Chapter 9
The Plan
Larry Johnson went home and started thinking about a way to help his son escape, but every plan that he and Carl came up with seemed to fail in both their eyes, until one certain person came in mind to help him. They needed Mike Damon. But how could he convince the man to help? He just knew he had to try.
Late that night the general went to the local Walmart and bought a few items. The most important was an untraceable cell phone. Then he went home and looked up an old phone number and prayed it was still good. Holding his breath, he dialed the number from so many years ago. He was rewarded when a very grumpy voice answered the phone, "Do you have any idea what time it is?!"
Larry smiled, "Sorry to bother you, sir. But are you Mike Damon?" He waited hoping and praying the person on the other line wouldn't hang up. The man was silent for a moment. "Yes, this is Mike Damon."
"Mike, this is Larry Johnson, and I need your help."
Mike sat down in shock; never in a thousand years did he expect to get this phone call. He listened carefully to Johnson, and understood how dire the situation was. Not helping Lewis would be sentencing his young nephew to death, and that was not what he wanted to happen to the boy.
"I will do everything in my power to help Lewis. Have no doubt about that, but if this is a trap, there won't be any way you'll walk away from this. You got that, Johnson?"
"I understand, and this isn't a trap. Help me get my son free and you will have my unconditional surrender," said Larry. "Then you can do whatever you want with me."
"All right, it will take a while to arrange things call me back in twenty- four hours. I should have everything sorted by then." They both hung up, which left Mike thinking to himself. He needed someone who wouldn't be recognized, which he would be. The first person that came to mind was Sam Wright. He had changed his appearance over the past year and a half so people, (mainly news reporters) wouldn't see him and ask questions.
He knew how late it was, and laughed to himself, for he knew what the first question would be, but this was urgent. He picked up the phone and dialed. Just to hear Mellissa's voice saying, "Do you know what time it is?"
"Yes, Mrs. Wright, I do. This is General Damon. Is Sam there? It's urgent."
The next day everything was all set, Sam Wright would be arriving in Tennessee in about twelve hours. The goal was that he would take a fake state prison van to the hospital. He'd be dressed in full uniform. Sam would take a document to Dr. Smith releasing Lewis into his custody. Then he'd meet with General Johnson and Carl Watson. All that Larry could do was pray everything would go according to plan, the Lord willing.
Larry and Carl paced back and forth, both eager but both worried as well. They wouldn't have much time to make their escape before Jasper was after them. Jasper would be out for blood after this. He'd consider this action the ultimate act of treason. For some reason it no longer mattered to the two men. All that mattered was the safety of Lewis, Carl, Carl's mother and himself. They waited for Wright and hoped he was a true friend and hoped that he could pull this off. The pressure would be difficult to bear but there would be joy when they got to safety.
When Wright pulled up to the old cabin that served as Larry's vacation home for many years it was still early morning. He got out of the small jeep he had purchased just for this trip. it was much older than he was. He bought it with the intent of leaving it where it was. He looked around and saw a light on inside the cabin; he was earlier than expected; so he walked to the porch carefully and knocked on the door.
He heard some chairs dragging as someone jumped up quickly. He knew everyone inside the house was nervous, because he was too. The whole way here, all he did was pray that he could do this without failing. Twice Lewis had helped him. Without a doubt, this was his time to repay those favors.
He knocked on the door a second time and an older woman came out. "Can I help you, son?"
"My name is Sam Wright, and I was sent by Mike Damon to help Lewis Johnson." He waited to see what she would say. To his surprise, a large man stuck his head out the door and smiled.
"Hey, Sam, how are you? I see you made it with no problems." Carl was relieved to see him.
"Yeah, no problem, and how are you?"
"Great now that you're here. Come on inside. It's cold out here. Plus, mom's making hot chocolate and man does she make it good." Carl placed one hand on Sam's shoulder, "Um… Sam, I just wanted to say I was sorry for how I treated you before. I really didn't know any better. Please forgive me."
"Hey don't worry about it, everything is forgiven already. The past is already forgotten so there is no need to be reminded. So let's just worry about Lewis for right now."
It was crunch time, where the real fun was about to begin. Carl and Larry worked to help Sam with the uniform and procedures on transporting a prisoner. He was given the paper work for transfer. He was drilled repeatedly until he thought he was going to be sick, but he knew everything was riding on this mission.
Carl went with him as backup just in case something went wrong. He had let a beard and mustache grow to help with a disguise. Both men were armed and in proper uniform, and both knew what to do. Sam would do the talking, because Dr. Smith might recognize Carl's voice since he had been there before.
With the uniforms disguising the men, entering the hospital was the easy part. Lewis was supposed to be transferred the following day. So the cover story as to why he was being transferred was to prevent someone higher up from breaking him out, hence, they were transferring him today. They waited nervously for Dr. Smith to call them to her office.
"Come in boys," she said with a smile. "So you're here to get the Johnson boy?"
"Yes, Dr. Smith. We are, here's the paperwork," said Sam.
"That's funny, the last I was told he wasn't being moved until tomorrow. I wasn't notified that he was being moved early. So why today?"
"President Jasper seems to think it would be wiser if he were moved today. He seems to think General Johnson might take matters into his own hands and bust him out. So we are moving him today." Sam hated lying to anyone so he hoped that it would not show on his face. "This way, he can't acquire his son if he doesn't know when he's being moved."
"It makes perfect sense. I have to give Anthony credit for always thinking ahead." She smiled at them once more and signed the document. "He has been given a mild sedative so he will cooperate with you fully." She mashed a button on her intercom, "Have Stanley and Charles come in here." A couple of minutes went by and then a knock at the office door produced two very large men. "Get Johnson ready for transport." Then they left.
Dr. Smith escorted them out of the office and down the hallway to Lewis's room. The two orderlies had Lewis dressed and helped him to the hall. Sam groaned silently to himself after seeing his friend.
Lewis did not resist and did everything he was told. He acted as if he were a zombie rather than a person. He looked at his two friends and did not recognize them. He stood not making eye contact and ready to do anything, he was told to do.
Carl glanced at Sam for just a minute, and then went to restraining their friend. Both men had heavy hearts for they had no idea what all their friend had endured over past two months. This worried both of them.
"Guys," said Dr. Smith. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
They both stopped to look at her. "Um… we are?"
She laughed, "Yes, you're forgetting the transfer orders"
"Oh gees. That wouldn't have been good. You know I would forget my head if it weren't attached. Thank you, Doctor; and you have a nice day." Sam said laughing a little. Once out of sight he let out a sigh of relief.
Carl smiled a little, "I thought for sure she had made me. I don't think I have ever been that scared in all my life. We need to hurry."
"Agreed," said Sam.
They had a head start on Jasper and his men. So far, everything was going to plan, but plans don't always go as expected. Therefore, Sam and Carl hurried as fast as they could to get back to Larry's cabin. Once there, they would make their escape to the Missouri - Kentucky border. Provided they weren't pulled over.
