Chapter 7: Offer

Chaos erupted in Don's cluster of desks. Chairs squeaking as they were pulled back. Files and paper were flying as they searched for the correct bits of information. Fingers flying over keyboards. Charlie was mumbling incoherently about some theorem or another. Somehow, amidst all this confusion, Don managed to make himself heard.

"David, you're going after Peter Peach, anything you can find. Colby, you go with him, and see if you can find out if the missing persons have had any contact with her. Megan, prepare a file with all the details of this disappearance, and give it to Charlie as soon as possible."

Everyone scrambled about getting to their tasks, but not before Colby asked, "Peter Peach? How did you get him as a suspect?"

"Her, Colby. The agent, that the CIA planted, started to suspect after an incident over lunch," Don replied cautiously, this time avoiding eye contact with Alex, and Alex did the same.

That night, Don and Charlie were discussing the new developments of the case. It was fortunate that when Don had mentioned the CIA agent or "agent CIA planted" as he had described Alex, Charlie had been deep in thought and missed the answer.

When out of the blue, Alan said, "Tell us about your family Alex."

Don and Charlie immediately stopped talking, and a hush descended over the table, interest peaked, even after three days association, they didn't know anything about his background.

Alex put down his knife and fork, having finished a scrumptious dinner of roast beef and gravy. Alan was a wonderful cook.

"My parents died in a plane crash when I was a baby, and a couple of months ago, my uncle died in a car accident. Now I'm being looked after by Jack – my housekeeper and close friend," Alex answered truthfully.

There was another silence where the Eppes family took this in

"Sorry to here that Alex," Charlie said, and he meant it. He had, after all, lost his own mother not so long ago, and had coped with it by ignoring everything else and immersing himself into the world of numbers.

"I've adapted," Alex reassured them.

There was another pause, which was later, once again broken by Charlie.

"Let's play the angle game."

Alex complied, and so Don and Alan blocked them out, automatically, having experience this so many times before with Charlie.

Lunchtime again, the next day, Alex once again met up with Peter Peach, all seeming a coincidence. In the background, he could see David sitting at a table, supposedly reading a newspaper, but presumably watching them closely.

David looked up and caught Alex's eye, gave him a quick nod and returned to his paper.

"Hello Alex. This is my assistant Jane Munchie." Peach gestured to the rather grim looking woman, wearing thick-rimmed glasses, standing behind her.

"I have an offer for you," Peach was saying. "How would you like to study Chemistry with me?"

"That'd be great, but I still want to take Professor Eppes' classes," Alex replied.

"Oh well, you could possibly take the two lessons," Peach insisted.

"Yeah, sure Professor. I'll need to figure out a time with Professor Eppes," Alex agreed. "I'll get back to you asap."

"That's the best anyone can do." Peach was upset, and it showed.

Alex came to a stop in the doorway of Charlie's office. Charlie was scribbling, as usual, on his blackboards, still working on the dispersion equations, which was now obviously for the case at hand.

"What are the new equations?" Alex asked.

Charlie jumped and looked around.

"Oh I might as well tell you Alex," Charlie sighed. "Was never good at keeping secrets anyway, unless they had to be kept of course."

So Charlie explained the new equation, going so rapidly that Alex barely had time to register what Charlie had said. Alex gave a silent "thank you" to Mr Donovan, it was thanks to his maths teacher back at Brookland that he could follow the Professor.

After a minute of Charlie's talking, Megan walked into the office, bringing summons from Don to go to the Bureau, along with Alex.

Upon arriving at the Bureau in Megan's car, they headed straight to the clear window encased room. Don waited until the newcomers had seated themselves.

"Ok guys, Megan is going to brief you all on Peach. Putting together all the details that you guys have dug up. Alex, you should know this, as I understand that you were approached by Peach earlier today," he said, then sat down.

Megan stood up and took over.

"There isn't much we know about Peach's childhood. Her mother supported the family and her father was an alcoholic. She did very well in school and especially excelled in Chemistry, as you can see."

Megan showed the appropriated slide with Peach's results on the data projector screen.

When she went to college, she met Professor Medley, who was pleased with Peach's skills, and appointed himself her mentor. It was through him that she met Jane Munchie, who is now her lab assistant, and the two of them became firm friends. Nowadays Peach teaches as a highly esteemed Chemistry Professor at CalSci College."

Megan finished, and sat back down again.

Don stood up and readdressed the audience of Feds, his brother and Alex.

"So that's something new to add. We now have a suspect and in addition to what Megan has just presented, we know that Peach is shifty, acts friendly and is cold and calculating."

"I just met Jane Munchie, and she's probably in on it. Munchie was really weird," Alex spoke up.

All heads turned his way. The agents had forgotten about him throughout the speech. Alex started to feel conscious of himself, regretting that he had spoken up. Afraid that he had blown his cover, even if it was only within the Feds that were working the case.

Megan nodded, looking thoughtful.

"They were, are, best friends, and Peach's friendly manner would mean that Munchie would have been let in on it. Nice job Alex. We have a budding young agent seated amongst us," she said. Oblivious to the fact that she had hit uncomfortably close to home.

Don and Alex subconsciously made eye contact.

"Speaking of Munchie," Colby added. "I'm getting the munchies. Don dismiss us will you." Pulling out a packet of peanuts and munching on them.

"Dismissed," Don said, shaking his head.