It had been almost two weeks since her visit to the jail. She had been writing Connor still. She was sitting in the pun by herself reading over one of the letters from him. She smiled when she read that he wanted to see her again. She smiled as she grabbed her camera and took a picture of her. She would print it out when she got home. She folded the letter up and slid it into her purse. She was fixing to get up when the front door opened.
"I'm sorry, but we're," she said looking up. "Oh. It's just y'all."
"Happy to see you to," said Dolly walking over to the bar. "Close the blinds and lock the door."
Scarlet stood up and walked over to the windows and pulled the blinds closed. Duffy was the last one in the building and locked the door. Eunice and Smecker were sitting on the stools in front of the bar. Scarlet walked over and moved her purse before she pulled herself up onto the bar.
"Well?" she asked looking at Smecker.
"You free this weekend?" he asked not looking at her.
"Other than work, yeah," she said.
"Why don't you let him know that," he said nodding to the envelope sticking out of the purse.
Scarlet smiled as she grabbed the letter and scribbled the post script to the end of it. Eunice smiled as Scarlet ran to the back of the pub with the letter. She came back a few minutes later and was sealing it up.
"What did you do?" asked Eunice.
"Printed off a picture," she said. "I was going to wait until I got home to do it, but I will just run it by the post office on my way home."
Eunice nodded. Scarlet laid the letter down on the counter and excused herself to the bathroom. Once she was out of the room Eunice grabbed the letter and opened the envelope. She pulled the picture out and resealed the envelope. The envelope was slid back into place as she put the picture inside her pocket. Smecker nodded as Scarlet came back around the corner.
"When are we doing this?" asked Scarlet.
"We?" asked Smecker.
"Yeah, we," she said pointing to everyone in the room.
"We are thinking about Friday night," he said. "You are going to be working here."
"Why?" she asked. "Why can't I help?"
"You are helping," said Eunice walking over to her. "We need someone here so when the boys get out we can get them in quick."
Scarlet let out a 'humph' as she sat down on one of the stools.
"It's a lot safer for you here anyway," said Dolly.
"How do you know that?" asked Scarlet glaring at him.
"We all have guns, you don't," said Duffy.
"Says who?" she said looking at him.
"You own a gun?" asked Eunice.
"Yeah. I go down to the range occasionally and practice my shooting," said Scarlet shrugging her shoulders.
"How long have you had a gun?" asked Smecker.
"About four months," she said finding her fingers very interesting.
"Four months?" asked Eunice.
"Yeah," said Scarlet.
"Come with me. We are gonna have some girl talk," said Eunice linking arms with Scarlet and walking up the stairs.
Scarlet led Eunice to the storage room on the second floor. She jiggled the handle and the door swung open. She smiled at Eunice as she closed the door.
"He needs a new lock on it," she said pulling herself up on the pool table.
"How long have you been talking to Connor?" asked Eunice.
"About five months or so," said Scarlet. "Why?"
"You said you've had the gun for four months," said Eunice. "Did he tell you to get it?"
"Not in so many words," she said.
"What do you mean?" asked Eunice.
"Well, he asked if I had any protection, since I worked late, and I said my keys. He told me I needed something to keep me safe," said Scarlet. "So I went out and bought a civilian Taser and some mace. Then I got to thinking and thought I might need it and Doc said it wasn't a bad idea."
"Right," said Eunice. "Have you told Connor?"
"He knows about the one I keep in my car and the one for the bar," she said.
"So you have two?" asked Eunice.
"Three," said Scarlet. "I keep one in my purse."
"Okay," said Eunice pulling out her phone.
Eunice sent a quick text to Smecker about the gun in the purse. She closed her phone when he replied and slipped it back in her purse.
"What kind of guns do you have?" asked Eunice.
"The one in my purse is a Beretta Px4 Storm sub-compact. The one under the bar is a M9 Commercial 9mm, and the one in my car is a Beretta Px4 Storm Compact," said Scarlet.
"You like Beretta's?" chuckled Eunice.
"Handles better for me," said Scarlet shrugging her shoulders. "I don't use them much. I got to the range about twice a month for practice."
Eunice nodded as she walked back over to the door. "Come on. Let's get something to eat."
Scarlet slid off of the pool table and followed the former agent down the stairs. She walked over to the bar and grabbed her purse. "I will see you later," she said. "I'm going home."
Everyone nodded at her as she walked for the door.
"If you're gonna stay here, there are blankets upstairs in storage," she said walking out the door.
Scarlet sighed as she walked down the street. She had really hoped she was going with them to get the boys. She had dreamed about that moment for months. But not all dreams got to come true. She sighed as she walked into her house. She dropped her bag on the floor and closed the door locking it. Guess she was going to settle for the welcoming committee.
It was Friday afternoon. Doc was behind the counter and she was sitting at one of the tables cleaning silverware. She looked up when the door opened. Eunice and Smecker walked in and over to where she was at. She smiled as Eunice sat down next to her. Smecker chose to stand, and he didn't look happy.
"What's wrong?" asked Scarlet.
"Nothing," said Eunice.
"Like hell," said Smecker.
"What's going on?" asked Scarlet.
"It turns out we are going to need your help," said Eunice. "Duffy is in court all day and we need someone to drive out there."
"Seriously?" she asked looking hopeful.
"Unfortunately," said Smecker. "We need to go, now."
Scarlet nodded her head and laid the silverware down. She walked over to the bar and grabbed her purse from behind the counter. She smiled and waved at Doc as she followed the two former agents out of the pub.
"You do what I say. Understood?" said Smecker turning to look at Scarlet. "If I tell you to stay with the car, you stay with the car. Got it?"
"Yeah," she said halfheartedly.
Smecker nodded his head as he climbed in the car. Eunice climbed in the driver's seat while Scarlet took the passenger's seat. The entire ride to the prison was eerily quiet.
Connor was pacing his cell. It was a quarter to five. If he had read the letter right they were coming this weekend. He just didn't know when. He heard the guard walking down the hall. It was time for dinner. Murphy and Romeo were ready to leave when the door slid open. Connor stepped out of the cell and nodded to his brother and his friend. They all started towards the mess hall. It was only a few seconds later when the guards radio went off.
"What's going on?" said the guard into the radio.
"We need everyone to the front! We've got a problem," said the woman.
"We're in the middle of moving cell block C to dinner," he said.
"You've never had a problem with them. You aren't going to now," said the woman over the radio.
"Fine. I'm on my way," he said. "You three best behave," he said walking in the other direction.
"I think that would be our cue," said Romeo.
"I do believe so," chuckled Murphy. "Let's go!"
All three men ran to the stairs and down them. All the guards were headed for the front reception office so they headed to the rear reception office. As they neared the door they heard it buzz. Murphy pulled on the handle and yanked the door open. All three men ran through it to the next door. It, too, buzzed as Romeo reached it. There was one door left before they had the main outside door.
"Come on. They are figuring it out," said Smecker looking at the screens.
"No shit," said Eunice. "Where did you get the Taser?"
"Took it from Scarlet's bag when I took the gun out," he said.
Eunice nodded her head. She hit the last button when the boys reached the door. They all barreled through it and past the office. Eunice jammed the outside button down and taped it. She and Smecker ran out of the office behind the boys. Once outside she pulled the door to and helped shoved concrete table in front of it.
"That shit weighs a ton," said Romeo.
"No shit. It's concrete," said Murphy.
"Come on," said Smecker.
"Where are we going?" shouted Murphy as they ran.
"Not the way we came in," said Eunice pointing to the front gates closing.
"They know we're gone," said Connor. "Come on. Out this way."
"What way?" asked Eunice.
"The guards were complaining that there was a hole in the fence that has to be fixed. It's not supposed to be fixed until next year," said Murphy following after his brother.
"Call her and tell her about the change of plans," said Smecker.
Eunice pulled out her phone and called Scarlet.
"Yo," she said.
"Change of plans sweetie. Meet us at the end of the back drive," said Eunice.
"What are you doing?" asked Smecker.
"I'm not in hiking shoes! And she is better at woods than either one of us are," said Eunice running down the drive. "Now get going!"
Smecker groaned as all four men disappeared into the woods. Eunice slipped into the wood line and continued to the end of the drive. As she neared it she saw the van pull up. Scarlet jumped out and tossed the keys to Eunice as she took off into the woods. Scarlet ran through the woods to the meeting point. There was a small clearing just inside the woods. Just as she was nearing the clearing it started to rain.
"Son of a bitch," she said as she jumped over a fallen tree.
She slowed to a light jog as she neared the clearing. She squinted her eyes to see through the rain. There were four men standing in the clearing. Two of them were bent over catching their breath. She took a breath as she stepped into the clearing.
"About fucking time," said Smecker looking over at her. "which way?"
"You've got the damn compass," said Scarlet.
"Where is the road from here if we are heading towards town?" asked Smecker.
"Southeast," she said walking over to him.
Smecker pulled the compass out and watched it. Scarlet spared a glance over her shoulder at the other three men. They were all talking and looking at her. She smiled slightly and turned back to the compass.
"Southeast is…that way," said Smecker after a few minutes.
All four of them started off in the general direction that he had pointed in. The rain had let up a bit, but not much. It would be a few more minutes before all their clothes were soaked through.
"Stop," said Connor suddenly.
"What is it?" asked Smecker.
"Dogs," he said looking behind them. "I suggest we pick up the pace a bit. I don't feel like going back to jail."
Murphy and Romeo nodded as they took off in front of Smecker and Scarlet.
"Looks like they are leading," said Smecker running after them.
Scarlet nodded and took off after him with Connor bringing up the rear. It's not that Scarlet didn't like running or the rain. The rain wasn't the thing that bothered her. It was the running up hill and then downhill that bugged her. They were on the downhill slope and the ground was starting to get muddy and she was losing her balance and grip.
Why did I want to do this again! Here I am stuck running through the woods in the fucking rain, and for what! Some guy! Is he really worth it? Was I right? Fucking rain, fucking mud, fucking hell!
"Come on, love," said Connor grabbing her arm to keep her from falling.
"Thanks," she said.
"We still going the right way?" asked Murphy.
Smecker stopped and pulled the compass out of his pocket. He growled a few times as the needle spun around. Scarlet groaned as she grabbed his phone from his pocket. She clicked on the GPS app and typed in the coordinates for the closest road. The phone beeped and she took off running. She tossed the phone to Connor.
"Tell me when it says turn," she said.
Connor chuckled as they all caught up with her.
"If I had known my phone had that I wouldn't have brought the damn compass," said Smecker.
After running through the woods for almost two hours they reached the road.
"Oh, thank you Jesus," said Scarlet collapsing on the pavement.
Connor emerged from the woods followed by Murphy, Romeo and the Smecker. The rain had all but stopped. Smecker walked to the road and waved down an approaching black van. The van stopped and the door swung open. Dolly jumped out of the van and helped the boys in.
"Come on Scarlet," said Dolly.
"My legs won't move. I'm too tired to move," she said trying to stand up.
"Come on love," said Connor helping her up.
Once she was on her feet he swung her up into his arms bridal style. He climbed into the van and sat down with her. Dolly was the last one in and slammed the door closed. Eunice turned the heat up and turned the vents to the back of the van.
"Get me one of those blankets," said Connor.
Murphy tossed on at his brother. Connor leaned forward and wrapped it around his shoulders and arms. He leaned back and pulled Scarlet closer to him. Smecker leaned over and wrapped another blanket around her shoulders. Scarlet grabbed it with a shaking hand and pulled it tight.
"Get us to the bar as fast as possible," said Smecker.
"Got it," said Eunice.
Here is Chapter 3. Its a bit longer than the first two but it had a lot to go into it. Please review and let me know what you think. I promise there will be more of the boys in the next chapter so bear with me! ~Kat