A minute later, she looked up. “If I agree to do this, how will you guarantee he won’t be harmed?”
Dever looked towards the kitchen again. “Because Officer Timmons and I will be the only ones there to apprehend him, Timmons is outside parking the car. He wished he would come in so she could see he was just a normal looking guy. “I promise he will be handled safely and just placed back in the car. No guns or any violence of any kind.” He watched her squeeze the comforter again. “I can’t guarantee that with the police.”
“He’s a good man.”
“Like I told you before, I just do what the state tells me to do and it’s my job to keep him safe and sound in my prison till they decide to release him back to you in the same condition he came in. I hope you understand that.” He watched her slowly nod her head.
“How am I supposed to get a message to him?”
“With all due respect Ms. Stewart, we both know you have been communicating with him. From what I have heard he had complete access to the computer system in the prison.”
She quickly looked towards the TV. “I saw on the news he had no special access to the computers.”
Dever quickly answered. “Officially he didn’t…but he’s clever so I’m sure figured out a way to get around the system.” She nodded. “So if you would please send him a message to meet somewhere that would be great.”
“Where?”
“Do you have a special spot where just you two would go that he might trust?”
She nodded again. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this.”
“I understand, but you’re probably saving his life by doing this.”
“Well we used to go to this little restaurant down the road called Candlelight. It’s where we had our first date.” She picked up more of the comforter.
“Great. Let’s go send it. Where’s your computer?”
She slowly stood up dropping the comforter back on the couch. “Over here.” A few minutes later, they created an email that stated she wanted to meet tomorrow afternoon at five. She reluctantly hit the send button and began crying uncontrollably till Stephanie came running down the stairs. She picked her up and carried her over to the couch where they both cried into each other’s arms. Dever said good-bye and motioned to the two officers to walk him out. They both followed him. He instructed them not to let her touch the computer and keep her in till tomorrow before five. He said he would call. He stepped outside and became annoyed not seeing Timmons anywhere, but the car door was still open and the lights were on. His instincts immediately took over causing him to sprint towards the car.
Chapter 21
Jackson quickly stood up as the man charged towards him. He wasn’t sure who he was. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and he was coming towards him at full speed, and it looked as though he had a weapon. He took one last look at the house and couldn’t believe it when he saw the Warden come into view and sit across from Michelle. Then Stephanie disappeared upstairs. Jackson turned and ran into the backyard. He stopped for a second when the automatic floodlight lit up the backyard. It must have been installed by Michelle after he was put away. He ran through the yard and jumped a small wooden plank fence covering the far side of the back yard. They had planned on acquiring a small dog once Stephanie reached four or five years old, but that had all changed. Jackson looked back again and saw the man sprinting through the lit up yard. He could tell he was probably around thirty-five and looked as though he was fairly fit. He was holding a semi-automatic weapon out ahead in his right hand, but he was moving too fast to aim it. Jackson landed softly on the other side of the fence and ran into the Clemon’s back yard. They were an older couple who used to love to stop by and play with Stephanie whenever she was out back when she was a baby. Jackson remembered all the picnics they had, just the three of them on a beautiful spring day. He so missed that. Michelle would lay out a blanket and make sandwiches and brownies like they were living the white picket fence dream life. He sped up as he approached the back of the Clemon’s house. It was a large four-story home they had purchased in their twenties and raised four kids in. Last he had heard, all the kids had scattered throughout the country pursuing their dreams. He raced by the side of the house and ended up ducking behind a car in their driveway. It was a small Audi, but he was able to crouch down and hide himself. He watched the man fly by, his gun still waving out in front of him. A minute later, he stopped at the bottom of the driveway and looked all around and then began slowly walking up the driveway towards the Audi and a Ford pickup truck parked next to it. Jackson leaned into the tires as closely as he could, but if the man came too close there was no way he wouldn’t see him. He had the gun out in front of him held by two hands now and was aiming behind bushes and trees alongside the driveway as he made his way up it. Jackson remained in place slowly moving towards the front of the Audi to shield himself from his sight. He watched the man approach the Ford and slowly make his way around it. He was less than ten feet away. Jackson had no choice but to remain in place. The gun was too close. He watched as he circled the truck and then moved towards the Audi. Jackson moved to the back as the man approached the front of the car. There was nowhere to go unless he made a break for it and took a chance he wouldn’t shoot. He waited till the man reached the far side of the car. He was now no more than five feet away. Jackson hesitated then started to get up and run till he heard the front door of the house open up behind them and a light snap on, illuminating both cars and the driveway. He saw the man turn towards the noise as Mr. Clemons stepped out onto the front stoop. He looked exactly as he did five years ago, a full head of white hair, a thick mustache and the build of a twenty-year old. Jackson wanted to say hi, but instead he took off running down the driveway. He could hear Mr. Clemons yelling at the man to get off his property with the gun. Jackson was already across the street and heading into the woods. He saw the man come stumbling down the driveway in pursuit while trying to calm down Mr. Clemons at the same time. Jackson almost smiled as he made his way through the dark woods. He wished he could thank Clemons. He knew he had to keep moving and when he came out on another side street, he began jogging down the side of it hiding under the shadows of the large trees. He didn’t hear or see the man anymore so he started to slow down. A minute later, he heard a wall of sirens heading towards his neighborhood.
Dever felt his phone began to vibrate in his pocket. He quickly answered it already knowing it was Timmons. He could hear him breathing heavily.
“He was just here Warden. I almost had him.”
“That’s what everyone always says, including me. Where are you now?”
“The next street down, he ran into the woods. I’ve got the police coming to search for him.” Dever slammed the phone back into his pocket and jumped in the car driving it quickly to the next street where he found Timmons standing at the bottom of a driveway of a large house talking with an older annoyed looking man. He quickly got out and listened as Timmons described what happened and where Jackson went. He listened to the old man describe what a class act Jackson was and that there was no reason to be going after him with their guns out. Dever just nodded and then climbed back in the car as he listened to the sirens and helicopters arrive. He drove back to Jackson’s house and a minute later he was knocking on the door again.
“What’s going on out there Warden? It’s Jackson isn’t it?”
Dever looked at Mrs. Stewart’s concerned face, the child buried in her arms. “It was him. He was here.”
“Here? As in right outside?” She walked past him out into the front yard.
Dever turned around and followed. “Yes, which is more the reason for us to make sure this happens tomorrow.” He watched as she looked up at the two circling helicopters beaming their spotlights into the woods. She then started to cry and hugged the child tighter. Dever immediately thought about his grandchildren near the same age. “I’m pretty sure he’s gone by now knowing what I know about your husband. He’s probably some
where laughing at us searching for him.”
“I don’t think he’s laughing Warden. I can’t believe he was here. I miss him so much Warden.”
“Daddy’s home?” Dever quickly turned his head away and watched a police car scream by the front of the house with its lights and sirens.
“No sweetheart, Daddy’s not home. Remember I told you he’s in big boy timeout…right Warden.”
“Yes ma’am.” He patted the child’s head.
“Have you ever been in big boy timeout Warren?”
Dever smiled. “You bet. I work there and I’m trying to bring your daddy back with me.”
“You must be bad if you work there Warren.” He watched as she buried her head back in her mom’s shirt.
“Something like that,” he whispered. “I’ll keep you posted Mrs. Stewart and be ready for tomorrow.” She nodded her head looked up at the sky one more time before she stepped back inside. Dever jumped back in the cruiser and headed towards Timmons.
Jackson sat next a small tool shed behind a house about five streets over and watched the police cars pass by. He couldn’t believe how many there were, especially the helicopters. He never imagined in all his planning that they would make such a big ordeal over his escape. He wished he had gotten on that airplane to Georgia. He rubbed his leg for a minute. It was still sore from his fall on the tracks, but he had no time to rest or feel pain. He had already felt enough pain over the last five years that an injured leg wasn’t going to stop him. He waited as three more police cars drove past before making his move. He slowly crept out from behind the shed and ran across to a large field where the local kids played baseball and pickup football games. He used to bring Stephanie down here once in a while to watch. She got such a kick out of all the kids running and yelling. He couldn’t believe how big she had gotten. She still had that same look on her face that she did the day she was born. He raced across the field looking back at the helicopters still circling behind him in the dense woods that he had stepped out of. He knew they would expand their search soon so he had to keep moving. He reached the other end of the field and jogged into another wooded area that opened up to a shopping plaza. He stood on the edge of the parking lot behind a group of large trees. Many of the stores had changed in the five years since he had last been there. He smiled when he saw they had put a Starbucks in. He wasn’t a big coffee drinker. The coffee at the Conduit was referred to mud, so he usually stayed away from it choosing just water instead. He slowly made his way to the Starbucks anyway. The sign said they were open for another hour. He entered and ordered a black coffee, calmly sitting down amongst all the other people; most of them fully engaged in their electronic devices. A few minutes later, he slowly walked up to the young woman behind the counter and asked if he could borrow the phone to call a cab. She offered to do it for him. Five minutes later, he finished his coffee and stepped into a Red Top cab. He instructed the driver to take him to a Sheraton about fifteen minutes away. As soon as they pulled back onto the main road he sat back and watched the law enforcement vehicles cruise by.
“What’s going on around here?”
Jackson kept his eyes focused out the window. “I don’t know. It’s usually a pretty quiet neighborhood.”
“Probably another domestic shooting…been happening a lot more lately. I think it’s because of all the extra stress…” Jackson didn’t hear another word. He just kept his eyes focused on the window, praying no blue lights show up behind them. A few minutes later they pulled into the Sheraton. Jackson paid the driver. It was the exclusive hotel in the area. Most of the weddings and events were held here. Jackson and Michelle attended a few weddings here in the past. He stepped into the vast lobby to wait for the Red Top to leave so he could take another cab back to his motel, but the guy was out talking to other cab drivers parked out front so Jackson decided to head to the bar for a few minutes.
Dever wasn’t surprised they still couldn’t find Stewart. He figured this would happen. At least he was correct where Jackson wanted to go…back home. He signaled Timmons to drive him back to the Sheraton. He needed another scotch. He looked at the dense woods now lit up with spotlights from both the ground and air searching for a man they would never find. A few minutes later, they pulled into the large Sheraton parking lot amongst several standing cabs waiting for fares. Timmons dropped him off at the door. Dever made a beeline for the bar. He needed another scotch. This was quickly turning into something much bigger and more difficult than he could imagine and he knew the Governor was going to be calling again soon. He made his way to the bar and set down next to a young couple two stools over fully engrossed in conversation. They didn’t even notice him. He motioned to the bartender and a minute later, he was sipping a Dewar’s. He sat calmly looking at the inbox on his iPhone hoping and praying a message would show up saying they got him, but he knew it wasn’t going to happen. He figured they had a pretty good chance of getting him to show up with his wife tomorrow, but the way things have been going, he wasn’t so sure. He quickly wheeled around on the stool when he felt the tap on his shoulder. He wasn’t sure why he was so jumpy. He was never the jumpy type. He was the calm and cool type, maybe it was the Taser gun that had done this to him. He looked into the face of Timmons and could immediately tell he was about to tell him something bad by his expression. Timmons sat down on the stool next to him.
“They called off the search. He slipped away.” Dever watched Timmons shake his head. He liked Timmons. He was a good officer but he knew he didn’t have what it took to be good…to be a hunter like he was. You either had it or you didn’t. There were many Marines he had worked with over the years that just didn’t have it and they couldn’t be trained. Dever had just accepted them and put them in non-combative roles. At first they always resisted, but then they realized they were better suited for their new job.
“He always gets away.” Dever took a long drink and looked at the other patrons behind him in the mirror across the bar. Most of them were business types in for a night or two to make a deal and then go back to busy lives. They would never know a real hunter was seated amongst them.
“We’ll get him Warden. He’ll make a mistake…they always do.”
“He will, but let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later. There’s something different about him. Did you know him?” Dever watched Timmons take a sip from his tapped beer. He wondered what must be going through the guy’s mind, seated here in a hotel hours away from the prison trying to track down a computer whiz who is more elusive than most CIA spies. Dever took another long drink and motioned for the bartender for another.
Timmons turned his head. “Yeah…I met him a few times. He used to help out with our computers. Didn’t say much, but he always solved every problem we had. Some of the guys even let him work on their home computers.”
“That must stop as of now.”
Timmons nodded in agreement. “I agree. Who knows what information he was able to gather.”
“Any ideas on how he got the drugs in? That’s got to stop now too. There’s going to be a lot of changes at the Conduit as soon as we get back.”
“We’ll touch base with all the long-termies and see what they know.”
“I want nothing…I mean nothing coming in those doors, not being one hundred percent screened.” Dever could start to feel the effects of the alcohol, but he didn’t care. He quickly finished his second scotch. Timmons just nodded.
Chapter 22
Jackson couldn’t believe it when he saw Dever walk into the bar. How did the guy do it? He sunk down in his chair and slid behind two other patrons chatting about the Washington Nationals. He could see the side of Dever’s face. He didn’t look as tidy as he usually did when he saw him out and about throughout the prison. Gone was the look of authority, replaced by a look of desperation. A few minutes later, the other man, the younger one he had seen at the bank and had chased him walked in and sat beside him. He had never seen him before, but he guessed he probably worke
d at the prison as well. Neither of them looked back in his direction till he saw the Warden’s eyes scanning the bar mirror. He hoped his disguise was enough to throw them off. He happily looked on as the bartender continued to supply him with what looked like scotch. Jackson was drinking nothing but Diet Coke. He had decided the day Stephanie was born to give up alcohol, not that he was ever a heavy drinker or anything but he didn’t want to take any chances while raising her. He still couldn’t believe his luck that the Warden would show up in the same hotel he was at. He knew his luck would run out eventually. He knew he had to get to his motel down the street, but there was no way he was going to take any chances right now so he slid down a little more in his seat. A few minutes later, the two guys talking baseball got up to go. He was all alone and now exposed. He pushed his glasses on a little tighter and kept his head turned the other direction. He needed a break. Occasionally, he would take a quick look back and could see the Warden still at the bar with a fresh glass in front of him. He was on his third or fourth now. He would have to stop soon. He didn’t seem like the type to get drunk, but what did he know. He had never had as much as a conversation with the guy. He found a small TV behind him tuned into the National’s game, so he kept his body and eyes focused on that turning his head backwards every so often. He watched as one of the batters lined a single over the third baseman and jogged towards first base. The camera panned the crowd, and he couldn’t help but notice all the faces innocently enjoying a peaceful baseball game. He so wished he was amongst them. He closed his eyes and thought of taking Stephanie and Michelle with him to a game. They would purchase popcorn, pennants and try and catch a foul ball. The roar of the crowd, the smells…they cheered as the next batter hit a homerun…he suddenly jumped when he felt the tap on his shoulder. This was it. He had finally been caught. He slowly turned around expecting to see the Warden behind him with a pair of hard steel open handcuffs, but instead he looked into the face of a man wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Sheraton Hotel chain.
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