"Why didn't you tell me before?" Don demanded as his team inspected the area where Charlie last saw Kai. Despite his question being directed at his brother, Don's eyes kept cutting to the pool of blood illuminated by the flashes coming from the crime scene photographers.
Charlie was pacing the area just outside of the crime scene tape. Sprinting not only wrinkled his clothes, but set his whole outfit in disarray. The back of his shirt was yanked outside of his jeans, blue fabric tailing down the back of his crumbled blazer. His always carefully arranged curls were disheveled and his skin was still too pale for Don's liking. He could see the growing bags under his eyes. "You were already upset about the interview and it was different than, than this." Charlie's hands kept wringing together before running through his hair, repeating the process indefinitely.
Don went to his brother's side and wrapped a tight arm around his shoulders to stop his pacing. "Hey. You can come to me with anything, okay? Anything. And this isn't your fault either, alright?"
"You're wrong," Charlie argued. "This is my fault. I should've told you. If I had, Kai wouldn't be… they wouldn't have to…"
Charlie tried to push of Don's arm, but his brother kept him in place, looking into his eyes. "Hey, I promise we're going to get her back."
"Them," Charlie said reflexively, then flustered. "Sorry. Yeah. Okay."
The older Eppes frowned. "You got to be straight with me, Charlie. Was there someone else taken aside from Dr. Flores?"
"No," he stated firmly. "Just Kai. It'll take too long to explain, and I'm not sure Kai would be comfortable with me disclosing personal information, especially to someone they don't like," he trailed off at the end, becoming flustered once more. "Look, this isn't the time or the place. I need to know what we do now. We can set up a trap, right?"
"No way. No," Don retorted. "I'll handle this, Charlie. Got it?"
"They want me though! We both know it's me they were after, Don," Charlie argued, stepping up to his brother. "I know I messed up with not telling you about the truck before. I know. But, I am not going to let Kai pay for my mistake!" Colby approached the fighting siblings with a slight expression of apprehension. "If I was anyone else, you would've been the first to suggest using me as bait."
"Don, can we talk to you for a minute?" Colby finally interrupted.
The two brothers stared each other down for a pause before Don lifted a finger. "Stay put," he said before turning and walking a few yards away with Colby where David joined them. "What's up?"
"The vehicle Charlie said followed him?" Colby started. "Same vehicle campus security caught on their cameras. And same truck that was at the San Marino Mall the morning Bonnie Parks disappeared."
"Are you sure?" Don asked.
"I saw it in the video. It pulled out of the parking lot a few minutes after she pulled in," Colby assured.
Don's brow furrowed, looking at his agents. "But, why go after Charlie?"
"The interview. They must have seen Charlie on the news," David added. "They know he's working the case."
"He's an easy target. He doesn't shoot back," Colby expanded with a sigh. "If it hadn't been for his student…" Colby didn't need to finish the sentence to paint a vivid image in the other agents' minds.
Don's hand went to his mouth, wiping at it roughly. If it hadn't been for Charlie's student, his brother wouldn't be panicking a few feet away. Instead, his brother would be in a body bag, on the way to the morgue. That doctor… no, Kai. Kai Flores. He thought he knew what guilt felt like, but this hit him tenfold. It wasn't lost on him how much of an utter asshole he'd been from the moment he met them. He had no excuse for it. His problems were his problems and he had exhibited poor self control when he took it out on them.
And still, Kai stepped up for his brother. Which makes sense. Charlie might think he's socially awkward, but he still has a way with people that draws them to him. Don owed Kai way more than he could ever repay for keeping Charlie safe. He could start with getting them back, though. "Alright. Judging by the blood, Dr. Flores may still be alive. We may have a hostage situation in our hands. My gut says whoever has Dr. Flores will try to use her to get at Charlie."
"We have to be ready for the worst," David intervened. "I really hope it isn't the case, but for all we know, the student is already dead. If they contact us, it's probably just for a chance to get Charlie in his sights again."
"Don't think I haven't thought of that. I want someone on Charlie from here on out, 24/7," Don ordered before walking back to his brother. "What do you remember about the guy?"
"All in black. Black shirt, black jacket, black jeans, black shoes," Charlie said as he rubbed at this forehead. "Uh, black hair. Maybe. Around five-eight. I couldn't see any other features, really, with it being dark." He reverted to pacing. "We have to find a way to get Kai back, Don. We have no exact details as to what these people are capable of, but violence and murder is obviously not a problem."
Don stopped him again, looking into his brother's eyes. "Charlie, we're gonna get her back, alright? I swear," he said with a confidence he didn't exactly feel at the moment. "I'll get Dr. Flores back."