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Kind of got on one of those writing sprees today so I wrote three chapters! Enjoy!
Chapter 18: So Close…Yet So Far
"You almost made it," breathed Alex, still disoriented from the car crash.
Michael sunk to his knees and hung his head in defeat. The cell phone in front of him kept ringing. He looked at it longingly.
"Get up," said Alex, motioning for them to stand, "Now…turn around."
Michael and Lincoln did not respond.
"He said turn around!" snapped Jack.
"If you're going to murder us," said Michael with contempt, "You're going to have to look us in the eyes while you do it."
"Shut up," sneered Alex.
"You want me, you got me!" yelled Lincoln, "Let my brother go!"
"I don't want either of you…I just want my life back!"
"And you're going to kill two innocent men to get it, huh?" said Michael, glaring back and forth between Jack and Alex.
"Whatever it takes," muttered Jack.
Just then, the sound of sirens filled the area. Jack and Alex glanced around warily. Suddenly, the loud sound of a bullhorn echoed around them.
"This is the United States Border Patrol! Drop your weapons and remain where you are!"
Alex didn't comply. Jack glanced over at him, fear and frustration filling her gaze. She would not put her gun down until Alex did.
"Drop your weapons!"
"We're FBI!" called Alex.
"These men are in our custody!" added Jack.
"I don't care who you are! Until we verify, you will drop your weapons, or we will drop you!"
Alex jerked his weapon at Michael and Lincoln, fury and desperation in his eyes. They were so close…
Finally, he lowered his weapon and tried to regain his composure. He pointed, deliberately at Michael, and then laid his gun on the ground.
Jack hesitated a moment longer, then angrily tossed her weapon on the ground.
The Border Patrol team moved in and began to handcuff Michael and Lincoln.
Alex looked on in despair. Jack ran her hands through her hair and kicked at the ground, cursing under her breath. They had been so close to ending this…so close…
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Alex and Jack followed the Border Patrol back to a nearby holding facility. They walked into the building and watched as Michael and Lincoln were placed in a cell.
"I'll be back," murmured Alex into Jack's ear, "Keep an eye on them and come get me if they are moved."
Jack nodded and turned to find a position along the wall so she could observe the brothers without appearing suspicious. She made eye-contact with Michael. He seemed to be studying her, reading her. It was unnerving. She glanced away and tried to appear unbothered by it.
Meanwhile, Alex stepped into an empty hallway and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Wheeler's number.
"Congratulations, sir," said Wheeler.
"What do you got?" demanded Alex.
Wheeler blinked in confusion at Alex's tone. He sounded almost disappointed.
"Uh, call from the Illinois DOC. They're sending a huge contingent down there to collect Burrows and Scofield and take them back to Fox River personally."
"Remind them that this is a federal case and we'll handle the transport, now…"
"I did, sir," replied Wheeler, "But it's an election year and everybody wants a piece. Now, warden called in a favor to the Bureau Chief, he okayed it, so here we are. Should be there in about an hour."
Alex glanced away, but froze when his eyes met Michael's.
"I want to be placed in the prisoner transport vehicle…me and Jack," he said, somewhat absently as he continued staring at Michael.
"What for?"
"Just get it done," he snapped, irritably.
"Sir, these were the big fish. You and Jack brought them in. You should feel good about that."
"Yeah…yeah," he murmured as he hung up the phone.
The second he hung up, it rang again.
"Saw you on the news, Alex," said Kim.
"Did you?" asked Alex, feigning interest.
"Jack too. And the brothers. But they were a little more…breathing, than I had hoped."
"Yeah, well Border Patrol showed up. Nothing we could do."
"Really?" asked Kim, sarcastically, "Burrows and Scofield…can you see them?"
"Yeah."
"Then put a bullet in their heads," Kim snapped.
"They're being watched."
"I don't care."
"By armed guards."
"If they make it back to Fox River, it's over…for all of us. There's not much this country loves more than a bad man with a good story. How much longer do you think it will be before someone puts a microphone in front of them?"
"Hey are you listening?" asked Alex, incredulously, "The security here? What you're asking me to do is tantamount to suicide. You understand what I'm saying?"
"Then get Jack to do it. She's expendable."
Alex froze in horror. The Company considered Jack expendable?
"No…no, I can't do that."
"And why not?"
"I just can't, okay?" snapped Alex.
"Oh, I see. You two have spent quite some time together now. Kind of grown on each other perhaps? Maybe you even have a little thing for her, Alex?"
"I'm not going to sacrifice her," replied Alex, voice edgy, "She's a valuable asset to this. She killed Apolskis and Burrows Senior."
"Well, then you'd better figure something out. Because I wasn't asking anything. That would imply that you had a say in the matter. Pull this off and you're half-way home! You remember what home is like, don't you? Ninety Westend Avenue, white house, red door, Cameron…Pam, unless of course your taste now runs more towards Jack."
"Stay away from my family!" yelled Alex in fury.
Jack jerked her head away from the brothers and glanced back at Alex. He gave her a petrified look and then turned to glare intensely at Scofield.
A cold look of determination filled his gaze. He would do what it takes to save his family…and Jack.
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