DANGEROUS TIES

The two agents and Charlie rode silently in Don's SUV. It had taken a minute to get past Alan, of course. After he had convinced David to give up the entire story he had gone into full protective-parent mode. When Don had led Charlie back in, Alan demanded answers to the very same questions and doubts that had plagued Don's mind. With the efforts and promises of both sons, though, Alan relaxed enough to let Charlie go with Don. Now they sat at a red light.

" How did you know Christina, Charlie?" David asked, breaking the silence.

Charlie stared off, his gaze penetrating past the windshield and replied, " She was a student of mine."

"I figured that," David replied with a nod, " Was she a good student? Did you like her? As a student I mean."

Charlie looked over at David. He smiled, as if remembering something from long ago. David felt a the hair on the back of his neck raise. The smile didn't match the Charlie he knew and the eyes didn't either.

" Yes," Charlie replied, " She is a good student. Brilliant. Energetic. She has a promising career, and it's...was," Charlie caught himself, " She had a promising career. It was enjoyable to see her grow like that."

Don looked back at his brother through the rearview mirror. The younger man stared back out the window. Don wasn't sure, but he thought he saw a glimmer of a tear in Charlie's eyes.

" Why do you ask, David?" Charlie replied, turning to look at Don.

" I knew her," David replied honestly, " At least I knew her through her sister."

" She has a sister?" Charlie asked suprised.

David turned to look at him.

" Of course she has a sister," he said, " Didn't you know that!"

" No," Charlie replied sheepishly, " She never says...said much about her personal life."

" Charlie, can you think of any reason someone why someone would try and hurt Christina?" Don said, trying to break up the conversation.

Charlie looked at Don through the mirror.

" No," he replied, " It doesn't make any sense to me. She didn't have any enemies around campus. There was no rivalry that I knew of. It..."

" What?" Don said, catching a look of revelation on Charlie's face.

" Unless..." Charlie started, suddenly looking very sick.

" Charlie, what is it?" Don replied worried.

" Don, we need to get back to the math building. The project! If someone killed over..." Charlie said before freezing up.

" Charlie? Charlie!" Don yelled, but Charlie wouldn't respond.

" Don, over there," David said pointing to an empty lot.

" NO!" Charlie yelled, " NO! We need to find Larry. Immediately!"

" Larry!" Don said changing course, " What does he have to do with this?"

" It's the project," Charlie answered, " It has to be. Don, please. We need to find Larry. He might not know!"

" Okay, okay" Don replied reassuringly, " We'll go get him. Don't worry, buddy. Everything is going to be fine."

Charlie looked over at his brother, his eye searching. Don looked at him through the mirror, trying to reassure him.

" I hope your right, Don," was all Charlie said.

Don and David exchanged a worried look.

Back                         Home                              Numb3rs Main Page                          Next