A/N: In an attempt to continue with this work, I captured my muse when it returned to pick up a forgotten 'Hawaii' souvenir snow globe. I thought since virtual captivity worked so well in the past on the characters of Numb3rs, it might work on a muse. Agree? Disagree?
Chapter 3:
A week earlier:
"Charlie!" Megan exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Standing at the corner of Agent Reeves' cubicle, the young mathematician had a look on his face of combined worry and anger. "Megan," he said, his voice betraying his frustration. "Where is Don?"
Megan averted her gaze. Shuffling some papers on her desk, she said evasively, "He's not here right now, Charlie."
"I can see that!" Charlie grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it over. Sitting, he said in a low tone, "Megan, what's going on?"
Megan still didn't meet his eyes. "Nothing's going on, Charlie. You're imagining things."
Charlie sat back in the chair, his astonishment plain. "I never would have believed it of you."
This time Megan did look up. "What?"
"That you would lie to me," Charlie said. "Is it that bad?"
"You should have been a profiler," she muttered. Standing abruptly, she said, "Come on."
Charlie stood as well. "Where are we going?" he asked. When she didn't answer, he followed after her as she made her way through the labyrinth of cubicles to the interrogation room. Holding open the door, she motioned him to precede her. Upon entering, Charlie realized they weren't in the interrogation room itself, but the soundproof observation room adjacent.
Megan entered the small room at his heels and closed the door. Charlie turned to her. "Megan, what…?" he began. She cut him off.
"Charlie," she began and then stopped. Motioning to a chair, she sat down herself and waited until he was comfortable before continuing. "Charlie, there isn't an easy way to tell you this, but…"
He waited, anxiety growing, while she gathered her thoughts. "Don's not here," she said finally.
"Megan!"
"No, no wait," she said in a placating manner. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm not trying to tease you. I mean – Don isn't here." She looked at him sympathetically. "He's been gone for over a week."
Charlie felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomach. He whispered, "Over a week?" At her nod, he asked, "Where is he?"
"I don't know," she answered. "I haven't talked to him myself. Maybe David or Colby know."
Standing, Charlie said, "Let's go ask them. Now."
"Sit down, Charlie," she ordered. When he complied, she said, "I think there was something going on before Don left. I don't know what, but I got the impression that it wasn't good." Megan leaned forward and placed her hand over Charlie's. "You stay here, and I'll go see if I can find one of them." She left him to his thoughts, which weren't pleasant. Don had been missing for a long time. Charlie knew without more information to go on, any conclusions he drew from that would be – at best – incorrect. He decided to withhold judgement until he had a chance to listen to Agents Sinclair and Granger.
Five minutes passed and, just as he was becoming restless, Megan re-entered with David Sinclair. Nodding to her fellow agent, Megan addressed Charlie. "I have work to do. David will tell you what he can." Charlie thanked her as she departed.
David sat in Megan's chair. "What's up, Charlie?" he asked.
Charlie leaned closer. "David," he began, "You've worked with Don for a long time…"
The handsome agent nodded. "Almost two years," he agreed.
"You two are pretty good friends, right?" Again, David nodded. "Do you know where he is?" Charlie searched his face. David's expression became guarded. "David?"
"Charlie…" David shook his head and stood abruptly. Walking away from the young man, he thrust his hands into his pockets and faced the door. After a moment's silence, he turned.
Starting to fear for his absent brother, Charlie whispered, "David?"
"Charlie, I don't know how to tell you this," David replied quietly. "But… Don's been suspended pending an investigation into evidence tampering."