Chapter Six

Same time..

Albuquerque…

Don waited in his office for the agent to come in, wondering what the possible connection between the cases in Albuquerque and Los Angeles, and he also wondered if he would have to travel to LA., which he hoped wouldn't come to that.

Too many memories, much of the more recent ones not good and a part of him doubted that his parents would even want to see him.

A knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts, he saw the agent, motioning him to come in.

"Thanks for coming, Agent..?" Don said shaking the man's hand

"Sinclair, but you can call me David." The agent answered, returning the gesture.

"So what can you tell me about the case?" Don asked, wanting to get right to the point and figure out the current facts of the case.

"Well, it seems in both of the cases, some of the same people are involved in both cities and it seems there might be other developments in the case soon." Sinclair said

"Okay, first what are the developments?" Don asked

"Two of the suspects in the case were found dead yesterday while meeting with a potential client and it seems you might have a personal connection to the murders." Sinclair said, which caught Don's attention.

"May I ask what that could be?" Don asked, concerned about the possible implications of what the younger agent just said

"Your father and his business partner were questioned last night, since they were among the last people to see them alive." David said as gently as possible, not sure how the senior agent would take it.

"Oh, ok, just so you know, there's somewhat of a conflict of interest." Don said calmly

"Somewhat?" The junior agent asked, looking surprised as he was expecting something more in the older man's reaction to the news about his father.

"I haven't spoken to my father in years, that's what I meant." Don said, hoping he doesn't have to go into detail as to why.

"I get it, I will tell you that you won't be taken off the case, you won't be interacting with anyone that has been interviewed with the victims." David said in an understanding

"I am fine with that, I do want to be kept in the loop of any new information that you have found, though." Don said, relieved that he won't be taken off the case, though he wondered how his father fit into all this.

"I will make sure that any new developments that have been made, you'll be one of the first to know." Sinclair promised

"Great, can you fill me in on anything else about the case?" Don asked

"There's a possibility that there is some embezzlement in your father's business." David said

Unable to say anything else to that, Don just put his face in his hands, as he couldn't believe the trouble his father was finding himself in.

'Just can't stay out of trouble, can you, Dad?' Don thought bitterly as he and Sinclair continued to trade notes on the case.

Late Afternoon

The Craftsman…

Alan sighed as he looked through the newspaper, trying to see if there was something in the news to distract him from his current situation. Anything that didn't bring up the situation and hoped to relax.

What made it even worse is that his wife's aunt, Irene, was coming the next day, which he was truly dreading. Ever since last seeing Don, Irene had become increasingly more hostile towards him, further straining their already strained relationship.

'Just what I need, another thing to make my week, if not the year, worse than it could have possibly ever been.' Alan thought ruefully

He hadn't been able to talk to Stan since the previous night, due to their respective lawyers instructing them not to until further notice. While he understood that, he still felt frustrated since he wanted to talk to Stan about the situation and whatever future their business has and he is not sure he is going to like it.

He and Margaret had discussed his options for the investigation and they agreed to wait until they learned more, though neither were thrilled with the idea.

Another knock on the door again interrupted his thoughts, making him dread as to what, or who, else would make things even worse.

To his surprise, when he opened the door, it was Amita, making him wonder if she was here to see Charlie, though his youngest hadn't said anything about it.

"Hi, Amita, are you here to see Charlie?"

"No, Mr. Eppes, actually I came to see you." Amita said with a strange smile

'Me? Why on earth would she possibly come to see me?' Alan thought himself