Thanks for the reviews! I thought I wouldn't be able to post this til tomorrow or Monday, but well...I worked extra hard for ya'll:) Let me know what you think:)
Chapter 2
Earlier that day
"Come on, Charlie," Don snapped at his younger brother. "I can't believe I let you waste this much time already." The pounding in Don's head was reaching a crescendo, and he was losing all patience with his younger brother. Even Charlie's attire served as an annoyance. The yellow dress shirt was wrinkled and hung open to reveal the blue pi t-shirt. Neither shirt was tucked into Charlie's rumpled khakis. He looked more like a student who forgot to do laundry than an esteemed mathematician. It didn't matter to Don that it was the week of finals; his brother's laid back attitude just served as another irritant on his already frayed nerves. "How much longer?"
"Sorry," Charlie mumbled. "It's almost done." He moved over to the printer and snatched up the pages as they printed out. "Here you go. I was able to cross check the murder sites with fast food robberies and..." He was cut off when his brother grabbed the sheets of paper.
"Charlie! I don't have time for this! I gotta go. Geez, next time, just fax the data over, okay?" Don grumbled while putting his jacket back on. He turned toward the door and almost ran into Amita.
"Hey, Don...Bye, Don?" Amita shot Charlie a concerned look when Agent Eppes left without saying a word to her.
"Don't take it personally. He spent the past half hour biting my head off." Charlie sighed. He knew the case was beginning to stress his brother, and he was worried Don was working himself toward a breakdown. He slumped in his chair trying to swallow down the feelings of hurt and concern.
"Hey, Charlie, did you get a car?" Amita stood next to him dangling a set of car keys from her hand.
"Great! Those are Don's; he must have left them." Charlie grabbed the keys out of her hand and sprinted for the door. He bounded out the door, down the concrete steps, and straight in to Don – sending his older brother sprawling backwards on the concrete. Charlie heard a thud when his brother's head came in contact with the rough walkway surface. Crap! Charlie's mind screamed at himself as he knelt next to his brother.
Momentarily stunned, Don's eyes blinked rapidly. He tried to shake the ringing in his ears away. Cursing at the sharp movement, he swallowed down the sudden rise of bile rushing up his throat. The ringing in his ears gave way to a whooshing pounding, and he couldn't make out what his brother was saying. He knew he was in danger of passing out, and it took every ounce of control he could dredge up to keep himself conscious. After several minutes of swallowing back the bile, his stomach finally calmed down enough that he could open his eyes without getting dizzy.
"Don, are you okay?" Charlie's eyes showed his concern, but they also held a hint of fear. Probably afraid I'm going to clock him a good one, Don thought sarcastically. The Nausea gone, anger now bubbled back to the surface, and he actually did think of shoving his brother over. Pushing that thought away, he started to get up.
"Don, I'm so sorry." Charlie offered his brother his hand.
"Dammit, Charlie! Why didn't you watch where you were going!" Don seethed through clenched teeth while rubbing the back of his head. He pushed Charlie's apology and helping hand away and got to his feet. "What do you want now?"
"Um.. You forgot these." Charlie held up the keys.
"Those aren't mine." Don held up his own keys. Shaking his head, he wobbled once more, and Charlie reached out to steady him. "Just leave me be, would you!" Don wrenched his arm away causing him to almost fall again. "I don't need your help!"
"Don, I'm s..."
"Yeah, yeah, you're sorry, I know. You're ALWAYS sorry." Don muttered rubbing the back of his head again. "I'm leaving now; don't follow me," he turned to head back to his truck He glanced over his shoulder to ensure Charlie wasn't trailing behind. Guilt briefly fluttered across his mind when he saw Charlie rooted in the same spot looking at something in the parking lot wearing a confused expression. He was about to say something to soften his earlier harshness when he noticed a look of horror cross over Charlie's features. He turned quickly to get a glimpse of what his brother was looking at, but instantly felt himself being flung toward the line of trees on his right.
Charlie watched his brother walk away, but his attention was diverted by a slow moving black Cadillac SUV. I wonder which Professor bought a new car? Shrugging his shoulders he was just about to head back to the building, when he caught a glimpse of silver metal aiming out the back passenger window of the Caddy. Running toward his brother, his heart beat wildly in his chest. Time needed to stand still, but to Charlie everything happened in the blink of his eye. Please, God, don't let me be too late! He ran fast, he ran hard, he ran with one goal in his mind. Charles Edward Eppes acted out of pure instinct he never knew he had, and when the screaming in his mind got too loud, he yelled out to his brother...
"Don! GET DOWN!"
