"Boys! I have some… news," Rachelle called out.
The three Awdry boys were chilling together in the living room, all for once agreeing what to watch. They had officially conquered the first full week of school, and had collectively decided to take it completely easy for a bit.
"Is it bad?" Gordon asked.
"Umm… well, it's news," Rachelle said, walking into the living room and sitting down on the couch. "Thommy, I think… I think you should read this."
Thomas accepted Rachelle's phone when it was offered to him, and looked at the article headline she was reading… his jaw nearly dropped.
"'Tanner Vintex escapes from prison only three months after incarceration'?!" Thomas exclaimed. "I-I thought he was going to that special housing facility on the Mainland!"
"He was!" Rachelle said.
"Isn't that place described as the 'UK's Alcatraz'?" asked Edward. "How'd he ever escape from there?"
"Dirty cops, magically faulty cameras, and a trusty getaway guy," Gordon said.
His mother and two brothers eyed him.
"What? It's how all the good prison escapes on TV happen," Gordon defended himself. "And besides, he's probably going to go into hiding, not gonna be bothering us. All he knows is you're some scrawny kid who ratted him out at his trial."
"One - I am not scrawny," Thomas laughed, before he became serious again. "But… d-do you really mean that?"
"Mean what?"
"Do you mean it when you say he won't like… come looking for me?"
"Oh, of course he won't sweetie," Rachelle said, rubbing his head and hugging him. "You've got nothing to worry about there! If he does, though, he's got me to go through first."
"Ah, you don't beat the final boss before the mini-bosses," Gordon pointed out.
"Especially when she's thirty times as strong and infinitely prettier," Edward laughed.
"Oh, stop it!" Rachelle giggled.
Within minutes, Tanner's existence was forgotten about by the entire Awdry clan, as their mother joined the three boys in watching whatever cartoon they were currently into.
It was gonna be a good Saturday, they felt…
-0-
The Countryside. House of Boxford. 2:30 PM.
A white van was moving through several layers of brush.
"Ugh, dude, this is not a legal road," one of the guys in the front of the van muttered. "How many bushes have we run over just to get here?"
"You wanna pull over for a quick lunch?" asked the other, currently driving the van.
"Keep moving."
The two shriveled up at the voice of the man in the back of the van. He was certainly not to be messed with… "Y-Yes boss…" the driver said.
They finally arrived at their destination - a long abandoned summer home, by the Duke and Duchess of Boxford. Shrubbery had almost started to grow on the walls, and the weeds around the lawn almost rose to the height of the patio stairs. It, frankly, looked like trash on the outside.
In other words, it was perfect.
The van pulled up to the run over driveway, and two figures stepped out of the front.
Their names were Sammy "Sammy Pro" Shunter, and his twin Davie "Davie Pro" Shunter.
Recognizable by their purple and olive colored jackets respectively, Sammy and Davie then opened the back doors to the van, revealing a figure sitting inside.
The figure was wearing a matte orange prison jumpsuit, reflected by the sunlight coming through the open countryside otherwise covered in grass and high weeds. He had on deep brown combat boots, and his long sleeves were completed with black gloves.
This man… was Tanner D. Vintex.
"Thanks Sammy; you as well, Davie," he said calmly, stepping out. He took in a deep, long whiff of the fresh air. "Ahh… feels good to be free."
Sammy smirked. "You may have only been gone for three months, boss-"
"But," finished Davie, "they were three months too long!"
Tanner chuckled. "Indeed they were, my dear boys. Come, let us refresh ourselves - we've had a long journey from maximum security."
Sammy and Davie agreed, always ready for a drink and some lunch. The trio began to walk up to the front door with Tanner leading the way.
Tanner didn't unlock the door - he shot the bolt off with a revolver in his jumpsuit. Sammy and Davie just looked at one another.
"Come, we must look at our new home," Tanner said, oddly calm for him having just shot a door.
"...He means business," Sammy mumbled.
Sammy and Davie followed Tanner inside, and the summer home looked brand new on the inside. Power still worked, the house was fully furnished, the air conditioner even still seemed to be going… they had truly hit the jackpot here!
"Wow boss, how'd ya find this?" Davie asked.
"All in due time, my dear Davie," Tanner smirked. "In the meantime, I need to refresh myself in a shower unaccompanied by eyeing prison mates and guards."
Sammy and Davie tried not to snicker at that - despite being trusted with two of Tanner's prized AR's, the two were massive goofballs who really shouldn't be trusted with two of Tanner's prized AR's. They laid down their weapons as Tanner departed from them, just chilling in the living room for a bit, watching and laughing at the cartoons that were on Boomerang.
However… When he re-entered the room, they gave him their full attention.
Tanner now had on a solid black turtleneck, traded out for the matte orange jumpsuit. He also sported dark brown cargo pants, even darker brown combat boots, and a tan trench coat. His hair, formerly unkempt and untidied, was now evenly parted on both sides, and his beard was neatly trimmed.
"Wow boss, you clean up good!" Sammy said.
"Yes yes, very good, very good!" Davie echoed.
"Thank you, gentlemen," Tanner's smooth voice said, walking over to the exquisite cabinet in the corner of the kitchen, and pulling out one of the Duke's fine liquor bottles, and three shot glasses. "A toast, boys?"
"Ooh yeah, whatcha got there boss?" Sammy asked.
"Fine lagavulin, distilled in a recluse isle in Scotland," Tanner smirked, pouring himself a drink, as well as one for Sammy and Davie each. "Only the best for my boys."
"Ayy, thank ya boss!" Davie said.
"To new adventures?" Sammy asked, raising his glass.
"To new adventures!" Davie cheered.
"...To new adventures," Tanner agreed, clinking his glass with Sammy and Davie's, and downing the alcoholic liquid in one go. The burn in the serial burglar's throat was like matrimony compared to the cheap prison water.
Sammy shook his lips, trying to get through the tough liquid's burn, having only been used to clear wine. "So, uhh… what are we gonna do now, boss?"
Tanner sighed, leaning against the kitchen island. "I don't… really have any plans, if I'm quite honest."
"You gonna get revenge on the judge that sent ya away for three months?" asked Davie.
"No… no, the judge was fair," said Tanner. "I mean, if he had given me the death penalty, then yes - I would get even, no doubt."
"What about the witnesses?" Sammy chimed in.
"No… no-wait. Wait, hold on a moment," Tanner said, rubbing his forehead. "What was… what was the name of that kid? The damn boy who's the only reason my plans had to go on a three month hiatus, that one."
"Uhh… lemme find it here," Davie said, pulling up the article written this morning about Tanner's great escape from maximum security last night. "Thomas… Thomas Awdry! That's the kid. It says here, 'Vintex's final sentence was largely owed to the surprise witness of Thomas Awdry, who saw Tanner without his signature mask on fleeing a failed bank robbery'. Flattering."
"Hmm… I'm pretty sure he goes to school with my son," Tanner muttered. "I'll have to let David know about this."
"What are ya gonna do about him, boss?" asked Sammy.
"You are gonna do somethin', right?" Davie chimed in.
Tanner smirked.
"That's for me to know, and for him to find out."
And with that, Tanner crushed his shot glass like a piece of plastic in his left hand. The glass shards fell to the ground, and he walked off to go plan in solitude.
Sammy and Davie were horrified - reverently, and rightfully so.
The boss was back.
-0-
4:30 PM
Gordon knocked on the door to the Stirling residence, and waited patiently - a ginger haired woman soon came to the door, and her smile grew immensely when she saw who was on the other side. "Gordon!"
"Hi, Mrs Stirling!" Gordon smiled. "Is, uh… Is Emily here?"
"Oh of course! She should be ready for your all's date," Mrs. Stirling said, still giddy as ever her daughter was dating such a respectable lad. "Sherm, Gordon's here!"
"Ah, hello laddie!" Emily's father waved from the kitchen, looking like a true Irishman - he respected Gordon a lot, mainly because Gordon respected him so much first. "Emily! Date's here!"
"Coming, papa!" she called from downstairs to her father.
"So, when should you kiddos be back? In time for dinner, I would hope," Mrs. Stirling smiled.
"I wouldn't miss your cooking for the world, ma'am," smiled Gordon - and that was the gosh honest truth. Mrs. Stirling was Rachelle's cooking partner in their shared summer class, and their cooking skills were probably the best on Sodor's.
"Oh, how's your family, laddie?" Mr. Stirling asked Gordon.
"We're doing good!"
"Good to hear! Heard about ol' Vintex's prison break this morn on the tellie. So sorry to hear that; I know how valuable your brother's testimony was. He doin' alright?"
"He's doing well, thank you so much for asking," Gordon smiled genuinely. "Wasn't easy to break the news, but he's practically forgotten and is back to working on projects of his own again."
"Always the engineer!" Mrs. Stirling giggled.
Suddenly, Emily came click-clacking down the stairs - she had on her favorite green cardigan and yellow shirt, and her black pants were rolled at the ankles, matching with her favorite black shoes.
"You ready, Speedy?" she asked happily, letting him wrap his arm around her waist.
"Sure am," Gordon nodded with a smile. "We'll be back by 6:30!"
"Oh, we know, sweetheart!" Mrs. Stirling giggled, before shooing the two out the door. "Now go have fun!"
"We will, mama! Love you both!" Emily called back to her parents. She giggled excitedly as she and Gordon walked off of her porch. "So, where are we going today?"
"You up for frozen yogurt and a walk through the park?" Gordon asked.
"Ugh, you always ask me if I'm up for something - when clearly, I am up for it!" Emily joked, laughing and cutting up with her boyfriend as they walked arm-in-arm to their destination.
They never noticed the silver car trailing them.
So while this chapter is a little shorter, I felt it was worthy to post back-to-back to celebrate the arrival of this story. I'm so excited to get this started, y'all!
And in case you're wondering: this is gonna be a five day update schedule. What that means is, every five days, there's gonna be a new chapter! On May 4th, there'll be a new one, and then on May 9th, etc. I already have several chapters done, so I don't think I need to worry about not posting unless I'm super gassed one day. :3
So, until May 4th, thank you all so so much for reading! PLEASE leave a comment - it would greatly encourage me on this journey. Love you all so much!