Barely had time to write this one today! I should have more time to write tomorrow though!!
As always, thank you Something Not So Normal for reviewing my story!!!!
Chapter 22: Suspicion
2 days later…
Alex and Jack returned to the FBI Field Office in Chicago. Jack was still visibly shaken about what had happened to her parents, but she had learned early on how to put on the mask of composure and keep moving on with what needed to be done. Alex new that it was still tearing her up deep inside. The night she found out, they spent together in the hotel room. She cried all night and he held onto her, even letting a few tears of his own escape too. They were growing more and more dependent on one another.
As Alex parked the car and prepared to get out, he glanced over at Jack and a wave of guilt washed over him. If he had not acted so rashly and told The Company he wanted to quit, his son would have never been hurt and Jack's parents could still be alive. But he could not think like that now. It wouldn't change anything. Accept the past, work with the present, and pray for the future.
As they walked back into the Field Office, Agent Lang and Agent Wheeler were the first ones to notice them.
"Welcome back," said Lang, "How are you feeling?"
"Much better," replied Alex, even though his face and body language said otherwise.
Wheeler was on the phone with someone and Alex paused to listen in.
"Okay," said Wheeler into the phone, "You got it…yeah."
He hung up and glanced up at Alex.
"Got a lead on something?" asked Alex.
"One of the C.O's from Fox River, Brad Bellick, got locked up last night for the murder of another guard."
"Wait," said Jack giving him a look, "We're looking for C.O.'s now?"
"What about the escapees?" added Alex, "You know, Scofield and Burrows?"
Wheeler suddenly looked strangely uncomfortable.
"Nothing on them," he said quickly, "Franklin's wife was taken into custody in North Dakota."
"His wife?" asked Jack incredulously as she and Alex exchanged suspicious looks.
The phone rang and Lang answered it. She paused for a moment and then looked at Wheeler.
"Line two."
Wheeler nodded and reached for the phone, but Alex was faster. He snatched it up before Wheeler could and answered it.
"This is Agent Mahone," he said while he glared at Wheeler.
Suddenly, his eyes widened and he glanced at Jack.
"How long ago?"
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Alex, Wheeler, and Jack all stood by the map in the main room. Lang approached them, papers in hand.
"We've shut down all the major freeways in Montana," she said, "So far, no sign of them."
"Go wider," ordered Alex, "Troopers on ninety and ninety-four all the way through Wyoming and have them lock down the Canadian border in fifteen."
Just then, another agent whistled loudly to get the other agents' attention. Everyone glanced up from their work and stood to walk towards the tech room. One of the techies was waving wildly for everyone to come in. Alex and Jack shared a curious look and followed everyone into the room.
On several of the screens in the large tech room, were different news stations. Suddenly, Lincoln Burrow's appeared on every one of them.
"My name is Lincoln Burrows," he said, "And I'm innocent. I escaped from Fox River Penitentiary because I was sentenced to death for a crime I did not commit. I did not murder Terrance Steadman."
The agents all looked at one another, unsure of what to make of all this. Then, Michael Scofield appeared on the screen. Alex shook his head in disbelief.
"Smart kid…"
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After some of the full video, several of the agents left the room to begin making calls and organizing different interviews. The rest stayed in the tech room to begin analyzing the tape.
"Do we know how long the tape lasts?" asked Alex.
"Twenty-six minutes beginning to end," replied Lang, "It's all on the internet."
Alex nodded and narrowed his eyes as he studied one of the screens. He leaned down to talk to one of the techies who was busy typing away at a computer.
"Start on a transcript," he said, "I need every word."
"We're going to need to send an agent to Montana," said Jack to Lang, "I want to know what he saw, what he heard, what they were wearing…anything he can give us."
Lang nodded and turned to walk out of the room, but paused when she heard Michael start speaking again.
"Two agents, Agent Alexander Mahone and Agent Jack Harper…"
Alex and Jack looked up quickly at the screens. Jack shot a look at Alex. This could not be good.
"…are responsible for many deaths. They murdered John Abruzzi and David Apolskis. But for Agent Alexander Mahone, these were not his first. He also murdered the last fugitive that he was assigned to chase…Oscar Shales…"
Jack felt a cold chill creep up her spine. She forced herself to remain calm and tried to appear unaffected by Michael's words.
Wheeler on the other hand glanced sharply at Alex and Jack with undisguised suspicion. Lang glanced away, uncomfortable with the entire situation.
"…the man who escaped from prison two years ago remains one of this country's most wanted despite the fact that he will never be found."
Alex sneered, "The guy's nuts."
"They will both try to do whatever it takes to make the deaths look official, like they happened in the line of duty."
Alex had heard enough. He turned and walked out of the room. Jack followed closely behind.
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Later, Alex and Wheeler were standing in front of the map again.
"Alright," said Alex, "Camera guy said something about four hundred and fifty miles. Four hundred and fifty miles in six hours."
Alex attached a string to a point on the map and began to trace a line around the point.
"I need a point on this…" he was cut off as he turned around and nearly ran into Wheeler.
Wheeler gave him a stone cold gaze and did not bother to move out of his way.
"…circle. It could be their final destination."
"Seventy-five miles per hour, stopping for gas…it's doable," said Wheeler.
Just then, Alex's phone rang.
"Yeah?"
"Where are they?" demanded Kim.
Alex shot Wheeler a look. Wheeler sighed and walked away to give Alex his space.
"I'm not sure," replied Alex, "I still need more time."
"This can't happen fast enough, Mr. Mahone," snapped Kim, "You've already done irreparable damage."
"Scofield made the video in a storage facility somewhere between Great Falls and Helena not long after sunrise. From there the witness said that they said something about needing four hundred and fifty miles to get to where they were going. There's Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake, Denver…"
"Denver?"
"Yes…what?" asked Alex.
"The President is speaking there this afternoon at three o'clock."
"Six hours from where they made the video…they're going after the President."
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Later in Alex's office…
"Well," said Lang, "I'll notify the White House and cancel the President's…"
"If there is any change to her itinerary, the brothers will know that something is up," interrupted Alex, "And then they'll go right back into hiding."
"Well we've found them before, we can certainly find them again," said Wheeler.
Jack shot Wheeler a disdainful glance. He could be so stupid sometimes.
"These are not pets, Agent Wheeler," snapped Alex.
Wheeler smiled, "Yeah, thanks, I'm pretty clear on that one. But if you are going to use the Commander in Chief as bait, that's certainly not going to fly with…"
"Do you have a problem with the way I do things?" asked Alex, clearly on edge.
They stared each other down for a moment longer. Finally, Wheeler replied.
"Yeah…and I'm not the only one."
Alex let a cruel smile play on his lips.
"Is that right?"
"Internal Affairs has asked me to run all your moves through them from here on out…Jack's too."
Jack glared at Wheeler with undisguised hatred.
Alex stalked around his desk and got in Wheeler's face.
"Then get a pen and make sure you get this word for word," he breathed, barely suppressing his anger, "The President's day does not change. The only lead that we have is that we know where these men are headed. So we're going to keep quiet about this and let 'em come. Now…get out of my office."
Wheeler gave Alex a look and turned to walk out.
"Well, they're two of the most recognizable faces in America," she said after Wheeler left, "How do they think they're going to get anywhere near the President?"
"Because it's not just the two of them anymore," said Jack, bitterly, "They're traveling with a rogue secret service agent…"
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I know… not that great of an update, but like I said, I was pretty busy today. Hopefully tomorrow's will be better.
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