A/N-My Beta is on vacation, so please let me know if you find anything Out Of Character.

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"You can sleep here, Don." Dad told me. "You're not fit to drive"

He began to pick up the dishes, but Natalie said "Forget the dishes, babe! I'll do them tomorrow. They're not going anywhere! I'm going to bed" She went upstairs in a huff. I didn't blame her. Natalie and Pam exchanged some harsh words. Soon, Dad followed her.

Then,my brother and I talked.

"That was a good question!" Charlie, in his scotch induced haze, was half lying on the couch. He even giggled a bit.

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""You don't hold your liquor very well, do you?" my brother raised an eyebrow.

"What do... I hold my liquor very well!" I argued. What was he talking about? I felt fine.

"Well, Let's see what's on T.V." Don suggested.

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"This fight doesn't have the mean that the end of your friendship" Alan gently told me as I sat in the solarium. "You two were just venting out some long time resentments. Don and Charlie have gone through similar fights, but look how well they get along now!" He put an arm around me.

"I always hated it when she acted as if being a vet was a step lower than being an MD." I explained.

Alan kept me company as I sat in thought.

The following weekend, we again looked for a place. We found a possible place in Arcadia: a two bedroom house, though the rent was a bit steep. Since the owner mentioned having several dogs, I offered him free vet services in exchange for a lowered rent. He accepted, though he had all the dogs come to the clinic before having us sign the lease.

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Charlieand I were pulled into helping Natalie and Dad move into their new place in Arcadia.Two weeks later, they had a house warming with a barbeque. That was probably Dad's idea. He invited,a few of his old friends, their wives, me, Charlie, Larry, Amita, David, Colby, some of Natalie's friends, her business partners and David.

The house looked to be from the late fifties, early sixties.

Charlie sat next to me, with a beer in his hand.

"I wish Dad could've stayed" he joked softly.

"Can't have everything, buddy" I said.

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"How's the new place working out for ya, Natalie?" Megan asked me, as we sat on a couple of chairs in the back yard.

"Wonderfully" I said. "We got a discount when I offered free vet services to the owner's dogs"

"That's good." she smiled.

"Bartering! How clever!" Art's wife commented, as she joined us.

"How is the barbeque doing?" Megan inquired.

"Alan and Art are progressing fine, despite their arguing" the woman chuckled.

"That's good to hear!" I commented, then said "Excuse me, I gotta resume my hostess duties" I got up, and made sure that there was enough chips, dip, coke, beer, and other things outside.

"Alan sure knows to throw a good party!" Carl said as I put more beer in a large bucket of ice. "I should have him organize Alice's next birthday bash!"

"Thanks for giving me credit!" I teased.

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"Have a hotdog" I gave one to Rocko, who wolfed it down. The house warming was going wonderfully. Most of the people we had invited came, and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

"When is the food gonna be ready dad?" Don asked me after a bit.

"Soon!" I promised him. "Just be patient, okay?"

"Yes Dad" Don sighed.

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On Monday, Nat and I left the house at the same time. We were shocked and horrified to find a banner, 2 feet wide and five feet long displayed at the front of the house. It said. 'Dr.C. blows horses' in bright red letters and was accompanied by an obscene illustration of the message.

"Oh God!" Natalie said. "Let's get it down."

"It could have fingerprints!" I reminded her. "Call the cops, and I'll call Don"

"Okay" she agreed.

"Eppes?" Don answered when I called.

"It's me! Someone vandalized our house!"

"What?"

"Some asshole put up an obscene banner!" I explained worriedly. What if we were dealing with some psychopath?

"What did it say?"

" 'Dr. C. blows horses', and there is a picture" I told him.

"Did you guys call the cops?"

"Yeah, but I was hoping you could have a look?" I asked.

"Sure. I'll be right there, don't touch anything." Don promised.

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While mad, I tried to think of who would do this? In the past several months, most of my patient deaths had been because of euthanizing, and no caregivers of patients had threatened me in any way. While we waited, each of us called our respective offices.

Before I knew it, a car, with the obvious black and white markings, came to our house. A couple of policewoman got out of it, came up to us, introduced themselves and started their questions, when we gave them our names. We told them about finding it upon getting out of the house. Then one of them, a redhead asked

"Anyone you with a grudge against you?"

"No one that I know of" I told her.

"Are you going to take fingerprints off the banner?"

"All in good time, sir"

Just then, Don joined the party.

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Dad's call had worried me to no end. What if the perp decided to do something worse next time?

"Agent Eppes, FBI" I identified myself. "Alan Eppes is my father, so I was wondering if I could ride shotgun?"

"We'll keep you informed" one of them told me. That was their way of telling me no.

"Thanks. Here's my card." I gave them one. Then, I turned to Natalie "Any idea who could have done this?"

"No." She said, as I got a hunch.

"What about Mack?" I asked as she gave him a surprised look.

"Mack? I've told you he's harmless!" she argued. I found it too coincidental for him to just happen to be at the circus, just after having gone to Natalie's house, especially now. He gave me a bad feeling.

"May we ask who this Mack is?"

"A friend of a friend of Natalie's from Veterinary school." I replied. "He came to her previous home with a dead raccoon in a box, and just happened to be in the Circus of the Damned the same place she was. His full name is Mack Nelson"

"We'll check out that lead" the redheaded one promised. "Thank you for your time."

"For what it's worth, I don't' think Mack would do this!" Natalie insisted.

"Let's the cops do their job" I advised her, as she sighed. Then, I continued "Watch your backs."

"Why don't you follow Natalie to work" Dad suggested.

"Sure" I agreed to please Dad.

"It's not necessary!" Natalie protested.

"Humor me" Dad requested. After some more arguing, she reluctantly agreed.

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Three hours, after I got to the clinic, the receptionist called me.

"A Dr. Brinan would like to speak to you urgently"

"Let him in." I sighed. He was a friend of mine, and Mack's. Soon, the man was at my office.

"Why the hell have you got the cops on Mack?"

TBC