Chapter 26: Haywire

Back at the field office the next day…

Alex was typing away on his computer when he got a call from Bellick.

"Yeah?"

"I got a lead on Patoshik," said Bellick.

"Where?" asked Alex. He paused and listened to the reply. "We're on our way. Keep him there…alone."

Alex hung up the phone and walked back into the main office room. He nodded to Jack and she stood up from behind her desk to follow him. He then walked up behind Wheeler and leaned over his shoulder.

"Any information on Scofield and Burrows I want to be notified immediately…if that works out for you," he sneered.

Wheeler smiled slightly and shook his head. Jack shot him a look before she turned to follow Alex out the door.

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A few minutes later, they were on the road when Alex got another call.

"Yeah?"

"I got Haywire trapped," said Bellick.

"Don't do anything," replied Alex, "Just hold him 'till we get there."

"No problem. I got this psycho treed."

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Shortly after the phone call, Alex and Jack pulled up beside an old, abandoned farm.

Alex cursed under his breath when he saw all the people who had gathered to watch.

He walked up to Bellick and laughed in disbelief.

"What's all this?" he demanded.

"Some wacko climbed to the top of a grain elevator, people want to watch," replied Bellick.

Jack shook her head and sighed.

"You were supposed to keep a handle on it," he hissed, "You know what that means?"

Just then police cars and sirens filled the area.

"I got you Haywire," retorted Bellick, "What else do you want?"

Alex gave Bellick a disdainful look and shook his head in contempt. Then he turned around to face the approaching police officers. Both he and Jack flashed their badges.

"FBI," said Alex, "He's our chargie."

The police officer nodded and called off the rest of the officers.

"Stay here," he said to Jack, "I got this one."

Jack nodded and walked over to stand by Bellick.

Alex began to climb slowly up to the top of the grain tower. About half-way up, he paused and glanced down. Once he was sure no one was paying him too much attention, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a pen. He unscrewed the top of it and dumped out two little pills. He swallowed them quickly and replaced the pen in his suit jacket. He glanced back up to Haywire on the top of the tower, and then continued to climb up.

"What's he think he's going to do?" asked Bellick, "Talk him into climbing back down or something?"

Jack stiffened at that phrase as she realized that that was exactly what Alex was going to do…only Haywire would probably not be climbing back down…

"Yeah," she replied quietly, "Something like that."

Once he reached the top, Alex stood to the side to give the Haywire room. He leaned on what looked like a large generator and gazed down at the Haywire. Charles Patoshik was sitting on the other side of the generator, eyes darting about nervously.

"How you doing, Charles?" asked Alex.

"I don't wanna go back to prison," whimpered Patoshik.

"I don't blame you."

"I want to go to Holland."

Alex laughed slightly, "That's not what I expected to hear."

He paused for a moment as the realization of what he was about to do sank in. This man was mentally disabled. He did not deserve what was about to happen. He was just confused and scared.

Alex let out a shaky breath.

"You can't go there, son," he said, sadly.

Patoshik began to pull out what looked like a piece of paper from his pant's pocket. He unfolded it and revealed it to Alex. It was an oil painting of a windmill.

"I just want to go here," he said, sniffing, "See?"

Alex sighed and leaned more on the generator-like device. He swallowed nervously. He desperately did not want to do this…

"I'll tell you what," said Alex, "You don't have to go to prison. But you can't go to Holland either."

Patoshik began to panic.

"Oh, no no no no no no no…"

Alex reached out towards Patoshik in a comforting gesture.

"It's okay! Its okay, it's okay. Everything's going to be alright."

Patoshik reduced his cries to whimpers and gazed sadly up at Alex.

"No…it's not gonna be alright," he moaned.

"No, Charles. Its okay, I understand that you're in a tough spot. You feel trapped. You have no options and you're caught in a situation where you have no control," Alex paused and glanced away, "I know how you feel…really, I do. It takes a toll on you. All you want to do is run. But run where?"

"I just want to go," sobbed Patoshik.

"There is a way out," murmured Alex, reluctantly.

"A way out?"

Alex nodded slightly.

"Of this maze?" Patoshik began to cry again.

"Yeah," replied Alex, quietly, "Look, Charles, I know you killed your parents because they hurt you. And I know you killed that guy yesterday because he was hurting Sasha. But what you did…it was wrong. You know that."

"I just want to go," he said, glancing quickly at Alex.

"You can."

Patoshik looked up at Alex, hope filling his sad gaze. He stood up and grabbed onto the railing.

"I want to go now!"

He climbed up on the railing and looked down at the ground below him. Alex's eyes glazed over as he realized what he was about to do. He looked down at the ground and then back at Patoshik.

Patoshik took a couple deep breaths, and then looked at Alex.

"It's okay," said Alex, averting his gaze.

Patoshik stepped over the railing and stood on the edge of the grain tower. Slowly, he leaned forward until he began to fall.

Alex leaned over the railing and watched as Patoshik plummeted to the earth. The second his body hit the ground, Alex jerked his head away from the sight. He gripped the railing and gritted his teeth. His breath came in ragged gasps. Another con was dead…

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