A/N: Hey people, I suddenly got inspired to write this story and I'm hoping you all like it. I'll try to update consistently…I've already got the second chapter finished and am starting the third…anyways I hope you enjoy…let me know!
Don walked into the kitchen grabbing yet another slice of pepperoni pizza, taking a sip of beer as he sauntered back to the living room of his Dad's, no wait, Charlie's house. He never really understood why Charlie had been so determined not to move that he actually bought the house from there dad. Life is full of mysteries. He eased himself into the recliner making a poor attempt at holding in his laughter and his brother's face. Charlie was desperately trying to think of a word he could use that would be useful in the game of Scrabble against his father. He wasn't having any luck. Taking in the last bite of his pizza and topping it off with a swig of beer he glided over behind Charlie observing the letters in his possession. He smiled at the letters and plethora of options that his brother had at his disposal without realizing, much like life. Deftly he rearranged the letters showing his baby brother the best option. Charlie's face lit up and he spelled out the word on the board very carefully to spell it correctly.
"Congratulations Charlie, you doubled your score; you now have 20 points!" Charlie beamed as if he'd just received a major mathematics award. Don wandered back over to his chair and watch as Charlie and his father continued to play Scrabble through the night. Many times Charlie looked as if he would hurt himself trying to create a word from the letters given to him. At those times Don would wander over and help him before he really did hurt himself. Several times Alan had told Don that the peanut gallery was to stay out of the game. Don just pointed to the score sheet and told him he'd no reason to complain. By the time the game ended it was nearly midnight and their father declared it bed time. Charlie shuffled his way to bed mumbling something about having classes the next day and that he was already up too late. Don just smiled and went to his old bedroom for the night.
"Ma'am, the professor is unable to complete the equations." She turned, looking upon the shriveled little man that coward before her. He'd once been a mathematics professor at a college. Now he was a shriveled, cowardly man barely able utter a single word.
"You know what to do when they refuse to cooperate."
"But Ma'am, it is not that he refuses, the equations are a higher level than he is capable"
"Very well, get rid of him and find a new mathematician," the man turned to leave, dragging the professor behind him, "oh and Zack, make sure the next one is capable of finishing, or you'll be the one to take his place." She said the words as if she were asking for a glass of orange juice, but her steely eyes bore through his forehead. He knew she would do exactly as she said without a second thought or speck on her conscience, if she even had one.
"Yes Ma'am" He left the room, a hint of fear tickling his spine as he began his search for a new mathematician. This time it would be a mathematician that was as closed to the top as possible.
Don woke bright and early in his old bedroom rays of sunlight blinding him. He rolled away from the window only to be met by the red glare of a clock. Heaving an immense sigh he gave up and got out of bed. The hot shower felt really superb and by the time he got out he was fully awake and ready for another day's work. He darted downstairs downing a quick cup of coffee and grabbing a slice of bread to ease his father's badgering that he had to eat something. When he arrived at work it was to a fresh case. A local mathematician was found dead in a ditch. One bullet wound to the head, signs of torture, and starvation. Preliminary reports suggested that the mathematician would have died of other injuries without medical treatment. Upon deeper delving it was discovered that the mathematician had been missing for about three months. Don delegated his team to work and sat down, researching the mystery of the murdered mathematician and why he disappeared.
