DANGEROUS TIES

" What do you mean you can't say anything!" Don replied, angrily approaching Larry.

Larry pulled back and said, " I'm sorry Ag..Don, but we can't."

Don turned to Charlie.

" Charlie," he said, " What does he mean?"

Charlie looked at Don nervously.

" He said what he meant, Don," Charlie answered cringing, " The clearance level is to high. It's to high for you to know."

Don stared incredously at Charlie.

" What do you...Charlie, you can't be serious!"

Charlie cringed sheepishly.

" Am I missing something?" Alan said, confused by Don's reaction.

Don turned and replied, " No, Dad, everything's alright. Charlie, why didn't you tell me?"

" I would have thought it was obvious," Charlie muttered, " I mean with the security clearance. I thought you would figure it out."

Don just stared in amazement at Charlie. He could never imagine his little brother would work on something top secret for the goverment. When he thought about it, he couldn't even imagine his brother helping him on cases. Yet the proof was there, as clear as black and white.

" Charlie, Larry," Don said looking at the physcist as well, " Can you think of anyone who would kill over this project."

Charlie and Larry shared a look.

" No," Charlie said, " The project was merely scientificly based..."

" Charles," Larry interrupted, " Don't try and tell us that you can't even consider the possible uses for the...the project. Despite yours, mine, and Christina's good intentions."

" I'm not talking about intentions, Larry," Charlie replied, " I'm talking about the cold hard facts of the model."

" Charles!" Larry warned.

" You were building something?" Don asked.

Charlie realized his mistake. Lowering his head he nodded. Don looked at Charlie and then at Larry.

" Can you guys at least give me something...anything?"

Larry folded his hands and placed them near his face. He seemed to be in deep concentration. After a moment he placed his hands down.

" There was only a small number of people who knew the details of the project," he said, " Charles, myself, Christina of course, and a William Bennent."

" William Bennent?" Don said, " Where have I heard that name before?"

Larry shrugged, " I don't know. That was the name he gave us."

" It's a start," Don said, " Come on, Charlie. We could use your, er, knowledge about the project."

Charlie looked up at Don. A glimmer of happiness shown in his eyes. He began following Don out. Suddenly Don stopped.

Looking back at Larry he said, " Um, Larry, maybe you should come, too."

The physcist nodded. Standing up he looked at Alan.

" I'm afraid I'll have to forfeit our game for now," he said.

" It's no problem," Alan replied.

Larry looked sadly down at the board. Suddenly an idea seemed to strike him.

" Well, maybe..."

He stretched out for the board. Taking a pawn he knocked down Alan's last rook.

" Checkmate," he said.

" What?" Alan started. Pulling out his glasses he inspected the board, " How the heck?"

Don and Charlie looked at each other and turned to supress a laugh. Larry looked innocently at them andshrugged. Don, still shaking his head, led him and Charlie out the door.

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