Authors Notes: Well, I hope the site is truly fixed and you are all getting your update emails again like I am. Thanks for your thoughts! The whole family is healthy again and slept late - except me - so I have had time to write!

Time is short - Like Don's new haircut!

Happy, Happy!

Let me know what you're thinking about this little whodunit…..

dHALL

Chapter Ten: Overcast With a Chance of Showers

"Agent Eppes."

The tall leggy blond extended her hand and Don shook it politely as the flashbulbs went off.

"Mrs. Whitney."

"I don't think I can ever thank you and your brother enough for what you did…..and don't give me that 'awww shucks, I was doing my job' line either."

Her exceedingly white teeth sparkled through a classic California smile.

"Your brother…..Charles, I believe?"

Sitting in the wheelchair, Don wished that he had been able to change into some blue jeans, but the cast on his leg made that impossible and he had been forced to settle on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. Feeling extremely underdressed and trapped by his immobility, he managed to give her a genial nod.

"Yes, Ma'am. Charlie."

"He's a math teacher?"

Keeping his own smile plastered on his face was starting to hurt as much as his ankle did.

"A Professor of Applied Mathematics, yes."

"Well, you both could have abandoned my babies and tried to save your own lives and no one would have thought any less of you for it."

Don put on his best "good 'ol boy" façade.

"Ma'am. That just wasn't an option."

Behind her mascara laden lashes, her eyes quickly filled with what appeared to be genuine tears as more pictures were snapped by the press.

"If there weren't tabloid photographers out there who'd save the picture for later, I'd kiss you."

Her unencumbered gratitude was clearly authentic and a bona fide smile momentarily took over the expression on Don's face.

Megan laughed cordially at the comment as she took the handles of Don's wheelchair and began to back him up toward the door.

"Mrs. Whitney? We're going to need to speak to you inside for a moment."

The flash bulbs continued to go off and the woman brushed her blond tresses behind her shoulders.

"Of course. I assumed you would."

As they turned away from the press and headed back into the hospital, Mrs. Whitney fell into step next to Don's wheelchair.

"Is your brother going to be alright?"

"He will be."

Turning back to look at the doorway, Don saw Mr. Whitney standing in the corner of the lobby talking to David.

"Don't take Charlie's absence at your husbands little press party the wrong way. Charlie just……….he isn't one for cameras."

"Neither am I, but with Robert…. I guess it comes with the territory. "

As Megan wheeled him down the hallway and into the privacy of the hospital meeting room, Don let his smile fade.

"Honestly, Mrs. Whitney…."

The tall blond leaned forward and beamed at him.
"Allison….please."

Not bothering to reinstate his own smile, Don took a deep breath before he continued.

"Allison. Until we know who is behind this, I don't want Charlie's face on television. Having his name out there, associated with your husband and whatever someone tried to do last night is bad enough."

"My husband? You really do think someone was after Robert? And that's why…..well, that's ridiculous. Surely this was just another case of L.A. road rage. That's what you said to the news cameras. Road Rage right? No one would kill three children to get at one man."

Megan walked around the table and took a seat across from Mrs. Whitney.

"It could have been road rage and your husband's offer of a five thousand dollar reward will likely flood our office with calls to that effect. There's a good chance we can the vehicles that way and, in turn, the persons responsible. Try not to take it personally, but we still have to investigate the possibility that this was more than just a couple of teens out for a thrill or someone who didn't like the way Ms. Damari or Agent Eppes changed lanes. I need you to think about this….long and hard. Take your time. Can you think of anyone…..Anyone who might have threatened you, your husband or your family in any way?"

Don learned forward in his wheelchair and looked intently at her. Allison Whitney was maybe a few years older than he was and although they were well hidden by her meticulously applied makeup, Don could see stress lines that indicated her life had not always been the bouquet of roses that it appeared to be now. Taking a shot in the dark, Don reached out and put his hand on top of hers.

"Allison. If there is someone…anyone that you know of…..maybe someone from your past, that might want to hurt you or your children….Well, now is the time to share that with us. We can help you."

Watching the woman while Don spoke, Megan was not surprised to see her eyes fill up with tears. This was Hollywood after all.

"Mrs. Whitney?"

The woman shook her head.

"No. Agent Eppes. Agent Reeves. There's no one. Robert is the one who raises people's ire. Not me. And not my girls."

Megan reached across the table and handed the woman her card.

"My office and cell number are on there. If you think of anything. Please, don't hesitate to call me."

The woman stood, but stopped to lean over Don. Brushing her lips lightly across his cheek, she was careful to avoid the row of stitches across his brow.

"Agent Eppes. Thank you again…..for what you and your brother did. I'll always be in your debt."

As the woman walked from the room Megan looked at Don and raised one eyebrow.

"You've got a little lipstick…"

She brushed her hand across her cheek to demonstrate.

Expelling a deep, frustrated sigh, Don emulated her movement, rubbing his face until the crimson smear was gone.

"Well, that was pretty pointless."

Megan nodded her head as she stood and walked around the table.

"Well, David's going over the list Mr. Whitney gave us last night……but so far nothing looks promising. Since he took on his current clientele, he's never lost a case. Why would anyone want to kill him?"

"Since the opposing party is usually the United States Government or the State of California …yeah, I guess that makes sense."

"We've got the whole crew at the office looking over your old case files…threats against you, that sort of thing. And Colby's going to talk to Charlie's guy…."

Don cut her off.

"Charlie's guy? You mean he actually came up with someone?"

Nodding hesitantly at her boss, Megan was shocked by the surprised expression on his face.

"Amita did, yeah."

Don leaned his head back and looked at the ceiling.

"Great. That's just freakin' great. I automatically assume it's about me, and not only do we have the Whitney's and Ms. Damari to consider, Charlie's got someone who wouldn't mind if he stopped breathing!"

Megan chucked softly in an attempt is dispel Don's concern.

"It's some guy he got expelled., Don. I doubt it'll pan out."

Crossing her arms in front of her, Megan continued.

"I do think we can safely eliminate road rage. But we've got a team set up to handle any promising tips that might come in about the trucks."

"What about the nanny?"

"The team at the office is looking into some things. But nothing so far. She's probably just being a drama queen, but she seemed certain this was because of her. Almost as certain as you were."

She paused giving Don time to make a face at her in response.

"Still, Colby and I are going to head to her school tomorrow…see what we can find out."

Don shook his head at her.

"No. I don't see it. Something's missing…."

"It's too much of a coincidence for it to be you, Don. Or Charlie. Someone wanted those kids or that young woman dead. You two just got in the way."

Running through the incident in his mind for what felt like the up-millionth time, Don remembered something new.

"You may be right, Megan. I was passing her car, but I slowed down…I wouldn't let the SUV get by. That has to be it."

He shook his head in disgust.

"They wanted me to pass so they could get to the car at the bridge. When I didn't go by; they decided to take us both out."

Megan leaned against the table and playing devils advocate, tried not to sound too cynical.

"Rather than miss their opportunity to make it look like an accident…..they risk leaving witnesses?"

"Yeah, I know. It's pretty thin. Still, go ahead and follow up on anything my list or Charlie's….."

Don paused mid-sentence, looking doubtful.

"….its a short list right?"

"One guy…"

Raising her index finger in the air to reiterate her point, Megan turned to her boss.

"No one wants Charlie dead. Hell, Don. People go out of their way not to hurt Charlie's feelings."

Despite his underlying anxiety, a grin covered Don's face as he rolled his wheelchair away from the table.

"Yeah, that's what Dad says too."

Biting his lip for minute, Don finally shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, follow up on it anyway. We don't want to miss anything. And let me know what you find out about the Nanny. Her family name is Israeli, right? There could be something to that."

Stepping ahead of Don to open the door for his wheel chair, Megan nodded her head curtly.

"We're already on it, boss."

Starting down the hall, Megan fell into place behind the wheelchair without asking and began to push Don down the corridor.

"When are they letting you out?"

Rolling his eyes at being treated like an invalid, he surrendered the chair and let Megan take over. Leaning back and relaxing his shoulders, he tried to enjoy the ride.

"In the morning. Or so they say. Charlie too. I figured they'd keep him longer, but the concussion wasn't as severe at they initially thought. And apparently forty eight hours is generous for a hospital stay these days if your not critical. Just bumps, bruises and broken bones to heal. Nothing some down time at home won't fix."

"And you are going home?"

When he didn't answer, Megan stopped pushing.

"DON?"

Turning his head to face her, Don looked sullen.

"No, okay. Are you happy?"

"Don, I know how you are when things get personal. But you can't return to work until the doctor..…"

A grin broke through the solemn expression on his face cutting her off.

"I'm going to Charlie's."

Turning back to face front as Megan huffed at him and started pushing the chair again, Don laughed.

"It just so happens that the elevator in my apartment building is out. If I didn't know better………."

"I'll bet your father is thrilled."

Don was unable to wipe the smile from his face despite the aches and pains in his body that had been growing throughout the morning. The worries and concerns that were weighing down his shoulders became a little less heavy as he laughed again.

"He is thrilled beyond words, Megan. Maybe you should investigate him."

Stopping in front of the elevator, Megan stepped around Don's chair to push the button. Turning to face him she gave him an amused smile.

"I talked to him before he went back up to Charlie's room. But I can see the headlines, now.

'Father desperate for quality time with his grown sons has his own car driven into the river in an attempt to render them helpless so he can smother them with attention'."

Don widened his eyes in mock surprise and shook his head in agreement.

"Right. It's all coming together now."

As the elevator's ding rang out to announce its arrival Megan patted Don on the shoulder and smiled.

"Now that's thin, Eppes. Really thin."

………………………………

Chapter Eleven: Opaque Cloud Cover, Zero Visibility