Chapter 19: Staging at Albuquerque
Alex walked out of the hallway and back into the main room. He glanced briefly at Jack, and then walked over to an officer standing behind a desk.
"Alexander Mahone, Bureau," he announced as he flashed his badge, "These are our prisoners and my partner and I will be accompanying them personally in the transfer vehicle."
"You two can follow in the chase car," replied the officer, barely bothering to glance up at Alex.
"I don't think you heard him clearly," said Jack walking up beside Alex, "We'll be accompanying them."
"Only people allowed in the van are the driver and two guards who have been trained and certified for prisoner transport."
Alex laughed, mockingly. "Are you really going to make me go over your head?"
"I'll even dial the phone for you," replied the officer sarcastically, "This is standard procedure, Agent Mahone. I need to keep that environment as controlled as possible. The more bodies, the less control."
Alex and Jack were only half-listening. They turned to watch some officers open the brothers' cell and begin to escort them out to the waiting vehicles.
"These men may have knowledge regarding the locations of the other escapees," said Jack, desperation in her voice, "Its knowledge that we need to do our jobs."
"And my job is to insure the safe and successful transfer of these two prisoners…"
Alex watched Michael leave the building. The two locked eyes for a moment before he disappeared out the door.
"…now the two chase vehicles are outside."
Alex did not reply. Instead, he walked quickly away to where the guards had taken the brothers. Jack was right on his heels.
They climbed into the chase vehicle. Alex took shotgun and Jack took middle seat behind Alex. The driver, another guard, nodded briefly to them as the cars began to file out onto the road.
Soon, Alex's phone rang.
"Mahone," he said.
"Good news," announced Kim, "You're both off the hook. Paul Kellerman has a team ready to move in on the caravan just outside of Albuquerque."
"Okay…where does that leave us?"
"When it goes down, there should be a moment or two of confusion, lots of bullets flying, you get the picture. I need you and Jack there to insure that Kellerman catches one."
"Little early to be covering your tracks isn't it?" sneered Alex, "The escapees, that was the deal…no one else."
"Right, our deal. Now, refresh my memory, was our deal supposed to end with Burrows and Scofield going back to prison, or bleeding from a hole in their heads?"
Alex closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Michael, glaring right back at him from the transport vehicle.
"We're giving you another chance to make this right," continued Kim, "Let Kellerman take care of it. Good luck in Albuquerque."
Alex glanced back at Michael as he hung up the phone.
Jack glanced over at Alex, wondering what the phone conversation was about.
Then, Alex's phone rang again.
"Yeah?"
"Alex, its Paul Kellerman. Have you spoken with Bill Kim?"
"Yeah, he filled me in. You're staging at Albuquerque?"
Jack looked up sharply. Staging? Was there another plan?
"Listen," snapped Kellerman, "Me jumping in like this in no way reflects what I think about the job you two have been doing. Just wanted you to know that."
"Of course. So long as we get the job done."
"We can all go back home to our families, right?"
Alex hesitated, "The sooner the better. So what do I need to know?"
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