Chapter Seven: Unexpected Apathy
Megan hung up her phone and looked at Don from across the room. He met her eyes and she shook her head. No deal. There was very little the AUSA couldn't charge Diego Sandoval with right now including assaulting a federal officer with intent to kill. And that almost qualified as a minor charge. Add conspiracy to import and distribute illegal narcotics and they had enough on this guy to send him to prison for a very long time. They had tried to offer him deal after deal for information on his older brother, but Diego was standing mute. He wouldn't even verbally acknowledge that he had a brother.
Nope. No Deal.
She started for the center room where Don and David were working, but stopped when she saw Don slam his hand into the clean white board at the end of the room. That board should be covered right now. Colby noticed her expression and followed her line of vision.
"What do you think our chances are of getting Charlie back in here to help with this?"
"Absolutely nil, Colby. I don't think Don's gonna budge on this one."
"He's really not having a good week is he?"
"Nope."
"I wonder what poor soul decided to pick a fight with him while all this is going on."
Megan gave an expressive sigh and decided to share her suspicions.
"Well, the suspect is about 5'8", with dark curly hair and great big brown puppy dog eyes."
Colby understood her reference immediately.
"You mean Charlie?"
His disbelief was instantaneously replaced with concern.
"You don't suppose Don would have……"
Megan interrupted his question.
"His knuckles are clean. No scrapes, bruises or abrasions. So no, I don't think he hit him back."
Colby looked relieved, then grinned.
"Well, why the hell not? My brothers and I used to beat the crap out of each other all the time."
"Because Colby, respectable FBI agents try to avoid beating the crap out of mild mannered college professors."
She paused, serious again.
"But I've never seen Don like this before. Do you think I should try to get him to talk about it?"
"Bad idea. Sibling rivalry is nothing to laugh at. But if the opportunity comes up…I guess it couldn't hurt."
Colby stared across the room at the blank white board.
" 'Cause we really need Charlie back."
………………………………
When Megan and Colby walked into the conference room, Don was pacing the floor.
"Any luck in here?"
David glanced up from the table where they had file folders and pictures spread out across its surface.
"Well, we know these guys are brutal. They collect their debts swiftly and efficiently and if you can't pay up……"
He handed her a photo of something that had, perhaps once looked human, but had been beaten beyond recognition.
Megan made a face and passed the picture to Colby.
Don walked over and picked up the top folder.
"They took over the family business when Papa passed on. Their name started showing up as west coast players about two years ago. The NCIC database lists them as suspects in an organized crime ring. There were some indications that they had become involved in smuggling narcotics, but we've had little more than vague suspicions as to their level of involvement. Until this. It looks like Diego had talked his older brother into investing everything in this run. And we took them out.
The whole Sandoval family fortune is sitting in evidence right now. We got the drugs off the street, but we can't close this case. Ramón mostly stays out of the country, but with Diego in lock-up, there's a good chance he'll show up. Since Diego's arrest; we have been able to associate him with four homicides in Los Angeles County alone. Up until now they had both managed to avoid close run-ins with any branch of law enforcement. But with DNA evidence and fingerprints, we've got enough to put junior in a federal pen for the rest of his miserable life. He won't deal, so we are going to have to find Ramón on our own."
Don taped an old picture of Ramón Sandoval next to Diego's brand new mug shots and fingerprints, courtesy of the FBI.
Side by side, the two brothers looked nothing alike. Ramón was a much taller, much larger man who had a decent number of years on his twenty-something brother. But they both had the same eyes. They were the eyes of a killer.
Megan's cell phone rang interrupting the concentrated silence in the room.
"Reeves."
She gave her co-workers an apologetic smile.
"Oh, Larry."
"What?"
"When?"
"And did he…"
"Yeah, Okay."
Don glanced up at her. From the one sided conversation he knew where this was going to lead.
Megan looked worried.
"Um, Don? Larry thinks he may need some help with Charlie. He was really upset this morning and then he started working on a new equation. Now he's locked himself in his office and he won't come to the door or answer his phone…."
She paused, looking at Don. His eyes had narrowed, but his overall expression showed no emotion.
"Larry could hear him knocking his blackboards around and throwing things. He's pretty sure he heard glass breaking. That isn't like Charlie. Don will you…."
He didn't let her finish.
"If Charlie wanted me around, he would call me. I'm his brother, Megan. Not his custodian. If he wants to get pissy and trash his office that's his choice and its not my problem."
"But Don, Larry thinks he might hurt….."
"I really am not interested in what Larry thinks he might do."
"You don't care?"
"NO! I really don't."
Megan had always admired and respected Don. But she was appalled at his tactless attitude toward the credible suspicion that Charlie might injure himself.
Never being one to back down, Megan continued her confrontation.
"So you really won't care if your brother decides to throw himself off the roof of the CalSci Math building because you are a stubborn jackass?"
Don shot to his feet, knocking his chair to the floor.
"You don't know what this is about, Agent Reeves. I think you need to spend less time worrying about my family and a little more time worrying about your job."
"Why Don? Are you going to have me fired for being concerned? We care about him! He's a member of this team!"
"NO! HE'S MY BROTHER!"
"You wouldn't know it from the way your acting."
"That's enough!"
David stood between them putting his hand on Don's shoulder.
But Don continued.
"Are you trying to get yourself suspended, Agent Reeves?"
"Yes, Agent Eppes. I am. Because if I don't leave now, you're gonna end up with a black eye to match your lip."
Don slammed his fist on the table.
"Fine, then. Consider your suspension pending."
"Effective right now, Agent Eppes?"
Megan's voice was steady and cold.
"Yeah."
"Good – I could use the break."
Megan turned on her heel and marched out the door. Every eye in the bull pen followed her all the way to the elevator.
………………………………
Authors note: I am taking for granted that Colby has brothers. He seems the type. I'm also working under the assumption that Don has the authority to suspend a member of his team.
Next Chapter: Abysmal Clarity
The only thing worse than fighting with your brother is knowing that you may never have the chance to say you're sorry. Please continue to comment! I'd like to know if your still with me! If I lose anyone I'd like to know where! THANKS!
