The Escape

by Lynda La Plante

  ‘I’ve been waiting for you, and at this rate we are going to be late for your hearing at Clapham,’ she said as she opened the rear door of the taxi. Colin went to get in, but she stepped in front of him and got some handcuffs out of a pouch on her belt.

  ‘Hold your hands out please.’

  Colin felt dejected as he hadn’t expected to be handcuffed. It wasn’t as if Barry was some big-time dangerous criminal. He was just a small-time thief who liked to nick fast food. Colin put out his hands for cuffing and could now only hope that they would be removed when he got to court. He got into the back of the Volvo and the female officer sat beside him. She was a pleasant-looking blonde, in her late thirties. The officer with the dog opened the main gate and the taxi drove out.

  Colin couldn’t believe he’d got this far, as the officer turned to speak to him.

  ‘This is my second trip to the courts this morning, so I had the chance to speak with your solicitor. You’re on remand, aren’t you?’

  ‘Yes, ma’am, I’m going to be committed for trial today.’

  ‘Well, your solicitor wants you to change your plea to guilty this morning. Because you’ve been at Barfield for a month, there’s a good chance it will count as time served and you’ll be released from custody at court. He also said the magistrate will give you credit for the other offences you’ve admitted.’

  ‘That’s good,’ Colin said happily, realising that he now had a way of walking out of court legally rather than having to escape by doing a runner. His excitement was short-lived though, as it dawned on him that the solicitor was another problem he and Barry had overlooked. Barry had never even mentioned him, let alone described him. He’d only told Colin that his solicitor had suggested that he should be medically assessed for his fast-food obsession and his learning difficulties, which were due to lack of schooling. These could be used to get a lesser sentence.

  Colin knew Barry was not the brightest spark and had noticed that he struggled with reading. He seemed only ever to look at comics, saying that he liked the pictures. Colin also knew that if Barry appeared before the magistrate, he’d never change his plea to guilty. He desperately wanted a trial and to be found guilty so he could stay in prison. Colin thought it was harsh for someone like Barry to be locked up with tough criminals for such a petty crime as stealing food, and really he should have been sent to a hospital for treatment instead.

  ‘You’re very quiet, Marsden,’ the officer said, giving him an encouraging smile.

  ‘Yeah, lot of things on my mind,’ he replied and then asked how long before they got to court.

  ‘Be about another fifteen minutes.’

  However, it took a lot longer as they got stuck in a traffic jam because of road works. It wasn’t Colin who began to get agitated but the prison officer. She kept on looking at her watch, shaking her head and moaning about the hold-up. They were crawling along and she was worried that, if he missed his time slot in court, they might have to delay the hearing and that would ruin her whole timetable.

  ‘I’m getting worried. Maybe I should contact your solicitor?’

  That was the last thing Colin wanted. The solicitor might ask to speak to him and that could give the game away.

  ‘Don’t they turn off their mobiles when they are in court, ma’am?’

  She sighed and looked at her watch again.

  ‘I don’t know what to do. You see, I’ve only just completed my training and I’ve been working at Barfield for just six weeks. I used to work in a dry cleaner’s, but I’m a single parent so I really needed a better wage packet.’

  Colin said nothing as the car inched forward and eventually started to pick up speed as the traffic thinned out. It was a further ten minutes before they drove into the parking area of the court.

  Chapter Eleven

  The prison officer opened the car door for Colin and walked with him to the entrance. They went into the court along a stone corridor and headed into the prisoner reception, where she took off the handcuffs. She should have taken Colin down to the cell area, but instead told him to sit and wait while she asked if his case had been called yet. She became even more anxious when told that his solicitor was already in court with another client.

  Colin sat watching and listening, wondering when, and if, he could find the moment to escape. The officer was pacing up and down, unsure what to do, when the door to the court opened. The defendant in the previous case was led towards the cells and the female officer went through the door to try to get the solicitor’s attention. Colin looked round. No one was taking any notice of him and he knew it was now or never. He stood up and calmly headed back down the corridor to the door through which they had entered.

  Colin walked slowly across the rear car park and out of the open gates, and then ran as fast as his legs would carry him up the street. He had to keep a tight hold of his baggy jogging pants as they kept slipping down. Nervous and confused, he asked a couple of passers-by the way to the nearest bus station because he knew the Underground did not go as far out as Croydon. The depot was half a mile down the road. On the way, Colin nipped down a side alley and turned Barry’s T-shirt with the Coke can logo inside out. Arriving at the bus station, he looked in Barry’s wallet, to find nothing, not a penny. He knew that by now the prison officer would have realised he’d gone and had probably told the police. He looked round in despair and saw a man get off his bike at a newsagent’s shop and rest it against the wall. He didn’t want to take it, but felt he had no choice.

  Karen meanwhile was at home checking her hospital bag with her mother. She was feeling scared as they had been told that she should not contact the hospital unless her waters broke or she had regular contractions. She wasn’t sure, but she had begun to feel twinges in her belly. Her mother kept on asking if she was all right and, at the same time, checking they had the due date written correctly on the calendar.

  ‘I just want to have the baby!’ Karen wailed.

  ‘I know you do, love, but they’ll only send you back home if you’re not really ready. Often, it’s a few days either side of the due date. When your waters break you’ll know . . . and right now, they haven’t, have they?’

  ‘I want to be there early to make sure they have a bed for me.’

  ‘Of course they’ll have a bed for you on the maternity ward. Just sit down for now and try and relax. I’ll make us a nice cup of tea.’

  Karen slumped onto the sofa, near to tears. She felt like a beached whale, and her emotions were in a mess.

  ‘I wish Colin was here,’ she said tearfully.

  ‘Well, you’ve known for some time that he can’t be. The prison refused him permission to be with you, but I’m here. I won’t leave you, so just relax. You’re all packed and ready, and I can drive you there when the time is right.’

  Karen suddenly let out a yelp of pain and held onto her stomach.

  ‘It’s time, Mum. I can feel it. We’ve got to go NOW!’

  By now there was complete panic at Clapham Magistrates’ Court. At first, it was assumed Colin had gone to the toilet, but after a search of the building it was obvious that he had simply walked out. The prison was contacted and the local police arrived at the court as the poor newly trained prison officer broke down in tears.

  She explained about the traffic jam, that they were late for court, and how she had been trying to find out when Barry Marsden’s hearing was going to happen. By now, his solicitor had joined them and said that, had Barry appeared and pleaded guilty, it was more than likely he would have been released that morning. He joked that they would probably be able to find him in the nearest McDonald’s, and, if not there, they should try KFC.

  As Barry Marsden was not a high-risk category ‘A’ prisoner, there was little concern for public safety. He had never been known to be aggressive or violent, so the police inspector didn’t feel the need for an urgent public appeal. This took a bit of pressure off the situation. However, his escape certainly made the prison and court officers a
ppear totally incompetent, which in itself was a serious matter.

  The prison authorities would be furious, and the police would have to begin a search even though they felt it was the prison’s fault. The police immediately gave Barry Marsden’s description to all local patrol officers. They also sent all his personal details to the police stations near his family, so that officers could visit his relatives and find him as quickly as possible.

  Of course, the police were searching for the wrong person, as the prisoners had swapped identities. This gave Colin added time to make his way home. He dumped the bike away from his flat. He was exhausted from all the frantic pedalling on the eight-mile journey. He rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. When no one did, he realised Karen must have gone to hospital or be at her mother’s. He needed to change before he could do anything else and remembered that they kept a spare key with their neighbour.

  The neighbour was an elderly lady who was hard of hearing and took a long time to answer his desperate ringing of her doorbell. Eventually, she opened the door and was very surprised to see Colin. He asked for the spare key, and said as little as possible so as not to alarm her or give the game away.

  ‘I’m allowed home to be with Karen for the baby’s birth,’ he said, impatient for her to give him the key to their flat.

  ‘Oh, how nice. She left about an hour ago with her mother, who said they were off to the hospital.’

  ‘Had she started labour?’ he asked as she handed him the key.

  ‘Not sure, but she was clutching her tummy and moaning a lot.’

  Colin thanked her for the key and hurried off to his flat. Once inside, he ran into the bedroom, threw off Barry’s smelly clothes and scrubbed off the tattoos with white spirit. Wanting to look good for Karen, he then had a shower, washed his hair and shaved. Having put on a clean shirt and jeans, Colin searched the flat for some money so he could get a taxi to Croydon hospital. He thought the first thing the police would check would be buses and the Underground.

  Karen’s waters broke as she arrived at the hospital, and she was helped into a wheelchair by one of the porters. Her mother was beside her, holding her daughter’s hand tenderly as they were taken up to the maternity ward. Her mother unpacked the nightdress and baby bag, and Karen sat on the edge of the bed as another contraction began. She moaned, holding onto her belly, and her mother rubbed her back to try to comfort her. A nurse gave Karen a hospital gown to change into, and then a midwife examined her pelvis to find out what stage of labour she was at. She also checked the baby’s heart rate.

  ‘Will the baby’s father be joining you for the birth?’ the nurse asked politely.

  ‘I wish he was, but he’s away on business,’ Karen replied between deep breaths.

  Chapter Twelve

  The police arrived at Barry Marsden’s home address on a run-down estate in Peckham, South London, but no one was there. They also called on two relatives who appeared not to care and said they had not seen him in years. As the solicitor had suggested, they also began to check the fast-food joints near the courthouse and his local shopping centre, but without success.

  One hour later, Colin arrived at the hospital and at once spoke to the receptionist. Checking Karen’s name on the computer, she asked who he was. Colin, fearing the prison or police might call the hospital, said he was her brother. She told him that Karen was in the maternity ward on the third floor. He pressed for the lift but, when it didn’t come immediately, he was so impatient that he ran up the three flights of stairs. Excited and out of breath, he took a while to explain to a nurse that he was Karen’s husband and he’d rushed over from his work. The nurse checked her clipboard and smiled.

  ‘You are in luck, Mr Burrows. She’s in labour but the baby’s not arrived yet. She’s just been taken to the delivery room.’

  The nurse took Colin to the delivery wing, where she spoke to a rather plump senior nurse who handed him a gown and mask.

  ‘She will be pleased to see you. Your wife is quite a feisty young lady and she’s getting impatient, but she’s not dilated enough yet. It shouldn’t be long though. Try and help calm her down.’

  Colin’s heart was pounding as he was led towards the delivery room. Suddenly he heard a woman screaming and he knew it was Karen. He stopped for a minute to take a few deep breaths, and then walked through the double doors.

  Karen was wearing a soft protective bath hat over her long blonde hair and a hospital gown. He could hardly see anything except her feet, which were in stirrups, and the bulge of her tummy. Her mother was sitting sweating beside her, and Karen was gripping her hand so tightly she was half out of the chair. At first, her mother didn’t recognise Colin because he had the mask on, but then she let out a shriek, shouting out his name.

  ‘Colin! It’s Colin. He’s here, Karen.’

  Karen tried to raise her head, but let out another scream and flopped back as she was having such a painful contraction.

  Colin took her mother’s chair and leaned in close, taking her hand.

  ‘Karen, it’s me, my darling. I’m here for you and our baby.’

  She was screaming and panting hard, and yet so pleased to see him that she started to cry.

  ‘They released me so I could be with you,’ he lied, and bent in to kiss her forehead.

  ‘Come on, Karen, give a good push now. We’re nearly there.’ The doctor came forward and Karen’s face twisted with pain.

  ‘Deep breaths now, Karen, and one more big push,’ he said firmly.

  She gave one last groan, a big heave and the next minute the baby boy arrived. The midwife quickly weighed and washed him, and then handed him to Karen, wrapped in a white sheet. Karen was by now propping herself up, holding out her arms, and Colin broke down in tears. They both wept, because it was such a wonderful moment. Their baby son was perfect in every way and they were overwhelmed with joy.

  Colin had never felt such happiness and love. When Karen carefully passed the baby for him to hold in his arms, he thought his heart would burst with pride.

  ‘My God, Karen, he’s beautiful. He’s even got hair and look at his tiny fingers.’

  As Karen’s mother watched them together, any bad feelings she had about her son-in-law vanished. Colin’s joy and tenderness were touching. His obvious love for Karen made her mother realise that they were a beautiful couple who deserved to be together. No matter what she thought about Colin being in prison, seeing him with her daughter and grandson meant that he was family. Her husband might not be quite so easily won over, but she’d talk to him at home.

  Karen was wheeled back into the maternity ward. She was feeling very tired, but having Colin beside her made all the difference. She was so happy. Delighted with the healthy baby boy who was placed in a crib beside her bed, she smiled at her loving husband as he sat in the chair next to her.

  ‘I am so glad they agreed to let you be with me,’ she said, holding onto his hand.

  ‘Me, too, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.’

  ‘I love you, Colin.’

  ‘I love you, too, and Barry.’

  She wrinkled her nose and asked if he still really wanted to call the baby Barry.

  ‘Maybe, a bit later, I’ll explain why, but please agree. Like I suggested before, his second name can be Justin.’

  Colin stayed with Karen all afternoon. She slept for a couple of hours, and her mother went home. Her father arrived with a bouquet of flowers. He was not very friendly to Colin but, after seeing him proudly cradle his grandson, he too changed his mind. He said that he was glad that the prison authorities had allowed him out for the blessed event. He asked how long he would be able to stay with Karen before he had to return to Barfield.

  Colin said that he had to go back after forty-eight hours, not even hinting that he had escaped. Although he had intended to tell Karen, there never seemed to be the right moment and he didn’t want to upset her. There would be time later to confess to her that he had actually absconded.
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  Chapter Thirteen

  The search for Barry Marsden went on, but the police still had no idea where he was. They returned to his home address and this time his mother was in. She had been shocked to hear that he had escaped from the court, and claimed to have no clue as to what he was up to or where he could be. When the police searched the house, she became vicious, outraged that they doubted her word.

  ‘Believe me, if Barry had turned up here, I would have reported him immediately. He’s never done anything but cause me trouble,’ she said bitterly.

  ‘Sorry, we’re just doing our jobs, ma’am,’ a fresh-faced policeman replied as they went on searching the house.

  As his mother had insisted, he wasn’t there, but, as the police were leaving, they asked for a list of anyone she thought he might be in contact with.

  ‘None of the family, I can tell you that for certain. He’s just a ruddy loser,’ she said with a coldness that sounded cruel.

  Eventually, she gave the police some names and numbers, but told them it was a waste of their time. The police thanked her, but felt no further forward than when they had started.

  Barry’s other relatives and known contacts were also questioned, but no one had seen or heard from him, and no one seemed to care a jot about him. The prison authorities were not happy. They didn’t care that Marsden was a low-risk prisoner. The fact was, he had escaped and that made them look bad in the public eye. When the police reported back that they were unable to trace Barry, the Governor of the prison ordered the cell to be searched for any clues. He also said that Barry’s cellmate, Colin Burrows, was to be brought to his office for questioning.

  By late afternoon, East wing was buzzing with rumour and speculation among the inmates. A prisoner returning from a different court had heard two officers in reception talking about a prisoner who had escaped. The officers were trying to lay the blame squarely on the female officer who’d escorted Barry Marsden.