CHAPTER ELEVEN

To say Brendan Brady had a good night sleep was an under statement. He didn't sleep. He just laid awake all night with those horrible words going through his mind. He wasn't going nowhere. His transfer back home to Ireland wasn't going to be entertained.

As the morning got on, the warder that had been guarding him all night was ready to go home and that just meant one thing...

"Good morning Brady!"

Brendan rolled his head on the pillow to sight that fat cunt Bennett swan in with that smile he just wanted to swipe away with his fist.

"It was good until YOU walked in", he muttered.

Bennett dragged over the chair and sat his fat rump on it, "Just saw one of your docs in the corridor just now, your op wound is healing nicely. You will be well enough for that transfer...", Brendan lifted his head from the pillow slightly at this, but the warder finished his sentence, "...back to the prison hospital...sorry did you think I was gonna say something else?", he chuckled.

Brendan rubbed his eyes and looked the other way. The warder placed his newspaper and water bottle down onto the side unit next to the bed, "Back in a Mo...I need a waz"

Brendan looked round in disgust as the pig trotted off. Then he saw the water bottle in his sights. This was going to be too easy. He reached down under the covers and pulled out a bit of tin foil he had collected from a sandwich one day. He unwrapped it to reveal the pile of white powder he had crushed from saving up his sedation tablets. He had gritted his teeth with the pain, but it was going to be worth it in the end.

He flinched as he reached over to the water bottle, uncapped it and carefully poured the white crushed powder into the bottle. Recapping it he shook it gently and then replaced it onto the side.

Just then Tom the nurse entered. He paused and looked at Brendan, "You've got a look on your face that tells me you are up to something"

"No...just testing my pain fresh hold"

Tom approached him with a smile, "and what is it? On a scale from 1 to 10"

Brendan sighed heavily and laid back, "10"

Tom nodded and did Brendan's Obs, "That's why you need to rest"

Brendan met his eyes, he smiled because Tom blushed and was first to look away. Then Bennett came in and sat down, "don't make him too comfortable nurse, and don't get too attached either, he won't be stopping here for very much longer"

Tom gathered up his tray and walked off. Bennett chuckled and shrugged at Brendan, "Something I said? Anyway, you have a doze or something, I might take advantage if you do, the wife kept me up all night, you know what I mean"

Brendan watched as Bennett took some long slips from the drug contaminated water bottle. He sat in the chair again with his newspaper. Now for Brendan, it was a waiting game.

Some hours later, Tom came up the corridor with his tray of meds when he instantly knew something was amiss. The prison warder was snoring like a good one in the chair. The bottle of water was empty and the newspaper was all over the place. He saw that Brendan was out of bed. The cuffs were getting in the way as he was trying to pull on his grey top.

"What? Where are you going?"

Brendan managed a smile through the discomfort he was in, "I'm checking out of here"

Tom screwed his face up at him, "Checking out?"

Brendan nodded as he tucked the over hanging hand cuffs on his right wrist up his sleeve, "I've enjoyed my stay, but it's time to go"

Tom went over to the sleeping warder and nudged him gently and glanced up at Brendan who looked rather sheepish on this handy work.

"Is he on drugs?"

Brendan scratched his head and chuckled, "Well...when you say drugs...hmmm...yeah, something like that"

Tom came over to him, "You are escaping aren't you?"

Brendan sniffed and lifted his finger", "You're a smart lad...", he put a finger to his lips, "Shhhhhh"

"I...I see..."

Brendan looked deep into his eyes, like he was studying him, "Are you gonna cover for me? Or go raise the alarm"

Tom was lost in those eyes, "and if I did? Raise the alarm I mean"

"I can't stop you", he edged nearer, their eyes locked, Tom felt like Brendan wanted to kiss him and he went and pressed his lips onto his. Brendan pulled away and smiled at him.

Tom was in a dither, "I'm sorry"

Brendan sounded reassuring, "that's okay...I'm sorry"

"For what?"

Brendan's fist was quick as a flash as he lamped him one and the nurse was unconscious on the floor. He then stooped and gathered him up into his arms and then dragged him to the bed and plonked him on and pulled the covers over him.

He smiled at his handiwork and was then in the corridor and made ready his escape.

The hospital was busy. He passed doctors and nurses hurrying about in their jobs and patients in wheelchairs. He was going around in circles and all he could think about was the when was the next warder going to show up to take over from Bennett and find him.

Then he saw the main entrance where all the ambulances were stationed and slipped out onto the walkway and then over the low barrier to the carpark beyond. It was getting dark.

He started to try a few car doors but they all were locked up. He was about to give up and do a runner by foot, when the final car he tried opened up. He looked about him and then jumped in and closed the door. He hot wired the ignition and the car purred into life. He shoved it into reverse and was out of that car park in a flash by the screech of the tyres.

Brendan found the main road. There was a slight congestion of traffic. But he remained calm until a police car raced by. Was it because of him? Had Bennett been found?

He was trying to think on his feet now. He was trying to remember David's address, because he had taken a mental note of it when they shared their cell together. He would have been released since his hospital stay, and by the look of the amount of fuel left in the tank, he might have enough for a surprise visit.