To See His Daughter
Time To Go II ( 5? )
Disclaimer: I know they're not mine. I'm old and tired so, PTB, please don't slap me around for playing with your toys.
Gesturing down the hall ahead of me, eager for him to lead the way, a firm shake of his head, a nod in my direction and down the hall makes it clear he prefer things the other way around and serves as stark reminder of what this man has been through. A reminder of exactly who it is I'm dealing with. " Not inclined to turn your back on any man, Mr. Burrows? Understandable. Follow me..."
The heels of my shoes echoing down the empty corridor are loud, heavy and, much to my displeasure, alone, leaving me forced into stopping where I stand with the realization that Lincoln has yet to take a single step toward joining me.
Looking back over my shoulder, I watch him standing there, unmoving, arms crossed defensively over his chest in the doorway for Sara's room. " You're very protective of my daughter and granddaughter? I appreciate that fact.
One of my men will stay at her door while the other stays with us so we can speak in private. "
As the guard, my man, steps in to stand beside him I get the feeling that well trained - best this country has to offer, or not, the younger man determined to protect my family would win out easily over the trained professional.
" I'm here to help, Mr. Burrows. He will not leave that doorway. I assure you Sara and the baby are safe in his capable hands"
" Her name is Emma... Emma Elizabeth..." Slowly but surely the larger man's stride falls in line and keeps pace with my own, drawing nearer my back to make himself heard as we walk along.
" Emma Elizabeth Scofield. "
" I recognize Sara's mother's name. Am I correct to assume the other to be that of your own mother? " I catch him nodding his reply out the corner of my eye as I reach over to open the door to the small private waiting room. " Right in here ... please. Just a few moments of your time. "
Once inside, guard posted at the door, I cross the room quickly, understanding the game of power and pride between two men with so much at stake. I take a seat in a large leather armchair offering myself defenseless , non threatening, allowing him the upper hand in hopes of making my point as quickly and easily as possible. "Mazatlan...perhaps inland from there. Either way the last information I was able to obtain put your brother in the vicinity of Mazatlan on the Pacific coast..."
" You've been tracking Michael? " Thick arms still crossed over his broad chest, I watch carefully as the visible hand lying a top his biceps fidgets, opening and closing often until it balls into a tight fist.
" I was, yes...however I have nothing on his whereabouts past that point. "
The look in his eye as he watches me, threatening, unflinching, makes fighting the urge to stand, be prepared to defend myself, difficult to say the least, as he speaks, distain dripping from every word.
" You were looking for him so you could see him stand trial ... make sure he was sent back to prison where he belonged? "
" Yes, Mr. Burrows, that was my intention when I began searching for your brother. "
He takes a step forward maintain his defensive posture so close now that he is looming above me. " And now? What are your intentions now..."
" There is a child involved. A child that can be hurt by all of this, Mr Burrows.
Find your brother, bring him home, so his child, the mother of that child, my daughter, won't waste away a lifetime worrying wondering where he is... "
" You want me to bring him home so you can lock him up and throw away the key? I won't help you do that. "
"That would hurt both of them far more in the end. No! I have something else in mind... "
Tiring of being submissive, growing weary of his threatening proximity and body language, I gesture past him to the matching chair facing me just behind his body.
" Please sit... I'd be more than happy to tell you what I know. To tell you what I can do to help you if you'll just take a seat and listen to what I have to say. "
Greatly relieved to see him move reluctantly toward taking a seat, I waste no time telling my tale. " Mr. Bagwell seems to have hated your younger brother a great deal, Lincoln."
" T Bag?.. "
Lincoln's face twists in disgust with the words and I'm left wondering if it is my use of his first, the mere mention of Bagwell, or a combination of the two that puts him in such a state. " He committed suicide just to frame Michael for a murder he didn't commit ... yeah I'd say he went the distance when it came to hating my brother. "
" The man was not well. He liked to play games ... play with people? "
He nods his agreement sliding forward to the edge of his seat as he listens.
" Would you be shocked to hear the man was playing with me as well, Lincoln?"
Seeing confusion written all over the man's face, leaving him able to little more than shake his head in response, I know, feel, the time has come to finally show my hand. " I heard from him several times while Sara was missing. No one, other than my personal asst., was aware of it but the man was in contact with me often as he trailed the three of you across country. Treating him as a less than credible source all along I eventually received an envelope containing pictures of Sara and your brother, the kind no father ever wants to see, confirming that he was close enough to the three of you to have hidden himself away in the same room as my daughter and your brother completely unnoticed."
The man before me nods uncomfortably, obviously aware of the incident of which I speak, to the point he appears to believe all that I've said and is suddenly eager to hear more.
" Go on..."
" The next thing I knew I was watching news reports that Bagwell had been murdered in Las Vegas, that your brother was wanted in connection with the slaying, and my daughter, found safe in San Diego, was on her way back home..."
Equally eager to share, a dark thrill pushing me forward I move my body, mirroring his posture, to the edge of the chair as well. " The man, his games, slipped completely from my mind until one last letter containing a recording he'd made found its way discreetly into my possession "
" What recording? What the hell are you talking about? "
I can see a fire of rage begin to burn in his eyes and for the first time understand, see that temper, the lack of ability to control it, that brought this man to the position he was in when he wandered into my daughter's life.
" Mr. Bagwell recorded a full detailed confession regarding what he planned to do to himself and how he intended to frame your brother for his murder..."
Tension robbing him of the ability to sit he moves quickly to his feet towering over me yet again as he speaks. " What kind of recording? How? Where is it! I want to see this recording. "
" It's a DVD ... judging from the setting and quality I assume he made it at one of those tourist kiosk, inviting people to play the star, to make a record/video, for the right price on their sun soaked vacation. I have it in my possession. It is safe, and you will see it when I'm ready to show it to you, Mr. Burrows. Find him, bring your brother home, and I'll use my influence alongside the confession to see that your brother walks away a free man."
He looks down at me, the desperate need to have his brother back barely hidden behind a thin mask of suspicion on his face. " Why would you do that? All you've done since the moment she returned is beg her to put Michael behind her, threatened me to stay away from her... Anything to be rid of us and now you want to clear his name? What's in this for you... What is it you want in return? "
" You're a far smarter man than people give you credit for Lincoln... "
With that I rise to my feet stepping in close and meeting his eye. " I want you and your brother out of my daughter's life for good. She won't let him go. She'll never let him go unless he tells her to. Sara can still have a normal life, a decent husband, more children, a good stepfather for her daughter, if your brother tells her he doesn't want her. If he lets her go. I'm willing to give him his life back if he walks out of hers for good."
" You're crazy, Michael would never give up his child to save himself..."
A smile of satisfaction, ugly in a way, almost wicked, gratified at the notion of getting exactly what I want spreads over my face as I deliver the bottom line.
" He doesn't have to give up the child. I'll see to it that legal visitation is established after he is free if he does what I ask..."
" Find that brother of yours and tell him if he ever wants to see HIS daughter, other than from behind bars, he has to give up MINE, for good! "
TBC...
Next time: An unexpected lead puts Lincoln hot on the trail of finding Michael.