H3XAGON KILL3R

Don walked into the conference room and for a fleeting moment believed it to be Charlie's bedroom. He knew his younger brother seemed to thrive in a chaotic enviroment, but it was starting to become ridiculous. Papers were carelessly thrown all over the floor. Meaningless numbers and symbols were written along all the boards provided. A map of the city hung on the wall. Orange string shaped like a hexagon with another line protruding out of it hung on the wall. Beneath the map was a table covered in paper. Sitting at the table was Charlie, his head bent in deep concentration. Casually Don walked over and leaned against the table.

" Could you please not do that!" Charlie instantly snapped.

Immediatly Don knew something was wrong. If he was working on a problem he either ignored you or tried to explain everything. The only time he ever did snap was when he was emotionally strained.

" Charlie, what's wrong?" Don asked worried.

As if he thought it would help Don put a reassuring hand on Charlie's shoulder. It scared him that Charlie flinched from the touch.

" NO, Don!" the younger Eppes snapped. Looking into his brother's worried eyes he continued, "Look I've got a lot of work to do. This pattern it's more difficult then I thought it would be."

" Why don't you get Amita to help you?" Don asked.

Charlie, who had gone back to scribbling figures on the paper, replied, " She went home. To visit her family for a few weeks."

" What about Larry? I mean...," Don started.

" Larry's lecturing," Charlie looked up at his brother, " Look, Don, I appreciate the effort your putting up. But all I need is time and quiet."

" Okay, buddy," Don replied, " Then that's what you'll get."

Silently the older Eppes brother stood up and walked out. If Charlie needed quiet to work, then that's what he would get.

Now that the room was back to it's original silence, Charlie realized that he couldn't think. That is he could, but for this one moment the numbers evaded him. No matter what combination of equations he tried, whether they were complex or simple geometric theorems, none would work. There just wasn't enough data. Charlie shuddered, the only way to collect data would be if more... He couldn't bring himself to finish the thought. Of course, the copycat, Sam, wasn't any help. The files for his case were gone, and since he was a copycat. The data that could have been collected was obsolete. It could have been altered in anyway. In fact... A sudden thought struck Charlie. What if the patter wasn't hexagonal... What if?

Suddenly the sound of a phone ring errupted under the piles of paper scattered around the room. Charlie looked around digging through the paper until, finally he grasped his cell phone.

" Dr. Eppes speaking," He answered.

" Ah, Dr. Eppes," the voice on the other line began.

" Hello, who is this?" Charlie said, the voice seemed frightenly familiar.

" I apologize for this, Doctor," the voice replied, " But I need to see you."

For a moment Charlie was unsure what to do. For all he knew it could be a student who didn't talk much in his class.

" Uh, sure," he replied, " Where are you?"

" You know exactly where I am," replied a sing-song voice on the other line.

Charlie immediatly went cold. It was him, the copycat.

" Come alone this time, Doctor," the voice said, " I have some information to give you...on behave of my boss. And I'd do it if I were you. My boss is not a patient man."

Instantly the phone went dead. For a few seconds that seemed like an eternity Charlie stood there. His mind was screaming for an order, but fighting with itself on which course to take. Why did Sam want to see him? Was it relevant to the case? Should Don come along? Suddenly Charlie became aware that he was shaking.

" Don," he called out his voice weak to his own ears.

" DON!"

Immediatly the older Eppes ran into the room.

" Charlie, what is it? What happened?" he exclaimed shocked at how shaken his brother seemed.

Charlie looked at Don for a few seconds. Suddenly a feeling of dread washed over him, and he felt that he couldn't take Don with him. Something in his gut told him not to.

" N-n-nothing," Charlie said, " I, um, need to leave for a few minutes. See if I can clear my head."

Don looked at Charlie in suprise. In the many years the two had been brothers, Don had never heard that come out of Charlie's mouth. He knew something was up.

" Okay, do you need me to drive you?"

" No, I can ride my bike. Really it will only be a few minutes."

" Okay, whatever you want, buddy."

Charlie nodded his head, and before Don could stop himhe left the room. Don watched him as he walked out the doors and a temptation to follow crossed him. However, he stuck his head out the conference room door and beckoned Terry to join him.

" What is it?" she asked, " Where's Charlie?"

" That's what I want to know. Listen can you do me a favor and follow him. He'll recognize my car, but he's less familiar with yours."

" Sure," Terry said heading out.

" And one more thing."

Terry looked over at Don.

" Watch out for him."

Terry nodded understanding Don's meaning perfectly and followed Charlie out the door.

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