A/N – my computer is new and I can't format the text properly, only as html code which is kind of boring, anyway, if it's a bit awkwardly formatted that's why. Life is very busy at the moment so apologies if I don't update quickly – trust me though, I want to get this story out as quick as I can. Thanks for all your enlightening reviews, some of you have actually helped shaped the story with your comments – I've tweaked some stuff which I think adds a richness, I hope at least. Anyway if you're reading and liking and you left a review (which I really don't do this for reviews, just to get the story out so am not fishing for them) you're partly responsible!!
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The folder fell onto Megan's desk, fluttering the paperwork already there. Megan looked up expectantly at David.
"Good and bad."
"How so?"
David opened the folder on Megan's desk and pointed to the report he wanted her to see. "The sample is too contaminated. Traces of equine, bovine, lepus, homo sapien..."
"Lepus?"
"Yeah, and I thought you were the brains of our outfit. I had to ask too. Rabbit. Oh and there's rattlesnake as well. On top of human blood."
"So basically, every animal that's ever died or been hit by a car to die on that patch of dirt is listed. What do they say about the human blood?"
"A."
"Don?"
David slammed the folder shut and sat down into a chair. "A."
"Still." Megan took off her glasses and saw Liz approaching out of the corner of her eye.
"Still," David sighed, "it's, what do they say?" He opened the folder to read from it, "insignificant traces."
"So Charlie could be right?"
"There's something else…" David was cut short as Megan closed the folder with the approach of Liz at the cubicle. "Hey."
"Hey. So, Sophie Field still hasn't been informed of Agent Field's death." Liz sat down in the only spare chair in the cubicle and sensed that she had changed the topic. David still couldn't sustain a significant eye contact with her. At least Megan tried. Still, Liz was happier not knowing what they were talking about at this stage. She was assigned to the Field case only and until she knew any better, Don Eppes was simply missing. There was no way Don was getting away with not having that final conversation with her. She was owed some explanations.
"What?" Megan picked up Liz's folder and opened it to peruse the report.
Liz looked towards David and sighed. Strike that, it's damn hard. Not discussing the elephant in the room is going to kill me. "She seems to be out."
Megan adjusted her glasses and finished reading the report. "So what are we thinking here? 'Nother victim?"
"It's possible." Liz leant forward in her chair.
"Well she's certainly not at work." David said.
"See that's the thing, she's assigned a day off today anyway." Liz flicked some pages and pointed to the part in the folder that mentioned this.
Megan took off her glasses. "Sophie Field takes time off without her husband? And isn't at home? What does it say about Agent Field's shifts? Were they off together?"
Liz looked across the cubicle to a pair of agents staring at her. Scratching her neck subconsciously out of irritation she stood up. "Not as far as we can tell, but still double checking. You know how it is here, put a form in for leave and they lose it."
A smirk formed on David's face, "just last week. Don swears…" He caught himself too late and looked up at Liz with an apology on his face.
"I'll go chase it up personally, give the admin department something to talk about. Spread the love around." Liz began to leave when Megan stopped her.
"Look, Liz. Don't, I dunno…"
"Thanks. I know. It's just strange being on the other side of the coin really." Liz began to walk off before Megan could finish.
Megan understood, she really understood. When she was kidnapped, she finally knew what it meant to be the victim and it was the most disconcerting thing an agent could feel. She had so much more empathy for the people they dealt with now, but that connection she shared, it was always going to be blocking her from doing her job now. Because now she couldn't lie, she knew they wouldn't fall for it. "Yeah, we know." David stared back at Megan's exclamation.
"So the something else?"
"Yeah, sorry."
"Know how I said at the scene Don's car was immaculate?"
"Yeah." Megan frowned and found Don's folder.
"Not so much. Traces of engine oil in the back of the car. There was something in there. Maybe a lawnmower or something."
"He lives in an apartment."
"Yeah, a question for Charlie and Alan. May be something. Maybe not."
"Anything is good at this point."
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The bookcase simply stared back at him. Not speaking, not moving. Mocking.
Alan averted his eyes from its oppressive stare and his eyes inadvertently rested on Margaret's last photo album. It was too much. He got up from the armchair and walked out to the dining area.
The silence of the house was deafening and Alan didn't like the look of the table. He'd cleaned it only two hours ago. He hadn't slept since he had found out the news of Don's disappearance and in the unfolding hours he had cleaned and cooked everything he could think of. He'd even cleaned the cleaning gear.
Amita was covering Charlie's classes so he'd inadvertently done some of her washing. It wasn't until he was hanging a lacy bra on the line that he considered his faux pas.
Looking across to the mantelpiece was a mistake, his eyes rested on a picture of Don, in his baseball gear.
"Come." Charlie's hand rested on Alan's shoulder. Alan hadn't heard him come through the kitchen doors, he'd been so lost in his world of thought.
"What Charlie?"
"Come to the garage. Help me. Unless you've reconsidered my offer to call Millie?"
"No, definitely…" the phone ringing interrupted Alan and he gave Charlie a fatherly stare, "you didn't?"
"No, I didn't." Charlie picked up the phone. "Eppes household. Oh hey David – an update? What? No. Dad's hippy ways mean we operate a green one. You know, elbow grease and hard work. I'm all for it. Especially since he does it. What's this got to…oh. You think it means something? I'm coming down. No. This data could mean nothing, but if I leave it out." Charlie forgot what he was saying as Alan grabbed the phone out of his hands.
"David. Alan. The blood? Is it Donnie's?"
Charlie's face dropped. How could he have forgotten that? He'd been so wrapped up in proving it wasn't Don, he hadn't thought to consider the tests would be back and that they could answer his question far more elegantly.
By the time Charlie pulled himself out of his thoughts Alan had hung up.
"Charlie?"
Gulping Charlie asked the question he really didn't want to know the answer to. While he was scribbling expressions on the chalkboard Don was still alive. The few seconds before he asked his dad, Don was alive. But he knew he had to ask. "So?"
"Inconclusive." Alan slammed his hands down on the dining table and buried his head in them briefly. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Inconclusive! What do they mean? It either is or it isn't. I mean it isn't is it?"
"Animal…"
"I knew it."
"Charlie, I hadn't finished. Animal and A."
"Don."
"Yeah. Don. Your mother was the same. Last time I heard anyone talk about blood types…" Alan looked around in realization. Charlie had exited as soon as he'd said 'Don' and Alan hadn't even noticed. Alone with his thoughts once more. He took some comfort in knowing where Charlie was headed; straight to the FBI office.
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An orange glow from the setting sun showered itself over the drying grass in the frontyard, but it was strangely peaceful.
Liz and David clocked the vespa in the driveway as they made their way to the front door. A neighbour had said they'd seen Sophie in the house and so now the task of telling Sophie Field her husband was dead lay with them.
David knocked and Liz positioned herself. There was a slight twinge in her shoulder causing her to wince in pain briefly. She tried to put it to one side. This was the hardest thing she had to do. All her emotions concerning Don were in danger of flowing out in sympathy if Sophie Field broke down. It seemed cruel, but she was hoping shock would take hold first and then her denial would make it easier for Liz to keep her own emotions in check.
David gently touched Liz on the arm as the door began to open. She welcomed the gesture.
"Mrs Field?"
David and Liz walked inside and the front door was shut.
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Darkness from the night had seeped into everything in the many hours since it had risen.
Bloody and scraped, a hand slammed against the oak tree for support. It rested there for a few seconds before scraping itself off the rough bark.
Lights marked the final few steps. Familiar and warm. This was it. Finally, this was it. A cool breeze whipped up but couldn't tug at the tough strands of hair matted in place.
Left foot. Right foot. Ten, maybe nine more steps. Leaves and dirt were dragged in the shuffle. Whatever it was, whatever he knew, he knew it would all be over. He welcomed the light.
Minutes ticked by like hours but it didn't matter. He now faced his final destination. His hand slammed onto the wood and slid. Dried blood and dirt marked the surface, soaking into the grain.
More minutes ticked by like hours. This time, they mattered. His tired and worn body began sliding down the wood, the few splinters going unnoticed.
Half way down, the wood gave way – the door opened.
Alan Eppes looked down at the form collapsing in front of him.
"Donnie, oh my god…."