Evasion

by John Greenwood

  Michelle couldn’t believe it when the hostess seated him across from her. It was the eyes that did it to her. She couldn’t stop staring at his eyes. They were slightly magnified behind the glasses, but she still recognized them. She couldn’t believe he was here. What was he doing? She looked all around and saw Timmons across the room slowly rising to his feet and nodding in the direction of the kitchen where she figured the Warden was. Michelle began shaking almost uncontrollably, so much so that she kept her hands below the table and squeezed her purse to try and calm herself down. A second later, he leaned across causing the candle light to flicker and whispered something in her ear and told her to look across the street. Michelle kept her eyes focused forward as he quickly rose up and began to slowly walk towards the door. She closed her eyes as both Timmons and the Warden converged on him at the same time. A few seconds later, she opened them up and saw both Timmons and the Warden on the floor screaming for someone to go after him. Timmons made his way to his feet and scrambled out the door while the Warden made his way over to her. He did not look happy. He sat down quickly next to her. She could see the stress building in his eyes and the disbelief on his face. He stared into his iPhone and began to dial. Michelle turned her head slightly and smiled looking out the window across the street. She held up her wine glass and took a long sip then began chewing on the seafood pasta causing the Warden to give her a menacing look. A minute later, Dever slammed the phone down on the table.

  “Is this amusing to you Ms. Stewart?”

  “Not at all.” She took another long sip. They both quickly turned their heads as Timmons fell back into the restaurant and landed in the seat next to them at the table.

  “He’s gone.”

  “Of course he is. You are a mess Timmons.” Timmons began brushing off his shirt with his hands and wiping at the scuffs on his face, but it wasn’t doing any good. Dever kept shaking his head and staring at his phone.

  Jackson smiled as he twirled the tortellini on his fork and raised his Diet Coke. He took another long sip smiling so broadly that the couple seated at the next table eyed him curiously. He couldn’t believe it they had pulled it off, and he had watched the whole thing. He was just curious who the guy was that came in and spoke with Michelle and then took out both Dever and the other guy. It was impressive, but it made him somewhat apprehensive. He had known right away when Michelle had suggested they meet at The Candlelight that it was a setup because they vowed to never set foot in there again together. It had been there regular Saturday night date night place to go until they had experienced a bad argument that left them both so upset, they decided to never go again. They chose to instead go to Tuscany’s, where he was seated now eating dinner with his wife seated directly across the street. Despite being apart, he knew they were really together. They were even timing their bites and drinks together. He had really enjoyed her toast when she lifted the wine glass. If only the Warden knew. He almost felt like laughing, but he knew there was still much more to be done before that happened. He had watched the man exit the restaurant and quickly vanish into the crowd like he was a ghost. The Warden’s man had followed him for a second and then he just disappeared causing the man to give up and head back inside the restaurant. Jackson watched as the Warden and the other man sat beside Michelle who continued to eat and ignore their desperate please. She looked so beautiful seated there as the faint candle lights flickered across her face. He wished he could reach out and touch her with his hands, instead of just his mind, but for now it was enough and he continued to smile throughout the rest of his meal. They both finished at the same time. He watched as the Warden and the other man quickly rose up leaving Michelle all alone at the table. When both of their backs were to her she looked over and gave him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. He smiled back and then wiped a tear from his eye as the two large men ushered his wife towards the door. He watched them exit the restaurant. Timmons stayed with Michelle and walked towards the parking lot, while the Warden went the other way behind the restaurant, probably to his parked car. Jackson ordered a piece of cheesecake as he watched the Ford slowly drive by with Michelle and the Warden’s man. He took his time enjoying the cheesecake fully aware that someone was bound to be waiting for him when he exited the restaurant, he just wasn’t sure who.

  Chapter 30

  Dever slammed the transmission into drive and pulled out from behind the Candlelight and onto Sycamore Street. He quickly scanned the area looking for anyone that resembled Stewart or the guy that showed up at Michelle’s table. It wasn’t until he and Timmons had been struck and pushed onto the floor, that he realized it wasn’t Stewart. The guy had been so quick and strong leaving them almost defenseless. He still wasn’t sure who he was and the only thing he could get out of Mrs. Stewart was that he had mumbled something she couldn’t understand. He wasn’t really sure if he believed her, but he had nothing else to go on. Timmons said he would work on her on the drive back to her house, but he doubted they would get anything else. He was still sure Stewart had come by and somehow was tipped off. He wasn’t sure if Mrs. Stewart was involved or it had to do with the guy that mysteriously showed up. He was going to re-read the emails again they had sent each other earlier. He had never felt as defeated as he pulled onto the highway. He called his wife and let her know he was still working and probably wouldn’t be home for a celebration dinner tomorrow. She seemed to understand, but he didn’t. How did he keep being outwitted by a criminal...his criminal? He wanted him so much back in his control. He would do anything to get him back and he wasn’t about to stop now or ever, no matter what it takes. He knew he eventually had to get back to administering the Conduit, but this was the priority. What would the other inmates think of him if he let one get away? How many more would try? He sped up switching into the left lane. He missed his Corvette. He passed a large truck going too slow and cursed out the window as he flew by him. He quickly slowed down hearing his phone ring. It was the damn Governor again.

  “Hello Dever. I need an update. People are freaking out down here.”

  “We’re still on him Sir. We had a plan tonight to lure him in but he somehow got tipped off. We’ll get him. I promise.”

  “How much longer? What do you want me to say? How many more times can he elude you?”

  “I can’t tell you that Sir, but I can tell you we are close.”

  “Close isn’t good enough. I’ve got an election coming up as you know. This doesn’t look good. CNN is broadcasting that he’s going around assaulting police officers and possibly might be involved in additional murders.” He could hear him take a deep breath. “And this is looking like it’s our fault, like we’re incompetent. The press is camped out in front of my place and The Conduit.”

  “I understand Sir. We are doing everything we possibly can.”

  “Why aren’t the Marshalls with you? Shouldn’t they be the ones finding them?”

  “They are working on it too Sir.”

  “Well, we need to work harder right?”

  Dever took a long deep breath and pulled off onto the Stewart’s street. He could already see the Ford in the driveway. “Yes Sir,” Dever uttered into the phone but the line was already dead. He slammed the phone onto seat and screeched into the driveway with sweat pouring out his pores. He wasn’t used to getting talked to that way. He had always been in charge. In the Academy, he was always one of the cadet leaders. He excelled in every aspect of the Marines, always taking every leadership position. In fact, most senior officers were always so intimidated by him they usually took a back step as he quickly rose up the ranks. He stormed out of the car and entered the Stewart house. Timmons and the two police officers were seated at the kitchen table, while Dever could hear Mrs. Stewart talking to the babysitter in the other room. He leaned against the wall near the stove. Timmons nodded at him. Dever looked away. A minute later, Mrs. Stewart and another lady similar in age walked past them and out the door. He listened to Mrs. Stewart thank her several times.
He was quickly losing his patience.

  “So are you ready to talk?” Dever barked out.

  “Let me place her down first.” Dever looked at Stephanie in her arms, her eyes half shut. He just nodded and sat down next to Timmons. Michelle quickly walked upstairs and placed Stephanie down, opened the drawer in the file cabinet and pulled out the SITA file. She stared into the eyes of Braymond.

  Jackson paid the waitress and slowly exited out of Tuscany’s. It was after 10:00 PM, but he still feared the Warden or one of his men would be out here waiting. He looked towards the window Michelle had been sitting behind just about an hour ago. He missed her so much. He wasn’t really sure where he was heading to, but he needed a new plan. He figured maybe he needed to leave the area for a while like he had originally intended to and wait until things cooled down. He just needed to figure out how. He casually walked down Sycamore towards the end of the street where it met a busy thoroughfare and figured he would be able to get a cab easier down at this end. There were still lots of people all about and he carefully examined each face and body movement looking for any obscure or immediate action that was different from anyone else. He stopped in front of a man dressed up as a clown. He didn’t look like any circus clown he had ever seen, but he was still a clown. There were about twenty or so people gathered around, so he blended in towards the middle and watched the clown attempt a slapstick routine. It was failing miserably, but it was still somewhat entertaining. Jackson used this opportunity to scan the area behind and in front of him and everything still appeared normal. He continued to watch the clown and applauded at the appropriate times along with the others. At the end of the performance, he even threw a dollar into the small bucket the clown was carrying around. He remained in place until almost everyone was gone and then he continued walking towards the main road. He stopped for a few more acts along the way. There were two teenagers banging on various garbage can lids and an elderly man horribly singing Sinatra tunes that was generating more laughs than applause, but he watched anyway. A minute later, he saw two police officers slowly walking his way, so he ducked into an ice cream shop near the end of Sycamore. It was a famous place and was crowded as usual. Jackson ended up waiting in line and purchasing an ice cream cone because the officers remained outside the door for some reason. They didn’t appear to be interested in him; they were just watching the crowd, but they were stationed right outside the door. He found a stool near the back where he could observe them. Finally, a half hour later the two officers moved on. Jackson slowly stepped out of the shop and began walking towards the cabs when he saw a familiar face. It was the same guy from the hotel. He was walking directly towards him and coming fast. Jackson quickly looked behind him and didn’t see the police so he turned around and began walking quickly back into Sycamore. He kept peering over his shoulder and saw the man was still coming. He realized now it was the same guy who had entered the Candlelight and had sat next to Michelle. He felt a chill drop down his spine. He kept moving but he wasn’t sure what to do. He couldn’t let anything happen to Stephanie or Michelle. What if he had threatened them? He kept walking quickly until he saw the backs of the uniforms of the two police officers in front of him…he was cornered. He wasn’t sure what to do until he felt the muzzle in his back. It was too late the man had him. He looked into his green eyes; recognizing him immediately and nodded as the man carefully led him away from the police officers. Jackson took another long look behind him, but they were going the other way and were paying no attention. He wasn’t sure if he should be happy or worried. He continued walking back towards the main road with the gun being pushed hard into his side.

  “I know you don’t want them to come unless you want to go back to jail.” Jackson listened to the familiar voice. “Pretty slick having your pretty wife right across the street like that. Stupid warden had no idea.”

  “Look…please stay away from my family. They have nothing to do with this.”

  “That’s where you are wrong they have everything to do with this.”

  Jackson felt the muzzle being pushed a little harder into his side. “Please just tell me what you want.”

  “You know what I want. I want the money.”

  “I told you I don’t have any money.” The man led him around a couple pushing a baby in a carriage.

  ‘Then I’ll have to take your little family till I get my money.”

  “Leave them alone.”

  “I will once I get the money.”

  “There is no money…I told you.”

  “I won’t forget what you did to my face too. That wasn’t cool throwing hot water on me.” Jackson leaned forward a little to ease the pain from the muzzle. “Don’t even think about it. I’ll blast you right here.”

  “I’m sorry about that, but I needed to get out of there.”

  “When are you going to realize Stewart I own you till I get my money. I can send you back to that hellhole you came out of any time. I know where you are at all times. I watched you fall asleep in that hotel bar the other night. I could have told the warden at any time.” Jackson felt the gun go in deeper. “So either start listening or you’ll be wishing you could go back to the Conduit…by the way how do you think you got that Rolyphenol so easily.” Jackson quickly turned his head in the direction of the man’s. “Yes, that’s right. I was watching you in prison too and in your escape.”

  “How did you…?”

  “I have my ways…now are you starting to get the point?” Jackson shook his head. “Remember the airport? Do you really think you could outrun a whole team of police officers with that bad leg?” Jackson couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He kept walking towards busy street and looked over at the ice cream shop he had been in a few moments ago. It was still busy. A minute later, he was shoved into the front passenger seat of a Toyota SUV.

  Chapter 31

  Michelle softly closed the door to Stephanie’s room and slowly walked back downstairs. She still wasn’t used to having the officers present in the house. She walked into the kitchen and saw the Warden, his assistant and the officers in a heated discussion on how Jackson had beaten them again. The officers were arguing that the Warden needed to let them find him and he should go back to the prison, while he was saying he wasn’t leaving till he got his prisoner. Michelle poured a cup of coffee and quickly exited the kitchen and went back to the family room. She no longer turned on the TV, she was afraid of seeing another reporter talking about Jackson assaulting a police officer. The last time she saw the news they were showing footage from the McDonald’s cameras. She knew he didn’t get hurt, but it still showed him assaulting him. She quietly smiled thinking of their dinner together earlier. Jackson had caught on so masterfully. She knew he was still firing on all connections. She took a long sip of the steaming coffee and stared at the last family picture together. They were all so happy. Jackson had the biggest smile of all. He was holding Stephanie in one arm and the other was around her. She looked deeply into his eyes and started wondering if she really knew him. She kept replaying him pushing the police officer in her mind. She started to shudder looking closely at another picture of Stephanie on the end table. It was her latest school picture. She looked so much like Jackson. She had mailed him a copy the day Stephanie had brought it home. Jackson said he carried it with him everywhere he went and she believed him. She knew she was tired, even exhausted. She hadn’t slept more than a few hours since he had escaped. She focused back on his face in the picture and thought back to their time together. There were the usual arguments, but nothing serious and he had never laid a hand on her. He just wasn’t the type. He would hold and caress Stephanie for hours. He even held her all night when she wouldn’t sleep…Mrs. Stewart…Mrs. Stewart.” She quickly snapped her head towards the voice it was the Warden.