T is for Timing
The data that Don provided enabled Charlie to come up with the three most likely schools to be hit .He came to Don's office to explain his theory.
The next day, Charlie came walking briskly into Don's office, coat flapping and laptop swinging in a black bag hanging from his shoulder.
"Hi Colby. Is my brother around?" Charlie asked as soon as he put his laptop on Don's desk.
"He went to interview an ex-headmaster of Kelly's High School."
"Kelly High School? Hey, that's on my list too. Kelly's. Ex-HeadMaster, you say?"
"Yea, something about the HM doesn't sit well. We think he might be involved in this drug ring. What do you have?"
"Just let me set this up. Should have called first, then Don could have this before he went for the interview. My bad timing. How long ago?" Charlie inquired.
"Not too long ago, some twenty minutes. He will be back within the hour. You want to wait for him to come back? We can talk on other matters." Colby offered since he was the only one in the office. Don had taken the other two temp replacements for Megan who suddenly took off for her vacation.
Don told them he approved her vacation even thought they were short of staff. Liz had already left the department since she broke up with Don.
Don explained that Megan didn't look
too good. She was tense, and she had something on her mind which she
didn't share and he didn't ask.
He also said that hopefully
after this vacation, she would let them know what was troubling
her.
"No, never mind, Oh, there's nobody here only you?"
"Yep for the moment. David will be back soon, sooner than Don I think. You tell me, and I'll tell them but if I miss anything, Don can ask you again.
"Oh..OK.. We'll sit here until David comes back."
Charlie and Colby made small talk and it ended with Colby asking Charlie a number of math questions, it was getting interesting and they were so absorbed in their discussion that they didn't notice David walking into the bullpen.
"Hi, Charlie." David called out thus ending their conversation.
After
a bit of small talk, Charlie proceeded to explain his work to
them.
There were some questions from David and Colby.
Still no
sign of Don after Charlie had finished his explanations and
discussions.
Finally Colby said they would inform Don if Charlie
was unable to wait for his return.
Meanwhile.
Don was interviewing the ex-headmaster of Kelly's High School, Robert Divall, "You were saying you didn't know about the drugs going around your school?"
"No, not my school anymore. I've been fired because of it, wrong timing. I was not around when it happened. So it seemed that I deliberately closes an eye and let it happen."
"Are you sure you don't know anything about it?" Don asked him again.
Don suddenly had one of Charlie's theories come to his mind, 'each suspect is motivated to a different thing.'' Maybe this headmaster was motivated by something but then he was not really a suspect yet. Don still felt that something was not right. He looked at him waiting for an answer.
"OK, maybe I knew about it, but where they got it I have no idea."
Don was in the sitting room with another agent. They usually went in pairs in case anything happened. A backup or a collaborator was oft times a necessity. In this case, Don had another agent waiting outside just in case.
Don looked at the pictures on the wall while the other agent took over the questioning. He saw a lot of pictures of the same boy at various age and on the tall side table, he saw a group photo of five boys and a man by their side. The same boy, he presumed him to be Divall's son. He was younger than the rest of the boys but he was also quite tall. The man looked familiar but not the boys.
He resembled someone , but whom? He turned to Robert Divall and asked him, "Who are these boys? Your students?"
Robert
Divall was not pleased that Don had asked about the photo.
Reluctantly, he said, "My son, his friends, and their instructor,
Mr. Cornel, who coaches baseball. Gerald's the youngest of the lot.
He was good. That's why they didn't mind his age. He's also
tall for his age. " Divall pointed to one of the smaller boys.
He
smiled at the photo of his son, it was shown in his face that he was
very proud of him.
Don pursed his lips, looked at Divall. Yep, he was tall too for Divall stood a good few inches taller than him.
Divall took the photo, put his hand over it.
"This
was taken five years ago. My son is now playing for a small team in
San Francisco."
"Mr. Cornel? Was he the coach in your school?"
Divall hesitated for a while, he looked at Don. Don
tilted his head waiting for an answer.
"Yes, Corn was in the
same school. He left two years after this was taken, heard from my
son that he still kept in touch with the other boys."
'Cornel?' Corn? , now where have I heard that before? Name's also familiar same with the face.' Don peered into the photograph again.
Don asked Divall pointing to the coach, "Do you have his address?"
"What is this? I'm sorry I don't have, and even if I did, I wouldn't give it to you. You all came to investigate me because of the drugs in the school which I didn't know about, and now you come into my house and want to know about my friends. Please get out."
"Sorry Mr. Divall. But an investigation is an investigation. Drugs in the schools are very serious. You may be hearing from us again. Thank you for your time."
Don nodded to Max, his accompanying agent, and went out. They waited for Simon.
"What was that about?" Max asked Don.
"That coach, his name and face is familiar
but I just can't place it where I've heard it before, wonder if
he's in the FBI files. He didn't say what team his son was
playing, correct?"
Don jotted something in his little notebook
to remind him to look up 'Cornel/Corn.'
Don always had two people on interviews. He knew they needed to cover each other backs. He also thought it was a good idea to have a witness to what the suspect had said or done and to confirm what was said in case the other had missed out.
"No. He didn't mention, but I could find out and let you know."
"Yes, do
that, immediately. Simon! Come on let's go."
Simon was the
other agent that went along with Don. He was left guarding the house
in case anything happened.
Charlie was still hanging around Don's office, when Don and the other agents came in. Simon and Max went back to their tables, and Charlie came up to Don.
"Found out anything? You know Kelly High School is one on my list. I've just explained to David and Colby, and they are running some checks."
"Is that so? Which one is going to be hit in the next two days?"
"St Johns, I think 90 St. Johns. The suppliers think that would be the most feasible choice since it is near the malls. The kids hang there on the weekends because of the new skating rink and the theatres.."
"What happened to the other 10?" Don asked Charlie.
Charlie looked at Don and asked, "What? 90 is not enough for you? OK, OK, come, let's go through this chart."
"David and Colby knew about all this?" Charlie nodded his head and said, "I can explain again for you guys. After all, timing is everything if you want to catch these people in action. If everybody knows what they are supposed to do…."
"OK, thanks Charlie. Simon, Max come here,listen, and pay attention." Don smiled at Charlie and said, "Two to temporary help out , to replace Liz and Megan until we know what is happening."
"Ah yes, Don what's happening with Megan? Larry's very secretive about it and said she had taken vacation time."
"Not too sure. We are giving her some space. It all started after she came back from assignment and after Colby's incident. She was taking it hard. I have a feeling that she might ask for a transfer. I'm sure gonna miss her if she decides to go or transfer. "
Charlie raised his eyebrows at Don's statement, and Don stared back at him.
"Won't you, or didn't you miss Larry when he was rolling with the stars above?" Don shot back at him.
"Yea, yea I know what you mean. Hey, I heard Colby said that a pretty AUSA is back in town"
"Yea?"
"Yea."
Don gave Charlie a look that said, 'will you shut up about it' and then turned to the two temp replacement agents.
"Guys, you know my brother, the Professor who also moonlights as a consultant for FBI, Professor Dr. Charles Eppes, and Mathematician magician."
All
three of them stared at Don who shrugged his shoulders and mouthed
'payback'
to Charlie. He added, as sort of apology to Charlie, "thought I
should give you a full and proper introduction to these two new kids
on my block.
OK, Charlie, this is Simon Dunkel and Maxwell
Hutchison, listen up guys, Charlie has some explaining to do with
regards to the supply and demand of drugs distribution in High
schools and the students. We asked for his input using his math
calculation, and he came up with three schools. You two listen and
learn."
"Thank you Don for that long introduction. OK loosen up. Anywhere you don't understand, just shout out. Here is the map of the areas hit recently and this is……"
Don move to the back and sat down. He liked to listen to Charlie's explanation, and as Megan always said, the comparison/ analogy is something else.
Tbc