"What the hell are we going to do about Chris?" Wilmington asked Jackson when he was sure no one was within earshot. Tanner was also present and he knew the Texan felt the same way he did.
"Not sure there's anything we can do at this point, Buck. Josiah went in the ambulance with Ezra, and everything is still in place as far as the assignment goes. Security is searching for Chris and once they find him we can decide what to do about the case."
"I say we pull the plug right now. Who knows what the hell was done to Chris, but you can be sure it's bad because there's no way in hell he would have stabbed Ezra if he was in his right mind," Wilmington said.
"Nathan, can I speak with you for a minute?" Coburn asked when he noticed the two men standing away from the others.
"Have you heard anything about Chris?" Jackson asked.
"Someone spotted him on the outer grounds and the police have been called in. That's why I wanted to talk to you. I think it's time to call a halt to this before anyone else gets hurt. If the police believe we have an escaped patient who's considered armed and dangerous then they'll treat him that way and he could be hurt," Coburn explained.
"I ain't gonna argue with ya 'bout that. It's time we started lookin' fer him," Tanner said.
"You won't be able to until the lock down is called off," Coburn told them.
"Ain't much of a lock down if'n Chris got out before anyone caught him," the Texan advised.
"That's something we'll have to speak to the board about once this is over," Coburn offered. "If it's any consolation I believe you boys were on the right track with Kent and once the board goes over his case files they'll probably order an investigation into his other patients."
"It don't do Chris any good right now," Tanner said.
"Maybe not, but at least it opens the door for a complete investigation into his activities," Coburn said. "The other patients will stay in their rooms until we're sure there's no danger. Meanwhile I'd like your help in keeping everything under control here."
"Nathan, we need to get word to Orin and find out what's happening with Ezra," Wilmington said.
"I'll call Orin and fill him in," Jackson assured them and wished he could ease the worry he saw in their eyes.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
Chris cowered in fear of the creatures his mind conjured up and latched onto the hatred he felt toward his 'brother'. Ezra had put him in here; Ezra had signed the papers and made sure there was no way out for him. There were others involved...a preacher...and a woman named James.
Chris chuckled at the thought of a woman being called James, but groaned as his gut burned like an unquenchable inferno. He had no sense of time, but he needed to relieve himself and God, he was so damn thirsty. He tried to get to his feet, but his legs refused to hold him. He tried to crawl, but even that seemed an impossible task as pain shot through his joints.
"God damn you, Ezra!" Chris cried out, his voice rasping through tightly clenched teeth as he struggled to get past the pain. It was an impossible feat, and he blinked several times in an effort to orient himself with his surroundings. Where the hell was he? How the fuck was he going to escape if he couldn't even crawl? Where was the bastard who said he'd help him?
Chris rolled onto his back, but held tight to the scissors as if they were the key to his finding an escape from the hell around him.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
JD knew things had gone wrong and was quickly sending things to his own computer at the office so that he could go over everything more carefully. News of the stabbing had reached them and that Chris Jacobson was behind it and had escaped the secure area had sent everyone into a panic. He'd been forced to remain where he was because there was nothing he could do until the police allowed access to the secure grounds.
Melissa Tandy was at her computer, but she was talking to someone on the phone rather than working and JD hoped she would not notice what he was doing. He silently wished he could contact the others, but for now he needed to keep up appearances.
The files he was downloading were ones that had been inaccessible until he found the right password. Now he'd be able to access Kent's files from The Firm's office. He knew that between him and Ezra they could easily get through the back door and find out exactly what Kent had been up to. He frowned when he noticed something he hadn't seen before and sent a link along with the rest of the files.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
Craig Styles looked up when he heard someone call his name and smiled at the pretty woman walking toward him. Things had calmed down somewhat, and the search for Jacobson was no longer concentrated on the secure area of the facility. "What can I do for you, Dr. Parker?"
"We need to talk," Parker said and motioned for him to follow her outside.
"What's going on?" Styles asked, confused by the woman's behavior.
"How would you like to make some extra cash?"
"I'm all for extra cash, Doc. What do you have in mind?"
"I know you work closely with Dr. Kent..."
"I just do my job."
"Cut the crap, Styles and listen for a change. I've got a proposition that could net you a tidy sum as long as you're willing to do something without question."
"Depends on what you want," Styles told her.
"I want you to find Jacobson and make sure he stays hidden until I say so..."
"I heard he escaped."
"You don't believe that any more than I do. Look, I'm willing to pay you five grand if you do this."
"Make it ten and I'll not only find Jacobson I'll make sure he stays out of your way."
"I don't want him to stay out of my way...I want him to help take care of another problem I have," Parker explained.
"What problem is that?"
"Kent," Parker said and saw the greed in the man's eyes. "I want Jacobson to take care of him for me. Do you think you can find Jacobson? If you can I just might be inclined to cut you in on other assignments."
"I might be able to, but I don't work cheap, Doc," Styles said, already counting the promised cash.
"I expect you to do what I say without question then," Parker said. "Find Jacobson and make sure you come to me."
"I don't need to."
"What do you mean?" Parker asked.
"I already know where Jacobson is," Styles told her.
"Where is he?"
"In the gardener's shed. Kent had me lace his water with a street drug that causes hallucinations."
"How long ago was that?"
"About two...maybe three hours since I gave him the water," Styles answered.
"Does he have anything he can use as a weapon?"
"He still has the scissors. Kent is supposed to let me know what he wants to do next," Styles explained.
"Is there any way you can get Jacobson inside without anyone seeing him?"
"Maybe during the shift change. It's the best time and sometimes we can slip in through the back while the staff is leaving," Styles told her. "What do you have in mind?"
"I want Kent dead...doesn't mater how, but if you can make it look like Jacobson killed him then there'll be a bonus in it for you."
"I can get him inside and if I convince him that Kent is working for his brother then it'll be easy to get Jacobson to take the good doctor down. If not, I can always kill Kent and see that Jacobson takes the fall for it," Styles explained.
"Just as long as you make sure Kent and Jacobson are taken care of."
"That'll cost you extra," Styles told her.
"I'll double my offer if you can get this done in the next two hours," Parker said.
"That's not much time, but if you can make sure the back door is left open a little and the cameras in that area are shut down then I should be able to get Jacobson to Kent's office without much trouble," Styles explained.
"You get this done right and I promise there'll be more money in it for you," Parker assured him and saw the hint of a smile on the man's face. "Look, here's what I want you to do...bring Jacobson around the back and I'll meet you there with Kent and between us we can make sure neither man is capable of ruining what we have here."
"All right, Doc, looks like you and me got a deal," Styles said and watched her leave. He could do a lot with the money she was offering and wondered just how much he could milk her for once Kent was out of the way. He pushed his hands into his pockets and whistled softly as he hurried toward the gardener's shed.
TBC