Charlie's POV

Saturday afternoon I forced myself to go down to the FBI headquarters and go in for questioning with Megan and Colby. I wasn't looking forward to it in the least and I went over in my head what I would and what I wouldn't tell them.

I didn't warn Don ahead of time because the decision was rather abrupt. I wasn't even sure I'd be able to go through with it. Somehow, though, I was able to make it to the offices without turning back. I had been in no hurry, though.

When I stepped out of the elevators, I felt myself begin to shake. I was scared of what I'd tell them, what they'd want to know. I knew that Megan and Colby wouldn't pull a good-cop-bad-cop on me since they knew me so well. I just didn't want Don to know everything that went on. I couldn't out-and-out lie to them, though.

Don looked up from his desk when I stood at the doorway to his office. He smiled when he saw me.

"Hey, Buddy. What are you doing here?" He asked as he stood.

"I... I thought we could do the questioning today?"

"Oh. Right, right, right. Yeah. Let's go see if Megan and Colby are busy."

Don placed a hand on my back as he led me toward Megan and Colby's desks.

They were both reading something when we came up.

"Hey, guys. You got a minute?" Don asked.

They looked up and when they saw me, they looked at each other for a second, then back to me once more.

"Sure," Megan said.

I stood out of the way as they prepared the interrogation room. Don kept glancing my way nervously. I hoped he didn't think I'd have a panic attack because of this.

I breathed deeply, trying to calm my nerves.

"Ready?" Don asked when they were ready.

I nodded and walked past him and into the room.

I sat down at the head of the table. Megan and Colby stood in front of me. Colby chose to lean against the table and Megan leaned against the wall.

"So, how do you want to do this? You want us to ask questions or do you just want to talk?" Megan asked. I was grateful that they gave me an option, though I didn't want any special treatment just because we're friends.

"I'll talk. You can ask questions if you have any."

"Okay. How about you start, and no pun intended, at the scene of the crime?" Colby suggested.

I took a deep breath, then began my statement.

Don's POV

I watched Charlie intently. I hated the fact that I was using my FBI skills to determine what he was thinking, when he was telling the truth, why he was nervous. I hoped he'd understand.

He took a deep breath and I could see his hands tremble. I knew he was nervous, and, to be honest, I was nervous for him. I knew he had done nothing wrong, but it gets pretty rough when people keep hounding you for answers. I prayed that Megan and Colby wouldn't do that to him.

"I went with you all to the crime scene to gather more data. I hadn't been there long when I realized that Waits must be close. It had to have been an accident. All the other murders, when they were called in, it was as though they were planned. This one wasn't. I went over to tell Don what I suspected, but he was too busy with questioning the witness who called it in."

I felt a pang of guilt. I should have listened to him!

"When I knew he was too busy, I found Megan," he nodded toward her, "but she too had a job to do and I couldn't interfere."

I looked at Megan through the one-way wall. I could see she was feeling the same guilt as me.

"I went back to the van to wait on everyone and to stay out of the way. Don and the witness were the only ones around when I heard someone from behind me say, 'Move an inch and you're dead.' I froze where I was. Then the voice said, 'Back away from the van slowly.' So I did. When I got to the edge of the van, I was pulled from behind. He put his hand over my mouth to keep me from screaming. He had a gun on me and he told me it was loaded. I went limp with fear, so he dragged me away.

He took me over to his car and when I tried to run away, he hit me on the head with the barrel of the gun. It was a fairly quiet ride."

I saw a look pass through him. Something wasn't right. Had he left something out?

"He asked me... he asked me if I had a brother. I told him I didn't and he hit me. He knew that Don was my brother. Then he asked if I had any other immediate family members. I told him no and he hit me again. I told him that I had a father who was still alive.

He told me... he told me about his brother. From what I got out of it, he killed him. His name was Todd."

Todd? Todd Waits? That name sounded familiar. Waits had to have gotten away with the murder of his brother.

"We were driving along the left hand lane when someone pulled in front of us. I suspected he was driving on that side so I wouldn't jump. We were going at least twenty miles over the speed limit. He knew we'd have to go faster, so he pulled into the right hand l lane to pass the guy who got in front of us. When he did, I jumped out of the car."

I gasped. He had to have been going at least eighty miles per hour!

"I knew he'd come after me, so I ran. I ran as fast as I could to get away from him. I ran deep into the woods, every now and then I'd stop and hide, but the adrenaline was pumping, forcing me to go farther. I was hiding behind a tree when he came up behind me and grabbed me. I kicked out against him, but I heard a gun cock, so I froze. He pulled me and we went a few feet when he suddenly let go of me. I fell to the ground and he kicked me in the head and I passed out."

There was that look again. He wasn't telling us everything. He was leaving something out. But what?

"When I regained consciousness, he was still dragging me along. I knew I had to escape, so I hit him in the stomach and once in the back of the head. Then I ran. I heard him shooting from behind me, but it didn't stop me. I knew I had to get away. I ran fast and hard, trying to put as much space between us as possible. I was hiding in a ditch when I heard someone screaming my name. I ran, trying to get away, even though I knew the voice wasn't Waits'. I was grabbed from behind. I tried to fight who grabbed me, but then I was turned around and I found that it was Don who had me." He smiled shakily. "And that's that."

They were silent for a few minutes, then Colby spoke.

"Did he hurt you besides hitting you with the gun, kicking you in the head, and hitting you in the car?"

"No."

"Did he threaten you?" Megan asked.

"Except with the gun, no." He was hiding something. I could see it on his face.

Megan and Colby exchanged glances.

"I think that's it then," Megan concluded.

Charlie sighed with relief.

"Thanks, guys."

"You did good, Charlie."

Charlie stood and walked out of the room.

I went out, too.

"Hey, Charlie. Good job, man," I told him.

"Thanks."

"Where you heading now?"

"I think I'm going down to CalSci. I need to work on a few things."

"Okay. I'll see you at home, okay?"

"Sure."

I patted him on the shoulder. Something was definitely amiss, but I knew if Charlie didn't tell Megan and Colby, he wouldn't be ready to tell me.

Charlie's POV

I went to my office and began work on next week's classes. I had fallen behind in my work.

I rubbed my shoulder. I had finally been able to take it out of the sling, but it ached after working it so hard from my bike. I knew Dad would have gladly driven me, but I'd hate to be such a bother to him.

I was working at one of the chalkboards when someone knocked on my door.

I turned to find a man I didn't know standing in the doorway.

"May I help you?" I asked.

He smiled. I knew whoever this was he wasn't someone I wanted to be alone in my office with, but there was no escape.

"No, no. I'm just here to deliver a message."

He held out an envelope to me.

I took it and opened it as he stood back and watched me.

Well, Eppes. It seems our story doesn't end yet. I hope you haven't forgotten about me.

I want you to help me soon. I don't know when yet, but when I do, you'll be the first to know. Don't bother contacting the FBI or police. Don't tell anyone that I've written you or your family will pay. You'd better not tell your big brother either. He can't save you this time.

Don't think I won't know if you do. My friend Jake will be watching you and your family. One false move and he'll make sure your brother and father suffer.

Look at the picture and the message behind it. I'm sure you'll like it.

Carl Waits.

I felt myself begin to shake uncontrollably.

I looked up and who I assumed was Jake handed me a picture.

I gasped at the sight. It was one of the murders, but this one I hadn't seen before. The blood was everywhere. Burn marks covered the body and I could see something spilling from the body's head. I gagged when I realized it was part of his head and that was his brain I was looking at.

I turned the picture over, reluctantly, and saw the message.

This'll be what happens to your brother and father if you don't help me.

I gasped. No! This couldn't be happening! I was safe now. This has to be a nightmare.

Jake smiled at my discomfort. He walked toward the door, but then turned back.

"Oh, I almost forgot. There was one more message for you."

I stood staring at him, fearing what this next message was.

He swung his fist hard at my head, connecting with the side of my face. I stumbled backwards and into the chalkboard.

Jake laughed. Then he moved to the door. He turned at the doorway.

"Tell your father he missed a spot by the mailbox when he was mowing."

When Jake left the room, I rushed forward and grabbed a waste basket and emptied my stomach.

When I was done, I decided I had to get home.

I peddled quickly and when I got into the driveway, I left my bike outside.

I looked over at the mailed box and saw a patch of grass that hadn't been mowed.

Oh, God.