Michael didn't want to waste any more time separated from his brother. We left the barn and quietly headed back to town. I was still terrified that my father and Mahone were still looking for us, and going into town was too dangerous. Michael didn't seem to be understanding what I was telling him about this man, and that he would not give up until we were all caught. But Michael's bond to his brother outweighed his fear, and I supposed I would do just about anything to reunite with Tweener.
We passed quickly through town, and Michael took me to a small park. How was this not dangerous? There were families at the park that could easily recognize us, and especially since I was in my prison uniform. But Michael was just sitting on my some bench just watching the people. I had absolutely no idea how this was going to help find his brother.
He was particularly watching this one family trying to set up for a picnic. I was trying to figure out what he was thinking, but delving into the mind of Scofield was pretty much pointless. You never quite knew what he was thinking. I looked over at the wife folding out their blanket when she looked up at me. I gave her a smile, and at first she returned it, but it faded as she started to inspect me. I became self-conscious and dropped my gaze to the ground kicking my feet in the dirt. Michael noticed that something was going on and he quickly stood up. I thought we were finally going to leave, but he walked right up to me and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist.
What the hell was he doing? Now was not the time to be giving me a hug. I felt the softness of his clean clothes, and he smelled wonderful. I wished that I could say the same about me. He buried his face in my neck, and this was starting to get a little too touchy for me. I mean it felt nice and everything, but it wasn't Tweener. I looked past Michael and that woman had stopped looking at me. Michael leaned in close to my ear.
"Start heading back towards the barn, I will meet you there later." He said.
He pulled back from the hug, and I looked at him with a confused look, but I didn't argue. I turned around and slowly started to head down the sidewalk. Michael just regained his seat and continued watching the people. I rolled my eyes and continued on my walk. I should have been grateful that I had a moment to myself to think. I needed to think about my course of action. I heard a crunch at my feet, and I looked down to see that I was standing on a newspaper. I looked curiously at the front page. The search was out for the Fox River eight and a suspected hostage. I lifted my foot to see that the suspected hostage was me. I leaned over and picked up the newspaper and began to read the article:
The eight most wanted men in the country. Arguably the eight most dangerous men out in society. They escaped last night by going through the medical wing and climbing over the wall. What has happened to our prison systems today that makes it so easy for these inmates to escape? How is it that one man was able to outsmart an entire prison system? Michael Scofield may indeed be smart enough to hatch an entire scheme as elaborate as an escape plan, but does the intelligence borderline insanity? He was convinced of his brother's (Burrows) innocence, even when all the evidence pointed against him. Only a man with a deep psychosis could not see the reality that everyone else around him could see.
And maybe we all could understand his reasoning a little better had he not taken 6 other dangerous men with him. Either Scofield is a man easily manipulated, or his entire agenda was to cause a mass breakout as a cover for his brother's escape. Now people should be worried because cons like John Abruzzi and Theodore Bagwell are out on the streets, and very well may go on a killing spree. There is already one death on their hands. Fellow inmate Charles Westmoreland (rumored D.B. Cooper) was found dead in the medical wing just minutes after the breakout. Reports say he had suffered a fatal stab wound. Our greatest hope for this nightmare to be solved is the help of federal agent Alexander Mahone. He was experience in tracking down killers, and the public puts their utter faith in him.
"These men are criminals, and they only know how to behave like criminals. They are wanted fugitives, and they can never get a job, buy a car, do anything without being flagged. It will lead them to more criminal activity just to survive and it will be like reading a map to get to them," said Mahone earlier today at a press conference.
But perhaps the most tragic thing of all is the fact that these men have taken an innocent person with them. A young federal agent, Laney Collins, was sent to Fox River undercover a few months ago as a fellow inmate. Details about her assignment are not being revealed. Somehow she discovered the escape, but agent Mahone has surmised that she has been taken hostage, and that the fugitives believe they are safe keeping another agent with them.
"The last time I spoke with agent Collins she had everything under control, but I never suspected that things would turn out the way they did. We are doing everything in our power to get her back safely and bring these cons to justice," commented the young agent's father Collins.
We hope that wherever you are Laney that you are safe, and our prayers are with you for your return. If anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of any fugitives or their suspected hostage do not hesitate to call the Bureau and ask for Agent Mahone. (More details about the Fox River eight on page A6).
I finished reading the article and I dropped the newspaper back on the sidewalk. I had to admit the beginning of it made me laugh talking about all of the dangerous cons that had escaped. Sure Abruzzi and Tbag were dangerous, but the rest of us were pretty harmless. The part I found most interesting was the whole bit about me. First of all, it totally outed me a federal agent. If I had still been working undercover this would have completely put me at risk. The next part I found interesting was that it was determined that I was a hostage in this situation. I was curious to know if my father had anything to do with that. I doubted that he actually cared if I was in any danger or not. He was just trying to save his reputation in case I went rogue.
It made me start to think about what I was actually doing in this situation. I was definitely not a hostage anymore since we lost Tbag. I don't think I was completely with them either because I wanted to bring Tbag back to justice, but I didn't mind if the ones like Michael, Lincoln, and Sucre escaped safely. I really just wanted to get to the bottom of whoever set up Lincoln for the murder of the Vice President's brother. I might be able to uncover something with my connections.
I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I was expecting it to be Mahone or my dad, but it was only Michael. I raised my eyebrow when I saw him holding a picnic basket. Did he steal that from the family, and more importantly was their food in it? I stood up and started walking behind Michael. He didn't seem to notice the newspaper I had set down, and I didn't bother to bring it up. There was a paragraph or two just about Michael, and it basically was saying that he was a genius, but he was criminally insane. That probably didn't make you feel real good about yourself. So we just walked in silence as we made our way back to the barn.