Episode 30: Kevin is "Found"
CHAPTER 1: PSYCHOSIS
Monday, 5:30 AM
A rooster in the distance crows. Kevin wakes up from under his sleeping bag. It had been over two weeks since his desertion from the Marine Corps, and only a few days after being turned away from his parents. He was broke, hungry, and desperate. He knew the authorities were looking for him by now. It wasn't a matter of if, but when they would find him. He had to get to Canada and fast, but he needed money.
For the first few days, he ventured toward downtown Billings, and scouted the banks in the area. He was looking for the smallest bank possible, as it would have been easier to hold up, he figured. That was when he spotted the 5th National Bank on a lonely corner. While he scouted it, he made sure not to stick out or be noticed by people. He also avoided being in his parent's neighborhood as most the folks knew him and would tell his folks they saw him. He had scouted the bank for a few days, even getting the layout of the building and where the nearest exits were. Once he felt like he was ready, he went back to the abandoned barn to plan out his robbery.
As it turned out, Kevin brought with him more than a pistol; he also had an assault rifle. It was this he would use to rob the bank. He figured he could get his point across better with an assault rifle than a pistol. Plus, he wanted to make sure all armed guards were disarmed and couldn't take him out. He knew he had to disarm them, as well.
Kevin got up and made some breakfast of just bacon and eggs he got at a local market. He managed to keep them cool in a small cooler he brought with him. He also made his own coffee to drink. After breakfast, he continued to plan out his robbery. It would take place on Wednesday, he decided. He would lay low for the next two days until it was time to commit the robbery.
Elsewhere in the town, some official SUV's pulled into town. Also with them were Humvees, and some tanker trucks. From one of the SUVs Colonel Clarke, Master Sergeant Donaldson, and Charlie exited. In another, Marine General Jackson Upton, also exited. He was joined by two clerks that assisted him. He joined Clarke, Donaldson, and Charlie.
"Now this Private Ray is here in Billings, Montana, you say?" he said to Donaldson.
"He is, sir," said Donaldson.
"His parents live here, sir," added Clarke. "According to our files, Private Ray is originally from here."
"Sergeant," General Upton said to Charlie, "has this Private always done things on his own?"
"He has, sir," Charlie replied. "I've always tried to direct him on the right path, but he seemed to have a mind of his own, and did what he wanted and not what I instructed. This was why we demoted him from Lance Corporal to Private First Class. It was Master Sergeant Donaldson who decided not to dishonorably discharge him immediately and just demote him."
"That's true, sir," added Donaldson. "I figured we'd give Ray one last chance, but he deserted, instead."
"Well, the first thing we'll do is visit his parents and figure out where he would go," said the general. And the group went to visit Kevin's parents to see where he could have gone.
NEXT CHAPTER: KEVIN'S LAST DITCH EFFORT