by R E Swirsky
"Run, Tommy," Bobby whispered and opened the back door. "C'mon!"
Tommy ran as fast as he could and dove into the back seat. Bobby threw a blanket over top of him. "Stay down!" he said.
In seconds, Bobby was back in the front seat with his two escapees safely concealed. He exited the alleyway and headed down Crowchild Trail to the southwest part of Calgary.
"What happened back there? Did they see you?" Ricky asked Tommy. "What took you so long?"
"It's cool, guys!" Tommy hollered and laughed brightly. "We did it!"
Bobby wasn't as confident and continued to drive in silence looking into the rear view and side mirrors every few seconds. His knuckles were white from clenching the wheel so tightly.
Tommy quickly told the others about what happened inside. It really wasn't difficult to escape because they had the full trust of the escorts. Jason simply slipped out to the back to wash up moments before the pizzas came. When the pizzas arrived, Tommy told the escorts to dig in and he would go grab Jason from the washroom.
Tommy and Bobby knew this restaurant well. It was a common stop after the hockey games in northwest Calgary over the years. It was old and run down. None of the newer restaurants have windows in the bathrooms, probably due to the face that the boys could skip out as they just did. Bobby and Ricky came down the night before to check the window out. Bobby was prepared. As expected, the window was secured with a number of screws. Bobby removed the screws and made sure that the window would open when needed the following afternoon.
"Okay, okay, let's just chill for a bit!" Ricky hollered. "We've got to be sure there's no one coming." He turned and stared out the back window for anything suspicious.
Twenty minutes later the boys arrived, undetected, at the large outdoor mall near the southwest corner of Calgary. Bobby parked near the outside edge of the Cineplex Odeon Theatre parking lot, and Ricky ran inside to purchase the two tickets for the five o'clock showing of The Hunger Games. Both boys already saw this movie, but Bobby insisted they needed the alibi. He wanted no chance of being caught.
"Okay, where next?" Ricky asked and slid back into the front passenger seat.
"Just as planned. Down to Sandy McNabb."
"You sure we have enough time?" Ricky asked.
"Checked it out yesterday. The movie runs just over two hours. Sandy McNabb campground is about as far south of the city into the mountains as we can get and still get back before the movie is over."
"How far will it be for Jason and me then?" Tommy asked.
"My guess is about thirty kilometres. It'll take you at least a day to get there on foot. My guess is you'll be there sometime early tomorrow afternoon."
"You bring all of the gear?" Jason asked.
"It's all there. Back packs, pup tent, sleeping bags, matches and food. Water is heavy so I only put two bottles in each pack for you."
"I hope you put a map in there," Tommy laughed. "Be crazy to get this far and get lost in the woods."
"We've ridden those trails on Mick's horses many times," Jason piped up. Mick was another friend from the hockey team. He lived on an acreage just outside of town. The boys often went riding with Mick and his parents on the trails in Kananaskis country.
"Not all of them," Tommy replied from under the blanket in the back seat.
"Quit worrying guys. I got you a book with maps. I even marked the trails inside," Bobby added.
The boys went silent as Bobby hit the open road south towards Turner Valley and the Sandy McNabb Recreational area in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It would take another forty minutes to get there and each of the boys reflected on their own reasons for participating in this scheme.
CHAPTER 71
Simon left his cook, Brenda, in charge of the Bistro and announced that he wouldn't be back until Friday morning. As promised, he headed up to Calgary to give Sarah the peace of mind that Gerald wasn't following her and had not been in Bluffington.
Simon released a heavy sigh as he headed up the highway. He honestly believed this was a big waste of his time, but he would do just about anything for Sarah. He had never really met anyone like Sarah and her friendship meant a lot to him.
It wasn't a long drive, and Simon soon found the street in the northeast, just off Fifty Second Street, where Sarah and Gerald once lived together. He drove slowly and scanned the numbers on the houses as he looked for 404. It was barely after five o'clock, and Sarah pointed out numerous times that Gerald always stopped for a drink on the way home so he certainly wouldn't be home when Simon got there.
Simon spotted the small bungalow and could see Sarah's car sitting in the drive, just as he expected. He searched both sides of the street for Gerald's truck but didn't see it anywhere. He was pleased and smiled comfortably. To be sure Gerald was not parked in the back, he drove down to the end of the block, rounded the corner and entered the back lane behind the house. It wasn't there. There was just an empty gravel parking pad in the back where the garage would have been. Sitting on the gravel pad was a boat and some piled up scrap lumber. Simon drove back around to the front and parked across the street, a few doors down.
Simon watched the house for a number of minutes and searched up and down the street. He wasn't entirely sure what he was looking for, but all seemed quiet and orderly. Gerald's truck wasn't around. If what Sarah said was true and Gerald had stopped for a drink, Simon should have a good half-hour before Gerald arrived. It was certainly enough time to do a short walk around the property. Simon considered just staying put in his car and waiting for Gerald to arrive home, but his curiosity finally got the best of him. How bad could this guy really be?
The bungalow was typical of many in the neighbourhood with no attached garage. Most houses in the area had a separate garage erected in the back, but Sarah and Gerald's had a concrete parking pad in the front yard where Sarah's car presently sat.
Simon strolled cautiously up the front drive and peered inside Sarah's car. He could see crumpled fast food bags, empty coffee cups and newspapers inside. This car was driven recently. From what he knew of Sarah, this certainly was not her mess. He wandered up to the house, put his hands on the glass front door and tried to look inside, but it was too dark in the front hall to see much of anything. He considered looking in the front window, but the flowerbed in front was too overgrown. He didn't intend to fight his way through just for a peek.
Simon shuffled his way along the front of the house and raised himself up on his toes as he still tried to get a look inside. His curiosity was still unsatisfied. He could see nothing. He popped his head around the side of the house and quickly decided it would only take a few minutes to check out around the back of the house. He would be safely back inside his car by the time Gerald returned home.
He entered the back yard and wasn't surprised that the grass was long, scruffy and unkempt. He climbed up the three steps to the landing next to the back door and looked around.
"What the hell… might as well give it a try," Simon suggested to himself and grabbed the handle for the screen door at the back of the house. The door released a long squeak as Simon slowly pulled it wide open. It seemed to call out a warning to him to be wary of what he was attempting. Simon next tested the door handle, and to his surprise, it was unlocked.
Simon stood there, dumbfounded for a moment with his hand still on the doorknob. He looked out at the other houses across the lane-way. It was a quiet afternoon and he saw no one. He looked back down to the doorknob and turned it again. He couldn’t believe it really was unlocked.
It turned easily.
"I really shouldn't be doing this," he muttered under his breath.
Simon tightened his grip on the doorknob and turned the knob. He only had it open a fraction when he frowned and sensed something wasn't quite right.
Simon did not see anything nor hear any sound, as Gerald slithered silently out from around the corner of the house. He held
on tightly to a two by four, raised it high above his shoulders, moved up the few steps and slammed Simon across the back of the head, knocking him instantly unconscious.
CHAPTER 72
By the time they arrived at the Sandy McNabb parking lot, Tommy and Jason had already changed into the clothes Bobby brought for them. They all helped unload the goods from the back of the CRV near the trailhead at the edge of the parking lot. Bobby and Ricky wished them good luck and promised they would see them soon on the other side. Moments later, Tommy and Jason waved goodbye to Bobby and Ricky and disappeared into the bushes on the hiking trail along Wolf Creek.
Bobby dashed as quickly as he was capable over to the outdoor toilets, and dropped Tommy and Jason's prison garb into the bottom of one of them. He returned to the vehicle, and, in minutes, he and Ricky were on their way back towards Calgary.
"Give me those tickets," Bobby demanded.
"Why?" Ricky asked as he handed them over. Bobby tore the top part of the ticket off and threw it out the window. He stuffed one in his shirt pocket and handed the other back to Ricky. "Take this."
"Oh. Good thinking," Ricky replied. A complete ticket wouldn't do as an alibi.
Bobby kept looking down at his watch. He breathed a sigh of relief when they finally arrived at the south end of Calgary. He looked at Ricky and smiled again.
"Right on target. Hunger Games should just be ending," he said as he pointed to his watch. "I did the practice run yesterday just to be sure. Now it's up to Spy Hill."
Thirty minutes passed before Bobby pulled into the parking lot at Spy Hill and parked his CRV.
"Looks quiet," Bobby said to Ricky. He was expecting some obvious activity around the detention centre in light of Tommy and Jason's escape. Ricky nodded nervously, looked about with Bobby and shrugged, unsure what they were supposed to do next.
"They'll only let one of us in at a time. What do you think? Maybe you should go in on this one?" Bobby prompted. He hoped Ricky would have volunteered himself by now.
Ricky quickly raised his arms defensively. "You go. I'm okay just sitting here."
Bobby laughed nervously. "Sure, Ricky. Push me under the bus! I got us this far. I think it's your turn."
"I'm not pushing you under any bus!" Ricky replied apprehensively. "This is your idea remember."
"It was Tommy's idea! And who are we all doing this for?" Bobby asked. "This has nothing to do with me at all! I'm not the one who tried to break into that house once already. You’re totally paranoid about what's hidden inside!"
Ricky scowled back. "Screw you, Bobby. Don't start that shit talk with me now. You didn't have to get yourself involved in any of this! You know how it's been for me. It's still better if you go in because you have nothing to gain or lose."
"What?" Bobby laughed. He was surprised by Ricky's interpretation of the events. "Nothing to lose? I just helped two people escape from jail! What do you mean I have nothing to lose? You have done nothing so far. Nothing at all. You just sat in the car the whole time. I'm even the one who went in the bathroom yesterday and jimmied the window so it would be open for them today. I was the one who scrounged up the spare clothes, sleeping bags and all that other stuff for them." It was unusual for Bobby to show any outward anger, but he was extremely disappointed and annoyed at Ricky's inaction. "I really think you ought to step up and do something!"
"I don't drive, Bobby! How could I do any of this?" He furrowed his brow at Bobby.
"Why are you suddenly pissed off at me? I got us this far!"
Ricky's flustered face turned a deep red.
"Lookit!" Bobby added. "No one even knows how you are even involved but me, Tommy, and Jason. And those two are now on the run. You really need to do your part too!" He stared at Ricky and waited for a reasoned response.
Ricky suddenly opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle. He ducked his head back inside and shouted. "Screw you! I thought you were my friend! I will go do this part by myself!" Ricky slammed the door, turned away and strode towards the entrance of the Spy Hill facility.
Bobby sat back, surprised by Ricky's sudden tirade and chuckled. "What an ass." He laughed some more because he was nervous. He watched Ricky walk towards the front entrance and decided it was best just to let him be. He hoped Ricky knew what to say once he was inside the facility.
CHAPTER 73
Simon's head ached ferociously as he slowly opened his eyes and looked around. The darkness confused him and he became immediately flustered when he tried to comprehend where he was. He tried to rub his eyes, but his hands wouldn't move. His nose hurt terribly, and he thought he could taste blood on his lips.
He tugged hard on his arms and realized they were pulled tight and secured behind his back.
Panic set in, and Simon squirmed. He realized he was tied to a wooden chair in the centre of a small living room. He turned his head rapidly to the left and right. He was still too confused and disoriented to realize who had done this to him. His vision remained blurred, and the darkness let show none of its secrets. His mind slowly collected itself, and he remembered that he was up in Calgary looking for Sarah's husband, Gerald.
Simon stopped squirming about. "Oh my god," Simon uttered softly to himself as he realized his situation. A shadow slipped across in front of the drapes that covered the large front window. Simon froze in terror of what was before him. He held his breath and watched as the shadow passed once more between him and the window in front of him.
"Gerald?" Simon asked in a terrified whisper. The shadow stopped abruptly and moved towards him.
The voice spoke in the darkness. It was a guttural sound; dark and deep. "You seem to know who I am," it said.
The room remained eerily quiet. Simon didn't know how to respond. He listened carefully to capture all the sounds he could from the darkened room. He could only pick out the sound of ice cubes swirling around in a glass somewhere in the darkness. He listened to the swirling cubes. A short slurp followed, and then he heard the distinctive rustling of boots on the floor somewhere beside him.
The man shuffled forward towards Simon. With a large hand, he grabbed hold firmly to Simon's cheeks and squeezed.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded.
“Si... Simon. My name is Simon," Simon cried back and tried to pull his head free from the man's firm grasp, but the hand only squeezed harder.
The man released his grip on Simon's head, and the room went quiet again for a moment. The crisp sound of the swirling ice cubes returned.
"And you've been looking into my car and trying to break into my house. Why?"
Simon stuttered utterly terrified. “I... I wasn't, breaking, not… I wasn't."
"Don't lie to me!" the man screamed and slammed his fist into the side of Simon's head. Simon cried out in agony as the chair flipped over on to its side with him still attached. Simon's head cracked hard against the floor.
He remained on the floor on his side, as the dark shadow towered above him. He was terrified. He listened in fear as the man swirled the ice cubes in the crystal glass around and around. Simon tried to move away but could only kick about in the air with his feet. He was going nowhere.
"I'll ask you again! Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Simon's thoughts went to Sarah. He now understood her terror, and knew he couldn't mention her name under any circumstances. Simon was at an utter loss as to how to answer.
"I asked you a question!" The man shouted. He kicked out with one of his steel-toed work boots hard into Simon's rib cage and broke one rib instantly. Simon gasped, and a horrible screaming pain traveled across his chest. He was unable to breathe.
CHAPTER 74
The sunset was still many hours away as Tommy and Jason headed up the path along Wolf Creek into the mountains. It was late June, and the sky would still be hold a soft glow against the horizon as midnight neared.
The fores
t was mostly a mixture of pine, poplars and smaller deciduous shrubs. The path was an easy one to follow: wide at the start and reminiscent of an overgrown old road from many decades long gone by. After fording the river just past the trailhead, the path quickly angled up and disappeared into the trees. The trail was choppy and muddy in spots from horses hooves that routinely chewing away at the once solid foundation. The horses were ridden for pleasure up and down the multiple trails that crisscrossed the area.
In some places along the trail, the trees suddenly opened up and exposed small grassy plains before they closed back in close along the path. It eventually climbed further up into the trees where it followed an old cutline for a while before it meandered back and forth along an easier incline to higher ground. The view along the first ridge was breath taking, but neither Jason nor Tommy found any delight in it.
The two boys walked with urgency and thought only about getting as far into the hills and back country as they could as quickly as possible. It was just past the longest day of the year, and Tommy still wanted to set up camp well before the sun disappeared behind the mountains that loomed to the west. Both boys ignored all conversations about the reason for their journey.
"Hold on a sec," Tommy said to Jason as he studied the maps in the back of the trail book Bobby had given him. "Wolf Creek campground is still about three hours or so away, maybe more."
Jason looked up into the sky. He saw only a clear sky with a dusting of cirrus formations in the higher atmosphere. No storm clouds in sight. "Should be able to make it that far pretty easily."
"Uh huh. I was just looking at the map thinking that maybe we should keep on going further if we can… maybe camp deep in the backcountry instead of that campsite.
Jason shrugged. "If you want," he said. He let Tommy make the decision as usual.
Tommy looked down at the path below him. He and Jason walked on the sides of the large path to avoid the muddy section in the middle. "The trail might be sloppier when it gets narrower."
