H3XAGON KILL3R
The three Eppes, plus Larry, sat facing each other at the kitchen table. Don had told Charlie everything, even the scenario the crime scene watched his dad's face turn from annoyance at him, to complete shock, to finally fear. Between these glances though he kept his eyes on Charlie's patiently sat, his face fixed in a state of analysis and interpretation, as Don told him everything. He tried to remember all of it, but it seemed so...so...so impossible. As Don finished Charlie let his head sink between his arms. " Charlie," his dad called out, reaching for his younger son's shoulder, " Charlie, are you alright." Charlie looked up at his dad. Alan saw the weariness on his face, the...desperation because he couldn't remember. " Charlie," Alan replied, " Before we brought you home the doctor said there was a possibility of some sort of reaction. That the trauma may have an adverse affect on your mental state." " So they said I'd go crazy," Charlie whispered, his voice weak from non-use. " No, buddy," Don protested, " No. Listen if what the evidence," he paused at a look from his father, " If the evidence is showing what truly happened, then... I can list countless times when a victim is striken with amnesia. Yo...I've seen it many times." " He's right, Charles," Larry, who had remained silent replied, " The human mind has many facets to protect itself with." Charlie smiled weakly, " Scince when are you a pyschology major," he muttered. " There's more to life then just math, Charles," Larry replied good-humoredly. Alan let out a sigh of relief. The lack of memory certainly hadn't dampered Charlie's communication with friends. The change in pace was stopped then as Don said, " Charlie, how far back can you remember?" Charlie looked over at his brother. Don saw, for a brief second, hesitation and possibly annoyance. " I remember leaving you office,"Charlie said quietly. " When?" "When I needed a break. The copycat...Hexagonal Killer case." "Is there anything before that you don't remember?" " No." " What was the very last thing you remember?" "Riding out of the office parking lot." " Anything else..." " Don," Alan interrupted, "Don't you think you've asked enough?" Don looked at his dad, " No,"he replied standing up, " If we're going to catch the guy who did this we... I need Charlie to tell me everything he knows!" Alan stood up as well and placed a comforting hand on his older son's shoulder, " Donnie," he said. Larry looked over at Charlie, " Charles, I believe we should leave." Charlie nodded. The two professors stood up and silently walked out of the kitchen. Once safely in the hallway Charlie whispered, " Don mentioned that while I was...in the 'catatonic' state I started writing all over paper." Larry nodded. " Can you show me?" " Donnie, what's wrong?" Alan said, though he had an inkling to the answer. " Nothing," Don replied, starting the back and forth he had done when he was a kid. Alan sighed. Walking to the other side of the counter he faced his older son. " Donnie, I would love to reminisce an old game we used to play, but now is not the time. Will you just tell me what's on your mind?" Don looked over at his dad's worried face. Alan suppressed a gasp at how...old his son looked. Like he had aged a lifetime within a few seconds. " Dad," Don started. Alan nodded and waited. He knew Don would say what he needed, all he had to do was wait. " Dad, it's my fault Charlie's the way he is." " What do you mean?" " I mean the amnesia...the accident...all of it. I should have been the one following him, not Terry. I should have been the one to insist that I drive him to...wherever he was going. I should have protected him." Alan felt his heart break at those words. He had heard them before, but never with this much remorse, or pain. " Donnie," he said. " What's worse is. I don't know who did this. I can't stop them. For all I know they'll try again. And this time they won't miss," Don interrupted looking at his dad with desperate eyes. Alan looked back, understanding the meaning of Don's words. " Donnie," He said, " I know you've heard me say this before. Charlie is a grown man, he can take care of himself. And before you interrupt listen. Charlie can take care of himself, most of the time. But that doesn't mean he doesn't need you. You didn't fail him in anyway letting Terry follow him. You were letting him be the person he is. Now is the time you need to be his brother. Now is the time for you to take care of him. And I know you can." Don stared at his dad in mute disbelief. Finally he could only murmer a small, " Thank you."
Don turned his back to his dad. Silently he leaned against the counter burying his face exhaustedly in his hands. Alan sat and watched waiting to see if Don would be the first to say something. He wasn't.
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