Evasion Read online

  “Where to Warden?” The young officer asked not taking his eyes off the road as the car began to accelerate.

  Warden Dever took a long look out the passenger window. “Get out on 85 and let’s take the second exit.”

  The officer nodded and continued to increase the speed of the cruiser.Warden Dever pulled down the passenger visor and straightened his salt and pepper hair onto his head. His glassy steel blue eyes stared back at him. He recognized the look on his face; it was the same one he got every time he dealt with a tense situation. He flipped the visor back up and closed his eyes. He was trying to put himself in Stewart’s position. It was the same thing he did back in the Corp. He always played the part of the enemy in his mind. For some reason, he just had a natural instinct at knowing the enemy’s moves. He knew the obvious move was to get off the first exit or to navigate the back roads, but as smart as he figured Stewart was; he wouldn’t go for the usual routes he would try to outsmart the hunters. He had all the back roads covered by now. There were twenty or thirty police cars roaming the side streets looking for a light-blue Honda.The State Police were blanketing Route 85, so any intelligent prisoner trying to escape would be smart to stay off those two routes. He also knew he would probably try and ditch the car and uniform making it imperative that they get to where he was sooner rather than later. His biggest concern was that Stewart had help on the outside, if that was the case he could get through the net. He had a pretty good feeling about that not being the case because they had no outside communication from Stewart to anyone other than his wife and young daughter, and even that was limited. He already had someone alerting them to Stewart’s escape. He knew that was probably his destination, the family was always the first place they would look because escapees go back to what they know. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that, they needed to catch him before he got out of the immediate vicinity. Plus, the hype of an escaped inmate on the loose was a community nightmare. Luckily, they had time on their side being early in the morning, most folks would still be sleeping and he hoped by the time they woke up, Stewart would be back where he belonged. He would give a good strong speech on how they would review their lock-up procedures and prevent this from ever happening again, which was exactly what he was going to do. He vowed never to let it happen again, even if it meant he had to stand guard at the door himself. He watched as the officer pulled off Alban Road and quickly climbed up the entrance ramp to Route 85. The traffic was light as expected except for the Trooper’s cars racing north and south.They quickly accelerated and within five minutes they approached the first exit, Dever felt his mouth began to speak, but his gut quickly stopped him and they continued driving, the Virginia state line was only a few miles away now. He looked at the dashboard clock, it said 2:41.

  “Can we speed up a little bit officer?” The officer nodded and Dever felt the cruiser suddenly lurch forward, the scenery blurring past his peripheral.They finally slowed as they neared the second exit, there was been a sign for two restaurants and two hotels and several gas stations. Dever felt his instincts kick in; he knew Stewart was nearby. He could just feel it. The hair on the back of his neck was standing straight up. “Pull in here.” He pointed at the approaching diner. It was one of those twenty-four hour places that attract truck drivers or those who travel at night. The parking lot was crowded, filled mostly by large rigs, but there were several cars parked there as well.They quickly scanned the parking lot and after not seeing any small Hondas they pulled into the Denny’s parking lot across the street.There were only two cars in the lot, both large SUV’s. Dever quickly ruled the place out and signaled for the officer to continue on. He frowned realizing his mistake and motioned for the officer to hurry to the closest hotel. He should have gone here first. It was a large inn, one of the national chains, and it was full of cars. There was even a no vacancy sign flashing just like out of one of those gruesome horror movies. Before they even rounded the back of the structure, they had already seen two light-blue Honda Civics. “He wouldn’t be dumb enough to check into the hotel?” Dever said out loud aloud forcing the officer to nod in agreement. They were waiting for a confirmation on the license plate of the light blue one. After a long thirty seconds, they received word that it was the car. They had him. Dever felt the hair rising again on his neck as he and the officer jumped out of the car with their guns drawn. They approached the dark vehicle slowly from the back hoping to catch Stewart by surprise. There was someone in the back, Dever could see the outline. He motioned for the officer to hold back. He crept up to the back window, his finger ready on the trigger. He could see the Guard’s helmet reflecting the light. Could Stewart be asleep in the backseat? It couldn’t be this easy, he told himself as his finger eased back on the trigger. He snapped his body up to the back window prepared to fire when he saw the crumpled uniform lying on the backseat propped up to look like it was a body. “Damn,” he slammed his weapon against the vehicle. “He’s close. Let’s search the parking lot and check with the clerk.” He looked up in the dark sky. “Where are those damn helicopters?” He called in on his radio to report he had the vehicle and they were closing in. He knew Stewart was still close probably hiding behind a nearby tree or a car. He was going to catch him soon, that he was sure of. He slowly checked behind each car as the officer entered into the front door. He knew he had to put himself in Stewart’s shoes, that was how he would catch him. He suddenly ran off towards a rustling sound coming from an empty spot about fifty feet away. He had him.

  Chapter 4

  Jackson wasn’t surprised they had tracked him to the hotel; he just didn’t think it would happen so quickly. He could hear the sirens en-route to his location and knew it was only a matter of time before he would be surrounded. He had to do something quick, or he was going back to the cage he so detested. His pulse was pounding so loudly in his head that he couldn’t believe the Warden didn’t walk right up to him. “How was it he had found him anyway?” He thought. “Why couldn’t it be an officer like he had counted on?” This was one contingency he hadn’t figured out yet. He brushed up against the tree, positive there was no way anyone could see him because it was way too dark, but Warden John Dever was walking straight towards him.There was no way he could see in the dark. He had to do something and he had to do it right now. He could see the Warden’s gun pointed out in front of him, it was like he was aiming directly at him. He shouldn’t have come back, but he had to check for Hoover’s driver’s license; it had fallen out of the wallet when he was checking for money. He had already broken into a small Toyota. He had it parked behind the gas station just on the other side of the woods. He could use the ID, but it was too late for that now. He slowly took a step backwards hearing his footstep on a dry leave making a loud crackle. He watched as the Warden quickly turned his head, it was like he was a ravenous predator about to make a kill on one of those discovery channels. He thought he could almost see a sparkle in the old man’s eyes. He had no choice. He had to make a break for it. He knew he was younger and faster, but he couldn’t outrun a speeding bullet or a squadron of police cars that sounded like they were only a minute or two away. He instantly turned around breaking through the woods at top speed. He could hear the Warden shouting for him to stop, but he didn’t even turn his head. He was in reasonable shape from the jogging he did in the courtyard, but this was sprinting and he could feel his muscles and tendons straining on each step. He hoped he didn’t pull a hamstring or something. He was careful to look down so he wouldn’t trip on a branch or rock, but he could hear the footsteps behind him coming fast. The Warden was catching up. “How could that be?” He thought.“The guy had to be in his mid-sixties, and he was at least twenty years younger. He kept running faster and faster with each step. It was about a hundred yards until he exited the woods and then what? He would be in front of a gas station in a big open lot that would make easy target practice for any trained shooter. He could hear the police cars closing in even closer. He wasn’t going back like this.There wa
s no way. He wasn’t ready to die either, his only choice was escape. The plan had been years in the making, ever since Michelle had told him he needed to come home. It had been so easy to get out of the prison. He kept wondering why it was so hard to get away. He just wanted to go north and see his daughter. She was five now. He hadn’t seen her since she was two. She was born with a hole in her heart and had to get surgery within a month after she was born. It was so terrifying. Every minute of every day, his thoughts had been on her and they still were here locked up in the Conduit. He and Michelle had agreed they didn’t want to bring her to visit him in prison. They agreed to keep his prison time away from her mind. Eventually, she would find out anyway. Once she was old enough to understand, but for now; they chose to keep her innocence. Michelle still visited him whenever she could, but it wasn't often enough. He longed just to touch both of them, to hold them both in his arms just for a minute without a piece of glass or some bulky sheriff between them.There was no way he wasn’t going to see her again, steel bars or not. Twenty yards to go. He took a peak back and he could see the large figure behind him springing through the woods as if he were a graceful deer. Some guys were just naturals in the woods and some weren’t. He had heard the stories of the Warden’s time in the Marines, some kind of legendary Infantry leader, and he was seeing that now. He was finally out of the woods and in the parking lot. The pavement felt good under his feet. He felt himself accelerate a little bit. He needed to take advantage of this while the Warden was still in the woods. If he had called on his radio, there was no chance of escape, the police cars would soon surround the gas station and his freedom would be over. He quickly raced towards the back of the building. It was a twenty-four hour station, so all the bright lights were illuminating the grounds as if it were the middle of the day. He kept waiting for an explosion behind him and a tiny piece of lead to crash into his flesh and either end his life or at least his escape. The Warden was out of the woods heading directly at him. He could see the blue lights behind him heading down the exit ramp; it felt like the whole world was closing in. He quickly dashed behind the building, momentarily out of sight of the Warden. The blue Toyota was only a few feet away, but instead of running to the car, he stopped behind the corner wall and contemplated doing something he would probably regret. He had a twenty-year murder sentence. He couldn’t live without his family. He and Michelle had given all they had those first two years after Stephanie was born.They used to take turns every other night lying awake next to her making sure she was breathing through the night. Michelle had told him she was doing much better these last few years, but he still needed to see her, and she agreed. She was his life, not some steel cage he was living in filled with violent animals. He knew he couldn’t wait till Stephanie was twenty-five to see her again. He crouched down behind the wall. He could hear the approaching footsteps they were coming fast and hard. It was going to have to be a perfectly executed, and he knew it would be something he would hate himself for doing, but he had to do it, despite the consequences. He couldn’t stop now, even if it was not the right thing to do. He knew he was making bad decision, number two in his life, or was it three now. He didn’t know anymore. Was it ever going to stop? Maybe he was turning into one of the violent criminals he had been living with the last five years. He didn’t know anymore. Here came the Warden. He could hear the heavy breathing, or was that his? This was going to determine the rest of his life. He sprang into action.

  Chapter 5

  Warden Dever felt his instincts kick into high gear; something made his nose twinge. It was the same thing he always felt when he was in the jungle leading his men, he just knew danger was close by. He slowed as he approached the back of the gas station. He knew Stewart had taken off behind it, probably running to escape deep into the woods behind it. If he only knew a dog could pick up his scent in less than five minutes. He slowed down to a walk, something had tweaked his senses. He was listening to his gut, even though his mind wanted to continue running after Stewart. He really hoped he didn’t have to fire his weapon, but if he had to he was prepared. He knew there was nothing more desperate than an escaped prisoner on the run. They would do anything to prevent capture, even if it meant killing someone, and plus this guy was in for murder. He slowly rounded the corner; his firearm held out in front of him and his finger on the trigger. It would only be a split-second decision on whether to fire. It was never a process where you had a chance to think. You just acted on your instinct and training and hoped and prayed you did the right thing. He still remembered his first kill in the Marines. It had happened so fast that he hadn’t even had time to think about it until he had dropped three more of the enemy. It wasn’t like the movies; it was so real, the blood and the lifeless body and the eyes; he could never forget the eyes. He clearly remembered every set of eyes he had ever taken a life from. It never got easier, but it became more bearable, maybe because he reasoned they would kill him or worse one of his men if he didn’t pull the trigger. He didn’t want to experience that tonight. He would do everything he could to try to bring him in unharmed.

  “What the hell is going on?” He screamed out feeling his body twinge and fall to the ground. He felt his weapon fall out of his hand and land somewhere in the dark. He had no control of his muscles. They all seemed to fail at once. He was incapacitated. He couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t sure what had happened. He lie stunned on the ground looking up at a crescent moon. It wasn’t until about three minutes later he felt his mind and body began to speak to each other again. He felt besides his leg, his hand still trembling and tried to pick up the Taser gun lying next to him. He had been hit with Hoover’s gun. He had been through all the training, but he had never experienced a full shock and his body was letting him know. He reached for his radio, before realizing it was gone. Stewart had gotten his radio and his gun. He wasn’t sure what to do; the shock had taken everything out of him. He tried to get up to yell for everyone to come to him, but he couldn’t move. He could see the swarm of blue flashing lights in the parking lot of the hotel on the other side of the woods. He had never called to let them know he was at the gas station. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a car pull out of the gas-station parking lot and head east. He had to alert his men, but he couldn’t move his feet; he still couldn’t even get up. He began yelling frantically, but quickly gave out hearing his voice drain out from the sound of frantic sirens. He couldn’t let Stewart get away. Hopefully, he had run off in the woods behind the station because they would have him in no time. He tried to smile as he heard the familiar sound of rotors cutting their blades through the sky. He looked up and saw the two helicopters hovering above waiting for their next command, if only he could give it. He was finally able to get to his knees and began crawling towards the hotel. He knew every moment he wasted would be another moment further away Stewart would get. He suddenly stopped, remembering his cell phone. He reached his hand inside his jacket pocket; it was empty; Stewart had gotten that too. His mind perked thinking they might have a chance to track him through the phone’s built in GPS, just maybe Stewart wasn’t aware of that feature after being in prison for the last five years. They needed an advantage, although right now he would take any kind of break, especially one that would at least allow him to walk. Finally, ten minutes later, he exited out of the woods into the hotel parking lot.