Chapter 2
Colby was just heading for bed when he got the call. Another club fire. This was the third in as many months. LAPD had called them in after the second, and so far, all the clubs had in common was alcohol. The first had been a gay bar. The second, a strip club. He recognized the name of this one as one of the harder core, guaranteed a score places. Its clientele was mixed - bikers, metrosexuals, young, middle-aged - but they generally had one need in common. Their pockets were too full of money and their nasal passages too free of blow.
He was quickly in his car and on the way to the scene. He figured David would meet him on this one. Megan was on vacation, and Jim Terrace, the fourth team member since Eppes had abandoned them for an office, he was still a rookie. Colby pondered. Perhaps he should call Jim in, give the kid some field experience. He decided to wait and see how things were at the scene. Dispatch said the fire was under control, but not out. The body count stood at seven so far, but that could change - and they probably wouldn't be allowed in the actual bar until tomorrow. He might just bring the kid back with him then.
Colby could see the flames while he was still several blocks out. He had to park almost a block away, leaving room for the fire engines. Jogging up to the site, he saw that David had beat him to the scene and was talking to an LAPD officer. He joined them, nodding to David.
"...witnesses," the officer was saying. "We weren't sure if you would want to talk to them here, or take them all in with you, so we just corralled 'em all across the street in the diner. Got two officers with 'em"
"We'll talk to them here," said David. He looked at the still-burning club. "Can't do much else, right now"
An EMT started to push past them, then noted the uniform and stopped. "Got another witness for you back at the bus. His injuries aren't serious enough for transport. Cleaned up a cut on his cheek, and he may have aggravated a pre-existing injury, but he's going to his own doctor about that."
The officer nodded. "Send him on over to the diner with the others, then."
The EMT shook his head. "Could be a problem with that. Guy uses a cane, for the pre-existing injury. He got swept up in the crowd, and couldn't reach his cane coming out. He's lucky - went down, but someone behind him just scooped him up and pushed him out. Anyway, walking could be a problem."
Colby intervened. "Just point us to the bus. We'll start with him."
"Back behind that engine," said the EMT, pointing. "I've gotta take these supplies to my partner, up on the fireline."
"Go," said David, pulling a notebook from his pocket. "We've got this."
Colby had already started walking for the bus, and David followed. Once Colby rounded the fire engine, he stopped so abruptly that David slammed into his back. He protested. "What the…?"
Colby just stepped to the side a little so that David could see.
Seated in the open door of the ambulance, rubbing his knee and looking completely lost, was Charlie Eppes.
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Don and Cecile sat hand-in-hand on the couch in Charlie's living room, enjoying coffee. Alan had walked his date to her car. Don and Cecile had agreed to another double-date with Alan. This one was someone he had met in the produce aisle of the grocery.
Cecile suddenly giggled. "I think Alan's luck may have improved, somewhat."
Don smiled. "Well, at least there were no surprises. Just a nice dinner. She seems nice enough."
"Killer apple pie that she brought." Cecile spoke a little sadly.
"I'm sure Dad would give you another piece," Don teased.
"I'm sure too," agreed Cecile. "That's why I'm not asking. Since we've had so many meals over here, I'm having difficulty fitting in my uniforms."
Don leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I think your uniforms fit quite nicely," he said into her ear. He pulled back, saw her blush and pushed a little further. "Maybe I could talk you into wearing one tonight. Complete with stethoscope and nurse's cap?"
She blushed more deeply. "When I graduated nursing school 10 years ago, I'm sure they had no idea that there would come a time when caps were only worn for...during...because..." She was relieved when Don's cell sounded, and she could let the sentence die.
He was laughing when he pulled if off his belt and checked caller ID. Colby. In the second it took to bring the phone to his ear, he had time to hope his help was needed at a scene. His new position as Assistant Director had done wonders for his evenings and weekends, but he did miss field work. He sometimes filled in for vacationing agents, or got called in when a case reached a standstill, so he had reason to hope, in that second. Colby was dealing with both, right now.
"Eppes."
"Don, it's me."
"Yeah, Granger, what's up? Need my help at a scene?"
There was a slight hesitation. "Not...not as A.D., Don."
Don frowned in confusion. "Then what?"
"There was another club fire. Remy's. David and I are here."
"Remy's. I know the place. Are you sure this one is arson? From what I hear there's a lot of free-basing goes on in there...could be an accident."
"It's just now out, firefighters are still active. We're gonna have to wait for confirmation on that. We've got a diner full of witnesses to interview, too."
"Well, you're right, that's not usually the sort of thing an A.D. does, but I know you're missing Megan…"
"Don." Colby interrupted him. "It's not that. David and I can handle it, plus Jim is on his way."
"What is it, then?" Don was getting a little impatient.
Colby sighed. "We've got a witness, took his statement already, and he needs a ride home."
Now Don was really confused. "You want the Assitant Director of the LA office of the FBI to start a taxi service?"
His confusion was replaced with dread at Colby's next words."It's Charlie."
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Don stood back and watched him for a minute, before Charlie knew that he was there. He wanted to see how Charlie was before he started pretending to be fine. He also wanted to give his own heart time to stop pounding. Even though Colby had assured him that Charlie was fine, after the year his brother had experienced, Don knew that wasn't true, even before the fire.
Charlie had been helped to a squad car, and he sat in the back seat. The door stood open, and Don could see him almost absently rubbing his knee, and staring at the still smoking ruins of the club.
Don finally approached the car and squatted down in the door. "Sorry it took me so long," he said. "Took me a while to find your crutches in the garage. We'll get you another cane tomorrow."
Charlie dragged his eyes away from the bar and looked at Don. There was a small cut on one cheek, soot on his face and clothes. He wasn't hurt. Don kept telling himself that Charlie wasn't hurt. The squad car was parked under a street light, and Don could see enough in Charlie's eyes to know that what he was telling himself wasn't true. Charlie looked away, suddenly, as if he could read Don's thoughts. "Thank-you," he said, voice raspy from the smoke, and started to get out of the car. Don stopped him.
He leaned the crutches against the trunk. "Can you scoot over?"
Charlie hesitated, then did, a few feet. Don got in beside him and closed the door to cut off some of the noise. "Are you all right?"
Charlie sat in the dark. Don expected his brother to nod, but instead Charlie just looked out the side window and spoke almost dreamily. "I don't think so. Not for a while, now."
