Chapter 10: Guilty

February 27th, 1993

09:25 PM

Durango, Mexico

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Sarah Connor slipped her black jacket on her shoulders, drawing in a deep breath before she pulled her hair into a tight ponytail. She grabbed her burner phone and pistol and placed them on the inside pockets of her jacket. As she zipped up the bag with her other gadgets and weapons, she watched John stare at the computer screen with confusion, his fingers tapping the keys furiously.

"Everything okay?"

John growled in response, slamming one of his fists down on the table.

"Why aren't you working!?"

Sarah walked over to her son, glancing over the software not knowing much of anything about it. She kept her mouth shut as John let out a small sigh before he continued to work. He held out his hand and Sarah pulled out the burner phone. He flipped the phone over in his hand and pried the back cover off with a tool, studying the wiring. He carefully poked around the small wires and chip, looking for the problem. Sarah pulled out one of the dining chairs and sat next to John, keeping her eyes on her watch as he worked.

"Is it going to be ready or not?"

"Give me a minute."

Sarah nodded slowly, trying to think of what had to be going through her son's head. His eyebrows furrowed and his tongue stuck out while he fumbled with the phone before he turned back to the computer.

"The phone isn't connecting to the computer and if that doesn't happen, I can't track where you are going."

"It's fine, John. I need to go."

John stopped and looked up at his mother, shaking his head. He opened his mouth to say something but Sarah beat him to it as she took the phone from his hand.

"I'll be back very late tonight. Don't stay up and wait."

"Don't go far."

"I would never. You're turning eight tomorrow. It's a big day and I need to be a part of it!"

Sarah smiled as she nodded, putting the phone in her back pocket.

"I love you."

"I love you too, mom."

Sarah smiled as she double-checked her jacket pockets, making sure she had everything.

"I can't believe you're going to be a year older already."

"Yeah well, it happens every year."

"I know… you're growing up too fast."

John chuckled softly as he rolled his eyes at her, closing his computer.

"Goodnight, mom."

Sarah returned the smile as she came back to the table and grabbed his computer then walked to the front door.

"Goodnight."

Her smile instantly faded as she locked the door behind her, feeling guilt creep inside her heart. She had trained John to know where she was every second of the day and he was following it excellently. But sometimes, she didn't want him to follow her or see what she was going to do. Sarah shook herself out of her trance and drew in a breath of the cool air as she stepped into her truck, starting it with a groan. When she reached the first stop light, she glanced back at their small flat.

"Sorry, John."

She tossed the burner phone out the window and took off on the dirt road. Her blue eyes scanned the addresses as she passed them, taking a sharp right turn down another road. John had mentioned a couple days ago that he had gotten a virus on his computer and Sarah was determined to fix it for good. She knew that she didn't understand a lot about electronics so she was glad that she had brought John's computer along with her. Maybe then she would be able to figure out what computer would be better for him.

Sarah pulled into the parking lot of the local computer corporation and grabbed her bag of gear, walking to avoid the camera in the fronts. She pulled out her pistol and shot the two cameras, hoping no one would hear it even though she knew the silencer was on. She quickly ran to the glass doors and used the butt of her gun to break it, reaching around from the inside to unlock it. The memory of Kyle doing the same thing stunned her but she pushed through it, trying to keep herself focused on the task.

She ran into the store, skipping past the phone section and drew in a deep breath as she arrived at the computers. She took out her son's laptop and tried to compare it to the descriptions of all the new models. Sarah's heart began to race as she stressed about what to grab and quickly grabbed one of them, hoping that their charger would work on the new one. Sarah could feel time ticking away as she began to overstay her welcome.

Sarah shoved the new computer in the bag, shooting John's old laptop three times, hoping that the damage would help keep the authorities from getting anything from it. Sarah then pulled out three packs of C4 and ran around the building to secure them, hoping that it would be enough to cover her tracks. She didn't have time to check and see if she had left fingerprints or a strand of hair behind. She needed to get out quick.

Sarah's heart sank as she heard the wail of a police siren not far from where she was. She cursed and worked faster, connecting all the wires to the detonator, trying to plan her exit before she would blow it. Her finger hovered over the button as she contemplated whether or not to grab her stuff. She rushed forward on instinct and gripped the handles, pulling it onto her shoulder as she ran for the back door.

Two police cars came rushing into the parking lot and she waited silently for the moment they would draw closer. Two of the four officers came out with their guns up, examining the cameras and the door. Sarah's heart pounded fast against her chest as she watched them enter the store. Sarah gritted her teeth and braced herself as she opened the back door, turning their attention toward her. She pressed the button and tossed the detonator aside, hoping the officers wouldn't be killed. She didn't want to go down as a murderer.

Sarah sprinted into the back of the parking lot, heading toward the clearing of woods in front of her, feeling the heat and hearing her ears ring with the explosion. The remaining officers scurried to figure out what was happening and one of them caught sight of her. He shouted into his radio as he chased after her with his gun ready if he needed to use it. Her footsteps pounded against the pavement before she jumped into the trees for cover.

She weaved through the trees, seeing the officer's flashlight flicker every couple of seconds as he tried to find her. Sarah heard another siren drawing closer and felt her heart sink inside of her when she saw the lights begin to close in on her. She tossed her bag on the ground and sprinted trying to stay away from as many lights as she could. However, the clearing ahead of her ended and turned into someone's open backyard meaning that they would catch her either way.

She heard a gunshot go off not far from her and stopped, turning to see where it had come from. She struggled to hear the officer's megaphone over her heavy breathing. Sarah shook her head slowly before she stared straight into the eyes of the officer pursuing her. He raised his gun and Sarah wondered whether she should fight him or not but stopped, instantly thinking about John. She couldn't die now… not while he was so young. Sarah had a hard time admitting to herself that she was caught as an officer came from behind and snapped her hands into handcuffs behind her back. The only thing Sarah thought about was her son and how she wouldn't be home for his birthday like she had promised, wondering how she would keep him safe.