7 AM (the lair)
Hawke hadn't expected to be woken up with the violent shakes of a California earthquake, but he was. The culprit wasn't an earthquake, but a very anxious Kelly.
Hawke rolled over and stretched like a cat just waking from a long nap. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"I can't wait any longer, Hawke. Let's go right now."
Hawke used the forearms to prop himself up. His eyes still felt heavy from sleep. "What time is it?"
"It's seven o'clock. I can't wait any longer, Hawke. I want away from Sidwell, and the trial, and this whole place." She circled her hands around his bicep. "We have everything we need to make a fresh start. Let's go."
"Fine," He shoved the blanket away and started helping Kelly pack the car.
8:45 AM (the lair)
By the time, Caitlin and Dominic arrived at the lair it was going on nine o'clock. With the exception of Airwolf, there was nothing or nobody in the lair. Dominic reclined against the lady in defeat. "We missed them."
"What do we do now?" Caitlin asked him standing in front of him.
"As much as I hate to say this, Cait, we can just let it go. String will learn of Sidwell's death through radio and television reports and if he wants to come back he can. He wouldn't have left, Caitlin, if he hadn't honestly wanted to leave."
"I guess you're right." She leaned into Dominic and he patted her head. "It's going to be all right, Cait. We're going to be all right."
Caitlin raised her head and wiped her eyes. "I can't believe I'm blubbering like a baby. Hawke's a grown man. He can. . ."She stopped when she saw something lying next to Airwolf's runner. "What's that?" She left Dominic, walked over to the item on the ground, and picked it up. It was Kelly's copy of Pride and Prejudice. Dominic came up behind her. "I guess Kelly dropped it when they left this morning. At least she can get a copy anywhere they go."
Caitlin opened the book and saw a key taped to the inside dust jacket. Stuck inside the dust jacket was a piece of white paper. She took the paper out, slipped the book under her arm, and unfolded the paper. She wasn't an accountant, but she knew enough to know what the paper was. "I don't think she can get this copy in a bookstore." She handed the paper to Dominic. "Is this what I think it is, Dominic?"
Dominic perused the paper and looked up at Caitlin. "We've got to find Hawke." He shoved the paper into his pocket.
Kelly nervously fidgeted in the seat next to Hawke as they entered town. Finally, Hawke had enough and asked her what was wrong.
"I need to make a stop and I wasn't sure how to bring it up."
"Where do you need to go?" He asked, keeping his eyes on the car ahead of him.
"San Diego National Bank," She whispered as if she was afraid he was going to yell at her.
"We're leaving town so Sidwell can't find us, we have new identities, and you want to go to a bank. Better yet, Kel, why don't we just go to the nearest radio station and announce on the radio that you're alive and well."
"Don't snap at me, Hawke. I need to get something out a deposit box before we go. It won't take fifteen minutes. Please."
"Fine." Hawke hit the blinker to signal the car behind that he was turning. "I hope whatever is in that safe deposit box is worth it."
Kelly rested her head against the back of the seat and closed her eyes. "Believe me, it's worth everything."
The bank parking lot was relatively empty due to the morning hour. The parking lot was set up in rows of three with each row holding seven parking spaces. Hawke parked at the closest parking space to the front and both he and Kelly got out.
"You don't have to come in," Kelly said as they walked down the sidewalk in tandem.
"I don't have anything better to do." He held the door as an elderly woman came out. The woman smiled at him and shuffled away in the opposite direction. Hawke followed Kelly in.
A gentlemen standing close to the door in a three piece suit smiled at them. "Can I help you?" He asked.
"Yes, I've had a safety deposit box here for several years. I'd like to take the contents with me and close the box for good."
"Of course," He said, still with a smile. "If you'll come with me, we'll take care of the paperwork and open the box."
"I'll wait here," Hawke mumbled as he took his sunglasses off and shoved them into the pocket of his shirt.
The man escorted Kelly by her elbow to an office close to the teller windows. Hawke looked around and spotted a security officer. "Do you have a pay phone here?" He asked the middle-aged balding man in the crisp blue uniform.
The officer pointed behind Hawke and sure enough beside a plastic ficus set the pay phone. "Thanks," He said before heading toward the machine.
