Chapter Eight: Abysmal Clarity
Don sat down and rubbed his forehead with the heel of his hand.
David gave him a cautious look.
"Don, do you……"
"Not now, David. I've managed to alienate just about everyone I know, I'd rather not move on to you next. I just need a few minutes okay?"
David turned and ushered Colby out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Don took a deep breath…in through the nose, out thru the mouth.
What are you doing Don? Charlie was holding it together better than you could. You pushed him and you deserved it. You tell him to act like a grown-up? You've managed to screw things up pretty good. Way to go Eppes! Charlie may never speak to you again and now Megan? You might as well bowl over David and Colby too while you're at it. Let's see how many other relationships you can destroy today.
"Agent Eppes?" You have a phone call."
A young woman had opened the door to the room interrupting Don's lament and earning her an intimidating glare.
"I'm sorry sir, but he says its urgent. He's on line two."
That's just great. Maybe Charlie did throw himself from the roof. Give me one more good reason to hate myself. Now dad won't have to speak to me again either.
Don sighed and reached for the phone.
"Eppes."
"Is this Special Agent Don Eppes of the FBI?"
"Speaking. Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes, in fact, I believe there is. I understand you are the one responsible for putting me out of business and putting my brother in the hospital."
Don froze. This was too good to be true.
Frantically he waved David back into the room and put the phone on speaker. He needed to confirm his suspicion.
"I've put a few people in the hospital this week, so you're going to need to be more specific."
"Diego Rica Sandoval is my brother. I was informed he was shot by Special Agent Don Eppes during his arrest."
David's eyes widened, he gave Don a nod and hurried back out of the room, grabbing a tech to start a trace on the call.
Don put a smile in his voice and continued.
"Well Good Afternoon! Assuming that I am speaking with Ramón Sandoval; then yes, you've called the right guy."
"You are the agent who shot my brother, yes?"
"Well, he did try to kill several federal agents with a rather unpleasant piece of firepower and he will recover from his injuries."
The line was silent. And then…
"Well, let's get to the point shall we Agent Eppes? I am extremely unhappy with the FBI at the moment and I would very much like to see you in particular die a slow and painful death. But being that you have my merchandise as well as my money, I've decided it might be more useful to have you alive."
Colby taped on the window and help up all five fingers.
He mouthed the words 'Five minutes – stretch it out'.
Don was starting to wonder where the conversation was going and he didn't think he was going to like it.
...just gotta keep him on the line for five more minutes, come on
guys…….get that trace!
"Well then, I suppose I should be grateful to you for not killing me?"
"Yes, you should be. Under normal circumstances, I would be forced to kill anyone responsible for harming Diego. But rather than kill you, I am prepared to negotiate with you for his release."
"Negotiate? As you pointed out, the FBI has your 'merchandise' and your money. I don't believe you have anything left to negotiate with."
Ramón laughed.
His reaction sent an unexpected chill down Don's spine.
"Well, Agent Eppes. That does depend on your point of view. See, I can get more cocaine and money is easy to come by. But some things are of a far greater value. I thought you of all people would understand pequeno hermano. I will give you time to consider my terms."
Don stared at the phone. The line was still hot.
Ramón was no longer there, but he hadn't disconnected the call.
"Do you have the trace?"
The tech looked up from his computer as Don walked into the bull pen.
"It's coming."
David gave him a puzzled look.
"What was all that supposed to mean?"
Don played the conversation back in his mind, his brow furrowed intently. Then the meaning behind Ramón's more cryptic comments hit him…...hard.
"….I would understand pequeno hermano."
Then everything seemed to happen at once.
The tech at the computer called out "It's coming up now!"
Don leaned across the desk to see the screen.
The tech muttered the phrase under his breath trying to recall basic Spanish.
"Pequeno? That's smaller...or little?
And…hermano….brother? Little Brothers?"
Before Colby or David could get around the desk, Don had hit the stairs at a full run.
Colby looked at the screen.
"Oh. Shit."
"Colby, Where?"
"David, it's the payphone outside the Math building at CalSci."
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Next Chapter: Relentless Uncertainty
