A/N: Here's Chapter two…I hope you like this one…let me know…I'm working hard for you all...enjoy!

Charlie bit his lip looking at the string of equations before him. He'd accepted an offer to help some research department as a mathematical consultant…it's what he was best at. It seemed strange working on a project for the government and not having to work through the night from time constraints or to save innocent lives. It was kinda nice. He scowled at a line in the equation. How was it that something so inanimate could be so stubborn? He shook his head and tried to tackle the line in a new way. After a few moments of struggle the line clicked into place making things work. He couldn't help but be glad that he was one of the best mathematicians he knew. Gosh that sounds proud…when did I get to be so proud? Oh well, I suppose nothing bad can come from being the best and admitting it…I mean what could possibly happen for being the best?

He jotted another mathematical symbol on the chalk board when he realized his pocket was vibrating. Pressing pause on his i-pod he answered his cell phone. "Eppes…yeah…ummm…no I don't think I can help with this one, try looking through files and see if there are any other murdered or kidnapped mathematicians that might be linked…well the culprit may not be trying to draw attention to the murders…okay, let me know if you have more bye."

Charlie attacked the black board once more for a spurt of fury before pausing long enough for his stomach to grumble. He scrunched his nose at the prospect of having to stop. It wasn't that he was pressured to finish, he simply enjoyed working on the particular project. Fleetingly he glanced at his watch, taking a double-take at the time. It was nearly eleven O'clock. Well I suppose I shouldn't worry dad by staying at school into the middle of the night not eating because I'm working on a consulting project. But then again I'm making good progress and I'm not tired. No, dad would complain about me needlessly running myself into the ground, plus it's going to rain soon and I'll have to bike home in the rain if I don't leave now. That settled it. Charlie packed his stuff, hefted his backpack on his shoulder and rode his bike towards home.

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He'd selected his target. It hadn't been easy finding out just how high up he went, but that had been a good sign. It meant that he was working for the top. He was an absolute genius, probably more brains than they would need but it was his neck on the line and he didn't want anymore mistakes. He had plans of attack for every entrance to the house along with the escape plans. He sat silent as a church mouse watching the home, waiting for his prey.

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Charlie parked his bike next to the staircase before heading to the fridge. The fridge was mostly bare except for a few leftovers and milk. Seeing no one within eye sight he gulped the milk straight from the carton, placing it back in the fridge. Spying a note on the table he read it. Guys night, be back late if at all tonight, love Dad. Charlie couldn't help but smile at himself. So he'd come home to please a father that wasn't even there, oh well. After tucking his bike away he set up to continue working on the project. No reason why he shouldn't especially with no father here to badger him about sleeping. He continued to work into the night, music blaring into his ears. His night was going well until the garage door exploded open, slamming against the wall loudly. Spinning around he found a man dressed all in black with a ski mask charging straight for him.

Charlie tried to side step the man's charge but he was a little slow, being knocked backwards he careened into a blackboard hanging on the wall, sparkles danced before his eyes. The board wobbled on its nail dangerously close to falling. The man with the ski mask swung Charlie to the ground before diving out of the way of the falling blackboard. Charlie lay on the ground stunned as the blackboard slipped from its nail, a corner slamming into the back of his head. The room spun wildly about as he slowly crawled out from under the board. He couldn't see the man anywhere. Using the desk he dragged himself to a stand waving unsteadily.

He could hear someone breathing heavily in the room. It sounded like it was behind him…or was that himself he was hearing? Charlie never got the chance for the room to steady, or for him to figure out if it was his breathing he'd heard for the man came up behind him, slamming the butt of a gun against his skull. Agony exploded as he collapsed to the ground the desk shifting out of his way with a deafening scrape. The last thing he remembered was seeing two piercing green eyes floating above him and everything went black.