wandered how in the world Charlie had managed to live twenty seven years with the luck that he had.
He picked up the now silent phone and the gun and followed his partner who was escorting Charlie and Agent Pitts to the SUV. Derek must have seen the same look and knew that Charlie had not meant to point that gun at them because he was now speaking to Charlie in a soft voice that Don could just barely hear. Charlie looked to still be in shock as Derek held the front passenger door for him. Jeff was placed in the back seat and Don was sitting next to him.
The quiet ride gave Charlie time to work out in his head what had almost happened. How could he have been so stupid? Calling Bob was needed. Forgetting about that gun was stupid. Charlie pictured himself as the subject of a circulated email that tells the details of a criminal's stupid actions. No doubt the fact that he had been labeled as a genius early in life would make for some humor.
Maybe it was better to give the story to the FBI, hiding it at this point wouldn't make any difference. There were too many disks out there now. The quiet was interrupted by a call. Don and Derek had been ordered to stop the vehicle now and release its NSA occupants.
Charlie could hear Don from the back seat. "What? We can't just let them go." But the orders were clear. They were to stop the vehicle immediately and let them out.
Derek pulled the SUV over to the curb and turned off the engine. He looked at Charlie. "That's some connection you have. We're not even allowed to ask you anything beyond your name and I do believe my partner already knows that. You both are free to go."
Jeff wasted no time in getting out. Charlie was reaching for the door handle to do the same when Don spoke up.
"Not so fast Charlie. Derek, let's take him back to the apartment building."
Derek was hesitant. "Those aren't our orders. Let them out now was the exact order."
"I'll take full responsibility, but I want him dropped off at the apartment."
Charlie looked back at Don. "That's okay Don, I can get out here. It's only another three blocks to the NSA building."
"Derek, drive," was Don's response.
When Derek stopped the SUV in front of the apartment building, Charlie got out and Don got out to speak to him. "You stay in the apartment Charlie. I'll be back in just a little while and we are going to talk." They waited until Charlie was inside the building and they drove away.
Charlie stood inside the building trying to decide what to do. Wait for Don was not his favorite option. He couldn't call Bob because Don never gave him back the cell phone and Charlie didn't even know the number to call.
Having made his decision, Charlie walked out the front door and headed toward his car.
They had only driven a block when Don told Derek to take him back. After they were again back to the apartment building Don told Derek to give him twenty minutes and then come back for him. Just after Derek drove away, Don could see Charlie's car backing out of this parking space. He should have known that Charlie had no intention of doing what he was told.
Don felt his anger rise and jogged to the driveway for the parking lot. He stepped in front of the oncoming car much to the surprise of his brother. Charlie slammed on the brakes and looked at Don like he was a lunatic. Don walked from the front of the car to the passenger door. By this time Charlie had noted that Don was in a foul mood. Charlie debated flooring it and leaving his brother standing in the parking lot. But Don stopped that idea cold when he said "Don't you move Charlie."
The second Don had the door opened Charlie yelled. "Are you crazy? I could have run you over." Don's own angry was barely being contained. He did not want to get into a screaming match with his brother.
"Then you should have stayed in the apartment like I told you to do and this wouldn't have happened."
Charlie's grip on the steering wheel was tight. "I'm not a little kid; I don't have to do what you tell me to do."
Don yelled at Charlie. "Then stop acting like one. Running away every time something goes wrong is childish Charlie."
Don immediately regretted his words when he saw the stricken look on his brother's face. "I'm really sorry Buddy. That was a low blow and I didn't mean it."
Charlie still had his foot on the brake. He crossed his arms over the steering wheel and leaned his head on them. In a very calm and controlled voice that was not at all how he was feeling inside he said. "Don, please get out of the car. I have someplace I need to be."
Don acted like he hadn't heard his brother speak. "Tell me about the disk Charlie."
"I can't."
"You can't? That's it? You can't? What are you hiding?"
Charlie took his foot off the brake. "Fine."
Charlie pulled out of the parking lot and decided that the only way to get Don out of the car so that he could get back up to the cabin was tell him about the disk.
"Someone put that disk in my sports bag last week."
"Last week? You mean you knew about the hit list?"
"No, it was put in there sometime after I got to the training class on Thursday. That was the day I hurt my leg. But I didn't find it until Monday. Sometime between when we left for the run and when you and Dad picked up my bag, someone slipped that disk in there. But I never even opened the bag until you and I were standing in the kitchen Monday morning just before I left. Remember I put the disk on the counter and asked that you take it to the bedroom?"
Don nodded but Charlie was not looking at him.
"The first time I even saw what was on the disk was Monday evening. It was soon after the news report about the judge. I walked in the bedroom and saw it laying there. The program was done and I wanted to find out what I had put on it."
"I saw the hit list and I saw that Bob was the next name so I went to see Bob. I had to keep him safe and he is safe now."
"Charlie, the whole thing just doesn't make sense."
"But, it's true."
"Why is your name on that list of the people involved?"
"I don't know why it's on the copy that you received, but I can promise you that it was not on the disk that I was given. I would never be involved in a conspiracy Don and I certainly would not have anything to do with a hit list. Jeff said someone set him up and I think that's what is happening with me too."
"Why? Why would someone set you up? I can't see how anyone would benefit from that. If you'd already forewarned the Director, there was no point in trying to convince the NSA that you were involved. Why they wanted the FBI to think that I cannot even imagine. I haven't been here long enough for anyone to know we're related so it can't be because I was working on the case. Now, how about you tell why someone would set you up?"
"I already said I don't know." Charlie looked into Don's eyes. "Do you think I would be involved with something like that?"
"No, I don't Charlie." Don saw the relief in Charlie's eyes. "Tell me what the NSA is doing about the disk."
"We're digging through old records to try and find some link with the Judge and the Senator. The answer must be in the old files."
"Makes sense. But that's going to take some time."
"Time that you are wasting, if you don't get out of the car." Don looked out the window and sure enough Charlie had circled back to the apartment building. "Okay Charlie, I'm going to have to trust you and trust the Director to keep you safe. You call me if you find something and need help." Don opened the door. "Be careful Buddy. Don't take any chances."
"I'll be careful."
Don entered the building at the same time that a man he had never seen was rushing toward the door. The man stopped and asked Don, "Where's Dr. Eppes?"
"What do you need with my brother?"
"Director Thompkins wants him taken to a secure location now."
"He just dropped me off and said that he was going to be working with some old NSA files today."
"Come on, let's go. I know where he went. I'm Jason Drake and I have been assigned to keep Dr. Eppes safe."
Don stood and looked at Jason "Well, you're doing a fine job of it."
"I could see him very well when he was in the park. It's when two FBI agents hauled him away that I lost sight."
Don followed Jason around the building to the back and they both got into the SUV. Agent Drake pulled out of the lot with tires squealing.
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Derek has just walked from the diner into the parking lot. He would pick up his partner and drive back the office. The cell phone that Don had taken from his brother was lying on the backseat and when it rang he picked it up.
After he said Hello, a voice that was clearly panicked asked, "Where's Charlie?"
"He's at his apartment building with his brother. Who is this?"
"This is Director Robert Thompkins of the NSA and Charlie is not in his apartment and now he appears to be without his phone. Charlie's life is at stake. Who is this?"
"Derek Collins, FBI sir."
"Agent Collins, this is an FBI case and I need you to find and help protect Charles Eppes, next intended victim of the DC killer."