"Will you be okay for a minute, buddy?" He asked quietly. Charlie nodded mutely as he sat down, his gaze focused on the wall opposite him. Don slipped quietly to his desk and sent a quick e-mail to the FBI office in Albuquerque, requesting all files of the cases he had worked while he had been down there be sent to Los Angeles as quickly as possible. Don grimaced as he thought of the sheer number of files that was going to be.
"What happened down there? What?" When no answer was provided, he sighed as he shut off his computer at the same time that Colby and Megan came in the door.
"Don? You want me to question Charlie? Or should I find another agent?" Asked Megan. Don shook his head and looked at Megan with a wan smile.
"You go ahead." Megan nodded and headed down the hall toward Charlie.
"Did you find anything out from the neighbors, Colby?" Colby took a seat near Don to give his report.
"Questioned the neighbors on your street and two streets either direction. No one heard or saw anything out of the ordinary tonight." Don sighed and looked at Colby.
"Which means that our best source of information is Charlie?" He asked, not expecting a reply.
"No, Don. You and Charlie. Let us focus on Charlie and the crime scene."
"And I'll focus on the only other lead we have."
"Albuquerque. That is your focus, kay boss?" Don smiled and nodded.
"You gonna watch Megan." It wasn't phrased to be a question. Colby disappeared down the hall afer Megan. Don sighed and turned his attention back to his computer as he turned it on. It beeped, alerting him to new email. He quickly logged on and checked it. It was a message from the FBI office in New Mexico, stating that they were pulling the requested files and would have them on the way to Los Angeles within two days.
"At least something's going right today, then," Don muttered to himself, glancing at his watch. Almost four in the morning. Time had passed quickly and Don felt the exhaustion beginning to creep it. He stood and headed for a desperately needed cup of coffee.
Down the hall in the room that Charlie was sitting in, Megan and Colby quietly enetered. Charlie was still staring at teh wall, but turned when the two agents entered. Meghan took the chair directly in front of Charlie, while Colby sat next to Charlie.
"Charlie, I need you to tell us what happened tonight." Charlie drew in a deep breath and nodded. He closed his eyes briefly thinking.
"I had a meeting with a student tonight-he was from my math for non-math majors class. Donald Healy. I went over some review concepts with him, then left for home. It was about five thirty when I got home. Dad, dad was reading and I went out to the garage.." Charlie broke off and looked down.
"It's o.k. Charlie. Take your time-don't force the memories." Charlie smiled shakily at Megan then continued.
"I-I was working on some equations, for about an hour I guess, I didn't even hear anything until someone grabbed me from behind and forced me to the floor.I was tied up and gagged. The man was big and had a nylon sort of mask over his face, so I couldn't see it. He led me out of the garage and the other guy was there waiting, and said, said..." Charlie's voice shook as he remembered.
"What did the other guy look like, Charlie?"
"About as tall as me, I didn't see his face. It was masked like the other one and he kept in the shadows. He said that they had dad and had left a message on the table for Agent Eppes-Don."
"Which name did they use, Charlie? Agent Eppes or Don? That could be important."
"They referred to him as Agent Eppes. Said they had dad and told the guy holding me to dump me in the Koi pond, that he was going to go make a phone call. The guy left and the other guy dumped me in the pond." Tears were shining in Charlie's eyes as he finished and looked at Megan and Colby.
"O.k. Charlie. You did good. Don't worry, we will find him." Colby tried to reassure him but signalled Meghan with his eyes to go get Don-knowing Don was the only one at this point that could give Charlie the reassurance he so desperately needed.
Don slumped back into his chair with a tired sigh. His mind tried to focus on the daunting task ahead, but his heart wanted to be in two places, with his dad and with his brother. He knew though it had to be with his brother. don saw Megan approaching him and stood to greet her. His phone rang as he did so, and he picked it up as Megan stood next to him.
"Eppes."
"Hello, Agent Eppes. Do you remember Albuquerque?"
"What do you want?" Don couldn't keep a small tremor out of his voice.
"You'll find out soon enough. I am calling Agent, to give you a warning. I will issue this warning only once. Your professor brother cannot help you out on this case. If he does it will cost your brother's life. I don't bluff. Albuquerque, Eppes. Remember." Standing next to him, Megan had heard the whole conversation and figured they probably should have tried to trace the call. Don finally looked up at Megan with moist eyes.
"I-I'm going to take Charlie to my apartment. Have the team here and ready to go at ten?" Megan smiled.
"Make it twelve, Don. And we'll be here. What are you going to tell Charlie?"
Don sighed. "What I have to. He can't help on this case. I cannot risk dad's life. I just hope he'll understand, I can't take that chance."
"He'll understand. Now go, Don I'll see you back here at twelve. I'll send an Agent over to be with Charlie when you leave." Don briefly smiled his thanks and then sighed as he turned down the hall to collect his brother. He would wait and break the news to Charlie once he got him to his apartment.
Next chapter will have some Alan pov in it. Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for Reading!
